pachai maamalai pol mene

Showing posts with label the beacon light of Hinduism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the beacon light of Hinduism. Show all posts

Thursday, July 30, 2026

let us spend our lives the way the gods ordained



The vedas say "vysema devahitam yadaayu 
 व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः ..
let us spend our lives the way the gods ordained."
And we should not be biased in our interpretations of divine will.
The rule is for me and for you and all others should be the same as much as possible.
Our mind, lips and fingers should speak in sync and our actions should also conform.
Hypocrisy is the quality which actually separated humans against animals.
They do not have it and it is our abundant possession.
That is all

Saturday, September 27, 2025

agamas do not permit mindless change of shape of the idol or the precincts of the house of God





Our temple traditions do not actually permit any sort of decorations or artificial or synthetic nature.

Moreover, agamas do not permit mindless change of shape of the idol or the precincts of the house of God.

The devotees and administrators can plan and execute the changes, if found necessary, only following the directions prescribed in the agamas or tantras and they have to make even these alterations can following strict through the strict procedures and guidelines under the supervision of learned Gurus and Vedic scholars. The process should start with seeking the permission of the deity through

Deva prashnam, followed by pariharams and prasyaschittams that such prashnam reveals and prescribes.

Even decorations with natural materials like flower or leaves or twigs should remain without change only for just a day at the most.

Even the most precious thing placed with the deity becomes obsolete within hours, and we should not reuse the same item for decoration or pooja. There are some exceptions like Tulasi and

Rudraksham, which we can use repeatedly.

Of course we do so many things opposed to agamas and rules..

We decorate the idol with external fittings that changes the appearance, sex, gender, and the bhava of the pratishta. In addition, we even advertise about it, publish snaps about the metamorphosed shape of the God...

Where is the permission for all this?

When we are talking about traditions we have to think of all such aspects..

Next question is about continuing namasankeerthanam without sandyavandanam, using non-agamic, non-Vedic non-tantric means and hymns for worship of traditionally consecrated Moorthies and vigrahas. Are these practices right?

Using garlands of lemon, Vada, Vettrila etc for decorating the Moorthies either Utsavam or Moolam--.which Veda or Agama or Karika has permitted us to do all these ?

The Gurukkal, Shivacharya, Azhvar, Bhattacharya, or Archaga Swami may permit it because he has no choice but to agree with the motley crowd. Alternately because he is ignorant.

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Dharma is supreme ..



Dharma is supreme ..
-------------------------------
वेदोऽखिलो धर्ममूलं स्मृतिशीले च तद्विदाम्।
आचारश्चैव साधूनां आत्मनस्तुष्टिरेव च॥
मनुस्मृत्याम् २-६
vedo'khilo dharmamūlaṁ smṛtiśīle ca tadvidām|
ācāraścaiva sādhūnāṁ ātmanastuṣṭireva ca||
manusmṛtyām 2-6
धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः
तस्माद् धर्मो न हन्तयो मा नो धर्मो हतो वधीत्॥
मनुस्मृत्याम् ८-१५
dharma eva hato hanti dharmo rakṣati rakṣitaḥ
tasmād dharmo na hantayo mā no dharmo hato vadhīt||
manusmṛtyām 8-15
Two unequivocal statements of eternal binding value from Manusmriti.. the basic treatise followed by India from time immemorial..
Some parts of the text may raise eybrows.. because of the changed social evolution, but the above two statements are eternally binding and are of immense value..
the First statement is
Veda, or the sacred revealed texts are the basis and source for all rules of proper social conduct.. what is called Dharma.. The version of the text given by those who follow such texts, and those who have clean knowledge about such texts are the means for knowing such rules.. The way the pious and disciplined sages and elders conducted themselves too reveal to us the way we should conduct ourselves.. Finally the efficacy or definitin of Dharma depends on the comfort and ease that could provide for the person following it..
What we have to remember is that the first text is the most important.. Only laws and rules which are not in contradiction with the revealed texts have any value.. We cannot applyl the next tests if the issue does not pass the muster.. on the first point of being in agreement with the texts ..
The interpretation of those who had practiced the rules and those who have deep knowleldge about them would be of great value.. This comes next in priority.. Interpretation in contradiction with the spirit of Vedas in unwelcome.
The way pious and law abiding people without any unfair personal bias conduct themselves could form an important precedent in interpreting Dharma.. But such conduct should be in sync with the ideas in Vedas, and the interpretation by the learned people over the ages.
And finally, the purpose of any law or rule is the welfare and comfort of all who follow it.. In fact, many rules would impose restrictions and discomforts to some individuals, when the comfort of the body of people as a whole is taken as a unit..
But this idea is eminently understandable, and is a very important factor in our existence as a social entity.. But here again pleasure or comfort in contravention of the set principles of law is never encouraged.
The second stanza is very straightforward
When Dharma or the fundamental laws are contravened or improperly applied, that action would kill and destroy all
Dharma, when protected well, would protect all individually and severally
So one should never kill Dharma.. meaning.. one should never flout or act destructively against established law, because Dharma, when dead or murdered, would ensure the death and destruction of all including those who caused the destruction of Dharma.
Regards,
K V Ananthanarayanan

Monday, April 21, 2025

For one who understands this, there can be no schisms, no sectarian fights..



