Yaksha Prashnam Questions 43-46 with 8 bonus questions.

Continued From:  http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/02/yaksha-prashnam-questions-39-42.html

What is that which that travels alone? What is that which is reborn after its birth? What is the remedy for frost (fog)? And what is the Earth’s limit?

The Yakshan copied the above set off questions from the Vedas as the Yakshan wanted Yudhishtirar to have a short break in order to refresh himself.

The Yakshan’s questions are part of a debate held during the Ashwamedha Yagam. Any yagam is conducted by a team of 16 members. The names of the position held by these 16 members are Brahma, Udgatha, Hota, Advaryu, Brahmanachamsi, Proshthota, Mitra-Varuna, Prathiprashtatha, Protha, Prathihartha, Akshavahan, Neshta, Agnidriyum, Subramanyan, Unnetha and Grhavasthu.

The post of Brahma is very important as he makes sure that the Yagam is performed properly. If mistakes are made, then it is the duty of Brahma to rectify the mistakes. For example if ghee and sakaraipongal are to be offered in the fire then sakaraipongal must be offered completely before proceeding to offer ghee. They cannot be offered alternatively with 1 spoon of sakaraipongal followed by 1 spoon of ghee followed again by 1 spoon of sakaraipongal. This is because Lord Agni consumes sakaraipongal in the seated position and ghee in a reclined position. Alternating between spoons of sakaraipongal and ghee is very inconvenient for Lord Agni. It is the duty of the Brahma to make sure that mistakes like this are not made. Brahma has to be the most learned person in the team but does not have much to do except to watch out for mistakes.

The procedure for Ashwamedha Yagam is complicated. The king becomes tired while performing this Yagam. To rejunavate the king a short break is incorporated in to the Yagam in the form of a debate between the Hota and Brahma. The same set of questions is also chanted as manthram by Brahmins during the Shradham ritual. There are a total of twelve questions out of which the Yakshan copied four questions. We will see the answers to all the questions.

Question 1: Kigiswid dasit poorvachitihi? What is essential for everyone?

Answer 1: The sky is essential for everyone as it carries the rain bearing clouds to shower rain to make Earth prosperous.

Anyone who listens to this question will not be affected by famine in the region they live in.

Question 2: Kigiswid dasit brhatdwayaha? Who is very old?

Answer 2: Ashwa vai brhatdwayaha. The word “Ashwa” also means very old. The word Ashwa is normally used to refer to a horse in Sanskrit but it is also a name for Lord Narayana. The word Ashwa means that which spreads everywhere. As the horse travels with great speed it looks to spread everywhere. Hence a horse was called as Ashwa but it is the name of Lord Narayana to indicate his omnipresence. As He is eternal with neither beginning nor end He is the most aged person in this Universe.

Anyone who listens to this question will develop the thirst to attain the Lord’s divine feet.

Question 3: Kigiswid dasit pishangila? Who is pishangila?

Answer 3: Ratri is pishangila. Pishangila means that which hides defective forms. Ratri is the name of night. At night defects are hidden and are not visible to our eye. Ratri also means that which gives us pleasure by hiding defects.

Anyone who listens to this question will always be happy.

Question 4: Kigiswid dasit pilipila? Who is pilipila? Pilipila means that which makes things shine.

Answer 4: Money is pilipila. Money helps us to afford good food and other products to rejunavate our body thus making it shine with good health.

Anyone who listens to this question will be able to enjoy food without their health being affected.

The next four questions are the questions asked by the Yakshan.

Question 5: What is that which that travels alone?

Answer 5: The Sun travels alone. Earlier the Yakshan had asked, “Who travels with Adityan (Sun)?” to which Yudhistar answered that the Devas accompany the Adityan in his travel. If we take Adityan to be the Sun then the Devas are as follows.

There are in total 12 Suns known as the 12 Adithyas one Adithya for every month.

The Sun is accompanied by 1 Rishi every month. The Rishi keeps the Sun company by chanting Vedas. There is also a Gandharva who plays music to entertain the Sun. The Sun’s chariot is drawn by 7 horses. A Yakshan travels with the Sun to control the horses. To protect the Sun, a Rakshasha travels with the Sun (not all Rakshashas are bad; Vibhishnazhwar is an example of a good Rakshasha. Similarly the Rakshasha traveling with the Sun is a good Rakshasha and is different from the bad Rakshashas who constantly fight with the Sun). The Sun is also accompanied by a Naga. Apsaras entertain the Sun by dancing. Lord Vishnu has twelve forms. The Lord accompanies the Sun every month in one of His twelve forms.

