Tag: Vishnu

  • Sidha Lakshmi Stotra By Shiva Wealth Occult Powers

    Few slokas are reported to be composed by Shiva.

     

    Such slokas are rare and are believed to be quite powerful.

    Lakshmi.jpg
    Lakshmi ,Goddess of Wealth.

     

    Rudra, an Amsa of Shiva composed Mantra Rajapada on Lord Narasimha and it is very effective to ward off Evil, mental dpression.

     

    The storta on Lakshmi, that too on Sidha Lakshmi( the Amsa of Lakshmi who guarantees fruitful completion of any task at the mundane level and Liberation at the Higher Level) by Lord Shiva is provided below .

     

    Translation by Sri.P.R.Ramachander.

     

    Adha Dhyamam
    Brahmeem Vaishnaveem bhadram shad bujam cha chaur mukheem,
    Trinethram gadga trisula padma chakra gadha daram.
    Peethambaram devim nanalankara bhooshitham,
    Tejapunjadareem sreshtam dhyayeth Bala kumarikam. 
    

    Meditate on the young lass who is Brahmi, Vaishnavi,
    Who provides safety, who has six hands and four faces,
    Who has three eyes, who holds sword, trident, lotus, wheel and mace,
    Who is the goddess dressed in yellow, Dressed in various decorations,
    And who holds a shining globe and is the greatest.
    to that young goddess I submit my prayers

    Stotra.

    Omkaram Lakshmi roopam thu Vishnum hrudayamavyayam,
    Vishnumananda vyaktham hreemkaram bheeja roopineem., 1
    

    She who tells “Om”, who has the form of Lakshmi,
    She who is followed by Vishnu, She gives happiness to Vishnu,
    She who is clear, she who has the shape of the sound “hreem”.

    Kleem amrutha nandineem bhadram sada athyananda dhayineem,
    Sreem daithya samaneem shakthim malineem shathru mardhineem., 2
    

    She who is “Kleem”, she who is the daughter of nectar,
    She who provides safety, she who always grants great happiness,
    She who is “sreem”, she who controlled asuras, she who is power,
    She who wears garlands and she who kills her enemies.

    Theja prakasineem devim varadam shubha karineem,
    Brahmeem cha vaishnaveem roudhreem kalika roopa shobhineem., 3
    

    She who gives out light, the goddess who fulfills desires,
    She who does good things, She who is Brahmee,
    She who is Vaishnavee, She who is angry,
    And she who shines in the form of Kali.

    Aakare Lakshmi roopam thu uukareshubhakarineem,
    Makara purusho vyaktho devi pranavamuchyathe., 4
    

    In the letter “Aa”, there is the form of Lakshmi,
    In the letter “Uu”, is she who does all that is good,
    And in the letter “ma”, is her clear form of Purusha,
    And thus the goddess is of the form of the letter “Om”.

    Sooryakoti pratheekasam Chandra koti sama prabham,
    Thanmadhye nikaram sookshmam brahma roopam vyavasthitham., 5
    

    She who is perambulated by crores of Suns,
    She who has the shine of crores of moons,
    In the middle of it in the very micro form,
    She lives in the form of Brahmam.

    Omkaaram paramananda sadaiva sukha sundarem,
    Sidhaa Lakshmi Moksha Lakshmi aadhi Lakshmi namosthuthe., 6
    

    She who is “Om” who is ecstasic happiness,
    Who is always pretty and is the form of pleasure,
    I salute the divine Lakshmi, the Lakshmi of salvation,
    And also the primeval Lakshmi of yore.

    Sarva mangala mangalye shive sarvartha sadhake,
    Saranye triambike gauri narayani namosthuthe., 7
    

    Hey the power behind Shiva,
    Who makes all good things happen,
    Who grants all boons,
    I bow before you,
    She who is the creator, organizer and destroyer,
    My salutations to you Narayani.

    Prathamam trayambike gauri dwitheeyam vaishnavee thadha,
    Tritheeyam yamala proktha chaturtham sundari thadha., 8
    

    First the trinity of goddesses, second Vaisnavi,
    Third she who is called the twin goddess,
    And fourth the very pretty goddess.

    Panchamam Vishnu shakthischa sashtam kathyayanee thadha,
    Vaarahi sapthamam chaiva hyashtamam hari vallabha., 9
    

    Fifth the power in Vishnu,
    Sixth the daughter of Kathyayana,
    Seventh the power of the boar,
    Eighth is the consort of Hari.

