My happiness is in my hands

My happiness  is in my hands

By

P.R.Ramachander

(I read this in Tamil in a post by  Madhavan Yengnanarayanan , who himself read  it  in a Whatsapp  message  ,Its original could be  in English but I likes the idea  very very much   and am putting it  in my own words, thanking whosoever  is the original author) 

There   was a   meeting  of several  married couples,

And the  one who presided  over that meeting  asked one lady,

“Does   your husband  make   you happy?”

And her husband   sitting near by  ,

Was waiting   with anxiety  to hear  her reply  of “yes”

But the lady said  “No” , and she    continued ,

“I  am leading my life   full of happiness ,

For   i  have not noticed   any problems in my life  ,

But one thing  is for sure , my happiness  is in my hands,

And no one  else  can or should   determine my happiness.”

“It is not my husband’s  job to make  me happy,

And I have never  entrusted  this job to him  till now,

And I would not entrust  it wih him in future   also.

I was alone  before my marriage  and I was happy ,

And even after  my marriage  I am living  with happiness.”

“I will not allow  my  income   to  make me happy,

Nor will I allow  my pain and pleasure   to make me happy,

I also would not allow   the people whom I  meet to do that,

And I take lot of care   that  my likes and dislikes ,

As well  as anger, jealousy   and pride, does not determine my happiness.”

“I  want my happiness to depend  only on me  and no one else”

And when she  completed  the answer  for some time  ,

There was deafening   silence   and suddenly   each  and every one ,

Stood up    and gave  her a  standing ovation     and they all told ,

“Had we been like   you  , in past , present and future , we would be with happiness.”

Thirunilai Perandavar and Angala Parameswari temple

Thirunilai Perandavar   and Angala Parameswari temple-Temple of Shiva in Human form

Compiled  by

P,R.Ramachander

 

 Thirunilai (Divine stable point)  is a temple near Thirukazhu kundram  in Tamil Nadu  where  Lord Shiva    is in the human form

  There  is a very interesting  story about this temple.

It seems there  was an asura called Sundarabhadra   who did Thapas , pleased Lord Shiva and got a boon from him saying that he should be killed  only in Lord Shiva in human form. Since Lord Shiva has only a divinf form he started terrorizing the  world as well as Devas. They they prayed to Lord Shiva.Lord Shiva   then called the Goddess Parameshwari and  ordered her to immediately start to the world  .When she did not respond, he cursed her to take birth as  a human being. Greatly upset she told the Lord that  since he was half of her, he also  would take a human form for 24  minutes sand loose your mind.  Lord Shiva became a human being  and started listlessly wander here and there  He was also followed by Nandi in human form

.Due to abscence of Lord Shiva the entire world was disturbed   and they prayed to the Goddess . Then she took the form of Angala  Parameswari and threw her Soola on to earth.It struck near a place near Thirukazhukundram and 21 mud(sand)  balls came out of the earth and became 21 bootha Ganas. Meanwhile Lord Shiva attracted  by the  light  of Soola came there   and stood in a stable human form there.The goddess  Requested him to become a God there   and  give boons of child birth  to people. Since he  was wandering as a huge human being  m, he was called   as Periya andavar(Big ruler)

     Time passed.One devotee and his wife who did not have children  came to Thirukazhukundram temple and were  observing penance to get a child. That night God came in their dream and requested them to come to Tirunilai    and worship him as Periyandavar and told them that he would guide them  in the form of a boar . Next day morning when they were  going round the Thirukazhukundram, they saw a boar. They followed the boar  , which went to the present location of the temple   and firmly stood there and disappeared and from that  place a Shiva  Linga  emerged, The couple were soon blessed  with a child and built a small temple and maintained it. God  Shiva is worshipped  in the temple as Periyandavar

