PRACTICE, PRESERVE & PROMOTE THE

RELIGION, CULTURE & TRADITIONS

ANBE SIVAM, SATYAME

PARAMASIVAM

சைவ ைித்தாந்த

மன்றம் மலேைியா

Advisor : Sanga Ratna, Thondar Thilagam N. Thiruvasagam

M. Counseling (Hons) UM, B.B.A (Hons) Bolton University, UK

Dip. in Psychology, IHCA, Chennai

Dip. in Saiva Siddhanta, Annamlai University, India

Prof. Cert. & Trg & Dev, Sheffield University, UK

Dip. In Counseling, UM, dip HRM, University New Castle, Australia

Certified Trainer for PBSM, Pranic Psychotherapist Healer

Editor : Kailai A. Tamilarasi

Published by : Saiva Siddhanta Mandram Malaysia

83A, Jalan Bangsar 59200 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Tel: 603 – 2283 5045 / 2201 1772 Fax: 603 – 2283 2406

Email: ssmmalaysia@gmail.com

SSM STRUCTURE

SAIVA SIDDHANTA

MANDRAM MALAYSIA

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HEAD QUARTERS

Saiva Siddhanta Mandram

Malaysia, Klang

No 55A, Jalan Temenggong Off

Jln Sg. Jati,

Taman Sentosa Perdana,

41200 Klang, Selangor D.E.

Tel: 012-2321727 (Bala)

Tel: 017-3636667 (Anumanthan)

ANBU ILLAM – (Home for under privileged boys)

No 2258, Jalan Permata 22, Taman Permata,

53300 Ulu Kelang, Kuala Lumpur

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SUPREME COUNCIL MEMBERS

President : N. Thiruvasagam

Vice President : M. Tarmothran

Secretary : G.P. Uvaraj

Asst. Secretary : A. Tamilarasi

Treasurer : T. Murugan

Asst. Treasurer : R. Sundralingam

Committee Members : K. Sarkunamalar

: K.S Manickam

: Madam T. Vasantha

: Dr. S. Jaya Purany

: S. Mahaletchumy

: M. Jaya Sangker

: B. Murugaya

: R.K. Anumanthan

: V. Nithya Seelan

BRANCH

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CALENDAR

MARCH 2018

(Masi/ Pangguni)

01 Pournami

01 Masi Magam

05 Sangatahara Sathurthi

09 Ashtami

15 Pradosham

15 Sivarathiri

17 Amavasai

21 Chaturthi Viradha

22 Kartigai

31 Pournami Viradha

23 Sashti Viradha

29 Pradosham

30 Pangguni Uthiram

APRIL 2018

(Pangguni/ Chithirai)

04 Sangatahara Sathurthi

08 Ashtami

13 Pradosham

14 Sivarathiri

15 Amavasai

18 Kartigai Fast

19 Chaturthi Viradha

21 Sashti Viradha

27 Pradosham

29 Chithira Pournami

CONTENT 1. Calendar

2. Editorial

3. Events

4. Feature – Sacred Trees of

Tamilnadu

6. Temple Insight- Lingaraja Temple,

Bhubaneshwar

7. Did you Know?

8. Insight

8. Greetings

9. Sri Ramana Maharishi Said

9. Recipe

10. Activities

GURUDEVA:Religion is the

connection between the

three worlds, and temple

worship is how you can

get your personal

connection with the inner

worlds.

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EDITORIAL

We are entering into March and we are

going to observe another important

Saivite festival. There are many epics and

mythologies about this festival called

Masimagam. According to the records

from the puranas, the day marked by the

brightest star in Leo constellation, Magha

star, in the Tamil month of Masi is when

special cosmic energy fills the earth plane,

enabling you to increase your abundance

and help elevate the souls of your

ancestors. This once-in-a-year event can

help you increase your prosperity and

royalty consciousness as the star energy

of the day carries the qualities of a King. It

also helps you seek the blessings of your

ancestors, as the presiding deity of Magha

star is Pitris (ancestors). It is said that

offering our sincere prayers with

prescribed rituals on the day of Masi

Magham can bestow the following

benefits upon you:

