Holy Pilgrimage - Hindu temples in Australia
Mukti-Gupteshwar Mandir, Minto, NSW, Australia
(Home of the 13th Jyotirlingam)
Mukti-Gupteshwar
Mandir:
|
Address
|
203
Eagleview Road
Minto, NSW, 2566 Australia |
|
Phone
|
61 (02)
9820 3751
61 (02) 9824 7886 |
|
Fax
|
61 (02)
9820 3942
|
|
Email
|
Mukti-Gupteshwar Shri Shiv-Dharma
Maha-Shastra: The Essence.
(continued..)
4. Uttarottarmaha-samvaas-prakarana:
The fourth Section of the
Shrishivdharamamahashastra has been called Uttarottarmahasamvad prakarana. As
is clear from its name, it describes the questions and answers between Bhagwati
Parvati and Lord Shiva in continuation to the dialogues in the previous
Chapter. The previous Chapter is Umamaheshwar Samvaad Section. That dialogue is
continued in this Chapter. This section begins with the first Chapter named
Dharm-adharm Kathan. Bhagwati Parvati asks lord Shiva in this Chapter about the
origin of Dharma (virtues) and Adharma (vices) . What type of deeds lead to
dharma and which deed leads to adarma. Lord Shiva explains that the deeds
prescribed in scriptures lead to dharma whereas prohibited deeds are considered
to be the source of adharma. Happiness results from following dharma whereas
sinful deeds lend to a person in miseries.
Second Chapter is titled Rajya-Prapti,
which describes about the deeds of a person, which result in his attaining the
status of regality. It has been enumerated in this Chapter that a person with
subdued passions, who behaves in accordance with the dharma enumerated in the
scriptures, takes rebirth in royal environ.
Param-Punya Yoga is the third Chapter,
which defines factors of virtuous deeds. In the beginning, kinds of flowers
used for the worship of a particular deity have been mentioned. More than hundred
such flowers have been listed in this regard. Later in the Chapter, different
rewards in different kinds of worship with various flowers in each month have
been described. The nature of dharma and adharma, have also been explained
towards the end of the Chapter.
The fourth Chapter is Papavikarmapak.
Bhagwati Parvati asks Lord Shiva the consequences of various sinful deeds. She
asks, which sinful deed render a man becoming hunchback, dwarf, mutilated,
blind, deaf and with other disabilities. Lord Shiva has described the deeds of
person with disabilities, which lead him to take rebirth as a person with
disabilities like blindness, deafness, one-eyed and other abnormalities. The
different kind of origins of gods , ascetic, learned, demi-gods, apsaras (dancing
girls in the court of Indra) , deeds, reptiles, mountains, oceans etc. have
also been elaborated in the Chapter. In this Chapter, Mahapralaya (the end of
the Universe) has also been mentioned. The sequence of recreation of the
universe after the Mahapralaya has also been described. In the end, Veda, the
source of complete knowledge, has also been discussed.
In continuation of the earlier Chapter,
good and evil deeds have been discussed in the fifth Chapter, which has been
titled Goguna. The deed which leads to a person to yamaloka has also been
described in this Chapter. There is also description of various cities of
Dharma raj (Yama king) and Chitra gupta (a being in the world of yama who
records vices and virtues of mankind). The Chapter also describes various evil
deeds and section of yamaloka in which a person doing such deeds is sent to. In
the end of the Chapter, description of the Kamdhenu, the Cow, which emerged
during the churning of the milky ocean (Ksheersaagar) and which fulfills all the
desires of mankind, has also been given. It has also been mentioned each part
of the body of the cow is the abode of gods residing in every part of the Cow
has also been given in the Chapter.
Vrishguna is the sixth Chapter, which
described the importance of the Ox. Agnihotra (an oblation of the Agni). The
gift of cow in a yagna is considered to be the most significance. Keeping this
in mind, the Ox has been designated as the dharma incarnate. The section
concludes with the description of the virtues of the ox.
