"Jo dar gaya woh mandir gaya" - a refutation

The antiquity of idol worship.

The vedic way of worshiping Gods is through yajna. However indications of image worship can be seen even in vedic scriptures. Some examples are :

Aitareya brahmanam says

           चक्षुषा वा एतत्प्रज्ञायते यदप्रज्ञेयम्

What is not perceivable is perceived by the eyes. Whatever is perceived by the eyes is what is visible.

Imagery is part and parcel of vedic worship. In yajna, the altar and every instrument used is a divinity, they are addressed and communicated with. For the Hindu, they are not inanimate objects but expressions of divinity. Texts called Shulba sutras describe the making of all these.

For making a ladle with which ahutis  of ghee are offered in Agni, it is specified what wood it should be made of, its length, holding capacity, the shape ( should look like the lower lip of an elephant ) and even direction in which it should be carved.


In the vedic yajna called Atiratram, a yajna vedi is constructed in the form of  Shyena the  great   bird.It involves great precision and elaborate rituals. 

A large portion of the Rigveda mantras consists of praises of Gods which are essentially descriptions of their form and great deeds.

It is considered that temples are essential part of the ancient town planning.

Agni Puranam ( 109.16-17 ) says that temples of  Indra, Vishnu etc. should be built in cities / towns for their protection. Cities, villages, forts and houses where such divine presence is not there are open to attack by diseases and evil spirits.

Agni puranam 38 & 327.96 describe the importance of construction of temples and the results therefrom.

Vishnu Dharmottara puranam ( 3.93.6-7 ) says that the king desirous of heaven should always build cities with temples in Kali Yuga.

Apastamba Dharma Sutra ( 1.11.30.22 ) prohibits stretching of legs in the direction of Gods. It is clear that it is not the omnipresent which is intended here, otherwise there will not be any place left to stretch the legs.

Brihat Samhita of Varahamihiracharya describes the places suitable for construction of temples.

Which is the shastra that governs idol and temple worship in Hinduism ?

Agama shastra.

They are broadly classified into Shaiva, Vaishnava, Shakta, Ganapathya, Kaumara etc. They deal with spiritual knowledge, philosophy, rituals and sculpture / architecture related to idol and temple worship. These texts are arranged in four sections-

1. Kriya pada - deals with temple architecture. construction, sculpture of idols and consecration of temples.

2. Charya pada - deals with rules of daily worship, procedures, festivals and penances.

3. Yoga pada - idol worship is based on the principles of kundalini yoga. The co relations are detailed here.

4. Jnana / vidya  pada - `the high philosophical principles of idol worship are explained here.

The enormity of this shastra can be perceived from the fact that the kriya pada alone of one text called Kamikagama consists of 12000 verses. There are hundreds of such texts pertaining to each deity.

Just to get an idea of what these texts look like go to

http://www.agamaacademy.org/digital-library-book/Kamikagama%20in%20Devanagari.pdf

Why idol worship ?

1. Vishnu Samhita 29.55 says

न च रूपं विना देवं ध्यातुं केनापि शक्यते ।

It is impossible to meditate on God without a form

2. Vishnudharmottara puranam 3.108.23 says

अनाकारे महाराज लक्ष्यबन्धस्तु दुष्करः ।

It is very difficult to focus on the formless.

3. Vishnudharmottara puranam 3.46.3 says

पूजाध्यानादिकं कर्तुं साकारस्यैव शक्यते ।

Only the one with form can be worshiped or meditated upon.

3. Vishnudharmottara puranam 3.108.26-27 and Padmapuranam 6.132.105 say that only one who has achieved success in meditating upon God with form can contemplate the form less.

4. Devi bhagavata puranam 7.39.43 says

यावदान्तरपूजायामधिकारो भवेन्नहि।

तावद्बाह्यमिमां पूजां श्रयेज्जाते तु तां त्यजेत् ॥

Until such time one achieves the eligibility to perform inner worship the outer worship should be performed.

5. Vishnudharmottara puranam 3.93.21-22 says

अर्चास्थैस्त्रिदशैर्लोकः कलौ सर्वो हि पाल्यते ।

अर्चागताश्च गृह्णन्ति कृतदेवप्रतिष्ठिताः ।

तस्मात् कलौ प्रयत्नेन प्रतिष्ठाकरणं हितम् ॥

In Kaliyuga, gods stay in idols to protect and govern the world. They receive whatever is offered to the idols. Hence consecration of idols should be necessarily done in Kali yuga.

Idol  as a model

Science makes use of models very extensively. In Science, a three dimensional representation of a person, object or structure is called a model. Imagine learning geography without the globe, anatomy without models. Imagine learning engineering without actually seeing the machines, engines, structures etc.

Why all this fuss when it comes to images in religion ? We are dealing with saguna and sakara form of the divine here.

Stone vs. Idol

The statue made of stone or other prescribed materials attains divinity upon performing prana pratishta. To ridicule it by saying  "pathar pujan" is total ignorance.

An ordinary man is given the police uniform and authority. Doesn't power to command naturally come to him ? An ordinary piece of clothe painted with tricolor - does it not command respect ?

Likewise, an idol becomes a living God for the devotee whom he can communicate with.

Prana pratishta

The divinity is infused into the idol by a procedure called prana pratishta.

Kalikapuranam 88.10-12 says

अकृतायां प्रतिष्ठायां प्राणानां प्रतिमासु च ।

यथापूर्वं तथाभावः स्वर्णादीनां न विष्णुता ॥

In the absence of prana pratishta the idols remain just the materials they are.

In Hayagriva samhita it is said,

अर्चकस्य तपोयोगातदर्चनस्यातिशायनात् ।

आभिरूप्याच्च बिम्बानां देवः सान्निध्यमृच्छति ॥

The tapas of the worshiper, perfection of the rituals and appropriateness ( in terms of beauty and precision ) of the idol - these are the factors that bring in divine presence in the idol.

It is not within the scope of this small write up to elaborate on the technicalities of temple construction and idol worship. There are hundreds of acclaimed texts each running into thousands of pages for reference. 

These were not written with the purpose of earning royalty from sales or for winning the best seller title. They were written and handed down from generation to generation because they stand for the truth.

It is not as simple as planting a stone somewhere, applying some color over it, putting some money in front of it and multiplying your investment in hours. 

As Matthew Mcallister commented on the philanthropic facade of sponsored art - " art is yanked from its own separate and theoretically autonomous domain and squarely placed in the commercial,,,,," 

Idol worship, for that matter every aspect of Hindu religion or Sanatana Dharma has come under attack and criticism both from inside and outside. Hinduism is not  a single agenda movement. It is an assimilation of apparently vastly varying religious and spiritual thoughts and practices. The critics can be broadly classified into three groups.

1. People with knowledge and conviction about religion, spirituality and Gods propounding a certain system of thought and testing its mettle against other contemporary systems. Shankara's digvijaya yatra during which he entered into scholastic debates with expert authorities in Meemasa, Sankhya etc. in order to establish the superiority of vedanta is an example.

