Ramanisblog

Tag: Venkateswara

  • Ghazhini Muhammad, A Brahmin Matsya Puran

    There are references to Ghazhini Muhammad in the Purans.

    Ghazhini
    Ghazhini Mohammad. image from http://khudi.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/why-mahmud-of-ghazni-attacked-somnath/

    There was a Brahmin named Rama Sarma, on the banks of the Gauthami  River and he was ill treated and prevented from learning.

    He went to Varanasi temple and saw a notification stating ,

    Those who take the Ganges water , perform Abhisheka to Lord Ramanatha,Rameswaram, bring Water from The Ocean at Rameswaram  and perform Abhisheka for me, will get the beneficial results (Punya) of having gone around the Earth once.To those who who do this thrice,I shall appear before them and grant them the required Boons-Kasi Viswanatha”

    Rama Sarma performed this twice.

    When he he came to Varanasi to perform the Abhisheka for the third time , the water spilled and he could not complete the vow.

    Angered by this,when he intended to break the Murthy and end his Life, a Divine Voice told him ,

    ‘Do not break my head.

    I am happy that you completed the rite twice.

    I shall make you an Emperor in the next Birth”

    For a Brahmin , the performance of Upanayana  amounts to second birth9please red my post on Upanayana).

    Also when one becomes a Sanyasi, he is said to be reborn.

    So Rama Sarma met a Rishi, Apara Shankara( Meaning Shankara, Lord Shiva, of the Temporal world) and had himself initiated in Adhura Sanyasa( A Sanyasa  begotten  in times of Emergency, like death).

    He went to Varanasi temple and asked lord Viswanatha to grant him the Boon as he had attained rebirth as ordained by the Sastras.

    The Lord replied,

    ‘ You are trying to force me into granting the Boon.

    You throw away the Sanyasa Vastras,Danda , the Kamandalu, walk in the opposite direction of the River Current.

    You will find a Vada Vruksha.

    Sit there and meditate.

    You will become an Emperor.”

    At that time a Muhammedan Emperor died and an elephant was given a garland to choose the Future Emperor.

    The elephant garlanded Rama Sarma and he became an Emperor.

    He was converted to Islam, rechristened as Ghazini Muhammad.

    While he was enjoying the pleasures of an Emperor,one day he was consumed by self pity when he thought of his earlier life as Brahmin and his present state as the destroyer of the Vedic religion.

    He concluded that Lord Viswanatha was the cause of all this and ordered the  demolition of all Temples including the one at Somanath.

    He had his soldiers appropriate the Idol of Lord Balaji, Tirupati.

    Ghazini Muhammad had a daughter.

    His servants informed him that a youth was meeting his daughter at nights in her room every day.

    When Ghazini checked, he found a youth talking with his daughter.

    Ghazini attempted to behead the Youth and Lord Venkateswara,Balaji appeared before him and said,

    “You got your Boons forcibly.

    You have started destroying the Sanatana Dharma.forgetting that all religions are One and people worship differently

    You are harassing my Archakas.

    Unless you restore the temples to their earlier status and support the Archakas, all your wealth shall disappear”

    Remorseful, Ghazini restored the Vigraha of Lord Balaji, gave away lands, Jewels to Tirupati Temple.

    As an atonement, he sent in his daughter as Lord Balaji’s servant with Him .

    On seeing her accompanying Lord Balaji Goddess Mahalaksmi was annoyed and stayed away form being near Lord Balaji and hence  Lakshmi is at Tiruchanur as Alamel Mangai and not at Tirupati.

    Some points are interesting.

    One is that Ghazini took away the idol of Lord Balaji.

    There are records to show that Ghazini or some Mohammedan Emperor gifted lands to Tirupati Lord and Lord Ranganatha, Sri Rangam.

    One would find that Lord Venkateswara identifies Himself  with Lord Viswanatha, Benares.

    Alame lMangai temple is in Tiruchanur and Lakshmi is not with Lord Vishnu, a rarity.

    Rama Sarma was described  as a ‘ yavana’, after being converted into Islam, thereby implying that Islam was from Rome,9yavana stands for Greece, Rome,Tamil Literature abounds in reference to Greece)

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  • Tirupati.Murugan,DurgaTemple, Buddhist Monastery?

    There are some controversies that never die down.

    Lord Venkatachalapathy
    Tirupathi .Lord Balaji

    Whether Tamil is more ancient than Sanskrit,Caste is foisted on the people by the Brahmins, Babri Masjid was not built-in Ram’s Birth place, Taj Mahal was not built by Shah Jahan,Aurangzeb is a pious Man and the list is endless in India.

    One such controversy is that the Balaji Temple was originally Lord Murga’s Temple and it was later converted into a Vishnu Temple.

    Tirupati is Murugan Temple.

