A Blunder with Lakshmi Ashtotram

Yesterday it was about Devi and so today its Mahalakshmi...

In Tamil there is a proverb - "Ezhudinavan Ettai Keduthan".... One who wrote, spoiled the text...

This is 200% applicable to Lakshmi Ashtotram.... in which almost everyone is making a very big mistake because of a person who made a mistake first...

Before getting into the subject, we must understand that, all these Ashtotram, Sahasranamam etc are told in ancient texts as Stotrams only.... On a later date... These Stotrams were split up into individual Namas for the purpose of Archana....


For example, vishwam vishNur vashatkAro, bhUtha bhavya bhavatprabhuH is Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram... when it is split up, it becomes, "Vishwasmai Nama:, Vishnave Nama: , Vashatkaraaya Nama: etc etc...

Similarly Lakshmi Astotra Shata Nama Stotram goes this way....
prakṛtiṃ vikṛtiṃ vidyāṃ sarvabhūtahitapradām|

And when split up, the namavali goes this way

Sloka 1

prakṛtiṃ vikṛtiṃ vidyāṃ sarvabhūtahitapradām|

śraddhāṃ vibhūtiṃ surabhiṃ namāmi paramātmikām||1||

Om Prakrtyai    namah
Om Vikrtyai   namah
Om Vidyayai    namah
Om Sarva-butha-hita-pradayai  namah
Om Shraddhayai   namah
Om Vibhutyai   namah
Om Surabyai   namah
Om Paramatmikayai  namah

Sloka 2

vācaṃ padmālayāṃ padmāṃ śuciṃ svāhāṃ svadhāṃ sudhām|

dhanyāṃ hiraṇmayīṃ lakṣmīṃ nityapuṣṭāṃ vibhāvarīm||2||

Om Vace              namah
Om Padmalayayai  namah
Om Padmayai   namah
Om Suchayae   namah
Om Swahayai   namah
Om Swadhayai   namah
Om Sudhayai   namah
Om Dhanyayai    namah
Om Hiranmaiyai   namah
Om Lakshmyai   namah
Om Nitya-pustaayai  namah
Om Vibhavaryai   namah

Sloka 3

aditiṃ ca ditiṃ dīptāṃ vasudhāṃ vasudhāriṇīm|

namāmi kamalāṃ kāntāṃ kāmākṣīṃ krōdhasambhavām||3||

Om Adityai    namah
Om Dityai    namah
Om Diptayai   namah
Om Vasudayai   namah
Om Vasudharinyai  namah
Om Kamalayai   namah
Om Kantayai   namah
Om Kamakshyai   namah
Om Kroda-sambavayai namah

Now looking into the meaning of the the last line ie
namāmi kamalāṃ kāntāṃ kāmākṣīṃ krōdhasambhavām

Om Kamalayai   namah  - Salutations to Goddess Kamala
Om Kantayai   namah  - Salutations to One who is the Consort of Vishnu
Om Kamakshyai   namah - Salutations to one with attractive eyes
Om Kroda-sambavayai namah - Salutations to one who manifested on Anger

Does this make any sense? Iam sure Mahalaksmi will be angry to hear each time when the archana is done with this nama...

The blunder had occurred while splitting the Namas...

Somebody has made a mistake while splitting and all other publishers.... (they dont bother about the correctness of the information) just copy and paste the same thing... And invariably in all Lakshmi Ashtotram books you see the same mistake...

Sri Lakshmi ashtothram will give Lakshmi kataksham- It gives you wealth and all round prosperity. But we see many people still suffering inspite of doing archana regularly.... How can one expect result when the ashtotram itself is wrong? Will we be happy if we are called "Oh Angry Faced fellow" ? So this must be reason for not getting 100% result...

Now let me present my approach....
Namami kamalam kantham kamam shirotha sambhavam
Om Kamalayai   namah  - Salutations to Goddess Kamala
Om Kantayai   namah  - Salutations to One who is the Consort of Vishnu
Om Kamaayai namah - Salutations to one who is attractive 
Om Ksheeroda sambavayai namah - Salutations to one who is born out of Ocean of Milk

This version tallies with the Puranic story of Mahalakshmi Manifesting from the ocean of milk during Amita Matanam (Churning of the Milky Ocean). This makes sense...

