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.

Iron Vilakku for God Sani

Anandi:

In home can we lit valluku with oil in Iron vallaku for God Sani?

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Materials made of iron are generally prohibited in puja. Iron not only has a negative energy but also absorbs the positive vibrations in the temple / puja room. Thats the reason we dont find any puja materials in iron.(This includes Stainless steel - but people may not accept my view - just because they dont want to loose their convenience)

Lighitng a deepa is a good pariharam for Shani Bagawan - but that will be more effective if it is done at a temple premises. (Only when you dont have any temple nearby, you can opt to light the lamp at your place)

If you are lighting the lamp for Shani Graha Preethi - you can use a simple clay lamp (Man agal vilakku) and use Sesame oil (Nallennai) and feed the crows . This will do...

Worshiping Anchaneya and Lord Ayyappa (especially on Saturdays) is also a remedial measure to please Shaneeshwara and get out of troubles

Swamy Sharanam

Aravind Subramanyam

Sastha – the Lord of the Vedhas

Sastha – the Lord of the Vedhas

The Vedas declare the nature of the Supreme Truth in many ways. Sometimes they call It Brahman (the great and glorious essence);

other times they call it Sat (Being); still other times they call it Purusha, other times Vishnu, Rudra, Atma, Paramaatma, etc. How are we to reconcile all these various names? Surely they all refer to one Supreme, as the Vedas declare that there is only one Supreme Cause -- ekam eva advitIyam.

It is beyond doubt that Lord Maha Sastha is the Supreme Being described in the Vedas.

Fortunately, the Vedas themselves offer a reconciliation of all these names, contained in the various Upanishads and even in the text of the Veda proper. In the Purusha Sukta, found in all four Vedas, the Supreme Brahman is described as the being who exists everywhere. This most important Vedic hymn praises the transcendental "cosmic man" – the Parama Purusha, the personification of the all-pervading Brahman- who is none other than “Sastha”

There are even more direct Veda vaakyas on our Lord Sastha.

In the Yajur Veda, we see for example,

“Sastha adhipathir vo asthu” - (Sastha is the ultimate ruler), a reference to the supremacy of Sastha over every being.

The Maithrayini Upanishad Says

“Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Sastha, Pranava and Brahman – is one and the Same”.

The Kalagni Rudropanishad calls Shiva as “Sarva Sastha”

These Veda vaakyas clearly spell out the principle that the concept of Sastha encompasses all other deities. Even otherwise, the meaning of the word “Sastha”has perhaps the deepest philosophical significance of any name of God, over and above even the terms Vishnu, Siva, Brahma, Indra, etc. The latter terms respectively mean “pervader”, ``pure'', ``great'', and ``king'', and are applicable to any number of things, including the individual self. However, Sastha means ``One who rules all the creatures'', which by implication can only refer to the Supreme.

Though the Sastha temple at the holy Sabari hills is very famous, it is to be noted that there are innumerable Sastha shrines throughout the country. Sastha is not only the Lord who is in Sabarimalai… Infact Lord Sastha is the actual source for Ayyappa incarnation..

Lord Sastha is the Primary force; He has two consorts – Poorna and Pushkala. Sastha has taken eight divine incarnations for His divine missions. Out of his eight incarnations, the most popular avathara or incarnation is stationed at Sabari hills as Ayyappa (as brahmachari or bachelor).

But Maha Sastha as a principal force, resides in his abode as Poorna Pushkala Sahitha Hariharaputra. Even during the Vedhic age when deities were worshipped only through fire, Sastha had a significant position and was worshipped in stone idols. The Vedhic seers (rishis) who lived in dense forest had Sastha as their ishta devata and that is reason we find numerous Sastha shrines in the forest area today.

Thus, Sastha’s worship who is the Supreme Lord of the Vedhas will bestow health, wealth and all the good things in life one can desire... and also grant moksha after the life.

It is to be noted that that Lord Hariharaputra is the most celebrated Lord among the Vedhic community of Brahmins. He is the Ishta devata, Para devata and Kula devata of them. During the magnificent Sastha Preethi celebrations held at every nook and corner of the world today, one can witness the significant role of the Vedhas in the rituals.

Sastha is called “Vipra pooja” – one who is worshipped by the Vedhic Scholars.

All our saints and ancestors have stated unambiguously that in Kaliyuga, Sastha’s worship is the only way of salvation.

