Posts relating to Lord Shiva & Lingas

108 Lingas along the Tungabhadra


Hampi, Vijayanagar:

Along the stony granite landscape of a once heavenly city now in ruins, lie remnants of a tradition silently living among us. What remains today is a stark granite rock outcrop heated by the daylight carrying the potent symbols of the Lord numbering upto 108 and in some cases 1008.

Back in 10th century AD, there flourished in Indian tradition a cult that worshiped Lord Shiva out in the open. In the great land of Vijayanagar, now known as Hampi there are examples of this scattered all along the Tungabhadra river.

Out in the open...is what it might appear to be, but the very symbolism of Lord Shiva was carved into rock to reside within a home, a temple, the roof of which faces north. Interestingly the entry into this house is from the east, with a path of flat stone leading right upto the main Linga in the center, a central garbha griha so to speak.

This home could probably have also symbolized the Panchakshara mantra of Lord Shiva, the 5 sacred syllables(Na Ma Shi Va Ya) of Lord Shiva representing each side of this diagrammatic temple. Like any other architectural marvel for the Lord, this diagrammatic temple also worshiped 108 Lingas within itself, with Abhishekam done from the east and path for the libation fluids given towards the north, also heading towards the conical roof of the temple.

In the early hours of Brahma Muhurta one can imagine, the cool breeze sweeping along the Tungabhadra. Silent waves almost sound like the gentle anklets of damsel taking a holy dip before she starts her prayers. Among the rocky boulders drenched in the moonlight, is the shimmering flames of a fire, and in the silent breeze one can hear the sweet notes...

OM SHIVAYA NAMAHA
OM MAHESHVARAYA NAMAHA
OM SHAMBHAVE NAMAHA
OM PINAKINE NAMAHA
OM SHASHISHEKHARAYA NAMAHA...

Sacred names of the Lord fill the air, 108 names of the divine bress the air as a voice sings them out in deep worship.

...OM SARVAYA NAMAHA
OM TRILOKESHAYA NAMAHA
OM SHITAKANTHAYA NAMAHA
OM SHIVAPRIYAYA NAMAHA
OM UGRAYA NAMAHA
OM KAPALINE NAMAHA...

Few spectators watch on as the water flows over 108 heads forming a channel and leading gently out of the temple, exiting at the roof. A symbolism that the soul merges with the supreme as one performs this ritual of Abhishekam. The flame slowly rises and casts shadows of the various Lingas elaborately carved into the rock, dancing in the flame light.

Its a different world, of music and love, of peace and tranquility, of life and happiness, of detachment from all the temptations life has to offer. The bells ring and the priest raises his hand and pours milk over the Lord, singing his verses again

...OM CHARUVIKRAMAYA NAMAHA
OM RUDRAYA NAMAHA
OM BHUTAPATAYE NAMAHA
OM STHANAVE NAMAHA
OM AHIRBUDHNYAYA NAMAHA...

The fire rises again, and the voices echo as the mantras deafen the ears and the surrounding whistling breeze carries the fragrance of flowers of offering. The birds begin to chirp and the darkness gives way to light, a new day and a new beginning as the voice carries on.

...OM SAHASRAPADE NAMAHA
OM APAVARGAPRADAYA NAMAHA
OM ANANTAYA NAMAHA
OM TARAKAYA NAMAHA
OM PARAMESHVARAYA NAMAHA.

OM ATMAYA NAMA ATMA LINGAYA NAMAH OM

I am the Lord, one with Him, merged into His being. I worship you O Lord, who enlightens me into this new world with a new mind.

In the case of the 1008 Lingas, there were arrangements for a make shift roof, an idea of which remains in rock along the four corners of the diagrammatic temple.

Happy Diwali to everyone!

Photo courtesy: Pratheep.com

Posted by kavitha at Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Labels: 1008, Hampi, Namavali, Shiva Linga 108, Tungabhadra, Vijayanagar

 

Posts relating to Lord Shiva

64 Yoginis dance with Bhairava



64 Yoginis come into focus when references are made to the dark side of Tantricism. The cult of tantrics profusely flourished in the 8th century where it reached its peak. Today we have just 4 of these temples scattered across our indian landscape. Two of these are located in Orissa at Hirapur and Ranipur Jharial, one is in Madhya Pradesh in Bheraghat temple and one supposedly in Tamil Nadu.

