Murti Sthapna of Swami Ramji Maharaj
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Murti Sthapna of Swami Ramji Maharaj
(Installation of the Murti of the Rishi of Kashmir Shaiva Darshanam at Jammu) |
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Professor Ashwani Wanganoo
Philosophic inputs by Dr Chaman Lal Raina |
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was the auspicious hour of (Paushya Krishnapaksha Dvadashi; Bikrami
Samvat 1911; Saptrishi Samvat 4930), corresponding to the December 18th
1854 AD, a great saint was born to Pandit Shuk Dev ji of the Swamin
Upamanyu Gotra, at theQazi YarHaba Kadal in the Srinagar Capital of the
J&K State . As professed by the astrologers of the time, Kashmir was
blessed to have such a wonderful saint born. He met the great Guru in
the person of Pandit Manakak Mongaji for spiritual enlightenment. The
meeting of Pandit Manakak ji and Swami Ramji should be taken as a Divine
will to see the Eternal "Shabda Brahman' in the Chaitanyam Atma and
Udhyamo Bhairawa, which is the core message of the Shaiva Darshanam.As time passed, the fragrance of his spiritual Sadhana in a three storied house at Fateh Kadal Srinagar Kashmir attracted admirers for his blessings. Among one of the admirers was Maharaja Pratap Singh the then ruler of Kashmir. Even Swami Vivekananda felt blessed to have a glimpse of this great sage (Swami Ramji) during his visit to Kashmir in 1897-98. This three storied house later (1884 onwards) turned into a famous Ashram of the Trika philosophy (Kashmir Shaivism) learning centre now popularly known as “Ram Shaiv (Trika) Ashram”. After 1990 episode of mass Kashmiri Pandit migration ,one more branch at Ashram enclave, Trilokpuri, Gole Gujjral, Jammu Tawi came into existence with the efforts of Mahatma Kashi Nathji Koul in the year 1993. Mahatma Kashi Nath Ji happened to be in the direct lineage of the Guru Shishya parampara as well.He happened to be the Shishya Of Swami Govind Kaul Jalali Ji. Mahtma Kashi Nath ji was born on March 25, 1919, corresponding to Chaitra Shukla Panchami in the year1975 of the Bikrami era. The great Gurus live for the establishment of the spiritual ethos, religious determination and higher social norms, so lived the great Swami of the Trika instituition, in the person of Swami Ram Ji. At the age of 15, Swami Ramji entered into wedlock with Saraswati Devi. She passed away just after one year from the death of her son, who died at the age of three. Thus the passing away of his son freed the material bondage of Swamiji from being a Purna Grihassthi. He chose to be in tune with the Shiava Dhyanam/meditation to propound the philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism. It is a system of ideal monism founded by Vasugupta. It speaks of one ultimate principle, having two aspects, one transcendental and other the immanent. Kashmir Shaivism is basically based on Shiva-Sutras revealed by Lord Shiva himself in the form of revelations ,being a spiritual inspiration to Acharya Vasugupta. The seventy seven terse sutras deal with the three fold principles of Shiva/God, Shakti /manifestation and Nara or the embodied soul. It is called Trikshasna, Trikshastra or simply Trika, dwelling upon the important triad of Siddha, Namaka and Malini or Shiva, Shakti and Anu or Shiva, Shakti and Nara. This universal reality is also defined as Sat-Chit-Anand in the Vedanta philosophy. The only difference is that of Maya, as seen in theVedantic thought, is not taken as illusion in the Shaivistic thought. It is a manifestation of Shiva as Jiva--a subject and object, for becoming One, under the realm of Unity. The Shiva Tattava accounts for subject (Aham) of the dual relationship of universal manifestation. Shakti Tattva is the second factor for cosmic evolution. It is the universal kinetic aspect of consciousness that brings all things into being and destroys all things at the end of cycle of time. Shiva is the Chit aspect of the universal condition while Shakti is the Ananda aspect. |
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the time of Shivopadhyaya (18th Century) till Swami Ramji Maharaj the
Kashmir Shaiva literature, which was mostly handwritten in the Sharada
script, is said to have been destroyed by the ill fate of the time. Mahamaheshwaracharya Swami Ramji Maharaj revived Kashmir Shaivism and taught this Monism to his disciples at his Ashram situated at Fateh Kadal, Srinagar. The attainment of supreme consciousness has been expressed by Swamiji himself in his utterances during divine raptures:
मोहः शान्तो गुरुवरमुखाम्नाय तत्त्वोपलम्बाद्
मग्नं चेतः समरससमास्वादलोलंचिदब्धौ। भावव्रातः प्रशमगमन्निर्विकल्पेसमाधौ सिद्धाभासः स भवति हि मे कोऽपिसंविद्विकासः॥ Moha Shaanto Guruvarmukhaan maiyatvopalambaad Magaanam cheetah samras samaasvaadloolam chidamboodoh Baavvratah prashmaam gamne virkalpe saamadoo Siddhai baasa s baavtai heai mai koaapi Samvidvikaasa
{At
the acceptance of the truth from the mouth of the Master, whose word is
the sacred text for all times, becomes a great boon to me in getting
ignorance dispelled.Thus the mind (Chitta) dives deep in the ocean of
consciousness, which is very eager to taste the loving nectar of
advaita/ oneness. The web of thought calms down in the state of
unqualified meditation. Thus the Supreme-consciousness is inexpressible,
which has been revealed to me in its true nature }.
