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Friday, December 28, 2018

Whosoever


vakola

Anagha

http://anaghadatta.org/
http://sreepadasreevallabhapithapuram.in/anaghadevi.html
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Anaghastami

Trigoonatmak, Trimurti, Shree Dattatraya Shree Anagha Datta Swaroop is the combined swaroop of Lord Brahma, Vishnu & Mahesh (Generator, Organizer & Destroyer i.e God). Anagha Laxmi is a combined swaroop of Goddess Mahasaraswati, Mahakali & Mahalaxami who are meant for knowledge, protection & prosperity which is required for life.

https://trinitygods.blogspot.com/search/label/Puranas
http://avatarsecret.blogspot.com/search/label/MahishasuraMahishi 

Puranas

According to Dattatreya Purana , When Lord Dattatreya, the combined incarnation of the Trinity, was a child of five years, many old sages spotted His greatness and started insisting Him to show them the path of Yoga. The child Datta wanted to test them. He disappeared into a pond and remained there for one hundred years. Some of the sages waited for Him on the banks of the pond while the infant Datta was in a state of complete Samadhi for hundred years. Even after coming out of the pond he continued to test the sages.

Dattatreya, who was 105 years old then, brought out His Yogic energy through His Brahma Randhra (an astral orifice found in the center of the skull, through which Yogis can leave the body), and gave it the form of a woman. Because the energy came out from Him, He was its natural owner. He declared her to be His consort. In order to test the sages, she drank wine and started dancing.

She was born as a youthful woman. Seeing her drink wine, some of the sages called her Madhumati. Others called her 'Nadee' becuase looking at her dance which resembled the dancing movements of a flooded river. Still others realized that she was none other than the Yogic Energy of Lord and prayed to Him. Some others went away.

Then Lord Dattatreya came out of Samadhi. She now appeared as an ascetic. Lord Dattatreya named her as Anagha. Those who called her as Madhumati and Nadee had identified her as one who possessed sin. But in reality she was sinless. Therefore Dattatreya had named her as Anagha (Sinless, Pure). Those who had recognized her to be the energy of Dattatreya, obtained the true vision of the Lord and could transcend all sorrows. In other words, because of her their sorrows (Agha or sin and sorrow) disappeared. This was another reason why Dattatreya named her as Anagha (one who removes sorrows).

Etymologically, the word Agha means that which comes to the experience of the doer (kartaaram anghaati iti agham. Aghi gatow). He who thinks that he is the doer, will experience pain and pleasure. According to vedantic view, even the worldly pleasure, is in fact pain. Thus, one who thinks oneself to be the doer is always suffering. That energy which removes the feeling of doership is Anagha.

According to another etymology, Agha means that which causes sufferings to remain forever. (Na jahaati duhkham it agham. 0 haak tyaage) Sorrow is caused by poverty, disease, fear of enemies, greed, ignorance etc. That which removes sorrow by bestowing prosperity, health, affection, contentment, wisdom, etc. is Anagha.

With all these ideas in mind, Lord Dattatreya called her as Anagha. Those sages who could comprehend this could see her as the manifestation of energy and could attain positive benefits. The demons who could not comprehend the reality only saw her as a dancer and therefore were annihilated.

This particular episode makes it clear to us that those who thought the Almighty to be merely a female caused their own destruction. Those who consider the Almighty to be male only also accounted for their own doom. Those who could realize that the Almighty was above such differentiation and was of the form of fundamental energy could transcend affinity and aversion. They alone could experience unalloyed bliss.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Dattatreya+Purana
http://ofancienttimes.blogspot.com/search/label/Classifications

Monday, December 24, 2018

River

As a result of a curse on the trimurtis by Savitri ( another name of saraswati)
  1. Krishna
  2. Venna and 
  3. Koyna are said to be Lord Vishnu Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma 

Friday, November 16, 2018

Brahma Vishnu Mahesh

Jambhasura

Meanwhile there was a Daitya named Jambh who pleased Brahmaa Jee and got a boon from him that "Whoever comes in front of me in the battle, he should start yawning at my will and become sleepy and I can win him easily. With this boon he won all Devtaa and he became the king of Indra Lok. Indra then went to Dattaatreya on the advice of Naarad Jee. Dattaatreya Jee advised him to invite Jambh for the battle in his Aashram. He told that as soon as all Daitya would come to his Aashram, his one Divine look will make them weak and powerless and then he could kill all of them. So Indra went to Jambh and fighting with him brought all Daitya to Dattaatreya's Aashram.

Dattaatreya Jee said - "Lakshmee destroys while living in some places, while she does good living in other places. Lakshmee does not live at one place.

