It is a nice coincidence that I am writing two blogs in the same week on the same subject viz. Sun (Aditya). One is Aditya Hridayam (The heart of the Sun) in the Spiritual Category & the other Aditya Udayam (Sun Rise) in the Photography/Travel Category.
In one of my earlier blogs (Springing Eastern Sun – PANY 2019 on 01 Aug 2019) I had posted photographs of Sun during my visit to Pennsylvania and Newyork. After my return to my base, I have been continuing my reverence for the Sun and never failed to capture its graceful rise to dispel the darkness in us.
Here is a fascinating video taken from my apartment roof top recently. Look at the impact that the Sun brings out in the form of dazzling colors, brightness, clarity and the ambience. The serenity is aided by the background music in the Rag Bowli (courtesy VK Raman, the eminent flautist).
iPhone X has an amazing camera which syncs with my reverence in its true spirit. Enjoy this video at
The Sun—the heart of our solar system—is a yellow dwarf star, a hot ball of glowing gases.
Its gravity holds the solar system together, keeping everything from the biggest planets to the smallest particles of debris in its orbit. Electric currents in the Sun generate a magnetic field that is carried out through the solar system by the solar wind—a stream of electrically charged gas blowing outward from the Sun in all directions.
The connection and interactions between the Sun and Earth drive the seasons, ocean currents, weather, climate, radiation belts and aurorae. Though it is special to us, there are billions of stars like our Sun scattered across the Milky Way galaxy.
With a radius of 432,168.6 miles (695,508 kilometers), our Sun is not an especially large star—many are several times bigger—but it is still far more massive than our home planet: 332,946 Earths match the mass of the Sun. The Sun’s volume would need 1.3 million Earths to fill it.
I never get tired of seeing the Sun rise and the Sun set. Everyday I try and make it a point to watch the Sun Rise & Sun set. I am amazed at the splash of colors and contrast that Sun provides. I was fortunate to watch the Sun Rise from my apartment roof top on one fine morning. I have posted the video in the Photography Section of my blog.
Now, let us read carefully the above description of the Sun particularly on its critical role in the universe and relate them to the Verses that will follow on Sunday. From Verse 4 to Verse 25, Sage Agasthya brings out through his praise for Aditya, the features and characteristics of the Sun and its importance. One can see the striking similarity between the century old views to the scientific description. No wonder you will see temples for the Sun God in several States of India such as Orissa, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Andra Pradesh , Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Anyone visiting Jog Falls in Karnataka as a tourist and has an interest in architecture and history invariably lands up in Keladi, approximately 35 Kms from the Falls. While the foot falls in Keladi may not be as large as Hampi, the village presents an unique combination of Hoysala, Vijayanagara & Dravidian styles of architecture in the form of Sri Rameshwara Temple built in the 16th Century.
As you drive through the narrow streets of the village and approach the site, one can see a normal building structure with a large garden in front and a typical unused deep well. But once you step into the temple compound, your eyes open out and you say “wow”. Then you start exploring ; you will not come back disappointed.
Here is my iPhone X doing all the work allowing me to enjoy my visit there.
Music Courtesy: MALLADI Brothers in Rag Hamir Kalyani.
rAvaNam – ravana (used as an object of the sentence)
ca – and
agrata: – in front of
dR^iShTvA – on seeing (Dhrusti – seeing)
yuddhAya – for the battle
Sam-upa-sthitam – standing prepared (‘Sam’ – popular prefix to indicate correctness/propreity – in this case, ravana is standing, correctly prepared to fight)
Meaning of the Verse
When Lord Rama (implicit subject of the sentence) is standing absorbed in thought, on the battlefield, as He is exhausted by the fight till now; seeing Ravana facing Him (in front of Him) duly prepared for the fight…
The Dictionary Definition of resilience is “ the capability of a strained body to recover its size and shape after defamation caused especially by compressive stress “ or “ the ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change “. American Psychological Association defines it as a “ process of adapting well in the face of adversity “.
Resilience is always built through learning, not acquired as a gift. Harvard Business School professor Bill George in his book “ Discover your true North “ highlights the method of “revisiting your crucibles”, viz our earlier trials and tribulations to draw from our inner strengths and lessons learnt. This however is a post facto process. We survived the storm and then we realised that we survived. We use the learning in the next storm not knowing whether it helps or not.
In the thick of the adverse situations most of the times, we need someone to confirm to us that we have what it takes to be resilient. We long for help. Ancient Indian history brings out several such adverse situations where the Principal Character derives his/her inner strength through the advice from a either friend or a philosopher or guide. Arjuna in the Indian epic Mahabharata finds Lord himself as Krishna to help him with “Bhagwad Gita” to launch the successful war against the Kauravas.
