significance

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Sankalp

Why water is taken in the hand?

Worship of planets

Do planets actually manifest when propitiated?

Before every auspicious work and Sadhana why do we have to propitiate the deity

or take a pledge? Is this a mere tradition or is there some scientific reason

behind this? This article tries to find out the reason behind these two

rituals. If you have any doubts regarding any religious ritual do write in to

us. Our Rishis were great scientists and no ritual ever devised by them was

futile. The ancient Vedic scriptures contain descriptions regarding not just

Sadhanas and worships but regarding every aspect of life. Many of these rituals

have been adopted and used by us in our lives as mere traditions without trying

to know what their basis is. We never attempted to know why we sing Aarti, why

we take a pledge, what is the significance of Yagyopaveet, how planets can

affect us, do deities really manifest during rituals or why the worship of

deities is important. Our ancient Rishis have provided answers to all such

queries. They have explained each feature of the Sadhana world in deep, based

on their own experiences and thus they have veritably elucidated why a

particular ritual is important and what its actual significance is. This

articles tries to find out the significance of rituals like Sankalp, Dev

Aavahan and Dev Poojan.

Sankalp

Sankalp means taking a pledge. The first part of every worship is Sankalp and

rituals like Aasanshodhan, Aachman, Prannayam, Arghya come later on. It is

necessary to pledge before trying any ritual. It is said in the text Manu

Smriti -

Sankalpmoolah Kaamo Vei Yagyaah Sankalp-sambhavaah. Vrataa Niyamdharmaashcha

Sarve Sankalpajaa Smritaa.

i.e. All wishes can be fulfilled by pledging. All Yagnas and worships are

accomplished after taking a vow for its performance. Feelings have a deep

affect on humans. Sankalp is nothing but the expression of the feeling which

the Sadhak has for the accomplishment of the Sadhana. By making a pledge a

person becomes committed towards the accomplishment of his goal. All government

leaders the world over have to take a pledge in the name of God before taking

charge of their offices. This is nothing but a form of Sankalp. In Indian

culture taking a vow is considered to be a very serious matter. It is generally

when a person finds himself in dire straits that he takes a vow. It is believed

that having taken a oath when a person speaks something it is the truth. And

taking an oath means becoming committed to something.

Raghu Kul Reet Sada Chali Aai Praann Jaaye Par Vachan Na Jaaye.

This is an often repeated verse in India and it means that one should fulfil

one's promise even at the cost of one's life. But today taking an oath has

become a mere formality. Words like "by God", "by father" seem to have lost

their effect and significance. It one tried to go into their meaning, one would

find that by God means one is pledging on behalf of God's name that what one is

saying is true. But people use these oaths and still lie. They don't hesitate

to link the name of God with their lives. Indian sages knew about human

weakness and that is why they gave great value to oaths and prescribed taking

of oaths only on special occasions. Sankalp is done in order to make one's

determination stronger, while taking an oath suggests that there is some doubt

about the person's reliability and honesty, and by speaking out an oath he is

trying to convince the other person. Sankalp is a ritual through which a Sadhak

expresses his faith and determination in performance of a Sadhana and thus

becomes engaged in it with greater fervour. The greatest significance of the

ritual of Sankalp lies in its attempt to preserve the Aryan tradition. Those

who follow this tradition speak out special words when they perform Sankalp

before starting some task, some worship or Sadhana. In Sankalp water is taken

in the right palm and the following words are spoken out -

Om Tatsadaya Brahmannohni Dwiteeye Paraardhe Shree Shwet Vaarah Kalpe

Veivasvatmanvantare Ashtaavinshatitame Kaliyuge Kalipratham Charanne

Ashtaavinshatyuttar-dwisahastratame Veikramaabde ....

These words signify that we meditate on the Supreme form which came into being

billions of years ago. It is the speciality of the Aryan culture that a

tradition started by our ancestors thousands of years ago is still alive. In

the same tradition when one takes a pledge to perform some task in the presence

of a deity it is known as Sankalp. There is no one outside to whom one is making

a promise, rather with the spark of divine present within as the witness, one

vows to accomplish some task. There is no one who could doubt one's sincerity.

