PADMA PURANA |
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Significance of ‘Rudrakshas’ and ‘Tulasi’ In a congregation of Brahmansas, Veda Vyas explained the significance of ‘Rudrakshas’, their origin and methodology of wearing them. A person wearing a Rudraksha Mala with Brahma-grandhis and performs Japa-Daana-Stotra-Mantra-Deva Puja or any other propitious Task is stated to have executed the best possible worship ever. In Satya Yuga of the yore, a fearful Danava named Tripura had Brahma Deva’s boons of invincibility against Devas and harassed them besides all virtuous human beings, Sages and other species. |
When Devas approached Maha Deva and described the atrocities perpetrated by the Asura, Shiva got perturbed and pulled out his powerful ‘Aajagava’ Dhanush and despatched his ‘Vikaraal’ named arrow and from his Divya Drishti (Celestial Vision) tracked Tripura down after extensive battle and killed him finally. In this tedious task, Maha Deva sweated profusely and the skin moisture of Maha Deva got materialised as a huge Tree of Rudrakshas (Eyes of Rudra). As Kartikeya asked Maha Deva about the significance of the Seeds of the Tree, the latter described that wearing a mala (garland) of Rudrakshas bestowed auspiciousness and acted like a shield against diseases, poverty, unhappiness, and discontentment in life. Those who wear Rudrakshas would immediately assume the personality of confidence, equanimity and maturity. If one wore Rudraksha on his head and died, the person concerned would immediately break the cycle of rebirths and secure salvation. [‘Eka Mukhi’ symbolises Shiva and its Ruling Planet is Surya recommended to wear on Mondays for power, wealth and fame to ward off heart diseases and its Mantra is stated to be ‘Om Namah Shivaaya Om Hreem Namah’; ‘Dwi Mukhi’ symbolises ‘Ardha Naare -eswara’ or Shiva and Parvati with Moon as the Ruling Planet recommended to wear on Mondays for mental peace and mystic powers and its Mantra is ‘Om Namah’; ‘Tri Mukhi’ symbolises Agni and the Ruling Planet is Mars, recommended for wearing on Mondays for Physical Health, Knowledge and Divine Powers and its Mantra is: Om Kleem Namah/ Om Namah Shivaaya Namah; ‘Chatur Mukhi’ Rudraksha symbolises Brahma and the Ruling Planet is Mercury best worn on Mondays for curing paralysis, nervous tension and mental diseases and its Mantra is : Om Hreem Namah; the ‘Pancha Mukhi’ symbolises Rudra and the Ruling Planet is Jupiter affecting Liver, Kidneys, diabetes and obesity, meant for elimination of enemies and the Mantra is: Om Hreem Namah- it is stated that apart from the wearing of Ekamukhi, Pancha Mukhi is also rated high for wearing; The ‘Shashtya Mukhi’ symbolises Kartikeya and the Ruling Planet is Venus (Shukra) meant for attaining Concentration, Confidence, Succcess and Family life and for the benefit for reproductive organs while the relevant Mantra is Om Hreem Hroom; Maha Lakshmi symbolises the ‘Sapta Mukhi’ and the Ruling Planet is Saturn meant to cure muscular pain and impotence which is to be borne with red thread as the desired objectives are prosperity and well being and the relevant Mantra is Om Huum Namaha; the ‘Ashta Mukhi’ Rudraksha symbolises Ganesha and the Ruling Planet is Rahu aiming at concentration and business tactics normally preferred by Vaishyas and sought to set right lung disorder and skin problem and the Mantra is Om Ganeshaya Namhah; the ‘Nava Mukhi’ Rudraksha symbolises Durga and the Planetary Head is Kethu, bestowing courage, destruction of enemies and capacity to strike back and is meant for relief body pains and lung-bowel disoders, relevant Mantra being Om Hreem Hum Namah; the ‘Dasa Mukhi’Rudraksha worn on Sundays represents Maha Vishnu symbolising Ten Avataras, pacifying all the ill-effects of Nine Planets and destroying Evil Spirits like Piscachas, Goblins, Thieves etc.the relevant Mantra being Shri Narayaneya Shri Vaishnavey Namah; Like the Eka Mukhi and the Pancha Mukhi, the Ekadasha