What
is the actual meaning of 18 steps which is there in sanidhanam. becasue
i have heared lot of menaing for the same viz 18 puranas. 18 gunas, 18
mountains around sabarimala, etc... I want to know what is actual
meaning of the same and after claiming we attain the Lord which is
called "THAATVAMAASI" you hav written the meaning of the same in ur book
but since i dont knw to read i did not knw the actual meaing.
Awaiting to your reply
Swamy Sharanam
Santosh
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18 Steps.... are equated to
18 Puranas
18 Mountains
18 Ayudhams
18 Siddhas
18 Devatas
18 Gunas
There are various explanations suiting each of the above statement.
You can also find ample of proof justifying each stand ...
"Padi Pathinettum Puranangal Aakkiya Premaswaroopandae Ananda Mandapam..." says an old sharana vili
There are 18 mountains surrounding Sabarimalai and each one is represented through one step of the padhinettu padi...
Ayyappan
has 18 Ayudhams... he left each one of the ayudham while ascending the
peetam and hence each step has or represents an aydham of Ayyappan. -
Weapons which kills (the enemies) and at the same time protect (the
devotees)
All our Shastras greatly exclaim
about the 18 siddha purushas... These siddha purushas have surrendered
to Lord Sastha who is the Yogeeshwara and obtained the status or
privilege of being his Ashtadasha Peetam(18 Steps)
18 Special Devatas are installed in the 18 steps.. During the customary Padi Pooja - these dieties are worshipped...
Confused ...?
All
these are implications.... Everything is true as far as this is
concerned... you cant deny of the above statement... "It is there -
because it is there" - is the best answer
As per the divine will of Lord Ayyappa all these things happen...
Now just go in the reverse order...
There
are eighteen devatas who are the adhishtana moorthis of 18 mountain
ranges(or Parivara devats) who are installed in the 18 steps... and
Sastha was seated above all (here the steps are not built.. but it is
done as a pratishta... that is the most important thing and uniqueness
of Sabarimalai... )
When Ayyappa avatara took
place he renounced his prince hood and left his ayudhams one by one on
each of the step of Pathinettampadi... and merged with Sastha
Further
18 siddha purushas who wanted to serve the Lord, installed their divine
presence in the 18 steps to serve him as well as bless the devotees..
Just
imagine, the Swami is same everywhere.. at Achankovil, Aryankavu or
Kulathupuzhai, Coimbatore or Banglore... But the 18 steps are unique
here... You can see the Lord even without the vrutham. But you cannot
step the Padinettampadi without Vrutham... Thats its speciality..
Bcoz..
By climbing the steps - You are actually stepping the zone of a
Particular devata who guards it... and only if you have the Vrutha Balam
- you qualify - "you pass the exam" - you are blessed.
(These
devatas are worshipped during the Padi Pooja - this detail is not known
or not revealed to many.. I can humbly claim that Iam blessed to have
the actual process and the actual list of devatas of all the 18 steps
along with their dhyanam - moola mantram and everything)
Now you can see - Every statement given above is true...
And thats not the end...
Every
divine aspect has a direct side and an esoteric meaning... For Example
Rama's war with with Ravana to unite with Seetha - is not a mere story
but the aikyam of Jeevathma and Paramatma
Similarly the 18 steps has an esoteric meaning -
that one who conquers the 18 Gunas becomes Bhagawan... thats THATHVAMASI
Each
year you follow the Vrutham to 100% sincerity, you climb one step or
rise one level in your spiritual progress... the inner refinement
happens.. (that is the actual purpose of Sabarimalai yatra.. if this is
not happening.. there is no use even if you go 1008 times)
Similarly
when you overcome the 18 gunas... you become pure and attain the state
of oneness with the Lord - the state is called THATHVAMASI.
THATHVAMASI is a Maha Vakyam from the Vedas meaning - "You know that you and that are One"..
Unfortunately, we have neither understood the direct meaning nor the esoteric meaning
Let that evercompassionate Lord bless us with the Gnana and Bhakti and the inner drive to understand His significance...
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