THOUGHT FOR THE DAY-- JULY/AUGUST 2018

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY, JULY--AUGUST2018

DIVINE RELICS AT DAKSHINA DINAJPUR- A HISTORY LOST TO INDIA

Please enjoy reading about the past history of India, the Relics at Dakshin Dinajpur BANGLADESH of IndiaDivine.Org. One interesting thing is to go through different cultures, Hinduism Jainism and Buddhism all at one place, probably changing history under different rulers. Will it change again and finally settle down in Sanatana Dharma?

 --August 31, 2018

Jeernoddharana Kumbhabhisheka Ceremony

Hindu Temple Founding Fathers and their successors have been running temples in this country (U.S.A.) for several years, whose children, when they were young, went to the temples along with their parents. Now they are in college, or perhaps working. Do they come voluntarily to the temples? They don’t, I know it very well. And their children will not. How will they come, when their parents don’t go?  Right in my lifetime I have seen this; you have to acknowledge it. Why? Because there is no participation. They have to participate, and for that there should be a collective prayer and the meaning of it should be made known. For every word the meaning must be there, it must be simple, a few lines, not something elaborate. They should be able to come and pray and leave. The altar is there and the prayer is collective. If we want our children to come back to the temple, we have to explain the meanings of all these forms, rituals and prayers. is an Jeernoddharana Kumbhabhisheka Ceremony unique opportunity to know your temple and a unique opportunity for week-long collective participation.

 Churches and mosques do not have any deeper significance than being mere halls for mass prayer. On the other hand   temples are vibrant centers of Divine energy. But in the USA the temples also serve more intense social purposes and therefore there is bound to be some confusion about the concept of temples as they are in India and those in the USA.

 “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)

Sri Ganesha Temple has sent me an invitation to attend its very elaborate Jeernoddharana  Kumbabhishekam Ceremony in Nashville. Living with multi-culture in USA and often forced to practice it   by choosing a life partner from Abrahamic Faiths, Jeernoddharana Kumbahishekam gives unique opportunity to know your temple in-depth and to realize how it is quite different from a mosque or church. Therefore please attend these functions and enrich your knowledge. Sri Ganesha temple has an ambitious Program to educate the public particularly its youth with Vedic heritage and culture through its Religious, Spiritual & Yoga Education and Social Cultural Activities.  Therefore the consecration ceremony includes consecrating its educational and cultural wings as Hinduism believes in Service to Humanity is Service to God (Janasevaye Janardhanana seve—A Kannada Proverb).  I am one of the beneficiaries of this temple and not an active member. However I have   pleasure in attaching a detailed discourse on Jeernoddharana Kumbabhisheka Ceremony in Hindu Temples. Those who will not have the opportunity to attend these functions due to distance and time may educate themselves in understanding the elaborate consecration ceremony of Hindu Temples if they do not know about it.

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2018/08/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html

--August 30, 2018

 Comments

Really Nice explanation of Jeernoddharana Kumbhabhishekam.

--Sunanada  Shajikumar, Manager. Sri Ganesha Temple, Nashville

A very useful write -up that benefits all devotees from Hindu Religion. Thank you Srinivasanji for this.

--TKP Naig

Astonishing, indeed. 

--Raj Arcot

WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY --SISTER’S DAY RAKHEE – MOTHER TRINITIES’ DAY—AUGUST 26

Many of you who do not live in USA may not have remembered that last Sunday 26 was Women’s Equality Day. Hindu culture recognizes a married woman as Saha-dahrminee as an equal partner in practicing Dharma the Hindu Way of Life and take a vow to treat one’s wife as equal partner throughout his life. We have talked a lot about it in the past. India celebrated it as Rakshabandhan Day

Women’s Equality Day commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting the right to vote to women. The amendment was first introduced in 1878. In 1971, the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as Women’s Equality Day.

The Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled declared   that August 26th of each year is designated as Women’s Equality Day, and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of that day in 1920, on which the women of America were first given the right to vote, and that day in 1970, on which a nationwide demonstration for women’s rights took place.

But few up us who have undergone Upanayana ceremony remembered yesterday as Gayatri Japa Day and silently meditated on Mother Trinities Gayatri, Savitri and Sarasvati.

It is a strange coincidence that these   events, one social and others two religious coincided on last Sunday making it more significant to American Hindus. They are close to each other every year too if not coincide. As you know Hindu life is so fabricated that no social celebration is possible without running to the temple first. I was bit surprised this day went unnoticed by all here in Nashville though we do not forget Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day. I thought our temple would make it as a special religious events honoring all women including girls since it was also Rakshabandhan Day too. This would be more significant and equally important as we hear too much about sex abuse and teasing girls in USA including at religious places like churches.

It is unfortunate that there is a wrong notion that this day is only meant for few Brahmin adults who have undergone Upanayana Samskara. I recall how the late Sathya Saibaba used to conduct Mass Gayatri Japa Meditation for all assembled to hear his lectures at the end of the ceremony. I used to attend such Meditation Assemblies whenever I visited my sister in Whitefield where his Asram is located. He used to often speak at length on the importance of Gayatri Mantra to the audience besides practicing  mass-meditation with them. I have pleasure in collecting gist of some of his talks on the subject attached as Appendix to my discourse. Please go through the same and meditate on Gayatri mantra every day and do not forget to celebrate Gayrtri Japa Day as well as Womens’s Equality Day Every year dedicated to Mother Trinity Gayatri, Savitri and Sarasvati.

Mantra is not a mere collection of words. It is a compounded set of words pregnant with enormous significance. It emanates from the inner power of man. Filled with such power, the mantra, when it is pronounced properly, brings out the divine power in man. The vibrations produced by the utterance of the mantra, uniting with the cosmic nāda (primal sound) in the universe, become one with the Universal Consciousness. It is these cosmic vibrations, which assumed the form of the Veda (sacred revelations of spiritual knowledge).

There is a controversy in Hinduism that women should not recite/chant ‘Gayatri Mantra‘. Neither do the Vedas nor Sanatana Dharma discriminates women. In fact womanhood is held in the highest esteem.  In Vedic culture   there were many women Vedic scholars and women had sacred white thread across their shoulder and participated in all Vedic rituals. Even today this Samskara is administered to girls in Namboodri Kerala tradition. But in later years, due to their menstrual cycles and responsibilities of kids breaking their concentration constantly, they were kept away from Vedic rituals. Slowly, the sacred thread and Gayatri mantra initiation were taken away from them.

I am glad to inform you that I have been able collect and   include extracts from Sathya Saibaba's regular talks on Gayatri mantra on several occasions over many years  that I could add to my discourse as an  Appendix to my discourse. Please go through my Discourses:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2013/12/praanaayaama-andgaayatree-mantras.html

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/08/upaakarma-kaamokaarsheet-expiation-homa.html

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/08/how-can-we-make-sravan-purnima-temple.html

--August 28, 2018

Comments

Thank you, Uncle, for sharing this vital information. As a woman, I did 108 times Japams of Gayatri Mantram. A lot of them are also steeped thinking it is only for men and not for women.

--Maheshwari Sankaran

 VAISHNAVIITES WORSHIP GANESHA TOO BUT………

Amarakosha an early Sanskrit lexicon, lists eight synonyms of Ganesha: Vinayaka, Vighnarāja (equivalent to Vighnesha), Dvaimātura (one who has two mothers),^[  Gaṇādhipa (equivalent to Ganapati and Ganesha), Ekadanta (one who has one tusk), Heramba,   Lambodara (one who has a pot belly, or, literally, one who has a hanging belly), and Gajanana (gajānana); having the face of an elephant.  Vinayaka (  is a common name for Ganesha that appears in the Purāṇas and in Buddhist Tantras  This name is reflected in the naming of the eight famous Ganesha temples in Maharashtra known as the  aṣṭavināyaka Temples.  

 The story goes that on one occasion, Parvati's used bath-water was thrown into the Ganges, and this water was drunk by the elephant-headed Goddess Malini, who gave birth to a baby with four arms and five elephant heads. The river goddess Ganga claimed him as her son, but Shiva declared him to be Parvati's son, reduced his five heads to one and enthroned him as Ganesha. That is why Ganesha is called Dviamatura. The five headed Heramba Ganapati is very popular in Tantric worsahip.

The most popular story from Siva purana says that from the scurf of her body and water from the Ganges Parvati created a boy who is Lord Ganesha. This makes Parvati and Ganga his mothers and he  sometimes also    known as  a Dvaimatura,  Having created the figure, Parvati infused life into him and told him to ensure that nobody entered her room while she bathed. Lord Shiva soon came in and was stopped by Lord Ganesha. This enraged Shiva and He beheaded the boy. A tusker male elephant’s head was then transplanted on to the beheaded human body.   Also Siva always carries Ganga on his head and also has Parvati by his side as two consorts.  So Ganesha becomes beloved of both mothers.

 Srimad Bhagavata says that  the  first son of Queen Rukmini was Pradyumna, and also born of her were Charudeshna, Sudeshna and the powerful Charudeha, along with Sucharu, Charugupta, Bhadracharu, Charuchandra, Vicharu and Charu (SB 10.61.8-9).  Charudeshna mentioned here is an incarnation of Ganesha or Vinayaka according ISKCON following whom Siva appointed as Vighnesa or Vighnaraja or Lord of Obstacles.

This Vinayaka is worshiped as Vishvaksena by Vaishnavites as Ganapathi the group leader of Gajananas, celestial species created by the Supreme like Hayavadnas and Kinnaras .  

Vishvaksena is a demi-god like Garuda who both are security guards of Lord Vishnu. They enjoy the same status as Andal an Azhvar and therefore both Garuda and Visvaksena are often addressed as Garuda Azhvar and Tumbikkai Azhvar by Tamils.  While Vaishnavites have no hesitation in worshiping this Ganesha with his two natural tusks they have reservations in worshiping Ganesha as Ekadanta with a later mutilated figure which is worshiped as popular ikon by Saivites. Silpasastra does not approve a mutilated figure worthy of consecration and worship. A famous sculptor Jakanachari had to cut off his hands as some limb defect was found in the idol he sculpted.

 Uchhista Ganapati

During my Puri Jagannth, Odisha pilgrimage, I   visited Kanchi Ganesha temple situated inside Puri Jagannath Mandir complex. As per legends this idol was gifted by King of Kanchi. The deity in the form of 'Uchhista Ganapati' is seen very rarely in the temples. Kanchi Ganesha Temple is just behind the main Jagannath Temple and has an iron fence to protect from monkeys. There is an idol of 'Mooshika' (mouse), the official transporter of the Lord in front of the temple which devotees touch to fulfill their wishes. It is strange that the body of the 'Mooshika' is still prickly even after it has been touched by so many devotees.

 --August 26, 2018

LET OUR GOVERNORS AND THE PUBLIC GET INSPIRED BY DIVINE EXECUTIVES TO HANDLE NATURAL CRISIS 

FOWAI FORUM (INDIA) AND STEP (USA) will be presenting on You Tube a discourse on “VEDĀNTA AND CORPORATE LEADER by: Pūjya Swāmi Chidānandaji  on Sunday, August 26, 2018. 

May I draw your attention to the Bhagavad Gita hymn to which HH Swami Chidananda is drawing our attention that  I quoted in my previous E-mail on the subject:

 Devaan bhaavayataanena te devaa bhaavyayantu vah | parasparam bhaavyayantah sreyah param avaapsyatha ||

The devatas (demigods whom we worship), being pleased by sacrifices, will also please you; thus nourishing one another, there will reign general prosperity for all.

The Supreme Principle as CEO manages his Divine Corporation of Five Elements with the help of 33 Devatas.  Devatas are Vedic gods as English language refers to both Deva and Devatas by the same epithet God only. This confusion in translation has given other religions an opportunity  to blame Hinduism as having Many Gods? It should be possible to address Supreme as GOD all in capital letters and Devatas (bodies that derive spirit of Deva meaning devatva) simply as Gods or gods but unfortunately there can be no such understanding among writers and we often confuse between Deva and Devata or GOD and God.  We are all the labor force as Manu wrote “Janmana jaayate Sudrah” as service class which our self-proclaimed Dravidians or Tamils have not understood. They think only of man created caste system and fight. There is always some trouble somewhere in this huge Corporation. Presently Water element is in trouble in Kerala disturbed by air and space elements and California is in trouble disturbed air and fire. HH Swami Chidanada draws our particular attention to the calamity in Kerala that I described from science perspective.

It is but natural we try to please these 33 (Koti) executives.  Koti means kind and also Crore. We often think we have 330 million gods and if we can't find one of our choice we create one like Sheetal Devi, Saibaba etc. either in fear or extreme veneration. That is today’s short time Bhaktimarga approach not coordinated with Jnanamarga and without focus on Liberation.  When these executives are pleased you get all the material benefits and you live happily in this world and not bothering about what happens next. It is possible to reach Svarga and enjoy for a while  by their favor as bonus but you have to come back again, face the fury and storm and work out your way for final liberation.We also believe that if these Devatas are not pleased you will meet with failures and calamities in this very life. Sometimes you have to bribe Gate keepers like Ganesha (prathama vandita). Of course Indians, more so Hindus, are adepts in this tipping art from the lowest to the highest level--yatkincit dakshina? Then you start pleasing these devatas with dayaa (kindness), daana (charity), performing yajnas etc. But Bhagavad Gita says that those who please devatas go to Devatas but those who focus on Parabrahman reach Brahmaloka and never return back again to this miserable world or short lived glory.

 Swamiji dramatically draws our reference, without politically involving,  how Kerala once a god-fearing state has become victim of atheistic leanings and follow Communist atheist ideals, forceful Conversion, Christian Ego that refuses to accept charity from low castes even in their situation of human suffering, audacity of temple authorities not rising to the occasion with the enormous amount of wealth they are hoarding in Padmanabhaswamy temple to relieve human suffering, the very wealth they received from the people,  now suffering due to  forgetting give and take policy,   the unavoidable Karmic effects and the mad rush to perform Yajnas instead helping the needy  but to please the furious devatas etc. Thus he draws our attention to the give and take policy of any Corporate Body should be good that good deeds will never go unrewarded and at the same time if you do not perform you will be penalized.

I have also seen one   Karnataka minister throwing biscuits at sufferers, collected as charity from his citizens to flood victims, as if to dogs or beggars.  Vedas say “sraddhayaa deyam asraddhyaa  na deyam”--Give charity kindheartedly   with love! What is the use in holding on to wealth in the temple and in the name of God without rising to the occasion? When Sabarimalai temple was destroyed by fire the whole nation rushed to restore the temple. Such attitudes turn people   atheists and Communists or seek solace elsewhere by proselytizer that again is met with more fury. So it all calls for the Proper Management of the material world that may be compared to a Corporation. That depends on our investment pattern and share market to reap the benefits by the uncoordinated Bhaktimarga. Bhakti with Jnaana alone leads to Mukti. Successful Corporate management of the world will take our thoughts and time to Jnananamarga and Mukti.   That is what Gita discusses as Pravritti and Nivritti Marga.

 I am amazed how Swamiji who is spiritually focused all the time is alive to our day-to-day human problems and sufferings and comes with his timely advice. Going through his gist of the proposed talk I have come out with my narrow thinking on the subject. It is beyond my capacity to forecast the gems of wisdom in his mind on the subject focused on spirituality. Please do not miss the rare opportunity to listen to the practical wisdom for the present to combat the disaster and further spiritual progress. I do not know whether these demigods are fury and have risen in revolt to punish us and want us to learn through sufferings? There is so much water today in Kerala combined with the salty  Arabian  Sea (An Arab  Islam Sea polluting Indian Ocean) , once Heaven on  Earth, yet today this water is useless and people are craving for fresh water and food  and the very waters once beneficial  to people are swallowing the very  people! Here is another thought for the day from another Swamiji:

 “Man always craves for bliss. The first requisite for achieving Supreme Bliss is a pure heart. One’s heart, which should be white and pure like milk, is today filled with bad thoughts and feelings. Spiritual exercises begin with the purification of the heart and then transforming it into an ocean of milk. When the heart is filled with sattvic (pure) qualities, it becomes like a milky ocean. Only then does it become a worthy dwelling for the Lord (Vishnu) whose abode is described as Ksheera Sagaram (the Ocean of Milk). But by yielding to tamasic and rajasic (dull and aggressive) impulses, people today have turned their heart into Ksharasagaram, a salty ocean. In the salty ocean, we have sharks and whales. Likewise, in the heart of the evil-minded, bad qualities like lust, anger, greed and envy flourish. It is a folly to give room to such evil forces. They must be removed totally so that the Lord may find His rightful place in a heart that is pure and holy”. Germany is serious in recovering sweet water from salty sewer waters but it costs 13 times more!

Please listen to his wisdom thoughts, Arise, Awake and Move forward--Utthishthata Jaagrata Charaiveti Charaiveti.

--August 26, 2018

Comments:

I assure you that I definitely go through your articles every time, but I have not replied. Your points are very relevant to the topic and you give a deeper thought to the topic.  Generally you send the CC to Pujyaswamiji so I do not forward them.    Thanks a lot for throwing extra light on the synopsis of the topic.

--Sadhvi Vibha Chaitanyaji from FOWAI Forum  

I thank you for this Post. Effectively presented is how I feel about its contents from out of my meagre knowledge on these matters/issues. I was in the process, reminded of one of the Talks of Acahrya Sadaji on MadhuKanda or MuniKanda (I am not remembering clearly) of BrahdaranyakaUpanishad, on the issue of Sacrifice. 

--TKP Naig

EVIDENCE OF HINDUISM IN ANCIENT CHINa

Padma Bhushan Dr. David Frawley draws our attention to the Research work of Dr. Subhash Kak

 "Aurel Stein says in his celebrated Ancient Khotan says: “There was little to prepare us for such overwhelming evidence on the large place which Indian language and culture must have occupied in the administration and daily life of this region during the early centuries of our era. That Sanskrit Buddhist literature was studied in Khotan down to the end of the eighth century A.D. has been proved beyond all doubt by the texts in Brāhmī script which I excavated.” Siva Vishnu statues from Khotan can be seen in London British Museum today.

The traditional date for the founding of Khotan, on the southern and the more ancient branch of the Silk Road, is the reign of Aśoka Maurya (3rd century BCE). It was ruled by Buddhist kings until it was conquered by the Muslims in 1006. Some of the kings mentioned in the “Prophecy of the Li Country”, composed in 746 CE, dealing with events of the recent past are Vijaya Kīrti, Vijaya Saṅgrāma, Vijaya Dharma, Vijaya Saṃbhava, and Vijaya Vāhana.

Many Khotanese cities had Sanskrit names. For example, Khotan in Sanskrit was Gaustana गौस्तन and the modern city of Kashi (Kashgar) was called Śrīkrīrāti (in Sanskrit Śrī+krī+rāti, श्रीक्रीराति ‘Glorious Hospitality’). Kashgar itself appears to be the popular name from Sanskrit Kāśa+giri (काशगिरि bright mountain). The Khotanese called their language hvatanai ह्वतनै which later became hvaṃnai ह्वंनै; this is equivalent to the name deśī that is used for language in India (vatan, from svatana = deśa)”.

To this I would like to add my elaboration of Esoteric Sanat   Kumara Tradition and draw your specific attention Sanat Kumara in Buddhism:

“The kingdom of Shamballa plays a central role in Tibetan Buddhism. Sacred Tibetan texts speak of Shamballa as “a mystical kingdom hidden behind snow peaks somewhere north of Tibet. There a line of enlightened kings is supposed to be guarding the most secret teachings of Buddhism for a time when all truth in the world outside is lost in war and the lust for power and wealth. Then, according to prophecy, a future King of Shambhala will come out with a great army to destroy the forces of evil and bring in a golden age. Under his enlightened rule, the world will become, at last, a place of peace and plenty, filled with the riches of wisdom and compassion.”      Shamballa is better known in the West as Shangri-la, made famous through the 1930s book and movie, Lost Horizon. This theme of Shamballa was taken up in many of the beautiful paintings of Russian painter Nicholas Roerich, who also wrote a book by that name”.

Esoteric Sanat Kumar Tradition is yet another Historic Evidence to show how Sanatana dharma inspired all Religious Thoughts in the world,

In this context it is relevant to draw your attention to the thoughts Sadhviji of Paramartha Niketan of Hrishikesh shared, in response to questions from the moderator about their interfaith peace building work as Hindus, that the work they do bringing interfaith leaders together for peace and for the benefit of humanity is done not so much from the perspective of being Hindu, but rather from the perspective of being human. She shared tenets of Hindu tradition that emphasize the oneness of all creation, and the infinite number of paths to God and names of Truth. She also shared the fundamental teaching of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the world is one family. She emphasized the importance of bringing leaders, followers, and students of different religions together, to work together, eat together, and share together. “We must connect on the fundamental level of our humanity. Before we are Hindus or Muslims or Christians or Buddhists or Jews, we are humans.”

 Sanghacchadvam sam vadadvam | sahanaavavatu sahanau bhunaktu | Krinvanto visvamaaryam | aatmavat sarvabhooteshu |

                                

Please go through the Rāma Story and Sanskrit in Ancient Xinjiang by Subhash Kak, Author, and scientist. In this context please also go through my discourses:

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

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/12/v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo.html (on Venkatesvara)

--August 24, 2018

Very interesting article Sir. Thank you. Also, as you may know well, related is the actual root of “so called” Chinese martial arts of Karate, Kung Fu, etc. are from a Pallava King who travelled there and taught them the medicine and martial arts. They didn’t let him come back to India and killed him there itself. It is documented in Google and also in a Tamil movie taken some 5 years back with the actor Surya. 

 --Nagarajan  

CORPORATE LEADER MUST RECOGNIZE HOLISTIC SCENERIO

Heavy flooding has caused the deaths of at least 360 people in Kerala since June, the worst natural disaster to strike the southern Indian state in decades. More than 1m people have been displaced and are recovering in relief camps after 80 dams were overrun by torrential rains.

The phenomenon of   flash flooding occurs when a sudden downpour proves so heavy that the underlying ground cannot cope with the sheer amount of water it is exposed to and becomes saturated before it has a chance to drain away. Common in low-lying areas, flash floods can also be caused by an intense concentration of rain from thunderstorms on dry soil, unaccustomed to ready absorption. Just six hours of rainfall can be enough to overwhelm the earth. In built up areas, this can means sewers overflow and the streets gush like rivers, ferrying debris and in extreme cases running with enough water to lift and carry away cars.

Ordinarily, the flooding of rivers is a very gradual process as it takes time for enough rainfall to percolate through the ground and cause the water level to rise sufficiently so that it overflows before reaching the sea. Flash flooding, however, gives no such warning.

Kerala has more knowledge than other states that the weather is part of the four-month monsoon rainy season that strikes the India every summer.

Local officials have been blamed for exacerbating the situation by failing to gradually open the dams dotting the state’s complex river network, waiting instead until they were already full before unleashing the excess water. 

“This could have been avoided if the dam operators had started releasing water in advance rather than waiting for dams to be filled up, when they have no alternative but to release water,” water expert Himanshu Thakkar  told the BBC. India’s Central Water Commission has also been under fire for failing to introduce a flood forecasting system to issue warnings.  Often Heavy deforestation and massive population in specific areas can also contribute to such a calamity.

Swami Chinmayananda with his scientific back- ground and worried about the disaster comes with his Vedantic exposition   analyzing our failure to combat with Mother Nature. Please recall my earlier discourse:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/08/religion-and-science-need-to-conflate.html

“The disaster in Kerala is one more among a thousand lessons we learn in the context of INTER-RELATEDNESS OF NATURE AND US where there is need for give-and-take. Such truths exist in practically all relationships. Employer - employee, developed country - developing country and educator - learner are examples.  Vedānta can lift a corporate leader to the higher understanding where he (or she) recognizes the holistic scenario in numerous settings. The business executive, with mature outlooks and informed responsibility, then becomes a blessing to the society. Let one side not exploit the other (maa vidvishaavahai). Supporting and nourishing each other (sahaveeryam karavaavahai), you both will rise to the highest good --Parasparam bhāvayantah shreyah param-avāpsyatha “--Geetā 3.11

We will talk   spiritually more  about   it  this week.

