What are the systems of Hindu marriage ?

The Marriage systems are,  Vivaham,

Brahma Vivaham, Daiva Vivaham,

Arsha Vivaham, Prajapaatya Vivaham,

Gandharva Vivaham, Asura Vivaham,

 Rakshasa Vivaham and Paisachika Vivaham.

According to the Sastras, as a witness

of Chantings of the Deities, the bride

and groom by doing the Panigrahanam

 (by receiving  right hand each other) 

if the marriage ceremony is performed 

it is known as Vivaham.

By adorning and beautifying the

 maiden  and give her to the bridegroom

and perform the marriage

 is called as the Brahma Vivaham.

For the sake of Yagas, the deserved

 maiden  is gifted to the Rithrik

( a holyman who does the Yagnas 

and other religious riturals)

as a  Dakshina  is known as Daiva Vivaham.

By offering aCow and an Ox as a

charity and then give the maiden

 for the marriage is called as Arsha Vivaham.

By offering a maiden as a beloved   

 and Sahadharmacharini to a noble

 soul  and asked her to live like that

 for ever is known as Prajapaatya Vivaham.

Without informing to their parents

 and getting permission from them ,

if both the   maiden and the man get

married is known as Gaandharva Vivaham.

By laying down  certain conditions and

rules for the marriage and get

marry a maiden  is known Asura Vivaham.

By  using force  and carry away

 the maiden and marry her is

 called as Raakshasa Vivaham.

When the maiden is sleeping  or when

 she  is in the state of inattention

( oversight) if the marriage is

performed it is called as Paisaachika Vivaham.

Are the Curses  reason for not begetting progeny ?

The progeny is for the prosperity of

the family for the generations together.

We see  here and there in certain families,

 they do not have children. 

The elders undergo some medical tests also.

The reason of  not begetting the children is

 whether knowingly or unknowingly

 the curses (Saapam)  which they got

 from their previous births what the Sastras say.

 Even the Astrology  indicates the same readings.

The curses might be in many ways that one

 who suffers on account of them  in this birth.

It is said that the curses are, the Sarpa Saapam

( curses from the snakes), Pitru saapam,

Maatru saapam, Bhatru saapam,  Preta Saapam, 

Brahmana Saapam, Mitra saapam  etc.,

Hence, the curses can be warded off the

evil influence of the  previous births by

doing worship the God , Yaaga, Homas etc.,.

 By doing so, by the grace of the God , the children might be begotton.

Like wise  the Samudra snanam (taking bath

in the Sea), that too in the Rameswaram,

if the Samudra Snanam is done,

 the better results would be happened.

We should not think of  the same results

for taking bath in the sea or  ocean.

The Sea bath ( Samudra snanam) and  spending 

some time in the sunlight will give the result

of recover from the   skin diseases.

 Because of this, many foreigners visit Goa,

 other sea coastal places stay there months

together for taking their bath in the sea 

and get relieved from their dermo diseases.

Like wise, every place or kshetram has it

own power or miracle.

There is a difference of power  of the God which

we see or worship at our house and in the temple.

Which kind of food should not be eaten ?

The sacred scriptures said many Dharmopadesah

  to the mankind how to live in this life

 and make it  purposefulness.

The Dharma itself is very severity but

ultimately the result will be fruitful.

Right from the birth till the end of life,

the Dharma Sutras restrict the man

 for making others happiness.

The life is ultimately for the self reliazation. 

To attain that Moksha, one must live for others

 by sacrifization  with purity in hearts.

Even for an ordinary Karma (the action which we do)

 it  is instructed and guided by Dharma itself.

What kind of food that we should not take is today’s topic ...

The Cow which smelt the food should not be eaten by us.

The food which is served by prostitute  should not also be taken.

The food belongs to the Thief or the money lender should also not be eaten.

The Miser whose food should not also be taken. Like wise,

The Culprit ( or Criminal)’s food must not also be eaten.

