To Linda: on questions about Rudri

[Guest guest]

Dear Linda and Nanda,

 

Hope you don't mind me answering these questions. Please

add any other comments, Nanda.

 

The introductory mantras you are referring to are called the

Kushkandika mantras. They are the preferred mantras used

when beginning puja or beginning the recitation of a scripture. In

these introductory mantras we invoke the gods and goddesses,

establish our asan, purify our hands, and mouth, and recite the

sankalpa and shanti mantras. You will notice that many of

Swamiji's puja books and scriptures start with these mantras

which is also in the beginning of the Chandi.

 

Q: 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?

 

A: yes.

 

Q: 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?

 

A: These particular mantras for washing the hands and mouth

are recited within the context of the scripture. You do not get up.

Of course it is always good to wash your hands and mouth

before sitting.

 

If you are doing puja then you want to use the water on your altar

to rinse the mouth and hands. Swamiji always keeps a small

container of water by his asan and he will recite the mantras for

washing the mouth and rinse his mouth with the water

accordingly even if he is just reciting a straight recitation and not

doing a puja.

 

I have seen people who are doing a straight recitation, recite the

mouth purification mantras without using water and motion

bringing the water to their mouth with their hands. I have also

seen people carry their own water pot with them and use it in the

same way as Swamiji does. It is up to you.

 

You will notice that these introductory mantras do not include the

purification of the "ordinary water" also called

"saaamaanaarghya" for puja purposes. So if you were planning

to do a puja then you would want to incorporate those mantras

into your puja. (Please see beginner shiva or durga puja.)

 

Notice that the mantras in Chapter 1 of the Rudri verses 1, 5,

chapter 2 verse 22, and chapter 9 verse17 are incorporated into

the mantras recited after the sankalpa in most of Swamiji's

books.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Parvati

 

, nierika@a... wrote:

>

> > 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

>