I breathe in the fresh air, I feel the pure dew in my palm. I look up in Surya Namaskaram to the Sun God and my heart sings out the Aditya Hrudayam.Esha brahma cha Vishnuscha shiva skanda prajapathi|
Mahendro, dhandha kalo yama somo hyapam pathi ||
The sun climbs the clear sky, the warmth bathes my soul. He is Brahma, He is Vishnu, He is Shiva and He is Skanda. He is the progenitor of the human race, He rules the celestials, He rules the devas, He is that which shines in the gold of Kubera, He rules life in all the worlds known. He is kala, He is time, He sets in our minds at the time of death, He rises again mirrored in the moon.
I see the presence of Trimurti, I breathe in this fresh air and I look up to the sun. In this bright light I see the Trimurti shining down on me.
***
I sit in silent meditation, lighting this lamp with its wick dipped in a pool of pure ghee. Lighting the match as I ignite this flame and hold it up, my mind is silent and I hear the sacred words.
Deepamjyothi Parabrahma|
Deepamjyothi Janardhana||
Deepo me hara tu paapam|
Deepaa Jyothir Namostute||
In this light I worship Lord Brahma, in this flame I worship Lord Vishnu (Janardhana), in this flame I burn my sins and to this flame I bow, to the great Lord Shiva.
I see the presence of Trimurti, I imbibe their essence present in this flame. I light this sacred fire in my heart before I commence my prayer to Lord Shiva. This flame I light every morning, this flame I light at sunset, with this flame I welcome, the Trimurti to reside in my home.
I look up at Lord Shiva, I look up at the Linga. The divine form remains etched in my mind as my heart worships the trinity.
I worship the Linga, this beautiful form at the Brahma Bhaga which I cannot see.
I worship the Linga, this grace present on earth as it rises in front of me as the Vishnu Bhaga
I worship this Linga, at its head where lies the essence of all energy that lies here capsuled, that controls this universe at the Rudra Bhaga.
I witness the presence of Trimurti Shiva in this form, that envelopes the three Great Gods - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - into the single form of Sadashiva.
This moment is sacred, this moment is pure and this moment is everlasting as I raise this Vivla to offer to the Lord in worship.
Moolatho brahma roopaya, madhyatho Vishnu roopini|
Agratha shiva roopaya, Eka bilwam shivarpanam||
I offer this leaf of Vivla to Lord Shiva, this leaf so pure and divine. I hold this leaf with Lord Brahma resides at its base, Lord Vishnu who resides in the stem and Lord Shiva who resides at its top. With my soul enveloped in this divine leaf, I offer this leaf without any flaw to the Lord and with this I pray for perfection.
Such a perfect leaf, with each left part denoting Surya, Chandra and Agni. How potent and pure is this leaf that has the trinity residing within it.
The Lord stands on apasmara, the Lord stands one legged crushing my ignorance. The Lord Ekapada Shiva stands as the Trinity, as Trimurti Shiva who rises with Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu on his side.
Shivam Shantham jagnannatham|
Lokanugraha karakam||
Shivamekapadam nithyam|
Shikaraya namo nama||
This is the Panchakshara, a part of which is the letter Shi, To Lord Shiva who resides in its essence. Who is the keeper of peace and who preserves this world and all its creation. Who creates life in the form of Brahma, who preserves life in the form of Vishnu and who releases the soul in the form of Shiva. To the great Lord Trimurti Shiva I bow.
The all pervading Lord Shiva Trimurti echoes everywhere around me, in the morning sun, in the flame of the lamp I light, in the very form of the Linga worship, in the pure vilva leaves I offer in prayer. He resides deep within my intellect as Ekapada Shiva, crushing my ego to uplift my being.
Deepamjyothi Parabrahma|
Deepamjyothi Janardhana||
Deepo me hara tu paapam|
Deepaa Jyothir Namostute||
In this light I worship Lord Brahma, in this flame I worship Lord Vishnu (Janardhana), in this flame I burn my sins and to this flame I bow, to the great Lord Shiva.
