Ramanisblog

Tag: Subrahmanya

  • Subrahmanya Formula Agnishtoma An Orgy?

    I have been searching for material to write on Gautama Rishi.

    It is inevitable that one has to have details about Ahalya, His wife.

    In the sources on Ahalya I have found some links that seemed to me a misinterpretation of some of the Vedic Rites.

    That is the Subrahmanya Formula, a Mantra recited in the Agnishtoma Rite.

    In this rite the Mantra,

    Murugan with Valli and Devasena
    Lord Subramanya with Valli and Devasena

    ‘Subramanyom’ is recited thrice.

    Subranyam + Aham

    One would have noticed ,at Home while performing Homas, and at the temple.Yaagas, the Santhi Mantras conclude with,

    Subramanyom chanted thrice.

    The meaning is,

    May I become the Best Brahman,the Reality.

    Brahmin is one who has realized Brahman, the Reality.

    Subrahmanya is considered as the Best among Brahmins as He is reported to have explained the meaning of Pranava OM to His Father Lord Shiva.( hence Subrahmanya is called  Swaminathan).

    But in the hands of the Foreign Scholars(?) with a Mission to destroy Hinduism  and half baked pseudo left wing(?) writers,this sentence and the ceremony associated with it takes a beating.

    In the same way these scholars have written that the Asvamedha Yaaga performed by King Dasarata was followed by an Orgy with Rama’s Mohter Kousalya copulating with a Horse!

    From Max Muller to Ambedkar,..

    This Mantra , chanted during the Agnishtoma is accompanied by an Orgy, it is implied in their comments and explanations of the Rite!.

    The Procedure explained in the Rig and Sama Veda,Aitreya Brahmana does not say this.

     

    I am posting this article to misspell any misunderstanding that might arise because of not reading the Sanskrit original Text and an objective translation.

    Hinduism has two parts in performance of Yaaga.

    One is factual and actual.

    Another one is allegorical, like the Purusha Suktha which describes the evolution of the Universe and not a mere Yaga/Yangya.

    Agnishtoma is a Yaaga as it is performed with a specific purpose, for welfare and begetting progeny.

    Oblations are offered to Fire symbolically.

    The Subrahmanya Formula Details.

    ‘

    (The Subrahmanyd formula. On its nature. By 
whom it is to be repeated. The oblation from th^ 
Patnivata Graha. The Yajya of the Agnidhrd.) 

The Subrahmanya ^ is Vach. Her son is the 

* The Subrahmany& formula is contained in the L4ty&yana S'r&uta 
St^tras (1, 3), the Aguishtoma Sdma Pravoga, the S'atapatha Br&hm, 
(d^ 3,4, 17*90), and the Talttirtya ibranyaka (1, 12, 8*4). Th« 



883 



king Soma. At the time of buying Soma, they call 
the Subrahmanya (thither) just as one calls a cow. 



^*» 



peculiar ppoQanciation of thjls formula is noted by Pl^ini (1,S, 37-38). 
The most complete information on its use being only to be found 
ia the Samaveda SiHtras, I here give the* passages from L4ty§iyana 
referring to it along with the formula itself: — 

^'^f^^'S >i ?T^^ ^^w[^ ^J^T^ ^Tff^mifmTK f%- 

After the Atithya Ishti has b^n finished, he (the Subrahmany^) 
should stand in the front part of the enclosure made for the wife of 
the sacrificer inside the Vedi, and when touching the sacriflcer and 
his wife, after having called thrice '' subrahmiinyom," recite the 
following formula, '* Come, Indra ! come owner of the yellow horses ! 
*' ram of Medhatithi ! Men& of Vrishanas'va ! thou bufiiilo (gaura) 
" who ascendest the female {avaskandin) ! lover of Ahaly& ! son of 
'* Kus'ika ! Br&hmana ! son of Gotama ! (come) thou who art called" 
(to appear) at the Soma feast in so and so many days how many 
there might intervene (between the day on which the 8abrahmany4 
calls him, and that of the Soma festival at which his presence it 
requested). The Subrahmany& is required on the second, third^ 
fourth, and fifth day of the Agnishtoma, and almost on every day of 
the other Soma sacrifices.^ On the second day the terms tryahg 
tutydm, "three days hence" (i,e, on the fifth); on the thrid day, 
dvyahefutydm, t. e. two days hence ; on the fourth, *'rfl#,i. e, to- 
nionow ; and on the fifth (the day of the Soma feast) adya^ ue. to day, 
are uspd to maik the time when the Soma banquet, to which Indra 
is by this formula solemnly invited, is to come off. As far as n-pif 

which is followed by the mentioning of the time appointed "VSJ^, 'WJf^ 

Sec. there is no difference anywhere observable. But the few 
sentences which follow, and which conclude the formula, differ accord- 
ing to different schools. Some were (according to L^^vayana) 
of opinion, that only ^f^Tn^i^ " cotne hither** is to follow; others 
recommended 3i)T9*i^ im^cf, "come hither, O Magha van. "Others, 

such as Gautama, were of opinion, that either is to be omitted, and 
the concluding formula, ^^T ff^VT «nir^^cfTJl''^flT^^?f 
" comp, ye divine Brahma priests, come, come !" has to follow 
immediately upon ^R^f* 



384 

Through this son the Subrahmany& priest milks • 
(obtains) all desires for the sacrificer. For Vach 

? rants all desires of him who has this knowledge, 
hey ask, What is the nature of this Subrahmany& ? 



