Kanthamalai and Ponnambalamedu

Can u clarify about sacred ponnambalamedu and kanthamallai. Is there is any temple over there ?

- a devotee

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Kanthamalai and Ponnambalamedu - both are two different entities..

As Ive already explained it here

Sastha Temples and Shat Chakras

http://shanmatha.blogspot.com/2010/08/six-sastha-temples-and-shat-chakras.html

Kanthamalai is not a place which exists in the physical plane. Its like Kailasam and Vaikuntam... they exist but you cannot see them...

Sasthru lokam is known as Tejovathi or Mahakaalam and at this Sasthru lokam- the hill in which the Lord resides is known as Kanthagiri or Kanthamalai. 

Kanthamalai is a place which exists in the Sukshma Plane and cannot be seen with the naked eyes.. 

It is in this Kanthamalai the Supreme Lord Maha Sastha resides with Poorna and Pushkala, His eternal consorts and all his devotees reach this FINAL ABODE and worship him there...

Just like we say "Sri rangam" as Bhooloka Vaikundam and Chidambaram as Booloka Kailasam - Since one cannot reach here directly,  some people consider Ponnambalamedu to be the Kanthamalai of Bhoolokam..

But please be clear Kanthamalai is totally different... Ponnambalamedu is one among the eighteen hills that surround Sabarimalai...

Ponnamblamedu - the mound of pon ambalam - Golden Temple....

It is the most sacred and divine place... The spot is very sacred and the divinity charged there in the atmosphere is beyond imagination..

The rahasya behind is - it is actually the spot where Parasurama installed the Adhi Moolasthanam - Temple of Sastha (Which probably might have been in Gold - as the name suggests)

Later during the historic age, this temple was destroyed and looted by a dacoit named Udayanan..  during this time the advent of Ayyappa took place who annihilated Udayana and instructed the then Pandalam Raja to construct the Dharma Sastha temple - the present temple - where it is situated now. When the temple was rebuilt - Ayyappan finally merged with the jothi which appeared at Ponnambalamedu

(I am not elaborating this wonderful history of Sabarimala and Arya Kerala Varman here.. If devotees are interested to read please let me know - I shall write the detailed story as a series later)

Few years ago, when I was doing research for my book Shri Maha Sastha Vijayam - while discussing with Shri Viswanatha Sharma, he shared me his experiences there and showed me the photographs taken at the ponnambala medu..

We dont find any temple there now.. I was told that there were ruins of a temple- but nothing is to be seen now... today we see a yantram with "XX" beejam engraved there...

There is also a pond there named as Seetha Kulam and there is a cave just below the concrete platform - which is almost not reachable now... 

I personally have a feeling that apart from this concrete platform which is seen now the holy spot is elsewhere - but very closely located in the vicinity... 

And it is holiest of holy spots and it is not an adventure or testing the divinity.. so most of the devotees wont venture to go there...

Kaanthamalai vaasane Sharanam Ayyappa.... 

Ponnambala Vasane Sharanam Ayyappa...

Again Makarajothi

Makarajothi is the hot topic again....

A news item was published after the meeting at Trivandrum, where the Board President Rajagoplan Nair had said something regarding "man-made"

And again many have started giving interviews and opinions - even when no one cared for it...The best part is within few minutes the wikipedia page has been updated and written "Makara Jyothi is a man-lit fire"

Some people have expressed their feeling that they are not ready to believe this; Some people say that they have lost their faith...

Many of my friends and devotees called me and "expressed their disappointment(???!!!)" over the issue....and said they have decided not to come for jothi hereafter...

But the best part to be noted is not even a single person said "i have lost faith in God"... This is Bharatham ! This land is a land of rich heritage and culture built on a very strong foundation called faith...

My dear devotees... who are we to bother or worry? As I already said, without His will not even the electron inside an atom can move... So when things are happening, it is happening according to His will. A true devotee is least bothered with all these issues....

