SHAKTA DHARMA AND THEIR ACHARYAS

Śhākta or Shakti or Devi pooja is not a new upasana. It is being carried out right from the time of Vedic period. Puran's tell us that Rishi Vashishth would worship Tara devi. Parshuram ji worshipped Tripura devi,

Agastya learned the secrets of Shri Vidya from Vishnu ji in Hayagriva avtaar. Bhagwan Ram, Laxman and Krishna too learned the tantrik vidya. Even Rig Ved 7.103.5 Sayan Bhasya also mentions about Śhākta/शाक्त(शाक्तस्येव शक्तिमतः).

Then we find that in the Harrappan excavations many figurines depicting Shakti were found. So in that age too, which was supposedly an urban city shakti was being worshipped. So naturally this tradition would be prevalent in rural areas too.

It is wrong to say that shakti puja originated from Bengal although it was popular there. Matsyendranath received this vidya from Maheshwari herself in Kamrup. We know that Shakti pooja is practised all over India.

Not much is known about the Śhākta saints in other parts of India in the middle ages.

Adi Shankaracharya wrote Pramanech saar named book on tantra and Anand lahri book on Devi strotras. Then there were Acharya Shankar, Bhaskar Rai, Laxman, Deshikendra, Raghav Bhatt, Krishnand,

THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVI BEEJ / BIJA MANTRA.

Once Suutji in his discourse with King Janmajeya repeated the words of Vyasji regarding the pronounciation of the word ऐ. Vyasji had heard the importance of this word in a meeting of all important saints at Naimisharanya.

There this story was discussed.

In that gathering of such great sages, Rishi Jamdagni asked a question to all the eminent luminaries. He wanted to know which diety is the most revered and gets satisfied easily with our prayers. So Lomash rishi replied that Devi

Bhagwati was one such diety. She will be satisfied and is ready to grant you a boon even if you just say the first letter of her beej mantra. In this context he narrated the story of Satyavrat. The story is as follows.

There lived a Brahmin named Devdutt in Kosal.

He was childless. He arranged for an elaborate yagya for a intelligent son to be born. He invited all the eminent rishi's to conduct this Yagya. Rishi Suhotra, Pael, Brahaspati Yagyavalka were assigned different tasks. Rishi Gobhil was asked to sing the Saamved.

He sang the verses very well, but he had to take respite in order to breathe between two verses. This angered devdutt. He spoke his thoughts to Gobhil rishi.

The rishi got very angry as devdutt did not realise the practicalities of singing. He cursed devdutt that

THREAD ON SHAKTI PEETHAS

Previously we read that Daksh insulted the divine Garland given to him by Durvasa and as a result he behaved negatively towards Shiva and Sati.

It was due to this negativity that Sati jumped into the fire.

This angered Shiva. His anger had a terrible impact all around. Virbhadra, Bhadrakali embarked on a destruction spree. Brahma and Vishnu had to intervene and had to stop the destruction.

But then Shiva carried the burnt body of Sati on his shoulders and

started roaming over the entire universe.
It was to stop the further destruction that Vishnu aimed his arrow towards Sati's body in such a way that it fell down into pieces. Wherever the pieces fell, it became a Shakti Peeth. Below are written the place the piece fell and

the name that shakti acquired.

Varanasi - Gauri.

Naimisharanya - Lingdharini.

Prayag - Lalita.

Gandhmaadan - Kamuki.

South Mansarovar - Kumuda.

North Mansarovar - Vishwakama.

Gomant - Gomti.

Mandrachal - Kaamchaarini.

Chaitrarath - Madotkata.

Hastinapur - Jayanti.

Kanyakubj - Gauri.

Malyachal - Rambha.

Ekamra Peeth - Kirtimati.

Vishvapeeth - Vishveshwari.

pushkar - Parhuta.

Kedar - Sanmarg dayini.

Himvat prushth - Manda.

Gokarn- Bhadrakarnika.

Sthaneshwar - Bhavani.

Bilvak - Bilvpatrika.

Shrishail - Madhavi.

SHRI NIMBARKACHARYA THREAD

There is a dispute as to the birth date of Nimbarkji. Some of his followers believe him to be born in Dwapar yug as it is believed that Nimbark himself mentioned in his bhashya the names of Narad and sanat Kumars.

They also believe that in Nimbarkacharya's upnayan sanskar it was Narad who preached to him Shri Gopal mantra and taught him Shri Bhu leela and Krishnopasana. Therefore Narad is believed to be his guru and his sect is known as Sankadik sampraday. Some followers believe him

to being born in fifth century. But modern historians fixed his date to eleventh century. But it does not matter which date he was born. Important is to know about Nimarkacharya divinity.

