Jaya Kolhapura Jagadamba, Jaya Mama Hrudaye Jagadamba

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

Following is the discourse of HH Appaji during the 3rd Day of Navaratri -

Vishalakshi Puja, year 1996.

 

This is very gladiolus to read through again !

 

Jaya Guru Datta

 

With Best Regards,

 

Lakshmi Prasad

Hyderabad

 

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Today Mother Goddess Durga Parameshwari is in the form of Lalitha Parameswari

and Aadi Lakshmi forms. Normally 'Lakshmi' will mean Lord Vishnu's Consort. But

today's form is not Vishnu's consort but She is Durgilakshmi-'Amsa' of

Durga/Chandika. She has worn Lord Shiva as jewel. Shiva has worn 'Ganga' as

jewel on His head. Keeping 'Nagabharana' (serpent-like jewel) on Her head, She

had invoked Shiva in that crest-jewel of Nagabharana. Today's Lakshmi is the

deity Who reside in Kolhapura, in the state of Maharashtra. This Goddess

Durgalakshmi has created holy places around Her city and installing Herself in

the middle, is gracefully blessing the people. The story which Sri Swamiji is

going to narrate happened in one of the age-old yuga and today's method of

worship pertain to this story. Mother Goddess in Her Durgi form took the form of

Adi Parashakti, exposing her 'sowmya roopa' (peaceful form) has attracted

Maharshis including Lord Dattatreya. Who is

Durgi Lakshmi? Mahalakshmi in Kolhapura is Herself Durgilakshmi. All the

Devathas have installed 'yantras' there. Since She has attracted Maharshis and

Dattatreya, She is even called 'Lalitha Parameswari' and Rajarajewari. This

Goddess, fulfiller of all wishes is the Durga/Mahalakshmi, the presiding deity

of Kolhapur. Sri Swamiji recollects an incident here.

Sri Swamiji along with some of the Ashramites/devotees had visited this place

few months back and has performed Ksheerabhisheka to this Mahalakshmi. A miracle

that took place was explained by Kuppa Krishnamurthy :

In the year 1996,Sri Swamiji and devotees and Ashramites left in a bus and two

cars to visit Pandaripura, Ganagapura, Kolhapura and some places in the state of

Maharashtra, (these Kshetras created by Mother Goddess) Sri Kuppa Krishnamurthy

was one of the devotees who accompanied Sri Swamiji during this tour. They

visited this Mahalakshmi Temple in Kolhapur. By the time they reached the

temple, the 'Abhisheka for Mother was over and they had decorated her with

jewels and 'archana' was going on. According to the rules of the temple, no one

was allowed inside the sanctum-sanctorum of the temple, be it a Minister,

Prime-Minister or any other dignitories holding high position. When Swamiji

stood for Darshan, the priests of that temple treated Swamiji like any other

ordinary people. There was a heavy crowd due to arrival of a Governor and some

dignitories. Because of the presence of Governor and other dignitaries, the

head-priest (Pradhana Archaka) had come to

perform special pooja. On seeing Sri Swamiji, this Head-priest went inside the

sanctum-sanctorum and removing all the jewels that had already been decorated

after the abhisheka and made arrangements for 'panchamrita ' keeping milk,

curds, ghee, sugar, plantains etc. No one knew what happened but he, immediately

prostrating to Sri Swamiji took Sri Swamiji inside the Sanctum-sanctorum. Sri

Swamiji performed 'panchamrita abhisheka to the Goddess and decorated Himself

the idol of the Mother. He called all the devotees and ashramites who had

accompanied Him inside the sanctum-sanctorum to the amazement of everyone. He

even tied the 'mangalya' to the idol. The priests and other people talked

something in Marathi and they all came to Sri Swamiji requested Him to perform

'sankeertana' in the precincts of the temple. All elaborate arrangements for

accommodating and providing food and other things for Sri Swamiji and the

devotees were made immediately. The

Sankeertana was performed by Sri Swamiji in the evening. There was a big crowd

for the Sankeertana of Sri Swamiji and recognising the unique specialty in the

concert people were very happy. This is the 'Aakarshana shakti' (attracting

power) of Sri Swamiji. Sri Swamiji told Sri Kuppa Krishnamurthy that it was

Dattatreya along with Lakshmi's 'Aakarshana'. The practice of the localities is

that they keep 'panchamrita' as 'Naivedya' for Dattatreya. Sri Kuppa

Krishnamurthy said that he was at a loss to understand whether it was Sri

Swamiji who attracted Mother Lakshmi or Mother Lakshmi Herself seeing this

Dattatreya (Our Swamiji) attracted Him and also blessed His shishyas (disciples)

(i.e. ashramites and others who had accompanied Sri Swamiji),

Sri Swamiji sang his new composition.

