Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Kettunera at Pampa


Swami Sharanam.

Why is that it's said that Kettunarai shouldn't be done at Pamba ? Can you pls. thro light on the traditional
reason for the same. 

Additionally, at Pamba Ganapathi we can see a lot of Kettunarai happening by Pamba Ganapathi priest...

It would be great to listen from you....

Regards, 
Mahesh
Mumbai
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Swamy Sharanam

The rules for the Sabarimala Yathra is prescribed by Sage Agasthya as instructed by Lord Himself. But if one observes carefully, it actually forms the daily routine of a devout person.

The rules are same for any Vrutham - be it Pradosham or Sashti or Navarathri. 

Waking up in Brahma Muhurtham, Taking Bath in cold water, Nama Japam, Food restriction, Avoiding physical Comforts, Sleeping on floor, Not Shaving, Brahmacharyam etc etc 
- this is common to any Vrutham. The only difference is, all these Vruthams like Pradosham, Ekasadi or Sashti ends within 24 hours; Skandha Sashti may extend upto 6 days and Navarathri Vrutham extends to 10 days. Whereas Ayyappa Vrutham extends beyond 41 days(or 56 Days in some other cases).

So the rules are to be followed with utmost sincerity for Ayyappa Vrutham. And what is the main purpose of the Vrutham ? To carry the irumudi and climb the 18 steps. To understand this we need to look back to the history.

There is a traditional way to have the darshana of Bhagawan Hariharaputra Swami at Sabarimala. This was told by my grand father. What I have been taught -by Gurus and elders... Iam just repeating it here in my words.


In earlier days, Sabarimala was opened only for Makara Vilakku and people start their Vrutham well before that. The only route to Sabari was Via Erumeli. In other words - the official route is via Erumeli.

It took almost one week to complete the Yathra and reach Sannidhanam. 

One has to understand that Maha Sastha is the supreme Lord and he has two Shaktis namely Poorna and Pushkala. That divine Sastha's embodiment is Lord Ayyappa who is instilled at the holly Sabari Hills - on the top of Neeli Malai. 

The pilgrims travelling through the long route have to cross seven streams and climb eighteen leaps during the yatra. If one looks upon all the eighteen leaps, actually a person is stepping higher and higher on each hill - ie each hill represents a step. So the eighteen steps in front of the Lord at Sabarimalai temple actually represents the eighteen hills and their guarding Devata. In short, the padi puja is a pooja to the Long route itself.

So the actual yathra or Shrine starts from Erumeli. Erumeli is the first Kottai or the Lord. One should always visit the Erumeli shrine of Lord Kiratha Moorthy and get the permission from Him  to enter the poonkavanam and get the grace of the Supreme Lord. Only when a person comes through the long route, the yathra is fulfilled.

So entering Erumeli is similar to climbing the first step of 18m padi. 

The Chalakkayam route, Pampa route etc are of very latest origin. FYI, the pampa ganapathy, Ramar  temple itself is a very recent one. In other words only after these convenient routes, Maasa Puja became popular. For convenience, people started using these routes, but that doesnt allow us to skip the Long route. 

But when we go for Maasa Puja, its almost impossible to travel through the long route. So as an alternate practice, we worship at Erumeli and seek his permission and forgiveness and then proceed to Pampa. 

So coming back to the point - the Kshetram (or Poonkavanam) starts from Erumeli. So to cross Erumeli, one needs irumudi and beyond that point no one is allowed to do the kettu nerai or fill the irumudi. 

You have already entered the exam hall; Now how can one fill the entrance form here?

As you said now we can witness a lot of Kettunarai happening at Pamba Ganapathi Sannidhanam... (I also heard a news, dont know whether its true - that the ghee which is offered at Nei thoni is being recycled at Pampa ganapathi and used for Kettunerai again). A devotee gave me a best comment on this : "When a person is doing his Kettunerai at Pampa, he doesnt have any right to lament amount sasthram. He actually deserves this"

Sampradhayams of olden days are easily broken today and does not seem to be a full fledged practice any more. 

The very thathwam of Sabarimala revolves round the concept called Guru. Today we see, Maaladharanam is done at some Ayyappan temple, the nature of Vrutham by ones own rules (GOK), and Kettunerai is done by some X or Y at someother place and people go to sabarimala - all one without a Guruswamy.