5. Shivo-panishad Prakaran:
The fifth section of
Shrishivdharma-mahashastra is known as the Shivopanishad. Being called
Shivopanishad, this section is considered to be the specific section describing
the forms of Lord Shiva.
The first Chapter of this section is
called Muktinirdesh and deliberates upon the form of salvation. The chapter
states that an ignorant person , unaware of jnanayoga, can also attain
salvation from this worldly ocean. It further explains that when a person
devotedly chants Shiva-Shiva, the name of the first god, the figure of calmness
Lord Shiva, he becomes similar to Shiva. Lord Shiva has been portrayed in the
form of the supreme spirit in this Chapter and one who beholds that supreme
spirit, attains salvation from this worldly ocean.
Shivsthapana is the second chapter and
it explains the process of consecration of Lord Shiva with His Attendants in a
Shiv temple, constructed in accordance with the directions contained in the
Shivdharmamahashastra. Size and shape and direction of the Shiva temple in
accordance with the architecture have also been described in the chapter. The
method of worship in the Shiva-lingam, consecrated according to the scriptures
has also been detailed in the chapter.
The third chapter Shivgraha contains
directions for the kings and other persons, worshippers of Lord Shiva to
construct separate abodes for the Shiva and Shakti in their own homes within
their resources. It has also been stated that the temple of the Shiva must be constructed
in the Ishakona i.e. in the North. In addition to this, description of the
shape and size of the Shiva temple has been given in the chapter.
Grihagnikarya, is the fourth Chapter of
this book, which in continuation to the earlier chapter, lays down the
principles for the construction of a peace temple in front of the Shiva temple
and also explains the shape and size of the peace temple in detailed steps.
Direction for the fire pit (agni kunda) within the peace temple for oblation to
the fire (agnihotra) has also been given. Thus, a pious person, who after the
construction of the place for keeping the agni for Lord Shiva (yagnashala),
satiates the fire of the Rudra or Shiva along with his family members like
wife, sons, friends etc. and servants, get salvation for twenty one of his
ancestral families and attains Shivloka. Even a person makes a single offering
(aahuti) to Lord Shiva he fulfills his desires. Towards the end of the Chapter,
material for oblation and rewards from oblation with such material has also
been described.
The fifth Chapter has been called
Shivbhashma and it explains the importance of ashes of Lord Shiva. It has been
stated that the ashes breathed out of the mouth of the fire incarnate lord
Shiva., in itself the proliferation of the energetic form of the grandeur of
the supreme power and is the supreme element, which eradicates a number of
diseases. The person, who applies Shivabhasma enjoys proximity to Lord Shiva.
Phaldanopakar is the sixth Chapter,
which explains that a person, who offers with reverence food grains after
perfecting it properly with clarified butter, ghee, to Lord Shiva, can enjoy
the Shivloka for crores of eons(Kalpa- a period of 1000 yugas or 4,320,000
years). True to its name, the Phaldaaan, the Chapter describes in details the
individual rewards which one gets by offering various fruits to Lord Shiva such
as Bilva, wood apple, pomegranate, grapes etc. It has also been stated that
Lord Shiva is such a God that he fulfills all the desires. After this this, the
Chapter describes various Shiva pilgrim places. The person, who pays obeisance
to the Shiva pilgrim places and who breathes his last in Shiv pilgrim place,
attains the Shivloka. In the end of the Chapter, it has been advised to the
people desirous of salvation to gift essential commodities to the worshippers
of the Lord Shiva. The donor gets the entire reward of this offering.
In the seventh Chapter, Shivopachara,
the conduct of Shiva worshippers has been explained, it has been stated that a
Shiva worshipper must respect the teacher. He should offer fragment flowers
with respect to the teacher. He must sit lower to the teacher in school. Never
indulge in criticism of the teacher directly or indirectly. A Shiva worshipper
should keep restrain in his essential needs and conduct. He should follow the
direction of the Guru as that of the God. He must follow the virtues like
non-violence, truth, abstinence, non- anger, purity etc. Towards the end of the
Chapter, it has been stated that, a person, who listens to the conduct of Lord
Shiva and relates to the others attains to the proximity to the lord Shiva.
