INTRODUCING TOPICS ON HINDU AMERICANS’ INTERACTION WITH MAJOR CULTURE OF USA POSTED ON HINDU REFLECTIONS
(
E-MAILS SENT BY
N.R. SRINIVASAN, BRENTWOOD, TN, USA)
Engrossed
religious Hindus in India think Hindu Americans are confused Desis born in America
or emigrated from Hindustan. If only
they can come to this country and spend some time with us they will sympathize
with our situation trying hard to bring up our children the Hindu-Way, hold on
to our culture our children who are married into different cultures, keep the
harmony of traditional Hindu married life and at the same time express our
gratitude to this country which has given us more freedom and limitless
opportunities while preserving our culture. None of us need to convert to major
religion of the country as it happened in the past in India to seek official
favor. Here we need not worry about proselytization as in India. Here
proselytization is between intellectual equals unlike in India where the
vulnerable section becomes a scape-goat.
The poor convert to Christianity out of gratitude. They find it easy to
flip religions, because the caste ridden Hindu society in India treats them
badly. We enjoy more freedom and privileges here than in India but temptations
are many if we do not understand our culture properly. At the same time we could also play a leading
spiritual role besides scientific contribution in this country and contribute
something positive for world peace and spiritual evolution. I came to USA as
UNIDO Expert in my field invited by the
Country to help one of its ailing manufacturing industry and now after retirement I have significantly contributed to its
spiritual awakening.
Eternal
Tradition of Vedas from which
the present day Hinduism started declares: Devo Ekah--GOD
(G=Generator, O=Operator and D=Dis-solver) is one; Eko viprah bahuda
vadanti--The One Pundits call by various names; Vasudaiva
Kutumbakam--Whole world is one family; Aatmavat sarva
bhooteshu-- The same Self abides in all (all beings are created
equal); sanghacchadvam samvadadvam--Let us act together, speak
together and Krinvanto viswamaaryam--Let us ennoble the world. The
idea that god can be realized through different spiritual paths has been taught
through the ages by many saints and Gurus of India. But the idea that all religions
lead to the same God has been visualized by Ramakrishna Parmahamsa and strongly
propagated by Swami Vivekananda promoting Universal Oneness and not Universal
Brotherhood. He also said that Vedanta
is the only religion of the future for the entire humanity that takes back our thoughts to Sanatana
Dharma with which humanity culturally developed and lived with peace and harmony guided by
sages in the past.
History teaches us to be progressive
and forward looking to a better future towards peace and harmony. American Hindus though successfully come out
of caste system and sectarian traditions living in USA are faced with a new
problem of their children choosing their life partners from the major cultures
with which they are living, and that too mostly Christianity. Hindu American
priests willingly conduct and guide worship on all deities breaking the
sectarian walls and following Smarta tradition including worship of deities of
Buddha, Vardhamana, Saibaba and others in Multi Traditional temples unlike
Hindu priests in India. Christianity
always keeps its doors open as its main objective is to attract all faiths into
its fold. We need to correct
the wrong notion that Hinduism is a religion of blind faiths and pagan. Christianity is bent on influencing all with
their faith. Bible says in Isaiah 56:7-- "My house shall be called a house
of prayer for all". Bill of Rights
gives us the freedom to practice religion as desired as well as holding on to
one's faith. Even though Sanatana
Dharma insists on universal spiritual approach for mankind Hinduism practiced
as a religion does not follow the same in its temple worship practice.
Interfaith
married couples in India are barred entry to temples if their appearance is
suspicious; inter-caste married couples are not looked upon with favor if
recognized by the community in religious assemblies in India. Hindu American
temples have looked into these aspects and have kept the temple open to all
communities as long as they show respect to the faith of the worshipers and
abide by the religious discipline of the temple. But Hindu Americans have not made their worship
attractive enough to make it a common form of worship or spiritually attractive
as in Baha'i Temple or Vivekananda rock Temple in India. Their objective should be to make it
attractive and appealing for the followers of opposing faiths of the married
couples and their families without foregoing scriptural injections. Bhagavad
Gita and Sanatana Dharma give ample scope to modify our current practices in
line with Vedic wisdom to make them universal in appeal. The idea is we should
be able to attract all crowds of other faiths to Hinduism without
proselytization by making our temple worship more focused on Vedas and
spirituality focused than traditional Puranic approach based on sectarian
traditions. Keeping this in view I have posted several topics on Hindu Americans’
Interaction with major culture of USA. In fact if you dispassionately think and
analyze all religious preaching, worships and celebrations, they have either
originated from Sanatana Dharma or inspired by it because for a long time from
the beginning of times no other civilization existed, except a culture that
thrived on Sanatana Dharma. Even
Zoroastrianism which is also one of the oldest religion in the world owes its
origin to the same scriptural source from which Hinduism has come (ref: Hymns of Atharva Zarathustra, The Parsi
Zoroastrian Association, 1967). It is also our bounden duty to lead the country
that is spiritually starving with our expertise sharing and caring being
pioneers in the fields of spirituality, yoga and meditation.
I have taken the trouble of
collecting all such E-mails sent to HR Forum Participants over a decade for
your quick reading. Individual detailed discourses guided by these E-mails can
be identified from my classified list for detail study or downloading.
CONTENTS
1. HINDU AMERICAN WAY OF CELEBRATING
AMERICAN HOLIDAY
2. MEMORIAL DAY WORSHIP
3. JULY 4, INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEK-END
CELEBRATIONS
4. THANKSGIVING DAY CELEBRATIONS
5. GRADUATION DAY CELEBRATIONS
6. FATHER’S DAY CELEBRATIONS
7. MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATIONS
8. CELEBRATION OF THE SEASON OF FESTIVAL
OF LIGHTS
9. TEACHER’S APPRECIATION DAY
10.LABORDAY WEEK-END CELEBRATIONS
11.AAYUDHAPOOJAA DAY, VISWAKARMA DAY AND
SRAMIK DIN—THREE-IN-ONE WORSHIP DAYFOR HINDU AMERICANS
12.IS IT SPIRITUAL SAMHAIN OR HAUNTED A
HALLOWEEN?
13.HINDU REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTMAS TREE
AND LIGHTING
14.ONE HINDU TEMPLE-COMPLEX FOR MANY
TRADITIONS OVERSEAS
15.MAHALAYA AMAVASYA PITRU PAKSHA—ALL
SOULS DAY
16.SOME NOBLE THOUGHTS AND BIZARRE
CUSTOMS IN THE WORLD ON NEW YEAR’S EVE
17.WHY AMERICAN HINDUS RUSH TO TEMPLE TO
WORSHIP ON NEW YEAR’S EVE?
18.LET US FOSTER AND SPREAD MESSAGE OF
PEACE AROUND WORLD
19.SMAARTA TRADITIONOF TEMPLE WORSHIP IS
IDEAL FOR AMERICAN HINDUS
20.THINKING OF TRANSCENDENTAL PI AND
BRAHMAN ON MARCH 14
21.UNITY IN DIVERSITY—DIVERSITY STRESS
MANAGEMANT
22.THINKING OF TRANSCENDENTAL PI AND
BRAHMAN ON MARXCH 14
23.UNITY IN DIVERSITY
24.YUGADI AND APRIL FOOL’S DAY
25.DID HOLY BLAZING FIRES AND BIZARRE
COLORS INSPIRE WESTERN CULTURE TOO?
26.SHOULD HUNDUS RIDE A DONKEY OR A
HORSE—PEAE OR DHARMA?
27.IF YOU FIND GOD IN DARKNESS, THAT IS BRAHMAN
28.MOTHER’S DAY—A DAY FOR VENERATIONFOR
MOTHERS AND WORSHIP FOR MOTHER EARTH
29.CAN MEMORIAL DAY BE A SPECIAL
RELIGIOUS EVENTS DAY FOR HINDU AMERICANS?
30.HAS RAMAYAN PATH OR O PARAYANA
INSPIRED BIBLE MARATHON?
31.SATANIC 9/11 OF 2001AND SPITITUAL 9/11
OF 1893
32.INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE
33.HINDU REFLECTIONSON CHRISTMAS TREE AND
ON AN UNUSUAL CHRISTMAS TRADITION
34.LET US CENTER OURSELVES WIDENING OUR
VISION OF FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
35.DID BHARATIYAS HELP THE GROWTH AND
PROSPERITY OF CHRISTIANITY?
36.HOW CAN WE ADAPT RELIGIOUS VALENTINE”S
DAY TO HINDU MODE OF WORSHIP?
37.THINKING OF MOTHER EARTH ON MOTHER’S
DAY…….
38.NARASIMHA STOTRA BY PRAHLADA CAN
MOTIVATE HINDU AMERICANS TO
CELEBRATE FATHER’S DAY
.
39.HINDU AMERICAN RELIGIOUS AND
PHILOSOPHIC THOUGHTS ON FATHER”S DAY
40.MULTI TRADITIONAL HINDU AMERICAN
TEMPLES NEED FOCUS ON SPIRITUALITY AND DEITIES TO SUIT ALL
41.VEDIC SOMA YAJNAS AND THEIR IMPACT ON
CHRISTIAN EUCHARIST RITUALS
*I.
HINDU AMERICAN WAY OF CELEBRATING AMERICAN HOLIDAYS
We
as migrant Hindu Americans are often faced with cultural shocks and interfaith
issues. Interfaith marriage is not a simple designation. It is lifelong
personal experiences and ongoing internal dialogues. American Hindu caught in such a dilemma is
concerned about doing what he or she thinks is right, taking risks, having
faith, and nurturing the spiritual growth of his or her spouse, children and
self. Regardless of their background, they are hungry for community life they
live with. Brought together by love and commitment, they are soul-mates
striving in the best way they know for happiness and fulfillment of spiritual
values of life.
Interfaith
issues affect entire families. Grandparents, parents and children all face
challenges posed by different religions and cultures. Our children may choose
to practice an alternative faith or choose to marry outside our denomination!
Our grandchildren may like to come back to their mother's religion or father's
religion. Here the community has a role to play. Communities are meant to offer
support; to educate; and to help make connections to the major society that can
help.
Most of the Inter-faith marriages are between the major religions of the immigrant countries which is Christianity in USA. Christianity always keeps its doors open as its main objective is to attract all faiths into its fold and they consider Hinduism as a religion of blind faiths and pagan. They are bent on influencing all with their faith. Bible says in Isaiah 56:7 "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all". Bill of Rights gives us the freedom to practice religion as desired as well as holding on to one's faith. This is not possible in Muslim countries where one has to give up his religion and convert to the religion of the land. Even though Sanatana Dharma insists on universal spiritual approach for mankind Hinduism practiced as a religion does not follow the same in its temple worship practice. Interfaith married couples in India are barred entry to temples if their appearance is suspicious; inter-caste married couples are not looked upon with favor if recognized by the community in religious assemblies.
Hindu
American temples have looked into this aspect and have kept the temple open to
all communities as long as they show respect to the faith of the majority and
abide by the religious discipline. But they have not made their worship
attractive enough to make it a common form of worship or spiritually attractive
as in Baha'i Temple or Vivekananda rock Temple in India. Their objective should be to make it
attractive for the followers of opposing faiths of the married couples and
their families based on the fact
that Hinduism has the Vedic directive
"Eko Viprah bahudaa vadanti"--The ONE the learned call as Many;
"Sarve janaah sukhino bhavantu"--May all live happily; Krinvanto
Viswamaaryam--Let us ennoble the whole world;Om Santih! Santih! Santih--May
there be peace from within, may there be peace from external disturbances and
we blessed with peace from the Supreme Principle which is beyond all our
expressions!
\
\
Rightly
or wrongly Temples in America have attempted to adopt most of the National
Holidays but celebrate them in their own traditional way guided by the priests
trained by the orthodoxy in India which we are not strictly following anyhow
here even in our regular worship. This is not appealing to the inter-racially
married partner of love marriage who
somehow gets attracted to
Hinduism because of its spiritual emphasis, leaving behind the religion of his
or her own. If convinced their children would be brought with Hindu
spirituality. The alternate is to go to
the other religion and sermonized or turn atheists altogether. It is therefore necessary make these holiday
worship more meaningful and spiritually oriented if we want to keep the
partners within Hindu fold and make it attractive to their children too to be
brought up with Hindu values. Various discourses on American Holidays have been
an attempt in that direction.
Fortunately the present situation is congenial because more and more
people are attracted to Yoga and spirituality.
It is up to every Hindu American to think on these lines and adapt their
religious and spiritual pursuits in America being situated in the crossroad of
cultures.
*2.
MEMORIALDAY WEEKEND WORSHIP
Hindu
Temple worship originates from Puranic Tradition which again consists of Saiva,
Vaishnava and Sakta as well as regional traditions (Sampradayas). Acculturation
of the Brahminical forms of worship and the local regional vernacular forms of
beliefs can be called Sanskritized form of worship. By and large this is the
form of worship with which overseas Hindu Temple are designed. In spite of this
synthesis the folk and tribal forms of worships exist in India with their own
non-Brahmin priests and non-Vedic rituals. The tradition of Vitobha and
Khandoba in Maharashtra, mother Goddess Kali in Bengal, Bhagavati in Kerala and
Mariamman in Tamil Nadu stand prominent and retain their folk elements.
Hindus
drawn from different traditions in USA are also trying to have a common form of
worship overseas. Attempts are being made to draw Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism
and Arya Samajists to this common form of Hindu worship. We can see Arya
Samajists and Sikhs freely participating in Hindu worships while the idols of Buddha
and Jina are being consecrated in some Hindu temples here.
Religious
and envious Hindus in India say that we are America Be-taken Confused CIO
(Citizens of Indian Origin) Desis (ABCD Americans). With the growing popularity
of inter-racial marriages interacting with Western culture attempts are being
made to celebrate all local festivals and National holidays in Hindu Temples.
These National holidays of USA are shown in Hindu Religious Calendars
prominently as Days for Worship for Special Events. We have seen in the past
how some of these special observance days like Mother's Day, Father's Day and
with little stretch of imagination holidays like Thanksgiving and Festival of
Lights could be celebrated as Mass worship in Hindu Temples to fit into Hindu religious
mode of worship. But it will be too far-fetched to celebrate holidays like
Memorial Day, July 4 and Christmas in Hindu Temples. Hindus never celebrate
Armistice Day in Hindu Temples in India which is only observed on Mahatma
Gandhi's birthday. Yet Hindu religious calendars of Temples here show Memorial
Day as Special Events day for special worship, keeping the temple open all day
even on weekdays. Temples in USA are run as privately managed institutions
rather than publicly run religious institutions though they need mass
participation. The will of the elders and founding fathers of the temple
prevails as to the choice of worship and deities. Religious many therefore
concentrate on worship at homes while many others use temples for social
exchange of views and gatherings.
It
sounds logical to keep holidays like Memorial Day, July 4, Christmas etc. to their original intent and adopt selected few National Holidays with a meaningful form of worship as detailed
in the discourse "Hindu Mass Worship in
Temples and the Need to Focus on Spirituality". In Tennessee as you all know May 3 was
observed as National Day of Prayer. It would have been a better idea to have
observed May 3 as a National Day of
Prayer in Hindu Temples instead of May 28 being observed as special
events day with Ganesha Abhishekam and Siva Abhishekam and also keeping the temple open all day long. Local YMCA invited people of all religious
faiths to join the prayer which was observed at
12 Noon on this day. This
day of prayer was not any commercial day as Memorial Day, Christmas and Easter. They were not selling
anything on this day. They were
celebrating with all reverence. We could have given a lead in this as the
followers of Sanatana Dharma.
In
every one of our prayers we pray for Universal Peace. We could only pray for
the concerned souls in silence affected by wars, some intentional and some
unavoidable, in human conflicts.We could also
think of those who gave up their lives fighting for freedom
from British Empire in India like the fellow beings in America who also fought
against British rule and gained independence. As Hindus we believe in the return of souls with lesser Praarbhda Karmas (past bad deeds)
to lead a better life and we need not
repeat after the Western prayer: "May the soul rest in peace",
but pray
for all round peace praying:
"May the souls be spiritually
elevated to return".
"Om dyauh saantir
antariksham saantih prithvee saantir aapah saantir oshadhayah saantih |
vanaspatayah saantih visvedevaah saantir brahma saantih sarvam saantih
saantireva saantih saa maa saantiredhi ||"
*3.
JULY 4, INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND CELEBRATIONS
It
is an irony that most of the Americans honor July 4 because they believe that
is the day on which all Americans secured their freedom. But the truth is that
the Declaration of independence really secured freedom for the White and
wealthy men only. It did not guarantee freedom of speech, press, religion,
petition and assembly--The five freedoms of the First Amendment which were
later guaranteed. Declaration of Independence gave an opportunity to fight for
suffrage for women, the emancipation of slaves and equality for all. Still
American Constitution says all men are created equal but not all people are
created equal, and word men in the Constitution is figurative some think. But
it is a legal document where even a comma or period counts for legal
interpretation.
December
15 is the Birthday of Bill of Rights. In guaranteeing these fundamental rights
in 1791, Americans set themselves apart from all nations on the planet. It is
one of the most important day in
American History, and yet no one takes the time to reflect on the importance of
December 15. it is forgotten amid
heavily commercialized and camouflaged Festival of Lights Season or
Christmas Season. FDR wanted all Americans to observe this day with appropriate
ceremonies and prayer to the God. Bill of Rights reads: "Congress shall
make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free
exercise there off".
Sri
Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthanam in N.Y., one of the oldest temples in USA
conducts special a strange coincidence;
this is their Temple Anniversary Day. North American Panchangam 2012 also
mentions about it but not of any other temple in USA! I thought it would cover at least the temples
of the Council. Not realizing the same, many other temples in USA have
earmarked July 4 for special worship and also keep the temple open all day though it is a week day. It beats our imagination how this day could be a significant day for Hindu Americans as a
special religious day for worship? It would be more logical to celebrate
December 15 as a special day for religious worship as it is The Bill of Rights Day that gave Hindu
Americans freedom of religion and
worship. Unlike in many Islamic countries here we could build so many temples
to serve the needs of Hindu community. We are also not forced to study about
the major religion of the country, Christianity because of Bill of Rights. Ten
Commandments or any part of Bible is not displayed in Government buildings. In
my days Bible was a compulsory subject for study in my school in India, as also
morning prayer reading a Psalm from Bible everyday though majority who attended
school were Hindus in India.
