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Photos of Nabani Das Baul taken by Rabindranath Tagore

8/27/2012

This photo was taken by Rabindranath Tagore of "Nabani Das Khyeppa Baul" he was the last real Ancient Adept Avadhuta Tantric Bauls to walk on earth. Being a Baul back then was a very difficult life in Bengal, if anybody thinks it is difficult today, back in Nabani's time it was super difficult, he lived through starvation, through really tough time under British rule.

Even in the last 50 years during Babukishan time he was telling how difficult to educate people about Baul back in the 1960's to now they traveled and made arrangements all over the globe by mail. If not for Purna Das Baul, Manju Dasi and Babu Kishan nobody would know what or who a Baul is because it was them who traveled and sang for the past almost 80 years. It is easy to sit on the side line and criticize who is Baul and what has happened to the Baul of Bengal but remember if you can do something instead of talking and criticizing it would be most appreciated.

There are very few people today who understand what and who the Bauls are. I often get oh the Bauls do not speak Sanskrit, are you joking with me they are oral Sanskritist the original Bauls meaning the lineage Bauls. Not to be confused with the newly made up lineages that do not exist. They were Sanskrit Scholars in the Oral Tradition the young generation and when I say young I mean the people who have only observed the Bauls for the past 30 or 40 years do not know who the Bauls are because the ones that have come after this time period do not speak Sanskrit, most do not even know who wrote what song or the discourses behind the songs, Baul is really being sold as something it was never meant to be.

Nabani Das Khyeppa Baul was legendary in India, he never left India, it was Purna Das Baul and Laxshman Das Baul his 2 son's who were the first Bauls to leave India on their fathers advice to Sally Grossman and her husband Albert B Grossman and Allen Ginsberg. You have to know that no Baul had ever been out of India expect Purna Das Baul in the 1950's he went to Russia..

Manju Dasi and Babukishan, also worked endlessly trying to preserve the Bauls, doing concerts around the world, teaching at Universities and giving Baul some respectability. It may seem like it was easy but it was not as their English was weak and there were no computers or telephones from India to the world.. it was very expensive..they gave up their life to preserve the Baul of Bengal.

Others Bauls have followed or tried to follow in their foot steps. Babu and his family opened the doors for all Bauls whether they have tried to do the same and have been successful who knows, it seem today people are more confused today. This lineage family of Bauls has been traveling for more that 70 years.
Babukishan for more than 40 years.

Purna Das Baul was given the title Baul Samarat by the first President of India Rajendra Prasad (1884-1963) he was given the award because he was India's first Vocal singer outside of India to win a Gold Metal for his vocal performance at the Russian Youth Festival which included participants such as Indian Cinema super star Raj Kapoor, Nagis.

He was the first Gold Metal for Bengal from a Baul, nobody knew what a Baul was, he did not give himself this title, it was an honour bestowed upon him and yes he has it on the outside of his house and he should be proud as he was given many, many titles, awards and honours over his almost 80 years, he is a great singer.

After this so many politicians he sang to including Russian President, American President and in India at every political function in India Purna Das Baul brought Baul to an international platform before this Baul was no where just in the Village.

He was very close to Indira Gandhi and he received his second Presidents Award for 'Lifetime Achievement and International Cultural Ambassador for India" from Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, Babukishan knows he was there and was totally dedicated to his father along with his mother Manju Das. No Baul or singers has achieved or come close to what he has achieved. Nabani Das his father was the great illusive Avadhuta Baul who was written about and respected by great Poets and Authors of his time, just because the young people do not know or remember, does not mean it was so.. Nabani Das was not only a Sadhaka he also was a freedom fighter and gave up so much to his country.

If any other Baul can accomplish what these Bauls have done on their own merit please let it be so but that does not change history. Babu is preserving this lineage because this is the only Bauls that have made a platform for Bauls and Bengal Culture making an international platform from the village to the World..

They started off so poverty stricken, it was Sitaram Das Omkarnath who suggested to Purna Das Baul to sing on the trains... there is a whole story about this, before Purna Das Baul ..NO Baul sang on the trains of India. Nabani was a wandering Sadhu and Avadhuta Tantric and gone all the time. The times were different, he did not stay home until Babu was born and left in his care and he named Babu Krishnendu Das Baul... these were the 8 years Babu was attached at Nabani's hip, in some ways it was one of the biggest Grace's of his life.

