Guest guest Posted September 30, 2007 Report Share Posted September 30, 2007 Dear P, One should never deride Divine Mother in any form. Never should one do that! I might be in Samayachara/Dakshinachara/Srividya Upasana but if Iam not ready to give up my life like those "ignorant"(as you put it) people in Tamilnadu, then my upasana does not have a meaning. Though Deiveeka Bhakthi is greater than Veerabhakthi, one has to pass through that stage. The villagers are guileless, not a trace of cunningness is found in them. I have moved with such villagers all my life,my Newyork life cannot change me an iota!Better those guiless,violet-bhakthi people than the cunning Indians and westerners of Newyork. Can you walk on fire like them for Divine Mother? Can you atleast a camphor on your manicured palms for a few minutes till the camphor dies down on your palm?(They keep lighting the camphor for hours).Can you light a fire pot and carry it on your bare hands in abject supplication and divine fervor for the Paradevatha?--I have done all these and I know how painful it is for the physical body. You might find these things being done by a Srividya upasaka to be beneath dignity but, nothing is more/less for my Amma. Ennai eendreduthha Ammai, Undu Umizhntha En Thaai! They might not know Krama-Tantras,Shastras,Navavarnapujas,niyamas and neethis, but their hearts are golden.They need our guidance,love and respect and then their bhakthi will be even better than us. Maasani Amman....reclining posture. Do you know anything about this "degraded deity"(as you mentioned)--any sthalapurana any deity mahima? Nothing! So I deem it that silence on your part is most prudent. My first Pranams to Maasani Amman, another form of Rajarajeshwari Amman before, I proceed on whatever little I know. You said that it is a vicious deity on whom if Greenchilly paste is applied will attack enemies...(this is wrong and half-baked information) One more thing, any deity for that matter can be used for a nefarious purpose(even Anjaneya or Narasimha of the Vaishnvaite sampradaya from which you come) and then finally the one who has sent will experience hell greater than the victim-THIS IS FOR SURE. This being so, this deity alone should not be singled out. Umayaval Ayya, ivangaa, solla naakku koosavillayaa ummakku? Enthaayikku evviddha avamaanam erpattaalum adhu yemakke endru varuthapadubavan naam! Nestled amidst emerald grassland interlaced with criss-cross pathways and rivulets against the backdrop of blue hills lies the holy shrine of Goddess Masaniamman gracing the devotees. It is located at the spot where the river Aliyar and the stream uppar meet at a distance of 15 km South West of Pollachi. (People running on hot coals for this deity) The Shrine serves as a "welfare Government"- listening to the grievances of the public As a "Hospital" remedying the physical ills of the people and As a court of justice relieving the distress of bhaktha janas. Devotees record their aspirations, claims and hopes on a piece of paper and submit it to the temple priest to be placed on the trident of the deity. It is firmly believed that the Goddess responds to their prayers within a period of 90 days. There is a stone image in the temple representing the Goddess of justice with the body of a serpent, popularly known as 'Neethi Kal' (Stone of Justice). People harassed by enemies, merchants meeting with loss in business or men and women who have lost their belongings take bath, sport holy ashes of the shrine and then grind chillies in the stone grinder of the temple and smear the paste on the so called 'Neethi Kal'.However, 'Neethi Kal' does not work if the other party is not wrong, the shakthi will attack the one who has grinded the chillies. Someone earlier was also mentioning to me that the chillies are smeared on the deity and then the deity becomes ugra and "it" then goes and attacks the "enemy". This is absurd on many counts. First, no sane priest will allow anyone to smear greenchilly paste onto a vigraha.Second, the deity is not an "it" to behave at the whims and fancies of the one who applies such a paste(if at all there is such a custom) as the deity is Parashakthi Herself. Kundam Thiru Vizha (The above festival details: A land measuring 2.85 acres was been gifted to the temple. On this land in a particular place is dug up a fire-pit for the Kundam Festival.Kundam Festival associated with Mariamman temples is the most popular one in Kongunadu. Kundam Festival represents the Annual Brahmorchavam in this shrine. Every year on the New Moon Day of the Tamil Month 'Thai' the temple flag is hoisted. On the 14th day, at midnight, devotees hasten to the graveyard for special worship. An image of the deity is made out of the clay taken from the graveyard and prayer is offered to it. On the 15th day after fulfilling