Ashta Karma

Ashta karma or eight actions refers to vaseekaranam (making something attracted by the yogi),
mohanam (causing enchantment) aakarshanam (drawing something towards the yogi),
ucchaadanam (reciting the mantra in cause a specific action), sthambanam (arresting the natural
action of anything), Vidveshanam (making one hate something), bedhanam (causing a
difference-opinion, state) and maaranam (causing death). Agatthiyar in his work Saumya
Sagaram (verses 215- 245) mentions that the ashta karma are milestones that indicate an
individual’s mastry of ashtanga yoga, the eight step yoga.

When one attains the highest state possible by yoga, the turiya state, one realizes that the only
true entity is aksharam and that everything else, the gross world, is a dance of the aksharam.
Aksharam refers to both the Divine as well as letter. Aksharam means indestructible. The
indestructible here is the vak or primordial sound that emerges as bija akshara. These akshara
combine together to form words, sentences and passages. Thus the cause is the aksharam, the
primordial sound or letters and their manifestation is the gross world.

In the context of the ashta karma the cause is the bija akshara of the mantra that manifests as an
effect in the gross world. Thus a mantra for, say vaseekaranam, is the cause with its effect
making others feel attracted by the person uttering the mantra. If a yogin realizes this he will
manipulate the cause, the bija akshara, to produce an effect. Agatthiyar calls this manipulation as
playing with the cause. One looks at the origin, the gurupathi and causes these effects.
Gurupathi refers to ajna cakra which between the brows. This term also means the locus of
Guru, the locus of knowledge where the darkness of ignorance is nonexistent. It is the locus of
light of consciousness, the light of knowledge and awareness.

Agatthiyar begins to describe the first karma, vaseekaram or causing others to feel attracted
towards the person performing the ritual.

Vaseekaram

Direction faced by the performer North

Seat Kalai aasana
Bead Rudraksha will clear faces
Deity Adi Ganapathy
Mantra Siva siva om reeng ang (1008 times)
Benefits All actions will become fruitful, Veda, Sastra,
mantra, microcosm, macrocosm, celestials,
humans, ghosts, enemies, animals, ashta naga
or eight snakes, desire (kaamappaal, kaanal
paal) will be attracted by the performer
Mohanam

Direction East
Adornment Sacred ash with pranava
Seat Tiger skin
Beads Tulasi
Deity Maha Ganapathy
Mantra Om kleem sing
Benefit Rishi, Muni, Deva, animals, birds, all diseases,
poisons, ghosts and goblins, rivers, sacred
sites- all their anger or vigor will abide and
they will feel enchanted

Sthambanam

Direction West
Adornment Sacred ash with mercy, stop the breath
Seat Dharba grass
Beads Lotus beads
Deity Nadana Ganapathy
Mantra Om sreem kleem
Benefits Stop the minds of evil souls and animals, stop
the natural movement of air, water and fire
(perform is able to walk on fire without getting
burnt, walk on water without sinking)
Ucchaadanam-

Direction South
Adornment Sacred ash with honesty
Seat Tree bark
Beads Conch beads (sangu mani)
Deity Sakthi Ganapathy
Mantra Om kleem sau
benefits All strong diseases will go away, magical
spells (pilli soonyam) will be removed

Aakarshanam ( to experience the jyothi)

Direction North east (?)

Adornment Silk dress, adorn sacred ash with silence
Seat Not given
Beads Spatikam (crystal)
Deity Vaalai Ganapathy
Mantra Om kleem
Benefits All karma removed, uncontrollable things
controlled, future births nullified
Vidveshanam

Direction South west

Adornment White dress
Seat
Bead Coral
Deity Ucchishta Ganapathy
Mantra Om sreem hreem
Benefit You can cause creation (you cannot create). If
sacred ash is offered to ladies they will beget
offspring, anything will multiply from one to
ten,

Maaranam-

Direction South East

Adornment
Seat Vengai tree
Bead “Etti”
Deity Ugra Ganapathy
Mantra Om reeng nasi
Benefit All diseases, enemies will die, enemy will get
leprosy, his blood will be on fire.
If the individual grants sacred ash all the
diseases will be cured

Bedanam-

Direction North west

Adornment Breath should be stopped
Seat Deer skin
Bead Pepper seeds
Deity Mula Ganapathy
Mantra Om reem am
Benefit The perform will appear as different forms, if
he ties sacred ash on the arm of the sick- fever,
vitiation of humor and swelling cured

Mulamantra for ashta ganapathy-om kleem ang ung

Hold the vibhuthi in the left hand, add the ganapathy’s wholr (ukara), see the flame and recite the
mantra 208. Several diseases cured- fever, pneumonia, leperocy, TB, vanjanai, Eval, poisons,
dosha, karappaan, garbaroham, collection in the stomach. You will become lord of eight
directions and immerse in poornam, the aadhi.