The Story of RAHU and KETU

Om Artha kaayam maha veeryam
chandhraa dithya vimardhanam
simhikaa garba samboodham
tam rahum pranamam yaham

Om palaasha pushpa shankaasham
taarakaa graha masthakam
raudhram raudhraath makam koram
tam kethum pranamam yaham

Rahu Ketu Bija Mantra
The Bija mantra is most powerful and potent, ensure physical and mental cleanup and purity before chanting this mantra.

Om bhraam bhreem bhraum saha rahavae namaha
Om sraam sreem sraum saha kethuvae namaha

About Rahu Ketu:

Rahu and Ketu control over one's courage, action, sorrow, valour, sin and provide for mental troubles and worries in current life depending on one's own past karmas in their past lives. Rahu governs over the head portions, while Ketu governs over one's ears, speech and hearing etc.

The story of RAHU KETU god

There were constant wars between the Devas and the Asuras. The Asuras always won, due to their guru Shukracharya's Mritha Sanjivini power, which the guru had obtained as a fruit of his penance, propitiating Lord Shiva. The power of this Mritha Sanjivini is, it can resurrect the dead, back to life. In this way, each Asura who was killed in the war by the Devas, was brought back to life by this manthra. Thus, this ensured constant defeat for the Devas and the Asuras continued to rule the heavens.

Lord Indra, the king of the Devas, went to the abode of Lord Vishnu, with all the Devas, and, prayed to the Lord, asking him for a solution. Lord Vishnu, asked the Devas to churn the milk ocean (Saagar Manthan), and, consume the amrith that emerges out of this ocean. For this, they would need to take the help of the Asuras.

Lord Indra, went to heavens, and, sought for peace, and, said that henceforth, the Devas and Asuras should never wage war against each other, and, told them the need for churning the milk ocean and the power of  consuming the Amrith. The Asuras, agreed, and inside their evil minds, they thought, once the churning is over and the Amrith is obtained, we will steal the Amrith.

Thus, the great churning of the milk ocean began, with Mount Meru as the churner and the King of Serpents,  the Lord Vishnu's bed, the Great Naga, Vaasuki, was requested to be used as a rope.

From, advising the Good Devas to churn the ocean, the Divine Lord Vishnu, sided the Devas and protected them on time from every danger, proving that God is always with the Good, and he does not destroy evil,  but, controls the evil, so that, both Good and the Evil, co-exist, and one can learn to distinguish the Good from the Evil.

Lord Vishnu, had told the Devas to remain by the tail side of Vaasuki, so as to avoid the poison emerging   out of Vaasuki's mouth, and, the Asuras, stood by the head side of the Vaasuki, not knowing the poisonous  power of the Great Vaasuki.

As the great churning was taking place, the huge Mount Meru, began to slip through the Vaasuki ropes and  slide into the ocean, Lord Vishnu, took the form of a Tortoise (Koorma Avathaara) and went down the  ocean bed and lifted up the Mount Meru and balanced it.

After churning the milk ocean (Kshir saagar) for several years, first came the Halahala (poison), this poison  can destroy all the creations, so, without even thinking about himself, Lord Shiva, saw this poison emerging  out of the ocean and immediately began drinking it, Goddess Parvathi saw this extreme compassion of her  divine lord for the Good beings of the world, and, blocked his neck, by pressing it, so, the poison did not  enter Lord Shiva's stomach, instead stayed in his throat, and, his neck began turning blue, thus, he came to  be known as NeelaKanta, the one with a blue throat.

The results of churning ocean, gave rise to various things that came out of the ocean and a few are listed  here, not in any order: Surabhi, the Kamadhenu or divine cow, apsaras (angels), divine horse  (UcchaiShravaas), divine elephant (Airaavatham), vaaruni (half-angel half-demoness), kaustubha (divine necklace), parijatha (divine blossom tree with flowers), kalpaka vruksha (another divine tree), Shankh  (Vishnu's conch), Tulsi plant (Basil) etc.

Finally, Goddess Lakshmi emerged out of the ocean, and, the divine Lord Vishnu got enticed by her beauty  and offered to accept her as his consort to his divine abode Vaikuntam, Goddess Lakshmi accepted Vishnu  as her Lord.

The churning took place for several years and one fine day, it was Ashwayuja Month, Krishna Paksha  Dwaadhashi (dark fortnight 12th day), when, Lord Vishnu himself incarnated as Lord Dhanvanthri (the divine  physician) emerging out of the milk ocean with a Golden Amrith pot in his front right hand, ayurveda texts in  his front left hand, shankh (conch) in his back left hand and discus (sudarshan chakra) in his back right hand,  wearing a bright yellow cloth, wrapped around his waist, the lord was seen as a bright light emerging out of  a dark ocean, blue in colour, his eyes looking merciful and compassionate.

The Asuras got greedy and went to snatch the Amrith (Nectar of Immortality) from Lord Dhanvanthri, fierce  fighting began between the Devas and the Asuras, Lord Garuda (transport vehicle of Lord Vishnu) appeared  in all his majestic form, the divine and most powerful bird, took the Amrith from the Lord and flew away to  keep it safely. As, Lord Garuda flew with the nectar, 4 drops fell on the earth and these turned into holy  places of worship.

Lord Dhanvanthri, disguised himself as Mohini, the enchanting women, and, began dancing in front of the  Asuras and the Devas who were fighting, the Asuras got lured by her beauty and left the fight and began  dancing along with Mohini and following her, the Devas were stunned by her beauty and soon realized that  Mohini is their Lord Vishnu himself, and hence, sat in a row and sooner the Asuras too began sitting in a row  opposite the Devas, still looking at Mohini, Mohini was now seen holding the Amrith pot and she began distributing the nectar to the Devas, the Asuras were waiting patiently for their turn, when one of the asura  named SvarBhanu realized that something is going wrong and that the nectar may get over, and, silently,  slipped sides and sat in between Surya(Sun) and Chandra(Moon) disguised as a Deva. The Devas did not  realize it, nor the Mohini who went about distributing amrith, SvarBhanu received his dose of the Amrith and  drank it quickly, Surya and Chandra suddenly looked on their side and were able to make out that it is an  asura in disguise and informed Mohini.

SvarBhanu was the son of Viprachit(father) and Simhika(mother), Simhika was the daughter of Hiranya- Kashyapa the great demon who was the father of Prahlaadha, the greatest devotee of Lord Vishnu.

Mohini, quickly changed her form into Lord Vishnu and threw Sudarshana chakra that cut off SvarBhanu's  neck, but, since he had already drank the nectar, he did not die, Lord Brahma made SvarBhanu's head and  body join with a snake, thus, the head joined a snake's body, came to be known as RAHU and the snake's head joined with SvarBhanu's body, came to be known as KETU.

Lord Brahma, granted RAHU and KETU a boon for accepting this new form, a place amidst the planets, the  Navagrahas. RAHU and KETU, even to this day, hold the grudge against surya and chandra, and cause  solar and lunar eclipse to affect them.

RAHU and KETU's power increases between sunset to sunrise, their power of vengeance is so strong that  they cause an astrological moment called the RAHU KAALAM, that stays every day during the day for 1 hr  and 30 minutes. This time is considered to be highly inauspicious for undertaking any good deeds and is only  good for propitiating the divine mother (Devi).

The story of SATURN god

                                       Om neelanjana samaa bhaasam
                                       ravi putram yama grajam
                                      chaaya maarthaanda sambhoodham
                                      tam namami shaneeshwaram


 

Shani's Bija Mantra
The Bija mantra is most powerful and potent, ensure physical and mental cleanup and purity before chanting this mantra.