2. Those seeking to have a following of their own by any means.

3. The business minded who want to make a quick buck out of the controversy and attention they generate.

The sad part is that Hindus through their decades of intellectual slavery have lost track of  who they are, what their values are and especially what their religion is all about.

Crores and crores of  devotees have attained divine benevolence through idol and temple worship. More than 19 million devotees visit Tirupati every year. Close to a million people undertook Badrinath pilgrimage in 2012. alone.

There are hundreds of thousands of temples all over the world. Does it make any sense brushing aside murhty puja as senseless ?

Can it be viewed as only entertainment ? Yes, of course ! That is also my personal view. We have been laughing out loud at the jokes Laurel & Hardy ( "this sea is infatuated with sharks" ) , the comic actions of Tom & Jerry. Why not another lovable alien ??

That is as much as  it deserves.

Small errors , big consequences

Ravana, Vibhishana and Kumbhakarna performed severe austerities and appeased Brahma. He granted them boons. Ravana wanted that he should not be killed by non humans. Vibhishana wanted absolute devotion to Lord Vishnu.

Kumbhakarna wanted ' NIRDEVATVAM ' ( ability to vanquish devas ). By slip of tongue he ended up saying ' NIDRAVATVAM ' ( sleepfulness ) which was readily granted. Ravana requested Brahma to take back the boon following which his sleep got reduced to six months in  a year.

Indra killed Tvashta's son. Tvashta performed somayaga without inviting Indra who came in and forcefully drank the soma juice. Out of anger, Tvashta poured the remaining soma in agni chanting ' SVAHENDRASSHATRURVARDHASVA '. He wanted to create an enemy for Indra to destroy him.  Due to a slight variation in the intonation he ended up strengthening Indra himself,  Vritrasura came out of the agni. Eventually he  got killed by Indra.

Moral of the story - Neo 'rishis' are distributing mantras as if drought relief supplies . Sanskrit is a language where precision is very important. One could end up with the fate of Kumbhakarna or Vritra.

Asuras and Rakshasas - are they the same ?

The terms, asura and rakshasa are often used in place of each other. This is not correct. Their origin and genealogy are different.

Kashyapa is the forefather of devas, asuras, manushyas and nagas. Kashyapa's children born of Diti are called daityas. His children born of another wife Danu are danavas. Collectively, daityas and danavas are called asuras. They are half bothers of devas with the same father and different mothers.Some of the famous asuras are Bali, Banasura, Shambarasura, Keshi, Channda, Munda and Mahishasura.

During creation, once Brahma felt very hungry and angry. From his anger originated two rakshasas called Heti and Praheti.They were very cruel and evil minded. They killed and ate lot many brahmins and cows. Heti married Bhaya, the daughter of Kala. A son called Vidyutkesa was born to them. His wife was Salakantaka. They abandoned a child born to them in the Himalayas who received the blessings of Shiva and Parvathy. This child was named Sukesha. He married the daughter of a gandharva called Devavati. They had three sons- Malyavan, Sumali and Mali. Through severe austerities they received the blessings of Brahma and became indefeatable. Thus they became very arrogant and cruel.They made Lanka their capital.

The rakshasas multiplied in thousands. Kaikasi was one of the four daughters of Sumali. She once saw Kubera and understood that his riches and glory were due to the fact that he was the son of Sage Vishravas. Kaikasi approached Visravas and begot four children - Ravana, Vibhishana, Kumbhakarna and Shurpanakha of him. The rest of this is well known. 

Who are Nagas ( serpents ) ?

Naga ( serpent ) worship is part and parcel of Hindu religion. Lord Vishnu has Anantha as his bed and Lord Shiva has serpents as his ornaments. Nagas are themselves worshiped across the continent. Temples have been built for them and they are upadevatas in many important temples.

Who are Nagas ?

Sage Kashyapa is the forefather of devas, asuras, dananvas, Nagas and humans. Nagas are all children of Kashyap born from his wife Kadru. Originally they were thousand in number but down generations have multiplied into  millions and millions. 

The important nagas are :

शेषः प्रथमतो जातो वासुकिस्तदनन्तरम् ।

ऐरावतस्तक्षकश्च कर्कोटकधनञ्जयौ ॥

कालियो मणिनागश्च नागश्चापूरणस्तथा ।

नागस्तथा पिञ्जरक एलापत्रोऽथ वामनः ॥

नीलानीलौ तथा नागौ कल्माषशबलौ तथा ।

अर्यकाश्चादिकश्चैव नागश्च शलपोतकः ॥

सुमनोमुखो दधिमुखस्तथा विमलपिण्डकः ।

आप्तः कोटनकश्चैव शङ्खो वालशिखस्तथा ॥

निष्ठ्यूनको हेमगुहो नहुषो पिङ्गलस्तथा ।

बाह्यकर्णो हस्तिपदस्था मुद्गरपिण्डकः ॥

कम्बलाश्वतरौ चापि नागः कालीयकस्तथा ।

वृत्तसंवर्तकौ नागौ द्वौ च पद्माविति श्रुतौ ॥

नागः शङ्खनकश्चैव​ तथा च स्फण्डकोऽपरः ।

क्षेमकश्च महानागो नागः पिण्डारकस्तथा ॥

करवीरः पुष्पदंष्ट्र एळको बिल्वपाण्डुकः ।

मूषकादः शङ्खशिराः पूर्णदंष्ट्रो हरिद्रकः ॥

अपराजितो ज्योतिकश्च पन्नगः श्रीवहस्तथा ।

कौरव्यो धृतराष्ट्रश्च पुष्करः शल्यकस्तथा ॥

विरजाश्च सुबाहुश्च शालिपिण्डश्च वीर्यवान् ।

हस्तिभद्रः पिठरको मुखरः कोणवासनः ॥

कुञ्जरः कुररश्चैव तथा नागः प्रभाकरः ।

कुमुदः कुमुदाक्षश्च तित्तिरिर्हलिकस्तथा ॥

कर्कराकर्करौ चोभौ कुण्डोदरमहोदरौ ॥

Shesha, Vasuki, Airavata, Takshaka, Karkotaka, Dhananjaya, Kaliya, Maninaga, Apurana, Pinjaraka, Elapatra, Vamana, Nila, Anila, Kalmasha, Shabala, Aryaka, Adika, Shalapotaka, Sumanomukha, Dadhimukha, Vimalapindaka, Apta, Kotanaka, Shankha, Valashikha, Nishtyunka, Hemaguha, Nahusha, Pingala, Bahyakarna, Hastipada, Mudgarapindaka, Kambala, Ashwatara, Kaleeyaka, Vritta, Samvarthaka, Padma, Mahapadma, Shankhanaka, Sphandaka, Kshemaka, Pindaraka, Karaveera, Pushpadamshtra, Elaka, Bilvapanduka, Mushakada, Shankhashira, Purnadamshtra, Haridraka, Aparajita, Pannaga, Jyotika, Srivaha, Kauravya, Dhritarashtra, Pushpaka, Shalyaka, Viraja, Subahu, Shalipinda, Veeryavan, Hastibhadra, Pithakara, Mukhara, Konavasana, Kunjara, Kurara, Prabhakara, Kumuda, Kumudaksha, Tittiri, Halika, Karkaraa,Karkara, Kundodara and Mahodara.

