INTRODUCING E-MAILS ON HINDUISM POSTED ON HINDU REFLECTIONS

INTRODUCING E-MAILS ON HINDUISM POSTED ON HINDU REFLECTIONS

(BY N. R. SRINIVASAN, BRENTWOOD, TN, USA, MARCH 2018)

Hinduism is one of the world’s major religions. It is older than Jainism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Zoroastrianism which is one of the oldest religions in the world owes its origin to the same scriptural source from which Hinduism has come.  Such an old religion is bound to lose its usefulness and cannot relate anymore to changing   times and people. Fortunately at different periods, many genuine saints born in India have cleansed, reformed and revitalized Hinduism.  They made it relevant to their times. This would not have been possible had Hinduism had a founder. Hinduism as is practiced today   springs from Sanata Dharma–The Eternal Religion. It was also called Maanava Dharma, Religion of the Man and was meant for the whole of mankind.

Persia had a common border with ancient India known as Aryavarta, the Land of the Aryans. River Indus served as common border between this land and Persia. The Persians could not pronounce Sindhu correctly; they pronounced it Hindu; they also a called the people living on the other side of the river Sindhu, Hindu which became Indu and the land   began to be called India later. The religion of the Aryans thus became Hinduism.

Hinduism is a more recent nomenclature given to a conglomeration of heterogeneous tradition and plurality of beliefs and worship with a long history from the Vedic sacrificial religion of Aryans through the worship of Epic and Puranic heroes and personal deities, cults and sects, as well as philosophical systems rather than to a monolithic tradition or a structure based on a single system of beliefs and worship or a single text as scripture.

Nobody in particular is its founder. It is the research output of countless learned men called Rishis who were Christ like masters, through centuries. I believe anyone that searches after truth is a Hindu. There is One and Only God and One Truth.  The very first book of Hindus named Rig Veda proclaims, "Ekam Sat, Viprah Bahudha Vadanti". (There is only one Truth, only men describe it in different ways). So a Jew or a Christian or a Moslem who is in search after truth is automatically a Hindu. There are more than a billion Hindus in the world. The number of Hindus in USA and Canada are quite significant and fast growing.

The concepts of utmost freedom of thoughts and actions attract many to Hinduism. Hinduism never forbids any one to question its fundamentals. On one side, in Hinduism, you may come across people worshiping pests like rats, and still on other side you will come across concepts parallel to Quantum Physics and Neil's Bohr Theory of nuclear structure and reactions. On one side Advaita (non-dualism) and on the other side   Dvaita (philosophy of dualism) is discussed and promoted. Hinduism never ever banished any one, since he or she wrote a wrong scripture or did not observe a particular ritual. 

This rich background of Hinduism fascinates anyone to explore its granary of knowledge and worldly wisdom. Over a decade  I have been studying Hinduism though living outside India for more than 30 years  and every morning I get up I come with up a new idea  that I would like to share with my intimate readers.  But I have my own limitations too to process them for circulation!  Understanding Veda mantras that we use in our worships and rituals, and studying   Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana and Mahabharata,  I have tried to understand and analyze their relevance to today’s social problems, individual problems and the Herculean effort of raising kids amidst altogether different cultures.   With deep thoughts and sensitivity (for I am living amidst different culture including Hindu migrants from different lands),   I have tried to analyze topics such as, the symbolic meaning of idols and their worship, Hindu festivals, Hindu Dharma, cultural and social role of the temples, caste system, vegetarianism, family values, our obligation to spiritually guide the society we live in based on Vedic maxims towards universal Oneness, joy and happiness and others and how  Sanatana Dharma  has given birth to  or influenced many religions.    induism

I have so for delivered  around  340 discourses on a variety of topics that I have posted on the blog. I am honored and humbled at the same time by the glowing compliments I continue to receive from my global readers, India leading the rest.  My global readers had no opportunity to go through my popular E-mails to my HR Forum Participants on general topics of interest on Hinduism   by way of introduction to such discourses and related topics.   I have collected as many as I could  from the past which I reproduce below that should  make an interesting   study even to a very busy person who has no time for my  long discourses of research nature.

CONTENTS

1.   DEVI WORSHIP

2.   DIVINE INCARNATIONS

3.   PHILOSOPHY SCHOOLS OF HINDUISM

4.   MADHVA AND HIS PHILOSOPHY OF  DWAITA

5.   RAMANUJA AND HIS PHILOSOPHY OF VISHISHTAADVAITA

6.   ASHTAANGAYOGA OF PATAANJALI AND KAIVALYOPANISHAD            

7.   TEMPLE RITUAL AND WORSHIP

8.   TEERTHAYAATRA OR HINDU PILGRIMAGE

9.   DURGAA

10.              HINDU CALENDAR AND TIME MEASUREMENT

11.              MYTHOLOGY AND RITUALS

12.              FORMS OF HINDU WORSHIP

13.              PHYSICAL FORMS OF HINDU WORSHIP (KAAYIKA KARMA)

14.              HISTORIC AND ORTHODOX DATES OF INDIA

15.              AMAZING NUMBERS IN HINDU SCRIPTURES

16.              DOCTRINE OF KARMA (ACTION AND REACTION) IN HINDUISM

17.              IS INDIA HINDU?

18.              THINKING OF OUR SECOND GENERATION

19.              KEEP THE NAME OF THE LORD HOLY

20.              CULTURAL SHOCKS AND THREATS FROM SCIENCE FOR HINDU AMERICANS

21.              PURAANIC STORIES HAVE A MISSION

22.              ATHEISM IS A RELIGION SAYS US COURT; SANAATANISTS SAY HINDUISM IS NOT A RELIGION

23.              WHERE RELIGIONS AND ATHEISM MEET

24.              BHAJAN AND KEERTAN–OPEN EXPRESSION OF LOVE AND DEVOTION TO GOD

25.              WHY FEW TEMPLES TO BRAHMA AND SARASWATI?

26.               HASTINAPURA NEAR BUENOS ARIIES, THE CITY OF WISDOM

27.              WAS KAPILAARANYA LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA?

28.              WHERE WEST MEETS EAST—SPIRITUAL SEASON OF DEEPAAVALI

29.              MY THOUGHTS FOR THE SPIRITUAL DEEPAAVALI SEASON

30.              SAMHAIN, GUJARAATI VIKRAM SAMAVAT AND DEEPAAVALI

31.              PRITHVEE SAANTIH! OSHADHAYAH SAANTIH! VANASPATAYAH SAANTIH!

32.              POPE FRANCIS’ SPEECH ON PROSELYTIZATION AND MONEY PLEASES THE

       HINDUS

33.              NEW YEAR RESOLUTION

34.              RED AND WHITE STRIPES ON SOUTH INDIAN HINDU TEMPLE WALLS

35.              WIDENING OUR VISION AS HINDU AMERICANS

36.              DIVERSITY OF HINDU AMERICAN TEMPLES, BOTH A BLESSING AND

OBSTACLE  

37.              SUBHASITAS AND THOUGHTS OF THE DAY

38.              VIVAAHA—HINDU BRAHMA SACRED MATRIN MONY

39.              CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU AND HIS SIKSHAASHTAKA

40.              IS FLAG OF INDIA SPIRITUAL OR SECULAR? 

41.              WHY HINDUS TOLERATE THE CRITICS OF THEIR SCRIPTURES?

42.              HINDU PANCHANGAMS ARE OUT OF HARMONY FOR OUR RITUALS AND

WORSHIPS

43.              KNOW THE TRUE COLORS OF OUR PANCHANGAMS

44.              SCIENCE AND RELIGION

45.              ENIGMATIC HINDU GODS ASVINS WHO INFLUENCED WESTERN   CULTURE

46.              OUR DILEMMA IN OBSERVING NITYA AND NAIMITTIKA KARMAS

47.              CHANDRAMANA YUGADI AND PANCHANGAM

48.              HAYAGREEVA AVATAARA REPOSITED AND RESTORED VEDAS TO

HUMANITY

49.              ENIGMATIC HINDU GODS ASVINISWHO INFLUENCED WESTERN CULTU

50.              INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY AND THE LEGACY OF YOGA TO MANKIND TO GROW IN BODY AND MIND

51.              SUDARSANA CHAKRA, SUDARSANA YAJNA AND HOMAS

52.              JAGANNATHA PARIVAR AN NRUSINGHA YAJNA FOR NIRMAAN

53.              VAAMANA—TRIVIKRAMA, THE DWARF AND GIANT AVATAR OF VISHNU

54.              THE DIVINE COWS OF HINDUISM

55.              BHAKTIVEDANTA DOCTRINE AND ITS SCIENCE OF INCARN ATION

56.              GODS, DEMI-GODS AND REINCARNATION

57.              NARAYANA—GOD TO WORSHIP AND BRAHMAN TO MEDITATE

58.              WHY I AM CALLED HINDU AND MY FOLLOWING HINDUISM?

59.              KAALABHAIRAVA—SIVA THE CUSTODIAN OF TIMES

60.              SIDDHA PHILOSOPHY, ALCHEMY AND SIDDHA SYSTEM OF MEDICINE

61.              MATSYANARAYANA AVATAr

62.              HINDU RELIGIOUS WEDDING CEREMONY SHOULD FOLLOW THE SIMPLICITY AND

SPIRITUALITY OF SEETAA-RAMA KALYAANAM

63.              WHY NO NAVAGRAHA PEDASTALS IN VISHNU TEMPLES?

64.              RELEVANCE OF UPAAKARMA CEREMONY AS SPECIAL RELIGIOUS EVENT IN   TEMPLE

65.              SKANDA UPANISHAD--SKANDA PURAANA AND SKANDA SHASHTHI

66.              IN PRAISE OF PARASAKTI--PRIMORDIAL ENERGY AND MATERIAL PROSPER

67.              JAGANNATHA WORSHIP PROMPTED ICONIC CONCEPT AND TEMPLE TRADITION

68.              AMAZING TEMPLES AND THRILLING REVELATIONS

69.              SKANDA WORSHIPED EARLIER AS BALAJI IN TIRUPATI IS SANATKUMARA IN MANY FAITHS &TRADITIONS

70.              LET US CONSOLIDATE TEMPLE TRADITIONS STARTED BY ADISANKARA

71.              DARBHA THE SACRED GRASS IN HINDU WORSHIPS, RITUALS AND SACRAMENTS

72.              CONCLUDING SLOKA-PRAYERS IN HINDU WORSHIPS

73.              CHANT HANUMAN CHALISA AND WARD OFF BHOOT/PISACH (AVESA) AND DISEASES

74.              HINDU TEMPLE TRADITIONS—BUILDING, CONSECRATION AND WORSHIP

75.              MICROCOSMIC HUMAN BODY SAPRINGS OUT OF MACROCOSMIC VIRAT PURUSHA

76.              EIGHTEEN FACETS OF MEDITATION—SWAMI CHIDANANDA

77.              A CRITICAL REVIEW OF ECLIPSES AND THE GREAT SOLAR ECLIPSE OF 2017

78.              HR E-MAILS OF SECOND QUARTER 2017 SENT TO PARTICIPANTS

79.              KNOW THE POWER OF YOUR BIRTHSATR AND   THE RIGHT GRAHA FOR YOUR WORSHIP

80.              VEDIC ASTROLOGY GUIDES OUR HOROSCOPES & ASTROLOGERS OUR HORROR-SCOPES

81.              DEVO EKAH, VEDIC 33 DEVATAS & DEITIES SUITABLE FOR COMMON WORSHIP BY  ALL…. 

82.              HINDU SCRIPTURES DEIFY VITAL FEELINGS, OBSTACLES, MISFORTUNES & DISAEASES

83.              NIRRTI PRESIDING DEITY OF MOOLAA NAKSHTRA IN VEDIC ASTOLOGY

84.              RASI CHAKRA OF ZODIAC—IS THAT VEDIC ORIGIN OR BABYLONIAN?

85.              THOUGHT FOR THE DAY— THIRD QUARTER OF 2017

86.              UNDERSTANDING HINDU SCRIPTURES AND TEMPLE WORSHIP TO SPIRITUALLY PROGRSS

1. DEVI WORSHIP

Hinduism is one of the surviving religions which make room for the belief that God is both male and female. Some even say God is neither. So we have the thought of Brahman who is indescribable. He is ever expanding as the name suggests and sometimes he is concentrated upon as the sacred word Om.  Sakta tradition of Mother Goddess worship is as important as the worship of Siva and Vishnu in Hinduism. Though other Religions too had revered Goddesses' worship in the past, most religions have forgotten or ignored her worship in the male dominated society. One thing peculiar to Hindu Religion is it had no house cleaning and there is no authority to do that. More gods appear, more thoughts are created but nothing is wiped out. She is often concentrated and meditated upon in Hinduism by the syllables OM, HREEM and SRI, symbolizing the active principle or Primordial Energy.

Hindu Goddess rides tiger, plays the lute, dazzles divines and demons with her divine forms, she is glorified as time and space, she embodies cosmic energy, she holds in her hands implements of life and weapons of death, she spins the cycle of existence as she creates and also destroys all that is, she was and will empower and enrich her devotees with ability to accept and appreciate the ever expanding Universe which too may merge in her ultimately in the distant future.

In tune with the American Practice we as migrants celebrate Mother's Day in Temples and at home while giving a Hindu touch of Mother Worship elevating her to the status of Goddess. But do you know the origin of Mother's Day? If not, please go through my discourse on "Maatru Devo Bhava--The American Way"

Please go through my discourses on "Hindu Concept of Devi (Goddess); Aaandal; Divine Principle as Mother; Srividyaa--Sri Lalitaa and Baala Tripuraa; Navaakshari and Tripurasundari Homas; Saptaslokee Durga and Devistuti on the BLOG: <nrsrini.blogspot.com> 

(November 2011; March 201; September 2011)

2. DIVINE INCARNATIONS

God in order to incarnate on earth in human or animal form  creates an earthly body for Himself through his inscrutable magical power called Maayaa and enters into it as Antaryamin (inner-self). A divine incarnation is never controlled by the forces of Karma, nor his body caused by any Praarabhda Karma (past deeds). 

Adlous Huxley in his book , The Perennial Philosophy, says: "The doctrine that God can be created in human form is found in most of the principal historic expositions of the perennial philosophy,  in  Hinduism, in Mahaayaana  Buddhism, in Christianity and in Mohammedanism of Sufis.... every human being can be thus become an Avatar by adoption"

There are several thoughts in Hinduism regarding the Divine Incarnation. They are: 1) Supreme God-head comes down from the heaven and assumes the form of animate being. 2) All human beings evolve by leading a highly religious and pious life. They get enlightened and become exalted souls and finally release the people from worldly bondage. These noble souls transform the society for a new world order. 3) There is a theory of Avtar which seems to have been influenced by Buddhist conception of the former Buddhas some of whom were worshiped in their own stupas as early as 300 B.C.E. A large number of Buddhists were admitted to the fold Vaishnavas as suggested by the inclusion of Gautama Buddha in the list Vishnu Avatars that made Buddhism disappear from India.

Divine Incarnation is not confined to Vishnu alone as many think having been influenced by the popularity of worship of Dasaavataaras. There are also many other incarnations of Siva and Devi (Goddess). India sees several human beings declaring themselves to be either avatars or representatives of the Supreme Being or their devotees superimposing the avatars on their Gurus (like Saibaba, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Chaitanya etc.)

God incarnates for reformation and not for retribution. It is not so much for punishing the erring individual or individuals as for providing the greatest opportunity to those following the evil path to get them reformed. Those choosing the spiritual path get redeemed while those tread the life-path of pleasure and temptations suffer.

I have in the past dealt with some Avatars in a different context. The present discourse consolidates all views as to the general concept of Divine Incarnations and does not deal with Puranic stories with which every Hindu is familiar from his childhood.

We have too many Avatars to focus our prayers today and we are creating more and more Avatars building even individual temples. Probably Mahatma Gandhi, Satya Saibaba and Aindra Maata (statue of Liberty) too are in the waiting list!  Then we have Karunaamayi and others too as future possibilities! Lord Krishna says in Geetaa that every Avatar takes place whenever Dharma declines. I often wonder why we should trouble the Supreme or the liberated souls to come down to us so often by our bad deeds rather than we going to Him to enjoy His Bliss  by our good deeds? Of course more Avatars by his descent or our Creation of Avatars will make temple worship more colorful profitable and keep us busy all the 365 days.  This may be our approach to give less attention towards Adharma keeping busy with special worships all through the year! But better it would be to refrain from resorting to Adharma and not to  give opportunity for more Avatars to descend on this earth. Soon Avataras too may get jam packed like the growing population! It is therefore necessary for us to focus on Spiritual evolution rather than to focus on short time quick and temporary result oriented religious celebrations!

Please visit the Blog Hindu Reflections at: <nrsrini.blogspot.com> for a detailed discourse on Concept of Divine Incarnations in Hindu Theology.

(December 2011; May 2012;)

3. PHILOSOPHY SCHOOLS OF HINDUISM

Western Philosophy is essentially an intellectual quest for Truth. Hindu Philosophy is intensely spiritual and emphasizes the need for practical realization of Truth or God-head.  Hindu philosophy is popularly called Darsana or Vision. Upanishadic Thoughts brought forth this vision by great masters. It stands for the direct, immediate and intuitive vision of Reality, the actual perception of Truth, and also includes the means which lead to this realization. Though these philosophies differ in their approach, they have been found on the sound principles based on Upanishads which  is  also based on the  different thoughts of those  who taught and those that listened, understood and propagated.

The present discourse is a compilation of fourl lectures given to Vedanta Class. The Blog contains already individual lectures on Dvaita, Vishishaadvaita and Basava philosophies. This compilation includes them also in greater detail besides many other schools of thought. Hinduism gives the option to study all these under the banner of Sanatana Dharma and choose what is best suited for individual's mental approach.  Just as all rivers lead to the ocean and lose their identity these also lead to the ultimate truth and lose their individualistic approach to reach the same goal.

Hinduism is a Way of Life and is not a Religion.  In fact even Christianity the earliest followers called it simply "The Way" as propagated by Jesus but later his followers gave it the name Christianity and brought regimentation to call  it a religion. Thomas, one of the Apostles, founded the first Christian church in India, for the first time in the World,  in A.D. 52.   In Hinduism there is no word equivalent to Religion (in Sasnskrit). Hindus are bound by Traditions and Philosophy which may be rightly called as Sampradayas and Siddhantas, all coming under Sanaatana Dharma (Eternal Tradition). With this posting I conclude my discourses on Hindu Philosophy but for Aaurobindo's which will appear later elsewhere.

Looking at the present trends in America as followed by Hindu-Americans we may loosely call Sanatan Dharma as an Integrated Eternal Traditionconsisting of Hindus, Buddhist, Jains, Sikhs  and other Neo-Hindus like Velansamy (Hawaii Temple), Vamadeva Sastri (David Frawley), Hare-Krishna Movement  Followers etc., as well as Inter-racial married couples who believe in Sanatana Dharama. We have already started common form worship for many Sampradayas including  celebrations of some American  Holidays like Thanksgiving, Mother's day,  Father's Day, Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Day etc in Hindu Temples. Why not call them then Santana Dharma Temples overseas?  We have the Vedic sanction  Vasudeiva Kutumbakam(Whole world as one family). Any certified vegetarian Vedic scholar trained in Temple worship could be hired as priest. There was a suggestion from a progressive Hindu-American thinker that Hindu temples should have at least one Non-Brahmin priest in India Abroad.  But who will study Vedas? Even children of Hindu-American Brahmin   priests   are drawn to Western Culture and are not interested in the family profession! Who will start Veda Schools and who will join to make it a profession?  Will that become a permanent feature to serve future generations overseas? It is too intricate a subject but needs deep heart- search by every Hindu-American as well as Overseas Hindus who have moved to newer pastures. 

Some schools of Hindu Philosophy say that God has really become this manifold universe just as milk becomes yogurt. Other schools say that God only appears to have become this universe. He has not really become the world. A rope in partial darkness may appear to be a snake to an observer; so also God may apparently become the world. He has not really transformed Himself into the world.

I believe you had an opportunity to go through the various discourses on Hindu Philosophy Schools released during the Philosophers' Fortnight. It may not be a surprise if some of you may have the doubt as to which one of them to follow in our spiritual pursuit.  Even Sankaracharya was in double mind after coming out with his powerful postulations based on his in-depth study of several Upanishads as described in my discourse above.

Foremost in our mind will be which one of the philosophy to follow as ideal after going through all of them? Also why there should be such contradicting thoughts for seeking salvation which we all need? Please go through the discourse posted on the blog, <nrsrini.blogspot.com>:  “Philosophy Schools of Hinduism” and "Epilogue on Discourses on Hindu Philosophy Schools" and adopt the one that suits your spiritual pursuit.

(April 2012: May 2012)

4. MADHVA AND HIS PHILOSOPHY OF DVAITA

Madhwacharya, founder of Dvaita Philosophy was born on Magha Sukla Navami in the twelfth century. His birth day falls on February 1 this year.  He lived a robust life of 79 years. He practiced Yoga and had occult powers; but he never made use of it except on rare occasions when situation demanded. He had his early education under a Guru of Advaita philosophy.  He was quite conversant with Vishishtaadvaita Philosophy of RamAnuja.  But realizing the need of the hour where Bhaktimaarga was gaining grounds, he taught men to look upon the world of matter and soul as real instead of as illusory (maaya) and unreal in a philosophical sense.  He said God alone is the one independent Reality (Svatantra) and everything else is Paratantra (dependent) on him. Hence his system was later given the name of Dvaita or Dualism. His Guru also became his ardent student.

To Madhwa, Bhakti was no blind faith. He rescued it from the pitfalls of sentimentalism, eroticism and other maladies. He was against animal sacrifice in Yajnas. He placed Bhakti (devotion) in its right perspective as love of God based on right understanding of his glory. Madhva was a profound scholar in Sanskrit both in prose and and verse. He could speak many languages.  He wrote thirty-nine works known as Sarvamoola. They include commentaries on Rigveda, Upanishads, Geetaa, Brahmasootra, Mahabhaarata, Bhaagavata and critical works on logic and metaphysics, rituals and right conduct (sadaachaara).

The Chaitanya Sampradaya of Bengal is greatly indebted to His philosophy. Followers of Madhwa are found in large numbers in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Maharashtra, Goa and U.P. His followers Jayateertha, Vyasateertha, Vadiraja and Raghvendra and others spread his philosophy. Well known Kannada Haridaasas--Purandara Dasa,  Kanaka  Dasa and  Jagnnatha  Dasa  spread his message through their Bhajans who  owed allegiance to him.

They explained the difficult doctrines of Madhwa philosophy in clear Kannada language.  The songs of Daasas were not merely musically excellent but also provided the attributes, glory and exploits of God. 

On the coast Karnataka stands the holy shrine  of Udupi Krishna. This idol was installed by Madhva which he got while saving the ship of a sea-captain from a storm by directing it to the shore. As the legend goes this was made by Rohini, Krishna's step mother to please Rukmini, who had never seen Krishna as a child. After the destruction of Dwaraka, it was retrieved by Arjuna from under the sea. The idol was installed facing the East but it turned West so that a low caste devotee Kanakdaasa who was prohibited from entering the shrine, could look  at him through the crack in the western wall.

Madhwa is believed to be an incarnation of Vaayu like Hanuman. His life history reveals that he had met Vedavyaasa (who is believed to be a Chiranjeevi) in the Himalayas, spent some time with him and with great reluctance returned back to human society to spread the new message approved  and endorsed by him. That in essence is his Dvaita philosophy which has been given to the world as most practical coming after Advaita and Vishishtaadvaita philosophies. 

Please go through the discourse Madhwa and his Philosophy of Dvaita. 

(January 2012)

5. RAMANUJA AND HIS PHILOSOPHY OF VISHISHTAADVAITA

Ramanuja  (1017 t0 1137) was the great Vaishnava saint and Philosopher.  He is believed to be the incarnation of Lakshmana (brother of Rama) and so was called Ramanuja. He upheld Bhakti (devotion) and Sarnaagati (surrender to God) as the paths to realization of Brahman or Liberation.There is no distinction between high and low, between the so called  touchables and untouchablesin the quest of divine grace.

He talked at length on God (Easwara), soul (Chit) and matter (Achit). God alone is independent; the other two are dependent on God (Paramaatman or Easwara) alone, according to him. His philosophy is known as Vishishta-advaita.  He wrote commentaries on Brahmasootra, the Upanishads and the Bhagavadgeetaa. They are together called Prasthaanatrayee which proclaim Bhakti as the chief means of realizing God.

He upheld humans are born equal and that caste or social status has no role in determining one’s relationship with God. His Guru was Kanchi Poorna, who was   not a Brahmin. One of his most trust-worthy disciples Dhanurdaasa was from a lower caste. He defined Vaishnava as one who has abundant love of God and he is worthy of respect. He believed in personal God. In Vishitaadvaita philosophy Brahman is addressed as Sriman Narayana.

Please visit the Blog Hindu   Reflections; <nrsrini.blogspot.com> for a detailed discourse on “Vishitaadvaita Philosophy of Ramanuja”

(April 2012)

6. ASHTAANGAYOGA OF PATAANJALI AND KAIVALYA UPANISHAD

Bhagavadgeetaa speaks of Sankhyayoga a combination of Sankhya Philosophy and Yoga Practice. Patanjali's Yogasootras believes in God while Sankhya does not. The fourth part of Yoga is called Kaivalyapaada. Kaivalya Upanishad prescribes Aasaana, part of Yogasaastra, for meditation in a calm and clean atmosphere like Bhagavadgeetaa where it deals with it at length. In this Upanishad Brahma the creator is the Guru and the great Rigvedic teacher Asvalaayana is the disciple.  This Upanishad is also known as Brahma Satarudreeyaa which glorifies Nirguna Brahman and recommends it for chanting more sacred than  Rudram of Rigveda. Rudram in Rigveda deals more with Personal God. 

                          

In Bhagvadgeeta Krishna is mostly represented as a teacher of great wisdom and erudition: he figures as a Yogi. The Bhagvata records that Krishna sat up every morning for meditation merging himself with the transcendental Self. We read in Mahabharata also that Krishna was in the habit of meditating on Brahman in the hours before sun-rise. Krishna in all probability was  historical in character, and was philosopher who harmonized the Sankhya-Yoga with the Brahmavada of Upsnishads. Krishna lived on earth for only 120 years unlike Rama who lived for more than100000 years as the Puranas say. 

Junior President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary stirred up national attention when he blasted yoga in his Blog; so also the head of the Islamic Council in Malaysia as well as Vatican. They think Yoga practice indirectly helps to spread Hinduism and is a propaganda medium. They strongly recommend their followers to refrain from Yoga practices. Recently Anderson, a young Yoga teacher from Nashville has gradually added Christian teaching to her Yoga and calls it Holy Yoga. "If God is sovereign over all things then I have to know Yoga falls into that", she says. These have in a way helped the popularity of physical exercise practices of Yogasaastra by non-Hindus. Everyone recognizes its merits.  On the other hand authors on Hinduism like Deepak Chopra have tried to discredit Yoga without much success calling it not  based on Hinduism though the current popularity owes it to the great spiritual Hindu sage Pataanjali. In broader sense Deepak Chopra may be right because at the time Pataanjali came out with his Ashtaanga Yoga there was only Eternal Tradition (Sanatana Dharma) which got reduced to a religion called Hinduism a name given by foreigners to then emerged coglomoration of faiths and beliefs of later days. My own Yoga teacher who is a staunch Christian begins every class with a prayer from the book of " Prayers for Thousand Years" by Elizabeth Robert whose contents are drawn from Upanishads and he  ends his class with obeisance to the Supreme Principle with the word  "Namaste". 

It may be of interest to know that Ashtaanga itself is a small portion of Pataanjali Sootras and Aasana sometimes clubbed with Praanaayaama is still a very small portion of Ashtaanga. Yoga promoters have popularized these physical exercises from Yogasaastra for the benefit of mankind calling it Yoga. Yoga is a metaphysical science which they have reduced to a meager physical exercise neglecting the main theme of its spiritual aspect of meditation on the Supreme Principle and attainment of Liberation (Kaivalya). They are also sufficiently meddling with these physical exercises portion (Aasana) to call it Hot Yoga,  Holy Yoga etc. You might all know once a hatha yogi demonstrated yogic powers to British Parliamentarians walking on River Thames in winter with bare foot. There is also a Biblical story that Peter was about to be drowned walking on waters imitating his Master Jesus Christ for want of Faith. Someone in later years may claim that Yoga was postulated by Lord Jesus Christ  while he was away after his boyhood days till his adulthood, as this period of his life history is obscure and prove by historic manipulations that  Pataanjali  the author of Ashtaanga Yoga belongs to a much  later period! They may also say Yoga is religious and not spiritual and even a forerunner to spiritual Yoga if they can link word Yoga to some word in Hebrew. Some Hindus claimed Jesus was in Kashmir during this obscure period and there is a book about it. Robert Arnett also mentions about it in his boo India unveiled.

For the discourses “Ashtaanga Yoga of Pataanjali”, “Mantras from Kaivalya Upanishad” and “Kaivalya Upanishad” please visit the Blog: <nrsrini.blogspot.com>. 

(October 2011)

7.  HINDU TEMPLE RITUALS AND WORSHIP

The polytheism of the Hindus is apparent through their Temple worship. It remains a riddle against the Vedic dictum Tadekam—that ONE. The Vedic statement “Eko Viprah bahudaa vadanti”—The one the wise call by many names and the Statement of Lord Krishna in the Bhagvadgeetaa that “He, the Supreme Lord (Ekam), will   respond to the devotees in whichever form they worship him and in whichever way they approach him”, can form the philosophical basis, typical to Hinduism, for this polytheism. There is the other Vedic statement “ Om Tat Sarvam’”—that Brahman is everything. So God can mean all things to all men, and human beings can supplicate Him for anything—from the sublime to ridiculous. 

There are three aspects to this polytheism as seen in Temple worship. The deities of three main traditions—the trinity consisting of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva along with theirconsorts form the first aspect. Then there are minor deities like Ganeha, Kumaara, Soorya as prescribed in Shanmathas by Sankara and glorified in Puranas. It is not very clearwhy Sankara wanted to promote Shanmathas (six schools of worship) being the strong advocate of Advaita Philosophy? Perhaps he tried to minimize polytheism to bare minimum of six knowing the minds of the people.  Then we have the third aspect deities who are protectors of the world (Dikpalakas)—Indra, Varuna, Agni, Vaayu and others.  In addition  we have any number of village deities and demigods  who can be regarded either as very limited manifestations of the Supreme God or as forces of nature deified or as human beings who by virtue of some special merit and power are elevated to godhood in course of time, after their death (Sankara, Ramanuja, Saibaba, Raghavendra etc). It is therefore no wonder we come across a wide variety of temples to accommodate all these deities. Still we go to any extent to prove we are not polytheistic and Hinduism is not faith based.  The gods of Hinduism have successfully created enough confusion in the minds of the followers of alien faiths who have had a chance to come across them. It has also caused enough conflicts within the Hindu-fold also. 

The only way to get out of this confusion seems to be to follow the path of spiritual discipline (Sanatana Dharma) which when sincerely followed will invariably lead to Godhead.  At present attempts are made to spoon-feed the essence of religion to the uninitiated and spiritually backward minds. Such spiritually backward minds are not able to get out of superstition and irrational beliefs, create their own rituals totally divorced from any spiritual discipline. Even Ramanuja was not able to persuade to stop the Tamasa mode of worship in the Sakta cults of Pancha Makara Tattvas in places like Puri. These are Madya (wine), Mamsa(meat), Matsya (fish), Mudra (occult gestures), and Maithuna (copulation). Sandhipuja and Sola puja still continues in Jagannath Temple and also in Kashmir Kaula Sampradaya temples. Animal acrifice is carried out in Kali temple in Kolkota. With strong persuasion Madhva stopped animal sacrifices during Vedic Yajnas. Fortunately these practices have not been followed in Hindu Temples built in USA so far. 

It is therefore necessary to understand the original intent of temple and temple worship and rituals associated with it, focus on spiritual approach in all  our  ways of worship and spiritually train our minds. The following discourses and the one by Jagadgururu Chandrsekharanada Saraswati (Retold)   are aimed towards the same. These are: 1) Divine Character of Hindu Temple in  Character and Design; 2) Symbolism of   Hindu  Temples and Popular deities; 3) Hindu Traditional Practices for Temple Visit; 4) Abhivaadanam, Gotras and Charan Spars: 5) Some customary Rituals in Lord’s  Worship (like Abhisheka, Homa, Kumkumaarchan etc.) 6) Kalyaanoetsava Ceremony for the Lord in Temples;  7) Kumbhabhishekam. Please visit <nrsrini.blogspot.com> for detailed discourses on these topics. 

 (February 2012;

8. TEERTHAYAATRA OR HINDU PILGRIMAGE

Teertyaatra or Pilgrimage has been an integral part of Hindu religious life. Puranas recommend fasting on the previous day before the journey, worship of family deity, Navagrahas and giving gifts to the needy on the day of the departure. One should lead an austere life during pilgrimage. After returning, repetition of worship of the deities, poor feeding and offering of gifts as a mark of thanks giving.

Worship in India is expressed through many natural forms including the elements, trees, rivers and hills. The entire country is pervaded with sanctity due to the association of the creation with the Lord in one form or another. India is rightly known as Punya Bhoomi or the holy land. Teerthayaatra has been listed as one of the universal or common duties (Samaanya Dharama) and is supposed to destroy one's sins, give religious merit (punya) and purity of mind. Today it has become a part of Tourism Industry in India.

Discourse on Sooktas of Mahanarayana Upanishad posted in the Blog contains Mantras that are to be chanted at the time of taking dip in holy rivers and also for the atonement of sins accumulated during life time.  The present discourse includes visits to pilgrim centers covering from Badrinath in the North to Rameshvaram in the South. Please visit the BLOG: <nrsrini.blogspot.com>  which  will take you through these enchanting places blessed with  divine power and showering  divine grace on the participating pilgrims bringing peace and tranquility to focus thoughts on the Supreme in a divine atmosphere. 

(September 2011)

9. DURGAA

Durgaa is the most celebrated deity of Bengal. Durga means one who is impossible to conquer. It is customary to worship Durga, Lakshmi and and Saraswati the consorts of Trinities in Mythology during Navaraatri.  Durga is considered as Primordial energy and she is worshiped alone during Durga poojaa.  She is worshiped chanting Durgasooktam during the nine days of Navaraatri in the form of Navadurgas. Out of the three forms of Durga--Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati emerged Navadurgas, three from each. Navadurgas are: Shilaaputri; Brahmachaarini; Chandrtaghanta; Kushmaanda; Skanda-maataa; Katyaayini; Kaalaraatri; Mahaagauri and Siddhadaatri. Durgaa is a Vedic deity and Durgaa sooktam is the earliest Vedic Mantra and is the most sacred mantra. In this she is meditated up on as Brahman and as Kaatyaayani with the concluding famous Durgaa Gaayatri Mantra.

This text is difficult to pronounce as well as understand for those who have not studied Sanskrit in depth, as is typical of Durga. This sookta is very important for worshipers of Durga. Many of you who are Jaganaatha worshipers may know  that in Tantric form of Worship Subhadra is actually Durgaa or Primordeal energy and not the mythological sister of Krishna. Puri is also known as Srikshetra though it is popular as Purusottama Kshetra. The iconioc representation we see in Jagaannath is what Indradyumana perceived in his dream Parabrahman or Universal Lord in different forms  (vyaahritis) as Krishna, Subhadra and Balabhadra. Hence Durgasookta is also importnat to all worshipers of Jagannath.