—Swami Chidananda of FOWAI Forum

--August 23, 2018

LEAD THE WORLD UNITED WAY AND ESTABLISH PEACE ALLROUND

Presently JAINA has thoughtfully chosen some of the most important topics to be discussed in the workshop as you see below. Jain Philosophy was founded by Rishabha, the Ford Founder Thirtankara who is   an Avatar of Vishnu which Jain’s do not recognize today. It remained equally   in a disorderly state and confusion along with Hinduism for long but got organized under 24^th Tirthakara Mahavir Vardhamana. Many Jains were philanthropic and built many Hindu temples influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. Philontropists gave a boost to Jainism in Gujarat and it is a powerful group like Swami Narayan Group. Orthodox Swami Narayan Group do not allow ladies openly sit facing Gurus and listen to the preaching.  They have to sit at a distance with veiled faces and listen. This is a disease carried from Jain Philosophy. They also have a tendency of practicing Puritanism to the point of impossibility and want to build their own Temples and Organizations moving away from the Vedic culture with which they started. They are also a very powerful group in Karnataka and have contributed significantly to Kannada literature and are also great Sanskrit scholars but somewhat conservative and home birds. The Gujarati group Jain migrants are fortune seekers and enterprising,   an in born instinct of a Gujarati. Even Mahatma Gandhi lived for long outside India. They were once strong among Tamils but during Sangham Period they got brain washed and converted to Saivism and Jainism became almost extinct among Tamils. Ilango Adigal and Tiruvalluvar were all great Jain saints and many other—I quote:  “Agaramudala Ezhuttellam Adibhagavan Mudattre Ulagu” Here Adibhagavan refers to Adinatha that is Rishabha.

 So among American Jains we have a powerful Gujarati Jain lobby who want to promote Jainism as a separate entity moving away from Hindu group encouraged by the Minority religious status granted by the Modi Government only in 2014 after long fight. They are also not much focused on Sanskrit and Gujarati is a preferred language for JAINA (Jain Association of America) schools and organizations. They are making a big mistake here in neglecting Sanskrit like Tamils as Jainism and Sanskrit are inseparable. Perhaps the next rich treasure of Jain Dharma and Philosophy is in Kannada. I know it personally as my grand-father was an expert in Jain literature and I have seen many Jain Munis visiting my grandfather in Chennai and discussing with him.   This is further supported by many archeological sites in Karnataka. Equally we have a very kind   and sympathetic Jain group in Rajasthan.

 Initially all Dharma based migrant groups from India   sprung out of Vedic culture wanted to unite together except early migrant unshaven Sikhs and installed Vardhamana idols in many Hindu American Temples. Encouraged by this many neo-Buddhists in India forced their way to Hindu Temples and installed Buddha. So also Swami Narayan Group. Learning the technique from Hindus they now want to separate and also run to White House with their Religious Pundits and want to have their own Independent empires. This is not a healthy sign as the formidable Christianity will swallow them as the recent survey shows that about 70% Jain children are marrying Americans.  It is unfortunate they still think they are Gujaratis from India only even though American Citizens and India has cancelled their passport and wiped out Indian identity. Hindu migrants of India have also not yet woken up from the myth and their permanent identity and loyalty with India Perennially instead realizing they are Viswa Hindus born out of Vedic culture that focuses on Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. Here by “marrying Americans” JAINA means White Christians and are plagued by the fear these 70% will walk into Christianity or SBNR group. They are more worried about Gujarati culture. I presume the majority in the rest 30% prefer Hindus mostly outside Gujarati culture. So they want to unite as Gujarati Jains Or Swami Narayan Group.

It is very unfortunate American Hindus are missing their earlier focus to bring together all Dharma based religious followers from various parts of the globe who willingly walked into Hindu-fold because of Hindu Dharma majority status. Still we see a lot of Jains, Buddhists, shaven Sikhs of Punjabi and Sindhu origin, and liberal minded Hindu Gujaratis in large numbers in Hindu Temples. Jains join Hindus on Lakshmi puja day and throng temples during Divali festivals. They are slowly getting disillusioned   looking at the sectarian oriented rituals and festivals and the lukewarm attitude of our Aagama trained Hindu Temples to consecrated idols other than that of Hindus and their connected rituals and festivals. Jagannatha Group have successfully blended with the main groups even though they   keep their identity like Swami Narayan group and often think of separation through their powerful organizations. It is difficult because Odisha are a small group with lack of initiative unlike Gujarati who are ready to fly anytime over the seas, settle anywhere   and establish their own empire; they are rich,    business minded and act as a united force.

Still it is not too late for Hindu Americans to bring all these Dharma based religions together under the banner of Sanatana Dharma and Vedic culture. If they succeed in USA, that will influence the main stream of Hindus in India to spiritually lead the country and declare Sanatana Dharma as the religion of the country that  will make everybody live in PEACE and Not in PIECES. That will open the minds of Abrahamic religions to come together which is far more easier than Asiatic Dharma based religions for their origin is from the same GOD and abraham.   Will this be possible for Minority Hindu Americans do it? If one Malala Yousef can change the entire system of women education in Pakistan and influence  Saudi  Arabian mind now  willing to allow women to drive the car reading the writing on the wall  and a group 13 frustrated  Pilgrim Fathers can create USA as a world leader leaving England why not 3million Dharma focused religious group Americans united together?

Please go through the ambitious plan of a small minority religious  group under JAINA and make your own plans for the future to establish Peace in the World and progress the  United Way—“Sanghacchadvam sam vadadvam”—Come together: Speak together. We have a lot to think and learn from it too!

 JAINA WORKSHOP  PLANS

    Ø  Fundamental concepts of Jainism

Ø  Uniqueness of Jain Karma Philosophy and its application in daily life. 

Who governs the events of the Universe? Is it Free-will? Or Karma? Or are they are predestined?

Jainism says that it is not our action but intension behind our action bind us with karma then why do we give significant importance in doing as many rituals as possible and almost no importance in understanding these rituals?

Ø  Jain Concept of Punya and Papa Karma. 

Is Punya Karma really a hindrance to attain Keval Jnana or liberation?  Is Jainism a selfish religion? It emphasizes only personal spiritual progress but not emphasizing helping poor and needy and be compassionate to others.

Ø  Holistic Spirituality – Ahimsa, Compassion, Environment, and Health. 

Why do Jains use Ahimsa conveniently? On one hand Jains restrict the use of some plant foods and on the other hand allow the use of many animal products like milk products, silk, pearls, wool, leather (this product is obtained by exploiting and slaughtering five sensed animals).

Jain views on suicide and the death penalty

Can you explain the significance of the vows? Is taking a vow necessary for penance to progress spiritually?

Ø  Path of Liberation. 

Can you define Samyakatva and how would I know when I acquire it? 

What is the difference between ordinary Jnaana (knowledge) and Samyak Jnana? 

Are doing Jain rituals like penances, puja, Samayik and Pratikraman defined as Samyak Charitra?

Why Jain ascetics disperse their human waste on street in the cities of India and create health hazard for the common people. Is it a Samyak charitra?

Ø  Explanation of various Spiritual stages of life (Gunasthanak)

Ø  Jain Literature and their history. 

What are the important changes that occurred over the 2500 years of history of Jainism.  Why do we blindly follow the certain traditions, which have no significance in current the environment?

Ø  Jain Vows (Conducts) of Laypeople

What is the role and status of women in Jainism? Why women cannot perform certain Jain rituals?  Why are women not allowed in temple or to do puja, prayer etc… during their monthly biological cycle that is necessary for our existence?

Jain views on Abortion. Whether under any circumstances is it allowed or not? Abortion as women’s choice. How about abortion to save mother’s life.

Jain View on Birth Control?

Social Issues - Cheating, bribing, tax evasion, amassing wealth by any means exists in Jain societies.  Where did Jain teachings go wrong?

Ø  Jain Universe. 

How can we claim Jainism is a scientific religion when there are inconsistencies in our scriptures such as they claim that earth is flat, not moving, and it is the center of the universe? It explains that the Moon is bigger than the Sun, farther away from Earth than the Sun, no one can reach the Moon. Also, the location of hell is below the Earth, and heaven is above the Earth and many others claim that have been proven wrong.

Ø  Comparative Religions

All other religions and their cultures which are positive in nature treated properly and equally respected (recent survey shows that about 70% Jain children are marrying Americans).

When we declare in our Sutra that Jain (my) religion is the best among all religions, it only boosts our ego.  It is not a spreading of our religion.  The statement clearly violates Anekantwad and also violates one of the basic Jain principle which states that “We Jains always need to look our faults and others’ virtues”.  This is how we can reduce our Kashay and karma. 

After the completion of the above presentations, most of the participants will be able to answer most of the questions that may come across during their daily life.   Some of the questions may not have simple answers and there could be more than one answer.

--August 22, 2018

Comments:

Excellent

--A.S. Narayana

That's some eye opening facts there

--Shreeji Maa

BHAKTI TRADITION AND ISHTA DEVATA

We do not have “many gods” as American Hindu kid perceives living with different cultures and visiting Hindu temple catering to the various traditions.  As a matter of fact we think of God in many ways and worship each of these forms to help us in our worship and contemplation. It is ONE that is conceived as three, and then thirty three, and then as thirty three crores, (330 million) signifying an infinity of forms in which the ONE can manifest itself and be worshiped according to the tastes and the capacities of the worshipers, and according to the innumerable varieties of functions of Divinity. The forms may be different; the names may be different; but the ultimate Truth (Sathyam) that is Divinity (Brahma) is ONE.

Ishta-Deva   literally means   cherished divinity from iṣhṭa --desired, liked, cherished, preferred and devata-- godhead, is a term denoting a worshiper's favorite deity in Hinduism.  Various Bhakti schools that include  Smarta tradition choose to worship the form of God that inspires them.  Even in denominations that focus on a singular concept of God, such as  Vaishnavism or Saktism the Ishta Devata concept  gives rise to  focus  on  a particular form of  Lord Vishnu  or one of his  Avatars   and similarly  in  Saktism , focus is given to a particular form of the Goddess such as  Durga,  Parvati or Laksahmi. The  Swaminaryana and Smarta sects     has a similar concept, but notably holds that Vishnu and Siva are different aspects of the same God who is responsible for Srishthi,  Sthiti and Laya--Creation, Sustenance and Dissolution.

The "worship of the five forms" (Panchayatana Puja) system,    was instituted by Śaṅkarāchārya primarily to unite the principal deities of the five major sects (Gāṇapatya, Śaiva, Vaiṣṇava, Shakta and Saura) on an equal status, looking at the confused state  of worshiping all sort of deities and any number of deities then.    The monist philosophy preached by Śaṅkarācārya made it possible to choose one of these as a preferred principal deity and at the same time worship the other four deities as different forms of the same all-pervading   Brahman.

The ultimate goal of our worship should be to resort to meditation on the all-pervading universal Brahman. The earlier stages of meditation are objectively conducted as concentrations on what are called the ishta devatas. An ishta devata is our own God, whom we worship and adore. Now the idea of God being something whom we can worship and adore brings into our minds the idea of His location. Though theoretically it is conceded that God is everywhere, the mind cannot conceive this all pervasiveness. Even when we agree that God is everywhere, the idea of God being everywhere will be a kind of externalization of form. Even if we think of God as the universal Virat Himself, when we think of the Virat, He will appear to be an object which we are recognizing. The necessity to visualize God as an object, or an ishta devata, arises on account of the difficulty felt by the mind in transcending space and time.

Therefore, this attempt at going beyond space and time should not be worked on or attempted in the earlier stages, because it will be a great strain to the mind. We have an ishta devata. It may be our dear God. It may be Rama or Krishna or Devi or Surya or Jesus Christ or Mohammad, or any incarnation. Whatever be the dearest and the nearest and the best that we can think of, that is our object of meditation. It may be even a symbol like OM or Pranava.

To get a clear idea of “The Fundamentals of the Bhakti Tradition in Hindus Favorite Deity” go through the discourse by Professor V. Krishnamurthy.  I hope the information and details contained in this  E-mail will be usefully utilized in the  teaching program of Bal Vihar and Vedic Heritage Classes and also projecting  Hinduism and Hindu Worship to the audience drawn from different cultures taken round the temple on Temple Tours properly and clear the prevailing misconceptions! 

 --August 19, 2018

Fantastic

DR. Kalai Mugilan

WHY FIRST   NEGATIVE PROJECTION OF POPULAR GANESHA AND THEN HIS GLORIFICATION?

Ganesha is more popularly worshiped under the name shoḍaśa-gaṇapati. Among them, the thirteenth, viz. Mahāgaṇapati, is especially widely worshiped. In Sri Ganesha Tample in Nasville where I live we can see these Shodasa Ganapatis as we cirumambulate Ganesha Sanctum.  Thirty-two forms of Ganesha are mentioned frequently in devotional literature related to the Hindu god Ganesha (Ganapati). The Ganesha-centric scripture Mudgala Purana is the first to list them. Please familiarize with these forms as well as know the Dhyanaslokas of these 32 Ganesha forms.   

I often wonder why Ganesha should be glorified in his broken tusk form while Lord Siva even according to Puranas created him with two tusks? 

Ekadanta Ganesha has become the most popular form for worship of Ganesha. I wonder why a story should have been created projecting him as an angry deity hurling his tusk at moon or breaking it for scribing the epic Mahabharata?  In fact even Sankara’s  sloka on Ganesha  is wrongly projected : He wrote “anekadam tam bhaktaanam ekadm tam upasmahe”--Him who is projected as many I worship  as  ONE. In temples we display prominently this Ekadantam and praise in Bhajans and glorify--Why? You know Jakanacahri, the famous sculptor had to cut off his hand as he sculpted an idol with defect. Defective idols are not acceptable for worship according to Silpasastra—Angaviheena. But Saivites make an exception to the rule, create a story and then glorify.  That is why Vaishnavites worship him as Vishvaksena who is two tusked and group leader of   a divine species known as Gajananas; similarly we have Hayavadanas, Kinnaras- horse bodied human species etc. as part of celestial creation!

If Ganesha with elephant head and human body astonishes me at the surgical skill of Lord Siva as Bheshaja that is the God that inspired Ayurveda, Ganesha’s uncouth long belly and portrayal as Lambodara due to over eating effect of swelling indigestion and then tying with a live  cobra belt as cure presents a funny picture. They say   that is intended to amuse children, and attract children like Krishna with his butter ball(hated by Vegans)  but it pains me?  Of course we all feel children of God, and also  literally mean it to continue at Kindergarten level of spiritual advancement in life as Vivekannada pointed out.

Why can’t we have a Ganesha as Varaha or Koorma with no elephant head on Human body? Saivites were jealous and pleaded to Narasimha and he requested Siva to come with Ganesha as Lord of obstacles. Siva destroyed even Narasimha says Siva Purana to calm down the world as Sarabha. Sarbha was eqully ferocious! But you require a diamond to cut a diamond! He too then cooled down and turned Siva, the auspicious!  Otherwise whole world would have been pervaded by anger. You still see this in Al-quida that requires reappearnce of Sarabha! That made Moudgila to popularize Vighna-raja form of Ganesha for worship as warding off obstacles.

Spiritual seekers question then why not Alakshmi?  Veda mantra says: “alakshmeem nasayamyaham?” There is no logical answer! Here Alaksmi is not projected as beneficial deity. May be Veda mantras Kamaaya svaaha! Manyave Svaaha!--that I have explained in detail--Upakarma kamokarsheet manuyurkarsheet japa and homa  might have inspired people to pick up Vighnaraja form from 32 Ganapatis. Ramayana says among the celestial beings created by Brahman there are the species Gajavadanas that inspired Moudgil ato visualize Vighnaraja form of Ganesha from among 32 Ganeshas? But why did he forget Vishwaksena?

 Moudgila got worried surrounded by wastes all round humans and also within with no focus on Self!  He picked up Uchhishta Ganapati form as the climax!  Most worshiper's don't even know the meaning and think Ucchishta means Sreshtha! One of the varieties of this Saktiganapati   called Ucchishtaganapati associated with unclean things like orts, whose worship belongs to Vamachara (the left-handed path that is the heterodox and unclean path of three Ms—Madhya, mamsa maithuna) and believed to give good results. The philosophy behind this concept is—There is nothing to dread or recoil in this concept. Dirty things are as much a part of nature as clean things, a sort of WASTE MANAGEMENT. But do not scavengers and doctors handle them in a hygienic way and serve the people? So he is our waste management God like   Obstacle prevention God? Nature converts clean things into unclean things and vice versa    Why not then do it religiously as an act of service and worship? Making Ganapati preside over it and handle dirt scientifically and religiously can also be a spiritual discipline. Environmental God!

I am not exaggerating.  Recall one of the names with which Ganesha as a Prathama  Vandita Devata is worshiped—sacchidananda vigrahaya namah! Why should he be addressed as a Vigraha who is Truth Existence and Bliss,  Sat-chit-Aanadaaya namah is complete  enough. When somebody criticizes the word Vigraha Hindus go at elaborate length to explain how they are not idol-worshipers. Then why do we need the word Vigrah in the Ashtottara and then need to explain? Sadananda can’t be sculpted.  Vigraha at once rings the thought of a sculpture with his chisel! This is because we still look outwards for Vigraha but not seek the Self within when we go to temple and look for all fun and frolic! We enjoy the jolly ride of giant Ganesha on tiny mouse and run around playing with it with Modaka in his hand ignoring the trident that may be hurled at you! He has still one more tusk, don't forget that and make him angry again!

At last Moudgila felt we all should become serious,  need meditation and liberation and projected Siddhi Vinayaka Form and thus completed his list of Maha Ganapati Forms meaning Brihat that is Mahaa that is Brahman!

Why then he stopped at 32?  We know from Vedas the world is ruled by 32 deputies of Brahman with the group leader Prajapati. Of course Ganapati was not there during Vedic period not even mentioned in Valmiki Ramayana that talks about his wise brother Skanda or Kumara.  Moudgila felt that there is no need for 32 devatas and 32 gatekeepers are enough in the form of 32 Ganapati Forms  with Rudra(replacing creative Prajapati of the Vedic Gods)  as the Manager and get ready for destruction as crime rate is becoming uncontrollable in the world! Let us avoid the calamity sooner than expected and help people spiritually progress.

I wonder how one is attracted to this most popular later edition of devata!   As one approaches the sanctum sanctorum, one  refuses to criticize and pay obeisance  with all admiration bowing  to him with the most difficult posture of crossed legs and squeezed ears for all the criticism hurled at him before!  But since my thoughts are always focused on five elements whenever I visit a temple  and Brahman submerged in the mantra “Om tad Brahma  tad Vayu tad Aatma  tat Satyam tat sarvam tat puror namah” none of these unorthodox feature disturb my thought nor I am attracted to Moudgilya  nor  I recall puranic stories. I often feel I should distance myself from Puranas, may be they are beyond my comprehension?

I pay my obeisance to element Earth (prithvee) at the flag-post with saashtaanga pranaamam, pay my respect to element Air (Vayu) as I feel air when I briskly circum-ambulate, pay my respect to element Fire (Agni)as I receive Aarati, pay my respect to element water (aapah) as I sip the sacred water, turn inwards as I  do Aatma-pradkshinam before the deity and realize Self within and then as I relax sitting at the North corner gazing at the kalasa of the Vimana touching skies paying my respect to the element Aakaasa. I realize then Isavasyamidam sarvam that Brahman has not only created all these five elements but has also pervaded them! You will soon hear a lot about Kalasa in Nashville and the pending Kumbhabhishekam.It is strange how our temple authorities thought about this kumbhabhishekam to synchronize with Maha Kumbhabhishekam in Tirupathi Devasthanam! They say great minds think alike! I am not one of them!

 --August 17, 2018

Comments:

Thank you for sharing you analytical explanation, which really reveals so many flaws, in our beliefs and concepts, and how our minds can be influenced in the name of traditions and customs. 

--Dr. Ram Prasad

I was totally confused by your intentions of this article.  Please help me sir.  I often speak of Ganesha from an anthropological and sociocultural aspect.

Dr. Kalai Mugilan

Here is a very important article from an erudite scholar in USA serving cause of Hindu Americans. I like it very much.

--TKP Naig

 Thanks a lot for sharing

--Sudhakar Naig

REPOSTING AS LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP INTO BHAKTIMARGA

I hope you would have all given a serious thought as to the confusion I created in choosing the proper from of Ganesha from among the 32 Ganeshas which sage Mudgila created out of the one that Siva created with two tusks,  to come with his  Ganesha Purana. Generally many temples pick up as their choice16 Ganesha Forms  and include those names in ashtottara and start praying to   him with the mantra Sacchidnanda Vigrahaya Namah.

This was followed by my E-mail on Ishtadevata which all of you would have liked since that is very pleasing to the Bhaktimarga we follow.  I believe some  did not like my title: “Why First   Negative Projection of Popular Ganesha and then  his  Glorification?”  My purpose was to give you analytical explanation, which really reveals so many flaws, in our beliefs and concepts, and how our minds can be influenced in the name of traditions and customs, slokas and bhajans  if we really understand the epithets we use to address Lord Ganesha, as someone understood me. Probably a better caption could have   been “Look Before You Leap into Bhaktimarga Praying to 32 Forms of Ganesha” as One that Siva created. This is what Sankara taught us in his sloka “Anakadam Tam bhaktaanaam Ekadm Tam Upaasmahe”. This we started singing as  “Anekadantam bhktaanaanaam Ekadantam Upasmahe” turning to Ekadanta Form of Ganesha among the 32 Forms of Mudgila. Thus The ONE became broken tusk Ganesha with the stories behind it! I believe the rest 31 forms are to be portrayed with both the tusks as Lord Siva Presented to us!

We pray to Ganesha as Ekadanta explained above, and also as Vighnaraja, Isvaraputra and not Umasuta, Uccchishta  and Sacchidananda vigraha

1)   Any mutilated Vigraha is not worshiped  according to Murti worship and so   Ekadantam  should be understood as Ekadam+Tam , The ONE.

2)   We worship Him as Uchchishta Ganapati Form—Ganesha who consumes left over food in discarded plates after eating food and he is considered with utmost veneration and one who grants maximum benefits! This could be again can be interpreted rightly as consisting of two words Uccha means  high and Ishta means like meaning the one who is very much loved and not as the one as translated  and worshiped.

3)   When Lord Siva entrusted Him to ward off all evils He was Avighnaraja and not Vighnaraja. We separated A from Avighnaraja and started praying to Him adding U and M and started Praying AUM Vighnarajaya Namaha. In panchaksharee there is no AUM in Rudram and Chamakam. The five letters are Na+ma+si+va+ya. In our enthusiasm and changing Veda mantras we often commit mistakes. That is how Avighnaraja   became Vighnaraaja.

4)    Again we made UMA Ganesha AUM Ganesha and then started singing Isvara putra making Parvati sad.

5)    Our priests address him Veda mantra “ Ganaanatvam Ganapatigam ”which is actually addressed to Parabrahman as Vyahriti of Brahaman and Ganapati  we worship is not a Vedic God. Ganapati elevates him to Him Sat-Chit –Ananda we also say He is Prathma Vandita as Guard of the Supreme. So he is the dvarapalaka. In Tiruapti both Vishvaksena (Ganapati) and  Garuda are taken in procession first as security guards to protect the path and then Venkatesvara deity. Generally this epithet does not appear in most of the Ashtottaras we chant for various deities. Even if we have plan to meditate through Him Parabrahman he cannot be  Vigraha. Vigraha immediately takes our thought to a chiseled icon. Either we should leave it or simply say sacchidaanandaya namah.

6)   Many modern Gurus assume the spiritual name of Chidananda and respectfully avoid the prefix Sat.

As old timers and disciplined by our parents we do not question all these when we worship in temples even if we have sound knowledge of Sanskrit. You can very well understand the ignorance of those who do not know Sanskrit or the meaning. Then it becomes blind faith. This does not also appeal to the modern American Hindu Youth of enquiring mind. But we can correct our understanding with such explanation and reasoning to make our prayer more effective. We are not stopping only praying to the most popular deity but continue to meditate on Parabrahman. That is why I had added the    temple worship is entirely focused on Brahman and his Five Elements. Our body is also constitutes five elements in whose cavity of the heart resides Parabrahaman which we often refer as Self.  That is why we often hear turn inwards and realize Self within. May I draw your kind attention to the last para of my E-mail. You may also recall here the Pancha Linga Kshetras of South India where Siva is worshiped in his Vyktaavyakta (form yet without form) Linga as five elements- Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space

Popularity of Ganesha can neither be questioned nor stopped. That even our non-believers have started realizing in Tamil Nadu. Periyar the modern Guru of atheism after Charvaka picked only Ganesha idols and try to destroy them during his time as Ganesha is the most popular deity in Hindu worship   instructing his military force. Hinduism is not strange to such athjeistic tendencies. Puranas speak of Muchukunda as False Vasudeva and Bouddha  as False Preacher whom we worship as historic Buddha.

Atheism has no place in India as well as USA with their motto “Satyameva jayate” and “In  God We Trust” and is a crime. But unfortunately US courts have decided Atheism is a Religion and should enjoy religious freedom. we is the most popular deity

The ideology of the Dravidian movement can be traced back to the works of Bishop Robert Caldwell, 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 enslaved the Dravidian people who were given the title of ‘Shudra.’ 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. This belief was turned into a combative political ideology by Periyar. He saw all of South India as a separate nation from rest of what he called the ‘Aryanstan.’  To the bulk of his Tamil and other South Indian admirers, he presented Hinduism as a racist, Aryan-Brahminical cult as per Caldwell’s diktat.  Periyar responded by calling for a separate nation, comprising Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada-speaking regions—roughly corresponding to the then  Madras Presidency but failed to get British approval. Fortunately, his mangled views were only accepted in present-day Tamil Nadu, while other South Indian regions—Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Karnataka rejected them without batting an eyelid. 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.