  1. When Lakshmee lives in one's feet, then a person gets beautiful house; 
  2. when she lives in thighs then she gives beautiful clothes, ornaments, wealth etc; 
  3. when she lives in waistline, she gives beautiful woman; 
  4. when she lives in lap, she gives son; 
  5. when she lives in heart then she fulfills all wishes of a person. 
  6. When she lives in neck she gives ornaments of neck, and when she lives in mouth, she gives sweet speech. 
  7. The same Lakshmee when sits on somebody's head, she leaves him. 
Since now she is sitting on his head his all powers have been weakened, you can go and kill him." So Indra went to him and killed him with his Vajra.

Madalasa

Durvaasaa's Curse to Saraswatee
Once Durvaasaa Rishi thought that when he does Tap the whole Tri-Lok gets worried, so why not he should go to Brahm Lok and study Ved from Brahmaa Jee. So he went there to study Ved. Brahmaa Jee welcomed him as his grandson and made the arrangement of learning Ved for him. As he was studying Ved there, Saraswatee Jee started laughing at him. When she could not stop her laugh, Durvaasaa asked her why she was laughing. She replied that she was laughing at his Swar (tone). He said - "So do you think that only you have good tone in the whole Tri-Lok? You are very proud of that. I curse you that you fall from Brahm Lok to destroy your pride."

Brahmaa Jee said - "What did you do this, O Durvaasaa? If Saraswatee will not live here who will teach Ved Richaa? Who will teach Swar here? How the Gyaan will be distributed here?" Durvaasaa Jee said - "Her singing will be in Gandharv Lok where she will take birth." Brahmaa Jee said - "By cursing my consort Saraswatee you have proved yourself incapable of living in Brahm Lok. You leave this Brahm Lok."

Meanwhile Gandharv Raaj Vishwaavasu was doing Tapasyaa for Dattaatreya to get a child. Pleased from his Tap Dattaatreya Jee appeared before him and asked him to ask for a boon. Vishwaavasu asked him to give him a child. Dattaatreya Jee said - "This whole universe is born from a Yagya. When some act is done with full devotion it becomes a Yagya, you also do a Yagya, you will surely get a child." So Vishwaavasu started a Yagya with his wife Chitralekhaa.

In the meantime, Daitya Vajraketu came to destroy his Yagya. He did not want that anybody should do any Yagya. Dattaatreya protected his Yagya. Vajraketu tried his best to destroy that Yagya but could not harm it, so he himself went there and got burnt. Thus he was killed there. Yagya was completed. At the end of the Yagya, Yagya Dev appeared from that Yagya and gave them a pot and asked them to take the Prasaad in it. They took it with great Bhakti. As a result they had daughter. This daughter was Saraswatee herself who was born as a result of Durvaasaa's curse. Vishwaavasu named her Madaalasaa.

As the girl was born, Naarad Jee came there and congratulated the Gandharv Raaj on the birth of his daughter. Vishwaavasu asked Naarad Jee about her future. Naarad Jee ignored this and blessed her. Chitralekhaa said - "Devarshi, We have a desire that we want the blessings of Dattaatreya who is born on Prithvi." Naarad Jee suggested them to meditate on Dattaatreya, so they did and Dattaatreya Jee appeared before them and asked their desire. Vishwaavasu said - "Our all desires are related to our daughter. We want that she should always be happy and comfortable." Dattaatreya Jee said - "Raajan, Your daughter is not an ordinary girl, she is the incarnation of Saraswatee Devee. She will attain Brahm Gyaan, and her son will also be Brahm Gyaanee. My blessings are always with you." Time flew and Madaalasaa grew in a fine young woman.

Paataalketu
At the same time, after the killing of Vajraketu, his son Paataalketu was crowned as the king of Paataal. Now he wanted to know how his father was killed. His Kul Guru said - "He was not killed but he died in the battlefield." "In which battle?" "He was killed in the battle with Vishwaavasu." "Oh, So my father was killed by Vishwaavasu. I am going to kill him." So they came on prithvi and Paataalketu commanded his brother Kaalketu to be disguised in a Saadhu and stay there and he himself went to Gandharv Lok.

There Paataalketu saw Madaalasaa and got attracted to her. [Now Madaalasaa was the incarnation of Saraswatee Jee and the result of Durvasaa's curse. So both had some meaning - Bhagavaan has to do all these Leelaa to set the situation of duties and actions.] So he proposed to Gandharv Raaj for his daughter, but Gandharv Raaj did not agree for this and got ready for fight. But Paataalketu abducted Madaalasaa to Paataal Lok.

