MAHAMERU from DEVIPURAM Sri Amritananda Natha
Mahendri
Kaumaari 3
6
7
Chamunda
2 Maheshwari
MAHA MERU from DEVIPURAM by Sri AMRITANANDA NATHA
Vaishnavi 4
Varaahi
5
1 Brahmi
8
Maha-Lakshmi
¹ Abhishekam is the ritual bathing of a murthi (temple or shrine image), yantra, guru or other human recipient. ² Panchamrita generally refers to a ritual mixture used in Hindu worship services. As its name implies, it is made of five ingredients, usually milk, ghee, curd (yogurt), honey, and jaggery. Each of these ‘nectars’ has an origin in Hindu tradition. The milk is that of Kamadhenu (the divine wish-fulfilling cow); the curd represents the white, smooth and cool luster of the moon; the ghee is the food of the gods themselves, with a long Vedic past; honey, the extract of all herbs, is the essence of life with herbal healing powers; and jaggery, the extract of sugarcane, is both the representation and the epitome of sweetness. ³ Sankalpa is a conception or idea formed in one’s mind or heart; it is a thought, an ideal, an intention. The Vedas say that the whole universe is evolved through sankalpa – the ceaselessly acting impulses of karma, driven by cosmic kama – and hence it is only through sankalpa that the universe retains its karmic structure, appearance, and continuity.
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Sri Vidya Trust Devipuram, Anakapalle 531 001 Andhra Pradesh
Mantras to the Eight Matrukas First Edition
January 2007
Published by
Sri Vidya Trust, Devipuram Ammulapalem Post (Via) ANAKAPALLE 531 001 Andhra Pradesh India Tel: +91 8924 207652 Email:
[email protected] Web: http://www.devipuram.com
Edited by
Michael Bowden
Designed by:
Imagic Creatives Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore 71 Tel: +91 80 25356310/1/2 Email:
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Governing Direction
Beeja Mantras
Avarana Mantra
Name of Goddess
The Mother Who Removes, or Helps Us to Overcome …
I Bow to Her
East
Om aim hreem sreem
am aam souh
Brahmi
maatre kama (lust) sanjeevanyai
namaha
South
Om aim hreem sreem
am aam Maheshwari souh
maatre krodha (anger) naashinyai
namaha
West
Om aim am aam hreem sreem souh
Kaumaari
maatre lobha namaha (delusion) naashinyai
North
Om aim hreem sreem
am aam souh
Vaishnavi
maatre moha (pride) namaha naashinyai
Southeast
Om aim hreem sreem
am aam souh
Varaahi
maatre mada (jealousy) naashinyai
namaha
Southwest
Om aim hreem sreem
am aam souh
Mahendri
Maatre maatsarya (envy) naashinyai
namaha
Northwest
Om aim hreem sreem
am aam souh
Chamunda maatre papa (negative namaha actions) naashinyai
Northeast
Om aim hreem sreem
am aam souh
MahaLakshmi 33
maatre aishwarya (attachment to wealth) keertyai
namaha
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Chamunda is the War Goddess, a form of Chandi; “Chamunda Shava Vahana” – She who lives in cemeteries, riding upon a revivified corpse. Propitiating Chamunda will enable you to absolutely control all evils done to you and to
Maha Meru
eliminate those evils. 8
Mahalakshmi is the wealth of Sri Naraayana. She is Cosmic Awareness, and shuns pettiness in all its aspects. Thus She represents the infinite wealth of the Lord, and removes poverty of all kinds. The Ashta Aishwaryas and Ashta Lakshmis are all under Her control and they all obey Her commands. It is therefore appropriate to propitiate Her in order to get a feel for the spiritual wealth of the Lord. She not only bestows material benefits, but also grants the proper frame of mind for reaching the oceanic, infinite antaryami (One Residing Within) of Divine Consciousness.
The simplest form of worship is abhishekam using Panchamrita² – pour a spoonful of Panchamrita onto the Sri Meru location corresponding to each of these Devis as you
An Introduction
recite their respective mantras, as given below. If you want a particular result, you can
The Maha Meru, or Sri Meru Chakra, is a three-dimensional projection of the
make a corresponding sankalpa³ and worship that Goddess by chanting Her mantra 108
great yantra known as Sri Chakra, said to be the Mother of all Mandalas. The
times.
sublime geometry of the Sri Chakra is revealed wisdom. It is not of human origin.
These are just general hints for the people who don’t have much time to spare, but
It is nothing less than the genetic code of the Cosmos. It is intelligent. As one
still wish to maximize the benefits of their Sri Meru, to help them light the path of
commentator aptly explained, “Sri Chakra is the technology of the Absolute,
their lives. May the Goddess bless all of you so.
skillfully fashioned in Divinity’s own self-image.”
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Every yantric shape emits a very specific frequency and energy pattern. Sri Chakra
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Varahi is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Lalita Devi. Residing
is said to contain within itself the essence of all other yantras, and thus it contains
at the Ajna Chakra, She has vast armies at Her command (ajna), with which
the essence of all traditions. Certain powers, for example, are ascribed to the six-
She can defeat any enemy. Positive use of Varahi’s powers enables us to treat
pointed Star of David, the Christian cross, the five-pointed star, the Egyptian and
various diseases and internal enemies, such as kama (lust), krodha (anger),
Meso-American pyramids, and so on. The Meru’s particular configuration is revered
lobha (delusion), moha (pride), mada (jealousy) and matsarya (envy), and bring
in all Eastern traditions: It integrates the essence of Indian Mother Goddess worship,
them under control. Thus Varahi can be used for effectively controlling diseases
Mahayana Buddhism, Chinese feng shui, the Eleusinian mysteries of the Ancient
and improving one’s quality of life. She can also be invoked to bring relief to
Greeks, and so much more. Once received from a proper and well-intentioned
others, by chanting sankalpam³ with their names and doing japa (mantra
Guru, the Maha Meru can bring unbounded happiness and every good thing in life.
recitation) or prokshana (the actual or visualized sprinkling of energized water
In its Maha Meru form, Sri Chakra radiates an aura of Love and Order, literally
on the person on whose behalf you are appealing) with the Varahi Mantra.
creating a sacred space around itself. Wherever it is placed, it brings order, peace,
Varahi is especially useful in bringing relief to terminally ill patients, such as
happiness, health, and wealth – in short, everything that is needed. Just keeping it
those suffering from cancer and AIDS.
in one’s home will confer great blessings, because the Meru subtly connects itself to the other major yantras in the world. Its mere presence is said to cleanse the home
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Mahendri is the Atma Shakti of Indra, the God of Rain. He sends his
of defects under both the vaastu and feng shui systems; to ward off and neutralize
thunderbolt, Vajra, to seed the clouds and bring the rain that fertilizes the
negative energies and the “evil eye”; to protect against unfavorable planetary
Earth. Thus all desires regarding the wellbeing of crops, control of floods and
influences; and to bring about healing, prosperity and peace of mind.
other such natural calamities; anything related to rain and water and fertilization
People of all beliefs, religions and sects may reap the benefits of peace, healing and
of the earth – is best handled through the worship of Mahendri. She protects
prosperity by installing the Maha Meru in their homes, offices, shrines and places of
crops, ensures better dairy products and is generally useful for those in the
worship, as well as in hospitals, healing centers, prayer halls and wedding centers.
agricultural industries, as well as for environmental control.
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subtle, unmanifest forms) under control. So for those who aspire to greatness,
It may be given as a loving and auspicious gift for newlywed couples embarking on
through whatever means (for example, through business or enterprise in their
their lives together, for adult children setting out on their own, for friends and
various forms); for those who must insist on the right things being done at the right times by the right people; for those who require a bit of aggression to
relatives moving into a new home or embarking on a new endeavor; even as a corporate gift from employers to valued employees – in each case, it will empower the recipient in every possible way.
preserve their competitive edge – propitiation of Maheshwari is recommended. This very special Maha Meru comes to you from Devipuram, India – your Global 3
Kaumari is the Atma Shakti of Kumara or Skanda, Ganesha’s brother, whose
Resource for Goddess Worship, and seat of Sri Meru Nilaya temple, the largest,
wives are Valli and Devasena. He is Shanmukha, the Kundalini Shakti; the
most unique Maha Meru in the world. Here one can literally walk into and
serpent power itself. He resides in all six chakras, balancing them; he is also the
circumambulate a true Sri Chakra, meeting life-sized murthis (divine images) of all
leader of the Devas’ armies. Worship of Kaumari is recommended for couples
the yoginis within. The establishment of this extraordinary temple has an amazing
who wish to obtain Santana, or progeny. By propitiating Kaumari – through worship of the Yoni, which is the seat of Kundalini as Nagashakti – wellness hormones are generated, and conditions suitable for conception are created.
and inspiring story behind it – one that is intimately related to the creation of these distinctive Devipuram Maha Merus. Guruji shares this story in an exclusive conversation elsewhere in this booklet.
