Srimathe Shankaracharya Bagavadpadaya Namaha

Sri Lalithambika Sametha Sri Sadashivaya Parabhrahmane Namaha

 

 

Sri Rudra namakam & Chamakam are like gems situated in the middle of Krishna Yajur Veda. Sri Shiva Panchakshara Manthram is situated in the middle of the Sri Rudr Namakam (or Sri Rundram). Rudra - means, the fireceful one or the powerful one. Sri Rudra represents the form of Bhrahman, which destroys all the 14 Universes at the end of the Kalpas (Kalpantha kalam). Each kalpa consists of several 1000 years. Various cults of the Vedic religion depict their respective dieties as the ones, absorbing all the worlds at the end of the kalpas or the universal flood (Maha pralayam). According to the Shaiva sect of the six-fold Vedic religion, all the worlds, become one in the Shiva Lingam at the end of the destructive phase of the worlds. Sri Rudra is associated with the task of destruction, Sri Vishnu with protection & Sri HiranyaGharbha with the task of creation.

 

The greatness of the SHaivam or the Shaiva cult is that, the Shiva Lingam represents the blissful atman or Self. The shapeless form of the Lingam shows the Nirguna-Bhrahman or the attribute-less Bhrahman. Lord Thryambaka or Rudra is always associated with a third-eye, or an eye of wisdom. It's actually, the inner sight of one's own self, which the gnanis attain, after they attain the wisdom of self-knowledge. The damarukam represents, the Oumkaram, which is filled in the Cosmos. His trident or Trisula represents, his destructive power - destruction of pathi, pashu & pasham. Lord Shiva wears the ashes, which represents the Samadhi state, after all our thoughts & the virtual mind is burnt, when we are filled with the self-consciousness or the Athma Gnanam. Meditating on Lord Shiva's form helps us attain the Samadhi state more easily & blesses us with the divine bliss of self-knowledge.

 

Sri Parvathy - the daughter of the King of Mountains, is Lord Shiva's divine consort & she represents one's own self in the Jagrath Stithi full of divine attributes. Sri Matha also represents the Saguna ParaBhrahman or the Supreme Lord with attributes. We could also say that, Sri Matha represents the state of one's Athma, which is attained Bagavatha Sayjyam, but yet is different from the Bhramhan. (This is much similar to the Visistadvaithic form of Aham or purified Jeevathma). But, the real bliss is only when the endless power or energy unites with the Shiva, which Sri Shan Kara glorifies in his Soundarya Lahari. The whole concept of Shiva Shakthi Aiyhakam or Union of Shivam & Shakthy represents the attainment of self-knowledge by the union of Aham & Param (which is also called as Samadhi). This divine experience is called as Anuboothy. Nirguna Bhrahman could only be experienced by great gnanis & it's an un-explainable feeling. This self-consciousness is also termed as "Athma Boham" in advaithic terms. Lord Parameswara is a manifestation of this self-consciousness & all his ayudhams & ganams represent various things philosophically. People, who meditate on the physical form of Lord Parameswara (Devotion without wisdom of self-consciousness) reach the divine abode of Lord Parameswara (Kailasham) & keep continuing their services to the Lord. At the end of the kalpas, Lord Parameshwara, unites all those souls with the Nirguna ParaBhrahman. All the Gnanis, who meditate Lord Parameswara as none other than their own Athma Bodhamrutham, get unified into the Bhrahman, as soon as they shed their mortal coils. For such Gnanis, the physical mind is broken & they represent their self-consciousness, which has merged itself into the form-less & attribute-less reality. (Nirguna Bhrahman). Such people are said to have their third eye opened, & their sight turned deeply inwards & firmly seated into their athma sthanam.

 

 

Vedic Rishis & saints have undergone the divine anubuthi in various forms & stages, based on which they have decrypted the various Upanishads & Samhitas from the cosmos, for the welfare of this mankind. As we had seen above, Sri Rudra Namakam is a very beautiful rendering, which contains the divine 300 names of Sri Parameswara, describing various attributes of the Saguna Bharhman. Repeating these names periodically would make our steps to attaining the Nirguna Sakshathram or the Anubuthy of Athma Bodhamrutham easier. In the Vedic religion, in addition to the Vedas & Upanishads the Puranas also form an integral part, describing various stories insists the Dharma & the Vedic culture. Sri Shiva Puranam is associated with Lord Parameshwara & it says that, anyone who recites Sri Rudram attains the fruit of giving a land with gold mines, river & mountains to the Brahmins (& this gets his sins cleared off). Various Samhitas & Mahabaratha depict the greatness of chanting Sri Rundram.

 

Chanting Sri Rudra Namakam 11 times & doing archana with the 300 names, specified in Sri Rudram & doing sacrifice (of rice & ghee) in the fire with the mantras in e fire is called as Rudra Ekadashi. As per Shiva Purana there are 13 Rudras & each of them are invoked in separate kalashas. Proper avahandhi shodasha upakaras are done to them & the recitation of Sri Rudram is done followed by the homam. At that time, Lord Parameshwara would be extremely happy & a special ritual called as Vasu Dharai is performed. A big can of ghee is poured into the sacrificial fire accompanied by the recitation of CHamakam. Chamakam is a Vedic chanting, which has a very elaborate list of things, which are asked to Lord Parameshwara. Lord, Parameshwara is the only God, who would grant all the wishes of his devotee, without a second thought. Lord Parameshara gets extremely pleased & grants all the things, which the devotee mentions in the Chamakam at the time of Vasudharai. Such is the greatness of the Sri Rudra Maha Yagnam.

