Thursday, July 29, 2010

Learning procedure of Krishna Yajurveda.

The procedure described below is what is generally followed in the Veda pathasalas.

Vedadhyayana involves first of all learning the texts by heart (kanthastheekaranam).

1. Aksharabhyasa - learning of the grantha script.

2. In the first stage, the sub texts are learned by heart. They are -

Taittiriya brahmanam - elaborating the procedure of yajnas etc.
Aranyakam, Kathakam and Upanishad - the spiritual texts mostly dealing in adhyatma.

This stage takes about two and a half years.

3. In the next stage which make take about two years, the brahmachari learns by heart the taittiriya samhita comprising of 2198 panchasatis ( blocks of 50 words each). They are the mantras in prose form.

4. In the next stage called pada patha the entire samhita is split word by word and learned.

5. In the next stage called krama patha, the brahmachari learns to combine the words and how svara and pada sandhis are formed. The first word of the mantra is joined to the second, second to the third etc.

1+2, 2+3, 3+4, 4+5.

6. The next stage is called jata patha the sequence is

1,2,2,1,1,2
2,3,3,2,2,3
3,4,4,3,3,4
...........

7.The final stage is ghana patha in which the sequence is

1,2,2,1,1,2,3,3,2,1,1,2,3
2,3,3,2,2,3,4,4,3,2,2,3,4

On completion of this stage the student receives the title called ghanapati which is highly respected.

Then the student moves onto learn the nuances of pronunciation and svaras through lakshnas and becomes a salakshana ghanapati. It can take upto ten years to reach this stage.

8. Further to this one can move onto specialise in

Shadangas - the six organs of the vedas
Bhashyam - meaning and commentary
Pryogas - srautha and gruhya prayogas.

To become a karmakandi purohit who does the regular household paurohitya all the above are not required. Proficiency in the relevant  mantras ( may be about 1% of the whole) and a few months of training under an able acharya are sufficient.

In the video below Mrityunjaya mantra is chanted in Samhita - Pada - Krama - Jata - Ghana formats.

The four vedas

Rigveda
Contains mainly mantras in praise of various vedic deities and prayers to them.

It is divided in two ways.

8 ashtakas comprising of 64 adhyayas

OR

10 mandalas comprising of 85 anuvakas

In total there are 1028 suktams made up of 10552 mantras. A suktam is a collection of mantras on a particular subject.

Originally there were 21 branches of this veda, but now only to ie:- Bhashkala and Sakala are existing.

The sub texts of this veda are

Brahmanas ( procedural instructions) - Kaushitaki, Sangrayana and Aithareya

Aranyakas - Kaushitaki and Aithareya

Upanishads - Kaushitaki and Aithareya

Gruhya sutra - Asvalayana

Yajurveda

There are two schools of yajurveda. The shukla yajurveda and the krishna yajurveda. The main difference is that in shukla yajurveda we find mantras alone whereas krishna yajurveda is a mix of mantras and the relevant brahmana bhaga also.

Yajurveda consists mainly of procedural mantras used in yajnas and it is in prose.

The shukla yajurveda has got two main branches as of today.

1. Vajasaneyi madhyandiniya mainly found in north india 2. Kanva mostly found in Tamil Nadu.

Vajasaneyi samhita consists of 303 anuvakas made up of 1975 kandikas classifiec into 40 chapters. Kanva samhita againa has got 40 chapters divided into 328 anuvakas comprising of 2086 kandikas.

The krishna yajurveda is made up of 7 kandas divided into 44 prasnas. There are 651 anuvakas made up of 2198 panchashatis (group of fifty words).

Sub texts of shukla yajurveda

Brahmanam - Shatapatha brahmanam

Upanishad - Isha and Brihadaranyaka

Sub texts of krishna yajurveda

Brahmanam - Taittiriya brahmanam

Aranyaka - Taittiriya aranyaka

Upanishad - Taittiriya, Katha and Maitrayani

Gruhya sutra - Apastamba, Bodhayana

Samaveda

Samaveda consists of songs. Of the 1875 verses of samaveda, 1800 are from rigveda.

It consists of two parts

Purvarchika consisting of 6 chapters with 650 mantras and

Uttararchika consisting of 21 chapters with 1225 mantras.

The main branches are kauthuma and ranayaniya.

Atharva veda

Atharva veda comprises of mantras used for all worldly purposes such as healing, penances, fulfillment of wishes etc and also adhyatma.

The main branches are Saunaka and Paippalada.

Saunaka samhita consists of 5977 mantras arranged into 730 suktams in 20 chapters.

Sub texts of atharva veda

Brahmanam - Gopatha

Upanishad - Mundaka, Mandukaya.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Are the passengers part of the bus?

Of course, when it jumps off the bridge and plunges down the river, they all drown together.

