Guest guest Posted December 3, 2001 Report Share Posted December 3, 2001 Reference Dirk Gysel's request for information on Maa Maariamman and the commendable inputs that followed from Maa's children Vandana Balagopal, Sankar Viswanathan, et al. Permit me to post the following: Although Maariamman Pooja and temples are a hallmark of the great Tamil culture, Seethala worship should be seen in an all-India (or pan-Hindu) context and perspective as it is quite ancient and not strictly isolated to Tamil Nadu. I am resident abroad and, therefore, has no easy access to sources of information on Maariamman. I cannot, therefore, offer substantial material to support my suggestion. However, I remember there was, few months ago, a news report from Calcutta in foreign newspapers with a photogrpah showing Bengali women rolling in the rain to please Seethala Devi. It will therefore be a good idea for Dirk Gysels to gor for a wider search for information on Seethala Devi. West Bengal and surrounding areas can probably generate very interesting information. Besides, I reproduce below in English alphabet a Sanskrit Sthothram in praise of the Devi. I have been chanting this for years now in my morning prayers of Lalitha Sahasranama, Devi Mahathmya etc. I had got it originally in Malayalam script and then learnt it by heart. The original or its source is now not traceable here. Who authored it is also unknown. Perhaps, there is no need to name an author as Mahadeva is identified as the rishi. Nevertheless, I presume it is quite old like the many precious sthothras and manthras that we have in Sanskrit. With my rudimentary knowledge of Sanskrit grammar, I have made the reproduction as error-free as possible and hope it will be of some use to Dirk Gysels and all Maa's children. May Maa forgive this son for any inadvertent errors. The contents of the sthothra suggest that it is effective not only against epidemics like small pox, chicken pox etc. but also against all diseases, blindness, evil planetary influences and generally against all afflictions that " explode " or " break-out violently " (as the word " visphotaka " is used). One must, therefore, think that the intent of the sthothra should cover even bomb blasts and nuclear explosions. Or whom else to call other than our dear Mother in these days of reckless terrorism?! I do chant this sthothram repeatedly whenever someone in the family or friends fall sick. And Maa has always been very kind to see that there are no complications! I belong to Palghat. It is the main gateway to Kerala from Tamil Nadu. A lot of Tamil culture has, therefore, passed into Palghat through the famous Palghat pass. We have umpteen number of Maariamman temples in the District where every year Maariamman Pooja is celebrated with much fanfare in the summer. Here also, the traditional Maavu (referred to by Mr. Sankar Viswanathan) is offered to Maa. In Palghat, it is known as " Pachcha " and includes some special spices. It is sweet as well as deliciously pungent too. Neem leaves are important. Neem sprigs are hung all around the pooja pandals and waved by the " velichapadus " (the closest English term I can find for this word is " oracles " - these are men whose bodies have been entered into by the Devi and who act as go-betweens between Her and the devotees). Flowers of 'flame of forest' are also hung on the pandals - probably because they are red in colour - the favourite colour of Maa. Most Maariamman temple compounds in Palghat have other deities like Pechiamman, Changilikkaruppan et al seated around Maa. In my childhoold days (I am talking about the fifties and sixties), devotees used to offer the blood of sheep and chicken during Maariamman Pooja to please Pechi Amman. The velichapadu of the deity used to literally drink the blood gushing out of the beheaded animals. This practice has since been proscribed by law. In those days, families used to sponsor special poojas at the temple when members recovered from attacks of small pox. SEETHALAASTHOTHRAM (ASYA SREE SEETHALAASTHOTHRASYA MAHADEVAHA RISHI, ANUSHTUP CHANDAHA, SEETHALA DEVATHA, LAKSHMEER BEEJAM, BHAVANI SAKTHIHI, SARVAVISPHOTAKA NIVRUTHYARTHE JAPE VINIYOGAHA) VANDEHAM SEETHALAAM DEVIM RAASABHASTHAAM DIGAMBARAAM