Devatas of the Ponnu Pathinettam Padi

Many of our friends especially Mumbai Kamesh was keep on requesting me regarding the Devatas of the Ponnu
Pathinettam Padi - the holy 18 steps of Sabarimala

I have already written an article regarding the Pathinettam Padi

18 steps Pathinettam Padi

http://shanmatha.blogspot.com/2010/02/18-steps-pathinettam-padi.html

Padi puja is a unique ritual at Sabarimala where the Tantri performs the ritualistic puja to all the eighteen steps
individually.

Actually the padi puja is not the puja to the physical 18 steps but the puja is for the 18 deities who preside over
each of the eighteen steps. 

The devatas of 18m padi are very secretly maintained and not revealed to anyone. But every year during
mandala season, news papers like Maalai Malar start a comedy show by putting the list of devatas of 18 padi (of
their own) like Rahu, Ketu, Ranganathan (?? !!) etc.. We can view this entertainment show every year.

Since the list was a secret I was very reluctant in sharing it with anyone... Then I remembered an incident from
my own life where a Deva Rahasya was once revealed to me by a Siddha Purusha and when I asked whether I
can share this, he very gladly accepted saying it must reach the Bhakta Lokam.! 

So I decided to apply the same rule here and with a conviction that, even if one true devotee is happy reading
my Bhakta Paripala's glory, Iam sure my Guru who revealed this secret, will forgive me for mentioning it.

Each step has a presiding deity. Each of this devata has

a separate dhyana swaroopa, moola mantram and puja method. The details of the Dhyana and the Sankalpa of
the 18 deities are below: 

(Iam not giving the dhyana sloka and moola mantra here... Certain things Ive made only a hint... So read
between the lines to have a better understanding)
On the whole we consider Satya Dharma on either side of the 18 stepms and mentally offer salutations to them
using their moola mantra for the 18 steps

Step 1 Naga Yakshi

Nagayakshi is one of the paripara devatas of Sastha and she is stationed at many of his temples like
Kulathupuzhai, Achan kovil etc
Onnam ThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

Step 2 Mahisha Mardhini

Mahishamardhini is Durga Swaroopini an infacther advent took place before Swami's Manikanta incarnation
and she annihilated Mahisha and Manikanta destroyed his Sister Mahishi
Rendam ThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

Step 3 Annapoorna
Sastha is Annadhana Prabhu and is very happy in the pious deed of feeding all his devotees - always. A Sastha
devotee is never in want of food - throughout his life time.
Moonam ThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

Step 4 Kaali
Kali is the Goddess of time and change representing both the creative and destructive aspects of Nature. S
he helps those who strive for knowledge of self. 
Naalam ThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

Step 5 Krushna Kaali

Krishna Kali  is one such deity with whom devotees have a very loving and intimate bond, in spite of her fearful
appearance. She is known for destroying ignorance. 
Ancham ThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

Step 6 Shakti Bairavi

Shakti Bhairavi is the ugra swaroopini of Shakti and she is known more to the devotees as the famous Yakshi -
who is seated in the court of Lord Sastha
Aaraam ThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

Step 7 Kaarthaveeryarjuna
Kaartha Veeryaarjuna is an Amsha of Sudharshana Chakra. He got Satha Upasana from his Guru Datta and
obtained many great powers and rose to a level of God
Ezhaam ThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

Step 8 Krushnaabhan
Krishnabhan is more popularly known as Karuppan. He is the cheif of all the Bhootaganas of Sastha's Bhootha
sena. He is seen in almost every Sastha temple in Tamilnadu and few age old temples of Kerala.
Ettam ThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

Step 9 Hidimba
Hidimba is one of the chief warrior but also the preceptor born in the clan of Asuras. He is seated as the
guardian deity of the ninth step.
Onpadham ThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

Step 10 Vethala
Vethala is considered to be the head of Ghost and Goblins and in an amsha of Bhairava. Sastha is
Bhoothanatha who controls these Ghosts and hence Vethala is one among his parivara.
Pathaam ThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

Step 11 Naagaraja
Nagaraja is the king of the Serpants. In general Anantha is considered to be the King of the Naga Kingdom and
he is stationed at the eleventh step here to destroy the Sarpa doshas of the devotees
PathinonnamThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

