Mar 10, 2008

The Quatrains of Nostradamus -I


Nostradamus and his famous Quatrains (four line poems) where he tried to tell something about future events , which he used to see in water, to avoid prosecution he tried to present them with swapped names or changed names etc. he presented total 942 Quatrains, 100 Quatrains in each Centurie, and total 10 Centurie were presented, one Centurie is short and contains only 42 quatrains.


This is the first Centurie by Nostradamus, first printed on May 4, 1555 in Lyons by Macé Bonhomme. This first edition contained the Preface to his son César and 353 quatrains. A reprint was done by Bareste in 1840, unfortunately the original was lost.

CENTURIE I

I.

Estant assis de nuict secret estude,
Seul reposé sur la selle d'ærain:
Flambe exigue sortant de solitude,
Fait prosperer qui n'est à croire vain.

Sitting alone at night in secret study;
it is placed on the brass tripod.
A slight flame comes out of the emptiness and
makes successful that which should not be believed in vain.

II.

La vierge en main mise au milieu de Branches
De l'onde il moulle & le l'imbe & le pied:
Vn peur & voix fremissent par les manches:
Splendeur diuine. Le diuin pres s'assied.

The wand in the hand is placed in the middle of the tripod's legs.
With water he sprinkles both the hem of his garment and his foot.
A voice, fear: he trembles in his robes.
Divine splendour; the god sits nearby.

III.

Quand la lictiere du tourbillon versee,
Et seront faces de leurs manteaux couuers,
La republique par gens nouveaux vexee,
Lors blancs & rouges iureront à l'enuers.

When the litters are overturned by the whirlwind
and faces are covered by cloaks,
the new republic will be troubled by its people.
At this time the reds and the whites will rule wrongly.
IV.

Par l'vnivers sera faict vn monarque,
Qu'en paix & vie ne sera longuement:
Lors se perdra la piscature barque,
Sera regie en plus grand detriment.

In the world there will be made a king
who will have little peace and a short life.
At this time the ship of the Papacy will be lost,
governed to its greatest detriment.

V.

Chassez seront pour faire long combat,
Par les pays seront plus fort greuez:
Bourg & cité auront plus grand debat.
Carcas. Narbonne auront coeur esprouuez.

They will be driven away for a long drawn out fight.
The countryside will be most grievously troubled.
Town and country will have greater struggle.
Carcassonne and Narbonne will have their hearts tried.

VII.

Tard arriué l'execution faicte,
Le vent contraire lettres au chemin prinses:
Les coniurez XIIIJ. d'vne secte,
Par le Rousseau senez les entreprinses.

Arrived too late, the act has been done.
The wind was against them, letters intercepted on their way.
The conspirators were fourteen of a party.
By Rousseau shall these enterprises be undertaken.

VIII.

Combien de fois prinse cité solitaire
Seras changeant ses loix barbares & vaines:
Ton mal s'aproche. Plus seras tributaires
Le grand Hardie recouurira tes veines.

How often will you be captured, O city of the sun ?
Changing laws that are barbaric and vain.
Bad times approach you. No longer will you be enslaved.
Great Hadrie will revive your veins.

IX.

De l'Orient viendra le coeur Punique
Fascher Hadrie, & les hoires Romulides,
Acompagne de la classe Libique,
emples Melites & proches Isles vuides.

From the Orient will come the African heart
to trouble Hadrie and the heirs of Romulus.
Accompanied by the Libyan fleet
the temples of Malta and nearby islands shall be deserted.

X.

Serpens transmis en la cage de fer,
Ou les enfans septains du Roy sont pris:
Les vieux & peres sortirons bas de l'enfer,
Ains mourir voir de fruict mort & cris.

A coffin is put into the vault of iron,
where seven children of the king are held.
The ancestors and forebears will come forth from
the depths of hell,
lamenting to see thus dead the fruit of their line.

XI.

Le mouuement de sens, coeur pieds & mains,
Seront d'accord. Naples, Lyon, Sicile.
Glaiues, feux, eaux, puis aux nobles Romains,
Plongez, tuez, morts par cerueau debile

The motion of senses, heart, feet and hands
will be in agreement between Naples, Lyon and Sicily.
Swords fire, floods, then the noble Romans drowned,
killed or dead because of a weak brain.

XII.

Dans peu dira fauce brute fragile
De bas en haut esleué promptement:
Puis en istant desloyale & labile,
Qui de Veronne aura gouuernement.

There will soon be talk of a treacherous man,
who rules a short time,

quickly raised from low to high estate.
He will suddenly turn disloyal and volatile.
This man will govern Verona.

XIII.

Les exilez par ire, haine intestine,
Feront au Roy grand coniuration:
Secret mettront ennemis par la mine,
Et ses vieux siens contre eux sedition.

Through anger and internal hatreds, the exiles
will hatch a great plot against the king.
Secretly they will place enemies as a threat,
and his own old (adherents) will find sedition against them.

XIV.

De gent esclaue chansons, chants & requestes,
Captifs par Princes & Seigneurs aux prisons:
A l'aduenir par idiots sans testes,
Seront receus par diuines oraisons.

From the enslaved populace, songs, chants and demands,
while Princes and Lords are held captive in prisons.
These will in the future by headless idiots
be received as divine prayers

XV.

Mars nous menasse par sa force bellique,
Septante fois fera le sang espandre:
Auge & ruyne de l'Ecclesiastique
Et plus ceux qui d'eux rien voudront entendre.

Mars threatens us with the force of war
and will cause blood to be spilt seventy times.
The clergy will be both exalted and reviled moreover,
by those who wish to learn nothing of them.

XVI.

Faux à l'estang ioinct vers le Sagittaire,
En son haut AVGE de l'exaltation,
Peste, famine, mort de main militaire,
Le siecle approche de renouation.

A scythe joined with a pond in Sagittarius
at its highest ascendant.
Plague, famine, death from military hands;
the century approaches its renewal.

XVII.

Par quarante ans l'Iris n'apparoistra,
Par quarante ans tous les iours sera veu:
La terre aride en siccité croistra,
Et grands deloges quand sera apperceu.

For forty years the rainbow will not be seen.
For forty years it will be seen every day.
The dry earth will grow more parched,
and there will be great floods when it is seen.

XVIII.

Par la discorde Negligence Gauloise,
Sera passage à Mahommet ouuert:
De sang trempé la terre & mer Senoise,
Le port Phocen de voilles & nerfs couuert.

Because of French discord and negligence
an opening shall be given to the Mohammedans.
The land and sea of Siena will be soaked in blood,
and the port of Marseilles covered with ships and sails.

XIX.

Lors que serpens viendront circuer l'arc,
Le sang Troyen vexé par les Espaignes:
Par eux grand nombre en sera faicte tarc,
Chef fruict, caché aux marcs dans les saignes.

When the snakes surround the altar,
and the Trojan blood is troublerd by the Spanish.
Because of them, a great number will be lessened.
The leader flees, hidden in the swampy marshes.

XX.

Tours, Oriens, Blois, Angers, Reims & Nantes,
Cités vexees par subit changement.
Par langues estranges seront tenduës tentes,
Fleuues, dards Renes terre & mer tremblement.

The cities of Tours, Orleans, Blois, Angers, Reims and Nantes
are troubled by sudden change.
Tents will be pitched by (people) of foreign tongues;
rivers, darts at Rennes, shaking of land and sea.

