Srimathe Ranga Ramanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha:
Chandran in Jyotisham –
Chandran owns kataka rassi, a watery sign.He gets exalted in the second sign of zodiac,rishaba rassi. Sun denotes Athma, while Moon signify mind.Sun denotes prana (life force) Whereas moon signify the body.Sun is represented as father whereas moon is indicated as mother.Hence our rishes placed both Sun and moon signs adjacently together as pair on three sides of the horoscope chart with Mesha and Vrishabha signs for uccham , Simha and Kataka signs for ownership, and Vrichika and Tula signs for neecham.On the first two sides ,moon is given favourable right signs adjacently to the signs meant for Sun,relatively with the right hand curve of moon (benefic).But on the bottom of chart,Moon is given a neecha sign of vrichika unfavourably on the left side to Tula, a neecha sign of Sun ,relatively with the left hand curve of moon (malefic).
Chandran is the karagha for cow/bull ( Rishabha), femininity (Kanya),Crab (Kataka) and Fish( Meena).Hence his influence is indicated in above rassis, whose lordships are Sukran, Bhudan,Moon and Guru respectively.All above natural benefics are interchangingly exchanged among themselves by attaining ucchem (exalted) in above rasis with Moon in Rishbham, Bhudan in Kanya,Guru in Kataka and Sukran in Meena respectively. Chandran is important in predictive techniques of astrology for marriage matching as they are based on stars ruled by him.The auspicious timings/ days are fixed by Star,yogam,thithi,karnam,yoga ect as per the transit of Chandran. Predictive techniques are based on dasa period of a native birth star ruled by moon and also based on Gochara transit of all grahas with respect to Moon sign.
Maximum life span of a human being fixed at 120 years is the total sum of dasa periods of all grahas.This is arrived on basis of fixed Sun and revolving Moon as athma and mind respectively ,wherein moon (mind) takes one month to go around the orbit of earth (body) while taking 12 Solar months to complete the rotation around the Sun along with earth as its satellite (symbolically here Body and Mind revolve around athma ).Hence chandra dasa period of 10 years multiplied by 12 times will give 120 years.This can be seen that Dasa period of each graha is exactly 12 times more than that of respective grahas bukthi period coming under Chandra dasa.For an example, Suriya bhukthi of 6 months under Chandra dasa indicates Suriya dasa of 6 years (12 times of 6 months) and so on for rest of all nine grahas.Also number 12 is identified here as 12 adhtiyas of Sun and 12 degrees gap between moon and sun in the sky to be freed from combustion and 12 signs of zodiac.It is said that Lord Krishna stayed in our punniyabhumi for 120 years,the maximum period arrived on basis of Chandran,in whose star Sri Krishna took avatar.
Chandran is the lunar deity of soma, the nector (amrita).Chandran rejuvenate demi-gods with Soma to appear young and strong always.Hence in astrology,Moon is the planet to give life to neecha grahas. If any neecha graha is placed in angular (Kendra) signs ( 1,4,7,10) to chandran in a chart,its neecham will get cancelled and neecha graha will get back its original power- a yoga called by name as Neecha bhanga yoga.Similarly if guru is in a Kendra to chandran,it gives Gaja kesari yoga and Hamsa yoga. In conjunction with chevvai (mars) Chandran gives a yoga by name Chandra mangala yoga.If sukran is in Kendra to chandran, its gives Malavya yoga and same way with Sani, it gives Sasi yoga. If all natural benefics are in 6,7,8 to moon, it gives a powerful Adhi yoga.It gives Bhadra yoga with budhan. Moon gives Amla yoga if placed in a Kendra. if Chandran is placed in Lagna, it gives samara yoga. All benefic yogas are formed with respect to Chandran sign only.Hence Chandran is the giver of life by carrying the amrita in a vessel to devas and grahas in the sky.
