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Sunday, December 6, 2020

Significance of Skanda Shashthi


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http://www.templenet.com/sashti.html
Tube
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Shashthi 

Shashthi Devi is a Matrika Devi called Devasena, the consort of Kartika and is also known as ‘Balada’ and ‘Vishnu Maya’. Her natural characteristic is to provide shield to children by way of security, development, intelligence, good health, happiness and long-life. King Priyavrata, the illustrious son of Swayambhu Manu by deftly divided the World into Sapta Dwipas performed a tough Yagna to secure a son. When his wife got pregnant, the King was delighted and anxiously awaited the birth of a son, but alas his wife delivered a still child. The King took the dead child to the cremation ground, cremated him and desired to take away his life too. All of a sudden, there was a flood of light and a Devi appeared who said that she was Shashthi, the wife of Kartikeya also called Devasena, the Manasa Kanya of Brahma Deva and a Matrika born out of the sixth Amsha of Prakriti Devi. She revived the dead boy to life and commanded him that he should perform worship to her as also popularise her puja among his subjects, that his revived son would be named Suvrata who would perform hundred Ashwamedha Yagnas, and that he would become a Supreme Monarch. King Priyavrata declared Shashthi Puja on the sixth day of every new child, besides observing Shukla Shasthi of every month for her worship. Besides, the twenty first day after each child’s birth would be the day of Nama Karan and again on the day of ‘Annaprashan’too, there would be celebrations in the name of the Devi who indeed was the provider of security and good health to the new-borns throught out their childhood. Devi Shashthi’s worshipped was popularised in each household with the Mula Mantra japa viz. Om Hreem Shashthi Devavyai swaha and formal Puja with Stotra, dhupa, deepa, Naivedya etc. Devi Shashti’s constant puja provides excellent health and Vidya to all the growing children. Also those who have no children would be blessed with good offspring who again are granted growth, health and happiness.

Source
Brahma-vaivarta Purana 

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

flower basket

dog

staff

ash to flowers

rise

hair

shelter

Yoga Vidya

Skandmata - Panchmi Tithi Navarathri

Photos



Nandi


Daksha Yajna

Brahma had a son by name Daksha. On hearing from his father about the immense benefits of doing Tapas, Daksha went to the mountains and did rigorous Tapas on Lord Siva. Much pleased with his penance, Lord Siva granted him many boons. By these, Daksha became the king of the Devas and the three worlds. Also, he was the most fortunate recipient of another boon, viz., that Sri Parvati herself was to be his daughter.

In one of the discussions between Lord Siva and Parvati, the latter asserted herself very much and gave herself airs of too much self-importance. As a corrective to this bumptiousness, she was ordained to take a human birth and return later on to Mount Kailasa. Parvati Devi came down to earth and was lying as a child in a tank. While wandering in the forest, king Daksha saw this child in the lotus pond, took her home and brought her up as his own daughter. She was known as Dakshayani and, as the years grew, she cultivated extreme devotion for Lord Siva; and expressed her resolve to marry only Lord Siva. Daksha was highly pleased.

Lord Siva in the guise of a hunter met Dakshayani alone, and assured her that He would marry her very soon. On hearing the news, the girl’s parents made arrangements to celebrate the marriage in a grand and befitting manner. But Lord Siva, instead of undergoing the prescribed ceremonies of marriage, entered the wedding hall abruptly and carried away Dakshayani in the presence of Daksha and other Devas who had assembled there to grace the occasion. This action of Lord Siva infuriated Daksha, and, forgetting all that He had done for him and the greatness of the Lord, Daksha began abusing Siva and belittling His Lilas.

Daksha had 27 daughters whom he had given in marriage to Chandra (moon-god). Chandra, instead of loving all the 27 wives equally, developed an intense partiality towards Rohini. Resentful of this action of Chandra, the other wives went and complained to their father, Daksha, about the partiality of Chandra. Daksha, on hearing this report from his dear daughters, cursed Chandra to be deprived of his Kalas (brightness). Much grieved and depressed at heart, Chandra at last made his way to Lord Siva and prayed to be saved from the curse of Daksha. And the Lord, out of compassion, retrieved him partially from the curse and saved him by wearing him on His own forehead. Hence we find changes in the phases of the Moon—gradual decrease of brightness during Krishna Paksha or the dark fortnight, and gradual increase during the Sukla Paksha or the bright fortnight. This action of Lord Siva further infuriated Daksha.

