The control and regulations of the mind and through it, The Consciousness is the goal of Yoga.
There is another earlier system of Yoga.
This is called Vaasi Yoga where, by breath control, Consciousness is directly controlled.
This was the first system by Lord Shiva and His disciple Patanjali developed a relatively easy system Asthtanga Yoga.
Shiva was the first to practice Vaasi Yoga and He is called the Adi Yogi, the First Yogi.
If one repeats Vaasi it becomes Siva.
The system of Patanjali was practised widely.
And we have Siddhas who transcend time and apart from Shiva, the early one was Thirumoolar, a Tamil Siddha, who had written a Sastra Thirumandhiram in Tamil. Thirumoolar is dated around 3000BC.
What do the Vedas say of Yoga?
To my knowledge, there is no reference to Yoga in the Vedas, except a description of a Yogi in the Rig Veda, which is dated around 5000 years ago.
Here is the Kesin Mantra of the Rig Veda which describes a Yogi.
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HYMN CXXXVI. Kesins.
1. HE with the long loose locks supports Agni, and moisture, heaven, and earth:
He is all sky to look upon: he with long hair is called this light.
2 The Munis, girdled with the wind, wear garments soiled of yellow hue.
They, following the wind’s swift course go where the Gods have gone before.
3 Transported with our Munihood we have pressed on into the winds:
You therefore, mortal men. behold our natural bodies and no more.
4 The Muni, made associate in the holy work of every God,
Looking upon all varied forms flies through the region of the air.
5 The Steed of Vāta, Vāyu’s friend, the Muni, by the Gods impelled,
In both the oceans hath his home, in eastern and in western sea.
6 Treading the path of sylvan beasts, Gandharvas, and Apsarases,
He with long locks, who knows the wish, is a sweet most delightful friend
7 Vāyu hath churned for him: for him he poundeth things most hard to bend,
When he with long loose locks hath drunk, with Rudra, water from the cup.
Translation by Rig Veda, tr. by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1896], at sacred-texts.com
The Keśin were long-haired ascetic wanderers with mystical powers described in the Keśin Hymn (RV 10, 136) of the Rigveda (an ancient Indian sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrithymns).The Keśin (“long-haired one”) are described as homeless, traveling with the wind, clad only in dust or yellow tatters, and being equally at home in the physical and the spiritual worlds. They are on friendly terms with the natural elements, the gods, enlightened beings, wild beasts, and all people. The Keśin Hymn also relates that the Keśin drink from the same magic cup as Rudra, which is poisonous to mortals.
The Kesin hymn of the Rigveda is the earliest evidence of yogis and their spiritual tradition, states Karel Warner. The Hindu scripture Rigveda uses words of admiration for Kesins.
I have written articles on The Sage who spoke from the Grave,Goddess Meenakshi leads by hand,Goddess Abhirami plays,how,all documented.
Here is another such recorded fact.
A Britisher’s prayer to Shiva was answered and her husband saw Lord Shiva
Hinduism advocates God as A Principle,Beyond Attributes.
The underlying principle of Life and Universe,both known and Unknown lies in all these,they in It,yet It is beyond them.
It is the Reality,Brahman.
This Brahman is without beginning and end.
It is Infinite.
It is beyond words,thoughts.
It Immanent and as well all Pervasive.
It can be felt and Realized.
There are various methods tried to Realize Brahman,also known as the Self.
There are as many paths,methods to Realize Brahman as many individuals and individual dispositions are.
To understand this principle and realize Brahman as a Priniple,Beyond Attributes is possible only for a few.
Brahman is Realized and not Known in the manner of our knowing mundane things.
It is,for short of words, I use this term, Experienced.
Experiences,all of them need not be through our sense organs alone.
However as this understanding of Brahman as Principle,Hinduism has suggested the method of Realizing Brahman through worship of Personal God,called Easwara.
Please read my article on Iswara Pranidhana,Yoga.
In this method God is related as Preceptor,Father,Mother,Guru,Friend,Lover……
The mind relates to things it likes.
So one is advised to choose the Devatha as he pleases,in consultation with a Guru,who can guide him in choosing what is best .
