Sasthaa-8 Incarnations
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Dattaatreya-5 before reading this
8 Incarnations of Sasthaaa (Asht Sasthaaa)
The eight incarnations are told below
(1) Dharm Sasthaa
Lord Sasthea, the son of Vishnu (in His incarnation as Mohinee) and Shiv
and has been worshipped all over Tamil Naadu in the form of Sasthaa and
Ayyanaar. In both these cases, Lord Sasthaa was considered to be married
to Poornaa and Pushkalaa.
Ayyappa or Mani Kanda, who
was an Avathar of Lord Sastha and who lived as the adopted son of the Pandya
king of Pandalam was a Nitya Brahmchaaree. Forgiver of our mistakes, he
preaches Knowledge and peace. He breaks the barrier of caste and creed and
guides us towards righteousness. He graces us by our merge with the salvation.
He eliminates the discomforts faced due to Saturn. Agnyna Pitavasi, Prumatya
Pitavasi. All the Ayyappaa devotees know about this Sasthaa abode at Sabarimalai
Sannidhanam. Lord Shree Dharm Sasthaa is a Brahmchaaree. However, in previous
Avataar, Sasthaa dwelt on Kanth Maalaa with his two consorts Poornaa and Pushkalaa,
even before his Ayyappaa Avataar. We may refer here the Avataar of Mahaa Vishnu –
As Parashuraam, he was a Brahmchaaree; as Raam, he was Ek-Patnee Vrat Dhaaree,
and as Krishn, he did Raas Leelaa with Gopikaa. Similarly one of the facets of
Sasthaaa took to Brahmcharya as Ayyappaa. A distinct line is needed between Sasthaa
and Manikanth.
(2) Gyaan Sasthaa
The sanskrit word Gyaan or Vidyaa means knowledge or intellect. He plays
Manikka Veenaa and sits under a banyan tree like Dhakshinamoorti. He
blesses us with knowledge and intelligence, and hence is the name. He is
considered like Shiv of all three worlds. There are references of this
Sasthaa in a Puraan - Aakash Bhairav Kalpam. The Sasthaa temple in Thiruvullakavu
is considered as the Abode of Wisdom even though Sasthaa is not in the
Dhakshinamoorti form in this temple. There is an idol of Shree Vidyaa
Sasthaa in Ved Nayaga Sasthaa Temple at Vedikarampalayam, Salem.
(3) Kalyaan Vard Sasthaa
Shree Kalyaan Varad Sasthaa is worshipped for removing hindrances in
marriages and also annihilating the bad influences of Planet Mars on
mankind. He bestows us with everlasting auspiciousness. He is worshipped
with two consorts – Poornaa and Pushkalaa. There are references of
Kalyaan Varad Sasthaa in verses such as Guhyia Ratna Chintaamani, Bodh
Naad Charitam etc. Mythology says that Kalyaan Varad Sasthaa resides in
Kanthmalai. As far as our research goes, there is no exclusive temple
for this Sasthaa, in general - Sasthaa is worshipped as Kalyaan Moorti in
Ganapati Agraharam, Tirunelvelee.
(4) Mahaa Sasthaa
He is also called as Gajaaroodh Sasthaa or Kaal Sasthaa or Mahaa Sasthaa.
Kaal Sasthaa is a god of immense strength and power. He is a Shatru
Sanhaar Moorti, meaning that He destroys the evils or spells cast on us
by our enemies. Since one of his devotees won over Yam Dharm Raaj -
Mahaa Kaal, He is called as Kaal Sasthaa. Even though there is no temple
for Kaal Sasthaa, we can find Sasthaa sitting on an elephant, one of his
Vaahan, in Tryambak Puram.
(5) Sammohan Sasthaa
Sri Sammohan Sasthaa is described as the one whose aura is as vast as the
moon light. It is for this reason that all the three worlds enchant Him.
Entire world is attracted by him and hence the name Sammohan Sasthaa. He
is worshipped with two consorts – Poorn and Pushkalaa. His grace is
compared with Amudha Surabhi. He is a gracious Lord who blesses us with
augmenting conjugal unity. With his holy Naam on our lips, our homes and
families are taken care in our absence. There are references in Skand
Puraan on Sammohan Sasthaa, who protected Indraanee during the time when
Indra went to meet Shiv leaving his wife Indranaee in Sirgalee, before
the birth of Muruga. Sasthaa appeared before Indra with his consorts –
Poornaa and Pushkalaa on Airavaat (White Elephant). There is a temple
for Sammohan Sasthaa in Sirgalee, Kaivilanchery. The deity is called
Kaividael Appan.
(6) Santaan Praapti
Sasthaa
The Sanakrit words Santaan Praapti literally means blessing to bear a
child. He represents Planet Venus and is worshipped to bless us with
childbirth. He preaches all Shaastra. His wife Prabhavatee has a
Maanik Veenaa like Brahmaa Jee and hence some call him with the name
Brahmaa Sasthaa. This Sasthaa is different from other incarnations as he
is seen with his child Satyagan. Mythology says that Brahmaaa Sasthaa is
the one who offered the Divine Paayasam to King Dasharath when he
performed Putra Kaameshti Yagya for Putra Vriddhi. There are references
of this Sasthaa in Puraan like Tantra Samuchchayam and Shilp Ratnam.
(7) Ved Sasthaa
The Sanskrit word Ved is synonymous to wisdom and represents the four
Ved of Hinduism. He is also called Sinhaaroodh Sasthaa where the Sanskrit
word Sinh means Lion. He used Lion as his vehicle and hence the name. He
is worshipped with two consorts – Poornaa and Pushkalaa. This Sasthaa is
named as Ved Sasthaa as he blesses us with wisdom and intellectual
knowledge to walk on the Vaidik path, which leads to righteousness. Even
now, Ayyanar in Vedikarampalayam, Salem, is worshipped as Ved Nayaga
Sasthaa. The deity is surrounded by four Neem trees representing the four
Ved. As per the Sthal Puraan, this Sasthaa is born to Shiv and Vishnu (Mohinee)
when they attempted to teach a lesson to Vaidik Braahman in Tharukavanam.
He is referred in Shiv Puraan also.
(8) Veer Sasthaa
The Tamil word Veer represents the one who is a mighty warrior. As the
name suggests, Veer Sasthaa is a great warrior with weapons like Sword,
riding a horse, as visualized by Aadi Shankar. Hence, he is also called
Ashwaaroodh Sâstha, the one riding a horse. He is considered the Son of
Shiv and is worshipped to destroy evil and to protect humanity. There
are references of this Sasthaa in Aadi Shankar's Vicharitam where
Aadi Shankar has worshipped Veer Sasthaa in a place called Kudhiran. Even
today, Kudhiran Sasthaa is seen sitting on a horse.
[by Villivakkam Sri Viswanatha Sharma, Ashta Sasthaa
Temple Trust]
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