     Just near the entrance there  is a Rudraksha tree   and below it Lord shiva  is  seen in the human form.  The Lord  is in the form of SWayambu Linga   in this temple  .Both sides of the linga there re  foot steps of the God and goddess . Along with him are  Goddess  Akhilandeswari as well as Goddess  Angala Parameswari(called as Thirunilai nayagi) . Seeing him outside the entrance is Vibhuthi Ganapathi   as well as Nandikeswara  in human form in the sixteen pillared happ you can see the lOrd  in the sitting human form surrounded by the 21 Bhootha Ganas  as well as Angala Parameswari, There are also temples for Dakshinamurthy   as well as  Ardha Nareeswara.  There is a sacred water   tank attached   to the temple   called  Sidhamrutha  theertham,

    The devotees   who came to the temple are  allowed to worship the God themselves, The speciality of the worship of the temple  is Abhisheka of the Lord with 21 mud balls. On Sunday evenings there is a special worship at the temple, ON every full moon day also there is special worship. Normal Shiva  frstivals   are celeberated. September 12th is  celebrated in a grand way as the consecration day.

   Couples who want children  tie a small stone in an turmeric cloth and tie it in the vilwa tree   at the temple .They also take bath in the sidhamrutha theertha   and light a   ghee lamp. It is mentioned that  “After taking a holy dip in the temple pond, Siddhamirdhakulam, they have to perform poojas and Abishekams in their own hands. Atleast for six weeks they have to continuously perform poojas in this manner. Afterwards to their surprise and wonder, they get a miraculous result.”

    There is a web site for the temple which mentions that   temple http://www.periyandavar.com/index_e.html . It says that the old e temple was only recently rebuilt  . You can see a  video of the temple https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ks1hSzyNQI

The contact particulars are 

CONTACT INFORMATION

Mr. G. Egaseelan,

Aalaya Parambarai Nirvagi,

(Temple Trustee)

Periyandavar Temple

Thirunilai Village, Oragadam post,

Chengalpat Taluk.

Near Thirukkalukundram,

Kanchipuram District,

Pin 603 109

Cell No:  98427 40957

E Mail:  egaseeelan29@gmail.com

·        05:00 to 08:00 (All days of the week (Morning))

·        16:30 to 20:30 (All days of the week (Evening))

Phone pe Dakshina

Phone  pe  Dakshina

By

P.R.Ramachander

(Based on what i read  in Tamil in a whatsapp   message)

Ramu had  to perform   a Sradha  ,

And when time came  to pay Dakshina ,

He remembered  that  he has not ,

Drawn    any money   for that  from ATM

With a sorry  face he told   the Vadhyar the fact,

But Vadhyar asked him  , Do you have Pay ATM ,

Or  Phone pe   or can you transfer   from cell phone,

And Ramu told him , cell phone  transfer is ok,

And Vadhyar   asked Ramu , whether  his phone ,

Is Water proof    and   Ramu said    Yes.

Vadhyar asked him to pay one rupee  ,

Tranfer   Dakshina    through cell phone ,

And then Keep   cell phone  on Thamboola plate  ,

And asked  Ramu’s wife  to  put a drop  of water on the phone

Said the manthras  “Hiranya  Garbha  Garbhastham..”

And then later  he returned  Ramu’s cell phone to him.

Made for each other but never agreed with each other

Made for each other but never agreed with each other

By

P.R.Ramachander

One TV channel   decided  to conduct ,

A made for  each other contest  ,

For the couples whio have already ,

Celebrated  their silver anniversary.

Hundreds of couples   came  for the contest,

But one couple   came there constantly quarrelling,

With the wife   shouting   at her husband ,

“Why are  you dragging  me here”

The orgainsers asked the   husband and wife,

Seperately  several questions and compared their views,

And found that  most of answers of very many couples.

Matched   to a   very remarkable   extent.

Out of them  one couple  made the audience,

Giving them standing ovation   as they,

Scored  one hundred   out of one hundred,

By giving    same answer to all   the questions.

