AVani Avitta (Upakarma) Manthras for Yajur, Rig and Samaveda in the year 2015.

AVani Avitta  (Upakarma) Manthras   for  Yajur, Rig and Samaveda  in the year 2015.

    I have been giving    every  year the Upakarma procedure for the past  15 years for the use of people  who are not able  to get a priest  for guiding them in the procedure. Since such  eventuality would mostly occur  in case of people  living abroad, along with Sankalpa I have been giving   the  duration  of the Thithi and Nakshatra   and the time when it changes   so that according to time difference from India  , they can modify their Sankalpas.

    Avani avittam or Upakarma  is definitely not    the change of Poonal as  indicated  by a  popular TV serial recently. The Change of Poonal  is only a purificatory ceremony  which is a prelude  to the Upakarma  procedure . Once  the Yagnopavita  is changed , the  Brahmin  prays God  to  pardon   all the minor  and  major sins that  he has done during the  previous one year. This is followed by a  Vedic  procedure  which aims   to satisfy  the Devas , Rishis  and Pithrus by giving them Arghyam.After this the  Brahmin starts   reading the Vedas. The Chanting of the Vedas   should be done under guidance of  a Guru   who has learned  to chant Vedas , definitely   not by reading it but hearing  and repeating it properly. Because of this  I have not been giving  the Vedas  in English script.

  Yajur Vedis do upakarma   on the Pournami day of the Sravana month.  For Rig Vedis  , Pournami is not important but Sravana star  is important  . .The Sama Vedis observe Upakarma    during the Hastha Nakshatra of the avani month.This year   there are two opinions when the Rig Vedis should do Upakarma. Majority   of the people feel that   it should  be on 28^th  August but a few feet that  it should be on 24^th September. I have given manthras   for both cases   for this year. Please follow the date recommended by  your family priest(Acharya).I have not been able to get the Upakarma Manthras for Bodhayana  Suthra   and Shukla  Yajurveda and so I have not put them.  But  I have given the Bodhayana  Brahma Yajna procedure  in the end of Yajurvedi  Upakarma manthras. Large number of people put  Upakarma manthras  on line .Some of them even putr it in Devanagari  and some in Tamil. People who would prefer  that should wait and search   for these   after about a month. The upakarma manthras  put by me   can be  got from the following URl’s.

1.Yajur Veda  Upakarma Manthras 2015(29-8-2015)  --  http://brahminrituals.blogspot.in/2015/07/yajur-vedi-avani-avittam-manthras-for.html

2,Rig Veda UPakarma Manthras  2015 (28-8-2015) - http://brahminrituals.blogspot.in/2015/07/rig-vedi-avani-avittam-manthras-for.html

3.Rig Veda  Upakarma Manthras 2015 (24-9-2015) -  http://brahminrituals.blogspot.in/2015/07/rig-vedi-avani-avittam-for-year-2015-24.html

4.Sama Veda  Upakarma - http://brahminrituals.blogspot.in/2015/07/sama-veda-upakarma-prayoga-for-year-2015.html

          May  God bless  you all .Ramachander

The Fascinating world of Kaval Deivangal of Tamil Nadu.

The Fascinating world  of Kaval Deivangal of Tamil Nadu.

 A humble request 

From

P.R.Ramachander

Any body who have traveled in to Tamil Nadu must have seen lot of roofless temples (mostly terracotta figures ) established near the entrance of most villages. They might have also seen the temples dedicated to the Goddess of pestilence –Mari , in the middle of the village.
Most of these Gods do not form a part of the pantheon of Hindu Gods. They have a great role to play in the day to day life of the villages. They

1.Are the Gods that guard the village from robbers, epidemics, pestilence and enemies.
2,Are the judge of the last resort to the villagers,
3.Are Gods that control rain fall.
4.Are Gods that cure the domestic animals of their diseases.

The faith of the villager in these Gods is more than 100%. Their devotion to these Gods is tinged with fear or love or both Another very interesting facts about these Gods is that their priests are not Brahmins .In spite of that   several Brahmin families of Tamil Nadu have adopted  many of these  Gods as their guardian deities.

