Maha Rudram - June 8,9,10,2012 - Fri-Sat-Sun
The Hindu Temple of Minnesota invites you and your family to participate in the 'Maha Rudram' 3-day celebrations at the Mandir in Maple Grove Minnesota. Every year our Mandir creates a major religious event. Rudram is our major event for this year.
What is Rudram and why we celebrate Rudram?
Rudram chanting - a small piece
You will hear 2 extended chanting pieces in the You Tube video below. To sing along, we have also attached the corresponding Sanskrit text.
SHIVOHAM SHIVOHAM, SHIVA SWARUPOHAM
As the song is playing, follow along the text below.
Where to stay for out-of-town devotees?
Practice your Rudram chanting - at the mandir - before the Maha Rudram event.
On May 3, May 17, June 1, in the evenings at the Mandir
Rudram chanting
Click on the picture above to hear the Rudram chanting at the Mandir
Hindu Temple of Minnesota celebrates 'Maha Rudram"
June 8,9,10, 2012
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ReplyDeleteVedas form the foundation of our Hindu Religion and root of our Hindu Culture. Knowledge and Wisdom are enshrined in Vedas. Vedas are: 1) "Anaadi", i.e. without a beginning in terms of time; 2) ("Apourusheya"), i.e. no human authorship; and 3) root of all creation. The Vedas constitute both the essential and sustaining knowledge, as vital as the breath of life. Our Acharyas have also been encouraging us to ensure that Veda mantras are propagated and sustained over generations.
ReplyDeleteWith this in mind, acharyas in the past have described perseverance in prayers to God as a panacea to counteract the ill effects in one's life [excerpted from the book on His Golden Words]. These ill effects manifest themselves as obstacles caused by ones' past and present actions ("karma"). Thus, to overcome these obstacles that one faces in life, we consistently seek the blessings of the Lord by repeatedly reciting (persevere) His mantras. Sri Rudram is such a mantra and as the name implies it mitigates the obstacles one faces. These obstacles can be material, physical or spiritual. The word Rudram is derived from "Ru" - to sound, "Rud" - to shed tears as caused by obstacles in one's life, and "Dru" to flow ["Rum Dravayati iti Rudraha"]. If one understands the oneness with God, then that individual is responsible for all his actions and consequently also his bad actions. God as a chastiser corrects the person - that is symbolically represented by Him making us "cry". Also, Rudram etymologically has several meanings - it is interpreted as: one who removes all sins and melts in compassion; one who leads us to self-knowledge, one who removes all the miseries as caused by the obstacles of Samsara leading us towards liberation etc.
In Yajur Veda, Sri Rudram is considered as the most important, as it is smack in the middle of the Veda like the core of a fruit - it appears in the fourth "Kanda" within the seven 'Kandas" of Yajur Veda Samhita. In the "heart "(center) of Sri Rudram is the powerful mantra known as "Panchakshari" - the core essence describing the eternal truth in Godhood ("Paramatma Swarupam").
["Vidyani Srutirutkrishta Rudraaikadashini Srutau, Tatra Panchakshari Tasyam Siva Ityakshara Divyam". (Among the sources of learning the Vedas are supreme; in the Vedas Sri Rudram is supreme; in the Sri Rudram "Panchakshari" (five letters) mantra "NamaSivaya" is supreme; in the Panchakshari mantra the two letters "Siva" is supreme)]. Because of this Sri Rudram is used in daily prayers and special religious functions (poojas and homas). If nothing else it should be recited as often as you can (possibly daily) and is given a special place by our learned Seers.
["Swashakhaopanishad Gita Vishnornama Sahasrakam, Rudram cha PourushamSuktam Nityam Avartayet Bhudaha" (One should repeatedly recite the Upanishads from one's own Veda Shakha, Gita, Vishnu Sahasranamam, Sri Rudram and Pursha Suktam)].
Sri Rudram is also called "Rudropanishad" and "Shatarudriyam". It is considered as one of the primary instruments for attaining "Mukti" (liberation from this mundane cycle of births and deaths - Samsara) and hence touted as an Upanishad. Because Sri Rudra appears in hundreds of places and in hundreds of forms within "Yajur Veda Shaka", it is also called 'Shatarudriyam". Each mantra is replete with deep spiritual significance and is a great help for meditation. Because of the mental and spiritual significance our ancient Acharyas - Adi Sankara, Bhatta Bhaskara, Vishnu Suri, to name a few - have written elaborate commentaries on Sri Rudram. It is also said that all the Gods are pleased when one recites Sri Rudram and several repetitions will tantamount to a "Prayaschittam" (penance) against various sins committed by us. ["Vrikshasya Moolasekena Shakhaha Pushyanthi Vai Sada, Siva Rudrajapat Preeta, Preeta Evasya Devataha" ((Just like) Watering the roots of a tree helps the growth of the branches (of the tree), (similarly) praying to Sri Rudra pleases all Gods)].
