HariVamsha Mahapurana

Harivamsha Mahapurana

I started reading Harivamsha Mahapurana from today (July 24, 2009). From a long time, I have been searching for the book written in Kannada by Pandharinathacharya Galgali. My dad had gone and searched all the book houses in Bangalore but to no avail. The book store keeper too tried to procure it from the printing press in Dharawad, but this book was out of print now. Then, my mother in law borrowed the copy from my sister-in-laws place and gave it to me when she came to Singapore.

The notes I am making here are only for my understanding. I hope and pray that I get the import correctly. Ideally, for a great work like this, you need somebody well versed who can read through and bring out the meaning properly.
However, as of now, in my house, I am the only one who can read Kannada, so I have to rely on myself to bring out what ever I understand.

With deep devotion and prayer to Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Saraswathi, I start reading this book and making notes.

Notes:
Chapter 1:

The Harivamsha Mahapurana is the creation of Vedvyasa Maharishi. It is believed that the Maharishi is one of the amsha (part) of Bhagawan Shri Vishnu. This Mahapurana was retold when Janamejaya (son of Parikshit who was the grandson of Arjuna) requested Vaishampayana Maharishi.

The Mahapurana starts with the creation of universe.
The entire universe was created by Shri Naryana.
Shri Hari (another name of Shri Narayana) first created four-headed Brahma (Chaturmukha Brahma). Shri Hari himself is swayambhu or Aja (self created). Brahma’s body is “Mahatatwa”. From this Mahatatwa came “Ahamkara”. From this Ahamkara came “Panchatanmatras”.

From this Panchatanmatras came the Panchabhootas. The first of the 5 elements created was water. It is believed that in this water, Shri Hari resided for one thousand years. Because of this, he is also called as Narayana. The word Naryana when split means one who resides in water (Naara + Aayana). Narayana also means one who is faultless (dosha rahita).

It is believed that the creative power of Lord Vishnu grew as a golden egg (orb) within which Brahma lived for 1 year.
Note that the year denoted here is not the same timeframe as for we earthlings. The 1 year is as per Devamaana or God’s calendar. *** (more research to be done).

Since Brahma was created out of a golden egg, he is also known as HiranyaGarbha. When Brahma came out of this orb, it split into two parts. One became heaven or swarga and another became Earth or Prithvi. Along with this, God created Sun, Moon, other planets and stars. Through Sun came the 8 directions.

Chaturmukha Brahma created the 7 Rishis or Saptarishis – Marichi, Atri, Angirasa, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, and Vasishta. These Maharishis were created to take the whole creation forward. These rishis are known as Manasaputras. Apart from these rishis, Brahma also created seven more sages – Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, Sanatkumara, Skanda, Narada, and Rudra. Rudra was created out of Brahma’s anger.
After this, the Vedas, medicines, clouds, lightning, plants, trees were created. Brahma also created the devas from his face, Pitru from his heart, human beings from creative organs and rakshasas from bottom. All these creations were “Ayonija” meaning without the use of “yoni”. These creations are called Visarga.

Among the Saptarishis, Vasishta created the female and male form out of his own body. These later grew in number through sexual union. These kinds of creations (Yonija) were called Manvantara.

SriChakra

Part 1

Note:
This is only an attempt to learn about the wonders of the ShriChakra and the Hindu traditions.
I do not claim any of the materials and researches as my own. These are only notes that I have taken while learning. This is for purely academic purposes.

The SriChakra is a symbolic form that is prevalent in the worship of the goddess
TripuraSundari all over India. It is a geometrical representation of the SriVidya mythology. The faithful consider this as an emblem of the Goddess herself.
The SriChakra represented in the picture to the right is the top view of the “Sumeru” or Mount Meru.

