Mahodaya Punyakalam மஹோதய புண்யகாலம்

Thiru Maraikadu (Vedaranyam) Temple, TN.

Regarding Ardhodaya Punyakalam and Mahodaya Punyakalam, it is stated as follows in the compendium of Dharma Sastra 'Smriti Muktaphalam' in 'Sradha Kandam-Uttara bhaga':

महाभारते श्रवणाश्विधनिष्ठार्द्रानागदैवतमापतेत्। 

रविवारयुतामायां व्यतीपातः स उच्यते॥ 

व्यतीपाताख्ययोगोऽयं शतार्कग्रहसन्निभः॥

If on a Sunday, Amavasya and one of the stars – Sravanam, Asvini, Avittam, Thiruvadirai or Ayilyam, occurs, then it is called 'Vyatipatam'. This Vyatipata yogam is equal to a hundred Surya grahanas in merit.

Vibhuti (Sacred Ash) திருநீறு

Pure Gomaya Vibhuti

As per age-old practice, Vibhuti is made out of pure Gomaya (cow dung) of Indian breed cows in a Vaidik mode during the annual Maha Shivaratri festival. In what is typically described as Shivaratri Muttan, the cow dung cakes are prepared - dried and placed in layers of hay, karukkai (paddy without rice) and Varatti (cow dung cakes) in a formation resembling a Shivalingam. On the morning of Shivaratri, Ganapathy Puja and Viraja Homam as mentioned in "Bhasmajaloupanishad" are performed by Vaidiks and the Agni is lit. It takes about 10 days for the cow dung cakes to burn fully and become Vibhuti.

Significance of Ayanas (Dakshinayana and Uttarayana)

As the destructive power is imbedded in the atom, so are the acts of preservation, creation and destruction invested in the womb of Almighty Time. Time Eternal alone is the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. Past, Present & Future are imbedded in the womb of Time Eternal and a knower of Time can get an insight into Past, Present & Future. The Present is a product of the Past. Future is contained in the Present in as much as it is determined by the Present. The Lord equates Himself with the cosmic phenomenon of Time. "I am Time Eternal" declares He in the Geetha ("Kalosmi"). Oppenheimer, the Father of the Atom Bomb quoted this verse from the Geetha when he saw the first atomic explosion. To him, the destructive power of the atom was a mere manifestation of the destructive power of Time Eternal!

Veg & Non-Veg Restaurants

Restaurant serving both Veg and Non-Veg food - Facts:

• Soups: Most restaurants prepare soup using Stock. Stock is essentially water in a pot that is on sim (i.e. getting heated slowly), with veggies and flavour enhancing pieces (e.g. Bones). In most cases, the restaurant will have one stock pot and it will of course have the bones in them. So when a soup is prepared, the same stock water is used. 

ஸ்ராத்தகால விதி Śrāddha Ceremony Rule

Scroll down to read in English

ஒரு ஸ்ராத்த தினத்தன்று விஸ்வாமித்ரரை தனது வீட்டுக்குச் சாப்பிட வருமாறு அழைத்தார் வசிஷ்டர். அதற்கென்ன வந்தால் போச்சு! ஆனால் 1008 வகை கறி செய்து படைக்க வேண்டும் என்றார் விஸ்வாமித்ரர்.

உலகில் 1008 வகையான காய்கறிகள் உண்டா? அப்படியே இருந்தாலும் இத்தனை கறிகாய்களைச் சமைத்து யாராவது உணவு படைக்க முடியுமா? அப்படியே சமைத்துப் போட்டாலும் அதைச் சாப்பிட யாரால் முடியும்?

விஸ்வாமித்ரர் தன்னை வேண்டுமென்றே சிக்கலில் மாட்டிவைக்கவே இப்படிச் செய்கிறார் என்பது வசிஷ்டருக்குத் தெரியாதா என்ன? இருந்த போதிலும் விட்டுக் கொடுக்காமல் , ஓ, 1008 வகை காய்கறிகள் வேண்டுமா? அதற்கென்ன அருந்ததியிடம் சொல்லி விடுகிறேன் என்றார்.

