Guest guest Posted February 22, 2003 Report Share Posted February 22, 2003 MAHA SHIVRATRI – "Sri Rudram" SHIVA is the bliss absolute where the delusion of the physical world is no longer a veil to hide the substratum of all the phenomena and the one in whom the entire cosmos revolves, the state of perfect BLISS both in immanence and transcendence. He is also called the "RUDRA" (CHASTISER) ,the one who liquefies and evaporates the sorrow or the cause of the sorrow of the Samsara. SHIVA IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THE AMBAAL, WHO IS WITH UMA SHAKTI - - THE TRUTH OF MANIFEST AND UNMANIFEST. He is glorified by "The SATA RUDRYIYA" which is popularly known as “Sri Rudram”. This Vedic hymn is a praise & prayer to Lord SHIVA which Forms the central part of KRISHNA YAJUR VEDA. The uniqueness of Rudram is, the hymns combining of so many names of the Lord alongwith the word “NAMAH” – Salutation which is uncommon in Vedas. DURING THE MAHA SHIVARATHRI THE LORD " SHIVA " IS VIRTUALLY BATHED CONTINUOUSLY DURING THE ENTIRE DAY AND NIGHT RECTING THE " SRI RUDRAM" The Panchakshari Mantra “OM NAMAH SIVAYA” is from this great hymn. The Rudram is also called NAMAKA because it has the word “NAMAH” depicting the Lord SHIVA which occurs 300 times in the first section. The greatness of Rudram is that,it can be used in the 3 types of prayers viz Kayyika - fire - ritual, vachika - oral recitation,manasa - mental prayers. The Rudram is like an Upanishad as it reveals the truth of JIVA-the individual, Jagat- the world and ISWARA- the Lord and also serves as a means for gaining the eligibility for the knowledge as unfolded in the Upanishad. The different names that depicts the name of the Lord through which one can understand the Lord and would imply that one is not separate from LORD which is the Truth of the Upanishad and therefore it is also called as the “RUDROPANISHAD”. The hymn with simple meaning becomes a means for gaining the eligibility of knowledge. Sri Rudra is efficious to knock off the karmic obstacles and Lord SHIVA is too pleased with this hymn and grants liberal boons to the devotee and hence HE is also called “ASHUTHOSHI”. The maha vakya “SARVAM KHALVIDAM BRAMA” – means All that is here is Brahman” which indicates the inseparability between Name and Form. If all forms are Brahman – the Iswara then all names are Iswara, that is the entire Jagat inseparable from Iswara. Sri Rudra consists of 11 ANUVAKAS with each one in different Vedic meters. Every hymn has a seer, risi and devata. The first anuvaka asks Lord Rudra to be merciful and giving. IN The second to eleventh anuvaka, the Lord is prayed as SARVATMA , the all encompassing forms constituting the cosmos as SARVANTARYAMI and also as PARAMESHWARA, the Lord of everything. Second to none and no example for HIM. The tenth anuvaka, contains the prayer to the Lord and the 11th anuvaka the RUDRA is prayed to in the form of many devatas sustaining the different spheres of experience. For a SHIVA Upasaka, SRI RUDRAM forms a core part of the daily prayer like the Lalitha Sahasranamam for a DEVI Upasaka. In spite of the so many praises in Sri Rudram, LORD'S glory being INFINITE, HE stands far beyond them and the one who is praised in various UPAMAS , yet there is no one EQUAL TO HIM as he stands apart and cannot be compared with anything and because of this LORD is understood in his transcendental nature free from all attributes and everything else is only his manifestation. The Lord always shines in HIS devotees heart as well as in the hearts of those non-devotees failing to recognize HIM (JYESTHAS + RAJA = JEYSTARAJAM) The MAHA MRUTYUNJAYA Mantram is in Sri Rudram which goes as :- “TRYAMBAKKAM YAJA MAHE SUGANDHIM PUSHTI VARDANAM, URUVARUKAMIVA BANDHANATH MRYTHOR MUKSHIYA MAMRTAT” It means that we worship the one who possess the three eyes, having the fragrance and who nourishes the health.( consisting of the body, mind & intellect) I pray for the release from the death like the melon (Vallari fruit) which gets released from the Creeper without any external indication when it stands apart. O Lord may you nourish me in such a way that I will be so ripe that I will be free from Samsara chakra. I am not asking for worldly pleasures or for heaven as I am only interested in moksha and do not tale me away from immortality. This Mantra is widely used for protection from death or for patients suffering from chronic illness or for the papa nivruthi AND MOKSHA. It is also a mantra for prayer to get MOKSHA crossing the death and gaining immortality through THE Jnana or the knowledge. As a human being one does certainly know the difference between being knowledgeable and ignorant. But in spite of one's desire to be more and more knowledgeable one remains ignorant also. If there is a person who is free from ignorance, the knowledge of the person has got to be TOTAL , that such knowledge is the DIRECT PERCEPTION of the ATMA. A SHIVA BHAKTA believes that the LORD is delighted with the Abhiseka done on the Shiva linga