While there by be differences among the Puranas on some legends, thee is no variation in the Legend of Daksha.
Shivlingam- This is the neck portion of Daksh Prajapati who was decapitated by Maha Rudra.
“As mentioned in the Mahabharata and other texts of Hinduism, King DakshaPrajapati, the father of Sati, Shiva’s first wife, performed Yagna at the place where the temple is situated. Although Sati felt insulted when her father did not invited Shiva to the ritual, she attended the yagna. She found that Shiva was being spurned by her father and she burnt herself in the Yajna Kunda itself. Shiva got angry and sent his Gaṇas, the terrible demi-god Vīrabhadra and Bhadrakali to the ritual.[2] On the direction of Shiva, Virabhadra appeared with Shiva’s ganas in the midst of Daksha’s assembly like a storm wind and waged a fierce war with the gods and mortals present culminating in the beheading of Daksha, who was later given the head of a goat at the behest ofBrahma and other gods. Much of the details of the AshvamedhaYagna (Horse Sacrifice) ofDaksha are found in the Vayu Purana.”
There are quite a few Temples in India where Daksha is reported to have performed the Daksha Yagna.
Loard Brahma and Loard Vishnu approached Lord Siva and prayed to shed his anger. Siva became calm and agreed to restore Daksha’s life for yaaga completion. As his head could not be traced, head of a lamb was fixed on Daksha’s body and he was revived. By the grace of Loard Siva Daksha completed his yaaga.
The site of this yaaga was subsequently covered with dense forest. Centuries later hill tribes called Kurichyas were hunting deer in this forest area and he was sharpening his arrow on a stone, suddenly blood oozed out. This strange phenomenon confused the hill tribes and they reported this incident to nearby Padingitta Namboothiri’s illam. The Namboothiri well-versed in tantric lore got an intuition that an idol is lying at a particular spot. Namboothiri told Kurichyas to inform four prominent Nair families in Manathana village. Kurichyas reach Manathana and informed Kulangarayath, Aakkal, Karimbanakkal chathoth and Thittayil families.
All four members of Nair family and Padingitta Namboothiri were went to the spot where the incident happen. Great surprise they found a bleeding stone in the forest. Ablutions with water, ghee and milk could not control the blood flow and finally tender coconut water stopped the blood.
On consultation with astrologer they come to know that it is a holy land where Daksha conducted his yaaga and bleeding stone was a ‘swayambu idol’. It is belived that Lord Siva took form of ‘swayambu ’ next to where Devi Sathi immolated herself in the ‘yaagagni’.
The place where swayambu idol was found is known as ‘Akkare Kottyoor’. “Akkare Kottiyoor” is opened only during the Vyskha Mahotsavam. ‘Ikkare Kottiyoor’ is nalukettu temple complex where regular poojas happening. Regular poojas and other rituals were to be conducted and it is believed that Sri Shankaracharya who set out present day rituals with his spiritual vision.
I am curious as to how a King from Himalayas could have performed this in deep South.
To me Haridwar seems to be the correct one,Kamakya could have been the place where Sati immolated herself.
Inputs welcome.
“The name Draksharama is said to be a corrupted form of ‘Draksharama’ or the garden of Drakshaprajapathi. The place is said to depict the well-known puranic legend of Dakshaprajapathi’s Yagna. According to this, Dakshaprajapathi’s daughter Dakshayani had married Lord Siva, though Drakshaprajapathi was not very happy over it. Once Drakshaprajapathi performed a great yagna, to which, out of his ‘dambha’ and ‘darpa’, he did not invite Lord Siva. Dakshayani was anxious to attend this Yagna of her father, but at the same time could not openly attend it in as much as her Lord viz., Lord Siva, had been deliberately excluded from it. She was thus torn between two compelling desires. Finally, she resolved to attend the sacrifice even though she too had not been invited as the consort of Lord Siva.”
Meaning: 1: At the Top of the Hand (i.e. Palm) Dwell Devi Lakshmi and at the Middle of the Hand Dwell Devi Saraswati, 2: At the Base of the Hand Dwell Sri Govinda; Therefore one should Look at one’s Hands in the Early Morning and contemplate on Them.
Meaning: 1: (Oh Mother Earth) The Devi Who is having Ocean as Her Garments and Mountains as Her Bosom, 2: Who is the Consort of Sri Vishnu, I Bow to You; Please Forgive Us for Touching You with Our Feet.
Meaning: 1: O Holy Rivers Ganga and Yamuna, and also Godavari, Saraswati, 2:Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri; Please be Present in this Water Near Me (and make it Holy).
