Professional Documents
Culture Documents
In English &Tamil
Compiled by K.Raman
01 Release 10 April 2013 Private circulation
Table of Contents
1 - ................ 4
1.1 , , ........ 6
1.2 , , .............................................................. 9
1.3 ? ......................... 10
1.4 ...................................................................................... 10
1.5 ..................................................................................................................... 11
1.6 ..................................................................................................................... 12
1.7 ......................................................................................................... 13
1.8 ................................................................................... 13
1.10 , ..................................................................................... 15
1.11 ........................................................................................................................ 16
1.12 ? ................................................................... 17
1.13 ? ........................................................................ 18
1.14 ........................................................................................................... 18
1.15 , ....................................... 22
1.16 .................................................................................................... 23
1
1.17 ..................................................................................................................... 23
1.18 .................................................................................................................. 24
1.19 ...................................................................................... 25
2 - 14 .................................................................................................. 25
2.1 - ........................................................................... 29
2.2 ? : ............................ 34
3.4 Mahalaya sraadha and a little bit of Tirtha sraadha and references in
Mahabharata etc on Sraadha .......................................................................................... 76
4.3 Yajurveda Brahma yagnam mandram & 4.4 Sama Veda Ammavasi
tharpana mandram ............................................................................................................ 129
2
4.7 Ruk Vedigal_ammavasya tharpana mandram ............................................. 142
4.9 Tharpana Sankalpams for the year 2013-2014 (Vijaya Varsham) ..... 149
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40
and girth of the person) worn in a specific way. The steps below
describe the way as according to Iyers (South Indian Brahmins).
Steps
2 Hold the dhoti such that you are right down the center of the
dhoti (lengthwise). Both the ends should be free and you should be
holding the dhoti such that there is enough dhoti to go around you
just once.
41
3 Wrap it around you once (as shown) keeping the wrap a little tight
at the stomach portion.
42
4 Fold the dhoti a few times so that the it is held firmly at your hip.
5 Take the end that is on top (typically should be the one to your
left); Starting from the end, slowly make folds of about 2 inches
each (kosuval).
43
44
6 Insert the folds into the wrap around the hip (as shown).
45
7 Take the breadth portion of the top fold and starting from the end
(so that the border coloring is visible), make similar folds (as
shown).
46
8 Insert this second set of folds on top of the previous one (as
shown).
47
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9 Take the other free end of the dhoti, starting breadthwise, make
similar folds.
49
10 Run this between your legs and bring it behind you (as shown).
50
51
11 Ensure that the folds are not twisted.
52
12 Insert the new set of folds behind your back (as shown).
53
54
13 Check that the kachcham looks like this .
55
Note: For shardham use only cotton veshti without any silk or
jarighai border.
56
Video link How to wear panchagacham
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkhCY4VO6j0
The Madisar is the style in which the sari is worn by the Brahmin
community in Tamil Nadu, India. In ancient days, this was the
mandatory style in which the sari was supposed to be worn by a
woman after her marriage, but today, to suit modern trends, yet
accommodate traditions, the madisaar is worn by women on
selected festive occasions and while witnessing ceremonies.
Normally saris are six yards in length, but since the madisar is worn
in a different style, one requires a nine-yard sari to wear it. It is a
very important part of the Iyer and Iyengar culture. Both Iyer and
Iyengar Brahmin wear madisars for all important occasions in their
lives, starting with marriage, followed by Seemandham (form of a
baby shower), all important poojas, and death ceremonies.
Iyers and Iyengars wear Madisars differently. Iyers wear the Pallu
(the layer of the saree which comes over one's shoulder)over the
right shoulder, but Iyengars wear it over the left shoulder.
Madisars are available in a variety of materials such as silk, cotton,
cotton-silk blends, polyester-cotton blends, etc.
*Stand with your legs about 2 ft apart *Make 5-6 pleats in one end
of the saree (lengthwise). *Keep the pleats on your left (at the
back) and bring the saree around your body and make a knot at the
57
left back in your waist line.(In the direction Left-> Front-> Right->
Left) * Bring it to the front and tuck one edge ( and almost 1/2 way
from that edge) in the front. Make the pleat (width of the saree) and
bring the whole saree to the back under your legs. * Tuck the saree
at the back (waist line). * Bring around the saree thro' your left
after tucking the shorter edge slightly at your right. * Bring the
saree around your body again * Hold it on your left and pass it on to
your right shoulder arranging the border. * Bring the border around
and tuck it in the front.
Vaishnava Madisar.....
Step1: Wrap the saree around the waist with one end of the saree on
the right and the rest of the saree on to the left. Step 2:Tie a knot
firmly around the waist towards your left side with the two portions
of the saree. Step 3: Gather the saree near the waist. Step 4:Tuck a
bit of the saree in (near the right side of the waist) Step 5:Pleat the
saree from the end tucked to the waist Step 6:Tuck the pleats to the
waist firmly. Step 7:Fold the rest of the saree to 4 or 5 folds, each
fold measuring 3/4th of the hand. Step 8: Bring the pleated portion
behind, gathering the folded saree between the legs. Step 9: Arrange
the folds properly.
58
59
60
Step 12: Make a small tuck in the front to make sure the saree is
firmly around the waist.
61
Step 17: Madisar Mami is ready.
(These instructions are for Iyengar style Madisar. For Iyer style
madisar the rest of the saree should be wrapped around the right
shoulder).
Video Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6e0YYnVfsw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsHGekedWHc
3 Gaya Sraaddha.
Gaya is a holy place that came into existence when Lord Vishnu
placed his foot on the demon Gayasur and killed him. It is believed
that Gayasur was so holy that he had the power to relieve people of
their sins and thus after his death, all Gods came down to live at
Gaya. Hence, anybody who steps into Gaya is absolved for his sins.