“Kalau Sasthru Vinayakau”- Sastha is the only master in Kali

It is true that the Vedas themselves often praise other gods. However, it should be understood that that the personality to which the vaakyas refer is only Maha Sastha – the ultimate divine force.

Among the most important duties of Vedhic Bramins, the Vedhic Yagnas stands first. Vedic yajnas such as Vajapeya, Pashubhanda, Jyotistoma, Ashwamedha are well known. Out of the forty samskaras a human has to perform, these Vedhic yagnas are to be done at least once in a lifetime. This is of top-most value in the life of every householder. Whatever he gets from his farms, from his trade and commerce, whatever he earns from his job, must be shared with other members of universe.

If one observes the Hariharaputra Sahasranama carefully, it will be evident that Sastha is explicitly described as the Lord who gives the fruit of these Vedhic yagnas.

Namas which clearly explains the Vedhic yagnas which are not to be found even with the famous Vishnu, Shiva or Lalitha Sahasranamas are very clear and continuous in Sastha’s Sahasranama.

From the namas like Dwadasaahakrathu preethaa, Aptoryaamakratu mayaa, Poundareeka Phalaprathaa, Pasubhanda phaladhaathre, Vaajapeyathma Daivatham etc – the only point being made is that the ultimate Truth explained in the Vedhas is none other than Lord Maha Sastha.

Taittria Aranyaka Says:

Anthah Pravishtas Sastha Jananaam Sarvaathma |

Sarvaa: Praja Yathraikam Bavanthi |

"Where all are united, He who has entered within, that are born, and is the self of all, is beyond comprehension, He is Sastha the ruler of all things”

Connection of Sastha with Srividya Upasana

sidharth kris

could u plz tell me the details of connection of sastha with srividya upasana....

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Connection of Sastha with Srividya Upasana

You will find a brief explanation regarding this in my book "Shri Maha Sastha Vijayam"... and I shall try to throw some more light in the area:

Sastha is the dear most son of Lalitha and the upasana of Sastha is always in Line with Shrividyopasana...
Every Shrividyopasaka will know that the physical form of Laitha parameswari can be witnessed only at Kanchipuram. It is her Rajadhani... Lalitha parameshwari's headquarters is Kanchipuram - the Shri Nagaram of Bhuloka.. The whole of Kanchi Kshetram is Shrichakraakara(in the form of Shri Chakram). and the Bindu is Kamakshi Sannidhanam.. Right behind Kamakshi is her beloved son with his consorts.. Poorna and Pushkala...

I've heard from scholars like Harshanandanatha that a shrividyopaska entering the Kanchi Kshetram must worship all the deities with due Mudras and mantras and finally end the journey with Lord Sastha by worshipping him with Kalyana Shastru mantra and display the Khadga, pasham karavala and other mudras.
In general the practice of Srividya - in the Saubhagya Vidya of Dakshinamnaya one can find Sasthru moorthi. Here he is worshiped in the forms Darma Sastha and Kirata Sastha.

Sastha, (w.r.t to this area) helps the upasakas in begetting children and to overcome the enemies.

You can see an explicit reference of Sastha in Lalithopakhyana, as the Son of Lalitha Parameshwari. Shri.Manidasar of the illustrious Kambankudi family (also a devi upasaka) exclaims the glory of the Lord and concludes his songs praising "the son of Lalitha"

Though you find these details and explicit references...

The upasana of Sastha in the Shrividya cult is maintained with utmost secrecy that too only with a few specific schools of Shri Vidya...
In the Sadi Vidya - Sastha is one of the Gurus in the Ogatraya

For example if you observe carefully you can find Sastha in the 9th avarana of Maha Prasada vidya (Mahaprasada Avarana has to be worshipped after Urdhwamnaya Puja -only by the Poornabhishiktas and that too - with Sri Guru's guidance)
My Paramaguru who was an exponent in Srividya (whose kuladevata was Shasta) worshipped the Lord 100% with the Srividyopasana paddathi.

