Kiratha Roopa Sastharam

This entire year seems to be a wave of Karunyam from Lord Sastha. Though our pradhana moorthi is Maha Sastha, Kiratha Sastha has an important place in our upasana. Many devotees have asked whats our relation with Kiratha Sastha.. I said, if  Maha Sastha is our Praanan - Kiratha Sastha is the Praana vaayu... Thinking back now, its more than my words and the connection is a lot deeper.

Our ancestors were deeply devoted to Lord Sastha and My great grand father Shri. CV Krishnan(brother of Shri.CV.Srinivasa Iyer – Chaami Anna) - worshipped Lord Kiratha Sastha as one of his chief upasana devatas. A certain incident in his life seems to have propelled him deeply into the upasana of Kiratha and he very fondly worshipped him. His love for the Lord was so intense, that as soon as the Lord came to our home last month (in the form of a Vigraham) his divine guidance manifested in the dream. This was followed by the grace of the ferocious Lord- both happened for three consecutive days.

Few years back when I started to Chant Kiratashtakam, to be frank, initially it seemed rather difficult to recite the Ashtakam – which was in Shardula Vikreedita Chandas and was lengthy compared to other mantras. On an enigmatic Saturday of Makara Maasam I was initated to the mantra of the Hunter Lord. That marked the beginning of a bond with the great Lord, that made many impossible things happen. And soon came the Mudravadi – to dispel all my hesitations… So whenever Mudravadi is in my hand, the fierce Kiratha assured that the rest will be taken care of.



The clouds of confusion were cleared by the mighty presence as gently as a mother clearing the curls off her child’s forehead. 

Kiratha is such a vigorous form that he can even do dwamsa to the prarabdha…

I recollect one incident - One of the close associates of my great grand father was suffering with Cancer. Based on divine guidance, he began to petition Lord Kiratha for help and was cured without any treatment. The cry – Yama Mardha beeti rahito divyam gateem shaashvateem - did the trick! The Lord literally brought him back from the city of Mrutyu.

One of the best part which I like most -during my lecture is about Kiratha Sastha... I loose myself even during my Pravachanam while narrating about Kiratha Moorthy.

Though projected as a ferocious deity, the Karunyam of Kiratha Sastha is uncomparable. It has been one of the turning principles of my spiritual life. It is something beyond description. It's a matter of joy and awe.

The same thing happenned last Saturday - Sunday. Iam attending many number of Sastha Preethis right from my childhood and soon after the above said events, the Lord gave an opportunity to conduct Sastha Preethis and also golden chances of doing puja to him. Apart from our regular Sastha Preethi at Coimbatore, we conduct few Sasthru pujas with very close circle. One such annual Sastha Preethi – is at Balu’s house.

Once the name  “Sastha” is uttered – we take up responsibility voluntarily on our shoulders. This time, without any travel plan or discussion, most of us assembled at Balu’s place.

This year right from the beginning, it was so special. First day... during the Sastha homam, the presence around us was unmistakable. Needless to say about the evening lecture which I gave on Kirathashtakam. Since Swami was there in the Vigraha roopam, this year we decided to have Lord Kiratha Moorthy as the pradhana devata. Next day as soon as the avahanam was done, I was completely lost with fervor and excitement. I could feel that everyone of us were simply present there – where everything was takenover by Him. Iam experiencing such contentment after 2-3 years. All that remained was unceasing serenity, luminosity and a presence like never before.

Sastha Preethi is a very rare occasion where the Lord is invited during the special ritual and His message is received and followed.

After the deeparadhana, to our surprise, the presence of Lord Bhutesha was felt. The presence was so forceful, majestic and blissful. Everybody was taken aback with the glory…

The message from the Lord was simple: “I am here for you”


What more do we need? 
Sharanam na anyam prapannosmyaham

Mahaganapati Tarpanam

Dear Anna, I wish to know about the Ganapathy Tarpanam. When I met you at Sabarimali, You suggested me to perform this tarpanam for 41 days. You also gave me a picture for the Chatur Avruti Tarpanam

I took your words as upadesham and have started doing the tarpanam and completed 10 days and I could see the result immediately. So I want to know its greatness.

