‘Samarasya is Sanatana – Samanvaya is Bharateeyata’

© Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma

February 2016 Volume: 2 Issue: 01

AArsha Vani ( V o i c e o f S a n a t a n a D h a r m a )

“Sarva Devaatmaka Sri Aditya”

‘‘A deep dive into Indian sages’ profound philosophical comprehension, modes of worship, divine teachings, and vast literature of scriptures, treatises, hymns, and mantras reveal that ‘Sun’ i.e. Aditya is the epicenter of this gigantic spectrum of Sanatana Dharma. At a physical level, Sun is a blazing inferno. Scientifically, He is the primary source of direct and indirect energy and nerve center of all the life in all creatures. But, scriptures describe Aditya as the effulgent supreme light i.e. ‘Supreme Parabrahman’. Many creatures originate deriving their life from Sun. Hence, He is termed as ‘Brahma’. Because of His expansive nature, He radiates brilliant light spreading energy all around. So, He is known as ‘Vishnu’. He is also called ‘Rudra’, because He torments with His tremendous heat. He is known as ‘Siva’, the auspicious one. Other

descriptions such as ‘Kaala Karta’ – creator of the Time, ’Ruthu Karta’ – creator of the Seasons, ‘Karma Saakshi’ – Witness of all the Actions, ‘Sabda Maya’ – Repository of all the Sounds - give insight into the thoughtful reflections that our ancient Sages made about Sun. Sun’s rays are laden with the power to bestow good health. The Mantra ‘Dhyeyaha Sadaa Savitru Mandala Madhyavartee’ means that our prostrations to Surya, who is worshipped as the Narayana (Lord Vishnu). In that ‘Aruna’ Red light of Sun, ‘Karuna’ compassion is visualized and is worshipped as ‘Arunambika’ Sri Lalita Maha Tripurasundari. All the wealth in this world is due to the cosmic energy from the Sun. Hence, solar energy is worshipped as ‘Lakshmi’ and ‘Para Shakti’ (The Supreme Power). Sun is the repository of all forms of knowledge. He is worshipped as ‘Gayatri’, ‘Savitri’ and ‘Saraswati’. All other celestials are transformations of the qualities present in Sun’s rays, such as ‘Mitra’ – stickiness’, ‘Poosha’ – provider for all, ‘Varuna’ – tenderness or moistness and so on. In ‘Aditya Hrudayam’ hymn, Aditya is described as “Yesha Brahma ca Vishnusca Siva Skanda Prajapati:..Sarva Devaatmako Hyesha: Tejaswi Rasmi Bhavana: ...” Hence, our sages instituted the noble practice of worshipping Sun both at dawn and dusk. Let’s all worship Aditya devoutly reciting ‘Aditya Hrudayam’ with concentration and attention to obtain His grace here and hereafter.”

– Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma. (Adapted from multiple sources)

Upcoming Pravachanams

Date: Jan 20- Feb 3, 2016 6:30PM Topic: Sri Mahabharatam Venue: Tyagaraja Bhavanam, Bhimavaram Contact: Bonda Subbarao - 9246633676

Date: Feb 5-7, 2016 6:30PM Topic: Hanuman Chalisa – Mahima Vaibhavamu Venue: Y.S.R.Kalyana Mandapam, Srikakulam. Contact: Gumma Nagesh - 9440195735

Date: Feb 8 –12, 2016 6:30PM Topic: Siva Mahima Vaibhavam Venue: Raanipeta Village, Parlakimidi. Contact: Rehamatulla - 9866970816 Ghandi - 9337848258 Chiranjeevi - 9439646409

Date: Feb 13- 17, 2016 6:30PM Topic: Sri Adi Sankara Vijayam Venue: Rice Millers Association Hall, Tadepally Gudem Contact: Vogeti Krishna - 9949269632 9441902214

