Vishakha Njattuvela strikes Kerala !

Fierce rains, accompanied by thunder and lightning, was the characteristic of Vishakha Jnattuvela or the Sun's transit of Beta Librae.

This is Thula Varsha or the North East Retreating Monsoon. Great thunder and lightning at Trichur and I couldnt work on my PC or watch Tv at night.

In Cherpu of Trichur, more than 400 acres of agriculture was destroyed by the rains, the rains of Life and Death.

The Monsoon season in Kerala is about to end and will end with Thrikketa Jnattuvela or the end of the sidereal month of Scorpio. From Sagittarius onwards, it is the hot season and farmers will have to water their lands till the 15th of Edava or Taurus, which heralds the South West Monsoon.

When the Retreating Monsoon ( N E Monsoon ) ends, there is no sigh of relief in this Tropical Zone or Torrid Zone, situated at 10.30 degrees north latitude, as nobody likes the blistering hot season. More than 100 people died due to sunstroke last summer !

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Musica Sacra

This is a good recital by Kavita Paudwal, the daughter of Anuradha Paudwal.

It extols the Consciousness immanent in all living beings ( Chetaneth Abhideeyathe ). She is immanent in all as Love ( Prema roopena samsthitha ). She is Intelligence ( buddhi ), is Sleep, is Hunger, is Knowledge, Wisdom, Undestanding. She pervades the Universe. She is the base of all sense organs, She is all this !

The Eightfold Verse about the Mother Divine ( Bhavani Ashtakam )

The first write up has moved to http://www.eastrovedica.com/html/eightfoldverse1.asp

Meanwhile , here is another write up. This gracious poem was crafted by the ace philosopher Sankara, who was as candid as Socrates. He was equally humble, moving one to tears !

Thou art my Refuge, O Mother

My only Refuge !

Neither Father nor Mother

Neither relatives nor sons

Or daughters preciious

Or husband loving
Or wife or Education

Nor Profession

Can redeem me

Only Thou can !

Na Thaatho Na Maataa Na Bandhur-Na Daathaa
Na Putro Na Putree  Na Bhrtyo Na Bhartaa
Na Jaayaa Na Vidyaa Na Vrttir-Mama-Iva
Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani

I am more or less a coward

Sunk in the quagmire of worldliness

Always enmeshed in worldly life

With a lot of worries

Thou art my Sole Refuge, O Mother !

Bhavaabdhaav-Apaare Mahaa-Duhkha-Bhiiru
Pa-Paata Pra-Kaamii Pra-Lobhii Pra-Mattah |
Ku-Samsaara-Paasha-Pra-Baddhah Sada-[A]ham
Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani

I know not the act of donating

Nor meditation mystic

Neither Tantra holy

Nor mantras divine

I know not Pujas
Acts of worship

Nor Raja Yoga

Thou art my Sole Refuge, O Mother !

Na Jaanaami Daanam Na Ca Dhyaana-Yogam
Na Jaanaami Tantram Na Ca Stotra-Mantram |
Na Jaanaami Puujaam Na Ca Nyaasa-Yogam
Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani|

I know not divine merit

Nor waters divine

Nor Salvation great

Nor Unio Mystica

I know not devotion

Nor the vows of abstinence

Thou art my Sole Refuge, O Mother !

Na Jaanaami Punnyam Na Jaanaami Tiirtha
Na Jaanaami Muktim Layam Vaa Kadaacit
Na Jaanaami Bhaktim Vratam Vaapi Maatar
Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani

I am an evil doer

With an evil mind

I am servile

Without aristocracry

With bad words
With bad glances

Worried and suffering

Thou art my Sole Refuge, O Mother !

Ku-Karmii Ku-Sanggii Ku-Buddhih Kudaasah
Kula-[Aa]caara-Hiinah Kadaacaara-Liinah
Ku-Drssttih Ku-Vaakya-Prabandhah Sada-[A]ham
Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani

I know not kings

Nor do I know anything Solar

Nor about Godhead

I always rely on Thee

Thou art my Sole Refuge, O Mother !

Prajesham Ramesham Mahesham Suresham
Dinesham Nishiitha-Ishvaram Vaa Kadaacit |
Na Jaanaami Caanyat Sadaham Sharannye
Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani

I am controversial
Wherever I go

Away from domicile

Even in the midst

Of enemies

I rely on Thee

Even in forest

Thou art my Refuge

Be ever my Sanctuary

O Mother Celestial ! 

