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On Getting Moksha Four Shiva Kshetras and Carnatic Music Stalwarts PDF
On Getting Moksha Four Shiva Kshetras and Carnatic Music Stalwarts PDF
Dear All:
I came across this sloka about the various Shiva kshetrams in an article by
the late Kanchi Paramacarya forwarded to me by a friend. (I was able to
copy and paste the original article, which is entirely in Tamil, see end.) This
sloka, cited by Kanchi Paramacarya in the context of a discussion on
Carnatic music, also provides an interesting insight on what it takes to
obtain moksha, one of the four primary goals of life – or Purushaarthaas -
dharma, artha, kama, and moksha.
A panoramic view
of the famous
Chidambaram
temple, where Lord
Shiva is seen as
Nataraja. Among
the kshetras it is
known as the
Akasha (or abhra)
kshetra.
Page 1 of 23
This sloka mentions Chidambaram, Kashi, Arunachaleswara
(Thiruvannamalai) and finally Kamalalaya. The last is another name for the
holy city of Thiruvarur, which is known for its annual chariot festival. In fact,
when something or someone is moving very slowly and deliberately, it is
referred to (mockingly) as Thiruvaarur chariot. There is an ancient Shiva
temple in that city, which I visited for the first time in 2011. (BTW, it was sad
to see this ancient and historic temple in a greatly dilapidated state.)
This temple city is also renowned as being the birthplace of three great
Carnatic music stalwarts: The musical saint Thyagaraja, Muthuswamy
Dikshitar, and Shyama Sastri. ( birthplace of Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar
and Syama Sastri, popularly known as the Trinity of Carnatic music, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvarur )
Page 2 of 23
Kalahasti is one of the five major Shiva temples (Pancha Bhoota Sthalam),
representing each of the five major elements - Wind. The five elements are,
Lord Nataraja at the Chitsabhai in Chidambaram. To the left of the Lord's idol is the Chidambara
Rahasya - represented by strands of gold Vilva leaves. To the right is the idol of His Consort
Goddess Sivagamasundari
Page 3 of 23
Shiva as Nataraja, performing His cosmic dance which attracts all the
celestials. They all come to witness it. So, this place is called the great
assembly (sabha). In his article Kanchi Paramacarya also refers to the
Shree Rudram (3rd anuvakam) where we encounter Sabhaabhyah
Sabhaapatibhyash ca vo namo namo. The sabha here refers to the great
assembly of all the celestials to witness Lord Shiva cosmic dance at
Chidambaram and Sabhapati, of course, is Nataraja, the Lord of this Divine
Assembly. Hence, one will get moksha with just a glimpse of Lord Shiva in
Chidambaram.
Likewise, it is stated that one gets moksha if one dies (maraNaat) in Kashi.
During my very first visit to Kashi earlier this year (in Jan 2011), I remember
witnessing at least two bodies being carried away (they usually throw the
body into the Holy Ganga, in Kashi) for final rites. Blessed are such souls to
depart from this earth at Kashi.
Finally, comes the fourth ksetram, Kamalaalaya, which means the abode
of Kamala. This refers to the holy temple at Tiruvaarur. Just being born
(jananaat) in this holy city grants one moksha, according to this sloka.
Within this ancient Shiva temple, there is a temple known as Kamalambal
temple. The Devi here is all three Goddesses of Hinduism Unified into one
(Ka-Kalaimagal meaning Saraswathi; Ma-Malaimagal meaning Parvathi
and La-Alaimagal meaning Lakshmi). Hence, KaMaLa + aalaya (abode) in
the above sloka. This Kamalambal temple is considered to be one of the 64
Shakti Peedams (see travelogue below).
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http://travel.bhushavali.com/2010/12/tiruvarur-temple-tour-part-iii.html
In the article (see end), written by a young woman who came to see the
Kanchi Paramacarya, the sage recalls this sloka during their conversation.
She was a student of music and also had some artistic abilities. She had
prepared a sketch of the three musicians and took it with her to get the
blessings of Paramacarya. Her mother was planning a visit to Kanchi to
seek an audience with the sage. She asked this young woman to join her.
Much to her surprise, the sage saw the sketch of the three music stalwarts
and started speaking to this young woman and enquired about her studies.
He also pointed out an error made by her in how Muthuswamy Dikshitar
was depicted in the sketch and asked the young woman to correct it and
bring it back and show it to him during her next visit. (It has to do with how
the veena that Dikshitir used to play was depicted. The “yaali” of the veena,
see sketch, was depicted facing down. Dikshitir’s veena yalli was always
facing up. The veena was supposed to be a divine veena, a gift from
Gangadevi Herself.)
