Syamantaka mani

Syamantaka mani

Syamantak Mani:
The story of Syamantaka appears in the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata. 
It is a common belief that this jewel adorns the necklace of Lord Surya (the sun god). It is said to have a brilliant blue hue that instantaneously blinds the onlooker. If it is taken in darkness, it fills the ambience with day-like light.   It was said that whichever land possessed this jewel would never encounter any calamities in the form of natural disasters such as droughts, floods, earthquakes or famines, and would always be full of prosperity and plenitude. Wherever the jewel remained, it would produce for the keeper eight bhāras of gold daily.  

--- "Four rice grains are called one guñjā; five guñjās, one paṇa; eight paṇas, one karṣa; four karṣas, one pala; and one hundred palas, one tulā. Twenty tulās make up one bhāra."  Since there are about 3,700 grains of rice in an ounce, the Syamantaka jewel was producing approximately 170 pounds of gold every day

There is an interesting tale related to this jewel:

On one occasion Satrajith, a Yadava nobleman, and a devotee of Surya, the Sun God, while walking along the sea shore, was praying ardently, when the god himself appeared before him. Seeing the god in an indistinct and dazzling fiery shape, Satrajith asked him to appear in a less blinding form, so that he could see him clearly.  On this, the Sun took the Syamantaka jewel off his neck, and Satrájith saw him of a dwarfish stature, with a body like burnished copper and with slightly reddish eyes. Having offered his adorations, the sun offered him a boon, and he asked for the jewel. When Satrajith returned to Dwaraka with the jewel, people mistook him for the Sun God, such was his dazzling glory..  

Krishna asked him to present the jewel to Ugrasena, the supreme leader of the Yadavas, but Satrajith did not comply.    Satrajith later presented it to Prasenan, his brother.   Prasenan visited the court of Lord Krishna wearing the jewel. All the courtiers were amazed by the brilliance of this jewel and said to Prasenan that he did not deserve the jewel, so he should present it to none other than Lord Krishna.   But Prasenan  did not want to part with the jewel and to give it to Lord Krishna and stealthily left the court.  Later on, Prasenan went to the forests on a hunting spree and was killed by a lion. The lion took the jewel with it but was killed by Jambavan, the great one who helped Lord Rama.   Jambavan took the jewel to his cave and gave it to his children.

Back there in the kingdom, when Prasenan did not return for many days, suspicious fingers began to point at Lord Krishna.   So, Lord Krishna set out to search Prasenan. Following the footmarks of Prasenan, the lion and Jambavan, Lord Krishna reached the den of Jambavan and saw Jambavan's children playing with the jewel. As soon as Lord Krishna took the jewel in his possession, Jambavan also arrived there and a fierce duel followed between them. At last Jambavan recognized Lord and presented Him with his daughter Jambavati and also the jewel. Thus recovering the jewel Syamantaka, Lord Krishna returned to Dwarka and washed the blemish. It is believed now that Lord Krishna himself wears the jewel Syamantaka.

Following Updated on 12th November 2017
The Puranas or the Mahabharata do not say what happens to the gem after the death of Krishna and the fall of Dwaraka.

There is a reference to Symantakamani Stotra in "Deivathin Kural"  Volume 4 and page 94 onwards -

While chanting it, we will automatically review the whole "Upakhyanamâ". The second line, though addressed to Sukumara the son of Jambawan, it sounds as though telling us not to cry! We are also Sukumaras only, that means "good boys"! "The Syamantaka MaNi is for you only!", she says. We know that we have two gems of PiLLaiyar and KrishNa to bless us! This sloka can be included in formal pooja, as given in "vrata choodaamaNi Kalpamâ"

"simha: Prasenam avateet simho Jambawataa hata: l
Sukumaraka maa rodhee: tava hyesha Syamantaka: ll"

TIRUVANNAMALAI VISIT - STAY IN RAMANASHRAM AND VISIT TO OTHER AHSRAMS

TIRUVANNAMALAI VISIT - RAMANASHRAM

I had booked the accommodation at Ramanashramam during the 1st week of March 2014 and was there for 2 days.   The experience had been one of bliss with the meticulous following of the timings for meditation, recital of Arunachala Aksharamalai and veda parayanams by the ashram and total involvement of devotees in these.  The book depot and the centenary library add the required time to be spent on publications of ashram as well as others on all religious subjects.   The nicely kept rooms for accommodation with the surrounding trees and the Arunachala Hill at the background further enhances the stay.    It was a memorable experience of two days and I also took time off for having darshan at the Ashrams of Seshadri Swamigal and Yogi Ram Surat Kumar and the Arunachaleswarar temple.   Both the ashrams are very near to Ramanashram, the first just a 100 Metres away and the other about 10 minutes walk.      All the ashrams have facilities to stay with prior booking of the rooms online.