Date: Feb 22 - 28, 2016 6:30PM Topic: Aditya Hrudayam -Surya Aradhana Venue: Gayani Samaja, Bangalore Contact: V.A Sastry - 9845025121 Radha Krishna - 9845043927 J.V.R.Prasada Rao - 9871015704 Pati Sridhara - 9341214797

(For details visit http://rushipeetham.org/ Event Calendar )

Traditions-Fulfilments

Scriptures prescribe the worship of Divine Mother venerated as ‘Bhanu Mandala Madhyasta’ from Magha Suddha Padyami to Magha Suddha Navami for nine days known as Gupta (undisclosed) Navaratri during Pradosha to obtain marvelous results.

Praying ‘Cakṣuṣmati Devi’ residing in Sun’s orb reciting the sloka below removes eye disorders and increases intellectual capacity.

cakṣu: tējōmayaṁ puṣpaṁ

kandukaṁ bibhratīm karai: । raupya simhāsanārūḍha

dēvīṁ cakṣuṣmatīm bhajē॥ śrī bhagavatē sūryāya ādityāya

akṣi tējasē nama: ॥

Sadhu Vachanam “Rigveda declares that ‘Surya is the soul, both of moving and unmoving beings. Sun salutations, that is series of prostrations to Sun performed at dawn and dusk facing the rising Sun brings you divinity, wealth, health, position and ultimately Moksha.”

— Swami Sivananda, Divine Life Society.

Bharateeyam “In Varanasi, each of the twelve Sun temples was located in such a way that it

indicated the movement, speed and the intensity of the light during the apparent

movement of the Sun across the twelve signs of the Zodiac. It is a mystery how

the ancient Indians had fixed the sites for these temples, either by mathematical

calculations or through intuition and meditation. "

- Prof J.McKim Malville.

Spiritual Quest (Answers by Sri Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma)

It is becoming difficult to have ‘Concentration’ on God in Puja all the time. On top of that, there is no experience of

fulfillment or bliss. Is it not futile to do such worship?

“Doing Puja is an external action. Those who can do their entire Puja with utmost ‘Concentration’ are really blessed. However, this is not to be expected or guaranteed. Just as we eat food every day to satiate our hunger though we do not relish completely every time, we should still continue to do Puja every day irrespective of our concentration. Engaging our body thus in Lord’s worship ripens after some time and we become worthy of God’s grace.”

‘Samarasya is Sanatana – Samanvaya is Bharateeyata’

© Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma

Ratha Saptami The seventh day of the lunar calendar in the bright half of ‘Magha’ month is called ‘Ratha Saptami’. Worship of Sun on this day grants immense merits equal to the worship of Sun for one complete year. Giving ‘Arghya’ to Sun in copper pot, worshipping with red sandalwood and red flowers, offering rice pudding cooked with cow milk using cow dung cakes as fuel are prescribed scriptural stipulations to be observed on this auspicious day. Need to recite the below sloka while taking bath:

namastē rudra rūpāya rasānāṁ patayē nama:

aruṇāya namastēstu hari vāsa namōstutē॥ yadyajjanma kr̥taṁ pāpaṁ mayā janmasu saptasu

tanmē rōgan̄ca śōkan̄ca mākarī hāntu saptamī॥ ētajjanma kr̥taṁ pāpaṁ yajjanmānta dārjitaṁ

manō vākkāyajaṁ yacca jñātā jñātē ca yē pūnā: ॥

iti sapta vidhaṁ pāpaṁ snānānmē sapta saptikē

sapta vyādhi samāyuktaṁ hara mākari saptamī॥

Goddess presiding the Saptami Tithi is propitiated with the following sloka. Janani sarva lōkānāṁ saptamī sapta saptikau

sapta vyāhr̥ti kē dēvi namastē sūrya maṇḍalē॥

Worship of Sun with red sandalwood and red flowers in lotus drawn with eight petals containing ‘Ravi’, Bhanu’, ‘Vivaswata’, ‘Bhaskara’, ‘Savita’, ‘Arka’, ‘Sahasra Kirana’ and ‘Sarvatmaka’ on each petal is efficacious.

