Guest guest Posted April 13, 2005 Report Share Posted April 13, 2005 Dear friends, A few additional points from my side, which may be of interest: Though, the word VATAPATRA means banyan leaf, the shape of the leaf dipicted in most of the cases is that of ASHWATTHA (peepal)! Does it reveal some secrets? 1. ASHWATTHA VRKSHA or Peepal tree has always been a symbol of mystical power with its capacity to cure GARBHA-DOSHA(uterine disorders) I know of instances in past where a medicine made of peepal seed(!) was used as poison especially for abortions! 2. A well known medicine for VANDHYA DOSHA(infertility) is - NAVANEETA(butter) smeared on Peepal leaf, which is empowered with certain Mantras. - To me it is nothing but baby KRISHNA the butter-thief on the Peepal leaf, which resembles Yoni in shape, indicating fertility! 3. ASHWATTHA is the SAMIT(sacrifying stalk piece for Yajna) of Brihaspati/Jupiter, the PutraKaraka - significator of children in astrology. 4. In Geeta, Lord Krishna says - OORDHWA MOOLAM ADHAH SHAAKHAM ASHWATTHAM PRAAHUH AVYAYAM (Uprooted down-branched Peepal tree is said to be eternal) CHANDAAMSI YASAYA PARNAANI YASTAM VEDA SA VEDAVIT (Whose LEAVES ARE VEDAS and one who knows them has knowledge of Vedas) - clearly, Ashwattha patra or PEEPAL LEAF is VEDA ITSELF and signifies FERTILITY, which may be the reason for selecting it as a medicine for infertility. 5. ASHWATTHA is worshipped as TRIMOORTI or trinity and Serpent idols are installed at its bottom (Naaga PratishTha) which are worshipped with milk! I think this links all the points in the message given by Mrs.Srilatha. SO it is ASHWATTHA at last which comes to help when infertelity is in picture! But I really wonder why the original shloka in Sanskrit says "...VATASYA PATRASYA PUTE SHAYAANAM...."(him - who is sleeping on a BANYAN LEAF); whether VATA is really indicating Peepal instead of Banyan is still subject to argument! yours KAD , "V. Sreelatha" <venkatarama_sastry> wrote: > > Dear Friends, > > There are often a few queries on this and other lists regarding > childlessness, and I thought I would share what little I know. These > are not really "Jyotish Remedies", since they do not depend on any > particular configuration of planets, but people on this list may > still find these useful. Please understand that none of these > are "instant" remedies, and that all of these require faith and > effort. > > Subrahmanyeswara is considered the God of fertility, and is > worshipped either in his human-like form, or in the form of a snake. > Pooja vidhaan, Japa mantras etc can be learned from any standard > texts or from a priest. One of the important forms of worship of this > delightful Lord is by offerring milk. The milk can be offerred in a > Subrahmanyeswara temple, a Shiva temple, at an altar at home or at a > snake pit. By the way, performing abhisheka for the Shivalingam is a > great remedy for many problems. Naaga Panchami is a good day to start > offerring milk to the snakes. Milk may be offerred daily or on > Mondays or Tuesdays. Problems with Rahu are often credited for > childlessness, so worship of Subrahmanya as the Naaga Devatha is also > an astrological remedy. > > Santana Gopala mantram is often recommended for obtaining a child. > The mantra is > Devakisutam Govindam Vaasudevam Jagatpatim > Dehime Tanayam Krishna Twamaham Sharanagataha > > This has to be chanted one lakh times within 51 days. > > Pundit Rath Ji has recommended that Sree Krishna and Arjuna should be > visualized while chanting this mantra, bringing a baby. The tradition > that I know of, visualizes Baala Krishna instead. Krishna in his baby > form, in a cradle, is said to bring happiness and children to the > home, and a statue or a picture is very beneficial too. The other > visualization is of the smiling baby Krishna lying on a banyan leaf > in the middle of a Maha Pralaya, sucking his own big toe - > Vatapatrasaayi Roopam. This is a highly mystical form of the Divine, > indicating the Chidaananda swaroopa, calm amidst the storm. Recall > that the Lord left his bodily form when an arrow pierced his big toe. > The divine Child with his toe in his mouth makes a full circle, where > the distinctions between destruction and creation begin to blur, as > the world arises from Him and merges into Him constantly. The same > idea is echoed throughout the scriptures. Purusha Suktam talks of the > Purusha bringing forth all creation by being Himself the aahuti in > the Yagna. The Devi is depicted drinking Her own blood from her > severed head, as Chinna Masta. Krishna states clearly in the Bhagavat > Geeta in multiple verses that the world comes from Him, IS Him and > merges into Him, and also by his Viswa Roopam as the Mahaa Kaala > Swaroopa. The form of Vatapatrasaayi is a joyous depiction of the > same eternal truth that everything that delights us or terrifies us, > is but the play of this adorable little Child - He is All. > > Now that I've gone off on a tangent :-), let me send this out, and > bask in the sweetness of Vatapatrasaayi... > -Sreelatha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 15, 2005 Report Share Posted April 15, 2005 To all those that asked for a prayer for the Sarpa Devatha, here is a simple and potent one for the Nava Naagas (the 9 serpents): Ananto Vasukihi Seshaha Padmanaabhascha Kambalahah Sankhapaalo Dharta Rastraha Takshaaha