Who is AnaghaDevi

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Anagha Devi -- By Sri Kuppa V.Krishna Murthy (Continued from last month) (In the previous issue, we set out with the question - Is God male or female? And concluded that the same fundamental energy manifests in different forms and that it was in perfect agreement with the modern science. Now let us proceed with the rest of the essay) The basis for the whole creation is that energy. That itself is called as Bhagavanta. It now becomes irrelevant to know the gender of that energy because it is meaningless to attribute gender to energy! If the fundamental energy does not have differentiation such as masculine or feminine or neuter, how then can the creation - which is its product have beings with such a classification? A good question indeed. The fundamental energy has no form. When the fundamental

energy has no form, how then did the atoms (which came from it) gain form? (This is an important question in Vedanta and is beyond the scope of this article). We do not know how it happened. But we know that it has happened. Similarly, from the fundamental energy which was asexual came the creation which consists of heterosexual beings. The scheme by which the differentiation of gender entered creation is called as 'Eshwara Sankalpa' in the shastras. It means that it did not take place without the knowledge of the Almighty. It was on account of conscious effort by Eshwara. It means that the factors responsible for the differentiation, namely the energy hidden in the X and Y chromosomes are inherent in that energy. Therefore, when that energy wants to take a form, it can take the form of Anda(ovum) or Jeevakana(sperm). Therefore the Almighty manifested sometimes in masculine form and sometimes in feminine form. Irrespective of the manifestation, the original

form of the Almighty (i.e., the fundamental energy) is beyond the differentiation of gender. Therefore the Vedas have referred to the Almighty in neuter gender in addition to masculine and feminine genders. The same concept is echoed in an episode in the Dattatreya Purana. When Lord Dattatreya, the combined incarnation of the Trinity was a child of five years, many old sages spotted his greatness and started insisting him to show them the path of Yoga. The child Datta wanted to test them. He disappeared in to a pond and remained there for one hundred years. Some of the sages waited for Him on the banks of the pond while the infant Datta was in a state of complete Samadhi for hundred years. Even after coming out of the pond he continued to test the sages. Dattatreya, who was 105 years old then, brought out His Yogic energy through His Brahma Randhra (an astral orifice found in the centre of the skull, through which Yogis can leave the

body), and gave it the form of a woman. Because the energy came out from Him, He was its natural owner. He declared her to be His consort. In order to test the sages, she drank wine and started dancing.She was born as a youthful woman. Seeing her drink wine, some of the sages called her 'Madhumati'. Others called her as 'Nadee' looking at her dance which resembled the dancing movements of a flooded river. Still others realised that she was none other than the Yogic Energy of Lord Dattatreya and prayed to Him. Some others went away. Then Lord Dattatreya came out of Samadhi. She now appeared as an ascetic. Lord Dattatreya named her as Anagha. Agha means sin, sorrow. Those who called her as Madhumati and Nadee had identified her as one who possessed sin. But in reality she was sinless. Therefore Dattatreya had named her as Anagha(Sinless, Pure). Those who had recognised her to be the energy of Dattatreya, obtained the true vision of the Lord and

could transcend all sorrows. In other words, because of her their sorrows (Agha) disappeared. This was another reason why Dattatreya named her as Anagha (one who removes sorrows) Etymologically, the word Agha means that which comes to the experience of the doer (kartaaram anghaati iti agham. Aghi gatow). He who thinks that he is the doer, will experience pain and pleasure. According to vedantic view, even the worldly pleasure is in fact pain. Thus, one who thinks oneself to be the doer is always suffering. That energy which removes the feeling of doership is Anagha. According to another etymology, Agha means that which causes sufferings to remain for ever. (Na jahaati duhkham it agham. O haak tyaage) Sorrow is caused by poverty, disease, fear of enemies, greed , ignorance etc.. That which removes sorrow by bestowing prosperity, health, affection, contentment, wisdom etc., is Anagha. Because all these in mind, Lord Dattatreya called her

as Anagha. Those sages who could comprehend this could see her as the manifestation of energy and could attain positive benefits. The demons who could not comprehend the reality only saw her as a dancer and therefore were annihilated. You may have read about this in detail in 'Sri Datta Darshana' written by our Gurudeva Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. This particular episode makes it clear to us that those who thought the Almighty to be merely a female caused their own destruction. Those who consider the Almighty to be male only, als, accounted for their own doom.(The stories of such demons can be found in many puranas) Those who could realise that the Almighty was above such differentiation and was of the form of fundamental energy could transcend affinity and aversion. They alone could experience unalloyed bliss. We can appreciate this concept in the incarnation Anagha more than any other incarnation. Therefore Sadguru Sri Ganapati