Sri Panchami

Saraswati Puja

Magha Suddha Panchami is celebrated as ‘Sri Panchami’. Goddess Saraswati manifested on this auspicious day. Devi Bhagavatam and Brahma Vaivarta Puranam extolled the significance of this day. On this day, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped. Saraswati is the embodiment of all forms of knowledge, arts, music, wisdom, intelligence, speech, dexterity etc. Hymns extolling Saraswati are found extensively in Vedas, Puranas, and other scriptures. One should reflect upon the philosophy of Saraswati. Her form is an indication of the philosophy. She sits in a white lotus. White denotes purity, clarity and lack of confusion. Lotus denotes blossoming. Hence, knowledge should always be clear and holistic without any misperception. She sits on a swan. A swan extracts only milk from a mixture of milk and water. Hence, an intelligent person should exercise discretion and discriminate between good and bad (purposeful and purposeless) in this world. Swan in Sanskrit is called ‘Hamsa’. ‘Hamsa’ represents our breaths i.e. inhalation and exhalation. Speech is dependent upon breath. Hence, Saraswati is the presiding deity who controls the speech. Brahma Vaivarta Purana mentions that Goddess Saraswati Herself told that She would come down to earth as a river and would go back to Her celestial abode shortly after the beginning of Kali Yuga. Recent satellite pictures and following research corroborate this fact that there existed a river called ‘Saraswati’ in India during Vedic times and became extinct around 5000 years ago. ‘Om Sri Saraswatyai Namaha’.

vidyāpradāna samayē śaradinduśubhrāṁ lakṣmī pradāna samayē navavidrumābhāṁ! vidvēṣa vargavadaḷanēca tamālanīlāṁ dēvīṁ trilōkajananīṁ śaraṇaṁ prapadyē!!

– Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma.

(Adapted from ‘Mugurammala Vaibhavam’ discourse)

Suryopasana

Worship of Sun is prevalent since times immemorial. ‘Sun’ is worshipped as

one of the six principal deities. ‘Akshi Upanishad’, ‘Aditya Upanishad’ and

‘Soura Aruna’ mantras describe the worship of Sun in great detail. Ramayana

mentions about Sage Agastya teaching ‘Aditya Hrudayam’ hymn to Rama in

the battlefield, when Rama was contemplating about the war with Ravana.

Rama recites this stotra devoutly and thereafter kills Ravana. Infact, Sun is the

originator and presiding deity for Ikshvaku race. Mother Sita also worships

‘Diwakara’ and obtains mental peace after seeing the illusory slain heads of

Rama & Lakshmana. Hanuman venerated Aditya as Guru.

Mahabharata mentions about Yudhishtira getting blessed with ‘Akshaya’ (ever

bountiful) pot upon worship of Sun. Draupadi prayed to Sun who sent an

‘Invisible Power’ and protected her from Keechaka. Story of ‘Syamanataka’

jewel obtained by king Satrajit upon the worship of Sun is popular. Krarna’s

devotion towards Sun is well known. Krishna tells Arjuna that just the darshan

of raising Sun itself removes all obstacles and grants success. Worshipping Sun,

Lord Krishna’s son Samba was cured of leprosy. Bhishma did Suryopasana on

the bed of arrows while waiting for Uttarayana. Matsya, Kurma, Vamana and

other Puranas contain stotras of Surya.