Krishnan, 

Mumbai

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This post is solely meant for Upasakas.. For some it may sound Greek and Latin. Anyway, even by reading this, I think we contemplate on Ganapati and Ganapati may cast his Kataksham on us... Since Vinayaka Chaturti is fast approaching I thought few of our readers may be benefited.

Ganeshas Tarpana Priyah: says Sasthram

So the easiest way to please Ganapati is performing the chaturavrutti tarppanam. 

A person can earn the grace of the Lord speedily by offering this 444 tarpanams. 

The water should be mixed with vasana dravyams like chandanam, cardamom, Saffron etc and this tarpanam is done with the moola mantram of ganapati along with the all his avarana devatas. This in turn removes obstacles, bestows us all good things in life

The qualification for this is proper upadesham of (28 lettered) Moola mantram of Maha Ganapati 

This may be done for Ganapaty yantram, or yantram drawn with turmeric or sandal. Or else some may use Sonabadra stone directly for doing the tarpanam. This changes according to one's acharam. 

Do the shodochopachara puja to ganapaty and after that pour the suganda jalam on the yantram/bimbam while chanting the prescribed Mantra and "Tarpayami namaha". Each tarpanam in repeated 4 times.

There are 28 aksharas for the Maha Ganapati moola mantra. 

Ganapathy Tarpanam starts by doing tarpanam with all these 28 aksharas individually.

So 28 Moolam Tarpanam + 28 Aksharam Tarpanam = 56 x 4 times= 224 Tarpanams

In the same way, each the avarana devatas(along with their consorts separately) of Ganapaty are to be pleased by doing tarpanam .

1. Lakshmi - Vishnu

2. Girija and Haran

3. Rati and Kama

4. Mahi and Varaha

5. Mahalakshmi and Mahaganapati

6. Riddhi and Amodha

7. Smruthi and Pramodha

8.Kanthi and Sumuka

9.Madanavati Durmuka

10.Madadrava and Avigna

11.Dravini and Vignakarta

12. Vasudhara and Shankanidhi

13. Vasumati and Padmanidhi

For each of the above couples separate Tarpanam

So 13 x 2 = 26 

So 26 Moolam Tarpanam + 26 Devata Tarpanam = 52 x 4 times each= 208 Tarpanams

Separate Tarpanams for Maha Ganapati = 4 + 8 = 12

So 224 + 208 + 12 = 444 Tarpanams

Another notable feature followed in few schools of chaturavrutti tarpanam is unique. ie doing tarpanam with what are all moola mantrams one has got upadesham - through Mahaganapati. This inturn helps a lot in mantra siddhi and earn the grace of one's ishta devata.

After the Tarpanam one can consume the Tarpana jalam as prasadam and also give the same to 

all the people in the house.

When this is done for 41 days, this becomes a yagna and this process removes any obstacles in all the endevours, removes fears and gives success, gives mental clarity in thinking and blesses with all the aishwaryams. 

After this one can continue to do this every even daily or atleast on every Fridays.

Sri Adisankara has mentioned in Prapancha Saram, that all people irrespective of of caste, creed or religion can do it to seek the blessings of Lord Maha Ganapati.

Ayur arogya maishwaryam balam pushtir mahatyasha

kavitvam bukti mukti cha chaturavrutti tarpanaat

By doing Ganapati Chaturavrutti Tarpanam regularly one is blessed with Ayuh- a long life, Arogyam- good health, Aishwaryam - dharmic wealth, Balam - strength, Pushti - lasting eminence, Mahat Yashas-great honour and veneration , Kavitvam- Literary skills, Bukti - enjoyment of worldly life and Mukti - Moksha ie salvation and liberation from the cycle of birth and death. 

Anaimukhan Sodharane Sharanam Ayyappa

Naamasankeerthanam

Pranaams Anna

First of all, i would like to thanks for the great info sharing in Sanatana Dharma.i'm great fan of your blog.

what are your views on Namasankeerthana ?

Hope Iam not wasting your time

 

:)

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Why specifically about Namasankeerthana???