Sachchidananda Swamiji is popularising the worship of Dattatreya accompanied by Anagha throughout the world. Dattatreya is popularly known as a Yati(Ascetic) and an Avadhoota(one who has shaken off himself from worldly feeling and obligation). How then can he have a consort? - is one of the frequently asked questions. This question will not arise in the minds of those who have read the Datta Purana. Only those who consider Anagha to be a separate entity will raise the question "how can Dattatreya have a spouce?" Only when we realise that Anagha is the manifestation of His own energy, we will understand that His ascetic nature will not be disturbed when Anagha is seated next to Him.By worshipping only Dattatreya, absolute knowledge of the self will set in. On the other hand, by worshipping Dattatreya along with Anagha, even the worldly difficulties will be removed and eventually Atma Jnana will set in. In Kaliyuga, human beings can achieve wisdom only in an

unhurried pace. Therefore Lord Dattatreya himself preached the method of worshipping Anagha. The story of the thousand-armed Kartaveeryarjuna in Datta Darshana is highly symbolic. He was one of the favourite disciples of Lord Dattatreya. Dattatreya Himself taught him the method of performing Anaghashtami pooja. Kartaveerya got his boons on the eighth day of the dark half of the month of Margashira. Lord Dattatreya has himself marked this day to be auspicious for conducting the Anaghashtami Pooja. He has further ordained that this pooja be performed every month on the eighth day of the dark fortnight. Bhagavan Vyasa has narrated the method of worship in the Puranas. But on account of the vicissitudes of time, it slowly became less and less practised so much so that questions like "What? A woman sitting by the side of Datta?" are being asked. Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji, who is verily Dattatreya in disguise has been spreading the multifaceted

aspects of Dattatreya throughout the world. In fact no other person has carried out such an extensive propagation of Dattatreya and His teachings. Sri Swamiji is also exposing the concept of worshipping Anagha Devi along with Dattatreya and to fecilitate it, has established several temples in which both the deities have been consecrated. It is as though the philosophies of yore are being re-taught by Lord Dattatreya Himself. It is therefore highly beneficial for the seekers to adopt this path in their spiritual pursuit. (concluded) --Jai gurudatta!

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Anagha Devi is the yogic consort of Lord Dattatreya. She is Mother Indira or Lakshmi. There are different definitions for Mother Lakshmi as mentioned in Ashta Lakshmi forms. Mother Anagha is the form of Lakshmi which is associated with kaivalya or moksha. She is the yogic manifestation of Mother Lakshmi. She is the blissful form existing in the sahasrara seated on a 1000 petaled lotus. Sri Gurave Namah, Jaya Gurudeva Datta.MLkumari Busi <viswambhari_108 wrote: Anagha Devi -- By Sri Kuppa V.Krishna Murthy (Continued from last month) (In the previous issue, we set out with the question - Is God male or female? And concluded that the same fundamental energy manifests in different forms and that it was in perfect agreement with the modern science. Now let us proceed with the rest of the essay) The basis for the whole creation is that energy. That itself is called as Bhagavanta. It now becomes irrelevant to know the gender of that energy because it is meaningless to attribute gender to energy! If the fundamental energy does not have differentiation such as masculine or feminine or neuter, how then can the creation - which is its product have beings with such a classification? A good question indeed. The fundamental energy has no form. When the fundamental energy has no form, how then did the atoms (which came from it) gain form? (This is an important question in Vedanta and is beyond the scope of this article). We do not know how it happened. But we know that it has happened. Similarly, from the fundamental energy which was asexual came the creation which consists of heterosexual beings. The scheme by which the differentiation of gender entered creation is called as 'Eshwara Sankalpa' in the shastras. It means that it did not take place without the knowledge of the Almighty. It was on account of conscious effort by Eshwara. It means that the factors responsible for the differentiation, namely the energy hidden in the X and Y chromosomes are inherent in that energy. Therefore, when that energy wants to take a form, it can take the form of Anda(ovum) or Jeevakana(sperm). Therefore the Almighty manifested sometimes in masculine form and sometimes in feminine form. Irrespective of the manifestation, the

original form of the Almighty (i.e., the fundamental energy) is beyond the differentiation of gender. Therefore the Vedas have referred to the Almighty in neuter gender in addition to masculine and feminine genders. The same concept is echoed in an episode in the Dattatreya Purana. When Lord Dattatreya, the combined incarnation of the Trinity was a child of five years, many old sages spotted his greatness and started insisting him to show them the path of Yoga. The child Datta wanted to test them. He disappeared in to a pond and remained there for one hundred years. Some of the sages waited for Him on the banks of the pond while the infant Datta was in a state of complete Samadhi for hundred years. Even after coming out of the pond he continued to test the sages. Dattatreya, who was 105 years old then, brought out His Yogic energy through His Brahma Randhra (an astral orifice found in the centre of the skull, through which Yogis can

