Guest guest Posted July 18, 1999 Report Share Posted July 18, 1999 JAYA JAGANNATHA Dear Bill, I hope you agree to my posting this for everybody to benefit. I have been following this policy of open discussions as far as possible. My reply is as below: You wrote: - William Schaffer <bschaffer Sanjay Rath <srath Saturday, July 10, 1999 1:34 PM Re: Translation help > Dear Sanjay, > > Small issue: Prasha Marga (1650 AD, Kerala) > chpt 16, sloka 120, pg 669 (BV Raman). > > I give a transliteration of the last 1/2, with reservation: > > ...... kantakasthuunanaamaaRaktasyuunovasishtam > > , > kshitisutarahito simhadhrityamsake syaat > > > My comments: > > .... after the final sthuna is named KantakaSthuna, > 1) Is 'syuuno' a misprint for 'sthuuna'. SRath: Yes,Please. > 2) Is 'Vasishta' the sage that worshipped "Taaraa" but lost courage and was > directed to worship the chinese way (Budhist?). SRath: Some difference out here. Vasistha never lost courage. When he was given the Mantra, He heard it as " TRIM" and recited the Panchakshari " OM HRIM TRIM HUM PHUT" for a long time, but failed to achieve the vision of the Mother UGRA TARA. Later, he was angered and cursed that all who worship her shall face his wrath to which the Mother UGRA TARA appeared and told him about his misinterpretation of the Mantra. The correct Mantra as disclosed by Her is "OM HRIM STRIM HUM PHUT" . Secondly, Maharshi Vasistha lived many thousand years before Gautama. There was no Buddhism then. There are some parts in China where Shakti worship occurs, perhaps even today with Ganesha temples where Radish (Called Mooli in Hindi for Moola Star) is offered. He lived in the Himalayas which could be parts of China now. Can't say. > Then 'Rakta Sthuuna' can be the Rakta Shakti which is listed as 1 of 12 > shakti's of Kaalii (Mula nakshatra to some). > Prasha Marga is a South Indian book and Shiva related. SRath: In India, the regions of Orissa, and the South have a peculiar tradition. There will be a big region which has an Ista devata whereas a small village will have its Grama/ Kula devata. For example, I belong to Village Bira-BalaBhadraPur of Puri. Hence, my Ista devata is Lord Jagannath (Sri Krishna in His form as the Universal teacher) and my Kula Devata is Lord Somanath (Lord Shiva white in complexion and said to be the Latah: Head ). Similarly Harihara the author of prasna Marga first offers his prayers to Lord Vishnu ("MadhyataVyadhipam") and then to Lord Shiva his Kula Devata. Thus, it is neither Shaivaite nor Vaishnavite, it is a Hindu work. As regards your description of Rakta Shakti, it could be correct as the results are pure disaster for its association with the Arudha Lagna or Moon. Kali Mata is one of the Dasa MahaVidya and the 12 Shakti rupa of Hers represents the Shakti worship for propitiating saturn in the 12 signs (Essentially, Her 12 Moods or Forms). > 4) Can an interpretation be something like "destruction released without a share > of the Lion's courage", which might indicate the sages situation? SRath: I think it indicates the ire/anger of the Maharishi when they tried to take away his cow KAMADHENU. The entire Maya/ Status/Power (Arudha Lagna) of the King Vishwamitra was shattered in one blow when with his prayer stick Maharishi vasistha turned his entire army into ashes! > 5) the translation for Rakta (ie. Rakta = 138 - Mars) gives almost the > same as that of Kantaka (sun). Why would he repeat it? SRath: How does it give the Sun? 138 Degrees is the 18th degree of Leo. 138 Deg Minus mars need not be equal to the Longitude of the Kantaka. I think I did not get your point. could you kindly elaborate on this. > The fragment "rakta.....syaat" seems to be an after thought, perhaps, to > place > Rakta shakti in perspecitve to the astrology. SRath: Keeping in mind that Mrityu is the son of Mars, I really cannot agree. HariHara has given many such formulae in the book. There are others called Sahams in varshaphal etc. Again, whereas kantaka Sthuna can be overcome, rakta Sthuna cannot be overcome i.e. the intensity of destruction is much higher. > 6) I cannot tell to which 'sthuna' Rakta might be related to - maybe > KantakaSthuna. SRath: Honestly, this work is very difficult at places. There is no doubt a clear reference to rakta Shakti as you mentioned as the coming together of Kali in Her most destructive mood and the seat od all Maya i.e. the Arudha Lagna can spell doom. Thanks for this mail. It is very insightful and brilliant as it invokes new thoughts. Very imaginative no doubt, but I wonder from where you get such insightful and brilliant imagination. Should I say intuition? Finishing here, Best Regards, Sanjay Rath > Does this fragment's placement give any clues on this. > > Maybe I am too imaginative here, but these pieces fit well enough > to not be ignored. Thanks for taking a look at the text. > --------------------------- > > Have just obtained Updesa Sutras - very insightful & lucid! > I gave up those dasas 3 years ago as they were not working well enough. > You have cleared the air. Many thanks. > > --------------------------- > > Wishing you health, success, and freedom, > bill > > >Jaya Jagannath > >Dear Bill, > > How voluminous is the work? Well, a few slokas can be attempted by the > >Sanskrit teacher at SJVC if it is very difficult. Otherwise I can attempt > >this. A lot depends on the time and method of writing. > >Best Regards, > >Sanjay Rath > ------ eGroups.com home: sjvc - Simplifying group communications Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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