Meditation on that Infinite being called Rudra

Meditation on that Infinite being called Rudra

अथात्मानम् शिवात्मानम् रुद्ररूपम् ध्यायेत् 

शुद्धस्फटिकसङ्काशम् त्रिनेत्रम् पञ्चवक्त्रकम्।

गङ्गाधरम् दशभुजम् सर्वाभरण भूषितम्। 

नीलग्रीवम् शशाङ्काङ्कम् नागयज्ञोपवीतिनम्।

व्याघ्रचर्मोत्तरीयम् च वरेण्यमभयप्रदम्॥

कमण्डल्वक्षसूत्राणाम् धारिणम् शूलपाणिनम्।

ज्वलन्तम् पिङ्गलजटम् शिखामध्योद धारिणम्॥

वृषस्कन्धसमारूढम् उमादेहार्ध धारिणम्।

अमृतेनाप्ळुतम् शान्तम् दिव्यभोग समन्वितम्॥

दिग्देवता समायुक्तम् सुरासुर नमस्कृतम्।

नित्यम् च शाश्वतम् शुद्धम् ध्रुवमक्षरमव्ययम्।

सर्वव्यापिनमीशानम् रुद्रम् वै विश्वरूपिनम् 

एवम् ध्यात्वा द्विजस्सम्यक् ततो यजनमारभेत्॥

athātmānam śivātmānam rudrarūpam dhyāyet 

śuddhasphaṭikasaṅkāśam trinetram pañcavaktrakam|

gaṅgādharam daśabhujam sarvābharaṇa bhūṣitam| 

nīlagrīvam śaśāṅkāṅkam nāgayajñopavītinam|

vyāghracarmottarīyam ca vareṇyamabhayapradam||

kamaṇḍalvakṣasūtrāṇām dhāriṇam śūlapāṇinam|

jvalantam piṅgalajaṭam śikhāmadhyoda dhāriṇam||

vṛṣaskandhasamārūḍham umādehārdha dhāriṇam|

amṛtenāpḻutam śāntam divyabhoga samanvitam||

digdevatā samāyuktam surāsura namaskṛtam|

nityam ca śāśvatam śuddham dhruvamakṣaramavyayam|

sarvavyāpinamīśānam rudram vai viśvarūpinam 

evam dhyātvā dvijassamyak tato yajanamārabhet ||

athAtmAnam shivAtmAnam rudrarUpam dhyAyet 

shuddhasphaTikasa~NkAsham trinetram pa~ncavaktrakam.

ga~NgAdharam dashabhujam sarvAbharaNa bhUSitam. 

nIlagrIvam shashA~NkA~Nkam nAgayaj~nopavItinam.

vyAghracarmottarIyam ca vareNyamabhayapradam..

kamaNDalvakSasUtrANAm dhAriNam shUlapANinam.

jvalantam pi~NgalajaTam shikhAmadhyoda dhAriNam..

vRRiSaskandhasamArUDham umAdehArdha dhAriNam.

amRRitenaapLutam shAntam divyabhoga samanvitam..

digdevatA samAyuktam surAsura namaskRRitam.

nityam ca shAshvatam shuddham dhruvamakSaramavyayam.

sarvavyApinamIshAnam rudram vai vishvarUpinam 

evam dhyAtvA dvijassamyak tato yajanamArabhet ..

On this day of Shiva.. rather Night of Shiva.. the Shivaratri, abhishekam with water and all fragrant, nutritious and sacred materials is offered to the Lord during all the four Yaamaas..

. starting at 6PM then 9 PM, 12 Midnight and finally 3 AM next day..

Oil, Milk Curd Panchgavyam, Panchamritam, Lemon Juice, Sugarcane Juice, Sandal and Scented Water, Ghee, etc are offered to Him as Abhishekam

The continuous abhishekam is done chanting Sri Rudram of Shatarudreeyam... the holiest of the mantras on the lord of lords Rudra that Vedas can offer.. 

In fact the mantram starts with a pranam to Rudra.. 

Om Namo bhagavate Rudraya.. 

ॐ नमो भगवते रुद्राय 

the veda itself offers pranams to that Supreme Lord Rudra..

The chanting of that holy mantra and offering respects to the Lord through that mantra is to be preceded by observation of intense discipline by the chanter.. 

Bodhyana explains how one should become one with Shiva Himself and meditate on his form as a prelude to the start of the yajna that is chanting and abhishekam to the Lord with SriRudram

One should just fix in himself the faith that the sacred form of Lord Rudra has merged with himself and then start chanting..

The form and various attributes of the lord

He is shining with the blemishless lustre of clear crystal

He is having three eyes. Sun Moon and Fire

He is having five faces... Sadhyojatha, Tatpurusha,Vamadeva, Aghora and Eaashan 

He carried River Devi Ganga in his matted locks 

He is having ten arms

He has decorated himself with ornaments of splendour

His neck is of dark blue colour 

He is having the moon as an ornament 

He is wearing a snake at yajnopaveetam or thread across the torso

He is having the skin of a tiger as the upper garment across his body

He is the most respectable God among all gods..

He is ever pleased to grant refuge to all devotees..

He is holding a water pot Kamandalu in one hand

He is holding Akshamaala or rosary in another hand

He is holding a trident Shoolam

He is shining with a fountain of water sprounting from the middle of his matted hair

He has mounted the back of a huge bull Vrishabha 

He is having half of His own body occupied by mother Uma 

He is floating Himself in Ambrosia.. the Amrutham

He is very peaceful and calm

He is in a state of mind where his is just enjoying all the pleasures of the world

He is surrounded by the lords of all the Cardinal directions.. Indra, Agni, Yama, Niruriti, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera and Brahma 

All the divine beings are offering pranmas to Him

He is the eternal being

He is present in the past present and the future too for ever

He is pure in absolute terms

He is very fixed in his stature and will 

He is without any destruction or dimunition 

His glory can never be depleted

He is spreading himself all over the universe and everywhere

He is having all the powers of will and control over everything manifest and unmanifest 

He is the Rudra.. the one who Cries and one who shouts.. cries in agony and ecstacy

He is the Vishvaroopi.. His shape is that of everything in this universe and everything in this universe just manifests in His form.