    .Subrahmanya.
    Lord Muruga.

    1.Most common proof is the fact that the ancient Grammar of Tamils, right from Tholkappiyam while defining the characteristics of land masses, assigns Hilly terrains as the Abode of Lord Muruga.(Thinai Illakkanam).

    Land Masses were divided into five categories by the Tamils.

    Kurinji-Hilly Terrains,-Deity Lord Muruga

    Mullai-Forest-Lord Vishnu.

    Marutham- Agricultural Land-Indra

    Neydal-Coastal Regions-Lord Varuna.

    Palai-Desert-Kotravai(Durga)

    I do not find any reason either from the Purnas or Tamil Literature to support the view that it was Muruga’s Temple.

    The term Vengadam means the northern boundary.(of Tamils)

    And there is no evidence of any King having built a Muruga Temple.

    ‘Puranas 
    The Purana Accounts are legendary and is not helpful in finding the probable date of the temple. Puranas concentrate how Vishnu came voluntarily to take his place there. Varaha temple at the foothills of Tirupati predates venkateshwara temple at the top. The only account relavant here is Tondaman (pallava) started the worship of vishnu here. This Thondaman assisted his brother(Akasa Raja) in administration. Thondaiman had a foster daughter in Tirupati and she was married to venkatesa. After the death of Akasa Raja (left a young prince), he and his nephew fought and tondiaman felt very weak ,so got the weapons from venkateswara . The war ended Indecisively and the country was divided into two. The one closer to Vengadam (Tirupati) was given to thondaman and the other farther away given to his nephew. Tondaiman built the temple and started the festivals. This Tondaman lived in Kaliyuga. There is a separate Thondaiman dynasty post 12th century AD. But Dravidian scholars want to identify Thondaiman as Pallava.’

    However there is another argument that it has been a Shiva Temple because , even to-day Vilvarchana is being done to Lord Balaji.

    Kanchi Periyavar states that in the Temple Prahara(outside wall, there are images of Lions, which are associated with only Goddess Durga and the temple could have been a Durga Temple.

    There is another confusing statement from Romila Thapar.

    “-Dig underneath every Hindu temple, there will be a Buddhist temple.”

    ?

    My view is that there is no evidence that Tirupati is a Muruga Temple.

    It is Lord Vishnu‘s Temple.

    I would say this to die-hard Saivite.

    Lord Muruga is the favorite nephew of Lord Vishnu.Lord Muruga will be pleased if you worship His favorite Uncle.

    மாமனுக்கோ பிள்ளை இல்லை மருமகன்தான் தலைமகன்-Kannadasan.

    The Uncle has no children, his nephew is his eldest son.

    Links:

    http://controversialhistory.blogspot.in/2011/07/is-tirupati-balaji-temple-buddist.html#.Ul9vl9Knovl

    http://mahaperiyavaa.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BE-%E0%AE%A4/

     

    Related:

    http://ramanisblog.in/2011/10/16/tirumala-hills-side-view-as-lord-balajis-face-pictures/

  • Devotion Out Of Fear Is Fine

    Recently I had been to Palani,Tamil Nadu for performing the hair Tonsuring Ceremony of my Grand daughter.

    Palani Temple,Tamil nadu
    Palani Temple

    My son who is neither a Believer nor a Non Believer, depends on his mood swings, as it is with most of us(only he is honest about it),as usual posed a question as to whether it is really Fear that impels one towards Devotion.

    This question has a bearing to his statement the earlier Day and my reply.

    He said he did not believe in Customs and is following because he is told so, so as not to offend me.

    I replied him that there are things one learns in Life by experiences and  times by paying a heavy price.

    It is better looking foolish than to suffer and regret.

    I also added, that , as far as visiting Temples to complete a Vow or a Family tradition,one must never set a time frame for completion of the Ceremony and for that matter visiting and darshan of God, when he asked me as to when we are expected to return after completion of the Ceremony, wanted a time frame.

    I narrated an earlier incident when I visited Tirupati to have a darshan of Lord Balaji along with my 8year Old Daughter and my nephew.

    My Nephew is quite religious and is a senior Guru for visiting Sabari malai, which he has been visiting yearly for over forty years regularly.

    While we were driving to Tirupati from Chennai he told me that ‘

    ‘Ramani, we need Five  hours to travel both ways, take one hour for darshan in Special Entrance, leave a buffer of  an hour and we should be back by

    One PM( we left Chennai by 6 AM)

    I told him not to set a time frame to the One who sets Time for Every One, that too, to Lord Venkateswara.

    He laughed off saying that I am a Superstitious Fool.

    We reached Tirupati, entered the Special Entrance, queue,into the Single lane fenced by iron barrier, from where one can not come back before the darshan is over.

    We were made to wait for Seventeen Hours to have the darshan .

