The Abirami Anthathi is a divine, lyrical song on Goddess Abirami which has 100 verses. The term “Anthaathi” refers to the particular style of composition wherein each new stanza begins with the same word that was used to end the previous stanza.

The beauty of this Anthathi is the story behind it and that it was composed ad hoc by Abirami Pattar (Subramaniya Iyer) on the spur of the moment and with intense devotion.
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This is the story behind the celebration of Narasimha Jayanthi and can be read along with the puja. Our thanks to Satsanghi Vidya Rangarajan for providing this content for the web site.
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Narasimha Avatar is a proof of the Lord’s promise that, one who is totally surrendered to him, will be under the protection of Lord at all times.

Once Hiranyakasipu asked his son Prahlada , what did he learn from his teacher. Prahlada replied, I have learnt the essence of all the learning that Narayana is the one who illumines everything in the mind , gives bliss and fulfillment to all. Prahlada’s answer disappointed Hiranyakasipu , and he tried all methods to divert his son from the devotion to God. The child Prahlada was subjected to all kinds of torture , but Prahlada’s devotion to god strengthened further. Enraged at his son’s unshaken devotion to his arch enemy, Hiranyakasipu decided to put an end forever to Prahlada , by all possible means.
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Today is Narasimha Chaturdasi, the appearance anniversary of Lord Narasimhadeva, the half-man, half-lion incarnation of the Supreme Lord. On this day fasting is observed until dusk, and then followed by feasting. This is a most auspicious day to remember the great mercy the Lord has upon His pure devotees to protect them from all varieties of dangerous situations.

Here are some beautiful prayers for worshipping Lord Narasimhadeva:

namas te narasiṁhāya
prahlādāhlāda-dāyine
hiraṇyakaśipor vakṣaḥ-
śilā-ṭaṅka-nakhālaye
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Maha Shivaratri (or “Great Night of Shiva”) is a festival celebrated every year on the 13th day/13th night (breaking fast/’vrata’ on 14th after sunrise) in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the month of Maagha (as per Shalivahana or Gujarati Vikrama) or Phalguna (as per Vikrama) in the Hindu Calendar (that is, the night before and day of the new moon). The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Lord Shiva, all day fasting and an all night long vigil.
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Our Satsanghi Jayashree Vaitheeshwaran has kindly provided us with the Sri Mookambikai Ashtottaram in English. This was originally transliterated from grandhakshra to Tamil language by Vaitheeji’s father in 1979 after which it started getting published in many Tamil Ashtotra books.

Jayashreeji has now transcribed the same to English, for the sake of our readers.
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The Sanskrit and Tamil Versions are available in PDF format and the English Version in text format for download..
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This is the fourth post on Devi Mahatmyam. These were short summaries given at our UAE Satsangh.

Thanks to Chitraji for providing the material for sharing with all of us.
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CHAPTERS 8, 9 AND 10 – THE SLAYING OF RAKTHABHIJA, NISHUMBHA AND SHUMBHA.

