07 Wash off

The frustration and anger of Sarawathi increased with every attempt turning futile to stop the yagam performed by Brahma, who has replaced with his other wife (Saavithri) to initiate the yagam. Instead of relying on yogic powers she took the form of a frightening river (Vegavathi) and started the journey towards the yaga sala.

The ferocious river loosened boulders on the way and traveled at the speed of a whirlwind. The river leveled everything on the way and knocked off peaks of mountains that lay in its path.

Devas reached high grounds to get out of the way of Saraswati and were happy that they could save themselves from her fury. Brahma was stunned at the sight of his angry wife's intent on destruction and stopped the yagam to pray for Lord’s intervention.

Lord took the form of a dam and stopped the flow of Vegavathi river at Thiruvekka.

More details are available at http://kausiksarathy.blopspot.com/2008/08/lord-followed-instructions-at-vekka.html

Lord pacified Saraswathi and forgave her and told her to join Brahma and continue the aswamedha yagam. A relieved Saraswati joined her husband to conclude the yagam.

06 Wriggly wriggly

When the earlier attempt failed, Saraswathi, with the encouragement of asuras, came out with a plan which was even more venomous.

Her plan was to scare all the participants of the yagam, and decided that the only way would be unleash deadly venomous snakes. Out of her yogic power she created a snake and instructed it to proceed towards the venue and terrorize the assembled guests and to make Brahma stop the yagam.

As before the Lord was called upon for help.

Lord appeared with eight arms carrying different weapons and vanquished the snake.

On request of Brahma and other guests assembled agreed to stay on and bless the devotees. For details regarding the temple and the lord, please visit

http://kausiksarathy.blogspot.com/2008/09/power-of-eight.html

This was the last straw, Saraswathi decided that she is no longer going to depend upon the yogic power. She discussed with the asuras and decided that she would get into the ring herself by….

05 Generator

Saraswathi out of her yogic power plunged the whole world into darkness.

Brahma was perplexed as he was not able to continue the yagam. Brahma, Rishi’s and Devas, present in the yagam, prayed to the Lord for his intervention.

Immediately a bright light appeared near the yaga sala. The light was so bright that it appeared like day. The spell cast by saraswati was broken and normalcy returned.

On the request of the participants present the lord agreed to stay at that place and would help in clearing the darkness surrounding the devotees. The Lord agreed to stay in Thoopul, which is about 2 kms. from the yaga sala, Lord at this temple is Deepaprakasar (in Sanskrit) and Villakoli perumal (in tamil).

Saraswathi's determination to stop the yagam got stronger. She had some more tricks up her sleeves....

04 Convincing the Be(i)tter Half

When the yagam was to start the brahma rishi's led by Marichee met Brahma and informed him that according to the Saasthras, a man separated from his wife is not qualified to perform a yagam such as aswamedham.

Brahma summoned his son Vashistan, to try and pacify his mother, Saraswathi, who at that time was doing tapas on the banks of river Ganges. Vashistan was to explain to his mother the importance of performing the aswamedham yagam and how her presence was of utmost importance.

Saraswathi was blind with rage and refused to come to Kanchi, to be part of the yagam.

Vashistan headed back to Kanchi and informed Brahma about his failure to convince his mother. Brahma was dejected and informed the rishi’s about the refusal of Sarawathi.

The rishi’s suggested that Brahma could continue the yagam with his other wife. Brahma, with all intention to start the yagam, started the yagam with his other wife Saavithri.

Asuras from the beginning were not able o digest the fact that the devas with Brahma was going to perform the aswamedha yagam and establish their supremacy.

Asuras got the opportunity they were waiting for when Saraswathi refused to attend the yagam. All the asuras left Kanchi and in disguise as brahmin’s went to meet Saraswathi.

Asuras told Saraswathi, that they had walked out of the yagam as they were not able to bear the insult Brahma has done to her and swear their alliance with her.