The word Dravida is a Sanskrit word and its meaning was given by Sankarachrya of 4th century BCE as the land whose shores as washed with waters meaning South India surrounded by three seas and he was a Dravidian Brahmana meaning seeker of Brahman.

Any Bhakti (devotion) if not coordinated with Jnaana(Spiritual Knowledge) is useless. In our worship we should understand the full meaning of  what we are doing, where our parents and religious pundits have failed us, hence this  exposition. 

Comments:

Your knowledge of Sanskrit allows you to criticize and question discrepancies in Puranas. Most of the real scholars reject Puranas, and are careful in interpreting Upanishadic teachings and give only noncontroversial and contemporary vocabulary to avoid desecration of our own religion and create new atheists.

--Dr. Vedavyas

I enjoyed the part you reposted here the most. There is a dire need for reformation of course, I have not figured out how best to educate.

--Dr. Kalai Mugilan

INAUGURATION OF BAL VIHAR CLASSES FOR THE YEAR 2018-19 IN USA

I take pleasure in bringing to your focus the invitation from Sri Ganesha Temple that will start its Bal Vihar Educational Program for the year 2018-19 on August 19   with the mission to train our future generation in Vedic Heritage and Culture and Sanatana Dharma  with  loyalty to Sathyam that is Dharma that is Brahman uniting together not only children of Hindu migrants from India but all parts of the globe and also other children whose parents from mixed origin who express faith in Sanatana Dharma.  Sri Ganesha Temple Annual Educational Program of Para Vidya or Spiritual Education  includes Sanskrit Education, Gita and Vedanta Classes  and is intended  not only for Hindus but for all those that  believe  in the noble ideals  of Sanatan Dharma  Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, Devo ekah, Aatmavat sarvabhooteshu etc., that I have explained several times. Such programs are also run by Dharma based religions like Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism in USA  originated from Sanatana Dharma. In this context I bring to your kind attention   following beautiful prayer from Rigveda for these Mantras are focused on Sanatana dharma and not on any religious preaching or sermons! Sanatana Dhrama gives equal weightage to both Para (spiritual) and Apara (secular) Vidya (education). Some of these programs include YOGA for the young and the old united by a common loyalty to Sanatana Dharma for the purpose of helping people grow in Body, Mind and Spirit (BMS). These are again inspired by the Upanishadic mantra--Aatmanaa vindate veeryam --The Self within builds Strength. Patanjali’s Yogasastra says   “Brahmacharya pratishtaayaam veeryalaabhaha''-By celibacy (Yama) tapas one benefits with strength. You are all familiar with the invocation  mantra from Upanishads: “sahanaavaavtu…Om santih”. To these I would like to add these beautiful Rigveda mantras:

saṃgacchadhwaṃ saṃvadadhwaṃ saṃ vo manāṃsi jānatām

devā bhāgaṃ yathā pūrve sañjānānā upāsate ||

May you move in harmony, speak in one voice; let your minds be in agreement; just as the ancient gods shared their portion of sacrifice.

samāno mantraḥ samitih samānī samānaṃ manaḥ sahacittameṣām

samānaṃ mantramabhimantraye vaḥ samānena vo haviṣā juhomi ||

May our purpose be the same; may we all be of one mind. In order for such unity to form I offer a common prayer.

 samanī va ākūtiḥ samānā hrdayāni vaḥ | samānamastu vo mano yathā vaḥ susahāsati ||

May our intentions and aspirations be alike, so that a common objective unifies us all!

In this context I would like to bring further to your kind attention the resolution taken by the participants in the opening ceremony of Vedanta Class in  Mumbai conducted by Chinmaya Visvavidyapeeth,  as reported by one of my active participants from Mumbai.  

“In the first week of August 2018 Chinmaya Vishwavidyapeeth started the second academic year in a unique way. Swami Sharadananda Sarasvati guided first and second year students in performing the auspicious Vidyarthi Homa. As part of this unique ceremony, all students took 5 vows:

1. “Sareeramaadyam khalu dharmasaadhanam”  I will take care of my health based on the Neeti statement that the body is the instrument for fulfilling my dharma
2. “Cchatraanaam adhyaayanam tapah”-- I commit to regular and sincere study based on the Smriti vakya that for students study is considered the highest tapas.
3. “Satyameva jayate naanritam satyena panthaa vitato devayaanah”--I will strive to be truthful in action, mind and words based on the “shruti” statement that truth alone leads to victory never untruth.
4. “Svaartho yasya paraartha evam sa pumaanekah sataam agraneeh”--I strive to gain compassion and give up arrogance, meanness and other such selfish qualities, following the advice of the wise ones.
5. “Sanghacchadvam samvadadhavam sam vo manaamsi jaanataam”-I will strive to accomplish following the injunction of the “shruti”, social integration through seva.

"Sharira Madhyam Khalu Dharma Sadhanam" (Physical body is the medium for the righteous action) writes Mahakavi Kalidasa in his work Kumarasambhavam. Here does the shariram means only physical body? No, according to Yoga Sutras every individual has three bodies. Atma generally translated as Soul   is apparently clad in three bodies and enjoy three corresponding states. The physiological system of the body is called Sthula-Deha (Physical- Body). The Vital, Psychic, and Intellectual system of the body is called the Sukshma-Deha (Subtle Body). The Blissful Consciousness, the awareness principle is called the Karana-Deha (Causal Body).

So the scriptures want us to use all the three bodies for the righteous act. Are we really doing so?? Let us take the physical body first, it is like the vehicle which helps us to travel to our destination. We need to take good care of it at the same time; we must not misuse it for our sensual gratification. We should not pamper it more than required. We should not abuse it with alcohol and drugs for the trivial pleasures and also we should not use lots of medication.

Nature has its own way to cure and unless it is chronic ailment we should not get addicted to medication. Instead of pampering the body if we use it to the service of other as said in one Shubhashitam it will be as using it in the righteous act.   

Truth alone triumphs; not falsehood. Through truth the divine path is spread out by which the sages whose desires have been completely fulfilled, reach to where that supreme treasure of Truth is.   The slogan was popularized and brought into the national lexicon by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya in 1918 when serving his second of four terms as President of the Indian National Congress. “Satyameva jayate” has been adapted as motto of India,  that  is synonym with the motto of USA: In God we trust. “Sathyameva jayate.. naanritam”  sends  powerful message that those who have their Trust in GOD will be victorious here and the other World too. GOD stands for: G=Generator; O=Operator; D=Dissolver (Srishthi, Sthiti, Laya) that is Sathyam(Sat+thi+yam) stands for Sat=immortal; Thi=Mortal; Yam=the power that regulates (Cchndogya Upanishad), meaning Parabrahman or Supreme Spirit that is Holy spirit! We have the other motto “E pluribus Unum”-The Many that is ONE—this just echoes Veda mantra, Eko vipraaha bahudaa vadanti—The ONE the Pundits call many !

WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY PARA VIDYA (SPIRITUAL ACADEMIC) YEAR! I wish I had the age to attend and get enlightened!

Nicely done! Fantastic

--Dr Kalai Mugilan

I appreciate your thoughts and encouragement.

Dr. Vedavyas

---

WHY UNORTHODOX NEGATIVE PROJECTION AND THEN GLORIFICATION OF GANESHA?

I often wonder why Ganesha should be glorified in his broken tusk form while Lord Siva even according to Puranas created him with two tusks. I wonder why a story should have been created projecting him as an angry deity hurling his tusk at moon or breaking it for scribing the epic Mahabharata?  In fact even Sankara’s  sloka on Ganesha  is wrongly projected : He wrote “anekadam tam bhaktaanam ekadm tam upasmahe”--Him who is projected as many I worship  as  ONE. In temples we display prominently this Ekadantam and praise in Bhajans and glorify--Why? You know Jakanacahri, the famous sculptor had to cut off his hand as he sculpted an idol with defect. Defective idols are not acceptable for worship according to Silpasastra—Angaviheena. But Saivites create a story and then glorify, that is why Vaishnavites worship him as Vishvaksena who is two tusked and group leader of   a divine species known as Gajananas; similarly we have Hayavadanas, Kinnaras- horse bodied human species etc. as part of celestial creation!

If Ganesha with elephant head and human body astonishes me at the surgical skill of Lord Siva as Bheshajam Bhishak as the God that inspired Ayurveda, Ganesha’s uncouth long belly and portrayal as Lambodara due to over eating effect of swelling indigestion and then tying with a live  cobra belt as cure presents a funny picture  that is intended to amuse children but pains me?  Why can’t we have a Ganesha as Varaha or Koorma?

His riding a mouse is another mystery that has prompted some of his ardent devotees to build a temple for rats in Rajasthan and adore the rodent God?

Again why make him Vighna-raja and worship as warding off obstacles; then why not Alakshmi. MNU Mantra says: “alakshmeem nasayamyaham?” There is no logical answer!

The climax is Uchhishta Ganapati. One of the varieties of this Saktiganapati   called Ucchishtaganapati associated with unclean things like orts, whose worship belongs to Vamachara (the left-handed path that is the heterodox and unclean path of three Ms—Madhya, mamsa maithuna) and  believed to give good results. The philosophy behind this concept is—There is nothing to dread or recoil in this concept. Dirty things are as much a part of nature as clean things, a sort of WASTE MANAGEMENT. But do not scavengers and doctors handle them in a hygienic way and serve the people? So he is our waste management God like   Obstacle prevention God? Nature converts clean things into unclean things and vice versa    Why not then do it religiously as an act of service and worship? Making Ganapati preside over it and handle dirt scientifically and religiously can also be a spiritual discipline. Environmental God!

Again recall one of the names with which Ganesha as a Pratham  Vandita Devata is worshipped—sacchidananda vigrahaya namah! Why should he be addressed as a Vigraha who is Truth Existance and Bliss,  Sat-chit-Aanadaaya namah is complete  enough. When somebody criticizes the word Vigraha Hindus go at elaborate length to explain how they are not idol-worshipers. Then why do we need the word Vigrah in the Ashtottara and then need to explain? Sadananda can’t be sculpted.  Vigraha at once rings thought of a sculpture!

Yet I wonder how one is attracted to this most popular God and as one approaches the sanctum sanctorum refuses to criticize and pay obeisance  with all admiration bowing  to him with the most difficult posture of crossed legs and squeezed ears for all the criticism hurled at him before!  But since my thoughts are always focused on five elements whenever I visit a temple  and Brahman submerged in the mantra “Om tad Brahma  tad Vayu tad Aatma  tat Satyam tat sarvam tat puror namah” none of these unorthodox feature disturb my thought nor I recall puranic stories. I often feel I should distance myself from Puranas, may be they are beyond my comprehension?

I pay my obeisance to element Earth (prithvee) at the flag-post with saashtaanga pranaamam, pay my respect to element Air (Vayu) as I feel air when I briskly circum-ambulate, pay my respect to element Fire (Agni)as I receive Aarati, pay my respect to element water (aapah) as I sip the sacred water, turn inwards as I  do Aatma-pradkshinam before the deity and realize Self within and then as I relax sitting at the North corner gazing at the kalasa of the Vimana touching skies paying my respect to the element Aakaasa. I realize then Isavasyamidam sarvam that Brahman has not only created all these five elements but has also pervaded them!

Comments:

Thank you for sharing you analytical explanation, which really reveals so many flaws, in our beliefs and concepts, and how our minds can be influenced in the name of traditions and customs. 

 --an ardent devotee and Philanthropist

WOMAN IN HINDU SOCIETY, MISUNDERSTOOD AND CRITICIZED BY THE WEST & BY US TOO

Motherhood is considered the greatest glory of Hindu women. The Taittareeya Upanishad teaches, “Matru devo bhava”—let your Mother be God to you. Hindu tradition recognizes mother and motherland as even superior to your own life—“jananee janmabhoomischa praanaadapi gareeyasi” (Ramayana)—Mother and Motherland are dearer than even one’s life. The epic Mahabharata says; “While a father is superior to Brahmin priests well versed in the Vedas, a mother is superior to ten such fathers, or the entire world. In the 10 most widely spoken languages in the world, the word for mama (meaning “mother”) is: māma, mama, mamá, ma, mama, mamã, maa, mama, maha and mamī . ma, pa, and ba sounds are the first  sounds babies can make. Babies only need to open and close their lips to make these sounds (no teeth or tongue required). Babies make the sounds for “mama” as a “slight nasal murmur” while breastfeeding that may mean food.

In ancient India Hindu woman did not veil their faces as is seen today mostly in the North that is being criticized today.  They enjoyed considerable amount of freedom in society. But repeated attacks on Hindu India by foreigners through centuries changed the situation. During such aggression, and also when India was under foreign occupation the honor and chastity of women often became the casualties inflicted by the aggression.   There have been numerous cases when Hindu women killed themselves rather than yield to indignities.  As a result, Hindu society became more and more protective about its women. The freedom of women were curtailed. To protect themselves Hindu women started covering their faces with veils and legs with saris. They were no longer allowed to have their formal education away from home. Instead, they stayed at home, had whatever education was available there, or none at all. Their participation in social events was greatly restricted. All such past history is being ignored by modern critics  and also ignoring the fact that recently India was ruled for long by woman Prime Minister and a Hindu woman  was an astronaut.

In   the Vedic society,   not only   boys   but   girls also   were initiated to Brahmacharya through the Upanayana samskaaram. According to Haarita Samhita, girls studied the Vedas and were known as Brahmavadins, women well versed in Vedas. This is still practiced in Kerala by some Brahmin communities. All devatas sought the help of Brahmvadin Uma, daughter of Himavan to know who  Brahman  was?

It is this Uma that Puranas later glorified as Parvati.  Sayana's commentary in Anuvaka,   identifies Parvati in the Kena Upanishad, suggesting her to be the same as Uma and Ambika in the Upanishad, referring to Parvati is thus an embodiment of divine knowledge and the mother of the world.  

Sa tasaminneva avakaase striyamaajagaama| bahusobhamaanamumaagam haimaavateem Taagam hovaachakimetad yakshmiti  (KENA 3-12)

And in that very spot he beheld a woman Uma, the daughter of  Himavan (the snowy mountain Himalaya. He asked her who this Adorable Spirit (Brahman) could be?  

 Brahmavadini Gargi Vachaknavi, daughter of Vachaknu, is honored as a great natural philosopher, renowned expounder of the Vedas.  She participates in the Brahma Yajna,   organized by Brahma Jnyani King Janaka of Videha and challenges even the Brahma Jnyani Sage Yajnavalkya. Brahmavadini Maitreyi was a venerated ancient Indian philosopher. Ten hymns in the Rigveda are attributed to Maitreyi, where she explored the concept of Atman in a dialogue with Brahma Jnyani Sage Yajnavalkya in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. Queen Chudala (mentioned in Yoga Vasistha) became Guru to her Husband, King Sikhidhwaj. She attained Brahma Jnyana soon after instructions from scholars. Her story is detailed in Yoga Vasistha. It is Uma (later projected as  puranic Parvati) daughter of Himavan who had the right answer about who is Brahman and enlightened seekers.

  Hindu temples in America will soon be observing Upakarma as special Religious Event Day and will be helping Brahmin community in replacing the worn out  sacred thread by a new one and conducting Kamakorshee/Manuurakarsheet  Japa  and   Homa. Orthodoxy in India dictates Upakarma should be only to Brahmin males   who have undergone Upanayana Samskara,    a Hindu woman should not study Vedas and not even pronounce sacred Om! Hence Tamil ladies avoid Vedas and study Thiruvoymozhi or Naalaayira Divya Prabhandam! You can judge for yourself how falsified we are? Kamokarsheet is an annual repentance day needed by all to atone for their desire and anger based actions knowingly or unknowingly done during the year and  Upanayanam is the starting ceremony to receive guru Upadesa and commence Vedic studies that is essential  for all  Hindu males and females. Here our attention is focused only to wearing the holy thread and parading with the ego “I am a Brahmin” not knowing what it requires to become a Brahmin means. Its main purpose to study Vedas is ignored. Unfortunately this belief continues even among the educated elite Hindu Americans in US as demonstrated by Upakarma celebrations in Hindu American Temples.

Please go through the following message from Rohit Singh and also my discourses on the subject:

Women Occupied Most Important Position in Ancient India

In ancient India, women occupied a very important position, in fact a superior position to, men. It is a culture whose only words for strength and power are feminine -"Shakti'' means "power'' and "strength.'' All male power comes from the feminine. Literary evidence suggests that kings and towns were destroyed because a single woman was wronged by the state. For example, Valmiki's Ramayana teaches us that Ravana and his entire clan was wiped out because he abducted Sita. Veda Vyasa's Mahabharatha teaches us that all the Kauravas were killed because they humiliated Draupadi in public. Elango Adigal's Sillapathigaram teaches us Madurai, the capital of the Pandyas was burnt because Pandyan Nedunchezhiyan mistakenly killed her husband on theft charges.

In Vedic times women and men were equal as far as education and religion was concerned. Women participated in the public sacrifices alongside men. One text mentions a female rishi Visvara. Some Vedic hymns, are attributed to women such as Apala, the daughter of Atri, Ghosa, the daughter of Kaksivant or Indrani, the wife of Indra. Apparently in early Vedic times women also received the sacred thread and could study the Vedas. The Haritasmrti mentions a class of women called brahmavadinis who remained unmarried and spent their lives in study and ritual. Panini's distinction between acharya (a lady teacher) and acaryani (a teacher's wife), and upadhyaya (a woman preceptor) and upadhyayani (a preceptor's wife) indicates that women at that time could not only be students but also teachers of sacred lore. He mentions the names of several noteworthy women scholars of the past such as Kathi, Kalapi, and Bahvici. The Upanishads refer to several women philosophers, who disputed with their male colleagues such as Vacaknavi, who challenged Yajnavalkya. The Rig Veda also refers to women engaged in warfare. One queen Bispala is mentioned, and even as late a witness as Megasthenes (fifth century B.C. E.) mentions heavily armed women guards protecting Chandragupta's palace.

Louis Jaccoliot, the celebrated French author of the Bible in India: Hindoo Origin of Hebrew and Christian Revelation said: "India of the Vedas entertained a respect for women amounting to worship; a fact which we seem little to suspect in Europe when we accuse the extreme East of having denied the dignity of woman, and of having only made her an instrument of pleasure and of passive obedience." He also said: "What! Here is a civilization, which you cannot deny to be older than your own, which places the woman on a level with the man and gives her an equal place in the family and in society."

--August 12, 2018

WE SHOULD BE GUIDED BY SANATANA DHARMA AS HINDUS

There is a big controversy going on over the Carnatic music composition sung on Jesus by TM Krishna and Nitya. Did not Mahatma Gandhi sang always Isvara allah tero nam as part of Vaishnava janato? Was not this composition rendered as Carnatic Music by MS Subbalakshmi in the United Nations? Are not Carnatic music celebrated in Sai Mandals venerating Saibaba who is not a God and born Muslim? Is not Bibi Nachiyar installed by Ramanuja worshiped in Tirunarayana puram? Has this temple lost its sanctity because Ramanuja ordered free worship for Harijans once a year in this temple as early as 12th century?

Why do we enjoy such terms as English note if it is so sacred? Why do we allow fusion with Western Music? Why no voices are raised against when soulful Carnatic music meets hip-hop, rock, and even popular contemporary music, to create a musical banquet for Indian fusion music lovers. The Malaysian Independent Live Fusion Festival brings together some big names in the international arena like Vijay Prakash, Sid Sriram, Agam, Aalaap Raju, Sooraj Santosh as well as Jatayu. Can we claim Hindu propreitary for Carnatic Music as sacred?

Sanat Kumara, called the Ancient of Days in the Bible, came with the 144,000, a long time ago to keep the flame of life on earth. The 144,000 is in the Bible in the Book of Revelation in two passages of the Bible: Revelation 7:1-8 and 14:1-7. The 144000 are also talked about in the teachings of the ascended masters from the Summit Lighthouse. The teachings explain that the "Ancient of Days" mentioned in the Bible is also the one called Sanat Kumara.

I do not think neither Nitya nor TM Krishna knows about these things. Yet they were inspired to sing on Jesus. This shows that everything comes from Brahman alone --isavasyamidam sarvam. Christians later disowned and deleted all reference to Sanat Kumara but the reference to Ancient and 144000 angels from planet Venus descending on earth to save the world still remains in the Bible. So Son of God is Sanat Kumara. Sanat Kumara is Skanda and Skanda is Sanat Kumara—Chandogya Upanishad. There is no my God, your God, Hindu god, Christian God etc. GOD stands for G=Generator; O=Operator; D=dissolver tahtiis one who is responsible for Srishthi, Sthiti and Laya. World was not exclusively created to Hindus or Christians or anybody else but for all When supreme created the World He aldo createsd Dharma for us to follow, Dharma=Sathyyam=Brahman.

Religions are man-made that is equally true to Hinduism as is practiced today but says Devo Ekah, Eko viprah bahuda vadanti, Aatmavat sarvabhooteshu, Vasudhaiva kutumbkam, sarevejanah sukhino bhavantu etc.

BHARATA NATYAM is named after Bharata who is the son of Rishabha who is an Avatar of Vishnu who started Jain philosophy. Jainism was made a distinct religion by the 24th Tirthakara who is Vardhamana. The Hindus should believe Jainism gave birth to Bharat Natyam which is so absurd. Let us open our vision to the Universality of Sanatana Dharma and not sectarian views of Hinduism as is practiced today but says it follows Sanatana Dharma. Please also go through my two discourses posted on the Blog drawing reference to Sanat Kumara in Esoteric Tradition.

Vedas are book of knowledge.  They are not for Hindus only but to humanity. They impart both Para Vidya and Apara Vidya.  There are two categories of knowledge, declares the Rishi of Mundaka Upanishad- knowledge of the world and knowledge of the inner world, material knowledge (apara vidya) and spiritual knowledge (para vidya). The same thing has again been taken up in the Chandogya Upanishad by sage Narada Muni and Sanatkumara. In fact both ought to be acquired and both are equally important. Nor are they mutually exclusive. One is incomplete without the other. This has been very strongly emphasized by the Isa Upanishad.

All the Vedas, grammar, philosophy, astronomy, astrology and all such knowledge falls in the category of apara or lower learning. That knowledge by which Brahman (Supreme Soul) is known, that by which, the unseen and the unknown, the one eternal all-pervasive Being is known, is the para or higher learning. Para Vidya is Spiritual knowledge and Knowledge of Brahman. Here there are certain restrictions mandated that this knowledge should be imparted only to those who have the proper attitude and Shraddha, deep involvement.

If someone considers Carnatic Music as Para Vidya it is purely individual   opinion and not what Vedas say.

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

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/12/vbehaviorurldefaultvmlo.html

--August 11, 2018

Comments:

Sanatana Dharma is the law of nature, existed much before HHinduism like gravity existed before it was discovered. Sanatana dharma existed before -to live in tune with nature is the core essence. Rig Veda is probably earliest reference to Sanatana     Dharma. These are my findings from Wikipedia! Our World would be a better place to live, if more and more people follow Sanatana Dharma.

 --A.S. Narayana

Like it very much; wonderful

  Murali Kadambi & TPK Naig from India

STRESS REDUCTION THROUGH THE STUDY OF UPANISHADS

HH Swami Chindananda draws our attention to mantra 7 from Isavasyopanishad which I had discussed in detail long time back. Relevant extract is reproduced below for your specific attention in the present context:

Yasmin sarvaani bhootaani aatmaivaa-bhood-dvijaanatah | tatra ko mohah kah sokah ekatvam anupasyatah || 7 ||

When a person learns that all beings are indeed have the same all-pervading Spirit as their inner controller then he realizes the Oneness of all things. Then there is no chance for any illusion or grief. There is no attachment or detachment for such a person.   Multiplicity of life does not delude such a person seeing its unity.

This mantra expounds the unifying force of Oneness and brings our thoughts again to the opening words “Eesaavaasyam idam sarvam” that everything belongs to Brahman and is pervaded by Brahman. Realizing that everything belongs to the Supreme Being, one will not have any attachment to himself and therefore he will not grieve even at the loss of his kith and kin or any personal loss of wealth. Where there is no delusion there is no grief or stress. Realizing that everything belongs to Paramaatman one will have no attachment (mamatva) in anything and so there will be no grief even when a son or daughter dies or a kingdom is lost.

The Upanishads, ancient and earliest accounts of mythical revelations, have inspired people from time immemorial behind all systems and traditions of Hindu religion and remain the primary source of spiritual guidance to all spiritual seekers irrespective of their religious denominations. Constituting the most impressive portion of the Vedas, these holy writings are said to be divine revelations received by saints and seers mentioned by HH Swami Chidananda.   These sacred documents have influenced Greek philosophy, Judaism, and early Christianity like that of St. Thomas and have been praised by great Western thinkers like Goethe, Schopenhauer, and Emerson. Sophism has been greatly influenced by them.  Their influence can be visibly seen in Eastern Philosophy of Sanat Kumara Tradition of all religions. They bring a vital message of Universal Oneness to lead a happy and peaceful life in this troubled world.