Paataalketu and Madaalasaa
Madaalasaa prayed Bhagavaan Dattaatreya for her protection, and he protected her from Paataalketu. Later Paataalketu called his maids and said to them - "Change Madaalasaa's mind towards me. I will marry her on the coming Trayodashee." and went away. Madaalasaa again prayed Dattaatreya with the intention of committing suicide, so he appeared before her and told her that she was the incarnation of Saraswatee and for whatever purpose she had come on Prithvi she cannot die without completing it. She asked what was the purpose of her life. Dattaatreya Jee said - "To kill Paataalketu and producing a child who will also a Brahm Gyaanee. Vishwaavasu and his wife Chitralekhaa also prayed Brahmaa Jee to protect their daughter. Brahmaa Jee assured them for their daughter.

Paataalketu went to Rishi Gaalav so that he could perform the ceremony of his marriage to Madaalasaa. Gaalav said - "If Madaalasaa has not agreed for this marriage, he would not perform this marriage ceremony, because it is A-Dharm." At this Paataalketu started destroying his Yagya and Aashram. Seeing this Gaalav Muni cursed him - "If you will marry Madaalasaa without her consent, you will be burnt to ashes."

When Paataalketu went to marry Madaalasaa, he remembered Gaalav Muni's curse so he talked to her politely. Madaalasaa said that her marriage depended on Bhagavaan Dattaatreya, so Paataalketu proceeded to meet Dattaatreya. Dattaatreya Jee appeared before him and preached him the sermon of Satya and Gyaan. Paramaatmaa has four names - Satya, Gyaan, Anant and Brahm. And asked him to love Paramaatmaa.

Naarad Jee could not understand that why Dattaatreya did not preach some Saadhu and bestowed boons to Kaartveerya Arjun and preached Paramaatmaa to Paataalketu. Dattaatreya Jee said - "Since those Saadhu did not have devotion and love in me that is why I did not teach them, Arjun had both love and devotion in me that is why I granted him boon; and I preached Paataalketu because he did lots of Tapasyaa for all the three, Brahmaa, Vishnu and Mahesh, in his previous life. Brahmaa Jee granted him the boon to have Darshan of all the three (Brahmaa, Vishnu and Mahesh) together. We all will incarnate in the form of Dattaatreya and you will see his Viraat Roop which is not in  everybody's fate." That is why I showed him my Vraat Roop."

Paataalketu came back to Madaalasaa and said to her - "If somebody becomes god by taking Viraat Roop then see it." and he showed her his Viraat Roop. Still Madaalasaa did not get ready to marry him. Paataalketu said - "I can marry you any time but I will not marry you until you will marry me with your own will." Madaalasaa said - "I will never marry you will my own will." Paataalketu said - "If this is so, then my anger will burn all the three Lok. I will start killing people everywhere, and all this will be because of you."

Paataalketu started destroying Tri-Lok. Madaalasaa tried to stop this but he did not stop until she got agree to marry him willingly. Paataalketu threatened her to kill her parents, so she had to agree to marry him. Paataalketu declared this in the whole Paataal Lok and went to to Muni Gaalav again and asked him to be the Pandit to perform his marriage to Madaalasaa. He told him that he would send his Minister to bring him to Paataal Lok.

Gaalav Muni prayed Dattaatreya to guide him. Dattaatreya appeared before him and said - "Satya is Satya, it cannot be destroyed by A-Satya." Gaalav Jee asked - "How Madaalsasaa will marry him? She got ready to marry him only to protect Tri-Lok. But will she marry him?" "No she will not be able to marry him. The son of Shatrujit, Ritudhwaj will not let this marriage happen and the same will kill Paataalketu too."  "But who could not be killed even by others, how Ritudhwaj will kill him?" Dattaatreya gave him a horse and said to him - "This Kuvalaashwa named divine horse, it can go anywhere - in sky, on water, on Prithvi or Paatal. It is immune to any kind of weapon. Only Ritudhwaj can ride on this horse. Take this horse to him and tell him that he should go to Paataal Lok on this horse, kill Paataalketu and marry Madaalasaa."

Muni Gaalav took that horse to Ritudhwaj and told everything Shatrujit. He asked him to send his son to kill Paataalketu and bring Madaalasaa from there. Ritudhwaj rode that horse and set off to his journey to Paataal Lok.

Ritudhwaj and Madaalasaa

In Paataal Lok Madaalasaa was getting ready to be married to Paataalketu. At the same time Ritudhwaj came there and Madaalasaa got very happy to see him there. Paataalketu commanded his people to kill Ritudhwaj, but Ritudhwaj killed all of them. Pariprakaash and Naagpaal, Ritudhwaj's childhood friends of Naag Lok, welcomed them in Naag Lok and said - "Ashwatar is waiting for you."