Many people have made up an opinion or they themselves have come to a conclusion about me that I have lesser interest in Naamasankeerthanam

Moksha is the ultimate goal of one's life and bhakti is a major lap in this.... and Shravanam and Keerthanam are important among the nava vidha bhakti

shravaNaM kIrtanaM viShNoH smaraNaM pAdasevanam |

archanaM vandanaM dAsyaM sakhyamAtmanivedanam ||

It is not the problem with the divine system called Naamasankeerthanam but the problem with human tendency involved in the divine system.

Iam very much uncomfortable with few practices that is being followed in the name of Bhajana Sampradhayam today.

The Dakshina Bharata Bhajana Sampradaya was formulated by the three Gurus Sri Bodhedral, Sri Sridhara  Ayyaval and Sri Sadguru Swamigal. An interesting point to be noted that all the Three are strong advaitis belonging to Shankara Sampradaya.

All the three acharyas used this bhajana sampradhaya as an easiest way for the public to attain this advaithic Gnanam(wisdom)... It is a marga - no doubt about that... But that doest mean one must leave his nitya karmas(bounden duties - both spiritual and family duties) and sing bajan

Non-performance of nitya karmas and duties in the name of bhajana is like performing Sahasrabojanam while your own mother is starving in the house.

Another main point is dancing in public...

Vishnor Gaanamcha Nruthamcha Natanamcha Visheshathaha

Singing and dancing to the praise of the lord Vishnu is prescribed...

So singing and dancing to the glory of the Lord by those who are in bhajana sampradhayam and doing deepa pradakshinam by way of dancing by bhagawathas is accepted...

Dancing out of ecstasy is a very noble state... but 90% of the people who jump for abhangs- dance for other's sake and for music and not by enjoying the meaning or enjoying the Lord.

And please understand Naamasankeerthana cannot directly grant you moksha... It will give the chitta shuddhi -which will further lead one to Moksha through spiritual advancement. So one must start enjoying the Lord by means of bhajanai - this habit should be enhanced by Naamasankeerthanam.

The main purpose of bhajanai is the momentary bliss you get... This comes very rarely - when you hear Prabho Ganapathe by Hairdhos Giri - you can literally feel Ganapathy Dancing in front of you... and on hearing Nrusimha Karavalambam by Balu Mama you will automatically understand how helpless you are and how the Lord Narahari is ever-ready to save you... "Adhwaitha Vasthuvai..." by Chellappa Mama makes you feel that you are right in front of Lord Ayyappan Himself...

Thus bhajanai helps in developing bhakti...   For developing this bhakti it doesnt require a star singer or number of musical instruments and pompous stage decoration and all of that sort... Once I heard a beggar in Anchaneya's disguise who came singing with a single thambura... by the merely listening to the his "Raama Bhadra Raa Raa", it took us to saketapuri....This is real Naamasankeerthanam

When this purpose is achieved at bhajanai hall, temple, your house, on road- that very moment is Naamasankeerthanam.

Kaalakshepo Na Karthavyaha Ksheenam Aayuhu Kashane Kashane

Yamasya Karunaa Naasthi Karthavyam Harikeerthanam

Vigrahams - without worshipping

Dear Guruji / Anna, please clarify my doubts. Can we keep swami vikragams without worshipping it? Some people say you should not  buy it from shops. Then how will we get?

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Swamy Sharanam

For all puja Vigrahams made of metals like copper, bronze or framed pictures the presence of the Lord is invoked by avahanam and pranapratishta and in this case - the presence is there only till the end of the puja. 

But in the case of Ayudams like Shoolam, Vel and Mudravadi and vigrahams made of panchaloka, silver , Gold its nityam sannihitam - so the positive charge is more and will retain the sannidyam - presence of the Lord is always there... This may sound very nice to hear but please understand that this has its own implications . These days people keep all sorts of idols made of plastic, porcelain, rubber, glass, wood etc., but as per shastras even bronze is secondary when compared to gold or silver or panchaloha.