The most important destination in Gaya for Hindus is the Vishnu
Padha temple.
People come here for a ritual called pinda daanam. Here, history
tells us why people in old days had many children. They gave birth to
so many children with the hope that atleast one of them would to
come to Gaya after their parents death, and perform Shraddha here.
62
Anybody who persorms Shradaha here is believed to have helped his
ancestors attain salvation. The process is usually done this way: In
the morning, one takes bath, and comes to the Vishnupadha temple.
The stairs of the temple lead you down to the Falguni river. It is
believed that when Sita came here, she was unhappy with the
behaviour of the river and hence cursed it. So, the river is virtually
non-existent. They are only a series of trenches with small well like
structures that contain water.
64
The word sraaddha itself means performing something with full
involvement.
As long as one has full respect for ones ancestors, the form of
performance is not important. The form of performance itself has
changed a lot in the last few years due the current conditions of our
living. Of late due to circumstances the Sraaddha has been replaced
by many with Annadanam, many supplement a short sraadha
procedure with Annadanam
Kindly note the ritual of Sraaddha not only repays debts towards
deceased ancestors, but also makes it easy to repay debts towards
God and Sages.
65
1.`Sraaddha is associated with the benevolent deities Vasu, Rudra
and Aditya of the ancestors' souls. The mantras chanted during the
Shraddha and the rites performed enables one to connect to these
deities.'
2. The deceased person for whom the ritual of Shraddha is being
performed, is considered as a follower of Vasu, his parents are
considered as followers of Rudra and his grand parents are
considered as followers of Aditya. Therefore during Shraddha, the
names of father, grandfather and great grandfather (or mother,
grandmother and great grandmother) are pronounced as
representatives of Vasu-Rudra-Aditya respectively.
The spiritually potent mantras that are chanted during the ritual of
Sraddha have the subtle power of providing momentum to the subtle
bodies of deceased ancestors therefore they can progress to a higher
sub-plane of existence after the ritual is performed
Yes is the answer. First and for most is belief in the concept. When
we go to a doctor we believe in him.
69
becoming misery and cheating yourself. You may have to spent
double that money unnecessarily.
2.2Bhimashtami Shraddha:
70
varieties of this shraddha. Mahalay Shraddha and Tirtha Shraddha
are the types of Parvan Shraddha.
72
2.14 Aatma Shraddha
But here one more point comes up. With out believing Seetha
Sreerama conducted again Sraadha for Dasaratha. Pithru Dasaratha
appeared and denied telling he is full and will take from him in next
74
sraadha. From this we can see how the 7th house kuja dosham in
Sreerama chart worked!!!
2.19.1 In case of a joint family, the eldest and earning male person
should perform Shraddha. In case of the unit family, everyone
should perform shraddha independently. However in Nampoothiri
families all brothers join together irrespective of their family
settlement. Refer Parachi petta Panthirukulam- Pakkanar story.
The holy texts of Puranas say that, on the day of Akshayya Trutiya
one should donate uncooked food (aamanna), a water pot, a fan
made of mint grass, an umbrella, footwear etc with the intension of
offering them to the deceased ancestors' souls the messengers of
Lord Yama do not cause distress to the ancestors' souls.( It infers
soul as pitru in Yama loka) When clothes and ornaments are
donated, the dark, brown eyed, cruel messengers of Lord Yama
having sharp and long teeth do not cause distress to the deceased
ancestors' souls.
76
The abode for deceased ancestors' souls remains vacant till the Sun
moves from Virgo and Libra sign to the Scorpio sign.
The abode for deceased ancestors' souls remaining vacant during
this period implies that the deceased ancestors' souls come closer to
their descendants for blessing them and if Shraddha is not
performed, they give curse to their descendants and return. Due to
this it is important to perform Shraddha during this period.
The soul could be freed from the agonies of Hell and sent to Heaven
by performing Gaya-Shraddha within this area. Gaya has been
named after the demon Gaya sura.
Most Hindus visit Gaya to offer pitru sraddha or pindas and pray for
the salvation of their ancestors' souls. on the banks of the Phalgu
around which the ancient town of Gaya was built, is the Vishnupada
temple. It is said to have been built over a footprint of Vishnu on
solid rock.
77
and complex sraddha observance of respect to those who have given
one one's birth and body. This is a form of service to those to whom
one owes much.
3.5 What are the details of the initial sraddah performed after a
persons death?
The days chosen will depend on the custom of the community. This
ceremony may be performed at home. Relatives and friends are
invited and then later, served a meal. The Sraadha is also performed
annually by the son or heir of the deceased.
The fifteen days of the dark half, the second half of the Hindu month
of Bhadarvo is known as Pitri Paksh (shraadh period). Hindus pay
obeisance to their ancestors through a religious ceremony.
The soul which passes out of the body after death is termed `Preta',
one that is bound on its onward march to the Beyond.
The difficulties can be removed and the journey is rendered easy and
79
comfortable by the oblations (tarpan) One should offer oblations of
water unto one's Pitris, naming them all of the deceased relatives
and offerings given by the son of the deceased (in the absence of
son, a male who may act as a son) during the soul's journey and by
feeding the pure, the poor, learned sant/swamis and feeding the
sacred cows. ("The Ritual of Shraadh" From the Mahabharata,
Anusasana Parva, Section LXXXIV)
3.10 When do the departed soul become pithru and what happen to
pithru?
The soul leaves off its Preta on this 11th day. Soul is raised to the
status of a Pitru or Ancestor. Pitrus are forefathers (Ancestor) who
dwell in the Pitruloka. There are three stages in the ancestral life
viz., father, grandfather and great grandfather, and mother,
grandmother and great grandmother. Some times a priest who is
performing the Shraadh ceremony may go back up to seven
generations.