Meaning: 1.1: In the Early Morning I remember (i.e. meditate on) the Pure Essence of the Atman shining within my Heart, … 1.2: … Which gives the Bliss of Sacchidananda (Existence-Consciousness-Bliss essence), which is the Supreme Hamsa(symbolically a Pure White Swan floating in Chidakasha) and takes the mind to the state of Turiya (the fourth state, Superconsciousness), 1.3:Which knows (as a witness beyond) the three states of Dream, Waking and Deep Sleep, always, 1.4:That Brahman which is without any division shines as the I; and not this body which is a collection of Pancha Bhuta(Five Elements).
Meaning: 2.1: In the Early Morning I worship That, Which is beyond the Mind and the Speech, 2.2: (And) By Whose Grace all Speech shine, 2.3: Who is expressed in the scriptures by statement “Neti Neti”, since He cannot be adequately expressed by Words, 2.4: Who is called the God of the Gods, Unborn, Infallible (i.e. Imperishable) and Foremost (i.e. Primordial).
Meaning: 3.1: In the Early Morning I Salute That Darkness (signifying without any Form) which is of the nature of Supreme Illumination, 3.2: Which is Purna (Full), Which is the Primordial Abode, and Which is called Purushottama (the Supreme Purusha), 3.3:In Whom this endless World is settled endlessly (i.e. from the beginning of creation), … 3.4: … and (this endless World) appear like a Snake over the Rope (of the Primordial Essence).
Meaning: 4.1:These three Slokas, which are Holy (unites one with the Whole), and the ornaments of the Three Worlds, 4.2:He who recites in the early Morning, goes to (i.e. attain) the Supreme Abode (of Brahman).
Meaning: 1.1: (In the early morning I remember) The Devas Brahma, Murari (The enemy of demon Mura, refers to Sri Krishna or Vishnu) and Tripurantakari (The One Who has brought an end to Tripurasuras, refers to Sri Shiva), … 1.2: … The Planets Bhanu (The Sun), Shashi (The Moon), Bumisuta (Mars) and Budha (Mercury), … 1.3: … Guru (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu and Ketu, … 1.4: May all of them make my Morning Auspicious.
Meaning: 2.1: (In the early morning I remember) The Sages Bhrigu, Vasistha, Kratu and Angira, … 2.2: … Manu, Pulasya, Pulaha and Gautama, … 2.3: … Raibhya, Marichi, Chyavana and Daksha, … 2.4: May all of them make my Morning Auspicious.
Meaning: 3.1: (In the early morning I remember) The Sages Sanatkumara, Sanaka, Sanandana, … 3.2: … Sanatana, Asuri and Pingala, 3.3: The seven Swaras (Musical Notes) and the seven Nether Worlds, 3.4: May all of them make my Morning Auspicious.
Morning: 4.1: (In the early morning I remember) The seven Seas, the seven Kula Parvatas (seven Holy Mountains), … 4.2: … The Saptarshis (seven Sages), seven Forests, … 4.3: … The seven Worlds starting with Bhur Loka, 4.4: May all of them make my Morning Auspicious.
पृथ्वीसगन्धासरसास्तथापः स्पर्शीचवायुर्ज्वलितंचतेजः । नभःसशब्दंमहतासहैव कुर्वन्तुसर्वेममसुप्रभातम् ॥५॥ Prthvii Sa-Gandhaa Sa-Rasaas-Tatha-Apah
Sparshii Ca Vaayur-Jvalitam Ca Tejah |
Nabhah Sa-Shabdam Mahataa Sahai[a-E]va
Kurvantu Sarve Mama Suprabhaatam ||5||
Morning: 5.1: (In the early morning I remember) Mother Nature manifesting as the Prithivi (Earth) which is connected with Gandha(Smell), Apah (Water) which is connected with Rasa (Taste), … 5.2: … Vayu (Air, Wind) which is connected with Sparsha (Touch), Tejah (Fire) which is connected with Light and … 5.3: … Sky which is connected with Sabda (Sound); I remember all these Mahat Tatvas (Material Energy), 5.4: May all of them make my Morning Auspicious.
Morning: 6.1:In this manner, in the early Morning, this very purifying Hymn, … 6.2: … on reciting, remembering or listening with Devotion, 6.3: … has the quality of destroying bad dreams and making the morning Auspicious, 6.4: … making the Morning Auspicious by the grace of the Divine.