The learned man should meditate upon Rudra the Shankara in the above aspects and start the yajnam of offering ablutions to the Lord with Shri Rudram..

That immaculate Linga..

That immaculate Linga..

आपाताळनभःस्थलान्तभुवन ब्रह्माण्डमाविस्फुरत्

ज्योतिः स्फाटिकलिङ्गमौळिविलसत् पूर्णेन्दुवान्तामृतैः। 

अस्तोकाप्लुतमेकमीशमनिशं रुद्रानुवाकान्जपन्

ध्यायेदीप्सितसिद्धये द्रुतपदं विप्रोऽभिषिञ्चेच्चिवम्॥ 

āpātāḻanabhaḥsthalāntabhuvana brahmāṇḍamāvisphurat

jyotiḥ sphāṭikaliṅgamauḻivilasat pūrṇenduvāntāmṛtaiḥ | 

astokāplutamekamīśamaniśaṁ rudrānuvākānjapan | 

dhyāyedīpsitasiddhaye drutapadaṁ vipro'bīṣinceccivam ||

आपाताळनभःस्थलान्तभुवन ब्रह्माण्डमाविस्फुरत्

ज्योतिः 

with the jyothi or resplendance which brightens and radiates all over the universe from paataalam to the high skies which consist of the immaculate egg created by Brahma (Brahmanda), 

स्फाटिकलिङ्गमौळिविलसत् पूर्णेन्दुवान्तामृतैः 

manifesting in the shape of a huge linga of crystal whose head is shining with full moon and amrutha or nectar oozing from it 

अस्तोकाप्लुतमेकमीशमनिशं 

that one and only Easa the Shankara who is without any destruction and who is floating in griefless ecstacy 

द्रुतपदं रुद्रानुवाकान्जपन् chanting the eleven anuvakas of Sri Rudram with words in quick succession 

ध्यायेदीप्सितसिद्धये विप्रोऽभिषिञ्चेच्चिवम् the learned person should meditate upon Shiva and offer abhishekam or bath with holy waters to the Lord, so that the worshipper will be granted all that he desires.

The learned devotee who is desirous of being blessed with all that he years for 

should chant the anuvakas of Shatarudriya or Srirudram 

with the words uttered in quick succession 

and meditate upon Shiva

Who is shining forth with the splendour which radiates all over the universe which extends to the farther ends of Brahmanda encompassing the lowest paathaalam to the high skies..

Who is manifesting in the shape of a huge linga of Crystal .(which pervades the whole universe). 

the head of the lingam is adorned with the full moon who is oozing forth amrutha or nectar (bathing the whole brahmanda with resplendance)

The one and only Easa the Shankara who is without any comparison , 

who is eternal and without destruction, 

and who is floating in the eternal ectacy without any tinge of grief ever

there is one alternate word ध्रुवपदं for द्रुतपदं as seen in some versions of the above sloka which is one of the dhyaana slokas of Lord Shiva chanted at the start of offering Abhishekam to Shiva chanting Srirudram..

ध्रुवपदं the stauts of Dhruva.. meaning unshakeable and very fixed.. or alternately the North (east) direction of Eaashaana.. as the Ashtadikpaala.

the Rudras...

the Rudras... 

ब्रह्माण्डव्याप्तदेहा भसितहिमरुचा भासमाना भुजङ्गैः

कण्ठे कालाः कपर्दाः कलित शशिकलाश्चण्डकोदण्डहस्ताः। 

त्र्यक्षा रुद्राक्षमाला प्रकटितविभवाः शांभवा मूर्तिभेदाः 

रुद्राः श्रीरुद्रसूक्तप्रकटितविभवाः नः प्रयच्छन्तु सौख़्यम्॥

brahmāṇḍavyāptadehā bhasitahimarucā bhāsamānā bhujaṅgaiḥ 

kaṇṭhe kālāḥ kapardāḥ kalita śaśikalāścaṇḍakodaṇḍahastāḥ | 

tryakṣā rudrākṣamālāḥ prakaṭitavibhavāḥ śāṁbhavā mūrtibhedāḥ 

rudrāḥ śrīrudrasūktaprakaṭitavibhavāḥ naḥ prayaccantu sauyam ||

this is one of the three invocatory prayers as a preface to Chanting SriRudram ...or Shatarudriyam of Krishnayajurvedam 

May the various forms of Shambu which are the (eleven ) Rudras who manifest themselves in all their glory when praised by the Shatarudriyam or Rudrasooktha bless us with welfare and eternal Grace of Shiva.

