Omkareshwara

Omkareshwara

Omkareshwara is the Lord of Omkara or the sound ‘Om’ (), is one of the form of Lord Shiva. Being the prime deity of the temple, Omkareshwara is found in the main garbagraha, next to ganesha.

Once when Brahma, the creator of all living beings visited mount Kailash he disrespected Lord Muruga. Because of this incident Lord Muruga got angry and asked Brahma how he was creating creatures like humans, animals, plants and so. Brahma replied that he is creating them by reciting slogans with the holy word ‘Om’ (
). Muruga asked Brahma to tell him the meaning of Om. But Brahma couldn’t tell as he did not know its meaning. Lord Muruga imprisoned Brahma and took over the control of creation. The devas of the celestial world rushed to Lord Vishnu, and requested him to negotiate with Lord Muruga in order to release Lord Brahma but unfortunately, this attempt was not successful. As a final resort, they visited Lord Shiva, father of Muruga and complained about the action of Muruga. Lord Shiva asked Muruga to release Brahma but he refused by telling that Lord Brahma was not suitable to do the work as he did not know the meaning of Pranav Mantra ‘Om’ (ॐ). So Lord Shiva asked Lord Muruga whether he himself knew the meaning, and asked him to tell the meaning to him, for he too wished to know it’s meaning. Muruga replied that he would tell him only if Lord Shiva approached him as a disciple. Lord Shiva having no ego, willingly gave full respect to Lord Muruga and Lord Muruga extolled the meaning of ‘Om’ () in Lord Shiva’s ears while sitting in his lap.

This scene is beautifully portrayed in the form of a statue in the main garbagraha guarded by the mythological Bringi and Nandhi.

Omkareshwara
Omkareshwara

Shiva

Omkareshwara

Shiva means the supreme one, the auspicious one, the pure one and for me the beloved one. Shiva is named as Pashupati which means the Lord of all living beings either it is humans, devas, asuras or any creatures. Another name Mahadeva depicts the great God, supreme in all devas(Gods).

The God staying in a state blissful, enjoying in Its Own Self eternally, without any flaws is the Supreme Lord shiva. The Perfection is the completeness - there is nothing external that is required to make the Self blissful.

Lord Shiva is reckoned among the Tridevas (trimity). Brahma is the creator, Lord Vishnu is the preserver and Lord Shiva is the destroyer. Shiva is the lord of Shakti also.

Lord shiva is absolute which does not have any parents which never takes birth Which is all alone without association with any of the creatures or creations enjoying in the Self. God is the only one who is dependable for anybody / anything to surrender to as It is the only perennial Being. Hence God is the Lord of all creatures (lives/souls). For this reason the Lord is hailed as pashupati (Lord of living beings). Whether it is devas or asuras or humans or other creatures all are pashus. That being the case how could the Lord be partial to one section of pashus and withdrawing the Grace for the other ? So anybody who worships the Lord sincerely could get blessed with Its Grace irrespective of the caste, creed, race, power, status and qualities.

The Lord is so merciful that He showers the boons one look for when there is a determination to seek Him. It is evident from the history of asura bana who attained a great fame of his valor and got the place in the abode of Lord shiva all due to his determined worship of the Lord.

Lord shiva is the God of all. Like the mother He showers the grace for all the children, but the misusing children get punished. This Supreme Lord better than a mother does not withhold the grace, He is our beloved pashupati.

The God would not be biased. It would not differentiate between one group versus the other, whether it be divines or daemons or humans or plats or creatures or on race etc. All that matters is dharma and the pure devotion towards It. No doubt this lovely Lord shiva is worshipped alike by divines, daemons, scholars, not much learnt simple, and the other creatures.

Yoga Narasimha Temple

Lingashtakam

ब्रह्ममुरारि सुरार्चित लिङ्गं निर्मलभासित शोभित लिङ्गम् । जन्मज दुःख विनाशक लिङ्गं तत्-प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिङ्गम् ॥ 1 ॥
Brahma Murari Sura architha Lingam,
Nirmala bashitha Shobitha  Lingam,
Janmaja dukha vinasaka lingam.
That pranamami sada shiva lingam.
I bow before that Lingam, which is the eternal Shiva,
Which is worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu and other Devas,
Which is pure and resplendent,
And which destroys sorrows of birth.

