Tuesday, December 31, 2019

THOUGHT OF THE DAY-- NOVEMBER TO DECEMBER 2019


THOUGHT OF THE DAY--NOVEMBEWERTO DECEMBER 20192019tHT  2019

MAY 20/20 SPIRITUAL VISION LEAD US TO POSITIVE DESTINATION FOCUSED ON SIVA WHO HOLDS CRYSTAL SKULL

 
Hindu Americans rush to temples in the early hours on New Years Day to conduct Abhishekam on dark stone deities to get  a clear vision  20/20 of the Lord as milk and yogurt flow down the deity to make resolutions turning to Inner light. The year 2020 is all the more important as 20/20 is attached to all the 12 months of 12 Adityas.  This Abhishekam is all the more important to Lord Siva as Kapaali. He is worshiped as Sphatika Lingam as Chidambarteswara, Sundreswara and Ramanatha in the  Ancient  sacred temples. Sphatika Lingam has divine power. In Puranas Sphatikam (Crystal) is the divine stone which represents the Trimurthi (Lords Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma) and goddess Shakti. As per Yajur Veda  Lord Shiva is also described as “Jyothi sphatika Lingam”, i.e. Lord Shiva is in the form of Jyothi, Lingam and Sphatika. Lord Shiva resides in atom, electron and neutron manifested as Sphatika lingam (anoraneeyaan)