 Please visit The Blog Hindu Reflections:<nrsrini.blogspot.com> for a discourse on “Durgaa, the Inaccessible”

(March 2012)

10. HINDU CALENDAR AND TIME MEASUREMENT

Closely watching the solar system to which this earth belongs, our sages observed that the apparent path covered by the Sun in relation to earth (called the ecliptic), recurred periodically with rhythmic precision. Likewise they noticed that the Moon's path  in relation to earth also recurred at regular intervals. Based on this they established units of time such as day, month, year etc. and gained ability to precisely forecast the timing of these recurring celestial events. Thus they gave mankind a system of measurement, by which the correct times for observance of religious rites can be ascertained in accordance with Saastric injunctions. These were the origin of Panchaangam (Hindu Calendar).

Based on the time taken for one winking of human eye our sages established the basic unit of time measurement as Kshana as said in Mahaa Naaraayan Upanishad. Starting from Kshana and following the various units of measurement established by our sages we arrive at Veda's age or Brahma's age as 155.521972 trillion years. Closely watching the Solar system our Rishis established units of time such as Day (Vaara), Fortnight (Paksha), Month (Maasa) and Year (Samvatsara). They also established the cycle of years as 60 years for each cycle giving each year a name (Prabhava, Vibhava etc.). This they needed for conducting their rituals and Vedic sacrifices in strict observance of the movements of the stars. 

They further established a cycle of four Eons (Yugas) Krita (Satya), Treta, Dvaapara and Kali to constitute a Mahaayuga. One Mahaayuga accounts for 4,320,000 human years. 1000 Mahaayugas will be 4,320,000,000 human years. 1000 Mahayugas add up to the period of 14 Manus.  When Brahma goes to sleep at night the first three worlds will be dissolved in the Pralaya (deluge).  This is called Avaantara Pralaya (Intermediate deluge).  This date of creation according to Jyotisha more or less agrees with the view of modern science which is 4.32 billion years. Brahmas life span is 100 Brahama years. Brahma's position is that of an executive. It is believed the next Brahma will be Hanuman (Dharma, Chandrasekharaananda Sarasvati, Sankarachaarya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham).  The present Brahma is half-way in his 51st year.

Fourteen Manus reign successively during one day time of Brahma. Soone Manvantara is 71 Mahayugas. Now we are in the 28th Mahayuga of the Manu Vaivaswata. In this we are in Kaliyuga. This is what we say in our Sankalpa (resolution) for performing any ritual. The present period of 14 Manus is known as Svetavaraaha kalpa. Scientists have calculated the time when the sun's heat will be reduced so much that life on Earth cannot be sustained, then this world will perish. The date on which this will occur agrees with that given by our scriptures for the next Avaantara Pralaya.

Please visit BLOG;<nrsrini.blogspot.com> for discourses: Time Measurement ; Units of Time, Breath and Cosmology; Hindu Calendar.

(October 2011)

11. MYTHOLOGY AND RITUALS

The continual absorption and dissimulation of different beliefs is perhaps the dominant characteristic of Hindu Religion. This has helped Hindu Religion give rise to such a rich and varied mythology. A significant feature of Hindu belief is the desire to transcend the chaos and unpredictability of the world in order to find Moksha or liberation. From the earliest times evidence suggests that people believe that they might achieve the goal through the practice of prayer or meditation. This has also helped in rich and varied mythology and a wide variety of ritualistic practices. In times of disastrous situations Hindus resign to deep prayers, which make God to rush to the scene to give the relief. This has created several Puranas which others call myth.

Hindus call mythology as  Itihaasas  and Puraanas. To them they are History--His+story or the story of the Lord.  Puraanas have given great impetus to iconography. 'Puraa' means in the past. Therefore that which gives an account of what happened in the past is "Puraana". Itihaasam=iti+haa+asam, meaning it truly happened--"haa" means truly. Itihaasas are placed on equal footing with Vedas and are often regarded as Fifth Veda (according to Jagadguru Sankaracharya Chandrasekharananda).

So researches are working constantly to find these historic facts: Thus someone has found the relics of Dwaaraka of Lord Krishna in the seas bordering Gujarat; some British officer saw Rama and Lakshman guarding the city walking on the flood waters in  Madurantakam during floods and recorded it in Fort St. George Gazette; Madhva's disciple saw Madhva disappearing in  the Himalayan blizzards and then reappearing after a long time meeting Vedavyasa though barely dressed in loin cloth; someone recovered the boulders used by the mighty Nala to build Setu (bridge) across the Indian Ocean connecting Lanka; some records were found in Buddhist monastery in Tibet as to the visit of Isa (Jesus Christ); audience of Advaita scholars who came to question Ramanuja on his philosophy of Vishishtaadvaita saw Adiseha hovering over the  head of Ramanuja, who is believed to be the incarnation of Adisesha, when the curtain was opened in Thondanur, and so on. You all will have your own stories too!

For a discourse on  “Mythology” as well as  my  interesting discourse on “Hindu Rituals and Mythology” please visit the Blog Hindu Reflections:<nrsrini.blogspot.com>

 (November 2011)

12. FORMS OF HINDU WORSHIP

The earliest form of Hindu worship was performing Yajnas (fire sacrifices) which dominated  the Vedic  Period. Later this gave way to Japayoga. Presently Bhaktimaarga is the most popular mode of worship. Yet the most ancient form of worship Yajna dominates Hindu way of Life and forms an essential part of temple worship, rituals at home and part and parcel of the performance of prescribed Samskaaras from time to time. Many Vedic mantras make use of the terms used in Yajna in their import. It is therefore necessary to get a basic knowledge of yajna which was a powerful means of worship in Vedic days. Yajna also moved away for a time from its spiritual sense of Purushasookta days to materialistic approach against which people protested. This gave birth to Buddhism and Jainism that opposed animal sacrifices and anything against the principle of Ahimsa. Hinduism soon corrected its wrong approach to a large extent and absorbed Buddha himself as an Avataar of Vishnu and rescued Hinduism from moving towards atheism thanks to the revival by the great philosopher Sankara. As you also know the recently corrected time of Sankaracharya from the historic date known to us runs parallel to that of Buddha. (509-477 B.C.E.)

Threefold purposes of Yajna, the Vedic fire sacrifice are: 1) To earn the blessings of deities so that we as well as other living beings may be happy in this world; 2) To ensure that after death we will live happily in the celestial world. Our joy in the celestial world lasts only until such time as we exhaust the merit (Punya) earned in this world. This joy is not complete or full as the joy which a liberated soul enjoys called Eternal Bliss, in which state one enjoys the experience of Eesvara; 3) the third purpose is to perform sacrifices without any expectation of reward as taught in the Bhagavadgeeta. It is a selfless performance. It is our duty to invoke the blessings of the Gods for the welfare of the world. 

Yajna was performed first Viratpurusha, performed then by Rishis  and then adopted by  people (praja) in the course of creation (Please refer to Purushasookta text). Yajna therefore plays a vital part in Hindu's religious life (Please refer to the glorification of Yajna given at the end of the discourse in Appendix from Maha Narayana Upanishad). 

Please visit Blog Hindu Reflections: <nrsrini.blogspot.com> for the discourses “Yajnas—the Vedic Fire Sacrifices”, Japayoga, “Evolution of Bhakti Maarga” “Purusha Sookta Homam”  and The Yajna in Purusha Sookta”.

October 2011)

13. PHYSICAL FORMS OF HINDU WORSHIP (KAAYIKA KARMA)

It is possible to give greater expression in physical form of worship than in oral or mental form of worship. Lord Krishna has given his directive to this in Bhagavadgeetaa while he said “patram pushpam phalam toyam yoe may bhaktya prayacchati”. \Today’s physical worship essentially contains these—a leaf (Tulasi or bilva), a choice fruit, a choice flower and little water offered as a symbol of his love and devotion.  But we believe in quantity also to derive more benefits! If you closely observe a devotee presents the symbols of five elements which constitute the entire universe, for he cannot offer anything that does not belong to him--flowers, water, light, a hand fan, turmeric, sandal paste,   food, a piece of cloth etc. He also pays his obeisance to these five elements during the physical acts of worship.

Whether a pooja is conducted at home or temple, the chosen deity is treated as a guest. The basic pooja is called Panchoepachaara (five-fold offering). A more elaborate pooja is called Shodasoepachaara Pooja (a sixteen steps pooja). The most elaborate one is Chatus-shashthi-upachaara pooja (Sixty-four steps pooja).

Scriptural texts called Aagamas prescribe the different aspects of worship. They include methods of worship, prayers, and mantras associated with worship including monthly and yearly festivals to be celebrated by the followers of Siva or Vishnun or Sakti. In this they have drawn liberally support from Vedas and various Namaavalis inspired by Rudram and Vishnu Sahasranaamam initially to atone, concentrate on Brahmopaasana (prayer to the Supreme Principle) and surrender completely. Whatever way the Pooja is performed, the ultimate goal is to dedicate one’s actions to the service of the Lord and making the religious life a continuous process of spiritual growth.

Please visit the Blog Hindu Reflections <nrsrini.blogspot.com> for the discourse: “Motivation behind Modality of Ceremonial Aaraadhana (Worship)”; “Sixteen-steps Worship of the Deity at Vishnu Temples and at Home” and “Prologue on Hindu Mass worship in Temples” “Hindu Mass Worship in Temples and the Need for Spiritual Focus”

(January 2012; August 2013)

14. HISTORIC AND ORTHODOX DATES OF INDIA

Historic Dates we have all learnt at school from the Indian History from Western Historians and Western educated Indian Historians has been very sketchy and speculative for early and medieval Vedic period. We all learn quite often that some of the dates were purposely manipulated for the Indian History of Christian Era before Christ to make Hindu Religion look more recent and a Pagan Religion of beliefs and faiths. In spite of modern discovery of Harappa and Mohenjadaro, excavations of Kambhata (Gulf of Cambay) and exhaustive researches conducted by the Institutions studying Indology, no serious or bold steps have been taken by the Indian Government to revise these dates. To satisfy the inquiring mind of Immigrant Hindus some scholars in USA and institutions like Ramakrishna Math have tried to find authentic dates for many events and personalities. These were mostly based on astronomical dates found in literary sources which did not find favor with Western Historians who dismissed Jyothisha as purely speculative forgetting the fact early Jyotisha gave birth to modern astronomy and even today many of its predictions agree with modern sciences as we have discussed earlier. Unfortunately being modest our sages did not reveal the dates or names in these scriptures as they were more concerned with the contents rather than seeking recognition or fame.

Please find enclosed a brief survey of some of the Pre-Christian Era historic dates. The list serves only as examples of some events and not exhaustive or conclusive. It is just to remind you all to be on the look-out for authentic dates in which you are interested from the available sources and not to go by what present Indian History says for the ancient and difficult periods in Indian History.  

Please go through my discourse on “Orthodox and Historic Dates of Hindu Scriptures,

Events, and Personalities”; “How Can be the Wrong History of Ancient India corrected?” and  “Can We Believe All that is Said About time and Creation in Scriptures?

(December 2011; April 2012 )

 15. AMAZING NUMBERS IN HINDU SCRIPTURES

Albert Einstein complimented Indians for their contribution as to the   concept of Numbers without which no scientific concept was ever possible.   In all the four Vedas there are several hymns dealing with numbers. The decimal system for positive integers had become popular in those days. In the series of ten mention is made of Sata=hundred; Sahasra=thousand, Ayuta=ten thousand; Laksha or Niyuta=hundred thousand; Payuta= million; Arbuda=ten million; Nyarbuda=hundred million; Samudra=billion; Madhya=ten billion; anta=hundred billion; paraardha=thousand billion.

Hindus with Sanskrit knowledge and who are religiously inclined read Valmiki  Ramayana during Navaraatri. Since Ramayana contains 24000 slokas  this holy reading (paaraayanam; Poojaa path) starts much earlier and completed on Vijayadasmi Day  celebrating Rama Pattabhishekam (ascending the throne) and his glorious rule. People also invite people for the holy reading/listening (pathanam/sravanam) and grand celebration on Vijayadasmi Day with a grand meal served as prasaad. It is customary to do holy reading (paaraayana) of Ramayana during Navaratri in the South of India. This ancient epic of poetic composition is called Mahaakaavya or Aaadikavya and known for its poetic excellence.

In the context of my lectures on divinity of numbers I was attracted to the concluding slokas of Yuddhakaanda, Chapter XXVIII.  Here the two spies of Ravana Suka and Sarana take a complete survey of the armies of monkeys under several leaders and  give a complete description of the same with the numbers of monkeys under each leader.  It is surprising to learn the amazing knowledge of numbers prevalent in such ancient times and also how capable they were to conduct the survey for actual reporting.  As we all know we struggle hard to-day to conduct human census even periodically with all the facilities and support available today.  I do not know whether even National Geographic Magazine has ever reported as to the census of Monkeys in the world. But the twin secret agents of Ravana alone could accomplish this Herculean task. Interested readers should read the Ramayana if they have the knowledge of Sanskrit. The values for  the same names differ in  Ramayana from Vedas and other  scriptural sources. 

I have quoted in my previous E-mail that astronomical scriptures had the knowledge of numbers up to ten raised to the power of 53 which is one followed by 54 zeros. Ramayana even goes beyond that. In slokas 33 to 42 Suka reports to Ravanaas follows: “The wise speak of a hundred thousand multiplied by hundred as crore (lakh X 100), while a lakh of such a crore is Sanku (10^7 X 10^5=10^12). A lakh of Sankhu is known as Mahaasanku (10^5 X 10^ 12= 10^17).  A lakh of Mahaasanku is known as Vrinda (10^5 X 10^17=10^22). A lakh of Vrindas is known as Mahaavrinda (10^5 X 10^22=10^27). A lakh of Mahaavrindas is spoken of in this context as Padma (10^5 X 10^27=10^32). A lakh of Padmas is known as Mahaapadma (10^5 X 10^32=10^37). A lakh of Mahaapadmas is spoken of in this context as Kharva (10^5 X 10^37

=10^42). A lakh of Kharva is known as Mahaakarva (10^5 X 10^42=10^47). A lakh of Mahaakharvas is called Samudra (10^5 X 10^47=10^52). A lakh of Samudras is called an Ogha (10^5 X 10^52=10^57). A lakh of Oghas is popularly known as Mahaugha (10^5 X 10^57=10^62). Surrounded according to this computation by a thousand crore and one hundred Sankus and a thousand Mahaasankus and likewise by a hundred Vrindas, even so by a thousand Mahaavrindas and a hundred Padmas, in the same manner by thousand  Mahaapadmas and a hundred Kharvas, nay by  Samudras and similarly by a hundred Mahaughas and a hundred crore Mahaughas of monkey warriors, as well as by the gallant Vibhishana and his own ministers, Sugriva, the ruler of monkeys is following you for waging war—Sugriva who is thus surrounded by a huge army and ever endowed with extra-ordinary might  and prowess. Carefully observing, Oh great King,  this army ranged like a blazing planet;a supreme effort now be put forth so that your victory may be ensured and no discomfiture may follow at the hands of the enemies”—Yuddhakaanda, Chapter 28, slokas 33 to 42 of Valmiki Ramayana. 

You can very well imagine the mathematical knowledge, the skill to count and take census or even make estimation looking at a crowd going as a spy. We also find a systematic way of nomenclature in those days of yore. I do not know how Goswami Tulsidas describes this in his Yuddhakaanda as I do not have with me readily Ramcharit Manas. He should be much more descriptive than Valmiki being in Kaliyuga. I need not tell you how long before this text was written as by now you all now know the time that has elapsed between now and then being happily located in computer age. You may also refer to my discourse on Time Measurement posted on the Blog in October 2011. 10^5 is generally understood by scientists and engineers as 10 rose to the power of 5 or 1 followed by 5 zeros or one lakh or 100 thousands. I do not find much reference to Ramayana on this subject in literature though references are made to Vedas and scriptures of Astronomy.

16. DOCTRINE OF KARAMA (ACTION AND REACTION) IN HINDUISM

Living in USA Hindu Americans cannot escape going through the two celebrated religious seasons of the year—Easter and Christmas which are also incidentally highly commercialized to enjoy shopping for these festivals.  We do not lag behind during Diwali and Navaratri in this regard.  Majority being Christians America forcefully brings forth catchy slogans with deep religious fervor:   “Sin is the Reason for the Season” for Easter and “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” for Christmas.  It is because Christianity like certain other founded religions believes in Resurrection and not Reincarnation. Accordingly believers seriously think of  their sinful actions during Easter  but hope for  the Lord to arrive to redeem their sins en-mass however serious their action may be  as one time Pardon, during Christmas. 

Hinduism on the other hand thinks of Karma as Action and Reaction and   Punarjanma as Reincarnation with the Wisdom of Vedas as found in Upanishads all through their worship and merriment.  Seeing the Creation and laws of Nature, Hindus   are convinced that only the body dies and not the soul. Laws of Karma closely follows Laws of Conservation of Energy both being action oriented. The cause of rebirth of the soul is Karma and begins to operate immediately once birth takes place.  Unlike other beliefs, it believes that the soul comes to this world with its load of past actions opening its account.  Good action leads to good results bad action leads to bad results following the maxim “as you sow so you reap”. However there should be end to this process.  Every beginning has to have an end! That happens when sole is elevated to the state of realized soul by its own actions when it goes back to its origin and merges with it. This may happen in this birth or in several births according to the efforts put in.  The defects and short-coming are gradually corrected and the soul gradually gets freer until it is perfectly free, when it goes back to the Creator. So, there is hope for everyone but only time varies, unlike the other system where the soul waits for the Day of Judgment—for its liberation or permanent condemnation.

Therefore every Hindu Festival is a ritual unlike Easter (Prayer and fast) and Christmas (rejoice and Pray), during which time Hindus focus their attention on Spiritual elevation by fasting and prayers. That is why in Sivaratri (Birth of Siva as Lingodbhava Moorti), Rama Navami (Birth of Rama) and Krishna JanmaashtamI (Birth of Krishna) devotees resort to fasting, prayers and keep vigil yearning for the liberation of the soul. Their merriment is only to express their gratitude and feel his presence as if he is with them physically, as a friend, philosopher and guide to shape their destiny in the right direction on such special days. It may be aptly said “Prayer is the focal point of the celebration of a Hindu Festival. 

Please go through my discourse on the Blog <nrsrini.blogspot.com> “Doctrine of Karma (Action and Reaction) in Hinduism” for deeper study and more details.             

(March 2013)

17. IS INDIA HINDU?

You may find the following Western opinion coming from Maria Wirth interesting and inquiring! Hindu Religion Is gradually being depleted of its valuable and exclusive assets of Wisdom from Vedas, leaving behind what appears as inferior in its religious thinking to the group of religions whose origin is Abraham. This has resulted often with many conflicts and disputes between various groups as well as from within its fold. This is because of our moving away from Universal spiritual approach of Sanatana Dharma and neglect of study of Sanskrit, Veda and Upanishads. Incidentally Sanatana Dharma or Eternal Tradition is secular in its approach suitable to humans of all origin and could have well fitted into political thinking of secular India. 

Both words Hindu and India owe their origin to the cultural background of Indus Valley.  We do not have Indus with us anymore but the cultural background we built in much earlier still haunts us! Out of hatred and misconception Pakistan went with a new name as they were the earliest to move out of Sanatana Dharma and are also haters being earliest converts. Other converts to Abrahamic religion   have also joined hands with them. Could it have been better if we had insisted on the name of Bharat as first choice and Sanatanist as  our following. Both are older to Indus valley civilization. We would have been then known as Bharateeyas or Sanatanists today. Hinduism as practiced today is mostly influenced by Puraanic approach, sectarian and ritualistic than universal oneness and spiritual thinking based on wisdom from Vedas. Puraanic approach was originally intended to take us more towards spiritualism and Universal Oneness. On the other hand this has gained a reputation as inferior in its religious thinking by the Abrahamic religions. Many Hindus have moved into this society seeking fortune  and are  struggling hard to keep up their culture.  Unlike Europeans they are not able to merge with the new culture and lose their identity.

We have to get back to our original thinking and influence the world with our spiritual approach and Universal Oneness and not on Universal Brotherhood if we want to bring back the glory of the past. Conflict between brothers is natural in its approach which is the cause of the present day misery. The migrants from India today are mostly highly educated and if they desire they can easily influence the world with Spiritual thinking and Universal Oneness adopting the wisdom from Vedas. This in turn may influence India where still majority are illiterates and poor to get back to the origin of Bharat and Sanatana Dharma. This thought cannot come from India as it is caught in whirlpool of conflicts. This has to come from enlightened Hindus from abroad.

This is the message from Maria Worth of Germany:

“When Germany is Christian, is India Hindu?

By Maria Wirth

May 11, 2013

(Denying One’s Own Roots)

Though I live in India since long, there are still some points that I find hard to understand - for example why many educated Indians become agitated when India is considered as a Hindu country. The majority of Indians are Hindus. India is special because of its ancient Hindu tradition. Westerners are drawn to India because of it. Why then is there this resistance by many Indians to acknowledge the Hindu roots of their country?

This attitude is strange for two reasons. First, those educated Indians seem to have a problem only with ‘Hindu’ India, but not with ‘Muslim’ or ‘Christian’ countries. In Germany for example, only 59 percent of the population are registered with the two big Christian Churches (Protestant and Catholic), however, the country is bracketed under ‘Christian countries’. Angela Merkel, the Chancellor, stressed recently the Christian roots of Germany and urged the population ‘to go back to Christian values’. In 2012, she postponed her trip to the G-8 summit for a day to address the German Catholic Day. Two major political parties carry ‘Christian’ in their name, including Angela Merkel’s ruling party.

Germans are not agitated that Germany is called a Christian country, though I actually would understand if they were. After all, the history of the Church is appalling. The so called success story of Christianity depended greatly on tyranny.  “Convert or die”, were the options given not only to the indigenous population in America some five hundred years ago. In Germany, too, 1200 years ago, the emperor Karl the Great ordered the death sentence for refusal of baptism in his newly conquered realms. It provoked his advisor Alkuin to comment: ‘One can force them to baptism, but how to force them to believe?’

Those times, when one’s life was in danger if one dissented with the dogmas of the Church, are thankfully over. And nowadays many in the west do dissent and leave the Church in a steady stream - partly because they are disgusted with the less than holy behavior of Church officials and partly because they can’t believe in the dogmas, for example that ‘Jesus is the only way’ and that God sends all those who don’t accept this to hell.

And here comes the second reason why the resistance to associate India with Hinduism by Indians is difficult to understand. Hinduism is in a different category from the Abrahamic religions. Its history, compared to Christianity and Islam was undoubtedly the least violent as it spread in ancient times by convincing arguments and not by force. It is not a belief system that demands blind belief in dogmas and the suspension of one’s intelligence. On the contrary, Hinduism encourages using one’s intelligence to the hilt. It is an enquiry into truth, based on a refined (methods are given) character and intellect. It comprises a huge body of ancient literature, not only regarding Dharma and philosophy, but also regarding music, architecture, dance, science, astronomy, economics, politics, etc.

If Germany or any other western country had this kind of literary treasure, it would be so proud and highlight its greatness on every occasion. When I discovered for example the Upanishads, I was stunned. Here was expressed in clear terms what I intuitively had felt to be true, but could not have expressed clearly. Brahman is not partial; it is the invisible, indivisible essence in everything. Everyone gets again and again a chance to discover the ultimate truth and is free to choose his way back to it. Helpful hints are given but not imposed.

 In my early days in India, I thought that every Indian knew and valued his tradition. Slowly I realized that I was wrong. The British colonial masters had been successful in not only weaning away many of the elite from their ancient tradition but even making them despise it. It helped that the ‘educated’ class could no longer read the original Sanskrit texts and believed what the British told them. This lack of knowledge and the brainwashing by the British education may be the reason why many ‘modern’ Indians are against anything ‘Hindu’. They don’t realize the difference between western religions that have to be believed (or at least professed) blindly, and which discourage if not forbid their adherents to think on their own and the multi-layered Hindu Dharma which gives freedom and encourages using one’s intelligence.”

Many of the educated class do not realize that on one hand, westerners, especially those who dream to impose their own religion on this vast country, will applaud them for denigrating Hindu Dharma, because this helps western universalism to spread in India. On the other hand, many westerners, including Church people, very well know the value and surreptitiously appropriate insights from the vast Indian knowledge system, drop the original source and present it either as their own or make it look as if these insights had been known in the west.

Rajiv Malhotra of Infinity Foundation has done painstaking research in this field and has documented many cases of “digestion” of Dharma civilization into western universalism. He chose the term digestion, as it implies that that which is being digested (a deer for example) is in the end no longer there, whereas the ‘digester’ (a tiger) becomes stronger. Similarly, Hindu civilization is gradually being depleted of its valuable, exclusive assets and what is left is called inferior.

If only missionaries denigrated Hindu Dharma, it would not be so bad, as they clearly have an agenda which discerning Indians would detect. But sadly, Indians with Hindu names assist them because they wrongly believe that Hinduism is inferior to western religions. They belittle everything Hindu instead of getting thorough knowledge. As a rule, they know little about their tradition except what the British told them, i.e. that the major features are caste system and idol worship. They don’t realize that India would gain, not lose, if it solidly backed its profound and all inclusive Hindu tradition. The Dalai Lama said some time ago that already as a youth in Lhasa, he had been deeply impressed by the richness of Indian thought. “India has great potential to help the world,” he added.

When will the westernized Indian elite realize this truth?

*18. THINKIG OF OUR SECOND GENERATIONS…..

HMEC in USA conducted a Youth Session on 31 August this year on the subject matter of "Coalition of Hindu Youth' in 3 lively sessions. I am not a member of this organization but I am on their mailing list. I have in my own way given my discourses discussing the subject matter discussed in the three sessions as you all know. These are:

Session 1-=-Moderator: Varuna  Khanna

“Bridge the Gap”

We often talk about the "gap" that exists between the first and second generation Hindu-Americans. Not only are we aware of it, but we have taken steps to try and solve it; these steps have largely been unfruitful, though not for a lack of effort. For whatever reason, a divide remains - there must be a deeper cause behind the canyon that separates the two generations. This session will attempt to go beyond the usual discourse and discussion about "bridging the gap" and attempt to identify that cause so that a solution can then be constructed.

Session 2- Moderator: Preya Dave

"Engineering the Future"

How do we envision ourselves in 10, 20, or 30 years? What do we expect from our temples and organizations? More importantly, what do we expect from OURSELVES? We all agree that we need to develop and sustain our Hindu society, but is there a plan for that? What does it even mean for Hindu dharma to be sustained, and are we equipped with the requisite spiritual and knowledge capital to carry out this task? These are only a sampling of the myriad questions before our generation - questions that can only be answered through introspection and a self-journey.

Session 3- Moderator: Bhakti Mehta

"Workshopping the Hindu youth"

The sheer volume of the amassed knowledge and wisdom contained in Hindu thought is staggering, often to the point of being so daunting as to put-off many youth from pursuing any form of true education regarding Hindu dharma. Yet there must be effective ways to learn and disseminate this information, beyond routine memorization and recitation of facts. We will attempt to tease out some novel ways of learning about our dharma in a fun, interactive way.

The subject matter of the above convention is very important to all Hindus particularly to Hindu Americans. Even in India atheism is growing in leaps and bounds with political blessings while religion as is practiced is moving away from the original intent and principles of Sanathana Dhaarma. New traditions, worships, beliefs and even new gods are springing up confusing what is called Hinduism or Hindu Religion. In fact USA is becoming more rationale in thinking moving away from conventional religion and started even looking at Hinduism and Buddhism for its spiritual hunger though previously it dismissed Hinduism as pagan, blind belief based  and confused.

Your kind attention is drawn to my previous discourses "Motivation behind the Modality of ceremonial Aaraadhana","One Hindu Temple Complex for many Traditions Overseas" and others. Your views on the subject are invited. Based on the views expressed I may think of a separate discourse if found necessary.

*19. KEEP THE NAME OF THY LORD HOLY!

I am often pained to chant the name Ucchishtha Ganapati with the thinking that he is associated with pollution and left over food.  Kaamakoti Peetham gives an elaborate explanation how Ganesha in this form is Parabrahman and to bring home that point almost created a Veda out of the word.  Philosophers have come out with their own explanation how this is an important emanation of Ganesha if not an Avatar. This name seems to be an out- come of Taantric philosophy which uses the same word for Sakti also  in its form of  Maatangi.

I was often pained to see the wide publicity of Ganesha Beedi of Mangalore prominently depicting Ganesha near a Ganesha temple I used to visit while young.  People hang out their calendar in India along with the beedi display and thus extend worship to the dirty stuff too. In spite of such a popularity Ganesha enjoys in Karnataka which has even created the famous Vidya Ganapati in Sringeri, nobody seems to bother Beedi being associated with Ganesha. May be Hindu sentiments will only rise when the order in the word Ganasha Beedi is reversed.  There are many such examples of misuse of God's name by Hindus themselves who blame others for minor things.  Of course there is also Aambal Snuff in Tamil Nadu probably drawing inspiration from Maatangi.  Aambal in Tamil means Devi. We are often offended when somebody uses the words cult, mythology, idol in the good dictionary sense because somebody used it in derogatory sense, reading out of context.  At the same time we glorify the word  like Uchchishtha and sanctify. This is based on Vaamachaara cult which also promotes three Ms-Matsya, Mamsa and Maithuna. Perhaps Ganesha Beedi brand name came from Uchchishta Ganapati who blessed someone prosperous. May be we have an explanation that this is named after the entrepreneur whose name was Ganesha, named after the Lord during Namakarana by his parents. But we do naamakarana in a holy ceremony with god's name to inculcate and develop spiritual feelings to lead a dharmic and prosperous life as the child grows up and not use it in a contemptuous sense. It is strange such practices continue even among highly educated and no Hindu has raised a voice against such practices. I love the commandment "Do not use the name of thy Lord in vain" even though I do not pay my respects to all ten of them.  Whatever may be the justification, it looks that we need house cleaning or restrain in highlighting such names before pointing fingers at others and our critics. I have invariably heard in Tamil Nadu Christian missionaries starting their propaganda  to attract out-castes and low castes to their religion with the ultimate motive of conversion address them as "Paavigale" meaning "You sinners".  Is there anybody who is free from sin on earth including the one who addresses?  It needs a soul search before promoting a religion.

In Sanskrit there is a word Uccha meaning lofty or great. Ishta is another word meaning desire.  A combination of this may be lofty desire or high ideal promoting Ganesha.  It could have been Uccha-Isshta Ganapati meaning highly desirable Gnaapati. May be it got corrupted in usage. Ganesha is not a Vedic God, not even mentioned in Ramaayana where Kumara is glorified. and so lacks the depth and wisdom of Vedas in  scriptures about him though Sankara has glorified iGanesha basedm on popularity then.   I am not sure whether he referred to any of these later emanations! I do not know  why our religious institutions cannot promote this concept instead going round about explaining how sacred is Uchchishtha Ganapati and making an Upanishad and Homa about it. Better would be to leave all epithets and focus   on "Ga" and "Ja"  beejaksharas(seed letters) in Gajaanana.

 As a spiritual thinker and a student of Sanskrit I go by the meaning for Ucchishtha as remnant among several of its meanings. When everything in the world gets dissolved in Him he still leaves behind Uchchishtha Ganapati that is Remnant Ganapati to establish new order in the role of Saguna Brahman.  But will this appeal to vast majority of his devotees to whom he is Modakapriya? Why not we adopt what is more appropriate and simple to elevate ourselves instead of going by the wisdom of Vaamaachara of Sakta concept. Vamaachaara propagates conduct involving violence, black magic, sex and anti-social behavior and tamasic in its mode of worship.  It has not become popular with the educated crowd. Uccchishtha is a concept from Vaamaachaara Philosophy, which everybody is trying to refine to make it acceptable to all with meaningful understanding.

*20. CULTURAL SHOCKS AND THREATS FROM SCIENCE FOR HINDU AMERICANS

You have heard about two Hindu lesbians celebrating their wedding with Hindu sacred ceremony conducted by a Hindu Priest in California. This was hailed as the great spirit of Hindu tolerance by a large section of Hindus who attended the wedding. The same was circulated to you. Such issues may soon become a headache to American Hindus and Hindu religious Institutions in America, who are bringing up their children here. Hindus in India are not free from it.  We may have to face similar issues in the future. How can this be a ceremonial Hindu Wedding as the crowd believed and boasts? Hindu Marriage Samskaara accepts eight types  marriages.  All these marriages are between a man and a woman. Indian law accepts the present traditional Vedic wedding besides wedding by registration, a British legacy. That is also between man and woman. America accepts only marriage by registration. So every Hindu has to be married twice for migration if not registered waiting for 21 days. Is it polygamy?  Hindu Americans have created a ninth one.  Who will give it Saastric sanction? May be some American overseas Hindu Religious Institution!

            

Aasvalaayana Grihya Sootra echoes the Atharva Veda on Wedding Mantras repeating the same words; "Amoehamasmi saa tvam saa tavamasyamoe aham | dyauraham prithivee tvam saama-aham-rik-tvam|| taavehi vivaahaavahai prajaam prajanyaavahai | sampriyau roechishnoo sumansyamaanau jeevaema saradssatam|| [This one am I, that one are you; I am heaven, you are earth; I am the saman, you are the rik. So come, let us two marry; let us beget offspring. Dear together, shining, with good intentions, may we two live together a hundred autumns meaning years. Saaman and rik are yajna components of Vedic sacrifice.  Saaman is the Vesdic chant, the Saamaveda and Rik is Rigveda]

Hindu wedding is a Vedic Samskara. Vedic mandate is clear that marriage is a union between man and woman. Vedic mantras in wedding are addressed to both man and woman. Brahma split himself into male and female components to create human beings by the union. Manu is his grandson who is the Adam of the Aryan culture, the first Man. All divine weddings in human form (Avtars) are between man and woman. Brahma was capable of creation alone as he brought his divine maanasaputras (mind-born) or sages. Lord Subramanya and Ganesha are born out of single parent; but that was exclusive to divine births and not humans. So the Vedic mandate is clear for Aagama run temples. This privilege was not extended to humans even when they had no kids. Vedavyasa helped the widows of Vichitraveerya in getting children   who were accepted by the society. So are children of Pandu born out of wedlock because of his infertility! They are not mind born as I understand! Did Hindus know about Surrogating? Or could that be accepted norms of adultery?  What about Karna? Nowhere Karna  is mentioned as illegitimate child. Mahabharata says they are all born to mothers. Similar births are also mentioned in Raghu dynasty in Ramayana. Mahabharata society permitted polyandry. It is still prevalent in small pockets in North India among hill tribes similar to the practices in Tibet and China. Even Ganesha is attributed to Dwaimaatura as Parvati threw the dirt model she shaped to Ganges  that got life in Ganges waters  and  Subhramanya was born as  Siva's energy came in contact with Ganges making her the virtual  mother which was later solved by Siva's mandate.

There is a scientific prediction by the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins that in the next fifty years scientific advance will lead to the death and dis-appearance of the soul. Coming from a scientist I have to give some credit to his statement. Neuroscience will finally kill the old idea of a disembodied body essence that is animated by a vital or mystical force and survives our death, he argues. Genetic mapping will label all data of the living body, and no entity called soul will show up. One of life's great mysteries will evaporate. His book came out five years ago.  If that happen our Upanishads will go to archaic or dust bin and religious institutions to archaic   or historic buildings. It never happened in the past and may not happen. But who knows what our computer wizard will reveal which again is God’s sudden Revelation in recent years. All that we know about computers started with our very creation but He just revealed it partially now. More may wait to come later.   Of course we are often shocked with such writings and events, but the future possibilities should not be dismissed. Today some conservative Christian Religion writer who laughed and jeered at Hindu reincarnation theory, facing now with the challenge of very existence of soul writes: "In a crowded pew, or a crowded bus station or bleachers or national protest, the soul drama unfolds. It plays out in the lives of teenagers, janitors, executives and everyone else. It is present in the older people, who know what is at stake with the soul, the damage that time and choices can do it, but also the incalculable treasure it is. They know it is their gift to hold a while longer on Earth. Everybody else senses this too, whenever they turn to notice life is aglow, ever-ready for rebirth, against all odds and predictions. Hence the reincarnation theory in which Hinduism strongly believes comes as old wine in new bottle.