What happen to the pithru? He who has done good actions for a
worthy cause on this earth-life becomes united with his ancestors in
the Pitri-loka and lives with them. Those who have given up the
performance of Shraadh, Tarpana and other religious rites on
account of wrong influence, ignorance and egoism have done great
harm to their ancestors and themselves. The Gita and the
Upanishads clearly bear testimony to the fact that the performance
of Shraadh is very important In the ninth chapter of the Gita, Lord
Krishna has made it very clear that those Good persons who perform
sacrifices to reach out to heaven will attain the world of enjoyments.
80
3.11 Is it a delusion to think that the Pitrus will get more peace by
spending money and conducting elaborate sraadha?
Yes. It is a delusion to think that the Pitrus will get more peace by
spending money. Money does not count for the ease of the Pitrus,
but the intensity of faith (Bhava) with which the Shraadh is
performed counts
Since the river moves constantly towards the sea where all the
waters of its various tributaries mingle, it is believed that it will also
carry the ashes of the dead to their final resting place, reintegrating
them once again with the creator, the ocean from which
all life began In Hinduism, the river Ganga is personified as a
goddess. People travel from distant places to immerse the ashes of
their kin in the waters of the Ganga; this immersion also is believed
to be deemed worthy. This tradition is dating back thousands of
years.
Apart from River Ganges, ashes are also scattered on the waters of
many India's sacred rivers, like Yamuna and Godavari, Brahmputra,
etc. at places like Nasik, Vridavan, Somnath, etc.
81
3.13 Do the sraddah and tharpan serve as food to the pitru?
82
By performing Pithru karyas, one get Punyam, not only for
themselves and also for one's Pithru Devata's (eternal souls). So
performing Pithru karyas by the successors has become very very
important.
83
fac-ets like sthala puranas (history or legend of the place), and I
obliged. The booklet was written in Tamil and published some time
ago. The slim volume in your hands is a transcription into English of
the same booklet.
Gaya Sraaddha
Accordingly my program we being Smaarthas was modelled on
the following lines:
Day 2: Leave for Prayaag by Road, about 125 km. away, early
morning and return to Va-ranasi the same night
84
Day 3: Perform Ganga snana (bathe in the river Ganga) under the
Mahasankalpa, do Tirtha Sraaddha etc., at Kasi, leave for Gaya (240
km. away) in the evening by Road and reach in about 7 hrs
Another sine qua non for a satisfactory Gaya sraaddha is total and
unquestioning trust that our pitrus exist, albeit in a different form,
that we can communicate with them and seek their blessings, and
that they are in some respects Godlike and can give us the boons we
ask for. Gaya sraad-dha is not to be done out of fear that pitrus will
otherwise curse us no! We have to learn to view them as our
friends and facilitators for leading the Brahmins life as ordained, to
the extent feasible in todays world. We should know and believe
that the pitrus will sense our visit to Gaya even as we are packing
85
our bags and will be ready to receive and accept our karmas. The
con-tentment of pitrus from our deeds results in an impressive
basket of goodies for us health for the karta and his family,
progeny, knowledge and wisdom, and wealth and prosperity.
Sarma Sastrigal
..WE SHOULD KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT THE PITRUS WILL SENSE
OUR VISIT TO GAYA EVEN AS WE ARE PACKING OUR BAGS AND
WILL BE READY TO RECEIVE AND ACCEPT OUR KARMAS
say the Sastras. When the parents are alive, obey their commands.
When they die, perform their annual sraaddha properly. And go to
Gaya and offer pindas for them. You can be called a son to your
parents only when you do all these three things. Gaya is in the state
of Bihar. It is located on the Kolahaala Mountain in a beautiful place
called Champaka. God is ensconced here as Gadaadhara. How many
sraaddhas do you have to do at Gaya? As per the sastras you will
86
require at least six days to com-plete all the sraaddhas required of
you. But over the years mandatory observances have been reduced
to two Hiranya sraaddhas and one Paarvana sraaddha. This is the
least one has to do at Gaya.
87
3. Paarvana sraaddha: You may undertake the next part of your
observance, the Paarvana sraaddha, in the place in which you are
staying. We stayed at Karnataka Bhavan, which offers the facility.
You should do a sraaddha with homa, with five Brah-mins present.
At the end of the sraaddha again you have to make 64 pindas out of
the havis cooked here, and take them to Akshaya Vata.
Vishnu Padam
4. Akshaya Vata: You may recollect that in the course of our annual
sraad-dha we say Akshaya Vata when doing the namaskara
(obeisance) at the end of Brahmana bhojana. This is the place to
which you now take the pindas made out of the paarvana sraaddha
havis. Akshaya Vata is a huge peepul tree and you offer the pindas in
the shade of this tree. A speciality of the pinda pradaana here is that
16 of the 64 pindas you offer are for the mother and are referred to
as maatru shodasi. You can sense an exhilarat-ing, almost
supernatural vibration as you enter Akshaya Vata. Another fea-ture
of Akshaya Vata is that you can offer pindas not only for your forefa-
thers of your Gotra but even others and pray for their journey to
pitruloka. This can include your near and distant relatives, friends,
even your enemies. So it would be wise to prepare a list of people
for whom you would like to do pinda pradaana, note their gotra,
sarma nama (the name by which they are supposed to do their
Brahmin karmas) etc. and have the particulars ready. It is a matter
of great significance that in the Ramayana we are told that Rama
and Sita offered pindas for King Dasaratha. You should consider it as
nothing short of a divine blessing that you are doing pinda pradaana
at such a sanctified spot.
88
Akshaya Vata Vriksha
91
Normally pilgrims from south come to Prayaag first after alighting in
Allahabad, com-plete the rites here and then proceed to Kasi.
