Salutations to Sri Ganesha and Vishvakshenar

Every rite / ritual in our Sanathana Dharma doesnot start without the worship of Ganapathi or Vishvakshenar. The former is considered the deity for followers of Shiva, while the later is of Sriman Narayana.

Let us pray for their blessings in the years to come and for our continued blog activities.

"Andhadhi" - a certain form of epithet is really a treasure in Tamizh language. The last word of the sentence is used as the first word of the next sentence. Many Andhadhi s have been created in praise of Gods and Goddesses by our Tamizh Saint Poets. Of them, the most famous are

1. Thiruvaaimozhi - by Swami Nammazhwaar, comprising of 1124 hyms sung in praise of Sriman Narayana and the Divya Desas.

2. Ramanusa Nootruandhadhi - composed by Thrivaranganththu Amudhanaar upholding the Holy aspects of Poorvachaaryaas, Sriman Narayana and His parivaara, puranaas, itihisaas and Swami Udaiyavar's connection toall these above.

3. Thiruvaaimozhi Nootruandhadhi - penned down by none other than Yatheendra Pravanar - Swami Manavala Maamunigal praising the 1124 Hyms of Nammaazhwaar and in turn Swami Shatakopan for giving the essence of Vedas in 1124 paasurams, that too in a very simple and understandable language.

4. Abirami Andhadhi - a beautiful hym composed on Abirami - the deity of Thrikkadaiyur. The hym is beleived to be composed by Sri Subrahmanyam (later to be know as Abirama Bhattar), when He was given the punishment of being thrown down into fire, beleiving that He had shown disrespect to the King of Thanjavur which was then under the rule of Raja Serfoji.

The kaapu paadal (the raksha sloka) of abirami Andhadhi goes like

காப்பு
தாரமர் கொன்றையும் செண்பக மாலையும் சாத்தும்தில்லை
ஊரர்தம் பாகத்து உமைமைந்தனே! உலகேழும் பெற்ற
சீர் அபிராமி அந்தாதி எப்போதும் எந்தன் சிந்தையுள்ளே
காரமர் மேனிக் கணபதியே! நிற்கக் கட்டுரையே. 
The above sloka says:

தாரமர் கொன்றையும் - the konnai flowers decorating the beautiful kesha of Ganapathi

செண்பக மாலையும் சாத்தும் - one who wears garland of Champa (Shenbagam) flowers

தில்லை ஊரர்தம் பாகத்து உமைமைந்தனே! - O Son of the Uma, who had taken the left side of the person who resides in Thillai (Chidambaram) - obviously meaning Lord Shiva

உலகேழும் பெற்ற சீர் அபிராமி அந்தாதி எப்போதும் எந்தன் சிந்தையுள்ளே - the one who created all the 7 worlds, and on whom I am going to sing this Andhadhi, in my mind / chiththa

காரமர் மேனிக் கணபதியே! - O Ganapathi!! who is shining like the black clouds full of rain in them,

நிற்கக் கட்டுரையே.  - let it be firm and still always

"O Ganapathi!! who wears Konnai flowers in your head and shenbaga garland in your chest, O son of Uma who resides in the left side of Thillai Nataraja who also created the 7 worlds, let this Andhadhi and its thoughts be in my mind firm and still always"

Though there are many intrinsic meanings in this vennpaa, the overall meaning alone is given here.

Now let us move to Vishnu Sahasranama, which invokes Senai mushaliyaar.

The second hym of Vishnu Sahasranama invokes Sri Vishvakshenar (known as Senai Mudhaliyaar in Tamizh) seeking His blessings to finish the parayanam of the stotra without any hindrance.

yasya, dwiradavaktrAdyAH pAriShadyAH parashshatam shattaM , vighnaM nighnanti sathatham viShvaksenam tam Ashraye |
Yasya - the one

dwirada-vaktradhya - one who has two tucks in His mukha (face) [Here it refers to Gajavakthra, one of the most important person in Senai Mudhaliyaar betallion, whose face is of an elephant. This should not be confused with Ganapathi]

Parishadyaha - counsel

Parashshatham - group of 100

vighnam - obstacles

nighnanthi - removed

shathatham - always

Vishvakshenam tam - to you O Vishvakshena

aashraye - bow to you

"the one whose cousel consisting of 100 of people, chiefly of Gajavakthra and to the destroyer of all obstacles, to you I bow, O Vishvakshena!!".