When you have a puja vigraham at home, please understand that you are having a supreme entity at your puja room. And understand each devata right from Maha Ganapati to Lalithambika or Maha Sastha, all are having their own parivara devatas! So even a single trace of act like neglecting the deities, will earn the displeasure of the Parivara. Unless you have the urge and craving desire for the Lord, do not keep on adding the vigrahams.

Question yourself whether you need the Vigraham first of all? For what purpose? If you are planning for something like marriage, promotion, health, financial crisis, happiness, gruha dosham, kalyana dosham, vastu dosham, power etc. etc.? without proper upasana, keeping any vigraham, even if it is made of Chintamani Stone, is useless.

Do we need to setup a CT scan machine at home so that we can get rid of ordinary headache? A simple amrutanjan or crocin would achieve the purpose! So, if one does not understand the significance of the Lord from Guru and does not receive it from him, buying the idol from a shop alone will not bring any good things by its mere presence.

I do agree that for those who are serious about upasana may have an interest in having the Lors's vigraham at home.. But for others there is no pramanam that allows one to keep Vigrahams without the eligible qualification(means mantra upadesham). Puja Vigrahams (even if you order or buy...) should come only through his Guru (with his acknowledgement) and one needs to continue his upasana till then, awaiting the grace.

For certain cases a vigraham may reach you unexpectedly - this is again happening only because of Guru Kripa and nothing elase...

Please understand... Bhakti itself is not upasana... But bhakti combined with upasana is what is expected. Upasana is both physical as well as a mental process where the pradhanyam or importance is to bhaava. Japa is necessarily a mental process and puja, (though done physically) is another great  mental process. The offering of various upacharams with the bhaava is what constitutes of puja. Thus when this bhaava is complimented by Bhakti, upasana is complete. 

Bhaava + Bhakthi = Upasana

Thus, without upaasana (involving bhaava and bhakti), one should not venture into vigraham and complex representations like mudra vadi, shoolam etc. A non-upaasaka who enjoys the Lord with bhakti always has approachable photos, small idols etc. definitely with this open approach he may progress towards upaasana.

If merely keeping the vigrahams is going you to fetch all luxuries, then all handicraft shops must have turned to Kuberapuri...

I met  person few days ago who has almost all vigrahams of all deities of hindu pantheon.(I gave a comment - Out of thirty three crore devatas, I think only one or two will be free from you). The pujas are done only once or twice a month whenever he goes home on vacation.  All other days they sleep inside the box.... What is the point is collecting these vigrahams?

(Ananya bhakti has no reasoning... he may see the Lord in Picture, Paper or any idol made of any material... thats a totally different subject... But we cannot assume ourselves that we have ananya bhakti)

So, unless one has the Guru to guide properly and firm faith in Lord, one should be careful in such things.

Gayatri Mantram - an Unknown Fact

Many of our friends with upanayanam may give wonderful statements like - “ We are into meditation you see.... and when we get instant result in that, then what is the use of Sandhyavandanam and sprinkling some water?

"This is the Kali yuga" and thats my only answer for this statement.. Iam not ready to tell anything more...

For those who do Sandhyavandanam regularly - please read this... this may be useful....

Iam not detailing the sandhyavandhanam part here and coming directly to Gayatri.

The Gayatri chanting part is the central part of the Sandhyavandanam.

na gAyatryAH parO mantraH na mAtu daivatam param

There is no mantra superior to gAyatri, neither is there a form of God superior to one's mother

Gayatri is a most sacred japam that can activate twenty four spots of the human body in the subtle plane. Thats why it is said that a person need not do any sadhna if he does gayatri.

Gayatri Mantra is extolled by one and all . It is a simple and small mantra but with  huge  benefits

Gayatri is a Maha mantra. But please note....

'mananaat trAyatE iti mantraH' (it protects through meditation).

In other word Gayatri should be contemplated silently thinking inwards. It loses its potency if chanted loud or sung with any raga....  Only time Gayatri is chanted loud is during the Ahuti in the yagna

And it is a sin to 'sing' Gayatri using any ragas! (Singers like Anuradha Paudwal please excuse me... Its Shastra... so you MUST follow it....)

Now... coming to our subject..