1. Happiness and peace of mind 2. Receive the blessings of your

ancestors 3. Good health, wealth and

knowledge 4. Get rid of curses caused by

mistreating priests and learned Vedic scholars

5. Cleanse negative energy and fill your life with positivity

6. According to the mythology, on this day, River Goddess Ganga purifies all water sources. Taking a dip in a holy river can wash away your sins and bad karma

If one were to visit the temple named

Kumbaeswara ,a huge Sivan Temple

located at the town of Kumbakonam, in

Tamil Nadu, one can get back to the origin

of this festival based on the historical facts

written on the walls of this temple. In this

temple the Sivalingam is called is

Kumbeshwarar, made out of Sand and not

a granite stone as usual. Abeshigams are

not carried for this Sivalingam, but in front

they have installed a granite Sivalingam

for the daily rituals to be carried out. Lets

see what the scripture says about this

festival and how it originated.

MYTHOLOGY: SIGNIFICANCE OF MASI

MAGHAM

According to the scriptures, when Brahma (Creator God) understood Lord Shiva’s plan to recreate the universe after destruction, he asked about the methodology to recreate the world. Lord Shiva asked Brahma to fill a Kumba (pot) filled with amrita (elixir) and the source energy for creating the world, and to place it at the top of mount Meru. Brahma requested to begin his creation activity from the place named Kumbakonam (sacred temple city in Southern India), where he found the pot, on a Magha star day in the Tamil month of Masi. The Moon will be in the sign Leo, transiting the star Magha ruled by Ketu. The symbolic representation of Magha star is a throne, which represents royalty and royalty consciousness. Moreover, the association of the King and Queen of the

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planets, the Sun and the Moon, with the sign Leo makes it an ideal day to amplify your prosperity, fame, royalty blessings and set high goals and ambition in life. The planetary combination of the day also helps you get rid of your negative ego, enhance your leadership skills and decision making skills. As an individual devote we can do any of the following rituals for Lord Siva. Kumbeshwarar Homa ceremony on March 1st at 8:00 am IST. Chanting of Maha Rudram during the Homa ceremony archana (Light and Sound Ceremony) to Lord Vishnu at the spot where the panchamiratam well on earth. It is believed that Lord Vishnu incarnated as Varaha (boar) Avatar on Masi Magham to save the earth from the underworld. Performing special light and sound

ceremony to Lord according to Powerspot

mythology, Kumbeshwarar (Shiva) is the

supreme Lord who helped Brahma in

recreating the entire universe from a

sacred pot (Kumbam). Performing a

sacred fire lab to Lord Kumbeshwarar on

the day of Masi Magham can invoke the

graceful blessings of Lord Shiva and

bestow you with overall victory,

prosperityand wealth along with

happiness and peace of mind to live a

blessed life.

EVENTS

Keep yourself free for the following

activities/ events organized by SSMM.

SIVARATHIRI

Thursday, 15-3-2018

7.30pm

VENUE

(1) SSMM HQ, Bangsar (2) SSMM Klang Branch, Klang

Puja, Ritualistic Worship, is an effective

sadhana (Spiritual practice) to purify our

mind. Employing our body, speech and

mind, we perform puja for inner

development. Physical action like offering

flowers and ringing the bell, vocal actions

like chanting mantras and singing hymns

and mental actions like feeling the

presence of God, constitute the procedure

of ritual. As we sincerely do it day after

day, our devotion to the Lord further

increases and flows as an undercurrent all

through the day's activities. We shall in

fact find that God is with us at all times.

All members, family and friends are

invited to participate in this very

auspicious pooja.

For those wish to partake ubayams or

donate items are welcomed to contact

SSMM (HQ) Bangsar at: 03-22835045

or SSMM Klang at: 03-55144121.

