The answers of Agastya Muni to the generic questions posted by devotees can be found here.
The readers are requested to send their spiritual experiences related to the Siddhas to GnanaBoomi at Gmail dot com. Though the experiences are unique and personal to them, it can shower some light or guidance to those who read them. Thanks!
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[From the 211th episode of the Tamil series]
This post comes on a Thursday which is usual to this series. The date however is 12th of January, which is the birth anniversary of Guru Swami Vivekananda. Coincidence?
Vyazhan or Guru is also called with a special name of Bruhaspathi, which means highest of intellect. Guru is considered to be the foremost among the 9 grahas. Bruhaspathi is the head and guru of the Devas and is a charm of Lord Brahma. He was born to Angirasa Muni who is a great tapasvi and Shraddha Devi. His swaroopa lakshana (appearance) is that of a beautiful one.
Guru has an ashram on top of Vindhya mountain. He is the king of Sindhu Desh. He belongs to the Angirasa Gothra (a gothra is a lineage starting from the originator who is a rishi and everyone in that lineage calls themselves by the name of that Gothra. There are a number of gothras such as Kountinya, Vishwamithra, Bharadhwaja, Angirasa etc., which traces back to the rishi who is the foremost of that gothra, an amazingly organized structure).
He is the lord of North and North-Eastern directions (Esanya direction). He wears the Pushparaga garland and holds Dhanda, Kamandalu, Garland and Varadha Hastha (the hand gesture which denotes of giving boon. There are many different types of hastha such as Abhaya hastha, Varadha hastha etc).
He circumumbulates Mount Meru in a chariot pulled by eight horses. To get his grace, one should pray to Lord Indra and Lord Brahma. He resides in the northern side of Surya in a long square shaped Mandala, facing North. In languages, he owns the Sanskrit.
He likes things that are cold in nature.
The term Guru means the one who destroys ignorance. Jyotish shashtra denotes Guru as Vyazha Bhagwan or Bruhaspathi. The shashtra gives the number 3 to Guru. He becomes pleased if one gets the initiation of a mantra from a guru and chants it daily and blesses them with abundance of happiness and wealth.
The place where the cows are sheltered and protected, Guru remains there (pratyaksha).
‘Prathideva Jwalagraham’ – is said on Guru. It means, the one graha which reflects the Tejomaya Swaroopa (enlightened appearance) in our mind, it is indeed Guru’s mandala. Guru has 5 brothers. They are Bruhath Jyotis, Bruhath Brahma, Bruhan Manas, Bruhan Mantra, and Bruhath Pasa.
Bruhaspathi married Tara and got Samyu, Nisyavan, Viswajit, Vishwapuk, Vadabaagni, Svida Kruthi as sons and Swaha as the daughter. Maharaja Pareekshith’s son (the grandson of Arjuna, the Pandava) Janamejaya wanted to perform a yagna known as Sarpa Yagna. Guru bhagwan knew that if that yagna is performed, all the snakes in the world will be destroyed. He stopped that Sarpa Yagna through his intellect.
Lord Indra did severe tapasya once where the devas were struggling without their leader thereby the asuras gaining advantage over them. The devas sought the help of Guru, Bruhaspathi who brought back Indra from his penance with the help of his intellect, saving the Devas.
The gurus Shukracharya (the guru of Asuras) and Bruhaspathi (guru of Devas) have difference of opinion in many things. Still, as per their dharma, Shukracharya accepted Bruhaspathi’s son Vishwajit aka Asan and learnt the art of ‘Sanjeevani’.
Guru has installed a Shiva Linga in Kashi Kshetra and remained near the linga and did tapasya, pooja for 10000 deva-years. Lord Shiva was pleased with the penance, appeared before him and said, “You have done a very big tapasya, focused your mind on Shiva-Linga-Dhyana whereby you will be a Nithya Jeeva (the one who remains forever). Also, because of your intellect and skillfulness, you will get to be the guru of Indra himself.”
Guru is of a golden radiance with four hands wielding Yoga Dhanda, Atcha Mala, Kamandalu and Abaya Hastha. However, the book Vishnu Dharmotharam says that Bruhaspathi has two hands which holds Atcha Malai and a book. Guru is a shantha moorthy (peaceful looking), golden in radiance, smears sandalwood paste that looks like gold, appears with golden colored flower, a golden umbrella etc.,
The Athi Devata of Guru is Lord Brahma, prathyathi devata is Lord Indra. He is denoted by the names Neethikaraka, Tarapathi, Karkapeetapahara, Soumya Murthy, Thrilokesha, Lokapujya, Grahatheesha as well. He bestows mercy easily to the poor. He is the one who explained the four different types of Vaak such as Parai, Paisanthi, Maththimai and Vigari. He is praised as ever merciful, pure, the teacher of justice, the one without impurity.