Devipuram Maha Merus are available in two sizes: 4
Vaishnavi is the Atma Shakti of Vishnu, whose nature is Maya. Maya means
5” x 5” x 2.5” (complete with an elegant, specially designed box)
Hreemkaara; it is involvement in the world. So Vaishnavi, a form of Lakshmi
10” x 10” x 5”
who creates these illusions of Samsara, can assist in improving one’s relationships
The Maha Merus are currently available in the following metals and finishes.
in life – between husband and wife, between friends; in all kinds of interpersonal
• Bronze/ Bright Finish • Bronze/ Antique Finish • Bronze/ Silver Coat • Bronze/
relationships.
Gold Coat • Pure Silver • Pure Silver/ Gold Coat • Pure Gold 30
3
When ordering Pure Silver and Pure Gold Merus, devotees are given the option to
provided here a simple puja designed for laypersons who are short on time but
supply the metal for making their Merus.
would still like to perform a more serious and formal worship of their Maha Meru:
Only a limited number of these special Devipuram-inspired Maha Merus will be created. Please send a query to
[email protected] to obtain further details about the Maha Merus and how they may be obtained; or contact us at +91-8924-207652. Also please
Abhishekam to the Eight Matrukas The Bhupura – the square, outermost enclosure of Sri Meru, as described above – is
be sure to spread the word about these extraordinary Maha Merus to your friends, relatives
comprised of three walls which are, in turn, graced by the 28 Devis or yoginis known
and fellow seekers!
respectively as the Ten Mudra Shaktis, the Eight Matruka and the Ten Siddhis. In this puja we focus upon the Ashta Matruka, who govern the second or middle Bhupura wall, in each of its cardinal and intermediate directions; thus it is to the eight corners of the Sri Meru’s square enclosure that we shall direct our worship. The names and associations of the Devis residing at each location tell us how and why they are useful as intermediaries in helping us to obtain the grace of Para Shakti. 1
Brahmi is Brahma’s Atma Shakti, Saraswati, who symbolizes creativity in all of its aspects, most prominently music and knowledge. In all efforts that improve one’s quality of life in this regard – for example, education, learning and creativity – worship of Brahmi is recommended.
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Maheshwari is the Goddess of Shiva; She brings Mahat Tattva (i.e., the first transformation of primordial nature, containing all other elements in their
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addition. The Bindu is the true form of Shiva and Shakti since it is One, and naturally the whole chakra is within it. Everything is contained in the Bindu.” This Maha-Bindu is also identified with the body’s uppermost yogic center, the Sahasrara Chakra – the Thousand-Petaled Wheel at the crown of the skull. It further corresponds to the seat or throne (peetha) of the Maha-Devi Sri Lalita, located in the city of Tripura atop Mount Meru at the center of the Universe. As the great sage Bhaskararaya wrote in Saubhagyabhaskara, his authoritative commentary on the Sri Lalita Sahasranama: “Outside and beyond the countless myriads of world systems, in the center of the Ocean of Nectar, upon the Isle of Gems (Ratna-Dvipa), more than a thousand crores [i.e. tens of millions of miles] in extent, there rises the supreme city of Srividya […] which is called Sri Chakra”.
A Simple Puja for Maha Meru The Maha Meru requires no formal prayers or worship, nor must it be kept only in vegetarian homes – a reverential attitude toward it is enough. Its effects, for example, may be enhanced simply by playing soft music in its proximity.
The Merus of Devipuram
Those who know how to perform a proper Sri Chakra puja (formal devotional worship) using the Meru can accrue unlimited benefits – but this is a complicated and lengthy procedure, and not very easy to learn, requiring much time and effort
Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati (Dr. N. Prahalada Sastry), affectionately known as
under the instruction and guidance of a qualified Guru. However, Guruji has
in his childhood, he developed a spiritual inclination that was to intensify later in life.
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A Conversation with Guruji “Guruji,” was born in Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, the first child of Sri Narasimha Rao and Srimati Lakshminarasamma. Blessed with divine experiences early
Having graduated from Andhra University with a Master’s degree in Nuclear Physics,
center and hold it in a spherical shape. Thus, the concept of Bindu encompasses not
he received his doctorate from the University of Bombay while working at the
only the center but also that which surrounds the center. Maha means Great or
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Guruji spent 23 years involved in defense
Eternal. Thus the term Maha-Bindu indicates the Great or Eternal Point; the Seed
projects at TIFR, but over time grew uncomfortable with the destructive nature of his
of all Creation, as yet unmanifest.
research. In 1977, he received his first initiation – from Sri Bala Tripurasundari herself – at the Balaji Temple in Hyderabad. It proved to be a major turning point in his life: Delving more deeply into spiritual practices, he soon thereafter received Sri Vidya Poorna Diksha from Sri Swaprakashananda Natha Thirtha Avadhutha of Anakapalli, at which time he was given the diksha name of Amrita. After a two-year sabbatical as
The sage Punyananda explained in his Kamakalavilasa that the supreme nature of the Sri Chakra is fully contained in the Bindu – that it is the cause of the nine successive avaranas and the source of the initial phonic emanations of Shakti as Brahman. One modern adept states it thus: “The Bindu alone is the Sri Chakra. All the rest is just an
a professor of physics at Lusaka University in Zambia, Guruji returned to India in 1981, resigned from TIFR and settled at Vishakapatnam to concentrate upon Sri Vidya upasana and worship of the Devi, while also gradually developing means to help improve quality of life for humankind as a whole. During a Devi yagna in 1983, Guruji was approached about building a temple to the Divine Mother on the parcel of land that would eventually become home to Devipuram. With Her blessings, he built the Kamakhya Peetam on a hillock there and a Siva temple on the peak in 1984. Construction of the Devipuram’s Sri Meru Nilaya temple began in 1985 and was completed in 1994, whereupon the kumbhabhishekam (consecration) was celebrated with great pomp and piety. The temple is unique in allowing devotees to perform puja to the Devi themselves, without distinction of caste or creed. With numerous loving disciples all over the world, 6
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• The Sarvasa Paripuraka Chakra or “Wheel Fulfilling All Desires,” consisting of Sixteen Lotus Petals;
Guruji and his wife, Srimati Annapoornamba (lovingly known as Guruji Amma) have dedicated their lives to the service of humanity, establishing the Sri Vidya Trust for this
• The Sarva Sanksobhana Chakra or “Wheel Agitating/Churning All,” consisting of Eight Lotus Petals; • The Sarva Saubhagyadayaka Chakra or “Wheel Granting All Auspiciousness,” consisting of Fourteen Triangles (Chaturdasa Kona); • The Sarvartha Sadhaka Chakra or “Wheel Accomplishing All Purposes,” consisting of Ten Triangles (the so-called Outer Dasara); • The Sarva Raksakara Chakra or “Wheel Granting All Protection,” consisting of Ten Triangles (the so-called Inner Dasara); • The Sarva Rogahara Chakra or “Wheel Removing All Diseases,” consisting of Eight Triangles (the Ashta Kona); • The Sarva Siddhiprada Chakra or “Wheel Granting All Powers,” consisting of the Inverted Primary Triangle (the Trikona); and finally • The Sarvanandamaya Chakra or “Wheel of Complete Bliss,” which is the peak (koota) of the Universe – or the yantra’s Maha-Bindu.
purpose. (For a full biography, please visit http://www.devipuram.com) Interviewer: What is the origin of the Devipuram Maha Meru? Guruji: In 1984, before the Sri Meru temple was built at Devipuram, there was a small hillock where I would often spend time in meditation. On the slopes of this hillock, I noticed a formation very similar to that of the Kamakhya Peetam in Assam. One day while in meditation, I had the experience of lying on this peetam while four others performed a homam, with flames emanating from my body. During purnahuti, I felt a heavy object being placed on my heart. Awakening from my meditative state, I was prompted to dig at that very spot, where I unearthed a yantra resembling a Maha Meru, but of a unique design like none I had seen before. It had some significant differences from the typical Sri Chakra Meru. I later discovered, through meditations and circumstances, that a magnificent yagna had been performed at that very location more than 250 years earlier. This Maha Meru became my inspiration for building the Sri Meru temple, which – at 108 feet wide and 54 feet high – remains the largest Maha Meru in the world.