Chandran has 16 kalais (supernatural amrita kiranas) from which nector is emitted as Somas (amrita).Out of this, 16th kalai is beyond our visibility during amavasya since moon is combusted by Sun due to its closeness, when we can not see the moon on this day.During Krishna Paksha,Devas partake soma everyday each kalai for 14 tithis to consume 14 kalais in phases to reduce the illuminary portion of Moon. Finally on Amavasya day, Pitrus are allowed for partaking the soma on its 15th kalai when moon is closer to Sun, the pithru karaghan,leaving behind the final constant 16th absolute constant kalai of Chandran.During Sukhla paksha, Chandran regains every day one kalai due to the grace of Suriyan who illuminate it in every tithi and finally makes it shine in splendour on Pournami day.On this day, full Moon is with all 16 kalais when all devas are fed on Soma. During this day, Chandran is over the midsky to spread his Kiranas (rays) to all living beings, plants,herbs,trees,and vegetation ect in bhumi. Full moon is the only day, moon can be seen in the mid sky at the center during midnight with its snowy beams.Hence in Bhagwath Gita,Lord Krishna told in chapter 10 ‘ I am the soman (sasi) among the stars (nakshatras).This tells the importance of Chandran. .
Why Chandran is dearer to Lord Vishnu-
Chandran Stars are Rohini, Hastham and Sravanam.These auspicious stars are the avatara Stars of Lord Krishna, Lord Varadhan and Lord Srinivasar respectively.Lord Vishnus other avatar of Hayagrivar also took place in Sravana star.Also Lord Ramas birth star Punarvasu- 4th is in Kataka Raasi owned by Moon in addition to the Same sign being his lagna in rassi and amsam also.Lord Rama and his brothers were born after their mothers consumed divine Payasam that gave them fertility to conceive. Fertility and nectar are denoted by Chandran.Also Lord Ramas brothers Bharthan and lakshmanan birth stars are pushyam and ayuliuam in Same Kataka rassi.Hence becouse of above Suriya kula princess were born in Kataka Raasi owned by Chandran, Lord Rama is called as ‘Ramachandra’.Lord Rama possessed 16 gunas and reflected the beauty of Chandran with his coolness in mind.Lord Rama listened to his own story Ramayana from his sons Lava and Kusa for 27 days,a full Nakshatra mandalam transited by Moon.Due to his birth in watery sign of kataka, Lord Ramachandra had to cross sea water to Lanka since moon denotes ocean.Similarly Lord Krishna who took avatar in Rohini star of Moon in its exalted sign, had 16 kalas like moon.Hence Lord Krishna had to shift his base to Dwaraka, a sea coast town created for him by vishwakarama out of a reclaimed land from the Sea ocean.Also Lord Krishna after staying in our puniya Bhumi for 120 years left for Vaikuntam from prabha Kshetra sea coast near somanath a Chandra sthalam during his last dasa period of moon. Informatively even now a Creasent moon sign is present in a green flag flying in the complex of Madura janmabhumi, the birth place of Lord Krishna . (on top of a disputed unused mosque situated in the janmabhumi complex).Lord Rama and Sri Krishna avatars are connected to Chandran due to their garbhavasam.
Among the above three moon stars, each will end up at being the 10th star from each other if counted.Hastham is the 10th star starting from Rohini and similarly Sravanam is the 10th star counting from Hatham and so on.This shows Symbolically the dasa avartars (10 avatars) of Lord Vishnu besides also 10 years dasa period of moon.Same way, above stars owned Vrishaba, kanya and Makara rassis will end up at being the 5th sign to each other counting from subject preceeding rassi.This explains the five aspects of Lord Vishnu (Para,,Vyuha,Vibhava, Antharyami and archa) in addition to the five elements.The second one Vyuha is the form of Sriman Narayana in Thiruparkadal which is said to be resting in KATAKA RASSI, from where moon emerged along with Sri Mahalaskhmi. Hence she is called as ‘chandravadana’ and ‘chandraprabha’ in her ashtosthra slokas.Sriman Narayanan has a meaning of ‘Water’ for ‘Naara’ and as “Abode” for ‘Ayana’. Becouse of Sri Vishnus second aspect Thiruparkadal is in Kataka Raasi, a watery sign owned by Chandran,water has influence in both srishti and pralayam.Sri Vishnus avatars of Matsya, Kurma, Mohini and Krishna are connected to Chandran in his Karagathvam like fish, turtile (also both in ocean ) femininity holding soma ( amrita) and beauty (Rohini star of venus sign) respectively.Sri Ranganathar birth star is Revathi in Meena (fish) sign is connected to Chandran karagathvam.Chandra pushkarini is inside Srirangam koil.
