Winter Solstice: December 21—The Great Conjunction

Significance of Solstice

"In any given year, the winter solstice, the still point, is the most powerful time of the solar cycle. It is the conception point, the moment in which the plans for the entire year are generated from the sun to the earth. It is the parallel point to each new moon which carries and expands the original solar wave's energy through the thirteen succeeding cycles of the year.

There are four points during the year in which the archetypal energies of the sun "come through" to us to bring consciousness along step by step. These four points are the solstices and the equinoxes.

Each of these moments, which last three days, are "neutral force" channels of tremendous power. They are literal doorways to the infinite, alchemical cauldrons in which we can bathe ourselves with unconditional love and pure spiritual energy, and into which we can place our intentions. They are "time-outs" from normal reality.

Whatever gets cooked in the winter solstice cauldron becomes the blueprint for the entire year which is reaffirmed and brought along to completion by the other three central points. If we carefully align with the intentions of the universe during the winter solstice we can be picked up by the rising tide of spiritual energy and carried forward, supported by the power which spirit has brought to earth at the moment of the "rebirth of the sun" when it joins with the earth.

The sun and moon are always in a changing relationship with each other and the earth, the cauldron in which we are always being alternately "cooked" and "cooled" by them. At the winter solstice; the sun, yang, spiritual, masculine energy is at its lowest ebb, pausing before it pulses forward just like the tide having flowed out to sea pauses, and then begins to aggressively move out toward shore once more. This alignment of the sun with the most inner and contracted (yin) point in its cycle is the same as the moment of the new moon in which the sun's yang and moon's yin move into perfect alignment with each other and the earth, joining and harmonizing their energies with their combined force.

As we step into the solstice we should not carry into it with us anything from the past and instead let the purity of the Oneness fill us and allow the spirit to decide what is in our highest good. As human beings we have goals, things we want to create, states we wish to experience. All that can be placed into this great moment with great passion as our heart's desires and released in trust. "

[By Alexander]

 

The Great Conjunction

 

The Solstice is a time where the veil between dimensions is thin. It is also a time where we are more open and connected with the energies of the Earth.

 

In 2020, December 21st, stands out as being a potent day, not just because of the Solstice, but also due to a very rare alignment taking place this year known as the Great Conjunction. The great conjunction occurs every twenty years or so, and is when both Jupiter and Saturn align at the same degree of the zodiac. The great conjunction represents a changing of an era, and a time where we shift our way of viewing the world. As our world view changes, so too does society and the way we choose to approach things. 

 

While the great conjunction happens every couple of decades, the 2020 alignment opens the door to an even bigger cycle. For the last 200 years, Jupiter and Saturn have been aligning only in earth signs, but this year, on December 21st, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will align in the air sign of Aquarius.

 

The great conjunction is a key point on this transition into the Age of Aquarius, and is destined to bring many ‘Age of Aquarius’ themes into our lives. The great conjunctions now switching to air signs will give us a focus towards the collective, and a more community-based approach. Humanitarian efforts will be important, and technology will be favored. We will see more things created online than in the physical world. 

 

December 21st, 2020 is a good day to get clear on what you wish to focus on, and to connect with your own spirituality and heart-focused intentions.

 

 

The Christmas Star

The year 2020 will end with a special astronomical event: the closest great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 397 years. On December 21, the two planets will almost touch in the sky. As Jupiter and Saturn will rendezvous just a few days before Christmas forming what will look like a single bright object in the sky, the 2020 great conjunction is sometimes also called the “Christmas star” or “Bethlehem star.”

 

The December 21, 2020 conjunction will be the closest great conjunction since July 16, 1623. At the great conjunction of 1623, Jupiter and Saturn were slightly less than 0.1 degrees apart. However, this event would have been difficult—although not impossible—to observe since the two planets were near the Sun.

 

The last time that the two planets were easily observable when separated by less than 0.1 degrees was almost 800 years ago, during the great conjunction of 1226.

 

To watch an online streaming video of the Great Conjunction of 2020, go to the video below. 

 

 

  

To read more about the esoteric and spiritual opportunities of this time, visit this link here.