Whatever may be the future we as enlightened Hindu Americans should not be a confused mass like our counterparts in India having taken a step to move out because we could not grow in that atmosphere or we did not adjust to all that is happening in India. We have to be clear on our religious following. It seems logical and practical to follow Sanatana Dharma with its focus on Universal Oneness and Spirituality in our situation which has not come into contradictions with science so far because Vedanta is Science.

*21. PURAANIC STORIES HAVE A MISSION

Our worship and celebrations of Rama Navami, Ganesh Jayanti, Krishna Jayanti, Navaratri, Dussera,  Deepaavali,  Kartigai Deepam etc. during the festival season is based on Puraanic stories. In fact almost all Hindu rituals and festivals are Puraanic based.  Puraanic stories have taken meaningful shapes that have enabled the growth of life, communities and civilizations. They are to be evaluated as neither history, nor Geography, nor Science, though considerable elements of all these may be involved in them. To interpret all Puraanas as factual, in the sense of event in space-time, as some Indian fundamentalists do, is as much an injustice to them as the attitude of some Moderns who equate them with stories and fables. As Hindu Americans we are more inclined to the latter concept.

In the temples of Vishnu, it is customary to observe with special worship and festivity the days of appearance of the ten avatars ; the third day of the bright half of Chaitra in the afternoon--Matsya; the full-moon day of Vaisaakha in the evening-- Koorma; the third day of  the bright half of Bhaadrapada in the afternoon--Varaaha; the thirteenth day of the bright half of Vaisaakha in the evening --Narasimha; The twelfth day of the bright half of Bhaadrapada at noon--Vaamana; The third day of the bright half of Vaisaakha at noon--Parasu-Rama; The ninth day of bright half of Chaitra in the after-noon--Rama; the eighth day of the dark half of Sraavana--Krishna; the tenth day of bright half of Aaswin--Buddha ; and the sixth day of the bright half of Sraavana in the evening Kalki (predicted date).

Puraanas belong to supra-historical order, and their worth is existential as enduring psychic verities in human consciousness. Their purpose, too, is not the teaching of history, or geography, or science, but converting these and all other available information on the universe, creation, plants, animals, human societies, philosophies, achievements of royal dynasties, lives of saints and holy personages, divine beings recognized as Incarnations and all other kinds of traditions to one integrated literature, capable of stimulating in man a keen sense of an Omniscient, Omnipotent, and all loving Spiritual Reality, who can be communed with, prayed and visualized in various forms of spiritual glory.

Bhagavata says Puraanas lead to God  and  voices forth in 12.3.14-15:

" I have narrated all these account of great men of ancient days, all of whom have given up their ghost,  leaving behind only their reputation for good deeds, only with a view to create in you renunciation and spiritual enlightenment.  All the descriptive details given here should not be taken as literal or as factual history, they being shaped and meant for the above mentioned purpose. Let one who aspire s to have  devotion of Krishna be always hearing to the recitals of His glory, capable of eradicating all evil tendencies".  Viewed in this light of Bhaagavatam Puraana, Puraanas have succeeded more than any literature in making God a reality to man through their vivid and realistic descriptions and narratives. Please refer to my discourse on Mythology posted on Hindu Reflections in November 2011.

22. ATHEISM IS RELIGION SAYS US COURT; SANATANISTS SAY HINDUISM IS NOT A RELIGION!

In a filing in federal court US Attorney John W. Vaudreuil says atheism is a Religion.  His findings are "Non-theistic beliefs, including atheism, may qualify as 'religious' beliefs because they come under the definition of  religion and fulfill a similar role in a personal life".  Annie Laurel Gaylor of Freedom from Religion Foundation wants atheists to tell "We are not ministers. We arehaving to tell the government the obvious--we are not church". Department of Justice says Buddhism and Taoism don't include a belief in God and are considered religions; the government's lawyers argue, so why not atheism?   The argument goes on for the First Amendment does give religious groups special privileges. Atheists do not want any interference by the secular government and want special privileges to be withdrawn. The arguments will continue till all tax-exemptions are removed.

Does Hinduism fall under the concept of religion, it is hard to say! Hinduism has accepted Buddha as an Avatar according to many. India has adopted Wheel of Dharma of Eight fold Path of duty of Buddhism as its national symbol, though Sankara severely attacked Buddhism. India has its motto Satyameva jayate where Satya means Parabrahman or Supreme principle, though officially translated as Truth alone Triumphs. Though India assures religious freedom like USA, it often interfere regulating temple administration through Hindu Religious Endowment Boards interfering with religious freedom like certain Tenth Amendment provisions.   All said and done Western culture dominated Americans love religion, love Christianity. It's part of the fabric of life. Otherwise why would they allow freely missionaries abroad to spread Christianity and conversion under freedom of religion and are not opposed to such missionary movements.

Atheism enjoys its freedom from time immemorial within the fold of Sanatana Dhrama and the later version of Hinduism designated as a religion by Westerners. Bhagavadgeeta draws its spiritual support from Sankhya philosophy which does not believe in Supreme Principle or Brahaman.   Krishna was not opposed to Atheism if it did not violate Hindu Dharma, though Rama strongly opposed and targeted atheists in Ramayana as a stricter of Dharma.  Chaarvaka philosophy of Atheism and Materialism was widely discussed within the folds of Hinduism.   Buddhism is glorified by Hindu dominated India. Buddha is accepted as an avatar by Hinduism though it did not go out of the way to accommodate Buddha idols in Hindu Temples. It is strange it did not grant that status to Adinaatha (Rishabha) who is also mentioned as an avatar of Vishnu in Bhagavatam and continued to be so till he found his new philosophy! Atheists do not declare themselves as Christians in Western Culture. But atheists claim and enjoy the status of Hindus within Hinduism and are pampered in many states politically.  EVR of Dravida Kazhagam, a Hindu political leader in India openly declared; "He is a fool who believes in God".   Untouchables condemned as atheists socially are within the folds of Hinduism and enjoy special privileges from Indian Secular Government.

Hinduism is Spiritual in thinking when it follows Sanatana Dharma but practices it as religion often resorting to materialistic and sectarian  approach in its  temple and home  worships. USA and India being democratic say they are secular but have their hands in the   activities of   churches and temples. Atheism is tolerated if not appreciated. It is pampered in India in some States. May be both consider Atheism as a sort of religion and so feel it needs recognition at National level. The controversy whether atheism is a religion or not will continue forever. Similarly, whether Hinduism is a religion or not will continue till Hindus, with their politically ever expanding complex caste system, with political lip sympathy for out-castes and Harijans, and with tolerance towards atheist philosophy, revert back to Universal Oneness preached and promoted by Vedas and Upanishads. Nobody claimed caste status or earned out-caste status by birth-right then! Charvaka, Buddha and Jina were not thrown out of society and in fact they were patiently heard even by Vedic Scholars adopting whatever was good. Some Hindus today say they are followers of Saibaba but pride with their caste names and religious practices and orthodoxy! Instead of converting themselves to his philosophy they are converting him to a religious symbol and divinity.

Please visit Blog Hindu Reflections for a detailed discourse on the Subject:  "US Court says Atheism is a Religion, Hindu Sanatanists Say Hinduism is Not a Religion"

*23. WHERE RELIGIONS AND ATHEISM MEET?

Increasing percentage of people in the US don't identify with any religion. Millions of Americans are living happy, purposeful lives without religion.  This is because they are eager to find a community where they could ask questions without being told that they are going to hell for not believing.  These people who believe in "no religion no problem" have been trained earlier to believe that every word of the Bible is true. But more they read they found more errors and contradictions  did not make sense to them because there focus had been to find what is wrong from great many good things said in them. It is the way of thinking. They are not comfortable in believing  their scripture any more. Reading more science and philosophy, leading  American  way of life, many  Muslims also feel doctrines of Islam are not suited for them and they do not believe in reading the Quran and praying five times a day to save themselves from going to hell. A number of Hindu children born and brought up in USA  are also attracted to this group  whom others call atheists. About 1 in 5 American is not affiliated with any religion, majority being in the age group below 30. One third of all adults say they are not a religious person. I have heard the sam  from some of my American Hindu friends too. They politely told me that they do not understand religion, nor they have the intention to know it. Not all these people are stereotype atheists who question religion. Some among them are honest and hardworking who love their families and are involved in community welfare caring and sharing. 

You now understand why I concentrated so much of my time in bringing about my discourse not within my scope of work or mission, "US Courts say Atheism is a Religion and Hindu Sanatanists say Hinduism is not a Religion".  Within Hindu theology there is provision for those who care for the society and share with them their miseries and try to help even though they are indifferent to  religious pursuits to be  called Hindus.  Being authoritative scriptures both,  Holy Bible and Quran, mixes historic, religious, social  and spiritual thoughts which often create confusion  in the minds of their followers just as our Puranas do. But Puranas are not our authoritative texts in fact there is none, not even Upanishads. After teaching the essence of all thoughts of Upanishads Lord Krishna says to Arjuna "I have told all that has to be told. Think about them and take your own wise decision". Thus Upanishads are open to our logic and thinking and do not insist on any one set path. One advantage Hinduism has over other founded religions is, it is not fatalistic. According to the doctrine of Karma one must take full responsibility for one's good or bad actions and consequent pleasure or pain. Thus there is hope for everyone. There is no one time condemnation and all can be liberated to enjoy Eternal  Bliss, if there is a will. 

But why atheism did not make great strides in Hinduism as it is happening in so called great  Religions today?  Various saints and Divine Incarnations at different times have appeared on the stage, played their individual roles, and enriched Hinduism with their teachings. By reinterpreting earlier scriptural texts they have   made Hinduism relevant to changed times and people. They have also given validity to the scriptural truths through their   own spiritual experiences.  This would not have been possible had Hinduism had a founder.   Spiritual thinking is gaining grounds in American Hindu life thanks to many spiritual thinkers. Sometimes you may find me different from conventional thinking and

 interpretations!

However we need to pay more attention in our adopting religious worships, rituals and sacraments based on our ancient religious practices some of which are not suited to present day conditions of Hindu American Way of life.  Many religious scriptures go by law of the letter and are strictly followed as such similar to our thinking often about Epics and Puraanas, and following the role models. Puranas are education oriented. Some Indian Authors in trying to interpret Puraanas as factual in the sense of events in space- time have done as much an injustice to them as the attitude of some Moderns who equate them with stories and fables. Puraanas belong to supra-historical order, and their worth is existential as enduring psychic verities in human consciousness. Their purpose is not to teach, history or geography or science, but to stimulate in man a keen sense of Omniscient, Omnipotent, and all loving Spiritual Reality who can be communed with, prayed to and visualized in various forms of spiritual glory.  The most appropriate and suited thing is to have a spiritual approach in our practice of religion. Here the community service and welfare oriented atheists and spiritually inclined religious followers meet and work for the benefit of mankind while trying to elevate.  

*24. BHAJAN AND KEERTAN—OPEN EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE AND DEVOTION TO GOD

Bhajans and Keertans are employed powerfully as means for devotional worship to god. These are open expressions of love and devotion to God as opposed to the spiritual approach of silent meditation.  They are outpour of human emotions praising and singing the glory of God thanking Him or pleading to Him in their helpless situations. Those who are talented employ music and melody for such an expression of sentiments.  We find this practice in many religions of the world including our worst critics Christians and Muslims.  We are familiar with Gospel Music and Choir Singing as well as Namaaz.   They out-beat Hindus in their pitch of voice. This is probably due to the thought that heaven is far away from us and it takes a long and winding path to reach God. Innocent devotees often feel that louder the voice better it is for the Lord to hear. Everyone seems to be in a hurry to catch His attention!

The questions that often rise in the minds of the Spiritual and meditative thinkers are: 1) Why do we employ them as an offering to God? 2) Is it because how intense you feel inside? 3) Why do we employ musical tones as in South Indian Tradition? 4) Spiritual growth is personal. How does group prayer Bhajan or keertan help? 5) Many a times groups are too big. Can one still benefit from it? 6) Do many people really strive to realize God?

Great saints like Ramakrishna Paramahamsa say that there are many paths to reach God. Bhajan and Keertan seem to be the easy and most desirable means of worship with those belonging to Bhakti Marga (devotional school of worship) as group approach. Employing music pleases the devotee’s heart and is soothing to the ears listening in a gathering for worship. 

*25. WHY FEW TEMPLES TO BRAHMAA AND SARASWATI?

A Tamil inscription on a slab in Tiruvaannamalai says since Brahma uttered a falsehood, there should be no temple to Brahma. This happened when Siva appeared in Linga form and Brahma   made a false statement that he had seen Siva's head and as a proof showed Pandanus flower he had once worn. Enraged Siva cursed Brahma should have no temple and the Pandanus flower should not be used in worship. Yet another mythological story says that in the absence of Saraswati her spouse Brahma hurriedly married Gayatri to finish his sacrifice and so became a victim of her wrath. Enraged Saraswati cursed Brahmaa that no one will do worship for him.    These are the crude Puraanic reasons given in Puraanas for the loss of prestige of Brahma.  We should not be influenced by them. Brahmaa's spouse Sarasvati has also very few temples. There is probably no Hindu house which does not honor Sarasvati and Lakshmi, at least having pictures of these Goddesses in some room or other and worship daily.  But why Brahmaa's consort has also very few temples is not seen mentioned anywhere or questioned.

There is a famous temple in Pushakara in Rajasthan for Brahmaa where he is seen with Saavitri and Gayatri as twin consorts. There is a beautiful small temple in Kottayam for Saraswati in Kerala. There is a temple for her in in Kashmir and one in Andhra village Basara on the banks of the river Gautami.  Sankar Math has made her the presiding deity in all their Monasteries calling her Saarada.

Notwithstanding the crude reasons given in some of the Puraanas some scholars opine that Brahmaa tradition was predominant in the pre-Vedic Hinduism and was superseded or suppressed by the later Siva-Vishnu Traditions. The evolution of Sakti concept -- each of the gods  Vishnu  and Siva having his Sakti or Power as his consort -- and the explanation that creation proceeds out of of the combination of the God and his Sakti, has made Brahmaa superfluous. In temples exclusively dedicated to Brahmaa, his aspect as Viswakarma, the architect of the Universe is adopted.  Every temple, be it Siva or Vishnu must have a niche in the northern wall for Brahmaa, and his image must receive worship every day since he is an important Parivaaradevataa (attendant of Chief-deity). Our trouble stars after creation so we are anxious to please Vishnu and Siva aspect of Trinity.

Along with Brahma Saraswati also suffers and not popularly worshiped.  Some people do not relish the idea as Savitri is the creation of Brahmaa with daughter status she should be worshiped together with him. In Vedas she is celebrated as a river. Gayatri, Saavitri and Saraswati are the presiding deities of Gayatree mantra. Gayatri is the presiding deity of   morning  prayer and Rigveda. Saaavitri presides over noon prayer and Yajurveda. Sarasvati rules over evening prayer and Samaveda. You know now why she is the Goddess of Fine Arts. Invariably Saraswati is worshiped alone and her name is not clubbed together with Brahmaa like Vishnu or Siva--Lakshmi-Narayana,Lakshmi-Narasimha,  Sita-Rama, Siva-Parvati  etc.

In spite of the fact that Brahmaa is God the Supreme in the creative aspect and is an equally important member of the Trinity, it is strange that there are no temples dedicated to him with the lone exception of Pushakara nor he is offered any special worship like Siva and Vishnu on specific days. Yet all Brahmotsavas (Anmnual Event of grandeur) in temples have to be presided by him only.  Since there is no saastric injunction against his worship (in fact it is peremptory but not publicized) we should at least remember him at least once year honoring him with special worship.  The ideal thing to do will be dedicating Labor Day to him and worship him in his aspect as Viswakarma the architect of the universe as I have   elaborated in my discourse: Aayudha Poojaa, Viswakarma Poojaa, Sramik Din Pooja                (OCTOBER 2013)

26. HASTINAAPURA NEAR BUENOS ARIES, CITY OF WISDOM

I have spent more than a decade of my official years in Buenos Aries extending to several months in a year from 1985 to 1993 but never heard of Hastinapura in the vicinity of Buenos Aires for Hindu Gods and the teaching of Vedic wisdom, practice of Yoga and meditation.  I have read about the Incas and Maaya cultures, the Sun temples and the Pyramids   quoted   in my discourses which you should have casually glanced through.    The recent developments and actual photographs amaze me. I feel sad that I missed the opportunity to visit this spot though within the vicinity of 50 miles from Buenos Aries.  Probably these were not developed when I spent my life in Argentina.   My lack of Spanish confined me to limited people as it happened to me in China. My knowledge of German and Russian languages   helped me a lot in understanding their cultures while spending long years there. But I did talk about Ganesa Idols in many lands referring to Mexico and Peru in my discourses. I did not elaborate. Hastinapura, a city of wisdom in Argentina is a recent spiritual thought from a non-Hindu while we Hindus are engaged in Kurukshetrra in India. Probably you are aware there is a temple complex recently built in Andhra Pradesh near Hyderabad where all the models of all the holy temples from pilgrim centers of India are reproduced to arouse pilgrimage interest in the religiously inclined devotees.  Ramakrishna Math has temples where all deities or quotes from various religions are displayed though some of the religions do not like idol representation like what you see in the description below.  Argentina leads the beef eating countries.  Here to practice vegetarianism is   like a tapas (great sacrifice). I had a hard time there.  Recently Argentinians want to turn vegetarians being fed up with beef. The lone vegetarian restaurant in Buenos  Aries does not serve sugar for coffee or tea for it is purified by animal charcoal, instead  serves honey. Of course they are not averse to killing bees so accustomed to butchering cows for their staple food!  Argentinians are famous for their manyaana meaning tomorrow. They would like to postpone everything. They are known for their fun fiesta and tango which I enjoyed during my stay. Therefore existence of Hastinapura and   the work of Ada Albrecht and their future plans are highly commendable and we have a lot to learn in our mission to promote Hindu culture and spiritualism here in USA.  A discourse on the above subject can be found on the blog Hindu Reflections: <nrsrini.blogspot.com>. Hats off to Lady Albrecht!

(OCTOBER 2013)

*27. WAS KAPILAARANYA LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA?

While you are still excited and under the spell of Hastinapura story and my discourse, I would like to recall one other reference of mine quoting Jagadguru  Chandrasekharananda Saraswati from his book of Dharma. I quote:

" You know  that the Sagaras went on digging the earth down to the nether world in search of their sacrificial horse. An ocean came into being in this way and it was called Saagara after the king Sagara.  The Sagaras at last found the horse near the hermitage of Kapila Maharshi. Thinking that he must be the man who had stolen the animal and hidden it in the   nether world they laid violent hands on him. Where upon the sage reduced them to ashes with a mere glance of his eye. Such is the story narrated in Ramayana. America, which is at the antipodes, may be taken to be Paataala or the nether world. Kapilaaranya (the forest in which Kapila had his hermitage), we may further take it was situated there.  It is likely that Kapilaaranya changed to California in the same manner as Quichua for Kesava or Madurai to Marudai (Marudamalai Muruga the Tamils say). Also noteworthy is the fact that there is a Horse Island near California as well as an Ash Island and the Atlantic Ocean which is a Saagara and not Samudra"

Earlier you may have dismissed this as a wild guess or gossip from me or ignored as a mythological bluff. Now that you know this is from Sankaracharya and that you have enough evidence from Peru you may do a rethinking as you think about Dwaraka submerged in the sea coming from a  Western video  presentation I sent to you some time back. Incidentally Ramayana is called Itihasa meaning it happened so to distinguish it from Puranas which deal  in parables and myths. You started believing in Deluge of Dwaraka mentioned in Mahabharata another  Itihasa supported by the research work of Dr. Narahari of Memphis on Mahabharata War after seeing the video presentation rendered by an American.

28. WHERE WEST MEETS EAST—SPIRITUAL DEEPAAVALI SEASON

Deepavali Spiritual Season begins with Mahalaya Amavasya and ends with Vaikuntha Ekadasi. Yesterday night Hindu Americans participated in Halloween willingly or unwillingly to join the stream.  It initiates the tritium of Hallowmas, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed believers,  like our Mahalaya Amavasya (October 4) at the end of  Mahalay Paksha,  the holy fortnight. Don't you think   spiritual Halloween Night is worth remembering in our temples in our joint venture of celebration of cultures if we had skipped Mahalaya Amavasya since we obviously  rush to temples on all American Holidays including Valentine's day? Can we not have a mass ritual like in Gaya Kshetra if our temples have taken the task of helping Shraaddha performers (Praying for all souls) like All Souls Day in Christianity on November 2, on Mahaalya Amaavasya Day? Shraaddha performance is in the schedule of temple rituals in USA.

Today November 1 is Samhain New Year Day. Catholics later made November 2 as All Souls Day.   On November 1 this year which happens to be Dhan Teras Day,   Hindus run  to jewelers to buy gold and rush to temple to  pray to  Goddess  Lakshmi to become rich and prosperous.  They then start Diwali celebrations lasting for five days.  These celebrations are filled with hedonistic pleasure and acts of spiritual happiness. Deepavali though falling round the period of Samhain   does not always coincide with it as in this year.  Read the discourse attached for scientific findings on hedonistic pleasures as well as happiness based on a sense of higher purpose and service to humanity.  The last day of Diwaali is Govardhan pooja day where nature is worshiped along with cattle basing it on Puraanic story. This tradition of worshiping nature during the season as well as adoring animals can also be seen in Celtic Christianity tradition as in St Patrick's Day.

Let us turn our thoughts towards the brighter side of Holiday Season. It is the time to overcome the darkness and look forward to the white light that would bring brightness and happiness into our  lives.,  It is also the time to gain wisdom  looking at the turn of nature, the Fall, changing of colors and the growing darkness, which all turn to green foliage later.  Hindu Festivals focus on the spiritual significance of these festivals.  The caring among us have observed Mahaalaya Paksha rituals that  started  last month (Sept 20) and culminated on October 4, honoring the dead and feeding the starving. We are celebrating Deepaavali to overcome darkness with bright lights on November 3 distributing sweets and exchanging greetings which actually starts on November 1 t  many in the North. Knowingly or unknowingly some of us are also busy in food stuff collection and distribution to the poor during this time.

Human nature is covered with lot of Tamoguna or darkness and ignorance, and Rajoguna (ego) that come in the way of Spiritual advancement and liberation.  They need to be overcome  with Satvaguna or the brightness and purity of thought and even go beyond. That is why we put so many lights up and make a big sound of it too and soon forget about it too. But we are constantly reminded of it as in the following rituals and festivals (Vaikuntha Ekadasi, Makara Sankranti etc.). Let us think of Spirituality of Samahin and Deepaavali   seasons to bring light and happiness to our lives and overcome the gloom and ghost of the  night of Halloween and think of  the long waiting period of our ancestors in Pitruloka needing our help.

Wish you all a Happy Deepavali which is also a New Year for some among us. Gujarati calendar begins a day after Diwali. It begins with Gujarati month of Kartak.  Probably those who   celebrate New Year on Bali Paadyami after Diwali are part of Dravidians  from whom the Druids parted  but kept on  the tradition of celebrating their New year with their parted brothers. Bali Paadyami is the day on which the Lord killed the ego of King Bali though he was virtuous just as Krishna killed Tamoguna on Naraka Chaturdasi Day killing Narakasura.  We have to rise above even Satvaguna to become a Gunaateeta to join the Lord as Geetaa says and as I had explained often.  Please see my elaborate explanation in the attached discourse, scientific and spiritual, which is not too long and also read my discourses: "Festival of Lights: Ancient in Traditions; Universal in Appeal" and "Mahalayapaksha, Hindu Mamorial Fortnight" on the blog <nrsrini.blogspot.com> to enrich and enlighten.

*28. MY THOGHTS FOR THE SPIRITUAL DEEPAAVALI SEASON

I get my inspiration watching at the hard work of our philanthropists and social workoholics  whom I meet  every Sunday at the local temple here to work devotedly on Hindu Reflections which has exceeded 180 discourses as on date. One of the readers commented "such a huge block but no words to find a comment with so much information". I hope the local community is taking advantage of it!  At the beginning of the year I thought I had not much to contribute except revising and posting few discourses I had in stock. To my surprise this list started growing as and when I get inspired and charged with spiritual thoughts and actions  in spite of the many external disturbances at home.   I did not pay attention to spirituality till I came to USA and I knew very little of it too. Even in USA I thought of it at the beginning of this millennium after my heart surgery in February 2002. I suddenly felt the urge to serve the community. I did not have the financial background to help the society much as I had to struggle hard in life and also had no parental help or guidance spiritually or financially.  I do not know from where I get my inspiration? Probably it is all divine driven! When I retire late at night to bed I start thinking and when I get up in the morning get inspiration and also come across some interesting subject as well as information suddenly. I go on working on it, revise often and decide to communicate. Sometimes it takes months for a subject to get the final shape. With more feedback I would have functioned better. I feel the following thoughts form the basis for my inspiration and working in spite of my single touch typing and lack of computer skills other than basic knowledge while fully concentrating on personal and family matters.  

Neuroscience says, happiness, love of serving is in our genes.  Most humans have mirror neurons that cause us to experience pain when others are in pain or suffering and that we are hard-wired for empathy.   While all of us alive today will not witness  when peace on earth and  good will occur, we can at least be assured that the process of evolution is doing its work and that this day may come someday, even if none of us will be alive to serve as witness.  That is there will be Heaven on Earth. But as Hindus we can hope many among us will be there incarnated! The other world is accessible to few liberated to whom frequent travel may be possible without passport!  Science is more optimistic than Vedanta today.  Read my article on Philosophy of Deepaavali season circulated on Friday. Enjoy the thoughts below and act appropriately if it suits your philosophy in life which I want to share with you as others did!

Successful people never relax in their chairs, they relax at work; they sleep with ambition and wake up with commitment.

Life can give us lots of beautiful persons but only one person is enough for a beautiful life.

You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your mouth.

You cannot enjoy being idle unless you have plenty of work to do.

Bath purifies body; meditation purifies mind; prayer purifies soul; charity purifies wealth; fast purifies health; forgiveness purifies relations.

+ is made up of two -. Similarly all –ve things can be shaped as +ve by hard work and positive thinking.

Destiny depends on the strength of your desires. If you cry at troubles, they will double and if you laugh at them, they disappear like a bubble.

It is not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived. Let's scatter good things!

*29.  SAMHAIN, GUJARAATI VIKRAM SAMAVAT AND DEEPAAVALI

Irish priest remarked that my discourse "Samhain, Spiritual alternative to Halloween" is great and further enriched my knowledge with Samhain songs. Some among you also felt that it is a great discourse linking Samahain Druid traditions with Hindu Dravidian Culture.  Is there a culture called Dravidian culture That has an existence and a name or is it the creation of the Western Historians to suit the British presence  over three centuries in India interfering with its past culture And glory and rule over all?

 According to some historians Druids are a branch that moved out to British Isles from Dravidian Settlements of Indus valley civilization which was run over by Aryans having grown weak. Their wealth and their luxurious ways of living must have made them lazy. Later settlers destroyed the great cities Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro and thus put an end to one of the greatest civilization of ancient days.  Dravidians of today are part of that great culture which the settlers took into their fold and got mixed up with them.  They called themselves as Aryans. The word Aryan means cultured or noble in Sanskrit. Even to-day this word is frequently used to mean so. The mixed race who settled in the Indus Valley and developed Vedic culture called themselves as Aryans. They also developed a fine language out of the one or more that existed, probably akin to Tamil (Tamil is believed to have existed before Aryans) and called it Samskrit meaning well created (sushtu kritam is Samskritam as the word is derived).  Both the words Sanskrit and Aryan are culture based. These were migratory Messiahs and liked travel. They moved out in different directions to spread their culture. Later they moved to Ganges Plain while the sea venturous moved to South beyond Vindhyas. Thus there were two groups that grew independently Vindhyas being the barrier but separated from rest of the world by Himalayan Ranges.  That is why South Indian Culture is distinct from the North.  These Aryans who were originally from the Pre-vedic culture moved to South with their newly acquired Vedic Culture which they practiced intensely than the main lot.  Their culture could not be destroyed because of their strong will or because they were less intimidated by invaders. In contrast North suffered too much from invasions and many of lost their culture and got converted.    The worship of Siva as Pasupati, the worship of Ganesha, the worship of Hanuman and the worship of Goddess were all Dravidian (Harappa-Mohenjo-Daro) forms of worship. They moved boats and sailed on them far and near. You know the history of Kattabomman.   Valmeeki Ramayana even mentions about Pandyan Kingdom.  The Dravidian merchants carried on trade with many countries.  I have read this in history.  I therefore took interest in this festival which bears lot of resemblance and thoughts to that of Hindus in General and South Indians in Particular.  Along the coast the influence of Christian and Muslim traders had strong impact. So you find strong Christian pockets in Kerala, Konkan,Goa and Gujarat. Gujaratis may be part of the Prevedic culture. That is why we find them celebrating New Year on Deepaavali Day, Gujarati Vikram Samavat New Year, approximately coinciding with Samhain. There had been attempts to shift Hindu New Year to November which officially adopts Chandrmana New Year. VIkram New Year day was the Day Indian Constitution was adopted. It is the Indian Constitution Day.

30. BHAJANS AND KEERTANS—OPEN EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE AND DEVOTION TO CHOSEN DEITIES

Devotional prayer and singing has become an important part of worship today for all Hindus. Vedic culture earlier concentrated on Tapas (sacrifice) and meditation focusing on inner-self.  Age of Puraanas created heaven and hell concept, system of punishment and reward and   promoted open expression form of worship focused  on their chosen deities.  Deities also   exploded during the period. Ramaayana concludes with elaborate explanation of benefits derived by reading and listening to Raamayana, story of Rama in musical form in Sloka meter. Ramayan path (reading and listening of Raamaayana) annually during Navaratri  is a popular  mode of worship  even today. These trends have develop into Bhajan and Keertan singing form of worships today focusing on individual's  or group's chosen deity or deities.  Influenced by Puraanas devotees feel the gap between heavens and earth so raise their voice in prayers to make sure their messages reach Heaven!

Group praying and singing of devotional songs and hymns is important to most Hindus. This brings people with a common objective of remembering God together. It helps people concentrate better. They find it inspiring and experience an inner peace that is superior to the pleasure of worldly possessions. Together the group achieves more than what each could independently achieve. In Raamacharit Mans Saint Tulsidas says devotee wins over the confidence of God through devotional songs and hymns. They believe in response God ensures success and happiness to devotees.

It is customary to clap as one sings in groups. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa also recommended clapping during morning and evening prayers. This helps cleanse one's sins. Just as birds fly away when one claps standing under a tree, ignorance vanishes when one sings devotional songs clapping to maintain the beat and the rhythm. Besides spiritual benefits it helps physically too.

In South Indian Music Bhajana Sampradayam has become an important part of the music tradition. It is believed that Swami Boedhendra Saraswati started the tradition along with others.    Famous among this school of thought are saints like Thyagarja, Purndaradas, Kanakadasa, Muthusami Deekshitar etc. North Indian Music has also created this tradition of Bhajan singing.  There are many famous Bhajan singers ancient and modern. To mention a few from ancient times are Sant Tulsi das, Meeraa bai, Kabir, Jayadeva etc.  Keertan singing is another form of such prayers.   Some of these devotees record as having seen God and shared his company momentarily which we may call as illusion in extreme state of devotion.

Sometimes these Bhajans are mixed with story-telling and dancing as in the old Kathak traditon of the North or  Kathaakaalakshepam of the South.

I have pleasure in including a note on "Bhajana Smpradaaya Keertans" By Dr. Sankaran Mahadevan, Director of Kala Nivedanam, an institution dedicated to promote South Indian Classical  Carnatic Music  in Nashville, TN, USA.

Please go through the attached discourse for more details as well as visit the Blog; Hindu Reflections; <nrsrini.blogspot.com> This is an elaborately revised  final discourse  from the earlier circulated draft  on 10/21/13, based on new findings and  comments received by  popular Bhajan Singers in USA.

(NOVEMBER 2013)

*31.  PRITHVEE SAANTH! OSHADHAYAH SAANTIH! VANASPATAYAH SAANTH!

Please recall my E-mail on World Earth Day suggesting to honor this day with a worship to Mother Earth (Bhoodevi) in American Hindu Temples to focus on environmental protection, preservation of flora and fauna,and maintaining the pristine  beauty of Mother Earth while enjoying her gift of nature with standard norms. Though Mother Earth figures in all Hindu daily rituals and in worship of processional Vishnu Deities no particular Day is earmarked for her worship as for Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga on many days in a year.  I would like to bring to your kind attention the following message from Hindu Council of Australia which should be more appealing to you all than a stray thought from individuals like me:

"A Hindu Reflection on Ride to Worship

A perspective from the Hindu Council of Australia

Hinduism is one of the world's oldest religions and it Is third largest. Hindus call it Sanatana Dharma--the eternal religion, ever present. Its origin lies prior to the recorded history. Hindus have lived in perfect harmony with nature for thousands of years. Hindus worship the sun, the stars, the rivers, the trees and the animals- nature in all its manifestations and glories.

Following is the message of living in harmony with Mother Nature from the Holy Scriptures of Hinduism:

Live in complete harmony with Nature,

Experience the grace of God in the splendor of the universe.

The sweet dawn will sweeten your soul,

The dazzling mid-day will set your hearts aflutter,

And the serene music of your soul will guide you towards peace and prosperity.

And when the day's task is over, you will sleep in the lap of Mother Nature,

All the deities will be favorable to you.                                                                                                                               

 (Mother Nature, Yajurveda 34.37)

It is a pity that we have ignored this sublime message of living in complete harmony with nature and enjoying the many splendors of the universe. By our indiscriminate use and abuse of its abundant resources we have spoiled its beauty. Consumerism has been at the core of our ever-increasing desire to possess more and more to add to our so-called comforts for living. We have complicated our lives, and have added a lot to our mental worries. The ever-increasing demand on our energy resources has led to climate change and warming of the earth's atmosphere with some drastic consequences. Obesity has become one of the biggest problems in our society. Eating cheap processed food and living a sedentary lifestyle are the some of the main causes. Ride-to-worship is part of this initiative to encourage people to exercise more, walk or ride a bicycle to work, to shops or even to place of worship, if we can, or to use public transport instead of our own cars to reduce our ecological footprint and feel healthy, active and energetic. Hindu Council of Australia fully supports this initiative".

  

Every Human activity needs to be ZERO waste and emission eventually...with 7+ billion humans, there is little choice (if we want to survive in the long term). We have to live with Nature and be a part of Nature...not try to "conquer" Nature.

The most compassionate thing to do now (great 2014 New Year Resolution) ...To live in a sustainable manner by reducing climate change, reducing pollution, and preserving the very natural eco-systems that have been keeping us alive! Clean air, water, food, and land is priceless for all living beings including Humans.

Ganesha Temple in Nashville has taken a positive step in this direction by eliminating the use of paper plates and plastic spoons to serve the devotees around 500 in number every week. The diversion of Abhishekam material and kitchen wastes to composite manure to be used in its own vast soil for plants may perhaps add to this concept. 

