Pranam 1 *Shasta* is a generic term that means "Teacher, Guide, Lord, Ruler" in Sanskrit In South India, a number of deities are associated with Shasta. The Tamil song *Shasta Varavu* states that there are eight important incarnations and forms of Shasta. This is also present in the agamic work *Dyana Ratnavali*. The *Ashta-Shasta* (eight Shastas) are *Aadhi Maha Shasta*, *Dharma Shasta* (Ayyappan <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayyappan>), *Gnana Shasta* , *Kalyana Varadha Shasta*, *Sammohana Shasta*, *Santhana Prapti Shasta*, *Veda Shasta* and *Veera Shasta*. *Brahma Shasta* is another term associated with Kartikeya <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartikeya>.
2 In Tamil Nadu, Aiyanar <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aiyanar> is used as another name of the deity *Shasta*. The earliest reference to *Aiynar-Shasta* is from the Arcot district <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcot> in Tamil Nadu. The stones are dated to the 3rd century C.E. They read "Ayanappa; a shrine to Cattan." This is followed by another inscription in Uraiyur <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uraiyur> near Tiruchirapalli <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruchirapalli> which is dated to the 4th century C.E 3 Literary references to *Aiyanar-Cattan* are found in Silappatikaram <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silappatikaram>, a Tamil <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_language> work dated to the 4th to 5th centuries C.E. The Tamil sangam classics Purananuru, Akananuru etc. refer to ayyanar and "cattan" in many poems. There are several numerous references to sasta in sangam works. Some Tamil inscriptions of sangam times and also of the later pallava and chola period coming in from various parts of the empire refer to him as sevugan and mahasasta. The hymns of some alwars like tirumangai alwar and nammalwar in temples like tirumogur near madurai refer to sasta. A Sanskrit work dated prior to the 7th century known as Brahmanda Purana <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmanda_Purana> mentions *Shasta* as harihara suta or son of Siva and Narayana (Vishnu). There are references in puranas that narrate as to how sasta during his tenure on earth long ago conducted discourses on vedas and vedantas to a galaxy of gods and sages. Later on the Saivite <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saivite> revivalist Appar <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appar> sang about *Shasta* as the progeny of Shiva <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva> and tirumaal (Vishnu) in one of his Tevarams <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tevaram> in the 7th century. The child saint tirugnanasambandar in one of his songs praises ayyanar as celibate god, invincible and terrible in warfare, taking his abode alongside bhootaganas of Lord Siva. The place sanctity and history document or sthalapuranam of tiruvanaikkaval, a saivite temple near trichy, which was first documented by sage kasyapa informs us that sasta once served lord sivan at that site and after being blessed with a vision was instructed by lord to take abode in the outer sanctorum. It says that sasta continues to worship lord during the day of tiruvadirai. Adi sankara also has referred to ayyanar in sivanandalahari in one verse . Some ancient hagiographies have accounted that sri sankara was a *deivamsam* (divine soul portion) of sree sasta (*sevugan*), the same way as tirugnana sambandar was a divine portion of skanda and sundarar a divine portion of alalasundarar. He is also known to have composed verses praising the deity but the same are not available to us as of today. From the Chola <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chola> period (9th century C.E) onwards the popularity of *Aiyanar-Shasta* became even more pronounced as is attested by epigraphy and imagery. 