"The Upanishads are the great mines of strength. Therein lies strength enough to invigorate the whole world; the whole world can be vivified, made strong, energized through them. They will call with trumpet voice upon the weak, the miserable and the downtrodden of all races, all creeds and all sects, to stand on their feet and be free; freedom, physical freedom, mental freedom and spiritual freedom are the watchword of Upanishads" says Vivekananda.

Probably Vivekananda could have been inspired by the Srivaiashnava Saints called Azhwars, Saivite saints called Nayanmars and other saints who illuminated the world of ignorance though many of them are drawn from low castes including Harijans but worshiped as deities in Temples.

Before going deep into these Upanishads themselves it is worthwhile to get an overall view of those early thoughts and concepts focusing more on Upanishadic approach and giving a meaning to the earlier ritualistic approach of no proper explanation. The sages who were involved in it knew about it but it was not comprehensible to later generation till some great saints arrived on the scene. Fortunately we have the invaluable commentaries on these Upanishads from great Gurus Sankara, Madhva, Ramanuja, Sayana, Ranga Ramanuja and others. Modern Gurus like Prabhavananda, Chinmyananda, Chidanananda and others like Rajaji have come with their own commentaries making these Upanishads more meaningful, to the modern common man who leads a stressful life, as to how to progress spiritually while leading a material life linking them with message contained in Bhagavad Gita.

In his previous discourse Swamiji   taught us how to attain strength and now he will talk about Stress Management based on the wisdom of various Upanishads so important to our practical life.   Please recall his previous discourse “One Attains Vigor through Self--Aatmanaa vindate Veeryam” Now he says, "One need to focus on   Svadyaaya Tapas and Sathyam to reduce stress." What is the Veeryam he talks about in his lecture? Patanjali’s Yogasastra says   “Brahmacharya pratishtaayaam veeryalabhaha''. MN Upanishad says through Brahmacharya seers attained Brahman.  So when Vedas talk about Tapas it is Brahmachrya only. By Svadhyaaya one turns inwards to realize Self. Then by Tapas that means Brahmacharya one practices   Sathyam that is Dharma. When one practices Dharma there will be no stress and you are on the right path to realize Brahman.  It is perhaps this what Swamiji may bring to lime-light as to how to focus on Nivritti marga while leading Pravritti marga on which he has talked a lot. The various shades of identifying with the SELF, nay, the meaning of SELF in entirety, has been comprehensively given by him in a manner that can be understood and reflected upon by these series of lectures.

I made an honest attempt in the past to give an overall picture of Early Upanishadic Thoughts in the following three discourses that you may recall:

1) Upanishads and their Basic Thoughts; 2. Upanishads' Perception 3. Ultimate Values of Upanishads.

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2011/08/upa-nishads-perceptionlife-and-after.html

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2011/08/upanishadstheir-basic-thoughts-and.html

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2011/08/ultimate-values-of-upanishads.html

“As smoke and sparks arise from a lighted fire kindled with damp fuel, even so, Maitreyi, have been breathed forth from the Eternal all knowledge and all wisdom--what we know as the Rigveda, the Yajurveda, and the rest. They are the breath of the Eternal--Brihadarnyaka

HH Swami Chidananda likewise will be   guiding us as to how bring down our stress levels through the study of various Upanishads he has cited like Maitreyi in the past.

--August 11, 2018

WORRIES, ANGER, FRUSTRATION FOCUSED NEWS FROM HINDU AMERICAN SYMPATHIZERS OF HINDUS IN INDIA

Perhaps you are in touch with the volume of continuous news from India about what is going on in India and with Hindus in  India  particularly like Aryan Dravidian fight, Brahmin hatred, Christian conversion, Hindu killing by Taliban and so on about which we hear so much from our  Hindu sympathizers, Hindu social reformers, leaders,  religious leaders  and spiritual Gurus in USA who always think all American Hindus are  of Indian origin only. I have been forwarding to you also some of the messages received from Rajiv Malhotra and Padma Bhushan David Frawley, two well-known well-wishers from US. Recently Karunanidhi of PAK Trinities-Periyar, Anna, Karunanidhi passed away and a Mausoleum is raised in Marina for his  worship joining his predecessors Jaya Lalita,  Anna, Ramachndran   (JARK)t hat worries many Hindus while few venerate  too! That is Hinduism! Election fever is also on the anvil.

We left India for good and turned US citizens and India does not need us as we are refused dual citizenship like European countries.  What we have brought with us is the memories of Vedic Heritage and Sanskrit Language besides our mother tongue that will be short lived as future generation may not be interested in none of these and even temple visit may be very casual and sporadic based on the need for the Hindu child  as invariably it  picks up its partner from Abrahamic religious culture.  Therefore we need to focus on our children and preservation of Vedic Heritage in USA with 400 Hindu temples built with so much effort and personal sacrifice and the tireless service rendered by various local Gurus through their Monastery establishments and Yoga institutes.

Answering to several disturbed news columns I brought to focus how we have progressively liquidated Aryavarta mentioned in Vedas which is not present India, how wrongly we are called Hindus and our religion Hinduism and also how we have moved away from Sanatana Dharma. My note was well received by some who live even in India as could be seen from the comments received. I have therefore attached the same for your leisurely reading to focus on what are our obligations  are to preserve Vedic heritage and Santana Dharma in USA and also how we can contribute to the spiritual progress of the country with around 40% SBNR whom our children are continuously flooding. Your suggestions are always welcome.

Comments:

1)    An useful, interesting and thought-provoking account of history with relevant aspect of auto-biography, in part. Indeed, there should be many more examples of similar nature, to show how India has been losing on talent ....God Bless!!!

--TPK Naig from India

2) Wonderful! You are what your heart says; you are not what the labels given by others say!

--A.S. Narayana from India

--August 10, 2018

HINDUISM IN US ARMY BESIDES WHITE HOUSE

Hinduism is a minority religion in the United States. The vast majority of American Hindus are immigrants from South Asia (mainly India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, some from Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Myanmar), Indonesia (mainly Bali), the Caribbean (mainly Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, and Jamaica), Fiji, Africa (mainly Southern Africa and Eastern African), and Mauritius and other countries and their descendants. Additionally, the United States has a number of converts to Hinduism. American Hindus have the highest rates of educational attainment and household income among all religious communities, and tend to have lower divorce rates. 48% of American Hindus hold a post-graduate degree.

The first half of the 20th century was the period when the United Stated of America passed Federal laws that were explicitly racist against all people of Indian origin. The US Supreme Court passed a judgment that Indians were non-White, and hence not eligible to get US citizenship. Many Indians had become prosperous landowners and had to forfeit their land. Immediately thereafter, the US Senate and Congress passed a law that 70% of all new immigrants would be from England, Germany and Ireland, and none would be Asians, especially Indians. It was only in the era of President Johnson that African Americans succeeded in passing Civil Rights Laws that ended blatant and legalized racism in the US. As a result of these breakthroughs won by Blacks, the Immigration Bill of 1965 overturned the old bans on Indian immigration. This is what opened the gates for Indians to migrate the USA. Prior to 1965, Hindu immigration to the United States was minuscule and isolated, with fewer than fifty thousand Indians immigrating before 1965. It is worth noting that although most of these immigrants were Punjabi Sikhs, they were incorrectly and derogatorily referred to as "Hindoo" by many Americans, as well as in some official immigration documents.

In October 2009, President Barrack Obama lit a ceremonial Diwali lamp at the White House to symbolize victory of light over darkness realizing that highly educated Hindu have given   lot of benefits to America as affluent dharma based society. Sikhs and Jains from India have also flocked White House to celebrate their Special Religious Events.

A proud Hindu Woman Tamil officer serving in the US Army describes her experiences in the   American Army as a strong allay of Hinduism. She feels there are around 5 million Hindus in USA including a significant number in the United Armed Forces of USA serving with H1 Visa for long still   many with no Green Card. She had been also lobbying in White House for their citizenship as well as Pan American Hindu Concept forgetting their identity of country of origin or tradition or language; also not only   focused on preservation and practice of Sanatana Dharama but also its propagation amongst other religious cultures projecting its universal appeal for the benefit of mankind to live in peace and prosperity and spiritual progress. She keeps her identity as Hindu American with her prominent vermilion religious dot on her face, necklace with Thali and Sari while practicing religion while serving in the army which is appreciated and encouraged by all her colleagues supported by the noble laws of the country.

Please recall my recent communication to you focusing on the weak points of Rajiv Malhotra servicing the cause of Hindu Community mostly focused on the conditions of India but least focused on Hindu Americans through his philanthropic Infinity Foundation: 

“I was introduced to the work of Rajiv Malhotra by one Sant Gupta of HMEC. Since then I have been receiving several E-mails of him as Spam mainly focused on negative approach on communal conflicts, class hatred, Christian conversion, Muslim intimidation and killings etc. in India. I understand he too lives in USA and has high contacts and moves in high circles and a popular figure. I have never seen any e-mail focused on American Hindus and Hindu youths growing with American culture. I believe he also go through my E-mails sent through HMEC, That is why I sent this provocative E-mail to Him to draw his attention to our problems in USA and not to blame all the time Western culture, and create  conflicts here.  You might have seen his series of lectures on struggle of Early Hindu settlers in USA but not saying anything about prospering Hindu community with freedom of speech and freedom of religious practice”

But the following discussions between him and a proud Hindu and Tamilian serving in the US Army describing her experiences nurturing pluralism & multiculturalism in America proves how wrong I am in judging him that came to my limelight today! She is a venerable role model championing Hindu Dharma  and Hindu American unity even trying to send the message  to the armed personnel while serving the country with loyalty and dedication,  a culture based  on Sanatana Dharma--sanghacchdvam samvadadvam (let us act together speak together), as One Nation of Many Cultures. Your feedback appreciated.

DO NOT SKIP LISTENING TO THE INSPIRING VIDEO

Episode available with Hindi subtitles! A proud Hindu and Tamilian serving in the US Army describes her experiences nurturing pluralism & multiculturalism in America. A fascinating role model championing Hindu dharma AND India’s unity.  

| #HinduismInUSArmy #HindiMulticultutalism #InterviewWithHindiUSSoldier

--August 7, 2018

VEGANS IN USA MAKE JAINS GO VEGAN-HERE EAST MEETS WEST

Vegans in USA make Jains go Vegan But Jains in India made Hindu Brahmins go Lacto-vegetarians

Jains are vegetarians, consuming only fruits and plant based diet. Their core values include non-violence and harmonious co-existence between all creatures on the planet. Animal based products like silk and leather are not used by any Jains. Moreover, they do not eat any vegetables that are obtained by killing a plant. These mainly include onions, potatoes, turnip, carrot, radish, garlic etc. They also avoid eating any fruit or vegetable that has lot of seeds. They consider seeds to be a form of life too! Do Jains go that way in USA?

From compassion point of view, under the current environment, the American Jain youths can be made to understand that strict vegetarian (Vegan) food is more compassionate over any animal base foods such as milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, ice-cream, sweets and ghee. All commercial dairy product consumption involves significant violence and killing of five sense (Panchendriya) animals. Hence all YJA conventions serve mostly vegan foods and use environment friendly products.

 Jain Philosophy started by Rishabha an Avatar of Vishnu   existed as part of Sanatana Dharma until it got separated by Mahabir Vardhamana to make it Jainism that is recently declared a minority religion in 2014 in India taking it out of Hindu-fold.   Veganism is new Western concept or philosophy with origin in the mid 20^th century that became popular in the 21^st century. In India dairy animals has got great cultural and religious importance and so does dairy products. It is a part of   staple diet be it a Jain or Hindu or Muslim.  Thousands  of gallons of milk are poured down Gomatesvara statue during Mahamastakabhisheka and milk is used daily in Pada puja, a practice inspired by Hindus. It is hard for a brand new fashionable concept of being VEGAN to change the age old concept of Vegetarianism prevailing in India (also in Jainism) since millions of years.  Jain Sweets Vendors are very popular in India and consume all dairy products in making delicious sweets. I hardly could avoid pure ghee in cups in my vegetarian meal while living in Rajasthan. Jains built many Hindu Temples in India.

Modern Dairy cows in the West are forcefully impregnated by means of artificial insemination to stimulate milk production and are injected with estrogen to increase beef yield when slaughtered. They are immediately separated from their offspring at birth.  Male calves are killed within hours of birth or sold on to be reared for veal or beef (they are of no other value to a dairy farmer), and their sisters are forced to go through the same agony and suffering as their mothers. A dairy cow will normally get killed before the age of 10, even though she could live up to 30 years if given the chance.  This is because her milk yield drops after about 5 lactations, and it   does not make financial sense for a farmer to keep her alive when he is able to obtain milk from her younger (and more productive) daughters.

It is an unfortunate truth that our consumption of milk and dairy products contributes to the killing and suffering cows. In light of this, it seems natural that Jains (and all adherents of Ahimsa) should acknowledge and consider the suffering caused to cows in the milk production when undertaking Pratikramana. Pratikramana is performed in the morning for the repentance of violence   committed during the night, and in the evening for the violence during the day and additionally on certain days of the year as Hindus day during Sandhyavandana ritual.  During this, the Jain expresses remorse for the harm caused, or wrongdoing, or the duties left undone. Now they feel that being a vegetarian is also a sin l and do not apperove Hindu Brahmins. Hindu Brahmins in Bengal and Konkan eat fish and Kashmir Kauls meat too.

The real mother, having received the care of the mothers in her life, gives you flesh, milk to sustain it and the experience of life in general.   The cow deserves a special mention because a household in olden times was not complete without livestock (and even today). They are just removed from our daily lives to farms specialized to keep them, often unethically.

Each mother gives--a life, lessons, a livelihood, a family of each our own, a caring touch and a place to renew. Milk is not wrong if it's not taken wrongly from who it's meant for. A cow should be respected and treated the same way as mother in sharing the milk with the calf just as a twin and not altogether avoid, as breast feeding is strongly advised in modern medicine.

Research shows that lacto- vegetarians generally get the recommended daily amount of protein, which is easily obtained from dairy products   (Women need about 0.4 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day. Because the protein in vegetables is somewhat different from animal protein, vegans may need 0.45 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day.)  If you avoid animal products altogether, you should eat foods fortified with vitamin B₁₂ (certain soy and rice beverages and breakfast cereals) or take a vitamin B₁₂ supplement to avoid a deficiency, which can cause neurological problems and pernicious anemia. Studies show that in Western countries, vegetarians tend to get the same amount of iron as meat eaters.   The absorption of non-heme iron is enhanced by vitamin C and other acids found in fruits and vegetables, but it may be inhibited by the phytic acid in whole grains, beans, lentils, seeds, and nuts. Phytic acid in whole grains, seeds, beans, and legumes also reduces zinc absorption, but vegetarians in Western countries do not appear to be zinc-deficient. Official dietary guidelines recommend 1.10 grams per day of ALA for women, but vegetarians who consume little or no EPA and DHA should probably get more than that. Good ALA sources include flaxseed, walnuts, canola oil, and soy. Vegans can get DHA from algae supplements, which increase blood levels of DHA as well as EPA (by a process called retroversion). DHA-fortified breakfast bars and soy milk are also available in USA.

The prejudice against milk and milk products that Ayurveda strongly recommends that was a regular diet of Hindu from Vedic times is due to the current abusive practices in the Modern Dairy. Why should we lose the benefit Ayurveda brings to lead a healthy life? Why not we think of the Vedic days as to how to treat the cow with same care and respect as in Vedic culture and make it a part of our life just as we can’t avoid mother’s milk? Please go through a detailed discourse by David Frawley on the subject:

VEGANS CLAIM COW’S MILK IS HARMFUL IS TRUE FOR MILK PRODUCTS FROM GENETICALLY BRED COWS OF MODERN FARMING

With increased consumption of alcohol in India and with people turning affluent it is hard to keep Hindus Lacto-vegetarian leave alone Vegan! I am not sure  how Jains in America can keep their youth Vegan while they can’t avoid their youth from choosing his/her partner from a Western culture by fatal attraction of  White race and universal binding urge of love living with mixed culture. When a person of Indian origin chooses the partner from different culture he/she loses the link with family, culture as well as India.  Probably they hope a Western Vegan Christian will be attracted to Eastern Vegan Jain that chance being few and far between.  Jains marry lacto-vegetarian Hindus often. Anyhow let us wish them all success in their endeavor as they want to separate from Hindu association also, though some temples consecrated the idol of Mahabir Vardhamana and worshiped him with other Hindu deities!

When will Gomatesvara Go Vegan to avoid milk in Mahamastabhisheka? When will Jains stop making sweets out of suddha ghee? When will Hindus stop Ksheerabhishekam in Templs and make Gods Vegan first? This could be an improvement over Vedic culture as Vegetarianism was introduced later. Even in Ramayana days Vatapi used to offer meat to Brahmins in Sraddha-vaataapee jeernobhava, Sri Rama gave up meat and alcohol when Sita got abducted and he got dejected in life--Sundara Kaanda? Who can regulate these?

--August 5, 2018

ONE ATTAINS VIGOR THROUGH THE SELF

“Do not underestimate your potential great abilities—in both material and spiritual fields.  They Reside within you; tap them! We get strength from the Self within” says Swami Chidanada drawing our attention to the Upanishadic statement: “Aatmanaa vindate veeryam—Through the Self one obtains the real strength. This statement is from Kenopnishad mantra 2-4 that reads as follows: Prartbhoditam matam amritatvam hi vindate | aatmanaa vindate veeryam vidyayaa vindate amritam || 2-4 ||

He who realizes the existence of Brahman   behind every activity of his being—whether sensing, perceiving, or thinking—he alone gains immortality. Through knowledge of Brahman (Vidya or Spiritual knowledge) comes the power. Through knowledge of Brahman comes victory over death.

 [Pratibhoditam—when it is intuited in and through every modification of the mind-thought, speech and action.  Brahman which is amritam is characterized by its own unique qualities like Sathyam, Jnaanam, Amalam Anantam, Aanandam and others that I had explained in Bhumavidya, Knowledge of Brahman.  Viditam—when Brahman is meditated upon as having these unique characteristics it will also make the meditator attain these characteristics which is merging with Brahman. Veeryam—strength that I required for the fulfilments of meditation. In Vedanta Vidya is spiritual knowledge Avidya is secular knowledge you get at school]

The Absolute Truth presides in us as the Aatman or Self. This can be well understood when we realize the Self is the witness of three states of our Consciousness.  A   witness is one who is standing apart from the incident and who witnesses and views the incident   without taking part in it in any sense.  The experiences gained in the waking-state are contradicted in our experiences of the dream-state and both these (real and unreal) are negated in our deep-sleep state.

Yet it is strange the same individual can remember his experiences in his waking state as well as in the dream-state and also can realize that he knows nothing during the condition of deep-sleep and   says that he slept like a log of wood. From this it is clear that there is an unchanged entity in us that experiences all our waking-life, dream world and deep-sleep bliss. The waking-state Ego, Mr. So-and-so entity is not there in the dream-world. But on waking up from the dream, he remembers that he had dreamt.   That factor in us in consultation with which we have this continuity of awareness and personality, through the different fields of consciousness, is the All-witnessing Aatman or Self.

Thought is a disturbance in the mental faculty, a ripple in the mental pool. As the thoughts rise, dance and die down, it is Consciousness that illumines the birth, existence, activities and the final end of all thoughts. Thus at Each thought-disturbance there must be a flicker of Consciousness and this Consciousness is intuitively realized as separate from the thoughts that it illumines. One who realizes this becomes Immortal—changeless. The change is in the thought-flow: the illumining Light of Consciousness as Witness merely looks on the changing thought process.

To identify with the witness is to end the thralldom of the Ego. Death and limitation, sorrow and despair, success and failure,  pleasure and pain, love and hate and several other poisonous weeds of life that embitter life, all belong to the Ego. To the All-witnessing Truth, Samsara is foreign. To it Light, Power, Wisdom is the Bliss-content of the Samsara. In this identification with the Self lies the secret of knowing the Aatman as beyond the “Known” and the “Unknown”.

Vedas say “OM antascharati bhooteshu” and “OM tad Brahma” –Om moves within the cave of the heart of all living beings and that Om is Brahman. The Mantra in Kena Upanishad says “Aatmana vindate veeryam”-Through this Self or Brahaman one Obtains the Real Strength. Great strength comes when you are in Brahmacharya.  When brahmacharya is established in you, you see that you are more than the body. You see yourself as the consciousness.    Brahman means infinity if you analyze the meaning of the word in Sanskrit. Charya means moving in infinity. That is turning inwards. This is what the above mantra points out which is brought to our   specific attention by Swami Chidananda.

Patanjali stresses continence of the body, speech and mind (Om ityaatmaanam unjeeta). Yoga is not meant only for celibates. One has to practice high principles of Brahmacharya in one’s daily living whether one is bachelor, married and living the life of a householder if he practices Yoga.

 When one practices principles of Brahmacharya, he develops a fund of vital energy, a steadfast mind and a powerful intellect. We must use our physical strength for doing the work of the Lord (Eeswara) which is the service to society called Seva, and mental strength for the spread of culture and the intellectual strength for the growth of spiritual life.  Swami Chidanada says tap this energy.  

 Patanjali’s yogasastra explains yama as follows: Yama are moral commandments. They are universal in nature for all times to come and are beyond religion, creed, country, age and time. They are universal ethical disciplines.  Patanjali mentions five universal disciplines: Ahimsa (Non-violence); Satya (Truth); Aasteya (Non-stealing); Brahmacharya (Celibacy or Continence) and Aparigraha (Non-coveting). I draw your particular attention to Brahmachrya here that I had explained elaborately in my discourse “Ashtanga yoga of Pataanjali” 

 Brahmacharya in Sanskrit language means the life of celibacy, study of scriptures and self-restraint. It is abstention from passions and lust. It implies restraining one’s senses from sense pursuits or indulgence in sexual pleasures. It applies equally to married as well as unmarried or single parent male or female. Patanjali stresses continence of the body, speech and mind. Yoga is not meant only for celibates. One has to practice high principles of Brahmacharya in one’s daily living whether one is bachelor, married and living the life of a householder if he practices Yoga.  When one practices principles of Brahmacharya, he develops a fund of vital energy, a steadfast mind and a powerful intellect. We must use our physical strength for doing the work of the Lord (Eeswara) which is the service to society called Seva, and mental strength for the spread of culture and the intellectual strength for the growth of spiritual life. Please refer to the sutra in Patanjali’s yoga sastra: “Brahmacharya pratishtaayaam veeryalabhaha'' (II Sutra 38).--On being established in celibacy vigor is gained."

 It is this vigor (veerya that Kenopanishad brings to our focus. Thus Sawmiji has presented to us  the teachings of Upanishads, Benefits of Yoga Sastra and Wisdom  of Vedas in capsule by the mantra “aatmanaa vindate Veeryam”   from Kenopanishad. The Srutis declare: “Naayam Atma balaheenena labhyah—This Atman is not attainable by a weak man.”   “Jahi satrum mahabaho kamarupam duraasadam—Kill this powerful enemy, passion, by the observance of Brahmacharya” (Gita III-43).

If you need to   know more about Brahmacharya based on scriptures  please go through the appendix attached to my   Compilation: “The  Concept   of Brahmacharya– Its True Meaning, Nature & Implication” as well as Sri Ravi Shankar’s  Reflections on Brahmacharya  promoted in Patanjali’s Yogasutra.

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2018/08/one-attains-vigor-through-selfaatmanaa.html

--August 4, 2018

I am inspired by the quote from Kenopanishad and elaborate explanation. I realize how greatly relevant your life experience is to my life here.  I like many that follow the Sanatana Dharma and I am also one such seeker.  I am grateful to you for the effort you have put in to make it easier to read with short paragraphs.

--Ranga Nambakam from Germany

The various shades of identifying with the SELF, nay, the meaning of SELF in entirety, has been comprehensively given by you in a manner that can be understood and reflected upon. Thank you for the same.  

--TKP Naig

WHY ARE WE AMERICAN BORN CONFUSED DESIS?

Here is yet another E-mail received from Rajiv Malhotra who is very much focused on hates, fights conversions mostly blaming Christianity and Islam for all the ills though he is a Hindu America but very little focused on Hindu American problems unlike most of the spiritual Gurus in active in USA particularly David Frawley, Phil Goldberg, Swami Chidanada, Velan Swamy and the Gurus of various monasteries who have a positive approach to our problems That I have been referring often:

The Hypocrisy of Interfaith Meetings

I was invited to speak at a major interfaith event in Nagpur by an organization led by some of my friends who are RSS related. Before my talk, a prominent Muslim leader declared peace among religions on behalf of Islam and said that his religion had no enmity toward others, and only preached peace with all.