सूर्याष्टकम् – आदिदेव नमस्तुभ्यं
Suryashtakam: Adi Deva Namastubhyam
आदिदेवनमस्तुभ्यंप्रसीदममभास्कर । दिवाकरनमस्तुभ्यंप्रभाकरनमोऽस्तुते ॥१॥ Aadi-Deva Namastubhyam Prasiida Mama Bhaaskara |
Divaakara Namastubhyam Prabhaakara Namostu Te ||1||
Meaning: 1.1: (Salutations to Sri Suryadeva) My Salutations to You O Adideva (the first God), Please be gracious to me O Bhaskara(the Shining One), 1.2: My Salutations to You, O Divakara (the maker of the Day), and again Salutations to You, O Prabhakara (the maker of Light).
सप्ताश्वरथमारूढंप्रचण्डंकश्यपात्मजम् । श्वेतपद्मधरंदेवंतंसूर्यंप्रणमाम्यहम् ॥२॥ Sapta-Ashva-Ratham-Aaruuddham Pracannddam Kashyapa-[A]atmajam |
Shveta-Padma-Dharam Devam Tam Suuryam Prannamaamy[i]-Aham ||2||
Meaning: 2.1: (Salutations to Sri Suryadeva) You are mounted on a Chariot driven by seven Horses, You are excessively Energeticand the Son of sage Kashyapa, 2.2: You are the Deva Who holds a White Lotus (in Your Hand); I Salute You, O Suryadeva.
लोहितंरथमारूढंसर्वलोकपितामहम् । महापापहरंदेवंतंसूर्यंप्रणमाम्यहम् ॥३॥ Lohitam Ratham-Aaruuddham Sarva-Loka-Pitaamaham |
Mahaa-Paapa-Haram Devam Tam Suuryam Prannamaamy[i]-Aham ||3||
Meaning: 3.1: (Salutations to Sri Suryadeva) You are Reddish in colour, and mounted on a Chariot; You are the Grandfather of all persons (being the Adideva, the first God), 3.2: You are the Deva Who removes great Sins from our minds (by Your Illumination); I Salute You, O Suryadeva.
त्रैगुण्यंचमहाशूरंब्रह्मविष्णुमहेश्वरम् । महापापहरंदेवंतंसूर्यंप्रणमाम्यहम् ॥४॥ Trai-Gunnyam Ca Mahaa-Shuuram Brahma-Vissnnu-Maheshvaram |
Mahaa-Paapa-Haram Devam Tam Suuryam Prannamaamy[i]-Aham ||4||
Meaning: 4.1: (Salutations to Sri Suryadeva) You are the Heroic One having the Three Gunas of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara (i.e. Qualities of Creation, Sustenance and Dissolution), 4.2: You are the Deva Who removes great Sins from our minds (by Your Illumination); I salute You, O Suryadeva.
बृंहितंतेजःपुञ्जंचवायुमाकाशमेवच । प्रभुंचसर्वलोकानांतंसूर्यंप्रणमाम्यहम् ॥५॥ Brmhitam Tejah-Pun.jam Ca Vaayum-Aakaashame[a-I]va Ca |
Prabhum Ca Sarva-Lokaanaam Tam Suuryam Prannamaamy[i]-Aham ||5||
Meaning: 5.1: (Salutations to Sri Suryadeva) You are a massively Enlarged Mass of Fiery Energy, which (i.e. that energy) pervades everywhere like Vayu (Air) and Akasha (Sky), 5.2: You are the Lord of all the Worlds, I salute You, O Suryadeva.
बन्धुकपुष्पसङ्काशंहारकुण्डलभूषितम् । एकचक्रधरंदेवंतंसूर्यंप्रणमाम्यहम् ॥६॥ Bandhuka-Pusspa-Sangkaasham Haara-Kunnddala-Bhuussitam |
Eka-Cakra-Dharam Devam Tam Suuryam Prannamaamy[i]-Aham ||6||
Meaning: 6.1: (Salutations to Sri Suryadeva) You appear beautiful like a Red Hibiscus Flower and You are adorned with Garland andEar-Rings, 6.2: You are the Deva Who holds a Discus in one Hand; I salute You, O Suryadeva.
तंसूर्यंजगत्कर्तारंमहातेजःप्रदीपनम् । महापापहरंदेवंतंसूर्यंप्रणमाम्यहम् ॥७॥ Tam Suuryam Jagat-Kartaaram Mahaa-Tejah Pradiipanam |
Mahaa-Paapa-Haram Devam Tam Suuryam Prannamaamy[i]-Aham ||7||
Meaning: 7.1: (Salutations to Sri Suryadeva) You, O Suryadeva are the Agent behind the World (i.e. Who gives energy for action to everyone), You enliven others with great Energy (and thus imparting the ability to work), 7.2: You are the Deva Who removes great Sins from our minds (by Your Illumination); I salute You, O Suryadeva.
