Issue 21

Shiva Tripura Samhara Thandava Moorthi - The Ego Capturer, Mind Purifier and Destroyer of Evil - The Worshippable Lord of 2008 In 2007, the Lord graced us as Shiva Gaja Samhara Moorthi, the ego annihilator. In 2008, He will grace us with His Tripura Samhara Thandava Moorthi avatar, the ego "capturer," says Sathguru Venkataraman, the founder of the Agasthiar Ashram in holy Arunachala. When there is blatant opposition to the Divine because of ego and arrogance, the Lord manifests as Gaja Samhara Moorthi, the ego annihilator, and emancipates the soul. However, when there is no direct opposition, but the "big I" still thinks that it is the doer and not the Divine, the Lord manifests as the ego "capturer." He "captures" the "big I" with His maya and delivers the soul, says Sathguru Venkataraman. This Tripura Samhara Thandava Moorthi avatar is the worshippable Lord for this year 2008 as revealed in December 2007 in the January 2008 issue of the Ashram monthly magazine.

The Full and Complete Daily Darshan for 2008 The Agasthiar Lineage Siddhas hail the Tripura Samhara Tandava Moorthy avatar form (shown in the Agasthiar Ashram painting above) as the full and complete darshan of the Lord. With 16 hands, 21 devas and deities, 51 maharishis, countless Siddhas as ornaments, decorations and weapons, and with Sri Tripura Samhara Prachanda Skanda Muruga and Mother Tripura Sundari at His side, this full and complete darshan must be viewed by everyone of us every day throughout 2008. To get this daily darshan easily throughout 2008, make this image the desktop background on your computer. You can also get 2008 calendars with this picture at the Ashram store. Either way, make sure you get this daily darshan throughout 2008. Daily Worship of the Ego "Capturer" throughout 2008 "mamathaiyai maayaiyaal kavarndhu theervu alikkum divyamaana vazhipaadu." The Sathguru has thus conveyed the deep significance of Shiva Tripura Samhara Moorthi worship in just one sentence. A simple explanation follows. When the Lord manifested this ego "capturer" avatar, He not only destroyed the evil Tripura asura demons, He also taught the Devas and us a very important lesson. Being tormented by the Tripura asuras, the Devas sought refuge at the Lord's feet, but when the Lord set out to destroy the evil forces, the Devas thought they were going to be of help to Him! This is the mamata or the "I am the doer" thought. This thought, especially while being at the Lord's side, is a major stumbling block on the spiritual path. But till the end, the Lord did not do or say anything to change the thoughts of the Devas. On the contrary, He played along till the very end. This was His maya at work. At the end, when He destroyed the evil forces with but a look, the Devas realized that they were most certainly not the doers and the Lord alone is the doer. Thus the Lord "captured" their mamata ego without saying anything to that effect! He made them realize on their own that they have to discard the "I am the doer" thought if they are to advance on the spiritual path. The Devas realized that the Lord does not need anyone's help. This should be obvious, yet how many of us think that we can be of help in the Lord's cause! So the great lesson that the Lord taught the Devas is valid to this day. It is of utmost significance to everyone who is interested in spirituality. The daily worship of Sri Tripura Samhara Thandava Murthy throughout 2008 will help us in eradicating the "I am the doer" thought and thus get closer to the Divine. The Daily Darshan Hymn for 2008 Sathguru Venkataraman has given to us a six line hymn composed by the Siddha, Kunchithapaadha Kaviraya in honor of the Lord of 2008, Sri Shiva Tripura Samhara Thandava Moorthi. Here are the six lines of the hymn transliterated into English text: 1. thookkiya paadham 2. thudhikkaiyaan sevittha paadham 3. athithikku abhayam alittha paadham 4. thithi dhikkellaam thiralum divyamaya paadham 5. deva paadham 6. tripura samhaara thaandava thookkiya paadham Reciting this hymn a minimum of 1008 times daily throughout 2008 is highly beneficial, say the Siddhas of the Agasthiar Lineage. You can see below a short clip that contains a recitation of this hymn by an Agasthiar Ashramite. Om Salutations to Lord Sri Shiva Tripura Samhara Thandava Moorthi Om Salutations to Maha Guru Sri Agasthiar Om Salutations to the Agasthiar Lineage Om Salutations to the Siddhas