THOUGHT
OF THE DAY—SECOND QUARTER 2018
Should we dismiss
Puranas as Myths? How many years did Lord Rama rule Ayodhya?
Valmiki Ramayana says “Dasa varsha saahasraani dasa varsha satani
cha” as to Lord Rama’s rule on earth being 11000 years. Our religious
Pundits go all the way to make us believe this is true based on Yugadharma and
progressively the life humans has been averaged to 100 years as in Aaseervada
mantras today (blessing by elders)
that says “Satmaanam bhavati sataayuh” (100
years as long life). Ramani in his blog has his own explanation and says we
have to understand Puranas properly with logistics. Accordingly RAMA ruled for
31 years as explained below that is very convincing to the intellectual Hindu
American mind! He also earlier said Rama’s death preceded Krishna’s only by 200
years:
“These
dates were arrived at by researchers looking into the Astronomical details
found in the Valmiki Ramayana.
Rama
went on Vanavasa in his 25th year. 25+ 14 years in exile = 39. He ascended the
throne on his 39th year.
If
he is to have ruled for 11,000 years, then according to Ahoreva sam-vatsara, it comes to 31 years. (11000 divided by
365=30.137 or approximately 31 years)
AHOREVA SAMVATSARA
In
this system of calculation of Time by ancient Indians, one day and one night
was reckoned as One year.
For
understanding this we have to refer to several slokas in Mahabharata Book 3 chapter 40
Bheema
to Yudhishtira:-
O
Bharata, it is, also said by those
versed in morality that one day and night is, O great prince, equal unto a full
year. The Veda text also, exalted one, is often heard, signifying that a
year is equivalent to a day when passed in the observance of certain difficult
vows. O thou of unfading glory, if the Vedas are an authority with thee,
regard thou the period of a day and something more as the equivalent of
thirteen years.—“*Every day a person is
born anew with the sunrise. Coming to live to see the next sunrise is like
having finished one year and starting another year”. That is the
import.
So
ONE DAY should be understood as ONE YEAR!
Another
explanation for eleven thousand years is that these were being uttered as a
Swasthi Vaakya, that is either as a
Blessing by elders or the reverential words of one who pays his respects to one
whom he reveres.
*Every day a person is born anew with
the sunrise. Coming to live to see the next sunrise is like having finished one
year and starting another year. That is the import.
On
this basis Rama should have only for 39+31=70 years? Historians say Krishna
lived for 138 years based on planetarium software research studies.
References:
Religious
Pundits says the word Purana in Sanskrit is explained as “Pura nava iti Puraanah” that which is old is new. Does this imply
that puranic thought should be properly interpreted to the modern way of
thinking based on archeology about past history? Similarly they say that
”Itihasa” means it happened so.
We
cannot reject Ramayana as a myth or a fanciful imagination, just because we
don't know / understand the enormous times attributed to the life of Rama or
Dasharatha. According to modern
Historians reckoning Ramayana happened long ago
around 7000 BCE or so--Rama's Birth Date: 4th
December 7323 BCE; Rama-Seeta Wedding Date: 7th April 7307 BCE; Rama
Exiled: 29th November 7306 BCE. Even as late as the 7th century
AD, the Tamil scholar by name Nachinarkiniyar wrote in his commentary on the
Sangam period Grammar book
'Tholkappiyam' that Tholkappiyam was inaugurated in the court of Pandyan King
"Maakeerthi" who ruled for 24,000 years!
Tholkappiyam
is not a myth. The commentator had lived comparatively recently as 1300 years
ago. But he has said that the King had lived for 24,000 years. Should we think
that he was unreasonable and stupid to make such a recording? On the contrary
we must understand that there had existed a system of years to express the rule
and life of great kings in such high numbers.
We can get further concurrence from Sangam age text 'PadhiRRu-p-patthu' wherein the poet "Perum kundroor kizhar" says that one day in the king's
life is equal to 1 month; One month is equal to one year; One year is equal to
one ”OOzhi", one OOzhi is equal to one "Vella-Varambu". It is not clear as
to the number denoted by OOzhi. But
Vellam- varambu means 10 to the power 20 years! So a king can be expected to
have lived for 10 to the power of 20 years by this expression of praise.
These
are all poetic rights, but it is understood that it was common place talk to
use this expression while talking about the good kings. People have talked
about Dasharatha as having lived for 60,000 years and Rama's rule for 11,000
years or Maakeerthi's rule for 24,000 years in a sense of glorification like
this. Our lack of knowledge of the traditions of those times must not make us
lose sight of the historicity of Rama. Also we do not know when Valmiki
exaggerated these dates and when stuck to actuals with his poetic license? It
is however obvious 11000 years was a glorified reference as to his excellent
rule of Dharma, Peace and Prosperity as glorified at the end of Yuddhakaanda!
--June 30, 2018
Comments:
Very
good and interesting information. Thanks for sharing to all of us.
--Nashville Naga
Like it very much
--Murali Kadambi
ANCIENT
HINDU SCRIPTURES ON GRAVITATIONAL FORCE
Neither Vedas
nor Vedanta Sutra/ Brahma Sutra discuss about Gravity as they are mainly
focused on realization of Brahman. It is surprising that these ancient
scriptures carry lot of scientific information contained in their mantras
written in Vedic Sanskrit which again is different from modern Sanskrit taught
in schools and tough to understand without special effort. Let us look
into some of the mantras
VAISHESHIKA
SUTRA (V.S,)
1)
Why does an object held fall when you let go?
To describe this first of all Sutra
V.S. 5.1.6 states: आत्मकर्म हस्तसंयोगाश्च ।
Aatmahasta samyogascha --Action of body and its members is also from
conjunction with the hand.
As
the above Sutra describes that it is due to conjunction with hand object
remains. Then the next Sutra describes that in the absence of conjunction, falling
results due to Gravity.
Sutra 5.1.7 states: संयोगभावे गुरुत्वात्पतनम (–Samyogabhavea
gurutva utpatana)m --In the absence of conjunction falling results
from Gravity.
Thus
it clearly recognizes objects fall downward due to Gravity.
2)
Why does an object thrown in air fall after sometime?
Then
Vaishesika Sutra 5.1.17 discuss role of Gravity in falling of moving objects.
It gives through the analogy of arrow. First it gives mechanism of arrow
projection in thi Sutra
नोदनाद्यभिषोः कर्म
तत्कर्मकारिताच्च संस्कारादुत्तरं तथोत्तरमुत्तरं च
।। (nodanaadyabhisho karma
tatkarmakaaritaccha samskaaraaduttaram tathottaramuttaram cha) --The first
action of arrow is from impulse; the next is resultant energy produced by the
first action, and similarly the next next.
Then
it explains logically why it falls in next Sutra. 5,1,18
संस्काराभावे गुरुत्वात्पतनम (samskaarabhave gurutvaat
patanam) --In the absence of resultant propulsive energy generated by
action, falling results from Gravity.
3)
Why does water fall (and rise)?
Then
the Sutras 5.2.3 discusses cause of falling of water from sky.
अपां संयोगाभावे गुरुत्वात्पतनम (Apaam samyogabhave gurutvaat
patanam)-- The falling of water in absence of conjunction is due to Gravity.
Then
it discusses flow of water in Sutra 5.2.4
द्रवथ्वास्यन्दनम्
(drvyaasyaandanam)--Flowing results from fluidity.
Then
it discusses why water rises in 5.2.5
नाड्यो वायुसंयोगादारोहणम् ।
(naadyo vyusamyogaadaarohanam)--The Sun’s rays (cause) the ascent of
water through conjunction with air.
Thus from
above Sutras, we can see how our ancient rishis were very clear in their
scientific thoughts and postulations. Vaisheshika Sutra clearly
discusses Gravity.and uses the word Gurutva repeatedly to mean it. Gravity is
translated as”Gurutva” in Hindi and Sanskrit as the vernacular scientific
translation for Gravity. Gurutva means force which arises due to mass.
GRAVITATIONAL FORCE CITED IN THE
RIGVEDA
1. The earth is in space. 2. The earth
is held firm in space due to some force. 3. We are also rooted to the earth due
to the same force. 4. This force is not born like fire from a forest. These are
the truths we learn from an important mantra of the Rig Veda Hymn 67 of the
first mandala of Rig Veda:
वनेषु जायुर्मर्तेषु मित्रो
वर्णीते शरुष्टिं राजेवाजुर्यम |
कषेमो न साधुः करतुर्न भद्रो भुवत सवाधिर्होता हव्यवाट || 1-67-1 ||
कषेमो न साधुः करतुर्न भद्रो भुवत सवाधिर्होता हव्यवाट || 1-67-1 ||
vaneṣu jāyurmarteṣu mitro vṛṇīte śruṣṭiṃ rājevājuryam |
kṣemo na sādhuḥ kraturna bhadro bhuvat svādhirhotā havyavāṭ |
kṣemo na sādhuḥ kraturna bhadro bhuvat svādhirhotā havyavāṭ |
अजो
न कषां दाधार
पर्थिवीं तस्तम्भ दयां मन्त्रेभिः सत्यैः
|
परिया पदानि पश्वो नि पाहि विश्वायुरग्ने गुहा गुहं गाः || 1-67-3 ||
परिया पदानि पश्वो नि पाहि विश्वायुरग्ने गुहा गुहं गाः || 1-67-3 ||
ajo
na(h) kasham dādhāra pṛthivīṃ ta(t)stambha dyāṃ mantrebhiḥ satyaiḥ | priyā padāni paśvo ni pāhi viśvāyuraghne ghuhā ghuhaṃ ghāḥ ||
While the first mantra speaks of
gross manifestation of energy from forest, the third mantra speaks of
gravitational force.
The unborn force or field (aja) keeps
us (nah) rooted to Earth (kshaam). The same omnipresent force (tat)
or field holds (Sthmbha) the Earth (prithveem) in space (dyaam)
Thus though the mantras1.5.11.3 &
4] are addressed to Agni as Vyahriti of Brahaman they also explain Agni
as Fire, Energy, Force or Fuel from the scientist point of view.
Rig
Veda 8.12.28
यदा ते हर्यता
हरी वाव्र्धाते दिवे-दिवे
| आदित ते विश्वा
भुवनानि येमिरे
|| 28 ||
Yadaa
te haryatā harī vāvṛdhāte dive-dive |
ādita te viśvā bhuvanāni yemire
“O Indra! By putting forth your mighty
rays, which possess the qualities of gravitation and attraction-illumination
and motion – keep up the entire universe in order through the Power of your
attraction.”
Rig
Veda 8.12.30
यदा सूर्यममुं दिवि
शुक्रं जयोतिरधारयः | आदित ते विश्वा भुवनानि येमिरे || || 30 ||
yadā sūryamamuṃ divi śukraṃ jyotiradhārayaḥ | ādiata te visvaa bhuva-naani yemire ||
30 ||
O God, You have created this Sun. You
possess infinite power. You are upholding the sun and other spheres and render
them steadfast by your power of attraction.”
Please also
go through my discourses on Hindus contribution to science during ancient and
medieval periods based on facts found in our scriptures.
--June 29, 2018
BRAHMIN SUPREMACY AND
EXPLOITATION MYTH SIMILAR TO ARYAN—CONFLICT DRAVIDIAN MYTH
You are well aware of war on Aryan-
Dravidian Conflict, the connected exaggerated Brahmin supremacy and
exploitation myth going on in Tamil Nadu and Lingayat-Gowda conflict fighting for
minority religion Status in Karnataka encouraged by the minority status granted
to Jain religion in 2014 and other communal warfare in FB. It is
heartening to note these things have not affected the well-educated Hindu
Americans and they are spiritually advancing They are even thinking of spiritually
guiding USA that badly needs with 40% of the faithful being SBNR. Today
we find few Sanatana dharma scholars among white Americans who have also
established monasteries and temples to spread Sanatana Dharma, more
active than Indian Mathadhi-patis.
Hindus in India are worried about the Christian Missionaries active once
again in India with their proselytizer programs. I have already talked a lot
about Aryan-Dravidian Conflict Myth. Let me talk about Brahmin Supremacy and
Exploitation Myth in India!
Is there any Truth for these sort
of continued accusation and class hatred in India and Tamil Nadu in
particular since Independence? The Brahmin atrocities was myth created by
Britishers and Christian missionaries to break the society from within and
making it easy for large scale conversion. The conversion plague to
Christianity if not Islam as they are no longer in power still haunts India!
Later Congress (read Nehru and progeny) used the same strategy to further their
vested interests: In spite of 80 years have passed since Independence with
all concessions and privileges for more than 50% of the Hindu lot on caste
considerations why still this class discrimination still continues in
India? When will it be equalized? Thank God Hindu Americans are not faced with
this problem and the future generation is doing even better motivated by their
parents materially if not spiritually where we need to focus a lot!
Brahmanical Religion or Brahmanism is
ancient Indian religious tradition that emerged from the earlier Vedic
religion. In the early 1st millennium BCE Brahmanism emphasized the rites
performed by, and the status of, the Brahman, or priestly, class as well as
speculation about Brahman (the Absolute reality) as theorized in the
Upanishads. It is one of the historical elements from which modern Hinduism
emerged, but significantly different from Brahmanicl religion of Vedas
(Encyclopedia Britannica & Wikipedia)
Hinduism is a more recent nomenclature
strongly baptized by the British named by Arabs given to a conglomeration of
heterogeneous tradition and plurality of beliefs and worship with a long
history from the Vedic sacrificial religion of so called Aryans (not a cultured
society) through the worship of Epic and Puranic heroes and personal deities,
cults and sects, as well as philosophical systems rather than to a monolithic
tradition or a structure based on a single system of beliefs and worship or a
single text as scripture,
Hinduism fashioned its Caste system
inspired by the divines and Vedic religion for Dharmic governing of the
universe. Brahmanism of Vedic days was not based on caste or Birth.
Valmiki Visvamitra, Vedvyasa were all respected as Brahmins though not born to
Brahmins. So are Azhvars some of whom or even born in lowest class or Panchama
(fifth) class as it was called. So considering some of the
Azhvars of later period, birth based caste system should not be belonging to
the ancient past? But practically a son followed his father’s profession
invariably and belonged to the same Varna unless walked out of it.
So it got stuck that a Brahman’s son is also Brahmin and
so became birth based Varna, later known as caste. This was nothing new or
unusual if you see the then prevailing Western system. A MIller's son or
Baker's son continued with that surname as Miller or Baker and may or may not
follow the trade. Probably President Trump's fore-fathers were
trumpeters and so the surname continues. Trump is Scottish for Trumpet.
Supremacy of Brahmins
- Their Victims are penalized in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and the North!
Let us examine both the main positive
and negative historical facts about Brahmins.
The accusations:
1. Indian Brahmins have been oppressing the lower caste population in India.
2. Brahmins introduced the inhuman "untouchability"
3. Brahmins are cunning, parasitic exploiters and creators of the iniquitous caste system.
4. Indian sub-continent's biggest problem was 5000 years of Brahmin oppression!
5. Brahmins never allowed others to read and write or to learn Sanskrit!
6. Brahmins are arrogant, dis-respective, communal and abusive extremists who whip the Dalits (lower caste Hindus) till they die.
7. Brahmins exploited and continue to exploit everyone else.
8. Brahmins authored the Hindu scriptures just to ensure their own highest position in the social hierarchy.
1. Indian Brahmins have been oppressing the lower caste population in India.
2. Brahmins introduced the inhuman "untouchability"
3. Brahmins are cunning, parasitic exploiters and creators of the iniquitous caste system.
4. Indian sub-continent's biggest problem was 5000 years of Brahmin oppression!
5. Brahmins never allowed others to read and write or to learn Sanskrit!
6. Brahmins are arrogant, dis-respective, communal and abusive extremists who whip the Dalits (lower caste Hindus) till they die.
7. Brahmins exploited and continue to exploit everyone else.
8. Brahmins authored the Hindu scriptures just to ensure their own highest position in the social hierarchy.
The list is endless! And any educated
person believes this as 100% truth. Even those who are born in today's Brahmin
caste are apologetic about their birth due to these so called
"truths"! However, these 'truth' arguments clearly lack historical
validity and logical consistency. It is merely a case of “repeat a lie a
hundred times and it will become the truth”. (Joseph Goebbels' theory). It is
amazing to see that how fiction can become truth in course of time!
Truth based on facts
and real history:
1.
To start with, there is no SINGLE Brahmin God in Hinduism!
2. All Gods are from backward castes, Dalits and Tribal.
3. Brahmins never created the concept of Gods in Hinduism.
4. There was not even a SINGLE Brahmin King that ruled India.
5. To be able to oppress others requires positions of power. Brahmins were teachers, scholars, priests, advisors but not rulers.
6. The Brahmin’s traditional occupation was that of temple priest (purohit), officiating religious functions. Their sole income was Biksha (alms) given by the land-lords (non-Brahmins).
7. And another section of Brahmins were teachers, that too without salary.
8. Vedic literature was mostly written by non-Brahmins! The most powerful of the dharma-shaastra, that gives Brahmins a high status, is the Manusmriti written by Manu, a non-Brahmin. Brahmin means a profession (Varna) - not a caste.
9. If the reading and writing of Sanskrit was confined to Brahmins then how do you have the tribal Valmiki composing Ramayana? Ved Vyas, who classified four vedas and wrote Mahabharata, was born to a fisher-woman.
10. Sanskrit was used mostly by non-Brahmin writers - there are very few scriptures in Sanskrit authored by Brahmins.
11. We consider the teachings of Ved Vyas, Vashishtha, Valmiki, Krishna, Rama, Agasthya, Vishwamitra, Shrunga, Gowthama, Buddha, Mahavira, Tulsidas, Thiruvalluvar, Kabir, Vivekananda, Gandhi, Narayana guru etc. as most valuable.
12. If none of them were Brahmins why cry out loudly that "Brahmins did not allow you to learn?" There are numerous works on bhakti by non-Brahmin bhakti saints.
13. Brahmins never prevented others from learning.
14. Brahmins were neither rich nor powerful at any point of time in history. Pick up any old Indian story book, you will see ‘Garib Brahmin’ (Poor Brahmin) quoted as a virtue. (Remember Kuchela-Krishna story?)
15. Though their profession was considered as highest stature of the society, the Brahmin ascetics' only way of survival was alms given by people.(unchavritti to which Bhima had to resort in hiding as a Brahmin)
16. The biggest contribution of Brahmins is sustaining the best language ever spoken in the earth - Sanskrit. If you learn English or Arab, you have commercial benefits.
17. Nobody ever promoted Sanskrit. Without any benefits, Brahmins took up voluntary task of learning Sanskrit. Then, now they are accused of monopolizing Sanskrit!
2. All Gods are from backward castes, Dalits and Tribal.
3. Brahmins never created the concept of Gods in Hinduism.
4. There was not even a SINGLE Brahmin King that ruled India.
5. To be able to oppress others requires positions of power. Brahmins were teachers, scholars, priests, advisors but not rulers.
6. The Brahmin’s traditional occupation was that of temple priest (purohit), officiating religious functions. Their sole income was Biksha (alms) given by the land-lords (non-Brahmins).
7. And another section of Brahmins were teachers, that too without salary.
8. Vedic literature was mostly written by non-Brahmins! The most powerful of the dharma-shaastra, that gives Brahmins a high status, is the Manusmriti written by Manu, a non-Brahmin. Brahmin means a profession (Varna) - not a caste.
9. If the reading and writing of Sanskrit was confined to Brahmins then how do you have the tribal Valmiki composing Ramayana? Ved Vyas, who classified four vedas and wrote Mahabharata, was born to a fisher-woman.
10. Sanskrit was used mostly by non-Brahmin writers - there are very few scriptures in Sanskrit authored by Brahmins.
11. We consider the teachings of Ved Vyas, Vashishtha, Valmiki, Krishna, Rama, Agasthya, Vishwamitra, Shrunga, Gowthama, Buddha, Mahavira, Tulsidas, Thiruvalluvar, Kabir, Vivekananda, Gandhi, Narayana guru etc. as most valuable.
12. If none of them were Brahmins why cry out loudly that "Brahmins did not allow you to learn?" There are numerous works on bhakti by non-Brahmin bhakti saints.
13. Brahmins never prevented others from learning.
14. Brahmins were neither rich nor powerful at any point of time in history. Pick up any old Indian story book, you will see ‘Garib Brahmin’ (Poor Brahmin) quoted as a virtue. (Remember Kuchela-Krishna story?)
15. Though their profession was considered as highest stature of the society, the Brahmin ascetics' only way of survival was alms given by people.(unchavritti to which Bhima had to resort in hiding as a Brahmin)
16. The biggest contribution of Brahmins is sustaining the best language ever spoken in the earth - Sanskrit. If you learn English or Arab, you have commercial benefits.
17. Nobody ever promoted Sanskrit. Without any benefits, Brahmins took up voluntary task of learning Sanskrit. Then, now they are accused of monopolizing Sanskrit!
Besides, Brahmins were never rulers;
they were not Kings. They didn't enjoy powers and wealth. Naturally, they
worked hard on gaining knowledge, led life of austerity. So there is no question
of exploitation by Brahmins. When population of Brahmins range from just
2% in Tamil Nadu that blames Brahmins most to 12 % (highest) in
Uttarakhand how can they dominate majority.
The Nayanars
are a group of 63 saints (also saint poets) in the 6th to 8th
century who were devoted to the Hindu god Siva in Tamil Nadu. The
Nayanars were from various backgrounds, including Channars, Vellalas,
oil-mongers, Brahmins, and nobles. The reputed poet-saint Nandnar was a
Pariyah, an outcaste or untouchable. They are all worshiped by orthodox
Brahmins who consecrate their idols in Saivite temples. So also Azhvars.
Tiruppan azhvar was from scheduled caste.
While in Melukote, Ramanujacharya in a
dream was told by the Lord that the utsava-murti, which had been stolen by
invading Moguls, was in Delhi. Ramanujacharya went there with his disciples,
met the sultan who had plundered temples in South India, and requested him to
return the deity. The Sultan showed him several deities, but Ramanuja did not
approve any of them. He said that his deity was in the harem of the princess.
The Sultan told Ramanuja that if he wanted his deity, he would have to ask the
deity to come to him.
Ramanuja sang a sweet song and called
out, "Please come, my dear child." ("Cheluva" means
"dear child.") The deity came as a beautiful boy and sat on his lap.
Ramanuja embraced the divine child with great affection, calling him
Sampad-kumara ("Youthful Lord"), and brought Him to Melukote.
The princess, unable to bear separation
from the deity, followed Ramanuja. The Sultan then sent his army to accompany
the princess, but when they couldn't enter a rival's kingdom, the princess
continued on alone. When she came to Melukote, she was not allowed to enter the
temple, being a Muslim, so she decided to spend her life in penance. Hearing
that she was not allowed to see the deity, Ramanuja ordered his disciples to
allow her to enter the temple. She walked in and merged with the Lord. Ramanuja
installed a deity of the princess, Bibi Nachiyar, at the feet of Tiru Cheluva
Narayana. Since then every offering made in the temple is done through her.
In his infinite compassion, Ramanuja
gathered the people of Srirangam town, climbed up the temple tower, and
promised initiation into the mantra for all without any distinction. This
universal spirit became an integral part of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. With
this act, Sri Ramanuja fundamentally changed the criterion for initiation:
anyone who genuinely seeks must be initiated. Even today, any person regardless
of jati (caste), gender, or even nationality can receive initiation into the
liberating mantras of the Sri Vaishnava tradition.
During his stay in Melkote, Sri Ramanuja reached out to the outcasts of the region, who were brimming with bhakti (devotion), addressing them affectionately as “Tirukkulathor”, which roughly translates to “people of the Divine”. At a time of a far more rigid social stratification, Sri Ramanuja established temple administration norms that ensured that Tirukkulathors got entry into temples during festival times. Later in 20thcentury out-castes were called as Harijans by Mahatma Gandhi.
During his stay in Melkote, Sri Ramanuja reached out to the outcasts of the region, who were brimming with bhakti (devotion), addressing them affectionately as “Tirukkulathor”, which roughly translates to “people of the Divine”. At a time of a far more rigid social stratification, Sri Ramanuja established temple administration norms that ensured that Tirukkulathors got entry into temples during festival times. Later in 20thcentury out-castes were called as Harijans by Mahatma Gandhi.
Most prominent Vishnu temples in south
India broadly follow the temple administration norms set by Sri Ramanuja. He
institutionalized certain procedures that serve as powerful symbols. Those who
have visited a Vishnu temple in the South would be familiar with the process of
getting tirtha (sacred water) followed by shatari, a crown with a pair of
sandals on top, being placed on the head of the devotee. The shatari represents
Nammazhwar, who was born an outcast. He is one of the 12 Azhwars too, and the
entire tradition traces its parampara (lineage) back to Nammazhwar. In fact,
Sri Ramanuja considered himself to be the sandals of Nammazhwar’s feet.
To this day, in every temple, it is
Nammazhwar that graces the head of the devotees and blesses and paves the way
to Mukti for Brahmins and outcasts alike.
Comments:
Well-written, sir!
--Swami
Chidanandaji of FOWAI Forum
Superb
refutation of false allegations
Very
eloquently stated; thank you!
--Muralidhar Srinivas, AS
Narayana and Murlikdmbi
Thanks for
your interesting explanation of this subject from your point of view
!!!
--Dr. Brahm Parsh
REFLECTING ON CAUSATION
Pujya Swāmi Chidānandaji
will be delivering a Discourse this
Sunday on TV, June 24, 2018—“REFECTING
ON CAUSATION” This webinar is the third and last of a series.
We had taken up ‘space’ and ‘time’ in the previous two sessions.
The gist of the presentation is:
“Deluded by māyā, a man perceives this universe
as (made of) effects and causes, and consisting of countless relationships..,”
remarks Shri Shankarāchārya in the Dakshināmurti Stotra (verse 8), and observes
that, in reality, there is but One Brahman without anything second to it. The
Upanishads seem to endorse various forms of causation but a proper study with
the help of competent teachers lets us know that they do not really stand by
all those settings of causation or theories of creation. While for ordinary
transactions, our life is full of these arrangements everywhere, the liberating
wisdom lifts us above the whole scheme of appearance. Which came first, the
chicken or the egg? Or should we take both of them in one camp and explore what
lies beyond the camp? When we go to fundamental issues of life, we begin to
appreciate Advaita Vedānta’s declaration that untouched by causation, there
shines the Absolute Reality.
| ..other than any effect or any
cause.. |
| anyatra + asmāt
krita-akritāt ..|
(Katha Upanishad 1.2.14)
VEDANTA
OF CAUSE AND EFFECT
Without the alarm, you probably would
have overslept. In this scenario, the alarm had the effect of you waking
up at a certain time. This is what we mean by cause and effect. A cause-effect
relationship is a relationship in which one event (the cause) makes
another event happen (the effect). Creation (cause) had its
Illusion or Maya (effect) of Samsara (constant struggles and fluctuating
fortunes) that is bothering us.
Science seeks to explain and understand
the natural world. Things happen for a reason: there is a cause for every
effect. In science, the cause (Upaaya) explains why something happens.
The effect (Upeya) is the description of what happened.
Most parents and caregivers talk to
their child about cause and effect long before we expect our children to
understand those terms. We teach cause and effect every time we help a young
child recognize a relationship between two things, or when we demonstrate that
one event is the result of another.
A correlation between variables,
however, does not automatically mean that the change in one variable is the
cause of the change in the values of the other variable. Causation
indicates that one event is the result of the occurrence of the other event;
i.e. there is a causal relationship between the two events.
Causality is the area of statistics
that is commonly misunderstood and misused by people in the mistaken belief
that because the data shows a correlation that there is necessarily an underlying
causal relationship.
The use of a controlled study is the
most effective way of establishing causality between variables. In a controlled
study, the sample or population is split in two,
with both groups being comparable in almost every way. The two groups then
receive different treatments, and the outcomes of each group are assessed.
For example, in medical research, one group may receive a placebo while the other group is given a new type of medication. If the two groups have noticeably different outcomes, the different experiences may have caused the different outcomes.
For example, in medical research, one group may receive a placebo while the other group is given a new type of medication. If the two groups have noticeably different outcomes, the different experiences may have caused the different outcomes.
Due to ethical reasons, there are
limits to the use of controlled studies; it would not be appropriate to use two
comparable groups and have one of them undergo a harmful activity while the
other does not. To overcome this situation, observational studies are often
used to investigate correlation and causation for the population of interest.
The studies can look at the groups' behaviors and outcomes and observe any changes
over time.
The objective of these studies is
to provide statistical information to add to the other sources of information
that would be required for the process of establishing whether or not causality
exists between two variables.
After this brief introduction of
practical cause and effect Swami Chidananda turns our attention to Vedanta
Sutra “Trayaanaameva chaiva upaanyaasah prasnaascha” The answers to the
question of “ Knowing Brahman” are in respect of three and the
questions are also related to the three alone—Cause, effect and the Absolute or
Brahman. In the beginning Brahman was alone as Absolute. He felt lonely
that was the cause. Creation then started that brought in pleasures and pains
being the effect. In order to end all this we have to return to the source and
slowly merge with it which in Vedantic terms is “salokya, sameepya and
sayujya” be in the vicinity, advance forward to closeness and ultimately
merge with the Absolute if possible. Then there is no need to think about cause
and effect –Eko adviteeyam the One and only Absolute!
He then draws our attention to the
mantra in Kathopanishad:
Anyatra dharmaat anyatra adhartmaat
anyatra asmaat kritaa-akritaat | Anyatra bhootaccha bhavyaaccha yattrapasyasi
tadvada ||
(2-14)
Nachiketas who thoroughly
understands cause and effect by his previous studies addresses Lord Yama thus
to know about the ABSOLUTE: “Tell me that which you verily see as other
than dharma (the means of upaaya), other than adharma (the goal or upeya),
other than that which is done and other than that which is not done, and other
than the past as well as the future”
Brahman (Absolute) is different from
the well-known aspirant-attained who performs worships/sacrifices or attaining
results because of the fact that he is disinterested in any such results during
the stage of practicing Yoga. Eko Devah is different from several
Devatas we worship to reach our short term goals! Those who worship various
Devatas are benefited to get their desires fulfilled but those who worship Brahman will enjoy his company free from
desires perennially says Bhagavad Gita.
By putting this question Nachiketas is
hungrily asking for instructions upon the nature of the Ultimate Realty in us,
the Self or the Aatman which is realizable as Pure Awareness when we are
neither rambling with our hopes and ambitions in the uncertain lands unborn
time (the future) nor identifying ourselves with a team of ghost-like memories,
recruited from the cremation ground of dead moments, days, months and years
that constitute our past. Nachiketas is also telling Lord Yama indirectly
not to repeat what scriptures have already stated or what he has already heard
from his own Guru but to expound upon what is Absolute Truth. This
can only be experienced but can’t be explained. Swami Chidananda is trying to
tell us to start this Sadhana right now by a detailed
discourse.
I hope this explanation will facilitate in
your managing time in understanding Swamij within the limited time
available for the discourse. We are not Nachiketas who could understand the
busy Lord Yama within a short discourse!
--June
23, 2018
Not many know that Ukraine and Russia
were Christianized rather recently, that is only
about a thousand years ago. I talked to you before on Latvia.
Here is the research finding by Siddhart Kak a well known research scholar and
writer.
Slavs Searching for their Gods
According
to a recent Newsweek story,
Russian soldiers and athletes are turning to “pagan” traditions to seek meaning in
their lives and to connect to their ancient religion.
A formal revival of Slavic deities,
under the name Rodnovery (invoking Rod, a name for God) is
underway in Eastern Europe. But it is not only the Slavs who wish to connect to
the past and it includes
the Mari, who speak a Finno-Ugric language and other people.
In
the 12th-century, the German missionary Helmold of Bosau wrote in Chronica
Slavorum that the Slavs believed in an impersonal God, quite like the Vedic
Brahman. Around the same time, the Kiev Chronicle (Povest vremennykh
let) speaks of the following principal Slavic deities Perun, Volos, Khors,
Dazhbog, Stribog, Simargl and Mokosh. The generic name for God in the
Slavic world is Bog, or भग.
Other ancient deities, whose worship
was widespread and known from even earlier documents, are Svarog and the
trinity of Triglav (like Trimūrti) as a fusion of Svarog, Perun,
and Dazhbog. There is also another four-headed divinity (like Brahmā) named Svetovid
and a deity named Živa.
Scholars know that Slavic Gods are no
other than Vedic Gods, although they see the historical relationship between
the two variously. The connection shouldn’t be surprising since the Slavs (who
include the Shakas or the Scythians) lived just northwest of India (across from
the Himalayas in a region called Uttara Kuru) in the wide expanse of Central
Asia and beyond.
Although the earliest Vedic texts do
not appear to know a region beyond the Sapta Sindhu, by the time of the later
texts Uttara Kuru was recognized as a frontier land of the Vedic world.
Aitareya Brāhmaṇa ऐतरेय ब्राह्मण, which belongs to a class of texts that were written in 2nd
millennium BCE, makes a reference to this region. The Rājasūya Sacrifice
performed by King Yudhiṣṭhira was attended by kings from Uttara
Kuru.
The plains of Central Asia have had
many shifts in demography and we are informed by the recently excavated Rabatak Inscription of
Emperor Kanishka,
that the language of his ancestors in Central Asia was what he calls Aryan
(or Sanskritic), even though later on from the Chinese chronicles we know the
people as the Yuezhi.
The astronomical references in the
earliest Vedic
texts take us to at least the 3rd millennium BCE. At the same time,
new research indicates that European languages are
rather late arrivals in Europe, and may be as late as 2500 BCE.
It becomes important, therefore, to
note the genetic relationship between the Vedic tradition and the remembered
Slavic gods. Here I am only going to touch upon the deities mentioned in the
Kiev Chronicle.
Rod, Rit (Ukrainian), The
Absolute, Skt. Ṛt ऋत,
Absolute Order, The Law
Bog, Skt.Bhaga भग
or भगवान्
Perun, Skt. Parjanya पर्जन्य
RV 5.83
áchā vada tavásaṃ gīrbhír ābhí stuhí parjányaṃ námasâ vivāsa
kánikradad vṛṣabhó jīrádānū réto dadhāty óṣadhīṣu gárbham
Sing with these songs thy welcome to
the Mighty, with adoration praise and call Parjanya.
The Bull, loud roaring, swift to send
his lays in the plants the seed for germination. (tr. R.T.H. Griffith)
Volos, Skt. Vala, वल
Somewhat like Vṛtra, Vala is a stone cave, split by Indra (strengthened by
Soma, identified with Brhaspati in 4.50 and 10.68 or Trita in 1.52, aided by
the Angirasas in 2.11), to liberate the cows and Ushas, hidden there by the
Panis.