There had always been rivalry between the co wives Kadru and Vinata. While Kadru wished for a thousand children of great power and strength, Vinata prayed for two sons who would outshine Kadru's thousand sons. Once they spotted in the sky Uchhaisravas the divine horse which came out when the milky ocean was being churned. An argument broke out between them. Vinata said the horse was white in color while Kadru disagreed. They reached an agreement that whoever loses would become the slave of the other. Kadru knew that the horse was actually white. She told her serpent sons to go and attach themselves to the tail of the horse like hair so that the tail looked black. There were many honest and noble minded among the serpents who did not want to do this. Kadru cursed them that they would all perish in fire. When devas brought this curse to the notice of Brahma he said that it was not totally inappropriate as the serpents had grown cruel, evil minded and short tempered harming all other living beings. He said that however the serpent clan will not be exterminated as steps have already been planned to prevent it.

Due to the fear of the curse of their mother, the serpents went ahead and turned the tail of the horse black by attaching themselves to it. When the time for inspection came,Vinata was established incorrect and she was doomed to servitude. Later on her son Garuda won back her freedom. In the process Indra granted Garuda a boon that the serpents would become his food.

King Parikshit, son of Abhimanyu while hunting in the forest saw a rishi sitting in deep meditation and asked him for directions. The rishi did not answer and an annoyed king put a dead snake around the rishi's neck. The rishi's son cursed that the king would die of snakebite within seven days. The serpent Takshaka took up the task of killing Parikshit. Despite the best of security arrangements Takshaka managed to kill Parikshit, however he also dissuaded Kashyapa another sage from trying to resurrect Parikshit by paying him off. When Pariskhit's son Janamejaya came to know about this  he vowed to destroy the entire serpent clan. He organized a sarpa yajna in which very powerful mantras were recited to drag the serpents into agni. Kadru's curse worked. Serpents got killed in thousands. When Indra offered shelter to Takshaka, Janamejaya ordered that Indra also may be dragged along with Takshaka.

In the mean time, relief from the curse had also been set off. Vasuki the king of nagas offered the hand of his sister in marriage to Jaratkaru a very powerful tapasa. Astika was born of this couple who would come to the rescue of his mother's clan. He walked into the yajna sala and being a great scholar was honored. Janamejaya requested him to ask for anything he wanted. Astika demanded stoppage of the yajna and Janamejaya had to oblige.,

Some of the  important nagas are - Anantha, Vasuki, Karkotaka, Takshaka and Kaliya.

Ananta - Disappointed with his mother's evil acts he separated himself from the family and performed severe penances. Pleased with his austerities Brahma assigned him the task of carrying the worlds on his thousand hooded head. He is an upholder of dharma. At the time of pralaya a form Rudrgni called Sankarshana murthy would come out of his face thus destroying the three worlds.

Vasuki - He is the king of serpents. It was using Vasuki as a rope that the milky ocean was churned. He was so long that when the mighty Garuda tried to carry him even after folding him into two and rising up high in the sky, his body was still touching the ground.

Karkotaka - He once cheated Narada and was immobilized by a curse. He would have to remain in the forest without any movement until King Nala came and rescued him. King Nala was roaming around in the forest with Damayanti after he was defeated in the game of dice by his brother Pushkara and lost everything to him. He left Damayanti thinking that he was only trouble to her and she could go back to the comforts of her father's palace.A great fire broke out and Karkotaka was trapped in it. He started crying for help. Nala rescued him. Karkotaka asked Nala to take a few steps counting. When Nala took the tenth step saying ' dasha ' Karkotaka bit him. Karkotaka had taken a vow that he would bite someone only if he asks for it. In sanskrit ' dasha ' means ten as well as ' bite'. Nala's body turned blue due to the poison. Karkotaka told him that there was no need to worry as the poison would not harm him. It would affect only Kali the the sin God of kaliyuga who had entered Nala and made him to play the game of dice as a revenge for Damayanti marrying Nala ignoring devas present during the swayamvara . This disguise would help Nala to regain all his lost riches. Karkotaka also gave divine garments wearing which Nala could get back his original form.

The story of Kaliya who wreaked havoc in Yamuna and his defeat in the hands of Sri Krishna is very popular.

Patala the nether world is the chief abode of nagas. Veda identifies Sarpas as living on earth, in the atmosphere and also heaven. They are also present in the sun rays and water. They live in plants and trees.

Killing of serpents, damaging their eggs, destruction or soiling of their dwelling places are known to cause naga dosha leading to infertility, skin diseases and various other kinds of problems. Remedies such as sarpa samskara or sarpa pratishta are performed for their mitigation.

Sarpa bali or Ashlesha bali is an elaborate puja performed to propitiate Naga devatas.

Vighnesh Ghanpadi getting ready to perform sarpa bali

The origin of Dawn

 

Dawn is a deity called Aruna. Another deity associated with dawn is Usha devi.

During the churning of the milky ocean the pact between devas and asuras was that they would share amrita to be obtained therefrom. Devas never had real intention of giving any to asuras. After obtaining amrita the two sides started fighting for it. Vishnu assumed the form of  Mohini the enchantress and set out to settle the dispute. The two sides were made to sit in two separate lines and Mohini started serving, first to devas. Rahu, an asura suspected that the nectar was never going to reach the asura side. He went and sat among the devas in disguise. Sun and Moon spotted him and Mohini beheaded him. He fell into two parts as Rahu and Ketu. Thus Rahu and Ketu became sworn enemies of Sun and Moon who bore the brunt of their wrath in the form of eclipses. Rshu and Ketu simply waited for opportunity to swallow Sun and Moon. With their bodies already cut open on one side, Sun and Moon every time barely manage to come out.

Sun found this ordeal very frustrating. He called the bluff of Rahu for the sake of devas. When he landed in trouble nobody was by his side. He decided to burn the three worlds and teach his thankless brothers a lesson. He went on to set with the intention of rising the next morning so blazing hot that the the worlds would burn. Devas got news of this and rushed to Brahma.

Sage Kashyapa was the forefather of devas. asuras and manushyas. Two of his wives were Kadru and Vinata ( he had many more wives ) who had an ongoing rivalry between them. Kadru desired one thousand strong and powerful sons whereas Vinata wanted only two who would outshine the thousand of Kadru in power and strength. Kashyapa granted their wishes. One thousand eggs came out of Kadru which she kept for hatching in a pot. Similarly, two eggs came out of Vinata which she also kept for hatching in a pot. Six months went by. Kadru's eggs hatched and out came thousand poisonous powerful snakes with huge long bodies. Nothing happened with Vinata's eggs. She got impatient and broke open one of the eggs. There was a child inside with body developed only from head to waist. He was Aruna. He cursed his mother to servitude for being impatient and went up in the sky.

