Post by anusham163 on Jul 23, 2014 18:41:35 GMT 5.5
A DAY WITH THE LIGHT.
Part 13.
The second Puja of the day, is as elaborate as the sequential unfolding petals of the Lotus flower. During that time, He performs the Puja to Sri Chandramouli in the form of a crystal Linga , Sri Thiripurasundari, in the form of a three dimensional, golden Srichakra, then again Sri Thiripura Sundari in the form of a two dimensional Sri Chakra, called the ‘Bhooprasthaaram’, made in stone by a very religious Sivachaaryar under special Vedic rituals, arranged by the king of ‘Poppili’, a tiny golden Vinayakar, Lord Muruga in the form of a golden Snake (a spear inserted on its tail), Sri Narayana Murthy in the form of a ‘Salagramam’, Sri Surya Bhagavan in the crystal, Dhurga Devi in ‘Yanthra roopam’ , very elaborately. Many are aware that one of the ‘Pancha Lingam’s given to Sri AdiSankarar in person by the Kailasa Sankaran, is in our SriMatam. Likewise, the ‘Salagramam’ also was given to Him by Lord NarasimhaMurthy, when Sri AdiSankarar sang the ‘Karavalampana Stotram’ on Him.
Besides these deities, on whom the Acharya of the SriMatam will perform the Puja, there are other deities such as Sri Adi Acharyar, Sri Ramar. The ‘Sastrikal’ of the SriMatam will perform Puja to them.
It is customary for the SriMatam Acharyar, to perform ‘GuruVandanam’ in the beginning before the Puja and Japa, to Sri Adi Sankarar, giving Him the primary place.
During this Puja, the second in the day, Sri Periaval performs plenty of ‘Abhishekam’ with milk and Sandalwood paste, ‘Archana’s, and ‘Nivedhyam’ . The amount of milk for the Abhishekam available will be proportional to the quantum of the ‘Bhakthi’ which oozes out from the devotees. Some times, He will perform Milk Abhishekam, continuously, through the completion of the chanting of Rudram. Holding the ‘Thara Paatram’ ( the vessel from which the milk will pour down on the Linga) or the horn of the bull with a hole, with His right hand, He will pour the milk on the Deity. His hand, then, like His mind, will be firm without any shake. The hand which performs the Puja to the God shall attain the Divine attribute, rising above the Deity---so says the Veda; we will witness ‘that’ hand then.
When the curtain of the Puja Mandapam is pushed aside, after Sri Saranar completes the preliminary parts of the Puja, the devotees will witness this scene of ‘Milk Abhisheka’, which, in turn, will pour milk into their hearts. During this time, the Vedic Brahmins will be chanting ‘Sri Rudram’, ‘Chamakam’, ‘Rigveda Pancha Rudram’, ‘Devi Sooktham’, ‘Purusha Sooktham’, and ‘Sri Sooktham’.
After the completion of the ‘Milk Abhishekam’, the curtain will again be pushed aside, and a feeling of coolness will spread in our hearts; Lord Chandramouli decorated in sandal paste and the ‘Jagan Matha’ (Mother of the universe) will give Darsan to us, accepting the ‘Deepa Aradhana’ performed by our Gurunathan.. The curtain will again be closed.
When the curtain is again opened, Sri Saranar would have started the ‘Archana’. He would have, by then, decorated the Deities as well as the ‘Puja Mantap’. That decoration will stand testimony to the minuteness of His artistic ability.
One day, Sri Vatsa Deva Sarma, who was some how left alone with Him inside the Puja room during the decoration of the Deities, was telling us:--:Periava did not realize that he was near Him; that was the single minded concentration with which He was decorating!
Sarma, was full of surprise, happiness and a feeling of unknown fear, while watching Him doing the decoration. Periava will decorate in a particular way; He will look at the Puja Vigrahas and smile, and sometimes, will change the decoration; He will knod His head with a feeling of fulfillment.
Sarma was surprised, and was happy and a little frightened realizing that He was doing the decoration after asking the ‘Ammai’ (Mother), and ‘Appar’ (Father).
Later when he started asking about this to Periava Himself, Periava with a pretended anger, told him, “ who allowed you inside? Go and do your duty!”.
TO BE CONTINUED………