Vivaade Vissaade Pramaade Pravaase
Jale Ca-[A]nale Parvate Shatru-Madhye
Arannye Sharannye Sadaa Maam Prapaahi
Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani

Orpah, without riches,

Susceptible to disease

Weak and suffering

Am I

Always worried

And struggling

My life is miserable

Be ever my Sanctuary

O Mother Celestial !

Anaatho Daridro Jaraa-Roga-Yukto
Mahaa-Kssiinna-Diinah Sadaa Jaaddya-Vaktrah
Vipattau Pravissttah Pranassttah Sadaaham
Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani 

A Musical Prayer !

This is Argala Stotra of Durga Saptasathi or Devi Sooktham, in which are contained great Mantras which can take Man to Self_Actualisation.


Give me Beauty, Victory,
Give me Fame
Destroy my enemies
O Mother Divine

Dehi Soubhagam Arogyam
Dehi Me Paramam Sukaham
Roopam Dehi Jayam Dehi
Yasho Dehi Dwisho Jahi

Health and Fortune
Bliss Supreme and happiness
Beauty, Victory, Fame
Grant me these O Mother Divine !

Madhu Kaidabha Vibhravee
Vidhatree Varade Namah
Roopam Dehi Jayam Dehi
Yasho Dehi Dwisho Jahi


The negative elements in Man are

Lust
Greed
Anger
Jealousy
Sloth
Covetousness
Gluttony

and the positive elements are

Truth
Righteousness
Peace
Love
Discriminative intellect

and these positive and negative elements are ever in conflict !

The Self is the Witness of this inner war and the Self is the metaphysical Ground.

Madhu, Kaidab, Shumb, Nishumb, Mahaishasur are all emblematic of the negative elements in the human mind. They have to be destroyed for Man to rise to the Divine Level. These are the negative energies that lie in the Subconscient.

Man houses dangerous forces in his house
The Titan, the Fury and the Djinn
Lay in the subconscient's cavern pit
And the beast moved in her antre den !


The demons, emblematic of the negative elements in the human mind, have to be destroyed. This She does so effortlessly !

Thee who destroyed the mighty Ego
To Thee all salutations !
Beauty, Victory, Fame
Grant me all, O Mighty Mother !

We shall extoll Thee with Love
O Mighty destroyer of evil
Beauty, Victory, Fame
Grant me all, O Mighty Mother !

O Destroyer of negative ego
O protector of the good
Beauty, Victory, Fame
Grant me all, O Mighty Mother !

To Thee who is revered by all
To Thee who is the bestower of Grace
To Thee who represent the Threefold Veds
To Thee, our humble salutations !

Ego, seated on his peacock throne
Is destroyed by Thee !
Also Lust and Anger,
Sloth, covetousness, gluttony
Beauty, Victory, Fame
Grant me all, O Mighty Mother !

Grant O Mother auspiciousness
Grant O Mother immortal fame
Beauty, Victory, Fame
Grant me all, O Mighty Mother !


This Argala Stotra is very important, as it can wash away the sins accrued to the aspirant and clear the path towards Enlightenment. Along with Devi Kavacha, the Nava Durga Kavacha, which we have highlighted in another article and Keelaka, this stotra has sacred significane in the Durga Sapthasathi scheme.

The Mother Divine as the Kundalini is present in all of us. The Kundalini rises during Meditation and Prayer, from the Root Chakra to the ascending Chakras, like mercury rising in a thermometer. While she rises, many blissful experiences can be felt. The four faculties of the Intuitive Reason - Revealation, inspiration, intuition, illumination - all these grace the native. The Self reveals to the aspirant in flashes, he gets inspiration to write, he gains intuition or profound insight and he is illumined by the mysteries of the Self.

This Argala Stotra is considered very important and is the first step towards Self- Actualisation.

Love and Truth takes birth !

Universal Love took birth in Puttaparthi. To shower Grace on all humanity !

In the Divina Commedia Beatrice criticises Dante for following Philosophy and not Religion. There are Thesis and Anti Thesis in Philosophy. There are doctrines which are antithetical, which are ever in conflict and it is highly likely that we will be inveigled in Politics !