4 The Shasta religious tradition is particularly well developed in the state of Kerala <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala>. The earliest inscription to *Shasta* was made in 855 C.E. by an Ay <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velirs> King at the Padmanabhapuram <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padmanabhapuram> Sivan temple. Independent temples to *Shasta* are known from the 11th century C.E. Prior to that, *Shasta* veneration took place in the temples of Shiva <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva> and Vishnu <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu>, the premier gods of the Hindu pantheon. Since late medieval times, the warrior deity Ayyappa <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayyappa>'s following has become very popular in the 20th century. 5 108 sastha temples of Kerala alone: 1. Thrikkunnapuzha Dharmasasthavu 2. Thiruvullakkavu sasthavu 3. Aryankavu dharmasasthavu 4. Chambrakulangara ayyappan 5. Chamravattam sasthavu 6. Achan kovil darmasasthavu 7. Kulathupuzha sasthav 8. Kolakkottiri ayyappankavu 9. Sabarimala sreedharma sasthavu 10. Kizhakedesam sasthavu 11. Meenachil sasthavu 12. Arakkulam dharmasasthavu 13. Mattil sasthavu 14. Cheruthazhathukavu sasthavu 15. Kalleli sasthav 16. Nandikeswarankavu sastha 17. Thakazhi dhramasasthavu 18. Chakkamkulangara dharmasasthavu 19. Aarattupuzha sasthavu 20. Manaloor ayyappan kavu 21. Manakodi sasthavu 22. Edathra sasthavu 23. Edathuruthi ayyappan kavu 24. Kanyakulangara dharmasasthavu 25. Nettissery sasthavu 26. Mulankunnathu kavu darma sasthavu 27. Udalakkavu sasthavu 28. Kodumpu ayyappa 29. Manakkadu dharmasasthavu 30. Thykkadu sasthavu 31. Akamala sreedharma sasthavu 32. Thottakkare molukurussy ayyappankavu 33. Ayyankuzhikkavu sasthavu 34. Kollankodu Pulikkodu ayyappan 35. Cherpulasery ayyappan kavu 36. Poonjal darmasasthavu 37. Punchapadam pulinkkavu ayyappa 38. Theeyadikkavu 39. Nagalassery ayyappankavu 40. Mundamuka ayyappan 41. Thichur sasthavu 42. Malamakkavu ayyappan 43. Nangulam sasthavu 44. Neriyamangalam sasthavu 45. Aanaparambu daramasasthavu 46. Thayankavu sasthavu 47. Perungottukavu sasthavu 48. Kothakulangara sasthavu 49. Mangalam ayyappan kavu 50. Chemeli dharmasasthavu 51. Pottankkavu 52. Thiruvarchanamkunnu 53. Malamakkavu ayyappan 54. Thrikkalathur sreeraman 55. Vayaskkara dharmasasthavu 56. Narayanamangalam ayyappankavu 57. Sakthikulankara sasthavu 58. Ayyappanpara sasthavu 59. Manalithara mullapallikavu 60. Kuttoor sasthav 61. Pattikkadu dharmasastha 62. Markkadakkavu sastha 63. Koodapuzha marathopalli sasthav 64. Neervilagam dharmasastha 65. Kaattuvalli dharmasastha 66. Karukuttikkavu 67. Kozhikkal kandan sasthavu 68. Ezhinjillam sasthavu 69. Kannanallur sasthavu 70. Kutiyothu temple 71. Kannadiparambu dharmasasthavu 72. Chethamangalam ayyappan 73. Chovvara sasthavu 74. Edaneer vishnu 75. Kolasserykavu sastha 76. Paduvilakkavu sastha 77. Kaarakkattu sreedharma sasthavu 78. Paandangari dharmasastha 79. Rampuram sasthavu 80. Kanimangalam sasthavu 81. Elampalli madathil dharmasasthavu 82. Cheerappanchira mukkalvattam ayyappa 83. Vyasachalam sasthavu 84. Karthyakulangara sreedharmasastha 85. Thechikkottukavu sastha 86. Mupuramkavu sreekandansasthavu 87. Varamsasthamkotta temple 88. Pullukulangara darmasasthavu 89. Thrikkadambu temple 90. Chathankottakavu 91. Kodannoor sasthavu 92. Mangattu kavu ayyappan 93. Velupilli dharmasastha 94. Rarothu ayyappa 95. Thrivuvaniyoor temple 96. Malamel temple 97. Areswaram sasthavu 98. Karimpuzha sreeraman temple 99. Chathannoor bhoothanathan (siva temple) 100. Ponnabalamedu 101. Koovapalli narkkalakavu 102. Mundarakodu ayyappa 103. Eramam muthukkattukavu ayyappan 104. Kochambalam 105. Erumeli dharmasasthavu 106. Kezhoor dharmasasthavu 107. Niram kaithakkotta sasthavu 108. Arangavu sasthavu KR IRS 251021 On Sun, 24 Oct 2021 at 15:13, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < [email protected]> wrote: > > *BHOOTHATTHAN MUTHALANA…* > > Dear friends, > > Recently I had a mail from our Group member Sri Saikrishnan, during Thai > velli, after pooja persons are not allowed to go till early morning since, > Sadayudayar is sastha and his BHOOTHAGANMS WILL BE IN THE OUT SIDE OF THE > TEMPLE at *Sadavudayar kovil.