Ashta Sastha

Ashta Sastha - An Introduction:-

This is an effort to bring into light various facets of Sāstha, which in reality are incarnations of Aadhi Boodha Naadha Sāstha. It’s a less known fact to common public that Lord Ayyappa is also one of the facets of Aadhi Boodha Naadhar.

Sāstha is a generic Sanskrit term for a teacher - ‘Sāsthi Ithi Sāstha’. He is the teacher who guides to the path of righteousness. ‘Kalau Sasthru Vinayakau’ - Sāstha & Vinayaka will be prominent gods in Kali Yuga. However, Sāstha worship has started back from Kritha Yuga.

The famous Sāstha Varavu song, “Yettu avadharangal undu, yettu swaroopangal undu” suggests 8 important incarnations (of all other incarnations) of Sāstha; we wish to brief about the Ashta Sāstha identified by our Guruswamy based on his several years of research.

There are innumerous references about Sāstha in various puranas like Kanda Puranam, Siva Puranam, Lalithopakhyanam, Ramayana & Mahabharata etc. If we notice these puranas, they have taken place in various Yugas. For instance, Kanda Puranam, Siva Puranam has taken place in Kritha Yuga, Ramayana has taken place in Tretha Yuga, and Mahabharatha in Dwapara Yuga. Many Sāstha temples have been built in various places of Tamil Nadu, Kerala etc., based on these references.

Even though there are more than 100's of Sāsthas in existence, our Guruswamy has chosen eight Sāstha incarnations for Loka Kshema. He has also made panchaloka vigrahams of these 8 Sāsthas along with Aadhi Boodha Naadha Sāstha, which makes it 9 altogether. There are also unknown references which associate these nine avatars with the nine planets.

Come, lets dive deep in to the world of Ashta Sāstha…

Adhi Boodha Naadhar

The tamil word “Aadhi” means “Source.” This Sāstha is named “Aadhi Boodha Naadhar” or “Aadhi Maha Sāstha” as He is the source from which all other Sāsthas, including Lord Ayyappan also called Dharma Sāstha in Sabarimala . This Sastha is worshipped with two consorts – Poorna & Pushkala. People see this Sāstha as a protector of their houses and cities. He is also offered prayers to help find missing/lost items. His grace helps us receive rainfall on time, makes our water and land resources fertile and thereby enhancing crop cultivation.

Dharma Sastha

Forgiver of our mistakes, he preaches Knowledge & peace. He breaks the barrier of caste & 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 Ayyappa Devotees know about this Sastha abode at Sabarimalai Sannidhanam. Lord Sri Dharma Sastha was a Brahmachari. However, the origin of Ayyappa, in previous avatars, Sastha dwells at Kantha Mala with two consorts Poorna and Pushkala, even before his Ayyappa Avatar. We may refer here the avatars of Lord Maha Vishnu – As Parasurama, He was a Brahmachari; as Rama, he was Eka-Patni Vrathan. As Krishna, he did Rasa Leela with Gopikas. Similarly, one of the facets of Sastha took to Brahmacharyam as Ayyappa. A distinct line is needed between Sastha and Manikanta.

Gnana Sastha

The sanskrit word “gnana” or “vidhya” means knowledge or intellect. He plays Manikka Veena and sits under a banyan tree like Dhakshinamoorthi. He blesses us with knowledge & intelligence, and hence is the name. He is considered like lord Shiva of all three worlds. There are references of this Sāstha in a purana - “Aakasa Bhairava Kalpam.” Sree Dharma Sāstha temple in Thiruvullakavu is considered as THE ABODE OF WISDOM even though Sastha is not in the Dhakshinamoorthy form in this temple. There is an idol of Sri Vidhya Sāstha in Veda Nayaga Sāstha temple at Vedikarampalayam, Salem.

Kalyana Vardha Sāstha
Sri Kalyana Vardha Sāstha is worshipped for removing hindrances to marriages and also annihilating the bad influences of Planet Mars on mankind. He bestows us with everlasting auspiciousness. He is worshipped with two consorts – Poorna & Pushkala.