Hindus and Hinduism may seem to canvass the worship of multitude of Gods..
Scriptures may state that there are thirty three crores or more of deities to be worshiped..
And perhaps the followers who are just crossing the learning stage of the religion would even assert that the Deity adored and worshiped by them are more potent, and more authentic and capable of showering more munificent blessings and protection in comparison to other deities..
For them Rama, Krishna, Gowri, Shiva, Ganesha etc are individually superior to other deities..
But those who have moved towards the core of the religion and its true message, clearly understand that the various deities just represent the one and only potent force which represented truth and righteousness.." Ekam Sat VipraaH Bahudhaa Vadanti...एकं सद् विप्रा बहुधा वदन्ति...the one and only True being whom the followers called by many names.. "
And the seer, when worshiping some particular facet of that Supreme Being, stressed and even exaggerated for proper effect the potency of that facet.. perhaps as the name of a deity.. and even did not hesitate to declare that it was superior to anything else.. Thus Savita or Sun was declared as the most potent.. Varuna of Seagod also received the same treatment.. Indra, Yama, Vayu, Agni, were all declared as superlative beings in contradistinction to other personified deities,
There may be an apparent contradiction..
But think of a logic which says A is better than B and C and all others.. It is also said that B is better that A and C and all other.. C is also similar..
All these statements can be logically made without contradiction only if we conclude that A, B and C are all the same..
Of course in the same unit one part may be superior to others to enable effective operation as a unit in Sync..
This unit is what is called verily as Brahma, Paramatma etc..
This appears to be the crux of the spirit of the apparently polytheist but substantially monolithic religion called Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism..
For one who understands this, there can be no schisms, no sectarian fights..

Saturday, April 19, 2025

Gayatri in fact is a chandas or metre, which is given the status of a Goddess Symbolically



Gayatri in fact is a chandas or metre, which is given the status of a Goddess Symbolically.. her facets are Savitri, Sarasvathi, and so on . Regarding depicting of the chandas or metre and the Savitru Gayatri , the one we chant. as a female goddess, . theories of varied hues abound in Purnas, Itihasas, etc..
In a nutshell, Gayatri is a chant which has been given the status of the Mother Goddess, and since it is the invocation to the Supreme and Manifest Godhead to directly kindle our intellect, it is of ultimate in importance..
I think even some upanishads have been coined in the name of Gayatri..
And there are so many regional and sectorian interpretations on the chant..Vaishnavites, Shivites, Smarthas... and subsects in each variety have different views..
But the Varnis consider Gayatri as the mother, the mother or metres too
" Gaayatree Chandasaam maatha.." That can be the best common meeting point for all Gayatri worshippers..
The number of syllables, the number of faces, colour, weapons, dress etc for the personified deity are all subject to variations according to many beliefs..
The rigveda gives Gaadhina Viswamitra as the rishi for Gayatri.. that is Visvamitra the son of Gaadhi, as we all know..
In the modern management parlance Gayatri is a potent self-improvement and motivational mantra... since... we see the source of all energy and growth in the glowing and almost eternally undiminished potency of Savita.. in its apparent form the Sun and is wishing that such a source may kindle, repair and make our mental system perfect and efficient.. This is all to Gayatri from a layman..

Friday, February 07, 2025

the Hindu concept of God



the Hindu concept of God and comparable ideas in othe religion are worth mentioning here..
In Hinduism we have Single God.. supreme God ideas.. like triumverate standing each alone,
or the Parabrahmam or parmatma.. 
and the functional gods like Indra of thrunderbolt, Varuna of seas, Agni of fire, Vayu of Air, Aryama of manes, Ashwins of medicines and so on and so forth. Then there are supreme female Deities Like Shakthi, Durga, Saraswath, Lakshmi etc, and also Indrani, Swadhaa, Swaahaa, Vaarunee, Usha, Sandhya.. etc.. We can call the Divine power collectively manifested as God.. or we can define various functional aspects and define various Gods according to their functions. The Vedic religion of Yajnas and sacrifices depended more on the Gods of the Indra, Soma, Surya, Pushan, Agni, Yama, Varuna.. Group.. Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva also find place in that era but not in their Glory which they assumed later.. One Vedic God who was very potent was Garuda or Taarskhsya, who was relegated to subordinate satus later.. The personal Gods of worship like Shiva, Ganesha, Kuamara and ambika group, and Surya Vishnu and his incarnation like Rama, Krihna, Narasimha all evolved in a subsequent period of Hinduism.. temple-idol dominated, and more participative whereas the Vedic Gods took yajnabhaagams from the Brahmins who performed the Yaagas.. Later on demi-gods, saints and savants also joined the fray.. and now we have babas gurujis, prabhupadas, ammas, and so on and so forth.. The evolution of our religion is dynamic.. and the process continues.. Ideas may vary from time to time and place to place, but it is a catholic pluralism..

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Before cutting a twig from a Vanaspathi or a tree which is of great longevity



Before cutting a twig of about ten inches from a Vanaspathi..
or a tree which is of great longevity,
which gives out lots of fruits but the flowering may not be evident..
when the twig is cut from that tree for cleaning the teeth in the morning
Bodhayana the great sage and lawgiver prescribes the following prayer
आयुर्बलं यशो वर्चः प्रजां पशुवसूनि च ब्रह्मप्रज्ञां च मेधां च त्वं नो देहि वनस्पते॥
बोधायनोक्तम्॥
āyurbalaṁ yaśo varcaḥ prajāṁ paśuvasūni ca brahmaprajñāṁ ca medhāṁ ca tvaṁ no dehi vanaspate||
bodhāyanoktam||
Meaning...
Oh Vanaspathi.. may you be pleased to bless me with long life, strenght of body, spiritual resplendence, progenies, cattle, wealth, knowledge on the supreme being, and sharp intellect..
So we considered a tree as almost a storehouse of everything that is great, and a benevolent divinity whose blessings are essential for us..We are apologetic even to cut a twig from it..
How can we think of cutting trees..
No that was not in our culture..