Bindu in Sanskrit means point or center; it also means seed or drop. A drop
Q: Is Maha Meru primarily a Hindu Yantra?
contains forces, the interplay of gravity and surface tension, which emanate from its
A: I would prefer to say that it’s a universal yantra, belonging to all religions –
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yantras resembling this one include the Sri Chakra of Hinduism, and the Mahayana Mandala of Buddhism. Chinese feng shui employs similar yantras. The Egyptian Pyramids are yet another form of this yantra; the Greek Eleusinian Mysteries involved still another. So I have found this yantra to be a universal concept, existing in all religions. As a fairly recent example, there was a gentleman in the United States called Bill Witherspoon, who used to meditate for four or five hours a day. At some point he saw a huge Sri Yantra in his meditation, and he built that same yantra in the Arizona desert, measuring a mile on each side. For anyone who meditates, including the Himalayan masters, these yantras keep appearing again and again and again, in various religions and in various forms. Q: What is the specifically Hindu interpretation of Maha Meru? A: It is worshiped as the source of the Cosmos and of all power. It creates and sustains the entire Cosmos, and we should therefore strive to understand, worship and realize this power and intelligence that runs the world. The Khadgamala yoginis [i.e. the goddesses that inhabit Sri Chakra] emanate like rays from Sri Lalita, the Maha-Devi [Great Goddess] at Sri Meru’s center. All gods worship Her power in order to share it and to do good; all demons worship Her power in order to loot and exploit. The Meru is one form of the power and beauty found in the principles of 8
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The Structure of Maha Meru The form of Devipuram’s Maha Meru is both beautiful and deeply significant; its every curve and line is charged with layer upon layer of wisdom and meaning. As a first step toward gradually fathoming these depths, why not take some time to examine the structure of your new Meru. You will note that it is comprised of nine avaranas (enclosures or divisions). Each of these successive avaranas has its own distinct shape, name and guardian deities. Each is raised in graded elevations, with those lower and closest to the outer edges being the Devi’s more tangible and concrete manifestations, and those higher and closer to the center becoming progressively more subtle and transcendent in nature: • The ground-level enclosure of Sri Chakra is known as the Bhupura; literally, the earthworks, as would surround an ancient walled city. It is visualized as a square chaturasra consisting of three parallel lines or walls, one inside the other. Each side of this enclosing square has a door or portal at its midpoint, through which one may visualize entry into the Meru’s precincts.
geometry and symmetry that govern the world. Aspects of Her immense powers are variously called Yoga-Maya, Durga, Kali, Vaishnavi, Chandika, Lakshmi, Saraswati, and so on; like the fruits of a wish-fulfilling tree. Various scriptures – such as the Shakti Upanishads, the Brahmanda Purana, the Sri Chakra Samhita, the Sri Chakra Yoga Sara, the Sri Chakrartha Sara and others – all state in a single voice that merely seeing the Sri Chakra washes away all sins and grants auspiciousness. A mere touch burns away sin like a wad of cotton wool consumed by a fire. Even if one does no puja, just keeping it in the home attracts all good to the home. And if one worships the Supreme Power in the Meru with devotion, there remains no desire unfulfilled; one experiences infinite enjoyment, both here and in the hereafter. People of all castes and religions, especially women, may – without the slightest doubt – keep it in their homes and worship it in any way they can. There is no siddhi that cannot be attained by regular worship of a faultless Meru. Q: Should the Maha Meru be kept in places other than the home or
• Immediately inside the Bhupura are the Trivalaya, three concentric circles or girdles. The space between the innermost square wall and the circumference of the outermost circle (i.e., between the Bhupura and Trivalaya) is the Trailokya Mohana Chakra or “Wheel Enchanting the Three Worlds.” Inside these three circles rise, in successive levels:
vibrations from wherever they are in the world. It is also a good thing to keep in
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temple? A: It can be kept anywhere. If kept in the home, it will connect itself to all the other yantras in the world through its Bindu and attract organizing, peaceful and loving
hospitals, as it has healing properties. Or it can be kept in the office, because it attracts wealth, abundance and organization in the office. It is good to keep in public places too, because there will be an aura of grandeur and peace coming from this yantra. So it’s a universal symbol, which can be kept anywhere and everywhere. Q: Should we do puja to the Maha Meru? A: You can do puja if you wish to, but that does not imply that it needs puja. When the Maha Meru is taken from the Guru’s hands, it is already energized with his vibrations and powers. Since it then connects itself with the all other yantras in the
To this narrative, Guruji adds the following statement: You may ask, “How do I know that you really talked to Devi and that She answered you thus? Are you a prophet?” No, I am not a prophet trying to change the world. I am too small for that. I am only saying that I happened to talk to Her in meditation. Thousands of people do that, and they are not all prophets. I am just another person like you, who believes in doing good to others.
world, it continuously receives vibrations and powers from all over the world,
Well, it is your doubt. You have every right to choose the answer you like. But it is also
including the cosmic centers of power. It receives abundance and grace, and
my experience, so I have every right to tell about it. If you believe in me, that I am telling
redistributes them in its own vicinity. Thus, by itself, it does not need any puja as
the truth in this instance, then you may benefit. If you don’t believe what I say, you
such. However, the nature of the vibrations it radiates can be enhanced very
don’t lose anything; and I am not angry with you. Because She is already with you. So
positively if you play soft music in the place where it is kept – similar to what we see
accept, and be happy. Or don’t accept, and be happy. Either way I want only your
in the entrance lobbies of hospitals and hotels, and so on, where soft music is played
happiness and spiritual growth.
to bring about a peaceful attitude in the people who enter these places. So if you can do pooja to the Meru, well and good. If you can’t, you just play some soft music to it. It will absorb the vibrations and emit divine music that protects and heals, that wards off evil and brings prosperity. And not merely currency, but all forms of divine blessings of peace – love, truth, non-violence; principles that empower everyone. 10
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“But be careful; don’t bring the wrong organizing principles into your life. If your compass is wrong, you will reach an unwanted destination. So the geometry and accuracy of Sri Chakra are important. Also be careful about from whom you are
Q: Many people are fond of keeping a Maha Meru in their homes as a kind of protection for their families. Why is that? A: The Maha Meru represents the Cosmic Power as it manifests itself through human beings. Life itself is derived from this yantra, and when it is kept in the home
taking it, because it is their life and thoughts that you are also invoking into
it enhances the quality of life for all the people living there. Actually the temples
yourself. That Guru must genuinely desire your well being from the core of his/her
made by human beings are constructed of rocks, cement, steel and things like that
heart. Don’t get a chakra with faulty geometry, because geometry is a statement of
– whereas the temple that the Goddess has made, is simply the body of human
the principles organizing the Universe.
beings, ourselves. In a sense, your body is itself a Sri Chakra, a yantra in which the Awareness, the Goddess, lives. If you can live in your body, if your awareness can
“Do I harm if pujas are not done properly to me? Do I harm myself? I am the whole of the Cosmos. Out of the billions of galaxies, if in one of them – in a medium-sized
live in your body, then why can’t it live in your home? Q: But what do you say to people who are afraid to bring a Meru into
galaxy, around an average star you call the Sun, on the tiniest speck you call Earth,
their home (or other environment)? After all, there are those pundits
in one life form out of billions, in one miniscule slot of time you call a day out of the
who say a Meru should never be kept in the home.
infinite cycles of time called kalpas – if one person does or does not remember me,
A: These fears are mainly induced by certain members of the orthodox Brahmin
is it going to affect me in any way? What an idea, that I should harm you if you don’t do puja! I could not be less bothered!
community, who insist that the power should be kept with them only. We’ve got to get over this barrier of fear. We want to give, to share the power with everyone. So I would tell these people to please not succumb to the misinformed, thoughtless
“So go tell the doubters these things that I have told you. If they don’t listen, don’t
statements being made by these so-called pundits, and thus miss the chance to
worry. I won’t be – I can’t be – angry with them, because I tolerate partial truths
obtain the power than can alter your destiny in every way.
also. That is the nature of my Maya.”
The Vedas say Matru Devo bhava: “There is no duty higher than worship of the 22
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Mother” – and the Mother is available to everyone as the Meru, Her highest form;
answer: I will not harm. I have already initiated all living beings by my presence
other forms being icons or women empowered as the Goddess. So keep a Meru in
within them. It is because I am within them that their eyes see, their ears hear, their
your home; give it as a gift; think of it as a long-term investment – like having a
skins touch, their tongues taste, their noses smell, their minds think, their hormones
good spouse! Don’t compromise on quality. Pay any price, because it is priceless.
create desires, their limbs move. All this is part of initiation, for what does initiation
The Meru is a symbol of our power to overcome evil, and to create unlimited
mean? It means invoking divine life. That has already been done by me for every
wealth, health and happiness. The Meru is Gayatri, who protects those who utter
being, living and non-living alike.
Her name; it is Savitri, who conceives all good karmas for Her worshipers.
“If a guru initiates, it is just a gateway to me, because – just as you can’t unlock a
Q. Just to clarify, does this statement apply to everyone? Can the
lock that is already open – you can’t put life into an already living being. If some
uninitiated also keep Sri Chakra Merus in their homes without incurring
qualities of your life are reduced or missing, you can improve them by healing. If
the wrath of the Goddess?
certain qualities are not existing or living in you now, they need to be invoked:
A. Yes, absolutely. How can nectar become poison? It is not in its nature to harm.
Compassion, kindness; being loving, truthful, indifferent to insult, serving all, and
It is in its nature to bless. The hand that blesses does not strike.
the like.