Paataalketu's some remaining people informed his brother Taalketu that Ritudhwaj had killed his brother Paataalketu. So he came to Naag Lok in search of Ritudhwaj and started destroying Naag Lok. Ashwatar came out and asked him why was he doing that? He said that I am looking for Ritudhwaj because he has killed my brothers Paataalketu." Ritudhwaj and other Naag Lok dwellers came out to fight with Taalketu and Ritudhwaj defeated him the battle thus he protected Naag lok also from Taalketu. Then Taalketu went away challenging Ritudhwaj that one day hw would surely take Madaalasaa from him. Ritudhwaj then went away from there with Madaalasaa and came to his kingdom. There he was welcomed by his father.

Dattaatreya Jee appeared there and commanded Madalasaa to Gyaan and Ritudhwaj to protect Saadhu, Rishi, Muni from Raakshas. So he started doing that. Wandering around, once he came on Yamunaa's banks. Taalketu was doing Yagya there in the guise of a Rishi. he recognized Ritudhwaj so he planned for a trick. He saw a garland in his neck. He said to him - "I am doing a Yagya for which I need to give Dakshinaa. Can I get some money for giving Dakshinaa?" After a moment he took out his garland and gave it to him. Taalketu who was in the guise of a Rishi, thanked him and said - "I am going inside water to worship Jal Devtaa, so please protect my Aashram till then."

Taalketu then came to Ritudhwaj's father, gave that garland to him and told him that he was killed by Daitya. He gave me this garland before dying and asked me to give it to you." Hearing this Madaalasaa  died. Shatrujit performed her last rites very sadly. On the other hand, Ritudhwaj continued to protect Rishi's Aashram but when he did not return for quite some time, he got worried and came to his kingdom. He met there everybody but not Madaalasaa. Hearing about her death he got very sad. Maniprakaash Naag could not tolerate his condition, so he requested his father to bring Madaalasaa to life for his friend. Hearing this Ashwatar said - "Let me go to my elder brother Shesh Naag."

Ashwatar went to Shesh Naag and requested him to give Madaalasaa back to Ritudhwaj in the same form and body. Shesh Naag said - "You know everything, you are Gyaanee. Once one has died, he cannot get the same body again." "But like this Ritudhwaj will die." Shesh Naag said - "If you have learnt music from Saraswatee Jee and please Kaal Mahaakaal Shiv Jee then your wish can be fulfilled because only he can do this." So Maniprakaash went to Saraswatee Jee and got the boon of music and dance and then pleased Shiv Jee by that music and dance. Shiv Jee got pleased and granted him the boon that if he offer Prasaad to Vishnu in front of Shesh Naag then only Madaalasaa will be able to relive again. Maniprakaash did the same and Madaalasaa took rebirth in her same body by the grace of Shiv Jee. Maniprakaaash took her to Ritudhwaj and gave her to him. Ritudhwaj got very happy to see her alive.

Later Madaalasaa gave birth to a son who was named as Alark. When he became young, Madaalasaa went to Dattaatreya to give him good education.

durjan durmati

There were two Daitya Durjan and Durmati. Both did severe Tapasyaa and pleased Brahmaa Jee and got a boon from him that they should not be defeated by anybody and they should be killed by Shiv only when he is not in waking state. With this boon they first went to Kailaash Parvat to defeat Shiv Jee, so as they reached there, Shiv Jee got disappeared from there. Durjan and Durmati got very happy to see this. After taking over Kailaash, they went to Ksheer Saagar and challenged Vishnu Jee. Vishnu Jee also disappeared from there leaving His Shesh Shayyaa. Seeing they got happier than ever that they had defeated both Shiv and Vishnu.

The then Naarad Jee came there saying "Naaraayan, Naaraayan". Hearing "Naaraayan, Naaraayan" Durjan and Durmati said to him - "Do not take His name, we have defeated Him and now we are the king of Tri-Lok. And do not do Tapasyaa also." Naarad Jee asked why, they said - "We have achieved this position only because of Tapasyaa, and we do not want that anybody should do Tapasyaa and take our position." Naarad Jee said - "But there is one who is doing Tapasyaa on Earth." "Who is that?" Naarad Jee showed them the person - Durvaasaa Muni.

