THOUGHT FOR THE DAY- THIRD QUARTER--AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2017
NASA says that, it is the exact distance between Earth and Sun (Bhanu).That proves Hanuman did jump to Planet Sun, thinking it as a sweet fruit (Madhur phal). It is really interesting how accurate and meaningful our ancient scriptures are. Unfortunately, it is hardly recognized or interpreted accurately or realized by any country in today’s world.
"Sangacchadvam Samvadadvam" --Let us Unite Together and Speak Together--(Rigveda)
THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY-- THIRD QUARTER, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER, 2017
AUGUST 2017
DETACH FROM SAMSARA
AND SEEK THE GOAL
Is There
Jadha Bharata in Us? By Pujya Swami Chidanandaji
'Attachment' has always been regarded as the main factor
preventing our ascent to divinity, return to our 'spiritual home' and realizing
our true nature. The story of Jada Bharata illustrates how even a very learned
man could get stuck with an unbearable sense of attachment to a new-born young
one of a deer. It seems everyone of us is akin to Jada Bharata. Attachment to
persons, to institutions, or even to social causes can postpone the breaking of
our worldly ties. This webinar will examine the nature of our psyche that keeps
us tied down to samsÄra, even as the prospect of liberation is just
around the corner!
"asanga-shastrena dridhena chittvÄ..."
Cutting the tree of samsÄra with the firm
weapon of detachment..." GeetÄ 15.3
Swami Chidananda draws our attention to these two slokas in
Bhagavad Gita to his above message:
Na roopasyeha tathopalabhyate
naanto na chadir-na cha sampratishthaa |
Asvatthamenam suviroodhamoolam asanga-sastrena
dridhena cchitvaa ||
Tatah padam
tatparimaargitavyam yasmin gataa na nivartanti bhooyah|
Tam-eva chaadyam purusham prapadye
yatah pravrittih prasritaa puranee || (15—3 to 4)
Its (asvattha’s) form as such is not experienced here, nor
its end nor its beginning nor its continuity. Having
severed this deep-rooted Asvattha tree with the weapon
of non –attachment, one should next seek the goal reaching which
they do not return, saying, “I take refuge in that primordial Purusha
from whom this eternal process has sprung”.
The real form of this Asvattha tree cannot be understood in this
material world. Since the root is upwards the extension of the real tree is at
the other end. No one can see how far the tree extends nor can see the beginning
of this tree. Yet an enquiring mind can find out the cause. In Sankalpa
Religious resolution) by pronouncing nakshatra,
tithi, date etc., we connect ourselves to the beginning of
times and know how far the world has come at that moment. Similarly by
Gotra by analysis we can connect to Brahma, the creator. Finally in this way we
reach to the Supreme personality or Godhead through the association of
persons who are in the knowledge of that Supreme
Personality. Then by understanding Brahman one becomes gradually detached from
tis false reflection of reality, and by the knowledge one can cut
off the connection and actually become located in the real tree. Bhagavan says
in Bhagavad Gita among trees I am Asvattah.
The word Asanga is very important. Before that we should
know what our attachments are which Swamiji has explained.
Our attachment for sense objects and lording over the material
nature is very strong. Therefore we must learn detachment by discussion of
spiritual science based on authorities of scriptures (svadhyaaya) and we must
hear from persons like Swami (sadguru). As a result of such
discussions in the association of devotees (satsanga) one comes to the vicinity
of Supreme Personality. Therefore to get out of the entanglement of this strong
Asvattah tree of material life one must surrender to the Supreme (Saranagati).
Once you surrender you become detached automatically.
Perhaps you may like to learn more about this mysterious tree.
Please go through my detailed discourse on the subject:
--August 31, 2017
HINDU CONFUSIONISM AND
OUR IGNORANT OR CONFUSED WORSHIP
I would like to
draw your particular attention to the following sloka in Gita: “Yanti
devavrataa devaan pitrun yanti prituvrataha|bhootaani yanti bhootejyaa yaanti
mad-yaajino -api vaa ||
The
worshipers of the gods to go to the gods , the worshipers of the
manes (pitrus) go to the manes, the worshipers of the spirits go
to the spirits, and MY (GOD) worshipers come to ME. Who is this ME and
who are these devavratas? Are you clear about it? Who are pitru
devatas? What are Bhootas? Why Ganesaha be referred as Bhootaganadi Sevitam? Do
you have answer?
If this Gita sloka is properly understood with
the explanation of Swami Prabhupada and MNU mantras we will have
no confusion in our worship of deities like Ganesha, Kartikeya,
Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Swminarayana, Saibaba, Navagraha etc., and
what I repeatedly say and which is also repeatedly misunderstood as if I
am against the worship of these deities. Bhagavdgita also does not stop you
from worshiping these deities but says the end results are different. It also
depends on what your goal is. But you should be clear in your prayers as
to where you are led to by your prayers
and what you can expect and not live in false hopes!
Why are you disappointed by your prayers? We alone are responsible as we are
not clear about what we do?
Mahanarayana
Upanishad makes a distinction between Deva and devatas and says DEVO
EKAH--he Supreme Being, Brahman, Paramatman is ONE without any second
(adviteeyam). Its panchabrahma Mantras, Daharavidya etc are
directed to that DEVA. Then there are Mantras to
various Devatas like Aditya Devataa mantrah, Bhoo-devataa
ka mantrah, Sarvaadevataa mantrah, Vaisvadevataa mantrah etc.
"First
let us understand the system of Supreme Being’s (Deva’s control), and
then everything will become clear. The Vedic texts describe 330 million devatas,
or universal controllers, but we should not confuse these beings with
DEVA or GOD. GOD is beyond the purview of the material universe.
The devatas are controllers of various aspects of nature within the material
realm. For example, the scriptures describe a personality named Agni who is in
charge of the element of fire. Likewise, there is the description of the
personality named Indra who controls the rain. And finally there is the
greatest personality Siva (Maha-deva) who is in charge of material destruction.
All of these controllers (ishvaras) belong to God’s natural system of material
administration. Within the material realm God has arranged a hierarchy of
control for automatic administration of nature. Each of these personalities
(numbering 330 million) can be called a controller (ishvara) as they are each
in charge of a particular aspect of nature. They are actually secondary controllers.
It is exactly like a government that has many levels of control, such as Prime
Minister (national controller), Chief Minister (state controller) and District
Magistrate (district controller). To an uneducated person, the District
Magistrate is supreme. If one gets his blessings, any governmental work one
needs to get done will be accomplished. But he is only supreme within his
district. Above him there is a higher controller, who controls the entire
state. If one surrenders to the state controller and receives his blessings,
one need not fear the district controller. Thus one may think the Chief
Minister of a state is actually supreme. But above him is the Prime Minister,
who controls the entire country. According to one’s level of knowledge, one will
identify a particular level of supremacy. But factually there is only one
supreme authority situated above all others. 'From the highest planet in the material world, Brahma Loka,
down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death
take place'. But one who attains My abode never takes birth again(
BrahmaSamhita). This is the definition of God. He must be situated beyond time.
The higher controlling devatas (Agni, Ganesha, Subrahmanya, etc.) have a
life span of one kalpa (4,320,000,000 years). Brahma, the topmost material
entity, has a life span equal to the life of the universe."--Says
Swami Prabhupada of ISKCON. I quote Prabhupada for you would not agree the same
stuff coming from an insignificant person with no saffron robe. I would say even Swamiji has misunderstood Koti
which means one Crore as well as Kind. But ISKCON people will be against me up
with arms. But Koti=kind will remove all
misunderstandings and stop blaming puranas or resorting to a grand exposition
of deities, rituals and worship! You now know why I ask you to meditate on
Brahman and not on Devatas and spend all time in Kindergarten and not spiritually progress!
You will have a
clear picture when I bring to your attention
a detailed discourse quoting freely from Vedas and Bhagavadgita. If you do not
read it is your misfortune not mine! I am sending this message as you generally go to my Blog to read through my long discourses which are an
encyclopedia on the subject and meant for your periodic reference!
Unfortunately
though MNU clarified Deva and devatas we find often these terms are mixed
and indiscriminately used and the reference to Deva or devata is
left to our discretion according to context. This is so even in Bhagavad Gita
as you see from the above text. You will be more convinced as you read through
the explanation of Sami Prabhupada. The word GOD in English is Deva in
Sanskrit that is Supreme Being or Paramatman, made up from three English
letters G,O and D, where G stands
Generation, O for Operation and D for Dissolution that is the One and
Only Creator, Sustainer and Dissolver. It is the ONE that takes these
three roles to play; As Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Sustainer and Siva the
Destroyer. In Christianity they believe in One god and therefore it is well
understood. While God could be ideal translation for Deva, unfortunately
we have to translate devi and devatas also as gods and
goddesses that brings in lot of confusion in our understanding
of spiritual and religious discourses. One way to overcome this is to
write the word god in all Capitals as GOD when we refer to Brahman or
Paramatman or Supreme Spirit. In the above sloka Devavratah means
those who worship devatas and not Deva. ME refers to Bhagavan or GOD. But who
can make a rule and implement it for everybody’s compliance. So you
have to live with the confusion and use your discretion to
understand the context.
Can anyone tell me
why we deify Kama (passion) and Manyu (desire) in Kamokarsheet Mantra and also
do homa to those deities? We also have a
Manrtra Alaksmi Swaha! Are vedas Stupid ? Why did Puranas made our famous
EKADANTA Vighnaraja and run to him to remove obstacles? Siva did not make ekadaanta? What he created was Gajanana with two tusks. But Puranas did and went on justifying it and
glorifying it! Sankara only said__ Anekadam Tam bhaktaanaam Ekadam Tam upasmahe! Why did Vedas not prescribe a mantra Nirvighnaaya Swaha? I
would be grateful for your explanation? I know why I did Kamokarsaheet homa and
why I prescribed to you also. I know
why I pray to 1-33 odd numbers and also 4, 8. 12........48 and just
stop. I don't have to repeat Chamakam 108 times without understanding?
It
is
natural that you get different picture when you read from different religious
and spiritual authors and get confused? But I am neither a Religious
Pundit nor a Spiritual Guru to guide you. You should know what makes sense to
you and what is good for you!
--August 31, 2017
A MOMENT TO THINK, SPEAK AND ACT ALIKE WITH HATRED TOWARDS NONE
I
have pleasure in presenting to you couple of highly philosophical and spiritual
gems of lyrics in Kannada composed by a doctor friend of mine. Those of you who
do not understand Kananda get the help from your Kannada friends. I
had the unique life time opportunity of watching the total solar eclipse and
the whole world going dark just for about 2 minutes bringing total darkness
after presenting a huge diamond ring around a dark circle when all people
watching shouted with one voice “behold! The brightest diamond ring of Almighty
God coming from heaven and revealing to us” Those that watched got a
feeling that he/she has seen Brahman Himself in the darkness and as if
the Earth was waving the lamp (aarati) to reveal the divine ring. Alasa!
It was all momentary and for few seconds, a rare opportunity for the fortunate
in their lifetime! Who knows who will live to watch the next full
solar eclipse and the divine diamond ring? As I was watching this exciting
event for which I had no words to express a strange thought flashed in my mind.
This was one rare event when all eyes were fixed on one Universal God and an
opportunity to watch his divine ring thinking about nothing else! Why then
can’t we live so united, so focused and thoughtful to live in
peace and harmony for ever like that? I was also reminded of the Vedic
Mantras:
“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” whole world is one family standing
together;
Sangacchadhvam
sam vadadhvam sam vo manaamsi jaanataam/ devaa bhaagam yathaa purve sanjanaana upaasate //
(X-191-20)
Come
together! Speak together! Let our minds be all of one accord like the divines
that sat togetheer in the past in harmony to worship.
Samaano
mantra: samiti: samaani samaanam mana: saha chittamesam / samaanam
mantramabhi mantraye va: samaanena vo havisha juhomi //(X-191-3)
Let our speech be one; united
be our voices! May our minds be in union with the thoughts of the wise
people! Sharing a common purpose; we worship as one.
Sahanavavatu
sahanau bhunaktu sahaveeryam karavaavahi, naavadheetamastu maa vidvishaavahai
om santih; santih; santih
May
Him protect us! May He bless us with bliss of Knowledge! Let us exert
together! May what we study be well studied! May we not quarrel with each
other! May there be Peace within! Peace in the outside world! Peace of God that
passes all understanding!
ą²ą²ą²øą²¦ ą²
ಂą²ą²³ą²¦ą²²್ą²²ಿ ą²ą²ುą²µ ą²µಿą²§ಿą²Æಾą²ą²µą²Æ್ą²Æಾ/
ą²ಾą²£ą²¦ ą²ೈą²ą²³ು ą²ą²”ಿą²øುą²µ ą²ೊಂą²¬ೆą²Æಾą²ą²µą²Æ್ą²Æಾ/
ą²
ಂą²¬ą²°ą²¦ ą²øą²ಾಂą²ą²£ą²¦ą²²್ą²²ಿ ą²ą²ುą²µ ą²ą²£್ą²£ುą²®ುą²್ą²ಾą²²ೆ/
ą²ಾą²£ą²¦ ą²ೈą²ą²³ು ą²Øೆą²”ೆą²øುą²µ ą² ą²¦ೇą²µą²²ೋą²ą²¦ ą²²ೀą²²ೆ/
ą²¹ą²ą²²ą²²ಿ ą²øೂą²°್ą²Æą²Øು ą²¬ೆą²³ą²ುą²µą²Øು ą²¬ುą²µಿą²Æಾ/
ą²ೆą²²್ą²²ಿ ą²¤ą²Ø್ą²Ø ą²ಿą²°ą²£ą²ą²³ą²Ø್ą²Øು ą²Ŗ್ą²°ą²ಾą²¶ಿą²øುą²µą²Øು ą²Ŗೃą²„್ą²µಿą²Æ
ą²ą²°ುą²³ą²²ಿ ą²ಂą²¦್ą²°ą²Øು ą²ೆą²²್ą²²ುą²µą²Øು ą²®ುą²ುą²³್ą²Øą²ೆą²Æಾ/
ą²¤ಾą²°ೆą²ą²³ ą²ೊą²¤ೆą²Æą²²್ą²²ಿ ą²¬ೆą²³ą²ಿą²øುą²µą²Øು ą²Øಿą²¶ೆą²Æಾ/
ą²®ą²Øುą²ą²° ą²ą²®ą²Øą²µą²Øು ą²øೆą²³ೆą²Æą²²ು ą² ą²¦ೇą²µą²Øು ą²øೃą²ಿą²øುą²µą²Øು/
ą²øą²”ą²ą²° ą²øಂą²್ą²°ą²®ą²¦ ą²øಂą²¦ą²°್ą²ą²ą²³ą²Ø್ą²Øು ą²ಾą²²ą²¦ą²²್ą²²ಿ ą²ą²²್ą²Ŗಿą²øುą²µą²Øು/
ą²ą²್ą²ą²°ಿą²øಿ ą²®ಾą²Øą²µą²Ø ą²ಿą²¤್ą²¤ą²µą²Øು,ą²¤ą²Ø್ą²Ø ą²ą²°ುą²µಿą²ೆą²Æą²Ø್ą²Øು ą²್ą²ಾą²Ŗಿą²øą²²ು/
ą²ą²¹್ą²µಾą²Øಿą²øುą²µುą²Øು ą²ುą²µಿ ą²°ą²µಿ ą²¶ą²¶ಿ ą²್ą²°ą²¹ą²ą²³ą²Ø್ą²Øು ą²ą²ą²ą²³ ą²ą²”ಿą²øą²²ು/
ą²ą²²ಿą²øುą²µ ą²ಂą²¦ಿą²°ą²Øು ą²Øą²²ಿą²Æುą²¤ ą²¬ą²°ುą²µą²Øು ą²
ą²®ą²²ಿą²Øą²²್ą²²ಿ/
ą²¤ಿą²³ಿą²¦ೂ ą²¤ಿą²³ಿą²Æą²¦ೆą²Æೋ ą²ಾą²ø್ą²ą²°ą²Ø ą²ುą²µಿą²ą²³ ą²Ŗą²„ą²¦ą²²್ą²²ಿ/
ą²øೂą²°್ą²Æą²Øಿą²ೆ ą²
ą²”್ą²”ą²¤ೆą²°ೆą²Æಾą²ಿ ą²ಾą²µą²³ ą²¤ą²°ುą²µą²Øು ą²¹ą²ą²²ą²²್ą²²ಿ/
ą²ą²”ಿą²¬ಿą²”ಿ ą²ೊಂą²¦ą²² ą²®ಾą²”ಿ ą²®ುಂą²¦ೆ ą²øಾą²ುą²µą²Øು ą²್ą²·ą²£ಿą²ą²¦ą²²್ą²²ಿ/
ą²ą²¤್ą²¤ą²²ೆą²Æ ą²øą²®ą²Æą²¦ą²²್ą²²ಿ ą²ಾą²£ುą²µą²Øು ą²¦ೇą²µą²Øು ą²ą²²್ą²²ą²° ą²ಿą²¤್ą²¤ą²¦ą²²್ą²²ಿ/
ą²Øಂą²¬ಿą²ೆą²Æ ą²Øಾą²µೆą²Æą²²್ą²²ಿ ą²¹ಾą²Æುą²µą²°ು ą²®ą²Øುą²ą²°ು ą²ą²°ą²µą²øೆą²Æą²²್ą²²ಿ/
ą²ಾą²£ುą²µą²Øು ą² ą²¦ೇą²µą²Øು ą²ą²¤್ą²¤ą²² ą²ą²°ಿ ą²¤ುą²°ುą²¬ಿą²Ø ą²µą²್ą²°ą²¦ುಂą²ುą²°ą²¦ą²²್ą²²ಿ/
ą²¤ುಂą²¬ಿ ą²¤ುą²³ುą²ುą²µುą²¦ು ą²¦ೈą²µ ą²ą²್ą²¤ಿ ą²ą²²್ą²²ą²° ą²®ą²Øą²¦ą²²್ą²²ಿ, ą²¹ೃą²¦ą²Æą²¦ą²²್ą²²ಿ/
ą²¹ą²ą²²ą²²್ą²²ಿ ą²ą²°ುą²³ಾą²ುą²µುą²¦ು ą²øಾą²§್ą²Æą²µೇ, ą²¦ೇą²µą²Øು ą²ą²°ುą²µುą²¦ು ą²øಾą²§್ą²Æą²µೇ/
ą²¦ೈą²µಿą² ą²್ą²·ą²£ą²ą²³ು ą²ಾą²£ುą²µುą²¦ು ą²ą²£್ą²£ುą²ą²³ಿą²ೆ ą²ø್ą²®ą²°ಿą²øą²²ು ą²¦ೇą²µą²Ø/
ą²øೂą²¤್ą²°ą²¦ಾą²°ą²Ø ą²®ą²Øೋą²ą²¤ ą²°ೂą²Ŗಿą²øುą²µುą²¦ು ą²®ಾą²Øą²µą²Ø ą²ೀą²µą²Ø/
ą²øಂą²¶ą²Æą²µೇą²ೆ ą²øಂą²¦ೇą²¹ą²µೇą²ೆ ą² ą²¦ೇą²µą²Ø ą²ą²°ುą²µಿą²ೆą²Æ ą²ø್ą²Ŗಂą²¦ą²Ø/
ą²®ೂą²¢ą²®ą²¤ಿą²ą²³ು ą²®ą²°ೆą²Æą²¦ಿą²°ಿ ą² ą²¦ೇą²µą²Øಿą²ೆ ą²®ಾą²”ą²²ು ą²Øą²®ą²Ø/
ą²øೂą²°್ą²Æą²್ą²°ą²¹ą²£ ą²ą²ą²øą²¦ą²²್ą²²ಿ ą²ą²ುą²µ ą²
ą²øಾą²§ಾą²°ą²£ą²¦ ą²Ŗ್ą²°ą²®ೇą²Æ /
ą²øą²®ą²Æ ą²
ą²øą²®ą²Æą²µಿą²²್ą²² ą² ą²¦ೇą²µą²Øಿą²ೆ ą²¤ೋą²°ą²²ು ą²¤ą²Ø್ą²Ø ą²®ಾą²Æ/
ą²µಿą²¶್ą²µą²µ್ą²Æಾą²Ŗಿą²Æಾ ą²øಂą²ą²µ, ą²
ą²°ಿą²µು ą²®ಾą²”ುą²µುą²¦ು ą²¬ą²¦ುą²ು ą²¤ಾą²¤್ą²ಾą²²ಿą²/
ą²µಿą²¦ಿą²Æಾą²”ುą²µ ą²µಿą²Ø್ą²Æಾą²øą²¦ ą²µೈą²µಿą²¦್ą²Æą²¤ೆ ą² ą²ೀą²µą²Ø ą² ą²¬ಾą²³ು ą²್ą²·ą²£ಿą²/
--August 26, 2017
20 FT GANESHA MURTI CONSECRATION
IN LORTON VA USA—My most cxontroversial
E-Mail
This was my most intriguing E-mail
which was more misunderstood than understood by Ganapati Bappa
Merry Makers who spend lot of money and time which could very well be directed
to good causes as Tirupati Temple does. I am sure you many of you might have
misunderstood me too!
20 FT
GANESHA MURTI CONSECRATION IN LORTON VA
USA
Sant
Gupta of HMEC forwarded a program display of 20ft Sri Ganesh
Murthi Consecration and the associated cultural events at Ganesha
Temple Loral, VA probably claiming to be the tallest Ganesha
in the whole of USA. I got
little amused by the remarks of Sant Gupta of HMEC “PLEASE do not
‘IDOL’ to Describe Ganesh Murti; instead, use Deity”. If you go
through the E mail sent by the temple, you will come to the conclusion
that Sant Gupta mistook the word IDOL in two ads
“Indian Idol” and “Indian Idol Finalist” that was meant for a cultural
event as referring to consecration of Sri Ganesha Murti or
masde a pun on the word Idol. Instead of clearing his misunderstanding
or seeking clarification I took advantage of the situation to express my
views also in a lighter vein. I made it look as if
he was criticizing the much fun-fare attached to such a serious religious
ceremony of consecration by including Indian Idol Show which they could have
circulated separately without combining together under their Cutural Society
Program! Anyhow that is always the Indian way of religious worship with very
little spiritual focus on such occasions to attract maximum
crowd.
“Myth
and popularity of Ganesha amazes me! He is the right "Idol" presented
to Hindus by Siva and Parvati because we have lost all touch with Vedic
wisdom and gone to Kindergarten level in understanding the wisdom of
Vedas. Skanda the alternate choice who is hailed in Ramayana and glorified in
Vedas as Sanat Kumar, accepted by all religions at one time and who even
taught Narada Bhuma Vidya in Chhandogya is not found ideal or Idol for the
Kindergarten Education we all need. Ganesha brings in lot of fun with his
man-elephant demeanor! Could Hayagriva the earliest man-Horse could have done
that job with his highest intellect, “Jnananandamayam devam"?
Could Man-lion Narasimha could have done the job though he was melted downby
Prahlada and assumed the form of Lakshmi Narasimha? I doubt very much! To
avoid competition Siva tore him down as we learn in Puranas in his
Sarabhavatara. ?
It is
seems Hindus need some sort of Man-animal combination to come out of
Man-animal state in spiritual evolution about which I will talk soon. I
understand we have to pass through Man-stone Man-plant, Man-animal, Man-Man
stages to attain Super manhood for spiritual evolution! Here again
there is Siva-Vishnu conflict. So Saivites win! Visvaksena goes to background
though Vaishnavites pushed him hard! I can’t believe Rudra
cut an elephant's head to carry out the surgery after beheading Parvatis’s
private guard in a fit of anger and make that live! He should have got
one of the Vishvaksena elephant-man to convince Parvarti that was
her guard after a surgery for his replacement of head!He could have very well
fixed the cut off man’s head! So Ganeshah is very ideal or
"idol" for our Kindergarten education. That poses a problem for
we need a nursery deity for our children. Can Ganesha's mouse fulfill that
role? I congratulate Loran, Va High intellectuals in arranging a week long
Ganesha fun-fare and grand Ganapati Bappa Moria ceremony. I prefer
Kindergarten education to indifference or atheism! I I still recall how I
got attracted to Ganesha as a child in Karnataka by the week long Ganesha
celebration. Kids use to run around shouting "Ganesha Banda, kaikadubu
tanda" Ganesha has arrived with his sweet pudding during Ganesha
Chaturthi week. I too joined the fun. There was lot of fun and frolic! I have
still not got out of that food attraction seeing Modakahsta Ganesah!
Ganesha Temple does not disappoint me for there is too much
competition for Modka garlands. I am lucky as Ganesha here
is the largest and so is Modaka garland. I won't miss my share! My only regret
is why Ganesha temple in Nashville has not arranged such fun-fare? May be they
are in primary school as they have Bal Vihar for kids!
Wish
you all a happy Ganesha Chaturthi and Modaka Festival! You recently enjoyed
Hanuman Vadamala fesatival! Modaka is sweet unlike pepper Vada! Ganesha
is Great!”
Comments
Received and my reply
C) I beg your pardon - I am not sure I understood the intended
message of your commentary - some of which I am not quite sure I agree with. A
few comments inline.
“I am
not sure the Hindu deities are up to a beauty/popularity contest. They are
created by mankind for their own benefit. Like everything else, popularity of
deities/temples/etc also wax and wane due to time. There is no myth about it.
If we talk about mythology, there are plenty of it in Hinduism - but we seek
the purport behind the myth rather than myth itself.
When
God is one presenting in multiple forms, there is no question of alternate choice
- it is Hobson's choice. Just because Skanda's glory is mentioned in Ramayana
does not mean he supercedes his brother Vinayaka. Rama's forefathers (Ikshvaku)
did penance on Lord Vinayaka to get the grace of Lord Vishnu their kuladaiva.
In puranas, you always see the statement "there is no god greater than x y
z" - which, in true sense, is a meaningless statement, though intended to
increase the attachment of the devotee
Again,
there is no competition between Siva and Vishnu - these are pure later-day
concoctions and bull shit. SharabhAvatar is to bring Narasimhavatar to a close
as the end-result has been achieved. But it is a moot point whether the
Ultimate Parabrahman, Narasimha or Sharabha, will get engulfed in Tamasa/Rajasa
and wander uncontrollably. There must be a different hidden meaning for these.
I feel it is not right to take such things literally. For example, Veda means
knowledge and it should be formless. If that is so, how can it be hidden inside
an ocean (of all the places) as if it is a physical manifest. And why should it
be a horse phase, why not something else? Why not go as a man himself? If Lord
Narayana himself is Veda (vedam sAxAt nArAyaNaH paraH), and he himself
instructs Brahma in every kalpa, where is the need to go and find it when He
himself is the one to be found? So, all these must be metaphors - deity forms,
vahanas, etc
Lord
Vighneshwara is the Mooladhara Murthy - not kindergarten deity. Even
Vaishnavite texts like Narada Pancharatram hails Lord Vighneshwara as the first-worshipped.
I have never found any reference to Vishvaksena in Puranas, though Iyengars
found him. For that matter, all deity worships are at the kindergarten level of
spirituality but people have to go through an evolution. Swami Omkarananda put
this very nicely in a lecture - "if you ask me whether 5th standard is
good or MBA good, my question to you will be "to whom?". For a person
who is in 2nd standard 5th standard is better and he can't get MBA straight
even if he wants to. Textual knowledge of Vedas/Upanishads/Tantras does not
give AnubhUti and Anubhuti comes through spiritual evolution and with the true
grace of a preceptor (genuine preceptor). All moorthy forms vanish when
equanimity of all beings dawns - it is easier said than done. All shashtras,
worship methodologies, etc. become useless after the evolution crosses that
stage. So, everything is required for those qualifying people”
Mr.