Om praam preem proum saha shaneeshwaraaya namaha
Om aing hreeng shreeng shung shaneeshwaraya namaha
Om shreem sham shaneeshwaraya namaha

About Shani:

Shani (SATURN) is also known as Shanaishchara, Pingala, Bhabru or Roudra. Shani is considered the most powerful planet in the universe and every living being on earth is influenced by the blue rays of Saturn, who gives good and bad results according to one's own Karma (deeds), resulting in good effects for good deeds (dharma) and bad effects for bad deeds (adharma). Saturn is known as the magistrate, who is the lord of Truth, Justice, Honesty, Sincerity and Duty.

Saturn goes around an ecliptic path and makes one round in 30 years traversing through the 12 zodiacal signs. Shani influences one's consciousness and gives the awareness of right and wrong to all humans. Saturn represents a cold and dry nature, makes you slow and inert, but, sophisticated and gives the feeling of confinement.

It is said that, Saturn can raise one's status to the skies and at the same time, drop one into abyssmal depth. Saturn's sight is very powerful, the lesser gods, sages, demigods, gods and even the trinities cannot escape the powerful sight of Saturn.

The story of SATURN god

Lord Brahma began creating the universe, as he created seven rishis (sages), he instructed them to aid him in his creation by engaging in procreation. The seven rishis are Vashishta, Marichi, Pulastya, Pulaha, Atri, Angiras and Kratu. Kashyapa is the son of Marichi, he married the 13 daughters of Daksha-prajapathi. Kashyapa's 1st wife out of the 13, is Aditi, who gave birth to 12 sons, and by the blessings of Lord Vishnu, they united to become one and came to be known as Surya.

Being the eldest son of Kashyapa, Surya ruled Jambu Dweepa (Asian continent). Surya got married to Samugnya who gave birth to 4 sons and a daughter - Vaivashvata manu, Yama, twins Ashwini Devas and a sister Yamuna. Samugnya could not tolerate the heat of Surya and so she created a shadow of herself called Chaayadevi left her with Surya and silently returned to her father's home. Chaayadevi looked exactly like Samagnya and Surya could not make out that she is a shadow. He lived with Chaayadevi and she gave birth to 2 sons, Saavarni Manu and Shani, and 2 daughters, Dhabadhi and Viyati. Chaayadevi began ill-treating her stepsons after she gave birth to her own sons and this made Yama angry and he kicked Chaayadevi with his leg. Chaayadevi cursed Yama that his legs get rotten over time, and as time went by, Yama's legs began to rot and the distressed Yama sought his father Surya's help to remove the curse on him. Surya advised Yama to meditate and propitiate Lord Shiva to get the curse removed. Yama did severe penance and pleased Lord Shiva and received his blessings and came to be known as YamaDharma and Lord Shiva crowned him as the Lord of Death - YamaDharma.

After this incident, Surya learned that a true mother will never curse her son and Chaayadevi is Samagnya's shadow. He began ignoring Chaayadevi's sons Saavarni Manu and Shani, and 2 daughters, Dhabadhi and Viyati. Surya did not perform his duties that a father normally does for his sons. This angered Shani and he saw Surya's one wheeled chariot driven by seven horses, with his powerful sight, the chariot could not move and came to a halt, such is the power of Shani Dev. Surya hated Shani for his powerful sight and the feelings of hatred grew to such a level that Chaayadevi's children have to fend for themselves, they could not receive their father's guidance.

Shani performed severe penance and received several boons and blessings from Lord Shiva and worked very hard to make something of himself that the world would value him forever. Lord Shiva gave Shani a significant planetary position and said that Shani must preside over every living being's Karmas (deeds), good or bad, and accordingly reward or punish. This rule applies to everyone, the lesser gods, sages, demigods, gods, trinities, the humans and every other living beings on all the 7 worlds. Lord Shiva said, from Sarveshwara (Lord Shiva himself) to every living being, Shani must conduct his duty without any partiality. And, Shani agreed and began his duties sincerely, ever since.

As Shani went about doing his duties, he did not see any difference between the gods and rewarded and punished according to their Karmas, so, every god was afraid of Shani and they respected him out of fear. One day, Shani went to Kailash, Lord Shiva's abode and Shiva welcomed him and asked why he is here and if everything is being done as told, to which Shani replied that he is performing all his duties without fail and he has now come to afflict Lord Shiva himself, the Sarveshwara. Lord Shiva laughed and said that he gave powers to Shani and asked Shani to see every living being with his powerful sight and reward or punish accordingly, but, this does not mean that Shani can start afflicting Lord Shiva himself, if he does that, then the world's process of dissolution would get affected, since, Shiva is the presiding trinity responsible for this task. Shani said that he cannot show partiality or any favor to the most supreme god, even if he is the most supreme, he still has to be afflicted by Shani's powerful sight. Lord Shiva said Shani that, if he can find him and afflict and if he has the powers to do so, then he can go ahead, so saying, Shiva disappeared in a trice and Shani stood there until the lord appeared again after a while. Upon appearance, Shiva said, that he is the supreme most god and Shani could not afflict him and he was hiding himself inside a donkey for 7 and half minutes, to which Shani replied that it is due to his affliction that Lord Shiva has to hide himself inside a donkey for 7 and half minutes and he has completed his affliction of the lord and told that it was Shiva himself who stated to Shani that he should afflict every living being including the gods and trinities in all the 7 worlds, starting from Sarveshwara. Upon hearing this, Lord Shiva was immensely pleased with Shani's sincerity in his duties that he blessed him and conferred the title of an Eshwara, and said that the 7 worlds would henceforth respect and recognize Shani as Lord Shani-Eshwara (Shaneeshwara).

Lord Shaneeshwara used his powerful sight and made Ravana (the powerful demon) weaker everyday that Ravana began loosing his real strength day by day and finally lost the war against Lord Rama and was killed.

Speaking of Lord Shaneeshwara's powerful sight, according to Shani Purana, once there was a plan to celebrate Lord Ganesha's birthday in Kailash and invitations were sent to all the gods in all the worlds and the sages. Lord Surya began preparations to attend the celebrations and Shani was a small boy at that time and insisted that he wants to go with his father, Surya did not want to take Shani along, since, he knew about Shani's powerful sight and was afraid that something untoward may happen to those whom Shani meets in Kailash, so, Surya left without Shani. Eventhough Shani was a small boy, his knowledge and smartness was indeed great, that he went and reached Kailash on his own and Surya was shocked to see Shani coming to attend the celebrations. Everyone present there, did not know about Shani's powerful sight and welcomed the little boy and as Shani was looking at each of them, they all began feeling weak and some kind of affliction. The effect was, as if, Shani was already in the role of a significant planet. Lord Shiva, knowing the reason for the divine birth of Shani, called upon his consort Parvathi and advised her to keep his son Ganesha away from Shani's powerful sight and apprised parvathi of Shani's divine purpose of birth and his natural powers. But, parvathi was very proud of her powers, being the supreme goddess and wife of a trinity, she felt there is no power in the world that can afflict her own creation, Lord Ganesha. So, she did not hide Ganesha and left him to play freely with all the child. As Ganesha came near Shani, Shani's sight fell on Ganesha, immediately Ganesha's head rolled down and disappeared. Everyone was shocked to see this and Goddess Parvathi when she learned about this incident, got angry and cursed Shani that his legs go rotten. The curse immediately took effect and Shani's legs were affected. The search for Ganesha's head began and no one could find the head in all the 7 worlds, and so, an elephant's head was placed and Shiva brought back Ganesha to life. Shani in due course of time performed severe penances and pleased Lord Shiva with his devotion that he offered him several boons and blessed Shani.

Thus, is the greatness of this blue planet known as SATURN. Lord Ganesha's only affliction by Shani was fated that he loose his head, being a most powerful God, the AdiDevatha himself was afflicted and Ganesha in order to avoid future affliction, asked Shani to write behind his back that Shani will not afflict Ganesha today, but, would come back tommorrow to afflict. Puranas (Legend) has it that everyday Lord Shani visits Ganesha to afflict him, Ganesha shows his back, Shani reads what he wrote and returns the next day, everyday, to this day.

