Sastha Preethi and Kiratha Maha Rudram

Respected Devotees,

Shri Maha Sasthru Seva Sangam feels privileged to write a few lines to everyone of you.

By the divine blessing as the guiding force, we are stepping into this year's pooja celebration - to be conducted as 2 days program at Shri Ayyappan Puja Sangam, Ramnagar, Coimbatore.

Pujas of yester years were a Mega success,by the grace of Lord Ayyappa. This became possible ONLY due to your overwhelming response, moral and financial support.

This year, ive attached the invitation copy for the festival :

English Version :

The glorious SASTHA PREETHI in the traditional way falls on 14th June, Saturday, starting with Vanji Paattu, Sastha Puja and then Varavu...This is followed by Procession, Nama Sankeerthanam in the evening.

The unique : KIRATHA MAHA RUDRAM ie Maha Rudram to Lord Kiratha Sastha is on 15th June Sunday - by traditional way. (Needless to say for the FIRST TIME)

(Written a brief account on this event below)

Please make yourself convenient and be present for both the days with all support.

We earnestly request all devotees to attend this auspicious pooja and get the blessings of Lord Sastha.

Those who wish to contribute to this Puja, may send Cheque / MO / DD in favour of :

"Shri Maha Sasthru Seva Sangam" to V. Aravind Subramanyam, Thejovathy, 94 B, Third Street, Tatabad, Coimbatore 12. Ph: 099946-41801

Or You may pay directly to our Bank Account :

Name: "Shri Maha Sasthru Seva Sangam"

Karur Vysya Bank A/c No. 1121 135 822

IFSC CODE - KVBL0001121

Nanjappa Road Branch

or

Canara Bank A/c No. 2988 101 015671

IFSC CODE - CNRB0002988

PSG Arts College Branch

Devotees who donate can mail us your Name and Nakshatram and the Address so that it will be included in the Puja and we can send you the prasadam.

Looking forward to your active support to celebrate this function of "OUR" Lord.

Contributions in way of Cash or Kind / Materials :

Flowers Rs. 5,001 (Per Session)

Puja Materials Rs.5,001 (Per Session)

Ashwa Puja, Go Puja Rs. 5001

Sankalpam for One Rudra Ganam Rs. 15000

Materials such as Rice Bags, Vegetables, Milk, Coconuts,Oil tin, Ghee tin etc

Annadhanam (Full Contribution) Rs.75,000 (Per Day) or

Annadhanam (Part Contribution) Rs.10,000

(All these are indicative only) Any small contribution to the above event would make it very successful and obtain the blessing of Lord Dharma Sastha.

For Details You may Contact

Ph: 099946 41801

Email: aravindsastha@gmail.com

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KIRATHA MAHA RUDRAM

With the boundless blessings of Our Baktha Paripala Sri Maha Sastha, and blessings of Ayyappa Bhaktha Ratnam ,Kalpathy Sri C.V. Srinivasa Iyer (my Great Grandfather), last year's great event of “Hariharaputhra Brahmana Santarpana Vaibhavam” was a life time experience and without the divine grace event of such magnitude could event be dreamt of. This was followed by the glorious Bhuvaneshwara Pattabhishekam under the leadership of Kadanthethi Sivacharyars.

This year, Shri Mahasasthru Seva Sangam, has ordained to perform the unique event of “Kiratha Maha Rudram" - Maha Rudra Yagnam to Lord Kiratha Sastha and the annual Sastha Preethi Mahotsavam, on June 14 & 15, 2014.

Kiratha Maha Rudram 15-06-2014:

The Karunyam of the Almighty, Sri Maha Sastha is immeasurable. Our gratitude to the Great Lord can be expressed in many ways.

The word Rudram means fire which ignites the divine grace. Sri Rudram is a part of Yajur Vedha and is a wish full filler of the entire humanity.

Scriptures define several methods of Rudram recitation . These are summarized by Sage Satapatha

1. Reciting the entire Sri Rudram – reciting Namakam 11 times followed by first ,second canto of Chamakam for each Namakam recitation is known as Rudraikadasini (Ekadasha Rudram).
2. Eleven Rudraikadasini make one Laghu Rudram (121 times recitation). This is usually done by 11 priests each chanting Rudram 11 times simultaneously.
3. Eleven Laghu Rudrams make one Maha Rudram (1,331 times)

So Sri Rudram and Chamakam when chanted 121 times by 11 Vedhic Scholars it becomes Maha Rudram

Sri rudram praises the Supreme Lord as a divine hunter with bow, arrow and sword, the very source

of cosmic energy for the entire creation. His Divine form encompasses and extends far beyond all known and unknown galaxies and universes. He is the conqueror of Death and an embodiment of infinite mercy, compassion and love.

This is exactly similar to the form of Lord Kiratha Sastha - the divine hunter, who is often addressed as Paradevatha - the ultimate supreme of all Gods. Though there are many forms to Lord Sastha, this incarnation is to for blessing the good and virtuous and also for the destruction of evil.

Lord Kiratha Sasha is praised as the son of Lord Shiva and Parvathi, born when he assumed the form of a Kirata (hunter) to deliver a weapon known as Pashupathasthra to Arjuna. He is one who is worshipped in Erumeli Kotta. He is worshipped in most famous temples of Kerala like Balussery Kotta, Nilambur, Trivandrum Kizhakke Kotta etc

Even Adhishankara Bagawadpada has praised the Lord in this form.

The worship of Lord Kiratha Sastha is well explained in ancient texts like Sasthru Puja Kalpadrumam and Kiratha Soonu Charitham. Texts like Srichakrarchana deepika also lists his moola mantrams.

The mantrakalpa for Lord Kirata is said to be from umayamala tantra. After the worship of Lord Kiratha Sastha in the mandala with Sri Rudra Parayanam, Kirata-ashtaka stuti is used to offer pushpanjali to the Lord.

It’s not a regular puja or celebaration but a religious Yagyam which would happen only by the divine grace and which would directly get us the grace and blessings of the Lord.

This Splendid Event of “Kiratha Maha Rudram”, according to my knowledge, again, is the FIRST OF ITS KIND to take place.

Very rarely a Yajna of this significance and magnitude can be witnessed and the opportunity for the people to actually participate in the worship. It is also done particularly for the sake of washing away ones sins and afflictions, for bringing peace, prosperity and family happiness.

So, the Bhakthas who are taking part in this magnificent event can be assured of obtaining the limitless blessings of Sri MahaSastha and getting all their prayers fulfilled.

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May Lord Hariharaputra be with you always, giving you the best of everything.

Swamy Sharanam

V.Aravind Subramanyam