MAARJANEEKALASOPETHAM SOORPAALANKRITHA MASTHAKAAM VANDEHAM SEETHALAAM DEVIM SARVAROGABHAYAPAHAAM YAAMASAADYA NIVARTHETHA VISPHOTAKA BHAYAM MAHAT SEETHALE SEETHALE CHETHI YO BROOYATH DAAHAPEEDITHAHA VISPHOTAKABHAYAM GHORAM KSHIPRAM THASYA PRANASYATHI YASTHWAMUDHAKAMADHYETHU DHYATHWA SAMPOOJAYENNARAHA VISPHOTAKABHAYAM GHORAM GRIHE THASYA NA JAAYATHE SEETHALE JWARADAGDASYA POOTHIGANDHAYUTHASYA CHA PRANASHTACHAKSHUSASYA THWAMAAHUR JEEVANOUSHADHAM SEETHALE THANJUAAN ROGAAN NRUNAAN HARASI DUSTHYAJAN VISPHOTAKAVIDEERNAANAAM THWAMEKAMRITHAVARSHINI GALAGANDAGRAHAHA ROGAHAH YE CHANYE DAARUNAM NRUNAM THWADANUDHYANAMAATHRENA SEETHALE YAANTHI SAMKSHAYAM NAMANTHRO NAUSHADHAM THASYA PAAPAROGASYA VIDYATHE THWAAMEKAM SEETHALE DHATHRIM NAANYAM PASYAAMI DEVATHAAM MRINAALATHANTHUSADRUSIM NAABHI-HRINMADHYA SAMSTHITHAM YASTHWAM SAMCHINTHAYETH DEVI THASYA MRITHYURNA JAAYATHE ASHTAKAM SEETHALA DEVYAHA YAH PATETH SATHATHAM NARAHA VISPHOTAKABHAYAM GHORAM GRIHE THASYA NA JAAYATHE SROTHAVYAM PATITHAVYAM CHA SRADDHA-BHAKTHI SAMANYUTHAIHI UPASARGAVINASAYA PARAM SWATHSYAYANAM MAHAT SEETHALE THWAM JAGANMAATHA SEETHALE THWAM JAGATPITHAH SEETHALE THWAM JAGADDHAATHRI SEETHALAYAI NAMOH NAMAHA RAASABHO GARDHABHASCHAIVA KHARO VAISAKHANANDANAHA SEETHALA VAAHANASACHAIVA DURVAKANDA NIKRINDANAHA ETHANI KHARANAAMANI SEETHALAGRE THU YAH PATETH THASYA GEHE SISOONAM CHA SEETHALAARUNG NA JAAYATHE SEETHALAASHTAKAMEVEDAM NA DEYAM YASYA KASYACHIT DAATHAVYAM CHA SADAA THASMAIH SRADDHA-BHAKTHIYUTHAYAVAI May Maa Seethala protect us allo. Jai Maa! Madathil Nair _______________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2001 Report Share Posted December 5, 2001 respected Mr. Nair, it is so nice of you to send the seethala stothram for the purpose of everybody. i am from andhra pradesh and had beeen to all over the east upto nagaland and as you have mentioned there is umpteen number of seethala temples in the east and even in the Devi Bhagavatha where the mention of all the established Devis are mentioned, Seethala is considered as the 'Jvara Nasani' ie., the destroyer of all diseases like fever and chicken pox. even in her mantrah the same occur. In sanskrit, Mari means destroyer. well probably the same shakthi is being worshipped in south as Mariamman. after all whatever be the form, male of femal and their multitude, it is ultimately shakthi or chaitanya or power that one is worshipping. i would expect similar ongoings in future. sincerely, Saravana Kumar. -- On Mon, 03 Dec 2001 10:22:07 madathil nair wrote: >Reference Dirk Gysel's request for information on Maa Maariamman and the >commendable inputs that followed from Maa's children Vandana Balagopal, >Sankar Viswanathan, et al. > >Permit me to post the following: > >Although Maariamman Pooja and temples are a hallmark of the great Tamil >culture, Seethala worship should be seen in an all-India (or pan-Hindu) >context and perspective as it is quite ancient and not strictly isolated to >Tamil Nadu. > >I am resident abroad and, therefore, has no easy access to sources of >information on Maariamman. I cannot, therefore, offer substantial material >to support my suggestion. However, I remember there was, few months ago, a >news report from Calcutta in foreign newspapers with a photogrpah showing >Bengali women rolling in the rain to please Seethala Devi. It will therefore >be a good idea for Dirk Gysels to gor for a wider search for information on >Seethala Devi. West Bengal and surrounding areas can probably generate very >interesting information. > >Besides, I reproduce below in English alphabet a Sanskrit Sthothram in >praise of the Devi. I have been chanting this for years now in my morning >prayers of Lalitha Sahasranama, Devi Mahathmya etc. I had got it originally >in Malayalam script and then learnt it by heart. The original or its source >is now not traceable here. Who authored it is also unknown. Perhaps, there >is no need to name an author as Mahadeva is identified as the rishi. >Nevertheless, I presume it is quite old like the many precious sthothras and >manthras that we have in Sanskrit. With my rudimentary knowledge of >Sanskrit grammar, I have made the reproduction as error-free as possible and >hope it will be of some use to Dirk Gysels and all Maa's