Whether we know it or not, whether we acknowledge it or not, Adi Para Shakti is
“If one form of me is already within you, then where is the harm in bringing another,
already in our homes, in our bodies, in our minds, in our notions of I and mine, in
which is merely a different way of looking at me? Hayagriva told Agastya of the
our families, in all that we see – because She is the All-Pervading Awareness. We
immense benefits that accrue if Sri Chakra is brought into the home. Healing,
cannot lose Her without losing our life, because She is verily the life within us.
riches, happiness abounds; negativities are removed at the source. There is no
Does the fact that we breathe require initiation? She has already initiated us into
higher blessing than keeping my highest form – the seed of the Cosmos; the organizing
life as the Mother who gave us SRI, which means everything. She extracted the
principle of the Cosmos – in your home, to help you in improving every good
seed from our father, giving ecstasy to him; She assembled us from life-giving
quality around you. It will organize your life along the most excellent lines!
12
21
substances of Her own body, gave us our hormones and endocrine system, our bones, flesh, skin, blood and all; She made us atom by atom, molecule by molecule; and most importantly, She put Her awareness into us. Again, the Sri Chakra Meru is but one of Her forms, the others being (2) our own physical bodies; (3) the psychic chakras in our subtle bodies, from Muladhara to Sahasrara, seven in number; (4) the world we live in; (5) Hamsa Gayatri, the breath of life which goes in and out as long as we live; and (6) Siva Linga, symbol of union of Shakti (the Yoni base) and Siva (the Linga characteristic of the Godhead). These forms are not different; they are all one and the same, they all represent Sivayor Vapuh. The moment any one of them is present, all others are present in them as well. So forget what people say. I asked Divine Mother Herself, in my meditation, this question: “Will you harm some one if they take a Meru home without initiation?”
The Divine Mother Speaks
She said “I will not harm.” [A full account of Devi’s words to Guruji follows this conversation.]
When Guruji addressed the Goddess in his meditation, asking whether Her Meru could harm the uninitiated, She replied thus:
The gifting of this Meru involves a gifting of Power. There is no need to fear,
“I know you are not asking the question for yourself, for you already know the
goes into it then, and provided that it is accurate.
20
provided that it is received from a well-intentioned Guru, because his life force
13
Q: Accurate in which way?
it usually doesn’t happen. It’s usually a brass thing coated with gold, and merely
A: Well, to get the sorts of benefits we’ve discussed, three conditions must be
called panchaloha – we are avoiding that.
satisfied: (1) The Meru must be perfect, having 28 marmas as points, not as triangles (a marma is a joint of three straight lines); (2) it must come from a Guru who has the best of intentions towards you; and (3) it must be placed in the puja room, or else in a prominent, well-lighted place in the home with Vedic or mantric chants being played to it; or simply soft music. Light and sound are two higher forms of worship.
When you use a zinc and tin mixture, which is brass, it oxidizes and reduces to the color of zinc, which is black. When a bronze Meru is left unattended and gets oxidized, it looks silvery. What happens with the inauthentic so-called panchaloha is that the outer gold layer eventually wears or washes off and becomes flat – that’s how you come to know that it is made out of brass. We avoid this problem by
Then the Meru will act like an antenna, first attracting the Supreme Power, and
keeping it permanently as either gold or copper. For big temples and other places,
then retransmitting it all around your home, bringing good to all.
we can go in for pure gold or gold and silver. The molds we’ve made allow us to
Q: Why is the Maha Meru hollow?
manufacture to any specifications.
A: That’s a legitimate question. It was intentionally made hollow, because when the Guru gives the Meru to a disciple, he traditionally fills it with various life-giving substances, such as roots and herbs, energizes them, and then seals them off inside and gives that to the disciple. That is why it is kept hollow. But so many questions have been raised about the hollowness of the Sri Chakra! Even when I was building the Sri Chakra temple here at Devipuram, people complained that it was hollow. But it has to be hollow! There is no other way! Why? It is hollow because it is supposed to represent a viyat chakra – a wheel in space. 14
19
Q: How are these Devipuram Maha Merus going to be produced and distributed? A: A limited number of copies of the Meru are being made by the Srividya Trust at Devipuram. It is like a collectible. It has a price tag on it. We’re making it in different sizes – 10” x 10” x 5” and 5” x 5” x 2.5”; and other smaller sizes will also be available. We’re also making ceramic Merus, made out of earth and fired at high temperatures, which will be available at lower cost and in larger quantities. The “designer” type of Meru can be made in bronze, silver, gold, panchaloha [a traditionally holy five-metal alloy] – all sorts of possibilities exist. The material of which it is made can have a say in what it promotes. Gold makes it a Meru,
And by the way, even if you are determined to make it totally solid, even if you think you’ve made it totally solid, still it is ultimately composed of atoms and molecules. And atoms and molecules have nuclei at their centers, which are like the Sun in the solar system – the electrons and neutrons orbit through relatively vast spaces around the nucleus. Even if you go to the nucleus itself, it is still not solid; it consists of stage particles. In fact, the whole nucleus is very hollow and inside it there are only probability waves traveling through. Thus even the supposedly “solid” atoms and molecules that make up the manifest world consist mostly of empty space. So it is not true to say that the Meru has to be solid – because there is nothing that is solid. Somehow this concept requiring solidity does not really stand up in light of scientific views.
We prefer bronze instead of panchaloha – where they say they put in some gold, but
Q: You said earlier that the Devipuram Meru design is significantly different from that of a typical Meru. How so? A: This particular style of Meru was inspired by the design of the original that we unearthed here in 1984. It is embellished with the symbols of the Chatura Ayatana (“Four Seats”) deities – Ganapathy at Nairuti (southwest), Vishnu at Vayu (northwest), Surya at Ishanya (northeast) and Shiva at Agni (southeast). These four symbols, taken together with the Bindu (Devi), represent the Shakti Pancha Ayatanam (“Five Seats of Shakti”). The Shakti Pancha Ayatanam are present right in the Meru itself, thus making it very unique. People doing Shakti Pancha Ayatana puja need not obtain each of the idols individually, as the Meru itself contains them all.
18
15
because gold is supposed to be like Sun’s seed. It brings untold prosperity. Hiranya garbha garbhastham Hema bijam vibhavasoh. Silver is the seed of Siva. It promotes progeny and peace of mind, with fine arts and education. Copper destroys poverty and gives enough to survive above mere wants. Tin wards off and prevents evil from happening. Thus we recommend bronze, an alloy of copper and tin as a good choice for most. It can be plated with gold for better results. And in fact, Devipuram Merus are mostly available in this form.
Another unique feature is that the Meru I found had extra diamond-shaped plates
making this a fault-free yantra, and moreover that it comes from the hands of a
above the star shapes having fourteen, ten, ten and eight corners. They served to
Guru who received it directly from Kamakhya Devi at Devipuram.
demarcate the triangles from the undefined areas, which seemed so much more
Q: Have you personally found the Devipuram Maha Meru to be very
logical. This was unusual. In fact, it differs from most Sri Chakra Merus to the
auspicious?
extent that I don’t know whether it can be called a conventional Sri Chakra Meru
A: Yes indeed. When the first perfect sample came into my hands, the very next day
at all. But since I found it at the same place where I had darshan, I attach great
I did a Chandi Yagna at Kalayarkovil near Madurai in a power factory, in the
significance to it.
presence of a thousand people, and presided over by the Meru – demonstrating its
And on the other hand there was the accuracy – three lines joined without forming triangles – which was very good. This characteristic does qualify to make it a good
intention to supply power to the people. The next day it received puja at Madurai Meenakshi Amman Kovil, demonstrating Her powers of attraction to all beneficent divinities. On the third day, it was taken to Kanya Kumari – showing Her potential
Sri Chakra. Finally, the Devipuram Meru is unique in the sense that a lot of care has
to create oceans of beauty. And then it went ’round all the shakti kshetras made by
been taken to ensure that the yantra is accurate. That accuracy comes from the very
Parashurama in God’s own land of Kerala, proof of the lineage it belongs to. Then
definition of the yantra found in the texts that define Sri Chakra in Hinduism and
in Bangalore it witnessed a marriage of a computer professional. And finally it came
Vajrayana Buddhism. We spent a lot of time – about nine months – in checking
to Devipuram for a Guru Puja Utsavams on Guru Poornami Day. Then Sringeri
out the precision of this yantra, which is manufactured in Bangalore with the help
Peetha’s Vedic University received a second Meru for the Sharada Peetham at
of the former director (he has asked to remain anonymous) of a company known
Sweta Srigachalam, on the banks of the Uttara Vahini Krishna River. What a
for its accuracy and testing. This Meru has been made under his personal supervision, and with my guidance.
sequence of coincidences! I can only conclude that it was all planned by Her, not me. All of these yagnas, and everywhere it went the highest good happened. I am totally convinced about its nature and capacity to do good. I can, without the
So it can be said that a lot of technical time and effort have been invested into 16
slightest doubt, recommend this Meru to everyone. 17
Another unique feature is that the Meru I found had extra diamond-shaped plates
making this a fault-free yantra, and moreover that it comes from the hands of a
above the star shapes having fourteen, ten, ten and eight corners. They served to
Guru who received it directly from Kamakhya Devi at Devipuram.