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FEATURE Sacred Trees of

Tamilnadu Sthala vrikshas or sacred temple trees are found all over India. In Tamilnadu, almost every temple is associated with a plant or tree connected to the history and mythology of the temple and/or deity. This is the sthala vriksha. Ancient Tamil literature frequently refers to sthala vrikshas. Towns are sometimes named after the sacred tree, such as Thiruverkadu, Purasaipakkam, Thirumullaivaayil, Maangaadu, Thiruvaalangaadu, Kacchineri Kaaraikadu, etc. In South India shrines were erected in places where certain trees were regarded as the abode of the deity and worshipped as such. The same tree was then adopted as the sthala vriksha. Examples include the eka-amra (mango) tree of Kanchi, jambu (the Indian black plum) of Jambukeswaram, tillai (mangrove/blinding tree) of Chidambaram, kadambu (Indian seaside oak) of Madurai, mullai (Jasmine) of Mullaivaayil, nelli (Indian gooseberry) of Tirunellikka, panai (palmyra palm) of Thirupanandhaal and Thiruppanaiyur and so on. Sthala vrikshas are generally associated with Shiva, Vishnu, Muruga and sometimes with goddess Sakthi. They are also found associated with some village guardian deities, such as Arkamma (erukku), Panaiveriyamman (panai), Puliyidaivalaiyamman (puli) and Kadamberiyamman named after kadambu The tradition of associating trees with gods and goddesses in Tamilagam can be traced back to Sangam literature, which is full of references to more than a hundred plants that dominated the life of the ancient Tamils. There are more references to plants with special significance. The Agananooru and Purananooru describe the use of flowers in love and war. Detailed descriptions of the morphology of plants, colour of flowers, pollination and cultural and ritual uses are available in Sangam literature.

Indian gooseberry tree A rare reference to the worship of the banyan tree, as mentioned in the Agananooru, says that brick walls were built around tree trunks and the plant venerated as a temple. This is equivalent to the worship of the sthala vriksha. The origin of the practice of tree worship is however, lost in antiquity. Sangam literature also refers to certain trees protected by kings and symbolic drums used in war were also made from wood obtained from such trees. There are also references to Naga stones being placed under tree trunks, a practice which continues even today all over Tamilnadu and other parts of India. Sometimes, it is believed that the trees are incarnations of the Gods. On other occasions, minor deities are believed to dwell within or near the trees. Trees such as vembu (neem) are sacred to Amman; vilva, konrai and aal are sacred to Shiva: pipal and tulasi are sacred to Vishnu (the pipal is considered to be the incarnation of Vishnu). The Indian gooseberry (nelli) is sacred to Lakshmi and Parvati, while punnai is sacred to Adhisesha and mango is associated with Ambika and Lakshmi. The sthala vrikshas are protected and worshipped not only for their religious significance but also for social and economical importance. Socio-cultural aspects The sthala vrikshas have played a vital role in the well-being of humanity. The culturally important vrikshas are arasu, vembu, vanni, vaalai, maa, nelli, iluppai, kura, panai, padhiri, mahilam, kadambu and mullai.

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Four vrikshas (maa, nelli, iluppai and kura) are embraced by women for fertility. As symbols of fertility, plants are worshipped by women to fulfill their desire for children and to protect their children from ill health. Some of the vrikshas are ritually married to each other. For example, arasu (pipal) is considered to be a male vriksha, while vembu (neem) and vaalai (plantain) are considered to be female. The marriage of the two trees is conducted with Vedic rites and celebration, to ensure rain and fertility. According to the Irattinacurukkam, some plants are said to respond to a woman’s touch: if they mature without flowering, they can be cured of sterility by the touch of women, after which they will flower and yield a good harvest. Vrikshas such as punnai, padhiri, mahilam and shrubs like species of jasmine are known to respond to such rituals. Women walk around the plant and kick it at the base to make it flower. It is believed that ultimately, the women themselves bear children. Such beliefs persist even today, but can be traced back to the Shalabhanjika bracket figure holding the tree on the gateway of the Sanchi stupa.

Jambu (Indianblack plum) Some vrikshas are worshipped for an early marriage. For example, in Tirunallaaru and Tiruvilanagar, unmarried girls tie a knot between two blades of grasses to pray for marriage. The same plants are also worshipped by married women to bear children. Seven vrikshas are specially worshipped to bear only male children; they are the maa, vaalai, kura, palaa, padhiri, mahilam and nelli. These vrikshas are also worshipped to gain wealth and a long life. Few vrikshas are worshipped to be free of illness and disease. They are: vembu, arasu,