the formality of what is known as 'Kankan', 'Kumbhasthapanam' takes place. Special worship is performed at 3.00 A.M.On the 16th day comes the Chithira Ther Festival. After the car circumambulated the town, at 10.00 P.M. the holy fire of the 'Kundam' is lighted. On the 17th day at 9.00 A.M. devotees, in great excitement and frenzy jump into a fire-pit sprawling to a staggering length of 40 feet for fire-walking in fulfillment of their vows or for mere divine mother frenzy.On the 18th day, the flag is lowered. After anointment to the deity, is performed 'Mahamuni Pooja'. Barren women are blessed with offsprings. The special medicine given by the shrine relieves the gynaecological disorders of women. Nowhere in Tamilnadu, perhaps even in the whole of country can be found the reclining iimage of Goddess. In the Sanctum-Sanctorum, the sprawling image of Masaniamman lying on her back, measures 17' from head to foot. It is a giant-size stucco work painted in flamboyant colour. The deity has four hands - two placed on the ground and two raised above. While the two right hands hold a skull and a snake, the two left hands hold a tiny drum and a trident. In front of the Sanctum Sanctorum is a niche, wherein is enshrined Mahamuniappan. The image is also painted in rich colours and fascinating to the eye. This then is the charitra of this Mahimaanvitha Amman! You may send abusive emails targetted at me, I dont care a whit! but sending an abusive email on Amba is the last thing, I can digest.You even have the audacity to title your email to me as "Chilly Amma--hehehe!" May the "Chilly Amma" provide you with sandalpaste coolness in your life and bless you! Amba be with you! Yours yogically, Shreeram Balijepalli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2007 Report Share Posted October 1, 2007 Dear Shreeram many times when my Teacher was meditating local kids actually viciously would come and test her throw stones and dust on Her Head while meditating She did not respond , however She did responded while in deep meditation a villager brought his son Who had v. high fever in front of Her and pleaded to help . She came out of Her mediation and helped the poor boy to heal, Mother Divine reacts to those pure of heart and true need, weather be it a city dweller or uneducated one She forgives All. Once a boy Who's village was rampaged by asuras simply called out Mother Durgas name ,indeed She came to rescue in flash of second ( why because the child's heart was pure ) but what is even more interesting here because of Her Eternal Beauty the Evil asuras simply prostated at Her feet they where simply overwhelmed by Mother , so thanks to the little boy not only did He saved His village but even evil asuras got Mother's blessing. J. > > Dear P, > > One should never deride Divine Mother in any form. Never should one do > that! > > I might be in Samayachara/Dakshinachara/Srividya Upasana but if Iam not > ready to give up my life like those " ignorant " (as you put it) people in > Tamilnadu, then my upasana does not have a meaning. Though Deiveeka > Bhakthi is greater than Veerabhakthi, one has to pass through that > stage. > > The villagers are guileless, not a trace of cunningness is found in > them. I have moved with such villagers all my life,my Newyork life > cannot change me an iota!Better those guiless,violet-bhakthi people than > the cunning Indians and westerners of Newyork. > > Can you walk on fire like them for Divine Mother? Can you atleast a > camphor on your manicured palms for a few minutes till the camphor dies > down on your palm?(They keep lighting the camphor for hours).Can you > light a fire pot and carry it on your bare hands in abject supplication > and divine fervor for the Paradevatha?--I have done all these and I know > how painful it is for the physical body. > > You might find these things being done by a Srividya upasaka to be > beneath dignity but, nothing is more/less for my Amma. > > Ennai eendreduthha Ammai, Undu Umizhntha En Thaai! > > They might not know Krama-Tantras,Shastras,Navavarnapujas,niyamas and > neethis, but their hearts are golden.They need our guidance,love and > respect and then their bhakthi will be even better than us. > > Maasani Amman....reclining posture. > > Do you know anything about this " degraded deity " (as you mentioned)--any > sthalapurana any deity mahima? Nothing! > > So I deem it that silence on your part is most prudent. > > My first Pranams to Maasani Amman, another form of Rajarajeshwari Amman > before, I proceed on whatever little I know. > > You said that it is a vicious deity on whom if Greenchilly paste is > applied will attack enemies...