Ganesh - This God of knowledge and the remover of obstacles is also the second son of Lord Shiva. Lord Ganesha is also called Vinayak ( knowledgeable ) or Vighneshwer (god to remove obstacles). He is worshipped, and always remembered in the beginning of any auspicious performance for blessings and auspiciousness.
He has four hands, elephant's head and a big belly. His vehicle is a tiny mouse. In his hands he carries a rope (to carry devotees to the truth), an axe (to cut devotees' attachments), and a sweet dessert ball -laddoo- (to reward devotees for spiritual activity). His fourth hand's palm is always extended to bless people.
A unique combination of his elephant-like head and a quick moving tiny mouse vehicle represents tremendous wisdom, intellegence, and presence of mind.
Shiva - Lord Shiva is affectionately called 'Bhola Bhandari' which means that He is 'easy to please'. You perform certain Rituals and the Lord blesses you and answers your prayers. The Crescent Moon that adorns His head indicate that He is the Lord of time, as people of yore would read the time by the movement of the Sun and Moon. The ash that He smears on His body denote that He is an Ascetic. Snakes adorn His neck and arms, showing that He is unafraid.
Lord Shiva has been called 'The Nataraja' The Lord of the Dance. Birth and Death, Formation and Decay, Change and Movement occur all the time as it is the Law of the Universe. The above is symbolized in the Dance of Shiva.
He is Master of the serpents. Shivji uses them as ornaments. He is the Lord of the tiger. Shivji sits on its skin. Maybe His drum symbolises the heart-beat of Creation. From His hands and head flow benediction for Mankind. He owns innumerable forms and names. Shivji transcends good and evil and is beyond joy and sorrow. He is part of, and yet beyond the polarities of life. Probably the reason why so many are attracted to Shivji is because in Him they witness the complete Cosmic force. So many remain loyal to Shivji for life because He liberates them from the
eternal cycle of birth and rebirth.
Muruga - Muruga or Kartikaye is the first son of lord Shiva His manifestation occurred when the devas, the celestial people, were being oppressed by an Asura (demon) by the name of Taraka. He is the conjoint manifestation ot Shiva and Sakti.He later moved to the southern hills of india to teach Religion to the tribals.
When Shiva was deeply absorbed in his spiritual exube rance, forgetting the world he was disturbed by cupid. Sakti was also observing penance to get the grace of Shiva. When Shiva opened his eyes, he burnt cupid. At that time six flashes, like lightning emerged, five from the five senses and one from the mi nd of Shiva. These became six babies and the cosmic mother Sakti rolled these into one baby with six heads and twelve arms. Because of this evolutionary process, Muruga is also known as Subramaniam, Shanmuka, six-faced one. The six heads represent six rays or attributes, viz., wisdom, dispassion, strength, fame, Wealth and divine power.
Muruga has two wives , Valli and Deivanai. They represent will (Valli) and action (Deivanai) He also holds a spear given to hirn by his mother Sakti for removing the evil force of Taraka This spear (Vel) represents (jnana) knowledge. These three together denote the three cosmic energies of governing will, action and knowledge. He rides on a peacock, indicative of conquering pride egoism and vanity.
Rama - Sri Rama was the 8th incarnation of Mahavishnu. He appeared in the Treta yug. He and his three brothers Lakshman, Bharath and Shatrugna were born to three wives of King Dasharatha. Ram and his brothers were the sons of Dasharatha and their mothers Kaushalya, Sumitra and Kaikayee. They were conceived in their mothers' wombs as a result of eating portions of (The Divya Kheer)sacred porridge given by Agnidev ( God of Fire).
His main purpose was to defeat the evil and to slay the demon king Ravan who had kidnapped his wife Sita ( Janaki).
Krishna is recognised by many other names such as Govind, Gopal, Keshav aswell as Shrinathji, Ranchhod Rai, Dwarikadheesh (in Gujrat) Vithhal, Vithhoba, Panduranga (in Maharashtra) Jaggannath ( in Orrisa and Nepal)Ranganath and Guruvayoorappan
(in the south).
Hanuman - Lord Hanuman is the god of strenght.He is the son of Anjani and was born in Anjaneri.Anjaneri is near Triambakeshwar, Nasik - a pilgrim village in Maharashtra State. He is the son of Anjani and Maruti, born with the blessings of 'Vayu', the wind god (also called Pavan). He is considered to be an avatar (incarnation) of Lord Shiva.
He is one of the seven Chiranjivis and the only learned scholar who knew the nine Vyakaranas. He learned the shastras from Suryadev, the sun god. He is well versed with the Vedas and other sacred books.
He has exhibited astonishing physical strength and worked many miracles. His valour, wisdom, knowledge of the scriptures and superhuman strength attracted everybody who came near him. He had extraordinary skill in warfare. He is the chosen messenger of Lord Rama and the minister & messenger of Sugreeva. Hanuman is fast, the most agile and oriented god.
Hanumanji is the symbol of Devotion and Service. Like Krishna, Rama is an incarnation of Vishnu whose elevated character and righteous actions are designed to inspire men to divine consciousness.