Vedas glorify Chandran is the left eye of Sri Vishnu.Puranas say that Chandran came out from the mind of Lord Narayana.Hence Sri Andal in her Thirupaavai very first pasuram first line,had mentioned”Margazhi Thingal mathi Niraintha Nannalal’ hinting the auspicious beginning of pournami day for margazhi Masam and ending her 30th pasuram with ‘Thingal Thirumukathu’ after making reference in the first line about churning of ocean from where moon emerged.This remind us the practice followed in dravida desam during Sri Andal period adopting lunar calendar ever since practiced and still followed in majority of other states except in tamilnadu, Bengal, Punjab ect which go by solar almanac. Let us see how chandran is linked with azhagar and his abode Thirumaliurmcholai from our last issue (8th point)
9) Chandran receive hot rays from Suriyan during day time which appears like yellow colour but reflect the Sun light as cool rays in white colour during night..Jyothiskudi a small village nearby to azhagarkoil got the name derived due to Jyothi virukshams which were filled in here once upon a time.This is the place where Pillai Lokachariyar breathed his last.AzhagarKoil has Sthala vrikshams of Jyoti and Sandal wood which are found all over the hill outside the koil.This Jyoti Vrikshams are located on top of the hill further above Noopura Ganga theertham.This tree leaves shines and glows in fluorescent During night in monsoon.Hence this rare divine Vriksham is called as Jyoti,which means flame or light.In north they call as Jyotivanti. Similarly Sandalwood is the another Sthala Vriksham of azhagarkoil found all over this hill.This is the tree of Chandran. Sandalwood means ‘Chandan’ in Sanskrit that gives cool and fragrance smell to please our mind.Sandal paste water is smeared on the front main gopura doors of ‘pathinettam Padi’ everyday as prarthanai by devotees.Thirumanjanam to Lord Kallazhagar is done on Sandal paste water of Noopura ganga. Also Chandran flowers are white water Lilly and mullai (Lilly). Noopura ganga is located in Madhavi mandapam ( jasmine flower pandhal ) which name has been in existence ever since this place was having many creepers of white Lilly flowers long ago once upon a time.During Chitrai thiruvizha, Lord Kallazhagar goes to Madurai, the city of Jasmine flowers.Thus Chandran connection is denoted through this Koil Sthala Vrikshams and jasmine flowers. Suriyan and Chandran are in jyoti svarupam.Namazhwar describe this
பரஞ்சோதி நீன்னுள்ளே படருலகம் படைத்த எம் பரஞ்சோதி!
கோவிந்தா! பண்புரைக்க மாட்டேன ! (3- 1 திருவாய்மொழி)
10) Grains,cereals, vegetables, herbs, legumes and seeds are associated with moon as they symbolize resurrection in a profound way as seeds are replanted due to its potency of fertility.Grains are the literal life for the mortal population in the form of necessary foodstuff obtained from cultivated crops in mother earth. Lord Krishna in Bhagwath gita ( 15-13) said “ I become the moon thereby supply the juice of life to all vegetables “.While Sun helps the formation of cells, it is the moon that becomes the source of nectarine coolness to influence the growth and give taste to food grains. Upanishads say that athmas which are to return to the earth, fall from upperworld get identified in a subtle manner by their subtle bodies enter through air,rain,clouds and gets in to the grains in earth as foodstuff consumed by male genders.When they are united with females,it enters in to womb in the formation of their fertility to get rebirthed again. Water and grains which are under the karagathvam of Chandran thus play an active role in rebirth. when lord Kallazhagar goes to Vaigai river on Chitra pournami day, the crowd would be more eager to see the attire adorned by the lord on his horse vahana (Parimael azhagar) since the color of the draping would indicate to the farmers the prospects of next harvest season of agriculture crops.This is the age old belief of people to plan for their next crops. Also azhagar koil has two granaries (kottarams) similar to Srirangam temple.These were earlier used for storing the grains and legumes given by the farmers as a token of gratitude towards the Lord for blessing them with agricultural prosperity.Currently they are used for storing Silambaru water due to its unworthy condition to store grains.Yet grains and legumes given as ‘kannikai”by farmers are only used for making the famous ‘dosa’ Prasadham of azhagarkoil which are made out of all mixed grounded grains irrespective of its variety.
