Marriage
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Poorna-Pushkala controversy
             Mahishi had been wreaking havoc for a long period of time, well before  Manikandan's avatar. The people troubled by these atrocities approached a renowned maharishi at that time called Ayappan. This rishi had two wives, Poorna and Pushkala and  a son called Swatihan. He did tapas and from the Goddess Mother  learned of the invincibility of Mahishi and that an unique avatar in the form of Manikandan was forthcoming. Manikandan was a bachelor and unmarried. He even turned down the offer of marriage from the repentive Mahishi."If that being the case, how can you reconcile with the alleged married state of Manikandan?"  questions Swamiji. Is it right then to maliciously and viciously construe Ayappan as a paramour and libertine ? Lord Krishna too has been improperly labelled thus because of His association with the gopis. This is because of our limited mental capacity to construe everything using our own weaknesses. But God is beyond all these earthly trappings.

Embargo on ladies atop Sabarimala
      This issue has been a long going one despite the clear ruling that "only girls below 10 years and ladies beyond 50 years can ascend Sabarimala. Swami Ayappan is in His yogic state. Even Mallikapurathu amman has been sort of "snubbed" by placing Her temple quite a distance away.The message is clear. He doesn't want to be disturbed and similarly the devotees seeking liberation should not be disturbed by the strong force of kama (lust)- see the lengthy discussion on this matter in ABASS website under the same heading.

"The man of uncontrolled senses, seeing women - the enchantment created by the Lord- and being tempted by their blandishments, fall into abysmal darkness, like the moth into the fire." (U.Gita Chp.3v.7)

Krishna at Swamiji's temple
(Abhisegam during the Lakshaarchana Pooja)

The 18 steps
      The  flight of  18 steps as you see it  today has been covered with pancalogam. Prior to 1984/85 it was just a solid stone structure, which was slippery and sharp-edged. These steps carry a silent message. Religiously, it resembles the need to harness the 18 obstacles to progress in spiritual life - 8 ragas(Kama,Krodha,Lobha,Moha,Madha, Maltsalya,Asooya and Dhumb), 5 Indriyas (senses), 3 Gunas ( Sattvic,Rajassic and Tamassic), Avidya(ignorance) and Vidya (wisdom). The steps also refer to lessons contained in the 18 chapters of the Bhagavad-Gita. All in all, the steps are honoured reverently until today because of the ingrained message therein. The flight of steps is therefore not a mere physical mass but one that is symbolic of the great Truths. Symbolism is what one has to understand, for Hinduism or sanathana dharma pre-existed any form of intelligible writings and thrived on the messages of great seers and sages. The messages portrayed symbolically can withstand the test of time and only become apparent and clear for the seekers of the truth and one who is willing to endeavor to unravel the mysteries of birth and death. Often, the symbolic aspect of Hinduism and the idols are aspersed upon but these aspersions do not hold water because great truths rattled out sometimes do not sink into our grey matter. Furthermore, the 3 gunas or predispositions of the mind cannot bring about a concurrence or agreement as regards anything that has been simplified, preached and codified into specific holy texts. Just look around and you shall not fail to see the different versions of the spiritual books. The Ramayana itself has different versions. This also is the case with other faiths and religions. As long as the 3 gunas prevail there shall be different religions, interpretations, varied versions of books etc. Therefore, it is best that the symbolic element of the idols be left just like that - to be interpreted as one wishes. The true seeker of the meaning shall find the correct interpretation with the Supreme Guru within him guiding throughout his quest for the truth. Meppathur Narayana Bhattatiri, was struggling to find an inspiration to write the great poetic work called Narayaneeyam about Krishna at Guruvayoor. He got the message to start with the Matcha (fish) avatar. It is recorded that at one point Krishna Himself corrected Bhattatiri.  The latter wanted to write a verse " Prahaladha Priya" (the lover of Prahaladha) but a voice from within the sanctum sanctorum of Guruvayoor instructed him to write instead "Bhaktajana Priya" (lover of devotees). How amazing ! 

The mind and the need to emasculate it

        The mind (citta) is unsubstantial and hails from the Supreme Consciousness (cit) within us.Upon birth, this mind starts hissing to and fro like a snake and gets entangled with the worldly attachments, only to forget its place of origin, the Supreme Consciousness(cit) which alone is true and real. It ought to be the aim of each Ayappan devotee to emasculate (subdue) this mind and turn it inwards to its origin, the cit - the fountain of bliss and reality by engaging the intelligence (buddhi) in vicara(reasoning) and viveka(discrimination). This cannot be achieved  easily. It takes time and vairagya (determination). All the fasts/continence, bhajans, satsangs, the yatra and everything else is to attain this purpose - the emasculation of the roving mind ! Tame it and direct it inwards so that it listens to the incomparable melodies of the soul within, hailing from the Greatest musician of all times - the Supreme Consciousness itself !

"Let the others be spiritual mountains, always you remain as a spiritual drop, for the indisputable truth is all hail from the same background of that infinite power. Remember that as a guiding principle in your lives. Pride and self-proclaim are for the unrealized. For the realized soul, everyone is a child of his own. You move forward and I shall be right behind. I am the lover of the lovers of God (thasannin thassan)," exhorts Swamiji often.