Why Abhishekam on Crystal Linga is considered as most sacred? While the abhisheka (bathing ceremony) water is poured on the crystal Linga, the Linga is hardly visible through it, its colorless form being completely lost in that of water that flows over it. When colored substances like sandal paste or vermilion or colored flower are placed on it, it takes on the color of those substances though it has no color of its own. Thus the Sphatika Linga   is taken as the best representation of Nirguna Brahman of the Upanishads, the all-pervading   Paramaatma who is without any attribute and who for our sake takes on qualities and exhibits Himself as the “Saguna Brahman”, the personal form.  When a devotee observes the abhisheka, he has this uppermost in his mind. 
Crystal Linga or perhaps even Crystal Skull in the hands of Lord Shiva had inspired the mysterious Crystal Skull of Mayan culture and through it many Western cultures who use Crystal Skull  in meditation, to get a clear 20/20 vision to see the Inner light.  There are 13 ancient mystic Crystal skulls in the world. Hinduism might have the answer to the mystery of Crystal Skulls, because of the underground Warangal  temple in ruins today in Andhra Pradesh that is referred to as Kaapaala Murthy temple, literally meaning Temple of the Skull God.  The Sanctum  misses the Crystal skull or Nataraja holding a crystal skull but a glass piece lying there shines like a bulb in the darkness. I will talk about it later in detail soon! Crystal is used to replace diamond and associated with planet Venus.   It is believed Kohinoor Diamond was plundered from an Andhra temple by Muslim rulers replaced by  a crystal  and the Kohinoor  changed several hands to land in  British Museum! Kadavul Temple, Kauai, Hawaii, USA has consecrated 300-Kg, 3-foot-tall, naturally formed Crystal Sivalingam, believed to be the largest six-sided, single-pointed crystal ever found. 
 Crystal 20/20 Vision Towards Peace & Spiritual Purification  in 2020
We have no idea of either  12-12-12 BC nor 02-02-20 BC. 12-12-12 AD that we lived in  the past marked the opening of a gateway to a new dimension of reality that is now unfolding before us as we have crossed the threshold beyond December 12, 2012, a new 2020 vision is becoming apparent as we reflect on our crystalline being Self, and embark on a rebirth and purification of our Spirit.  Hindus only talk about cycle of births and deaths while Abrahmic religions talk about One life to Live. Even we say Human birth is very rare in the cycle of births! The Crystal Skulls continue to support us in raising our consciousness throughout this time of uplift and ascension. We can take pride as the only privileged race of humanity blessed by the Supreme to live in these unique times.
The year 2020 will be the first year since 2012 where at least two digits are the same. February 2nd, 2020 will be the first time we re-encounter a palindromic date:  0202.2020 (date written out numerically is the same when turned back-to-front). 0202.2020 will not only be the next palindromic date, but it will be the first triple threat in eons, meaning that no matter your culture and how you write the date it will retain its reflective quality : mm/dd/yyyy or dd/mm/yyyy or yyyymmdd (y=year;m=month; d=date)
The Mayan culture did not believe the world was ending – this was the end of the 4th world and the beginning of the 5th world. The truth is that what we as a society need to do is look at why did the Mayans themselves vanish as a society and how can we prevent a similar fate. And as far as the crystal skulls they have left behind, they have endured time and shifts through the ages - even better than a mural could preserve - whether ancient, old or contemporary, crystal skulls have access to primordial wisdom. In the present time, one may not be able to "see" what has "vanished" or if the world is now in a better place than an alternate reality, but certainly those ones close to crystal skulls can attest see that their lives have been enriched by crystal skulls.Hinduism is Sanatana, Eternal.
The weekend and date of 02/02/2020 on Sunday is not just a number. It is actually     a very unique and powerful midpoint Equinox Day called Imbolc (Lamb’s Milk).  It is the day of celebration of Mother Earth, and it is also known as "purification day". In Europe, it is officially the day of "candle-mas", which is the Festival of Light - it marks the opening out of the natural world, ovulation, and emerges into the pure Light of Spring, and it is the time for rebirth of the spirit. It is the promise of renewal, of hidden potential, of Earth awakening, and the life force stirring. It is the time to let go of the past and to look to the future, clearing out the old, making both outer and inner space for new beginnings. It is a good time for wish-making, or making a dedication. It is also known as the time of germination and "the quickening of the year".
We’ve been told that 20/20 vision is perfect. Perfect vision has nothing to do with how far our eyes can focus without assistance. It’s all in how we see the world. People who wear rose-colored glasses see only the good in people and circumstances. Those with a gloomy outlook with colored glasses are focused on what might go wrong. We all see the world through a particular lens or Maya or Illusion and we can choose what it is. The annual theme for Unity in 2020—"Perfect Vision: Seeing Through a Spiritual Lens”—reminds us of those choices. Each monthly section of onetime and  all time 2020 is focused on a particular way of seeing the world or looking for specific qualities in events and people. Two people in the outback, may both have 20/20 vision, yet one may be blind compared to the other, because one lacks the insight to discern useful meaning from the image the eye provides, whereas the other reads information in the image that spells survival  and progress turning inwards--"atmana vindate veerym; Vijnaanena atmaanam vedayati  atho yuddhyasva vigatajvarah" one gets strength turning to Self; one realizes Self turning deep inwards; act without anxiety!

The Ancient East is spiritual and Modern West is material. We as Hindu Americans are influenced by both these cultures.  We must combine these cultural differences in a positive way. Though we have declined spiritually from ancient cultures migrating to this country we may have gained something materially and intellectually that can enhance our ascent back to those heights.  As we go forward in our cycle of development we will be able to see back further and achieve such an integration as within these cycles exists an ongoing human evolution, a spiral of  balanced growth. That is the Vision of 20/20 the year 2020 brings in!
In this New Year with   sharper focus on spiritual uplift we need to wake up (Uttishthata Jaagrata) to improve our march towards Liberation. Remember: 20-20 vision is the ability to see everything clearly.
May the Year 2020 bring you warmth, love and light to guide your path to positive destination with 20/20 spiritual vision !
--December 31, 2019

Comments:
Wish you all a Happy Marghazhi, Happy 2020 and Happy Pongal. We have been reading your mails and articles regularly. We are amazed how you manage to cover various topics of immediate relevance and make such a compre-hensive and convincing presentation. Our heartfelt compliments to you and our prayers to god to bless you with continuing good and energy tocarry on your mission.
--BRG Iyengar from Bengaluru 

