Mantra and Stotra

I dont understand the power of stotras and mantras that you are discussing in the blog here. I understand that they are all powerful. I have few questions. Please answer them if you dont mind. a) Definition of a Mantra b) Definition of a stotra 

Thanks 

Raman

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Mantra

A Mantra -  is nothing but the Subtle form of the Deity. Thats why its called Moola Mantra.

The Mantra and the deity are not Two different entities..

While the physical form of the Lord (gross form) is identified by his color, attire, weapons etc his subtle form is known by the mantra. Thats why we call it powerful.

Each deity has a separate mantra - the mantras are filled with beejas (cryptical words) which has the potential to invoke the divinity. And people may or maynot be able to sustain the enery generated by the moola mantra.

Only a Guru can know which mantra may suit the sishya and help the sishya. This is why Iam keep on insisting that Guru Upadesham is a must.

In simple IT language the Moola Mantra upadesham is the password for you. But the mere password is of no use. For that you need a login id - which can be given only by the Guru.

So only with both login id and password you can enter the world of upasana.

For this reason shastras insist that Mantras has to be got only from a Guru and not learnt on own.

The Golden Rule is -

The Mantra, the Deity and the Guru - All the three are one and the Same

Stotra

Stotras are poetic texts which praise the particular deity. This is also called as Stuti. These are generally called Slokas. This may be written by any Rishis, Devas or Poets...

These can be chanted by anyone to get the blessings of Devi, Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesha or Sastha. 

Certain stotras are made out of divine intervention and these stotras easily pleases the Lord and gets his grace.

For example Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram was chanted by Bheeshma at the end of the Mahabharata war by Bheeshma while he was lying in the arrow bed. This was imparted to everyone by Vyasa and till now we are chanting it and earning the blessings of the Lord.

Bhagawan's Majesty on Display

Poorna Pushkala Samedha Hariharaputra Swami, Thirunellai, Palakkad

The Master of the Universe - reveals himself in his Majestic and Munificent form in his favorite Kirata Vesham along with his Shakthis - Poorna and Pushkala

(Photo Shared by Shri. Hari ShankaraNarayanan, Banglore)

Lalita Trishati Parayanam - Query continues....

After answering the query on Lalita Trishati, some of our devotees wanted to list out similar stotras which r not to be chanted without upadesham...


Vishnu Sahasranamam and Genaral Stotras like Loka Veeram, Shyamala Dhaandakam etc can be chanted irrespective of any criteria...


But how is it possible to list out the Stotras ? Stotra Collection s is like a huge ocean. It is impossible to list all the Stotras which need initiation.


A simple way to find it out is that all the Stotras which needs upadesham Starts with
"Asya Shree................mantrasya...... rishi etc.
(Remember ? there is one mantram called Gayatri which you got as upadesham from your father. Before chanting this mantram you used to do nyasas)
and having beeja mantrams (ie like Hreem Aim etc)

All other slokas donot have any bar and anyone can chant it.

And  the following popular Stotras which are now chanted just like that 100% needs upadesham
Varahi Nigraha + Anugrahashtaka
Durga Saptashati ie Devi Mahatmyam
Lalita Sahasranama
Lalita Trishati
Indrakshi Stotram
Saubhagya Ashtottara
Kartaviryarjuna mantram
Sudharshana Mantram
Shri Maha Sasthur Anugraha Kavacham
Kirathashtakam of Sastha
Subramanya Shatru Samhara Trishati

And there is a propaganda that a person who has got Gayatri Mantra Upadesham can directly chant Lalita Trishati or Sahasranama... I dont know who gave the permission...

Unless there is an explicit reference in the Shastras you cannot take things for granted. A person with Gayaptri mantra Upadesham can very well chant Gayatri Sahasranamam (which is least bothered) and how can he claim mastery over some other area in which he has not given any right?

Donot try to compromise with Mantra Sasthra and try to act smart...
You can very well read all these texts and no one can stop you...

But that may be like reading a story book the net result will be nothing....

A Divine Hunter called Sastha

As requested by many of our devotees, Iam posting this wonderful Dhyana Sloka written by Shankaracharya on our beloved Lord. Sastha is depicted as hunter here...

