The Full Moon (Pournami) Version in Hinduism

Pournami, the full moon day, is considered auspicious in the Hindus Calendar and most devotees observe fast throughout the day and pray to the presiding deity Goddess Amma or your Idol God. It is ideal to fast or take light food (vegetarian) on full moon as it is said to reduce the acidic content in our system, slows down the metabolic rates, increases endurance. This restores the body and mind balance. Praying too helps in subduing the emotions and controls the outburst of temper. Setting aside a few minutes each month during the new moon phase to focus on yours wishes and desires will help give you clarity of mind and fill your heart with promise. When it comes to setting goals or planning ahead for your future there is no better time to get started than during the new moon.

Mandi Bunga or Floral Bath ritual is famous in Malaysia particular with the Indian community. The ritual where it is perform during Full Moon (Pournami) brings good vibration as one believe it will rid bad luck or remove negative vibes. Some perform the ritual to cure sickness and to bring positive energy back spoke to few Hindu priest and the oldies around, this is one of the method where one can perform Mandi Bunga D.I.B.Y (Do It By Yourself)  :

1. Prepare 7 or 9 type of flowers (rose, jasmine, carnation, hibiscus,etc) - 7 and 9 types of flowers resemble the incarnation of the god or goddess or the 9 lord of the navagrahas. 
2. Odd numbers of kafir lime (limau purut) or lime - Kafir lime smells good and you will find yourself fresh after the ritual. 

Bring the flowers and limes to temple (mostly best perform in Amman or your Istham God/Goddess temple) and perform an archanai with your name and raasi. Bring back the flowers/limes back home. Fill up a pail with water and sprinkle with turmeric powder, then add the flowers/limes. First you need to perform a clean bath, follow with a prayers/blessing of your own and bath with the flowers/limes. 

Once done, make sure you gathered the used flowers and lime and throw it in rivers or bury it in your home garden or at the roadside. This is believe that used flower/limes are not suppose to be thrown in garbage as flowers/limes are consider as scared plants. 

Nevertheless, reading 108/1008 Amman potri/Lalitha Sahasra Namavali/Istham theivam potri during Full moon are considered very beneficial. In certain Amman temples in Malaysia, Kungumam Archanai are performed to female deities (Amman/Lakshmi/Durga) where it bring prosperity/Subakariyam to one's life especially for women. Kungumam Archanai ritual can be perform at home as well. Below are the step to perform Kungumam Archanai and this has been taught  to me by a Hindu temple priest and it is one preference whether to follow the method given :

• You need flowers/flower petals (Uthiripookal) odd numbers (1/3/5,etc) types of flowers (Hibiscus, jasmine, carnation, chrysanthemum, etc),  but make sure the flowers are fair enough for 108/1008 potri. 108 or 1008 potri = one complete potri =  one flower. 
• OR Kumkum/Vermillion powder:  Kumkum represents intellect and is a symbol of auspiciousness and happiness in the family. It also denotes "Soubhagya" (good fortune) when used by Indian women denoting that their husbands are alive.
• One kuthuvilaku (lamp) : Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness symbolizes ignorance.  Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Hence we light the lamp to bow down to knowledge as the greatest of all forms of wealth.
• Betel leave/ Vetrilai :  The betel leaf is a symbol of freshness and prosperity. According to Skanda Purana, the betel leaf was obtained by the gods during the churning of the ocean for the nectar. 

First, clean your prayer altar and decorate the Idol Goddess picture/statue flower garland. Then, arrange the flowers or kungumam in a silver plate. Place one betel leave at the center of the picture and locate the kuthuvillaku as well. Offer a small prayer for blessing before reciting the potri. At the end of each sentence with potri, take the kungumam/flowers and place it on top of the betel leave. Once you have completed the whole version of the potri, you may closed your prayer with thanking the Goddess and offer them prasatham. Therefore, the kungumam archanai is completed. Don't forget to use the kungumam everyday as it give the mantra/potri vibration to one.

In my next post, I will explain more about the Pournami version with Nageswari Amman and the common 108 Amman potri. Stay tune :)

Abishegam and the Benefits

Abhishegam (thirumanjanam) is the process of bathing the deity. It may be simple by just using water or elaborate when it includes milk, curds, honey, ghee, sugar, coconut water, sandal paste, fruit juice get to see the benefits in your life as all the ancestors dosha,(pitru dosha). The water of the Abhishegam is considered very sacred. It is known to grant great benefits on the devotees who take it as the Lord’s prasad. It purifies the heart and destroys countless sins. You should take it with intense faith and devotion.