There are millions of micro organisms existing in our body each with life of its own. Some helpful, some harmful. Does the "self" include all of them or is minus all of them? A bacterium in the human stomach - does it identify itself as an individual prana or part of the whole called the human?

Friday, July 16, 2010

Why to prostrate before learned brahmins

The mantra goes - " yavateervai devataastaa sarvaa veda vidi brahmane vasnti tasmaat brahmanebhyo veda vidbhyo dive dive namskuryaannaasleelam keertayedeta eva devataa preenati"

All devatas reside within the brahmin who knows the Veda. So, by prostrating before the brahmin the devatas become happy.

The devatas exist in the form of mantras. By chanting the mantra their presence is sought. Mantras are stored in the Vedavit brahmin. Therefore the devatas also reside within him.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Kari Naal / Agni nakshatra

Kari Naal

Kari Naal is generally considered to be inauspicious in Tamil Nadu. Tamil panchangams mark kari naal. If the panchangam shows it as a kari naal auspicious functions are avoided on that day.

Certain days of the solar month are considered as kari naal. It is as follows.

Mesha - 6th and 15th
Rishabha - 7th ,16th and 17th
Mithuna - 1st and 6th
Karkataka - 2nd ,10th and 20th
Simha - 2nd ,9th and 28th
Kanya -16th and 29th
Tula - 6th and 20th
Vrischika - 1st ,10th and 17th
Dhanu -6th ,9th and 11th
Makara -1st, 2nd, 3rd, 11th, and 17th
Kumbha-15th ,16th and 17th
Meena -6th, 15th and 19th

Kari naal is only a deshachara (local practice). There is no reference in any of the classical texts.

Death on a kari naal is considered to be inauspicious and special remedies are performed in such cases. It must have started like this and later on must have got modified to the present state by indiscriminate observation.

Agninakshatra

Similar is the case with agninakshatra. When surya traverses krittika nakshatra (agni nakshatra) some people consider it to be inauspicious. Sastra says " Mrit Daru Shila karmani varjayet" meaning avoid activities related to soil/mud, timber and stone. Only construction related activities need to be avoided ( may be due to the extreme heat ).

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Monday, July 12, 2010

It's all in the mind

All you have to know is what you are, how you exist.

You don't have to believe anything.

Just understand your mind; how it works,how attachment and desire arise, how ignorance arises, and where emotions come from.

It is sufficient to know the nature of all that; that alone can bring you happiness and peace.

Thus, your life can change completely; everything turns upside down.

What you once interpreted as horrible can become beautiful.

Your Mind is Your Religion ( Budha)

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Uparagasanthi

Uparaga (eclipse) santhi

 

This is the remedy to be performed if a solar or lunar eclipse falls on one’s janmarasi to ward off the evils of serious illnesses and untimely death.

 

Procedure

 

1.    Anujna form brahmins

2.    Ganesha pooja

3.    Appointment of acharya and ritviks

4.    A pratima of sarpa made of gold weighing one or half nishka ( 1 nishka = 4 g) should be placed on top of a heap of gingelly seeds in case of solar eclipse and a heap of rice in case of a lunar eclipse after purifying with panchagavya.

5.    Pranapratishta should be performed on the pratima and woshipped with shodashopachara.

6.    A kalasha made of brass  should be placed on top paddy weighing  five dronas ( 1 drona = 16 kg). Four more kalashas should be placed in the four directions.

7.    The five types of soil called panchamrith ( 1. from the path of elephant 2. from the path of horse. 3. from the battleground 4. from the place where cattle is reared 5. from the gate of the king’s palace.) should be deposited in the kalashas. The skin from the bark and the tender leaves of the five trees oudumbara, vata, ashvatha, plaksha and amra called  panchatvak and panchapallava respectively  should be deposited in the kalashas. The nine gemstones should be deposited. Then kalashas should also be deposited with gorochan, sankha, padma, sphatika, chandana, ivory, flowers, usheera and guggulu.

8.    Varuna should first be invoked onto the kalashas and worshipped with shodashopachara.

9.    The other deities should be invoked using the following mantras.

 

Indra

rÉÉåxÉÉæ uÉeÉëkÉUÉå SåuÉ AÉÌSirÉÉlÉÉÇ mÉëpÉÑqÉïiÉÈ | xÉWûxÉëlÉrÉlÉxxÉÔrÉïaÉëWûmÉÏQûÉÇ urÉmÉÉåWûiÉÑ ||

 

Agni

qÉÑZÉÇ rÉxxÉuÉïSåuÉÉlÉÉÇ xÉmiÉÉÍcÉïUÍqÉiɱÑìÌiÉÈ | xÉÔrÉÉåïmÉUÉaÉxÉÇpÉÔiÉÉqÉÎalÉÈ mÉÏQûÉÇ urÉmÉÉåWûiÉÑ ||