    Navamam gadginee proktha dasamam chaiva devika,
    Yekadasm sidhalakshmeem dwadasam hamsa vahineem., 10
    

    Ninth is she who holds the sword,
    Tenth is she who is the goddess,
    Eleventh, she is Sidha Lakshmi,
    And twelfth she is one who rides on a swan.

    Yethath stotra varam devya ye padanthi sada nara,
    Sarva aapadbho vimuchyanthe nathra karya vicharana., 11
    

    That man who reads this blessed prayer addressed to Goddess,
    Would get free from all dangers and will never get worried about anything.

    Yekamasam dwimasam cha trimasam masa chathushtayam,
    Panchamasam cha shanmasam trikalam ya sada padeth., 12
    

    Either one month or two months or three months or four months,
    Or five months or six months if this is read at dawn, noon and dusk,

    Brahmana klesitho dukhee daridrya maya peeditha,
    Janmanthara sahasraodhai muchyatha sarva kilbishai., 13
    

    The Brahmin who is suffering sad and in the clutches of poverty,
    Even for thousands of birth will get rid of all of them.

    Daridhro labhathe lakshmeem aaputhra puthravan bhaveth., 14
    

    The poor one would get wealth, the childless one would get child

    Eswarena krutham stotram praninam hitha karakam,
    Sthuvanthu brahmana nithyam daridryam na cha badathe,
    Sarva papa hara Lakshmi sarva sidhi pradhayinee., 15
    

    This prayer written by Lord Shiva for,
    The sake of the good of all the beings,
    If recited in praise daily by Brahmanas,
    Poverty would not stick to him,
    And the goddess Lakshmi,
    Who can grant all occult powers,
    Would destroy all his sins.

    Ithi sri Brahma purane Sri Sidha Lakshmi stotram.
    

    Thus ends the prayer to Sidha Lakshmi from Brahma puranam.

     

    Citation.

    http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Sidha_Lakshmi_Stotram

     

  • What Is Swayam Acharya Of Sri Vainshnavam

    What Is Swayam Acharya Of Sri Vainshnavam

    The Sri vaishavaites of some groupings follow the Swayam Acharya Sampradaya.

     

    I have a close friend who is a Swayam Acharya.

     

    Unfortunately, though he is a devout Iyengar,he was unable to say what it was excepting that he was following the Acharya of a Mutt.

     

    When I checked with some of m other Iyengar friends, they also did not have the details.

     

    I have referred some texts, the internet and am sharing the information.

     

    Suggestions for improvement is welcome.

     

    The earliest name the Puranas ascribe to those who worship Lord Vishnu is ‘Bhagavatha’

     

    Later it was meant to include those who follow Pancharatra.

     

    Please read my post on Pancharatra.

     

     

    Bhagavatha means one who sings. praises the Glory of Bhagwan, here it refers only to Vishnu,

     

    Technically this is incorrect as it refers any one who praises Bhagawan,

     

    Please read my post on Bhagwan, God in Hinduism.

     

    Equally incorrect to say that Ishwara refers only to Lord Shiva.

     

    Iswara means personal God , that’s all.

     

    Now to Swayam Acharya.

     

    Later when many Devathas were being worshiped, to distinguish those who worship Vishnu, the term Vaishnava was coined.

     

    As Vishnu is to be worshiped always along with Lakshmi, Sri, has been added.

     

    Thus was born the term Sri Vaishnava.

     

    Swayam Acharya means one who is an Acharya to himself.

     

    In the earlier days, when Brahmins were following all the duties of a Brahmin, including  Agnihotra, the tradition was handed over to the son.

     

    Thus the father becomes the first Acharya.

     

    In Upanayana, the Gayathri is first taught by the father.

     

    In all cases Father is the first Acharya.

     

    Sruthi says Pitru devo Bhava, Acharya Devo Bhava  in this context.

     

    Swayam Acharya sampradayam:
    In olden days, all the Vaishvaites were very orthodox, performing daily Agni Hothram in their houses. Therefore the father of the family himself was the Acharyan for the members of that family. He was initiating the members into Sri Vaishnava sampradayam by Samasrayanam process.