XXI.

Profonde argille blanche nourrit rocher,
Qui d'vn abysme istra lacticineuse,
En vain troublez ne l'oseront toucher,
Ignorant estre au fond terre argilleuse.

The rock holds in its depths white clay
which will come out milk-white from a cleft
Needlessly troubled people will not dare touch it,
unaware that the foundation of the earth is of clay.

XXII.

Ce que viura & n'ayant aucun sens,
Viendront leser à mort son artifice:
Autun, Chalon, Langres, & les deux Sens,
La gresle & glace fera grand malefice.

A thing existing without any senses
will cause its own end to happen through artifice.
At Autun, Chalan, Langres and the two Sens
there will be great damage from hail and ice.

XXIII.

Au mois troisiesme se leuant le Soleil,
Sanglier, Leopart, au champ mars pour côbatre
Leopart lassé au ciel estend son oeil,
Vn Aigle autour du Soleil voyt s'esbatre.

In the third month, at sunrise,
the Boar and the Leopard meet on the battlefield.
The fatigued Leopard looks up to heaven
and sees an eagle playing around the sun.

XXIV.

A cité neuue pensif pour condamner,
L'oisel de proye au ciel se vient offrir:
Apres victoire à captif pardonner,
Cremone & Mâtoue grâds maux aura souffert.

At the New City he is thoughtfil to condemn;
the bird of prey offers himself to the gods.
After victory he pardons his captives.
At Cremona and Mantua great hardships will be suffered.

XXV.

Perdu trouué caché de si long siecle,
Sera pasteur demy Dieu honnore:
Ains que la Lune acheue son grand siecle,
Par autres vents sera deshonnoré.

The lost thing is discovered, hidden for many centuries.
Pasteur will be celebrated almost as a god-like figure.
This is when the moon completes her great cycle,
but by other rumours he shall be dishonoured.

XXVI.

Le grand du foudre tumbe d'heure diurne,
Mal, & predict par porteur postulaire:
Suiuant presage tumbe de l'heure nocturne,
Conflict Reims, Londres, Ettrusque pestifere.

The great man will be struck down in the day by a thunderbolt.
An evil deed, foretold by the beare of a petition.
According to the prediction another falls at night time.
Conflict at Reims, London, and pestilence in Tuscany.

XXVII.

Dessouz le chaine Guien du ciel frappé,
Non loing de là est caché le thresor:
Qui par longs siecles auoit esté grappé,
Trouué mourra, l'oeil creué de ressort.

Beneath the oak tree of Gienne, struck by lightning,
the treasure is hidden not far from there.
That which for many centuries had been gathered,
when found, a man will die, his eye pierced by a spring.

XXVIII.

La tour de Boucq craindra fuste Barbare,
Vn temps, long temps apres barque hesperique:
Bestail, gês, meubles, tous deux ferôt grâd tare,
Taurus, & Libra, quelle mortelle picque?

Tobruk will fear the barbarian fleet for a time,
then much later the Western fleet.
Cattle, people, possessions, all will be quite lost.
What a deadly combat in Taurus and Libra.

XXIX.

Quand le poisson terrestre & aquatique
Par forte vague au grauier sera mis,
Sa forme estrange suaue & horrifique,
Par mes aux meurs bien tost les ennemis.

When the fish that travels over both land and sea
is cast up on to the shore by a great wave,
its shape foreign, smooth and frightful.
From the sea the enemies soon reach the walls.

XXX.

La nef estrange par le tourment marin,
Abordera pres de port incogneu:
Nonobstant signes de rameau palmerin,
Apres mort pille bon aduis tard venu.

Because of the storm at sea the foreign ship
will approach an unknown port.
Notwithstanding the signs of the palm branches,
afterwards there is death and pillage. Good advice comes too late.

XXXI.

Tant d'ans en Gaule les guerres dureront,
Outre la course du Castulon monarque:
Victoire incerte trois grands couronneront,
Aigle, Coq, Lune, Lyon, Soleil en marque.

The wars in France will last for so many years
beyond the reign of the Castulon kings.
An uncertain victory will crown three great ones,
the Eagle, the Cock, the Moon, the Lion, the Sun in its house.

XXXII.

Le grand Empire sera tost translaté
En lieu petit, qui bien tost viendra croistre,
Lieu bien infime d'exigue comté,
Où au milieu viendra poser son sceptre.

The great Empire will soon be exchanged
for a small place, which soon will begin to grow.
A small place of tiny area
in the middle of which he will come to lay down his sceptre.

XXXIII.

Pres d'vn grand pont de plaine spatieuse,
Le grand Lyon par forces Cesarees,
Fera abbatre hors cité rigoreuse,
Par effroy portes luy seront reserrees.

Near a great bridge near a spacious plain
the great lion with the Imperial forces
will cause a falling outside the austere city.
Through fear the gates will be unlocked for him.

XXXIV.

L'oyseau de proye volant à la senestre,
Auant conflict faict aux Fran&cced;ois pareure:
L'vn bon prendra, l'vn ambique sinistre,
La partie foible tiendra par son augure.

The bird of prey flying to the left,
before battle is joined with the French, he makes preparations.
Some will regard him as good, others bad or uncertain.
The weaker party will regard him as a good omen.

XXXV.

Le lyon ieune le vieux surmontera,
En champ bellique par singulier duelle:
Dans cage d'or les yeux luy creuera,
Deux classes vne, puis mourir, mort cruelle.

The young lion will overcome the older one,
in a field of combat in single fight:
He will pierce his eyes in their golden cage;
two wounds in one, then he dies a cruel death.

XXXVI.

Tard le monarque se viendra repentir,
De n'auoir mis à mort son aduersaire:
Mais viendra bien à plus haut consentir,
Que tout son sang par mort fera deffaire.

Too late the king will repent
that he did not put his adversary to death.
But he will soon come to agree to far greater things
which will cause all his line to die.

XXXVII.

Vn peu deuant que le Soleil s'absconde,
Conflict donné, grand peuple dubiteux:
Profligez, port marin ne faict response,
Pont & sepulchre en deux estranges lieux

Shortly before sun set, battle is engaged.
A great nation is uncertain.
Overcome, the sea port makes no answer,
the bridge and the grave both in foreign places.

XXXVIII.


Le Sol & l'Aigle au victeur paroistront,
Response vaine au vaincu l'on asseure:
Par cor ne crys harnois n'arresteront,
Vindicte paix par mors si acheue à l'heure.

The Sun and the Eagle will appear to the victor.
An empty answer assured to the defeated.
Neither bugle nor shouts will stop the soldiers.
Liberty and peace, if achieved in time through death.

XXXIX.

De nuict dans lict le supresme estranglé,
Pour trop auoir seiourné blond esleu.
Par trois l'Empire subrogé exanclé,
A mort mettra carte, & pacquet ne leu.

At night the last one will be strangled in his bed
because he became too involved with the blond heir elect.
The Empire is enslaved and three men substituted.
He is put to death with neither letter nor packet read.

XL.

La trompe fausse dissimulant folie,
Fera Bisance vn changement de loix,
Histra d'Egypte, qui veut que l on deffie
Edict changeant monnoyes & aloys.

The false trumpet concealing maddness
will cause Byzantium to change its laws.
From Egypt there will go forth a man who wants
the edict withdrawn, changing money and standards.