The innumerable glories of the forms of Shambu the Rudra described in the above prayer are 

The forms of Rudra the Shambu are spread all over the length and breadth of the universe.. the brahmaanda 

The forms of Rudra the Shambu are shining with the sparkling whiteness of (the Himalayan) snow

The forms of Rudra the Shambu are sparkling with venomous snakes crawling all around their bodies

The forms of Rudra the Shambu are pitch dark at their throat areas (with the solidified poison Halahala stuck there)

The forms of Rudra the Shambu are having their hair tied in the shape of thick matted locks 

The forms of Rudra the Shambu are decorated with the crescent of the moon

The forms of Rudra the Shambu are having fierce and huge bow and arrow held in the hands 

The forms of Rudra the Shambu are having three eyes (representing the Sun Moon and the Fire )

The forms of Rudra the Shambu are accentuated by the garlands made of Rudraksha seeds 

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word analysis 

ब्रह्माण्डव्याप्तदेहा the forms of Shambu which are spread all over the length and breadth of the universe.. the brahmaanda 

भसितहिमरुचा shining with the sparkling whiteness of (the Himalayan) snow

भुजङ्गैःभासमाना sparkling with venomous snakes crawling all around the body

कण्ठे कालाः pitch dark at the throat area (with the solidified poison Halahala stuck there)

कपर्दाः having hair tied in the shape of thick matted locks 

कलित शशिकला decorated with the crescent of the moon 

चण्डकोदण्डहस्ताः fierce and huge bow and arrow held in the hands 

त्र्यक्षा having three eyes 

रुद्राक्षमाला प्रकटितविभवाः the greatness of the forms accentuated by the garlands made of rudraksha seeds 

शांभवा मूर्तिभेदाः the various forms of Shambhu the Shivaa 

श्रीरुद्रसूक्तप्रकटितविभवाः रुद्राः the (eleven ) Rudras who manifest themselves in all their glory when praised by the Shatarudriyam or Rudrasooktha 

नः सौख्यं प्रयच्छन्तु may bless us with welfare and eternal Grace of Shiva.

THE UNIVERSAL FORM OF THE LORD OF LORDS SHANKARA.

THE UNIVERSAL FORM OF THE LORD OF LORDS SHANKARA.

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(We mediate on this form of the Lord at the time of Chanting Sri Rudram or Shatarudreeyam..)

पीठं यस्य धरित्री जलधरकलशं लिङ्गमाकाशमूर्तिम्

नक्षत्रं पुष्पमाल्यं ग्रहगणकुसुमं चन्द्रवह्न्यर्कनेत्रम्।

कुक्षिः सप्तसमुद्रं भुजगिरिशिखरं सप्तपाताळपादम्

वेदं वक्त्रं षडङ्गं दशदिश वसनं दिव्यलिङ्गं नमामि॥

pīṭhaṁ yasya dharitrī jaladharakalaśaṁ liṅgamākāśamūrtim

nakṣatraṁ puṣpamālyaṁ grahagaṇakusumaṁ candravahnyarkanetram|

kukṣiḥ saptasamudraṁ bhujagiriśikharaṁ saptapātāḻapādam

vedaṁ vaktraṁ ṣaḍaṅgaṁ daśadiśa vasanaṁ divyaliṅgaṁ namāmi||

piiThaM yasya dharitrii jaladharakalashaM li~NgamaakaashamUrtim

nakSatraM puSpamaalyaM grahagaNakusumaM chandravahnyarkanetram.

kukSiH saptasamudraM bhujagirishikharaM saptapaataaLapaadam

vedaM vaktraM SaDa~NgaM dashadisha vasanaM divyali~NgaM namaami..

लिङ्गमाकाशमूर्तिम् दिव्यलिङ्गं नमामि यस्य पीठं धरित्री जलधरकलशं यस्य पुष्पमाल्यं नक्षत्रं ग्रहगणकुसुमं चन्द्रवह्न्यर्कनेत्रम् यस्य कुक्षिः सप्तसमुद्रं भुजगिरिशिखरं सप्तपाताळपादम्

यस्य वक्त्रं षडङ्गं वेदं दशदिश वसनं

I offer pranams to that Divine Linga ( The Lord of Lords Shiva the Shankara 

whose form is spread in transperant form all over the Sky,

whose seat is the whole earth,

whose waterpot is the collection of clouds laden with water, whose flower garland is the collection of stars with planets as flowers,

whose three eyes are the Moon, the Sun and the Fire,

whose belly is the seven seas (see Note 1 below),

whose arms are the peaks of the mountains spread over the earth, whose legs are the seven Paathaalaas or the worlds below the earth.. (atala, vitala, sutala, rasatala, talaatala, mahaatala, paataala),

whose mouth is the Vedas (Rk, Yajus, Sama Atharva) along with their six limbs ( chanda, vyakarana, kalpa, jyotisha, niruktha and sheeksha)

and whose clothes are just the ten directions [east, south east, south, south west, west, north west, north , north east, up ( the sky) and down.. below the earth]

Note 1.

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Seven Islands and the Seven seas surrounding them according to Vishnupuranam and Devibhagavatham..

According to our puranic lore, the earth consists of seven islands, which are in turn surrounded by seven oceans..

They are.. Jambudvipa.. (our own land ).. surrounded by Lavana or salt waters.

Plakshadvipa.. surrounded by waters of cane juice. Ikshu 

Kusha dveepa Surrounded by waters of Ghee Sarpi 

Krauncha Dveepa Surrounded by waters of curd.. Dadhi

Saka Dveepa… Surrounded by waters of Milk… Ksheera

Saalmalee Dveepa ..Surrounded by water of liquor…Suraa

Pushkara Dveepa … Surrounded by pure waters or Suddhodaka..

Krishna demands a present from Kuchela.....

Krishna demands a present from Kuchela.....

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The story of Krishna and His friend Sudhaama the Kuchela has always fascinated me.. 

Even after reading in many times from Sriimad Bhagavatam, every time one reads it, there is a lump in the throat and the eyes overflow with tears.. of grief, love, ecstasy.. one is not sure..

Krishna and Sudhama an indigent brahmin were classmates in the school of Sage Sandeepani.. and they were very close to each other as boys.. 

After schooling they parted ways,, 

The prince Krishna to rule over Dvaaraka in all Royal Splendour 

and 

Sudhama settled with an equally indigent wife and was eking out a livelihood through vedic practices and receiving presents in the process of vedic rituals and congregations for chanting divine names and so on.. 