64 Yoginis appear like they are in a wild trance with Lord Shiva. Here the rhythms are quite different, the music is stranger and the flavour is wild. Bhavabhuti once expressed in the Malathi Madhava, the very same beauty of these Kanyas in the rituals of tantricism associated with the Mother Goddess, though the tantric played a villainous role of attempting human sacrifice. This is not a celebration of the infamous ritual practice but a poetic peep into this world of Gods and Goddesses, a part of our better known Shiva and Kali.

The focus is on the cosmic truth, the only truth that lies in front of us that we run away from - Death. The form of the Lord here is Bhairava who brings us face to face with this truth. Truth is indigestible and this probably needs a different kind of understanding. Bhairava is charming and wild as a thought but coming face to face with Bhairava means playing with fire. Bhairava, popularly depicted as a naked mendicant, like Bhikshatana with a dog on his side and jatas in flames, a face with fangs and a fierce expression, one we would barely call charming. Bhairava teaches the art of Mrithyunjaya, or the conquest of death, which is our only redemption.


The chaunsat yogini temple of Hirapur is roofless and gives the impression of a womb. 64 goddesses circle its sacred enclosure within whose center stands a platform for ancient Tantric sacrifices or may once have hosted Lord Bhairava who is now missing. Here feminine beauty is not just depicted with care but is worshipped with as much ferver. The Goddess is depicted with her assets enhanced, her power and strength, her attributes completely sculpted to perfection emphasize the miracle of life and procreation. Ajaikapada Bhairava or the one legged Bhairava is depicted in one of the niches of this temple.

At the Chaunsat Yogini temple of Ranipur its a little different. These 64 yoginis are sensuous maidens who dance with the Lord in Odissi, a wilder and more terrifying form is depicted as compare to the familiar sweeter Krishna Leela. Here is passion of a different kind that celebrates procreation in a different form, far more raw and probably indigestible to our minds today.

Here too there is life, there is pleasure and warmth with the Lord and the Goddesses. It gives a feeling of awe, of something mysterious and sacred. Bhairava takes center stage at the Chaunsat Yogini temple in Ranipur. He stands within his mandapa, in a fierce fiery dance revealing the truth of procreation and death.

In the crackling flames that light up this deserted temple we witness 64 maidens almost naked dance the Odissi, like Kanyas, with complete grace around Bhairava. As the smoke rises and transforms this roofless temple into a magical theater, 64 dancing damsels create life with the Lord. With sentuality in the air, red bangles cling creating music so wild, so powerful and so potent, this is a different world of the living. This is a wild world of Shiva Leela, a little beyond our conditioned imagination! These powers came alive as human blood once flowed through in offering.

To the great Lord Mrithyunjaya, O Bhairava
Who holds the truth to us so clear
That we crumble before His burning eyes
As he lifts the curtain of illusion
The stark truth of death
O warrior fight and conquer it
The 64 mothers worship
Mrityunjaya Rudra Bhiarava Shiva

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Who Is Shiva??