*32. POPE FRANCIS VIEWS ON PROSELYTIZATION AND MONEY PLEASES HINDUS‏

I believe some of you located in Tennessee might have gone through the write-up of a columnist titled   "Words of Pope Francis are a breath of fresh air". To many Hindus who are worried about the Christian propaganda missionary and proselytization (conversion of Hindus to Christian faith) in India words of Pope Francis should be comforting, coming from a World Authority on Christianity. Pope Francis has said: "Proselytization is solemn nonsense".  By that   he has attracted the admiration of many Hindus unlike his predecessors. Proselytization by Western Missionary often ends up with violence though it has a good side by way of providing food, clothes, medicine and free quality education. Many a poor from low caste illiterates convert because the caste system in India treats them badly. Besides the poor who are recipients of these benefits convert to Christianity out of gratitude. Before India's Independence such converts also enjoyed political benefits moving away from the machinations of higher castes.  In spite of so much Governmental concession and privileges the scheduled castes enjoy today,  these conversions are taking place among illiterates because of many social abuses in the Hindu Society or because low castes are allured by proselytization and the carrots before them.  This does not happen between intellectual equals. Educated elites feel Proselytization among the poor and uneducated are due to exploitation and manipulation. At one time the educated among the scheduled castes could successfully divert them to Buddhism which is still an Eastern culture and akin to Hinduism unlike Christianity. There was no angst against this. Conversion to Sikhism is a routine affair.  Buddhism does not offer those benefits as Western Christianity which has enormous financial resources.  Very few are attracted to Islam now-a-days. Middle East's   enormous riches have not helped in the process.  They are therefore jealous and frustrated as their aggressive spread of religion has halted.  They have been projecting more the negative side of Qu'ran.  Hare Krishna Movement has a strong dampening effect against these conversions though they too employ often the technique of proselytization to attract everybody to their Theology within Hinduism.

Hitherto, Abrahamic faiths have always been insisting that theirs is the only true path of the divine  and Hinduism is a pagan religion based on blind faiths and idol worship. Even though they started from the same source of beliefs as Jews and Muslims they now believe they are most refined and have successfully eliminated all pagan practices from their religion while Hinduism is still  progressing more towards them. They are up against its caste system as human discrimination. Pope Francis has come out with his fresh pleasing interpretation moving away from the authoritative stand of his predecessors.  Hinduism believes all paths of religion lead to the same One Source, some taking a longer route than theirs.

Buddha said root cause of misery in life is greed.  Pope francis has linked this to desire for  money. "Money sickens our minds, poisons our thoughts and even poisons our faith, leading us down the path of jealousy, quarrels, suspicion and conflict. It also corrupts the mind of some people to see religion as a source of profit. 'I am a Catholic, I go to Mass, everyone thinks well of me... But underneath I have my business. I worship money' say affluent and rich Catholics.  Money begins by offering a sense of well-being. Then you feel important and vanity comes. And after vanity comes pride. When you worship money you worship a false idol" says the Pope. Hindus have even certain religious auspicious days earmarked for the worship of money and buying of jewelry!  People travel as far as Bhadrinath to perform Kubera (Lord of Wealth) Pooja. Recently I wrote to you how our Kubera Puja and Lakshmi Puja should be performed on Dhan Teras and Deepavali religious days with a goal  in mind to serve the society better as we grow richer by His grace. The words coming from the learned and sincere Pope is in strong support of the same.

We do hope the strong message from Pope will bring in real reform in the  world's richest Catholic Church in Rome to direct its policies in Roman Catholic Churches world over  which in turn will bring in chain reactions including our richest temples. This will also dampen proselytization which often perturbs majority Hindus in India who at the same time need lot of their own house cleaning. As educated elites Hindu Americans can quicken their own thinking   at their end for promoting Universal Oneness of Sanatana Dharma in action for all round Peace. To them proselytization is not a problem being the educated elite. To them the deep concern is the inter-racial marriages and the growing atheism of their children. Their worry is how to bring the other partner and their children to the Hindu culture preventing from being attracted  towards faith based religions or turning  atheists all together.  The solution lies in spreading the message of Universal Oneness, yoga and meditation while practicing it and not in ritualistic loaded Hindu worships which can be kept to a low key. Then they will be able to guide not only their generation but also make Sanatana Dharma attractive for others which got complicated in present day practice of Hinduism.

*33. NEW YEAR RESOLUTION

Have you made your resolution  for the New Year on January1? If not you can make it on January 14 Makara sankranti Day when Uttrayana Punyakala Begins. You know now why I say this?  All resolutions are made on   good Muhoorta (auspicious time). You will soon   here more about January 1. You need not worry for we make resolutions and forget about it for a year. But if you still insist her are few to choose from the desk of Gadadhara Pandit Dasa

Gadadhara Pandit Dasa--Author, Lecturer, and Hindu Chaplain, Columbia University, New York University, and Union Theological Seminary.

"New Year's resolutions are hard to maintain. We are very familiar with the routine where we feel Gung-ho about a change we want to make and a few weeks into the New Year, the resolution is already slipping away. Even having the desire to make a change, in my opinion, is praiseworthy and deserves a pat on the back. What to speak of actually following through on it, even if it only lasts a few days or weeks. Some change is better than no change. A little endeavor is better than no endeavor. If the resolution isn't made, then no action will follow. So, go ahead and make the resolution.

I am including some resolutions that will help us grow spiritually. Resolutions I plan on working on myself. Pick one, two, or all 10 and do the best you can with them. Good luck and a Happy New Year!

1.            MEDITATE two to three times a week for 10 minutes by focusing on your breath.

2.            Spend quality TIME with friends and family, in person or on the phone, at least once a week.

3.            Consume COMPASSIONATELY, by eating only vegetarian food at least once a week.

4.            Take time to write down and express GRATITUDE for the positive things happening in your life.

5.            REFLECT on all the small and big ways in which people are helping you.

6.            Feel JOY for another's success even if it is the same success you were hoping for.

7.            Mend old RELATIONSHIPS by forgiving those who hurt you and by seeking forgiveness from those you hurt.

8.            COMMUNICATE mindfully -- practice speaking in a way that is honest, helpful, yet doesn't offend or hurt others.

9.            ANGER can lead to regretful behavior; so don't let anger get the best of you.

10.          Don't become proud of your gifts. Instead, just BE grateful."

34. RED AND WHITE STRIPES ON SOUTH INDIAN HINDU TEMPLE WALLS

One of my HRA  (Hindu Reflections Active) Participants posed me a question " Why South Indian  Temples are painted with white and red strips. As an Iyengar  by birth  I could only think of my Namam which I gave it up long ago  often persecuted by DK neighbors in Madras now called Chennai, insulted,intimidated and abused whenever I stepped out of my house in Royapettah. I was not rich enough to live then  in peace in  Triplicane with Iyengar crowds.  Hindutva was not active then as it is today against Christians and Muslim converters or abusers of Hindu religion. Being Hindu I could not understand such a treatment from fellow Indians while we are up against others with arms? These promoters of hatred are  in full power today. I usually witnessed also on  temple walls  the holy mark of Namam along with the  bold stripes of white and red varying from red to reddish brown on the outer walls of the temple as I prostrated before the flag-post before entering the temple.  I also knew both Vadagalai and Tenkalai Iyengars in Kanchipuram went to Privy Council of England for British to decide which Namam U or Y is the right  one for Varadraja Swamy? India was under British yoke then! Today there  are more strifes and quarrels in Secular India.

I saw these stripes   more in Tamil Nadu temples compared to temples in Karnataka. I consoled to the idea then that these are symbols of Lakshmi and Vishnu Pada (footprints of Vishnu) in those days. But why this appears in Siva temples also which I seldom visited then? Receiving this question immediately after my discourse on Christmas Tree and Lighting in which I have drawn ample reference to Hinduism which should have inspired the pagan religions and Christianity  to these practices I thought more deeply,  spiritually  oriented and came out with my own explanation as I did on Chamakam odd and even numbers sometime back.  I am sure my Tamil friends will have more to say about it and correct me where I am wrong also. I have therefore decided to circulate it as a draft inviting your comments and suggestions to enrich my knowledge . Please send your comments by January 25. If no comments are received I will take it for granted that this discourse is worth publishing on the Blog: Hindu Reflections <nrsrini.blogspot.com>

*35. WIDENING OUR VISION AS HINDU AMERICANS

India has adopted a policy of live and let live. This spirit remains with immigrant Hindus also wherever they are settled. Hinduism which is the major religion wants to live in peace amid various religions by adopting its philosophy of   Dharma though often afflicted with occasional outbursts and bubbles. This policy is being pursued more intensively by American Hindus because the changes that has been brought about in their lives where they  live as minority intellectually advanced, rich  and prosperous.

I live in the religious belt town of Nashville. Over the period I have seen Nashville, a town fully engaged in Christian missionary and propaganda is becoming increasingly cosmopolitan, and people are coming in with different worldviews and with secular and spiritual views. Contributions of Hindu Americans are no less than others in this regard. Our worship pattern is slowly changing. We often end with prayers with universal Oneness and peace all around more prominently than in orthodox temple worships in India. We go to the temple not with the idea to change our surroundings and go back home, but want to change ourselves so everywhere feels like home. We often see people singing in temples Bhajans like "Easwara allah tero  nam’” which Mahatma Gandhi  promoted strongly in India.  But somehow it has not appealed to the Indian community still.  Religious war goes on in India. Many here   think "sayeesa saranam" is addressed to Saibaba, Muslim-Hindu   Saint in our prayers. Kabir bhajans are popular.  It has accepted many Gurus of Western descent. Thus American Hindus have widened their outlook. Inter-racial marriages are becoming popular but the Hindu partner who insisted on a ceremonial Hindu wedding   tries hard to bring his counterpart to His way of thinking with which he has been brought up making compromises and  adjustments here and there appealing to both. Yoga and Spiritual outlook of Sanatana Dharma comes to his help often.  Hindus often seek solace in things like Sai bhajans which are not sectarian or narrow traditional based which appeal to all. 

In this background our Hindu Religious Heritage Classes have introduced some innovative ideas like periodically visiting churches and mosques and get acquainted with the religious outlook of others, serving the poor participating in common kitchen to feed the poor, extending their hand in construction work of the habitat for the poor etc. It will be interesting to learn what is going on in other migrant countries not only at children’s and young scholars’ level but also at adult level. I have therefore pleasure in attaching a news item that I came across in the Internet and the reaction by a religiously inclined Hindu migrant. Please think about these developments and see what we can do further.

*36. DIVERSITY OF HINDU AMERICAN TEMPLES, BOTH A BLESSING AND OBSTACLE

I have so far presented several discourses to bring forth  how our temple worship is intended  towards one tradition of Trinity worship in its aspect of creation (Srishth)i,  existence   (Sthiti),   and dissolution (Laya)  by the number of Vedic mantras and peace invocation and conclusion mantras used in temple worship ultimately focusing on Nirguna Brahman,  Supreme Being. This has lost its significance with sectarian approach influenced by Puranas. This is also not suited for Hindu Americans drawn from different traditions. Our worship is also directed towards five elements as Vyahritis representing) Brahman intended for all traditions as explained in my discourses. These discourses are:

1.       Hindu Mass Worship in Temples and Need for  Spiritual Focus (January 2012)

2.       Divine Character of Hindu Temples in Concept and Design (February 2012)

3.       Motivation Behind Modality of Ceremonial Aaraadhana (May 2012)

4.       One Hindu Complex for Many Traditions Overseas (June 2013)

5.       Mantras and Hymns for Temple and Home worship (August 2013)

6.      Shoedasa Upachara Pooja—16 steps Worship ((August 2013)

7.      Why Temple outside Prakara Walls are Painted Red and White? (February 2014)

8.     Smaarta tradition of Temple Worship ideal for Hindu Americans (March 2014)

9.    Whose Abhisheka are we witnessing on Mahasivaratri"? -It is of Trinity   only (February 2014)

I will be concluding the series with the last discourse, “10. How should we conclude all our worship with Meditation on Supreme Being? -- as recommended by Saayana  with his brother Madhava, the Commentators of Vedas and Upanishads, disciple  of Vidyaranya of Vijayanagara Empire and promoted by Ramakrishna Math.

Dr. Murali Balaji, Director of Education and Curricula  Reform at the Hindu American Foundation says:  "The diversity of temples is both a blessing and a potential obstacle, because cultural customs often become conflated with religious values, and even the most well-meaning of temple tour guides can often present a perspective limited to just one sect or worship tradition. For school teachers, taking students to an ISKCON temple (Krishna devotees) would present one view of Hinduism, while going to a Shiva temple might present another (sectarian outlook). It would be in some ways akin to the challenges posed by taking school children to a Catholic Church or Presbyterian house of worship and representing either as the epitome of Christianity" 

American Hindus having built temple complexes need not call them by any chosen deity's name and could follow the practice of Siva --Vishnu Temple in Livermore California to call them all uniformly as Siva-Vishnu Temples or even more appropriately Temple of Trinity. This needs overcoming some personal inhibitions and narrow outlook of our temple builders. They should think that these temples are built for the community with personal sacrifice and philanthropic disposition and not built for their own Ishta Devatas. Priests should also adapt Smaarta tradition of all-in-one Panchayatana worship as systematized by Sankara and end all worship with Universal meditation on Brahman. Our temple complexes are ideally suited for such a worship and we need not go ISKCON way to install only Krishna deity or for their proselytization methods. Only our sectarian emphasis should change in conducting worships and all devotees should think that they go to temple to worship Saguna Brahman to meditate upon Nirguna Brahman.  It is interesting to know what is happening with major religion of the country-- One   united church for all traditions and  one mass worship of universal appeal as described   earlier are replacing traditional sectarian churches.

A recent write up by Dr. Murali Balaji on "Diversity of Hindu  American Temples Both a Blessing and Obstacle"  will throw some light on this topic.

*37. SUBHASHITAS AND THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY

Please find below my next dispatch of thoughts for the day from my collections sent by friends. I am sure you will appreciate and enjoy these thoughts as usual. But at the same you should know what lies in our ancient literature  as Subhashitas or Wise  sayings in Sanskrit.

Subhashita means good speech. They are wise sayings, instructions and stories, either in poetry or in prose  in Sanskrit language  which is the oldest language in world and considered as "Mother of all Languages".Subhashitas were composed by ancient saints and scholars which can be dated back to 5000 BC. Some of the well-known Sanskrit scholars include   Bhartrihari, Subhashita Ratna Bhandagara and Somadeva Bhatta. The Panchatantra and the Hitopadesha also belong to this category. This compilation draws from all these sources in addition to Bhagavadgeetaa and other Puranas, Ramayana, and Mahabharata.

Subhasitas act as teacher in formulating the sense of morality and character, which sums up the total of a person’s virtues including dispositions, behaviors, habits, likes, dislikes, capacities, traits, ideals, ideas, values, feelings, and intuitions. By understanding the meaning one can cultivate a strong and morally superior character.

 38. VIVAAHA—HINDU BRAAHMAA SACRED MATRIMONY

Traditionally Hindus do not believe in any courtship before marriage. Belief among them is that love develops gradually after marriage and not before.  The tradition of arranged marriages is breaking down with American Hindus and falling in love and marrying has become common  due to most of the marriages take place as  inter-caste and inter-racial marriages.    Hindu--Sikh and Hind--Jain weddings are common. Muslim-Hindu and Buddhist-Hindu weddings are few and far between. Interracial weddings are quite frequent between Christian and Hindu partners in USA. It is this Inter-racial marriage between a Hindu  and  Christian that  goes for  the grand and colorful Hindu wedding as well as majestic walking down the aisle of a Christian wedding. Often both traditional marriages are celebrated on different days to please the partners. Such couples settle down and decide on their religious, spiritual or atheist pursuits in their wedded life later.

Hindu weddings differ from tradition to tradition and also it depends on their caste tradition wherever they are settled. Hindu American weddings mostly take place in a temple. The ceremony is performed before a fire lit in a special metal vessel. Usually a Hindu priest conducts the wedding ceremony by reciting hymns from the scriptures written in Sanskrit. As a part of the ceremony the bride and groom exchange rings and the groom presents the bride with saris.  The bride and groom garland each other and the couple walk around the fire three times  at the end of the ceremony. Among some castes the couple walks around the fire seven times. Hindu marriage  consists of five important ceremonies--Vaagddaana (verbal contract); Kanyaa sampradaana (giving away the daughter); Varana (welcoming the bride and bridegroom); paanigrahana (ritualistic holding of each other's hand) and  Tripadi or Saptapadi (the three or  seven steps walking round the sacred fire ritual).

Hindu arranged marriage works well because Hindus believe that the union of marriage is predetermined and is a form of Karma. Statistics show there is not even one percent of divorce among Hindus. It also works because Hindus by tradition try very hard not to break a wedlock. In Hindu marriages the union is not between a boy and a girl, but between two families. The girl is given in marriage to a family and not to a boy. Acceptance and adjustment of inter-caste and inter-racial weddings is more natural between the families in America than  in  yet conservative India where caste -system has increased manifold politically nurtured. Traditional concepts are fast changing influenced by other cultures overseas where Hindus are settled and to some extent even in India.

The present discourse conveys the meaning of many Vedic mantras chanted and slokas recited   as ideal footsteps for wedded life  inspired by the divine weddings from Puranas containing meanings of resolutions and promises made by the bride and bridegroom to serve the two families and the society as useful citizens and to preserve Hindu Dharma life-long, from various Hindu  proven ancient  traditions that have withstood the test of times. This is not a priest's guide for conducting marriages as per different traditions of Hindus in India.  A uniform code of practice to conduct Hindu marriages in America is slowly developing for marriages conducted in  temples keeping to  essentials from all ancient traditions (this in turn often  depends on the temple priest) to suit inter-racial and inter-caste marriages between a man and a woman. Homosexual weddings do not fall within the scope of Hindu Religious marriages.  Braahma type of marriage out of several types of marriages prevalent in Hindu Society is the only one recognized legally  for  official marriage registration in India as well as USA. The present discourse deals with the same as practiced in different Hindu traditions.

We have here something to learn from Western culture.   There is an elaborate marriage rehearsal before the actual wedding takes place to convey the meaning of Holy Matrimony to the families  in Western practice. This is more needed for Hindu Americans uprooted from their culture and living in a multicultural and multi-traditional society.   Hindu Marriages are packed with Mantras in Sanskrit language and the wedding is conducted in that divine language. The priest tries very heard  to explain at least the meaning of selected mantras and procedures during the ceremony which neither registers  with the  bride and bridegroom and their busy running around parents nor the large noisy audience. It is therefore necessary that the head  priest  meets the parents of both sides  prior to actual ceremony  and explain  all the mantras and procedures so that their minds are set to follow the actual proceedings purposefully with meaning and understanding.  Usually a pamphlet describing the procedure (not all mantras) is distributed to all which is scarcely glanced through.   Once the wedding is over nobody takes any pain to understand the meaning of these mantras and procedures except it remains with the priest. This rehearsal is essential as marriages are conducted in hurry keeping to the time schedule to tie the knot. Otherwise it becomes a formality with no meaning. It is easier for temple authorities to organize the same  in USA because marriages are  mostly conducted in temples in standardized fashion to propagate the culture. It is hoped my discourse as attached if circulated to prospective couple and their parents in advance   would make the ceremony more meaningful and educate the couple with the wisdom of Vedas instead of mechanically performing the ritual without understanding the wisdom contained therein. It is a compendium of worldly wisdom to lead a happy life together.

(JUNE 2014)

*39. CHAITANYA MAHAPRABHU AND HIS SIKSHAASHTAKA

On Sunday,   July 6^th  2014  Hindus  celebrated Jagannath Ratha Yatra all over the globe inspired by the famous Ratha Yatra at Puri Jagannth  popularly visited as pilgrimage center among Chardams. One cannot forget to recite  Ashtapadee Geeta Govinda and Sikshaashtaka of Jayadeva and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu respectively  on this day.  It is customary to perform Odissa classical dance on this day set to Hindustani Music based on these lyrics. Please recall my discourses Jagannatha of Puri and Ratha Yatra (June 2012) and Origin and   Growth of Fine Arts of Hindus (October 2011).

Around 14^th and 15^th Century   Hinduism was greatly threatened by the Muslim Rulers  who converted Hindus to Islam on large scale by the power of Sword as well as exploitation of the poor and scheduled castes. This is the reason for the large Muslim population to-day and the creation of new Nations Pakistan and Bangladesh leaving behind painful history of holy land of Bharat Khanda. India has the second largest Muslim population in the world, though a small fraction of its major religion Hinduism which is being constantly threatened and plagued. This large scale conversion was halted to some extent by non-violence movement by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who reinforced  a caste-free Vaishnavism following Ramanuja and Jaydeva, focussing  on devotion to Vishnu  as the simplest way to liberation. Unfortunately the Neo-Muslims could not be converted back to Hinduism as there is no such provision in Hinduism dictated by orthodoxy. Nobody can also be banned from practicing Sanatana Dharma and also worship of  Jagaannath by all human races as Universal Lord, whatever may be their religious following for these belong entire humanity though Pandas in Puri have their own views.

Viswambhara was born to Jagannatha Misra, a well-known Vedic scholar in Nawadveep, in Bengal. Mishra had lost eight of children earlier. Young Vishwambhar was intelligent and mastered the sacred texts. After his father’s death he began to teach students and became a reputed scholar and teacher. After marriage, he left for Gaya to perform religious ceremony, being the life-time aspiration of every religious Hindu where he met Pandit  Iswar Puri who inducted him to the devotional school of Bhakti Marga. This brought about a change in his outlook. He gave up spiritual discourses (upanyasa) and introduced Sankeertan singing of God’s name in chorus. He had the realization of the Supreme in his form as Krishna and sang in ecstatic joy. Large numbers of devotees were drawn to him and group singing of God’s name became popular. He then left home  at the age of 24 and  opted for  monastic order or Sanyaasa. He became Chaitanya and went to Puri, revealed his greatness and then traveled to Vrindavan,  Varanasi and far South. Returning to Puri, he lived there for 18 years, of which   the last 12 years were spent mostly in spiritual trances, extolling the glory of Lord Jagannath. He is reverentially called Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

The Gaudiya Math   was formed on 6 September 1920, about 30 months after Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati took sanyaasa, the renounced order of life. On 7 March 1918,  the same day he took sanyaasa,he established the Sri Chaitanya Math in Mayapura, later recognized as the parent body of all the Gaudiya Math branches. Its purpose was to spread Gaudiya Vaishnavism, the philosophy of  Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, through preaching and publishing.

Please enjoy brief life sketch on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu by Krishna Conscious group of Chennai, Sikshaashtaka, its meaning and spiritual rendering by Prabhupada and others. 

 (JULY 2014)

40. IS FLAG OF INDIA SPIRITUAL OR SECULAR?

The History and Symbolism of Indian Flag is very exciting.  Most of the Hindu Americans have opted for the status of "Citizens of Indian Origin" and therefore it is necessary they should also  know about the Indian Flag though  they know about Star-spangled American Banner very well.  You recently received the Independence Day  August 1947  spiritual speech of Jagadguru Sankaracharya  in which reference is made to the tricolor flag of India with its Ashokchakra.    I had an occasion to hear to the explanation given by our Statesman-philosopher President Sarvepalle Radhakrishnan also.  I strongly believe origin of Wheel of Dharma goes back to Brahmachakra as described in Svetaswataara Upanishsd which has also given birth to Srichakra motivated by Adisankara as glorified in  Lalita sahasranama.

Of course political views are different to make it appear that it is focused on secular obligations to cater to the aspirations of all community. I often wonder why Sanatana Dharma is not considered secular which comes with such noble thoughts as "Tadekam", Eko Viprah bahudaa Vadanti, "Vasudheka kutumbakam", Krinvanto viswamaryam" etc.   Viewed with the Vedanta perspective, Indian flag appears to me more secular than listening to Political speeches justifying it that started with the first Speech of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.  I am sure many in NAMO Government would be thrilled by the speech of Jagadguru Sankaracharya   on Augst 15, 1947 than my elaborate discourse on the subject. Somehow this did not catch the eye of the masses.  May be this discourse too!

(AUGUST 2014)

*41. WHY HINDUS TOLERATE CRITICS OF THEIR SCRIPTURES

Sanatana Dharma with its many changes over its long millennium of survival and growth   called today as Hinduism and Judaism mother of all religions are practically the only two religions in the world. All other religions in the world existing today have arisen from them if you look at them dispassionately. Many religions out of this fold that existed for a while have vanished or almost extinct.

When my attention was drawn to distorted book of War and Peace in Gita  of Wendy Doniger   and volley of rebuttals  I started questioning  myself what is Hinduism and why does it attract so many as its lovers and few haters too.  Unfortunately there is no conversion mechanism and the title Hindu is a birth right conventionally  and at the same time if any one calls himself as Hindu and practices   Hindu Dharma he is appreciated or even raised to a divinity as Shirdi Saibba and Buddha.  Once deified in Hinduism, one is beyond all castes, religions or race.   Of late   Christianity also which has come out of Judaism with many changes is facing problems though not to the extent of Hinduism. Hinduism has formidably withstood all hatred and  criticisms for millennium and is the third largest religion which does not have a regular conversion program and missionary mechanism and funding to convert those who do not believe in it and not even reconvert those who have been forcibly converted or converted  by exploiting their poverty. Soon focus will turn more towards Islam by the affected and inflicted as this is a religion sprung out of Judaism in frustration with many provocations to have its way as could be learnt from Koran.  It promotes hatred  and forceful conversion based on certain provisions contained in Koran which are almost their mantras though projects  Universal Brotherhood on which pious and peace loving  Muslims only focus.  Please find few quotes from the Holy book of Koran as attached. I wonder how any religion could prescribe such mantras to guide its followers? I often felt Paritranaya dushkritam sounds better than Vinasayata dushkritam learning from the lives of Valmiki,  Narakasura  and others from the Puranas which Hindus  emphatically feel are not myths.

The concepts of utmost freedom of thoughts and actions attract many to Hinduism like what   it attracts all nationalities to USA.  Hinduism never forbids any one to question its fundamentals. On one side, in Hinduism, you may come across people worshiping pests like rats, and still on other side you will come across concepts parallel to Quantum Physics and Neil's Bohr Theory of nuclear structure and reactions. On one side Advaita (non-dualism) and on the other side   Dvaita (philosophy of dualism) is discussed and promoted. Hinduism never ever banished any one, since he or she wrote a wrong scripture or did not observe a particular ritual. Therefore a spiritual or religiously inclined Hindu dismisses War and peace in Bhagavad Gita as "They know not what they write, forgive them".

Mahatma Gandhi wrote: “even atheists can call themselves as Hindus”. That is very true. In fact the Charvaka philosophy or Nastika philosophy, (existed during the Vedic period) founded by Charvaka rejected the existence of God and considered religion as an aberration. Voltaire in Essay on Tolerance wrote: "I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death, your right to say it". Hinduism is the symbol of what Voltaire wrote. Its Yoga practice, freedom to practice religion based on individual choice and spiritual meditation has attracted many from the founded religions world today have arisen out of them. 

These thoughts made me come out with my next discourse"Gita is Yogopanishad,it is neither a book on war and peace, nor rituals nor Biography..."Why America is not focused on these or worried about it and  dismisses it as freedom of speech may be   concern  of some agitated Hindus? Though declared a Secular State,  Race has become its biggest problem such as Ferguson for USA.  America's race problem is increasingly one of Class not Caste or Religion in India. African American's problem is poverty which is most visible. Hindus could have easily joined them in the race war but poverty is not the problem among Hindu Americans, and therefore they do not join this race war. The conversion to Christianity by the various Missionaries  are taking place off the shore in India mainly taking advantage of tolerant philosophy of majority of  Hindus and State Policy to care only for minority religions and also  as it is impossible for them to operate here to convert migrants. Few convert by choice and for political favors. So there is not much focus on people like Wendy Doniger who are ignored under the protection clause of freedom of speech and so have a free hand. They also enjoy freedom of education whether it makes sense or not. That gives us also lot of leverage to enjoy the privilege of freedom of speech to come with more rebuttals.

*42. HINDU PANCHANGAMS ARE OUT OF HARMONY FOR OUR RITUALS AND WORSHIPS

The apparent path covered by the Sun in relation to earth called ecliptic recurs periodically with rhythmic precision about which our sages had the exact divine vision even though they did not have the modern powerful telescopes. Likewise they also noticed that the Moon’s path in relation to earth also occurs at regular intervals. Based on these observed phenomena, the units of time such as day, month, year, etc., were established.  This  knowledge is needed to precisely forecast the timing of these recurring celestial events. Mankind, particularly  religious Hindus who are so particular about time in samskaras like maangalya dharanam, muhurtam and Gatti melam in religious weddings  who are ritualistic and believe in astrological predictions need a system of measurement, by which the correct times of observance of religious rites can be ascertained in accordance with Saastric injunctions. Lord Krishna says in Bhagavadgita ”tasmaat saastram Pramaanam te kaaryaakaarya vayavasthithow” (sastras are ultimate authority)

Hindu saastras say Kaamya, Naimittika and Nitya karma should be performed only at specified place, time in the space-time continuum. If the karmas are performed otherwise, although they may not cause injury, they certainly will not be efficacious.  Now we know why our rituals and worships often disappoint us and God does not answer us?

The Hindu Temple Society of North America, having felt the need of Hindu Americans are taking   lot of trouble to publish a Panchangam (almanac) with the help of expert astrologers in India and also taking suitable corrections for time changes in America as well as time zones. Yet are we following  stipulations of S our Saastras? Should there be different birthdays of Krishna  and Hanuman? When is Uttarayana? These questions bothered me. Of course we sometime cover our ignorance by the clause “Mamopaatta durita praayschittaartham” atonement for late performance or wrong performance of a ritual.

In a specific problem I faced with, I referred the matter to an astrological expert. I have pleasure in reproducing his expert opinion.  I also wonder why we cannot have one panchangam in India making Winter Solstice Day (December 22) as the starting day for Hindu New Year and fix all festivals, rituals and rites in relation to that. Of course when it is Winter solstice in Northern Hemisphere it is Summer solstice in Southern Hemisphere and vice Versa. Hindus are everywhere.  If they are religious they should be serious about this problem. In India there are so many Panchagams forced on majority who are not well read or illiterate. But In USA Hindus are supposed to be scientists, doctors, computer wizards mostly and  many among them are also temple trustees. Can they not study this problem and fix them instead of the blind leading the blind? Council of Hindu Temples of North America is in this business of providing a genuine Panchangam for the faithful.  They call it North American Panchangam though meant for Hindu Americans? Many believe in Rahu Kalam but observe at the wrong time unknowingly.  They should be serious about it and in turn help their unfortunate brother and sisters in India. Secular Indian Government will not do it. They have their Salivahana saka Calendar for official Bharat record And Christian Calendar of January 1.

"Hindu Calenders are  out  of  harmony with natural  seasons  on earth because of  difference  of 0.0165656 days  in  the  actual  and  the assumed lengths of a  solar year  which  remained  uncorrected for  well  over  fourteen centuries. The  result  is  we  are  now  celebrating our fasts and  festivals  after  over  23  days  of  their  actual  happening  or  Shastric  prescribed time.  All our  Panchangs    require  to accommodate  this   change.The present  Niryana system is  not  accurate. Our  calendar is  based on  seasons, ayanas, equinoxes, etc.  Moreover  the  stars are  not  placed evenly  in heavens and  the  view  of  them through ecliptic  does  not yield  2.25 stars  per  zodiac sign. Stars  are  of  unequal  span. Who is  prepared  to bell  the cat  to  make  the  change in   panchangs ? In  view  of  the  above  following  Georgian  calendar  seems  to be more  appropriate " Certainly Hindu  Americans can bell the cat and open the vision of Hindus in India too.

We pride in Sanatana dharma. We pride in saying we taught Astronomy to the world. Should we be then more dependent on Gregorian Calendar which is actually Christian Calendar for accuracy of  our religious performances than our own? This needs serious thinking and brain searching. We parade only on our past glory and forget the wisdom of Vedas and sastras and follow things blindly. All our worships, festivals and rituals are based on wrong calculations and wrong timings and therefore may not yield desired results though He forgives us often!

*43. KNOW THE TRUE COLORS OF OUR PANCHANGAMS

Someone sent me this. Someone called it Truth and some other titled it Colors. May be they meant True Colors! Enjoy! But wait for more exciting TRUTH about Green tree decoration and White Lighting as Hindu Americans and also why we have our Music Season during Christmas and why we do not have to rush on January 1 to temple to watch the special Abhishekam and make our NEW YEAR Resolutions? All our Panchangams are screwed up! It does not matter when we worship our Holy Days. Durgapuja we celebrate on Navaratri Sundays whether it is Ashtami or not;Holi we wait for a warm day in summer; Krishna Jayanti we have several days :  Hanuman Jayanti in April or December, Who knows?; Uttarayan Punyakala after 23 days in January and so on. We wait for Muhurtam time for Mangalya dharanam and Tamils for Gattimelam based on wrong fixation of Shbhamuhoortam! When do we have Rahukalam if we believe in it? Based on this wisdom we keep our Temples open declaring any day calling it Special   Religious Events Day particularly during the American Festival Season for it is Holiday Convenience Season. After all America makes the Presidents Day and Presidents do not make their day! They are born on a day convenient to us! Know the Truth or Why We Do It?  Inmy forthcomin discourses.  It will attract full of comments and yet I have not asked for comments; if you have time you can still send it?  Anyway during holiday Season you will just give it a cursory glance and no serious reading?   Then forget also! Are we serious about religion and religious practices as per sastras (Tasmat saastram pramaanam te says Gita) really? Can someone guide us and correct some of them?   Who will bell the cat?  Can we do it? It is my guess or anybody elses?

*44. SCIENCE AND RELIGION

Science and religion generally pursue knowledge of the universe using different methodologies. Science acknowledges reason, empiricism, and evidence, while religions include revelation, faith and sacredness. Despite these differences, most scientific and technical innovations prior to the scientific revolution were achieved by societies organized by religious traditions. Much of the scientific method was pioneered first by ancient civilizations such as the Hindus, Greeks, Egyptians, and Sumerians. Later during the middle ages the Catholic church was responsible for saving much of the scientific knowledge from these civilizations, thus allowing the scientific method to develop in Europe during and after the Renaissance and through the enlightenment period. Islam also made great contributions to areas such as Mathematics, and Astronomy. Many of the most famous scientists in history were devout Christians such as Blasé Pascal, Copernicus, and the founder of modern genetics Gregor Mendel. The founder of the Big bang theory was also a Jesuit priest named Goerges Lemaitre. Hinduism has historically embraced reason and empiricism, holding that science brings legitimate, but incomplete knowledge of the world. Confucian thought has held different views of science over time. Most Buddhists today view science as complementary to their beliefs.

Hindu sages were the first to realize that the manifested Universe has sprung out of the Supreme spirit and that each fragment of the Universe is influenced by the rest of the Universe and vice versa.   Closely watching the solar system they gave mankind a system of time measurement, by which correct time for observance of religious rites can be ascertained. That was the beginning of Astronomy and Science. The details of their scientific contributions to the world can be found in my detailed discourse.

Science has an objective approach whereas the approach of religion is subjective. Physical science is concerned with man’s external nature, but religion is concerned with man’s internal nature. Einstein says that science can change the nature of an element. But it is only religion which can change human nature.

Hindu Philosophy says there is no creation and only manifestation. Science also says that something can never be created out of nothing. There is really no creation or destruction. There is only change of from. Vedanta says everything we see in the tree was in the seed. It is not that anything was added later.  There is only manifestation from the seed to the tree and from the tree back to the seed.   Vedanta says, Self is the gene out of which this universe has come. The Self is never created nor destroyed. It is only sometimes manifest, sometimes un-manifest, sometimes evolved and sometimes involved.

The atomic theory is the brain-child of Western mind. The Western scientist generalizes the experience that one can subdivide matter until one meets the ultimate particle.   Vedanta goes further and reduces everything to one element called Brahman; Brahman, because it is everywhere--Self of everything and every being.

Man may be physically comfortable, but he must also be morally sound, generous and selfless.  A scientist must be a Vedantin. A Vendantin must be scientific in outlook. Rituals may help us to a point but they become a hindrance beyond a point. A true scientist is also a Vedantin as he is concerned with truth as a whole, not only the truth that is apparent, but truth that is real, the truth which is beyond the senses. No wonder the greatest scientist Albert Einstein said, “Science without Religion (Vedanta) is lame, and religion without science is blind”

People often turn away from religion in their frustration and struggle. That happened to Mother Theresa also.  She later surprised us with her practical religion of serving humanity and was raised to divine heights being honored as a saint.  Probably vexed with growing cynicism and atheistic tendencies Rabbi Geoffrey says “Science does not make a case for God”.  Please   see the articles attached for details.