ஸ்ராத்த நாளும் வந்தது. விஸ்வாமித்திரர் இலையில் அமர்ந்தார். பாகற்காய்கறி, பலாப்பழம், பிரண்டைத் துவையல் மற்றும் எட்டு வகை காய்கறி - ஒரு வாழை இலையில் எவ்வளவு கறிகள் படைக்கமுடியுமோ அவ்வளவுதான் இருந்தன. விஸ்வாமித்திரர் கோபத்துடன் வசிஷ்டரை வினவினார். அவரோ நான்தான் அருந்ததியிடம் சொல்லிவிட்டேனே அவளையே கேட்டுக்கொள்ளுங்கள் என்றார் வசிஷ்டர்.

இவர்கள் பேச்சைக் கேட்டுக்கொண்டிருந்த அருந்ததி தானே முன் வந்து ஒரு ஸ்லோகத்தைக் கூறினாள்.

காரவல்லி சதம் சைவ வஜ்ரவல்லி சதத்ரயம்

பனசம் ஷட்சதம் சைவ ஸ்ரார்த்தகாலே விதீயதே

ஒரு ஸ்ராத்த திதியன்று சமைக்கப்படும் சமையலில் பாகற்காய் கறி 100 கறிகளுக்குச் சமம், பிரண்டைத் துவையல் அல்லது கறி 300 கறிகளுக்குச் சமம், பலாப்பழம் 600 கறிகளுக்குச் சமம் என்று பாடல் கூறுகிறது. ஆயிரம் கறிகள் ஆயிற்று. இலையில் எண்ணிப் பாருங்கள், மேலும் எட்டு காய்கறிகள் வைத்திருக்கிறேன். ஆகமொத்தம் 1008 என்றாள்.

இதுதானே ஸ்ராத்தகால விதி, உங்களுக்குத் தெரிந்திருக்குமே என்றாள். வசிஷ்டர் வாயடைத்துப் போனார். பேசாமல் சாப்பிட்டு வாழ்த்தியும் விட்டுப் போனார்.

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Once Sage Vasistha invited his arch enemy Sage Vishwamitra for a feast on a Śrāddha day. On the day of Śrāddha, the departed souls (one's ancestors, especially deceased parents) are propitiated. Brahmins and saints are fed on the day. The guests are worshiped as the representatives of the departed souls. Sage Vishvamitra promised to participate on one condition. He insisted that he must be served with 1008 curries (side dishes).  

Sage Vasishta informed his wife Arundhati the condition laid by Sage Vishwamitra. On the day of Śrāddha, Sage Vishwamitra came and sat at the dining hall. But to his disappointment he saw only 10+ curries on the plantain leaf. When he angrily questioned Sage Vasishta, he told him to put the question to Arundhati as she was in charge of the food. Before Sage Vishwamitra questioned her, Arundhati recited a popular sloka (couplet) which made Sage Vishwamitra speechless.

कारवल्लि शांत चैव वज्र वल्लि शतत्रयं |

पनसं षट् शतंचैव श्रार्धकाले विधीयते ||

Kaaravalli satam chaiva vajra valli satatrayam

Panasam shat satam chaiva sraardhakaalE VidhiiyatE

“If someone serves at the time of Śrāddha, Kaaravalli/Pagal/Bitter Gourd = 100 curry items, Astisamharaka/Pirandai/Veldt Grape = 300 curry items and Panasa/Palaa/Jack Fruit = 600 curry items. That is the rule for the ceremony.”

She served these three vegetable dishes along with 8 more items on the plantain leaf. So it came to 1008 items. Sage Vishwamitra was happy at the explanation from the chastest woman in the world and blessed her.