Male deities
Some of the most important male deities are Ayyanar, Karuppu sami, Madurai veeran, Sudalai madan, Muneswaran, Periyandar, Munu Samu , Changili Karuppu  etc.
Out of them attempts have been made to link Ayyanar with God Shastha(ayyappan) who is the son of Shiva and Vishnu. He normally appears along with his wives Poorna and Pushkala. It is interesting to know  that There is a Karuppu statue in  Sri Rangam temple as well  as in the Sabari mala temple 

Female deities
The most important female deity is Mari. Other important female deities are Angala Parameshwari, Nalla Thangal, Katteri Amman, Mutharamman, Pechi Amman , Masani Amman, Chelli Amman etc.
Out of them attempt has been made to identify Mari with Durga or Kali and Pechiamman with Goddess Saraswathi.
Almost each and every village in Tamil Nadu have their own village Gods. Some times a single God is shared by several villages. Daily worship is rare but usually festivals are held with great fan fare. Persons belonging to that village come to these festivals wherever they are in the world. Each of these temples have their own stories. But examining them, we will find that the incidents narrated in the story are almost common. For examples, some village gods come to the village and appear in the dreams of the villagers, some others come floating in the river etc.

   I have been fascinated   by these  Gods    and the  role that they play  in lives of people  of Tamil Nadu .Reading very many books   and   several on line searches  I  have  collected information about   some of these Gods  and have  written about more than 100  of them. These are available  in  my blog 

http://villagegods.blogspot.in/

Yesterday I added the write up of six more  of these  Gods. They   are:-

1.Keerangudi Kudavarasi temple  http://villagegods.blogspot.in/2015/07/keerangudi-kudavarasi-amman.html

2.Nannilam Madathi  Amman temple  http://villagegods.blogspot.in/2015/07/nannilam-madathi-amman-temple.html

3.Erode  Kongalamman temple  http://villagegods.blogspot.in/2015/07/kongalamman-temple-erode.html

4.Musiri  Azhagu Nachiyamman  temple  http://villagegods.blogspot.in/2015/07/musiri-azhagu-nachiyamman-temple.html

5.Perambur Veeramakali  temple  http://villagegods.blogspot.in/2015/07/veeramakali-temple-of-perambur.html

6.Vellore  Chelliyamman temple http://villagegods.blogspot.in/2015/07/chelliamman-temple-of-thottapalayam.html

     I have a humblke request to all   those of my friends  who are interested  in this fascinating pantheon of Gods . Do contribute to this blog  by writing about the village  God of your village.I would post them in my blog  under your authorship   for the sake of our  curious   and interested   future generation.

   You can contact me  by writing to ramya475 at hotmail dot com

                                            Ramachander  aka Raja Thatha

Forty fifth mile stone-a poem

 Forty fifth  mile stone

A poem on the eve of  his forty fifth anniversary

By

P.R.Ramachander

Forty five years  back , on this day  me and my  wife ,

Started  walking together  in the way of life,

To  me     who had only   lonely walks  till then,

This walk with a  companion   gave a  very great joy .

The initial steps  of any path normally are rough ,

But we   two  learned  to adjust  to that  roughness,

And learned to ignore  the stones and thorns in that path.

Since  the path   was crowded  by  people known  only to me ,

My companion    did feel very nervous   and very lonely,

Then came  out,  our  storms, cyclones , tempests and tsunamis ,

Making both of us   totter  and about to fall .

Both of us the   walkers  on the great path of life ,

Believed   that there is a  great God  whom we loved ,

And all these  events   that  make us rock would  go away.

They did  and suddenly   the path  became a heaven of flowers,

Due   to the arrival   of  little  treasure of gems , who  boosted our resolve ,

“We would walk , we will not fall , for we were  three then.”

We  had soon   one more little one , a treasure  and gem of our life .

In that path of life  ,  the four  of us fought  for every inch  that we have to go,

There were  times,  when the  path became dark and difficult ,

Since we were four  , we found our way  by each of us laughing aloud.

One by one those new  companions   found other companions  and other paths

And again  we both    were left alone  in that way.

But not for long because God sent  us four of his angels,

To Babble , chatter  ,hug , kiss  , laugh and to cry.

Several mile stones have passed   after  that ,

Several of our friends  had  found their way to God,

But  today  we see the forty fifth mile stone  big and bright.

Appala Pattu of Bhagawan Ramana

Appala Pattu of Bhagawan Ramana

By

P.R.Ramachander

     Bhagawan Ramana  had  started living in Arunachala and that time his mother came there to take care of him.Since she loved him she wanted to make Appalam  for him and to prepare  it  she wanted him to help her  as he used to do  in their home. The great Ramana who  had given up everything instead wrote this  pretty , endearing lyric called “Appala Pattu  “.

