Lifestudy by Ajiadoor Epi-1| Aghori Dhanalakshmi | Varanasi

Speaker — brief bio

• Name: Dhanalakshmi
• Home: Vilathukulam, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu
• Background: Grew up in a small panchayat school; one of three children. Father worked as a supervisor; mother was an agriculturist.
• Life focus: A long personal spiritual search across South India and beyond, guided by several gurus and by reading spiritual books.

Key lifestyle tips, routines and spiritual practices

Daily / regular practices

• Strong devotion to temple worship and attending poojas, especially on auspicious days (for example, Fridays).
• Meditation and prayer at specific times:
  • Midnight (the transition to a new day).
  • Brahma muhurtham (around 3 a.m.) — considered especially auspicious for chanting and mantra practice.
• Mantra practice: learn mantras orally from gurus, store them mentally and recite them during prayers rather than pursuing academic or deconstructive study.

Health and spiritual wellbeing

• Respect and worship nature (the Panchabhutas — earth, water, fire, air, ether) and sacred trees (banyan, peepal) as purifiers and teachers.
• Cultivate positive thinking, moral support, and mental strength — these qualities can change outcomes and help people face problems.
• Develop inner energy (chakras, kundalini) and use it for personal growth and for the betterment of society.

Ethical and social advice

• Share resources and food; learn generosity from crows that call others to share food. Build resources for future generations.
• Replace negative thoughts in others with good thoughts; offer moral support and courage.
• Live with love, kindness, and responsibility toward the next generation.

Travel highlights, pilgrimage and cultural notes

Personal travels

Dhanalakshmi traveled in search of spiritual guidance to places including Chennai, Virudhunagar, Thrissur, Kanyakumari, Nagercoil, and Trivandrum.

Important pilgrimage sites and rituals

• Kamakhya Temple (Assam) and the Ambubachi Mela:
  • A three-day festival marking the goddess’s menstruation. The temple remains closed for three days and only women perform pooja during this period. Used to emphasize that menstruation is sacred, not impure.
• Varanasi (Kasi):
  • Significance of the Ganga, Assi Ghat and Varana river; temples such as Vishwanath, Visalakshi, Kalabhairava, Annapurna.
  • The 64 steps carry symbolic meaning. Bathing in the Ganges is seen as washing away sins.
• Funeral and cremation customs in Varanasi:
  • Rituals to confirm death (drumming, eliciting family wailing), tying and taking the body for cremation.
  • The belief that cremation and giving remains to the river/nature brings peace to the soul.

Cosmology and ritual themes

References were made to Kali Yuga, karma, moksha, the role of Yama, Kalachakra (time cycles), and the use of astrology/Jyotish with rituals to mitigate adverse predictions.

Practical rites and observances (brief steps)

1. Mantra learning: receive orally from gurus, memorize, and recite during prayers.
2. Optimal prayer times: midnight and brahma muhurtham (~3 a.m.).
3. Funeral sequence (traditional):
   • Confirm lifelessness (drums/noise and family reaction).
   • Tie the body and prepare it for transport.
   • Perform cremation; return the remains to the river or nature.

Values emphasized

• Nature as a teacher and a manifestation of the divine (jeevatma and paramatma present everywhere).
• Human uniqueness: capacity for creation, intellect, and responsibility to uplift society.
• Share, be compassionate, teach goodness, and work for the welfare of future generations.

“Respect and worship nature — the Panchabhutas and sacred trees act as purifiers and teachers.”

Notable locations, people and production credits

• Locations: Vilathukulam (Thoothukudi), Thodakkapalli, Chennai, Virudhunagar, Thrissur, Kanyakumari, Nagercoil, Trivandrum, Kamakhya Temple (Assam), Varanasi (Kasi), Assi Ghat.
• People: Dhanalakshmi (speaker); gurus from Tamil Nadu and Nepal.
• Production credits:
  • Camera: Harimurali
  • Assistant: Sujaya
  • Editing: Vinayan