 

In this materialistic world, we talk to various mortals and ask different earthly things & we try to please them. But those mortal beings, who are filled with raga (desires/lust) and dvesha (hatred) finally change colors & cheat us. But, Lord Parameshwara, who id filled with mercy & compassion, would bless the devotee with the satisfaction of mind, so that he gets an ultimately filled mind & doesn’t have any list for all the worldly things. The devotee, filled with divine graces, wishes only atma gnanam as his ultimate goal in life. Having extreme faith in divine blessings, and doing all the divine kainkaryaams for Rudra Ekadashi, makes us advance in the spiritual life & we get the blessings of Lord Parameshwara & we reach the divine feet of a great Guru (like Sri Bagavadhpada) & attain the bliss of self-consciousness. As, the Vedic texts, are 100% true, we also get worldly pleasures & luxuries. But, Lord Parameshwara's blessings would make us fulfilled in mind & make us immune to all the worldly pleasures & pains.

 

Sri Anantharama Diskshitar states that, Sri Rudra Ekadashi could cure any kinds of diseases like mental problems, etc. In addition to the chants of Sri Rundram, Sri Lalitha Sahasranama Archanai needs to the performed to the same kalashams, & that water needs to be sprinkled in the house to remove various bad effects. People with various diseases (like mental problems.) need to be washed (abishekam) with this water. Even totally dried trees will come back to life if this water is poured on the trees. Such is the great ness of the water, charged with the divine Manthrams. All kinds of problems due to Pithru Shabham, Poorva Karma would be totally cleansed & one's life becomes happy both in this life (ika lokam) & also the after life (paraloka).

 

Vasodhara During Rudra Ekadashi

 

 

Rudra Ekadashini also gives us the advantage of sharing the economy. Various items (like umbrella, silver, gold, kumbham...) are given as dhanam to the chanters of Sri Rudram. Although most of the astheekas know to chant Rudram Chamakam & other sukthams inviting the spiritually rich Vedic Chanters & seeking the blessings of Sri Parameswara is very important. With all these dhanams accompanied by the annadhanam, clears us of all the karmas & takes us a level above in the spiritual life. Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam glorifies Sri Matha, as Sri Shiva & the union of Shivam & Shakthy. So, performing Sri Lalitha Sahasranama archanai to the same kalashams pleases Sri Matha & Sri Parameshwara. SriMatha is none other than the ParaBhrahmam itself in its feminine manifestation. So Sri Lalita Sahasrana Archanai would help us advance in the spiritual lives of all the astheekas performing the kramam. In additon to the Vaidheekas performing the kramam all the family members, relatives & friends can join the parayanam of Sri Rudra Namakam, Chamakam, Sri Rudra Thrishathi & Sr Lalitha Sahasranama Namavali. The more, the number of astheekas & Vaidheekas not only to that house, Rudra Ekadashi brings auspiciousness for the whole village & the whole city where the kramam is happening.shrestas, participate in this kramam the stronger Proper rains, enormous production of crops, stoppage of pre-matured deaths (akala maranams), mokshams for all the durathmas,.. are some of the popular benifits of Sri Rudra Ekadshi.

 

 

 

Sri Lalitha Sahasra Namavali And Rudra Thrishathi for the Ekadasha Kalasham(s)

 

 

All the astheekas should gorgeously contribute to such kramams, as it would bring grace to the whole city/village, where Rudra Ekadashi is performed. We should never bargain with the Vaidheeka Shrestas for 100 Rs. & 200 Rs. In our daily lives, we end up spending huge amounts of money for various worldly things (like medical expenses, engineering seats, college fees.). We should not curtail ourselves to performing the Rudra Ekadashini for the 60th birthday (Shashti Poorthy). This kramam needs to be performed on each of the birth days following the Shasti Poorthy,so that the concerned dampathis  attain the Shiva Sayujyam in their life time & attaining the greatest of all the wisdoms, which is the Self Knowledge. There is no doubt that, one clears off of all the karmas & attains Shiva Sauyjyam with the repeated performance of Sri Rudra Ekadashini, Maha Rudram, and Athi Rudram. All these punya karmas would make us attain the Ishara AnuBoothi (Tatvamashyadhi Maha Vakya Anubhavam) & attain moksham

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acharya Samabavanai At the End of Rudra Ekadashini

 

 

 

 

The greatness of the moksham, attained by Sri Ishvara Aradhanam, accompanied by the chanting of Sri Rudram is great. This is illustrated by the prayer slokam from Sri Rudram.

 

Thryambakam Yajamahe Suganthim Pusti Vardhanam

Urvakukamiva Bandhanan Mruthyor Muksheeya Mruthat

 

Vyakyanam: Glories to the Three-eyed Lord (Thryambaka), who gives a helathy body with sweet odor (sugandhi & pusti). Let Lord Parameshwara grants us moksha; by liberating us form the worldly bondages like the cucumber  (Urvakam) fruit. Let our life become void of death (mruthyu) & become ever lasting (amrutahmakam).

This prayer to Lord Parameswara is a direct reference to the Advaithic blissful state, which each & every living being on this earth would like to attain. Of all the fruits, the cucumber fruit is very specific in the way; it gets detached from the vine after it is ripened. The same way, in the same place, where we are at (house-holder, bachelor. & other varnasramas) we need to get spiritually matured by attaining the wisdom of self-consciousness and all our worldly bondages need to get separated by themselves due to the graces of Sri Parameswara.

 

Om Shanthi Shanthi Shanthihi.