This worship of Personal God is called Saguna Aradhana,while the realization process of Brahman as The Absolute is called Nirguna Aradhana.
According to Vedas,the authority for Hindus on Spirituality,Saguna Aradhana leads to Realization.
Many Gods are found in Hindu traditions because of this thought,though the substratum of all is,One.
Among many Gods/Goddesses,three are called the Trimurthis,the Trinity.
Brahma,Vishnu and Shiva,representing Potential,Kinetic and Potentio-kinetic energy respectively.
And the Trimurthis are attributed with all human and beyond human Attributes.
The prayers addressed to them Delivers.
I have written articles on The Sage who spoke from the Grave,Goddess Meenakshi leads by hand,Goddess Abhirami plays,how,all documented.
Here is another such recorded fact.
A Britisher’s prayer to Shiva was answered and her husband saw Lord Shiva.
And the couple renovated the Shiva Temple.
Read on.
‘
BAIJNATH MAHADEV MANDIR, AGAR
This Mandir is located on the bank of the Banganga river.
The construction of this Mandir was started 1528 and completed in 1536.
Height of this Mandir is about 50 feet from ground level with 4 feet High kalash.
There is 17 feet deep kund(well) on the back side of the Mandir.
History:-
The British ruled India for hundreds of years, and built many churches and cathedrals. But in the 1880s, a Shiva temple in Agar Ma lwa, Madhya Pradesh, was rebuilt by Lt. Col. Martin — the only temple ever made by an Englishman in India.
Col. Martin was in the Afghan wars. He used to regularly write to his wife, informing her of conditions there. It was a long war, and gradually the colonel’s letters stopped. Mrs. Martin, who then lived in the cantonment of Agar Malwa, was besides herself with grief, fearing the worst.
She would spend time riding for hours to calm herself. One day she rode her horse, past the temple of Baijnath Mahadev. It was in a decrepit state. It was the time of arti, and the sound of conches and the chanting of mantras compelled her to stop. She went inside to see the worship of Lord Shiva taking place. The priests saw the grief on her face and asked her what was wrong. Mrs. Martin narrated her sad story. The Brahmins told her that Lord Shiva listens to sincere prayers of all devotees and saves them from difficult situations. She was advised by one of the priests to start chanting the mantra: “Om Namah Shivaya” for 11 days. The Englishwoman prayed to Lord Shiva for the colonel’s safe return, promising she would rebuild the temple if he came home safe from the war. On the 10th day, a messenger arrived from Afghanistan with a letter from her husband. It read, “I was regularly sending you letters from the battlefield but then suddenly the Pathans surrounded us. I thought there was no way of escape. Suddenly I saw an Indian yogi with long hair, wearing a tiger skin carrying a trident. He had an awe-inspiring personality and he started wielding his weapon against the Afghans who ran away from the field in fright. With his grace what was certain death our bad times turned into victory. Then the great yogi told me that I should not worry and that he had come to rescue me because he was very pleased with my wife’s prayers.”
Tears of joy and gratitude welled up in Mrs. Martin’s eyes as she read the letter. Her heart was overwhelmed. She fell at the feet of Lord Shiva’s image and sobbed. After a few weeks Lt. Col. Martin returned and his wife told him her story. The couple became devotees of Lord Shiva. In 1883, they donated Rs 15,000 to renovate the temple. This information is engraved on a slab kept in the Baijnath Mahadev Temple.
The Martins sailed for England with the firm resolution that they would make a Shiva temple at their home and pray to him till the end of life. And they did.
Ramayana is a historical fact, validated by archeology, Astronomy and, Literary references from contemporary literature from India and from around the world of ancient times.
Ramayana has over three thousand versions.
Some of them are in foreign languages of the Far East. Please read my articles on Ramayana, and Rama.
Be that as it may.
Ancient Indian texts have minimum four meanings.
1.Literal meaning.
2.An Allegory to indicate a Spiritual fact.
3.A hidden meaning indicating Tantra Sastra.
4.Explaining a scientific fact.
Apart from the words/letters of Characters indicate abstract qualities.
In some cases these names are mysticallly locked sounds.
They have the power to heal.
This is because of the Resonance the Sound creates.