Festivals of Karthikai

Maha Bharani Dheepam, Thiruvannamalai

The auspicious and celebrated Karthigai Maasam begins this year on November 17th and ends on December 16th. It is the eight month in the tamil year and derives its name from the Nakshatram or constellation of Krithika or Pleiades. Lord Shiva is the presiding deity of this month and Shiva temples all over India are crowded with devotees practicing vows and oblations to honour and propitiate Him. In Tamil Nadu, there is an ancient religious custom which is still followed, that of waking up before dawn and serenading the Lord with melodious chants from the Tiruvempavai, a collection of devotional hymns praising Lord Shiva and bidding him to awaken and glorify the universe with his Light. Moreover, Ayyappa devotees start the 41-day Ayyappa Deeksha Vrittam and make the annual pilgrimage to Sabarimala during this month.

Never Insult Brahmanas

pārpār novana ceyyār (பார்ப்பர் நோவன செய்யார்)

An interesting episode is mentioned in Puram poem 43. Mavalattān a prince of the Chola family, younger brother of Nalam Killi was playing dice with the Brahmin poet, Dāmappal kannanār. The former lost the game and in anger threw the dice on the victorious Brahmana. The poem describes this situation. The poet refers to important Vedic traditions. One. There was belief that a group of Brahman Rishis were following the hot sun to prevent the excessive heat of the sun on earth, so that the world may be saved. These rishis were called Vālakhilyas who were circling the earth along with the sun constantly. This is a Vedic lore. The poet of the Puranānūru refers to these sages who have sacrificed everything for the sake of the world and live only by air as their food. Having said that the poet says that your ancestors (Cholas) will never insult the Brahmanas which you have done now. It shows in ancient Tamilnad, Brahmins were highly respected and will not be insulted even by the ruling kings. Obviously because of their sacrifices for humanity , bearing the unbearable heat of sun for the people of the world. But the poet goes beyond what he said initially. As the poem seems to record an interesting episode which obviously is not a fiction but history we may see the poem itself.

HH Shri Mahaswami Museum

Spirituality and Indian Culture have an important role in making our younger generation have noble thoughts and good ideals. Their Holiness Shri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal and Shri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal have guided and initiated a number of educational institutions in various parts of the country which offer modern education along with spiritual and Cultural education. There has been overwhelming support and demand for such schools.

Mahaswamigal Museum has hundreds of rarest of the rare pictures, which have captured, albeit briefly, of his times, his life, his devotion, his selfless service to the humanity, his simplicity, his rare vision and his teachings. He was an inspiration, an epitome of learning and wisdom with which he captured every heart – from the mightiest to the weakest.

Inside the campus, there is a beautiful temple for Sri Ganapathy, Sri Kamakshi ambal (designed as a replica of Kanchi Sri Kamakshi ambal's sanctum sanctorum), Sri Mahadeva with shrines for Sri Dakshinamoorthy to his left, Sri Adi Shankara to his right, facing each other and Sri Mahaswamigal behind Sri Nandi facing the Lord. Sri Mahadeva's shrine has Veda Patashalas on three sides. It is divine to see the very young Vidhyarthis doing abhyasa here (close to 300 Vidhyartis study here).

Mahaswamigal’s missions on the values of life and vedic education have inspired us to create this museum. This is a temple of learning, which would inspire the young and old alike. Articles, books, Maena, Cycle Rickshaw used by Mahaswamigal are on display.

M.S.Subbulakshmi Museum is in the first hall displaying rare pictures and artifacts and her songs/concerts played in the background. A beautiful larger than life idol of the legend decorates the hall with accolades from who's who of her period and quotes from HH Shri Mahaswamigal.

How to reach there?

Sri Kanchi Mahaswami Vidya Mandir, Rajakilpakkam, Nisha Avenue_Extn2, Gowrivakkam, Sembakkam. Tamil Nadu 6000073. Phone: 044 2228 1565.