The power of Lord Shani's affliction is controlled by sincere prayers to Lord Ganesha. It is said that Lord Shani deals with one's karmas with an iron hand and true repentance for bad deeds or sins, knowing or unknown, and prayers to Ganesha would reduce Lord Shani's afflictions.

Lord Shani affects all humans with 3 seven and half year cycles during a man's lifetime and affects gods to a lesser extent, for seven and half minutes according to their karmas.

The story of VENUS god

                                       Om himakundha mrinalaabham
                                      daityanaam paramam gurum
                                      sarva shastra pravakthaaram
                                     bhargavam pranamaam yaham


 

Shukra's Bija Mantra
The Bija mantra is most powerful and potent, ensure physical and mental cleanup and purity before chanting this mantra.

Om dhraam dhreem dhroum saha shukraaya namaha

About Shukra:

Shukra (VENUS) is known as God of Love. In sanskrit Shukra means Semen, hence, he is the lord of love and sensuality. According to western mythology, Shukra is known as a morning star or shooting star. Venus can be seen by our naked eye during the times of sunrise and sunset, but, not always.

Shukra is known as the acharya of the demigods (Asuras or demons), he sits on a white lotus, influences one to excel in fine arts and medicine. He is responsible for happiness in one's marital life, presides over marriage, invention, creativity, fine arts and astrology. He is said to hail from Bhargava gotra and his father Sage Bhrigu is one of the eighteen sages who invented astrology.

Shukra's influence makes a person charming, attractive, sensuous and lotus-eyed personality, witty, tactful and a bit slow.

The story of VENUS god

Lord Brahma began creating the universe, as he created seven rishis (sages), he instructed them to aid him in his creation by engaging in procreation. The seven rishis are Vashishta, Marichi, Pulastya, Pulaha, Atri, Angiras and Kratu.

 

Scriptures state that Lord Brahma created Sage Bhrigu as a Manasa putra, created by the power of his mind, to aid him in procreation. Sage Bhrigu married Sage Daksha's daughter Kayathi and they got a son whom they named Shukra. Shukra grew up under the tutelage of Sage Gauthama and mastered all the vedas and shastras.

 

There were constant fights that ensued between the Devas and the Asuras (Demons). The Devas, having consumed Divine Nectar (Amrit), after the great churn of the ocean (Sagar Mahamanthan) are now immortal, the demons were losing their life in the war. So, the demons sought the guidance of Shukra and requested him to be their Guru. Shukra became their Guru (Acharya) and came to be known as Daitya Guru (meaning Guru of the Demons). Even with Shukracharya's guidance, the demons faced defeat at the hands of the gods.

 

So, Shukracharya left to the forests and performed severe penance and meditated upon Lord Shiva for several years. Brihaspathi learned through his divine powers that Shukracharya is trying to appease Lord Shiva, to receive boons in his favor and thought of a plan to stop this penance.

 

Brihaspathi called upon Indra and asked him to send his daughter Jayanthi to disturb Shukracharya's penance and induce lust in his mind, so that Shukracharya falls for Jayanthi and indulges in marital life, which will break the penance. Indra summoned Jayanthi and told her to do her best to stop the penance. Jayanthi left the heavens to join Shukracharya as his disciple and performed all her duties sincerely as his disciple and lived with him on earth and several years passed.

 

One day Indra came to meet Jayanthi and reminded that she has not started the task for which she was sent to earth from the heavens, for which, Jayanthi told Indra that she needs to win the confidence and trust of her guru, Shukracharya, at first and then she can begin working on her task. Indra felt happy about his daughter's wit and left to heavens with an assured feeling that jayanthi will accomplish her task in due course

of time.

 

Time went by, every day Jayanthi arduously performed her duties and Shukracharya kept performing his penance uninterrupted. His penance bore fruits and Lord Shiva appeared before Shukracharya and offered to grant him boons. shukracharya said that the only purpose for which he performed such severe penance was to obtain the knowledge of the Mrita Sanjivini Mantra. Lord shiva said the purpose of the Mrita Sanjivini mantra is to raise the dead back to life again. This mantra should be used as a general service to the society and not for an individual or specific purpose. Every living being has to go through the cycle of birth and death and this is the nature's divine principle and this cannot be changed.

 

Shukracharya insisted the Lord that his only purpose of the penance was to obtain the mantra siddhi (fulfillment) and nothing else. Lord Shiva, having said that he is willing to offer boons, now decided to impart this knowledge to Shukracharya with one condition. When Shukracharya instructs (upadesh) this knowledge of the mantra (hymn) to another learned man, then Shukracharya would lose the power of fulfillment of the mantra and then blessed him with a significant planetary position in the Navagraha mandala.

 

Shukracharya felt very happy, having accomplished his goals, sent a message to the demon headquarters that he is arriving shortly and began his preparations to depart. Jayanthi implored to Shukracharya the truth about her purpose on earth, to which Shukracharya said that he already learned through his divine powers why she is with him and also said that she had been a very sincere disciple and never interrupted his penance. Jayanthi said that eventhough she came with those intentions in her mind, after seeing and being with shukracharya, she felt transformed and performed her duties sincerely, but, now, she has to go back to her father Lord Indra's abode and has to face his wrath. So, saying, jayanthi pleaded with Shukracharya to help her from this situation. Shukracharya offered her boons to which Jayanthi asked him to marry him and lead a married life with him for atleast ten years and not return to the demon kingdom during this period, so that her father will feel satisfied that jayanthi atleast performed her duties for her father partially. Shukracharya agreed and stayed back in the ashram with jayanthi, married her and led a life of a Grahasthan (married man).

 

Brihaspathi learned about this move through his divine powers and disguised himself as Shukracharya and went to the demon kingdom. The demons were thrilled to see their guru and thought that he has returned after penance and now possesses great divine powers and their victories are now guaranteed against the fights with Devas. So, the demons offered due respects to their disguised guru and simply listened to whatever guru told them. Brihaspathi in the disguise of Shukracharya kept preaching the demons that the Devas have divine powers blessed by the trinities (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) and they should be worshipped, so the demons will receive their blessings and celestial weapons as boons granted by Devas. Thus, peace reigned for ten years, as the demons now worshipped the Devas.

 

Jayanthi gave birth to a beautiful girl and the couple named her as Devyaani. The ten years completed and Jayanthi implored Shukracharya to take care of their daughter and give her all the love, rights and knowledge and then left to the heavens. Shukracharya went to the demon kingdom and was surprised to see another Shukracharya in the demons court. He realized through his divine powers that it is none other than Deva Guru Brihaspathi himself in the guise of Shukracharya. He told the demons that though he sent them a message that he is returning after the penance, it was his mistake that he did not send them another message about his change of plans and that he remained in the forests for ten years and he now has a daughter Devyaani. The demons did not believe this, and said that their guru is with them always and someone coming with a daughter and claiming to be their real guru is not true. Shukracharya made some efforts to make the demons understand, but, in vain, and finally cursed the demons that they lose their battle with the Devas.

 

Brihaspathi felt satisfied that his mission is accomplished, Jayanthi kept Shukracharya in bay for ten years and now Shukracharya's curse would automatically bring defeat to the demons, so, the Devaguru now left the demon kingdom. Shukracharya narrated all the incidents to the demons, he explained how in his absence he had asked his parents, father Bhrigu and mother Kayathi to guide the demons and there was a time when his father Bhrigu was away from hermitage (ashram) and the Devas attacked the Asuras and his mother Kayathi made the asuras disappear to protect them from the Devas and this irritated Lord Vishnu and he had cut off his mother's head with his discus and when his father learned the incident, cursed Vishnu to be born on earth as a human mortal and suffer in life, then, father Bhrigu brought back his mother to life through

his divine powers, so, saying, Shukracharya, reinforced in the demons minds that their only goal should be war against the Devas, now that he has learned the art of resurrection of the dead, the demons need not fear.