Structure of the SriChakra is as follows:
1> In the center is a bindu or a dot.
2> This is surrounded by a trikona or a triangle.
3> Around this triangle is Vasukona or a group of eight triangles.
4> These are in turn surrounded by two groups of ten triangles.
5> This is surrounded by manvarsa or a group of fourteen triangles.
6> These fourteen triangles are surrounded by nagadala or a circle of eight petals.
7> This is surrounded by Shodasaara, a circle of sixteen petals.
8> Around this come the three circles or he vrttatraya.
9> These are in turn surrounded by Sandanatraya or three squares with four gates facing the four directions.

Thus SriChakra consists of 9 layers or circuits with a “bindu” in the centre. Thus the SriChakra is also known as NavaYoni Yantra.

The Trikona, Vasukona, Dasharayugma and the manvasra are known as the Shakthi Chakras. The Asthadala, Shodashadala, vrttatraya and the Sadanatraya are known as Shiva Chakras.

There are many similarities between this and the symbols worshipped by the pagans.
like the blade and chalice.
In the SriChakra, we see a union of 4 triangles known as Shiva (representing the male) and 5 inverted triangles known as Shakthi (representing the female). Thus SriChakra is also a map of creation of the universe.

Each of the layers represents a chakra in the human body. These layers have specific names and represent various forms of the Goddess and are invoked by specific “beeja mantras”.

Trikona represents Mulaadhaara Chakra
Vasukona – Svaadhishtana Chakra
Dashaara – Manipura Chakra
Dvitiya Dashaara – Anahata Chakra
Chaturdashaara – Vishuddhi Chakra
SivaChakraChatushtaaya – Ajna Chakra.
Bindu or the central dot corresponds to Sahasrara Chakra.

To be continued in Part 2.

Kriti: Jalandhara Supeetasthite

Written by my sister Padmini who is continuing her music lessons under the tutelage of Mrs. K.N Vani in Bangalore:

I had just completed learning an interesting krithi in raga Valaji by Harikeshanallur Mutthaiah Bhagavathar called "Jalandhara Supeetasthe". The words in this krithi kept haunting me for quite some time which prompted me to research further on this. The opening word Jalandhara was so strikingly similar to the place in Punjab – Jalandhar. Did this krithi have any connection with this city? Well, may be. My search showed some interesting connections.

Jalandhar is a district in Punjab known for its sports goods industry also has some ancient temples. Legend says that this place was ruled by a daitya raja by name Jalandhar after whom, the city derives its name. There is an ancient temple dedicated to goddess kaali. Apparently, Jalandhar is one of the Shakthi peethas – Sati's right breast is said to have fallen in this place. The goddess in this temple is worshipped as Tripura Malini. May be Mutthaiah Bhagavathar is referring to Goddess Tripura Malini in his krithi on the goddess, though there is no specific mention of Tripura Malini in this krithi.

Another possible connection emerged in my mind with the thought of one of the posture in Hatha yoga called Jalandhara Bhandha. In this yogic posture, the air is blocked in the upper torso. This yogic posture corresponds to the Vishuddha chakra (ref Kundalini yoga). Each chakra in the body is governed by a Devi. Vishuddha chakra is ruled by Shaakini Devi. So, is Mutthaiah Bhagavathar referring to this goddess in his Krithi?

What ever the connection, the Krithi is a very beautiful one and raga Valaji has been expounded very well.

The Vedas

This page is still under construction. As and when I learn new and interesting facts, I will be putting it up here as new versions.

Vedas are the ancient hymns of the Hindu religion in the Sanskrit language. They are also known as Shruthi because they were learnt by listening.
Shruthi or Shravana is a Sanskrit word for listening. These hymns were passed on from generation to generation by just listening and learning. The ancient form of education, the "Gurukula" system was conducive to such learning.

It is believed that the vedas have not been composed by any man. Rather all the Vedas were perceptions by learned sages from the syllable OM. Since the OM is known as the sound of the universe and since thoughts are actually energy waves flowing through ether, with the right tuning of mind, these perceptions were possible.

There are 4 vedas
1> Rig Veda
2> Yajur Veda
3> Atharvana Veda
4> Samaveda