Mukhi Rudraksha is also reckoned very potent and useful representing Ekadasha Rudras (also stated alternatively as symbolising Hanuman) bestowing knowledge, Yoga and devotion as also procecting neuro-physiology if worn on Mondays by reciting the Mantra viz. Om Shri Rudraaya Namah; the ‘Dwadasha Mukhi’ Rudraksha symbolising ‘Dwadasha Adityas’with Surya as the Ruling Planet bestows Kingships, Leadership, courage and self-confidence, granting excellent health and great success in Life; Wearing the ‘Trayodasha Mukhi’ Rudraksha symbolising Indra and Kamadeva with Venus as the Ruling Planet provides unmistakable pleasures of life and even hypnotic powers and a ‘Chaturdasha Mukhi’ Rudraksha which is stated to be a rarity is of the class or standing of Eka Mukhi, Pancha Mukhi and Ekadasha Mukhi and represents Maha Deva Himself with Saturn as the Ruling Planet and providing the most contented Life in ‘Iham’(the Present) and ‘Param’ (After-Life) as it has to be worn by reciting the Mantra: Om Namah Sivaaya. It is said that close contact zg of Rudrakshas with body parts like head, neck, heart, and hands protect the persons with medical values from depression, stress, diabetes, cancer, heart / blood related diseases!] Veda Vyas told the congregation of Sages that Bhagavan Maha Deva described the benefits of Tulasi Tree (Holi Basil) to Kartikeya as it is highly auspicious, desire-fulfilling, very dear to Bhagavan Vishnu and hence called ‘Vaishnavi’; in fact, Vishnu considers Tulasi on par with even Lakshmi and far above the ranking of all other leaves and flowers. Daily worship to Bhagavan Vishnu with Tulasi leaves is considered as effective and propitious than even Daana, Homa, Yagnya and Vratas. Needless to say that Tulasi Puja to Bhagavan Vishnu bestows brightness, happiness, luxury items, fame, Lakshmi, noble ancestry, good wife and children, wealth, health, ‘Gyan’, Vigyan, Veda and Vedanga , Shastra, Purana, Tantra and Samhitas. Keeping a Tulasi Garden nearby is as effective and easy as keeping Lord Shri Krishna Himself and thus retaining Devi Lakshmi, Brahma and all other Devas.Thus a short-cut method is worshipping Tulasi to be able to keep all the Deities happy. As a corollary, Pretahs, Piscachas, Kushmandas, Brahma rakshasas, Bhutas and Rakshasas are nowhere in the vicinity and so would be far away from sins, fears, diseases and wants. In Kali Yuga, one effective way is to perform Tulasi Puja, Kirtana, Dhyana, Dharana and other means of worship to dry out and burn off all kinds of Sins and consolidate the path of reaching Swarga and Moksha. Bhagavan Shankara stated: Pujaney kirtaney dhyaney ropaney dharaney Kalou, Tulasi dahatey paapam Swraga moksham dadaaticha/ Upadesham dadeydasyaah swayamaacharatey punah, sa yaati Paramam Staanam Madhavasya niketanam/ Lord Vishnu further said that in all those tasks which were dear to him like Yagnas, Vratas etc. worship with even with one Tulasi leaf enhances the value of such tasks. Further, those who worship Tulasi attain the same fruits of worshipping Gurus, Brahmanas, Devatas and Tirthas. If one retains a leaf of Tulasi while dying has a path leading upwards to heavens. Those who worship Tulasi regularly and sincerely would not have to take ‘Punarjanma’ (another birth)! Mere ‘Namocchharana’ or taking the name of Tulasi frightens Asuras but pleases Vishnu immensely; blessed are those in Kali Yuga who perform puja of ‘Shaligramas’ or Replicas of Maha Vishnu with Tulasi.What could Yama Raja say to Tulasi : Tulasyamrita janmaasi sadaa twam Keshava Priyey! (Tulasi! You are born from Amrita and are the beloved of Kehava always. I select excellent leaves from your Tree for the puja of Bhagavan. Do become the provider of boons from this Puja and enable it in a manner that it pleases Bhagavan Keshava. Mother Tulasi! Only you could clean up the mess of Kali Yug and provide a sense of direction to absolve me of my sins). |
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