Yama

rÉÈ MüqÉïxÉɤÉÏ sÉÉåMüÉlÉÉÇ rÉqÉÉå qÉÌWûwÉuÉÉWûlÉÈ | cÉlSìxÉÔrÉÉåïmÉUÉaÉÉåijÉÉÇ aÉëWûmÉÏQûÉÇ urÉmÉÉåWûiÉÑ ||

Nirruti

U¤ÉÉåaÉhÉÉÍkÉmÉxxÉɤÉéiÉç mÉëVûrÉÉÌlÉsÉxÉͳÉpÉÈ | MüUÉVûÉå ÌlÉU×ÌiÉxxÉÔrÉïaÉëWûmÉÏQûÉÇ urÉmÉÉåWûiÉÑ ||

Varuna

lÉÉaÉmÉÉzÉkÉUÉå  SåuÉÉå ÌlÉirÉÇ qÉMüUuÉÉWûlÉÈ | xÉÍsÉsÉÉÍkÉmÉÌiÉxxÉÔrÉïaÉëWûmÉÏQûÉÇ urÉmÉÉåWûiÉÑ ||

Vayu

mÉëÉhÉÃmÉÉÌWûsÉÉåMüÉlÉÉÇ uÉÉrÉÑÈ M×üwhÉqÉ×aÉÌmÉërÉÈ | xÉÔrÉÉåïmÉUÉaÉxÉÇpÉÔiÉÉÇ aÉëWûmÉÏQûÉÇ urÉmÉÉåWûiÉÑ ||

 

Kubera

rÉÉåÅxÉÉæ ÌlÉÍkÉmÉÌiÉSåïuÉÈ ZÉ…ûzÉÔsÉkÉUÉå ZÉUÈ | xÉÔrÉÉåïmÉUÉaÉxÉÇpÉÔiÉÇ MüsÉÑwÉÇ qÉå urÉmÉÉåWûiÉÑ ||

Ishana

rÉÉåÅxÉÉæ zÉÔsÉkÉUÉå ÂSìzzÉÇMüUÉå uÉ×wÉuÉÉWûlÉÈ | xÉÔrÉÉåïmÉUÉaÉeÉÇ SÉåwÉÇ ÌuÉlÉÉzÉrÉiÉÑ xÉuÉïSÉ ||

 

In case of lunar eclipse use the following mantras

 

Indra

rÉÉåÅxÉÉæ  uÉeÉëkÉUÉå SåuÉ AÉÌSirÉÉlÉÉÇ mÉëpÉÑqÉïiÉÈ  | xÉWûxÉëlÉrÉlɶÉlSìaÉëWûmÉÏQûÉÇ urÉmÉÉåWûiÉÑ || 

Agni

qÉÑZÉÇ rÉxxÉuÉïSåuÉÉlÉÉÇ xÉmiÉÉÍcÉïUÍqÉiɱÑìÌiÉÈ | cÉlSìÉåmÉUÉaÉxÉÇpÉÔiÉÉqÉÎalÉÈ mÉÏQûÉÇ urÉmÉÉåWûiÉÑ ||

Yama

rÉÈ MüqÉïxÉɤÉÏ sÉÉåMüÉlÉÉÇ rÉqÉÉå qÉÌWûwÉuÉÉWûlÉÈ | cÉlSìxÉÔrÉÉåïmÉUÉaÉÉåijÉÉÇ aÉëWûmÉÏQûÉÇ urÉmÉÉåWûiÉÑ ||

Nirruti

U¤ÉÉåaÉhÉÉÍkÉmÉxxÉɤÉéiÉç mÉëVûrÉÉÌlÉsÉxÉͳÉpÉÈ | MüUÉVûÉå ÌlÉU×ÌiɶÉlSìaÉëWûmÉÏQûÉÇ urÉmÉÉåWûiÉÑ ||
Varuna

lÉÉaÉmÉÉzÉkÉUÉå  SåuÉÉå ÌlÉirÉÇ qÉMüUuÉÉWûlÉÈ | xÉÍsÉsÉÉÍkÉmÉÌiɶÉlSìaÉëWûmÉÏQûÉÇ urÉmÉÉåWûiÉÑ ||

Vayu

mÉëÉhÉÃmÉÉÌWûsÉÉåMüÉlÉÉÇ uÉÉrÉÑÈ M×üwhÉqÉ×aÉÌmÉërÉÈ | cÉlSìÉåmÉUaÉxÉÇpÉÔiÉÉÇ aÉëWûmÉÏQûÉÇ urÉmÉÉåWûiÉÑ ||

 

Kubera

rÉÉåÅxÉÉæ ÌlÉÍkÉmÉÌiÉSåïuÉÈ ZÉ…ûzÉÔsÉkÉUÉå ZÉUÈ | cÉlSìÉåmÉUÉaÉxÉÇpÉÔiÉÇ MüsÉÑwÉÇ qÉå urÉmÉÉåWûiÉÑ ||

Ishana

rÉÉåÅxÉÉæ zÉÔsÉkÉUÉå ÂSìzzÉÇMüUÉå uÉ×wÉuÉÉWûlÉÈ | cÉlSìÉåmÉUÉaÉeÉÇ SÉåwÉÇ ÌuÉlÉÉzÉrÉiÉÑ xÉuÉïSÉ ||

 

 

10.                     The above mantras should be written on a metal strip made of gold, silver or copper and tied around the head of the yajamana.