I dont know how many of us are aware of the fact the power house of all the Sastha Kshetrams lie at Karanthapuri(today - Kallidaikuichi) - in the banks of river Tamrabarani. The Kulathooril Ayyan there is worshipped in a stone peeta with Shri Chakram engraved on it...
(Due to the merits accumulated for thousands of my previous births - the Lord gave me an opportunity to touch the Srichakram here and offer my worship with my own hands)

And even at Sabarimalai - the Lord is seated on Srichakram and not on a Sasthru Yantram.
There is an exclusive Srichakra puja paddathi for Sastha(which is unfortunately not available with anyone and Iam searching for it)

And let me conclude this with a "Deva Rahasya" which was shared to me by a great Srividyopaska:

Devi has four powerful deities guarding her kingdom. The two are the powerful deities Ashtamukha Gandabherunda Nrisimha and Sashaktika Maha Vamana. The third is Kalasamkarshini Kali and fourth is our Master - Lord Shasta accompanied by Purna and Pushkala.

A special thanks to you - because of your question, I had a great opportunity to contemplate on these wonderful informations and on my mother Lalitha and her Laalitha Sudha.

ஓர் ஆறும் விம்சதியும் ஓர் தசமும் ஓர் ஏழும்
சீராயிணை சேர்ந்து ஸ்ரீ புரத்தில் வாழுமெங்கள்
பாராளும் லலிதை பெற்ற பாலகா உனை மறவேன்

Swamy Sharanam
V.Aravind Subramanyam
www.mahasastha.com

Dasavatharam & Dasamahavidya

Is there any connection between Dasamahavidya of Devi and Dasavatharams of Vishnu?

Chandramouli Iyer, Pune
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Though this topic is little bit off the track... I myself wanted to answer this becoz it falls more under my domain....

Amba is not different from Vishnu... She is called Govinda Rupiri in Lalitha Sahasranama. And the ten incarnations of Vishnu are Her expansions...
You wont find any puranic lore for the relation between these Vidyas and Avatharas but the logic of putting the Dasamahavidya with the Dasavataram is related thru perception and thru the Tanric interpretation.
If watched carefully one can find the theory of evolution in the Dasaavathara.
The same way the Dasamahavidyas represent the evolution of the Soul.

The First Avatara in an 100% aquatic fish and the Last is the Man of Purnathvam(complete) - Kalki.
- from a fish to a complete man..

Similarly as Nirguna Swaroopi, she is Kali of Darness;
As Saguna roopi she is Sundari of ultimate Gnana(wisdom)

A sloka from Lalita Sahasranama says ``karanguli nakhotpanna Narayana dasa kritih" that from the nails of the ten fingers of the Devi emerged the ten manifestations of Narayana as Dasavataram.

The ten manifestations of devi as Kali, Tara, Tripurasundari, Bhairavi, Bhagalamuki, CHinnamasta, Doomavati, Kamala, Bhuvaneswari and Matangi embody a whole range of attitudes gracious and awesome, benign and destructive. The same force called "Shakti" is the motivational force for the ten incarnations of Vishnu.
She is Vishnu and He is Devi; There is no difference between them.

These comparisons only mean that Amba's being non-different from
Narayana and need not be taken literally.

If amba wills, I shall write about all these 10 vidyas in detail.


kadAchidAdyA lalitA puMrUpA kR^iShNavigrahA |
1. Lalitha or Tripurasundari is Krisha

kadAchidAdyA shrItArA puMrUpA rAmavigrahA |
2. Tara devi is Shri Rama.

ChinnamastA nR^isiMhaH syAt vAmano bhuvaneshvarI |
3. Chinnamasta is Nrusimha and
4. Bhuvaneswari is Vamana

jAmadagnyaH kAlikA syAt mIno dhUmAvatI bhavet ||
5. Kali is Parasurama and
6. Doomavathi is Mathsya

bagalA kUrmamUrtiH syAt balabhadrastu bhairavI |
7. Bagalamuki is Koorma Murthi and
8. Bhairavi is Balarama

mahAlakShmI bhaved bauddhI durgA syAt kalkirUpiNI |
9. Mahalakshmi(Kamala) is Varaha and
10. Durga (Matangi) is Kalki


AMME NARAYANA !! DEVI NARAYANA !!

Rama Nama

I do the chanting of Rama Nama Japa when ever possible.. Some people say we can say rama nama any time, anywhere..is this true...
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Ofcourse... without any doubt... Rama Naama is Tharaka naama and there is no constraint for it...

It is said that the "Ra" in the name comes from the "Ra" in "Na Ra yana".
The "Ma" comes from "Na Ma Shivaya".

So that single name combines the power of both Shiva and Vishnu, who in turn are responsible of everything in the Universe.

