use of left hand during abhishek on a shivaling

[Guest guest]

Respected members,

Someone told me that a married

women shud not do abhishek 2 a shivaling alone.Is it correct?In fact

Her husband shud do it and she shud not do, rather she shud sit

beside him.What is the advantage/disadvantage of doing abhishek with

left hand.If a right handed person performs abhishek with left hand

wat does it mean?Does pouring of milk with left hand has some meaning?

pls guide.shalini.

[Guest guest]

Dear Ms. Shalini:

 

Left hand is generally not used in vedic poojas or rituals. Only in

tantrik rituals left hand is employed. In vedic rituals, left hand is

sometimes used to gather water from the pooja vessel, but only with

the right hand the arghya is given (i.e. the vessel with water will be

taken in the left hand, and the water poured over the right palm. So,

in effect, the arghya is actually being given only by the right

hand). Abhishekam should be done with similar procedure or with

holding the milk pot with both hands and not with left hand alone.

 

Generally it is best if only males do the abhishekam with their wifes

standing by their side.

 

Best regards,

 

Mohanraaam.

 

vedic astrology, "sshalini26" <sshalini26

wrote:

>

> Respected members,

> Someone told me that a married

> women shud not do abhishek 2 a shivaling alone.Is it correct?In fact

> Her husband shud do it and she shud not do, rather she shud sit

> beside him.What is the advantage/disadvantage of doing abhishek with

> left hand.If a right handed person performs abhishek with left hand

> wat does it mean?Does pouring of milk with left hand has some

meaning?

> pls guide.shalini.

>

[Guest guest]

Shalini,

 

The left hand is to be used for any abhisheka or worship only in co-

ordination with the right hand, which would be doing the main

activity.

 

It is very much fine with women doing abhisheka, in this age. In

fact, its more true for Deities worshipped at home. It is also true

for Deities worshipped in temples, provided the archa rules are

followed very strictly.

 

Most important of all, remember that the "heart" is more significant

in any worship. No point in doing anything as a ritual or a

mechanical series of actions.

 

The fact that women should not do Deity worship or "stand by her

husband" are all sentimental stands. We should interpret rules and

regulations in scriptures relative to the current world/age we are

living in and not just repeat slokas and rules like tape recorders.

 

In Kali yuga, there is no discrimination as men and women, upper and

lower class, as everyone is considered to have only low/sudra

qualities. Which means, all of us have a lot of homework to do and

become much better individuals, for spiritual progress to happen.

 

Hence best is not to confuse yourself with biased ideas and continue

doing whatever you are able to, in the process of expressing your

desire to worship God.

 

Regards

Radhika

 

 

vedic astrology, "mohanraaam"

<mohanraaam wrote:

>

> Dear Ms. Shalini:

>

> Left hand is generally not used in vedic poojas or rituals. Only

in

> tantrik rituals left hand is employed. In vedic rituals, left

hand is

> sometimes used to gather water from the pooja vessel, but only

with

> the right hand the arghya is given (i.e. the vessel with water

will be

> taken in the left hand, and the water poured over the right palm.

So,

> in effect, the arghya is actually being given only by the right

> hand). Abhishekam should be done with similar procedure or with

> holding the milk pot with both hands and not with left hand alone.

>

> Generally it is best if only males do the abhishekam with their

wifes

> standing by their side.

>

> Best regards,

>

> Mohanraaam.

>

> vedic astrology, "sshalini26" <sshalini26@>

> wrote:

> >

> > Respected members,

> > Someone told me that a

married

> > women shud not do abhishek 2 a shivaling alone.Is it correct?In

fact

> > Her husband shud do it and she shud not do, rather she shud sit

> > beside him.What is the advantage/disadvantage of doing abhishek

with

> > left hand.If a right handed person performs abhishek with left

hand

> > wat does it mean?Does pouring of milk with left hand has some

> meaning?

> > pls guide.shalini.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

dear radhika,

 

When we say women and men are equal, that is fine in the sociological sense

ie in our day to day practical life . Women should be equal respect or even

more respect than men, because she is carrying more responsibilities than

men nowadays, in career and in home making. But so far as Manta sastra is

concerned, we have to respect what it says.

 

It is true that there is no bias before god and you can do what your heart

dictates. But please remember that when you doing Abhisekha, you are not

ACTUALLY doing abhisekham to GOD but to a power of Energy which is erected

there.

 

So, you will have to go with the rules of Energy and women as well as males

afflicted with certain kinds of problems are seen to be negative energy in

the mantra sastra.

 

 

Hence, the restrictions. Flouting such restrictions with our limited

knowledge is not good both for the Energy systems in the temple as well as

the person flouting it.