My talk describes my own specific experiences with interfaith meetings where leaders of all faiths show love for each other; and yet the fact is that after hundreds of such events over the past 30 years we don’t have religious peace. I explain that the crux of the problem is politically incorrect to discuss. This has to do with the hatred towards outsiders written in most religious texts. These statements are not allowed to be deactivated, amended, or superseded; the reasons for this absolutist dogma have to do with what I have called “history-centrism” in certain religions. Unless all religions stop aggressive proselytizing to convert others there cannot be religious harmony.

--Rajiv Malhotra

 Please recall my E-mail sent to Rajiv Malhotra that I circulated to you sometime back:

“I love the Muslim hate policy that has kept Hindu American youths hate choosing their partners from Islam faith.  Marriage between a Hindu youth and Islam youth is few and far between. Thus they are preserving their religion since they can't use swords in USA, may be in India. Most of the marriages among Hindu Americans is by choosing partner from Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and Chinese and due to fatal attraction for white skin or beauty and occasionally from their own community and rarely from their own caste or tradition. Divorce rates are also increasing. Even Hindu conservative marriages are breaking attracted to new find white skin even from a divorcee  for a subsequent marriage.  At this rate Hinduism will be wiped out like what happened to European culture unless we American Hindus turn to Vedic Religion and promote the same in our temple traditions.

Future generation of Hindu Americans may not even go to temples unless it is made attractive. The yeoman service you are doing to Hindu Community will be futile unless you focus on this point.  Charity begins at home. Unless Hindu Americans  reform  themselves first, before crying wolf and blaming others your lectures will only be appreciated and bring laurels  but not implemented nor serve the cause. I eagerly await your focus on Swadeshi Muslims. I wonder why you do not focus on Hindu American Youths with your vast spiritual knowledge. What is the use of gaining the whole world when you have lost your own soul?”

Quick was a response from one of our well-read spiritual scholars:

“There is a rise of a new set of thinking that is reconsidering looking at India, the Indian worldview and the Indian framing of the world that is working hard to shake it or reshape it given we have all become slaves to English and the missionaries, monotheistic (their version of their Abrahamic God) interpretation of the world.  I believe Rajiv Malhotra  is among them that has influenced me to consider his point of view, especially in viewing and framing me and my thoughts from an Indian point of view, not just American or Western point of view”.

My reply: I was introduced to the work of Rajiv Malhotra by one Sant Gupta of HMEC. Since then I have been receiving several E-mails of him as Spam mainly focused on negative approach on communal conflicts, class hatred, Christian conversion, Muslim intimidation and killings etc. in India. I understand he too lives in USA and has high contacts and moves in high circles and a popular figure. I have never seen any e-mail focused on American Hindus and Hindu youths growing with American culture. I believe he also go through my E-mails sent through HMEC, That is why I sent this provocative E-mail to Him to draw his attention to our problems in USA and not to blame all the time Western culture, and create  conflicts here.  You might have seen his series of lectures on struggle of Early Hindu settlers in USA but not saying anything about prospering Hindu community with freedom of speech and freedom of religious practice.

 He writes further realizing the weak points of Rajiv Malhotra that his focus is only on Indian Hindus and also mostly focused on derogatory destructive activities with very little focus on positive way of thinking and improve the American Born Confused Desis and Spiritual But Not Religious Hindus in USA:

Returning back to my way of thinking he says:  “my feedback cannot be substantiated, and the use of term "white skin" and so forth surprises me.  There is no race for one, and there is no Dravidian, there is no Aryan.  Sanatana Dharma is a way of thinking, that the entire East practices, and I believe, to save humanity, these ways of thinking, must be spread, and the language corrected along the way--  Hahah...you have given rebirth a long time ago.  There are many that have, and you have done well.  And, for that, I am grateful.

The main purpose of presenting these exchange of thoughts is to bring home that we are often flooded with such hate news, angered reply   and negative projection on Hinduism. I transmit few without any comments as far as possible but with my own   thoughts when needed to bring home the point the advice of our valuable reader that our purpose should be   “to save humanity, these ways of thinking, must be spread, and the language corrected along the way”  as our commentator says.

 The problem with powerful and influential writers like Rajiv Malhotra is though located in USA they not only look up  to Hindu  Gurus  and Hinduism as practiced   in India  and forget  to focus on the peculiar situation in which Hindu Americans are situated and the arising  unavoidable problems which are quite different from India. Unlike Hindus  is in India  threatened with hate and conversion and intimidation because of the narrow outlook with no secular vision and self -focus for  their own existence by the  ruling parties, the future of survival of Hindu culture more appropriately Vedic culture purely rests in the hands of Hindu American only either to  liquidate or promote actively. With the good offices of Gurus from India like Chidanada, Dayanada, Yoganada, Prabhavanada, Jaggi Vasudev  etc. focused on Hindu Americans and locally generated Gurus like David Frawley, Velan Samy, and writers  like Phil Goldberg , Peter Arnett etc.,   there   is  a good chance of Hinduism blossoming in USA and assume the responsibility   to  promote Universal  Oneness of living in peace and prosperity materially  as well spiritually. India may even look back to us and Abrahamic religions may even think of joining together like Dharma based religions under Hindu umbrella!

 That is the reason why   some time back I questioned the relevancy of Discover India Camps that was not properly received.    Better would be to call it Hindu or Dharma or Vedic Culture Discover camp for India Culture is as absurd as American Culture that includes both North and South America.  Similarly India Association should purely focus on secular objectives and not focused on Hindu Migrants alone but all religious categories of migrants from India. Similarly Hindu Americans should think they are migrants from global sources united by the common submission to Sanatana Dharma. Unfortunately it is only handful of progressive and active Hindu Americans that control all these with no sense of direction or clear objectives and others do not want to kill their enthusiasm serving the society to which they belong!   So we are dismissed as American Born Confused Desi!

After this long sermon which you may or may not like I want you to go through the attached enlightening sermon by Swami Chidanada of Swarga  Ashram from Hardwar:” True Happiness Depends on Peace of Mind” with the message “In God lies happiness and within me He is and He and I are One as well as my discourse:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2018/05/hindu-thoughts-on-happiness-intrinsic.html

--August 3, 2018

ONE ATTAINS VIGOR THROUGH THE SELF

Recently I reacted to a Facebook presentation of Swami Chidananda of FOWAI Forum that runs as follows: 

“ONE ATTAINS VIGOR THROUGH THE SELF--Do not underestimate your potential great abilities—in both material and spiritual fields. They Reside within you; tap them! We get strength from the Self within” says Swami Chidanada drawing our attention to the Upanishadic statement: “Aatmanaa vindate veeryam in Kenopanishad—Through the Self one obtains the real strength”.

Going through my lengthy reaction in FB TKP Naig who also regularly goes through my e-mails for HR Forum meticulously unlike many who treat them casually remarked: “The various shades of identifying with the SELF, nay, the meaning of SELF in entirety, has been comprehensively given by you in a manner that can be understood and reflected upon. Thank you for the same. Many other also expressed they liked it very much. 

I wonder why I do not get any response to such worthy E-mails particularly those that are concerned with their day-to-day life and rising kids in USA? Encouraged by these comments I thought it worth developing a full article with related subject turning inwards and spiritually progress while leading a healthy life.   You will receive my discourse and the related E-mail this week-end.

Looking back to my own life I recall an incident when I had a long spiritual discussion with three Sankaracharyas of Puri, Kaancipuram and Sringeri while working as General Manager in Tata Exports in Indore.  I do not think  they were really impressed  by my shallow knowledge in scriptures but  complimenting  me for my spiritual thinking they advised me that I should tap my potential energy and use it to spiritually advance and also spread the message of Sanatana Dharma to Hindu Society.  When I settled in Nashville after retirement in 2000 I was quite moved looking at the philanthropic work of our temple fathers who were younger to me, active in their professional life   as practicing doctors but yet could spend so much time for promoting Hindu Religion and Culture. It beats my wits then when someone says I was too busy and missed that E-mail of yours and ask me a question about the same subject. This incident  had a good impact on me and  I took seriously to study our scriptures after retirement  at 70 and at the dawn of 21 century. The result is before you in the form of the blog with around 350 discourses and customary long e-mails 2 or  3 in a week  often forwarding wisdom thoughts from modern Gurus with a bit of my explanation.  I believe thus I have not underutilized my limited abilities if not fully tapped as Swamiji says. So please tap your potential   Arise,   Awake, Uttishthata Jagrata  and contribute your little to the community we live in, if not materially physically.   Little drops of water make the mighty ocean. If one young and inexperienced but inspired Malala can change the whole education system of Pakistan, a set of intellectual elites in USA can lead the country spiritually starved that has a good number of SBNR to which our children are also flocking while choosing a life partner saying that they are spiritual but not religious with no one to lead them properly spiritually.

                                                                                      --August 1, 2018

Comments:

I am inspired by today's quote from Kenopanishad. Yes, your emails are long, but today I realized how greatly relevant your life experience is to my life. I live in Germany and continue to live there after retirement and the question often arises of when to return. And, like many that follow the Sanatana dharma, I am also a seeker. If you write shorter paragraphs more people may read them fully.Your emails are long but they convey much useful and insightful info. PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THAT.   What a coincidence to hear that you spent some time in Grafing! I now go regularly visit the Hari Om temple near Grafing (closer to the station Gronsdorf) every week. It was set up by the Punjabis and Sindhis who came to Munich fleeing the Taliban in the past 25 years. I am the unofficial poojari there.

 ---Ranga Nambika from Germany

Thank you for the spirited message. I hope you continue to reach out inspiring people.

--Dr. Vedavyas

ECHOES OF UPANISHADS IN THE BHAGAVAD GITA

Here comes a wonderful opportunity to get introduced and inspired to study two of our great scriptures on Spirituality that have been translated into several languages, studied and admired 

 by millions of Spiritual seekers. Those of you who have been with me since 2002 will not be strangers to this intricate topic that will be made much easier by Swami Chidananda. I have also discussed    the mantras cited by Swamiji on previous occasions repeatedly. Please be advised to go through the lecture followed by discussion. I draw your kind attention to the following discourses posted on the Blog in this context and further without the customary long introduction:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/03/ancient-vaivasvata-yogasastra-available.html

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/12/gita-is-yogopanishad-it-is-neither.html

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/08/geetaa-unmistakably-bears-influence-of.html

Pūjya Swāmi Chidānandaji presents on Sunday, August 5, 2018, a discourse on ECHOES OF UPANISHADS in the Bhagavad Geetaa. Gist of the Presentation: Geetā is the finest representative of the Vedāntas (Upanishads), most suitably adapted to relatively recent times by none other than Lord Shri Krishna. A verse (13.4) in the Song Celestial itself admits that its wisdom is the restatement of what the sages had said in the Vedic portions (chandāmsi) pointing out Brahman, the Supreme Reality. Spread over the 18 chapters, there are numerous verses that have the distinct flavor of the revelations of the various Upanishads. This webinar is an attempt to identify some of such shlokas of Geetā that truly bring forth the mantras of the Upanishads, in both the domains of pravritti (selfless service) and nivritti(spiritual contemplation).

The Self does not die when the body dies.  (na hanyate hanyamāne shareere ) --Geetaa aa2.20 and Katha Upanishad 1.2.18

Work does not bind us when we act with no selfishness or ego. (buddhir-yasya na lipyate) Geetā 18.17 versus | na karma lipyate nare |     Ishāvāsya Up. mantra 2

The sun or the moon do not count before the effulgence of the Self (na tad-bhāsayate sooryah ) -- Geetā 15.6 versus | na tatra sooryo bhāti |  Mundaka Up. 2.2.10

                       

(Announcement:  all the webinar videos are available on YOUTUBE/fowaiforum)

-- August 2, 2018

ARISE AWAKE UTTISHTHATA JAAGRATA

Recently I reacted to a Facebook presentation of Swami Chidananda of FOWAI Forum that runs as follows: 

“ONE ATTAINS VIGOR THROUGH THE SELF--Do not underestimate your potential great abilities—in both material and spiritual fields. They Reside within you; tap them! We get strength from the Self within” says Swami Chidanada drawing our attention to the Upanishadic statement: “Aatmanaa vindate veeryam in Kenopanishad—Through the Self one obtains the real strength”.

Going through my lengthy reaction in FB TKP Naig who also regularly goes through my e-mails for HR Forum meticulously unlike many who treat them casually remarked: “The various shades of identifying with the SELF, nay, the meaning of SELF in entirety, has been comprehensively given by you in a manner that can be understood and reflected upon. Thank you for the same. Many other also expressed they liked it very much. 

I wonder why I do not get any response to such worthy E-mails particularly those that are concerned with their day-to-day life and rising kids in USA?  Encouraged by these comments I thought it worth developing a full article with related subject turning inwards and spiritually progress while leading a healthy life.   You will receive my discourse and the related E-mail  this week-end.

Looking back to my own life I recall an incident when I had a long spiritual discussion with three Sankaracharyas of Puri, Kaancipuram and Sringeri while working as General Manager in Tata Exports in Indore.  I do not think  they were really impressed  by my shallow knowledge in scriptures but  complimenting  me for my spiritual thinking they advised me that I should tap my potential energy and use it to spiritually advance and also spread the message of Sanatana Dharma to Hindu Society.  When I settled in Nashville after retirement in 2000 I was quite moved looking at the philanthropic work of our temple fathers who were younger to me, active in their professional life   as practicing doctors but yet could spend so much time for promoting Hindu Religion and Culture. It beats my wits then when someone says I was too busy and missed that E-mail of yours and ask me a question about the same subject. This incident had a good impact on me and  I took seriously to study our scriptures after retirement  at 70 and at the dawn of 21 century. The result is before you in the form of the blog with around 350 discourses and customary long e-mails 2 or  3 in a week  often forwarding wisdom thoughts from modern Gurus with a bit of my explanation.  I believe thus I have not underutilized my limited abilities if not fully tapped as Swamiji says. So please tap your potential   Arise,   Awake, Uttishthata Jagrata and contribute your little to the community we live in, if not materially physically.   Little drops of water make the mighty ocean. If one young and inexperienced but inspired Malala can change the whole education system of Pakistan, a set of intellectual elites in USA can lead the country spiritually starved that has a good number of SBNR to which our children are also flocking while choosing a life partner saying that they are spiritual but not religious with no one to lead them properly spiritually.

--July 2018

I am inspired by today's quote from Keenopanishad. Yes, your emails are long, but today I realized how greatly relevant your life experience is to my life. I live in Germany and continue to live there after retirement and the question often arises of when to return. And, like many That follow the sanatana dharma, I am also a seeker.

Just a humble suggestion: length of your emails can remain. If you write shorter paragraphs more people may read them fully.

--Ranga Nambakam, Munich, Germany

FASTING CURES CANCER

Yoshinoi Ohsumi, specialist in Autophagy was awarded Nobel Prize for Medicine in October 2016.  He found out cure for cancer which is the most significant  achievement in  the field of medicine. He discovered that when we fast 10-12 hrs  in a day the energy present in  the  body is used up. With time when appetite becomes intense the body starts to eat the cancer cells.  He said we should fast 20 days minimum  in a year to eradicate/kill the cancer cells. 

What is autophagy? The word derives from the Greek auto (self) and phagein (to eat). So the word literally means to eat oneself. Essentially, this is the body’s mechanism of getting rid of all the broken down, old cell machinery (organelles, proteins and cell membranes) when there’s no longer enough energy to sustain it. It is a regulated, orderly process to degrade and recycle cellular components.

Fasting is actually far more beneficial than just stimulating auto-phagy. It does two good things. By stimulating auto-phagy, we are clearing out all our old, junky proteins and cellular parts. At the same time, fasting also stimulates growth hormone, which tells our body to start producing some new snazzy parts for the body. We are really giving our bodies the complete renovation.

So this process of auto-phagy is unique to fasting – something not found in simple caloric restriction or dieting. There is a balance here, of course. You get sick from too much auto-phagy as well as too little. Which gets us back to the natural cycle of life – feast and fast. Not constant dieting. This allows for cell growth during eating, and cellular cleansing during fasting – balance. Life is all about balance.

This is what Hindu Religion says from ancient times that one should fast on all Ekadasi days that is 24 days in a year.  Besides Hindus also fast on some special   religious event day in a year, while performing some naimittika karmas or rituals and while undergoing Samskaras like Upanayana, Marriage and Antyeshti including Sraddhas (last rites).  Hinduism at the same time also celebrates number of festivals profusely Feasting. Thus there is a good balance between fasting and feasting in observing Hindu festivals and rituals.  No doubt people in Vedic times had a balanced long life. Hinduism only mandated fasting and feasting days without explaining leaving things as such for us to investigate by scientific research. Today we are confused between science and religion. and are at our wits end to realize where they both conflate!  Of course such a practice is there in all religions. But Hinduism is better regulated and systematized.

Please go through the review   by Dr. Jason Fung M.D-- “How to renew your body: Fast and Feast” 

--June 29, 2018

Comments

Very interesting Mama. I understand animals also fast at times. I wonder how do they know ?

My Reply:

It is a universal verity that animals have some means of adaptation to food scarcity. Obvious examples of this are squirrels storing nuts, bees, storing honey, chipmunks storing roots and nuts, beavers storing twigs, and finally other animals capable of storing significant food reserves within themselves. These are the animals which hibernate. They undergo a period of winter sleep. Their metabolism is slowed down and they take no food for long periods of time. Bats, mice, hedgehogs, woodchucks, toads, lizards, snakes, flies, wasps, bees, bears, crocodiles, and alligators are among those that undergo some degree of hibernation. True hibernation is a dormant state of existence accompanied by great diminution of respiration, circulation, and metabolism. At this time, the animals’ functions are almost suspended. Body heat is little. Action of the heart is almost imperceptible, and as much as 40% of the animal’s total weight may be exhausted by the time it recommences feeding.

RISE OF DHARMIC FAITHS IN USA & WHILE    DHARMIC FaITHS ARE TROUBLED IN INDIA

Please refer to “The forgotten Hindus of Vietnam’s Champa Kingdom” from June edition of Hinduism Today of HAWAII Hindu Temple..

Today, as members of a global Hindu community, we are becoming more and more empowered by the technologies of this information age, which allow Hindus throughout the world to support each other in common cause, and also spiritually lead mixed race and Inter-faith married couples and the so called SBNR (Spiritual But Not Religious) whose number is mounting up. Our culture is worth preserving—and as Hindus, we know dharma is not optional. Dharma based Hindu civilization, wherever found, is a testament to that which is best gift to humanity. As the 21st century dawns, the Hindus of Bali, Vietnam and the world look to India as both the epicenter and foundation of Hinduism. With spiritual leaders like David Frawley, Phil Goldbberg, Swami Saccchidanada, Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev, Swami Tejomayananda and others,  very active in USA,  and monasteries of Ramakrishna Math, Chinmaya  Misasion, Arsha Vidya Gurukul, ISKCON,  International Society of Divine Love and various Yoga institutions, more than well-established 400 Hindu American  Temples with their Vedic Heritage, Bal Vihar, Vedanta and Gita classes,  India may even look forward to American Hindus to lead the  sectarian oriented,  constantly engaged Hindus in communal warfare, conversion fights and political fights based on caste, religion etc.,  in India.  It is my hope that the Hindus of India and the world will rise up to the occasion as Hindu Americans; surely then will dharma prevail.

Certain trends Hindu Americans in their busy professional life do not notice that Phil Gold-berg points out often, are:  in addition to the rapid 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 his talks, and in “American Veda” he makes the case that this is a direct result of access to Sanatana Dharma through gurus, swamis, yogacharyas, etc. USA is gradually becoming 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 most of   the Hindus migrants from India in America   do contemplate in all this.  However, 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 Christma). 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.That is why I often say that we should prepare the ground for the future generation--Uttishthata, Jaaghrata! Our progressive spiritual thinkers also 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)

Rise of Dharmic faiths in the United States of America

According to latest data available from the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies- ASARB, are seeing an increase among the adherents of Dharmic faiths – that is Hinduism and Buddhism.

The most recent report of the ASARB claims that Hinduism has become the second-largest faith in Arizona and Delaware while Buddhism has acquired the same status in the states of Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma. 

Fig: Data from ASARB

The growth of the Hindu populace in both Delaware and Arizona is said to be the result of the rise in the number of Indian immigrants, most of who are Hindus, as they are drawn by jobs in the fields of technology, finance and medicine. According to available Census data from Delaware, the number of Indian residents grew 116% between 2000 and 2010, making them the largest Asian group in the state. Similarly in Arizona the Asians remain  one of the fastest-growing

Buddhism had been present in the United States for a longer period, the second half of the nineteenth century to be specific, when Chinese immigrants settled in Hawaii and California. This was followed up in the twentieth century by immigrants of other Asian nations like Japan, Korea, Thailand and most importantly Vietnam and Cambodia. Although the bulk of the present say Buddhists are descendants of those early immigrants there has also been arrival of a new generation of young Asians who, like their Indian counterparts, opt for professions in the realm technology and finance.

So far the Hindu-Buddhist residents have not caused any problems to the Christian majority and for a long time co-existed with them amicably. Hence there is no reason for the American public to be alarmist. But this new demography will definitely play a role in the upcoming elections for the U.S Senate and House of Representatives.

Back in 2008 as well as in 2012, many political analysts credited the victory of Barack Obama in the Presidential elections to the fact that large number of Asians who voted in favor of Obama and the Democrats.

This trend of Asians supporting Democrats is attributed to the long-standing image of the Republicans as the protectors of America’s Judeo-Christian values, which secured them considerable success only among the conservative Christian voters. But as the above data suggests, this increase in the number of Hindu-Buddhist residents happened in Republican controlled states and with such an increase, the GOP must restructure its image to that of an accommodating political entity, something the Asian immigrants view the Democrats as. On the other hand, the Democrats should not take the Asian vote for granted and should do all it can to retain them.

In the end both the political parties should remember the phrase ‘Demography is destiny’ as they gear up for the polling season at a later phase of the year.

 --July 28, 2018

 Comments:

In this connection, I recall a Talk (# 4 , I think ) on Vishnu Sahasranamam by Prof. Krishnamurthy. It has been posted by Advaita Academy. In this Talk, he briefly mentions about his Interaction with NRIs in USA and England, about the minimum that should be told to the upcoming generations in these parts of the Globe, so that our culture and heritage continues to be practiced.   

VEDIC SCIENCE ON CLONING SAME AS MODERN MEDICINE

Puranas talk about Transplantation and Surgery of Ganesha which is often dismissed as Myth by many except orthodoxy: Did Vedas talk about Cloning?

In reproductive cloning, researchers remove a mature somatic cell, such as a skin cell, from an animal that they wish to copy. They then transfer the DNA of the donor animal's somatic cell into an egg cell, or oocyte, that has had its own DNA-containing nucleus removed.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT...but this is what the Rig Veda mantra says...

“nih charmanah  gaam arineeta dheeti abhih yaa jarantaa yuvasa taa akrinotana saudhanvaanaah  asvaat asvam atakshataa yuktvaa ratham upa devaan ayaatana ||

"You, Oh Ribhus! you  took a piece of skin from the dead calf. And you made a living calf out of it"

A cow gives birth to a calf. The calf dies. Ribhus takes a piece of skin from the dead calf and after some effort, creates a new calf. This is the story.  The relevant quote from the Rigveda mantra as well as its bhashya (commentary) are quoted below. Please see for yourselves what the Veda says:

“nish-charmano gaamarineeta”—mrityaah goh sakaasat charmanah gaam nootanam arinita nirmayata utpaaditavantah iti tenaiva charmanaa samvitam taadrisamanyaam dhenum kritvantahityarthah

[nirmāna means to construct] utpādita-vantaḥ [utpādana means producing] iti. tenaiva [of its own, of the dead cow's own] charmaņā [from skin] samvîtām [having extracted the essence] tādŗśîm [similar] anyām [another] dhenum kŗtavantaḥ [manufactured] ityarthaḥ [is the meaning].

In Puranas we hear of surgery and transplantation like the bringing back to life a human being replacing with elephant head on humanbody—Gajanana. But we do not know what happened to this species after transplantation as many say he did not marry some married. We do not know anything about his progeny.  Dasagrieva had Indradyumna as his son, a normal species with one head and also other sons.

We do not hear about the off-sprigs of Shanmukha though He married Valli and Devayani. Both Krishna and Rama had normal off-springs and these deities are also always shown with two hands as normal human beings unlike Vishnu with four hands. To save the complexity it is said that Lakshmi dwells only in is heart. That is why many say Puranas are myths which upsets religious Hindus. Vedas do not present such controversies. They do mention Gajananas, Hayavadanas, Kinnaras , Kimpurusha and Gandharvas as extra-terrestrial  or celestial with same reproductive capacity or no sex life.

If someone calls it imagination while going through the above Rigveda mantra it can't be imagination. Because it is happening now--they are cloning now. Even though some may call it imagination, at least during the Vedic period (20000 years ago) they had an idea of cloning. About Ribhus, as we know, Ribhus, Ashvins and Maruts were three extra-terrestrial or celestial races which visited the earth very often. The bottom line: Vedas don't lie! The great sages never lied. Truth stands for millions of years while untruth dies soon.