And this Dhyana is a very powerful one which gives Chidda Shuddi to the aspirants....

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c®laÆ n¢laÆ vas¡naÅ karatala vilasat k¡¸·ak°da¸·a da¸·aÅ.
r¡gadv®À¡di n¡n¡vidha m¤gapa¶al¢ bh¢tik¤d bh£tabhart¡
kurvann ¡kh®¶al¢l¡Æ parilasatu manaÅk¡nan® m¡mak¢n®


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Meaning

Mounted on a tall-majestic horse which runs faster than the air, Clad with a blue attire, lustrous hands holding the bow and arrow, He who creates fear to the dreadful animals like desire, hatred and other bad qualities; May that Lord Bhoothanatha cheerfully carryout His hunting in the forest of my mind.

Shankaracharya and Sastha

Dear Arvindji,

Pranam!

Swami,

I would like to ask on few questions:

1)Adi Sankaracharya is one of the finest vedic scholar whe had ever had. He had composed beatiful hymns on  Hindu Gods and Goddess. To my utter suprise, I've never seen any composition on Lord Shasta by Shankara Bhagavatpada. Also, according to Shri XXXXX in his website, Adi Sankaracharya had not composed any hymn on Lord Shasta.

I've once asked a gentleman on this and he told me that Lord Shasta's incarnation was after Shankara Bhagavatpada and our beloved lord's duty was more as guardian deity which I did not agree totally to his comments. 

Swami,

What i'm curious to know here, why there is no any hymns on Dharma Shasta by Adi Sankara? May be there could be a composition by Adi Sankara on Lord Shasta which i do not know till today.

2) What is the mount/vehiche of Lord Shasta?  Based on my findings, I've seen Lord Shasta rides on Horse, Elephant and tiger. And in Sabarimala Sanctom Sanctorum, horse is mounted on the Dwaja. Swami, could you please explain this doubt as well?

Thank You.

Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa!

Warm Regards,

Sudharan

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Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa

In the world of spirituality many people today assume things and the worst part of it is they propagate what they believe (or what they want to believe)

So no one can Just like that pass judgments on the Master of the Universe. Now its a fashion and Ego of people that they even tend to comment on God. 

Let people call him Guardian Deity, Village Deity or Tribal Deity or anything they want.. afterall He is everything to us.

If Sastha is guardian deity then who is Vishnu ? - even his duty is the same Protection- Paalana - Stiti or whatever you call it.

If Sastha is tribal deity then who is Shiva ? - clad with tiger skin, snakes and who lives in the Graveyard.

Shankara and Sastha

Who said Adhi Sankaracharya has not composed any stotra on Sastha.?

The Gentleman you have mentioned has done a great job by compiling many stotras and putting in his website... But that doesnt mean he is an authority and can pass judgement on our Lord. 

Let me point out a small thing... He has published a dhyanam 

Thamalasyamalam bhadram.... and he has explained it as Sastha's dhyanam.. Whereas its the dhyana sloka of Satyaka - Sastha's son...

A simple thing which many of us fail to understand Sastha is different from Ayyapan. Sastha is a God and Ayyappan and Shankaracharya both are incarnations. Then how can a God's manifestation take place after a human being?

Ayyappan might have incarnated after Shankara but Sastha is the Supreme Lord who was always there (in other words - before Shankara ; After Shankara and forever)

Sastha at Kaanchipuram

There are nearly 6000 Sastha Shrines out of which Iam sure more than 2000 temples will be before Shankara. Sorimuthaiyan Kovil at Karayar is worshipped by Agastya, Achankovil by Parasurama and Kanchipuram - the wonderful Kshipra Prasaada Moorthi - Purna Pushkala Samedha Maha Sastha was worshipped by Durvasa. This is only a tip of the iceberg....

There is a Deva Rahasya that every divine incarnation must get the anugraha of Sastha to complete His divine mission. (This rule is proved from Mahavishnu's Incarnations, Devi's Incarnations, Subramanya's incarnations and continues till Sudarshana, Bhairava and all other Devatamshabootas. For each devata I can point out in detail but Iam not going to that subject now)

Then how can Shankara who is Shivamsha miss this Supreme Personality ? 