So I request all our readers to please make this change in your books and do the archana to Goddess Mahalakshmi and earn the grace of Ksheera Saagara Sutaam

So its
Om Kamaayai namah 
Om Ksheeroda sambavayai namah 

Lakshmi personifies all that is happy. In fact Lakshmi kataksham is what is yearned for....

So here is wishing you all the prosperity Goddess Lakshmi can shower.

Maataa Meenakshi and Peter Pandiyan

Since our navaratri theme this year is Mother Meenakshi, let me write about HER MAJESTY, the Empress of Madurapuri....  A real life incident to show her care towards her children. Meenakshi appeared as a three-year-old girl three times in History. First during the ‘Puthirakamestshi yagna’- (her actual incarnation), next during the aranketram of ‘Meenakshi Ammai Pillai Tamil’ by Kumaraguruparar(during the regign of Tirumalai Naicker) and Latestly before Rous Peter - during the British rule.

The East India Company was actually ruling Tamilnadu during 1812 and Rous peter was the Collector of Madurai.  Rous Peter was kind hearted person and respected and treated people of all faiths equally. 

Unlike other English officers, Peter cared a lot for the welfare of the people. He also restored peace, prosperity and justice in Meenakshi's Pattanam (Madurai).. The people had a great regard for Peter and felt that he is equal to the Great Pandiyan Kings. Because of this attitude, the people called him with the popular name ‘Peter Pandian’.

As a district Collector, he was not only in charge of the temple town, but also for the Temple administration. Peter had the habit of going around the temple everyday before beginning his daily work. 

One night the city experienced huge thunder storm with lightning. Peter was inside his bungalow in deep slumber.. Suddenly a three-year-old girl appeared at his residence and dragged Rous Peter by his hand outside the house. As soon as they left the compound, a lightening struck the building and the bungalow collapsed to pieces and destroyed the room, where the collector was sleeping. 

Everything happenned within few seconds... Peter was takenaback and was in total shock. Soon he came back to himself, and found the mysterious little girl walking away.

He immediately followed her... though he ran after her, he could not keep up with the girl. The tiny tot always seemed to be the same distance away in front of Peter, however fast he walked. 

She playfully entered the Meenakshi Temple and went straight to the Sanctum Sanctorum of Meenakshi... and right in front of his eyes... there she disappeared.

Peter was sure that the empress Herself has come in the form of that mysterious girl... For Shri Matha everyone - including Peter is her Child. The Ruler Meenakshi had come to save a good man from calamity.

Peter was ever-grateful to Mother Meenakshi and donated many jewellery and other gifts to the Minakshi Temple. Among which, a notable one is a set of golden stirrups studded with diamonds and red stones to the temple for use on the idol of Sree Meenakshi when taken in procession in the streets of Madurai.

He also wished that after his death he should be buried in a position that enabled his eyes to face the temple. It is interesting to note that Rous Peter’s grave is positioned the way he wished while the pther graves faces the other way.

The stirrups offered by Peter Pandiyan adorns the Horse Vaahanam on the day of procession. Even now this is used when Goddess Meenakshi riding the horse is taken out during festival days.  He also donated a Jade necklace which is still preserved, in the temple museum.

maata marakata shyama maatangi madhushalini 

kuryaat kaTaaksham kalyani kadamba vanavaasini

ஐயப்பன் பஞ்சகம்

Had an opportunity to read this wonderful work on "my beloved" written by His devotee - Shri.Su.Ravi 


"Avan Arulaale Aavn thaal vanangi..." 
Its only by His grace one can write these lines..


Swamy Sharanam
V.Aravind Subramanyam
------------------------

சீலமுயர் வாழ்வையொரு யோகமென வேபயிலும்சாதகர்தமைக்

காலனொரு போதுமணு காதபடி நாளுமவன்காத்தருளுவான்!

நீலமுகி லாடுமலை சோலைபல சூழுமலைநீலிமலையாம்

வாலியணு காதமலை வாழுமிறை பாதமலர்வாழ்த்துமனமே!

யானெனதி லாதநிலை யோடுபல காடுமலைஏறிவருவார்

தான் அவர்தம் காவலென வீடுமனை வாசலவன்காத்தருளுவான்!