Page 5 of 23
http://www.angelfire.com/musicals/kallidaih
ari/dikshithar_profile.HTML
http://www.hindu.com/fr/2011/04/15/stories/
2011041550550200.htm
It is often noted that the sage of Kanchi was a real modern day seer and a
trikaala jnani (one who knows past, present, and future) and knew many
things through his divine vision. He would often confound those who visit
him with such “miracles”.
Page 6 of 23
I can recall my own experience too in this regard. He did NOT speak to me
directly. He was observing a vow of silence at that time but looked at me
and accepted the invitations to the 60th birthday celebrations of one of my
father’s cousins (back in 1984). I was on my way to Kanchi and was asked
by the family to present the printed invitations (before they were mailed out)
to the sage and, following tradition, seek his blessings for the auspicious
once-in-a-lifetime event.
On that day, until I came up to him, he had held his head down and did not
even look at anyone. I observed this myself since there was a long line of
devotees waiting their turn. When I came to offer my obeisances, he
quickly lifted his head and looked straight at me, as if asking me to talk to
him. I presented what I had, did my namaskarams, and sought his
blessings for the 60th birthday celebrations of my father’s cousin.
I still remember the joy my father’s cousin and his family felt when I related
this story to them when I returned to Chennai (of the sage looking at me
and my speaking to him directly, his assistants were doing it for others who
wanted to convey messages they wanted the sage to hear). I also
remember they all told me that I made a very BIG mistake in what I did.
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My father’s cousin, in particular, rebuked me for not introducing myself
properly. He said that the sage knew my late grandfather (after whom I am
named) personally and told me that I should have mentioned that I was his
grandson. The reception I received might have been even more startling.
Needless to say, the trikaala jnani sage did NOT need any such reminder
from me. That is how I felt then, and even more so now, as I have grown
older! I was also told that just his glance was enough. The mere fact that he
lifted his head to look at me was enough.
Very sincerely
V. Laxmanan
Sep 29, 2011
http://www.indiadivine.org/audarya/advaita-vedanta/145910-digest-
paramacharyas-discourses-unification-advaita-shaktism.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/advaitin/message/22406
Page 8 of 23
arunAchalA, or 'Hill of Wisdom', represents the Agni (Fire) tatvam in the pancha
bhUta sthalAs of Lord Shiva (places of worship where Lord Shiva manifested
Himself as one of the five elements). It was here that Lord Shiva resolved a dispute
between Brahma and Vishnu as to who was the superior one by appearing as a
column of light and then, in response to their prayers, manifested Himself as
Arunachala. The temple, one of the largest (25 acres) and oldest in all of South
India, is located in a town called Tiruvannamalai, 120 miles southwest of Chennai.
Many songs have been composed in praise of Lord Arunachala. Sri Muthuswami
Dikshitar, in his panchalinga krithis, has composed arunAchala nAtham in the
ragam sArangA. Here is a rendition of this song by the Hyderabad Brothers,
Seshachari and Raghavachari.
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It is said that there are three major pilgrimage methods to achieve liberation from the cycle
of life, death and rebirth. The first of these is by meditating within the Virupaksha Cave on
Mount Arunachala (where Sri Ramana Maharishi lived from 1899 to 1916 in solitude). The
second is by climbing to the top of Arunchala Hill's holy peak. The third method, adopted by
many, is the custom of Giri Valam or Giripradakshinam, which is circumambulating the base
of the Arunachala Hill.
Arunachaleshwara Temple
http://www.somasthyagaraja.com/2008_03_01_archive.html
"By seeing Chidambaram, by being born in Tiruvarur, by dying in Kasi, or by merely thinking of
Arunachala, one will surely attain Liberation."
- Arunachala Mahatmyam by Sri Ramana Maharishi
http://travel.sulekha.com/a-view-of-chidambaram-temples_chidambaram-
video-21408.htm
http://travel.sulekha.com/natarajar-temple_chidambaram-video-10817.htm
The song accompanying this video mentions the cosmic dance of Shiva.
Page 10 of 23
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6B9Qe89YEU&feature=player_detailpa
ge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKIo3-2MNf8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JalH-kfDjRI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUGg29s0IQs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFhaPTtEDTs&feature=related
A view of Kashi
temples – Bank of
the Holy Ganga.