    Matams and Munitrayam sampradayam:
    Now a days, most of the family heads do not perform agni hotrams and follow the sampradayam very strictly. So for the purpose of Samasrayanam, we approach Matams. The matadhipathi/Swami/Acharya initiates us into sampradayam.

     

    Citation.

    http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/may99/0063.html

     

    http://ramanuja.wikifoundry.com/page/Sri+Vaishnavaite+Monastries

     

    This term is used for Sri Vaishnavas who are descendants
    of the original 74 disciples of Ramanuja, and who continue
    to have association with learned members of their extended
    family who administer the panca-samskAra (samASrayaNam) 
    and minister to their needs.  Many of our most learned
    acharyas came from "svayam-AchArya" families -- Desika,
    Pillai Lokacharya, etc. This is because the concept of
    a maTha and therefore a sampradAya based on the maTha
    dates from the 14th century, much after Sri Ramanuja's
    time.
    
    Some notable svayam-AchArya families are Prativaadi Bhayankaram,
    Tatacharya, Tirumalai Anandaanpillai, Nallaan Chakravarti, etc.
    There are many scholars among these families even today,
    as they have a strong sense of connection to the tradition
    and maintain a certain level of scholarship.
    
    Not all descendants of the 74 original disciples are still
    considered "svayam AchArya".  At some point, some of the  
    descendants drifted away from their traditional acharya or
    did not have a strong scholar in their family, and consequently
    became associated with some maTham or other swami.  So there
    will be Sri Vaishnavas who bear the appellation "Kidambi",
    "Vangipuram", "Tatacharya", etc., who at one point belonged 
    to svayam AchArya purusha families, but who now follow
    some other swami.
    
    It should be pointed out that some people object to the
    term "svayam AchArya purusha" (not the concept behind it)
    with the feeling that only one person is truly a "svayam
    AchArya", an acharya for himself -- the Lord.
    
    
  • Types Of Vaishnava Sampradayas History of Vaishnavam 3

    Types Of Vaishnava Sampradayas History of Vaishnavam 3

    Sampradaya may be translated loosely as Tradition.

     

    Practices that were followed are continued by successive generations at the Family level.

     

    Thus in Hinduism we have some practices that are common to all the Hindus and some that are group specific.

     

    Some Common practices  are,

     

    Waking up early in the morning,

     

    Taking bath and drawing Rangoli in  front of the House,

     

    Doing Pooja,

     

    Performing Sandhyavandan, in the case of Brahmins,

     

    Performing pooja and offering Naivedya to God,

     

    Cook only after taking bath,

     

    Perform basic samskaras like Namakarana, Karna Bhooshana, Upanayana, Marriage, Garbhadhana, Seemantha,Anthima Samaskaras.

     

    But the way of performing them and some practices distinguish one group from another, though in essence all are Hindus.

     

    The two sects in Hinduism, Shaiva and Vaishnava, the former worships Shiva, the later Vishnu,the Samapradayas differ.

     

    What is Vaishava Sampradaya?

     

    Basically Vaishnavas worship Vishnu to the exclusion of all other Deities, though Puranas insist that this is not correct.

     

    Even among the Vaishnavas, there are different Sampradayas.

     

    They are four in number traditionally.

     

    Sri Sampradaya which is the Sampradaya of Lakshmi
    Philosophy: Vishishtadvaita (“Qualified Monism/Non dualism”), espoused by Chidachida Visishtam Ramanujacharya
    See Sri Vaishnavism, Vaikhanasa, Ramanandi Sect, Swaminarayan.
    Brahma sampradaya
    Philosophies: Dvaita (“dualism”), espoused by Madhvacharya, and Achintya Bheda Abheda (literally “inconceivable difference and non-difference”).
    Rudra sampradaya
    Philosophy: Shuddhadvaita (“pure nondualism”), espoused by Vishnuswami and Vallabhacharya.
    Kumara-sampradaya
    Philosophy: Dvaitadvaita (“duality in unity”), espoused by Nimbarka.

    In South India.

     

    1. The Iyengars, who follow the Sri Vaishnava Vishistadvaita philosophy of Asuri Ramanujacharya. The Iyengars are further divided into the Vadakalai-i.e. the northern school, and Thenkalai or southern school. Both these sects adhere to the Pañcaratra agama, in temples.

