Rudrekadasini (Relevance and Practice)

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In this book, a great Vedic ritual "Rudrekadasi" is detailed with explanatory notes in English for the easy understanding and learning the rationale of the rituals.

For the benefit of those who for various reasons are not familiar with the Sanskrit language and are now- a-days more familiar with the English language explanatory notes have been incorporated at relevant places so .that the rationale of this form of worship will be under-stood.

Shri. N.Anantharama Ayyar was an erudite scholar who read widely, the Hindu scriptures and explained them in simple language to reach out to larger audience. His mission in life was to relive the Indian culture and scriptures in the hearts of the people. For this he strived tirelessly throughout out his life. more so after I his retirement from government service.

He was well versed in the Vedas, Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita and rendered many lectures on them. He delivered a series of lectures on the Ramayana, which lasted for over three years! He has authored several books on Hindu scriptures where he has given explanations and interpretation of the works of the great Adi Sankara, To name a few, "Sivanandalahari". "Anandalahari", "Bhaja Govindam". His other works included "The essence behind Rudraekadasi", "Importance of Sandhyavandandam", prayers that young ones could recite daily. His language is simple and lucid and his analysis, thought provoking and practical.

Shri. N.Anantharaman Ayyar was an erudite scholar who read widely, the Hindu scriptures and explained them in simple language to reach out to larger audience. His mission in life was to relive the Indian culture and scriptures in the hearts of the people. For this he strived tirelessly throughout out his life, more so after his retirement from government service.

He was born into an illustrious Brahmin family in Moncombu, Kerala. He received his early education in Kerala and then went to Chennai to do his honors and masters in Political science from Loyola College. Soon after, he joined the Income Tax department and served the government in various capacities finally retiring as Commissioner of Income Tax, Mumbai. After retirement, he was appointed as the Director at Rajendra Prasad Institute of Management Studies and Research, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai.

A self made man, he was simple in living and believed in total honesty and straight forwardness in life. All his actions and speech lived his beliefs. He had keen interest in Hindu philosophy and management precepts which he extrapolated throughout his life. He was well versed in the Vedas, Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita and rendered many lectures on them. He delivered a series of lectures on the Ramayana, which lasted for over three years! He has authored several books on Hindu scriptures where he has given explanations and interpretation of the works of the great Adi Sankara. To name a few, "Sivanandalahari", "Ananda lahari", "Bhaja Govindam". H is other works included "The essence behind Rudraekadashi"," Importance of Sandhyavandandam", prayers that young ones could recite daily. His language is simple and lucid and his analysis, thought provoking and practical. All his works are in simple English Language.

All this would not have been possible but for the silent, strong support of his wife, Srimati Ambujam Anantharaman. She stood by him in all his endeavors. Shri. Anantharaman Ayyar passed away in June 2009.But He is alive through his works, which will give peace to all those who read them.

The Vedic rituals prescribed by great sages were designed to preserve the Vedas by creating an interest in these rituals which promote the beneficial aspects and welfare of the mankind. A devotee, who is earnestly seeking to expiate his sins, gets relief from and cure of any afflictions, and diseases, one who is desirous of prosperity, peace of mind, longevity and good health, can achieve all these by the chanting of the Sri Rudra mantra. Sri Rudra mantras which are very potent extolling the greatness and omnipresence of Lord Siva as Rudra. The great Panchakshara mantra "Namah Sivayaa" is in the central portion of the Sri Rudra chapter and is so to say the central jewel of the chapter.

For several centuries these procedures have been followed in the worship of Lord Siva so that peace, prosperity, physical and mental health and spiritual uplift are assured to the sincere devotee. The procedure for performance of this form of worship and its variants are sought to be set forth in this publication.

In this book, a great Vedic ritual 'Rudrekadsini is detailed with explanatory notes in English for the understanding of members of the Brahmin community who for reasons of earning their livelihood are more familiar with the English language and are desirous of learning the rationale of the rituals.