However we went to Kasi first and then to Prayaag from Kasi by car,
a distance of 3 hours. Prayaag is the confluence or Sangam of not
just Ganga and Yamuna, but the river Saraswati also. But to the
human eye only Ganga and Yamuna are visible: Saraswati flows as
an undercurrent and cannot be seen. Worship together by a couple,
is recommended at Prayaag. The man shaves, takes a bath in the
Triveni and does Hiranya Sraaddha. After this the couple perform the
puja at the Triveni with the assistance of the Panda. The wife
personifies her hus-band as Madhava and he accords her the status
of Veni, combs and pleats her hair, cuts off an inch at the tail of the
pleat and offers it to the Panda with kunkuma, chan-dana and
akshata (saffron, sandal and rice pellets), which the Panda offers to
the river. While all the other things float, the hair-piece alone gets
sucked into the water and dis-appears.
The word Veni has the meaning of Triveni, and it also connotes the
plait of hair. And just like Triveni Sangam, where one of the three
merging rivers is not seen, one of the three strands of the pleat is
not visible only two strands are seen. This analogy explains the
procedure described for the Dampati Puja.
Triveni Sangam
It is said that Ganga was exuberant when she saw the earth and
leapt to the ground right away and started flowing with abandon till
she reached Prayaag. At that point Yamuna ac-costed Ganga and
implored her to halt awhile and take her along. Ganga refused,
saying I cant stop. Do you know what a tremendous job
Bhagiratha has had to do to bring me here? I have to finish the duty
of absolving and liberating the souls of all my sons. I have no time to
wait.
Yamuna responds: You dont even have to wait. Just let me flow
with you. Again Ganga de-murs, saying if you flow with me, my
name wont be singled out for the absolution that Im do-ing. But
Yamuna wins her over by saying I dont want my name to be
included. Let it all be to your credit. Unlike you, I have come to the
earth of my own will and not after being entreated to do so by
Bhagiratha. I am the daughter of Sun God, but I seek no glory I
only wish to serve for the benefit of humankind, and in the bargain
realize my own lifes purpose. Ganga is awed by the selfless and
lofty goals of Yamnua and embraces her with sisterly affection.
it is here (Triveni Sangam) that you collect Ganga Jal or the water
of sacred Ganga and not in Kasi, as some people believe..
94
Bathing @ Triveni Sangam
I am the karta, the creator, of this fusion of soul and wit emotion
and intelligence of you two. Your Sangam or confluence is
therefore incomplete without me, and I will also be coming along. It
will be Triveni Sangam, the confluence of three rivers. But I will
continue to be an undercurrent and shall not be seen.
95
Kumbh Mela
When the celebrated Amrit Manthan (the stirring of the Sea of Milk
to get nectar) took place, the asuras fought with devas and managed
to take possession of the pot. Seeing this, Brihaspati or Garuda
snatched it from them and flew to Heaven, to get it back to the
devas, with asuras in hot pursuit. On the way, a few drops of the
nectar fell in these four places, and sanctified the spots immediately.
To commemorate the occasion and to celebrate the holiness of these
four spots Kumbh Mela is performed. Devout Hindus throng in their
96
millions to take the holy dip on such occasions and seek absolution
for their misdoings.
If you have the time and the inclination, the following spots in
Prayaag are worth a visit:
Bharadwaja Ashram
Veni Madhava temple
Akshaya Vata
Adi Sankara temple (Kanchi mutt)
Hanuman temple
KASI (VARANASI)
97
The sacred river Ganga comes to our mind as soon as we say Kasi
or Varanasi. Though Ganga is revered as holy wherever she flows,
nowhere is Ganga snana (bathing in the River Ganga) more sacred
than at Kasi.
Ganga snana
Tirtha sraaddha
The very first bath in Ganga that you take should be as directed by a
priest, as a pavitra-paani (a person with the Darbha-pavitra on his
hand i.e. finger). Subsequent baths can be as many as you want, and
there are few rules on how. The craving for a dip in Kasi Ganga of
the average devout Hindu is too well-known to need repetition. That
is perhaps why, when he or she overcomes many an ordeal to land in
Kasi and finally take the bath, the happiness and contentment
arising from Ganga snana is incredible.
Witness the power of Ganga Mata, who unites people from all over
the nation who speak dif-ferent tongues and are of varied castes and
sub-castes with the one common goal of a dip at Kasi, and you get a
feel for the command of Kasi as well as Ganga. No one seems to
mind the crowd, the filth, the stench, the narrow lanes and by-lanes
etc. They have only one thing on their minds while at Kasi Ganga
snana.
98
Ganga, the perennial river, sanctifies everyone who bathes in it. She
absolves you of sins accu-mulated over the years, asking in return
for just one thing from you: humility and unquestioning devotion.
The mere sight of Ganga gives you peace and tranquillity, helps you
find answers for umpteen problems you face in day-to-day life, and
most important makes you take your first steps in spiritual
awakening. Kasi, after all, means light so here is where you see
the light. We took our Ganga snana at Kedar Ghat, collected Ganga
water in pots and came to our place of stay to perform Tirtha
Sraaddha immediately. This is the recommended routine.
Kasi
Boat rides on the Ganga: The predominant emotion you have when
you go for a boat ride on the Ganga is devotion or bhakti. It is
nothing short of a spiritual experience and involves the darshan or
viewing of all the 64 ghats slowly, one by one. The boatman takes us
to within 100 feet of every single ghat, and the names of all ghats
99
are etched in his memory. It is a ride guaranteed to suffuse you with
an exalted feeling. The sights are truly unforgettable of the
temples and other buildings around each ghat, of the hordes of
people bathing or praying or otherwise in communion with God.