 

Of course, this is only general comment and not on the specific case

discussed.

 

kishore patnaik

 

 

On 7/19/06, Radhika <radhika35 > wrote:

>

> Shalini,

>

> The left hand is to be used for any abhisheka or worship only in co-

> ordination with the right hand, which would be doing the main

> activity.

>

> It is very much fine with women doing abhisheka, in this age. In

> fact, its more true for Deities worshipped at home. It is also true

> for Deities worshipped in temples, provided the archa rules are

> followed very strictly.

>

> Most important of all, remember that the "heart" is more significant

> in any worship. No point in doing anything as a ritual or a

> mechanical series of actions.

>

> The fact that women should not do Deity worship or "stand by her

> husband" are all sentimental stands. We should interpret rules and

> regulations in scriptures relative to the current world/age we are

> living in and not just repeat slokas and rules like tape recorders.

>

> In Kali yuga, there is no discrimination as men and women, upper and

> lower class, as everyone is considered to have only low/sudra

> qualities. Which means, all of us have a lot of homework to do and

> become much better individuals, for spiritual progress to happen.

>

> Hence best is not to confuse yourself with biased ideas and continue

> doing whatever you are able to, in the process of expressing your

> desire to worship God.

>

> Regards

> Radhika

>

> vedic astrology <vedic astrology%40>,

> "mohanraaam"

>

> <mohanraaam wrote:

> >

> > Dear Ms. Shalini:

> >

> > Left hand is generally not used in vedic poojas or rituals. Only

> in

> > tantrik rituals left hand is employed. In vedic rituals, left

> hand is

> > sometimes used to gather water from the pooja vessel, but only

> with

> > the right hand the arghya is given (i.e. the vessel with water

> will be

> > taken in the left hand, and the water poured over the right palm.

> So,

> > in effect, the arghya is actually being given only by the right

> > hand). Abhishekam should be done with similar procedure or with

> > holding the milk pot with both hands and not with left hand alone.

> >

> > Generally it is best if only males do the abhishekam with their

> wifes

> > standing by their side.

> >

> > Best regards,

> >

> > Mohanraaam.

> >

> > vedic astrology<vedic astrology%40>,

> "sshalini26" <sshalini26@>

> > wrote:

> > >

> > > Respected members,

> > > Someone told me that a

> married

> > > women shud not do abhishek 2 a shivaling alone.Is it correct?In

> fact

> > > Her husband shud do it and she shud not do, rather she shud sit

> > > beside him.What is the advantage/disadvantage of doing abhishek

> with

> > > left hand.If a right handed person performs abhishek with left

> hand

> > > wat does it mean?Does pouring of milk with left hand has some

> > meaning?

> > > pls guide.shalini.

> > >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Kishore,

 

We are not talking about a sociological or career sense here. Its

not a man-women debate.

 

I'm very much aware of the energy that you are talking about. But I

think its necessary to understand that such a degree is perhaps in

very rare temples and certainly not for home deities that Shalini is

referring to.

 

Second, in Kali yuga, no man is qualified. Do you think anyone in

Kali yuga is, per se qualified to chant Gayathri or wear the sacred

thread, in terms of the qualities he requires as an individual to do

these? You find Gayathri mantra only in the 11th Canto of Srimad

Bhagavatam. The first canto talks about people of Kali yuga and

their low qualities. You might want to go back and read it.

According to that text, one has to become qualified by nature (not

by birth) before he can utter Gayathri.

 

I'm not fighting any caste per se, as I'm also born in such a

community. What I'm trying to say is that, things are very different

in this age in the sense, purity, integrity, honestly,

straightforwardness, simplicity, mercy, faith etc are much

compromised.

 

What has happened over time, is that rituals are getting followed in

form but not in spirit, mantras are uttered in a routine fashion.

But we dont forget to maintain a few rules such as men/women (since

that more appeals to our human ego). Whether we do this because we

are a patriarchial society or whether its because we are following

vedic rules, is the question.

 

With regards to abhishek, we do it to a positive energy. So there is

nothing so strong that will affect or harm anybody.

 

In olden days, uttering Vedic mantras were not allowed for women,

one simple reason included that it required certain breathing

patterns which were not condusive to the women's body.

 

But in this age, which "vedic scholar" utters mantras in the same

way? They only read or murmur it. Who utters mantras once he is

timed out for the next engagement? How will purity and the strong

energy u mentioned, survive in such an environment? We just cant

afford to talk about any flouting here. We should try to be as

objective as possible without getting too sentimental.