The name of the tune (S&man) according^ to which it is chanted 
(or rather recited) is Brahmas'ri, the metre is called Sampdtg the 
Rishi is Aditya, and India is the deity. 

At the 80-called Agni:*htut sacrifices, which open the Chatur- 
das'ar&tra Sattras (sacriticial sessions lasting for a fortnight), (Aa'T« 
8'r. S. 11, 2) the 8ubrahmany& calln Aq^ni instead of Indra (L&ty&y. 
1, 4) according to Gautama, by the following formula : 

^V ^TJT^ rif^fiTWlt ^^^HTifT W#1TT «»T?l5^T f%^^ 
«Ttfif^ ITT^TUflfn^^ ^^TTF? »• «• " Come, O Agni, with (thy) 

two red ones (horses), thou brightly shining, thou blazing in smoke, 
J&tavedfts, thou wise! Angirus! Bi-ahmana, (come) called," dec 
In the concluding formula ^\ Ji^o,^Xi-q fires, is used inatead of 
^j^j According to Dh&nanjaya the Subrahmany& formula for Agni 

runs as follows ; ^TTT^TTJT^ ^Tf^ff 'T BH^T^ HTITST^T^T ^^^: 
^T ^l^^^f»^lR§T srmfir'C^. (the remainder as above) i. e. 

'* Come, Agni ! master of the red horses, goat of Bharadvftja, son of 
power, thou who ascendest (the female) ; lover of Ushas/' ice The 
latter formula is just like that one addressed to Indra. Agni, as weU 
as Indra, are in both these formulas, which must be very ancient, 
invoked as family deities, the first pre-eminently worshipped by the 
Angirasa, the latter by the Kuslkas. Both ffods are here caUed 
" Bi&hmans." In later books ludra appears as a Kshattriya, and 
as a model of a king. 

On the so-called Agnishtomtya day of all sacrifices (in the Agni- 
sh^oma it is the fourth and precedes the Soma day), on which day 
the animal for Agni and Soma is slain and sacrificed, an extension of 
the Subrahmanyi formula takes place. The Subiahmany& priest 
has on this day to announce to the gods, that such and such one 
(the name of the sacrificer must be mentioned), the son of such and 
such one, the grandson of such and such one, offers, as a Dikshita, 
(as initiated into the sacrificial rites) a sacrifice. ("^fg^T^lJiS) 
The term ' Dtkshita' forms then henceforth part of the name of the 
sacrificer, and his descendants down to the seventh degree. In this 
part of India there are many Biahmans distinguished by this honorary 
epltiiet, which always indicates that either tlie bearer of it or his im- 
me«iiate ancestors have performed a Soma sacrifice, and have been 
proclaimed dikshita by the Subrahmany4 in all due form. , 

* J^uhe must be a 8rd person singular, as S&y explains it. 



385 



One should answer, She is Vach. For Vach is 
Brahma, and Subrahma (good Brahma). 

They ask, Why does one call him (the Subrah- 
manya priest) who is a male, a female ? (They answer) 
Subrahmanya represents VacH (which is in the 
feminine gender). 

They further ask, When all the other priests are to 
perform their respective duties within the Vedi, and 
the Subrah manya outside the Vedi, how is it that 
the duty of the Subrah manya (in this particular 
case) becomes performed inside the Vedi ? One 
should answer. The Vedi has an outlet where things 
(which are no more required) are ' thrown ; if the 
Subrahmanya priest calls (the Subrahmanya) when 
standing in this outlet, then, in this way, (his duty 
is performed within the bounds of the Vedi). They 
ask. Why does he, standing in the outlet, repeat 
the SubrahmanyS, ? (On this they tell the following 
story.) 

The Rislns held once a sacrificial session. They 
said to the most aged man among them, " Call the 
Subrahmanya^ Thou shalt call the gods standing 
among us (on account of thy age), as it were, nearest 
to them." In consequence of this the gods make 
him (the Subrahmanya) very aged. In this way he 
pleases the whole Vedi. 

They ask. Why do they present to him (the Su- 
brahmanya) a bull as a reward for his services ? (The 
answer is) The bull is a male ( vrlshd)^ the Subrah- 
manya is a female, both making thus a ( ouple. 
(This is done) for producing offspring from this 
pair. 

The ^gridhra repeats the YSjya mantra for the 
P^tnivata Graha (a Soma vessel), with a low voice. 
For the Patnivatais the semen virile, and the effusion 
of the semen virile passing on without noise, as it 
were, he does cot make the Anuvashatk&m. Foe 

33 a 



386 

the Anuvashatara is a stop. Thinking, I will not 
stop the effusion of the semen, he does not make the 
Anuvashtkara, for the semen which is not disturbed 
in its effusion, beare fruit. Sitting near the N'eshtair, 
he then eats, for the Neshtar is in the room of women. 
Agni (Agnidhra) pours semen in women, to produce 
children. He who has this knowledge provides 
through Agni his females with semen, and is blessed 
with children and cattle. 

The Subrahmanya ends after the distribution of 
the Dakshina,* for she is Vach. The Dakshina is 
food ; thus they place finally the sacrifice in food, 
which is Speech. 



SECOND CHAPTER, 

(On the Skastras of the minor Hotri-priests at the 

Saitras.) 



(On the Shastras of minor Hoiri-priests at the morn^ 

ing and evening libations!) 