iluppai, kura, tulasi, nelli and vanni. Widows worship four vrikshas - arasu, vanni, vaalai and tulasi for a better life after death. The various modes of worship of different plants by women is well documented in literature and folklore. Sthala vrikshas and biodiversity Tamil tradition and culture have successfully preserved biodiversity through the ages. The sthala vrikshas are symbolic of a single genetic resource and play an important role in the conservation of biodiversity. The social, economical, medicinal and environmental importance of these trees was recognised and the sthala vriksha evolved as a means of conserving the land’s rich genetic plant diversity. The sthala vrikshas represent various geo-climatic habitats. Rare species are also preserved and worshipped as sthala vrikshas. Among the few that are valued as a genetic resource, are the vellerukku (Calotropis procera) which has a white bark and flower, the vriksha of Erukkatthampuliyur. The vriksha of Jambukeswaram is the vennaavel (Eugenia jambolana), which bears a white fruit. The bark of this tree is also white in colour, so it is called vennaval in Tamil. In Thiribuvanam, palaa (Artocarpus integrifoia) is the vriksha, and is said to bear only one fruit a year. The vriksha of Kuththalam is ukthala (Cordia myxa) which is believed to never flower or bear fruit. An unique vilva (Aegle marmelos) tree at Thiruvenkadu, one of the three sthala vrikshas of the temple, does not have thorns unlike the vilva tree found elsewhere. In Aalwar Tirunagari, the vriksha is puli (Tamarindus indica), the leaves of which, it is believed, never close and whose fruits never ripen. The process of conserving economically, ecologically and medicinally important plants by declaring them as sacred also protected the genetic value of several plant species. Thus the preservation of sthala vrikshas may also help in the conservation of local floral wealth. Source:

http://www.cpreecenvis.nic.in/Database/SacredTreesofTamilna

du_3695.aspx

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TEMPLE INSIGHT

Lingaraja Temple,

Bhubaneshwar

Temples of Orissa

Bhubaneshwar the capital of Orissa is a city of temples, several of which are important from an architectural standpoint. TheLingaraj temple - the largest of these is an outstanding specimen of the Orissa style of temple building. It is about a thousand years old. Bhubaneshwar, Konarak and Puri constitute the Golden triangle of Orissa, visited in large numbers by pilgrims and tourists.

Bhubaneshwar is also a revered pilgrimage center, referred to in the BhramaPurana. The BhramaPurana refers

to Bhubaneshwar as the EkamraKshetra enshrining a crore Shiva Lingas.

Beauty of Lingraja Temple of Monuments...

The Lingaraja temple is said to have been built first by the ruler YayatiKesari in the 7th century who shifted his capital from Jaipur to Bhubaneshwar. Bhubaneshwar remained as the Kesari capital, till NripatiKesari founded Cuttck in the 10th century. Inscriptions from the period of the Kalinga King Anangabhima III from the 13th century are seen here.

Structurally, the Parasurameswara temple at Bhubaneshwar is the oldest, dating back to the middle of the 8th century, and the Lingaraja is temple is assigned to the 10th century. The natamandir and the bhogmandir of the Lingaraja temple are of later origin.

Legend has it that Shiva revealed to Parvati that Bhubaneshwar - or Ekamrathirtha was a resort favoured by him over Benares. Parvati in the guise of a cowherd woman, decided to look at the city herself. Two demons Kritti and Vasa desired to marry her. She requested them to carry her upon their shoulders, and

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crushed them under her weight. Shiva, then created theBinduSaras lake to quench her thirst, and took abode here as Krittivasas or Lingaraja.

Minor temples in the Lingaraja Temple complex

The Temple: The vast BinduSagar lake is the center around which are located the multitude of temples of Bhubaneshwar. The Lingaraja temple is located in a spacious courtyard covering over 250000 sq feet and is bounded by fortified walls. Its tower rises up to 180 feet and is elaborately carved.

The Shivalingam in the sanctum of the Lingaraja temple rises to a height of 8 inches above the floor level, and is 8 feet in diameter. The Bhagawati temple is located in the northwest corner of the courtyard. There are several other shrines and temples in this vast courtyard.

Worship: A total of 22 worship services are offered each day. Once a year, an image of Lingaraja is taken to the Jalamandir in the center of the BinduSagar lake.

Other temples in Bhubaneshwar are the

Ananta Vasudeva, RajaRani, Mukteswara,

Kedareswara, Siddheswara,

Parasurameswar

The main spire of the temple

http://templenet.com/Orissa/lingaraja.html

DID YOU KNOW?

On 23rd May 2017 SOAS’s (University

of London) South Asia Institute in

London commemorated the great

Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar, whose well-

loved statue has been part of SOAS

for 21 years.