I see the presence of Trimurti, I imbibe their essence present in this flame. I light this sacred fire in my heart before I commence my prayer to Lord Shiva. This flame I light every morning, this flame I light at sunset, with this flame I welcome, the Trimurti to reside in my home.
***
I look up at Lord Shiva, I look up at the Linga. The divine form remains etched in my mind as my heart worships the trinity.
I worship the Linga, this beautiful form at the Brahma Bhaga which I cannot see.
I worship the Linga, this grace present on earth as it rises in front of me as the Vishnu Bhaga
I worship this Linga, at its head where lies the essence of all energy that lies here capsuled, that controls this universe at the Rudra Bhaga.
I witness the presence of Trimurti Shiva in this form, that envelopes the three Great Gods - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - into the single form of Sadashiva.
***
This moment is sacred, this moment is pure and this moment is everlasting as I raise this Vivla to offer to the Lord in worship.
Moolatho brahma roopaya, madhyatho Vishnu roopini|
Agratha shiva roopaya, Eka bilwam shivarpanam||
I offer this leaf of Vivla to Lord Shiva, this leaf so pure and divine. I hold this leaf with Lord Brahma resides at its base, Lord Vishnu who resides in the stem and Lord Shiva who resides at its top. With my soul enveloped in this divine leaf, I offer this leaf without any flaw to the Lord and with this I pray for perfection.
Such a perfect leaf, with each left part denoting Surya, Chandra and Agni. How potent and pure is this leaf that has the trinity residing within it.
***
The Lord stands on apasmara, the Lord stands one legged crushing my ignorance. The Lord Ekapada Shiva stands as the Trinity, as Trimurti Shiva who rises with Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu on his side.
Shivam Shantham jagnannatham|
Lokanugraha karakam||
Shivamekapadam nithyam|
Shikaraya namo nama||
This is the Panchakshara, a part of which is the letter Shi, To Lord Shiva who resides in its essence. Who is the keeper of peace and who preserves this world and all its creation. Who creates life in the form of Brahma, who preserves life in the form of Vishnu and who releases the soul in the form of Shiva. To the great Lord Trimurti Shiva I bow.
The all pervading Lord Shiva Trimurti echoes everywhere around me, in the morning sun, in the flame of the lamp I light, in the very form of the Linga worship, in the pure vilva leaves I offer in prayer. He resides deep within my intellect as Ekapada Shiva, crushing my ego to uplift my being.
22 comments:
Hi Kavitha, 'I' would just say that 'I' see 'Ekpada' referring to the earth's axis that passes through the North & South Poles around which it rotates - to create the eternal drama of light and shade thanks to relative movements of Sun (Brahma) and Earth (Shiva) thanks to Vishnu, the gravitational force or energy concentrated at the centre of earth (referred as Kali, meaning Black, who resides in Shiva's heart)...
Kavitha, asw 'I' said earlier also, a 'pyramid' (in Egypt), or 'vimana' (on an 'Indian' Temple) is the best (man-made) example of the Trinity...for improving efficiency of human soiul(s)...
I missed your point entirely... Is the connect between the pyramidal structure and the trinity symbolic, architectural or something else...
Regards
Kavitha
Kavitha, It's well known today that Pyramids are in existence in Egypt for a duration that is the longest in respect of man-made structures. Also, we know that these were constructed by the wise ancient Egyptians to preserve the mummies of their Pharaohs (with the background Hindu knowledge about nature of souls - these are believed to continue to hover around the mortal remains of the individual to which it was bonded for years)...Also in the 'Indian' context one can notice the 'vimanas' (literally flying machines for travel in the skies) in Hindu temples. And, the observation of presence of energy (fire) within such structures tht are properly oriented...
In Hindu mythology, Brahma is indicated to have four faces and a pyramid also has four triangular sides...Vishnu, the formless Nadbindu, can be visualised to be represented by the four edges of the four triangles represented by the four points at the level under consideration as images of Vishnu. And, the apex can be imagined as the apex, the singular point, or the formless at the highest level (representing Mount Kailash, say)...
