The Swetashwara Upanishad says that those who are eligible to receive the benefits of Jeevanmukti state are threefold: (1) The disciples of a Sadguru (2) The devotees of God, and (3) The neutral ones among the atheists and theists (even an atheist gets cleansed of all sin and redeemed from bondage if he catches the... Continue Reading →
Ishwara on Jeevanmukti and Videhamukti
Videha Mukti “All knowing Maha Vishnu!”, says Iswara according to Soota Samhita (Mukti Khanda – 2nd chapter) which is part of Skandapurana, "In Vedanta Sastra, the concept of Mukti is explained as of different types. But the most important five of them are (1) Salokya (2) Sameepya (3) Saroopya (4) Sayujya and (5) Swarupa. Mundakopanishad... Continue Reading →
Vedic therapy for the fiery flame
“How did the fiery lingam of Arunachala”, Parvathi asked Gautama Maharshi, “come within reach of all living beings? How did it cool down? How did holy waters originate in Arunachala? Cooled down for universal protection : “As the fiery Arunachaleswara stood and occupied a radius of several miles”, replied Gautama, “all Maharshis did a... Continue Reading →
Sadhu Nischaladas
Vittalapura was a village. Range Gowda was the Patel of the village. God had been quite merciful to him; for, he had a number of servants to help him. He had been remitting a land revenue of three hundred rupees every year. Irrespective of the distinctions between the poor and the rich, everyone in the... Continue Reading →
Mystic mountain of miracles
Arunachaleshwara has the reputation of being the champion of the handicapped and the unfortunate in the legendary fight at the time of Daksha –yagna several Devatas who had lost their limbs at the hands of Veerabhadra worshipped Arunachaleshwara and recovered their former figure and blemishless beauty. Thus Indra got his teeth, Agni his hands, Sun... Continue Reading →
The Glory of Indian Motherhood
(Immediately after the royal wedding, Kashiraja was ushered into Queen Madalasa’s chambers. The Queen bowed and started an interesting conversation with the King. “Madaalasaam manjula vaagvilaasam”, was the poetic tribute which Kalidasa gave. ) “I want to spend my time in Brahmacharya.” “Then why did you get married?” “I was not interested. My view was... Continue Reading →
The magic of Holy Waters
Shiva stands majestically in the form of mountain in Arunachala. “Shivam Shonachalaakritim”, says Gautama, also, the Shiva linga is mountain itself “Shivalingam-adirupam”, he asserts. The wonderful lingam of gigantic stature is worshipped by all Devatas and Rishis. Sacred waters There are several theerthams in Arunachala containing the holy waters of Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Narmada,... Continue Reading →
Yogavashishta on Jeevanmukti
Yogavasishta is “the most wonderful of books” according to Swami Rama Thirtha. Whoever reads it, according to him, will not fail to reach the highest. It explains the doctrine of Advaita through a series of legends. It is also called Vaasistha Ramayan because the great Sage Vasishta initiated Sri Rama into the lore of enlightenment... Continue Reading →
Shiva bestows boons
“People who indulge in mere nama-sankirtan or offer prayers to Arunachaleswara even from distant places”, Gautama Maharshi told Parvathi Devi “will have salvation conferred on them. (“Kirtito janardooraihi Shonadririti muktidaha”). Gifts, havans, homas, japa and all types of thapas in the mountainous region will bring infinite benefits. Long ago, in order to enlighten Brahma and... Continue Reading →
Parvathi descends to Earth
“Great Brahma!”, said Sanaka Maharshi to the Creator, “You are endowed with a wealth of qualities. By Shiva’s grace and your kindness as the Jagadguru, I have heard from you a lot about the greatness of Arunachala. The sanctity of the place is as wonderful as it is capable of redeeming people from all sins.... Continue Reading →
Vedic authority
The Vedas recognise the existence of the phenomenon of Jeevanmukti. Kathopanishad proclaims that a person freeing oneself from the bondage of “eeshanas” will attain salvation. Transcending the crushing and visible bondages of desire, anger and the other inimical forces will mean putting him on the threshold of complete liberation. A Jeevanmukta’s life is one of... Continue Reading →
The secret doctrine
Adi Shankara lays down the basic postulate that a person who has understood the secret doctrine of Brahman - Brahma-tattva – will no longer have the kind of family attachment he had before. Conversely, a person who continues to have such attachment (and lives like most others) will not have assimilated the Brahme-tattva. (Sloka 441)... Continue Reading →
Qualities of a Jeevanmukta