 

The demons attacked the Devas with more vigour and everytime the Devas killed the Asuras, Shukracharya brought them back to life with the power of Mrita Sanjivini Mantra. Thus, when the demons arose from the dead, they became even more powerful and fought a terrible war, which made the Devas weak and run away from the battle.

 

Lord Shiva saw that Shukracharya was misusing the power of Mrita Sanjivini and in anger swallowed Shukracharya, but, Shukracharya slipped out of the Lord's Semen into divine mother Parvathi's womb and emerged out. This pleased Lord Shiva and Parvathi and they blessed Shukracharya to be radiant in all glory forever and installed Shukracharya in a significant planetary position.

 

Shukracharya's guidance to the demons continued, there was a time, when King Bali of the demons, promised to give 3 steps as alms to a small boy who had asked for it, when Shukracharya realized that this small boy Vamana was none other Lord Vishnu himself, and so, warned the demon king Bali against granting the steps, but, bali wanted to keep his promise, so he began his granting of the 3 steps, when Shukracharya came in the middle and Vamana pierced one eye of Shukracharya, ever since, Shukracharya became one-eyed.

 

Brihaspathi (Guru) realized from his divine powers that Shukracharya is using the power of resurrecting the dead, with the Mrita Sanjivini Mantra. Guru also realized that this mantra when once instructed (upadesh) to a shishya (disciple), the teacher would lose his power of using this mantra and so asked his son Kacchan to approach Shukracharya and become his disciple and learn the secret of this mantra.

Kacchan went to Shukracharya and told him, that he is Brihaspathi's son and requested Shukracharya to accept him as his disciple. Shukracharya knew that Guru is upto something, being a DevaGuru what is it that Shukracharya can teach Kacchan that DevaGuru cannot teach, this question came to his mind, and then Shukracharya realized that it could be trying to nullify the power of Mrita Sanjivini and hence was prepared not to upadesh this mantra at any time to kacchan and however according to Veda Shastra Dharma accepted him as his disciple and the learning began.

 

In due course of time, Shukracharya's daughter Devyani, fell in love with Kacchan and day by day her feelings for Kacchan increased. The Asuras (demons) learned that kacchan is here and could be harmful to the demon clan and decided to vanquish him using their demonic powers. They succeeded in killing Kacchan. Devyani kept looking for Kacchan, as he did not turn up, and got concerned and asked her father to look for him. Shukracharya realized through his divine powers that the demons were the ones responsible for Kacchan's death and so he used the Mrita Sanjivini mantra to bring Kacchan back to life.

 

The demons continued their target against Kacchan, even after several warnings by their Guru Shukracharya, not to harm his student (disciple). Every now and then the killing happened and Shukracharya resurrected Kacchan back to life. The demons became restless, eventhough their guru is their to guide them, they felt that a student from their enemy camp would definitely bring misfortune to their clan, and so were reluctant to heed to their guru's advise and this time they killed Kacchan and burnt him to ashes and mixed those ashes in Shukracharya's SomaRas (Divine intoxicated drink). Shukracharya drank the SomaRas and the pleading of his daughter Devyani about missing Kacchan, made him realize through his divine powers that Kacchan is now gone into his stomach as ashes.

 

Shukracharya uttered the mantra and Kacchan cut open Shukracharya's stomach and appeared in life again and as the mantra was being told, Kacchan came to life and learned the mantra from Shukracharya. The power of using this mantra by Shukracharya is now being lost. Shukracharya realized this, but, has no choice, since, he felt that this was the only choice.

 

Kacchan, having accomplished his mission, as instructed by Deva Guru, now decided to go back to Devalok, when Devyani stopped him and confessed her love for him to which Kacchan did not want to reciprocate and said the truth about his mission. Devyani got angry and cursed that Kacchan will not be able to use this mantra and that it lose all it's powers, the curse came true and Kacchan reciprocated the angry by cursing that Devyani would never be able to marry a Brahmin, and in time, it happened that Devyani got married to a Kshatriya king of the Lunar dynasty, named Yayati.

 

Shukracharya contemplated in his mind how Brihaspathi had tried to foil his plans at different times and in anger cursed Brihaspathi that even the Devas will face a time when Brihaspathi would not be available to the Devas and would disappear.

 

In due course of time, Guru had to disappear due to pride and arrogance of Lord Indra when Indra tried to install Viprajith in place of Deva Guru, thus was caused by the curse of Shukracharya.

 

Shukracharya performed more penance and attained his divine essence as a planet of love.

 

The story of JUPITER god

                                       Om Deva naancha rishi naancha
                                       gurum kaanchana sannibham
                                       buddhi boodham trilokesham
                                       tam namami brihaspathim


 

Brihaspathi's Bija Mantra
The Bija mantra is most powerful and potent, ensure physical and mental cleanup and purity before chanting this mantra.

Om bhreem brihaspathayae namaha

About Brihaspathi:

Brihaspathi (Jupiter) signifies boldness, courage, wisdom and speech. Brihaspathi is known to dispel darkness, a teacher who teaches justice, righteousness to his disciples. Jupiter in it's planetary form is more bigger than the earth and radiates energy in addition to the sun. Brihaspathi is considered to be the preceptor of the Assembly of Gods and is commonly known as Vachaspathi, meaning, Lord of speech.

The story of JUPITER god

Lord Brahma began creating the universe, as he created seven rishis (sages), he instructed them to aid him in his creation by engaging in procreation. The seven rishis are Vashishta, Marichi, Pulastya, Pulaha, Atri, Angiras and Kratu.

Jupiter (Brihaspathi) was born to Sage Angiras. Brihaspathi grew up learning all the four vedas and mastered them. He then performed severe penance to Lord Shiva on the banks of the prabhasa and the Lord granted him a significant planetary position and appointed him as the Divine Preceptor (Deva Guru). Thus, Brihaspathi, also came to be known as Guru and was concerned with the spiritual welfare of the Devas in the Heavens.

Guru, being the official priest and the Devas spiritual guide was concerned with the constant fights that ensued between the Devas and the Asuras (Demons). Eventhough the Devas, now having consumed the Divine Nectar, after the great churn of the ocean (Sagar Mahamanthan) are now immortal, the demons when losing their life in the war, their Guru, Shukracharya, used to bring the dead back to life and would resume fighting with the Devas, having arosen from the dead are now even stronger than before. This resulted in constant tiring out for the Devas, who went pleading to their Deva Guru for a permanent solution to stop the demons from harassing the heavens.

Guru realized from his divine powers that Shukracharya is using the power of resurrecting the dead, with the Mrita Sanjivini Mantra. Guru also realized that this mantra when once instructed (upadesh) to a shishya (disciple), the teacher would lose his power of using this mantra and so asked his son Kacchan to approach Shukracharya and become his disciple and learn the secret of this mantra.

Kacchan went to Shukracharya and told him, that he is Brihaspathi's son and requested Shukracharya to accept him as his disciple. Shukracharya knew that Guru is upto something, being a DevaGuru what is it that Shukracharya can teach Kacchan that DevaGuru cannot teach, this question came to his mind, and then Shukracharya realized that it could be trying to nullify the power of Mrita Sanjivini and hence was prepared not to upadesh this mantra at any time to kacchan and however according to Veda Shastra Dharma accepted him as his disciple and the learning began.

In due course of time, Shukracharya's daughter Devyani, fell in love with Kacchan and day by day her feelings for Kacchan increased. The Asuras (demons) learned that kacchan is here and could be harmful to the demon clan and decided to vanquish him using their demonic powers. They succeeded in killing Kacchan. Devyani kept looking for Kacchan, as he did not turn up, and got concerned and asked her father to look for him. Shukracharya realized through his divine powers that the demons were the ones responsible for Kacchan's death and so he used the Mrita Sanjivini mantra to bring Kacchan back to life.