11) Chandran denotes providing of food, supply of food related items ,serving of food and water to guests and annadhanam ect Caring soft mind is required for a person to give annadhanam. Its related industries like catering, delivery of food and water besides its providers are signified under his karagathvam.Traditionally it is the customary practice of mother to feed the child with annam (food) by showing the moon in the sky.Western people take food under moon light as ‘Moon light dinner”.It is believed that taste is imparted to food due to moons amirta kiranas. when Sri Andal came to azhagar koil with Periazhwar,she was attracted by the beauty of Lord azhagar and prayed to this lord for getting the hand of Lord ranganathar.During her stay here, she made a promise to submit 100 tadas of butter and 100 tadas (vessels) of akkaravadisal to Lord azhagar once her desire to marry Sri Rangan is fulfilled.But she could not fulfill her promise since she was merged with the lord at Srirangam.It is said that Sri Ranganathar himself guised and posed as Lord azhagar and married her at srirangam.However Bhagavath Sri Ramanujar came to Thirumaliurmcholai and fulfilled her promise by submitting the above food items to Lord azhagar on her behalf. Sri andal in naachiyar thirumozhi - 9 mention about her promise to azhagar as-
நாறுநறும்பொழில் மாலிருஞ்சோலை நம்பிக்கு நான்
நுறுதடாவில் வெண்ணெய் வாய்நேர்ந்து பராவி
வைத்தேன் , நூறு தடாநிறைந்த அக்காரவடிசில்
சொன்னேன்,ஏறுதிருவுடையான் இன்றுவந்து இவை
கொள்ளுங்கொலோ!
Kouthuka or srinivasar, one of the four utsavars is mentioned here as “ஏறுதிருவுடையான்” in this pasuram . Chandran has influence in Sri andals unfulfilled promise made to Lord azhagar later got executed by Sri Ramanujar who is hence called as ‘Kovil annan” due to this episode.This is the only Kshetram where Sri andal ursavar idol can be seen in sitting posture.The tradition of Sri ramanujar in presenting butter and akkaravadisal is carried out every year.
12) Chandran denotes giving shelters,hosting guests, giving asylum ,hospitality and caring for others ect.Hence its related industries like guest house,hotels,motels, healing places,public shelters ect are indicated as moons karagathvam. Atithi means guest who comes anytime without seeing ‘Tithi”(moon phase).The idol of Lord Namperumal of Srirangam during the invasion of mughal army, was brought to this kshetram and kept inside a well at azhagarhill called as ‘ azhagiya manavala kinaru’ (well) for some time till invaders were driven away by then nayaka rulers. Well and water are signified by chandran.Later on another occasion Sri koorathazhwan took shelter at azhagar koil and stayed here for some time to escape from the wrath of Saivite fanatic kirumi kanda chozhen.Azhwan who lost his both eyes visualized the beauty of Azhagar, worshipped the Lord in mind and composed a work “Sundrabhu Sthavam’on Lord. In Mahabharatha,it is said in Vana Parva that Yudisthira and Arjuna stayed in Vrushabadri hills for some time during their 12 years exil in forest.Lord Kallazhagar visit every year during Chitrai Thiruvizha to Madurai in pallakku visiting many villages on the bank of Vaigai river for five days.During this period,Lord stays in many mandapams for mandakapadis alongside the road enroute to Madurai with his entourage following the procession.One could see many Open Mandapams built by early rulers of pandiya Nadu on both sides of the road leading to Azhagar koil from Madurai.During normal days these open Mandapams serve as shelters for devotees going on pilgrimages.Azhagar has given shelters to many devathas (demi-gods) in this hill who all stay here worshipping him.This signify the karagathvam of chandran with this Lord and his abode.