We are trying to understand the mind of God through interpretations, inferences and statements contained in spiritual lore



We are trying to understand the mind of God through interpretations, inferences and statements contained in spiritual lore..
Actually we are trying to restrict or limit the scope of Divine will through such process..
Accumulation and manifestation of water in the universe is immeasurably huge, but if we restrict the definition of water to a sea, river, pond or well, that indicates our limitation of vision..
Just like that God.. Krishna.. is ever present with and among us, and his manifestation in human form is only just by way of acting as a sort of Guru, illustrating to us what is expected of us by way of good behaviour which He approves of (perhaps) and what we should not do..
And in this connection the following prayer fascinated me and forced me to think a lot too.
ईश्वरो गुरुरात्मेति मूर्तिभेद विभागिने व्योमवत व्याप्तरूपाय दक्षिणामूर्तये नमः
easwaro gurur aatmethi moorthbheda vibhaaginey vyomavat vyaapta roopaaya dakshinaamoorthaye namaH
Lord Dashinaamoorthy, the supreme being and the supreme Guru is referred to as the one who has just split up that supreme form of His
into God,
Guru and
the aatmaa...
and he just remains spreading himself in the whole of the universe in any or all these forms..
Just like a person wearing Panchakacham(the formal dress for spiritual ceremonies in South India) for a pooja
and wearing trousers,
suit and tie while attending office or a formal function,
the supreme being just shows himself as God, Guru etc.
But behind the dress the person is one and the same..
So, in every Guru, there is Lord Dakshinaamoorthy..
the Guru who is very young,
and is sitting in the shade of a peepul tree,
and before him sits his disciples, all old wizened men..
The Guru and Shishyas are all talking in silence..
The Guru is giving lessons in Silence..
and all the doubts of the disciples are cleared..
चित्रं वट तरोः मूले वृद्ध शिष्याः गुरुः युवा
गुरोस्तु मौनं व्याख्यानं शिष्याः तु च्छिन्न संशयाः
Indeed Great.. and strange too..
The young Guru is seated underneath that peepul tree.
The aged disciples are sitting around Him
The Guru is just silent.. and he is imparting knowledge in silence..
And the doubts clouding the minds of the disciples are dispelled forthwith..

Saturday, March 02, 2024

rules of hospitality.. hindu Shastras



The order in which a householder should distribute food in his household is clearly stated by the ancient lawgivers..
Apastambha says..
अतिथीनेवाग्रे भोजयेत्। बालान् वृद्धान् रोगसम्बद्धान् स्त्रींश्चान्तर्वर्त्नी॥
atithīnevāgre bhojayet| bālān vṛddhān rogasambaddhān strīīṁscāntarvartnī||
The guests should be fed first. Then the children, the elderly people, the people who are laid up with illness, the ladies and then the servants of the house.. ( The householder and his wife are expected to eat only after all these are fed in that order..)
Gautama also reflects the same idea..
भोजयेत् पूर्वमतिथिकुमारव्याधितगर्भिणीसुवासिनीस्थविरान् जघन्यान्श्च।
bhojayet pūrvamatithikumāravyādhitagarbhiṇīsuvāsinīsthavirān jaghanyānśca|
The guest should be fed first and then the boys, person who are ill, the pregnant ladies, the Suvaasinees ( the sisters, and daughters of the house), the elderly persons and the servants too.. ( Of course the man and the lady of the house are expected to take food only after this.)
ഒരു ശ്രേഷ്ടനായ ഗൃഹനാഥന്‍ തന്‍റെ ഗൃഹത്തില്‍ താമസിക്കുന്നവരുമായി ആഹാരം പങ്കുവയ്ക്കുന്നത് എപ്രകാരം ആവണമെന്ന കാര്യം ആര്‍ഷഭാരതത്തിലെ സ്മൃതികര്‍ത്താക്കള്‍ വളരെ സ്പഷ്ടമായി രേഖപ്പെടുത്തിയിരിക്കുന്നു.
ആപസ്തംഭന്‍ പറയുന്നു.
അതിഥീനെവാഗ്രെ ഭോജയേത്. ബാലാന്‍ വൃദ്ധാന്‍ രോഗസംബദ്ധാന്‍ സ്ത്രീന്‍ ചാന്തര്‍ വര്ത്ത്നീ.
ഗൃഹം സന്ദര്‍ശിക്കുന്ന അതിഥികള്‍ക്ക് ആദ്യം ആഹാരം നല്‍കണം. അതിനു പിറകെ കുഞ്ഞുങ്ങള്‍, വയോവൃദ്ധന്മാര്‍, രോഗവും ക്ഷീണവും ബാധിച്ച് കിടപ്പിലായവര്‍ ഉണ്ടെങ്കില്‍ അത്തരം വ്യക്തികള്‍, വീട്ടിലെ സ്ത്രീകള്‍ പിന്നെ ഭൃത്യന്മാരും. ( ഗൃഹനാഥനും പത്നിയും ഇവര്‍ക്കെല്ലാം മുകളില്‍ പറഞ്ഞ ക്രമത്തില്‍ ആഹാരം നല്‍കിയശേഷം മാത്രമേ സ്വയം ഭക്ഷിക്കാന്‍ പാടുകയുള്ളൂ എന്നാണ് പ്രതീക്ഷിക്കപ്പെടുന്നത്.)
സ്മൃതികര്‍ത്താവായ ഗൌതമനും ഇക്കാര്യം തന്നെ വ്യക്തമാക്കുന്നു.
ഭോജയേത് പൂര്‍വ്വം അതിഥി കുമാര വ്യാധിത ഗര്‍ഭിണീ സുവാസിനീ സ്ഥവിരാന്‍ ജഘന്യാന്‍ശ്ച
അതിഥിയ്ക്ക് ആദ്യം ഭക്ഷണം. പിന്നെ ബാലന്മാര്‍, പിന്നെ ശരീരത്തിന് വയ്യായ്ക ഉള്ളവര്‍, ഗര്‍ഭിണികള്‍, സുവാസിനികള്‍ (വീട്ടിലെ പെങ്ങന്മാരും പെണ്മക്കളും ), വയോവൃദ്ധന്മാര്‍, പിന്നെ ഭൃത്യന്‍മാരും. ( ഗൃഹനാഥനും പത്നിയും ഇവരെല്ലാം ആഹാരം കഴിച്ച ശേഷം മാത്രം സ്വയം ആഹാരത്തിനു ഇരിക്കണം എന്നാണു ഉദ്ദേശിക്കപ്പെടുന്നത്.)