For the benefit of those who for various reasons are not familiar with the Sanskrit language and are nowadays more familiar with the English language explanatory notes have been incorporated at relevant places so that the rationale of this form of worship will be understood and the asthikas are persuaded to follow the path of devotion and thereby the path of jnana to comprehend the limitlessness of God. If out of a hundred people who go through this book, a few at least take up earnestly the study and practice of this worship I shall feel amply rewarded.

"May He, the Lord and Supreme seer, Rudra, who is first among all Gods and revealed in the Vedas, who sees Hirnayagarbha being born, bless us with auspicious moments with unbroken thought of the supreme reality".

Those who belong to this Bharatha Desa, are the inheritors of the great heritage in the form of the source of the knowledge called Vedas. The Vedas and allied branches of knowledge called Vedaangas, Smrithis and Sutras are our cherished heritage which we should strive to protect and preserve. Traditionally it was the duty of the three classes of people, the Brahmanas, the Kshatriyas and Vaisyas, to learn the Vedas and to protect and cherish and nourish the study and practice the Vedas. Out of the above three classes called the "varnas", it was the supreme responsibility of' Brahmans Or Brahmins as they have come to be known, to devote their life to the study of the Vedas, and not only help in the preservation of the vast body of knowledge through the practice of various rituals, but also help others in the proper performance of the Vedic rituals so that the benefit is for the world and not merely for a section of the community.

When Veda Vyasa' the great sage, codified and classified the vast Vedic knowledge into four Vedas, called Rg,' Yajur, Sama, and Atharva, he also took into consideration the difficulty of future generations to master the Vedas completely or even to know a fraction thereof. So at the end of the Dwapara Yuga, more than 5100 years ago, he took care to sub-divide each Veda into different branches or recensions called Veda saakhas for the facility for learning. He also entrusted to select Maharshis or sages, each Veda and its sakhas for propagation and preservation through disciplined and devoted disciples. Thus he hoped that even though in the Kaliyuga, that succeeded Dwapara Yuga, the lives of human beings will be of much shorter duration and their mental, physical and spiritual powers will be very much lower, the Vedic heritage would be preserved by specialization in the limited codified form by various learned men and the Vedic heritage would be preserved in that manner.

There were then 1180 Veda sakhas according to some scholars. each "self contained" in that one group could devote itself to the study of at least one saakha or branch. Rgveda had 21 Sakhas, Yajurveda 109, Samaveda 1000 and, Atharvaveda 50. Rgveda saakhas were entrusted to sage Paila, Yajurveda sakhas to sage vaisampayana. Maharishi Jaimini was given the charge of Samaveda and sage Sumantha was entrusted with Atharvaveda sakha.

I need not mention here the sudden deterioration in the latter half of the 20th century of Vedic learning and the decline of interest of Brahmanas in preserving and propa gating the Vedic knowledge, nor need to go into the causes thereof. Though the great acharyas of the various religious institutions are doing something to keep the flame of the Vedas living, much more requires to be done, not only by religious leaders, but also by the communities entrusted with the preservation and propagation of the Vedas.

The Vedic rituals prescribed by great sages were designed to preserve the Vedas by creating an interest in these rituals which promote the beneficial aspects and welfare of the mankind.

In this book, a great Vedic ritual "Rudrekadsini "is detailed with explanatory notes in English for the understanding of members of the Brahmin community who for reasons of earning their livelihood are more familiar with the English language and are desirous of learning the rationale the rituals.

Among the four Vedas, the Yajurveda is of great importance for performance of the yagnas and other rituals. According to some scholars out of the 100 and.odd saakhas Yajurveda, the original texts propagated by sage Vaisampayana, now only 64 recensions exist collectively known as Krishnayajurveda and the remaining 36 recensions are collectively known as "Suklayajurveda" propagated by another sage and a nephew of Vaisampayana, Sri Yajnavalkya. The 64 recensions are collectively known as Krishnayajurveda; mentioned already. One of the sakhas of Krishnayajurveda has come to be known as Taittireeya sakha and is prevalent in South India.

Each Veda saakha has a Samhitha or mantra portion and a Brahmana portion containing the methodology using the mantras in various rituals. The Taittireeya Brahmana towards its end contains an Aranyaka portion and finally the Upanishads.