!!OM NAMO NARAYANAYA!!
In the first pasuram of 'Thiruppavai', - "Margazhi thingal mathi nirainda nanaalal, Neeradap poduveer"- one gets an impression that the pasuram was sung on a full-moon day. But, the month of Margazhi/Danu Masam, does not begin on a full-moon day. Was is it a coincidence that on the day, when Andal began the pavai nonbu, with this song, it was a full moon day and it need not necessarily be a full moon day, in the following years? In a blog, i read that the 11th song in Thiruppavai, will normally be sung on 'Vaikunda Ekadasi Day'. That means that the 1st should be sung on a New Moon Day (Amavasya). In which case, the reference to mathi niraintha nanaal, in the first pasuram, is incongruous and this year, the Vaikunda Ekadasi falls on the 2nd day of Margazhi itself. Could some one clarify?
ReplyDeleteSORRY FOR THE DEALY AS I MISSED IT.
ReplyDeleteEarlier practice in south india,was followed with the practice of month based on lunar transit and not based on present solar transit- on sun transit.say 18th perukku falls exactly on 18th day from the first date of month beginning during aadi month kataka rasi.( when sun transit in kataka sign )
hence first day will start only on full moon day and will end up on full moon day. this lunar calender is still being followed in all northern states except in punjab,west bengal ect. in some states it might be from new moon to new moon day. The practice of following solar calender in south came before 400 years ago or still more- that means from the day when sun enters the sign ( rasi) during its transit in 12 signs. he stays there for 30 days based on 30 degree. But in northern india, months names are named after the stars on which the full moon occurs.there might be one or 1.5 days variation. say chitra month in north is the day of star chitrai in Tula rasi that falls on full moon day. For south india we call chitra month from the day when sun enters the sign mesha rasi.
In the pasuram of thiruppvai- first pasuram started on Full moon day- "Thingal" means month and "Mathi" means moon,"Niraintha" means full. so it is full moon day. It ends up on 30th pasuram as -Thingal thirumukathu -this means here as ''Moon "- thirumukthu means '' full face ( face can not be half or pirai -like moonram pirai - it can not be half face) So this implies as 'face'' means ''phase '' or full phase - meaning full moon.
andal prefixed with''thiru''before mukathu
so pasuram ends up on full moon day . that means 30days from full moon to full moon. i have no idea about the 11th pasuram significance to be recited on vaikunda Ekadasi day .
Before 400 years ago,the practices in south was same as north following only lunar calender being followed in northern india.we in south follow the solar calender.that means when sun transit through a rasi of 30 deg,sun moves every day 1 deg for 30 days. in the case of lunar calender,it goes by moons transit based on full moon or new moon. Even in north india, Some states like punjab/bengal follow months based on New moon to new moon while rest of the states follow full moon to full moon. Hence during the period of sri andal,in tamil nadu, the practice was from full moon to full moon- first day starts'' mathi niranda nanaalal, the last 30th pasuram ends up with 'Thingal thirumukathu '.full face of moon or full moon, this word implies.Most of our festivals are celebrated based on stars or ththis- even in the case of sri krishna birth
ReplyDeletewe celebrate as ''gokilakshtami' based on 'thithi' while 'srijayanthi' is based on hir birth star 'Rohini'. only examption is for solar festival is 18th perukku- that is exactly on the 18th day from the date of month start- beginning in aadi month- that means from the first date of transit of sun in kataka rasi (aadi month ), the 18th day is celebrated as 'aadi pandigai' or 18th peruku'
Hope you are clear on this.