Wednesday, 28 August 2024

Seesanthi ambaram; Shivaratri ambaram

What is the link between Gokulashtami and Ghulam Khader?

What is the link between Shivaratri and Shri Jayanti?

Till about a 100 years ago, on Shivaratri day, kids in groups would go from house to house, and collect a ladle or two of lamp oil, while chanting the slogan Seesanthi ambaaram, Shivaratri ambaram. They would reach it all, to a Shiva temple. 

And lamps would glow all night. 

But why invoke the day, of Shri Jayanti on Shivaratri?

Gokulashtami is the darkening third quarter. Maha-Shivaratri is the day before new moon.

Both these days whirl, at diametric segments of earth's orbit - in sidereal Aquarius and sidereal Leo. They are more or less 180 degrees/ days apart - in darkening whirls after summer solstice, and in brightening whirls after winter solstice. 

We know that Arjuna is terrified by fierce Rudra forms, in the Vishwarupa darshana of Battleground Counsel. And he requests Krishna, to take on a pleasing form, of four armed Wishnu.

- Shri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati, Kanchi