The Devas spread the sacrifice. When doing so, 
the Asuras approached them, thinking, let us ob^ 
struct their sacrifice. They attacked them from the 
right side, thinking this to be the weak point. The 
Devas awoke, and posted two of their number, Mitra 
and Varuna on the right side. Through the as- 
sistance of these two, the Devas drove the Asuras 
and Rakshas away from the morning libation. And 
thus the sacrificers drive them away (if they have 
the Maitravamna Shastra repeated); thence the 
Maitra varuna priest repeats the Maitravaruna Shastra 

* He represents Agni. 

* The Dakshin& is distributed at the midday libation. 



387 



at the morning libation. The Asuras, defeated on the 
right side, attacked the centre of the sacriftce^ The 
Devas awoke, posted then Indra, and defeated through 
his assistance the enemies. Therefore the Brahma- 
nachamsi repeats at the morning libation the Indra 
Shastra. 

The Asuras, thus defeated, attacked the sacrifice 
on the northern side. The Devas posted on this 
side Indragni, and defeated thus the Asuras. There- 
fore the Achhavaka repeats the Aindragna Shastra 
at the morning libation. For by means of In- 
dragni the Devas drove the Asutas and Rakshas 
away from the northern side.
    Posted in Public Interest.
    Reference and citation.
Excellent source.

http://archive.org/stream/aitareyabrahman00unkngoog/aitareyabrahman00unkngoog_djvu.txt

  • Shiva’s Eight Children List

    Shiva is called as Ayonija, one who does not stay in the womb.

    Nor does He have children in the sense we understand it or even  like the Avatars of Vishnu.

    However there are references in the Puranas that Shiva had children.

    They are Eight.

    This does not include the refernces found in the Kandha Puranam about the Nava Veeras who were born with Subrahmanya

    However they were not because of the Union between Shiva and Shakthi or even a woman.

    Subrahmanya, Shiva, Ganesha and Parvathi.jpg Subrahmanya, Shiva, Ganesha and Parvathi.

    The List.

    1. Ganesha -Born of Shakthi’s sweat.
    2. Kartikaya, Subrahmanya-Of Shiva’s Third Eye.
    3. Ashok Sundari -Of Parvati’s thought of Shiva

    Lord Shiva being of Yogic disposition, goes off to Kailash often.

     

    Feeling lonely Parvati prayed the Kalpa Vruksha for a companion and thus was born Ashoka Sunadri.(Shiva Purana)

     

    She is considered as the child of Shiva along with Subrahmanya and Ganesha.

    4.Ayyappan-Of Shiva and Vishnu as Mohini Andhaka, Of Shiva.

    5.Andhaka.

    When Shiva was meditating on Mandara mountain, Parvati who was in a playful mood covered Shiva’s eyes due to which the whole universe was covered in darkness. The sweat that oozed out of Parvati’s hands due to touching Shiva fell to the ground and created a horrible looking and blind boy. Parvati was terrified on seeing him however Shiva said that since he was born due to their physical contact he was their child. When the demon king Hiranyaksha who was childless performed penance to please Shiva in order to beget a child Shiva gifted the child to him and named him Andhaka due to his blindness. After Hiranyaksha’s death Andhaka became the king however he was not regarded as an Asura since he was a divine product. Disowned by majority of his clan he performed a severe penance to please Brahma. Brahma thus appeared to him and offered him a boon. Andhaka demanded Brahma to make him invincible and to repair his vision. Brahma granted these wishes however warned him that he can be killed by Shiva. Andhaka went back to his kingdom and subdued all his opponents and even the Devas

    6.Jalandhara.

    When Indra and Brihaspati were going towards Mount Kailash to meet Shiva their way was blocked by a naked yogi with matted hair and a radiant face. The yogi was Shiva himself, who had taken the form to test the knowledge of Indra and Brihaspati. Indra did not recognize the yogi and was infuriated at the fact that the man was not moving out of their way. Indra asked him to move but the man did not budge. After getting no reply Indra became enraged and threatened him with his thunderbolt. Upon this action Indra’s arm became paralyzed and Shiva neutralized the thunderbolt. Shiva became angry upon this action of Indra and his eyes turned red, frightening Indra. The anger caused Shiva’s third eye to open, nearly killing Indra. Brihaspati recognized Shiva and prayed to him, requesting him to pardon Indra. To avoid killing Indra, Shiva sent the fire from his eye towards the ocean and upon meeting with the ocean it assumed the form of a boy.The boy cried terribly which caused Brahma to descend from heaven. The ocean told Brahma that he did not know where the boy came from. Brahma then told him that the boy will one day become the emperor of Asuras, he could only be killed by Shiva and after his death he would return to Shiva’s third eye.

    7.Manasa, Snake Goddess.

    By the 14th century, Manasa was identified as the goddess of fertility and marriage rites and was assimilated into the Shaiva pantheon as a relative of Shiva. Myths glorified her by describing that she saved Shiva after he drank poison, and venerated her as the “remover of poison”. Her popularity grew and spread to southern India, and her cult began to rival Shaivism itself. As a consequence, stories attributing Manasa’s birth to Shiva emerged and ultimately Shaivism adopted this indigenous goddess into the Brahmanical tradition of mainstream Hinduism.

    8.JyothiJyoti, the goddess of light, who emerges from Shiva’s halo and is the physical manifestation of his grace. She is commonly associated with Kartikeya.

    References from Shiva Purana .

    For Jothy it is a Legend. I do not find any reference int the Eighteen Puranas.

  • Skanda Son Of Agni Is Not Subrahmanya? Vadavagni, The Face of Horse

    The topic of Skanda and Subrahmanya is intriguing.

    Subrahmanya or Murugan is not mentioned in the Vedas.

