Shashti abda Poorthi & Satabhishekam--Part 2

[Guest guest]

Dear Harekrishna Avargale,

Last email we saw the ten components of Sashti Abda Poorthi.

My list starts with Mrutyunjaya so let me start with Mrutyunjaya mantra…

Mrutyunjaya: Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh desires that the holy Triyambaka mantra should be recited often, as it is a life-giving mantra.

 

“We worship the Three-eyed One(Lord Shiva) who is all fragrance and who nourishes all beings; may He liberate us from death for the sake of immortality even as the cucumber is severed from its bondage(to the creeper)”

It is a moksha mantra. It is Lord Shiva’s mantra. It bestows long life, peace, wealth, prosperity, satisfaction (Tushti) and immortality.He also says it saves one from accidents.

As reported in the shrutis, the following dushta grahaas like Kala yavana, yamala, sudoomra etc(there are a different set of Nava-dushta grahas which affect human’s life apart from the normal ones like Surya,Budha,shani,etc which we all know) would create Apa-mruthyu to the person concerned, as well as affect the health of his/her parents/ spouses children etc;. soon after the completion of his first cycle of Sashti Samvatsara. (Our Samvatsara Cycle consists 60 years starting from Prabhava, Vibhava, etc ) To ward off from Bhootha- Pretha – Mruthyu Bhaya and to get rid of all sins acquired till then - this Kaamyartha Sashti Abdha Poorthi karma should be performed. During this shaanthi one also seeks from the God- good health

and poorna Aayu: for himself as well as for his family members.

Mrutyunjaya Japa and Homa thus forms an integral part of Sashtiabdapoorti shanty ceremony.

 

After completion of morning rituals like Sandhya Vandanam /Bath etc (purfication functions) seek permission from the learned vedic pandits, for commencements of the function. “ANUKJNA” is followed by Vigneswara Pooja., Samkalpam. In the Samkalpa one prays for Health, Wealth, Prosperity, Poorna Aayu: He also prays for protection from bad effects due to bad viewership or bad positioning of the planets and other dushta grahas as stated earlier.During the pooja the following deities are invoked either in the kalasams/Kumbhams or in the Mandalam .1. Indra 2. Agni 3. Yama 4. Nirruthi 5. Varunan 6. Vayu 7. Soma 8. Eesana 9. Brahama 10. Vishnu 11. Ugra Rathaakya Rudra (

Amrutha Mruthyunjaya)Markandeya, Saptha Rishis, Arunthathi, Sashti Samvatsara Devathas, Saptha Chiranjeevees, Nakshatra Devathas, Dhishanaam, Vrudha Matha, Gowri, Durga, Varunan, Mangala Devatha. Navagraha devathas ,Ayurdevathaetc.

 

Saptha Chiranjeevins are: Ashwathama, Mahabali, Vyasa, Hanuman,Vibheeshana,Krupa and Parashurama.These Saptha Chiranjeevins roam about our Bharatha Varsha till date.After giving Graha Preethi Dhaana, Vaishnava Sraadham, Poorvanga Go Dhaana, (towards cow dhaana generally a coconut- along with money equivalent to the value of a cow is given to a purohit) etc. are performed (as per the soothra they follow and Kula Aachara/Desa Aachara) Abyuthaya Sraadham ( Nandee Sraadham) is performed thereafter invoking the departed souls- called Sathya Vasu

Samjnaka and seeking their blessings in advance.

 

Then follows Punya Aham, Acharya Varanam, Rithvik Varanam, Kalasa Sthapanam etc. Different methods are followed in Kalasa Sthapanam/ Mandala Sthapanam.Where 60 kalasas are used, the devathas invoked in kalasas are under:-Amrutha Mruthuyunjaya (1) Brahmma (1) Vishnu (1) Rudra (1) Markandeyan (1) For Ashta Dik Devathas like Indra etc (8) , Navagrahas (9) Chiranjeevees (7) Ayurdevatha (1) Nakshatra Devathas ( 28) , Samvatsara Devathas (1) Saptha Rishies (1)

(1+1+1+1+1+8+9+7+1+28+1+1=60)In some places only 33 kalasas are placed reducing multiple kalasas in the case of Nakshatra Devathas, to one.In some other places only 12 kalasas are placed proportionately reducing the multiple kalasas to only one in each group.After installation of Kalasas and Mandalas over Dhaanyas like, Paddy, Rice, Wheat, Masha, Black til seed etc. as ordained, purohits invoke all the devathas with vedic mantras and complete Shodasa Upachara Pooja ( 16 ways of upachara Pooja). This is followed by Veda Ghosha from the veda followed by the kartha.