" Jaya Kolhapura Jagadamba, Jaya Mama Hrudaye Jagadamba "

Sri Swamiji explained the meaning briefly of the above song. The one who resided

in Padmavathipura, brilliant/effulgent with the grandeur or the overflow of

mercy - (Here compassion or 'Karuna', mercy is the grandeur of the Mother is the

speciality. There is 'Dhanabala Vijrumbhana, 'Adhikarabala Vijrumbhana, Madabala

vijrumbhana, santhanabala vijumbhana, rakshasabala vijrumbhana etc. But here,

the mercy or compassion of the Mother is showered on the devotee who sees Her,

who worships Here.) the one who was away for few months and came back again to

Karaveerapura, the one Who has worn Shiva Linga in Her Crown, the one who is

carrying 'akshaya vessel' in Her hands , having the name of Mahalakshmi,, one

who possesses the power of Sachchidananda shakti- May Victory be Hers. The story

of Kolhapuri Mahalakshmi is contained in this song itself.

Sri Swamiji had narrated that a powerful 'Shakti' was sent to vanquish the

demond Mahishasura who was possessing Rajoguna and thamoguna qualities.That

Shakti taking the form of Chamundewari and vanquishing the demon, thereby

redressing the suffering and woes of saintly people and then She went to

Karavirapur and taking the 'sowmya' (pleasing and peaceful form ) and sitting on

the diamond-seat, granting 'Shakti' (strength), bhakti (devotion), Mukti

(liberation) virakti (dispassion), and fulfilling the desires/wishes of Her

devotees. Such a Shakti stayed permanently in that Kolhapur or Padmavathipura.

Lord Vishnu, Brahma & Shiva have a 'Sankalpa' of keeping an amsa of Mother

Goddess wherever on earth or any other worlds, she incarnates. That is why She

stayed in Durga form in Padmavathipura. All the Devathas were happy and prayed

to Goddess to give darshan whenever they prayed. She should come and protect

them. Mother Goddess granted their wishes by staying

in Padmavthipura in sookshma/subtle (astral) form. On the banks of river Venna,

stood in a permanent form. At that time the son of Yadu, named Padmavan had

built that beautiful city of Padmavathipura, which was in the form of a lotus.

At this time, Lord Brahma creates 3 sons viz. Gaya, Lavana and Kolaha. These

three sons of Brahma occupied different places and started attracting the

results/fruits of the power that had accumulated for performing penances over

several thousands of years. When a Yagna is performed if the 'havissu' falls

down should not be taken back as it goes to the demons as their share/portion.

Even while performing if a flower falls one should not take it back and offer it

to God as the fallen flower would have been picked up by other devathas and

eaten by them. During the worship of God, if one thinks of any other person, the

results of such worship would go to the person thought of. Hence one should

concentrate only on God while

worshipping. If one thinks of 'rakshasa swaroopa' they get 'rakshasa phala or

tamasik qualities; if one thinks of 'manusha swaroopa, they get, human

qualities, if one thinks of 'devatha swaroopa, they get 'sattvik qualities.

Whatever one think corresponding results they get. That is why during the

worship, one should try to join or merge the mind in God only. If there is no

light, one should not take food in the darkness itself; immediately they should

light a candle or wait till the power comes and then take food, since during

darkness, 'rakshasas' demons wander in their subtle forms; But this is not

applicable to holy and sacred places, one can eat even when the light goes off.

; One should sit and urinate but not in standing position whether it is man or

woman or a child, as, if the urine falls on the feet it is considered as

'brahmadosham' and would be the cause for 'kshayaroga' or cancer; if they do by

mistake, they should undergo punishment as

repentance or should touch Sadguru or take the Guru Padodakam (the water by

which Gurus feet are washed). This is most easiest way of repentance. Even

drinks like coffee, tea, water etc. should not be taken in standing position.