The Meditation hall in Ramashramam is kept open from 4 AM to 12.30 PM and  2 PM to 9 PM and the meditation is done before the Bhagavan photo in a sitting posture placed on a sofa.  About 60 people can do in this room at a time.  

The bhagavan's samadhi on which a Lingam has been installed has been exquisitely covered in a mantap before which the vedaparayanamas are done in the morning and evening and also recitation of Arunachala Aksharamalai and panchgam etc.,    I have no words to describe the serene atmosphere prevailing during all these parayanams and recitations. Next to the bhagavan's samathi is his mother's samadhi on which Mathrubootheswarar is installed.   This is a temple of Mathrubootheswarar and in the prakara Lord Vinayakar and Lord Subramanyar are installed.   The entry to this temple is a statue of the bhagavan and also large picture before which daily at 6AM, Arunachala Aksharamalai is recited with great fervour by the devotees.  The Bhagavan's and Mother's shrine are open from 05.30 AM to 12.30 PM and 2 to 9 PM.

Some of the photographs taken in Ramanashram and also on the way to Virupaksha cave and Skandashramam.    I did not complete the trip to the cave and skandashramam as it was 3 PM and was not able to bear the heat of the hills with bear foot.  The skandashramam and Virupaksha cave on the Hill are kept open from 8 AM to 5 PM.  

There were several friends of Bhavan who had regular discussions with him and were with him whether in the early days when bhagavan was mingling with the local people and meditating in the Virupaksha caves and in Skamdashramam.    Each had contributed to bring out the message of Bhagavan in their own ways and a few who could be recalled are  and the samadhis of these great devotees are also found in the ashram.    Bhagavan was deeply attached to some of the animals both when he was in the caves as well as in the ashram that was built in the year

That Bhagavan had treated the animals also as souls of reverence could be seen from the  small temples built for a deer, cow, crow and a dog.  Even today the ashram is full of dogs and peacocks.  

The inmates of the ashram and the guests staying in the ashram accommodation are served food free with breakfast, lunch and dinner and an evening tea/milk.   The accommodation is also free and donations can be made for poojas, annadhanams etc., which are exempt for IT under sec 88 ( ). I had the fortune of participating in all the activities atleast once as I stayed for 2 days and also had been to Arunachaleswarar temple and had darshan peacefully, as it was not a girivalam day.

Been to The ashram of Seshadri swamigal also on a morning and had darshan there.                                          

The ashram of Yogi Surat Kumar is in a larger area compared to seshadri swamigal where the temple precincts and adjoining hall are maintained extremely well.   Very impressive quotes of Yogi are found at all corners besides the ashram has provided a small foot path to do girivalam within the ashram.   Both the ashrams office have books connected with the ashram and other religious publications.    

The following photographs are taken in the Yogi Ramsuratkumar ashram.

This ashram office has the publications on Yogi and also annadhanam in large scale is being done in this ashram too.   

On 19th February and 20th February 2015, I had stayed in the Ramanashram this year and wonderful period of recital of Arunachala Aksharana Malai of Bhagavan both the days and also was in the meditation hall for the early morning hours of 04.30 hrs.  Picture below is the Ramana Maharishi shrine in the Ashram.

This picture was taken after the evening pooja.

LALBAGH AND FLOWER SHOWS

LALBAGH AND FLOWER SHOWS
FOR THE REPUBLIC DAY 26 01 2014
I visited Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, Bangalore today which has geared up for the Republic day with the flower show.  It was an unforgettable experience and would like to share the same with you.

