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Vira Simhavaloka · Chapter 36
वातव्याधि — कर्मविपाकः
This is the Vatavyadhi karmavipaka chapter of Vira Simhavaloka, on the past-life deed the text links to this trouble. The text links it to past-life deeds such as being an enemy of one's teacher, or stealing.
Classical view, not medical advice.
The amends are mantras repeated in large counts, gifts of cloth and gold, a black buffalo cow and a copper deer.
The English below is our translation from the Sanskrit.
Vatavyadhi (vata disorders) - past deeds
अथ वातव्याधेः कर्मविपाकमाह तत्प्रतीकारं च गुरुं प्रत्यर्थी वातरोगी शन्नोदेवीरिति मंत्रेण जपं कुर्वीत इतिउमामहेश्वरसंवादे ऽभिधानात् ।
Next, the text tells the past-deed cause of vata (the wind humour) illness, and its remedy. It says that one who was an enemy of his teacher may suffer from it. He should do japa (repeating a mantra) with the Vedic mantra that begins "shanno devih". This is said in the dialogue of Uma and Maheshvara.
Vatavyadhi (vata disorders) - past deeds
अन्यच्च वातरोगकारणं प्रकृत्यंतरं चोच्यते देवब्राह्मणस्वापहरणात्स्वामिद्रोहाद्वातरोगी भवति । अस्य प्रायश्चित्तं कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रचांद्रायणंकुर्यात् । अग्निरश्मीत्यृचं जपेत् । अनेन मंत्रेण होमं च कुर्यात् ।
Also, another cause of wind illness, of a different kind, is told. The text says that a person may suffer from vata (the wind humour) illness. The cause is stealing from gods and Brahmins, or betraying his master. As prayashchitta (making amends) for this, he should keep these fasts. They are the krichchhra (penance fast), atikrichchhra (a harder penance fast) and chandrayana (moon-phase fast). He should do japa (repeating a mantra) of the Vedic verse that begins "agnirashmi". With this mantra he should also do homa (fire offering).
Vatavyadhi (vata disorders) - past deeds
वात आवातमंत्रोयं जप्यतेऽयुतसंख्यया ।अग्निरश्मीत्यृचं वापि जपेद्वा जुहुयादपि ॥
This is the Vedic mantra that begins "vata a vatu". It is repeated ten thousand times. Or one may repeat the Vedic verse that begins "agnirashmi". Or one may do homa (fire offering) with it.
This is the saying of Vachaspati. One who gave poison to someone who trusted him should give cloth and gold. So should one who ate what must not be eaten.
Vatavyadhi (vata disorders) - past deeds
यः पुनरक्षतयोनिमनिच्छंतीं परस्त्रियं बलादाक्रम्योपभुंक्ते स सर्वसंधिषु धनुर्वातरोगो वा विषमज्वरी वा तीव्रपीडावान्भवति । तदुपशांतये प्रतिरूपदानं महिषीदानं कृच्छ्रातिकृच्छ्रचांद्रायणानि कुर्यात् । उद्यन्नद्येत्यृचं जपेत् ।
The text speaks of a man who takes by force an unwilling virgin, a woman not his own. He may suffer from dhanurvata (a wind illness that bends the body like a bow) in all the joints. Or he may have an irregular fever with sharp pain. To ease it, he should give a pratirupa (a likeness given in place of the person) and a buffalo cow. He should keep the krichchhra (penance fast), atikrichchhra (a harder penance fast) and chandrayana (moon-phase fast). He should do japa (repeating a mantra) of the Vedic verse that begins "udyannadya".
Vatavyadhi (vata disorders) - past deeds
तदुक्तं ब्रह्माण्डपुराणे । अपमृत्युप्रशांत्यर्थं प्रतिरूपं द्विजोत्तमे ।प्रदद्यान्महिषीं कृष्णां सवत्सां पूजयेत्ततः ॥
As the Brahmanda Purana says: To ease untimely death, one should give a likeness to an excellent Brahmin. He should give a black buffalo cow with her calf. Then he should honour her.