Durjan and Durmati went there and tried to kill Durvaasaa, but their all weapons became useless on him. Then Durvaasaa Rishi opened his third eye and burned both of them. But his fire started burning other Lok also. Shiv jee appeared before Durvaasaa and blessed him - "Your Tapasyaa is complete now. The fire appeared from your Tap is birning Tri-Lok, so leave this Tap now. You should be angry from those only who do everything at their will." Durvaasaa Rishi asked him - "Hey Prabhu, How can I control my anger?" Shiv Jee said - "Do not establish Sampark (contact) and Sambandh (relationship) then only you can control your anger. Do not think about Vishaya (worldly pleasures) that is how you will not be in Sampark with them and you will not be angry; besides, do not stay at one place so that you do not establish your relationship there." Durvaasaa Rishi agreed for this.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=durjan+durmati

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Rantideva

God as the trinity of Brahma, Viṣṇu, and Śiva incarnates as a

  1. Brahmin, 
  2. Śudra, and 
  3. Harijan to test Rantideva.

http://starttoendcycle.blogspot.com/search/label/Rantideva

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Shipra

Legend has it that once Lord Shiva went begging for alms, using the skull of Lord Brahma as the begging bowl. Nowhere in the three worlds did he manage to get any alms. Ultimately, he went to Vaikunth, the abode of Lord Vishnu and asked Lord Vishnu for alms. In return, Lord Vishnu showed Lord Shiva his index finger, which enraged the latter. Lord Shiva took out his trishul and cut Lord Vishnu’s fingers. Vishnu’s fingers began to bleed profusely and the blood accumulated in Brahma’s skull and soon overflowed from it. The flow became a stream and finally a river “The Shipra”.

http://avantiujjain.blogspot.com/search/label/Shipra

Monday, February 12, 2018

Twelve Years

Seven Rishis had, on one occasion, left Arundhati, (the wife of one of them), when they went to Himavat. Those highly blessed ones of very rigid vows, had gone there for gathering fruits and roots for their sustenance. While they thus lived in a forest of Himavat for procuring their sustenance, a drought occurred extending for twelve years. Those ascetics, having made an asylum for themselves, continued to live there. Meanwhile Arundhati devoted herself to ascetic penances (at the spot where she had been left).

Beholding Arundhati devoted to the austerest of vows, the boon-giving and three-eyed deity (Mahadeva) highly pleased, came there. The great Mahadeva, assuming the form of a Brahmana, came to her and said, 'I desire alms, O auspicious one!' The beautiful Arundhati said unto him, 'Our store of food hath been exhausted, O Brahmana! Do thou eat jujubes!' Mahadeva replied, 'Cook these jujubes, O thou of excellent vows!' After these words, she began to cook those jujubes for doing what was agreeable to that Brahmana. Placing those jujubes on the fire, the celebrated Arundhati listened to diverse excellent and charming and sacred discourses (from the lips of Mahadeva).

That twelve years' drought then passed away (as if it were a single day). Without food, and employed in cooking and listening to those auspicious discourses, that terrible period passed away, as if it were a single day to her. Then the seven Rishis, having procured fruits from the mountain, returned to that spot. The adorable Mahadeva, highly pleased with Arundhati, said unto her, 'Approach, as formerly, these Rishis, O righteous one! I have been gratified with thy penances and vows!' The adorable Hara then stood confessed in his own form. Gratified, he spoke unto them about the noble conduct of Arundhati (in these words) 'The ascetic merit, ye regenerate ones, that this lady hath earned, is, I think, much greater than what ye have earned on the breast of Himavat! The penances practised by this lady have been exceedingly austere, for she passed twelve years in cooking, herself fasting all the while!'

The divine Mahadeva then, addressing Arundhati, said unto her, 'Solicit thou the boon, O auspicious dame, which is in thy heart!'

Then that lady of large eyes that were of a reddish hue addressed that god in the midst of the seven Rishis, saying, 'If, O divine one thou art gratified with me, then let this spot be an excellent tirtha! Let it be known by the name of Vadarapachana and let it be the favourite resort of Siddhas and celestial Rishis. So also, O god of gods, let him who observes a fast here and resides for three nights after having cleansed himself, obtain the fruit of a twelve years' fast!'

The god answered her, saying, 'Let it be so!' Praised by the seven Rishis, the god then repaired to heaven. Indeed the Rishis had been filled with wonder at the sight of the god and upon beholding the chaste Arundhati herself unspent and still possessed of the hue of health and so capable of bearing hunger and thirst.



Refer
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m09/m09048.htm

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Vishvakarman

Viśhwákarma community or caste, known within the group as the Viswabramhin, (Viswakarma Bramhin) is an Indian caste which includes five sub-castes: carpenters, blacksmiths, coppersmiths, goldsmiths and sculptors who are described as descendants of the five sons of god Vishwakarma.
Vishwakarmas are descended from five sons of lord Viswakarma.