யானைக ளுலாவுமலை, வானரமி லாதமலைஆளுமரசன்

தேனமர் துழாய்புரளும் தோளழகன் பாதமலர்தேடுமனமே!

எண்ணியவெ லாமருளும் ஏழைகளின் தோழன் சிவபாலனிவனை

நண்ணுமடி யார்களொரு போதும் நலியாதப்டிக்காத்தருளுவான்!

திண்ணிய மரங்களுயர் கானகம்  அடர்ந்தமலைகாந்தமலைமேல்

விண்ணிலெழு ஜோதிமல ரானபர தேவனைவிரும்புமனமே!

பூரணை மணாளனவன், புஷ்கலையின் காதலனைப்போற்றுமடியார்

தாரணியில் பேறு,புக ழோடு பல காலமுறக்காத்தருளுவான்!

நாரணியும், ஆறணியும் நாயகனும் கூட உரு வாகிமலைமேல்

பூரண நிலாவென உலாவுமவன் பொன்னடிகள்போற்றுமனமே!

மேதினியில் ஏதிலிகள் தோழனவன் மாமலையைத்தேடிவருவோர்

சோதனை உறாதபடி, சோர்வுதழு வாதபடிக்காத்தருளுவான்ன்!

வேதஒலி சூழுமலை, வேடுவரில் யோகியவள்வாழுமலைமேல்

நாதவடி வானவனை, பூதகண நாயகனை நண்ணுமனமே !

Koti Vishnu Naama Paarayanam

Dear Devotees !

As ordained by the divine will, it has been decided to chant One Crore Vishnu Namas (Vishnu Sahasranama Parayanam) for the prosperity of `Mankind' (Samastha Loka Kshemaartham).

Forthcoming auspicious Purattasi Sunday ie 9th October, 2011 (7.00 AM to 7.00 PM) has been scheduled for this Blissful experience.

All the devotees are requested to participate, chant and get the blessings of Sriman Narayanan.

Date: 09-10-2011
Time : 7.00 AM to 7.00 PM
Venue : Aruna Kalyana Mandapam , Saibaba Colony, Coimbatore



yo mAm nAma sahasreNa sthothumicchathi pANDava |  
sohamekena shlokena stuta eva na samshaya |  


For details Contact:
93447-05992, 93631-06937, 97916-44890

Animals at divine Places

Once when we went to Giri Pradakshinam at Tiruvannamalai, I found a dog coming with us all the fourteen kilometers. Even when we missed the route, the dog actually led us to the right direction. The best part it, it never ate anything and didn't even bark for all the 5 hours. All it did was helping us in visiting all the temples in the Giri Vala Route... And finally just in between Ramanashramam and Seshadri Swamigal Ashramam, it vanished into thin air. Later it was revealed by Gurunathar that the dog was actually a Siddha Purusha in its previous birth .

Many times, at many temples, when I see birds and animals, I always wonder about their relationship with the Lord. For instance, at Ramanashramam I saw two Kitten sitting still and very silently unlike other Cats in the vicinity. When drum full of milk was poured on the Shivalingam, these two beings never seemed to be bothered about it and was just gazing at the eyes of Ramana Bagawan's idol. Were these ordinary animals or other divine entities ?

Last month I had another surprise at Sabarimala forest. I saw a cat which frequented near the inner sanctum. We cannot see the cat when the shrine is open; Only after the shrine is closed after the monthly pujas, this cat comes and assumes its office. When no one is there in the vicinity, every morning, the cat is the one of the first to do the pradakshinam to the Lord. It climbs the holy Padhinettampadi as many times as possible. I cant help wondering the relationship between the cat and the Lord. It reminds of me Manidasar's hymn  praying for the dust of his feet... Anything in vicinity of Lord Sabarigireesha is blessed. Differing kinds births serve Him. So any birth in front of Lord - will earn the grace of the Lord and  Iam sure will not have any more birth.

Again Namasankeerthanam

Dear Anna,

I had read your post about Namasankeerthanam.This question was arising in my mind continously.

Anna,Many Bhagawathas today quote one line from Bhagawatham that in Kali Yuga the only means to attain Liberation is through NamaSankeerthanam.

So many of us ,who has been enjoined some karma to  be done daily,use Bhajana as a subsitute and claim that in this yuga that is the marga to attain Liberation.

