800-year-old Sastha statue discovered

Glorious past

800-year-old Sastha statue discovered recently at Periyapuliyur, near Kavindapady. – An 800-year-old statue has been discovered at Periyapuliyur, near Kavindapady. The idol is Lord Sastha with his consorts Puranai and Pushkalai.

According to the Curator, Government Museum, Erode, C. Maheswaran, the idol is easily 800 years old and belongs to the early Chola period. While the left hand rests on the left leg, raised to the knee, the right hand holds a whip. The consorts are seen with fans. The Local people call it Iyyanar.

The Vigraham, in half-buried condition, sports a halo-like hair dressing, which is curled at the end. It appears like a halo. Ancestors worshipped the idol as a deity guarding the village, says Dr. Maheswaran. He says it was found in a rivulet near Periyapuliyur, when the water receded. The villagers on discovering brought it to the local temple, where it is worshipped to date. At present it is at the Chamundi Muniappan village, where people from all communities worship the deity. An interesting aspect of the temple, the curator says, is that deities worshipped by different communities find a place there. They are clan deities and members from all the communities go there to offer prayers.

Meaning of Carrying Ghee in Cocunut

Dear Anna

Swamy Sharanam!!!!!

Can you please explain of Carrying Ghee in Cocunut for abhishekam to sabarimala, i hv got various answer for this Can you pls telll me significance of the same

Swami Sharanam

Santosh

-----------------------------------------

The meaning of carrying Ghee in the coconut is an age old and unique tradition that is followed in sabari malai... unfortunately people today follow it without even knowing the meaning.

This is an unique worship - all your vrutam is focussed towards this irumudi and the irumudi is containing this ghee... All your 48 days of Vrutham is now given a final shape... for what purpose?

The coconut is nothing but equated to your body and the ghee is the atman... and So the ultimate sharanagati - surrender is the ghee abhishekam... its Atma Nivedhanam

One of my friend who is going to sabari for the past 20 years(and also a Guruswamy) commented, its just because those days people did not have any containers and ghee will last long for more days and thats the only reason for taking Ghee... Sheer Arrogance I say... then why not take honey, why not chandanam which will last long as well...

Its a very great quality to accept things which you dont know; but people's ego never allow them do so... Especially with Sastha - whenever u think you are "too smart" and give judgement on His issues... He'l immediately show who is smarter...

You surrender yourself to the Lord... thats the Thathvam of Nei Thengai...

And once you do your Kettu Nerai.. Your existence ends there.. YES !!!!

Iam not telling this of my own.. what i've learnt from many senior Guru Swamis, like my grandfather Kalpathy Chami Anna, My Guru and stalwarts like Kambankudi Mama and many others, Iam giving this statement..

Once You are doing your "Kettu Nerai" you are equal to that of a dead body... coz... Your atman is now installed in the Nei Thengai... (Remember.. the 3 hands of rice has a very very subtle and supreme meaning).. Now correlate this with the unique system of sabarimalai yatra of starting the journey without looking back, no farewell, no good byes etc...

And now answer me...

How can you allow Mr. X to put in the rice for your Kettu ?

How can one carry the coconut for (which is his own self) Mr. Y

As far as Iam told only during unavoidable circumstances one can carry the "Nei Thengai" of another person in his irumudi - only for persons to whom he "Karmically bound"

Today, we see any one can put in the rice, any one can even fill the ghee and a devotee can carry "Nei Thengai" on behalf of 7-8 persons

This is the reason I mostly avoid attending Kettu Nerai... The situation becomes embrassing and I generally vacate the place till its over...

How can you expect your results - when you write exams for 5 people?

Please excuse me devotees...Iam not talking out of arrogance but out of sorrow. Today 99 % of the devotees do not follow any thing... Sabarimalai has already become a picnic spot...

Just filling the coconut with the Ghee is not kettu nerai... you can very well take it in a plastic container instead of so much trouble. Thats what its happening today...

Its hardly difficult or its only 1% to see a proper kettu nerai...

And you have certain qualifications to Sit as the Guruswamy for Kettu Nerai... for which moola mantram is a must.. and he has to do the avanaham of Sastha in the Mudrai and do the Bhandanam.. with Astram (not every Guruswamis will be having moola mantram but atleast he can invite a Sasthru upasaka to do that or atleast do follow the basic procedure even without moola mantram) this process will be concluded only at Sannidanam for the abhishekam..

When properly done.. each Nei Abhishekam becomes a Mini-Kumbabishekam for Swami... Your Vrutham adds the Sannidyam multifold. You offer yourself to the Lord and he gives himself...

Sorry if iam a bit harsh, but

My humble request is.. please try to learn things and then crave for the blessings of the Lord.

Doing things which are not told is not going to make any difference. or

When you dont do things which are prescribed you are in a neutral state - No Plus and No Minus...

But doing things which are prohibited will have serious consequences...