तंसूर्यंजगतांनाथंज्ञानविज्ञानमोक्षदम् । महापापहरंदेवंतंसूर्यंप्रणमाम्यहम् ॥८॥ Tam Suuryam Jagataam Naatham Jnyaana-Vijnyaana-Mokssadam |
Mahaa-Paapa-Haram Devam Tam Suuryam Prannamaamy[i]-Aham ||8||
Meaning: 8.1: (Salutations to Sri Suryadeva) You, O Suryadeva are the Lord of the World, Who grants Understanding and Knowledgewhich leads to Liberation, 8.2: You are the Deva Who removes great Sins from our minds (by Your Illumination); I salute You, O Suryadeva.
While organizing the innumerable Deities mentioned in the Vedas and those followed by misinterpretations of the Vedas, Adi Shankarachatya gave the pride of place in the Shanmathas, the six systems of worship, The Kaumaram.
Lord Subrahmanya.
The Tamils speak of Lord Subrahmanya, best among Brahmins, as Murugan, embodiment of Beauty and the Tamil Language represents Lord Muruga in all his aspects.
Lord Subrahmanya is called as Karthikeya in India other than Tamil Nadu where he is worshiped as Murugan.
A rare stotra of Lord Kathikeya where Lord Subrahmanya Himself mentions His Twenty Eight Names, where he declares that these names would grant one Intelligence and Wisdom, among other things.
Meaning: 1.1: (Salutations to Sri Kartikeya) Who is a Master Yogi, Who is known as Mahasena when referred to as the Son of Agni Deva and Who is known as Kartikeya when referred to as the son of the six Kritikas, 1.2: Who is known as Skanda when referred to as son of Devi Parvati, Who is known as Kumara when referred to as son of Devi Ganga, Who is the Leader of the Army of Devas, Who is our Master and Who is Born of Lord Shankara.
Meaning: 2.1: (Salutations to Sri Kartikeya) Who is Loved by Mother Ganga and His Follower Tamrachuda, Who is Celebate and hasPeacock as His Emblem, 2.2: Who is the Enemy of Tarakasura and Krauncasura, Who is the Son of Devi Uma and has Six Faces.
Meaning: 3.1: (Salutations to Sri Kartikeya) Who is Accomplished in the Knowlege of the Ocean of Sabda-Brahman, Who is Eloquent in describing the Great Spiritual Secrets of the Sabda-Brahman and hence aptly known as Guha when referred to as the Son of Lord Shiva (who is the embodiment of Sabda-Brahman), 3.2: Who is Always Youthful and Pure like Sanatkumara, Who is Divine and Who Grants both the Fruits for Worldly Enjoyment(due to meritorious deeds) and final Liberation.
Meaning: 4.1: (Salutations to Sri Kartikeya) Who was Born on Shara, a particular variety of grass and hence known as Saravana, Whose Elder is Sri Ganesha and Who has Created (i.e. Shown) the Path of Liberation, 4.2: Who is Reverentially Saluted by All the Agamas (Scriptures) And Who Shows the Way towards the Desired Object of Spiritual Life (as mentioned in the Scriptures).
Meaning: 5.1: My Devotees who Repeat My Twenty Eight Names and Contemplate on My Spiritual Precepts … 5.2:Everyday in the Early Morning with Faith and Devotion, will Become a Master of Speech even if he is Dumb (due to lack of wisdom).
Meaning: 6.1:My Spiritual Precepts and Devotional Repetition of My Names will act like Maha Mantra, 6.2: Also Devotee will Obtain Great Wisdom and Intelligence by Contemplating on My Divine Leela (Play).
Meaning: 7.1: Thus Ends the Description which Augments the Intelligence and Wisdom from the Rudra Yamala text, 7.2: Thus Ends the Eulogy of the Illustrious Sri Kartikeya.
The temple in Tripura, North East of India, dedicated to Tripurasundari is also one of the SakthiPeetas, where Sati‘s right foot fell.
There are two identical images of the same deity inside the temple.
They are known as Tripura Sundari (5 feet high) and Chhotima (2 feet high) in Tripura.
The idol of Maa Kali is worshiped at the temple of Tripura Sundari in the form of ‘Soroshi’.
One is made of kasti stone which is reddish black in colour.
It is believed that the idol was Chhotima was carried by king in battlefield.
This temple is also known as Kurma Pitha because it the temple premises resembles kurma i.e. tortoise.