Shankara is also attached to Sastha personally

Another thing which many people donot know is - Sastha is enshrined in Adhishankara's mother's house ie Melpazhur Mana, where Shankara was born. (Kiratha Sastha is the family deity of this Mana)

If you have visited Chottanikkara - you may find two shrines of Sastha there. One shrine was already there as per the temple pratishta. And the second Sastha shrine has its own story - Once when Devi was out on a procession, the procession was attacked by rogues. To safeguard the Goddess, the Namboothri sent his family deity Sastha along with them. Sastha who came along with Devi, stayed back at Chottanikkara.

And now coming back to your query - If you see Shiva Keshaadi Paada Stuti in which Shankara Salutes Ganapathy, Subramanya and Sastha respectively on the 7th 8th and 9th slokas 

(Aarooda Prauda Vega....)

There are many Stutis attributed to Shankara which he has not composed and many more Stutis composed by him but not properly recorded.

There is a wonderful Stuti by Shankara is there which many of the books have not recorded...

Its Sastha's Keshadi Paada Dashakam - starts with AshAnu rupa phaladam

Vaahana Of Lord Sastha

Undoubtedly the Vahana of Sastha is Elephant...
"Davala Vaaranam DIvya Vaahanam" - says Harivarasanam.

Even Mantra Shastras and Puja Kalpams and Avarana Pujas gives separate puja for this Elephant. You have both white and black elephant as vahana for Sastha. One is Prabhuta and the other one is Taraka.

All the ageold temples of Sastha like Aryankavu, Karanthapuri etc has only this Elephant vahana

And the next Vahana of Sastha is Horse. Sastha's horse is of green color. This is what you see in Sabarimala, Kuthiran and many other temples.

And coming to Tiger... its only in Ayyappan incarnation he rode on a Tiger and in mantra Sasthra we dont find any form of Sastha acknowledging Tiger as his Vahana.

We call him Vanpuli Vahanan just because of the Ayyappan Incaration and the Pulipaal episode. But the Official Vahana Status is given primarily to Elephant and Horse.

And there are puranic episodes and at some temple we find Bull and also Dog as a vahanam to Sastha like Sori Muthaiyan Kovil or Kadanthethi but surprisingly not even a single dhyana or form or temple with Puli(Tiger) Vahana

Lalita Trishati Parayanam and Srichakra Meru in house

Dear Swami,

Iam doing the parayanam of lalitha trishati and sahasranama.. But Iam not initiated with any mantra... But my friend says that 'devotion that matters' and leave rest to devi and she will take care of rest. So Iam continuing my parayanam... But still when I read some books which says initiation is a must, I get confused

Is this right to do the chanting? Also can we keep Srichakra / Meru in our house?

Balakumar

Guntoor

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First let me clarify - that "MY ANSWER TO THIS QUERY IS NOT GOING TO PLEASE MANY OF YOU ". But my Gurunathar has told me... "when you find something wrong - against Sasthras - record your objection and point out the mistake once. Even then if they continue, then its their fate"

So with my Gurus words Iam answering this query.

There is a difference between stotras and maala mantras... Stotras are praises of a particular deity and can be chanted by all... But certain stotras are called Maala Mantras which definitely needs initiation / upadesham for chanting. Any stotras which has Rishi and Nysam had to be taught by a Guru.

You have lots and lots of Stotras on every devata but people always want "the forbidden fruit"

People today are of "Know All" attitude and their Ego does not permit to get upadesham from a particular person as his/her Guru. (A small test if you get annoyed or irritated by reading this line, then please excuse me - you are also in the same zone)

Lalita Trishati is one such powerful Maala Mantra and only people having Srividya Upadesham can chant it. This is not for common folks...

Lalitha Trishati has 300 Names which is divided into 15 groups of 20 naamas each. The Srividya Moola mantram of Lalitha Maha Tripurasundari has 15 letters and for each letter 20 names are attributed and so 15 x 20 =300. So it is very obvious that initiation into Srividya is the basic qualification to Chant Trishati.

And you say your friend says "Devotion That Matters" - when devotion is the factor where does the question of breaking the rules come? A true devotee will never go against the will of his Lord. The same Lord say Lalita in your case have clearly instructed that this has to be secretly maintained and must be given only as upadesham.. So how can you act against Her instruction and gain pray to Her ?