It
should be noted the views expressed on American Independence Day and Bill of
Rights Day is based on the White Americans' voice as appeared in
Tennessean. It makes no sense to run to
the temple for special worship and to glorify July 4 as a special day for
religious worship. This day should be left to its original intent to be
celebrated as a secular National Holiday and honored where we could all
participate. Who knows one day some Hindu might come with the idea that Statue
of Liberty is Aindra Maataa, as we refer in religious resolution (sankalpa) USA
as Aindra Khanda based on Bharatmata concept for whom a temple exists in the
holy city of Haridwar. He may even
insist on consecrating Aindrmata in a Hindu temple if he is the major
contributor to the temple just as it happened in Albany temple for Buddha and
Mahaveer Vardhamana. Bhaaratmaataa was a
creation of freedom fighter Bankim Chandra Chattarjee to rouse the spirit of
Indians to fight against the foreign rule of the British. This is the only
temple where Independence Day and Republic Day are celebrated as special
worship religious days in India. In fact August 15 is the Saddest Day of
Partition when India lost all its pride of association with Sindhu (Indus
Valley Culture). We lost on this day again large bit of land as Pakistan as in
the past centuries losing Tibet, Burma and Afghanistan. Had we continued fight
and insisted on majority voice, India would not have been partitioned. Can
there be a day when we can attract all these countries to embrace India in a Federation like USA and live peacefully
to revive the concept of Vasudeka kutumbakam? The words Hindu, Hindusthan and
India, all based on the word Sindhu, is no more meaningful to Indians. They
should be content with Khanda Bharat (Mini Bharat) and not Akhanda Bharatas it
stands today, for a land called Bharatvarsha and Bharatakanda once. Fortunately
the discovery of Khambata (Cambay) in Gujrat gives Hindus an opportunity to
shift their pride to Khambata from Sindhu to prove we are the most ancient
cultural descendants in the world.
*4.
THANKSGIVING WEEKEND CELEBRATIONS
"Maanavajanma
balu doddadu, idanu haanimaadalu-bedi hucchaapaagalira" says a famous song
in Kannada by a great devotee of the Lord-- Human life is the greatest, don't
waste it! Hindu scriptures also say "Narajanmam durlabham"--to be
born as human is unique opportunity. Humans are the most perfect among living
beings in Intelligence Creation by the Supreme Spirit. It is the stepping stone
for final liberation through spiritual evolution. Humans alone are provided
with three types of bodies called gross body, subtle body and casual body
presided over by Aaatman the Self as you have learnt in Vedanta. It is
therefore logical that Hindu Immigrants are celebrating Thanksgiving Day in tune
with the National Spirit of their adopted land but in their own spiritual way
of thinking. Migrant Hindus celebrate
Thanksgiving Day in Temples as the day to express their gratitude to the Lord
for this rare opportunity.
Hindus
begin every prayer in rituals with an expression of gratitude and obeisance to
parents and teachers (guruparampara)--"Asmadaachaarya paryantaam vande
guruparamparaam". It is therefore appropriate and logical to make this day
ear-marked to the great sages who had provided the knowledge by way of Srutis
(vedas) and Smritis (Geeta etc.) which are the fountain-heads of the knowledge
for spiritual evolution to reach the Supreme for final Liberation.
Expression
of Gratitude is a positive emotion. It is foremost among humanity's powerful
emotions. Expressing thanks is a potent emotion that feeds on itself almost the
equivalent of being victorious. It does make people happier. It is that
incredible feeling. One of the reason why it works so well is that it connects
with others. Gratitude really changes our attitude and our on-look on life.
Thanksgiving can give a big boost to our outlook. Grateful people are less
likely to experience envy, anger, resentment, regret and other unpleasant
states that produce stress. It is a stress buffer.
Lot
of research is going on in brain chemistry and hormones in the blood and
neurotransmitters in the brain that are connected to feelings of gratitude by
McCullough and others in USA. The left fore-frontal cortex of the brain which
is also associated with positive emotions like love, compassion etc., seems to
be a key-spot on study in humans, based on a study made on Buddhist monks who
are always engaged in meditation. In whatever way it works in the brain, there
is little doubt it works says Doctor Robert Emmons, psychology professor at
Davis Medical center in California.
*5.
GRADUATIONDAY CELEBRATION
May
and June in spring are the months for celebration of High School Graduation in
USA. This is the time to feel pride and this is time to give council, this is
the time to depart and there is time for everything. In keeping with the
traditions of the country of adoption
Hindu migrants also celebrate the High School graduation of their children not only at their homes but also in the
Temple by offering prayers through special pooja to express their reverence to
the Almighty for having blessed their
children with this educational success, their first milestone of success in
their lives and also for their success in securing admission to a college of
their choice in their chosen line of study for a bright future. The children
also actively participate in such poojas. I am confident they will
continue to cultivate the values taught
by the Sunday School and their parents when they move out.
I
still remember the Convocation Address delivered by the great Statesman of
India C. Rajagopalachari affectionately called Rajaji, giving us his valuable
advice as to how to shape our life for the betterment of the nation, when I
graduated from A.C. College of Technology.
Such a practice is also there in USA when one completes the college
education, but by then the children more often than not move away from their
parents and such graduation celebrations are not much noticed. But Hallmark makes a
good business out of it. In India generally they do not celebrate High School
Graduation on such a grand scale as by then worry starts for admission to a
good college to pursue higher studies.
It
is customary in USA for the Valedictorian to deliver speeches thanking everyone
and advising fellow students how to succeed in the long and winding path in
furthering education and get on with life as useful citizens serving the
society. Students of Hindu origin, bound by their tradition, would also like to
pay their respect to their chosen deity as well as their parents and
well-wishers, though not a common practice in India, as they will be moving
away from their parents for the first time to pursue studies or career and try
to practice living an independent life. In Vedic days, this was done after the
Upanayana Samskara when the child had the last meal from the mother and entered
Gurukula. This samskara is no longer practiced vigorously but for few boys from
Brahmin migrant families who celebrate it on a grand scale. Those who undergo
Upanayana do not study Vedas as in olden days
On
this occasion, it is worth-while to look
back on the past Vedic Culture, learn basic values of education and derive benefit from the Values it promoted for a better
life, one's duty and service to family that had helped initially and the duty towards the society in
which one has to live. I have therefore
pleasure in attaching "Convocation Address by the Guru to his
Disciple" from Taittireeya Upanishad after completion of studies at the
Gurukula and also my discourse on "Hindu Education through the Ages".
Please bring the essence and value of these discourses to your graduating
children or pass it on to your friends whose children are graduating.
(June 2012; June 2013
*6.
FATHER’S DAY CELEBRATION
All
said and done world remains predominantly patriarch, more so USA. Americans are yet to see a woman President
though they have elected a woman as the
first woman governor of South Carolina that too of Indian origin. Of course there is the other woman Governor
too but this happened for the first time in South Carolina where Christian
feelings are strong. Of course this Governor of cross culture is fully sold to
Chuch and not Gurudwara. Hindu Americans
are used to the American Constitution which says "All men are created
equal". They also know that in
Christian Faith, the religion of majority of the Land, Holy Father, Holy Son
and the Holy Spirit are worshiped but not Holy Mother though saints are
beatified as Mother. In their religious pursuits, Hindus recognize Brahma as
Pitaamaha (Paternal Grand-father) and Siva
as Pitaa (father) Mahadeva who as
a single parent was responsible for the birth of Kartikeya denying Parvati an opportunity to be equally responsible,
which she compensated by creating Ganesha as her Maanasa putra (mind born
son). Vedic mantras direct us to
"Matru devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava and Aaachraya devo bhava" and in
that order meaning treat your mother, then father and then teacher as god.
Purposely father is placed in the middle because he could be as well be a
mother and a teacher if occasion demands. Epic Mahabharata says father is equal
to ten Vedic scholars in imparting worldly wisdom and knowledge to the kid. You
know the story of Valmiki who as a foster father raised two kids of Rama in his
absence and neglect. Great Sages like
Valmiki and Kanva (foster father of Sakuntala) showed the world how they were
concerned with the world and served humanity by
raising other's kids with fatherly care
and love as foster fathers though they were recluse (sanyasis) in their
pursuit.
In
American Way of life, forced by divorce as well as other compelling reasons
father is often forced to play the role of single parent to take care of
children, playing the role of mother too in addition to his role as a father.
Even while parents live together, if both are working, they are forced to share
the responsibility together in raising kids which they do willingly and gladly.
You all remember the Herculean efforts of Sonara Smart Dodd who knocked at
every door to promote the concept of Father's Day Celebration in USA at
National level in memory of her great father who raised six kids all alone as a
single father when his wife passed away early in their lives. He did not
remarry nor seek anybody's help. Her dream came true after a long time when
Richard Nixon made a law making every Third Sunday of June a National Holiday
of Celebration to honor all fathers. This day is also a highly commercialized
special worship day in churches though not as thickly attended as Mothers' day
in USA.
The
social fabric of Hindu Americans is so knitted that no celebration and as a
matter of fact no human activity can be
segregated from the divine inspiration. So they rush to the temple to celebrate
this day for a special worship of Lord Siva who too was a single parent of Lord
Subrahmanya to whom he imparted all secular and spiritual knowledge and made
him commander of the divine army. Lord Subrahmanya could even defeat his father
in spiritual knowledge and valor and so he is praised as Guruguha (mystic
Guru). It is also fitting and proper to dedicate this day to Lord Brahma who
set up the precedence of single parent who is glorified as first Pitaamaha
(paternal grand-father). As you are all aware there are no temples for
Brahmaexcept for the lone temple in Pushkar in India though no worship is
complete without his invocation in any Hindu worship or ritual. He therefore deserves a day earmarked for his
exclusive worship and Father's Day will be a fitting tribute.
As
a general rule every great kid had a great father to support; without him it is
a life-long struggle. The shocking revelation that has affected children in
American Society in fatherless homes is detailed in the discourse on the
subject. Just as the Vedic dictum "Pitru Devo Bhava. Holy Bible also conveys Lord's command to
father and the child to live together happily and not to become a victim of his
wrath. While overall divorce rate in the
USA has decreased since 1990, gray divorce has doubled for those over age
50. While there are varying reasons, one
compelling reason is no kids to use as a reason to stay together. Hindus in USA are not lagging behind here. We have moved away from the Hindu tradition
of living with sons after getting old and also neglect spiritual concentration
as we get old being materialistic in outlook inherited from the land of our
adoption. Children brought up the American Way also contribute a lot towards
this disharmony.
(June 2012; June 2013)
7.
MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATION
Mother's
Day is celebrated all over America on 13th of this month as a social event
honoring mother for giving birth and well bringing up children with care, love and affection and with a
spirit of sacrifice. America thought of honoring motherhood on a special day
very recently as you could see from the discourse posted on the blog
<nrsrini.blogspot.com>. This was by the inspiration of a lone daughter
Anna Jarvis in America moved by her love for mother. President Woodrow Wilson passed a bill to
honor a specific mother Ann Jervis (mother of Anna Jervis) in May, from whence the tradition began.
Mother
occupied an honored place from the Vedic days as evidenced by the Vedic Mantras
Matru devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava, Achaarya devo bhava and Athiti devo bhava
in Taittareeya Upanishad. Every student after the completion of Vedic studies
at Gurukula took leave of his Guru paying him guru-dakshina according to his
capability in ancient days. Guru in turn gave his final convocation address to
all students advising them to follow his Commandments and serve the society.
The very first commandment was Matru
devo bhava--honor thy mother as Goddess, then comes father, teacher and the
guest in that order to be venerated as Gods.
Mother's
Day is a way to draw attention to maternal mortality, the cause at the heart of
Every Mother Counts advocacy campaign by Christy Turlington Burns, for women
who died from issue related to pregnancy and child birth as per the original
intent. But to-day, unfortunately it is commercially exploited, and estimated
to be around 18.96 billion dollar business. Why not celebrate this day not
only as family get together but
also make it a moment of solidarity with
many other moms, and have in those
surroundings all those women to appreciate them.
Hinduism
is one of the few surviving religions where the divine principle is adored in
female form. This again is cited in Vedas which by to-day's estimation from
historic underwater explorations of Dwaraka
and Khambata (Cambay) dates back
to more than 10000 years about which I
had informed you. Mahanarayana Upanishad (MNU) says; "Mother Earth is
Aditi and she is the mother of all entities inclusive of the stationary
entities. She is glorified as mother of all beings such as gods, gandharvas,
human beings, the manes, asuras and others". Other cultures should have followed
Sanatana Dharma for the tradition of Devi worship, but somewhere in the middle
in the male dominated society Mother worship has been forgotten. In Japan she
was Amarterasu (sun goddess), in Greece Demeter(the corn goddess), in Egypt
Isis (the river goddess); The Viking called her Frejya; the Eskimos Sedna; the
Romans Artemis; the Mexican Coatlicue: the Tibetan Tara. The Hindus later
called her Sakti and still continue with the tradition of Sakti worship.
American
Hindus in their anxiety to blend with the local culture are keen to celebrate
this day on a grand scale at community level and with all mothers getting
together and honoring them. The social fabric of Hindus is so knitted that no
human activity can be segregated from the divine. As a logical conclusion they
have taken the Mother's Day Celebration to Hindu Temple complexes where all
followers of various Hindu deities with different traditions (sampradayas)
meet. Vaishnavites think of Lakshmi worship and Saivites Parvati or Durga who
are quite popular. This trend perhaps in
due course may be an eye-opener and could revive the long forgotten tradition
in all the cultures, who have forgotten mother worship or treat mother with due
respect equal to God.
It
would be logical to dedicate this day to the
worship of Bhoodevi who is
glorified in Upanishads as the Universal mother. Invariably we see
Bhudevi and Sridevi together as the consorts of Vishnu in all processional
deities. But somehow Bhudevi is forgotten by all like Brahma and Saraswati in
our veneration. Except for few lone
temples for Brahma and Saraswati their worship is not a dominant feature in
mass worship in temples. There is no temple for Bhudevi as far as
my knowledge goes though she is
invoked in Vedic Mantras in almost all
temple rituals and worships. There is a temple for Bharat Mata in the
holy city of Haridwar. Worship of Mother Earth as Bhoodevi suits all.
Please
refer to my discourse on the Blog for Bhudevi Mantras "Some Vedic Mantras
used in Hindu Rituals" from MNU. Please also visit the Blog for my
discourse on:"Matru Devo Bhava-The Hindu American Way", a discourse
on Mother's Day.
(May 2014)
8.
CELEBRATIONS OF SEASON OF FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Watching
the enthusiasm of my grand-kids to put up the Christmas Tree and the lighting
and looking forward to the customary multiple and attractive gifts soon after
Thanksgiving my thoughts took me to different heights of Vedanta. Many families
of Hindu-Americans put up Christmas Tree and the Lighting which is the Western
Culture. This is to express the feeling
that they too are participating in the merrymaking and acts of national integration and
understanding in their land of adoption which trend perhaps has its inspiration from the Vedic culture which absorbed many
traditions of worship and different races into its fold of Sanatana
Dharma. To me X-Mas is more than saying
Merry Christmas!
Hindu
temples in USA surprise us with their special mention in the Temple Religious
Calendar about Christmas Long week-end. What could have inspired them while
Hindus do not go to temple on Christmas week end except some holiday
visitors? Probably they are thinking of
another prayerful celebration on the Friday23 of Christmas Week in 2011 during
the Happy Holiday Season in their process of Hindu-way of celebrating American
festivals like Thanksgiving! Similarly
they have mentioned that 30th December another Friday is New Year week end, but
also added January first in the Religious Calendar as many Hindus rush to
Temple on that day like those regular visitors to Pittsburgh Temple on New
Yea Day, Tirupati of America. On these two days being Fridays they may want
to attract visitors and inter-racial couples also to the temple giving it a
Hindu religious piety. The lights we see
from Sivaraatri, Ramaadan, Deepaavali, Kartigai (Annamalai Deepam),
Hanukah, Kwaanzaa, Christmas and Makara
Sankraanti (Makaravilakku at Sabari Malai) are not ordinary lights but sacred
lights of heaven that can never be extinguished from the hearts of those who
celebrate and bring in Joy and Happiness.
\
\
Observing
divine light and later showing little lights or putting up lights as an act of
gratitude and glorification to the Lord and celebrating the festivals starts with Sivaratri (a
column of fire). The divine light travels round the globe and ends with the
Eastern Tradition as Makara Vilakku (light) in Sabarimalai in January. As you
all know slowly the nights get lengthened during the latter half of the year
bringing more darkness which needs more light. This is thus carried on to the
New Year with love, goodness, hope and joy being the terms used by everybody to
greet each other. We should make it
more meaningful if we a were to
bring these Holidays under Hindu
Religious (They may be in Indian calendar but not in Hindu Religious Calendar) Calendar or
worship.
Following
the path shown by our ancient sages long back, three wise men, later, but 2011
years before, observed a divine light (star) in the sky which led them to
Bethlehem where a baby boy was born. They announced it to the world and much
later when calmness prevailed people began to celebrate the day with lights. If
you closely study Vedas and the Bible, Jesus just dwelt upon only on the Wisdom
of Vedas as you could see in the Discourse "Christianity Echoes Wisdom
Thoughts of Eternal Tradition".
What Krishna (Kris) taught to enlightened Arjuna, Jesus preached to the
people drawn from lower strata of human society (like fishermen) in a simple
language, as elaborate in the discourse “Wisdom of Geetaa's Teachings and
Bible's Preachings".
\
\
Christmas
Tree draws its inspiration from Aswattha celebrated in Geetaa that reaches
great heights which has its roots in heaven nourished by heavenly light. The Lights we put up are symbolic of heavenly
Bright Light Stars that lead us to brighter and better worlds, from darkness to
light to bring peace and prosperity.
Aswattha is peculiar to East under which Lord Buddha also got his
enlightenment and in its absence in the West the towering Christmas tree which
points to heavens plays its role. The darkness of prejudices, cynicism and
materialism are wiped out by these heavenly lights. Neither the Sun nor the
Moon nor the Stars can match that Universal light (Sivaraatri, Annamalai Deepam
and Makara Vilakku) we seek after. In what way can these ceremonial lights we
put up during festivals can match that light of several thousands of Suns!
\
\
How
best can we then enjoy putting lights and tree after Thanksgiving which lasts
till January 1, for the Holiday season, as is the Tradition in USA, and also
celebrate it in our own way of Hindu
Worship in temples, choosing a memorable day during the Holiday season as we do
for some other American Holidays but
within the Hindu scriptural injunction?
We cannot kill the enthusiasm of our kids to put up the tree and the
lights. We also owe an explanation to our visiting parents who may be disappointed
to see our celebration of American Culture at homes and see how we have changed
here! The discourse on Festivals of
Lights--Ancient Traditions of Universal Appeal in the Blog:
<nrsrini.blogspot.com> throws light on these aspects.
*9.
TEACHER’S APPRECIATION DAY
Those
of you who are living in Tennessee should know that May 8, 2012 is Teacher's
Appreciation Day. In fact this whole week is Teacher's Appreciation Week to let
your teachers know that you value them and their dedicated service.\
Having
been educated in India and Germany for some time this does not appear anything
new to me. As a kid I learnt that Guru is my third God after mother and father.
Aachaarya Devo bhava is a Vedic command--Treat your teacher as God. While in
Germany I learnt that it is almost impossible to meet your Professor. Meeting a
professor and have personal advice is more difficult than to be in communion
with God. He is venerated and well respected and student are afraid to reach his
sanctum. I almost used to meet my professor every week-end and had often dinner
with him. This was a unique blessed privilege and many German students were
jealous of me.
I
was quite disappointed when I came to USA. Education here seemed to me is run like a business. Nobody is seen
respecting teacher the way I learnt it
and everyone on the other hand acts as
a guru himself. I was therefore
attracted to read a letter to the editor from Tennessean and felt how wrong I was. Instead of coming
with elaborate apologies and
explanations I would like to reproduce a grateful mom's letter to the editor of
Tennessean:
"Teachers
teach more than just the curricula. They teach manners and acts of helpfulness.