 --July 27, 2018

BRAHMAN IS GURU (GURUR BRAHMA) AND HE GAVE LANGUAGES TOO

Today is a very special Guru Poornima Day. Tamils all over the world celebrate this day dedicating it to Lord Murugan and believe that it is Lord Murugan who gave them the Tamil Language. This belief is strongly brought forth as detailed below:

HINDUS BELIEVE SANSKRIT IS DIVINE, TAMILS SAY TAMIL LANGUAGE IS ALSO DIVINE

Tamils worship Lord Murugan as Guruguha enigmatic Guru who even taught his father and also consider him Kuladeiva of all Tamils and Tamil language. In this context please recall my discourse:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/09/sanskrit-language-is-divine-is-tamil-too.html

Please go through the description given below in support of such a strong contention: To me I feel he is a universal Deity Skanda who is Sanatkumara who is glorified in all religions of the world about which I gave a detailed discourse.

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

Tamil Deified as Personification of Subrahmanya (Murugan)

Subrahmanya, called Murugan in Tamil, along with his father Shiva is credited with finding The Tamil Language. He is described as the Tamil God.

The Tamil word for Subrahmanya is Murugan. Murugu in Tamil means ‘exceptionally beautiful’

Sanskrit and Tamil literature describe Subrahmanya as personification of Beauty. Tamil is represented as the personification of Subrahmanya, Murugan, Skanda.

Subrahmanya appears with two of His two consorts, Valli and Devasena,- 3

Tamil has these broad divisions -3: Iyal (Prose), Isai (Music) and Natakam (Drama). Each of these has a different Form and Grammar.

Tamil letters are divided into three groups, Vallinam, Idayinam and Mellinam and these determine the pronunciation in Tamil. Three.

க ச ட த ப ற –வல்லினம்--Hard sound; ங ஞ ண ந ம ன-இடையினம்--Medium sound; ய ர ல வ ழ ள—மெல்லினம்--Soft sound

Tamil has Uyir Ezhuthukkal, Base Alphabets-12.

Subrahmanya has twelve hands ((12).

Tamil letters are divided into three groups, Vallinam, Idayinam and Mellinam and these determine the pronunciation in Tamil.

These together is 18.

Subrahmanya has six faces and Twelve hands.

 Tamil base letters represent His hands (12) and the Tonal difference of Groups of Tamil letters is 18.

His image with Valli and Devasena, with his mount Peacock, form the Tamil Pranava.

Puranas say Aiyappan in Sabarimali is the cousin brother of Lord Subhramanya born to Siva and   Mohini.    The present image of Aiyappan in Sabarimalai is 18 inches in height and is made from five different metals (panchaloha). A devastating fire destroyed the old temple in 1951 A.D. One of the special features of the temple is the flight of eighteen steps. This is supposed to be the ladder to heaven. 18 is a mystic figure: Bhagavadgeeta has 18 chapters; Mahabharata contains 18 parvas(chapters); Mahabharata war was fought for 18 days with 18 Akshauheenees of the armies (11 from Kauravas and 7 from Pandavas); Mahabharata contains 180000 slokas.   18 represents 18 principles--5 sense organs, 8 internal enemies like lust and greed, 3 gunas (satva, rajas and tamas), and Vidya (knowledge of Brahman) as well as Avidya (knowledge of the world).

King James Version of Holy Bible says: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”.  Vedic scholars attribute this as an inspiration from Vedas. The word is the combination of letters or alphabets. While Hindus generally believe that the word here   refers to the sacred syllable OM, “Om ityekaksharma Brahma” (the letter Om is Brahman), Tamils attribute the origin of this to the following verse in Thirukural of Tiruvalluvar in Tamil language.  “agara mudhala ezhuththellaam ariya vaiththaai devi aadhi bhagavan mudhalendrae unara vaiththaai devi” (Oh Goddess you taught us all alphabets beginning with “A”; You made us recognize that the Supreme God alone is the beginning)--In any language ‘A’ is the first letter; as the letter A is the first of all letters, so the eternal God is first in the world. Jains claim that Tiruvalluvar was a Jain scholar and “adhibhagavan” here refers to Adinatha or Rishabha who gave to the world Jain Dharma philosophy.

Whatever may be the contention of these contenders let us not forget that a guru needs  veneration by all people in the world after father and mother  as mandated by Vedas "matru devo bhava; pitru devo bhava' acharya devo bhava". Let us therefore celebrate this day dedicating it to Sanatkumara who is identified as Skanda whom Tamils call Murugan and whom all Hindus worship as Venkatesvara and whom all religions worship as Sanatkumara in all Esoteric Traditions.

--July 26, 2018

Comments:

I was in Bali and Yogyakarta, land where Hinduism flourished once.  It was simply incredible to witness the expressions of Sanatana Dharma there.

I happen to think, all language is divine, and the confusion is that these languages are interpreted biologically or even racially.  Meaning, born a Tamil is always a Tamil, where else, languages are learnt and valued, and it is the breath and awareness that makes one to claim the ownership to the language, and I thus seek no permission. While I may speak all the English I want and never be considered English, and vice versa, speak not a word of Tamil, yet considered Tamil.  Therefore, I am English, Spanish, Malay and Tamil. 

--Dr Kalai Mugilan

A SPECIAL GURU POORNIMA DAY OF 2018

Today is July 26. Poornima today is called Guru Poornima. Guru   Poornima is the   birthday of Krishna Dwaipaayana, popularly known as Veda Vyaasa. It falls on the full moon day in the Hindu calendar month of Aashaadha. It is an auspicious day not only for Hindus but also for Buddhists and Jains.

This year Guru Purnima is something unique as told by the famous Vedic Astrologer Bharat Vibhushan David Frawley:

“We will be experiencing one of the most powerful #Mars in history this month according to Vedic astrology. Mars will be at its brightest in the sky in fifteen years and brighter than Jupiter. It will be in its sign of exaltation in Capricorn. It will be retrograde. It will conjunct the south lunar node Ketu, which has a Mars like energy. On July 26 at its maximum point of brightness it will   conjunct the full Moon in Capricorn that will also be the longest total lunar eclipse of the century, visible in India on Jul7y 27 but not in USA. Lastly it will be the sacred Hindu date of #GuruPurnima, when the guru is to be worshipped. Lord #Skanda, the deity ruling Mars, and #Agni, the divine Fire behind Mars!”

Lord Subhramanya is hailed as Guruguha, enigmatic guru who even taught his father Lord Siva hailed in Upanishads as Skanda! Skanda taught Sage Narada Bhumavidya, Knowledge of Brahman as Deva who is Sathyam, Jnaanam, Amalam, Anantam while Devatas (mentioned in Gita as devavratah yaanti Devan) are Sat-Chit-Ananda.

What ought to have excited Hindu American Temple authorities to celebrate this day on a grand scale as Special Religious Events Day dedicating it to the selfless service of our Sunday religious and spiritual school teachers, various Swamijis  (monks)  striving hard to promote Hindu Dharma to all in USA   and well established Maths (monasteries)in USA--has produced a  denial and developed casual attitude among Hindu Americans to all of them! In India Guru Poornima is a very auspicious day paying tribute Acharya Parmapara—“asmadacharya paryantam vande Guru paramparam” starting with Vyasa who taught us Vedic wisdom in many ways. Let us at least meditate on the Supreme, praying for theses spiritual Gurus and teachers, thus paying our debts. In India,   “Teachers Day” is a Social event celebrated on Radha- krishna’s Birthday, first president of independent India.

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/06/guru-poornima-celebration.html

--July 26, 2018

Comments:

Very enlightening. Today in our Saibaba temple, Guru Purnima is being celebrated!

--A.S. Narayana

THE IDENTITY OF ABRAHAM AND SARA WITH BRAHMA AND SARASVATI

Hinduism (The forgotten facts)

November 17, 2012  

In his History of the Jews, the Jewish scholar and theologian Flavius Josephus (37 - 100 A.D.), wrote that the Greek philosopher Aristotle had said: "...These Jews are derived from the Indian philosophers; they are named by the Indians Calani." (Book I:22.)

Clearchus of Soli wrote, "The Jews descend from the philosophers of India. The philosophers are called in India Calanians and in Syria Jews. The name of their capital is very difficult to pronounce. It is called 'Jerusalem.'"

"Megasthenes, who was sent to India by Seleucus Nicator, about three hundred years before Christ, and whose accounts from new inquiries are every day acquiring additional credit, says that the Jews 'were an Indian tribe or sect called Kalani...'" (Anacalypsis, by Godfrey Higgins, Vol. I; p. 400.)

Martin Haug, Ph.D., wrote in The Sacred Language, Writings, and Religions of the Parsis, "The Magi are said to have called their religion Kesh-î-Ibrahim. They traced their religious books to Abraham, who was believed to have brought them from heaven." (p. 16.)

There are certain striking similarities between the Hindu god Brahma and his consort Saraisvati, and the Jewish Abraham and Sarai, that are more than mere coincidences. Although in all of India there is only one temple dedicated to Brahma, this cult is the third largest Hindu sect.

In his book Moisés y los Extraterrestres, Mexican author Tomás Doreste states: Voltaire was of the opinion that Abraham descended from some of the numerous Brahman priests who left India to spread their teachings throughout the world; and in support of his thesis he presented the following elements: the similarity of names and the fact that the city of Ur, land of the patriarchs, was near the border of Persia, the road to India, where that Brahman had been born.

The name of Brahma was highly respected in India, and his influence spread throughout Persia as far as the lands bathed by the rivers Euphrates and Tigris. The Persians adopted Brahma and made him their own. Later they would say that the God arrived from Bactria, a mountainous region situated midway on the road to India. (pp. 46-47.)

Bactria (a region of ancient Afghanistan) was the locality of a prototypical Jewish nation called Juhuda or Jaguda, also called Ur-Jaguda. Ur meant "place or town." Therefore, the Bible was correct in stating that Abraham came from "Ur of the Chaldeans." "Chaldean," more correctly Kaul-Deva (Holy Kauls), was not the name of a specific ethnicity but the title of an ancient Hindu Brahmanical priestly caste who lived in what are now Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Indian state of Kashmir.

"The tribe of Ioud or the Brahmin Abraham, was expelled from or left the Maturea of the kingdom of Oude in India and, settling in Goshen, or the house of the Sun or Heliopolis in Egypt, gave it the name of the place which they had left in India, Maturea." (Anacalypsis; Vol. I, p. 405.)

"He was of the religion or sect of Persia, and of Melchizedek."(Vol. I, p. 364.)

"The Persians also claim Ibrahim, i.e. Abraham, for their founder, as well as the Jews. Thus we see that according to all ancient history the Persians, the Jews, and the Arabians are descendants of Abraham.(p.85) ...We are told that Terah, the father of Abraham, originally came from an Eastern country called Ur, of the Chaldees or Culdees, to dwell in a district called Mesopotamia. Sometime after he had dwelt there, Abraham, or Abram, or Brahma, and his wife Sara or Sarai, or Sara-iswati, left their father's family and came into Canaan.

The identity of Abraham and Sara with Brahma and Saraiswati was first pointed out by the Jesuit missionaries."(Vol. I; p. 387.)

Note: Sarah (alternatively spelled Sara) is a Hebrew feminine  given name found in many different areas of the world. Sarah is a consistently popular given name across Europe and North America,  as well as in the Middle East—being commonly used as a female first name by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, and remaining popular also among non-religious members of cultures influenced by these religions.

Frequently, the name refers to Sarah the wife of Abraham in the  Hebrew Bible, the Christian Old Testament and the Islamic Quran. In Arabic, Hebrew and Persian it means woman of high rank, often simply translated as "Princess".  In Modern Hebrew "sarah" (שרה) is the word for "woman minister".

Very interesting sir!

--Swami Chidananda of FOWAI Forum

Very interesting. Thanks for bringing these facts into light. Here is how I think the evolution of various major religions, based on various circumstances/ historical timings: Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) —> Islam —> Judaism —> Christianity.

--Nashville Nagarajan 

WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THIS--MYTH, CONCOCTION OR DIVINE TRUTH?

Hindus say Sanskrit language is divine. “The Sanskrit alphabet called Akshara maala contains 54   letters to some.  Repeated forward and backward, the total is 108 in a 54 bead necklace.  As any name of the Lord, whether known or unknown, is included within these letters (ashtottara sata naamaavali) the number 108 represents the Lord” says the instructional book of Balvihar of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam.   You are all very familiar with my discourse--Sanskrit language is divine: is Tamil too? You are by now familiar with my discourse:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2018/03/knowledge-mysticism-of-numbers-in-hindu.html

KNOWLEDGE & MYSTICISM OF NUMBERS IN HINDU SCRIPTURES nrsrini.blogspot.com KNOWLEDGE & MYSTICISM OF NUMBERS IN HINDU SCRIPTURES (Consolidated by N.R. Srinivasan from the E-mails sent to HR Forum)  MAR...

Mysticism in Vedas is unfathomable. Please recall the mantra;

“Chatvaari Sringo trayo asya paadaa dve seersha sapta hastaaso asya |Triddhaa baddho vrishbho roraveeti maho devo martyaa aavivesa ||

The syllable Om conceived as  the Bull has four horns,three feet and two heads . He has seven hands (oval shaped-0 ). This bull connected in  a threefold manner eloquently.

There are different   explanations of this mantra about which I have talked about before.  But one that is relevant in the context is the first line simply symbolically represents Brahman as a Kalpa Purusha. We all know Brahman is often referred as Time or Kaala and Samvatsara (Samvatasrova apaam pushpam; Kaalaaya namah).  Without explaining its deeper meanings, if we simply write the numbers continuously mentioned in the mantra, it represents 4320000000 Human Years that is Kalpa. 4 comes from four horns, 3 comes from three feet, 2 comes from two heads and 7 zeros that follow comes from seven hands in oval (0) shape!  

 Isavasya Upanishad says Isavasyamidam sarvam --the entire universe is pervaded by Brahman.   If Brahman has pervaded Sanskrit and Tamil languages he should have pervaded every other language too.  But due to human limitations we are not able to see through this   all pervasive nature of Brahman in everuything that we see. But someone who got inspired found the most popular Language English is also pervaded by him and is divine. One divine inspired person has come out with this amazing example to prove even English language is pervaded by Him alone. I have repeatedly explained how the word GOD equivalent of Sathyam is not generic but coined by three English alphabets G=Generator; O=Operator; D=Dis-solver that is Srishthi Sthiti Laya representing Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, Siva).

*Many Hindus fume at the use of the word mythology to describe India’s ancient symbols, sacred texts and stories, because they think it relegates the Hindu religion to fantasy.   It is apparent   that the Vedic Rishis intentionally and brilliantly utilized symbol and myth to simultaneously portray and hide their gnosis of the math of the Unified Field of our existence. "The Gods prefer the cryptic and dislike the obvious.” The higher powers speak in symbols, riddles, paradoxes or conundrums. What we do not comprehend as human beings of limited knowledge unlike the rishis of divine vision, we dismiss as myth.

Please recall my description of Aiyappan Temple and Puri Jaganntath that needs eighteen steps to climb through to reach the Supreme. 18 is a mystic number which by insertion of 0 in the middle becomes 108 represents where 1 represents Saguna Brahman 0 Nirguna Brahman and 8 Ashtadikpalakas his deputies.  It also means 18 things we have to transcend to reach him that I explained. Here 18 could mean  the Trinities--3+Their sum total as Bhagvan with Shadgunas--6 + His empire with Him as the King and his 8 deputies Ashta dikpalakas or his poorna Avatara (Krishna)—9. Please find below the inspired thought of Numerology 369 3+6+9=18.

 369 Key To The Vedic Trinity

3 is for the number representing the Vedic Trinity,
6 is for their names added in total using numerology,
9 is for the name of the divine who manages the three,
This is the name written between our eyes that'll set you free!

3 is the number that begins this numerological mystery,
6 is the number you get from adding the names of the Trinity,
9 is the number you get from the name of universal integrity & dignity,
This is the name that launches you to the skies to the realm of divinity!

This name is KRSNA who is the beginning & the end,
The one who always returns to help the realm transcend,
He is the Grand Architect who is here, there & everywhere,
He is the Master Magician who is here, there & yet nowhere!

How to decode Numerology of \ this cosmic poem:

 MATHEMATICAL KEY TO THE DIVINE 3 6 9

FOR THE TRINITY -- 3

BRAHMA + VISHNU + SHIVA) NAMES ADDED

BRAHMA = 2+18+1+8+13+1= 43

VISHNU = 22+9+19+8+14+21 = 93

SHIVA = 19+8+9+22+1 = 59

SUM TOTAL

43+93+59= 195 = 1+9+5 = 15 = 1+5 = 6

KRSNA in numerology…

K=11 R=18 S=19 N=14 A=1
11+18+19+14+1 = 63 = 6+3 = 9

NOTE: The numbers are taken from their alphabetical order in A to Z (A=1; Z=26)

KRISHNA
K=11 R=18 I= 9 S=19 H=8 N=14 A=1
11+18+9+19+8+14+1 = 90 = 9+0 = 9

3 6 9

This is amazing isn’t it? Some may say it is all coincidence and may dismiss as myth. That only shows how we are not able to comprehend   his all-pervasive nature with our limited knowledge.

 --July 22, 2018

I am incredibly thankful for your contributions and the guru you are, to many.

*NICE

I would have preferred perhaps mystical, magical, legendry.  Jesus' walking on water is not a myth, or Moses parting the sea in not a myth but a miracle?  We need to continue to search for the terms that is accurate, and since, we seem to mean the same thing. Thank you for taking time to explain things to me.

--Dr. Kalai Mugilan

THE WORD HINDU—An Aphabhramsa (corrupted word) of the Arabs Solemnized by the British

Rigveda mentions ten holy rivers that they prayed as their life sustaining source:

Imam may Gange  Yamune Saraswati Sutudri Stoma(ga)m sachataa Parushniyaa Asakniyaa Marudvridhe Vitastaya-Arjakeeye srinuhyaa Sushomayaa ||

Oh Ganga, Oh Yamuna, oh Sarasvati, Oh  Sutudri, Oh Marudvridhaa, Oh Aarjakeeyaa come together and listen to this hymn of mine along with Parusni, Asakni, Vitasta and Sushoma. [With simplicity of a guileless child they prayed to these liquid divinities to be present in their own bodies through their daily needs of worship.]

Puranas glorified seven sacred rivers including three Vedic rivers  Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasavati. These seven rivers are invoked in Kalas Puja to sanctify the water,

"Gangaa cha Yamunaa chaiva Goedaavari Saraswati  Narmade Sindhu Kaaveri jalesmin sannidhim kuru"

Oh Rivers Gangaa, Yamunaa, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri may all you be present in this water!

The Veda Mantra above  is a Jagatee stanza from Rigveda for the invocation of the Regents of various holy rivers in connection with purification rites. It mentions ten deified names of rivers among   which no proper name Sindhu River is mentioned.   How could they have missed the name of such a great river Sindhu?  Therefore the word should be a generic name meaning river in general in the previous mantra and not the proper name of present day river Indus.   Vedas do not mention about all the sindhus (rivers) in the world and they have only mentioned about the rivers on the banks of which Vedic rishis settled in Bharata Khanda, deified them   and so Indus river should have been missed whose generic name in Sanskrit foreigners should have thought as proper name and christened it Sindhu river which Greeks called Indus.  Of course   Jagadguru  Chandrasekaharendra Sarasvati  briefly mentions Sage Kapila lived in California and its name came from Kapilaaranaya.  In our Sankalpa priests refer to USA as Aindra Khanda. If that is so, why we do not find the sacred names of rivers in USA and elsewhere in Vedas?   

Vedic Rishis often expressed their devotion and gratitude to their life-sustaining and purifying rivers they used by proper invocations. Their descendants even when they had emigrated from the banks of those rivers prayed to the river goddesses to be present in any water which they used for their daily needs and worship.

The descendants of our Rishis even when they had emigrated from the banks of those rivers prayed to the river goddess to be present in any water which they used for their daily needs and worship.  With the simplicity of a guileless child they prayed to these water divinities to be present in their own bodies through the connection of water that they used. They also entreated them to purify their body and minds and to vouchsafe them safety and welfare.

Bhattabhaskara takes the name Parushni to Aparushni by attracting the immediately preceding vowel, and tries to interpret each name based on fancied quality of the river—Asakni is called  so because of her white (asita) color; Sushoma passes through a region where soma creepers grow; Vitastaa is never dried up; Sutudri has a fast current. Scholars of Indian History find here the names of those rivers on the banks of which people of Rigveda period settled at a very remote period. They identify Sushoma with  Sohaan  Vitastaa with Jhelum, Asikni with Chinab., Marudvridha with Maruwaardwaan, Purushni with Rabi and Sutudri with Sutlej.

 How could Vedas miss the mighty Indus River that still exists unlike Sarasvati that dried  out or went below the earth now being explored in  parts by modern techniques ? I believe this should have been then called Arjikeya Sindhu on the banks of which Rishis lived and led a peaceful dharmic life and now identified as Indus Valley civilization. The   invaders who could not pronounce this difficult name Arjakeya Sindhu called it simply Sindhu and that too wrongly “Hindu” as they could not comprehend the sound “S”.  Even among Indians today many can’t pronounce “zha” of Tamil or Malaayalam.  Bengalis pronounce “Va” as “Ba”.

At that time,   Vedic people had no idea of what religion is. They followed different traditions to worship the One God Brahman (eko viprah bahuda vadanti) whom they called by many names. In fact there is no equivalent word for “Religion” in the otherwise very rich Sanskrit Language. Not understanding The Universal Dharma and coming from regimental Religious followings, Arabs called the Sanataana   Dharma followers   living on River banks   as Hindus and their following Hinduism. –ism was a derogatory suffix which they avoided calling their own religion—Christianity, Islam. Both hated Jews from whom they descended and called their religion also Judaism. Greeks could not pronounce H in Hinduism and it became INDU as Chinese call us even today. From INDU came INDIA that British finally solemnized.

Things changed as time passed by.  Discontented some moved out of Sanatana Dharma and called themselves Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs after their followers. Only Jains, out of the other departed from Sanatana Dharma, got their minority religious status like Christianity and Islam in India in 2014.  Many so designated Hindus practicing Sanatana Dharma got converted by force by proselytization or voluntarily to Christianity and Islam. But many remained called as Hindus by their geographical identity. It is strange no other religion is called by a geographical name. Jews are not called Isralites. Christians are not called Nazareths and Islams, Mekkas and their religion Nazarethism or Mekkaism or Jerusalemism!

Some religious pundits are trying to replace the word Sindhu by Kshipra as Indus River is no longer with us and has donated the holy Land of Sindhu region to Pakistan which has started polluting it by washing its swords. India refuses to correct the Apabhrasmsas HINDU and INDIA though active in changing names of cities like Calcutta, Baroda, Chennai etc. I wonder why having “Satyameva Jayate” as its motto it does not have the guts to declare   Vedanta is its religion which is secular and Universal. Here Sathyam refers to GOD. USA which is a secular country has its motto “In God we Trust”

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

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/03/in-god-we-trust-e-pluribus-unum-and.html

Comments:

Great article. Thank you. 

--Dr. Narayan Bhat

FIXING THE TRUE HISTORY OF INDIA UNLOCKING THE MYTH CONTAINED IN VEDAS

PRE-INDUS VALLEY SETTLEMENT GOES BACK TO  ABOUT 6500 BCE

Harappan culture is civilization without a literature, a mysterious civilization that arose and disappeared with little connection to the later history and peoples of India.   Vedas, are also   portrayed by scholars as a literature without a civilization. In other words, the largest urban civilization of the ancient world is portrayed as civilization without a literary record, while the largest literary record of the ancient world is regarded as a literature without a civilization, though both come from the same part of the world and are traditionally linked together. Today there are five sites larger in size than Mohenjodaro and Harappa, though not as well excavated, and over two thousand smaller sites, the largest being Rakhigari in the Kurukshetra region west of Delhi. This Harappan or Indus Civilization is the largest in size and the greatest in uniformity of all ancient civilizations and India at the time, as India today, hosted a much larger population than the arid regions of the Near East.

Rakhigari,   is a village in Hisar District in the state of Haryana in India, situated 150 kilometers to the northwest of Delhi. It is the site of a pre-Indus Valley Civilization settlement going back to about 6500 BCE. Later, it was also part of the mature Indus Valley Civilization, dating to 2600-1900 BCE.  The site is located in the Ghaggar-Hakra river plain, some 27 km from the seasonal Ghaggar River. Rakhigari encompasses a set of seven mounds, and there are many more settlement mounds in the immediate vicinity.  Not all of them were occupied at the same time. Depending on which mounds to include, the estimates of the size of Rakhigari have been given variously as between 80 and 550 hectares.  In January 2014, the discovery of additional mounds resulted it in becoming the largest Indus Valley Civilization site, overtaking Mohenjodaro (300 Hectares) by almost 50 hectares, resulting almost 350 hectares.