Lord Brahma had arranged for the performance of a Yajna and, as usual, to offer the sacraments of the Yajna to Lord Siva, the Lord of all Yajnas. Invitations were sent to all Devas as well as to Daksha. The whole host of Devas had assembled in the Yajna hall. Lord Siva had sent Nandi to attend the function and represent Him during the Yajna. Daksha, who also attended the Yajna, was filled with such envy and pride that he not only condemned Brahma for giving the sacrament to Siva but also went to the extent of blaspheming Lord Siva and treating His representative, Nandi, in the most contemptuous manner.

None of the Devas witnessing this behaviour of Daksha had the courage to protest. But Nandi was touched to the quick. Enraged much at the words of Daksha, Nandi cursed him to suffer in various ways and die a violent death, and to have a goat’s head in his next birth. He also berated the Devas for their indifference, if not cowardliness, in not admonishing Daksha for his blasphemy and cursed them to undergo torture and persecution at the hands of the Asuras Surapadma, Simhamukha and Taraka. With this Nandi left the hall in a rage.

After the departure of Nandi, the great sage and seer, Dadheechi Maharshi, approached Daksha and advised him not to act in that manner towards Lord Siva. He brought home to Daksha the various acts of compassion of Lord Siva and His Lilas. The sage entreated him to be more devotional to Him and leave off such haughtiness of spirit. But all in vain. At last Daksha decided to perform a Yajna in which he would neither invite Lord Siva nor offer the sacrament to Him.

At Kankhal (in Hardwar), on the banks of the Ganga, arrangements were made for the grand Yajna of Daksha. All the Devas were invited. Large scale arrangements had been made for receiving the visitors to the Yajnashala. Lord Siva alone was left uninvited. Dakshayani, who was at the time with Lord Siva at Kailasa, heard the news of the Grand Yajna of her father. Against the wishes of her Lord, Dakshayani, tempted by her keen and natural desire to attend the great function, hurried up to Kankhal, where the Yajna was in progress.

There was none to welcome her at her father’s residence. And worse still, she was openly insulted by her father and his party. News of this ill-treatment meted out to Dakshayani reached Lord Siva. He summoned god Veerabhadra and ordered him to make a clean sweep of the Yajna and the participants thereof. Veerabhadra rushed to the spot in great fury and dashed to pieces all the grand arrangements made for the Yajna; and almost all the participants fell a prey to his unbounded ire. Those who begged pardon of him were let off. While this work of destruction was going on, Lord Siva appeared before the Devas. At the request of Dakshayani, Siva brought back all the dead to life. After sometime, on the advice of Lord Brahma, his father, Daksha went to Varanasi to do Tapas for the grace of Lord Siva. Lord Siva appeared before Daksha and made him one of the leaders of His Bhuta Ganas.



The Curse of Nandi

Akhirasena, the king of the Asuras, had a daughter Surasai by name. To avenge the defeat of the Asuras at the hands of the Devas, Sukracharya, the Asura Guru, taught Surasai all the Arts of Maya. Surasai became an adept in those Arts, and was herself aptly called Maya. To bring back the lost glory of the Asuras, Maya determined to beget children through a great sage, so that the descendants could be more powerful than the Devas. With this in view, she approached the place where Kasyapa Rishi was doing rigorous Tapas. 

By her magic spells she created a beautiful garden in the forest; and there she was, dancing and enjoying herself as part of the beauty of Nature. Disturbed by this interference, Kasyapa woke up from his meditation and saw a beautiful lady before him. By the secret powers of Maya, the Rishi fell victim to her charms and easily yielded to her proposals. Both the Rishi and Maya spent happy days together, roaming about gaily in the forest. Maya bore three sons and a daughter to the Rishi. The first son was Surapadma, the second Simhamukha and the third Tarakasura. The daughter’s name was Ajamukhi. Of the sons, Simhamukha had a lion’s face and Tarakasura an elephant’s; and Ajamukhi had the face of a goat. Along with them there arose a huge army of Asuras to help these leaders in their oncoming fight with the Devas.

Surapadma and his brothers, while they were yet young, requested their father and mother to prepare them for a life of glory and victory. Kasyapa Rishi told them to lead a virtuous life and do rigorous Tapas with intense devotion to the Lord. He cited the story of Markandeya to show how the power of his devotion to Lord Siva had protected him even from the grip of Lord Yama.

