How Draupadi got 5 husbands !

In an earlier birth, Draupadi performed tapas and Lord Shiva appeared before her. In her excitement she started asking for boons.

1.I shoould get a husband who is the epitome of dharma (Yudhishtira)
2.I should get husband who is the most valorous archer (Arjuna)
3.I should  get a husband.............
4.I should get a husband .............
5.I should get a husband.............

All her five wishes were granted, not in one person, but in five different persons each one possessing one special quality that she asked for.

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Veda mantras of different natures

Stuti - praise
Aashee - praying for something
Prashamsa - laudation, appreciating someone or some act
Ninda - blame
Samshaya - expressing doubt
Paridevana - complaining about someone or something
Spruha - expressing desire
Kathana - boasting
Yaachna - request
Prashna - question
Prativakya - reply
Praisha -order
Pravalhika -  expressing enigma
Niyoga - affirming something
Anuyoga - checking/enquiry
Shlakha - vaunt, boast
Vilapa - lamentation
Akhyana - narration
Samlapa - conversation
Pavitrakhyna - purificatory narration
Namaskara - salutation
Pratirodha - stopping
Sankalpa - resolve
Pralapa - meaningless chatter
Pratishedha  - denial
Upadesha- advise/teaching
Pramada - pleasure-some
Apahuva - concealing
Upapraisha - invitation
Vismaya - surprise
Akrosha - screaming
Abhishtava - praise
Kshepa  - abuse
Shapa- curse






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Who controls the movement of the luminaries ?

In Brahmanda Puranam , the sages ask Suta -  "How do these luminaries revolve  without any clash or confusion or without any structural formation? Does any one make them revolve or do they revolve of their own accord?

Suta says -   The star that diffuses light in the four quarters and  is established at the tail of the Sisumara ( a collection of stars resembling a dolphin )  is Dhruva. He is the son of Uttanapada..He is the pivot to which all the stars and planets are attached. He perpetually makes the moon and the sun revolve along with the planets.  The group of luminaries, the sun and the moon, the stars-and constellations along with the planets move about at the will of Dhruva.. They are fastened to Dhruva by means of bonds in the form of rows of winds. Their junction, difference, time, movement, rising and setting,  the southern and northern transits, the equinox —all these function are due to Dhruva.. Rain, heat, snowfall, day, night, the twilight, the welfare and woes of the subjects—all these take place due to Dhruva.


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The planets have got janma nakshatras !!

Surya - Vishakha
Chazndra - Krittika
Kuja - Purvashada
Budha - Dhanishta
Guru - Purva Phalguni
Sukra - Pushya
Sani - Revati
Rahu - Bharani
Ketu - Ashlesha


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Vaastu Purusha and Vaastu Shanthi

The fierce battle between Lord Shiva and Andhakasura was going on. A drop of sweat from the forehead of Shiva fell on the ground and from that took birth a demon called Vaastu Purusha. He was of immense size and covered the Bhumi and akasha. He went about drinking the spilled blood of Andhakasura, still his hunger was not satisfied. Driven by his intolerable hunger, he started intense tapas before Lord Shiva and asked for a boon to consume the three worlds which was readily granted.

The demon went about eating up the three worlds. Devas got scared and rushed to Brahma to inform him about the grave danger. Brahma together with  devatas  known as vastu devatas fought Vaastu Purusha and made him to fall down. Still the demon continued to thump around and destroy. The devatas climbed on top of him and sat on each organ and made him thus immobile.

Later Brahma, authorised the food of Vaastu Purusha in the form of Vaastu Bali in Vaastu Shanthi, at the beginning of yajnas and at the end of the daily vaisvadeva yajna.

The ritual called Vaastu Shanthi is providing the Vaastu Purusha his share and also propitiating the devatas who keep him immobile and harmless. This is essentailly done whenever a new property such as house comes into his existence.

Brahma also allowed Vaastu Purusha to make his food anyone who fails to offer Vaastu Purusha his due share.

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Praise & Prayer

A large portion of the veda mantras are of the praise or prayer form. A praise is an expression ( often of the glory) of the name, form, action or relationship of a devata. A prayer is asking specifically for something - health, wealth etc. Some mantras are praise and prayer both. Even when it is just praise, a prayer is implied ( no one praises without a motive).

Why is it important to know about the mantra devatas in veda mantras ?

Sage Shaunaka says,

The mantras revealed to the rishis have certain intentions mainly in connection with rituals. Only by understanding the devata of the mantra this intention can be ascertained. Without this knowledge no domestic (grihya)or vedic ritual can be accomplished and the ritual will be fruitless.

How Sage Apastamba got his name !

The authorship of Apastamba Shrauta Sutra and Apastmba Yajna Paribhasha pertaining to procedures in Vedic yajnas; Apastamba grihya sutra laying down procedures for domestic rituals and Apastamba Dharma Sutra on laws of individual and social conduct is attributed to Sage Apastamba.

