SrI:
Dear BhakthAs:
I posted an article on PavithrOthsavam in
Oppiliappn List on Sep 19, 2003 .
I referred briefly there to ChathusthAna
archanam( kumbham, MaNDalam,
Bhimbham, Agni poojA ) , the Homams on different
days, ShOdasa NyAsams ,
Pavithra Maaa DhAraNam and other related
observances to overcome the lapses
in AarAdhanam by the ArchakAs in the past year and
asuddhi in the temple
since the last PavithrOthsavam at the Temple.
Today , I will translate the excellent Tamil
article prepared at my request by Oppiliappan
Sannidhi SrI Varadha Bhattar, who is currently
serving the Lord as His Archaka
at Pomona SrI RanganAtha Temple . He is anexpert
in PaancharAthra Aagamam besides
being a PoorNAdhikAri In Yajur Vedam and 4000
Divine Collect (Dhivya Prabahndham).
It is my pleasure to share his specially
created article to get a deeper understanding of
the most important Vaidhic Festival of
PavithrOthsavam at our temples. The material added in
paranthesis is my contribution in the spirit of
adding explanations . I have also taken the liberty of
translating the original Sanskrit slOkams from
PaancharAthra Aagamam provided by
Sri Varadha Bhattar
into English.
The Kinds of Uthsavams at the VishNu Aalayams
(Temples)
**********************************************************************
In the consecrated temples of the Lord SrIman
NaarAyaNa ,
there are three kinds of Uthsavams:
NithyOthsavam ,
NaimithikOthsavamn and KaamyOthsavam.
NithyOthsavam
******************
Every month there are Pancha Parva Uthsavams that
are
recognized as NithyOthsavams . These five Nithya
Uthsavams
during each month are: (1)PerumAl's
Thirunakshathram
(Revathi for SrI RanganAtha , SravaNam forLord
SrinivAsa) ,
(2) Two EkAdasis ( Sukla and KrishNa Paksha
EkAdasis) ,
(3) First day of the Tamil Month ( Maasa PiRappu)
,
(4) AmAvasai ( New Moon Day).
NaimitthikOthsavam
*************************
This is a samprOkshaNa (Consecration ) Uthsavam ,
when any one
of these misfortunes happen: (1) The dhurbhiksham (
inauspiciousness)
caused to the community by Asubha graham combinations (2) Gathi
BhEdhams of the Moon and the Sun (3) the falling
down of Gopuram ,
MaNtapams and temple structures (4) Epidemics and
horrible diseases
( The Visha Jwaram at Thirupputtkuzhi Dhivya Desam
during Swamy
Desikan's Times) , (5) the fracture of the
consecrated images
( ThiruveLLUr Moolavar's hand , which was corrected
by one of
the Azhagiya Singars, The shift in Peetam of ANDAL
Uthsava
Vigraham at SrI PerumbhUthUr et al) and (6)
Failure of rains
in the land. These are the
NaimitthikOthsavams.
KaamyOthsavam:
*********************
This Uthsavam is to seek any one of the Four
PurushArTams
(Dharma , Artha , Kaama and Moksham) from the Lord
thru
prayers and observance of dedicated festivals (
Golden RaTa
Uthsavam at Oppiliappan Sannidhi).
PavithrOthsavam
********************
This is a specail annual Uthsavam for the purposes
of the banishment
of all blemishes , lapses in the Year's aarAdhanams
by ArchakAs and
to restore Saanidhyam for the Lord . This is hence
a Sarva DhOsha
NivAraNa uthsam.
It is carried out during the
time period between AavaNi month
and Kaarthikai month and is for the preethi of VishNu and for
chEthanam's Moksham . Sukla Paksham in these months are preferred
for the observance of this Sarva DhOsha NivAraNa
Uthsavam .Prathamai ,
Thrutheeyai, Panchami , EkAdasi, Dasami ThrayOdasi
, DhvAdasi , PourNami
thithis are to be selected for the start of this
Uthsavam.
Regarding Nakshathrams , RohiNi ( Lord KrishNA's
Birth star), Pushyam ,
Mrughaseersham , ChithrA , SravaNa , Revathi , Asvini nakshathrams are
preferred. From Sukla Paksha Prathamai to PourNami
, the performance of
PavithrOthsavam on any one of the Nakshathrams are
recommended .
It is Utthamam(most auspicious)
to initiate this uthsavam on such days.
This PavithrOthsavam can have a duration of 5 or 7
or 9 days . At minimum ,
it must be performed for 5 days .On the day of
completion of this Uthsavam,
TheerthavAri ( like avabhrutha SnAnam at the end of
conclusion of a Yaj~nam)
in the temple tank or the river is to be done.
Why the word Pavithram is linked to this
Uthsavam?
***************************************************************
Pavithram means Suddham and auspiciousness. Silk
threads are
used to create the necklaces for the Lord.
There are 5 different colored threads .
