ॐ महागणपतये नमः। श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः। श्रीमात्रे
नमः। हरिः ॐ
सुमुखश्चैकदन्तश्च कपिलो गजकर्णकः।
लम्बोदरश्च विकटो विघ्नराजो गणाधिपः॥ १॥
धूमकेतुर्गणाध्यक्षः फालचन्द्रो गजाननः।
वक्रतुण्डः शूर्पकर्णो हेरम्बस्कन्दपूर्वजः॥ २॥
षोडशैतानिनामानि यः पठेच्छृणुयादपि।
विद्यारम्भे विवाहे च प्रवेशे निर्गमे तथा।
संग्रामे सर्वकार्येषु विघ्नस्तस्य न जायते॥ ३॥
May the
lord of obstacles be with me too and guide you all, along with me, in this
journey. Today, we shall go to the beautiful temple of Vîra Maňgala Âńjaneya
located in a small village called Nallâţţûr in the state of Tamil Nâďu. This is
an attempt to visit the temple in our minds and seems the Lord chose this temple
for me to begin my blog with. One can definitely obtain merits even if (s)he
worships god in mind to indicate which, Lalitâ Ashţottaraśatanâma has a name,
Bhâvanâmâtrasamtushţahŗdayâ.
As should
one do, let’s wake up during the Brahma-muhûrta – around 4:00 AM, offer
obeisance to Ishţa Devata and Kula Devata in mind’s eye. Then we shall look
upon the trinity Goddesses in our own hands, saying,
कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मी करमध्ये स्रस्वती।
करमूले स्थिते गौरी प्रभाते करदर्शनम्॥
Before
setting our feet on ground let’s pray to Mother Earth, as we can do nothing but
apologize to her for all the vices we commit towards her,
समुद्र-वसने-देवि पर्वत-स्तन-मण्डले।
विष्णुपत्नीं नमस्तुभ्यं पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्व मे॥
Then we
shall brush our teeth thinking of the lord, and take bath in cold water
chanting Veda mantras or ślokas. Those of us who should perform Sandhyâ
Vandana, let’s do the same and others kindly eulogize Sûrya who’s one God whom
we can see with our external eyes. Next, let’s all worship our Ishţa Devata and
Kula Devata and get dressed in fresh clothes (kindly robe yourselves in
traditional wear). Further, before beginning the journey, let’s pray to the
Grâma Devatâ who protects us every other day and start towards the beautiful
temple of Lord Râma’s bhakta.
As we park
our vehicle and walk towards the temple, we are graced with a humungous form (I
didn’t use the word statue because I believe it is the lord himself and not
just a ‘statue’) of Âńjaneya seated in Yoga posture with his serene face – the
face that has realized the Brahman. Let’s salute him with enjoined palms,
मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगं जितेन्द्रियं बुद्धिमतावरिष्ठं।
वातात्मजं वानरयूथमुख्यं श्रीरामदूतं शिरसां नमामि॥
Walking
further would take us to the main entrance to the temple that leads to a
hallway at the end of which is a beautiful form of Râma Paţţâbhisheka on the
top of the entrance.
Let’s pray to Lord Râma, which would please Lord Âńjaneya
more than it would if we pray to him first.
आपदामपहर्तारं दातारं सर्वसंपदाम्।
लोकाभिरामं श्रीरामं भूयो भूयो नमाम्यहम्॥
As we step
inside, we are welcomed into another hallway with open space on either sides
dotted with coconut trees and other trees outside the compound. We can see the
lord’s shrine in front of us, but let’s first worship Lord Gaņeśa as we should.
At the end of this hallway, let’s turn left and walk past Râma’s shrine to Lord
Gaņeśa’s shrine and worship the lord,
वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सूर्यकोटिसमप्रभ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा॥
अगजानन पद्मार्कं गजाननं अहर्निशं।
अनेकदं तं भक्तानां एकदन्तं उपास्महे॥
गजाननं भूतगणादि-सेवितं कपित्थ-जम्बूफलसारभक्षितम्।
उमासुतं शोकविनाशकारणं नमामि विघ्नेश्वर पादपङ्कजम्॥
Let’s
circumambulate the lord’s shrine which would bring us to Dakshiņâmûrtî – the
one who preached the Divine knowledge to Sanaka and other sages with Cinmudra
and without words. Let’s pray to him to bestow us with knowledge as he is the
preceptor of all preceptors. I’d rather use the word Guru instead of preceptor
from now on, as I see no apt word in English for the word (Guru).