Sunday, December 10, 2023

न अनृतवचनदोषो जीवनं चेत् तदधीनम्॥ गौतमसूत्रे॥



I was just fingering through a book.. Gautama Dharmasutra.. the laws of conduct.. enunciated by Sage Gautama.. one of the prime lawgivers of ancient India..
He is asserting that if a person is sworn to give true and correct statement as a witness and if it is found that he did not state the truth, he incurs great sin and is also punishable by royal law
But he adds
न अनृतवचनदोषो जीवनं चेत् तदधीनम्॥
गौतमसूत्रे॥
na anṛtavacanadoṣo jīvanaṁ cet tadadhīnam||
gautamasūtre||
The sin or offence of not uttering truth will not bring sins or punishments if such action was entirely in the context that the life of a person depended on such testimony..
Our ancient lawmakers were very merciful..
The present law would punish a person perjury if he lied before a magistrate or a judge.. or any judicial authority
The only exception in most cases is that one cannot be forced to give a testimony against himself .. Of course the situation may be different when he is confronted by facts and evidence
And a spouse cannot be forced to testify against his partner on any matter that would implicate the latter and that happened during the subsistence of the marriage.. There are rare exceptions to this too
But Gautama travels miles ahead.. if ones own life or the life of any other person depended on the testimony of a person, the testator had a choice to decline to tell the truth..

Friday, December 08, 2023

vyaasa vachanam



Vyaasa vachanam..
महर्षिर्भगवान् व्यासः कृत्वेमां संहितां पुरा।
श्लोकैश्चतुर्भिर् धर्मात्मा पुत्रम् अध्यापयत् शुकम्॥
मातापितृसहस्राणि पुत्रदाराशतानि च।
संसारेष्वनुभूतानि यान्ति यास्यन्ति चापरे॥
हर्षस्थानसहस्राणि भयस्थानशतानि च।
दिवसे दिवसे मूढं आविशन्ति न पण्डितम्॥
ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्विरौम्येष न कश्चित् शृणोति मे।
धर्मादर्थश्च कामश्च स किमर्थं न सेव्यते॥
न जातु कामान्न भयात् न लोभात्
धर्मं त्यजेत् जीवितस्यापि हेतोः।
धर्मो नित्यः सुखदुःखे तु अनित्ये
जीवो नित्यो हेतुरस्य त्वनित्यः॥
इमां भारतसावित्रीं प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत्।
स भारतफलं प्राप्य परं ब्रह्माधिगच्च्छति॥
आचारेन्दु॥व्यासवचनं॥
maharṣirbhagavān vyāsaḥ kṛtvemāṃ saṃhitāṃ purā।
ślokaiścāturbhir dharmātmā putram adhyāpayat śukam॥
mātāpitṛsahasrāṇi putradārāśatāni ca।
saṃsāreṣvanubhūtāni yānti yāsyanti cāpare॥
harṣasthānasahasrāṇi bhayasthānaśatāni ca।
divase divase mūḍhaṃ āviśanti na paṇḍitam॥
ūrdhvabāhurviraumyeṣa na kaścit śṛṇoti me।
dharmādarthaśca kāmaśca sa kimarthaṃ na sevyate॥
na jātu kāmānna bhayāt na lobhāt
dharmaṃ tyajet jīvitasyāpi hetoḥ।
dharmo nityaḥ sukhaduḥkhe tu anitye
jīvo nityo heturasya tvanityaḥ॥
imāṃ bhāratasāvitrīṃ prātarutthāya yaḥ paṭhet।
sa bhārataphalaṃ prāpya paraṃ brahmādhigaccchati॥
ācārendu॥vyāsavacanamII
The dharmasastras prescribe that we should recite the above Verses of Vyasa.. supposed to be the essence of Mahabharatam.. every morning.
==========
Meaning
=====
The great Sage, the revered Bhagavaan Vyasa, the human embodiment of Dharma Himself after creating the Vedas, Puranas and Mahabharatham, taught His own son Shuka the following four verses..
We assume many lives and we get thousands of fathers and mothers, we get hundreds of wives and sons and daughters.. in this world of woe we have enjoyed in their company and endured them in many lives .
.some of these have come and gone, and some of these are yet to be born.. The cycle goes on as we take repeated lives.
The man of clouded mind, the uneducated and untrained mind seem to derive great joy from thousands of situations which are supposed to be sources of such enjoyment..
He is terrified day in and day out through hundreds fearful situations arising out of the worldly sources of threat.
But neither joy, nor fear, affect the persons who is having real knowledge and has attained maturity..
I (Vyasa) is repeatedly telling aloud with raised hands to all people around me about this.. but no one hears me..
They never realize that acquisition of wealth and fulfillment of desires should be pursued only by following the path of Virtue..
Never should a person abandon the path of Dharma or righteousness
even if he is tempted by worldly desired
even if he is challenged by fear
even if he is driven by avariciousness and cupidity
He should not leave Dharma even for the sake of his own life.
Because, the Dharma is eternal, but the feeling of pleasure and pain are temporary and unreal
the life is eternal and does not end with death.. but the ways and means which are adopted outside the control of Dharma are fleeting and unreal
The set of Shlokas are called Bharata Savitri..
A person should recite it and imbibe its content every morning while he gets up
If he does so , he receives the virtue to be attained by studying Bharatham.. and he would reach the abode of Brahma when his term of life on this earth is over..
namaskarams
k v ananthanarayanan

Friday, December 01, 2023

To start a day nicely..