 

 

Aldous Huxley describes the aspect of Lord Nataraja

The great writer Aldous Huxley (Brave New World, The Perennial Philosophy, The Doors of Perception, Island) describes the "Dancing Shiva" image of Lord Nataraja and its immense significance and comprehensiveness. 

Lord Dakshinamurti and a Man's Good Fortune

I have been constantly surprised at the huge crowds that visit the small Dakshinamurti Temple located near Ramana Ashram on the Chengam Road. This crowd increases to huge proportions in particular on Thursdays, which is the day dedicated to the Guru, represented by Lord Dakshinamurti.

The reason for my surprise is that this God represents a very esoteric aspect of the Divine and one that I did not think would be significant to the local population at large.

Dakshinamurti is the visual representation of the Supreme Guru. Under the Kallaal (spreading Fiscus tree) in Kailas, Dakshinamurti is seated in the pose of perfect peace and bliss. His form is of a youth of sixteen years and at his feet, sit the four rishis: Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanatkumara. The Lord does not utter a word but his very pose gives the Rishis instruction and they depart, enlightened with all their doubts dispelled.

Painting of Lord Dakshinamurti

The significance of this God is explained in the below extract of a talk between Ramana Maharshi and a devotee. 

Significance of Lord Dakshinamurti

Maharshi: . . . which is the real power? Is it to increase prosperity or bring about peace? That which results in peace is the highest perfection.

Devotee: But people in Europe and America would not appreciate such an attitude and would desire a display of powers and instructions by lectures, etc.

Maharshi: Lectures may entertain individuals for a few hours without improving them. Silence on the other hand is permanent and benefits the whole of humanity.

Devotee: But silence is not understood.

Maharshi: It does not matter. By silence, eloquence is meant. Oral lectures are not so eloquent as silence. Silence is unceasing eloquence. The Primal Master, Dakshinamurti, is the ideal. He taught his Rishi discipes by silence. 

Devotee: But then there were disciples for Him. It was all right. Now it is different. They must be sought after and helped.

Maharshi: That is a sign of ignorance. The power which created you has created the world. If it can take care of you, it can similarly take care of the world also.

[Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi]

Visiting Temple on Chengam Road

Lord Dakshinamurti Temple

Crowds line to take darshan of Lord Dakshinamurti

Only yesterday I was informed by a local resident of the reason for the huge increase of interest in this particular Temple dedicated to Lord Dakshinamurti. Apparently a man living adjacent to the Temple and a big devotee of this God, won a large amount in the Lottery, word of his good fortune which he attributes to the grace of Dakshinamurti, has travelled word of mouth through the town, until now the crowds visiting this Temple on Thursday can extend up to a 100 yards in length. 

Significance of Arunachala Girivalam Asta Lingams

Mooppanar Swami came to Arunachala from Tiruveneli around 1968 and became very well known throughout the Arunachala area. He was a devout, spiritual man who placed great emphasis on spiritual service. When he arrived at Arunachala, things were rather different to the present time and what particularly distressed Mooppanar Swami was the dreadful, neglected condition of the Asta Lingams (8 Lingams) that surrounded Arunachala. Mooppanar Swami used to spend a lot of time meditating and praying at the big Temple and he eventually came to believe that his mission directly imposed by Arunachaleswarar was to renovate the Asta Lingams. 

He was convinced that the restoration of the Lingam Shrines was essential to the revitalisation of specific fields of energy and influence surrounding the Hill. Through a combination of various social reasons, over the last few centuries Temples and Shrines throughout India had fallen into disuse and decay. This certainly occurred at Tiruvannamalai where the situation had become so bad that The Asta Lingams were even taken over by squatters and homesteaders. It is said that Mooppanar Swami would even resort to driving the squatters off the Lingam premises with a stick! 

