Dear Sri Madhavakannan, You are absolutely right in quoting about Ramataraka Manthra. I got the same info from the other list, the gist is as follows: Jabalishruti and Ramopanishat says that those departing souls in Kashi were given this taraka manthra upadesha by Shiva in Kashi which makes a jeeva gets liberated from bandhana. Thus it is not Shiva, but his upadesha and the ramataraka manthra which makes Kashi so special. The upanishat says that Shiva does penance of Shri Rama mantra for thousands of manvantaras. Pleased with that, Sri Rama asks Shiva to choose a boon. Then Shiva requests Shri Rama to grant a boon that whoever (any 'jantu') dies in kAshI should be given mukti. Granting the boon, Shri Rama says that I shall be 'sannihita' in every rock and stone of Kashi. Whosoever you wish to liberate, give the upadesha of 'my mantra' in his left ear. That Jiva shall be liberated. The ramataraka manthra is otherwise called as brahmataraka manthra as per this upanishat. Somehow I am yet to hear related bit on Rameshwara. It is a popular belief that Rama instals various lingas across the path he treads when he is in vanavasa. Which is hardly convincing. thanks sukumar ************** SrI: Dear Sri Sukumar Thanks for sharing True... such stories are plenty.. There is one Ananda Ramayanam [written by Bharathiyar[ which refers to such references which have no basis however. Because this version is not at all authentic. We accept Valmiki Ramayana as the authority. There is no mention at all in Valmiki Ramayana about Rama worshipping any deity in Rameswaram. There is no such mention in the authoritative version of Kamba Ramayana also. As heard from Sri MS Hari Swamin, few years ago: Quote- Raama told Sita when they were returning back to Ayodya after killing Raavana in Puspaka vimana. Rama pointed out to Sita all the places down and told her what happened. He mentioned "Atra Poorvam MahaDevaha Prasaadam Akarot Prabhu:". Few take this to mean "There (Now Rameswaram) Mahadevan (Siva) the Lord did mercy and blessed me". As Raama was telling to Sita what happened before, there is not mention by Valmiki that Raama worshiped Siva before the war. The term "Mahadeva" is a common noun which can denote any devata. Here it is to be taken only to mean "Samudra Rajan" who appeared before Raama..Unquote Thanks again.. Let us concentrate on Our SadhAchAryas' and AzhwAr works to stay focussed and enjoy Lord's kalyANa guNas and not to let other issues/ stories lead us astray. It just reminded me of Swamy desikan's prabhandham from Adhikarasangraham (on SrI Alavandhar): neeLa vandhu inRu vidhivagaiyaal ninaivonRiya naam/ meeLavandhu innum vinai udambu onRil vizhundhu uzhalaa(dhu) ALavandhaar ena venRu aruL thandhu viLangiya seer/ Alavandhaar adiyOm padiyOm ini alvazhakkE. After taking so many countless births, We, (dAsars (servants) of Sri Alavandhar), who have been blessed to be born (due to the limitless, unconditional grace of the Lord Sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayanan) as Srivaishnava in this birth, and have realized and taken up the prapatti maargam (due to again the nirhEthuka krupA of the Lord), who are bequeathed with such Great Acharyan YamunAchArya, the learning of whose SrI sukthis enable us to know the tatvatrayam crystal clear and upAyam and upEyam (means and goal) perfectly, and keep us reminded of the same always, will never ever read (hereafter) works of those who belong to other religions. Says Swamy Desikan. Acharyan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam Regards Namo Narayana dAsan Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriRangaSri/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: SriRangaSri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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