Neerajanam or waving of light

[Guest guest]

Hariom,

 

The shastras proclaim that touching fire purifies a

person from sins as also surya darshana, tapta ghruta

prashana (Drinking ghee)etc.

 

The process of taking mangalarathi should be therefore

 

by actually touching the fire. Whenever, I take

mangalarathi I generally pass my hands across the fire

as moving fire does not burn (Check it out!! This is

the principle which is used in fire walking in some

shakti temples).

 

I agree completely with Mrs. Ganapathi as to the

concept of neerajana. A very popular shloka used in

Navavarna puja during neerajana also resounds the

same:

 

Anthastejo Bahistejo Eki krutyamitha prabhaam

Tridha deepam paribhramya kula deepam nivedaye.

 

This is for offering Kula deepa or deepa in tumbittu

(Kannada, I dont know the equivalent in tamil) or

lamps made from flour, jaggery and ghee. But the

concept is the same.

 

As regards taking it to the eyes, Its a practise

rather than a stipulation. The essence is more to

touch fire. I have heard some people say that since

from the eyes of the viraata purusha came surya (Ref

Purusha Sukta- Chakshu suryo ajayata) and since surya

and agni are the forms of jyothi (Ref . Taiterreya

Samhita - "Agnir Jyothir jyothiragni suryojyothir

jothirsuryaha")the eyes should be touched wpon

neerajana indicating the presence of the same within

the body, more like nyasa. Some related the same to

chakshushmati vidya also!! I am not convinced with

both these answers as it seems to be too far fetched

an explanation and the bhashya on these mantras are

really referring to a different scenario totally.

 

However, in the sampradaya in which I have been taught

nitya puja, we generally wash our hands with a

uddarana of water after taking neerajana and before

mantra pushpa as we would have touched fire.

 

One should wash hands after touching fire directly.

The same is echoed in agnimukha prayoga during ajya

samskara.

 

The Bodhayana parishishta says that one should wash

ones hands after touching fire and after an ahuti to

rudra in agni mukha (This is done at the end in case

of rudra homa). This washing is popularly called

apaupasprushya.

 

My two cents to this discussion.

 

Namste

GP

 

 

 

 

 

 

--- ganapathy = = vijaya <srividya101

wrote:

> In every Puja it is a common act to conclude the

> puja by waving of light lit with either Camphor or

> lamp lit with Ghee, before the deity, as an act of

> adoration.

>

> The philosophy behind this act is to understand and

> appreciate that there is only one light Ambaal as "

> Swayam Prakasha" behind all Chith--Shakthi and there

> is no other light other than HER. The Vedic Manthra

> chanted on this accasion also means " that nothing

> shines on its own, But they shine by the Light of

> supreme Being. "

>

> After Arti it is a common practice for the devotees

> to touch the flame seeming or apparently and take it

> over the eyes.

>

> Can any of the member explain the why this is taken

> over the eyes only.

>

> ganapathy

>

>

>

> Ganapathy --- Vijaya

>

> " Jai Bhavani " - - - - " Jai Sri Lalitha Maha Maha

> Tripura Sundari "

>

> " Sarvam Shakti Mayam Jagath "

>

>

>

>

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> [Non-text portions of this message have been

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>

 

 

 

 

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