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Insight

GREETINGS

Birthday Wishes to all Members who are

celebrating their Birthdays this

March

May Lord Siva grant his loving, unfailing protection and may your heart be filled

only with pure thoughts.

Wish you a very

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY”

If you do not Change mentally, nothing external can help you. One day all the disciples went to their master and said “master, master we all are going on a pilgrimage. Master: Why you want to go on a pilgrimage trip? Disciple: So that we can improve our devotion. Master: OK. Then do me a favor, Please take this bitter gourd along with you and wherever you go and whichever temple you visit, place it in the alter of the Deity, take the blessings and bring it back. So, not only the disciples but the Master said,” cook that bitter gourd serve it to me.” The disciples cooked it and served it to the master. After having the first bite, the master said “ Surprising “ Disciples: What is so surprising.? Master: even after the pilgrimage the bitter gourd is still bitter.How Come? Disciples: But that is the very nature of the bitter gourd master. Master: That’s what I am saying. Unless you change your nature, pilgrimage will not make any difference. So you and I, if we do not change ourselves no teacher or guru can make a difference in our live. If you think Positively, Sound becomes music, Movements become dance. Smile becomes laughter, Mind becomes meditative and Life becomes a celebration.

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RECIPE

Spoon Halwa

Ingredients 1) Bombay rava - 1 cup 2) Water - 2 cups 3) Sugar 2 ½ cups (+enough water to immerse the sugar) 4) Ghee - ½ cup 5) Cardamom powder - ½ tsp 6) Saffron - a pinch 7) Chopped nuts - to garnish 8) Roast rava dry on a low flame till pink. 9) Cool & soak in 2 cups of water.

Method 1) After an hour grind to a paste using

that water & keep ready.

2) Heat sugar syrup on a low fire, stirring

well.

3) Boil till it reaches 1 string.

4) Remove & add the rava paste with

one hand, whisking fast simultaneously

with the other hand to prevent lump

formation. (If lumps are there, pass the

handblender trough it to break them –

but if you do the above step correctly,

there will not be a single lump!).

5) Put back on fire & cook adding ghee

little by little at a time.

Sri Ramana Maharishi

said:

“The only spiritual life you need is

not to react”

To be calm is the greatest asset in

the world.

It’s the greatest siddhi, the

greatest power you can have.

If you can only learn to be calm

you will solve every problem. This

is something you must remember.

When you are perfectly calm, time

stops. There is no time, karma

stops, samskaras stop. Everything

becomes null and void.

For when you are Calm you are one

with the entire energy of the

universe and everything will go well

with you.

To be calm means you are in

control.

You’re not worried about the

situation, the outcome. What is

going to happen tomorrow.

To be calm means everything is

alright. There is nothing to worry

about, nothing to fret over.

This is also the meaning of the

biblical saying, “Be still and know

that I am God.”

To be calm is to be still

The only Spiritual Life you Need is

Not to React.

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6) When it becomes a mass & leaves the

sides of the vessel, add cardamom

powder & saffron.

Source:

http://www.indusladies.com/forums/ask-

chitvish/

Apple Kesari with

Nutmeg

Ingredients Cooking apple [medium] :1

Rava: 1 cup.

Sugar: 1 cup.

Hot Water: 3cups.

Saffron threads: 2 pinches.

Milk: 3 tbsp.

Nutmeg powder: 2 pinches

Almond flakes: 1 tbsp.

Raisins: 1 tbsp.

Ghee: 4 tbsp.

Method

1. In 1 tbsp of ghee fry the almond flakes and raisins. Keep aside.

2. Soak the saffron in the warm milk.

3. Peel, core and chop the apple. Keep aside.

4. Heat 1 tbsp of ghee in a kadai and add the rava. Heat through until you have a pleasant aroma coming through.

5. Add the water. Keep stirring as there should not be any lumps.

6. Once the rava is cooked add the sugar, nutmeg and the saffron soaked in milk and mix well.

7. The mix will become watery first but will come together in a few minutes.

8. Add the raisins, almonds, chopped apples and the rest of the ghee and mix well.

9. Once the mix starts to leave the side remove from flame.

10. Serve warm.

You can substitute fresh pineapple instead of apples and add a few drops of pineapple essence for a completely different flavour.

http://www.kaarasaaram.com/

ACTIVITIES

SIVARATHRI POOJA The Maha Sivarathiri Pooja was held onTuesday 13th February 2018 at Sri Siddhi Vinayagar Temple, Jalan Brunei, Off Jln Pasar. The programme started at 6.30pm with Home, Abisegam and Special Pooja. The Four Kala pooja was conducted with Homa and special pooja.

