Namasthe- 18 steps to the sanctum sanctorum

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om namo bhagavathe vasudevaya

dear SAVITHRI JI,

my anathakodi namaskarams,

Execellent explanation about the 18 steps

sarve janaha sukhino bhavanthu,

subramanian.p.s.(madurai)guruvayur , "Savitri Puram" <savitriopuram wrote:>> Dear all,> > Mandala kaalam started and this is my humble attempt to climb the 18 steps> to reach the sanctum sanctorum of Ayyappa..> > Let us explore how we can get there and be with Ayyappa Swami or for that> matter, sanctum sanctorum of any temple of one's Ishtadevatha, by climbing> the 18 imaginary steps. This climbing can be done as a meditation process.> > Before even starting to climb to reach the sopaanam of our Ishta devatha,> let us imagine that beautiful place where our Lord with the most enchanting> form is shining. Let us imagine that these 18 steps lead to that beautiful> room and we are carrying a big heavy bag of all our negative qualities that> are obstacles to our dhaarmic progress both in the material and spiritual> life. Let us divide these negative qualities in to 17 bags before we are> ready to climb the 18 steps to the sanctum sanctorum of Shabarimala or any> of our Ishtadevatha's temple. We will see later what we will fill the 18th> bag with!> > Now we will start with chanting Swamiye Sharanamayyappa or Ishtadevatha's> naamam three times before climbing each step. Then we will leave one bag on> each step and advance to the next step. In each and every step, we are> evolving to become a better person.> > *Step 1*> Let us leave the bag filled with our selfishness, insecure feeling, and> anger on the first step. Now we proceed to the second step with three more> chanting of swamiye sharanamayyappa.> > *Step 2*> On the second step we leave the bag filled with greed, overindulgence and> confusion.> > *Step 3*> Leave* *the bag of jealousy, envy, extreme possessiveness.> > *Step 4*> Leave the bag filled with frustration, anxiety and self blaming (aathma> ninda)> > *Step 5*> Leave the bag filled with praising oneself (aathma prashamsa), fear and> resentment> > *Step 6*> Leave the bag filled with hostility, sadness and pessimism> > *Step 7*> Leave the bag filled with irritation and depression.> > *Step 8*> Leave the bag filled with tension and stress.> > *Step 9*> Leave the bag filled with inactivity and laziness.> > *Step 10*> Leave the bag filled with dependence, unkind words and expressions> > *Step 11*> Leave the bag filled with all physical ailments.> > *Step 12*> Leave the bag filled with mental ailments> > *Step 13*> Leave the bag filled with addictions and obsessions> > *Step 14*> Leave the bag filled with impurities of the body> > *Step 15*> Leave the bag filled with all the impurities of the surroundings.> > *Step 16*> Leave the bag filled with all the enmity ever emerged in the mind> > *Step 17*> Leave the bag filled with all the attachment to the world and worldly things> > Now we are ready to fill the last, 18th bag with only one thing- Our sincere> LOVE FOR GOD. Also we fill our mind with the same PURE LOVE FOR GOD DEVOID> OF ALL THE NEGATIVE QUALITIES JUST NOW WE ABANDONED. We leave the bag of> love and devotion on the 18th step and we become divine with no bags and> baggage, completely free and pure. Now dvaitham or duality ends and> advaitham or oneness expands and we become one with God.> > We have climbed the 18 steps to liberation as per the 18 chapters of Gita:> > Sarvadharman Parityajya Mamekam Saranam Vraja; Aham Twaam Sarve Papebhyo> Mokshayishayami Ma Sucha> (Abandon Worldly Dharmas and Surrender to Me; I Shall Rescue You From Sins> and Sorrows).> > > Regards and prayers> Savitri>