The demons continued their target against Kacchan, even after several warnings by their Guru Shukracharya, not to harm his student (disciple). Every now and then the killing happened and Shukracharya resurrected Kacchan back to life.

The demons became restless, eventhough their guru is their to guide them, they felt that a student from their enemy camp would definitely bring misfortune to their clan, and so were reluctant to heed to their guru's advise and this time they killed Kacchan and burnt him to ashes and mixed those ashes in Shukracharya's SomaRas (Divine intoxicated drink). Shukracharya drank the SomaRas and the pleading of his daughter Devyani about missing Kacchan, made him realize through his divine powers that Kacchan is now gone into his stomach as ashes.

Shukracharya uttered the mantra and Kacchan cut open Shukracharya's stomach and appeared in life again and as the mantra was being told, Kacchan came to life and learned the mantra from Shukracharya. The power of using this mantra by Shukracharya is now being lost. Shukracharya realized this, but, has no choice, since, he felt that this was the only choice.

Kacchan, having accomplished his mission, as instructed by Deva Guru, now decided to go back to Devalok, when Devyani stopped him and confessed her love for him to which Kacchan did not want to reciprocate and said the truth about his mission. Devyani got angry and cursed that Kacchan will not be able to use this mantra and that it lose all it's powers, the curse came true and Kacchan reciprocated the anger by cursing that Devyani would never be able to marry a Brahmin, and in time, it happened that Devyani got married to a Kshatriya king of the Lunar dynasty, named Yayati.

Brihaspathi, having completed his mission and felt assured that the threats from the demons would no more be a problem to the Devas, infact it was and this situation made Lord Indra very proud and he began neglecting his Deva Guru. Guru decided to teach Indra a lesson and hence disappeared. Indra began searching for Guru when there was a time when he needed consultation and so his search was in vain and then decided to install a new Deva Guru, he found 'Viprajith' to be suitable for this post.

Thus, Viprajith became the new Deva Guru and in course of time, fell for the lures of the demons and began providing better guidance to the demons and showed less interest in the Devas. This angered Indra and he struck Viprajith with his thunderbolt (Vajrayudha). Viprajith lay dead and Indra is now consumed with the sin of killing a Brahmin, known in the sanskrit texts as Brahma-Hatthi-Paapa, meaning the sin of killing Brahma.

Viprajith's father learned about his son's death and in anger performed a Yagna and out emerged a powerful demon named Vruthirasura. Vruthirasura was created with lots of powers and his only goal was to vanquish Indra. Vruthirasura came to Indra's court to kill him, Indra escaped from there and surrendered to Lord Brahma to protect him who said that his negligence and arrogance is now leading to his own troubles. He advised Indra to approach Deva Guru (Brihaspathi) and ask for his forgiveness and a solution, Indra sincerely prayed to Deva Guru asking him to appear before him, and Deva Guru pardoned Indra and told him that in order to destroy Vruthirasura, Indra should find a Rishi (Sage) who would be willing to sacrifice his life for the cause of the welfare of the Devas, and then use the backbone of that Rishi as a weapon, as this is the only thing that can destroy that powerful asura (demon).

Indra went to Brahma and asked whom he can approach for this cause, and Brahma suggested to go to Sage Daseega. Indra fell at Sage Daseega's feet asking him to protect the Devas, and Daseega agreed to sacrifice his life for a good cause. Daseega's soul (Jeevatma) became one in unison with Lord Vishnu (Paramatma). Indra carried Sage Daseega's backbone as a weapon and fought a war against the fire demon Vruthirasura and killed him. He then appeased Deva Guru and brought him back with all respects to his kingdom and left for penance under water clinging to a lotus stem and meditated upon Lord Shiva to remove the sin of Brahma-Hatthi-Paapa. Indra got freed from the sin and then ascended Devalok and with the guidance of the divine preceptor, his Deva Guru, Brihaspathi continued to rule the heavens.

The story of MERCURY god

                                       Om priyangu kalika shyamam
                                       roopena prathimam budham
                                       soumyam soumya guno bedham
                                       tham budham pranamam yaham

 

Budha's Bija Mantra
The Bija mantra is most powerful and potent, ensure physical and mental cleanup and purity before chanting this mantra.

Om bhraam bhreem bhroum saha budhaaya namaha

 

About Budha:

Budha (Mercury) is the lord of the intellect, fine arts, humor and wit. Budha influences one's wit to gain prowess in mathematics and astrology. Budha's skin colour is known to be yellow, according to puranas, and he rides a white chariot driven by horses.

The story of MERCURY god

Budha was born as son of Lord Chandra and Taara. For details of Budha's birth, I refer my readers to view my previous post - The story of MOON God.

Budha grew up to a small boy and one day learned how he was born. He realized that he was not a legitimate child of Lord Chandra and grieved for a while about his misfortune. He then decided to leave home and went to the  himalaya mountains to meditate and live. Budha meditated upon Lord Narayana and did severe penance and received his blessings. As there was no guru (teacher) for Budha, Lord Narayana himself taught him all the divine skills and vedas.

Thus, Budha was leading a life of an ascetic, having established an ashram (hermitage) under the foothills of the himalayas, a place known as Gowri Thadaka.

Budha, never received his mother's love and care, eventhough his father Chandra was very caring and loving, and so, did Krittika and Rohini, Budha felt that the world would mock at his birth story and he would never be able to rule as a great king of the Lunar Dynasty and hence, he continued his life as an ascetic.

Having blessed by Lord Narayana, Budha has now become learned, filled with radiance and has grown into a good looking young man. One day, an apsara descended from the heavens and spotted Budha and fell in love with him. She proposed Budha that he marry her and they go live together in the Heavens (Devalok), Budha, realized that moment, his own birth story and how such indulgences results in illegitimate children and was very firm in his mind that he will not commit the same mistake that his father Chandra committed, so, he turned down the apsaras proposal. This angered the apsara and she cursed Budha that he be transformed into an Eunach.

Budha grieved that eventhough he wanted to uphold certain morals in his life, he is still facing a curse and approached Lord Narayana and begged the Lord to relieve him from the curse. Lord Narayana knows that Budha is his own Amsam (a form of incarnation or lineage), and hence, asked Budha to appease Lord Shiva,

as he is the only one who has the powers to remove any curse.

Budha did severe penance and Lord Shiva was so pleased with Budha's sincere life goals and penance that he blessed Budha with divine knowledge. To remove the effects of the curse, Lord Shiva asked Budha to undertake the ritual of bathing in the Chola kingdom's Thiruvenkaadu (close to Pumpuhar in TamilNadu) water pond - Surya, Chandra and Agni pond and then perform puja for Lord Shiva and Parvathi. Budha religiously performed the rituals and as he was performing, he slowly attained his original form, from the eunach and got completely relieved from the curse.

Lord Shiva assured Budha of a spot in the Navagraha Mandala for his achievements. Lord Surya's son, Vaivashvata Manu did not have a child since a long time and as per Sage Vasishta's advise performed 'Putra Kaameshti Yagna' and obtained 10 sons, the eldest was named Elan, who became the king of Solar Dynasty.

Elan, once, performed a Digvijaya (an ordinance to establish his supremacy of his kingdom), and Budha's Ashram was within Elan's boundaries of the kingdom, so, he came near the Ashram and went to bathe in a pond called 'Parvati Thadaka'. As he finished his bath and got out of the pond he got transformed into a women. Elan was shocked at his new women form and came into Budha's ashram and narrated the incident to Budha.

Budha explained the story of this pond to Elan, Lord Shiva and Parvati bathe in this pond, when the sages go to visit Lord Shiva and Parvati to Kailasa for a darshan, they come back to this pond in search of the Lord and hence, Parvati devi wanting to establish privacy in the pond, cursed that anyone coming close in the pond within certain perimeters would automatically get transformed into a women, and this is what happened to Elan. So, saying, Budha explained that since Parvati's curse to the pond, has affected Elan, nothing can be done to relieve the curse.