XLI.

Siege en cité est de nuict assallie,
Peu eschappé, non loin de mer conflict:
Femme de ioye, retours fils defaillie,
Poison & lettres cachees dans le plic.

The city is beseiged and assaulted by night;
few have escaped; a battle not far from the sea.
A woman faints with joy at the return of her son,
poison in the folds of the hidden letters.

XLII.

Le dix Calendes d'Auril de faict Gotique,
Resuscité encor par gens malins:
Le feu estainct, assemblee diabolique,
Cherchant les os du d'Amant & Pselin.

The tenth day of the April Calends, calculated in Gothic fashion
is revived again by wicked people.
The fire is put out and the diabolic gathering
seek the bones of the demon of Psellus.

XLIII.

Auant qu'aduienne le changement d'Empire,
Il aduiendra vn cas bien merueilleux:
Le camp mué, le pillier de porphire,
Mis, transmué sus le rocher noilleux.

Before the Empire changes
a very wonderful event will take place.
The field moved, the pillar of porphyry
put in place, changed on the gnarled rock.

XLIV.

En bref seront de retour sacrifices,
Contreuenans seront mis à martyre:
Plus ne seront moines, abbes, ne nouices,
Le miel sera beaucoup plus cher que cire.

In a short time sacrifices will be resumed,
those opposed will be put (to death) like martyrs.
The will no longer be monks, abbots or novices.
Honey shall be far more expensive than wax.

XLV.

Secteur de sectes grand peine au delateur,
Beste en theatre dressé le ieu scenique,
Du faict antique ennobly l'inuenteur,
Par sectes monde confus & schismatiques.

A founder of sects, much trouble for the accuser:
A beast in the theatre prepares the scene and plot.
The author ennobled by acts of older times;
the world is confused by schismatic sects.

XLVI.

Tout apres d'Aux de Lestore & Mirande
Grand feu du ciel en trois nuicts tombera:
Cause aduiendra bien stupende & mirande,
Bien peu apres la terre tremblera.

Very near Auch, Lectoure and Mirande
a great fire will fall from the sky for three nights.
The cause will appear both stupefying and marvellous;
shortly afterwards there will be an earthquake.

XLVII.

Du lac Leman les sermons fascheront,
Des iours seront reduits par des sepmaines,
Puis moys, puis an, puis tous failliront,
Les Magistras danneront leur loix vaines.

The speeches of Lake Leman will become angered,
the days will drag out into weeks,
then months, then years, then all will fail.
The authorities will condemn their useless powers.

XLVIII.

Vingt ans du regne de la Lune passez,
Sept mil ans autre tiendra sa monarchie:
Quand le Soleil prendra ses iours lassez:
Lors accomplir & mine ma prophetie.

When twenty years of the Moon's reign have passed
another will take up his reign for seven thousend years.
When the exhausted Sun takes up his cycle
then my prophecy and threats will be accomplished.

XLIX.

Baucoup auant telles menees,
Ceux d'Orient par la vertu lunaire:
L'an mil sept cens feront grands emmenees,
Subiungant presques le coing Aquilonaire.

Long before these happenings
the people of the East, influenced by the Moon,
in the year 1700 will cause many to be carried away,
and will almost subdue the Northern area.

L.

De l'aquatique triplicité naistra,
D'vn qui fera le Ieudy pour sa feste:
Son bruit, loz, regne, sa puissance croistra,
Par terre & mer aux Oriens tempeste.

From the three water signs will be born a man
who will celbrate Thursday as his holiday.
His renown, praise, rule and power will grow
on land and sea, bringing trouble to the East.

LI.

Chef d'Aries, Iupiter, & Saturne,
Dieu eternel quelles mutations?
Puis par long siecle son maling temps retourne
Gaule & Italie, quelles esmotions?

The head of Aries, Jupiter and Saturn.
Eternal God, what changes !
Then the bad times will return again after a long century;
what turmoil in France and Italy.

LII.

Les deux malins de Scorpion conioinct,
Le grand Seigneur meurdry dedans sa salle:
Peste à l'Eglise par le nouueau Roy ioinct,
L'Europe basse & Septentrionale.

Two evil influences in conjunction in Scopio.
The great lord is murdered in his room.
A newly appointed king persecutes the Church,
the lower (parts of) Europe and in the North.

LIII.

Las! qu'on verra grand peuple tourmenté,
Et la loy saincte en totale ruine,
Par autres loix toute la Chrestienté,
Quand d'or d'argent trouue nouuelle mine.

Alas, how we will see a great nation sorely troubled
and the holy law in utter ruin.
Christianity (governed) throughout by other laws,
when a new source of gold and silver is discovered.

LIV.

Deux reuolts faicts du maling falcigere,
De regne & siecles faict permutation:
Le mobil signe à son endroit si ingere,
Aux deux esgaux & d'inclination.

Two revolutions will be caused by the evil scythe bearer
making a change of reign and centuries.
The mobile sign thus moves into its house:
Equal in favour to both sides.

LV.

Soubs l'opposite climat Babilonique,
Grande sera de sang effusion,
Que terre & mer, air, ciel sera inique,
Sectes, faim, regnes pestes, confusion.

I the land with a climate opposite to Babylon
there will be great shedding of blood.
Heaven will seem unjust both on land and sea and in the air.
Sects, famine, kingdoms, plagues, confusion.

LVI.

Vous verrez tost & tard faire grand change,
Horreurs extremes & vindications:
Que si la Lune conduite par son ange,
Le ciel s'approche des inclinations.

Sooner and later you will see great changes made,
dreadful horrors and vengeances.
For as the moon is thus led by its angel
the heaves draw near to the Balance.

LVII.

Par grand discord la terre tremblera,
Accord rompu dressant la teste au ciel,
Bouche sanglante dans le sang nagera,
Au sol la face ointe de laict & miel.

The trumpet shakes with great discord.
An agreement broken: lifting the face to heaven:
the bloody mouth will swim with blood;
the face anointed with milk and honey lies on the ground.

LVIII.

Tranché le ventre naistra auec deux testes,
Et quatre bras: quelques ans entiers viura
Iour qui Alquiloye celebrera ses festes,
Fossen, Turin, chef Ferrare suiura.

Through a slit in the belly a creature will be born with two heads
and four arms: it will survive for some few years.
The day that Alquiloie celebrates his festivals
Fossana, Turin and the ruler of Ferrara will follow.

LIX.

Les exilez deportez dans les isles,
Au changement d'vn plus cruel monarque
Seront meurtris, & mis deux des scintiles,
Qui de parler ne seront estez parques.

The exiles deported to the islands
at the advent of an even more cruel king
will be murdered. Two will be burnt
who were not sparing in their speech.

LX.

Vn Empereur naistra pres d'Italie,
Qui à l'Empire sera vendu bien cher:
Diront auec quels gens il se ralie,
Qu'on trouuera moins prince que boucher.

An Emperor will be born near Italy,
who will cost the Empire very dearly.
They will say, when they see his allies,
that he is less a prince than a butcher.

LXI.

La republique miserable infelice
Sera vastee du nouueau magistrat:
Leur grand amas de l'exil malefice
Fera Sueue rauir leur grand contract.

The wretched, unfortunate republic
will again be ruined by a new authority.
The great amount of ill will accumulated in exile
will make the Swiss break their important agreement.