6. Dharma-putrika-prakaran:
The Sixth section is known as
Dharmputrika Prakaran. This section explains procedures emaciated in the
Dharmashastras (code of percepts having religious sanctions). The compiler of
the Shastra writes in the preface that with due respect to Sanak, the supreme
sage, the spiritual son of Brahma, the Creator, he is describing the
Dharmputrika the code of conduct.
In the first Chapter of this section,
titled Sadhak prakaran, measures of the sixteen accomplishments approved by the
great sage, Patanjali, have been described. A sage accomplishes the yoga with
the help of repeated meditation. In the beginning of the section, after
detailing sixteen accomplishments of the yoga four sections of the yoga have
been described. These four sections are: accomplishment section, posture
section, retention section and meditation section. Thereafter, retreat
(pratyahaar), meditation, restraining the breath(pranayama), retention
(dharana).Logic and state of trance(Samadhi) have been discussed. After
illustrating the characteristics of a sage the Chapter states “ What is worth
meditating in this World? Who meditates about that? What is Meditation? Who
attains the knowledge of these four issues, is considered to be the supreme
sage achieving accomplishment in the yoga.
The second section has been called the
Asanprakaran and it describes the rules for specific postures (asansas) for the
sages. A sage, engaged in the accomplishment of the yoga, should use deer skin
as mat or mat made out of sacred Kusha (grass used in ceremonies). Later uses
Padmasana (lotus posture), swastikasana, peethaasana, sthalasana,
ardhchandraasana have been described. In the end of the Chapter, exercises of
various body parts have also been explained.
Dharmavanshprakaran is the name of the
third Chapter. It has been stated in the chapter that, after sitting in the
posture (aasana), the sage should think about twenty eight joints (parvas) of
the body, enunciated by Lord Shiva. It has also been explained that after this
, the sage should meditate of Lord Shiva through restraining his breath.
The fourth Chapter has been called
Dhyanmargaprakaran which inform that “enlightened ascetics should, during
muttering of the prayer, at the beginning of the process of yoga, first of all
meditate in entirety about in lotus form, having pericarp in the form of
calmness. Thereafter, the detailed description of the one who meditates and his
objective has been provided. In the end of the Chapter three types of rewards
of meditations have been discussed. The first is known as guneshwarya (virtue
and prosperity), second as parlokavijaya (conquest of the next world) and the
third is called Moksha (salvation). The meditating ascetic attains the world of
Brahma, the eternal supreme, which is beyond the cycle of birth and death. This
pure unblemished reward is called the salvation (Moksha).
Fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth
Chapters have been called Sukshamantaraya Mahasukshamantaraya, Pramadajantaarya
and Pratipadyataya respectively. The subject matter of these four Chapters is
common. These are quite brief Chapters. The word, antaraya means obstacle. The
ascetic has to face these four obstacles during his meditation. The Chapter
also mentions the ways to overcome these obstacles. Symptoms of death has been
have been mentioned in the Mahasukshmantaraya. The Chapter titled
Prmadajantaraya tells about the impairment and disease of the body. It has been
explained in the Pratipadyataya that the ascetic, who after renouncing worldly
attachments, is immersed in the meditation, attains salvation.
The subject of the earlier Chapters are
continued to be discussed in the beginning of the ninth Chapter, Jaya. Then the
form of meditation-ascetic, soul-supreme soul have been explained. In the end,
the ten lettered mantra (a sacred verse) of the Shiva has been advised for
conquering the death. The ascetic, who remains firm in the face of obstacles
occurring during the meditation, has been termed as Jay or the conqueror.