They teach neatness and organizational skills. They teach healthy habits and
responsibility for actions. They teach decision making how to be good citizens
and myriad of other things besides 3R's. Our schools and teachers provide
practically every service a child will need in life except a living home with
religious instruction which should be left up to the parent. Few professionals
impact as many lives as teachers do. We should respond when criticisms are
hurled at our schools and think of the huge responsibility we place in the
hands of our teachers. Praise and support can accomplish more than
criticisms"
This
is a remarkable change seen in USA, almost bringing the message given in Vedas
of venerating our teachers. I wonder
why our temples in USA do not want to celebrate a Teacher's Day like what they
do on Mother's Day, Father's day and many others. I wonder why Hallmark and
American Greetings have not exploited the business potential. Our Sunday school
Teachers in temples have even taken the responsibility of giving religious
instructions and whatever is left behind from the teachers of secular education
knowing the busy nature of working mothers in USA. As you know in in India we
are all grown with the idea of servant maids, drivers, dhobis, scavengers etc.
But yet it is a pity we do not think of earmarking a day for honoring their
selfless service!
*10.
LABORDAY WEEKEND CELEBRATIONS
USA
has adopted first Monday of September as Labor Day in place of May Day
(International Labor Day) celebrated as workers day all over the world. This
was initiated by the Central Labor Union of New York in 1882 which later became
a National Holiday approved by the congress. It is also popularly enjoyed as
labor weekend or long holiday week end. Majority of Americans being Christians,
attend special mass worships in all churches conducted on Sunday of the Labor
week. Hindu Americans do not lag behind.
They go out of the way to keep the Temple open on Labor Day Monday, all day
long and also observe it as a special religious day of observance and conduct
special pujas. Hinduism is a religion of conveniences and compromises as we all
know. One justification for holding such special poojas on non-religious Hindu
days seems to be, the holiday weekend attracts crowds from neighboring towns
and so temple should be kept open for longer hours. It is a good idea to keep
the temple open on all days so because not all the people who attend temples
are working people. By and large in Hindu families only one of the parents is
working, there are unemployed (who feel the importance to visit temple as the
proverb goes when in trouble dial Venkateswara) and retired people too. They
attend temple at their convenience as we have seen. But why to give it a color
of special religious observance day is not understandable? Other major
religions do not act that way interfering with their faith or accommodating
other faiths. The other reason seems to be to accommodate the feelings and
sentiments of Hindu Americans married to someone from the major religion of the country. At present
this happens to be Christian community. It is to welcome and attract Interfaith
married couples to Hindu Temples and allow them to participate in Hindu
religious worship,and impress upon the public
of the broad outlook of Hindu community. Unfortunately such worships are
not possible in India if Inter-faith couples reveal or expose their identity as
they enter a Hindu temple. On the other hand Christians and Jews welcome the
same wherever they are because Bible says; "My House shall be called a
House of Prayer for all peoples" (Isiah 56:7). No such open declaration
and practice is seen in Hindu worship as temple worships are of recent origin
and are regimental as decided by the religious and temple authorities. Muslim
countries give no scope for this even though there are isolated Hindus who are
married to Muslim community which is rather rare. Migrant Hindus therefore do not have to
observe Ramadan as a special fasting Vrata Day. May Day is a National Holiday
in India but has not entered the portals of Hindu Temples in India for any kind
of celebration like Independence Day and others.
Worship
pattern in Hindu Temples in migrant countries by and large depends on major
contributors, founding fathers and chosen management and not necessarily to the
needs or feelings of the community drawn from different Traditions or logic.
Therefore let us leave this matter to the wisdom of temple authorities. They
often work as Private Institutions though take public help a lot and need their
participation. It is however true we owe an obligation to our country of
adoption and also want to blend with the local culture. It is also true the
social fabric of Hindus wherever they are settled is so knitted that no human activity is
segregated from the divine. That is the reason why Hindu temples rush to
celebrate every National Holiday with a divine fervor unlike other faiths. It
would have been proper to leave some of them to their original intent like
Independence Day, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Halloween, Christmas etc.
Major
faith and culture of America blends some of these National Holidays with its religious
faith. They do not however invite people on Labor Day Monday to hold a special
mass worship. How can we as Hindu Americans
then adopt Labor Day to suit our religious practices? Every such worship
need not end up with Abhishekam or Homam to the Main deity or on the same day
as Labor Day, taking the clue from the major faith of the land. Other faiths do
not react like us. Hindu temples in migrant
countries are temple complexes and should be appealing to all Sampradayas among
Hindus for active participation. It
should also reflect the importance of the day like Saraswati Puja Day. It
should be appealing to Inter-faith families to participate. Here it is important to stress the importance
and value of Labor. As we know all over the North in India Viswakarma Day is
observed as a religious day of great importance, particularly in Bengal,
Orissa, Jharkand, U.P., Madhya Pradesh and others. Usually this is celebrated
on September 17 or 18. Bengal observes
on 18th this year. I do not know whether America drew inspiration from India to
have Labor Day in September? Some States
observe Viswakarma Day on the Sankranti day prior to Ganesha Chaturthi. Some
other States observe on the day next to Diwali. There is a good following among
Hindus who call themselves as Viswakarma Community. I need not stress the importance of
Viswakarma Pooja who is popular with all Hindus and venerated. Even south Indians keep one day exclusive for
Ayudha Puja during Navaratri (eighth day) and in turn pay obeisance to
Viswakarama indirectly, who is the son
of Brahma who helped him in his task of Creation and building the Universe and
townships. He was a product of Milky Ocean like Lakshmi. Let us therefore
dedicate this day to the great Architecht of Industrial development for
Humanity and make it more significant to our children to stress the value of
Labor and hard work! Fortunately even
among Hindus in India there is no particular day ear-marked for Viswakarma. It
is a National Holiday in some States.
Viswakarma puja should be appealing to all the Hindu Americans drawn from
different traditions of Hindus from India and there can't be any other day
better suited than Labor Day. It should also be appealing to specialst migrants
who are by and large engineers or specialists from India and who are in large
numbers. Incidentally Hindu Temple worship in migrant countries is also Puranic
based and traditon oriented as in India
and not spiritually motivated to avoid all confusions. No doubt Puraanic
following keeps the temple running economically viable than spiritually driven
worship which is dry and philosophical!
11. AAYUDHA POOJAA DAY, VISWAKARMA POOJAA DAY AND
SRAMIK DIN POOJA DAY—THREE-IN-ONE WORSHIP DAY FOR HINDU AMERICANS
Worshiping
their tools is an age old tradition with Hindus. It all started with the
concept of Sastras and Astras mentioned in Puranas sought after by the divines
and the demons. All these weapons have
their birth in Sudarsana Chakra known as Aayudha Purusha. These weapons need
divine invoking of th presiding deities
of weapons of war by appropriate mantras initiated by their
Gurus. WMD need computer assistance (Invisible Guru) now-a-days. Even a blade
of grass could be turned to a powerful
steel blade with a mantra and could be used as a weapon as we learn from
Puraanas. Slowly this worship got extended to all tools in the hands of Labor so needed for earning his livelihood
in their peaceful life. Society started
honoring Labor, users of tools, serving the society. This dignity of labor
started with Brahma, the Creator himself. He in his role as Viswakarma was the
divine architect, builder, craftsman, carpenter etc. Hindus started worshiping
Supreme in his emanation of Viswakrma or worshiped him as Brahman Himself
honoring tools and the man behind the tools. Honoring labor force and worship
of tools became a regular annual event in a Hindu's life.
In
North India Labor Day and Aayudha Pooja Day concepts are combined together
prominence being given to the Universal Man behind the tools, Viswakarma with
his tools. He is a favorite of labor force and considered as their Guru if not
the leader. His idols match with that of Brahma. So He and the working tool are
worshiped together. This extends to factories and machines as in Aaydhapooja in
the South.
In
the South commercial enterprises largely remain in the hands of non -Vaishnavites.
Majority Labor force is Saivism oriented. Hence Ganesha is elevated to be the
presiding deity on Aayudhapooja day. Ganesha with his powerful animal goad used
to drive elephants symbolically idealized using his tool to goad people out of
their ego. While Ganesha represents Viswakarma for them his goad represents
tools. Sudarsana who is hailed as
Aayudha Purusha and is in control of all Aayudhas in the world has gone to the
background who became popular with Vaishnavites who are mostly study oriented.
There are many powerful slokas on Sudarsana and he is a popular deity in Orissa
too. South Indians however have taken to Saraswati worship restricting their
worship to books and musical and art
instruments which are tools for artists. May be computer will join them too!
Labor is honored by declaring Aayudhapooja Day and Viswakarma Day as a Labor
Holiday for all factories, industrial establishments and shops in India.
However
highly educated or materialistic a Hindu American may be he never fails to rush
to a temple to get a pooja done for his new car. He starts working on his new
computer only after a pooja if he is not an atheist. I have seen Hindus keeping an icon of their
chosen deity in car and start driving only after paying obeisance even in USA.
Hindu Temples though have their reasoning,
do not fail to keep the temple open all day long with special worship on
Labor Day in September which is a National Holiday which
all American Hindus celebrate and enjoy.
The concept of Aayudha (Tool) and Labor coming together (cannot be easily
dismissed. Hindu Americans however do not conduct separate Aayudha pooja as in
India for they rarely own commercial and industrial units, which remain with
Western culture or dominated by their culture.
They combine it with Saraswati Puja as indirect or token worship. Why
not then combine all these concepts and celebrate Labor Day in Hindu Temples
dedicating Labor Day to Lord Viswakarma or the Creator? This will appeal to all
traditions; to South Indians as Ayudha Pooja and North Indians as Viswakarma
Pooja. Orissa will be thrilled to remember Viswaakrma's hands in shaping
Jagannath's icon to pay their obeisance on this day, so also Aiyappa worshipers
who owe their temple to him!
Please
go through my discourse on Aayudha Pooja posted a Hindu Reflections: Hindu
Worship of Weapons, Tools and Universal Crafts Person led to Labor Day
Celebrations (Aayudha Poojaa; Viswakarma
Poojaa; Sramik Din Poojaa).
(OCTOBER 2013)
12. IS IT SPIRITUAL
SAMHAIN OR HAUNTED HALLOWEEN?
I
have talked about Druids and Dravidians before. October 31 is the Halloween.
The picture we get of Halloween is that
it captivates children with goblin dresses roaming in the neighborhood
collecting Candy with their ghost appearances. Hindu children join the fun for
they can't avoid it. If you look into
origin this is based on the Druid tradition which the Christians follow copying the ugliness than spirituality. Druids call it Samhain, a spiritual festival
which has much in common with Hinduism in its thinking. In the ancient British Isles, October 31, was
the night when the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest. The
shadow play of imagination, with its great hunches about the great and beyond,
was given license amid bonfires and new beginnings. As we all know the Druids
believe that the soul never dies and also believe in reincarnation.
Christianity also believed in reincarnation (punarjanma) till a house cleaning
was done around 15th century. It is interesting to note Mahaalaya Paksha falls
near about this period (Sept-Oct). The last day Mahalaya Amavasya is the most
important day in the year for performing obsequies and rites to departed souls.
To an average Druid this jack-o'-lantern lit night is the most sacred night of
the year like Hindu Mahalaya Amavasya observed during that time.
Yet
another fact is Samahain salutes the end of harvest time and the start of
winter dark. At this time of the year, nature gets into its pensive mood. The
swirling orange leaves are a signal of dramatic transition. Daylight Saving time ends on November 3 this
year. We celebrate Diwali with lights over- coming the darkness during this
time. Strangely on Sunday 3 November this year falls Diwali and coincides with Halloween. In some Hindu traditions that lighting
continues month long culminating in Kartikai Deepam being the darker nights of
the year. Probably we are more conscious because of the sudden change till we
get used to it for a longer period .
Also in some Hindu Traditions New year starts on Deepavali day. Samhain
is a logical time for a New Year, it has a lot going for it. It is New Year day
for Druids. This was shifted to Gregorian later.
With
the same logic and thinking of the philosophy of Druids, I have said previously
it makes lot of sense to start Hindu New Year Day for all traditions on Makara Sankranti Day, when Uttarayana
Punyakala begins and close to Gregorian Calendar. Makara Sakranti signifies an agricultural
bench mark day and spiritual bench mark day.
This day can therefore be celebrated with larger significance in Hindu
American Temples clubbing January 1 celebrations. After all American Holidays are celebrated
more often than not on week-ends to suit their convenience. I have also said that we should shift our New
Year Day Celebration in Temples to this
Day as the reigning New Year at the start of January looks arbitrary and
underachieving by comparison. In fact
Karunanidhi enforced it for a while in Tamilnadu making it Tamil New Year day
which Jayalaita squashed it
politically to embarrass
Karunanidhi. January first celebrates no seasonal or agricultural bench
mark. It rolls in like a momentary spasm
between Christmas and the Super Bowl, a distraction from the three wise men's
trek to Bethlehem robbing their religious thoughts. They arrived only on January 6, Epiphany Day.
Celtic
Christianity allows some pre-Christian ideas to linger like Samhain, especially
a vivid mysticism of nature, a connection between mother Earth and Divinity
which is invariably noticed in Hindu religious practices and mantras. Celtic spirituality is marked by the belief
that what is deepest in us is the image of God (the Self within us). Sin
(Maaya) has obscured that image but not erased it (avidya). While majority of
Christians (Mediterranean Tradition) in their doctrine of original sin teach what
is deepest in us is our sinfulness. This has given rise to a tendency to define
in terms of the ugliness of their failings instead of the beauty of their
origins. Halloween thoughts are diverted to goblins from the thought of Self within us or souls and
spirituality. Celtic Benediction
declares: "Glory be to you , O God,
for the gift of life unfolding through those who have gone before me; (pitrus);
for your life planted within my soul (antaryamin); and in every soul coming
into the world; for the grace of new
beginnings (incarnation); placed before
me In every moment and encounter of
life; for the grace of new beginnings in every moment of life" Pagan book
of Halloween says; "It is time when
the spirits of deceased loved ones and friends are honored, as well as a time
to gaze into the world of things yet to come"
13. HINDU REFLECTIONS ON
CHRISTMAS TREE AND LIGHTING
The
use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands to symbolize eternal life was a
custom of the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. Tree worship was common among the pagan
Europeans and survived their conversion to Christianity in the Scandinavian
customs of decorating the house and barn with evergreens at the New Year to
scare away the devil and of setting up a tree for the birds during Christmas
time. Tradition of using small candles to light up the Christmas Tree, dates
back to at least the middle of the 17th century. In 1882, the first Christmas
tree was lit by the use of electricity in USA. Edward Johnson lighted up a
Christmas tree in New York City with eighty small electric light bulbs. It
should be noted that Edward Johnson created the first string of electric
Christmas lights that were then mass produced around 1890. Deepaavali, Kartigai and Christmas are the
season for LED lights today in all American homes and public places. This year
The Tennessee State Christmas tree is adorned with 3000 LEDs, the Rockefeller
Plaza tree has 45,000 and the landscapes at Gaylord Opryland Resort Center in
Nashville feature 2 million LED’s providing brilliant light for all to
enjoy. In recent years Christmas is
celebrated by all in America as a great commercial and social season and
therefore addressed as Festival of
Lights Season or Happy Holiday Season, to conform to American secular
status but needing participation by all faiths for its commercial success. This is the greatest
and largest month long shopping season
of the year.
During
Janmaashtami Celebrations Pinna Maram (a favorite tree under which Lord Krishna rested while
grazing cattle) is decorated and
worshiped; this is Alexandria Laurel Dali
oil tree. It is the sacred plant found in front of Santana
Venugopalaswamy Temple in Chennai. This tree or its branches are brought and
worshiped as in Christmas as a part of celebration of Krishna’s birthday in
Tamil Nadu. Tree worship and lighting is everyday act of worship in Hindu
Tradition with vivid display and elaborate worship on specific days. Veneration
of trees and lights might have sprung from Hindu Tradition. Its famous Gaayatree Mantra worshiping
Supreme Being as Sun and Fire, the visible form of Light is as old as the
Universe itself. As seen above the
Christmas Trees and Christmas Lights are of recent origin. With its triangular
shape Christmas tree points towards heaven.
Hindu trees for worship are all pervading (Vishnu, Earth, sky and plant
kingdom --Banyan, Aswattha, Pinnai etc.).
There is no Biblical reference to lighting or tree during Christmas as
far as my knowledge goes. Therefore the inspiration in mid-centuries should
have come from others sources like Hanukkah, Pagan traditions which again should
have drawn their inspiration from Sanatana Dharma; similarly, many other
traditions that celebrate Festival of Lights.
Hindu festivals of lights Deepaavali, Karthigai and Makra Vilakku of
Makara Sankranti Jyotir Linga on
Sivaratri Night culminating with bonfire on Holy night which I have detailed in my discourse
“Festivals of Lights in Ancient Traditions of Universal Appeal” have many
references in Hindu Scriptures unlike Christmas Lighting and Tree decoration during
Christmas celebrating Birth of Christ.
Christmas
tree and Lighting starts immediately after Thanksgiving Holiday and these
decorations are removed on or after 5th of January. Hindu religious Festivals
of Lights starts with Deepaavali and ends with Holi when the winter season
ends. Will it not be a good idea for Hindu Americans to start the lighting
decorations a day prior to Deepaavali and end a day after Holi or at least the
day after Makara Sankranti (14th or 15th of January) when Uttaaraayana starts
learning from the Christian tradition?
Festival of Lights Season in America falls in between. Thus the two cultures can meet in tradition
and significance with different themes to suit their tradition visiting churches
or temples.
Muslims
do not join others in decorating their houses with lights during the season
though they have originated from the same belief of God as Christians. Islam is
against idol worship and theoretically against any form of symbolism. They are
up against Hinduism because of this reasoning pointing their fingers that
Hindus do not obey Qu'ran. But green color, stars and crescent moon are
elaborately used religiously in many ways. Red represents sacrificial blood of
Ismail symbolized during Bakrid Festival similar to red being the sacrificial
blood of Jesus. Hinduism has many stories to tell about all these symbolism.
There is an 800 year old tradition of lighting with lantern in Egypt during
Ramadan. Yet Muslim Americans do not join the mainstream to display colored
lights like Hindu and others during the Holiday Season. All other traditions
join the holiday Season by decorating Christmas tree and lighting while
children eagerly wait for their customary gifts under the tree and
mouth-watering cookies and candies.Whether Hindu American parents like it or
not, to their children it is an eagerly
awaited cheerful season to enjoy
Christmas Holidays with trees and lights
coming up and waiting to receive surprise
gifts from Santa. Thi is also a Holiday Season in India with
music and dance festival. Christmas Day
and New year Day are National Holidays In India.
Please
go through my detailed discourse "Hindu Reflections on Christmas Tree and
Lighting" and "Festivals of Lights in Ancient Traditions of Universal
in Appeal" as attached and also posted on the Blog
Hindu Reflections.
