SriSri ChakraChakra The Source of the Cosmos The Journal of the Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam, Rush, NY

Blossom 12 Petal 1 March 2008 Yo Rudro! MarchMarchMarch NewsletNewsletNewsletNewsletterterterter

Since the last issue...

Left to right: The shrine of the 400-year-old Shivalingam in Oman; devotees perform puja with viboothi to the lingam; the shrine as it is after puja and abhishekam have been completed.

December kicked off with the CD Jan. 19 there was a very special release concert for Dravida Vedam Sani Pradosham puja. That same VI, for which Aiya and the regular afternoon, temple family from bhajan musicians at the temple Syracuse, Rochester and southern traveled to Toronto. The concert Ontario got together to begin Past Events was held in the Sai Baba temple in filling the brand new temple Scarborough and about 120 library with books. The shelving Thiruvempavai, Dec. 15-24 devotees attended. took hours, during which time by Kamya Ramaswamy The rest of December was pretty hundreds upon hundreds of routine except for the 10-day Aiya’s books were organized by Thiruvempavai festival, during language and subject under the which Aiya stayed at the temple. guidance of Charulata Chawan. After Ardhra Dharshanam (the In mid-February, Aiya went to last day of the festival) on Dec. 24, Oman for one week by invitation it was time to make final to give several talks and lectures. preparations for the third annual He chanted at the and Raja Matangi homam on Dec. 30. temples there, met the Kids from Rochester, Toronto and oldest surviving Hindu family in other places flooded the temple to the area (they’d been there for 350 lend a hand during this week. years), and saw a 400-year-old Aiya and Amma traveled to Shivalingam. Aiya performing the abhishekam for California during the second week Our temple’s two large outdoor the final stanza of the of January, but returned by the banalingams are still being Thirupalliyezuchi 16th to greet Corinne Dempsey prepared for installation in the (who published a book about the spring and each of the Devotees arose for puja before temple in 2006) and her husband peetams are still being fashioned. dawn each day for 10 days during Nick who had come to Rochester Please check the temple website this festival, which celebrates from Wisconsin for a visit. On Sat. for updates. Lord Nataraja.

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On Ardhra Dharshanam day, Kids’ Matangi homam, Dec. 30 Aiya chose 20 different groups by Kamya Ramaswamy from the people who were present to perform pancha-upachara puja So many children registered for after each Thirupalliyezuchi this year’s homam that there stanza. After Aiya performed the were several ahutis offered into final abhishekam, volunteers the fire during an event that dressed the deities and set up for lasted an entire morning and well the second half of the puja. into the afternoon. Next, devotees were treated to After a short Ganapathi and traditional dancing and singing Navagraha homam, the kids performances. Then, Shankavi rotated in groups so that Selvan held the celebrated texts everyone would have a chance to while seated on a small chariot sit near the homam. Along with a with Saint Manikkavasagar and purnahuti at the end of each both were pulled in procession. group’s turn, also received a After the final aarthi was done, full outfit including a pavadai, Aiya engaged everyone assembled sari and mangalyam. The in chanting the Shivapuranam in chanted throughout the day was the yajnashala to conclude the the Raja Matangi mantra, which festival. is the longer of the two Shyamala . For more details and pictures, please see Sahana Sivakumaran’s article on page 5.

Thai Pongal, Jan. 14 by Kamya Ramaswamy Aiya was away from the temple for Pongal this year, which fell on a weekday. The celebrations were limited but still included the A jaggery shivalingam (top) and the traditional boiling over of the temple’s main shivalingam in the sakkarai pongal kalasam. The garba-graham were just two of naivedyam was offered during several stations received puja the morning puja. throughout the night this Shivarathri.

From top to Maha Shivarathri, March 5 with milk, viboothi and then bottom: Lord by Kamya Ramaswamy rudrakshas. Aiya also covered the Nataraja decked Devi, and Shiva with out in all his It was a long night that began viboothi. Aiya explained the finery after the on the evening of Wednesday significance of rudrakshas while abhishekam March 5, but also a monumental volunteers dressed the Devi. toward the end of one. This year’s Shivarathri Afterwards, everyone offered the puja; Devi festivities included the offering of bilva and rudrakshas to the Shiva Sivakami rudrakshas, which is something stations to the tune of the Shiva receiving milk that had never before been done Sahasranamam interspersed with abhishekam by at any temple in all of North the 1008 names of the Lalita Aiya; Shankavi America. As in previous years, Sahasranamam. The night holding the those who visited were also given rounded out with the energetic sacred works of bilva leaves to offer at the various chanting of nine more Rudrams. Manikkavasagar Shiva “stations” that were set up As usual, 108 valampuri while devotees pull her around all over the garbha-graham and shankams were set up in the the temple during yajnashala. temple, which were up for procession in a The evening began with a kalasa sponsorship by visitors. After the makeshift stapanam for Ganapathi, the final arthi in the wee hours of the “chariot” Navagraha and Rudra, and was morning, Aiya gave everyone followed by homams for the same prasadam of a few of the deities. Abhishekam was the rudrakshas that had been offered highlight of the night it was done earlier.

