A quick summary of the ashta karma

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 individual’s 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	North
Seat	Kalai aasana
Bead	Rudraksha will clear faces
Deity	Adi Ganapathy
Mantra	Siva siva om reeng ang (1008 times)
Benefits	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	East
Adornment	Sacred ash with pranava
Seat	Tiger skin
Beads	Tulasi
Deity	Maha Ganapathy
Mantra	Om kleem sing
Benefit	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	West
Adornment	Sacred ash with mercy, stop the breath
Seat	Dharba grass
Beads	Lotus beads
Deity	Nadana Ganapathy
Mantra	Om sreem kleem
Benefits	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)

Ucchaadanam-

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

Aakarshanam ( to experience the jyothi)

Direction	North east (?)
Adornment	Silk dress, adorn sacred ash with silence
Seat	Not given
Beads	Spatikam (crystal)
Deity	Vaalai Ganapathy
Mantra	Om kleem
Benefits	All karma removed, uncontrollable things controlled, future births nullified

Vidveshanam

Direction	South west
Adornment	White dress
Seat
Bead	Coral
Deity	Ucchishta Ganapathy
Mantra	Om sreem hreem
Benefit	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,

Maaranam-

Direction	South East
Adornment
Seat	Vengai tree
Bead	“Etti”
Deity	Ugra Ganapathy
Mantra	Om reeng nasi
Benefit	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

Bedanam-

Direction	North west
Adornment	Breath should be stopped
Seat	Deer skin
Bead	Pepper seeds
Deity	Mula Ganapathy
Mantra	Om reem am
Benefit	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 ganapathy’s 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.