गुरवेसर्वलोकानां भिषजे भवरोगिणाम्।
निधये सर्वविद्यानां दक्षिणामूर्तये नमः॥
At the
back we can see Lord Vishņu – the protector of entire Universe. Let’s pray to
him for protection,
नारायणाय विद्महे वासुदेवाय धीमहि।
तन्नो विष्णुः प्रचोदयात्॥
As we walk
further, to Lord Gaņeśa shrine’s left we find the Creator of the Universe, Lord
Brahmâ who’s worshipped through Vedas. Let’s pray to him and move further to
the Goddess Lakshmî’s shrine (which has not yet been installed when we visited
the temple in September 2013, but since we have the power of our minds let’s
behold the Goddess there).
पद्मप्रिये पद्मिनि पद्महस्ते पद्मालये पद्मदलायताक्षी।
विश्वप्रिये विष्णुमनोऽनुकूले त्वत्पादपद्मं मयि
सन्निधत्स्व॥
We then
shall circumambulate the Goddess and arrive at the open shrine of Nâga Devata.
Eight Nâgas should be worshipped especially on Pańcamî,
वासुकिस्तक्षकः पूज्यः कालीयोमणिभद्रकः।
ऐरावतो धृतराष्ट्रः कर्कोटकधनञ्जयौ॥
एते प्रयच्छन्त्यभयमायुर्विद्यायशः श्रियम्॥
As we walk
onwards after worshipping the Nâga Devata we arrive at Dhvaja Stambha in front of Lord Râma’s shrine who
dwells there with Sitâ and his brother Lakshmaņa (to the right as we
circumambulate).
Let's fall prostrate in front of the Dhvaja Stambha and walk towards Lord Râma’s shrine.
Let’s pray to that form of Dharma who proved that humans are
no less than any other being in this Universe. If we are to be grateful to
anyone in our lives as a human being, it is to Lord Râma (to justify this, we
would have to delve into Râmâyaņa which would take hundreds of posts – I hope
Lord Râma makes me fortunate enough to talk about his greatness someday, here).
वैदेहीसहितं सुरद्रुमतले हैमे महामण्डपे
मध्येपुष्पकमासने मणिमये वीरासने सुस्थितम्।
अग्रे वाचयति प्रभञ्जनसुते तत्त्वं मुनिभ्यः परं
व्याख्यान्तं भरतादिभिः परिवृतं रामं भजे श्यामलम्॥
वामे भूमिसुता पुरश्च हनुमान्पश्चात्सुमित्रासुतः
शत्रुघ्नो भरतश्च पार्श्वदलयोर्वायव्यादिकोणेषु
च।
सुग्रीवश्च विभीषणश्च युवराट् तारासुतो जाम्बवान्
मध्ये नीलसरोजकोमलरुचिं रामं भजे श्यामलम्॥
नमोऽस्तु रामाय सलक्ष्मणाय
देव्यै च तस्यै जनकात्मजायै
नमोऽस्तु रुद्रेन्द्रयमानिलेभ्यो
नमोऽस्तु चन्द्रार्कमरुद्गणेभ्यः॥
Then to
our right lies Lord Vîra Maňgala Âńjaneya in his majestic form. With his right
hand he show us the Abhaya mudrâ (gesture of protection) and holds a
Saugandhikâ flower in his left. His tail forms a circle around him with a bell
on its end. The lord is in profile. No matter how many times we see his
auspicious form we are always amused by his eminence. Let’s close our eyes for
a moment and think of his golden splendorous form offering us protection. He is
the lord who can bestow us all intelligence, physical strength, fame, courage,
fearlessness, good health, and activeness.
मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगं जितेन्द्रियं बुद्धिमतां
वरिष्ठम्।
वातात्मजं वानरयूतमुख्यं श्रीरामदूतं शिरसा नमामि॥
बुद्धिर्बलं यशोधैर्यं निर्भयत्वं अरोगताम्।
अजाड्यं वाक्पटुत्वं च हनूमत्स्मरणात् भवेत्॥
Now let’s
eulogize the lord with the precious gem that Śaňkarâcârya (the Jagadguru, who
taught us everything and who saved us from destruction; it is because of him
that we are able to celebrate great many festivals), has given us in the form
of Hanumatpańcaratnam.