The size and uniqueness of Rakhigarhi has drawn much attention of archaeologists all over the world. It is nearer to Delhi than other major sites, indicating the spread of the Indus Valley Civilization east across North India. Much of the area is yet to be excavated  and publicized. Another related site in the area is Mitathal, which is still awaiting excavation.

 On October 15, 2016, a seven-person committee assembled by the Government of India announced its conclusion that the Sarasvati was a real river flowing in the Indus Valley in ancient time. River Sarasvati is mentioned as Myth in Indian History. “The Sarasvati River is part of our rich cultural heritage and coordinated efforts are needed for its revival that would go a long way in making India Vishvaguru (world leader) once again. [The Indian Space Research Organization] has been working on Saraswati River for the last 20 years. ‒ announced Kavita Jain, Haryana Art and Cultural Affairs Minister, 2018.

In the past History of India has been written by the British or by those Indians, British educated,  and that history has been   made the curriculum in Indian schools as True History of India which is taught in schools in India today even after 70 years of Independence. This was done to establish the supremacy of Christianity as being more ancient and true religion for the world and to promote Christianity in India instead of being grateful to Sanatana dharma that gave refuge to religions like Christianity,  Zoroastrianism, Judaism etc. Islam forced itself on India with its sword.  Yet Hinduism could not be wiped out and it progressed\ well along with other   minor religions whom they never attacked ( as they believed in dharmo rakshati rakshitah). While Christians were thrown to lions in the arena by Romans in Europe Christians built their first church in India in 54 A.D. Some departed from Sanatana Dharma and established their own religion adapting its Dharma partly pleasing to them—Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism etc.

Opposition to this government-led Sarasvati revival project can be found in the tone of a July 7, 2018 Scroll. In article announcing a 20-minute documentary film by Shirley Abraham and Amit Madheshiya entitled ‘Searching for Saraswati’, which the New York Times published via its Op-Doc video channel on July 10, 2018.  The title of the Scroll. In article reads “A documentary captures the hunt for the mythical Saraswati: ‘A gold rush for a trickle of water’”.

Fixing the import of Vedic terms, the sense of Vedic symbols] will explain and justify rationally the whole ancient tradition of India; for it will be found that, in sober truth … the great Indian religions do go back in their source to Vedic origins…. Incidentally, some light may be thrown on the obscurities of early cult and myth in other ancient nations. Finally, the in-coherencies of the Vedic texts will at once be explained and disappear. They exist in appearance only, because the real thread of the sense is to be found in an inner meaning.’ ‒ Sri Aurobindo, The Secret of the Veda, CWSA, Vol. 15, pp. 1-9

 Many Hindus cringe at the use of the word mythology to describe India’s ancient symbols, sacred texts and stories, because they think it relegates the Hindu religion to fantasy.   It is apparent   that the Vedic Rishis intentionally and brilliantly utilized symbol and myth to simultaneously portray and hide their gnosis of the math of the Unified Field of our existence. "The Gods prefer the cryptic and dislike the obvious.” The higher powers speak in symbols, riddles, paradoxes or conundrums. Figure seven (sapta sapta) found in Veda mantras is sacred for a Hindu and is dismissed as myth by critics. Vedic historian David Frawley suggests that in addition to referring to physical rivers of the Indus Valley, these seven rivers are symbols of seven chakras of the human body.  Vedas mandate prayers to Ten Sacred Rivers. Most Vedic scholars and Hindus acknowledge that the Vedas have multiple layers of meaning, ranging from historic to symbolic. Trying to see into these layers and to decipher what the symbols of the Vedic Seers (Rishis) actually symbolize has been a long (multi-millennia) quest of historians, scholars and yogis alike. About which I have talked about.   Sri Aurobindo has suggested in his writings, most have come up short in terms of understanding the cohesive and luminous gnosis of the Rishis. In Circa 1910-14, he wrote: ‘Religious movements and revolutions have come and gone or left their mark but after all and through all the Veda remains to us our Rock of the Ages, our eternal foundation…. Yet for some two thousand years at least no Indian has really understood the Vedas.’‒ Sri Aurobindo, India’s Rebirth, pp. 265-66

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.

Please go through my compilation:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2018/03/knowledge-mysticism-of-numbers-in-hindu.html

--July 15, 2018

Comments:

Excellent topic. I am worried about how the so called “historians” (with the influence by British and others) changed the timings to recent past instead of a real long time ago - mainly to reduce the significance of Hinduism and India - compared to Greek and other civilizations. Thanks –

--Nashville Nagarajan. 

SINGLE LINERS OF PRACTICAL WISDOM & MANTRAS TO FOCUS FROM UPANISHADS

Upanishads as part of Vedas are the basic scriptures of Hinduism.  The Vedanta philosophy with which the modern savants and philosophers are now fairly familiar, is based on them. Hence it is essential that every educated person in the world, especially Hindus, should have a basic knowledge of   Upanishads.

“The Upanishads are the great mine of strength. Therein lies strength enough to invigorate the whole world; the whole world can be vivified, made strong, energized through them. They call with trumpet voice upon the weak, the miserable and the downtrodden of all races, all creeds all sects, to stand on their feet and be free; freedom--physical freedom, mental freedom and spiritual freedom are the watchword of the Upanishads” says Vivekananda. This brief discourse on twelve cardinal Upanishads will inspire you if not guide you to acquire such a vision. “People often ask what these Upanishads are all about. Those who have not heard Vedanta are especially curious why some of their friends attend the classes endlessly. Here are ten sips of the nectar – of the wisdom of the Rishis” says Swami Chidananda. He picks ten maxims from   these ten cardinal Upanishads as an attempt to provide samples.

I was inspired by the ARANI SERIES Spark 47 in which Swami Chidananda of FOWAI Forum spoke elaborately on TEN SIPS OF VEDĀNTA--Single-liners from Upanishads. Pujya Swmaiji by the word Sip which means Achamana to a religious practitioner carried my thoughts to Achamana Ritual in Sandhyaa-vandana Niytya Karma. The sips suggested by Swamiji should therefore magnetize us for the study of the Upanishads. We also chant twelve names of the Supreme during Sandhyavandana irrespective of our following—Saiva, Vaishnava or Sakta. Therefore, I added two more Upanishads— Svetasvatara and Mahanarayana (MNU).     

All are agreed upon the Ten Cardinal Upanishads Isavasya, Kena, Katha, Prasna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Aitreya, Taittariya, Brihadaranyaka and Chaandogya on which Sankara has elaborately commented upon. Spiritual leaders of Advaita lineage pick up Kaivalya Upnaishad as their 11^th choice while Visishtadvaita followers pickup Svetasvatara Upanishad and Advaita followers Kaivalya Upanishad. They waver on 12^th choice.  Though many Advaitins wrongly think that Mahanarayana Upanishad leans heavily on Visishtadvaita Advaita School of Ramakrishna Math has focused on it as  Mantropanishad,  elaborately commented upon by Saayana,  a well-known commentator. Swami Chidananda has focused on 10 Maxims drawn from major Upanishads to which I have added two more so useful to shape our life  to live in peace  and  enjoy life and at the same time not  to forget  our goal in life. Once we are familiar with these Maxims it is worth looking into the full mantras from which these Maxims have been phrased. With this background I though it is also worth acquainting you with the theme of these 12 important Upanishads as well as the key Mantras from them that would inspire regular study of Upanishads.  Also gist of all these Upanishad is only Exposition of Brahman.  With this you will get a glimpse of these wonderful works about which you should acquire basic knowledge. If you had closely followed my discourse on Upanishads in the past you would have already had enough opportunity to have that basic knowledge. Please go through my detailed compilation from several authors:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2018/07/single-liners-of-practical-wisdom.html

--July 14, 2018

Comments:

I like this compilation for everyone’s view. That is great.   You are doing a wonderful Service to our community.  Thanks for everything. 

--Nagarajan from Nashville

PANCHAAKSHAREE MANTRA AND PANCHABHOOTA LINGAS

Namah Sivaya is a Panchaksharee Mantra of five letters which is a mantra distinguished by the absence of OM unlike all other mantras. But people by their ignorance convert it to Shadaaksharee mantra (six lettered) by adding OM and chant “Om namah Sivaaya”

Please refer to Namakam in Srirudram where from this Mantra originates:

“Namh somaaya cha rudraaya cha namstaamraaya cha arunaaya cha namah sankhaaya cha pasupataye cha   nama ugraaya cha bheemaaya cha namo agre vadhaaya cha doorevadhaaya cha namo hantre cha haneeyase cha namo vrikshebhyo harikesebhyo namstaaraaya namassmbhave cha mayobhave cha namah sankaraaya cha mayaskraaya cha   NAMAH SIVAAYA cha…….”

n fact in Namakam there is no prefix of OM to any of the names. Have you ever thought of it, why it is so? Rudram is not addressed to any aspect of Parabrahman as Siva/Vishnu/Rudra (Dissolution/) Sustenance/Creation) but to Parabrahman Itself who protects us from miseries (rutaat traayate iti Rudrah).

Panchksaharee is also addressed to Parabrahaman as Five Primary Elements called  Panchabhootas that are Prithvee,  Aapah, Agni, Vaayu, and  Aakaasa—Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space or Ether. These five emanations (vyahritis) of Parabrahman are addressed as Parabrahman Itself, in Vedas and worshiped. Therefore OM is superfluous before Namah Sivaaya.

Allured by Puranas we later created Trinities and 33 Koti (Kind or Crore) devatas by its literal meaning, multiplying 33 Vedic deities (8 Vasus+11 Rudras+12 Adityas+Indra+Prajapati). Which process is still continuing for our ignorance is never-ending! This Prajapati turned to Brahma in Puranas. Koti in Vedas means KIND. By our own ignorance we think Linga is a Sectarian God Siva and employ Chamakam for Abhishekam  and avoid Purushasooktam and vice versa. Look at the mantras Aatmaaya namah,  Aatmalingaaya namah; Paramaaya namah, Paramalingaaya namah and judge yourselves, what all these mantras mean and whom we are worshiping!

The Panchakshara   literally means "five letters" in Sanskrit and refers to the five holy letters Na, Ma, Śi, Vā and Ya. This is prayer to Parabrahman. The holy word chant to worship Siva  is made of five letters and is popularly called Panchakshara- Na, Ma, Śi, Vā, and Ya. According to Hindu traditions, the human body is considered to be made up of five elements and these holy letters represent these elements. Na Consecrates Prithvi Tattva (Earth element), Ma does the same with Jal Tattva (Water factor) Si energizes Agni Tattva (Fire element) Va energizes Vayu Tattva (Air factor) and finally Ya energizes Akasha Tattva (Sky/Space element).|

Siva is worshiped as element Earth in Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram,  Tamil Nadu.  He is worshiped as element Water in Thiruvanaikaval Temple, Trichy, Tamil  Nadu. He is worshiped as element of  Fire in  Arunachaleshwarar Temple, Thiruvannamalai,  Tamil Nadu, Pradesh. He is worshiped as element Space (Sky)   Natarajar Temple, Chidambaram, Tamil  Nadu.

Naagendra Haaraaya TriLocanaaya | Bhasmanggaraagaaya  Maheshvaraaya |

Nityaaya Shuddhaaya Digambaraaya| Tasmai "Na" kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya||

Meaning: The great Shiva who has the King of Snakes as His garland and, has three Eyes in his face, whose body is smeared with sacred ashes and who is the great Lord, the supreme God. Who is eternal, who is ever pure and who lappears naked (but has the four directions as his clothes), salutations to that Shiva, who is represented by syllable Na, the first syllable of the Panchakshara mantra.

Mandaakinee Salila Chandana  -Chaarchitaaya | Nandeeshvara-Pramatha-Naatha-Maheshvaraaya |

MandaaraPushpa-BahuPushpa-SuPoojitaaya, | Tasmai "Ma"kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya. ||

Meaning: Who is Worshipped with water from the River Mandakini and Smeared with sandal paste, Who is the Lord of Nandi and of the ghosts and goblins, the great Lord, who is Worshipped with Mandara and Many Other flowers--Salutations to that Shiva, who is represented by syllable Ma, the second syllable of the Panchaksha Mantra,  

Sivaaya Gauree  Vadanaaabja Vrinda | Sooryaaya Dakssadhvara Naashakaaya 

Sree Neelakanntthaaya Vrissa Dhvajaaya | Tasmai "Si"kaaraaya Namah Sivaaya ||

Meaning: Who is Auspicious and who is like the Sun causing the lotus-Face of mother Gauri to blossom, who is the destroyer of the arrogance of Daksha, who has a blue throat and has a bull as His emblem--Salutations to that Shiva, who is represented by syllable Shi, The third syllable of the Panchakshara Mantra.  

Vasissttha-Kumbhodbhava-GautamaAarya | Munindra-Devaarchita-Shekharaaya |

Chandraarka-Vaishvaanara-Lochanaaya | Tasmai "Va"kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya ||

Meaning: Who is Worshipped by the best and most respected sages like Vasistha, Agastya and Gautama and also by the Gods and who is the Crown of the Universe, who has the Chandra (Moon), Surya (Sun) and Agni (Fire) as His three eyes--salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable Va The fourth syllable of the Panchakshara Mantra.  

Yaksha Svaroopaaya Jathaadharaaya | Pinaaka hasta Sanaatanaaya |

Divyaaya Devaaya Digambaraaya | Tasmai "Ya"kaaraaya Namah Shivaaya||

Meaning: Salutations to Shiva, who bears the form of a YAKSHA and who has matted hairs, who has the trident in His Hhand and who is eternal, who is divine,who is the shining one and who has the four directions as His clothes (signifying that He is ever free)--Salutations to that Shiva, Who is represented by syllable Ya, The fifth syllable of the Panchakshara Mantra.  

Panchaakssaramidam punyam yah pathet shivasamnidhau |

Shivalokamaaavaapnoti Shivena Saha Modate ||

Meaning: Whoever recites this Panchakshara hymn in praise of the five syllables of Na-Ma-Shi-Va-Ya, he is near Shiva every time, and will attain the abode of Shiva and enjoy His Bliss.

In this context please go through my detailed discourse on Aaaksa Linga of Chidambaram clouded in the mystery popularly known as Chidambara Rahasyam.

Comments:

Thanks uncle. This is very interesting. We have planned a trip to visit the Pancha-bhoota lingam Temples end of this month. This information will be useful.

--Dr. DRL Anand

Thank you for this Post. If my memory serves me right, you had delivered an exhaustive Discourse too on the subject.  My sincere thanks again to you for all the Postings and Discourses that are immensely useful always .

 TKP Naig

Informative and illuminating. Thanks for posting!

--A.S. Narayana

--July 13, 2018

WHY HAVE WE FORGOTTEN TO HONOR OUR GURUS AND IMPORTANCE GURU PURNIMA DAY 

 This year Thank-A-teacher Campaign in USA dedicated one whole week May 7-11 as Teacher’s Appreciation week in USA. A Hindu’s social life is so fabricated with religion that no social event goes without running to the temple and celebrating the event as Special Religious Event Day (SRED). Thus we declare Father’s Day, Mothers’ Day, as well as other National Holidays as SRED.    Hindu American Temple is kept open all day long on these days but in order to avoid any criticism of Americanizing  Hindu Worship from our Religious Pundits, this action  is covered up by saying—Hindu Temple is an altar of worship and people can visit anytime temple for worship and week-ends and National Holidays are most convenient for leisurely and elaborate  worship and have tried hard to find a deity to focus on.

In India Teacher’s day is a Social event dedicated to Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, Philosopher-President on his Birthday. Somehow Hindu Temples in USA as well as India Associations are silent on this important task of Honoring our Teachers even though Vedas mandate “Acharya devo bhava” consider your Guru as God. Of course here Vedas have been referring only to teachers of Gurukula or those who impart   Paravidya, Spiritual Education. Teachers give us so much in life, a boost of confidence when we really need one. Extra help when we’re having trouble. A welcoming presence when everything else seems out of control. And though we know we can’t ever thank them enough, we can take a moment during Guru Purnima Day to share our appreciation for the special educators who share their knowledge and benefit us in our lives.

Let us think for a while the tireless and selfless service rendered by our Voluntary Service Sunday School Teachers of Vedic Heritage classes, Baal Vihaar classes etc., and the selfless service of monasteries of Chinmaya Trust, FOWAI Forum, Arsha Vidya Gurukul, Ramakrishna Math etc. and gurus like Ravi Sankar, Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev, Phil Goldberg,  David Frawley and a host of others in USA helping the spiritual growth and progress of Hindu Community. These teachers in USA are promoting Paravidya that is neither taught at home by the busy parents nor in regular schools of the Secular State in making people spiritually conscious and promoting spiritual education. July 26 this year is Guru Purnima Day. What better Day is there to dedicate a day like this for these Gurus and honor them by observing this day as a Special Worship Day in all Hindu Temples? Let us start this tradition as an annual event this year. Why this year? This year Guru Purnima is something unique as told by the famous Vedic Astrologer Bharat Vibhushan David Frawley:

“We will be experiencing one of the most powerful #Mars in history this month according to Vedic astrology. Mars will be at its brightest in the sky in fifteen years and brighter than Jupiter. It will be in its sign of exaltation in Capricorn. It will be retrograde. It will conjunct the south lunar node Ketu, which has a Mars like energy. On July 26 at its maximum point of brightness it will   conjunct the full Moon in Capricorn that will also be the longest total lunar eclipse of the century, visible in India on Jul7y 27 but not in USA. Lastly it will be the sacred Hindu date of #GuruPurnima, when the guru is to be worshipped. Lord #Skanda, the deity ruling Mars, and #Agni, the divine Fire behind Mars!” Lord Subhramanya is hailed as Guruguha who even taught his father Lord Siva hailed in Upanishads as Skanda! Skanda taught Sage Narada Bhumvidya, Knowledge of Brahman as Deva who is Sathyam, Jnaanam, Amalam, Anatam while Devatas (mentioned in Gita as devavratah yaanti Devan) are Sat-Chit-Ananda.

Guru   Poornima is the   birthday of Krishna Dwaipaayana, popularly known as Veda Vyaasa. It falls on the full moon day in the Hindu calendar month of Aashaadha. It is an auspicious day not only for Hindus but also for Buddhists and Jains. It is on this day Buddha gave his first sermon in Saranath in India after enlightenment. After the Nirvana of Mahavir Vardhamana, Indrabhuta Gautama was born as first Ganaadhara on this day. In India this day heralds the eagerly awaited rainy season so important to the crops. The period of Chaaturmaasa (Four months) begins on this day. Sanyasins (recluses) in India stay at one place for four months for the next four months beginning this day and study Brahma Sootra of Veda Vyaasa practicing meditation refraining from their routine of wandering as mendicants.

One of the  most important thing  repeatedly quoted in our Upanishads and religious scriptures is that no intellectual progress is ever possible in any field of life without the active help and guidance of a teacher, more so in the field of spiritual education.   It will be fitting and proper to dedicate this day to Vedavyaasa and to our   teachers who are striving hard to carry on his mission by tireless and selfless service for our intellectual and spiritual progress.  May I recall in this context the most popular Shanti Mantra we sing every day with or without understanding its meaning:

Om sahanaavavatu | saha nau bhunaktu | saha veeryam karavaavahai ||  tejasvi naavadheetamastu maa vidvishaavahai || Om saantih! saantih!   saantih!

[Om! May he protect us both (teacher and the taught)! May He cause us to enjoy! May we strive together! May our study become brilliant! May we not become disputatious! Om Peace! Peace! Peace!]

Please go through my detailed discourse on Guru Purnima for detailed information:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/06/guru-poornima-celebration.html

-- July 8 2018

THE TWELVE MAGNETIZING SIPS OF VEDANTA

The Upanishads, ancient accounts of mystical revelations, have been the inspiration behind all systems of Hindu Religion and remain the primary source of spiritual guidance for millions of believers today. Freedom, physical freedom, mental freedom and spiritual freedom are the “Amrita Bindus” nectarine drops of the Upanishads-- says Swami Vivekananda. Swami   Chidananda of FOWAI Forum has collected ten of these nectarine drops as the wisdom of our ancient Rishis to present to us this Sunday. Such a wisdom is present in all the 108 Upanishads but Swmai Chidananda of Advaita school of philosophy has focused his thoughts on ten cardinal Upanishads on which Sanakra has presented his Bhashyam (commentaries). To this I have added two more which are no less in spiritual content than the rest on which Sankara has commented in his short span of life, and presented the key-note address of those twelve Upanishads.   I was inspired by the word “ten sips” of Swmaiji which carried my thoughts to Achamana Ritual in Sandhyavandana niytya Karma.  During Aachamana ritual, we   think of the noble qualities of the Supreme as well as the good that it will bring to merge ourselves with the Supreme Principle of the World. During Aachmana the water that we sip in, cleanses our inner self.  We touch the lips. It means we are revitalizing the spot that is meant for the chanting. Then we are touching our head. It means we are energizing the body for meditation. Thus we are getting charged magnetically our whole system even before the commencement of worship and awaken ourselves. The sips suggested by Swamiji should therefore   magnetize us for the study of the Upanishads. We also chant twelve names of the Supreme here irrespective of our following—Saiva, Vaishnava or Sakta. Therefore,  I added two more Upanishads— Svetasvatara and Mahanarayana (MNU), that are no less rich in spiritual content. MNU is a Mantropanishad,  like Kaivalya Upanishad which is more a Yogopanishad,  but much more packed with  Veda mantras. These twelve thoughts are from Swami Prabhavananda, Swami Harshananda and Swami Devananda.

 Isavasya Upanishad

Life in the world and life in the spirit are not incompatible. Work, or action, is not contrary to knowledge of God, but indeed, if performed without attachment, is a means to it. On the other hand, renunciation is the renunciation of the ego, of selfishness—not of life. The end, both of work and of renunciation, is to know the Self within and Brahman without, and to realize their identity. The Self is Brahman, and Brahman is all.

Kena Uppanishad

The power behind every activity of nature and of human is the power of Brahman. To realize this truth is to be immortal.

Katha Upanishad

There the sun shines not, nor the stars, nor the lightning flashes, what to speak of fire? He shining everything shines. Through His light everything becomes effulgent!

Mundaka Upanishad

Since the manifold objects of sense are merely emanations of Brahman, to know them in themselves is not enough. Since all the actions of humans are but phases of the universal process of creation, action alone is not enough.

The sage must distinguish between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is of things, acts, and relations. But wisdom is of Brahman alone; and, beyond all things, acts, and relations, he abides forever. To become one with Him is the only wisdom.

Aitreya Upanishad

Brahman, source, sustenance, and end of the universe, partakes of every phase of existence. He wakes with the waking human, dreams with the dreamer, and sleeps the deep sleep of the dreamless sleeper; but He transcends these three states to become Himself. His true nature is pure consciousness.

Taittareeya Upanishad

Man, in his ignorance, identifies himself with the material sheaths that encompass his true Self. Transcending these, he becomes one with Brahman, who is pure Bliss (Ananda)

Prasna Upanishad

A human Being is composed of such elements as vital breath, deeds, thought, and the senses—all of them deriving their being from the Self.  They have come of the Self, and in the Self they ultimately disappear—even as the waters of a river s disappear in the sea.

Mandukya Upanishad

All this (manifested world) is the syllable OM. Whatever exists  in time—the past, present and the future-as also whatever is beyond it, that too is OM.

Chandogya Upanishad

Brahman is all. From Brahman come appearances, sensations, desires, deeds etc. But all these are merely name and form. To know Brahman one must experience the identity between the human and the Self or Brahman dwelling within the lotus of the heart. Only by so doing can the human being escape from sorrow and death and become one with the subtle essence beyond all knowledge.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

The Self is the dearest of all things, and only through the Self is anything else is dear. The self is the origin of all finite happiness, but it is itself pure bliss, transcending definition. It remains unaffected by deeds, good or bad. It is beyond feeling and beyond knowledge, but it is not beyond the mediation of a sage.

Svetasvatara Upanishad

Meditation can be learned, and it must be practiced according to accepted rules. By its means it is possible  to realize the personal Brahman, who, in union with Maya, creates, preserves, and dissolves the universe, and likewise the impersonal Brahman who transcend all forms of being, who eternally is, without attribute and without action.

Mahanarayana Upanishad

We invoke the Creator of the universe, who sustains the creation in many ways and who witnesses the thoughts and deeds of all human beings. May He give us plenty of excellent wealth!

ARANI SERIES Spark 47

 TEN SIPS OF VEDĀNTA--Single-liners from Upanishads

   People often ask what these Upanishads are all about. Those who have not heard Vedanta are especially curious why some of their friends attend the classes endlessly. The following is an attempt to provide samples. Here are ten sips of the nectar – of the wisdom of the Rishis.