LXII.

La grande perte, las! que feront les lettres,
Auant le ciel de Latona parfaict:
Feu grand deluge plus par ignares sceptres,
Que de long siecle ne se verra refaict.

Alas! what a great loss there will be to learning
before the cycle of the Moon is completed.
Fire, great floods, by more ignorant rulers;
how long the centuries until it is seen to be restored.

LXIII.

Les fleurs passees diminue le monde,
Long temps la paix terres inhabitees:
Seur marchera par ciel, terre, mer & onde,
Puis de nouueau les guerres suscitees.

Pestilences extinguished, the world becomes smaller,
for a long time the lands will be inhabited peacefully.
People will travel safely through the sky (over) land and seas:
then wars will start up again.

LXIV.

De nuict Soleil penseront auois veu.
Quand le pourceau demy homme on verra:
Bruit chant, bataille au ciel batre apperceu,
Et bestes brutes à parler lon orra.

At night they will whink they have seen the sun,
when the see the half pig man:
Noise, screams, battles seen fought in the skies.
The brute beasts will be heard to speak.

LXV.

Enfant sans mains iamais veu si grand foudre,
L'enfant Royal au ieu d'oesteuf blessé:
Au puy brises fulgures allant mouldre,
Trois souz les chaines par le milieu troussés.

A child without hands, never so great a thunderbolt seen,
the royal child wounded at a game of tennis.
At the well lightning strikes, joining together
three trussed up in the middle under the oaks.

LXVI.

Celuy qui lors portera les nouuelles
Apres vn peu il viendra respirer,
Viuiers, Tournon, Montferrant & Pradelles,
Gresle & tempestes le fera souspirer.

He who then carries the news,
after a short while will (stop) to breath:
Viviers, Tournon, Montferrand and Praddelles;
hail and storms will make them grieve.

LXVII.

La grand famine que ie sens approcher,
Souuent tourner, puis estre vniuerselle,
Si grande & longue qu'on viendra arracher
Du bois racine, & l'enfant de mammelle.

The great famine which I sense approaching
will often turn (in various areas) then become world wide.
It will be so vast and long lasting that (they) will grab
roots from the trees and children from the breast.

LXVIII.

O quel horrible & malheureux teurment,
Trois innocens qu'on viendra à liurer
Poison suspecte, mal gardé tardiment.
Mis en horreur par bourreaux enyurez.

O to what a dreadful and wretched torment
are three innocent people going to be delivered.
Poison sugested, badly guarded, betrayal.
Delivered up to horror by drunken executioners.

LXIX.

La grand montagne ronde de sept stades,
Apres paix, guerre, faim, inodation,
Roulera loin abismant grands contrades,
Mesmes antiques, & grands fondation.

The great mountain, seven stadia round,
after peace, war, famine, flooding.
It will spread far, drowning great countries,
even antiquities and their might foundations.

LXX.

Pluye, faim, guerre en Perse non cessee,
La foy trop grand trahira le monarque:
Par la finie en Gaule commencee,
Secret augure pour à vn estre parque.

Rain, famine and war will not cease in Persia;
too great a faith will betray the monarch.
Those (actions) started in France will end there,
a secret sign for on to be sparing.

LXXI.

La tour marine troys foys prise & reprise,
Par Espagnols, Barbares, Ligurains:
Marseille & Aix, Arles par ceux de Pise,
Vast, feu, fer pillé Auignon des Thurins.

The marine tower will be captured and retaken three times
by Spaniards, barbarians and Ligurians.
Marseilles and Aix, Ales by men of Pisa,
devastation, fire, sword, pillage at Avignon by the Turinese.

LXXII.

Du tout Marseille des habitans changee,
Course & poursuite iusqu'au pres de Lyon,
Narbon, Tholouse par Bourdeaux outragee,
Tuez captifs presque d'vn milion.

The inhabitants of Marseilles completely changed,
fleeing and pursued as far as Lyons.
Narbonne, Toulouse angered by Bordeaux;
the killed and captive are almost one million.

LXXIII.

France à cinq pars par neglect assaillie,
Tunys, Argal esmeuz par Persiens:
Leon, Seuille, Barcellonne faillie,
N'aura la classe par les Venitiens.

France shall be accused of neglect by her five partners.
Tunis, Algiers stirred up by the Persians.
Leon, Seville and Barcelona having failed,
they will not have the fleet because of the Venetians.

LXXIV.

Apres seiourné vagueront en Epire,
Le grand secours viendra vers Anthioche.
Le noir poil crespe rendra fort à l'Empire,
Barbe d'ærain se rostira en broche.

After a rest they will travel to Epirus,
great help coming from around Antioch.
The curly haired king will strive greatly for the Empire,
the brazen beard will be roasted on a spit.

LXXV.

Le tyran Sienne occupera Sauonne,
Le fort gaigné tiendra classe marine:
Les deux armees par la marque d'Anconne,
Par effrayeur le chef s'en examine.

The tyrant of Siena will occupy Savona,
having won the fort he will restrain the marine fleet.
Two armies under the standard of Ancona:
the leader will examine them in fear.

LXXVI.

D'vn nom farouche tel proferé sera,
Que les trois seurs auront fato le nom:
Puis grand peuple par langue & faict dira
Plus que nul autre aura bruit & renom.

The man will be called by a barbaric name
that three sisters will receive from destiny.
He will speak then to a great people in words and deeds,
more than any other man will have fame and renown.

LXXVII.

Entre deux mers dreslera promontoire,
Que puis mourra par le mors du cheual:
Le sien Neptune pliera voile noire,
Par Calpre & classe aupres de Rocheual.

A promontory stands between two seas:
A man who will die later by the bit of a horse;
Neptune unfurls a black sail for his man;
the fleet near Gibraltar and Rocheval.

LXXVIII.

D'vn chef vieillard naistra sens hebeté,
Degenerant par s&cced;avoir & par armes:
Le chef de France par sa soeur redouté,
Champs diuisez, concedez aux gendarmes.

To an old leader will be born an idiot heir,
weak both in knowledge and in war.
The leader of France is feared by his sister,
battlefields divided, conceded to the soldiers.

LXXIX.

Bazaz, Lestore, Condon, Ausch, Agine,
Esmeurs par loix, querelle & monopole:
Car Bourd. Tholouse, Bay mettra en ruine:
Renouueller voulant leur tauropole.

Bazas, Lectoure, Condom, Auch and Agen
are troubled by laws, disputes and monopolies.
Carcassone, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Bayonne will be ruined
when they wish to renew the massacre.

LXXX.

De la sixiesme claire splendeur celeste,
Viendra tonner si fort en la Bourgongne,
Puis n'aystra monstre de tres hideuse beste:
Mars, Auril, May, Iuin, grâd charpin & rongne.

From the sixth bright celestial light
it will come to thunder very strongly in Burgundy.
Then a monster will be born of a very hideuos beast:
In March, April, May and June great wounding and worrying.

LXXXI.

D'humain troupeau neuf seront mis à part,
De iugement & conseil separez:
Leur sort sera diuisé en depart,
Kappa, Thita, Lambda mors bannis esgarez.

Nine will be set apart from the human flock,
separated from judgment and advise.
Their fate is to be divided as they depart.
K. Th. L. dead, banished and scattered.

LXXXII.

