The glory of the sixteen

The glory of the sixteen

 

Sixteen is a highly acclaimed number. We call it "shodasa kala poornam". Shodasa means 16. Starting from new moon to full moon there are 16 phases of the moon. When reaching the 16 th phase the moon becomes the full moon. A fairly elaborate pooja comprises the 16 types of formalities, called the shodasa upachara. Like how the seven goddesses are called sapta mathruka, there are also 16 goddesses called the shodasa mathruka. Among the mantras of rajarajeshwari the shodasaakshari (i.e. 16 alphabets) are the most famous. Therefore, there is a name for the goddess, called shodashi.

For the mother, 16 alphabets; for the song 16 names.

 

In Tamil nadu, it is a tradition to bless "may you get 16 types of boons and live a great life". In the Vedas, a married woman is blessed as follows: "oh! God, let us beget 10 children, and make her treat her husband as the 11^th child" – with a lot of inner meaning inside that statement. In Tamil tradition, "get sixteen". Now it is "family planning" times! If we say 16, I am afraid we will be put in jail!

 

Therefore, I clarify that "get sixteen" does not mean "get children", but point to "sixteen types" of good things that are useful to leading a good life. There is another phrase "get a great gift" – what is "gotten" is a "gift". The pregnancy time is called "gifted time". When we say "great gift" we mean to refer to a very auspicious one or lucky one. What we get without our own effort, but by the grace of god is called "gift". In English the word "gift" is used in this same way by westeners. Getting 16 types gifts like these is called the "get sixteen". By god's grace what comes automatically, plus what we get by our efforts are both included in these. If think about it, without doing anything, what one gets as His gift while one is born, is nothing but what He bestows based on the deeds done in the past lives. The merits earned by good deeds in the past lives (karma), may have been topped up by Him due to His grace. One who gets such gifts is called a lucky one. i.e. "adhrusta". The sastras call those totally unexpected boons that we cannot see with our eyes (i.e. a-dhrustam literally means what one cannot see), as the "adhrusta palan".

 

When any worship is begun, we should declare (make a sankalpa) "I am doing this pooja for this purpose". The purpose is usually – all the family should have seven blessings – safety, stability, strength, success, long life, good health, and prosperity- these should grow. After that righteousness-wealth-desire-liberation – these four pillars of life should be accomplished – so 11 so far. Then, success in desired activity, and mental satisfaction – so 12. Happiness in all and removal of all sins – so 14 so far. And then progeny – the 15^th, and finally, the "satisfaction of the particular god form that the prayer is offered to" is achieved and He bestows his grace to fulfill all "appeals". Thus after praying for these 16 items, the declaration to start the pooja should be made. Those who think that this is too much worldly, also add at the end that "knowledge and detachment be bestowed".

The 16 items in the "get sixteen"in Tamil traditional saying are also more or less covered by the list above, I am do not remember all clearly. I only remember that the phrase "virya vijaya" also come in the Tamil saying next to each other.

 

The gifts are sixteen; the names of ganesh are also sixteen!