   Normally appalams are  prepared by pounding black gram and then pirandai juice cumin, pepper  , Asafotida  and  salt  are added and then it is pounded  well by a pestle , made in to flat  pieces by the rolling pin, dried and then fried.

  But Ramana’s Appala  By pounding “I” well pounding   it well with pestle called “who am I? “ , adding  the juice of elevated company , Equanimity , restraint, non attachment , inclination for the good,  again pounding it  seeing inward   , flatten it by roling pin called peace on the flat surface of equality  . Then it should be fried in vessel of endless silence  , in the ghee of Brahman , heated by the fire  of wisdom  and eating it   to satisfy the all pervading self.

    There are already many English translations of this very great work and adding one more possibly to satisfy  the self within me. Possibly the self within you would undersand this poem I.Poem  in Bhagawan’s own hand writing:-

Appala Pattu   typed in English

By

Bhagwan Ramana

Appalam ittu Paaru

Pallavi

Appala mittu paaru –Athai ,

CHapiitu un asayai theeru

Anupallavi

Ippuvi thannil yengi  thiriyamar,

Sarbodha   sukha   sad guruvanavar  ,

Cheppathu   chonna   thathuva magira  ,

Voppuyarvilla vor mozhiyin padi  (Appalam…)

Charanam

1.THaan allaa  ainkosa  kshetra midhil  -valar,

Than nennum  manamaam dhanya   ulundhai,

Naan Aaren  jnana vichara  thirigayil ,

Nanalla vendre   udaithu podithu  (Appalam..)

2.Sath sangamagum PIrandai rasathodu  ,

Sama dhama  magindra   Jeeraga  milagudan

Upparatti agum  mavuppodulla   nal,

Vasanayam   perungayamum cherthu

3.Kal nenijii    nan ann  yendru   kalangamal,

Ul mukha   ulakkayal   oyadhu idithu ,

Shanthamam kuzhaviyal   samamana plakayil,

SAnthatham chalippura santoshamagave (appala…)

4.Mona mudrayagum mudivilla pathirathil,

Jnanagniyal  kaya nar brahma  neyyathil  ,

Naan athuvagave   nalum porithu  ,

Thane thanaka  bujikka thanmaya   (appala..)

English meaning

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

Try to make an Appalam

Pallavi

Try to make an Appalam,

Eat that  and try to satisfy your desire

Anupallavi

Avoiding wandering in this earth with worries,

Following   the  incomparable  method  ,

Taught  well   and pleasantly by   the Sadguru,

In the form of philosophy  which was told  by him without talking (Try to make Appalam…)

Charanam

1.Take   the cereal  called “Black gram” which is the mind called “I”,

Which is    encased    in this body   of five   sheaths  ,

Pounding it   with the pestle  of philosophical enquiry called “Who  am I?”

And  by  breaking and powdering it  saying , “I am not that”., (Try to make Appalam…)

2,Along with  elevating company  which is  juice of Piranda(an itchy creeper called Devil’s  back bone)

Along  with cumin and pepper , which are  equanimity and restraint,

Along with powdered  salt   which is non  attachment  ,

Added  with asafetida  which is the  is the inclination for the good,( Try to make Appalam…)

3.Telling  “Me , me “ without getting confused  in the stone like  heart,

Without  rest  pounding by the pestle and  seeing in ward ,

Using the  rolling pin of peace , on the plank of  equality ,

Always getting bored   but with joy  ( Try to make Appalam…)

4.Using  the  endless vessel of   divine silence  ,

Frying it   in the ghee of Brahman,

Which is heated by the   fire of wisdom .

Eating it when self is self itself  and pervading  it with self  (Try to make  Appalam..)

Sri Vashisteswara Temple, Thittai-Temple of Guru

Sri Vashisteswara Temple, Thittai-Temple  of Guru

contributed by

Elango Kadhirvel 

(Today  Lord Guru is moving from Kadaka Rasi    to Simha Rasi.THis is celebrated in a great way  in Thittai  Vasishteswarar temple where  Lord Guru has a seperate Sannidhi,)

Location

Ø  Village of Thittai, 11 kilometres from the town of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

History

Ø  The temple dates from the 12th century AD and was built by the Chola Kings

Other Name

Ø  As the village is situated south of the River Cauvery, it is also called "Thenkudi Thittai"

Deities

Ø  Lord Shiva as Sri Vashisteswara

Ø  Goddess Parvathi as Sri UlakaNaayaki

Ø  Raja Dakshinamoorthy – Raja GURU

o   This is one of the holy places with Jupiter - Guru significance

o   Guru Bhagavan graces here from a separate shrine in a standing posture showing his sense of haste to rush to the rescue of His devotees