Its no wonder if these rituals are considered as traditional sampradhayam.

This is the state of Kaliyuga and no body can understand the leela of Lord Ayyappa.

True bakthi always means - following the Sasthras strictly and have a faith with Gurus words.
I fall at the Feet of my Guru to grant satbuddhi and unwavering devotion towards the Lord.

Swamy Sharanam
V.Aravind Subramanyam

Dharma Sastha's Pratishta


Swamy Sharanam

Aravind Subramanyam-anna please tell us about this pic...

Sankar Narayanan Sanki
Muscat


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Swamy Sharanam

After a long gap of silence, Iam back to the blog to answer a query.

Though I have a lot to say about this, at this point of time Iam not going into much details, but explain the outline.


Kerala -  is known as God's Own country becasue it was created by Parasurama, the warrior sage and sixth incarnation of Maha Vishnu. After creating a land for himself, Parasurama wanted to installed the Supreme Lord there. He performed severe penence and prayed to Lord Sastha that his divine presence should always protect the land.

Bagawan accepted his request and instructed him to construct 18 temples and promised that he will stay there and protect the Land.

He further indicated that "Very soon Iam going to incarnate in this Land and during that time, install my idol at the Maha yogapeetam at Garudadhri.  That place is going to be my headquarters in future. "

As per the divine will the Lord incarnated as Manikanta - in human form. The Advent of Lord Manikanta is well known to everybody. He was an incarnation of Lord Sastha who was adopted by the Rajashekara Pandiyan. The Ministers at the palace, developed hatred towards Manikanta and planned a plot to kill him. According to this plot, Manikanta undertook the forest expedition single-handed to find Tigress milk.

This was actually the divine intervention as per the Lord's plan, The purpose of Manikantan's advent had dual purpose 1) To annihilate Mahishi and 2) Establish Dharma in Kaliyuga.

So, as per the promise made earlier, Manikanta came to the forest called Matanga Vanam. Devas and Rishis descended to the earth and waited for Lord Manikanta in the forest with a prayer to fulfill the object of his mission.

Killing of Mahishi happened in no time. The sages installed the Lord as Poorna Pushkala Samedha Maha Sastha at the Srimoolam Kavu -  a golden temple on a hill nearby. This hill,  is now known as Ponnambalamedu (the hill of Golden Temple). But the Devas and rishis wanted Lord Manikanta to stay there for ever. Bagawan promised them to stay there permanently and bless all the people of Kaliyuga. But Ponnambalam is reachable only by Yogis. So for the sake of ordinary mortals, the Lord instructed them to find a place nearby, so that a temple is built there. Finally the Lord decided the spot as the Mahayogapeetam of the Garudadri hill; This was later this was named as Sabarimalai after Sabari, a huntress.

Manikantan went back to the palace and everybody understood that he was not an ordinary being.

Manikantan indicated that the king can know about his divine mission only through a Guru and he further added that Lord Agasthya shall come there and guide him further.

Manikantan then blessed the King and all others assembled there, and vanished. Everybody felt helpless and the king was deeply distressed at the departure of the Lord. At that time, the sage Agasthya appeared before him and consoled him. He reminded the king of his duty ahead, the construction of a temple for Dharmasastha. The Rishi told the King that he could construct a temple at Garudadhri, a hill-top of Matanga Mountain range - north of the holy river Pampa.

As per Lord Agasthya's instructions, everybody undertook the Vrutham and the auspicious Makara Sankaranthi day was fixed for the pratishta. Soon Parasurama came there with the idol of Lord Dharma Sastha - which was earlier prescribed by the Lord himself.

Agasthya, being the foremost among the Rishis and Yogis, presided the function and formulated the mode of worship and poojas to be done at the temple. Parasurama took charge of the installation. The idol was enshrined with appropriate rituals and ceremonies by both Parasurama and Agasthya on the auspicious day of Makara Sankranthi. Lord Manikanta's divinity merged with the Dharma Sastha idol installed.

The King duly constructed the temple at Sabarimala, dedicated to Him.

This picture depicts the scene of Lord Dharma Sastha’s installation by Agasthya and Parasurama.