Historic evidences establish that Sun worship was major in Hindu rituals in

Fourth century during the Gupta period. Poet Mayura gained good health

after venerating Sun God with one hundred verses popularly known as ‘Surya

Satakam’. Worship of Sun is essential for entire mankind. Those who want to

have health, knowledge, wealth and good life should worship Sun

irrespective of caste, creed, age and gender. Surya is easily pleased with

prostrations (Namaskara) and offering water (Arghya). Pure water mixed with

blades of grass (Durvankura), rice with turmeric (Akshata), red flowers, red

sandal wood powder (Chandana) in a copper vessel is good for Arghya. One

should kneel down, hold the copper vessel with both the hands above the

forehead & offer Arghya or do prostrations reciting the twelve names of Aditya

1. sri mitrāya nama: 2. sri ravayē nama: 3. sri sūryāya nama:

4. sri bhānavē nama: 5. sri khagāya nama: 6. sri pūṣṇē nama:

7. sri hiraṇyagarbhāya nama: 8. sri marīcayē nama:

9. sri ādityāya nama: 10. sri savitrē nama:

11. sri aryāya nama: 12. sri bhāskarāya nama:

Everyone should recite ‘Aditya Hrudayam’ at the time of both twilights. -Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma.

(Adopted from multiple discourses)

‘Samarasya is Sanatana – Samanvaya is Bharateeyata’

© Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma

Varanasi Sun Temples, Locations, Cosmic Order and Religious Merits

Kind courtesy: Dr. Rana P. B. Singh (b. 1950), MA, PhD, Professor of Cultural Geography & Heritage Studies at Banaras Hindu University, is the Founding President of the Society of Heritage Planning & Environmental Health, and of the Society of Pilgrimage Studies. He has been involved in studying, performing and promoting the heritage planning and spiritual tourism in the Varanasi region based on ancient scriptures and puranas such as ‘Kashi Khanda’ from Skanda Purana, ‘Devi Mahatmyam’ etc. for the last three decades as researcher, teacher, promoter, collaborator, guide and organizer.

Source: ‘Sun Images: Ordering, Cultural Astronomy and Worship’

Dr. Rana P. B. Singh (b. 195 0), MA, PhD, Professor of Cultural Geography &

‘Samarasya is Sanatana – Samanvaya is Bharateeyata’

© Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma

Surya and Siva ādityaṁ ca śivaṁ vidyāt sivamāditya rūpiṇaṁ

ūbhayōrantaraṁ nāsti ādityasya ca śivasya ca - Bhaviṣyōttara purāṇaṁ

Siva Purana also mentions that worship of Sun and Siva is same. 'Magha' is made up of two words - 'Ma' (No) 'Agha' (Sin) -

No sin. Every tithi is auspicious in this month like Kartika. Any act of worship, however small, bestows great merits just like

a seed harvested in the right season. Worship of Sun as the embodiment of all Gods or worship of Siva during the entire

month confers multitudinal benefits. In the month of Magha, Sun rays are empowered with specific cosmic energy. Those

who perform ablutions before Sunrise and worship Sun attain everything here and hereafter. 'Namaskara Priyo Bhanu:' -

Sun is most pleased with salutations. Therefore, the famous hymn 'Rudra Namakam' extolls Rudra, another form of Siva.

A story in Puranas describes about the request by all Gods to Siva for the most efficacious method to worship Him. Lord

showed them His effulgent 'Supreme Form' in the center of Sun’s orb, pervading the entire cosmos across the spectrum of

galaxies, stars, and planets and completely bedecked with all kinds of jewelry holding a lotus in one of His ten hands. This

radiant sphere is the first vision of Jyotirlinga. Inspired by the Lord Himself, all sages and Gods offered ‘Arghya’ to Siva with

water mixed with blades of grass, gems, vermilion, and flowers reciting the

following sloka.

sindhūravarṇāya sumaṇḍalāya suvarṇavarṇābharaṇāya tubhyaṁ

padmābhanētrāya sapaṅkajāya brahmēndranārāyaṇa kāraṇāya ॥

namaḥ śivāya śāntāya sagaṇāyādihētavē |

rudrāya viṣṇavē tubhyaṁ brahmaṇē sūryamūrtayē ॥

pradattamādāya sahēmapātraṁ praśastamarghyaṁ bhagavan prasīda ॥

All men and women can offer ‘Arghya’ every day during the twilight time reciting slokas above.