I have written on the Breathing of Earth measured is identical to the Resonance of OM.(Schumann Resonance)
Please read my articles on Mantras.
Though there are many names for Individual God(Saguna Brahman), sometimes there is more than one name for One God, some names are more powerful.
One such powerful name is Rama.
Probably because of this fact the sound of Rama in various forms is found in many cultures.
For the worship of RA.
Rama nama is declared to be so powerful that it is rated higher than Lord Rama Himself.
For more on Rama Nama please read my article on this.
The reference to Rama Nama is found at an important point in Vishnu Sahasranama, which along with Lalitha Sahasranama is rated as best among Mantra and Tantra Sastra combined.
Vishnu Sahasranama chanting is guaranteed to provide you mental peace, apart from many other things.
There are two methods of reciting Vishnu Sahasranama.
One is starting from the beginning to the end, with
Arthaa vishanna chanted twice.
The shorter version is to begin at the beginning and skip Phala Sruthi.
That is after Vanamaali Gathisaarngi…, you go to
EASWARA Uvacha, declaration by Lord Shiva
And continue to till the end as in the first method.
All the fruits that accrue are described in the phalasruthi.
But even when you skip the phalasruthi in the second method of chanting, you get all the benefits by the single sloka of EASWARA Uvacha.
Meaning: 1: By meditating on “Rama Rama Rama” (the Name of Rama), my Mind gets absorbed in the Divine Consciousness of Rama, which is Transcendental, 2: The Name of Rama is as Great as the Thousand Names of God (Vishnu Sahasranama).
The sloka is special because the Speaker is Easwara(Shiva) and the one who is spoken about is Vishnu as Rama.
Easwara means personal God.
Vishnu is One supports everything.
One interpretation of this sloka, which is popularly accepted is
‘Chanting Rama nama accounts to chanting the whole Vishnu Sahasranama (1000 names of Vishnu). :
The other explanation is that chanting Rama Nama is equivalent to chanting God’ s Name thousand Times.
Here Sahasranama is interpreted as Thousand Names, which is etymologically correct and not specific to only Vishnu Sahasranama.
The Numerical Explanation.
According to Sanskrit scriptures, there is a principle in which sounds and letters are associated with their corresponding numbers.
Ra denotes number 2 (Ya – 1, Ra – 2, La – 3, Va – 4 … )
Ma denotes number 5 (Pa – 1, Pha – 2, ba – 3, Bha – 4, Ma – 5)
So Rama – Rama – Rama becomes 2 * 5 * 2 * 5 * 2 * 5 = 1000amayana the Indian Epic is not a figment of imagination in the fertile mind of a poet.
* In the sloka each of the sounds RA and MA occurs thrice.
Hence the above calculation.
Reference and Citation.
Though there are Bhairava Temples in the North indicating Shiva’s association with Burning Ghats and there is the association of Varanasi, Benares with Burning Ghat, there seems to be no clear
I wrote an article on Sri Vanchiyam Siva Temple where a burning ghat is located near the temple.
And this temple is not closed when death occurs in the street where the temple is nor is the temple closed during Eclipses, which is a standard practice in Hindu temples.
I shall be writing a clarification on this in a separate article.
Shiva is His form as Rudra is associated with Death and described as living in Smasanam, Burning ghat.
The ashes of the corpse is smeared by Him all over His body.
The association of Burning ghat with Shiva is more prevalent in South India than North India.
Th
Thirukkadayur Temple.
ough there are Bhairava Temples in the North indicating Shiva’s association with Burning Ghats and there is the association of Varanasi, Benares with Burning Ghat, there seems to be no clear classification of such temples in Sanskrit texts as much as in Tamil texts.
Tamil literature abounds in such references.
And specific temples are grouped as Smasanam Temples.
There are four such temples in Tamil Nadu.
1.Thiruvattanam,Thirukkadavur,near Mayuram Tamil Nadu.
This town is famous for the temple of Abhirami and அமிர்தகடேஸ்வரர். Amirthakadeswarar.
The smasanam is located slighly away from the temple and many miss it.
And one prays for longevity and has Sashtiapthapoorthy performed at Thirukarukavur.
