Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Diseases caused by Poorva Janma Karma – Part 5 (digestive system related)


In this section let us see the Poorva Janma causes and remedies for diseases of the stomach and digestive system. The source texts are Prasna Marga (PM) and Veerasimhaavaloka (VS).

Digestive system related diseases are perhaps the highest in number for their connection to previous karma. It is amazing to see minor variation in indigestive problems being traced various karma of the past. Even pot belly – a common feature among Indians has a karmic cause.



Among remedies Kris-chandraayana Vratha is oft cited for many types of diseases. Therefore a word on it might help serious readers.

This Vratha is celibacy related one as the description pertains to taking up celibacy in the waning phase of moon and continuing it in the waxing phase of moon. In the waxing phase the native has to do 5 types of homa followed by homas to six different deities. This Vratha also requires the native to get alms, like a Brahmachari and eat the food after offering it to six deities. These details make it almost impossible to observe it in today’s world.

Therefore I am giving here the observable rites and the chantings of this Vratha.

Celibacy is a must for men or women observing this Vratha. It starts on the day before Amavasya. From the first day after Amavasya, one must start worshiping the Trinities and chant all or any one of the sookthas namely Rudra sooktha, Vishnu Sooktha and Brahma sooktha for 100 or 1000 times. After that one can take food in the form of balls after offering them to Sun and other Gods. This must be repeated during every waxing period of the Moon.   

Prasna Marga offers easier remedies that suit for any disease.

The foremost remedy is ‘anna daanam’ – gift of food to the needy

The next important remedy is gift of medicine to the sick people.

Among slokas / mantras, Vishnu Sahasranama finds the first position for recital.

Satarudreeya and Rudra Sooktha are the other ones that must be chanted everyday for relief / release from any disease.


Disease
Source
Previous karma

Remedy
Dysentery
(Atisara)
PM
Destroying tanks and wells
Recitation of Rudra Sooktham and Varuna Sooktham
Dyspepsia (grahaneeroga)
VS

(disease occurs during the period of weak Moon)
Discarding wife of good character and conduct


Propitiation of Moon.

Chanting Siva Sankalpa sooktha 108 times.

Gift of cow with calf, with gold ornaments.

Indigestion
(Ajeernam)
VS
Stealing annam (cooked food)

Living on interest of money advanced.

Taking food from one who does not do good deeds /

Taking food from someone / through means that are not ethical.
Propitiation of Jupiter.

Gift of yellow coloured cloth.


Difficulty in digestion
(Agnimaandyam)
( accompanied with loose motion / dyspepsia)
VS
Destroying the Homa agni.
Idol of goat in silver with garland around neck, placed in a vessel of rice and covered with cloth to be offered as gift to a worthy person, by chanting the mantra “Devaanaam yo mukham havya vaahana sarvapoojitha”.

Worm troubles
(Krimeerogam)
VS
Giving trouble to elephants, cow or horse.
Propitiation of Moon
Jaundice /Hepatitis
(Manjapittham)
VS
Stealing food/ annam
Idol of Garuda kept in a vessel of ghee must be worshiped by chanting Garuda gayathri mantra and Swishtakrith mantra.


Bilious disease
(Rakthapittham)
Blood in the vomit.
VS
Preparation of medicines in unscientific and wrong ways.
Homa by offering sesame, ghee, karuingali and venga samith and by chanting the mantra “agnimoodha”.

Colic trouble
(soola)
PM





























VS
Having relation with virgins, widows, animals and maid servants.

Consuming prohibited food.

Abandoning the performance of essential rituals.

Back –stabbing / double crossing.

Killing someone by poison and sharp weapons.

Not giving anything to begger



Gift of sesame, lotus.

Gift of trident made of silver or gold.
























Propitiation of Sun, Moon and Venus.

Gift of cloths.

Kris-chandrayana  Vratha.

Spleen disease
(Gulma)
PM

















VS
Deep animosity towards preceptor.

Ill-treatment of preceptor.

Envy.

Misuse of other’s food.




Same  
Homa with Aindragni sooktham.

Chanting Rudra sooktham, Vayu sooktham.

Chanting Gayatri mantra.

Gift of image of Lord Ganapathi.

Propitiation of Moon and Saturn.

Payovratha (drinking of milk or water only for a month)

Gift of food.

Aruchi

(lack of appetite)
PM
Giving charity without due regard and devotion.
Giving charity with due regard and devotion.
Chardhi
(vomiting, stomach not accepting food)
PM





VS
Betrayal of a person who trusts the native.


Giving impure food knowingly.


Gift of food.

Tila-homa by chanting the mantra ‘aganirasthi janmana”

Propitiation of Moon and Venus
Insatiable thirst
(Daaham)
VS
PM
Not giving water to tired travellers and cows.
Homa by chanting Varuna sooktham.