Each mantra is has a Rishi (who gave us the mantra), a specific Chandas and the Devata(to whom the mantra is dedicated ). This is symbolically represented by touching the head while chanting the Rishi's Name (placing his feet on our head), touching the nose when we recite the chandas (no life without breath - similarly there is no life to the mantra without Chandas); then touching the heart for Devata's name(meditate the deity in our heart)

The most famous Gayatri mantram as "discovered" or meditated upon my Sage Vishvamitra. Gayathri refers also to a Chandas - meter

The word chandas also means the meter of vedic poetry . There are different typs of Chandas for each sloka or veda mantra

Depending on the number of syllables in each of the paadas, we have different meters :-

anushtup (8 syllables)

brihati (9),

pankti (10),

trishtup (11 )

ushnik (4 paadas of 7 syllable each = 28 syllables) -like that up to even 26 syllables to a paada. (Any meter beyond 26 syllables to a paada, is called dandakam.)

Now coming to our Gayatri... there is a Chandas itself by named Gayatri -  and Our Gayatri Mantra has three paadas of 8 syllables each; the meter itself is known as gayatri since it has 24 syllables;

The chandas is vital and should be respected while reciting vedic mantras. Chandas helps us to ensure the form of the Mantra (by meter count). No alteration to this can be attempted since it would disturb the spiritual significance of the mantra itself!

However, there is a slight change in the Gayatri mantram itself... thats what Iam trying to convey here...

I was really surprised that even eminent scholars were not aware of this change and when I discussed this subject with them only 1-2% of people were aware of this fact and only a handful of them were practicing it correctly...

The well known statement is "ChathurvimsathyaksharA GaayathrI " (There should be 24 aksharams in GaayathrI). The rules of Chandas permit one aksharam less for variations (so 24 minus 1 =23). When it is 23, it is called nicruth GaayathrI.

Remember - the chandas for regular gayatri japa is 'nichrut gayatri' which is one syllable short of 'gayatri' chandas. ie 23 aksharams and Not 24...

'Saavitria Rishi: Viswamitra:, 

nichruth Gayatri chanda: 

Savita Devata, Gayatri jape viniyogah :'

So the main focus is the pronounciation of 'varENyaM' in the part  ".tat savitur varenyam" (tat-sa-vi-tur = 4 plus 3 syllables va-re-nyam). So onthe whole the regular Gayatri Japam is nicruth GaayathrI.with 23 letters

But please note while doing Argya Pradhanam its regular Gayatri Chandas and Not nicruth GaayathrI. ie 24 lettered and and Not 23 lettered.
So.... for gayatri argyam - the mantra has to be pronounced as 'varENiyaM' (4 syllables va-re-ni-yam) and not as varENyaM.

So, Gayatri ought to be chanted as 'varENyaM' only during the japa since the chandas explicitly stated during the invocation is 'nic^Rit gAyatrI'.  During the 'arghyapradaanam' one should say varENiyaM.

Thus , the GaayathrI (GaaythrI manthram used for Argyam) has "varENiyam " with an extra aksharam and the total counts up to 24 aksharams .

The other one with " VarENyam " becomes 23 in count and is permitted as Gaayathri Japam


May Gayatri, the Mother of Vedas, bestow on us right understanding, pure intellect, right conduct and right thinking !

Sri Shuba Drishti Ganapathy

Swami Saranam,

I got the below information from my close friend that in chennai  SRI.SHUBHA DRISHTI GANAPATHI photo is available - small and big.

Also they are sugguesting to chat below mantram everyday min 31times and max chatting will get better benefit.......

OM HREEM! SHREEM! KLEEAM!

XXXXXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXX

 OM SVAAHAA!

How far this is true.  Kindly clarify

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Let me make it clear... 

Mantra Shastra is totally different from practically what we see... 

It will be surprising to know that things which are promoted by "so called" spiritual magazines or neo Gurus are no way acceptable by the mantra shastra... 

The main thing to be noted it, when you do things which are not prescribed by the shastras the net result may be either way - positive or negative but when we venture into things prohibited by the mantra shastras then sure we are going to land some where else...

Again my words may hurt may and again I may get the title of "threatener".... But Iam not threatening any one but Iam just telling you the truth... 