    Murugan.jpg
    Lord Subrahmanya

    Skanda is referred to in The  Sama Veda thus.

    iti dve esā skandasya samhitā, etām prayuñjan skandam prīnati

    The Vamśa Brāhmana is a minor treatise associated with the Sāma Veda. It is concerned with the deities, the Samhitās or their musical renderings of specific hymns among them, and the long line of sages through which the Sāma Veda has come down. The introductory part of Vamśa Brāhmana entitled Sāmatarpana enumerates the list of deities, to whom water-libations are to be offered. Amongst them figure the twin-gods Skanda-Viśākhau, (p. 217, Vamśa Brāhmana).

    The Atharva Pariśistas are a collection/compilation delating with elaborate ritualistic and procedures details of important Atharva rites as related to many deities. The 20th section in this text is titled Skandayāga or Dhūrtakalpa, ‘dhūrta’ (literally, ‘rogue’) being a synonym of Skanda.

    This vrata is to be observed on the sixth day after new moon in the months of Phālguna (February-March), Āsādha (June-July) and Kārtika (October-November). The worship of Skanda on the occasion follows the usual routine of invocation (āvāhana), invitation (āhvāna), his entry, offering of pādya to wash his feet, worship with flowers, followed by the cordialities (upacāras), naivedya, offerings in fire, worship and consecration of the thread (pratisara), and tying the same, and allowing the god to leave the place (visarjana).

    Skanda is called by his other names including Viśākha in the course of the varied worship. In one context (20.6.4) his diverse parentage as the son of Agni, Krttikās, Paśupati, Rudra and Indra is mentioned.

    āgneyam krttikāputiamaindram kecidadhīyate /
    kecitpāśupatam raudram yo śi so śi namo stu te // iti //

    Importantly in 20.2.9, in the context of inviting Skanda to be present for the worship, Skanda is referred to as a ‘brother of Viśākha’.

    bhrātra viśakhena ca viśvarūpa
    imam balim sānucaram jusasva

    Valmiki in his Rāmāyana, compares Rāmā and Laksmana to Skanda-Kumāra, the twin sons of Agni, in youthful charm and prowess (Kumārāviva Pāvakī)..

    While Skanda is extolled in the Vedas no mention is made of Subrahmanya.

    However Skanda Purana refers thus.

    As narrated here, Śiva listens to the troubles of the gods created by the demons against them, and the necessity for Śiva procreating a son soon to overcome their problems. According to their wishes, Śiva took up a beautiful form with six faces and looked at Pārvatī lovingly. At that time, a dazzling lustre similar to numerous suns arose from the eye in his forehead. This was so, because Śiva is greatly self-controlled that his semen can have only an upward movement. Hence he is called Ūrdhva-retas.

    The six-faced lustre spread out in the whole world. People, not being able to put up with it, ran in all directions. At Śiva’s suggestion, the Fire and Wind gods carry the lustre to a forest of reeds near Ganges, who united it with a lotus that was in a pond nearby. There a charming child with six faces and twelve arms was born. In the next moment the infant was transformed into a normal but extremely beautiful child (26.16-17).

    Again, when at the bidding of Visnu, the six Krttikās came near, the child again became sextuple in order to allow each of them to feed it with millk (tāsām anugrahārthāya sodhā mūrtir abhūt ksanāt). In another context it is said that when Pārvatī embraced the children, they all converged into one form.

    In this account there is the emission of the lustre of Śiva through his eye(s) in his forehead. We also have the appearance of Kumāra as a baby in six forms or their merger into a single personality as needed in the context. Hence both the meanings of the root skand, namely, ’emitting’ and ‘merging into one’ are applicable here.

    II.v. In yet another context the Skanda Purāna (35.11) applies the third meaning of skand as ‘drying’ or ‘scorching’ (śosana). Does he not attack and scorch the power of his enemies in the three worlds and win over them?

    ākramya ca yato śkandaddhikramena jagattrayam
    tena skando yamākhyātah sutaste girisambhave..

    So Subrahmanya seems to be different as Skanda is associated with Vishaka as his brother whereas Ganesha is treated as the Brother of Subrahmaya.

    Skanda Poorvaja , Ganesha is elder to Skanda.

    There is a cause for a little confusion here.

    Ganesha is referred in the Vedas with Ganesha Upanishad and I have published the text..

    But no reference to Subrahmanya in the Vedic texts.

    Yet there is another legend that Skanda is the son of Agni, born of Vadavagni, the northern Fire.

    ‘

    Vadavagni is a form of Agni (fire) that is mentioned in the Hindu scriptures. It is believed that it is the escape of this fire from under the ocean which will finally consume the current cycle of creation and prepare the universe for the next cycle of creation.

    Hindu Puranas states that Vadavagni was born in the lineage of Sage Bhrigu. The sons of Kartavirya Arjuna in order to finish off the lineage of the Sage Bhrigu started killing descendents of Bhrigu including children. A wise woman of the lineage, who was pregnant, in order to save her child moved the unborn child from her womb to her thighs. When the child was born it was called Aurva.

    Later when the sons of Kartavirya came to know about the child they came to kill it. When they held it up they became blind due to the rays that emitted from the child’s body. The child’s anger did not subside and it gave rise to a flame which had the power to eat up the whole world. Sages then put the flame under the ocean. This is the story of Vadavagni.

    Vadavagni is located beneath the ocean and has the face of a horse. Hindu Scriptures suggest that mists and clouds are formed due to the activity of the Vadavagni under the sea. It also prevents the sea from consuming the land.

    Just before Pralaya, Vadavagni will burst forth as volcanoes from under the sea and escape. Subsequently the seas will consume the land. .