Elan was shocked, grieved for a while and then decided that if he were to get back to his kingdom, no one would recognize and believe him to be the king in a women form, and would only mock at him and may instead become a danger for his life, requested that he be allowed to stay with Budha in his ashram.

Budha sympathized with Elan, and allowed him to live in his ashram. Over a period of time, Elan, now, in a women form, wanted to marry Budha, as he has no other scope in his life now, and Budha too agreed to this request and they got married.

In the meantime, Elan's family approached Sage Vasishta and apprised him of Elan's no return from DigVijaya. Vasishta learned through his divine powers at that moment about what happened to Elan and went to Budha's ashram and told Elan to undertake penance and meditate upon Lord Shiva to relieve himself from this curse.

Elan received the blessings of Lord Shiva, and Shiva said, since the curse was given by none other than his wife Parvati, the curse can only be modified. The effect of the curse of Parvati and blessings of Lord Shiva, is that, for one year Elan would remain a women, the next year, Elan would become a man, and next year after, he would again be transformed into a women.

Elan gladly accepted the Lord's commands and continued to live with Budha as his wife and a women. In the one year, Elan gave birth to a son called Pururava, who became a great king of the Lunar Dynasty having blessed by Lord Shiva, and also due to his own efforts, penance and yagnas.

Thus came into being the great kings of the Lunar Dynasty, the sons and grandsons of Pururava, Yayati, KaarthaVeeryarjuna, the Gauravas and the Pandavas.

Budha performed severe penance further and obtained blessings of Lord Shiva, who gave him the knowledge and mastery of 64 divine arts and skills and Budha in his Navagraha Mandala (Planetary position) came to be known as Vidya Kaaraka.

The story of MARS god

                                       Om Dharani garba samboodham
                                       vidyud kaanthi samaprabham
                                       kumaaram sakthi hastamcha
                                       mangalam pranamaam yaham

Kuja's Bija Mantra
The Bija mantra is most powerful and potent, ensure physical and mental cleanup and purity before chanting this mantra.

Om kraam kreem kroum saha bhoumaya namaha

About Kuja:

In Sanskrit, 'KU' means earth and 'JA' means birth. Lord Kuja is also known as Angaaraka, Mangalan, Rudhir, Bhauma and Sevvai. Kuja is the commander-in-chief of gods. He is a warrior, who rides a ram and known for qualities such as masculine, courage, bravery and patience.

Kuja is associated with the planet Mars and is his vehicle to influence the living beings on earth according to one's karma (deeds). Kuja is also associated with the color Red and aggression, he is also known as the fierce planet, only next to Sun.

Puraanas has it that, Lord Vishnu's perspiration fell in the ocean and turned into a Coral and  Lord Kuja emerged from Coral.

The story of MARS God
Lord Brahma began creating the universe, as he created seven rishis (sages), he instructed them to aid him in his creation by engaging in procreation. The seven rishis are Vashishta, Marichi, Pulastya, Pulaha, Atri, Angiras and Kratu.

According to another scripture there is a slight variation in the names of Sapta Rishis - Vashista, Kashyapa, Atri, Jamadagni, Gautama, Vishwamitra and Bharadwaja.

Bharadwaja was a great sage, having received several boons through penance, was practising ascetism and lived in the banks of the river Narmada. One day, as he set out of his ashram, he saw a few apsaras bathing in Narmada, his eyes fell on an apsara and was filled with love in his mind and approached an apsara and told his feelings to her. On seeing the great sage, the apsara too began falling in love with him and they got married. The sage now began leading marital life and forgot all his duties of a sage. Soon, a beautiful, strong baby was born to them.

Having stayed with sage Bharadwaja for a long time, the apsara decided to leave behind the baby and ascended back to the heavens, the sage now realized that he has been ignoring his duties as a sage, and so, he too left the baby in the banks of the river Narmada and went on to do severe penance.

The goddess of earth - Bhoomadevi, saw the baby, picked up and cared for the baby, just like her own son. As time passed by, the baby has grown into a small boy and one day, the boy asked Bhoomadevi as to who his father was and that he has never seen his father. Bhoomadevi decided not to hold onto the secret anymore and revealed everything to the boy and took him to Bharadwaja, stopped his penance and explained everything to the sage.

On seeing this strong and beautiful boy, the sage's heart was filled with love and compassion, he accepted that this boy is the fruit of his penance and named him as 'Angaarakan', since, the boy had a strong built. Sage Bharadwaja taught Angaarakan, all the vedas, scriptures and usage of divine weapons. Angaarakan grew up into a handsome and strong young man and mastered all that his father taught him. Bhardwaja now advised him to undertake penance and propitiate Lord Ganesha to receive desired boons and accordingly Angaaraka went to the forests and did severe penance for several years.

Lord Ganesha was pleased with Angaaraka's penance and appeared before him on a Tuesday and said he can receive any boon that he is seeking, to which Angaaraka asked the Lord to grant him a status equal to the Devas of the Heavens and he should always be devoted to him. Lord Ganesha was so pleased with this, that he granted him a position as a significant planet (Navagraha) along with the Deva status and said Lord's brother Subramanya would be the presiding deity of Angaaraka and having been blessed by him, he will be also known as Mangalan.

Thus, Angaarakan came to be known as Mangalan. Since, Ganesha appeared before him on a Tuesday, he also came to be known as Sevvai. Having been reared by the goddess of earth - Bhoomadevi, he also came to known as Kuja or Bhauma.

Kuja built a temple for Lord Ganesha at the spot where he was given darshan, and installed a deity of ganesha and called it 'Chintamani Vinayaka'.

Lord Ganesha also said that once Lord Shiva's wife Dakshayani when she immolated herself in the yagna, Lord Shiva was so angered and he created Veerabhadra out of his third eye and instructed Veerabhadra to destroy Dakshayani's father Daksha and his yagna. Accordingly, everyone who came to the yagna were being destroyed, when the preceptor of demons - Lord Shukracharya, offered a truce to Veerabhadra, if accepted, he would be given a spot in the Navagraha mandala, and that he should spare Shukrachaarya and Veerabhadra too agreed with greed in his eyes for this position and spared Shukracharya and went onto destroy all others in the yagna. Lord Surya saw this behavior and said, being a Navagraha nayaka, he cannot allow someone who can be influenced by anything and accept it and forget their duties, such persons are not suitable for the Navagraha position or status, since then, there was no one who could take this position of the Red planet. So, saying this, Lord Ganesha, installed the Red planetary position and the power to influence as a Navagraha to Kuja, since, Kuja could have asked anything for a boon, but, asked for something very simple.

Thus came into being Lord Kuja, also known as Lohithanga.

The story of MOON god

                                       Om Dhadhi Shankha tushaaraabham
                                       Ksheero Dhaarnava Sambhavam
                                       Namami Shashinam Somam
                                       Shambor Makuda Bhooshanam

Chandra's Bija Mantra
The Bija mantra is most powerful and potent, ensure physical and mental cleanup and purity before chanting this mantra.

Om Som Soma yai namaha
Om Shrim krim Cham Chandra yai namaha

About Chandra:
Chandra(Moon) goes around mother earth in 30 days and travels through the 12 zodical signs. Chandra is known as the Lord of Medicinal herbs. He gives his healing powers through moon-crystals(chandramukhi mani) when sunlight gets reflected through these crystals as moonlight shining on the medicinal plants at night, when these herbs grow and yield. Chandra has another name, Soma, meaning nectar.

The Hindu scriptures state that Chandra repesents the human mind, the subconscious and is a giver of life force. The moon represents the human mind(manas) and fermentation and influences one's intuitive, imaginative and psychic nature.