There is a story in Brahma Puranam about how he got his name. Once a brahmin was about to perform his yearly sraadha. He could not find a suitable brahmin for varanam in pitrusthana.He prayed to his pitrus, visvedevas and Lord Maha Vishnu. Suddenly a brahmin appeared before him. The Sraadha was conducted. At the end, he was asked tripti ( satisfaction). Honest as he was, he denied satisfaction. If the bhokta denies satisfaction then the sraadha is rendered fruitless. The annoyed performer of the sraadha, cursed the brahmin by taking water in his palm and throwing it on him. The brahmin with his tapa shakti made the water to stop midway. Apa - water. Stamba - stopped still. Thereafter he became known as Apastamba.

Shree Durga Sapatashlokee

I have uploaded to

http://www.scribd.com/doc/103650529/Shree-Durga-Sapta-Shlokee

These are seven verses taken from Sapthashathee (Devimahamatmyam) and very good to include in daily prayer mainly for protection.

Ganesha stotra

I have uploaded a beautiful Ganesha stotra helpful especially in getting relief from debt.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/103431297/Ganesh-Stotra

Panchagavya and purification rite

yattvagasthigatham papam dehe tishtati mamake
prashannat panchagavyasya dahatvagnirivendhanam

Just as fire burns the fuel, let the drinking of panchagavya burn away all my sins even those which have gone into the skin and bone.

Panchagavya is a mix of milk,ghee,curd,cow's urine and cow dung. There is also a sixth ingredient - water poured through kusha grass (darbha). It is consumed as a purification rite and also at the beginning of major rituals.

The proportion is

gomutra - 60 ml
milk - 420 ml
curd - 180 ml
ghee - 60 ml
kushodaka - 60 ml
cow dung - size of the top segment of the thumb.

There are mantras to be chanted while mixing each ingredient ( one by one)

gomutra - gayatri
cowdung - gandhadvaram...
milk - apyaayasva....
curd - dadhikravna....
ghee - tejosi shukrosi....
kushodaka - devasya tva.....

There is a more advanced form of this ritual called the Brahmakoorcha, in which a havan is first performed with the panchagavya before consuming the remaining portion. I have uploaded the complete procedure to




http://www.scribd.com/doc/103414799/Brahma-Ko-or-Cha-Vidhi

Brahmakoorcha is specially recommended in conditions such as epilepsy. In ayurveda medicines sucha s Panchagavyaghritam are available where one of the ingredients in panchagavya.

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Where to offer ahuti during havan

Different areas in the homakunda are considered to be different organs of Agni.

The bare part of the kunda (bhoomi) where firewood (fuel) is not there - nose of Agni. If ahuti is offered here it will result in mental worries.

Firewood ( part which is not burning ) - ears of Agni. Ahuti given here will result in deafness.

where flames are week - eyes of Agni. Ahuti offered here will lead to blindness.

Ashes - head of Agni. Ahuti given here will result in death.

where flame is strong - mouth of Agni. The ahuti should be offered only here and the result will be auspicious.

Next time you do a havan insist that it is done properly.

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Sandhya vandanam - Atharva veda

I have uploaded the sandhyavandanam as per as Atharva veda. This is compiled by me based on the parishishta.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/103202012/atharva-vediya-sandhyopasana

Prayer to Lord Shiva for begetting child

I have uploaded to


http://www.scribd.com/doc/103103662/Santana-Parameshavra-Mantra

Nice link on Medical astrology

http://www.newstodaynet.com/col.php?section=20%20&%20catid=33%20&%20id=12276

Infertility in Hindu Dharma Shastra

Female infertility in Hindu Dharma Shastra is primarily called the chaturvidha vandhyata ( four types of infertility ). They are Janma vandhya, Kaaka vandhya (one child infertility ). Mrita Vandhya ( intra uterine death) and Kadali vandhya (at birth). The shastra also recognizes various other conditions such as Garbha sravee ( repeated abortions ), Garbha kosha bhanga ( defects in uterus ) ,Rajo heena ( insufficient menorrhage ), akala prasava ( premature delivery)

The shastra says, one who has committed the following sins in the past life ends up infertile in the present birth.

1.Showing partiality among children
2.Spreading rumour questioning the chastity of a girl
3.Harassing children
4.Causing abortion
5.Destroying eggs of birds and reptiles
6.Engaging in physical relationship during forbidden times
7.Showing jealousy on co-wife
8.Performing evil acts such as vasheekarana
9.Not returning wealth kept for safe keeping
10.Disrespect of in laws
11.Serving improper food to brahmins
12. Consuming forbidden food
13.Entering temple and taking bath in holy waters during menstruation
14. Killing of snake, scorpion, parrot, cat
15.Ridiculing devatas
16. Disrespect to guru
17. Not leaving milk for the calf.

The causes are ascertained from the horoscope and also from prasna marga ( for reasons pertaining to the present birth such as pitru shapa).

Some remedies prescribed for purification are.

