Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji on the occasion of Nakshatra Homa day 2 – September 19, 2015 – Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad
Jaya Guru Datta !
Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Sadgurubhyo Namo Namaha !
Today in Nakshatra Shanthi Homa, we performed homa for Mrugashira, Ardra, Punarvasu and Abhijith stars.
Mrugashira is a very special star. Soma is the lord for this star. This is called Shivam star – meaning auspicious. If one do not find any auspicious muhurtham to start good deeds, they can start the same during the time of Mrugasira star. It is also called Mrugashirsha.
There is a story behind this star. There was a hunter sitting on a bilva tree waiting for animals. He doesn’t realise that it was a bilva tree. For his time pass, he plucks the leaves and throws on a Shivalinga that was there down without his knowledge. After waiting for a long time, there comes a deer. He asks the deer if it is willing to become his food. Surprisingly, the deer talks and says that it is pregnant and would return to him after giving birth to its child. The hunter allowed the deer to go. In the meanwhile, another deer comes and the hunter tries to kill it. That deer too talks and requests him not to kill as it is the previous deer’s husband and wants to see its child who will be born soon. The hunter allows that deer also to go. After sometime a baby deer comes and the hunter tries to kill it. At the same time, the previous two deers appears there and begged the hunter not to kill it as it was their child and says that they both are ready to become his food. The hunter is amused of their honesty. The deer couple appears there as Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. This is the story behind Mrugashira star.
This star appears in the form of a hunter chasing a deer. It is a very auspicious star. Initially there may be few hurdles in activities started during this star. Since Soma is the lord of this star, people born in Mrugashira must chant Shiva Nama or ‘Om Somaya Namaha’ atleast once a day. For such a star, we have done shanthi homa today. Let us all pray that all evils for this star be removed.
Next comes Ardra star. Rudra is the lord for this star. Performing rudrabhishekam on a monday combined with Ardra star is very good. People born in this star are very sensitive. They get worried for small things. This has to be corrected. They can see success if they stand bold. Ardra means compassion. People born in this star must chant ‘Rudraya Namaha’. It is not that good to be sensitive always. You must know where to be sensitive and where to be strong. What if Anjaneya Swami is sensitive with Ravanasura ? Will it work ? What if He is strong with Rama ? Being sensitive is the nature of Ardra star. For being bold, Rudra smarana has to be done and should listen to Rudraadyayam and perform shiva abhishekam with rudradyaya mantras. This is very important for Ardra star.
Next comes Punarvasu star. Today we performed Rama Kalyanam also. Sri Rama was born in Punarvasu star. Aditi is the deity for this star. This star is a combination of two stars. It should be called ‘Punarvasoo’. People born in this star should seek constant support. If doing business, it must be done in partnership with another person instead of running it individually. If the partner belongs to their own family, it is all the more good. The business runs smooth. People of this star should not do anything alone. Hence, Sri Rama also took Laxmana along with Him. That is the secret there. Rama knows all shastras. Initially He denied Laxmana but later said He would like to take him.
People of this star are hesitant. They dont express themselves soon. Someone has to initiate them. Once stepped ahead, they are very successful. No doubt about it. Adithi – Sun’s mother, who is also mother for all devatas, is the deity of this star. Hence, they should chant ‘Adithi devathayai namaha’. For human weddings, we need to look for auspicious muhurtham but this is not required for devatas. Hence we performed Rama Kalyanam today. People born in Punarvasu has a quality of repeating their words. It is their nature. Not just their words, they repeat their good deeds too. You ask for one, they give two. Rama was like that. Punah Punaha – He has the quality of blessing repeatedly. This quality is not just in good but also will be there in bad and hence one must be careful.
We just have 27 stars and all are good. But if we understand the qualities of the stars and change ourselves accordingly, then those stars will be in our favour. People of Punarvasu star can also chant ‘Sri Ramaya Namaha’. Remembering mahatmas born in those stars is good for us. Adithi and Kasyapa prayed Maha Vishnu to be born in thier family. He incarnated as Vamana and then as Sri Rama.
Next is Abhijith star. This is not there in the list of 27 stars. It is said to be 28th star. Who is this 28th star ? Cows and Brahmins who studied the Vedas are considered as this 28th star. Worshipping cow and respecting brahmins who studied Vedas will remove all evils of all the stars. Who ever do not know their birth star should treat theirs as Abhijin star. It is also called Abhijin lagna. Mid noon time is called Abhijin muhurtham. In such a time, we performed purnahuti for the homa. Homa raksha will be given to you all. After performing aarthi, we say ‘Rakshaan Gruhnami’. Why ? After the aarthi is over, the black smoke of the camphor used in aarthi is to be worn. That is Rakshaan Gruhnami. We forgot this tradition. This implies that may the divine protection be on our sahasrara, our intellect, our body and our prana. While doing aarthi at your house, take that black smoke after aarthi and apply it as Bindi on your forehead. This will remove all evil eyes from you. Hence Swamiji also recently said that everyone must wear Bindi and only then He would speak to us. It is a very good tradition. All of you learn to wear Bindi. By doing this, we will be protecting our dharma and this will protect us from evil eye too.
People who do not know their star and who do not know their star as per name also should treat Abhijin star as their star. Since they do not know their star, Name of their Guru is the mantra for them and should chant Sadguru’s name or Dattatreya’s name.
May all you get rid of your troubles and may all your wishes be fulfilled. Evening, we shall continue Sundara Kanda. Today Hanuman will meet Sita Mata. This is a very important episode in Sundara Kanda.
Jaya Guru Datta ! Sri Guru Datta !
Compiled by Bala Aati