Muralidharan is on my mailing list and he can find answers to many of his
questions and so I did not elaborate as it is futile. Further none
else felt and commented like him though there are number of Ganesha
devotees as participants including myself and I have written so
much on him. But the worship pattern and the focus on mythological and fun part
as well as misinterpreting Veda mantras for glorifying him is disappointing
like Gananatva. If it is all right why that mantra is not used on all other
deities? My short reply was as
follows:
Thanks
for your enlightenment. I am educated on the subject being ignorant
of Purans. I read every year Ramayana with full understanding; Ikshvaku's
kuladaiva is Jagannatha and Srirama recommended that to Vibhishana-- "Aradhaya
Jaganntham " Anyhow I do not understand too much about puranas
and puranic stories. My discourse on Viswaksena is in the blog which is
most popular with world audience. I did not have one adverse comment. Temple
traditions do not do pranapratishtha to any mutilated deity.
Since Ganapati Gana broke his trunk to hurl at Sun or write Mahabharata as
given in Puranas religiously serious people have taken to worship
original Ganapati Gana as Vishwaksena hailed
in VSN who is Ganesha. This story breaking tusk in anger is a myth and
then celebrate as Ekadanta is also not appropriate overriding pranapratishtha
for this one deity as exception. Why should God be
associated with anger in meaningless provocations? Why are we upset when we
call all this myth and exaggeration? Why do we need such exaggerations
if we are not at kindergarten level? How long should we remain at
kindergarten level as Vivekananmda said? What education are we conveying here
with such stories? In Tirupati before Brahmotsava starts Vishvaksena and Garuda
are taken in procession first to supervise the arrangements and
ward of evil. Since you are very deeply involved in Purans I have no comments
to offer but to listen and get myself corrected. I always circulate your wisdom
thoughts whenever I receive one. I am happy you are appreciating the
Ganesh Mela in Va. I do not also believe in “33 Koti devargal"
(Periyava also quoted this) which I have clearly explained as
propaganda for 33 kinds of devatas helping ekodevah in administering the vast
universe that are 11 Rudras, 12 Adityas , 8 Vasus , Indra, Prajapati and
Asvin,.
I draw your kind attention to the
following questions You raised after a your two agonizing E-Mails torn
out of contest and understanding though you have been my participant for quite
some time in which communications you have all the answers to
your misunderstandings.
1. Ganesha is an inferior god
suitable for kindergarten people in spirituality and for fun.
2. Vedas do no prescribe Ganesha
worship
3. Perhaps Skanda is superior and
alternate choice God as he is extolled in Ramayana.
I am
neither provoked nor upset nor feel obliged to answer you as you can find
answers in all recent postings. I am pained to see the use of American abusive
slang in your e-mail which I don’t like to repeat that shocked me
coming from a religious scholar to whom I had all respect! If you have not read
them it will be futile to waste time on it. Your particular attention is drawn
to my discourses Vedanta is the religion of the future and Uncommon
Understanding of the Unknown.
My
E mail was to forward the message of Sant Gupta of Hindu Mandir
Executive Council which he often sends echoing his thoughts on the subject
matter of Consecration Ceremony in VA where the sacred ceremony had turned into
fanfare and fun-fare including INDIA IDOL show besides others.
I had just focused on it as Kindergarten approach, again reflecting
the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda in his Chicago speech where he said the
current practices of Hindu religion are at that level and
also said Uttishtata jagrata which I had referred several times. I have
nowhere said Ganesha is an inferior God; it is your own imagination! I do chant
the Veda Mantra on Ganapati (gajanatvam ganapatigam) dail and also
chamakam fully understanding what the odd numbers1-33 mean and4,8……48 mean I am
an iyengar too but I got rid of my suffix long back as I believe in “Aatmavat
sarvabhooteshu” and “vasudahiva Kutumbakam”. But that Ganapati is not
what Puranas project as the one who broke his tusk being annoyed to hurl at
the sun. But even respecting Purana I would like to worship Ganapati who
was restored by him with both the tusks or replaced one from Gajanaa divine
species. Vedas do speak of several divines kinnaras, gandharvas, hayavadanas,
Gajavadans etc. I cannot think of kind hearted Siva being angry and in a fit of
anger decapitated a dutiful guard of Parvati created for the
occasion but thanks to the story He is made a permanent Devata. In all
probability he replaced it from among Gajavadanas and that may be
Vishvaksena hailed in VSN and worshiped in Tirupati as devata.
Tirupati will tell you as to his Vedic origin if you do not believe in my
discourse on Vishvaksena read by thousands of readers who have all
appreciation.
Krishna
died by the arrow and Rama shot an innocent Sambuka by his arrow for just performing an Yajana.
It should not be the thes portrayals our sculptures and temples
should propagate and then give a long explanation why we worship.’ “Anekadam
bhaktanam ekadam tam Upasmahe” has been made ekadantam to justify broken
tusk and anger. In Rajasthan there is a temple that worships rat also and
I will not be allured to worship Rats. Vedas have deified
Kama, Manyu and Alakkshmi but they do not say we should
meditate on these as Brahman!
Anyhow,
no amount of explanation will convince you as you are very knowledgeable and an
authority on Puranas. I am not. I go by Svadhyaaya, satsanga and satkarma. I
had only talked about the crowd as having kindergarten level and primary level
and not caused any aspersions on Ganesha. I waited for comments from
others and only two have commented besides you as the Daniel of judgment!
I reproduce below their comments and my reply. They are most devoted
to Ganesha as I know them. All my e-mails are not posted on the
Blog. They are search engines and intended for exchange of thoughts. I often
revise when supported by sufficient quotes from Vedas as I
believe in “Vedokhilam dharmamoolam”
A)
It appears all items that surrounds Lord Shiva appears to be mystery - Lord
Ganesha and Lord Subramainya (etc.) On the lighter vein - Lord Ganesha is
very lovable God. He never has a task to reduce his weight and always happy to
share Modhaka.
Bala
from Atlanta
I did
say Ganesha is the most liked devata. Of the three animal headed devatas
he is the most lovable for kids. Our religious focus should start
with kids and so we too have to join them. But my only
worry is we should not stay there with kids forever and think of reducing
our burden at a later stage which realization will come to kids too when
they are adults. Siva is a mystery because he is not like Vishnu, the
sustenance aspect of Parabrahman. He is very serious person concerned
about planning our future after being handed over by Vishnu, being the
dissolution aspect, who is worried how to dissolve all our Karmas and
kick us up than down. Being the most kind hearted, sometimes he ignores
our minor sins unlike Vishnu who tolerates up to only hundred and then punishes
as happened even in the case of Sisupala. His role is always “vinasaya cha
dushkritam” and not reforming them as happened to Valmiki in TretaYuga. He
is a mystery God as we know from Chamakam when he said worship on odd
numbers 1 to 33 and even numbers 4 to 48 in steps of 4 for guessing
as to what they mean? Mere love is not enough as we have seen from our
parents. We have to get serious to work with Vishnu for our
good living focused on Dharma and listen to Siva for our future.
Thank you for your well wishes
B)
Ganesha Temple in Nashville is hosting a private party’s Ganesha in the auditorium
for 11 days. There could be fun and frolic after all!
Sunanda
from Nashville
Probably you may be under the impression that I am
against Ganesha worship being a strong devotee of Ganesha. I still recall
how you once reminded me for the wrong fixing of Ganesha photo by my daughter
facing South which I corrected though Ganesha looks into all directions!
Ganesha worship as is practiced by Hindus today is one
of the most fun and frolic worship and very strongly promoted to
kindergarten level of worshipers for this is the most appealing deity to
children strongly promoted by religious, spiritual and fine arts devotees.
Ganesha idols are in all street corners and bus stands. I call them idol
because most of these do not have pranaptishtha and they are the most show
pieces in our drawing rooms. It is true we too should join our kids and
give them religious training, but sometime or other we should be more
serious to rise beyond kindergarten level and spiritually advance.
This aspect is least focused in our focus on Ganesha in teaching and worship.
This is because Siva himself projected him Maximum and least on Guruguha.
Siva is a mysterious aspect of Parabrahaman and knowing our level of ignorance
strongly promoted Ganesha’s worship as Prathma vandita based on myths rather
than spiritual focus and further progressing towards Skanda worship. While we
enjoy his worship at kindergarten level with our children, we should at the
same time focus more on the wisdom of Skanda at matured level to whom even Siva
shows rapt attention and thus draws our attention. He did not elaborate after
Prathama vandita and left it to our discretion. Think why he did not say
Ganesha is the only exclusive vandita for all our needs? You
know Skanda taught knowledge of Brahman even to Narada which I had explained.
We should go through these different stages and not relax by just repeating Om
Ganesaaya Namah or Ganparti bappa Moria! We do abhishekam chanting ekascha me
trayascha me etc. not knowing what these 1-33 odd numbers are and 4,8,
12….48 even numbers are? What purpose will it serve? Siva left it for us
to think and act!
Question--Has anyone calculated or estimated how much money & time is
used during Ganesh Chaturthi in the World. Can this be focused towards Ganesha's
needy—Anil Pandey
Reply: I have no clue. Ganesha is a very symbolic
deity whom even Sankara strongly promoted knowing the mood of the people.
This deity has no reference in Vedas, Ramayana or Bhagavad Gita yet has been
popularized so much in recent times like Venkateswara. People have
struggled hard to connect them to Vedas. I believe musicians and artists
have largely contributed. I am worried this deity is also maximum
used for fun and frolic with very little focus on spirituality. An art
creation remains an idol or artefact or drawing room piece unless
consecrated. Few take it seriously also but that is very limited. You see this
deity in every street corner and even in crowded bus stands without any serious
thought of consecration. That bothers me.The money this deity attracts from
devotees could be put to better use like what they do in Tirupati. But many
thrive from that easy earned money and go lazy too ganesha temples are
scattered all over the place. It sounds like Ganesha cottage religious
industry--NRS
I wish Ganesha Devotees would
see Ganesha in needy people. Thank you again--Anil
Wish
You all A week of Ganesha Merriment Festival! But please revert to Vedic wisdom
when the fun is over. I thank all the
commentators for their excellent contribution but for which I would not have
kindled your thoughts for a
serious spiritual orientation! Mere my lectures would have been boring which
you could have just overlooked or postponed!
--August
27, 2017
A REVIEW OF THE
MOST POPULAR GAYATRI MANTRA OF SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE
Even religious Hindus, commonly practice few
Vedic mantras like the Gayatri mantra and pay great reverence, yet the rest of
the ten thousand verses of the Rigveda are seldom examined or recited. We often
ignore to study the ancient mind because of the antiquity and symbolisms and
riddles contained in Veda mantras. To me the Vedas are the great pyramids of
the ancient mind and should be honored like the pyramids of Egypt as one of the
greatest achievements of ancient humanity, with relevance for all times. The
Vedas hold many keys about our spiritual origins as a species and hold for us
the living voice of the ancient seers, sages and yogis, our spiritual
ancestors, and allow us to connect with them in our minds and hearts. They have
many practical wisdom to lead a happy and contented life. With this objective I
have tried to quote some mantras specially picked and explained them. I have
also recently circulated Gems from Vedas and Upanishads with meanings and some
explanation. I often wonder wjhether this powerful Nityakaram (daily duty)
should be resatricted only to Dwijas who have under gone Upanayana Samskara.
Now-a-days many postpone this Samaskara to the wedding day which is
administered to Non-Hindus and other castes also who marry a Brahmin girl in
Brahmaa marriage? Why prohibit girls? Vedas do not prohibit but our religious
heads do! I have gone at length to describe Trikaala Sndhyavandana Mantras in
the following discourses:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/…/sandhyaavandanam-worship-meet…
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/…/part-ii-madhyaahneekam-midday…
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/…/part-iii-saayam-sandhyaavanda…
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/…/prologue-to-sandhyavandanam-r…
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/…/praanaayaama-andgaayatree-man…
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/…/part-ii-madhyaahneekam-midday…
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/…/part-iii-saayam-sandhyaavanda…
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/…/prologue-to-sandhyavandanam-r…
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/…/praanaayaama-andgaayatree-man…
Sandhyavandana Mantra contains the Main
message of Vedanta for our Liberation. It prescribes Achamana (Achyutaaya Namah
etc) for purification, Atonement Mantras for three times in a day
(Sooryascha…Paapebhyo rakshabntam etc.), Meditation (Gayati Mantra) that leads
one to liberation. Gayatri is employed during the performance of Japa, Homa,
and Dhyana. Until one is purified by the practice of Pranayama he is not ready
for Japa. Pranayama performed during the twilight devotions differ from the one
advocated by Patanjali for the practice of Yoga. In the former case breathing
in, holding the breath within and breathing out are appropriately measured by
the mantra we use. In the latter case breathing in, holding the breath within
and breathing out are appropriately measured.
Gayatri Japa mantra is: Om bhoorbhuvassuvah|
tat savituh varenyam | bhargo devasya dheemahi | dheeyoyonah prachodayaat||
Here the first line is addressed to the Supreme who is the ruler of the three
worlds. The next three lines are main body of the Mantra. These may be
visualized symbolically as Brahman and His three feet to which we surrender in
meditation. (charanm pavitram … yena pootastarati dushkritaani--sanctifying
feet that crosses over evil deeds). The number three is very important and has
lot of significance in Vedas--- the three states Vaiswanara, Tejasa,
Hiranyagrbha; Here three lines may even signify three steps of the
Supreme(Trivikrama) that rules the three worlds. Brahman is described as
chatvaari sringo trayo asya paadaa dwe sirshe sapta hastaaso asya|| Brahman is
described as a mystic bull with 4 horns 3 feet 2 heads and 7 hands. This
represents him as a Kaalapurusha or Kalpa which is 4320000000 years (4 followed
by 3 followed by 2 followed by 7 zeros). Again these are 4 Vedas, 3 States or
Gunas, Two inseparables Aaatman (Self) and Parmaartman (Supreme) and Agni with
seven tongues or flames all describing Brahman.
The word “Tat” qualifying “savitar” in the
Gayartri Mantra makes it clear that visible prime luminary of the heaven is
only a representation of God –head or Parabrahman who is referred to here as
immanent in all creatures and also transcendent. He is savitar because He is
the cause of the Universe and He animates and impels all that exists. He is
Deva because He is self-luminous, and all other light, whether intellectual or
physical, is a loan from Him. The devotee meditates on bharga, light, for the
attainment of all the four-fold values of life. The term bharaga is derived
from the root bhrisj meaning to roast or to burn. It, therefore, implies not
only the radiant light but also the heat which destroys the root cause of
ignorance and misery which bars one from the attainment of the Supreme. Hence
the divine light is eagerly sought after by all who seek release from the round
(cycle) of birth and death. The significance of the third line of the Gayatri
is this: According to the Vedas, thought and activity make up human life. A
man’s mental activities elevate him if and when they are under the influence of
divine operation. Hence in this line the devotee’s longing is expressed that
the Supreme should guide his mind towards the performance of religious duty, selfless
devotion to God and the highest illumination. The ancient authorities have
paraphrased the ideas contained in the Gayatri by the following verse:
Yo devah savitaasmakam dhiyo
dharmaadigocharaah |
Prewrayt-tasya yad bhargas-tad-varenyam-upaasmahe ||
Yad-brahma nityam hridi sannivishtham maam prevrayat-tishthati nah subuddheeh|
Bhargastadaakhyam bhajaneeyametat dhyaayaama nityam ravimandalasyaam ||
Prewrayt-tasya yad bhargas-tad-varenyam-upaasmahe ||
Yad-brahma nityam hridi sannivishtham maam prevrayat-tishthati nah subuddheeh|
Bhargastadaakhyam bhajaneeyametat dhyaayaama nityam ravimandalasyaam ||
In this context
please go through the message of Jagadguru Sankaracharay of Kamakoti Peetham
popularly known as Periyava in Tamil which I have roughly translated with my
limited knowledge.
“ą®
ą®¤்ą®¤ą®©ை ą®ீą®µą®°ாą®ிą®ą®³ுą®்ą®ுą®®், ą®¤ாą®µą®°ą®்ą®ą®³ுą®்ą®ுą®®் ą®ூą® ą®øூą®°்ą®Æ ą®ą®Ø்ą®¤ிą®°ą®°்ą®ą®³ிą®©் ą®ிą®°ą®£ ą®¤ாą®°ைą®ą®³ாą®²் ą®Ŗாą®²ூą®்ą®ுą®ிą®±ாą®³். ą®¤ாą®µą®°ą®்ą®ą®³ுą®்ą®ுą®®் ą®ீą®µą®©் ą®ą®£்ą®ு. ą®øூą®°்ą®Æ ą®ą®Ø்ą®¤ிą®°ą®°்ą®ą®³ிą®©் ą®Ŗிą®°ą®ாą®ą®¤்ą®¤ாą®²் ą®ą®£ą®µூą®்ą®ுą®ிą®±ாą®³் ą®ą®©்ą®±ாą®²் ą®ą®©்ą®© ą®
ą®°்ą®¤்ą®¤ą®®்? ą®øூą®°்ą®Æ ą®°ą®்ą®®ிą®Æிą®²ிą®°ுą®Ø்ą®¤ுą®¤ாą®©் ą®¤ாą®µą®°ą®்ą®ą®³் ą®ீą®µą®©் ą®Ŗெą®±ுą®ிą®©்ą®±ą®© ą®ą®©்ą®Ŗą®¤ு ą®¤ெą®°ிą®Ø்ą®¤ ą®µிą®·ą®Æą®®். ą®øூą®°்ą®Æ ą®µெą®³ிą®்ą®ą®®ிą®²்ą®²ாą®¤ ą®ą®°ுą®்ą®ாą®© ą®ą®ą®¤்ą®¤ிą®²் ą®µிą®¤ை ą®Ŗோą®்ą®ாą®²் ą®ெą®ி ą®µą®°ாą®¤ு. ą®¤ாą®µą®°ą®்ą®ą®³் ą®Øேą®°ாą® ą®¤ாą®்ą®ą®³ே ą®ீą®µ ą®øą®¤்ą®¤ை ą®øூą®°்ą®Æą®©ிą®ą®®ிą®°ுą®Ø்ą®¤ு ą®Ŗெą®±ுą®ிą®©்ą®±ą®©. ą®
ą®¤ோą®ு ą®Øிą®±்ą®ாą®®ą®²் ą®Ŗą®°ோą®Ŗą®ாą®°ą®®ாą® ą®ą®Ŗ்ą®Ŗą®ி ą®Øேą®°ே ą®øூą®°்ą®Æą®©ிą®ą®®ிą®°ுą®Ø்ą®¤ு ą®ீą®µ ą®øą®¤்ą®¤ை ą®Ŗெą®± ą®®ுą®ிą®Æாą®¤ ą®Øą®®ą®்ą®ாą®ą®µுą®®், ą®¤ாą®µą®°ą®்ą®ą®³ே ą®Øாą®®் ą®
ą®ுą®Ŗ்ą®Ŗு ą®®ூą®்ą®ி ą®ą®®ைą®்ą®ிą®± ą®®ாą®¤ிą®°ி ą®øூą®°்ą®Æ ą®ą®·்ą®£ą®¤்ą®¤ிą®²் ą®
ą®Ø்ą®¤ ą®øூą®°்ą®Æ ą®ą®்ą®¤ிą®Æைą®Æே ą®Øą®®ą®்ą®ு ą®ீą®°்ą®£ą®®ாą®ிą®± ą®®ாą®¤ிą®°ி ą®°ூą®Ŗą®¤்ą®¤ிą®²் ą®ேą®®ிą®¤்ą®¤ு ą®µைą®¤்ą®¤ுą®்ą®ொą®³்ą®ிą®©்ą®±ą®©. ą®øோą®²ாą®°் ą®ுą®்ą®ą®°் ą®ாą®Æ்ą®ą®±ிą®ą®³ைą®Æுą®®், ą®
ą®°ிą®ி ą®®ுą®¤ą®²ாą®© ą®¤ாą®©ிą®Æą®்ą®ą®³ைą®Æுą®®் ą®Øாą®®் ą®ாą®Ŗ்ą®Ŗிą®ுą®®்ą®Ŗோą®¤ு, ą®ą®Ø்ą®¤ ą®øூą®°்ą®Æ ą®Ŗ்ą®°ą®øாą®¤ą®®ாą®© ą®ą®்ą®¤ி ą®¤ாą®©் ą®Øą®®ą®்ą®ு ą®ą®³்ą®³ ą®Ŗோą®Æ் ą®ீą®µ ą®øą®¤்ą®¤ை ą®¤ą®°ுą®ிą®±ą®¤ு.
ą®øூą®°்ą®Æą®©ுą®ைą®Æ ą®µெą®³ிą®்ą®ą®¤்ą®¤ிą®²ே, ą®ą®Æாą®®ą®²் ą®°ிą®²ீą®øாą®ி ą®ொą®£்ą®ிą®°ுą®்ą®ுą®®் ą®ą®்ą®¤ி ą®øą®ą®² ą® ą®£ுą®்ą®ą®³ுą®்ą®ுą®³்ą®³ேą®Æுą®®் ą®µிą®Æாą®Ŗிą®¤்ą®¤ுą®®், ą®¤ாą®µą®° ą®µą®°்ą®்ą®ą®¤்ą®¤ிą®²் ą®®ேą®²ே ą®ொą®©்ą®©ாą®±் ą®Ŗோą®² ą®Ŗோą®ோą®øிą®Ø்ą®¤ாą®øிą®ø் ą®ą®£்ą®ாą®்ą®ிą®Æுą®Ø்ą®¤ாą®©் ą®ீą®µ ą®Ŗ்ą®°ą®Ŗą®்ą®ą®¤்ą®¤ை ą®Øą®ą®¤்ą®¤ுą®ிą®±ą®¤ ą®ą®©்ą®±ு ą®ą®Ŗ்ą®Ŗோą®¤ு ą®øą®Æą®©்ą®øிą®²் ą®ொą®²்ą®µą®¤ை ą®ą®¤்ą®¤ą®©ைą®Æோ ą®Æுą®ą®®் ą®®ுą®Ø்ą®¤ிą®Æே ą®Øą®®்ą®®ą®ைą®Æ ą®µேą®¤ ą®ாą®ø்ą®¤ிą®°ą®்ą®ą®³ிą®²் ą®ொą®²்ą®²ிą®Æிą®°ுą®்ą®ிą®±ą®¤ு. ą®¤ாą®µą®°ą®®் ą®®ாą®¤ிą®°ிą®Æே ą®Øாą®®ுą®®் ą®Øேą®°ே ą® ą®Ø்ą®¤ ą®ą®்ą®¤ிą®Æை ą®Ŗெą®±ுą®ிą®±ą®¤ą®±்ą®ு ą®¤ாą®©் ą®ாą®Æą®¤்ą®°ி ą®®ுą®¤ą®²ாą®© ą®®ą®Ø்ą®¤்ą®°ą®்ą®ą®³ை ą®ொą®ுą®¤்ą®¤ிą®°ுą®்ą®ிą®±ą®¤ு. (ą®øą®Æą®©்ą®øுą®்ą®ுą®®்) ą®Ŗą®² ą®Ŗą®ி ą®®ேą®²ேą®Æே ą®Ŗோą®Æ் ą®¤ேą®¹ ą®ą®்ą®¤ிą®Æோą®ு ą®Øிą®±ுą®¤்ą®¤ி ą®ொą®³்ą®³ாą®®ą®²் ą®Ŗுą®¤்ą®¤ி, ą®ą®்ą®¤ி, ą®Ŗாą®°ą®®ாą®°்ą®¤்ą®¤ிą®ą®®ாą®© ą®øாą®¤ą®©ா ą®ą®்ą®¤ி ą®ą®ிą®Æą®µą®±்ą®±ைą®Æுą®®் ą® ą®µą®©ிą®ą®®ிą®°ுą®Ø்ą®¤ு ą®்ą®°ą®¹ிą®¤்ą®¤ு ą®ொą®³்ą®µą®¤ą®±்ą®ு ą®ாą®Æą®¤்ą®°ிą®Æை ą®ொą®ுą®¤்ą®¤ிą®°ுą®ிą®±ą®¤ு. ą® ą®்ą®ே ą®øą®µிą®¤ா, ą®øாą®µிą®¤்ą®°ி ą®ą®©்ą®±ு ą®Øą®®்ą®®ை ą®Ŗெą®±்ą®±ெą®ுą®¤்ą®¤ு ą®µாą®“்ą®µு ą®¤ą®°ுą®ிą®± ą®Ŗ்ą®°ிą®Æą®®ாą®© ą®¤ாą®Æாą®ą®µே ą®øூą®°்ą®Æ ą®ą®்ą®¤ிą®Æை ą®ொą®²்ą®²ிą®Æிą®°ுą®்ą®ிą®±ą®¤ு. ą®ą®Ø்ą®¤ ą®ą®்ą®¤ிą®Æுą®®் ą®ą®¤ி ą®ą®்ą®¤ிą®Æாą®© ą®Ŗą®°ாą®ą®்ą®¤ி ą®ą®©்ą®± ą®®ூą®²ą®®ாą®© ą®¤ாą®Æாą®°ிą®©் ą® ą®்ą®ą®Ø்ą®¤ாą®©் ą®Ŗாą®²ூą®்ą®ுą®®் ą® ą®்ą®ą®®் ą®ą®©்ą®ிą®±ாą®°் ą®ą®ாą®°்ą®Æாą®³்.