Quand les colonnes de bois grande tremblee,
D'Auster conduite, couuerte de rubriche:
Tant vuidera dehors grande assemblee,
Trembler Vienne & le pays d'Austriche.

When the great wooden columns tremble
in the south wind, covered with blood.
Such a great assembly then pours forth
that Vienna and the land of Austria will tremble.

LXXXIII.

La gent estrange diuisera butins,
Saturne en Mars son regard furieux:
Horrible estrange aux Toscans & Latins,
Grecs qui seront à frapper curieux.

The alien nation will divide the spoils.
Saturn in dreadful aspect in Mars.
Dreadful and foreign to the Tuscans and Latins,
Greeks who will wish to strike.

LXXXIV.

Lune obscurcie aux profondes tenebres,
Son frere passe de couleur ferrugine:
Le grand caché long temps sous les tenebres,
Tiedera fer dans la playe sanguine.

The moon is obscured in deep gloom,
his brother becomes bright red in colour.
The great one hidden for a long time in the shadows
will hold the blade in the bloody wound.

LXXXV.

Par la response de dame Roy troublé,
Ambassadeurs mespriseront leur vie:
Le grand ses freres contrefera doublé,
Par deux mourront ire, haine & enuie.

The king is troubled by the queen's reply.
Ambassadors will fear for their lives.
The greater of his brothers will doubly disguise his action,
two of them will die through anger, hatred and envy.

LXXXVI.

La grande Royne quand se verra vaincue,
Fera excés de masculin courage,
Sur cheual, fleuue passera toute nue,
Suite par fer: à foy fera outrage.

When the great queen sees herself conquered,
she will show an excess of masculine courage.
Naked, on horseback, she will pass over the river
pursued by the sword: she will have outraged her faith

LXXXVII.

Ennosigee feu du centre de terre,
Fera trembler autour de cité neuue
Deux grâds rochers long têps feront la guerre,
Puis Arethuse rougira nouueau fleuue.

Earthshaking fire from the centre of the earth
will cause tremors around the New City.
Two great rocks will war for a long time,
then Arethusa will redden a new river.

LXXXVIII.

Le diuin mal surprendra le grand Prince,
Vn peu deuant aura femme espousee,
Son appuy & credit à vn coup viendra mince,
Conseil mourra pour la teste rasee.

The divine wrath overtakes the great Prince,
a short while before he will marry.
Both supporters and credit will suddenly diminish.
Counsel, he will die because of the shaven heads.

LXXXIX.

Touts ceux de Iler ne seront dans la Moselle,
Mettant à mort tous ceux de Loire & Seine:
Le cours marin viendra pres d'haute velle,
Quand Espagnols ouurira toute veine.

Those of Lerida will be in the Moselle,
kill all those from the Loire and Seine.
The seaside track will come near the high valley,
when the Spanish open every route.

XC.

Bourdeaux, Poitiers au son de la campagne,
A grande classe ira iusqu'à l'Angon,
Contre Gaulois sera leur tramontane,
Quand monstre hideux naistra pres de Orgô.

Bordeaux and Poitiers at the sound of the bell
will go with a great fleet as fas as Langon.
A great rage will surge up against the French,
when an hideous monster is born near Orgon.

XCI.

Les Dieux feront aux humains apparence,
Ce qu'ils seront autheurs de grand conflict:
Auant ciel veu serain espee & lance,
Que vers main gauche se plus grand afflict.

The gods will make it appear to mankind
that they are the authors of a great war.
Before the sky was seen to bee free of weapons and rockets:
the greatest damage will be inflicted on the left.

XCII.

Souz vn la paix par tout sera clamee,
Mais non long temps pille, & rebellion,
Par refus ville, terre & mer entamee,
Morts & captifs le tiers d'vn million.

Under one man peace will be proclaimed everywhere,
but not long after will be looting and rebellion.
Because of a refusal, town, land and see will be broached.
About a third of a million dead or captured.

XCIII.

Terre Italique pres monts tremblera,
Lyon & Coq non trop confederez,
En lieu de peur l'vn l'autre s'aidera,
Seul Catulon & Celtes moderez.

The Italian lands near the mountains will tremble.
The Cock and the Lion not strongly united.
In place of fear they will help each other.
Freedom alone moderates the French.

XCIV.

Au port Selin le tyran mis à mort,
La liberté non pourtant recouuree:
Le nouueau Mars par vindicte & remort,
Dame par force de frayeur honoree.

The tyrant Selin will be put to death at the harbour
but Liberty will not be regained, however.
A new war arises from vengeance and remorse.
A lady is honoured through force of terror.

XCV.

Deuant moustier trouué enfant besson,
D'heroic sang de moine & vetustique:
Son bruit par secte langue & puissance son,
Qu'on dira fort esleué le vopisque.

In front of a monastery will be found a twin infant
from the illustrious and ancient line of a monk.
His fame, renown and power through sects and speech
is such that they will say the living twin is deservedly chosen.

XCVI.

Celuy qu'aura la charge de destruire
Temples, & sectes, changez par fantasie:
Plus au rochers qu'aux viuans viendra nuire,
Par langue ornee d'oreilles rassasie.

A man will be charged with the destruction
of temples and sectes, altered by fantasy.
He will harm the rocks rather than the living,
ears filled with ornate speeches.

XCVII.

Ce que fer, flamme n'a s&cced;eu paracheuer,
La douce langue au conseil viendra faire:
Par repos, songe, le Roy fera resuer,
Plus l'ennemy en feu, sang militaire.

That which neither weapon nor flame could accomplish
will be achieved by a sweet speaking tongue in council.
Sleeping, in a dream, the king will see
the enemy not in war or of military blood.

XCVIII.

Le chef qu'aura conduit peuple infiny
Loing de son ciel, de moeurs & langue estrange,
Cinq mil en Crete & Thessalie finy,
Le chef fuyant sauué en marine grange.

The leader who will conduct great numbers of people
far from their skies, to foreign customs and language.
Five thousand will die in Crete and Thessaly,
the leader fleeing in a sea going supply ship.

XCIX.

Le grand monarque que fera compagnie
Auec deux Roys vnis par amitié:
O quel souspir fera la grand mesgnie,
Enfants Narbon à l'entour quel pitié.

The great king will join
with two kings, united in friendship.
How the great household will sigh:
around Narbon what pity for the children.

C.

Long temps au ciel sera veu gris oyseau,
Aupres de Dole & de Toscane terre:
Tenant au bec vn verdoyant rameau,
Mourra tost grand & finera la guerre.

For a long time a grey bird will be seen in the sky
near Dôle and the lands of Tuscany.
He holds a flowering branch in his beak,
but he dies too soon and the war ends.


To Follow: The Quatrains of Nostradamus-II

Posted by 


Sianala, Montreal, Mar 2008

Mar 5, 2008

Siva -Shri Swami Sivananda Maharaj

ॐ नमः शिवाय!




Siva Lingam at Sri Viswanath Mandir, Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh.


Lord Siva at Sri Viswanath Mandir, Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh.


Introduction
O Lord Siva,
Lord of Pasus or Jivas,
O Blue-necked Lord,
The Destroyer of Daksha’s sacrifice,
The Beloved of Uma,
The Five-faced Isvara,
Holder of Trident,
Swallower of Poison!
Prostrations unto Thee.
Through Thy Grace
I realised oneness with Thee.
Sivoham, Sivah Kevaloham.
Chidanandarupah Sivoham.