Kaaliyastathah Phala Stuti: Etaani Nava Namaani Naaganaamcha Mahaatmanam Saayamkaalee Pathennityam Pratahkaalee Viseshatahah Tasya Vishabhayam Naasti Sarvatra Vijayee Bhaveth Although most people fear serpents, I found that the best way to meditate upon them is to admire and love rather than to fear. My usual visualization is that of Naaga raaja with his hood open, protectively hovering over the Siva Lingam. Another favorite image is that of the gentle Lord Shiva, with the Sarpa around his neck, the upraised hood of the snake echoing the blessings shed by His upraised hand in the Abhaya mudra. Or, as Nataraaja dances to the eternal beat of his Pinaaka, Nagendra sways happily on His neck, in his own mesmerizing dance. Sometimes, I visualize Lord Vishnu, the Jagan Mohanaakara, breathtakingly beautiful, lying on the mighty Aadi Shesha, who bears the burden of the entire universe. Other times, it is the little Krishna, lying in a basket on Vasudeva's head, as Vasudeva carried Him to Yashoda across the mighty Yamuna in flood. Fearing that the pelting rain will hurt his beloved Lord, Adi Shesha rushes to be behind the father and son, holding his open hood above the Lord as an umbrella! Even though Adi Shesha knew that nothing could ever hurt Him, he rushed to His assistance, with as much love and concern as His mother Yashoda later did! Another personification of the snake is as Lakshmana, Rama's faithful brother and servant. Apparently before the Krishnaavatar, Adi Shesha pleaded with Vishnu to let him be the older brother this time - as Lakshmana, he had to endure the sight of his beloved Master go through so much, for the sake of upholding Dharma, and could not order Him to do otherwise, since he was younger! As per his wish, Adi Shesha was born as Balaraama, Krishna's older brother, but the one thing he did not bargain for, was the clever little butter-thief's gift of gab - vaak chaaturyam! Krishna never once explicitly disobeyed his older brother, but always managed to get his own way regardless :-). Anyway, the point I was making is that any form of the Divine, including the form of the Serpent, is wonderful if we make the effort to understand it. -Sreelatha , "V. Sreelatha" <venkatarama_sastry> wrote: > > Dear Friends, > > There are often a few queries on this and other lists regarding > childlessness, and I thought I would share what little I know. These > are not really "Jyotish Remedies", since they do not depend on any > particular configuration of planets, but people on this list may > still find these useful. Please understand that none of these > are "instant" remedies, and that all of these require faith and > effort. > > Subrahmanyeswara is considered the God of fertility, and is > worshipped either in his human-like form, or in the form of a snake. > Pooja vidhaan, Japa mantras etc can be learned from any standard > texts or from a priest. One of the important forms of worship of this > delightful Lord is by offerring milk. The milk can be offerred in a > Subrahmanyeswara temple, a Shiva temple, at an altar at home or at a > snake pit. By the way, performing abhisheka for the Shivalingam is a > great remedy for many problems. Naaga Panchami is a good day to start > offerring milk to the snakes. Milk may be offerred daily or on > Mondays or Tuesdays. Problems with Rahu are often credited for > childlessness, so worship of Subrahmanya as the Naaga Devatha is also > an astrological remedy. > > Santana Gopala mantram is often recommended for obtaining a child. > The mantra is > Devakisutam Govindam Vaasudevam Jagatpatim > Dehime Tanayam Krishna Twamaham Sharanagataha > > This has to be chanted one lakh times within 51 days. > > Pundit Rath Ji has recommended that Sree Krishna and Arjuna should be > visualized while chanting this mantra, bringing a baby. The tradition > that I know of, visualizes Baala Krishna instead. Krishna in his baby > form, in a cradle, is said to bring happiness and children to the > home, and a statue or a picture is very beneficial too. The other > visualization is of the smiling baby Krishna lying on a banyan leaf > in the middle of a Maha Pralaya, sucking his own big toe - > Vatapatrasaayi Roopam. This is a highly mystical form of the Divine, > indicating the Chidaananda swaroopa, calm amidst the storm. Recall > that the Lord left his bodily form when an arrow pierced his big toe. > The divine Child with his toe in his mouth makes a full circle, where > the distinctions between destruction and creation begin to blur, as > the world arises from Him and merges into Him constantly. The same > idea is echoed throughout the scriptures. Purusha Suktam talks of the > Purusha bringing forth all creation by being Himself the aahuti in > the Yagna. The Devi is depicted drinking Her own blood from her > severed head, as Chinna Masta. Krishna states clearly in the Bhagavat > Geeta in multiple verses that the world comes from Him, IS Him and > merges into Him, and also by his Viswa Roopam as the Mahaa Kaala > Swaroopa. The form of Vatapatrasaayi is a joyous depiction of the > same eternal truth that everything that delights us or terrifies us, > is but the play of this adorable little Child - He is All. > > Now that I've gone off on a tangent :-), let me send this out, and > bask in the sweetness of Vatapatrasaayi... > -Sreelatha 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.