During the old kingdom, when the pyramids were built, the pharaoh was buried in the Mastabas and not the pyramid.
The pyramids were observatories and a lot of studies in Astronomy were conducted in them.
They were not tombs for the dead, at least these three pyramids were not.
The king's chamber in the Giza pyramid was empty when discovered. The only pyramid that did have a burial was Zoser's pyramid in ancient Egypt. They are still speculating that their could be a burial chamber below the Sphinx but that is not proven yet.
Regards
Kavitha
Kavitha, Thanks for the info...However, it's a fact that Muslims bury their dead, and not cremate those like Hindus in general, except for children and Yogis...'I' have got an impresion that mummies of Pharaohs were found inside some pyramids (maybe brought there later) together with those of their slaves, besides gold and seeds of wheat etc., most of which were broken into for looting the gold, at a later date...
The secrets of these structures are still under investigation by numerous Egyptologists...And, yes, the pyramids were also used as astronomical observatories, for it was believed by ancient Egyptians that there was a certain suitable time when the soul could pass over to the heaven...The Yogis in 'India' however perhaps were more advanced and apparently could experiment with transmigration of their soul from one form to another to gain a variety of experience, for gathering advanced knowledge, for merger of their soul with the supreme soul who alone believably is supreme knowledge...
Kavitha, Additionally, in fact, 'I' imagine in the Plan of the pyramid the four hands of Vishnu represented by the diagonals of the square, that is, the sloping edges. And, only one half of each side of the four sides at the base shown symbolically to graphically represent rotation of the earth along its axis...
The idea of One being the Many ( or three) or the Many being, in essence, One , is most beautifully captured in the iconography of the Trimurthy. Either as a three headed form, or the 3- part Lingam or a single legged Composite. And then there is Dattatreya, also an amalgam.
The Ekapadamurthy suggests itself as a metaphor for a belief found in the Mandukya Upanishad that the Atma ( or the Brahman, as inferred in different readings) is 4 pegged ( chatushpada) with Vaishva, Taijasa, Prajna and Turiya being the four pegs . Of these, the first three fall within the range of Manifest Reality ( Narayana). The fourth, Turiya, is called Unmanifest and Ultimate Reality ( Shivam), which is hailed by some commentators as Aja Ekapada. This concept may have been the metaphor behind the unique icon of Shiva with one single leg.
Since you are interested in iconography, I hope you won’t mind some finesplitting. I would like to point out that the picture you have used in this blog is not that of Ekapada murthy, but of Tripadathri Murthy. Notice the three legs.
There are three forms of Shiva sporting a single leg : Ekapada, Ekapadathri and Tripadathri. All three are listed in the Moorthimahathmiyam sarga in Sanathkumara Samhita of SkandaMahaPuranam, as told by Nandi Deva to Santhkumara, where the 64 iconic forms of the formless sivam are named. Also enumerated in “ Ashtashta Vigraha Leelai” of Pamban Swamigal. When The Manifest emerges from the Brahman ( Sivam) as the initial forms of Brahma and Vishnu, it is Ekapadathrimurthy, which has the single legged central figure of Siva, sprouting the two figures from the hip.( outward bound) When, at Dissolution, the Manifest is absorbed into Sivam, the representational figure is the Tripadathrimurthy, with Vishnu and Brahma in the process of getting absorbed, showing one leg each.( inward bound) Ekapadamurthy is just One Legged Shiva, with no accessory divinities attached. One legged is The Pivot. Achaleswaram. Gathering and holding everything under/within Itself.
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Just thought i'd add : a Thripadathri murthy, generally called Ekapadamurthy, is found in Thiruvidaimaruthur temple where archana is done for it with Thumbai and white Yucca flowers.( naivedyam is milagu adai and sakkaraipongal) There's a belief that if a duel abhishekam is done for this figure along with that of Sokkanathar, and a hymn in Megharagakurunji pann is sung,it rains even in the driest of seasons.
Sri Oo.Ve.Swaminathaieyer has noted down that the Sthala for Ekapadamurthy is " Thappalaampuliyur", but so far, i have not been able to find out where this place is.