In the middle of the threads , there are knots
(granthis) . Prathishtai (Consecration)
is done to these colored silk necklaces(garlands)
thru invocation of the power of
the dhivya aabharaNams and Jewelery of theLord (
SrI Vasthram /PeethAmbharam ,
Kireetam/Crown , Kousthubham , Vana Maalai,
Sudarsanam et al) . PrANa prathishtai
is next performed to make them fit for theLord to
wear these Pavithra Maalais.
As an integral part of the PavithrOthsavam ,
the traditional observances such as
Bhagavath PrArTanai, Sankalpam , PuNyAhavAchanam ,
Mrudh SangarahaNam ,
Vaasthu Saanthi karmAs should be done. Thespecial
Yaaga Saalai should be
constructed . DhvAra PoojA is performed for the
Yaaga SaalA and PerumAL should
be requested to take His place in the Yaaga SaalA
through Chathus-SthAnArchanam
for performing worship during the Uthsavam
days.
The Four SthAana archanam
***********************************
Kumbham, MaNDalam , Bhimbham and Agni are the four
SthAnams
(Focus sites) for the archanai (worship) of the
Lord .
Kumbham
************
In the YaagasAlai Vedhikai , nine Kumbhams( Copper
vessels adorned with
threads) are established to invoke VaasudEvan ,
SankarshNan , Pradhyumnan ,
Aniruddhan , Purushan , Sathyan , Ananthan,
Achyuthan and Sudarsanan
for AarAdhanam.In the Kumbham , sacred waters from
Ganga, Cauvery et al
are requested to be present and these theertha
Svaroopa DevathAs are
invoked for dhana dhAnya abhivrutthi.
MaNDalam
*************
MaNDalam is BhagavAn's Chakra Aayudham that is
drawn as Yanthram (Bhimbham)
and Lord Sudarsana is invoked there . ( Inthe
MaNDalam , Sudarsana MahA Purushan
has Sudarsana JwAla, Nemi , Aram , Naabhi and
aksham ). There are also six adhvAs
in the MaNdalam (Shadadhvan NyAsam) : (1)
TathvAdhvA (JeevAdhi Tatthvams) ,
(2)BhuvanAdhvA ( the 14 universes starting from ataLa ), (3) VarNAdhvA (
BheejAkAksharams of
Manthrams) ,(4) KalAdhvA (64 Kalais) , (5) ManthrAdhvA ( Moola Manthram , Moorthy
Manthram ,
Phala manthram ,
Nrusimha Manthram) and (6) PadhAdhvA ( KesavAdhi upavyUha Moorthys )
.
In the petals and also in the angles (kONams like
AgnEyam ) , SrIvathsam , Sankham ,
ChaNDAdhi DevAs (dwaara PaakakAs ) , VisvaksEnar ,
VynathEyar (Garudan) are to be
invoked and worshipped.
This MaNDala AarAdhana rules (Vithi) are found
especially in PaancharAthra Aagamam.
When Sudarsanar is invoked in MaNDalam directly ,
He removes all fears (Bheethi)
and confers auspiciousness.He burns away all
blemishes . MaNDala aaraadhanam is
done to grace the BhakthAs and make dhushtAs
powerless.
BhimBhArAdhanam
***********************
PerumAl is brought to Yaaga SaalA and invoked for
worship there.
The misfortunes in the land and that of the rulers
are removed through
this Chathus-sTAna AarAdhanam .
Agni AarAdhanam
**********************
The YaagAgni Kuntams are constructed in the Yaaga
Saalai as instructed by
the Aagmams. BhagavAn is invoked there in the
middle of Agni in the Kuntam.
Homam is performed with PradhAna Manthrams. For
consecration of'
the Agni used in the Yaaga Saalaa , GarbhAdhAna and
Jaathakarma
ceremonies have to be done for the Agni , In
AagamAs , Agni Prathishtai
is classified under three Categories: BaalAgni,
VruddhAgni and YouanAgni.
For SamprOkshaNam , Dheekshai and other Saanthi
KarmAs , BaalAgni
is used. For Uthsavams such as PavithrOthsavam ,
BrahmOthsavam ,
VruddhAgni is to be used. BaalAgni is created by
rubbing a special kind
of wood ( araNikkattai) against a holder and Agni
is churned out(maTanam).
VruddhAgni is the Agni present with AgnihOthris or
it is brought from
the Madapalli (Kitchen of the
Lord).
Agni has seven tongues (Saptha JihvA) : KaaLI,
KarALI, SumanA , lOhitha,
DhUmrA , Sphulingini and Visvaroopa. Each of them
have a specific location
in the Agni Kuntam . KaaLI is in the middle ,
KarALee is in Poorva dhig
and theothers are
in the AagnEya dhig, VaaruNa dhig, West , North , Vaayu Dhig ,
and North East (IsAnyam) . For dhOsha Nivrutthi ,
Only offerings thru Agni or water
has to be made to other DevathAs that
ultimately reaches their antharyAmi , SrIman NaarAyaNan.