When you perform Abhishegam with devotion, your mind is concentrated. Your heart is filled with divine thoughts and with the image of the Lord. You forget your body and your surroundings.The recitation of Mantras during the Abhishegam purifies the mind. The sacred prasad of the Lord and the holy water of the Abhishegam purify the heart if taken with faith and devotion. They can bring peace and prosperity. Incurable diseases are cured by performing Abhishegam. It bestows health, wealth, prosperity, peace of mind and purity of heart. It expands the heart. It calls for self-sacrifice and self-surrender. There must be a natural feeling in the heart. "I am Thine, my Lord. All is Thine, my Lord."

Each substances used for this worship brings fortune for humans according to their position of planets transition. Now to understand the benefits and substances used for abishegam :

• Gingerly oil  brings material benefits
• Cow milk will extend one life span
• Cow buttermilk brings childbirth to who did not bless with kids
• Sugar destroy the enemies
• Scared ash (vibuthi/thiruniru)  brings peace, knowledge and wisdom
• Water or milk fill through conch shell (valampuri sangu) avoids the awful things
• Rose water ( paneer)  brings prosperity
• Water from pot (kalasa) brings the fortune what the person requires
• Mango fruit brings all good fortune
• Gold brings all success and profits
• (Five elements of panjakaviyam) Milk,curd,ghee,cows dunk, cows urine emoves sins and self purification
• Panjamirtham mix of five type of fruits with hone and jaggery) brings wealth
• Coconut water brings good family life
• Sandal brings iswariyam (wealth)
• Rice flour removes debt
• Turmeric powder brings the attraction and rajavasiyam (good and majestic life)
• Sugarcane juice brings good health
• Honey enhanced musical talent
• Banana makes the good growth of plants especially paddy field
• Rice meal (anathaanam)  brings luxury life
• Lemon /orang juice remove fear of death
• Kungumam/kumkum brings good family life

SPECIAL DAYS TO OFFER ABISHEGAM ON GOD/GODDESS

1.      LORD SIVA - MONDAY

2.      LORD GANAPATHI AND NAVAGRAHA - SUNDAY

3.      LORD MURUGAN AND GODDESS DURGA -TUESDAY

4.      LORD VISHNU - WEDNESDAY

5.      LORD DAKSHINAMOORTHY - THURSDAY

6.      GODDESS SAKTHI - FRIDAY

7.      LORD KANNAN/KRISHNA - SATURDAY

Subramanya Asthakam & Lord Murugan

Subramanya Asthakam and  Lord Murugan

"The fiery Mass That stood as Brahman
That has no beginning
Assuming a form from formless,
From several unto One,
Thus rose a Tirumuruga
With six merciful faces and twelve eyes,
For the universe to get rescued."

       Lord Murugan is regarded as the supreme commander of the Gods and the destroyer of evil forces. He is also regarded as the epitome of knowledge. He is revered as an infant, as a child (Balasubramanian), as a handsome and romantic prince (Valli Manavaalan - Azhagan Murugan), as an invincible warrior and ruler.  Lord Murugan is regarded as the son of Shiva and Parvati and hence the brother of Ganesha. Valli, the daughter of a tribal ruler and Deivayanai or  Devasena the daughter of Indra the King of Devas are the consorts  of Lord Murugan. Lord Murugan is also revered as the nephew of Vishnu and is referred to as  Maal Marugan.

    One of my favourite prayer toward Lord Murugan is the Subramanya Ashtakam where an octet dedicated to Lord Muruga (Kartikeya), the eldest son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The prayer extols the glory of Subramanya and is chanted while praying to Lord Muruga. Below are one of the you tube link for you to listen to the prayers and posted with the stroram plus with the meaning in English.

Subramanya Asthakam : 

Hey Swaminatha karunakara deena bandho,
Sree Paravatheesa mukha pankaja padma bandho,
Sreesadhi deva gana poojitha pada padma,
Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham.

Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli,
Who is the chief of gods, who is merciful,
Who is friend of the oppressed,
Who is the son of the lotus faced lord of goddess Parvathi,
And whose lotus feet is worshipped
By all gods and also by Lord of Goddess Lakshmi.

Devadhi deva sutha, deva ganadhi nadha,
Devendra vandhya mrudu pankaja manju pada,
Devarshi narada muneendra sugeetha keerthe,
Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham.

Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli,
Who is the son of God of gods, who is the chief of all gods,
Whose soft lotus like feet is worshipped by Devendra,
And whose fame is sung by deva sage Narada and others.

Nithyanna Dana nirathakhila roga harin,
Bhagya pradhana paripooritha bhaktha Kama,
Sruthyagama pranava vachya nija swaroopa,
Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham.

Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli,
Who gives food daily in charity, which cures all prevalent diseases,
Who bestows luck, which fulfills all wishes of devotees,
And whose real form is the pranava given in Vedas.

Krouncha surendra parigandana Sakthi soola,
Chapa thi sasthra parimanditha divya panai,
Sree kundaleesa drutha thunda sikheendra vaha,
Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham.

Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli,
Who is the Lord of mountains, who holds,
Shakthi, Soola, bow and arrows in his holy hands,
Who wears ear rings and who rides the fast moving peacock.

Devadhi deva radha mandala Madhya methya,
Devendra peeda nagaram druda chapa hastha,
Sooram nihathya sura kotibhiradyamana,
Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham.

Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli,
Who is the god o gods,
Who rides the central Chariot among a group of chariots,
Who prevents problems for Devendra,
Who can send arrows very fast,
And who by killing Sura became,
The object of adulation of billions of devas.

Heeradhi rathna vara yuktha kireeda hara,
Keyura kundala lasath kavachabhirama,
Hey Veera tharaka jayaa amara brunda vandhya,
Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham.

Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli,
Who wears crowns and chains with diamonds and gems,
Who wears armlet, ear rings and strong armour,
And who is the valorous one who killed Tharaka,
And was saluted by the groups of devas.

Panchaksharadhi manu manthritha Ganga thoyai,
Panchamruthai praudhithendra mukhair muneendryai,
Pattabhishiktha maghavatha nayasa nadha,
Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham.

Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli,
Who was crowned as their leader by Indra,
With the chanting of the holy five letters,
With the bathing of the holy water of Ganga,
After strengthening it further by holy chants,
And who was anointed with the five holy nectars,
By very learned and holy sages.

Sree karthikeya karuna mrutha poorna drushtya,
Kamadhi roga kalushi krutha drushta chitham,
Sikthwa Thu mamava kala nidhi koti kantha,
Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham.

Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli,
Who is known as Karthikeya, who with his,
Fully nectar like looks of mercy cures,
Passion, diseases and mind which has made been dirty
Who is the treasure house of arts and
Who shines like billions of suns.

Subrahmanyashtakam punyam yeh padanthi dwijothama,
They sarve mukthimayanthi Subrahmanya prasadatha,
Subrahmanyashtakam idham prathar uthaya ya padeth,
Kodi janma krutham papam thath kshanad thasya nasyathi.

The twice born who reads this octet on Subrahmanya,
Would attain salvation by the grace of Lord Subrahmanya,
And for him who reads this octet on Subrahmanya, as soon as,
He gets up in the morning, the sins committed in billons,
Of previous births will vanish in a second

“Ask, and it shall be  given.” These holy words were not said in vain. Ask Sri Muruga, the Holy Self enshrined and worshipped there in the temple, the Holy Self that in its loving grace inexpressible came in the form of the Guru, ask him and it shall be given.  

In Vedic astrology Mars is ruled by Lord Muruga. Mangalwar, Tuesday, takes its name from the god Mangal or Mars who rules the day and is considered to be a trouble maker, and the fast is to ward off the harmful effects. Red is the preferred color on the day. People who have Sevai Dosham/Mangal Dosham, delay in marriage, childless couple, wish for prosperity and happiness can offer prayers to Lord Muruga and Lord Sevai every Tuesday for 9 weeks. Prayers being vegetarian for whole day, lighting ghee lamp with offering red flowers and milk in temple would be fruitful. Archanai with your name would be more beneficial as well. When completing your prayers in the 9th week, offering red cloths to significant for blessing of the Lords and completeness of your prayers with thanking and seek for forgiveness and blessing for you and your family.