People who come to sabarimala as a picnic, who think sabarimala as yet another temple, who wear maala on the previous day and people who come for the sake of coming - they may have some problem in understanding and digesting these issues..

A true devotee who follows the Vrutham sincerely, for whom Sabarimala is his home, for whom Ayyappan is everything - they dont have any problem....

This is the thathwa of sabarimala - when u see Ayyappan in everything - when that though process is instilled in the mind - HE SEES AYYAPPAN IN THE JYOTI - he is least bothered whether it is man made or God made...

NO ONE IN THIS WORLD CAN SHAKE THIS TRUE FAITH .....

We are eargerly awaiting and planning the yatra for next year 2012's Jothi Darshanam !!!

I once again conclude with my same golden words - "FAITH BEGINS WHERE REASONING ENDS"

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You can also read this post

Wonderful approach on this issue by Sri Sastha Gopal

http://shanmatha.blogspot.com/2011/01/on-makarajyothi-comments-by-devotee.html

On Makarajyothi - Comments by a Devotee

Swamy Sharanam 

Shri Sastha Gopal, one among our clan (of Ayyappa Devotees) mailed me his views on Makara Jothi, which i wanted to share to our readers...

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Swamy Saranam.

I saw your write-up regarding Mkara Jothi in our site. I have the following to write:-

 

There is nothing in the whole universe which is not created by God, that is every thing is God made. Only the Almighty has the power and knowhow to create.(Create = To produce something without rawmaterial and equipment. Nimiththa Karana and Upadana Karana).

 

The universal law is that nothing can be produced or destroyed by men. But, one thing can be converted in to an another thing.  That is what we humans do. The God, everybody worship in a temple is man made. The very temple where the God is established is man made. The garlands, sandal paste, ghee and all that are offered are man made. The Karpura Niranjanam (deeparadanai) is man made. Annamalai Deepam is man made.But, the basic ingradiants from which these are converted to be as such are all God made.

 

So, when one's conviction is so strong as to see God in a man made stone vigraha, the same conviction holds good to see Iyappan in a Jothi even if it is man made, because the ingradiants to produce the Jothi including the persons litting it are God made. As for as I am and most of the devotees are concerned, it is only the will (sankalpa) of Lord Iyappa that had created this cotraversy for the sake of increasing the devotion and the number of devotees.

 

I conclude by adding that - As of a few weeks before nobody asked the other about the origin of the Jothi and hence nobody had replied. Now questions are asked and replies are forth coming. It has nothing to do with Iyappa Bhakthas, which will be proved by the number of devoteed visiting Sabari Mali for the next Makara Jothi in 2012 January.    

 

-Sastha Gopal.

Doing Abhivaadanam during Namaskaaram

Namaskaaram

Namaskaram literally means a salute; traditionally it is practiced from the childhood days, to train the children to respect the elders and also to pay obeisance to the Lord God in temples. It is a gesture of action used to indicate respect & reverence. 

One most important point to be noted.. One should not do namaskarams to any person in Deva Sannidhanam - this is a very big sin. But if One's Guru is standing in the sannidhanam, and the person is doing namaskaram to God its double sin. 

Whenever one gets an opportunity one has to do namaskarams to his Guru... its indeed a very great punya. And whenever one's Guru is there(in a sabha- group of people), one must not do namaskarams to anyone else other than his Guru... Even if Guru and Parama Guru(Guru's Guru) is there, one has to do namaskaram only to his Guru.. Only if he permits or asks, he can do namaskarams to others.. or else it is a very great sin

In the case of doing Namaskarams to others - One cannot Just like that do namaskarams to everyone... One must have the capacity to accept the namaskaram.

By doing Namaskarams to a person, he actually transfers a part of his sin to the person who accepts the namaskaram. A part of the punyam gets transfered from the person accepting it to the person doing the namaskaram. 

If one is doing namaskaram to a person who is not fit to the position, one must be ready to partake his sins.... 