Ofcourse ,performance of religious rites would be a bit diffcult to follow in this yuga but it is not impossible.I see a contradiction here.Some Jadgurus like Paramacharyal,Chandrasekandra bharthi swamigal(sringeri) they beautifully explain that bhajana is important but cant be a subsitute for Karma.

I was reading a book Dialouges with the Guru (Chandrasekandra bharthi swamigal(sringeri)) in which there was a chapter where Jagadguru beautifully explains the scope of Bhajana.But on the other hand many other acharyal and bhagawathas claim that in this yuga ,the situation is not ideal to follow Karma Marga ,so the easy way out is Namasankeerthana.

Kindly let me know your views on the same.

Regards,

Shriram

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

Kalau Sankeerthya Keshavam

Nama Sankeerthanam is one of the easiest marga in Kaliyuga.. But that doesn't mean it is the only marga in Kaliyuga.. or Only Marga for Liberation.... 

If it is the Only Marga then all the Mahans and Avatara Purushas would have emphasized ONLY that. Please understand - human mind is unique and the mental maturity of each individual varies... So no way you can come to a conclusion - that THIS IS RIGHT.

Again I repeat - Namasankeerthana is a wonderful marga - But NOT the ONLY Marga. Then why Maha Periyava spent his time on Puja and Ramana Maharshi on Atma Vicharana and Paramahamsa on Bhakti Marga?

I accept that for common folks the best path to divinity is Namasankeerthanam... But that doesn't mean that alone can take you ....

Karma - Bhakthi  - Gnana  All these three are complimenting to each other...

And understand Namasankeerthana cannot grant Moksham directly ! Namakeerthanam gives you Chidda Shuddi and this in turn will lead one to Moksha.

Even a Bhagawatha is not free from Karma. There are six compulsory Nitya Karma for a Bhagawatha. Suprabhatham, Aradhanam, Unchavrutti, Sadhu Santarpanam, Nama Sankeerthanam, Dolotsavam - these are the Karma given for a Bhagawatha. 

Only when one forget himself - his body, name and even his own existence - only at this stage one is free from Karma. 

"thumache nama sankeerthana

hemchi maaje sandhya snana " - this comes to reality only when Bhakthi has reached such a state.... 

But people filled with all Ego, Anger, Desire and all such emotions... conviniently quote such statements that by doing Namasankeerthana one need not perform any Karmas....

Please understand - the Guru Trayas - Bodhendral, Ayyaval and Sadguru Swamigal, who propagated nama keerthanam had their personal anushtanam and upasana

Shri Gopalakrishna Bhagawathar has many disciples who have learnt Bhajana Sampradaya from him. But I personally know a few - Shri Mahaperiyava has directed them to Shri Gopalakrishna Bhagawathar to get Shri Vidya Mantra Upadesham.  

Vishnor Ganamcha Nrutyamcha Natanamcha Viseshata: -  So doing nama Sankeerthanam is very very great mode of Upasana. So if you find Nama Sankeerthanam is YOUR way... travel on it and enjoy it.... 

But please dont substitute it for any of your Karmas. Pudukkottai Gopalakrishna Bhagawathar used to leave intervals between the Bhajanai to perform nitya karmas like Sandhya Vandanam...

Not only Sandhyavandanam all your bounden duties has to be completed first. Only after this Namakeerthanam or any Marga will give result.

Name the Acharya or Bhagawatha who say - it is not possible to follow Karma Marga and follow only Bhajana Marga as alternative... Then I shall say they have not understood what is real Nama Sankeerthanam that Bodhendral meant.

I pray to the Lotus feet of Bhakta Paripala Maha Sastha to grant us the wisdom to everyone of us and lead us to reality

Don't look at the moon tonight

Lord Ganesha, the chief deity among all devatas is an extremely benevolent Lord who is worshipped on Vinayaka Chthurthi. During this Pooja, people worship Lord Ganesha and also recite and listen to the story of Syamantaka - Syamantakopaakhyanam during Vinayaka CHathurthi. (I dont know how many of us are following this today... Any way atleast for that reason yesterday some of our friends reminded me to post it so that the devotees may listen to the story). This story was originally narrated in Skandha Maha Puranam for the benefit of mankind.