The couple   who came fighting  to participate,

In the contest did not give even a   single same answer,

But the organisers called  that couple  along,

With the couple who scored  one hundred to the stage.

The couple   who had scored   had an arranged marriage  ,

Had four children  and had lived together   forty years ,

While   the couple who scored  one hundred marks,

Had been married  only    for twenty five  years.

The prize  of a new car was awarded  by the judge  to the couple,

Who never agreed  as he felt   that  ,

They have  done a great job by living yogether ,

For forty years  , without agreeing on anything.

 When the crowd  was about   to disperse  they all heard,

That wife shouting  at her husband  why he has not learnt driving,

And going round and round the car  and her husband  chasing her,

And then the wife told, “Do not follow me , you have arthritis  and  your legs will pain.”

They may differ   in each and every thing  but  they,

Both cared  for each other and loved  each other,

And  cannot  live  even for a  day  without  the other,

Especially   without  hearing  their  choice disagreements.

Her wishful wishes-a tamil poem

Her  wishful wishes-a tamil poem

அவள் விகடனில் வந்த ஒரு கவிதை.:-

A poem from Aval vIkatan

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

This was a song popular and published in 2005,to welcome the New year, and holds good today also (From post of my friend Sri.Vasu Iyengar)

தண்ணீர் பஞ்சம் தொலைய வேண்டும்
தங்கம் விலை குறைய வேண்டும்

அழுகை இல்லா சீரியல் வேண்டும்
அழாமல் பிள்ளை சாப்பிட வேண்டும்

The scarcity   to water  should end ,

The prices  of God should come down,

Tv Serials  without tears  should be shown,

The children should take  food without crying.

வாரா வாரம் அவுட்டிங் வேண்டும்
வஞ்சனை இல்லா ஷாப்பிங் வேண்டும்

சண்டை போடாத சர்வன்ட் வேண்டும்
சமையலில் உதவும் ஹஸ்பண்ட் வேண்டும்

Every week we should  go for a pleasure trip,

WE should be able to do shopping  as much as we want,

We should have servants     who do not fight ,

Husband should help   us   in kitchen

வாக்கிங் இன்றி மெலிய வேண்டும்
வல்கர் சினிமா ஒழிய வேண்டும்

தொடர்பு விட்ட தோழிகள் வேண்டும்
தொல்லை தராத சொந்தங்கள் வேண்டும்

WE should become thin without walking,

There should not be  any vulgar  cinema,

WE should have lady friends without connections,

WE should have  relatives  who should not trouble

மயக்கம் இல்லாத மசக்கை வேண்டும்
மதியம் குட்டித் தூக்கம் வேண்டும்

மளிகைச் செலவு குறைய வேண்டும்
மாசக் கடைசியிலும் மகிழ்ச்சி வேண்டும்

WE should be in family  way without nausea,

WE should be able   to take a  short nap at noon,

The bills for groceries  should come down,

WE should have happiness  ebven at month end,

வேண்டும் வேண்டும் இறைவா--என்
ஏக்கங்கள் எல்லாம் தீர்ப்பாயா

புன்னகை ததும்பும் வாழ்வை--நீ
புத்தாண்டு வரமாய் சேர்ப்பாயா!

Oh God we want, we want,

Would you bring an end to all  our problems,

Oh God  please  give a new year gift ,

Of a life   filled with a smile.

Ramamurthy Venkateswaran

Good morning and congrats Friend

Good morning and congrats Friend

(Dedicated to a goddess Saraswathi in human form,

Who dreamt and has made her dream in to realty –

May God continue to bless her.)

 By

P.R.Ramachander

In a forsaken corner Of Tamil Nadu ,

There existed an old temple of learning ,

In a little village called Pushpagiri ,

Which was run by the government.

This school which was supposed ,

To house little darlings with great dreams ,

Of the village, who wanted to learn,

But  had a dilapidated building with asbestos roof.