And may I add that Babukishan is the first Baul to ever be educated with a BA and MA from Calcutta University.. he is the first Baul to be a Music Composer, Film Maker and Producer he is the first Baul to Live in North America, he made it easier for the new Bauls all the traveling and interviews on TV books and education.. he is the first Multi talented Baul and he is a Baul and has done it all on his own merit.. no help from his family and no complaining. He is first Baul to record Baul and produce. His contribution is astronomical time wise and devotion wise.

He still has all the songs of his lineage inside of him as his memory is like a lazer... he remembers every story, every detail.... Why I suspect because he learned Sanskrit in the Oral Tradition.. The Bauls today do not know this so they say ..oh it is against Baul to know Sanskrit we just love and talk about Tantric Sex... that is the biggest load ever heard.. The Bauls spoke Sanskrit just because they do not today because they are extinct does not mean they didn't.. There is so much garbage on the internet being spread.. I mean Bengal needs to face it that the Bauls are extinct, for whatever reason?? Don't blame ... do something about it, if you want to complain about it, simple do something..

And Please donate generously to the Bauls in Bengal, the ones in the village who are struggling if you are making documentaries, they really need understanding and help. It will take a village no one person can do it all. Babukishan has been trying to help for 50 years only to have everything he has done destroyed. It would be great to support his vision rather than criticizing.

I am reposting this from facebook I think it is important for people who want to understand what Tantra is.. by Veda Vijnan Rishikulam https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=336492813105770&set=a.210318419056544.52987.210311139057272&type=1&theater

8/26/2012

|| शैव तंत्र ||
|| Saiva Tantra ||

Agamas and Tantras are a vast collection of knowledge and form a major portion of spiritual literature and practices. Like the Veda, they have come down through Guru-Sishya parampara, in oral traditions. Agamas form the base for many of the popular as well as specialist aspects of Hinduism.

The word Agama means 'that which has come to (us)'. Tantra means 'that which protects with detail'. Sruti, the eternal word, is said to be of two forms – Nigama (Veda) and Agama. Two kinds of texts, Agama and Tantra are in general grouped under the same class of literature.

There are three main classes of Agamic/Tantric texts Vaishnava Agamas, Saiva Agamas and Sakta Tantras, though not limited to these. The Vaishnava and Saiva texts are generally called Agamas, while the word Tantra in general applies to Sakta texts. However, technically Tantra is a part of Agama and owing to the centrality of Tantra the two words are used often interchangeably.

The five face of Shiva represents the five branches of Saiva Tantra and the 5 faces of Lord Shiva defines the 5 different Saiva Agamas.
Five Faces of Lord Shiva:

1. Sadyojata - West Face:

1)Brahmma
2)Kashyapa
3)Shivagocharaadi (born out of shiva and 25 Aagamas)
4)Bhoota
5)Chandaasidhara
6)Laukika
7)Guhya

West is called as “Paschima or Pratyak”. The soul is called as “Pratyagaatma”. “Sadyaha which means just now and Jataha means now born. Shiva makes his presence felt through the countless souls being born. Hence the apt name 'Sadyosata'. This shows the creative aspect of Parameshvara. Since the very existence of any being starts from its birth, the Sadyosata aspect of Lord Shiva is prayed first.

The essence of the Sadyosata Mantra is : "O! Lord ! Sadyojaata, never give me desires which are the reason for this countless births and deaths. Please Bless me with the passion for liberation. My prayers to Sadyosata”.

This Sadyosata aspect is correlated with the following;

To “Shi” Beekakshara in Panchakshara Mantra
To “Mano Maya Kosha” amongst the five Koshas
To “Agni” principle among five principles “Pancha Bhuta”.
To “Manipuraka” among Six Chakras
To “Panchama (Pa)” Swara among the Seven Swaras
To “Ma” in 'Omkara'

In this face, there are 28 Aagamas and 207 sub Aagamas(upaagamas)
Kamikaagama with 3 upaagamas
yogajaagama with 100000 grandhas and 5 upaagamas
chinthyaagama- 200000 grandhas and 6 upaagamas
Karanaagama with 1ooooooo grandhas and 7 upaagamas
Ajithaagama with 1000000 grandhaas and 4 upagamas

Let us pray that Sadyosata face of Lord Shiva.