The ancient wise Hindus realised images of gods as symbolic representation of matter and energy. And, man as a model of the universe (through its essence, the solar system)...In so far as 'I' am concerned, reading between lines the mythological shtories, 'I' realised Shiva to represent our most evolved planet earth, and moon represent His consort, Parvati, the daughter of Himalaya, which emerged from under the sea on the North of 'India' when it was called Jambudweep.
And the reference of Moon as the source of Ganga relates to possible emergence of water from the bowels of earth when moon evolved from earth-moon itself...thus moon indirectly indicated as Mother of mothers.
For imagining one legged (Ekpada Shiva) perhaps trees can help - Shiva is also called Tardeo (Tar is a tree which provides toddy, a drink, and Shiva and other devtas are believed to enjoy intoxicants)...
Life is symbolic as can also be noted from the use of 'alphanumeric symbols' for communication through Internet also...
Yosee
Wow! I didnt know about Tripadatri, which means you have reached a very deep level in the discovery of the concept of Shiva.
Not many get here, hence it is quite an honor to have a person like you spend time on my blog.
Tell me more, am all ears
Regards
Kavitha
Once one realises the 'real God' understood as existing in some energy form and aqll physical forms as His Own manifestations, one could perhaps realise why Shiva was also called Bholenath the Simple God. For reason known to Him/ It alone He or It was understood to have considered infinite aspects (in physical forms) to eventually realise (or maybe failed to realise) the self and hence perhaps the eternal cycles of projections of apparent time and related events...
"He also serves who stands and stares."
Shiva's vehicle or medium was realised, in four-legged (chaturpadi) animal form, as 'Nandi' the Bull...Shiva is 'yatra tatra sarvatra', that is everywhere and in every thing that is undergoing eternal cycle since time immemorial...
In the Hindu mythological stories, Shiva's consort is indicated to have Tiger, a four-legged wild animal, as Her vehicle. Thus communicating the evolutionary process to have been started by Parvti, leading to the evolved forms of life for sustenanace of other life forms also, including humans, through domesticated animals, such as bulls for ploughing of land (top soil - related with Shiva) for plant life to provide food and cows that provide milk...and hence cows considered as mother by ancient Hindus. However, it's well known that nothing in 'Nature' is useless...
Wiser 'Hindus' (related with 'Indu' the moon) however conveyed that each individual is complete, formed of essences of our solar system, and is supposed to reach the 'Truth' in one's own way...
'I' came across a story related with Einstein how he was a 'special case' in the childhood and virtually given up. However, a magnetic compass gifted on his birthday apparently got him to develop interest in higher level Physics. This change in him came to the notice of his class teacher also, who then took special care of him which helped him pass Matric exams - the teacher gave him his notes...
The magnetic comapass has a special characteristic as its two ends always point towards North & South Poles of earth due to earth acting as a big magnetic compass. And the ancient Hindu Yogis also indirectly indicate (for a layman) how Vishnu's second reincarnation was a tortoise that helped earth to remain unaffected at the end of the era when all life forms on earth were submerged due to Great Indundation or Pralaya. And even in the 'present' one would find Antarctica in the form of a turtle. Also, as 'I' had indicated elsewhere the Creator has left signs of His 'design' by sculpting Australia (Down Under) in the form of a Bull's head (Shiva's vehicle, Nandi), and North America in the form of an Eagle (Garuda, the bird, indicated as Vishnu's vehicle by 'Hindus')...
In view of the above, the activation of Kundalini from Mooldhara to Sahasrara by Yogis - for reaching the 'Truth' - indicates lifting of energy to essence of Moon that is housed in human heads...The process is like moving from South Pole to North Pole in shortest possible time by an evolved monkey with the help of say a magnetic compass - but delayed on its way due to temptation of fruits for which it keeps on climbing on variety of trees on the way!
dirk hertveldt: namaste kavitha what a most wonderful post I'm so very interested in this subject there also is an alignment of rocks places in hopiland , arizona with the three belt stars of Orion
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Hi Kavitha, The above comment is placed in the space for messages. It might also be pointed out that the Orion is shaped like the 'dumroo' the percussion instrument associated with Shiva.
