Sreepada Sreevallabha Charitaamrutam - 25

Chapter – 25  

The efficacy of Rudraaksha(Rudraaksha is the seed of a

tree termed as ‘Eloeocarpuse Ganitrus’)

The methods to worship of Shiva and their results 

 

I requested Sri Dharma Gupta to tell me, how to worship Lord Shiva.Then Sri Dharma Gupta explained, “Dear Shankar Bhatt! First method of worshipping Lord Shiva is to Chant ‘Shiva panchaakshari mantra’ as a

 japa(silent repetition of prayer). Second method is to worship Shiva in the procedure of ‘mahanyaasa’(a detailed procedure to purify one’s body with mantras before commencement of abhisheka). Third method is performing ‘Rudra abhisheka’(a special anointing rite to Rudra). The five letters in Panchaakshari stands for five primordial elements. A living person is called an animal because he is entangled in beastly shackles like fondness, infatuation etc.Pasupati is one who releases the living beings from the beastly bonds. Shiva panchaakshari mantra is described as a star with five angles. In these five angled mantras the first variety grants moksha; and the other variety gives luxury and affluence.In the five types of services during worship sandalwood powder for earthly nature; coconut water for watery nature; offering ‘deepa’ for the nature of fire; the fragrant incense of Sambrani and the like for the nature of air; and the sound of bell for the nature of sky are used. In this manner the five types of traditional services in the worship of Shiva represent five elemental natures. To the devotees

who pursue the five letters in ‘panchaakshari’ and their respective natures; in those five colours five natures will appear. They are (1) mercury like a white pearl or lustre like silver, (2) red colour like that of coral, (3) golden effulgence of yellow hue, (4) brilliant blue illumination spread over the universe like blue sky and (5) pure white light. As the ‘five coloured jyoti’ shines in the middle of the eyebrows, sages called it as ‘Sandhyopaasana’. It must be understood that

yantra,mantra, pancha tattwa pursuit, yogic exercise, self surrender are the main items of spiritual pursuit.Through this spiritual pursuit–thought of the dehaatma(soul of the body) is destroyed; the body of  jeeva as temple, that shining jeeva in it is transformed as Shivaatma– salvation is achieved. For attaining that salvation state panchaakshari japa, mahaanyaasa-poorvaka worship of Shiva, and Rudraabhisheka greatly help.Vishnu likes ‘sahasranama stotra

(hosanna of one thousand names)’. Ganapati is fond of ‘modakas (a sort of sweet preparations)’. Sun is pleased by ‘salutation’. Moon is pleased by ‘offer of water’. Fire God gets pleased with ‘haviss(oblation of ghee or butter)’. Shiva is very much pleased with ‘abhisheka’.In the past, in brahma kalpa when deluge engulfed, for the future creation seeds of each species like all living beings, trees and herbs were filled in a vessel. In it the waters of all seas, the waters of all rivers and the nectar were poured. With Gayatri mantra He introduced His life force into it and charged it. That vessel is called ‘Poornakumbha’.The ambrosia in that ‘Poornakumbha’ was showered continuously on to

the earth.As sages conducted this ‘Kalasaabhisheka’ at Kailasa mountain, it became an ‘Amruta-sthana (place of ambrosia)’. An icy Shiva Linga is formed

naturally in the Amaranath cave on Sraavan Poornima. On merely seeing Sree Amaranath all sins diminish. 

 

Birth of Vasistha and Agasthya Sages

When that Poornakumbha was kept upside down two great sages came out of it. Among them the first one Vasistha emerged with white effulgence, the second one Agasthya was with blue effulgence; born with intrinsic properties of Mitra and Varuna deities.With the water sanctified in Poornakumbha, ‘Ekadasa Rudraabhisheka’ must be performed 11 times. By doing this the ‘ punya of Ekadasi Tithi’ is granted by Parameswara, who is the ‘personification of Ekadasa Rudra’.As there is a close connection between Ekadasa Rudras and Ekadasi Tithi of Vaishnavaites, it must be noted that Shiva and Kesava are inseparable.When Ekadasa Rudraabhisheka is conducted with Namaka mantras, the ill effect of untimely death is removed.

Moon is the presiding deity of Somalata. He showers strength which is the basic means for rejuvenation.This ‘Chandra-kala (spark of moon)’ glows above the centre point of eyebrows and before the thousand petalled blossom in the head of yogi. 

 

Description of different forms of Lord Shiva 

 

For this very reason, it was stated that crescent moon adorns the crown of Lord Shiva. In Somanath kshetra of Gujarat a Crystal Linga made from Chandrakant Sila with a glowing white crescent moon on it’s head is receiving worship.Scriptures enjoin that one should not perform Rudraabhisheka unless he attains the state of Rudra. In Mahanyaasa, time kills everything. So the person performing Abhisheka should become one with time and introduce mentally the form of yagna in his body. Then only he should perform Rudra Abhisheka. In the procedure of Mahaanyaasa Rudraabhisheka as enunciated by Sage Bodhayaana, the forms of Shiva, Tatpurusha, Aghora, Sadyojata, Vamadeva, Eesaana are described. The shape of Tatpurusha is in the colour of electric power resembling the fire of Pralaya. Aghoramoorti is in blue colour of a cloud i.e., in the colour of a dark blue bee. Sadyojaatamoorti is in the jasmine white colour of moon. Vamadevamoorti is in the colour of snow white. Eesaanamoorti is of effulgent form and, therefore, He is of the sky colour. It is said that Rudras are thousands and thousands in number. That is to say that deities named Rudraganas (forces of Rudra) at the rate of three for each Gana (group) totalling to 33 crores are there for the ‘Ekaadasa Rudra Moorthis (11 Rudras)’. Veda affirms

that only these pervade earth, sky, outer space, water, air, body, life force and mind. 