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Upcoming Events May Festival (Pratishta), May 16- 1008 valampuri shankam 18 by Kamya Ramaswamy abhishekam has been performed and this may very well be the Tamil New Year and Maha This is the temple’s second most case this year. The evening puja Pratyangira homam, April 13 major festival after Navarathri. and procession of Lord by Kamya Ramaswamy May festival celebrates the Dattatreya will be organized by temple’s anniversary—come this the temple’s children. On Sunday Tamil New Year’s day also spring, the Devi will have been at evening, the festival bali will be happens to fall on a Sunday this her present home for 10 years! offered at the Bhairava tree year—the usual day that the As in previous years, the Friday behind the temple and the water grand Pratyangira homam is starts with the installation of the from the digdevata kalasams performed. This homam is usually digdevata kalasams at about 7 a.m. will be given to Bhairava in held outdoors in the fields behind This day celebrates Ganapathi, abhishekam. At that time, May the temple, and has been a new and includes the welcoming of Festival will conclude. year’s tradition for the past few Vaishno- from St. years. Aiya started performing it Catharines, Ontario. In the In Three Months about three years ago to pray to evening, the Utsa Ganapathi Pratyangira Devi for good tidings receives puja and is carried out in Devi willing, the next issue of and protection in the year ahead. procession. the Sri Magazine will be Since then, it has blossomed in Saturday is a jam-packed day up on the temple’s website popularity. that starts before dawn with the (www.srividya.org) at the In past years, the homam has annual homam and then beginning of June 2008. boasted the offering of more than continues at about 9 or 10 a.m. The June issue will be very 50 kilograms of red chilli peppers, with a full Saturday puja. In the special as it will not only be not to mention many different evening, the huge chariot will be published shortly after the types of sweet and savory prepared for the Rajarajeshwari temple’s 10th anniversary palaharams made by devotees in utsava murthi, and anyone who (Pratishta celebration) at its the temple kitchen. wishes to do so may take a turn at present location in Rush, but will In the case of bad weather, the holding the ropes to pull her also come out shortly before homam will be held indoors as around the temple. Aiya’s 65th birthday. was the case last year. If you Sunday is Dattatreya’s day. After To mark this milestone, the Sri would like to register as a the morning digdevata puja, Chakra asks all of its readers to e- sponsor, please call the temple kalasa stapanam and abhishekam mail in their thoughts about the well ahead of time. Last year, close will commence. In past years, the temple and Aiya so that we can to 300 people attended! create a collage of sentiments for the June issue. This magazine cannot keep Chitra Poornima, April 19 publishing without by Kamya Ramaswamy contributions from devotees! Articles, poems, stories, and This is a special day for those the like about any spiritual who have lost their mothers but topic are welcomed and will have been unable to offer tarpanam be accepted. or oblations for her on the Please e-mail us with your anniversary of her passing. feedback about this issue at Usually on this day, Aiya leads a [email protected] puja and guides sponsors through by May 9 or talk to Abhi or the rituals of how to offer tarpanam Kamya at the temple. We to their late mothers. If the want to hear from you! weather permits, part of the puja Meanwhile, the Sri Chakra can and is usually performed would like to extend its outdoors. heartfelt thanks to the Since Chitra Poornima falls on a volunteers who contributed Saturday this year, the tarpanam to make this issue what it puja may be led by Aiya while is—Aiya, Kathy Allen, other devotees tend to the weekly The highlight of Pratishta is when Gratuz Devanesan, B. grand Saturday puja. Please call Utsava Rajarajeshwari is hoisted onto Jayaraman, Muralee the temple in advance to register the chariot and transported around the Mahathevan and Sahana your name if you wish to sponsor temple grounds during the Saturday Sivakumaran. for Chitra Poornima. night festivities. Sri Gurubhyo Namaha!

4 The Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam ~ 6980 East River Road ~ Rush, NY 14543 ~ Phone: (585) 533 - 1970 Yo Rudro!