Let us pray for the blessings of Swami Ramji so that the path shown by him is revealed to our present analytical minds also to derive maximum benefit from the Trika Philosophy of Kashmir. |
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are the ways and means of the Supreme Shiva for establishing the
Dharma, which is Satyam and Ritam of the Vedas. The Shaiva scriptures
speak of the Samvit for the same truth. Shravan Krishna Paksha
Tritiya/corresponf ding to the 10th July, 2009 was the most auspicious
Tthi/ date, when long pending desire and aspiration of the devotees got
fulfilled on seeing Swami Ramji Maharaj’s Murti, installed with the
Prana PratishTha, according to the Vedic rites. The installation was put
at the Abhijit Muhurtam of the Shrawan Nakshatram of the day. Really a
wonderful moment for the devotees, who could not trust their eyes to
see the Murti as real as Swami Ji would have been during his life
span,who incarnated on the (Magha Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi) in the
year 1915AD in the form of Nara/ three dimensional form of Jivatman--the
embodied soul. Though in his worldly plane, He established the Shaiva
Drashanam with all the potential meanings and metaphors, yet he always
lived in the Supreme Sadhana of "Being and Becoming". Not a riddle it was, it was the Divine will of Parama Shiva Himself. He comes to the devotees in various forms, to show us the righteous path, for our spiritual enlightenment. A first glimpse of “Him” struck a tumultuous note of: गटुच-ज़ तु गाश आव गाह प्यव लालन् सन्गर मालन प्यवप्रकाश। “Gaata tsazaage ta Gaash Aaw Gah Pave laalan, Sangarmalan Pav Prakash”. The darkness has been over now with the birth of Swami ji. The illumination has spread all around the valley of Kashmir in the early hours of the day. No other moment could have been as blissful as this really did happen, when every devotee was feeling a superb sense of ecstacy, on seeing the Prana Pratishtha, performed with all love, dedication and submission at the feet of Swami Ram ji Maharaj. The Vedas speak of "Prana- Pratishha",as said the Devi Atharva Shirsham:
Nuutnaayam Pratimaayam japtvaa devataa Sannidhyam Bhavati
Praan PratishThayaam japatvaa "Prananam - Pratishha Bhavati" Bhaumashvinyaam Mahadevi Sannidhau japatva MahaMritum Tarati Sah MahaMritum Tarati Ya eva Veda--Iti Upanishat
Pratimaayam Pranaiva Bhavati,
which means that the icon takes the form of living godhead after
installing the Divine Prana in the Murti. The Murti Rahasyam also
establishes the same concept in the Shakta Agamas. It showers the bliss
at all the tiers of consciousness, established by the Satyam and Ritam of the Vedic Drishti/vision. None felt at the Abhijit Muhurtam /sacred hour of Prana Pratishtha
that they mere bodies just seeing the Murti of Swami Ji being installed
but were surfing in the infinitude of truth, consciousness and bliss,
which is the quintessence of the Parmartha Sara, which Swami Ji would
teach to his disciples at the Ashram, with the same spiritual flavour
and interaction between the "Drishta and drishyamaan"--vision and the visionary. Pramaan, Pramataa and Prameya
are the three pillars of the Shaiva Darshanam as taught by Swami Ji,and
the explanations are based onthat very triadic unity. At that time ,the
search of the seeker was to see the Satyam Shivam Sundaram
in the Murti of the Bhagawan itself.It was observed , during the Praana
Pratishtha hour of the Murti. that the devotees rushed around brushing
their bodies alongside of their fellow members to get the first glimpse
of the Master.
