WRITTEN BY London swaminathan

Post No.7601

Date uploaded in London – 21 February 2020

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

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Today is Shiva Ratri Day; holy day and fasting day for Hindus. They go to Shiva temples and do Milk Abisheka (bathing the Shiva Linga with milk). Shiva temples around the world are open all through the night. Priests recite Rudra Mantra/hymn during the bathing ritual. Devotees do Puja with trifoliate Vilva/Bilva leaves. Skipping meals completely for 24 hours or having only one meal in 24 hours is observed by the devotees.

The story behind Shiva Ratri explodes all the Aryan- Dravidian bluff spread by the westerners. They projected Shiva as Aryan. But the festival is based on a hunter hiding in the forest on top of a Vilva tree doing Bilva Archana without knowing all through the night. He attains salvation. All devotees follow the hunter.

Another great hunter called Kannappan of North Tamil Nadu attained salvation in 24 hours by doing Puja and donating both his eyes (which were restored later) . He lived 1500 years  ago in Tamil Nadu. ( I have given full details about Hindus who made eye transplants in my article written years ago).Suh stories show that there is no Aryan or Dravidian. And the early Shiva Devotees of Tamil Nadu did not belong to Brahmin caste at all (Eg. Ms Mangayarkarasi, Ms Karaikal Ammaiyar, Madam Avvaiyar, Mr Appar etc)

What is Ati Rudram

Rudra Ekadasi: When Rudram is recited 121 times (11 priests recite it 11 times) it is Rudra Ekadasi.
When Rudram is recited 1331 times (11X11X11) it is Maha Rudram
When Rudram is recited 14641 times (11X 11X11X11) it is Ati Rudram
Sri Sathya Sai Baba performed Ati Rudram in Chennai and Puttaparthi. It was the biggest Homam done in modern times. Later Shirdi Sai devotees organised one in Tiruvannamalai.

What is Rudram?

It is a hymn on Lord Shiva found in Yajur Veda. It is recited along with Camakam. Since Rudram is also known as Namakam, both are called Namakam -Chamakam.

In the Rudra section, Lord Shiva is praised as a great person doing various jobs. It means he controls every thing in the universe. We fid the Five Lettered Mantra – panchaksharam – OM NAMASIVAYA in Rudram. So Saivites consider it most important Mantra. Orthodox Hindus recite it every day. In temples, when the Abishekam is done to the idol, Rudram is repeated.

Ekadasa Rudram is conducted annually in London by Sri Subrahmanyam and his wife Gayathri.

Any Rudra Fire sacrifice should follow the starting rituals such as Sankalpa (saying the intention ), Puja, Nyasa, Anga, Panchamruta snana and Dhyana.

What are the benefits?

The scriptures say that one who does Ati Rudra is considered God. In our own time Sri Sathya Saibaba did it in Chennai and Puttaparthi. No other individual has done so.

Ati Rudra takes 11 days for the completion.

The benefit of repeating Rudram once frees one from Balarishta (one individual reciting it one time)

3 times …. From imminent difficulties

5 times from evil effects of planets

7  times from great fear

9 times gives the benefit of performing a Vajapeya Yajna and gives peace of mind;

11 times recitation will bring great wealth and favours from ruler or government

33 times recited, one can attain all the wishes; he will have no enemies.

77 times  – enjoyment of great happiness

99 times – attainment of son, grandson, wealth and four Hindu goals- Dharma, Artha, Kama , Moksha

1 Maha Rudra – favour of kings

3 Maha Rudras – Fulfilment of Impossible Tasks.

5 Maha Rudras – acquirement of vast lands

7 Maha Rudras – attainment of seven worlds

9 Maha Rudras – freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

— Notes taken by me on 30-7-2011 from Ati Rudra Souvenir.

Om Nama Sivaya

–subham–