The brahmin, as is usual with most brahmins, was not a smart one in the worldly affairs, and he could earn so little that he could not even provide food for his family consisting of his wife Susheela and a wealth of children numbering more than two dozens..

They were pulling on.. 

but life was becoming more and more unbearable.. 

Sudhaama did not have good clothes to wear, and so he was always attired in tattered garments and gained the additional name of Kuchela which stuck to him and his original name was almost forgotten..

Though very poor in worldly wealth, 

he was rich in his devotion to God,, 

and he was always profuse in praising his boyhood friend Krishna.

But it never occurred to him that a call or even a message to his dear friend would have made a lot of difference to his wordly state of affairs..

The brahmin lady, as is usual with every housewife in India over centuries, just suffered everything silently, without finding fault with her naive husband.. 

But hunger is a major issue..

It is especially true when you have to find material to fill a lot of stomachs.. 

So the lady suggested to her husband that he should pay a visit to his boyhood friend.. 

The idea did not sound appealing to Kuchela at first.. 

He could not bring himself to present himself before Krishna in the present condition.. 

He was also apprehensive that the Royal Highness Krishna would not remember such an old museum piece the brahmin was.. 

He also doubted whether he would get an audience with Krishna even if he visited Dvaraka..

But Susheela was persistent.. 

And seeing her misery and the hunger of the children, the brahmin half-heartedly agreed to pay a visit to Dvaaraka..

But then he asked, "What shall I take to Krishna as a present?"

There was nothing of value available in the household..

Even grain was scarce.. 

The lady managed to borrow a little quantity of rice from a neighbhour, and made an attempt to pound it with a mortar and pestle..

The lady was helpless and weak and her best efforts to make pounded rice ( Aval) was only partially successful.. 

She did not have any container to pack the mixture or pounded and unpounded rice, 

and so she tore off a piece of cloth from the saree she wore and packed the semi pounded rice as a bundle and handed over the same to her husband..

The husband carried the small bundle held fast to his armpit and proceeded by foot to Dvaraka..

Krishna was sitting in his palace in the company of Rukmani and just watching the passers by along the royal thoroughfare..

He saw a thin old and gnarled brahmin, walking with slow and unsure strides towards the palace,

 and immediately recognised his long time friend and classmate.. 

He ran down the road shoe-less and partially clothed to receive the friend in an embrace and took him to the palace..

The brahmin was comfortably seated, offered respects like washing of feet which are due to any guest.. 

The brahmin was sitting in the throne and Krishna was seated on the floor beside him.. 

And Rugmani was swaying the fan for him..

The Lord knew that his friend has come to him prodded by his sincere but suffering wife,..

Usually we take presents to God, and offer them to Him with a lot of devotion.. 

We do not know really whether God receives our presents or not..

But Krishna asks Kuchela, " My dear friend, what have you brought as present for me?"

This scene is described poignantly in Srimad Bhagavatha Puranam, Dashama Skandham, Chapter 81 in the following slokas..

श्री भगवानुवाच--

किमुपायनमानीतम् ब्रह्मन् मे भवता गृहात्।

अण्वप्युपहृतम् भक्तैः प्रेम्णा भूर्येव मे भवेत्।

भूर्यप्यभक्तोपहृतम् न मे तोषाय कल्पते॥३।

पत्रम् पुष्पम् फलम् तोयम् यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति 

तदहम् भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मना॥४

इत्युक्तोऽपि द्विजस्तस्मै व्रीडितः पतये श्रियः

पृथुकप्रसृतिम् राजन् न प्रायच्चदवाङ्मुखः॥५

पत्न्या पतिव्रतायास्तु सखा प्रियचिकीर्षया 

प्राप्तो मामस्य दास्यामि सम्पदोऽमर्त्यदुर्लभाः॥६

इत्थम् विचिन्त्य वसनाच्चीरबद्धान्द्विजन्मनः

स्वयम् जहार किमिदमिति पृथुकतण्डुलान्॥७

नन्वेतदुपनीतम् मे परमप्रीणनम् सखे 

तर्पयत्यङ्ग माम् विश्वमेते पृथुकतण्डुलाः॥८

इति मुष्ठिम् सकृत्जग्ध्वा द्वितीयम् जग्धुमाददे

तावच्छ्रीर्जगृहे हस्तम् तत्परा परमेष्ठिनः॥९

एतावतालम् विश्वात्मन् सर्वसम्पत्समृद्धये

अस्मिन्ल्लोकेऽथवामुष्मिन् पुंसस्त्वत्तोषकारणम्॥१०

॥श्रीमद् भागवते दशमस्कन्धे एकाशीतितमोऽध्याये। ८१॥

śrī bhagavānuvāca--

kimupāyanamānītam brahman me bhavatā gṛhāt|

aṇvapyupahṛtam bhaktaiḥ premṇā bhūryeva me bhavet|

bhūryapyabhaktopahṛtam na me toṣāya kalpate||3|

patram puṣpam phalam toyam yo me bhaktyā prayacchati 

tadaham bhaktyupahṛtamaśnāmi prayatātmanā||4

ityukto'pi dvijastasmai vrīḍitaḥ pataye śriyaḥ

pṛthukaprasṛtim rājan na prāyaccadavāṅmukhaḥ||5

patnyā pativratāyāstu sakhā priyacikīrṣayā 

prāpto māmasya dāsyāmi sampado'martyadurlabhāḥ||6

ittham vicintya vasanāccīrabaddhāndvijanmanaḥ

svayam jahāra kimidamiti pṛthukataṇḍulān||7

nanvetadupanītam me paramaprīṇanam sakhe 

tarpayatyaṅga mām viśvamete pṛthukataṇḍulāḥ||8

iti muṣṭhim sakṛtjagdhvā dvitīyam jagdhumādade

tāvacchrīrjagṛhe hastam tatparā parameṣṭhinaḥ||9

etāvatālam viśvātman sarvasampatsamṛddhaye

asminlloke'thavāmuṣmin puṁsastvattoṣakāraṇam||10

||śrīmad bhāgavate daśamaskandhe ekāśītitamo'dhyāye| 81||

The Glorious Lord said..