About sixteen years back in to this school,

Walked a shy lady called Meena Rajan,

Who thought that her world was filled ,

With her friends and she addressed them as “THozha(pal)”

And she felt sad that the condition of this temple was bad,

And she told all the villagers, poor as well as rich.

That this temple should be rebuilt in such a way,

That their little treasures should be safe and study well.

And  be  equipped   with  modern gadjets   and efficient teachers

 They all were with her and gave  her all that they could afford ,

To make their own school a great place of the village ,

Including land , free help and labour and the teacher great  

Was extremely thankful to all her Thozhas.

But she knew that there was a need formuch more,

So that the school which daily appeared in her dreams,

Took real shape and without any hesitation or self esteem,

 She approached individuals and friends-Her thozhas.

All of them were astounded by the greatness of her dream,

And did all that they could and the dream has become real today,

And is going to be opened on twelfth and thirteenth of December,

And those dreaming children of the village of flower mountain are waiting breathlessly,

To   see their great  modern temple  is opened  for them.

Sastha Preethi or making Sastha pleased

 Sastha  Preethi or making  Sastha  pleased

By
Sri Aravind Subramanyam 

Theory Text & Practice Of Sastha Preethi In South India

Sabarimalai Yatra, Ayyappa Pooja and Sasthapreethi are the three, most well known events that please the Kaliyuga Varadha Swami Shree Dharma Sastha. For a Ayyappa devotee the chanting of the celebrated three words is everything - " Swamiye  Saranam Ayyappa" – Oh Lord Ayyappa, I come to Thee for refuge. The high and low meet on equal terms in the presence of the Lord who is known as Dharmasastha – one who teaches and upholds dharma.

Sasthapreethi is a time tested mode of worshipping Lord Dharmasastha in a very religious way by various samoohams and organizations in and around Kerala, and now in all parts of the country and abroad.  The religious pooja is given more importance followed by Annadhanam.

One should not confuse Sastha Preethi with Ayyappa puja or Sabarimalai Yatra; Sastha Preethi in a unique and different form of worship which has its own methods and procedures.

Origin :

The spreading of Sastha Preethi as a cult (other than Kallidaikurichi) dates back to three centuries.

Over 300 years ago a handful of enterprising men, started from a village called Kallidaikurichi,(Tirunelveli district). Their aim was to establish some business and improve their material prospects.

The Karandhaiyar palayam Samooham (of Kallidaikurichi) situated on the banks of river Thamirabarani, was the origin of a concept called Sastha Preethi. Consisting of 18 Agraharams, Kallidaikurichi was in the western ghat region, it was the border of Chera and Pandya Kingdoms in yester years. Sastha was the beloved deity on both sides of hills. Kallidakuruchi had a temple for Sastha.

Lord ‘Manikandan’ (during his human incarnation) had come to this village and had called at the house of an old couple for some food. The Lord felt very happy with their hospitality and became "Kambankudi Daasan". People started celebrating the Lord and thus began the glorious Sastha Preethi through the Kambankudi family who hailed from Kallidakuruchi.

When the people of Karanthaiyar palaya samooham, moved out from Kallidaikurichi towards Kerala in search of a new life, Lord Sastha promised that He would accompany them.

Passing through hills and forests they underwent many hardships, but could overcome everything by the grace of Lord Dharma Sastha. They understood that the divine blessing of Lord Hariharaputra was following them. First they settled in a place between the present Mavelikkara and Kayamkulam. But they were not happy and were suffering with a sense of insecurity there… From there few groups settled at Kochi, Few at Paravoor and another pocket at Trivandrum.

Vanji paattu

Those days the geographical setup and main transport was water way. When the first Brahmin settlement went to Kochi, Vanchi Pattu (the boatmans song) was developed on the rivers and backwaters, sung by boatman on voyages to keep up their spirit. So selected few Sastha Preethis have Vanji Paattu as a part of their ritual. Singing on a typical folk tune, the glory of their Saviour  - Lord Sastha is praised.