-ą®ą®ą®¤்ą®ுą®°ு ą®ாą®்ą®ிą®ாą®®ą®ோą®ி ą®ø்ą®°ீą®ą®Ø்ą®¤ிą®°ą®ேą®ą®°ேą®Ø்ą®¤ிą®° ą®ą®°ą®ø்ą®µą®¤ி ą®ą®்ą®ą®°ாą®்ą®ாą®°்ą®Æ ą®ø்ą®µாą®®ிą®ą®³்”
ą®øூą®°்ą®Æą®©ுą®ைą®Æ ą®µெą®³ிą®்ą®ą®¤்ą®¤ிą®²ே, ą®ą®Æாą®®ą®²் ą®°ிą®²ீą®øாą®ி ą®ொą®£்ą®ிą®°ுą®்ą®ுą®®் ą®ą®்ą®¤ி ą®øą®ą®² ą® ą®£ுą®்ą®ą®³ுą®்ą®ுą®³்ą®³ேą®Æுą®®் ą®µிą®Æாą®Ŗிą®¤்ą®¤ுą®®், ą®¤ாą®µą®° ą®µą®°்ą®்ą®ą®¤்ą®¤ிą®²் ą®®ேą®²ே ą®ொą®©்ą®©ாą®±் ą®Ŗோą®² ą®Ŗோą®ோą®øிą®Ø்ą®¤ாą®øிą®ø் ą®ą®£்ą®ாą®்ą®ிą®Æுą®Ø்ą®¤ாą®©் ą®ீą®µ ą®Ŗ்ą®°ą®Ŗą®்ą®ą®¤்ą®¤ை ą®Øą®ą®¤்ą®¤ுą®ிą®±ą®¤ ą®ą®©்ą®±ு ą®ą®Ŗ்ą®Ŗோą®¤ு ą®øą®Æą®©்ą®øிą®²் ą®ொą®²்ą®µą®¤ை ą®ą®¤்ą®¤ą®©ைą®Æோ ą®Æுą®ą®®் ą®®ுą®Ø்ą®¤ிą®Æே ą®Øą®®்ą®®ą®ைą®Æ ą®µேą®¤ ą®ாą®ø்ą®¤ிą®°ą®்ą®ą®³ிą®²் ą®ொą®²்ą®²ிą®Æிą®°ுą®்ą®ிą®±ą®¤ு. ą®¤ாą®µą®°ą®®் ą®®ாą®¤ிą®°ிą®Æே ą®Øாą®®ுą®®் ą®Øேą®°ே ą® ą®Ø்ą®¤ ą®ą®்ą®¤ிą®Æை ą®Ŗெą®±ுą®ிą®±ą®¤ą®±்ą®ு ą®¤ாą®©் ą®ாą®Æą®¤்ą®°ி ą®®ுą®¤ą®²ாą®© ą®®ą®Ø்ą®¤்ą®°ą®்ą®ą®³ை ą®ொą®ுą®¤்ą®¤ிą®°ுą®்ą®ிą®±ą®¤ு. (ą®øą®Æą®©்ą®øுą®்ą®ுą®®்) ą®Ŗą®² ą®Ŗą®ி ą®®ேą®²ேą®Æே ą®Ŗோą®Æ் ą®¤ேą®¹ ą®ą®்ą®¤ிą®Æோą®ு ą®Øிą®±ுą®¤்ą®¤ி ą®ொą®³்ą®³ாą®®ą®²் ą®Ŗுą®¤்ą®¤ி, ą®ą®்ą®¤ி, ą®Ŗாą®°ą®®ாą®°்ą®¤்ą®¤ிą®ą®®ாą®© ą®øாą®¤ą®©ா ą®ą®்ą®¤ி ą®ą®ிą®Æą®µą®±்ą®±ைą®Æுą®®் ą® ą®µą®©ிą®ą®®ிą®°ுą®Ø்ą®¤ு ą®்ą®°ą®¹ிą®¤்ą®¤ு ą®ொą®³்ą®µą®¤ą®±்ą®ு ą®ாą®Æą®¤்ą®°ிą®Æை ą®ொą®ுą®¤்ą®¤ிą®°ுą®ிą®±ą®¤ு. ą® ą®்ą®ே ą®øą®µிą®¤ா, ą®øாą®µிą®¤்ą®°ி ą®ą®©்ą®±ு ą®Øą®®்ą®®ை ą®Ŗெą®±்ą®±ெą®ுą®¤்ą®¤ு ą®µாą®“்ą®µு ą®¤ą®°ுą®ிą®± ą®Ŗ்ą®°ிą®Æą®®ாą®© ą®¤ாą®Æாą®ą®µே ą®øூą®°்ą®Æ ą®ą®்ą®¤ிą®Æை ą®ொą®²்ą®²ிą®Æிą®°ுą®்ą®ிą®±ą®¤ு. ą®ą®Ø்ą®¤ ą®ą®்ą®¤ிą®Æுą®®் ą®ą®¤ி ą®ą®்ą®¤ிą®Æாą®© ą®Ŗą®°ாą®ą®்ą®¤ி ą®ą®©்ą®± ą®®ூą®²ą®®ாą®© ą®¤ாą®Æாą®°ிą®©் ą® ą®்ą®ą®Ø்ą®¤ாą®©் ą®Ŗாą®²ூą®்ą®ுą®®் ą® ą®்ą®ą®®் ą®ą®©்ą®ிą®±ாą®°் ą®ą®ாą®°்ą®Æாą®³்.
-ą®ą®ą®¤்ą®ுą®°ு ą®ாą®்ą®ிą®ாą®®ą®ோą®ி ą®ø்ą®°ீą®ą®Ø்ą®¤ிą®°ą®ேą®ą®°ேą®Ø்ą®¤ிą®° ą®ą®°ą®ø்ą®µą®¤ி ą®ą®்ą®ą®°ாą®்ą®ாą®°்ą®Æ ą®ø்ą®µாą®®ிą®ą®³்”
ADHARA SAKTHI -- MAHA PERIAVA EXPLAINS
Just as the mother feeds the baby with her
breastmilk Universal Mother feeds milk to the entire living beings with the
rays of Sun and Moon. Plants also have life. What do we understand by this
feeding through the rays of Sun and Moon? It is a known fact plants survive
because of sun’s rays! If we sow a seed in a dark place where there is no
sunlight the seeds will not sprout and plant will not come up. Plants directly
obtain life-providing energy from Sun. They do not stop at that; they store the
nutrients for us in a generous way since we are not able to receive the same
from the sun direct, like what we do by lighting and cooking; they store the
sun’s energy for us for digesting the food. This benevolent solar energy gets
into us in the form of solar cooker vegetables and grains that we eat and give
us the necessary energy to live.
Present day scientists say now is that this perennial solar energy gets into all particles and by photo synthesis in plants and runs the world but our Vedas stated the same eons before. In order to derive directly such a strength from Sun like plants Vedas have given us powerful mantras like Gayatri. Here it has gone many steps ahead than science, not stopping at body strength alone, to directly absorb mental strength, Sadhana (goal-reaching power by constant practice) strength for liberation etc., from the Supreme through Gayatri Mantra. There it calls this Power of Sun Savita and Savitri, our mother who gives birth to us, nurtures us and provides life to us. This Power is none other than Parasakti, the primordial energy, that is found in our breast feeding mothers says the Jagadguru Kanchi Kamakoti Jagadguru Sankaracharya Swami.
Present day scientists say now is that this perennial solar energy gets into all particles and by photo synthesis in plants and runs the world but our Vedas stated the same eons before. In order to derive directly such a strength from Sun like plants Vedas have given us powerful mantras like Gayatri. Here it has gone many steps ahead than science, not stopping at body strength alone, to directly absorb mental strength, Sadhana (goal-reaching power by constant practice) strength for liberation etc., from the Supreme through Gayatri Mantra. There it calls this Power of Sun Savita and Savitri, our mother who gives birth to us, nurtures us and provides life to us. This Power is none other than Parasakti, the primordial energy, that is found in our breast feeding mothers says the Jagadguru Kanchi Kamakoti Jagadguru Sankaracharya Swami.
--August
21, 2017
Comments:
Hats off to your monumental effort in trying to bring to the doors of the
aspirants,the most powerful mantra Gayathri (Vedamaathaa).
--BRG
Iyengar from Bengaluru
SELF
ERROR TO SELF-ACTUALIZATION
From the very beginning one
should accept the fact that “I am not the body, the body is not for me”. The
reason is that individual Self is of higher nature (sentient) which is a
fragment of the Paramaatman while the body and the world are of lower nature
(Non-sentient). The lower nature in spite of our best efforts can’t satisfy our
real desire; it can’t make us immortal, can’t wipe out our ignorance and can’t
make us happy for ever. So we seek a greener pasture. When we associate
with this lower nature we are compelled to believe we need Liberation. This
liberation is defined as Moksha that is a liberated state from all attachments
for Moksha consists of two words Moha+kshya=Moksha. Puranas make us
believe that Moksha is another place where we do not see any sorrow
and only Ananda or Sreyas.It is the status change and not a change of
place.Once you are in the state of moksha you are the part and parcel of
Supreme Self or an integral part of it from which alone you came. Sankara
progressively leads us to know that Self by detachment and Ramanuja guides us further to submit to
that supreme Self (saranagathi) to find a permanent abode to settle after
having left the physical body. Vedas lead us to Aham->Atma->Brahma,
recognize your true Self (Sat) leaving everything else and integrate with
Brahman, Sathyam (that which regulates mortals and immortals)
Sat+thi+yam where sat is immortal, thi is mortal and yam
is what is being regulated that is Sat to Sathyam. This is
a progressive step to go from mortality to immortality—Asato maa sat
gamaya (Chhandogya). But please listen to the learned Swamiji for a better
understanding as I am not a Vedic scholar. Please go through my detailed
discourse by Swami Hamsananda.
FOWAI FORUM (INDIA) AND STEP (USA) will
present a discourse on Self-error to Self-Actualization by Swami Hamsananda on
Sunday, August 27, 2017. All the webinar audio/videos are available
on YOUTUBE/fowaiforum.
Gist of the Presentation:
Every seeker seems to be working on the
removal of bondage and being liberated from SamsÄra, while Vedanta asserts that
there was never bondage and hence liberation too is fictitious. How then
is this wild experience of the pluralistic world, causing so much of
disturbance, tossing the individual hither and thither? Where did I go
wrong in not experiencing the Immutable as “Me Myself?”
Acharya Shankara guides us systematically! Let
us analyze on Sunday, 27th August 2017.
(Message
from Vibha Chaitanya of Fowai
Forum)
--August 23, 2017
SHARADEESA GANAPATI TRISATI FROM VINAYAKA TANTRAM
The Hindu Temple is a constellation of
symbolism. It is an image that at once relevant to human aspirations and
persistent in human thought and actions. In this the most popular
mythology created deity Ganesha is in the minds of every Hindu Siva and Sakta
follower pushing back the Ancient One, Skanda to the background. He often
replaces Sarasvati by those dedicated to Fine Arts who start concerts
with obeisance to the Lord of obstacles and a Male as we are a male
chauvinistic society! Puranas have used every
religious marketing technique possible to propagate the
wish of Lord Siva in the act of pleasing his beloved Parviti
that made Ganesha most popular in preference to Skanda who is
glorified in Upanishads as Sanat Kumara who taught Narada
besides Siva and also glorified in Ramayana. Skanda Upanishad was the
last of the 108 original Upanishads and somehow later Ganesha Atharva Seersha
Upanishad was written and made popular. Tamil Tantrics do not lag behind and
ever active. They have brought in Vinayaka Tantram and
brought forth Saradeesa Ganapati to join the assembly of 32 Modaka Priya
Ganeshas that probably include Lakshmeesa Ganapati! May his Tribe increase! His
Stotra they say is the ultimate voice for liberation however heavy you
are loaded with karmas! We all need Modaka and not Wisdom (Jnaanappazham
as Avvaiyar said--wisdom fruit)
If Garuda Purana explainbs there is
only one God - Lord Vishnu; all other forms are He himself in different forms
as Muralidharan sites from Puraanas why to confuse, bring in so many deities
and then say all are Vishnu alone. Are we not satisfied if we worship
Venkatesvara alone as that Vishnu who is convincing and pleasing to all
traditions with his outreach to many other religions as we discussed in detail
before. Gita says “Devavrataah Devaan yaanti,
Madhyajinopi Maam”—Worshippers of Gods go to Gods and those who worship Me
alone, they surely come to Me”
Puranas started Hindu Confusionism moving
away from Hindu Dharma. Look at Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism that branched out
of Hindu Dharma they believe in Dharma and Satyavachan and focus on
Gautama Buddha, Varadhmana and Guru Nanak.alone, their practical Gods. They are
not confused with later 49 Buddhas, 23 earlier
Tirthankaras led by Rishabha, Adinatha, an Avatar of
Vishnu who resorted to dharma in preference to sacrifice and later
Several Gurus in Sikhism.
Hinduism which can be
more appropriately called Hindu Confusionism is a more recent nomenclature
given to a conglomeration of heterogeneous traditions and plurality of beliefs
and worship with a long history of development from the Vedic (that which has
originated from Vedas—the four ancient texts which contain the core of Hindu
Philosophy and beliefs) sacrificial religion through the worship of epic and
Puranic heroes and personal deities, cults and sects, as well as
philosophical system rather than to a monolithic tradition or structure
based on a single system of beliefs and worships or single text as scripture
based on Dhrama.
Not our children but we Hindu
American adults as such need to go to Bal Vihar schools as we are
still at Kindergarten level confused by our Puranas and its
protagonists. May be then we need to open nurseries for our
children. Even the wise Jagadguru Sankarachrya is a victim of this
confusion. Jagadguru Chandrasekarananda Sarasvati called Periyava
mentions about “muppaatti-moonru koti devargal” in Tamil as 33
Crores of Gods referring to “trayatrimsati koti” mentioned in
Atharvaveda. Here he has also been tempted by the popular translation of
the Sanskrit word “Koti” to mean Crore or perhaps he wants to play to
the gallery knowing the crowd. But in Sanskrit “Koti” also
means “kind” a rare translation. With this meaning Atharvaveda
only means 33 Vedic devatas, 12 Aditys+11 Rudras+8 Vasus+Asvins
(twin brothers)+ Prajapati=33 Gods. I am surprised how this rare meaning has
missed his attention and we wrongly interpret that Vedas mention 33 crores
of Gods and invite adverse comments from all and extend it to Temple worship to
blindly, and guide them to Ishta Devata worship. May be this keeps
our Silpis busy and idol making art thriving! I Have talked enough in the
past on this topic and want to remind you once again
the following wisdom thoughts: Agnirdevoe dwijaateenaam muneenaam
hridi daivatam | Prathima svalpabuddheenaam sarvatrae viditaatmanaam ||
The ritualists have their God in the fire (Agni); but the wise folk find
him in their own heart. It is the dull-witted one that seeks God in the icon.
Those who have higher understanding see God in everything”
Please go through the rare sloka on
Saradeesa Ganapati on the occasion of forthcoming Ganesha Chaturti which has
lot of phalasrutis as you are always pleased by his Goodies Modakas than the
dry wisdom of Guruguha who is Skanda that is Balaji and that is Santkumara,
the Universal Lord in order to please Lord Siva, the
dissolution asprct of Parabrahman though Garuda Purana says be concerned only
with sustenance aspect of Parabrahaman Vishnu as long as we have to
function on Earth endorsed by Sanakara , Ramanuja, Madhava, Chaitanya, Jaideva
and others.
MESSAGE FROM MURALIDHARAN
IYENGAR
Greetings and Namaste. As Vinayaka Chaturthi falls on Friday
(25/Aug/2017), I am delighted to share a rare Trishati (300 names)
of Lord Sharadesha taken from Vinayaka Tantram. The brief Phalashruti
mentions that one who recites this hymn gets all enjoyment and wealth in
this world and attains emancipation.
Readers might remember that in Vinayaka Tantram, Lord
Vinayaka is also praised in the form of Sharadesha (consort of Goddess
Sharada, i.e. Saraswati) with Ashtottaram, Trishati, Sahasranama,
Hrudayam and Kavacham. I had shared the Ashtottaram a couple of years ago.
This Tantram praises Siddhi and Buddhi, the
consorts of Lord Ganesha, as none other than Lakshmi and Saraswati
respectively. Lakshmi Ganapati is one of the sixteen forms of Mahaganapati (Shodasha
Mahaganapati). Readers might also remember that Brahma Vaivarta Puranam hails
Lakshmi and Saraswati (and Ganga) as the consorts of Lord
Vishnu. Readers also might remember that Lord Kartikeya is praised
as the consort of Saraswati in the famous Shatru Samhara Trishati.
This doubtlessly will be confusing for the befuddled who perceive each of these
forms as different.
There is no need to split hair over hallucinations. We saw last
year that Lord Narayana claims that Lord Vinayaka is Lord
Krishna himself (Brahma Vaivarta Puranam, Prakriti Khandam).
This is pellucidly explained in Garuda Purana, there is only
one God - Lord Vishnu; all other forms are He himself in different forms.
Lord Krishna mentions the following in Uddhava Gita (Chapter 2)
svamAyayA sRRiShTaM idaM sadasal laxaNaM vibhuH | praviShTa Iyate
tattat sa rUpo .a gnirivaidhasi || 2 - 47 ||
(Meaning: The omnipresent Lord, pervading this gross and subtle
universe created by His own Maya, acts in the shape of different things like
fire in the combustible things)
We have seen innumerable quotes from various puranas that the one
and only Parabrahman takes many shapes and names and it is only those
dull-witted who imbue difference among them.
May We pray to Lord Vighna Nayaka on the Vinayaka
Chaturthi day with this beautiful prayer.
--AUGUST
20, 2017
Comments:
This
is a rare and beautiful sthothra. Thank you for sharing this.Wish you a Happy
Gowri and Ganesha festival.
--BRG
Iyengar from Bengaluru
WAY TO REALIZE
GOD
Dharma and Truth turns you to be an amsa
of God or God alone as we just learned this morning. Dharma and
Sathyam are always in Union with God and so inseparable. So if we follow dharma
and sathyam we realize God automatically. That is what Jnaana Bhakti is.
We are exposed to God, puja, prayer, Rituals,
temple etc. by our parents, relatives, friends and the community. This is the
bhakti of lowest grade which I often refer as KINdergarten level; also there is
what is called Manda Bhakti. Here Bhakta pursuits only for artha and
kama. After sometime the bhakta grows slowly and matures. He prays
not for the worldly things but for God Himself. There is a big shift in his
attitude from artha, kama to Lord. This is called
Maddhyama (middle order) Bhakti. As the Bhakta matures further; he wants
to know who is God, what is God, what is His true nature?
He discovers Bhakta is not different from Bhagavan. Bhagavan
and Atma are one and the same. This is love of highest
order. At this stage he prays to god with the following Mantra: “Viswaani
deva savitar duritaani paraasuva yad bhadram tanma asuma”—Oh God, O creator
turn away from me all the sins. Bring to me that which is beneficial. Here you
do not go to him with any personal wish but leave the choice to him expressing
your love and full confidence in him for He knows what is best for us and not
settle for anything less.
"Lord Krishna says to Arjuna
again and again in Bhagvat Gita “Chaturvidha Bhajante Mam.” There are
four types of devotees. This is all due to their Punya or Sukrutinah. They
recognize and worship me. The degree of recognition, their attitude, approach
and prayers are different.
1. Artah Bhakti:
The one, who is in trouble, grief or sadness, distress, discomfort and in
crisis, is called Arti. When the person is captured by grief or distress, whom
he will call as a last resort? If he has some Punya Karma there is Isvara
in his life and he will call upon Him. He calls only when he is in distress –
till then he does not think about God. This is Artah Bhakta. God is used here
as Sadhana (means); so sadhna vishaya Prema. Manda Bhakta. Nothing wrong with
it.
2. Arthaarthi Bhakti: The
devotee, whenever he wants to accomplish something like artha and kama, like
wealth, security, power etc., he invokes the grace of God to control certain
factors, which he cannot do on his own. He wants to fulfil his Kamya Karmas by
using God as means to fulfill it. Devotee prays for dukkha nivrutti and sukha
prapti here. This is also Sadhana Vishaya Prema, therefore Manda Bhakti.
3. Jignaasa Bhakti:
Jijnasa is one, who desires to know the truth of Isvara; Isvara Tattvam.
He does not use Lord as means. Lord is his goal. He uses Isvara’s grace to know
Isvara. He does his nitya and naimittika karmas for antah karan suddhi
and to gain knowledge. His prayers are not for limited things within
Samsara like kamya karmas, but he is a Karma Yogi and wants to know
Isvara. He has got some Viveka; a different kind of devotion. God is his goal.
So Jijnasa bhakti is Sadhya bhakti, therefore madhyama bhakti. Also
madhyama bhakti in time becomes Jnana bhakti but not yet.
4. Jnana Bhakti:
Also called Siddha bhakti or Uttama Bhakti. He is the Jnani, who knows the
truth of Isvara as Atma. The devotion in form of absolute love. What is
absolute love? Between the object of love and the person who loves, there is no
difference at all. The love consumes all the differences. This is only in the
form of knowledge. The truth of Isvara and Atma is one and the same no
difference, this knowledge is known to Jnani. This is also called Ananya
bhakti: Ananya means no Other. The Lord and the devotee, the alter of bhakti,
are one and the same. This is devotion of a Jnani. Bhakti is fulfilled here.
All the above three bhaktas also have union with the Isvara temporarily , for
them Isvara is other than themselves and therefore Isvara still remote to
them;( Paroksa). Jnani bhakta is always in union with Isvara. Isvara is
immediate to jnani ( aporoksha). Jnani is isvara. Isvara is Paroksha for Artah,
Artharthi and Jijnasu. Paroksha means Isvara is known indirectly. For
Jijnasu there is possibility of Isvara becoming aparoksha in time. Other
bhaktas also can fulfil same things in time. Lord Krishna says in Gita, Artah,
Artharthi and Jijansu Bhaktas are dear to Me, but Jnani is ME.
Bhakti is a union between Jiva and
Isvara. Jnani is most exalted Bhakta among all forms of bhaktas. Jnani is
the one, who has accomplished what devotion can accomplish. Jnani is
Tattva-vit. He knows truth of Isvara as Atma. Isvara is not separate from
anybody, but they don’t know it. Jnani knows – he is Isvara. Devotion is only
for this knowledge. If I know Atma as Isvara, then devotion resolves. Till then
it is a devotion. Devotion culminates in Jnanam. The devotion is not after
knowledge. Knowledge itself is devotion of highest order. So bhakti is a union
between Jeeva and Isvara. We have to know, how by jnanam. The devotion fulfills
in Jnanam." (presentation by Vedantin Dr. Satpathy at Who Am I
Seminar)
Chhandogya Upanishad gives its parting advice
thus: “Aachaaryakulaad vedamadheeya yathaavidhaanam guroh karmaani
seshenaabhisamavritya kutumbe suchau dese svadhyyamadheeyaano dharmikaan
vidadhat aatmaani sarvendriyaaani sampratishthaapya-ahimsan sarvaa
bhootaanyanaytra teerthebhyah sa khalvevam vartayan yaavad-aayusham brahmlokam
abhisampadyate na cha punaraavartate na cha punar-aavartate||”
A Person who devotes himself to the study of
the Veda, to the propagation of that Vedic learning, to the performance
of the obligatory duties as accessories to the meditation upon
Brahman attains Brahman and never more returns to the world of
Samsara (world of pains and temporary pleasures). Let us now see what
Padmanabham of India.Divine.Org has to say in his article Devotion—The Vehicle
y to Realize God
Devotion – The Vehicle to Realize God
The ultimate aim of human life is
self-realization by knowing who am I? All kinds of religious thoughts,
theories, preaching and practices help human beings to reach this goal and
nothing else. Just as there are many ways to reach a place in physical world
like walk, bus, train and so on, there are different paths and methods to reach
the goal of life viz., Bhakti, Jnana and Vairagya (devotion, knowledge and
renunciation respectively).
Man being a rational being amongst 84 lakh
species created by the Almighty attempts to question everything he or she comes
across and strives to find answers through reading, questioning the Master,
analysis, assimilation and introspection. History of human evolution and
civilization is a mere journey in this direction. Spiritual elevation would be
a reality only when an individual strives, struggles, survives and succeeds in
his efforts to find the truth in his life. In real terms, it is truth and
nothing else and truth cannot be in parts and fragments but in totality and in
perfect manner without any contradictions and inconsistencies whatsoever.
Devotees are of four groups as told by Lord
Krishna in Srimad BhagavadGita – Aarto, Jijnasu, Arthardhi and Jnani.
One who is engulfed in worries, sufferings and diseases belongs to first
category of devotees- Draupadi, Gajendra and many other personalities come to
our mind who prayed and cried for God in need, worry, melancholy and found
solution, solace and comfort. Equally prominent are the great personalities
like Dhruva, Parikshiit, Janaka, Yudhistara and many more who were yearning to
know the ultimate truth and attained Janna-knowledge of Soul. Majority of human
beings , not with any tinge of regret or inferior feeling belong to such a
group who have always acquired and demonstrated over millions of years and
Yugas added many to their wish list in spite of fulfilling many desires through
the grace of God. We find in this materialistic world this classification of
devotees who deliberately chose devotion as a vehicle for the fulfillment of
desires. As long as Desires exist and dominate human mind, there will be
devotees who worship God for the fulfillment of the same in their lives. Just
as waves in the Ocean, these desires do not diminish or subside and they have
the tendency to reappear, multiply, accumulate and inundate the human mind for
all times with no signs of contentment in sight throughout the life. However,
it does not mean that all the devotees belong to this class who always are behind
the fleeting desires. Men and women who could understand the transitory nature
of desires do not anchor for the same.
In the final group, we find a small and
miniscule group of the knowers who demonstrate highly gifted qualities and
people having enviable degree of inquisitiveness and never satisfying thirst
for knowing the deeper and deeper truths of life and beyond. Prahlada, Narada,
Sanakas, Sananda, Nandana, Ambarisha, Pundarika, Ved Vyasa, Suka Parabrahma and
many more personalities who from their birth shone in the glory of the Lord and
lived and danced in the nectar of Names of God. Everyone in this Universe
unquestionably and undoubtedly becomes part of one of these four classes of
Devotees.
The question often haunting the inquisitive
mind is who inspires, motivates and guides the mortals in the path of devotion.
Obviously, it is the Master who takes the lead and how to identify the Master
is another area of concern. It is repeatedly told by the elders just as the
Seeker strives to search and find his Teacher; the latter is also equally and
more eagerly in his search of the Seeker. Ultimately the meeting takes place
and thereafter, things become crystal clear to both and the ways are wide open.
In Gita again, Lord amplifies the position of the Seeker. The disciple should
approach the Master and Salute him, prostrate on the feet; question the Guru on
matters relevant with all humility and with utmost interest to know and also
serve the Guru with all the devotion and dedication and only then the Master will
readily show the path of realization to the student.
In the past, we have come across in
scriptures, many devotees attained salvation or Moksha without any knowledge of
scriptures or even without any formal initiation into any study by the Guru or
the Master. In the great religious place of Srikalahasti in Andhra Pradesh, the
place is known for the attainment of Moksha for a spider, snake and an
elephant. The Spider did not read or listen to Vedas, the snake did not know
any religious books and the elephant also did not recite any mantras but all
the three were shown benevolence by the Lord by granting the salvation from the
unending chain of birth and death.
Adi Sankaracharya in Sivananda Lahari extolled
the glory of Lord Siva comparing himself to’ Pasu’- animal and as Pasupathi
Lord Siva should show mercy on him. Here Adi Sanakaracharya prayed on behalf of
all and not for himself. We may not know grammar, literature, dance, music or
any such subjects but if one keeps his intellect, mind and body on the lotus
feet of the Lord, then everything else turns out to be easy and clear.
In another place in Sivanandalahari stothra,
Adi Sankaracharya vividly brings out the need to fix our concentration on the
feet of the Lord even though we may take the birth of God, men, animals,
mountains, insects and so on, the aim of everyone should be to pray and nothing
more and in what shape one is born is not relevant.
Devotion or Bhakti is so simple and easy to
practice and all the sins one has committed in his life will stand burnt and
uplift him from the deep sea of birth and death as in case of Ajamila in Sri
Bhagavatam. Throughout his life, he spent in all possible sinful activities,
never uttered the name of God even once but at the time of his death, he
murmured the name of his son Narayana. This simple act of uttering his son’s
name Narayana absolved him from all sins and took him to heaven and the
messengers sent by the Yama had to return. This adequately demonstrates the
need to chant the name of Lord Every day without waiting for the last day of
life which is not known to us. That is why Adi Sankara emphasizes the need to
do Bhajan, have friend ship with good people, read at least once Gita, have sip
of Ganga Water and pray lord at least once in life. Many simple things are laid
out for all of us in Bhajagovinda Stotram.
Prahlada preaches his fellow students about
the need to have devotion and do chanting of the names of Lord Vishnu without
wasting life in transitory affairs. Division of 100 years of human life into four
stages viz., childhood, adolescence, youth and old age and describing the
different activities like having material enjoyments with wife, children,
relations, wealth, possessions and all other material attractions before one
realizes no time is left for lasting and self- realizing actions. Age fleets
and moves fast taking human being nearer to the end of life and all the actions
performed in life prove to be futile and meaningless serving no purpose and the
priceless human life is spent in transitory and fleeting activities. Prahlada,
therefore, exhorts in Srimad Bhagavatam the need to delve on the name of
God, chant the name of God and perform all such deeds which help in
realization.