" Oh worthy brahmin, what have you brought for me from your own house?

Even if a very insignificant( the size of an Anu.. atom) present is made to me by my devotees with deep love that becomes very splendid and of infinitely large quantity for me. 

And even large quantities of presents offered to me by those who are not devoted to me would never please me.. 

Even if a leaf, a single flower, a little fruit, a few drops of water, are offered to me with devotion, I accept them and partake in them with full satisfaction.."

But overcome by shame at the thought of the insignificant bundle of semipounded rice brought by him, the brahmin did not offer the bundle to the Lord who is the Master of the Goddess of Wealth herself 

( Maybe the brahmin was in a dilemma.. how to give that insignificant offering to the wealthiest person in the universe). The brahmin sat there immobile with bowed head..

Then the Lord thought.. 

" This friend has come on a visit to me as requested by his devoted wife who desired the welfare of a friend of His.. 

I shall endow him with wealth that is not attainable even by Gods."

And the Lord just snatched the cloth bundle from his friend, opened it and took a handful of that semi-pounded rice and ate it.. 

And He was about to take the second handful, when the Goddess of wealth Lakshmi, who was present there as Rugmani held the hands of Krishna preventing him from eating the second handful..

The Goddess of Wealth did this because, even when Krishna had eaten the first serve, all the welfare and wealth that could suffice for any being has been granted to Sudhaama and if the second serve was eaten then She would lose the Lord to the control of that devotee.. and She did not want to lose Her Krishna.

The brahmin was just feeling the ecstasy of the company of his lifelong friend, and after some time he took leave and started his journey back home.. 

He did not even remember the purpose for which he had come on a visit.. 

Krishna also did not ask about the purpose of his visit.. 

The lord was perhaps assuming that a good old friend had come on a visit to have a recap of old happy times at school..

But when Sudhama reached his house, he found that a huge palace with all spledour stood in the place of his old dilapidated home, and his family members were all in royal attire, ready to received this man, who still was wearing tattered clothes..

There is nothing surprising in reading that Krishna helped his old classmate with a lot of wealth..

But the gesture of the Lord in snatching the tattered cloth bundle containing semipounded rice from his friend is an eternal testimony to the fact that a devotee is everything to Him and he is always eager to receive even petty offering with hearts filled with devotion.

nothing can be greater than my India ...

In a spiritual group in whatsapp, a friend while responding to some message posted the pranam emoticon and the Indian Tricolour emoticon too..

But perhaps he thought that the Indian tricolour emoticon was wrong there and posted a "sorry "and posted a Pranam emoticon and an AUM emoticon too...

Maybe replacement of Indian tricolour with some other sign and expressing regret for the error was unintentional..

But I felt hurt.. 

Can an Indian ever feel sorry for having posted the sign of Indian Tricolour.. for whatever reason?

For me my India and her symbols are even more sacred than any religion or god..

I really do not know whether I am right in feeling so..

But I cannot think in any other way.

God is a great thing.. But the most solemn and proud thought I have as a human being is that India belongs to me and I belong to India..

When it comes to my India, everything else is unimportant..

इषे त्वा ऊर्जेत्वा ishe twaa oorje twaa...

A glorious life....

The dawn is just arriving.. 

The big red Orb of the most respected God of energy and hope, the Sun is just showing up.

Our forefather four to five thousand years ago had just woken up and started his daily routines.. 

He wants to offer respects to fire and kindle the fire for daily use.. 

He looks at the Palasa tree with dry twigs.. While collecting the twigs he is just telling them.. 

" I am collecting you for our material welfare.. to have large heaps of grain, and other things to sustain life.. 

I am collecting you to kindle the fire which would provide us energy.

Lovely cows, and calves, you get separated from one another so that the cows can go into open grounds and eat lush green grass

.. You get united again in our household when the calves drink your mother's milk to your hearts content..

May the great God Savita (the Sun) provide you with all you want because we cannot get own with our great endeavours in life unless you are doing and are providing your nectar for our purposes..

The first stanza of Yajurveda Samhita starts Like this.. 

इषे त्वा ऊर्जेत्वा वायवस्थ उपायवस्थ देवो वः सविता प्रार्पयतु श्रेष्ठतमाय कर्मणे॥

यजुर्वेदसंहिता॥

iṣe tvā ūrjetvā vāyavastha upāyavastha devo vaḥ savitā prārpayatu śreṣṭhatamāya karmaṇe||

yajurvedasaṁhitā||

इषे त्वा ऊर्जेत्वा for our food and for our energy ( it is implied that the prayer is addressed to the Palasa twigs, which the seeker collects for fire oblations)

वायव स्थ उपायव स्थ go to open places (vaayava ) and join back in the closed place ( in the household of the yajamana).. it is implied that the request is addressed to the cows and their calves.. the cows which are stationed in the backyards, have to go for grazing in the open air in the morning to come back in the evening.. the calves get separated from the mothers, to join them in the evening when they can have their hearts fill of mothers mill

श्रेष्ठतमाय कर्मणे for the great work and thorough procedure of various rites, (the products from the cow are a must )

देवो सविता the great Sun.. Savita 

वःप्रर्पयतु may He be pleased to make you capable of providing us with all our requirements..

I am sure everyone would have chanted this starting mantram of Yajurvedam ( both Krishna and Shukla)..

If we read the chant without keeping in mind the background, we would not be able to make head or tail of the mantra..

But great commentators have described the import very elegantly.. ( See commentaries of Sayana, Bhattabhaskara etc)

How simple life was then..

