Deivathin Kural Series - 57

Deivathin Kural # 57 of 01 Sept 2006.

1.These e-mails are translations of talks given by the erstwhile Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over more than sixty years, published by Vanady Padippagam, T.Nagar, Chennai, India, in ten volumes, in the Tamil language. The english version is likely to be available very soon. These e-mails are simply an effort on the part of the sender, to share some of his bliss, as it is said, 'Yam perra peru peruga ivvaiyagam'. When he adds any personal observations he uses the phrase, 'KTSV adds'.
2. To-days chapter is from his lecture, titled, 'Poojai', or Pooja in pages 307 to 310, in Volume 1 of Deivathin Kural. Unless specifically mentioned, he or man includes, she or woman.
3. In the Thirukkural, I quoted in my last message, starting, 'Thenpulaththar, Deivam,....', the second mentioned, 'Theivam', is the topic of to-day's discussion. In each house, Easwara Pooja should be conducted. Those who can afford it, could take up elaborate devotional activities. Those who cannot afford it may do a shorter version. Ten minutes are enough. Those who go to offices also should do some Pooja like this. In all families, the sound of the bell should be heard.
4. Easwara or Siva, Ambal or Mother Goddess, Vishnu, Vinayagar or Ganapathy and the Sun, are the Five, who should be prayed to. The pooja done to these five Gods is known as, 'Panchayathana Poojai'. There is one method of doing this, with five naturally occuring materials, instead of using statues. The Lord Siva is invoked in Bana Lingam, available in Narmada River in Onkara Kundam. Ambal is invoked in a stone known as Swarnamukhi Shila, available in Andhra Pradesh, in a river of that name. It is a stone with a streak of Gold. The Vishnu is represented by the Saligramam available in the Kandagi river in Nepal. The Sun is said to be depicted by a Spatikam or Crystal, got from a place Vallam near Thanjavur. Ganesha is portrayed on a piece of stone fron the Sone River, a tributory of Ganges. If we collect all these five, it will be as good as depicting the whole country. Since these are stones well washed by the respective river waters for millions of years, they are smooth surfaced. They have no eyes, nose, ears and so on, as in a man-made statue. So they do not become dirty or smudged. In no time you can wash them and clean them. All of them put together do not occupy too much space. They can be put in a small holder. The sixteen step, 'shodachara pooja', including invoking, cleaning, bathing, decorating, seating, chanting, offering etc, can be done, in a few minutes.
5. However busy one may be, this ritual can be done in a jiffy. If You are going on a long journey, you can carry them with you. Wherever you may be, we do not have to worry about availability of, 'Pooja Dravyani', or devotional materials. Some dried 'Tulasi' and 'Bilva', leaves can be carried, to satisfy Siva and Vishnu. For others some rice, coloured by turmeric, will do quite sufficiently. In out stations, we do not have to worry as to whether we can get clean food to be offered to the deities. Some raisins will do most sufficiently. The Gods and all the material required for 'Pooja', can be carried very compactly and conveniently.
6. This devotional ritual is known as, 'Panchayathana Pooja'. What was a regular practice for centuries or thousands of years, was re-established by Adi Sankara. When it came to 'Shanmatha Sthapanam', he added a Spear or 'Vel', to represent Lord Subrahmanya. We can also do the same, by including a small 'Vel' to depict 'Murugan'. I said all this to prove the point, that Pooja does not mean too much of preparation and care and worries. If you have the mind, there is a way. If you are at home, the food you have cooked for the day becomes the, 'Maha Naivedyam', or the Grand Offering.
7. The whole Universe is left for our pleasure of enjoyment, by God. He has created many materials for our experience, delight and gratification. He has given us the senses to enable us to touch, hear, see, taste and smell. So whatever we enjoy, we should offer it to God with gratitude. Actually do we give it to Him? It is only shown and then enjoyed by us only.
8. Some people ask sarcastically, 'does God eat what you are offering?', and laugh. But 'Nivedayami', does not mean feeding God. The whole process of Pooja is aimed at self cleansing and not anything else. Nivedayami, means, announcing or informing, 'God! my father, it is your Grace and kindness, that you have given me this food to-day', and eat it, thinking of God. Christians call this, 'Saying the Grace'. How can you do anything without His Grace? How can there be rice without His Arul? The Agrcultural Scientist, can write volumes about rice production. But he cannot create one grain of rice! If he makes synthetic rice, the chemicals and material required have to be there, already existing. So whatever man-made items are there; are of God-made items only. If we do not cognise His as His, then we are thieves only.
9. That omni-present God, will come and be where we tell him to be. He will come and Grace any statue or stone or metal. He has that capability decency and benevolence. We do not want a God who does not have these qualities. We should pray to God in each household every day. Everyday we should inform him of what He has given us. We should not use or partake anything not offered to Him earlier. This is the way for our cleansing, purification, ennobling and refinement.
Sambhomahadeva.