We started our ride with Asi Ghat and I remember some names:
Tulsi, Riwa, Chasing, Anadamayi, Kedar, Tripura Bhairavi, Hanuman,
Vijayanagar, Chowki, Kshemeswar, Mansarovar, Narada, Pandya,
Munshi, Darbhanga, Ahilya-bai, Seetala, Dasaashwamedha, Prayaag,
Manmandir, Mir, Lalita, Manikarnika, Durga, Brahma, Lal, Trilochan,
Naya, Raj, Prahlad, Harishchandra....
As you travel across Kasi on the boat along the river, you wonder if
it is Ganga that adds piety to Kasi, or it is the other way round. As
you debate this within yourself, the truth dawns on you the two
are seamlessly intertwined and the sanctity is a blend that owes as
much to Kasi as it does to Ganga Mata. The other striking feature of
Kasi, which has been written and argued about endlessly by
different people with different personal agendas, is the es-sential
purity of the Ganga. The river presents a weird coexistence of the
sublime and the earthy: you see scenes of Harati and pious offerings
immersed in the river, and at the same time bodies being burnt and
ashes immersed, people bathing and washing their dirt into Ganga,
and the waste of the town merging into the river.
How can Ganga be then called pure? It is not even clean, let alone
pure. My wife instinc-tively asked me this question as a welter of
happenings around her. I could offer only one response: with all the
impurities dissolving into the waters of Ganga, do we ever hear of
anyone being infected as a result of a dip in Ganga? At least I have
not. Is that a clinching argument in favour of Gangas chastity? I
think so. I dont know.
101
Ganga Haarati: An awesome sight not to be missed by visitors to
Kasi is the Ganga Harati celebrated with gaiety and splendour at
Manikarnika Ghat at 7 p.m. every evening. This and the performance
of Dampati Puja should be definitely on your schedule while in Kasi.
The legend of Varanasi: River Varuna from the north of Kasi and
river Asi from the south merge into the Ganga inside the city, and it
is said the city got its name Varanasi as a result, right from Sat
Yuga. Kasi is a renowned place of pilgrimage for all Hindus. The
Sastras aver that Lord Siva created the city standing atop his Trishul.
It is believed that Bhagvan Sankara still lives here, and that anyone
dying in Kasi is sure to attain Sivaloka (moksha). There are many
who come to Varanasi in the last stage of their lives in the hope that
they will breathe their last here and their souls will be liberated for-
ever from the cycle of birth and death.
The legend of the temple: The Viswanatha temple you see now is a
small one, but the origi-nal temple was a huge edifice. It was razed
to the ground and all its wealth and riches looted and taken away in
1193 AD by Qutbuddin, the lieutenant of Mohammed Gori. The
102
Viswanatha linga alone was somehow saved and worshipped
secretly for many years. Raja Todarmal built a new temple in 1585
AD and the Linga consecrated, but even this temple was destroyed
by Aurangzeb and a mosque constructed in its place. So what we
now have is a mosque in the location earlier occupied by the
Viswanatha temple. After Aurangzeb left a small temple was built
and the Linga was consecrated again, and this is now the Kasi
Viswanatha temple we all go to and pray at. The Linga and the
temple have lost none of their glory, though: millions of devotees
offer devout prayers every day and take away de-vout memories.
Sri Kala Bhairava temple: We have heard of Kasi kayiru (the Kasi
thread, a black thread we wear around our wrist). This is sold at this
place. The thread is supposed to be worn on the right wrist by men
and on the left wrist by women, and is reputed to have powers of
dosha-nivrutti or removal of defects in our horoscopes or stellar
placements. A Panda who stands there lightly pats us on the back
with a peacock feather, and that is said to take care of the defects.
Goddess Annapurna
Rameswaram visit in the first and the last leg of the tour: A typical
Kasi pilgrimage begins with a visit to Rameswaram to offer prayers
to the Gods for the forthcoming Kasi yatra. At Rameswaram you take
a handful of sand and keep it, for dissolving in Triveni Sangam at
Prayaag, in the second leg of your tour. At Prayaag you collect
Ganga jal (water from the Ganga) and take it back to Rameswaram
103
in the third and final leg of the pilgrimage for doing abhisheka of
Ramanatha Swami. This ancient proc-ess has endured down the
ages and is followed even today.
104
Kayiru, Kasi Sombu and other memorabilia that you may have
bought for your friends and relatives.
TIPS/NOTES
Advance planning
For a package tour of Gaya, Kasi and Prayaag, you are well-advised
to keep Kasi as the centre-point or hub and decide the place of stay
at Kasi well in advance. Similarly, it is important to know the cost
options and match option that best fits your budgetary and other
constraints. You should keep as little room as possible for on-the-
spot deci-sions, because these can prove prohibitively costly.
Sequence
And please remember the sequence: Prayaag, Gaya and Kasi is the
right order in which you should undertake the pilgrimage. And
without including the travel days, the minimum time you should set
aside for the entire program is five days, preferably six.
For the Paarvana Sraaddha at Gaya and Prayaag you may take the
dhotis (9x5 ve-shti) to offer to vidhikaas there instead of buying
them there, as it could save you quite a penny. You may require 12
dhotis in all. You may also buy and take dana materials like tirtha
patra etc. from home if you so wish. For the Dampati Puja at Kasi
again, you may want to take the required items sari and related
clothing, metti (ornament for the toes), tirumangalyam (ornament
around the neck) and other mangala dravyas (pristine articles for
good augury) from home after buying them locally where you live,
105
instead of buying them in Kasi. Some people pay money in lieu of the
materials.
Some devotees take their own Vadhyar (Family sastrigal) along with
them for the entire tour, and offer them Acharya Sambhavana on
return. This is perfectly in order; but at different places on the tour
the karmas have to be carried out only with the local pan-
dits/vadhyars at the respective places.