(this is wrong and half-baked information) > > One more thing, any deity for that matter can be used for a nefarious > purpose(even Anjaneya or Narasimha of the Vaishnvaite sampradaya from > which you come) and then finally the one who has sent will experience > hell greater than the victim-THIS IS FOR SURE. > > This being so, this deity alone should not be singled out. > > Umayaval Ayya, ivangaa, solla naakku koosavillayaa ummakku? > > Enthaayikku evviddha avamaanam erpattaalum adhu yemakke endru > varuthapadubavan naam! > > Nestled amidst emerald grassland interlaced with criss-cross pathways > and rivulets against the backdrop of blue hills lies the holy shrine of > Goddess Masaniamman gracing the devotees. It is located at the spot > where the river Aliyar and the stream uppar meet at a distance of 15 km > South West of Pollachi. > > (People running on hot coals for this deity) > > > The Shrine serves as a " welfare Government " - listening to the grievances > of the public > > As a " Hospital " remedying the physical ills of the people > > and > > As a court of justice relieving the distress of bhaktha janas. > > > > Devotees record their aspirations, claims and hopes on a piece of paper > and submit it to the temple priest to be placed on the trident of the > deity. It is firmly believed that the Goddess responds to their prayers > within a period of 90 days. > > There is a stone image in the temple representing the Goddess of justice > with the body of a serpent, popularly known as 'Neethi Kal' (Stone of > Justice). People harassed by enemies, merchants meeting with loss in > business or men and women who have lost their belongings take bath, > sport holy ashes of the shrine and then grind chillies in the stone > grinder of the temple and smear the paste on the so called 'Neethi > Kal'.However, 'Neethi Kal' does not work if the other party is not > wrong, the shakthi will attack the one who has grinded the chillies. > > Someone earlier was also mentioning to me that the chillies are smeared > on the deity and then the deity becomes ugra and " it " then goes and > attacks the " enemy " . This is absurd on many counts. First, no sane > priest will allow anyone to smear greenchilly paste onto a > vigraha.Second, the deity is not an " it " to behave at the whims and > fancies of the one who applies such a paste(if at all there is such a > custom) as the deity is Parashakthi Herself. > > Kundam Thiru Vizha > > (The above festival details: A land measuring 2.85 acres was been gifted > to the temple. On this land in a particular place is dug up a fire-pit > for the Kundam Festival.Kundam Festival associated with Mariamman > temples is the most popular one in Kongunadu. Kundam Festival represents > the Annual Brahmorchavam in this shrine. Every year on the New Moon Day > of the Tamil Month 'Thai' the temple flag is hoisted. On the 14th day, > at midnight, devotees hasten to the graveyard for special worship. An > image of the deity is made out of the clay taken from the graveyard and > prayer is offered to it. On the 15th day after fulfilling the formality > of what is known as 'Kankan', 'Kumbhasthapanam' takes place. Special > worship is performed at 3.00 A.M.On the 16th day comes the Chithira Ther > Festival. After the car circumambulated the town, at 10.00 P.M. the holy > fire of the 'Kundam' is lighted. On the 17th day at 9.00 A.M. devotees, > in great excitement and frenzy jump into a fire-pit sprawling to a > staggering length of 40 feet for fire-walking in fulfillment of their > vows or for mere divine mother frenzy.On the 18th day, the flag is > lowered. After anointment to the deity, is performed 'Mahamuni Pooja'. > > Barren women are blessed with offsprings. The special medicine given by > the shrine relieves the gynaecological disorders of women. > > Nowhere in Tamilnadu, perhaps even in the whole of country can be found > the reclining iimage of Goddess. In the Sanctum-Sanctorum, the sprawling > image of Masaniamman lying on her back, measures 17' from head to foot. > It is a giant-size stucco work painted in flamboyant colour. The deity > has four hands - two placed on the ground and two raised above. While > the two right hands hold a skull and a snake, the two left hands hold a > tiny drum and a trident. In front of the Sanctum Sanctorum is a niche, > wherein is enshrined Mahamuniappan. The image is also painted in rich > colours and fascinating to the eye. > > This then is the charitra of this Mahimaanvitha Amman! > > You may send abusive emails targetted at me, I dont care a whit! but > sending an abusive email on Amba is the last thing, I can digest.You > even have the audacity to title your email to me as " Chilly > Amma--hehehe! " > > May the " Chilly Amma " provide you with sandalpaste coolness in your life > and bless you! > > Amba be with you! > > Yours yogically, > > Shreeram Balijepalli > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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