demarcate the triangles from the undefined areas, which seemed so much more
Q: Have you personally found the Devipuram Maha Meru to be very
logical. This was unusual. In fact, it differs from most Sri Chakra Merus to the
auspicious?
extent that I don’t know whether it can be called a conventional Sri Chakra Meru
A: Yes indeed. When the first perfect sample came into my hands, the very next day
at all. But since I found it at the same place where I had darshan, I attach great
I did a Chandi Yagna at Kalayarkovil near Madurai in a power factory, in the
significance to it.
presence of a thousand people, and presided over by the Meru – demonstrating its
And on the other hand there was the accuracy – three lines joined without forming triangles – which was very good. This characteristic does qualify to make it a good
intention to supply power to the people. The next day it received puja at Madurai Meenakshi Amman Kovil, demonstrating Her powers of attraction to all beneficent divinities. On the third day, it was taken to Kanya Kumari – showing Her potential
Sri Chakra. Finally, the Devipuram Meru is unique in the sense that a lot of care has
to create oceans of beauty. And then it went ’round all the shakti kshetras made by
been taken to ensure that the yantra is accurate. That accuracy comes from the very
Parashurama in God’s own land of Kerala, proof of the lineage it belongs to. Then
definition of the yantra found in the texts that define Sri Chakra in Hinduism and
in Bangalore it witnessed a marriage of a computer professional. And finally it came
Vajrayana Buddhism. We spent a lot of time – about nine months – in checking
to Devipuram for a Guru Puja Utsavams on Guru Poornami Day. Then Sringeri
out the precision of this yantra, which is manufactured in Bangalore with the help
Peetha’s Vedic University received a second Meru for the Sharada Peetham at
of the former director (he has asked to remain anonymous) of a company known
Sweta Srigachalam, on the banks of the Uttara Vahini Krishna River. What a
for its accuracy and testing. This Meru has been made under his personal supervision, and with my guidance.
sequence of coincidences! I can only conclude that it was all planned by Her, not me. All of these yagnas, and everywhere it went the highest good happened. I am totally convinced about its nature and capacity to do good. I can, without the
So it can be said that a lot of technical time and effort have been invested into 16
slightest doubt, recommend this Meru to everyone. 17
Q: How are these Devipuram Maha Merus going to be produced and distributed? A: A limited number of copies of the Meru are being made by the Srividya Trust at Devipuram. It is like a collectible. It has a price tag on it. We’re making it in different sizes – 10” x 10” x 5” and 5” x 5” x 2.5”; and other smaller sizes will also be available. We’re also making ceramic Merus, made out of earth and fired at high temperatures, which will be available at lower cost and in larger quantities. The “designer” type of Meru can be made in bronze, silver, gold, panchaloha [a traditionally holy five-metal alloy] – all sorts of possibilities exist. The material of which it is made can have a say in what it promotes. Gold makes it a Meru,
And by the way, even if you are determined to make it totally solid, even if you think you’ve made it totally solid, still it is ultimately composed of atoms and molecules. And atoms and molecules have nuclei at their centers, which are like the Sun in the solar system – the electrons and neutrons orbit through relatively vast spaces around the nucleus. Even if you go to the nucleus itself, it is still not solid; it consists of stage particles. In fact, the whole nucleus is very hollow and inside it there are only probability waves traveling through. Thus even the supposedly “solid” atoms and molecules that make up the manifest world consist mostly of empty space. So it is not true to say that the Meru has to be solid – because there is nothing that is solid. Somehow this concept requiring solidity does not really stand up in light of scientific views.
We prefer bronze instead of panchaloha – where they say they put in some gold, but
Q: You said earlier that the Devipuram Meru design is significantly different from that of a typical Meru. How so? A: This particular style of Meru was inspired by the design of the original that we unearthed here in 1984. It is embellished with the symbols of the Chatura Ayatana (“Four Seats”) deities – Ganapathy at Nairuti (southwest), Vishnu at Vayu (northwest), Surya at Ishanya (northeast) and Shiva at Agni (southeast). These four symbols, taken together with the Bindu (Devi), represent the Shakti Pancha Ayatanam (“Five Seats of Shakti”). The Shakti Pancha Ayatanam are present right in the Meru itself, thus making it very unique. People doing Shakti Pancha Ayatana puja need not obtain each of the idols individually, as the Meru itself contains them all.
18
15
because gold is supposed to be like Sun’s seed. It brings untold prosperity. Hiranya garbha garbhastham Hema bijam vibhavasoh. Silver is the seed of Siva. It promotes progeny and peace of mind, with fine arts and education. Copper destroys poverty and gives enough to survive above mere wants. Tin wards off and prevents evil from happening. Thus we recommend bronze, an alloy of copper and tin as a good choice for most. It can be plated with gold for better results. And in fact, Devipuram Merus are mostly available in this form.
Q: Accurate in which way?
it usually doesn’t happen. It’s usually a brass thing coated with gold, and merely
A: Well, to get the sorts of benefits we’ve discussed, three conditions must be
called panchaloha – we are avoiding that.
satisfied: (1) The Meru must be perfect, having 28 marmas as points, not as triangles (a marma is a joint of three straight lines); (2) it must come from a Guru who has the best of intentions towards you; and (3) it must be placed in the puja room, or else in a prominent, well-lighted place in the home with Vedic or mantric chants being played to it; or simply soft music. Light and sound are two higher forms of worship.
When you use a zinc and tin mixture, which is brass, it oxidizes and reduces to the color of zinc, which is black. When a bronze Meru is left unattended and gets oxidized, it looks silvery. What happens with the inauthentic so-called panchaloha is that the outer gold layer eventually wears or washes off and becomes flat – that’s how you come to know that it is made out of brass. We avoid this problem by
Then the Meru will act like an antenna, first attracting the Supreme Power, and
keeping it permanently as either gold or copper. For big temples and other places,
then retransmitting it all around your home, bringing good to all.
we can go in for pure gold or gold and silver. The molds we’ve made allow us to
Q: Why is the Maha Meru hollow?
manufacture to any specifications.
A: That’s a legitimate question. It was intentionally made hollow, because when the Guru gives the Meru to a disciple, he traditionally fills it with various life-giving substances, such as roots and herbs, energizes them, and then seals them off inside and gives that to the disciple. That is why it is kept hollow. But so many questions have been raised about the hollowness of the Sri Chakra! Even when I was building the Sri Chakra temple here at Devipuram, people complained that it was hollow. But it has to be hollow! There is no other way! Why? It is hollow because it is supposed to represent a viyat chakra – a wheel in space. 14
19
substances of Her own body, gave us our hormones and endocrine system, our bones, flesh, skin, blood and all; She made us atom by atom, molecule by molecule; and most importantly, She put Her awareness into us. Again, the Sri Chakra Meru is but one of Her forms, the others being (2) our own physical bodies; (3) the psychic chakras in our subtle bodies, from Muladhara to Sahasrara, seven in number; (4) the world we live in; (5) Hamsa Gayatri, the breath of life which goes in and out as long as we live; and (6) Siva Linga, symbol of union of Shakti (the Yoni base) and Siva (the Linga characteristic of the Godhead). These forms are not different; they are all one and the same, they all represent Sivayor Vapuh. The moment any one of them is present, all others are present in them as well. So forget what people say. I asked Divine Mother Herself, in my meditation, this question: “Will you harm some one if they take a Meru home without initiation?”
The Divine Mother Speaks
She said “I will not harm.” [A full account of Devi’s words to Guruji follows this conversation.]
When Guruji addressed the Goddess in his meditation, asking whether Her Meru could harm the uninitiated, She replied thus:
The gifting of this Meru involves a gifting of Power. There is no need to fear,
“I know you are not asking the question for yourself, for you already know the
goes into it then, and provided that it is accurate.
20
provided that it is received from a well-intentioned Guru, because his life force
13
Mother” – and the Mother is available to everyone as the Meru, Her highest form;
answer: I will not harm. I have already initiated all living beings by my presence
other forms being icons or women empowered as the Goddess. So keep a Meru in
within them. It is because I am within them that their eyes see, their ears hear, their
your home; give it as a gift; think of it as a long-term investment – like having a
skins touch, their tongues taste, their noses smell, their minds think, their hormones
good spouse! Don’t compromise on quality. Pay any price, because it is priceless.
create desires, their limbs move. All this is part of initiation, for what does initiation
The Meru is a symbol of our power to overcome evil, and to create unlimited
mean? It means invoking divine life. That has already been done by me for every
wealth, health and happiness. The Meru is Gayatri, who protects those who utter
being, living and non-living alike.
Her name; it is Savitri, who conceives all good karmas for Her worshipers.