*45. ENIGMATIC HINDU GODS ASVINEES WHO INFLUENCED WESTERN CULTURE

The Ashvins or Ashwinee Kumaras   in Hindu mythology, are two Vedic gods, divine twin horsemen in the Rigveda, sons of Saranyu (daughter of Vishwakarma), a goddess of the clouds and wife of Surya in his form as Vivasvant. They symbolize the shining of sunrise and sunset, appearing in the sky before the dawn in a golden chariot, bringing treasures to men and averting misfortune and sickness. They are the doctors of gods and are devas of Ayurvedic medicine. They are represented as humans with head of a horse. In the epic Mahabharata, KingPandu's wife Madri is granted a son by each Ashvin and bears the twins Nakula and Sahadeva who, along with the sons of Kunti, are known as the Pandavas. They are called Nasatya (dual nāsatyau "kind, helpful") in the Rigveda; later, Nasatya is the name of one twin, while the other is calledDasra ("enlightened giving"). By popular etymology, the name nāsatya is often incorrectly analysed as na+asatya "not untrue"="true". Various Indian holy books like Mahabharata, Puranas etc., relate that Ashwini Kumar brothers, the      Raja Vaidyas to Devas during Vedic times,first prepared Chyawanprash formulation for Chyawana  Rishi at his Ashram on Dhosihill near Narnaul, Haryana, India, hence the name Chyawanprash. The Ashvins can be compared with the Dioscuri (the twins Castor and Pollux) of Greek and Roman mythology, and especially to the divine twins Ašvieniai of the ancient Baltic religion".

While I was in Russia working on a project I had visited Lithuania and have seen the twin horses heads being exhibited on the roof tops of houses  prominently.  They also believe that horses take care of healthy living.  My thoughts then went with horse shoe which is hung on the house door as a protective talisman in Hindu culture as well as many other cultures like China and Europe.  Why then two horse heads was my curiosity?  In Vastu Sastra horse shoe is   one of the most popular protective symbols for a home. In western culture horse shoe is placed above front   doors to protect against evil (goblins) and attract good luck. We can also find a horse shoe above fire places, doorways, windows and in various home decors. But the article sent by India Divine.Org now links the two horses to Asvinee Devatas as the protectors of Health as Divine physicians whose details you will find in the discourse. Please go through the additions made to the subject which was earlier circulated briefly. Your valuable suggestions are welcome.

*46. OUR DILEMMA IN OBSERVING NITYA AND NAIMITTIKA KARMAS

The significant days for Hindu Festivals and Rituals seems to have been fixed by religious authorities in India  based on Purnaic incidences which were not celebrated like to-day in Vedic culture and therefore are not mentioned in Vedas or Upanishads. Our sastras say all Nitya and Naimittika Karmas should be performed only at a specified place andtime in the space-time continuum. Also observance of Nishiddha Karmas like Rahukaalam should be based on time and place. The number of followers of Hindu faith in North American continent has markedly increased during the last four decades. As a result, the need for a Panchangam applicable to this part of the world has been fulfilled by bringing out a North American Hindu Panchangam by the Hindu Temple Society of North America since 1997. Yet we are often confused on the days we perform Nitya and Naimittika karmas as we want to get back   to our traditional approach following our own customary panchangams. Hindu Temples in America follow their own tradition based on the wisdom of Founding fathers and not based on the rational Panchangam which has been brought out by referring to various Panchgams which confuse Hindus in India too.  But they have their sectarian temples. Government of India has taken its own arbitrary decision to follow Chandramana Panchangam and Salivahana Saka Era to please the majority but not a Panchangam which is logical and most agreeable to the official calendar of the country which is Gregorian calendar. All said and done a year has 365 days and Panchangams should be based on that to align it with official Gregorian calendar which also 365/366 years based.

Hindu Americans say all our Panchangams are screwed up! It does not matter when we worship our Holy Days. Durgapuja we celebrate on Navaratri Sundays whether it is Ashtami or not; Holi we wait for a warm day in summer; Krishna Jayanti we have several days:  Hanuman Jayanti in April or December, Who knows?  and  Uttarayan Punyakala after 23 days in January and so on. We wait for Muhurtam time for Mangalya dharanam and Tamils for Gattimelam based on wrong fixation of Shubhamuhoortam! When do we have Rahukalam if we believe in it? Based on this wisdom we keep our Temples open declaring any day calling it Special   Religious Events Day particularly during the American Festival Season for it is Holiday convenience Season.   We are in line with   American Culture for America makes the Presidents Day and Presidents do not make their day! They are born on a day convenient to us!  Are we serious about religion and religious practices as per sastras (Tasmat saastram pramaanam te says Gita) really?  We are told if a ritual is not performed in the prescribed Muhoorta we will not derive any benefit even though it may not harm us.

We have four Panchangas: Souramaana (365.25 days); Chandraamaana (354 days); Nakshatramaana (360 days); Brahaspatyam (361 days). Most logical among these which will closely align with official Gregorian calendar is Souramaana Calendar.  Hindu Americans are drawn  from different traditions and mostly go by Gregorian Calendar. It would be therefore logical to go by the Hindu panchangam which has also 365.25 days per year. But the problem is it is based on 365 days neglecting the fraction. Over several centuries this has pushed us away from the Winter solstice day which falls on December 22 to April 14. (Defaulting by 23 days). It has now given the impression that science and astrology do not conflate with each other though we inspired Gregorian calendar based on astronomy, though our sages based astrology on astronomy and gave that science to the world. Tamils and Bengalis who are very religious have been following Sauraamana calendar from days of  yore and for that they have not gone to hell and others to heaven. But the problem is, Sauramana calendar astrologers have been indifferent to do necessary correction after having rounded off a year to   365 days. Gregorian calendar does leap year correction as well as leap century correction so that their Christian Religious Holidays come on the same day for observance.

American Hindus should take these deficiencies into consideration, update the Sauramana calendar and prepare their American Panchagam and make it more accurate than Gregorian Calendar which is not impossible with our scientific, computer and astrological skills. Till then it is advisable for Hindu Americans to go by one calendar to suit all traditions, time and place that is  American Pancahgam as of today which takes care of place and time correction.  Hindu Temple Society should seriously consider this handicap in our religious followings. Also many festivals and rituals have universal appeal for all traditions of Hindus and yet they are celebrated as sectarian like Vaikunta Ekadasi, Panguni Uttiram , Holi, Karadiyan nonbu, Karuva chaut  etc.  We have One Temple To Go for our religious observances and therefore temple should review them in the interest of all and adopt those only as Special Observance Days leaving very sectarian days to individual traditions to celebrate or observe at their homes.  Most rich Gujaratis  have moved out to have their swami Narayan Temples and do not join the main stream too. It is therefore time to arise and awake to the problem. 

47.  CHANDRAMANA YUGADI ND PANCHANGA

Tomorrow February 19, is Lunar New year in many countries mostly popularly known as  Chinese New year. Lunar and lunisolar calendars differ as to which day is the first day of the month. In some lunisolar calendars, such as the Chinese calendar, the first day of a month is the day when an astronomical New moon occurs in a particular time zone. In others, such as some Hindu calendars, each month begins on the day after the full moon or the new moon. Others were based in the past on the first sighting of a lunar crescent  such as the Hebrew calendar. Hindu Lunar New year starts on March 20, Chaitra Sukla Prathama after 29 days. Chinese lunar Calendar thus  seems to be more based astronomically.

The length of each lunar cycle varies slightly from the average value. In addition, observations are subject to uncertainty and weather conditions. Thus to avoid uncertainty about the calendar, there have been attempts to create fixed arithmetical rules to determine the start of each calendar month.The average length of the synodic month is 29.530589 days. Thus it is convenient if months are in general alternately 29 and 30 days (sometimes termed respectively hollow and full). The distribution of hollow and full months can be determined using continued factions and examining successive approximations for the length of the month in terms of fractions of a day. 

The Indian National Calendar, often called the “Hindu Calendar,” is based on both lunar and solar years. This calendar was introduced in 1957 in a government push for all of India to use the same calendar, but various traditional calendars continue to be  used prompted by  different religious heads. The start of the Indian National Calendar year coincides with March 22, except in a leap year, when it coincides with March 21. The year is counted from the first year of the Saka era, in A.D. 78. The year 2015 translates to Saka era 1936-1937.

 Senior Indian Astrophysicist Meghanad Saha was the head of the Calendar Reform Committee under the aegis of the CSIR. Other members of the Committee were: A. C. Banerjee, K. K. Daftari, J. S. Karandikar, Gorakh Prasad, R. V. Vaidya and N. C. Lahiri. It was Saha’s effort, which led to the formation of the Committee. The task before the Committee was to prepare an accurate calendar based on scientific study, which could be adopted uniformly throughout India. It was a mammoth task. The Committee had to undertake a detailed study of different calendars prevalent in different parts of the country. There were thirty different calendars. The task was further complicated by the fact that with calendar religion and local sentiments were involved. India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in his preface to the Report of the Committee, which was published in 1955, wrote: “They (different calendars) represent past political divisions in the country…now that we have attained Independence, it is obviously desirable that there should be a certain uniformity in the calendar for our civic, social and other purposes and this should be done on a scientific approach to this problem”

Unfortunately this Monumental work under the direction of Congress work seems to have found its dooms day this year as NAMO Government decided to stop printing the National calendar as it was caught in politics and quarrelsome Copycat astrologers from different traditions who feel reluctant to adjust their calculations and continue with their wrong data based Panchangm as as to winter solstice day.If they acquire computer skills this should not be a problem. A bold attempt to bring January 14, the month of Thai  as New Year beginning was also thrown out by his rival Jayalalita without  recognizing its closeness  to Gregorian Calendar both having 365 days a year. Sauramana Panchangam defaults by not correcting like Gregorian which does   leap year and leap century corrections due to astrologers who are traditionally family based and old systems, and lack of computer skills.

Hindu Americans drawn from different Hindu traditions will be better advised to go by the Indian  National Calendar which will slowly go into archives torn in politics and religious prejudices.  They  need not follow any one religious panchangams which are all inaccurate and  do not comply with  scriptural injunctions  to perform rituals  and worships as per time, date and place of living. This needs a proper aligning of Hindu American Panchangam  of today with Indian National Calendar or  better base it on Sauramana Panchangam taking into consideration its serious neglect in not correcting for astronomical facts that has moved Makara Sankranti by 23 days from actual day of December 22 Winter solstice day when the Sun’s direction changes actually towards North (Uttarayana). As highly enlightened and religious conscious society with lot of computer geniuses we have to base things on astronomical facts which was the basis on which our Rishis carried out their worships and rituals. We not go by blind faith and blind Panchangams of faulty astrologers.  READ THE DISCOURSE ON CHANDRAMANA YUGADI AND PANCHANGAM

48. HAYAGREEVA AVATARA REPOSITED AND RESTORED VEDAS TO HUMANITY

Hayagreeva Avatar is the earliest Avatar in which Vishnu is believed to have been assumed a horse -head to kill a horse-headed demon named Hayagreeva or the demon brothers Madhu and Kaitabha, or to recover the Vedas which were hidden under the sea by demon Hiranyaksha. Later Matsya Avatar was pushed to the first position and also credited with the recovery of Vedas from hidden sea  in order to align with the later emerging  scientific views on theory of evolution which starts with fish to perfect and intelligent  human beings.  Hayagreeva-Vishnu has a human form with two, four, eight or twelve hands, and with a horse’s head surmounted by a tall crown.  He is celebrated as the Lord of Learing. Paushkara Samhita explains that the Vedas are personified in human forms with faces of horses (Vaaji-vaktras sthitaa–vedaah sampoorna nara lakshanah). Therefore Vishnu as the presiding deity of vedic learning must be imagined as a man with horse’s face (Hayavadana). Thus initially knowledge  was associated with horse which later got switched to  elephant when puranic deity Ganesha was pushed to the fore-front whose prominence is   because of  to Siva  to please Parvati. Ganesha isonly a mind-child of Parvati and not an Avatar. 

Padma Samhita describes him as  seated comfortably on a serpent-couch, with hoods rising up behind him with left foot on Sesha and right foot on tortoise, accompanied by Lakshmi and Bhudevi.   As the presiding deity of Parakala Math, a royal patronized monastic institution in Mysore He is seen with Lakshmi seated on his thigh and worshiped as Lakshmee-Hayagreeva like Lakshmee-Narasimha. He is  also worshiped by followers of  Madhva saint Vadiraja who  is described as one who was feeding the the Lord with gram prepared sweet dish which Lord enjoyed coming with a horse’s head which  sweet dish is also named after him as Hayagreeva (Bengal gram sweet Paayasam) in Karnataka.

It is  strange  the worship of Hayagreeva is not known at all in North India. There is a lone temple in Assam named after Hayagreeva–Madhav where the deity is Narasimha. Evidently they should have been confused with various narrations about this Avatar in puranas or there might have been the icon of Hayagreeva before. There is also an icon of Hayagreeva in  Khajuraho temple on its walls. All these show   his worship was once popular in the North.  Hayagreeva is not a sectarian deity introduced by Puranas like Ganesha, Swami Narayan or Andal but a Vedic   God described in Vedas. Vajasaneya Samhita is described as another form of Yajurveda given to Yajnyavalkya by Sun-god who appeared before him as a deity with horse’s head and taught him Veda which is named after him as Vajasaneeya Samhita (a compilation rendered by the horse).  

Hayagreeva is the earliest known Vedic God Of Learning and the Guru of Sarasvati, Brihaspati, , Dakshinamurty and Vedavyasa.  Hayagreeva is glorified as god in Buddhism like Buddha who has become an avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism. Hayagreeva, the Vajrayaana God, is an attendant  or companion of the Khasarpana and Lokanatha forms of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.

Hayagreeva Jayanthi falls on the same day as Yajur and Rigveda Upakarma  day on Sraavan Pournima when Vedas are studied with religious reverence (Veda Parayana). It would be appropriate to celebrate his Jayanti on this day with Kamaokarsheet Homa and   Medahasookta Homa so that all could reap the benefit and receive the blessings of the Lord of Wisdom instead of simply dismissing as a day for changing of threads for Brahmins only. It is all the more important in American Hindu Temples where there is only one temple for all traditions where the day is declared as a sectarian Special Religious Events day for Dwijas (who have undergone thread ceremony). Who does not want (Jnaana) and who does not need Repentance (Prayaschitta) for which Sravan Pournima is significant? American  Hindu Temples include very sectarian festivals like Arudra Darsanam, Koodaraivellum, Karadiyan Nonbu, Thiruvadipporam, Avani Avittam, Karwa Chaut known  only to a  small group of regional people or  very sectarian and celebrate them as Special Religious Events day  hoping everyone will participate.   Hayagreeva Jayanti  should  be a day for celebration for all   traditions like Rama Navami or Krishna Jayanthi or Buddha Jayanthi.   By coincidence this falls on Sraavan Poornima Day which is sacred to all Hindus though celebrated as Upakarma by South Indian Brahmins.   So this could me more broad based to suit all. Any  celebration of festival  should be to the deity installed  or should focus on all traditions and should not be based on what founding fathers have fixed  at the time of inauguration based on the then prevailing circumstances. It should be need based to fulfill the religious aspirations of larger section of the people particularly when there is One Temple for all traditions. That will also keep the participation significant for all, active and finances sound.      Some of the present celebrations like Avani Avittam, Panguni Uttiram and Kartigai Deepam have to be broad based to attract all traditions for a united worship and not end up as a sectarian festival. 

Hayagreeva is celebrated by Vedanta Desika in Hayagreeva Stotra   inspired by   the Dhyana sloka in Pancharatra Agama which reveals his incarnation and describes his avatar pleading for grant of wisdom and control of our senses. Hayagreeva the demon in Puranas represents the seven horses driven by the Sun which represents five senses, mind and intelligence that are to be controlled by all to acquire Jnaana from Jnaanaanadamaya.   Hayagreeva who appeared in the form of the Horse to deliver Veda to Yajnyavalka is the Universal Light that alone shines (Tvamevabhaati anubhaati sarvam) all  the world and the source of all lights (tasya bhaasaa sarvamidam vibhaati).  

49. ENIGMATIC HINDU GODS ASVINIS THAT  INFLUENCED WESTERN CULTURE

It is hard to collect information on Vedic deities Asvini devatas who are referred in many Vedic mantras in different roles.  I have come across casual references to them in Upanishads and worship mantras but found no detailed information as to their importance. They are not among the 33 Vedic deities and are considered as minor deities.

While I was in Russia working on a project I had visited Lithuania and have seen the twin horses heads being exhibited on the roof tops of houses prominently.  They also believe that horses take care of healthy living.  My thoughts then went with horse shoe which is hung on the house door as a protective talisman in Hindu culture as well as many other cultures like China and Europe.  Why then two horse heads was my curiosity?  In Vastu Sastra horse shoe is   one of the most popular protective symbols for a home. In western culture horse shoe is placed above front   doors to protect against evil (goblins) and attract good luck. We can also find a horse-shoe above fire places, doorways, windows and in various home decors. An article sent by India Divine.Org now links the two horses to Asvini Devatas as the protectors of Health as Divine physicians whose details you will find in the discourse.     

Asvinis (meaning of the horse) who are regarded as the divine physicians (devaanaam bhishajaa) are described in Ayurveda as having cured Indra, the mighty Vedic warrior god, when he had fallen ill due to excessive Soma drinking.  According to Hindu Puranas  Ashvini Kumaras are twins Gods born to Sanjna (Lord Surya's wife) and Surya (the sun). 'Ashvini Kumaras mean sons born of a horsewoman.   These twins are associated with healing power and everlasting youth. Ashvini Kumaaraas symbolize swift movement, falcons of Light, Lords of intelligence (Medha) and brilliance.

50. INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY AND LEGACY OF YOGA TO MANKIND TO GROW IN BODY AND MIND

On December 11, 2014, The 193-member U.N. General Assembly approved by consensus, a resolution establishing June 21 as  “The International Day of Yoga” (IDY)

 ^“Yoga has become a universal language of spiritual exercise in the United States, crossing many lines of religion and cultures.....…..Every day, millions of people practice yoga to improve their health and overall well-being. That's why we're encouraging everyone to take part in PALA (Presidential Active Lifestyle Award), so show your support for yoga and answer the challenge”, said US President Barak Obama.  U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said:  “The International Day of Yoga would bring attention to yoga's holistic benefits (wholesome benefit for body, mind and spirit). Yoga can contribute to resilience against non-communicable diseases. Yoga can bring communities together in an inclusive manner that generates respect. Yoga is a sport that can contribute to development and peace. Yoga can even help people in emergency situations to find relief from stress." Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well- being.

June 21,   the Summer solstice Day is chosen as   the International Day of Yoga, which  is the longest day of the year  for us and has special spiritual significance.  

Today Yoga  is being practiced and used in  original  or modified  forms because it contains great power of increasing the physical, mental and intellectual capacity.  The present form of yoga is welcomed, however this is only one side of Yoga and not a complete form, which is purely the external and elaborated form. Its internal and real form is the one, which has been practiced by ancient Indian sages and saints and people who followed the path of devotion for deep knowledge. Even worst critics and enemies of Hinduism realize its unique benefit for integrated development of body,  mind and spirit   unlike mere physical exercises for healthy body. They also realize its medical, psychological and health benefits. 

A Hindu’s life is so knitted with Religion he cannot think any event but without being a worshipful day like first day driving in a new car after worship only.  Moreover unlike in India all Hindu American Temples are also cultural centers and so there is natural tendency is to make the day a Special Religious Events Day.  HMEC of America has jumped into the arena.  In my opinion we should not take this day to sanctum sanctorum choosing a deity to preside over the day.  Taking yoga to sanctum will be a dangerous move. It may amount to killing the golden goose! India fought for long against stiff opposition from major religious followers to get the International status and Indian origin stamp to Yoga in whatever form it is currently practiced.  We should also not worry as to what goes on India. We have left the country and are united as Hindu Americans. We should plan things in our own way. It should not become an issue for Al Qaida or Abrahamic Religions food for a long battle. 

 I understand Islam objects to OM and  Surya Namaskar!  Why can't they chant Ameen and do  Moon Salaam (Chandra Namaskar) to the borrowed light of Sun instead,  since they are the  late risers. Moon comes after Sun; Islam came after Judaism and Christianity.   This should be acceptable to Hindus who make Moon also a star like Sun.  ""Nakshatraanaam aham Sasih" --" I am Moon among stars" says Geeta. Krishna made Moon (Earth's only satellite)   a Star   for them only as he also said world needs many religions.    Yoga in YMCA ends with   Namaste instead OM,  so they can end with Ameen if they don't like Amen of Judaism. They joined hands with Christians and christened Hinduism and Judaism, Cult based as --ISM means cult for they do not like both. Anyhow we love and enjoy the word    Hinduism given by them. They couldnot pronounce Sindhu though grabbed it and we surrendered, a sort of Saranagati!

Please go through the detailed discourse as posted on the Blog Hindu Reflections:<nrsrini.blogspot.com> Do not fail to go throug  the three interesting appendices to the discourse-- The one : How Yoga opened Scientific Vision in early Vedic culture; the second : A Report from New York Times on the Eve of International  Yoga Day and the third: From a Muslim Yoga practitioner

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/06/international-yoga-day-and-legacy-of.html   

51. SUDARSANA CHAKRA, SUDARSANA YAJNA AND HOMAS

The Sudarsana Chakra is the mighty weapon of Lord Vishnu whom Vaishanvites address as Sriman Narayana.  Jaganntha, Lord of the Universe is none other than  Vishnu and a Universal  Form which is sanctified in the temple of Puri along with his brother Balarama, sister   Subhadra and Sudarsana-Narasimha in the form of a pole (who emerged out of a pillar with flame.)   Sudarsana  has many auspicious attributes associated with it.  Saint philosopher Vedanta Desika most eloquently summarizes the characteristics of the mighty Chakra (Wheel) in both the Sudarshana Ashtaka as well as the Shoedasaayudha Stotra. The mighty flame (Jwaala) is the aspect of Jwaala Nrisimha who destroyed Hiranyakasipu and therefore,   resides in the wheel of Sudarshana Chakra as Jwaalaa Narasimha.  The Sudarshana Chakra has healing characteristics. Legend has it that Vedanta Desika composed the Sudarshana Ashtakam to help the people of a village stricken by the plague epidemic. As soon as he finished his composition, the epidemic got eradicated completely. Every month on the day of Chitra Nakshatra it is customary to perform Sudarsana Homa and Abhisheka (bathing ceremony) to Sri Sudharsana known as Chakratthazhwar.   Chitra Nakshatra (day of the Hindu month)  in the Month of Aashaadha is designated as Sudarsana Jayanti Day which is celebrated in all Vishnu temples in the South.  I am not sure about Puri Jagannath Temple?  Before the start of annual Brahmotsava to Vishnu deity in South Indian Vishnu  temples it is customary pray to Sudarsana first for the successful conduct of the festival as he is the bodyguard of Lord Vishnu along with Garuda and Vishwaksena. It is also customary to end the tenth day of the festival with Chakrasnaanam when Sudarsana is bathed in the temple tank.

It is customary to conduct Nrisingha yajna (fire oblation worship  for Jagannatha before Jagannartha Nirmaana  (installing the new icons) after   Kalevara (samadhi of the old icons) in the form of Jwaala Narasimha who is located within the wheel of flame. Thus both Narasimha and  Sudarsana are worshiped together. 

Om Kleem Krishnaaya Govindaaya Gopeejana Vallabhaaya Paraaya Parama Purushaaya Paramaatmane  | Para Karma Mantra 

Yantra  Tantra Oushada Astra Shastraani Samhara Samhara  | mrityor mochaya mochaya.| Om Namo Bhagavate Mahaa 

Sudarshanaaya deepthrae   \Jwaalaa Parivrithaaya Sarva Dikshobhana Karaaya Hum phat  | Brahmane Paranjyotishe Swahaa”

 “Om Sudharshanaya Vidmahey Maha Jwalaya Dheemahe Tanno Chakra Prachodayaat”

Sudarsana Homa and Japa are popular in all Hindu Temples of America and are most popular among scheduled rituals like Ganesha Homa.  Periodically Sudarsan Homas are conducted for world welfare   peace and prosperity. How come then Sudarsana   Jayanthi is rarely celebrated even where Jaagannatha   sanctums are provided? Sudarsana is a prominent deity on Ratna Sighasana. June 26^th of this month is Sudarsana Jayanthi Day! Religiously devoted often wonder how American Temples decide on Special Religious Days for worship; not necessarily based to suit all traditions! It is one time decision of founding fathers  based on the sectarian group majority in the council  of Philanthropists  and  the  Panchangam  and dates they follow based on consultation with sectarian priests they have hired at that time.  

 Please go through the detailed discourse on Sudarsana as posted in Hindu Reflections.

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/06/sudarsana-chakra-and-sudarsana-yajna.html

52. JAGANNATHA  PARIVAAR AND NRUSINGHA YAJNA FOR NIRMAAN

Some of the famous shrines in India are shrouded in mystery.  Who was Venkateswara?  Today he is accepted as a manifestation of Vishnu, but his identity has been a   hot debated subject.     The biggest mystery of all is which God could he be—Skanda, Shakti, Siva, Vishnu--all or none?  The origins of this God are shrouded in a mystery which will probably never be solved. The deity of Puri, Lord Jagannath surpasses all.  His shrine in Puri is the amalgam of all religions and encompasses all philosophies. It is more of an inclusive philosophy than exclusive.

The biggest mystery and surmise of all who visit Jagannath Temple is which Gods could be on the Ratnasinghaasana to-day in Puri Jagannaath and which were there before? Which are male deities and which or female?  Common innocent devotees worship them as Krishna, his brother Balarama and his sister Subhadra. The account given in Skanda Purana identifies   Jagnaantha with Vishnu, Balabhadra with Siva and Subhadra with Lakshmi or Kaatyaayini, Bhuvaneswari or Ekaanaamsa.  Jagannath is worshiped as Vishnu or Narayana or  Krishna and Lord Balbhadra as Shesha.  So simultaneously, the deities are also regarded as the Bhairava with  Bimala (the Devi or the consort of Siva) installed in the campus of the temple. So we find here a fusion of Saivism, Saktism and  Vaishnavism of the Hindu religion with  Jainism and up to an extent Buddhism in the culture of Jagannath and the cultural tradition so reverently held together in Purushottama Kshetra.

The deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra always wear saris and a nose ornament made of flowers (probably introduced by Tantric priests   who resorted to worship Him as Sakti). It is said that until the British period, a Bhairava deity was sitting on the Ratna Simhasana together with Jagannath.  Another interesting fact is that Bhairava Shiva is also identified with the Sun, with the name Martaanda Bhairava (Moon shines from borrowed light of Sun and Siva is known as Chandrasekahra.  One eye of Siva is sun, the other moon and the third Agni).  The worship of Surya Narayana    is also an extremely important part of the rituals of the Puri temple: the Surya Puja is performed every morning here before any other activities take place in this temple.  The strict connection between Jagannath, Narasimha, Surya and Bhairava is also confirmed by the prominent presence inside the Lingaraj temple at Bhubaneshwar.  But Saura Purana   in one of the hymn says that Sudarsana Chakra is another form of Lord Bhairava - Chakra Bhairava. This goes with the contention that at one time Ratnasinghaasan was occupied by Sudarsana in the form of Chakra Bhairva. 

The Adi Jagannatha Perumal Temple in Tirupullani in Tamil Nadu  is one of the 108 Divya Desams and a very important site related to Ramayana. So Jaganntha temple is not exclusive to  Puri alone.  Ramanuja visited   Jagannath temple also.  But   Tirupullani is the one that is among the 108 Srivaishnava Divya Desas. Vedas  connect Puri temple to  Jagannath  and Puranas connect Tirupullani to Jagannatha.

It is customary to do Samadhi Ritual for the old shrines and install new deities on Ratnavedi in a ceremony called Nava Nirman and Mangalaarpana starting with Nrisingha Yajna every 12 or 19  years. The sacred  Indradyumna Tank  in Puri includes a shrine of little child Lord Krishna in the form of Bal Gopala and the shrine of King Indradyumna which are located at the bank of the lake.   On the advice of Sage Narada, King Indradyumna made an icon of   Narasimha out of black stone and placed the image under black sandal wood tree and worshiped Him. It is believed that in front of this temple the Ashwamedha Yajna took place and so the   deity is called Yajna  Narasimha. Nrisinga Yajna is performed for the "Yajna Purusha" Jagannatha (the protector of mankind),   to whom oblations are offered at the commencement of  sacred event of Jagannatha  Nirman. There are many mantras appropriate to Narasimha Homa of various forms. The most appropriate mantra that appeals to me for Nrisingha Yajna with normal procedures of a yajna rituals before  Jaganaatha Nirmana rituals,  is the Mantra of Sudarsana Narasimha  and Nrisimha Gaayatree :

Please discard earlier drafts received by some of you and   go through  the latest  detailed discourse on the subject which includes changes and  a brief description of Navakalebara.  Please also find my earlier discourse "Jagannatha of Puri and Ratha Yatra" as this ceremony ends with Ratha Yatra.

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/07/jagannatha-parivaara-and-nrusingha.html

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/06/jagannaatha-of-puri-andn-rathab-yatra.html

53. VAAMAN—TRIVIKRAMA, THE VDWARF AND GIANT AVATAR OF VISHNU

 Vamana is the fifth  Incarnation of Vishnu and the first incarnation  in   Tretayuga. He is the first avatar to appear as a human, although he does appear as a dwarf   Brahmin bachelor form.  Puranas also say that his consort was Padma or Kamala (synonym  with Lakshmi).  Vaamana was born to Aditi and Kasyapa. He is the last   among twelve Vedic Gods of Adityas.  Vaamana is also the younger brother of Indra also known as Upendra.

Vaamana Jayanti is celebrated with full vigor every year by some on Dwadasi tithi of Shukla Paksha (Waxing moon period) of the Bhadrapada month. According to the Hindu scriptures, it is believed that it is even more auspicious if Vaamana Jayanti falls on the Sravana Nakshatra. On this day, devotees worship Lord Vishnu with complete devotion, and the one who worships with a pure heart is said to get freedom from all the sufferings and attain salvation.

Why did Vaamana assume the form of a dwarf? Hindi philosophy teaches us even God had to resort to the dwarf’s form in all its simplicity while choosing the position of mendicant and resort to   begging.  It also showed the greatest power of spirituality over the mighty power of sword.   Mahaabali symbolizes ego (ahankara), the three feet symbolizes the three planes of existence Jaagriti, Svapna ans Sushupti.  The final step of Lord   on his head gave hope to Bali to elevate himself from all three states and attain Moksha. It also represents three Gunas. Paataala representing Taamasa, Earth Rajasa  and Svarga Sattva. His leg stretched beyond Svarga and stopped at Vaikuntha. One has to transcend these three gunas to become Gunaateeta to attain liberation. Ego affects even Great Rishis. When the four Rishis headed by Sanatkumara went to see Lord they were stopped at the sixth step by the Dwarapalakas Jaya and Vijaya. Instead of praying to Vishnu to cross the sixth step and reach the abode of Vishnu they used their ego and cursed the gate-keepers to be born as demons.  Vishnu smilingly came down to sixth step  himself and apologized. These poor Rishis little did realize that they were not allowed to transcend seventh step and join Vishnu in Vaikuntha.  Puranas  say  that there are seven steps to Vaikuntha.  Good lord goes to any extent to please his devotee (bhakta). He willingly became his gatekeeper in Paataala as one story goes.This is the avatar that explains Brahman as "anoraneeyaan mahato maheeyaan" smaller  than the smallest and bigger than the biggest and as "Brihat" meaning Brahman ever-growing.

Vaamana is the most celebrated incarnation of Vishnu in Rigveda and other Samhitas. One Purana among the  18 celebrates his  glory.  There is no Nrisimha Puran or RamaPurana as you know among the celebrated 18. Vaamana and Trivarkama names are included in the 24  Gayatri forms of Vishnu.  Yet he is not as popular as other incarnations in temple worship.  American Hindu Temples do not celebrate his Jayanti mostly. Probably he stuck to "paritraanaaya saadhoonaam" in this incarnation and not extended it to "Vinasaayacha dushkritam" to make it more a colorful avatar with battlefield scenes?

This discourse contains some rare dhyana-sloka, mantras and Naamaavali which you will not easily find. He is the first human and humane avatar.
 

54. THEDIVINE COWS OF HINDUISM

Puranas have made cows holy based on the  narrations below.  In Vedas bull was a sacrificial material if not cow. Even today bulls are branded and sent out to freely roam about  as part of rituals following Antyeshti. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad prescribes young bull meat offered in Yajna for begetting an intellectual and valorous son. Concepts  have changed influenced by  Purans. With the present agitations going on, India should become total vegetarian or should not support only Hindu views having declared itself secular sovereign republic. Total vegetarianism is good economically and health-wise. Apart from present agitation more focus has to be given towards mercy killing in clean slaughter houses to deliver hygienic meat to those Non-vegetarian Hindus who seem to be in majority than Vegetarin Hindus. Buddhists  who championed the cause of Vegetarianism once have admirably settled to enjoy beef and  even pork; fortunately they   all  left India long back and changed  non-violence  thoughts of Buddha!]

"The wish Fulfilling Divine Cows

Posted by The Editor | Sep 04, 2015 | IndiaDivine.Org

Kamadhenu also known as ‪‎Surabhi is a divine bovine-goddess described in Hinduism as the mother of all cows. Kamadhenu, the sacred cow which grants all wishes and desires, is an integral part of the entire Indian culture. This divine cow, which lives in swargaloka (heaven), emerged from the ocean of milk (kshira-sagar) at the time of samudra-manthan (the great churning of the ocean by the gods (suras) and demons (asuras).

It was gifted to the seven sages by the Gods, and in course of time came into the possession of Sage ‪Vasishta.

Kamadhenu is also well-known through its other five forms: Nanda, Sunanda, Surabhi, Susheela and Sumana.  Kamadhenu’s complexion is like the white clouds.  Every part of cow’s body has a religious significance.  Its four legs symbolize the four Vedas, and its teats the four Purusharthas. Its horns symbolize the gods, its face symbolize the sun and the moon, its shoulders Agni (the god of fire), and its legs the Himalayas Brahma (the creator of the Universe in Hinduism) is her back, while Lord Vishnu is her throat.  To the right, a man is seen as protecting the cow from being slaughthered.She’s described as sometimes taking on an anthropomorphic form, with a human head, a cow’s body, a peacock’s tail, and the wings of a parrot.”

According to the ‪‎Ramayana

Surabhi is the daughter of sage Kashyapa and his wife Krodhavasha, the daughter of Daksha. Her daughters Rohini and Gandharvi are the mothers of cattle and horses respectively. Still, it is Surabhi who is described as the mother of all cows in the text. However, in the Puranas, such as Vishnu Purana and Bhagavata Purana, Surabhi is described as the daughter of Daksha and the wife of Kashyapa, as well as the mother of cows and buffaloes.

According to the ‪‎Mahabharata

Kamadhenu-Surabhi rose from the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra manthan) by the gods and demons to acquire Amrita. As such, she is regarded the offspring of the gods and demons, created when they churned the cosmic milk ocean and then given to the Saptarishi, the seven great seers. She was ordered by the creator-god Brahma to give milk, and supply it and ghee for ritual fire-sacrifices.

According to the ‪MatsyaPurana

Surabhi is described as the consort of Brahma and their union produced the cow Yogishvari, the eleven Rudras, “lower animals”, goats, swans and “high class drugs”. She is then described as the mother of cows and quadrupeds. In another instance, she is described as a daughter of Daksha, wife of Kashyapa and the mother of cows. The Harivamsa, an appendix of the Mahabharata, calls Surabhi the mother of Amrita (ambrosia), Brahmins, cows and Rudras.