RajamaRajamaRajamaRajamatttttangiangiangiangi

HomamHomamHomamHomam 2007! 2007!2007!2007! by Sahana Sivakumaran

Sri Rajamatangeshwari and finishing with more than murthis. The Devi was clothed in bestowed her blessings on many satisfying results. an elegant green and yellow half- children ranging from the ages of Prior to the homam, a lot of saree (dhaavani), whereas Shiva 4 through 18 during the annual planning and hard work was put and Ganapathi were adorned in Matangi homam on Sunday, in by both the youth and the vibrantly colored purple and December 30, 2007. It was set up adults. They would get together green sarees. A few boys dressed by many young children who and discuss the many tasks that the Meru in a stunning cream and planned, decorated, and led the had to be completed, such as orange sari along with a garland, homam. It was a beautiful cleaning, decorating, and cooking. which made Her stand out more experience, especially after The Saturday before the homam, than ever. The homa kundam was putting in endless effort as a team children dressed the mula decorated with lotus designs, using vibhuti and kumkumam. Mango leaves were hung on the windows and doors, colourful garlands were placed on the deities, Bala prasadam was arranged in various designs, and fresh flowers were cut. Along with that, the youth cleaned and organized the temple. The next morning, many of the mothers woke up extra early to cook and prepare treats and foods while the children set up sweet trays for the homam. The Nayanmars and other deities

Clockwise from top left: Devi happily wears a dhavani for the first time as she was dressed by the children that morning; She also wears her hair in a long braid for the first time; the Meru is decked out two different coloured pavadais; one group of kids is seated around the homam with Aiya; each of the kids got to personally add items to each of the purnahutis, which were put together in an assemby-line fashion

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were decorated kids were later organized into with garlands groups. Each group would sit and shawls. around the homam with Aiya There was little while the Raja Matangi mantra time to get all the was wholeheartedly chanted small details throughout the yajnashala perfected before numerous times. Following a the big day ahead. certain number of recitations, two It was of the kids from each of the 10 unbelievable how rotating groups offered a sari, a many children dhoti, a garland, a mangalyam, attended the and other decorative items into festival, making it the homam. The entire temple extraordinary. was radiant and the sensation The kids was blissful. chanted the After lunch was served, each Shivapuranam child was given a bag of Bala and Bala prasadam along with the new CD, Kavacham Dravida Vedam VI, and pictures while filling of Nemili Bala. It is most certain the that Bala was present on this purnahuthis, special day, explaining the huge and all the stack of scrumptious chocolates! After all the hard work and effort, the homam was a great success and is something we should all look forward to performing again at the end of 2008.

Top to bottom: Mangala and Yajnavalkya offer one of the earlier purnahutis with a green sari for Devi; Gayatri and Aswini offer various items into the fire; Lukshmi and Purvaja put in the final items together; everyone stands and gathers around the fire as the very last purnahuti is offered by Tharuman, who led the childen in organizing and performing the entire event

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StorStoryyy yyy timetime withwith AiyAiyaaa aaa

While volunteers dress the Devi each week during the Saturday puja, Aiya usually tells the crowd a short story about some aspect of the divine. Recently, he has been talking more and more about the lesser-known temples around South India and So one You had Sri Lanka, where Devi day, near better go shows her grace just as the river, back and much as she does at the which was near the ocean, lived a bring the head of the village here!” fisherman’s family. Five women The ladies ran to bring the larger temples. Here’s were walking around that area village elder. When he arrived, he one such story about one day when they saw, in the touched the box and it opened up Kaavath Ammal Devi, river, a box floating down. It was to reveal the Devi inside. But whose temple is on the a huge box. They were afraid to Maari continued to speak. As the pick it up so they threw some Devi, she told them to pick “Her” southern coast of India. stones to divert it but it pushed up, and install her in a small area the stones nearby that aside and kept was covered floating. In the middle of with trees and If you had grown up anywhere Among those leaves and in Sri Lanka or India, you would five women the flames, he brambles. She be familiar with these little was a lady told the temples that will sprout up called Maari. saw the Devi in villagers to suddenly on the side of the road, She placed her make a small at a tank or an intersection, and hand on the all her glory shed for her to people will start worshipping. box and stay and to Many of them have—because of immediately, start worship the devotion of the devotees— a powerful current went through immediately. A gentleman in the they have become very powerful. her body. It was as if she touched village named Murugappa Pillai There is no specific Vedic or a live wire, and she fell. But she started doing puja and he would scriptural expertise in performing then got up and her voice changed just talk to the Devi and tell her the puja. The main emotion that and she started to speak. about how everything was going drives these temples is bhakti or She said, “They broke my in the village, and then finally do devotion. temple, and they took the people aarthi. Whenever Maari came to One story of such a temple is who did puja to me to the centre the temple she would get into her that of Kaavath Ammal, whose of the street and they thrashed state again and she would start to name came from Garbhaambal them and whipped them until talk again as Devi. (the Mother as the protector of the they bled. The good people were A few hundred years passed and womb). The deity is about five afraid they would break my the generational values changed. feet tall! She’s huge! She has 18 statue so they put me inside this You have seen this—if the parents hands so you know she’s from the box and sent me down the river. are very involved in worship, the tradition of ashta-dasa bhuja Durga.