“If a guru initiates, it is just a gateway to me, because – just as you can’t unlock a
Q. Just to clarify, does this statement apply to everyone? Can the
lock that is already open – you can’t put life into an already living being. If some
uninitiated also keep Sri Chakra Merus in their homes without incurring
qualities of your life are reduced or missing, you can improve them by healing. If
the wrath of the Goddess?
certain qualities are not existing or living in you now, they need to be invoked:
A. Yes, absolutely. How can nectar become poison? It is not in its nature to harm.
Compassion, kindness; being loving, truthful, indifferent to insult, serving all, and
It is in its nature to bless. The hand that blesses does not strike.
the like.
Whether we know it or not, whether we acknowledge it or not, Adi Para Shakti is
“If one form of me is already within you, then where is the harm in bringing another,
already in our homes, in our bodies, in our minds, in our notions of I and mine, in
which is merely a different way of looking at me? Hayagriva told Agastya of the
our families, in all that we see – because She is the All-Pervading Awareness. We
immense benefits that accrue if Sri Chakra is brought into the home. Healing,
cannot lose Her without losing our life, because She is verily the life within us.
riches, happiness abounds; negativities are removed at the source. There is no
Does the fact that we breathe require initiation? She has already initiated us into
higher blessing than keeping my highest form – the seed of the Cosmos; the organizing
life as the Mother who gave us SRI, which means everything. She extracted the
principle of the Cosmos – in your home, to help you in improving every good
seed from our father, giving ecstasy to him; She assembled us from life-giving
quality around you. It will organize your life along the most excellent lines!
12
21
“But be careful; don’t bring the wrong organizing principles into your life. If your compass is wrong, you will reach an unwanted destination. So the geometry and accuracy of Sri Chakra are important. Also be careful about from whom you are
Q: Many people are fond of keeping a Maha Meru in their homes as a kind of protection for their families. Why is that? A: The Maha Meru represents the Cosmic Power as it manifests itself through human beings. Life itself is derived from this yantra, and when it is kept in the home
taking it, because it is their life and thoughts that you are also invoking into
it enhances the quality of life for all the people living there. Actually the temples
yourself. That Guru must genuinely desire your well being from the core of his/her
made by human beings are constructed of rocks, cement, steel and things like that
heart. Don’t get a chakra with faulty geometry, because geometry is a statement of
– whereas the temple that the Goddess has made, is simply the body of human
the principles organizing the Universe.
beings, ourselves. In a sense, your body is itself a Sri Chakra, a yantra in which the Awareness, the Goddess, lives. If you can live in your body, if your awareness can
“Do I harm if pujas are not done properly to me? Do I harm myself? I am the whole of the Cosmos. Out of the billions of galaxies, if in one of them – in a medium-sized
live in your body, then why can’t it live in your home? Q: But what do you say to people who are afraid to bring a Meru into
galaxy, around an average star you call the Sun, on the tiniest speck you call Earth,
their home (or other environment)? After all, there are those pundits
in one life form out of billions, in one miniscule slot of time you call a day out of the
who say a Meru should never be kept in the home.
infinite cycles of time called kalpas – if one person does or does not remember me,
A: These fears are mainly induced by certain members of the orthodox Brahmin
is it going to affect me in any way? What an idea, that I should harm you if you don’t do puja! I could not be less bothered!
community, who insist that the power should be kept with them only. We’ve got to get over this barrier of fear. We want to give, to share the power with everyone. So I would tell these people to please not succumb to the misinformed, thoughtless
“So go tell the doubters these things that I have told you. If they don’t listen, don’t
statements being made by these so-called pundits, and thus miss the chance to
worry. I won’t be – I can’t be – angry with them, because I tolerate partial truths
obtain the power than can alter your destiny in every way.
also. That is the nature of my Maya.”
The Vedas say Matru Devo bhava: “There is no duty higher than worship of the 22
11
hospitals, as it has healing properties. Or it can be kept in the office, because it attracts wealth, abundance and organization in the office. It is good to keep in public places too, because there will be an aura of grandeur and peace coming from this yantra. So it’s a universal symbol, which can be kept anywhere and everywhere. Q: Should we do puja to the Maha Meru? A: You can do puja if you wish to, but that does not imply that it needs puja. When the Maha Meru is taken from the Guru’s hands, it is already energized with his vibrations and powers. Since it then connects itself with the all other yantras in the
To this narrative, Guruji adds the following statement: You may ask, “How do I know that you really talked to Devi and that She answered you thus? Are you a prophet?” No, I am not a prophet trying to change the world. I am too small for that. I am only saying that I happened to talk to Her in meditation. Thousands of people do that, and they are not all prophets. I am just another person like you, who believes in doing good to others.
world, it continuously receives vibrations and powers from all over the world,
Well, it is your doubt. You have every right to choose the answer you like. But it is also
including the cosmic centers of power. It receives abundance and grace, and
my experience, so I have every right to tell about it. If you believe in me, that I am telling
redistributes them in its own vicinity. Thus, by itself, it does not need any puja as
the truth in this instance, then you may benefit. If you don’t believe what I say, you
such. However, the nature of the vibrations it radiates can be enhanced very
don’t lose anything; and I am not angry with you. Because She is already with you. So
positively if you play soft music in the place where it is kept – similar to what we see
accept, and be happy. Or don’t accept, and be happy. Either way I want only your
in the entrance lobbies of hospitals and hotels, and so on, where soft music is played
happiness and spiritual growth.
to bring about a peaceful attitude in the people who enter these places. So if you can do pooja to the Meru, well and good. If you can’t, you just play some soft music to it. It will absorb the vibrations and emit divine music that protects and heals, that wards off evil and brings prosperity. And not merely currency, but all forms of divine blessings of peace – love, truth, non-violence; principles that empower everyone. 10
23
The Structure of Maha Meru The form of Devipuram’s Maha Meru is both beautiful and deeply significant; its every curve and line is charged with layer upon layer of wisdom and meaning. As a first step toward gradually fathoming these depths, why not take some time to examine the structure of your new Meru. You will note that it is comprised of nine avaranas (enclosures or divisions). Each of these successive avaranas has its own distinct shape, name and guardian deities. Each is raised in graded elevations, with those lower and closest to the outer edges being the Devi’s more tangible and concrete manifestations, and those higher and closer to the center becoming progressively more subtle and transcendent in nature: • The ground-level enclosure of Sri Chakra is known as the Bhupura; literally, the earthworks, as would surround an ancient walled city. It is visualized as a square chaturasra consisting of three parallel lines or walls, one inside the other. Each side of this enclosing square has a door or portal at its midpoint, through which one may visualize entry into the Meru’s precincts.
geometry and symmetry that govern the world. Aspects of Her immense powers are variously called Yoga-Maya, Durga, Kali, Vaishnavi, Chandika, Lakshmi, Saraswati, and so on; like the fruits of a wish-fulfilling tree. Various scriptures – such as the Shakti Upanishads, the Brahmanda Purana, the Sri Chakra Samhita, the Sri Chakra Yoga Sara, the Sri Chakrartha Sara and others – all state in a single voice that merely seeing the Sri Chakra washes away all sins and grants auspiciousness. A mere touch burns away sin like a wad of cotton wool consumed by a fire. Even if one does no puja, just keeping it in the home attracts all good to the home. And if one worships the Supreme Power in the Meru with devotion, there remains no desire unfulfilled; one experiences infinite enjoyment, both here and in the hereafter. People of all castes and religions, especially women, may – without the slightest doubt – keep it in their homes and worship it in any way they can. There is no siddhi that cannot be attained by regular worship of a faultless Meru. Q: Should the Maha Meru be kept in places other than the home or
• Immediately inside the Bhupura are the Trivalaya, three concentric circles or girdles. The space between the innermost square wall and the circumference of the outermost circle (i.e., between the Bhupura and Trivalaya) is the Trailokya Mohana Chakra or “Wheel Enchanting the Three Worlds.” Inside these three circles rise, in successive levels:
vibrations from wherever they are in the world. It is also a good thing to keep in
24
9
temple? A: It can be kept anywhere. If kept in the home, it will connect itself to all the other yantras in the world through its Bindu and attract organizing, peaceful and loving
yantras resembling this one include the Sri Chakra of Hinduism, and the Mahayana Mandala of Buddhism. Chinese feng shui employs similar yantras. The Egyptian Pyramids are yet another form of this yantra; the Greek Eleusinian Mysteries involved still another. So I have found this yantra to be a universal concept, existing in all religions. As a fairly recent example, there was a gentleman in the United States called Bill Witherspoon, who used to meditate for four or five hours a day. At some point he saw a huge Sri Yantra in his meditation, and he built that same yantra in the Arizona desert, measuring a mile on each side. For anyone who meditates, including the Himalayan masters, these yantras keep appearing again and again and again, in various religions and in various forms. Q: What is the specifically Hindu interpretation of Maha Meru? A: It is worshiped as the source of the Cosmos and of all power. It creates and sustains the entire Cosmos, and we should therefore strive to understand, worship and realize this power and intelligence that runs the world. The Khadgamala yoginis [i.e. the goddesses that inhabit Sri Chakra] emanate like rays from Sri Lalita, the Maha-Devi [Great Goddess] at Sri Meru’s center. All gods worship Her power in order to share it and to do good; all demons worship Her power in order to loot and exploit. The Meru is one form of the power and beauty found in the principles of 8
25
• The Sarvasa Paripuraka Chakra or “Wheel Fulfilling All Desires,” consisting of Sixteen Lotus Petals;
Guruji and his wife, Srimati Annapoornamba (lovingly known as Guruji Amma) have dedicated their lives to the service of humanity, establishing the Sri Vidya Trust for this
• The Sarva Sanksobhana Chakra or “Wheel Agitating/Churning All,” consisting of Eight Lotus Petals; • The Sarva Saubhagyadayaka Chakra or “Wheel Granting All Auspiciousness,” consisting of Fourteen Triangles (Chaturdasa Kona); • The Sarvartha Sadhaka Chakra or “Wheel Accomplishing All Purposes,” consisting of Ten Triangles (the so-called Outer Dasara); • The Sarva Raksakara Chakra or “Wheel Granting All Protection,” consisting of Ten Triangles (the so-called Inner Dasara); • The Sarva Rogahara Chakra or “Wheel Removing All Diseases,” consisting of Eight Triangles (the Ashta Kona); • The Sarva Siddhiprada Chakra or “Wheel Granting All Powers,” consisting of the Inverted Primary Triangle (the Trikona); and finally • The Sarvanandamaya Chakra or “Wheel of Complete Bliss,” which is the peak (koota) of the Universe – or the yantra’s Maha-Bindu.