शिवं शान्तं जगन्नाथं लोकनुग्रहकारकम्।
शिवमेकपदं नित्यं शिकाराय नमो नम:।।

Shivam Shaantam Jagannatham Loka Anugraha Kaaranam |
ShivamEkamPadam Nityam Shikaaraaya Namo Namaha ||

2.Vaama Deva – North Face:

1)Vishnu
2)Kausika
3)Sikha Gocharaadi(originated from his Shakthi and 25 in number)
4)Vaama
5)Sammohana
6)Vaidika
7)Uma

Shaivic division-

The term Vama means Left or innocent. If we stand facing east, North direction is to our left. Hence the north facing Shiva is worshipped as “Vaama Deva”. The left of a person is representative of the Shakti aspect. It represents “Maya and the feminine strength and beauty”, Hence in Ardha Nareeshwara aspect, we find the goddess on the left side.

The beautiful Vaama Deva is more ancient that the world’s creation. Hence he is the eldest. Since he is more worthy than others, he is the best. In catastrophic times, he is Rudra. He is Kaala in creation and causes the erosion of one’s age.

This Vaama Deva aspect is correlated with the following;

To “Vaa” Beekakshara in Panchakshara Mantra
To “Vijnaana Maya Kosha” amongst the five Koshas
To “Vaayu” principle among five principles “Pancha Bhuta”
To “Aanhata Chakra” among Six Chakras
To “Daivata (Dha) ” Swara among the Seven Swaras
To “Bindu” in 'Omkara'.

1)Dipitaagama with 1000000 grandhaas and 9 upaagamas
2)Sukshmaagama with 1 padma(1000000000) grandhaas and 1 upaagama
3)Sahasrakaagama with 500000 grandhaas and 10 upaagamas
4)Amsumathaagama with 500000 grandhaas and 12 upaagamas
5) Suprabhedaagama with 30000000 grandhaas and 1 upaagama

Let us offer prayers to such Vama Deva:

वाहनं वृषभो यस्य वासुकिः कंठ भूषणं।
वामं शक्तिधरं देवं वकाराय नमो नमः ॥

Vaahanam Vrushabho Yasya Vasukihi Kantha Bhushanam |
Vaame ShatiDharam Devam VaKaaraaya Namo Namaha ||

3. Aghora - South Face:

1) Rudra
2)Bharadwaja
3)Jyothir gocharaadi(born from the Bindu, 20 aagamas)
4)Bhairava
5)Asitaadi
6)Aadhyaatma
7)Aghora

If we stand facing east, south is our right. Hence right side is called as “Bala”. As important as right hand is for humans, The South face is important to Lord Shiva. This is also famously known as “Dakshina Murthy”.

To know about the essence of the Adhora principle of Lord Shiva, one has to understand the meaning of the Aghora Mantra among the Pancha Brahma Mantra.

Those who worshipped the Aghora form of Shiva were called as “Aghoris”. Their main belief is that there is no such thing called “inauspicious” in this world because all that exists if Shiva himself. They generally live in graveyards and are naked. They use those things which the world has branded as “inauspicious”. They perform harsh penance. Those who worship Aghora form of Shiva are saved from natural catastrophe, water hardships and life threats.

This Aghora aspect is correlated with the following;

To “Ma” Beekakshara in Panchakshara Mantra
To “Prana Maya Kosha” amongst the five Koshas
To “Jala” principle among five principles “Pancha Bhuta”
To “Svadhishthana Chakra” among Six Chakras
To “Madyama (Ma)” Swara among the Seven Swaras
To “U” in 'Omkara'.