The above is one of the views bringing out the different shapes made out of flowers and from a little far of the entrance.   The entrance itself was decked with flowers in rows on the floor a treat to watch with the cactus at the centre.

It was a treat and especially the children would have loved the section on fruits like Pomegranate, Pineapple and also vegetables made out of flowers.

This time arrangements had been made for battery trollies to take around entire Lalbagh with seating arrangements for a fee of Rs 100 for adults and Rs50 for children aged less than 10 years.   The entry ticket is Rs.40 for adults and Rs10 for children.   A overall view in the glass house is given above and the picure of the silkc otton tree is given below.

Biennial Flower Shows are organised in Lalbagh for Republic day and Independence day and approximately draws a 4 Lakh visitors during flower shows.

பகவான் ரமணர் -முதல் பிக்க்ஷை - மகான்களின் வாழ்க்கையே உபதேசமல்லவா? - திரிபுர சம்ஹாரம் செய்தது யார்?

மகான்களின் வாழ்க்கையே உபதேசமல்லவா?
முதல் பிக்க்ஷை 

வேங்கடராமனாக 17 வயதில் திருவருணைக்கு வந்த பகவான் ரமணர் சகஜ ஞானியாக பிக்க்ஷைக்கு புறப்பட்டார். 
அவரே கூறியது: நான் ஆயிரம்கால் மண்டபத்தை நோக்கி செல்கையில் கோபுரம் சுப்ரமணிய ஸ்வாமி கோயிலில் இருந்த மௌன சுவாமிகள் ஒரு நண்பருடன் அங்கு வந்தார். ஒருவருக்கொருவர் க்ஷேமம் விசாரிக்கவில்லை. மௌன சாமிகள் சைகை மூலம் அறிவித்தார் - இந்த பையனைப் பார்த்தால் களைத்து போயிருக்கிறான் - சிறிது உணவு தேடிக்கொண்டுவந்து கொடு - என்றார் நண்பரிடம்.  அவ்வாறே எனக்கு சிறிது நேரத்தில் எனக்கு புளித்த நீராகாரமும் சோறுடன் ஒரு ஊறுகாய் துண்டமும் கிடைத்தது.      பஞ்சபக்குவ பரமான்னமும் அன்று கிடைத்த பிக்க்ஷைக்கு ஈடாகாது. பழைய சோற்றையும் ஊறுகாயையும் சாப்பிட்டு தண்ணீரும் குடித்தேன்.  அப்போது எனக்கு கிடைத்த திருப்தியையும் சந்தோஷத்தையும் என்றைக்கும் மறக்க முடியாது. இதுவே என் அப்பன் அருணாசலேஸ்வரன் எனக்கு அளித்த முதல் பிக்க்ஷையாகும்.  
- ஸ்ரீ ரமண விருந்து பாகம் 1 ல் இருந்து -

திரிபுர சம்ஹாரம் செய்தது யார்?

பகவான் ரமணர் திரிசூல மகாத்மியம் என்ற புராணத்திலிருந்து சில வெண்பாக்களுக்கு விளக்கம் தந்த பொழுது:
திருச்சுழி நாதனாகிய சிவனுக்கு பூமிநாதன் என்பது திருநாமம். அம்மனுக்கு சகாயவல்லி என்று பெயர். பூமிநாதனை ஒரு பாடல் இவ்வாறு விவரிக்கிறது. "பூமிநாதா உன்னை மகாவீரன், இணையற்றவன் என்று தேவர்கள் எல்லாம் ஸ்தோத்ரம் செய்கிறார்கள். திரிபுர சம்ஹாரத்திலே திரிபுர அசுரர்களை நீ உனது வல்லமையினால் யாருடைய சகாயமுமில்லாமல் தனித்து வென்றாய் என்று நினைத்துக் கொண்டிருக்கிறார்கள்; இது உண்மையல்ல - நீ அர்த்தநாரீஸ்வரன்; பார்வதியை உன் இடது பாகத்தில் உள்ளவன். எங்கள் அன்னை சகாயவல்லியின் துணையில்லாமல் நீ எப்படி அசுரர்களை ஜெயித்திருக்க முடியும்?  அவளது சகாயம் இல்லாமல் நீ உனது வில்லை எப்படி இழுத்திருப்பாய்? அம்புதான் எப்படி எய்திருக்க முடியும்?"
அந்த வெண்பா மேலும் - "பூமிநாதா! நீ சிவன்! அசைவற்றவன்; மலை வடிவத்திலே இருக்கிறாய். ஆகையால் சக்தி ஸ்வரூபமான சகாயவல்லியின் உதவியுடன்தான் நீ இந்தக் காரியத்தை சாதித்திருக்க முடியும்?" என்று விவரிக்கிறது.
பகவான் இதை விளக்கி கூறும் பொது குரல் தழுதழுத்து, கண்ணீர் விட்டார். பரம பக்தரல்லவா பகவான்!   - ஸ்ரீ ரமண விருந்து பாகம் 1 ல் இருந்து -