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head and extended its hood and that’s when the people watching got frightened. But Rajendran came out at the other end of the flames and just like Maari from hundreds of years before, he children will think it’s a waste of anything. If I don’t pass this started to speak. As Devi, he told time. Because they can’t see or feel exam, not only will I not go to the the people to resurrect the temple or hear what is going on with the next class but when I come home that sat beside the river, clean up deities, they think this is some my father will thrash the life out the shrine and re-install the old-time belief. When so many of me. If you help me pass this murthi. centuries passed, nobody cared exam, I will walk on hot coals for “On Fridays and Tuesdays,” the for the area that small Devi was you.” Devi said, sitting at near the river and His friends ridiculed “come to nobody cared for the shed. A him because he hadn’t Then she went this temple snake hill eventually covered the even studied and now and ask entire murthi. he was praying to God toward the Rajendran There was a little fellow called to help him pass. But about any Rajendran in the village and he he did pass. So true to temple and questions or was about 10 years old. He used their word the boys www alked right any to go to school, but no matter how came back and built a problems much he would try, he could not pit, filled it with coal through the you might remember anything the teacher and burning wood and have and I taught him when he came back Rajendran stood at one locked door will take home. The final examination time end and he was ready care of it.” approached—we called them to walk. The flames Eventually the people got together promotion exams—to go to the were four or five feet high but and kumbhabhishekam was done, next class. Rajendran said, “Aatha,” and and this temple is huge today. Rajendran’s grandfather had thought of the mother and walked Even today, pujas are done the told him stories about the small to the centre of the pit. way they were done 600 years Devi temple that had once been In the middle of the flames, he ago. While Devi spoke through there and how people used to saw the Devi in all her glory. As Rajendran she said that if anyone come by and worship. So this he took another step, a black comes and takes care of Her, she fellow came to the Devi with cobra from somewhere came up would take care of their about six of his friends and he to him and wrapped itself around descendants for eight generations. prayed. He said, “Amma, exams his neck. Nobody knows how it At the same time this was are tomorrow and I don’t know got there, but it went up to his happening, a young woman in the village who was nine months pregnant had some kind of an argument with her mother-in- law. The mother-in-law slapped her. Those of you who are going to be mothers-in-law, watch out—don’t ever do that to a pregnant woman; you don’t want to know the consequences. When the girl’s husband came home, she told him what happened. The fool must have been tired or something, but he took the side of his mother. The girl was so hurt that she decided to go to her parents’ house in Thiruchi by walk—and it was quite far away. As she came in front of this temple, her labour pains began. She couldn’t take another step and she said, “Amma! Amma!” and lay down on the bare ground in

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front of the temple. It was about 9 around it. She knew who that people go there during p.m. and there was no one was as well and she was Navarathri and ask her anything around. After about 10 minutes of confident the child was protected. they want to know. People light this the girl closed her eyes. When the husband and parents camphor on their hands and walk When she opened them again, she arrived (at the same time like the around the temple but they don’t saw an old lady sitting beside her Mother said they would), they get burned. Ladies who don’t and stroking her hair. She saw the snake slowly slither off have children pray to her and comforted her, and told her she into the bushes. then immediately conceive. So was going to get some leaves for And this story spread. After many miracles like that have her from a neem tree nearby. The that, the Devi there was called happened at this temple. old lady crushed the leaves, mixed Garbhaambaal, or the Devi of the The Kaavath Ammal temple is them with some water and gave womb. The name eventually on the southeast coast of India, them to the girl to drink. became Kaavath Ammal. Even not far from Kanyakumari and Soon, the baby was born. The today, hundreds of thousands of Rameshwaram. old lady cleaned the child and took care of it while the new mother rested and then said to her, “Don’t worry, I have already sent word to your husband and parents and they are all coming. They will arrive here at the same time.” The young woman was still in tremendous pain, but she still asked the old lady who she was. The old lady smiled and told her to keep watching her. Then she went toward the temple and walked right through the locked door. The new mother then knew who that lady was, but now, she was very tired. She drifted off to sleep but then she woke up with a start because she realized the child was exposed and no one was there. When she looked over the sleeping baby, she saw a black cobra