Step 12 Renuka
Renuka is the Mother of Parasurama who was killed and later resurrected by Parasurama. After the death of
Jamadagni, Revana Siddha gave her Sasthru Deeksha at Padavedu and she is stationed here. 
PantrendamThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

Step 13 Swapna Varahi

Swapna Varahi is a form of Vartali who gets pleased with the devotees and comes and guides the devotees
through dreams.
PathimoonamThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

Step 14 Pratyangira
Pratyangira is Ugra Swaroopini who is very much forceful in action and her primary duty is to protect the
upasakas of Para Devata
PathinalamThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa
Step 15 Bhooma Devi
Bhoomadevi is the consort of the Varaha Moorthi. She is Dharma Swaroopini and represents Kshama-
forgiveness. Holding a paddy sheaf in her hand, She also indicates prosperity
PathinanchamThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

Step 16 Aghora
The following there are Astra Devatas. Ever ready for prayoga against the evil. Agora is one of the Astra of Shiva
which he created to destroy the Tripurasuras. It can grants worldly good and salvation to the soul.
PathinaramThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

Step 17 Pashupatha
Pashupata is Shiva's personal asta and a most forceful one. It can even be discharged by eyes, words or mind.
Its capable of destroying anything and can even stop creation. 
PathinezhamThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

Step 18 Mrutyunjaya
Mrutyunjaya is yet another Astra which gives eternal state to the aspirant. This is not just to live a healthy life
and get rid of ailments. This conquers mrutyu - the permanent state of existence; Thats knowing the self; being
self; Thats Thathwamasi.
PathinettamThruppadiyeSharanam Ayyappa

And IMHO Padipuja is again unique to Sabarimala

and I dont know how far its right to repeat it at other places. This is because - the 18 steps are installed at
Sabarimala as a Prathishta by Deva Sankalpam. We dont know exactly on what sankalpam these steps were
installed and hence you cant repeat it elsewhere. (and Since the 18 steps are guarded by these devatas you
need proper Vrutham to qualify yourself to please the devatas of each step and step your foot on the
padhinettam padi) 

At all other places the 18 steps are built (and not installed as a prathishta) and so the question of doing
padipuja does not arise. (Today we see padipuja at many places - especially at Andhra and I saw a padi puja
done for temporary 18 steps built with bamboo sticks !!! )

Mantra and Stotra

I dont understand the power of stotras and mantras that you are discussing in the blog here. I understand that
they are all powerful. I have few questions. Please answer them if you dont mind. a) Definition of a Mantra b)
Definition of a stotra 

Thanks 
Raman
--------------------------

Mantra
A Mantra - is nothing but the Subtle form of the Deity. Thats why its called Moola Mantra.
The Mantra and the deity are not Two different entities..

While the physical form of the Lord (gross form) is identified by his color, attire, weapons etc his subtle form is
known by the mantra. Thats why we call it powerful.
Each deity has a separate mantra - the mantras are filled with beejas (cryptical words) which has the potential
to invoke the divinity. And people may or maynot be able to sustain the enery generated by the moola mantra.

Only a Guru can know which mantra may suit the sishya and help the sishya. This is why Iam keep on
insisting that Guru Upadesham is a must.

In simple IT language the Moola Mantra upadesham is the password for you. But the mere password is of no
use. For that you need a login id - which can be given only by the Guru.

So only with both login id and password you can enter the world of upasana.

For this reason shastras insist that Mantras has to be got only from a Guru and not learnt on own.

The Golden Rule is -

The Mantra, the Deity and the Guru - All the three are one and the Same

Stotra

Stotras are poetic texts which praise the particular deity. This is also called as Stuti. These are generally called
Slokas. This may be written by any Rishis, Devas or Poets...

These can be chanted by anyone to get the blessings of Devi, Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesha or Sastha. 

Certain stotras are made out of divine intervention and these stotras easily pleases the Lord and gets his grace.

For example Vishnu Sahasranama Stotram was chanted by Bheeshma at the end of the Mahabharata war by
Bheeshma while he was lying in the arrow bed. This was imparted to everyone by Vyasa and till now we are
chanting it and earning the blessings of the Lord.