The Maha Sivarathiri Prayers came to a close at 7am. Prasadam was served to all the devotees. May God Siva’s divine blessings enrich our lives.OmNamasivaya.

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GURU THIRUVADY POOJA Guru Thiruvady Pooja of Guru Maha Sannithanam His Holiness Seer Valar Seer Sivaprakasa Desika Paramacharya Swamigal was held on Saturday17thFebruary 2018. Recital of Thirumurai, Thiruvady Prayer, Malar Vazhlipadu followed by Deepa Aarathanai was witnessed by devotees who attended the pooja.

SSM KLANG CENTRE

Siddhanta Course

SSM Klang Centre conducted a Siddantha course on “Uyirittavanai Pathi, Pasu, Pasam” from 26th February to 1st March 2018 at their centre.

Thambiran Swamigal Visit

His Holiness Thiruchitrambalam Thambiran Swamigal from Thiruvathurai AAdeenam visited SSM Klang on the 18 of February 2018. His Holiness delivered a keynote speech at the event which was well attended. Devotees who were present obtained his blessings and the holy ash.

Smart/ Speed Readers Program

SSM Klang Centre once again organized the Smart/ Speed Readers Program on the 11

th of February 2018 at their premises at

55A, Jln Temenggong, Off Jln Sg. Jati,

Klang. The Program was conducted by Lt. Col. (R) Dr. Subramaniam.

EVENTS IN PICTURES

Hinduism Class for Children conducted at SSMM (Semenyih Centre) on

every Sunday (9.00 p.m)

Basic Hinduism Course

Tamil/ Thevaram/ Astrology Classes

Foster Home for Underprivileged Children and Senior Citizens

Library on Spiritual & Religious Collection

Religious Camp for Children

Religious Tours (Yaathirai)

Service Centre for Culture, Education, Religious and Moral Advancement

Religious Seminars and Conferences

Personal Counseling

Religious and Spiritual Discourses

Monthly Shivarathri Poojas

Annual Maha Shivarathri Pooja

Fund Raising Projects

Volunteers to assist in SAIVA SIDDHANTA MANDRAM’s various activities

Volunteers to tutor, counsel, motivate and interact with the Foster

Home’s residents

Monetary contribution (which are tax exempted) to manage our homes

and activities

Sponsor meals and host of other things required at the Foster Homes

Contact us: Tel: 017-2401906 / 012-6611421 / 013-3321863

If you have monetary contribution, please issue cheque in favour of

PERSATUAN SAIVA SIDDHANTA MALAYSIA

And mail to:

*All Donations are Tax Exempted

Services/ Activities of Saiva Siddhanta Mandram

Needs of Saiva Siddhanta Mandram

How you can help?

Saiva Siddhanta Mandram Malaysia

PO Box 12926

50794 Kuala Lumpur

SAIVITE CREEDS

Lord Siva is God, whose Absolute Being, Parasiva, transcends time, form

and space.

God, whose immanent nature of love, Parashakti, is the substratum,

primal substance or pure consciousness flowing through all form as

energy, existence, knowledge and bliss.

Lord Siva is God, whose immanent nature is the Primal Soul, Supreme

Mahadeva, Paramesvara, author of Vedas and Agamas, the creator,

preserver and destroyer of all that exists.

Three worlds: the gross plane, where souls take on physical bodies; the

subtle plane, where souls take on astral bodies; and the causal plane,

where souls exist in their self-effulgent form.

The law of karma that one must reap the effects of all actions he has

caused and that each soul continues to reincarnate until all karmas are

resolved and moksha, liberation, is attained.

Religion is the harmonious working together of the three worlds and

that this harmony can be created through temple worship, wherein the

beings of all three worlds can communicate.

The Panchakshara mantra, the five sacred syllables “Namasivaya,” as

Saivism’s foremost and essential mantra. The secret of Namasivaya is to

hear it from the right lips at the right time.