2.Kachi Mayanam. Mayanam in Tamil is burning ghat.
One finds Siva associated with Burning ghat here too.
3.Srivanchiyam..
4.Navalur Mayanam.
5.Sirkazhi.
Shall be writing in detail on each of these.
In some of these places streets have sprung between burning ghat and the temples
And these three lines also indicate the three fundamental units/forces of the Universe.
Motion,Non motion and their being held in balance.
Purusha,the Kinetic Energy,Prakriti,the Potential energy and the Sparsa,the initial contact that evolves the Universe.
The Universe is constantly in Motion and is born of Motion.
The description of Lord Shiva in Hinduism is unique.
1.Shiva has both Invisible,Without Form,Aroopa and with Form.
There is a temple in Avudayar Koil,Tamil Nadu,where the Shiva’s Sanctum is Empty,denoting Invisibilty.There is Chidambaram,Tamil Nadu,where the Serect Sanctum is empty.
2.Shiva ,as a symbol,in between being invisible and visible with human form,is Linga.
3.Shiva also has human form .
4.He is also described as a Yogin,Adi Yogi,the first one to present and practice Yoga.
5.Unlike the Avatars of Vishnu,He is never born of a womb.
6.His 64 Avatars as described in Tamil Classics represent the 64 principles of th Universe,as enumerated in Saiva Siddantha.
His physical description and his ornaments are expressions of the Universe.
His famous names.
‘
Mahadeva (The Supreme Lord : Maha = great, Deva = God – more often than not, the Aghora (fierce) version)
Rudra (The one who howls or strict and uncompromising)
Maheshwar (The Supreme Lord: Maha = great, Eshwar = God)
Rameshwar (The one whom Ram worships: Ram, Eshwar = worships, God; Ram’s God)
Mahayogi (The Supreme Yogi: Maha = great, Yogi = one who practices Yoga)
Mahabaleshwar (Great God of Strength: Maha = great, Bal = strength, Eshwar = God)
Trinetra (Three-Eyed One, i.e. All-Knowing: Tri = three, Netra = Eye)
Triaksha (Three-Eyed One, i.e. All-Knowing: Tri = three, Aksha = Eye)
Trinayana (Three-Eyed One, i.e. All-Knowing: Tri = three, Nayana = Eye)
Tryambakam (Three-Eyed One, i.e. All-Knowing: Tri = three, Ambakam = Eye)
Mahakala (Great Time, i.e. Conqueror of Time: Maha = three, Kala = Time)
Neelakantha (The one with a Blue Throat: Neel = blue, Kantha = throat)
Digambara (One who has the skies as his clothes, i.e. The Naked One: Dik = Clothes, Ambara = Sky)
Shankara (Giver of Joy)
Shambhu (Abode of Joy)
Vyomkesha (The One who has the sky as his hair: Vyom = sky, Kesha =hair)
Chandrashekhara (The master of the Moon: Chandra = Moon, Shekhara = master)
Siddheshwara (The Perfect Lord)
Trishuldhari (He who holds the divine Trishul or Trident: Trishul = Trident, Dhari = He who holds)
Shiva is portrayed as the color of Red Embers,sitting in Deerskin, representing the Active emotional nature,Rajo Guna being controlled by Sathva,the Calm naure expressed by Deer Skin.
Shiva is also described as White in color, Swetha,representing Sathva,Pure.
In this description He sits on Tiger skin,which represents Rajas,indicating one can master the impulsive nature by Calmness,Satva Guna.
Shiva,being in Smasana,the Burning ghat,is Hot.
Therefore, He is worshipped with Bilva leaf,which cools.
The Bilva leaf has three leaves in a cluster.
The three leaves forming a part on one Bilva leaf express the Three Attributes of Jiva, the Individual Self.
These three are,
Pasu, The Brahman as Individual Self,
Pathi, The Universal SelfBrahman and
The Paasa, attachment to things worldly.
Vishnu is Cool in the Ocean of Milk,Ksheera Sagar.
He is worshipped with Tulsi,which is hot.
Shiva has maatted locks,he is called Jatadhara.
These locks of intertwined hairs represent the countless thought which overlap each other ,leading to Confusion of the Chitta.
