Eclipse, darbhai & pithrus (3)

[Guest guest]

SRIMATHE RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA.

 

 

 

Continuing from the second part, let me add a few more observations.

 

 

 

But I appreciate some clarification on the following question.

 

 

 

Are there differences in sandhya vandana done during mid-day and the twilight

vandana?

 

 

 

Is the 'pashyathE sharadha: shatam.. jeevEma sharadha: shatam' meaning 'May I

see the sun for a 100 years and may I live for a 100 years', uttered only

during midday vandana?

 

 

 

If it is so, it means a person doing it everyday at twilight, will be blessed

with a 100 years. The sun that 'sees' him at twilight purifies his internal

system so that his internal defence against diseases grow stronger (as in the

way Ayur veda treats any ailment). Such a person is blessed to live a 100 years

without any ailment. Since the Sun 'takes care' to do it, by his sandhya rays,

the need is not there to pray for a 100 years is what is deduced here.

 

 

 

Whereas such rays to bestow 100 years are not present at mid-day. Therefore the

need to pray for 100 years at mid-day vandana. This is one way of

interpretation.

 

 

 

Such purifying rays do not reach the doer at mid-day, but his entire

surroundings will be ringed by such rays, with him at the center at mid-day.

 

 

 

This can be visualized in this way.

 

 

 

The solar disc above us emitting rays from its poles, which form a wall on the

entire rim of the hemispherical region, which is the region of twilight. When we

cross this region (twice daily) sandhya vandana is done and agni hotra is done.

These two have been referred to as nithya karma, ('niyatham kuru karma' -BG)

obligatory in nature. (there may be other karmas too and those who know them,

kindly write about them.) They do not produce any karma phalam, (as per Gita

bhashyam explaining the obligatory karma), but still they must be done for

loka-kshemam. In sandhya vandanam, the purification happening at all levels,

physical, vital and mental ultimately make the doer a person of 'knowledge' -

this again can be cross-checked with Brahma sutras, which say, that the one who

does nithya karma without fail and with awareness will grow in 'knowledge' -

which is about Brahman.

 

 

 

Another interesting aspect that can be noticed in these sandhya kaala karmas, is

the absence of darbhai!

 

 

 

After having come to know of the greatness of darbhai (thanks to bhagavathas

like Sri Neel Krishna and others), it is now understood why darbhai is not

needed in the sandhya kaala karmas. The Sun Itself undertakes the protection and

the karmas done are not wasted even negligibly is what is understood here. The

full phalam is accrued.

 

 

 

But that it is not so in grahana tarpaNam shows that at prolonged exposure to

such rays which are otherwise beneficial at sandhya kaalam, darbhai is needed.

Also, since tarpaNAm is done to transfer certain aspects to those at another

level, darbhai ensures full protection from any obstruction at any form during

those moments.

 

 

 

Again the placing of darbhai on food stuffs and the starving recommended before

grahaNam begins, show that at prolonged exposure to the polar rays of the sun,

some inconvenience is experienced. Here again the Sun God is kind enough to give

us the Best of Ailments!!

 

 

 

Of the different Bests mentioned in Vamana purana, the best among ailments is

indigestion or ajheerNAm. ("VyaadhIshu ajheerNa:")

 

By this it is implied that of the different ailments, indigestion is best, in

that it can be easily avoided or cured. Once occurred, Bhavana jeeraka

rasayana, an Ayur vedic preparation (for the sake of information for those in

need, this is being mentioned here) relieves the ailment within an hour. When it

is about to occur as during eclipse, it can be avoided by abstinence and by

protecting the food stuff by darbhai. It is really the Greatness of Sun God that

even in adversity, He gives us the easily manageable problem and also ways to

avoid it.

 

 

 

Thinking about this ring around the earth at twilight zone, from the Sun's

poles, it appears that the earth is at the constant grip of the sun's polar

arms. It is as though the Sun god is holding the earth always by his hands

extending from his poles. The similar grip is happening to the moon. If this is

what is actually happening with all the other celetial bodies (which seems

logically possible). It gives a terrific picture that can be extended upto

Hiranyagarbha and Para Brahma Himself.

 

 

 

Scene -1:- All the planets / matter in its system held in grip by the polar arms

of the Sun.

 

 

 

Scene-2:- All the stars of the galaxy being held by that central force residing

at the galactical center (Sagittarius in milky way) by its polar arms or

something similar.

 

 

 

Scene-3:- All the galaxies that include milky way galaxy which have been

termed as Local group galaxies that revolve around that center which is holding

them all with its polar (or some) arms. (I strongly contend that polar arms are

there for all bodies, which will be taken up in detail in another mail dealing

with earth's polar arm)

 

 

 

Scene-4:- These Local group galaxies are believed to be revolving around ( as

per our present level of knowledge of cosmos) none other than a Super cluster

having the constellation Virgo. This cluster is known as Virgo Super cluster. By

extending the logic of the central one holding the others going around it, this

virgo cluster is the one holding us all. In other words, with successive layers

of rotation starting from the Sun, the earth along with the Sun is rotating

around the Virgo constellation. (Beyond this, science has not yet speculated any

other rotation. As per present knowledge, this Virgo cluster, along with all of

us is rotating around the center of our Universe.)

 

 

 

But what strikes me here is that - this Virgo is the month of Purattaasi, kanni

maasam, when pithrus visit us during Mahalaya paksham starting from Full moon to

New moon!!

 

 

 

Isn't that surprising that our system is moving around a system, which signifies

a place for pithrus and the time of the year when they travel to earth through

the golden rays of Sun to be with their off-springs, to receive the obeisance

offered to them and bless them in return?

 

 

 

Also thinking about how the Universe-center is holding all those clusters

moving around it with its arms, it is just amazing. Like this, numerous

universes are there, as per scriptures and also accepted by today's

cosmologists. All these are once again in the grip of a further center. This

goes on endlessly - with The Supreme Centre holding everything in its arms,

enveloping everything by its rays.. as though hugging all Its Creation and

protecting them all with its Energy pervading in all directions. This is That

Purushottaman - That Brahman - A terrific and terrifying picture of thousand

crores of arms of Him stretching towards thousands of crores of Suns in all

directions, spreading on all directions, pervading on all directions at all

things and non-things in its garbham.

 

 

 

It is just mind-boggling to think of this 'veechchu' - a miniscule of which is

felt at sandhya kaalam. It seems not right to even ask for His grace (for me )

now-a-days. He is already holding me and everything connected to me. ( to ask

Him to give His Grace to me is like a son asking for a promisory note from his

father to transfer all his wealth to him .. I understand Our acharya much better

now:-))

 

 

 

I am ( all of us -by this veechchu are) under His grip. Has the Sun left its

grip? No. Did the Sun ask us about this before holding us? No. They are there

doing their jobs for fear of Him. For fear of Him they would not dare to do

anything other than holding us. It seems the sun is there as also all those

Universes are there only to help us - by His order.

 

 

His order to us is foster the devas, so that they in turn can foster us. That is

how His Creation must be sustained and equilibrium attained in Nature.

 

 

 

Foster of the Surya deva is done at sandhya kaalam.

 

Foster of the pithrus is done with the help of the surya deva by way of

tarpaNam.

 

 

 

Thus it goes...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(To be continued)

 

 

 

jayasree saranathan.