One has to sit and drink. Only during emergencies, during travelling time or for

patients, exemption for them is allowed. When the food or drink is taken in

correct sitting position, the liquid that is taken goes straight and falls on

the 'saligrama' that is situated in the navel portion. One should not keep the

food plate on the lap and eat food. When done, the food becomes equal to

excreta, since 'annam' is Brahmam. One should respect and prostrate and offer

prayers to 'Anna Brahmam'before eating 'Annam'. It should be kept away from the

body and eaten. It is energy; the ingredients added to the Annam (cooked rice)

in the form of chilies, salt, savour etc. is energy. Even table meals is also

prohibited, except in special

circumstances and for patients it is exempted. Even while sitting to eat food,

the sitting position should be such that the legs should be kept crossed on the

lap. There are so many rules fin observing food habits. For realisation of

Brahma Jnana how close is Guru Tattvam, so close is observing food and other

habits strictly as per rules prescribed in the Shastras.

Now,of the three sons of Brahma, (who became demons) Gaya, Lavana and Kolaha,

Gaya and Lavana were killed by Mahavishnu. The place the demon Gaya was killed,

came to be known as 'Gaya' itself. All the three became very powerful demons and

hence Mahavishnu had to kill them. Out of these 3 sons, Kolaha had a little of

the sattvic qualities though he possessed more of tamasik qualities and that is

why he had not been killed.

This Kolaha demon went to Padmavathipura and performed severe penance. While he

was doing penance, there comes another demon named 'Sukesa' and occupies that

kingdom of Padmavathipura. Devathas had fought wth him many times but could not

succeed in killing or conquering him. Because he was destined to be killed by

Kolaha demon and that was the boon the demon Sukesa had got from Brahma. But

Kolaha was in penance. So Devathas woke him up from the penance to kill sukesa.

After waking up, Kolaha comes to know that his kingdom had been occupied by

Sukesa while he was in penance. Angered at this, they fight and Kolaha kills

Sukesa. Devathas were happy. But to wake him up Brahma bribes him by granting

boon and this boon brought all the troubles to him. He had two sons, The eldest

named Karavira was coronated on the throne by his father, kolaha and Kolaha

leaves for doing penance again to accumulate more powers. Karavira had become

like a 'visha rakshasa' (when

a small portion of poison is injected daily to one's system from the childhood,

as food, one becomes poisonous person, full of poison in the body) with body

full of poison.

Even Nalaguru the second son also becomes like that. These two demons troubled

the saintly people very much and they suffer much at the hands of these demons.

Again the devathas and these saints prays Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva kills

karaveera. But Karaveera was a Shiva devotee and asks for a boon from Shiva that

the place where he lived should be called by his name only. Shiva grants the

boon but kills Karaveera. Kolaha comes to know of his son's death and thinking

how powerful these devathas were, decided to fight and conquer the devathas.

Then he thinks of how these devathas got so much power after their arrival to

Padmavathipura . Then he comes to know that it was because of the presence of

Padmavathi or Mahalakshmi. Then he prays to Mahalakshmi to leave the place and

not to come back till the completion of one year. She, granting the boon leaves

Padmavathipura. Now the Rakshasa rule reign over that kingdom and again devathas

and other saints suffered

at the hands of kolaha demon. Again devathas and rishis pray to Goddess Lakshmi

requesting Her to go back to Padmavathipura as they had lost their powers

because of Her absence there and had weakened and suffering at the hands of the

demon kolaha. But Goddess Lakshmi says since She had granted Kolava the boon of

leaving the city for a period of one year, She was not in a position to go till

the completion of period of one year. As the days passed, the stipulated period

of one year lapsed without the demons noticing it as they were enjoying and

taking pleasures in cruelly hurting and harming people, being pride and egoistic

over the victory they had gained over the devathas. Then, Goddess Mahalakshmi

comes to Padmavathipura, after the completion of one year and kills the demon

Kolaha. After that realisation dawns on him and he recollects his previous

births and repenting for all his crimes and cruelty and in asking Her, the

Mother of the three worlds to

go away from Padmavathipura begs Her to pardon him and requests Mother to name

the place as Kolhapura so that people who visited this Kshetra (holy place) and

whoever possessed tamasik qualities like him should get destroyed of their

tamasik qualities by having Her Holy Darshan at this place and become sattvic

and further asks Her to stay there permanently and make it a 'Siddha Kshetra'