Just go around and collect twigs for fire offerings.. But when you collect the twigs you have to explain your purpose with great reverence to the mother tree.

The twigs when offered ceremonially on fire, bestow on us plentitude in essentials of life and at the same time provide us with energy..

The cows are sent to open pastors for grazing so that they would eat grass and provide us with milk and other products.. 

The calves cannot accompany the cows, because if the mother and the child are together, the latter would drink all the milk.. 

So the calf is restrained.. 

But then the man of Vedic times was not selfish..

He tells the mother and the calf that they can join together in his place where the calf will have sufficient milk to drink..

And the entire activity of that man in under the fond hope that he eternal Sun will brighten the lives of all around.. 

What a blissful prayer!

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

Palasha.. the twigs are necessary for kindling ceremonial fire.. It is also called Chamata in kerala 

The botanical name of the tree with red flowers is Butea monosperma

अग्निमीळे पुरोहितं agnimeele purohitam....

अग्निमीळे पुरोहितं यज्ञस्य देवम् ऋत्विजं होतारं रत्न धातमम्

agnimīḻe purohitaṁ yajñasya devam ṛtvijaṁ hotāraṁ ratna dhātamam

1 -1-1 of Rigvedam.

We do not know whether this is the first Vedic Mantram uttered by man.. But it is placed as the first Mantram, in the First of the Vedas, namely Rigvedam.. as it has come to us..

This mantram is in praise of The God of Fire Agnideva

The worshipper is acutely conscious of the supremacy of the most potent force of nature that is manifest near him

He treats fire as the Primordial priest, who leads the mortals safely ahead in spiritual and temporal Life.(Purohita)

Of course, Agni is one of the deities who is offered His share in Yajnams by way of ghee and cooked grain and other offerings.. in addition Agni acts as the carrier of the offerings made to other Gods

Ritvik The official in the yajna who looks after the procedural aspects.

Hotaaram.. The official in the Yajna who invokes and invites the presence of deities who are being worshipped.

Ratnadhaatamam.. Repository of wealth.. and Agni is capable of making His worshippers too rich in wealth..

So the Plain meaning is 

I worship Agni who is the priest, the one who leads us from the front, who is the deity subject matter of a ritual, a yajna who is the one who makes the formal invocations in the yajna who is the source, storehouse and the bestower of all wealth, gems, precious stones etc 

A simple word analysis..

अहम् I

पुरोहितम् the priest, the one who leads us from the front

यज्ञस्य् देवम् the deity subject matter of a ritual, a yajna 

ऋत्विजम् the ritvik.. who conducts and supervises the procedures of Yajna

होतारम् the one who makes the formal invocations in the yajna रत्नधातमम् who is the source, storehouse and the bestower of all wealth, gems, precious stones etc 

अग्निम् The God of Fire Agni 

ईळे ईडे। Praise, takes side with praises and for refuge..

aham purohitam yajñasy devam ṛtvijam hotāram ratnadhātamam agnim īḻe īḍe |

Note.. This is a mantram which has been commented upon by the greats like Saynaacharya and Bhattabhaskara and others.. There are so many notations, so many implied meanings.. So what I wrote above is too rudimentary.

This post is just by way of introduction to a great subject in study of Sanskrit.. The Vedas..

Musings 28

Kunchan nambyar was not  exactly obsessed with idiots in society 

but he heaped satire and sarcasm in his literary creations making use of such absurdities.

I think Social Media too gives lots and lots of ammunition for satire and laughter 

If I do not like a fellow I have two choices. 

I can keep quiet. 

Or I can read him and laugh aloud too.

There is always fun in poking a fellow you hate. 

Of course one has to steer clear of libel laws. 

That is all. 

There is no rule that I should keep a stoic silence

If all people had chosen to keep quiet there would not have been any 

Tenali Ramans 

Bernard Shaws 

Tholans 

and

 Wodehouses.

Do not ask me if I am a Nambyar or Shaw.

No , I am not.. 

But I am myself.

Of course a post in social media will not provide us with food.

We interfere in many social matters even if such matters will not feed us. 

Life is not just about getting food to eat.

 If that were so the world would never have been so beautiful and so ugly too

Musings 27

People talk about negativity...

What is negativity? 

If I say something or act in a certain way and it is not to the taste of someone who watches it , he is sure to tell that I am filled with negativity..

Then some would say, negativity is the attitude of looking at any issue from its weaker and fragile side when there is still some scope left for seeing something bright..

But are there no limits even for this.. 

One can even understand if one called a piece of polished brass piece as gold.. just to prove that he is filled with positivity..

But to call a faded piece of aluminium foil as platinum.. in the name of positivity is too difficult to digest..

If, in the name of positivity, I walk with closed eyes along the middle of Anna Salai near Shanti theatre during daytime.. the chances are that I may land up as a body in the mortuary of the medical college.. alternately 

I may land up in some ward in the Kilpauk mental Hospital..

I would prefer to have positivity only when the attitude is sensible too.

and going by most of the slogans and exhortations 

appearing in Social media, 

positivity, jai ho.. etc implies lack of simple commonsense and that is called foolhardiness... It is something like a fellow walking with open eyes into a deep pit in broad daylight .

the fingering rules while offering Naivedyam ..

the fingering rules while offering Naivedyam .. 

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

Note: This is a post on ritualistic aspects of partaking in food or offering food to God.. as per Indian Traditions.. It may not be of much use to those outside the Hindu Faith..

The practices are supposed to have tantric significance too..

