Lord Ayyappa Sabarimala
Sri Dharma Sastha Gita.. SRI DHARMA SASTHA GITA.
Sastha is the son of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. He was born in this world to kill an ogress called Mahishi. Sastha assumed the form of a baby and was found by a king belonging to Pandya Dynasty ruling over Pandalam of Kerala. He was named Iyappa. After his life’s objectives were over; he entered in to a Temple in the forests of Kerala called Sabarimala. Millions of devotees congregate there every year to have a glimpse of this god.
Lord Manikanta gives His precious teachings as Boothanatha Gita to Rajashekara Pandya, the ruler of Pandalam. Lord Ayyappa symbolizes the divine unity of Vaishnavism and Shaivism, representing Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. His life embodies the eternal battle between good and evil, and his teachings emphasize the importance of dharma (righteousness), unity, and self-discipline.
The Bhoothanatha Geetha is taken from the Bhoothanatha Upakhyanam which is a part of the Brahmanda Puranam. The words told by Lord Manikanta(Ayyappa) to Maharaja Rajashekaran, is a guiding force for the mankind. After fulfilling the duties of His incarnation, Lord Manikanta decides to get instilled in Sabarimala.
It is then the Maharaja of Pandalam, Rajashekaran realizes that Manikanta, the kid whom he raised is an incarnation of Lord Maha Sastha. He prays to God for His mercy and to bless him with immortality. Lord Manikanta then blesses Maharaja and starts preaching him with the concepts of wisdom.
This essence of wisdom and glory is the Bhoodhanatha Gita. Listening to the words of Swami, the king attains the knowledge of the supreme. This Boothanatha Gita is the teachings of the Lord in his own words. These words are not only for the King.
SONGS IN PRAISE OF LORD DHARMA SASTHA
I salute that God Sastha,
Who is the hero of the world,
Who is greatly noble,
Who is the lord protecting everyone,
And who gives happiness to the heart of Parvathi.
I salute that God Sastha,
Who is being worshipped by Brahmins,
Who is saluted by the universe,
Who is the darling son of Vishnu and Shiva,
And who is becomes pleased very quickly.
I salute that God Sastha,
Who walks like a vigorous elephant,
Who is filled with nectar of mercy,
And who is the God who removes all obstacles.
I salute that God Sastha,
Who is the god of my family,
Who destroys my enemies,
And who fulfills all my wishes.
I salute that God Sastha,
Who is the greatest of the clan of Pandyas,
Who is the playful god of Kerala,
And who is the God who looks after the oppressed.
I salute that God Sastha,
Who rides on an elephant,
Who is the king of Tryambaka,
And who is near to Lord Ganesa.
I salute that God Sastha,
Who is the personification of power of Shiva,
Who was born out of the body of Sreenivasa,
And who is the brother of him who rides the peacock.
I salute that Sastha,
Whose mother is Dhanwanthari,
Whose father is Lord Shiva,
And who cures all diseases.
Salutations and salutations to that Sastha,
Who is the lord of all beings,
Who is perennially ever happy,
Who shows mercy towards all beings,
And I pray, Protect me great hero.
I seek the protection of Sastha who loves his devotees,
Who has the peculiar pretty black body colour,
Who lives till the end of the world,
Who has dawn like hands which resemble lightning
Who has tall crown made of costly gems,
And Who has curly and pretty hair.
“OM SRI DHARMA SASTHAVE NAMO NAMAHA”
COMPILED BY
R. HARISHANKAR