purpose. (For a full biography, please visit http://www.devipuram.com) Interviewer: What is the origin of the Devipuram Maha Meru? Guruji: In 1984, before the Sri Meru temple was built at Devipuram, there was a small hillock where I would often spend time in meditation. On the slopes of this hillock, I noticed a formation very similar to that of the Kamakhya Peetam in Assam. One day while in meditation, I had the experience of lying on this peetam while four others performed a homam, with flames emanating from my body. During purnahuti, I felt a heavy object being placed on my heart. Awakening from my meditative state, I was prompted to dig at that very spot, where I unearthed a yantra resembling a Maha Meru, but of a unique design like none I had seen before. It had some significant differences from the typical Sri Chakra Meru. I later discovered, through meditations and circumstances, that a magnificent yagna had been performed at that very location more than 250 years earlier. This Maha Meru became my inspiration for building the Sri Meru temple, which – at 108 feet wide and 54 feet high – remains the largest Maha Meru in the world.
Bindu in Sanskrit means point or center; it also means seed or drop. A drop
Q: Is Maha Meru primarily a Hindu Yantra?
contains forces, the interplay of gravity and surface tension, which emanate from its
A: I would prefer to say that it’s a universal yantra, belonging to all religions –
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Having graduated from Andhra University with a Master’s degree in Nuclear Physics,
center and hold it in a spherical shape. Thus, the concept of Bindu encompasses not
he received his doctorate from the University of Bombay while working at the
only the center but also that which surrounds the center. Maha means Great or
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Guruji spent 23 years involved in defense
Eternal. Thus the term Maha-Bindu indicates the Great or Eternal Point; the Seed
projects at TIFR, but over time grew uncomfortable with the destructive nature of his
of all Creation, as yet unmanifest.
research. In 1977, he received his first initiation – from Sri Bala Tripurasundari herself – at the Balaji Temple in Hyderabad. It proved to be a major turning point in his life: Delving more deeply into spiritual practices, he soon thereafter received Sri Vidya Poorna Diksha from Sri Swaprakashananda Natha Thirtha Avadhutha of Anakapalli, at which time he was given the diksha name of Amrita. After a two-year sabbatical as
The sage Punyananda explained in his Kamakalavilasa that the supreme nature of the Sri Chakra is fully contained in the Bindu – that it is the cause of the nine successive avaranas and the source of the initial phonic emanations of Shakti as Brahman. One modern adept states it thus: “The Bindu alone is the Sri Chakra. All the rest is just an
a professor of physics at Lusaka University in Zambia, Guruji returned to India in 1981, resigned from TIFR and settled at Vishakapatnam to concentrate upon Sri Vidya upasana and worship of the Devi, while also gradually developing means to help improve quality of life for humankind as a whole. During a Devi yagna in 1983, Guruji was approached about building a temple to the Divine Mother on the parcel of land that would eventually become home to Devipuram. With Her blessings, he built the Kamakhya Peetam on a hillock there and a Siva temple on the peak in 1984. Construction of the Devipuram’s Sri Meru Nilaya temple began in 1985 and was completed in 1994, whereupon the kumbhabhishekam (consecration) was celebrated with great pomp and piety. The temple is unique in allowing devotees to perform puja to the Devi themselves, without distinction of caste or creed. With numerous loving disciples all over the world, 6
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addition. The Bindu is the true form of Shiva and Shakti since it is One, and naturally the whole chakra is within it. Everything is contained in the Bindu.” This Maha-Bindu is also identified with the body’s uppermost yogic center, the Sahasrara Chakra – the Thousand-Petaled Wheel at the crown of the skull. It further corresponds to the seat or throne (peetha) of the Maha-Devi Sri Lalita, located in the city of Tripura atop Mount Meru at the center of the Universe. As the great sage Bhaskararaya wrote in Saubhagyabhaskara, his authoritative commentary on the Sri Lalita Sahasranama: “Outside and beyond the countless myriads of world systems, in the center of the Ocean of Nectar, upon the Isle of Gems (Ratna-Dvipa), more than a thousand crores [i.e. tens of millions of miles] in extent, there rises the supreme city of Srividya […] which is called Sri Chakra”.
A Simple Puja for Maha Meru The Maha Meru requires no formal prayers or worship, nor must it be kept only in vegetarian homes – a reverential attitude toward it is enough. Its effects, for example, may be enhanced simply by playing soft music in its proximity.
The Merus of Devipuram
Those who know how to perform a proper Sri Chakra puja (formal devotional worship) using the Meru can accrue unlimited benefits – but this is a complicated and lengthy procedure, and not very easy to learn, requiring much time and effort
Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati (Dr. N. Prahalada Sastry), affectionately known as
under the instruction and guidance of a qualified Guru. However, Guruji has
in his childhood, he developed a spiritual inclination that was to intensify later in life.
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A Conversation with Guruji “Guruji,” was born in Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, the first child of Sri Narasimha Rao and Srimati Lakshminarasamma. Blessed with divine experiences early
When ordering Pure Silver and Pure Gold Merus, devotees are given the option to
provided here a simple puja designed for laypersons who are short on time but
supply the metal for making their Merus.
would still like to perform a more serious and formal worship of their Maha Meru:
Only a limited number of these special Devipuram-inspired Maha Merus will be created. Please send a query to
[email protected] to obtain further details about the Maha Merus and how they may be obtained; or contact us at +91-8924-207652. Also please
Abhishekam to the Eight Matrukas The Bhupura – the square, outermost enclosure of Sri Meru, as described above – is
be sure to spread the word about these extraordinary Maha Merus to your friends, relatives
comprised of three walls which are, in turn, graced by the 28 Devis or yoginis known
and fellow seekers!
respectively as the Ten Mudra Shaktis, the Eight Matruka and the Ten Siddhis. In this puja we focus upon the Ashta Matruka, who govern the second or middle Bhupura wall, in each of its cardinal and intermediate directions; thus it is to the eight corners of the Sri Meru’s square enclosure that we shall direct our worship. The names and associations of the Devis residing at each location tell us how and why they are useful as intermediaries in helping us to obtain the grace of Para Shakti. 1
Brahmi is Brahma’s Atma Shakti, Saraswati, who symbolizes creativity in all of its aspects, most prominently music and knowledge. In all efforts that improve one’s quality of life in this regard – for example, education, learning and creativity – worship of Brahmi is recommended.
2
Maheshwari is the Goddess of Shiva; She brings Mahat Tattva (i.e., the first transformation of primordial nature, containing all other elements in their
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subtle, unmanifest forms) under control. So for those who aspire to greatness,
It may be given as a loving and auspicious gift for newlywed couples embarking on
through whatever means (for example, through business or enterprise in their
their lives together, for adult children setting out on their own, for friends and
various forms); for those who must insist on the right things being done at the right times by the right people; for those who require a bit of aggression to
relatives moving into a new home or embarking on a new endeavor; even as a corporate gift from employers to valued employees – in each case, it will empower the recipient in every possible way.
preserve their competitive edge – propitiation of Maheshwari is recommended. This very special Maha Meru comes to you from Devipuram, India – your Global 3
Kaumari is the Atma Shakti of Kumara or Skanda, Ganesha’s brother, whose
Resource for Goddess Worship, and seat of Sri Meru Nilaya temple, the largest,
wives are Valli and Devasena. He is Shanmukha, the Kundalini Shakti; the
most unique Maha Meru in the world. Here one can literally walk into and
serpent power itself. He resides in all six chakras, balancing them; he is also the
circumambulate a true Sri Chakra, meeting life-sized murthis (divine images) of all
leader of the Devas’ armies. Worship of Kaumari is recommended for couples
the yoginis within. The establishment of this extraordinary temple has an amazing
who wish to obtain Santana, or progeny. By propitiating Kaumari – through worship of the Yoni, which is the seat of Kundalini as Nagashakti – wellness hormones are generated, and conditions suitable for conception are created.
and inspiring story behind it – one that is intimately related to the creation of these distinctive Devipuram Maha Merus. Guruji shares this story in an exclusive conversation elsewhere in this booklet.
