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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Iron Vilakku for God Sani

Anandi:

In home can we lit valluku with oil in Iron vallaku for God Sani?

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Materials made of iron are generally prohibited in puja. Iron not only has a negative energy but also absorbs the positive vibrations in the temple / puja room. Thats the reason we dont find any puja materials in iron.(This includes Stainless steel - but people may not accept my view - just because they dont want to loose their convenience)

Lighitng a deepa is a good pariharam for Shani Bagawan - but that will be more effective if it is done at a temple premises. (Only when you dont have any temple nearby, you can opt to light the lamp at your place)

If you are lighting the lamp for Shani Graha Preethi - you can use a simple clay lamp (Man agal vilakku) and use Sesame oil (Nallennai) and feed the crows . This will do...

Worshiping Anchaneya and Lord Ayyappa (especially on Saturdays) is also a remedial measure to please Shaneeshwara and get out of troubles

Swamy Sharanam
Aravind Subramanyam

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Sastha – the Lord of the Vedhas

      Sastha – the Lord of the Vedhas

The Vedas declare the nature of the Supreme Truth in many ways. Sometimes they call It Brahman (the great and glorious essence);

other times they call it Sat (Being); still other times they call it Purusha, other times Vishnu, Rudra, Atma, Paramaatma, etc. How are we to reconcile all these various names? Surely they all refer to one Supreme, as the Vedas declare that there is only one Supreme Cause -- ekam eva advitIyam.

It is beyond doubt that Lord Maha Sastha is the Supreme Being described in the Vedas.

Fortunately, the Vedas themselves offer a reconciliation of all these names, contained in the various Upanishads and even in the text of the Veda proper. In the Purusha Sukta, found in all four Vedas, the Supreme Brahman is described as the being who exists everywhere. This most important Vedic hymn praises the transcendental "cosmic man" – the Parama Purusha, the personification of the all-pervading Brahman- who is none other than “Sastha”

There are even more direct Veda vaakyas on our Lord Sastha.

In the Yajur Veda, we see for example,

“Sastha adhipathir vo asthu” - (Sastha is the ultimate ruler), a reference to the supremacy of Sastha over every being.

The Maithrayini Upanishad Says

“Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Sastha, Pranava and Brahman – is one and the Same”.

The Kalagni Rudropanishad calls Shiva as “Sarva Sastha”

These Veda vaakyas clearly spell out the principle that the concept of Sastha encompasses all other deities. Even otherwise, the meaning of the word “Sastha”has perhaps the deepest philosophical significance of any name of God, over and above even the terms Vishnu, Siva, Brahma, Indra, etc. The latter terms respectively mean “pervader”, ``pure'', ``great'', and ``king'', and are applicable to any number of things, including the individual self. However, Sastha means ``One who rules all the creatures'', which by implication can only refer to the Supreme.

Though the Sastha temple at the holy Sabari hills is very famous, it is to be noted that there are innumerable Sastha shrines throughout the country. Sastha is not only the Lord who is in Sabarimalai… Infact Lord Sastha is the actual source for Ayyappa incarnation..

Lord Sastha is the Primary force; He has two consorts – Poorna and Pushkala. Sastha has taken eight divine incarnations for His divine missions. Out of his eight incarnations, the most popular avathara or incarnation is stationed at Sabari hills as Ayyappa (as brahmachari or bachelor).

But Maha Sastha as a principal force, resides in his abode as Poorna Pushkala Sahitha Hariharaputra. Even during the Vedhic age when deities were worshipped only through fire, Sastha had a significant position and was worshipped in stone idols. The Vedhic seers (rishis) who lived in dense forest had Sastha as their ishta devata and that is reason we find numerous Sastha shrines in the forest area today.

Thus, Sastha’s worship who is the Supreme Lord of the Vedhas will bestow health, wealth and all the good things in life one can desire... and also grant moksha after the life.

It is to be noted that that Lord Hariharaputra is the most celebrated Lord among the Vedhic community of Brahmins. He is the Ishta devata, Para devata and Kula devata of them. During the magnificent Sastha Preethi celebrations held at every nook and corner of the world today, one can witness the significant role of the Vedhas in the rituals.

Sastha is called “Vipra pooja” – one who is worshipped by the Vedhic Scholars.