14. ONE HINDU
TEMPLE-COMPLEX FOR MANY TRADITIONS OVERSEAS
Unlike
Hindus in India, Hindu Americans flock
to one temple-complex to fulfill their religious aspirations grown with their
family traditions, which differ widely from region to region in India, even on their specific festival and
ritualistic worship days; they are
living amid majority who follow Christianity a founded religion which
never understood Hinduism based on Eternal
Tradition (Sanatana Dharma) or want to do so, but for a handful who are spiritually
inclined and are seeking guidance from Hinduism resorting to Yoga and
meditation. Even among Hindus who are
disgruntled or dissatisfied have moved out from the majority to set up their own traditional temples like
Swami Naaraayan Temple, Saibaba Temple, Kaali Temple, Aiyappan Temple, Hare
Krishna Temple etc., however
uneconomical they may be to run and how limited the crowd may be, for they are
rich and affluent. Even within
temple-complex some groups not satisfied with the main mass worship have forced
their own traditional worship on the same day of main worship as seen in Jagannatha sanctums with liberal
donation. In Hindu-complexes the will of the founding fathers or the trustees
prevail with the motto take it or leave it, though temple is registered as
public place of worship and non-profit organization. Sometimes we point at
Christianity showing their different churches, leanings and different mass
worships; yet they laugh at us as
viewing us confused and misdirected. Jesus thoughtfully said: "Father they
know not what they do, forgive them".
Of late they too are awakening to have one broad based mass to suit all
drawn from different church beliefs. It is true Neo-Buddhists, Arya Samajists,
Jains, Christian-Hindu mixed faith
families and even some non-traditional Sikhs (not panje-pyaare) want to
visit Hindu Temple-Complexes. Thus both vertical disintegration and horizontal
expansion is taking place within migrated Indian community who have taken
foreign citizenship and yet want to hold on to ethnic and cultural identity.
This is easier with others like Chinese or Japanese migrants than Hindus where
their God is faith based.
It
Is high time in the interest of future generation we recognize these problems
early, and follow the examples of Hindu temples run within Ramakrishna Math
complexes or as practiced from some Hindu groups who have lost touch with India
over generations like the Fiji Hindu Temples
where the focus is more towards the Universal Oneness of Sanatana Dharma
and spiritual goals in practice than complex detail oriented ritualistic approach
with no focus on spiritual thought. Keeping this in view I have prepared a
draft as attached above whose objective is clear--to focus on One Mass Worship, Universal Oneness and
spiritual focus to evolve ourselves within our scriptural sanctions sticking to
the dictum Vedokhilam
Dharmamoolam--Vedas are our final authority.
We in USA enjoy religious freedom and are not controlled by bureaucracy
with government interference like the Hindu Religious endowment Boards or
constantly bugged by minority of a secular State who are given more attention than major religion as
experienced in India. So these thoughts
are essential for Hindu settlers here but they are equally important to Hindus
in India being a majority how to make the much needed reform to make it a
casteless and blind faith free society and to realize Universal Oneness and
Supreme Principle (Tadekam). Caste and blind-faith have crept into Hindu
culture over a long period. Migrants overseas are led to a caste-less society
indirectly without their knowing or feeling the pinch and many traditions are
also fast vanishing. In the bargain we should not be drawn to other non-dharma
based traditions.
Please
visit Hindu Reflections: <nrsrini.blogspot.com> for a detailed discourse
on “One Hindu Temple-complex for Many Hindu Traditions Overseas”
(JUNE
2013)
15. MAHALAYA AMAVASYA
PITRU PAKSHA--ALL SOULS DAY
In Catholicism, All Souls' Day, also
known as the Commemoration of All Faithful Departed is
observed principally in the Catholic
Church, although some
churches of the Anglican
Communion and
the Old
Catholic Churches also
celebrate it; the observance is the third day of Hallow mas and
annually occurs on November 2.
In
Hinduism, the dark fortnight of Aswayuja (September-October) is known as
the Mahalaya Paksha, a fortnight sacred for offering oblations to the departed
ancestors. Offerings made during this period benefit all the departed souls,
whether they are related or known to one or not. Thus it is an All Souls
Day for Hindus. Charity in the form of food is important during this
observance. Even regular Hindu Tarpana (Water and sesame seed oblation) is
directed to all the departed souls and not restricted to ancestors or near
relatives or friends.
Hindu
Temples of America help their members perform the Last Rites
(Antyeshti) for the departed and to conduct Anniversaries of
the diseased parents with the guidance of priests in the temple premises.
Many Hindus in USA do not perform the Anniversary ritual for their
deceased parents like in India. This important ritual is slowly fading away
from Hindu culture overseas with some lame excuse. Many even do not remember
the date of passing away of their dear ones. It will be fitting and
proper to revive this ceremony by participating in a mass ritual
on the holiest last day of Mahalaya Paksha similar to what is being done every
day at the pilgrimage center of Gaya in the Vishnupada temple helping
the pilgrims to pay their obeisance to 33 generations of the past and
acquaintances. All castes of all traditions can take part in such a
ritual at the same time irrespective of the dates of the deceased as
explained in my detailed discourse on the subject. Devoted Christians do
it wherever they are every year on Nov. 2. Mahalaya Amavasya day is a
fixed holiest da in the year for remembering all souls in
Hindu belief whatever may be the date of the deceased. Please
find below a message from Sankar Math of the North which focuses on
this important ritual:
"Pitri
Paksh is perhaps the most important period whereby Hindus remember their
ancestors in a spirit of love, prayer, fasting and admiration for sacrifices
made by their forefathers. Why would such emphasis be placed on ancestral
reflections? The Hindu scriptures mention that sons that willingly and dutifully
perform the rights and rituals in remembrance of their ancestors attain merit
and are blessed ten-fold when compared to worshiping the various forms of God.
Hindus live lives that are duty bound and indebted! This does not mean that
one’s life is burdened but the principles of Sanatan Dharma ensure that Hindus
understand the importance of daily living.
The
tenets of Hinduism enhance and strengthen the discipline and responsibility
necessary for Hindus to live long and fruitful lives. We can’t get up when we
want, sleep when we want, eat what we want and live how we want. This is not
the Hindu’s way of life. Daily prayer and worship; fasting, meditation, yoga,
japa, tapa and performing the paanch nitya karmas are advised. Shankaracharya
the late great Pundit Hari Prasadji lived and preached such disciplines. Of the
many mentioned in his lifetime is the gem, “Everything should be done in
moderation…except prayer. It is the only activity that can be
overdone without creating negative side effects.” In a special
interview he stated, “My parents were my living breathing gods on earth and now
that they have gone on to the great beyond it is my responsibility, despite
whatever obstacle or situation I am faced with, to do this for them” (pitru
havan, tarpanam).
The
two weeks that are put aside every year on the Hindu calendar is never enough
to repay the sacrifices of our ancestors. What better way to appreciate them
than to live the lives that they wanted for us – lives full of meaning and
purpose, driven by a quest for knowledge both secular and spiritual. If we
accept the wisdom of the ancestors, a happier life is guaranteed. One of the
founding senior pundits of Swaha, Pundit Balram Presad, reaffirms that one’s
success in life can only come through parents’ grace and blessings; if we as
children turn our backs on this then failure stands in the path of our bumpy
journey to realization. In the context of our indentured past, our
ancestors understood that Bhesh, Bhaasha, Bhau, Bhajan and Bhojan will lead us
to Bhagwan. This means that the clothes we wear, the attitude we adopt, the
language we use, the songs we sing and listen to and the food we eat will lead
us to God or take us away from him – it all depends on whether we make the
right choices and live saattvic lives of purity and devotion. Let not this
special time pass without remembrance of our great ancestral
history".
If
even Western culture attaches so much importance to All Souls Day
why not Hindus known for their adherence to worship, festival celebrations
rites and rituals? This will be acceptable to inter-racially
married couples too if they have not turned atheists due to poor
upbringing, to remember their ancestors on special days and pay their
obeisance.
*16. SOME NOBLE THOUGHTS
AND SOME BIZARRE CUSTOMS IN THE WORLD ON NEW YEAR’S EVE
Hindu
custom is to distribute both sweet jaggery (bella in Kannada) and bitter neem
(bevu in Kannada) on their New Year's Day! Life is both bitter and sweet, so
endure and enjoy!
A.
Here are few thoughts for the month of December and wishes for the New Year
2014:
Luck
is not a factor, hope is not a strategy and fear is not an option.
Speak
only when you feel that your words are better than your silence.
We
make our decisions and then our decisions turn around and make us.
Life
is a continuous challenge and an unending struggle; we are not made rich by
that’s in our pocket but we are rich by what’s in our heart.
Stay
focused, and live a healthy life; there is no competition in destiny, run your
race and wish others well.
Millions
of trees in the world are planted by squirrels which bury nuts and then forget
where they hid them; do good and forget – it will grow.
Good
things come to those who believe, better things come to those who are patient
and best things come to those who don’t give up.
B.
The social fabric in a Hindu's life is so knitted that no human activity is
segregated from the divine and so he rushes to the temple on New Year's Day to
seek Peace, Prosperity and Health from God though not a religious day for him,
while he watches TV late midnight to see the dawn of official New Year on New
Year's Eve. But see below World's
bizarre New Year eve's customs of ten countries of the world:
The
18 countries polled were the US, Britain, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Germany,
France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Switzerland, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium,
Austria, the Czech Republic, Russia and Poland.
Here's the list of 10 strangest customs
revealed in the poll:
1. Gathering in a graveyard to be with dead
relatives (Talca, Chile)
2. Trying to hear animals talking; if you
fail, it's good luck (Romania)
3. Banging bread on the walls to frighten away
bad spirits (Ireland)
4. Throwing furniture out the window
(Johannesburg, South Africa)
5. Diving into a frozen lake, carrying a tree
(Siberia)
6. A "possum drop": lowering a
possum over a noisy crowd (North Carolina, US)
7. A village punch-up with neighbors to settle
old disputes (Peru)
8. Parading the street while swinging balls of
fire over your head (Scotland)
9. Watching an old British TV comedy sketch
about a lonely dinner (Germany)
10. A giant, three-day water-fight, with water
balloons and buckets (Thailand)
(Source Times of India)
You
will receive my detailed discourse on “Why Hindus rush to Temple on January 1?”
Please give a quick reading before you settle down before TV to watch the dawn
of New Year on New Year Eve!
Wish
you all A Happy and Prosperous New Year.
17. WHY HINDU AMERICANS
RUSH TO TEMPLE TO WORSHIP ON NEW YEAR’S EVE?
It
is customary for Hindus to rush to temple on every January 1 and offer special
prayers seeking peace and prosperity from their chosen deity. Hindus worship
the Supreme Being (Brahman in Sanskrit) through their chosen deities. It is difficult to find the word Brahman in
Rigveda. He is worshiped as elements of Nature and as natural cyclic phenomena
like Samvatsara or Year or Time (Kaala). Hindus name their week after five
moving planets, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and Sun and Moon known as grahas in Sanskrit. These are seven out of the nine planets
worshiped as Navagrahas. We often hear from Upanishads that our ancient sages
meditated upon these derived visible lights of planets and star from Brahman
the Supreme Light, as Brahman alone.
New
Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern
Gregorian calendar and adopted by all Nations of the world as their official
New Year's Day though they celebrate their own religious New year's day
independently. . January 1 date was known as Circumcision Style because this
was the date of the Feast of the Circumcision, considered to be the eighth day
of Christ's life, counting from December 25 when his birth is celebrated. This
day was christened as the beginning of the New Year by Pope Gregory as he
designed the Liturgical Calendar.
Hinduism
with its different regional cultures celebrates New Year at different times of
the year. The New Year is celebrated by
paying respect to elders in the family and by seeking their blessings as well
as by rushing to temples to offer special worship seeking prosperity and
happiness. They also exchange tokens of good wishes for a healthy and
prosperous year ahead. It also includes prayers for universal peace and
contentment. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Government of Tamil Nadu
declared in 2008 that the Tamil New Year should be celebrated on the first day
of Tamil month of Thai (14 January) coinciding with the harvest festival of
Pongal. The 2008 legislation of the
previous DMK-led administration has since been annulled by an act of the Tamil
Nadu Assembly in August, 2011. January 14 is a very significant holy day for
all Hindus in India called Makara Sankranti.
Makara Sankranti is a major
harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. Many Indians also
conflate this festival with the Winter Solstice, and believe that the sun ends
its southward journey (Sanskrit: Dakshinayana) at the Tropic of Capricorn, and
starts moving northward (Sanskrit: Uttarayaana) towards the Tropic of Cancer,
in the month of Pausha on this day in mid-January. Makara Sankranti commemorates the beginning
of the harvest season and cessation of the northeast monsoon in South India.
The movement of the Sun from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti
and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn zodiac known as Makara in Sanskrit,
this occasion is named as Makara Sankranti in the Indian context. It is one of
the few Hindu Indian festivals which is celebrated on a fixed date i.e. 14
January every year (or may be sometimes on 15 January (leap year)). It sounds
logical to me that India could have adopted Makara Sankranti as their New
Year's Day for the whole of India. My reasoning is: 1. It is the holiest day in
Hindu concept as Bheeshma waited for this day to give up his ghost to ascend to
heaven; 2. It is the only Hindu
festival that coincides with Gregorian Calendar falling on 14th of January
every year; 3, It is the closest to January 1, the official New Year’s Day of
all Nations of the world; 4. It would suit all traditions.
Hindu
American temples like Pittsburgh are fully packed on January 1 as many Hindus
are very religious and sentimental. We also notice that most of the national
holidays in America but for a few are celebrated as to the convenience and
generally planned for the weekend to have a long week end like President's Day,
Labor day etc. Even January 1 which
is actually a Christian religious day
is a convenient date to celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ after eight days of
his birth. I wonder why they did not combine it with January 5 which would have
been the 11th day of the birth of Jesus. In Hinduism naming of a child takes
place on or after 11th day of birth. Perhaps that is why the Christmas tree and
lights in America are taken out on the 11th day, the day significant for naming in ancient traditions. I therefore
feel there is nothing wrong in our celebrating New Year's Day on Makara
Sankranti Day, after a fortnight, a day closest to Januar1 and auspicious to
Hindus instead of rushing on January 1, a day most significant to Christian
Faith only. Our fortunes and luck will not fluctuate by this postponement date
for seeking prosperity and happiness for the rest of 350 days. The wisdom for
conducting special Pooja by the temples on a day holy to Christians is
therefore not understandable but the temples could be kept open for long hours
to facilitate visiting devotees leaving the option to devotees to do any pooja of their choice and not make it a significant Hindu religious
worship day by the temple.
Wish
you all a happy and prosperous New Year!
(DECEMBER 2013)
18. LET US FOSTER AND
SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF PEACE AROUND WORLD
Hindu Vedic sages in their prayers expressed
their longing for living hundred winters “Jeevema saradssatam, pasyema
saradssatam” and also “mrityor maa amritam gamaya” lead us from death to
Immortality and ended up all
their prayers seeking all round peace thrice “Om Shantih, Santih, Santih” directed to Supreme Principal. They did
realize the severity in life and feared the cold winters of the Himalyas. That
is why they said let us live to see 100 winters (Sarad) and not years. They realized death as a fact of life and
also death is only part of the journey in soul’s struggle to earn permanent
happiness and oneness with God. But at
the same time they desired full span of life to live serving people in sound health and peace.
That is why they practiced Yoga and meditation and sought all
round peace including plant and animals which in modern terms we say
Eco-friendly measures and Preservation of flora and fauna which is also
expressed in their prayers. They also invented Ayurveda which is the Science of
Longevity and not a system of medicine alone as is conjectured today.
Ayurveda means Wisdom for Longevity.
These prayers were not directed to sages alone for they pleaded for God’s intervention for all beings making
it an universal prayer.
To-day
Peace on Earth has become an annual slogan to
voice on a specific day and
forget as we celebrate International Peace day as well as World Day of Peace
at different times while exchange our greetings in January with the
most popular and universally appealing to all peoples of the world, the phrase
“Peace on Earth” seeking the divine intervention though not openly expressed. This dream of Peace has been working into the
heart of the society for millenniums initiated by the wisdom of Vedas. Wendell
Berry says; “We have lived by the assumption that what was good for us would be
good for the world… We have been wrong. We must change our lives, so that that
it will be possible to live by the contrary assumption that what is good for
the world will be good for us. And that requires that we make the effort to
know the world and learn what is good for it”. This very much echoes wisdom of
Vedas for universal peace. Vedas said leave the choice to God, just pray; He
knows what is good for us and what we are destined to.
Peace
can be defined not just the absence of war in the negative thinking but also
the presence of the conditions for just and sustainable peace, including access
to healthy food, clean drinking water, education for women and children,
security from physical harm, Eco-friendly measures, preservation of flora and
fauna, and other inviolable human rights, as its positive contributions to
promote peace. Today companies are setting goals to achieve green image--Energy
management, zero waste, Value water and Green and Healthy surroundings of work
place. Thoughts are focused on increasing recycling and material-sourcing
efforts and establishing a zero-waste-to-landfill policy; Water has been
treated as an endless resource for long, which is not the case to-day with the
population explosion so there are efforts being made too desalt sea water,
recover clean water from sewage (research is going on in Germany to make it
cheap) and evaluate rain water harvesting.
Vedas consider water as Brahman himself and there are number of prayers
focusing Brahman as water element and meditate upon. A discourse will soon follow on water deity.
It is therefore duty of everybody to treat water with respect and enjoy the
benefit it provides. Companies are trying to focus on the health of their
employees to create a greener and healthier workplace which in turn would
attract and retain top talent. Recent
story of Shanghai submerged in pollution making life hard to breath and step
out of homes within the city should come as an eye opener to learn, what the
cost of neglect of Eco-friendly measures and destruction of nature is?
The
Christmas and New Year Celebration is long and widespread and is a continuous
celebration of many religious events and peace messages coming from world’s
leading faith, Christianity which claims to be the only hope for the
world. January 1 and New Year Celebration for all was promoted
by Catholic Popes in the past and present whose speeches indirectly motivated
mass conversion though the Popes themselves
might not have intended. They
also included World Day of Peace to the Festival Season to be observed on
January 1 when Popes address the world. Can we as Hindu Americans also
contribute something here? American Hindus could as well include this theme
to Makara Sankranti Day to celebrate the
New Year and spread the message of Peace
on Earth dedicating the day for the special worship of Earth and Sun
learning from the wisdom of Catholic Popes, if not from the wisdom of Vedas.
They could conduct an Yajna for Viswa Shanti rounding up their everyday prayer
for Peace for the World on a magnified sacrificial ritual and as a holy
observance day instead of reducing it to a food stuff named festival, Pongal and Maattu Pongal (Cow kichadi
or pilaf) religiously celebrated. Germans have a beer festival and I believe it
is not labelled religious. Hindu religion often enters the kitchen and names
some of its festivals instead focusing on the deity. Previously I talked about
Makara Sankranti could be observed as New year celebration common to all Hindu
Traditions. Here we could also add World Peace as Christianity has done.