    Imagine my plight as my daughter refused to get down from my Hips and I had  to attend to her calls of Nature, demand for Food!

    From that day I stopped even discussing the plans.

    As I remarked in one of my Posts, I leave for visiting Tempe,s with no fixed Plan and cover them as I go by and I have been Blessed with immediate and Easy darshan of the Deity, wherever I go.

    It was against this background my son told me that I follow Religious Rites, believe In God,being Spiritual because of Fear.

    I do not know.

    Fear of the Unknown is nothing to be ashamed of and I admit to being guilty of this.

    People do not admit it, I do.

    Thirukkural, a treatise in Tamil on par with The Bhagavad Gita says.

    அஞ்சுவ தஞ்சாமை பேதைமை யஞ்சுவ       அஞ்சுவது அஞ்சாமை பேதைமை அஞ்சுவது
    தஞ்ச லறிவார் தொழில் (08)                              அஞ்சல் அறிவார் தொழில்.
    இதன்பொருள்:
    அஞ்சுவது அஞ்சாமை பேதைமை- அஞ்சப்படுவதனை அஞ்சாமை பேதைமையாம்; அஞ்சுவது அஞ்சல் அறிவார் தொழில்- அவ்வஞ்சப்படுவதனை அஞ்சுதல் அறிவார் தொழிலாம்.
    It is Foolishness not to be afraid of what is to be afraid of.
    The Wise fear what is to be feared.
    The question as to why man believes in God is often explained as “Fear’ (in a derisive manner)
    All our actions are impelled by Emotions or Instincts.
    We eat because we are forced to eat because of Hunger, we have Sex because we expect pleasure.
    Similarly if one were to worship and Believe in God because of Fear, Be it.
    So long as  I am happy and believe that something bad will not happen to me and Good alone will result, it does not matter why I and what I believe in.
    Period.

  • Family Deity Personal Deity

    Vedas do not advocate Temple Worship or Collective/Public Worship.

    It does not mention Temples at all.

    Yet Hinduism has many Gods and Temples.

    For an explanation please read my post God has Name and Form, Yes and No, as entering this topic will take us away from the present post.

    Every family, by custom, has a Family Deity குல தெய்வம்

    Any auspicious function should be preceded by a Pooja first to this Deity.

    It is mandatory to visit the Temple of the Deity, at least once a year.

    Customs vary with regard to the Poojas being performed for the Deity.

    Some times it happens(which should not), the children  are not  informed of the Family Deity by the Elders.

    As a Result. the generation remains ignorant of the Family Deity.

    In such cases, one can ask  Family elders who are still alive.

    If this attempt fails, check the names of your ancestors on your Father’s( for men only) side., for  minimum three generations.

    The family custom is to name the first child of the Family after the Family Deity.

    If the Family Deity is a Female, and the eldest of the Family is a Male, check if a female name is given for  a male , as in Kamakshi (and for Female the reverse).

    And that will be your Family Deity.

    The most common name will be your Family Deity.

    Otherwise continue The present Deity( of which you are unsure) and if a Saivaite have Subramanya as an additional Family Deity and if a Vaishnavaite, have Lord Balaji of Tirupati.

    If you are sincere in your quest you will get the name of the Deity from unexpected quarters..

    Personal Deity-இஷ்ட தெய்வம்

    Many have some special attachment to some Deity other than the Family  Deity.

    One can worship that as well.

    Abirami, Thirukkadavur(Thirukkadayur)
    Abirami, Thirukkadavur(Thirukkadayur)

    But the first  Pooja or priority should be for the Family Deity.

    For instance our family Deity is Pazhani Dhandayudhapani.

    My Personal Deity is Thirukkadiyur Abirami.

    I follow both.

    There is a small story about my personal Deity.

    I have studied the Vedas under His Holiness Abhinava Vidyathhertha Swamigal of Sringeri Mutt.

    He taught me the Pancha Suktas,( Purusha Sukta,Narayana Sukta, Vishnu Sukta,Sri Sukta and Durga Sukta) and Sri Rudram and Chamakam, among many other things.

    I was enamored of Sri Rudram, am even now.

    I used  to recite quite often.

    One day I visited my niece’s house( sister’s daughter, she is elder to me)

    Her hsuband who was a close friend of mine was doing Pooja to Goddess Lalitha.

    Despite learning from the Great man , I used to be playful, even now, on many aspects.

    Instead of attending to Pooja, I asked my niece what she has cooked for the day.

    She replied that she had prepared my favourite dishes but I  must wait till the Naivedyam (Nivedan ) is over.

    Her husband performed the Arati and as he came out,  said’

    ‘ I am doing every thing for you and you are calling out my husband’s name”

    I was confused.

    I asked my niece,

    She was also perplexed for she had never seen her husband talking like this.

