To Nanda on questions about Rudri

[Guest guest]

Dear Nanda,

 

I went back through the posts and printed out everything you had

posted about the Rudrastadhyayi, and I think it ended at Chapter 1,

or maybe you were getting ready to present Chapter 1. We are still

continuing these lessons, yes?

 

One thing I noticed right away was that all the verses that lead up to

Chapter 1 are very similar, in some cases, word for word, to the

introductory verses in the Chandi. Is this true of most of these

texts? I found the familiarity wonderful and comforting, like being

with a special friend. Now I have a few questions.

 

One thing I would like to know is what are these introductory verses

called? Is this what is referred to as "the glory" is Swamiji's web

class on the Chandi?

 

And on page 7 after the words siva dhyanam the following words appear:

om sada sivaya vidmahe sahasraksaya dhimahe tanno sambho pracodayat

Is this the Gayatri of Shiva?

 

On page 18 where it refers to "washing the hands and rinsing the

mouth," are we supposed to get up and do this, or should it be done

before one starts the recitation. If one is just reciting the text as

opposed to using it as a puja, is this washing and rinsing still

necessary.

 

Now a comment: on page 19 "...the tortoise who supports the earth is

the diety." It struck me how similar this is to certain Native

American (US tribes). I know that at some point in history, peoples

came across the Bering Straits, settling along the way, through

Canada and down into the US. I have a book, the entire purpose of

which is to relate the sandpaintings of Tibetan Buddhism to the

sandpaintings of the Dine (Navajo) people. In some of my readings, I

have even come across words that are very similar. Anyhow, no

response needed to this one; I just found it very interesting.

 

Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji ~ Linda