1.Performing Maharudram together with daanam of 11 sovereigns ( 8 grams each) of gold. Abhisheka of the couple with varuna mantras.

2.Nakrashanthi especially when Kuja as 6th lord is in the 5th with malefic aspects or conjunctions.

3. Putakameshti.( performed by King Dasharatha)

4. Tilahoma when pretadurita is involved

5. Sukrutahoma when pitrukopa is involved.

6. Narayana bali when pretadurita is involved.

7.Nagabali, Nagapratishta,Sarpashanti, Sarpabali and Ashleshabali if sarpakopa is involved.

8. Shimshumarashanti

9.Vandhyatvahara shanthi.

10. Santhanagopala homa

11. Japa and homa with brahmanagni suktam of Rigveda

12.Japa and homa with Garbhadhana suktam

 12. Japa and homa with Garbha drimhana suktam of Atharva veda ( in case of fear of premature birth)

13. Japa and homa with Garbha raksha suktas of Atharva veda

14. Listening to Harvamsham by observing fasting.

14. Deepa daanam and Godaanam at Dhanushkoti together with Sethu snanam

15.Reading and listening of Ramayana.

16 Sponsoring marriage of brahmin.

17,Chanting of Santanaparmesvara mantra and Putra Shatakam

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Veda Samhitas

Rigveda

Shakala samhita - Present in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa,  Tamil Nadu and  Uttar Pradesh

 Bashkala samhita - only manuscript.Known to have existed in Kerala, Rajasthan, Bengal and Assam

Shankhayana samhita - Only manuscript. Known to have existed in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Ashvalayana samhita - Known to have existed in Maharashtra, Bihar, Maharashtra and Kashmir. manuscript is available.

Paingi samhita, Kaushitaki samhita, mandukeya samhita - extinct

Yajurveda

Kanva samhita - Found in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Madhyamdina samhita - Most prevalent . Found in  Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat  Maharashtra , West Bengal, Assam, Nepal.

Taittiriya Sahmita - most prevalent. present in south India, Uttar pradesh and Maharashtra.

Maitrayani samhita - Present in Gujarat, Maharashtra.

Kapisthala Katha samhita - present in Gujarat

Kathaka samhita - manuscript available

Charayaniya samhita, jabala samhita - extinct

Samaveda

Kauthuma shakha - most prevalent

Ranayaniya shakha - Present in Orissa, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Jaiminiya - present in Kerala

Shatyayaniya ,Gautama, Vyasa ,Bhaguri,Olundi,Goulgulvi,Bhanumanoupamayava,Karati,Mashaka argya shakha,Varshagagavya ,Shakugitre shakhas - extinct

Atharva veda

Shaunaka  shakha - present in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar pradesh Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu
Paippalada shakha - present in Orissa
Stauda , Mauda, Jajala, Jalada, Kuntapa, Brahmavada, Devadarsa and  Charanavaidya shakahas - extinct

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How to place Bilva patra on Shiva lingam

There is confusion about placing bilva patra on the shiva lingam. Should it face up or down ? Answer is uttanaparna - upper side facing up. The lower side contains amrita and that should touch the lingam.

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Can veda mantras be read off the book ?

Many people opine that vedas are all about knowledge and with printing technology available today, they can be read off the book by anyone.

Today, we see shares of veda mantras in social networks with comments like " If you are unable to get bhagyasukta archana done in temple, do it at  home, here is the mantra!!!". We all see enthusiasts starting their own classes after a few months of evening learning sessions of purusha suktam and rudram chamakam.While the spirit is greatly appreciated, it is not to be taken so lightly.

Veda mantras are bound by svara rules just as there are the saptasvaras in music. A musical piece without the svaras is simply called the lyrics. If you listen to someone reading out the lyrics do you get the same feel as listening to the composed music ?

Svaras of the veda are called udaatta, anudatta, svarita etc. Even the meaning of the mantra is dependent on how these svaras are applied while saying them.

There is an example from shatapata brahmana. Tvashta ( a vedic God) who had enemity with Indra wanted to have a son who would be capable of killing Indra. He chanted the mantra "svaha indrashatrurvardhasva". The compound word indrashatru has two parts indra and shatru. He wanted to say "May you, the killer of Indra, prosper". For this he should have applied emphatic svara on the second part. Instead, he applied the svara to the first part. The meaning changed to Indra getting stronger and Tvashta ended up losing his son to Indra. This much is the importance of svaras while chanting veda.

This needs abhyasa, not just reading skills and it comes after years of hard work.

The rules pertaining to these svara applications is governed by pratishakhyam ( different for each veda).

In this video, the renowned scholar Br.Sri.Chandrasekhara Ghanapatikal of Tirupati is saying the svaravarnakrama ( the rules pertaining to pronouncing )  just one word "ganapathim". That itself is about 6 minutes.Bear in mind that he is not chanting a mantra, just saying the nuances of pronunciation of one word.