Therefore
my current discourse “Let us foster and spread the Message of Peace around
World” should interest you all as attached and posted as well on the Blog of
Hindu Reflections: <nrsrini.blogspot.com>
(JANUARY 2014)
19. SMAARTA TRADITION OF
TEMPLE WORSHIP IS IDEAL FOR AMERICAN HINDUS
Even
in America when we go to a temple to witness a festival being celebrated or a
ritual being performed in Hindu Temple complexes where a number of deities are
installed in individual sanctums we sometimes wonder what goes on with our
sectarian outlook with which we are brought up. Our priests who are Sectarian Aaagama
trained also often indulge in their usual practice of worship directed to the
Ishta-devata or the deity focused for
the day or event. Temple authorities
justify saying that they want all other traditions to get acquainted with what
is going on for a particular tradition focused on the day. But the attendance is invariably thin on all such
days while focus is on minority tradition oriented worship. In the previous two or three discourses I have
tried to bring home how all our worships are directed to Trinity whoever may be
the deity we are worshiping who is none other than Saguna Brhaman in his three
aspects of Srishthi (creation), Sthiti
(maintenance or Preservation), and Laya
(dissolution) which are cyclic in nature in order to facilitate the individual
Self to merge with the Universal Self that is Brahman. So our prayer ends with
looking upwards as we look at the Vimana (cupola) before we leave the temple
after contemplating on Nirguna Brahman in his elemental manifestation.
It
is true we are brought up with sectarian outlook as Saivites or Vaishanvites or
Saktas. But what we have missed in our upbringing is the most logical worship
tradition promoted by Sankara as Panchayatana Puja (five-in -one worship) in
his Shanmata consolidation (bringing Hinduism
within the fold of six schools of worship out of the confusion that prevailed).
This is being followed by a small group of Brahmin community today who call
themselves as Smaartas and who are also Advaita followers who say Sankara is the originator of their Tradition
and even today Sringeri Jagadguru They are smart too! Sankaracharya is their
traditional head. Sankara himself could not do much because his focus had been
on Advaita philosophy to fight nihilism and atheism and also he brought out this
Smaarta tradition concept towards the last part of his missionary pursuit. it
is also clear Sankara was not a Sectarian promoter of saivism but
Universal Oneness. Vivekananda and
ramakrishna are considered to belong to this Smaarta Tradition.
Smaarta
Tradition followers in Karnataka are known as Sanketis. They have a powerful
organization in USA called NASA--North American Sanketi Association. Smaartas
are well read in Sanskrit and most of them study Vedas. Even in Tirupati people who chant Vedas during
Lord's procession are Smaarta Vedic scholars though the priests are
Vaishnavites. The attached discourse gives a brief description of this most effective Hindu Tradition which is non
-sectarian and suits all particularly Hindu Americans who are drawn from
different traditions. They go to Hindu
Temple Complex for mass worship where any one deity is worshiped as per the
program of the day which often they do not follow meaningfully if they don't
belong to that day's traditional worship; nor anybody tries to explain it. Smaarta Tradition is the most suitable among Hindu Traditions for adoption by Hindu Americans to follow
with one unified form of worship of Saguna Brahman as Trinity
in the three aspects of Srishthi (creation), Sthiti (Preservation)
and Laya (dissolution) to facilitate contemplation on Nirguna
Brahman in the final act. If
only we are able to understand the meaning of all the Veda Mantras that
are chanted during worship and slokas recited in Sanskrit it will be obvious
our worship is only addressed to Trinity through the deity we are watching.
Even if we are familiar with divine aspects of temple design it would be clear.
Please refer to my discourse--Divine character of Hindu Temples in Concept and
Design, February 2012. Unfortunately this is not understood by many who follow
the worship of the day blindly but with implicit faith in their chosen deity of Puranic lore.
If we follow the Smaarta tradition this concept of Saguna Brahman worship will
be obvious by the procedures followed and mantras chanted. There are exclusive
Smaarta Tradition Worship Temples in India and Sringeri guides them all.
(MARCH 2014)
20. THINKING OF TRANSCENDENTAL PI AND BRAHMAN
ON MARCH 14
Yesterday was the Day 3.14, a day of infinite
possibilities like the Pi the greek symbol used in our
calculations of area and volume of circular and elliptical objects.
Pi is the ratio between the circumference and diameter of a
circle with a never ending accurate value of 3.1415926............
Pi is a transcendental number, a concept that transcends our
ability to understand like Brahman that inspires lot of spiritual thoughts in
us. The simple beauty of Pi inspired USA Congress to pass a
resolution in 2009 to declare March 14 "Pi day"
What makes Pi=1415926… mystic is its decimal part which runs to
infinity after the decimal point. This reminds me of the Vedic description of
Transcendental Brahman, “anoeraneeyaan mahatoe maheeyaan”—Smaller than
the smallest and larger than the largest. To the left side of the number 1 to
start with the decimal portion converges to a point as the smallest. To the
right side it goes to infinity. The decimal
part imparts to it transcendental stature while the numerical
part whole rational number reminds of saguna Brahman in his three aspects of
Creation (Srishthi), Sustenance (Sthiti) and Dissolution (Laya). Please
go through the more explicit and thought provoking details in the
discourse.
I have focused on spiritual rendering of the March 14 pi Day in
a discourse as attached to this e-mail which is also posted on the blog Hindu
Reflections: <nrsrini.blogspot.com> Your comments are welcome.
*21. UNITY IN DIVERSITY
My
thoughts were drawn to a recent column by our popular columnist Sarita Prabhu
in Tennessean this weekend titled “Cultural Differences can be topic of honest
conversation”. Influenced by the wisdom contained therein I thought I
should draw your focus on some of my discourses.
As
you all aware Martin Luther King Jr Magnet High School In
Tennessee had for the first time Diversity Day on March 14 in which
students originating from 70 countries studying there, speaking 60 different
languages at home often brought up in their own culture at home but
studying together with fellow students with so much cultural differences almost
spending 30 to 40% of the day. In fact they are spending their active life in a
world of their own which is like a microcosm. Children shaping out of such
diversity are often identified as products of American culture which is hard to
define. It is as diversified as Hindu culture of migrants from the
Sub-continent of India. Unlike some major religious groups of the world
born and brought up in monotheistic, one-track society, Hindu
Americans know how to survive and succeed and even out-beat the majority
in multicultural atmosphere in public life. They do not like to build
colonies like the 17 Greek Fraternities in UTC campus who are dissatisfied with
American Culture. In public life Hindus believe in Unity in diversity. In
religious life they have moved too far from Universal Oneness of Sanathana
Dharama to Multiplicity of Traditions making their religious life complex even
in migrant countries. Today the original four caste system of Hindus has
multiplied enormously and we have today more than 60 scheduled castes alone in
Hinduism with countless deities for worship due the political wisdom of
independent India. This has resulted in countless political parties too
based on their religious bias. America does a great job assimilating
immigrants. Hindu Americans though managing well in a foreign soil can
do better and even lead the Country in Diversity Stress Management like what
MLK School does as micro cosmos. My religious and spiritual thoughts
often pull me out of my narrow traditional Hindu-way of thinking and make me
ponder over how we can find a common ground with our cultural differences and
make it appealing to all without sacrificing intended Hindu
Values. Such integration is taking place in the major religion of the
Country too to have one unified church and one mass worship. For this we
have to learn a lot about these cultural differences, have meaningful
conversations, and find common grounds while preserving our own Hindu Values
with malice towards none. First generation American Hindus
though brought up with conservative outlook, have learnt
how to live with different cultures making compromises. Here these
cultural differences have exploded as you see in the little cosmos of MLK. We
have created more problems by way of inter-racial and inter- traditional
wed-locks. Keeping these diversities in view I have brought forth a
number of discourses as to how we could spiritually orient ourselves gradually,
first having a basis as one traditional worship and then leading it to
Universal Oneness. Such an approach will contribute a lot for peace all around,
healthy living, mental peace and progress.
My
discourses in this context are: 1) Smaarta Tradition springs out of Sankara’s
five-in-one-worship for all; 2) Whose Abhishekam are we watching on
Mahasivaratri?; 3) One temple complex for many traditions Overseas and
others.; 4) Why temple outside prakaras are painted red and white? Etc. I have
also focused on many American Holidays as to how to make them appealing to
others who have not only moved out of Hinduism or resorted to atheism
but also make them appealing as a world religion for all taking back our
thoughts to spirituality of Sanathana from the traditional Puranic ritualistic
and faith oriented worship, keeping its essential traditional
worship pattern. Our temples have started the process by keeping
the temple open on all American holidays for long hours marking it as Special
Religious Events Day. We could learn a lot and change our modality of worship
if we focus on these issues though not a serious concern at present but
will come as a shock in the near future. Otherwise we will not be able to
revive the principles of Sanatana Dharama: ”Eko viprah bahudaa vadanti”,
“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, Krinvanto viswamaaryam” and “Sarve janah sukhino
bhavantu” but can parade in vain proclamations while not
implementing.
*22. YUGADI AND APRIL
FOOL’S DAY
Yugaadi (Also called Ugaadi) means Yuga+Aadi i.e. New
Year. It is believed that Lord Brahma started creation on this day. In the
Gregorian calendar January 1st is
called New Year’s day. In the Indian almanac the New Year is reckoned on the
basis of movement of Sun (called Souramaana) movement, of Moon (called
Chandramaana), and the movement of planet Guru (called Brihaspatyamaana).
One Souraamana year is the time taken for the Sun to
transit from Mesha Raasi to Meena Raasi, and occupies about 365 and a quarter
days. One Chandramaana year is the time taken for transit from Chaitra Sukla
Prathama to Phaalguna Krishna Amavaasya. The duration is about 354 days. In
order to reconcile the difference with the Souramaana year, an additional
month(13th) is periodically added to the Chandramaana year. This is
called Adhikamaasa. Brihaspatyamaana year is the time taken for Guru to
transit the Zodiac. The duration is approximately 361 days. Two other
less prevalent systems are Savanamaana--which is a year of 360 days each day
being interval of time between two successive sunrises, and Nakshtramaana which
is a year of twelve months, each month being interval of time between
successive occasions of Moon’s entry into Aswini Nakshatram (Total duration is
around 361 days). Souramaana system is followed in Tamilnaadu and Kerala.
Chandramaana is observed in Karnataka, Andhrapradesh, Kashmir and
Maharastra. Brihaspatyamaana is in vogue north of Vindhyas. This
year we celebrated Yugado on 31 March, 2014. It would be logical to have Makara
Sankranti as our New year for it comes on the same day as per official
calendar and was tried out in Tamilnadu.
Yesterday was April 1 celebrated as April Fool’s day in
the western Culture. I believe Pope Gregory fooled
everybody shifting a religious day to January 1 to fulfill his ego.In 1582,
when Pope Gregory XIII decreed the adoption of the “Gregorian calendar” — named
after himself — which moved New Year’s Day from the end of March to Jan.
1.Probably it was also Yugadi day like Chaandramaan Yugadi observed by
Hindus, then.
The change was published widely,
explains Ginger Smoak, an expert in medieval history at the University of Utah,
but those who didn’t get the message and continued to celebrate New Year
on April 1 “were ridiculed and, because they were seen as foolish, called
April Fools.”
Even though the annual panoply of
pranks meant to mock the gullible or to send a friend on a “fool’s errand” may
not be grounded in any ancient religious merrymaking, the notion of “holy
fools” does have a long and respected place in Judeo-Christian history.
Hebrew prophets were often scorned as
mad or eccentric for pronouncing unwelcome or uncomfortable truths. The Apostle
Paul talked to the Corinthians about becoming “fools for Christ.” And Eastern
Orthodoxy still sees the “holy fool” as a type of Christian martyr.
How foolish then we are to rush to
temple on January 1 to celebrate New Year! The Temple is also kept open on
January1 and is busy with Special worship all day long. Even for
Christians it s does not make sense to celebrate New Year on this day
which is supposed to be the Bitrhday of Jesus Christ which falls on Decxember
25..May be January 1 is his Namakarana Day? Pope Gregory XII is the author of this calendar, who
brought into force on February 24, 1582 which was forced on all in the world
progressively by the Western Powers on all their subjects. In fact Pope Gregory
was following Julian calendar for religious observances in churches which he
revised later to satisfy his ego. He not only fooled us but also fooled all
Christians. Let us add All Fools Day also for our list of Special Religious
Events Day as some Christians do.
23. DID HOLI BLAZING
FIRES AND BIZARRE COLORS INSPIRE WESTERN CULTURES TOO?
Holi
is the world renowned Festival of Colors known for its Bonfire, Bright
Colors and Universal Oneness. Though this festival was to be celebrated on the
auspicious day of March 16, Phalgun Poornima Full Moon Day, American
Hindus chickened out to celebrate it in the open-air due to wet and bone
chilling weather. But their enthusiasm will not die. They will celebrate
it when the weather cheers up; better late than never. Holi is a
spring festival and so they wait for the real spring to arrive. In India the
weather was friendly and so the celebrations took place as scheduled. Hindus
are not very serious to go to temples on this day and it is more a social event
than a religious event probably an event of a Dharmic day which brings
home the concept Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the whole world is one
family.
Holi
is known for its Bonfire and Bright Color Runs blasted and reveled by all
participants. Bonfire and revelry in colors motivated by Holi are seen in
many traditions around the globe, particularly noticeable even in Western
Cultures of Europe and America. Muslims do not participate. The latest
inspiration is visibly seen in "The Happiest 5 K on The Planet" Color
Run that suddenly became a brain wave of America year before last that has
caught the mood of many globally. In my own city annual Color Run actually
shone a little better this year, with a persistent cold drizzle making the
event's trademark tinted powders stick even better. Rain or shine, the
determined enthusiastic runners got messy having fun. They did not postpone
like Hindu Americans. Coming to America we have learnt holidays are to be
celebrated as per convenience and enjoyed to the maximum. Many National
Holidays are planned that way. We have the guidelines from President's Day.This
concept is slowly extending to all religious holidays too.
Please
enjoy the attached discourse on the pristine festival Holi, a festival of
fun and frolic in celebration but deep in its thoughts
and also the inspired celebrations in other cultures from
many lands and the recent world Event "the Happiest
5 K On The Planet"
*24. SHOULD HINDUS RIDE A DONKEY OR
HORSE—PEACE OR DHARMA?
April
13 in 2014 is Palm's Sunday beginning
the most sacred week of the year for Christians as Holy week when we celebrate
Phalgun Poornima Festivals. The Tamils celebrate it as Panguni Uttiram.
April 14th is our Solar New Year's day. Please refer to my discourse
on these subjects if you have not already gone through. They are available on
Hindu Reflections' Blog site.
Jesus decided to enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey. This
may look as a punishment to a Hindu riding a donkey. In first century
Palestine, when a king would go to war he would ride on a war horse
and when a king came in piece he would ride on a donkey. Jesus was coming
in peace as demonstrated by his donkey ride. People also welcomed
him with the words "Hosanna" meaning "Save us now". For
that he has to sacrifice himself the next Friday called Good Friday and
resurrect on Sunday called the Easter Sunday which is the holiest day of the
Holy week.
Bhagavadgeetaa begins with the words "Dharmakshetre Kurukshetre samavetaa Yuyutsavah" -- both
Pandavas and Kauravas were assembled together to break the news to the world
that they were assembled there to fight a war. Krishna turned that place
to a Field for Action and Field for Dharma. Only
action will tell. It is
said in Bhagavadgeetaa whenever the land is threatened with declining
Dharma He will reincarnate to protect the righteous, destroy the evil
and establish Dharma thus bringing peace and harmony to live. It was not
a promise but a divine guarantee so the outcome of war was known even
before it started though Krishna was not an active participator. It was not a
peace mission but one of justice. Krishna and Christ seem to be not in
agreement on the issue of Al-Quid a!
Hindus always feel Jesus is an incarnation or a liberated soul.
He therefore took no direct action and resorted to a Philosophical approach
sacrificing himself. He also said "Oh lord! Why have you forsaken
me!" while giving up his ghost. He was pleading for mercy from the
Supreme on everybody's behalf as it was not within his own powers. It was
a mission of peace and mercy. That is why he was riding on a donkey.
He rose from the dead but decided to remain as inner controller of
all. Those who believe, realize and visualize will be liberated.
Others are doomed forever. It is all one's life chance for ever. Hindu God is
more merciful. He says "Take
any number of births but arise and be awake, you will be my honored guest when
you so desire"
Krishna too went on a peace mission from Dwaraka to Hastinapura.
No donkey or horse could help in his urgent mission. He flew. Peace did not
appeal to the crowd. He showed his strength to some and returned. Peace or no
peace one has to get through Karma and reap the benefits good or bad. He
did not change his rules. Result was Kuruksehtra or Dharmakshetra, Choice was
peoples. He was their judge.
Are we all Pagan? You may be surprised when you come across
some of the Easter practices. The Burning of Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jess
is common in some Latin American and Greek traditions. It is similar to our
burning of the effigies of Ravana, Indrajit and Kumbhakarna during
Dusserah. Also Ascension of Jesus Christ is celebrated by flying kites
decorated with Jesus Christ in Bermuda on Good Friday. Hindus believe in
mythical animals like Krauncha, Sardula (Yali), Hansa, Gandaberunda
and this looks bizarre to our Western friends. Do you know what the Randy
Easter Bunny is? In the old Anglo-Saxon festival Easter was spring
festival in glorification of Goddess Estre whose symbol of fertility was a
rabbit. Germans who settled in Pennsylvania in the 17th century brought from
the motherland tales of the "Oster-hase" Easter rabbit,
the mythical egg laying bunny that children have come to love and commercially
exploited! In Sweden it is mini Halloween scaring away Easter witches. Bizarre
traditions are there in all faiths not in Hinduism alone! Enjoy the hot
cross buns of Easter but do not look at the white cross on it for it
is an echo of Christ's sufferings on the cross on Good Friday. Otherwise it
is a sweet bread lightly flavored with fruits and spices, a British invention.
25. IF YOU FIND GOD IN
DARKNESS, THAT IS BRAHMAN
Barbara
Brown Taylor, who ranks among America’s leading theologians is encouraging
believers and non-believers not only seek the light but to face the darkness
too, something that 21st century Americans tend to resist. God
declared in the beginning “Let there be Light”. Scriptures therefore concluded
light as holy and condemned darkness to hell. A walk in the dark can lead to
wisdom, deliver us from fear, and bring us closer God, believes Taylor.
Darkness was often the setting for humanity’s closest encounters with the
divine. God appeared to Abraham in the night and promised him descendants more
numerous than stars. The Exodus happened at night. God met Moses in the thick
darkness atop Mount Sinai to hand down the Ten
Commandments. The Apostle Paul’s conversion happened after he lost
his sight. Jesus was born beneath the star and resurrected in the darkness of a
cave. Most of the world’s major religions have something to say about finding
the God in the shadows. Gautama Buddha meditated in the caves of Northern
India. Muhammad received Koran in a cave outside Mecca. St. Francis prayed in a
tiny grotto near Assisi. Darkness is inviting everyone to know God.Taylor
believes, to heal us of our weakness and strengthen us for the journey.
Lord
Krishna was born in pitch dark in the prison and Lord Narasimha
during dark twilight zone. Rama entered Ayodhya in Pitch darkness. Narakasura
was killed in the night. Vishnu rested in perfect tranquility in pitch
darkness. Nara Naryana, sage Vyasa and others have all meditated in dark caves.
Lord Siva is embodiment of Tamasa Guna and darkness. We worship him for his
Tamasa Guna which brings hope for new cycle of birth and salvation; otherwise
life will be stagnated and condemned for ever. It is the contemplation on
darkness that led the Upanishadic sages to spiritual goals. The Vedic poet and
the Upanishadic seer alike pictured a state of affairs where the light was hidden
and darkness prevailed, where death swept across and deathlessness was covered
over, and where the unreal held the real in captivity. This realization gave
birth to the famous Upanishadic prayer “Lead me from unreal to the real, from
darkness to light, and from death to deathlessness”
The
inner chamber of the temple is called Garbhagriha which literally means “womb
chamber”. This chamber resembles a dark cave. Here the deity is located.