देवमुनि प्रवरार्चित लिङ्गं कामदहन करुणाकर लिङ्गम् । रावण दर्प विनाशन लिङ्गं तत्-प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिङ्गम् ॥ 2 ॥
Deva Murari pravarchitha Lingam,
Kama dahana Karunakara lingam,
Ravana darpa vinashana lingam,
That pranamami sad shiva lingam.
I bow before that Lingam, which is the eternal Shiva,
Which is worshipped by great sages and devas,
Which destroyed the god of love,
Which showers mercy,
And which destroyed the pride of Ravana.

सर्व सुगन्ध सुलेपित लिङ्गं बुद्धि विवर्धन कारण लिङ्गम् । सिद्ध सुरासुर वन्दित लिङ्गं तत्-प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिङ्गम् ॥ 3 ॥
Sarva sukandhi sulepitha lingam,
Budhi vivarthana karana lingam,
Siddha surasura vandhitha lingam,
That pranamami sada shiva lingam.
I bow before that Lingam, which is the eternal Shiva,
Which is anointed by perfumes,
Which leads to growth of wisdom,
And which is worshipped by sages, devas and asuras.

कनक महामणि भूषित लिङ्गं फणिपति वेष्टित शोभित लिङ्गम् । दक्ष सुयज्ञ निनाशन लिङ्गं तत्-प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिङ्गम् ॥ 4 ॥
Kanaka mahamani bhooshitha lingam,.
Panipathi veshtitha shobitha lingam,
Daksha suyagna vinasana lingam,
That pranamami sada shiva lingam.
I bow before that Lingam, which is the eternal Shiva,
Which is ornamented by gold and great jewels,
Which shines with the snake being with it,
And which destroyed the Yagna of Daksha.

कुङ्कुम चन्दन लेपित लिङ्गं पङ्कज हार सुशोभित लिङ्गम् । सञ्चित पाप विनाशन लिङ्गं तत्-प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिङ्गम् ॥ 5 ॥
Kunkuma chandana lepitha lingam,
Pankaja hara sushobitha lingam,
Sanchitha papa vinasana lingam,
That pranamami sada shiva lingam.
I bow before that Lingam, which is the eternal Shiva,
Which is adorned by sandal paste and saffron,
Which wears the garland of lotus flowers,
And which can destroy accumulated sins.

देवगणार्चित सेवित लिङ्गं भावै-र्भक्तिभिरेव च लिङ्गम् । दिनकर कोटि प्रभाकर लिङ्गं तत्-प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिङ्गम् ॥ 6 ॥
Deva Ganarchitha sevitha lingam,
Bhavair bakthi pravesa lingam,
Dinakara koti prabhakara lingam,
That pranamami sada shiva lingam.
I bow before that Lingam, which is the eternal Shiva,
Which is served by gods and other beings,
Which is the doorway for devotion and good thought,
And which shines like billions of Suns.

अष्टदलोपरिवेष्टित लिङ्गं सर्वसमुद्भव कारण लिङ्गम् । अष्टदरिद्र विनाशन लिङ्गं तत्-प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिङ्गम् ॥ 7 ॥
Ashta dalopari veshtitha lingam,
Sarva samudbhava karana lingam,
Ashta daridra vinasana lingam,
That pranamami sada shiva lingam.
I bow before that Lingam, which is the eternal Shiva,
Which is surrounded by eight petals,
Which is the prime reason of all riches,
And which destroys eight types of poverty.