Devipuram Maha Merus are available in two sizes: 4
Vaishnavi is the Atma Shakti of Vishnu, whose nature is Maya. Maya means
5” x 5” x 2.5” (complete with an elegant, specially designed box)
Hreemkaara; it is involvement in the world. So Vaishnavi, a form of Lakshmi
10” x 10” x 5”
who creates these illusions of Samsara, can assist in improving one’s relationships
The Maha Merus are currently available in the following metals and finishes.
in life – between husband and wife, between friends; in all kinds of interpersonal
• Bronze/ Bright Finish • Bronze/ Antique Finish • Bronze/ Silver Coat • Bronze/
relationships.
Gold Coat • Pure Silver • Pure Silver/ Gold Coat • Pure Gold 30
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Every yantric shape emits a very specific frequency and energy pattern. Sri Chakra
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Varahi is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Lalita Devi. Residing
is said to contain within itself the essence of all other yantras, and thus it contains
at the Ajna Chakra, She has vast armies at Her command (ajna), with which
the essence of all traditions. Certain powers, for example, are ascribed to the six-
She can defeat any enemy. Positive use of Varahi’s powers enables us to treat
pointed Star of David, the Christian cross, the five-pointed star, the Egyptian and
various diseases and internal enemies, such as kama (lust), krodha (anger),
Meso-American pyramids, and so on. The Meru’s particular configuration is revered
lobha (delusion), moha (pride), mada (jealousy) and matsarya (envy), and bring
in all Eastern traditions: It integrates the essence of Indian Mother Goddess worship,
them under control. Thus Varahi can be used for effectively controlling diseases
Mahayana Buddhism, Chinese feng shui, the Eleusinian mysteries of the Ancient
and improving one’s quality of life. She can also be invoked to bring relief to
Greeks, and so much more. Once received from a proper and well-intentioned
others, by chanting sankalpam³ with their names and doing japa (mantra
Guru, the Maha Meru can bring unbounded happiness and every good thing in life.
recitation) or prokshana (the actual or visualized sprinkling of energized water
In its Maha Meru form, Sri Chakra radiates an aura of Love and Order, literally
on the person on whose behalf you are appealing) with the Varahi Mantra.
creating a sacred space around itself. Wherever it is placed, it brings order, peace,
Varahi is especially useful in bringing relief to terminally ill patients, such as
happiness, health, and wealth – in short, everything that is needed. Just keeping it
those suffering from cancer and AIDS.
in one’s home will confer great blessings, because the Meru subtly connects itself to the other major yantras in the world. Its mere presence is said to cleanse the home
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Mahendri is the Atma Shakti of Indra, the God of Rain. He sends his
of defects under both the vaastu and feng shui systems; to ward off and neutralize
thunderbolt, Vajra, to seed the clouds and bring the rain that fertilizes the
negative energies and the “evil eye”; to protect against unfavorable planetary
Earth. Thus all desires regarding the wellbeing of crops, control of floods and
influences; and to bring about healing, prosperity and peace of mind.
other such natural calamities; anything related to rain and water and fertilization
People of all beliefs, religions and sects may reap the benefits of peace, healing and
of the earth – is best handled through the worship of Mahendri. She protects
prosperity by installing the Maha Meru in their homes, offices, shrines and places of
crops, ensures better dairy products and is generally useful for those in the
worship, as well as in hospitals, healing centers, prayer halls and wedding centers.
agricultural industries, as well as for environmental control.
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Chamunda is the War Goddess, a form of Chandi; “Chamunda Shava Vahana” – She who lives in cemeteries, riding upon a revivified corpse. Propitiating Chamunda will enable you to absolutely control all evils done to you and to
Maha Meru
eliminate those evils. 8
Mahalakshmi is the wealth of Sri Naraayana. She is Cosmic Awareness, and shuns pettiness in all its aspects. Thus She represents the infinite wealth of the Lord, and removes poverty of all kinds. The Ashta Aishwaryas and Ashta Lakshmis are all under Her control and they all obey Her commands. It is therefore appropriate to propitiate Her in order to get a feel for the spiritual wealth of the Lord. She not only bestows material benefits, but also grants the proper frame of mind for reaching the oceanic, infinite antaryami (One Residing Within) of Divine Consciousness.
The simplest form of worship is abhishekam using Panchamrita² – pour a spoonful of Panchamrita onto the Sri Meru location corresponding to each of these Devis as you
An Introduction
recite their respective mantras, as given below. If you want a particular result, you can
The Maha Meru, or Sri Meru Chakra, is a three-dimensional projection of the
make a corresponding sankalpa³ and worship that Goddess by chanting Her mantra 108
great yantra known as Sri Chakra, said to be the Mother of all Mandalas. The
times.
sublime geometry of the Sri Chakra is revealed wisdom. It is not of human origin.
These are just general hints for the people who don’t have much time to spare, but
It is nothing less than the genetic code of the Cosmos. It is intelligent. As one
still wish to maximize the benefits of their Sri Meru, to help them light the path of
commentator aptly explained, “Sri Chakra is the technology of the Absolute,
their lives. May the Goddess bless all of you so.
skillfully fashioned in Divinity’s own self-image.”
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1
Mantras to the Eight Matrukas First Edition
January 2007
Published by
Sri Vidya Trust, Devipuram Ammulapalem Post (Via) ANAKAPALLE 531 001 Andhra Pradesh India Tel: +91 8924 207652 Email:
[email protected] Web: http://www.devipuram.com
Edited by
Michael Bowden
Designed by:
Imagic Creatives Pvt. Ltd. Bangalore 71 Tel: +91 80 25356310/1/2 Email:
[email protected]
Governing Direction
Beeja Mantras
Avarana Mantra
Name of Goddess
The Mother Who Removes, or Helps Us to Overcome …
I Bow to Her
East
Om aim hreem sreem
am aam souh
Brahmi
maatre kama (lust) sanjeevanyai
namaha
South
Om aim hreem sreem
am aam Maheshwari souh
maatre krodha (anger) naashinyai
namaha
West
Om aim am aam hreem sreem souh
Kaumaari
maatre lobha namaha (delusion) naashinyai
North
Om aim hreem sreem
am aam souh
Vaishnavi
maatre moha (pride) namaha naashinyai
Southeast
Om aim hreem sreem
am aam souh
Varaahi
maatre mada (jealousy) naashinyai
namaha
Southwest
Om aim hreem sreem
am aam souh
Mahendri
Maatre maatsarya (envy) naashinyai
namaha
Northwest
Om aim hreem sreem
am aam souh
Chamunda maatre papa (negative namaha actions) naashinyai
Northeast
Om aim hreem sreem
am aam souh
MahaLakshmi 33
maatre aishwarya (attachment to wealth) keertyai
namaha
Mahendri
Kaumaari 3
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7
Chamunda
2 Maheshwari
MAHA MERU from DEVIPURAM by Sri AMRITANANDA NATHA
Vaishnavi 4
Varaahi
5
1 Brahmi
8
Maha-Lakshmi
¹ Abhishekam is the ritual bathing of a murthi (temple or shrine image), yantra, guru or other human recipient. ² Panchamrita generally refers to a ritual mixture used in Hindu worship services. As its name implies, it is made of five ingredients, usually milk, ghee, curd (yogurt), honey, and jaggery. Each of these ‘nectars’ has an origin in Hindu tradition. The milk is that of Kamadhenu (the divine wish-fulfilling cow); the curd represents the white, smooth and cool luster of the moon; the ghee is the food of the gods themselves, with a long Vedic past; honey, the extract of all herbs, is the essence of life with herbal healing powers; and jaggery, the extract of sugarcane, is both the representation and the epitome of sweetness. ³ Sankalpa is a conception or idea formed in one’s mind or heart; it is a thought, an ideal, an intention. The Vedas say that the whole universe is evolved through sankalpa – the ceaselessly acting impulses of karma, driven by cosmic kama – and hence it is only through sankalpa that the universe retains its karmic structure, appearance, and continuity.
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Sri Vidya Trust Devipuram, Anakapalle 531 001 Andhra Pradesh
MAHAMERU from DEVIPURAM Sri Amritananda Natha