In the Sooktha Japa Rakshogni Mantras, Paavamana Sooktha, Varuna Sooktha, Thryambaka and Rudra Gayathri Mantras, Dik Palaka mantras, Brahma Vishnu Rudra/Durga/Sree/Bhoo/Mruthyu/Ayushya/Baagya etc. sookthams are chanted. Sri Rudram/Chamakam and Purusha Sooktham are also chanted This Japa conclude with Nakshatra Sooktham, Grutha Sooktham, Pancha Shaanthi and Ghosha Shaanthi. In some places first panchathi from each of the 44 anuvakas from the Yajur Veda Samhitha, are also chanted.

 

 

Next to completion of the japa, Homa would be performed with 108 aahuthees chanting Thrayambaka Mantras. .Samith,Ghee ( Aajyam) Havis ( in some places Til seed is also used). Homa is concluded with Swishta Krutha and Jayathi Homa.On completion of Puna Pooja, Kalasa Jala (water from the holy pots ) are smeared over the kartha and other people assembled there. This is followed by

AAJYA NIREESHANAM (CHAYA DHANAM). There after Mangala Snaana is performed on the kartha ( Dampathees). Mangala Snana performed with 11 Mangala Dravyas are as follows:

 

1. Gorochanam (to be applied in the head)

2. Curd (to be applied in the forehead)

3.Ghee ( to applied on the eye lids)

4. Blades of grass (to be placed on the head)

5. Cow’s milk (to be sprinkled on head)

6.Fruits (touch the fruits with hands)

7. Flowers (place in the head)

8. MIRROR (view the mirror)

9. Deepam ( see the light of the deepam)

10 Earth ( touch the earth preferably the mud from beneath the tulasi plant )

11.Gold ( place a coin or gold article in the head).

By doing this Mangala Snaana - one is praying for 1. Poorna Aayu: 2. Good Health, Fame, Courage, Prosperity, good appearance, removal of all diseases, Strength, fulfillment of all desires, removal of ugliness, gaining of knowledge and removal of all sins., acquiring all comforts in life etc. etc. Each of the above Dravya is used praying for specific fulfillment of desires.Soon after Mangala Snaana is over - the Rithviks assembled their do the Abhisheka with the Kalasa jala on the kartha along with chanting of mantras(khumba snana). This Abhisheka should be done only by elderly scholarly people and ritviks . This is followed by AARDRA VASTRA DHAANA ( the cloth used by the

couple at the time of Abhisheka), cloth wrapped around Kalasas as well as the icons / Prathimas made of Gold/silver if any placed over the respective kalasas, are also should be given as dhaana to purohits.

The main japas chanted during this shanty are: Rudra Gayathri, Trayambaka mantra, Vedas,Dikpalaka mantras, Apo Histha mantra, Hiranya varna mantra, Pavamanya:, Varuna, Brahman mantra, Vishnu, Rudra, Durga, Sri Bhoo Sukthani, Rudram, Chamakam, Purusha sooktham, Gruhasooktham,Panchashanti,Navagraha mantras and others.

So your “vadiyaar” to chant all these mantras.Give him the list.Sometimes they omit certain things for the sake of convenience but do insist and pay them well.

 

The main homas prescribed are: Svishtakrita homa and Jayathi homa

After japa,homas,mangala dravyas and abhishekams are completed in that order, the man who performs the shashtiabdapoorti offers Dasadanas and Panchadanas.

What these are will form the subject matter of next email…

(To be continued…)

Yours Yogically,

Shreeram Balijepalli

 

 

 

 

 

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