* > > *Sadavudayar Kevil is near Kalidaikuruchi in the Tirunelveli District – > Taminadu.* > > I was thinking it might be due to two or three munian temples on the way > to the temple from the main road. Mr SaiKrishnan is very correct. This made > me to think about the very original worship of sastha by Brahmins and about > Bootha ganas. > > *Sastha has taken five incarnations and one is Poorna Pushkala Sametha, in > Grihasthasram*. > > The same is also with respect to Vinayaka and Muruga. I have read > Vinayaka is considered as married and not as brahmachari in the North > India. Similarly Lord Muruga is worshipped as Bachelor there. > > In the southern side Muruga is considered as married though he is > worshipped in other forms also. In Tiruttani, he is worshipped as family > man with two wives- Devayanai and Valli. The two wives told for Vinayaga > are Buddi and Siddi. > > Let me further write about sastha and Bhoothathan. On the way to > Sabarimalai one can observe the sign board with an arrow indicating way to > *Bhoothathan > Dam* > > Sincerely, > > Gopala Krishnan 2-1-2011 > > *Reposted after editing and updating information on 24-10-2021. R. > Gopalakrishnan* > > 1. Sastha worship. > > The General concept is migration of Tamil Brahmins to Kerala was either > via Chengottai or via Palaghat pass before a few centuries. > > Invariably they established Brahmana samoohams in Kerala. In Most places > with own premises, land acquiring from local people. Many samooha matams > have / had vast properties also. In some samoohams members are few now. > > Recently I had been to Cherthala Samooha matam and a casual discussion > about the properties they are having, though members are very less. My co > brother is a member of the samooham. > > In my boy hood days I have learnt the Brahmana samooham at Vadakkadathu > kavu had large paddy fields and cultivation areas, with a meagre members. > > Irrespective of the member strength, sastha preethi is conducted in > all samooha matams once a year according to their custom from the > beginning. > > Some samoohams in very large scale and some in medium scale. > > I have read from member postings that at Paravur in Ernakulam district, > conduct sastha preethi in very large scale in Kerala. Similarly Noorni in > Palakkadu also. > > Sastha worship is performed by the Brahmins settled in Kerala from the > beginning of their settlement. Though so much prominence for sastha preethi > is there in Kerala ,Maharashtra, Delhi Andhra, I have not seen such > prominence for conducting sastha preethi in Tamilnadu. Learnt members from > Tamilnadu may correct me if my statement is wrong. > > 2. Sastha preethi- worship of sastha as Grihastha > > I have heard the divine songs recited during sastha preethi in my home, > where sastha is worshipped along with Poorna and Pushkala(Poorna > Pushkala sametha). > > 3. Sastha preethi- Dhyanam > > The dhyana slokam recited in our samooha madam from my recollection is > given blow:- > > > > Yanai mukhathoan thampi > > Arul kumaranukku Ilayon, > > Vanavar pottum vani > > Vanthenukku Arulavendum > > > > Munthia sivanar Pooti, > > Mookhanam Asuran Patti > > Indira varavum Eatti, > > Easanar vesham thotti, > > > > Panthadi kamalam vetti > > Vanthathor viraham matti > > Santhathiyana moorthy > > Dharma sastha > > Namasthae namasthe. > > > > Here sastha is told as the younger brother of Maha Ganapathi and Muruga . > > 4. Sastha varavu > > The Sastha varavu recited in our samooha madam from my recollection is as > follows:- > > > > Vaararitho > > Ayyan vaararitho (Thenkulthur Ayyan vararitho) > > Bhoothatthan Muthalana > > Bhoothangal kootiyae, > > > > Pulikal kuttikalai > > Pidithu vilayadiayae > > Vaararitho, Ayyan vaararitho….. > > > > The tone, pitch and rhythm are such that, in boyhood we all used to fear > seeing the face of the person singing. > > My late father used to go to nearby temple during the time, otherwise he > may go to trance and he may not be able to control with all offerings given > and after a few