The story of MOON God:
Lord Brahma began creating the universe, as he created seven rishis (sages), he instructed them to aid him in his creation by engaging in procreation. The seven rishis are Vashishta, Marichi, Pulastya, Pulaha, Atri, Angiras and Kratu.

Atri was married to Anusuya and had no children, Anusuya was very virtuous, so, the trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) wanted to test Anusuya, so, they transformed themselves into three sages and appeared before Atri and Anusuya, asking them to serve food. They were welcomed into the house and the trinity said they follow some pinciples and only if food is served adhering to those principles, would they accept it, and the couple agreed. The trinity said they wanted to see Anusuya naked and then she serve them food, Atri was shocked to hear this, Anusuya immediately agreed and transformed the trinity into infants and began feeding them. Sage Narada learns about this and informs the trinity devis (Parvati, Laxmi and Saraswathi). The devis come to meet Anusuya and request her to release them from infancy and give them back their divine trinity form. Anusuya agrees to this request and the trinity now appear as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva along with their devis, pleased with Anusuya's virtuousness offered them a boon, to which the couple asked for a son who will be remembered forever by mother earth and who will prove useful to human and other life forms.

Thus, was born 3 sons, Soma(Chandra), Durvasa, Dattatreya. Durvasa mastered the vedas and did severe penance and obtained the status of a Great Sage. Dattatreya became a Deva and obtained a status equal to Indra, Vayu, Varuna, Kubera, Yama and became a part of the Devalok. Soma obtained or achieved the status of a Navagraha and thus came into being the origin of Lunar Dynasty.

Soma (Chandra) performed severe penance and received several boons from the trinity. Among the boons he received were to permeate and influence the human mind and fermentation, influence the human psyche and subconscious, be a giver of life force, influence the growth and yield of medicinal herbs, influence the happy and sad part of all life forms and provide moonlight at night. The blessings of Lord Vishnu conferred the title to Soma as Lord Chandra.

Chandra was married to the twenty seven (27) daughters of sage Daksha, son of Lord Brahma. Those 27 daughters are the 27 lunar asterisms or stars (see - "Introduction to Planets"). When Daksha gave away his 27 daughters on marriage to Chandra, asked for a promise that Chandra would never look down upon any of his daughters and would treat all the 27 daughters with love, care and equality. And, Chandra too promised sage Daksha that he will love and care all his wives equally.

Once, Chandra decided to perform the greatest of Yagnas, Rajasuya Yagna(Fire worship). Chandra went to Satyalok and invited Lord Brahma and to receive his blessings and then went to Devalok to invite Lord Indra and other Devas to attend the Yagna. Chandra requested Brihaspathi (Deva Guru) to preside as the main priest to perform the yagna and Brihaspathi agreed to perform, since, Chandra was taught all the vedas and divine skills by his guru, who was none other than Brihaspathi himself.

Due to some other reason, Brihaspathi could not go and asked his wife Taara to preside over the yagna. As the yagna was progressing, Chandra began to attain more and more beautiful form, his divine beauty kept increasing to such an extent that all the Apsaras (Angels), Devalok women and including Deva Guru's wife Taara began to fall for Chandra's beauty. The women could not take their eyes off Chandra and this made the Deva men get jealous and they left the yagna, their better halves did not want to join them and hence, all the apsaras and Deva women stayed back with Chandra and indulged in physical relationship with him and after a period of time, the women folks left, except Deva Guru's wife Taara. She loved Chandra who was initially hesitant about this, knowing Taara is his Guru's wife, but, he could not control watching her beauty and finally yielded to his and her desires.

Brihaspathi sent his messengers to Chandra asking to send Taara back home, but, Chandra said to the messengers, "I am not keeping Taara forcefully, and she is staying with me at her own accord, if Taara wants to go, she can, I shall not try stopping her".

The matter reached Lord Shiva, and Shiva asked Chandra to send Taara back, to which, chandra said, "I cannot compel Taara to go back, it is not a Kshatriya's Dharma to send off someone, when they have come to take refuge and live with you". Shiva gets angry on hearing this and starts a war with Chandra. Due to the war, the 5 elements of nature suffered (5 elements - Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Ether). Lord Indra seeks Brahma's interference to stop the war, Brahma realizes that Chandra is alone responsible and asks Chandra to stop this unnecessary war and send Taara back. Chandra as usual began preaching the Kshatriya Dharma to Brahma and this agitates Brahma who curses that Chandra become a Sinner. Chandra reiterates his stand and appeals to Brahma that he is not at fault, and that Brahma reconsider his curse, to which Brahma asks Chandra to return Taara to Brihaspathi and beg forgiveness with Deva Guru (Brihaspathi), if forgiven then Brihaspathi's Yellow rays would remove the curse.

Chandra now decides to get his curse removed and stops the war, begs Lord Shiva to forgive him and advises Taara to go back home, and leaves her in his guru's house and falls at the feet of his guru, guru too decides to forget whatever happened and pardons Chandra and shines yellow rays on him that removes Brahma's curse.

Deva guru finds Taara has conceived and she tells him that this happened due to Chandra, so, upon birth of the baby, Guru did not like to bring up Chandra's baby and asks her to return the baby to Chandra. Chandra now asks his 27 wives to take care of the baby, the baby is named Budha(Mercury) and only 2 of his wives, Krittika and Rohini care for the baby, the other 25 wives ignore the baby. Between Krittika and Rohini, Rohini cares a lot more for the baby, so, Chandra too reciprocates his love for his wives in the same manner, ignoring the 25 wives and caring only for Krittika and Rohini.

The 25 wives feeling neglected, approach their father, Sage Daksha and apprise him of the situation. Daksha realizes that Chandra has broken his promise of loving all his wives equally and curses Chandra in his anger that in 15 days he will loose all his beauty and get rotten.

Chandra realizes that eventhough he has obtained several boons from Lord Shiva after several years of penance, he does not have power to stop Daksha's strange and mystic powers of his curse, and so approaches Lord Indra with his woes.

Lord Indra tells chandra all his faults, by recollecting the bad deeds one by one. At first, as a small boy Chandra laughs at Lord Ganesha, once, when Ganesha was walking home after eating a heavy meal filled with sweets (Modhak), Ganesha felt very heavy and slipped and fell down, and picked up a snake running by to wear it as a belt to hold his dress over his waist and began walking again, when Chandra saw this scene he could not control his laughter and burst upon Ganesha, for which Lord Ganesha curses that Chandra become debilitated. Lord Brahma then explained to Lord Ganesha, the purpose of Chandra's birth and his significant planetary position, Ganesha, then, modifies his curse and lets Chandra be debilitated only on one day in a year, which is on the day of Vinayaka Chathurthi, the month of Shravana (mid Aug to mid Sep). Next, Chandra got cursed by Lord Brahma and later released from the curse, after Brahma realized Chandra's planetary position. Then, Chandra again got cursed by Daksha, and this time, the effect of the curse is more stronger that Chandra is unable to release himself from it, so, saying, Lord Indra, asked Chandra to approach Lord Brahma, as he is the only one who can save him from this situation.

Chandra goes to Brahma and asks for his forgiveness and a solution to remove Daksha's curse from affecting him, to which Brahma says, eventhough Daksha is my son, he has received strange mystic powers and several boons and he is invincible, this fact has made him very proud of his achievements and Daksha in no way, would listen to me, even if, I, as his father advise him, Lord Shiva is your last resort, go and fall at his feet.