The food which belongs to the  people

who serve it  by saying their pomp words

and their pride  must not also be taken.

The stale food ( which the  rice  was cooked on

the previous night and eaten in the

 morning) should not also be eaten.

The cooked food which is not offered to

the God as Naivedyam  must not also be eaten.

The food which belongs to the woman who

 does not have husband and sons

should not also be taken from her.

The food belongs to the dancer’s ( Nartakah) must  not also be taken.

We should not eat the food  belongs to the

Eunuch (Napumsakah), woman who

 is an adultery, Huntman and others.

Hence, we must not eat the food belongs to  

the above said people according to the Dharma Sastra.

How is  the Navaratna Ring made  ?

The Navaratna means nive gems.

Navaratnasya Anguleeyakam ( The ring with nine gems).

The ring studded with nine gems. They are all precious stones.

 The Gems are Ruby, Pearl, Coral, green coloured

 precious stone called Emerald,  Sapphire, Lapis lazuli, 

bright white stone resembling

a diamond called Topaz, and Diamond. 

They are known as Padmaraaga (crimson coloured stone),

 Mouktikam, Pravalam, Gomedikam, Idra Neelam,

Vaidhooryam, Kanaka Pushyaragam,  

Marakatam and Vajram respectively.

To get relieved from the troubles, problems,

failure, infamy, enemity  and ill-health

 according to the Horoscope and Palmistry,

 normally it is suggested to wear the

ring get studded with the precious stones.

This Navaratna Anguleeyakam ( Navaratna ring)

 should be worn to the Anamika

 which is ring finer  on the right hand. 

The Planets Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Sani,

 Ketu, Guru , Budha and Sukra  face towards the directions of

the East, South east, South, South west,

West, North west, North, North east and also the East.

The precious stones which are nine gems

 represent the effects of the nine Planets.

 Hence, when the Navaratna ring is

made certain conditions should be observed.

 In the middle of the Navaratna Anguleeyakam

( the ring contains nine gems) the Ruby (Padmaraaga)

 should be studded facing towards the East.

 Towards the eastren direction the Diamond is to be inserted.

 Towards the Agneya direction (south east) the Pearl should be studded.

 Towards the direction of South the Coral  is to be inserted.

   Towards the Nyruti direction (south west) the

Gomedikam (which is green stone called Topaz) should be inserted.

  Towards the direction of West the stone Sapphire is to be studded.

 Towards the direction of Vayuvyam (north west) the stone

Vaidhuryam (lapis lazuli) should be studded

 Toowards the direction of West, the stone Kanaka Pushyaragam

 (which is bright white stone Topaz) is to be iserted.

Towards the direction of North west, the stone Emerald  must be studded.

Towards the northern direction, the Diamond stone is to be inserted.

Irrespective of any thing every one can wear this Navaratna ring.

What are the things that dispel (takes away)

 our spritual merit (Punyam) ?

In general  every man wants to do some

 kind of good deeds  in the form of charity and

also helping others by any means.

By this , he feels that he will attain some

 punyam that repays him  the good  in his next birth.

We need not say about the  virtuous person as

 he does many good deeds and offer charities  to needy

 in his  spiritual and philosophical life.  

But the Punyam which is earned through  the

good deeds will be removed if we do

certain negative things without  our knowledge.

The scriptures say .. if we  walk through

 middle of the flock of sheep, if we go through

in the middle of wife and husband, like wise,

if we walk through in the middle of

a teacher and his student, like wise

in between  two Brahmins, Sages,

 in the middle of the Lord Siva and Nandi ,

all these things certainly dispel ( remove) our

Punyam and more over , our previous

 punyam will also be taken away.

While brooming ,the dust and dirt

should not be touched our feet.

The dust which comes from the

flock of sheep when  they walk

 should not also be touched to us.

Like wise, many things are given in the scriptures.

How to make  Agni Hotram 

(Sacred Fire) ?