In Gita, we find a great expression on the
elevated presentation of ways of devotion in Bhakti Yoga-12th chapter. Knowledge
is superior to mere practice of rituals, meditation is superior to knowledge
and renunciation is superior to meditation. It is clear that once renunciation
of fruits of action is sacrificed, peace returns to human being. In this
narration, one should understand that mere bhakti or performing rituals may
lead to nowhere, and knowledge may lead to arrogance and meditation stabilizes
the mind in goal and finally Thyaga or renunciation may bring lasting peace
immediately.
In the ultimate analysis, the most fruitful
and instantly rewarding form of devotion is “Saranagati”- taking refuge under
the kindness of God. Many personalities resorted to this mode when it was
proved that conditions were beyond their capacity and control and their energy
levels were far inadequate to combat, fight and achieve the result. Gajendra,
king of elephants fought for thousand years in water with crocodile and felt
his energies debilitating, diminishing and quite inferior to that of the
increasing strength and capabilities of the Crocodile in the water. Then he
prayed for help, protection and salvation to the Lord in nameless, shapeless
but the Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient. Lord Vishnu who is considered
by Sruthi as the ultimate protector of the creation came to his rescue and
proved his title of the savior of the Saranarthi – who surrenders at the feet
of the Lord for protection and salvation.
--August 20,
2017
TRUTH—DHARMA—GOD, THE INSEPAERABLE TRIUNE
India’s motto Satyameva Jayate is
from Mandukya Upanishad which I have explained at length in my
discourse “Gems from Vedas and Upanishads” along with “Satyam
vada Dharmam chara” from Taittareeya Upanishad. The
motto “E Pluribus Unum” in Latin meaning “Out
of many One” alternatively translated as "One out of
Many or "One from Many" is a 13-letter traditional
motto of the USA and of the city of MonguagĆ” in Brazil. This
very much sounds like an adoption of Ancient Veda Mantra
“Eko Viprah Bahuda Vadanti” and “Devo Ekah; na adviteeyam” Never
codified by law, E Pluribus Unum was considered a de
facto motto of the United States until 1956 when
the United States Congress passed an act adopting "In God We Trust" as the official
motto. For a detailed study on these two
Motto Indian and USA and their similarity go through my detailed discourse.
Brihadaranyaka
Upanishad says Supreme Being having created his deputies in
three Varnas Brahma, Agni, Indra, Vasus etc.,
as Brahmana, Kshatriya and Vaisya also created Pushan
Earth as Sudra. He then created Dharma (Universal Law) to guide these four
Varnas. Having created Dharma He entered into Dharma and became
Dharma Himself. It also says that this Dharma is Sathyam “Dharmah Sathyam” --Dharma is verily
Sathyam. Chhandogya Upanishad says Sathyam means God the
Creator. Sathyam consists of three syllables: Sat= Immortal; thi= mortal; yam=the
principle that controls the mortal and Immortal, that is God. Hence Sathyam in
Indian motto and God in American motto means the
same. The word God is also coined from three English letters
G=Generation; O=operation; D=dissolution like Sathyam. Supreme Being
created only humans as Sudra and mortals on earth bound with
Karma while the other Varnas as immortals. Sudra means service
class that means Humans have to live for and serve Truth
and Dharma to attain immortality like the other three Varnas--asato
maa sat gamaya where asat=mortal and sat=
Immortal (Chhandogya). While coining from Latin E pluribus Unum to
“In God we Trust” the then Congress out of ego made it “In God
we Trust”. It would have been humble and appropriate to say “To God
Only We Submit”. As the World’s leading power earned by its own will and
self-less hard work it need not bow to any other self-centered Nation and hence
submission to Supreme will as a motto would have been a better rendering. Jesus
said take up thy Cross and follow Me, that is submission. Who are we to judge
whether God is trust-worthy, to say In God we Trust. He
decides what we deserve; He only made us the World Leader. We should be His
trustworthy! Here I am reminded of another oft quoted American Motto “All Men
are Created Equal” Being male chauvinistic they used the term men in
place of people. Compare this with the Vedic mantra “Aatmavat
sarvabhootesahu” –The same Self abides in all.
To me
Dharma, Sathyam (Truth), God all mean the same or Three-in-One, learning from
the Vedic wisdom. They are inseparable Trinity! In court
we swear, to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so
help me God, all in the name of God. Why three times?
That means in action, speech and thought (kaayena vaacha manasendriyar
vaa) we should be truthful! I have also talked before that “One
who protects Dharma or Truth will be protected by Dharma (Truth)--Dharmo
rakshati rakshitah”. Please go through my discourses on the subject at
your leisure.his very much reflects Jesus telling his followers (of
Dharma) "Whosoever believeth in Me Though he is dead yet shall he
live" says Jesus> This means if you believe in dharma in action it will
always protect you even after death for Christianity does not believe in
Reincarnation. Thinking rationally, if you Truthfully follow Dharma
or Dharmically follow Truth then where is the scope to commit any
sin while you are all the time engaged in erasing your past bad deeds
a sure way to Liberation. Then why do you need worship and meditation?
Your work is worship all the time and the truthful thoughts are meditation.
He then does not need your “patram pushpam phalam or thoyam” since
they are all spiritually held in Dharma and Truth. Mantrapushpam
you offer to Lord is more pleasing than physical Pushpam!
Let us
listen to Swami Chidananda of Fowai Forum for the rationale of Truth
to guide us to lead a clean, contented,
and good life.
SATYA, Emphasis
on Truthfulness in the Upanishads
FOWAI
FORUM (INDIA) AND STEP (USA) (FOWAI: Flame Of Who Am I? and STEP: Society
To Educate People)Brings to you an enlightening discourse by Pujya
Swami Chidananda on Sunday, August 20, 2017. All the webinar audio/videos are available
on YOUTUBE/fowaiforum.
Gist of the Presentation:
“Truth
alone wins,” declares the Mundaka Upanishad (3.1.6). “Speak truth,” is the
injunction from Taittiriya Upanishad (1.19). The aspirant in the IshÄvÄsya
Upanishad (mantra 15) calls himself ‘someone who has stayed on the path of
truth’ while praying to the Almighty. “Truth houses this exalted wisdom,
Brahma-vidyÄ,” says the Kenopanishad(4.8). Lord Yama in
Kathopanishad (1.2.9) compliments NachiketÄ, saying the latter has
‘true fortitude’ . Lastly, in ChÄndogya Upanishad (4.4.4) the son of the poor
lady JabÄlÄ speaks the plain truth that neither his mother nor he knows who his
father is. In all these ways, the sacred lore of the Upanishads is replete with
emphasis on TRUTH (truthfulness) as the supreme virtue in human life.
The
webinar will examine the rationale behind this emphasis.
~
References
made, in Sanskrit from Upanishads: satyameva jayate, satyam vada,
satya-dharmÄya, satyam-Äyatanam, satya-dhritih, Satya-kÄma JÄbÄli}
--August 18,
2017
DEEPER MEANINGS IN VEDAS NEED RESEARH AND
PROPAGATION
Even in India Land of Vedas, the Vedas are
not always properly understood, though they are honored by an important segment
of the population. A few Vedic mantras like the Gayatri mantra are commonly
practiced and afforded great reverence, yet the rest of the ten thousand verses
of the Rigveda are seldom examined or recited.
Recall the Veda Mantra I explained long back: Sapta praanaa
prabhavanti tasmaat saptaarchishah samidhah sapta jihvaah | sapta
ime lokaa eshu charanti praanaa guhaasayannihitaah sapta sapta ||
From Brahman originate seven praanas, the seven flames, their seven fuel,
the seven tongues and the seven worlds in which the life-breaths move. Further other
things that are sevenfold also come forth from Him, who dwells in the secret
cavity of the heart and are set in their respective places (MNU).
We are often kept dark on Veda mantras like sapta sapta in
this mantra. What are those other Saptas? We are asked to meditate upon
few odd and even numbers in Chamakam. Tha keeps us wondering why we do
so? Here is another Veda Mantra with no explanation describing
Brahman as a mystic bull with 4 horns 3 feet, 2 heads
and 7 tongues which is zero shaped (which means Cosmic Time as Kalpa of
4 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 years) which are often translated to
convenience to suit the text as I have done. “Chatvari
sringa trayo asya pada dve sirse sapta hastaso asya |
tridhaa baddho vrishabho roraveeti maho devo martyaa aaviesa ||Rigveda
IV.58.3.” This means Brahman has Four horns, three feet, two heads and
seven hands. This mystic Bull connected in a threefold
manner, eloquently declares the Self- luminous deity has entered the mortal
everywhere.
This mantra contains the hidden meaning Brahman is
Kaalpurusha or Time, symbolizing the Yuga number or cosmic age of 4320,000,000
million years (Kalpa) as the mantra suggests the numbers in order 4,
3, 2 and seven (tongues) zero. Brahman is described as a Mystic bull with 4 horns, 3 feet and two
heads and 7 tongues in Vedas. Brahman is also described as Kaala or time.
This could mean 4+3+7=14 contained by two heads one dark and one
bright, one head focusing on dark half of the month and the other
bright half of the month and the whole representing 4320,000, 000 years where
4, 3 and 2 appear as numerals and 7 as zeros constituting one Kalpa like
Svetavaraha Kalpa, one span of cosmic time of Creation and dissolution.
In this kind of suit the context explanation even Sankaracharyas
are not exempt. Jagadguru Chandrasekarananda Sarasvati called Periyava
mentions about “muppaatti-moonru koti devargal” in Tamil as 33
Crores of Gods referring to “trayatrimsati koti” mentioned in
Atharvaveda. Here he has also been tempted by the popular translation of
the Sanskrit word “Koti” to mean Crore. But in Sanskrit “Koti”
also means “kind” a rare translation. With this meaning
Atharvaveda only means 33 Vedic gods, 12 Aditys+11 Rudras+8
Vasus+Asvins (twin brothers)+ Prajapati=33 Gods. I am surprised how this rare
meaning has missed everybody’s attention and we wrongly interpret that Vedas
mention 33 crores of Gods and invite adverse comments from all and extend it to
Temple worship to blindly, and guide them to Ishta Devata worship.
Puranas discorded Sanatkumara to be worshiped as Skanda glorified in Chhandogya
Upanishad, also glorified in Ramayana but brought a later Mythological Deity
Ganesha to fore-front whose creation story you are all popular with.
He was created by the body scum of Parvati (Ucchishta Ganapati), beheaded
by enraged husband Siva and restored to please Parvati, killing an
innocent elephant and blessing Him with all wisdom. We have
to focus on a deity who conveys the concept of Tadekam in our Temple
worship and meditation particularly as Hindu Americans drawn from many
traditions. Vedas always mentions ONE DEVA (Devo Ekah, Tadekam) with
33 Devatas, as deputies to govern the Universe. They are
actually offices of power in the cosmic scheme of creation, and, human
beings who have acquired extraordinary religious merit necessary for getting
those places will occupy them in each cycle of creation. Hanuman is believed to
be the next Brahma when the present Brahma’s term expires. We mostly go
by the translations of Western Vedic scholars and commentators who
have also struggled like me. We do not go to authentic sources of
commentators like, Sankara, Madhva, Sayana, Rangaramanuja
etc., for their commentaries are all in Sanskrit and they have commented only
on few Upanishads during their life time. This needs lot of Vedic
Research to dig through the mysteries contained in them in the language of
Vedic Sanskrit which is different from modern literary Sanskrit. Indian
Council of Historic Research is engaged somewhat in Vedic Research as
well as a professor in Rochester Institute of Technology but with different
perspective about which I had informed you earlier.
Please also
go through the full article by David Frawley on the related subject:
Textual Evidence in
the Vedas – Cultural and Historical Implications
By
Dr.David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri)
--August
17 2017
CULTURAL
AND HISTORIC EVIDENCES HIDDEN IN VEDAS NEED RESEARCH
This
year's theme for the 12th
Annual Hindu Mandir Executives' Conference Sept 15-17, 2017 is "Hindu Temples and Institutions:
Challenges of the 21st Century." Hindu temples and institutions are facing
challenges around the globe as technology and social changes affect traditional
beliefs and practices. The 12th annual HMEC conference will enable Hindu
leaders to look at these trends affecting their institutions and rise to the
challenges presented by the digital age in the areas of temple management,
religious programs, youth engagement, serving seniors and society. In this
context it is worth going through an interesting article "Cultural
and Historical evidences in the Vedas Need Research" and also my
discourses:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/05/vedanta-religion-everlasting-universal.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/12/let-us-consolidate-our-temple.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/12/let-us-consolidate-our-temple.html
David Frawley (Vamadeva Shastri) is an American Vedic teacher and
author of more than thirty-five books on Vedic subjects. His fields of
expertise include Yoga, Ayurveda, Vedanta, Vedic astrology and the Vedic texts.
The goal of his work is to promote the cause of “Vedic Education,” which
recommends the teaching of Yoga, meditation and Ayurveda in schools, ashrams
and temples. He has a D.Litt. from S-VYASA and a Padma Bhushan (2015) award
from the Government of India.
Here is
an extract of the speech titled “Textual Evidence in the
Vedas—Cultural and Historical implications” delivered by Vamadeva Shastri at
the foundation Day of Indian Council of Historic Research( ICHR) with my
explanation where needed throughout in the light of what I am doing
through my discourses to broaden your vision. However I
also attach the full text for your reference.
“History
of India remains a vital concern for all of us though many of us have become US
citizens to get a real understanding of Vedic culture, religion and Vedas. Very
few Hindus to-day wherever they are settled seem to know or take
pride in their historical Hindu heritage that is one of the oldest in the
world. The Bharatiya or Indian ethos has been more rooted in the
Eternal and the Universal, whereas the Western and modern ethos seems to
becoming ever more aimed at the transient. India of previous historical era was
not the India of the last few centuries, which was contracted under foreign
rulers.
Vedas
are one of the greatest gifts to humanity that India or the world has ever
produced. A few Vedic mantras like the Gayatri mantra are commonly practiced
that have afforded great reverence, yet the rest of the ten thousand verses of
the Rigveda are seldom examined or recited. I have broadened your vision by
repeatedly quoting Veda mantras and giving their deeper meaning as I have
learned from great Indian Gurus and also brought out a rare compilation of Gems
from Vedas and Upanishads for your awakening to the above facts.
Professor P.R. Mukundan from RIT in USA is also engaged to research
and preserve old Rig Vedic manuscripts as I reported. Please refer to my E-mail
“A State-Of-The-Art Vedic Lab and Library to Be Set -up in Bengaluru Soon”
Vedas
and the Upanishads, summarized in the Bhagavad Gita, do have their rightful
recognition as among the greatest philosophical, mystical and meditation based
teachings of the world, and one of the oldest. The mantras of the great Rishis
are largely reduced to primitive nature worship (as seen in our
parrot chanting of these mantras in worships and rituals). Tamils have
moved away from Vedic mantras to Tamil hymns in worships and rituals whose
deeper meaning is also not easy. The same is true for Buddhism and
Jainism also. Five Manus, twenty eight Vyasas and long periods of Yugas over
thousands of years mentioned in Vedas, during which civilization rises and
falls at various levels, and that our current civilization, though advanced materially,
remains spiritually un-evolved. Harappan or Indus civilization and the
geological studies of the Sarasvati River, now indicate that historically the
Vedic culture likely represents this great civilization in ancient India,
including its extensive urban sites. The Vedas reflect a vast universe, a great
culture, and a pursuit of higher awareness beyond the ordinary realm of time
and space.
No
continuity between the vast Harappan ruins of ancient India and the vast
literary record of the Vedas is generally accepted by modern historians. We
cannot ignore the likely connections between the literature and archaeology of
ancient India, particularly when both are vast and extensive and reflect the
same region of the world and the same river system. We need to combine both the
literary and archaeological evidence. Before the time of the Buddha, Sanskrit
based languages had spread as far as Sri Lanka, and to Indonesia not in
the recent past but earlier. The Rigveda contains clear depictions of
different geographical regions and groups of peoples. Even terms like Mleccha
that occur later in the Brahmanas and Mahabharata for hostile or un-Aryan people
were used for certain Northern and Western Vedic people, mainly of the Anus,
peoples of Sindh, Panjab and Afghanistan to the west like Sindhus and Sauviras,
not indigenous non-Vedic people but to related Indic or Iranian peoples. Even
Krishna said that Arjuna would be doing something un-Aryan if he decided
not to fight in the war. Buddha also called his teachings “Arya Dharma” and his
four noble truths the four Aryan truths. The term Aryan in Rigveda is
mainly a general term of nobility and respect and has no connotation of
race, ethnicity or immigrant populations. Other Aryan groups or Indic and
Iranian peoples such as the later Mittani, Medes and Persians likely carried
with them this Vedic idea of a state and rule of law (Please read my discourses
on Sanskrit language). Indeed the Indo-Iranian and Indo-Aryan peoples
that we find in Europe the Middle East and Central Asia, including the
Scythians, seem mainly Kshatriya people who moved out with an idea
to possess power or empire. The Vedic region is that of seven rivers of
which the Sarasvati is the central most and which flow to the sea.
It is time
to put the Aryan-Dravidian controversy to rest. There is no evidence in the
Vedic texts of any Aryan invasion or migration but only of the development of a
great civilization from the Sarasvati region to the sea. Aryan is term of
respect and nobility. Even Buddhism and Jainism called their teachings Aryan. Anyone
who departed from dharma could be called un-Aryan regardless of ancestry.
From the second century onward, Christian leaders decided to break away from
the Hindu influence and show that Christianity only started with the birth of
Christ." Hence, many later saints began branding Brahmins as
"heretics," and Saint Gregory set a future trend by publicly
destroying the "pagan" idols of the Hindus. They also started
branding Sanatana Dharma called Brahminical Religion (seekers of
Brahman) as Hinduism and called it a caste based pagan religion indicated by
the suffix --ism (nepotism, atheism, hedonism, dogmatism)
while Christianity was glorified with suffix -ity
(purity, chastity, clarity nobility, humility, piety). New archaeological and linguistic discoveries have proved that
there never was an Aryan invasion and that there is a continuity from the
ancient Vedic civilization of the Sarasvati culture
There
is a very extensive cultural sophistication in Vedic texts extending to
language, poetry, music, urban sites, temples and fire altars, mathematics and
astronomy, medicine and herb-ology. For exampe of the Rigveda mantra I quoted
while explaining Daharavidya or understanding Brahman—“Chatvari
sringa trayo asya pada dve sirse sapta hastaso asya |
tridhaa baddho vrishabho roraveeti maho devo martyaa aaviesa ||Rigveda
IV.58.3.” This means Brahman has Four horns, three feet, two heads and seven
hands. This mystic Bull connected in a threefold manner, eloquently
declares the Self- luminous deity has entered the mortal everywhere.
This
mantra contains the hidden meaning Brahman is Kaalpurusha or Time,
symbolizing the Yuga number or cosmic age of 4320,000,000 million
years (Kalpa) as the mantra suggests the numbers in order 4, 3, 2 and
seven zero. Brahman is described as
a Mystic bull with 4 horns, 3 feet and two heads and 7 tongues in Vedas. Brahman is also described as Kaala or time.
This could mean 4+3+7=14 contained by two heads one dark and one bright, one head focusing on dark half of the month
and the other bright half of the month and the whole representing 4320,000, 000
years where 4, 3 and 2 appear as numerals and 7 as zeros constituting one Kalpa
like Svetavaraha Kalpa, one span of cosmic time of Creation and
dissolution.
The
idea of mortal also comes from 4+3+2+7=16. Human being elsewhere referred to as
Shodasee meaning 16. Human being constitutes 10 sense organs, Manas
or mind and five elements or Panchbhootas. A human being is
also bound by three states-Awakening, Dream and Deep-sleep described as
Vaiswanara, tejasa Hiranyagaerrbha and also three Gunas of Prakriti. You see
how deep is the meaning contained in the riddle language of Vedas and a research
mind is needed to solve the riddle.
Not
only Vedas but even our scriptures
have such amazing hidden information that needs to be revealed by
researchers and understood by all:
In Hanuman Chalisa, it is said : "Yug
sahasra yojan par Bhanu! Leelyo taahi madhur phal janu!!
1 Yug = 12000 years; 1 Sahasra = 1000; 1 Yojan = 8 Miles
Yug x Sahasra x Yojan = paar Bhanu
12000 x 1000 x 8 miles = 96,000,000 miles
1 mile = 1.6kms
96,000,000 miles x 1.6kms = 1,536,000,000 KLM
1 Yug = 12000 years; 1 Sahasra = 1000; 1 Yojan = 8 Miles
Yug x Sahasra x Yojan = paar Bhanu
12000 x 1000 x 8 miles = 96,000,000 miles
1 mile = 1.6kms
96,000,000 miles x 1.6kms = 1,536,000,000 KLM
NASA says that, it is the exact distance between Earth and Sun (Bhanu).That proves Hanuman did jump to Planet Sun, thinking it as a sweet fruit (Madhur phal). It is really interesting how accurate and meaningful our ancient scriptures are. Unfortunately, it is hardly recognized or interpreted accurately or realized by any country in today’s world.
There
is a famous Rigveda verse relating to Yoga that occurs in the Shukla Yajurveda
and in the description of Yoga practices in the second chapter of the
Svetasvatara Upanishad-- Yunjante mana uta yunjante dhiyo vipra viprasya
brhato vipaschitta meaning Rigveda V.82.1, “the vast illumined Seers
controlled their minds and their intellects by Yoga”. The idea of Yoga as
control of the mind or chitta, such as we find the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is
firmly rooted in Rigvedic ideas as we note here. We see in this Vedic
verse, also quoted in the Upanishads, that the Vedic rishi had a vision of the
Divine or Supreme Self both within the mind and as pervading all of nature. His
language was Mantra and symbolic but his vision was Vedantic.
David
Frawley concludes his speech with the following piece of advice: “The literary evidence of the Vedas is of a sophisticated
spiritual and material culture in India, covering most of the north and west of
the country, with its roots going back to the origins of agriculture. No other
culture in the world has preserved such an important record for all humanity.
It provides us a new window on our history and our human potential.
There
is a need for an extensive new Vedic study and research in India, including
considering the Mantra and yogic dimensions of Vedic knowledge. This is one of
the most important intellectual considerations for the coming century, not only
for India but for the world as a whole. We hope that ICHR will take this issue
up in a serious manner and produce a comprehensive and enlightened view of the
Vedas. Above all a new time line of ancient India should be created in which
both the outer evidence and Vedic literary evidence are adequately considered.
In the process many important secrets of ancient civilization are bound to be
revealed for the benefit of historians and thinkers everywhere.”
I have
been forwarding to you the powerful messages that Vedas, Upanishads and Gita
send, relevant to practical life and our need to focus on them for
success in life as well as spiritual uplift as explained by modern
spiritual Gurus. In fact my collection of Gems from Vedas and Upanishads
have been compiled keeping main focus on the same. I hope you
will try to chant them repeatedly knowing their meaning and derive the benefit
from wisdom thoughts contained therein.
Please
go through the full article by David Frawley:
Textual Evidence in
the Vedas – Cultural and Historical Implications
By
Dr.David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri)
Please
go through:
--AUGUST 13, 2017
VEDIC
ASRTROLOGY ON THE UPCOMING TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE IN USA
Please
go through the Identical Planetary Placements 224 Years Apart presented
by Sam Geppi. The first chart marks the beginning of the Reign of Terror
that began during the French Revolution, when ideologue Robespierre assumed
power. The second is the chart of the August 8 Eclipse in the United States.
In both
dates we see 7 of the nine visible planets in the exact same signs, an
occurrence so rare as to boggle the mind. Also, in each example, the shadow of
the eclipse path passes within a few hundred miles of each Nation’s Capital.
Rahu,
sun, moon and retrograde Mercury in Leo. These are both days of the solar
eclipse. Eclipse is also very tight, with an orb between four and 7°. This
eclipse in Leo shows a counterfeit version of power, which usually trends
toward tyranny and domination.
The
common “Mercury retrograde” connection refers to backward thinking,
miscommunication, flawed analyses and the lack of discrimination in support of
this despotism and violence.
Additionally,
we see Mars and Venus, both in cancer. The debilitated Mars shows a lack of
discipline and moral integrity (9th house ruler, from Leo). Venus, which shows
diplomacy and tolerance is highly compromised by this weakened Mars.
Additionally,
prominent/important planets in Scorpio, a sign of paranoia, are ominous – Especially
given the aforementioned debilitated Mars. When the ruler is weakened, the
lower quality of the sign emerges. Meaning, Scorpio at best is a sign of
emotional courage and resolve. When Mars is weakened however, it trends toward
paranoia and emotional reaction.
As
you can see in the chart of 224 years back the path of the eclipse passed
within a few hundred miles of Paris, the city in question. As you can see, the
upcoming solar eclipse in August 2017 will pass within a few hundred miles of
the US capital, Washington DC. Also look at the Chart of the Current President
in relation to the August Eclipse Chart.
It’s
clear to see the connection between the chart of the current president and the
2 eclipse charts. He has a 6° Leo ascendant, with Mars at 3°. The sun will be
eclipsed at approximately 5° on August 21, which is right on his ascendant and
Mars.
Why
the Nodes/Rahu?
Do you
remember the story of Rahu and Ketu? Rahu had his head chopped off after being
deceived. Rahu is a planet of confusion, deception and trickery. In fact, I
discovered the connection to the reign of terror, and the solar eclipse, after
a prominent decapitation occurred several years ago on a solar eclipse. This
led me to investigate the most notorious rain of decapitations in history, the
reign of terror in France. Much to my surprise I learned it both began and
ended the days of the solar eclipses.
Why
Leo?
Leo is
the sign of the King. The sun being eclipsed by Rahu shows the obsessives and
confused expression of power which led to the bloodbath in France more than 200
years ago. This same confused power struggle is looming ominously before us
now.
Thoughts / Predictions / Conclusions
We are
not 18th Century France, reacting to an entrenched monarchy system. We are a
democracy, with many checks and balances in place to hedge against a literal
“Reign of Terror”. But we definitely have a potential for harsh, authoritarian
power plays and there are provisions in our bylaws that account for things like
“Martial Law”, especially if it is to restore “Public Safety”.
We have
already seen, not only attempts to silence dissenters (Media, Intel, Justice),
but the removal of scientific data and information from official government
websites, the installation of Cabinet members hostile to the Agencies they are
meant to protect / citizens they are meant to serve, etc. Given the level of
mobilized resistance already to these efforts by the current admin, there is no
reason to think it will not get worse before it gets better. In the name of “Public
Safety” we may see some attempts to over reach – using national-guard – for
example, our outlawing protests (especially if they get violent which may be
coming).
It is my hope that the revolution is against
the current regime that in fact they represent the worn-out aristocracy that
began to shift, culturally at least, with Barack Obama. Recognition of
multi-varsity and inclusion from the Obama years led to the backlash against it
we are seeing – as it was corrupted by the same flawed system of paybacks,
elitism and moneyed interests. Those years were seen as a certain Tyranny by
some. Whereas others see this current regime as the real tyranny.
I am
voting for inclusion and openness.
Following
the French Revolution (if you set aside Napoleon’s conquest) France settled
into a democratic system. There revolution had to be as harsh (in the reverse)
as the system / oppression it was replacing in order to find balance.