He was born in South near the Godavari banks in Vaiduryapattan in Arunashram

to Arun muni and Jayanti devi.

His sect is also known as DWAITADWAITVAD. This is a very old sect. But due to his talent, behaviour and experiences it was known after him. He is supposed to be reincarnate of Vishnu's weapon Sudarshan Chakra.

He was named Niyamanand.

But why was he known as Nimbark can be explained through this story. Once when he was residing in Mathura on Yamuna banks, a Dandi swami or a jain sadhu came to meet him. Their discussion prolonged for a long time and both realized it was sunset. The sage would have to

Rig Ved 1.40.2

Here marudgans are requested to help the yajmans at the time of war. Our actual war is with ignorance. We will become truly powerful and able bodied only after defeating ignorance. The yajmans request marudgans to make them effective rather than

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make them lacking in something. Let their nature and effectiveness be divine. Let their Praan and Pragya { knowledge} become capable. Mind will be enriched only when it is satisfied. Unsatisfied and sad mind cannot carry out the work of Paramarth.

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Only quiet and reclusive mind can think of Paramarth. Those who are unattached can only experience constant mind(स्थिर बुद्धि). The one with determined insight only can know their true self. This is what we wish Parmatma to grant us.

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त्वामिद्धि स॑हसस्पुत्र॒ मर्त्य॑ उपब्रू॒ते धने॑ हि॒ते ।
सु॒वीर्यं॑ मरुत॒ आ स्वश्व्यं॒ दधी॑त॒ यो व॑ आच॒के ॥

Translation:

सहस्त्रपुत्र - Oh the protector of many Waters!

मर्त्य: - Human.

हिते - Formidable for enemies.

धने - For wealth.

त्वाम - Yours.

इत - This.

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उप ब्रूते - Near.

हि - Is there.

मरुतः - Marudgan.

यः - Which.

व: - Yours.

आचके - To praise.

स्वश्यव्यम - With beautiful horses.

सुवीर्यम - With best valour.

आ दधित - To wear on all sides.

Explanation: Oh the doers of all courageous works! The men call out to you

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SHRI GOSWAMI TULSIDAS

It is believed that whenever society is oppressed, depressed and feels helpless, it calls out for help from Parmatma. The cries and pleas, when mixed with true devotion and true feelings are always answered by Parmatma.

Either he comes as avtaar or he sends his Representative to heal the society.

So when Goswami ji appeared the society was facing the same type of crisis. He brought about a calmness through his healing touch expressed through his writings which oozed positivity.

He presented Ishwar as saviour who always stood for his bhakts. His language of writing was the then used dialect understood by all. Anyone could read and find answers and solace in it. Other poets were busy pleasing the wily rulers.

Tulsidas is believed to be avtaar of Valmiki.

He was born in Vikram samvat 1554 in Banda district in a village called Rajapur to Atma ram Dubey and Hulsi. He was born with all his teeth intact and did not cry at birth. He was named Tularam.

Goswami ji himself mentioned his date of birth.

पंद्रह से चौवन बिषै, कालिंदी के तीर।
स्त्रावन शुक्ला सप्तमी, तुलसी धरेउ सरीर।।

He was married to Budhimati in Vikram samvat 1583. He was very attached to his wife.

SHRI RAMANUJACHARYA

Ramanujacharya was a great scholar with lot of patience, was simple and generous. He belonged to the Allavandar tradition. His father was Keshav bhatt who stayed in southern region of Terunkudur. Ramanuj lost his father at a very young age.

He went to study under the tutelage of a guru named Yadav Prakash. Ramanuj was a sharp student who now started taking out mistakes from his guru's wrong teachings. So the guru,on pretext of sending his disciples to Kashi,conspired with Ramanuj's cousin to kill him in deep forest.

But he was saved by a hunter and his wife. Later he acquired many siddhi's and cured the Princess of Kanchi.

When the sage Allavandar was on his deathbed, he sent his disciple to call Ramanuj. But before Ramanuj could reach , Allavandar was no more.

On reaching Shrirangam, Ramanuj noticed that three fingers of Allavandar were turned. Only Ramanuj understood it's significance that his guru had entrusted him the work of analysing Brahmsutra, Vishnusahastranaam and Divya Prabhandam.

Ramanuj vowed there to get these works completed. The guru's finger now were straight. He took Vaishnav diksha from the main disciple of Allavandar whose name was Periyanambi.

Although he was married but he decided to become sanyasi under Yatiraj.

