Interesting things from Puranas

A. The Meaning of 'Matrikas'

     In ancient times, in the state of Mithila (now Bihar, India) there lived a Brahmin by the name of Kauthum. It is said that he studied for 31,000 years and learned all the scriptures and every knowledge worth learning. He had only one son whom he wanted to be one of the greatest scholars. So he tried to initiate him into studies but his son had no interest in pursuing this line. Despite the best efforts of his learned father, he could not learn even a simple mantra  from him. His father was totally at a loss as to what to do. His son learned only the alphabets and nothing else. On being repeatedly pressurized by his father to study further, the son told him that there is no need to know anything more than the alphabets as they are the essence of everything. After being questioned as to how can he claim that, the son explained in the following manner,

A-kaar is Brahma

U-kaar is Vishnu

M-kaar is Shiva (Maheshwar), thus AUM (OM) represents the triad or trinity.

Bindu (anuswar), the ardhmatra at the top represents Sadashiv.

 v(A)  to vkS (Au) represents 14 manus namely Swaambhu¹,Swarochish², Autam³, Raivat⁴, Tamas⁵, Chakshush⁶, Vaivast⁷(present one), Savarni⁸, Brahm Sarvarni⁹, Rudra Savarni¹⁰, Daksh sarvarni¹¹, Dharm Savarni¹², Rauchaya¹³, Bhautya¹⁴. There colours are Shvet¹, Pandu², Lohit³, Tamra⁴, Peet⁵, Kapil⁶, Krishna⁷, Shyam⁸, Dhumra⁹, more Pingal(yellow) ¹⁰, Less Yellow¹¹, Tiranga¹², Many coloured¹³, Kabra¹⁴ respectively.

d  (Ka)  to B (Tha), represents twelve ADITYAS.

M (Da)  to c (Ba) represents eleven RUDRAS.

Hk  (Bha)  to i (Pa) represents eight VASUS.

l  (Sa)  to g(Ha) represents two ASHWANI KUMARS.

Anuswar (  a ) at the top represents all the creation born with a membrane around them.

Visarg ( % ) at the end represents all the creation taking birth through an egg.

From the letters which are pronounced from the base of the tongue comes all the creation which takes birth through Sweat.

The rest of the letters are those from which all life in the water takes birth

     From d (Ka) to  g (Ha) are the 33 Devtas. One who performs are the karmas through these devtas, himself in the end disappears in to Ardh matra form Sadhshiv.

     Mind is the female which takes many forms by experiencing various subjects and materials. Though it takes many forms but when it comes in contact with Dharma then it realizes its ONE and only one form. One who knows this essence is never subjected to lower realms.

Names of 12 Adityas: Dhata, Mitra, Shakra, Varun, anshu, Bhag, Vivasvaan, Poosha, Savita, Tvashta, Vishnu.

Names of 11 Rudra: Kapali, Pingal, Bhim, Virupaksh, Vilohit, Ajak, Shasan, Shambhu, Chand, Bhav.

Names of 8 Vasus: Dhruv, Ghor, Som, Aapah, Nal, Anil, Pratush, Prabhas.

(Above Sri Badrinath Dham in Uttranchal, India is a mountain by the name of Vasus parvat. A waterfall issues from it and it is called Vasudhara. This mountain is said to be the place of tapasya for all the Vasus. As per Puranas, a person of clean heart only will experience water spray falls on him if he stands near the water fall. In the middle of this fall one also gets darshan of a Jyoti or light. So when you go there next time do look out for these signs. Near it is another mountain top where the 7 Rishis meditate. Through experience one can say that Puranas are right).

Names of 2 Ashwini Kumar: Nasatya, Dasr

B.Tripunda

     As per Shiv Puraan, 27 devtas reside in the three lines of a tripund put on the forehead by a Shaivite. They are as follows:

Top line:   A¹, Garpatya agni², Earth³, Dharm⁴, Rajogun⁵, Rik Veda⁶, Kriya Shakti⁷, Morning Stavan⁸,    Mahadev⁹.

Middle line: U¹, Dakshina Agni², Ether(space)³, Antaratma⁴,Satva Gun⁵, Yajur Veda⁶, Iccha shakti7, Madhyan Stavan8, Maheshwar9.

Bottom line: M¹, Ahvahniya Agni², Dulok³, Parmatama⁴, Tamogun⁵, Samved⁶, Gyan Shakti⁷, Tritya Stavan⁸, Shiv⁹.

     Tripund can be applied on 32, 16, 8 or 5 places on our body. Forehead, two arms, heart and navel represent the five places for applying a tripund on our body.

C.   Gurupurnima

     In view of the upcoming Gurupurnima on 15^th July, 2011, one would like to share some information with all the fellow travellers.. A disciple is one who has received initiation from a Guru or is given Diksha by a guru. Diksha comprises of two parts Di + Ksha. Di means divya gyan or divine knowledge of the ultimate reality, and Ksha means by which all the sins(evils) are cut asunder. So, diksha means a process by which a Guru cuts all the bad karmas of the disciple and gives him great divine knowledge.

Lord Dakshinamurti is the knower of all the vidyas and who is eternal and ever present.He was the first one to give sermon on ten mahavidyas.

     At the start of creation there was only great intelligence which was ominipresent. It pervaded all spaces. It manifested in the form of Light or Prakash. Then to experience it, another shakti in the form of Vimarsh appeared which though always accompany the great intelligence. When two of them manifested together, happiness and joy appeared which we called as Anand. The divine knowledge was passed on to these three tattavas which came to be known as Divyaugh. They were named as PRAKASH(light, intelligence), VIMARSH(experience), ANAND(joy, happiness, pleasure). They always accompanied the Lord and never separated from Him.

     Then He created next series of three more tattvas called Sidhaugh and they came to be known as GYAN(divine knowledge), SATYA(truth), POORN(completeness). To experience Prakash, Vimarsh and Anand, GYAN(true knowledge) was essentially needed. But true knowledge itself is dependent upon TRUTH(satya) and where true knowledge and truth prevails, there completeness manifests. These three GYAN, SATYA and POORN, sometimes remained with the lord and some time came down on this earth.

     Then three more tattvas called Manvaugh were created who came to be known as SWABHAV, PRATIBHA(to shine,endowed with genius), SUBHAG(good fortune, form of Shiv ,form of Sun). A fortunate jeev is always endowed with these qualities.They always resided on earth.

      These three kinds of guru tattva were always happy, with two hands holding Abhay and Var mudra. With two eyes, two arms and beautiful form, these 9 forms of gurus were envisaged.Then Maya beej(Hrim) and Lakshami Beej(Shrim) were put in front of them and anand nath was put at the end. Thus their names became Hrim Shrim Prakashanad nath, Hrim shrim Vimarshnand nath, Hrim Shrim Anandnanad nath………….etc. Lord Dakshinamurthy himself is called Adinath..........Om Aim Guruve Namah.