Our prayers to such Aghora form of Shiva:

महादेवं महात्मानं महाध्यानं परायणम्।
महापापहरं देवं मकाराय नमो नम:।

Mahadevam Mahatmanam MahaDhyanam Parayanam |
MahaPaapHaram Devam Makaaraaya Namo Namaha ||

4. Tatpurasha - East Face:

1) Easwara
2)Gautama
3)Saavitri-Gocharam (born from 30 Naadam)
4) Garuda
5)Trotalaadi
6)Ati-Maarga
7)Baahuroopa

The word “Tat” represents Paramatma. Tatpurusha means Saguna filled Para Brahma form. This is a important face of Parama Shiva. The form of Shiva that is in meditation and Blessing the world – is this face. Hence this eastern face is considered as the first face. The word “Tatpurusha” means “his person”. One who is always behind a person to protect is Tatpurusha.

This Tatpurusha aspect is correlated with the following;

To “Na” Beekakshara in Panchakshara Mantra
To “Anna Maya Kosha” amongst the five Koshas
To “Earth” principle among five principles “Pancha Bhuta”
To “Muladhara” among six Chakras
To “Shadja (sa), Rushabha (ri) And Gandhara (ga)” Swaras among the Seven Swaras
To “A” in 'Omkara'.

Our prayers to this Tatpurusha form of Lord Shiva:

Namaste Deva Devesha Namaste Parameshvara |
Namaste Vrushabharuudha Na Kaaraaya Namo Namaha ||

5. Eeshana - Skyward Face:

The word Ishvara is form the root “Aisha – Aishwarye”. Total wealth means the total control and ownership of all the fourteen worlds. Such form of Shiva, who is the total owner of the fourteen worlds, is called as Eeshna.

This face is skywards. Which means it is on top of the other four faces which face the four directions. This fifth face of Shiva represents the creation – balance – annihilation energies and control and chaos energies. Eeshna face of Shiva which is skywards indicates the total encompassing energy of Lord Shiva.

This Eeshna aspect is correlated with the following;

To “Ya” Beekakshara in Panchakshara Mantra
To “Ananda Maya Kosha” amongst the five Koshas
To “Aakasha (ether)” principle among five principles “Pancha Bhuta”
To “Vishuddha, Ajna & Sahasra Chakra ” among Six Chakras
To “Nishada (ni)” Swara among the Seven Swaras
To Nada aspect in 'Omkara'.

Let us pray such Eeshna form of Lord Shiva:

Yatra Kutra Sthitam Devam Sarva Vyaapi Namishvaram |
Yallingam Puujayeennithyam Ya Kaaraaya Namo Namaha ||

B) Pancha-Brahma mantras, Krishna Yajur veda, Taittiriya Aranyaka (X.17-21):

1. Sadyojāta Mantra:

सद्योजातं प्रपद्यामि सद्योजाताय वै नमो नमः।
भवे भवे नाति भवे भवस्व मां भवोद्भवाय नमः॥

sadyojātam prapadyāmi sadyojātāya vai namo namah
bhave bhave nāti bhave bhavasva mām bhavodbhavāya namah

I take refuge in the First Born, verily I bow to the First Born
Do not consign me to birth after birth;
Guide me beyond birth, I bow to the Causer of birth.

2. Vāmadeva Mantra:

वामदेवायनमो ज्येष्ठाय नमः श्रेष्ठाय
नमो रुद्राय नमः कालाय नमः।
कलविकरणाय नमो बलाय नमो
बलविकरणाय नमो बलप्रमथनाय नमः।
सर्वभूतदमनाय नमो मनोन्मनाय नमः॥

vāmadevāya namh jyesthāya namah śresthāya
namo rudrāya namah kālāya namah
kalavikaranāya namo balāya namo
balavikaranāya namo balapramathanāya namah
sarvabhūtadamanāya namo manonmanāya namah

I bow to the Noble One, the Eldest; to the Best, to Rudra and to Time,
I bow to the Incomprehensible, to Strength,
To the Causer of various forces, and to the Extender of Strength.
I bow to the Subduer of all beings, and to the One who kindles the Light.

3. Aghora Mantra:

अघोरेभ्योऽथ घोरेभ्यो अघोरघोरेतरेभ्यः।
सर्वतः शर्वः सर्वेभ्यो नमस्ते रुद्र रूपेभ्यः॥

aghorebhyo'tha ghorebhyo aghoraghoretarebhyah
sarvatah śarvah sarvebhyo namaste rudra rūpebhyah

I bow to those not terrible and those who are terrible,
And to those who are both terrible and not terrible.
Everywhere and always, Śarva, I bow to all Thy Rudra forms.