These thoughts can be controlled by raising the Kundalini,which lies in the Solar Plexus,Mooladhara to the Centre of the forehead Sahasrara.
That is Shiva’s Third Eye,
Trinetra represents Sahasrara.
Shiva wears the horizontal,parallel white lines across His forehead.
These lines are to remind one that ‘Dust Thou Art,dust Thou shall retuneth.
And these three lines also indicate the three fundamental units/forces of the Universe.
Motion,Non motion and their being held in balance.
Purusha,the Kinetic Energy,Prakriti,the Potential energy and the Sparsa,the initial contact that evolves the Universe.
The Universe is constantly in Motion and is born of Motion.
Which precedes Motion or Sound/Vibration?
Vibration is caused by Sound or is it the other way?
Out of Vibration is born Sound.
Sound is expressed as Language.
Shivas Damaru,Drum represents Vibration and Sound.
His Damaru produced Sanskrit in. The form of Maheswara Sutras.
‘There are two types of Damaru, Skull Damaru and Chod Damaru.
To get you know the depth, I am posing on a poem,which forms a part of the Prayer,called Paayiram
Here Thirumoolar describes Shiva from numbers One to Eight.
Each of the statements is pregnant with Tantra and Philosphical meaning
Tamil version of Yoga and Shiva worship differs slightly from the Vedic Worship.
The Vaasi Yoga of Tamil is the root for Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra in the sense that while Vaasi Yoga addresses the issue of Breath Control directly,Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra goes from the tools to achieve Breath Control.
The Siddhas are like Rishis,Realized Souls,who have revealed texts on Science and Philosophy.
Agastya,Valmiki are Siddhas,according to Tamil literature.
Though there are innumerable Siddhas,Eighteen are considered to be the foremost among them.
For more read my article on Siddhas.
Shiva is considered to be the First Siddha.
One of the great Siddhas,Thirumoolar had written a treatise called ‘Thiru Mandiram” The Auspicious Mantra,where he details the Attributes of Reality in both ways,one Beyond Attributes and the other with the Attributes ,Nirguna and Saguna Upasna of the Vedas.
I shall write a short note on Thiru Mandhiram and Thirumoolar in a separate article.
Now following the Tamil Grammar ,Thirumoolar begins with the Prayer,he addresses it to Lord Ganesha and follows it up with prayers to others ,the Greatness of the Vedas…….
Then he starts the work,each poem is called Mantra or Mandhiram in Tamil.
To get you know the depth, I am posing on a poem,which forms a part of the Prayer,called Paayiram
Here Thirumoolar describes Shiva from numbers One to Eight.
Each of the statements is pregnant with Tantra and Philosphical meaning.
Shiva as,
ONE,
The One Reality,Brahman.
TWO,
Sakthi and Shiva;Kinetic and Potential Energy.
THREE,
Satva,Rajas and Thamo Guna,(Calm Learned;Dynamic; Docile ,Ignorant and Lazy.
FOUR,
Rig,Yajur,Sama and Atharva Vedas.
FIVE
Five senses of Perception( Karmendriya),Eyes,Nose,Ears,Mouth and Body; the acts of these senses( Gnanendriya) Five,Seeing,Smelling,Hearing,Tasting and the Tactile sensation;Five Elements,Earth,Water,Fire,Air and Ether(Akasa); One Element Each in Karmendriya and Gnaendriya: One Underlying abstract principle behind each of the Five Elements.
Shiva ,the One who conquered the Five senses
SIX
As the Six Tastes, sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent.
SEVEN
Beyond the Seven Celestial worlds and the Seven Nether worlds,
EIGHT
Aware of His Eight Characteristics,Gunas and is in the world .
The Eight are,
1.Dhaya. Compassion.
2.Shama,Forbearance.
3.Anasuya,
Non Jealous.
4.Soucha, Clean in Thought,Words and Deeds.
5.Anaayaasa,Efforless,Easy Attitude.
6.Mangala,Auspiciousness,
7.Akaarppanya, The quality to help without being being stingy;the joyful and fighting attitude( Lord Krishna uses this term in the second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita,advising him not to be a ‘Krupana)
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