Gift of water and paanakam to the thirsty.


Stomach swelling
(gastric troubles)
(Aadhmaana and Udaavartha)
VS
Spoiling and destroying ponds and lakes belonging to temples and public.
Kris-chandrayana Vratha.

Gift of gold.



Large belly, dropsy
(Mahodaram)
VS


























PM
Behaving in unjust way in any situation.

Copulating with the wife of the teacher.




















Copulating with the wife of the preceptor.

Causing abortions.
Kris-chandrayana Vratha.

Gift of gold.

Abhisheka to Lord Shiva with 1000 pots of water (sahasra Kalasabhisheka)

Payovratha (subsisting on milk and water for a month)

Idol of crocodile made of silver or copper kept in a vessel of ghee and covered with black cloth and gifted to a worthy person.

Chanting Rudra sooktham and Varuna sooktham.

Gift of idol of crocodile with water.

Hernia
(Anthra Vriddhi)
PM
Obstructing performance of yajna.
Gift of idol of Vishnu.
Piles
(Arsa roga)
PM








VS
Misappropriating the wealth of the learned and the blind.

Stealing food.

Killing cows.

Charging fee for teaching and for conducting homa.

Killing cows.

Gift of the idol of cow.







Kris-chandrayana Vratha.

Chanting of Sooktha starting with Udyanna

Purursha sooktham

Agnivarna sooktham

Aadithya Hrudhayam

Gift of cow, gold and ghee.
Fistula
(Bhagandara roga)
VS














PM
Misappropriation of wealth meant for charitable and noble causes.

Copulation with the wife of the preceptor.






Disregarding advice of elders and preceptors.

Copulation with the wife of the preceptor.
Propitiation of Sun. Moon, Mars and Saturn.

Gift of gold, cloth, cereals, jewels.

Navagraha homa.

Vigraha preethi pooja.

Gift of gold, silver and jewels.

Gift of the idol of elephant made of gold.

Chanting of Gayatri mantra,
Adithya sooktham and Rudra sooktham.




Sunday, April 23, 2017

Diseases caused by Poorva Janma Karma – Part 4 (Skin related)

In this section, skin related diseases that are caused by acts done in previous births are given. 




I have added Leprosy also in this list as the symptoms appear in the skin. Swellings on the skin including ulcerous and septic formation are given in this section.

Disease

Source text
Previous Karma
Remedy
Leprosy
(Kushta Roga)
Prasna Marga
  • Murdering Brahmins.
  • Enjoying wife of the preceptor.
  • Engaging in illicit sale of medicines.
  • Attempting to poison a trusted person.



  • Chanting Rudra Sooktham and Ayu-sooktham.

  • Gift of images of Sun and bull made of gold to venerable Brahmins.

  • Performing Kushmanda Homa.


  ”
Veerasimhaavaloka

  •  Killing of creatures.
  • Stealing.
  • Punishing people without justice.
  • Killing of small insects.



  • Propitiation of Sun, Rahu, Mars and Saturn.
  • Observance of Kris-chandrayana Vratha.
  • Idol of Parvathy and Parameswara sitting on an ox must be made, worshiped and given as gift to a worthy person.
White leprosy / white spots / Vitiligo
(Sweta Kushta / Paandu roga)
Prasna Marga
(in addition to the causes mentioned for leprosy)


  • Mis-appropriation of large quantities of cotton rolls, cloths and bronze vessels.



  • Same as given for leprosy.
    ”
Veerasimhaavaloka
Same

  • Santhapana Karma (penance)

  • Sweet broth and ghee to be offered in homa with the chanting of “Chitram Devaanaam...” mantras.
  • Gift of silver, cloths and white cow.


Visarpa
(Dry itches)
Prasna Marga

  • Killing serpents, or getting them killed by others.


  • Gift of idol of serpent as per texts.
    ”
Veerasimhaavaloka

  • Killing snakes.
  • Giving unclean food.


  • Propitiation of Sun and Mars.
  • Payovrata to be observed for a month (subsisting on milk only)
  • Idol of snake with 5 hoods must be placed on a copper vessel covered with silk and worshiped
  • Then gifted to a worthy person.

Chronic skin diseases.

Dadru (cutaneous eruption, skin rash)

Vicharchika (a type of cutaneous disease, scab)

Paama (scab, herpes)

Veerasimhaavaloka

  • Stealing gold.
  • Procuring gold and gold ornaments through unethical ways.

  • Propitiation of Sun and mercury.
  • Idol of Parvathy and Parameswara  sitting on ox to be gifted.
Swellings on the skin filled with fluids.