Yudhishtirar now answered that Surya (Sun) travels alone. It seems that he contradicted his earlier answer but here by “Surya” Yudhishtirar refers to Lord Vishnu. Even when amongst the company of others, Lord Vishnu shines brilliantly appearing to be alone. When Lord Vishnu is present, even the Sun disappears in His brilliance.

Anyone who listens to this question will become brilliant and shine amongst other people.

Question 6: What is that which is reborn after its birth?

Answer 6: The moon is reborn after its birth. This answer refers to the different phases of the moon. The moon takes birth as the Full moon and slowly decays till it appears to disappear on New moon day only to re-appear the following day as a crescent which grows slowly till it is re-born as the Full moon. We find the lunar phase interesting. We see the same Sun every single day but the moon changes every day. Change is interesting and prevents boredom.

Anyone who listens to this question will make other people find their company to be interesting.

Question 7: What is the remedy for frost (fog)?

Answer 7: Agni (fire) is the remedy for frost (fog). Frost as well as fog hides everything from our view but the fog referred to in this question is ignorance. As we are covered by the cold grasp of ignorance we do not realize our true self. An Acharyan is called as Agni since he leads us along the spiritual path. Agni is used to refer to people who lead others along a path. An Acharyan through his teachings melts away the frosty ignorance clouding our knowledge.

Anyone who listens to this question will lead a good life in this world and enjoy the bliss enjoyed in Sri Vaikuntham in this world itself.

Question 8: What is the Earth’s limit or which is the largest field?

Answer 8:  The place where Lord Vishnu is worshiped is the largest field.

Anyone who listens to this question will become good orators. People will raise them on pedestal and listen to their words.

Question 9: Which is the hub for Earth? Central point or hub is that location from which all the different types of wealth is obtained.

Answer 9: Yagnam is the hub of Earth.

Anyone who listens to this question will obtain the Yagnam called as Lord Narayana.

Question 10-11: Which is that horse which rains? What is its veeryam?

Answer 10-11: Yagam or Lord Narayan is the horse that rains blessings on us. The veeryam is the soma juice used in Yagnam which is nothing but the holy water with tulasi leaves offered to the Yagnam called Lord Vishnu.

Question 12: What do all the words in this world refer to?

Answer 12: All the words refer ultimately to Lord Narayana who is the Parabrahmam.

Anyone who listens to all these twelve questions will obtain the fruit received by performing the Ashwamedha Yagam as well as Shradham.

It is very difficult to perform Shradham which is typically performed only after the Earth has warmed up. This is usually around 11:25 am in India. Traditionally the Brahmins chant the above question and answer as soon as they enter their host’s home for performing Shradham. It could also be chanted by them prior to eating the offerings from the Shradham. If these questions are chanted by them properly then,

1. the sportsmen born in that country will always win gold medal,
2. the soldiers will be brave and victorious,
3. cows will give plenty of milk,
4. the oxen will be very strong and bear load efficiently,
5. vehicles will perform without accidents,
6. horses will always travel with great speed,
7. all girls born in that country will be very beautiful like a “dream girl”,
8. the host performing the Shradham will get a good son who will be intelligent, brave, youthful , courteous and this son will keep only good company,
9. it will rain only when the people of the country wish for rain thus preventing crop damage from heavy as well as scanty rainfall.
10. Overall world peace and prosperity will be attained.

Continued On: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2013/02/yaksha-prashnam-questions-47-50.html

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Based on, Yaksha Prashnam - A discourse in Tamil by Sri U.Ve. Karunakaran Swamy
(Any errors or inconsistencies in the following series are due to the mistakes I made while taking notes. ) 

Copies of the CDs can be obtained from Sri Karunakaran Swami’s website http://www.nadadoor.org/ . This series is for the benefit of people who do not understand Tamil. Those of you who understand Tamil very well must definitely obtain a copy of Swami’s Upanyasam. You can do so by contacting Nadadoor.org. Swami also renders discourses in English but I am not sure if Yaksha Prashnam discourse is available in English.  The experience of listening to Swami’s upanyasams could never be obtained by reading the following series. I have done my best to take notes with due diligence. I apologize for any errors that I have made while writing this series.