    No doubt he was a pious man , but not to the extent of being immersed in God.

    He came out and I asked him what he meant.

    He replied that he did not know what he said and asked me to confirm what I said “he said’

    He paused for  a moment  and asked me whether I was doing the Sri Rudram recitation.

    When I said yes he said to me.

    ” Fool(மடையா  (Goddess Lalitha is saying that she is giving every thing to you and you are reciting Rudra, her Husband, You worship her”

    I left it at that , ate a hearty meal and came Home.

    Next morning,  I chanced upon a copy of Abirami Andhadhi of Abhirama Bhattar.

    ( Curious thing is I never had a copy of it at home at all, This copy, I chanced upon in my office, where such books have no place-I was International Sales Manager of the organization)

    As I read it, I felt moved and I took the copy.

    Evening, I received a copy of Lalitha Sahasranamam form my friend as a compliment as he did not have much faith in the Mantras.

    In the subsequent days I have received Soundarya Lahari, Shyama Dandakam, a flood,.all free of cost.

    Then I immediately proceeded to Tirikkadayur to see Goddes Abirami.

    I had never been  to Tirukkadayur( actually it is Thitukkadavur).

    On seeing the Idol of Abirami I felt  happy beyond words and felt I was seeing The Mother of All.

    From that day, She became my personal Deity .

    Then on, when ever I feel like seeing her I will hop in any transport and proceed to Tirukkadavur, no planning

    This happens quite often.

    I go there for the Happiness I get on seeing Her and I never ask Her for anything.

    Many call me Superstitious and a Fool.

    If being Superstitious and a Fool brings me Happiness, I am more than happy to be one.

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  • Faith Is What Faith Does Traveler’s Memoirs

    I had been on a trip to Temples of South India for the past five days and that’s the reason I Have not been able  post as much as I would have liked.

     

    Once in about three or four months I get the itch to travel and I prefer temples of India.

     

    While embarking on visit to temples,I wold not call them  Pilgrimage for Pilgrimage is a conscious decision to visit places and com plete the vows.

     

    I do not ask for or pray for anything, for I am convinced long back God knows what I deserve and what ever I get is for my Good,

     

    I visit the Temples for the sheer joy it gives me.

     

    I have learnt  couple of lessons in visiting temples.

     

    The first is never set  a time frame for Darshan.

    Temple Of India
    Temple Of India

    About 23 years back, i went to Tirupati with my nephew with my seven-year Daughter.

     

    My nephew, who is three years younger to me, declared that we would be back in 10 hours at Chennai,six hours for Car travel, two hours for Darshan of Lord Balaji and two hours Margin!

     

    I told him not to set time frame for God for He sets the Time for us.

     

    We went ahead and had a special pass at Rs 150 which entitled on to have Darshan in a Special queue.

     

    Once we entered the inner queue with iron railings from where you can not come out,, we had to wait for 17 hours to have the Darshan!

     

    During this period I had to feed my daughter who refused to come down from my Hip and organise for natural ablutions!

     

    Well, that was that.

     

    From that day I never fix a tome frame to have a Darshan.

     

    I have been visiting temples since then.

     

    When I visit this way, I never had to wait for Darshan and there would be practically be no crowd at all.

     

    Then I  refined this approach, by not  even listing the temples i want to visit, excepting a couple of Temples.

     

    For the rest I go as my mind tells me.

     

    I got better results.

    Later I decided not to use private transport of any special entrance facilities offered at the temple for a quick darshan.

     

    The experience was still better.

     

    This time I had thought of visiting Tirukkadayur(Thirukkakkdavur is the correct pronunciation) and  a vow I had to complete for the natural delivery for my  Daughter in law(she delivered a baby girl seven months back) at Thayumanavar temple at Tiruchi.

     

    Excepting these two I had absolutely no plans.

     

    I ended up with visiting 20 temples in five days with no Private transport, traveling by only by Public transport.

     

    And the Temples were chosen for me by the others!

     

    At Mayiladuthurai, This job was handled by my friend’s(friend since college days since 1967) wife and at Tiruchirapalli by my friend’s daughter who is Computer Professional aged 25!

     

    Believe me not only the visits were better, smoother and the Darshan, the best in my life.

     

    For these people who had done this without any anticipation, six letters of the word Thanks is not enough.

     

    Thank you Ms. Abhayamba Sekaran and Sindhu.

     

    May Goddess Abhirami Bless you.

     

    This trip also reinforced my belief, which I have expressed often , that the present generation of youngsters, obsessed with worldly things and Gadgets are more informed , more helpful and more Religious without pretenses.

     

    To conclude I can only say that Faith is what Faith does.

     

    Note. I will be posting some articles on the Temples I visited with some unique information and Photos.

     

     

     

     

     

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