Swamiji's constant reminder to his Ayappan devotees:
"As a man resorting to the blessed Fire is rid of his cold, fear and darkness, so also is a man associating with saints."

The mind by Lord Krishna Himself  in the Uddhava Gita :
(In Dwaraka Yuga, Lord Krishna's last message (before His exit ) to His closest friend Uddhava is recorded below:)

"The world, consisting of friends, neutrals and foes, which affects a man with pleasure and pain, is a phantasm of his mind owing to ignorance and nothing but that." (Chp.18, v.60)

"Therefore, My friend (Uddhava), possessed of an intellect (buddhi) wholly attached to Me, control the mind perfectly. This is the very gist of Yoga."
(Chp.18,v.61)

" Those who reverently listen to, chant and appreciate these talks become attached to Me, acquire faith and attain devotion to Me." (Chp.21,v.29)

The mind (the citta) that keeps leaping here and forth like a hungry lion ought to be tamed by the whip of the
intelligence (the buddhi) and returned to its cage of origin (the cit) through vicara (reasoning) and viveka (discrimination).
Sabarimala Ayappa yatra is a tapoyatra and is aimed at that emasculation of the mind and the eventual unification of the jivatma with the Paramatma.

Swami saranam mantra - its meaning and effect

"Rishiprokthamthu poorvanam mahathmanaam kurormatham
"Swamisaranam" ithhyakam mukravakyam pravarthitham
"Swa" karokshara mathreyna "swa" karam thipyatheymuthei
"Ma" karamthu sivamproktham "Ei" karam sakthi rushiyathei
Svathma nanyasa prathmanaam thayoreik yathatham supham
Prashanam para shamharam vinitham vasya karanam
"Sam" peejam sathru samharam, "Re" pam nyanakruvasakam.
"Naa" karam shithitham santham muthra vinaya shathanam
Shastru mudra vakyameivam ainmukey parisopitham
Thanmugei vasathei Lakshmi vidya salinei......"

Very loosely, the words "SWA", "MA" and "EI",  have the effect of awakening the jivatma (the soul) within us that due to ignorance remain dormant like Siva. This awakened soul radiates tejas (brilliance) and leads to the engulfment  of the 3 gunas (mental predispositions) of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas by the all-pervading Supreme Consciousness.

"SA" - annihilates the satrus, the bad qualities in us such as Kama, Krodha, Lobha etc.
"RA" - invokes the nyana (wisdom) within you.
"NA" - invokes peace and calmness.
"MUDRA" or "MA" - erases the ill-effects of past karmas.

The SWAMIYE SARANAM mantra uttered with the requisite bhakti blesses the devotee with the grace of aishwaryas (good fortune in all aspects), bravery and wisdom.

*****************

Sastha Gayathri Mantra
Om Sree Bhuthanantha ya vidmahe
Pava Puthraya dhimahe
Than no Sastha Prachotayaat

Gayathri Mantra
Om Bhur Bhuvah Suvah
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi
Dhiyo yo nah Prachodayat
(Om, We meditate on the spiritual effulgence of that adorable Supreme Being (God), the source or protector of the 3 phenomenal world-planes of Bhur-Bhuvah and Suvah. May that Supreme Being stimulate our intelligence, so that we may realise the Supreme Truth.)

Guru Mantra
Guru Brahma,Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshvarah
Guru saakshaatparaBrahma tasmai shrii guravenamaH
(I prostrate to that Shree Guru, who is  Himself Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara and verily the Supreme Absolute Himself)

Ganapathy Mantra
Suklambaradharam Visnum
Sasivarnam Caturbhujam
Prasannavadanam Dhyayet
Sarva-Vighnopasantaye
(For the removal of all obstacles, I meditate on Lord Vighnesvara who is clad in white, is all pervading, is white like the moon, sports four arms and is always of serene aspect.)

A SINCERE PLEADING TO ALL AYAPPAN DEVOTEES

  The Arattu  (bathing)   ceremony for Swami  Ayappan in the holy Pampa river  - the    river which is dirtied by some incorrigible and uninstructed devotees, despite the efforts  of the Travancore Devasom Board (TDB), Akhila Bharata Ayappa Seva Sangam  (ABASS) and the other authorities. Are the devotees to be blamed or their gurusamis for not enlightening them? Please treat this holy river with reverence. It encompasses ages of divinity and history....Swamiye saranam Ayappa. Cooperate with the authorities to make our Sabarimala, our spiritual heritage a better place .

           

                              
           
       These animals  survive in the thick forests of the Sabarimala range. The range and the surrounding vegetation offer them a sanctuary and have become their rightful  habitat.  They roam freely during the Sabarimala off-season and do minimal harm to the throngs of devotees as they undertake the pilgrimage yearly. "That supreme force that animates them is the same force that animates you, me and  everything else . They are as animals because of their past karmas and there is no guarantee that you may not be one of them in your next birth,"  says swamiji. "The yatra is to realize the unity in the diversities - to see everything as that One. If that is so then why must you harm these animals ? The plastic bags and trash that you throw around are consumed by these animals and they die as a consequence. "
                                                    Therefore PLEASE REFRAIN FROM THROWING PLASTIC BAGS AND TRASH AT THE SABARIMALA  PRECINCTS AND THE ADJOINING AREAS.