Khors, Sun, Skt. Surya, सूर्य,
स्वर् and from the latter comes Persian Khor
as in Khorshid, or Khar as name of lord.
Dazhbog, Skt. दक्ष-भग
Stribog, Wind-god, Skt. स्तृत-भग
Simargl, Skt. श्येन
मृग, śyena-bird, from which comes
Persian Simurgh سيمرغ.
For those who know Vedic ritual, the
great altar was built in the form of the falcon, śyena.
Mokosh, Goddess, Skt. मोक्ष
Svarog, Goddess, Skt. स्वर्ग
It seems reasonable to see the Slavic
religion as part of the Vedic tradition, to be viewed here as a universal way
of spiritual knowledge, or Sanātana Dharma सनातन धर्म.
--June
22, 2018
SUMMER
SOLSTICE DAY—AUSPICIOUS DAY FORGOTTEN FOR SPECIAL WORSHIP IN HINDU AMERICAN
TEMPLES
Summer Solstice manifests the
power and grace of Agni, the Sacred Fire. On this solstice may our
prayers bring harmony and peace to the suffering and strife in the existing
worldly Maya!
Powerful
Teotihuacán Pyramids in México is worth watching today! We will be most blessed to be at the
ancient sacred Teotihuacán pyramids to witness the Sun and Moon. The Summer
Solstice is a trans-formative experience for connecting with the Universal
Light of Consciousness and your own Inmost Self.
The
Summer Solstice marks the longest day of the year, in which the northern
hemisphere is most aligned with the rays of the Sun. As the Sun is the source
of Light, Prana, wisdom, intelligence and awareness for the planet, it
is a most auspicious day.
In
the Rig-Veda the ancient Hindu scriptures ‘Ayur’
is explained as Agni or fire which encompasses our soul stirrings or essence of
life. The soul or reincarnating being is veiled in the body, mind and
consciousness in the form of fire and Light. On the summer solstice, that energy
of light is most evident. The solstice energy is ideal for Sadhana or
spiritual practices and also highlights the continual outward difficulties in
the world as we continue to head into a global time of dilemma and quandary.
The solstice is a great day in which to aspire to the highest and to transcend
time and space altogether.
The
world today is drawing in the adverse aspects of the fire element mirroring our
karmic patterns of upheaval causing floods in some areas, fires in nature
burning down the flora and fauna in other areas.
We
see the reality of this fire principle stoking the unrest in our minds and
hearts worldwide. We need to harmonize and draw in the positive aspects of the
fire element, the powers of Divine light, love, nurturing and compassion in
order to counter our capricious nature.
The
solstice is a time of sacred contemplation, celebration and initiation into
ancient fire ceremonies. Agni or the sacred fire manifests in our lives through
Mother Earth, Mother Nature, cosmic heavens and our own deeper internal fires
of intelligence, consciousness and bliss.
At
the dawn of this solstice may we welcome the transition through deeper sadhana
with prayer, tapasya, puja and solitude, offering water and honey to
the rising Sun with Surya mantras and invocations.
One
should take the time to honor the Sun, chant the names of the Sun, particularly
while standing in water, and to offer ghee and honey to the Sun in the form of
a Murti, Yantra or stone. The Sun can
grant us health, success in career, and spiritual knowledge. One can contact
the Soma or bliss energy of the Sun with mantras on the Summer Solstice. The
powerful Paramjyoti mantra invokes
the Supreme Light!
Om
Hrim Hamsah Soham Svaha
Let this year be a sattvic
celebration of the soul and not a rajasic overture of tamasic aspirations. We
need to calm and heal the energies around us to dissipate the aggression and
turmoil.
May
we bow this day to the awesome power of Surya Deva, the Sun Lord and seek
divine blessings for a harmonious existence in sync with Mother Earth and
Mother Nature – A
message from Jai
Maa Guru!
--June
21, 2018
MANTRAS AND SLOKAS ON MOTHER TOO…
My E-Mail on Happy Fathers' Day 2018
was well appreciated and one of my learned participants remarked: "Would
you kindly dig in your vast sea of knowledge and create a list for mother's as
well. That would make this list complete." In fact Mantras and
slokas on mother are very popular and enjoyed by all though we do not know
the sources in some cases. I have been able to lay my hands on few of them as
attached. Any addition or correction is welcome. I am planning to attach the
same to my one of my discourses on Mother's Day for the benefit of blog readers
of Hindu Reflections: <nrsrini.blogspot,com>
--June
21, 2018
Wow!
That's fantastic. Good collection & well presented
--Dr. Shashikala
Krishnan
ARE WE LESS
RELIGIOUSLY FOCUSED IN CELEBRATING IYD THAN CHRISTIAN AMERICANS?
When
proposing 21 June as the date for the International Yoga Day (IYD) Modi said
that the date was the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere (shortest
in the southern hemisphere), having special significance in many parts of the
world. From the perspective of yoga, the summer solstice marks the transition
to Dakshinayana. The first full moon after summer
solstice is known as Guru Poornima. Shiva,
Dakshinamurti, the first yogi (Adi Yogi), is said to have begun imparting the
knowledge of yoga to the rest of mankind on this day, and became the first guru
(Adi Guru). Dakshinayana is also considered a time when there is natural
support for those pursuing spiritual practices.
Following
the adoption of the UN resolution, several leaders of the spiritual movement in
India voiced their support for the initiative. The founder of Isha Foundation, Sadguru, stated, "this could be a kind of a foundation
stone to make scientific approach to the inner well-being of the human being, a
worldwide thing... It's a tremendous step for the world. The best way to pay
our tribute to Yoga is to turn inwards spiritually" The founder of Art
of Living, Ravi
Shankar, lauded the
efforts of Modi, saying, "It is very difficult for any philosophy,
religion or culture to survive without state patronage. Yoga has existed so far
almost like an orphan. Now, official recognition by the UN would further spread
the benefit of yoga to the entire world.
When is the summer solstice 2018? The
midsummer date is set on the planet’s rotational axis. It’s decided based on
the sun’s tilt towards the sun, which hits its maximum at 23° 26′ and falls
between June 20 and June 22 in the northern hemisphere. This year, the summer
solstice will take place on June 21.The summer solstice 2018 is the longest day
of the year. After the summer solstice the days start drawing in. Winter
solstice is on December 21 and is the shortest day of the year, where sun rises
at 8.04am and sets at 3.52pm, with just seven hours of daylight.
Karka
Sankranti marks the southern journey of Lord Surya. Dakshinayana,
that is period of six months, starts with Karka Sankranti. Karka Sankranti is
the counterpart of Makar
Sankranti and it is considered significant for charity activities.
Karaka Sankranti this year falls on July 16.
Our
astrology Pundits moving away from the
actual scientific astronomical date calculate Choghadiya
Muhurat on Karka Sankranti 2018 in Washington D.C. as follows:
Punya
Kaal Muhurta = 05:45 to 12:12 (Duration = 6 Hours 26 Mins
Sankranti Moment = 12:12
Sankranti Moment = 12:12
Mahapunya
Kaal Muhurta = 11:48 to 12:12 (Duration = 0 Hours 24 Mins)
We
are thus led to believe false date and timings to observe the ritual of
Dakshinayana Punyakala and made to believe that is the Punyakala dictated by
religious Pundits and astrologers
ignoring Gita that says “Tasmaat
saastram pramaanam te”
That is perhaps why Hindu American temples do
not observe this holiest day on June 21 or on July 16 as a Special religious
Event Day. It is surprising how Nashville being a Christian Religious City is
observing this summer solstice day on 21 based on the religious astronomical
date with orthodox focus while we Hindus who claim most religious do not?
Authorities of Hindu American Temples have
their own worries in running the temples economically feasible and maximum
participation. They are not Mathadipatis who purely focus on religion and
spirituality in running their temples. Our temple Fathers realize at present
the majority is first generation who go with their traditional sectarian background. However they are able to attract maximum
participation on week-ends even attracting devotees from neighboring towns
following the Christian American Way of conducting Masses in Churches on
special Holidays on week-end Sundays except
Christmas and New Year!
The
pattern may change when majority are US born Hindus. They may not even attend temples on
week days except Sundays
and that too on Special Event Days!
Music City’s
International Day of Yoga is Thursday, June 21, 2018, from 5:30pm to 9:00pm at Cumberland Park. This
free and family-friendly event hosted by Small World Yoga will feature yoga,
food trucks, and live music. Free parking is available in Lot R at Nissan
Stadium.
It is customary
to celebrate important events like Presidents Day etc. on week end Sundays more
for the convenience of the materially busy majority Americans than few
spiritually minded. Following the
American way of celebrating important events
of religious significance more for our convenience and active
participation Sri Ganesha Temple of Nashville will be celebrating INTERNATIONAL
DAY OF YOGA on SUNDAY JUNE 24th, 2018,
10:00 AM – 12:00 NOON in the Temple Auditorium.
Please enjoy both the events on actual
Religious Summer Solstice Day and Convenient Week End International Yoga Day.
Encouraged by this Hindu American Thought USA may also decide to celebrate it
on the following Sunday after Summer Solstice Day deviating from the thinking of United Nations
as they did with Presidents Day etc., if
not Christmas Day: Who knows? But please do not forget to worship at home on 21st June which
is the authentic Dakshinayana Day dedicated to Yoga Gurus Dakshinamurti, Lord
Krishna, and Yoga Narasimha!
--June 19, 2018
SLOKAS AND SUTRAS ON FATHER
Our Temple Founding Fathers have
wisely declared Father’ Day as a Special Religious Events Day and also may
celebrate it with special Abhishekams to Siva and Rama. Why
this deviation from conventional religious practices while no temple
in India celebrates Fathers' Day, you may ask. Are we Americanizing
Hindu Temple Worship? A pertinent question! Why it is a very important
day for special worship in Hindu American Temples like Churches in USA where it
is a Mass worship day in my discourses? Apart from drawing support from
Taittareeya Upanishad I have been busy collecting several slokas that justify
worshiping Father at equal level of Devatas if not Deva. Manusmriti particularly has
devoted ten sutras calling our attention that worshiping Father is more
important and worshiping other Devatas is only secondary. Please go
through my collection of slokas from Hindu scriptures particularly Manusmriti
as attached. This rare and exclusive collection will be added as an Appendix to
my discourse on Philosophic Thoughts about Fathers' Day (June 6/24/2014). Your comments
and further contributions are welcome.
Comments:
Very nice,
Uncle. Happy Fathers’ Day to you. Shared it with some of my friends.
--Maheshwari Sankaran
Would
you kindly dig in your vast sea of knowledge and create a list for mother's as
well. That would make this list complete.
--Dr. Kalai Mugilan
HAPPY FATHERS’ DAY 2018
Western thinking says that behind the
success of every son there is a father. I am not sure whether this is any
longer true with so many kids being mostly raised by single mother. But it is surprising that it is a daughter
who thought about of her Father and initiated the movement for Father’s Day
celebration. Anyhow sons are too busy and are late to greet their fathers
unlike daughters.
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.
In
Hinduism too Mother is given first priority and then comes father. It is the
mother you see first as you leap into the world. They say that in Germany a
child thinks of the auto first and then the mother. Upanishad directs Matru devo bhava; piterudevo bhava; Acharya
devo bhava and lastly Athiti devo bhava before starting
thinking of Supreme Being called God—Jagatah
pitarau Vande Parvatee Paramesvarau; Maataa Ramo matpitaa Ramachandrah etc.
Please note here also Father
comes first. That should have been the guiding force for the American Thought
also though they may not give recognition to Vedic wisdom! I
wish you all Happy Father’s
Day and draw your kind attention
to several of my discourses on the subject on this happy occasion!
-- June 17, 2018
Comments:
Nice way to remember
Fathers’ Day! Thank you! Looking forward to your blessings and wishing you a
Happy Fathers’ Day!!
--N. Sapthagireesan
Happy father's day to all fathers, including
you. You have been a wonderful father to Babithu and Ravi and for me a
wonderful brother-in law!
--A.S.
Narayana
Excellent
collection. Enjoyed reading which is rarely found on Father.
--Dr. Shashikala
Krishnan
REFLECTING ON TIME
In Sanskrit Language Kaala means Time.
According to the Hindu theory of creation, time is a manifestation
of God. Creation begins when God makes his energies active and ends when he
withdraws all his energies into a state of inactivity. God is Timeless. Time
is relative and ceases to exist in the Absolute. The past, the present and the
future coexist in him simultaneously as The Cycle of Time. God creates
the cycle of time, called Kalachakra, in order to create divisions and
movements of life and sustain the worlds in periodic time frames. God also uses
Time to create the 'illusions' of life and death. It is Time, which is
accountable for old age, death and dying of his creations. When we overcome
Time, we become immortal. Death is not the end of the line, but a gateway to
the next cycle, to birth. This is also true of the universe itself and akin to
the cyclic patterns in the rhythms of nature.
Hindus in their 16-step Puja ritual
worship of Supreme Being chant the following mantra in Mantra
Pushpam: “Yo samvatsarasy-aayatanam veda aayatanavaan bhavati”—He
who approaches the source of support for the year will obtain
protection. Here they pray to Him as Custodian of
Time or Time itself.
Vedas teach that a single Reality
(Truth) as the source and support of this universe. Time is also derived from
Paramaatman (Supreme Being) as the following mantra explains and tells that
every wink of the eye of our action and movement are dependent on Him.
Divisions of Time have no existence separate from Paramatman:
Sarve nimesahaa jagnire vidyutah
purushaadadhi | kalaa muhoortaah kaashthaascha aho-raatraasacha sarvasah |
ardhamaasaa maassaa ritavah samvatsaraascha kalpantaam ||
All Nimeshaas, Kalaas, Muhoortaas,
Kaashthaas, days, half months, months and seasons were born from Him. The Year
also was born from Him. So we pray to Him as Custodian of Time or Time itself!
I believe you are all familiar with the
magnitude of division of time in Hinduism explained in my discourse on Time
Measurement:
Bhagavan (Supreme Being) says in Chapter
11 Sloka 32 “Kaalo asmi lokakshayakrit pravriddho lokaan samaahartum iha
pravrittaah” -- I am Time, the mighty world destroyer; here engaged in the
extermination of the worlds!
Bhagavan in his exposition of the
Universal Form (Visvaroopa) declares to Arjuna: ”I am the all devouring Time” .
The Time as ‘Kaala’ has been described in our Puranas as ‘Mahaakaala’ as one of
the names of Lord Siva. The Trinity that is described as three aspects of the
Supreme Lord is Brahma, the Creator, Vishnu, the Sustainer and Siva the
Annihilator. The Time is constantly destroying and swallowing everything.
Everything we are around comes into existence, is sustained for a while and
consumed over a period of time. The entire past is buried in the various layers
of time and all the present and future will be also eventually. It is the
measure of all events and incidents. Annihilation of things, objects and people
is continuously going on.
In materialistic world like USA there
is a mad rush for material prosperity (preyas) and people think “Time is
Money” not knowing that we are not the controllers of the same. We ae all the
time focused on physical time and its management and pay least attention to
Mental Time to think how short lived is our time to manage our spiritual life
to focus on Liberation and to reach the goal of reaching Him in His
domain of Perennial Joy--to be in “Salokam” same domain if not “Sayujam”
merge with Him.
In
materialistic world like USA there is a mad rush for temporary material
prosperity (preyas) and people think “Time is Money” not knowing that we
are not the controllers of the same. "Time is Money" is a saying said
to emphasize that you should not waste time, because you could be using it to
earn money! Use Time to gain "Knowledge of Brahman"
I hope the above explanation is
adequate enough to manage your time within 45 minutes on the lecture on
"Reflecting on Time” by Swami Chidananda detailed below. After listening
to his lecture you will become wiser to manage your time in this veer life!
FOWAI
FORUM (INDIA) AND STEP (USA) invite you
to join the WEBINAR 121 “REFLECTING ON TIME”
to be presented by: Pujya Swāmi
Chidānandaji on Sunday, June 17, 2018.
Gist
of the Presentation:
Time
is an all-time mystery. The Sanskrit word kāla can mean time
or death! How did ‘time’ emerge out of Brahman, the One without a Second?
The Reality – Brahman – by itself has no space or time. Time surely is a part
of the apparent creation. Vedānta speaks of transcending space, time and
causation. The sublime philosophy takes up questions like, “Are we in time or
is time in us?” Time seems to rise and fall with the rise and fall of thought
(mind).
In
daily life we value time-management, which is about handling the clock time,
known as chronological time. For peace and freedom, we need to handle ‘mental
time,’ known as psychological time. In excellent relationships we give time to
each other. To listen well and to let people feel at home involves not
hurrying and having patience, which involve taking time. Thus
many are the dimensions of time – viewed as one of the important components of
our transactional and emotional life.
The
webinar will dwell on the multiple aspects of this primordial secret known as
time.
I
am TIME, all set to destroy the worlds!
|
kālo’smi loka-kshaya-krit pravriddhah | Geetā 11.32
--June 16, 2018
Comments:
Enjoyed this one a lot!!!
Dr. Kalai
Mugilan
When you choose to cooperate for
the benefit of all there are NO losers!
Please refer to the spiritual awakening speech by John Smallman
on “When you choose to cooperate for the benefit of all there are NO losers!”
The
above sermon will appeal to a religious Hindu as the very basis on which
Hinduism is built and practiced and so it is all kindergarten level of
spiritual education. Nevertheless this should be appealing to a Hindu
American who is mostly engrossed in Material pursuits and does not know how to
manage his time for spiritual focus.
The Vedic Dharma ordains that we must
show affection and love towards all irrespective of their color, status, caste
and other extraneous factors. “Mitrasya chaksusha sarvaani bhutaani
sameekshe” meaning let us look at all living creatures with friendly
attitude is its cardinal principle. This noblest principle enables us to rise
above all types of controversies and inspires us to work for the benefit of
Mankind. Hindu prayers are focused on: "Sarvejanah sukhino
bhavantu"; "Ahimsa paramo Dharmah", "Vasudhaiva
kutumbakam" etc, quoted by religious pundits as if they are from Vedas
and Gita as well as Vedic dictum; Satyameva Jayate; Krinvanto
visvamaaryam; aatmavat sarvabhooteshu; sarve shantih; aano bhadrantu
kratavah yantu visvatah; sanghacchdvam samvadadvam etc. I believe by now
you are all familiar with these oft-quotes and their deeper meanings; otherwise
you may refer to my detailed discourse on "Gems of wisdom from
Vedas".
Christianity
propagates a very strong case for love. But Hinduism strongly recommends Love
arising out of Respect. No doubt Love has a quality about it that
transcends our shortcomings and deficiencies and takes us to a higher plane of
humanity. But we often find people who love are disrespectful. Love arising out
of respect turns one spiritual or philosophical where there is no place for
disrespect. We find men who claim so much love for their fiancé and get
married often end up in physical violence and divorce. I believe respect should
precede love to have a strong bondage as in Hindu marriages.
Ramanuja’s teachings and practical
religion of Devotion and Love as practiced and propagated by him
will be most suited to all who seek spiritual guidance not only to uplift
themselves but also guide others spiritually providing the love of God with an
enduring philosophy, and philosophy
with
an abiding love of God.That is how he invited the outcastes to visit temples
and enjoy Vishnu-Tattva even in the 12th century.
--June 15, 2018
SEMINAR ON INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY
I am happy to announce you that Hindu
Cultural Society of Tennessee has decided to celebrate International Yoga Day
(IYD) at Sri Ganesha Temple on June 24 Sunday 2018 at the Temple auditorium 10
AM to 12 Noon as proposed in my discourse on IYD in 2015. I do hope this
celebration of physical and mental health will also be taken to upstairs to
make it a SPECIAL RELIGIOUS EVENTS DAY like American religious holiday--
Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day etc. to progress spiritually upwards.
I therefore recall your memory to my discourses on the subject and several
E-mails elaborating Yoga’s Health Benefits. I would also like to bring to your
kind attention remarks made by Dr. Phil Goldberg on my discourses who recently
published a book on Yogananda Paramahamsa. You may also be aware of Yogananda’s
statue in California.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/06/international-yoga-day-and-legacy-of.html
"You are quite right to bring these
researches to the attention of the Hindu community. The implications are
huge. Not mentioned below are some other trends in the data, in addition
to the decline in the number of people identifying with mainstream
Christianity: an increase of interest among Christians and Jews in the
mystical, or meditative, aspects of their traditions that were long hidden
away; an increase in people who seek spiritual wisdom from a variety of sources;
an increase in people who call themselves “Spiritual But Not Religious.”
In my talks, and in “American Veda,” I make the case that this is a
direct result of access to Sanatana Dharma through gurus, swamis, yogacharyas,
etc. We are becoming what I call a nation of yogis. People acquired the
notion of regular Sadhana and practical methods to add direct experience to
their spiritual lives.
There is no doubt much for
Hindus in America to contemplate in all these. Like Christians and Jews, future generations of Hindus may not go to
temples just because their ancestors did, except for rites of passage and
holidays (like Christians who show up only on Easter and Christmas). They
will want to know WHY rituals are done
before doing them, and will want teachings and practices that directly enrich
their lives and elicit the spiritual
experience that rishis pointed to. At least that is what I surmise
in my own research and
conversations”.
I
believe besides Dr. Phil Goldberg I have given enough justification why this
day should be observed as a special religious day in Hindu American Temples.
When NAMO took this subject to United Nations he also wisely thought it to be
celebrated on the weekend Sunday of auspicious Summer Solstice Day. Thousands of people
travel to Stonehenge every year to celebrate the summer solstice. This year, the summer solstice will take place on
June 21, the ‘longest’ day of the year that marks the middle of summer. Guided
by our false astrologers our temples will also not observe this day as
Dakshinayana Punyakala and will celebrate it at a later date on July 16. It is
unfortunate because India introduced Astronomy to the world and even today many
American Hindus are known for their pioneering research on Astronomy to which h
our religious pundits and astrologers turn
a deaf ear.
I would like to recall your memory to
Bhagavad Gita Soka 18-78 where a reference is made to Krishna as Yogesvarah and Arjiuan as Dhanjaya. Where there is Lords of Yoga
(Krishna) there is also Dhanajaya Victory for all round Wealth, Body, Mind and
Spiritual, BMS Wealth. In Bhagavad
Gita, Krishna is mostly represented as a teacher of great wisdom and education;
He figures as Yogi. The Bhagavata records that Krishna sat up every morning for
meditation, “merging himself with the Transcendental Self” We read also in
Mahabharata that Krishna was in the habit meditating on Brahman in the early
hours before sun-rise. There is even a suggestion that the Song Celestial was
originally a Yoga-Upanishad which was later Vaishnavized. Thus Krishna was Adiguru of Yoga who started
Yogacharya Parampara that includes Maharshi Patanjali--Gurubhyo Namah,...asmadaachaarya paryantaam vande guruparmapara
….. etc! What better day is there to dedicate this day to Lord Krishna as
Yogaachrya and celebrate it as Special Religious Events Day? Uttishthata;
Jaagrata!
--June 10, 2018
Comments:
Best
information. Thanks.
--Dr. Hiranya Gowda
REFLECTING
ON SPACE
WEBINAR 120
of FOWAI Forum presents a lecture on “REFLECTING ON SPACE” by Pujya Swāmi Chidānandaji on Sunday, June 10,
2018. Gist of the Presentation
is: “Space was the first thing to emerge out of Brahman,
the One without a Second, as per Taittiriya Upanishad. The Reality – Brahman –
by itself has no space or time. Space is a part of the apparent creation.
Vedānta speaks of transcending space, time and causation. The sublime
philosophy takes up questions like, “Are we in space or is space in us?” In
daily life we value physical space and psychological space too. In excellent
relationships we give space to each other. To listen well and to let people be
themselves involves giving each other space. Thus many are the
dimensions of space – viewed as one of the five elements in the created
universe, as physical space, as mental space etc.”
The webinar will dwell on the multiple aspects of this primordial
mystery known as space.
Outer
space is the closest known approximation to a perfect vacuum. It has
effectively no friction allowing stars, planets and moons to move freely along
their ideal orbits. However, even the deep vacuum of intergalactic space
is not devoid of matter as it contains a few hydrogen atoms per cubic meter. We
should also move in society friction free focused on Brahman to join him in the
space of Brahmaloka (saloktaam aapnoti) which is also pervaded by
Brahman or Brahman itself.
In Vedanta Akasa means the basis and
essence of all things in the material world--the first material element created
from the astral world. A Vedic mantra “pṛthivyāpastejovāyur-ākāśāt”
indicates the sequence of initial appearance of the five basic gross elements.
Thus, first appeared the Space, from which appeared Air, from that Fire or
Energy, from which the Water, and therefrom the Earth. It is one of the Pancha
maha-bhutas or "five gross elements"; Space’s main characteristic
Sabda (sound). The direct translation of Akasa is the word meaning "upper
sky" or 'space' in Hinduism. Akasa or Ether is the fifth
physical substance, which is the substratum of the quality of
sound. It is the One, Eternal, and All Pervading physical
substance, which is imperceptible. Akasa is one of the five
grand physical elements having the specific property of sound. Adherents
of the heterodox Charvaka Lokāyata philosophy held that this world is made
of four elements only. They exclude the fifth, Akasha, because its existence
cannot be perceived.
Akasha
is space in the Jain conception of the cosmos. Akasha is one of the six dravyas
(substances) and it accommodates the other five, namely sentient beings or
souls Jiva, non-sentient substance or matter, Pudgala ,
principle of motion, Dharma, the principle of rest, Adharma and
Time, Kala. It is all-pervading, infinite and made of infinite
space-points.
In Buddhism Akasa is divided into
limited space (ākāsa-dhātu) and endless space (ajatākasā). Buddhist
philosophy, hold Akasa's existence to be real as "infinite
space”.
We find in Upanishads a
mystic description of how the physical world evolved from nothingness of
physical existence. In the beginning there was nothing; Death (Mrityuh), acting
as unquenchable hunger, devoured everything that existed until then. That is
why the sages raised their voice to heaven “Mrityor maa amritma gamaya” lead
us from death to immortality. This description is akin to the
concept of black hole that absorbs everything into itself and it also reminds
us of the final contraction of the presently expanding universe into a single
atom as the Big Bang theory predicts. Opposite to this devouring force, a force
of generation was still active, which at one point willed to have a body. It
persistently invoked its brilliance for this purpose and what came out first
was the cognizant element of Akasa (Space).
Taittariya Upanishad in 2.1.1 says Satyam
Jnaanam Anantam Brahma—Brahman is the Truth, Knowledge and Infinity or
Plentitude. It is Anantam that differentiates Brahman from Atman
(Jivatma) which is referred as Sat-chit Ananda—Truth existence and
Bliss. Sathyam and sat both are translated as Truth in
English but sathyam has much deeper meaning than Truth as referred
to Brahman that I have explained in detail in my discourses on Brahman. Sathyam
is the changeless substratum for all changes and modifications.
2.1.2 in Taittareeya Upanishad reads as
follows: Tasmaadvaa etasmaasd aakaasah sambhootah | aakaasaad vaayuh |
vaayoragnih |agneraapah | adbhyah prithivee | prithivyaa oshadhayah
|oshadheebhyor-annam | annaat purushah ||
From that which is Brahman (truth) is
space born; from space, air; from air, fire; from fire, water; from water,
earth; from earth, herbs; from herbs, food; and from food man.
Please note the five elements are
arranged in their order according to their relative subtlety measured in terms
of their qualities. Akasa is considered to be the subtlest, has only one
quality sound. That is why Upanishads say “Om ityekaaksharam Brahma”
Om is Brahman. In the beginning Brahman was alone in the cognizable form of
sound OM. In the beginning there was Word says also the Holy Bible.
We all know sound cannot be created where there is no space. Air has the
quality of sound and also its own special quality—touch. Because
of this Air is considered grosser than Akasa or space. Fire, next in the
series, has all the qualities of Space and Air apart form its own
quality of Form. Water besides The qualities of all others namely sound,
touch and form has its own quality of Taste. And finally Earth, has its
own special quality Smell. (gandhadvaaraam… eesvareegam
sarvabhootaanaam).
Thus, we find that great elements—each
representing one or the other of the sense-objects cognizable by humans through
their sense organs. In the human body Akasa is visualized
through the ear, Air in the skin, Fire in the eyes, Water in the tongue and
Earth in the nose.
When it comes to religion and spirituality,
it may not be what you believe or how you believe it that protects you from
unhappiness so much as the fact that you believe at all—and that you
practice those beliefs with other people.
Western view of practicing religion
with others comes from Matthew 18:4 of the Holy Bible—“For where two or
three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”.
This might probably be reflecting the thought from Rigveda:
Sangacchadhvam sam vadadhvam sam vo
manaamsi jaanataam / devaa bhaagam yathaa purve sanjanaana upaasate //
Rigveda (X-191-20)
Come together! Speak together!
Let our minds be all of one accord like the divines that sat together in
the past in harmony to worship. Did this inspire Bhajana Sampradaya and
Kalakshepa in Hinduism?
So Vedic wisdom says stay active in the
space and not be spaced out to remain in seclusion, to be happy and
progress towards eternal joy where you are again in samanalokata (in the
same space as of Brahman) with the Supreme!
We recognize Nirguna Brahnman in his
Saguna form, as all-pervading Space (vyaapyate iti Vishnuh) at the first
instance. Wherever we turn we see Brahman only--Isavasyamidam Sarvaam.
Akasa meaning Space reflects several qualities of infinite Brahman. Like
Brahman it is mysterious, formless, boundless, infinite, indestructible, beyond
the mind and the senses and incomprehensible to the ordinary intellect. It
envelops everything and exists in them also. It is smaller than the smallest
and larger than the largest. It is all pervading and provides nourishment by
sending down rain and radiance. Hence symbolically, Lord Vishnu, as preserver
and Supreme Lord of the universe is depicted as blue in color, which is the
color of the sky. That is why Taittareeya Upanishad says from that Nirguana
Brahman there arose Space. We as human beings should be directly interested in
Vishnu Tattva and are to be guided by it in our daily life.
In order that we may not be spaced out
in listening to Swami Chidananda on the practical application of the Upanishadic
Thoughts on Space, I did my own self-study based on my limited knowledge of
Science and Upanishads as above. I do hope this may help you in
understanding Swamiji better in the limited time available with him on this
mystic subject.
--June 9, 2018
Comments:
I like it very much!
--A.S.
Narayana
Om in
the Upanishads is well known to all. You are all familiar with my detailed
discourse on the subject. The Vedas
speak a lot about the importance of the Pranava. It is suggested in the Aitareya
Brahmana that the phonetic components of Om correspond to the three stages of
cosmic creation, and when it is read or said, it celebrates the creative powers
of the universe.(Srishti; Sthiti; Laya—Creation; Maintenance and Dissolution).
Chandogya Upanishad in 1.1.8 says Om is “anujnaaksharam”,
a letter of assent. The phrase ”one
who gives assent” does so with “OM”.
This suggests that linguistically, Om
was used first in Sanskrit language. OM might have even preceded Sanskrit, the origin of
being older than even Sanskrit. Even the Sanskrit language is said to have born
out of the word OM. OM tad Brahma—OM that
is Brahman. Brahman is derived from
the root brih “to grow, to grow
great” which is undoubtedly only vridh in
another form. If so, the English “Word” is ultimately the same as the Vedic
Brahman even etymologically.
Holy bible says “in the beginning
there was the WORD. The word was with God; and the Word was GOD (G=Generator;
O=Operator; and D=Dissolver). Probably the gospel writers of Bible that was
released to the world around third century AD, were guided by the ancient
Upanishads and Mahabharata!
अनादिनिधना ह्येषा वागुत्सृष्टा स्वयम्भुवा । आदौ वेदमयी दिव्या यतस्सर्वाः प्रसूतयः ॥
Anaadinidhanaa
hyeshaa vaagutsrishtaa svayambhuvaa | Aadau vedamayee divyaa yatsarvaah
prasootayah ||
--Mahabharata,
Shanti Parva, Chapter 231, Verse 56.
Beginning and endless is this Vaak
(Word) manifested on its own, first as Veda the celestial and from that
everything else born.
We see Pranava Mantra as the
Primordial sound. It has to be from a time beyond any language known to humans.
OM is a vibration present in the
nature which was later recognized by the ancient seers. It was present since
the beginning of time itself. It just seems to have been utilized and mentioned
in the Vedas and represented linguistically using a symbol for the first time
in scripts of Sanskrit.
The word OM is found in very old Sanskrit texts. Tholkappiyam and Sangam
literature did not mention OM. Though
in general this word is believed to be Sanskrit, few scholars have opined that
the origin must be Tamil. OM is the combination
of three letters, a - oo - m அ-உ-ம். OM
was pronounced as AUM.
Conjunction of the above three letters a, oo, m will be AUM. This is how the Tamil grammar says. If அ+உ combines letter வ் will appear between
them. It will be அ+வ்+உ+ம் AUM. This grammar rule is applicable
only in Tamil. Sanskrit does not have this grammar rule in Panini. Because of
this reason scholars believe the origin should be Tamil.
OM
is
an indeclinable. The SACRED syllable OM,
uttered as a holy exclamation at the beginning and end of a reading of the
VEDAS, or previous to the commencement of a prayer or sacred work.
As a particle it implies: a) Solemn
affirmation and respectful assent (So be it amen!) b) assent or acceptance
(yes, all right); c) command; d) auspiciousness; e) removal or warding off. ओमित्युच्यताममात्य:
—OM iti
uchyataam amaatyaaha—Let councilors say Om for acceptanbce (from Malvikagnimitra).
It may be observed that Ceylon Tamils
say ’Om’ instead of ‘Aam’(Yes) in Tamil.
It is interesting to note that this ‘Aam’
is found in English as ‘Amen’ in the same sense as Tamil. Christian prayers end
with “Amen” and Muslim prayers “Imin”
From
the beginning of first century A.D. scholars of White Race showed equal
interest in learning and getting proficiency in Tamil like Sanskrit. Tamils
were the earliest in the world who encouraged Christianity and their worship in
churches. When Romans were persecuting killing and throwing Christians to
wolves Christians built their first Church of the world in the Tamil speaking
area of Trissur in 52 A.d. It
is a Tamil that started Justice Party developing Non-Brahmin Unity Concept in
Tamil Nadu which later developed Dravida Nadu concept and supremacy of Tamil
language developing a theory that Tamil is older than Sanskrit and Vedas and
discrediting Sanskrit as Mother of all languages based on Aryan Invasion
theory. In this they had the support
from a Bishop in the South as early as 18th century. Tamils have
misinterpreted history to prove that Tamil is more ancient than Sanskrit and Vedas.
They even created their own Gods called Mariamman and also introduced goat and
lamb sacrifices in these temples as a sacrificial culture much older to Vedic
culture with Non-Brahmin priests who have not studied Vedas or trained in Agama
Sastras.