Incurable growth on the skin filled with fluids.
Veerasimahaavaloka

  • Defecating or spiting on roads, rivers, river beds, any water body or water, top of mountains

  • Propitiation of Jupiter.
  • Offering sweet broth and ghee in homa by chanting “sa idam vo vishwatha: sareera”.
  • Gift of cloths of silk and linen.
  • Gifting valuable silk cloth to a worthy person after worshiping it with shodasopachaara (16 types of rites).  Then offering feast to many.


Viddradhi
(suppuration after swelling)

(applies to Keloid if Moon is afflicted and Saturn is in 8th)
Veerasimhaavaloka

  • Misappropriation of property of spiritual institutions and temples.

  • Propitiation of Moon.
  • Aamra-daanam.
Make an idol of mango tree with branches in the metal afforded by one, and worship it by placing it on Akshatha (unbroken rice used in rituals).

On the right side of it homa to be done by offering samith and ghee with the chanting of mantra “Yad deva...” )

After this the idol must be gifted to a worthy person.
Vrina roga
(ulcers / abscess on the skin)
Prasna Marga

  • Stealing vegetables.
  • Obstructing others’ speeches.
  • Immoral relationship with members of opposite sex
  • Destruction of trees.


  • Gift of gems.
  • Gift of pearls.
  • Gift of precious rings
      ”
Veerasimhaavaloka

  • Knows what is right, yet indulging in sinful activities out of temptation, pride, anger, fear or love.

  • Killing people by throwing into fire or water.

  • Propitiation of Mars, and Moon.
  • Observance of 7 Kris-chandrayana Vratha.
  • Offer of ghee and sesame for homas.
  • Gift of food.
  • Gift of 2 cows.
  • Idol of an elephant with 4 tusks to be given to a worthy person.
Ulcers in hands and legs. (recurring and incurable)
Prasna Marga

  • Causing abortion.
  • Immoral relationship with preceptor’s wife.


  • Gift of gems to worthy persons.



Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Diseases caused by Poorva Janma Karma – Part 3 (Rheumatism)




Rheumatism is a general term for pain in joints and connective tissues, often related to arthritis. The related term for this in ancient medical texts is “Vaatha roga” (wind-disease). The common feature in all these diseases is ‘wind’ (Vaatha), a basic component (dhatu) in the body which, if vitiated causes Vaatha roga.


There are Poorva Janma causes listed for this disease in Prasna Marga and Veerasimhaavaloka (karma Vipaka text) which are reproduced below. While Prasna Marga uses the common term Vaatha roga, Veerasimhaavaloka makes a distinction between Vaatha roga and Vaatharaktham.

The symptoms of Vaatha roga are pain in joints and tissues thereby giving rise to difficulty in moving the limbs.

The symptoms of Vaatha raktham are swelling in joints (sandhi-veekkam), fluid accompanied with heat inside the body, suppuration, bursting of suppurative swellings etc.

There is yet another type of Vaatha roga, but not coming under the above set of diseases of rheumatism, as it is related to gastric troubles caused by indigestion. I will club it under stomach related diseases that will be written separately.


Vaatha Roga.

Source

Previous Karma
Remedy
Prasna Marga        
  •         Criticizing pious and respectable people


  •         Hating parents and preceptors


  •       Stealing food

  •       Donation of the image of deer made of copper along with cloths


  •        Donation of wholesome food


  •       Recital of Vayu Sooktham and other Vayu mantras


Veerasimhaavaloka
  •         Harming teachers


  •       Stealing the property of temples and spiritual institutions


  •       Giving trouble to lords (yajamana, meaning head of the family/ one who performs homas /employers / superiors ) 

  •       Propitiation of Saturn and Ketu as they are the signifactors of Vaatha roga.


  •       Homa for Saturn and Ketu by offering sesame, darbha grass and ghee in the sacrificial fire.


  •       Gift of goat with gold.


  •       Gift of she buffalo.


  •  Worship and propitiation of of Sun.





Vaatha-raktham

Source

Previous Karma
Remedy
Veerasimhaavaloka
  •       Copulation with a Savarna woman.


{Savarna refers to upper strata and / or same clan / gotra.}  
  •       Propitiation of Mars in addition to Ketu, Saturn and Sun (mentioned above).


  •       Homa for Mars and donation of items related to Mars.


  •       Donation of the image of Lakshmi Narayana.




Worship of Lakshmi Narayana is the recommended for any auto-immune disease. Rheumatoid Arthritis being an auto-immune disorder, gift of the idol of Lakshmi Narayana is given as a remedy in Veerasimhaavaloka.



Rheumatism is often accompanied with difficulty in moving the limbs. Walking disability is also caused by this disease. The Poorva Janma karma for this is mostly to do with acts that have caused such difficulties to others. Suppose a person has harmed one in some way that caused the disability to move limbs, it returns to the person through diseases such as Rheumatism, giving the person the kind of pain and disability that was caused to others.


The best remedy in such cases is to donate aids that help in walking or moving their limbs. This is in addition to the remedies given above.