Chikitsa (healing) is the tenth Chapter
and it suggests essential needs such as food, drink etc. for the ascetics. It
also explains about the treatments of various diseases through
poorak-rechak-kumbhak (breathing exercises). This Chapter has also been named
as yogic Chikitsa (treatment through breathing control).
Next Chapters are Chalalingam, the
eleventh and Dhruvalingam, the twelfth, which explains that as the ascetic
nears the Sidhi (accomplishment), there appears the sense of accomplishment in
his heart. This sense of accomplishment is of two types- unsteady and static.
These have been termed as Chalalingam and Dhruvlingam respectively. In other
words, this can also been termed as Yogasiddhichooka. Both these Chapters tell
an ascetic to devote himself continuously in the yogabhyasa.
Thirteenth chapter is Vriddhiupaya. It
explains that an ascetic gradually attains growth through the yogabhyasa
yama-niyam-aasan-pranayama-pratyahar-dharna. With the yogabhyasa, an ascetic
destroys his accumulated sins. This is known as means for enlightenment.
Vinasha is the fourteenth Chapter,
which states that an ascetic, who gives up the yogasadhana at the appearance of
an indication of accomplishment, his meditation gets corrupted before the
accomplishment.
Pratyapan is the fifteenth Chapter. It
describes, the ascetic engaged in the meditation, whose accomplishment has been
corrupted mid-way. Such an ascetic makes a return to his accomplishment through
beginning his meditation again. The process of this return has thus been called
pratyayan.
The last Chapter of this Section is
Siddhi-upaya (ways for accomplishment), which advises to follow the path of the
Yoga only after setting the goal. Accomplishment can only be attained after
renouncing the worldly attachments and stabilizing the mind. An ascetic should
emulate the targeting instinct of Arjuna. Cleansing the mind has been
considered as the basis of the yoga. At the climax of the yoga, the soul of an
ascetic is embedded with the Shiva and the Shiva only. Towards the end of the
Chapter, a number of methods of meditation(yoga sadhana) and the
accomplishments thereof, have been described. This has been called
Siddhi-upayas (ways of accomplishment) and with this, the Section concludes.
7. Gavamupanishat-prakaran:
Gavamupanishatprakaran, is the last
section of the book. True to its name, the Section describes the nature of the
cow, its importance, contribution of the cow to human life, the important place
of the cow in the nature and the environment.
The first chapter of the section is
named Shivadanaphala. The procedure of establishing the Shivlingam and its
worship has been described in the beginning of the Chapter. The object of the
Shivdaan has been explained as making offering to the Brahmins in the name of
the Lord Shiva. Individual rewards for offering different things have also been
described. The holy cow, Kapila, should be offered to the Shiva incarnate.
Milk-curd-ghee etc., are offered to the Kapilain the name of lord Shiva. The
abode of cow has been considered as most sacred place. Describing the origin of
the cow, it has again been emphasized that each body-part of the cow is the
abode of the gods.
The second Chapter is
Shivlingamahavrata. Continuing the description of establishing the Shivlingam
and its worship, it enumerates the method of worship-homage-adoration through
special service to the Shivlingam . This process has been called
Shivlingamahavrata.
Upvas-gopradanvidhi is the third
Chapter, which imparts priority to the worship of the Shiva as enumerated in
the second Chapter. Then, the importance of fasting in the religious vows has
been mentioned. Describing the worship of Lord Shiva, the rewards of Shivpoojan
have been mentioned separately which have been based on twelve months starting
from Marghsheesha to Kartika (lunar calendar). Further, special reward of
gifting the cow for twelve months and for each of the twelve months has also
been narrated. Gifting of cow has been considered to be the best offering. Men
and women are considered equally empowered to worship lord Shiva. It has been
said about a woman absorbed in worship of Lord Shiva in the present birth takes
birth in the form of a man in the next birth. It has been mentioned in this
Chapter that the Lord Shiva himself has prescribed the Umamaheshwar vrat for
men and women and has directed them to take this vrat (vow) energetically. A
woman with complete calm observes the Umamaheshwar vrat with prescribed
rituals, gets desired husband and attains Rudraloka after this World. At the
end of the Chapter, immense rewards occurring from gifting two-faced cow have
been mentioned.