The demon Nakusha wanted to kidnap Indrani, the wife of Indra. Guru knew this and asked Nakusha to ride in a palaquin which is carried by none other than the Saptha Rishis (the 7 famous rishis who are as powerful as anyone – Kashyapa, Atri, Vashista, Vishvamitra, Gautama Maharishi, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja. The Saptarishis keep changing for every yuga – see wikipedia) to come and meet him. Nakusha thought of himself as incomparable to anyone because of this invitation. He rode on the palaquin with so much of pride only to get cursed by Guru to become a snake. Another version of the same incident says that Guru planned this event in such a way that the Saptarishis carried the palaquin rather slowly, where Nakusha lost his patience and urged the rishis to go faster by saying ‘Sarpa…sarpa’ (faster, faster). The rishis got furious and cursed him to become Sarpa, just what he said (Serpant, a closer one which routes its origin to the sanskrit word for snake, Sarpa).
The one who gets the merciful look of Guru, even if he is a fool, he will become the most intelligent. There is a sloka in Vishnu Dharmothram for Guru. If one chants this sloka everyday with devotion, they are sure to get Guru’s grace.
Bruhaspathi Suracharyo Thaivaan Subha Lakshana:
Lokathraya Guru Shreemaan Sarvagnaa: Sarvagovitha:
Sarvesha: Sarvaa thipeeshta sarvajit sarva poojitha:
Akrodhano muni shreshta neethi karthaa guru: pithaa
Vishwaathmaa Vichcha Aariththaa Cha viswayoni rayonija:
Poorva Vassuva prabhuch chaiva paarthaa sivamagaa bala:
It is said that this wonderful sloka was recited by Lord Krishna in Nanda Gopa’s house.
There are three important places in the Earth where Guru Bhagwan came and did puja.
1. Thenkudithittai – it is in the 9th kilometer on the route which goes to Mayavaram via Thanjavur. (one may search aalayam kanden or Raju’s temple visit blogs for the names)
2. Thiruvalithaayam (Paadi) – It is near Chennai, around 12 kilometers distance
3. Thiruchendur – This is one of the six battle-houses of Lord Muruga where Guru Bhagwan did pooja whole heartedly. This is in Thirunelveli district.
The Guru-Gayatri is:
Vrushaba Dhwajaaya Vidhmahe Kruni Hasthaaya Dheemahi
Thanno Guru Prachothayaath
…those who chant this mantra everyday will have no shortage of good abundance, the existing shortage will disappear as well. He is the embodiment of the spiritual knowledge, Vedanta, the purity of Mukkarana (there are three karanas in a human namely Mano, Vaak, Kaayam aka Mind, Speech and Body). He is the source of Geniuses, Gnani’s and Bhakthaas.
He is the source of Brahmins and Cows. He bestows physical and mental strength. He gives the status which does not bow down to anyone. He is the one who does big tasks just like that. He makes one rule a kingdom, makes one give out modern ideas. He is the owner of subtle and gentle Gunas (attributes). He offers discrimination, His face is always with a gentle smile. He likes sweets. Yellowish in color, he owns the flesh part in human body. Out of the three bodily types (Vatha, Pithaa and Kapa), he owns Kapa.
His gemstone is Pushparaka (Pukhraj or Yellow Sapphire). He helps the wealth being meaningful. He is a male graha. He is the sky in five elements. His direction is North-East. He is the owner of Dhanusu and Meena rashis. Kataka is uchcha house and Makara is Neecha house.
He is the athipathi of the stars Punarvasu, Visaka and Poorattaadhi. When His dasha happens, all good will follow. He is very powerful during the day. When His glance falls, everything will become beneficial.
Devanaancha Rishinaancha Gurum Kanchana Sannipam
Bhakthibootham Thrilokesham Tham Namaami Bruhaspathim!
…is his Thuthi.
If one wants every type of wealth, one can chant the following verse from Soundarya Lahari everyday:
Avidhyaana Mandhasthimira Mihira Dhweepanagari
Jataanaam Chaithanya Sthapaka Makarantha Shruthi Jari
Dharidhraanaam Chinthaamani Guna Nigaa Janma Jalathou
Nimakthaa naam dhamshtraa muraripu varaahasya bavathee!
The featured image is the first verse of Adi Shankaracharya’s Dakshinamurthy Stotram. It can be read here.
~ to be continued…!