    Considering these points and the fact that the Rig Veda was composed in the Arctic, Satyavrata Manu medtiated in  the Mascarene Plateau, the land mass of the present India was near the Arctic in the distant past(please read my post on this), Shiva is found in Australia and Antarctica, The place where Soora Samhara, where Soorapadman was killed by Subrahmanya,Thiruchendur in the southern most tip of India , Murugan Shiva worship is widespread in the far-eastern countries,, it is probable that Shiva and Subrahmanya have more of Southern connection and they moved to Arctic later, as I have postulated earlier.

    I shall be checking this with Geology and post my views..

    Citation and references

    http://www.hindu-blog.com/2010/12/vadavagni-story-of-agni-or-fire-under.html

    http://murugan.org/research/janaki.htm

    Related Post.

    https://ramanisblog.in/2014/05/20/skanda-the-protector-of-chinese-buddhism-wei-tuo-pu-sa/

  • Atomic Analysis Report Of Palani Dhandayuthapani Subrahmanya

    When the self-styled rationalists call every thing Hinduism stands for and Hindu sages as non sense and irrational , it is befitting to recall the words of Sir Isaac Newton, considered to be one of the Giants of Physics.

    Palani Dhandayuthapani.gif Palani Dhandayuthapani , Moolavar,Palani.

    ‘ Sir Isaac Newton modestly remarked. “All that I have done to the human community is to make a common man understand His observable laws”. He added further by saying. “God created the forces of gravity. I connect this by a mathematical equation in an understandable way”.

    How true these words are!

    Palani Subrahmanaya, called as Palani Andavar, Palani Dhandayuthapani, Idol is believed to have been made and installed by Bhogar a senior Siddha.

    He prepared the Idol, according to some traditions with a strange mixture called Nava Paashana.(Nine Poisonous Minerals)

    This , the traditions say,was prepared by mixing minerals in a specific  proportion/combination.

    Bhogar was also an Alchemist.

    Paashaana also means Poison.

    This mixture could have been prepared by mixing Nine rare herbs of poisonous nature .

    The resultant mixture was used by Bhogar to make the Idol.

    ( It is believed that Bhogar made three idols, one is now at Palani, the other two have been hidden by Bhogar somewhere in the Eastern Ghats in South India: they are expected to surface at an appropriate time).

    The other option for the Idol’s raw material is granite.

    It has been observed that the Dhandayudhapani Idol at Palani became weak below the neck and the lower portions looked as if they would fall at any time.

    A suggestion was mooted to repair or change the Idol.

    This was not agreeable to the devotees as it would be against the Shastras.

    So the Government of Tamil Nadu appointed a committee to study the issue and submit its recommendations.

    I am providing the report afer a few sentences about the findings of the committee.

    1.The Idol’s face was fresh as though it was installed recently.

    2.The lower portions were damaged.

    3.On testing with an Atomic Analyser, it was found that the Idol was made of neither Granite, nor minerals.

    4.The Scienists were unable to determine what it is made of.

    Now an abstract of the report; the web site Link is provided towards the close of the Post.

    Dhandayuthapani Temple.jpg Dhandayuthapani Temple,Palani.

    ”

    Though the preliminary visual examination of the idol revealed the possibility of the material being of granitic origin. It could not be confirmed, as neither a microscopic examination nor a chemical analysis could be done in the absence of loose material from the idol being available for such detailed investigation. But we were aware that the abhishekam materials flowing over the idol could possibly absorb some of the ingredients from the idol to acquire the medicinal property, curative qualities and offer relief to many devotees from their ailments.

    Guided by this knowledge and taking a clue from this, we applied sandalwood paste to the idol and let it remain overnight. The next day the sandalwood paste was collected and a solution was prepared for further chemical examination, using
    As the next step, the sandal wood paste solution from the paste left on the idol overnight was subjected to the experiment. The instrument showed no apparent reading. The experiment was repeated several times and the instrument showed a zero absorption. When other samples were tested, the instrument showed positive results but for the sandal wood paste left overnight on the idol of the lord, the result was zero absorption. It was revealed to us as a stupendous moral – that even modern scientific analysis cannot penetrate the Divine Structure.a sophisticated instrument, the Perkin-Elmer 707 atomic absorption spectrophotometer to identify the trace elements. A standard solution required for the experiment was made to calibrate the instrument.’

    The Study was by Dr. Prof. M.S. Saravanan, M.Sc., Ph.D., F.M.S., F.G.S. is an an earth scientist and mineralogist and former Director of the Tamil Nadu Department of Geology & Mines and Chairman of Tamilnadu Minerals Limited and a one-time close associate of Kripananda Variar.

    He was also a sub-committe member constituted by the Government of Tamil Nadu to Study and Test the Idol.

    Citation.

    http://palani.org/saravanan.htm

    Related articles
  • Five Faces Eight Hands Subrahmanya Bhogar Odhimalai

    Five Faces Eight Hands Subrahmanya Bhogar Odhimalai

    The History of Lord Shiva and Subrahmanya are so complex and intricate with various cross references in The Vedas,Puranas, Ramayana , Mahabharata and Ancient Tamil that it needs a careful study to reconstruct history.

    Though Tamil mentions the Sanatana Texts , the Puranas and the Ithihasas, there seems to be a special niche for Shiva and Subrahmanya, giving rise to the speculation that these two personalities might belong to pre Sanatana Dharma period.

    It might be of interest to note that Shiva is not directly mentioned in the Vedas, but in Sri Rudra, while Subramanya is referred to as Skanda.