Garbhagriha does not have windows. Instead it has a wide front door which
allows the devotees sitting watch the ritualistic worship focused on the deity.
You know why horses are provided eye guards and kept dark to focus on its
straight speed run. The Self or God within us is kept dark from us. When
we take pains to focus on that our thoughts get diverted to spirituality,
elevation and liberation from materialism, ego and selfishness. The revelation
that has come to Barbara Taylor is long understood by Hindus. Darkness and light being pairs of
opposites have their due place in Hindu philosophy.
When
a devotee entering the temple gets the first vision of sanctum where the icon
is kept in darkness with dim light he gets into the state of dream. As he
proceeds towards the sanctum and stands in front of the sanctum he sinks into
the state of deep sleep. When he looks at the icon, the higher state of
tranquility descends upon him. And when he is suffused with the vision of the
icon, he gets into the state of tranquility and he no longer needs the help of
the icon. His thoughts are one with the Supreme within himself and he turns
inwards. That is why Hindu temples differ from other religions in its temple
traditions. Vedanta says man has to go through four states to reach Brahman—Wakeful,
Dream, Deep- sleep and the Fourth State of transcendence called Tureeya.
26. MOTHER’S DAY—A DAY OF VENERATION FOR MOTHERS AND WORSHIP FOR MOTHER EARTH
Mother’s
Day is a day of Veneration to mother and worship to Bhoodevi Mother Goddess.
Mothers' day is an American Invention. As per the original intent Mother’s Day
should be singular possessive, for each family to honor their mother, not
plural possessive commemorating all mothers in the world. But today it has
turned out to be a celebration honoring
mothers, motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.
Strangely this has also been given a religious importance in America as special
masses are held in all churches honoring mothers.
The
modern Mother's Day has been assimilated into Indian culture and it is
celebrated every year on the second Sunday of May. In India, mothers are
considered as god to their children. Taittareeya Upanishad in its Sikshavallee
mandates the student graduated out of Vedic school to worship the Mother as the
first God, “Matru devo bhava” . India
does not celebrate the occasion as a religious
one, but do their best to thank their mothers for care and love. The day is celebrated mostly in urban
centers, by performing special acts to honor mothers and their contribution to
the family fashioned after American
culture. As per Hindu tradition, mothers are paid homage on Saraswati pooja day during Devi Navratri,
with "Maatru Pooja" (worship of mother). This and similar celebrations come from age old traditions compared to the US-inspired celebration.
In
the United States, Mother's Day remains one of the biggest days for sales of
flowers, greeting cards, and the like. Mother's Day on May 11 this year will complete its 100th year of
celebration. Mother's Day, attracts the
highest church attendance after Christmas Eve and Easter. Many worshipers celebrate the day with
carnations, colored if the mother is living and white if she is dead. Hindu
Americans do not lag behind. The temple is kept open for long hours and treated
as special religious events day unlike in India. Mothers are also honored with
special worship to Goddess Parvati if it is a Saivite main deity based temple
or Lakshmi if it is a Vaishnava main deity based temple or the main goddess if
the temple is Devi temple invoking her blessings for all mothers. But Bhoodevi
is the most appealing Goddess suited to
all American Hindu Traditions and other
cultures.
No
Hindu Worship ever takes place without honoring Mother Earth. Hindu temple
visit starts with paying respect to Mother Earth at the flag-post. Brahman in
his omnipresent aspect is worshiped as Vishnu.
He pervades the entire Earth and
so mother Earth pervaded by Vishnu is considered as his consort and called
Bhoodevi. She is his accredited agent to bring forth children and take care of
them as he can't be doing all this himself. Vishnu is always worshiped with Bhoodevi along with Sridevi. It is strange
that while there are many days earmarked for special worship for Sridevi and other Goddesses there is not a single day
earmarked for special worship of Mother Earth in Hindu Temple Tradition.
Processional deity of Vishnu is invariably accompanied by Sridevi and Bhoodevi
yet there is no iconic worship of Bhoodevi with significance.She is lost in
glorification of Lakshmi.
Mahanarayaa Upanishad glorifies Earth as the Universal
Mother in its Mantra as follows: Mother Earth is mother of all beings such as
Gods, Gandharvas, human beings, pitrus or manes, asuras and she is signified by
names Prithvee and others".This goes with the famous Vedic saying:
“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”—whole world is one family under the care of Universal
Mother. Why there are no exclusive temples or iconic representations for Mother earth, I can't tell? A lone temple
for Bharatmata exists in Haridwar honoring the land of India only, an outcome
of Bankim Chatterji’s patriotic
inspiration but not for Bhoodevi. Hindu Americans dedicate Graduation Day to
Goddess Saraswati even though they do not have regular iconic worship for her
or build temples for her. It is therefore fitting and proper to dedicate
Mother’s Day to Goddess Mother Earth and make her the presiding deity while honoring all mothers.Christian Americans have turned this day as a popular
religious mass worship day too. A Hindu mass worship should inspire those Hindu Americans who are
married into Western culture as well as all other cultures who generally visit Hindu temples to
appreciate our concept of Universal Oneness
Maatru
devo Bhava | Esha aadesah | Esha
upadesah ||
Be
one for whom Mother is a Goddess. This is the command; this is the instruction.
(Guru to disciple in Taittareeya Upanishad)
*27. CAN MEMORIAL DAY BE
A SPECIAL RELIGIOUS EVENTS DAY FOR HINDU AMERICANS?
Hindu
Temple in Nashville was kept open all day long for Memorial week end to
facilitate participation by all as Special Religious Event's day and may be
other temples in USA too. USA holds special masses in churches on Memorial Day
praying for the departed souls who fought for their Motherland or the need and
ambition of their Motherland. Sri Rama though did not fight for the
freedom of his country (he only fought for the freedom of his wife whom he
later deserted) said in Ramayana “Jananee janmabhoomischa praanaadapi
gareeyasi”. Mother and Motherland are dearer than one’s own life.
Bhagavadgeeta says no sins will ever touch a person who fights the war for the
sake of Dharma. Geeta ended abruptly to fight the justified war and so was not
there to glorify Pandavas and elevate them to noble war heroes. Yama took
advantage and punished the four Pandu brothers. Mahabharata
glorifies Veera Abhimanyu and all the Kauravas too as they were not found in
Naraka like the Pandava brothers by Yudhisthira. They all attained Veera Marana,
glorious death fighting a war and reached heaven, perhaps a short cut method
for liberation. The incarnation of Rama and Krishna was to fight the War
of Dharma and lucky those who died at their hands also reached heaven.
So, there is a justification to pray for the souls of all those who died in
wars fighting for their country and also worship Rama and Krishna if not Arjuna
who fought the war of Dharma on Memorial Day.Arjuna as Nara is worshiped only
in Badrinath. Of course Lord Siva is also a sure candidate
for worship on similar grounds along with Ganesha, Leader of Ganas and
Subhramanya, Commander in chief. Durga and Kali cannot be forgotten.
There are many other Goddesses too on the waiting list. Every student who
enters the college and seeks Government loan for education in USA is duty bound
to fight the war. This also makes the day significant to Hindu Americans.
Of course there are many other kinds of wars today and I am not sure whether
all those who die in those wars are eligible for Veera Marana--noble death
qualifying for Svarga. Fight for the preservation or establishment of democracy
seems to be a War of Dharma to-day.
Upanishads
do not talk about the kind of wars we discussed above while Puranas do.
Upanishads talk about the fight amongst Panchapranas as to which one is great!
But there are three Trisuparna Mantras about which I talked about in my
discourses on Mahanarayana Upanishad (MNU). MNU considers Brahma hatya (killing
a Vedic scholar), Broona hatya (killing of the fetus) and Veera hatya (killing
of a War hero) are capital sins. Of course there are quick remedies too.
Simply meditate on Trisuparna Mantras or Naraynopanishad. Those who fight for
abortion for or against can refer to MNU.
Someone wrote to me some time back why Hindu temples should be
kept open all day long and also be notified as Special Religious
Events Day. I had no ready answer then. Now I am more than convinced our
Founding Fathers of Hindu Temples in America are not wrong and I was only wrong
like the other curious individual. An atheist will dismiss all my justification
saying it is purely commercialization to attract crowds on Holidays to fill the
coffers of Hindu Temples. I wonder still why America has not
thought of commercialization Greeting Cards though they do not fail to greet
each other with the words Happy Memorial Day! Of course it is a great day for
shopping if not convenient to visit to symmetry or go to churches or temples.
American Hindus do not lag behind!
*28. HAS BIBLE MARATHON
READING INSPIRED AKHAND RAMAYANA PARAAYANA OR PATH?
I never could imagine that my discourse “Why do
we revere Ramayana Parayana or Ramayana path” circulated to you some time back would
become so popular among my indirect participants with whom I am not in touch through
blog or mail? I had some nice compliments too. Evidently Hindu belief in such
non-stop reading or listening to lead one to the path of Svarga
seems to be very strong. In Hindu Temples of America non-stop reading (Akhand
Path) of Sundarakanda if not whole Ramayana, Bhagavadgeetaa, Hanuman
Chalisa (40 times), Vishnu Sahasranama (108 times), Lalita sahasranama, Durga
Saptasati etc., are very popular. It should be much more in India to include
many other texts including Tamil. These thoughts are inspired by the Adikavya,
Ramayana to begin with. Ayodhyakanda ends with the following
recommendation: “He who reads this whole Ramayana of Sri Rama undoubtedly
shall attain the World of Vishnu after the end of this life. His father, grand-
father and even fathers of sub-ancestors attain the abode of Vishnu. The
exploration of Sri Rama bestows four objects—Kama, the
gratification of desire; Artha, acquisition of wealth; Dharma,
discharge of duty and Moksha, emancipation. So, one should listen carefully and
diligently. Listening even one syllable or a quarter of the verse
of the Ramayana with reverence one attains the world of Brahman and is regarded
as respected there by Him. Thus runs this historical narrative”. We also
celebrate the reading with special worship and mouth-watering Prasad (blessed
food). At homes when performed we invite many for a special festive meal.
You may be surprised to know where this
commendation of Ramayana and the belief leads us today. Vedas only recommend
acquiring knowledge of Vedas or Brahma Jnaanam. But today many chant Vedas
blindly without understanding as highway to heaven. Tamils who find hard
with Sanskrit resort to Tiruvoymozhi, Tiruppukazh etc. also not
understanding for their text is also not that simple to read and digest. May be
Geet Govind is popular in Orissa likewise!
But what is more surprising to-day is, this
belief and practice has crossed International boundaries influenced by
Eastern cultures based on Hinduism. They use the word Marathon
for Akhand path. I am sure some of you might have gone through the
column “Bible marathon goes on despite low turn-out” in the
local newspaper The Tennessean. Not that our parayana has large turn-out; but
may be better being a long tradition. May be Grantha Sahib has better attendance.
The gist of the news given here should interest you all coming
from our critics of misunderstood and misinterpreted idol worship and
Puranas. In due course they may resort to idol worship too openly like us!
Then we need not struggle hard to find an alternative word for idol fering
Islam and Christianity.
“…Volunteers read the Bible nonstop, from
cover to cover. It takes volunteers about 90 hours to read from Genesis to
Revelation. During the marathon at Bible Pathway Ministries—a Christian publishing
house that produces Bible study aids—volunteers read the Bible non-stop
from cover to cover. Last year about 250 volunteered to participate in
the public reading…..The marathon reading in its 18th year,
kicked off on Sunday evening after a community cookout and live music
performances….. Three years ago a Murfreesboro man decided to turn his life
around after attending the event. He returned to the reading this year. ‘It is
worth it if we can help one person get saved’ says Palafox, daughter of a
Methodist Minister”
This is rather a bold exercise by Bible
enthusiasts, may be influenced by Eastern culture of Hinduism Buddhism Jainism
and Sikhism. This is a better approach than open street propaganda
of Christianity saying that everybody who does not believe in Bible is a
sinner. This goes on in India even today with conversion of the down
trodden and ignorant. Will the new Namo Government put an end to such forced
conversion as misleading the ignorant? Bible is not that easy for mass
reading like our slokas for mass recitation. Probably resorting t to
Psalms only as we have resorted to Sundarkaand Path may be easy for mass
reading together. Of course many do not understand what they read in our Path
or Paaraayana approach to Bhaktimaarga.
29. SATANIC 9/11 OF 2001AND SPIRITUAL 9/11
OF 1893
Memories of 9/11-2001 haunt us still and we all
participate in paying tribute the 3000 people who lost their lives in terrorist
attack. The problem seems to be some
self ascertained religious protagonists have claimed themselves to be champions
of Islam and in the name of religion
carrying out atrocities round the globe. India has also been threatened
recently. It is very necessary for
everyone of us to understand what is a true religion in the words of Dalai
lama. It is also advisable to recall what happened on 9/11 of 1893 which
brought so much of wisdom to Light from
India by way of Wisdom of Vedas to World Forum on this memorable day
by Swami Vivekananda. Please go through
the attached discourse. Your comments are welcome.
30. INTERNATIONAL
DAY OF PEACE
Each year the International Day of Peace is
observed around the world on 21 September. The General Assembly has declared
this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and
among all nations and peoples. To mark the 30th anniversary of the General Assembly
Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace the
theme of this year’s International Day of Peace is the “Right of Peoples to
Peace”. This anniversary offers a unique opportunity to reaffirm the United
Nations commitment to the purposes and principles upon which the Organization
was founded. The Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace recognizes that
the promotion of peace is vital for the full enjoyment of all human rights. The
International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by resolution 36/67of
the United Nations General Assembly to coincide with its opening session, which
was held annually on the third Tuesday of September. The first Peace Day was
observed in September 1982. In 2001, the General Assembly by unanimous vote
adopted resolution 55/282which
established 21 September as an annual day of non-violence and cease-fire.
The United Nations invites all nations and
people to honor a cessation of hostilities during the Day, and to otherwise
commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to
peace.
Pope Francis called on moderate Muslims and all
religious leaders to condemn Islamic extremists who pervert religion to justify
violence. Francis said religious intolerance was an “insidious enemy” alive in
parts of the world today. He urged all believers to “firmly refute as false”
any perversion of religion for the sake of violence.
2014 – Right to Peace --The
theme of the 2014 International Day of Peace is the Right of Peoples to Peace,
reaffirming the United Nations commitment to the UN Declaration on the
Right of Peoples to Peace, which recognizes that the promotion of
peace is vital for the full enjoyment of all human rights.
To bring awareness to Peace Day 2014, the think
PEACE Network promoted a Peace Day
Comedy program, "Stand-Up for International Peace," held in over 50 global comedy clubs.
The Waves of Kindness Global Initiative celebrates the
United Nations International Day of Peace though global meditation events.
Many States and Churches observed this day by one minute silence and
mass worship.
Hindu Temples in America let this day as normal
and did not make it a Special Religious Events Day. The reason behind this may
be that all Hindu prayers end with “Sarve Janaah Sukhino Bhavantu” and
“Krinvanto Viswamaaryam” and Aaatmat Sarvabhooteshu” whose meaning I have explained
several times. This would bring the awareness in Hindu American children
brought up amid different cultures and often confused.
Yet it would have been a fine gesture to have
joined the several churches to make it a day of special religious significance
and observed one minute silence with a Yajna (Fire Sacrifice) for International
Peace which we occasionally do in our Mass worship invoking Supreme for
all-round Peace, Prosperity and Happiness particularly at a time when the whole
world is disturbed including India which is severely affected by religious
intolerance by a handful of people who are its citizens instigating from
outside.
*31. HINDU REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTMAS TREE AND
ON AN UNUSUAL CHRISTMAS TRADITION
Being Hindu Americans, noticing that
USA has moved away from the concept of Christmas Lights to Festival of Lights
Hindu Americans can justify their decorating the courtyards and house
fronts with the latest and expensive LED lighting with special exhibits
including Kamdhenu, Varaha and Koorma while Christian
Americans include sheep, cow , ass and camel which they can definitely
afford being in higher brackets of income. They need not worry
about our Muslim neighbors as they do not believe in Christmas
Lighting or tree or else they may face Sharia Law. Only we Hindu Americans have
to start decorative lighting on Diwali day and take off after Kartikai or
at best extend to Makara Sankranti glorifying Makara Vilakku at Sabarimalai in
Kerala and celebrating Sun’s commencement of journey towards Northern Solstice
though actual Winter Solstice is on December 22. When in doubt we have to go by
astrology and not astronomy as Geeta says “Tasmaat saastram pramanm te”.
But how do we justify artificial or real
green fir tree with decorations inside our homes? For that we should understand
first how this tradition started even in Christianity. In the 12th Century
in Germany a fir tree was used in mystery plays as the so called “paradise”
tree. These dramas were held outside during the Advent and Christmas seasons
and the fir tree symbolized the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. The
evergreen fir tree was viewed as sign of hope throughout the winter
season--hope in the promise that the rest of nature too will awaken to new life
in the coming spring. Through Jesus Christians hope for everlasting life—the
paradise as well as the new Adam. Jesus Christ is the new green tree of life to
Christians. Fir tree is evergreen. So Christians hope that earthly season must
come to an end, and yet they will have eternal life believing in Him. When
Christians hang child’s first ornament on the tree each year, symbolically they
place their son or daughter back into the arms of Jesus; so also many things
under the care, protection or supervision of the Lord or in appreciation of his
kindness.
Secular America argues Christmas tree is
another name of fir tree and nothing to do with religion. In 2013,
1.2 billion real fir trees were cut for Christmas tree decorations. It is
therefore obligatory on our part to plant at least the same number
of trees if not more during the season. Arbour Day
Foundation is very active during this season sending tree saplings
for planting but people just ignore being busy with festive activities.
Now there is a tendency not to decorate the tree but decorate with the tree in
the house. Non Christmas trees have come into display by
Christians. Anyhow many resort to fake trees with flakes which are not
religious either symbolically moving away from the original thought of natural
evergreen real tree. It can be beautiful to use undecorated trees or
branches to celebrate the season now called Festival of Lights, whether or not
we celebrate Christmas. Woody trees just really evoke feeling of coziness and
wintry weather, so trees do not have to be associated with an actual holiday
or religion. Some of us keep all the time rubber tree at home. It is more
about the warmth of gathering with friends and family during the colder months.
In Hindu tradition for three days of Kriashna Jayanthi celebrations a tree
similar to rubber tree called Pinnai with fruits is decorated in a canopy
(pandal) along with Krishna idol recalling his relaxing under this tree and
playing game of dice with Gopis in his boyhood days like Christians during Christmas
is in vogue. I have seen this in my own house my parents doing it while I was
young and lived with them. So we can keep a rubber plant during this Festival
of lights season and move it out in spring, summer and early fall
season a Hindu tradition giving an impression to others that we are
one with the nation in the celebration of Festivals unlike Muslims.
We are also criticized for the cruel
scene of burning Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Indrajit during Dussera as the
most cruel act of punishing criminals or prisoners or enemies. You are
hearing so much about waterboarding of Al Qaeda prisoners now-a-days.