The Hill which is octagonal in shape is surrounded by a total of 8 Lingam Temples (Asta Lingams). Each of these Temples are located at the four cardinal and four inter-cardinal points. This was also believed by the ancients who originally constructed the Lingams at their 8 cardinal and inter-cardinal points to represent, characterise and vitalise certain aspects and qualities of life, namely: 

East, Indra Lingam, Sun 

South East, Agni Lingam, Fire 

South, Yama Lingam, Death 

South West, Niruthi Lingam, Growth 

West, Varuna Lingam, Rain 

Northwest, Vayu Lingam, Air 

North, Kubera Lingam, Wealth 

North East, Easanya Lingam, Peace 

Restoration of the actual Asta Lingams is now complete; although development of land attached to the Lingams still continues. Many people believe that the revitalisation of the Lingams is in some way responsible to the sudden revival of interest in Arunachala. 

Map of Asta Lingams at Niruddhi Lingam

Life and Work of Arunachala Mooppanar (I.S.V. Arunachala Mooppanar) 

It was late evening, Saturday, April 10, 1999, when I.S.V. Arunachala Mooppanar (lovingly referred to as Mooppanar Swamigal), shed his mortal coil to reach the Feet of Lord Annamalaiyar, as Lord Siva is known in Tiruvannamalai. He was 76. It was a great loss to all those who had come to know and love him for his selfless life as a sivathondan, servant of Siva. In Tiruvannamalai, where he had spent the last 35 years, he was referred to as the 64th Nayanar (the saints of Tamil Saivism)--a place he richly deserved. 

Mooppanar led a married life for 22 years. Having no children, he adopted his elder brother's son and daughter when the former remarried on the demise of his first wife. When the daughter reached marriageable age, she died suddenly through illness. This was traumatic for Mooppanar. The son was then in the 8th standard, and Mooppanar viewed his own life to date. He questioned, "Is this all there is to life? There has been no real happiness so far. Am I going to spend the rest of my life looking after the boy?" Dispassion set in, and soon he felt the need for a more meaningful life. It was then that he made the momentous decision to leave everything behind and come to Tiruvannamalai to serve Lord Siva by offering sambrani dhupam, a traditional temple incense, to the Lord. 

Thus it was that, having made provisions for his family, he arrived in Tiruvannamalai around 1965. On his arrival he met the chief priest, Ramalinga Sivachariar. The priest told him that what he had in mind would neither provide a roof over his head nor food for his hungry stomach. Ramalinga Sivachariar offered him a job selling panchamritam, a sacred blend of five fruits, at the temple shop jointly run by him and another priest. He also encouraged Mooppanar to carry on with his Siva puja (his puja items, now stored in the premises of the Kubera Lingam, are worth not less than Rs. 30,000). For the next five years he ran the panchamritam shop. There was neither gain nor loss. This too, he felt, was not his destiny. The opportunity to do thirupani, temple renovation, came when the owner of Udupi Brindhavan Lodge offered him free board and lodging. Freed from the burden of earning a living, he embarked on his ashtalinga thirupani in earnest. In the beginning he was given encouragement and help by one Ramanananda Swami. 

The 14-kilometer circumference of the holy Arunachala Hill is dotted with several small shrines, including the Ashtalingams (eight Siva icons). Neglected over the years, these shrines had fallen into a sad state of disrepair. Mooppanar felt it was his destiny to restore them to their original glory. With this in mind, he approached the temple authorities, as all these shrines belong to the temple. The officer asked, "How are you going to carry out your renovation?" 

Mooppanar replied, "There will be no committee. Siva is the boss, and I am the servant." The officer told him to carry on, if he had that much faith in himself. The temple would not interfere as long as he did not seek financial assistance from them. Thus began the arduous task of restoration. He first started on a small scale, doing minor repairs. 

Later, as more money came in, he undertook restoration on a grander scale--providing electricity, drilling bore wells and building tanks for water storage. Cottages for the devotees have been built at Yama Lingam, Nirudhi Lingam, Palani Aandavar Koil, Surya Lingam, Varuna Lingam, Vayu Lingam and Kubera Lingam. 

Mooppanar told devotees, "I am not doing this out of desire. I am a sivanadiyar, slave of Siva, born a human and a Saivite, and doing Siva puja (worship rite) for more than 25 years. If I do not carry out the repairs and restoration, there is no point in having taken birth. I have come for that purpose." 