To start a day nicely..
रोचनं चन्दनं हेमं मृदङ्गं दर्पणं मणिं।
गुरुमग्निं रविं पश्येत् नमस्येत् प्रातरेव हि
धर्मशास्त्र
Rochanam chandanam hemam mrudanangam darpanam manim
Gurum agnim ravim pashyet
Namasyet pratareva hi.
From dharmasastras
One should wake up early in the morning and should see the following objects and offer respectful pranams too to them.
Gorochanam
Sanadal paste or chandanam
Gold
Mridangam the percussion instrument of musi
A plane and bright mirror
Precious gems
Gurus.. the preceptors and parents too
The well kindled fire
The rising sun
The idea seems to be universal.
Would do good even for an atheist or agnost too.
We may not see all these every day.
But even one item would bring happiness for us.
Regards
K v ananthanarayanan

Monday, July 17, 2023

hierarchy, inter se superiority among Hindu Deities



I found some discussion about the western view that the Indian idea of superiority of Gods of various names shifted from the hierarchy of Vedic times to later puranic times..
In fact, the Indian idea of God is that the Supreme power is one an the same and the naming conventions and modes of worship were just based on functionality.. So substitution of one name with another meant very little
My take on the issue
The whole misapprehension on the part of western analysts who considered our spirituality peripherally and just scholastically was that they could not see the sum and substance as a whole.
When a man is hungry he praises food. When he is thirsty he praises water.
This does not mean either water or food is superior to one another.
This logic would apply to every facet of our religion.
We knew ultimately that the supreme being is the manifestation of all the sublime aspects.
We the practitioners of this great religion did not have any doubt or confusion either in vedic vedantic or puranic or bhakthi eons and not even in the present time.
Does saying that I love my mother best mean that I do not love my father with equal intensity?
And we were a dynamic society and all those that composed the hymns were not philosophers. They just reported what they felt when they witnessed something. That did not mean they were telling that others were inferior.
How can one compare Kohli and Modi and say one is inferior to another?
And in vedic and upanishadic and later in puranic lore too the names and characters represented the traits and functions.
No fight was expected on the basis of identifiable personality cult
of any of the deities .( If such things happened they were aberrations.. and aberrations could happen once in a while )

Monday, July 13, 2020

Nagendraharaya... shiva panchakshara stotram



॥शिवपञ्चाक्षरस्तोत्रम्॥

नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय भस्माङ्गरागाय महेश्वराय ।

नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै नकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ १॥

मन्दाकिनि-सलिलचन्दन-चर्चिताय नन्दीश्वर-प्रमथनाथ- महेश्वराय ।

मन्दारपुष्प-बहुपुष्प-सुपूजिताय तस्मै मकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ २॥

शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्ज-वृन्द- सूर्याय दक्षाध्वरनाशकाय ।

श्रीनीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय तस्मै शिकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ ३॥

वसिष्ठ-कुम्भोद्भव-गौतमादिमुनीन्द्र-देवार्चितशेखराय ।

चन्द्रार्क-वैश्वानरलोचनाय तस्मै वकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ ४॥

यक्षस्वरूपाय जटाधराय पिनाकहस्ताय सनातनाय ।

दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय तस्मै यकाराय नमः शिवाय ॥ ५॥

पंचाक्षरमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेच्छिवसन्निधौ ।

शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥




॥śivapañcākṣarastotram॥

nāgendrahārāya trilocanāya bhasmāṅgarāgāya maheśvarāya ।

nityāya śuddhāya digambarāya tasmai nakārāya namaḥ śivāya ॥ 1॥

mandākini-salilacandana-carcitāya nandīśvara-pramathanātha- maheśvarāya ।

mandārapuṣpa-bahupuṣpa-supūjitāya tasmai makārāya namaḥ śivāya ॥ 2॥

śivāya gaurīvadanābja-vṛnda- sūryāya dakṣādhvaranāśakāya ।

śrīnīlakaṇṭhāya vṛṣadhvajāya tasmai śikārāya namaḥ śivāya ॥ 3॥

vasiṣṭha-kumbhodbhava-gautamādimunīndra-devārcitaśekharāya ।

candrārka-vaiśvānaralocanāya tasmai vakārāya namaḥ śivāya ॥ 4॥

yakṣasvarūpāya jaṭādharāya pinākahastāya sanātanāya ।

divyāya devāya digambarāya tasmai yakārāya namaḥ śivāya ॥ 5॥

paṃcākṣaramidaṃ puṇyaṃ yaḥ paṭhecchivasannidhau ।

śivalokamavāpnoti śivena saha modate ॥




NamaH Shivaaya. Pranams to Lord Shiva who has assumed the form of “Na.”