5.00 P.M. to 8.00 P.M. (Weekdays) & 10.00 A.M. to 1.00 P.M. (on holidays)

https://www.google.co.in/maps/@12.924147,80.1565183,16z
http://www.srikanchimahaswamividyamandir.org/management.php

Approx 5 km from Tambaram Railway Station/Bus Terminus on Tambaram-Velachery Road. Bus Stop - Rajakilpakkam (next to Mahalakshmi Nagar/Skandasramam bus stop). Take right at signal towards Kendriya Vidyalaya (Road to Madambakkam Sri Dhenupureeswarar Sivan Temple), take the first left at Ponniammam Koil Street and go to the end of the road (2 mins drive). You will find directions. Also accessible from the next two bus stops - Kamarajapuram and Sembakkam on Tambaram-Velachery road.

The World Keeps Vedic Time

The uniform worldwide tradition of time-management and the Sanskrit terminology associated with it, is yet another emphatic proof of the prevalence of a uniform , unitary Vedic culture throughout the world from time immemorial. The Hindu alias Vedic almanac is the ancient most because it adheres to the Srushti-Samvat i.e, the time -computation from the creation of the cosmos. Nothing can be more ancient.

What is more, anybody undertaking any Vedic ritual at any time in any part of the world has to recall and repeat the entire computation of the aeons, eras, years and days that have passed from the moment of the creation to the day of the ritual. Thus a continual, up-to-date, day -to -day computation uttered through billions of months down the ages, day -in and day –out, all over the world has ensured an unerring tally of eternal time, A quick review of the cosmic time tally is part of the Sankalpa uttered at Vedic rituals.

It is that Vedic tradition which has been keeping a continuous tally or the time-dimension of' the cosmos namely of the time that has elapsed and the period that lies ahead before the next cataclysmic end or worldly life. Of the current Kali era 5097 years have elapsed . Even or that stretch of time present-day scholars know a bare, dented outline of history only or the last about 2000 years. Of the balance 3097 anterior years they know next to nothing.

மஹாபாரதம் - கும்பகோணப் பதிப்பு

தமிழில் மிகச் சிறந்த மொழிபெயர்ப்பாக சொல்லப்படும் மஹாபாரத கும்பகோணப் பதிப்பு தற்போதுஅச்சில் இல்லை என்பது மிகவும் வருந்தத்தக்க விஷயம்.

இந்நூல் சமஸ்கிருதத்திலும் தமிழிலும் நன்கு தேர்ச்சி பெற்ற பல அறிஞர் பெருமக்களால் நேரடியாக சமஸ்கிருதத்தில் இருந்து ஒரு லட்சம் சுலோகங்கள் கொண்ட முழு வியாச பாரதமும் (பதினெட்டு பருவங்களும்) தமிழில் மொழிபெயர்க்கப்பட்டு ம.வீ. இராமானுஜாசாரியார் அவர்களால் தொகுக்கப்பட்டன.மஹாபாரதம் எளிய தமிழ் மக்களையும் சென்று சேர வேண்டும் என்பதற்காக தங்கள் வாழ்நாளின் பெரும்பகுதியைப் பல அறிஞர் பெருமக்கள் இந்தப் பணிக்காகச் செலவழித்துள்ளனர். இம்மொழிபெயர்ப்பு ஏறக்குறைய இருபத்தைந்து வருடங்கள் நடைபெற்றன. ஒருவர் மொழிபெயர்ப்பது அவராலேயே சரி பார்ப்பது பிறகு இரண்டு சமஸ்கிருத அறிஞர்களால் மீண்டும் சரிபார்ப்பது என்று மிகுந்த கவனத்துடனும் அக்கறையுடனும் செய்யப்பட்ட மொழிபெயர்ப்பு.