One is answerable only to the God present within.

Why water is taken in the hand?

In Sankalp water is taken in the palm because water is also divine and is the

abode of the deity Varunn. With God Varunn (Lord of all water bodies) as a

witness one thus pledges to do something and in case of failure to do so, one

would expect the deity to guide one's actions. Scientifically speaking just as

our bodies are built by the food we eat, similarly according to the Vedas -

Apomayaah Praannaa

i.e. our soul and its energy as a result of the water we consume. In

accomplishment of every task a strong will power is very important. Without the

power of the soul the physical energy too cannot be strong. Hence with a direct

contact with water from which the soul energy has originated, the Sadhak feels

himself to be linked to the Supreme and then becomes prepared to engage in

Sadhana with added enthusiasm and vigour. In every Sadhana it is also a rule to

do Aachman three times i.e water is taken in the right palm, a Mantra is chanted

and then it is sipped. This is done three times. This ritual is performed to be

free of the three shortcomings- Kaayik (physical), Maansik (mental) and Vaachik

(spiritual). The physical benefit of this exercise is that by sipping water

thrice the throat is cleared and one is then able to chant the Mantra clearly.

When the Mantra is chanted lot of heat is produced in the body due to which the

throat and the mouth can become dry. Aachman done three times aims at remedying

this dryness. According to the textual rules one need not drink mouthful of

water in Aachman. One only needs to sip as much as is required to make the

mouth and throat wet and reach the heart. The tongue and the throat are used

while chanting the Mantra. But the strength to do so comes from deep down, from

the heart. Hence thrice water is sipped before starting the Sadhana.

Worship of planets

The great sage Yagyavalka has written in his famous treatise Yagyavalkya Smriti-

Shreekaamah Shantikaamo Vaa Grahayagyaam Samaacharet.

i.e. One who wishes for wealth and peace should perform Yagna. The human body is

a physical mass in the creation of which every deity has contributed its bit. It

is but natural to thank the person or persons who have been instrumental in the

creation of something. In the creation of the human body the nine planets of

astrology have played the major role. In the human body the soul represents

sun, the mind represents the moon, the blood represents Mars, imagination is

ruled by mercury, knowledge is governed by Jupiter, sexual power by Venus and

happiness & sorrows by Saturn. Thus the body exists but due to the powers of

these planets. Hence whenever we engage in some Sadhana or ritual through this

body and when Shodash Sanskar is performed we thank these planets and express

our respect and devotion for them by chanting-

Suryaay Namah, Chandramase Namah, Bhoumaay Namah, Buddhaay Namah, Brihaspati

Namah, Shukraay Namah, Shaneishcharaay Namah.

Whether others share one's moments of joy or sorrows depends on one's standing

and position in the society. In every important function at home we invite all

those who are close to us and who matter in our lives. Among the Hindus when

some religions function is to be held not just the friends and relatives,

rather all planets and stars are propitiated to seek their good wishes and

blessings. It is not a mere ritual of offering some water, flowers, sweets and

grains to these planets, rather what is important are one's feelings. For us

these planets, that have actually helped in the creation of the body, are more

important than the physical relations. Hence we never fail to pay our respect

to them.

Do planets actually manifest when propitiated?

Planets like the sun are millions of miles away from the earth. Hence it seems

to be unbelievable that they manifest when Mantras pertaining to them are

chanted. In fact as soon as the Sadhak chants the Mantra the omnipresent

Supreme Soul acts as a medium to carry the sound to the respective deity and

then carry back the blessings and power of the planet to the Sadhak.

Propitiating a planet does not mean that the planet would leave its orbit and

rush towards the Sadhak's place. Planets are actually there in one's body in

subtle form. Propitiation is done to activate the power of the respective

planet that is present in one's body so that one could benefit from it and thus

make quick and permanent progress in life and in the field of Sadhanas.

 

 

 

exracted from www.siddhashram.org

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