Rudram Learning - Namakam - 3

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Dear Friends,

 

Pranams to louts feet of beloved bhagawan for giving me this oppurtunity to present this wonderful text as his instrument and I pray him to bless me for good thought to compile and present this email...

 

Word namakam is due to the word “Nama†Sabda. Rudrasyedam Rudriyam relates to Rudra. This has another name Sata Rudriyam. There are Several meanings to the word Rudra - “"Rtam (dam) Samsaara dukham draava yat iti Rudrah†meaning He destroys the sorrows of the world i.e. (Rudra) “Rodati Sarvamantakala†meaning the one who makes one to suffer. “Rtou Naadaante dravati – draavayateeti Rudrah meaning the end note of the musical sound i.e. (Rudra). "Rtya – Vedarupaya, dharmadinava-loka yati praayateeti vaa Rudrahâ€. In the form of Veda Dharma is promoted i.e. (Rudra).“Rtya-vaagrupaya, vaakyam, prapayateeti Rudrahâ€. In the form of Speech, brings out the importance of the meaning of words i.e. (Rudra).Rtya-Pranava rupaya svatmanam prayateeti Rudrahâ€. In the name of pranava (OM) He makes one to realize him. “Rudroroutiti satye rorupamaano dravati pravashati martyaaniti Rudrahâ€. In the form truth he enters

humans.

 

By reciting Veda once he becomes pure on that day. But by Rudradhyayam the very next moment he gets purified. The persons who wrote the treatises (meaning) of Rudradhyayam are Maha pandit Shayanacharya, Bhatta Bhaskara, Visnu suri. Shrimadabhinava, Shankaracharya. The present text contains the agreed views of all the four commentators. Rudra is (Shiva), Agni Svarupa. It is stated that “Shriyamieche ddhutaashanaat†people desirous of all auspicious things have to worship the Agni Svarupa Rudra through Japa, Homa, Abhiseka and Archana. In our Country persons born during the time of bad stars, and at such bad times of maturity of girls and during the intervening bad conjunction of stars as per horoscope and to get over the evil effects and difficulties and to obtain Shanti, Rudrabhishekam and Rudrarchana will be performed. Some others will conduct in an elaborate way Maha Rudram and Atirudram.

Hence we understand essentially three types of Rudram

Homa Rudram - Performed during yajnas (Ati Rudra Maha Yajna) and yagas.

Abhisheka Rudram - Performed during the holy abhishekam of Lord Shiva. Abhishekam - meaning worshipping the Lingakaram of lord shiva with Water, milk, ghee, honey and curd and bilva dalam (holy leaves of bilva tree)

Japa Rudram - Rudram chanting done as part of japam or tapam (meditation). The normal daily chanting of rudram we do is Japa rudram.

 

By watering the tree at the base of the trunk all the parts of the tree including branches, leaves, fruits etc are strengthened. In the same way by worshipping shiva all his related Devas will be pleased and one will get both the earthly and heavenly benefits including liberation. Just as the fungi in the water is removed by daily cleansing and thus the waters are kept clean and pure, reciting Namakam and Chamakam is essential to absolute of all sins.. Rudram forms the best Vedic prayer. By performing Rudra Japa all the Gods are invoked and intern bestows Bhukti and Mukti. Three hundred times salutations are offered in this Rudropasana and God is always pleased with repeated namaskars. Shiva resides in all Jivas and present in the entire universe. This is not only very popular but also highly sonorous, comprehensive and full of

music metres.

Rudram and Chamakam are exclusively intended for three main classes of persons. Who are (1) afflicted with troubles and miseries (2) Seekers of knowledge (3) for pleasures of earth and heaven and for riches. These three are Sakama and these goals ultimately leads to the fourth goal, the highest form of mediation (Nishkaama) which leads to liberation.

 

-offering at swami's lotus feet

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