Rig Ved 1.40.6

For the purification, beautification and cleansing of our chitta(चित्त) and to make our inner self full of prem(Love), to make Stuti bhaavmay(भावमय) and rasmay(रसमय) stuti is a Prayer that takes us to Parmatma. Since Parmatma is omnipresent,

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our prayers are definitely heard. Parmatma is Chaitanya, present everywhere. In terms of Kaal or time he is always there. In terms of Desh or place he is everywhere and in terms of vastu or thing he is chaitanya. So if our prayers go to him, they are definitely heard.

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तमिद्वो॑चेमा वि॒दथे॑षु शं॒भुवं॒ मंत्रं॑ देवा अने॒हसं॑ ।
इ॒मां च॒ वाचं॑ प्रति॒हर्य॑थाव नरो॒ विश्वेद्वा॒मा वो॑ अश्नवत् ॥

Translation:

देवाः '- Oh the leader devtas!

तम इत् - This.

शंभुवम - Wishing for happiness.

अनेहसम् - Without any flaws.

मन्त्रम् - Of mantras.

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विदथेषु - In yagya.

वोचेन - Us.

नरः - Oh leaders!

इमाम् - This.

वाचन - Of speech.

च - If.

प्रतिहर्यथ - If you wish.

विश्वा इत् - All.

वामा - Beautiful words.

वः - Yours.

अश्नवत् - To get.

Explanation: Oh the leader devtas! We are offering mantras for

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happiness and destruction of difficulties. Oh leaders! If you wish for these mantras respectfully, then these Beautiful mantras are devoted to you.

Deep meaning:For the purification, beautification and cleansing of our chitta(चित्त) and to make our inner

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LIST OF GOOD OMEN(शकुन) & BAD OMEN(अपशकुन)

While setting on a journey seeing a white cloth, clear sky, fruit laden tree,field full of crops, clear water, and black grains is a bad omen. While going to fight a war the following things prove to be a bad Omen- cotton,

cowdung mixed with grass twigs, house, wealth, fire, naked sadhu with oil over his body, marsh, leather,hair, insane person, eunuch, pregnant lady, widow, death, ash, skull, bones and broken vessel. A weird sound of eagle is not a good omen.

If you hear the words " go away" from front , then it is a good omen but hearing it from back is ashubh. The single word 'go' when heard from back is good but when heard from front is bad. "Wait, do not go, it is fruitless to go there, when you hear this,

then be sure that something evil may happen. It is a pointer to your impending death if you see a vulture sitting atop a flag, a elephant or a horse falling, head injury and torn clothes. During such times worship Shri Vishnu.

If you see the same signs second time, it is better to return home.

While travelling, seeing a white flower is a good omen and even a pot filled with water is a good omen. Amongst good omens are meat, fish, distant sound of birds, lighted fire, gold, silver, sword, sheep, cow,

HOW TO DIMINISH THE ILL EFFECTS OF SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS OF SHANI IN YOUR HOROSCOPE / शनि देव की साढ़े साती का निवारण

The son of Raja Ajj was Dashrath ji from Raghukul. He was very friendly with Indradev. It was their routine to play together in the evenings at Alkapuri.

Indradev was informed that Shani or Shanaischar dev was going to pierce the Rohini Nakshatra. This was a great cause of worry for Indra.
He related this worry to Dashrath and elaborated that this deed will see the end of mankind if Shani dev is successful in his misdeed.

This would stop the rain. If there will be no rain there would be famine everywhere. People will die of hunger and thirst.

Dashrath ji immediately sprung into action. He attacked Shani dev. When Shani dev tried to dissuade Dashrath from war,

Dashrath took out his divine weapon to strike with warning Shani of its consequences of his actions.

Shani dev replied that he was satisfied with the courage of Dashrath ji who faced him otherwise people generally ran away from him knowing that if Shani glanced at them directly,

they would burn to ashes(Due to the curse given by her Wife as per Ganesh puran). He asked Dashrath to ask for a boon.

Dashrath said that on your particular day if people apply oil on his body, they would be protected till next day.

Rig Ved 1.43.8

Here it says that there are two types of people who can cause harm to your yagya. One are the misers who although have everything, but they will not help you. The others can cause you harm by taking away the things accumulated for yagya.

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But when we think spiritually actually miser means the bad sanskaar accumulated in us wherein we believe that we are poor and low, when actually we are not. When the cover on our eyes is taken away we have the true realization that we are absolute. In Jagrit we are at

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oneness with this world, in swapna and TEJAS we are at oneness with Prakash, in SUSHUPTI and TURIYA we are in oneness with antaryami. So this realization is necessary.

मा नः॑ सोमपरि॒बाधो॒ मारा॑तयो जुहुरंत ।

आ न॑ इंदो॒ वाजे॑ भज ॥

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Translation:

सोमपरिबाधः - Creating problems in Som yagya.

