Hinduism For All

Aayudhas

In the Iconography (the system of depicting the forms of Idols) of Indian Gods, we may see them holding various weapons in their multiple hands. These Aayudhas or weapons have a symbolic significance.

Paasha ( Noose) serves the purpose of restraining the devotee from committing any mistakes, Ankusha ( Goad) is for controlling the devotee who has strayed away from the righteous – path, Pustaka (Book) signifies scriptural knowledge, Aksha Mala (Rosary beads) stands for Action and the other weapons usually stand for punishing the wrong-doers.

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Form of Lord Aayudhas

GANESHA Paasha, Ankusha, Danta (tooth), Modaka (Sweet ball)

SHIVA Trishoola (Trident), Dhamaru (Drum), Agni (Fire), Mruga (Deer) etc

VISHNU Shankha (Conch), Chakra (Disc uss), Gadaa (Mace), Padma (Lotus) etc.

DEVI Paasha, Ankusha, Pushpabaana (5 Flower Arrows), Chaapa (Sugarcane bow)

Post – Worship Rites

After the elaborate worship of the deity with sixteen upachaaras or more, there are some ancillary rites which too are mandatory in most forms of worship.

Japa

Japa is repetition of a holy name, or a physical syllable pertaining to a particular divinity. The Japa should be performed only after being initiated into such a Japa by a preceptor (Guru). It involves contemplating on the form of the deity in one’s mind and offering mental worship to Him.

Then the devotee proceeds to ‘place’ the various syllables of the mantra in the various limbs of his body, to act as a talisman. Then the initiate repeats the holy mantra, within his mind, always aware of the presence of Lord within and counts 27, 36, 64, 108, 1008 or more times. The mantra becomes potent if the initiate repeats the holy mantra ‘one lakh’ times per syllable. He then becomes a ‘siddha’ i.e. perfected in that mantra.

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The mantras are counted using the nodes of the right hand fingers, using a rosary made of rudraaksha, tulasi, sphatika, lotus stalk, coral, sandal, navaratna etc.

This article is a snippet from the Book Hinduism For All, Authored by TS Srinivasan and Edited By Dr Ramchandrashekar. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in & across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture & Tradition.

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