Lord Siva represents the destructive aspect of Brahman. That portion of Brahman that is enveloped by Tamo-Guna-Pradhana-Maya is Lord Siva, who is the all-pervading Isvara, and who also dwells in Mount Kailas. He is the Bhandar or storehouse for wisdom. Siva minus Parvati, Kaali or Durga is pure Nirguna Brahman. With Maya (Parvati), He becomes the Saguna Brahman for the purpose of the pious devotion of His devotees. Devotees of Rama must worship Lord Siva also. Rama Himself worshipped Lord Siva at the famous Rameswaram. Lord Siva is the Lord of ascetics and Lord of Yogins, robed in space (Digambara).

Lord Siva, in reality, is the Regenerator and not the Destroyer. Whenever one’s physical body becomes unfit for further evolution in this birth either by disease, old age, or other causes, He at once removes this rotten physical sheath and gives a new, healthy, vigorous body for further quick evolution. He wants to take all His children to His lotus feet quickly. He desires to give them His glorious Siva-Pada. It is easier to please Siva than Hari. A little Prem and devotion, a little chanting of His Panchakshari, is quite sufficient to infuse delight in Siva. He gives boons to His devotees quite readily.

Lord Siva is the God of Love. His grace is infinite. He is the Saviour and Guru. He is engaged in freeing the souls from the thralldom of matter. He assumes the form of Guru out of the intense love for mankind. He wishes that all should know Him and attain the blissful Siva-Pada. He watches the activities of the individual souls and helps them in their onward march.

Lord Siva is an embodiment of wisdom. He is the Light of lights. He is Parama Jyoti or Supreme Light. He is self-luminous or Swayam Jyoti. The dance of Siva represents the rhythm and movement of the world-spirit. At His dance, the evil forces and darkness quiver and vanish.

Siva means that which is eternally happy or auspicious, Parama-Mangala. Om and Siva are one. Mandukya Upanishad says: Santam Sivam Advaitam. Even an outcaste can meditate on the Name of Lord Siva.

Lord Siva is the Supreme Reality. He is eternal, formless, independent, omnipresent, one without a second, beginning less, causeless, taint less, self-existent, ever free, ever pure. He is not limited by time. He is infinite bliss and infinite intelligence.

Siva and Vishnu are identical

Siva and Vishnu are one and the same entity. They are essentially one and the same. They are the names given to the different aspects of the all-pervading Supreme Soul or the Absolute. Sivasya Hridayam Vishnur Vishnoscha Hridayam Sivah: Vishnu is the heart of Siva, and likewise, Siva is the heart of Vishnu.

The sectarian worship is of recent origin. The Siva Siddhanta of Kantacharya is only five hundred years old. The Vaishnava cults of Madhva and Sri Ramanuja are only six hundred and seven hundred years old respectively. There was no sectarian worship before seven hundred years.

Brahma represents the creative aspect, Vishnu the preservative aspect, and Siva the destructive aspect of Paramatma. This is just like your wearing different garbs on different occasions. When you do the function of a judge, you put on one kind of dress. At home, you wear another kind of dress. When you do worship in the temple, you wear another kind of dress. You exhibit different kinds of temperament on different occasions. 

Even so, the Lord does the function of creation when He is associated with Rajas and He is called Brahma. He preserves the world when He is associated with Sattva Guna, and He is called Vishnu. He destroys the world when He is associated with Tamo Guna, and He is called Siva or Rudra.

Brahma, Vishnu and Siva have been correlated to the three Avasthas or states of consciousness. During the waking state, Sattva predominates; during the dream state, Rajas predominates; and, during the deep-sleep state, Tamas predominates. Hence Vishnu, Brahma and Siva are the Murtis of Jagrat, Svapna and Sushupti states of consciousness respectively. The Turiya or the fourth state is Para Brahman. The Turiya state is immediately next to the deep sleep state. Worship of Siva will lead quickly to the attainment of the fourth state.

Vishnu Purana glorifies Vishnu, and in some places gives a lower position to Siva. Siva Purana glorifies Siva, and gives a lower status to Vishnu. Devi Bhagavata glories Devi and gives a lower status to Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. This is only to instill and intensify devotion for the respective Deity in the hearts of the devotees. In reality, no Deity is superior to another. You must understand the heart of the writer.

There is no difference between the trinities Brahma, Rudra and Vishnu. The work of all the three Deities is done conjointly. They all have one view and one definite purpose in creating, preserving and destroying the visible universe of names and forms. He who regards the three Deities as distinct and different, Siva Purana says, is undoubtedly a devil or evil spirit.

Lord Siva’s Form and Its Significance


Lord Siva wears a deer in the left upper hand. He has Trident in the right lower arm. He has fire and Damaru and Malu or a kind of weapon. He wears five serpents as ornaments. He wears a garland of skulls. He is pressing with His feet the demon Muyalaka, a dwarf holding a cobra. He faces south. Panchakshara itself is His body.

His Trisul that is held in His right hand represents the three Gunas—Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. That is the emblem of sovereignty. He rules the world through these three Gunas. The Damaru in His left hand represents the Sabda Brahman. It represents OM from which all languages are formed. It is He who formed the Sanskrit language out of the Damaru sound.

The wearing of the crescent moon in His head indicates that He has controlled the mind perfectly. The flow of the Ganga represents the nectar of immortality. Elephant represents symbolically the Vritti pride. Wearing the skin of the elephant denotes that He has controlled pride. Tiger represents lust. His sitting on the tiger’s skin indicates that He has conquered lust. His holding deer on one hand indicates that He has removed the Chanchalata (tossing) of the mind. Deer jumps from one place to another swiftly. 

The mind also jumps from one object to another. His wearing of serpents on the neck denotes wisdom and eternity. Serpents live for a large number of years. He is Trilochana, the Three-eyed One, in the centre of whose forehead is the third eye, the Eye of Wisdom.
Lord Siva has white complexion. What is the significance of white colour? He teaches silently that people should have pure heart and entertain pure thoughts and should be free from crookedness, diplomacy, cunningness, jealousy, hatred, etc.

He wears three white-lined Bhasma or Vibhuti on His forehead. What is the significance of this? He teaches silently that people should destroy the three impurities, viz., Anavam (egoism), Karma (action with expectation of fruits), and Maya (illusion); the three desires or Eshanas, viz., desire for landed property, desire for woman, and desire for gold; and the three Vasanas, viz., Loka-vasana, Deha-vasana and Shastra-vasana and then attain Him with a pure heart.

What does the Balipeeta or altar which stands in front of the sanctum sanctorum of a Siva’s temple represent? People should destroy their egoism and mine-ness (Ahamta and Mamata) before they attain the Lord. This is the significance.

Rishabha or the bull represents Dharma Devata. Lord Siva rides on the bull. Bull is His vehicle. This denotes that Lord Siva is the protector of Dharma, is an embodiment of Dharma or righteousness.

The Lingam represents Advaita. It points out: "I am one without a second—Ekamevadvitiyam;" just as a man raises his right hand above his head pointing out his right index-finger only.

Worship of Siva Lingam


The popular belief is that the Siva Lingam represents the phallus or the virile organ, the emblem of the generative power or principle in nature. This is not only a serious mistake, but a grave blunder. In the post-Vedic period, the Linga became symbolical of the generative power of Lord Siva. Linga is the differentiating mark. 