Page 11 of 23
http://www.shaivam.org/siddhanta/sp/spjyoti_vishvesh.htm
Page 12 of 23
The 12 jyotirlinga temples
http://www.shaivam.org/siddhanta/sp/spjyoti.htm
There is an sanskrit shloka that lists the twelve jyotirlinga temples. (This and the
complete dvAdasa jyotirlinga stotra could be found at Scripture Page)
Mahadev, the Lord incorporates in Himself, the aura and the holiness of all the
twelve JyotirLingas. The grandeur of these places is unique. Devotees line up in
great numbers to take a look and get a Darshan of all the JyotirLingas.
Two on the sea shore, three on river banks, four in the heights of the mountains
and three in villages located in meadows; the twelve Jyotirlingas are spread out
like this. Every place has been described in glorious words by many detailing the
surroundings etc.
Page 13 of 23
7. Kedareswar jyotirling in Kedarnath / Himalayas (Utt)
8. Tryambakeswar jyotirling in Nasik (Mah) √
9. Rameshwar jyotirling in Setubandanam / Rameshwaram (T.N.) √
10.Bhimashankar jyotirling in Dakini (Mah) √
11.Visweswar jyotirling in Varanasi (U.P.) and √
12. Ghrishneswar jyotirling in Devasrovar (Mah). √
Page 14 of 23
Death Hospitals in Kashi: For those who want Moksha
Dear All:
http://www.mahavidya.ca/dharma-and-the-individual/death-hospitals-in-
kashi-kasi/
There are apparently "death hospitals" in Kashi where the idea of the
hospital is NOT to save a person from death but allowing them to die.
However, you can read about what is going on and decide.....
http://nitaaiveda.com/All_Scriptures_By_Acharyas/Rupa_Goswami/9_1e_1
b_.htm
Page 15 of 23
Glories of Mathura from Mathura Mahatmyam
Text 1
Generally Lord Hari gives mukti, but not bhakti, to his worshipers. O Mathura, to
you, who gives a great sacrifice of pure bhakti and who are very auspicious, I offer my
respectful obeisances.
Text 12
For one who always chants the name of Mathura sins are always destroyed. For
him it is always Satya-yuga. For him it is always the auspicious time of Uttarayana.
Text 84
moksha-pradatvam. adi-varahe
Page 16 of 23
sa gatis tyajatah pranan
mathurayam narasya ca
Text 85
tirthe-at this holy place; ca-and; eva-indeed; grihe-at home; va-or; api-and;
catvare-in a courtyard; pathi-on the road; ca-and; eva-indeed; hi-indeed; yatra-where;
tatra-there; mritah-after death; devi-O goddess; muktim-liberation; yanti-attain; na-not;
ca-and; anyatha-otherwise.
O goddess, they who die in this holy place in a home here, in a courtyard, or on the
road, attain liberation without any doubt.
Text 86
Page 17 of 23
dhanya-opulent; ya-which; janma-birth; mau{.sy 241}ji-vrata-brahminical initiation;
mrityu-of death; dahair-by the fires; nrinam-of people; caturdha-in ヘŠfour; vidadhati-
grants; moksham-liberation.
If Varanasi and other holy cities were assemnbled together on this earth Mathura
would be the greatest and most opulent amongst them. With the fires of birth, death,
or brahmnical initiation within its boundaries, Mathura grants the four kinds of
liberation.
Text 87
The spiritual destination that in another place cannot be attained byt practicieng
yoga for thousands of manvantaras is attainable by My mercy very easily in this place.
Text 88
Who will not take shelter of this holy place where there is no fear of sin, no fear of
Yamaraja, and no fear of residing again in a mother's womb.
Page 18 of 23
Text 89
Withyout sankhya, without yoga, without meditation on the Self, and without vows,
austerities or charity, the living entities here attain the greatest benediction.
Text 90
krimi-kita-patangadya
mathurayam mrita hi ye
kulat patanti ye vrikshas
te 'pi yanti param gatim
The worms, insects, birds, and other creatures who die here and the trees that fall
down from the riverbanks here, all attain the supreme destination.
Text 91
varahe
vimsha-yojana-vistaro
mathurayash ca mandalam
yatra pranan vimuncanti
siddha yanti param gatim
They who die in the twenty-yojana (160 miles) area of Mathura become perfect and
attain the supreme destination.
Very sincerely
V. Laxmanan
October 12, 2011
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