But Maya, mindful of her mission, was not satisfied with this advice to her sons. She entreated her sons to do rigorous Tapas on Lord Siva and to obtain boons by which they could have suzerainty over the Devas and live happily and gloriously. 

After some time, Kasyapa realised his folly in having allowed himself to become a victim to the wiles of Maya and left them all and went his own way. As advised by their mother, Surapadma and his brothers proceeded north to perform intense Tapas. After making every arrangement carefully for the performance of their penance, they commenced their Tapas. Years passed. They obtained no results. Hence Surapadma and his brothers doubled their austerities, cut off every limb of their body and threw them one after another as an offering into the sacrificial fire before them. Even then Lord Siva did not appear. Finally Surapadma offered himself in the fire and died. The other brothers were also preparing themselves for a similar sacrifice when Lord Siva appeared before them, brought Surapadma back to life and granted a number of boons prayed for by them.

Having thus achieved their aims, they came back triumphantly to their mother who gladly welcomed them home. Maya sent them to Sukracharya, the Asura Guru, for further advice and guidance. Sukracharya gave them detailed instruction for leading an extremely sensuous life of pomp and glory. He addressed them thus: “When people say ‘everything is done by the one Supreme Being and He dwells everywhere,’ they are telling a stupendous lie. The Lord has created all other creatures and plants simply for man’s enjoyment. Might is Right. No one will derive any pleasure by acting upto the high-sounding precepts like ‘Do always good, avoid evil things.’

“The so-called Lord’s Lilas are just like the places and persons we experience during a dream. Everyone is the same in the creation of the Lord. To favour some as saints and sages and condemn others as ignoramuses and sinners is nothing but injustice and partiality. As the Lord has granted you all the boons you desired, it is up to you to utilise them in the proper way. You have got immense power now. You can do and undo things. Hence start at once on the mission of your life for which your mother Maya has been yearning so much. Fight against the Devas. Overthrow them from their power. Strip them of their riches and glory. Lord it over them. Make them your slaves.

“Live a life of ease and pleasure, using every object you could conceive of for your sensual enjoyment. Eat, drink and be merry. Live gloriously. Extend your sway over all the worlds created by Lord Siva. You should reign not only over them, but also establish your dynasty to rule over everyone for generations to come. Thus you will restore the glory now lost to the Asura dynasty.” In these thrilling and perverse words Sukracharya instructed Surapadma, Simhamukha and Tarakasura.

After having received the benedictions and final exhortations of their Guru Maharaj, Surapadma and his brothers began their career of conquest over the Devas. Surapadma established his capital at Mahendrapuri, in the South. Simhamukha had his capital in Asuram, in the North. Tarakasura built his capital near Emakoodam. These cities were duly planned and perfected by the divine architect, Visvakarma. The three brothers had their own independent kingdoms established around their capitals and were reigning over them, to the terror and dismay of the Devas.

Not satisfied with the vast kingdoms allotted to them, the brothers then proceeded to the habitation of the Devas to deprive them of their sovereignty and freedom. Surapadma invaded Indraloka, took Indra prisoner and made him work as a fisherman in the capital! Brahma was asked to officiate as the Purohit. Vayu, the god of wind, was appointed as the sweeper of the streets of his capital; to Varuna, the god of rain, was assigned the task of sprinkling gentle drops of water over the streets to lay the dust; the Sun was given to his son, Banukopan, as a toy to play with; Lord Vishnu alone was left undisturbed. In this way Surapadma, along with his brothers, subjected the Devas to every kind of ignoble persecution and insult. These privations and dishonour they had to undergo as a punishment for cowardly indifference they showed when Daksha blasphemed Lord Siva. The curse of Nandi had come home.

https://www.dlshq.org/download/shanmukha.htm

Saturday, November 14, 2020

Kattabomman

There is no equal to the devotion that Veerapandiya Kattapomman had on Lord Muruga.

Murugan has done some miracles through Kattapomman to recognize the appreciation of his devotee.

Kattapomman used to eat his lunch daily after completing pooja and nivethanam to Lord Muruga in Thiruchendur.

Is the fort of Kattapomman in Panchalang Kurichi. Thiruchendur Murugan temple is so far away from here.

To let Murugan know that Nivethanam has happened in the temple.........

He built stone halls from Tiruchendur to Panchalangkurichi. He installed bronze beads inside the hall.

Stopped the servants in every hall.