Last month I saw a instant stall in front of a temple with a lady selling doop stick packets she gave me and he said by lighting this one can get the result of doing " Ganapati homam... "

She said this specific type of dhoopsticks are manufatured by some Agastya or Bogar ashram... with Sidhar secret !!! (I think today Agastya and Boga seem to have more leisure time - most of the Swamijis claim to talk with them !!! ) 

How can a mere dhoopa give the result of a homa ? This is nothing more than a cheap marketing technique in the name of God...

Then why our ancestors spent so much of time is doing all these Kriyas.... Just buy an incese for 15Rs and get Ganapaty Homa Result, buy 4 packets, burn it and do Chandi homa Result.... Buy 25 packets and get the result of doing all the homams in your life time....

Please understand - anything which has pramana on Sasthra - is only acceptable. You cannot invent or introduce new practices, new swamijis or even new Gods....

You find Saibaba Yantra, Ragavendra Yantra and even to the extent of - moola mantra for Nithyanandha....

Even I can make a claim that Jesus Christ created Lord Brahma.....  will it be true? 99% of the claims made today by these people are similar to this.

Not only this... may conventional practices are also "out of the way" 

A simple instance.. which may be very much surprising to many of the devotees is lighting of "Elumizham Pazha Vilakku" ie Lemon Lamp during Rahu Kalam especially for Durga.

This is nowhere found in the Sasthras....

I still wonder how this started.... You are not even suppose to cut a flower or a fruit in the divine sannidhanam.. then how can you burn it ?

All these practices may be there for a very long time. But adhering the sasthras is the primary importance.

What to do? All these may look fancy But following the Sasthra only can give the result

Now coming to this query of Shuba Drishti Ganapaty

Mantra Sasthras give a lot of forms for Shri Maha Ganapaty... all the forms of Ganapaty are acknowledged and each has its own  form, Moola Mantra and bestow specific result. 

For instance you have Sankata Hara Ganapaty for removing sorrows,

Runa Hara Ganapaty to remove liabilities and debts, Vidya ganapaty for education and many more...

Ganapatyam Starts from Maha Ganapaty and Srividya Ends with Ucchishta Ganapaty.

You may also see my article on the 32 forms of Ganapaty

32 Forms of Ganapathi

http://shanmatha.blogspot.com/2010/04/32-forms-of-ganapathi.html

Apart from this you have 16, 108 and many more forms of Ganapaty. 

But all the other form are acknowledged by Sasthras and properly recorded... The moola mantras of these forms of Ganapaty are taken as a upadesham from the Guru and the initiated disciple practices it.

But... This Shuba Drishti Ganapaty can no where be found in any Sasthras... Suddenly some 8-9 years back a craze started and almost every house in Tamilnadu had the picture of this Kan Drishti Ganapaty (Later renamed as Shuba Drishti Ganapti)

This was created by an eminent Sculptor named Baskaradas from Chennai(as per the divine  instructions he got from one Swamiji)

I have a great regard for the Sculptor for his talent and knowledge.. One of my friend was his neighbor and his devotion is something extra ordinary. Out of his own divine experience and of a divine dream he has created this form of Ganapaty.

But I personally cannot accept the idea of creating new forms apart from what is prescribed in the Sasthras..

(This is 100% my personal opinion and be sure and clear that Iam not passing any judgments or comments on anyone)

There are numerous forms of Pillayar  like Cricket Ganesha, Kargil Ganesha and many more displays during Ganesha Chaturthi... 

When you see everything as Ganesha- he is even there in "Manjal" or even in the Cow Dung.. But when you come to Kriya- 100 % rules has to be followed

When the Shuba Drishti ganapati itself is formed after 1996 I dont know where people derive the mode of worship to this Ganapaty..   

When the very form itself is under question how can you "derive" a moola mantra for that form ? and what is the source text for prescribing 31 times x so many days etc etc

All the moola mantras or Mala Mantras are given by Rishis - I dont know which rishi gave the moola mantram for this Ganapaty after 1996

Thasmai Kaalathmane Nama : thats my ultimate answer...