    No individual Hymns were addressed to them as addressed to Narayana, Vishnu, Lakshmi, Durga, Ganesha and the others, though these Deities were worshiped by Rama and Krishna.

    I am doing research on this and shall come up with a series of articles.

    Subrahmanya worship is ver old in the South and the oldest Subrahmanya Temple dated around 4 BC has been found near Pondicherry.

    Please refer my Post on this.

    And the presence of Siddhas is a mystery in Hinduism as Shiva is described as the Adi, First Siddha, followed by Agastya and Bhogar.

    There is a controversy as to who was the chief disciple of Lord Shiva for Yoga, Bhogar or Agastya.

    Agastya has been dated 5000 years ago.

    Check my Post.

    As to Bhogar, He is also as old as Agastya if we are to take the Siddha manuscripts into account.

    I am looking into this.

    Subrahmanya one of the chief deities of Tamil Diaspora ruling the mountainous region called Kurinji is reported to be one of the Gurus of Bhogar.

    Bhogar had installed the Idol of Lord Subrahmanya at Palani in Tamil Nadu .

    This Idol was made of Nava Paashaana,not stone, but of a special mixture of herbs that has with stood the test of Time for over two thousand years!

    There are reports that more ancient Temple of Subrahmanya is in Odhimalai, near Coimbatore.

    This temple is in a place called irumborai.Irumborai is situated at a distance of 10 kms from puliyampatti which is on the way of Coimbatore to Sathiamangalam at 48 th km.

    This was established by Bhogar, the Siddha.

    The temple has Subrahmnaya with five faces and eight hands and is considered as Shiva.

    The Murthy is called Krauncha Vedamurthy, the epithet applies to Subrahmanya/Shiva.

    Another speciality is that there is no Sanctum for Devi!

    As Prasad, the sand from the place considered to be the remains of the Homa Kunda Fire raised by Bhogar.

    (Please refer my Post Shiva’s Marriage Fire still Burning)

    This temple is in Odhimalai.

    Odhi in Tamil means repetition of sacred mantra.

     

    Legend.

    During a visit to Mount Kailash, Lord Brahamma, the creator, after saluting Vinayaka, simply bypassed Muruga and proceeded for darshan of Lord Shiva.  Lord Muruga stopped him and demanded the meaning of the Pranava Mantra from Brahmma which Brahamma was not able to offer.  Hence, Muruga jailed him and began the creation work Himself.

     

    Brahmma had five faces then.  Lord Muruga too, having assumed the charge of creation had for himself the same five faces.  All the creatures created by Lord Muruga including humans, were of high righteous standards and enjoyed high longevity too.  This added to the burden of Mother Earth.  She went to Lord Shiva and explained her woes.  Lord Shiva intervened, asked Muruga the meaning of Pranava Mantra which Lord Muruga explained.  On the direction of Lord Shiva, Muruga released Brahmma from his captivity.

     

    Lord Muruga explained the meaning of  Pranava (the first Vedic sound Ohm) in Swamimalai.  Here in Irumbarai, Muruga taught the Agamas of the Vedas.  Odhal in Tamil means learning.  Malai means hill.  As Lord Shiva learnt from His son Muruga these philosophies here, the place came to be known as Odhimalai.  The Lord also was named Odhimalai Andavar.

    Moolavar : Odhimalai Andavar
    Urchavar : Kalyanasubramaniar
    Amman / Thayar : –
    Thala Virutcham : Odhi tree
    Theertham : Sunai theertham
    Agamam / Pooja : Shivagama
    Old year : 500-1000 years old
    Historical Name : Gnanamalai
    City : Irumbarai
    District : Coimbatore
    State : Tamil Nadu
    Where Bhogar Performed Yagnya, Odhimalai.jpg
    Ygnya Bhomi where Bhogar Performed the Oblation.

     

    ‘1) Muruga stands with 5 faces and 8 hands and the Peacock has its face towards Lord’s left leg.
    2) Five faces are Eesahanyam, Thatpurusham, Aghoram, Vamadevam, and Sathyojadham.
    3) In case, there was no peacock in the vighraham, we can say, this is Lord Shiva himself!
    4) Peacock is towards Lord’s left, which means, its Indra-mayil (Lord Indra as vahanam). Generally, in most of the temples, Peacock faces Muruga’s Right, which means they have come after Soora Samharam. This establishes this sthalam before Soora vadham, and in timeframe, before Tiruchendhur.
    5) Even today, Gurukkal stands on behalf of Indra and does pooja.
    6) Siddhar Bogar has done an Yagna in the North-East corner (Eesanya baagam) of this hill and sought permission from Muruga to do the Nava paashana vigraham. Muruga gave him his blessings here, and from here Bogar went to Palani, to create and install the vigraham. The sand in this place is white, compared to red ones surrounding it. During festival times, this is given as prasadham to devotees, who come up the hill.