Bishop
Robert Coldwell 1814- 1891) was a missionary and linguist who academically
established the
Dravidian
family of languages who became
Assistant Bishop of Tirunelveli
from 1877. He was described in The Hindu as a "pioneering champion of the
downtrodden" and an "avant-garde social reformer". The
Government of Tamil
Nadu
has created a memorial in his honor and a postage stamp has been issued in his
name. a statue
of Caldwell was erected in 1967 near to Marina Beach,
Chennai, as a gift of the Church of South India.
Influenced
by these developments Indologist Asko Parpola, who is knowledgeable of both
Sanskrit and South Indian languages, attributes a Dravidian origin for the term
and uses the myth words Dravidian liberally.
Sankara coined the word Dravida
for the first time in in Sanskrit with
spiritual significance as the land of three waters (Bay of Bengal, Indian
Ocean and Arabian Sea) To summarize Parpola, “Vedic literature
explicitly define ōm as an expression of approval or agreement, meaning
“yes”. Parpola explains: “In Tamil, the
expression ām (or ōm as in Jaffna Tamil dialect), which in turn
derives from the Tamil word ākum, also means yes. Dravidian
provides a clear etymology for ōm expressing assent than
Indo-European, thus Sanskrit ōm is probably derived from Dravidian ām.
The sacred syllable is not attested in
the form oṁ in the Rigveda, but is thought to be
implied by the expression akṣara
“syllable”
in three verses of the riddle hymn RV 1,164. It is, however, much used in the
later Vedic liturgy. When the Rigvedic, Sāmavedic, and Yajurvedic priests ask
the Brahman priest for permission to carry out an action (e.g., brahman apaḥ
praṇeṣyāmi,
“O
Brahman, I am about to carry forwards the water”), oṁ introduces the permission (anujñā),
followed by an imperative of the appropriate verb (e.g., oṁ, praṇaya,
“yes,
do carry it forward!”). The meaning of oṁ is explicitly stated in the Chāndogya-Upaniṣad (1. 1. 8): “This
syllable is one of permission; for when one permits anything, he says oṁ.” When the Śunaḥśepa legend is related during the royal
consecration, “oṁ
is the response to a Rigvedic verse (ṛc),
tathā
(‘be
it so’)
to a profane verse (gāthā); oṁ
is divine, tathā is human” (AB 7,18).
Distinction is made here between the hieratic speech of the sacrifice, where oṁ is used to express agreement, and
ordinary mundane conversation, where tathā or tathāstu is used. But
occasionally oṁ and na are used for “yes”
and “no”
in ordinary prose dialogue as replies to questions (e.g., in BĀU 6,2,1). I
therefore propose that oṁ
(with a long ō, as always in Sanskrit) derives from Proto-Dravidian *ām,
“yes,”
a contracted variant of *ākum, the non-past (habitual
present-future without personal endings) regularly formed with the suffix *-um
of the very basic auxiliary verb *ā / *āku, meaning “it is, it is so, yes.”
This usage of ām to mean “yes” is still very common in Dravidian languages, for
instance Tamil, and in the Jaffna dialect of Tamil in Sri Lanka, where ām has
become ōm, “yes,” clearly repeating the same phonetic process (vocalic
anticipation of m) that resulted in Vedic ōm. Hindi hāṁ, “yes,” owes its initial h- to North
Dravidian, where all initial vowels are introduced with a glottal stop.”
All the four Vedas start with the word
“Harih OM” contrary to what Asko Parpola
says. The ōm with its
original meaning as given in Sanskrit literature is still in common word among
Sri Lankan Tamils (and probably no one else). Tamil Nadu people say āmām instead.
Alvaro
Hans, a Tamil Author of PIE-Face
unveiled:
The Sanskrit word ‘Om’ is the most
popular word loaded with lot of mysticism and philosophy. What actually is the
etymology of the word?
Ancient Tamil Nadu had a thriving
fertility cult with Sivan as the God of procreation and sexual indulgence. The
Tamil word ’Okham’ ஒக்கம் stands
for procreation. This word ‘Okham’ ultimately evolved into ‘Yoga’ as
follows: Okham>Oam>Om>Aum>Aamam(Yes)
So, ’Om’ meant’ let it be
productive/fruitful’. This word was used as a wishful ‘Yes’ for interactions.
Tamil OM is designed from the fusion of
the Tamil vowel “O” and consonant “am” to represent symbolically Phallus--Yoni
Linga representation of Tantric concept
unlike Sanskrit OM with which all Tamils are familiar. It also represents
Ucchishtha Ganapati with his trunk.
It may be observed that Ceylon Tamils
say’ Om’ instead of ‘Aam’ (Yes).
It is interesting to note that this
‘Aam’ is found in English as ‘Amen’ in the same sense as Tamil. Perhaps this
word was used by St. Thomas who established World’s first church in Trissur and
later moved to St. Thomas Mount in Madras.
The
usage of Amen, meaning "so be it", as found in the early
scriptures of the Bible is claimed to be of Hebrew origin and of most ancient
Abrahamic religion. However, the basic
tri-consonant from which the word was derived is common to Tamil language as
“aamaam”which is more ancient than Hebrew.
The word was imported into the Greek of the early Church from Judaism.
From Greek, amen entered
the other Western languages. According to a standard dictionary etymology, amen
passed from Greek into Late Latin and thence into English. Rabbinic scholars from medieval France
believed the standard Hebrew word for faith emuna comes from the root amen.
Although in English transliteration they look different, they are both from the
root aleph-mem-nun. That is, the Hebrew word amen
derives from the same ancient trilateral Hebrew root as does the verb ʾāmán
which sounds like “amam” in Tamil an assent word meaning Yes.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/05/enigmatic-om-and-why-hindus-consider-it.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/09/sanskrit-language-is-divine-is-tamil-too.html
COMMENTS:
Thank you for your detailed explanation
of OHM by different faiths.
--Dr.
Brahm Parsh
Well
researched sir. Thanks a lot.
--AP Koil Sapthagireesan
I like it very much
--Nkp
Naig
This is the best Ph.D. Thesis.
--Prof.
G. Nagarajan
“DRAVIDA”— SPIRITUAL CONCEPT OF SANKARA
& BASIS OF ARYAN–DRAVIDIAN DCONCEPT OF PERIYAR
The Sanskrit
word Drāviḍa
is used to denote the geographical region of South India. It
was coined by Adi Shankaracharya (788 CE-820 CE) when he was questioned
as to where he had come from by locals in Mandhata,
to which he proclaimed himself to be a "Drāviḍa
Śiśu,"
with shishu meaning 'child' or 'child of' and dravida being a sandhi
word combining the elements dravya, meaning water, and vida,
meaning meeting place. Therefore, drāviḍa could be interpreted
as meaning "the place where the three waters meet" with those
"three waters" being the Indian
Ocean, the Arabian
Sea,
and the Bay of Bengal. Southern Brahmins
are known as Pancha Dravida while northern Brahmins are known as Pancha
Gauda, denoting geographical region. It is similar to the word
Hindu which is an apabrahmsa (corrupted word) of Sindhu meaning Indus River
valley People. Sankara visualized that these people moved to
Southern Waters Region. Even today Brahmins from Konkan and Udupi regions
call themselves as Dravida Brahmanas.
The English word Dravidian was
first employed by Robert Caldwell in his book of comparative Dravidian
grammar based on the usage of the Sanskrit word drāviḍa in the work Tantravārttika
by Kumārila Bhaṭṭa,
the word drāviḍa
in Sansrkit has been historically used to denote geographical regions of
Southern India as whole. Some theories concern the direction of derivation
between tamiẓ
and drāviḍa;
such linguists as Zvelebil assert that the direction is from tamiẓ to drāviḍa. The
modern word Dravidian is devoid of any ethnic significance, and is only
used to classify a linguistic family of the referred group. The
origins of the Dravidians are a very complex subject of research and debate.
In Amaravati
in present-day Andhra Pradesh
there is an inscription referring to a Dhamila-vaniya (Tamil trader)
dated to the 3rd century CE. Another inscription of about the same time
in Nagarjunakonda seems to refer to a Damila. A
third inscription in Kanheri Caves
refers to a Dhamila-gharini (Tamil house-holder) in the Buddhist
Jataka
story. In Prakrit,
words such as "Damela", "Dameda", "Dhamila" and
"Damila," which later evolved from "Tamila," could have
been used to denote an ethnic identity Epigraphic evidence of an ethnic group
termed as such is found in ancient India where a number of inscriptions have
come to light dated from the 6th to the 5th century BCE mentioning Damela
or Dameda persons.
Bishop Robert Caldwell (7 May
1814 – 28 August 1891) was a missionary and linguist, who academically established the Dravidian
family of languages. He is known as godfather of Tamil language. He served as
Assistant Bishop of Tirunelveli
from 1877. He was described in The Hindu as a "pioneering champion of the
downtrodden" and an "avant-garde social reformer". The
Government of Tamil
Nadu
has created a memorial in his honor and a postage stamp has been issued in his
name. a statue
of Caldwell was erected in 1967 near to Marina Beach,
Chennai, as a gift of the Church of South India.
The ideology of the Dravidian movement
can be traced back to the works of Bishop Robert Caldwell. He was an evangelist
and a linguist who aggressively popularized the idea of an Aryan invasion of
India. In Caldwell’s analysis, the Aryans sent their agents, the sly Brahmins
who through their faith now known as Hinduism [historically known as
Brahmanism] enslaved the Dravidian people who were given the title of
‘Shudra.’ [Manu said everybody is born as a Shudra based non BAUpanishad
which Caldwell ignored]. The main aim of Caldwell in projecting the Aryan-Dravidian
divide was to make way for mass conversions because many in South India
were led to believe that Hinduism is a racist cult dominated by the Aryan
Brahmins.
Periyar bemoaned the independence of
India from British rule as he believed that the South would now become
“Sanskritized” leading to a subjugation of the Tamils by the Aryans. And so the
concept of Dravida Nadu was modified down, and restricted to Tamil Nadu.
This then led to a proposal for a union of the Tamil people of not only South
India but including those of Sri Lanka as well. This proposal for a “sovereign
Tamil” raised concerns among the Sinhalese politicians in Sri Lanka. In 1962, a
Sinhalese M.P. stated in the Parliament: “The Sinhalese are the minority in Dravidistan.
We are carrying on a struggle for our national existence against the
Dravidistan majority”.
The island nation which was already
simmering with tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority
can obliquely thank Periyar for his contribution to this sensitive issue. As
for India, even today, many Tamils view themselves as a separate nationality
from the rest of India, and at times, they even refuse to celebrate India’s
cultural and civilizational heritage. There are Thenkalai Iyengars who
give primary importance to Tamil Thiruvoymozhi and Tiruppavai unlike
Vadakalai Iyengars who focus only on Sanskrit Vedas in Tamil Nadu.
And so the whole claim of Periyar being
a rationalist boils down to his un-examined faith in a spurious racial theory.
Now, to examine the next claim that Periyar was a champion of progressive Tamil
identity, a sample from his 1954 speech would be a good place to begin: “In
Tamil Nadu’s entire population it seems the Brahmins are 2.75 per cent, the
Christians 4 per cent, the Muslims about 5 per cent, the Malayalis 8 per cent,
those from Canara are it seems 5 per cent – if we combine these, it emerges
that the non-Tamils in Tamil Nadu constitute 25 per cent of the population.
However, in employment these non-Tamils hold 75 per cent of the top posts. Not
just that, the reason why the Tamils are suffering is because the Brahmins,
Christians, Muslims and others claim themselves to be Tamil.” [Brahmins in
British Government had the same preference in jobs like Hindus have in
lucrative jobs in USA because of their IQ and educational background.]
Without mincing any words, Periyar
called for an exclusive Tamil identity. Periyar’s “Dravidian” movement also
contained in it a disdain for Dalits which often manifested itself in offensive
forms as can be deduced from one of Periyar’s own statements on Dalit leaders
of the then Madras Presidency who were asking for social equality: ”Whoever
your leaders be, they parade you – as lame, diseased, blind, leprous – for
money; and even without buying milk to feed you, nor applying any balm on your
wounds, they further emaciate you, and display your condition to others to earn
more money.”]In another instance, he asked:”If Sahibs [Muslims] get
proportionate representation and the Scheduled Castes get representation in
jobs and education, and if the rest of the slots are monopolized by Brahmins, O
Shudra, what will be your fate and future?”
As for Periyar being on the same
pedestal as Babasaheb Ambedkar, Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Ayyankali,
nothing could be farther from the truth.
It is true that Periyar praised
Ambedkar. However, his praises were motivated by his keenness to belittle Tamil
Nadu’s Dalit leaders as cited above. Post-1947, he attacked Ambedkar for
supporting a “United India.” It is correct to say that Babasaheb Ambedkar was
harsh on Hindu society particularly on the question of Varna. Yet, he did not
fall for false propaganda. This is what Ambedkar said about the Aryan Invasion
Theory: “Enough has been said to show how leaky is the Aryan theory
expounded by western scholars….. Yet, the theory has such a hold on the people
that what has been said against it may mean no more than scotching it. Like the
snake, it must be killed…..In the face of the discovery of new facts, the
theory can no longer stand and must be thrown on the scrap heap.” Murasoli
a daily paper of the party wrote:" if you see a Brahmin and a snake
together, kill the Brahmin first and then the snake". Such was the
venom of Periyar but the then Government was silent about in my college
days.
The Justice Party, officially
the South Indian Liberal Federation, was a political party in the Madras Presidency of British India. It was established in 1916 by T.
M. Nair and P. Theagaraya Chetty as a result of a
series of non-Brahmin conferences and meetings in the presidency.
[Probably they got the name from the Justice party of USA then existing but not
its objectives based on economic inequality.] Communal division between Brahmins
and non-Brahmins began in the presidency during the late-19th and early-20th
century, mainly due to caste prejudices and disproportionate
Brahmins’ representation in government jobs. The Justice Party's foundation
marked the culmination of several efforts to establish an organization to
represent the non-Brahmins in Madras. [Non-Brahmin is yet another term employed
by British to rule the country with its Divide and Rule Policy. There is
no such term in Hindu scriptures.]
The Justice Party's period in power is
remembered for the introduction of caste-based reservations, and educational and
religious reform (Communal G.O.). This was fought for two years in the
Supreme Court and was squashed. In opposition it is remembered for
participating in the anti-Hindi agitations of 1937–40.
The party had a role in creation of Andhra and Annamalai universities and for developing the
area around present-day Theagaroya Nagar in Madras city.
(Thyagaraya.Nagar)The Justice Party and the Dravidar Kazhagam are the
ideological predecessors of present-day Dravidian parties like the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
and the All-India Anna
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which have ruled Tamil
Nadu
(one of the successor states to Madras Presidency) continuously since 1967.
Rabindranath Tagore who was Western
educated might have been influenced both by Sankara and the English
interpretation of Dravida to mean Southern States of India to compose Jana Gana
Mana that became National Anthem in preference to Vande mataram with reference
to Dravidastn. It is strange this word Dravida in National Anthem missed the
attention of Periyar of Dravidian movement which now remains confined to Tamil
Nadu. [Division on the basis of language has taken a lead over Dravidian
movement on All-India basis which is also being threatened to-day with the
formation of Himachl Pradesh,Haryana, Uttaranchal, Telengana
etc.dividing linguistic unity states further.]
Migrant Hindus like American Hindus
have not only transcended caste system, Aryan-Dravidian Myth and are even
merging with White race of America choosing their life partners from White
Christianity mostly while first Generation Hindu migrants are striving hard to
preserve Hindu culture and Sanatana Dharma. Children of Tamil migrants
can hardly speak or converse in Tamil language. They chant their prayers
in divine language Sanskrit in Hindu Temples of America with
transliterated texts in English. It is surprising that there is still
keen interest in Hindu music and dance conducted through the medium of Indian
languages. How long this will last, time alone will tell !
[Source: Wikipedia; Encyclopedia
Britannica and Poulastya Chakraborty on “Nothing to Celebrate about Periyar,
2014]
--May
28, 2018
PURSUIT
OF HAPPINESS, INTRINSIC QUALITY OF HUMAN
NATURE
Desire for happiness is the driving
force behind all the countless efforts that we are always making. Man’s
pursuit, whether through mind, speech or body is driven by his “fundamental
desire” to be happy. Man always wants more, not less, happiness
than he has already. He errs, however, when he thinks he can increase his
happiness by adding to his possessions rather than expanding his awareness. Any
effort to increase his happiness without at the same time expanding his
sensitivity to the world around him, and his sense of identity with it, will be
self-defeating. Whenever a person acts selfishly, he deadens the capacity to
perceive his essential unity with all life. He becomes, as a result, petty and
mean. The expansion of happiness necessarily entails the expansion of
awareness, not the expansion of property. For happiness is not a thing, and
cannot be found in mere things. it is not a vital feeling. It is a quality of
consciousness: something that one is aware with, rather than of. Reason
therefore suggests, and inner experience confirms that happiness is an
intrinsic quality of human nature. We enjoy things only to the extent that
we satisfy the thought in our own minds that things are enjoyable. In fact, it
is never things themselves that we enjoy at all, but only a deeper reality
within our own being.
The Westerners’ thought sought to
understand man’s drive for happiness by analyzing the external factors, while
the orientalists, especially Indian thinkers, gave prominence to the inner
being (or ontological stance) when understanding happiness. India’s researchers
into human motivation following the thread of desire to its source, found that
man’s deepest motivation is essentially to avoid suffering, and to attain
happiness…Beneath every sensory desire to avoid pain, and to experience
pleasure; and beneath every deeper, heart’s desire is the longing to escape
sorrow, and to attain permanent happiness. The desire to attain happiness is
actually symptomatic of the desire for self-discovery, for self-fulfillment. By
the same token, the desire to avoid suffering is essentially a desire to eschew
‘non-happiness’ as foreign to our nature. We suffer only when something
withholds from us that degree of happiness which we feel rightfully ours.”
Every human being tirelessly seeks it
in the world through action, emotion and knowledge. The search for bliss goes
on. None has ever found it. Only the rare one who has directed his search
inward has reached that State of supreme bliss. Such men are rare saysa
Gita. He finds it through realization of the Self. People believe that
outer conquests can bring about inner peace and bliss. It is a false belief
arising out of spiritual ignorance.
Advaita Vedanta suggests that Being
(Brahman) is non-dual (Advaita). It is existential. It is experiential and
non-relational. There is no difference between Self (Atman) and Being
(Brahman). It is Supreme knowledge (Sat), Supreme Consciousness (Chit) and
Supreme bliss (Ananda). Advaita Vedanta propounds that it is nescience (avidya)
that enshrouds the individual self to assume that existence is dual, that is
there is a creator and creation, that there is the experiencer and the
experienced. It reinstates the Vedic theory that the substratum, Brahman, is
not identifiable and that it is not located in space-time-causation continuum.
The non-dual school of thought suggests that it is the delusive force or energy
(Maya) that veils the non-dual nature of Brahman.
Advaita Vedanta emphasizes that the
actions or activities undertaken by the Embodied Self is nothing but an innate
urge to express its expanse and freedom and unfold its nature as Supreme
Knowledge, Supreme Consciousness and Supreme Bliss. It believes that Bliss is
not capable of being pursuit or sought, as man, as an Embodied Self, is by
nature blissful. It conclusively asserts that Self (Atman) is enlightened
and blissful by nature. It reiterates the concluding findings of
the Vedas (scriptures) highlighting the non-dual nature of Brahman
or Atman. Advaita Vedanta suggests that creation is the ultimate
expression of Brahman which is inherently blissful, endowed with supreme
knowledge and consciousness. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad affirms in its sutra
or aphorism, “Poornamadam Poornamidam, Poornaat Poornamaduchyathe, Poornasya
Poornamaadaaya Poornameva avasishyathe” which means “from fullness
(Brahman), fullness (creation) came and despite its expression, fullness
(Brahman) still remains full. Thus, creation is taken as a sportive expression
of Supreme Knowledge, Supreme Consciousness and Supreme Bliss.
In Ashtottaras, Ganesha as well
as other deities are addressed as Sacchidaananda vigrahaaya
namah hoping their prayers will reach Brahman, though it is made clear in
Bhagavad Gita that those who worship devatas will reach devatas and
those who worship me (Brahman) alone will come to me—yaanti devavrataah
devaan…. madyaajinopi Maam”. Brahman is further addressed as Sathyam
Jnaanam Anantam Brahman. Also Sathyam is differentiated from Sat;
Sathyam (Sat+thi+yam)--The principle that regulates immortal and mortals
(Chhandogya). While Brahman is both Sathyam and Sat Atman is not Sathyam.
Therefore Vishishtadsvaita makes it clear Atman is only an Amsa of
Brahman—Mamaivaamso jivaloke (an eternal fragment of Brahman).
Advaita makes no distinction between
atman and Brahman and says clearly:1. The Real (Brahman) is one and is of the
nature of consciousness and bliss, 2. Due to its maya (illusory nature) the
Real appears as the world of plurality, 3. There is absolutely no difference
between Brahman and the individual soul.
Even in Advaita it is not adequate to
describe Brahman as sat-chit-aananda- existence, knowledge and
bliss. It says Sat, Chit, Ananda is equivalent to Satyam Jnanam
Anantam Brahma, and both mean the same. Sathyam cannot be
adequately translated as mere existence. It can be made more clear if Sathyam
is read together with Anantam. Anantam means that which has
no end or anta . Vishnu is Sathyam, Anantham says VSN.
So Brahman is Anantham Sathyam or infinite existence; He is also
likewise Anantham Jnaanam Infinite Intelligence. In
the Taittiriya Upanishad “bliss has been described as bliss par excellence
which is many hundredfold more than the happiness one derives from any worldly
act”. So it is Anantham Anandam. Therefore the word Anantham is
very important in understanding Sat Chit Aannda. “In this context
Advaita Vedanta exhorts one to have a clear understanding of reality and
realize that the inherent quality of the Atman or the embodied Self is Brahman
which is Infinite Being, Infinite Consciousness and Infinite Bliss.
It is in this essence Upanishads stressed that Brahman is not “blissful” but
Bliss, not “conscious” but “Consciousness”, not existent but “Existence”
(Swami Krishnananda).
--May
27, 2018
PURPOSE
AND VALUE OF WORSHIP
Dr. Krishnamurthy Ramakrishna of FOWAI
Forum will be presenting a talk on YouTube this Sunday on the above topic. The
gist of the subject is: “The word worship as such opens up many questions –
What is worship? Why should one worship - purpose? Whom to worship? What does
one derive from worship – value? This webinar explores the Vedāntic teachings
to arrive at some reasonable understanding of the answers to these questions
about worship”.
Worship is contraction of two words: worth
and ship. It meant to ascribe or declare the worth of something, or to
place value in the thing being honored. To worship, then, is to lift up to the
Lord, to appreciate his grace and to place life under the divine mercy and
grace. In Hinduism it includes primarily reverent honor and homage paid to God
or to Mother, Father, Guru and Guest or any other thing regarded as sacred.
Vedas say “aatmavat sarvabhooteshu”
the same Self abides in all. That is
why Hindus pay respect to others with folded hands and pronounce Namah Te or Namaste meaning—“I pay my obeisance to the Self or God within you”.
Worship,
or puja, is the
central action of practical Hinduism. Scholars describe Hindu worship as a
pre-eminently transactional event; through worship, humans approach deities by
respectful interactions with their powers. At every level, from elaborate
temple rituals to simple home practice, worship consists of offerings made and
blessings received; reverence is rendered and grace pours down. The purpose of
many rituals is to promote auspiciousness (kalyana,
mangala, shri)—a pervasive Hindu
concept indicating all kinds of good fortune or well-being.
Worship
is by no means confined to temples. It may be performed at a home altar, a
wayside shrine, or anywhere a devotee decides to mark off a sacred space.
Actions at home may be far less elaborate than those at temples, more
routinized as part of daily household life, and are performed without priestly
expertise. South Indian housewives traditionally turn their thresh-holds into
auspicious altars for the goddess each morning as they draw ritual designs
(Kolam or Rangoli), which are almost instantly trampled back into dust.
Conceptually
distinct from worship yet often conflated with it is seva, or service. This refers to regular,
respectful attentions to the needs of enshrined deities, or icons (Murti). In temples the person who does seva is normally a ritual
expert, regularly present. Although seva
is never done with an aim in mind, it is understood to keep the gods
beneficently inclined, and flawed seva
may cause trouble. Performing seva
is good for the soul of the server. In Kannada there is a motto which says “Janasevaye Janardhanana Seve”—Service
to humanity is service to God.
Aradhana
is a Sanskrit word that was in human usage long before the word worship was coined
in English language. It means worship or prayer or devotional effort. Hindus are familiar with the annual event
“Thyagaraja Aradhana” held in Tiruvaiyaru and also celebrated all over the
world honoring the Saint Tyagraja and his unique contribution to Carnatic
Music. We come across this word for the first time in the Adikavya, the first
literary composition, Valmiki Ramayana in which Lord Rama directs Vibhishana: “Aaraadhya Jaganntham ikshvaakoonaam kuladaivatam”—Worship
Lord Jaganntha, the family deity of Ikshvaku dynasty. Perhaps the tradition of
worshiping a deity originated from this
Lord’s directive. The word Aradhhan being feminine, it is a very popular name
for girls in Hinduism. Astrologically
it is the ideal name for those born on Krittika Nakshatra, belonging to
Mesha (Aries) Rasi with dominant planet Mangala (Mars).
Present
day worship mostly aim at appeasing the God of their perception, for favors of
physical well-being and happiness Preyas, immediate pleasure and relief and not Sreyas, eternal Joy
living in the domain of the Supreme permanently (Saalokya, Saameepya or
Saayujya). This short term appeasement is made by singing praises to that
God, visualized in human form, and by offering presents in the form of money,
gold and other valuables; this is akin to bribing some power-wielding, greedy
mortals for securing protection and favors. Scriptures advice do your duty, and
leave the results to God: “karmanyeva
adhikariste maa phaleshu kadaachana” and “yad bhadram tanma asuva”—Good Lord knows what is good for you
based on your Karma. Leave the choice
to Him. For you may settle for less being stingy and narrow minded.
--May 26, 201
MEMORIAL
DAY IS "CIVIL RELIGIOUS DAY" IN USA
Ganesha Temple of Nashville makes May
28, Memorial Day a Special Religious Events Day and keeps the temple open all
day for carrying out special worship remembering the sacrifice that millions
of people have made here and elsewhere to preserve freedom and
help promote peace and justice in our troubled world. Hindu prayer always
concludes with the appeal to the Supreme Spirit “Sarve janah sukhino
bhavantu” --May all people on earth live contented and in comfort. It is
in-born Hindu philosophy that no social or civil event can start without a
prayer to the Supreme. But what makes it all the more interesting is Memorial
Day and Presidents Day are two Civil Religious Days in USA.
The term Civil Religious is peculiar to America that strongly believes in separation
of the Church and the State to the comfort and confidence of all
religions that do not belong to its churches. Without going further deep
into the subject I would like to reproduce below thoughts from a reputed writer
on theologies, Gary S Smith.
God, too, is a symbol
of civil religion, according to Bellah’s theory, and part of Memorial Day.
This isn’t the Christian God or the Jewish God, but the “God Bless America”
God, who represents our country’s values: equality, independence, freedom. He’s
called on in funerals, memorials, invocations, oath taking ceremonies and
songs. In a way this concept comes from Sanatana Dharma where God is defined as
Brahman of no name or description—All pervasive God. GOD even in American
concept is coined from three English capital letters and not any root
derivative: G=Generator; O=Operator; and D=Dissolver (Vidhartara—the
Creator of the Universe who sustains the creation in many ways and who
witnesses the thoughts and deeds of people)
Throughout American history presidents
have often used religious rhetoric for various reasons: to provide comfort and
consolation, argue that God providentially directs our nation, celebrate our
Christian heritage, defend democracy, hold citizens and the country accountable
to transcendent standards, help accomplish their own political aims, justify
America’s actions, foster traditional morality and justice, promote prayer and
Bible reading, call for national and individual repentance, unite Americans,
and satisfy citizens’ expectations.
No matter what their private religious
beliefs, presidents have been strongly influenced by America’s civil religion
in performing their official duties. Regularly invoking God in inaugural
addresses and on other important occasions, the president has functioned as the
Nation’s “principal prophet, high priest, first preacher, and chief pastor.”
Presidents have used religious rhetoric to reassure citizens that God rules the
universe and loves them as they fought enemies in the War of 1812, the Spanish
American War, and World War I and II, as they combatted communist aggression
during the Cold War, engaged in military action in Korea, Afghanistan, and
Iraq, and dealt with disasters in space and terrorist threats at home.
Presidents have also used religious
rhetoric and quoted the Bible to celebrate religious holidays and commemorate
those who defended our nation through their military service. Their
proclamations about Memorial Day illustrate this.
Benjamin Harrison first recognized
Decoration Day in 1891, and presidents have consistently issued Memorial Day
statements since 1929. Their declarations have typically asked God to bless
those who died defending the nation and have urged Americans to pray and work
for peace.
Reflecting on the outcome of the Civil
War, Harrison argued in a May 30, 1891 speech at Independence Hall in
Philadelphia that Americans had “settled perpetually the question of loyal
submission to the Constitution and the law in all the States.” He proclaimed,
“We honor those who died in the service of their country” and joyfully and
thankfully commemorate “what they did. We mourn for them as comrades who have
departed,” but “the glory of their achievement” has given them imperishable
honor.
In the aftermath of World War II, Harry
Truman declared in 1948 that Memorial Day provided an appropriate occasion for
Americans, who had long been devoted to furthering peace, to reflect about “the
human losses resulting from the ravages of war.” Remembering “beloved friends
and relatives who were sacrificed in the ordeal of battle” should inspire
citizens to redouble their “exertions in a mighty striving” for “the
long-sought basis of an unbreakable, righteous peace.” Truman urged Americans
“to acknowledge our need for divine guidance” and to pray that “permanent peace
may prevail among men.”
Celebrating Memorial Day in 1962, a few
months before the Cuban Missile Crisis, John F. Kennedy praised the “supreme
and selfless sacrifice of those who gave their lives” to help ensure that
succeeding American generations enjoyed “the spiritual and material blessings
of our free society.” These men and women had also advanced the cause of
freedom around the world and were “an inspiration to us all.” He challenged
citizens to live by “the same virtues of loyalty, courage, and devotion to
country that characterized our fallen
In 1987, as the Cold War neared its
end, Ronald Reagan asserted that “any American who has ever listened to a
bugler sound Taps” whether it was “halfway around the world” or on “a lonely
tarmac stateside” knows “why we set aside a special day each year to honor
those who have died for our country and to pray for permanent peace.”
“We do so,” Reagan explained, “for the
sons and daughters of our land who have perished in the cause of liberty.” He
added, “We do so,” to honor the nation that “gave them their birthright of
freedom” and “to revere, defend, and preserve” all these brave heroes and
heroines who have given their lives to make the nation secure.
Reagan beseeches God to bless “those
who have died for our country” and “take them to Himself and reward their
patriot’s love.” He prayed that God would give Americans the devotion and
strength to build upon their foundation and create a more peaceful world “so
that one day Taps will sound never again for the young and the brave and the
good.”
As we celebrate Memorial Day this year,
may we remember the sacrifice that millions of people have made to preserve the
freedom of their country of birth (janma bhoomi) and help promote peace
and justice in our troubled world to it into our philosophy of “Lokah
samasthah sukhino bhavantu” may the entire world live in peace end comfort!
May we also recall here Sri Rama’s statement in Ramayana “Jananee
janmabhoomischa praanaadapi gareeyaci”--Mother and the Land of Birth are
dearer than even our lives!
--May
25, 2018
A DIVINE VARNA SYSTEM TURNED INTO
DEVASTATING CASTE SYSTEM BY HINDUS
Brahmanical Religion or Brahmanism is
ancient Indian religious tradition that emerged from the earlier Vedic
religion. In the early 1st millennium BCE Brahmanism emphasized the rites
performed by, and the status of, the Brahman, or priestly, class as well as
speculation about Brahman (the Absolute reality) as theorized in the
Upanishads. It is one of the historical elements from which modern Hinduism
emerged, but significantly different from it. (Britannica; Wikipedia)
Hinduism is a more recent nomenclature
strongly baptized by the British named by Arabs given to a conglomeration of
heterogeneous tradition and plurality of beliefs and worship with a long
history from the Vedic sacrificial religion of so called Aryans ( not a
cultured society) through the worship of Epic and Puranic heroes and personal
deities, cults and sects, as well as philosophical systems rather than to a monolithic
tradition or a structure based on a single system of beliefs and worship or a
single text as scripture.
Hinduism fashioned its Caste system
inspired by the divines and Vedic religion for Dharmic governing of the
universe. Brahmanism of Vedic days was not based on caste or Birth.
Valmiki Visvamitra, Vedvyasa were all Brahmins though not born to Brahmins. So
are Azhvars some of whom or even born in lowest class or Panchama (fifth)
class as it was called. So considering some of the Azhvars of later
period birth based caste system should not be belonging to the ancient past?
But practically a son followed his father’s profession invariably
and belonged to the same Varna unless walked out of it. So it
got stuck that a Brahman’s son is also Brahman and so became
birth based Varna, later known as caste. This was nothing new or unusual if you
see the then prevailing Western system.
Many surnames were taken from jobs e.g.
if a man was a carpenter he might be called John Carpenter and because sons
very often followed their father's occupation the surname stuck. Some
occupational surnames are obvious e.g. Smith, Potter, Cooper, Mason, Tailor or
Taylor, Spinner, Weaver (Webb was another word for weaver; a Webster was
usually a female weaver), Dyer, Thatcher, Tyler, Slater, Miller, Baker,
Cheeseman, Spicer, Cook, Fisher, Shepherd, Carter, Clarke, Skinner and Gardener
(alternative spellings are Gardner and Gardiner). A fowler caught birds. A
waterman rowed a boat or a barge. A wheeler is another name for a wheelwright.
A Hooper made hoops for barrels. Today whether they practice their profession
or not the kids carry the surname of the father.
Among Brahmins also the same
norms follow which is usually derived from Brahmin castelike Acharya, Iyengar,
Iyer, Upadhyaaya, Vajapeyam, Somayaji, Bhat, Sarma, etc., but
nobody carries the word “brahmin” as such for surname like other castes.
