8/19/2014 Shrines for Sastha, in eight forms - The Hindu

http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/shrines-for-sastha-in-eight-forms/article5425348.ece 1/4
Special Arrangement
Special Arrangement
Friday Review History & Culture
Shrines for Sastha, in eight forms
The modle of the temple complex dedicated to Sri Ayyapan coming up at Veppampattu in Tiruvallur district.
Work in progress: A temple complex dedicated to Sri Ayyapan is coming up at Veppampattu in Tiruvallur district.
8/19/2014 Shrines for Sastha, in eight forms - The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/shrines-for-sastha-in-eight-forms/article5425348.ece 2/4
Special Arrangement
Special Arrangement
A temple complex dedicated to Sri Ayyapan is coming at Veppampattu in Tiruvallur district.
A temple complex dedicated to Sri Ayyapan at Veppampattu in Tiruvallur district.
Extensive research has gone into the project taking shape at Veppampattu.
A temple complex dedicated to Sri Ayyapan is coming up on unusual lines in Veppampattu in Tiruvallur district. The
eight forms of the deity will be enshrined in this temple that was visualised by Gurusami Viswanatha Sharma, who
was ordained by Paramacharya. He visited almost all the Sastha temples south of India and dedicated himself to the
renovation of temples. He was instrumental in the conduct of Sastha Tirukkalyanam and composed Sasthru
Ashtapati, Ayyan Tiruvadippa, etc.
Villivakkam Sree Viswanatha Sharma Ashta SasthaTrust has taken up the task of completing the project. Heads of
maths and spiritual leaders are providing guidance.
With contributions from devotees and philanthropists construction is being carried out but is making slow progress
because of paucity of funds. Two shrines with 18 steps, the priests room, kitchen, office room, compound wall and
other basic amenities need to be constructed.
The famous Sastha Varavu song, Ettu Avadharangal Undu, Yettu Swaroopangal Undu suggests eight important
incarnations and eight forms of Sastha ; and Dyana ratnavali confirms the same fact.
Ancient deity
Sastha was an ancient deity worshipped thousands of years ago across the globe. There are references to Sastha
worship in the submerged Lemuria, Vietnam and Africa. There is a Sastha Hill in California, the U.S.
Guruswamy Viswanatha Sarma, who made an extensive study of the Sastha concept, Ayyanar and Ayyappan chose
eight Sastha incarnations for Loka Kshema. He also made panchaloka idols along with Aadhi Boodha Naadha Sastha ,
8/19/2014 Shrines for Sastha, in eight forms - The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/shrines-for-sastha-in-eight-forms/article5425348.ece 3/4
which makes it nine altogether.
The Tamil word Aadhi means source. Aadhi Boodha Naadhar or Aadhi Maha Sastha is the source of all other
Sastha s, including Lord Ayyappan, also called Dharma Sastha of Sabarimala.
Adhi Maha Sastha is worshipped with two consorts Poorna and Pushkala. He is worshipped in many villages of
South, as a protector of their houses and cities. He is also offered prayers to help find missing/lost items. His grace
helps us receive rainfall on time, makes our water and land resources fertile and thereby enhancing crop cultivation. It
is believed that Karikaala Chozhan, an ardent devotee of this Sastha , won many battles after worshipping Sastha in
Kanchi Kamakshi Amman temple.
Dharma Sastha disseminates knowledge and peace. He is said to break the barrier of caste and creed and guides us
towards righteousness and salvation. Saturn effect? He is believed to provide solace. Sri Dharma Sastha was a
Brahmachari. However, in previous avatars, Sastha dwelt at Kantha Mala with two consorts Poorna and Pushkala. A
distinct line therefore should be drawn between Sastha and Manikanta.
Gnana Sastha , as the name implies showers intellect and wisdom. He plays the Manikka Veena and sits under a
banyan tree a la Dakshinamoorthi. There are references of this Sastha in Aakasa Bhairava Kalpam. Sree Dharma
Sastha temple in Thiruvullakavu is considered the Abode of Wisdom. There is an idol of Sri Vidhya Sastha in Veda
Nayaga Sastha temple at Vedikarampalayam, Salem.
Kalyana Varadha Sastha is worshipped for the removal of hurdles to marriage. He is worshipped with Poorna and
Pushkala. There are references of Kalyana Varadha Sastha in verses such as Guhyia Rathna Chinthamani and Boodha
Naadha Charitham.
Mythology has it that Kalyana Varada Sastha resides in Kanthamalai.
Sastha is worshipped as Kalyana murthy in Ganapathy Agraharam,
Tirunellai, a village in Palakkad. Gajaarooda Sastha or Kaala Sastha or Maha Sastha is annihilator of enemies. Since
one of his devotees won over Yamadharma Raja - Maha Kaalan, He is called as Kaala Sastha.
Although there is no temple for Kaala Sastha , we can find Sastha sitting on an elephant, one of his Vahana, in
Thriyambakapuram.
A great enchanter is Sammohana Sastha , who stands for conjugal bliss and harmony.
He is worshipped with Poorna and Pushkala. His grace is compared with Amudha Surabhi. There are references to
Sammohana Sastha in Skanda Puranam.
There is a temple for Sammohana Sastha in Sirkazhi, Kaivilanchery. The deity is called Kaividael Appan.
Santhana Prapthi Sastha represents Planet Venus and is worshipped for progeny. His consort Prabhavati has a
Maanikka Veenai and hence he is also called Brahma Sastha . This Sastha is different from other incarnations as he is
seen with his child Satyagan.
An interesting piece culled from mythology is that it was Brahma Sastha who offered the Divine Payasam to King
Dasaratha when he performed Puthrakameshti Yaaga. There are references of this Sastha in Thantra Samuchayam
and Silparathnam.
Veda Sastha also goes by the name Simharooda Sastha and is synonymous with the Vedas and the knowledge they
represent.
Even now, Ayyanar in Vedikarampalayam, Salem, is worshipped as Veda Nayaga Sastha , surrounded by four Neem
trees representing the four Vedas. According to Sthala Purana, this Sastha was born to Siva and Vishnu (Mohini).
Veera Sastha is a great warrior, visualised on a horse with weapons. Also called Aswarooda Sastha , he is considered
a son of Lord Siva and is worshipped to destroy evil and to protect humanity.
There are references to this Sastha in Adi Sankara Vicharitham which has Adi Sankara worshipping Veera Sastha in
a place called Kudhiran.
In order to raise funds for the Ashta Sastha complex, the Trust (No. 29, North Mada Strett, Villivakkam, Chennai
600049) has organised a music-cum-discourse programme by Veeramani Raju at P.T. Thyagaraja Hall, G.N. Chetty
Road, T. Nagar, 10 a.m. tomorrow, December 7. For details call
94441 09431 and 99625 62067. Website: http://ashtasastha.org
Keywords: Ayyapan Temple, Veppampattu
8/19/2014 Shrines for Sastha, in eight forms - The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/shrines-for-sastha-in-eight-forms/article5425348.ece 4/4
Search
Search for your favourite learning/education products on Amazon.in Go