According to Shandilya Smriti.. and other texts 

Usually when we offer ceremonial parishechanam (the ceremonial ablution with water ) before taking food or offering food as Naivedyam to God, we chant the mantras

Praanaaya Svaahaa, 

Apaanaaya Svaahaa, 

Vyaanaaya Swaahaa, 

Udaanaaya Swaahaa, 

Samaanaaya swaahaaH .. the offering to the five vital elements residing in the body or in the deity 

and 

finally the offer to the Brahman the supreme being.. 

as Brahmane swaahaaH..

SwaahaH is the consort of the God of Fire, Agni and eating food and offering food to God both are considered as offering in a yajnam to the Fire God.. We chant the name of SwaahaaH while offering oblation to fire.. The same chant is used here too.

( Of course our digestive system is supposed to be kindled by Jaadaraagni.. with the support of the vital five functions of pancha Praanas.. prana,apana,vyana, udana, and samana)

While taking rice we just take to lips small cooked grains, holding them between the thumb and the index finger, and making offers to Prana, Apana, Vyana Udana, and Samana and Brhmam..

When we offer naivedyam to God, we just show our full right palm to God as if it were a fan and just move the palm from the Naivedyam kept in the vessel in the direction of the deity..

But the real rule for such offer is prescribe by sags Shandilya in his treatise on procedures. 

I quote from Sage shandilya..

तर्जनीमध्यमाङ्गुष्ठलग्नः प्राणाहुतिर्भवेत् 

मध्यमानामिकाङ्गुष्ठैरपाने जुहुयत्ततः

कनिष्ठानामिकाङ्गुष्ठैर्व्याने च जुहुयाद्धविः 

तर्जनी तु बहिः कृत्वा उदाने जुहुयात्ततः

समाने सर्वहस्तेन समुदायाहुतिर्भवेत् 

शाण्डिल्यस्मृति

tarjanīmadhyamāṅguṣṭhalagnaḥ prāṇāhutirbhavet 

madhyamānāmikāṅguṣṭhairapāne juhuyattataḥ

kaniṣṭhānāmikāṅguṣṭhairvyāne ca juhuyāddhaviḥ 

tarjanī tu bahiḥ kṛtvā udāne juhuyāttataḥ

samāne sarvahastena samudāyāhutirbhavet 

śāṇḍilyasmṛti

The offer to the Praana.. Praanaaya svaahaaH should be made keeping the Index Finger, the Middle Finger and the Thumb together..

The offer to the Apana Shounld be made by keeping the Middle Finger, Ring Finger (Anamika) and the Thumb together.. 

The offer to Vyaana should be made keeping together the thumb, the Ring finger and the little finger together.

The offer to Udaana should be made by keeping the Indiex finger out and keeping together the other four fingers namely the thumb, the middle finger the ring finger and the little finger together..

The offer to Samaana is to be made pressing together the tips of all the five fingers.. (According to Shaandilya)

But there is a different version where offer to Samaana is to be made keeping together all fingers excepting the little finger. 

And offer to the Brahmam is to be made with full hand with all the fingers..

Of course, the Dharmashastras prescribe the use of only the right hand..

initiation into holy mantras

initiation into holy mantras

In the standard texts a very rigorous practice is prescribed for a disciple to get initiated into a mahamantra.. Serving the Guru for long periods, worship of certain deities, physical and mental exercises like Pranayama, frequent baths and many other very tough practices are prescribed.. 

But in a text Updeshasudhaatantram the following rule is mentioned 

चन्द्रसूर्यग्रहे चैव सिद्धक्षेत्रे शिवालये 

मन्त्रमात्रप्रकथनमुपदेशः स उच्यते॥

उपदेशसुधातन्त्रे

candrasūryagrahe caiva siddhakṣetre śivālaye 

mantramātraprakathanamupadeśaḥ sa ucyate||

upadeśasudhātantre

During the periods of eclipses of the Moon or the Sun

While stationed at the Lands of Gods and Sidhas.. like Himalyas, and some holy lands like Badari ete

or 

While worshipping the Lord in the Temple of Lord Siva 

Even a chance hearing of a holy name of the divinity or a mantra is considered as having gained initiation into that mantra..

Views can differ on this, but the sacredness of the muhurtams mentioned are never in doubt..

( It may be noted that there are Shiva temples where pooja and dhaara are performed during the eclipses.. although most of the temples are supposed to be closed during that period)

Musings 26

Empathy, emotional intelligence, kindness.. all are great principles.

These make life as a social animal tolerable..

Without concern for others and kindness for all beings we cannot have a wholesome life.. 

But we should never lose sight of the fact that apart from physical activies and connecting with others .. these form the basis for our peripheral living and social existence.. 

there is a tough yet sublime,

hard yet transparent, 

visible yet invisible core in everyone of us which can be shared by us only with our God..

if we believe in him.. 

The activities, pleasures and pains of that core can be percieved only by the individual and they can be shared only with the eternal father.. the God.. 

We will talk of sharing hearts, love, feelings and so on.. but the core materials can never be shared..

See Narayanospanishat for a sort of imagery..

पद्मकोशप्रतीकाशं हृदयं चाप्यधोमुखं अधो निष्ट्या वितस्त्यान्ते नाभ्यां उपरि तिष्टति.. 

(the area between Manipura and Anahata chakras.. there the blood circulation is regulated... but Krishna Says that He too Sits there.. EasvaraH sarvabhootaanam hrid dese arjuna tishtati.... Sarvasya cha aham hridi sannivishtaH..)

Flaunting technical terms is of little use.

We have to attempt to integrate Goldings Emotional intelligence with what we knew in our culture millenniums ago.. but that attempt will only reveal that what the modern lifestyle pundits discovered is very little.. We chant litanies and mantras without knowing the core and the meaning.. 

We wisecrack.. we write homilies.. But we do not understand the core.. 

Blind bhakthi and reading old stories and drawing imagery for silly things from stories like puranas is not spirituality..

Krishna who is the master of the world, the teacher of Gita is great,, 

we need not bother much about the fellow who stole butter or played with cowherd women.. 

