Monday, April 28, 2014

Varahi



Who is Mahavarahi?

SARVA LOGA SAMRAKSHANIYANAVAL – SRI MAHAVARAHI.

Annai Maha Varahi resides in the Sri Chakra in the 16th Pragaram. She is a symbol of purity, peace and prosperity. She emerged from the Angusam (weapon) of Devi Sri Lalitha Parameshwari. She is the commander of the battalion of Sri Raja Rajeshwari. Varahi is one of the Saptha Mathrukas - Seven Divine mothers. Varahi is classified as the fifth among the seven “Mother-like” divinities (Saptmatrukas) and hence called Panchami.

She protects the devotees against all odds and guides him/her along the right path. One who worships her will be relieved from evil forces. Sri RajaRajeswari took the incarnation of Sri Maha Varahi to eliminate the cruel demon Pandasura.

GIRI CHAKRAM is the name of Varahi's Radham. Varahi Ambal is also called as:

Aswaruda Varahi Devi
Bagtha Varahi Devi
Dhandini Varahi Devi
Unmantha Varahi Devi
Panjami Varahi Devi
Lagu Varahi Devi
Swapna Varahi Devi
Dandanatha Varahi Devi
Varthali Varahi Devi
Aswaruda Varahi Devi
Madu Varahi Devi
Dhumra Varahi Devi
Manthrani Varahi Devi

THE DIVINITY, THE BEAUTY AND THE BLESSINGS OF MAHAVARAHI:

Divinity manifests from age to age in the human form in order to re-establish Dharma (righteousness) and to guide all mankind back to the righteous path and to guide all mankind to the path of the inner self. Goddess Sri Maha Varahi is one such manifestation.

She has a deep beauty that gleams from inside her soul and will warm everyone with her energy. She is a boar headed Goddess portrayed as sitting on a Lion. Her black complexion symbolizes her transcendental nature. She is a Minerva – goddess of wisdom and beauty . She is the celestial beauty with eight hands Each hand has a Sangu, Chakram, Gadhai, Kadgam, Mushalam, Damaragam, Abayavaradam and Ulakkai. She is draped in 'Silk Robes and Jewellery'.

Worshipping her, a faithful devotee becomes a pure refined soul. Since she is an epitome of Gnana (Knowledge) worshipping her will encourage oneself to attain knowledge in abundance which is the stepping stone for success in life.

She is the epitome of Rajarajeshwari. She has been patiently and gracefully waiting to reveal herself with her heart ready to receive us.

Legend of MahaVarahi :

Story of Pandasura: Pandasura was a great Shiva Bhakta. After thousands of years of penance, Lord Shiva appeared before him and the demon requested for a peculiar benediction that he should never be killed by anyone and live forever. However, Lord Shiva had a different opinion on the birth and death aspect of humans. He said anyone born on this earth must die one day. Pandasura laid down one condition that he shouldn't be killed by either human or animal or by natural causes. He could be annihilated only by a woman not born of another woman. He also insisted that she should live her life eating faeces as food. Shiva granted this wish to him.

Pandasura, being a great warrior and having attained this special wish, went into the dangerous game of massacre of humans to regin power. When the Devas felt that his torture exceeded the limits, they approached Lord Shiva seeking his intervention to save them from this cruel ruler. But Lord Shiva expressed his inability in this matter since he had given this benediction and asked them to approach the Divine Mother Sri Raja Rajeshwari for a solution. When they approached the Goddess, she soothed them with the promise that very soon Pandasura would be destroyed.

She started contemplating as to what kind of incarnation would help her kill Pandasura, since he had been destined to die by unique creation, that would have to take birth as a woman and not in a human body. There was only one possibility for this strange combination. It was to take the incarnation of a boar - a wild pig with tusks with the female human body and face of a boar.

However, there was a problem as the same incarnation in the form of Varahi had already been taken by Sri Maha Vishnu. (Dasavatharam). 

At the behest of Sri Vishnu and keeping his form, deep within, Mother took the form of a boar and came to be known as Sri MahaVarahi.

Sri Maha Varahi took with her son, Lord Ganesha, and destroyed Pandasura and established peace.


Jai MAA ....

Om shreem hreem kleem dhum
jwaalaa jwaalaa
shulini asya yajamaanasya
sarva shatroon samhara samhara
kshema laabham kuru kuru
dushta graham
hum phat svaha...