Vaisyas and Kshatriyas, carry the Varna name as surnames sometimes. So there is
no need to point out that only Hindus carry there caste names while it is
universal practice. A cleric in religious order carries the name Clerk as
surname and so also surnames Pope and Bishop as priestly profession and Knight
a kingly profession.Why not Anna followers in Tamil Nadu carry the Dravid surname
like some Maharashtrians do?Periyar had the surname Nayakar Probably
Maharashtrians also believe in Aryan-Davidian myth? Unfortunately Western
educated Ravindranath Tagore referred to Dravida in the National Anthem
with no reference to even Andhra like Vanga that is mentioned in
Ramayana. This fortunately has missed the attention of our Anna friends
in Tamil Nadu! Perhaps Vande Mataram would have been the right choice for
National Anthem of India with no reference to language which resulted in dividing
the country on language basis. Potti Sriramulu Naidu sacrificed his life
for its cause and divided the country on language basis. Hindi belt had no
unanimous thinking on it and hence remain fragmented!
British found this situation very
interesting and ideal tool in India to divide and rule. They insisted
everyone to declare their surname as well as Varna or caste identity in jobs
and in pursuit of education.
I was born during the British
Rule of India and had my name as Nadipuram R Srinivasan. I was studying in a
missionary school. I did not declare my caste or Varna and told them that
it was my personal affair. The school refused to release my School Certificate
unless I declared my caste and sub-caste identity. It was issued only after confirming
and recording “Srivaishanva Brahmin Hindu” against Caste column as
needed by the British Government. Soon Madras Government promulgated Communal
G.O. after Independence declaring proportional representation in the
allocation of seats for higher studies. I was denied seat in Physics Honors in
Government College because I was an Iyengar (Vaishnavite Brahmin) and an Iyer
(Saivite Brahmin) with lower marks got the seat. under the noble quota system.
This G.O. was fought in Supreme Court and was squashed but the damage was done.
Similar was my fate in engineering colleges. My application itself was rejected
on the ground Brahmin from outside state born in Karnataka though studied in
Madras state only (double disadvantage). So you can see how the noble laws of
the country worked and people are now blamed for caste-conflicts. But today
almost 60% are recognized as Backward Classes and are in power too in secular
India with conflicts, fights and discrimination and nobody is in a mood remove
caste identity from society. Lingayats now want to declare as a new minority
religion like Jains and Tamils want to form their own Dravida Nadu if other
Southerners are willing and hate Hindi and Sanskrit! More the merrier.
I did not claim to be Brahmin by
birth as I had no intention of carrying out my father’s tradition but the
British insisted based on their own practice having a professional
surname whether they pursue profession or not and so also later the British
cultivated politicians. It may not be wrong if I conclude
a professional surname becoming a surname based on birth right and then
being victimized based on surname came from British Practices though it got
stuck before in society but not incorporated in the laws of
the country, specially designed under British Rule, for India. If the so called
Sovereign Secular Republic India is serious no name should be registered
with caste or sub-caste indicative names like Iyengar, Iyer, Srivastav,
Banerjee, Sarma, Varma, Rao and a host of others but only have a pre-name
as to the place of Birth, Mother’s maiden name or Father’s
and the proper name and all other adjunct names erased from
official records following the pattern of my name: Nadipuram (place of
origin) R initial of my father’s proper name) and Srinivasan (my christened
name). Of course many in USA including Hindus think my surname is
Srinivasan!. I am sure India will not do it for caste indicative name helps
politics a lot! I am sure Hindu Americans are taking care of it for future
generations though the first generation of immigrants may not be able to
correct their official records.
Let us build a Hindu community of
“Vasudaiva Kutumbakam” and make Vedanta religion of the Future for the entire
humanity as visualized by Vivekananda. Let us be inspired by modern Spiritual
leaders who have entered the monasteries with a sapiritual name that has
surname Ananda—Chinmay-ananda, Chid-ananada, Harsh-ananda, Tadvid-aannnda
Bhaskar-ananda etc., changing their registered name at birth. So also Jains and
Sikhs have uniformly Jain and Singh as philosophic sur-names.
--May 22, 2018
Comments:
You
provoked my head. Why did Rabindra Nath Tagore allow his name to be enslaved?
His original name I believe was Thakur. He was a brilliant scholar and a
freedom seeker. Thanks (Nandri).
--Anil Pandya
Excellent
treatise. There are many interesting, practical ideas which can help get rid of
caste identity. Let caste be confined within four walls of one's home, if one
wants.
--A.S.
Narayana
Like it very
much.
--R. V. Kaushik & Ramaswamy Subramony
VEDIC ASTROLOGY GUIDES US, TO CLEAR
KARMIC DEBT AND TO PROGRESS ON THE SPIRITUAL PATH
A soul when dies will go into a
mother's womb according to its karma. That means the soul gets into a yoni to
take birth based on past Karma-Yogyata (fitness). The soul taking rebirth into
its past family is very rare. After death the soul will not have any
connections, relationships, emotions attached to past family. It will start a
new journey. The ancestral souls are waiting to be born in the families
suitable. Any child born in a family will be linked to an ancestral soul in
that family tree. This is known as pitru raashi after which pitru
dosha is explained and remedial measures are suggested by astrologers.
These ancestral souls influence the mind and actions of the living.
There can be no lasting positive
changes in life unless we develop Self-knowledge – a knowledge of who we truly
are at the level of inner consciousness, not simply as outer personalities.
Vedic astrology interpreted rightly helps us connect with our inner being or
higher Self – that is its true purpose as is the case with all Vedic
disciplines. It directs us to rituals, mantras and meditation practices to help
us address the karmic limitations in our birth chart and unfold our higher
aspiration. Vedic astrology has as its true goal the higher knowledge, not
simply making us more successful as an ego in the material worlds.
According to the theory of Karmic
Astrology, most of the people are born in the same family lines with same
friends and same enemies in so many of their lives until their Karmic debts,
duties and rewards are all cleared from that particular group of people or we
can call them particular group of Souls. Westerners and doctors explain this as
gene-effect, for example diabetes or heart attack in the family. Hindus resign
to this as Karma-phala. This is why so much emphasis is put on doing
good Karmas and it if often preached that the bad Karmas done by a person are
going to affect the family line of that person which includes his children and
their children and in the same way the good Karmas done by a person earn Karmic
rewards which are paid to the future members of his family line who are going
to enjoy good or great fortunes due to the good deeds done by their fathers and
forefathers in the same way as a person enjoys the wealth earned and owned by
his father.
The physical and psychological traits
of parents are transferred to the children. Every human cell or the DNA is the
aggregate of human experiences, values, thoughts and actions of an individual
carried through a long chain of existence. According to Navajyotisree
Karunakara Guru, pitru dosha or ancestral problems are the result of wrong values,
thoughts and actions in the life of our ancestors, which influence the life and
destiny of the offspring.
Let’s
go deeper in this theory of Karmic Ancestral debts and rewards with the help of
an example taken from Hindu Mythology.
This
example is best illustrated by the birth of the Holiest River belonging to
Hindu religion which is called Maataa Ganga by Indians and is
commonly known as River Ganges by rest of the world. Long time back, there was
a King named Sagara who was an Ancestor of Lord Rama. Due to some
misunderstanding, the sons of King Sagara attacked a great Sage Kapila and they
all died with the burning flames coming out of the eyes of angry sage Kapila.
Sages are given great respect in India
and insulting and attacking a great sage like Kapila formed a heavy Karmic
debt which was going to bother all the coming generations of this family.
Knowing this, Anshuman the grandson of King Sagaa went to Sage Kapila, asked
for his forgiveness and requested him to prescribe a way to relieve the family
of this Ancestral Debt. It was then told by Sage Kapila that if the holy river
Ganga is brought to the earth from the heavens and the ashes of the burnt
Princes are offered to holy river Ganga, only then this debt can be cleared.
Accordingly,
Anshuman worshiped throughout his life to bring Ganga on earth but he did not
succeed and the duty was passed on to his son King Dilipa who also worshiped
throughout his life to bring Ganga to earth to clear the Karmic debts of his
forefathers, but King Dilipa also did not succeed and the duty was passed on to
his son King Bhagiratha who also worshiped Lord Brahma very dedicatedly and one
day Lord Brahma came to answer his prayers and blessed him with his wish that
Ganga would be sent to earth to relieve his family and forefathers of their
Karmic debts. And as Lord Brahma blessed Bhagiratha, King Bhagiratha posed a
question to Lord Brahma which goes something like this.“O venerable Lord Brahma,
I have a question to ask and kindly bless me with the answer to this question.
My grandfather Anshuman and my father Dilipa worshipped you throughout their
lives but you did not answer their prayers whereas you have answered my
prayers. Was there any defect in their way of worship or was something else
wrong due to which you did not listen to the prayers of my father and my
grandfather?”. Hearing this Lord Brahma smiled and said, “Insulting and
attacking a great sage like Kapila caused a very heavy karmic debt on your
family line and all of it needed to be paid in order for me to come and bless a
member of your family line with his wish. Your father and grandfather
worshipped throughout their lives and were able pay most of this debt but as
this debt was not cleared, so I did not come to grant their wish. And as you
started worshiping, the Karmic debt has been cleared and after that you have
earned the Karmic reward of your wish being granted by keeping on worshipping
me and that is why I am here to bless you with your wish”. And after that
Maataa Ganga was sent to earth to bless the souls of Bhagiratha’s forefathers
as well as many others.
The
moral of the story is that the Karmic debt levied on the forefathers of King
Bhagiratha needed to be cleared before the family line could be blessed again
with good fortunes and therefore three generations of his family worshiped the
Lord to clear this Karmic debt and earn Karmic rewards which led to the good
results like the incarnation of Lord Rama in the same family line which shows
that the positive karmic balance of this family line was extremely great
because a family line which witnessed the birth of Lord himself was without any
doubt the most prestigious Karmic family line of that time.
It is important for every individual to
have his or her Vedic chart examined by an astrologer trained in deeper Vedic
values and insights through Yoga and Vedanta, practicing Jyotisha as a Sadhana,
not merely as a business. It is wrong to look at Vedic astrology purely in a
predictive light, or to judge the efficacy of a Vedic astrologer by their
ability merely to provide accurate dates for the outer events of our lives. The
true role of a Vedic astrologer is that of a life counselor, helping us
understand not only the outer movement of our lives, but the more important
inner movement and spiritual development behind it. For this we need a deeper
level of guidance, inspiration and motivation. The true Jyotish aids us in
Self-knowledge and can guide us on the spiritual path.
--May 20, 2018
SPEAK THE TRUTH
“Free
to speak the truth. When we as people, a free people, go wobbly on the truth,
even on what may seem the most trivial of matters, we go wobbly on America. If we do not as Americans
confront the crisis of ethics and integrity in our society, and among our
leaders in both the public and private sector, and regrettably at times even
the nonprofit sector, then American democracy as we know it is entering its
twilight years. If our leaders seek to conceal the truth or we as people become
accepting of alternative realities that are no longer grounded in facts, then
we as American citizens are on a pathway to relinquishing our freedom. This is
the life of nondemocratic societies, comprised of people who are not free to
seek the truth. … A responsibility of every American citizen to each other is
to preserve and protect our freedom by recognizing what the truth is and is
not, what a fact is and is not, and begin by holding ourselves accountable to
truthfulness, and demand our pursuit of America’s future be fact-based, not
based on wishful thinking; not hopeful outcomes made in shallow promises; but
with a clear-eyed view of the facts as they are and guided by the truth that
will set us free to seek solutions to our most daunting challenges.”—Rex
Tillerson, Ex Secretary of State USA.
John
8:32 twice: “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”—Holy
Bible
“Satyam vada; dharmam chara; satyaan
na pramaditavyam; dharmaan na pramditavyam”--Taitaareey upnishad
Speak the Truth. Do your duty…….
Swerve not from Truth. Deviate not from the path of good.
“Satyam param satyam satyena
suvargaallokaacchyavante kadaacana sataam hi satyam tasmaat
satye ramante” (MNUpanishad)
Truthfulness is supreme, Supreme is
Truth. One will never fall at any time from the heavenly abode on account of
truth. Truth is wished by good people. So the wise enjoy in truth
--May 18, 2018
IT IS SURE TO BE DARK IF YOU CLOSE YOUR
EYES
“Dharma is not an option in human life.
As the saying goes, "Ignorance is no excuse for law," any of us who
says I did not know what was right is not spared from the consequences of wrong
acts. In today's world, we increasingly see highly qualified people on the
wrong side of the line dividing dharma and adharma. That shows
the burning need for value-based education (VBE) in modern times. Like the
devil quoting the Bible, there is no shortage of scholars of religion too whose
personal life is not without blemish. This webinar therefore examines - against
the backdrop of this Chinmaya quote - the challenges of really inculcating
right values in both formal academic environments and other fields of life.
| dharmo
rakshati rakshitah | धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः | Manu-Smriti 8.15 |”
Swami Chidananda draws our specific attention to Chinmaya quote - the challenges of really inculcating right values in both formal academic environments and other fields of life quoting Manusmriti. In USA our Philanthropists have done yeoman service in this direction by building temples and educating young children on values of Dharma guided by the publications of some of the monasteries set up in USA. Yet these efforts are scanty and not well co-ordinated and are also not guided by experienced teachers and Gurus. We often make mistakes by following some of the wrong things from India not knowing the need in an alien atmosphere of Adharma and so called secularism, Interfaith and spirituality. Our temple authorities thought wisely initially by installing Murtis (Icons) of Mahabir, Buddha, Saibaba, Radhakrishna, Jagannatha, Siva Vishnu etc., under one roof to curb the bewildering sectarian traditions and bring all under one roof of Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Tradition) and keeping the temple open to all who have interest in Sanatana Dharma. Bound by dharma all people lived with the Vedic maxims—Eko Viprah bahuda vadanti; aatmavat sarvabhooteshu, Sanghacchadvam sam vadadvam; Krinvanto visvamaaryam, aano bhadrantu kratavah yantu visvatah; ahimsa paramo dharmah etc., once upon a time. Thinking of our philanthropists is right but execution seem to be not proper. Today Jains in USA not happy with the word Hindu and India have started propagation of Jain Dharma and Vegan movement separating themselves from Hindu Americans whom they joined initially to bring back the glory of Vedic culture and Sanatana Dharma as dreamed by Swami Vivekananda as the Religion of the World and the Future. They are also planned for a centralized scheme for all Jains in America drawn from different parts of the globe dissociating themselves from India but dedicated to Jina and Dharma but not Sanskrit that inspired these names. I hope they will soon realize this serious lapse and start teaching Sanskrit to understand Jina and Dharma better as the universal binding language so rich in philosophy of Dharma. Jina Dharma is not different from Sanatana Dharma but unnecessarily made impracticable. Hinduism worships both Dharma and Adharma (dharmaya swaha; Adhrmaya swaha). Its meaning should be understood; Hindus worship Vighnesvara to remove Vighna! Also many groups have arisen in USA—Swami Narayan, ISKCON, Saibaba, Gurudvara movement etc. How can Dharma be so different today and how was it all ONE under the rule of Sri Rama and in Vedic culture? This is a wrong interpretation of Sva-dharma with ego overpowering!
In recent times there has been much interest in an intensive
study of different aspects of so called Hindu Dharma, nay Sanatana Dharma the
world over. Scholars of modern times are examining from various angles several
aspects of temple worship such as its rationale, significance, and the role of
temples in social context. Our progressive spiritual thinkers in USA feel
thus:
“The Mandirs have to play a
significant role in the growth of the Hindu community in terms of its capacity
to uphold Hindu Dharma.” -- SWAMI DAYANANDA SARASWATI (www.arshavidya.org)
“We need
to make temples not just a center of rituals and congregation but lighthouses
of philosophy and knowledge, which are the basis of Hindu Dharma.” -- SRI SRI
RAVI SHANKAR (www.artofliving.org)
“Creating
an environment where the youth understand, appreciate and love their Hindu
culture is a crucial need today, as is uniting all Hindu temples under one
umbrella.” -- SWAMI CHIDANANDA SARASWATI (www.parmarth.com)
Now we are going to hear from Swami Chidananda of FOWAI
Forum.
Why these
serious thinking by spiritual leaders? Evidently all is not going well and
for this we have to understand our present condition. Hence the need for
diagnosing the disease before cure. Let us Arise and Awake (Uttishthata-Jaagrata-Charaiveti-Charaiveti)
to the situation and go by the advice of great thinkers about which I have
talked a lot in the past, and progress further. I am not a spiritual Guru, and
i need their guidance as much as you need; let us hear to the wisdom thoughts
of our Guru form Fowai Forum and practical thinker of modern times and act
properly. Please go through my ramblings in the following discourses, I
believce they have made you thinking on the subject seriously if not guided you
properly:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/08/word-dharmawhat-it-means-discourse-by-n.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/02/one-who-follows-dharma-will-be.html
--May 17, 2018
THE HISTORY OF HINDU INDIA PARTS IV AND V RELEASED
“KAUAI, HAWAII, May 11, 2018: Hinduism Today is delighted to
announce the completion of its five part video documentary series, "The
History of Hindu India," based on the book of the same title. Both are
available now on YouTube, Part Four at "source" above, or https://youtu.be/nx_vSuduwAk (correction from earlier HPI post)
and Part Five at https://youtu.be/eVnqJHO3PcY. Parts One (posted in
2014), Two and Three (both posted in 2015) have been very popular on YouTube,
receiving respectively, 2.6 million hits, 1.3 million hits and 965,000 hits
along with tens of thousands of "thumbs up" and hundreds of positive
comments. The whole series is available on the playlist at "source"
above.
he History of Hindu India series was developed by the editors of
Hinduism Today magazine in collaboration with Dr. Shiva Bajpai, Professor
Emeritus of History, California State University Northridge. It is intended to
provide an authentic presentation of the history of India and Hinduism for use
in American middle and high school classes, as well as Hindu temple study
groups and general presentations on the Hindu religion and history.
Part Four is based on the fourth chapter of the textbook,
"The History of Hindu India," published in 2011. It covers Indian
history from 1850 to 1947, from when the British Crown took over direct control
of India from the East India Company to Independence. Under British rule,
economic exploitation of the subcontinent increased, resulting in frequent
famine and deprivation across the once wealthy land. A determined and mostly
nonviolent freedom movement emerged and finally succeeded, resulting in the
formation of modern India and Muslim Pakistan in 1947.
Part five is based on the
fifth chapter of the textbook. It covers Indian history from 1947 to the
present day. Opening with Nehru's famed speech on August 15, 1947, it describes
the formation of the new government, development of the constitution, invasion
of Kashmir by Pakistan, the horrors of partition, formation of states along
linguistic lines, and efforts to uplift the lower classes. It covers the religions
of India along with religious strife and its causes, Hindu pilgrimage using
Rameswaram as an example, Ayurveda, the impact of Hinduism in the modern world
and finally a nod to the popularity of Bollywood and Indian cuisine.
For more information and for
class lesson plans based on the book, visit www.hinduismtoday.com/education/. This documentary is directed and produced by Sushma
Khadepaun. Narrated by Roger (Raj) Narayan. Post Production Jalebi Khao LA.
Funded by the Uberoi Foundation, Institute for Curriculum Advancement.”
Please make use of it in teaching
children in Baal Vihaar, Vedic Heritage Classes and "Discover India
camps". India has not been able to come with True History of India but USA
has.
--May 15,
2018
Comments:
The
information is very interesting and informative.
--BRG Iyengar
Nice
article...Resurrecting the real history tarnished purpose fully by
invaders esp. Britishers.
--Purushottama
Rao
That
is great. We will definitely use this in the camp.
--Pankaj
Srivastav
RIGVEDA
WRONGLY QUOTED FOR ARYAN DRAVIDIAN DIVIDE RACIAL MYTH
Encyclopedia Britannica misinterpreting Vedas
as also historic record propagated the theory "Dasyu, Sanskrit dāsa
(“servant”), as aboriginal people in India who were encountered by the
Indo-European-speaking peoples who entered northern India about 1500 bce. They
were described by the Indo-Europeans as a dark-skinned, harsh.-spoken people
who worshipped the phallus. Some Western scholars who view the lingam (a
Hindu votary object) as a phallic symbol have conjectured that it originated
with the dasyu; others hold that this description of the dasyu
may have referred to their sexual practices. The dasyu lived in
fortified places from which they sent out armies. They may have been among the Shudras, or
labourers, who served the three higher classes— Brahman
(priests), Kshatriya (warriors), and Vaishya
(merchants)—from whose ritual communion they were excluded".
Poets like Rabindranath Tagore educated in History
and Geography of India written by Western authors glorified Dravidian concept
as can be seen in the National Anthem "Dravida utkala vanga" dubbing
South Indians as Dravidas. Bengalis were also considered as Mongoloid
Dravids because of dark skin due to coastal region.
According to one
long-held theory about the origins of South Asia's caste system, Aryans from
central Asia invaded South Asia and introduced the caste system as a means of
controlling the local populations. The Aryans defined key roles in society,
then assigned groups of people to them, based on the model in
divine kingdom. BAU mention three classes of managerial devatas of 33 devatas
and added bhoomi as the fourth category Sudra as the serving devata.
Thus all born on earth are Sudras (janmana jayate Sudrah). The divine
model was adopted by the human society and divided people as four classes based
on profession and normally the professional practices depended on parents
who trained their children. Dasyus (Brahmadvishs) were those who did not
follow Vedic discipline and were termed out-castes or Pairyahs like heathens in
Christianity. Originally there were two divisions Aryans and Un-Aryans (dasyus)
but later castes were created within the disciplined majority. Unfortunately I
have not seen anybody making reference to Brihadarnyaka Upanishad (BAU) either
due to ignorance or as convenience while quoting Purushasookta to which
reference is made in Bhagavad Gita, all clarified in BAU.
Macaulay school of
education developed a theory of struggle between Arya and Dasyu by translating
Rigveda mantras. This theory, which is a favorite of semi-literate
Western Indologists and their communist counterpart manipulated a theory that
Aryans were nomadic tribes. They found people in the South were
comparatively darker than in the North. Taking advantage of the same they
created a story that Aryans came from Central Asia as invaders to make it
appealing to the Intelligentsia. They also told Veda belonged to Aryans and
they were cultured too, though brutal. The natives to the south of Vindhyas
were related to Dasyu or Daas of Rigveda taking advantage of their dark skin
due coastal regions affected by heat and salty breeze influenced by sea waters.
Quoting 10 kings cited in Rigveda who are indulged in criminal tendencies,
they were related to ancient kingdoms. These were portrayed
as the fair skinned people from the North and were labelled as Aryans. They
then developed the story of Aryan supremacy. The birth-based discrimination
prevailing with majority of them plagued the Southerners who practiced it more
vigorously. The Northerner’s attention got diverted due
to racial fights by invaders while Southerners got focused more on Vedas. Those
opposed to Scriptures, atheistic, leading a reckless life drinking and enjoying
all sorts of meat and beef were shunned and called Pariyas influenced by the
concept of heathens in Christianity and Mlecchas mentioned in Vedas. This
confused situation helped the British to establish divide and rule policy to
rule for long. The British ruled over them for long pitting one against
the other. This theory was cleverly woven into Indian history taught in schools
during British days. I too studied the same and believed it during my school
days from 1936—1947 along with British History. Later realizing the
reality studying Sanskrit I thought false Indian history
would be revised by Independent India based on facts. Bogged down by religious
revolts, poverty, class hatred, caste hatred and many more, which the British
encouraged to suit them, the Government of India has not revised the History of
India and the false history continues to be taught in schools misguiding
children. The same techniques are used today by politicians to stay in
power. Lingayats want to form a separate religion and are able to get the
support from Christians. A group of Tamils in power want a
separate country for them calling themselves Dravidians seceding from
mainland like Pakistan and Bangladesh. Indians have already been able to
establish their linguistic empires to divide the country to pieces instead
living in peace together ignoring Vedic wisdom-Sangacchadvam sam vadadvam.
Today, most consider
Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma or Vedic Dharma to be primarily characterized by
this birth-based discrimination having its origin in massacre of the Dasyu or
Daas. It is a pity that this theory has led to alienation of a large number of
our brothers and sisters who consider themselves Anarya (non-Arya) and bear a
grudge against those who follow Vedas. These include those who call themselves
Dalit or Dravid these days.
A lot has already been
explored by scholars to debunk the stupid Aryan Invasion Theory which has no
evidence whatsoever. Even someone like Dr. Ambedkar was extremely critical of
this theory as well as myth of subjugation of Dasyu. Fortunately Hindu
Americans are not involved in all these. Yet they need to know what is
contained in Vedas. The purpose of this E-mail is to explore what Vedas exactly
say about Arya and Dasyu. After all Vedas are wrongly quoted as evidence to
support this theory of Aryan subjugation of Dasyu or Daas. So let us review
some of the allegations.
Vedas describe Arya and
Dasyu at several places. Many mantras pray for destruction of Dasyu and looting
of their wealth. Several mantras state that even women should not be spared if
they are Dasyu. Hence one can conclude that Vedas describe the brutal Aryan
invasion of Dasyu people.
In total, there are 85
mantras referring to Dasyu in Rigveda. Several refer to Daas as well, which is
a synonym. Let us review some of the mantras evaluate what they mean.
Vadhīrhi dasyuṃ dhaninaṃ
ghanenanekaścarannupaśākebhirindra |
dhanoradhi viṣuṇak te vyāyannayajvanaḥ sanakāḥ pretimīyuḥ || 4 || Rigveda 1.33.4
O, All Powerful Warrior! You possess a variety of powers and roam alone. Do use your powerful weapon to destroy wealthy Dasyu (criminals) and Sanakah (those who steal from others). May they reach their deaths through your weapon. These Sanakah are devoid of noble acts.
dhanoradhi viṣuṇak te vyāyannayajvanaḥ sanakāḥ pretimīyuḥ || 4 || Rigveda 1.33.4
O, All Powerful Warrior! You possess a variety of powers and roam alone. Do use your powerful weapon to destroy wealthy Dasyu (criminals) and Sanakah (those who steal from others). May they reach their deaths through your weapon. These Sanakah are devoid of noble acts.
The adjective used for Dasyus are
“Ayajva” meaning those who do not perform noble acts or noble resolutions.
Obviously such people would be criminals. Thus the king is advised to destroy
such criminals to safeguard his people.
Sayana defines Dasyu as thief. Dasyu
origins from root ‘Dasa’ which means “Upakshaya” or that which leads to
destruction. Hence Dasyu refers to those people who are destructive or
criminals. It does not refer to any caste or race.
parā cicchīrṣā vavṛjusta
indrāyajvāno yajvabhiḥ
spardhamānāḥ | pra yad divo hariva sthātarughra
niravratānadhamorodasyoḥ
|| 5 || Rigveda 1.33.5
Those Dasyu (criminals) who are themselves devoid of noble resolutions and clash with noble people, flee away due to your protection. O brave warrior, you have destroyed the Avrata (unscrupulous) from everywhere.
Those Dasyu (criminals) who are themselves devoid of noble resolutions and clash with noble people, flee away due to your protection. O brave warrior, you have destroyed the Avrata (unscrupulous) from everywhere.
In this mantra, two adjectives are used
for Dasyu – Ayajva (those who do not perform noble acts and noble resolutions)
and Avrata (indisciplined and unscrupulous)
Very clearly, Dasyu refers to criminals
and they are accorded the same treatment in Vedas as they deserve in any
civilized society.
tvametān rudato jakṣataścāyodhayo rajasa indra pāre |
avādaho diva ā dasyumuccā pra sunvataḥ
stuvataḥ śaṃsamāvaḥ || 7 || Rigveda 1.33.7
O brave warrior! Destroy and drive away
these Dasyu, whether they laugh or cry, from the world and protect those having
noble resolutions and those who pray.
Tvaṃ
māyābhirapa māyino.adhamaḥ
svadhābhirye adhi śuptāvajuhvata |
tvaṃ piprornṛmaṇaḥ prārujaḥ puraḥ pra ṛjiśvānaṃ dasyuhatyeṣvāvitha || 5 || Rigveda 1.51.5
tvaṃ piprornṛmaṇaḥ prārujaḥ puraḥ pra ṛjiśvānaṃ dasyuhatyeṣvāvitha || 5 || Rigveda 1.51.5
O brave warrior! Make those cunning
people tremble with fear through your cleverness who consume everything only
for themselves. O protector of people, destroy the habitations of those Dasyu
who spread violence and protect those who are simple and truthful.
In this mantra, Dasyu refers to those
who only consume for themselves and are devoid of noble deeds like charity and
helping others. In Kaushitaki Brahman, such people are referred as Asur. Thus
Asur and Dasyu, both refer to criminals and not to any caste or race.
tvaṃ
kutsaṃ śuṣṇahatyeṣvāvithārandhayo. atithighvāya śambaram
|
mahāntaṃ cidarbudaṃ ni kramīḥ padā sanādeva dasyuhatyāya jajñiṣe || Rigveda 1.51.6
mahāntaṃ cidarbudaṃ ni kramīḥ padā sanādeva dasyuhatyāya jajñiṣe || Rigveda 1.51.6
O brave warrior! You have been killing
those who exploit others and protect those who are saints. To protect those who
help others, you trample the most powerful wicked people. You have always been
born to destroy the Dasyu (criminals).
Rigveda mantra 1.117.21 says, O Powerful warriors! You support the noble people and destroy the Dasyu.” In this mantra, word “Arya” is used to denote humans involved in constructive activities.
Rigveda mantra 1.117.21 says, O Powerful warriors! You support the noble people and destroy the Dasyu.” In this mantra, word “Arya” is used to denote humans involved in constructive activities.
All these mantras clearly elaborate
that Arya is an adjective for noble benevolent peaceful people, and Dasyu/ Daas
denotes unscrupulous people with criminal tendencies. This is amply evident
from the adjectives used along with Arya and Dasyu/ Daas in these mantras.
It is also to be noted that Daas or Dasyu are not the only words used to
denote the rogue. Many mantras mention the word “Brahmadvish” which means one
who hates penance, knowledge and noble deeds. Rigveda 3.30.17 and 7.104.2
pray that Brahmadvish, cannibals, dangerous and corrupt people should be always
fought against to keep them under control. Now just as cannibal, dangerous and
corrupt people do not form a race, similarly Daas, Dasyu and Brahmadvish do not
form any race. They only denote criminal nature of certain people.
Rigveda
7.83.7 makes it more clearby stating that even 10 kings who are indulged in
criminal tendencies cannot defeat a single righteous king because the prayers
of noble people become true and many powerful people and resources partner with
missions of such noble people. Again the word used for criminals is “Ayajva”
which is used with Dasyu also in some of the mantras discussed before. It is a
matter of pity that many semi-literate biased western Indologists try to
prove a story of war between ten kings in this mantra!
In conclusion
another excellent mantra from Rigveda which summarizes the whole concept of
fight between Arya and Dasyu/Daas/ Avrata/ Ayajva is worth looking into.
Rigveda 7.104.12 proclaims that: “The wise should know that Truth (Sat) and
Falsehood (Asat) compete with each other. Truth attempts to destroy Falsehood
and vice versa. However, only the Truth (Satyam) and Fundamental Truth (Ritam)
are protected by the Supreme.”
--May 13, 2018
Excellent
analysis sir. Great to read it.
--Purusahottama
Rao Ravela
“DISCOVER
INDIA”--WHAT IT MEANS TO HINDU AMERICANS GLOBALLY DRAWN
I
am quite confused with the Discover India Camp that are becoming
popular started by Hindu American enthusiasts which caption
itself confusing and sends mixed messages. This name coined by Government
of India to popularize Tourism taking people round the country through
archeological and historic sites during various festival seasons of
its different religions is used as catch words by American Hindus too. Here are
two such camps in USA besides the one in New Jersey as I know.
Discover India is the signature event
of India Association of Phoenix celebrated every year to promote awareness, by
way of entertainment and information about India and its rich culture and
heritage and spread peace and happiness in the community. Nashville Hindu Cultural Center of
Tennessee (HCCT) runs this year it’s Discover India Camp from July 16 to 20 at
Sri Ganesha Temple.
“”The purpose of the Discover India
Camp is to develop competence and confidence in the participants as children
growing up in Indian and American cultures. Students are given the opportunity
to learn more about the Indian culture through a wide range of fun and
meaningful activities/subjects including character education, yoga, arts,
history and recreation. While the camp is not exclusively for kids of Indian
heritage, it is geared towards this unique group of children.
Though they say Indian Culture they
only mean Hindu Culture. India does not associate the country with
Hinduism but American Hindus do or carry such a misconception. Nobody knows
what Indian Culture is for it consists of sectarian cultures of its various
religious cultural groups and language groups. USA has swallowed all European
cultures and even commercialized religious festivals and is united
by the material culture. Only Mexicans and Jews are holding on to their culture
like the migrants from the Orient and Arab countries. Thus it can be equated to
conglomeration of Indian Cultures but not what Nashville HCCT calls.
Again what is India heritage? Are they clear about it? Hindu
migrants brought with them their sectarian multi heritages reflected in their
arts, cooking, education etc. Their history just reflects what British taught
for three centuries and the doctrine that blinds the minds the people. The
present history satisfies only non-Hindus more than Hindus as conquerors. The
new archeological discoveries and genetic studies baffle the intellectual Hindu
migrants. English will become the mother tongue of Hindu Americans like what
happened to European migrants. Their culture will be a history that may also be
distorted. Almost 75% of Hindu kids choose their partners from White
Christianity. Luckily American Muslims themselves by their behavior do not
attract Hindu kids and without power they are not successful in USA as in
India.
Of course one may say American born
kids understand the term Indian culture better and perhaps believe that
whatever their parents practice is Indian culture which in true sense is Hindu
culture. But it is exactly here they need to know the historic background of
Vedic culture. Why would they need to know the later darker days of Hinduism
under foreign rulers in India? Rather they would like to know how Hinduism
spread globally and in USA.
I am sure this year though Phoenix has
chosen the theme of Festivals of India. This will be confined to Hindu
festivals and that too sectarian groups that constitute Hindu Americans in that
area. Then why call it India. Our future generation will not care for India or
try hard to know it. Which European American bothers about the History of the
country he migrated from?
What
Nashville HCCT has in mind is Vedic Culture, Yoga, Ayurveda and Music and Fine
Arts that sprang from Vedic and Puranic periods, and most importantly Sanatana
Dharma based on Wisdom of Vedas and not what is falsely followed as Hindu
religion based on current sectarian and wrong religious practices.
It will be a grave mistake if Sanskrit is neglected as
the inspiring language for Vedic wisdom and
Sanatana Dharma. You are well aware with what enthusiasm Sanskrit is taught in
schools in Europe particularly in Germany at school and college levels today!
There is no use spending time teaching mother tongue in schools that should be
left to the mother as the most effective teacher. No American kid will talk or
converse in mother tongue except English however hard one may try! “Sanskrit
has a metrical, musical and mantra intricacy that no other language has, going
back to Rigveda, expanding into Kavya literature that puts modern languages
with their simplistic and literal idioms to shame;holds many levels of hidden
meanings scholars have failed to see.” says David Frawley. We should be
inspired by such Vedic and Sanskrit scholars.