Shivashrama is the fourth Chapter and
it prescribes the conduct during various stages in the life of the human for
all the persons observing various stages of life, man woman, brahmchari
(righteous person who keeps himself away from the sexual attractions), family
man, Vanprastha (a man in third stage of life who leaves his house and his
family to live in the forest) and ascetic who lives in Shivashrama (Sanctuary
of Lord Shiva). Those living in Shivasramas should prepare a garden of flowers,
construct a place for keeping sacrificial fire and guest house within the
complex of Shivasrama. Persons living in Shivasramas, should pray thrice in a
day i.e. in the morning, noon and in the evening, conduct oblation to sacred
fire and worship Lord Shiva. It has also been stated that in case of
unavoidable obstruction in the daily routine , persons living in the
Shivashramas should follow manas puja (mental prayer). Rituals of manas puja
for worshippers of Lord Shiva, in the absence of required material for the
worship have also been explained. The importance of the ashes, obtained from
the oblation of the sacred fire has also been enumerated. An ascetic has been
asked to collect food through begging. Persons living in Shivasramas have been
instructed to observe restraint. Worshippers of the Lord Shiva must not get
angry even on instigation. With reference to the branches and sub-branches of
the Shivdharma, the Chapter concludes.
Shakha-Upshakha is the fifth Chapter,
which has initially enquired into the subject, referred to in the earlier
chapter. A worshipper of Lord Shiva worships Shivlingam established everywhere.
The Shivabhaktas must not eat inedible and prohibited food. When impure,
Shivbhaktas should not touch Shivlingam. On specific dated, like lunar eclipse,
Shivbkaktas should desist from contacts with woman, gambling, drinking etc.
Being the last chapter of the book, miscellaneous subjects have been explained
in the Chapter. For example, forms prescribed in sacred laws of various
subjects lie nature of the Vedayagna, characteristics of donation, grant of
land, gift of cows, gift of clothes, features of fasts, form of pilgrim
centres, Ashtanga vedadharma, characteristics of Shivdharma have been
enumerated in the Chapter. The offering to a Shivbhakta, is most fruitful and
individual rewards of each of these offerings have also been mentioned. A
Shivabhakta must follow the advises, which he imparts to others. In
continuation to the knowledge about Lord Shiva. Famous Shiva pilgrim centers
have also been introduced in the Chapter. In the end of the Chapter,
Shivadharma of five types have been has once again explained and it has been
prayed for all the beings to attain fourfold goals of humans such as dharma,
wealth, lust and moksha with grace of lord Shiva. Each name of eightfold Shiva
has been chanted and respectfully dedicated. The concluding verse is quite
significant:
“SARVASTRATU DURGANI SARVO BHADRANI
PASHYTU
SARV SUGATIM-AAPNOTU SARVASYA CH
BHAVEKSHI-VRAM”
Which means- Let all cross the
difficult worldly ocean. Let all march towards prosperity. Let all attain
everlasting happiness. Let all prosper. Let our respectful obeisance be
accepted by the Lord Shiva.
Mukti Gupteshwar
Mandir
Festivals For The
Year 2014
All times are correct at time of
publication. Subject to change.