Brahma had his own plans. He asked Aruna to go and place himself in front of Sun as a shield and make his rising slow so that his heat does not fall upon the worlds all of a sudden. Thus started dawn.

Why do we yawn ?

Science says it is the reaction of the body when the oxygen level goes down.

Tvashta ( a form of Sun god ) had a son called Trishiras. His mother belonged to the asura clan. Trishiras was made the priest of devas. Owing allegiance to both sides, Trishiras while offering oblations to devas also shared them clandestinely with the asuras. Indra came to know about this and beheaded him.

Agitated, Tvashta performed a soma yaga. He did not invite Indra to it. However, Indra came in and forcibly drank the soma and went away. Tvashta poured the remaining soma in Agni and chanting mantra created an asura called Vritra to kill Indra. Vritra started expanding his body and enveloping the three worlds. In the process, Agni and Soma got trapped inside Vritra's mouth.

Upon seeing the enormity of his enemy Indra approached Brahma who gave him Vajrayudha with which to kill Vritra. As Indra approached Vritra, Agni and Soma stopped him for the fear of getting themselves also killed as they were inside Vritra's body. Indra asked them come out. They wanted something in returm, Indra offered them a share of oblations during Purnamaseshti. 

They didn't know how to come out. Indra created Sheetajvara ( cold and fever / flu ) and attacked Vritra with it. Vritra fatigued with fever yawned and thus came out Agni and Sona. Together with them prana and apana also left Vritra's body. 

Hence if a yajamana who is under deeksha for yajna yawns he should chant a certain mantra immediately to restore prana and apana in his body.

Yawning helped Indra himself later on in the fight. Vritra swallowed Indra. Devas panicked and tried all ways and means to get Indra out. They struck Vritra with 'yawning' and through his gaped mouth Indra came out.

This is how yawning started.

Can you consume naivedyam offered to Gods as prasada especially Shiva ?

श्रुतिः - विष्णुनात्तमश्नन्ति विष्णुना पीतं पिबन्ति विष्णुना घ्रातं जिघ्रन्ति ।

Whatever is eaten by Vishnu is eaten, Whatever has been drunk by Vishnu is drunk and whatever has been smelled by Vishnu is smelled.

शाबलशाखा - रुद्रेणात्तमश्नन्ति रुद्रेण पीतं पिबन्ति रुद्रेण घ्रातं जिघ्रन्ति ।

Whatever is eaten by  Rudra is eaten, Whatever has been drunk by Rudra is drunk and whatever has been smelled by Rudra is smelled.

शांडिल्यः - वासोभूषणमाल्यादि गन्धं तैलं तथौषधम् । सर्वं भगवते दत्वा उपभुंज्यान्निवेदितम् ॥

Garments, ornaments, perfumes, garlands, oils, medicines - offer all these to God first and then use.

कठश्रुतिः - त्रिगुप्सातमश्नीयाद्यदि पाप्मन् शिवानर्पितं भुंक्ष्व तदैनो भुंक्ष्व मलं भुंक्ष्व विषं भुंक्ष्व क्रिमिं भुंक्ष्व अघं भुंक्ष्व अधो गच्छ गच्छ ।

Consume only what has been offered to Shiva, otherwise you are eating sin, excrement, worms and poison.

Naivedyam offered in puja at home

पद्मपुराणम् - स्वस्य देवस्य यद्दत्तं चरुकं तु न संशयः । तत्प्राशयेत्स्वयं प्राज्ञो नैवान्यस्मै प्रदापयेत् ॥

दत्तात्रेयः - ततः स्वयं तु भुंजीत शुद्धं पुत्रादिभिः सह । निवेदितं च देवाय तच्छेषं चात्मशुद्धये ॥

The naivedyam offered during puja at home should be consumed only by the members of the family and not to be shared with outsiders.

About Shiva Nirmalyam

.............. निर्माल्यं नाश्नीयान्न स्पृशेदपि ।

निर्माल्यभेदाः कथ्यन्ते षड्विधास्तेऽपि तद्यथा ॥

Nirmalyam should not be eaten , not even touched.

What is nirmalyam ?

देवद्रव्यं च देवस्वं नैवेद्यं च निवेदितम् ।

चण्डद्रव्यं च निर्माल्यं तेषां लक्षणमुच्यते ॥

Devadravyam, devaswam, naivedyam, niveditam, chandadravyam, nirmalyam - all these six are called nirmalyas.

What is devadravyam ?

वस्त्रभूषणगन्धाद्यं देवद्रव्यमिति स्मृतम् ।

Garments, ornaments and perfumes like sandal - they are called devadravyas and should not be touched by those who don't have the authority and should not be smelled by anyone.

What is devaswam ?

देवस्वं देवसंबन्धि ग्रामक्षेत्रादि गोधनम् ॥

Land, fields and cows etc. belonging to God are called devaswam. They should not be crossed or sold.

What is naivedyam ?

देवार्थं कल्पितान्नाद्यं नैवेद्यं नाम तत् पुनः ।

Rice etc. prepared to be offered to God is called naivedyam.

What  are niveditam  and Chandadravyam ?

निवेदिताख्यमुत्सृष्टं चण्डद्रव्यं च तद्गतम् ॥

Naivedyam already offered to God is called niveditam. Then it belongs to Chandeshwara and is called Chandadravya.

What is nirmalyam ?

गर्भागाराद्बहिः क्षिप्तं निर्माल्यं तन्न संस्पृशेत् ।

Garalnd, flowers etc. thrown out of the sanctum sanctorum is called nirmalyam. They should not be touched.

षड्विधं चापि निर्माल्यं नोपयुञ्ज्यात् कदाचन ॥

All the above six types of nirmalyam should not be used.

भोजराजः - षद्विधमपि निर्माल्यं न जिघ्रेन्न लङ्घयेत् नाद्यान्न विक्रीणीयात् । क्रव्यादो भवति भुक्त्वा मातङ्गो लङ्घनेऽसिद्धिराघ्राणे वृकः स्पर्शने स्त्रीत्वमथ चण्डालो विक्रये शवरः ।

Bhojaraja says - garments and ornaments meant for Gods should not be worn by others, not even touched. Perfumes and flowers meant for Gods should not be smelled. Land, fields belonging to them  should not be crossed or otherwise dealt in. Offerings meant for them should not be consumed or even smelled. After offering to Shiva, where it is meant for Chandshwara it should not be consumed. Flowers etc. after they are offered to God and taken out should not be even touched. All these constitute sin leading to inauspicious results.