 According to the ‪Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita, a discourse by the god Krishna in the Mahabharata, twice refers to Kamadhenu as Kamadhuk. In verse 3.10, Krishna makes a reference to Kamadhuk while conveying that for doing one’s duty, one would get the milk of one’s desires. In verse 10.28, when Krishna declares to the source of the universe, he proclaims that among cows, he is Kamadhuk.

The cow symbolizes the dharma itself.

It is said to have stood steadily upon the earth with its four feet during the Satyayuga (world’s first age of truth), upon three feet during the Tretayuga (the second stage of less than perfection), upon two feet during the Dwaparayuga (the third stage of dwindling and disappearing perfection) and only on one leg during Kaliyuga (the fourth and current age of decadence)."

55. BHAKTIVEDANTA DOCTRINE AND ITS SCIENCE OF INCARNATION

Recently I came across an interesting article sent to me by IndiaDivine.Org titled Bhaktivedanta Doctrine and its Sciene of Incarnation. May I recall my discourse on the subject of Karma, Hindu Doctrine of Action and Reaction.

Jnaana Yoga or the path of wisdom is a spiritual path which leads to the discovery of the Supreme Being in his own soul or self. Karma Yoga is the Path of Action  and is the means by which a person engaged as a householder in a day to day worldly activities can harmonize such activities with spiritual advancement.  Bhakti Yoga is  the  Path of  Devotion to God and worship of one’s own personal God or Ishta Devata.  Krishna Consciousness Bhaktivedanta people say that this personal God is Srikrishna only.  

Sankara propounded the theory of Advaita based on the need of the  then hour “Brahmasatyam jaganmithya jeevo Brahmaiva na Paraah”--Ultimate Reality behind the entire Universe including the individual souls, is One Supreme Soul,  Parabrahman , all the rest being  His own Maayaa Shakti with names and forms.  This called for Jnaana Yoga for attaining Mukti. Towards this he realized spiritual fulfillment of Mukti cannot be attained without Bhakti, which according to him, is not mere spiritual knowledge of speculation but is the exhilarating experience of love when the mind is seasoned to submission to the lord.  The important thing here is the preparedness of the mind and not an ignorant or indifferent or casual mind.   He did not have much time left and it was   Ramanuja who  later came out with his elaborate philosophy of Vishishtaadvaita promoting a co-ordinated approach of Jnaana and Bhakti with proper Karma or action 

Today Bhaktivedanta or Krishna Consciousness Philosophers have come out with the magic formula of Bhaktimarga dhanvantari for all quoting elaborately Bhagavad Gita  for their support.  Similarly they have come out with their own theory of Scinece of Incarnation projecting all avatars from Krishna avatar drawing puranic support which says  Krishna is Purna Avatar. They have also ignored Rama Avatar which  Purnas say is also Purna Avatar though they use  combined   RamaKrishna Mantra  for Bhajans.   This Mantra they use is from Kalisantrapanopanishad the order being reversed form Rama to Krishna.  They have also attributed  ultra-wisdom to Buddha than Krishna in their theory drawing their support from Jayadeve who has included historic Buddha as an avatar which Vedanta Desika and other orthodox circles of Bhagavata  have rejected.

The Bhagavad Gita, an epitome of the Upanishads, has set out three main Yogas for Mukti,   namely the JnaanaYoga,  the Karma Yoga and the Bhakti yoga and leaves the choice to the bent of mind, the temper and the capacity of the individual. It has also introduced the fourth Yoga called Raja   yoga which is a graded course of physical and mental exercises so as to achieve concentration and control of mind   but as ancillary to the other three which has spread like wild fire all over the world and is not confined to Hindus alone.   Thus Bhagavad Gita even felt some sort of mental preparedness and maturity as pre-requisite to follow any one of these three paths of liberation. Swami Vivekananda and other spiritual leaders were all favorites of Raja Yoga. Presently India has successfully marketed Raja Yoga for Universal practice of spiritualism.

Spiritual Knowledge or Jnaana about the soul and the Supreme soul cannot be acquired by mere learning.   Realizing the difficulty Dvaita  philosophy came with its dualism theory  and said we can only attain the status of  Salokya (Vicinity),    Sameepya (Nearness) or Sayujya (becoming a part--Uniting).  It   can be acquired only by sincere devotion to God and intuition which can be facilitated by purity of mind, clarity of thought, meditation and prayers (Katopanishada). Faith and reverence are prerequisites.

 56. GODS, DEMI-GODS AND REINCARNATION

Vedas mention   of 33 symbolic divinities called 33 gods. They are 8 Vasus from the cosmos (5 cosmic elements of earth, water, fire, ether and air plus Sun, Moon and Constellation.) 11 Rudras of the inner world (Ten Pranas and the  Aatman) which means the 5 sense organs and 5 motor organs and the eleventh is Self.  Time is eternal and is differentiated with 12 Adityas (Suns, the sons of Aditi, the Eternity), representing the 12 months of the year. The remaining two gods are Indra and Prajapati.  Indra could mean mind and Prajapati Intellect.  The former is all pervading electricity and sustains and the latter is creative energy. So Hindus have these 33 divinities designated as gods or devas but the God of all gods is the Supreme Spirit. The Hindus believe in one God, the Supreme Spirit or Brahman and this is the monism of Vedas, which is by inclusion and not that type of monism which lives by exclusion as is witnessed in case of many other religions by exclusion.

Puranas created many Gods. “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 ” says Gita. Here we can get an idea of the   definition of God. He must be situated beyond time. The higher controlling devatas (Agni, Ganesha, Vishwaksena, 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. When the universe is destroyed by  the will of  Brahman, even Brahma must face death to meet his karma, as all living entities do. Despite their tremendously long lives, still, having taken birth, they must also face death. This we have seen in Avatars also.

Indra belongs to a different category than the controlling Devas. His position is based on his Punya (pious results) and when his Punya expires he loses his post as controller of the heavens. The enjoyment of Indra may be higher than that of the controlling demigods, but his duration of stay is much shorter. By sitting on the seat of Indra one burns up all of one’s pious results at a very rapid pace. For this reason Sukracharya (the spiritual master of the demons) instructed Bali Maharaja to rule Indraloka after defeating the demigods but not to sit on Indra’s throne. For if he sat on Indra’s throne his Punya would finish and he would lose his position very quickly. The controlling demigods hold their posts for a fixed duration of time (one day of Brahma), so they see many hundreds of Indras come and go. Bali is believed to visit Kerala even today on the day of Onam]

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 ( sub-isvara) 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. That is why we hear often one’s personal God as being held 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. That is Parabrahman called Tadekam in Vedas.

Later Bhaktimarga came with the idea of Poorna Avatars. They did not feel Rama and Krishna as Devas but as aspects (Vyahriti) of Brahman. Krishna means one who makes you attracted to him and Rama means one who delights and Vishnu one who is all pervading. Vishnu with Krishan and Rama characteristics considered as Narayana who is none other than Parabrahman. But what is not understandable is superimposing Avatars on liberated souls like Swami Narayan, Saibaba, Andal etc., in addition to already over-populated Devas 330 million  Devas or Demi-Gods! Do we want to match the population growth?

Please go through the Bhaktivedanta Doctrine promoted by Chaitnaya, Jayadeva, Prabhupada, Vallbha and others promoting Krishna Consciousness which has turned into Jagannatha Philosophy.  Please do not forget to read my remarks at the end and a simple explanation of Tadekam of Rigveda--More Gods than one in Hinduism?    

57. NARAYANA—GOD TO WORSHIP AND BRAHMAN TO MEDITATE

It was water everywhere with NARAYANA reclining on Ananta, the cosmic serpent of Time. From him belly-button sprouted the   four petal    lotus on which was seated the four-faced Brahma who pronounced the four letters NAA RAA YA NA. With that   four Vedas filled his mind. He created Narada. He chanted the twin mantra Narayana Narayana and started his wanderings in all the three worlds filling the air with the twin Mantra.  Prahlada appeared in the world chanting Narayana. Hiranyakasipu was disappointed for he did not hear the mantra of Hiranykasipu   honoring  the law Pitru devo bhava.  Poor Prahlada did not know in what form Narayana will come when he pleaded for his help! Hiranyakasipu questioned who that Naryana was! He said He is the one that he sees everywhere and responsible for Creation (Srishthi), Maintenance (Sthiti) and Destuction (Laya). Narayana appeared as Nara-Simha, Lion King of all Souls. Ajamila, the notorious sinner heard the word Narayana as Narada was passing by, got motivated and pronounced Narayana lying on his death bed and died. He was surprised to find himself standing by the side of Narada in Vaikuntha.  So we hear the stories in Puranas. He is worshiped as Lakshmi-Narayana in temples even though you do not see Lakshmi by his side as in other portrayal of Gods. Here Lakshmi occupies a prestigious place in his chest as Srivatsa.  He has absorbed Sakti (power) in himself. Parbrhaman (Nirguna) is worshiped directly in his only iconic form (Archana Moorti) as Narayana (Saguna).   Narayana is Parabrahman in Ramanuja Concept. We worship Narayana (Parabrahman)  through icons of  Rama, Krishna, Ganesha etc., and also as Narayana alone in his archanaa moorti (worshipful) form

 Christianity defined Narayan as GOD?  G stands for Generator ((Srishthi), the cause of germination, O stands for Operator (Sthiti) and D stands for Destroyer (Laya) or disintegrator  as visualized by Prahlada.  He did not know English language then but had the true concept of God (Srisahthi-sthiti-laya kaaraka).  But English language grabbed the idea many Eons later and created the word God in their dictionary substituting for Narayana.  As you know the word GOD cannot be etymologically derived, but can be conceptualized.

Narayana is the One (Tadekam) that is worshiped as Personal God and at the same time meditated upon as Parabrahman.  Gita says whatever form you worship Narayana it all reaches Narayana only to whom you submit ultimately (Saranagati). Naaraayana is the most popular name of Vishnu, the All-pervading. The word Naaraayana implies several meanings:

    1)      One who is the final goal of allbeings  

     2)      One who has made the causal water as his abode

    3)      One who has made the hearts of human beings as his abode

     4)      One who is the abode of all humanbeings.

The first one is derived from, “Naaraayanasya jnaanasya ayanam prapyasthaanam” meaning the goal of all knowledge. The second one is derived from, “aapo naaraa iti proktaa ayanam sthaanamasya” meaning residence in the water of existence. The second meaning has given rise to description of Naaraayana for the iconic worshipful (Moorti) form which is common and popular. Thus He is both immanent and Personal. 

 Please go through the detailed discourse with his full description in Veda Mantras:

 http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/10/narayana-god-to-worship-mand-brahman-to.html

58.  WHY I AM CALLED HINDU AND MY FOLLOWING HINDUISM?

My thoughts were focused on "Why I am a Hindu and my following Hinduism and my Tattva   Hinduttva" as   popularly projected  by the present Government of India.  I am often told by many Pundits that our religion is not Hinduism but Sanatana Dharma  meant for all in the world   in its doctrines (Sarvejanah sukhino Bhavantu).  Even after I migration I continue to be called a Hindu and my following Hinduism. I am growing with my imported Hindu Culture and imparting it too, thus it has become one  among  world religions or theologies due to migrants,  absorbing fresh thoughts into its fold. All these made me to think about the subject deeply in the light of  Supreme Court rulings in India, Policy of secular Government of India,  interpretation of Hindu and Hinduism from learned Swamijis in India and  consequent on springing up of many institutions in  USA--Hindu Temples and Hindu Cultural Societies. At the same time I believe in what Vivekanada propagated in USA:  "Vedanta is the religion of the future and it believes in "Universal Oneness" and not Universal Brotherhood as Abrahamic religions say.  My discourse on the subject has become too long  trying your patience containing some important quotes and court rulings which I can't ignore.  So please bear with me! We as Hindu Americans must evolve our own concept of Hinduism and Hinduttva and for being called Hindus  despite what goes on in India with the Government, Courts and Religious Mathas (monasteries). Our message should be clear that it is the most logical theology for developing Interfaith, Multi-culture development  and Universal Oneness benefiting from the rich resource and wisdom  of our Vedas and Upanishads.

Though in USA, our Religious  Resolutions (Sankalpa) and Obeisance to elders (Abhivadanam) go by identifying ourselves  with the origin of  our culture and not on the parents. Based on this traditional practice and culture Hindu and Hinduism trace  back to River Valley Philosophy  with which our culture  started and is integrated.

Based on my deep study I have concluded both nomenclatures  Sindhu and Sindhuism  have sprung out from  our own  basic Theology and Philosophy and not from others, which over a period got mispronounced to Hindu and Hinduism as Apabhramsas. Goddess Sarasvati is a river or Sindhu in Sanskrit worshiped as Water Deity.  It is no wonder Hindus are children of Sindhu and hence called Sindhus which Arabs mispronounced as Hindu coming from a River-Valley Culture.    Philosophically Sarasvati means “the flowing One” which means she is responsible for the human flow (moving of Praana in the Nadis) that lead to  Saagara (Brahman), ocean  for ultimate merger. In Vedas Sagara is glorified as Brahman (Vyaahriti).  That makes us Children of Immortal Bliss! All rivers flow towards Sagara the ONE Source to merge with it and lose their identity. All religions lead to One Source called Saagara or Tadekam. So we are all children of  Immortal Bliss or Children of the River or Sarsvati, Parasakti (Universal  Spiritual flowing Power or Activity). Hinduism (Sindhu Tattva) is a perennial (Sanatana) river (Sindhu) that floods all religious and spiritual thoughts and carries  with it all of them to join the Ocean of Universal Oneness (Supreme Being).

People must learn to let their inner rivers, the channels, currents and Nadis (rivers called astral tubes) of the soul flow again with all their vibrancy to call themselves as Hindus. Unless our inner rivers are flowing, our outer lives will remain dry and empty, dependent upon an external world of want to sustain a mirage of happiness.   Let us join together in creating a harmonious, conscious and spiritually evolved existence through awakening the higher Self, empowering the divine grace within, and embracing the Inner World of Shakti!

India has been changing the old names correcting Apabrahmsas (wrongly pronounced names) of late--Calcutta to Kolkata, Baroda to Vadodara, Madura to Madurai etc., and getting it accepted by all Nations in the world.  Based on the detailed   analysis in our discussions it would be proper to call ourselves as SINDHUS and our following SINDHUTTVA (Sindhu Tattva.)   India may  also think of changing its name to  SINDHIA or better  SINDHU RAASHTRA. (We call international as Antar-raashtra already).  The word Sindhu should be acceptable to all religions and traditions in India as Sindhu means river which may mean Land of Many Rivers. This will amount to only a correction of the present nomenclature and not change.   By adopting Sindhuttva we will avoid the derogatory suffix "--ism" in Hinduism which was planted by Abrahamic Religions to all other religions except theirs.

Please go through for my detailed discourse in detail and think for yourself. I thought about it seriously. Let me listen to your thoughts too!

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/11/why-i-am-called-hindu-and-my-following.html

(DECEMBER 2015)

59. KAALABHAIRAVA—SIVA THE CUSTODIAN OF TIMES

Kalabhairava is the most fearful form of Siva and is considered to be an Avatar of Siva though Avatar Concept  is rarely found in Saivism. Maha Kala Bhairava Ashtami will fall on 8th waning moon in the Tamil month  of Aipaasi (Mid Oct – mid November). Kalabhairava Mantra is: Hmmm Hram Kala Bhairavaya Namaha…….. (Om    is recited as Hmmm)   Kalbhairava is  considered as the guardian of temples of Lord Shiva. After locking the doors of the temple of Lord Shiva, the keys are ceremonially offered to Bhairava and taken back in most of the Shiva temples. This  musical stotra of Lord Kalabhairava described here   written by Sri Adi Sankaracharya   is recited by the priests of the temple of Kalabhairava in Varanasi before blessing the devotee with a tap by the cane of Lord Kalabhairava. Bhairavi Yatana in Varanasi Cremation grounds is an intense process of obliterating Lifetimes of Karma in a moment. In USA Sadguru Ashram of ISHA Foundation conducts the same for the religious faithful. Please go through the introduction and Ashtakam with meaning and explanations included in the discourse provided by courtesy IndiaDivine.Org December3, 2015 is his Janmashthami Day this year.

Kaal Bhairava temples can also be found around  Sakti Peethas as it is said Shiva allocated the job of guarding each of 52 Shakti Peethas to one Bhairava. As such it is said there are 52 forms of Bhairava, which are in fact considered as manifestation of Shiva himself.

Traditionally Kala Bhairav is the village deity in the rural villages of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and and Andhra Pradesh, where he is referred to as "Bhaivara/Annadhani" Vairavar. In Karnataka, Lord Bhairava is the supreme God for the community commonly referred as "Gowdas" especially for the Gangadikara Gowda caste he is considered as the care taker and punisher.

 http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/12/kaalabhairava-siva-custodian-of-time.html

60. SIDDHA PHILOSOPHY, ALCHEMY AND SIDDHA SYSTEM OF MEDICINE

Siddhas include Natha Siddhas of North India, Medieval Alchemists known as Rasa  Siddhas, Vajraayan Buddhist , Jain Siddhas  and Tamil Nadu Siddhas who are Saivite Saints. Tamil Nadu Siddha theology is an amalgam of many schools of thought—Vajrayana Buddhism, Saivite Tantrism, Indian Alchemy, magic and sorcery, Hatha Yoga and pranayama disciplines propagated by Goraknath etc. To a common man in Tamil Nadu it remains a sort of unorthodox mysticism or sainthood.  Popular and famous Siddha saints are Agastya, Tirumular one of the Nayanmars, the female Siddha Avayiyar (Tamil poetess) and Ramalinga Adigal apart from the pioneer Siddhas Nagarjuna  of Andhra Pradesh and Bogar of Tamil Nadu hailing  from  China. China is credited with pioneering alchemy though the inspiration they got   from  Mercury Linga worship of Tantriks.  Typically Siddhas are   saints, doctors, alchemists and mysticism practitioners all at once.

Siddhas are spiritual seekers who are believed to control  and transcend  the barriers of time and space by yogic meditation,  who resort to the consumption of special preparations called Rasayana that transform the body to make it potentially deathless (Vajrakaaya) like a diamond, and a particular breathing practice, a type of Pranayama. 

This divine science was originated and developed in Tamil Nadu and is wide-spread all over the world consequent on the migration of Tamils. Treatment for all round development of body, mind and soul is part and parcel of Siddha practice. Along with the body, the mind should be tuned and soul be purified from Maya or illusion. Just like polishing an ornament our soul has to be cleansed from the impurities. A Siddha Guru is a spiritual teacher and also an expert   physician  who leads one through Yoga, meditation and  Pranayama.

Siddha medicines were fore-runners to Ayurveda and Homeopathy. They were the first to discover pulse reading to diagnose complex diseases. Siddha medicines are natural and Herbal without any side effects. Kaayakalpa Chikista in  Kerala is an offshoot of Siddha System of Medicine.

Tamil Siddhas revere  and worship 18 Siddha divinities Siva being the additional presiding deity. Ganesha devotees have shifted that position to Ganesha. Tutikkai means trunk of the elephant and so that of Ganesha. It means worship of the Hand (Tuti=worship; Kai=hand). This interpretation is applied to Ganesha to the elephant  headed God of Gateways. His trunk (hand) symbolizes the spinal cord with Kundalini Power--the trunk of   raised  (hand  lifted for prayer)aloft and holding the full blown lotus enlightenment Sahasrara at the crown of the head as described by Tirumular in Tirumantra. Ganesha  guards the gates to  Inner World as inferred from the Puranic story of Parvati's (Parasakti,--Sakti aspect of Brahman or Saguna Brahman) gate keeper, and therefore his appeasement  to start with becomes important to Tamils.

 Siddha Philosophy owes its origin to Svetasvatara Upanishad where details are found as to the vigorous Yoga   practiced by Siddhas and the  spiritual philosophy behind it. Purushasookta mentions Devas, Siddhas  and Rishis in the order of their divine merit.  We come across references to Siddhasrama  and Ashta Siddhis   attained by Siddhas. The earliest references are to Hanuman, Agastya and Sage Patanjali. Hanuman is a master of Ashthasiddhis mentioned by Sant Tulasidas and goal  of Siddhas.

Please go through the detailed discourse as referred and also my detailed discourse on Ayurveda:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2011/09/ayurveda-knowledge-of-longivity-of-life.html

 http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/12/siddha-philosophy-alchemy-and-siddha.html

61. MATSYANARAYANA AVATAR

Vishnu is addressed as Rohitah in Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra. The term “Rohita” means fish, and this name has come to indicate Lord Vishnu because His first Avatar as the fish is hailed in   Puranas. When the entire world was submerged in the waters of the deluge, the only living creatures that were available at that time could only be fishes. This was a red tiny fish as it appeared in the hands of Svaymbhu Manu. Lord could incarnate at that time only in the form of the Fish. Therefore, here the term Rohitah means “One who had manifested to serve the living   creatures as Fish among fishes”

The Matsya Narayana temple in Omkar Asram on Omkara Hills in Srinivaspura in one of the highest Points in Bengaluru that celebrates the major annual festival on Matsya Jayanti on a grand scale. The annual festival of Matsya Jayanti is celebrated on Chaitra Shukla Paksha Triteeya (Third day of the waxing moon period of the Chaitra month (March- April) every Year. This has somehow missed the attention of Hindu Temples in USA and also many temples in India too. Only Krishna, Rama, Narasimha, Vamana Koorma-Varaha seem to be popular for worship among Dasvatars. Probably Hindus are embarrassed as many of them are Fish Eaters including  Brahmins of Konkan and Bengal while majority agitate for cow slaughter as they  are not beef eaters  and also of late started  worshiping cows influenced by Puranas  though not an Avatar.  There is a lone  bull temple in Bengaluru which  is famous and here it  worshiped as the mount of Lord Siva and not as Gomata. In 2016 Matsya Jayanti falls on April 9, 2016.

The detailed discourse includes   Dhynasloka and Gayatri mantra for meditation and also interesting appendices narrating the detailed story of Matsyavatara,   Evolution of humans from fish, the Description of Mermaids and mermen and the   Stories of the Great deluge in Puranas and the Holy Bible.

In the symbolic divine marriage ceremony celebrated in Hindu Temples, pure consciousness (thought) and formative energy (action) are viewed coupling together as Easwara in his manifested form (Saguna Brahman) and through this medium facilitate meditation on the Absolute (Nirguna Brahman or Self), which is the only way for salvation, as postulated by all Upanishads.

Over a long period Hindu marriage ceremony has included many elaborate steps symbolizing different stages in the bonding of the couple based on Vedic culture and  social traditions and conditions. The various steps include: Kanyaasnaanam; baraat, Compulsory  Money gift, dowry, Maangalyadhaaranam, Paanigrahanam; Saptapadi; Laajahomam; Grihapravesam;  and  Dhruva-arundhati darsanam. There are invocations to the Gods, gurus, and ancestors asking them to witness and bless the sacred bond. At the end of the marriage ceremony, the Sthaaleepaakaa and Aupaasana rituals are performed. The sacred fire from these rituals is then carried home and the Vedic karmas enjoined are performed with this fire as witness for the rest of one’s married life. Through such rituals one expresses the gratitude to the sages, gods and ancestors.  A truly religious marriage ceremony becomes a significant milestone in the life of an individual, giving him the eligibility to perform certain Vedic rites.  It is unfortunate today Hindus are moving from this original thinking and reduce the sacred ceremony to mere pomp and show as well as an opportunity to fleece the bride’s parents   and also make the girl reduced to a struggling and abused housewife solemnized by a priest when not satisfied with dowry and money flow from bride's parents. Soon what ought to have been an   eternal bond love and mutual respect ends with a separation. Even Upanishads have focused on this point. One main reason is we have made marriage too expensive, complicated with more focus on fun and frolic and exploitation of the bride and her parents moving away from the simple spiritual ritual   described  in Ramayana when Rama  married Seetaa.

Ritualistic religious minded  Hindu  thinks of celebrating divine wedding the same  way as he dreams for his own daughter or son. He visualizes Rama and Seetaa   as   normal human  beings and kin and kith of his own and goes through all the above steps today while performing Kalyanotsava to the Lord which is also supported by Aagmas , the same way  it has blessed  Shoedasa Upachara Puja (16 steps worship which I have explained).  Thus you find today in Temple practice many rituals that did not take place when Rama married Seetaa.  Sometimes a spiritual seeker visiting temple is amazed at the pomp and show of such a worship with overflowing Bhakti moving away from the spiritual symbolism of coupling mentioned in Vedas  and explained above. 

The traditional Vedic wedding of Raama and   Seetaa is celebrated in temples with all reverence according to Aagama rites, wherever Seetaa and Rama idols are consecrated in temples all over the world, at the request of the devotees as well as general public. It is   celebrated for the welfare of the individual family or the devout society in the locality,   invoking divine blessings for universal welfare, peace, and prosperity. 

Sri Ganesha Temple in Nashville TN, USA is conducting  Kalyanotsavam to the newly consecrated Seetaa and Rama idols on June 18 on a grand scale. Please go through the detailed discourse delivered  for the occasion  on the subject titled: Seetaa Rama Kalyaanam–A trend Setter for Present Day Hindu   Religious   Wedding.  Following discourses will be worth going through:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/02/kalyaana-utsava-ceremony-for-lord-in.html

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/06/vivbaaham-hindu-braahma-sacred-matrimony.html

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/09/maaangalya-dhaaranam-and-sumangali.html]

Hindu Religious Wedding Ceremony should follow the simplicity and spirituality of Seetaa Kalyaanam!  I have added the detailed description of Seetaa-Rama Kalyanam as given in Tamil Kamba Ramayanam which includes some of the Tamil Wedding rituals as are in vogue today and also worship of Lord Ranganatha that are  not mentioned in Valmiki Ramayana in an Appendix. From both texts it is clear Mangalyadhaaranam did not take place in the divine wedding but is  of recent introduction which is considered as the most sacred key ritual as our astrologer expert says.  Please see  the text below:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/06/hindu-religious-wedding-should-follow.html

63.  WHY NO NAVAGRAHA PEDESTALS IN VISHNU TEMPLES?

I was surprised  to see among the 264 discourses posted so far on my Blog Hindu Reflectioins: <nrsrini.blogspot.com> one on Navagrahas and the other on Sanipeyarchi  appear among 10 most popular discourses wherein  I have just elaborated on current religious practices, beliefs and myths prevailing among Hindus.  It shows what a spell our astrologers have on the religiously  inclined Hindu minds though sound illogical   more  often  than not  based on wrong astronomical calculations but nevertheless has a strong basis for such beliefs!  Navagraha Homas and Pujas will continue to be popular in temples and homes despite all criticisms. Even Hindu politicians run after astrologers   for  Navagraha Santi as debated upon in   recent Tamil Nadu election. Sukra, the Guru of Demons  still favors Jayalalitha.  Recently my E-mail on “Why Vishnu Temples do not have   exclusive pavilions and sanctums for Navagrahas” attracted attention of some and also resulted in some interesting exchange of thoughts.   I therefore thought it is a subject ideal for a E-discourse suitable for posting on the blog that may interest you and other global participants.  Whether we like it or not   exchange of horoscopes besides arranged marriages will continue for several decades as well as horoscope writing based on astrological predictions. It has even the blessings of Sankaracharya as seen in his book of Dharma.   Enthusiasm for Mangalya dharanam, tying of the holy knots by the bridegroom on the neck of   the bride besides exchange of rings at the exact auspicious moment (Gettimelam)  drama scene as fixed by clever marketing astrologers will continue if not in celebrating  festivals and conducting  rituals. Exploration and exploitation based on true or false Janmanakshatra will bring in lot of business to astrologers! It is a good time pause. 

Generally I do not post such  highly controversial topics which may upset Religious Hindus who are more inclined to myths, beliefs, pagan practices and followers of their own Gurus who guide them and also without exhaustive research, authoritative literary sources and responses from knowledgeable people in religious matters and astrology.   I therefore circulate this  draft discourse  for a month to invite your specific suggestions based on sound references for any modification needed as I did my  draft discourse on Vedanta Religion. Please respond promptly!

Finalized version posted on the blog and circulated with this E Mail:

Worship of Upa-devatas (minor deities)= is  based on Puranas, Myths and Beliefs and super-imposition of divine status on persons with   occult powers or magic spells. It is  so popular with the blind belief of the Hindus that  it is impossible to dislodge the same from the  minds of religious followers and Temple Traditions to suit their appetite  to convince them as  myths which has  even found entry  into Aagamas and  Vedas by way of Upanishads and Sooktas in the recent past beyond the original 108 Upanishads.  Anything trying to explain will be dismissed as Atheism or religious rebel.  Yet we get offended when others criticize us and come with serious arguments as to how we are not  followers of pagan religious practices, myths and beliefs. We put in lot efforts to show we are followers  Sanatana Dharma  and believers in One and the same God with all our diversions   about which we have discussed at length.  Why to make things so complicated and then try to  prove about symbolism and significance to justify? We need to make worship simple and pure in thought and convincing to our Consciousness.  Today Hinduism has reduced itself to the level of many other belief based religions moving away from Vedanta Religion, trying to please Supreme Being through the medium of worship of Gods they believe in  and crying to  these Gods for even  minor troubles without focus on liberation.  Thus  if someone is affected by smallpox  they run to Sheetal Devi for cure!  They run everyday to Ganesha! We spend all our efforts to make myths reality. Westerners do not waste their time to make Iliad, a History and  prove  Trojan War did take place ! We have seen  how 9 stone pillars planted on the sea shore  near Rameshvaram are attributed to Rama's  spending some time to install them to worship and thus want everyone to believe   Rama  to be a devotee of  Navagraha Upadevatas.  Ramayana   clearly narrates  Rama worshiped Sun with Adityahridaya Hymn focusing on him as   Parabrahman.  If we believe Ramayana is true  we have to believe also Rama's worship of Aditya is true and not Navagrahas.  Navagraha worship is the clever marketing promoted  by astrologers. Many rituals start with Navagraha Shanti Homam! It starts as soon as a child is born. We see how busy these altars are   to the utter neglect of the main deities in Siva temples.  These alters are very busy during marriage season and birth. Thanks to the enormous efforts put in by Ramanuja in 108 (one temple has become prodigal) Divyakshetrams Vaishnavas are free from their influence  in Temple Worship though they are very much   influenced  by  astrologers in their private life.   One can understand  this from the popularity enjoyed by my two discourses being among top ten and to the minimal focus on ishta-devatas on which I have spent lot of time--- Navagraha Devatas and Sani Peyarchi. I had only  explained prevailing practices  and beliefs in detail there with some comments then received.

I was therefore hesitant to post this  discourse without inviting your comments which focuses on   pin-pointing  the blind beliefs of many and purposeless worship, which was in circulation for  nearly a month. If religious hunger still feels necessary for this kind of worship, this could as well be directed to Surya Devata alone  as Vyahhriti of Brahman.  To my surprise there was not even one comment   with proper justification for any correction needed. On the other hand I received additional information in support from a well versed astrologer who is also an important member of a reputed astrological society in Bengaluru.  I have also added additional information how we are progressively becoming belief based religion like others without focus on spirituality moving away from Vedanta Religion about which we discussed at length.   Please find the discourse on the subject as finalized and posted on the Blog:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/07/why-navagraha-altars-are-absent-in.html,

64. RELEVANCE OF UPAAKARMA CEREMONY AS A SPECIAL RELIGIOUS EVENT IN HINDU TEMPLES

The significance of Upaakarma Day which falls on Sravan Poornima Day is that Lord Vishnu took the form of a horse (Hayagrieva Avatar) and restored the Veda that was stolen from Lord Brahma by the demons Madhu and Kaitabha. It is a day to pay our reverence to Vedas and also start their studies (Vedaadhyayana). It is a day to honor Vedas and perpetuate their study.

Upākarma Day marked as the "Beginning" of Srauta rituals for the Season also called Āvaṇi Aviṭṭam (Tamil), Janivārada Huṇṇime (Kannada) and Gamha Purnima(in Odiya) is a ritual dictated by Hindu Srauta scriptures to be observed by the Brahmin caste that claim their title by birth-right. In fact we have very few Brahmins who follow their Varna Dharma. Upaakarma consists of a number of ceremonies starting with Kamokarishi Japa, Sankalpa, Satveeka Tyaaga which includes change of threads, Navakandarishi Tarpana, Adyayan Homa, Navakaandarishi Homa, Jayaadi Homa and Upasthaana closing ceremony for the day followed by Gayatri Japam the next day. Then the regular study ofVedas start for the season.

 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. It is therefore fitting and proper to chant kamokarsheet manyurakarsheet mantras contained in sections 61 and 62 in full and not what is given in Upaakarma ritual manuals. Any Veda mantra when modified or condensed loses its efficacy. This ritual exclusive to Brahmins has lost its relevance today as Brahmins quite often miss Upanayana ceremony at right age and also do not study Veda which is its objective. It is done as formality with lot of show and fanfare with no real significance. Like Brahma marriage where Mangalya Dharanam is not obligatory there is no compulsion to wear sacred thread when its significance is lost.

Sravan Purnima Day is a very important day, the day on which many celebrations take place and rituals are performed all over India. It is a National Holiday under different names as described in my discourse on the subject. Hindu Temples in America offer facilities and guidance to Brahmins to change the sacred thread and help perform prescribed rituals to Dwijas (twice born). Thus it is confined to a particular caste even overseas where caste system is almost extinct but traditions of different castes as in India continue with families in USA. Hindu migrants continue with their surnames which more often than not reveal their birth caste identity. In the light of the detailed discussion in the discourse it would be fitting and proper to make this day a special sacred day of significance for all by Making it: 1) annual day for atoning for sins by conducting Kamokarsheet and Manyurakarsheet Homa (ExpiationHoma); 2) A sacred day for Conducting Navakanda Rishi Tarpana and Homa for all; 3) a sacred day for listening to Vedaparayana or Vedpath Day like Ramayan Path, Gita path etc. and 4) a day for Mass Pranayama and Gayatri Japa Meditation 5) a day celebrating Hayagriva (who restored Vedas and Incarnation of Vishnu) Jayanti and rebirth of Vedas. These would benefit all traditions and all caste backgrounds. Otherwise it presents a narrow-outlook as promoting and caring only for privileged class of Brahmins on this sacred day in “One Temple for all Traditions” with its main goal to serve all.

Please go through my detailed discourse as attached.

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/08/relevance-of-upaakarma-ceremony-as.html

(August 2016)

65. SKANDA UPANISHAD, SKANDA PURAANA AND SAKANDA SHASHTHI

Mantrapushpas are a collection of Veda mantras, Upanishads, Suktas and Divya slokas directed to Ishtadevatas of many Hindus influenced by Puranas for recitation published by Ramakrishna Math. I was rather surprised that this wonderful collection missed Skanda Upanishad though includes Ganapati Atharvaseersopanishat, Narayanopanishat, Kalisantarpanopanishat and  Navagraaha Sukta which are not included among 108 Upanishads and Rig, Yajur Vedas and are cleverly inserted to Atharva Veda at a much later date. It shows how Lord Skanda so  celebrated in Ramayana while Ganesha is nowhere to be found in Adikavya,  is ignored by North Indians while mythological Ganesha is popularized as Prathama Vandita and even scared of consequences  if neglected! Murugan with Valli and Devayani is very popular with Tamils who do not often  care for Vedas and are happy with Thiruppugazh. I am glad Swami Chidananda has glorified this Upanishad for its Wisdom Thoughts. Particularly noteworthy is its focus on Brahman: "Rita(ga)m Satyam Parabrhaman" and "Tvam  Rudrastvam  Vishnustvam,  Brahmastvam....."