॥ हनुमत्पञ्चरत्नम्॥
वीताखिलविषयेच्छं जातानन्दाश्रुपुलकमत्यच्छम्।
सीतापतिदूताद्यं वातात्मजमद्य भावये हृद्यम्॥ १॥
तरुणारुणमुखकलमं करुणारसपूरपूरितापाङ्गम्।
सञ्जीवनमाशासे मञ्जुलमहिमानमञ्जनाभाग्यम्॥ २॥
शम्बरवैरिशरातिग- मम्बुजदलविपुललोचनोदारम्।
कम्बुगलमनिलदिष्टं बिम्बज्वलितोष्ठमेकमवलम्बे॥ ३॥
दूरीकृतसीतार्तिः प्रकटीकृतरामवैभवस्फूर्तिः।
दारितदशमुखकीर्तिः पुरतो मम भातु हनुमतो मूर्तिः॥ ४॥
वानरनिकराध्यक्षं दानवकुमुदरविकरसदृशम्।
दीनजनावनदीक्षं पवनतपः पाकपुञ्जमद्राक्षम्॥ ५॥
एतत्पवनसुतस्य स्तोत्रं यः पठति पञ्चरत्नाख्यम्।
चिरमिहनिखिलान्भोगा- न्भुङ्क्त्वा श्रीरामभक्तिभाग्भवति॥ ६॥
॥ इति श्रीमत्परमहंसपरिव्राजकाचार्यस्य श्रीगोविन्दभगवत्पूज्यपादशिष्यस्य
श्रीमच्छंकरभगतः कृतौ हनुमत्पञ्चरत्नम्॥
Let us
further circumambulate Navagrahas who are standing to Lord Âńjaneya’s left
(near the end of the hallway).
आदित्याय च सोमाय मङ्गलाय बुधाय च।
गुरुः शुक्रश्शनिश्चैव राहवे केतवे नमः॥
Now let’s
sit on a spot where it wouldn’t be a hindrance to other devotees visiting our
lord and reminisce Lord Râma’s greatness, because Lord Hanumân would be
gladdened at Râma’s story.
कूजन्तं रामरामेति मधुरं मधुराक्षरम्।
आरुह्य कविताशाखां वन्दे वाल्मीकि कोकिलम्॥
Sovereign
Daśaratha, born in the lineage of Ikshvâku was married to three wives – Kauśalyâ,
Sumitrâ, and Kaikeyî and also to many other eminent women. Being childless, the
old king performed Aśvamedha Yagña and then Putrakâmeshţi by Sage Ŗshyaśňga’s
grace and the royal priest Vasishţha. Then Râma was born to Kauśalyâ, Bharata
to Kaikeyî and Lakshmaņa and Śatrughna to Sumitrâ.
To
restrain the Râkshasas who were creating obstacles in his Yagña, Sage
Viśvâmitra requested the king and he sent Râma and Lakshmaņa with him. The duo
learnt the science of all weapons from the great sage and slew Tâďakâ, deluded
Mârîca with Mânavâstra, and slew Subâhu. Râma went to Mithila along with his
Guru, accompanied by Lakshmaņa to attend the Yagña there, where he broke Siva’s
bow easily.
Janaka at
this gave Sîtâ in marriage to Râma at King Daśaratha’s consent, who consented
to the marriage after consulting with Vasishţha and other wise ones. Lakshmaņa
was married to Janaka’s second daughter, Urmilâ. Daughters of Kuśadhvaja –
Śrutakîrti and Mâņďavî were married to Śatrughna and Bharata. Winning over
Paraśurâma – son of Jamadagni, Râma and others, honored well by Janaka,
returned back to Ayodhyâ. Bharata and Śatrughna were taken to their uncle,
Yudhâjit’s kingdom.
Râma
served his father well and one day King Daśaratha decided to coronate him as
the future king. Hearing about this, Mantharâ urged Kaikeyî to send Râma to
forest for fourteen years and make her son Bharata the king, using the two
boons that her husband had promised to her in the past. Poisoned by Mantharâ’s
counsel, Kaikeyî asked the king to accept her two requests in the form of two
boons that she’d been promised.