Salagrama Puja at Houses

One of my friend visited my house and saw our saligramam we need 

to reconfirm and wish to know what type of saligramam we have in our house. And wish to know the name etc., 

But as below mentioned saligrama is Vishnu's, how Iyers who are generally Shaiva like us having the same. I have seen my grant father, father praying rudram while performing pooja. Do sivalinga will also have holes in it ??? 

Is it necessary we need keep close the saligram and Linka after Pooja and archana?? Iam having close room for my temple so I never closed after pooja. Kindly 

clarify

A Devotee

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Salagrama is a small roundish black stone with a small hole and has some distinctive marking like Chakra or shankha etc. These Salagramas are worshipped as Vishnu himself. 

A home with a Salagramam is regarded as a temple. Nitya Abhisheka and Aradhana is recommended for the Salagrama. The Salagramam when properly worshiped will nullify the evil effects of black magic within a radius of 5 miles from its location.

You can read the origin of Salagramam from my book Shri Maha Sastha Vijayam - the first chapter of Sastha Jananam - ie the river Gandaki originated from Mohini Avatara Vishnu's body - so the sacred stones from this river is considered as vishnu himself. Its actually the shell of the worms in the river Gandaki and its body is covered by a stone cover or shell known as Vajrakita and they came to be called as Salagramas.

gandakyAs cha iva dEsE cha sAlagrAma Stalam mahat

pAshanam tad bhavam yath thath sAlagrAmam iti smrtham

Near the Gandaki River, there is a big place called Shalagram. The stones which appear in that place are called Shalagramam

There is a detailed work called Salagram Kosha - which explains the significance and varieties and methods of worship for a Salagrama.

Each house may a have a different Salagrama as per the family tradition. You may esquire your family elders regarding this. Iam afraid that I cannot judge which salagramam you are having without seeing it personally. From the description you are giving, I think its general Maha Vishnu Salagrama.

The Salagramas used for puja at home generally has a hole. Having the rekhas, marks etc is not a must. Please note that even if it has a crack or split, it is still auspiciousa and can be worshiped. If it is broken into two -  it can be worshipped as two separate Moorthis. And this is directly opposite in the case of Shiva linga - even if there is a small crack in a Shiva Linga it should not be used for worship.

And coming to an important question  - How Iyers are worshipping Salagrama ? 

IYERS ARE NOT SHAIVAITES !!!

Iyers or Smarthas are people who treat every God as a manifestation of one Supreme being. Just because Smarthas adore Bhasma(vibhuti) and associated with Adhi Shankara, most of the people (including Iyers) are of the opinion that we are Shaivaites - which is not at all true.

Smarthas are people who believe in One Supremacy and worshiped it in different forms. We dont differentiate between Shiva and Vishnu. Adhi Shankara taught this principle. And you can see the Stotras of Shankara that he praises Vishnu than a staunch Vaishnavite.

Each Smartha House had a complete Set of Panchayata - which includes -

1.Shiva Linga

2.Vishnu Salagrama

3.Ganapati Sonabadra

4.Surya Spatika

5. Devi Swarnamuki

According to the family tradition one deity may gain primary position and other are placed around it.

Please read my article on Panchayatana Puja 

http://shanmatha.blogspot.com/2009/11/panchayatana-puja.html

We dont differentiate between Shiva and Vishnu and So its no wonder worshipping a Vishnu Salagrama by an Iyer. 

Even the Shringeri Acharyas worship the Nrisimha Salagrama which is handed down in the lineage by Adhi Shankara himself. The Shri Chankr at Kamakoti Peetam, Kanchipuram is engraved on a Salagrama Stone.

Strict Acharas has to be followed regarding Devata Puja. Worshipping framed pictures and doing Yatha Sthanam after the puja is totally a different procedure. 

But these Salagramam, Shivalingam etc has Nitya Sannidyam of the Devatas and even a small Anachara may result in adverse effect. Thats the reason our ancestors were very careful in handling with these and so closed the Puja gruham immediately after the puja

Panchayatana puja

sir i want to know about panchayadhana pooja.

What are the moorthams to b placed on that.

please clear my query

Manikandan, Chennai

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Panchayatana puja is the

system of worship which was most common in every Brahmin house till few decades ago.

