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DEJI HOR- A SYMBOL OF SUHAGIN

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DEJI HOR- A SYMBOL OF SUHAGIN

(Dedicated to the Motherhood of Kashmiri Pandit women) *-Dr Chaman Lal Raina

Dejihor is a golden Abhushan/ornament designed as the symbol of being a Suhagin/ Saubhagyawati. It is not the Mangla Sutra, but a representation of being Dvija/twice- born according to the Laughakshi Paddati. In the early Aryan civilization, every woman was supposed to be invested with the sacred thread. Later Mangla Sutra took the place of the Bhrahma Sutra-Upanayana in the rest of Bharat except Kashmir. Kashmir evolved a new system, where the Dijahor took place of Upanayana at the time of Devaguna Sanaskara /initiation before the actual Panigrihan Saptapadi/ marriage ceremony of the girl.   Dejihor is of gold and should be of the gold. Gold represents the Hiranyagarbha or the cosmic womb.Why? Gold is considered as the purest form of metal, which never gets stained. Shri Sharika is said to be the Hiranyamayi Devi. Design of the jewelry is also influenced by the religious ethos. Since Kashmir has remained a Shakti Pitha and the Shaktivad has been the main source of our spiritual insight and upbringing within the Sanatana Dharma, so it was natural that Dejihor should have taken the symbol of the Shri Yantra. At the Anushthhana/ invocation of Devguna, known as Kanya Sanaskar the Dejihor is sanctified by the Vedic and the Tantrik Mantras related to the Shri Yantra. What is Shri Yantra? Shri Yantra is the Chakreshvara, the King of the all Yantras, according to the Shaiva -Shakti Agamas. The hymn related to the formation of the Shri Yantra is: “Bindu-Trikona-Vasukona Dashaarmyugma Manvashra-Naagadala-SamyutashodaaramVrtta Trayam Cha Dharni Sadana TrayamShri Chakram etad Uditam Para devataayaah” 1 Dot/ Bindu is Ananda -- All Bliss. 2 The inverted triangle is Sarva Siddhi Pradaa Shakti, the Giver of all prosperity. 3 Eight Triangles are the Sarva Rogahara Chakra-the Destroyer of all diseases. 4 Ten Triangles are the Sarva Rakshaakara Chakra- the All Savior. 5 Next ten Triangles are the Sarvartha Saadhaka Chakra-the Giver of the all fortune. 6 Fourteen Triangles are the Sarva Saubhagya Daayaka Chakra- Giver of all types of auspiciousness. 7 Eight Lotus Petals are the Sarva Sankshobhana Chakra, the giver of the Eight perfections, by removing all the obstructions. 8 Sixteen Lotus Petals are the Sarva Pari Puraka Chakra, the Giver of all accomplishments. 9 Square of three lines with four portals is the Trailokya Mohan Chakra, which is all potent in making the triple world in the command of the bride with purity and austerity. The Nine Chakras are represent by the Shatkona, two holes and one Chuni. Mantras are powerful and produce the positive energy. Thus the Dejihor was designed by the great Kashmiri Acharyas to infuse the divine strength within the married woman. The designs are changing, but the Shatkona with circular dot at the extremities have remained the same. The size of the Dejihor has changed and is still changing.   This Dejihor is the Section of the Chakreshvara, which we revere at the Hari Parbhat. The two holes of the Dejihor represent the Jaya and Vijaya Shaktis within the Shatkona Yantra.The Atahor is given by the in-laws to represent the invocation and blessings from the Maha Lakshmi, when the bride is received for the first time by the Wai’ryuw/ in-laws after the marriage ceremony is over. At the Sata Raath the bride/ married woman gets the Attahor from the Maalyun/ parental house, and the tradition continues for the rest of her life. I think, it is more of affection, reverence for the married daughter from her parents. The Atta is the name of Shiva, and Attahor is Shiva Shakti Eka Roopini, the Oneness of Shiva and Shakti. The Shatkona is the Shiva and Shakti in Unison and is represented in the figure below:   The inverted triangle is revered as being the Primal Prakriti.The upward triangle is termed as the Purusha The Bindu at the center of the Shatkone is represented by a Chu’ni/ precious stone in Kashmiri language.It represents the Priya Bindu of the Shri Raj Rajeshvari Shri Chakra. The Mantra runs as: Shri- Chakra- Priya- Bindu-Tarpana- Para -Shri Raja-Rajeshvari The central dot of the Shri Chakra is the transcendental stage of the Shri Rajarajeshvari. Kashmiri Pandits bless the Mahaaryen/bride to be the Raja Rajeshvari. She is said to be the Raaj’u Reyen, after Mahaaryen. Dejihor Chhi meinya Pa'iz Asmitaa Baasaan Chuum Chhas Bu Garvita Dekya bajritch Nisha'ini Chhi A'ithi Andar Shatkonuk aakar Chhu Kotah Sondar Atahor Chhu Shiv Shakti Hund Aadhar Deji Haaruk Bajar Chhu Banun Nervikaar -------- Jaya Sibu Glossary: Atahor/ tassel is made of silver thread/ soulma. Now a days golden Atahor is replaced with soulma atahor. Atahor is being hanged with the Atha/ Latkan/ hanging chain through the pierced ears in the center of the ear. Wearing of a new atahor is a shagun in Kshmiri Pandit religious ethos Chu’ni is a semi precious stone/ jewel, which is fixed in the center of the Shatkone. It represents the nucleolus of the Shri Yantra, which is very dear to Raj Rajeshvari, whose abode is Shri Yantra/ Chakra Dvija has turned into Deji, as Danda has become danda. Hor means the jur'i, two in number. Dejihor is not a single ornament, but must be two . Hor means two put in together, just lake Dand Hor, wa’ink Hor. Jaya and Vijaya are the main associates of Shri Raj Rajeshvari. Purusha is the Static form of the Absolute Brahman and Prakriti is the Total manifestation. Hari Parbat is the Divine Abode of Shri Sharika, the Presiding mother of the Chakreshvara Yantra Shatkona is the hexagonal figure representing Shiva and Shakti. The author is highly grateful to Sanskrit teachers and Professors like Prof. L N Sapru, Prof.P. N. Pushp, Prof. Nila Kanth Gurtoo, Prof. Kashi Nath Dhar for receiving encouragement from them in his Sanskrit studies. The author acknowledges the guidance, he received from Shri J.N Sibu in understanding the Tantras and Agamas of Kashmir.