He is wearing the best among snakes Vasuki as his garland

He is having three eyes (Sun, moon and fire)

He is having his entire body covered spotless white by wearing ashes all over

He is the lord and the resplendent one even among all the Gods

He is Nitya, who remains without any destruction at all periods 

He is pure, 

He is naked without dress, wears the cardinal directions as his clothes and is called Digambara







NamaH Shivaaya. Pranams to Lord Shiva who has assumed the form of “Ma..”

He has adorned his whole body with sandal paste mixed in the waters of Mandakini, the Ganga,

He is the master of that Divine Bull Nandikeshvara, and he is also the master of that army of bhoothaganas called Pramatha.. the army that causes physical torture to the wrong doers

He is the lord and the resplendent one even among all the Gods

He is offered rescpectful worship with Mandara flowers and all sorts of other worthy flowers being presented to him.







NamaH Shivaaya. Pranams to Lord Shiva who has assumed the form of “Shi..”

He works like a Sun who makes the bunch of lotuses that is the happy face of Uma the Gauree bloom to brightness, 

He is the annihilator of the Sacrifice of Dakshaprajapathy ( who insulted the Lord by not offering Him his rightful due in Yajna)

He is shining forth with a neck tinged in dark blue

He is having the bull Nandi as his flagstaff.







NamaH Shivaaya. Prnams to Lord Shiva who has assumed the form of “Vaa”

He is worshipped on his head manifesting as the upper part of Shivalinga, by sages Like Vasishta, Agastya who took birth from a pitcher, Gauthama, the Devas and Indra 

He is having for his eyes, the Moon, the Sun and the fire.







NamaH Shivaaya. Pranams to Lord Shiva who has assumed the form of “Ya..”

Who appears in the form of a Yaksha

Who wears thick matted locks on his head

Who wields the divine bow Pinaka 

Whe is eternal, without beginning, middle or end

Who is a divine being with great lustre 

Who is naked without dress, wears the cardinal directions as his clothes and is called Digambara.







Whoever that recites this Panchakshara Mantra in front of Lord Shiva would reach Shivaloka the abode of shiva and reside there spending his happy times with the Lord.







॥ശിവപഞ്ചാക്ഷരസ്തോത്രം॥

നാഗേന്ദ്രഹാരായ ത്രിലോചനായ ഭസ്മാങ്ഗരാഗായ മഹേശ്വരായ ।

നിത്യായ ശുദ്ധായ ദിഗംബരായ തസ്മൈ നകാരായ നമഃ ശിവായ ॥ ൧॥ 

നാഗങ്ങളില്‍ ഏറ്റവും ഉത്തമനായ വാസുകിയെ മാലയായി ധരിച്ചവനും മൂന്ന് കണ്ണുകളോടുകൂടിയവനും തൂവെള്ള ഭസ്മം ദേഹം മുഴുവന്‍ നിറക്കൂട്ടായി പൂശിയവനും ദേവന്മാര്‍ക്ക് എല്ലാം ദേവനായ മഹേശ്വരന്‍ ആയവനും, എല്ലാ കാലത്തിലും നിലനില്‍ക്കുന്ന നിത്യനും വിശുദ്ധിയുടെ ഇരിപ്പിടവും സാധാരണ വസ്ത്രങ്ങള്‍ ഒന്നും ധരിക്കാതെ ദിക്കുകള്‍ തന്നെ ആടയായിക്കൊണ്ട ദിഗംബാരനും ആയ ന കാര സ്വരൂപിയായ ശിവന് പ്രണാമങ്ങള്‍.. നമഃശിവായ

മന്ദാകിനി-സലിലചന്ദന-ചര്‍ചിതായ നന്ദീശ്വര-പ്രമഥനാഥ- മഹേശ്വരായ ।

മന്ദാരപുഷ്പ-ബഹുപുഷ്പ-സുപൂജിതായ തസ്മൈ മകാരായ നമഃ ശിവായ ॥ ൨॥




മന്ദാകിനിയായ ഗംഗയുടെ തീര്‍ത്ഥത്തില്‍ ചാലിച്ച ചന്ദനം ഉടലെല്ലാം പൂശി അലങ്കരിച്ചവനും നന്ദികേശ്വരന്‍റെയും പിന്നെ കുറ്റം ചെയ്തവരെ ഘോരഘോരം ശിക്ഷിക്കുന്ന പ്രമഥം എന്ന പേരുള്ള ഭൂതഗണത്തിന്‍റെയും നാഥനും, ദേവന്മാര്‍ക്ക് എല്ലാം ദേവനായ മഹേശ്വരന്‍ ആയവനും, മന്ദാരവും, ഒട്ടേറെ മറ്റു പുഷ്പങ്ങളും കൊണ്ട് ഭക്തന്മാരാല്‍ ഏറെക്കാലം പൂജിക്കപ്പെടുന്നവനും ആയ മകാര സ്വരൂപിയായ ശിവന് പ്രണാമങ്ങള്‍.. നമഃശിവായ

ശിവായ ഗൌരീവദനാബ്ജ-വൃന്ദ- സൂര്യായ ദക്ഷാധ്വരനാശകായ ।

ശ്രീനീലകണ്ഠായ വൃഷധ്വജായ തസ്മൈ ശികാരായ നമഃ ശിവായ ॥ ൩॥

സമൃദ്ധിയും സമാധാനവും ശാന്തിയും നല്‍കുന്ന ശിവനും, ഗൌരിയായ ഉമയുടെ താമരപ്പൂക്കൂട്ടം പോലെ ഭംഗിയാര്‍ന്ന മുഖത്തെ സന്തോഷം കൊണ്ട് വിടര്‍ത്തുന്ന സൂര്യനും, ദക്ഷപ്രജാപതിയുടെ മഹായാഗം അലങ്കോലപ്പെടുത്തി നശിപ്പിച്ചവനും, ഐശ്വര്യം തുളുമ്പുന്ന നീല നിറമുള്ള കഴുത്ത് ഉള്ളവനും നന്ദി എന്ന കാളയെ കൊടിയായി കൊണ്ടവനും ആയ ശി കാര സ്വരൂപിയായ ശിവന് പ്രണാമങ്ങള്‍.. നമഃശിവായ