They are as follows :-





1.Manu [Manu Brahma is Siva]
2.Maya [Maya Brahma is Vishnu]
3.Twastha [Tvashta Brahma is Brahma]
4.Shilpi [Shilpi [Brahma is Indra]
5.Vishvajna [Vishvajna Brahma is Surya]

Manu Brahma is Blacksmith and Rigvedi
Maya Brahma is Carpenter and Yajurvedi
Tvashta Brahma is Coppersmith and Samavedi
Shilpi Brahma is Sculptors and Atharvavedi
Vishvajana Brahma is Goldsmith and Pranavavedi
Each one of them are born from the Different face of Virat Vishwakarma
Vishvabrahmins are divided into five Gotras or clans,
each Rishi's name is mentioned in the Yajurveda (4.3.3)
1)Sanaga [Son of Manu > Shiva]
2)Sanatana [Son of Maya > Vishnu]
3)Abhuvana [Son of Tvashtha > Brahma of four faces]
4)Pratnasa [Son of Silpi > Indra]
5)Suparna [Son of Vishvajna > Surya]
They worship various forms of the deity and follow five vedas: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda, Pranava Veda.
According to traditional belief; Vishwakarma community elders believe that five sons (Five moola rishis of vishwakarma caste or community) Manu, Maya, Thvasta, Silpy and Vishwajnya were born from the five faces of the god Vishwakarma; and these five moola rishis had five sons Saanaga, Sanāthana, Abhonasa, Prathnasa and Suparņasa are the rishi or gotrakara (founders of gotra) of the community. These five rishis were mentioned in Yajur Veda Taittiriya Samhita.
These five gotras further divided in to 125 upagotras including the five moola rishi gotras.And these 125 rishis or gotras; are five moola rishis Sanaga, Sanatana, Abhunasa, Pratnasa, Suparnasa and their grandsons.
The Vishwakarma are largely found in the South India: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Konkan. In Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat.Other Indian Vishwakarma populations are in: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bengal, Delhi, Haryana, Bihar, and Orissa.
Vishwakarma’s are also found in Sri Lanka, some elders of this caste believe that Sri Lankan king Raavana belongs to Vishwakarma caste.
Kerala Vishwakarmas of Kerala are also known as Achary, Moosari or Viswa Brahmanar.
In Tamil Nadu most of the Vishwakarmas are goldsmiths, generally people call them as Achari or Asari and some as kammalars .
The Vishwakarma caste of south Karnataka, is composed of several sub-castes: Kulachar, Shiv Achar, Matachar , Muddekammaras, and Chikkamanes.
Particularly in Karnataka most of these sub-castes do not intermarry and have a hierarchy among themselves.
These subcastes are varied according to various states and regions in India. But all worship the god Vishwakarma and goddess Kalika devi.

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Sraddha

"Yudhishthira said, 'By whom was the Sraddha first conceived and at what time? What also is its essence? During the time when the world was peopled by only the descendants of Bhrigu and Angiras; who was the muni that established the Sraddha? What acts should not be done at Sraddha? What are those Sraddhas in which fruits and roots are to be offered? What species' also of paddy should be avoided in Sraddhas? Do thou tell me all this, O grandsire!'