    These two sects evolved about 200 years after Ramanuja and differ on 18 points of doctrine. The founder of the Vadagalai sect is Swami Vedanta Desika, and the Tengalai sect is Manavala Mamuni.[26] But both schools have a common Guru Parampara prior to the division. The Sri Vaishnavas use both the Sanskrit veda as well as the Tamil divyaprabandham in temple worship.

    1. The Madhvas, who follow the Sadvaishnava Dvaita philosophy of Madhvacharya.
    2. The Vaikhanasas, who are primarily an ancient community of temple priests, who use the Vaikhanasa Agama in temple worship. They use Sanskrit exclusively in temple worship.

    But as I indicated in my post Vadakalai, Thenkalai has no sanction of the Vedas, there is no sanction for these divisions in the Vedas.

     

    The Reality is One but people practice different methods to realize it , period.

     

    Squabbles are not allowed, if one is a Hindu.

    Citation.

     

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaishnavism#Vaishnava_sampradayas

     

     

     

  • Lord Rama Was A King of Sumeria King List

    Lord Rama Was A King of Sumeria King List

    The King List which chronicles a list of Kings of Sumeria is written in Sumerian Language.

     

    Ancient Sumeria, one of the oldest civilizations flourished in the southern parts of Iraq.

     

    In the Kings List, one finds the Dynasties of the Kings of Sumeria with their official locations.

     

    It includes the names of Kings of adjoining countries, then called city states

     

    The Kingship was believed to be from the Gods and was transferable from one  city to another.

     

    Sumeria was believed to have had an hegemony during its period of existence.

     

    It is curious to find the name of Lord Rama in the Sumerian King List.

     

    Not only Lord Rama but his brother Bharata also find a place in the List.

     

    The King List.jpg
    King List,Sumeria

     

    Fortunately, a study of Sumerian history provides a fairly vivid flesh-and-blood picture of Rama. The highly authentic Sumerian King-list appear such hallowed names as Bharat (Warad) Sin and Rim Sin. Sin was the Moon god Chandra and as the cuneiform symbol for ‘Rim’ can also be read as ‘Ram’, Rim Sin is the same as Rama Chandra. In the Sumerian texts Ram-Sin is said to be from Elam which links him to Indo-Iran. Rama was the longest reigning monarch of Mesopotamia who ruled for 60 years. Bharat Sin ruled for 12 years (1834-1822 BC), exactly as stated in the Dasaratha Jataka. The Jataka statement, “Years sixty times hundred, and ten thousand more, all told, / Reigned strong-armed Rama”, only means that Rama reigned for sixty years which agrees exactly with the data of Assyriologists. Ayodhya may be Agade the capital of Sargon which has not yet been identified. It is possible that Agade was near Der or the Heart near Harayu or Sarayu. Learned scholars like D. P. Mishra were aware that Rama could be from the Herat area. The noted linguist Sukumar Sen also noted that Rama is a sacred name in the Avesta where he is mentioned together with Vayu. Rama is called Rama Margaveya in some texts from which Dr. Sen concluded that he hailed from Margiana. The Cambridge Ancient History contains priceless information relevant to Indian ancient history. The Sumerian records furnish the first date of the Indus era – the war with Ravana took place in 1794 BC. The significance of the fact Ram-Sin’s reign (60 years) was the longest in Sumerian history has been lost on most writers. There are two Ram-Sins in Sumerian history.”…….

     

    My researches into the relationship from between the Dravadas (South of Bharata Varsha) and Sanatana Dharam have led me to establish that the ancestor of Lord Rama, Vaivaswatha Manu migrated from Dravida desa because of a Tsunami to Ayodhya to establish a Kingdom.

     

    * Seemingly different dates of Rama from the Date of Rama of Ramayana tells another story.

     

    Shiva and His sons Ganesha,Muruga left by the Arabian Sea and spread through the Middle East, establishing their lineage en route, Iraq, Africa, Spain,Latin America,North America, Central America before reaching the Arctic where the Rig Veda was composed.

     

    Later their descendants traveled from the Arctic through Russia to reach India again.

     

    These facts are culled from Tamil Classics Vedas, Sanskrit Literature and cross checked by Astronomical facts mentioned in these texts.

     

    More to follow on this subject.

     

    Citations.

    http://www.ranajitpal.com/rama.html

     

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waddell%27s_chronology

    Waddell’s Chronology.