    7) Just like we send-off our guests, Lord Muruga went to Kumarapalayam, with Bogar, to bid farewell. He went with a single face and four hands. This is often misunderstood as, Muruga went to show way to Palani, since Bogar didn’t know it.
    8) Bogar created a Navapashana idol in Palani, made pradhishta of it facing west, and created his Jeeva samadhi in Palani hills, close to Muruga’s abode.
    9) In the whole world, only this shrine has Muruga with 5 faces and 8 hands. This is not described in any of the Vedha, Aagama and Siddha sashtras.
    10) Gurukkal Ayya’s periyappa, has visited this shrine, with his Great-grandfather when he was just 4 years old. Then, it was a cave in which Muruga was present, and to gaurd this cave, there was a Cheetah, and a Peacock, which used to lie on its top.
    11) There were 5 different streams there, and they will be ever flowing. Today, I didn’t see even one.
    12) In the olden days, there was a bell made of mud, and if it is rung during pooja, it used to create more sound than conventional bells !!!
    13) There is no separate peedam for Lord Muruga. The whole hill is His peedam, since he stands directly on the hill here. So when you keep your legs on the first step, ideally you are stepping on Muruga Himself !
    14) Since Muruga preached the meaning of Pranava to Shiva, this came to be known as “Othimalai”*
    15) Mahaguru Agasthiyar has termed this hill as “Gnanamalai” in his Nadi.
    16) Since puranas say Muruga preached Shiva, meaning of Pranava, in his younger days, before his Thirukalyanam, we can see Othimalai as “Moolasthanam” of Murugan.
    17) This has not been sung by Naalvar and Arunagirinathar. Arunagirinathar has sanctified this as “Oothimalai” and due to affinity with these hills, the song is sung here in pooja time with pronounciation of Othimalai.
    18) Kirupananda vaariyar swamigal, probably the greatest known Muruga bakhtha in recent times, never got a chance to visit this hill.
    19) One bakhtha has climbed this hill for 47 days continuously, bit couldn’t see the Lord on various reasons. He was allowed inside only on the 48th day of his climb. Quite shocking !

    * Swamimalai also a similar History.

    Othimalai, as Agasthiyar peruman mentions, is very tall. 1800 steps are there to reach the temple. Initial 900 steps are easy to climb. To mention, there are mandapams built every 100 – 150 steps, to take rest. And there is one getting constructed in between.

    How to Reach, and where to stay:

    In case you are closer to Coimbatore, Take Coimbatore – Annur – Othimalai.

    In case you travel from Chennai / Bangalore:
    First take a bus to Sathyamangalam. KPN from Chennai, ABTx from Bangalore. Just outside Sathy bus stand, there is a lodge by name PV lodge. Very decent for refreshing yourself and starting. I didn’t have breakfast, so couldn’t refer a hotel. Take a PP bus from Sathy to Puliampatti (all coimbatore buses go here). Around 8.30 in the morning, you will have a minibus to Othimalai. I took this, and realized it as a mistake, since it reached Othimalai village by 9.45 AM. Precious morning time was lost there, else I would have climbed with more energy. Take an auto from Puliampatti bus stand, it should help you a lot.

    Contact:

    Karthi Iyer : 0-98430-44344

    Check the Phone Number.

    Asking a Boon – Varam kettal:

    Once the abhishegam, alangaram and archana for all were complete, Muruga was all beautiful, thus denying a chance to anyone to pray ! So, there is a method called “Varam ketal”, where Gurukkal ayya keeps flowers on the kireedam of Lord, and asks the person to prostrate before Him, and pray his needs.

    1) If it is marriage, child related troubles, family oriented, then if the flowers fall to Right side of the Lord, it will succeed.
    2) Any court related matters should have the flowers falling to the left to succeed.
    3) In case the flowers don’t fall down, its status-quo, or, will take time to succeed.

    Agastya on Odhimalai.

    MahaGuru Agasthiyar Special:

    Preface:

    இறையருளால் இயம்புகின்றோம் இத்தருணம்,இறை வணங்கி அறம் தொடர என்றென்றும் நலமாம்.

    இடைவிடா பிரார்த்தனைகள் நலத்தை சேர்க்கும்.இதை உணர்ந்து வாழ என்றென்றும் சாந்தியோடு மகிழ்வு கிட்டும்.

    By the Grace of God, shall we tell now ! For anyone, by praying Lord and continuing charity, goodness will prevail forever!

    Continuous prayers will add good happenings. Living life by realizing this, will give peace and happiness !!

    Othimalai Mahathmiyam:

    சங்கரனுக்கு,சரவணகுகன் ஓதிய கிரி!

    சங்கடப்பட்ட பல்மாந்தர்கள் தலைவிதி மாறிய கிரி!!

    சபலங்கள்,சலனங்கள் விட்டு ஓடிடும் கிரி!

    சிறப்பில்லா முன்வினை ஊழ்பயன் சிறப்பாக மாற்றித் தரும் கிரி!!

    The hill, where Shankara was preached by Saravana Guha !

    The hill, where fate of many who suffered in life, has changed !!

    The hill, where unwarranted desires and unwanted disturbances, run away from a person !

    The hill, where even bad karma by virtue of previous births, gets good !!

    சிந்தனையில் அணுவளவும் கட்டமில்லா தன்மையை நல்கிடும் கிரி!

    சிறப்போ,சிறப்பில்லையோ,பேதம் பார்க்கா வாழ்க்கையை ஏற்க வைக்கும் கிரி!!

    சப்த கன்னியர்கள்,அன்னையோடு,அன்னை அருளால் அருளும் கிரி!!!

    The hill, which removes even petty sufferings from thinking of mind!

    Good or bad, The hill, which makes you to accept life as such, without seeing differences !!

    The hill, where Saptha Kannis, together with Mother, by Mother’s grace, bless all!!!

    செப்புங்கால்,

    To say so,

    பஞ்சமும் அடங்க,பஞ்சவதனத்தோன் அருளும் கிரி!

    The hill, where the Lord of five faces, blesses you to control your five senses !

    சிறப்பாக எத்தனை குன்றுகள் இளையவன் அருளால் இருந்திட்டாலும்,

    குன்றுக்கெல்லாம் உயர் குன்றாய் இன்றும் சான்றாய் அருளும் கிரி!