children. May Maa >forgive this son for any inadvertent errors. > >The contents of the sthothra suggest that it is effective not only against >epidemics like small pox, chicken pox etc. but also against all diseases, >blindness, evil planetary influences and generally against all afflictions >that " explode " or " break-out violently " (as the word " visphotaka " is used). >One must, therefore, think that the intent of the sthothra should cover even >bomb blasts and nuclear explosions. Or whom else to call other than our >dear Mother in these days of reckless terrorism?! I do chant this sthothram >repeatedly whenever someone in the family or friends fall sick. And Maa has >always been very kind to see that there are no complications! > >I belong to Palghat. It is the main gateway to Kerala from Tamil Nadu. A >lot of Tamil culture has, therefore, passed into Palghat through the famous >Palghat pass. We have umpteen number of Maariamman temples in the District >where every year Maariamman Pooja is celebrated with much fanfare in the >summer. Here also, the traditional Maavu (referred to by Mr. Sankar >Viswanathan) is offered to Maa. In Palghat, it is known as " Pachcha " and >includes some special spices. It is sweet as well as deliciously pungent >too. Neem leaves are important. Neem sprigs are hung all around the pooja >pandals and waved by the " velichapadus " (the closest English term I can find >for this word is " oracles " - these are men whose bodies have been entered >into by the Devi and who act as go-betweens between Her and the devotees). >Flowers of 'flame of forest' are also hung on the pandals - probably because >they are red in colour - the favourite colour of Maa. Most Maariamman temple >compounds in Palghat have other deities like Pechiamman, Changilikkaruppan >et al seated around Maa. In my childhoold days (I am talking about the >fifties and sixties), devotees used to offer the blood of sheep and chicken >during Maariamman Pooja to please Pechi Amman. The velichapadu of the deity >used to literally drink the blood gushing out of the beheaded animals. This >practice has since been proscribed by law. In those days, families used to >sponsor special poojas at the temple when members recovered from attacks of >small pox. > >SEETHALAASTHOTHRAM > >(ASYA SREE SEETHALAASTHOTHRASYA MAHADEVAHA RISHI, ANUSHTUP CHANDAHA, >SEETHALA DEVATHA, LAKSHMEER BEEJAM, BHAVANI SAKTHIHI, SARVAVISPHOTAKA >NIVRUTHYARTHE JAPE VINIYOGAHA) > >VANDEHAM SEETHALAAM DEVIM RAASABHASTHAAM DIGAMBARAAM >MAARJANEEKALASOPETHAM SOORPAALANKRITHA MASTHAKAAM > >VANDEHAM SEETHALAAM DEVIM SARVAROGABHAYAPAHAAM >YAAMASAADYA NIVARTHETHA VISPHOTAKA BHAYAM MAHAT > >SEETHALE SEETHALE CHETHI YO BROOYATH DAAHAPEEDITHAHA >VISPHOTAKABHAYAM GHORAM KSHIPRAM THASYA PRANASYATHI > >YASTHWAMUDHAKAMADHYETHU DHYATHWA SAMPOOJAYENNARAHA >VISPHOTAKABHAYAM GHORAM GRIHE THASYA NA JAAYATHE > >SEETHALE JWARADAGDASYA POOTHIGANDHAYUTHASYA CHA >PRANASHTACHAKSHUSASYA THWAMAAHUR JEEVANOUSHADHAM > >SEETHALE THANJUAAN ROGAAN NRUNAAN HARASI DUSTHYAJAN >VISPHOTAKAVIDEERNAANAAM THWAMEKAMRITHAVARSHINI > >GALAGANDAGRAHAHA ROGAHAH YE CHANYE DAARUNAM NRUNAM >THWADANUDHYANAMAATHRENA SEETHALE YAANTHI SAMKSHAYAM > >NAMANTHRO NAUSHADHAM THASYA PAAPAROGASYA VIDYATHE >THWAAMEKAM SEETHALE DHATHRIM NAANYAM PASYAAMI DEVATHAAM > >MRINAALATHANTHUSADRUSIM NAABHI-HRINMADHYA SAMSTHITHAM >YASTHWAM SAMCHINTHAYETH DEVI THASYA MRITHYURNA JAAYATHE > >ASHTAKAM SEETHALA DEVYAHA YAH PATETH SATHATHAM NARAHA >VISPHOTAKABHAYAM GHORAM GRIHE THASYA NA JAAYATHE > >SROTHAVYAM PATITHAVYAM CHA SRADDHA-BHAKTHI SAMANYUTHAIHI >UPASARGAVINASAYA PARAM SWATHSYAYANAM MAHAT > >SEETHALE THWAM JAGANMAATHA SEETHALE THWAM JAGATPITHAH >SEETHALE THWAM JAGADDHAATHRI SEETHALAYAI NAMOH NAMAHA > >RAASABHO GARDHABHASCHAIVA KHARO VAISAKHANANDANAHA >SEETHALA VAAHANASACHAIVA DURVAKANDA NIKRINDANAHA > >ETHANI KHARANAAMANI SEETHALAGRE THU YAH PATETH >THASYA GEHE SISOONAM CHA SEETHALAARUNG NA JAAYATHE > >SEETHALAASHTAKAMEVEDAM NA DEYAM YASYA KASYACHIT >DAATHAVYAM CHA SADAA THASMAIH SRADDHA-BHAKTHIYUTHAYAVAI > >May Maa Seethala protect us allo. > >Jai Maa! > > >Madathil Nair > > > >_______________ >Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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