Bound by
his promise, King Daśaratha had to send Râma to live in forest for fourteen
years and accept to crown Bharata. Râma gladly readied to go to the woods. His
pious wife Sîtâ followed him and so did his dear brother Lakshmaņa. Few days
after Râma went to forest, King Daśaratha left his mortal coils, afflicted by
sorrow. When Bharata returned back to Ayodhyâ and heard of all that bechanced,
he cried out of his misfortune that his mother had brought upon him. He denied
the kingdom and went to forest determined to bring Râma back. On hearing about
his father’s departure, Râma offered Tarpaņa to him and convinced his brother
that he cannot return back, voiding their father’s promise. Bharata took Râma’s
footwear and ruled the kingdom as a servant of Râma – as a regent.
Râma bowed
down to his Guru, mothers, and others, bid them goodbye and continued onwards.
He visited Sage Atri and pious Anasûyâ, Śarabhaňga, Sutîkshņa, and Agastya’s
brother and then went to Agastya. With his favor, Râma gained the divine bow
and sword and went to the Daņďaka forest. He settled along the banks of
Godâvarî whence Sûrpaņakhâ approached him to marry her. Lakshmaņa cut her nose
and ears, enraged at which she made Khara, Dûshaņa, Triśirâ, and fourteen
thousand other Râkshasas battle with him. Râma slew them all.
At that
Sûrpaņakhâ urged Râvaņa to kidnap Sîtâ. With Mârîca’s help he kidnapped Sîtâ to
Laňkâ. Râvaņa was attacked by Jaţâyu on the way but was slain by him. Râma
after slaying Mârîca deceived him in the form of a golden deer returned back to
find that Sîtâ was missing after Lakshmaņa (who was forced by Sîtâ to look for
Râma who seemed to be in danger) left her. Wandering about in search of Sîtâ
the brothers met with Kabandha, slew him, and learnt of Sugrîva through him
after he was relieved of his curse.
After meeting
with Śabarî along the banks of Pampâ, Râma met with Hanumân who took him to
Sugrîva and they made a pact of friendship. Râma slew Vâlî and throne Sugrîva
as the king of Vânaras. As promised, Sugrîva sent Vânaras in all directions in
search of Sîtâ. Accepting Râma’s ring, Hanumân along with other Vânaras
searched around Vindhyâ Mountains for a month in vain. Disheartened they spoke
of Râma to each other.
A vulture
named Sampâti who was desirous of consuming the Vânaras heard their
conversation and stopped at the mention of his brother Jaţâyu. Sampâti whose
wings were burnt got them back on hearing Râma’s tale and he told them of Sîtâ
presence in Laňkâ, located in an island in the ocean on Mount Trikûţa. He also
told them that the ocean from there to Laňkâ extended to one hundred yojanas.
To save
the lives of Vânaras, Lord Hanumân leaped over the ocean on seeing which Mount
Mainâka rose to support him. After causing Simhikâ’s fall he beheld Laňkâ and
searched the houses of Râkshasas and all around Laňkâ. Not seeing Sîtâ anywhere
he became distressed and finally went to Aśoka forest where he saw her under a
Śimśapâ tree, guarded by Râkshasîs.
Râvaņa was
trying to coax Sîtâ to accept him as her husband but she denied. After he left
her, the Râkshasîs forced her to accept their king. Then Hanumân who sitting in
the tree in a small form related Râma’s tale; he gave her the ring given by
Râma as a token of remembrance. He consoled her with his words and receiving
her jewel and an incident of the loss of crow’s eye as a token of
identification, he returned back to Kishkindhâ after burning a part of Laňkâ
and warning Râvaņa to return Sîtâ back and on Râvaņa being prevented by
Vibhîshaņa from killing Hanûmân.
Back in
Kishkindhâ, he informed Râma of Sîtâ and gave him the token of identification
he’d received from Sîtâ. Râma wished to behold Sîtâ right away as he was pained
by the separation from her. Sugrîva and others consoled him and they went to
the shores of ocean, where they made allies with Vibhîshaņa who was sent away
by Râvaņa as he advised his brother to return Sîtâ back to Râma.
Then, at
Ocean’s words, Râma commanded Nala to build a bridge across the ocean to Laňkâ.
Thus crossing the ocean they all stationed themselves at Suvela and looked at
Laňkâ. Then Râma sent Aňgada as messenger to Râvaņa to return Jânakî back to
Râghava but Râvaņa chose to battle. Hanumân, Mainda, Dvivida, Jâmbavân, Nala,
Nîla, Târa, Aňgada, Dhûmra, Susheņa, Keśarî, Gaya, Panasa, Vinata, Rambha, Śarabha,
Krathana, Gavâksha, Dadhivaktra, Gavaya, Gandhamâdana, and many other Vânaras
fought with the Râkshasas along with Râma, Lakshmaņa, and Sugrîva.