Ganga Jal
106
Can be done on any day
Our attitude
As far as possible you should take the rough with the smooth on a
typical Gaya-Kasi pilgrimage. There will be plenty of things you will
need to outsource to the locals, be it karmas to be done by the Kasi
Pandas or Gaya purohits, or tours to be organized by your local
contact. And quite possibly some of these may not be turn out as you
would have liked. On such occasions, you should take it in your
stride and be satisfied with what you got, instead of making a song-
and-dance. After all you have travelled all the way for cleansing your
doshas, and for attaining the mature wisdom that man proposes
and God disposes, and it is His supreme will that shall prevail. So it
would be sensible not to add to your doshas by criticising someone
or hurting others in the process of yatra.
Like tithi and paksha, which do not matter here, you may have to
make exceptions in regard to kala (time), madi (personal sanctity)
and aahara (food) as well. None of these are entirely in your control
during the trip and so it would be best not to be too finicky. You may
end up eating at all kinds of times, or doing pinda pradaana after
madhyahni-kam, which you would normally not do.
Mangalani Bhavanthu
Video link:
Gaya Shraddham
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc1o7MncffU
108
4 - Ammavasi Tharpanam
According to the first method, one needs to pay many spiritual debts
everyday. One such debt is what we have to pay to our ancestors.
Pitru tharpanam done on the day of Amavasya is one such way to
pay this debt. This worship procedure does not take much time and
can be done within ten minutes or so.
Brahman's Age:
Time in relation to Brahman's life is computed as follows:
Krita Yuga = 1728,000 Years
Treta Yuga = 1296,000 Years
Dwapara yuga = 864,000 Years
Kali Yuga = 432,000 Years
110
Total = 4320,000 Years
1000 Chatur Yugas = 1 day of Brahman (Kalpa)
1000 Chatur Yugas = 1 night of Brahma
2000 Chatur Yugas = 1 Day & night of Brahma
360 days of Brahma = 1 year of Brahma
100 Years of Brahma - Brahma's full age and that is the duration of
the great Deluge too.
50 Years of Brahma = Parardha
Two Parardhas = Life span of Brahma ie 100 years which is =
31104,000,00,00,000 or 311040 billion human years
After that, pralaya equal to the duration of 2 parardhas take place,
and at its end, a new cycle starts with a new Brahman at its head.
Brahma has now completed 1 Parardha. He is now on his 51st year.
He has thus passed 50 x 360 = 18,000 Kalpas.
The 1st Kalpa is called Brahma and the last Padma. The current
Kalpa is Swetha Varaha Kalpa.
Brahma creates and his own life time is 2 Parardhas i.e. 100 years of
Brahma and his date of death is certain. He is mortal and has no
temple for worship.
From this Brahma's life, the 1st part of our Sankalpa has been taken:
Adhya Brahmanaha = Beginning from Brahma's life
Dvithiya Parardhe = We are now in 2nd Parardha of Brahma's
life("Parardha-dveya-jvim" ie the time for 2 Pararshas. A parardha
is half. Two halves make one)
111
Swetha Varaha Kalpe = In Swetha Varaha Kalpam
Prathame Pade = 1st Padam, just in 52nd century of Brahma (In the
first quarter of this yuga)
112
Prabhavadi Shashti SamavatsaraaNaam Madhye = Among the cycle
of 60 years starting from Prabhava Nama Samvatsare - In the name
of the year in the 60 year Hindu Calendar
Samvatsaras
Number Name (IAST) Current cycle Prior cycle 1
1. Prabhava 1987-1988 AD 1927-1928 AD
2. Vibhava 1988-1989 AD 1928-1929 AD
3. ukla 1989-1990 AD 1929-1930 AD
4. Pramodadta 1990-1991 AD 1930-1931 AD
5. Prajpati 1991-1992 AD 1931-1932 AD
6. grasa 1992-1993 AD 1932-1933 AD
7. rmukha 1993-1994 AD 1933-1934 AD
8. Bhva 1994-1995 AD 1934-1935 AD
9. Yuva 1995-1996 AD 1935-1936 AD
10. Dht 1996-1997 AD 1936-1937 AD
11. vara 1997-1998 AD 1937-1938 AD
12. Bahudhnya 1998-1999 AD 1938-1939 AD
13. Pramthi 1999-2000 AD 1939-1940 AD
14. Vikrama 2000-2001 AD 1940-1941 AD
15. Va 2001-2002 AD 1941-1942 AD
16. Chitrabhnu 2002-2003 AD 1942-1943 AD
17. Subhnu 2003-2004 AD 1943-1944 AD
18. Traa 2004-2005 AD 1944-1945 AD
19. Prthiva 2005-2006 AD 1945-1946 AD
20. Vyaya 2006-2007 AD 1946-1947 AD
21. Sarvajit 2007-2008 AD 1947-1948 AD
22. Sarvadhrin 2008-2009 AD 1948-1949 AD
23. Virodhin 2009-2010 AD 1949-1950 AD
24. Vikti 2010-2011 AD 1950-1951 AD
25. Khara 2011-2012 AD 1951-1952 AD
26. Nandana 2012-2013 AD 1952-1953 AD
27. Vijaya 2013-2014 AD 1953-1954 AD
113
28. Jaya 2014-2015 AD 1954-1955 AD
29. Manmatha 2015-2016 AD 1955-1956 AD