It is a habit to start ringing the Thiruchendur temple tower bell as soon as the top time pooja is done in Thiruchendur.

Following this, the next hall will hear the bells.

For this, Kattabomman had a Mani Mandapam in many places including Arumuganeri, Aathur, Ottapidaram, Panchalangkurichi.

The servant in the hall will immediately unleash the wrist of the hall and raise the bells.

In this way, the bell will ring in every hall and at the end the bell will ring in the Panchalangkurichi Mandapam

(Some of these halls can still be seen in this way) )

Moreover, every Monday early morning horsemen will bring leaf vibhuti prasad from Thiruchendur Murugan temple to Kattapomman and give it to Kattapomman.

Kattabomman will start his daily tasks only after getting Vibhuti in his hands.

One bell would have been hung on the seventh stage of the Thiruchendur Murugan temple tower.

This was set up by Kattapomman. This has been without sounding for years.

By the bell roaring from this tower, they will make the next bell ring and indicate that Murugan has become a relief.

This bell which was not working was re-ringed during the temple consecration. Now this bell is ringing in the peak puja.

And because of his devotion to Lord Muruga, Kattapomman also had the habit of sending thousands of fortresses to Nellai to donate food from his paddy barns to Thiruchendur Murugan temple.

Citizens also brought the process of carrying paddy from their fields as saffron and giving it to the temple.

Once upon a time, Kattabomman wanted to gift a gold necklace to his wife and asked the golden killer to prepare it.

Murugan who appeared in his dream that night, you could have given me that necklace? He said it.

As soon as the necklace was ready, he took it and wore it to Murugan in Thiruchendur temple.

Once again, Masi festival was going on in Thiruchendur.

The chariot is ready for the chariot ride. Kattapomman should come and give him the cord. I don't know why I couldn't come

Well, we can pull the chariot, devotees dragged the chariot. The chariot just rolled a little distance. It has stopped moving anymore.

The wheel of the chariot is standing in one place. The car did not move even after many devotees tried.

Meanwhile, Kattapomman was brought a message and he also arrived here.

Kattabomman caught about the chariot. Immediately the chariot moved. Murugan has appreciated his devotion through Kattapomman with many miracles like this.

There is a beautiful village called Muthalangkurichi on the bank of Tamirabarani river.

A poet named Kavirayar Kandasamy Pulavar lived here.

He is also a very intense devotee of Lord Muruga. He has no vision in both eyes.

Lord Muruga will come in person to listen to his song! So much love for his song.

One day the poet was singing a poet. I had the habit of throwing the victory.

While chewing the victory of the poet, the saliva fell on the parivattam of Lord Muruga.

It was seen in the Moolavar Parivattam in Moolasthanam, Thiruchendur.

Butter was nervous when he saw this. He was heartbroken without knowing how this happened.

Murugan appeared in the dream of Butter that night and said, ' Oh my god, the one who has deep devotion on me is the poet of Muthalangkurichi.

He is also blind. I have decided to give him a visit.

Every last Friday of every month, He walks to see me.

Call him and take a flower from the garland that is worn for me and accept it in his eye!

Then he can see in that eye. Lord Muruga will ask you when will he open the other eye.

Tell him to go to Panchalangkurichi. There my devotee Kattabomman said that he will open another eye for him and went away.

The poet who came to Thiruchendur next Friday took bath in the sea. Butter found him and brought him to Murugan temple.

As per the order of Lord Muruga, he took a flower and put it in the eyes of the poet.

Kavirayar got a glimpse in his eyes. To get another eye's sight, you go to Panchalang. This is the order of Lord Muruga, Butter said.

According to this, the poet went to Panchalangkurichi. Kattabomman was amazed after knowing the details from the poet.

Did Murugan send me to open the other eye? He was amazed to hear that.

Immediately he arranged pooja at Jakkammal temple. Then he took the poet in one hand and entered the temple with a sword in the other hand.

Kavirayar was shocked to see the condition of Kattapomman with Uruvi sword.

What is this? Are you coming into the temple with a formed sword? He thought and heard that. There should be no lack of anger for the poet!, Similarly, he also asked.

The poet is worried that he is destroying the sanctity of the temple. But, Kattabomman did not speak anything, he took a flower from the garland that was worn to Jakkamma Devi and put it in the other eye of the poet.

What a surprise! That eye also got sight in the other eye!