Who is Siva?
Understanding God As He is worshiped at Kauai's Hindu Temple


God Siva is among the most mysterious, complex, compassionate and profound conceptions of the one Supreme Being to be found in the religions of mankind. He is looked upon as the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer of all existence, the Cosmic Dancer who animates the universe from within. He is honored as Pure Love, Light, Energy and Consciousness. He is contemplated as the timeless, formless and spaceless Absolute Reality. In all three of these perfections is Siva revered in Kauai's Hindu temple.
In Ways to Siva, curatorJoseph Dye Lahendro wrote: "Who is Siva? What is Siva? To His devotees, Siva is everything: He is the root and support of the universe; He is the creative-destructive flow of life that rushes through it. He is motion and calm, male and female, light and dark, ascetic and lover, everything and its opposite. Siva is an ambiguous God who embodies, defines and reconciles within Himself all of life's processes and paradoxes. Siva is existence. He embodies the structure of the universe."
Living with Siva, by Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, explains, "Siva dances in the atoms throughout this universe. Siva dances energetically, eternally. Siva is eternal movement. His mind is all-pervasive, and thus He sees and knows everything in all spheres simultaneously and without effort. Siva is the Self, and He is the energy we put forth to know the Self. He is the mystery which makes us see Him as separate from us. He is the energy of life, the power in the wind. He is the dissolution called death, the peace of motionless air. He is the great force of the ocean and the stillness on a calm lake. Siva is All and in all. Our great God Siva is beyond time, beyond space, beyond form and form's creation, and yet He uses time and causes form. He is in the sky, in the clouds, in the swirling galaxies. Siva's cosmic dance of creation, preservation and dissolution is happening this very moment in every atom of the cosmos. God Siva is immanent, with a beautiful human-like form which can actually be seen and has been seen by many mystics in visions." Twenty centuries ago Rishi Tirumular, a South Indian saint, praised Siva's dance: "In all worlds He is, the Holy Lord. In darkness He is, light He is. In sun He is, in moon He is. Everywhere He is. The Lord is in all creation. None knows His coming and going. He is distant. He is near. Multiple He is. One He is. Water, earth, sky, fire and wind, the spark within the body--all these He is. He is the walking soul here below. Deathless He is."
The religion of Siva: Those who worship Lord Siva are Saivites, and their religion is called Saivite Hinduism. Saivism represents roughly half, perhaps somewhat more, of Hinduism's one billion members. It shares more common ground than differences with other denominations. Scholars tell us Saivite Hinduism is mankind's oldest religion, the venerable Sanatana Dharma. They trace its roots back 6,000 years and more to the Indus Valley civilization. But sacred writings and legend tell us that there never was a time when Saivism did not exist. Its grandeur derives from a sweet tolerance for the views of others, coupled with a practical culture, an emphasis on personal spiritual effort and experience, the perception that God is everywhere present, and therefore no aspect of life may be divided from religion, and a joyous devotion to the one God which all men worship and which it knows as Siva, "the Auspicious One," and the knowledge that Truth lies within man himself.
The four sacred Vedas, mankind's oldest scriptures, intone, "To Rudra [Siva], Lord of sacrifice, of hymns and balmy medicines, we pray for joy and health and strength. He shines in splendor like the sun, refulgent as bright gold is He, the good, the best among the Gods (Rig Veda 43.4*5)." "He is God, hidden in all beings, their inmost soul who is in all. He watches the works of creation, lives in all things, watches all things. He is pure consciousness, beyond the three conditions of nature (Yajur Veda, Svet.U.6.11)." "There the eye goes not, nor words, nor mind. We know not. We cannot understand how He can be explained. He is above the known, and He is above the unknown (Sama Veda, Kena U. 1.3)." "Fire is His head, the sun and moon His eyes, space His ears, the Vedas His speech, the wind His breath, the universe His heart. From His feet the Earth has originated. Verily, He is the inner Self of all beings. (Atharva Veda, Mund.U. 2.1.4)."

 

Re: Posts relating to Lord Shiva muchukunda

Om Namah Sivaya​

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Somaskanda

Muchukunda was a king ruling over South India having his capital at Karur. Desirous of doing Tapas on Lord Subrahmanya, the king approached sage Vasishtha and requested him for initiation into the correct observances of the Vratas. The sage explained to the king the importance of observing the Sukravara (Friday), Kirttikai and the Skanda Shashthi Vratas of Lord Subrahmanya. Having learnt in detail the Vratas, their importance and the methods of observing them, king Muchukunda started observing them with faith and devotion. After sometime, while the king was greatly absorbed in his devotion to Lord Skanda, the Lord appeared before him and granted him many boons. The Lord had made his followers, Virabahu and other warriors of his own forces, serve the king. At the behest of the Lord, Virabahu Devar and others, taking human births, obeyed the commands of the King and helped him. The king enjoyed much peace, plenty and prosperity by His grace.

King Muchukunda’s might was such that even Devendra had to approach him to get his help for defeating the Asuras. The king complied with the request of Indra and defeated the Asura King Valan. When he returned from Devaloka he was given by Lord Vishnu the Murti of Somaskanda. Arriving at his kingdom, the king performed the Pratishtha Ceremony for the Somaskanda Murti at Tiruvarur in South India.

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Somaskanda is a manifestation of Siva featuring Siva (SAT), Uma (CHIT) and Skanda (ANANDA); Siva in a seated posture, with Parvati to his left and with Skanda his son, seated in between the two. Represents SATCHITANANDA.

After sometime he had a son, Agnivarman by name. Entrusting the kingdom to his son, the king retired peacefully to Mount Kailasa for spending the rest of his life in Tapas.

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Sivaya Namah courtesy om namah shivaya group, brought to you by sunkan

 

Re: Posts relating to Lord Shiva

hai friends i am posting here about ambal too, this way all my post relating to the deities remain here..hope you would appreciate this here..sunkan





Iam now going to narrate the great story of one Srividya Upasaka who lived in Andhrapradesh in a series of postings.Those who even hear this story will attain the blessings of Lalitha Sri Rajarajeshwari Devi.I can hit the ground thrice and say this with certainity.

Also, this is the Shilaasanam of Ammavaru(Set in stone) found in the village of this great person also, now in the hands of a known person there.