This year Jupiter transit (Guru Peyarchi) takes place on Sunday, the 5th of July 2015 based on "Vakya Panchanga" and on Tuesday, the 14th of July 2015 based on "ThirukaNitha Panchanga"

LEGEND

Ø  "Thittai", the name of the village means "Thittu" in Tamil, (ie.) a Mound

Ø  When the whole world was surrounded by water because of Pralaya, Brahma & Vishnu worshipped Lord Maheshwara for protection

Ø  After wandering much for a safe place, they found this only mound, which did not drown in the Pralaya waters, where there was a Shiva Linga

Ø  They performed Pooja to the Linga and worshipped Lord Shiva, WHO appeared before Them and delegated Their duties of Creation and Protection

Ø  It is believed that this is the only place, which was not destroyed even during Pralaya

Ø  There is a near similar story for the Sirkali Temple

Ø  As Maharshi Vasishta had his hermitage here to worship Lord Shiva here, Lord Shiva here is praised as Sri Vashisteswara

Specialties

Water drops falling on The Shiva Linga

Ø  A unique feature of the temple is that drops of water fall on the Linga from above, every twenty minutes

Ø  It is said that this is because of the presence of the precious stones called “Surya Kaantha Kal” and “Chandra Kaantha Kal” in the vimana which absorb moisture from air and create water in them

Ø  And it is this water generated by the stones that falls down in drops on the LINGA

Raja GURU - Raja Dakshinamoorthy

Ø  This is probably the only place in the world where Guru Bhagavan has a separate Sannidhi and separate Vimana between Sri Vashisteswara and Sri Lokanaayaki Sannidhis

Ø  We see Guru Bhagavan who is the Raja Guru, in standing posture with 4 hands holding his weapons and a book

Chakra Theertha

Ø  The temple tank situated opposite the temple is called "Chakra Theertha" which is believed that it was created by the Chakra (Discus) from the hands of Sri MahaVishnu

Ancient Tamil Hymn on Sri Vashisteswara

Tamil Text

நாரணன்தன்னொடு நான்முகன்தானும்ஆய்,காரணன்(ன்) அடி முடி காண ஒண்ணான் இடம் -ஆரணம்கொண்டு பூசுரர்கள் வந்து அடி தொழ,சீர் அணங்கும் புகழ்த் தென்குடித்திட்டையே

-          திருஞானசம்பந்த சுவாமிகள்

Transliterated Text

NaaraNan-thannodu NaanMukan thaanum aai

kaaraNan adi mudi kaaNa oNNaan idam –

AaraNam-kondu Poosurarkal vanthu adi thozha,

Seer aNankum pugzhal thenkudithittaiye

Translated Text

ThenKudiThittai, is the place of Lord Shiva (Sri Vashisteswara)

HE is the Cause of all things

HIS begin and end cannot be deciphered (even by the combined efforts of Sri Narayana and Sri Brahma)

The devout Worship HIS FEET at Thittai, chanting and singing HIS Hymns

First ever love letter written in the world-Rugmani to Krishna

First   ever love letter written in the world-Rugmani to Krishna

Translation  by

P.R.Ramachander

(Without any doubt the epics/Puranas  of India are   the   first books   ever composed by men. Right   from the Vedas , the first epic  Ramayana written by sage Valmiki  , large number  of love stories abound  but it is in  the great Bhagwatha   there are several  love stories. The first and intense love story   in Bhagwatha  was  perhaps the love  story  of Gopis  and Radha with the child Krishna .After this period Lord Krishna  kills  his uncle Kamsa  and then becomes the king itself. It was at this time , Rugmani , the princess of Vidharbha falls  in love with Lord Krishna after  hearing about him and seeing his painting. Her father   fixes her marriage with  Sisupala , the king of Chedhi kingdom . Rugmani then  sends a love letter to Sri Krishna , in the hands  of a Brahmin. (When a controversy arose whether  she   really wrote a letter or only send a message before Lord Guruvayrappan , then it seems the Lord Confirmed  by saying that   he indeed  received  the letter)  After seeing the letter, Krishna sends a positive reply through the messenger Brahmin   and as per   suggestion of Rugmani    abducts her  from the Parvathi temple  . This letter occurs in Bhagawatha purana in the Dasama Skandam  in the fifty second chapter from  verse number  37-43.I am giving below only the  English translation. .What a remarkable love letter composed by a very young princess addressed to the Lord of all. You can find the Sanskrit original  in  the blog of Sri Ananthanarayanan Vaidyanathan  viz  http://kanfusion.blogspot.in/2010/06/rukminis-letter-to-krishna-corrected.html. He also is a  given a great translation . )

37.Oh  Achyutha,  the prettiest of the world , I have  heard about  all  about your  character,

Which  entered in to my heart through  my ears and took away  all pains of my heart,

And I also have  heard about   your pretty appearance  which blesses  all  those   who posses   eyes,

And due to that  my heart had decided to accept you as my husband   after driving  away  all the shyness from me .