Though the poet was happy, he was again angry because of Kattapomman's disorder. ' You are an arrogant man. That is why he said that even in the temple of the Goddess, you are standing with the sword formed in the power of power.

The person who said that I don't want this look that I got because of you who insults the goddess, tried to pluck the sword of Kattapomman and pierce it in his eye.

Kattapomman stopped the poet's hand. Dear poet, I did not hold the sword with arrogance. If I could not see you as per the order of Lord Muruga, I was with the sword that was created to stab me with this sword and kill me, he said calmly.

The poet just got stunned. ′′ What's up? Did you want to kill your own life! You are the best devotee of Lord Muruga! I'm sorry kattapomma! He said with tears in his eyes, ′′ Forgive me


At that time, Lord Muruga's Azeri was heard. Dear poet, if I want to give you a vision, I have performed this play to make you realize that the Pattar and Kattapomman who gave a vision in Muthalangkurichi were born to do my duties.

Kavirayar and Kattapomman became close friends after this incident.

When Kattapomman came to Muthalangkurichi to see the poet, the place where he parked the horse on the banks of the Tamirabarani river is still called * Veerapandiyan Kasam

Eesan, who was a Mukhilvannanathar in the temple there till then, was also known as Veerapandeeshwar.

Now Veerapandiya Kasam has become small!

The festival worships created by Kattapomman are being conducted in Thiruchendur temple by his heirs even today.

https://www.google.com/search?q=kattabomman+murugan

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Mohanastra

 On hearing from Veerabahu that the Asuras were ready for the fight, Lord Karttik shifted His army camp from Tiruchendur to Emakudam, very near the city of the Asuras, Mahendrapuri. News of this soon reached Surapadma, and he at once despatched a battalion to drive away the enemy from the outskirts of the city.


Banukopan, the eldest son of Surapadma, who had been given command of the battalion for the fight on the first day sallied forth and found the whole host of the army of the Devas arrayed against him. The grim fight between the two mighty armies then began. The Devas suffered very heavy casualties at the hands of Banukopan and his battalion. Leaders like Veerabahu and his brothers were laid low and in a dead faint by the secret Astras of Banukopan.


On receipt of news of how day was going against the Devas, the Lord sent his Mohanastra to cover the whole army of the Asuras, and all the warriors who had been killed or thrown into a swoon by Banukopan were restored. The Astra sent by the Lord winged its way in the meanwhile towards Banukopan. Realising the gravity of the situation, the young chief with the help of Maya, his grandmother, disappeared from the field unnoticed and made his way to the palace, where he acquainted his father, Surapadma, with the latest phase of the fight. The redoubtable chief of the Asuras himself took over the command on the second day.


Enraged at the discomfiture of Banukopan and determined to crush the army of the Devas once for all, Surapadma himself gave battle to the Devas and began to work havoc on them. Ugran, one of the leaders of the Bhutaganas (on the side of Devas) after an arduous fight killed Atisuran, the son of Simhamukha. Roused to a high pitch of fury at this set-back, Asurendra, son of Taraka, threw himself into the thick of the fight and sent celebrated leaders like Kanakan, Unmathan, Manthan and many other flying from the field.

Veerabahu Devar hurried to that wing of the army and soon found himself in a hand to hand sword fight with the dreaded Asura prince, Asurendra. Their grim fight seemed endless, victory leaning now to one side and then to the other, alternately. But Veerabahu Devar by the exercise of his utmost powers at last succeeded in killing Asurendra. This brought Surapadma himself into the active fight and, by the exertion of his supreme valour, he soon made short work of the eight brothers of Veerabahu Devar, who immediately engaged him in deadly combat. After a prolonged and sanguinary engagement, Surapadma realised the mettle of the opponent he had to deal with and directed his special Danda against him. The Danda struck Veerabahu on the chest and laid him out bleeding and unconscious. The fall of Veerabahu encouraged Surapadma and he chased the remnants of the demoralised Deva army out of the field.

Lord Shanmukha now emerged to the front and faced the triumphant Asura king. He began with a series of missiles which promptly shattered, one by one, all the weapons and insignia of Surapadma and his followers. Then He despatched His Chakrayudha which annihilated hundreds of thousands of the Asura army. Finding the ordinary arrows to be of no avail against his formidable foe, Surapadma took up the Pasupatastra which he had received as a boon from Lord Siva, and directed it at Lord Shanmukha, confidently expecting his enemy to fall immediately, as the wonderful and mighty Astra had never been known to fail before. To his consternation and terror, however, Lord Shanmukha calmly took hold of the Astra and kept it aside. Now realising in a measure the valour and greatness of Shanmukha, who could handle such an Astra in such a manner, Surapadma, taking recourse to his powers of Maya suddenly disappeared from the battlefield unseen and retired to his palace.