Skanda Purana mentions that Goddess Maha Lakshmi worshipped Siva in the form of ‘Linga’ made with clay. In Vidyeswara

Samhita of Siva Purana, it is mentioned that women can also worship ‘Siva Linga’ with mantras and stotras mentioned in

Puranas.

brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyō vaiśyaḥ śūdrō vā pratilōmajaḥ| pūjayēt satataṁ liṅgaṁ tattan mantrēṇa sādaraṁ|

kiṁ bahūktēna munayaḥ strīṇāmapi tathān'yataḥ | adhikārōsti sarvēṣāṁ śivaliṅgārcanē dvijāḥ ॥

GOD’S COMPASSION AND SOUL’S ATTRACTION

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was

explaining about the compassion of God.

He said that every soul is bound to get

attracted to God, because of Lord

Almighty’s indescribable and boundless

compassion. He gave the example of iron

filings getting attracted to the magnet.

Someone questioned the Master, ‘But, O

Sire! I see some disconnection here. My

mind is not getting attracted to God, do

what may’. Sri Paramahamsa humbly accepted the gentleman’s proposition and

said they both are right. The questioner got confused and asked how both could

be true at the same time. Sri Paramahamsa explained, ‘Just as iron filings covered

with mud are never attracted by the magnet, those minds immersed deep in

mundane affairs and are covered with the mud of ‘Agnana’ (Ignorance) are never

attracted towards God. It is essential to purify oneself to get attracted by God.’ (February 18th is Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa birthday)

Major Festivals

Suddha Chaviti – Feb 11, 2016

Lighting lamp with sesame oil grants good health. Worshipping Siva with jasmine flowers is auspicious.

Suddha Panchami – Feb 12, 2016

Worshipping Goddess Lakshmi with jasmine flowers and offering sweet made with sesame and jaggery bestows affluence.

Ratha Saptami – Feb 14, 2016 Bhishma Ashtami– Feb 15, 2016 Bhishma Ekadashi – Feb 18, 2016 Varaha (Suddha) Dwadasi – Feb 19, 2016 Maha Maghi (Pournima) – Feb 22, 2016

BHISHMA EKADASI Starting from Ekadashi till Pournima is known as ‘Bhishma Panchaka Vratam’. Observance of Bhishma Panchaka Vratam

Offering arghya to Bhishma on all these days grants virtuous progeny and their subsequent victory.

satyavratāya śucayē gāṅgēyāya mahātmanē | bhīṣmāyaitad dadāmyarghyamājanmabrahmacāriṇē ॥

vaiyāghrapadagōtrāya sāṅkr̥tapravarāya ca | aputrāya dadāmyētadudakaṁ bhīṣmavarmaṇē ॥

vasūnāmavatārāya śantanōrātmajāya ca| arghyaṁ dadāmi bhīṣmāya ājanmabrahmacāriṇē ॥

Continuous recitation of ‘Madhava’ on Ekadasi day and fasting. This Dwadasi is also called ‘Tila Dwadasi’ or ‘Varaha Dwadasi’. Recitation of ‘Varaha Swami’ stotram confers merits

equal to performing all Yagnas.

Worship Siva and Vishnu with sesame seeds on Dwadasi day.

‘Samarasya is Sanatana – Samanvaya is Bharateeyata’

© Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma

Announcements

‘Mahabharata Gaadhalu – Bodhalu’ pravachanam at Kurukshetra from March 6 – 12, 2016.

Everyday 11:00am to 12:30pm and 6:30pm to 8:00pm.