It is certainly not the sex-mark. You will find in the Linga-Purana: "The foremost Lingam which is primary and is devoid of smell, colour, taste, hearing, touch, etc., is spoken of as Prakriti, Nature." Linga means " mark , in Sanskrit. It is a symbol which points to an inference. When you see a big flood in a river, you infer that there had been heavy rains the previous day. When you see smoke, you infer that there is fire. This vast world of countless forms is a Linga of the omnipotent Lord. The Siva Linga is a symbol of Lord Siva. When you look at the Linga, your mind is at once elevated and you begin to think of the Lord.

Lord Siva is really formless. He has no form of His own, and yet, all forms are His forms. All forms are pervaded by Lord Siva. Every form is the form or Linga of Lord Siva.
There is a mysterious power or indescribable Sakti in the Linga to induce concentration of the mind. Just as the mind is focussed easily in crystal-gazing, so also the mind attains one-pointedness when it looks at the Lingam. 

That is the reason why the ancient Rishis of India and the seers have prescribed Lingam for being installed in the temples of Lord Siva.

Siva Linga speaks to you in the unmistakable language of silence: "I am one without a second. I am formless." Pure, pious souls only can understand this language. A curious, passionate, impure foreigner of little understanding or intelligence says sarcastically, "Oh, the Hindus worship the phallus or sex organ. They are ignorant people. They have no philosophy." When a foreigner tries to learn Tamil or Hindustani language, he first tries to pick up some vulgar words. This is his curiosity nature. Even so, the curious foreigner tries to find out some defects in the worship of symbol. Linga is only the outward symbol of the formless being Lord Siva who is the indivisible, all-pervading, eternal, auspicious, ever-pure, immortal essence of this vast universe, who is the undying soul seated in the chambers of your heart, who is your In dweller, innermost Self or Atman, and who is identical with the Supreme Brahman.

Sphatikalinga is also a symbol of Lord Siva. This is prescribed for Aradhana or worship of Lord Siva. It is made up of quartz. It has no colour of its own, but takes on the colour of the substances which come in contact with it. It represents the Nirguna Brahman or the attributeless Supreme Self or formless and attributeless Siva.

For a sincere devotee, the Linga is not a block of stone. It is all radiant Tejas or Chaitanya. The Linga talks to him, makes him shed profuse tears, produces horripilation and melting of heart, raises him above body-consciousness, and helps to commune with the Lord and attain Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Lord Rama worshipped the Siva Linga at Rameswar. Ravana, the learned scholar, worshipped the golden Linga. What a lot of mystic Sakti there should be in the Linga!

Siva Abhisheka


In Siva temples, a pot made up of copper or brass, with a hole in the centre, is kept hanging over the image or Linga of Siva, and water is falling on the image throughout day and night. Pouring over the Linga water, milk, ghee, curd, honey, coconut water, Panchamrita, etc., is Abhisheka. Abhisheka is done for Lord Siva. Rudri is chanted along with the Abhisheka. Lord Siva is propitiated by Abhisheka.

Lord Siva drank the poison that emanated from the ocean and wore the Ganga and moon on His head to cool His head. He has the fiery third eye. Constant Abhisheka cools this eye.
Abhisheka is a part of Siva Puja. Without Abhisheka, worship of Siva is incomplete.
Ganga water, milk, ghee, honey, rose-water, coconut water, sandal paste, Panchamrita, scented oil, sugarcane juice, lime juice—are all made use of for Abhisheka. After every Abhisheka, pure water is poured over the head of Siva.

The Abhisheka water is considered very sacred, and bestows immense benefits on the devotees who take it as the Lord’s Prasad. Similar is the case with other articles used for Abhisheka. The Abhisheka Tirtha purifies the heart and destroys countless sins. You must take it with intense Bhava and faith.

When you do Abhisheka with Bhava and devotion, your mind is concentrated. Your heart is filled with the image of the Lord and with divine thoughts. You forget your body and its relation and surroundings. Egoism gradually vanishes. When there is forgetfulness, you begin to enjoy and taste the eternal bliss of Lord Siva. Recitation of Rudri or Om Namah Sivaya purifies the mind and fills it with Sattva.

By offering Panchamrita, honey, milk, etc., to the Lord, thoughts of your body diminish. Selfishness slowly vanishes. You derive immense joy. You begin to increase your offerings unto the Lord. Therefore, self-sacrifice and self-surrender come in. Naturally there is an outpouring from your heart: "I am Thine, my Lord! All is Thine, my Lord!!"

Kannappa Nayanar, a great devotee of Lord Siva, a hunter by profession, did Abhisheka with the water in his mouth for the Lingam at Kalahasti in South India, and propitiated Lord Siva. Lord Siva is pleased by pure devotion. It is the mental Bhava that counts and not the outward show. Lord Siva said to the temple priest, "This water from the mouth of Kannappa, my beloved devotee, is more pure than the water of the Ganga."

In northern India, every man or woman takes a Lota of water and pours it on the image of Siva. This also causes beneficial results and brings about the fulfilment of one’s desire. Abhisheka on Sivaratri Day is very effective.

If you do Abhisheka with Rudripatha in the name of a person suffering from any disease, he will be soon freed from that disease. Incurable diseases are cured by Abhisheka. Abhisheka bestows health, wealth, prosperity, progeny, etc. Abhisheka on Monday is most auspicious.

For getting rain, Abhisheka should be done with pure water. For freedom from disease, and for begetting a son, Abhisheka should be done with milk. If Abhisheka is done with milk, even a barren woman begets children. The person also attains plenty of cows. If Abhisheka is done with Kusa water, one becomes free from all diseases. He who desires wealth should perform Abhisheka with ghee, honey and sugarcane juice. He who desires Moksha should do Abhisheka with sacred waters.

The greatest and the highest Abhisheka is to pour the waters of pure love on the Atma Linga of the lotus of the heart. The external Abhisheka with various kinds of objects will help the growth of devotion and adoration for Lord Siva and eventually lead to internal Abhisheka with pure abundant flow of love.

The Glory of Hymns in Praise of Lord Siva


Ravana propitiated Lord Siva by his hymns. Pushpadanta pleased Lord Siva by his celebrated Stotra—Siva Mahimna Stotra—which is even now sung by all devotees of Siva throughout India, and obtained all Aisvarya or Siddhis, and Mukti. The glory of the Stotras of Siva is indescribable.

The mind is purified by constant repetition of Siva Stotras and the Names of Lord Siva. The Stotras are filled with good and pure thoughts. Repetition of the hymns to Siva strengthens the good Samskaras. As a man thinks, that he becomes. 

 This is the psychological law. The mind of a man who trains himself in thinking good, holy thoughts, develops a tendency to think good thoughts. His character is moulded and transformed by continued good thought. When the mind thinks of the Image of the Lord during His hymns, the mental substance actually assumes the form of the image of the Lord. The impression of the object is left in the mind. 

This is called Samskara. When the act is repeated very often, the Samskaras gain strength by repetition, and a tendency or habit is formed in the mind. He who entertains thoughts of Divinity becomes transformed actually into the Divinity himself by constant thinking. His Bhava or disposition is purified and divinised. When one sings the hymns of Lord Siva, he is in tune with the Lord. The individual mind melts in the cosmic mind. He who sings the hymns becomes one with Lord Siva.