9 Yo Rudro! 636363 NaNaNayyyyyanmarsanmarsanmars Thirumoolar Nayanar march 2008 by Gratuz Devanesan

“Anbe Shivam.” to her husband and what should a giant tree in meditation. Every The emotional depths the soul become of her. The elders saw once in a while he would come out may dive upon contemplating that the young man had an meditation and speak a few lines this simple expression is only unusual light about him, and was of crystallized divine wisdom, imaginable. These two words, not quite like the cowherd they before returning to his known to every Tamilian, but had known before. They advised meditation. Legend has it that he possibly untranslatable by even her to let him go. remained so for over 3000 years, the most prolific scholars, is an Moolar returned to the location coming out of meditation once a expression that harmonically where he had left is old body, but year to share with the world his encompasses all that needs to be could not find it—as a result he profound wisdom—thereby known. Roughly, it equates God had to remain in his new body. composing the Thirumanthiram of to Love, but in truth implies much Thirumoolar went and sat under 3056 verses. more. It is no other than Thirumoolar, who composed the Thirumanthiram, that expressed this most simple and most profound of analogies. Sri called him an Isvarakoti, one who enjoyed full union with Shiva, but out of compassion took a birth so he may help others reach the “bliss- filled shores of Shiva’s kingdom.” Upon traveling towards the Himalayas to see Agastya, Moolar noticed a herd of very listless and despondent cows. Approaching them, he found the cowherd dead and the cows mourning. In his compassion he forgot the purpose of his own journey, and entered the dead cowherd’s body using his yogic powers. He thereupon led the happy cows back to the village. Once in the village he met the cowherd’s wife, who upon seeing how her “husband” showed no affection whatsoever for her, ran to the village elders for counsel— to determine what had happened

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MAHAMAHATHTH

SAHASRANAMAMSAHASRANAMAM by B. Jayaraman

Sri Devi upasakas are aware of the greatness of Sri Lalita Sahasranamam. The 774th nama describes Sri Lalita as “Mahathi” meaning the greatest of all great things. The final part of (Uthara- Phalasruthi) Lalita Sahasranamam declares that out of various sahasranamas describing Sri Devi, 10 of them are great and out of these 10, Lalita Sahasranamam is the greatest. With the grace of Guru Rupini Lalita, let us dwell on the greatness of this sahasranama. Firstly, the beginning itself is Lalita Sahasranamam of caste, region or religion are very great. It begins with SRI— (abbreviated L.S.) does not considered as fit for invoking Devi Sri Matha. Everything connected contain extra letters like “cha” to and doing puja as are men. Why with Lalita begins with Sri, i.e. Sri fulfill the requirements of chandas and what do we worship in Vidya, Sri Puram, Sri Chakra, Sri or meter. L.S. contains exactly women? Sometimes people think , Sri Kulam etc. 1000 namas unlike most other we worship their feminine “Sri” represents the sum total of sahasranamas and no nama gets qualities such as all conceivable soubhagyam. We repeated. L.S. deals with all their pleasing beauty or address persons as Sri, Sriman, aspects of Devi worship like gentle nature, but that is not the Srimathi etc. Hence the first , Thraipura case here. Actually, we nama itself makes it clear that Siddhantha, Bhakti Yoga, Mantra worship the motherhood in them, devotees of Lalita will be blessed shastras, Vedic worship and remembering our own mother’s with all soubhagyams. Sri Tantric worship etc. In fact the love and affection. Matha—The great mother, The beauty is that successive namas The five aspects of Motherhood Universal Mother, The Mother of make the point more effective. (Lalita’s Srishti Shakthi) that make all Soubhagyams, The Mother of Many times three successive every woman worthy of worship Goddess and so on. namas make the point emphatic is also specified in L.S. They are: and clear. For example, namas (1) Janani (2) Matha (3) 906, 907, and 908 declare that Prasavitri (4) Vidhatri (5) Lalita is a) beyond all tatwas, Ambika. b) experienced by all tathwas and c) the ultimate meaning of Janani is the aspect of all tathwas. L.S. is a mala motherhood by which the shukla mantra in the truest sense, and rakta bindu of the male and beginning with Aavirbhava of the female fertilize in the woman’s Devi and ending with Laya body. Matha is that aspect of with Siva. motherhood by which the Let us look at the first nama fertilized speck grows into a five- “Sri Matha” in greater detail. pound baby within the female “Matha” as a nama also comes body in approximately nine later (Matha-Malayachala Vasini), months and nine days. During hence there must be some great this time, the would-be significance in the first nama mother undergoes a lot of Sri Matha. In Devi inconveniences and does a lot worship, the puja of Kumaris of personal sacrifices regarding and Suvasinis is an important her eating habits and lifestyle. feature. Striya Samastha Sakala Prasavitri is that aspect of Jagatsu or women irrespective motherhood by which the full-