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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

What is "Asta Siddhi - Nav Nidhi"


What is "Asta Siddhi - Nav Nidhi"


A) An accomplished, Purnayogi in the path of Kundalini Yoga is in possession of eight major Siddhis, viz., Anima, Mahima, Laghima, Garima, Prapti, Prakamya, Vasitvam and Ishitvam. 

1. Anima: The Yogi can become as minute as he pleases. 

2. Mahima: This is the opposite of Anima. He can become as big as he likes. He can make his body assume a very large size. He can fill up the whole universe. He can assume a Virat Svarupa. 

3. Laghima: He can make his body as light as cotton or feather. Vayustambhanam is done through this Siddhi. In Jalastambhanam also the power is exercised to a very small degree. The body is rendered light by Plavini Pranayama. The Yogi produces a diminution of his specific gravity by swallowing large draughts of air. The Yogi travels in the sky with the help of this Siddhi. He can travel thousands of miles in a minute. 

4. Garima: This is the opposite of Laghima. In this the Yogi acquires an increase of specific gravity. He can make the body as heavy as a mountain by swallowing draughts of air. 

5. Prapti: The Yogi standing on the earth can touch the highest things. He can touch the sun or the moon or the sky. Through this Siddhi the Yogi attains his desired objects and supernatural powers. He acquires the power of predicting future events, the power of clairvoyance, clairaudience, telepathy, thought-reading, etc. He can understand the languages of the beasts and birds. He can understand unknown languages also. He can cure all diseases. 

6. Prakamya: He can dive into the water and can come out at any time he likes. The late Trilinga Swami of Benares used to live for six months underneath the Ganges. It is the process by which a Yogi makes himself invisible sometimes. By some writers it is defined to be the power of entering body of another (Parakaya Pravesh). Sri Sankara entered the body of Raja Amaruka of Benares. Tirumular in Southern India entered the body of a shepherd. Raja Vikramaditya also did this. It is also the power of keeping a youth-like appearance for any length of time. Raja Yayati had this power. 

7. Vashitvam: This is the power of taming wild animals and bringing them under control. It is the power of mesmerising persons by the exercise of will and of making them obedient to one’s own wishes and orders. It is the restraint of passions and emotions. It is the power to bring men, women and the elements under subjection. 

8. Ishitvam: It is the attainment of divine power. The Yogi becomes the Lord of the universe. The Yogi who has this power can restore life to the dead. Kabir, Tulsidas, Akalkot Swami and others had this power of bringing back life to the dead. 

B) Nine Nidhis those are in the safe custody of Kubera: According to Amarakosha, the nine nidhis are: Mahapadma (Divine lotus), Padma (Lotus), Shankha (Conch-shell), Makara (Crocodile), Kachhapa (Tortoise), Mukund (Quick silver), Kund (jasmine), Neelam (Blue sapphire), and Kharva (a Dwarf). Each of these has a guardian spirit and is worshipped by the Tantriks. The nature and characteristics of nidhis have remained largely unexplained and have not been fully understood. 

When considered as mines, minerals, earthenware and ocean resources, the nine treasures of Kubera are interpreted as:

- padma (lake in Himalaya with minerals and jewels)

- mahapadma (lake double the size of padma in Himalaya with minerals and jewels)

- makara (Synonym of Padmini, black antimony)

- nila (Antimony)

- mukunda (cinnabar, or quicksilver)

- kunda (arsenic)

- kharva (cups or vessels baked in fire)

- kachchhapa (tortoise or turtle shell)

- sankha (conch shell)

Monday, April 21, 2014

SWARA YOGA


                   SWARA YOGA


What is Swara Yoga?

Swara is a Sanskrit word, meaning sound or note. It is also a continuous flow of air through one nostril. Yoga means union, so Swara yoga is a science which is realization of cosmic consciousness through control and manipulation of breath.
Swara Yoga is science which is a complete study, observations, control and manipulation of breath or Swara. Pranayama is only related to control of breath in various ways. In Swara yoga, you will find association of breath in relation to activities of sun, moon, various seasons, physical and mental conditions of individuals,etc. So Swara Yoga is more comprehensive in theory and practices related to breath.
Applications of Swara Yoga as per Sanskrti Text "Shiva Swarodaya" - 
Swara yoga is useful while initiating any action starting from waking up in the morning, having a bath, eating, involving in different types of works, mental activities, physical activities etc. One can easily make out that Swara Yoga touches all parts of human life.