Source: vedicartandscience.com
--August 11, 2017
Comments received
Very interesting
information. Thanks for sharing—Dr. Brahm Parsh
Thank
you. Hope it is right, and we get better times ahead! Wonder if the violent protests
yesterday in Virginia was already predicted 2 days ago, when he said..."or
outlawing protests (especially if they get violent which may be
coming)..."—Dr. Santhosh Venkatraman
Very
interesting information. Being an engineering graduate, I am a layman in
astrology and astronomy. What I have practically seen during a solar eclipse is
that a Geiger Counter(used for measuring radiation) reading simply shoots up,
compared to normal times, indicating large amounts of cosmic radiation. Kusha
grass (the sacred Darbha grass) is supposed to be an insulator of electricity
and this is added to food items during the eclipse possibly to prevent ionisation
of the food articles and poisening them. Our Rishies and yogis used to sit on
Darba grass during meditation to avoid draining of the spiritual currents
(pranic currents of extremely high frequencies) developed during their
practices. I also understand that Rahu and Ketu are imaginary points in space,
opposite each other, used for astronomical calculations. Rahu is the point of
convergence of the conical shadow's tail (which is shown as a wave as in
snake's body, due to the natural vibration of the sun, moon and earth), conical
shadow having been formed due to blocking of the light from the luminous body
to the observer. This information which I got from my collegue has no
scientific basis and so I would like to be pardoned for any inadequacy.
Although I have been a technical person, I am now totally immersed in spiritual
pursuit and there is a wide gap between worldly knowledge and reality.
OFFERING OBEISANCE TO ELDERS
It is the Hindu tradition to bow down to
the Supreme and to the elders by kneeling and bowing ones head to the floor.
There are 2 postures which are practiced by Hindus. The Ashtaanga
posture is when all 8 limbs of the body touch the floor (face down sleeping
posture). This is also called Sashtaanga
Namaskaaram. This is recommended to be done by men
only. The Panchaanga pranaamam or 5 parts of the body touching the
floor (head, shoulders and hands, knees, feet) is done by men and
women. This is a kneeling posture with the head bowed down to the
floor. In temples prostrations of these types are done only to
the Gods. Outside temples they are done to elders. Prostrations
should not be done to those who are sleeping or still in wet
clothes. One should not also bow down to those who are younger in
age. In the Vaishnava practice the men in the family prostrate
and then announce their name, ancestry and school of thought (abihivaadanam)
after they have had their upanayanam (thread ceremony). Usually one
announces his gotra, the three or five sages one is discendant
from, the sutra one follows, the Vedas one follows and then ones name to
receive blessing from elders. These announcements are not made before
God, Sages, Sanyasis, or women other than ones
mother. Abhivaadanam is an interesting practice handed down from generation to
generation without any documentation. It was unique way of
maintaining a record of the family background, school of thought, Vedic study
and background of the individual.
Please go through the present posting on
the subject and also go through my discourse why we do many things in Hindu
Culture:
The Value
of Offering Obeisance to Elders
When
my son went to India and met an elderly lady, he offered his
obeisance and seeing this the lady started crying and blessed my son
saying that nowadays none of the new generation children like the act of
offering obeisance and said she was astonished seeing my son doing
this even though brought up in a foreign country. The credit for teaching my
son this should go to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON, in which offering obeisance
is an integral part of Vaishnava culture.
Offering
obeisance to the Supreme Lord and to the devotees of the Lord is an important
limb of Bhakti or devotional service. The first thing we are expected to do upon
having darshan of the Lord or His pure devotees is to offer pranams. In our
Vedic culture it has been a practice that whenever the younger ones in the
family meet anyone elder than them, they immediately fall at their feet and
offer their obeisance and seek the elder’s blessings. In
Mahabharatha also we see that Krishna the Supreme Personality of Godhead
follows this very nicely and whenever He meets Yudhishtira who is elder, the
Lord gets up and offers respects. This culture is mostly forgotten now. Srimad
Bhagavatam from the beginning to the end, glorifies the Lord by saying “namah
namah” again and again. The first verse in Srimad Bhagavatam begins with “om
namo bhagavate vasudevaya” and the last verse is 12.13.23
naama-sankirtanam yasya
sarva-paapa-pranaashanam |
pranaamo duhkha-shamanas tam namaami harim param ||
pranaamo duhkha-shamanas tam namaami harim param ||
“I
offer my respectful obeisance untothe Supreme Lord, Hari, the congregational
chanting of whose holy names destroys all sinful reactions, and the offering of
obeisance unto whom relieves all material suffering.”
We
are unaware of the great value of this practice. Just by falling at the feet of
the elders we attract the mercy and blessings of the elders and any
misunderstanding or anger just melts away by this very act. In this regard there
is a beautiful story of sage Markandeya in the Padma Purana Srsti khanda
chapter 33 and we shall see the same here.
This
pastime of Markandeya is different from the one given in the Srimad Bhagavatam,
as it is from a different Kalpa (4320, 000, 000 years). In the previous Kalpa,
there was a renowned sage by the name Mrikandu and a son was born to him. His
name was Markandeya. That boy attained five years of age and developed
exceedingly good qualities. Once, a sage full of knowledge saw the boy roaming
around in the courtyard. The sage stood there for a long time and through his
mystic vision came to know all about the future course of events that were to
occur in the life of the boy. Seeing the sage, Mrikandu asked him, “What is the
duration of life of my son? Kindly calculate the number of years remaining in
his life, and whether they are less in quantity or great.” The sage said, “O
Lord of the sages! The creator of this world [Brahma] has fixed the total
remaining duration of life of your son to be six months. Please do not lament.
I have told you the truth.” Mrikandu heard this and then performed the
Upanayana, sacred thread ceremony, of his son Mrikandu then said to his son,
“Always offer obeisance to the sages.” The son, having heard this, took great
pleasure in offering such obeisance.
Not
caring for high or low caste, he paid respects to all humans. After five months
and twenty-five days had passed, Markandeya saw a group of seven sages and
offered his respects to them. Markandeya was wearing a mekhala, a belt-like
girdle, and was carrying a staff. The sages said, “aayushmaan bhava,” “Live
long!” However, after saying this, they noticed that the boy had only five days
remaining in his life. Knowing this fact, the sages became frightened. They
took the boy with them and went to see Lord Brahma. They paid their respects to
Lord Brahma and introduced the boy. The boy offered obeisance to Lord Brahma.
Lord Brahma said to the boy, “May you live long.” The sages heard these words
and were visibly pleased. Lord Brahma saw the sages and was amazed. He said to
the sages, “Who is this lad and why has he come here?” The sages then narrated
everything as follows, “This is the son of Mrikandu. He is short-lived. We have
brought him here so that you can kindly make him live long. Seeing that he was
short lived, his father named Mrikandu performed the Upanayana ceremony, tying
the girdle around his waist and bestowing the staff. Mrikandu then advised him
to pay respects to each and every saintly person he saw. O great grandsire! We
were on a pilgrimage and happened to notice this lad paying respects to each
and every one. Thus we blessed him by saying, ‘Live long!’ How will the words
spoken by us as well as yourself come true?” Thus addressed by them, Lord
Brahma replied, “This is Satyaloka — the land where true words are spoken. This
is the reason why it is fearless from all sides. This lad named Markandeya will
now have a life-span equivalent to mine. This, best among sage, will be helpful
to me and will be present along with me at the beginning as well as at the end
of Kalpa.”
Thus
we see the great value of offering obeisance and now under the
blessings of Srila Prabhupada we should revive this wonderful culture and teach
our younger generation the value of this.
--August 11,
2017
KRISHNA
JANMAASHTHAMI AND HINDU CONFUSION-ISM
Sri Krishna Jayanti falls on August 14
or 13th September depending on the traditions this year. With
all its pride in “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and “Devo ekah” Hindu
Religion as is practiced today is –ism based—Saivism,
Vaishnavism, Saktism and Astrology-ism etc. Therefore we have two Krishna
Jayantis, two Hanuman Jayantis, three Upakarmas, two Uttarayanas two
Dakshinayanas practiced to convenience and Nine planets of astrology in
contradiction to Vedic Astrologyof Surya Chandra, Brihaspati and Bhoomi
being only presiding deities, Rahu and Ketu being myths and others dead
planets. American Hindu Temples are copy-cats, follow sectarian India and
depending on the strength of the boards and main deity belonging to –ism
group decide on the special worship days and rituals.
In Nashville where I stay Krishna Janmashtami
is celebrated on August 14 this year where the main deity is Ganesha,
priests are all Saivites and Saivites are in majority as Board members.
Vaishnavaites stay home and celebrate it on September 13
which day is not a special worship Day in Ganesha temple. May be
Pittsburgh will be celebrating KIrishna Janmashthmi on 13 September as in
Tirupati. We do not celebrate astronomical Uttarayana and Dakshinaayana on
actual days because astrologers say they are on January 14 and July
16th. Similarly Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated during
Rama Navami as Ayodhyavasis say and not on Mula Nakshtra Dhanurmasa in December
as North American Panchangam says. It is
obligatory for a temple like Nashville to celebrate both days of
Upakarma, Krishna Jayanti, Hanuman Jayanti, Winter and Summer Solstice Days as
all religions observe and since astronomy can’t be questioned,
as special worship days in a year since they solicit
donations from all and are also concerned about all traditions till they
find a common ground to have one North American Panchangam made obligatory for
all instead of copying confusing sectarian traditions from India. Hindu Temple
of Fiji and BAPS Organization in USA celebrate these festivals on
week-end Sundays mainly to attract crowd and collect funds with active
participation like what America does for its holidays as well as
Presidents” Day. Are we not dishonoring Gita's statement "tasmaat saastram
pramaanam te"? Do we know what these sastras are? Temples say these
are sectarian Aagamas-Siva, Sakta Vaishnava Aagamas!
For a Hindu temple of Multi Traditions this is
unfortunate confusion. The Council of Hindu Temple of North America
publishes one North American Panchangam whose author is
Panchga-Mandiram of Mysore, a well -known and diplomatic Panchngam
published in India. It pleases all –isms and so everyone is happy.
American Hindus are very highly educated unlike Hindu masses in
India. There are eminent world reputed Astor-physicists among them. Why can’t
they sit with the eminent astrologer of North American Panchangam and bring one
Panchangam suitable for all. It baffles Hindu American Youth that Krishna and
Hanuman are born on different days for different traditions and Krishna was
killed also on different days for different traditions by an arrow of a hunter
and solstice days are different to Hindus which are based on science and
astronomy to all others! We know Dr. Narahari of Memphis did elaborate
research on Mahabharata War using planetary software and fixed its date. B. N.
Achar used planetarium software to argue that the Mahabharata War took place in
3067 BCE. It should not be difficult for him to fix the right birthday of
Krishna and Hanuman acceptable to analytical Hindu American Mind. All temples
in USA should have a common goal and common approach to unify all Hindus from
different traditions, spiritually advance also, lead the country
spiritually focusing on few important festivals and rituals with common
understanding based on the wisdom of Vedas. Vedas deal with rituals only
and not on festivals and the aim of Gita is to lead one to tranquility,
happiness and equanimity. No rituals are prescribed by it and Gita’s doctrine
is beyond religious and National boundaries. Our worship, festivals and rituals
should reflect these thoughts and also the wisdom of Vedas Eko Viprah
bahuda vadanti, Vasudaiva kutumbakam, sangacchadvam samvadadvam, Krinvanto
viswamaaryam, sarvejanah sukb hino bhavantu etc .It is worth
going through what JAINA has done as well as Buddhists from India who are
plagued with similar problems in India that being Indian culture--divide and
fight! I had appraised you about the significant contributions of
JAINA and unification of Jain community in USA fighting its orthodoxy
from India but not neglecting dharma aspects of Jainism.
I am delighted to share a short and very
sweet prayer on Lord Krishna by Akrura taken from Padma Puranam, Uttara Khanda
and Chapter 260 (titled Kamsa Vadha) sent by Muralidharan Iyengar
from Singapore. Lord Shiva mentions that one who chants this hymn at the time
of taking bath gets the benefit of bathing in all holy rivers and attains Lord
Vishnu's abode in addition to getting relief from all troubles. Here we
see mutual admiration of Siva and Vishnu and their oneness which does not
reflect in their worships by us. May we pray to Lord Krishna on His
Janmashtami day with this exquisite prayer and accrue immense spiritual wealth!
Please also go through my detailed discourse on Krishna
Janmashthami:
Sri Krishna Stuti – Akrura – Padma
Puranam
AkrÅ«ra uvÄca -
kÄlÄtmane namastubhyaį¹
anÄdinidhanÄya ca |
avyaktÄya namastubhyaį¹ avikÄrÄya
te namaįø„ || 1 ||
bhÅ«ta-bhartre namastubhyaį¹
bhÅ«ta-vyÄghra namo namaįø„ |
namaste sarva-bhÅ«tÄnÄį¹-niyantre paramÄtmane
|| 2 ||
vikÄrÄyÄ 'vikÄrÄya
pratyakį¹£a-puruį¹£Äya ca |
guį¹a-bhartre namastubhyaį¹ niyamÄya
namo namaįø„ || 3 ||
deÅa-kÄlÄdi-nirbheda rahitÄya
paramÄtmane |
anantÄya namastubhyaį¹ acyutÄya
namo namaįø„ || 4 ||
govindÄya namastubhyaį¹
trayÄ«nÄthÄya ÅÄrį¹
giį¹e |
nÄrÄyaį¹Äya viÅvÄya vÄsudevÄya te
namaįø„ || 5 ||
viį¹£į¹ave puru-rÅ«pÄya ÅÄÅvatÄya namo
namaįø„ |
padmanetrÄya nityÄya
Åaį¹
kha-cakra-dharÄya ca || 6 ||
uadyat-koį¹i-ravi-prakhya
bhÅ«į¹£aį¹ÄƱcita varcase |
haraye sarva-lokÄnÄį¹-Ä«ÅvarÄya namo
namaįø„ || 7 ||
savitre sarva-jagatÄį¹-bÄ«jÄya
paramÄtmane |
saį¹
karį¹£aį¹Äya kį¹į¹£į¹Äya pradyumnÄya
namo namaįø„ || 8 ||
aniruddhÄya dhÄtre ca vidhÄtre
viÅva-yonaye |
sahasra-mÅ«rttaye tubhyaį¹
bahu-mÅ«rdhÄį¹
ghri-bÄhave || 9 ||
sahasra-nÄmne nityÄya puruį¹£Äya
namo namaįø„ |
namaste nÄga-paryaį¹
ka-ÅÄyine
saumya-rÅ«piį¹e || 10 ||
keÅavÄya namastubhyaį¹
pÄ«ta-vastra-dharÄya ca |
lakį¹£mÄ« ghana-kucÄÅleį¹£a
vimardojjvala varcase |
ÅrÄ«dharÄya namastubhyaį¹ ÅrÄ«ÅÄyÄ
'nanta-rÅ«pÄ«į¹e || 11 ||
Phalasruti
Ä«Åvara uvÄca -
snÄna-kÄle paį¹hed yastu devaį¹
dhyÄyan sanÄtanam |
imaį¹ stavaį¹ naro bhaktyÄ mahadbhir
mucyate hyadhaiįø„ || 12 ||
sarva-tÄ«rtha-phalaį¹-prÄpya
viį¹£į¹u-sÄyujyaį¹-ÄpnuyÄt |
evamantarjale devaį¹ stutvÄ
bhÄgavatottamaįø„ || 13 ||
arcayÄmÄsa sa jalaiįø„ kusumaiÅca
sugandhibhiįø„ |
kį¹takį¹tyas tadÄkruro nirgatya yamunÄ
jalÄt || 14 ||
sametya rÄmakį¹į¹£į¹au tu praį¹anÄma
ÅubhÄnvitaįø„ |
taį¹ dį¹į¹£į¹vÄ prÄha govindo vinÄ«taį¹
vismitaį¹ hariįø„ || 15 ||
|| iti
pÄdme-mahÄpurÄį¹e paƱcapaƱcÄÅat-sÄhasryÄį¹-saį¹hitÄyÄį¹ uttara-khaį¹įøe
umÄ-maheÅvara-saį¹vÄde ÅrÄ«kį¹į¹£į¹a-carite kaį¹sa-vadho-nÄmÄdhyÄye akrÅ«ra-kį¹ta
rÄ«kį¹į¹£į¹a-stutiįø„ sampÅ«rį¹am ||
--August 10,
2017
Comments Received
Good Thoughts. BTW, do you
know Hindus are the laziest people, according to the latest report, on this
planet? They follow wasteful and stupid rituals without intellectual exercise.
Their lifestyle, in India particularly, is full of filth because they refuse to
follow hygienic rules and practices. Those who are managing temples affairs in
USA are educated derelicts, I do not expect any change from these people. --Tarun N Surti
UPAKARMA RITUAL
AUGUST 7, 2017
Tomorrow is Upakarma. Is Upakarma meant Brahmin male Dwijas Only? It is
for you to think about it and not to go by the sermons by Swamijis. Also this
upakarma is postponed in India because of the visibility of Chadragrahana in
India. Since this is not visible in USA Sri Ganesha temple in Nashville has
wisely thought to conduct the same for the desired performers at its premises.
This is a Universal Atonement Day for all for all the sins committed and evil
thought we are haunted with. Hindus restrict this to threaded Brahmin males.
Hindu American Temples also administer Gayatri Mantra during Hindu
Marriage Ceremony and also perform holy thread investiture ceremony to
male Christian boy wedded to a Hindu girl which has not caught the eyes
of our Sankaracharyas! They too are entitled to do this Upakarma
ritual. Usually they do not bother as well as many Hindu Americans, for Lord
Jesus attoned for all our sins by crucifixion on the Cross and some now
feel He is Sanat Kumara and son of God. Those of you who have missed my
discourse may through the relevant extracts to know about tomorrow’s Upakarma
ritual. This is a sign for Interfaith Dialogue now popular in USA!
“Kaamoekaarsheet in Sanskrit means ‘those acts that are
out of desire’. ‘Manyurakaarsheet’
means “those acts that are committed out of anger”. The general practice of
uttering ‘namoh namah’ after
this mantra appears to be not appropriate as this Japam is done with a sense of
contrition according to some. However if one goes back to the full Mantra as
given in Mahanarayana Upanishad it will be clear why adding “Namoh Namah” is
stipulated. Some- times it is not advisable to resort to word-by-word
meaning of mantras. Also full Mantra chanting makes sense and enhances
spiritual value which runs as follows:
“Kamoe-akarsheen
namoh namah | Kamo-akarsheet-kaamah karoti naaham karomi kaamah kartaa naaham
kartaa kaamah kaarayitaa naaham kaarayitaa eshaa te kaama kaamaaya swaahaa
||
Manyu-rakaarsheer-nnamo namah |
manyu-rakaarsheen-manyuh karoti naaham karomi manyuh karta naaham kartaa manyuh
kaarayitaa naaham kaarayitaa eshaa te manyoe manyave Swaaha || (61—62,
Mantrapushpam, Narayanopanishad, Ramakrishna Math).
The translation of the mantras runs as
follows:
Salutations are to the Gods. Desire
performed the act. Desire did the act. Desire is doing the act, not I (Self).
Desire is the agent not I. Desire causes the doer to act not I. O Desire,
fascinating in form, let this oblation be offered to thee, Hail!
Salutations are to the Gods. Anger
performed the act. Anger did the act. Anger is doing the act; not I. Anger is
the agent; not I. Anger causes the doer to act; not I. O Anger, let this
oblation be offered to thee. Hail!
We do not have the authority to alter
the mantras of Vedas for our convenience or condense them. It is
therefore essential we chant the full mantra 108 or 1008 times as per
convenience. Since the word Swaahaa comes at the end of these mantras,
these are mantras meant for Homa (sacrifice) for annual self-atonement like the
one we recite in daily prayers for self-atonement (prayaschittaa)—“Sooryascha
maamanyuscha…..paapebhyo rakshantaam” and “Agnischa
maamanyuscha….paapebhyo rakshantam”. Unfortunately Sandhyavandana mantras
are also made exclusive by wrong interpretation to Brahmin males
only where the dwijas pray for atonement of their sins
committed during the day. Does it mean others do not commit sins or
they do not need atonement every day?
Lord Narayana, to whom this apology is submitted,
is sure to bear the acts of our omissions and commissions with regard to
Saastras.
Kamokaarsheet Mantras appear in the Andhra
version of Mahanarayana Upanishad (MNU) in section 61 and 62. Prior to
them section 61 contains a mantra as follows:
“Yadvo devaaschakrima jihvayaa
guru manaso vaa prayutee devahedanam | araavaa yoe noe abhi
ducchunaayate tasmin tadenoe vasavoe nidhetana swaahaa ||
O Gods, O Vasus, that serious
god-offending sin which we committed by our tongues, by our understanding, and
by our actions, place that in those who come near and act in an evil way
towards us (provoke us). Hail (Swaahaa)!
This is a Homa mantra for
self-purification as it ends with the sacrificial term “Swaha” a term used
in offering oblations to fire. The next two mantras described above as
Kamokarsheet manyurakarsheet mantras only elaborate what is mentioned in
section 61. Therefore the above Kamokarsheet mantras are
meant for Homa for all which are also employed for Japa
(repeated recitation) during Upakarma. Probably Grihyasutras later
adopted these Vedic mantras condensing them while prescribing Upaakarma ritual
procedures. It is therefore advisable to use the full Vedic mantras instead of
condensing them to hurry up the Japas. Their full version is convenient for
Japa and is not too long. It is therefore fitting and proper to chant
Kamokarsheet manyurakarsheet mantras contained in sections 61 and 62 in full as
given above and not what is given in Upaakarma ritual manuals.”
--August
6 2017
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY—SECOND QUARTER
I believe many of you are too busy
struggling hard with your kid’s future and also busy in your pursuits. Those
retired like me may think it is too late to focus on spirituality and postpone
it to next birth enjoying the short time left behind. You might have missed my
regular E-mails now and then or stored them and forgotten about it. I bring to
your kind attention and leisurely reading my collection of all E-mails sent to
my active participants in the second quarter of the year 2017. I would like to
share these thoughts sent you spending time and effort with my blog readers
also apart from the discourses that I
share. This is a new service I started
last year which according to Google Reports is very popular among blog visitors
though comments and suggestions from you were sporadic. I hope to end my contribution of discourses
to the Blog by the end of this year. However, I will continue posting my collection of E-mails sent to you on
quarterly basis on the blog to benefit
the blog visitors from different parts of the globe as long as I can. They have
been quite active and the blog reading
as well as participants are gaining
momentum. My E-mails often dwell on
forwarding messages received from great thinkers and knowledgeable people like
Swami Chidananda of Fowai Forum, Swami Chidananda of Paramrtha Niketan, Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev, Phil Goldberg, John Smallman,
IndiaDivine.Org, Facebook, Feed-spot, Huff-post, Swarajya, Internet sources, serious religious and
spiritual thinkers and HR Forum
participants who have sent their valuable suggestions etc., with my comments
and further research. I started my
discourses on Hindu
Religion, Spirituality and Culture in 2002 at Sri Ganesha Temple, Nashville TN,
USA encouraged by the then Chairman,
Baal Vihaar School DR. Vedavyas
and an ardent devotee and teacher of Baal Vihaar Kamala Raghunathan. Some of
you continuously support me too
appreciating my work. I did not realize
my own strength then. Now Hindu Reflections will complete its mission with
little more than 300 postings with more than 3000 pages of reading material on
the blog and the customary E--mails as you see in this E-mail. Around 350000 pages have been read by blog visitors not
counting your participation. I hope I have taken your thoughts around
multi-aspects of Hindu Religion, Vedanta,
Hindu culture, Inter-faith, Spirituality and Out-reach available all at
one source making it mini-encyclopedia on Hinduism. Your comments and further suggestions as to
how I had served you in the past and how can I can serve you better in the
future will be highly appreciated. I would strongly recommend that you download my classified discourses and use
it for reference to go to your subject of interest as my blog is perhaps
one of the largest of its kind. My discourses are posted as they got delivered
as guest lectures and are not arranged in any orderly fashion. These E-mails
are not related to my discourses posted on the Blog. Those of you who are busy in
your pursuits may unsubscribe to
receive the E-mails in the future and be content with registration on the blog
If any of your friends wants to be on my e-mail they may contact me at
<nadipuram @hotmail.com>The topics so for posted on the Blog under
this series are:
1. Thoughts
of the Day (January 2017)
2. Exclusive
E-Mails of Hindu Reflections (January 2017)
3. Thought for
the Day --First Quarter 2017 (July 2017)
4. Thought for
the Day --Second Quarter 2017 (August 2017)
VEDIC LAB AND LIBRARY
Vedas, say the
universe is made of matter and energy as revealed by Einstein's Theory
E=Mc2 about which I have spoken a lot; Please see the exciting news thanks to
the Herculean effort by a Hindu American Professor from Rochester Institute of
Technology, USA. I am also leaving behind my blog Hindu Reflections :
<nrsrini.blogspot.com> one source at finger-touch containing the wisdom
of Vedas as supplementary mission, a work of a decade and one man's
effort.
A State-Of-The-Art Vedic Lab and
Library to Be Set Up In Bengaluru Soon
(Swarajya Staff, Bengaluru,
India)
All ancient
Indian wisdom will soon be one touch away thanks to an upcoming
state-of-the-art preservation laboratory which will bring the Vedas and other
Indian scriptures onto your smartphones.
As reported by The Times of India, the
initiative will be set up in Bangalore and is being spearheaded by Bengalurean
P R Mukund, who is an engineering professor at the Rochester Institute of
Technology. It was his desire to preserve Vedic manuscripts and the
wisdom they hold that got him to develop a technology called Waferfiche which
is being used to preserve the manuscripts available on ancient palm leaves.
With the help of this technology, images of
manuscripts will be copied through multi-spectral imaging process on a
Waferfiche, which is a water and fire proof silicon wafer. This wafer can then
be read using as simple magnifying glass. The palm leaves are first softened by
rubbing them with the juice of Tulsi, following which a micro-image of the
leaves are digitized using the multi-spectral image technology.
Three thousand old manuscripts have already been
converted into digital form and are now being turned into e-books.
Mukund, who is also the founder of the
Foundation for the Preservation of Knowledge in New York, said, "The
upcoming India Centre, which will house the manuscripts, will have a library of
digital books of these granthas and a laboratory where I can make more
of these Waferfiche discs. I'm confident of getting talent in India. A lot of
Indian students connect with me online to hear my talks on Vedic science and
are very energized about it".
A ‘fortunate’ encounter with Vedic scholar
Bannanje Govindacharya few years ago led Mukund to delve into the Vedas and
other Hindu scriptures. "I was amazed at the research done in this country
while scripting the Vedas, which say the universe is made of matter and
energy If science and its by-products explain matter, spirituality is all
about energy. All our scriptures provide knowledge about energy," he says.
And if you too possess any of the old
manuscripts that you inherited, you can share it with the foundation and have
them digitized.
--August 5, 2017
Hindu American Thoughts and Actions on Wake-up
call of Swami Vivekananda
Hindu Americans should wake up to the call
given by Vivekananda on "Vedanta Religion of the Future to the World"
about which I talked about in detail whose principles Hindu American
should gradually implement in its present worship and rituals to save the
extinction of Hinduism on a foreign soil as it happened to European culture and
many ancient religions and also promote it through spirituality, meditation and
Yoga that will not cause a revolution but evolution to integrate its walled
approach copied from India and also influence walled Abrahamic Religions.