It said that the following categories:

1. Karanajanmas
2. Shaapagrasthaas
3. Yogabrashthas

are born again, finish whatever divine tasks they have been ordained to do, finish their prarabdha(good or bad) and then become Keerthisheshaas( ending of their lives in divine glory).

In this category was this Mahapurusha Sri Sri Sri Tadepalli Raghavanarayana Shastry Garu. He was born in Chandavolu Gramam in Guntur district in Andhrapradesh. He lived from 1896 to 1990(Born as per Hindu Calendar in 1818 Shaalivahana shaka, Durmukha Nama Samvatsaram Shravana Bahula Vidiya Mangalavaaram in Vrushabha Lagna night time--25-8-1896 born in Gorontla near Guntur in his mother's place.).He was called lovingly "Chandavolu Shastry Garu"(Vyavahaara Naamam).



He was born as the first son to Venkatappayya Shastry. Venkatappayya Garu was a great Vedakala Rishisamaan, paramanishtaa, Shaastra Kovida and Mahaakavi.His Sanskrit texts are four in number, Andhra kruthis are 20 in number. All magnum opi of that age. And who founded the Sanskrit Pathashala and ran the organization for 40 years without kulamatha bheda and taught Sanskrit and other shastras to those interested and also conducted annadana to all including the vidhyaarthis( students) along with the teaching of history--before being taken over by Shankara Vidyalaya.

To such an illustrious father was this shining star Chandavolu selected by Amba to be given a rightful birthplace.His Aksharabhaaysam was conducted in the fifth year.He was given for an unknown reason even at that age itself the Bala Tripura Sundari mantra by Tadikonda Vaasi Kedaralinga Shastry Garu.



The young boy started doing the japa of Bala from that age till the age of 16 and due to this Balambika used to respond to this Boy's call every time miraculously!

He learnt Tarka(Logic) from Dendhukoori Paanakaala Narasimha Shastry and Siddhantha Koumudhee from Taadikonda Muddhigonda Naagalinga Shaastry.

He finally topped his education from Seetharama Shastry Garu of Podili with Mantra-Tantra shastra.

All this was apart from Veda Vedanga knowledge being recieved from his father.

After all this education, he decided even before he was an adult to take up Sanyaasa deeksha.

This made his father Venkatappayya a bit worried. 'Why does this Balaka want to take up sanyaasa at this young age? Why this early detachment to things wordly? Have I not married? Will maariage impede his spiritual activites?'



Thinking thus, he set upon to venture into the child's past birth. As I said in many postings(and also in the Kibbutz posting), that many things are decided by Poorvajanma vasanas(past birth influences) as to why a person behaves in a certain way. And those who are aware of this inwardly do take cognizance of this fact alongwith Karma-siddhantha.

Now, there was one person by name Govindarajulu Seethaaramayya Shastry. His wife was a great yogini and her name was Shyamalaamba. She pronounced emphatically "There is a Surya Mandala Antharvarthi( a yogi in Surya Mandala etheric sphere) who was born thus."



As Venkatappayya was worried on this count. He himself dreamt a strange dream in which his step-mother showed his son(Chandavolu Shastry Garu) as a great Siddha and that Sri Chakreshwari Kameshwari Devi standing near the boy. Beside Her there were Yuvathis(young women) and Amba asked one of the girls to go near Him.She came and she seated herself on her own accord on his lap.He began to quiver a bit and Amba smiled and said "Your mind has perturbed a bit because of this young woman. Both of you go and be born as humanbeings and marry each other and then come back here after your karmic thing is over"



The above dream confirmed that Chandavolu Shastry(his son) was not an ordinary Balaka and that there was a reason of His karma. Venkatappayya was amazed when at the age of 19 Chandavolu Shastry changed his decision from becoming a monk to suddenly marrying a very beautiful girl Parvathy(who was the daughter of Adepalli Mangamma and Paapayya Shastry). The reason for his amazement was that the beautiful girl(who looked like a devakanya) was exactly the same girl who came in his dream(Acchappuroopa m) as shown by his step-mother! !

So knew within his heart(which he revealed later) that both of them came from Surya Mandala(a Deva Bhoomi in an etheric plane) as Karanajanmis( Shaapagrasthaa is a rude word here because Amba did not give any curse but wanted the Karma of Her child to be over with the girl and the girl's karma with him and then come back to Surya Mandala. As Surya Mandala being a pure land does not entertain a single thought of Kaama and thus both their kaarmic vibrations should not affect other upasakas there).