4. Tatpurusa Mantra:

तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि।
तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात्॥

tatpurushāya vidmahe mahādevāya dhīmahi
tanno rudrah pracodayāt

May we know that Supreme Person
And mediate on that Great God,
May Rudra impel us!

5. Īśāna Mantra:

ईशान सर्वविद्यानामीश्वरः सर्वभूतानां ब्रह्मादिपति ब्रह्मणोऽधिपतिर्।
ब्रह्मा शिवो मे अस्तु स एव सदाशिव ओम्॥

īśāna sarvavidyānāmīśvarah sarvabhūtānām brahmādipati brahmano'dhipatir
brahmā śivo me astu sa eva sadāśiva om

Ruler of all knowledge, Master of all beings,
Commander of all study and devotion,
That God Auspicious to me,
Be He just so, the Ever-Auspicious Om.

~ Om Namah Shivaya ~

A tribute to Sitaram Das Omkarnath, Babukishan spent alot of time with him and Loved him lots. Hare Krishna

8/25/2012

Rare photo taken by Babukishan aka Krishnendu Das @ Puri.
Babu was touring all over India with Baba and this was to be Omkarnathji's last tour of India as he left his body not long after this Photo was taken.

Babu say's Sita Ram Das was very intelligent and intellectual he knew him all of his life. When he was little he used to sit on his knee all the time and would say I think I am to heavy for you and it became the joke.

When Babu's father was a child now 84 years old it was Sitaram Das Omkarnath that suggested he sing on the trains to make money as he was the eldest and Nabani was gone all the time, also Babu's dad lead Kirtan for him for a couple of years until Nabani came back and dragged him away Nabani wanted his son to follow the Baul path.

Nabani Das Baul and Sitaram Das were great friends, but Nabani was always an invisible mystic wandering Sadhu. Babu Kishan is more like his Grandfather and follows the same path, he likes to be the invisible Mystic.

Lots of history that has never been heard of before.

Sitaramdas Omkarnathji and Anandamayi Ma.
Omkarnath always encouraged Anandmayi Ma to be a Guru. He would send all of his women devotee's to Anandamayi Ma because he was more comfortable around men. He wanted her to teach all of the women.

Sitaram Das Omkarnath was the person who brought Anadamayi Ma to the limelight, because in India in those days it was almost impossible for a women to come forward.

In the Sitaramdas Omkarnath ashrams I have been in there is always a picture of Omkarnath on one side and a picture of Anandmayi Ma on the other.

A photo of Anandamay Ma and Sitaramdas Omkarnathji

Many people do not know this but Babukishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul knew both of these Guru's well and Sitaram Das Omkarnath told him one day that he did not like to meet with women, he preferred to be with men so he told all the women to go to Anandamayi Ma, he encouraged Anandamayi Ma as it was not easy for women to be Guru's in those days, (not that he did not like women but he was a serious Sadhu and they just did sadhana with the other Sadhu's)

Babu's grandfather was one of those serious Sadhu's even though he had a family he would disappear for years and wander through India, Nepal, Tibet doing sadhana with other Sadhus, Yogis and Tantric's.

"Listen. My Name is your support in the journey of life.

Sing the Name.

Today you are alive, but you will not be alive forever.

A day will come when your senses will cease to function and life will leave corporeal frame, and the mortal remains will be either devoured by jackals or burnt to ashes.

If you do not obtain the means of support for the journey, then you are doomed.

From this moment - sing the Name, let your whole system utter the words 'Rama Rama' and 'Hari Hari'.

This is the best means of leading you to the right path of life. Your wealth, your wife and children will not go with you.

While there is still time, sing the Name and obtain what is most worth your while in life.

Don't follow too many paths to the higher life, better stick to one - the singing of the Name - this will be the best of your attainments.

You need not be proficient in all the scriptures".

Sri Sri Omkar Nath Ji

You can see Sitaram Das Omkarnath sitting on a chair at a Baul Samarat Purna Chandra Das's concert in Calcutta.