Poi Inri Meiyodu Nei Kondu Ponal Ayyanai Nee Kanalam

Hariharaputram Saastharam Sadha Bhajeham Maaya Kaaryam Thyejeham

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

Swamy Sharanam
V.Aravind Subramanyam
www.aravindsastha.com

The Great Temple at Sabarimala in the year 1942

The Great Temple at Sabarimala in the year 1942

This Photo was clicked in Year 1942 when His Highness Shri Chitira Thirunal Balrama Marthanda Verma Maharaja of Travancore Visited Sabarimala. The Photo was clicked by his brother Shri Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Verma who accompanied him.

Is it not Beautiful … Alas! we have lost it due to Modernization and so called cry from devotees for ‘facility in Sabarimala’

Meaning of Harivarasanam

After the posting of Lokaveeram.... Many of our devotees are mailing me to post the meaning of Harivarasanam too... I had been to Chennai for a "Hariharaputra Sapthaham" at the wonderful Perambur Ayyappan Temple and so could not do it immediately...

With a very great mental solitude and vibration I gained from Perambur Ayyappan.. Iam presenting the Harivarsanam here..

------------------

Let me give a small introduction about Harivarasanam before we get in to the meaning...

Many people are under the impression that “Harivarasanam" was written by Jesudas.... This wonderful work was composed by Shri. Kulathur Iyer(who lived at Chennai belonging to the illustrious Kambankudi family..) If I remember right, He published it in a book called

"Darma Sastha Stuti Kadambam" (A garland of praises to Lord Darma Sastha)

It is again a myth that this "Ashtakam" is song to make the Lord sleep.... How can you make the Master of the universe sleep? The ashtakam says "devam-ashraye.." - I take refugee in you.. I surrender to you... How can you surrender to a sleeping person?

And the "Sharanam Ayyappaa Swami Sharanam Ayyappa" doesn't appear in the earlier texts and might have been a later addition... [dear devotees... it is not Sararanam Ayyappa... or Charanam Ayyappa... its Sharanam Ayyappa]

Now the audio recording at Sabarimalai has "Panchadreeshwara Mangalam...." added after Harivarasanam - which is again from the work of Shri. Kambankudi Kulathu Iyer (Last Sloka of Sasthru Shatakam - 100 verses on Lord Sastha)

In the early 1950s the area was just a wild jungle - with only a handful of devotees visited. One devotee, a Menon, stayed there at Sannidhanam and he was very fond

of this Ashtakam and used to recite it at the Sannidhanam. Some years later, due to administrative reasons he was moved out and he died as an orphan. Thirumeni Eashwaran Nampoothiri, an old Mel Santhi of the temple remembered his friend and started reciting Harivarasanam while closing the doors... Thus started a tradition that continues to this day.

- V.Aravind Subramanyam (Sastha Aravind)

Coimbatore

www.mahasastha.com

-------------------------------

Harivarasanam Viswamohanam Haridadhiswara Aaradhyapadhukam

Arivimardhanam Nithyanarthanam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye

One who is seated on a supreme Simhasana, One who enchants the universe, One whose holy feet is worshipped by Surya(Haridadhiswara - is Surya), One who kills enemies(of good deeds), One who always dances the cosmic dance, Oh Hariharaputra Deva! (Son of Hari and Hara !)- I take refuge in thee.

Sharanakirtanam Shakhtamanasam Bharanalolupam Narthanalasam

Arunabhasuram Bhoothanayakam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye

One whose mind gladdens on hearing the Sharana Gosham, One who is the great ruler(of the universe), One who loves to dance, One who shines like the rising sun, One who is the Master of all beings, Oh Hariharaputra Deva! - I take refuge in thee.

Pranaya Sathyaka Praananayakam Pranathakalpakam Suprabhanjitham

Pranavamanidram Keerthanapriyam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye

One who is the darling of his dear most soul Sathyaka(son of Lord Sastha), One who grants all the wishes of the devotees, One who shines with a divine glow, One who is the very abode of “OM”(Pranavam), One who loves songs, Oh Hariharaputra Deva! - I take refuge in thee.

Thuragavahanam Sundarananam Varagadhayudham Vedavarnitham

Gurukrupakaram Keerthanapriyam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye

One who rides a horse, who has a beautiful face, One who has the divine mace as his weapon, One who is described by the Vedhas, One who bestows the grace like a teacher, One who loves songs, Oh Hariharaputra Deva! - I take refuge in thee.

Tribuvanarchitam Devathathmakam Trinayanam Prabhum Divyadeshikam

Tridashapoojitham Chinthithapradam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye

One who is worshiped by the three worlds, who is the soul of all divine beings, One who is the Three - eyed Lord, One who is worshipped by devas(Tridasha = Devas), One who grants all the desires, Oh Hariharaputra Deva! - I take refuge in thee.