After the daityas Chanda and Munda and many of the battalions were destroyed, the lord of the asuras, with mind overcome by anger went forth attended by many thousands of big forces. Seeing that most terrible army approaching, Chandika filled into space between the earth and the sky with the twang of her bow-string. On hearing the roar of the Devi, the enraged asura battalions surrounded the lion, the Devi Chandika and Kaali on all the four sides.
At this moment in order to annihilate the enemies of the Devas, the great strength from the bodies of Brahma, Shiva, Guha, Vishnu and Indra along with the form of those Devas went to Chandika. Whatever was the form of each Deva, and whatever his ornaments and vehicle, in that very form his shakti advanced to fight with the asuras.
In a heavenly chariot drawn by swans advanced Brahma’s shakti carrying rosary and a Kamandalu. She is called Brahmaani.
Maaheshwari arrived, seated on a bull, holding a fine trident, wearing bracelets of great snakes and adorned with a digit of the moon.
Ambika Koumaari, in the form of Guha, holding a spear in hand riding on a fine peacock, advanced to attack the asuras.
Likewise, the shakthi of Vishnu came, seated upon Garuda, holding conch, club, bow and sword in hand.
The shakthi of Hari, who assumed the incomparable form of a sacrificial boar, also advanced there in a boar-like form.
Naarasimhi arrived there, assuming a body like that of a Narasimha, bringing down the constellations by the toss of her mane.
Likewise, the thousand eyed Aindri, holding a thunderbolt in hand and riding on the lord of elephants arrived just like Indra.
Then Shiva, surrounded by those shakthis of the Devas , said to Chandika, “ let the asuras be killed forthwith by you for my gratification”.
Thereupon from the body of Devi issued forth the Sakthi of Chandika and she told Shiva,” Go, my Lord, as an ambassador to the presence of Shumbha and Nishumbha. Ask them to give the three worlds to the Devas back, if they wish to live. But if through pride of strength, they are ready for a battle, let them come to me. Let my jackals be satiated with their flesh”.
Because that Devi appointed Shiva himself as Dhoota, she was known as Shiva-dhuti.
Hearing the words of Devi through Shiva, the king of asuras rushed to the place where Kaatyaayini stood. The terrible war began with numerous weapons. Seeing the asuras harassed by the band of Maatras, the great asura Rakthabhija strode forward to fight in wrath.
Whenever from his body there fell to the ground a drop of blood, at that very moment rose up from the earth asura of his stature. As many drops of blood fell from his body, so many persons came into being, with his courage, strength and valour. The world was pervaded by thousands of great asuras who were like Rakthabhija.
The Devas got intensely alarmed at this. Seeing the devas dejected, Chandika laughed and said to Kaali,” O, Chamunda, open out your mouth wide; with this mouth quickly take in the drops of blood generated by the blow of my weapon and the great asuras born of the drops of blood of Rakthabhija. Let this great asura, with his blood emptied perish”.
The Devi smote Rakthabhija with her various weapons, as and when Chamunda went on drinking his blood. Stricken with various weapons and bloodless, the great asura Rakthabhija fell lifeless on the ground.

After Rakthabhija was slain and other asuras were killed in the fight, the asura Shumbha and Nishumbha gave way to unbounded wrath. Supported by the great army, the two great asuras went for the fight. Then commenced a severe combat between the Devi on one side and the two asuras like two thunder-clouds on the other.
The Devi assailed the heroic Danava, Nishumbha who was advancing with battle-axe in hand, and laid him low on the ground. When his brother Nishumbha of terrific prowess fell to the ground, Shumbha got infuriated in the extreme and strode forward to slay Ambika.
The sound of the bell, bow-string, loud roars filled all the worlds which started destroying the strength of the asuras. The Devi split the arrows shot by Shumbha and Shumbha also split the arrows discharged by her. Then Chandika became angry and smote him with a trident. Wounded therewith, he fainted and fell to the ground.
Meanwhile, Nishumbha, regaining the consciousness, seized his bow and struck the arrows on the Devi, the Kali and the lion. As Nishumbha was advancing with the dart in hand, Chandika pierced him in the heart with a swiftly hurled dart. Thus Nishumbha and the other asuras were destroyed by Devi.

Seeing his brother Nishumbha slain, who was dear to him as his life, Shumbha angrily said to Devi” O Durga, you are puffed up with the pride of strength, don’t show your pride here. Though you are exceedingly haughty, you, resorting to the strength of others fight”
The Devi said:”I am all alone in the world here. These goddesses are but my own powers, entering into my own self!”
Then all those, Braahmani and others, were absorbed in the body of the Devi. Ambika alone remained.
The Devi said, “the numerous forms which I projected by my power here – those have been withdrawn by me, and now I stand alone. Be steadfast in the fight”
Then began a dreadful fight between them both on the earth and in the sky, while all Devas and asuras looked on. Various weapons were released by the asura and all were broken down by the power of Devi. The Devi pierced Shumbha’s chest with a dart, and threw him down on the earth. Pierced by the pointed dart, he fell lifeless on the ground, shaking the entire earth with its seas, islands and mountains.
The Devas became happy. The sun became very brilliant and tranquil became the strange sounds that had risen in different quarters. Praises were sung on the great Kaatyayini by the Devas .
Here ends the story of the slaying of Shumbha and Nishumbha of Devi Mahatmyam.

Our thanks to Reiki Master Anandhi (Reikiananda) for guest authoring this article on Reiki
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Health is wealth.“. He who has health, has hope. And he who has hope, has Everything.”