Vatavyadhi (vata disorders) - past deeds
सहस्रनामस्तोत्रं वा सर्वं वारत्रयं जपेत् ।मृत्युरोगप्रशांत्यर्थमात्मनश्च शुभाप्तये ॥
Or he may recite the whole hymn of a thousand names three times. This is to ease death and illness, and for his own good gain.
As the Mahabharata says, he should repeat the three names. The metres, sages and gods of the three names are shown. The metres are given as ushnih and the metre of the gayatri (gayatri mantra). The further words "purusha, prakriti, suta" stand as printed. The sages are Vasishtha, Kashyapa and Narada. The gods are Mahavishnu, Mahanrisimha and Mahavaraha. To ease all illness he should do japa (repeating a mantra) thirty thousand times.
Vatavyadhi (vata disorders) - past deeds
अच्युतानंद गोविंदेत्येतन्नामत्रयं द्विजः ।अयुतत्रयसंख्याकं जपं कुर्याद्धि शांतये ॥
A dvija (twice-born) man should do japa (repeating a mantra) of these three names: "achyuta", "ananda" and "govinda". He should do it thirty thousand times, for peace.
This is said in the Shankara Gita. He should also do japa (repeating a mantra) of the Purusha Sukta (Vedic hymn). The text says that then, as sin wears away, release from illness comes.
Vatavyadhi (vata disorders) - past deeds
धनुर्वातरोगे अन्यच्च वायुपुराणे ॥ वातव्याधियुतः स्तेयीत्याह बौधायनो मुनिः ।हरिणं कारयेत्ताम्रं धेनुं तु दशभिः पलैः ॥
For dhanurvata (a wind illness that bends the body like a bow), the Vayu Purana gives another rule. The sage Baudhayana says that one who stole may be troubled by vata (the wind humour) illness. He should have a copper deer made, a female, of ten palas (weight unit of about 48 grams).
Vatavyadhi (vata disorders) - past deeds
तदर्धेन तदर्धेन शृंगेरूप्यमये दृढे ।तंडुलोपरि संस्थाप्य ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत् ॥
Or he may make it half of that, or half again. Its two horns should be strong and of silver. He should set it on rice grains and offer it to a Brahmin.
Vatavyadhi (vata disorders) - past deeds
हाटकत्रितयं वापि तदर्धं वा स्वशक्तितः ।चतुष्पादेषु संस्थाप्य कांस्यपात्रचतुष्टयम् ॥
Or he may give three pieces of gold (hataka), or half of that, as he can afford. He should place four bronze bowls at its four feet.
Vatavyadhi (vata disorders) - past deeds
वायुदैवतमंत्रैश्च होमं तत्र प्रकल्पयेत् ।समिदाज्यचरुं हुत्वा शतमष्टोत्तरं द्विजः ॥
There he should do homa (fire offering) with mantras to the wind god. The priest should offer kindling sticks, clarified butter and cooked rice. He should do it one hundred and eight times.
Vatavyadhi (vata disorders) - past deeds
अष्टाविंशतिमिवाथ दानमंत्रेण कारयेत् ।वायो चरसि भूतानामंतस्त्वं लोकपावनः ।वाहनस्य प्रदानेन वातव्याधिं विनाशय ॥
Then he should have the gift made with the dana (gift) mantra, [after] twenty-eight more offerings. The mantra is: "O Vayu, you move among beings. You make the worlds pure. By the gift of your mount, destroy my vata (the wind humour) illness."
Vatavyadhi (vata disorders) - past deeds
अनेन कृतमात्रेण यथोक्तेन विधानतः ।वातव्याधिविनिर्मुक्तो नीरोगः सुखमश्नुते ॥
The text says that this rite is done as told, in the proper way. Then the one troubled by vata (the wind humour) illness is freed from it. He lives without illness and in comfort.
This is the rite of the gift of a deer, which eases vata (the wind humour) illness.
Unit 36.3 names ten thousand repeats of a Vedic mantra. Unit 36.7 names three recitations of the thousand-names hymn.