-------To be continued--- ---------

Yours Yogically,

Shreeram Balijepalli from the site of thripurasundari brought to u by sunkan

 

Re: Posts relating to Lord Shiva

HAYAGRIVAA THE LESSER KNOWN FORM OF VISHNU

In the ocean of knowledge
Lord Brahma resides
On his lotus throne
Creating the world
Creating live

He breathes in life
Lets loose the pearls
Of knowledge and wisdom
Embedded in the Vedas
The essence ready to unfold

As the worlds come alive
The Vedas gone
Stolen by the demons,
Madhu and Kaitabha...

The demons Madhu and Kaitabha are associated with Lord Vishnu and Brahma in many ways. They are known to have infamously stolen the Vedas while the worlds were being created. The vedas, the root of all knowledge, carrying the essence of living had to be retreaved from the Asuras(demons). Fearing greater loss, the Devas went to Devi who directed them towards Vishnu to retreave the Vedas. In pure whiteness, dressed in blue, Lord Vishnu descended onto the earth in the form of Hayagriva, human by nature but horse headed in form, to fight the demons and destroy them...

In Sakta tradition, Hayagriva is also the name of a demon who was the son of Kashyapa Prajapati. He did severe penance and won the favor of Goddess Durga, and asked for a boon that he should be killed only by another Hayagriva. This almost made him invincible and he began to harass the Devas. The Devas turned to Vishnu for aid, who despite a long struggle was unable to kill him. Vishnu returned to Vaikuntham and started severe penance in padmasana with his head supported by his bow. The Devas went back to request him again but were unable to shake him out of his meditation. They tried to break his deep conentration with the help of termites gnawing at the string of the bow, but the snapping of the bow resulted in the string lashing out with such force that Vishnu's head was severed from his body. It was now that Devi revealed the boon of the demon Hayagriva to the devas and told them to have Vishnu's head replaced with that of a pure white horse, making him another Hayagriva, in order to kill the demon...

Hayagriva is represented 4 armed, carrying Shanka and chakra in two hands, a rosary(aksha-mala) in the third and his fourth is in the vyakhya mudra. He is also found holding the vedas in some occasions. Hayagriva is associated with the purity of knowledge and is represented in the same way as Saraswati. White is a symbolism of purity that is depicted in the "white horse" face he adorns.

In Vaishnavite tradition, Vedanta Desika (born in 1317 A.D. in Thoopul near Kanchipuram) is considered to be the incarnation of the ghanta(bell) of the Lord of Thirupati. He was a child prodigee who had risen to the status of "Acharya" at the age of 27. On initiation into the realm of the Garuda mantra, Desikan went to Thiruvahindrapuram and began chanting. Pleased with his devotion, Garuda initiated him into the Hayagriva Mantra, encompassing all knowledge. Lord Hayagriva appeared to Desika and presented him an idol of Himself, hence all temples dedicated to Desika have an idol of Hayagriva installed near him. Thiruvahindrapuram has one of the most ancient temples dedicated to Hayagriva.

Hayagriva shrine in Hayagriva Madhab Temple, Manikuta Parvat

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Interestingly far away in Assam, on the Manikuta Parvat(hill) in Hajo, near Kamakhya devi temple is the Hayagriva Madhav temple. It is also believed that Hayagriva composed the Vedas during the process of creation. A very ancient idol of Hayagriva is installed at this temple too. The interesting aspect of this temple is that it is highly regarded by buddist for they believe it contains an ancient relic of the Boddhisatva.

In another legend the Vaishnavite tradition in Orissa is brought to light. King Indradyumna of Orissa had a dream, where the Lord instructed him that a big tree would come floating in the sea and he would have to cut it into 7 pieces. 2 of these pieces have been brought to Kamarupa (the others were carved into Krishna Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra at the Jagannath Mandir Puri), one of which has been fashioned into the form of Hayagriva and the other as Madhava(Matsya). It is also believed that the Hayagriva avatar of Vishnu might have preceeded the Matsya avatar.

Last but not the least, Hayariva holds the same importance as Saraswati when it comes to imparting knowledge. Garuda had initiated Vedanta Desika into the Hayagriva Mantra as previously mentioned. It is a tradition even today for children to recite this mantra before they begin they daily studies.

Hayagriva Shlokam goes as follows:

Gyaananandamayam Devam | Nirmala Spadikakruthim ||
Aadaram Sarva Vidyanaam | Hayagreevam Upasmahe ||

Vidyaarambam begins with a prayer to Sri Hayagriva praising him as the presiding deity for all knowledge. May he grant us the power to imbibe this knowledge we seek with the recitation of this mantra.

from kavitha's blogspot brought to u by sunkan