சிந்துவெளியில் இன்றும் தமிழ் ஊர்ப்பெயர்கள்

(ஒரிசா மாநில ஐ.ஏ.எஸ். அதிகாரி ஆர்.பாலகிருஷ்ணன். கல்லூரியில் தமிழ் இலக்கியம் பயின்றவர். இவரது வீடு சென்னை பெருங்குடியில் இருக்கிறது. இடப் பெயர்களின் ஆய்வில் 20 ஆண்டுகளாக ஈடுபட்டிருக்கும் இவர், சிந்துவெளி ஆய்வு பற்றிய தன் கட்டுரையை முதலில் கோவையில் நடந்த செம்மொழி மாநாட்டில் ஐராவதம் மகாதேவன், அஸ்கோ பர்ப்போலா போன்ற அறிஞர்கள் முன்னிலையில் சமர்பித்தார். தனது ஆய்வுகளை முடிப்பதற்காக தன் அரசுப் பணிக்கு 2ஆண்டுகள் விடுமுறை சொல்லிவிட்டு வந்திருக்கிறார்.)

Rarest rudraksha collection

Post by सत्सङ्ग - Satsang.

Sankalp

We are always curious to know the meaning of the Sankalp that we take before the start of a Pooja or ritual. To know this, firstly, we need to know the Hindu Cosmic cycle.

Age of Cosmos

1 Mahaa Yug = Sum of 4 Yug (Krit, Tretaa, Dwaapar and Kali) = 4,320,000 years.

1000 such Mahaa Yug comprise a day-time of Brahmaa also known as a Kalp.

A Kalp is ruled by 14 Manu in succession. The reigning period of one Manu is called one Manvantar which is 71.42 Mahaa Yug.

There is an equivalent night-time of 4,320,000,000 years.

The day-night of Brahma together constitutes Brahmaa's one day or one Brahm day (8.64 billion years).

360 Brahm days constitute a Brahm year while

100 Brahm years represent the lifetime of Brahmaa - which is the life of the cosmos.

Doing this simple mathematics gives the age of the cosmos to be 311 trillion years.

'Vedas – The storehouse of Knowledge' by Dr.Anuradha Choudry

Sri Aurobindo: “The recovery of the perfect truth of the Vedas is not merely a desideratum of our modern intellectual curiosity but a practical necessity for the future of the human race.

The Vedas are the most valued texts in the Bharatiya tradition and are regarded as the highest source of knowledge. But what do they contain? Are they merely socio-historic texts describing warring tribes that perform sacrifices to nature Gods asking their favors in return? Or are they detailed manuals of rituals? Or are they in fact the storehouse of very advanced scientific knowledge?

Maybe there is some truth in all of these interpretations. But if these were the sole contents of the Veda why did the Upanishads and the later philosophies, acknowledged for the keen spiritual insight and intellectual genius, refer to them as the unparalleled books of wisdom? If one concludes that there is possibly much more to the Vedas than generally accepted by the scholars, a pertinent question would be whether this knowledge is of any relevance to the needs of modern man in the 21st Century? In this context Sri Aurobindo, says, “The recovery of the perfect truth of the Vedas is not merely a desideratum of our modern intellectual curiosity but a practical necessity for the future of the human race.” With the available interpretations of the Vedic texts one might doubt the validity of such a bold affirmation. But if there is any truth whatsoever in Sri Aurobindo’s declaration, it becomes imperative to seek out that ‘perfect truth of the Veda’ for the future well-being of mankind.

Wei Tuo Pú-sà (bodhisattva Skanda)

Skanda is the well-known Sanskrit Dharani of Great Compassion. In the Chinese gloss-version there is a quasi-Sanskrit rendering of Dhuru Dhuru Vajayate - 'the Victorious One who delivers'. The Chinese depict the 'Bodhisattva' Skanda as accompanied by a peacock.

Wei Tuo Pú-sà (bodhisattva Skanda) is recognized as one of the eight divine protectors in Chinese Buddhism. Iconographically, he appears as a majestic general in his armor. 

Before entering Nirvana, Buddha ordered the general, who remained in this world, to protect the Buddha Dharma. After the death of Buddha, the relics were robbed by evil demons. The bodhisattva Wei Tuo managed to overcome the demons and recovered the relics of Buddha.

Wei Tuo Pú Sà is regarded as a devoted guardian of Buddhist monasteries who guards faithfully the Buddhist treasures and the objects of the Dharma.