VedAs declare that the Lord is in the formof Agni
( Yaj~nO vai VishNu:). Even the Yaj~nam
is VishNu Mayam.
In Yaj~na Kuntam , PerumAL is invoked and
homam is performed with
Moola Manthram, PanchOpanishad Manthram ,
Pancha VaaruNika manthrams .
At the end PoorNahUthi is done for the
day. These homams are done thrice
,
five times or 7 times during
the day and on the last day ShOdasa Tathtva NyAsa
Homam and Saanthi
hOmam are performed to conclude the PavithrOthsavam.
ShOdasa Tathva NyAsa
Homam
***************************************
The first Tathva Homam involves
PrANAdhi Dasa Vaayu NyAsam , PrANa PrathishtA
Homam , Moola Manthra Homam ,
Aayudha NyAsa Homam and BhUshaNa NyAsa
Homam ( All the Aayudhams
and AabharaNams represent different MahA Tatthvams).
The 16 (ShOdasa) NyAsams are :
1) PraNava NyAsam (2) VyAhrudhi NyAsam (3)Akshara
NyAsam
4) Nakshathra NyAsam (5) Gruha NyAsam (6) Kaala
NyAsam
(7) BrAhmaNAdhi VarNa NyAsam (8) ThOya NyAsam (9)
Nigama NyAsam
(10) DevathA NyAsam (11) VairAjan NyAsam (12)
Krathu NyAsam
(13) GuNa NyAsam (14) Moorthy NyAsam (15) Sakthi
NyAsam
and (16) Shad GuNa NyAsam .
Each of these homams are done and the residue
(samphAdham ) from
the Agni Kuntam is collected and applied to the
Lord's limbs from
the sacred feet upto Siras (head).
Saanthi Homam
**********************
Chathur VyAhruthi Manthra ( BhU SvAhA , Bhuva: Sva: BhUrbuhva: SvAhA )
homam are performed 108 times with honey ,milk ,
Curd and ghee .The SampAdham
from this Saanthi
Homam is applied from the sacred feet , Stomach, Face and the Siras
of the Lord.Thereafter , Jaggery, Honey , Ghee are
used to the accompaniment of
VishNU Gaayathri (108 times) and oblationsare
offered; at the end the SamphAdham
from this Homam is applied to all the limbs of the
Lord.
PrANAhUthi follows ; PrAyascchittha Homam is done
with PanchOpanishad
manthrams. The Sakthi from the Kuntam is
transferred to the Kumbam and the Kuntam
is returned to yathA sTAnam . DhvAra Devathais are
sent back to their homes
(yathA sTAnam) with reverential prayers. Then, the
Sakthi in the ManDalam
is transferred to Kumbham . It is followedby
Kumbha YaadhrA dhAnam and
the Kumbham is taken in procession to Moolavar
sannidhi with all upachArams .
Kumbha Sakthi is now transferred to Moolavar
(Dhruva bhEram) .All saanidhis are
sprinkled (prOkshaNam) with the water fromKumbham
. TheerthavAri is carried out
and ChakratthAzhwAr is immersed in the waters by
the archakAs . At the Moolavar
Sannidhi , JithanTE sthOthram is recited and is
followed by the grand SaaRRumuRai
with Vedam, Upanishads, IthihAsams and
Dhivya Prabhandhams . PrasAdam is
presented . Theertham , SatAri, Ghoshti ViniyOgam
of Bhagavad PrasAdham
conclude this annual PavithrOthsavam Festival
at VishNu Temples.
ArchakA's Mnthra Bhalam keeps the Sannidhyam of the
consecrated Images
of the Lord at the Temples.
ArchakA has to serve the Lord without
anticipating
any gains (Aathmartha AarAdhanam) . Such an
AarAdhanam will grant soubhAgyams
to the devotees. When the Archaka is not performing
such aarAdhanam , he is
called an amanthraka archakan and the Lordruns
away from him like a human
being confronting a Cobra and the animals of the
forest , when they see a lion.
Archaka and the devotees have to recognizethe
consecrated ArchA images of
the Lord as SaakshAth BhagavAn and not as some
image made of stone, metal or
wood. Those who consider that way will
surely suffer in narakam.
The Archakan , who uses the prescribed AarAdhana
Manthrams daily
causes the Saannidhyam of the Lord to growin the
Consecrated Bhimbhams
of Him.When Archaka is blessed to perform such AarAdhanam without
expecting any returns , he reaches VishNu Padham at
the end of his life on
this earth.This is what PaancharAthra Aagamam texts
state.The Manthra
Veeryam (potency) of the archaka results in
Saanidhyam (presence) of the Lord
at His sannidhis and PavithrOthsavam banishes any
dimmunition in the Lord's
presence in His
consecrated images at the VishNu Aalayams due to lapses
in AarAdhanams according to the prescribedaagamic
rules .
Let us enjoy the upcoming PavithrOthsavamsat the
Temples during
this season and appreciate the significance of
these ancient rites.
LokAs-SamasthAs-sukhinO Bhavanthu
Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SadagOpan
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