30. Durmukha 2016-2017 AD 1956-1957 AD
31. Hemalambin 2017-2018 AD 1957-1958 AD
32. Vilambin 2018-2019 AD 1958-1959 AD
33. Vikrin 2019-2020 AD 1959-1960 AD
34. rvarin 2020-2021 AD 1960-1961 AD
35. Plava 2021-2022 AD 1961-1962 AD
36. ubhakt 2022-2023 AD 1962-1963 AD
37. obhana 2023-2024 AD 1963-1964 AD
38. Krodhin 2024-2025 AD 1964-1965 AD
39. Vivvasu 2025-2026 AD 1965-1966 AD
40. Parbhava 2026-2027 AD 1966-1967 AD
41. Plavaga 2027-2028 AD 1967-1968 AD
42. Klaka 2028-2029 AD 1968-1969 AD
43. Saumya 2029-2030 AD 1969-1970 AD
44. Sdhraa 2030-2031 AD 1970-1971 AD
45. Virodhakt 2031-2032 AD 1971-1972 AD
46. Paridhvin 2032-2033 AD 1972-1973 AD
47. Pramdin 2033-2034 AD 1973-1974 AD
48. nanda 2034-2035 AD 1974-1975 AD
49. Rkasa 2035-2036 AD 1975-1976 AD
50. Nala/Anala 2036-2037 AD 1976-1977 AD
51. Pigala 2037-2038 AD 1977-1978 AD
52. Klayukta 2038-2039 AD 1978-1979 AD
53. Siddhrthin 2039-2040 AD 1979-1980 AD
54. Raudra 2040-2041 AD 1980-1981 AD
55. Durmati 2041-2042 AD 1981-1982 AD
56. Dundubhi 2042-2043 AD 1982-1983 AD
57. Rudhirodgrin 2043-2044 AD 1983-1984 AD
58. Raktkin 2044-2045 AD 1984-1985 AD
59. Krodhana/Manyu 2045-2046 AD 1985-1986 AD
60. Kaya 2046-2047 AD 1986-1987 AD
114
Ayane = DakshiNaayane (Aadi to Margazhi) or UttaraayaNe (Thai to
ANi)
(Ri)
tu Gregorian
Saura Msa Tamil name Sidereal Vedic Zodiac
(season) Tropical months
(solar months)
Mea Vasanta Mar-Apr Aries
Vabha (spring) Apr-May Taurus
Mithuna Grma May-June Gemini
Karkaa (summer) June-July Cancer
Siha Var July-Aug Leo
Kany (monsoon) Aug-Sept Virgo
Tul arad Sept-Oct Libra
Vcika (Autumn) Oct-Nov Scorpius
Dhanu Hemanta Nov-Dec Sagittarius
Makara (Winter) Dec-Jan Capricornus
Kumbha iira Jan-Feb Aquarius
Mna (Cold) Feb-Mar Pisces
115
Subha Thithou = One of the 15 days between PourNami and
Amavasya (Prathama, Dvithiya, Trithiya, Chaturthi, Panchami,
Shashti, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, Dasami, Ekadashi, Dwadashi,
Tryodashi, Chaturdashi, PourNami or Amavasya)
Vasara Yuktaayaam - One of the days of the week (Bhanu, Indu,
Bhouma, Soumya, Guru, Brugu & Sthira
Sanskrit name of the
English & Latin names of
day
No. Tamil name the approximate day Celestial object
(Day begins at
(Day begins at 00:00Hrs)
sunrise)
(bhnu vsaram)
Nyayiru
1 Sunday/dies Solis Ravi = Sun
(indu vsaram)
2 Thingal
Monday/dies Lunae Soma = Moon
(bhauma vsaram)
Chevvai
3 Tuesday/dies Martis Magala = Mars
(saumya vsaram)
4
Budan
Wednesday/dies Mercurii Budha = Mercury
(guru vsaram)
Vyazhan Deva-Guru
5 Thursday/dies Iovis Bhaspati =
Jupiter
(bhrgu vsaram)
Velli
6
Friday/dies Veneris ukra = Venus
116
(sthira vsaram)
7 Sani
Saturday/dies Saturnis ani = Saturn
118
RASIS
119
12. Meenam - Pisces = Consists of Poorva Prosta Pada - 1; Uthira
Prosta Pada - 4; Revathi - 4
Human Age
120
3) Sankalpa Rithus: The 12 months of lunar year correspond the
following calendar and and make up the 6 seasons (Rithus):
1. Chaitra (March - April)
2. Vaisaksh (April - May) Vasantha Rithou (Spring)
3. Jyeshta (May - June)
4. Aashaadh (June - July) Greeshma Rithou (Summer)
5. Shraavan (July - August)
6. Bhadrapad (August - September) Varsha Rithou (Monsoon)
7. Ashwin (September - October)
8. Kaarthik (October - November) Sharad Rithou (Autumn)
9. Mrigasheersh (October - November)
10. Paush (December - January) Hemantha Rithou (Winter)
11. Maagh (January - February)
12. Phalgun (February - March) Shishira Rithou (Dewey)
Chithirai & Vaikasi = Vasantha Rithou
Aani & Aadi = Greeshama Rithou
Aavani & Puratasi = Varsha Rithou
Iypasi & Karthigai = Saradh Rithou
Markazhi & Thai = Hemantha Rithou
Masi & Panguni = Shishira Rithou (February/March)
4) Sankalpa Thithis:
1. Prathama 2. Dvithiya 3. Trithiya 4. Chaturthi 5. Panchami 6. Sashti
7. Saptami 8. Ashtami 9. Navami 10. Dasami 11. Ekadasi 12.
Dvadashi 13. Trayodasi 14. Chaturdasi 15. PorNami 16. Amavasya
121
5) Sankalpa Months:
1. Chitirai - Mesham 2. Vaikasi - Rishabam 3. Aani - Mithunam 4.
Aadi - Kadakam 5. Aavani - Simham 6. Puratasi - Kanni 7. Iypasi -
Tulam 8. Karthigai - Virchikam 9. Markazhi = Dhanur 10. Thai -
Makaram 11. Masi - Kumbam 12. Panguni Meenam
6) Sankalpa Week:
Sunday = Bhanu Vasara; Monday = Indu/Soma Vasara; Tuesday =
Bhowma Vasara; Wednesday = Soumya Vasara; Thursday = Guru
Vasara; Friday = Brugu Vasara; Saturday = Sthira Vasara
7) Sankalpa Nakshatram:
1. Aswini 2. Bharani 3. Krithika 4. Rohini 5. Mruga Seersha 6. Ardhra
7. Punarvasu 8. Pushyam 9. Aslesha 10. Maka 11. Purva Phalguni 12.
Uthira Phalguni 13. Hastha 14. Chitra 15. Swathi 16. Visaka 17.