Sitaramdas Omkarnath was a close associate of Nabani Das Baul and as one of Purna D Baul Guru's he suggested to Purna as a child to sing on the trains in India before this no Baul ever sang on the trains in India.

Ganapathi & Kali

8/25/2012

August 25th, 2012 Kamakhya on Day 1 of Ambubachi Mela

8/25/2012

Two lakh throng Kamakhya on Day 1 of Ambubachi Mela:
GUWAHATI: Amid wide participation of devotees, mostly from outside the state, the much-awaited Ambubachi Mela kicked off on Friday. Like previous years, this year too, very few devotees and visitors from Assam have come to the Kamakhya temple premises on the first day of the festival.

With over two lakh worshippers thronging shakti shrine in Kamakhya on the first day itself, the Ambubachi festival organizing committee will have to provide accommodation to the lakhs of devotees, visitors and sanyasis, who are living in camps under the open sky.

August 25th, 2012

8/25/2012

What you reject you attract.

What you focus on you will attract.

What we reject or resist is usually unconscious or a habit in our thinking mind.

Our mind focuses on these rejections automatically like a record player falling into the grooves of old rejection stories and old programming.

You have a choice focus on what you want or let your mind fall into the groove of old programming and live your resistance or rejection.

Jai Ganesha please remove all the obstacles in my mind!!

Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha

(Ganapathi from the Shiva Temple between Mira Road & Thane.. Mumbai Maharastra

By Trishula Das

August 25th, 2012

8/25/2012

12 Jyotirlinga Shrines in India.

8/13/2012

MAHAKALESHWAR JYOTIRLINGA: Jyotirlinga is a shrine by which Lord Shiva is worshipped as a Linggam, Pillar of Light, There are twelve Jyotirlinga Shrines in India. They are in Somnath in Gujarat, Mallikarjuna at Srisailam, Mahakaleswar at Ujjain, Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, Kedarnath in Himalayas, Bhimashankar in Maharastra, Vaisvanath at Varanasi, Triambakeshwar in Maharastra, Vaidynath at Deoghar, Nageswar at Dwarka, Rameshwar at Rameshwaram and Grishneshwar at Aurangabad. Each of the twelve Jyotirlinga take the name of the residing deity being a different manifestation of Lord Shiva. The primary image is the Linggam divinely representing the infinite nature of Shiva’s beginingless and endlessness.

According to the Shiva Purana, Brahma and Vishnu engaged in a dispute as to their supremacy of creation. Hearing this, Lord Shiva pierced the three lokhas as a gigantic endless pillar of light. Brahma and Vishnu each try to find the beginning and the end. Vishnu concedes defeat while Brahma cheats and earns Siva’s wrath. He is cursed not to have a place in religious ceremonies. Vishnu is credited to be worshipped till the end of eternity. The Jyotirlinga is the supreme partless reality of Lord Shiva. The Jyotirlinga shrines are places where the Lord appeared as the column of light.

The legend relating to Mahakaleshwarar takes place in Avati. There lived a Brahmin and his four sons. They were devotees of Lord Shiva. It was a time, the demon Dushanan was creating havoc. King Chandrasena and Shiva-bhaktas performed a puja and prayed to Siva. They had dug a pond and used the mud to make a Linggam. The demon appears to interrupt the puja. Seeing this Lord Shiva rose from the pond as Mahakaleswarar to destroy Dushanan. Thereafter He remained at this sthalam as one of the Jyotirlingams. As the Lingam was formed from its own powers, Mother Parvathi declared that bhaktas worshiping this formless pillar of light would be free from death and disease.

MAHAKALESHWAR TEMPLE: The city of Ujjain is also known as Indrapuri Amaravati, and Avantika. It is also called ‘Swarga Sringa’ as it has a number of golden towers of several temples. Mahakal, Ujjain in Madya Pradesh is where Mahalaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple is situated. The temple is located near a lake. The shikhara of this temple soars into the skies and evokes a primordial awe and reverence.The Lingam at Mahakal is believed to be the only Swayambhu Jyotirlinga. This means the shrine was self-manifested, that is which is created by its own accord. The Lingam derives Shakti, the currents of power from within itself. Do not get mixed up with Swayambhunath as that is a reference to a monkey temple in Katmandu! Altogether, there are five levels of the temple.