"Bhishma said, 'Listen to me, O ruler of men, as I tell thee how the Sraddha was introduced, the time of such introduction, the essences of the rite, and the Muni who conceived it. From the Self-born Brahman sprang Atri, O thou of Kuru's race. In Atri's race was born a Muni of the name of Dattatreya. Dattatreya got a son of the name of Nimi possessed of wealth of asceticism. Nimi got a son named Srimat who was endued with great beauty of person. Upon the expiration of a full thousand years, Srimat, having undergone the severest austerities, succumbed to the influence of Time and departed from this world. His sire Nimi, having performed the Purificatory rites according to the ritual laid down in the ordinance, became filled with great grief, thinking continually of the loss of his son. 1 Thinking of that cause of sorrow the high-souled Nimi collected together various agreeable objects (of food and drink) on the fourteenth day of the moon. The next morning he rose from bed. Pained his heart was with grief, as he rose from sleep that day--he succeeded in withdrawing it from the one object upon which it had been working. His understanding succeeded in busying itself with other matters. With concentrated attention he then conceived the idea of a Sraddha. All those articles of his own food, consisting of fruits and roots, and all those kinds of staple grains that were agreeable to him, were carefully thought of by that sage possessed of wealth of penances. On the day of the New moon he invited a number of adorable Brahmanas (to his asylum). Possessed of great wisdom, Nimi caused them to be seated on seats (of Kusa grass) and honoured them by going around their persons. Approaching seven such Brahmanas whom he had brought to his abode together, the puissant Nimi gave unto them food consisting of Syamaka rice, unmixed with salt. Towards the feet of those Brahmanas engaged in eating the food that was served unto them a number of Kusa blades was spread out on the seats they occupied, with the top ends of the blades directed towards the south. With a pure body and mind and with concentrated attention, Nimi, having placed those blades of sacred grass in the way indicated, offered cakes of rice unto his dead son, uttering his name and family. Having done this, that foremost of Munis became filled with regret at the idea of having achieved an act that had not (to his knowledge) been laid down in any of the scriptures. Indeed, filled with regret he began to think of what he had done. 2 'Never done before by the Munis, alas, what have I done! How shall I (for having done an act that has not been ordained) avoid being cursed by the Brahmanas (as an introducer of strange rites)?' He then thought of the original progenitor of his race. As soon as he was thought of, Atri endued with wealth of penances came there. Beholding him exceedingly afflicted with grief on account of the death of his son, the immortal Atri comforted him with agreeable counsels. He said unto him, 'O Mini, this rite that thou hast conceived, is a sacrifice in honour of the Pitris. Let no fear be thine, O thou that art possessed of the wealth of asceticism! The Grandsire Brahman himself, in days of old, laid it down! This rite that thou hast conceived has been ordained by the Self-born himself. Who else than the Self-born could ordain this ritual in Sraddhas? I shall presently tell thee, O son, the excellent ordinance laid down in respect of Sraddhas. Ordained by the Self-born himself, O son, do thou follow it. Listen to me first! Having first performed the Karana on the sacred fire with the aid of Mantras, O thou that art possessed of wealth of penances, one should always pour libations next unto the deity of fire, and Soma, and Varuna. Unto the Viswedevas also, who are always the companions of the Pitris, the Self-born then ordained a portion of the offerings. The Earth also, as the goddess that sustains the offerings made at Sraddhas, should then be praised under the names of Vaishnavi, Kasyapi, and the inexhaustible. 1 When water is being fetched for the Sraddha, the deity Varuna of great puissance should be praised. After this, both Agni and Soma should be invoked with reverence and gratified (with libations), O sinless one. Those deities that are called by the name of Pitris were created by the Self-born. Others also, highly blessed, viz., the Ushnapsa, were created by him. For all these shares have been ordained of the offerings made at Sraddhas. By adoring all these deities at Sraddhas, the ancestors of the persons performing them become freed from all sins. The Pitris referred to above as those created by the Self-born number seven. The Viswedevas having Agni for their mouth (for it is through Agni that they feed), have been mentioned before. I shall now mention the names of those high-souled deities who deserve shares of the offerings made at Sraddhas. Those names at Vala, Dhriti, Vipapa, Punyakrit, Pavana, Parshni, Kshemak, Divysanu, Vivaswat, Viryavat, Hrimat, Kirtimat, Krita, Jitatman, Munivirya, Diptaroman, Bhayankara, Anukarman, Pratia, Pradatri, Ansumat, Sailabha, Parama krodhi, Dhiroshni, Bhupati, Sraja, Vajrin, and Vari,--these are the eternal Viswedevas. There are others also whose names are Vidyutvarchas, Somavarchas, and Suryasri. Others also are numbered amongst them, viz., Somapa, Suryasavitra, Dattatman, Pundariyaka, Ushninabha, Nabhoda, Viswayu, Dipti, Chamuhara, Suresa, Vyomari, Sankara Bhava, Isa, Kartri, Kriti, Daksha, Bhuvana, Divya, Karmakrit, Ganita Panchavirya, Aditya, Rasmimat, Saptakrit, Somavachas, Viswakrit, Kavi, Anugoptri, Sugoptri, Naptri, and Iswara:--these highly blessed ones are numbered as the Viswedevas. They are eternal and conversant with all that occurs in Time. The species of paddy which should not be offered at Sraddhas are those called Kodrava, and Pulka. Assafoetida also, among articles used in cooking, should not be offered, as also onions and garlic, the produce of the Moringa pterygosperma, Bauhinia Variegata, the meat of animals slain with envenomed shafts all varieties of Sucuribita Pepo, Sucuribita lagenaria, and black salt. The other articles that should not be offered at Sraddhas are the flesh of the domesticated hog, the meat of all animals not slaughtered at sacrifices, Nigella sativa, salt of the variety called Vid, the potherb that is called Sitapaki, all sprouts (like those of the bamboo), and also the Trapa bispinosa.