Anuradha 18. Jyeshta 19. Moola 20. Poorvashada 21. Uthirashada
22. Sravana 23. Sravishta 24. Sadhabishak 25. Poorva Prosta Padha
26. Uthira Prosta Padha 27. Revathi
122
An additional 28th intercalary nakshatra, Abhijit (alpha, epsilon and
zeta Lyrae - Vega - between Uttarashadha and Sravana), is in
between Uttarashada and Sravana. Last two (third and fourth)
Padas of Uttrashada and first two (first and second) Padas of
Sravana are considered to be Abhijit.
The nakshatra in which the moon lies at the time of sunrise of a day
is the nakshatra for the day.
123
124
125
126
127
128
4.3 Yajurveda Brahma yagnam mandram & 4.4 Sama
Veda Ammavasi tharpana mandram
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
4.5 Sama Veda Brahma yagnam mandram
136
137
4.6 Bhadhayana Ammavasai Tharpana mandram
138
139
140
141
4.7 Ruk Vedigal_ammavasya tharpana mandram
142
143
144
145
4.8 Ruk Vedigal Brahma yagnam mamdram
146
147
148
4.9 Tharpana Sankalpams for the year 2013-2014 (Vijaya
Varsham)
Compiled by
P.R.Ramachander
(I have followed the details given in the Acharyal Madathu
Panchangam. I have also given the time of change of Thithi and
Nakshatra so that people who are living abroad can also use it
correctly. As soon I get information about it, I will modify this list.
As per the Panchangam both lunar eclipses of the year are not
visible in India. So I have not included it.)
149
Lunar eclipse is visible in your country and at what time and write
to me .If it is not visible in your country , you need not observe it. I
shall send you the Sankalpa manthram)
150
(Amavasya is up to 12.45 PM on the next day (afterwards
Prathama) and Arudra is up to 5.46 Am next day (afterwards
Punarvasu)
151
(amavasya after 4.23 PM (Before that Chathurdasi ) , Makha up to
6.21 Am next dayAM (afterwards Poorva phalguni )
4-10-2013 Amavasya
Vijaya nama samvathsare ,dakshinayane , varsha rithou, kanya
mase , Krishna pakshe, adhya amavasyam punya thidhou , brugu
vasara yukthayam, utharaphalguni nakshatra yukthayam,
shubhayoga, shubhaKarana evam guna viseshena, visishtayam
asyam Amavasyam punya thidhou, amavasya punyakale, darsa
sradham , thilatharpana roopena adhya karishye
(Chathurdasi up to 6.38 AM, Amavasya up to 6.05 AM next day
(afterwards Prathama) and Utharaphalguni nakshatra up to 3.52
PM (Afterwards Hastham)t
152
(Chathurdasi up to 5.35 AM next day (afterwards Pournamasyam
)and Utharaproshtapada up to next day 1.53 Am next day
afterwards Revathi nakshatram)
153
(Amavasya up to 5.53 Am next day (afterwards Prathama) and
Anuradha Nakshtra up to 5.26 Am next day and afterwards Jyeshta
nakshtram)
154
makara ravi sankramana sradham , thilatharpana roopena adhya
karishye
(Chathurdasi up to next day morning 6.15 AM and Punarvasu
Nakshtra up to next day 9.15 Am.
30-1-2014 Amavasya
Vijaya nama samvathsare ,Utharayane , hemantha rithou,
makara mase , Krishna pakshe, adhya amavasyam punya
thidhou(before 7 .02 Am Chathurdasyam punya Thithou) , Guru
vasara yukthayam, Uthrashada nakshatra yukthayam,
shubhayoga, shubhaKarana evam guna viseshena, visishtayam
asyam amavasyam punya thidhou, amavasya punyakale, darsa
sradham , thilatharpana roopena adhya karishye
1-3--2014 Amavasya
Vijaya nama samvathsare ,Utharayane , Shishira rithou,
khumba mase , Krishna pakshe, adhya amavasyam punya thidhou
, sthira vasara yukthayam, Sathabhishak nakshatra yukthayam,
shubhayoga, shubhaKarana evam guna viseshena, visishtayam
asyam amavasyam punya thidhou, amavasya punyakale, darsa
sradham , thilatharpana roopena adhya karishye
155
(Amavasya up to 1.31 PM (afterwards Prathama) and Sathabishak
up to 7.1 PM and afterwards Poorva proshtapada Nakshtra)
30-3-2014 Amavasya
Vijaya nama samvathsare ,Utharayane , Shishira rithou,
meena mase , Krishna pakshe, adhya amavasyam punya thidhou
, Bhanu vasara yukthayam, Uthra proshtapada nakshatra
yukthayam, shubhayoga, shubhaKarana evam guna viseshena,
visishtayam asyam amavasyam punya thidhou, amavasya
punyakale, darsa sradham , thilatharpana roopena adhya karishye
(Amavasya up to 12.16 AM next day (afterwards Prathama) and
Uthraproshtapada up to 1.32 AM and afterwards Revathi
Nakshtra)
Suryopa raga punya kale Suryopa raga punya kale sraddham tila
tarpanam rupe karishye
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