Let us pray to Sri Ganapathi and sri Vishakshenar for removing all our obstacles.


 

A welcome back

Dear All,

Due to various other reasons, we had to stop posting in this blog for a period more than 3 years. We deeply regret for the same.

Now, we are again back to learn and share more thnigs than before and also in a much more broader spectre of our Sanathana Dharma.

We hope everyone of you will actively post and share the knowledge of our Sanathana Dharma with us and others as well.

Hoping to see you all soon...

Thanks,
 

The Religion without a name

The Religion without a name

                        We speak of the "Hindu Religion", but the religion denoted by the term did not in fact have such a name originally. According to some, the word "Hindu" means "Love"; according to some others a Hindu is one who disapproves ahimsa or violence. This may be an ingenious way of explaining the word.

                        In none of our ancient sastras does the term "Hindu Religion" occur. The name "Hindu" was given us by foreigner. People from countries to our west came to our land across Sindhu river which they called "Indus" or "Hind" and the land adjacent to it by the name "India". The religion of this land came to be "Hindu". The name of a neighboring country is sometimes applied to the land adjacent to it. Let me tell you an interesting story in this connection.

                        In the north people readily give alms to anybody calling himself a Bairaagi. The bairagis have a grievance against southerners because they do not follow the same practice. "Illa po po kahe telungi" is one of their ditties. "Telugus do not give us alms but drive us away": this is the meaning of the line. Actually, Telugus do not say "po, po" but "vellu, vellu" for "go,go". "Po" is a Tamil word. Then how would you explain the line quoted above? During their journey South, the bairagis had first to pass through Telugu country (Andhra); so they thought that the land further South also belonged to the Telugus.

                         There is also the same logic behind the Telugus themselves referred to Tamil Nadu as "Arava Nadu" from the fact that a small area south of Andhra Pradesh is called "Arva". Similarly, foreigners who came to the land of the Sindhus called all Bhaarata beyond also by the same name.

                         However it be, "Hinduism" was not the name of our religion in the different past. Nor was it known as "Vaidhika Matham" (Vedic Religion) or as "Sanaathana Dharma" (the ancient or timeless religion). Our basic texts do not refer to our faith by any name. When i thought about it, I felt that there was something deficient about our religion...............                        (To Be Continued)............


                        

Thirumoorthy Koil_Chengipatti

Jaisathguru
Thirumoorthy koil, Sengipatti fascinated me on the very first time i
saw it. It was right after my admission at SASTRA (june 2008).
This temple is present in a village, which is about 4-5 km from
Sengipatti. There are bus facilities connecting the village from
sengipatti but frequency is very low. It is best reached the place by
auto.
There are totally three important things that are present there.
1.      Paramasivan temple(sorry i’m not sure of the name) , along with
other deities.
2.      Dhyana Mandapam
3.      Ayyanar Koil
1.The interesting fact about the temple is that, it was built by a
Raja who ruled Thanjavur. As we can notice suriyan and chandiran at
the entrance of the temple facing the deity. This temple has a special
variety of villvam, wherein 11 leaves would be attached to a single
stalk.
       There is also certain other special feature which I’m not sure of, as
I have forgotten them as it had been more than 2 years i had been to
the temple.
2. Another important fact about this temple is that there is a
dyanamandapam where in there is a very rare and fascinating thing one
can notice. We can have the darshan of Poondi Mahan, Gnananadagiri
Swamigal, and Kanchi Mahan along with matha Para Shakthi.
It is said that, this particular place had been the thapovanam for
various great saints and mahaans, and here Poondi Mahan is said to be
the incarnation of Brahma, Gnananadagiri Swamigal that of Maha Vishnu
and Kanchi Mahan that of Parama Sivan. This is the main reason this
kshaetram is call Thrumoorthy koil.
3.ayyanar along with his parivaras is another thing that one notices
as we  come there.
There are several fascinating facts that adorn the temple. By his
grace willing to visit the temple again, to collect further
information about it and would soon post another blog with it.
--Jaisathguru

RISHIVANDHIYAM - THE WONDER OF WONDERS

RISHIVANDHIYAM- SIVAN TEMPLE
          THE WONDER OF WONDERS.