For details, visit http://saamavedam.org/images/home/Kurukshetram-Tour.pdf

Chandi Rudra Yaga sahita Siva Parvati Kalyanam, Mar 28 - Apr 1, 2016, Sringeri, Karnataka. Interested

people can perform Kalyanam. For information, contact PV Sasi Kumar 8886371773 & ASP Sarma 9908233893

For details, visit http://saamavedam.org/images/home/Sringeri%20Invitation.pdf

śiva jñānaṁ – Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma.

brahma murāri surārcita liṅgaṁ Part 4

This effulgent Linga (Agni Linga) is not that ‘Fire’ which is one among the Five Elements. This is the basic form of radiance for the Five Elements. Of course, there is a tradition to worship Lord Siva in the form of ‘Light Linga’ (Jyotirlinga)! Here ‘Agni’ literally means ‘one who is at the pinnacle (agramu)’. This is ‘Kala’agni Rudra’s great form i.e. Devourer of ‘Time’.

The rationales to comprehend the limits of space and time are symbolized here as boar and swan. Everything we observe is queried to know the beginning, span and end. But, truth is unlimited. It shall not be within the reach of space, time and matter. ‘Past’ is infinite as well as ‘Future’ is infinite too. ‘Present’ is the current center. Even this is also a part of the infinite. Though these three – past, present & future are mentioned for the sake of comprehension, really the infinite time is not bound by any of these three. Space and time are relative. Our ability to dig into the past is symbolized as boar whereas our ability of imagination to fly into the future is symbolized as swan.

But, future can’t be reached even with greatest imagination. Similarly, the unfathomable past can’t be understood. The power of the infinite time can be comprehended only at the center.

We can grab water from any part of the flowing perennial river. Similarly, the consciousness of time should be understood only from the present times. Past is a memory; Future is always an imagination and only present is the truth. Within the current state, meditation is the concentrated way to visualize the infinite power of the ‘Supreme Lord’. Unbroken consciousness without beginning and ending is the real form of ‘Maha Kala’ (Great Time). How many states of creations and sustenance have merged into this! Sadasiva is that form of ‘Infinite Time’ into which these merged. Many waves rise, stay and merge again into the ocean. These are three actions that occur within the same ocean. Similarly, this universe manifested many times as creation, sustenance and dissolution within the infinite cosmos (Brahman) and disappeared.

(To be continued…)

Sri Vallabha Ganapathi Devalaya

Prathama Varshikotsava Brahmotsavam Konthamuru, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh – February 18-20, 2016

Officiation: Brahmasri Yanamandra Venugopala Sastry garu

Brahmasri Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma garuFeb 18th & 19th, 2016 - Program

8:45 AM: Vighneswara Puja, Punyahavachanam, Maha Sankalpam, Matruka puja, Rutvigvaranam, Deekshaa Grahanam, Japatapadyanushtanamu.

10:00AM: Panchamruta Abhishekam, Tattvanyasa Kalanyasa, Kunda Mandapa Samskara, Agni Pratishta & Brahma Kalasa Sthapana.

03:00PM: Ashtadravya Sahita Sahasra Modaka Homam

08:00PM: Neerajana, Mantrapushpa & Tirtha Prasada Viniyoga.

Feb 20th, 2016 - Program

Pratyeka Abhisheka Homam

11:30 AM: Maha Purnahuti and Maha Kumbhabhishekam For details contact: Sri S Srirama Sastry 9542122189 Dr. TV Narayana Rao 9393939379 Sri DV Hanumantha Rao 9949705166

Sri K Varaprasad 9849660056 Sri VS Subrahmanyam 9177207167

‘Samarasya is Sanatana – Samanvaya is Bharateeyata’

© Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma

January 2016 Events

Sri Guruvugaru taking part in Chandi Homam at Bhimavaram

Sri Guruvugaru at GVIT Engineering College ‘Sri Mahabharata’ Pravachana Maha Yagnam, Bhimavaram

Traditional Bhogi Celebrations at Rushipeetham Book Stall Sri Vallabha Ganapati Temple Konthamuru, Rajahmundry Vijayawada Book Exhibition

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