Skanda Upanishad though included among 108 Upanishads is least known while Ganesha Atharvaseersha Upanishat  later added is  very popular? Ganesha is in forefront while Skanda so celebrated in Ramayana is  not at all popular except in Tamil Nadu. Myths and beliefs in the worship of upa-devatas has taken over Hinduism moving away from the Vedic concept of Brahman(Deva) and his 33  controllers (Devatas)? Even among upa-devatas  popularity is  very much biased often influenced by Puranas and astrologers. So we have limitless deities pushed to the status of   Deva running for help to fulfill even our petty desires without focusing on exhausting our Karma by  self-purification, meditation and submission.  For convenience we quote Gita for such a diversion forgetting what Gita says that the end results depend on the deity one worships and the mode of worship? Gita says: "Those who worship me (Brahman) only come to me; but others go to whom they worship". We constantly fight what idols to install in Hindu Temples and worship focusing on sectarian opinions in a multi traditional Hindu society even in USA where educational level among migrant Hindus from many nations is quite high. We often elevate normal human beings to divinities.   We  see how in India   temples built for Venkateswara or Lakshmi Narayana  built by philanthropists are popular as Birla Temples or JK Temples! We end up with Birla Namavali instead of  Om Namo Narayanaya or Namo Venkatesaya! When it comes to Religion we become sectarian minded and are least influenced by the wisdom of Vedas. We focus on exaggerated stories  and their popularity in Puranas than on hidden philosophical content. We concentrate on Vadamala  for Hanuman than focus on his Ashta Siddhis! Playful Ganesha with Modaka is more attractive than spiritual genius Guruguha (Skanda)!

Skanda says that jiva (a living being) is Shiva. Just as before husking, it is called paddy and after husking,  rice grain, similarly bound by Karma it is called jiva and when liberated from karma, it becomes Shiva. Skanda in this Upanishad  pays his respects himself  to Shiva, who is a form of Vishnu and Vishnu, who is a form of Shiva. Further, Vishnu is said to dwell in the heart of Shiva and vice versa. Shiva and Vishnu are the one and the same reflecting Vedic thought, in his prayer.

 A prayer in first person follows. Obeisance is offered to the Supreme Light, wishing for prosperity and longevity. Vishnu as Narasimha and Shiva as Mahadeva are addressed. The hymn declares that by their grace, people realize the incomprehensible Brahman, which transcends thoughts, is un-manifest and infinite and indestructible, but takes the form of the deities, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

“Upanishads point out that the vision of the Infinite Truth alone can set us free.  Seeing the unbounded truth and letting go of all false identification go together like the two sides of the same coin. The latter part is conveyed by the double negation   not this, not this (neti, neti)—in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad” says swami Chidanada

Deep in Upanishads hidden is the wisdom of certain practical aspects to life. Swami Chinmyananda  comes  out frequently  with such implied wisdom  which I have been forwarding to my readers  often with  my limited  understanding.  “True wisdom is when we see absence of division everywhere; meditation is when your mind is not pursuing objects as you infer from the mantra 11 of Skanda  Upanishad” says Swami Chidananda.

Please go through the detailed discourse as attached.

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/08/v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo.html

I have  attached  Skanda Kavacham in Tamil for the benefit of those who speak Tamil as English transliteration. Others can benefit from its translation.

(AUGUST 2016)

66. IN PRAISE OF PARASAKTI—PRIMORDIAL ENERGY AND MATERIAL PROSPERITY

Devi is worshiped as Shakti in her most splendid manifestation of Devi. She is Durga to North Indians and Sri Lalita to South Indians. She is popular as Goddess of Wisdom, Saraswati. She is Goddess of affluence and abundance and goddess of Bounty in her form Lakshmi. Devi is worshiped in all these forms during Spring Navaratri during September-October. The Autumn Navaratri is called Vasanta Navaratri popular in Bengal dedicated to Durga. The Chaitra/Vasanta Navaratri is probably not as famous as the Sharada Navaratri that comes in Sep/Oct time-frame but Srividya Upasakas are expected to observe this without fail.   

It is customary to chant the whole 700 slokas (hymns) of Durga Saptasati contained in Markandeya Purana during nine days of Spring Navaratri. Particularly   Durgashtami Worship   on  the eighth day is concluded with the chanting of slokas that all begin with the phrase “Ya devi Sarvabhooteshu”. In the past I had posted   these slokas on the blog of Hindu Reflections in 2011 with my translation in English. Later I received several slokas on Sakti aspect of Devi from IndiaDivine.Org from various authors as well as Muralidharan Iyengar of Singapore.  These slokas are chanted with reverence equally by Saivas, Vaishnavas and Saktas and also both by North Indians and South Indians.   I have pleasure in presenting to you these slokas and also post it on the Blog for permanent reference and use. Most of them have a translation.   Added addition is the lecture by Swami Krishnananda on The Esoteric Significance of Devi Mahatmya. These are included as   appendices. Various slokas included in this discourse are;

1)  Sapta Matrikas ;  2) Esoteric Significance of Devi Mahatamyam;  3) Devi Kavacham from Devi Mahtmyam;  4) Devi Keelakam; 5) Durgaa Suktam; 6) Devi Mahatmya Stotra Ashtakam; 7) Durga Dwaatrimsa  Namamaalaa;  8) Saptaslokee Durgaa;  9) Bhavani Sahasranamam;  10) Soundarya Lahari;  11) Sri Bhagavatee Satee-Rudra Yamalam.

This year Sharada Navaratri starts on    October 1.  I have therefore sending this compilation sufficiently in advance so that you may pick your hymn (sloka) of choice and get familiar with its reading for the occasion. You may be happy to note you have the translation for most of them. Few left out are very popular and their translations are easily available. You will not get all of them at one source.

Wish you all a very pleasant Navaratri season! May Parasakti in her Trinity Role of Durga, Lakshmi and Sarasvati shower on you her choicest blessings!

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/09/in-praise-and-worship-of-primordal.html http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/09/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/09/in-praise-and-worship-of-primordial.html

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/09/in-praise-and-worship-of-primordial_16.html

(Please note these are posted separately in 4 parts on the Blog as the Blog would not take all at once. Please download and keep for your periodic use on festival days of Devi or for daily prayers)

 (SEPTEMBER 2016)

67. JAGANNATHA WORSHIP  PROMPTED THE ICONIC CONCEPT AND THE TEMPLE TRADITION

Rigveda indicates worship of Parabrahman in the form of wood as explained by Sayana the well-known commentator on Vedas and Upanishads who relates it to the Jagannatha icon of Puri.   It is a strange coincidence that Supreme Being appeared as Aswattha Tree to Sage Kanva and others in Tiruppullni, but on their request appeared with his true form of Vishnu, the sustenance aspect of Parabrahman as described in Brahma Vaiavasvata Purana with conch and disc.   Indradyumna also dreamed him in this form   and wanted to make a deity out of the reddish brown wood that he came across floating on the sea that started its journey on the waters near the submerged city of Dwaraka, with the help of Viswakarma.    As the legend goes Dasaratha worshiped Lord Jagannatha here and got his mantra to get children and also later Sri Rama praying for his success to build the bridge across sea and reach Lanka to kill Ravana.  Abundance of Darbha growth, Popularity of sweet pudding Prasadam and tradition of Snake slab consecration supports the Puranic background. The historic journey of wood from Dwaraka to Puri from which the deity was planned by Viswakarma as desired by Indradyumna has settled the mystery of Jagnnatha idol on the Ratnavedhi identified with Krishna Blabhadra and Subhadra worshiped today.

Ramanuja who had decided that Thirupati deity is that of Vishnu and regularized the worship there wanted also take such a decision and reform worship in Puri Jagaannath Temple but the Pundits there strongly opposed and prayed to Lord Jagannath to stop his intervention. Jagannatha though he might have prompted Ramanuja to do so did not like to upset his   faithful devotees and magically shifted Ramanuja to   Kurmakshtra  hundred yojanas away while in sleep. When his life was threatened there he was shifted by Garuda without his knowledge to Srikurma near Simhachala in Andhra Pradesh revealing to Ramanuja that he is present there in the Saligrama form and also instructed him to go with his reform. Ramanuja   when he arrived there was disappointed to see people worshiping Salagrama as Linga and Siva. So when he prayed to Lord Jagannatha that if he is present in the Linga he should turn towards him. To his surprise the Salagrama turned towards him. To-day in this temple Lord of the Universe is worshiped as Kurma-Varaha following Pancharatra Agama and the temple has two flag-posts, Dwaja-sthambhas, an unusual feature in Temple Tradition. 

Sri Ramanuja had visited a place located some 28 km south of Puri known as Brahmagiri and was   delighted to see a beautiful deity of four armed Sri Maha Vishnu, with Conch, discus, Mace and Lotus flower. King Choddaganga ruling king then, as a Vishnu devotee, remained significantly mesmerized by the teachings of   Ramanuja. It is said that Sri Ramanuja had considerable influence in Purushottma Kshetra on worships and rituals including the Rath yatra festival fashioned after Rathotsava in South Indian Temples with the support of the king, though  he could not  intervene in the  hotch-potch worship of Jagannatha then.  Rathotsava is a regular festival as a part of Brahmotsava celebration in all Vishnu Temples in the South. Rathotsava introduced in the North for the first time in Puri temple soon   became popular, unique in the North, which made Jagannatha temple   in Puri famous. The name Jagannatha in Rathayatra mistakenly pronounced as Jagger Naught (a strong military vehicle) caught the admiration of all Western   rulers who ruled India later.  Jagannatha became famous to ignorant too because of Ratha Yatra. Rathotsava is philosophically rendered in Chandogya Upanishad   mantras

It is logical to conclude that Temple Tradition started with Jagannatha worship as Nature in the form of Aswattha Tree that reappeared as Koorma Saligrama from very early times.  In Gita Bhagawan declared that among trees I am Aswattha and also said he will be pleased with the offerings of “Patram, pushpam, phalam, toyam”  a leaf, a flower, a fruit  or little water--all materials of nature.  In Puri such a worship was started by simple Tribal folks with pure hearts before civilized people came to picture to build gigantic temples and complicate worship.  The Tribal worshiped a simple icon in an enclosure whose eyes, ears and hands only mattered to them to take care of their welfare (yogakshemam vahamyam).  Moorti Upasana, iconic worship in the form of Salagrama and Linga (vyktaavyakta form) in Thiruppuillani and Rameswaram was started by Rama himself as   Puranas tell us.  Before that it was all sacrificial (yajna) form of worship, tyaga and sanyasa. Whether it is Krishna or Krishna Dwaipayana in Gita one can come across divine assurance   that: “Om ityekaksharam brahma anusmaran…… yaati paramaam gatim” --Whosoever    meditates on  single syllable AUM knowing that it represents the Supreme Brahman,   he will  certainly attain the Supreme abode. This is the principle of present day Aaraadhana (Moorti upaasana) or Hindu Temple Worship which should be focused on Parabrahman and his Sakti aspect as Saguna Brahman. Your comments to enhance the value of this discourse are welcome.

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/10/jagannatha-worship-prompted-iconic.html

(OCTOBER 2016)

68. AMAZING TEMPLES AND THRILLING REVELATIONS

AMAZING TEMPLES AND EXCITING REVELATIONS

I have been delivering my discourses on  Venkateswara of Tirupati that casts magic spell on millions and that cured Lord Monroe and Williams of incurable diseases like Cancer to which I have added my own life story.  I had also similar   personal life experience as with Balaji of Tirupati with another Anjaneya Temple in Sholangipuram near Chennai. Yet I do not pray today asking Him for any favor by joining Bhajan groups and chanting several slokas or repeating after priest mantras.  I leave it to Him as He knows what is best for me  and  what I deserve.  So I meditate on simple Gayatri “OM TAD BRAHMA TAD VAAYU TAD ATMA TAT SATYAM TAT SARVAM TAT PUROR NAMAH” That is all I need to focus as Vedic wisdom tells me.

Look at some of the ancient skill and the wonder of architectural skills and spiritual mystery   attributed to Sthapanis like Viswakarma and others that abounds in the temples I have described in the attachment. You will find six or seven temples in the  70 degrees parallel Longitude  to Greenwich Meridian the Line of Time from Rameswaram in the Indian Ocean and  down further to  Kedarnath in Himalayas and up further. Shortly we will celebrate Kartikai deepam on Decembver 12 and see the light as  Annamali Deepam in Tiruvannamallai which  falls in this 70th parallel  of   flame line or Universal Light Line partially revealed. You will see it as Makara vilaakku on Sabarimalai in January.  Malai in Tamil means Mountain. You will se  the full light as  a fire  column on Mahasivaratri Night  with no end or beginning. This is the Universal light Moses saw in the Wilderness and received Ten Commandments,   that Buddha and Rishabha saw and surrounded by it! Look at the Bermuda Triangle as attached. Convince yourself the mystery of Bermuda Triangle in Rigveda and Atharvaveda and the mystery puzzling the Western culture!

 Sphatika Linga    can record our prayers, our sincerity and falsehood in our offerings which you unknowingly express by your expression instead of meditation on One-to –one basis so that He passes  that on to Lord of Dharma and judge your merits or defaults.    Sankara, the   founder of Advaita Philosophy and later Shanmata Sthapaka, standing before Lord Viswanatha in Kasi confessed his three mistakes and finally glorified the sustenance aspect of Parabrahman Vishnu as the only God in Bhajagovindam and Aatmabodha in our daily life who is none other than Venkateshwara   is Skanada and Balaa Tripura Sundari!

You may not know Venkateswara was for long worshiped as SKANDA (who is MURUKAN for Tamils) who is Sanat Kumara who explained Brahman to Narada in Chhandogya Upanishad. This Santat Kumara was the Eternal Youth who stood Before Vishnu as Kumara, before creation started, who is hailed as Jesus, Son of God in Christianity, Jehovah (THat I AM), Al Kadiir in Islam and in many other Traditions including Native Americans.  It is thrilling  to note  certain amazing facts about this enigmatic deity to show he is Skanda and the deity is carved out of  wood. Please understand whom you are worshiping standing before  Him chanting Suprabhatam and VSN.   We have forgotten  Ramnuja along with Sanakra to celebrate their Jayantis on Akshaya Triteeya Day but rush to Temple to worship Lakshmi with the newly purchased  gold Ornament to get blessed to become more rich.  You may succeed temporarily even as I was by Venkateswara and Anjaneya by my mom's and grand-father's prayers.   I don't even attend the temple on this Gold rush day for fear of stampede! Unfortunately our temples too have decide to settle for material focus on Lakshmi on this day guided by our priests and not on Spiritual wealth. But this brings revenue needed to ruin the temples. 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/11/amazing-temples-and-thrilling_17.html

November 2016

69. SKANDA WORSHIPED EARLIER AS BALAJI IN TIRUPATI IS SANAT KUMARA IN MANY FAITHS & TRADITIONS

 In Sanskrit, "Sanat Kumara" is "Eternal Youth"; from Sanat  comes Sanatana meaning Eternal; at the cosmic plane, it is Subrahmanya (Supreme Knowledge); at the Solar plane, the Kumara is Sanaka; at the Planetary plane, it is Sanandana; and on this planet, it is Sanat Kumara.

This Sanat Kumara is Skanda says Chandogya Upanishad. Tamils call Skanda,   Murugan.   MU=Mukunda or Jagannatha; RU=Rudra and KA=Katyaayini (Durga or Parasakti). Sanat Kumara in Chandogya Upanishad refers to Skanda who got all obstructions to the realization of Brahman destroyed by the spiritual teaching even as the Commander-in-Chief of the Divine Army   (Devasenapati) destroyed the Asuras (demons).  The Upanishad concludes this anecdote with the statement that Sanat Kumara taught the esoteric secret knowledge clearly to Narada the Supreme Brahman attainable   through Upaasana. Lord Venkateswara was worshipped as Skanda long before Ramanuja decided him to be worshipped as Vishnu because   the deity had Sankha and Chakra as accessories. In Tamil Nadu at Thiruvaiyaru Siva Temple, Ambal Dharmasamvardhini has Conch in one upper hand, Chakra in another upper hand, Abhaya mudra by one lower hand, and Varada mudra by another lower hand.   At Rayan Pettai, Murukan has Conch in one upper hand, Chakra in another upper hand.  People worship  Murukan  as  both  son of Siva and and   Vishnu In these places they do not feel the need for separate Vishnu temple.

It is interesting to note that Srimad Bhagavatam says that the four Kumaras are incarnations of Vishnu.  Chandogya Upanishad says Sanatkumara is Skanda. So that would mean that Kartikeya is an incarnation of Vishnu! That would certainly put the discredited theories that the Venkateshwara statue in Tirupati  is Kartikeya in a whole new light. As you all know Venkateswara was worshiped as Murugan before Ramanuja’s intervention   who decided the deity is Vishnu as that had provision for fixing Sankha (Conch) and Chakra (Discus).

 We hear   about    Sanat Kumara, in Esoteric Traditions of the East and the West. Sanat Kumara is a manifestation of God, a spiritual being of great light. He is known as the Ancient of Days, the Eternal Youth, the Regent Lord of the World and Ruler of Shamballa. He is also one of seven holy Kumaras referenced in sacred scriptures.  Sanat Kumara is referenced in the Koran, in Rumi’s poetry and in other Islamic work as El Khadr. Speaking of El Khadr, the Prophet Mohammed says, “I have seen my Lord in the most beautiful of forms.”  Esoteric Tradition can be found in all beliefs of the World

The Planet Mars – sometimes known in Vedic Astrology as Mangala or Kuja, is son of the Earth, and is a focus of energy or Sakti of the Earth. Mars is said to be of a fiery nature, and has the Vedic fire god Agni as its ruling deity. The mythological tales of the Puranas gives the son of Lord Siva, Karthikeya (also known as Skanda, Murugan, Subramaniam) as the deity behind Planet Mars. 

Hindu Americans will be wiser to have only Venkateswara for worship in all Hindu American Temples.  This will help them in consolidating their worship focused on one deity with significant rituals and festivals concentrating on   Supreme Spirit who is none other than the Holy Spirit of Christianity, Jehova of Jews, Allah of Islam, Buddha of Buddhists, Vardhamana of Jains, etc. Thus Hindus will be back to Sanatana Dharma or Vedic religion which proclaims “Eko Viprah bahudaa vadanti-The One Pundits call by many names”.

Why then Ramanuja considered Skanda as Vishnu as he is worshiped in Tirupati today? Skand with sankha and Chakra is not unusual! Skand is hailed as Sant Kumara in Vedas who is again considered as Son of Vishnu/Brahma.It ius only Puranas built sectarian walls and made Skanda as son of Siva and Parvati. Read within for more elaborate explanation.

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/12/eternal-youth-sanatkumara-or-skanda-is.html

This discourse is recommended to be read along with my next discourse: "VENKATESWARA IS SKANDA THAT IS SANAT KUMARA WHO CASTS MYSTIC SPELL ON MILLIONS" . The deities Skanda, Venkateswara, Jaganantha and Aiyappa shows the Hindu genius has the peculiar virtue of reconciling the irreconcilables. These deities with their Puranic stories come handy for Saivas and Vaishnavas who are at loggerheads. the deities Venkateswara, Skanda and Jagannatha are ideal for Hindu Americans drawn from many traditions with their outreach to Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs while  Skanda as Sanat Kumara--The Eternal Youth and son of God  reaches further  for a fusion of all World Religions taking us back to Sanatana Dharama which proclaims "Devo ekah", "vasudaiva kutumbakam" and "sarvejanah Sukhino bhavantu"and UNIVERSAL RELIGION.

--December 3, 2016

 70. LET US CONSOLIDATE TEMPLE TRADITIONS STARTED BY ADISANKARA

Lot of confusion prevails in Hindu Temples of America among the highly educated Hindu Americans by simply copying India and following the conceptualization of our founding fathers of the temple serving the religious needs of migrant Hindus not only drawn from India, though in majority, but also from other migrant countries in one temple for all traditions which may be called Hindu Confusion-ism.  If they are rich in sufficient numbers they just walk out in protest if their specific wishes are not fulfilled and build their own sectarian temples or all together avoid going to temples. In one temple for many traditions you can find not less than a dozen deities with small sanctums or enclosures facing all directions with no provision for circumambulation except for the presiding deity.   Some temples have up to   three presiding deities one to satisfy sectarian needs Siva or Sakta sects, one for the Vaishanva sect   and one to  the choice of founding fathers.  Based on Indian Hindu  group pressures we can also find deities of Vardhamana, Buddha, Saibaba,  Jagnnatha of Puri, Nagdevata, Durga etc. It gives one an impression that one goes through   gallery of artifacts while worship is going on for the main deity on week-ends.  On specific occasions only focus is drawn to individual deities sponsored   by sectarian groups. Added attractions are modern  religious marketing Techniques of  worship of Navagrahas and Hanumanji!

Inspiration to have such a large consecration of deities in one temple comes from India where the focus is on Puraanas and the donors.   Recently Puri Sankaracharya removed the idol of Saibaba from the temple against stiff opposition. Also  recently at Thiruvaiyaru in Tamil Nadu all the Navagrahas, 63 Nayanmars, and all the deities except Shiva Lingam, Daskshinamurthy, Murugan, Ganesha and Ambaal Dharmasamvardini were completely removed from temple.  Hundreds of deities and hundreds of priests   were all thrown out of temple in the process of house-cleaning but for one priest for Shiva and one priest   for Devi.   Dharmasamvardhani a consort of  Siva here is seen with conch and discus an unusual feature in Siva complex. Similarly there is a Murugan deity with conch and discus. similarly Venkateswara processional deity is seen with three horizontal lines on a particular day in the year reminding he is Skanda or Rudra also.

Hindu Americans also need such a house-cleaning. In fact Sanakara started such a consolidation drawing the attention of people   to Shanmatas and Panchayatana Puja consolidating   directionless worship of   several  hundred deities whose number was left to anybody’s guess. In the end he recommended to only focus on sustenance aspect of Parabrahman that is Vishnu,  as  can be learned from slokas in  Bhajagovindam and Atmabodha.

Hindus hailing from India are traditionally sectarian worshipers and are happy with Kindergarten level of religious following as accustomed  rather than serious thoughts focused on spirituality. So any consolidation should be by evolution and not revolution as it happened in Puri or Tiruvaiyaru stated above.  Hindu American Temples   should confine initially to deities like Jagannatha, Venkateswara, Adinatha and Buddha to come together(bringing together other religious groups carved out of Sanatana Dharma) and later concentrate on Venkateswara as the sole deity with focus on Sanatana Dharma and Spirituality to achieve Universal Oneness that Vivekananda dreamt--“Vedanta is the religion of the Future” and as described in my discourse “Vedanta Religion- Everlasting, Universal and Unifying Spirituality”.

Hindu Americans living as minority religious group with major religions of USA will be ultimately wiser to have only Venkateswara for worship in all Hindu American Temples if they want to be in Interfaith Forum and attract all religions also to Sanatana Dharma and Spirituality promoting   Esoteric Sanat Kumara Tradition concept of Theosophical Schools.  For this Balaji will be ideal as already explained   in a detailed discourse. This will help them in consolidating their worship focused on one deity with significant rituals and festivals concentrating on Supreme Spirit who is none other than the Holy Spirit of Christianity, Jehova of Jews, Allah of Islam, Buddha of Buddhists, Vardhamana of Jains, etc. With proper propagation of Sanartkumara concept, Yoga and meditation centers and spiritual education center we will be able to attract major religious groups who are presently fed up with their own    religious worships and routine sermons   and also many who have walked out of their religion and have established their own religion of atheism who are almost 1/3 in their group. Spiritually oriented Sanatana Dharam  once served as the universal binding force and people lived  happily together with the Vedic wisdom  “vasudhaiva kutumbkam” whole world is on family. I am confident with  our own reviving of  Vedic religion  and practice we will be attracting others too out of their own will. 

Please go through the very detailed and long discourse on this subject   covering the history of Hindu religion from  Sanatana Dharma of Vedic days to modern  religious practices  of Hindu Americans and the need to focus on UNIVERSAL ONENESS.  

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/12/let-us-consolidate-our-temple.html

--December 2016

71. DARBHA THE SACRED GRASS IN HINDU RITUALS AND CEREMONIES

Use of Kusa grass in Hindu rituals began in Vedic times, more than an estimated 3,500 years ago. The grass is variously known as Kusa, Dharbha, Durva etc.  Darbha also called Kusa   popularly is considered perhaps the second most sacred herb in the Vedas after Soma.  Darbha   is said to purify the offerings during Vedic  rituals.  At the time of eclipse, people place that grass in food items that could ferment and once the eclipse ends the grass is removed. On studying the effect of various grasses on the microbial community of the curd, darbha grass alone was found to attract enormous number of bacteria into the hierarchical surface features. Researchers at SASTRA University reports that Darbha could be used as a natural food preservative in place of harmful chemical preservatives and the artificial surfaces mimicking the hierarchical Nano patterns on the surface of Darbha grass could find applications in health care where sterile conditions were required.

 Since Kusha grass has good insulation properties devotees retain the energy generated in the ceremony in communion with God sitting on Kusa mat.  It is believed that mantras chanted sitting on a Kusa mat always brings good results. Wearing of Kusa rings (pavitram) in ceremonies and rituals in addition insulate ring finger in the hand and prevent energy leak into adjacent fingers. It is believed that Surya from whom we get life energy brilliance and fame resides in the ring finger and that should not be wasted.  

Kusa grass is ground up and the essence used for Kusa oil (to be used in summer for its cooling effects) and Kusha flavored juice also drunk for its cooling effects.   In tribal medicine it has been used variously to treat dysentery and menorrhagia and as diuretic.

--April 2017

*72. CONCLUDING SLOKA-PRAYERS IN HINDU WORSHIPS

Here are my five most popular discourses posted on the blog. These focus on Veda mantras used in our daily temple and home worships. Besides I have also circulated to you discourses   explaining mantras chanted during Nitya karmas and Naimittika karmas (daily and specific duties). It is interesting to note these five discourses are most popular with readers from India and India. This shows how starved these religious followers are about the deeper meaning of the mantras they use in worships and rituals by just parrot chanting. It looks our priests and parents are just focusing on mechanically chanting these mantras just to repeat on them with no focus on spirituality.  I am thankful to Google Research for this amazing revelation and so you are:

EWR

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/02/some-vedic-mantras-used-in-hindu_20.html

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2013/08/august-2013-mantras-and-hymns-for.html

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/02/homa-mantras-from-mahaanaaraayana.html

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/02/sooktas-from-mahaanaaraayana-upanishad.html

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2013/08/shoedasa-upachaara-poojaa-vidhaanam16_7065.html

 Hindu prayers and worships end with popular slokas appealing to the Supreme for all round prosperity, Peace and Harmony whose authorship is not known. These compositions are often   based on Veda and Upanishad Mantras and are inspired by Dharma explained in Vedas. I have collected the most popular mantras and brought out a discourse titled “CONCLUDING SLOKA‑PRAYERS IN HINDU WORSHIP INSPIRED BY THE WISDOM OF VEDAS AND FOCUSSED ON DHARMA” I hope You will appreciate my hard work in this regard with some unorthodox explanation appealing to the elite audience of Hindu Americans but may not be to the liking of conservative and orthodox religious followers in India. However I would like to hear from the learned scholars a better and convincing explanation. If you have more slokas in view please pass it on to me with proper meaning and explanation for the benefit of the HR Forum. I had  had explained in detail the difference between a mantra and a sloka as well as the power of the mantra for spiritual elevation and liberation that has a Chhandas (Meter), Guru and Deity to focus on.  Slokas generally resort to sloka meter fashioned after Ramayana.

*73. CHANT HANUMAN CHALISA AND WARD OFF BHOOT/PISACH (AVESA) AND DISEASES

On Sunday 23, APRIL 2017 in Ganesha Temple in Nashville,   ardent devotees chanted Hanuman Chalisa of Sant Tulsidas 108 times praying to Lord Anjaneya in which all participated chanted mostly without understanding the meaning but for a few from the State of Rama Janmabhoomi.  Many strongly believe that such parrot chanting will lead them to the High way to Heaven and the Good Lord will also pardon all our sins like what Christians believe that Jesus sacrificed himself for the sin of all and so   those who believe in Him will not be troubled by sins which we often criticize as blind belief. I was a silent spectator and not an active participant and often my people think I am a non-believer as they have no clue as to my spiritual disposition.  I deal with   the Supreme on one-to- one   basis.  In this chanting my particular attention was drawn to the slokas that says Chanting Hanuman Chalisa or any sloka on Hanuman a sub-deity, he  will drive away all evil spirits  (BhootPisaach) from the possessed and ward off all diseases making physicians, surgeons and psychiatrists jobless.  Indeed Gita also says that the Supreme out of his kindness fulfills such minor wishes even though the ignorant resort to many devatas for fulfillment of petty wishes but such people will not come to Him as liberated souls. I believe in leaving everything to His choice for He knows what I deserve and what is best for me too (Yadbhdram tanma aasuva). Otherwise I miss the big chance only my little wish being fulfilled.

I was wondering whether we should believe in such evil possessions, behavioral acts that  being possessed of  Aavesa  or  Ghost haunted?  Is it necessary to seek faith-cure when modern psychiatric medical science is so well advanced?  May be or may be not based on my own life experience of miracles, scientific back-ground and spiritual pursuit! What is the Vedantic view on evil spirits and evil possession, ghosts etc. termed as Aavesa?  

In earlier days people solely depended on Spiritual Gurus who were all-in-all guiding human destiny and took care of their welfare including health problems.   Minor deities like Hanuman   were   also outsourced  by religious Acharyas and they were effective.  I believe it all started with the rule of the Supreme and his 33 controllers. Today with population explosion and insurmountable problems Good Lord  rightly   thought to outsource the work and gave us many selfless  men of knowledge like doctors scientists and engineers to serve the mankind    and wanted them to follow the path of dharma relieving undue  pressure on his deputies and relieving them from pressures of day-to day  petty problems. But   many forgot Dharma too but for a few..   I am bound to think so,  migrating to USA , as I find some philanthropic doctors and engineers are not money-minded but are engaged in serving the humanity and spreading the message of Sanatana dharma  by way of building temples and supporting religious institutions.  I believe they are god-sent.  Wisdom of Vedas also says do not be petty minded and ask for little favor  like what we  do today   running to Ganesha to succeed  in whatever we do as we created a mythological Vignaraja not  mentioned  in Vedas.  It may be the reason why Hanuman and others are not active today to cure our Possession and diseases   though it worked for my family.  So please take help of the infra-structure   the Good Lord has provided like doctors, engineers, scientists etc. for   your minor needs and focus on your major goal to spiritually evolve by meditating on Supreme Being!

Present discourse not only deals with this subject in detail  as to what should be Hindu American’s disposition towards such belief based worships but also includes   my exchange of views with an expert psychiatrist  on the subject and an Appendix containing the research study by a scholar on the subject of Avesa received by me some time back.  Please take some time to go through this interesting discourse. Your suggestions are welcome. 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/04/random-thoughts-on-aavesa-belief-in.html

(APRIL 2017)

Comments:

Tkp Naig Srinivasanji, how well you have put it in these pages & articles...I thoroughly enjoyed it at this lower level of prakruthi.
 

74.  HINDU TEMPLE TRADITIONS—BUILDING, CONSECRATING AND WORSHIPING

 The Hindu Temple   is a comprehensive expose’ on the evolution of a simple and sacred place of worship to a monument. Which over the centuries became pivot of Indian religiosity, culture aesthetic expression; the super-ordinate ideological focus of society and polity. Its origin traces back to Ramayana, its sanctity, and the unwavering reverence accorded to it  even today as   advised to Vibhishna before his final departure to Ayodhya after  crowning him as the King of Lanka killing Ravana at Tiruppullani near Rameswaram. His final advice was “Aaraadhaya Jagannatham”. We thus come across the word Aradahna popularly used today. Lord Jagannatha appeared as Aswattha Tree to prying sages who at their request appeared as Vishnu with his assembly of Sankha, Chakra and Mace along with Dharmasamvardhini. Jagannartha was the family deity of Ikshvakus and Dasartha was blessed with four sons blessed by Jagannatha. Devotees accord their unwavering reverence even today which is manifested in the elaborate rituals performed within its precincts and the festivals celebrated by them throughout the year.

The orthodox Hindu Temples are symbolically designed. Its very construction indicates the path of Self-realization. Hindu Temple symbolizes live human body which consists of gross, subtle and casual bodies and the inner Self which is called Aatman, representative of Universal Brahman, the Supreme Principle or Consciousness

Visiting temple is not obligatory for Hindus.  Every Hindu home usually has a shrine, no matter how small, where daily prayers are offered. Hindus generally go to their temples only during   important religious festivals but for a few who make it a daily ritual before taking food. As a result temples do not have as much hold on Hindus as Christian churches or Jewish synagogues have over their members. Temples usually have religious activities only.   Funeral services, commonly conducted in churches, are not held in Hindu temples but of late Namakarana, Upanayana and Marriage   including Shashti-abda-poorti ceremonies are conducted in Temples in Halls attached to the temples. Hindu temples often organize Kirtans (devotional singing) and religious discourses for the public.

I have in the past given flowing lectures on Temple Traditions and Worship:

1) Divine Character of Hindu Temples in Concept and Design (February 2012)

2) One Hindu Temple for Many Traditions Overseas (June 2013)

3) Hindu Traditional Practices for Worship   (February 2012)

4) Hindu Mass Worship in Temples and the Need for Spiritual Focus (January 2012)

5) Multi-traditional Hindu Temples in USA Need to Focus on Spirituality and Deities to suit All (July 2015)

6) Upaasana, Moorti Worship or Image Worship (March 2013)

7) Shoedsaha Upachaara Pooja—Sixteen-steps Worship (August 2013)

Here is my concluding discourse  on the subject which dwells on certain aspects of temple traditions and worship—Hindu Temple Traditions—Building, Consecrating and Worshiping which includes some interesting and informative appendices from  other authors.

PLEASE GO THROUGH MY FINAL AND CONCLUDING DISCOURSE ON TEMPLE TRADITIONS:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/05/hindu-temple-traditions-building.html

(MAY 2017)

75. MICROCOSMIC HUMAN BODY SPRINGS OUT OF MACROCOSMIC VIRAT PURUSHA

Upanishads say microcosmic human body has been created by Macrocosmic Virat Purusha  modelled after it.  Our body houses the Aatman (Self).  When this Aatman is realized human body with its physical,  subtle and causal bodies  attains divinity.  One who performs Sandhyavandana  touches the various parts of the body with the wet fingers chanting  12  names   of  Vishnu to energize   the sacred spots  of the Body. Upanishads describe Brahman as Purusha with fire as his head, the Sun and Moon as his eyes, the quarters as his ears, the Vedas as his speech and the earth as his feet.   One sloka says: At the top of the palm dwell Devi Lakshmi, at the middle of the hand dwell Devi Saraswati,  and at the base of the hand dwell Sri Govinda. We come across such thoughts linked to body parts in many slokas  sprung out of the wisdom of Vedas.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (3.2.1 to 3.2-9) speaks of eight Grahas and eight Atigrahas in the body in the sense of grasping deities (sense-organas) and overseeing grasping deities (sense-faculties). This inspired Puranas to come up with a new series of  grasping deities for worship called Navgrahas who are presumed to be playing with our lives and even in finding a life partner. Whether this will   affect those inter-racial marriages where horoscope exchange does not come into picture only pundits and  astrologers can tell!  Vedas only glorify  by Mantras Sun, Moon and Stars.This has also  built a myth around Eclipse, a purely astronomical phenomenon by creating a  story that Rahu and Ketu are teasing Sun and Moon quite often threatening to grasp them to devour. Hanuman is also believed to have hidden Sun for some time another unique myth in Hinduism nothing to do with Upanishadic thoughts. Of course this has helped to create innumerable number of priests and astrologers exploiting millions of Hindus while the industry flourishes as well as the need for Navgraha altars in Hindu Temples established, a rich source of income to Temples. We realize the importance of the Sun, the Moon, and representation of points where the Moon's orbit crosses the plane of the Earth-Sun orbit.  This is popularly believed to be representations of solar and lunar eclipse. So the astrologers deified these nodal points as Rahu and  Ketu and made us believe strongly about their evil influence on human life which is not scientifically supported either in India  or elsewhere or by other religions of the world. You will hear more about it in August when we will have exciting full  Solar Eclipse.