Saraswathi was pleased with the action of the Brahmins and was blind with rage. She took a vow to destroy the place of the yagam…..

03 Preparation of the Venue

Now that the venue has been selected, Brahma called up on the best of the architect, Viswakarma who is the architect of the Devas. Viswakarma is the architect who designed and executed the construction of Srirangam temple, which is bholaga vaikundam.

Viswakarma started the work of leveling the Hasthi Giri. He embraced all the rules of silpa sastra to construct an Utthara Vedhi to accommodate the Yaga Vedhi (Yaga Saala) and also constructed suitable accommodation for the participants and visitors of the yagam. Brahma inspected the works and was immensely please with the outcome and felt the stage is set appropriately for the arrival of the Lord at the end of the yagam.

Invitations were sent to all the devas and asuras and as the Lord was to appear at the end of the yagam, all were eagerly waiting for the invitation.

Various task such as receiving the guest, taking care of them, providing food were assigned to various devas and all were thrilled to perform the task as they felt they are part of the yagam. Brahma assigned the task of conducting the yagam to the brahma rishis led by Marichee.

As the yagam was to start there was however a small hitch…..

02 Brahma's Grief

With Saraswathi having gone out of Brahma logam, Lord Brahma wanted to visualize the Lord in palpable, physical form. His idea was to visualize the Lord with his yogic power. Brahma’s karma’s interfered with his effort to visualize the Lord. His intellect got dulled and he fell down from his yogic stance.

Lord Brahma began to think about the reasons for his failure. He was keen to find out how his yogic attempt failed to visualize the lord. After lot of deliberation, he came to recognize that his unsteady mind was the cause of his failure.

For thousand of yugams, a jeevan performed Aaradhanam (worship) for the Lord with lotuses and received a special boon from the Emperuman to attain the status of Brahma Devan. After attaining the status and power, the ego accompanying that power and status sunk Brahma Devan into murky pond of Ahankaram and Mamakaram and prevented him from visualization of the supreme Lord through yogam and tapas.

Brahma resolved to banish the karma visesham and sought a place where he will be blessed with the dharshan of the supreme lord without fail.

Brahma choose Bhaaratha Varsham (out of the nine varshams) in Jambhu Dhveepam (out of the seven dhveepams) in Bhulokam (out of fourteen lokams), present day India, as this is the ideal place for performing any tapas.

He performed additional tapas and still couldn’t see the Lord and was greatly disturbed. At that time, asariree (divine voice) told him that his mind will become tranquil, to see the Lord, only after performing 1,000 Aswamedha yagams (horse sacrifice). Brahma was worried that it will be very difficult to complete those long yagams and it will take a long, long time for finishing them. At this juncture, Asariree responded and said that a single yagam performed at Satya Vratha Kshethram (Kanchipuram) would yield the benefit / fruit of 1,000 Aswamedha yagam and commanded Brahma to go to Hasthi giri, where the Lord resides permanently.

Lord Brahma was relieved and proceeded towards Hasthi Giri in Satya Vratha Kshethram to perform the Aswamedha yagam.

01 The Beginning

Once upon a time during Kruta Yuga (first of the four yuga, currently we are in the fourth yuga namely Kali yuga) in Brahma logam (the residence of lord Brahma), there was an arguement between Brahma and Saraswati, that who is greater between Naa Magal (or) Saraswathi and Poo Magal (Sri Lakshmi).

Brahma said that it is Poomagal - Lakshmi Thaayar who is found on the heart of Sri Vishnu is the greatest.

Next, Saraswathi asked which river is the greatest river. But, unfortunately Brahma answered that the greatest river is River Ganga which is originating from the feet of Sri Vishnu is the greatest (During Trivikrama avataram, when Emperuman raised his feet towards the sky, Lord Brahma, did padha pooja to the lord with river ganges).

On hearing this, Saraswathi got angry and disappeared from Brahma logam and went along the banks of river Ganga and started doing tapas.