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grown baby is safely ejected from kids fight amongst themselves, 1) Universal Love and Affection the mother’s body without any the mother wants to bring about 2) Responsibility towards family harm. During this process the discipline. She controls the child & Society 3) Law of Justice mother undergoes severe pain. that is doing the wrong and Vidhatri is the one who protects the other child. Let us now see what the last specially protects. Now the SriMath Simhasaneswari—A nine namas convey to us. newborn baby is now externally king or queen on the throne 992nd nama—Lalita is Avyaja fed through breast milk and enquires about some matters and Karuna Murthy. She does not is under the special care of delivers decisions / judgments on require any specific reason to the mother throughout the day. other matters. Since all of us are shower Her Blessings. For Even science accepts that the love children of the same God, if we do example, sometimes when the and affection with which the anything wrong for our benefit, it sadaka sincerely wishes to chant mother hugs the baby and plays will certainly hurt others and L.S., he gets his wish fulfilled even with it helps in the healthy before he begins chanting. growth of the baby. 993rd nama—Ajnana Ambika—The baby has Dhvanta Dipika. Lalita dispels grown and moves to be the darkness of ignorance independent from the and creates enlightenment. mother. When the baby is Actually, any amount of out of sight and is playing by knowledge of philosophy itself and is about to get hurt, will not give you the mother intuitively at enlightenment; only Her times feels something is Grace will. Sri Lalita wrong and rushes to save showers Her grace the baby. This intuitive unconditionally. aspect of motherhood that 994th nama—Abala Gopa protects the baby is called Vidita. She is the one who is Ambika. known by all. Even a child Thus we find that Sri or a cowherd will get Lalita is present in every enlightenment just by Her woman as these five aspects grace. of motherhood and we 995th nama— worship women for these Sarvanullanghya Shasana. If qualities in them. If we ask you wonder how even a any mother why she has child could get done so much of sacrifice for enlightenment against her child, the answer will be: ignorance, this nama It is MY child, I gave birth to explains that Her Laws of my child after bearing it for grace are beyond nine months.” It is this questioning by anyone. “Mamakaram” that restricts her hence we get punished as a 996 to 1000 namas—Shri Chakra to Matha—the moment she starts principle of universal justice. Raja Nilaya, Shrimat.h Tripura treating every other child with Thus the first three namas Sundari, Shri Shiva, Shivashaktaikya same love and affection describe Sri Lalita as a universal Rupini Lalitambika. These namas irrespective of caste, creed mother and She fulfills Her describe Her abode, unity with and status, she will become Sri Great responsibilities just like our Siva and Devi as the playful Matha, the universal mother, Sri own mother. Ambika, the Mother who Lalita Herself. “Mahat” means Great. “Mahan” proactively helps the sadaka to Thus the very first nama in L.S. means a great person who fulfills get over his problems before they gloriously describes Her as the his responsibilities and does occur. What a fine ending! Universal Mother. She gave birth something extra good for society. Thus you have the assurance to the entire universe. She is the I have named this article Mahat from Sri Lalita. Start chanting embodiment of universal, Sahasranamam because along Sahasranamam preferably with motherly love. She protects us in with the various descriptions of the blessings and guidance from a many ways like the mother Sri Lalita, the Lalita guru or another upasaka. protects the child. Sahasranamam has revealed Approach Her as an innocent Let us examine the second and many other good things directly child with a pure heart. Without third namas. Sri Maha Ragni— or indirectly. Let us summarize any conditions you will get Her She is the Great Empress of all the what we learnt by the first three Grace in Plenty. families of the universe. When namas. They are: Sri Matre Namaha.

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TempleTemple Lore Lore d he urges devotees to

The stories of the devotees at the Sri Rajarajeswari Peetam create the very essence of the temple’s soul. Aiya has verified all these tales for their authenticity, an share their experiences for the benefit of future generations. All identities will be kept in the strictest confidentiality unless otherwise informed.

Aiya often says people don’t had ever seen before stepped out to the deities and Bhairava makes always believe that the gods are from behind the tree and said to sure they are not disturbed. alive and walking around at the her, “You just broke my fingers, The windows are usually open temple, but they really are didn’t you?” The other people during the summer, and everywhere. One deity whose there also saw him and all of them sometimes the young people of the presence is frequently felt by the were stunned. temple are in the parking lot after temple regulars is Bhairava. midnight. Once, some of them When Aiya was about to install were passing by outside the Devi inside the temple during the northeast window (near the Utsa 1998 kumbhabhishekam, she told Ganapathi murthi) during the him to first put a large trisulam middle of the night and heard the underneath the tree behind the sound of a fierce dog growling temple, which is now called the inside. Since Bhairava tends to Bhairava tree. She told him she show up in the form of a dog, they would keep an eye on the temple were terrified and ran away from and its devotees from that spot. the spot. After Aiya finally found a Even, a few months ago on the trisulam and installed it under second-last day of Kedara Gowri the tree, he noticed that there was Vratham, Bhairava showed a strange shape already etched himself again. Amma made vadas into the wood of the tree that that night—when she usually looked like a trisulam! Upon makes vadas, she offers them to examining the tree even closer, he Bhairava as a garland. This time, saw there was another natural she hadn’t made quite enough for carving in the shape of an eye, and a garland, so she didn’t think to it was “looking” in the direction of offer them to him. the temple. The next morning, some of the One devotee named volunteers came into the temple Parameshwari, or Teacher Paati, The Bhairava inside the temple to clean when they noticed as she is popularly called, often is also very much alive and he several paw prints on the ground goes to do puja at the Bhairava stands guard in the garbha-griham that looked like they came from tree. Sometimes, some of the between the hours of midnight to the feet of a dog! They were all women of the temple go with her. 4 a.m., when no human is over the temple floor, even around Once, a woman broke off a small, supposed to enter the inner the Devi. Amma felt like Bhairava gnarled branch while they were sanctum (there are some was upset with her, so the next all out there, because she felt it exceptions, like Shivarathri night). night, she made a whole garland might poke someone in the eye. A Those are the hours when of vadas for the final puja of few minutes later, a man no one otherworldly beings do their puja Kedara Gowri vratham!