and created kshetras for those devathas who had resided in the other places

around this Kolhapura and had helped Her to take a permanent residence. Even the

great Sage Agasthya who had ordered Mount Vindhya in the northern part of India

to bend and not to grow to keep the balance of the earth, came to south and

stayed in this place and doesn't go to north since Mount Vindhya would grow

again causing imbalance of the earth. Even Lord Dattatreya asks Goddess Lakshmi

to give Him alms everyday at noon when He would come to Kolhapura after

wandering in places around Sahyadri

mount range to bless people and after taking bath in Gaya and Prayaga. Even

today Dattatreya goes to Kolhapura to receive 'Bhiksha' from the hands of

Mahalakshmi. Then Kolaha prays to Goddess Lakshmi after he gets realisation as

below:

" Kshamasvaparaadham Mahalakshmi Deveem

Kshamasavaparaadham Varam me Pradehi "

Oh Mahalakshmi please pardon me for all my mistakes. I have suffered punishment

for having asked You to leave Your own place. " prays Kolaha to Mahalakshmi and

3 boons were given by Goddess Mahalakshmi, viz. that Mahalakshmi has to stay

wherever She is now all the time; to make this holy place as Siddha Kshetra; and

to name the place after his name only with an intention of remembering his story

for those people who possessed tamasik qualities like him and learn lessons and

to become sattvic.

Even after getting realisation, why did he ask to name the place after him? Many

people may get a doubt. Sri Swamiji clarifies in ancient times, whenever great

mahatmas built temples after giving crores of rupees, they used to get their

names and figures carved on the step-stones so that devotees who would walk on

it would trample their feet on their names and thereby would destroy the donors'

ego completely and would humble them further. But nowadays people get carve

their names on the stones and place it on the walls or high over the ceiling or

on the tube lights etc. for having donated money. In fact it is said that what

one gives from right hand, even left hand should not know. It should be kept so

secret and not go on boasting and telling everybody about their huge donations

of money for any cause. In fact, they should not even think of it once they have

given away and forget it entirely. If they remember, it is a sin. If at all they

remember

accidentally also they should be ashamed of getting the remembrance of it.

So Kolaha was killed by Devi's Brahmastra and Devi gives him 'jeevanmukti'

(liberation). That is why this is to teach a lesson for those who have in view

of earning name and fame and to avoid such recurrence of acquiring such bad

qualities again and again, once it is destroyed. Some people mention their names

in many places when they give donations and some unselfish people do not even

mention of it. But why does people not learn such unselfish service ? Another

point of view is to encourage such unselfish service by taking their examples.

That is why the names should never be put on top but always should be put on the

ground.

It is said Goddess has four hands.

" Matulungam Gadaam Khetam Paana paatram cha bhibhrathi... "

'Matulungaphalam' (a kind of fruit), spear, mace, vessel containing nectar, a

Nagabharana (serpent-like crest jewel), in the Nagabharana jewel, Shiva bimbam,

Yonimudra means srichakra mudra or creation,srsti chakra, those who worship

Goddess and touches Her, they need never worship or perform pooja of Srichakra.

To touch Her and to serve Her is a Yoga. The mahima or greatness of that kshetra

and the other kshetras surrounding the Kolhapura are: " Karaveeram Viroopaksham

Srisailam Pandurangakam Srirangam Sethubandham cha Bhukti Mukti Pradaayini shat

! " These 6 kshetras viz. Karaveera, Hampe Virupaksha, Srisailam, Pandarapura,

Sriranga and Rameswaram, are known as " Bhakti (devotion) and Mukti Kshetras.

(the visit and darshan of these 6 holy places will not only bestow bhukti,

(food)) ,bhakti (devotion) and Mukti (liberation) . Since we have got 'karma

shareera, bhukti (food) will be bestowed. Then devotion and ultimately mukti can

be got. Sri Swamiji cites

a verse here:

" Namastestu Maha Maye Srepeete Surapujithe

Shankha chakra Gadaa Haste, Mahalakshmi Namosthuthe " and sang the following

bhajans

" Lalithadevi Mama Sharanam

, Kalitha Shivaanka Mama sharanam "

and

" Dum Dum Dum Dum Durga, Lam Lam Lam Lam Lalitha "

JAI GURU DATTA

 

 

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