Thank you very much for this article! Wishing you a happy new year.          --Balachandran  Nair

NASHVILLE BALVIHAR ANNUAL MEET ON THE EVE OF   SPIRITUAL NEW YEAR
The attention of Great grand parents and Grandparents that attended Annual Meet of Baal Vihar on 12.27.2019, (totaling 24, symbolic of 24 of Gayatri  letters looking  at everything as Brahaman--yo maam pasyati sartvatra) were drawn to the following sloka in Gita chanted  by the opening speaker. In Baal Vihaar Schools children have been taught to chant this shloka by teachers prior to eating a meal as a reminder that the food, the body and the act of eating – all are nothing but Brahman or GOD (Genarator; Operator; Dissolver)
brahmaarpanam brahma havirbrahmagnau bramhanaa hutam |
brahmaiva tena gantavyam brahmakarmasamaadhinaa || 24 ||
Brahman is the oblation, Brahman is the offering, Brahman is the fire, Brahman is the one who offers. One whose actions happen while absorbed in Brahman, he only attains Brahman.
For those who are completely absorbed in God-consciousness, the oblation is Brahman, the ladle [long-handled spoon] with which it is offered is Brahman, the act of offering is Brahman, and the sacrificial fire is also Brahman. Such persons, who view everything as God, easily attain him.  This is perfect vision 20/20.
If we truly perform all actions in this world with a spirit of sacrifice called Yajnya, not just some actions, our  vision of the world becomes perfect 20/20. In this shloka, Shri Krishna uses the ritual of a yajnya to paint a picture of what this 20/20 perfect vision looks like. We begin to see Brahman, the eternal essence, in everything.
The music of the Meet took us to what our future would be from 02.02.2020 onwards:  0202.2020 (date written out numerically is the same when turned back-to-front). 0202.2020 will not only be the next palindromic date, but it will be the first triple threat in eons, meaning that no matter what your culture is and how you write the date, it will retain its reflective quality: mm/dd/yyyy or dd/mm/yyyy or yyyymmdd if you do not focus on 20/20 vision   of Gita and enjoy life avoiding palindromic rheumatism. The singer repeatedly asked the audience to wake up!
We have all been watching the ritual of Yajnya in temples. Let’s first examine it from a purely physical perspective. The ladle is made of wood, which has come from the earth, and so has the offering. The person who performs the Yajnya is created out of food, which also has come out of the earth. The flame and the act of Yajnya are both manifestations of cosmic forces. Their ultimate cause can be traced back to the cosmic big bang. The goal has as a thought in the mind of the person, a mind that also has come from nature.
The keynote address began with dedication to our parentage.  Our subtle bodies (Sukshma and Karana sareeras or atman)   enter the man concealed in food and forms the semen (Rhetas). That is why so much importance is given to food and its prayer above! The seed (atman) is brought down from Pitruloka through rain and results in plant that provides food. Rhetas of man mixes with shonita, essence of woman (again from food) in her womb  develops its physical body in the seventh  month  and enters the world with its head compressed as it is delivered in the ninth month and forgets all about the past because of the compression of the brain. Atman in its early womb   stage draws its strength from the food that comes  from the sources of father and mother till it can depend on its own food. Hence this Self is dependent on both the parents and owes its gratitude from very entry into the world that has been repeatedly stressed by the speaker. It is for the newborn to get over this concussion of brain and through Anna, Praana, Jnaana,  Vijnaana get spiritual strength and perfect its vision (Vijnaaneanm atmaanam vedayati) with the help of teachers.
We offer oblations to Great grand-parents as Adityas, grand-parents as Rudras and Parents as Vasus in Hindu Sraddha rituals (vasu-rudra-aditya swarupaya swaha).  Even those that attain Swarga through short-cut devotion on Vaikuntha Ekadasi Day or otherwise have to come back to earth to exhaust their past karma to get Liberation according to Vedanta. So we enter earth after exhausting our joyous time in upper worlds through stay in Pitruloka in Vasurupa   as a particle   form as Vasus or gods of elemental nature. Supreme rules the world with his 33 Emanations (Vedic gods--8 Vasus; 11 Rudras; 12 Adityas; Indra; Prajapati). We try in each of our births to join the source being the part of the source.
That is why the Child as it is born before spiritual awakening is found under the heavy boot of the Lord before awakening drowsy  but as it gains in strength (Aatmanaa vindate Veeryam) gets on to the treasure in the boot as in the socks of Santa Claus and feels happy after spiritual awakening that the speaker pictorially showed.
In Tamil there is a proverb that you can get gold but not Wednesday (pon kidaittaalum Budhan kidaikkadu).  This one time 2020   in Human History falling on Wednesday came to us blessing in disguise as a human race to celebrate 2020 with 20/20 vision but that rare opportunity can become fruitful only with your Spiritual Awakening!