On many occasions, Nature’s manifestations themselves will provide the necessary impetus to us to recharge ourselves and have a go at the challenges that we face. If such manifestations are explained by an eminent Philosopher/Saint/Guru at the adverse situation, then it is an accelerator for rejuvenation.
This is exactly the theme of my next series of blogs on “Aditya Hridayam” by the diminutive ancient Hindu Sage Agasthya where we will see how Lord Rama finds his inner strength to defeat the Lankan King Ravana on hearing the manifestations of Aditya (The Sun) in the other epic of Sage Valmiki’s “Ramayana”.
Again a word of caution – As a novice, I am neither an expert in languages nor have adequate knowledge of religion/spirituality. I am just a mind seeker.
Note: Based on the feedback received on my earlier blogs, I have added meaning of Sanskrit words & the meaning of the Verse in English. Needless to say that I haven’t put any effort in these two additions as they are reproduced with courtesy from the information available in books and the Worldwide web!
True to the Indian name “Bhanu” for Sun & Sunday, I will try and update this blog every Sunday
Adi Sankara takes the Bhujangam to its logical end by surrendering himself before the Lord and seek compassion from the Lord. We can see that Sri Sankara seeks alignment of one’s physical body features, mind, family, relatives & friends to the one and only Lord Subramanya.
Verse 26
दृशि स्कन्दमूर्तिः श्रुतौ स्कन्दकीर्तिः
मुखे मे पवित्रं सदा तच्चरित्रम् ।
करे तस्य कृत्यं वपुस्तस्य भृत्यं
गुहे सन्तु लीना ममाशेषभावाः ॥२६॥
Drshi Skanda-Muurtih Shrutau Skanda-Kiirtih
Mukhe Me Pavitram Sadaa Tac-Caritram |
Kare Tasya Krtyam Vapus-Tasya Bhrtyam
Guhe Santu Liinaa Mama-Ashessa-Bhaavaah ||
விழிகள் உன்னுருவம் காண செவிகள் உன் மகிமை கேட்க
வாய் உந்தன் புகழ் பாட கைகள் உன் திருத்தொண்டு புரிய
After presenting his worries, fears and apprehensions in the earlier verses, Sri Adi Sankara now directly appeals to Lord Subramanya that he depends on Him solely for mitigation of his problems & none else ( Verse 24). Sri Sankara then brings out the miraculous healing powers of the Sacred Ash (Vibhuti) presented as “Prasadam” in a leaf to the devotees (Verse 25). It is the firm belief of the devotees that applying the Sacred Ash (received in the leaf) over the affected areas of the body will result in significant mitigation.
A small write up about this leaf is presented at the end of this blog .
பக்திமிகு உன் துதிதனை தடுக்கும் என் மனம் உறை மாசினை
அறுத்தாட்கொள்வாய் விரைவினிலே உமை மைந்தா சண்முகனே!
Verse 25
अपस्मारकुष्टक्षयार्शः प्रमेह_
ज्वरोन्मादगुल्मादिरोगा महान्तः ।
पिशाचाश्च सर्वे भवत्पत्रभूतिं
विलोक्य क्षणात्तारकारे द्रवन्ते ॥२५॥
Apasmaara-Kusstta-Kssaya-Arshah Prameha_
Jvaro[a-U]nmaada-Gulma-Adi-Rogaa Mahaantah |
Pishaacaash-Ca Sarve Bhavat-Patra-Bhuutim
Vilokya Kssannaat-Taaraka-Are Dravante ||
வலிப்பு குஷ்டம் சயம் கபம் மூலம் குன்மம் ஜூரம் பிளவை எனும்
எல்லாப்பிணியுடன் வல்ல பூதபிசாசுகளும், இயலாமல்
எனைவிட்டு ஓடுவர் நில்லாது, அருளும் தாரகவதையோன்
எனைஆளும் முருகன் உன் இலைமடிதிருநீறு அணிந்தால்
पत्रभूतिं Patra-Bhuutim இலைமடிதிருநீறு Sacred Ash in leaf
Patra Vibhuti (Sacred Ash in a leaf)
‘Patra’ means leaf in Sanskrit. In Tiruchendur temple the Sacred Ash (vibhuti ) is kept on a leaf from the “Paneer Tree” ( Guettarda speciosa, colloquially called beach gardenia, or zebra wood, is a species of shrub in the family Rubiaceae) and offered as “prasadam” to the devotees.
The large oval-shaped leaves are 15–23 cm (6–9 in) long by 10–18 cm (4–7 in) wide. Dark green and smooth above with prominent paler veins, they are finely hairy underneath.
