[olappamanna] Namasthe- 18 steps to the sanctum sanctorum

[Guest guest]

My dear Saaathi,

What a beautiful explanation! So convincing !

On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 6:12 PM, 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