Each of us want to be healthy .. . For a person to be healthy and happy his physical, mental ,emotional and spiritual levels on the whole should be in balance and harmony. Reiki is an ancient Japanese healing technique which brings about a holistic healing of the person.

Reiki works on the physical mental, emotional and spiritual levels of a person (treating both the cause and effect ) thus bringing about a balance in both the body and mind of the person.

Reiki is a Japanese word having two syllables “Rei” and “ki”.pronounced as Ray-Key.
Rei means universal or that which is present everywhere and
ki means the prana shakthi or the life force energy.

Everything in this universe is made up of this energy. This same energy flows through each one of us. Reiki is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that this unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stressed, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

Reiki was rediscovered by Dr. Mikao Usui in mid 1800. Reiki is a natural spiritual healing technique..which is unaffected by the Religious beliefs of a person. Anyone who has a willingness can learn Reiki. Just as no qualifications are required for a person to breathe or take in water no qualifications are required to learn Reiki. It is in fact every person’s birthright to have Reiki. Reiki is passed on to the student through a process called Attunement or Initiation by a Reiki master. Attunement is the core of Reiki.

Reiki is not limited to physical or mental healing. Reiki can strengthen the immune systems…improve awareness..improve relationships..remove addictions and fear…empower goals.. enable forgivance…improve memory… provide protection..and so on and so forth.

The health and well being of a person is determined by the prana flowing thru them…Reiki incorporates this prana sakthi / life force from the universe and supplies it to the person healed…the healer just acts as medium!!

Reiki is not a religion, It is spritual in nature. Apart from doing the Hands on healings a Reiki practitioner is expected to follow the five principles or Precepts of Reiki namely..

Just for today..

I will not be angry
I will not worry
I will be thankful for everything
I will lead an honest life
I will show love and respect to one and all

These principles when followed in daily life not only make us live in the present but also helps us improve the quality of life.

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If you have any questions to ask on Reiki you can leave a comment for us and our experts will answer it for you.

If you would like to share your Reiki experiences, please feel free to do so here
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This is the third post on Devi Mahatmyam. These were short summaries given at our UAE Satsangh.

Thanks to Chitraji for providing the material for sharing with all of us.
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Chapters 5, 6 & 7 – The Slaying of Doomralochana, Chanda & Munda

Indra’s sovereignty over the three worlds and his portion of the sacrifices were taken by the Asuras Shumbah and Nishumbha by force of their pride and strength. They took the powers of all the Devas and deprived them of their Lordships. The Devas thought about the invincible Devi as their solution, remembering the boon granted by Devi who had said, “whenever in calamities you think of me, that very moment I will put an end to all your worst calamities”.

All the Devas resolving thus, went to Himavat, the Lord of the mountains and praised the Devi with hymns. When Devas were praising, Parvati came there to bathe in the waters of Ganga. She asked the Devas, “Who is praised by you here?” An auspicious goddess sprung forth from her physical shape and gave the reply that the hymns were addressed to herself, the Ambika. Because Ambika came out of Parvati’s physical sheath or Kosha she is glorified as Kaushiki.

Another dark form came out of Parvati and she was called Kaalika. Then Chanda and Munda, the two servants of Shumbha and Nishumbha saw that Ambika having a charming form. They thought in their mind that she will be a great gift to their kings. They told Shumbha, “When you can have all the gems of the world, why not this beautiful lady jewel? On hearing the words, Shumbha sent the great asura Sugreeva as a messenger to the Devi.

The message was conveyed to Devi. But, Devi said, “He who conquers me in battle, removes my pride and is my match in strength in the world shall be my husband. So, let Shumbha come here or Nishumbha the great asura. Vanquishing me here, let him soon take my hand in marriage.”

Hearing the words of the messenger, the asura kings got enraged. They ordered Doomralocana to go with his army and fetch Devi by force or even drag her by her hair. Whoever comes to save her be he a god, a yaksha or a gandharva be slayed. Doomralocana commanded thus by Shumbha, went forth quickly accompanied by 60 thousand asuras. The asuras showered on Ambika, sharp arrows, javelins and axes.

