Ashta Karma

Ashta karma or eight actions refers to vaseekaranam (making something attracted by the yogi),
mohanam (causing enchantment) aakarshanam (drawing something towards the yogi),
ucchaadanam (reciting the mantra in cause a specific action), sthambanam (arresting the natural
action of anything), Vidveshanam (making one hate something), bedhanam (causing a
difference-opinion, state) and maaranam (causing death). Agatthiyar in his work Saumya
Sagaram (verses 215- 245) mentions that the ashta karma are milestones that indicate an
individuals mastry of ashtanga yoga, the eight step yoga.
When one attains the highest state possible by yoga, the turiya state, one realizes that the only
true entity is aksharam and that everything else, the gross world, is a dance of the aksharam.
Aksharam refers to both the Divine as well as letter. Aksharam means indestructible. The
indestructible here is the vak or primordial sound that emerges as bija akshara. These akshara
combine together to form words, sentences and passages. Thus the cause is the aksharam, the
primordial sound or letters and their manifestation is the gross world.
In the context of the ashta karma the cause is the bija akshara of the mantra that manifests as an
effect in the gross world. Thus a mantra for, say vaseekaranam, is the cause with its effect
making others feel attracted by the person uttering the mantra. If a yogin realizes this he will
manipulate the cause, the bija akshara, to produce an effect. Agatthiyar calls this manipulation as
playing with the cause. One looks at the origin, the gurupathi and causes these effects.
Gurupathi refers to ajna cakra which between the brows. This term also means the locus of
Guru, the locus of knowledge where the darkness of ignorance is nonexistent. It is the locus of
light of consciousness, the light of knowledge and awareness.
Agatthiyar begins to describe the first karma, vaseekaram or causing others to feel attracted
towards the person performing the ritual.
Vaseekaram
Direction faced by the performer
Seat
Bead
Deity
Mantra
Benefits

North
Kalai aasana
Rudraksha will clear faces
Adi Ganapathy
Siva siva om reeng ang (1008 times)
All actions will become fruitful, Veda, Sastra,
mantra, microcosm, macrocosm, celestials,
humans, ghosts, enemies, animals, ashta naga
or eight snakes, desire (kaamappaal, kaanal
paal) will be attracted by the performer

Mohanam
Direction
Adornment
Seat
Beads
Deity
Mantra
Benefit

East
Sacred ash with pranava
Tiger skin
Tulasi
Maha Ganapathy
Om kleem sing
Rishi, Muni, Deva, animals, birds, all diseases,
poisons, ghosts and goblins, rivers, sacred
sites- all their anger or vigor will abide and
they will feel enchanted

Sthambanam
Direction
Adornment
Seat
Beads
Deity
Mantra
Benefits

West
Sacred ash with mercy, stop the breath
Dharba grass
Lotus beads
Nadana Ganapathy
Om sreem kleem
Stop the minds of evil souls and animals, stop
the natural movement of air, water and fire
(perform is able to walk on fire without getting
burnt, walk on water without sinking)

UcchaadanamDirection
Adornment
Seat
Beads
Deity
Mantra
benefits

South
Sacred ash with honesty
Tree bark
Conch beads (sangu mani)
Sakthi Ganapathy
Om kleem sau
All strong diseases will go away, magical
spells (pilli soonyam) will be removed

Aakarshanam ( to experience the jyothi)

Direction
Adornment
Seat
Beads
Deity

North east (?)

Silk dress, adorn sacred ash with silence
Not given
Spatikam (crystal)
Vaalai Ganapathy

Mantra
Benefits

Om kleem
All karma removed, uncontrollable things
controlled, future births nullified

Vidveshanam
Direction
Adornment
Seat
Bead
Deity
Mantra
Benefit

South west
White dress
Coral
Ucchishta Ganapathy
Om sreem hreem
You can cause creation (you cannot create). If
sacred ash is offered to ladies they will beget
offspring, anything will multiply from one to
ten,

MaaranamDirection
Adornment
Seat
Bead
Deity
Mantra
Benefit

South East
Vengai tree
Etti
Ugra Ganapathy
Om reeng nasi
All diseases, enemies will die, enemy will get
leprosy, his blood will be on fire.
If the individual grants sacred ash all the
diseases will be cured

BedanamDirection
Adornment
Seat
Bead
Deity
Mantra
Benefit

North west
Breath should be stopped
Deer skin
Pepper seeds
Mula Ganapathy
Om reem am
The perform will appear as different forms, if
he ties sacred ash on the arm of the sick- fever,
vitiation of humor and swelling cured

Mulamantra for ashta ganapathy-om kleem ang ung

Hold the vibhuthi in the left hand, add the ganapathys wholr (ukara), see the flame and recite the
mantra 208. Several diseases cured- fever, pneumonia, leperocy, TB, vanjanai, Eval, poisons,
dosha, karappaan, garbaroham, collection in the stomach. You will become lord of eight
directions and immerse in poornam, the aadhi.