The Panchayatana is a system which consists of

the worship of five deities:

"Adityam Ambikaam Vishnum Gananaatam Maheswaram"

Aditya is Surya; Ambika is Devi; Vishnu is

Narayana; Gananaatham is Ganesha, Mahesvara is shiva.

These five are the great divine force whom every householder worships as pancha devata puja.

Based on the tradition

followed by the family, one of these deities is kept in the center and the other four surround it and worship is offered to all the deities.

Adhi Shankara systemetised the Sanatana Dharma(Hinduism) and classified it into broad Six categories.

Shaiva - with Shiva as the Presiding deity

Vaishnava - with Vishnu as the Presiding deity

Shaktha - with Devi as the Presiding deity

Ganapatya - with Ganesha as the Presiding deity

Kaumara - with Subramanya as the Presiding deity

SoWra - with Surya (planets) as the Presiding deity

People mistake that Shri Shankara actually started this Panchayatana puja system - which is wrong. Deva Puja and Archana is one of the most important duties imposed by the Shastras. The Shastras are filled with details of the Panchayatana puja details and Shankra only prescribed us to follow it without fail..

The panchayatana scheme represent the five elements:

AkAshasyAdhipo viShNuH agneshchaiva maheshvarI |

vAyoH sUryaH kShiterIshaH jIvanasya gaNAdhipaH ||

Akasha : Space : Vishnu

Vahni : Fire : AmbikA

Vayu : Air : Aditya

kShiti : Earth : Shiva

Jala : Water : Ganapati

All the five deities are not Panchaloka or any other metal idols; But these five are represented by small natural stones found in various parts of Bharatha Desham.

Deity Stone River Place

Ganesha Red Sonabhadra Sone Bihar

Surya Crystal Vallam Tamil Nadu (Tanjavur)

Vishnu Saligrama Gandaki Nepal

Shiva Bana Linga Narmada Madhya Pradesh

Ambika Swarna Mukhi Swarnamukhi Andra Pradesh

The image of that particular devata is kept in the centre, surrounded by the other gods.

If he is a devotee of Vishnu, he places the idol of Vishnu in the centre with the other idols surrounding it. If he is a devotee of Lord shiva, a lingam is placed in the middle with the other images around it. If he is a devotee of Suryanarayana, he has a sphatika as the central object of worship.

The positioning in the panchayatana poojas are as follows:

Shiva Panchayatana Puja

• Shiva at the center
• Aditya at Southeast
• Gananatha at Southwest
• Ambika at Northwest and
• Vishnu at the Northeast.

Ganapathy Panchayatana Puja

• Ganapathy at the center
• Vishnu at Northeast
• shiva at Southeast
• Adithya Southwest and
• Ambal at Northwest

Vishnu Panchayatana Puja

• Vishnu at center
• shiva at Northeast
• Ganapathy at Southeast
• Adithya at Southwest and
• Ambal at Northwest

Ambal Panchayatana Puja

• Ambal at center,
• Vishnu at Northeast,
• shiva at Southeast,
• Ganapathy at Southwest and
• Adithya at Northwest

Adithya Panchayatana Puja

• Adithya at center,
• shiva at Northeast,
• Ganapathy at Southeast,
• Vishnu at Southwest,
• Ambal at Northwest

Along with this people worshipping Subramanya will include Him in the form of a (silver) Snake or Vel (spear)

shaiva ca vaiShNavam shaaktam sauram vainaayakam tathaa .

skaandam ca bhaktimaargasya darshanaani Shadeva hi ..

I can surely say - till panchayatana puja was strictly followed in our country we were really flourishing. Though the technical advancements were not present people were peaceful, satisfied and happy.

Only when this Panchayatana stopped during english invasion- we began to loose our glory- happiness, mental peace and everything.

Panchayatana Puja is a systematic procedure which involves physical and mental discipline, requires inner and outer cleanliness. This - when done systematically will surely bring the progress in the material world and the final truth - awareness of the true Self. By following it, one obtains the Lord’s Anugraha, without

which liberation is not possible.