Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Diseases caused by Poorva Janma karma – Part 2 (Diabetes)


Diabetes is the most common disease of the present times. With nearly 50 million people suffering from this disease, India has earned a notorious name as the Diabetes capital of the world. This blog is exclusively on the karmic causes of this disease and remedies.

But before going into the details, let me highlight a feature from a temple- inscription found in Coimbatore region that says that a person was cured of this disease. A person by name Tribhuvana singan was suffering from diabetes (prameha) and prayed to Lord Shiva, known by name Lord Marudeesar at Kadathur temple, to get relieved of this disease. He did get relief from this disease and pledged to donate 1 kuruni rice (1 kuruni = 8 padi which is roughly equal to 12 kg) every day to this temple. This is mentioned in the inscription found in the eastern wall of the mandapa of this deity. This happened in the year 1302 CE.


{Source: Coimbatore Maavatta Kalvettugal – Part 1}

The original name of this deity is Marudavaneswarar, meaning the one who belongs to Maruda vanam. Marudam is a tree which is known as Arjuna tree in Sanskrit. That is the reason this deity is also known as Arjuneswarar.  Arjuna tree grows in nature where there is abundant underground water. In Mahabharata, Arjuna fetched water to Bheeshma on the arrow-bed by shooting an arrow at the water vein near this tree. It is perhaps for this reason this tree got the name Arjuna.

The deity of Kadathur, Marudeesar is seen near water in such a way that the reflection of sun rays on the water falls on the deity. This happens throughout the year.


{Read more on this temple here }

In Ayurveda, the ingredients of Arjuna tree are used to cure heart diseases. In popular belief, the deity connected with Arjuna tree (Marudam tree) has answered the prayers related to water. Diabetes or Prameha is known as “Neerizhivu” (நீரிழிவு நோய்) in Tamil, implying that it is to do with loss of water (passing urine very often). From the inscription it comes to be known that people suffering from diabetes had prayed to this lord and got cured. The name Marudeesar in the inscription also shows how the original name has changed over time from Marudavaneswarar even as early as the 14th century. That means this deity is very old and the temple had existed many centuries before that.

Having given a remedial worship to cure diabetes through this information, let me now go ahead with the karmic causes for diabetes as given in Pransa Marga and Karma Vipaka text called Veerasimhaavaloka.


Source
Previous karma
Remedy

Prasna Marga

  •           Sexual relationship with animals, unmarried virgins, wives of preceptors and widows.

  •          Hatred of teachers

  •          Stealing food from Brahmins

  •          Causing grief to others

  •          Illicit relationship with mother, mother-in-law and brother’s wife.


  •          Performing Homas.

  •          Gift of gold, cow, water and food.

  •          Chanting Varuna Mantra.
Veerasimhaavaloka

  •          Lustful

  •         Self-centred

  •          Going after women without any discrimination

  •          Stealing property of spiritual institutions.

  •          Krschchandrayana Vratha.

  •          Homa conducted by chanting Purusha Sooktha, Gayarti and Rudra Sooktha.

  •          Donation of cow made of gold.

  •          Remedial measures to Sun and Mercury


Two revelations from the above table:-

(1) In the Kadathur temple instance written above, the donor must have chanted Rudra sooktham and Varuna Gayartri to get relief.

The meaning of Varuna mantra / gayatri is relevant to Marudeeswarar of Kadathur temple.
Varuna Gayatri is as follows:

Aum Jalbimbaye Vidmahe
Nila Purushaye Dhimahi
Tanno Varunah Prachodayat

Translation:

Om, Let us meditate on the reflection of water
O person of ocean blue, give me higher intellect
And let the God of water illuminate my mind

Reflection of water on the deity Marudeeswara, when meditated upon has reduced the loss of water due to diabetes and cures one of that disease.


(2) From the inscription it is also known that donation of food in the form of rice had been done as a remedy.

Generally gift of food is the best remedy from any disease. Prasna Marga says “The ‘gift of health’ is the most important of all the gifts. If anybody wants to be free from diseases and be healthy he should help the sick with food and medicines.” (Ch 23- 41).

“Kings and rich people should establish free hospitals. Ordinary people should at least give food and medicines to the sick. Then their sickness will disappear.” (Ch 23 -40).

As diabetes is primarily to do with food not being taken by the body to keep itself healthy, offer of food to others is the primary remedy for cure.