Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Eka-sloka Ramayanam (Ramayana in One sloka)

Poorvam rama-thapovanaadhi gamanam
Hrithvaa Mrigam kaanchanam
Vaidehi-haranam, Jataayu-maranam
Sugreeva-sambhashanam
Bali-nigrahanam, Samudratharanam
Lankapuri-dahanam,
Paschath raavana-kumbhakarna nidhanam
Hye-thadhi ramaayanam

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Sandhya deepam - Do's and Dont's (Evening prayers)


Sandya (twilight) is the time to light the lamp(deepam) and pray. Before the deepam is lit everyone should have washed their hands, legs and face and put bhasmam.

The right time is 24 minute( one naazhika) before twilight . The light is taken from the kitchen. The person carrying the light chants deepam, deepam..... and the others in the room stand up and pray. The most auspicious directions to salute the lamp, is from the east and south.

Lamps are lit at the Sarpa-kaavu and the thulasi-thara. The lamp is then taken to the four corners of the court-yard, the trees, cows and then the lamps in the puja room are lit. Finally, the lamp is brought and kept in a place in the living room so as to be visible even from outside.

Dont's are thus...

At the time of lighting the lamp, it is not auspicious to eat, to read books, to treat visitors, to quarrel, to give away money-grains-oil etc, to exit the house, to comb hair etc. It is not good to use oil that has been already used, the oil in which insects have fallen etc. The wick should be of cotton or washed and dried old clothes. unwashed cloth should never be used.

The flame should not flicker, flare up, or burst periodically. Also it is inauspicious for the flame to face south. In case visitors come in at that time, include them in the prayers.............