Toward the end of 1998 he had to discontinue his elaborate Siva puja due to ill health--diabetes, high blood pressure and a heart attack--brought on by stress caused by opposition from certain quarters that stood to lose when Mooppanar went to court to repossess property that rightfully belonged to the Ashtalingams. Over the years he had successfully gone to court more than once to reclaim Ashtalingam property. At the time of his death, there was a court case pending for Isanya Lingam, the eighth Ashtalingam, where work is currently in progress. From memory, he could give the actual acreage of each shrine. 

On the first of every Tamil calendar month, he would walk around the hill at night, performing abhishekam, ritual bathing, and puja at every shrine. In the early days, barrels of water and items for abhishekam would be carried in a push cart from shrine to shrine by a devoted band of followers. This went on for many years. Following his heart attack at the end of 1998, he was unable to walk around the hill. 

Swamiji had great compassion for cows. Every morning, on the way to the temple, he would stop at the cowshed to feed the cows and calves tidbits that he would pick up from the hotel. Through his devotees, he had contributed a few animals to the temple. At his request one devotee built a permanent shelter for the animals. On a regular basis he would have agathi leaves bought for the cows, a treat for them. Only after darshan of Lord Annamalaiyar and Unnamulai Amman would he have breakfast himself.

A man of discipline and self-control, he never imposed himself on anyone. Though he had free lodging, whenever the hotel was full, he would sleep in the corridor. He never visited old people or young children without taking some food for them. He would buy loose flowers for the Lord on his way to the temple every morning. 

When Mooppannar was hospitalized following a heart attack in early April, 1999, his devotees wanted to take him to Chennai for treatment. He refused. If he should die, it had to be in Tiruvannamalai. He was adamant about this and he breathed his last in this sanctified place. 

He was well-read and could recount stories from the Puranas. His stories would be interspersed with plaintive refrains from songs in praise of Lord Siva. In the early days he had accompanied the chief priest when the latter conducted temple consecrations in various parts of Tamil Nadu. Mooppanar was assistant in charge of everything. 

Mooppanar appointed five trustees to carry on the work after him. He also put some money in fixed deposit, the interest from which was to help to maintain the shrines he had restored. 

A large crowd gathered for his funeral. Garlands were in abundance, so much so that the path to the cremation site was lined with them. No one would accept money for services rendered during the funeral. Even the hospital where he received treatment refused to accept any form of payment from the trustees. Though small in stature, he was a giant among men. He feared no one. There are plans afoot to have a statue of Mooppanar erected in the grounds of Kubera Lingam. Palms together, he will be facing the hill. It is hoped that the trustees fulfill Mooppanar's dream by completing the restorations he dedicated his life to. 

[By Rajeswari Nagalingam] 

For more information about the Asta Lingams, and to learn about their esoteric significance visit my website Arunachala Samudra at this link here. 

Light at Deepavali

Light primarily signifies knowledge. All our activities should be governed by the light of knowledge, especially the knowledge of dharma. By this knowledge, ignorance or darkness is dispelled. We bow to knowledge which is the greatest wealth in our lives. Knowledge also backs our good as well as bad actions. So, the lamp which is kept lit for all auspicious occasions, is a witness to our thoughts and actions.

Learned people say that by seeing brightly lit lamps, insects, birds, reptiles, trees and plants, all living things residing in water and light can be permanently liberated from bondages due to that particular janma.

The flame is fed on the oil of clear devotion and enlivened by the breeze of intense love of contemplation on the Lord. The wick is the intellect strengthened by impressions of strivings to cultivate the right values. This is the spiritual significance of a deepam compared to an electric light which can only remove darkness. Like the flame burning upwards, our knowledge must take us towards higher ideals.


Lighting Lamps

To those interested in the more esoteric aspects of the lighting of lamps (which is particularly appropriate during this Deepavali Festival) below are some beliefs about lamp lighting.

1. Using sesame oil in lamps destroys evil and castor oil brings joy to relatives. A mixture of 5 oils available at the market, is very beneficial to use in lamps. Coconut oil for Lord Ganesha, Sesame oil for Lord Narayana and ghee for the Devi.