|
Month
|
Events
|
Actual Date -
Day
|
Celebration Date
- Day
|
Time
|
|
January
|
Makar Sakranti
|
14th
– Tue
|
18th
– Sat
|
Bhajan Kirtan
4pm to 5pm
|
|
February
|
Vasant Panchmi
|
4th –
Tue
|
8th –
Sat
|
Bhajan Kirtan
4pm to 5pm
|
|
February
|
Maha Shiv Ratri
|
28th
– Fri
|
1st Mar – Sat
|
9am to midnight
|
|
March
|
Holika Dahan
|
16th
– Sun
|
-
|
-
|
|
March
|
Holi
|
17th
– Mon
|
-
|
-
|
|
March
|
Ramayan Week Starts
|
31st – Mon
|
31st - Mon
|
Ramayan Recital
from 6pm for 8 days
|
|
April
|
Ram Navmi
|
8th –
Tue
|
12th
– Sat
|
From 10.30am
|
|
April
|
Hanuman Jayanti
|
15th
– Tue
|
19th
– Sat
|
From 10.30am
|
|
April
|
Wat Savitri Poornima
|
13th - Fri
|
-
|
-
|
|
June
|
Nirjala Ekadishi
|
9th - Mon
|
-
|
-
|
|
July
|
Guru Poornima
|
12th
– Sat
|
12th
– Sat
|
5pm to 6pm
|
|
|
Shravan Maas
Starts
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
July
|
Naag Panchami
|
31st - Thu
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Shravan M
Abhishekam
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
August
|
Raksha Bandhan
|
10th
– Sun
|
-
|
-
|
|
August
|
Krishna Janam
Ashtmi
|
17th
– Sun
|
17th
– Sun
|
From 9pm
|
|
August
|
Hari Talika
(Teej)
|
28th - Thu
|
28th - Thu
|
From 8.30am
|
|
August
|
Ganesh Chaturthi
|
29th
– Fri
|
29th
– Fri
|
From 10.30am
|
|
August
|
Rishi Panchmi
|
30th - Sat
|
-
|
-
|
|
September
|
Anant
Chaturdashi
|
8th - Mon
|
-
|
-
|
|
September
|
Pitr Paksh
Starts
|
9th –
Tue
|
-
|
-
|
|
September
|
Pitr Paksh Ends
|
24th
– Wed
|
-
|
-
|
|
September
|
Navratras Start
|
25th - Thu
|
25th - Thu
|
Kalash Sthapana
9.30am to 9pm
|
|
October
|
Durga Ashtmi
|
2nd - Thu
|
2nd - Thu
|
Mata Rani
Bhajans From 8pm
|
|
October
|
Navratras End
|
3rd - Fri
|
-
|
-
|
|
October
|
Vijay Dashmi
(Dussehra)
|
4th - Sat
|
4th - Sat
|
Open Tikka From
9am
|
|
|
Kalash Visarjan
|
|
||
|
October
|
Karwa Chauth
|
11th - Sat
|
-
|
-
|
|
October
|
Diwali
|
23rd - Thu
|
23rd - Thu-
|
From 10am-
|
|
October
|
Dhan Teeras
|
21st - Tue
|
-
|
-
|
|
|
Kartik Poornima
|
Satya Narayan
Katha 4pm to 6pm
|
||
|
|
-
|
-
|
||
|
-
|
-
|
|||
|
Surya Grahan
|
29-Apr-2014 -
Mon
|
|
|
|
|
|
Surya Grahan
|
23-Oct-2014 -
Thu
|
|
|
|
|
Chandra Grahan
|
8-Oct-2014 - Wed
|
.
For further information, please contact the Mandir on 02
9820 3751 – 02 9824 7886 - 0422 22 67 24 – 0413 13 9000 - 0411 10 33 99 or
email to info@muktigupteshwar.org
Seeking Volunteers
The Mandir society is always in need of volunteers. If you can help, please contact the Mandir on 02 9820 3751 – 0413 13 9000 –
0422 22 67 24 – 0411 10 33 99 or email to info@muktigupteshwar.org
Mukti-Gupteshwar
Mandir:
|
Address
|
203
Eagleview Road
Minto, NSW, 2566 Australia |
|
Phone
|
61 (02)
9820 3751
61 (02) 9824 7886 |
|
Fax
|
61 (02)
9820 3942
|
|
Email
|
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My
humble salutations to the great devotees
, wikisources and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the
collection )
Holy Pilgrimage - Hindu temples in Australia
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My
humble salutations to the great devotees
, wikisources and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the
collection )
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