The Agni hotram is known as Sacred fire.

  This Agni hotram is used specially for divine

 observances like, Yagna (Yagam), Homa etc.,

 Both at the timings of  twilight  ( in the morning  and

in the evening) ,  the  Cow dung and dung-cake

(used as fuel and it is known as Kareesham in

sanskrit language), the plant called Calotropis

gigantea (Arkah), branches of Butea frondosa

 (Palasah), Chandra ( a kind of acacia tree),

Kusah (  grass used in religious observances),

Durvaa( a kind of green grass is also known

as Agrostis linearos) all these branches are

kept in a copper vessel  and light the fire

and chant the Mantras.

 And then Cow ghee and light brown coloured

rice are  cooked and  intended to oblation

for the Agni Deva as a Havissu.

The sacred sounds of the Mantras and

 the Homa dhoomam (the smoke from the

litting fire) create the atmosphere sanctity.

That sanctity  creates the purity

 in the mind and body.

The diseases will be cured in  this sacred atmosphere.

What are the meanings and altruistic

meanings of the Devotional Symbols ?

In our religious scripts, we find so many symbols which

are treated as sacred and  also  are being  worshipped.

The  Symbol Omkar , the symbol of sacred Feet  of

Goddess Sree Mahalakshmi (Sree Lakshmi Charanas), the

 Swastik symbol, the Lotus symbol and  the symbol of

 Purna Kalasam are the religious symbols which are worshipped sacredly.

 The Omkar is the ultimate symbol for

attaining salvation of this bonded life.

The entire universe has come from the  Omkar.

The Srusthi, Sthiti and Laya  have

befallen from this Omkar.

And  the Omkar is also known as Pranavam.

Through Pranavam we can have the self relization

by doing penance or meditate on it.

The entire wisdom is hidden in this Pranavam.

This Omkar is the fascimile ( pratiroopam)

of the entire universe.

For every Mantra or every sacred

 scriptures  are started with Omkar.  

Our lives are entangled with this.

 At the time Aksharabhyasam (beginning of our

elementary education) starts with this Omkar 

and we are used to write Omkar on the slates.

The sacred feet of Goddess, Sree Lakshmi is painted

or drawn on the walls of our houses.

This sacred feet is the sign for all the auspicious things.

 When the traditional functions in which Hindu

 married women get together called like Seemantham,

 or any other occasions relate to the married women,

particularly to whom the Seemantham function is

performed, that the  pregnant woman’s feet  is made

 pressed on the Kumkum  and then make her feet pressed

in the house for obtaining  those marks (Chihnam) as

they are  sacred feet of the Goddess Sree Lakshmidevi.

The Swasthik symbol is also the replica for the  auspiciousness.

This Swasthik symbol is the Pratiroopam (fascimile)

 of the Karmasaakshi, Surya Bhagavan.

This Swasthik mark is written or printed on the

pages of the business ledgers etc.,

and also on the walls of the houses.

Mostly this symbol is used in Northern India.

The Kamalam (Lotus) is the most sacred symbol for Hindus.

This Kamalam is born from the mud of water

which blossom mostly in the Sarovaram (tanks).

This Lotus flower comes out from the mud

and dirt and bloom above the water level.

 The  philosophical meaning of it , though

living in this re-cyclic birth (Punarapi Jananam ,

Punarapi Maranam),  it tells us that we should

 have  untouched  and non attachment with

the Samsaara which Jagat and flourish like a Kamalam.

The symbol, Purna Kalasam or Purna Kumbham

which is an ornamental pot filled with the sacred

water of Ganges, or Godavari etc.,  which is

treated as the emblem for the auspicious  occasions.

This Purna Kalasam or Purna Kumbham is

equivalent with the Amrutakalasam which

was born at the time of Ksheera Saagara Madhanam.

The meaning of  the Purna Kalasam is for

 bestowing the complete happiness and contentment.