minutes fall down. He himself had to come out from trance > and then made to perform namaskaram. > > We keep sabari malai /Sadavudayr kovil bhasmam in our pooja room and > consider for any problem, applying the holy ash and a sincere prayer > for a few minutes is the best solution. > > *I have later learnt from a member response , Brahmins from Thenkulathur > first performed sasthapreethi* > > 4a. Bhoothathan > > Sastha in any form is followed by Bhootha ganas and head of the gana is > Bhoothatthan. > > 5. Bhootha natha sadanada > > The dhyana manthram recited after deeparadhana till the lighted camphor > flame going off is as follows- > > During the period it is believed the presence of sastha in the flame. > > Bhootha natha sathananda, > > Sarva Bhootha daya para > > Raksha Raksha Maha bhago > > Sasthrae Dhabyam Namo Nama > > Again all the bhoothas are referred and Sastha is told as showing mercy > to all bhoothas and ruler of Bhoothas (including Pancha bhoothas) > > 6. The saranam recited after offering pooja to Irumudi and deepradhana > before starting for pilgrimage. > > > > Arinjum aryamalum > > Therinjum Theriyamalum > > Chatiha Ealla thettum > > Kshamichhu Kathu rakshikkanam > > Ponnu Pathettam padi mel vazhum, > > Hariahra suthan, > > *Ayyan Ayyappa swamiyae* > > *Saranam Ayyappa.* > > > > The last but one line *Ayyan Ayyappa swamiyae is some times recited as > Sree Dharma Sasthavae saranam Ayyappa.* > > > > 7. Bhoothathan Anaikeetu(Dam) > > The Bhoothatthan kettu or anaikkattu is above Pamba river close to Sabari > malai. > > The anaikattu is called as *Bhoothathan kettu*. Large blocks of unshaped > stones are placed on both sides of the Periyar River to form the dam, > making it look like a natural dam built by *super humans*. The name > Bhoothathan Kettu, means "monster fort"; past generations believed it was > built by a Bhootham (monster). > > The myth told in Wikipedia is as follows. > > The reason behind the dam's name is that monsters(Malayalam: Bhootham) > planned to submerge the Trikkariyoor temple, whose presiding deity is Lord > Shiva by making a dam in the Periyar river and flooding the area. > > Suspecting trickery the omnipotent Lord Shiva, came up with a plan to > deter them. He faked the approaching dawn by a rooster's sound. > > The demons fearing the arrival of light fled the place. To this day there > is a visible proof of their effort where you can see the boulders which the > demons were supposed to have rolled onto the riverbed, the Old > Bhothathankettu. > > The Periyar flows on through the narrow space which the demons did not > quite manage to dam up. > > 8. Bhootha ganas of Lord Siva. > > In my native there is a Lord Siva temple, called Thazhatthu mahadevar. > The temple is very big, the sanctum is very close to *Achhankovil river r > on the north side .* > > During festivals deity is taken on hand and circumambulation is > completed. *Elephants cannot come through the narrow area of about > three-four feet .* > > It is told on that side the wall with granite built by maesons was > falling down repeatedly . One day morning it was found constructed in > crude manner *and then on wards the wall has not fallen. * > > I am told while I was a boy that the wall was constructed by Bhootha > ganas. The granite wall is very crude, which everyone can see now also. > > SUMMING UP > > > > 1. Sastha has taken many avatharas > > 2. Grihastha sastha is worshipped during sastha preethi in our area. > > 3. In all avatharas he is accompanied by Bhootha ganas > > > > *The writer- R. Gopala Krishnan, 78, home* Pandalam, retired as Asst > General Manager (Former ITS), Kerala Telecommunications, Trivandrum and now > settled in Chennai. > > > > > > -- > 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]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1181486250.496789.1635068619110%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1181486250.496789.1635068619110%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- 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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