DIVINE INFORMATION PART 59 There are 1383 wordsin this posting counted by the computer. Approximately138 sentences
Respectedfriends, While going through oneof my external memory device, I came across some good information stored from websites. Ithought of sharing interesting ones from them as a series. In part 59, I am starting with 224TH item in this posting. Kindly note the series is a compilation. Sincerely, GopalaKrishnan 22-07-21 224The Ganapati Upanishad It identifies Lord Ganesh with the Supreme Self. Lord Ganesh representsthe Pranava (AUM) which is the symbol of the Supreme Self. Taitiriya Upanishad(1.8.1.) states: "AUM ITI BRAHMAN -AUM is Brahman (GOD). AUM is all this . Nothingcan be done without uttering it. This explains the practice of invoking LordGanesh before beginning any rite or undertaking any project. Lord Ganesh removes all obstacles on the path of the spiritual aspirant, and bestows upon him worldly as well asspiritual success. So he is called VIGNA VINAYAKA or VIGHNESHWAR. 225 Hanumath Jayanthi, Especially Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the festival involves more elaboratecelebrations. Huge tents are erected in front of Hanuman temples where peoplecongregate to listen to recitations of the Hanuman Chalisa. Entertainment programmes are organized on this occasion, the nautanki inUttar Pradesh and the jatrain Bihar being the most popular. These dramasrepresent a particular aspect of the life of Hanuman, especially emphasizinghis devotional nature and his bravery. Many people congregate to watch these programmes. Games like wrestlingare a common part of this festival. Body-builders and wrestlers assemble at awrestling field in the morning after praying for blessings from the monkey god.A tilak oforange sindoora from Hanuman's body is applied to their forehead, for it isconsidered to be auspicious and bestow good luck. Wrestling commences with both wrestlers crying 'Jai Hanuman' or 'HailHanuman'. The winner is rewarded handsomely on this occasion. Other daringgames like balancing an immensely heavy stone on one's chest, and pulling aheavy jeep or car with one's teeth are also popular nowadays. All these eventsrepresent the power and strength that Hanuman symbolizes. The cult ofHanuman is fairly strong in India and hence Hanuman Jayanthi is an importantfestival. Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy. As anunmarried, celibate god, he is especially popular with body-builders, whobelieve that like him, one needs to be celibate in order to have a strong body. Hanuman is said to be able to assume any form at will, wield rocks, movemountains, dart through the air, seize the clouds and rival Vishnu's bird, Garudain swiftness off light. He is worshipped in folk tradition as a deity withmagical powers and the ability to conquer evil spirits. 226 Great Deepam Festival at Arunachala Every minute that we spend in the Arunachala punya boomi (holy land) isspecial. Why, every minute that we think of Arunachala is special. But arethere specific time periods which are even more special? Yes, say the Siddhas. The Pournami full moon days of each month and the Karthigai Deepam dayeach year are particularly important. Why? Becausethe Pournami day marks the the apex of spirituality in each month and theKarthigai Deepam day commemorates the appearance of the Lord as a jothisthambam, an infinite pillar of light at Arunachala. Thus these days areparticularly significant. While we must performgiri valam and good deeds every day at Arunachala, the Pournami days and theKarthigai Deepam day are particularly important. In fact, a period of ten days to a fortnight that make up the KarthigaiDeepam festival at Arunachala is important. This period starts on the day thetemple flag is unfurled on the dhvaja sthambam (flag pole) in the Arunachalatemple and lasts until the day the deepa jothi flame at the peak of theArunachala Hill is cooled down. This time period is the very very sacred; it's most ideal for girivalam,worship of Arunachala and for rendering selfless service to the poor and theneedy in Arunachala's name. 227 The Deepam Day atArunachala The Karthigai Deepam day is the Karthigai nakshatram day of the Karthigaimaasam (generally mid November - mid December of each year). On this day, at 6 p.m.Indian Standard time (1230 hours GMT), deepa jothi flames are lit at the peakof the Arunachala hill to mark the Lord's appearance as a jothi sthambam, an infinitepillar of light. The Lord's jothi sthambam form perplexed even the Trimoorthi trinity. Noone could understand this form and thus everyone surrendered to the Lord andbegged Him to reveal Himself in a more understandable form. The ever merciful Arunachala acquiesced to their sincere request and manifested Himself as theArunachala Hill, the world's largest Siva Lingam, a form which everyone of uscan perceive and enjoy. In this form, He packed an infinity of divine darshans (visions) for ourspiritual enjoyment and upliftment. Thus the Karthigai Deepa Jothi festival isalso an affirmation of our eternal gratitude to the Lord's kindness formanifesting Himself in a form that even mortals can perceive and enjoy. Om Salutations to Arunachala Om Salutations to vedam Om Salutations to the Maha Guru Om Salutations to the vediclinks Om Salutations to the Siddhas 228 Navaratri is a festivalthat lasts nine days and nine nights. The word "Navaratri" actually means nine (Nava) nights (ratri). This iscelebrated in different styles throughout India. Navaratri occurs during thefirst 9 days of the bright half of the month of Aashwayuja in the Indiancalendar. Mother Durga for the first three days, Mother Lakshmi for the nextthree days, and Mother Saraswathi for the last three days. 229 Shashti is a day of importance to Sri Murugan. It usually falls a few days after Amavasai of the month. Sashti or sixthday of the full moon and the sixth day of the new moon are favorite days forLord Muruga. Devoteesundertake fasting and prayers on the occurrence of this day every month for aperiod usually a year or three years. The occurrence of Shashti during the Malayalam month of Thulam(October-November) is considered of great importance and celebrated as SkandaShashti. Devotees organise Bhajan and Kirtan programs on a grand scale. Severaldevotees of Muruga observe partial or full fast on each Sashti day andthroughout the Skanda Sashti period. Skanda Shashti festivalcelebrates the appearance of Lord Murugan in this temporal world. It is the day on which Lord Subramanya defeated the demon Taraka.Murugan, representing the good, fights Tarakasuran, a demon who represents evilor the dark forces. It isinteresting to note that this festival comes immediately after Navarathiri andDeepavali. Its symbolism is very similar to that of Deepavali and Navarathiri-Victory of good over evil. Narakasuran represents the dark forces and LordKrishna represents the good. Similarly, Shakthi, the goddess representing thegood, destroys the evil and dark forces represented by Mahishasuran after thenine night festival, Navarathiri. Another feature found in the Skandapuranam (the story of Lord Muruga), isthat its similarity in some aspects to Ramayana. Like Sri Rama, Murugan alsogoes to war with Veerabadran and as in Ramayana, Murugan sends off thedefenseless Tarakasuran to return the following day fully decked with weaponsto fight him. Devotees fast for this period and meditate on the glory of LordMurugan. Married coupleswho do not have any children offer their special prayers to seek Murugan'sblessings for a child. It is a period when Lord Murugan's devotees recite the hymns SkandaShasti Kavacham- the protective Armour of Lord Murugan. 230 Skanda Shasti Kavacham It is a short composition of powerful hymns containing special mantras.Through these matters, the composer, a sage cum poet Thevarayar, seeksMurugan's blessings to protect him against all evil forces such as the devils,goblins and protection of his body against all sickness. Though he had composed six such kavachams or Armour of hymns in honour ofeach of the six celebrated abodes of Murugan, the one composed at Thiruchenduris most popular and is recited by devotees. This is because, Thevarayar, whowas despondent with his severe ulcer pain was cured at this abode of Murugan. I will continue in nextposting -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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