Bridal Mysticism or Bhakti Yoga on the other hand emphasises on Love Immortal. Love All, Serve All is the message. Like Philosophy which advocates to see everything sub specie aeternitatis ( under the aspect of Eternity ), Bridal Mysticism tells us to see everything under the aspect of Love ( sub specie Love ) Love is the Alpha and the Omega ! Let us understand that Jesus, Krishna, Mohammed etc were exponents of Universal Love.

Love all beings
That is enough !

Love conquers all ! Amor vincit omnia !

Sai was born with Libra rising, just like another adept, the great Ramana Maharshi. Like Raman's he had Mars in the Seventh, conferring Ruchaka Maha Yoga, a formidable yoga for fame. The resemblance of both their horoscopes were startling. Jupiter in Sai's horoscope ( in Capricorn ) confers a powerful Neecha Bhanga Raja Yoga, because of Mars in the Seventh. The major spiritual planets, Jupiter, Saturn and Ketu were powerfully posited, conferring the status of Divine Personality or Divya Purusha to these divines.

In the Sankhya system of Indian Philosophy, the Lord incarnated as Kapila, the Seer and instructed His mother, Devahuthi into the mysteries of Sankhya.

The Lord told His mother that it is Love that is ever conquering ( Bhavathi parama bhakthi sahi mruthyor vijetri ).

Bridal Mysticism or Bhakthi Yoga is the path celestial. The Self becomes the
Lover and the Bride. "This is our Eternal Lover luring us to Himself, through
all these flashy masks of Himself, through all these shimmering blazes of His
eternal and ineffugable self-existence".

Love is greater than
intelligence and it is Love alone which can redeem the world.

Scientists and philosophers are generally regarded as Knowers but then
Truth is unknown to all !

Truth is greater, wider than her forms
A thousand icons they have made of Her
And they find Her in the icons they adore
But She remains herself and infinite ! ( Aurobindo )

In classical Indian Philosophy, there are Four Goals of Life ( Wealth, Ethics, Power & Salvation - Artha, Dharma, Kama & Moksha ). There is a Fifth Goal of Life and this is Universal Love !

Again there are Four Dharmas - Childhood, Bachelorhood, Preparation for Asceticism & Asceticism - Kaumara, Brahmacharya, Vanaprastha & Sanyasa ). There is a Fifth Dharma. This is Prajna Dharma - the highest knowledge is Love !

Love is a glory from Eternity's spheres
She is the Godhead that can make all change !

Let Universal Love triumph on earth !

The Inner Development of Consciousness !

The Devi Mahatmya is the Adventure of Consciousness, the journey into the inner domains of Consciousness.

We have said before that the demons symbolise the negative elements in the human mind. Shumb and Nishumb are the human frailties like Lust & Greed, that which binds Man to the sublunar world.

The aim of the Divine Conscious Force is to destroy the negative elements in the aspirant's mind and give him the divine crown of Self-Actualisation. By destroying lust, greed, anger and jealousy, She makes the aspirant eligible for Self Actualisation.

Sacred Music and Dance are part of all cultures and civilizations. Music is one the 18 sciences which constitute Indian Philosophy, along with Holistic Medicine. ( Ayurvedam Dhanur Vedam Gandharvo Vedameva cha ).

Sacred Music can elevate the soul. Music is divine, whether it is Western or Indian. Music is food for the soul ! Songs accompanied by lyrics and dance is Sacred Music.

The celestials represent the positive elements in the human mind. Truth and Love are great qualities and the celestials or the devas of Indian Mythology eulogise the Mother Divine for destroying the negative elements or the demons !

Devi Prapannarthi Hare Praseeda
Praseeda mathar jagathokhilasya
Praseed visheshwari pahi vishwam
Thvameeshwaree devi Chara charasya


O Mother Divine Grace us
Grace us with Thy Beneficent Power !
Grace us O Mother of the Universe
Thou art the invincible Shakthi !

Ultimately She goes and destroys the Ego, the formidable force and frees the aspirant from its tyranny !

Thou who exist as Prosperity in the righteous
In the evil doers as lack of mental peace
In the Seers as intelligence
In the good as concentration
In the aristocratic as shame
To Thee our salutations !


Ya sree swayam sukrithanam bhavaneshu alakshmi
Papatmanam krithadhiyam hridayeshu buddhi
Sraddha satham hridi kula jana prabhavasya lajja
Tha thvam na thasma paripalaya devi vishwam !

The negative elements in the human mind are formidable and when one confronts them one becomes fearful

A lone discover in these menacing realms
Guarded like termite cities from the Sun !