The next day, being the third day of the battle, Banukopan equipped himself for the fight with special care and made his appearance in the field. At the very outset Veerabahu and Banukopan confronted each other. And both realised that the contest was to be a fight to the finish. To free himself completely from this grim encounter, Banukopan, in the flash of a moment and with the swiftness of a hurricane, sent out his Mohanastra against the Devas; and the whole host of the leaders were rendered unconscious and dropped into the sea! It was a critical moment. But Shanmukha was more than equal to the emergency. He directed his Vel to bring back safe and sound all the discomfited leaders; and to the dismay of the Asuras, all those who were thought to have been sent to their certain doom were again seen soon afterwards stationed and arrayed against the Asuras as if nothing had happened!

https://www.dlshq.org/download/shanmukha.htm

Malainindra Thirukumara

Even as a boy Lord Shanmukha showed his extraordinary prowess and valour. His Lilas during boyhood supplied confirmation to the Devas that He was the fittest saviour and the best General to command the army against the mighty Asura, Surapadma. Once, while He was playing up and down the hills, some Devas, being ignorant of the real greatness of the Lord, dragged him playfully to fight, treating Him as an ordinary child. Ultimately Indra arrayed his army against this boy for a fight, but was defeated in the end and almost killed. At the intervention of Narada, the Devas realised their folly in fighting against their own saviour and begged His pardon. Out of compassion the Lord brought back the dead Devas to life.

Banukopan

https://www.google.com/search?q=Banukopan

Emakudam

On hearing from Veerabahu that the Asuras were ready for the fight, Lord Karttik shifted His army camp from Tiruchendur to Emakudam, very near the city of the Asuras, Mahendrapuri. News of this soon reached Surapadma, and he at once despatched a battalion to drive away the enemy from the outskirts of the city.

Asuras

Killing the Four Asuras

1 Surapadma who took the form of tree,
2 Simhamukha who swalllowed the deva army
3 Taaraka who faught with Divine Weapons
4 Asura Krauncha (who attacked him in the form of a mountain)

https://www.google.com/search?q=Sooranporu

The sages who heard the Lilas of Lord Skanda asked Suta Rishi how Surapadma happened to be the Vahana or vehicle of the Lord and killed in the battlefield by the Lord. In reply to this, the Rishi gave a brief account of the lives of the Asuras prior to their births as Surapadma, Simhamukha, Tarakasura and Ajamukhi.

Once the Devas assembled at Kailasa to witness the Tandava dance of Lord Siva. After leaving their Vahanas at the foot of the hill, Brahma, Vishnu and Lord Kartik went up to have the Tandava Darshan. The Swan, the Garuda, the Peacock and the Cock were standing at the foot of the hill.

While all the Devas were absent, four of the Bhutaganas of Lord Siva, (Sura, Padma, Simhamukha and Taraka) created a fight amongst the Peacock and the Cock on the one side, and the Swan and the Garuda on the other side. They themselves joined the former and inflicted severe injuries on the Swan and the Garuda.

Vishnu and Brahma complained to Lord Skanda. Lord Skanda cursed the Bhutaganas to be born in the dynasty of the Asuras and torture the Devas and to be themselves finally destroyed by His Vel as punishment for their actions. Thus Surapadma and others took their births in the Asura dynasty and came to be known as Surapadma, Simhamukha and Taraka.

And these Ganas petitioned to the Lord to grant them their request of becoming Vahanas,—the Cock and the Peacock for Him, the Lion for the Devi and the Elephant for Sashta. These boons were granted. In this way, Surapadma became the Vahana and Flag-cock of Lord Skanda. Simhamukha, after his death, became the Vahana of Kali Devi. Tarakasura, as an elephant, served Hari-Hara-Putra as his Vahana.

*  *  *

Another story is told in the Purana about the previous life of the Asuras. Before he was included in the Bhutaganas of Lord Siva, the Asura, Surapadma had been the just king Prabhakara, ruling over a big kingdom in the island of Sakas. On hearing from Sage Agastiyar about the significance of being a Vahana to Lord Karttikeya in the form of a Cock and a Peacock, he did rigorous Tapas and was granted the privilege of being amongst the Bhutaganas of Lord Siva.