11.                     The yajamana with anjalimudra should pray to the dikpalas as follows taking flowers and akshata in hand

 

§ÉæsÉÉåYrÉå rÉÉÌlÉ pÉÔiÉÉÌlÉ cÉUÉÍhÉ xjÉÉuÉUÉÍhÉ cÉ | oÉë¼åzÉÌuÉwhÉÑrÉÑ£üÉÌlÉ iÉÉlrÉÉrÉÉliÉÑ WûUiuÉbÉqÉç ||

12.                     This should be followed by shodashopachara pooja of the invoked dikpalas.

13.                     The brahmanas should chant  the following mantras.

 

Rudram, Chamakam, Purushasuktam, Shreesuktam, Bhusuktam, Varunasuktam, Ghritasuktam, Aghamarshanasuktam, Namobrahmane and Pranava.

14.  In case of Solar eclipse havan with 108 ahutis of samit, annam and ghee should be perfoprmed with the mantra AÉ xÉirÉålÉ ........  and in case of lunar eclipse with the mantra xÉÉåqÉÉå kÉålÉÑqÉç ……

 

108 ahutis should also be given with ghee with the mantra lÉqÉÉå AxiÉÑ xÉmÉåïprÉÈ and 108 ahutis with gingelly seeds with the vyahrutis.

15. Abhisheka should be performed  on the yajamana with the water from the kalashas at the end of the pooja chanting the navagraha mantras.

16. The sarpa pratima, kalashas and everythingelse used in the pooja should be given in daanam to the brahmanas. The band metal band tied around the head should be given in daanam to the acharya.

 

16. Ashirvada to  be received from the brahmanas after providng suitable dakshina and bhojanam.

 

 

                           


Friday, July 2, 2010

Facing north or east - scientific evidence

A paper by S.Subramanyam, P.V.Sankernarayan and T.M.Srinivasan called "Effect of magnetic micropulsations on the biological systems - a bioenvironmental study" that appeared in Int.J.Biometeor.1985.vol 29 says -

their study showed decisive changes in the electrophysiology, neurochemistry and biochemistry when oriented to north or east. The north orientation appeared to induce inhibition of brain electrical activity and asscociated neurochemical and biochemical changes whereas the east orientation showed a response of calm blissful alertness.

http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-preview.axd?code=3288m43473051v6j&size=largest

Thursday, July 1, 2010

agnidhyanam

AalÉåkrÉÉïlÉqÉç

 

xÉmiÉWûxiÉÈ cÉiÉÑzÉ×…¡ûÈ xÉmiÉÎeÉÀûÈ Ì²zÉÏwÉïiÉÈ

̧ÉmÉÉiÉç mÉëxɳÉuÉSlÉÈ xÉÑZÉÉxÉÏlÉÈ zÉÑÍcÉÎxqÉiÉÈ

 xuÉÉWûÉÇ iÉÑ SͤÉhÉå mÉɵÉåï SåuÉÏÇ uÉÉqÉå xuÉkÉÉÇ iÉjÉÉ

ÌoÉpÉëiÉç SͤÉhÉWûxiÉæxiÉÑ zÉÌ£üqɳÉÇ xÉëÑcÉÇ xÉëÑuÉqÉç

iÉÉåqÉUÇ urÉeÉlÉÇ uÉÉqÉæÈ bÉ×iÉmÉɧÉÇ cÉ kÉÉUrÉlÉç

qÉåwÉÉÃRûÉå eÉOûÉoÉ®èÈ aÉÉæUuÉhÉÉåï qÉWûÉæeÉxÉÈ

kÉÔqÉëkuÉeÉÉå sÉÉåÌWûiÉɤÉÈ xÉmiÉÉÍcÉïxÉïuÉïMüÉqÉSÈ

AÉiqÉÉÍpÉqÉÑZÉqÉÉxÉÏlÉÈ LuÉÇ krÉÉrÉåiÉç WÒûiÉÉzÉlÉqÉç.

 

AalÉå uÉæµÉélÉU zÉÉÎhQûsrÉaÉÉå§É qÉåwÉkuÉeÉ mÉëɉÑZÉÈ qÉqÉÉÍpÉqÉÑZÉqÉÉxÉÏlÉÉå uÉUSÉå pÉuÉ