2. Cotton is the best wick as it heralds prosperity. And a wick made of yellow cloth gives Blessing from the Goddess.

3. Putting the lamp in the east removes sorrow, and in the west to remove debt and enemies.

4. The number of wicks in a lamp have different significance. Two wicks gives family happiness, three wicks denotes the birth of a child, four wicks for wealth, and five wicks for welfare, health and prosperity.

5. Lamps should always be put out be pressing with a flower or sprinkling with kumkum.

6. Keep a cloth near lamp to rub excess oil from hands, excess oil should not be rubbed on hair or on own dress.



Kuthu Vilakku

The five petals of the Kuthu Vilakku are also said to denote the five main elements are supposed to represent the five elements of Nature — earth, water, fire, air and sky or space. The five nozzles are also said to denote the five main elements needed for a successful life — health, wealth, learning, courage and longevity.








The three Gods Bramha, Vishnu and Shiva are believed to be present in the Vilakku. At the base part is Bramha,the middle part Vishnu and the broad part on top is Shiva.The Glow of the Vilakku is represented as Goddess Lakshmi, the Light by Goddess Saraswati and the Heat by Goddess Parvati.

The five wicks in the Kuthu Vilakku represents our five senses and also the Panchaboothangal: 5 elements of the World; Earth, Water, Air, Sky and FireTraditionally.


Laksmi at Deepavali

There are two legends that associate the worship of Lakshmi on this day. According to the first legend, on this day, Lakshmi emerged from Kshira Sagar, the Ocean of Milk, during the great churning of the oceans, Samudra manthan. The second legend (more popular in western India) relates to the Vamana Avatar of the big three Vishnu, the incarnation he assumed to kill the demon King Bali. On this day, Vishnu came back to his abode the Vaikuntha; so those who worship Lakshmi receive the benefit of her benevolent mood, and are blessed with mental, physical and material well-being.

On the day of Lakshmi Puja during Deepavali, "Lakshmi-panchayatan" enters the Universe. This group of five elements, “panchayatan” are comprised of Vishnu, Indra, Kubera, Gajendra and Lakshmi. The tasks of these elements are:

Lakshmi: Shakti which provides energy to all activities
Vishnu: Happiness (happiness and satisfaction:
Kubera: Wealth (generosity; one who shares wealth)
Indra: Opulence (satisfaction due to wealth)
Gajendra: Carries the wealth

Eclipses During 2011

During 2011, there has already been two partial solar eclipses, the lunar eclipse of these days and thereafter there will be a further three eclipses.

04 January 2011 Partial Solar Eclipse
01 June 2011 Partial Solar Eclipse

15 June 2011 Total Lunar Eclipse
01 July 2011 Partial Solar Eclipse

26 November 2011 Partial Solar Eclipse
10 December 2011 Total Lunar Eclipse


An Indian Eclipse Legend

"When the gods and the demons churned the milky ocean in days of yore, nectar came out of it. Lord Vishnu assumed the form of Mohini, a charming lady, deluded the demons and distributed the nectar only among the gods. But Rahu had disguised himself as a god. The sun and the moon pointed this out to Mohini who immediately slashed off the demon’s head. Since the nectar had by then already reached up to the neck, he did not die. Thus the head came to be known as Rahu and the body as Ketu. To avenge this betrayal, Rahu and Ketu periodically eclipse the sun and the moon".

Rahu-Ketu Dosha

Esoteric Significance and Observances during Eclipse

According to scriptures and tradition at the time of eclipse, one should bathe in sacred rivers and do charitable acts.

The most recommended ritual to be done on the day is believed to be Tarpanam, which is a ritual performed to appease the souls of ancestors.

During the time of the eclipse those that do Japa or meditate, derive great benefits.

On eclipse day one should wear Pearls or Moonstone gems, Green Emeralds or Green Jade.

The day after the eclipse one should feed the poor, Brahmins and Sadhus.

It is said that the effect of an eclipse lasts for three months during which time one is affected by the waves of its influence.