Few applications of Swara Yoga- 
o Fighting wars , Overcome enemy, winning friends
o Gaining wealth, prosperity, popularity
o Winning favor of the King, 
o Knowledge of past, present & future
o Achieving sound mental, physical & spiritual health
o Swara in Daily Life
- Journey, eating, exercising, working, excreting, sleeping
- For Yoga & Meditation

3 Types of Swara
There are 3 main Swara, Ida Nadi or Left Swara (Nadi is flow of Pranic energy in body), Pingala Nadi or Right Swara and Sushumna or third Swara.

o Ida / Lunar / Left Swara - The breath through the left nostril
o Ida Nadi located on the Left side of spinal Cord
o It represents Moon / female Shakti (Energy) principle
o Left Swara is associated with Mental Activities, Parasympathetic nervous system (relaxation)
o Connection to the right hemisphere of the brain
o Left Swara is considered to be Auspicious, smooth & virtuous
o Bright fortnight (15 days starting from the next day of no moon to full moon day)
o Fruitful results when Left Swara is active on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Monday.
o Zodiac signs during Lunar flow- Tauras, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces

o Pingala / Solar or Right Swara - The breath through right nostril
o Pingala Nadi located on the right side of spinal Cord 
o It represents Sun / Male Shiva(consciousness) principle
o Right Swara is associated with Pranic activities (Physical activities), Sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight response / stress response)
o Connection to the left hemisphere of the brain
o Right Swara is considered as Rough, non virtuous
o Dominance during dark fortnight (15 days from the next day of full moon to no moon)
o Right Swara gives fruitful results Sunday, Saturday, Tuesday
o Zodiac signs during Solar flow - Aries, Aquarius, Libra, Gemini, Sagittarius
Acts to be performed when Left Swara is Active
o All auspicious acts
o Stable, permanent actions
o Purchasing jewelry, clothes, journey etc.
o Construction of house
o Offices, temple, etc.
o Marriages, religious rights, peaceful work
o Treating incurable diseases
Acts to be performed when Right Swara is Active
o Extreme tantra techniques.
o Meanest & worst actions
o Drinking wine, destroying enemies
o Sensual pleasures
o Work requires extreme dynamism, 
o physical work
o Solving Mathematics, 
o Eating, gratifying the senses, captivating women

Third Swara "Sushumna"
o Located Center of the spinal cord
o It represents "Shiva" (pure consciousness) in the state of "So-Ham"
o Sushumna is said to be active when Left & right Swara flows together
o No worldly action recommended, work gives no result
o It indicates non attachment to the mundane things
o While third Swara is active Meditation recommended

Rhythms of Swara
o Each Swara (Left and Right ) Alternates in 60 Min - One Swara is active for about 1 to 1.5 hours depends on the individual, and after that 2nd Swara starts flowing, this cycle continues during the day and night.
o These Swara Activities are related to Moon phases 
o Sunrise timing is crucial - Generally for healthy people the Swara should change at the time of sunrise and sunset.
o Lunar / left Swara 
o Active during 1st 3 days of Bright fortnight at sunrise
o Right / solar Swara
o Active during 1st 3 days of dark fortnight at sunrise

Readjusting the Swara
o Close active nostril with finger or cotton wool
o Inhale through active nostril & exhale through inactive
o Apply pressure to the armpit of the active nostril
o Lie down on the same side of the active nostril
o Cold bath or hot water changes the Swara
o Food consumed changes Swara
- Chili, ginger - Solar / right Swara
- Yogurt, bananas - left / lunar Swara

Swara Indication - 
Physical & Mental activities
Common Cold - common cold indicates dominating Left Swara, which indicates cold. One can change this dominating left Swara to right Swara and cure the common cold or other diseases.
Acidity - if Right Swara dominates, it indicates the person will suffer from either acidity or fever. Right Swara is Hot in nature.

Swara Yoga is still unexplored area and a lot of scientific research needs to be carried out before all facts and exact relation of Swara and physical and mental activities is known.

Hari Om...............................
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