 

The grace of 33 crore Rudraganas is obtained by those Who worship and remember Sreepada Lord of these 33 crore Rudraganas is Ganapati. Therefore, to reveal in a yogic way the Ganapati tattwa in Him, Sri Sreepada Sreevallabha incarnated on this earth on Ganesh Chaturdhi. So those who worship and remember Sri Sreepada, derive the grace of 33 crore Rudraganas. 

 

Description of Rudraakshas 

 

Devotees of Shiva should compulsorily wear rudraakshas. Among them rudraakshas of brahmin, kshatriya, vysya and sudra castes are there. White rudraakshas belong to brahmin caste. They are rarely available. Red, honey coloured rudraakshas are of kshatriya caste. Rudraakshas of tamarind seed colour relate to vysya caste and black ones belong to sudra caste. Generally, rudraakshas with 5 to 16 faces are largely available. Rudraakshas drown, when placed in milk or water. It is forbidden to wear light rudraakshas or tender rudraakshas. When a rudraaksha is kept below a copper spoon and placed in a copper plate kept on the ground, it should be understood that it is of good quality if it rotates like a ‘saaligrama (a species of ammonite worshipped as Vishnu)’. Some rudraakshas rotate anti -clockwise. They bring poverty. So householders should not use them. If house holders use them bad effects like death of wife, dissolution of family and renunciation from family happen. Ascetics may, however, use them. Kaalaagni Rudra enjoined that brahmins should use white rudraakshas, kshatriyas should use red rudraakshas, vysyas should use light yellow rudraakshas and sudras should use black rudraakshas. Then they will get favourable results, their sins are destroyed, and all their desires will be fulfilled. 

The special features of rudraakshas with different number of facets are as follows: 

 Eka mukhi rudraaksha is Shiva swaroopam; Dwi mukhi rudraaksha is form of Ardhanaareeswara; Tri mukhi rudraaksha is form of Agni; Chatur mukhi rudraaksha is form of Brahma; Pancha mukhi rudraaksha is kaalaagni form of Rudra; Shan mukhi rudraaksha is form of Kaartikeya; Sapta mukhi rudraaksha is form of Manmadha; Ashta mukhi rudraaksha is form of Rudra Bhairava; Nava mukhi rudraaksha is the form of Sage Kapila. It is difficult to get it. In Nava mukhi rudraaksha nine forces called vidya shakti, jnaana shakti, kriya shakti, saanta shakti, vaama shakti, jyestha shakti, roudra shakti, anga shakti and pasyanti are embedded. Therefore, Nava mukhi rudraaksha is the form of Dharma Devata.Dasa mukhi rudraaksha is the form of Vishnu. Ekadasa mukhi rudraaksha is verily the form of Rudra.Dwaadasa mukhi rudraaksha is the form of ‘Dwaadasa Aadityas’.

In this way there is a close connection between rudraakshas and different forms of Deities. Sri Sreepada Sreevallabha had within His form of consciousness of the nature of Ganesha, Who is the Lord of the troops of attachment and detachment. Therefore, He is the divine personification of 33 crore deities. Not only that. Without His Will, not even one atom or molecule in this creation can move or stir. He is the cause responsible for all movements. He is the cause of all causes. He appears as Vishnu to those who consider Him as Shiva. He is felt as Shiva by those who regard Him as Vishnu. He appears in real form when we eliminate the argumentative nature in our mind and surrender to Him.”In this way Dharma Gupta explained vividly about the methods of worshipping Shiva and many other matters relating to rudraakshas. Then he expressed his desire to go along with me to Kurungadda and have the darshan of Sri Sreepada to make his birth purposeful. Both of us came to Kurungadda and had the darshan of Sri Sreepada Sreevallabha Guru Saarvabhowma. He opened His eyes from yogic sleep and remarked, “Oh! What sort of discussions! What discussions! One is there who is called Sreepada! He is Shiva Swaroopa! Am I Sreepada? Or has Sreepada come in My shape? Actually who am I? Sir! Dharma Gupta just explain it.” Then Dharma Gupta said to Sreepada, “Swamee! When I started from Pithikapuram for the darshan of Sree Maha Guru, my brother-in-law Pynda Venkatappayya Sreshti cautioned me not to fall into ignorance by arguments and counter arguments with Sri Sreepada, but only to seek His refuge and gain His grace. So I will observe silence for any questions posed by you. When even vedas could not explain your nature and remained dumb, what am I, a lay man before you? What is my knowledge?”  Sri Sreepada became gracious. He granted for me and for Dharma Gupta, salutation to His Feet. When we touched His Feet, we lost consciousness and remained in a state of meditation for a very long time. It was getting dusk. Sri Sreepada instructed us to leave Kurungadda and reach the opposite bank of River Krishna. We followed the instructions. Myself, and Sri Dharma Gupta spent that night in talking about the divine leelas of Sri Sreepada. It is not possible to say that His leelas will be in a particular fashion. We slipped into sleep. We heard an invisible melodious voice from somewhere. Some yogis were chanting the name of Sreepada Sreevallabha Digambara. 

 

Victory Victory unto Sri Sreepada Sreevallabha!