You must all sing the hymns of Lord Siva and obtain His Grace and Salvation, not in the unknown future, but right now in this very second. You can please Lord Siva easily.

The Panchakshara Mantra


Panchakshara is a Maha Mantra which is composed of five letters Na-Mah-Si-Va-Ya. The five letters denote the five actions or Pancha Krityam of the Lord, viz., Srishti (creation), Sthiti (preservation), Samhara (destruction), Tirodhana (veiling) and Anugraha (blessing); the five elements; and all creations through the combination of the five elements.


Namah means ‘prostration’. Sivaya Namah means ‘prostration unto Lord Siva’. The Jiva is the servant of Lord Siva from the Deha-Drishti. Namah represents Jivatma. Siva represents Paramatma. Aya denotes ‘Aikyam’ or identity of Jiva and Paramatma. Hence, Sivaya Namah is a Maha-Vakya like Tat Tvam Asi, which signifies the identity between the individual soul and the Supreme Soul.

Panchakshara is the best among seven crores of Mantras. There are seven Skandhas in Yajur-Veda. There is Rudradhyayi in the centre of the middle Skandha. In this Rudradhyayi, there are one thousand Rudra Mantras. Namah Sivaya or the Siva Panchakshara Mantra shines in the centre of these one thousand Rudra Mantras.
Yajur-Veda is the head of Paramesvara, who is the Veda Purusha. Rudram, which is in the middle, is the face. Panchakshara is His eye. Si-va, which is in the centre of the Na-mah-si-va-ya, is the apple of the eye. He who does Japa of this Panchakshara is freed from births and deaths and attains eternal bliss. This is the emphatic declaration of the Vedas. This Panchakshara is the body of Lord Nataraja. This is the abode of Lord Siva.

Siva-Nama is the very soul of all Mantras. Japa of the sacred Names of Lord Siva and meditation on them will free you from all sins and lead you to the attainment of Siva Jnanam or eternal bliss and Immortality.

The Dance of Siva


Lord Siva is the only dancer. He is the master or expert dancer. He is the king of dancers. He quelled the pride of Kaali. Lord Siva’s destruction is not a single act, but is a series of acts. There is a different kind of dance at every stage.

The dance of Lord Siva is for the welfare of the world. The object of His dance is to free the souls from the fetters of Maya, from the three bonds or impurities of Anava, Karma and Maya. He is not the destroyer, but He is the regenerator. He is the Mangala-data and Ananda-data, bestower of auspiciousness and bliss. He is more easily pleased than Lord Hari. He grants boons quickly, for a little Tapas or a little recitation of His five letters.
You can witness the dance of Siva in the rising waves of the ocean, in the oscillation of the mind, in the movements of the senses and the Pranas, in the rotation of the planets and constellations, in cosmic Pralaya, in epidemics of infectious diseases, in huge inundations and volcanic eruptions, in earthquakes, landslips, lightning and thunder, in huge conflagrations and cyclonic storm.

The whole cosmic play or activity or Lila is the dance of Siva. All movements within the cosmos are His dance. He gazes on Prakriti and energises Her. Mind, Prana, matter begin to dance. Then the universe of names and forms is projected. The undifferentiated matter, energy and sound become differentiated.

In the Night of Brahman or during Pralaya, Prakriti is inert, motionless. There is Guna-Samya Avastha. The three Gunas are in a state of equilibrium or poise. She cannot dance till Lord Siva wills it. Lord Siva rises from His profound silence and begins to dance. The undifferentiated sound becomes differentiated through the vibration set up by the movements of His Damaru or drum. Sabda Brahman comes into being. 

The undifferentiated energy also becomes differentiated. The equipoise in the Gunas becomes disturbed. The three Gunas, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, manifest. All the spheres, the atoms and the electrons also dance rhythmically and in an orderly manner. Atoms dance in the molecule and molecules dance in all bodies. Stars dance in time and space. Prakriti also begins to dance about Him as His glory or Vibhuti. The Prana begins to operate on Akasa or subtle matter. Various forms manifest. Hiranyagarbha or the golden egg or cosmic mind also manifests.

When the time comes, Lord Siva destroys all names and forms by fire while dancing. There is stillness again.

Nataraja of Chidambaram is the expert dancer. He has four hands. He wears the Ganga and the crescent moon on His matted locks. He holds Damaru in His right hand. He shows Abhaya Mudra to His devotees with His raised left hand. The significance is, "O devotees! Do not be afraid. I shall protect you all." One left hand holds the fire. The other right hand points down on the Asura Muyalaka who is holding a cobra. He has raised the left foot in a beautiful manner.

The sound of the drum invites the individual soul to His feet. It represents Omkara. All the Sanskrit alphabets have come out of the play of the Damaru. Creation arises from Damaru. The hand which shows Abhaya Mudra gives protection. Destruction proceeds from fire. The raised foot indicates Maya or illusion. The hand which points down shows that His feet are the sole refuge of the individual souls. Tiruakshi represents Omkara or Pranava.

He dances quite gently. If He dances vehemently, the whole earth will sink down at once. He dances with His eyes closed, because the sparks from His eyes will consume the entire universe. The five activities of the Lord—Srishti, Sthiti, Samhara, Tirobhava and Anugraha (creation, preservation, destruction, veiling and grace)—are the dances of Siva.

Worship of Lord Siva


A devotee of Lord Siva should apply Vibhuti to the forehead and body. He should wear a Rudrakshamala. He should worship the Sivalinga with leaves of the Bilva tree. He should do Japa of the Panchakshara "Om Namah Sivaya." He should also meditate on the Panchakshara. Lord Siva is propitiated by every one of these actions. Vibhuti or Bhasma is very sacred. It is worn by Lord Siva Himself. The bead of a Rudrakshamala represents the third eye in the forehead of Lord Siva. Bilva leaves are regarded to be one of the five abodes of Lakshmi or the Goddess of Wealth.

Japa of Panchakshara and meditation on Lord Siva should be done particularly in the Pradosha Kaala or just before sunset. The Pradosha which comes on the thirteenth Tithi after a full moon or a new moon day is known as the Mahapradosha. The Devas visit Siva temples for the worship of the Lord at this period. You can worship the Devas also if you visit temples during Mahapradosha. Devotees of Lord Siva observe full fast on Mahapradosha days.

Have special Pujas on Mondays and Mahapradosha days. These days and Maha Sivaratri are very sacred for Lord Siva. Maha Sivaratri means the great night consecrated to Lord Siva. Maha Sivaratri falls on Trayodasi or the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight of the Kumbha (Phalguna) month. The important features of this religious function are rigid fasting for twenty-four hours and sleepless vigil during the night. Every true devotee of Lord Siva spends the night of Sivaratri in deep meditation, keeps vigil, and observes fast.
Lord Siva is the God of Love. His grace is boundless. He is the Saviour and Guru. He is the Beloved of Uma. He is Satyam, Sivam, Subham, Sundaram, Kantam. He is the Supreme Light that shines in your heart.

Meditate on His form. Hear His Lilas. Repeat His Mantra 



ॐ नमः शिवाय!

"Om Namah Sivaya". 


 Study Siva Purana. Do His worship daily. Behold Him in all names and forms. He will bless you with His vision.

ॐ नमः शिवाय!

Sianala, Montreal, 6th Mar, 2008