The analogy of man’s constitution with the temple architecture is a favorite theme of many canonical texts as Sri-prasna, Vishnu Tantra, Silpa Ratna Vaatulaagama and Aparajita Silpa. The texts insist that the devotee must approach   the temple as if it were the body of the Divine. It is interesting to note that the architectural  terms used in all the texts are the names of the human body, for example Sikhara, Garbha etc,

We all know that our body is constituted with five elements as we are born,  by the  will of  the Supreme   and therefore we say the human is Microcosm coming from the Macrocosm. It is therefore no wonder we pay our tribute to five element as we enter and leave the temple in our worship with or without understanding!

Please go through the detailed text on the subject as attached:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/05/microcosmic-human-body-springs-out-of.html

 --May 13, 2017

 76. EIGHTEEN FACETS OF MEDITATION—SWAMI CHIDANANDA

Arani series  Sparks 34  and 35 from  Fowai Forum recommends from  Bhagwad Gita and Upsnishads 18 facets on  the spiritual subject of Meditation  on which I had given my discourse that was also published by  the spiritual Magazine Mother  from Rishikesh. What puzzled me most was the magic number 18 of slokas from Bhagavad Gita and mantras from Upanishads   chosen to explain   many facets of Meditation. I believe the magical number eighteen   chosen by Guruji induces us to inward focus, concentration and meditation. You may kindly recall my interesting article titled: “Words identified with Numbers in Hindu Scriptures”. Perhaps Dhyaana (meditation) should be identified with Number 18!  Figure 18 has two digits 1 and 8 influenced by the invisible digit 0 or Soonya. Here 0 represents Nirguna Brahman (Supreme Spirit) who controls the Universe He created silently and without being noticed, 1 and 8 represent Saguna Brahman (Supreme spirit) who controls this world with his eight directional spirits.    I have attempted to elaborate these 16 slokas from Bhagavad Gita and two Mantras and Upanishads to be studied along with my detailed lecture on Meditation. Discover the significance and importance of the sacred number 18 in Hinduism.

Meditation is the silence, energizing and fulfilling. Silence is the eloquent expression of the inexpressible. The key word here is energizing. That quiet place inside us is a source of tremendous strength. There are deeper levels of silence—outer silence, the inner silence and the inmost silence. This silence is not just the absence of sound. It is   not even the absence of thought. It is the blossoming of our indomitable inner will. It is the dynamic quality which characterizes true meditation”-- Chinmayananda

Please go through my detailed discourse on the subject:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/11/meditation-is-to-go-beyond-thinking_22.html

--July 2017

77. A CRITICAL REVIEW OF ECLIPSES AND THE GREAT SOLAR ECLIPSE OF 2017

Rahu and Ketu have been considered as Grahas in Hindu   Astrology. They have no physical identity but only mathematically calculated sensitive points believed to be having immense influence on the natives of earth.

Moon in its orbit, on a northerly course from South to North, crosses the ecliptic (the apparent path of Sun). This point of intersection is known as Rahu or Dragons head. 180 degrees away from this point, Moon on its southerly course crosses the ecliptic. This point is called the dragon's tail or Ketu.

Rahu and Ketu are unique to Modern Hindu Astrology.   Why so much stress on the point of intersection of the ecliptic is given?  It is based on the thought, while Sun is the body and Moon is the mind   often projected in   Hindu scriptures as having immense effect on human lives, the intersection is also bound to give immense effect. Hindus believe that even  the powerful star Sun is a planet  also the satellite of the Earth, Moon  is also a planet  and occasionally Rahu swallows these  planets and holds them for a while but both Sun and Moon escape through the open  end of his cut-off head  to function normally. Puranas contain many such mythological stories.

Here is also an interesting Puranic story besides Rahu story of devouring Sun that says: “Thirty million is the number of the malignant spirits, called Mandehas, who manifest a desire of devouring the Sun at day break. He, who does not attend to his Sandhya rite at the meetings of the day and night (who does not perform   Arghya pradhana ritual), verily kills the Sun, inasmuch as the libations of consecrated water (offered unto the sun-god in the course of a Sandhya) tend to consume these monsters (Mandehas) like streams of liquid fire." Even Hanuman hid the Sun in his armpit for a while and brought life on earth to stand-still.

These two nodal points are not stationary in space but have a mean motion of about 19 degrees and 30 minutes in a year. It means it takes about 18 years and 6 months to make a revolution around the Earth. This motion is retrograde. There is a concept of Mean Rahu and True Rahu. In Hindu astrology people talk about the True Rahu.

However, in spite of having number of  Puranas  extensively dealing with various signs of exaltation and debilitation of Rahu and Ketu as approved by Vedavyasa (he is supposed to have edited major Puranas)  there exists significant amount of controversy over the same and modern science conflicts.  They question the very basis of Sun as moving body and also the utter negligence of astrologers having not corrected   the changes that have taken place over centuries to the relative movements of planets. Only Hindus in India misled by astrologers celebrate Winter Solstice 21 or 22 days later on January 14 while astronomically it is on December 22 currently.

On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will sweep across the U.S.A.  This suddenly sunless heaven when the moon fully eclipses the Sun that everyone in my city Nashville, would like to watch is a scene that hasn’t appeared over Middle Tennessee since 1478.  According to astronomers earthlings will be able to spot a few particularly bright planets and stars, and several solar features, too.   Outreach astronomers at the Vanderbilt Dyer observatory, say that eclipse observers will be able to see four planets during totality, the two minute phase, when the moon completely blocks the sun’s light. The cloudless sky will show planets Jupiter, Mars, Mercury and Venus.  Venus (please refer to my discourse on Sanatkumara descending from Venus revealed in the Book of Revelations of the Holy Bible) will appear the brightest. Jupiter, the largest planet orbiting the Sun, will take the second place for luminosity intensity during totality. Observers may have a tough time spotting the Solar system’s fastest and tiniest planet mercury orbiting so closely to the Sun. Stars we see at night are always the stars that are on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun. In the summer we see certain set of stars and winter different set of stars. This will be the first time we see the Star Sirius in the summer. I hope this will help you to research eclipse ahead of time and bring knowledge, instead of equipment to the scene. You can then have a general idea of where to expect to see the planets and stars once totality begins.

The discourse deals at length on scientific and religious viewpoints on Eclipses and the religious beliefs and Hindu religious mandates to observe eclipse as a ritual. Hindu religious Pundits and astrologers say that this   solar eclipse is not seen in India and hence it is not a Grahana (eclipse) for any religious observance.  Hindu Americans blindly follow Indian Panchangas and therefore will not observe this Grahana as a religious event in USA. In fact if they are religious they should observe this day with fasts, prayers,    purification bath and Tarpana (water oblation)   as ordained by Mathadipatis, religious heads. Hindu American temples are often misguided by Hindu Panchangas specifically meant for India which they have no will to correct the situation and hence many religious observances lose their efficacy though they may not harm, but completes the formality. Hinduism is not confined to India today but a world religion and Hindus follow  Hindu Dharma

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/07/a-critical-review-of-eclipses-anmd.html

 --JULY  2017

Comments Received

The last 3 pages were given by me earlier to you.  There are also a few minor errors in other pages.   Most of your articles are very high level which could be submitted for Ph. D theses or MS theses.  God bless you for your excellent service.

--Prof. G. Nagarajan, Nashville

78. HR E-MAILS OF SECOND QUARTER 2017 SENT TO PARTICIPANTS

 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 registration on the Blog are  gaining momentum though many of you have not cared  to register.  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:

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)

 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/03/classified-discourses-posted-on-blog

--AUGUST 2017

79. KNOW THE PRESIDING DEITY OF YOUR BIRTHSTAR AND THE RIGHT DEITY TO  WORSHIP

Know the presiding deity of your Janma Nakshtra (Birth Star) in Vedic Astrology and know how temperamentally you are born and develop your in-born qualities or try to improve upon it. Don’t go by your Horoscope, astrological predictions if the presiding deity is different and what it predicts about your Janma Nakshatra.

Many of you may be under the impression that I am against astrology and Navagraha Puja which is too close to your heart.  Jyotisha Sastra is one of the Vedangas and is a well-developed science based on astronomy as well as the Panchangas.  But today it remains distorted and confused due to our own utter negligence due to no time correction being made, new imaginary  deities brought in out of fear and anxiety (like Seetal Devi for Small pox and demonic  Rahu and Ketu).    We   fail to perform rituals and Samskaras as per the scriptural injunctions of   Bhagavad Gita which is a compendium of Upanishads that says “tasmaat saastram prmaanam te”--in case of doubt go by the injunctions of sastras.

Know the truth, convince yourself and act and do not be misguided by priests and astrologers who are also unfortunately misguided. Kuja, Budha, Sukra, Sani, Rahu and Ketu  located in Navagraha altars are not the ruling deities of any Janma    Nakshatra,. Worshiping them may not cause any harm but will not bring in any desired results as predicted by your astrologers in the horoscope.  On the other hand Vedic Astrology includes the Navgraha deities of Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon) and Brihaspati (Jupiter). It also includes the most celebrated and worshiped planets as Vedic deities-- Indra (Neptune),  Varuna (Uranus), Prajapati (Pluto) and Aditi (Earth ) Planets. 7 days Week-concept in Hindu astrology is based on Hellenistic Astrology,later introduced   in their anxiety to adopt Roman Week-concept  while still retaining Paksha (ardha-masa)  concept hailed in Vedas.  Christianity favored Greek Gods to Hindu Gods calling it pagan including Saturn and Venus mentioned in the Holy Bible as good and bad planets for naming seven days in a week. Now this Christian calendar has become Gregorian Calendar for the whole World.   Vedic  astrology had only Paksha and Tithi Concept originally as you learn from Vedas. Our Sraddhas (obeisance to ancestors) are Tithi based.  I do not know why our astrology  did not  name the 7days in a week  after Sun, Moon, Jupiter, Pluto, Uranus, Neptune and Earth that are the presiding  deities of Janma Nakshtras  and worship them as Sapta Grahas Instead of Navagrahas as is in vogue today because Indra, Varuna, Prajapati and Aditi are glorified in Vedas! This would have been accepted by all Hindu traditions including Vaishnavites who do not worship Navagrahas today but attach importance to horoscopes! Hiindu Americans can think of  such Saptagraha Altars without following sectarian Indian Hindus  whose worship will not be  against Agamas and will be accepted by all and convince better those who believe in Janma Nakshatra, Sankalpa for paying obeisance to the presiding deity of their birth-star.  seven is the most sacred  number in Hinduism. 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 || Brahman is addressed  as Sapta Hastaaso, one having seven hands .

Please go through the detailed text below for details as   posted on the Blog which contains surprising revelations!

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/08/know-deity-of-your-birthstar-in-vedic.htmlC

Comments:

Congratulations, Srinivasan on bringing out the brilliant article on a topic of great interest. I look forward to more such informative notes from you. Wish you all the best. I have been fortunate in being on the mailing list of my dear friend Srinivasan. It is very difficult to imagine how a person can manage to have such a thorough understanding of so many diverse subjects and at the same time be able to present the view points in a convincing manner.  The present article on Star Power is very comprehensive and informative. I sincerely admire the writing power of Srinivasan and always look forward to receiving his mails.

--BRG Iyengar from Bangalore

80. VEDIC ASTROLOGY GUIDES OUR HOROSCOPES & ASTROLOGERS OUR HORROR-SCOPES

Vedic Astrology called Jyotiṣha is one of the Vedāṅga, the six auxiliary disciplines used to support Vedic rituals. Early Jyotiṣha  Sastra was concerned with the preparation of a calendar to fix the date of sacrificial rituals.   Sun, Moon, Mother Earth and Brihaspati were   venerated and worshiped as Vedic deities, not from astronomical considerations.   Nothing was written on planets in early Vedic period.

Navagraha worship is inspired by   the worship of Vedic deities Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon)  and Brihaspati (Jupiter), later including some planets  Mars,  Mercury, Venus, Saturn and the nodal points of Moon Rahu and Ketu.  People of all faiths always believed in the influence of the planets on human life with the first-hand experience of Life on Earth. Logically speaking, the creation of planets precedes that of human beings. Hence, some sort of cause and effect relationship must subsist between the two. This seems to be the basis for Navagraha belief. It all started by Purans drawing inspiration from Adiytya Hridaya prayer by Rama before his final battle with Ravana. Religious pundits  have wrongly projected this  as Navgraha worship by creating a temple near sea shore of Rameswaram and attribute it to Rama. Rama only worshiped Adi Jagannatha in  Tiruppullani near Ramesvaram, family deity of Ikshvakus hailed in Ramayana.

Vedic Astrology   mentions only of Surya, Chandra, Brihaspati (Jupiter) deities as presiding deities of certain Janma Nakshtras in the 27 Nakshatras in amonth related to  child-birth and horoscope  that are also deities  in Navagraha Altars. Vedic astrology also includes Planet Earth as the ruling   deity of the auspicious birth-star Punarvasu Nakshatra that is not included among Navagrahas and not  referred at all in horoscopes.  Only Vedic planet Jupiter is included in Navagrahas. Surya is a star. Moon is the satellite of the Earth. Rahu and Ketu are only nodal points of Moon. These  two are not  Vedic astrology deities and are  mythological deities   created by Puranas and exploited by astrologers and priests. The presiding deity for Mula Nakshatra is Ketu in Modern Commercial Astrology. This Nakshatra as Janma Nakshatra is dreaded most by ignorant parents of a girl who are advised to conduct elaborate Shanti.  They also find great difficulty in horoscope-exchange arranged marriages. In Vedic astrology Mula is ruled by Nirriti, or Kali the Goddess of destruction. It has the power to ruin or destroy. Its basis above is breaking things apart (barhana shakti). Its basis below is crushing things. Through these three one gains the power to destroy destruction. In Vedic astrology  Mula Nakshatra  is glorified as a powerful star.   You can thus see how   modern astrologers and religious priests are exploiting us moving away from Vedic astrology. Please go through the   detailed study on  the subject which includes the opinion of modern Vedic scholars and Gurus Jaggi Vasudev and Vamadeva Sastri.   I have also talked about Makara Sankrati being worshiped as Uttaraayana Punyakala decided by astrologers while astronomically it is on December 22.  So also Dakshinayana.  We    worship these  two very auspicious  days on wrong days violating saastras  thanks to religious pundits and misguiding astrologers. We run to Navagraha altars to appease \ a demon split into two parts by Vishnu now occupying coveted position with starsa and planets.

“Nowadays, for anything that people want to do, they want to look at the planets and stars. If you want to step out of your house, the planets should align themselves properly. People are looking at the right time, the wrong time, rahukalam, gulikakalam and whatever else. If they want to get married, they go and ask  astrologer  “Can I live happily with my wife?” Whoever it is that you marry, why can’t you live well with her or him? Or if they show some new kind of madness that you did not expect, why don’t you leave them (divorce)? You have the option open in USA” says Jagadguru Jagggi Vasudev of ISHA Foundation. Why bother when most of the  Hindu American kids born in USA do not have a horoscope nor their parents believe in horoscope verification of boy and girl before wedding or the children give chance for such an exchange. They go to Navagraha altars with blind faith guided by religious pundits and fraudulent astrologers. Vedic astrology never raised this split piece demon to divine status. Rama did not consult his horoscope nor tied a Mangalyam but chose an auspicious day for his marriage—Phalgun Uttar.

Please go through my detailed discourse posted on the Blog Hindu Reflections

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/08/vedic-astrology-guides-our.html

--AUGUST 2017

81. 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.

 http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-one-god-vedic-deities-and-grahas.html

82. HINDU SCRIPTURES DEIFY VITAL FEELINGS, OBSTACLES, MISFORTUNES & DISAEASES

Please recall my recent long E-mail “Why deify anger and pay obeisance” motivated by Arani Series lecture on the subject by Swami Chidananda. We often come across many deities in Hinduism focused on Shadripus, six enemies and Navarasas,   nine human emotions vividly portrayed in sculpting and our Fine Arts based on Vedas and Puranas.  So I went deep into the subject further to come out with an exclusive and detailed discourse including many such emotions and negative as well as positive  forces and feelings dealt  often as pairs of opposites  in our scriptures.

I have fully taken the support from our Scriptures and writings from   learned people including from the major Culture in USA who focus on Love as the Universal BFinding Feeling which Hinduism treats as pairs of opposites like Kama--lust, desire and Human goal (Purushartha).  I present to you this unique spiritual discourse on the subject.  I was also influenced by a booklet about to be published by Dr. Kalai Mugilan, The Urban Monk--A Human Perspective: The nine Vital Feelings of Monk-like People in Society. Our Rishis (Monkls) have been always focused on noticing, paying attention and elaborating on these feelings from time immemorial as you will see from my discourse. Dr. Mugilan   deals with Forgiveness, Gratitude, Hope, Beauty, Brilliance, Belonging, Respect and Death. My concluding lecture will focus on Death our continued journey in life which in many religions is treated as end of life’s journey. The beauty of Love lies in treating it with respect to enhance its value as Universal Binding Vital Feeling. Treating Love with Respect is deep rooted in Veda Mantras Matru devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava, Acharya devo bhava and Atithi devo bhava. Love treated with respect is initiated in Nasadeeya Sukta and vividly portrayed in Kamasastra by Vatsyaayana. In Hinduism wife is described as Sahadharma-charinee, one who equally follows Dharma with her love-life partner raising kids with Dharma and sharing equally serving society with Dharma.

Since the created world is a mixture of opposites and things happen in cyclic   order   both fortune and misfortune, obstacles and success, happiness and misery etc.,  are the two sides of the same coin. Being part and parcel of this creation and hence our life, misfortune is no less divinely ordained than fortune. It is perhaps to teach this great fact of life that even misfortune is deified, like Vighnas, obstacles.   Puranas have focused maximum on obstacles that come   in our ways of material as well as spiritual progress and present us a very popular deity Vighnaraja with a number of mythological stories built around the deity to convince us or confuse us. Siva created him to us as Ekadam Tam instead of Anekadam to focus on Supreme as Devo Ekah.  But we have moved away from that wisdom and glorify him as Ekadnatam one with broken tusk and worship him!

The discourse includes an appendix on Lord of Obstacles by Iskcon Desire Tree who have moved away From Bhagavad Gita and elaborately drawn support from myths and mysteries of Purana to show how such a upa-devata could be meditated upon  as Parabrahman thus differing from Swami Prabhupada; “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” says Swami Prabhupada.  Again why   we  have to glorify the most popular deity Ganesha as   Uchchishtha—refuse ? Gita clearly says: The worshipers of the gods (devatas)    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. Our worship depends on what our goals are  and also based on our maturity!

We can also find how Western thoughts arising from strict regimental religion have started realizing the wisdom of Vedas in dealing with a subject like love treated as Isvara-prema, Love of God and celebrates it as Special Religious Event--Valentine’s Day?

No doubt Vedas  have focused on negative contributors and opposing powers that influence our  lives which hinder the progress of meritorious deeds,  deifying them  and prescribing  mantras for sacrifice and also  paying  obeisance but at the same do not   consider them ideal as Vyahritis (substitutes) for mediation as Brahman.  

Puranas have brought in Kshetrapala, Ganesha, Jaya-Vijaya as the chief guardians of the temple or gate-keepers and vividly display in temples.  While Ganesha has been glorified and even made a presiding deity, Jaya Vijayas have been subjected   to repeated births of demons to be killed at the hands of various Avatars. Fear of death due to Small-pox and Poison has brought in deities with specific assignment, worshiped as Sital Devi and Manasa Devi. We have a mid-wife deity Sasti too, to take care of child-birth. Practically every village has a goddess as patron deity representing the terrible aspect of Parvati. You now understand why I say Hindu Americans should not go by the Hindu Indian way but focus on Hindu Dharma and Universal Oneness!

Vedas mandate all our worships should be directesd to Brahman alone that should end with the following Mantra: OM tad Brahma, tad  Vaayu tad Aatma tat Sathyam tat Sarvam tat Puror namah||

This discourse with lot of references from our scriptures and  thoughts from Swami Prabhupad, Dr. Kalai Mugilan, a spiritual thinker and  John Smallman, a spiritual Blogger, is unique like of which will be hard to find at one source. Your comments to enhance its value will be appreciated. Please go through the detailed discourse.

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/09/hindu-scriptures-deify-vital-feelings.html

 83. NIRRITI, PRESIDING DEITY OF MOOLAA NAKSHATRA IN VEDIC ASTROLOGY

This discourse on Nirrti   brings home to us the fact that we are misguided in our horoscope readings and future predictions by modern astrologers  moving away from Vedic astrology which is based   on astronomy at that period. I have also earlier discussed  how misguided by astrologers and Hindu Panchangams we celebrate both Uttaryana Punyakala and Dakshinayan Puinyakala that are Winter and Summer solstice days in Northern Hemisphere whose dates are fixed exactly in Gregorian calendar based on astronomical studies.This is due to our negligence to correct panchangams over centuries moving away from Vedic Jyotisham. Similarly we have seen how confused and diversified we are in celebrating birth days of Hanuman and Lord Krishna. Why this confusion should prevail among Hindu Americans who have world renowned  expert Astra physicists among them? The present discourse is based on specific case study of  Janma Nakshatra of Mula which is believed to be pretty bad and also make us believe that its harmful effects can be overcome by propitiating a false planet Ketu which is the body of a demon  glorified in Puranas that has been consecrated in a Navagraha Altar along with its head portion Rahu which are against Silpasastra. Why the head and cut off bodyof Rahu and Ketu  as such are depicted in Navagraha altars that have been embodied and worshiped and also later mutilated version with ekadanta  Vigraha as Ganesha and not the original Gajanana with two tusks as presented by Lord Shiva?Also the horrible form of Kali with blood dripping tongue and cut off head of a demon. Many gods killed  demons but they are not depicted in Murti upasana or idol worship?

\Nirriti is said to be the chief of the demons in Puranas. Ramayana often refers to Nairritis as ogres. He may be riding on a donkey, lion or a man and surrounded by the demons and seven Apsaras. The intermediate direction of South-west is ruled by Nirrti. While Puranas describe   Nirrti as male demon Vedic astrology describes Nirrti as female deity.  Modern astrologers identify Nirriti as Ketu Graha which is not a planet that is also not at all mentioned in Vedic astrology.  Horoscope studies on birth star and predictions of the future are based on studying the life of great people born on a specific Janma Nakshatra.  While Vedic astrology predicts   greatness of Hanuman born on Mula Nakshatra, modern astrologers have falsely identified Ketu the demon as the presiding deity and also project horror and misfortune for those born on Mula Nakshatra  based on the life study of Ravana who was under curse from four sages. This suits well their profession for good exploitation of people born on Mula Nakshtra by suggesting various expensive Shantis (appeasements) and Navagraha Homas. David Frawley a renowned Vedic astrology scholar identifies Nirrti with Kali worshiped popularly by Ramakrishna as Mother and by Bengalis predominantly. 

It is unfortunate that a cut off and accidentally  immortalized  body and head of a demon  alive due to the magic power of Amrita has entered   the altar of Navagrahas  leaving  out most worshiped planets Earth, Pluto, Uranus and Neptune,  but including lifeless Mars and Venus as well as  dreaded Saturn condemned in the Holy Bible. I refer Holy Bible because naming of our seven days are based on Greek and Roman Gods which the Western world has adopted that Hindus copied moving away from Tithi concept. Saturn is presented as an evil spirit  trying to tempt Jesus Christ. You now understand why we are wrong in worshiping Rahu or Ketu, the decapitated demon and also believe in its influence on our lives! No mutilated Vigraha is fit for worship. That includes glorified Ekadanta who was installed by Siva as Gajavadana with two tusks but later made Ekadanta with a broken tusk due to sudden anger by mythological stories.Gajanana is worshiped as  Viwshvaksena by Vaishnavites who also don't believe  in Navagraha altar  that includes Rahu and Ketu! Please go through the detailed discourse: http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/09/nirrti-presiding-deity-of-mula.html

RASICHAKRA OF ZODIAC—IS THAT VEDIC ORIGIN OR BABYLONIAN? JUDGE YOURSELF

Skanda Purana says that when Brahman made this whole creation and its living beings he also created a circle dividing the entire sky. This Chakra is called Rasichakra which has twelve Rasis or zodiac signs of 27 constellations. The whole universe pulsates by the influence of these planets, stars and constellations which is also the cause of any creation, birth, sustenance and death. 

The Cosmic concept of Kaalachakra in influencing time measurement should not be forgotten. Two straight lines of same length intersecting   vertically at their mid points produce four right angles which add up to 360 degrees. Their ends when joined in the form of an arc produce the circle circumscribing their end points. The circle has therefore 360 degrees. When this is divided internally into twelve equal segments each segment has an angular movement of 30 degrees. These twelve segments are the 12 Zodiac signs in astrology. Further, each degree can be divided into 60 minutes and each minute to 60 seconds. One minute of the arc in Sanskrit is also known as "Asu". Modern clocks are designed on this model to give a circular moment of the hands through 360 degrees in 12 hours. In Savana Maanam Hindu Calendar one year has 360 days. One month has 30 days and one Paksha 15 days. 360/12 gives 30 (there are 30 Muhurthas in a day). 30 (Muhurthas) x12 (Zodiac signs) =360 (days in year)

Brahmachkra is described as also Kalachkra in Svetasvataropanishad that speaks of chakra symbolizing “Kaala-atmaka-aniyadhi-tishthaty-ekah”--He alone presides over all those causes comprising of Kaala and Aatman. We are concerned with Kala here. The entire Universe of rhythm and order of cyclic nature is maintained in its strict nature because of Him (Eko-deva) only. Ara iva rathanabhu— As spokes in a wheel (Pr.Up.) Time controls everything.

Time in all denomination is  controlled by one bond of cosmic force that is Kaala Purusha. “Sarve nimeshaa jagnire vidyutah purushaadadhi |kalaa muhurtaah kaashthascha aho-raatraascha  sarvasah| ardhamaasaa maasaa ritavah samvatsarascha kalpantaam |  sa aapah pradudhe ubhe ime antarikshmatho suvah || (MNU)—All Nimesha, Kalaasa, Muhurtaas, kaashthasa, days, half months (pakshas), and seasons were born from the Self-luminous Person. He milked water   and also these two, the firmament and the Heaven. The time measurement started with the winking of the eye (nimesha) all the way up to life span of Brahman that is Kalachakra which is spinning pralayas after pralaya.   

Western Historians who have largely contributed to the Aryan Dravidian Conflict theory have also meddled with Vedic Jyotisha and said  that India received the knowledge of the zodiac  as well as the concept of 7-days week named after Sun, Moon  and  the five planets from Babylonia or even later from Greece. It may be true as to the seven days since the MNU Mantra above speaks of Ardhamasa and not Saptah.  Our astrologers focused more on Navagraha concept introducing demonic planets Rahu and Ketu   as the harbingers of our destiny than focusing on Vaara (week)  concept. Only they got confused as to 48 or 52 weeks in a year and had several Panchangas.   48 seems to be divine number starting with 12 and linking to 360 days in a year and Cosmic age Kalpa (4320000000 human years).  However, as old as the Rig Veda, the oldest Vedic text, there are clear references to a chakra or wheel of 360 spokes placed in the sky. The number 360 and its related numbers like 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 108, 432 and 720 occur commonly in Vedic symbolism. It is in the hymns of the great Rishi Dirghatamas (RV I.140 – 164) that we have the clearest such references. Please go through the detailed explanation of Dirghatams   by Vedantin and a Padmabhushan awardee David Frawley, added as an Appendix to be convinced  and to realize how falsified and misguided we are about  Indian History.

  --September, 2017

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY—THIRD QUARTER 2017

Hindu Reflections is devoted to spread the messages on Hindu Dharma, Hindu Ancient Culture, Hindu Gods and Goddesses, Hindu Festivals and Rituals, Hindu Sacraments (Samskaras), Introduction to Vedic Knowledge and Wisdom based on Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita, Hinduism’s Influence on other Religions and Faiths and its Teachings aimed at Outreach and Universal Oneness to promote Peace, Prosperity and Happiness and Interfaith Dialogues all available at one source. Its mission seems to be almost complete with few more postings. Please visit Hindu Reflections <nrsrini.blogspot.com> and download the “Classified list of Discourses” published in March 2015 for your guidance and use.   They are posted under 14 headings from A-N.

 In addition Hindu reflections extends additional E-mail service to you on specific topic of the day within its scope often inspired by your comments and messages received from spiritual and religious Gurus and Pundits. This service on quarterly basis will continue as long as I am able to do. Such E-mails for the third quarter of 2017 are   now posted on the Blog which are not related to the discourses posted on the Blog, nevertheless make an interesting and leisurely reading on wide variety of topics. If you have missed any of my E-mails during that quarter you will find the same in it. Your suggestions and comments are always welcome and suggestions for any new discourse you feel that calls  for a research or you have any information on the same! 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/10/thought-for-day-august-september.html

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/10/thought-for-day-third-quarter-2017.html

--October, 2017

86. UNDERSTANDING HINDU SCRIPTURES AND RELIGIOUS WORSHIP TO SPUIRITUALLY PROGRSS

 The knowledge  gained by reading Gita, reading Upanishads   and practicing religion in the form of Shodasa upachara puja and other rituals  loaded with Veda Mantras and chanting of Ashtotrtaras/Sahasranamas  in praise of deity focused upon in worship would help us in crystallizing our ideas to turn spiritual and progress.

”Bhagavan says in the Bhagavad Gita: “yanti deva-vratan devaan”--Those who worship the devatas attain to the abode of their object of worship.  This worship is not the common worship we see in temples, where a person simply tells, “Give me this, give me that.” Deva-vrata must be with full surrender to the particular devata. If one surrenders unto Lord Shiva or Ganesha, one will attain to the abode of Kailasha in the next life. In that abode the enjoyment and opulence are thousands of times greater than on this earthly plane. But from there one will again return to this earthly planet by the destructive influence of eternal time. Thus one would have simply succeeded in wasting his valuable time, while neglecting the actual goal of human life – self-realization” saya Srila Prabhupada of ISKCON. Then why to waste our time worshiping various devatas instead  n meditating on Supreme Being, Parabrahman. In this process we need the help from Temple also to guide us properly.

Hindu American Temples are planned and built by high intellectual philanthropists. They can very well plan temples installing  a meaningful deity like Venkatesvara to suit all traditions and also please  those  grown with orthodoxy at the same time,  with adequate focus on Teaching of Vedas, Yoga and Meditation for us to follow the path of Spirituality.Why do we need a deity to focus on Supreme Being who has no form? But having grown with Puranic worship of deities over  several centuries moving away from sacrificial worship(Tapas),  we need  something solid to focus on. Then why not focus on one that has universal appeal to all faiths and attracts maximum number of people in the world any day any time? "Temples are not meant for seeking God or offering prayers but for divine  battery charging" says Sadguru Vasudev. 

Even in India where Hindus are conservative and orthodox   and mostly at kindergarten level in religious maturity, lot of changes are taking place to consolidate temple worship and focus on few meaningful devatas as an initial step to focus on spirituality and restore the glory of past Sanatana Dharma.   Recently the Temple Board of Tiruvaiyaru, a sacred religious center, decided to remove all altars of Navagrahas and 63 Nayanmars from Siva temple premises and in Puri   Saibaba altar from a Vishnu temple earlier consecrated and worshiped according to Aagama Sastras. In USA around 40% of the  population say they are Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR). They are looking up to   American Hindus and Buddhists to guide them spiritually as veterans in the field. Alive to the situation and with a vision on the future, Spiritual organizations like ISHA  have planned to  drastically  reform modality of Hindu religious worship to Hindu spiritual oriented worship to  attract all people of different faiths to spirituality in  temples located in their monasteries or Ashrams focused on ONE spiritually significant  deity.  Marrieds couples in which one is a Hindu and other is from Abrahamic religions are also attracted to SBNR. Future looks bleak for Hindu culture and   Dharma   to survive in USA as the inter-religious group marriages are rapidly increasing. It will have the same fate as European Culture in USA in course of time and they too will identify as SBNR. Hindu Temple  Traditions should therefore think of gradual evolution to change from ritualistic sectarian  Puranic deities worships to universally appealing spiritually focused  Vedic worship of One symbolic and meaningful deity without a revolution and within the framework of Aaagamsastra and Sanatana Dharma following the Vedic wisdom of  Vasudhaiva  kutumbakam, Eko viprah bahuda vadanti, Eko devah, sanghacchadvam sam vadadvam, sarvejanah sukhino bhavantu etc. The ball is in our court and the fate in the hands of  Board members of Hindu Temples in USA who are wrongly guided by sectarian  and conservative Hindu India who have moved away from Vedic wisdom and Dharma for long. Your suggestions are welcome,

Comments Received:

Thanks for your effort in preparing theoretical framework for transforming/revolutionalizing worship/religious practice for the most evolved Hindus of the world who has the means and the background to lead the world of the future.

I am caught up with the dilemma of preserving the ancient traditions and practices, and providing spiritual guidance to our children.

I do believe we need to learn a lot from people like Prabhupada, SriSri, Jaggi Wasudev, Chinmaya mission leaders who have found areas of our religious practice and customized it to appeal to educated Hindus.

I want to collect the modifications, analyze them and find the practices that are of universal value that promote personal growth and spiritual growth.

If you can do this research and present it to a forum for spiritual advancement in Nashville, I will try to have one.

Reply by NRS

Thanks for the confidence you have in me. I will try. But the task is not easy. Even these progressive Vedanta institutions do not openly talk on the subject though feel the need due to the conservative  and sectarian religious Hindu mind developed over centuries moving from Vedic wisdom. Also such religious lobbies are very powerful. This requires more than you and me but nevertheless we can be instrumental and help in the process of Uttishtata if not Jagrata and Charaiveti! We should motivate organizations like HMEC and VPH to discuss the problem and do what is good for us as a highly educated but not motivated group. We are Fine Arts motivated but not spiritual. In this we have to look at what JAINA has done as a very small group.   They have tackled the problem at grass roots of children in educating them with highly professionals in Jain Dharma and not religion unlike our Baal Vihaaras focused on Purans and Phalasruti strotras and dramatics.  I have sent you their programs in the past. We love fun and food. Best thing would be to organize a seminar with all these monastery representatives in Nashville under the auspices of HMEC as they often do in other cities. They are alive to the problem. But often they talk about Interfaith and Outreach or squabbles among a Asiatic  Religions sprung out of Sanatana Dharma. It is necessary for Hindus to set the house in order before advising others. For this they have to consolidate, Unify in their worship with all participation—Sanghacchadvam Samvadadvam”

I have not been theoretical but practical in my views drawing wisdom from these Gurus. I have talked about false Navagraha worship and elevated souls’ worship like Saibaba Murtis distracting from main focus based on scriptural support and the thoughts from David Frawley and Jaggi Vasudev  and the reform that has taken place even in Conservative India. Just because India is fighting for Go-Samrakshan motivated by Sankaracharay we cannot start agitation here. We should move forward cautiously within the framework of Aagama sastras as happened in Tiruppullani and Puri.  This is not a revolution but evolution but such messages should come from the mouth of Sankha and not ordinary glass of you and I, for us to act.

Worships focused on universally appealing deity like Venkatevara that attracts the largest crowd in the world in any day worshiped according to Aagamas is  not moving away from the tradition and a revolution. We have come out of caste system and encourage Inter-faith marriages that we cannot avoid that will hit at the very base of Hindu Dharma if not well planned to promote the same based on wisdom of Vedas. Otherwise we are only postponing the problem to be solved. Jaggi Vasudev says temples are not meant for worship or find god but to energize in  a charged atmosphere while I say energize, meditate and focus on Tadekam in the temple collectively.

4 temples'   trustees, spiritual Gurus, Vedic scholars and conservative religious pundits are on my mailing list. Let us see whether they have anything to say!