Thiruvadhirai -Arudhra Darisanam

ARUDRA DARISANAM – THIRUVADHIRAI – MARGAZHI TAMIL MONTH

Arudra Darshan celebrations are about the ecstatic dance of Lord Shiva.  The cosmic dance of Lord Shiva represents five activities – Creation, Protection, Destruction, Embodiment and Release.     In essence, it represents the continuous cycle of creation and destruction.   This cosmic dance takes place in every particle and is the source of all energy.   It takes place on the Thiruvadhirai Nakshatra day in the month of Margazhi (Dhanur masya).   

At Chidambaram, the morning Maha-abhisheka starts at 3 am itself and lasts for 3 to 4 hours and wherein the Thiru Abharanas are adorned, that is the sacred Jewels. After Pancha Moorthi’s thiruveedhi ula, by noon, Lord Nataraja and Goddess Sivakami will bless the devotees with Arudhra Darisanam and enter Kanaka Sabhai. 

When Maha Vishnu was lying down on the great Serpent Adhi Sesha, he felt Mahaa Vishnu was quite heavy that time. He asked Maha Vishnu what was the reason. Maha Vishnu said that he was visualising and enjoying the Dance of Lord Shiva. This answer kindled the desire in Adhi Sesha to see the Great Dance of Lord Shiva.  He asked Maha Vishnu how his desire could be fulfilled. Mahaa Vishnu asked him to go to Chidambaram and do "tapas".  Adhi seesha came to Chidambaram and prayed the Lord for a long time.

There was another Muni and devotee of Lord Shiva in that place, called Viyaagra paadha. He prayed to God to get the clawed legs of tiger, so that he can pluck flowers early in the morning to offer to the God, before any bee touches the flower. He was also praying God to see His Great Dance for a long time.  Pleased with their prayer the God appeared on the Thiruvaadhirai day and danced in Chidambaram.

Appar wrote a separate pathigam for Tiruvadhirai in Thevaram:

முத்து விதான மணிப்பொற் கவரி முறையாலே
பக்தர்க ளோடு பாவையர் சூழப் பலிப்பின்னே
வித்தகக் கோல வெண்டலை மாலை விரதிகள்
அத்தனாரூ ராதிரை நாளா லதுவண்ணம்

துன்பம் நும்மைத் தொழாத நாள்கள் என்பாரும்
இன்பம் நும்மை யேத்து நாள்கள் என்பாரும்
நும்பின் எம்மை நுழையப் பணியே என்பாரும்
அன்பன் ஆரூர் ஆதிரை நாளால் அதுவண்ணம்.

THIRUVADHIRAI KALI

Why Kali for Thiruvadhirai?

A devotee named Sendanar  used to offer food to Lord daily and then distribute to devotees. He used to eat the left overs. On the Tiruvadirai day , due to bad weather he couldn't get any essential items for preparing proper food to offer to Lord Siva.  He had no other option but to mix water with rice flour and prepare a mashed paste. Lord Shiva understood his predicament. He wanted the people to know how sincere his devotee was to him. He disguised himself as a siva devotee and enjoyed what was given to him as food and as he stood for a while in the Nataraja Sanctrum, the Lord showered the Kali all over the premises , in recognition of  Sendanar’s  deep devotion. Since that day, Kali is the special offering to Lord Nataraja on Margazhi.

7 kari-kootu

The sweet dish of Kali is paired with Ezhu Kari kootu with seven vegetables.