Though the body is an inseparable factor just like the shadow that follows one incessantly, the quality of a Jeevanmukta is such as to display the total absence of thinking on “I” or “Mine” or the distortions of selfishness (which originate as a result of egoistic preoccupations of the body). Absence of selfish thoughts and... Continue Reading →
Concepts of Jeevanmukti
Srimad Shankara Bhagavatpadacharya devotes an entire chapter (68) in His “Vivekachudmani” to describe the qualities of a Jeevanmukta, i.e., one who is in the state of bliss having been liberated during his lifetime. As many as 20 Slokas extol the virtues of a Jeevanmukta. “In the whole Bhu-loka’’, Adi Shankara says, “there will only be... Continue Reading →
Introduction to “Joys of a Jeevanmukta”
(By Iha-Para Sowbhagyavati, Sesha-nada-rupini, Brahmarshi Umadevi Amma, reflecting the Inner Voice of Sadguru Seshadri Swamigal) In recognition of a Sadhaka's spiritual efforts, God Himself descends into his saintly life to glorify it during the life-time of such a Sadhaka. He becomes a Jeevanmukta. Jeevanmukti is the crowning success of divinity manifesting in him to make his... Continue Reading →
Chapter 4 – Genesis of Jyothir-linga
Once Sanaka Rishi asked Brahma about the greatness of Arunachala, ” Chaturmukha! Lord of the fourteen worlds, foremost among the Devatas and praised in the Vedas”, Sanaka said to Brahma in great humility and with folded hands, “By Your Grace, I have got full enlightenment. By Your great and singular initiation, the wealth of devotion... Continue Reading →
Chapter 3 – Apeetakuchamba and Arunachaleswara
Krittika is a great star ruled by Agni, the Lord of Fire – in consonance with the hymn of Yajur Veda “Agnirnahpaatu Krittikaaha….” That is also incendiary constellation identifiable with the manifestation of Devi. Hence when Goddess Parvathi herself undertakes a pradakshinam of the fiery lingam in Arunachala on Karthika Krittika day especially at sunset... Continue Reading →
Chapter 2 – Benefit of Giri-Pradakshinam
“Whoever undertakes the Giri-pradakshinam with the mind securely fixed in My dhyana”, says Lord Arunachaleswara, "will get the benefit of My early grace.The dust he himself raises with his feet will serve as an instrument of immortality”. Whoever begins the mountainous pilgrimage will get unexpected help even from the Devatas in various ways. The Devatas... Continue Reading →
Chapter 1 – Greatness of Arunachala (that attracted Mahaan Seshadri and a host of Sages)
If Varanasi(Kashi) is reputed to confer immortality on those dying there, Arunachala (Thiruvannamalai) holds out the same benefit to all those who remember its glorious name! Remember, it is just the remembrance of Arunachala: “Nama smaranamatrena yatpaatakavinaashanam” declares the celebrated Skandapurana. By remembering the great name, all sins of a person will disappear and he... Continue Reading →
Introduction to “Greatness of Arunachala” by Mahaan Sri Seshadri Swamigal
Sadguru Sri Seshadri Swami's "Sesha Gita" The mountain of Arunachala, Thiruvannamalai, is a monumental linga affording protection to animate and inanimate world in addition to the incomprehensible galaxy of bodies in Brahmic manifestation. As a place endowed with the potentiality for erasing sinful karma and for promoting prospects of salvation, Arunachala is the only one of... Continue Reading →
The Supreme Self – Chapter – 27
Guru says, "Child, the transcendental journey and experience known as Swayambhu Linga that leads to immersion and absorption into the Supreme Self can be achieved only with the help of the atoms or the "body" or manifest state of the self-luminous akshara and the unmanifest state of the self-luminous akshara and therefore, it is essential... Continue Reading →
Sole Doer – Chapter – 26
Guru says, "Child, the real meaning of Swayambhu Linga is the transcendental journey and experience of the infinite, indivisible, unmanifest of the unmanifest and unknown of unknown known as the Supreme Self. This is beyond words and beyond description. To say it is space or void or to say it is wondrous or incomprehensible or to... Continue Reading →
Swayambhu Linga – Chapter- 25
Shishya bows down and asks, "O Great Guru! The astonishing feat of transcending the dense and subtle layers and planes of creation and creation differentials by You rendered all the Rishis and all of creation speechless. I beseech You to guide me further on this." Guru says, "Son, as I have said earlier all... Continue Reading →
Subtler than the subtle – 24
Guru says, "Child, as I have said earlier that all of creation lies within the dynamic and complex structure of an atom, it is therefore necessary to perceive its interwoven complex structure, formation and composition to understand how to experience it and transcend it. As I have said earlier, creation is expansive and universe... Continue Reading →
sandeepa.in 