Generally one should not do namaskarams to the persons who is younger than him - But this rule does not apply if the person is doing namaskarams to his Guru or a Sanyasi. A Guru may be much much younger than the Sishya - But his position(as a Guru) is the important factor here..

Those with Guru padhuka Deeksha generally dont do namaskarams to anyone other than Guru and Devata.

Abhivaadhanam

Yesterday during our Satsang - we were discussing about chanting and not chanting "Abhivadhaye..." during the time of Namaskaram

ie after doing namaskAram, he must keep the palms over ears, and then announce his Rishi lineage, gotram , sUtram (family lineage), family Veda, and sharman (name), and then touching the feet of the elders they prostrated to. 

While doing AbhivAdanam an important point to be kept in mind is - that abhivadanam should be done only to a person who can say pratyabhivadanam (ie blessing words in return)

In general it is a compulsory practice that all those who are adorned with upanayanam (who wear the sacred thread), when he does namaskaram must tell abhivaadhanam.. 

This is the general rule. 

But there are few exceptions to be noted.... 

devAn nadIn sabhAM vRukShAn agnikAryaM tathA yatim |

daNDavat praNamet bhUmau na abhivAdana mAchret || 

When one is doing namaskAram for 

• before devatas

• to a sabhaa (group of people),

• to the trees such as peepul or palAsam,

• before the agni

• before the sannyaasis

During all these occasions one should not chant the Abhivaadanam...

While doing namaskaarams at temples or puja gruham (at home)... Abhivaadanam should not be chanted... Also there is no abhivaadhanam while doing namaskaarams to ladies (only for one's own mother he can do abhivaadhanam)

Abhivaadanam should be done only on a one to one basis and you cannot do that to a group or to a single person in a group

But AbhivAdanam during performance of Karmas like Sandhya vandanam is allowed.

Thiruvabaranam at Veliyanavattam

The Thiruvabarana Yatra and the Miraculous Krishna Parundu as wittnessed by us from Veliyanavattam Viri

Sastha Preethi and Sastha Thirukalyanam

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

The SASTHA KALYANA MAHOTSAVAM on 2nd April Saturday - by traditional Vaideeka style with homam and puja. This is followed by Kuthiraiottam & Nama Sankeerthanam in the evening. 

The glorious SASTHA PREETHI in the traditional way falls on 3rd April, Sunday, starting with Vanji Paattu, Sastha Puja and then Varavu... The puja  celebrations by our organization falls on holidays (Saturday & Sunday)  to enable devotees to participate in large numbers.  

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 also donate liberally to the Anna Dhanam & Puja Expenses for making the Pooja a grand one and get the blessings of Lord Sastha. (Companies may display their ADVT banners inside the hall)

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 clebrate this function of "OUR" Lord.

Contributions in way of Cash or Kind / Materials 

l Flowers Rs. 5,001 (Per Day)

l Materials such as Rice Bags, Vegetables, Coconuts etc

l Sastha Kalyanam Rs. 30,000 (Complete)  

l Seer Items , Veshti & Sarees Rs. 6,000

l Kuthirai Ottam  Rs. 10,000 (Complete)

 

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

Annadhanam (Part Contribution) Rs.10,000

l Acharya Dhakshinai & Others   Rs. 20,000 

(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

-- 

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

Swamy Sharanam

V.Aravind Subramanyam

Few Old Photographs updated

Got few photographs to our Collection.. Those who are closely following our may remember the Velichappad a of Sabarimala series I was writing... I was searching for the picture of Harihara Iyer, which I finally got at Pampa.. 

Others Can read about 

Velichappads of Shabarimala Temple - Part 3

Pulikkal Matam Kottarakara Bramma Sree Harihara Iyer  

Kottarakara Harihara Iyer

Among the List of Veteren Guruswamys got the picture of Kambankudi Shri Sundaram Iyer

This is again my Grandfather Shri CV Shrinivasa Iyer ( I also have a lot of collection of his photographs and the Pankuni Uthram Festival he consucted at Sabarimala.. Let me try to post it one by one very soon)