This needs looking into current religious practices imported from India and
modify them within the discipline of Hindu Dharma with proper explanation to
influence the young minds who are mostly attracted to Major religion
of the land by the Universal binding force of Love. Hindus in India will
not listen to off-shore advice nor are they concerned with our problems. They
enjoy internal fights and are busy. Soon Abrahamic Religions and 33% of
Americans who say they are SBNR (Spiritual but not religious) will join us.
Let us strengthen the organizations like HMEC, VHP, The Council
of Hindu Temples of North America
etc., who focus on American Hindu community and Hindu Dharma in their task of
universal appeal without prejudice and insist on them not to focus all the time
on Hindu India operating in USA. We have our own problems which need attention.
Many of us have left India by fatal attraction of Material World
and we need to survive and succeed. Indian migrants have not succeeded in
getting dual citizenship like European migrants who succeeded may be due to
their common belief in Christianity and ambition to make it Religion of the
world. But it has misfired in USA 33% being SBNR along with sizable atheists
who say Atheism is a Religion and exercise their religious rights as I talked
about.
Sri Ganesaha temple in Nashville is focused on
this problem may be many other Hindu American Temples too! Performing
Samaskaras for interfaith couples, welcoming and accommodating
Interfaith married couples to Hindu Temples and allow them to participate in
Hindu religious worship, conducting week-end temple tour to all
irrespective of caste, creed or race as long as they observe temple discipline
and etiquette, explain principles of Hindu Dharma and to take children of
Baal Vihaar to different religions’ worship places is to
impress upon the public of the broad outlook of Hindu American community and
the need of the hour. This is the American Hindu way.
Unfortunately such things are not possible in
India if Inter-faith couples reveal or expose their identity with a Western
partner as they enter a Hindu temple when they visit6 India. I had my
recent experience in taking a White American friend to Kapali Temple in
Chennai. In spite of my diplomatically avoiding sanctum visits merely
confining to outermost cir-cum-ambulatory path, I was shouted and
hunted down. Some efforts have been made in India in building Siva-Vishnu
temple in Chennai learning their lessons from Orissa tradition
particularly the ancient Bhuvanesvar Temple where Salagrama
and Linga are worshiped together with Bilva and Tulasi as in Tirupati.
Gomatesvara idol in Srvanabelgola stands naked on a hillock with no fortress
built around and people of all faiths do Pada-puja (charnam pavitram vitatam
puranam ena pootahscharati dushkritaani). The deity can be seen
from few miles from the temple. That is how Venkatesvara stood on
Venkatadri without Sankha and Chakra in the beginning before it was
commercialized, which the good Lord tolerates as the income benefits his
devotees. That is why Jains rushed to the Tirupati hills and worshiped him as
Neminatha and Buddhist and British high executives worshiped him as Sanat
Kumara hailed in Book of Revelations of the Holy Bible.
Recently Pejawar Monastery Swamiji in Udupi
opened the premises to Muslims to hold Ramadan breaking-fast prayer and also
enjoy the symbolic feast in its premises. In Tiruvaiyar temple authorities
removed altars of Navagrahas, Nayanmars and many other minor
deities focusing on main deities of Siva and his family. Hindus in
India are busy with building temples for Ganesha and Hanuman in every
street corner posing traffic hazard and in crowded bus stands, busy
with cow vigilante programs and have no time for rationale thinking in a
Sovereign Democratic Secular Republic and feel happy that they are
championing the cause of Hindu religion moving away from Hindu
Dharma and are blind to the reforms that have taken place in their own
tradition and orthodoxy. At the same time once a very open minded Jagannath
Temple in Puri has raised a prominent display "Entry for
Hindus Only” probably plagued by the recent forceful conversions to
Christianity by some active missionaries in India in Odisha. On the
other hand Christians and Jews in USA welcome the visits of Baal Vihaar
students with an open house policy because Holy Bible
says; "My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all peoples"
(Isiah 56:7). No such open declaration and practice is seen in Hindu
worship in India as temple worships are of recent origin and are
regimental as decided by the religious monastery heads and temple
authorities. Muslim countries give no scope for this even though there are
isolated Hindus who are married to Muslim community which is rather rare.
You can’t even carry Bhagavad Gita in your hands in Saudi
Arabia. American Hindus are trying to broaden their vision with the
Vedic wisdom of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and “Eko viprah bahudaa
Vadanti”. With a view to break the sectarian walled traditions Ganesha
Temple in Nashville, though Agama based, concludes its worship with the
hymn “ OM Jaya Jagadeesa Hare” and relevant Veda mantras with
its Universal appeal in which many visitors from Abrahamic
Religions join Hindu American devotees. They are conducting a series of
Interfaith Dialogue seminars (aa no bhadrantu kratavah yantu Viswatah),
This is just a beginning and much more needs to be done to achieve spiritual
progress and Universal Oneness
Your comments are welcome.
--August 5, 2017
YOGI RAMSURATKUMAR FROM ARUNACHALESVAR
Please find below an exciting report on Yogi
Ramsuratkumar from Arunachalesvar. This article at once inspired by many to
come with their personal experience with the Guruji in flesh and blood and not
a myth, similar to the experience with
Arunagirinthar and Ramana Mahrshi about whom I recently talked to you.
Among many comments I have picked one as very spiritual and emotional as it echoes my thoughts on RAA-MA
Mantra, that evolved out of Ma and
Ra the two letters that Narada administered to a destitute hunter and
killer who after repeating became Sage Valmiki who wrote Ramayana. If there be
such a high salvation for such a sinner there is hope for every one of us to
attain Moksha (moha+kshaya meaning getting rid of attachment) and ultimately
Mukti (Liberation) by meditating on RAMA mantra. RAMA mantra constitutes Ashtaakshari
and Panchakshari (Om Namo Narayanaya and Namh Sivaya), Ra and ma
being seed letters of the two mantras as explained in my discourse.
Here is the comment with my editing:
“As stated if the Mantram SRI RAMA JAYA RAMA
JAYA JAYA RAMA is chanted continuously 24 hours in a day all the 24 elements of
our composition namely Pancha Bhutas, Dasa Indriyas, Pancha Pranas and four
Antah Karanas (Manas, Buddhi, Chitta and
Ahamkara ) would be spiritually activated and they correspond to the 24 names OF Vishnu which we chant as part of sankalpam before doing any worship
or Sandhyavandana. Secondly the twenty
four hours signify 24 spokes in Dharma/Kaala Chakra as well 24 letters of
Gayatri Mantra. Accordingly 24 hours of one day is the subtle form (Sukshma
Rupam) of one`s life time. Prabhu Rama is Dharma Swarupam. Dharmam is Satyam (Chhandogya) as Dharmam
protects those who protect it. Satyam is Jayam as Truth only triumphs
(Satyameva Jayate). Hence the
Mantra carries significance that Rama is
Jayam. Thus continuous chanting of Rama Namam round the clock for 24 hours on any day ensures Jayam (success)
which is nothing but Muki to Physical body, Sthula Sareeram (Hardware), Subtle
Body, Sukshma Sareeram (Software) and
Causal body Karana Sareeram (Firmware)
and definitely one would undergo spiritual enlightenment--. P.V.A.P SWAMY”
Please go through my discourse on the subject:
The Joyous Presence of
Yogi Ramsuratkumar
The Arunachaleswara Temple sits at the foot of
the Sacred Mountain Arunachala and dominates the flat countryside of Tamil
Nadu. At the base of the imposing sculptured towers of the temple, simple
beggars congregate in long rows. One among them is seated, wrapped in many
clothes of different sizes and colors, a country fan in one hand, the
personification of disheveled splendor and yet his face shines with a divine
glow.
Here we come across a happy beggar, whose
spontaneous laughter is infectious and joyous. He is Yogi Ramsuratkumar. People
come to him bringing their problems and he envelops them with peace. His
compassion lifts their heavy burdens. Rare are the remarkable beings who live
in the conscious presence of divine grace and can distribute it selflessly to
all who come to them. In Yogi Ramsuratkumar we have such a presence living
today at the foot of Arunachala.
Yogi Ramsuratkumar was born in a village near
Varanasi, in North India. He was fascinated by the sacred river Ganga in an
inexplicable way. Playing along the banks of the Ganga, brought him immense
happiness. Even as a young boy he longed for the company of holy men, who
thronged to the Ganga. From this association, the inner urge for true peace,
began to produce ripples of spiritual longing. A Seemingly ordinary incident
changed his outlook for good. It was the sight of the death of a bird – this
brought home the message of the transitory nature of life. Slowly, God
intoxication sopped his soul. One of the monks he met at this time suggested
that he meet Sri Aurobindo of Pondicherry, in South India.
Sri Aurobindo’s “Lights on Yoga” widened his
already mature inner vision. Merely being in Aurobindo Ashram brought Yogi into
a state of divine madness. From there he was drawn to Sri Ramana Maharisi at
Tiruvannamalai. The complete accessibility of Sri Ramana was a tremendous gift
to Yogi Ramsuratkumar. Sri Ramana was available day and night to all the
devotees. He stayed in Sri Ramanasramam for a few months and drenched himself
in Sri Ramana’s all-pervading grace.
A few incidents touched him deeply. As was the
habit in Sri Ramanasramam after puja was done to the Mother’s shrine, the arati
plate was put before Bhagavan. One day he took Kumkum (sacred red powder) as usual
from the plate. Yogi happened to be the first to take the Kumkum which Bhagavan
had just touched. The mere touch of the same plate put him into an ecstatic
state. On another occasion the Yogi was thrilled to witness the compassion of
Sri Bhagavan. A devotee, Ekanath Rao, brought a bowl filled with various fruits
cut into pieces into the hall where Bhagavan sat. Within the large bowl was a
small bowl with pieces specially cut for Bhagavan. Bhagavan’s sense of equality
was total and although his tolerance toward devotees was immense he would never
permit anything special for himself. When Bhagavan noticed a separate bowl for
himself he was annoyed and pushed the bowl roughly aside. A few pieces split on
the floor and were left there. The devotee then began to distribute the
fruit-pieces to all in the hall. Everyone in the hall sat with a few pieces in
their hands, not wanting to eat since Bhagavan himself did not have any. Out of
compassion for the devotees, Sri Ramana reached down, picked up the fruits that
had fallen on the ground and began to eat. The rest of the devotees then were
able to eat.
After spending these glorious days with
Bhagavan Ramana, the Yogi went to the Himalayas. With the passage of time, the
divine fervor that he had experienced at Aurobindo Ashram and Sri Ramana’s
presence began to wane. When he heard that both Sri Aurobindo and Sri Ramana
had left the body the same year he went to visit Swami Ramdas. Swami Ramdas
told him to chant Ram Nam (the name of Ram – Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Rarn)
for 24 hours. He did this and was brought back into the state of “divine
madness”.
Reminiscing on the time spent in Sri Ramana’s
presence, Yogi Ramsuratkumar has said: “Once a sadhaka put a number of
questions to the Maharishi. One of these questions, along with Sri Maharishi’s
reply, was translated into English for the benefit of those who did not know
that language like myself. The question was: ‘If the Guru dropped the body even
prior to the sishya (disciple) having succeeded in his sadhana, is it necessary
for the sishya to seek another Guru to guide him further on?’ The reply was:
‘Not necessary. He can continue his sadhana. Guidance and grace will flood him
undoubtedly’.
When someone ventured to ask the Yogi why in
that case had he gone to Swami Ramdas
after Maharishi’s passing, he graciously replied: ‘I had begun to see that a
Higher Power was expressing itself, using me as an instrument. Bhagavan Sri
Ramana Maharishi was a principal influence in shaping this beggar to this
state. After his passing away this beggar needed a Guru in the body. I did not
see any conflict in going to Swami Ramdas. It was Swami Ramdas who initiated
this beggar and gave him this madness! The inner life of saints like Sri
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sri Aurobindo, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharishi, and
Swami Ramdas is far far removed from what we can externally perceive of them;
they are not just bodies. They are ever rooted only in the Eternal infinite’.
Around Yogi Ramsuratkumar there is a fragrant
atmosphere of tenderness, beauty, a perennial flow of godly love. He has found
inner bliss and the radiation of that bliss to those around him is palpable; it
seems almost as though one could touch it. His words may be forgotten, but
never his presence and the deep impregnable power of his personality. Often
after speaking or lifting a devotee’s worldly burdens he fills him with the
vibrant chanting of Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram. His sweet voice
reverberates, resounds in the air. And one knows that here before him is a man
who has freed himself from all the fetters of the world and lives in that
divine state of union, ‘oneness’ with the entire creation.
[Personal
experience of a devotee on visit: Words are superfluous to speak of the
affection I enjoyed from Sri yogi I was in 1982 December 82 or Jan 83. I got a
chance to have darshan of Yogiji in Thiruvannamalai. At that time there were
only very few visitors less than five or six and yogiji asked me why I came to
see Him When I explained that I wanted
to conduct my sister’s marriage as I had to do it from my meagre earnings
yogi blessed me that “Father will bless me” meaning that
Arunachaleswarar will bless me and asked me to get up. After prostrating when I
was about to leave the house from the Sannadhi Street Guruji accompanied me up
to the gate and just at that time wanted me to wait for a few moments and asked
me if I wanted His picture and when I said it was a blessing to have His
picture from His own hands Yogiji went inside and removed His picture that was
hanging behind Him and gave it to me with the words KEEP THIS with you and that
He will guide me. And that picture that I got in Jan1983 is still adorning
my House walk. My anantha koti namaskarams to the beloved
Yogi].
SHINTOISM
HAS ITS GRASAS ROOTS IN SANATNA DHARMA AND HINDUISM LIKE ALL WORLD RELIGIONS
Shintoism is the indigenous religion of Japan.
It is rooted in the prehistoric religious practices of the Japanese related to
Vedic religion and its continued contact with Hindu Religion. In Japanese
lore it is known as “Kaami no michi” in which innumerable Japanese deities from which the Japanese imperial family is
believed to have descended. In Chinese it is called Shin+tao=Shinto, which
signifies the “way of spirits of God”. Over
a period of time, this Kaami got so
intertwined with Buddhism and Taoism that all of them coexist in perfect
harmony. Shintoism is a State Religion
of Japan.
Japanese celebrate Festival of Dolls like Kolu
in South India. It is interesting to go through an article with
pictorial representation “Why Japanese Religion has foundation in Hinduism” by
S. Alexander, IndiaDivine.Org-- “In classical Japanese, India is
known as “tenjiku”, which translates as “the land of heaven”. Japanese culture
has gods and demons too, which is quite similar to the Hindu mythology. There
are many Hindu gods that have paved their way into the Japanese
mythologies--Saraswati as Benzaiten; Yama,as Enma; Apsara asTennin; King of
Gods – Indra as Taishakuten; Ganesha (Ganapati)as Kangiten; Kubera as
Bishamonten; Garuda, as Karura.
Many such references can be seen, especially
if you go into the Kansai region. About 20 gods are worshiped all around Japan.
Many of them can be seen in the Kyoto region, which is known as the city of a thousand
shrines. There are hundreds of shrines to Goddess Saraswati alone in that
country, along with innumerable representations of Lakshmi, Indra, Brahma,
Ganesha, Garuda.
A number of words in the Japanese language
have their roots in Sanskrit. Each deity
has a “Beejakshara” and these are venerated by the people, even though most of
them cannot read it. Some Japanese tombs are adorned with the Sanskrit
alphabet. Also, the idea of Karma
has also entered Japanese philosophies. They say “bachi ga ataru”, which translates as “something bad will happen to
you if your actions cause harm”.
You may kindly refer to my discourse on
Navaratri where I talked about Japanese Festival of Dolls similar to ours. I had already talked how Sanat Kumara was
worshiped in Bhuddhism and Shintoism while talking on Venkatesvara including
many other religions of the East and the West. All religions have their
grass roots in Sanatana Dharma
or Eternal Tradition but some
still continue to be influenced by Vedic as well as Puranic
gods of Hinduism, Hindu philosophy and Esoteric Sanat Kumara Tradition and
Vedic rituals as described while talking on Eucharist and Samahain rituals in
my discourses. These are further supported by archeological evidences from
several countries the most significant being that of Rome as presented to you.
The most significant players are the Dharma based Religions of
Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism about which we talked a lot of late.
Hindu
Americans should wake up to the call given by Vivekananda on "Vedanta
Religion of the Future to the World" about which I talked about in detail,
and gradually implement the principles in its present worship and rituals to
save the extinction of Hinduism on a foreign soil as it happened to European
culture and many ancient religions and also promote it through spirituality,
meditation and Yoga that will not cause a revolution but evolution to integrate
its walled approach copied from India and also influence walled Abrahamic
Religions. This needs looking into current religious practices imported from
India and modify them within the discipline of Hindu Dharma with proper
explanation to influence the young minds who are mostly attracted to Major
religion of the land by the Universal binding force of Love. Hindus in
India will not listen to off-shore advices nor are they concerned with our
problems. They enjoy internal fights and are busy. Soon Abrahamic Religions and
33% of Americans who say they are SBNR (Spiritual but not religious) will join
us. Please enjoy the current article from IndiaDivine.Org and think deep to
influence the organizations like VHP, HMEC etc.
Let us strengthen these organizations in their task of universal appeal
without prejudice and insist on them not to focus all the time on Hindu India. We have our own problems
which need attention. Many of us have left India by fatal attraction and we
need to survive and succeed. Indian migrants have not succeeded in getting dual
citizenship like European migrants who succeeded may be due to their common
belief in Christianity and ambition to make it Religion of the world. But it
has misfired in USA 33% being SBNR along with sizable atheists who say Atheism
is a Religion and exercise their religious rights as I talked about.
--August 2, 2017
FOUR
DHARMA RELIGIONS IN INTERFAITH DIALOGUE SEMINAR
Sangacchadhvam sam vadadhvam sam vo manaamsi
jaanataam/ devaa bhaagam yathaa purve sanjanaana
upaasate // ( Rig Veda X-191-20)
Come together! Speak
together! Let our minds be all of one accord like the divines that sat together
in the past in harmony to worship.
[These mantras say
that a person not only should take care of himself but also look after the
welfare of the society he lives in. All people should live with one mind
without enmity and this can be achieved only by the divine grace says the
mantra]
Supreme Spirit
addressed as Sathyam created the divines as immortals and the humans as
mortals. Sat means immortal, thi means mortals and yam
means what is being connected. (Sathyam=sat+thi+yam). He also gave us
Sanatana and Sanatkumara to reveal that Sanatana Dharma to us. We
humans cut that Dharma into pieces called Religions building
walled cities that suited our convenience and comfortable
stay. That is why Dharma is found in every religion if look deep and it
is left to our intelligence to find it. You have heard in the recent Interfaith
Dialogue Seminar Buddha’s followers misspelled that as Dhamma and said our
Dharma is different.
The creator Savitar
(creative Impulse) created Brahmana, Agni; Kshatriya Indra;
Vaisya Vasu; and Sudra Earth and
several others among these Varnas totaling 33 Vedic deities to rule the
world (deputies). They all sat together and prayed as the mantra above says.
Bhagavaan said in Bhagavad Gita “Chaatur-varnyam mayaasrishtam”.
There is a difference between “chatur varnam” (four varnas) and “chaatur
varnyam” (characteristics of four varnas). May be chatur means
clever and therefore this may mean clever characteristics of his 33
administrators. We again misunderstood Him and created four
castes and began to split them and fight and even cutting them to
several pieces later.
We heard in the
august assembly of four Religious experts during Interfaith Dialogue Seminar
what the four Dharma Based Religions are and how they are great and unique and
you do not need anything further for salvation if only have faith in the
founders. Hinduism could not think of a Foun
der with their
misunderstood Aham Brahmasmi concept. It was all four roads leading
to Rome not knowing the distance of travel! But I do not know whether we
got confused or convinced hearing to the questions and answers from the
audience that includes me. To help us JAINA organization has come
out with a simple booklet explaining these four religions which I attach for
your proper understanding. To me all looked speaking about same Dharma in
pieces like the blind men and the Elephant. May be I am wrong being at
the Kindergarten level of Vedanta! Brihadarnyaka Upanishad says Dharma was
created immediately after creating four Varnas may be to guide those four
Varnas of Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudra and Chhandogya Upanishad says Dharma
means Sathyam! After all said and done only Deva
(Dharma) has to guide even devatas (Varnas)!. May be caste cannot
be equated with Varna but our wise counselor on Hinduism on the dais said
Krishna created four castes! May be Krishna has different meaning for Varnas in
different yugas! We all know Krishna is too difficult to understand being
Chatura! May be someone of you may correct me if I am wrong!
UTTISHTHATA JAAGRATA CHARAIBETI
CHARAIBETI
One of the agitated mother in the audience felt
the whole dialogue was a waste without understanding the problem of children in
local schools who often turn violent. She had no patience to go through JAINA
contribution to the society. She seems to be upset even with the Hindu
community. None wanted to answer her convincingly, may be due lack of time.
Unfortunately American education system with the wrong understanding of secular
state obligations cannot help here. The onerous has fallen on the individuals
as well as the community. Here again the community which practices Dharma as
Religion is most suited. Hindu Americans focused on succeed
at any cost have also forgotten their Dharma role. Recently a Hindu
American kid shot a girl who disappointed him in his love affair. Nobody
can help the society unless parents start their early education of their
children at home. If we point one finger at others three will point towards us!
For this they should be spiritually disciplined. Henri Nouwen says “The
spiritual life is not a life before, after or beyond our everyday existence.
No, the spiritual life can only be real when it is lived in the midst of pains
and joys of the here and now” All human beings, whether we admit or not, hunger
for the spirit. We are spiritual beings. We long for something deeper and more
meaningful. We long for connection, not only with each other but also with God.
But the great irony is that we are too busy, too preoccupied, too restless, too
fearful and too anxious for this to actually happen. We worry ourselves to
death over things that may or may not take place. We are busy with many
things, but all too often, it’s the wrong things. Loneliness has become a defining challenge of our time.
Because we are too busy and remain unconnected. The culture is shallow and
superficial. We ask others how they are doing and don’t even wait for a
response. “Out of all this pervading loneliness many cry, is there anyone who
really cares? Is there anyone who can take away my inner sense of
isolation? Is there anyone with whom I can feel at home?” These are great
questions and ones that we all ask. But we long for answer. “Can any of you by
worrying add as single hour to span of life?” asked Jesus. No we can’t.
Time is short and limited. But we can certainly lose an hour, a day, a year or
even a lifetime. So turn spiritual, teach dharmic values to children at home by
anecdotes, appreciate what society is doing voluntarily and extend your helping
hand. Our Dharma focused Society also needs to focus more on the practical
implementation at all levels besides these thoughprovoking seminars.
--August 1, 2017
Comments received:
You are right about the confusion we had
during Sunday interfaith dialog. I appreciate your comments.
--Dr.Brahm
Parsh
THE ESSENTIAL NEED TO
KNOW WHO AM I AND HONOR SELF
It is a general feeling that children are ignorant
and needs to be taught not realizing we ourselves need to be educated.
Here we have the example of Lord Siva learning from his child Skanda who became
his Guru and hailed as Guru Guha. Probably he knew that it wasa Sanat Kumara
who was born as his son as promised! But why do we think like that? Why can’t
we realize we are all children of God and the same Self abides in all? It is a
pity many of us do not know this Truth. Once we realize this our effort
will be to make the child realize this truth from the very beginning. Hindus
try to discipline their child with “matru devo bhava” and “pitrru
devo bhava” treat your mother as God; treat your father as god but never
make attempt the child to realize who that God is for they themselves do not
know who that God is! Then they come up with Puranic stories where gods are
constantly engaged in fight needing all weapons of destruction. That god is in
mother, father and the child as well. Here the father, the mother as well
as the child remain ever ignorant of realizing “Who am I”. So all
of us are ignorant and need a Guru. The best Guru is yourself once you focus on
“Who am I?” So we are all ignorant children of God! May be it calls
for Svadhyaya (self-study as was in my case). Recently we heard Kanchi Math
wanting to teach Brahmin boys in a Central school Vedic Wisdom Thoughts at very
early age and struggling hard to find children, majority of the seats provided
going vacant in spite of free boarding and lodging. Perhaps Puranas and their
colorful enactment plays would have motivated parents to send their children to
such schools! A visit to our Baal Vihaar Schools in USA would convince
the concerned how deeply involved we are in Puranas! May be I am wrong!
Let us here what John Smallman has to say?
“As I was meditating this morning (one day in April
2016, actually) the thought "honor yourself" flowed into my mind. And
I suddenly realized (finally!) that that is the only rule we need to observe!
If I do not honor myself how can I possibly honor
anyone else? The vast majority of humans, regardless of race, color, or creed, were,
as children, told and shown that they were not good enough. It was (is?)
believed that they had to be taught to behave well and honor others, BUT they
themselves were not so honored! After all, they were only children!
We are all teachers, as ACIM makes very clear, and
we teach what we believe even if we are unaware of it. So, as children, many of
us are dishonored, unacknowledged, discounted, and that is what we learnt and
then teach, purely by how we conduct ourselves, how we live our lives for all to
see.
Our upbringing makes us feel inadequate at best, and
at worst worthless! Our "elders and betters" think this is good for
us because it was how they were brought up – children need to be disciplined –
and that it is the correct way, otherwise they will become uncontrollable! Then
in our teens, sometimes much earlier, we rebel against this unfair and unjust
treatment, and are again harshly judged by those "elders and
betters!" And we do become uncontrollable.
So, as teenagers and young adults, as we throw off
the shaming and blaming we experienced growing up, we construct fronts or masks
– of confidence, strength, intellectual ability, whatever – behind which we
hide in almost constant fear of being discovered, of being seen as who we truly
are. But of course who we truly are – divine beings, the beloved children of
God – has also been hidden.
I think to awaken is to become aware that who we are
is all that we can ever be – we can't be anyone else however much we may admire
someone else, or the mask behind which that someone else is also hiding – and
we need help from those a little further along the path of spiritual growth (we
are all without exception, even if we don't see or acknowledge it, on a
spiritual path) to see the person that we truly are. Just who we are, is always
perfectly OK – "I'm OK, You're OK" – because we are far, far more
than we can possibly imagine, in fact we are all perfect divine beings who have
temporarily forgotten that truth.
Once a person realizes this and starts the essential
process of total self-acceptance they do begin to honor themselves, and when
that happens it becomes impossible not to honor all others, even though one may
not like them or agree with them. In other words, until we
learn to honor ourselves we cannot honor others – although we can pretend to –
and once we do start honoring ourselves we cannot not honor others”.
--September 29, 2017
REQUEST BY KANCHI
MONASTERY TO SEND BRAHMIN BOYS TO VEDA CLASS
Kanchi Math has started a Veda cum regular school in Ullal near
Bangalore University. All castes are admitted here for CBSE system of
regular 10+2 schooling. But Brahmin boys are given Veda class from 6 to 7
AM and 6:30 to 8 PM (approx. times). This is in addition to regular schooling.
They are also provided with a 400 seat hostel with full food.
But one of the organizers of this institution in Kanchi Math was
telling me that they can find monetary resources but are finding it
difficult to get Brahmin boys to join this all expenses paid institution! Now
only 100 seats are occupied in the hostel and 300 are vacant. He was
requesting all Brahmin families to send their boys to this school.
We
hear so much these days from Hinduism Protagonists as to the machinations from
other religious followers in India and make a wolf’s cry with utter negligence
on their part to contribute anything positive! Never find fault but find a
remedy! See what they are doing to spread the wisdom of Vedas when a
religious Institution has come out with an excellent facility with Central
Board Secondary Education Scheme with focus on study of Vedas with
extra few hours. I was a Jenkin’s Scripture Prize holder in my school days
and attended an additional one hour class of Bible every day
besides my regular studies for the State Board Exam. I gained something
and lost nothing and I was top in my class and had also studied Sanskrit. I
studied Sanskrit from a Non-BRAHMIN Sanskrit Scholar in my college days.