leave the body), and gave it the form of a woman. Because the energy came out from Him, He was its natural owner. He declared her to be His consort. In order to test the sages, she drank wine and started dancing.She was born as a youthful woman. Seeing her drink wine, some of the sages called her 'Madhumati'. Others called her as 'Nadee' looking at her dance which resembled the dancing movements of a flooded river. Still others realised that she was none other than the Yogic Energy of Lord Dattatreya and prayed to Him. Some others went away. Then Lord Dattatreya came out of Samadhi. She now appeared as an ascetic. Lord Dattatreya named her as Anagha. Agha means sin, sorrow. Those who called her as Madhumati and Nadee had identified her as one who possessed sin. But in reality she was sinless. Therefore Dattatreya had named her as Anagha(Sinless, Pure). Those who had recognised her to be the energy of Dattatreya, obtained the true vision of the

Lord and could transcend all sorrows. In other words, because of her their sorrows (Agha) disappeared. This was another reason why Dattatreya named her as Anagha (one who removes sorrows) Etymologically, the word Agha means that which comes to the experience of the doer (kartaaram anghaati iti agham. Aghi gatow). He who thinks that he is the doer, will experience pain and pleasure. According to vedantic view, even the worldly pleasure is in fact pain. Thus, one who thinks oneself to be the doer is always suffering. That energy which removes the feeling of doership is Anagha. According to another etymology, Agha means that which causes sufferings to remain for ever. (Na jahaati duhkham it agham. O haak tyaage) Sorrow is caused by poverty, disease, fear of enemies, greed , ignorance etc.. That which removes sorrow by bestowing prosperity, health, affection, contentment, wisdom etc., is Anagha. Because all these in mind, Lord Dattatreya

called her as Anagha. Those sages who could comprehend this could see her as the manifestation of energy and could attain positive benefits. The demons who could not comprehend the reality only saw her as a dancer and therefore were annihilated. You may have read about this in detail in 'Sri Datta Darshana' written by our Gurudeva Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. This particular episode makes it clear to us that those who thought the Almighty to be merely a female caused their own destruction. Those who consider the Almighty to be male only, als, accounted for their own doom.(The stories of such demons can be found in many puranas) Those who could realise that the Almighty was above such differentiation and was of the form of fundamental energy could transcend affinity and aversion. They alone could experience unalloyed bliss. We can appreciate this concept in the incarnation Anagha more than any other incarnation. Therefore Sadguru Sri

Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji is popularising the worship of Dattatreya accompanied by Anagha throughout the world. Dattatreya is popularly known as a Yati(Ascetic) and an Avadhoota(one who has shaken off himself from worldly feeling and obligation). How then can he have a consort? - is one of the frequently asked questions. This question will not arise in the minds of those who have read the Datta Purana. Only those who consider Anagha to be a separate entity will raise the question "how can Dattatreya have a spouce?" Only when we realise that Anagha is the manifestation of His own energy, we will understand that His ascetic nature will not be disturbed when Anagha is seated next to Him.By worshipping only Dattatreya, absolute knowledge of the self will set in. On the other hand, by worshipping Dattatreya along with Anagha, even the worldly difficulties will be removed and eventually Atma Jnana will set in. In Kaliyuga, human beings can achieve wisdom

only in an unhurried pace. Therefore Lord Dattatreya himself preached the method of worshipping Anagha. The story of the thousand-armed Kartaveeryarjuna in Datta Darshana is highly symbolic. He was one of the favourite disciples of Lord Dattatreya. Dattatreya Himself taught him the method of performing Anaghashtami pooja. Kartaveerya got his boons on the eighth day of the dark half of the month of Margashira. Lord Dattatreya has himself marked this day to be auspicious for conducting the Anaghashtami Pooja. He has further ordained that this pooja be performed every month on the eighth day of the dark fortnight. Bhagavan Vyasa has narrated the method of worship in the Puranas. But on account of the vicissitudes of time, it slowly became less and less practised so much so that questions like "What? A woman sitting by the side of Datta?" are being asked. Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji, who is verily Dattatreya in disguise has been spreading the

multifaceted aspects of Dattatreya throughout the world. In fact no other person has carried out such an extensive propagation of Dattatreya and His teachings. Sri Swamiji is also exposing the concept of worshipping Anagha Devi along with Dattatreya and to fecilitate it, has established several temples in which both the deities have been consecrated. It is as though the philosophies of yore are being re-taught by Lord Dattatreya Himself. It is therefore highly beneficial for the seekers to adopt this path in their spiritual pursuit. (concluded) --Jai gurudatta! Have a burning question? Go to Answers and get answers from real

people who know. Languages are different - but the thought is one Sounds are many - but the Rhythm is the same Cows are many - but milk is the same Gurus appear many - yet He is only one." ------education never ends----- ramakrishna venkata b-tech dep of material

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