व्यासः - देवासुरनरैः स्थाप्ये लिङ्गे चण्डाय शंभुना । दत्तस्तस्मै न सर्वत्र प्रसादः शिवशासनात् ॥

नाश्नीयात्स्थावरे लिङ्गे चंडाय विनिवेदितम् ॥

In the case of Shivalingas installed permanently by devas, asuras and humans Chandeshwara alone has right over naivedyam offered to Shiva. Such naivedyam should not be eaten by others.

Then what should be done with it ?

दत्तात्रेयः- निर्माल्यं नैव संरक्षेत्कूपे सर्वं च निक्षिपेत् ।

It should be disposed in well / pond etc. after offering  to Chandeshwara.

More clarity on what kind of naivedyam offered to Shiva can be consumed

आदित्यपुराण्म् - लिङ्गे स्वायम्भुवे बाणे रत्नजे रौप्यनिर्मिते । सिद्धप्रतिष्ठिते लिङ्गे चण्डभागो न विद्यते ॥

There is no share for Chandeshwara in Swayanbhu lingas, Bana lingas ( found in Narmada ) and those made of gems such as emerald or silver. Even in the case of lingas consecrated by Siddhas there is no share for Chandeshwara. Naivedyam offered to such lingas can be consumed. This should cover lingas at home.

शिवनिर्माल्यवत्सौरं चण्डे दत्तं ततोऽधिकम् ।

Nirmalyam  of Surya  should be also treated like Shiva nirmalyam.

गुरु - पुस्तक - वह्नि - यक्ष - नाग - योगीन्द्र - गण - मातृ - गौरीषु शिवनिर्माल्यवत् न​ भवति ।

These rules do not apply to nirmalyam of Guru, Granthas, Agni, Yaksha such as Kubera, Yogindra, Ganesha and Devis.

To sum it up - 

1. Prasada from public Shiva temples except when they are Swayambhu, bana linga, made of gems or silver or installed by Siddhas or of the movable type should not be eaten. The used flowers should not be touched.

2. There is no such restriction for Shiva puja at home.

3. There are no such restrictions for other deities.

4. Naivedyam offered in puja at home should not be shared with others.

5. One should not misuse devadravyam or devaswam.

Nether worlds ( Patala ) - a brief description

There are seven nether wordls as per the puranas under the earth one below the other. They are (1) Atala (2) Vitala (3) Sutala (4) Talatala (5) Rasatala (6) Mahatala and  (7) Patala. Maya the sculptor of asuras has built beautiful places and cities in these regions and they are occupied by daityas, danavas and nagas.They are also collectively called as Patala. The height of each division is ten thousand yojanas ( 1 yojana = approx. 13 km ). The ground here is white, black, red and yellow in color and is filled with rubbles, black granite and gold. These regions are supposed to be even more beautiful than svarga. The Sun shines through the day and Moon at night. There are no extreme temperatures, life is happy and contented and it is as if time does not exist there.

Under patala is Adisesha or Ananta, the tamasik form of Mahavishnu who bears the three worlds on his head. He has got thousand hoods. His consorts are Sridevi and Varunidevi. At pralaya the destructive form of Rudra called Sankarshna murthy is born out of Adisesha as fire and destroys the three worlds.

Atala - Bala the son of Maya lives here. He created ninety six forms of magic. Out of his yawning are produced adulteress women - Pumschalis, Svairinis and Kaminis.

Vitala - The river Hataki, the virile power of Mahadeva flows here. He presides over this region as Hatakeshwara.

Sutala- This is the region of Mahabali, the daitya king pushed down into the earth by Vamana to please Indra. As a penance, Vamana still guards the entrance to Sutala.

Talatala - The chief of this region is Maya the architect of the demons.

Mahatala - The snake children of Kadru live here. They are all fierce, multi hooded and short tempered. They have long lean bodies and big hoods. Takshaka, Kaliya and Kuhaka are some of them.

Rasatala - The Kalakeyas, enemies of devas have been confined to this region by Maha Vishnu after reducing their power.

Patala- This is the region of serpents. Vasuki, Sankha, Gulika, Sveta, Dhanajaya, Mahashikha, Dhritarashtra, Sankachuda, Kambala, Ashwadhara and Devadatta live here. They are long and have from five to hundred hoods. They are highly poisonous and ill tempered. The patala is illuminated by the light emanating from the gems on their hoods.

Death in Dhanishta panchakam / Vasupanchakam - harmful to kin

The five nakshatras - Dhanishta ( 3rd and 4th padas ), Satabhishak, P. Bhadrapada, U. Bhadrapada, Revati falling in Kumbha and Meena rasis are collectively called Dhanishta panchakama / Vasu panchakam.

Death in one of these nakshatras causes easy emancipation for the soul of the deceased, but harmful for the kin especially spouse, children and grandchildren. Shastra says there is danger at every step.

Special funeral procedure is performed in such cases. Five human forms made of kusha grass are placed on the dead body at specified places and ahutis offered on them along with placement of gold/silver before the body is submitted to fire. On the thirteenth day special shanti homa is performed for the safety of the kin.

If a person dies on a previous nakshatra and funeral is done during panchakam, then the special funeral vidhi should be followed, but shanti on the thirteenth day need not be done. If the death takes place during panchakam and funeral after panchakam is over, then the special vidhi for funeral need not be followed. Only the shanti on the thirteenth day need not be performed.

For the shanti to be performed, there are some variations as far as the day is concerned like some do it on the 12th day.

The following combinations are even more dangerous - 

1. Dhanista + Tuesday + Ekadashi + Vrischika lagna

2. Satabhishak + Wenesday + Dvadashi + Dhanurlagna

3. P.Bhadrapada + Thursday + Trayodashi + Makara lagna

4. U.Bhadrapada + Friday + Chaturdashi + Kumbha lagna

5. Revati + Saturday + Purnima / Amavasya + Meena lagna.

The shanti homa on the 13th day is an elaborate procedure including Mrityunjaya homa and danam.

Similarly, death during tripada nakshatras - Krittika, Punarvasu, U.Phalguni, Vishakha, U.Ashadha, P.Bhadrapada  calls for special funeral procedure.

Confusion about marriage when Brihaspati is in Simha Rasi clarified

Brihaspati transits into Simha rasi on July 15th , 2015 and will remain there upto August 11th, 2016. There is lot of confusion being spread that marriages should not be conducted during this period. The shastra position as explained in Muhurta chintamani is this.

1. Marriages should not be conducted only when Brihaspati  transits Simha navamsa in Simha Rasi. ie : - September 14th, 2015  to October 1st, 2015.

2. Marriages should be avoided only in areas lying between Ganga and Godavari rivers.

( This is only with respect to transit Guru effects. All other relevant factors should be duly considered)

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Epidemics - an Ayurvedic perspective

Cholera, Plague, Small pox, Measles, Swine flu. Bird flu, Dengue, Ebola ........