Alone, powerful and cruel are these dreadful forces ( lust, greed, anger , jealousy ) which lie in the subconscient. Their destruction is not easy but then the Divine Mother does it though a yogic process.

She is the benign Creatrix, bestowing her Grace on both the mundane and the supra-mundane.

With Thy Grace, one acquires wealth and power
Subordinates and conveyances galore !
With Thy Grace, one acquires Wisdom & Fame
Thou art the giver of both worlds !

She is infinite in her powers and personalities. She as Wealth Personified ( Lakshmi ) blesses the man who seeks wealth. She as Wisdom Personified ( Saraswathi ) gives Wisdom, fame and Self Actualisation to the aspirant. Everything is affected by Her Grace !

This mighty poem arose
Out of the great Markandeya
Of the Eighteen treatises mythological
Others are Padma, Brahma,
Vaishnva, Saiva, Bhagavatha,
Bhavishya, Naradeeya,
Agneya, Brahma Vaivartha
Lainga, Varaha, Skanda
Vamana, Kurma, Matsya
Garuda & Brahmanda

The function of Epic and Mythology is to adumbrate philosophic verities ( Ithihasa Puranabhyam Vedam Sapuma Brimhayeth ) Bacon opined that scientic truths are contained in Mythology in his book De Sapientia Vaterum ( Of the Wisdom of the Ancients ).

The Eight Symbols of the Eightfold Prosperity

The Eightfold Prosperity has been represented by Vedic Symbolism as the Ashta Lakshmi

They are

1) The Originial Prosperity ( Adi Lakshmi ). This is the Original Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi, the Great Lakshmi. She gives protection to the devotee and sits with Abhaya Mudra ( protection gesture ) and Varada Mudra ( welcome gesture).

2) Wealth as Prosperity ( Dhana Lakshmi ). She is the bestower of Wealth.

3) Dhanya Lakshmi - Agricultural Prosperity. She is the giver of Agricultural Wealth.

4) Gaja Lakshmi - The Giver of Royal Power. Mythologically, She is the goddess who brought back the wealth lost by the King of Heaven, Indra

5) The Santana Lakshmi or Progeny Lakshmi. She is the giver of offspring. Isnt the fortune of having children a great Prosperity ? The son is he who saves the parents from Hell ( poothi thranat tatha putrah ).

6) Dhairya Lakshmi - Guts as Prosperity. She is the greatest Lakshmi ! Without guts a man is nothing ! She is the giver of guts !

7) Vijaya Lakshmi - The Victorious Prosperity or rather the bestower of Victory !

8) Vidya Lakshmi - Isnt Education or Wisdom prosperity ? She is the bestower of the knowledge of all arts and sciences.

Veracity, Equanimity, Fixity, Non-irritability, Adaptability Humility, Regularity, Absence of Vanity, Sincerity, Simplicity, Tenacity, Integrity, Nobility, Magnanimity, Charity, Purity, Generosity & Serenity- the eighteen "ities" associated with Wisdom. These 18 ities can confer Self Actualisation.

The Octagram - Emblem of Ashta Lakshmi

The Octagram is the Emblem of the Eightfold Prosperity. Two rectangles !



The Octagram ( the Eight Pointed Star ) symbolizes Ashta Lakshmi. Known in the West as the Star of Lakshmi, this star figure is used in Indian Philosophy to represent the eight forms of Wealth. Mathematically, it is a complex star figure with two rectangles with the same center at 45 degrees !

Astrologically, Ashta Lakshmi Yoga confers the eightfold prosperity. This yoga results

When the North Node is in the 6th House

And when Jupiter is angular

That is in 1,4,7,10 Houses

Fame and prosperity is conferred !

Shastha sthana gathe Rahu

Lagna Kendra gathe Gurau

Ashta Lakshee samayuktham

Madhyavan Keerthiman Nara

More maths info about the Star of Lakshmi can be got at

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/StarofLakshmi.html

In Sanskrit the word Aishwarya means Prosperity and also something more than Prosperity. Its definition is Ishwarasya Bhavah ithi Aishwaryah meaning that it is the aspect of the Lord, which is not merely wealth but Bliss !

Faith has it that listening to this music or chanting these verses eightfold can effectuate these eight forms of Prosperity. The Mother Divine in her bounty will give you these eight forms of wealth and may you be blessed with the Eightfold Prosperity !