വസിഷ്ഠ-കുംഭോദ്ഭവ-ഗൌതമാദിമുനീന്ദ്ര-ദേവാര്‍ചിതശേഖരായ ।

ചന്ദ്രാര്‍ക-വൈശ്വാനരലോചനായ തസ്മൈ വകാരായ നമഃ ശിവായ ॥ ൪॥




വസിഷ്ഠന്‍, കുംഭത്തില്‍ നിന്ന് ജന്മം കൊണ്ട അഗസ്ത്യന്‍, ഗൌതമന്‍ തുടങ്ങിയ മുനികളും ഇന്ദ്രനും ദേവന്മാരും എല്ലാം അര്‍ചനം ചെയ്യുന്ന ലിംഗസ്വരൂപിയായ ശിരസ്സ് ഉള്ളവനും ചന്ദ്രന്‍ സൂര്യന്‍, അഗ്നി എന്നിവരെ മൂന്നു കണ്ണുകളായി കൊണ്ടവനും 

ആയ വ കാര സ്വരൂപിയായ ശിവന് പ്രണാമങ്ങള്‍.. നമഃശിവായ




യക്ഷസ്വരൂപായ ജടാധരായ പിനാകഹസ്തായ സനാതനായ ।

ദിവ്യായ ദേവായ ദിഗംബരായ തസ്മൈ യകാരായ നമഃ ശിവായ ॥ ൫॥

യക്ഷന്‍റെ രൂപം എടുത്തവനും, മുടി ജടയായി ധരിക്കുന്നവനും, പിനാകം എന്ന വില്ല് കൈയില്‍ ഏന്തി നില്‍ക്കുന്നവനും ആദി മദ്ധ്യം അന്തം ഒന്നും ഇല്ലാത്ത നിരന്തരമായ നിലനില്‍പ്പ്‌ ഉള്ളവനും അതീവ ശോഭയോടെ വിളങ്ങുന്ന ദേവനും, ദിക്കുകളെ ആടയായി കൊണ്ട് ദിഗംബരനായി നില്‍ക്കുന്നവനും ആയ യ കാര സ്വരൂപിയായ ശിവന് പ്രണാമങ്ങള്‍.. നമഃശിവായ




പഞ്ചാക്ഷരമിദം പുണ്യം യഃ പഠേച്ഛിവസന്നിധൌ ।

ശിവലോകമവാപ്നോതി ശിവേന സഹ മോദതേ ॥




ഈ പുണ്യം നിറഞ്ഞ പഞ്ചാക്ഷരം ശിവന്റെ മുന്നില്‍ ആരു ജപിക്കുന്നുവോ അയാള്‍ തീര്‍ച്ചയായും ശിവലോകത്ത്തില്‍ എത്തും. ഭഗവാന്‍ ശിവന്‍ ശങ്കരന്റെ കൂടെ സാന്തോഷിച്ചു ജീവിക്കും.

Sunday, July 05, 2020

Pranams on guru poornima



व्यासाय विष्णुरूपाय व्यासरूपाय विष्णवे। 
नमो वै ब्रह्मनिधये वासिष्ठाय नमो नमः॥ 
व्यासं वसिष्ठनप्तारं शक्तेः पौत्रमकल्मषम्। 
पराशरात्मजं वन्दे शुकतातं तपोनिधिम्॥ 
शङ्करं शङ्कराचार्यं केशवं बादरायणम्। 
सूत्रभाष्यकृतौ वन्दे भगवन्तौ पुनः पुनः॥ 

vyāsāya viṣṇurūpāya vyāsarūpāya viṣṇave| 
namo vai brahmanidhaye vāsiṣṭhāya namo namaḥ|| 
vyāsaṁ vasiṣṭhanaptāraṁ śakteḥ pautramakalmaṣam| 
parāśarātmajaṁ vande śukatātaṁ taponidhim|| 
śaṅkaraṁ śaṅkarācāryaṁ keśavaṁ bādarāyaṇam| 
sūtrabhāṣyakṛtau vande bhagavantau punaḥ punaḥ|| 


Pranams to Bhagavan Vyasa who is just Lord Vishnu Himself in different form, and Lord Vishnu is none other than Vyasa Himself.. 
Pranams unto Him who is born in the clan of Vasishta, 
Pranams to Vyasa who is the treasurehouse of supreme knowledge, supreme knowledge of Vedas.

Pranams to Vyasa, the great grandson of Sage Vasishta 
Pranams to Vyasa, the grandson of Sage Shakthi 
Pranams to Vyasa, the son of great Sage and lawmaker, Parashara 
Pranams to Vyasa, the father of Shuka 
Pranams to Vyasa, the treasurehouse of penance and austerity 


Pranams to Shankaracharya, who is none other than Lord Shiva the Shankara
Pranams to Sage Vyasa, the Badarayana, who is none other than Keshava, the Vishnu
Pranams to the two, Vyasa, who gave us Brahmasootram and Shankara who commented upon the Sutram and revealed the truth to the world. 