The list keeps on growing. Millions and millions have succumbed to epidemics. An epidemic by definition is the rapid spread of an infectious disease in a population within a short span of time. Modern medicine considers changes in the virulence of the infectious agent, introduction of novel settings or change in host susceptibility as the main causes of an epidemic.

Let's take a look at what Ayurveda has to say on the subject.

This is explained as conversation between Bhagawan Atreya and his disciple Agnivesha in Charaka Samhita Vimana sthanam ch.3.

Agnivesha is curious to know how men of different constitution, strength, eating habits and longevity etc. can get affected by the same disease. Atreya explains that even with these dissimilarities there are lot of things in common within inhabitants of a particular janapada ( habitat - village, city, country etc. ) and of course air, water, surroundings and time are common to them all.

Air such as that which is not in accordance with the season ( cool wind in a hot season ), stagnant air, one that makes loud sound, one that stinks - they  are all harmful to health. Contaminated water and also one in which fish etc. don't live anymore is harmful. Places where flies, reptiles, rats, mosquitoes, insects are found in excess, where the environment has changed suddenly,  where grass and creepers start growing all of a sudden, where fields have dried up - such places are harmful to health. When the seasons are not according to their real nature it turns out to be harmful. ( The text has an elaborate list of such situations and indications ).

Even when such situations exist, medicines can still protect men from diseases.

Bhagawan Atreya goes on to explain ( Here is the major difference between Modern Medicine and Ayurveda ). Truth, kindness, charity, worshiping gods and making proper offerings to them, right conduct, control over indriyas, self protection like hygiene, staying in a healthy environment, serving noble people, observance of brahmacharya ( when prescribed ) and service of brahmacharis, listening to discourses on dharma shastra by great rishis and scholars,  being in the company of satvik people and wise elders - these are all 'medicines' that protect one's life.

Agnivesha asks about how air, water etc, gets contaminated and harmful. Atreya replies, " Unrighteousness is the cause for this, and evil deed of the past is the root cause of unrighteousness. The origin of unrighteousness and evil deed is in mind that lacks discrimination and discretion. When the heads of habitats and rulers deal with their subjects crossing the boundaries of righteousness, those depending on them also become unrighteous. People who make a living out of crime and litigation encourage the spread of adharma. Thus unrighteousness first masks righteousness and eventually gods also give up on such people. In the absence of providence, seasons are disturbed, rains don't happen in time, wind doesn't blow properly, earth is polluted, water dries up, the original nature of plants and herbs are altered and diseases are born.

Lost in hate and greed men fight each other and ignore the weak. Groups of rakshas and bhutas also take advantage of the situation and attack them.

Unrighteousness causes neglect and offence to gurus, saints, elderly, rishis and the like. Curse by them not only eliminates the wrongdoers but many  innocents also perish with them.

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Death rites for a person missing

I am often asked this question about whether and how to do death rites for a person missing for a long time.

Here are the relevant citations from Dharma Shastra.

1. If there is no reliable news on the whereabouts of a missing person for twelve years, the death rites should be performed by making a human form with kusha grass along with Narayana Bali and the complete rites as prescribed.

2. If the missing person is own father, it should be done as soon as fifteen years are over.

3. If the person for whom death rites have been performed returns - He is bathed along with a pot filled with ghee and samskaras starting from jatakarma are performed again. There is no dosha.

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Was Brahmastra a nuclear weapon ?

There are many who say that Brahmastra used by Vishwamitra, Sri Rama and Ashwathama and also divine weapons such s Pashupatastra, Agneyaastra etc. were nuclear weapons. Their destructive power is enormous, but whether nuclear science in the modern sense was behind them is doubtful.

I am quoting from Dhanurveda samhita of Vasishta Mahrshi here.

The divine arrows or astras are of seven types - 1. Brahmastram 2. Brahmadandakam  3. Brahmashira  4. Pashupatam  5. Vayavyam  6. Agneyam  7. Narasimham. They have many variations.

A regular arrow is energized ( abhimantranam ) with gayatri mantra chanted in the reverse order in  a certain way  ( daadidaantam ) 1,00,00,00,00,000 times. It  becomes the powerful Brahmastra and will destroy all enemies.

In a similar way, an arrow is energized with gayatri mantra in reverse order with pravana in front and  amuka ( name / description of the enemy ) shatrum hana hana hum phat at the end  chanting 2,00,000 times. This is Brahmadandastram. Enemies as powerful as Yama can be destroyed with this.

Arrow energized with the three padas of gayatri mantra chanted in reverse order with pranava at the beginning and shatrunme hana hana hum phat at the end chanting 3,00,000 times become Brahmashirastram. It can destroy even devas and asuras.

For Pashupatastra, daadidaanata gayatri mantra followed by pranava and shleem pashu hum phat amuka shatroon hana hana hum phat is chanted 20,00,000 times to energize arrow.

For Vayavyastra, the mantra is Om vayavyaya ya vayavyayanyorvaya ya va amuka shatrun hana hana hum phat. To be chanted 20,00,000 times and can be disastrous even to devas.

The mantra for Agneyastra is Om Anistyata hridam sivam vanashvavini hagadasharupana sada ve hadati toyati ramamaso hitva van  susedavedaya amukadeen. To be chanted 20,00,000 times.

The Narasimhastra mantra is Om vajranakhavajradamshtrayudhaya mahasimhaya hum phat to be chanted 1,00,000 times.

It is obvious that the power behind these weapons is  mantras. The shooting of the physical arrow appears to be symbolic and what really works is the mantra. In the Atharva veda, it is said that with the teeth as the bow and the tongue as the bow string when a mantra is shot like an arrow on the enemy, nothing can stop it. 

Another interesting point is the target specification.It is not geographical. Individual names or  groups can be specified. eg :- Ravana, the Kauravas. In the border areas with an enemy country where there is also presence of civilian population selective targeting must have been useful.

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A powerful Shani stotram

With transit of Shani into Vrischika rasi just around the corner, here is a powerful stotram to seek blessings of Shani Bhagawan and mitigate the impact.

Sage Narada asked Mahadeva " How does one get relief from Shani's trouble? "

Mahadeva said, " Listen O! Devarshi, Shani is the king among planets. He is the lord of death Yama himself. He wears jata, has got diamond like hair and induces fear in asuras. This story that I am about to tell had been kept a secret so far. The great emperor Dasharatha ( Lord Rama's father ) was informed by astrologers about the arrival of Shani at the end of Krithika nakshatra, He was about to transit into Rohini nakshatra and the result to be expected is twelve years of terrible famine. Dasharatha was worried and asked Vasishta and other nobles for a solution.

Vasishta said that Rohini being the nakshatra  of Prajapati, the entire creation would suffer and not even Brahma or Indra could help. Upon hearing this Dasharatha mounted his chariot and went towards Rohini constellation with all the divine weapons in his possession. Rohini is 100000 yojanas above surya mandala. He stood there at the entrance of Rohini as brilliant as Sun determined to prevent Shani from entering Rohini.