The temple also has a Shree Yantra perched upside down at the ceiling of Garbhagriha. Garvhagriva literally means ‘womb chamber’ implying the interior of the sanctum sanctorum where the Murthi of the primary deity resides. In Ujjain, the Swayambhu is known as Daksinamurthi, meaning it is facing south. This position is unique and is in accordance with Tantric Shivnetra. Shivnetra is pineal gland between the two eyebrows, the third eye of Shiva, of tantra. Those pursuing this should do so at the feet of a guru.

The Moola lingam is very small & is located underground. The pathway to the underground sanctum is lit with brass lamps. Here prasada may be re-offered. The idol of Omkareshwar Mahadev is consecrated in the sanctum above the Mahakal shrine. The west, north and east of the sanctum sanctorum has the images of Ganesha, Parvathi and Karthikeya. Nandi, Shiva’s vahana is in the south. The deity of Nagachandreswar is open for darshan only on Naga Panchami and this is on the third storey.

RITUAL: Abisheka Puja takes place at 4 am. The Bhasma Aarti is one that involves smearing the Linga with hot ashes from the burning ghats or cremation grounds. Shiva is believed to dwell in cremation grounds, and the ash-smearing ceremony is homage to the Destroyer of the Universe himself. Hence Chitbhasm or Ash of Cemetery is applied all over the Mahakal. This form of worship is symbolic of Death and Life being inseperable, an idea that is inherent to most of the Hindu schools fo thought. According to tradition, Chitabhasm is unholy and inauspicious. Touching it by mistake warrants a bath to purify oneself. But its application on the Mahakal renders it holy because Shiva is ‘Nishkam’ or lustless. Shiva is Mangalmaya or auspicious, one that is not affected by material desires. It is always believed that those visiting Mahakal temple and take a darshan, will be relieved of sorrows even in their dreams. It is a conceited belief also that prayers to Mahakal Jyotirlinga is a way to attain salvation.

MYTHOLOGY: This myth describes the grandeur of Mahakaleswar. The King of Ujjain at the material time is King Chandrasena. He was a staunch Shiva bhakta and a scholar. Once he came in possession of a brilliant gemstone, the Sundara Chintamani. Chandrasena was on par with celestial gods wearing the Chinamani. This caused envy amidst neighboring kings. He was asked to part with it and upon refusal was threatened to attack. Over time he was surrounded with enemies eyeing the gemstone. The King prayed to Lord Shiva and a solution was pointed to.

There was a parallel story that developed in the city. An illiterate boy sees the King performing puja for a stone deity. He too installs a stone in his house. He imagines it to be a Shiva Linga and devotingly prays to the Linga. He becomes too engrossed and abandons every other chore. In his was the feeling that the stone was an incarnation of Shiva. He even forgets about his food. The outside world had no affect on him and he appeared crazy to the others. His mother, for all her love, could not control her anger, threw away the Shivalinga.

The mother also destroyed all the other objects of worship. The disappointed boy did not give up. He brought the stone elsewhere. He paid more attention and concentrated only on the prayer. Lord Shiva casts his eyes on the boy. The Linga soon became adorned with gemstones and turned into a JyotirLinga. After singing in praise of Lord Siva, when the boy returned to his house, he found that he was blessed with a beautiful palatial home instead. Thus, with the Grace and Blessings of Lord Siva, the boy became rich and led a very happy life.

In the mean time, the enemy kings who attached ceased Chandrasena’s empire, began to fight among themselves. They began to say king Chandrasena is a Siva devotee and ujjain itself is the city of Mahakal. It is therefore, impossible to anyone to win it. Further, Lord Hanuman appears to reveal the secret that only Siva could grant salvation to mankind and nobody else. The Lord is pleased with any form of worship to his Formless form. Thus the Lord is pleased with worship done even without chanting any mantras. Then Hanuman looked at Chandrasena with eyes filled with affection and benevolence and disappeared. Everyone understood that blessing. They then decided to extend a hand of friendship to king Chandrasena and together they all worshipped Mahakal.