1 Win-win is possible: We can see others (and others’ good) in ourselves (in our own good), and we can perceive ourselves (our own good) in others (in others’ well-being).

   See all in the Self, and the Self in all.

   | yas-tu sarvāni bhootāni ātmani eva anupashyati | Ishāvāsya, mantra 6

2 Do not underestimate your potential: Great abilities – in both material and spiritual fields – reside within you. Tap them.

   We get strength from within the Self.

   | ātmanā vindate veeryam | Kena 2.4

3 To be able to delay gratification (and attend to duty first) is the secret of success: Pleasure prospect frequently jeopardizes our thought-processes. To put aside temptations and first do meaningful work ensures we keep rising on our chosen path.

   They come up in life who choose ‘the good’ over ‘the pleasant’.

   | Shreya ādadānasya sādhu bhavati | Katha 1.2.1

4 Honesty is the best policy: If we have to choose one value of a hundred that are praised, it is truthfulness.

   Be truthful and attentive; the highest good will be yours.

   | satyena labhyah, tapasā hi esha ātmā | Mundaka 3.1.5

5 Unbiased watching is the highest intelligence: Highest praise is given to Awareness, which is greater than the power of thought.

   The ultimate truth is Awareness.

   | prajnānam brahma | Aitareya 3.1.3

6 Do not be harsh on even those who err: We are advised to be just and fair but not unduly harsh.

   Go to them who are not cruel, and who are concerned with doing right things.

   | alookshāh, dharma-kāmāh syuh | Taittiriya 1.11.4

7 Have faith in higher values: We must protect our faith in eternal values like truth and nonviolence.

   Stay first a year here, spending your days with faith and self-control.

   | shraddhayā samvatsaram samvatsyatha | Prashna 1.2

8 There is a truth, knowing which everything is yours: The rishis called it Om, and said Om is everything.

   Om, the imperishable, is all this.

   | om-ityetad-aksharam idam sarvam | Māndukya, mantra 1

9 Right food, in moderate quantity, leads to purity of mind: They saw, thousands of years ago, the influence of food on our thoughts. Sattvik food in right quantity can help our sadhana a lot.

   The inner equipment gets purified upon taking pure food.

   | āhāra-shuddhau sattva-shuddhih | Chāndogya 7.26.2

10 You cannot ‘find’ truth; all that you can (and need to) do is to negate the false: In their profound insights, the rishis could see truth is neither a physical object nor a mental construct. Through staying watchful, we can identify the false as the false and give it up.

   The way is to see rightly and take the position: not this, not this.

   | neti, neti | Brihadāranyaka Upanishad 2.3.6

 As you know, each of the above has vast significance.

Swami Chidananda

To the above ten I would like to add two more sips:

11 Sa vu garbhe antah..Visvatomukhah—The Lord dwells in the womb of cosmos with his face everywhere.(Sv.Up 11-16)

12 Vidhartaaram havaamahe—We invoke the creator of the universe! (MNU 12-6)

Please listen to Swamiji,    go through the process of electrifying Aachamana of ten sips if not twelve and get  magnetized.

    
 Comments:

This is truly great. Wonderful piece. I understand you are thinking of compiling them for every one's view. This is  truly great! You are doinjg a wonderful service to our community.

--Nashville Nagarajan

CAN JULY 4 BE A SPECIAL RELIGIOUS EVENT DAY

Hindu American Temples     keep the Temple open for long hours on July 4 while all activities are bought to standstill in commercial circles including YMCA to celebrate July 4.  It is almost considered a Special Religious Day in American Hindu Temples for Holiday revelers to visit the temple and pray to the Lord leisurely. To a Hindu Temple is an altar of worship and people come and worship whenever they find time. But how can we make this day a Special Religious Events Day as we do other American Holidays?

Please recall it is Vivekanada who brought Hinduism to the world Forum  and boldly proclaimed “Vedanta is the Religion of the Future For the World” with the Vedic focus “Sanghacchadvam Samavadadvam ;Devo Ekah”—let us come together; speak together that the Lord is One for all humanity.

After all we are celebrating American Independence on a wrong Day which should have been July 2. But yesterday was official America's Independence Day but it   was also Swami Vivekananda's Mahasamadhi anniversary. This man was one of the greatest spiritual energies to have ever descended upon planet Earth and for all the fame and respect he has been given it is my contention that the full extent of the impact of his shakti will be felt only hundreds of years from now. The Swami was an unparalleled glory in yogic terms for nearly the last 500 years in our history. His Guru who was accepted as an Avatar by the learned Pundits of the time, declared Naren to be an incarnation of the Rishi Nara... Sri Aurobindo has declared him to be a Vibhuti of Shiva like Adi Shankara. That is the magnitude of the man, that Himalayan peaks of spirituality hold him in such reverence.

Let us dedicate this Day to Adi  Sankara and Vivekananda and  declare   it a Special Religious Day beside keeping the temple open all day long. After all have we not installed Saibaba idols in some of our temples and deified   spiritual leaders like Swami Narayan, Saibaba, Chaitnya Mahaprbhu Yognanada etc. and also consecrated their idols in Hindu American Temples  for Worship?

--July 5, 2018

Comments:

Regularly, I am going through the text of yours. I am not competent enough to subscribe my views, but matured enough to relish it.

--Sreedhar Audit from Benghaluru

“HINDUISM IS CLOSEST AND APPEALING TO SBNR

Some of you might have heard Rajiv Malhotra discussing the rapidly expanding SBNR movement in the West with the head of the Himalayan Academy, a Hindu organization based in Hawaii. They shared perspectives on:

1.    What this SBNR identity means

2.   Why so many Westerners leave Judeo-Christian identities to classify themselves as SBNR.

3.   How SBNR relates to Hindu Dharma

4.   Why these SNBR Westerners do not wish to call themselves Hindus.

5.   What would be a better approach to secure Westerners who like many aspects of Hinduism but do not call themselves Hindus

6.   The responsibility of Hindu teachers in this regard.

7.   The opportunities and threats Hinduism faces from the SBNR movement.​

          I am surprised on the question  raised  by both in 2  “Why the SBNR Westerners do not wish to call themselves Hindus” I wonder how both missed the point that Hindu is a geographical name  and nothing to do with religion that is followed by more than 90% of the population of India  which is the religion based on Vedanta. Westerners are right in not calling themselves as Hindus as they are not from the and of Sindhu River but are focused on spirituality from Asiatic religions which unfortunately Hindus themselves have not recognized.  I have discussed on this enough in my discourse why I am called a Hindu? Nobody in India is seemed worried to correct the wrong name “Hindu” and “Hinduism” though they fight for changing the names of cities like Calcutta, Baroda, Madras etc.

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

Yet another point is as usual Hindus as usual are   indifferent to Vedanta in general and feel Hinduism can be practiced as they like and need not be Dharma based as stipulated in Vedas while Buddhists and Jains are very serious in spreading the message of Dharma in USA. Jains in USA have moved out of their association with Hindu migrants from India and started their own Vegan based religious Organization JAINA about which I talked about.  Our founding fathers of Hindu Temples in America were right and initially thought of unifying all Dharma based religions and so consecrated Buddha, Vardhamana, Swami Narayan, Murtis in Hindu Temples. Sikhs are hard nuts to crack and so are others. Jains who were most adaptable have now moved out, encouraged by their minority religion status in India.   The blame for this disintegration squarely falls on Hindu Americans who lack initiative in promoting Vedanta religion as the Universal binding force as Swami   Vivekananda propagated. 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/05/vedanta-religion-everlasting-universal.html

Spiritually inclined Christians feel that they have a lot to learn from both inter and intra religious dialogue learning from other religions. What will this mean for the future of the church or the Temple? It means these Religious Institutions must be intentional about helping the younger generations grow in their spiritual lives and not get too bogged down with the package and sermons   that organized religion often carries. Young believers are looking for a faith that is authentic, life changing, and relevant to their lives. Young people are also looking to serve and give back. Faith communities that seek to grow and remain vibrant in the 21^st century should take note because, according to Cox, the age of the spirituality is here to stay. We often see Christianity-Hinduism mixed faith couples often visit Hindu Temples and also try to educate their children in Baal Vihaar Vedic Heritage classes while themselves participating in Gita classes. This is because the couples are still influenced by first generation Hindu parents who are at present in large numbers and may not be so in the future.

Christianity too like all known religions possess various sets of prescriptions on rites and observances as a means to practice its distinct religious philosophy. These prescriptions mostly aim at appeasing the God of their perception, for favors of physical well-being.  So those spiritually inclined realize spirituality is replacing formal religion and actually experiencing the divine is much more important than holding correct beliefs or chanting scriptures.

Religion of the Upanishads asserts unity of origin and unity of essence of all beings. It is all about transcending the diversity of external appearances and characteristics and attaining to the unity of inner essence. The spirit of this inner equality makes it devoid of all kinds of discrimination and hatred. It is the universal religion. What it presently lacks is proper dissemination of its principles. Effort to inculcate these principles in the minds of all has to start at the very stage of childhood. This is essential to illumine their future lives with positive values and broader vision of universal oneness.

“The Mandirs have to play a significant role in the growth of the Hindu community in terms of its capacity to uphold Hindu Dharma. 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. 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” say our spiritual Gurus

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.

The temples in the USA are duty-bound to promote a better understanding of the Hindu Dharma, especially among the younger generation, who must become aware of the rationale of their rich cultural heritage with a modern perspective.   The Mandirs have to play a significant role in the growth of the Hindu community in terms of its capacity to uphold the Hindu Dharma. Much of this super-scientific wisdom of the Hindu heritage is couched in symbolic and esoteric representations and anecdotes, the most intelligent means adopted by the ancient explorers of Truth, so that the knowledge can survive and percolate through generations and can be rediscovered in any age by way of proper study, guided research and introspection. The temples, particularly in the U.S.A. have a great part to play in inspiring and motivating the younger generation, particularly the young and budding scholars, to dive deep into these treasures of our hoary wisdom.  Thus they will be well prepared to lead the country spiritually.

Let us therefore realize our responsibility and introduce necessary ways and means to bring back interfaith married couples of whom one is a Hindu to Hindu fold first that  are sitting on the wall without any decision or direction declaring themselves SBNR. The other majority group SBNR will then be naturally drawn to Hinduism realizing its Universal appeal visibly being practiced promoting peace of mind and happiness. Arise Awake Move Forward-Uttishthata; Jagrata; Charaiveti Charaiveti!”

-- July 4, 2018

Comments:

I saw the acronym SBNR. It must have been covered in your past discourses. Can you kindly give the full name of SBNR?

--Sarat Mohapatra

Be cryptic in your blogs. Give the meaning of SBNR instead of a long cyclic explanation.

--Srinath Sundarga

My rebuttal:

I purposely did not expand SBNR as I wanted to know how many of my participants are going through my regular E-mails for which I spend long hours. Evidently you are not. SBNR is a very popular acronym found in GOOGLE as well as Wikipedia. This Email was not to the general Public like the discourses, but to my regular participants for whom I spend lot of time. I often use acronym like MNU, Up., etc., viz., USA, NRS that need no expansion, Similarly oft repeated Veda Mantras need no meaning every time.

This I have repeated many a times.  SBNR is very popular and that is why Rajiv Malhotra has also not expanded it. SBNR means Spiritual But Not Religious. Please refer to my Discourse: "Hindus are most Suited to Promote Spirituality the World Needs Today" Please refer Google as well as Wikipedia that explains this acronym.

Sorry if you have been offended which is not my intention. You are elder to me and I have no qualms in paying my obeisance to you. Hare Krishna -  I am reminded of KULSEKARA ALWAR

Sri Vallabethi Varathethi ............My Prayers to Lord Krishna for your long life.

--SRINATH

KNOW THE TEMPLE BEFORE YOU ENTER, GET POSITIVELY CHARGED, AND WORSHIP

The church belongs to a parish, which has a priest in charge of the parish and a congregation.   So it is a place of assembly, of congregation, and collective prayer. And they have some rituals also. A mosque is also a place for collective prayer. Once a week they all assemble for that. But the Hindu Temple is an altar of worship and therefore people come at different times, during the day, offer their worship, and go.

Hindus visit temple not only for worship but to get rid of negative values, and get positively charged to lead a healthy life. Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum is where earth’s magnetic waves are found to be maximum. We know that there are some copper plates, inscribed with Vedic scripts, buried beneath the presiding deity during consecration ceremony. What are they really?  The copper plate absorbs earth’s magnetic waves and radiates it to the surroundings. Thus a person regularly visiting a temple and walking clockwise around the Main Icon receives the beamed magnetic waves and his body is charged and he is positively charged.  This is a very slow process and a regular visit will let him absorb more of this positive energy.  Scientifically, it is the positive energy that we all require to have a healthy life.

The Hindu temple is a comprehensive expose’ on the evolution of a simple and sacred place of worship to a monument which over the centuries became the pivot of  Hindu  Indian religiosity, culture and aesthetic significance, the superordinate ideological focus of society and polity. Tracing its origin to the pre-Christian era, its sanctity, and the unwavering reverence accorded to it even today and even in a distant country of adoption like USA, is manifested in the elaborate rituals performed within its precincts by devotees, and the festivals celebrated by them.

We in Nashville will be soon participating in Jeernoddharana Kumba-abhishekam of Sri Ganesha Temple after a lapse of twelve years and will be educated by lot of messages and expositions of this sacred ritual and perhaps my last participation. But before our participation it is necessary to understand the philosophic and spiritual significance of a Hindu Temple particularly the Kumbham and Vimanam. The orthodox Hindu Temples are symbolically designed. Its very construction indicates the path of Self-realization. Hindu Temple symbolizes live human body which consists of gross, subtle and casual bodies and the inner Self which is called Aatman, representative of Universal Brahman, the Supreme Principle or Consciousness. Hindu temples are built and consecrated as per Vaastu sastra, Silpa Sastra and Aagama Sastras, well developed architectural science and ritualistic codes of practices. It has a tower rising directly over the sanctum called Vimaana, a four sided diminishing square area. The apex of the Vimaana is a Kalasa or a copper pot. Around the sanctum is a narrow path for circumambulation called Pradakshina-patha. There is a rectangular porch called, Mukhya Mantapa where devotees offer their prayers and observe rituals performed by the priests. At the outer edge is a large hall, known as Mahaa Mantapa, for larger gatherings. The four walls around the temple cover the pillared halls as well as smaller shrines housing other deities. Gopuram or the gate-way tower of later introduction leads magnificence to the temple structure. As one enters the temple, a seat for giving offerings to the deities called Balipeetha is seen. A flag-post called Dwajasthambha is located between Balipeetha and sanctum rising to great heights. The innermost chamber of a temple, where idol is consecrated is called Garbhagriha. It is the location for Supreme Spirit symbolized in the form of deity which is an important part of Hindu temple. It is for the communication between mortals and the Supreme. No one enters this place other than the priest. He too enters the place after seeking the permission of the Lord by prayers and gestures.

The growth of Hindu Dharma in America critically depends on the extent to which the Hindu children remain anchored in their timeless traditions.      Temples need to get actively involved in establishing harmonious and respectful relations with American public in their local communities. This is   presently being done by Sri Ganesha Temple, occasionally inviting people of various faiths to the temple and explaining the spiritual significance of Hindu Temples,   spiritually visualized and built scientifically guided by the ancient spiritual science of architecture called Vaastusaastra that had helped Hindus to spiritually advance.

Those of you who have taken pains to go through my different discourses   on Hindu temples know a lot about it. But for the benefit of those who have lately joined as well as those who had no time to go through my elaborate discourses I take the pleasure in attaching a unique detailed description of Hindu Temple with the background of Vaastrusastra by S. Sreenivasa Rao and my article prepared for the event. I believe that this valuable information will help the community in their activities in educating the children about the sacred concept of a Hindu Temple unlike other places of worship and congregations, in temple tours and in their task of guiding the country spiritually.  As we all know around 40% among the believers in the Supreme in USA now say they are SBNR and to   them, a Hindu temple based on science will become a point for focus for concentration and meditation if properly organized and propagated by the authorities!

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-ancient-science-of-architecture.html

--July 3, 2018

Comments:

An excellent article. It is good to know the Sthala puraanam before we visit any temple. 

--Dr. Dhanjay Marpaka

Truly it is my fortune that I have met you, a great scholar,  a great soul,,,,thank you for your generosity in contributing your articles,,,,for the souvenir. God Bless, have a blessed day. I will go through the articles and pick the gems and jewels to adorn the Kumbabisekam souvenir,,,,to sparkle the spirituality on the pages of Kumbabisekam  souvenir.,,

--Dr. Mittur Ramprasad

 Thanks for sharing this valuable information.

--Aparna Arcot

Very interesting & educative article. Enjoyed reading & viewing varieties of  Gopurams

--Dr. Shashikala Krishnan

This article would be very appropriate for the souvenir, we should include this ,,,,,,,,, along with the one I sent you earlier and one more from Swamiji Chidananda.

See reason for publishing a separate souvenir  it is a special celebration which is done once in twelve years,,,  and  as NR S suggested we have to have special front cover and back cover with kalasam Gopuram and temple picture as he has suggested 

  Now like others have suggested, separate souvenir is really ideal. 1)With  three articles about Kumbhabhishekham , 2) article about evolution of temple 3) article about priests.4)Pictures and write up that is in visitors guide. 5) special pictures 6) Names of all sponsors.) Chairman's article,, we can make a small souvenir of about forty to fifty pages,,,,, which would be really  unique,,,like others have suggested.

--Dr. Mittur Ramprasad

BRAHMASUTRA ON THE SIVALINGA AND ASTRONOMY

The term Linga in Sanskrit means an indicatory mark or emblem which systematically represents that for which it stands. Sivalinga represents the Supreme Being denoted by the word rudra mahaa Deva. Rudra means one who protects from miseries (rutaat traayate iti). The Chandogya Up. III.19.1 describes that the whole universe was hatched out of a golden egg (coming from Hiranyagarbha) which lay a complete year before it brought forth offspring. The spherical dome of the heaven above, appearing to us capping the earth on which we live, may be likened to an enormous semi-section of an egg containing the world. Perhaps this golden egg lender all-inclusive Divine Reality into which the manifold universe was believed to be re-absorbed at the end. The Linga that is worshiped by the devotees of Siva is but a handy replica or a convenient diminutive form of the universal semi-spherical emblem of the Unlimited.

According to Saktas Siva linga represents the phallus. This has provoked criticism both from the West and the East. The critics feel this idea has reduced the Hindu ritual and worship to absurdity.   Linga was  not originally meant to represent the phallus  is  not difficult to establish authoritatively if you study Brahmasutra linga and Sahasra Linga popularized in Kalinga period with no Sakti peetha as seen  in Bhuvanesvar. I personally believe the concept of aniconic form of worship (vyaktaavyakta) was inspired by Brahmasutra where Brahman is symbolized through His creation as his vyahritis introducing the word Linga. Please go through the research work of Deepak Bhattacharya to arrive at a subtle inner meaning in the seemingly absurd symbolism. Strangely he has not quoted Brahmasutras as I have done. Also Sahasralinga should have been inspired by Purushasookta that addresses Brahman as  “Sahasra- seershaa Purushah”. But he says Siva means Truth that is Sathyam that is Brahman though Sankara says Siva means “0” that symbolizes Nirguna Brahaman. Please refer to my discourse on Nirvanshtakam. "The ancient mind was immensely influenced by positional astronomy. It either knew or considered the cosmos to be permanent and that the cosmos was a reality/fact. Relatively, all others, are not. The Sanskrit equivalent term for the word reality /fact alias the truth, is Siva." says Bhattacharya. 

 http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/02/nirvanashatkam-via-negative-approach-to.html

The Brahma sūtras (Sanskrit: ब्रह्म सूत्र), also known as the Vedānta Sūtras (वेदान्त सूत्र), are one of the three canonical texts of the Vedānta school of Hindu philosophy. A thorough study of Vedānta requires a close examination of these three texts, known in Sanskrit as the Prasthanatrayi, or the three starting points. The Brahma sutras constitute the Nyāya prasthāna (न्याय प्रस्थान), or "Logic-based starting point", of the above triplet (Sanskrit न्याय, Nyāya: logic, order). Thus they are also referred to as the Yukti prasthāna, since Yukti (युक्ति) also means reasoning or logic. While the Upanishads (Śruti prasthāna, the starting point of revelation) and the Bhagavad-Gītā (Smriti prasthāna, the starting point of remembered tradition) are the basic source texts of Vedānta, it is in the Brahma sūtras that the teachings of Vedānta are set forth in a systematic and logical order.

Śilpaśāstra (शिल्पशास्त्र, shilpa-shastra) represents the ancient Indian science of creative arts such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vāstuśāstra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

The Hindu philosophical and spiritual truths conveyed through Brahmasutra, the Upanishads and the Puranic literature have also been presented to the masses in the form of symbols focused in Silpasastra, in making images for worship. Linga in Sanskrit means Symbol.  The philosophy of symbolism (Linga) to meditate on Brahman can be traced back to Vedantasutras;

Gatisabdaabhyam tatha hi drishtam lingascha --1.3.14

The small ether is Supreme Brahman, on account of the argument found in the subsequent passages (OM as sabda).

Uttaratra chaitrarathena lingaat—1.3.35

 Pratijnaasiddherlingamaasmarathyah—1-4-20

For the establishment of the proposition “knowledge of all by the knowledge of ONE”, Paramaatman is denoted by terms signifying the Jivatman, thinks Asamartya.

Na sthaanato-api parasya ubhayalingam sarvatra hi—3-2-11

Even on account of the place in which the Supreme Brahman resides such as the earth, atman and others, there is not even a taint of imperfection to the Supreme Brahman, for is it not declared in the Sruti and the Smriti that Brahman has two-folds characteristics of being opposed to all faults and possessing all auspicious qualities.

Ato anantena tathaa hi lingam—3-2-25

Therefore Brahman is characterized by infinite auspicious qualities. So it is established that Brahmanis verily qualified by the two characteristics (Ubhaya Lingam).

Bhogamaatrasaamyalingaaccha—4-4-21

Because there is an indication that equality relates to mere enjoyment of Bliss, the liberated Self is not having the function of creation and others.

In Kalinga period the clever and cunning dynasty popularized   Brahmasutra- linga in Orissa inspired by Brhamsutra.

Brahmasūtra (ब्रह्मसूत्र) is the tracing of certain lines on the liṅga. Two vertical lines are engraved on the surface of the rudrabhāga (or the pūjābhāga, as it is often referred to in the Āgamas). The length of these lines should be, according to the Siddhāntasārāvali, determined by the following rule: “divide the length of the pūjābhāga of the liṅga into three equal parts: divide further the two lower parts into eight equal divisions: now the distance between the two parallel vertical lines should be one of these smaller divisions; the thickness and depths of the lines, should be one-ninth of this division: two lines are to be traced, one on either side, which should begin from near the tops of the vertical lines, descend sloping down and removed farther and farther from the central double parallel lines until they reach a distance which is two divisions from the lowers portion of the pūjābhāga; then the two sloping side-lines, (pārśva-sūtras), should be traced in a horizontal plane so as to meet each other at the back. The two central vertical parallel lines should be joined at their tops by a curved line whose curvature should resemble that of the top or (śiras) of the liṅga.”

The Brahmasutra on the Siva Lingas and the Orion’s Path : Theoretical and Astronomical Study Article (PDF Available)  in Journal of the Asiatic Society  By Deepak Bhattacharya

Siva-Lingas are anicons (symbols). Specimens of various types have been traced at various levels of the archaeological strata all across Asia (Mediterranean rim included); mostly from the Indian sub-continent. The Hindus worship it as the apex anicon and know them as religion related members of the archaeology (some of great antiquity). Numerous types of Lingas have been reported. Many specimens have on them a line drawn in an angled/circular format called Brahmasutra. The Brahmins (scholars) among the Hindu as hereditary practice, also wear a body appendage made of cotton thread(s) called Pavita alias Brahmasutra. Etiology of either has remained unexplained. This study presents a unique pillar device that is considered as Sahara-Linga (millennia indicator) and the common Siva-Linga (fact indicator) which have the Brahmasutra etched on them. The (possible) scientific connotation of all such art forms are discussed. The Sahara-Linga; the Siva-Lingas and the Brahmasutra jointly/severally posits as extraordinary archaeological members, that embeds ancient engineering, mathematics, elements of astronomy (versatile & secular). The Brahmasutra (particularly) is associated with the Orion constellation’s trajectory; epochal precession of the earth (Orion aligned); each device being a variant, marks time in space. The sutra (thread\maxim) is the signature of knowledge about the Cosmos. The ethos of the rudraksa mala (aelocarpus garland), and internal evidence based datum (based on ancient Hindu astronomy) are also discussed. Few interesting transpirations (pertaining to History of Sciences) efflux off this nascent multi-disciplinary approach. All this, for the first time on pan global basis.

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/02/linga-and-saalagraama.html

--July 1, 2018

Comments:

I like it very much.

--TKP Naig