Monkeys are cited as an example of copying that is also prevalent among humans also in certain stories for children, and it is also learnt that man has evolved with time from apes. Also chimpanzees are found close to man genetically speaking...
It was a common sight during the forties when one could see 'dumroo' used by roadside performers who made monkeys perform for entertainment of children...and Hindu mythological stories related with Tretayuga indicate Hanuman, the flying monkey, as 'sankatmochan', similar to Ganesha being called 'vighnaharta' - both as troubleshooters - as assistants to Lord Rama, and Parvati (in Satyuga), Ganesha being her creation to protect her from Shiva the Destroyer (one out of three aspects of Shiva the Trimurty) and grant immortality to 'devtas'...
The Christians cite the story related with Adam & Eve (and Satan) and the 'forbidden fruit' (reflected by 'Adam's apple' in the throat), for imperfection in man. Whereas, on the other hand, as in the Gita, fruits are indicated as outcomes/ reactions of actions performed by humans, which could be any one out of the three categories referred as Sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic...and 'Krishna' indicates these to be under His control - beyond humans'...thus part of a grand design incorporated in 'Nature'...
Trimurty Shiva is also seen by 'present day scientists' also - but not recognised as such when one classifies the soil on earth as either silt, or sand, or clay. Or when rocks are classified as sedimentary, or metamorphic, or igneous. And so on. Or even when classifying life as 'good', or 'bad', or 'so-so' - like the three sides of a coin, but normally calling these as two only (the head and the tail) and the blank side - that makes it possible for the coin to have a physical form - is taken for granted! A 'scientist' would normally ask: Why? But, doesn't even when one sees that the human society gets 'naturally' divided even on the smallest of small issues in day-to-dy life...prehaps thanks to 'time'...
Kavitha, 'I' might add here the reported 'scientific' finding of atom's structure of all elements to have Neutrons and Protons in the nucleus and Electrons in different shells around the nucleus - except for the structure of element number 1, ie., Hydrogen which has one Proton in the nucleus and one Electron orbiting the nucleus...which perhaps can explain 'scientists' in Kaliyuga the beginning of 'time' to see only two sides of a coin!
Dear Kavitha, you are all ears, but i have no soundbytes ! I do seek,but lazily and inconsistently ; and have not got to any "deeper levels" than the next person has. More interested in art, iconography,myths of creation and creation of myths. Long way to go before i.....find ! Bye and thanks.
Hi Yosee, 'I' have been writing in Kavitha's blog for over 4 years now and had earlier also indicated the circumstances that had led me to go a little bit deeper in 'my search' of the 'Absolute Truth', the Formless Creator (Nirakar Nadbindu), that 'I' had earlier taken for granted - not coming in His way and disturb Him, so to say, till 'I' believed 'I' was invited by the unseen to do so...
Of course, one could say that 'I' apparently had the advantage of having graduated in 'Science subjects' and also in 'Civil Engineering', which deals with construction materials/ design etc related with engineering structures. Following it 'I' got exposure in use of electronic computers/ PC also that helped me know how human brain itself is a super computer! Call it a 'chance', or maybe 'as part of a grand design' as 'I' realised it after slowly getting to learn the significance of myths with a view to 'reading stories between lines', and not just for entertainment...Like solving crossword puzzles for no 'material' gain in mind, it also gives pleasure when one gets to see some hidden meanings from time to time (and perhaps see God's hand)!...
Even some modest 'western scientists, eg., 'Newton, are believed to have realised that whatever they had found was like some shining pebbles and shells on the sea-shore while the whole sea of knowledge was yet to be fathomed...
If anybody in human form deserves credit for 'my madness', it's my wife who suffered physically from Rhumatoid Arthritis for almost 23 years till 1999 (triple 9 is associated with Christ!) and the family suffered 'mentally' also - running from one doctor/ system to another doctor/ system, infructuously!...
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