Vamana & Bhoothana

Vamana & Bhoothana

Strange connection, isn’t it? We all know Bhoothana as the demoness in Krishanavathara who tried to kill Baby Krishna by feeding him poisoned milk.

This morning’s episode of Vijay TV Bhakthi Thiruvizha gave me a glimpse of an earlier janma of Bhoothana which I would like to share here.

Vijay TV has started telecasting the Bhakthi Thiruvizha which took place in Srirangam earlier this month. This morning was the first discourse in this series rendered by Jaya Srinivasan .

Bhoothana as we all know was one in the long list of demons deployed by Kamsa to kill Lord Krishna growing up in Gokulam.

In her earlier janma Bhoothana was born as Mahabali’s daughter by name Rathnamala.

Mahabali was performing the yagna and Guru Sukracharya noticed a very bright light at a distance. As he was wondering what the bright light was, it kept coming closer. He realised that the light was emanating from a 3 feet tall Brahmin boy holding an umbrella. As the boy came closer, all present at the yagna looked at him in awe. He was such a handsome boy, with intelligence radiating from him. Rathnamala felt so much of love for the boy that she wanted to make him sit on her lap and shower her love on him. Things happened in a flash and Mahabali was pressed into the netherworld by Vamana who had taken viswaroopam. All her love for Vamana turned into hatred and Rathnamala wanted to kill the boy. 

Rathnamala’s wish to first cuddle the boy and then to kill the boy was granted together in Krishnavathara by the episode of Bhoothana feeding Krishna and trying to kill him!

Pookalam

Pookalam

After a long hiatus due many different reasons, could not resist posting a photographs of a few pookalams I had the pleasure of seeing today on the occasion of Onam celebrations

Here are the Pookalams

This is right in front of our block in our colony. I saw the neighbours painstakingly arranging the flowers at 11 pm last night.

This is in block opposite to our ours.

I loved this lotus!

I thought this was a very colourful pookalam

This is at Indu/Anil's house where I had a great sadya today!
Thank you Indu!

The best is for the end,  neighours on the floor above mine make it a point to do a pookalam on the 2nd floor corridor every Onam. This year it was a beauty with the boat race in it!

Happy Onam!

Nayanmar 26 - Nesa Nayanar

Nesa Nayanar (நேச நாயனார்)

Birth place   : Kambili
Star             : Panguni Rohini

Born in a family of weavers, Nesa Nayanar weaved soft cotton cloth. As he weaved he uttered the mantra Om Namashivaya continuously. He never used to weave any lavish or decorative clothing, but just simple cotton ones. He then made loin clothes out of the cloths he weaved and presented those to the devotees of his Lord. This way he took care of the very basic need of the devotees. He reached Lord Shiva because of this bhakthi for His devotees.

Nayanmar 25 - Poosalar Nayanar

Poosalar Nayanar (பூசலார் நாயனார்) 

Birth place     : Thirunindravur
Star               : Aippasi Anusham

A great Shiva bhaktha, Poosalar built a temple for his Lord in his heart. Poosalar lived in Thirunindravur and his long time dream was to build a temple for Lord Shiva. Since he did not have the resources to construct a temple, he decided to build one within his heart. Once he decided to do this, he went about it meticulously thinking of a detailed building plan and constructed a full fledged temple in his heart. Once the construction was completed, Poosalar Nayanar chose an auspicious day and requested the Lord to enter the temple. It so happened that the Pallava King had built a Shiva temple during this time and he had also fixed the same day for the kumbabishekam of the temple built by him. On the previous night, Lord Shiva appeared in the King's dream and told him to change the date of the kumbabishekam as He would be entering the temple built by Poosalar on that day. The King woke up and was curious to see the temple built by a devotee wondering if it was greater than the one built by him.

He travelled to Thirunindravur and found that no temple had been built there recently. He went in search of Poosalar and enquired. Poosalar was in ecstasy to hear that the Lord had chosen to enter his heart temple that day. He explained about his heart temple to the King and the King was amazed at Poosalar Nayanar's devotion.  

The King then went back to his capital Kanchipuram and Poosalar Nayanar continued to conduct pujas in his heart temple for his Lord and attained His feet subsequently.

Here is a link to details on Hridayaleeswarar temple in Thirunindravur: http://lakshmi12.blogspot.in/2010/08/temple-trails-tamil-nadu.html

Nayanmar 24 - Saakiya Nayanar

Saakiya Nayanar (சாக்கிய நாயனார்) 

Birth place  : Thiruchangamangai
Star            : Margazhi Pooradam

A man from Thiruchangamangai near Kanchipuram was in search of God. He studied religions like Jainism and Buddhism. He had a liking of Buddhism and started following it. Buddhists were called Saakiyargal in Tamizh and this man also came to be called Saakiyar.

During his search, Saakiyar learned about Saivism. One day he saw a Shiva Lingam and he fell in love with Lord Shiva. He wanted to do puja for the Lingam at once but could not find any flowers nearby. There was only a brick lying there. He took the brick and threw it on the Lingam like archana with a flower. Saakiyar understood that it was the Lord’s will that he did archana with a brick. He decided to have darshan of the Lord everyday before eating food. He understood that the exterior appearance of the devotee does not matter to the Lord. So Saakiyar continued his Buddhist form. Everyday he went to the Shiva Lingam and religiously did archana with a brick. For the kind Lord, the brick puja was like a baby slapping the mother! Saakiyar continued this strange puja everyday. One day, by God’s will, Saakiyar forgot to visit the Shiva Lingam. As he was about to have his food, he remembered and rushed. As usual, he threw a brick at the Lord. Lord Shiva gave darshan to Saakiyar along with Goddess Parvathi and Saakiya Nayanar attained mukti.