“ Now let us delineate on the miraculous healing power of patra bhuti.
The fragrance of this vibhuti is unique. We wonder whether the paneer leaf enhances the fragrance of Tiruchendur vibhuti. No matter what contributes, it is a fact that Tiruchendur vibhuti has the fragrance of divine grace.
After His victory over demon Surapadman and his army, Lord Murugan settled on the coast of Tiruchendur, shining and guiding like a lighthouse. The scriptures stand as paneer trees bearing testimony to His glory. So it is believed that the leaves of those trees have Vedic magical powers. Vibhuti contained in those leaves has miraculous healing power. The veins running across the leaves remind us of Lord Murugan’s twelve hands.
Sage Viswamitra suffered from severe dyspepsia, which he got for killing Tarakai through Lord Rama. Rama appeared in his dream and asked him to smear Chenthilandavan’s patra bhuti as atonement.
There was a remarkable incident in the life of Sri Adi Sankara which revealed the glory of patra bhuti. Abhinav Gupthar, who lost in the argument with Adi Sanakara cast a black magic spell on Adi Sankara which caused a chronic disease. Adi Sankara was staying in Gokarna in north Karnataka at that time. Lord Siva of Gokarna appeared in his dream and instructed him to go to Tiruchendur, the holy abode of HIs son Lord Muruga and get rid of his disease. On getting up he saw vibhuti, kept near him.As ordained by Kokarneswar he set off for Chendur. On reaching Chendur he took a dip in the sea and proceeded towards the shrine of Chenthilandavan. When he was praying fervently to Lord Muruga he saw the serpent, Adiseshan crawling towards the sanctum. At the same time he was blessed with the holy vision and words gushed out extemporaneously in bhujanga metre. In Sanskrit ‘bhujanga’ means snake. Bhujanga metre suggests a snake gliding along. He smeared his body with the patra bhuti prasadam and was soon cured of his disease.“
In the Verses 20-25 of Sri Subramanya Bhujangam, Adi Sankara brings out with full emotions, his personal worries, pains and difficulties. Here in this blog, Verses 20-23 are listed. While trying to understand the meaning of the verses, I was trying to recollect some of my interesting interactions with elders.
Irrespective of country, religion or gender, I have heard everyone say “I know that as a human being I have to die one day. All I want is to have a peaceful end. Without being a burden to anyone, I would like to live the rest of my life and reach the feet of Lord without prolonged illness”. Incidentally as a fellow senior citizen, my own view is precisely the same.
This 21st Century views of the elders, reinforces the sentiments that Sankara brought out in these Verses in the 8th Century, Sankara at his young age brings out the potential scenario that one faces in life at the time of death and seeks Divine interventions to ease one’s pains.
Needless to say that I was truly blank, speechless and emotional as I completed my work on these Verses and recollected the cool, calm and composed manner in which my own mother at her age of 94 and father at his age of 100, closed their eyes and faced the inevitable smilingly; while the former remained silent for 2 days before the end, the later even told me in the hospital bed 48 hours before the end, that he will reach the Lord’s feet in two days time!
அழிக்கவில்லை நீ அவனை, என் செய்வேன் எங்கு செல்வேன் நான்?
One can easily come out with an argument that Sankara wrote these verses out fear of his own death (due the acute distress he had due to the illness): a more insightful look at the verses will bring out clearly that Sankara brings out the fact the Lord will be there with you at the time of your end and there is no need to be afraid of the end.
In the previous two blogs we saw Adi Sankaracharya bringing out the locational significance about the place Thiruchendur, a panchayat town located at the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal, in the Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) district of Tamil Nadu and then moving over to the description of the principal deity Lord Subramanya, focusing on harnessing the organs with the power of God.
In the blogs to follow, Sri Sankara starts his Prayers of the deity. First he focuses on the Lord, then submits his personal difficulties and issues and finally seeks His grace and compassion.
Let us go through the first set of his prayers that focuses on the Lord.
Verse 17
स्फुरद्रत्नकेयूरहाराभिरामः
चलत्कुण्डलश्रीलसद्गण्डभागः ।
कटौ पीतवास करे चारुशक्ति
पुरस्तान्ममास्तां पुरारेस्तनूज ॥१७॥
Sphurad-Ratna-Keyuura-Haara-Abhiraamah
Calat-Kunnddala-Shrii-Lasad-Ganndda-Bhaagah |
Kattau Piita-Vaasa Kare Caaru-Shakti
Purastaan-Mamaas-Taam Puraares-Tanuuja ||
ஒளி மிகு ரத்தினக் காப்பணிந்து எழில் மிகு முத்து மாலையுடன்
Prabhu's Ponder 