Lingam worship is more of an idea of worshiping the Divine rather than worshiping a deity. It is there as saguna for convenience and focusing and attention. Even if one sees a Lingam represented with a yoni, the symbol of Shakti, it is representative of the indivisible two-in-Oneness of the passive space and active time from which all life originates. That is also a way to pour love and devotion. The entire Saguna and Nirguna worship of the Lingam is beautiful indeed. Bhaktas could aspire and move beyond the Lingam to realize Gods as Formless. It is a mistake to make thoughtless sweeping statements of Shiva-Parvathi or lingam-yoni with sexual overtones. Even if there is a remote connection, that Tantric science of Divine Union is to be learnt at the holy feet of a guru to be aware that Lingam is not a phallic symbol at all. Om Namah Sivaya, Sivaya Namah Om.

Hari Om by Yogi Ananda Saraswathi

Personal Prayers and Ramakrishna Paramhamsa

8/8/2012

PERSONAL PRAYERS:

Prayer is an individual business. Let not anyone mesmerise you with any written methods to pray or mantras to memorise. The ‘how to pray’ syllabus is another’s experience; not yours. It is no harm receiving that knowledge but that is a means to an end. Coherent and meaningful prayer will fall in place sooner than you expect, even recitation of mantras and simple rituals. So do surrender at your earliest convenience and pray in a humble way. Love for God is embedded in the heart and not in prayer guidebooks. ‘Om Nama Sivaya’ starts it all in a simple way in praying to Shiva-Shakti. One can cup the hands in prayers before a Shivalingam and speak to God. Man mana bhava, always think of Me and become Me, says Sri Krishna in Gita 18.65.

The sage, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa had visions of Mother Kali and when he regained consciousness, the only word that emanated from his lips was ‘Mother’. Her deity overwhelmed him and gave him so much bliss. He was thereafter intoxicated and unable to carry on with his daily chores, not even worship. Now he wanted to see Mother both in meditation and with eyes open. But Mother was playing hide and seek, as She often does with Her children.

Sri Ramakrishna would get into a trance and find Mother standing before him, smiling, talking, consoling and bidding him cheers, even instructing him in prayers. He used to speak loudly to the Deity, even shouting at Her. In meditation the sage would see strange swarm of fire flies. He heard sacred sounds of Her anklets. He felt he was holding on to Her whole body. Sometimes he felt asleep holding on to Her feet. Most of the time his prayers were idiosyncratic; he would even take a morsel of food and holding it to Her mouth begging Her to eat. He would not move until She had taken the prasada.

He was sailing an uncharted sea, “O Divine Mother, I do not know what these things are. I am ignorant of mantras and the scriptures, Mother, how to realise Thee, who else can help me?” and surrendered to the will of Mother. He was in constant communion with Her day and night. Sometimes he would remain in absolute silence like a cold rock. The temple officials in Dakshineswar Kali Temple took him to be insane. His unconventional ways could not be hidden for long.

This was reported to the Rani, the Kali Temple custodian. She sent someone to observe the sage’s conduct silently and duly reported to her. The next day, the temple officials received an instruction: “Do not obstruct the sage in his worship in whatever manner he might perform it as it is Divinely inspired.” The Rani was convinced that Ramakrishna’s fervent devotion had awakened Mother Kali. The sage’s ecstatic love for Ma Kali became more and more intimate. He was satisfied and wanted to see the Divine Mother in all beings and things and taste her bliss in a variety of means and rites. And he prayed Ma Kali in his own way, despite being called a madman. Whenever Ma Kali is thought, Sri Ramakrishna's name is recalled fondly. It would be for many epochs. That is how Ma wants it.

When one surrenders totally to God and develops his or her way to venerate and pray, and that seen as madness, that is a Bliss indeed. This divine insanity may even be preferable to self-endorsing ignorant or innocent barriers to express love for God. You would be your own barrier if you are influenced by third party rules and regulations of praying. There are no rules to Love God. The only rule would be Love for God and love alone. In His infinite wisdom the Lord knows it all. And He is most compassionate and accepts you for what you are. Even in your simple flower offering and your silence. Hari Om

by Yogi Ananda Saraswathi