Please read the Poorva Bagam and Uthra Bagam of Lalita Trishati. 

When Agasthya approaches Hayagreeva to teach him the important stotra (Lalitha Trishati), Hayagreeva hesitates because that one stotra is extremely secret.

Then Lalitha herself appears before Hayagreeva and asks him to teach Agasthya, the most secret of the stotras called Laltha Trishati. Then Hayagreeva teaches him the Lalitha Trishathi stotra.

When Agasthya himself is not exempted from Guru Upadesha, how can people like us take this as granted? 

And today we have Cassettes, CDs, MP3s and even Youtube having Trishati..... 

Doing things which are prohibited in the Sasthras will not only stop the results expected but also will yield Nishpalam ie Negative Effects.

Please understand.. IAM NOT THREATENING but iam talking out of consideration towards you... 

There are many "So called " Gurus who give permission to their disciples (?? !!) to chant whatever they want. They may say "No upadesham required"... Infact by saying so they become partners in sharing the sin. Who can give permission for acting against Shasthras ? 

Today many astrologers or the oracles simply suggest "Chant Trishati for 41 days" ; "Do Srichakra Puja" (They neither have any knowledge on what is Srichakra Puja nor who is Lalitha) 

My question is, for an ordinary headache a simple crocin or anacin will do.. you need not go for a brain surgery

Do not attempt to make any mistakes and then blame God.

Please understand Bhakti Maarga is Different from Mantra Marga or Upasana Maarga.... For being an Upasaka one needs bhakti but Being a Bhakta itself will not qualify you to act yourself as an upasaka. 

There are numerous other stotras on each and every deities which can be chanted by everyone- you can chant it heart-fully.. Instead of chanting the Stotras without upadesham, you chant all these stotras and pray to her that I only only this, Iam 200% sure that Devi will immediately bless you and grant all your wishes - BECAUSE OF YOUR SINCERITY

After reading all this.. do you want me to answer the the next question of keeping a Meru in the house ?


If there is atleast one  "YES" then I shall answer it

An interesting query on Astrology

Dear Aravindji,

Yesterday I was lucky enough to hear you speak at the Rotary Club yestersay... Your speech was extremely engaging, inspiring and we were amazed to know about the backgruond of our culture.


I have a small doubt.. please answer this

From your talk i could understand that you had a profound knowledge in Astrology and you made a logical approach to the subject as a science.

Could you please tell me some details about the following. Sorry for disturbing you...


It is said one person can get manthira upadeesham, deeksai or gnana only if his horscope (jaadhagam) has a provision for that.. Is this correct?

Ganesh Kumar
Coimbatore

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Swamy Sharanam


Thanks for your words..

Let me first give you the simple answer -

When a person will enter into Gnana Marga ie the path to wisdom ? Is it because of horoscope ?

Not exactly.... the horoscope infact reflects the purva punyas you have accumulated.. so if you have a provision for Gnana its because of the Purva punya.

But please understand - for upadesham or deeksha the primary qualification is Guru's grace.. And again Guru is not a supernatural person with Orange robe or one who gives you viboothi from air.. He may appear like a very ordinary man; Even the age, position or status is not a criteria. But once you have given a position as your Guru, please understand - He is your GOD.

You need not doubt; or rather should not doubt.

And this will happen again only if your Horoscope is in such a way that you are inclined towards this idea.

Based on the Lagnadhipati and the Lord of the Fifth house you may get Mantra upadesham and which will in turn lead you to the ultimate Goal.

Only One among lakh people get the ripe time, mentality and situation for getting the Gnana from the Guru.
According to the science of astrology, this is a very rare case and may happen to a person during his Kethu Dasa.  When there are malefic planets in the Eighth and the Twelfth houses, this may further lead him to the next level. ie getting fedup with the samsara - family life


Generally it is evident that most of the Maha Purushas or Matra Siddhas have got upadesham and turning points only during the influence of Kethu.


Kethu is the Gnana Kaaraka and he is the only graha who will teach you what is what. Only his influence will exactly lead you to the Gnana Marga.