From Kallidaikurichi, Kochi and Paravoor, the concept of Sastha Preethi got widespread among the Brahmins who settled in and around Kerala. Sastha is praised as “Paradesi Kavalan”  - one who protects a person of a foreign land  in short Helper to the helpless. This system further spread to Palakkad, Trichur , Ernakulam districts of Kerala and Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Nagarcoil districts of Tamilnadu.

The meaning of the name Sastha Preethi is ‘appeasing Lord Dharma Sastha’ by pooja, songs and mainly by offering sumptuous feast to His devotees.

Though there is no standard written text for the procedure and methods, it is a customary practice that is being followed in all the places.

There may be slight variations on the pooja and procedures followed at various places of Sastha Preethi by different persons, but the underlying principle is same.

Generally the pooja on Sasthapreethi day comprises of Mahaganapathi Homam, Mahanyasa Japam, Rudrabhishekam, Rudra Kramaarchana, Sastha Avahanam,  Pooja, Sastha Sahasranamarchana, Deeparadhana, Chaturvedaparayanam and singing of traditional  Sastha Paattu songs.

Choosing the Day and Pooja practices:

Generally traditional samoohams have a fixed date for their Sastha Preethi. A convenient day is always chosen well in advance. It is a traditional practice that it’s always a Saturday. But the other aspects of the day are scrutinized so that it doesn’t hinder the feast and oil bath. (For example days like Ekadasi, Amavasai are excluded). The persons who are invited as representatives of the Lord - should compulsorily take an oil bath on the day of the event.

Regarding the pooja methods - Vaidheeka or Thanthreeka or Mishra pooja is used for Sastha Preethi according to the location. The priest invokes Lord Ganapathi, Ambal and Dharma Sastha and His attendants (Parivara Devathas) on tall brass lamps decorated tastefully.

The positioning of the Lamps varies from place to place. Sastha lamp always occupies the centre. All other lamps have fixed places with respect to the main lamp.

Kallidaikurichi and Paroor have Guru and Ganapathy on either Side of Sastha; Whereas Kochi has Ganapathi and Chellapillai on the either side. In few places all other Parivarams like Karuppan, Kaduthan etc are placed on the left side of the Lord and Yakshi or Devi swaroopams are seated on the right side. But a separate South facing lamp is compulsorily placed for Boothanatha Swami who controls all the parivaras.

Other than the traditional samoohams and in neo-Sastha Preethis, there is a common placement of Ganapathi and Devi on either side of Sastha.

It is also a practice that Sastha Lamp is lit with ghee and all others are lit with sesame oil.

Proper, procedural, detailed pujas are done to the Lord according to the Kalpam. Upacharas, Avarana Puja and other poojas are done which is followed by Kramarchana or by Sahasranama Archana. ( Pancha / Ashta / Nava Avarana puja is done to Sastha as per the school of thought. Texts like “Dharma Sasthru Pooja Kalpam” of Bala Dhandayudhapani Swamigal, “Maha Sasthru Pooja Kalpadhrumam” – attributed to Adhishankara, Dhakshinamnaya Pooja etc are used. We follow a method of Navavarana puja to Sastha which is in line with Srividya Navavaranam)

Shanka pooja plays an important role in Sastha Preethi. The people who get into trance are invoked with the Lord’s grace through this Shanka theertham.

The specific neivedhyams like Chathachayam Payasam, Ellurundai, Neiyappam are compulsory for a Sastha Preethi. And in general the entire Payasam in which vessel it’s made - is brought in front of the Lord.

Varavu Paattu

After the detailed puja, neivedyam and deeparadhana followed by mantrapushpam a detailed Veda Parayanam is made. After appeasing the Lord with Vedha gosham, the traditional Sastha paattu (Varavu Paattu – inviting Songs) songs are sung.

