May 14, 2025
Sarada, Visalakshi, Kamakshi, Devi, Ambal, Amman, the many names by which our Jaganmata, Goddess, is known, is also representative of our country, especially since the very contour of the nation symbolises woman, with Kashmir being the sindoor, the most auspicious and powerful symbol for a devotee, said Damodara Dikshidhar.
A fount of kindness, slokas celebrate Her as Vahanti sindooram (she has sindoor on her forehead), lalate kashmiram. Her forehead is Kashmir and Her feet are Kanniyakumari, and She embraces all devotees and offers Her protection to those who repose faith in Her. It is Ambal who can offer peace , both inner and outer. Only when one has faith in Her can one develop inner strength required to face life's many challenges. Sastras tell us what pujas we should undertake and which deity to pray to, in order to emerge victorious.
Adi Sankara's disciple once asked him what one should do during times of danger. Adi Sankara said think of Devi and sing her verses. Questioning further, the sishya asked, what such smaranam (thinking of Her) would bring one. Adi Sankara said all devatas would then work for the devotee, since She is the primordial source of strength and She always responds to prayers, even Siva and Brahma have done so.
Chapter 12 of Devi Mahatmyam says, 'Sarvabadhavinirmukto dhanadhanyasutantvitah, manusyo matprasadena bhavaisyati na samsayah', meaning: those who repose faith in Her will be freed by Her grace from all afflictions and endowed with wealth, grain and progeny. The work further states that however difficult a war may be, it is a just one and if warriors and families pray to Her, She will assure them of complete victory. She is there for the poor and the rich, the high born and the ordinary. During difficult times, holding prayers and special pujas to Sakti, Ambal, Amman seeking Her protection and for the well being of all will be efficacious.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- The Hindu
Ambal Pattabhishekham
Two pattabhishekhams are spiritually very renowned. The first one is the ever popular Rama Pattabhishekham and the second one is Ambal Pattabhishekham at Ambaji in Gujarat, said Damodara Dikshidhar. Ambal is an embodiment of Sakti and Her power is limitless. In the first sloka of Soundarya Lahari, Acharya says, 'From Brahma, Vishnu everyone did puja for you and became gods of the universe.' This ability to rise above all is obtained only by praying to Her. Ambal is the only one who shines as the powerful one, even Bhagavan gets His prime position only after joining Her, say our scriptures. She is worshipped in various places as a different deity: as Kamakshi, Karpagambal, Katyayini, Gomathi, Visalakshi, to name a few. There are many Sakti pitams and the swayambu Sakti kshetras are of the highest order. The 51 swayambu kshetras are the places where She let go of pieces of Herself in various locations. Our scriptures say this happened when Daksha troubled and humiliated Siva. Unbale to countenance it, Sakti decided to shed her mortal flesh, be born again and join with Siva, for fruition of which, She surrendered to Him and shed Her parts. Her waist is said to have fallen on earth where Kanchipuram is, Her tongue in Kolkata, while Her heart fell in Ambaji, Gujarat. Her shrine is the most sought after one by both devotees and evolved souls. Numerous ascetics and others who have prayed to Her steadfastly at her shrine on a hillock there, have spoken of Her having appeared to them, as a vision. Ambal's (Sri Raja Rajeswari) Pattabhishekham falls between June 26 and July 8 this year.
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- The Hindu
May 14, 2025
Sarada, Visalakshi, Kamakshi, Devi, Ambal, Amman, the many names by which our Jaganmata, Goddess, is known, is also representative of our country, especially since the very contour of the nation symbolises woman, with Kashmir being the sindoor, the most auspicious and powerful symbol for a devotee, said Damodara Dikshidhar. A fount of kindness, slokas celebrate Her as Vahanti sindooram (she has sindoor on her forehead), lalate kashmiram. Her forehead is Kashmir and Her feet are Kanniyakumari, and She embraces all devotees and offers Her protection to those who repose faith in Her. It is Ambal who can offer peace , both inner and outer. Only when one has faith in Her can one develop inner strength required to face life's many challenges. Sastras tell us what pujas we should undertake and which deity to pray to, in order to emerge victorious. Adi Sankara's disciple once asked him what one should do during times of danger. Adi Sankara said think of Devi and sing her verses. Questioning further, the sishya asked, what such smaranam (thinking of Her) would bring one. Adi Sankara said all devatas would then work for the devotee, since She is the primordial source of strength and She always responds to prayers, even Siva and Brahma have done so. Chapter 12 of Devi Mahatmyam says, 'Sarvabadhavinirmukto dhanadhanyasutantvitah, manusyo matprasadena bhavaisyati na samsayah', meaning: those who repose faith in Her will be freed by Her grace from all afflictions and endowed with wealth, grain and progeny. The work further states that however difficult a war may be, it is a just one and if warriors and families pray to Her, She will assure them of complete victory. She is there for the poor and the rich, the high born and the ordinary. During difficult times, holding prayers and special pujas to Sakti, Ambal, Amman seeking Her protection and for the well being of all will be efficacious.
The Hindu
02-05-2025
- The Hindu
Adi Sankara, the jagath guru
Krishna said, 'Paritranaay saadhunam vinaashaay cha dushkritaam, dharmasanstha panaarthay sambhavaami yuge yuge' (to protect the righteous, to annihilate the wicked, and to reestablish the principles of dharma, I appear on this earth, age after age). Many mahans have appeared on this earth, some to offer protection to sadhus, some others to overcome demons. However, only those avatars are celebrated to this day where the proponents establish dharma by following through in practice. Devotees connect to Rama and Krishna. Similarly, there is only one jagath guru, who established practices and remains a guide to all devotees. This is Adi Sankara, said Damodhara Dikshidhar. To disseminate our sastras and guide devotees is not an easy task; our Vedas are limitless, the information contained are vast and complex. Hinduism also boasts a pantheon of gods, from Brahma, Vishnu, Siva to the local deities in remote villages and some may not realise that Hinduism is beyond the confines of temples, as one cannot read and process all the information in the Vedas in one's lifetime. However, Adi Sankara, born in Kalady, in 8th century, and hailed as a manifestation of Parameswara Himself, walked the talk. Travelling across the country, he visited countless kshetras, engaged in debates and discourses and is credited with having removed the first knot (in understanding the religion), making it easy for other acharyas following him to remove the rest of the knots. As the propounder of Advaitha philosophy, Adi Sankara said bhakti is an easy way to reach God, but that alone is not enough. One cannot cross a waterbody by holding on to the tail of a crocodile. Similarly, one should not give up sampradaya in the name of karma. Bhakti is a means to realising the ultimate truth (Brahman). Like a river following its course (and changing its course due to obstacles where necessary), and reaching the sea, one should be a complete devotee, like Kannappa, who sacrificed his eyes for Siva. He was not well versed in rituals and practices but his devotion was pristine.