    Amar-Sin, (“Bur-Sin II“) 2109-2089 BCE Rama or Rama-Chandra
  • Ancient Greek Ambassador Worshiped Vishnu

    Ancient Greek Ambassador Worshiped Vishnu

    Hinduism does not advocate conversion.

     

    It believes that Religion is a question of personal choice and holds it sacred.

     

    It does not believe in numbers game.

     

    Hinduism is like a Doctor.

     

    If and when you are sick you go to  Doctor.

     

    The Doctor prescribes you medicines.

     

    He does not force you to take the medicine.

     

    It is in your interest to take it.

     

    The Doctor is not affected by your action.

     

    Hinduism is like the Doctor.

     

    It tells you the paths traversed by people who have realized God hood.

     

    In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna explains about the various systems of Hindu Thought to Arjuna.

     

    In the last chapter(18),just about to conclude the discourse , informs Arjuna,

     

    ‘I have told you what is utmost secret.

     

    You examine them carefully and follow whatever suits and what your disposition tells You’

     

    That’s all.

     

    Hinduism is a way of Life.

     

    Strictly speaking it is difficult to define who a Hindu is.

     

    A Hindu is one who follows certain guidelines of Life and Beyond.

     

    Not necessary to have been born a Hindu.

     

    One need not believe in God even for Atheism is also accepted as a Faith in Hinduism.

     

    However there are certain rules ,qualifications required to study the Vedas, the Sacred Books of the Hindus.

     

    Hindus, though not advocating religious Conversion accepts people from the other Faiths .

     

    There are no ceremonies involved.

     

    Example of this is the worship of Lord Vishnu, by Helidorus, Ambassador to India to Gupta King’s court.

     

    He erected a column in tribute to Lord Vishnu and it is called Heliodorous Column.

     

    Heliodorous Pillar.jpg
    Heliodorous Pillar.

     

    It is known that Heliodorus was sent to the court of King Bhagabhadra by Antiakalidas, the Greek king of Taxila. The kingdom of Taxila was part of the Bactrian region in northwest India, conquered by Alexander the Great in 325 B.C. By the time of Antialkidas, the area under Greek rule included what is today Afghanistan, Pakistan and Punjab.(2)

    The column erected by Heliodorus first came to notice in 1877, during an archaeological survey by General Cunningham. The inscription, however, went unnoticed, because of the pillar’s thick coating of red lead paste. It had been the custom of pilgrims who had worshipped there to smear the column with vermillion paste. The column, Cunningham deduced from its shape, was from the period of the Imperial Guptas (3) (A.D. 300-550). Thirty-two years later, however, when the inscription was brought to light, it became clear that the monument was several centuries older. (4)..

     

    Heliodorous Column.jpg
    The Heliodorous inscription on the Heliodorous Column.

     

    A reproduction of the inscription, along with the transliteration and translation of the ancient Brahmi text, is given here as it appeared in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society.

    1)   Devadevasu Va[sude]vasa Garudadhvajo ayam

    2)   Karito ia Heliodorena bhaga

    3)   Vatena Diyasa putrena Takhasilakena

    4)   Yonadatena agatena maharajasa

    5)   Amtalikitasa upa[m]ta samkasam-rano

    6)   Kasiput[r]asa [Bh]agabhadrasa tratarasa

    7)   Vasena [chatu]dasena rajena vadhamanasa

    ” This Garuda-column of Vasudeva (Visnu), the god of gods, was erected here by Heliodorus, a worshipper of Vishnu, the son of Dion, and an inhabitant of Taxila, who came as Greek ambassador from the Great King Antialkidas to King Kasiputra Bhagabhadra, the Savior, then reigning prosperously in the fourteenth year of his kingship.”

     

    1) Trini amutapadani-[su] anuthitani

    2) nayamti svaga damo chago apramado

    “Three immortal precepts (footsteps)..when practiced lead to heaven-self restraint, charity, conscientiousness.”

    From the inscriptions it is seems clear Heliodorus was influenced by Vedic principles that he could be considered to be a Vaisnava, a follower or worshipper of Visnu. Professor Kunja Govinda Goswami of Calcutta University concludes that Heliodorus ” was well acquainted with the texts dealing with the Bhagavat [Vaisnava] relgion.” (6)

     

    Citation.

    http://archaeologyonline.net/artifacts/heliodorus-column