38.Oh Mukunda, which  noble high born maiden would not desire  to have you   as her husband,

When she reaches   the age   when she is permitted  to  choose   to wed,

Oh lion among men , as  you are , the joy in the mind of people  , happiness of the world,

Incomparable  from  points of view like heredity , good conduct, wisdom  , handsomeness  and opulence

39.So I have chosen   you    as my husband , oh  lord   of my soul and  I have given my body  to you,

And so  be pleased   to take me    as your wife  so that , Sisupala the prince of Chedhi ,

Does not take me  away from here  since  I am the property  of the brave one like you,

Similar to a   fox taking away    the prey  of a lion , to defile   it, Oh lotus eyed one.

40.If it is true that  that I have pleased the great   divine God , who rules the universe,

By  doing acts like  digging of wells and tanks, building of temples, giving away of food grains,

Laying out gardens, observing penances , conducting sacrifices. Giving gifts as charity , worship of elders and Gods

May the elder brother of mace  , Sri Krishna and not the Sisupala , the son of Damagosha  hold my hand. 

41.After reaching Vidharbha  secretly   , on the day    before the wedding day,

Surrounded   by your    great army   and their  generals,

Oh Lord , who cannot be defeated  , you please defeat the army  and generals of Chedhi and Vidharbha ,

And be pleased to marry   me adopting the Rakshasa(a secret form)   form of marriage   as a prize to  your valour.

42.If you ask me with great shock, “How would  I ever marry you   without killing ,

The ladies and your relatives   in  your palace  , as you are  living in your  guarded maiden house?”

I would like   to tell you   about a method    to avoid   that  catastrophe ,

As there would be great festivities in my palace    on the previous night  ,

When    as a bride  I would be going to the temple of Goddess Parvathi, the daughter of Himalayas.

43,Oh Lord With lotus eyes , If I do not meet   your approval and cannot touch the dust of your feet,

Which is sought  by many incomparable  ones  including  the great souls of the consort of Uma,

I would   sacrifice  my life  from the body  which is already weakened by fasts  and then  take hundreds of birth

With the hope  that  every time   that I am reborn , I would be able  reach to your lotus feet  some  day.

                          Rugmani

A request to read Ramayana during the Ramayana month

This year the Ramayana Masam starts  on  17^th of July . The Adhyathma Ramayanam of  the great savant Thunjathu Ezhthachan is normally read     for the entire month   during this period. This treasure like book    occupies a  special place  in Any Maklayali Hindu home  .Unfortunately a very   large number of Maru Nadan Malayais   do not know how to read Malayalam script  and because  of that they are  unable to read  the Ramayanam, as was the practice of their ancestors. Not only that even if  they want to play the audio , most of them  do not understand the import of those nectar like verses.  One of my young friends   who does not know how to read Malayalam requested me to type out the entire Ramayanam in English    and also give  verse by verse meaning   of the entire work. By the grace of God Rama , I started doing it.  When  I was working with the translation of Sundara Kandam of that great work ,  one day  a huge monkey appeared  before  in my flat  in Koramangala, Bangalore  , where at that time I was alone and was found sitting near my lap top. Without doing   any harm to any one or anything , that monkey left after a few minutes. This incident gave me more zest  to complete the work quickly. Over the last  two years more than  twenty five thousand Malayalis have used  my   transliteration and translation   to read Ramayana during the Ramayana Masam .  To all those   who do not know   how to read  Malayalam  I  have a request.  Play   the  video  of Adhyathma Ramayana  by Sukumar, Canada   and read  the Ramayanam in English  as typed by me, side by side  understanding its meaning . Please pass on  this  information to all the Malayalis  whom you know and preserve the great culture  of  Our  own  Kerala  and get   the   blessings of Rama.

You can find my  English typing and translation in   

 http://rajathathas.blogspot.in/

You can find the video of   Sukumar Canada  in  http://ramayanam.guruvayoor.com/