All our saints and ancestors have stated unambiguously that in Kaliyuga, Sastha’s worship is the only way of salvation.

“Kalau Sasthru Vinayakau”- Sastha is the only master in Kali

It is true that the Vedas themselves often praise other gods. However, it should be understood that that the personality to which the vaakyas refer is only Maha Sastha – the ultimate divine force.

Among the most important duties of Vedhic Bramins, the Vedhic Yagnas stands first. Vedic yajnas such as Vajapeya, Pashubhanda, Jyotistoma, Ashwamedha are well known. Out of the forty samskaras a human has to perform, these Vedhic yagnas are to be done at least once in a lifetime. This is of top-most value in the life of every householder. Whatever he gets from his farms, from his trade and commerce, whatever he earns from his job, must be shared with other members of universe.

If one observes the Hariharaputra Sahasranama carefully, it will be evident that Sastha is explicitly described as the Lord who gives the fruit of these Vedhic yagnas.

Namas which clearly explains the Vedhic yagnas which are not to be found even with the famous Vishnu, Shiva or Lalitha Sahasranamas are very clear and continuous in Sastha’s Sahasranama.

From the namas like Dwadasaahakrathu preethaa, Aptoryaamakratu mayaa, Poundareeka Phalaprathaa, Pasubhanda phaladhaathre, Vaajapeyathma Daivatham etc – the only point being made is that the ultimate Truth explained in the Vedhas is none other than Lord Maha Sastha.

Taittria Aranyaka Says:

Anthah Pravishtas Sastha Jananaam Sarvaathma |

Sarvaa: Praja Yathraikam Bavanthi |

"Where all are united, He who has entered within, that are born, and is the self of all, is beyond comprehension, He is Sastha the ruler of all things

Friday, September 11, 2009

Connection of Sastha with Srividya Upasana

sidharth kris

could u plz tell me the details of connection of sastha with srividya upasana....

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Connection of Sastha with Srividya Upasana

You will find a brief explanation regarding this in my book "Shri Maha Sastha Vijayam"... and I shall try to throw some more light in the area:

Sastha is the dear most son of Lalitha and the upasana of Sastha is always in Line with Shrividyopasana...
Every Shrividyopasaka will know that the physical form of Laitha parameswari can be witnessed only at Kanchipuram. It is her Rajadhani... Lalitha parameshwari's headquarters is Kanchipuram - the Shri Nagaram of Bhuloka.. The whole of Kanchi Kshetram is Shrichakraakara(in the form of Shri Chakram). and the Bindu is Kamakshi Sannidhanam.. Right behind Kamakshi is her beloved son with his consorts.. Poorna and Pushkala...

I've heard from scholars like Harshanandanatha that a shrividyopaska entering the Kanchi Kshetram must worship all the deities with due Mudras and mantras and finally end the journey with Lord Sastha by worshipping him with Kalyana Shastru mantra and display the Khadga, pasham karavala and other mudras.
In general the practice of Srividya - in the Saubhagya Vidya of Dakshinamnaya one can find Sasthru moorthi. Here he is worshiped in the forms Darma Sastha and Kirata Sastha.

Sastha, (w.r.t to this area) helps the upasakas in begetting children and to overcome the enemies.

You can see an explicit reference of Sastha in Lalithopakhyana, as the Son of Lalitha Parameshwari. Shri.Manidasar of the illustrious Kambankudi family (also a devi upasaka) exclaims the glory of the Lord and concludes his songs praising "the son of Lalitha"

Though you find these details and explicit references...

The upasana of Sastha in the Shrividya cult is maintained with utmost secrecy that too only with a few specific schools of Shri Vidya...
In the Sadi Vidya - Sastha is one of the Gurus in the Ogatraya

For example if you observe carefully you can find Sastha in the 9th avarana of Maha Prasada vidya (Mahaprasada Avarana has to be worshipped after Urdhwamnaya Puja -only by the Poornabhishiktas and that too - with Sri Guru's guidance)
My Paramaguru who was an exponent in Srividya (whose kuladevata was Shasta) worshipped the Lord 100% with the Srividyopasana paddathi.