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Through the years, these rocks iii iii were polished into the smooth llll nnnn specimens they are today. This, aaa a however, is only a legendary gggg rendition of how the banalingams nnn n developed through time. aaa aaaa According to the Yajnavalkya a Smhita, we read the most BBBB mmmm plausible explanation of these ssss powerful lingas, that they are bits by Aiya of the riverside rocks broken and dislodged by the strong currents of the river. The rock, itself, was The sanctity of the Banalingams the form that Shiva assumed to to Saivites is what Saligramams bless Banasura and since these are to the Vaishnavites—they are smaller bits are parts of the larger a beautiful and naturally rock, they represent aspects of occurring representation of the Shiva. Shivalingams are usually divine Lord. While saligramams classified according to their are found in the -Gandaki origins: river, Banalingams are found in the river Narmada as well as in 1. Devata Lingas: Installed by the Ganga, Yamuna and other deities and other divine beings. holy rivers. They are small, (i.e. Ketheeswaram, smooth, egg-shaped stones that Ekambareswara, Kanchipuram) look fairly normal on the outside 2. Lingas: Installed and but hold a world of information worshipped by demons (i.e. in their exquisite markings. Thirukoneswaram) These lingams are always 3. Manusha Lingas: Installed associated with the Narmada and worshipped by human River, so much so that they are beings (i.e. Brihadeeswara in also commonly called Narmada Thanjavur) A devata (Raudra) lingam on top lingams. This river originates at and a Narmada lingam on bottom 4. Purana Lingas: Installed about 914 meters above sea level and worshipped by mythological personalities (i.e. Rameswaram) 5. Arsha Lingas: Installed and Samuchchaya.” These particular worshipped by a great Rishi (i.e. representations of Shiva are so Maruntheeswara ) important and ancient that they even appear in some of ’s oldest scriptures—the Padma Purana mentions the presence of more than 60 crore and 60 thousand holy ghats, all of A Ganga banalingam which are associated with Banalingas and Raudralingas. at Amarakantak, in the Indian Other texts like the Matsya state of Madhya Pradesh. The Purana, Harivamsa and the currents in this river are so Bhagavatha Purana describe strong and forceful that their many stories and legends about One of the devata (raudra) repeated movements have an asura who is so famously banalingams that sit in the temple in polished and smoothed the stones associated with banalingams that front of Ardhanareeshwara throughout several centuries. over time, they have come to bear The lingams, themselves are his name. The demon Banasura 6. Swayambu Lingas: usually whitish in color but there was said to have stood on the Naturally-occurring lingas are also darker and reddish banks of the Narmada and in a originating from the samadhis of lingams found in this river. These frenzy of worship to Lord Shiva, fully realized yogis. (i.e. lingams are called “Raudra tossed stones into the rushing Muthulingswamy in Lingams,” according to a text currents while chanting Om Nama Katirgamam). Banalingas belong called the “Lakshana Shivaya. to this variety.