 

Regards,

Radhika

 

 

vedic astrology, "kishore patnaik"

<kishorepatnaik09 wrote:

>

> dear radhika,

>

> When we say women and men are equal, that is fine in the

sociological sense

> ie in our day to day practical life . Women should be equal

respect or even

> more respect than men, because she is carrying more

responsibilities than

> men nowadays, in career and in home making. But so far as Manta

sastra is

> concerned, we have to respect what it says.

>

> It is true that there is no bias before god and you can do what

your heart

> dictates. But please remember that when you doing Abhisekha, you

are not

> ACTUALLY doing abhisekham to GOD but to a power of Energy which is

erected

> there.

>

> So, you will have to go with the rules of Energy and women as well

as males

> afflicted with certain kinds of problems are seen to be negative

energy in

> the mantra sastra.

>

>

> Hence, the restrictions. Flouting such restrictions with our

limited

> knowledge is not good both for the Energy systems in the temple as

well as

> the person flouting it.

>

> Of course, this is only general comment and not on the specific

case

> discussed.

>

> kishore patnaik

>

>

> On 7/19/06, Radhika <radhika35 wrote:

> >

> > Shalini,

> >

> > The left hand is to be used for any abhisheka or worship only in

co-

> > ordination with the right hand, which would be doing the main

> > activity.

> >

> > It is very much fine with women doing abhisheka, in this age. In

> > fact, its more true for Deities worshipped at home. It is also

true

> > for Deities worshipped in temples, provided the archa rules are

> > followed very strictly.

> >

> > Most important of all, remember that the "heart" is more

significant

> > in any worship. No point in doing anything as a ritual or a

> > mechanical series of actions.

> >

> > The fact that women should not do Deity worship or "stand by her

> > husband" are all sentimental stands. We should interpret rules

and

> > regulations in scriptures relative to the current world/age we

are

> > living in and not just repeat slokas and rules like tape

recorders.

> >

> > In Kali yuga, there is no discrimination as men and women, upper

and

> > lower class, as everyone is considered to have only low/sudra

> > qualities. Which means, all of us have a lot of homework to do

and

> > become much better individuals, for spiritual progress to happen.

> >

> > Hence best is not to confuse yourself with biased ideas and

continue

> > doing whatever you are able to, in the process of expressing your

> > desire to worship God.

> >

> > Regards

> > Radhika

> >

> > vedic astrology <vedic astrology%

40>,

> > "mohanraaam"

> >

> > <mohanraaam@> wrote:

> > >

> > > Dear Ms. Shalini:

> > >

> > > Left hand is generally not used in vedic poojas or rituals.

Only

> > in

> > > tantrik rituals left hand is employed. In vedic rituals, left

> > hand is

> > > sometimes used to gather water from the pooja vessel, but only

> > with

> > > the right hand the arghya is given (i.e. the vessel with water

> > will be

> > > taken in the left hand, and the water poured over the right

palm.

> > So,

> > > in effect, the arghya is actually being given only by the right

> > > hand). Abhishekam should be done with similar procedure or with

> > > holding the milk pot with both hands and not with left hand

alone.

> > >

> > > Generally it is best if only males do the abhishekam with their

> > wifes

> > > standing by their side.

> > >

> > > Best regards,

> > >

> > > Mohanraaam.

> > >

> > > vedic astrology<vedic astrology%

40>,

> > "sshalini26" <sshalini26@>

> > > wrote:

> > > >

> > > > Respected members,

> > > > Someone told me that a

> > married

> > > > women shud not do abhishek 2 a shivaling alone.Is it correct?

In

> > fact

> > > > Her husband shud do it and she shud not do, rather she shud

sit

> > > > beside him.What is the advantage/disadvantage of doing

abhishek

> > with

> > > > left hand.If a right handed person performs abhishek with

left

> > hand

> > > > wat does it mean?Does pouring of milk with left hand has some

> > > meaning?

> > > > pls guide.shalini.

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Namaskar Radhikaji,

You have hit the point.All our ancient scriptures have prescribed are better ways of living our lives.Sometimes some rules are not compatible to our current age which is very understandable considering the fact that ages have passed since our great sages compiled their works.It is upto us to realise the difference and use the same methods in tune to current times and benefit from it.From what little I have read I have understood that Hinduism is perhaps the only religion which is more a way of life rather than a religion.And also it is the religion where the follower has the right to ask a question and clarify his/her doubts,instead of blind acceptance.Perhaps that is why it is also the only religion that has survived for so many centuries.May this light shine for centuries to come.

 

 

Sincerely,

Bindiya.

 

'Agnyaan timiraandhasya gnyaanaanjana shalaakaya yen chakshu oonmeelitam tasmai Shri Gurave Namah'

 

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