Hindus are only loosely bound by
culture and religious practices. They are not like Arabs, Chinese or Japanese
or Koreans. Only Vedic Culture, Sanatana Dharma and Sanskrit language
can be traced to their origin and unity. As universal binding
force. Here again Tamils differ confused by wrong doctrine of British
history and few fanatics. Tamils strongly promote Aryan-Dravidian myth but for
Brahmins who are even hated as Aryans and aliens. These camps should also
attract other Hindu Migrants from different lands. American Hindus are not from
India alone. Then why do we have to think we are Indians? We left India for
good either frustrated or being ambitious. India does not care for us. It has
denied dual citizenship. Europeans who are dual citizens do not
form Associations like India Association. Here again only Hindus
from India take the lead. Has any Muslim or Christian from
India thought about it? Jains and Sikhs may be!
Our main problem is the name we are
stuck with as Hindus and our religion Hinduism that do not inspire us but
develops philosophical attitude. Please go through my write-up “SHOULD WE BE WRONGLY CALLED HINDUS IN
AMERICA?” as attached in analyzing the problem and the write up
by a French writer.
It is
therefore urgent and peremptory to educate our next generation Hindu-Americans
and Hindus in India in understanding our tradition, culture, and
appreciation of heritage as children grow up with little or no
knowledge on these in schools. Even in Vedic Heritage classes and Sunday
schools conducted by Hindu Society in USA focus on Sanskrit education, Sanatana
dharma and Vedic Culture is scanty and often guided by what is taught in India
in Schools by way of Indian History and Moral education.
--May12, 2018
Comments:
I
am also quite confused with this article as you are with the Discover India
efforts. As among the organizers, I feel chided, especially with
unsubstantiated references. I also feel like this is a lament of a very
knowledgeable immigrant, perhaps seeing his very own friends and family falling
apart. Personally, I really admire you and your vast knowledge and your
tremendous efforts to educate the public, I continue to struggle with the tone
of voice which comes with a wagging finger.
The
Discover India project here in Nashville was perhaps born out of a need to find
a place in the dominant American cultural paradigm. That it is okay to
have roots in India, and yet have every right to be an American.
If
the point is that Sanskrit should be taught in this camp, point taken and
valued and would be taken into consideration for the coming year's
planning. I do not speak on behalf of the committee, but will take this
to the meetings for the year 2019. Perhaps you will be
able to help us with teaching Sanskrit then.
--Dr. Kalai Mugilan
MY RESPONSE
“This is an E –mail. References are
usually cited in my discourses.
To those who have not been regularly
reading my E-mails on the subject of Hinduism, Hindu, Sanatana Dharma and India
my E mail on Discover India is unsubstantiated and feels like “a lament or a rant, rather
than providing an alternate suggestion, and reasons why an alternate title may
be worthwhile, and perhaps raising the intentions of the organizers may have
been appropriate.”
I neither underestimated The Discover India Program northe
enormous efforts put in by organizers. In fact my daughter started this
program in Nashville and I motivated her also and was a teacher too. My main
thought was about the word India and Indian culture we
chose as catch words to these camps. Neither Indian culture nor
American Culture can be defined that are focused upon the way these two
countries are constituted today as secular.
Indian culture is a mixture of many cultures of many religious
followings, Christian, Muslims etc. I have never seen these camps are
focused on festivals other than the so called Hindu Festivals and so called
Hindu vegetarian food. They don't even talk about Buddha Purnima, Mahabir
Jayanti or Guru Nanak Birth Day which are National Holidays in India, leave
alone Christmas and Moharrum. So what we are focusing is Hindu culture of
the glorious past which in reality is Vedic and Puranic culture of
Sanatana Dharma followed in India and in countries like Malaysia,
Singapore, South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius, Thailand and other countries where
Hindus have not seen India but practice Hinduism as in India. Hindus from India
can't claim India exclusively. All these Hindu migrants from various countries
are here in USA. Only Vegetarian food is not Hindu culture as majority are
non-Vegetarians though it pleases me. It is better to avoid it or say Hindu
vegetarian delicacies and not India Food Fest as they named
it elsewhere in Discover India camps. Someone may ask what is it without
Hyderabad Biryani so popular today in India?
Here I would draw your attention to my
previous E-mail forwarding a detailed Program of JAINA (Jain Society of
America) promoting Jain Culture, Jain Food and Jain Dharma sent through
courtesy HMEC, highly complementing that had no reference to India or
Sanskrit language with my comments. They are globally drawn like
us. Here also majority of them are from India but they still felt
they are from Gujarat and had their Jain school syllabus in Gujarati. My grand
-father was an authority in Jain literature in Kannada that had most ancient
Jain literature in Kannada and Sanskrit. The words Jain and Dharma are from
Sanskrit. Yet there was no reference to Sanskrit nor taught in Jain
Dharma schools. So use of Gujarati was not understandable and shows our
sectarian cult! Hindu temples in USA accommodated Jains, Buddhists, Saibaba
followers and Swami Narayan followers by installing their deities and
extending common worship perhaps to revive ancient Vedic culture when all were
united. Sikhism does not believe in idol worship but they do take part in
Ramayan Path in Hindu Temples as Satya Vachan. But the object of
unification and reverting to Vedic culture failed as each one wants to
have their own Temples and Gurudvaras. There
is a need for horizontal integration of Dharma based religions at the first
stage to develop one universal religion and also Abrahamic religions to stop
fighting and unite under One Universal God from where we all started.
So my point is why to call it Indian and not Hindu
(though misnomer) or even better Bharatiya or Vedic culture and Dharma or any
other suitable title and teach proper history and not the history taught in
India and guide children properly. Hawaii Hindu Temple HINDUISM TODAY has
brought out a series of true History of India. These camps are now planned by
first generation Hindus like you and me and many of you to educate our children but
soon history will change and this will have the same fate as European
culture in USA including language.
Hindu American Temples in Sankalpa do not mention India
but refer to India as Bharata Kanda and Bharata Varsha though they have changed
USA to Aindra Kanda. May be this Bharat may be more appropriate to the
title than India and then explain why we chose that title, mainly to
bring back the glory of our ancient past of Universal Oneness
and Sanatana Dharma as propagated by Vivekanada to American
crowd a century back.
Further my E mail goes to many Hindu Temples’ board
members and HMEC. I have made reference in general as
the program named in USA by all. I have not heard from them
anything to the contrary and in fact they have often supported my
views and have forwarded JAINA School Schemes to me for wider
circulation which I have forwarded to you also with my comments.
My E -mail was too long and since we have talked a lot on
related topics earlier I did not go into all these details and I hope I will be
properly understood and I sincerely apologize if I have offended any
organizers of this camp since I was also a prime mover of this program
along with Sanskrit teaching”.
--May 15, 2018
Comments:
This is one of the
finest dissertations on the subject. I hope better awareness will dawn on the
thinking people—BRG Iyengar.
RAMAYANA
IS AN ITIHASA (EPIC) BASED ON VEDAS
Ramayana is
based on the Vedas, and there are mantras in the Vedas that correspond to the
immortal story of Rama. Valmiki was a divine gifted Vedic scholar, Vedic
Astronomer and Vedic Astrologer. He was the guru of the Vedic scholars
Lava and Kusa the two sons of Rama. To many Hindus, Ramayana is allegory.
Ramayana is historic as well as spiritual. Valmiki based the
twenty-four thousand verses of the Ramayana on twenty four
syllables of Gayatri Mantra. Every 1000slokas begin with a syllable of Gayatri
and therefore Ramayana is a collection of 24 Sahsranamas worthy of worship like
Vishnu Sahasranama. It might have even inspired Bhishma to compose Vishnu
Sahsranam in sloka form in Anushtup Chandas.
Valmiki
Projects Rama as Paramatman and Sita as Jivatman to us. But in Ramayana Rama himself
does not reveal that he is an Avatar and therefore he too meditates on
Brahman as revealed in Aditya Hridaya seeking his blessings to win the battle
against Ravana. He also tells Vibhishana that Jagannatha (Paramaatman) is his
Kuladaiava and also tells him to worship Jagaanaatha (aaraadhaya
jagannatham). The odd and strange scene of two avatars fighting for supremacy
confuses us. Probably Valmiki thereby conveys Rama is Parabrahaman
while Parasurama is not. Strangely this Avatara extends to Dvaapra Yuga also as
he was the guru of Karna!
In composing
Ramayana Valmiki was influenced by Veda Mantras, be it spiritual, cultural,
science or society he focused on. As we all know Vedas are book of knowledge
and contain information on many topics deeply hidden in mystic Mantras, some of
which I have been explaining in my discourses from time to time.
Ramayana
belongs to Vedic period and is now estimated to be belonging to
7000 BCE based on the planetarium software study of the position of different
planets vis-à-vis zodiac constellations and nakshatras (visible stars) as
narrated in Ramayana by Valmiki at the time of birth of Srirama and
his brothers. Vedavyasa endorses that it is almost a Veda in
the introductory and Phalasruti slokas.
Many plots
described in Ramayana poetic composition are inspired by Veda mantras and the
present article has made a deep study on them.
I take this
opportunity to report a planetarium software study on the Age of Ramayana which
is close to the age of Vedas and not the false Historic date taught in schools
in India.
Here is a
mantra from Rigveda in which reference is made to Kings of Raghu dynasty which
is a solid proof that Rigveda motivated Valmiki in his focus on
Raghuvamsa. Janaka, father of Seeta, is a Vedic Rishi and Guru in
Upanishads who taught his disciples.
para tada duḥśīme parthavāne vene para rāme vochamasuremaghavatsu |
ye yuktvāya pañcha śatāsmayu pathā viśrāvyeshām ||
ye yuktvāya pañcha śatāsmayu pathā viśrāvyeshām ||
This to
Duhśīma Prithavāna have I sung, to Vena, Rama, to the nobles, and the King.
They yoked five hundred, and their love of us was famed upon their way--Rigveda (10.93.14)
This
important compilation conclude stating that the entire story of Ramayana is
about Jivatma forgetting Paramatma and reuniting back. In Ramayana, Sita is representative
of Atman and Lord Rama is Paramatman. Sita (Atma) wants to enjoy
something other (golden deer) than Paramatma, due to the effect of Maya
(Jivatma succumbs to temptation of maya). Hence, Atman is separated from
Paramatman. If Atma is sincere enough, through the grace of Lord we will meet
an Acharya (Hanuman) who will carry the message of Lord and will help uniting
Atman and Paramatman.
I hope the
attached detailed article would help in projecting the image of Ramayana with
true meaning of an Itihasa in Hindu concept in Bal Vihaar and Vedic
Heritage Classes and not to teach it just as Purana of an Avatar
and history. Lot of effort has been taken in this compilation and it will be
hard to find a parallel document on the subject anywhere.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2018/05/ramayana-is-itihasa-epic-based-on-vedas.html
INDIA’S CULTURE AND CIVILIZATION IS
MUCH BIGGER AND OLDER THAN WHAT WE STUDY IN HISTORY
Saroja Bala of Institute of
Scientific Research on Vedas through I-SERVE Delhi Chapter reports that date of
Valmiki Ramayana was determined to be around 7000 BCE based
on studies making use of planetarium software & correlation of such
astronomical dates with corroborating archaeological, anthropological,
paleobotanical, ecological, geological, oceanographic and remote sensing
evidences.
Very credible conclusions were arrived
at by the research revealing that indigenous civilization, also revealed
through Vedas and Epics, has been developing in India for last more than 9000
years and that India's contribution to world civilization and culture is much
bigger than what is acknowledged at present
The story of Shri Ram‘s life was first
narrated by Maharishi Valmiki in the ‘Ramayana’ was revealed by
Lava and Kusa after Shri Ram was crowned as the king of Ayodhya.
Maharishi Valmiki had a great sense of astronomy and Vedic astrology as
he has made sequential astronomical references on important dates related to
the life of Shri Ram indicating the location of planets vis-à-vis the zodiac
constellations and other visible stars (nakshatras). Needless to add that
similar position of planets and nakshatras vis-à-vis zodiac constellations and
the equinoxes is not repeated in 25690 years. By entering the precise details
of the planetary configuration of the important events in the life of Shri Ram
as given in the Valmiki Ramayana in the software named ‘Planetarium Gold’
corresponding exact dates of these events according to English calendar can be
known.
Pushkar Bhatnagar of Indian Revenue
Service had acquired from USA the software named ‘Planetarium Gold’ (of Fogware
Publishing) which was used to predict the solar/lunar eclipses and distance and
location of other planets from earth by the scientists and astronomers. He
entered the relevant detail about the planetary positions vis-à-vis zodiac
constellations narrated by Maharishi Valmiki and obtained very interesting and
convincing results, which almost determine the important dates starting from
the birth of Shri Ram to the date of his coming back to Ayodhya after 14 years
of exile. Pushkar Bhatnagar has given very authentic and convincing
details of these dates in his book titled ‘Dating the Era of Lord Ram’ published
by Rupa and Co. Here is an extract from his studies.
Date of Birth of Lord Ram
Aadikavi Valmiki in 1/18/8-10 of
Ramayana has given details that Shri Ram was born on 9th Tithi of Chaitra month
during day time when the position of different planets vis-à-vis zodiac
constellations and nakshatras (visible stars) was as under:
- Sun in Aries
- Saturn in Libra
- Jupiter in Cancer
- Venus in Pisces
- Mars in Capricorn
- Lunar month of Chaitra
- Ninth day after Amavasya
- Lagna as Cancer
- Moon near the star Punar vasu (Pollux) in Gemini Constellation.
- Moon & Jupiter were shining together in Cancer.
This data was entered into the
‘Planetarium Gold’ software,.
The study indicated that this was
exactly the location of planets/stars vis-à-vis zodiac constellations on the
10th of January noon time in the year 5114 BC if viewed from latitude/longitude
of Ayodhya (25°N 81°) Thus Shri Ram was born on 10th January in 5114 BC.
By making use of software to
convert solar calendar into lunar calendar, it was found that this date also
happened to be the 9th day of Shukla Paksha in ‘Chaitra’ month and the time was
around 12 to 1 noontime. This is exactly the time and date when Rama Navami is
celebrated all over India till date.
--May
12, 2018
Comments
I read your note on Ramayana vis-a-vis
Vedas. You have pinpointed the issue and one could not do better.
--BRG Iyengar
DO
YOU WANT TO RISE OR FALL—TO
BE OR NOT TO BE
“The Way to Get Proactive” is how modern
management talks about it. Our rishis called it ‘the way to rebuild our fallen
house’. The seers of India knew the science of human life. They knew what could
cause our fall from grace, and what could ensure our steady rise in glory.
Difference between ‘reactive’ and ‘proactive’
In any challenging situation, we
could “REACT,” where we complain, find fault with the surroundings and get
depressed. We here do not act. Alternatively we could be PROACTIVE, where we
identify what it is that we can do in the situation, and get going with that
option.
To find out what the best thing to
do is, in a given situation, and to do it without delay is the hallmark of
proactivity.
When we are ‘reactive’…
Excessive sleep, getting tired too
often, having unnecessary fears, showing anger at the wrong time, laziness and
procrastination – these six are the sure ways to slip into degradation. A verse
from Panchatantra lists these six negative qualities.
षड् दोषा: पुरुषेणेह हातव्या भूतिमिच्छता ।
निद्रा तन्द्रा भयं क्रोध आलस्यं दीर्घ-सूत्रता ॥ पंचतंत्र ॥
| shad-doshāh purusheneha hātavyā
bhootim-ichhatā |
| nidrā tandrā bhayam krodha ālasyam
deergha-sootratā | (Panchatantra)
When we turn ‘proactive’
Having faith in ourselves (and in
right values), staying focused (and committed) and not falling for temptations
of pleasure – these three are the key factors that can help us rebuild our
fallen house. A verse from Bhagavad Geetā mentions exactly these three as the
stepping stones of success.
श्रद्धावान् लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः ।
ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिम् अचिरेणाधिगच्छति ॥ गीता 4.39॥
| shraddhāvān labhate
jnānam tatparah samyatendriyah |
| jnānam labdhvā parām
shāntim achirenādhigacchati | (Geetā 4.39)
We could be concerned with a
hundred issues but the wise among us would identify the twenty among them where
we could influence the situation (and make it better). The remaining 80
can only waste our time and energy. The American management guru Stephen Covey
talks of the ‘circle of concern’ and the ‘circle of influence’.
The proactive people ACT in the (20 issues of the) circle of influence,
without losing time on (the remaining 80) other issues in the larger circle
of concern.
Swami Chidananda
Swami Chidananda advises us that instead
of reacting or worrying about conditions over which we have little or no
control, be proactive (Sraddhavaan). Proactive people
focus their time and energy on things they can control. The problems,
challenges, and opportunities we face fall into two areas—Circle of Concern
and Circle of Influence. In spiritual world Proactive people focus their
efforts on their Circle of Influence (from learned Gurus). In material world
Proactive people work on the things they can do something about: education,
health, children, and problems at work etc. Reactive people focus their efforts
in the Circle of Concern—things over which they have little or no
control: Gaining an awareness of the areas in which we expend our
energies in is a giant step in becoming proactive.
Please recall the two popular Veda
mantras that focus on Circle of influence that ultimately leads us to
transcendental knowledge, sublime and pure which nothing else can substitute in
our spiritual progress to reach liberation. These are proactive mantras like “Sraddhavaan
labhate jnaanam” of Gita that I have explained before at length:
Om saha naavavatu; saha nau bhunaktu;
saha veeryam karavaavahai; tejasvi-naavadheetamastu; maa vidvishaa- vahai ||
Om! Saantih; saantih; saantih ||
May He protect us
both together (by revealing knowledge). May He protect us both! May we
attain vigor together! Let what we study be invigorating. May we not
hate each other! Om! May there be peace; peace be; peace be!
Sangacchadhvam sam vadadhvam sam vo
manaamsi jaanataam/
devaa bhaagam yathaa purve sanjanaana upaasate // (X-191-20)
Come
together!
Speak together! Let our minds be all of one accord like the
divines that sat together in the past in harmony to worship.
Hindu scriptures identify Kama,
Lust or Desire; Krodha, Anger; Lobha, Greed; Mada,
Arrogance; Moha, Attachment; and Matsarya Jealousy as six
enemies --These being Reactive bind the soul to the process
of birth and death and keep it confined in this material world.
(Samsara). Especially the first three are said to pave the way
towards hell.
Here I am reminded of a Dhyanasloka of
Sankara that has a reference to Vanavasa (13 years of forest life)
in Ramayana living in seclusion in the forest which Sita preferred to
keep herself Proactive living with Rama in the forest rather
than living in Ayodhya leading a Reactive life.
Vana-vaasa in the Ramayana:
There is a verse in Adi Shankara’s
Dhanyaashtakam as follows:
“aadau vijitya vishayaan mada moha raagah
dveshaadi shatruganam aahrta yoga raajyaah
gnyaatvaa matam samanubhuuya paraatma vidyaam
kaantaa sukham vanagrihe vicharanti dhanyaah”
Having initially conquered Reactive—passion, hatred, arrogance etc, a Jnaani attains happiness even in seclusion similar to the one Rama enjoyed in his exile living with Sita.
dveshaadi shatruganam aahrta yoga raajyaah
gnyaatvaa matam samanubhuuya paraatma vidyaam
kaantaa sukham vanagrihe vicharanti dhanyaah”
Having initially conquered Reactive—passion, hatred, arrogance etc, a Jnaani attains happiness even in seclusion similar to the one Rama enjoyed in his exile living with Sita.
It looks as though the vana-vaasa
(living in seclusion) in the Ramayana...is as it were...condensed in this
philosophic verse of Sankara. The asuras that Rama killed in the forest are
these “aasuri sampat” (negative traits) in our own minds. Rama and Sita
lived in bliss for the first 13 years of their forest life. And that mutual
happiness is likened to the vidya-sukham that a Jnaani (“dhanyaah”
in this verse) derives. Hence, it is said “kaantaa sukham vanagrihe
vicharanti dhanyaah”. It is similar to deriving happiness from the
the wife (words/message of Vedanta).
Vana vaasa
does not have to be taken literally. It simply means that wherever a Jnaani
is, he does not feel loneliness, whether in a city or in a forest for he is
not influenced by Reactive Influence but lives with Proactive influence.
Hence, in our subjective Ramayana, vana-vaasa
can be taken as the ability to live...even in seclusion....with the happiness
derived from the message of Vedanta leading a
Proactive Life.
This subject was so deep and important
I converted it to an article and posted it on the Blog::
--May 6, 2018
INTERNATIONAL
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ROUNDTABLE
Here
is a timely dispatch from Sant Gupta of HMEC. Your particular attention is
drawn to watch those who are crying wolf and spreading poison
against Hinduism in USA. Even in India there are such elements
including those who govern the country. Your particular attention is
drawn to the dangerous atmosphere in which we are bringing up our children
"A significant number of our next generation Hindu-Americans and Hindus in
India grow up with little or no knowledge and understanding of our tradition
and culture, therefore lack pride and appreciation of our heritage."
That is why I sent you this morning my long E-mail "Hindu Americans should
have History of their own" with very important attachments, Uttishthata, Jagrata. It is time for us
to take care of the situation.
“Hindus in the US
and India wonder why the Western media and the US Government and its agencies
hold Hinduism and (current) Indian Government and Hindus in India in such low
esteem and contempt. Here are some of the reasons. There are individuals with
enormous credibility and support who shape the thinking of the opinion
makers in the West as they get briefed. Also, there is a
whole cadre of academia with Hindu-sounding names who have all too eager
to portray Hinduism and its scriptures in negative light.
If you are in the Washington DC region, please consider attending
this event and learn how ‘bad’ Hindus in India are towards the
minorities. There is no one that I know who publicly demands in the US justice
for the oppressed and persecute Hindus in Kashmir and many other states where
Hindus are in minority, rampant Christian conversions via dubious means of
Hindus and Sikhs, government control of Hindu temples, etc. etc.
No wonder the uncomplimentary (to Hindus) annual reports generated
by USCIRF (US Commission on International Religious Freedom) and other Western
Human Rights watch agencies have such contents. A significant number of our
next generation Hindu-Americans and Hindus in India grow up with little or no knowledge and understanding of
our tradition and culture, therefore lack pride and appreciation of our
heritage.”
"I seek the views of Facebook
friends on this". Rajiv Malhotra says- "American academia is
dominated by a Euro-centric perspective that views Western Culture as being the
font of world civilization and refuses to acknowledge the contributions of
non-western societies such as India to European culture and technique. They
(Indian scholars) regard the power of Grand Narrative (other than their own) as
a cause of human rights problems internally, failing to see it as an asset in
global competition externally. Hence, there is the huge difference between the
ideology of many Indian professors and the ideology espoused by most successful
Indian-American corporate leaders." Rajiv Malhotra has accused the
Academia of abetting the "Talibanization" of India, which would also
lead to the Talibanization of other Asian countries.
It is
therefore urgent and peremptory to educate our next generation Hindu-Americans
and Hindus in India in understanding our tradition, culture, and
appreciation of heritage as children grow up with little or no
knowledge on these in schools. Even in Vedic Heritage classes and Sunday
schools conducted by Hindu Society in USA focus on Sanskrit education, Sanatana
dharma and Vedic Culture is scanty and often guided by what is taught in India
in Schools by way of Indian History and Moral education. India will be
wiser to adopt as motto “In
Sanatana Dharma We Trust and Satyameva Jayate” like USA. “In
GOD We Trust”.
--May 5, 2018
Comments:
Fully
agreed and I invite all English speaking people (you and I) to examine and set
free our own "talibanization" of our own minds, as we set free
others.
HINDU
AMERICANS SHOULD HAVE THE HISTORY OF THEIR OWN
There
is now a mountain of scientific evidence that proves that the Aryan Invasion
Theory is a myth. It is fiction. It belongs in the Big League of unscientific
theories (which some still believe in), alongside creationism,
anti-evolutionism, the myth of Noah’s ark, and flat earth theory. The evidence
shows that India is much more than a nation. It is the world’s oldest
civilization.
India
that was once called Bharat that was Land of Vedas wasn’t born in 1947. Our
great civilization was born at least nine and a half millennia ago according to
archaeological evidence, and fifteen and a half millennia ago according to
genetic evidence. The records of our great ancestors’ deeds are lost, destroyed
in the fires and the depredations of the past millennium. The least we can do
to honor our ancestors is to strive to rediscover the truth about them.
Who
were the first Indians? When did they first arrive in India? Where from? What
were their lives like? What was their society like? How did ancient Indian
civilization evolve? What knowledge did they possess? What kind of science did
they have? What discoveries did they make? What technologies did they develop?
How did they build the largest ancient urban civilization the world has ever
seen? What did they call their great cities? What language did they speak? Did
they really develop a proto-democracy thousands of years before the Greeks?
What kind of future did they envisage for India? What lessons can we learn from
them?These are the questions our “eminent” historians have not deigned to ask
for the past seven decades. These are the answers e must seek answers to these,
in order to rediscover our roots and understand who we really are.
The
truth is out there. Its clues lie buried under our footsteps, scattered
in our languages and our literature, deep in our Veda Mantras and Slokas and
hidden deep in our DNA. Science is the best key. We now possess the
know-how and the technology to investigate and unravel the mystery. It is
time to utilize it.I have explained the history and science contained in
some veda mantras separately. India’s rediscovery of its past has only
begun. Exciting times are ahead.
Over the past 70 years after
Independence India has not taken any serious step in correcting the wrong
History of India. India’s history of the ancient past is a history of the
people who practiced Dharma and therefore the present population torn with
racial, religious and sectarian traditions are not interested in the true
history of India to be taught in schools and those who try may even find
difficult to enforce it in school and college curriculum. Hence they are happy
with what Britishers taught us and conveniently always point fingers at
them. Hindus are by nature passive unlike militant Islam!
Abrahamic religions in India have their own history for its
followers in India that have their roots in Europe and Central Asia and Middle
East. This may have to be accommodated in secular India to call it Indian
History! And so Indian Government is indifferent to any revision of Indian
History despite abundance of archeological and scientific and genetic research
based facts are readily available on Hinduism.
.
Hindu Americans should not wait for
India to teach us our origin, history and growth and to acquaint our children about our
ancient past. Prime origin of Vedic Civilization or Sanatna Dharma goes back up
to 155.52 trillion years ago as we learn from the Sankalpa we recite in all our
religious worships and rituals. Since then thousands of times the earth
planet went through the partial dissolution (called Kalpa Pralaya). The latest
revival of the earth planet was 1972 million years ago, and since that time we
have an uninterrupted continuation of Vedic Civilization till today which we
have brought with us to USA along with other Hindu migrants from various lands
who have their own history to add. Further we have the story of our
migration, survival and progress that we have made today in USA like the
Pilgrim Fathers and others. I have also slightly touched upon these. Rajiv
Malhotra has talked about it a lot. No doubt Prof. Laksmikantam in his
book “History of the Human Past” and Swami Prakashanand Sarswati in his book
“True History and Religion of India”, both based in USA, have done a great
service in taking us to the past but these need to be updated on the basis of
recent archeological, scientific and genetic studies including the history of
Hindu Americans as migrants to this country from their country of origin.
I am neither a historian nor a
professional writer but I do hope someone will think seriously about it and
bring out the History of American Hindus like the North American Hindu Panchangam
though that too needs lot of rethinking about which I have spoken a lot! USA
has such a flare for writing books based on my personal experience and going
through the work of the two American authors mentioned above who are not
historians. While I was in NY State working 20 years back someone surprised me
with a book on “Srinivasans in USA “as he found many Srinivasans intelligent
and enterprising. Believe me I was not the one that was included. I
politely wrote to him that his very concept was wrong as vaSrinivasan is a
proper name and perhaps the mystery behind is Lord Venkatesvara casting His
magic spell on those who carry his name in some form or other! But America has
Talents! It may not be a surprise if you come across one soon as we have
already two books from men of wisdom and repute improving on the
Official History of India. Himalayan Academy of Hawaii in its
reputed Journal Hinduism Today has published a series of articles titled
“Hinduism from Ancient Times”—http:// www.hiduismtoday.com/education. It is time to teach Hindu American kids the Truth about
the amazing history of Hinduism and practice Hindu Dharma in true spirit
irrespective of what goes on in India, torn in politics. Otherwise Hindu
Culture and Dharma will be wiped out in USA similar to what happened to various
other cultures in USA. Perhaps teaching Sanskrit in Baal Vihaar and
Vedic Heritage classes will help a lot as binding force in this
process of reviving Vedic Culture. Would this attract the attention of
Discover India Camps? If Mumtaj Ali khan, a Muslim from Kerala could study
Sanskrit and Upanishads and travels around from Kashmir to Kanyakumari
spreading the wisdom of Vedas, why can't we in USA?
My E-mails are long and
time-consuming. You may very well imagine then what readers busy in material
pursuits and fame think about my exhaustive discourses! Often my readers
tell me they did not find time or say they do not understand the Vedanta I
talk about. I also used to think so till I moved to Nashville after retiring at
69. I never lived with my parents and nobody even taught me a sloka except
Sanskrit was the only language I studied at school other than English. I
had to brush up my Sanskrit too. All my work is based on self- study after 70.
Why did I do it? I moved to USA with 2 children to be brought up in
an alien atmosphere unlike in India where we are surrounded by 90% Hindus. Here
we are surrounded by more than 99% Christians and other cultures.
Without personal effort and self-education I would not
have achieved to raise a family focused on Hindu Culture and Hindu Dharma.
So please educate yourself if you are as unfortunate as I was
when I landed here and struggled for an existence if not name. If you do not
strive how will you be able to teach your children who are materially focused
and mostly tempted to choose their partners in the open market of different
cultures. I do not say other cultures are bad, but there is a danger of turning
SBNR with no culture or Dharma. If we are not religious we do not turn
spiritual automatic. Here Hinduism gives more scope than other religions if
correctly taught! We have to strive for it. We may be materially successful
but what is the use of gaining the whole world when we have lost our own
soul? That does not keep you happy! That is why I am drawing your
attention to the multi-aspects of Hinduism which we think we are familiar with
and I too thoughts so in my globe-trotting.
May
5, 2018
WHY DO
PEOPLE TELL LIES?
I take the pleasure in forwarding an
interesting topic on moral values by Swami Chidananda taking our thoughts to
Upanishadic thoughts sent today.
WEBINAR 117 presents a discourse by Pujya Swāmi Chidānandaji on WHY DO PEOPLE TELL LIES? (Light of vedānta on
character building) on Sunday, May
6, 2018
Gist
of the Presentation is:
Erosion
of character is a matter of grave concern in modern times. H H Dalai Lama
observed, "These are times...of tall men but short character." The
conduct of people, when we especially go closer to them and notice, leaves much
to be desired. Telling lies, burning with jealousy, finding fault with others
or slavery to sense pleasure - many are the ways in which a human being
degrades himself / herself.
The
webinar will attempt to show how advice from Upanishads can be remedial to this
inner ailment of humanity.
The
tiles on the path of gods are made of truth.--satyena panthā vitato
devayānah--Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.6
SATYAMEVA JAYATE (सत्यमेव जयते)” is the national motto of India. All
Indians do know it; but, most of them may not know that this is part of an
Upanishadic mantra in Mundaka. Motto of USA “In God We Trust” echoes the same.
(See my discourse on Satyameva Jayate)
सत्यमेव जयते नानृतं सत्येन पन्था विततो देवयानः |
येनाक्रमन्त्यृषयो ह्याप्तकामा यत्र तत्सत्यस्य परमं निधानम् || 3.1.6 ||
येनाक्रमन्त्यृषयो ह्याप्तकामा यत्र तत्सत्यस्य परमं निधानम् || 3.1.6 ||
satyameva
jayate nānṛtaṃ satyena panthā vitato devayānaḥ;
yenākramantyṛṣayo hyāptakāmā yatra tatsatyasya paramaṃ nidhānam. (3.1.6)
yenākramantyṛṣayo hyāptakāmā yatra tatsatyasya paramaṃ nidhānam. (3.1.6)
Satyam (Truth) alone subsists, not Asat
(falsehood). The path to divine existence is spread out by means of truth. The
sages who have overtaken all desires go by this path to that entity which is
the ultimate abode of truth (paramapadam)
Truth alone succeeds, not untruth. By
truthfulness the path of felicity opened up, the path which is taken by the
sages, freed from cravings, and which leads them to truth’s
(atman’s--Sat) eternal abode of Brahman (Paramatman-Sathyama).
Divine existence here means the freedom
from all bondages of worldly life. The path to this goal is spread out by
Truth. This implies that the efforts to attain divine existence are done
through the physical faculties of beings, as mentioned above. The ultimate
abode of Sat is undoubtedly Paramatman. Those who have given
up all Kāmas (desires) make use of their body for doing sādhana to get
established in the ultimate principle of Sathyam.
A consistent way of living on the values
of intellectual truthfulness (wisdom of Vedas), says Sankara, widens the path
and makes it an easy grand-trunk road to spiritual success. The seekers free
from the deceit and delusion, pride and vanity, criminality and falsehood, and
having no desire, enthusiastically seek and surely discover realm of Sathyam.
Satyam though often means Supreme Being
in Upanishads as I have often described evidently it is that which has SAT
(truth); therefore it will always survive. That is why “Satyameva jayate –
Truth alone will triumph”. The phenomenal world is also Satyam. It never gets
destroyed; it gets only transformed. It only merges into and emerges from
Parmaatman (Sathyam) periodically. Gita 2.12 also talks about the same.
Upanishads often guide us on moral
values to purify ourselves and meditate with pure mind. That is the purpose of
Aachamana and Gayatri Japa with which we begin all rituals.
--May 3, 2018
Happy Buddha Purnima 2018: Inspirational
Quotes, Wishes & Messages
North
American Panchangam says Yesterday was Purnima and makes no reference to
Buddha. Buddha Purnima is a National Holiday in India.
However Jagannatha devotees paid their obeisance to Lord Buddha as an
Avatar of Buddha singing the Dasavatara Stotra by jayadeva in Sri Ganesha
Temple, Nashville, TN. Are we
sectarian and do not consider Buddha to be an Avatar? I believe many Hindu
temples in USA have installed Buddha in their temples. I believe there are some
Buddhists of Indian origin in Nashville too as I understood from the seminar we
recently conducted who visit Sri Ganesha Temple like Sikhs, Jains and
Hindus married to different faiths including Buddhists.
“April
30 in India marks #BuddhaPurnima, the full moon day that indicates all three dates of the
birth, enlightenment and Mahanirvana of the Buddha.
It
is the full Moon of the Hindu month of Vaishakha, which has been pronounced
Wezak by some western scholars. Note that traditional Buddhism, including
Tibetan Buddhism today, follows the Hindu Panchanga calendar orientation.