Shani was amused to find Dasharatha blocking his path. Shani said, " I am really impressed with your courage Devas, asuras, manushyas, siddhas, vidyadharas and nagas - they all turn to ashes by my mere glance and you are here fearlessly blocking my bath. Ask any boon that you want."

Dasharatha said, " As long as there is Sun, Moon, Earth and the occeans, you should not transit Rohini. " Shani agreed and asked Dasharatha to ask for one more boon. Dasharatha said, " You may never cause a famine to last for twelve years." Even that boon was granted by Shani who blessed Dasharatha that his fame would spread in all three worlds.

An elated Dasharatha put his weapons down and after saluting Ganesha and Saraswathy started praising Shani with the following stotram :

नमः कृष्णाय नीलाय शितिकण्ठनिभाय च ।

नमः कालाग्निरूपाय कृतांताय च वै नमः ॥

नमो निर्मांसदेहाय दीर्घ-श्मश्रु-जटाय च ।

नमो विशालनेत्राय शुष्कोदर भयाकृते ॥

नमः पुष्कलगात्राय स्थूलरोम्णेऽथ वै नमः ।

नमो दीर्घाय शुष्काय कालदंष्ट्र नमोस्तु ते ॥

नमस्ते कोटराक्षाय दुर्निरीक्ष्याय वै नमः ।

नमो घोराय रौद्राय भीषणाय कपालिने ॥

नमस्ते सर्वभक्षाय वलीमुख नमोस्तुते ।

सूर्यपुत्र नमस्तेस्तु भास्करे भयदाय च ॥

अधोदृष्ट्रे नमस्तेस्तु संवर्तक नमोस्तुते ।

नमो मन्दगते तुभ्यं निस्त्रिंशाय नमोस्तुते ॥

तपसा दग्धदेहाय नित्यं योगरताय च ।

नमो नित्यं क्षुधार्ताय अतृप्ताय च वै नमः ॥

ज्ञानचक्षुर्नमस्तेतु कश्यपात्मज​-सूनवे ।

तुष्टो ददासि वैराज्यं रुष्टो हरसि तत्क्षणात् ॥

देवासुर​-मनुष्याश्च सिद्ध विद्याधरोरगाः ।

त्वया विलोकितास्सर्वे नाशं यान्ति समूलतः ॥

प्रसादं कुरु मे देव वरार्होऽहमुपागतः ॥


Listen to the audio clip here ..............

Shani became happy upon hearing this stotram and told Dasharatha to ask one more boon. Dasharatha said that Shani should not trouble anyone hereafter. Shani said it is the nature of planets to trouble and that is why they are called grahas.

गृह्णन्तीति ग्रहाः सर्वे ग्रहाः पीडाकराः स्मृताः 

 This boon was impossible. However, he would grant  boon that anyone who chants the above stotram at least once a day would be spared of Shani peeda.

Additionally, on a saturday a statue of Shani made of Iron should be worshiped with shami patra and given away in daanam to a brahmin along with rice cooked with masha ( urad ) and mixed with sesame seeds. Daanam of black cow or bull also may be performed. Such a person will never be troubled by Shani.

Thus receiving three boons from Shani, Dasharatha returned to earth. 

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Puberty and planets

Attainment of puberty is a very important event in a woman's life. The appearance of menstruation for the first time is called prathama rajodarsanam. A horoscope is often cast based on the timing when the menstrual blood is first spotted by someone. Some of the results are as follows :

Based on the rising sign ( lagnam )

Mesha - poverty
Rishabha - increase in livestock
Mithuna - lust
Karka - immorality
Simha - many sons
Kanya - many daughters
Tula - will do business
Vrischika - immorality
Dhanus - harmful for husband
Makara - pleasing talk
Kumbha - auspicious for both parental and marital home
Meena - wealth

Based on nakshatra

Aswini - widowhood
Bharani - many daughters
Krithika- harmful for sons
Rohini - enjoyments
Mrigashira - gains
Ardra - bad company
Punarvasu- no marriage
Pushya - royal comforts
Aslesha - loss of sons
Magha - many sons
P.Phalguni - fortunate
U.Phalguni - diseases
Hasta - monetary gains
Chitra - comforts
Svati - heart disease
Visakha - loss of wealth
Anuradha - comforts
Jyeshta - polyandry
Mula- widowhood
P.Ashada - prosperity
U.Ashada - comforts
Sravana - abundance of ornaments
Dhanishta - all enjoyments
Satabhishak - all enjoyments
P.Bhadrapada- first child female
U.Bhadrapada - prosperity
Revati - comforts from husband

Based on tithi

prathama -  virtuous children
dviteeya - virtuous children
triteeya - comforts
chaturthi - immorality
panchami - many sons
shashti - loss of sons
saptami - less sons
ashtami - diseases
navami - misfortune
dasami - comforts
ekadasi - many sons
dvadasi - widowhood
trayodasi - comforts from husband
chaturdasi - immorality
purnima - all gains
amavasya - immorality

Based on karana

Bava - honour
Balava - cruel
Kaulava - sensual pleasure
Taitila - family prosperity
Gara - physical strengh
Vanija - position
Vishti- misfortune
Shakuni - position
Chatushpat - righteousness
Naga - more daughters
Kimstughna - lowliness.

Based on day

Sunday - immorality
Monday - chastity
Tuesday - misery
Wednesday - many sons
Thursday - gains
Friday-good husband.
Saturday - all losses

Sun in the 7th from rutulagnam - misery
Chandra and Sukra              "     - death
Kuja                                     "     - bondage
Budha                                  "     - loss of sons
Guru                                    "     - destruction
Sani                                     "     - widowhood
Rahu & Ketu                       "     - poverty

If 7th from rutulagna is empty it is auspicious,

Menstrual blood first seen by

self - misery
married woman - auspicious
widow - widowhood
maid- prosperity
man - poverty
unmarried woman - fortunate

while taking food - misery
while asleep - widowhood

Color of dress worn

old black - misery
beautiful black - good
multicolored - poverty
red - disease
white - many children

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Is muhurta a superstition ?

There was an article in an English daily published from Mumbai yesterday that the superstitious politicians are waiting for the pitrupaksha to get over for filing nominations for the upcoming assembly election. The question here is not whether pitrupaksha is auspicious or not. The scribe has taken the very concept of muhurta ( auspiciousness / in-auspiciousness ) of time as a superstition.

To start with, veda ( A.V.53.7) says,
काले मनः काले प्राणः काले नाम समाहितम् ।
कालेन सर्वा नन्दन्त्यागतेन प्रजा इमाः ॥

The mind, the vital energy and the names - they are established in 'time'. In his bhashya, Sayanacharya interprets the second part of this mantra as " owing to 'time' people enjoy the results of success ".

सुख दुःखकरं कर्म शुभाशुभमुहूर्तजम् - Whether action leads to happiness or misery depends on the auspiciousness / in-auspiciousness of the time at which it is performed.