Further, regarding Tarakasura and Simhamukha, it is related that they fervently desired to become the Vahanas of Sri Devi and Maha Shashta, as Lion and Elephant. On learning from Sage Trinabindu how to achieve this, they did Tapas and were made to serve Lord Siva as Bhutaganas along with Sura and Padma.

Once Asurendra sought Lord Siva’s protection against His Bhutaganas under Sura, Padma, Simhamukha and Tarakasura, who in a battle with the Asuras crushed them and inflicted a severe defeat on the Asura dynasty. By the curse of Lord Siva, they were born as Asuras known by the name of Surapadma, Simhamukha and Tarakasura, and, at their request, they were made by Lord Karttikeya the Vahanas of their respective Devas, at the end of their fight with the Lord.

Ajamukhi, the sister of the Asura king Surapadma was, in her previous birth, Chitrarekha. Her husband was Pundarikasarma. Chitrarekha was possessed of an extremely lustful nature and she led a life of sheer debauchery, in spite of the presence of her husband. Still the Brahmin, Pundarikasarma, loved her much. It so happened that once sage Durvasa chanced to come to the house of this Brahmin.

Out of extreme lust she hugged the sage. Rendered furious by her wantonness, the sage turned his wrath in full on her. Unable to withstand the fury of the sage, Chitrarekha went to the street and hid herself amidst a herd of sheep. She was, however, found out by the sage; and one of his disciples tied her to the branches of a banyan tree. The sage cursed her to be born in the Asura dynasty with the face of a goat. And through her lustful cravings, the sage told her, she would have two sons. These sons were Vilvalan and Vatapai.

And Maya, having the same Kasyapa Rishi as her husband in her previous birth, had many sons who were killed and destroyed by the Devas. To avenge the defeat of her sons, Maya avowed to destroy the Devas by her sons born of the same sage in another birth. Her wishes were gratified.

Monday, September 7, 2020

Mahendrapuri

 https://www.google.com/search?q=Veera+Mahendrapuri

thousand and eight worlds

During the last four days Lord Murugan and Surapadman fought together fiercely. Surapadman commanded all the asura forces that were scattered in a thousand and eight worlds. He brought the four kinds of forces which reached the earth and made the followers of Tirumal tremble. Lord Murugan destroyed all these forces. He travelled across the universe and destroyed all the remaining forces of Surapadman.

Bhanugopa

 https://www.google.com/search?q=Bhanugopa+Veerabahu

Friday, September 4, 2020

Sridevi

Actor Sridevi, who made her debut in films as a child artist, shared an old photograph of hers from the Tamil film "Aathi Parasakthi", in which she acted as Lord Muruga. Jayalalithaa played the role of Goddess Parvati and Gemini Ganesan was Shiva.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=Aathi+Parasakthi

 

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Shoulder


lines

The word KAVASAM(கவசம்) means Shield or protection. In day to day life we humans protect our
1) head by helmet;
2) hands by wearing gloves;
3) legs by wearing shoes;
4) body by wearing clothes, jacket;
and in addition to all these we protect our health by intake of vitamins and minerals rich food. But all these suits for a person who is not involved in spirituality. And we are unaware of how to protect us in all situations.
Once a person enters into spiritual life he can develop a shield/Aura around him by chanting certain mantras. In fact one can feel visible changes in his development by reading KAVASAM certain number of times. All Mantras are read in Mandalam(48 days) to see the drastic effect.
To cite with and example, Pamban Srimath Kumaragurudasa Swamigal during his childhood days had to take care of Father's Palm groove(தென்னந்தோப்பு). During that time he used to chant Siva mantra.
One day a Murugan Saint told Kumaradasa Swamigal about the fame and glory of reading Kandha Sasti Kavasam. So he started to read KAVASAM 36 times everyday without fail. He admired BALAN THEVARAYAN the author of KANTHA SASHTI KAVASAM.
Pamban Swamigal also wanted to compose poem for Muruga. He started with writing small hymns praising Muruga, and in the course of time he wrote SHANMUGA KAVASAM that gives protection to human being.
Srimath Pamban Swamigals followers started chanting the SHANMUGA KAVASAM as it was very short containing only 120 lines. (Note: Kandha Sasti Kavasam contains 239 lines).

http://6tri.blogspot.com/search/label/Kavacham

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