Vaishakha is the month in which the full moon is closest to the Nakshatra of
Vishakha, a spiritual Nakshatra sacred to the
conjoint forces of Indra and Agni, with connections to Ganesha (Vishakha is the
brother of Skandha), showing the Vidyut Shakti or lightning power of
enlightenment.
This year it occurs in the Nakshatra
of Swati, ruled by Vayu, which is the Nakshatra before Vishakha, but is
conjoined with Jupiter now located nearby in Vishakha, increasing the power of
wisdom and dharma for the world. A day of compassion and enlightenment for
all" says Padma Bhushan David Frawley, a Hindu scholar.
Here I wish to share some
inspirational quotes, wishes and messages on his memorable day!
Buddha Purnima Inspirational Quotes
1. Buddham Saranam Gacchami
Dhamma Saranam Gacchami
Sangham Saranam Gacchami
2. Do not dwell in the past,
Do not dream of the future,
Concentrate the mind on the present moment
- Buddha
3. No one saves us but ourselves.
No one can and no one may.
We ourselves must walk the path.
- Buddha
4. Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
- Buddha
5. We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.
- Buddha
1. Buddham Saranam Gacchami
Dhamma Saranam Gacchami
Sangham Saranam Gacchami
2. Do not dwell in the past,
Do not dream of the future,
Concentrate the mind on the present moment
- Buddha
3. No one saves us but ourselves.
No one can and no one may.
We ourselves must walk the path.
- Buddha
4. Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
- Buddha
5. We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.
- Buddha
It is also Chitra Purnima
day. Please go through my discourses of these Dharma based religions:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/04/is-it-bouddha-or-buddha-in-dasaavataara.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/05/chittirai-poornima-festival.html
HAPPY BUDDHAPURNIMA DAY!
--April
30, 2018
SRINIVASA KALYANOTSAVAM IN NASHVILLE TEMPLE ON APRIL 28, 2018
Lord
Venkatesvara’s Kalyanotsavam in temples is performed to the Utsava Murti - Lord
Sri Malayappa swami (instead of the main deity) and his
consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi. A Priest
conducts the marriage and an archaka is consecrated to perform other rituals on
behalf of the bridegroom. The wedding ceremony is held according to the
Vaikhanasa Agama rituals and starts with the Vishwaksena Puja. This is
followed by recitation of Veda
mantras
and pronouncing the family pedigree of the brides and bridegroom. The idols of
the Lord and his brides face each other with a tera (screen) in-between
them. After the priests perform appropriate homas the bridegroom and the brides are
allowed to see each other at the appropriate auspicious moment when the screen
is removed. This is followed by Mangala sutra dharana, Talambralu
and then Lord and his consorts are garlanded
I would like to draw the attention of
those who perform Srinivasa-Padmavati Kalyanotsavam to my detailed discourse on
Divine Kalyanotsavam and also Vivaham generally conducted for humans. In
addition please go through the spiritual significance and benefits of this
elaborate ritual:
Marriage of Padmavati with
Venkatesvara symbolizes the union of Jivatman
with Paramaatman. Jivatman is clouded with Maya and gets deluded. It
suffers subdued by ten sense organs.
Jivataman is an amsa of Parammatman (mamaivamso jivabutha sanaatanah). To
restore the Jivatman back to its rightful owner- the Paramatman, we need
the guidance of a Guru. In Ramayana Sita represents Jivatman and Rama
Parmatman. Sita suffered from Dasgrieva Ravana representing ten senses. She,
the Jivatma needed a Guru that is Hanuman who helps her to reach Parmaatman,
that is Srirama. The union of
the divine couple can be taken as a symbolic union of the Jivatman and the Paramatman.
The Kalyana Utsavam can be thus interpreted on these philosophical lines as
well.
Lord Venkateswara wears Lakshmi in
his chest. Purushasookta mentions “hreescha Lakshmischa Patnyau”. Bhoodevi
represents Hree and Lakshmi represents Padmavati, incarnation of Lakshmi.
Padmavati lives in Tiruchanoor and their wedding takes place only once a year.
So usually Kalyaanotsava of Venkatesvar is performked with Sridevi and Bhudevi.
It is often humorously mentioned that
there is one relationship that the Lord misses. Since the Lord is the
"causeless-cause", he has no cause and hence no parents, as it were!
When we perform a Kalyana utsava for the Lord, in effect, He gets to enjoy the
role of being our son! No doubt Christians claim Him as Jesus, Son of God!
For us, it is the Lord's pleasure
that we get the immense pleasure to be His parents when we perform the Kalyana
utsava! It is like the benefit that Yashoda enjoyed in being the Lord's own
mother in Krishna avatara. In the Srinivasa Kalyana Mahatmyam, it is said that
Yashoda wanted to witness the Lord's wedding, an opportunity she never had in
Krishna Avatara. In effect, she as Vakuladevi engineered Lord Srinivasa's
wedding to Padmavati and had the opportunity to witness this blissful event.
Such is the pleasure of performing or witnessing the Kalyana Utsavam.
With any ritual Our attention is riveted on the Lord
and His consort for the entire duration of the Kalyana utsavam. It enables the
mind to develop single-pointedness focus.
A prepared mind becomes the right vehicle to absorb the teaching (Jnana)
and attain realization (Mukti).
Every ritual provides an
opportunity to fine-tune the mind for later Jnana. The Kalyana Utsavam provides this benefit- a
prepared mind, a key prerequisite for Jnana and the resultant fruit of moksha.
--April 29, 2018
WE
NEED RETHINKING AND SPIRITUAL AWAKENING TO SUSTAIN HINDUISM &
GUIDE USA SPIRITUALLY
As Hindu Americans we are most
diversified culturally, traditionally with baffling number of languages as
mother tongues brought with us from India. Hindu Temples initially did an
excellent job in building One temple for all traditions accommodating
all major traditions Saiva, Vaishnava and Sakta under one roof and also
focusing on Hindu cultures, again a multiplicity of cultures. This indirectly
brought with it the benefit of a casteless society unlike in India that
is creating more sub-castes, fighting for reservation and privileges and
political dominance. We have also been trying to promote Discover India
Camps not knowing what that is while it is even difficult to promote what
Hindu culture is, which is not similar to Chinese or Japanese or Mexican or Korean
culture is among migrants from those countries. Surprisingly Japanese, Chinese
and Koreans are united by culture and language if not religion and
Mexicans are bound by culture, religion and language and their religion
merges with major religious followings of the country with marginal
variations with universal binding force under the name of Jesus.
Caught between the devil and the deep
sea of culture and religion Buddhist migrants from India
who are far and few between joined the Hindu temples and more willingly Jains
though coming from different lands. Most of the Asian Buddhists are pork
and beef eaters to-day and they do not join migrants from India. From the
very beginning Jains were quite willing to join the Hindu Temples but baffled
with Hindu diversification of rituals and festivals want to establish their own
group identity now. Logically they are Dharma focused. In India they
helped a lot to build Hindu temples and charitable homes. Here they want to
move out. Many Jains are migrants from outside India and rich and famous.
I am not sure whether Hindu Americans will be able to hold on to them in their
group. JAINA also gives importance to Gujarati but not Sanskrit. In
Karnataka they are Sanskrit scholars. American Sikhs always
joined Hindu Americans culturally but established their own Gurudvaras.
Quite a few of them even hate Hindus started Kalistan movement. A
group of affluent Gujaratis and others have started their own Swami
Narayan Temples, ISKCON temples and Saibaba Temples differing widely from
Hindu Temple Traditions earlier established that are almost 400 in number.
Other major religions which act in a unified way are enjoying this confusion
and fun. Muslims and Christians are trying to come together in USA.
Adding insult to the injury Hindu kids are choosing their partners more often
than not from White Christians and it is becoming difficult to retain them
within Hindu culture if not religion. If the situation is not seriously focused
and remedial action taken unitedly the temples they have built with so much
of personal sacrifice and effort will end up as archeological
pieces and Hinduism will be swallowed by Christianity after one or two
generations. There is good chance to bring into Hindu-fold, if made
attractive focused on Vedic culture, around 35% of Christians who have walked
out of Christianity in USA and call themselves as SBNR. Christianity
have their own problems here and are not focused on proselytization here
as is happening in India, but focused on making it appealing to all removing
conservative ideas and Catholicity. Perhaps that is why these
missionaries have moved to India being a fertile ground for centuries? When
Romans were throwing Christians to wolves in Europe, Christians built churches
and worshiped peacefully in India. Dr. Naga-swamy blames colonial scholars for
creating anti-Sanskrit anti-Aaryan ideologies long back in Tamil Nadu
and Dravidian movement is championing them today. Rajiv
Malhotra has a lot to say here. Sanskrit and Sanatana Dharma withstood all
machinations and brutality. Today we receive much focus on Hinduism
among all minority religions in USA influencing American life.
American scholars are encouraging Sanskrit studies, Yoga and Meditation in
USA unlike colonial scholars.
Fortunately there is least
attraction to Islam since they have themselves projected a horrified image of
their religion and none will willingly join them. The problem with us is we are
individual oriented and not community oriented and so often turn our deaf ears.
That is why we have not continued or focused on progressive thinking guided by
spiritual Gurus like Vivekananda and others. Fortunately some White Christians
in USA have turned Hindus and are working tirelessly to spread Hinduism in
America like Padma Bhushan David Frawley, Velan Samy, Phil Goldberg, Peter
Arnett etc., and many Spiritual Ashrams have opened their branches in
USA. In this context go through
my write up “Should We be Wrongly
Called Hindus in America” that may help in educating children properly
about Sanatana Dharma and Hinduism. I have sent several such E-mails
forwarding the messages from several spiritual thinkers besides my own
thoughts. Wisdom lies in reviving Vedic
culture and spirituality of the past as propagated by Swami Vivekananda a
century back. We have been so for successful in establishing ourselves as an
effective group to influence large crowds of non-Hindus and also inspire some
to become spiritual Gurus and Vedantin! Much work to be done by organizing
ourselves and bringing back Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs to our Dharma
fold who were once part of Vedic Culture! Let us act together talk
together Sanghacchadvam Samvadadvam!
Many will be shocked
and some surprised reading through the news from India on TTD of Tirupathi. Y
S Rajashekara Reddy chief minister of AP
appointed B Karunakara Reddy to the TTD who is actually a Christian.
After his appointment, one by one many Christians and Muslims became staff. Nagaraju, Yashodamma, Krishnamma and
Ishvarayya who were TTD employees were sent to jail for trying to convert
Hindus to Christianity. Then there is
the continuing all-out effort to attract devotees towards Jesus and
Christianity.
Does TTD wants to take us
back to Vedic culture of caste-less society and Vasudhaiva
kutumbakam of Sanatana Dharma days? I do not think so. This needs lot of
ground work, change of attitude, lot of training and sacrifice! It is all
politically motivated and taking away religious freedom of the people by
government control. Earlier they trained some Harijans as priests. I hope they
take care of the welfare of Harijans and bring them back to the fold of
caste-Hindus first acceptable to both! They have not even trained their
non-Hindu servants in Vishnu Tattva and Vedic culture! It is like putting the
cart before the horse!
--April
29, 2018
Comments:
Enjoyed
reading it... indeed there are challenges and opportunities. Hindu-based
thoughts and ideas may even become part of people who are of other religions -
even atheists or agnostics - like karma, meditation, mindfulness, cuisine, less
materialism etc. As you pointed out correctly, there are also so many
forces that are removing Previous “Hindus” from Hinduism as well. As always,
thank you for educating and widening my limited knowledge.
--Dr. Santhosh Venkatraman
NARASIMHA JAYANTI, APRIL 28, 2018
Please
go through my lecture on the auspicious day of Narasimha Jayanti that falls
tomorrow and also chant the rare Naraiskha Dasakam sent through courtesy
Muralidharan Iyengar from Singapore. Alternately meditate on "
Om Tad Brahma Tad Vayu Tad AatmaaTat Sathyam Tat Puror namaah " that is
much simpler and most powerful.
You
may recall Panchabrahma mantras I explained to you from Mahanarayana Upanishad.
These Mantras are appropriate to Vishnu Incarnation of Narasimha in
His terrible form to match Hiranyakasipu at the same time benevolently
disposed to Bhakta Prahlada.They are worth meditating upon. Incidentally they
are also called panchanana Mantras and chanted during the worship of Lord
Siva.
Lord Vishnu came to the rescue of pious
and noble Prahlada emerging out of the pillar during the twilight zone as
Narasimha in his incarnation of half lion and half man and killed his father
Hiranyakasipu. Prahlada was deeply grieved and felt still indebted to his
father though he would have been killed by him but for the intervention
of the Lord and yet requested Narasimha to pardon his father's sins and grant him
Mukti or liberation to him, indeed a noble gesture unthinkable. Even
Narasimha should have been surprised! How can Lord refuse his beloved devotees
request? He blessed Prahlada to be a Chiranjeevi, (Immortal) and a permanent
companion of his. Prahlada was first ever to honor his father and
bring him Eternal Bliss in spite of all the cruelty meted out to him following
Vedic dictum of Pitru Devo Bhava!Bhagavan says in Bhagavad Gita that
among deityas (demons) he is Prahlada (deityaanam prahlaadosmi), thus
complimenting the noble and Compassionate Bhakta Prahlaada.
Here is a scenario of most pious and noble son and the most cruel father
who would have any how killed him for his being adamant as to not to accept
that his father was Superior to Narayana.
There is a good lot of philosophical
thinking about this Avatar! We teach this Puranic story to our children in our
Sunday schools and teach them to worship Lord Narasimha. But let us not forget
to teach the values of Compassion, Love and Respect on this day
and not stop only at chanting Narasimha Dasakam! Christianity teaches if
someone slaps you on one cheek show him the other cheek and the Western culture
says that behind every child there is a dad! Hinduism teaches to practice
COMPASSION (DAYA) & BHAKTI (Respect turning to Love) even under worst
situations. Behind every cruel father there is Compassionate Child and need not
go by genes! This should be interesting to your children who have chosen their
partner from Christianity attracted by universal binding instinct of
Love (KAMA) and raising kids with both Hindu Dharma & Christian
Faith!
-- April 27. 2018
Delighted to have the mail from you. This day
is the Birth Anniversary of my late mother Padma Subrahmanyam.
--Sridhar
from Bengaluru
MAHABHARATA
STORIES
Puranas come in handy to influence
young mind and even adults at Kindergarten level of spiritual education
through stories about the Upanishadic Thoughts. But they are too many, too
confusing and contradictory unlike the Holy Bible that conveys religious
thoughts through parables. Kamala Raghunathan through her long experience
as Baal Vihaar teacher has picked up two stories drawing our attention to
Karma and Dharma about which I have talked about a lot at High school level if
not university level unlike many Swamijis we hear. Some of
you who have not been with me for long might need these. Of course when I am
not able to convince you I indulge in confusing you. That is why I
forward many wisdom thoughts from Swamijis like Chidanada with my introduction.
Last week we had one such talk from a spiritual teacher from Ramana Maharshi
School of thought on the subject focused on turning inwards and inquire
ourselves to “Who am I?” Best teacher is yourself and you should be guided by
six horses Who, What, Where, How, Why and When. That is what the speaker
was hinting us indirectly though you were exposed to a deep subject suddenly,
without background notes. Chinmaya Mission has also a
unique style of leading children to profound Upanishadic Thoughts. Perhaps you
are aware of their publication "Playful Vedanta:" and "Bhagavad
Gita for Children" by HH Swami Sarada Priyananda and Swami Chinmayananda.
I wish I had such skills like these teachers and Anandas. Never-the-less I have
opened your mind for self-inquiry and self-study. Please recall some of
my discourses on the topics ingeniously introduced by Kamal Raghunathan:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/09/mahaalaya-pitrupakshahindu-memorial-day.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/08/word-dharmawhat-it-means-discourse-by-n.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2013/03/doctrine-of-karma-action-andreaction-in.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/02/one-who-follows-dharma-will-be.html
--April 26,
2018
COMMENTS:
I have gone through your thoughts in
the above message. Everyone is not endowed with every skill, but using whatever
one has for lokasangrah is good if not necessary. In your case, what is it that
you have not done with merit, whether in material, social or spiritual life at
your age, trying to inspire and spread (uncommon in these times ) values of
social importance especially in Hinduism is an example to others like me. Hence
kindly continue your work without comparison (though they are healthy in your
case). Regards.
SPACE, TIME AND CAUSATION
“Within
the phenomenal universe, everything is explained in terms of 'where', 'when'
and 'why'. Changes taking place within an atom or in inter-galactic space can
be explained in the dimensions of x, y, z and t. However, when it comes to
'superimposition' (adhyāsa), explanations in the language of space, time and
causation are not possible. The entirety of the universe - the outer and
the inner - is an appearance of Brahman, says Advaita Vedānta. The physical and
the psychological domains are included in this appearance. If we truly
appreciate the significance of this extraordinary revelation of the Upanishads,
we can see that the questions, "Where, when and how," do not apply to
this matter. The good news is that, since the universe - inclusive of the (relative) object
and the (relative) subject is mere appearance, Brahman shines forth
with no damage whatsoever to it. You are That!
Know
that Self alone, which is one without a second, on which are strung heaven, the
earth and inter-space, the mind and the vital forces.--Mundaka
Upanishad 2.2.5”
Swami
Chidananda draws our attention to this mystic Mantra from Mundkopanishad:
Aavih sannihitam guhaacharam naama
mahat -padam atraitat-samarpitam | Ejat
praanannimishasccha yadetat-jaanatha sadasad-varenyam param vijnaanaad
yad-varishtham prajaanaam
||2-2-1||
It
is directly realized by the Yogins; very near as it is moving in the heart;
well known in the form of its inscrutability; It is the supreme object of
attainment. On it are fixed all the living beings that move, that breath and
that which do not wink. Know this Immutable that is to be approached by all
entities, the subtle or the gross, as it is the ground of all and which is
higher than Jivatman and which is to be chosen by all people as their goal as
well.
Supreme
Brahman as I often explain is Sathyam
and not Sat both of which we loosely
translate as Truth. Sat is applicable to the deities we with the mantra “Sat-chit-Aananda vigrahaaya namah” . Isavasya Upanishad says
“Isavasaya midam sarvam” everything in this created universe is Brahman or Sathyam alone. The Supreme includes and
incorporates in itself the essence behind
all that has form and all that has no form—all the world objects and all
the world of thoughts and ideas. Here is a subtle hint that mere withdrawing of
our identifications with the world objects and reveling in the inner world of
our own thoughts and emotions cannot make us reach the Supreme Reality. Thus to
meditate upon the forms of the Lord or
to repeat His glory and thereby to get
into a state of blissful unawareness of outer world is not itself the goal; one
will have to transcend even the formless world of thoughts and ideas to reach
the No-man’s land of our Eternal
nature--Eternal Bliss that is Ananta
Aananda.
Here
the Upanishad talks about knowing the Supreme Reality. In my college days I
came across an author who wrote about the importance inquiring mind and said:
“please be guided in life by six horses you will never be lost. These are
Where, When, How, What, Which, Why. Swami Chidananda perhaps refers to this
author whose name I forgot and that is not enough to reach Brahman.
Swami
Chidananda says that this Brahman is beyond our questioning and apprehension but can be experienced directly
by a Yogi. The entirety of the universe
- the outer and the inner - is an appearance of Brahman, including the physical
and the psychological domains. I have
talked to you on Brahman in two of my
discourses but did not focus on this mantra which is in mystic capsule form.
Swami Chidananda in his own inimitable style will make it appealing to the scientific mind. That is
why Bhagavan in Gita says only very few
can understand Me and reach Me.
--April 28, 2018
ARYAN INVASION MYTH & ARYAN
DRAVIDIAN DIVIDE MYTH BASED ON POLITICS
Who were the first Indians? When did
they first arrive in India? Where from? What were their lives like? What was
their society like? How did ancient Indian civilization evolve? What knowledge
did they possess? What kind of science did they have? What discoveries did they
make? What technologies did they develop? How did they build the largest
ancient urban civilization the world has ever seen? What did they call their
great cities? What language did they speak? Did they really develop a pro to democracy
thousands
of years before the Greeks? What kind of future did they envisage for India?
What lessons can we learn from them?--These are the questions our “eminent”
historians have not deigned to ask for the past seven decades. These are the
answers we must seek, in order to rediscover our roots and understand who we
really are.
There is now a mountain of scientific
evidence that proves that the Aryan Invasion Theory is a myth. It is fiction.
It belongs in the Big League of unscientific theories (which some still believe
in), alongside creationism, ante-evolution-ism, the myth of Noah’s ark, and
flat earth theory.
The evidence shows that India that
was called Bharat is much more than a nation. It is the world’s oldest
civilization.
India wasn’t born in 1947. Our great
civilization was born at least nine and a half millennia ago according to
archaeological evidence, and fifteen and a half millennia ago according to
genetic evidence. The records of our great ancestors’ deeds are lost, destroyed
in the fires and the depredations of the past millennium. The least we can do
to honor our ancestors is to strive to rediscover the truth about them.
Hindu Americans know very well Dr.
David Frawley who has dedicated his life to the cause of Yoga and Sanatana
Dharma. David Frawley, born 1950, is an American Hindu teacher (Acharya) and author, who has
written more than thirty books on topics such as the Vedas, Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma), Yoga, Ayurveda and Vedic astrology, published both in
India and in the United States. He is the founder and director of the American
Institute of Vedic Studies in Santa Fe, New Mexico which offers
educational information on Yoga philosophy, Ayurveda, and Vedic astrology.
His wife Yogini Shambhavi Chopra joins
him in his teachings. He is a frequent contributor to the
magazine Hinduism Today. He is associated
with a number of Vedic and yogic organizations in several countries. He is a
Vedic teacher (Sanskrit: Vedacharya), Vaidya (Ayurvedic doctor),
and a Jyotishi (Vedic astrologer).
Frawley has been repeatedly recognized as a noted spiritual teacher,
especially of Yoga. In 2016, he founded Vedic Management Center along with U. Mahesh Prabhu
In 2015, he was honored by the President of India with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest
civilian award granted by the Government of India for
"distinguished service of a high order to the nation."
A. L. Chavda is a theoretical physicist
whose research interests include dark matter, dark energy, black hole physics,
quantum gravity, and the physics of the very early universe.
Please go through
their views on Aryan Invasion Theory based on elaborate research as attached as
well as my discourse which deals with democracy in ancient India.
"A
TIME TO END ARYAN INVASION MYTH & ARYAN DRAVIDIAN DIVIDE MYTH"
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-can-be-wrong-history-about-ancient.html
--April 22, 2018
I
am thankful for your kind words and esteem and your taking time to respond to me. I tell my
teachers in urgency that what we teach is far greater than us one individual,
and it will not be saved nor killed by any one individual. The
civilization has taken on the attack from many and yet survived, and the ideas
grow without a single missionary/evangelist. Truth cannot be saved or
deleted, it lives on. All this to say, your work is done, while your work
lives on, and with that said, please continue to do the work.
On
another note, if you are to ever need technical/computer help, please ask, I
can help, your work is important to me.
We
should discuss and think out loud sometime, and perhaps recruit some younger
people who are savvy about communication. I am also in the learning
process.
--Kali Mugilan
Is
it not time to seriously think to start teaching Sanskrit in our Sunday
Schools?
Sanskrit
fever grips Germany: 14 universities teaching India's ancient language struggle
to meet demand as students clamor for courses
By Aditya
Ghosh
Will Germans be the eventual
custodians of Sanskrit, its rich heritage and culture? If the demand for Sanskrit
and Indology courses in Germany is any indication, that’s what the future looks
like.
Unable to cope with the flood of
applications from around the world, the South Asia Institute, University of
Heidelberg, had to start a summer school in spoken Sanskrit in Switzerland,
Italy and - believe it or not - India too.
“When we started it 15 years ago, we
were almost ready to shut it after a couple of years. Instead, we had to
increase strength and take the course to other European countries,” said
Professor Dr. Axel Michaels, head of classical Indology at the
university.
In Germany, 14 of the top
universities teach Sanskrit, classical and modern Indology compared to just
four in the UK. The summer school spans a month in August every year and
draws applications from across the globe.
“So far, 254 students from 34 countries
have participated in this course. Every year we have to reject many
applications,” said Dr. Michaels.
Apart from Germany, the majority of
students come from the US, Italy, the UK and the rest of Europe.
Professor Dr. Axel Michaels, Head of
Classical Indology at the University of Heidelberg, says students from 34
countries have taken the course
Linking Sanskrit with religion and a
certain political ideology was “stupid” and “detrimental to the cause” of its
rich heritage, the professor said.
“Even the core thoughts of Buddhism
were in the Sanskrit language. To better understand the genesis of oriental
philosophy, history, languages, sciences and culture, it’s essential to read
the original Sanskrit texts as these are some of the earliest thoughts and
discoveries,” he added.
Francesca Lunari, a medical student who
has been studying Sanskrit at Heidelberg University, agreed.
“I am interested in psychoanalysis and
must know how human thoughts originated through texts, cultures and societies.
I will learn Bangla also to decipher the seminal works of Girindra Sekhar Bose,
a pioneer of oriental psychiatry who has hardly been studied – even in India.
Learning Sanskrit is the first step,” she said.
Languages such as Bangla, in which Bose
had written his theories challenging Freud, might face a crisis similar to
Sanskrit because of the onslaught of English if these languages aren’t
preserved within households, felt Dr Hans Harder, head of the department of
modern South Asian languages and literatures (modern Indology), Heidelberg
University.
“A significant part of the global
cultural heritage will become extinct if major languages like Hindi and Bangla
fall prey to Indian English which, in the process, has only got poorer,” he
added.
An expert in Bangla, Hindi and Urdu
apart from European languages, Harder cautioned against such a disaster as more
upwardly mobile families stop teaching their own language to their
children.
Studying ethno-Indology helps
contextualize and link subjects to ancient texts.
“One can better understand evolution of
politics and economics by studying Arthashastra by Chanakya,” said Dr.
Michaels.
So this semester the institute is
offering a course on ‘human physiology and psychology in the early Upanishads’
by Anand Mishra, an IIT mathematics graduate who took up the study of Sanskrit
for his research on evolving a more grammatically suitable computing
language.
“Working on Panini’s Sanskrit grammar,
I realized it could be a great tool in computing language,” said Mishra.
Dr. Michaels feels that instead of
indulging in a political and religious debate, Indians should try to preserve
their heritage.
“Don’t we conserve a rare, old painting
or sculpture? This is a live language…and rich cultural heritage which might
become the casualty of neglect just as great civilizations like Hampi,
the art of Ajanta and temples of Konark got buried in oblivion. It was up to
the British to discover them later. Sanskrit, along with its culture,
philosophy and science might become similarly extinct,” he claimed, adding: “On
the other hand, there is so much yet to discover through Sanskrit…details of
Indus Valley civilization, for example.”
Germany has already been a storehouse
of Sanskrit scholars to the world.
“The majority of Sanskrit scholars,
including those at Harvard, California Berkeley and the UK, are Germans,” he
said.
But why?
“Probably because we never colonized
India and maintained a romantic view about it,” quipped Dr. Michaels.
'Language cannot shake
secularism'
India's secularism is not so weak that
it will be shaken just because of a language, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has
said in the backdrop of a row over Sanskrit replacing German in government-run
schools in India.
Addressing a reception for the Indian
community on Monday, Modi referred to a time decades ago, when German radio had
a news bulletin in Sanskrit.
“In India, there was no news bulletin
in Sanskrit at that time because perhaps it was thought that secularism would
be endangered,” the prime minister said.
Modi said India’s secularism is not so
weak that it will be shaken just because of a language. One should have
self-confidence.
Self-confidence should not be shaken,
he added.
The prime minister did not elaborate,
but his veiled comments assume significance as these came months after a row
over replacing of German as third language in government-run Kendirya Vidyalaya
schools with Sanskrit. -PTI
Even as the row over replacing German
with Sanskrit in Kendriya Vidyalayas partly resurfaced in far away in Berlin,
educationists back home feel that it is very important to introduce Sanskrit at
the school level to enable students have a better understanding of the
subject.
“Sanskrit is an essential part of every
Indian soul. Without the language, the society loses its identity. From Raja
Ram Mohan Roy to Mahatma Gandhi, everyone was inspired by the language. The
whole renaissance period was based on Sanskrit literature,” Professor Ramesh
Bharadwaj, head of the Sanskrit department at Delhi University, told Mail
Today.
Educationists feel it is important to
introduce Sanskrit at school level as it will enable students to have a better
understanding of the subject
Historians, meanwhile, feel that successive
governments have taken no initiatives to promote the language among the
people.
“The central and state governments,
which came to power after Independence, have not extended their support to the
language. Our country is known for its culture, religion and philosophical
ideas. One cannot treat religious sentiments and Sanskrit separately,”
Bharadwaj added.
Recently, the Human Resources
Development (HRD) ministry’s internal enquiry into the Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with Germany, making German the third language in Kendriya
Vidyalayas, has revealed that neither the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sanghathan (KVS)
nor the ministry realized that the move was a violation of the three-language
formula.
According to the three-language
formula, schools are required to teach Hindi, English and a modern Indian
language in schools. Sanskrit, however, is said to be a popular option in
northern states.
“We want all Indian languages to be
promoted because only five to six per cent of people in India understand English.
Most of them, even today, work in their regional language. No other language
can be understood if there is no proper understanding of Sanskrit,” the HOD of
the Sanskrit department said.
Meanwhile, while on his tour to
Germany, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India’s secularism is not so weak
that it could be shaken because of a language.
Experts feel that Modi’s statement is
in accordance with the Indian Constitution. Though Modi did not elaborate on
the issue, his comments are being seen in context with his government’s
decision to replace German with Sanskrit in over 500 schools.
--APRIL 22, 2018
Comments:
Wow.
Great idea—Raj Arcot
IS LOVE GREATER THAN
RESPECT?
Respect and Love go hand in hand in Hinduism.
A Hindu Mother showers love on her kid like any other mother but the Hindu kid
in turn is taught to respect her as God from infancy. In fact the child is told
she is her first God. This initial training shapes child’s future married life
and the partners live together with love and respect and love becomes the
universal binding force. In a Hindu’s religious pursuit the respect turns to
love called Isvaraprema. That is why
Hindus are mandated to treat their wives as Sahadharmini
after marriage. Divorces are few where love and respect go hand in hand. If a
child is brought up with Hindu values cited above, later when the child is
attracted to choose a partner from a different faith or tradition, the chances
are the partner who is brought up with Hindu values is more likely to attract
the other partner to Hinduism rather than walking out of it or turn atheist.
That is why you see many Western cultured partners join their wives in Hindu
Temple worships willingly in USA. You notice that where a child is not brought
up with equal weightage for love and respect husband who claim to love his wife
is often physically violent because of his advantage of physical strength and
the wife becomes a victim of fatal attractions to cheat her partner. Many
people who claim to love their siblings or their children act in disrespectful
manner or develop disrespectful thoughts about them in spite of love. No other
religion teaches such a balanced outlook like Hinduism. Unfortunately we live
in a society where love is given more weight-age often to the utter neglect of
respect. We find often people who are loved are disrespected too! That is how
interfaith love marriages result often in fatal attraction?
--April 20, 2018
Very
nicely brought out! .
none
loves the man whom one fears
to move, the sole choice, let it be clear
for respect, look out
over love it has clout
love with respect , is not wee bit dear
------------------------------------------------------
dear - expensive e.g.: 'five pounds-that's a bit dear ' (British usage )
to move- what I mean is keep away from people one fears
'No one loves the man whom one fears ' Aristotle (384bc-322bc)
to move, the sole choice, let it be clear
for respect, look out
over love it has clout
love with respect , is not wee bit dear
------------------------------------------------------
dear - expensive e.g.: 'five pounds-that's a bit dear ' (British usage )
to move- what I mean is keep away from people one fears
'No one loves the man whom one fears ' Aristotle (384bc-322bc)
You can't truly respect anybody if you
also love them at some level. Being fearful is not respectful. Lot of people
say they love somebody, and treat them with disrespect
--Vedavyas
Thanks. I was focusing on Prema and
not on Kama. I was thinking of Isvara-Prema that arises of out of respect and
equal respect extended to wife after initial Kama stage is over. Even in English
they speak of Calf-love and True love (NRS)
HAPPINESS IS AN INTRINSIC QUALITY OF HUMAN NATURE
“All of us want to be happy. We differ
only in the way we look for happiness. All our actions are directed towards
achieving happiness or avoiding sorrow.
Vedānta gives a systematic approach to
happiness. It classifies happiness as those obtained in objects, situations or
persons as vishaya-ānanda and happiness that can be discovered
in ourselves as ātma- ānanda.
vishaya-ānanda is mixed with sorrow
and struggle and it is never completely fulfilling. It also leads to
bondage as, without that object, situation or person, we cannot be happy.
ātma- ānanda is free from such defects. However ātma-
ānanda is possible only under the guidance of a competent
teacher or Guru.
The Guru points out that our mind, if
not trained, can be the source of sorrow and the same mind can be the source of
happiness. The mind training involves doing all our actions as an offering to
God and to have the maturity to accept whatever we get for our actions as prasāda.
Mind training also involves various
forms of meditations so that the mind is no longer focused on the glitter and
glamour outside but is able to experience the peace in stillness, in the now
and here.
The teacher uses yukti or
logic, anubuti or our own experiences and finally, once the
student develops complete trust, scriptural wisdom or śruti to
discover happiness.
There is nothing to do or anywhere to
go to find happiness. Happiness is discovered in the here, now and in
ourselves.
The search for happiness ends in Just
Being happy.”
—Dr. Thimmappa Hegde of FOWAI Forum
Desire for happiness is the driving
force behind all the countless efforts that we are always making. Man’s
pursuit, whether through mind, speech or body is driven by his “fundamental
desire” to be happy. Man always wants more, not less, happiness
than he has already. He errs, however, when he thinks he can increase his
happiness by adding to his possessions rather than expanding his awareness. Any
effort to increase his happiness without at the same time expanding his
sensitivity to the world around him, and his sense of identity with it, will be
self-defeating. Whenever a person acts selfishly, he deadens the capacity to
perceive his essential unity with all life. He becomes, as a result, petty and
mean. The expansion of happiness necessarily entails the expansion of
awareness, not the expansion of property. For happiness is not a thing, and
cannot be found in mere things. it is not a vital feeling. It is a quality of
consciousness: something that one is aware with, rather than of. Reason
therefore suggests, and inner experience confirms that happiness is an
intrinsic quality of human nature. We enjoy things only to the extent that
we satisfy the thought in our own minds that things are enjoyable. In fact, it
is never things themselves that we enjoy at all, but only a deeper reality
within our own being.