reciting the Sri Rudra. He is Abhisheka priya, like the Maha Vishnu who is Alankara Priya and the Ambaal being Mantra Priya. The 11 dravyams (liquids) used for the purposes of abhisheka are as under to be done in the same order beginning with the recitation of the first anuvaka of SRI RUDRAM. THAILAM ( GINGELY OR TIL OIL ) PANCHA GAVYAM ( THE MIXTURE OF THE FIVE SACRED PRODUCTS OF THE COW -- THE MILK,GHEE,CURD,URINE AND THE DUNG MIXED IN CERTAIN PROPORTIONS) PANCHAMRUTAM GHEE ( CLARIFIED BUTTER ) MILK CURD HONEY SUGAR CANE JUICE LEMON JUICE TENDER COCONUT WATER DILUTED SANDAL WOOD PASTE " SAMBO MAHADEV " GANAPATHY = = = VIJAYA "adi_shakthi16 <adi_shakthi16" <adi_shakthi16 wrote:dearest devotees, on march first(please correct me if i am wrong) , devout hindus will be observing Maha-shivaratri... There will be all night chanting of Rudra chamakam -namakam, linghashtakam, bilvashtakam, milk abisekha of shiva lingam and bhajans and songs glorifying the names of Lord shiva... devout hindus will also observe all night fasting... Ganapathy --- Vijaya " Jai Bhavani " - - - - " Jai Sri Lalitha Maha Maha Tripura Sundari " " Sarvam Shakti Mayam Jagathu " Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, and more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 2003 Report Share Posted February 22, 2003 respectED shree uma-maheshwera devotees, i enjoyed reading sree vijaya ganapathy's devotional presentation of sree rudram-namakam and chamakam. In our own local community here in washington dc, the shri shiva- vishnu temple celebrates maha-shivaratri all night long - the priests do all night long pancamrita abisekha for the swayambhu shivalinga amonst the chanting of sree rudram namakam chamakam. The whole atmosphere is charged with 'divine' energy and it is a great experience. the word 'rudra' has many meanings. "Rtam (dam) Samsaara dukham draava yat iti Rudrah". He destroys the sorrows of the world i.e. (Rudra). ********************************************************************** "Rodati Sarvamantakala" The one who makes one to suffer. ********************************************************************** "Rtou Naadaante dravati – draavayateeti Rudrah. The end note of the musical sound i.e. (Rudra). ********************************************************************** "Rtya – Vedarupaya, dharmadinava-loka yati praayateeti vaa Rudrah". In the form of Veda Dharma is promoted i.e. (Rudra). ********************************************************************** "Rtya-vaagrupaya, vaakyam, prapayateeti Rudrah". In the form of Speech, brings out the importance of the meaning of words i.e. (Rudra). ********************************************************************** Rtya-Pranava rupaya svatmanam prayateeti Rudrah". In the name of pranava (OM) He makes one to realize him. "Rudroroutiti satye rorupamaano dravati pravashati martyaaniti Rudrah". In the form truth he enters humans. ********************************************************************** "Rtam Sabdam Vedaatmaanam Brahmane dadati Kalpaadaaviti Rudrah". Rudra presented Vedas to Brahma at the Commencement of kalpa. Rudras also means the persons created by Rudra as Sadrusha. ********************************************************************** "Rtim Raati is responsible for the sound. He is praana Svarupa. Granter of praana (life). ********************************************************************** Rudram is i.e. light Teja and Ruth who binds and attracts. ********************************************************************** "Taam bhakte draavayati). He is even capable of driving away hat Shakti (energy). Rudra is (Shiva), Agni Svarupa. It is stated that "Shriyamieche ddhutaashanaat" people desirous of all auspicious things have to worship the Agni Svarupa Rudra through Japa, Homa, Abhiseka and Archana. Vrikshasyamula Sekena Shakhahpusyanti Vaiyatha | Shive Rudre Japatprete prita Yevasya Devatah || (Suta Samhita) By watering the tree at the base of the trunk all the parts of the tree including branches, leaves, fruits etc are strengthened. In the same way by worshipping shiva all his related Devas will be pleased and one will get both the earthly and heavenly benefits including liberation. ********************************************************************** this commentary is taken from... www.mypurohit,com/rituals/namakam1.asp devotee, for a complete text of sree rudram namakam -chamakam visit the above mentioned website... it is recommended that you learn the chanting of sree rudram chamakam -namakam from a Guru TRAINED IN THE VEDIC TRADITION. last year, while attending the maha shivaratri programme at the sree siva vishnu temple, i heard an american gentleman chanting the sree rudram chamkam -namakam with perfect intonation and bhakti bhava - he told me his guru is a 90 year old vedic teacher (some iyer) who lives in the Virginia richmond area... those who want to hear this devotional chanting, please visit www.musicindia.com.... om sree rudrAYA NAMAHA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.