सुरगुरु सुरवर पूजित लिङ्गं सुरवन पुष्प सदार्चित लिङ्गम् । परात्परं परमात्मक लिङ्गं तत्-प्रणमामि सदाशिव लिङ्गम् ॥ 8 ॥
Suraguru sura vara poojitha Lingam,
Sura vana pushpa sadarchitha lingam,
Parathparam paramathmaka lingam,
That pranamai sada shiva lingam.
I bow before that Lingam, which is the eternal Shiva,
Which is worshipped by the teacher of gods,
Which is worshipped by the best of gods,
Which is always worshipped by the flowers,
From the garden of Gods,
Which is the eternal abode,
And which is the ultimate truth.

लिङ्गाष्टकमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेश्शिव सन्निधौ । शिवलोकमवाप्नोति शिवेन सह मोदते ॥
Lingashtakam, Idam Punyam padeth Shiva Sannidhow,
Shivalokam avapnothi shive na sahamodathe.
Any one who chants the holy octet of the Lingam,
In the holy presence of Lord Shiva,
Would in the end reach the world of Shiva, ,
And keep him company.

Muruga

Omkareshwara

Muruga is a popular Hindu God and the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. ‘Murugu’ means beauty hence ‘Murugan’ means ‘Beautiful one’. Lord Muruga is also known by the names Kartikeya, Skanda, Guha and Subramanya. He is worshipped particularly among the South Indians both India and abroad. Lord Muruga is the God of War and the patron deity of the Tamil land. According to them Murugan never hesitates to come to the aid of a devotee when called upon in piety or distress. The Hindu God of Beginnings and God of Obstacles, Lord Ganesha is the brother of Murugan.

Muruga is always seen with his Vel, the divine spear or Lance that he carries and His mount on the peacock. He is also depicted with weapons including sword, javelin, mace, discus and a bow although more usually he is depicted wielding a sakti or spear. The javelin Lord Muruga holds is used to symbolize His far reaching protection, His bow shows His ability to defeat all ills, His mace represents His strength, and His discus symbolizes His knowledge of truth. The vahana of Lord Murugan is Peacock, which represents the destruction of ego. Murugan is represented as Shanmukha with Six Heads, which signifies the Six Siddhis corresponding to the role of the bestower of siddhis over the course of their spiritual development. Valli and Deivayanai are the consorts of Murugan.

Yoga Narasimha Temple

Subramanya Ashtakam

हे स्वामिनाथ करुणाकर दीनबन्धो, श्रीपार्वतीशमुखपङ्कज पद्मबन्धो । श्रीशादिदेवगणपूजितपादपद्म, वल्लीसनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 1 ॥
Hey Swaminatha karunakara deena bandho, Sree Paravatheesa mukha pankaja padma bandho, Sreesadhi deva gana poojitha pada padma, Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham. 1
Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli, Who is the chief of gods, who is merciful, Who is friend of the oppressed, Who is the son of the lotus faced lord of goddess Parvathi, And whose lotus feet is worshipped By all gods and also by Lord of Goddess Lakshmi.

देवादिदेवनुत देवगणाधिनाथ, देवेन्द्रवन्द्य मृदुपङ्कजमञ्जुपाद । देवर्षिनारदमुनीन्द्रसुगीतकीर्ते, वल्लीसनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 2 ॥
Devadhi deva sutha, deva ganadhi nadha, Devendra vandhya mrudu pankaja manju pada, Devarshi narada muneendra sugeetha keerthe, Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham. 2
Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli, Who is the son of God of gods, who is the chief of all gods, Whose soft lotus like feet is worshipped by Devendra, And whose fame is sung by deva sage Narada and others.
 
नित्यान्नदान निरताखिल रोगहारिन्, तस्मात्प्रदान परिपूरितभक्तकाम । शृत्यागमप्रणववाच्यनिजस्वरूप, वल्लीसनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 3 ॥
Nithyanna dana nirathakhila roga harin, Bhagya pradhana paripooritha bhaktha kama, Sruthyagama pranava vachya nija swaroopa, Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham. 3
Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli, Who gives food daily in charity, which cures all prevalent diseases, Who bestows luck, which fulfills all wishes of devotees, And whose real form is the pranava given in Vedas.