The
Westerners’ thought sought to understand man’s drive for happiness by analyzing
the external factors, while the orientalists, especially Indian thinkers, gave
prominence to the inner being (or ontological stance) when understanding
happiness. India’s researchers into human motivation following the thread of
desire to its source, found that man’s deepest motivation is essentially to
avoid suffering, and to attain happiness…Beneath every sensory desire to avoid
pain, and to experience pleasure; and beneath every deeper, heart’s desire is
the longing to escape sorrow, and to attain permanent happiness. The desire to
attain happiness is actually symptomatic of the desire for self-discovery, for
self-fulfillment. By the same token, the desire to avoid suffering is
essentially a desire to eschew ‘non-happiness’ as foreign to our nature. We
suffer only when something withholds from us that degree of happiness which we
feel rightfully ours.”
Every
human being tirelessly seeks it in the world through action, emotion and
knowledge. The search for bliss goes on. None has ever found it. Only the rare
one who has directed his search inward has reached that State of supreme
bliss. Such men are rare says a Gita. He finds it through
realization of the Self. People believe that outer conquests can bring about
inner peace and bliss. It is a false belief arising out of spiritual ignorance.
Advaita
Vedanta suggests that Being (Brahman) is non-dual (Advaita). It is existential.
It is experiential and non-relational. There is no difference between Self
(Atman) and Being (Brahman). It is Supreme knowledge (Sat), Supreme
Consciousness (Chit) and Supreme bliss (Ananda). Advaita Vedanta propounds that
it is nescience (avidya) that enshrouds the individual self to assume that
existence is dual, that is there is a creator and creation, that there is the
experiencer and the experienced. It reinstates the Vedic theory that the
substratum, Brahman, is not identifiable and that it is not located in
space-time-causation continuum. The non-dual school of thought suggests that it
is the delusive force or energy (Maya) that veils the non-dual nature of Brahman.
Advaita
Vedanta emphasizes that the actions or activities undertaken by the Embodied
Self is nothing but an innate urge to express its expanse and freedom and
unfold its nature as Supreme Knowledge, Supreme Consciousness and Supreme
Bliss. It believes that Bliss is not capable of being pursuit or sought, as
man, as an Embodied Self, is by nature blissful. It conclusively asserts
that Self (Atman) is enlightened and blissful by nature. It reiterates the
concluding findings of the Vedas (scriptures) highlighting the
non-dual nature of Brahman or Atman. Advaita Vedanta suggests that
creation is the ultimate expression of Brahman which is inherently blissful,
endowed with supreme knowledge and consciousness. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
affirms in its sutra or aphorism, “Poornamadam Poornamidam, Poornaat
Poornamaduchyathe, Poornasya Poornamaadaaya Poornameva avasishyathe” which
means “from fullness (Brahman), fullness (creation) came and despite its
expression, fullness (Brahman) still remains full. Thus, creation is taken as a
sportive expression of Supreme Knowledge, Supreme Consciousness and Supreme
Bliss.
In
Ashtottaras, Ganesha as well as other deities are addressed as Sacchidaananda
vigrahaaya namah hoping their prayers will reach Brahman, though it is made
clear in Bhagavad Gita that those who worship devatas will reach
devatas and those who worship me (Brahman) alone will come to me—yaanti
devavrataah devaan…. madyaajinopi Maam”. Brahman is further addressed
as Sathyam Jnaanam Anantam Brahman. Also Sathyam is
differentiated from Sat; Sathyam (Sat+thi+yam)--The principle that
regulates immortal and mortals (Chhandogya). While Brahman is both Sathyam
and Sat Atman is not Sathyam. Therefore Vishishtadsvaita makes it
clear Atman is only an Amsa of Brahman—Mamaivaamso jivaloke (an
eternal fragment of Brahman).
Advaita makes no distinction between
atman and Brahman and says clearly:1. The Real (Brahman) is one and is of
the nature of consciousness and bliss, 2. Due to its maya (illusory nature) the
Real appears as the world of plurality, 3. There is absolutely no difference
between Brahman and the individual soul.
Even in Advaita it is not adequate to
describe Brahman as sat-chit-aananda- existence, knowledge and
bliss. It says Sat, Chit, Ananda is equivalent to Satyam Jnanam
Anantam Brahma, and both mean the same. Sathyam cannot be
adequately translated as mere existence. It can be made more clear if Sathyam
is read together with Anantam. Anantam means that which has
no end or anta. Vishnu is Sathyam, Anantham says VSN.
So Brahman is Anantham Sathyam or infinite existence; He is also
likewise Anantham Jnaanam Infinite Intelligence. In
the Taittiriya Upanishad “bliss has been described as bliss par excellence
which is many hundredfold more than the happiness one derives from any worldly
act”. So it is Anantham Anandam. Therefore the word Anantham is
very important in understanding Sat Chit Aannda. “In this context
Advaita Vedanta exhorts one to have a clear understanding of reality and
realize that the inherent quality of the Atman or the embodied Self is Brahman
which is Infinite Being, Infinite Consciousness and Infinite Bliss.
It is in this essence Upanishads stressed that Brahman is not “blissful” but
Bliss, not “conscious” but “Consciousness”, not existent but “Existence”
(Swami Krishnananda).
-- April
21, 2018
Happiness is an elusive state of mind
indeed! Thanks again for clarifying and sharing your precious thoughts on
that subject. It did help refine my one thoughts on that (until I reached the
paragraph starting with Advaita Vedanta, ... that part became very abstract for
someone with my limited knowledge... and I find it hard to operationalize my
day to day living based on those terms)
Unlike most of your other participants,
I am not that knowledgeable about the many Hindu schools (like Bhakti Marga etc.)
I am only able to relate to concepts that are part of my day to day activities.
So, if I find examples of how I can operate daily in my environment and
learn to be happy, healthy, stress free etc... I try to do so. And hope
that it also doesn’t rob happiness of others and cause them stress!
--Dr.
Santosh Venkatraman
“NARAYANA NARAYANA” BHAJAN IN SRI GANESHA TEMPLE IN
NASHVILLE ON TEMPLE ANNIVERSARY DAY
I was a silent participant in Annual
Day celebrations of Sri Ganesha Temple in Nashville last Sunday. I do not
generally join the Bhajan crowd to sing bhajans with loud voice, to the
accompaniment of Dol, Jalra etc., as musical aids nor present myself with
Rudraksha or Tulsui mala or even Namam. I was focused on meditation
on Narayana sitting in a distant corner unmindful of the sound that
went around. Suddenly repeated sounds of Narayana Narayana from a new
Bhajan singer captivated my thoughts and I was surprised to
hear the same in a Ganesha temple that too on a special occasion like
this. I knew sage Narada is not around and we are not Gunateetas or
Jeevanmuktas to see him or at least feel his presence. Puraanas tell me he is
wandering round the globe singing the name of Narayaan with his Tampura. Such a
Bhajan addressed to Narayana in a Ganesha temple is not usually heard in
sectarian focused Ganesha Temples in India nor will be looked upon
with favor by orthodoxy and the priests there! But not unusual in USA! BUT what
inspired this lady with particular praise of NARAYANA?
The spiritual teachings of India have
always kept in mind the holistic development of the individual. The body, the
mind, the intellect and speech have especially been identified as areas where
continual development is necessary. The body, the speech and the intellect have
been called tri-karanas (three main instruments). If these are kept fit, 9 out
of 10 stressful circumstances will lose their ability to affect us. Please
refer to the popular sloka in our concluding prayers:
kāyena vāchā manasendriyair vā
budhyaatmanavaa prakrite svabhaavaat |
karomi
yadyat sakalam parasmai narryanaayeti samrpayaami ||
Whatever I do with my Body,
Speech, Mind or Sense Organs, whatever I do using my Intellect, Feelings
of Heart or (unconsciously) through the natural tendencies of my Mind and
whatever I do, I do all for others (i.e. without the sense of attachment to the
results) and I Surrender them all at the Lotus Feet of the Supreme Lord
Narayana!
This is the prayer with which Hindus
end all their worship irrespective of the deity
surrendering their prayers to Parabrahman in his Saguna form
as Narayana. It is with this deeper understanding I meditate even
in a crowded worship assembly. I therefore thought I should share my
knowledge on these thoughts with you all who were not there after going deep
into the subject. My friends and relatives may conclude as an Iyengar it
is but natural I meditate on Narayana in Ganesha Temple. But it is far
from truth. It is based on Vishnu Tattva philosophy started by Sankara,
effectively propagated by Ramanuja, popularized by Madhva, Jayadeva, Chaitanya,
and ISKCON and
Gaudiya movements. Please go through the historic development of this
Tattva over a period. I therefore felt it needed none other than Ganesha,
an Upadevata to inspire the lady to come with the Bhajan Narayana is
Brahama, Vishnu, Siva , Ganesha and many others. I believe the Supreme
being sent this message to us through this innocent and inspired lady
with so great philosophy. I believe many of you who were in the
crowd might have dismissed it like any other bhajan that was sung
and so felt it my duty and privilege to elaborate on it. Puranas say
Ganesha wrote Mahabharata and introduced this Tattva of Bhagavan of
Bhagavad Gita to us and left the permanent copy with us in our mind on
which we need to focus turning inwards. Please go through the detailed
explanation "Narayan is Paramatman" in the Appendices
--April
20, 2018
Comments:
You have explained the deep meaning. I am fortunate
to receive it. (yathaartaani vivr
incharu; dhanyudavutanu)
--Purusahottama
Rao
American Jains Go Vegan! Will Jain Gods too in Hindu American
Temples?
Here
is an exciting news for Vegan Hindu Americans and shocking news for
other Hindu Americans as future predicts a disintegration plan for uprooting Vardhamana
icons from Hindu Temples of America where Abhishekam, Aaarati and Homas are
popular. BAU even recommends Bull Sacrifice and consumption of sacrificial
beef as Prasadam by pregnant woman to beget good children which gave some
non-veg Hindus moral strength to enjoy stakes saying only Hindu cows
are Holy. This however did not recommend such meat consumption as
form of diet as Bhagavd Gita discourages Rajasic and Tamasic food.
Veganism is the practice of abstaining from
the use of animal products,
particularly in diet, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. A follower of either the diet or the
philosophy is known as a vegan. Distinctions are sometimes made between
several categories of veganism. Dietary vegans (or strict vegetarians) refrain from consuming animal
products, not only meat but also eggs, dairy products and other animal-derived substances.[c] The term ethical vegan is
often applied to those who not only follow a vegan diet but extend the philosophy into other areas of their lives, and
oppose the use of animals for any purpose. Another term is environmental veganism, which refers to the avoidance of animal products on the
premise that the industrial farming of animals is environmentally damaging and unsustainable.
Donald
Watson
coined the term vegan in 1944 when he co-founded the Vegan
Society
in England. At first he used it to mean "non-dairy vegetarian", but
from 1951 the Society defined it as "the doctrine that man should live
without exploiting animals". Interest
in veganism increased in the 2010s,
especially in the latter
half. More vegan stores
opened and vegan options became increasingly available in supermarkets and
restaurants in many countries.
Well-planned
vegan diets can reduce the risk of some types of chronic disease, including heart disease. They are
regarded as appropriate for all stages of life including during infancy and
pregnancy by the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians of Canada,
and the British Dietetic Association. The German Society for Nutrition does not
recommend vegan diets for children, adolescents nor during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Vegan diets tend to be higher in dietary fiber, magnesium, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron,
and phytochemicals; and lower in dietary energy,
saturated
fat, cholesterol, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, calcium, zinc,
and vitamin
B12. Unbalanced vegan diets may lead to nutritional
deficiencies that nullify any beneficial effects and may cause serious health
issues. Some of these
deficiencies can only be prevented through the choice of fortified foods or the regular intake of dietary supplements.
Vitamin B12
supplementation is especially important because its deficiency
causes blood disorders and potentially irreversible neurological damage.
The Executive Committee of the Jain Center of
Southern California (JCSC) at Los Angeles (Buena Park
CA) announced on the Mahavir Janma Kalyanak day (April 8, 2018) that the
Jain society will serve only Jain Vegan food (vegetarian food without dairy
products and root vegetables) at all future programs of the Jain society. The
implementation phase in period is year from April to December 2018.
“Universal
Law of Nature
The following law of Nature
explains in brief the reasons why Jains should not use milk and other dairy
products. This is true for mothers of human as well as for animal under natural
healthy environment.
· No mother
(cow and human) produces milk unless she delivers a baby first.
· After the
birth of a calf, the cow starts to produce milk only to feed her calf.
She also produces just enough milk that is needed for her calf (same as human).
· The Cow
slowly stops producing milk after her calf reaches a weaning age (same as
human).
· Nature
has not made any provision for mother cow to produce more milk than the need of
her calf so that human can drink her excess or surplus milk.
In conclusion, under
natural environment we can safely state that:
Any drop
of milk that we drink or we use in dairy products is considered stolen from the
mother cow that was meant for her baby calf.
Any other reasons that we
hear (we use excess milk of mother cow) from our religious scholars and leaders
or from other sources are totally incorrect.. They do not possess
good knowledge of this subject and makes an authoritative statement.
From the Jain principle point view, by consuming
dairy product we commit the highest sin of violence which is:.“Stealing and
consuming the food from mother cow that was meant for her child”
Vegan Movement at UK
and India is still in its infancy. Many Jains have migrated from India in
search of greener pastures to become rich driven by greed and desire like
others which is against Jain Dharma started by Rishabha, an Avatar of Vishnu who descended on earth
as Hindu Philosopher King. A Tamil
proverb says: “ Tiraikadalodi dravyam tedu” –Cross the seas and search for
gold like the Gold rush of America.
Jains join us for Lakshmi Puja durindg Diwali. So many Jains have migrated to
UK, USA, Canada, Africa etc. In USA many Jainshave joined Hindu-fold by donating
liberally to Hindu Temples as in India consecrating Vardhamana icons in Hindu
Temples bound by Interfaith and Dharma. But at the same time Jains are also
trying to establish themselves as an independent religion in USA as in UK. It
is only under 24th Tirrthankara they started to organize themselves
as separate religion while Hindus started moving away from Sanatana Dharma of
Universal oneness.
Jain Vegan Group in UK is very active promoting
Vegan way of life across UK. Few
Jain Svetambar and Digambar monks are actively participating in the Jain Vegan
Movement of India. However no high level Jain Acharyas and scholars are
promoting Veganism. Soon there may be a new sect of Vegan Jains and Jain
temples.
Jains
use thousands of liters of milk on the Bahubali statue during Mahamastabhisheka
time which occurs once every 12 years; it goes on for 2–4 months where the
statue’s head and shoulders area is anointed with some herbs. Around 600 liters of milk is
poured on the statue daily as supplied from
Karnataka Milk Federation. The
quantity of milk used in Jain Temples all over the country is anybody’s guess.
Such Abhishekams also take place in US temples
also where Jain icons are
consecrated including those installed in Hindu Temples. I do hope the Jain
Vegans will give a serious consideration of these rituals in temples.
Will
Jains who worship Vardhamana in Hindu temples will uproot their icons and build
Vegan Jain-Mandirs of their own, only future will tell! Anyhow they are up against Universal Oneness
of Sanatana Dharma like sectarian Hindu Religious worshipers. Sanatana Dharma
as Universal Religion as projected by Vivekananda is the only hope for USA
which is turning more towards SBNR which
Hindus who choose their partners from Judaism or Christianity are joining whose
number is sky-rocketing. I believe Vegan Abrahamic Americans will join
Vegan-Jains and strengthen their hands to come up with a new pattern of
worship!
--April 16, 2018
INTRODUCING SPIRITUAL DISCOURSES POSTED ON HINDU REFLECTIONS
Hinduism has no traditional
ecclesiastical order, no centralized religious authorities, no governing body,
no prophet(s) nor any binding holy book; Hindus can choose to be polytheistic,
pantheistic, monastic, or atheistic. Within this diffuse and open structure,
spirituality in Hindu philosophy is an individual experience, and referred to
as Kshetrajña. It defines spiritual practice as one's journey
towards Moksha or Mukti awareness of Self, the discovery of higher truths, true
nature of reality, and a consciousness that is liberated and content.
Spirituality in Hinduism is contained in Vedanta
philosophy. The spectrum of Hindu religiousness is found within four major
sects or denominations: Saivism, Saktism, Vaishnavism and Smarta-ism. Among
these four streams, there are certainly more similarities than differences. In
Spiritual thinking and liberation all four believe in Karma and Reincarnation
and in a Supreme Being who is of both forms, un-manifest and manifest.
In manifest form he pervades who creates, sustains and destroys the universe
only to create it again in unending cycles. They strongly declare the validity
and importance of temple worship, in three worlds of existence and the myriad
of devatas and divines residing in them. They concur that there is no intrinsic
evil that the cosmos is created out of God and is permeated by Him. They each
believe in Maya (though their definitions differ somewhat), and in the
liberation of the soul from rebirth, called Mukti, as the goal of human
existence. They believe in dharma and in ahimsa, non-injury, and in the need
for a Sadguru to lead the soul toward Self Realization. They wear the
sacred marks, tilaka, on their foreheads as sacred symbols, though each wears a
distinct mark. Finally, they prefer cremation of the body upon death, believing
that the soul will inhabit another body in the next life. While Hinduism has
many sacred scriptures, all sects ascribe the highest authority to the Vedas
and Agamas, though their Agamas differ somewhat.
Based on Tradition, Hinduism identifies
three mārga (paths) of spiritual practice namely Jnaana the path of
knowledge; Bhakti the path of devotion; and Karma, the path
of selfless action. In the 19th century Swami Vivekananda, added Raja
Marga in his neo-synthesis of Vedanta the way of contemplation and meditation,
as a fourth way, calling all of them "yoga”
Jñāna marga is a path often assisted by
a guru (teacher) in one's spiritual practice. Bhakti
marga is a path of faith and devotion to consecrated deity or deities; the
spiritual practice often includes chanting, singing and music - such as Bhajans
and Kirtans in front of consecrated images or Murtis or a
devotional symbol of the holy, Om. Karma Marga is the path of one's work,
where diligent practical work or vartta becomes in itself a
spiritual practice, and work in daily life is perfected as a form of spiritual
liberation and not for its material rewards. Rāja marga is the
path of cultivating necessary virtues, self-discipline, Tapasya (meditation),
contemplation and self-reflection sometimes with isolation and renunciation of
the world, to a pinnacle state called Samaadhi.
There is a critical debate in Hindu Vedanta
on relative merits of these theoretical spiritual practices. For example,
Chhandogya Upanishad suggests that those who engage in ritualistic offerings to
Devatas and Gurus will fail in their spiritual practice, while
those who engage in tapas on Supreme Deva will succeed; Svetaasvataara
Upanishad suggests that a successful spiritual practice requires a longing for
truth, but warns of becoming 'false ascetic' who go through the mechanics of
spiritual practice without meditating on the nature of Self and universal
Truth. In the Bhagavad-Gita, Lord Krishna advises
people about the right-way of practicing spirituality and worshiping the
unmanifest Brahman. He also gives the assurance that in whatever form and
manner people approach him in their own limited mental build-up, he will
accordingly reciprocate. Yanti Devavrataa devaan pitrun yanti pitruvrataah |
bhootani yaanti bhootejyaA yanti madyajinopi vaa ||9-25 || The
worshipers of devatas go to devatas, the worshipers of manes reach the manes,
and of the evil spirits (bhuta) go to the evil spirits. Those who worship Me
alone, they surely come to ME.
In the practice of Hinduism, suggest
modern era scholars such as Vivekananda, the choice between the paths is up to
the individual and a person's proclivities. Other scholars
suggest that these Hindu spiritual practices are not mutually exclusive,
but overlapping. These four paths of spirituality are also known as Chatur
Marga in Hinduism practiced outside India, as in Hinduism
practiced in Bali.
In Advaita Vedanta school, the spiritual
practice emphasizes jñāna yoga in stages: samnyasa (cultivate virtues), sravana
(hear, study), manana (reflect) and dhyana (nididhyasana, contemplate).
In
Vishushtadvaita Philosophy Spiritual discipline begins with Karmayoga and
disciplines one to perform all acts without desire for reward as well explained
in Bhagavad Gita. This includes worship, penance, charity, pilgrimage
etc. It purifies one’s thoughts and action and makes him fit for
Jnanayoga. Only through Jnanayoga we can realize our true nature as distinct
from matter and as a mode of Brahman. Self -realization leads to
God–realization. This in turn leads to Bhakti and Prapatti both of which are
the means to attain the vision of Isvara. Bhakti, according to Ramanuja is not
mere devout meditation but a loving contemplation of God. It is continuous
process of meditation till the final goal is achieved.
In Tantric school for example, the
spiritual practice has been referred to as Saadhana. It
involves initiation into the school, undergoing rituals, and achieving moksha
liberation by experiencing union of cosmic polarities. The
ISKCON School emphasizes bhakti yoga as spiritual practice.
In a series of discourses Hindu
Reflections has attempted to walk you through Vedanta contained in Vedas,
Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita as well as teachings from traditional as well as
modern Gurus. These long discourses have been introduced to HR Forum
Participants through introductory E-mails. I have pleasure in presenting to you
all these E- mails circulated in the past over seven years. You may pick and
choose your discourse of specific interest from D & J of classified
list of discourses.
--April 15, 2018
NEW YEAR DAY WORSHIP
CONCEPT IN HINDUISM IS OF RECENT ORIGIN
Karunanidhi, who
claims to be an authority on Tamil Literature, while Chief Minister of Tamil
Nadu declared that Tamil New Year will be celebrated on the First of ‘Thai’ in
Tamil Calendar, as this is the day Tamils celebrate (thai pirandaal
vazhi pirakkum) on a grand scale and that to have this as the New Year
is the true spirit of Tamils.
Christians, Muslim and Jain Tamils
celebrate New Year religiously as per their calendar and not on Tamil
New Year Day. Hindu Americans rush to temples to celebrate January 1
calling it a Special Religious Events Day. Is this not strange and against our Sastric
injunctions declared in Gita “tasmaat sastrm Pramanam te’’. It
shows how confused we are and yet claim to be religious! Solar Yugdsi is observed and
celebrated as per their traditions in many parts of India. In Tamil Nadu it is
celebrated as Tamil New Year Day also called in Tamil "Putthandu" or
"Tamizh Varusha Pirappu" by Hindus. Assam celebrates it as Rongali
Bihu. Bengal and Tripura call this day Naba Barsha or pohala Boisakh. Kerala
celebrates it as Vishu. In Kumaon region of Uttrkahnd it is called Bikhu or
Bikhauti. In Orissa this day is celebrated as Mahaa Vishua Sankraanti or Pana
Sankraanti. In Punjab this day is celebrated as New Year harvest festival called
Baishakhi. Yet our Temples project it as Tamil New Year’s Day and a
special Religious Day instead of calling it Souraman Yugadi ignoring many
traditions of Hindus and advised by Tamil priests.
Only Hindus celebrate Tamil New Year
as a Religious festival in Tamil Nadu, not as a social function. Tamil New Year
Day like Makra Sankranti mostly matches with Gregorian calendar. This is
because Sauramana Calendar has 365.25 days in a year like Gregorian calendar
and unlike Chandramana calendar that has 354 days per year. Today we are
falsely made to believe thatUttarayana Punyakala starts on Makara
Sankranti Day which astronomically falls on December 22 which we do not
observe. So is also Dakshinayana Punyakala! This is again because Chandramana
calendar has not made the necessary century correction like Gregorian calendar.
Unfortunately Government of India had to adopt Chandramana Calendar as official
National Calendar since court and land records were all based on Salivahana
Sakabda at the time of Independence on which Chandramana calendar is based. But
wisely they set up a calendar commission to align Chandramana Calendar with
Gregorian calendar but its recommendations got caught in politics
and now rests in archives.
Hence Tamil New year is not exclusive
to Tamils though wrongly labelled but a religious ritualistic day
for Hindu Tamils and Malayalees. Hindu Americans drawn from many traditions and
various lands should therefore observe this day as Souramana Yugadi Day. If
however they want to take a New Year Resolution on a religious day like
Christian and Jewish Americans they can either do it on Winter Solstice
Day or Makara Sankranti Day which are also Religious days for Hindus but not
January 1, which is the Circumcision Day of Jesus as Jew which got adopted as a
religious Day by Christians in power. My recommendation is December 22.
April 14 Tamil New Year Day would have been ideal day to start
International New Year but Christians had their power to enforce January 1 on
the world. If Hindus were world power April 14 would have started the
New Year for all on the Globe!
Tamil
Nadu Government decided to follow Thiruvalluvar Era like Salivahana Era
as the basis for yet another Hindu Calendar. This starts on the
Second of ‘Thai’ which is Thiruvalluvar day. Now the date of
Thiruvalluvar is fixed by Maraimalai Adigal as Vaikasi ‘Anusham’ 31 BC.
‘Vaikasi’ Second is three month away from Thiruvalluvar Aandu
(year). If the Calendar is based on Thiruvalluvar Aandu where is the
necessity to declare another date for New Year in Chittirai for Tamils alone?
Karunanidhi says the date of Thirulluvar Aandu was decided upon a meet
by Tamil scholars under the Chairmanship of Maraimalai Adigal in 1921.
There seems to be no record of such a meet anywhere but purely a concoction to
bring the Dravidian Theory to prominence.
Celebration of Tiruvallvar Day,
Ravidas Day etc. are of recent origin by a section of Hindus who are
under the false notion that Brahmins who have become Intellectuals by their own
hard work are dominating the Hindu Society and are responsible for
the creation of untouchables also. If you look at the temple tradition,
Hindu Society respected saints above caste creed or sex considerations and even
deified them and Brahmins worshiped them long before Periyar Moment started,
targeting all Brahmins and reviving vehemently Aryan-Dravidian Myth which the
British created to divide and rule. I will talk about it soon based on genetic
studies. You can see in both Siva and Vishnu temples many icons
of Nayanmars and Azhvars being installed and their birthday celebrated.
Examples are Thiruppan Aazhvar who was born as out-caste, Valmiki, a hunter,
Nammazhvar a sudra and Andal a lady. Ramanuja out of gratitude for Harijans who
helped him in recovering the idol of Sampathkumara from
Sultan got them the special privilege of allowing Harijans to
worship the Lord in Melkote Temple in the 12th century, though
vehemently protested by orthodoxy. True followers of Vishnu Tattva introduce themselves
as Dasoham, I am your servant unlike Saiva followers who introduce themselves
as Sivoham (I am Siva) while addressing others! All initiated Vaishnavites regardless
of their caste receive the title Dasa or dasi (servant) which is originally the
title of Sudras, meaning that everyone is spiritually a servant of the lord.
That is the Vaishnavism Ramanuja preached and practiced.
--April
14, 2018
MANGALAACHARANAM--PRAYER OF INVOCATION
FOWAI FORUM (India) AND STEP
(USA) invite
you to join the WEBINAR 114 Mangalācharanam-Prayer
of invocation to be presented by M. M. Swami
Abhishek Chaitanya Giriji on Sunday, April
15, 2018. The Gist of the
Presentation: “In the tradition of teaching and
learning, the custom of offering a prayer of invocation is always
followed. If the studies were just a matter of understanding then why have the
extra frills of prayers attached to them? Does the tradition look at
it only as a formality or something with significance to be done
sincerely? To understand its basic place in the system from the
traditional point of view is important before one discards it with
intellectual arrogance”
I believe Mangalaacharanam,
is the sloka recited at the beginning of any pooja. It is a general prayer
addressing Supreme Being (Parabrahman) through the principle deities and seeking their
blessings.
Mangalaacharan - a
hymn that connects the speaker and the Infinite, as well as the Infinite and
the speaker who is invoked as Guru of all Gurus.
Gurur Brahma, Gurur
Vishnu, GururDevo Mahesvarah | Gurur- sakshaat Param Brahmaa tasmai Sree
Gurave namah |
Guru is Brahma, Guru
is Vishnu, Guru is Maheshvara (Shiva), Guru is Supreme Brahman Itself
Prostration unto that Guru
Yet
another Veda Mantra is:
Vidhartaaram havaamahe vasoh
kuvid-vanaati nah | savitaaram nrichakshasam ||
We invoke the Creator of the Universe
who sustains the creation in many ways and who witnesses the thoughts and deeds
of men. May He grant us plenty of excellent wealth!
Mangalaacharanam or Mangalaasasanam is a prayer
generally offered to the shrine of the Lord like “Om Jaya Jagadisa
Hare” we sing at the conclusion of worship. In Upanishads Invocation and
conclusion prayers are often the same and so I believe Mangalacharanam is
the same as Mangalasasanam.
Please recall the concluding prayer we
offer at Venkatesvara shrine regularly:
Manglaasaasana pariah
mataachaarya purogamaih | Sarvaisacha purvaacharaih satkritayasatu mangalam ||
All my preceptors, their preceptors and
other preceptors have sung the glory of Venkatesvara’s auspicious attributes
from time immemorial. Therefore my praise of His auspicious qualities is
nothing new and does not represent an isolated act. I join my preceptors in
wishing Venkatesvara all auspiciousness.
I believe Srivaishnava saints called
Azhvars started this tradition of Mangalaasaasanam inspired by
Upanishadic thoughts.
The Azhvars during the early medieval
Sangam Period (between the 7th and 10th centuries CE) worshiped Visahnu and his
Avatars through their hymns. This collection of their hymns is known as Divya Prabhandam. Mangalaasaasanam
means "prying that the Lord be pleased all the time".
No study of Upanishads ever started
without the guru and the disciple chanting together the peace invocation. Every
day the teacher and the taught sat together and started their discourses only
after a common prayer. The term upa-nishad means ‘sit very near’ and comes from
the practice of the teacher and the taught sitting together. This indicates the
intimate relationship between the preceptor and the disciple. They sit close to
each other to hold an intimate dialogue on the most exalted and solemn subject
namely, the Supreme Brahman. Because of its content Upanishad is often
translated to mean annihilating the ignorance completely. Prayer is a technique
by which we tune ourselves to the highest perfection and thereby come to invoke
in ourselves a greater perfection of both mind and the intellect. To pray is to
be seated with the Lord at his feet. To pray is to aim at the target of
God-head with the arrow of intense longing, which has the sharp end of full
faith. To pray is again, to receive consolation and inspiration as a disciple
at the hands of the teacher. Prayer includes praise, love, adoration and
glorification. In our religious prayers we ask our beloved some favor. In
Upanishad prayers we leave the choice to him for he knows what is best for us!
Just before the study of the
Upanishads, thus each day, the Master and the disciple pray, and thus invoke
the best in them to come out, through a complete surrender to the mighty powers
of the omniscient God-principle. When the mantras are chanted with intonations,
a divine atmosphere is created with holy vibrations all round. The resplendent
Self is attainable by the practice of spiritual discipline as truth and
continence. The chanting of mantras is a great spiritual discipline.It is
customary to conclude the session with the same prayer. Please go through my
related discourse. But please listen to FOWAI Forum for a better understanding
as my understanding may not
be
what is in his mind.
LET US TAKE A RESOLVE TO START THE
DAY WITH MANGALACHARANAM AND CLOSE WITH MANGALASASANAM ON THIS DAY!
WISH YOU ALL HAPPY SOURAMANA YUGADI/TAMIL NEW YEAR'S DAY!
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/04/souramaana-solar-new-year-day.html
WISH YOU ALL HAPPY SOURAMANA YUGADI/TAMIL NEW YEAR'S DAY!
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/04/souramaana-solar-new-year-day.html
--April 14, 2018
Thanks for
sharing
--Sudhakar
Naig
Thank you very much for good wishes and
wish you the same. As for the topic you have asked, as far as I know your
explanation Mangalacharanam and Mangalasasanam are the same is correct.
--K. S. Ranganathan, Vedic Scholar
BEST WAY TO MAKE AKSHAYA TRITEEYA DAY A
SPECIAL WORSHIPFUL DAY FOR ALL HINDUS
This
year Akshaya Triteeya falls on Wednesday April 18. Hindus strongly believe that
if anyone buys gold and rush to the temple to get the blessings of Lakshmi on
Akshaya Triteeya Day they will become fabulously rich. This they do even
though nothing has happened to others based on past history
believing our religious Pundits and astrologers. In this regard Hindu Americans
do not lag behind. You can see some American Hindus rush to the temple with a
gold onament to have a Darsan of Lakshmi specially decorated for the day, to
receive Devi’s blessing in spite of a busy working day! Temples sometimes
have shops too in the Temple premises busy selling gold jewelry on
this day. Basavesvara the philosopher King who preached caste-free society was
born on this day too. We have succeeded in re-establishing caste-free
Hindu American society and may progress toward “All World One Family” if
spiritually oriented, following Sanatana Dharma. This is yet another sacred day
worshiped in many ways by many traditions about which I had talked a lot in the
past similar to Panguni Uttiram Day. This is the Spring Day on which the Sun
and the Moon shine in their best. Of the many events that took place on this
day two Incidences impress me most to celebrate this day as Special Religious
Day in Hindu Temples though the temple authorities have their own thoughts. I
have talked about Basavesvara.
I
would
also like to recall your memory to Mahabharata. Yudhishtira the King known for
his values of Dharma and hence called Dharmaraja was reduced to a pauper losing
all his wealth in the game of dice to his cousin Kaurava and was banished from
the country for 12 years with all his brothers and their common wife
Draupadi. This was a case of polyandry prevalent in those days. While he was
walking in the forest with all of them together his immediate worry was how to
feed those who come for food to him which he always did while he was a king.
Inability would be Adharma. His counselor and priest Dhaumya along with
many of his well-wishers were also with him with whom he used to dine every
day. So he shared his anxiety with the Sage Dhaumya who advised him to pray to
Sun God with 108 names (Ashtotaara). Sun God pleased with his prayer and
sincerity to feed others gave him a magic pot Akshya Patra from which this
festival got its name. It was given to him on the third day
of the bright half of the moon. Food when cooked in
that vessel would feed any number of people till it is cleaned for the next
day’s cooking.
Therefore pious people visit
temple on this day not to multiply their material wealth but to
worship Sun God and contribute to the food bank (Annadana Charity), which
golden act will increase their golden Punyaphala (meritorious
deeds) manifold according to belief. I have already sent you
Surya Ashtottara and Aditya Hridaya for chanting on this day.
Yet another thought is, this day opens
the flood gates of Guruparampara of Philosophers and Acharyas who
need to be venerated. Good Lord sends these holy saints to us when he Himself
is unable to Incarnate as promised in Gita to prompt us to
preserve, pursue and propagate Dharma while destroying the evil by
remote control (dharma samsthaapanaarthaya). When it is beyond remote
control He Himself will descend! Basavesvara was born on this day. April 20 is
the Birthday of Lord Sankara and April 21 that of Ramanuja whose Sahasrabdi
Celebration (millennium memorial) will come to an end with Grand
Finale. But Good Lord has sent many of these Acharyas in the past and continues
to send these Acharyas in succession as Adharma continues to grow. It may not
be possible to celebrate birthday of all these Acharyas except that of Vedvyasa
on Guru Purnima Day which we cannot also ignore. Here why not we think of
celebrating it in the American way.