All these Varavu songs are written by a poet named Manidasa who lived around some 150-200 years ago.Tamil poet-saint Arunagirinathar is considered as the Gurunathar of all devotees of Lord Muruga. Likewise Manidasar, a descendant of the Kallidaikurichi (Kambangudi) family lineage, is considered as the universal Gurunather of all devotees of Lord Sastha. Manidasar has sung several hundred songs in praise of Lord Hariharaputra – which are sung during the Sastha Preethi.

For each and every event of the pooja he has rendered songs and poems called Viruttams.

He has also sung five group songs, each group consisting of five vrittams. These are known as “Kulaththur Panchagam, Aryankavu Panchagam, Achchanaar Panchagam, Muththayyan Panchagam and Sabari Panchagam.

Several songs of Manidasar register the glories and history of Lord Sastha. His songs are rich with emotive beauty with meaningful words and with a perfect symphony.

There are very few well versed singers in Kerala and in Tamilnadu. These singing follow a tradition and starts from Ganapathi. Manidasar’s songs are there in Chaste Tamil in praise of Lord Dharma Sastha inviting Him. Songs invoking Ganapathi, Shastha, Chellapillai, Yakshi, Sangili Bhoothathan and other Parivara Devathas are sung.

(Though not compiled into a perfect text format, hundreds of songs of Manidasar are sung in various parts of South India during the occasion of Sastha Preethi. We on behalf of Shri Maha Sasthru Seva Sangam, have tried to compile few songs of Manidasar and have released a book titled “Sampradhaya Sastham Paattu in the year 2009)

Sthanikas and their Trance:

While singing, the traditional upasakas or Sthanakaras of the respective deities gets into a trance and gets the supreme power invoked within them. In General Sastha, Chellapillai, Yakshi and Boothathan are the deities who are invited. Very rarely a place is given to Karuppan or Maadan.

Before the singing starts, eleven or more plantain leaves (Nuni elai)  are bundled and decorated with sandal paste, kumkum and flowers and kept in the sannidhanam of the Lord during the pooja . All the ayudhams of Lord Sastha and the Parivaras are also placed near the main lamp.

A wooden plank is decorated with Kolam and placed before the Lord. In few places the peeta puja of the respective deities is done to the wooden plank. These Sthanikas (or Komarams as addressed by local people) who get into trance sit on this wooden plank.

It’s a customary practice that the moolamantram of Sastha is enchanted on Punugu (Civet) and handed over to the Sthanikar of Sastha. Once he gets into trance, he in turn hands over similar enchanted Vibhuti to Chellapillai and Boothathan, Kunkumam to Yakshi and Manjal (Turmeric) to Karuppan. Similarly the person with the trance of Lord Sastha accepts all the ayudhams from the priest and gives the respective ayudhams to the respective deities (in trance).

These Sthanikas are offered respect by the devotees and upacharas are done to them. They are seated on the wooden plank and abhishekam is done to them. They are decorated with garland, sandal paste and kumkum.

They bless the devotees with prasadam and convey the deity's satisfaction in the conduct of the Sasthapreethi.

The plantain leaves are handed over by the representative of Lord Sastha along with vibhuthi prasadam to the person organizing the pooja.   Only after this ritual, prasadam, the food is served to the public.

The Lord conveys his message for the days and confirms his satisfaction about the Sastha Preethi conducted. People prostrate before him, get blessed and receive Vibhoothi as prasadam.

Once the sthanikas come out of their trance, they offer back the respective ayudhams to the priest and prostrate before the Lord and accept the shanka theertham.

The Lord accepts any form of worship with devotion and dedication and to those who cast their ego and with absolute surrender and purity prayerfully calls out to Him. He is always there, ever ready to take them under His benign shelter and bestow upon them health, wealth, happiness and prosperity. This is very well seen during the Sastha Preethi festival. This is an occasion where one directly gets the grace of the Lord.