Probably then also Brahmins were indifferent to Sanskrit Studies! American
School in Delhi is full with Brahmin Students and it is hard to get into it.
But look at this Vidhya Peeth which is begging for students who have nothing to
lose but only gain additional knowledge. I am not sure whether these Veda
classes are restricted only to Brahmin Boys as generally our religious
Institutions prohibit girls and restrict it to only Dvijas!
Brahmins are no longer conscious of their Dharma but want to pride in
their caste status given by the society and prosperity.
Anyhow that is the Hindu India who cry always
Wolf and we as Hindu American sympathizers rush to help them. They should
know what is good for them and focus on their children! But as
Hindu Americans we should think of the future of our children. But being in a
minority we cannot introduce this plan for our children in Public schools. But
we can certainly impart that part of the education in our Sunday schools adding
Saturdays also to teach Vedas along with Sanskrit language. The present system
of voluntary training in Vedic Heritage Sunday Schools with Voluntary teachers
not trained for the job as well as wasting time in teaching regional
languages including Hindi had been a waste as is evident from the students
that have left their parents for college education who neither benefit
from it nor propagate it! I I rarely come across a Hindu American kid born in
USA that can neither converse in Mother tongue nor motivated! Why waste time on
that? If a mother can't do it none else can!! In my teens I spoke 3
languages and learned Sanskrit and English. Later I could speak in German,
Russian and French. Learning Sanskrit besides English and Spanish should not be
a problem in USA for a Hindu kid.
Let us study the scheme from Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham and introduce the
scheme in our Vedic Heritage Schools and Bal Vihars with trained Teachers as a
supplementary spiritual education more broad based keeping it open for all
including those from other cultures that are interested. This will pay its
dividends for the future generation and will help in promoting Universal
Oneness, Peace and Prosperity spreading the message of Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam, Krinvanto Viswamaaryam, Sanghachchadvam Samvadadvam, sahanaavavatu
sahanau bhunaktu, sahveeryam karavaavahai etc. We have a good opportunity
to contribute something to our adopted Nation promoting Spirituality, Sanskrit
and Yoga if we can plan well and build a foundation.
--September 22, 2017
Comment received:
I agree
with you noble thoughts. It is poorly worded for times. I feel there need
to be universal change needed in lines to Sri Ramanujar (putting poonal) for
all people. But if you see today Srirangam is at least may be doing the
opposite - keeping many Iyer away even though they pay for the all temple
activities. I see many North American Vaishnava temples has modified to in line
with funding (I see Hanuman temple in Alpharetta a classical change - installed
Ganapathy, Murugan and Shiva). They saw we are here 1% brahmain and .02%
Iyengars and we cannot behave same way like India. Many people from all
community across are in the board of trustees.
India too this must change - Srirangam, Ahobila Mutt
Chembur. I am in Ahobila mutt Chembur forum (since i was born there). I
feel sorry with their behavior like you.
In one of the Vaishnava forum, I a
part of (inducted, I saw a posted "Cirtical condition - need
volunteer emergency blood donation for ailing Iyengar boy - the forum
posted please donate - preferably Iyerngar brahmin. No one came forward -
finally it opened to Brahmins (Iyer included) and one of them donated.
At the same, I feel each school should have an evaluation
process (like Harvard or MIT or GT or IIT's) and I am not opposed to rules and standards.
I often see in US - people typically do not oppose the large institutions but
they have option to go to court. Each Institution has a rule and regulation (I
have not seen a single one not having it). Even catholic, Islam, Jews have
rules
But when it comes rule from spiritual Hindu religious discussion, there is huge protest or dissatisfaction.
But when it comes rule from spiritual Hindu religious discussion, there is huge protest or dissatisfaction.
--Bala from Atlanta
Thanks fro your further enlightenment. I studied in a Christian
School and went by its discipline. Informally or formally Veda
mantras are chanted/ heard by all who attend temples or
undergo Hindu Rituals like Vivaha and shoedsa s Upacharapuja
in USA This is more common in in Hindu American Temples where
rituals are conducted and mass participation is promoted. We cannot
stop chanting of Veda mantras by others in USA. Our Maths even prohibit ladies
from chanting Gayatri Mantra. Further Vedas do not prohibit or make rules for
learning Veda mantras. Why not we then follow Vedic dictum and not
our religious institutions. Fortunately even in Bangalore uninterested Brahmin
boys too do not attend such classes. This may be a blessing in disguise.I
am not sure whether Kanchi math was right in moving away such studies to public
schools which will be more abused by mischief makers.That is why Sanskrit
Colleges were created and Maths had
their own Veda schools. Manu said all are born as Sudras --Janmana jayate sudrah and only by proper
karma earns Brhamana status by karma and not by birth. Even as per His master
plan all human were children of Earth who herself is a Sudra Devata
(Brihadarantyaka.). So, we as Hindu Americans cannot go by India and the
Maths but can go by the wisdom of Vedas.—Reply by NRS
On
deeply pondering - these discussion though all well intended does not change
any equation unless we start this and do something. For instance, thought
my dad came out of his home town to live in Mumbai, he made sure we enrolled in
Veda class (by inviting the Ganapadigal ) and who taught us essential
items.
I
used to wonder, we all have similar choice of bringing these Ganapadigal and
asking all people (irrespective of community they belong to). I used to
wonder institution like Tirupati (richest temple in India) - to set up
University in Assam, Kerala, Mizoram, Sri Lanka and spread vedas. I do not know
these are reasonable ask - atleast promote the other items
I
used to teach what little I learnt from my teacher in Atlanta and I stopped
when interest dropped. May be my bhakti was low (never know). One person asked
Kachi Paramacharya a question - why with his grace the world is not
improving, the acharya was silent for long time and said to him - may be the
acharya's bhakti is not enough to lift the world.
You
are doing great in spreading your thought I read many of this in my spare time.
Thank you
--Bala from Atlanta
I studied from
1946 to 1951 in Srinivasa Rao High School at Thiruvaiyaru, Thanjavur District,
Tamil Nadu, India. Any student was
admitted in Hindi Class but not in Sanskrit class where only the Brahmin boys
and girls were admitted and the boys were not allowed to have hair-cut.
This continues even today. The reason was and is that a few non-brahmin
students are non-vegetarians. Just because of a few non-vegetarian
students, the entire non-Brahmin students are not allowed to study
Sanscrit. In some private schools, Brahmin boys are allowed to have
hair-cut and study Sanskri—Prof.
Nagarajan from Nashville.
Thanks for your personal sharing of
your experience of your boy-hood days. More are less we are from the same period
but with different experiences may be because you studied in a
conservative orthodox town whereas I studied in the capital city of
Madras. I also come from a very orthodox Brahmin family where everyone in my
house had tuft and wore namam daily. Though surrounded by Periyar group , I
continued with my Iyengar appearance till I completed my 10th
standard even when I stepped out of my
house. When I came to Madras
from Mysore at the age of 8 I sought admission in a Hindu Theological School
managed by Saivite Brahmins. I did not get admission. Surprisingly I got
admitted by a Christian Missionary School in spite of my appearance. When I was
in first form I got free-ship for rest of the school years as I stood first in
Jenkin’s Scripture Prize Examination which had its stipulations—attend Bible
special class every day for an hour and attend choir on Saturday. They did not
mind my Iyengar appearance as I was the top student even in Bible. I was given
special permission to study Sanskrit at home for classes 6-8 under my scholarly
grand-father and take my annual exam. In my high school my Sanskrit pundit was
an Iyengar with namam and tuft. My closest competitor was a Muslim Mapila from
Kerala. May be my Iyengar posture helped to stand first in Sanskrit! I
continued with tuft and Namam till completing 10th but regularly ragged and
teased by all including my Iyer Class teacher. But they had to put up with me
for I was 1st or 2nd in my class. I took a
bold decision to cut of my tuft when I was in my final year that brought wrath
of my grand –father and I was treated as a Pariyah at home though
comfortable with my outside contacts. My scholarship continued even after
high school with half free-ship.—Reply by
NRS.
KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI--2017
We celebrated Krishna Janmashtami on August 14, Monday in
2017. We again celebrated it on September 13, Wednesday 2017. How can
Krishna be born on different days for different traditions? Hindu religion says
our Kaamya karmas (special religious days) should be performed only at a
specified time and so is Janmaashthami. Logically
Ganesha Chaturthi too should have occurred on different days this year. This
did not happen because Ganesha is a sectarian God, whatever one may
think, for Saivites only, unlike Krishna who is universal. This confusion
caused by astrologers should at least be solved by Hindu Americans who are
presumed be highly educated and loaded with
scientists. Lord Krishna exhorts to mankind through his advice to Arjuna “tasmaat
saastram pramanam te kaaryaakaaryou vyavasthitou”—therefore consider
saastra as the authority or final arbiter in determining what action should or
should not be performed. Should we not follow the Lord’s advice and benefit there
from? If the Karmas are performed otherwise they may not cause injury,
they certainly will not be efficient.
Ganesha’s birth date is not very
well defined he being a mythological creation from body scum. But certainly
Rama’s and Krishna’s Birthday are well defined in Itihasas. Itihasa
means it happened so unlike Puranas. Lord Krishna was born around
midnight. That night was the eight phase of the moon known as Ashtami Tithi.
The Moon was near Vrshabha, the bull, i.e. the Taurus constellation that
houses the star Rohini. The star Rohini is known as Aldeberan in modern
astronomy. The month was Shravana, one of the 12 months in the Indian calendar.
“Shravana
vrishabha ashtami, Rohini Nakshtra, uditam Lagnam” --Date of Krishna’s
Birth by Gregorain Calendar is 27th July, 3112 BCE. Astronomical events repeat
themselves at regular intervals. Hence fixing one date is difficult. Here the
most recent event of Krishna’s birth is taken for
calculation. As time is eternal and cyclic, the events repeat themselves.
But Krishna’s birth date for us is fixed as above in
the present cycle. Why can’t we realize this truth being very highly
educated and why should we be misguided by our religious Pundits and
astrologers and believe that we are doing everything according to
saasatras ?
Comment Received:
Thanks
for the E-Mail. Whenever there are conflicting dates, the
Temple gets lots of calls from the concerned Devotees. Devotees argue and get
into unnecessary discussion with the desk staff. How sad & waste of time.
Even the Priests get harassed for this.
--Anil
Pandey
SPIRITUAL
AWAKENING--WE ALL NEED
I have sent you in the past powerful messages from FOWAI forum
with my additional notes the need for our turning inwards that call for looking
outwards to turn inwards, the need for self- study (Svaadhyaya), good company
(satsanga) and good deeds ((satkarma) for we alone are our ultimate
Gurus, having been taught progressively by Mother our first
Guru, Father, the next Guru and well prepared training by our Teacher.
We also talked about to overcome fear of Death and how it is important to focus
more on this Fear, before Death than after Death. All these are also
dependent on Isvara Prema, the Universal Binding Force of Love with which the
Creation started that also abides in us being part of that creation
which we need to rediscover. This Creator is called Vidhartara in
Hinduism. We come across the Vedic prayer of our Rishis about which we
discussed before:
Vidhrtaaram havaamhe vasoh kuvidvanaati nah | savitaaram
nrichakshasam ||
We invoke the Creator of the universe who sustains the creation
in many ways and who witnesses the thoughts and deeds of all. May He grant us
plenty of excellent wealth (Svadhyaaya, Satsanga, Satkarma and Isvaraprema).
You may be happy to note that these Vedic wisdoms have started
inspiring Western thoughts that were purely bogged down
in the past with beliefs and faiths that helps us somewhat towards
salvation, with a spiritual awakening of late which is seen echoing throughout
in the powerful message sent by John Smallman. Please go through and send your
valuable comments. It is time for us to Arise, Awake and Move Forward not only
uplift ourselves but also ennoble others too, krinvanto
Visvamaaryam--Uttishthata, Jaagrata, Charaiveti, Charaiveti for all round
Peace, Progress and Happiness.
REMEMBER, FEAR IS JUST AN ABSENCE OF LOVE, BUT THERE IS ONLY
LOVE
John Smallman
We commune with you, and the many other channels
presently incarnate as humans on Earth, because the messages that you
receive and share greatly assist the Grand Awakening process by conveying to
many the divine plan for humanity. All on Earth at this point in our
spiritual evolution, whose purpose is to lead you Home to Oneness, chose
and volunteered to be human in order to take part in the awakening by
dissolving the veil you had inserted between yourselves and Reality.
It truly is only a veil, a very thin and insubstantial
veil, that seems to separate you from Reality. The conflicts and chaos
that you see around the world are but the foundations of the illusion
collapsing as humanity becomes increasingly aware of the insanity with which it
presents you daily and chooses to support it no longer. It is extremely
important that you continue daily to renew your intent to be only loving no
matter how difficult the situations in which you may find yourselves during
your daily lives.
You are all part of the divine plan, and the plan is that you
dissolve the illusion and awaken into Reality – the state of knowing that
you are One with God, Source, All That Is – where you have your eternal
existence in joyful and harmonious communion with all of God’s divine creation
in the infinitely vast field of Love that is God, and is All that He has created.
As you wait expectantly for humanity’s Grand Awakening, you do know
that it is really going to happen. Deep within everyone is the knowing
that you are One with Source, that only Source is Real and that all else
that you experience is illusory. Your egos and the illusion seem
absolutely real to you because it is their purpose to appear undeniably real to
you, and by believing in them you reinforce your sense of separation because
you see what you believe in – vast numbers of separate beings, things, planets,
stars, galaxies, and universes. Your physical human forms have extremely
limited senses and intelligence with which to investigate and understand the
illusion.
However, modern physics has shown conclusively that
everything – yes, absolutely everything – is connected to everything
else, that there is no separation and that physicality is illusory.
The seeming physical world is in fact just a virtual reality, something that
you experience within and then project out collectively to where you can
be aware of it with your physical bodies. Mystics from every denomination
of religious or spiritual practice have also found this to be so. When
you have become accomplished meditators you too will experience momentary
sensations of being vast, of being One, and all your doubts will then fall away.
You are in the Presence of God in every moment of your eternal
existence, but due to the severely limited abilities of your human bodies you
remain unaware of this because the veil hides Reality from you. Your
awakening is the removal or dispersal of that misty and ephemeral screen so
that you can return into full awareness of your divine nature, fully alive and
permanently at peace in the divine Presence.
God is Love, infinite and unconditional Love,
and within that infinitely vast field all of creation is
lovingly held and embraced without the slightest moment of interruption. As you
have so often been told: “There is nowhere else.”
You collectively made the choice to attempt to separate from
Source, which is quite impossible, and as a result found yourselves in an
unreal or insubstantial environment that despite its unreality appears to be
extremely substantial. Whatever you experience that is not in complete
alignment with Love is unreal and illusory, notwithstanding the pain and
suffering that you undergo.
By spending time intentionally within yourselves each and every
day, at your holy inner altar or sanctuary, where Love resides in every moment
of your eternal existence, you strengthen your spiritual connection, enabling
it to show you glimpses of Reality even though you have inserted that veil
between you and It in order to hide from It. Those brief glimpses, which
you will never forget, are what will sustain you when you are overcome with doubts
about Reality, God, Source, and are asking yourselves: “How could
there be a God when there is so much suffering and conflict in the world?”
As your strength in your faith in God builds through this daily
practice you will be able to overcome and dissolve all doubts, whether your own
or those of others, that attempt to persuade you that your belief and faith in
God are distractions from living sensibly and practically as a human on
Earth. And of course you can see quite clearly that those who cling to
that belief and strive to make it real for themselves are not at peace, while
for the most part you are, because you know that all that separates you
from Source is a thin and diaphanous veil which is in the process of dissolving
like morning mist.
Your awakening is inevitable, as you have been told so many
times, but it is you who will do the awakening, and you will make the
choice to awaken at precisely the right moment. You are not going to
be shaken awake by anyone else. It is your daily time within at your
inner sanctuary that will present you with the opportunity to do so, and it
will keep on presenting it to you until you accept it and act on it.
You have free will, as you well know, even though at times you
doubt it, and sometimes even believe that your emotions control you. They
do not! When your emotions appear to be controlling you it is because
you have chosen not be responsible for your thoughts, words, actions, or
behaviors, and have given your power away to your egos which always operate
from fear.
Remember, fear is just an absence of Love, but there is only
Love, so there can never be an absence of It.
Fear is the result of your choice
not to open your hearts to the Love which envelops you in every
moment of your eternal existence. Love patiently waits for you to choose
to open to It, and it will wait until you do so, as you inevitably will.
It is impossible to remain permanently closed off to Love, Mother/Father/God,
Source, because It is what you are, It is your true nature, It is the life force
that flows through you and is you in every moment, relentlessly and
unceasingly. Without it you would not exist, you would be neither
conscious, unconscious, nor dead, you just would not be. But you are
because God created you, and that will never change!
--September 17,
2017
Comment
received
Message of love is what
I like. What is the best way for people to transfer the love they have for God
into celebrating life as manifestation of God?
--September 17, 2017
My Answer:
If we understand following Veda
Mantras, practice and propagate we can find answers to your questions:
Aatmavat sarvabhooteshu—The same Self (isvara Prema) abides in all of us. Only thing
is we have to realize it! All people (human species with sixth sense)
are created equal on earth unlike in higher worlds Devas, Danavas,
Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Gajavadanas, Hayavadanas etc. We are all children
of Immorrtla Bliss cxreated asa mortals, sudras from Pusan Mother Earth—Padbhyaam
sudro ajaayata.
Indhram vardhanto apturah krinvanto
vishwam aryam Apaghnanto aravnah -- Rigveda (Mandala 9, Sutra 63, Mantra 5)
Meaning: Increase your energies,
make the whole world noble and destroy the evil ones.
KÄmastadaghre samavartatÄdhi manaso retaįø„
prathamaį¹ yadÄsÄ«t |
Sato bandhumasati niravindan hį¹di
pratÄ«į¹£yÄkavayo manÄ«į¹£Ä || 4 ||
In the beginning Love descended
on it- that was the primal seed, born of the mind. The sages who have searched
their hearts with wisdom know that which is, is akin to that which is not.
(This was the first Rasa among Navarasas that came forth)
TiraÅcÄ«no vitato raÅmireį¹£Ämadhaįø„
svidÄsÄ«.a.a.at |
RetodhÄÄsan mahimÄna Äsan svadhÄ
avastÄt prayatiįø„ parastÄt || 5 ||
And
they have stretched their cord across the void, and know what was above, and
what below. Seminal powers made fertile mighty forces. Below was
strength, and over it was impulse.
Ajyeshtaaso akanishthaasa sama
bhraataro vaavradhuh Saubhaagaaya / (Rigveda 5-60-5)
There is none high or low amongst
you. You are all brethren and
therefore, strive all together to attain prosperity. (Rig Veda 50, 60, 5).
Te ajyesthaa
akanisthaasa udbhido amadhyamaaso mahasaa vivavridhuh | sujaataaso janushaa
prishnimataro divo marya aa no achaa jigatana ||
(Rig: 5-59-6)
Among these men
there are no superiors or no inferiors, no middle ones
either. They become great from small beginnings. They make progress in
different ways by dint of their merits. By birth they are all highborn because
they are all children of Mother-Earth. O you men of the Lord Refulgent! Be
available to us in a loveable manner or grow into praise-worthy souls in fair
ways.
Ajyesthaaso
akanislliaasa ete sam bhraataro vaavridhuh saubhagaaya|yuva pita swapaa rudra
eshaam sudhughaa prishnih sudinaa marudbhayah || (Rig:
5-60-5)
These men are
without superiors and without inferiors. They are mutually brothers. They march
onwards for prosperity. The eternally youthful, the soul protecting, grief
alleviating God is
their father. The richly feeding Mother-Earth as Universal Mother produces
happy days to these mortals.
Sangacchadhvam
sam vadadhvam sam vo manaamsi jaanataam/ devaa bhaagam yathaa purve sanjanaana
upaasate // (X-191-20)
Come together!
Speak together! Let our minds be all of one accord like the divines that sat
together in the past in harmony to worship.
[All people
should live with one mind without enmity and this can be achieved only by the
divine grace says the mantra]
Samaano
mantra: samiti: samaani samaanam mana: saha chittamesam /
samaanam
mantramabhi mantraye va: samaanena vo havisha juhomi //(X-191-3)
Let our
speech be one; united be our voices! May our minds be in union with the
thoughts of the wise people! Sharing a common purpose; we worship as one.
[Vedanta Religion is universal. It did not
promote walled religions. Bhagavad Gita later said these religion need
bridges to connect to the Supreme. All rivers seek refuge in the vast Ocean.
All religions seek universal Lord Brahman only who is ever expanding and
indescribable to accommodate all]
Samaani vaa aakootih samaana hridayaani vah / Samaanam astu vo mano yathaa vah
susahaasati // (X-191-4)
United be your purpose, harmonious be your
feelings, collected be your mind, in the same way as all the
various aspects of the universe exist in togetherness, wholeness.
[We should act in a manner with no ill-will
towards others, causing no harm and causing no pain. Let us learn from
the nature as to how to live in peace and exist together in harmony that
pleases the Lord says the mantra]
….. dvandvam vai veeryyam yadaa
vai dvau samarabhete atha tadveeryyambhavati dvandvam vai mithunam
prajananam-mithuna mevaitatprajananam kriyate //
A pair is strength. When two copulate, then
there is strength. A pair is a copulation. A copulation, a
procreation is thus produced. (Satapata Brahmana 1:1:1) This is how Supreme
started the creation of humans as the children of Pusan or Mother Earth as
Sudras or work force --Padbhyam sudro ajayata.
Aa no badhraah kratavo yantu viswatah
adabhdaaso apareetaasa uddhidah | Devaano yathaa sadamidvridhe asanna praayavo
rakshitaaro dive dive || (Rigveda)
Just as all the divines who contribute to
the progress of us each day and who take care of us every day
without sparing no time protecting and nourishing us
all the time, let such noble tidings come from all parts of the world
with no hindrance and always fruitful!.
Om
Sahanaa vaavatu | Sahanau bhnaktu | Sahaveeryam karavaavahai|Tejasvi
naavadheetam-astu | Maa vidvishaamahai |Om Santih! Santih ! Santih ||
Though this
mantra is chanted both by the teacher and taught before the commencement of the
study of this Upanishad this mantra conveys a strong message to all of us:
May the Supreme Lord of Love protect us!
May that Lord nourish us! May that Lord build strength! May we realize that
Lord of Love in us! May we be inspired to live in love with all! May we be
motivated to live in peace with all!
LOOKING OUTWARD TO LOOK INWARDS
The
first mantra of Kenopanishad indirectly sends a powerful message that what we
are looking outward as a natural phenomenon has arisen from within and
administered by Self within us all the time about which FOWAI Forum
draws our attention. Looking outward and seriously thinking about it will make
us look inwards necessarily to understand the Reality. Otherwise in our busy
life we just ignore the Reality.
Kenoshitah patati prshitam
manah| Kena praanah prathmah praiti yuktah | Kenaeshitaam vaachamimaam vadanti
| Chakshuh srotram ka u devo yunakti||
At whose behest does the mind
think? Who bids the body live? Who makes the tongue speak? Who is that
effulgent Being that directs the eye to form and color and the ears to
sound? The scene before us here is very clear. Looking at these
things outwards a knowledgeable disciple approaches his enlightened
Guru to resolve the great riddle in life that is bothering him after
having been taught for a long time by his master
and want to start his research project enquiring if there is an
independent Eternal Director who by his mere Wish prompts the mind to alight on
the objects. He further questions “If there be such a great
Illuminator and Controller? Who is he? What is it? What is my relationship
with the Supreme Power existing ever so secretively within me, ever
vigilant, ever brilliant and ever alert?” The Guru directs him to turn
Inwards and inquire into these to find a suitable answer.
Please recall my recent discourse
on Bhuma Vidya which was also in the pattern n of discussion between a student
and his Guru. Here the student was none other than Narada and the Guru
was Sanat Kumara who was Skanda who taught even his father Lord
Siva. By a series of progressive questions and answers the
guru was able to guide the student to find an answer himself. The Power behind
every activity of nature and of person is the power of Brahman. To realize this
Truth is to be immortal. Austerity, self-control, performance of duty
without attachment—these are the body of that knowledge. The Vedas are its
limbs, Truth is its very soul. One who attains to knowledge of Brahman,
being freed from all evil, finds the Eternal, the Supreme.
Remember what Swami Chidananda
talked about Svadhyaaya sometime Back. Self-redemption must come from
ourselves. The external props such as temples, deities, Gurus etc., are all
encouragements and aids. These external-helps must be intelligently used by us
to our best advantage, and we should thus build up for ourselves necessary
inner perfections. To a Vedantin, the real Guru is the pure intellect
within. The purified, deeply aspiring mind is the disciple.
Just as a disciple is in search of
a Guru, the Guru is also in search of a disciple. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
never went out in seeking a Guru; Sri Totapuri Maharaj had to reach
Dakshinesvar of his own accord to instruct the Mother’s Son. Swami
Chidananda has likewise has identified few disciples who are now able to guide
us initially as our Gurus. We recently heard Dr.Thimmappa Hegde to learn about
“What Happens Before Death is More
Important Than What Happens After Death”.Having no such
fguidance from a Guru I may confuse you than convince you. I just recall
how my Professor in college once told me where you cannot convince confuse
speaking on the subject of Light! No one theory can hold good for Light as you
know. Brahman is the very source of all lights. Please listen to Dr.
Chilkuri Radhakrishna for a vivid description of the topic.
Webnair advice to “Look Outwards
to Look Inwards” took my thoughts further to think about the wisdom of our
founding fathers of Sri Ganesha Temple where we have in the center
Lord of Obstacles as Presiding deity while the presiding deity to
the right is Venkatesvara, The Sustenance Aspect of Brahman and to the
left is Siva, The Dissolution Aspect of Brahman, all the three at one level.
The name Ganesha Temple misguides us. Better would have been Siva-Vishnu
Temple. The three at one level is just to remind us that we must
first turn outward and focus on all obstacles that come in our way of
spiritual progress, eliminate them with the blessings of the Lord of Obstacles
and then turn right to focus inward on the Lord of Sustenance
(Vishnu) for our spiritual growth during our life time and then
turn left to further focus inward and to prepare for our
spiritual journey further with the blessings of Lord of Dissolution
who dissolves our past Karmas based on the merits we
have earned and decides whether to further continue our
journey upwards or come back better equipped for further
improvement after another birth. We will be therefore wrong in our
thinking if Lord of Obstacles and removal of obstacles is the
ultimate goal of our life. Vedic wisdom also tells to worship
Alakshmi, Adharma, Kama, Manyu etc. with the
Swaahaa mantra to remove all negative feelings and actions
but never mentions anywhere to focus on them as Brahman. Intentions of
our founding father was not to consider Vighnaraja as equal to Siva or Vishnu,
the aspects of Prarabrahman but first think of removing all obstacles by
propitiating the Lord of Obstacles as Pratham Vandita just as we first
pay obeisance to Mother Earth as we trample on her and abuse her in many ways
in our selfish goals.
--September 16, 2017
KOLU OF DEITIES FOR
EVERYDAY WORSHIP IN HINDU AMERICAN TEMPLES?