We should know the difference between the grain and the chaff.. 

The spiritual gurus usually cheat us there.. They do not teach us to seek the core.. 

Because once we reach the core, we do not have to depend on gurus, and they will lose their job and source of Income..

respect for womanhood...

The rules of Hinduism are  crystal clear on the issue of paying respects to the wife of an elder family member, even if the lady is younger in age....

In Ramayanam, Lakshmana is younger to Rama by just two days.. Even though it is not clearly stated in the epic , Sita is presumed to be younger to Rama younger and therefore youngerto Lakshmana too... Laksjmana was born just two days after Ram ..

Rama on the Star Punartham of Chaitram and Lakshmana with his twin Shatrughna on the next Aashlesha or AAyilyam star..

And there is an occasion in Valmiki Ramayanam, where, Lakshmana is asked to identify the jewellery thrown down by Sita in Rishyamooka while she was being abducted to Lanka by Ravana..

Lakshmana Says.. 

नाहं जानामि केयूरे नाहं जानामि कुण्डले नूपुरे तु अभिजानामि नित्यं पाद्दभिवन्दनात I 

Naaham jaanaami keyoorey naaham jaanaami kundaley noopurey tu abhijaanaami nityam paadaabhivandanaat....

Meaning..

"I do not know how the ear-studs or the armlets of Sita would look like but I do recognize the anklets worn on her legs,, as I do see them when I prostrate on her feet every day.."

Here Lakshmana, by all means is elder in age to Sita.. but Sita is his elder brother's wife. and therefore he worships her feet..

Dharmasastras equate elder brother to ones own father and elder brother's wife to one's own mother..

Just as, if one's father marries a lady younger to the person, she assumes the status of mother. even if she is younger in age.

lion cannot shout back.. he may act..

यद्यपि रटति सरोषम् मृगपतिपुरोऽपि मत्तगोमायुः।

तदपि कुर्यात् सिम्होप्यसदृशपुरुषेषु कः कोपाः॥

yadyapi raṭati saroṣam mṛgapatipuro'pi mattagomāyuḥ|

tadapi kuryāt simhopyasadṛśapuruṣeṣu kaḥ kopāḥ ||

Even if an inebriated fox howls with rage in front of a lion, the lion will not shout back..

Anger can be shown to only who are one's equal..

சிங்கத்தின் முன்னே நின்று நரி  வெறியுடன்  உரக்க சத்தம் போட்டாலும் சிங்கம் திரும்ப ஒன்றும் பேசாது..

கோபம் கொள்வதற்கும் ஒரு தகுதி வேண்டும்..

so near-- so far off

so near-- so far off

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

दूरस्थोपि न दूरस्थः यो यस्यमनसिस्थितः।

यो यस्य हृदये नाऽस्ति समीपस्थोपि दूरतः॥

॥चाणक्याद्॥

dūrasthopi na dūrasthaḥ yo yasyamanasisthitaḥ|

yo yasya hṛdaye nā'sti samīpasthopi dūrataḥ||

|āṇakyād||

Even if a person is residing in a faraway place, if he is close to our heart, he is not away from us..

And 

If a person is not having a place in our heart, he is very distant from us even if he is staying near us physically..

மிகவும் தொலைவின் வாழ்பவன் கூட நம் மனதுக்கு பிடித்தவன் ஆக இருந்தால் நம்முடனே இன்ருக்கிறான்

நம் இதயதில் இடம் இல்லாதவர்கள் பக்கத்தில் வசித்தாலும் அவர் ரொம்ப தூரத்தில் தான் இருக்கிறார்கள்..

பக்கத்தில் இருந்தென்ன? 

இதயத்தில் இருக்க வேண்டுமே

Umaya saha devesah shankarah chandrasekharah

Umaya saha devesah shankarah chandrasekharah 

Takka vadhya ninaadena rakshthu twaam maheswarah

उमया सह देवेशः शङ्करः चन्द्रशेखरः।

टक्का वाद्यनिनादेन रक्षतु त्वाम् महेश्वरः।

umayā saha deveśaḥ śaṅkaraḥ candraśekharaḥ|

ṭakkā vādyaninādena rakṣatu tvām maheśvaraḥ |

This is indeed a  special sloka. 

It is attributed to Kalidasa when he was  in his formative years when he remained  uneducated verging on being an Idiot.

There was a princess in the country where Kalidasa spent his earlier life as an illiterate goatherd. 

The princess was learned and equally arrogant. 

She challenged all the kings, scholars etc., that she would marry only the man who defeated her in literary debate. 

All the kings and scholars had to face defeat. 

They were humiliated. 

They hatched a plan by which they could get the princess married by an illiterate and idiotic person. 

After much search they stumbled upon a doubly distilled idiot who was sitting on a sprouted branch of the tree and cutting with his axe the connecting portion of the tree with the trunk without knowing that he would fall down and perish once the branch is cut. 

They immediately caught hold of the fellow and gave him a bath and adorned him with costly clothes and ornaments and took him to the palace on the promise that he would get good food to his hearts content.

They had also instructed him that he should never utter even a single word. 

But in the courtyard of the king he saw Camels and he started screaming Ushtra, Ushtra (sanskrit name of Camel) . 

The king who happened to hear him asked why a great scholar was screaming like this.

The scholars accompanying him had a ready-made reply. 

The great poet had penned a great sloka and was just uttering the first letters of the four lines U, sha, ta, ra. 

The meaning of the sloka is “ May Lord Sankara
 who is the protector of all Devas and who is wearing the crescent moon in his head, accompanied by his consort Uma, bless you all with the playing of his takka vadhya (udukku} . 

The explanation hit the right target.
And 

The idiot married the princess and later on became Kalidasa, it is history