This place is nearby villupuram and thirukovilur.

Buses are available from thirukovilur but few. The sivan temple

here in this small town is one of thousands of temples in our

land which don’t get the attention they deserve.

When I went to this temple with my family it was around

9’oclock. But nobody was there in the temple. When we asked

the people there, they told us that there was only one priest both

for the sivan and vishnu temple in that town, and that, the priest

had to come from the other temple. After waiting for around 30

mins the priest came finally. Though my grandfather told me

about the temple even before we started I didn’t appreciate his

words much.

Because in our land all temples have some unbelievable

uniqueness in them. I thought that this temple too had something

special as my grandpa was saying. That’s it. I didn’t expect

anything more…. But only after going there I realised that the

temple had much much more at stake, and many a wonders, than

I had contemplated in my mind.

The lingam in this temple is a svayambu lingam. The temple

traces its origin down back to dvapara yugam. The lingam is

believed to be worshipped by musukunda chakravarti, devargal,

agasthiyar, lord rama, guha namachivayar, also by many rishi’s

and the great nalavar-appar, sundarar, manickavasagar and

thirugnanasambandar.  Wonders of wonders is the

ardhanareeswara form exihibited by the lingam here.

When the divine wedding of sivan and parvati took place in the

kailayam the entire populace of the devas, asuras, siva bakthas

and all divinely people rushed to kailayam. Because of the  

enormous weight on kailayam the northern direction fell low

and the southern direction got lifted up. To balance the weight

sivaperuman asked agasthiya maharishi who only the size of

thumb, to go to the southern direction and balance the baram.

Agasthiyar obeyed him instantly and he went to southen

direction and started performing poojas to sivan   at  various

sthalams. In one place the kailayanathan gave darisanam to him

in the wedding thirukolam. Agasthiyar prayed to the lord that he

must give this darisanam to all the people all the time.

Lord siva told that whenever abhishekam is performed to him

here with honey he will appear along with parvati. That place is

none other than the place we are talking about, that is

rishivandiyam.

Even today when thaen(honey) abhishekam is performed to the

lingam one can see the ardhanareeswara form of siva in the

middle of the lingam glowing in golden colour. But when honey

is wiped away the ardhanareeswarar disappears. What a wonder

it was to witness it. The golden colour image doesn’t appear

during any other abhisekam ( I mean the abhisekham with milk,

water or anything else). I was stunned and mesmerised and so

were my kins.

The name of the ambal in this temple is called shri muthambika.

A must to be watched temple. When the honey flows over the

Lingam, bhakthi and surprise will also flow in your heart. Believe it, if not experince it!!

There are many temples in and around villupuram which are

must to be watched..

I will tell about them in my next  article!

                                    by 
                                           VENKATRAMAN RAVI

Veda Samrakshanam & Veda Samrakshana Nidhi

Dharmo Rakshathi Rakshithaha

(When you protect Dharma, it will in turn protect you).

Priya Bakthas,

      We all know the importance of Vedas, its spiritual origin, its eternal nature, etc. But according to the current scenario, the learning of Vedas, propagating  it, or even speaking of it in the open has become impossible. Is it not "OUR" duty to nourish them, cherish the people who study them and take it to the world?????. Hence, a a small initiative, as the tamil proverb goes, "Siru Thuli, peru vellam" (small drops lead to an ocean), it has been decided, that WE start a "Veda Samrakshana Nidhi". This nidhi would mainly concentrate on collecting of funds from people who are know the importance of it and also who are realy willing to help, through out their life and to their generations to come on....

      The Points / Terms/Conditions are so...