Navaratri is a festival which is celebrated as Kolu, Festival of Dolls in the South. You can see in the display at higher levels all male and female deities glorified in Puranas displayed and also worshiped together which concept our friend from Singapore is trying to bring to your attention presenting his newly researched Sarada Stotram. As Hindu Americans we do celebrate Kolu of deities every day and you can see devotees walking around with sloka books containing hymns praising each deity and that offering different goodies depending on how many times you repeat the stotras and before which deity. We find also Vighnaraja visibly displayed in all his different forms like Dasavatara but unfortunately no one has come out with a set of 32 Ganapatis including the most powerful Uchchishtha Ganapati of Vamachara from Tantric concept. South Indians do not agree Vighnaraja is married and so you do not find Siddhi and Bhuddi in the Kolu assembly. My only worry is why Alakshmi who is well glorified as Female deity in Srisuktam is not found in the assembly as also Kamadevata, Manyu devata etc.
Navaratri is a festival which is celebrated as Kolu, Festival of Dolls in the South. You can see in the display at higher levels all male and female deities glorified in Puranas displayed and also worshiped together which concept our friend from Singapore is trying to bring to your attention presenting his newly researched Sarada Stotram. As Hindu Americans we do celebrate Kolu of deities every day and you can see devotees walking around with sloka books containing hymns praising each deity and that offering different goodies depending on how many times you repeat the stotras and before which deity. We find also Vighnaraja visibly displayed in all his different forms like Dasavatara but unfortunately no one has come out with a set of 32 Ganapatis including the most powerful Uchchishtha Ganapati of Vamachara from Tantric concept. South Indians do not agree Vighnaraja is married and so you do not find Siddhi and Bhuddi in the Kolu assembly. My only worry is why Alakshmi who is well glorified as Female deity in Srisuktam is not found in the assembly as also Kamadevata, Manyu devata etc.
kį¹£hutpipÄsÄmalÄį¹ jyeį¹£į¹hÄm alakį¹£mÄ«į¹
nÄÅayÄmyaham,
abhÅ«timasamį¹ddhiį¹ cha sarvÄį¹ nirį¹uda me gį¹ihÄt.
I shall focus on the elder sister of Lakshmi, Alakshmi, the embodiment of inauspiciousness and such evil as hunger, thirst, and the like to destroy them. O Lakshmi! Drive out from my abode all misfortune and poverty.
abhÅ«timasamį¹ddhiį¹ cha sarvÄį¹ nirį¹uda me gį¹ihÄt.
I shall focus on the elder sister of Lakshmi, Alakshmi, the embodiment of inauspiciousness and such evil as hunger, thirst, and the like to destroy them. O Lakshmi! Drive out from my abode all misfortune and poverty.
I
believe someone will come later with his version of Alakshmi icon as the
description of Alakshmi is available in Puranas like Vighnaraja. I also
strongly believe Srisukta being oldest and is from Vedas that should have inspired
Puranas to come with several myth based stories so popularized in slokas, music
and dance as well as rituals of Vignaraja! I also strongly believe Siva being
the dissolution aspect of the Supreme simply dissolved the body-guard of
Parvati created out of her body-scum as she had assumed the role of creator not
called for. Probably even Siva did not create one but simply replaced it with a
Gajavadana from that group of divine creations by Brahma whom Vaishnavites
worship as Vishvaksena with both the tusks. It also explains why the temporary
Ganesha idols which do not undergo consecration ceremony are dissolved in
water. This is to highlight the act of Siva who dissolved the temporary guard
of Pravati and replaced it with an elephant headed Gajanana. I do not believe
that auspicious and kind hearted Siva beheaded a guard on duty and appointed as
Vignaraja by Siva in a fit of anger hurled his tusk at the Sun and also
involved in over eating? Look at the fate of Jaya Vijayas who were condemned
for three generation and were killed by Vishnu Avatars and still remain as gate
keepers only and not glorified as Ganesha; Why?
Vedas
do mention about the worship of deities like Alakshmi, Adharma, Manyu (anger),
Kama (lust) etc. with the mantra Swaahaa but never ask us to meditate upon them
as Brahman. Puraanas have however dramatized and glorified these vital as well
as harmful feelings and acts among whom Vighnesvara is most popular and pushed to the level of
Parabrahman.
--September 15, 2017
SIKHISM, JAINISM, AND
BUDDHISM ARE PHILOSOPHIES LIKE ADVAITA, DVAITA AND VISHISHTADVAITA
It is the divide and rule policy that made Sikhism a separate
religion. Otherwise it was just a part of Hindu Philosophy like Advaita, Dvaita and Vishishtadvaita. So
was the philosophy of Ford founder Rishabha who is also an incarnation of
Vishnu. So is Buddhism. Listen to Rajiv Malhotra and convince yourself. The
present day Jain Religion was
conceptualized under the 24th Tirthankara Mahavir Vardhamana to call it
Jain Religion. Buddha never started a new religion. His followers did. Hindu
Americans have a good chance of bringing these Religions back to Hindu Dharma
towards horizontal integration as Buddha and Jina deities are installed in
American Hindu Temples and worshiped and Jains and Buddhists of Indian Origin
attend Hindu Temples and participate in rituals and worship. Once this is done
others will follow to bring faiths together under one roof and here there is no
better choice than Vedanta about which I talked about. Please go through my
detailed discourse:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/05/vedanta-religion-everlasting-universal.html"Sangacchadvam Samvadadvam" --Let us Unite Together and Speak Together--(Rigveda)
I am happy to receive the following message from Rajiv Malhotra
through E mail which conflates with my views though not based on politics but
Hindu Eternal Thoughts on Dharma on the subject as expressed at Nashville
Seminar on Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. Please also read and listen to:
Facebook: @RajivMalhotra.Official; YouTube
RajivMalhotraOfficial
Sanjeev Nayyar & Rajiv Malhotra explain the history and
importance of Deras in Punjab & Haryana. Contrary to the Medias bad image
of them, they are vital social movements that serve large segments of
population especially at the lower social-economic strata. This episode begins
with the history of Sikhism. It then explains how the British later engineered
the community for their own agendas. In the process they sowed the seeds for
many present-day problems in Punjab & Haryana. In this context, the Deras
must be understood as the backbone of civic society at the grass roots. The
conversation candidly discusses issues facing the communities and presents some
constructive ideas.
FLOW OF THE CONVERSATION:
1) History of Sikhism - it was not separate from Hindus. Guru
Gobind Singh later started Khalsa movement but other forms of Sikh dharma
flourish alongside.
2) It was British who institutionalize a sharply separate Sikh
identity - for reasons we explain and using methods we cite.
3) There is further social fragmentation in the 1960s due to green
revolution bringing selective prosperity only for land owner jats, the Khalistan
movement, the recent drug networks, and the latest Christian evangelism. These
create havoc at the lower strata.
4) It is against this backdrop that Deras must be understood and
appreciated as social groups providing services for the UNDERCLASS - 70% of
Dera members tend to be lower class in social-economic terms.
5) Deras are hated by orthodox Sikhs because: Deras bring
Hindu-Sikh unity, empower the lower class (non-elite) Sikhs, and take members
away from traditional Gurudwaras controlled by the powerful SGPC that was set
up by the British.
6) Maoists/Khalistanis hate Deras because: Deras fill the social
vacuum which breaking India forces would like to fill.
7) Christian evangelists hate the Deras because Deras secure the
masses in a blend of "user-friendly" Hindu-Sikh populism, and compete
with the kinds of services (schools, colleges, hospitals, matrimonial
match-making, employment, etc.) which missionaries use as their own USP.
8) So the demise of Deras would be devastating for Punjab &
Haryana, because such a vacuum would help Sikh orthodoxy, Maoists/Khalistanis,
Christian missionaries.
9) Unfortunately, the media and political authorities are
determined to dismantle Deras, projecting them as a political nuisance.
10) My own prescription is: better institutionalization of Deras.
Please watch my ANALYSIS in the final 10 minutes after the interview is over.
There is also vital need for upgrading the mentality of the lower classes, who
are aping the modern Indian/Western as their marker for advancement. Hence they
encourage their leaders to (foolishly) turn into Elvis Presley type of
machoism, which is the cause of their downfall.
--September 11, 2017
WHAT
HAPPENS BEFORE DEATH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DEATH
WEBINAR 97 presents on Sunday, 10th
September, 2017 an Audio/video speech by Dr.
Thimmappa Hegde on Kathopanishad--Life before Death; Dialogue with the God of
Death. Here is a perception of Life before Death by an American Author Dr. Kalia Mugilan.
"Fear of dying is
probably the biggest weakness in human lives. While we know we will all die
someday, we live this fear by trying to insist on creating meaning in all that
we do. We sometimes live this fear in procreating and lay the burden of our existence
onto our children’s lives. We live this fear by making a mark in the community
we live in. We live this fear, somehow, sometimes creating a theory about where
we came from, and having higher purpose, and that is an eternal life of
immortality or a life after death. The
fact of the matter is all the living things come to stop being living, or in another world, all
beings will die or the energy we hold passes on to another form of energy. While progress and growth in society prolong
life, however, all living things die. We should be able to accept death with in
a moment’s notice” says the author The Urban Monk with a humanistic perspective on nine Vital feelings: Forgiveness, Gratitude,
Hope, Beauty, Brilliance, Belonging, a
combination of Beauty-Brilliance-Belonging, Respect and Death, a Western
perespective of Navarasas living
with a progressive, practical and
materialistic world that does not believe in reincarnation.
Who knows what happens
next when we die say some. Hindu pragmatic
philosophers too did not speculate but said “Atyutkataih
punyapapaih ihaiava phalmasnute”--We reap the benefits of our meritorious
deeds or fruits of evil acts in this very life.
Gist of the Presentation by Dr. Thimmappa Hegde on
Webnair 97 is as follows:
“The greatest love and respect a student of Vedanta has is for a Brahma
VidyÄ ÄchÄrya. In Kathopanishad the ÄchÄrya is Yama DharmarÄjÄ,
the God of Death. A thorough study of this Upanishad under the guidance of
an AchÄrya will not only remove the fear of death but also give liberation here
and now while in this body.
Yama
DharmarÄjÄ says that more important than what happens after death is Life
before Death. If we value the gift of our lives, our top priority
will be to get Self Knowledge.
This
Upanishad is an excellent manual even for a fresh and prepared student of
VedÄnta. If we can have the determination and disspassion of
NachiketÄ (the student in this Upanishad ) we move
from mrityu to amrita (as conveyed in the mantra
line mrityor-mÄ amritam gamaya )”.
Our
sages in the past were bogged down by fear of Death and raised their voices to
the unknown with the famous two mantras
“asato maa sat gmaya | mrityor maa amritam gamaya” Both mean the same
emphasizing the concern. Asat means mortality and Sat means Immortality. Nachiketas in Kathopanishad had a doubt as
to: when a man dies
some say that he is and some say he is not! He
therefore sought the help from his Guru Yama, the Lord of Dharma. Death is a
stage in the journey of life which journey we continue after arrival on earth
from a place unknown, enjoy pain and pleasures in life for some
time and continue farther the journey again.
“If a man comes to die through the nerve that
ascends upward toward the thousand petals lotus in the brain, his vital
force passes upwards through that nerve, he attains Immortality;
but if his vital force passes out through another nerve, he goes to one or
other plane of mortal existence and remains subject to birth and death” says
Kathopanishad. This is also described as
journey by those who die during Uttarayana, the former and those who die during
Dakshinayana, the latter. But if some liberated souls die during
Dakshinayana they will rest in Chandraloka
for the rest of the period of Dakshinayana but continue their journey
further to reach the destination and
will not come back to earth says MNU.
Therefore it is very important to take our journey with proper GPS (Guru Prompted Spirituality) for
continuing the journey in this very life. May be the blessed few who die during
Uttarayana need no GPS! The secret of Immortality has to be found in
purification of the heart, in meditation, in realization of the identity of the
Self within and Brahman with the help of a learned Guru or Acharya. Immortality
is union with God when you complete your journey. Without GPS you may miss the destination and
after wandering hither and thither, sometimes even enjoy lovely spots, but mostly going through
painful long and winding path come back to earth again. So we
approach the Guru to lead us from darkness of fear of death to Brilliance of
Hope and confidence with the prayer “Tamso maa Jyoirgamaya”—Lead us from
Darkness to Light that is ignorance to Knowlede (of the Supreme).
But I am neither a Vedantin nor a spiritual
Guru and therefore let us listen to the wisdom thoughts of the learned speaker
Dr. Thimmappa Gowda from FOWAI Forum:
--September 8, 2017
Comment Received:
Basically wanted to say I enjoyed this particular email of yours about
how we try to attach a meaning to life and this has been one of my basic
question for many years. As a matter of fact it is for this reason, I was
attracted to the writings and sayings of JK Krishnamurthi as well (who as you
know was with the theosophical society and was not a believer in god either). I
am curious is this belief in the absence of life after death and there is only
one life for us humans, just like any other creations, your belief that you
have concluded upon after these many years or have you always wondered this to
be even in your younger days? I am impressed by your energy and passion and
your efforts to keep up these writings and so proud of you and your
accomplishments and proud to have come to have known you and your family.
--Chakravrty Ramaswam, Columbus, Ohio.
WHY DEIFY & PAY OBEISANCE TO
ANGER--MAYURAKAARSHEET NAMAH?
Even our Devatas are not free from the
influence of Anger. Scriptures always speak of Kama (Lust) induces
Krodha (anger) and therefore referred in pair as vices which is
very well illustrated in Ramayana:
Dasratha’s advice to Rama in
Ramayana:
Gunavaanapi tu snehaat putra vakshyaami te
hitam | bhooyo vinayamaasthaaya bhava nityam jitendriyah
||Kaama-krodhaani tyajasva vyasanaani cha | Parokshyaa vartamaano vrityaaa
pratyakshyaa tathaa ||
To you, a storehouse of merits as you are, I
shall tender friendly advice out of sheer affection. Resorting to even greater
humility than before, constantly keep your senses under control and eschew
violence born of concupiscence (lust) and anger
Manu on Anger:
Paisunyam saahasam droha earshyasooyaartha
dooshanam | vaagdandayoscha paarushyam krodhjo api gano ashtakah ||
Tale-bearing, violence, vindictiveness,
jealousy, censoriousness, squandering one’s patrimony, abusive speech and
cruelty in punishment are the eight vices of anger.
Manu on Lust
Mrigayaaksho divaasvaapah parivaadah striyo
madah |Trauryatrikam vrithaatya cha kaamajo dasako ganah ||
Hunting, playing at dice, a sleeping by day,
slandering others, fondness for women, vanity, love of singing, playing on
musical instrument and dancing and strolling about idly—these are the
one that induces one to Lust.
Kama (Lust)-Krodha (Anger); Lobha Greed)
–Mada (Arrogance); Moha (Attachment)-Matsarya Jelousy) are 3 pairs of enemies.
Without experiencing these Shadripu (six enemies) at the fullest a person can't
understand the meaning of the Love which is the soul. These Shadripu's pull the
human from all the sides away from the soul and makes the life of the human
miserable. Through bhakti and renunciation, these 6 vices can be
overcome. So Vedas advice deify them and worship as Lords so that they
constantly remain focused to get rid of them. For example Kamokaersheet
Manyurakarsheet namonnmah. This is a nitya Karma in Vedsas and an annual
event as ordained by Agama sastra. Purans have brought in an unique deity
Vighnarajaya namah based on mythical stories and made it most
popular in Hindu worship on even roads and crowded bus stands with
no consecration a unique feature among all religions.
We have other deities too Adharmaya Swaha; Alakshmi! But
Vedas or very clear while they say deify both Adharma and Dharma and pay
obeisance only focus on Dharma as Vyahriti of Brahaman,. Dharma
is Sathyam and Sathyam is Dharma says and "Rita(ga)m Sathyam
Parabrahma".
“Do
you know the whole family of anger? Insistence is its very dear sister;
violence its spouse; egoism its elder brother; fear its father; insult and
back-biting its daughters; enmity its son; jealousy its daughter-in-law; hatred
its grand-daughter; negligence its mother. Please keep away from this whole
family.{Courtesy: Pashupati Tekriwal, a Homo
Whatsappean}”-- Swami Chidananda brings home to us a powerful
message to keep away from anger emphatically highlighting the wisdom
thoughts from Pashupati Tekriwal in his Arni series. He further adds:
Anger is when you punish yourself for the faults of others.
· Anger is
that breeze which puts out the flame of your intelligence.
· Anger is not
a solution to any problem but is itself a problem.
· Anger keeps
you in continuous stress when you don’t control it.
· Anger leaves
you more tired at times than what a whole day’s work does.
· If somebody
can make you angry, she / he controls you in that sense.
· If your
smile is God’s signature on your face, anger erases it.
· When
overpowered by anger, you need more energy to sit quietly than to yell or
scream.
· The fool
expresses his anger through shouting and screaming; the wise man brings his
anger under control.
· Silence can
be of great help in the matter of winning over anger.
· Count up to
ten when you get angry; count up to a hundred if you get very angry.
I am sure my friend philosopher poet Dr. Ram
Prasad will come out with a lyric on the subject to constantly remind these!
But yet they all will be just glanced through and soon forgotten! How can
we overcome such a casual attitude to hear from one ear and let it pass
through other and make way for another sermon as we don’t retain them.
Please recall Veda Homa mantras Manyave
swaha, kamaya swaha, Adhramaya Swaha, Mrityuve Swaha etc. The Swaha
mantra is addressed to Deva and Devatas in Homas and Svadha
Mantra to manes or Pitrus.
I believe Vedic rishis have thought about very
seriously on this problem knowing the Hindu mind. Anything that needs serious
consideration and constant attention need to be interwoven with
religion so that we could rush to temple and conduct a homa or puja. (In fact
this kamokarshet homa is a nitya karma meant for all not for Dwija
males only). That includes even safe driving on roads and you hang a Ganesha
portrait in front! You may kindly recall Kamokarsheet Homa whih the so
called Dwijas performed recently.
Manyu-rakaarsheer-nnamo namah |
manyu-rakaarsheen-manyuh karoti naaham karomi manyuh karta naaham kartaa manyuh
kaarayitaa naaham kaarayitaa eshaa te manyoe manyave Swaaha ||
Salutations are to the Gods. Anger
performed the act. Anger did the act. Anger is doing the act; not I. Anger is
the agent; not I. Anger causes the doer to act; not I. O Anger, let this
oblation be offered to thee. Hail!
”Manyurakaarsheet’” means “those acts that are
committed out of anger. Manyu is rage towards the enemy, internal or external.
Since the term occurs here in connection with Kama, it is translated as anger
personified; for obstructed desire is the source of anger. All those cravings,
instincts, propensities, inclinations, desires and needs that
express themselves continually in the thoughts and behavior of people are
referred to by the word Kama or desire. And so obstruction of Kama in any form
evokes reaction in the shape of rage or anger which supply the motive force for
a wider area of thought and activity covered by human behavior. A
worshiper is represented here as offering repeated obeisance to the gods who
witness the inside of all people and arraign them the Bar of Divine Justice.
The angry person pleads not guilty and deposes that he/she, the Self in
man, did not do any act, is not doing anything, is not an agent. Or an abettor;
the motive force driven by desire is the agent that did acts and is doing them.
In order to propitiate the Deity of Anger, so that worshiper may be left
in his pure nature, as a resent of the withdrawal of all harmful
angers, an oblation is offered into the consecrated fire. Once we realize the
Self there is no chance for any such anger or desire. You now see why
Vedas have deified Kama and Manyu and offer prayer! At the same time veda does
nmot say you should meditate on Manyu as Brahman!
Worship of Lord of Obstacles to have
success in all our undertakings is also based on this, a Negative Forces
worship philosophy. Lord Siva presented Ganapati, his own adopted son
(like Jesus in Christianity), probably as He is busy otherwise for
serious things, in order to take care of our day to day small
problems as a leader who is worshiped as Visvaksena by Vaishnavites
in his original form as leader of Gajanana Ganas. You know perhaps
Supreme created many species as demi-gods like Devas, Sadhyas, Kinnaras,
Kimpurushas, Gajananas, Hayavadanas etc. (Please refer to Swami Prabhupada’s
description of creation in my discourse on One God, Devatas and
Grahas for worship by all Traditions). Siva might have removed
the temporary guard of Parvati made from her body
scum by a Gajanaa with two tusks, I also pay obeisance to
Gajaanana with two tusks who is invoked in Vishnu Sahasranama, as he is
consecrated and worshiped in Tirupati who attends on Balaji
as a guard and treasurer who supervises Brahmotsva arrangements. Puranas
have gone further deified him not only as Vighnaraja King of
Obstacles) but also Manyuraja (king of anger) with one tusk and widely
popularized it with the story that in a fit of anger he broke his tusk
and hurled at laughing sun while he was troubled by over eating and the
serpent belt could not hold his belly. He is also worshiped as
Sat-Chit_Ananda Vigraha which Swmi prabhupada refutes saying he is
a devata and not Deva. But we have here a very popular deity Two-in-One
where Vighna and Manyu both are deified. He will be an ideal deity for
Manyurakarsheet and Vighnakarsheet Homa on Upakarma Day!
“Sat-Chit-Ananda
Vigrahah,
further defines what differentiates Krishna from the other devatas. Krishna has
a spiritual body composed of sat (eternality), chit (complete knowledge), and
ananda (spiritual bliss). This is what separates Krishna from the 330
million devatas within this material world. The devatas, though very powerful
entities, are ultimately embodied beings just as we are. Even
Indra, Ganesha and Brahma are eternal spirit souls covered by a devata body due
to illusion. The only difference is the quality of illusion that is
conditioning us. We are conditioned more by the lower gunas of rajas (passion)
and tamas (ignorance) whereas they are conditioned by the higher quality of
sattva guna (goodness)” says Swami Prabhupada. You may now
understand why I said before Sat-chi-ananda vigrhaya namah in Ganesha
Ashtottara is not appropriate in Ganesha devata worship ! I am not sure
why Swami Prabhupada added Vigrah to Sat-chit-ananda; but who knows the
mind of great saints! So I do paroy chanting as in Ashtottara without thinking.
We cannot make a Vigrah of Absolute Consciousness yet we go by what our
priests say often "Please repeat after me"
--September 3,
2017
AUGUST 2017
DEVO EKAH, VEDIC 33 DEVATAS & DEITIES
SUITABLE FOR COMMON WORSHIP BY ALL TRADITIONS IN TEMPLES
The apparent Polytheism of the Hindus
can be seen visually in operation in American Hindu Temples today,to please all
traditions, when you walk through the gallery of sanctums with its selective
crowd gathered round a particular deity in command for any particular day
ritual or festival.
Mahanarayana Upanishad makes a
distinction between Deva and devatas and says DEVO EKAH-the Supreme
Being, Brahman, Paramatman is ONE without any second (adviteeyam). Its
panchabrahma Manrtras, Daharavidya etc. are directed to that DEVA.
There are other Mantras to various Devatas
like Aditya Devataa mantrah, Bhoo-devataa ka mantrah, Sarvaadevataa
mantrah, Vaisvadevataa mantrah etc.
Unfortunately though MNU clarified Deva
and devatas we find often these terms are mixed up and indiscriminately
used and the reference to Deva or devata is left to our discretion
according to context. This is so even in Bhagavad Gita. While God could be
ideal translation for Deva, unfortunately we have to translate devi and devatas
also as gods and goddesses that brings in lot of confusion in
our understanding of spiritual and religious discourses. One way to
overcome this is to use the word god in all Capitals as GOD when we refer to
Brahman or Paramatman or Supreme Spirit. This has given room for
lot of confusion and often mislead us to run to subordinate devatas
instead of focus on Supreme for achieving our ultimate goal in life. Gita
clearly says those who worship these devatas go to these devatas and get
their petty desires fulfilled, those who worship manes go to manes and
only those who worship the Supreme go to to Supreme Spirit or
Brahman and get liberated if not in this birth but in the near
future.
The Vedic texts describe 330 million
devatas, or universal controllers, but we should not confuse these beings with
DEVA or GOD. GOD is beyond the purview of the material universe. The
devatas are controllers of various aspects of nature within the
material realm. Various demigods such as Ganesha, Karttikeya, etc., are
actually posts that are occupied by a particular living entity for one day of
Brahma. For example, it is described in the Puranas that in the present
day of Brahma, the post Karttikeya (Skanda) is being occupied by
Sri Sanatkumara, the great liberated son of Lord Brahma about which I had
talked to you elaborately. Sanatkumar’s arrival is also glorified in the Holy
Bible. It is exactly like a government that has many levels of control, such as
Prime Minister (national controller), Chief Minister (state controller) and
District Magistrate (district controller). Through meditation one can perceive
these higher entities – the gandharvas, apsaras, yakshas, and devatas. By
purifying our consciousness we can enter these higher dimensional planes
through our sukshma-sarira (subtle body composed of mind, intelligence, and
identification) and see these beings face to face, just as I can see you if you
are standing before me.
Vedic astrology contains
seven presiding deities, Sun (Surya), Moon (Chandra), Jupiter
(Brihaspati), Neptune (Indra) Uranus (Varuna), Pluto (Prajapati), and Earth
(Aditi) that preside over seven Janma Nakshatras and not Rahu and
Ketu. In fact these 7are devatas among the 33 controllers of
Supreme Being. There is no need to have a Navagraha altars for worship in
temples lured by astrologers and their false predictions as the same
is found only in Siva temples in South India. If however the need
is felt we can have Saptagraha altars of these 7 Vedic devatas out
of 33 controllers which would also conflate with Vedic Astrology or Jyothsha
sastra,
Hindu American Temples that cater
to Multi Traditions and conduct inter- caste, inter-racial and inter-faith
weddings by Brahma Marriage Samskara (sacrament) as well as keep the temple
open to all faiths and races will be wiser to choose Venkatesvara as the Ideal
symbolic Deva (God) as presiding deity and also have Sapta Graha altars to
satisfy those who are believers in their Horoscopes based on authentic Vedic
astrology which is Vedanga called Jyotisha Sastra,
Please go through the detailed discourse
with lot reference to Vedas, Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana as well as
elaborate elucidation by Swami Prabhupada of Krishna Consciousness,
ISKCON.
--September
2, 2017
RARE BHAGAVATSTUTHI FROM BRAHMA PURANA
I have pleasure in
forwarding you this rare composition from Brahma Purana sent
through courtesy Muralidharan Iyengar for Hayagriva
Jayanti, the first ever incarnation neither included in Dasavatara
nor his birthday celebrated in American Hindu Temples.
Hayagriva is the presiding deity of Parakala Math in Mysore. Bengaluru has
also a Hayagriva Trust engaged in Spreading the message of this Lord of Wisdom
who is the Guru of Sarasvati. Also Vedas describe a group of devatas
with horse head like Gajananas and Asvini devatas are represented
with twin horse-head whose portrayal can be seen in Lithuania. Mention is also
made of a demon Hayagriva. Please go through my discourse on
Narayana and Hayagriva. I missed his English version. However I
transliterated the same from Kannada. The sloka ends with obeisance to
Vishnu in his Pancharatra concept with which he is worshiped in
Chennai Parthasarathy Temple-- Paravasudeva, Vasudeva, Sankarshana
Prdyumna and Aniruddha. Please go through my discourse on Hayagriva that
has all Kritis and also an Upanishad. The objective of Hayagriva Trust
is to publish all available literature on Hayagriva. I hope someone
will send my compilation on Hayagriva to help them in their mission
as I am not sure whether they will have all these including the one sent by
Muralidharan Iyengar from Singapore.
--September
2, 2017
No comments:
Post a Comment