Goddess Parvati (also spelt as Partvathi) is worshipped here as Tripurasundari, Tripureshwari and “Soroshi” (a local variation of the name).
The temple is a small, square edifice, measuring just 24 square feet (7 square metres) at the base with a height of 75 feet (24m approximately). The structure of the shrine resembles that of a tortoise, with a roof shaped like the humped back of a tortoise.
For this reason, the shrine is also known as “Koorma Peetha” (Koorma meaning Tortoise).
As in other typical Hindu shrines, stalls along the approach road sell flowers and baskets of offerings that visitors can buy and take up to be offered to Tripura Sundari and returned as Prasadam.
A specialty here is the sweet, brown, condensed milk Pedas that devotees carry back from the temple, to be distributed among family and friends back home.
The red hibiscus flower is also prized as an offering.
Railhead :The nearest rail head is Kumarghat on N. E. Railway.
It is 1475 km from Kolkata via Guwahati and 140 km from Agartala.
From here you can pick a bus or taxi to reach the temple.
Road Transport : The Temple is situated close to the capital city of Agartala in Tripura. NH 44 connects the state with many north eastern states by road.
Agartala, the capital of Tripura, is connected by regular bus services with all sub-divisional towns of Tripura. Besides, bus service is also available from Silchar, Guwahati, Karimganj and Shillong.
Staying near the Tripura Sundari Temple
The temple is very close to the state capital, Agartala. So, accommodation is not a problem for the tourists coming to visit the Tripura Sundari Temple in Tripura. Though not of very high class, you may find hotels, which may be convenient and comfortable for you.
Shatial, Karakoram Highway: Buddhist petroglyphs near road: Sibi-Jataka (body offering: rescue of dove by boddhisattva’s offering of his own flesh to the falcon), stupa, inscriptions in Sogdian, Brahmi, Karoshti; after 4th century CE. Pakistan, Northern Areas
As the Dove was the natural food for the Falcon, it demanded that it be given its food.
To keep up his word and driven by compassion Sibi cut a portion of thigh equivalent to the weight of the Dove.
The scale tilted towards the Dove.
King Sibi continued to cut away portions of his body, to match the weight of the Dove.
As it was not possible, he sat on the scale himself.
It was Indra who came in the form of the Falcon.
He blessed Indra that His name will be remembered for compassion.
(Mahabharata, Aranya parva, adhyayas 130-131.)
The story appears in Japan in two versions.
One version is the same. Only the pronunciations are different.
Sibi is pronounced as Shibbi (strong empasis on the h) .
In this story Indira dressed as a blind person approaches King Sibbi requesting for eye-sight. King Sibbi pierces his own eyes and gives them to the blind man asking him to use it to retain his eye-sight.
Japanese Version:-
King Shibi is believed to be a previous incarnation of Shakyamuni Buddha. In this story a heavenly being named Bishamon approaches the God Taishaku and tells him ‘There is a great Bodhisattva named King Shibi. Soon he will become a Buddha.’ On hearing this Taishaku decides to test to test the sincerity of the King’s practice in pursuing enlightenment. He transforms himself into a hawk and instructs Bishamon to take on the appearance of a dove.
Chased after by the hawk, the dove to escapes and flies into the arms of King Shibi. Perched on the branch of a tree, the hawk says to the King, “Please let me have the dove back. It is what I have been trying to get.” King Shibbi replies, “No, I can’t because I have vowed to protect all living things. I cannot return it to you.”
The hawk then points out , “I am one of the living things that you have vowed to save. If you take away my food for today, I will be unable to live tomorrow.”
The King then offers to cut off a piece of his own flesh and gave it to the hawk. As the King proceeded to cut his own flesh, the hawk measures it using a balance and found the dove to be consistently heavier than the muscle of the King. No matter how much muscle was added, the weight was lighter than the total weight of the dove. Finally, the King cuts all the flesh off of his body.
The King tries desperately to put his entire body on the balance, but falls to the ground. He then exclaims, “I once made a pledge to save all living beings! I cannot let such minor sufferings defeat me!”
At last he successfully climbs onto the balance. Watching the entire scene, all the heavenly beings praise the King saying, “He did not begrudge his life, even for a bird. He is a person who best suits the title of Bodhisattva.
Suddenly, Taishaku casts off his disguised figure as a hawk and regains his original appearance.
He says to the King, “Don’t you have any pain or regret?” The King replies, “I have no regrets whatsoever. My heart is rather full of joy.”
No sooner did the King utter these words than did his body change back into what it used to be.
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