Bhavabhayapaham Bhavukavaham Bhuvanamohanam Bhoothibhooshanam

Dhavalavahanam Divyavaranam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye

One who destroys fear(of Birth & Death), who grants brings prosperity to the devotees like a father, One who is enchanter of the entire universe, One who is adorned with the holy ash(Voboothi) as ornament, One who rides on a divine white elephant, Oh Hariharaputra Deva! - I take refuge in thee.

Kalamrudusmitham Sundarananam Kalabhakomalam Gathramohanam

Kalabhakesari Vajivahanam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye

One who has an enchanting smile, who has a beautiful face, One who has an enchanting , soft, pretty form, One who has Elephant, Lion and Horse as his Vahanas Oh Hariharaputra Deva! - I take refuge in thee.

Srithajanapriyam Chinthithapradam Sruthivibhushanam Sadhujeevanam

Sruthimanoharam Geethalalasam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye

One who is dear to the people (who have surrendered to him), One who fulfills all the wishes, One has Vedas as his ornaments and One who is the very life of Good people, One whose glory is wonderfully praised by the Shrutis(Vedas) and who enjoys divine music Oh Hariharaputra Deva! - I take refuge in thee.

Meaning of Loka Veeram

Could you pl. send me the meaning of lokaveeram fully...... ?

Sripradha Srikanthan, Coimbatore

-------------------------------------------------

Aravind Subramanyam - as a person with very little knowledge started to enter the world of Sanskrit - started some ten years back - only with this Loka Veeram....

And “my” Lord Hariharaputra took care of me…

Thank you for reminding me the yester years...

This once unlettered boy, whom He took under his benign and protective care, as a fond father would do, and made him what he is today, submits ananta koti namaskarams with reverence and humility to ever merciful Bhakta Paripala Maha Sastha

Now the Slokas and their meaning –

Loka Veeram, Maha Poojyam Sarva Rakshakaram Vibhum

Parvathi Hrudayanandam Saasthaaram Pranamamyaham

One who is the best warrior in the world, Who is greatly worshipped, the Lord who protects everybody, and who gives happiness to Parvathy’s heart - I salute that Saastha

Viprapoojyam Viswa Vandhyam, Vishnu Shambho Priyam Sutham

Kshipra Prasada Niratham Saasthaaram Pranamamyaham

One who is worshipped by Vedic scholars, Who is saluted by the universe, Who is the dear son of Vishnu and Shiva, and who is gets pleased easily(and gives his blessings immediately) - I salute that Saastha

Matha Mathanga Gamanam, Karunyamrutha Pooritham

Sarva Vigna Haram Devam, Saasthaaram Pranamamyaham

One who walks like furious elephant, Who is filled with the nectar of mercy, and who destroyes all the obstacles - I salute that Saastha

Asmath Kuleshwaram Devam, Asmath Shathru Vinasanam

Asmath Ishta Pradhatharam, Saasthaaram Pranamamyaham

One who is Master of my lineage (Family), Who destroys my enemies, and who grants all my desires - I salute that Saastha

Pandyesha Vamsa Thilakam, Kerale Keli Vigraham

Aartha Thranaparam Devam, Saasthaaram Pranamamyaham

One who is like a thilaka (foremost) in the pandya dynasty, Who had a playful form in Kerala, and who is the only refuge to protect the distressed - I salute that Saastha

Pancharathnaakhya Methadhyo Nithyam Shuddha Padennara

Thasya Prasanno Bhagawan Saastha Vasathi Manase

One who chants these five gems daily, with purity – Lord Saastha will be pleased with him and always live in his mind.

Traymbaka puradheesam, Ganadhipa Samanvitham

Gajaroodam aham Vande, Sastharam Kuladaivatham

One Who is the Ruler of Tryambakapuram ( a place near Tiruvaroor), who is with Lord Ganapathi and one who rides on an elephant, - I salute that Saastha who is the master of my dynasty

Shiva Veerya Samud Bhootham Sreenivasa Thanudbhavam,

Shiki Vahanujam Vande, Sastharam Kuladaivatham

One who originated from the power of Shiva, who took birth from the body of Sreenivasa and who is the brother of Shikivaha(who rides the peacock –Subramanya), - I salute that Saastha who is the master of my dynasty

Yasya Dhanwantharir Matha, Pitha Rudhraabhishikthama

Tham Sashtharamaham Vande Mahavaidyam Dayanidhim

One whose mother is Dhanwanthari (celestial Doctor) and father the supreme physician, Rudra, I salute that Saastha, who is the greatest doctor and who is the treasure of mercy.

Bhoothanadha Sadananda Sarva Bhootha Dayapara

Raksha Raksha Maha Baho, Sashthre Thubhyam Namo Nama

Oh Lord of all beings ! who is always happy, and who is merciful on all beings….

“Please protect me Oh ! great one” – I salute you Oh ! Lord Saastha