By the time Chandra went to Lord Shiva, he has already lost his beauty in 14 days and was left with only one day to completely look miserable. Chandra surrendered himself to Lord Shiva and begged his forgiveness and said, henceforth, he will only do what the Lord asks him to do. Shiva feels pious and kind on hearing Chandra's pleas, and immediately takes Chandra and keeps him on his matted hair, Chandra looked like a curved bowl on Shiva's matted hair and the last part of his beauty, remained forever, and Daksha's curse could not affect Chandra further. Shiva said Chandra, that from tommorrow, your radiance and beauty will increase day by day and you will shine in all glory in 15 days, however, Daksha's curse cannot be completely removed, so, in the next 15 days after you shine, your radiance will deteriorate each day and will lose your radiance according to Daksha's curse, when you are left with one day's radiance, you will stop there, due to my interference and will not deteriorate further, but, grow in radiance for the next 15 days. This way, you will grow in radiance and beauty for 15 days and shine in all resplendant glory on the 15th day (full moon day - Pournima) and will lose each day's radiance and beauty in the 15 days and will be left with one day's radiance and beauty on 15th day (No moon day - Amavasya). You will now, influence every living being on earth with your planetary position and be a giver of life force through your Waxing and Waning periods (Bright Half and Dark Half respectively).

Thus, came into being, Lord Chandra, as per the boon that Atri and Anusuya received from the trinity, a boon that asked for a son who will be remembered forever by mother earth and who will prove useful to human and other life forms.

The story of SUN god

                                       Om Japaa kusuma Shankaasam
                                       Kaasyapeyam mahathyuthim
                                       thamorim sarva papagnam
                                       pranadosmin diwakaram

Surya's Bija Mantra
The Bija mantra is most powerful and potent, ensure physical and mental cleanup and purity before chanting this mantra.

Om Hraam Hreem Hraum saha suryaya namaha

About Surya:
Surya goes around an apamandala(ecliptic path) making a big solar circle around Lord Vishnu's Naabhi(Navel). Surya holds the other planets in gravitational position in their orbits and they revolve around Surya. As surya goes away from Vishnu's naabhi, adharma (bad deeds) in the world increase and as surya gets closer to vishnu's naabhi, the dharma (good deeds) increase.

The Hindu scriptures state that our ancestors dwell in the sun and he is the first of eight vasus. Surya represents consciousness and is a luminous mass of light, whose consciousness is represented by a Kshatriya driving a seven horsed chariot that represents the seven rays of sunlight.

The sun enters capricorn (Makara) in January and moves in a north direction, known as Uttarayana, and dakshinayana begins when the sun enters Cancer (Kataka).

The sun represents your Ego (Atman), and influences your behavior to become strong,authoritative, royal and original.

The story of SUN God:
Lord Brahma began creating the universe, as he created seven rishis (sages), he instructed them to aid him in his creation by engaging in procreation. The seven rishis are Vashishta, Marichi, Pulastya, Pulaha, Atri, Angiras and Kratu. Kashyapa is the son of Marichi, he married the 13 daughters of Daksha-prajapathi. Kashyapa created Andanar, Kshatriyar, Arakkar, Maanudar and many more rishis in the procreation process.

Kashyapa's 1st wife out of the 13, is Aditi, who gave birth to 12 sons, and by the blessings of Lord Vishnu, they united to become one and came to be known as Surya. Lord Vishnu asked Surya to become the chief of the Navagrahas. It is also believed that Vishnu himself incarnated as Surya, and hence the name Suryanarayana.

As the procreation happened in large numbers, the process of creation, protection and destruction of the lives and the process of recording the karmas (deeds) of each life, whether good or bad was needed, and hence, 6 more grahas were created, Chandra, Kuja, Budha, Guru, Shukra and Shani. Rahu and Ketu were created later, after the great churn of the ocean. Thus came into being the 9 grahas called the Navagrahas, with Surya being their leader.

Being the eldest son of Kashyapa, Surya ruled Jambu Dweepa (Asian continent). Surya got married to Samugnya who gave birth to surya's sons - Vaivashvata manu, Yama, twins Ashwini Devas and a sister Yamuna. Samugnya could not tolerate the heat of Surya and so she created a shadow of her called Chaayadevi left her with Surya and silently returned to her father's home. Chaayadevi looked exactly like Samagnya and Surya could not make out that she is a shadow. He lived with Chaayadevi and she gave birth to 2 sons, Saavarni Manu and Shani, and 2 daughters, Dhabadhi and Viyati. Chaayadevi began ill-treating her stepsons after she gave birth to her sons and this made Yama angry and he kicked Chaayadevi with his leg. Chaayadevi cursed Yama that his legs get rotten over time, and as time went by, Yama's legs began to rot and the distressed Yama sought his father Surya's help to remove the curse on him. Surya advised Yama to meditate and propitiate Lord Shiva to get the curse removed. Yama did severe penance and pleased Lord Shiva and received his blessings and came to be known as YamaDharma and Lord Shiva crowned him as the Lord of Death - YamaDharma.

After this incident, Surya doubted that a true mother will never curse her son and went to Chaayadevi to ask her why she did this to Yama, and learned the truth that she was a shadow. Surya immediately went to Samagnya and persuaded her to come back to his home, to which, Samagnya asked Surya to reduce his heat, and Surya agreed and dropped his heat and they returned home together. The heat that Surya reduced, split into 3 portions and the first portion went to Lord Vishnu as his Sudarshan Chakra (Divine Disc) and the second went to Lord Shiva as his Trishoolam (Trident) and the 3rd went to Lord Indra in Heavens as his Vajra (Thunderbolt).

Surya adopted Arunan, his younger mother's son, as his charioteer, driving the 7 horses led divine chariot. As Surya begins his journey from the EAST to the WEST, his younger grandfather named Kratu's (one of the seven rishis) 60,000 children known as Vaalkilyars, who are only the size of a human thumb, devotedly follow his divine chariot, chanting Surya's mantras (chants or hymns) from the EAST to the WEST, daily, asking Surya to bless the human beings on earth with good rays for the human benefit and to this day, Lord Surya, daily appeased by Vaalkilyars chants, shines beneficial rays on this mother earth.

Introduction to Planets

Introduction to Planets

There are nine significant grahas(planets) in our solar system.

Surya(SUN), chandra(MOON), kuja(MARS), budha(MERCURY), guru(JUPITER),

shukra(VENUS), shani(SATURN), rahu(DRAGON's HEAD) & ketu(DRAGON's TAIL).

The nine grahas influence human life on earth and every thing in earth from plants, animals, water & air are influenced by the cosmic vibrations of these grahas. On a full moon day the tides rise in the sea due to the moon's cosmic vibrations, the medicinal herbs grow in moonlight, the sun is the giver of life, sun's rays fall on earth after 7 1/2 minutes since sunrise. Plants respond to sunlight and need the cosmic vibrations of the sun to make food, the sunflower follows the direction of the sun from east to west. Wild animals bask in sunlight after preying a meal. Every thing in earth are connected to the nine grahas and influenced by the cosmic vibrations of the grahas.

The Apamandala (Ecliptic path of the sun) is divided into 12 houses of the zodiac, the zodiac itself being a Circle of Light, which has no beginning and no end. Each zodiac house is further divided into 30 degrees each, and the 27 stars or constellations are divided into 4 steps(padas). Each pada is 3 degrees and 20 minutes and a house is divided into nine parts with each part being 3 degrees and 20 minutes, 9 x 3degrees = 27degrees, 20min x 9 = 180mins, 1 degree = 60 minutes, 180 mins = 3 degrees, 27+3 = 30 degrees.

The 12 zodical signs are:-
Aries(MESHA), Taurus(VRISHABA), Gemini(Mithuna), Cancer(KATAKA), Leo(SIMHA), Virgo(KANYA), Libra(THULA), Scorpio(VRISCHIKA), Sagittarius(DHANUS), Capricorn(MAKARA), Aquarius(KUMBHA), Pisces(MEENA).

The 27 stars or constellations are:-
Aswini, Bharani, Krittika, Rohini, Mrigasira, Aridra, Punarvasu, pushyami, Aslesha, Makha, Pubba, Uttara, Hasta, Chitta, Swati, Visakha, Anuradha, Jyeshta, Moola, Poorvashada, Uttarashada, Sravana, Dhanista, Satabisha, Poorvabhadrapada, Uttarabhadrapada and Revathi.