വ്യാസായ വിഷ്ണുരൂപായ വ്യാസരൂപായ വിഷ്ണവേ। 
നമോ വൈ ബ്രഹ്മനിധയേ വാസിഷ്ഠായ നമോ നമഃ॥ 

വ്യാസം വസിഷ്ഠനപ്താരം ശക്തേഃ പൌത്രമകല്മഷം। 
പരാശരാത്മജം വന്ദേ ശുകതാതം തപോനിധിം॥ 

ശങ്കരം ശങ്കരാചാര്യം കേശവം ബാദരായണം। 
സൂത്രഭാഷ്യകൃതൌ വന്ദേ ഭഗവന്തൌ പുനഃ പുനഃ॥ 





മഹര്‍ഷി രൂപം പൂണ്ട, രൂപം കൊണ്ട് മാത്രം സാക്ഷാല്‍ നാരായണനില്‍ നിന്ന് വ്യത്യസ്ഥനായ, ഭഗവാന്‍ നാരായണന്‍ തന്നേയായ വ്യാസന് പ്രണാമം
ഉല്‍കൃഷ്ടമായ വസിഷ്ഠകുലത്തില്‍ പിറന്ന ആ ഋഷിവര്യന്നു പ്രണാമംവേദങ്ങളുടെ അന്തഃസത്ത തന്നില്‍ നിധിയെന്ന പോലെ കാത്തുസൂക്ഷിക്കുന്ന ആ മഹദ്വ്യക്തിക്ക് പ്രണാമം 

വസിഷ്ഠന്‍റെ പ്രപൌത്രനായ , ശക്തിയുടെ പുത്രനായ, പരാശരന്‍റെ പുത്രനായ, ശുകന്‍റെ പിതാവായ, തപസ്സ് ഒരു നിധിയായി തന്നില്‍ത്തന്നെ സൂക്ഷിച്ചു വച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന വ്യാസഭാഗവാന് പ്രണാമം.

ശങ്കരാചാര്യരുടെ രൂപത്തില്‍ അവതരിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു സാക്ഷാല്‍ ശിവശങ്കരന്‍ 
ബാദരായണന്‍ എന്ന വ്യാസന്‍ കേശവനായ വിഷ്ണു അല്ലാതെ മറ്റാരുമല്ല.
ബ്രഹ്മ സൂത്രം രചിച്ച വ്യാസഭാഗവാനും ബ്രഹ്മസൂത്രത്തിന്‍റെ ഭാഷ്യം രചിച്ചു ലോകത്തിന്‍റെ കണ്ണ് തുറപ്പിച്ച ശങ്കര ഭഗവത്പാദര്‍ക്കും വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും പ്രണാമങ്ങള്‍

Sunday, March 15, 2020

Positivity.. the Gayatri way..



Positivity.. the Gayatri way..

In fact there are some very strong minds which refuse to think positively..
That can result in great damage to many..


There is a popular theory that the thoughts, be it positive or negative, manifest themselves to some sort of realistic physical results ..

The Rigvedic mantra of Gayatri or Savitri.. is a prayer that our mind may be invigorated towards positive thoughts..

It is for this reason than we are instructed to chant
Gayatri mantra at least 108 times
in the morning, 32 times in the afternoon and 64 times in the evening... Some texts prescribe chanting of 108 gayatris each in the morning, midday and evening.. during PrataH, Mahyaahnika and Sayam Sandhya..
.
Great sages advise that we should chant
gayatri mantra as many times as possible, and some are of the view that at least one thousand times everyday over and above the three Sandhyas..
.
Like Gayatri, chanting of other mahamantrams also can set the mind in the right direction and keep it well oriented..

Of course this is only a belief and an article of faith, but mind thrives on faith.. one can believe it or not. Choice is his

I am sure every Gayatri upasaka would have realized firsthand that whenever he chants Gayatri devotedly and in sufficiently large numbers, his moods get elevated and the response of the nature to his thoughts brightens up..

Even buddhists of Mahayana and Vajrayana sects used to subscribe to the manthram
"Om Manipadmey Hum"..

Of course chanting of a mantra may not be exactly in consonance with the original Buddhistic principles.. that is a different issue..

" The powerful effulgence centred in the orb of the Sun.. the eternal source of energy and life, is invoked to kindle our
intellect ."
. this is what Gayatri means in a nutshell..

We experience that all that is good comes from that God seen and felt by us in the shape of Savita the Sun.. and we pray to him..
It is faith inherited by us for thousands of years and which acts as the best reinforcement to the mind making it possible for us to attain a positive mood . perhaps the best recipe that anyone can have..

But some asinine and tough minds refuse to have faith..

Who can help them?
Even if we try to chant Gayatri mantra just like a rigmarole in the beginning, the supreme power will seep into our pshyche.. and in time we would become real upasakas..
( I am not making this remark as any disrespect to Mother Gayatri. She has fostered me for the past fifty five years or so..)

Saturday, March 14, 2020

Is doing poojas and chanting mantras really effective.. ?



Is doing poojas and chanting mantras really effective.. ?
Will such rituals produce any results?
Maybe or may not

I really do not know..
But spending some time
in tending to the deities,
cleaning their precincts
doing abhishekam,
(offering ceremonial bath to God)
archana,
(offering flowers to God)
naivedyam,
(offering food to God)
deeparadhana
(offering lamps and incense to God)
and so on


and chanting the praise of the Gods in Sanskrit either as Vedic chants or stotrams ...
(the prayers can be in Malayalam Tamil, Hindi or in any language)
gives supreme happiness..
Such periods are the happiest moments in life..

All worldy woes and anxieties can be forgotten for those few minutes..
Is that not good enough?
what else one should desire for..?

A smile,
even though just in imagination,
on those dark red lips
of the dark face
of that dark Krishna ..
that is all for which we can live
and we can die too..