क्रौञ्चासुरेन्द्र परिखण्डन शक्तिशूल, पाशादिशस्त्रपरिमण्डितदिव्यपाणे । श्रीकुण्डलीश धृततुण्ड शिखीन्द्रवाह, वल्लीसनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 4 ॥
Krouncha surendra parigandana sakthi soola, Chapa thi sasthra parimanditha divya panai, Sree kundaleesa drutha thunda sikheendra vaha, Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham. 4
Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli, Who is the Lord of mountains, who holds, Shakthi, Soola, bow and arrows in his holy hands, Who wears ear rings and who rides the fast moving peacock.

देवादिदेव रथमण्डल मध्य वेद्य, देवेन्द्र पीठनगरं दृढचापहस्तम् । शूरं निहत्य सुरकोटिभिरीड्यमान, वल्लीसनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 5 ॥
Devadhi deva radha mandala Madhya methya, Devendra peeda nagaram druda chapa hastha, Sooram nihathya sura kotibhiradyamana, Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham. 5
Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli, Who is the god o gods, Who rides the central Chariot among a group of chariots, Who prevents problems for Devendra, Who can send arrows very fast, And who by killing Sura became, The object of adulation of billions of devas.

हारादिरत्नमणियुक्तकिरीटहार, केयूरकुण्डललसत्कवचाभिराम । हे वीर तारक जयाज़्मरबृन्दवन्द्य, वल्लीसनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 6 ॥
Heeradhi rathna vara yuktha kireeda hara, Keyura kundala lasath kavachabhirama, Hey Veera tharaka jayaa amara brunda vandhya, Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham. 6
Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli, Who wears crowns and chains with diamonds and gems, Who wears armlet, ear rings and strong armour, And who is the valorous one who killed Tharaka, And was saluted by the groups of devas.

पञ्चाक्षरादिमनुमन्त्रित गाङ्गतोयैः, पञ्चामृतैः प्रमुदितेन्द्रमुखैर्मुनीन्द्रैः । पट्टाभिषिक्त हरियुक्त परासनाथ, वल्लीसनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 7 ॥
Panchaksharadhi manu manthritha ganga thoyai, Panchamruthai praudhithendra mukhair muneendryai, Pattabhishiktha maghavatha nayasa nadha, Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham. 7
Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli, Who was crowned as their leader by Indra, With the chanting of the holy five letters, With the bathing of the holy water of Ganga, After strengthening it further by holy chants, And who was anointed with the five holy nectars, By very learned and holy sages.

श्रीकार्तिकेय करुणामृतपूर्णदृष्ट्या, कामादिरोगकलुषीकृतदुष्टचित्तम् । भक्त्वा तु मामवकलाधर कान्तिकान्त्या, वल्लीसनाथ मम देहि करावलम्बम् ॥ 8 ॥
Sree karthikeya karunamrutha poorna drushtya, Kamadhi roga kalushi krutha drushta chitham, Sikthwa thu mamava kala nidhi koti kantha, Valleesa nadha mama dehi karavalambham. 8
Extend a hand of support, Oh Lord of Valli, Who is known as Karthikeya, who with his, Fully nectar like looks of mercy cures, Passion, diseases and mind which has made been dirty Who is the treasure house of arts and Who shines like billions of suns.

सुब्रह्मण्य करावलम्बं पुण्यं ये पठन्ति द्विजोत्तमाः । ते सर्वे मुक्ति मायान्ति सुब्रह्मण्य प्रसादतः । सुब्रह्मण्य करावलम्बमिदं प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत् । कोटिजन्मकृतं पापं तत्‍क्षणादेव नश्यति ॥
Subrahmanyashtakam punyam yeh padanthi dwijothama, They sarve mukthimayanthi subrahmanya prasadatha, Subrahmanyashtakamidham prathar uthaya ya padeth, Kodi janma krutham papam thath kshanad thasya nasyathi.
The twice born who reads this octet on Subrahmanya, Would attain salvation by the grace of Lord Subrahmanya, And for him who reads this octet on Subrahmanya, as soon as, He gets up in the morning, the sins committed in billons, Of previous births will vanish in a second.