There are references of Kalyana Varadha Sāstha in verses such as Guhyia Rathna Chinthamani, BoodhaNaadha Charitham etc.

Mythology says that Kalyana Varada Sāstha resides in Kanthamalai. As far as our research goes, there is no exclusive temple for this Sāstha,in general - Sāstha is worshipped as Kalyana moorthy in Ganapathy Agraharam, Tirunelveli.

Maha Sastha
He is also called as Gajaarooda Sastha or Kaala Sastha or Maha Sastha. Kaala Sāstha is a god of immense strength and power. He is a Chatru Samhara Moorthy, meaning that He destroys the evils or spells casted on us by our enemies.

Since one of his devotees won over Yamadharma Raja - Maha Kaalan, He is called as Kaala Sastha.

Eventhough there is no temple for Kaala Sāstha, we can find Sāstha sitting on an elephant, one of his Vahana, in Thriyambakapuram.

Sammohana Sāstha
Sri Sammohana Sāstha 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 Sammohana Sastha. He is worshipped with two consorts – Poorna & Pushkala.

His grace is compared with Amudha Surabhi. He is a gracious lord who blesses us with augmenting conjugal unity. With his holy nama on our lips, our homes and families are taken care of our absence.

There are references in Skanda Puranam on Sammohana Sāstha, who protected Indirani during the time when Indra went to meet Lord Shiva leaving his wife Indirani in Sirgali, before birth of Lord Muruga. Sastha appeared before Indra with his consorts – Poorna & Pushkala on Hairavatham (White Elephant).

There is a temple for Sammohana Sāstha in Sirgali, Kaivilanchery. The deity is called Kaividael Appan.

Santhana Prapthi Sastha
The sankrit words “Santhana Prapthi” literally means blessing to bear a child. He represents Planet Venus and is worshipped to bless us with childbirth. He preaches all Shastras.

His wife Prabhavati has a Maanikka Veenai like Lord Brahma and hence some call him with the name Brahmma Sastha. This Sastha is different from other incarnations as he is seen with his child Satyagan.

Mythology says Brahmma Sāstha is the one who offered the Divine Payasam to King Dasaratha when he performed Puthrakameshti Yaaga for Puthra Vrithi. There are references of this Sāstha in Puranas like “Thantra Samuchayam” and “Silparathnam.”

Veda Sastha
The Sanskrit word “Veda” is synonymous to “wisdom” and represents the four Vedas of Hinduism .

He is also called “Simharooda Sāstha” where the Sanskrit word “Simha” means “Lion”. He used Lion as his vehicle and hence the name. He is worshipped with two consorts – Poorna & Pushkala.

This Sāstha is named “Veda Sāstha” as he blesses us with wisdom and intellectual knowledge to walk on the Vedic path, which leads to righteousness.

Even now, Ayyanar in Vedikarampalayam, Salem is worshipped as Veda Nayaga Sāstha. The deity is surrounded by four Neem trees representing the four Vedas. As per the Sthala Purana, this Sastha is born to Siva & Vishnu (Mohini) when they attempted to teach a lesson to Vedic Brahmins in Tharukavanam. He is referred in Siva Puranam.

Veera Sastha
The Tamil word “Veera” represents the one who is a mighty warrior. As the name suggests, Veera Sāstha is a great warrior with weapons like Sword riding a horse, as visualized by Adi Shankara. Hence, He is also called “Aswarooda Sāstha,” the one riding a horse.

He is considered as a Son of Lord Shiva and is worshipped to destroy evil and to protect humanity.

There are references of this Sāstha in “Adi Shankara Vicharitham” where Adi Shankara has worshipped Veera Sāstha in a place called Kudhiran. Even today, Kudhiran Sāstha is seen sitting on a horse.

SOURCE:-http://ashtasastha.org/