Even many in Tamil Nadu think this North Indian tradition of Dussera
burning is cruel and also targeted by Aryans against Dravidians and Ravan was a
religious Dravidian, worshiper of Siva—a theory promoted by EVR of Dravida
Kazhagam to persecute Brahmins and capture power. Don’t think that
such unusual traditions are there only in Hinduism. A 13-meter goat
figure made of straw was erected in the town square of Galve in Sweden around
25 years before. At midnight on Christmas Eve, the goat went up in flames, but
the town never stopped building in year after year and the tradition
continued.The last reported was in 2011. Why goat? I got no explanation from my
Christian friends.But based on Christian symbolism of evergreen Christmas-tree
I drew my own conclusions. You know why Muslims hate pigs and get insulted when
somebody offer them pig meat? Goat is a stubborn animal that can destroy
all green vegetation, except one plant. So it is the enemy and against the
spirit of Christmas-tree which is symbolized as Jesus. Hence you can find sheep,
deer etc., but not goat in Christmas animal display.
32. LET US CENTER OURSELVES WIDENING OUR VISION ON FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Celebrating festivals with lights has
been prevalent in many countries and traditions from ancient past. It all began
with the city of Ayodhya being lit to welcome Rama after completing his 14
years of exile which day later Hindus called Deepaavali which means row
of lights. South Indians celebrate Thiru Kaartikai Deepam in
the Hindu Tamil month of Kaartikai and it is prefixed as sacred and
suffixed as Light. In fact at least two oil wick lamps lit on Deepaavali day
are carried through to light oil wick lamps of Kartikai on Kartik
Poornima Day. Following this tradition it will be a good idea for Hindu
Americans to start the ceremonial lighting day on Deepavali and finish it on
Makara Sankranti Day. In that act they will also include the Festival of
Lights Season of USA which is described below. Makara Sankranti is known
for its Makara Vilakku, dedicated to Aiyappan, a compromising deity for both
followers of Siva and Vishnu and they need not worry like fighting
to celebrate two different Kaartikai festivals one called Siva deepam and
the other Vishnu Deepam if they are his followers. Aiyappan is born to Siva and
Vishnu (in his Mohini Avatar). Makara Sankranti is the holiest day for which
Bhishma waited to give up his ghost and ascend heaven. Thinking of a day to
start New Year suitable to mankind, it would have been ideal to have made
Winter solstice day, a landmark astronomical day as International New Year Day
and not the Christian Religious Day of Circumcision of Jesus Christ and force
it on world population of various faiths.
In fact Karunanidhi Chief Minister of
Tamil Nadu even moved Tamil New Year Day to Makara Sankranti Day for
two years approved by a legislation which got reversed when
Jayalalitha came to power. This would have been ideal as New Year day for all
Hindu Traditions as an astronomical land mark day when Sun’s rays turn
toward Northern Solstice(Uttarayana) for whole of Secular India. Americans
generally celebrate their festivals and Presidents Birthdays as per convenience
except a few. Hindu Americans also celebrate many of their religious festivals
on weekends including Durga pooja as per convenience only. They can also
significantly push their Special Religious New Year worship to the most
auspicious Makara Sankranti Day which makes lot of sense. Incidentally it will
not hurt the Christians or interfaith married couples and children
whoever may be the other partner of Hindu. To a Christian it is
still the day of Circumcision of Jesus as this is the day of Circumcision of
Jesus observed by Eastern Orthodox Christians.
We are now celebrating our fasts and
festivals after 23 days of their actual happening, Saastras’ prescribed time.
All our Panchangas (almanacs) need to accommodate to this change. The present
Niryaana system is not accurate. Our calendar is based on seasons, ayanaas,
equinoxes, etc. Moreover the stars are not placed evenly in heavens and the
view of them through ecliptic does not yield 2.25 stars (27 Nakshatas;
Aswini—Revati. 2.25X12=27) per zodiac sign. Stars are of unequal span. Who is
prepared to bell the cat and teach ,wisdom to Indian Government to have a
calendar suitable to all starting on Astronomical Winter Solstice Day, on
December 22?
USA starts its
ceremonial lighting of the tree and Christmas season lighting immediately after
Thanksgiving and many take it out after January 1. For many religious
Christians Christmas begins on the evening of December 25th and
ends on January 6th if you have listened to the Christmas
song. Christmas is actually a festival of 12 days of celebrations as
Diwali is of 5 day celebrations or Dusserah of ten days. In many
traditions the first day of Christmas begins on the evening of December 25th with
the following day December 26th being considered the First Day
of Christmas. In this case January 6 would be Epiphany the 12th Day
of Christmas. Even though December 25th is celebrated as
Christmas in most cultures, January 6th is often the day for
giving gifts. January 1 is yet another significant day in this 12 days of
Christmas being the day of Circumcision of Jesus Christ. Pope Gregory
adopting the Roman calendar whose first month was dedicated to God Janus made
this day as his New Year Day for his Christian Calendar
after whom the Gregorian Calendar is named. British
powerfully ruling the world enforced the Gregorian
calendar as International Calendar. When Hindu Americans rush to the Temple on
January 1 to make New Year resolutions and celebrate it as a special Religious
Events Day they are just joining their Christian friends to celebrate the
holy day of Circumcision of Jesus on January 1 which is not an
auspicious festival day for them. On one occasion taking all risk I drove from
Albany to Pittsburgh through snow on cold winter night on December 31 to
witness the ceremonial Abhishekam conducted to Lord Venkateshwara on January 1.
The temple was packed unlike the other Hindu festival days perhaps
with the exception of Diwali. I have not seen any such mass worship or
Yajnas conducted in temples in India on January 1, which is
celebrated as a Special Religious Day of Worship in American Hindu Temples.
Festival of lights--green tree with
lights wrapped around, decoration inside the house and enchanting
music--are all focused on the warmth of gathering with friends and
family during the colder months. As American Hindus we can with pride and
reverence join the the tradition of erecting a natural tree with lights,
lighting the house and put up an exhibition of "Theme Park of
Creation" in lieu of "Nativity and walk through Bethlehem". t is
this motivation that drives Tamils to hold their Music Festival in the month of
December which to Tamils in Chennai are their ideal and enjoyable winter
days to sit inside a Music Hall and listen to the music with friends and
family. They also enjoy the variety of delicious food sold in the
adjacent mobile canteens, an added attraction.
The attached discourse elaborates on
this subject which includes a list of countries and traditions that celebrate
Festival of Lights. As Hindu Americans begin your ceremonial lighting for
Holiday Season in USA on Deepavali Day and end it on Makara Sankranti Day
which would please all and also our interfaith couples and children. It is both
the holy Uttarayana punyakala and the holy Circumcision Day of Jesus Christ.
What other Day would be so ideal to celebrate cross cultures as New Year
pleasing cross cultures and all traditions within Hindu fold?
33.
DID BHARATIYAS HELP THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF CHRISTIANITY?
I thought about a discourse for your Christmas Eve
enlightenment and enjoyment as you wait for the Good Lord to arrive! So please
go through, it is not too long. I believe you have gone through
Economist of December 20th that inspired me to come with this discourse!
Magi means Kings in Persian who visited
the baby Jesus Christ as displayed in Nativity and walk through Bethlehem
mentioned in my discourse.
The New
Testament does not give the names of the Magi, however, traditions and legends
identify a variety of different names for them. the Western Christian church they have been all regarded as saints
and are commonly known as:
Encyclopædia
Britannica states: "according to Western church
tradition, Balthasar is often represented as a king of Arabia, Melchior as a
king of Persia, and Gaspar as a king of India." These names apparently
derive from a Greek manuscript probably composed in Alexandra around
500, and which has been translated into Latin with the title Excerpta
Latina Barbari. Another Greek document from the 8th
century, of presumed Irish origin and translated into Latin with the
title Collectanea et Flores, continues the tradition of three kings
and their names and gives additional details.
One
candidate for the origin of the name Caspar appears in the Acts of Thomas as Gondophares (21 – c. AD 47), i.e., Gudapharasa (from which
"Caspar" might derive as corruption of "Gaspar"). This
Gondophares declared independence from the Arsacids to become the first Indo-Parthian king, and he was allegedly visited
by Thomas the Apostle. According to at least one scholar, his name is perpetuated in the
name of the Afghan cityKandahar, which he is said to have founded under the name
Gundopharron. Christian legend may have chosen Gondofarr
simply because he was an eastern king living in the same period. You may kindly
recall my referernce to St. Thomas Mount in Chennai, the town ship named after
him and the church on the top of the hill in St Thomas Mount.
The Economist December 12 states the magi came from,
most probably the border between Iran and Afghanisthan, probably
India, via the Silk Road and they were scholars and difficult to say what sort
of scholars they were. It also says heavenly phenomenon the wise men were meant
to have seen is probably a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the
constellation of Pisces in 7 BC; and possibly a comet, since the star's beams
were often said to stream and wave like.
Various factors described in the discourse attached
above beginning with the visit of a wise king of Bharat as a team member of
Magi to Bethlehem to see the Christ-child, a friendly Sanatana Dharma crowd
favorably disposed to Gnostic philosophy oriented St. Thomas,
absence of revolters who later walked out of Judaism and hated
Christianity who were yet to form a new religion of their own
(later formed Mohammedanism) at that time and many other factors
have contributed to make Christianity the Religion of most followers
in the world. Christians claim it is easy to follow Christianity
with less restraints, with one scripture and only their
powerful God, no castes but only the rich, the middle class and the poor, with
the philosophy that men need some religion and Christianity is convenient
in contrast to spirituality which
is vague, practiced by the prosperous and
powerful society in the world, not the poor and Pagan, and not
necessarily aimed at permanent Liberation and Eternal Bliss to
merge with the Supreme. In that bargain they don’t mind one time
hell or heaven and no hassle of repeated
births and deaths which makes the world crowded though
everyone can be saved. Why should anybody be saved
if they do not believe in Jesus? Christians are also free to
divorce and marry as many times as possible leaving many children to Good
Lord to take care of. It also allows widow marriage. Everyone has to repent for
his sins and God will save them how serious their sin may be if he is a true
Christian! Do what you want including capital crimes but repent once, for
Good Lord atoned already for your sins on certain conditions! Amen
is sweet and Om is too much of an exercise and too long!
34. HOW
CAN WE ADAPT RELIGIOUS VALENTINE’S DAY TO HINDU MODE OF WORSHIP?
Why can’t Valentine’s Day be a Special Religious Day in Hindu
Temples like New Year's Day if people go around greeting everybody with
"Happy Valentine's Day" in Temples in USA?
Valentine’s Day is observed as a
festival to honor St. Valentine could be traced back to a Roman
holiday to honor Goddess Juno. Juno was the queen (Mahishee) of Roman
gods and goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of Women and
Marriage. February 15th was celebrated as Feast of
Lupercalia, even earlier predating the above honoring Juno. In those days, the
lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate as in Hindu culture.
However, on the eve of the festival of Lupercalia, the names of Roman girls
were written on slips of paper and placed in jars. Each young man would draw a
girl’s name from the jar and would then be partner for the duration of the
festival with the girl whom he picked. Sometimes the pairing of the youngsters
lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later
marry. I have already given the story behind this mysterious saint who is
celebrated on this day. In 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius set aside February 14th to
honor St. Valentine. In USA, Miss Esther Howland is given credit for sending
first Valentine’s cards. Commercial Valentine Cards were introduced in the
1800. Western World has not only highly commercialized it but also
convincingly converted to a Religious Day of worship in churches praying
for the better-halves and for the harmony of married life of their dear
ones directed to fair sex with special prayers and Masses.
Hindu Americans make often the
American Holidays their Special Religious Events Day most popular one
being New Year’s day celebrated with Shiva Abhishekam etc., in order to make
New Year Resolutions attracting large crowds of worshipers. They often resort
to Vedas to find necessary justification. Samvtsara is glorified as
Brahman in Vedas. We have umpteen number of Samvatras in India. Even Vedas
describe five kinds of Samvatsaras of which I talked about. Hence there is all
justification they say. Vedas preach Universal Oneness and so all Samvatsaras
are but Vyahritis of Brahman. Hindu Temples celebrate many
divine wed-locks arising out of love affairs like that of Siva Parvati, Radha
and Krishana, Venkatesa and Padmavati, Rama and Sita, who were long
separated and united, Andal and Ranganatha (Panguni Uttiram)
etc., and also of couples Savitri and Satyavan
(Karadiyan Nonbu). Such celebrations are done with religious devotion
seeking divine intervention and blessing, for choosing a boy for the
girl as well as long happy married life
or longevity of husbands as when desired.
When I came to USA I had a cultural
shock when I saw males walking with roses in their hands offering to ladies and
greeting them with Happy Valentine's Day and arranging festival lunch tables
and serving them food in temples after worship. Hindu Temple in Albany also
conducted special Puja to Lakshmi that day. Things were not much different
when I came to Nashville. I slowly realized how Hindu Americans influenced by
Western Culture were also struggling hard to keep their married life happy and
so needed divine help. I got used to the changing pattern of Hindu culture and
even started feeling there is nothing wrong in celebrating Valentine’s day in
Hindu temples as New Year Day and only it needed change of name and
proper way of worship to suit our culture, looking at the practice
of church Mass Worship on Valentine’s Day.
Are we violating Hindu religious codes
by our worship to Hindu Deity on Valentine’s Day? Looking at our Vedic ritual
of Kamokarsheet Homa and celebration of Karadiyan Nombu and Vata Savitri Vrat
in temples I felt the need for celebrating it is more than not, and felt it is
not against our culture. Vedas have deified Kaama (infatuation) and make fire
offerings(Homa) to avoid evil influence of Kaama. Puranas have deified Obstacle
and call the deity as Vighnaraja, the Lord of Obstacles. Here the focus is on fear
of negative influence of these characteristics but our focus could well be
diverted to positive thinking for promoting peace and harmony in family life
in that process of deifying and worshiping. Kubera is invoked as Kamesvra
in our daily worship. Tamils have long tradition of celebrating Karadiyan
Nombu in Temples as Special Religious Day, while in the North same is
celebrated as Vata Savitri Vrat to commemorate the dedication and love of
Savitri to her husband Satyavan pleading to Yama for long life and
seeking divine intervention a gesture of Pativrata Dharma. Here they are
not any deities of worship. It looks strange to others when Tamils
often designate their festivals to food stuffs and animals (Mattu Pongal).
If Hindu ladies are thus celebrating love, Hindu males also need to fulfill
their obligation as she is Sahadharmini. What better day is well suited to
American Hindus to celebrate Valentine's Day and with Radha Kalyanam?
You are also aware how Geet Govind and Tiruppavai the two love-based
esoteric compositions are almost equated with holy scriptures and
liberally employed in our daily worship. If you had read my discourse Hindu
Reflections on Mating Season Festival that inspired St. Valentines Religious
Festival, it would make lot of sense in the above context. I also find this to
be one of the popular discourses read by many around the globe. Of late
Valentine’s Day is observed with great enthusiasm in India though it has not
reached Hindu Temples as in America. This day can be made a worshipful day
devoted Kubera (North dikpalaka) who is worshiped as Kameswara in all Hindu
worship and who is sought after Ashtaisvarya (glorified in
Lakshmi ashtottara), eight kinds of wealth and who is also the spouse of
Goddess Rajarajeswari and worshiped in Badrinath, like Christianity
which made Valentine's Day, a religious day which we all need, more
so living in USA faced with marital problems as well as interfaith,
inter-caste and inter-racial marriages.
Western culture believes a February
bride will be an affectionate wife and a tender mother. To Tamils
January 14 which is the first day of Tamil month of Thai heralds
auspicious marriage season and February 14 which falls in Thai/Maasi or Maagha
calendar months is considered auspicious day for match-making or
match-finding. It also comes in the mating season for birds and animals.
Therefore it is an ideal day to propitiate Kubera, God of Love
or Kamesvara and celebrate any divine wedding in Hindu temples.
Simply going around in a worshipful place greeting everyone Happy
Valentine’s Day makes no sense and simply enjoying a ceremonial lunch in a
worship place without the proper blessing of the Lord for the occasion makes
also no sense. At the same time the temple cannot discipline the enthusiasm
that goes around when people come together in public places like
temple. A Hindu social life is so knitted with religion they can't think of any
social event without invoking God! Therefore it is worth making it a
Special Religious Events Day. That this day deserves such a consideration more
than any other American Holiday will be clear when you go through
my detailed discourse on the subject. Your comments are welcome.
Raajadhi raajaaya prasasya
saahine | namoe vayam vaisravanaaya kurmahe | sah may kaamaan
kaamaaya mahyam | kaamesvaroe vaisravanoe dadaatu || Kuberaayaa
vaisravanaaya mahaaraajaaya namaha ||
We offer obeisance to Kubera, who is
the King of kings, who commands one’s possessions by his power. May that
Kubera, the Lord of Desires (Kaama) fulfill my desires! I offer my obeisance to
Kubera, the son of Vaisravas and King of Kings. [This prayer is offered n in
all daily worship in homes and Temples]
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/02/how-religious-valentines-day-can-be.html
35. THINKING OF
MOTHER EARTH ON MOTHER”S DAY
Mother’s Day 2015 Message to Religious
Hindus:
Mother’s day is celebrated on May 10 this year being the second
Sunday of May. It is celebrated with special worship in all
churches in USA. Hindu Americans do not lag behind in rushing to
temples and join the special worship program in temples. One temple for
all Traditions is the general convention in USA. In spite of this,
sectarian form of worship continues in USA Temples attracting
few members on festive day barring few festivals common to all.
It will be fitting and proper to at least focus on certain important
day’s worship oriented to suit all traditions and cultures. Important
National Holidays such Mother’s Day, Memorial day and Father’s
Day etc. give us an opportunity to make these special worshipful
days more meaningful to make it more broad-based to suit all traditions and
cultures.
Generally Mother’ day is dedicated to some kind of Devi Worship
dedicated to Lakshmi or Aandal by Vaishanvites, to Parvati
Durga, Srilalita or Kali by Saivites and Saktites or
for Devis to whom they have established sanctums within the
complex. Unfortunately there is no specific day designated for
Bhoodevi’s worship in Hindu calendar. ButBhoodevi or Mother Earth is
invoked in all sectarian worships as Goddess of all Entities and Supreme Being
with the Veda mantra "Gandhadvaaraam
duraadarshaam". The Mantra “Matru devoe Bhava”—Regard
mother as goddess does not say your mother.
Mother therefore should necessarily mean the Universal Mother Bhoodevi first
and then mortal mother who gave birth to us. Durga Saptasatee also says
“Yaa devee sarvabhooteshu matru-roopena
samsthitaa," referring to element Earth as Mother.
Mother Earth is the most celebrated deity in Vedas and
Upanishads. I often wonder why Bhoodevi who is so glorified in Vedas
(MNU) as Mother of all Mothers and asIsvareegam sarvabhootanaam-- Mother
of all entities is not even remembered on this day. Exclusive
temples to Mother earth are few and far between. I have
neither come across any Ashtottaras and Sahasranamas for Bhoodevi
nor any special festival and ritual day for her exclusive worship though
we chant Bhoosooktam and Mrittikaa Sooktam often contained in
Vedas and she is invoked in all worships and rituals along with other deities.