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a wonderful vision of the Master! A Yagna/Havana was performed on this
day which witnessed drenching of all devotees into the ecstasy after
drinking the nectar of Swamiji’s blissful sight, when the Kalash
Sthapanam was performed after the Triadic Homa withYawa Tila Homawith
the barley and sesame, followed by Aajya Homa/Ghee oblations and Anna
Homa/ food offerings. The wonderful scene was observed when the Vedic Mantras were recited, followed by the Purna Ahuti with Kalasha Lava/ sprinkling the sacred water from the Kalasha, which represents the Vedic Devatas with their Shaktis. It was followed by the distribution of kalash Duun--sanctified walnut, as being the prashad of the auspicious day, in the typical Kashmiri Pandit pattern.The Athi Phol was shared by all,at the time of Purnaahuti. Reference: “Gaash” for Spiritual enlightenment. Pub. Shri Ram shaiv (Trika) Ashram Jan 2005. Pp 60. |
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 *Professor Ashwani Wanganeo
is a dedicated devotee of the Shri Shaiva Trika Ashram,at Fateh Kadal
since his childhooddid. He did his Masters and Ph.D from the University
of Kashmir,India. He worked at CORD (University of Kashmir), after
his Ph.D . He was also deputed to Antarctica for research by the
Government of India. Presently, he is Professor & Head, Department
of Environmental Science & Limnology at Barkatullah University
,Bhopal - 462026 (M.P) |
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 *Dr. Chaman Lal Raina
did Masters in Hindi & English. Ph.D. in Hindi & Iqbaliat at
the University of Kashmir. Worked on the research project at the Iqbal
Institute for writing monographs on Indology as Research Associate.
Worked as lecturer to teach research methodology in Iqbal Institute,
University of Kashmir. Dr. Raina's first love is for the Vedas and the
Shakti Tradition of India. To his credit goes some ten books on
Indology. He was awarded Nagmani Fellowship, Buddhist Fellowship etc.
from various Institutions. Presently Dr. Raina is associated with the
Yoga Studies, religion and sanskrit at Florida International University,
USA. |
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| Comments |
| It is after ages now we are bale to communicate through
Shehjar,Nice to see you both and read about the Murtisathapna at jammu.
Wonderful work,nice way to preserve our heritage. I keep in touch with
Dr. CLRaina through e-mail n g-talk, he is regularly writing to
Shehjar.... Added By subhash razdan |
| I have heard about SWAMI Ramji of the Trika Philosophy from my
father, and read about him as being the great Saint who revived the
Trika philosophy,but today I saw him in the Murti--as well. Thanks to
the authors, who put his philosophy and his pictures of his Murti on the
Shehjar. Thanks to the editorial board for putting this write-up very
beautifully, in the E-journal My Pranam to Swami Ram Ji. Added By Sandhya Kaul |
| Dear Asvini ji
I feel that I am at the Trika Ashram Fatehkadal, on seeing the Muurti
Sthapana of Swami ji
I was going to this Ashram for many many years to have the Darshan of
Swami Ji's Asana, when I was reading in Gandhi Memorial College. There
used to be one more saint--ASiddha Purusha Pandit Shridhar Joo,
Wanganoo, popularly known as Shridhar ji Bodha. He stayed there serving
the Asram till till his Nirvana in the same Ashram in Siddha Purusha Added By Rakesh Raina |
| It was a long pendiing desire that got fulfilled through the
untiring efforts of all ASHRAMITES. Installation of the Statue is just
the beginning - We need to concentrate on what was very dear to SWAMI
SHRI RAMJee i.e. learning the Kashmiri Shaivism.
Like Vedas, Shaivism is a thought process of yore, which needs to be
taught by the learned Scholars, avidly, in an easy way.
May SWAMIRAMJEE bestow upon us His blessing to see that the Learning
process gets going. Added By Ganshyam Wangneo |
| It was a long pendiing desire that got fulfilled through the
untiring efforts of all ASHRAMITES. Installation of the Statue is just
the beginning - We need to concentrate on what was very dear to SWAMI
SHRI RAMJee i.e. learning the Kashmiri Shaivism.
Like Vedas, Shaivism is a thought process of yore, which needs to be
taught by the learned Scholars, avidly, in an easy way.
May SWAMIRAMJEE bestow upon us His blessing to see that the Learning
process gets going. Added By Ganshyam Wangneo |
| Here is the location on this Ashram on World Map.
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=32.7328201&lon=74.806627&z=18&l=0&m=b&show=/18176715/Sri-Ram-Ashram Added By Raj Pandita |
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