Manjul Bhargava, this year's winner of Fields Medal ( Nobel prize in mathematics ) says he was impressed with" the great mathematicians Aryabhata, Bhaskara, and Brahmagupta. Their works were inspirational to me. Pingala, Hemachandra and Brahmagupta have been particularly influential in my own work."

In Siddhanta Siromani, Bhaskaracharya's treatise on mathematics and astronomy in the 1st sloka of Spashtadhikara it is said, यात्राविवाहोत्सवजातकादौ खेटैः स्फुटैरेव फलस्फुटत्वम् - the accuracy of the results of prediction about the outcome of travel, marriage, events and festivals and horoscopy depends on the accuracy of the planetary longitudes calculated.

Does it not establish that the whole purpose of vedic astronomy is to accurately predict / control the outcome ?

It is clear that Hinduism believes in the auspiciousness / in - auspiciousness of time. In this religion it is not a superstition. Our scriptures and books of 'science' agree with this concept.

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Agni in yajna

Vedic concepts are profound. Agni used in yajna is churned out of wood. The wood used here is from the Ashawatha ( peepal in Hindi ) tree. Veda says that Agni assuming the form of horse, once left the devas, went and stayed in the Ashwatha tree. That is why the tree itself is named Ashwatha. Ashwa means horse ; the tree in which the horse ( Agni ) stayed.

Now, an ordinary Ashwatha tree will not suffice. It should be one growing out of a Shami tree. Shami tree is known for being " shantayoni ". Its womb has a pacifying nature. That's why it is called Shami. It pacifies the destructive nature of Agni. Hence, an Ashwatha tree growing out of the womb of a Shami tree should be chosen for making of arani - the pair of wood used to churn Agni.

Ashwatha is also used in a different context during war .Here Ashwatha used is born out of (sprouting from ) a Khadira tree ( knowm to be a male plant because of the sap ). Khadira enhances the valour of Agni.

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Prediction of monsoon in astrology.

The method is based on observation of the formation of pregnancy of clouds. From the first day of the month of Margasirsha, when moon transits Purvashada nakshatra one should start observing the clouds.

The timing of rains are predicted like - cloud foetus formed in the krishna paksha of Pushya month will rain in the shukla paksha of sravana month. The cloud formation and rains are complimentary in nature - clouds formed in the east will rain in the west ; clouds formed when the wind is blowing to the south will rain when the wind is blowing to the north.

Omens such as red glow in the horizon, frost, halos are observed for predicting results. Color of the cloud would indicate water content. Fall of meteors, dust storm etc. could indicate miscarriage of the cloud foetus.

Based on the nakshatra on the day of the cloud information, both the quantity of rain fall and its duration are predicted. The coverage is also predicted by observing factors such as wind at the time of cloud foetus formation.

Even hail storms etc. are also predicted based on these observations.

source - Brihat Samhita

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Nakshatras - from the veda

There is a vedic ritual called agnyadhanam wherein a newly married householder kindles the shrautagni for the first time marking the commencement of his religious life as a householder. While prescribing the auspicious timing for this ritual, the following features of some of the nakshatras are mentioned. ( Ref: Taithireeya brahmanam, Shatapatha brahmanam and Baudhayana shrauta sutram )

1. Krittika - There are two opinions here. Krittika being Agni's nakashatram it is suitable for agnyadhanam. This is also because Krittiaka is the मुखम् of the nakshatras.मुखम् वा एतन्नक्षत्राणाम् (T.B.). Nakshatras from Krittika to Vishakha are called Deva nakshatras and Krittika is the first among them. One who does agnyadhanam during Krittika becomes a ब्रह्मवर्चसी  (ब्रह्म - mantra वर्चस् - strength).

Some others are not in favour of this. They say by doing agnyadhanam during Krittika the yajamana's house itself will burn गृहान् ह दाहुको भवति.

There is another version in Shatapatha brhmanam. Krittikas used to be the wives of Saptarshis, but the Saptarshis were  denied physical union by them. That is why still the Saptarshis rise in the north and the Krittikas in the east. By doing agnyadhanam during Krittika, there is fear of deprivation of physical union for the yajamana.

Others say that Agni and Krittika make a pair, hence their union will lead to abundance.अग्निर्वाऽएतासां मिथुनमग्निनैता मिथुनेन समृद्धास्तस्नादैव दधीत​.

2.Rohini - प्रजापती रोहिण्यामग्निमसृजत​  Prajapati created Agni during Rohini nakshatram. रोहन्त्यस्यामिति रोहिणी. The nature of Rohini is growth and rise. The Devas did agnyadhanam during Rohini and thereby attained all heights. सर्वान्रोहानरोहन्. One who does agnyadhanam during Rohini progresses. ऋध्नोत्येव​.

3. Mrigashirsha - This is the head of Prajapati. Among men, one who is the most important is called 'Head'. He is the possessor of prosperity. Hence one desirous of being 'Head' should perform agnyadhanam on Mrigashirsha nakshatram.श्रियं ह गच्छति य एवं विद्वान्मृगशीर्ष​ऽआधत्ते.

4. Punarvasu - Once abundance and wealth deserted the Devas. By performance of agnyadhanam during Punarvasu nakshatra they regained wealth and prosperity. पुनरुपावृत्तं वस्वनयोरिति पुनर्वसू.

5. Purva phalguni - One who desires that his sons should become charitable ( दानकामा मे प्रजास्स्युरिति) should perform during Purva phalguni. The lord of this nakshatram is Aryama.अरीन् यमयति अर्यमा. One who suppresses foes.

6. Uttara phalguni - यः कामयेत भगी स्यामिति स उत्तरयोःफल्गुन्योरग्निमादधीत​. One who wants to be भगी ( prosperous ) should perform on Uttara phalguni. What is bhaga ?

ऐश्वर्यस्य समग्रस्य वीर्यस्य यशसश्श्रियः

ज्ञानवैराग्ययोश्चैव षण्णां भग इतीरणा

7. Hasta - हस्त​ means hand. Hand provides. This nakshatram is the provider of all desires.

8. Chitra - The asuras called Kalakanjas wanted to ascend the heaven. They began to prepare for agnyadhanam. They started building up the vedi. Each one brought a brick and started building. Indra did not want this. He came disguised as a brahmin and placed one brick. Just before the time for keeping the Agni came, he pulled out his brick ( which was at the base ) saying " this is mine".The whole vedi collapsed. The asuras could not perform yajna. This happened during Chitra nakshatram. Indra became victorious on Chitra nakshatram. Hence one with foes ( भ्रातृव्यवान् ) should perform during Chitra nakshatram.हन्ति सपत्नान्हन्ति द्विषन्तं भ्रातृव्यं य एवं विद्वांश्चित्रायामाधत्ते.

The above could be specific to agnyadhanam, but looking at the nature of these nakshatrams whether it can be applied in similar situations is worth consideration.

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