नः - We.

मा - No.

जुहुरन्त - Violent.

अरातयः - Enemy.

इन्दो - Oh Som!

वाजे - Strength/good grains.

आ भजः - Give from all aspects.

Explanation; We request you to protect us from the enemies who

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want to create difficulties in Somyagya. We request you to protect us from misers and evil people. Oh Somdev! You also increase our strength.

Deep meaning:-Here it says that there are two types of people who can cause harm to your yagya. One are the misers who although

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Rig Ved 1.42.9

Here food is mentioned. After our stomach is full we can feel the energy. But the path which we have to follow needs different resources. So here it is requested that to let us know in what way can we perform the duty towards the creative world

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in this pious earth of Parmatma. In practice it is observed that it is important to note that whenever we perform any duty, what should be the framework of your mind. Selfless thoughts make you perform selfless work. This way our chitta gets purified and we go near Parmatma.

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श॒ग्धि पू॒र्धि प्र यं॑सि च शिशी॒हि प्रास्यु॒दरं॑ ।
पूष॑न्नि॒ह क्रतुं॑ विदः ॥

Translation:

पूषन् - Pushadev!

शग्धि - To be benevolent.

पूर्धि - To give enough.

प्र यंसि - To give desired things.

च शिशीहि - To make us radiant.

उदरम् - Stomach.

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प्रासि - To give enough.

इह - This.

क्रतुम् - To protect.

विदः - To know.

Explanation: Oh Pushadev! Give us the abilities. Provide us with Wealth. Make us resourceful. Make us more radiant. Arrange resources to fill our stomach. Let us know our duties.

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Deep meaning: Here food is mentioned. After our stomach is full we can feel the energy. But the path which we have to follow needs different resources. So here it is requested that to let us know in what way can we perform the duty towards the creative world in this

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Rig Ved 1.40.7

Parmatma is the one who can provide everything, be it a boon or any other thing. Such Pitamah or Narayan or Tridev are one although they reflect seperate entities. In their undivided form they fulfill all our wishes thus making us complete or पूर्ण काम.

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Due to this we acquire totally true self or become सत्य संकल्प. This makes us happy and satisfied.

को दे॑व॒यंत॑मश्नव॒ज्जनं॒ को वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषं ।
प्रप्र॑ दा॒श्वान्प॒स्त्या॑भिरस्थितांत॒र्वाव॒त्क्षयं॑ दधे ॥

Translation:

देवयन्तम् - One aspiring devtas

जन्म् - Near people.

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अन्तर्वावत् - Who.

क्षयम - For downtrodden.

दधे - To carry.

कः - Who.

अश्नवत् - To spread.

वृक्तबर्हिषम - The yajmans plucking kush grass.

दाश्वान् - One distributing Havi.

यस्तयाभिः - One with Ritwiks.

प्रप्र अस्धित - Wealthy.

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Explanation: Who will aspire to attain the divinity of devtas, Brahanaspati dev. Who will come near the one putting down the kush mat, Brahanaspati dev. The Havi giving Yajaks get shelter in the homes for their children and cattle.

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Deep meaning: Parmatma is the one who can provide everything, be it a boon or any other thing. Such Pitamah or Narayan or Tridev are one although they reflect seperate entities. In their undivided form they fulfill all our wishes thus making us complete or पूर्ण काम.

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HOW MAHABHARAT BOOK WAS CREATED AND ITS ORIGIN

#MahabharatSeries

Once upon a time in Naimisharanya, many Sages were sitting and doing Tapasya. That time Sage Ugrashrava(Son of Lomharshan) happened to come there, He was a scholar of Purans and also a Kathavachak.

Everybody was overjoyed and wanted to hear from him. All Munis welcomed him and asked from where did this lucky feet of yours is coming from?

Ugrashrava ji replied that he was coming from the place where Ved Vyas had narrated Mahabharat granth systematically.

All Munis requested that they too wanted to hear this Mahabharat where Deep meaning of Vedas were mentioned.

Ugrashrava ji said "Mahabharat Shlokas is there with combination of Laukik-Vedic Sanskrit."

After the creation of Mahabharat Ved Vyas thought in his mind as to

how should this creation made public and in what manner should my disciples study this Mahabharat and how to make this book reach to public. Hence Brahma ji decided to meet Ved Vyas to clarify his doubts. Ved Vyas then welcomed Brahma ji and said that "I have created a sacred

Mahakavya where deep meaning of Vedas is mentioned and Upanishads are explained in detail.
Brahma ji replied that since you have called your creation as Kavya hence in future it will be famous as Kavya. Brahma ji requested Vyas ji to write this Mahabharat by invoking Ganeshji.