Latest news with #Sakti
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Ambal shows the way
Faith is nurtured. Our elders teach babies to eat first, and as they grow, they are shown the correct way to eat healthy. Similarly, the Vedas are the primary source material for guiding all in the spiritual journey of one's life, which runs concurrently with the pursuit of earthly goals. People may pray to Vishnu, Siva or Subrahmanya, Surya or others as ordained in the Vedas; however, Sakti is the goddess that the ordinary people worship. She is sometimes given shape to, in villages, merely by stacking a couple of bricks, with full faith in Her power. While She is celebrated throughout the year, the grand Pattabhishekam of Sarva Jagan Mata at Ambaji Saktipeet in Gujarat, during the Ashada Navratri (falling between June 25 to July 4 this year) is one of the most significant ones, said Damodara Dikshidhar. The Lalita Sahasranamam says, 'Rajat Krupayai Namaha; Raja Peeta Niveshita Nija Shritayai Namaha:', signifying the importance of receiving Her divine grace when one is caught in various life situations such as a sudden misfortune, knowledge of impending danger or difficulty, harmony when one's marriage hits discordant notes, accumulation of wealth rightfully and gaining not just an education but also learning to navigate various impediments in the journey of life. Those visiting the shrine in Ambaji cannot fail to observe the richness and fertility of the land, with Ambal looming majestically over the place, held to be the heart of the 51 Sakti Peetams, bestowing Her blessings on those who pray to Her. She embodies not only spirituality but also sets a remarkable code of conduct for all to follow, helping everyone to lead a sinless life. Legend has it that when a pious king prayed to Her and asked Her to remain where She was and bless the earth and his subjects, She agreed, on the precondition that none talk ill of others. If anyone broke this moral code of conduct, She would leave. As an embodiment of Durga, Saraswati and Lakshmi, the Jagan Mata's Pattabhishekham, conducted with various homams and pujas, attracts both the rich and the poor.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Ambal Pattabhishekham
Two pattabhishekhams are spiritually very renowned. The first one is the ever popular Rama Pattabhishekham and the second one is Ambal Pattabhishekham at Ambaji in Gujarat, said Damodara Dikshidhar. Ambal is an embodiment of Sakti and Her power is limitless. In the first sloka of Soundarya Lahari, Acharya says, 'From Brahma, Vishnu everyone did puja for you and became gods of the universe.' This ability to rise above all is obtained only by praying to Her. Ambal is the only one who shines as the powerful one, even Bhagavan gets His prime position only after joining Her, say our scriptures. She is worshipped in various places as a different deity: as Kamakshi, Karpagambal, Katyayini, Gomathi, Visalakshi, to name a few. There are many Sakti pitams and the swayambu Sakti kshetras are of the highest order. The 51 swayambu kshetras are the places where She let go of pieces of Herself in various locations. Our scriptures say this happened when Daksha troubled and humiliated Siva. Unbale to countenance it, Sakti decided to shed her mortal flesh, be born again and join with Siva, for fruition of which, She surrendered to Him and shed Her parts. Her waist is said to have fallen on earth where Kanchipuram is, Her tongue in Kolkata, while Her heart fell in Ambaji, Gujarat. Her shrine is the most sought after one by both devotees and evolved souls. Numerous ascetics and others who have prayed to Her steadfastly at her shrine on a hillock there, have spoken of Her having appeared to them, as a vision. Ambal's (Sri Raja Rajeswari) Pattabhishekham falls between June 26 and July 8 this year.