The asura Doomralocana rushed towards Devi and thereupon Ambika reduced him to ashes with a mere heave of the sound,”HUMMM”. On hearing that Doomralocana was slain by Devi and all his army was destroyed by the lion of Devi, Shumbha, with great anger, commanded the 2 mighty asuras, Chanda and Munda to bring Devi to his presence. The asuras fully armed and with Chanda and Munda as their heads, marched in four fold array. They saw the Devi smiling gently, seated upon the lion on a huge golden peak of the great mountain. They had a great fight with various weapons. The Devi, mounting upon her great lion rushed at Chanda and seizing him by his hair, severed his head with her sword. Seeing Chanda laid low, Munda also rushed at her and met with the same fate. The remaining army became panicky and fled in all directions. Kaali, holding the heads of Chanda and Munda in her hands approached Chandika. The auspicious Chandika said to Kaali, “Because you have brought me both Chanda and Munda you shall be famed in the world by the name Chaamunda”.

HERE ENDS THE SLAYING OF DOOMRALOCHANA, CHANDA AND MUNDA OF DEVI MAHATMYAM!

This is the second post on Devi Mahatmyam. These were short summaries given at our UAE Satsangh.

Thanks to Chitraji for providing the material for sharing with all of us.

Chapters 2,3 & 4 – The Slaying of Mahishasura

In olden times there was a war that raged between the Devas led by Indra and the asuras led by Mahishasura. The devas were unfortunately routed by the asuras and Mahishasura became the lord of heaven. The hosts of devas, having been thrown out by Mahisha took refuge in Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu and pleaded them to destroy Mahishasura.
Having thus heard the words of the devas, Vishnu and Shiva were angry and their faces were fierce with anger.
Then issued forth a great light from the face of Vishnu who was full of intense anger, and from that of Brahma and Shiva too. From the bodies of indra and other devas also, sprang forth a very great light and all this light united together.
The devas saw there, a concentration of light like a mountain blazing excessively, pervading all the quarters with its flames. Then that unique light produced from the bodies of all the devas, pervading the three worlds with its lustre combined in to one and became a female form. Shiva gave forth a trident, Vishnu his discuss and all the devas gave the power thru their weapons. The Lord of wealth, Kubera, gave her a drinking cup ever full of wine. Honoured like wise by other Devas with ornaments and weapons, the Devi gave out a loud roar with a defying laugh again and again. With her laughter unending, all the worlds shook, the seas trembled.
Mahishasura, hearing this roar rushed towards that roar surrounded by innumerable asuras. Then he saw the Devi making the earth bend with her foot steps, scraping the sky with her diadem, shaking the nether worlds with the twang of her bow string, and standing there pervading all the quarters around with her thousand arms. Then began a battle between the Devi and the enemies of the Devas. Showering her own weapons and arms, Devi Chandika very easily cut in to pieces all the weapons and arms of the asuras without any strain on her face.
Then chiksura, the great asura general, seeing their army being slain by the Devi, advanced in anger to fight with Ambika. The great asura flung at Badrakaali the pike and seeing that pike coming upon her, the Devi hurled her pike that shattered his pike in to hundred fragments and the great asura himself. Then, the Devi sitting on the lion, killed Chaamara, Udagra, Bhaskara, Ugraveerya, Mahaahanu, Dhurdhara and Dhurmukha, who were great asuras.
Mahishaasura, seeing his army thus destroyed by Devi, rushed towards Ambika with his own buffalo form. There was a great fight between Devi and Mahisha. Mahisha changed his forms from buffalo to lion and then to a big elephant. When his trunk was cut, the great asura resumed his buffalo shape roaring at Devi, fought with more strength and valour.
The Devi said, “Roar, Roar, O fool for a moment while I drink this wine. When you will slain by me the Devas will soon roar in this very place.” Having exclaimed thus she jumped and landed herself on the great asura, pressed him on the neck with her foot and struck him with her spear. And thereupon, caught up under her foot, Mahishasura half issued forth from his own buffalo mouth being completely overcome by the valour of Devi. Devi struck off his head with her great sword.
Then Shaakra and other Devas uttered their words of praise, their necks and shoulders reverently bent, and bodies rendered beautiful with horripulation and exultation.
These praises are very important in Devi mahaatmyam and the Devas say, “whoever praises you with these hymns, may You, who have become gracious towards us, be also for his increase in his wealth, wife and other fortunes together with riches, prosperity and life.”

HERE ENDS THE SLAYING OF MAHISHASURA OF DEVI MAHATMYAM.

Click here to Learn to Chant – Mahishasura Mardhini Stotram