All kinds of salt should be excluded from the offerings made at Sraddhas, and also the fruits of the Eugenia Jamblana. All articles, again, upon which any one has spat or upon which tears have fallen should not be offered at Sraddhas. Among offerings made to the Pitris or with the Havya and Kavya offered to the deities, the potherb called Sudarsana (Menispermum tomentosum, Rox) should not be included. Havi mixed with this is not acceptable to Pitris. From the place where the Sraddha is being performed, the Chandala and the Swapacha should be excluded, as also all who wear clothes steeped in yellow, and persons affected with leprosy, or one who has been excasted (for transgressions), or one who is guilty of Brahmanicide, or a Brahmana of mixed descent or one who is the relative of an excasted man. These all should be excluded by persons possessed of wisdom from the place where a Sraddha is being performed,' Having said these words in days of old unto the Rishi Nimi of his own race, the illustrious Atri possessed of wealth of penances then went back to the Grandsire's assembly in Heaven.'"

"Bhishma said, 'After Nimi had acted in the way described above, all the great Rishis began to perform the sacrifice in honour of the Pitris (called the Sraddha) according to rites laid down in the ordinance. Firmly devoted to the discharge of all duties, the Rishis, having performed Sraddhas, began to also offer oblations (unto the Pitris) of sacred waters, with attention. In consequence, however, of the offerings made by persons of all classes (unto the Pitris), the Pitris began to digest that food. Soon they, and the deities also with them, became afflicted with indigestion. Indeed, afflicted with the heaps of food that all persons began to give them, they repaired to the presence of Soma. Approaching Soma they said, 'Alas, great is our affliction in consequence of the food that is offered to us at Sraddhas. Do thou ordain what is necessary for our ease.' Unto them Soma answered, saying, 'If, ye gods, ye are desirous of obtaining ease, do ye repair then into the abode of the Self-born. Even he will do what is for your good.' At these words of Soma, the deities and the Pitris then proceeded, O Bharata, to the Grandsire where he was seated on the summit of the mountains of Meru.'

"The deities, 'O illustrious one, with the food that is offered us in sacrifices and Sraddhas, we are being exceedingly afflicted. O lord, show us grace and do what would be for our good.' Hearing these words of theirs, the Self-born said unto them in reply, 'Here, the god of fire is sitting beside me, Even he will do what is for your benefit.'

"Agni said, 'Ye sires, when a Sraddha comes, we shall together eat the offerings made to us. If ye eat those offerings with me, ye shall then, without doubt, succeed in digesting them easily.' Hearing these words of the deity of fire, the Pitris became easy of heart. It is for this reason also that in making offerings at Sraddhas a share is first offered to the deity of fire, O king. If a portion of the offerings be first made to the deity of fire at a Sraddha, O prince of men, Rakshasas of regenerate origin cannot then do any injury to such a Sraddha. 1 Beholding the deity of fire at a Sraddha Rakshasas fly away from it. The ritual of the Sraddha is that the cake should first be offered to the (deceased) sire. Next, one should be offered to the grandsire. Next should one be offered to the great-grandsire. Even this is the ordinance in respect of the Sraddha. Over every cake that is offered, the offerer should, with concentrated attention, utter the Savitri Mantras. This other Mantra also should be uttered, viz., unto Soma who is fond of the Pitris. A woman that has become impure in consequence of the advent of her season, or one whose ears have been cut off, should not be allowed to remain where a Sraddha is being performed. Nor should a woman (for cooking the rice to be offered in the Sraddha) be brought from a Gotra other than that of the person who is performing the Sraddha. 1 While crossing river, one should offer oblations of water unto one's Pitris, naming them all. Indeed, when one comes upon a river one should gratify one's Pitris with oblations of water. Having offered oblations of water first unto the ancestors of one's own race, one should next offer such oblations to one's (deceased) friends and relatives. When one crosses a stream on a car unto which is yoked a couple of oxen of variegated hue, or from them that cross a stream on boats, the Pitris expect oblations of water. Those that know this always offer oblations of water with concentrated attention unto the Pitris, Every fortnight on the day of the New moon, one should make offerings unto one's deceased ancestors. Growth, longevity, energy, and prosperity become all attainable through devotion to the Pitris. The Grandsire Brahman, Pulastya, Vasishtha, Pulaha, Angiras, Kratu and the great Rishi Kasyapa--these, O prince of Kuru's race, and regarded as great masters of Yoga. They are numbered among the Pitris. Even this is the high ritual in respect of the Sraddha, O monarch! Through Sraddhas performed on earth the deceased members of one race become freed from a position of misery. I have thus, O prince of Kuru's race, expounded to thee agreeably with the scriptures, the ordinances in respect of Sraddhas. I shall once more discourse to thee on gifts."

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