Great lord
Hanûmân slew Dhûmrâksha with a mountain peak. Nîla slew Akampana and Prahasta.
Râma and Lakshmaņa were bound by Indrajit with Nâgâstra but were freed by
Garuďa. Then Râma hurt Râvaņa with his arrows, afflicted by which he woke his
brother Kumbhakarņa from sleep and fed him with wine and animals. Kumbhakarņa
told his brother that he had sinned by kidnapping Sîtâ but since he was his elder
brother, he chose to go to battle and ate many of the Vânaras. Râma cut off his
arms and feet and made his head fall to the ground. Fighting many other
Râkshasas Râma, Lakshmaņa, Vibhîshaņa and the Vânaras caused the fall of many
of their enemy’s army. Battling with Mâyâ, Indrajit tied Râma and Lakshmaņa
with Nâgapâśa at which time Lord Mâruti revived them by bringing the medicinal
herb, Viśalyâ. To slay them, Indrajit began performing homa towards Nikumbhilâ
at which time, Lakshmaņa slew that hero who won over Indra.
On hearing
the news of his son’s death, Râvaņa stood up to kill Sîtâ but on being stopped
by Avindhya, he ascended his chariot and went to the battlefield. At that time,
at Indra’s command, his charioteer Mâtali made Râma ascend his chariot. Thus a
great, incomparable war ensued between Râma and Râvaņa. Râvaņa attacked the
Vânaras and Mâruti and other Vânaras began injuring him. Finally, Râma split
off Râvaņa’s heart with Paitâmaha astra and made him fall to the ground. All
the wives of Râkshasas wailed at their husbands’ loss. Râma then instructed
Vibhîshaņa to perform funeral rites for them all.
Then Râma
called Sîtâ through Hanumân. She entered the fire to prove her purity after
which Râma accepted her. Indra and other gods extolled them. Then Brahmâ and
Daśaratha, from Svarga, praised him thus,
“You are
none but Vishņu who’s come to slay the Râkshasas.”
On being prayed,
Indra showered Amŗta on the dead Vânaras and brought them all back to life. All
the gods, thus witnessing the war returned back to their abodes after being
worshipped by Râma. Râma gave the lordship of Laňkâ over to Vibhîshaņa and
revered the Vânaras specially. Then taking everyone with him, along with Sîtâ,
he sat in Pushpaka and returned back the same route by which he came. On the
way back, he showed Sîtâ all the forests and places that were difficult to
traverse, to delight her. After bowing down to Bharadvâja they reached
Nandigrâma, where Bharata saluted his feet. He then went to Ayodhyâ and lived
there.
First he
bowed down to Vasishţha and others and then to then to Kauśalyâ, Kaikayî, and
Sumitrâ. Accepting the throne, he worshipped the dvijâ and others. Performing
Aśvamedha, he worshipped Vâsudeva – a form of himself, gave all kinds of dâna,
protected his subjects like his own children. He maintained Dharma, Kâma, and
other goals of human life and was intent upon punishing the wicked ones. During
his rule everyone was pious and so earth yielded crops in abundance. While Râma
was ruling the kingdom there was no accidental deaths too.
Ah! Isn’t
that such a thrilling legend of great lord Râma and lord Hanumân who always
serves his lord! Let’s bow down to the
lord again and pray to him that he always reside in our hearts and bless us that
we shall come back to his abode every other day.
Now coming outside, to our left we can see a big anthill where the divine snakes abide. Let's pray to them for a prosperous life and call to our minds the eight great Nagas.
वासुकिस्तक्षकः पूज्यः कालीयो मणिभद्रकः।
ऐरावतो धृतराष्ट्रः कर्कोटकधनञ्जयौ॥
एते प्रयच्छन्त्यभयमायुर्विद्यायशः श्रियम्॥
With a
content mind, we shall return back to our homes and visit our guru to complete
the journey.
I hope
every one of you were able to visit this wonderful Kshetra and have become
content. Those of you who can, kindly visit this wonderful temple in person and
delight again reminiscing the nectar-like legend of Râma.