Presidents' Day
is an occasion to honor the incumbent president and all persons who have served
as President of USA though it started with the celebration of Birthday of
George Washington, the first President who was born on February 22. Now President’s
Day in United States is a Federal Holiday celebrated on the third Monday of
February. Nashville Ganesha Temple recently celebrated Sita-Rama
Kalyonstva on a week-end Sunday on March 25, though Panguni Uttiram March 30
was the holiest day on which this wedding took place. It is because Rama is
Nitya-Kalyana-guna-gana. So why not celebrate Akshaya Triteeya
Suklapaksha Sunday as the Acharya Day honoring all past and
present Aacharyas who are ever ready to give you plentiful of golden Knowledge,
dedicated to Surya Narayana (Aadityo vaa idam Brahma) who is Parabrahman!
Hindu Americans are drawn from multi-traditions from all parts of
India and the Globe too. Festivals like Phalgun Uttar, Akshay Triteeya
arereligiously significant to many traditions more than Divali. Such
festivals are more important to spiritually grow and
bring home the message of Universal Oneness "vasudhaiva
kutumbakam" Let us celebrate them to spread the message of Sanatana
Dharma of Universal Oneness worshiping together. Our temples can play a great
role here and even bring back the couples who have chosen their partners from
different faiths. No other religion has such flexibility and Universal Appeal!
--April 13, 21018
Comments:
Invocative call!
--Purushottama Rao
WHY THE WORD IDOL IS DEROGATORY &
ICON IS SACRED
There
is a strange dichotomy in how religious images are judged. If they are part of
Christian tradition they are called ‘icons’ and classified as works of art and
sacred in nature. If they are part of non-Christian or Pagan tradition they are
called ‘idols’ which is used as a derogatory term that indicates not the sacred
but mere superstition. In the case of native Americans and African images, even
when done by a culture as advanced as the Mayas of Central America—which built
pyramids and had great many cities—they are dumped along with so called
‘primitive art’. By this logic what makes idolatry is not the use of
representational forms in worship, but only the use of non-Christian images,
which is obviously a prejudice. An image of Krishna as the good cowherd is on
par with that of Christ as the good shepherd, the Divine as the creator of
souls. To make one into a superstitious idol and the other into a sacred
icon is hypocritical and intolerant. The use of the term “idol” inflames
the sentiments of anti-idolatry religions like Islam and Christianity, as both
Bible and Koran instruct their followers to destroy idolaters and their
temples. The use of term “idol” therefore has become careless, sensitive and
inflammatory. It could be avoided in all translations about Hindu religion to
promote greater understanding and good will between religious groups. The word
‘idol’ is deeply embedded in Koran and Bible as a derogatory and inflammatory
word and was used at a time when religion got mixed up with superstition,
irrational practices and other undesirable customs and traditions in those
lands. Idol worship in those lands has been developed as a faith for healing or
curing physical and mental short comings, a sort of motivated worship without
any spiritual background or follow-up. Their hatred of the term is therefore
understandable. But this was not so in India.
Worship through the medium of
images that includes idols was a rational development of Bhakti Marga, leading
to the union with the Supreme through love and devotion. The use of images
became a part of an artistic approach to devotion, as in Christianity later, in
rendering of human relationship with the Divine. For this sculpture used
statues, painting used colored surfaces, music used sounds, and poetry used
verbal images. Idols undergo a consecration ceremony at the time of
installation in temples for worship; besides, God is invoked, superimposed and
worshiped through the medium of idol as well as restored in the heart by
prayers and rituals during everyday worship. Therefore it would more
appropriate to use the word “icon” in place of ‘idol’. The
word icon is associated with sacredness in English language as well as followers
of Christianity. Some religious Pundits and Spiritual thinkers
advise the use of Sanskrit term MURTHI but it would be difficult for
those who have not studied Sanskrit and this word has not become popular like
Pundit, Avatar, Guru, Dharma, Karma etc. that have made an entry into English
dictionary.
Many Western Non-Hindus go through my
discourses. That is why I often explain that in the concept of Hinduism an
idol or Vigraha is a consecrated artifact. I try to avoid the word idol
which could be misinterpreted from dictionary meaning and hence use icon
instead but icon is generally associated as an artifact associated with the
divine like Cross or Swastika or Trisul or Om and may not be meaningful to Murthi as a sculpture
of Silpasastra.
--April 12, 2018
Comments:
Thank
you mama, time "murthi" also became popular like "mantra"
--Aparna Arcot
Might
be of Interest
--Dr. Kalai Mugilan
HINDU BALINESE
WEDDING AND CITY OF ROME OR RAMA
A Balinese wedding in progress.
Compared to Indian Hindu Weddings, a Balinese Hindu Wedding seems rather
traditional and less extravagant. The traditional Hindu Costumes worn by all
visiting guests, the highly charged devotional Kirtans (singing of the Divine's
sacred names) in Sanskrit, Hindi and local Balinese language, and the presence
of Rishi-like High Priests (known locally as Pedandas or Panditas) perpetually
ringing their Ghantas (traditional Balinese Bells) and chanting Sanskrit and
Balinese mantras renders the environment deeply devotional and completely
sacred, a kind of which has unfortunately become a rarity even in India today.
Please
go through my detailed discourse on the subject. Even though we see more and
more Interfaith marriages taking place mostly between a Hindu and a
Christian in USA, both parties of bride and bridegroom agree on an
elaborate Hindu wedding and also a brief solemnization by a
Christian priest. Will this be possible if one partner is from Islam and the
other Hindu? But what is important here is what kind of religious life
they lead and also how they bring up their children. Here if the Hindu Partner
is properly trained with Hindu Dharma based on Sanatana Dharma from
childhood in all probability the family will adopt Hindu Dharma which is
universal in appeal which is the basis for all religions of the world.
In most cases the Christian partner is from a family which is indifferent to
orthodox stereotype belief based Christianity or from a family that often
says they are SBNR, Spiritual but not religious. It is because of this future
trend Hindu American Temples should more focus on Vedic approach than
Puranic approach and focus more on spirituality. This would also help in
keeping the mixed-faith marriages stay stable and children brought up with
human values. Here our temples have to play a major role though they gladly
initially solemnize mixed faith partners coming together. May be this is
not possible in Hindu Temples in India though the Professional Hindu
priests solemnize Inter-caste marriages. Also such marriages
are conducted not in the premises of the temple though conducted by a Hindu
Priest. The partners should abide by the pledges they make in Hindu wedding and
it should not end with a colorful long wedding ceremony alone but should
guide to lead a happy life with moral values based on the mantras chanted
in these weddings. Creating an environment where
the youth understand, appreciate and love their Hindu culture is a crucial need
today, as is uniting all Hindu temples under one umbrella. Hindu
temples in USA also serve more intense social purposes and therefore the
concept of temples in USA is different from that of India. I have
spoken a lot on the subject before.
ROME WAS FOUNDED ON
RAMANAVAMI --FACT OR FICTION
This year Rama Navami has come in March
instead of usual April due to the refusal of our astrologers and religious
Pundits to carry out century corrections of our
calendar who have ignored the recommendation of Calendar Commission
constituted by late Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru that has gone to
archives. We are stuck with the confusion of Adhikamasa and are unable to
align with Gregorian calendar that does periodic century and leap year
correction to predict Uttarayan Punyakala correctly. We are also
therefore not carrying out our rituals, worships and sacraments etc., as
per scriptural mandates and still feel we are very religious. We do
not know who is to bell the cat!? At least Hindu Americans who have so many
astronomy experts can correct North American Panchangam. Here is an
interesting April News for you. Believe me it is no April Fooling!
Ramani's Blog has come across
information that Rome was founded on Rama Navami Day, the Birth Day of
Lord Rama.
‘According to tradition, on April 21,
753 B.C., Romulus and his twin brother, Remus, found Rome on the site where
they were suckled by a she-wolf as orphaned infants. Actually, the Romulus and
Remus myth originated sometime in the fourth century B.C., and the exact date
of Rome’s founding was set by the Roman scholar Marcus Terentius Varro in the
first century B.C.
“On this day the Romans keep a festival
which they call the birthday of the city. At this feast, originally, we
are told, they sacrificed nothing that has life, but thought it
right to keep the anniversary of the birth of the city pure and unpolluted by
blood.” Plutarch’s Lives, Vol.
1.Ch.12 Page138 )
Plutarch cites Lucius Taroutius
Firmanus, a Roman astrologer, in reference to the founding date of April 21st:
“Rome was founded by him on the ninth
day of the month Pharmouthi, between the second and third hour; for it is
supposed that the fortunes of cities, as well as those of men, have their
certain periods which can be discovered by the position of the stars at their
nativities.” (pg. 39, Plutarch’s Lives, Volume 1, Chapter XII)
Much like the
astrological/astronomical fixing of holy dates in the Hindu lunar calendar,
ancient Europeans and Middle Eastern cultures (i.e. Egypt) used similar
principles when describing and setting specific historical dates. They
meticulously noted down the exact position of stars and other astronomical
bodies in the sky, at least during special circumstances. One such time was the
founding day of Roma, the eternal city whose fortunes were prefixed by the
astrological arrangement on Rama’s birthday. Pharmuthi in the Egyptian
calendar corresponds to March-April in the Julian calendar and more
importantly, Chaitra in the Vedic lunar calendar.
Hindus celebrate the birth of
Rama on the ninth day of Chaitra, the first month in their lunar
calendar. Since scholars recognize that the oldest Egyptian calendar must have
been lunar as well, one can clearly see these congruent dates in Pharmuthi
and Chaitra are no mere coincidence.
Indians worship the Sun God at
the beginning of this day, as King Rama appeared in the Solar Dynasty
(Surya-vansha), meaning he claims direct descent within the Sun God’s lineage.
Hindu devotees customarily fast on this day, much like the Romans abstained
from eating flesh. Legend has it that Lord Rama took birth at midday, and
Hindus perform special prayers and make offerings into a ceremonial fire (homa)
in the evening. Whether the Romans conducted more elaborate rituals similar to
this, remains to be uncovered but is unknown. Given that Italy is about 3-4
hours behind India in the time zones, if Rome was founded in the morning, then
it must have been around noon time (12 p.m.) in India, thereby coinciding with
Rama’s time of birth. The Sanskrit word Para-Murthi, meaning Supreme Idol,
may be the origin of the Egyptian Pharmuthi. Plutarch himself essentially
confirms this truth:
Romulus “consecrated his city, having
fetched men from Etruria, who taught him how to perform it according to
sacred rites and ceremonies, as though they were celebrating holy
mysteries.” (pg. 38, Plutarch’s Lives, Volume 1, Chapter XI)
Little Rama.
We know that Rome was founded by
Romulus and Remus – twins suckled by an Etruscan she-wolf. If you don’t know,
just ask. These curious twins a dual origin – as dual like they were. First an
Etruscan origin, but there is another. Which one? The investigation begins.
….Seek what their names mean, these
wild children. First Remus – says good old Gaffiot?
Let’s have a look at his brother
Romulus: the suffix -ulus is recognized, a diminutive which means
little. Romulus, Little Rom. Or Little Ram? Really
good old Rama left living traces of his passage everywhere – traces still
visible today in our lexicons. Romulus is son of the god Rama, his name is
quite simply Little Rama. Later, when Romulus has founded Rome, the Etruscan
tribe Ramnes or Ramnensès became his army. Ram Nes, those of Ram. Note also
that Rome – or rather Roma – is the city of Rama.
Similarly Rom people, or Roms, are
descendants of Rama and his clan. Throughout his progress towards Far East, Ram
founded cities where he left his faithful people – heirs of his blood and
manners. They founded ramaïques lines, most of which are still recognizable
today.
Whether Romulus was the son of Ram in
the flesh or in the spirit, is hard to decide. Certainly many millennia have
passed since the birth of Ram when Roma was founded.
--April
8, 2018
KNOWLEDGE & MYSTICISM OF NUMBERS IN
HINDU SCRIPTURES
What has Mathematics
to do with spirituality? To find an answer you must only ask our Spiritual
Gurus. As a scientist myself I can't stop admiring the scientific knowledge
of our ancient sages particularly their depth of knowledge in mathematics
and astronomy. I have talked a lot about it in the past but here I bring to
your kind attention their specific knowledge of mathematics concealed in
scriptures in mantras and slokas.
"There is now a mountain of scientific
evidence that prove that the Aryan Invasion Theory is a myth. It is
fiction. It belongs in the Big League of unscientific theories (which some
still believe in), alongside creationism, anti-evolutionism, the myth of Noah’s
ark, and flat earth theory. India is much more than a nation. It is the world’s
oldest civilization.
India wasn’t born in 1947. Our great
civilization was born at least nine and a half millennia ago according to
archaeological evidence, and fifteen and a half millennia ago according to
genetic evidence. The records of our great ancestors’ deeds are lost, destroyed
in the fires and the depredations of the past millennium. The least we can do
to honor our ancestors is to strive to rediscover the truth about them.
Who were the first Indians? When did
they first arrive in India? Where from? What were their lives like? What was
their society like? How did ancient Indian civilization evolve? What knowledge
did they possess? What kind of science did they have? What discoveries did they
make? What technologies did they develop? How did they build the largest
ancient urban civilization the world has ever seen? What did they call their
great cities? What language did they speak? Did they really develop a proto-democracy thousands of years
before the Greeks? What kind of future did they envisage for India? What
lessons can we learn from them? These are the questions our “eminent”
historians have not deigned to ask for the past seven decades. These are the
answers we must seek, in order to rediscover our roots and understand who we
really are?
The truth is out there. Its clues lie
buried under our footsteps, scattered in our languages and our literature, and
hidden deep in our DNA. Science is the key. We now possess the know-how and the
technology to investigate and unravel the mystery. It is time to utilize it.
India’s rediscovery of its past has only begun. Exciting times are ahead"
says David Frawley. Here mathematical and astronomical evidence found in
our scriptures will be of great help!
The
earliest material evidence of Indian mathematics is found among the ruins of
the Harappa civilization, dated at the start of the third millennium B.C. An
elaborate system of weights and measures related to binary and decimal series
has been brought to light. A notable feature of the Harappa culture was its use
of kiln-fired bricks. The Value
of Pi up to 32 Decimals can be found in the Vedas.
Our sages used large
numbers even exceeding modern computer skills. It may be surprising to know
that Indian sages used large numbers up to power of 10 raised to the power
of 62 and that too in Tretayuga. Sage Valmiki, Author of Ramayana, Aadi
Kaavya, was the first to use it. A verse in Ramayana said to be written
in Tretâyuga, presents a number system of 10 raised to
the power of 62: Similarly Chamakam reveals another mathematical series.
Indian scholars expressed
all large numbers using the decimal number system. The highest power of 10
named today is 1030 (Deca). But ancient Indian mathematicians had exact
names for powers up to 1053. Even the concept of Fibonacci number can be found
in Vedic verse. Concept of infinity was used repeatedly in Vedic era,
latest being Vishnu Sahasranama where Vishnu is praised as Soonyah and
Anantah, meaning “zero” and “infinity” or “having no end” and that
is how Vedas describe Brahman.
Many Veda mantras and even some slokas
by our ancient sages convey their spiritual messages in number-capsules
well protected as well as propagated generation after generation! The
successful accomplishment of the decoding of the coded language of Veda will
certainly open up the vast fields of knowledge for the benefit of the Public
particularly its message secretly preserved in digital codes and mathematics.
Different knowledge systems found in the Vedic texts are to be co-related with
similar modern systems of knowledge in a useful way.
Please go through this very interesting
and thrilling consolidation from all the E-mails sent in the past posted on the
Blog.
--April 7, 2018
Comments:
Indeed
your research is mind boggling. It is as interesting as the lecture of Prof.
Gopalakrishnan whose video I shared with you some time ago. Many thanks for
conveying your thoughts.
--Sapthagireesan, India
SAD
AND HAPPY ASPECTS OF SAMSARA VRIKSHA—THE TREE OF LIFE
WEBINAR 113
presents TREE OF LIFE, Sad and Happy Aspects of Samsāra Vriksha, by:
Pujya Swāmi Chidānandaj on Sunday, April 8, 2018. The Gist of the
Presentation is:
Though no one can deny the beauty and
splendor of this universe, and all of us admit the joy of life from many angles
of view, it is true that endless anxiety, great uncertainty and perpetual worry
also mark this human life of ours. The Upanishads have described our existence
as being comparable with an 'upside down tree' where the roots are divine,
implying we have a divine source; we have come from God and we can return to
Him. There is much chaos on lower levels of consciousness, represented by the
branches of this tree. This webinar will be an attempt to learn from the
classic metaphor of the samsāra-vriksha as given in Kathopanishad, which finds
an echo in Geeta: “urdhva-moolo'vāk-shākhah,
esho'shvatthah sanātanah –Kathopanishad
1.3.1 urdhva-moolam-adahh-shākham ashvattham prāhur-avyayam -
Geetā –15.1. This peepal tree, having its roots above and branches below.
May I draw your kind attention to my
detailed discourse in this regard: to my discourse:
His Holiness Swami Chidananda says we
as Human Beings, highest stage of all Living Beings created by the Supreme on
Earth, need to join our Divine source comparing us to Asvattha tree with its
root in heaven. Please recall here what Bhagavad Gita says about this tree:
The branches of the Asvattha tree are spread in all
directions. In the lower parts, there are variegated manifestations of living
entities, such as human beings, animals, horses, cows, dogs, cats, etc. These
are situated on the lower parts of the branches, whereas the upper parts
are higher forms of living entities. : Devatas, the Demigods,
Gandharvas (fairies), Sadhyas, Kinnaras, Kimpurushas, Gajavadanas, Hayavadanas,
Bhootaganas and many other higher species of life. As a tree is nourished
by water, so this tree is nourished by the three modes of material nature.
Sometimes we find that a tract of land is barren for want of sufficient water,
and sometimes a tract is very green; similarly, where the modes of material
nature are proportionately greater in quantity, the different species of life
are manifested in that proportion. The twigs of the tree are considered to be
the sense objects. By development of trees of the different modes of nature, we
develop different senses, and, by the senses we enjoy different
varieties of sense objects. The source of the senses—the ears, the nose,
eyes etc.—is considered to be the upper twigs, tuned to the enjoyment of
different sense objects. The leaves are sound, form, touch—the sense objects.
The roots, which are subsidiary, are the by-products of different varieties of
suffering and sense enjoyment. Thus we develop attachment and aversion. The
tendencies toward piety and impiety are considered to be the secondary roots
spreading in all directions. The real root is from Brahmaloka, and the other
roots are in human planetary systems. After one enjoys the results of virtuous
activities in the upper planetary systems, he comes down to this earth and
renews his Karma or fruits of activities for promotion. This planet of human
beings is considered to be field of activities while higher planets are for
enjoyment” [Only humans are born mortal while higher species like devatas,
gandhrvas etc. are all created immortal (Brihadaranyaka)] Ultimately through
yoga and meditation devoid of all desires one has to join the source to share
the Eternal Bliss called the Ananda which can only be experienced by the
liberated but can't be explained."Omityaatmaanam unjeeta"
Please go through my discourse in
order to listen to the wisdom thoughts from FOWAI Forum for a better
understanding of the subject and make good use of the question time in the
short time you spend with Swamiji.
Namaste!
NRS
--April 7, 2018
SHOULD WE FOLLOW HINDU INDIAN
PATTERN
SHOULD WE FOLLOW HINDU INDIAN PATTERN
IN OUR FOLLOWING OF HINDU DHARMA, WORSHIP AND TEMPLE TRADITION OR FOLLOW VEDIC
RELIGION AND LEAD THE COUNTRY SPIRITUALLY? DO WE EXPOSE OUR YOUTH TO SANSKRIT,
VEDAS AND ORIGINAL SANSKRIT TEXTS?
Dr. David Frawley a renowned scholar
said “How a country views its history reflects how it views and understands
itself. A wrong estimation of history can undermine the cultural ethos and soul
of a country. Yet few Indians today seem to know or take pride in their
historical heritage that is one of the oldest in the world. They seem to know
more about Western history and culture than their own,” Frawley said: “The
(Indian) youth are not taught extensively about ancient India in the
educational system,” he said and recommended that there is the need for an
“extensive new Vedic study and research in India, including considering the
‘mantric and yogic dimension of Vedic knowledge.
In this context I would like to bring
to your kind attention the following article by Francois Gautier:
Francois Gautier- One million people
need to read this article & read it again:
"Though
I have lived in India for a long time, there are still issues here that I find
hard to understand. For example, why do so many educated Indians become
agitated when India is referred to as a Hindu country? The majority of Indians
are Hindus. India is special because of its ancient Hindu tradition. Westerners
are drawn to India because of Hinduism. Why then is there this resistance by
many Indians to acknowledge the Hindu roots of their country? Why do some
people even give the impression that an India which valued those roots would be
dangerous? Don’t they know better?
This attitude is strange for two
reasons. First, those educated Indians seem to have a problem only with “Hindu”
India, but not with “Muslim” or “Christian” countries. Germany, for example, is
a secular country, and only 59 percent of the population are registered with
the two big Christian churches (Protestant and Catholic). Nevertheless, the
country is bracketed under “Christian countries” and no one objects. Angela
Merkel, the Chancellor, stressed recently the Christian roots of Germany and
urged the population “to go back to Christian values.” In 2012 she postponed
her trip to the G-8 summit to make a public address on Katholiken tag,
“Catholics Day.” Two major political parties carry Christian in their name,
including Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union.
Germans are not agitated that Germany
is called a Christian country, though I actually would understand if they were.
After all, the history of the Church is appalling. The so-called success story
of Christianity depended greatly on tyranny. “Convert or die” were the options
given—not only some five hundred years ago to the indigenous population in
America, but also in Germany, 1,200 years ago, when the emperor Karl the Great
ordered the death sentence for refusal of baptism in his newly conquered
realms. This provoked his advisor Alcuin to comment: “One can force them to
baptism, but how to force them to believe?”
Those times, when one’s life was in
danger for dissenting with the dogmas of Christianity, are thankfully over.
Today many in the West do dissent and are leaving the Church in a steady
stream. They are disgusted with the less-than-holy behavior of Church officials
and they also can’t believe in the dogmas, for example that “Jesus is the only
way” and that God sends all those who don’t accept this to hell.
The second reason why I can’t
understand the resistance to associate India with Hinduism is that Hinduism is
in a different category from the Abrahamic religions. Its history, compared to
Christianity and Islam, was undoubtedly the least violent as it spread in
ancient times by convincing arguments and not by force. It is not a belief
system that demands blind acceptance of dogmas and the suspension of one’s
intelligence. On the contrary, Hinduism encourages using one’s intelligence to
the hilt. It is an enquiry into truth based on a refined character and intellect.
It comprises a huge body of ancient literature, not only regarding dharma and
philosophy, but also regarding music, architecture, dance, science, astronomy,
economics, politics, etc. If Germany or any other Western country had this kind
of literary treasure, it would be so proud and highlight its greatness on every
occasion. When I discovered the Upanishads, for example, I was stunned. Here
was expressed in clear terms what I intuitively had felt to be true, but could
not have expressed clearly. Brahman is not partial; it is the invisible,
indivisible essence in everything. Everyone gets again and again a chance to
discover the ultimate truth and is free to choose his way back to it. Helpful
hints are given but not imposed.
In my early days in India I thought
every Indian knew and valued his tradition. Slowly I realized I was wrong. The
British colonial masters had been successful in not only weaning away many of
the elite from their ancient tradition but even making them despise it. It
helped that the British-educated class could no longer read the original
Sanskrit texts and believed what the British told them. This lack of
knowledge and the brainwashing by the British education may be the reason why
many so-called “modern” Indians are against anything Hindu. They don’t realize
the difference between Western religions that have to be believed (or at least
professed) blindly, and which discourage, if not forbid, their adherents to
think on their own, and the multi-layered Hindu Dharma which gives freedom
and encourages using one’s intelligence.
Many of the Indian educated class do
not realize that those who dream of imposing Christianity or Islam on this vast
country will applaud them for denigrating Hindu Dharma, because this creates a
vacuum where Western ideas can easier gain a foothold. At the same time, many
Westerners, including staunch Christians, know the value of Hindu culture and
surreptitiously appropriate insights from the vast Indian knowledge system,
drop the original Hindu source and present it either as their own or make it
look as if these insights had already been known in the West. As the West
appropriates valuable and exclusive Hindu assets, what it leaves behind is
deemed inferior. Unwittingly, these Indians are helping what Rajiv Malhotra of
Infinity Foundation calls the digestion of Dharma civilization into Western
universalism. That which is being digested, a deer for example, in this
case Hindu Dharma, disappears whereas the digester (a tiger) becomes stronger.
If only missionaries denigrated Hindu
Dharma, it would not be so bad, as they clearly have an agenda which discerning
Indians would detect. But sadly, Indians with Hindu names assist them because
they wrongly believe Hinduism is inferior to Western religions. They belittle everything
Hindu instead of getting thorough knowledge. As a rule, they know little about
their tradition except what the British have told them, i.e., that the major
features are the caste system and idol worship. They don’t realize that India
would gain, not lose, if it solidly backed its profound and all-inclusive Hindu
tradition. The Dalai Lama said some time ago that, as a youth in Lhasa, he had
been deeply impressed by the richness of Indian thought. “India has great
potential to help the world,” he added.
When will the Westernized Indian
elite migrated to USA will realize this?"
SHOULD WE CONTINUE AS
WESTERNIZED INDIAN ELITE MIGRATED TO USA AND MERGE WITH THEIR CULTURE? IS
INTERFAITH MARRIAGE OUR PROBLEM? I DO NOT THINK SO! CLOSELY FOLLOW
SANATANA DHARMA AND PROPAGATE IT TO THE RELIGIOUSLY BORED AND SPIRITUALLY
STARVED! ISANATANA DHARMA HAS ASTONISHED THE THOUGHTS OF WESTERN SPIRITUAL
THINKERS! SO ARISE AWAKE
--April 6, 2018
VARAHA JAYANTI ON
APRIL 5, 2018
Please recall the following mantra from
MNU: Uddhritena varaaahena krishnena satabahunaa | Bhoomir-dhenur-dharanee
lokadhaarinee||
You were lifted up by Krishna with
hundred arms, in the form of Varaha. You are well-known as Bhoomi, Dhenu,
and Dharani the supporter of all the worlds.
Krishna here means one who delights the
Earth. When Goddess Earth was drowned in the waters, the Lord assumed the
form of the divine Boar (of thousand arms) separated the Earth from the bottom
of the Brahmanda, and lifted it up to its original position by placing it on
his tusk. The Lord did not take strides only on it but also lifted
it up with a stout effort.
Varaha was originally described as a
form of Brahma but later on evolved into the avatar of Vishnu. The
earliest versions of the Varaha legend are found in the Taittiriya Aranyaka
and the Shatapatha Brahmana.
They narrate that the universe was primordial waters. The earth was
the size of a hand and was trapped in it. The god Prajapati (Brahma) in the form of a boar (varaha)
plunges into the waters and brings the earth out. He also marries the earth
thereafter. The Shatapatha Brahmana calls the boar as Emusha. According
to J. L. Brockington, there are two distinct boar mythologies in Vedic
literature. In one, he is depicted as a form of Prajapati, in other an asura
name Emusha is a boar that fights Indra and Vishnu. In section 14.1.2 of the Shatapatha
Brahmana, these two myths are merged, Emusha is conflated into Prajapati.
Today is Varaha Jayanti writes
Muralidharn. But in Washington USA it is celebrated on September 11. I believe
someone from Madhya Pradesh should have started this temple. This is another
example of Hindu confusion-ism. Why can't The Council of Hindu American
Temples of North America of which Sri Ganesha Temple of Nashville is member sit
together with North American Panchanga author and decide on one date they
consider sacred for each deity they worship like Hanuman, Varaha, Krishna
etc.? They can't be born on different dates for different communities? No
doubt other religions make fun of us!
Matsyavatara is visualized as Mer-man
with upper portion being human and bottom half fish. Varaha Avatar
is depicted as Halfman on one side and half Varaha on the
other side with one half-spout. I believe this should have inspired Siva
followers to create Ardha -Nareesvara and Ganesha with one task and
creating a mythology around them.
Varaha Avatar revealed to us for the
first time that the Earth was a globe as revealed in Vedas and Puranas
which our scientist sages and Westerners researched and confirmed to us. This Avatara also lifted the globe and
provided earth for us to live, progress and spiritually evolve to join
Him. Make use of it properly by saving the Earth without pollution and
damages and keep it in its pristine form as given to us by the Lord! Otherwise
we would have ever lived as fish in waters. Science says humans are evolved
from fish the status we attained by Karma! Please go through an interesting
study on the subject in my discourse on Dasavatara indicated below. Muralidharan Iyengar from Singapore has sent
a rare sloka from Vishnu Purana on the occasion that I circulated to you in
your favorite language.
--APRIL
5, 2018
MEDITATION
IS MEDICATION
Yesterday Science of
Spirituality Nashville, TN conducted
one day Meditation camp for children & families. At Sri Ganesha
Temple. I did not see any of our Yoga teachers or Vedanta teachers there. It was highly educative and informative. By
a strange coincidence I also received an E–mail from Chidnanda advising us:” Those
of us with a ripe intellect-pure mind, antah-karana - can eliminate
the error (adhyāsa) right away following “listening and understanding”
(shravana and the bodha that instantly results). Others need to reflect
(manana) and meditate (nididhyāsana). We must
therefore engage in right study, intense reflection and regular meditation” His advice is in line with Yogasastra and
Bhagavadgita which shows us the path of
Liberation through progressive development of Body, Mind and Spirit turn inwards, engage in deep meditation and
join the source or Supreme-- “Omityaatmaanam unjeeta”.
Rightlly our Bal Vihar
School has been teaching body development through Yoga and mind development through the study of scriptures
and to them this induction to meditation seems to be in line and progressive
thinking.
In fact we should end
all our prayers with few minutes of mass meditation as an integral part of mass
worship. Thinking of mass meditation for
Children our Bal Vihar School must give it is serious thought as to how to
educate our children in Sunday schools. Jumping into meditation is just like
putting the horse before the cart! You
might have observed the motto of YMCA is progressive development of body
through spirit and mind. Their order is Spirit, Mind and Body while Yoga-sastra follows the order of Body-Mind-Spirit. I had my
school education in a Catholic Missionary school and the day started with
listening to a Psalm from the Holy Bible, observing five minutes silence and
ending with Amen. This was compulsory and late comers were punished. This was
the approach then for proselytization and this is the mission of YMCA loyal to
Jesus Christ as the motto reads. Our Yoga schools start with the training of
the Body and end with it and many think that is all the Yoga which is only
devoted to 8 or 10 Sutra in its Voluminous Yogasastra.
As I wrote to you
before it is very important to start Sanskrit learning and Veda chanting or even Veda studies from the very
young age to continue with Hindu Culture.
This could be combined with meditation practice on regular basis. Such a
practice is there in many Pathasalas in India for children. But for Brahmin
boys only. Hindu American Children do not hold on to caste system and not even
Hinduism. In USA Mother tongue will become only English for Hindu Americans. If
mothers do not seriously try to teach
mother- tongue at homes after birth.
This cannot be done in Sunday Schools with time constraints. Otherwise
we will share the same fate as European migrants. In this regard South East has done a good job
for immigrant Hindus.
I have dealt at
length on Meditation in my discourses earlier which has been well appreciated and even published in
MOTHER a reputed spiritual Magazine published in Rishikesh in India. I have
talked a lot about health benefits of Yoga and Meditation in the past.
Science of Spirituality Nashville dealt at length on the physical and
psychological effects of meditation that was quite impressive and educative about which I have talked a lot in the citing lot of research work which is still
continuing. Here is a recent example: A pilot research findings of The
Department of Physiology, Pondicherry, International Stress Management
Association, Hyderabad, Department of Physiology, Little Flower Medical
Research Center, Kerala reveals depression, anxiety, stress and cortisol
were significantly decreased and blood pressure was regulated
within normal limits and MMSE scores and spatial memory was significantly
improved followed by regular
meditation.
Mantras are the impulses
which create vibrations in each cell of our body and influence brain. In
Sanskrit mantra is defined as “mananaat traayate iti mantrah”
that means Mantra saves us from worries. Meditation employing Veda mantras
purify our minds. Hence the psychological response due to repetition of the
mantras can only be experienced and can’t be expressed! Mantra recitation is
part of physiological process of speech and is influenced by Buddhi
(intelligence), Manas (mind), Agni (heat) and Vaayu (air). It is mentioned in
Phalasruti that chanting of VSN regularly will help to achieve the goals of
professional or personal objectives, relaxation from stress and improvement in
positive thoughts. It helps you to turn inwards and helps to start deep
meditation.
In our enthusiasm we cannot
straight-away ask our children to jump into meditation an it is advisable to go
through the well tested Path of our Sages that is the path of
Yogasastra—Body—Mind—Spirit and not Spirit--Mind—Body.
It is timely Swami
Chidananda of FOWAI Forum has sent the following messge in his is E-mail
advising us to focus on meditation correcting our error in our pursuit of life,
more so in materialistic USA.
“CORRECTING THE ERROR
Meditation is Medication
The Upanishads reveal
our true nature: we are sat-chit-ānanda. All our worldly bondage is because of
the basic error in perception, which itself is avidyā.
Those of us with a ripe intellect-pure mind, antah-karana - can
eliminate the error (adhyāsa) right away following “listening and
understanding” (shravana and the bodha that instantly results). Others need to
reflect (manana) and meditate (nididhyāsana).
The practice (abhyāsa)
of meditation has been described by masters as the effective medication to
remove the ailment called the sense of being the separate self (jeeva-bhāva).
Just as right medicine, taken regularly for a good length of time, ends a
disease, dwelling on the revelations of Vedānta, with right understanding, ends
the sense of individuality.
Sri Nisarga Datta
Maharaj (author of the classic I AM THAT) was told by his guru, “You are not
the body.” Maharaj held on to it and, he would say in later years, he realized
his true nature (brahma-bhāva) in three years!
The word dhyāna, which
means meditation, can be applied to both the Self (ātmā) and sense objects
(vishaya). Dhyāna on vishayas strengthens our bondage and dhyāna on ātmā sets
us free.
Therefore the seers have
said, “The mind binds and the mind liberates!”
We must therefore engage
in right study, intense reflection and regular meditation.”
--Swami
Chidananda
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete