Saturday, August 10, 2024

Kshetra for Venus - Sri Rangam

Shukra, son of Bhrgu divided himself into two.

One part became a fount of knowledge for gods; other became a knowledge source for demons. 

Blessed with Mrta Sanjivni Vidya, he restored to life, many demons who died in battle. 

Gods wanted this knowledge.

And gained it, in due course of time.

- Wikipedia 

Jupiter @ Chendur

Naradadhi Devayogi Brunda hrud niketanam 

Barhivaryavaham Indu Shekareshta Nandanam


Bhaktaloka roga dukha papa sangha banjanam 

Bhavayami Sindhu theera vasinam Shadananam 

- Adi Sancara 


Mercury @ Madurai

Shiva as Soma-Sundara, personifies planet Mercury, in Meenakshi's Madurai.

- as held in tradition

Saturday, July 13, 2024

nodes of the moon - Sri Caala Hasti

Rahu, or north node, is part of the slatted metal frame that fronts the deity, at the Shiva Shrine.

Dewi as Gnana Prasoonamba wears Ketu - the south node - as an ornament, in her Uddiyana, or waist girdle. 

as held in tradition

a temple for the moon - Tirupati

The villagers and tribals wanted to continue their traditional worship of Dewi. 

And Ramanuja was keen to convert - he had the local king's support.  

'We need not quarrel. Let the deity decide for itself,' he wagered.

Swords, shields, spears, tridents, noose, goad, conch, discuss and more were arrayed in the sanctum. 

Doors were closed and sealed at nightfall. Villagers and others stood vigil.

And Ramanuja prevailed upon a serpent, slithered unseen through a floor drain, into the shrine.

He did what little had to be done; Slithered out, morphed into his human form, and joined the vigil. 

Doors were opened at dawn. And the 'deity had chosen' a conch and discuss.

"It is Wishnu, it is Wishnu," exclaimed Ramanuja. And villagers withdrew.

A Dhana-akarshana yantra was embedded in her shrine.

In time, her breasts were chafed, and named Bhudewi, Sridewi. 

Her forehead was smeared, to mask her third eye. 

And Dewi morphed into Wishnu.

Yet her lions still stand guard, atop her vimana

Grandfather's narrative at the temple court of Tirupati 

Thursday, August 11, 2022

Kamo akarshin manyur akarshin namo namaha

Again and again, one considers one's body as oneself.

Again and again, one considers one's mind as oneself. 

Fear creeps into the mind, and one becomes fearful.

Unconscious impressions - Vaasanas - surface and one thinks one is a sinner. 

Desires arise, and one thinks one is lecherous. 

Amid all this flux of the mind; if one can see, one is not the mind, . . . that is a transcendence; and  a reality

To see all blemishes of  mind as one's own blemishes - that is agyana, ignorance, forgetfulness, virtuality. 

- A drop of eternity,      Amrita Bindu Upanishad,     August 11, 2022 

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Jyesht-abisheka


Consecrated metal alloy idols, get discharged with people's footfalls. 

And they are recharged once a year, with abisheka rituals - when the 13th full moon and Earth transit the Jyeshta-Mula interface. 

- as held in idol worshipping Agama traditions.