Mother Earth is not a sectarian deity. She is worshiped by all--Vaishanvites,
Saivites, Saktites and others with equal respect. She suits all
traditional worship. She is respected as Mother in all World Cultures.
What better day can be there than Mother’s Day to worship her?
Carbon dioxide level is at all-time high this month.
Levels of carbon dioxide reach their heights in May and then going back down as
plants absorb the gas. But the long term trend is up according to NOAA. Our
attempts to find an alternate source for living in another planet and find food
have remained a dream though shows some promise, so for! Incidentally
worshiping Mother Earth on Mother’s Day will remind the Hindu Community
their awareness to preserve the flora and fauna and the pristine beauty of
Mother Nature while continuing to enjoy her love and affection as benevolent
Mother.
Please go through my Mother's day Message in detail as
attached above and my discourses on MOTHER'S DAY on the Blog Hindu
Reflections: <nrsrini.blogspot.com> for origin and nature of its
celebration in all parts of the world.
“……Prithvee santih aapah saantih osahadhayah santih vanaspatayah
santih ……sarvam santih saantireva santih saa maa saantiredhi! Saantih! Saanth!
Saantih!”
May there be peace on Earth! May there be coolness in the
water! May the medicinal herbs retain their healing powers! May the plants give
us peace! May everything in the Universe be peaceful! May Peace pervade
everywhere! May that peace come to me!
May there be Peace in the outside world! May there be Peace
within! May there be Peace of God that passes all our understanding!
36. NARASIMHA STOTRA BY PRAHLADA CAN MOTIVATE
HINDU AMERICANS TO CELEBRATE FATHER’S DAY
My thoughts were focused on to the hymns
composed by Prahlaada and addressed to Narasimha when his father
was killed which perhaps inspired us to respect one's father however
cruel he may be! With these hymns Narasimha not only calmed down
who descended as Ugra (ferocious) Narasimha but who melted down and
turned to Prhalaada Varada (boon giver to Prahlaada) who at once
not only granted salvation to Hiranyakaipu but also blessed Prahlaada to
be Chiranjeevi relieving him from the cycle of repeated births and deaths.
Other known important Chiranjeevis are Hanuman and Vedavyasa.
Prahlaada set a noble example by pleading for the
liberation of his father with his prayers as his choice which option was given
by Narasimha to Prahlaada. Here we are reminded of another Incarnation of
Vishnu as Prasurama in his human portrayal. Parasurama implicitly obeyed his
father and instantly beheaded his mother Renuka, a ghastly act. Why did he do
so? You know Jamadagni had a weakness like Durvasa and would be angry at
least provocation. He reduced 60000 sons of Sagara to ashes. Had he not killed
his mother as ordered by his father, Jamadagni would have reduced to ashes both
Renuka and Parasurama. So Parasuram instantly acted and when his father wanted
to grant him a boon for his implicit obedience to a father, Parasurama wanted
the restoration of life to his beheaded mother. Here is an obedient
son respecting his cruel father honoring Shruti " Pitru devo
bhava".
Father is the one responsible for Garbha--daana, a
charity directed to the soul, though mother is responsible for the birth
of the child accepting the charity. Garbhadaana is a sacred act of
charity and not an act of love infatuation as per Hindu Dharma and therefore is
a prescribed sacrament. But by this act the father makes a charity to
accommodate a wandering soul searching for a home.The soul taking birth as a
human child will have a chance to elevate itself in this birth reducing
the load on recycle of births and deaths. The choice is that of the child but
the father has done his charity. That is why he is honored however bad or good
he may be.
You
may remember Prahlaada as the prime motivator of Father's Day and chant the
slokas on Father's Day like Karavalmba Sloka of Sankara which I added in my
very popular discourse with my audience on Narasimha. If you do not agree
with "pitru devo bhava" concept of Parasurama you
may give him the credit of "Matru devo Bhava" and
prime motivator of Mother's Day but for whose respect for Mother, Renuka
would have been reduced to ashes. Please also note the first worship in
Navakalevara to Lord Jagnaantha starts with Nrisingha Yajna where chanting
of these hymns by Prahlaada assumes great importance and religious sanctity.
Here is the scenario of the great devotee of Sriman Narayana
pleading to the most ferocious Avatar for the most cruel father which
reminds every dutiful son to be compassionate to his father however cruel he
may be! Therefore keep these slokas handy for the occasion
as attached with meanings and explanations. We will talk about Father's day in
detail in the near future!
37. HINDU AMERICAN RELIGIOUS AND
PHILOSOPHIC THOUGHTS ON FATHER’S DAY
As Hindu Americans we want to rush to the temple to
dedicate this day to our Fathers and also propitiate a deity from our
assembly of deities on this
day. Father’s day was founded in Spokane, Washington
at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonar Dodd. After hearing a sermon about
Jarvis’ Mother’s day in 1909, she told her pastor that fathers should have a
similar holiday honoring them. Although she initially suggested June 5, her
father’s birthday the pastors did not have enough time to prepare their
sermons, and celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of
June. By the mid-1980s the Father’s day had become a “Second
Christmas” for all the men’s gift-oriented industry. President Richard Nixon
signed into law designating third Sunday in June as Father’s Day in 1972.
Our children today know more about Puranas than we do having been made
wiser by our Sunday Schools. Let us therefore propitiate a deity of
right choice on this day who would be more convincing to them based on
their scriptural knowledge! I have therefore substantially revised
my earlier discourse titled "Philosophically thinking about Father's Day--
June 2014" as " Hindu Religious and Philosophic Thoughts on
Father's Day, June 2015" and posted on the blog this month.
Based on Kalidasa’s portrayal of Siva as ideal father Hindu
Americans who are largely followers of Saivism ably supported by
Sakta followers resort to Siva worship on Father’s day dedicating the day to
Him. But Puranas and scriptures do mention about other Gods too. Let us examine
the same when we think of celebrating Father’s Day in Hindu Way.
Arjuna pays tribute to fathers
addressing Krishna in Bhagavdgeetaa thus: Pitaasi lokasya
charaa-charasya tvamasya poojyascha gurur gareeyaan | na tvat-samo-asty-abhyadhikah kutonyo lokatraye-apya-prathima Prabhaavah
||
You are the Father of the World, of all things that moves and that does not move. You are its most venerable Guru (teacher). There is none equal to you in all the three worlds. How can then be anyone greater than Father, Oh! Lord! Of matchless greatness!
You are the Father of the World, of all things that moves and that does not move. You are its most venerable Guru (teacher). There is none equal to you in all the three worlds. How can then be anyone greater than Father, Oh! Lord! Of matchless greatness!
A Tamil scripture (Tiruvoymozhi)
glorifies father thus: Our Father is the unparalleled One and Unmatched. He has
no equal and none superior to Him. He is the most mysterious Lord- who has no
equal and none superior. Tamils address father as "En
Appan" meaning my father, Hole bile in Tamil addresses holy
Spirit as"Paramapitaave", Supreme Father. Christianity
address their religious gurus (pastors) as Fathers.
The growing equality of the sexes is
one of the biggest achievements of the post-war era; people have greater
opportunities than ever before to achieve ambitions regardless of their gender
but some men have failed to cope with this new world. Badly educated men in rich
countries have not adapted well to trade, technology or feminism. More schools
would like to have more male teachers to serve as role models for boys, but
they find not many volunteers. And poorly educated men are
often much worse at things such as showing up in time and being pleasant to
customers than their female peers are. Couples split for variety of reasons,
but a common complaint is that the man was not doing his fair share.
Absence of a father affects the
children growing with mother alone. Children who grow up in broken families do
worse in school, earn less as adults and find it harder to form stable families
of their own. Boys are worse affected than girls, perhaps because they
typically grow up without a father as a role model. The problems of
marginalized men tumble on down the generations. Men who never shoulder family
responsibilities miss out on a lot of joy, and so do many fatherless boys.
When men live with women on more equal
terms, they may grow closer to their children. Father may find they like being
attentive, and would certainly be good for their kids, especially boys.
“Fathers are teachers and coaches. They are mentors and role models. They
are examples of success and the men who constantly push us towards it. But if
we are honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that what too many fathers also are
missing—missing from too many lives and homes. They have abandoned their
responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the
foundations of our families are weak because of it” said our president Obama on
Father’s day in 2008. Plenty of fatherless-boys turn-out to be fine. But the
point of our conservative President which many more
conservatives echo is sound. There are many ways to be a father and man. But
not all of them are equally honorable. Even our Gods have shown this disparity.
Not all Gods who are hailed as fathers in hymns have been good role
models.
In my opinion neither Siva nor Rama
are ideal fathers. Judging by what
is said in the Puraanas Lord Siva was not an ideal Father or
Husband. He often went recluse. Rama deserted his wife when she was pregnant
and never thought about his children. When he got the opportunity for family
reunion he badly handled the situation and left his children orphaned.
As always been when in doubt or
troubled referring to Geetaa is ideal! You will always find an
answer. Lord Krishna as Jagannatha seems to be ideal father to be
propitiated on Father’s Day. Krishna always cared for his family, mostly
his wives and children. He was affectionately called Vasudeva-suta and
Nanda-kumara. I have therefore pleasure in drawing your attention to the
relevant sloka in Bhagavdgeeta as above. I believe Thiruvoymozhi also refers to
Krishna only projected as Supreme Being as Jayadeva said in his
Dasavatara stotra! To avoid all controversies it is logical to dedicate this
day to Lord Jagannatha who has also favored Lord Krishna and His Parivara in
His physical portrayal.
An American author brings forth
his philosophy that we are all Children of Immortal Bliss which
means Aanada and Brahman which only reiterates
Bhagavadgeetaa statement "Piataa asya aham Jagato"--Supreme
Being is the Father of the World. As we have learnt Jeevaatma
integrates with Parmatma and enjoys the company with the Father as an
integral member, but some say it dissolves in Paramaatman and loses its
identity. I would go more by the Father and child relationship as Supreme
Being is eternal Bliss and so Love too!
Puranas talk of Brahma being born out
of the navel of Narayana (Vishnu) and Rudra being born of Brahma. This
establishes father-son-grandson relationship as the plan of Creation; being all
of them in masculine gender in Sanskrit it shows the importance given to
Father; Brahma divided himself as male and female and started the
process of creation. Here all thoughts are focused on Father! Hence from
Puranic angle also worship directed to Jagannatha on Father’s Day
satisfies both religious and spiritual aspirants as there is no direct
worship done to Brahma unfortunately in temples!
--JUNE 2015
38. MULTI TRADITIONAL HINDU AMERICAN
TEMPLES NEED FOCUS ON SPIRITUALITY AND DEITIES TO SUIT ALL
A casual visitor to a Hindu temple in
USA is bewildered and confused to see a cluster of deities forced by individual
magnanimous contributors as well as several kinds of worship and
rituals simultaneously going on at the same time to suit these
assemblies of Gods in individual sanctums and at the same time
unfamiliar to many participants often. Poor assembly of Gods
have no place to relax or to communicate with their
devotees personally and are forced to face South too!
Hindu Americans are drawn from
different traditional family background all of which they can’t adopt living
with a major culture as well as several minor cultures too. They
may however practice them in their homes to possible extent. They
are slowly evolving for themselves a new culture known as Hindu Dharma
American Culture. They are also trying hard to preserve their
culture unlike the Europeans who gave it up in frustration. Present Hindu
American culture is also fast changing as their children are attracted to
find their partners mostly from major culture Christianity and to some extent
from minor cultures too. You have seen how spiritual Yoga Has turned into
Physical and Mental Yoga and celebrated as International Yoga. At the
same time religiously inclined philanthropists are building more and more
temples with a presiding deity of their Ishtadevata and worship directed by
priests trained in India with sectarian views following the preset pattern and
frame of mind. This will neither be in the interest of present generation
nor will they be able to hold back the future generation in the fold of Hindu
Culture. Present temples may remain as archaeological places
of interest if not pilgrim centers or the idols may find a place in an art
gallery or museum like some we see in India from ancient cultures for periodic
exposition of our culture when these temples are not able to sustain themselves
economically.
It is therefore necessary to change
our way of thinking of sectarian based worship loaded with rituals copied from
India witnessed by a few and to think of ways and means for mass
worship, spiritual advancement and motivation to other cultures or
culture oriented for days to come. All this is possible within our scriptural
injunctions if properly thought about seeking help from the wisdom of
Vedas. We have here enough guidance from our own past cultures based in
India. We have the choice to choose what is ideal for us. There is
no meaning looking for total outmoded guidance from present India
where they can afford to continue with their sectarian traditions and fights
which they have developed over years. Here we have one temple for all traditions
mostly. We have seen some rich and affluent walk out and set up their own
sectarian or faith based temples in frustration or ego,
jeopardizing the economic running of both the institutions for they
depend on the same crowd.
The present discourse draws its wisdom
from the great pilgrim centers of India which attracts people of all traditions
with no caste or creed distinction and which have universal appeal to those who
are dedicated to Hinduism. They too have made some changes here and there; for
example, Bilva worship on Vishnu deity and bathing ceremony of Linga and
Salagrama together. This discourse recommends Jagannatha
and Venkateswara as ideal deities to suit American Hindu Culture with the
addition of non-sectarian based deities Aiyappan and Durga quoting the
Wisdom of Vedas and Puranas as the ideal deities appealing to all with focus on
spiritual advancement. It also recommends the colorful annual event of
Brahmotsava in these famous temples which will remind us of the Creator
whom we do not worship but venerate and preserving colorful culture
as annual event in which animals also participate
as divine spirits which also finds favor with orthodoxy.
We can make Hinduism more meaningful
and restore the glory of Sanatana Dharma, Mother of all Religions. We are
Hindus First known for Philosophic Clarity and Americans next known
for Action.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/07/multi-traditionalhindu-temples-in-usa_15.html
39. VEDIC SOMA YAJNAS
AND THEIR IMPACT ON CHRISTIAN EUCHARIST RITUALS
The
most mysterious of the Vedic traditions is the ritual consumption of Soma, a
drink said to grant immortality and communion with the gods. In the Vedic
tradition, Soma is simultaneously a plant, a person (god), and a heavenly body
(the moon). Monday in Sanskrit is Somawara, named after Soma or the deity
of Manu. Soma is one of the Vedic deities among the Eight Vasus.
Soma
as The liquid divine drink is usually described as golden or bright red, which
is poured into milk which is described variously as Soma deified being adorned
with white robes or the milk serving as a healing balm (compare Jesus’s body
clothed in white robes). All plant life is influenced by moonshine
or Soma.
As
a plant we are told that Soma was sacrificed, crushed through stones to express
the liquid. All plant life contains Soma (Moon Effect). But it is the effects
of the Soma drink that capture one’s attention: one who consumes it enters a
rapture that is exhilarating, increasing one’s vitality, creativity, and
intelligence. We are told it makes one happy, mentally powerful, increase one’s
sensuality and beauty, prolongs life, and even frees one of sinful reactions.
In
the Rig Veda we learn that Tvastar, the maker of divine implements, is the
guardian of the Soma drink. He fashions a golden chalice which holds this drink
for Indra the King of Heaven. Some view the Moon as the cup that Tvastar made
to hold Soma, with the waning of the moon the consumption and the waxing the
refilling of the vessel. In time the gods ask the Ribhus to create four new
drinking cups to hold the Soma so that other gods may partake.
During
the Churning of the Ocean of Milk, the forces of darkness (demons) and the
forces of light (demigods) cooperated to create Amrita – the Nectar of
Immortality. The Chief Minister of the demons, Rahu, through subterfuge, begins
to drink some of the Nectar. However, the Sun and the Moon see through his
trickery and advise Mohini, the female Avatar of Lord Vishnu of this deception.
She subsequently cuts off his head. Because the Nectar of Immortality passed
through his throat his head remains immortal. Rahu (the head without a body)
seeks to consume the Sun while Ketu (the body without a head) attacks the Moon.
In art they are depicted as a snake. On a gross/physical level the Solar and
Lunar eclipses represent the demon’s severed bodies continually attacking the
Sun and Moon as revenge.
The
Eucharist (also called Holy Communion, the Lord's Supper)
is a rite considered by most Christian churches remembering Christ'
sacrifice of himself once and for all on the cross.
According to New Testament it was instituted by Jesus Christ
giving his disciples bread and wine during the Passover meal referring
to the bread as "my body" and the wine as "my blood”.
One
of the most unusual influences on European culture is that of the Vedic god Mitra.
Mitra (Friend) is a solar Vedic deity among the twelve Aadityas. He is
often clubbed with Varuna (one who encompasses and binds) and worshiped as
Mitra-varuna. This god, who the Romans referred to as Mithras, was a Vedic
solar deity. He was very popular among Roman Emperors and soldiers alike. There
are literally hundreds of temple remains scattered across the old Roman Empire
as far off as Great Britain.
It
is most likely that Mithraism of Hinduism influenced Greek soldiers returning
after Alexander’s invasions of the East. The Greeks and Romans were far below
the Vedic standard. No doubt much of the religion was changed but a Vedic
cosmological pattern was imprinted upon European religious symbolism.
We
know that Soma-deva in Rigdeva is a plant while Jesus
describes himself as a grapevine in the Bible. Both
Soma and Jesus are sacrificed. The grapes are crushed to produce
Jesus’s blood in the cup of wine. Both Soma and the blood wine are
golden/red, sweet, and provide a gladdening effect. Both grant
immortality/everlasting life. Both provide communion with God(s) and both
are held in a golden cup. Both Soma and Jesus are depicted clothed in
white robes. Soma juice mixed with milk and consumed is deified as Soma deity
clad in white in Rigveda. The bread, known as the host, acting as the body of
Jesus, is a white circle reminiscent of the moon. During the ritual the host
bread is encased in a ceremonial vessel known as a monstrance. This represents
the rays of the Sun.
The
glass container, holding the bread/body in the center, is known as the Luna
(Latin: Moon), and the crescent metal clip that holds the host is called the
Lunette (little Moon). And so we see the Moon (host) held directly in the
center of the Sun, symbolic of the Solar eclipse.
To
quote Bible “The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before
the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” -Joel 2:31 and “The sun became as
dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood.” Revelations
6:12. Christians refer to these as the ‘blood moons’ which occur as a
consequence of an eclipse. Unfortunately Christianity lacks the Hindu Puranic
description and so they do not understand the maleficent effects. The Sun
attacked by Rahu becomes black and the Moon attacked by Ketu appears as a
golden/red cup full of blood.
The
Bible reads: "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread; and
when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying,
“Take, eat; this is my body (sōma | σῶμα).” – Matthew 26:26 By strange
coincidence the word used in the original Greek for the body of Jesus is Soma.
The Greek word Soma is of “undetermined” origin and refers to the body of a
plant, a person (mystical/physical), as well as a heavenly body.
With
all of these points of similarity we can state conclusively that the key
religious ritual of Christianity is patterned on Vedic cosmology. Unfortunately
people who talk about Mithraism and Eucharist ceremony
overlook this Vedic cosmology or are ignorant. Probably
Hindus know more about these Christian rituals than Christians know about Hindu
Eclipses and Somayajna. Please read my discourse and see the original
Communication from IndiaDivine.Org with glamorous photographs. Please also read
my discourses on Hindu Reflections on Eclipses ad Blood Moon the second
most read of my discourses.
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