ReplyDelete["Sarvopanishadam Saraha Rudraadhyayaha" (Sri Rudram contains the essential meanings of all Upanishads)].
All things in this world, that one visualizes, are nothing but a manifestation of His majestic form ("Roopam"). Sri Rudra (Siva - the Auspicious One) appears in various forms, shapes, and poses within Sri Rudram - to cite a few: as a runner, sleeping, awake, as an old person, as a young person, as a tree, as grass, as a thief, as a tall person, as a dwarf etc. etc.; nay, all things in the world are nothing but his various representations.
Veda mantras are to be understood properly and the implied meaning is more important than the literary meaning. The recitation of Sri Rudram, while understanding it's meaning and significance, leads one to experience "Easwara Bhavam" (to perceive God in everything and in everyone). The Veda mantras have to be recited with the proper phonetic intonations ("Swarams"). It is shown by our seers that with proper intonations, the sounds synchronizes and tunes up with the body's nervous system and this benefits the physical, mental and intellectual aspirations of the devotee. Several scriptures expound these benefits of Sri Rudram and "Shatarudriyam". ["Yaha Shatarudriyamateete sa(ha) Atma poota bhavati, Brahmahatya poota bhavati, ...(Kaivalyopanishad)" - (By performing Shatarudriyam one gets rid of all the sins)]. ["Tannamah Ityuapseeta, Namyantehsmai Kamaha - Bhrigu Valli, Taittirya Upanishad (Whatever one wishes, these wishes are fulfilled (by repetition of Sri Rudram)]. This Vedic homage to Sri Rudra (Sri Siva) through recitation of Sri Rudram, is remarkable not only for it's phonetic grandeur but also for its universality of approach to the Divine. Sri Rudra to whom these prayers are addressed is the Supreme Being who is omnipresent ("Aameevatkebyaha") and manifests himself in myriads of forms for the diverse spiritual aspirants. Sri Rudram is also known as "Namakam" because of the mantras carry the word "Namaha" or "Namo Namaha" appear in front of them (- appears 183 times in the Sri Rudram text). The word "Namaha" construes a total surrender to the Lord and thus saluting the Lord with the obeisance "Namaha" fulfills all of one's aspirations. Sri Rudram is is followed by Chamakam and is so referred because of the appearance of the words "Cha Me" (and for me). The Namakam and Chamakam are recited together to accrue various benefits and go by the name "Rudra Adhyaya".
[ "..Sarvada Sakrutva Japed Anena Gnanamapnoti" (reciting this constantly one always attains the enlightment) - Kaivalyopanishad].
ReplyDeleteHaving thus expounded the benefits of Sri Rudram , we can now revert to Acharya's advice on repetition and perseverance. As Lord Krishna describes in Srimad Bhagavat Gita, if one performs continuous and unattached "Karma" it leads to "Jnana". Similarly, if one perceives recitation of Sri Rudram as "Karma", the process of repetition of the same leads to "Jnana" - thus repetition of Sri Rudram helps one to improve the mental alacrity towards 'Atma Vicharam" (inquiry of the Self). To ease the question of how many repetitions, the "Sutrakaras" (folks who standardize the way the mantras are to be recited) such as Bodhayana, Apasthamba, and others have prescribed a five-fold methodology or path called "Panchanga Rudriya" for the performance of "Japa, Homa and Archana". They are called (1) Rupam, (2)Ekadasa Rudram, (3) Rudriyam, (4) Maharudram and (5) Athi Rudram. The recitation of Sri Rudram and Chamakam together once is called "Rupam" (or "Swarupam" - shape) of "Sri Rudra Adhyaya" (Reading Sri Rudram). The recitation of Sri Rudram with one "Anuvakam (paragraph)" of Chamakam, and thus repeating eleven times to correspond to the eleven "Anuvakas" of the Chamakam is called "Rudra Ekadasini" or "Ekadasa Rudram". Repeating this eleven times is called '"Laghu Rudram" or "Rudriyam". Eleven times of this is "Maha Rudram" and eleven times the last one is called "Athi Rudram".
Name Number of Repetitions of Sri Rudram
Sri Rudra Rupam Once
Ekadasa Rudram Eleven Times
Laghu Rudram 121 Times
Maha Rudram 1331 Times
Athi Rudram 14641 Times
This article was not written by me. The original author in writing this article has borrowed unabashedly from the teachings and sayings of our Gurus and Acharyas. Therefore I claim no original authorship to this article - except where there are omissions and errors they are entirely mine - and I dedicate this to the lotus feet of our Acharyas. Finally, the essential message of the Vedas is to remind the human beings of their divinity and help them realize their true nature. With that in mind let us participate in this wonderful event (Maha Rudram) and seek the blessings of the Lord.
"Vedaischa Sarvai Ahameva Vedyah" [I am known through all the Vedas] - says Krishna in Bhagavat Gita.
Hari: Om!