In Vishnu Sahasranama, Parvathi Asks Shiva for a easy mean of reaching God then chanting a 1000 names. The Lord answers in a single word " Rama ".

Rama Nama is considered the greatest manthra. U need not do anything else, only that name is a great Pooja, said Sadguru bagva Nama Bhodendral, the 59th Acharya in Kanchi kamakoti Peetam. In fact in his Samadhi(holy grave), if u keep ur ears close, u can still hear the chant of the name Rama from inside.

This happens till date in the place of his Samadhi - Govindapuram, a village in Tanjore dist of Tamilnadu, near Kumbakonam.

Mantras require achara, shareera shuddi etc. But Bagawan Naamas are different from Mantras.. Chanting of the Taraka Nama has no restrictions. You can chant them always, anywhere, anytime, whenever you want or whatever else you are doing.

Kalau Sankeeerthya Keshavam...

Gayathri japam during Sandhya vandhana

Question :
During sandhyavandhanam.. how many times we need to chant the gayathri mantra...how much is the minimum number..
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Answer:
Gayathri is called Vedha Matha- the mother of Vedhas. And Gayathri Japa is a duty of every Dwija. (Dwija is not only a Brahmin but includes even Kshatriyas and Vaishyas - who are initiated with Brahmopadesha and given Upanayanam.

It is one of the foremost duty given to you... Consider the case of your employment... You are given the promised salary for the work you do and do not get any additional or special pay for doing your job.. but you are questioned or even punished when you fail to do it.. The same is the case with Sandhyavandhanam.. By doing it you dont gain any special punya. But by leaving it you incur papa.

Gayathri Japam is a part of Sandhya vandhanam. The significant feature of Sandhyavandanam is the self contemplation or meditation through the Gayatri Mantra.

This is done first and foremost for one's personal Shreyas as well as Lokakshemam.

Simply chanting this Japa is of no use. One's mind should be completely focused towards Gayathri Devi. Minimum of 1008 times, is what our Shastras suggest. And if its not possible, it is suggested for a minimum of 108 times.

And now people need to reduce it even. Not only gayatri, any mantra - the more is the number the more you are benefited.

-------- An interesting episode is to be seen in an Islamic book "Akbar nama", the biography of Emperor Akbar
when Akbar was ruling India . Birbal was his minister .Akbar and Birbal would often travel incognito to collect first hand information about the various happenings within the country.

On one occasion , they noticed a brahmin going begging from house to house. Akbar pointed this out to Birbal. Birbal noticed the beggar and kept quiet. After reaching home he sent word for the brahmin to meet him.

When the brahmin called on Birbal , Birbal said ,

"Oh ! Brahmin - You collect your daily earnings through begging from me every day . In lieu of begging please chant Gayatri Japam during the three sandhya periods 108 times everyday. I shall pay you daily for chanting the mantra"

The brahmin agreed and after collecting the money from Birbal, started chanting Gayatri Mantra. This continued daily. After a few days , he thought , why not increase the chanting to 1008 times, since he had a lot of time. Birbal paid him more for increasing the count. This continued for some days but after few days the brahmin stopped going to Birbal's house for begging .

After a few days, Birbal suddenly remembered this Brahim and thought of inquiring about him. He visited the brahmin and asked him as to why he had stopped coming to his house. He was really surprised to see more and more people visiting the brahmin for his blessings and he had become a well known personality. The brahmin welcomed Birbal and profusely thanked him for putting him on the right path by guiding him at the right time. His daily meditation earnt him the power to acquire knowledge , acquire an attractive personality and soon he transformed into a good expounder of knowledge.

One day Birbal mentioned to Akbar that a saintly person had come to town and Akbar promptly invited the person and honoured him. Birbal then asked Akbar whether he remembered this saintly person but akbar could not recollect. Birbal then reminded Akbar about the brahmin beggar episode . Akbar after hearing this exclaimed "Oh! what a change".

This episode appears in the Akbar Nama and brings out the virtue and greatness of the Gayatri Mantra.
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Coming to your question, the minimum in 108.. But Shastras say during Aapath-kaalam(when one is in danger or extraordinary situation) one can chant a minimum of 10 gayathri. If you chant Gayatri for 10 times in a fully involved manner, she will definitely going to bless you. But you have to decide whether are you always in Aapath Kalam? By doing Gayathri Japa, a dwija will grow and glow in social and spiritual life and reach the final destiny.