Kanda Shasti Kavasam - Meaning

rahaNa bavasa rararara rarara
rihaNa pavasa riririri ririri

viNabava saraha vIrA namO nama
nipava sarahaNa niRaniRa niRena

vasara haNaba varuka varuga
asurar kudikeduththa aiyA varuga

enRanai aaLum iLaiyOn kaiyil
panniraNdu Ayutham pAsAng kusamum

parandha vizikaL panniraN dilangka
virain dhenaik kAkka vElOn varuga

This is part of the invocation. The invocation makes use of what is known as 'sadAtchara mARal'.

What is a mARal and why is it used?
It is one of the methods by which the mantric energy is increased or multiplied. We can see this method being used in the composition of mantric devotional verses. ThirumUlar in his Thirumandhiram, writes about it. We see the 'namasivaya mARal' or the 'panchAtchara mARal' in it. Let us look into this subject in more detail. In a mARal, the mantra syllables - akshara or atchara- are split into individual syllables.

What is an atchara?
An atchara is different from a letter. If you write the atchara - 'hrIm' in English, there are 4-5 letters. If you write it in Tamil, there are 3 letters. In mantra sastra 'hrIm' is one atchara. An atchara is measured in 'mAthra' or 'mAththirai's.

What is a 'mAththirai'?
It is the time taken for snapping your fingers.
This is subdidvided into quarter, half, three quarter and full mAththirai.
A kuRil is one mAththirai long.
A nedil is normally two maththirais.
A compound atchara like 'hrIm' is three mAththirais in length.
Now, we come back to the mantra atcharas of Shadatcharam.

An example of maaRal:
Let us take the panchatchara. The syllables - na, ma, si, va, ya, make it up. In a maaRal, these five atcharas are transposed alternatingly. A common transposition is - na,ma,si,va,ya - na,si,va,ya,na - si,va,ya,na,ma,- va,ya,na,ma,si, and ya,na,ma,si,va. This is a common panchatchara maRal. There are also other ways of doing this. In some instances, a particular syllable will occur two or three times. The same type of maaRal can also start off from anywhere. It need not be na,ma,si,va,ya. It can start off from si, va, ya, na, ma and proceed.

These atcharas will usually be placed within a tabular column of twenty-five squares. This is known as the 'panchatchra maaRal yanthra'. In the instance of ShadAtcharam, the same method is followed. In a simplest mARal form, the atcharas will be arranged -

sa, ra, ha, Na, ba, va;
ra, ha, Na, ba, va, sa;
ha, Na, ba, va, sa, ra;
Na, ba, va, sa, ra, ha;
ba, va, sa, ra, ha, Na;
va, sa, ra, ha, Na, ba.

These atcharas will be arranged in a tabular column of thirty-six boxes. This is known as the 'sadAtchara mARal yanthram'. It is used in several ways. One way is to roll it up and keep it inside a thAyaththu. This practice is quite ancient - to wear amulets and talismans. The atcharas are usually inscribed on copper plates or sheets. Gold and silver are other materials which come next in order. But according to the prayOgam - usage of the yantra, different materials are used. Planks of Vilvam, MA, palA, etc. are used.

Now, look at the shadAtchara mARal, above. What do you notice?

rahaNa bavasa rararara rarara
rihaNa bavasa riririri ririri

viNabava saraha vIrA namO nama
nibava sarahaNa niRaniRa niRena (20)

vasara haNaba varuka varuga
asurar kudikeduththa aiyA varuga

This is a variant of the shadAtchra mARal. In addition, certain atcharas are added to provide increased potency. In this case, ra ra ra ra, ri ri ri ri - are atcharas of the fire class - Agni. They are interposed to increase vibrations which kindle the sukshma fire which is within. This in turn assists in raising the KuNdalini. Kundalini is by itself a sukshma fire. Anything more can only be exhibited because writing will not be as comprehensive. The syllables have to be pronounced rhythmically at a certain scale.

Not sure if this will serve the purpose. I will be happy if it helps you. Thanks!

 

Hi Chitra,

From what I had read, these words have some vibrational power. They move off all evils like negative vibrations and emotions. And what I heard from my relative circle these words also set aside harmful reptiles. Only words recited in a certain manner can create vibrations in air to reflect on the ground, these words are such and hence reptiles are moved off, once they feel the vibration. And Kanda shashti in fertility forum is not very much inappropriate. The kavasam itself a good remedy for women who want to conceive, one of the astrologers told me it can trigger the entire body and act a cure to the problems related to womb.

 

Hope the explanations helped you! I read it everyday but never had an intention to look for the meaning. I must thank you for making me search the meaning. Thank you!