    By the Grace of younger Lord, though there are many Hillocks,
    stands this, as biggest of all of them, even today as proof, and blesses !

    அன்னையோடு,ஐயன் அமர்ந்து அன்றும்,இன்றும்,என்றும் அருளும் கிரி!

    The hill, where with Mother, sits Father, and blesses forever !

    நீறு வேறு,நாமம் வேறு என்று அறியாமையால் எண்ணும் மாந்தனுக்கு,

    நீறு பூத்த அக்னிபோல் நீரோடு,நாமமும் கலந்து வேங்கடகிரியாய் அருளும் கிரி

    For a person, who, due to ignorance, thinks Shaivism (Shiva) and Vaishnavism (Vishnu) are different,
    The Hill, where, like simmering fire in burnt ash, with Shiva, stands Vishnu, and blesses like VenkataGiri !!!

    கட்டிய கணவன் காதில் ரகசியமாய் மனையாள் ஓதினாலும்,

    If, wife whispers something ill in her husband’s ears,

    கட்டிய மனைவி ஒதுகிறாளே என்று தாய் ஓதினாலும்,

    or seeing this, if mother preaches her son,

    உபயத்தையும் தாண்டி பிள்ளைகளுக்கு எதை ஓதினாலும்,

    or leaving behind these two, whatever is preached to children,

    மாந்த குரு சிஷ்யனுக்கு ஓதினாலும்,

    or when a human guru preaches his disciple,

    அனைத்திலும் பேதமுண்டு.சுயநல நோக்குண்டு.

    they all have differences, and have a selfish vision.

    பேதமில்லா தாண்டிய நிலையில்,

    The Hill, where, Crossing all these differences,

    வேதமெல்லாம் ஓர் உருவாக,

    All Vedas come together in a single form,

    ஓம்கார நாத வெள்ளம் ரூபமாக,

    in the flooding sea of “Om” (Pranava),

    நேத்திரத்தில் கருணை வெள்ளம் பிரவாகமெடுக்க,

    With the eyes having a Gracious flood,

    அறுவதனமும் ஐவதனமாகி,

    and with Six faces becoming five,

    எழு பிறப்பும் எட்டென விரட்டி,

    Driving away innumerable future births,

    உபயவினையும் இல்லாது ஒழித்து,

    Destroying all karmas, both good and bad,

    சூல நேத்திரத்தோன் திரு மைந்தன்,

    The Honored son of the Three-eyed Lord,

    சதுரத்தை நவரசமாய் பிழிந்தெடுத்து,

    makes nava-rasa from the four Vedas,

    அதனையும் தாண்டி பல்வேறு நுட்பத்தை பேதமில்லா ஓதி,

    on top of this, adding many other intricacies,

    preaches to all without difference,

    ஒருமுகமாய்,திருமுகமாய்,ஒரு நினைவாய் மாந்தன் வாழ அருளும் கிரி.

    giving a single definition, a divine notion,
    which blesses a man live with a single thought.

    ஞானத்தை நல்கும் கிரி!

    அஞ்ஞானத்தை அடியோடு அழிக்கும் கிரி!!

    The hill, which gives Bliss!

    The hill, which completely destroys ignorance!!

    பேதத்தை நீக்கும் கிரி!

    வேதத்தை உணர்த்தும் கிரி!!

    The hill, which removes differences!

    The hill, which makes a man realize Vedas!!

    சீரற்ற குணங்களை சீராக்கும் கிரி!

    நிலைத்த செல்வத்தை நல்கும் கிரி!!

    The hill, which normalizes unwanted thoughts!

    The hill, which blesses indestructible riches (its punya, not money 🙂 ) !!

    வாழ்வின் தடைகளை நீக்கும் கிரி!

    எதிர்பார்த்த விடைகளை நல்கும் கிரி!!

    The hill, which removes obstacles in life!

    The hill, which gives expected answers!!

    கர்ம நிலைகளை மாற்றும் கிரி!

    அக உளைச்சல் ஒழிக்கும் கிரி!!

    The hill, which changes karmic status!

    The hill, which destroys mental disturbances!!

    பேதம் காட்டா வேத கிரி!

    ஓம் எனும் பிரணவம் ஒலிக்கும் நாத கிரி!!

    The hill, which doesn’t differentiate between people, and is a Vedic structure!

    The hill, where the Pranava nadha is ever sounding!!

    இளையவன் திருவடி பாதம் படிந்த கிரி!

    அன்னை நிரந்தரமாய் அருளும் கிரி!!

    The hill, where younger Lord’s (Muruga) feet is inscribed !

    The hill, where Mother permanently blesses all!!

    ஐயனோடு இன்று அனைவரும் இருக்கும் கிரி!

    ஓதும் கிரி அது ஓதிய கிரி!!

    பேதம் தவிர்த்து பிரணவநாதம் கலந்து ஒலிக்கும் கிரி!!!

    The hill, where with Father, everyone else is present today !

    The preaching hills, where it was preached !!

    The hill, where, leaving out all differences, Pranava nadham sounds for ALL !!!

    Reading this, I was completely overwhelmed. After lots of trials, and lots of prayers to Venkata Subramaniar, who stands very tall near my home in Valasaravakkam, Chennai, I visited this temple recently. This post, is, as usual, my experiences and other related information.

    Citation.

    https://samiappapalanivelan.wordpress.com/tag/othimalai-andavar/

    http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=51

    http://othimalaiandavar.in/