Dhanurmasam – Day1 – Five Questions Answered

1. Who is eligible for performing Dhanuramasa Vratham?

‘A wish to enrich oneself’ is the ONLY eligibility requirement for performing ‘Dhanuramasa Vratham’. Anyone with that wish can perform the vratham and satisfy their quest.

2. How long is this vratham? What does it aim for?

The duration of the vratham is 30 days. It involves chanting 30 songs, composed by Goda Devi, daily eary in the morning before sunrise. It aims for a blissful state of mind and togetherness with the Ultimate source of power, Narayana!

3. Who performed this vratham first?

Goda Devi in Sri Villiputtur performed this vratham seeking inseparable companionship with the divine, Sri Ranganatha and quite happily succeeded. She composed one song each day for 30 days. Her songs are considered not essence but actually the root for all Vedic literature. Her story dates back to the beginning of this Kali Yuga about 5000 years ago.

4. What can this vratham give me?

Goda Devi promised that anyone who performs this vratham for 30 days in the same way that she did will attain what they wish for.

5. Give one key aspect of this vratham.

Belief is the key aspect of this vratham. Quite a few people miss out on experiencing God’s companionship not because he is invisible but because they fail to believe in the visible form of God, ‘the Deity’! Quick flow of process through which one can attain belief in scriptures and the Deity form of God.

Principles/rules that govern your life style -> Keeps your body under control -> Enables making your heart pure and soft -> Lets you believe in scriptures and Deity Form

Dhanurmasam – Day2 – Five Questions Answered

1. Why are there no special rules and eligibility requirements for this vratham?

Dhanurmasa vratham is performed to help us realise the relationship with God. Godis the ever-lasting saviour.We share a natural eternal bond with God. So, if one wants to go back to our natural state with that Supreme power, we only need to get rid of some unnatural characteristics that what we have acquired and imparted within ourselves from the past. Therefore, there are no special rules and eligibility requirements, just know what you actually are in the true natural state and be righteous, that’s all.

2. What do we do after the morning prayer of chanting the 30 songs from Thiruppavai?

After we chant the 30 songs, we implement the essence of the songs in everything we do. We carry on with our regular duties, but now with an enlightened mind on what those duties mean to us and what the people whom we work with mean to us, what our end goal is etc. It’s analogues to starting your car in the morning and then actually driving it to experience it. If you just do the Morning Prayer and never really carry the meaning and intent of the vratham throughout the day, it is equivalent to starting your car in the morning and not actually driving it.

3. How do people performing this vratham carry on their lives?

Characteristics of people who understand this vratham are:

1. Always wish for the glory of God to grow in the hearts of everyone because his great qualities that can protect us, love us and care for us in everyway
2. Always wish for the well-being of everyone
3. Begin their day singing in praise of God
4. Live on only needs, and not be greedy
5. Do not spread rumours or talk against anyone unnecessarily
6. Talk only when asked for to an extent that is necessary
7. Follow all principles defined by elders for the betterment of life
8. Do not talk anything that hurts others
9. Be benevolent and support them on need to the maximum extent they can
10. Not wish for anything additional than what is necessary
11. Do not boast on any of the work they do; they consider it an opportunity to aid/support because everything is given by God to serve one another rather than just for oneself

4. What if I cannot follow all the principles as listed in question 3? Can I still perform the vratham?

It is important to note that the performers of this vratham are not following the principles as mandatory rules, instead their behaviourisa natural outcome driven by Love for God. Therefore, you can happily do everything that is possible.Check whether you are able to do anything additional. If so, continue to add and increment until you feel something is beyond your limits.

5. What is the mind-set of the people like who are performing this vratham?

The people who are performing this vratham have their mind completely filled with the thought of uniting with God. It is filled with joy of serving God through every activity they do. They perform any activity out of love. They refrain from non-recommended activities out of love for God, not fear of God. Anything they do and anything they don’t do are all with complete acceptance and nothing out of fear or pressure.

Dhanurmasam – Day3 

Dhanurmasam – Day4 – Four Questions Answered

1.Who is a Devatha?

Devatha is a power that exists around us unseen, but supports our life. Example: Varuna(Rain), Surya(Sun), Agni(Fire) etc.

2. Do we pray to each of those Devathas while performing this vratham?

We pray to the almighty, Krushna himself who is the source of power within all Devathas. And therefore, all devathas happily support our activities. When we water the root, the parts of the plant automatically flourish. Therefore, a prayer to Lord Krushna automatically works its wonder and makes all other Devathas support your activity.

3.  What comes ahead, a lightening or a thunder?

Lightening comes first followed by thunder. However, when one is inside a covered premises, they hear the thunder first. Goda Devi talks about this to enlighten us on the importance of listening to good words first, and then watching the behaviour of the elders. The elders are scholars who are practitioners of Vedic knowledge, filled with devotion.

4. Rains are a necessity for life growth and sustenance. What does Goda Devi have to say to that Rain God, the Parjanya?

Surrender to God. This act makes one conduct with everyone and everything in a harmonious way. This in turn pleases the Devathas who will then give us necessary rains and other energy elements as required to lead a good life

Dhanurmasam – Day5 – Five Questions Answered

1. Who is the ‘Nayaka’ in this Prabandham?
Krushna himself is the ‘Nayaka’ in this prabandham.

2. Is the ‘Nayaka’ in this Prabandham the God who is the ultimate saviour for everyone?
Yes, Krushna is the God who is the ultimate saviour for everyone. The decider quality of God is described in Upanishads and exists in Krushna.

3. What is the meaning of ‘Maayi’, in today’s song?

Maaya means the ‘thirugunathmaka’ (satthva, rajas, thamo) appearance of the world that lets everyone tempt to its magic experiences through ‘shabda, sparsa, rupa, rasa, gandha’. One who has won over this ‘Maaya’ is ‘Maayi’.

4. What makes this 5000 year old prabandham the greatest treasure forever?

This prabandham is an ‘utthama kavyam’, meaning highest form of literary works. An essential quality of an ‘utthama kavyam’ is that there is a great superficial story line. At the same time, there is a hidden meaning conveyed by the author that is extremely wise and can yield newer and newer secrets every time it is heard from a learned interpreter.

There are only two such great kavyams. One is Srimad Ramayana and another Thiruppavai.
That is why this 5000 year prabandham is being sung daily in every temple, and being specially learnt in this time of the year.

5. Is our body a tool or an obstacle in spiritual journey?

Our body is absolutely the tool to be used in the spiritual journey. The same body that has become the reason for uncertainty and hardships will become the tool for taking us to the Lord’s abode.