I dont know how many of us are aware of the fact the power house of all the Sastha Kshetrams lie at Karanthapuri(today - Kallidaikuichi) - in the banks of river Tamrabarani. The Kulathooril Ayyan there is worshipped in a stone peeta with Shri Chakram engraved on it...
(Due to the merits accumulated for thousands of my previous births - the Lord gave me an opportunity to touch the Srichakram here and offer my worship with my own hands)

And even at Sabarimalai - the Lord is seated on Srichakram and not on a Sasthru Yantram.
There is an exclusive Srichakra puja paddathi for Sastha(which is unfortunately not available with anyone and Iam searching for it)

And let me conclude this with a "Deva Rahasya" which was shared to me by a great Srividyopaska:

Devi has four powerful deities guarding her kingdom. The two are the powerful deities Ashtamukha Gandabherunda Nrisimha and Sashaktika Maha Vamana. The third is Kalasamkarshini Kali and fourth is our Master - Lord Shasta accompanied by Purna and Pushkala.

A special thanks to you - because of your question, I had a great opportunity to contemplate on these wonderful informations and on my mother Lalitha and her Laalitha Sudha.

ஓர் ஆறும் விம்சதியும் ஓர் தசமும் ஓர் ஏழும்
சீராயிணை சேர்ந்து ஸ்ரீ புரத்தில் வாழுமெங்கள்
பாராளும் லலிதை பெற்ற பாலகா உனை மறவேன்

Swamy Sharanam
V.Aravind Subramanyam
www.mahasastha.com

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Dasavatharam & Dasamahavidya



Is there any connection between Dasamahavidya of Devi and Dasavatharams of Vishnu?

Chandramouli Iyer, Pune
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Though this topic is little bit off the track... I myself wanted to answer this becoz it falls more under my domain....

Amba is not different from Vishnu... She is called Govinda Rupiri in Lalitha Sahasranama. And the ten incarnations of Vishnu are Her expansions...
You wont find any puranic lore for the relation between these Vidyas and Avatharas but the logic of putting the Dasamahavidya with the Dasavataram is related thru perception and thru the Tanric interpretation.
If watched carefully one can find the theory of evolution in the Dasaavathara.
The same way the Dasamahavidyas represent the evolution of the Soul.

The First Avatara in an 100% aquatic fish and the Last is the Man of Purnathvam(complete) - Kalki.
- from a fish to a complete man..

Similarly as Nirguna Swaroopi, she is Kali of Darness;
As Saguna roopi she is Sundari of ultimate Gnana(wisdom)

A sloka from Lalita Sahasranama says ``karanguli nakhotpanna Narayana dasa kritih" that from the nails of the ten fingers of the Devi emerged the ten manifestations of Narayana as Dasavataram.

The ten manifestations of devi as Kali, Tara, Tripurasundari, Bhairavi, Bhagalamuki, CHinnamasta, Doomavati, Kamala, Bhuvaneswari and Matangi embody a whole range of attitudes gracious and awesome, benign and destructive. The same force called "Shakti" is the motivational force for the ten incarnations of Vishnu.
She is Vishnu and He is Devi; There is no difference between them.

These comparisons only mean that Amba's being non-different from
Narayana and need not be taken literally.

If amba wills, I shall write about all these 10 vidyas in detail.


kadAchidAdyA lalitA puMrUpA kR^iShNavigrahA |
1. Lalitha or Tripurasundari is Krisha

kadAchidAdyA shrItArA puMrUpA rAmavigrahA |
2. Tara devi is Shri Rama.

ChinnamastA nR^isiMhaH syAt vAmano bhuvaneshvarI |
3. Chinnamasta is Nrusimha and
4. Bhuvaneswari is Vamana

jAmadagnyaH kAlikA syAt mIno dhUmAvatI bhavet ||
5. Kali is Parasurama and
6. Doomavathi is Mathsya

bagalA kUrmamUrtiH syAt balabhadrastu bhairavI |
7. Bagalamuki is Koorma Murthi and
8. Bhairavi is Balarama

mahAlakShmI bhaved bauddhI durgA syAt kalkirUpiNI |
9. Mahalakshmi(Kamala) is Varaha and
10. Durga (Matangi) is Kalki


AMME NARAYANA !! DEVI NARAYANA !!