It is said that anyone who looks at the moon on the night of the Shukla Chaturthi will be falsely charged with accusitions (Apavaadha) or similar charges. If someone inadvertently sees the moon on this night, the remedy for the dosha is listening to (or reciting) the story of the syamantaka jewel.

Pranava Swaroopam Vakratundam

Aravind Subramanyam

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

One day while traveling round the universe on his Mooshika, Ganesha came to Chandraloka (the realm of the Moon). The Moon saw him. The Moon, very handsome, was proud of his appearance. On seeing the elephant faced, big-bellied Ganapati riding on a rat, he laughed at Ganesha with contempt.

This was an insult and Ganesha was very angry about the Moon. His eyes grew red. He pronounced a curse "Oh Moon, your handsome appearance has made you too vain. Receive now the fruits of your foolish pride. From now on, whoever sees you on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada month, the day of my birth, will suffer because of unjust accusations."

The curse shattered the Moon's pride. He realized his mistake,and with folded hands before Ganesha he prayed to him.

Then the kind Ganesha grew calm. "Chandra, you have realized your fault. Anyhow, my curse cannot be in vain. But those who are subjected to false accusations will be saved and regain their good name if they see you on the second day of the bright fortnight also or listen to the story of the Syamantaka gem."

Syamantaka Upakhyanam

Satrajit, a devotee of Surya, was living in Dwaraka. Surya being pleased with Satrajit's devotion appeared before him and gifted him a perecious stone ie the Syamantaka gem. The Syamantaka gem's specialty was that it could magically produce eight measures of gold a day.

Lord Krishna understood the danger behind the stone and then approached Satrajit and told him that he should share the gem with the other people. But Satrajit declined it .

A few days later, Satrajit's brother Prasena wore the jewel as a necklace and went out on a hunt. During the hunt, his aacharam was lost and immediately he was killed by a Lion.

The lion, being attracted to the glow of the gem, picked it up and carried it away. Very soon Jambavan, the king of the bears saw the Lion and was attracted by the glow of the gem. He attacked the lion and killed it and took the gem to his cave.

Meanwhile, when Prasena did not return to Dwarka, people were wondering what had happened to him. Satrajit suspected that Krishna might have killed Prasena in order to attain the gem. Many people started talking ill of Krishna. Even when Balarama spoke in such way,Krishna was so dejected. So in order to prove his innocence, He went into the forest.

Krishna noticed lion tracks in the forest and Prasena's body and assumed that a lion must have killed Prasena. Very soon he was surprised to see the body of the dead lion. Krishna noticed that the lion had the marks of a bear's claws and noticed that there were bear tracks around the body. On following the bear tracks Krishna reached Jambavan's cave.

While he entered the cave alone. Krishna found Jambavan's son playing with the Syamantaka gem. Frightened by the stranger, Jambavan's son let out a wail that alerted Jambavan. Now Jambavan thought someone was attacking his child and attacked Krishna. Krishna fought Jambavan for twenty-eight days after which Jambavan recognised Krishna's divinity and surrendered to him. Along with the gem, Jambavan offered Krishna his daughter Jambavati's hand in marriage.

Krishna gave the Syamantaka back to Satrajita and put an end to the evil rumors. However, he was surprised at what had happened. He asked the sages, "how could such things be said of me even when I had not done anything wrong". Great sages told him the story of Ganesha's curse and said, "You saw the Moon on the fourth day."

Then Krishna worshipped Ganesha to get rid of the curse.

Krishna getting false blame of being a thief of Syamantak mani and how he overcame such blame and proved his innocence by the grace of Mahaganapathy.. Listening or reading this story is considered as a blessing from Lord ganesha and removes all the blames and ill-luck from one's life

So even by mistake if one sees the Chandra on Chathurthi day, the prayaschittam is to chant this slokam and mentally contemplate on this story

SIMHA PRASENA MAVADHEET SIMHO JAMBAVATA HATAHA

SUKUMAARAKA MAA RODHISTHA TAVAHYESHA SHYAMANTAKAHA 

A lion killed Prasena; the lion was killed by Jambavan.

Don't cry, O dear child! This syamantaka jewel is yours

The ancient text Vrutha Choodamani Kalpam says - one has to chant this sloka even during Ganesha Puja.