1. Each month thirty (Rs.32) would be collected from each person. This Rs.32 is only a minimum limit,    always, more contributions are welcome.
2. A new bank account in the name of a person / joint account will be opened up in CUB, Chennai (Cos, most people are of Chennai Origin).
3. People who are at college (SASTRA) will be giving their contributions to one person nominated (Whole-heartedly).
4. The same amount from that person will be deposit the money in the chosen account number (either directly or by net banking, whichever is easier).
5. The sum Rs.32 has been collected on the basis of this:
     a. 16 for a paksham (a fortnight / 15 days, a month has two pakshams, and hence Rs.32)
     b. 16 stands for Brahma Vidhya who is Veda matha - Gayathri.(as Lalitha Sahasranamam says: Suddha Vidhya kurankaara dwija pankthi dwaya ujwala - She who has the Suddha Vidhya - 32 syllabled mantra as two sets of teeth).
6. Since, this is a very small program, we feel that this would be sufficient only if the Veda Students of donate (Reason is - large funds could not be managed, also, at the start level, its better we plan in a small scale, then expand).

Also, a kind request for everyone.... Kindly take interest in doing this, This scheme was first started by OUR Kanchi Paramacharya. His life's goal was to protect and propagate the VEDIC DHARMA and he lived up to it. As his priya sishyas, his priyas bakthaas and daasaas, it is OUR duty to take up his goal and follow his foot steps (Paramaachaaryaal Paadhailae)......





Once again request you to take this task as our own and fulfill Maha Periva's goal for ascending in our Mother Land.

adiyen's pranams to all your Lotus Feet

adiyen
SathGuru dasan

Dasa Maha Vidhya

                                       

                                                  The Mahavidyas are, in order, Kali, Tara, Sodashi (Tripurasundari), Bhuvaneshvari, Cchinnamasta, Bhairavi, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi and Kamala. Each, except Dhumavati, who is a widow, has her own form of Shiva.

1. Kali. Seated on a corpse, greatly terrifying, laughing loudly, with fearful fangs, four arms holding a cleaver, a skull, and giving the mudras bestowing boons and dispelling fear, wearing a garland of skulls, her tongue rolling wildly, completely naked (digambara - clad in the directions), thus one should meditate on Kali, dwelling in the centre of the cremation ground.

2. Tara - Akshobhya. Seated in the pratyalidha asana, seated on the heart of a corpse, supreme, laughing horribly, holding cleaver, blue lotus, dagger and bowl, uttering the mantra Hum, coloured blue, her hair braided with serpents, the Ugratara.

3. Sodashi. For her meditation image, see Mahatripurasundari.

4. Bhuvaneshvari. Like the red rays of the rising sun, with the moon as her diadem, and with three eyes, a smiling face, bestowing boons, holding a goad, a noose and dispelling fears, thus I hymn Bhuvaneshi.

5. Cchinnamasta. For her meditation image, see Cchinnamasta.

6. Bhairavi. Her head garlanded with flowers, she resembling the red rays of 1,000 rising suns, smeared with red, holding milk, book, dispelling fears and giving boons with her four hands, large three eyes, beautiful face with a slow smile, wearing white gems, I worship Bhairava.

7. Dhumavati. The colour of smoke, wearing smoky clothes, holding a winnowing basket, dishevelled clothes, deceitful, always trembling, with slant eyes, inspiring fear, terrifying.

8. Bagalamukhi. Three eyes, wearing yellow clothes and gems, moon as her diadem, wearing champaka blossoms, with one hand holding the tongue of an enemy and with the left hand spiking him, thus should you meditate on the paralyser of the three worlds. See also Bagalamukhi.

9. Matangi. Dusky, beautiful browed, her three eyes like lotuses, seated on a jewelled lion-throne, surrounded by gods and others serving her, holding in her four lotus-like hands a noose and a sword, a shield and a goad, thus I remember Matangi, the giver of results, the Modini.

10. Kamala. With a smiling face, her beautiful lily-white hands hold two lotuses, and show the mudras of giving and dispelling fear. She is bathed in nectar by four white elephants and stands upon a beautiful lotus.