Ayyappa - Ayyapa&nnbsp; or Manikandan is a god worshipped in south india. He is the son born to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. He has many names such as Hari-hara putra ( son of Shiva and Vishnu ), Dharma Shasta ( protector of religion), KaliyugaVardhan ( Lord of the new age).
To save the earth from the deadly poisson of evil the gods and demons joined together to churn the milky ocean to gather "Amrut '' nectar. They collected the "Amrut" in a pot who was carreid by Lord Dhanvanthari , and kept it to be served at a heavenly feast. When the demon Rahu stole the pot to feed the demons, When the loss of the nectar was detected, Lord Vishnu took a form of Mohini, a woman of exquisite beauty, and brought and back the "Amrut" and served it to the gods. While Mohini was serving the Amrut, Shiva got intoxicated with her beauty who was in reality Vishnu. Shiva and Vishnu became one and formed the swaroop of Hari-hara as a result of the homosexual act, gave birth to Ayyappa from his thigh. Both Shiva and Vishnu discarded this un-naturally born illegitimate child in the forests of Sabarimalai in Kerala.
He has a dark complexion and four hands. In his two upper hands he holds a discus Chakra (a symbol of power) and a conch shell Shankha (a symbol of existence). With his lower hands extended downward he asks devotees to have faith and surrender to him for protection.
Shirdi Sai / Sathya Sai - Shirdi Sai Baba ( left side of picture) was the incarnation of Shiva Lord Shiva came as the son of Gangabhavadya and Devagiri Amma, a poor old couple in the village of Pathri in Maharashtra-(India). In this manifestation, the world knew him as Shirdi Sai. Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, the first Avatar in the Sai Trinity was born on September 27,1836 in a forest to a poor, simple couple from the village of Parthi.
Shirdi was, at the time, just a small village near Kopergaon in Maharashtra.It has now become a place of pilgrimage.Shirdi Sai , in other words Lord Shiva, in keeping with his promise given to Bharadwaja Muni in thehoary past, took His second Avatar when He, along with His consort-Parvati-manifested himself as Satyanarayana Raju - son of Pedda Venkappa Raju and his wife Easwaramma of Puttaparthi on 23rd November, 1926.
The world knows Shirdi Sai today as Sathya Sai Baba( right side of picture ). The sleepy village of Puttaparthi of district Ananthapur in Andhra Pradesh is well on its way to becoming the hub of the world. Millions upon millions of devotees flock from all over the world to seek the Darshan and Blessings of the Yugavatar or the Avatar of the Age. Many of these millions have recognised that Sathya Sai Baba is not just a guru but a miraculous saint who has helped alot of poor and sick people buy building a heart transplant hospital, providing free education for children and much more.
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai has chosen to reveal that sometime in the second quarter of the 21st Century will come the third Sai Avatar as Prema Sai (which will be the Parvati or the Shakti Avatar) after Sathya Sai casts off his mortal coil when he has completed the task he has assigned himself.
In addition to the nine planets, twenty seven nakshatras (constellations) through which the moon passes and twelve signs of zodiac of the sun, regarded as deities, are consulted at births, marriages and on al occasions of family rejoicing, distress or calamity. Shanti (Peace) propitiation ceremony is held to appease any unfavorable constellations.
The planets could be complimentary or inimical to an individual. The navagraha could give harmony or misery to the individual as per its movements. One has to do Shanthis or Parikaras (propitiatory actions to counter the ill effects) for the particular planet (s) and its/their Lords (Gods); such direct appeals to the concerned planets and their Lords will give quick and timely results. The Navagraha Sthothram, given below, is so powerful, it appeals to all the planets and safeguards the reciter from any planetary ill effects.
1. Surya - The Sun is the most powerful living God - whom everyone can see, perceive and pray. Though he is visible, he also has been presented in a variety of forms. Lord of this planet is God Siva
2. Chandra - The Moon is a lovable God - Pleasing to the children as well as elders, universally appealing to everyone whatever may be the religion. Goddess Parvathi rules the planet.
3. Mangal - Mars is regarded as a God of martial character, red in every aspect. Even the Romans held him as their Guru. He is the Son of Earth and is ruled by Lord Karthikeya.
4. Budha - Mercury is considered as the greatest among the wise. This Devata bestows wisdom and wealth on his devotees. He is ruled by Lord Maha Vishnu.
5. Brihaspati - is the Guru (Jupiter). He results in a cure from ailments and helps one to ward off his/her sins and gives strength, valour, longevity, etc. He grants the boon of fatherhood to the childless, good education (Vidya). He is ruled by Lord Dakshinamurthy.
6. Sukra - Venus is the bestower of long life, wealth, happiness, children, property and good education. He is ruled by Goddess Mahalakshmi.
7. Saniswara - Saturn is generally known to affect one adversely on occasions when he occupies certain positions in one's horoscope. A prayer to him, especially on Saturdays, is said to mitigate the hardships one will have to face during these periods. Saniswara is considered equally a bestower of all benefits to the devotees who pray sincerely to him. He is ruled by Lord Yama.
8. Rahu - is instrumental in strengthening one's power and converting even an enemy into a friend. He is ruled by Goddess Durga.
9. Ketu - brings prosperity to the devotee's family. He grants good health, wealth, cattle and all around prosperity. He is ruled by Lord Ganesha and Indra.
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