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The Swayambu, Devata and Purana lingas are considered to be 1. Mark of a conch shell uttama or ideal for worship. Arsha (shankhabhamastaka) and Asura lingas are considered worshipped by . to be madhyama or of average 2. Mark of a lotus (padma) quality, and Manusha lingas are worshipped by . adhama or the least desirable for 3. Mark of an umbrella worship. There are other (chatra) worshipped by . classifications of lingas that are 4. Mark of two heads not mentioned here for want of (siroyugma) worshipped by . space. 5. Mark of three steps (pada) Our temple in Rochester is worshipped by . especially blessed to house 6. Mark of knife (kadgha) particularly special banalingams. worshipped by Nairuddhi. The banalingas similar to the ones 7. Mark of water vessel in the in the SVTS temple find (kalasa) worshipped by . further interesting classification 8. Mark of flag (dwaja) in the Meru —here, it says worshipped by . these types are best among a 9. Mark of star (nakshatra) whole spectrum of sivalingas for worshipped by Soma. A Vishnu banalingam on top and worship. 10. Mark of ghadha a devata banalingam from the What’s even more interesting is (ghadhayudha) worshipped by Narmada on bottom. that each of the Banalingas Isanya. obtained from the Narmada river have already been worshipped by Furthermore, there are also receive maximum efficacy or a the devatas. This information is scriptural directions or specific outcome/desire from the found in the Siddhanta-sekhara, suggestions as to what group of worship. The following points which goes on to say that the people would be most suited to have been summarized from impressions of the deities that worship certain types of what has been written in the worshipped the lingas are left banalingams. These writings are Hemadri (Lakshana Kanda): behind in the lingas. The not spiritually binding, so to following marks show the speak, nor are they fixed rules. In 1. If the Banalinga is tawny or different deities that have the modern day and age, they can honey-colored and has a black worshipped the lingams: be noted as merely a guideline to mark like a coil of rope, it is fit to be worshipped by all the yogis. 2. If it is multi-colored and has markings like matted hair and a mark of a spear then it is called a Mrutyunjaya Lingam and is worshipped by the gods and the powerful deities. 3. If the lingam is elongated, whitish, and has a black dot on it, it is called a Nilakantha Lingam. Is to be worshipped by all men. 4. If the lingam is of white complexion and has three eye-like marks on it, as well as white lines resembling hairs on the body it is called a Trilochana Lingam. Worship of this lingam eliminates all sins. 5. The Kalagni-Rudra Lingam is dark in complexion, stout and brilliant in aspect, and carries the mark of matted hair tied up into a topknot. It is adored by all the Ganas. The temple’s mula shivalingam is a banalingam from the Narmada, as well as a rakta-netra lingam—meaning “the eye of blood”

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6. The Tripura Lingam is Right: The sacred banalingams honey-colored formed from the currents of the with a white line Narmada river resembling the Brahmanas. It has the mark of a crescent moon on top and a lotus- like mark at the bottom. It is to be worshipped by kshatriyas. 7. The Isana Lingam appears white in color Left: A cradle with the with a honey-colored mark of natural Shivalingams matted hair and bears a mark polished over centuries resembling a garland of severed by the waters of the heads. It can also have the mark Narmada river of a Trisulam, and is worshipped by those desiring sayujya siddhi or moksha (liberation) with Shiva himself. Right: Small 8. Half of the Shivalingams Ardhanareeswara Lingam is after being white and the other half is of a sanctified by the reddish hue. On it can be found waters of the the markings of the Trisulam and Narmada river at Damaru. the Sangama of 9. The Maha-Kala Lingam is Omkareswara. bright and rotund in shape, The rare unique elongated and slightly red- markings on coloured. It is bright and them are regarded as very attractive and its worship will auspicious secure all values of life such as Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.

Left: A variety of Some of the texts that provide Shivalingams at a shop information on the banalingams at the Omkareshwara and the merits of their worship Jyotirlingam temple and characteristics are the Suta- Samhita, Suprabedha Agama, Kalottara, Bhavishya and Kedara- kanda. Part of the reason why I offered to write an Right: This Narmada article on Shivalingam has touched all the banalingams 12 Jyotirlingams in India. It was for this sanctified in waters of the Narmada river at the Sangama issue of the at Omkareshwara Sri Chakra is due to the

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momentous arrival of two such Shivalingams at the temple last Clockwise from upper left: a fall. As we anticipate the Other temple Mercury (rasa) lingam; a spatika installation of these two huge (crystal) lingam; a large banalingams, I thought it would banalingams banalingam placed in dry rice; a be fitting that the temple jyotir lingam; a jyotir lingam in community develop a better the dark with lights behind it; the mercury lingam decorated and understanding of these intricate placed in its yoni peetam carvings of nature. The two massive Shivalingams that arrived at the SVTS temple on a Soma Pradosha last year miraculously arrived here from Minnesota after a journey from the waters of the sacred river Narmada, in India. They will be installed in aruna (red) yoni peetams (a base for the Shivalingam) and will be accessible for all to worship regardless of caste, creed, gender or national origin. Continuous worship of the banalingams with Vedic Suktas and other stotras causes an intense but invisible effect. The sound that hits any type of Shivalingam from any direction results in an internal Different types of temple reverberation of that sound within the lingam—eventually, shivalingams the sound is completely absorbed in the linga sarira. After several years of such concentrated worship, the lingas slowly begin L to R: brown to emit energy into their gold stone, environment. The energy thus white quartz emitted has the capacity to negate and red gold all the accumulated karmic stone burdens of the aspirants and worshippers alike. Just as Banasura was said to have tossed stones in the Narmada, this article is a mere L to R: pebble thrown into the waters of malachite, jade all there is to know about and onyx banalingams. I encourage you to shivalingams read what you can to learn more about these unique structures—it will make their installation ceremony in the spring all the more meaningful. L to R: green gold stone, tiger’s eye and black stone

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Sri Gurubhyo Namaha

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