The Meet at Nashville  thus emphasized the need to chant constantly  mantras--matru devo bhava and pitru devo bhava but also not to forget Aachaarya devo bhava! The Meet therefore rewarded their senior-most teacher!

In this New Year with a sharper focus on the things we need to wake up (Uttishthata jaagrata) to improve operational excellence. Remember: 20-20 vision is the ability to see everything clearly. That is why the New Year 2020 was greeted with so much joy with loud music with accompanying instruments and exciting dance performances at the Nashville Reunion of Baalvihaar as a rare event for those living in this Blessed Year! So join the Nashville crowd with 20/20 Spiritual Vision!
--December 29, 2019


WHY DID KRISHNA SAY “AMONG YAJNAS I AM JAPAYAGNA”
According to Karmayoga, actions are of two types, selfless and selfish. Selfish actions bind us to worldly objects, and selfless actions do not. Therefore, Shri Krishna urges us to move gradually from the level of inaction to selfish action first, and then from selfish action to selfless action or yajna. Only through acting in the spirit of yajna will we move forward on the path to realizing the eternal essence.
The word yajna (yajña) has its root in the Sanskrit yaj meaning "to worship, adore, honor, revere" and appears in the early Vedic literature, composed in 2nd millennium BCE.   In Rigveda, Yajurveda (itself a derivative of this root) and others, it means "worship, devotion to anything, prayer and praise, an act of worship or devotion, a form of offering or oblation, and sacrifice".  In post-Vedic literature, the term meant any form of rite, ceremony or devotion with an actual or symbolic offering or effort.
In the Upanishadic times, or after 500 BCE, states Sikora, the meaning of the term Yajna evolved from "ritual sacrifice" performed around fires by priests, to any "personal attitude and action or knowledge" that required devotion and dedication.  The oldest Vedic Upanishads, such as the Chhandogya Upanishad   in Chapter 8 states:
Atha yadyajna ityaachakshate brahmacharyameva tadbrahmacharyena hyeva yo jnaataa tam vindate atha yadishtamityaachakshate brahmjacharyameva tad brahmacharyena hyeveshtvaa-aatmaanam-anuvindate ||
What is commonly called Yajna is really the chaste life of the student of sacred knowledge, for only through the chaste life of a student does he who is a knower find that what is commonly called Istam (sacrificial offering) is really the chaste life of the student of sacred knowledge, for only having searched with chaste life of a student does one find Atman (Soul, Self) |
— Chhandogya Upanishad 8.5.1 
The attainment of knowledge which is Brahmapraaptisadhana is gained through Brahmacharya and as that knowledge is Yajnarupa brahmachrya is Yajnasadhana. The message conveyed in this chapter is Brahmacharya purassara brahmajnaanavaan brahmalokam vindate--One reaches the Supreme abode by practicing austerity and meditating on Brahman. The attainment of knowledge which is the attainment of Brahman (Brahmapraptisadhana) is gained through austerity (brahmacharya) and as the knowledge is in the form of Yajnapurusha (as Vishnu is described in VSN), brahmacharya itself is described as Yajnasadhana (means of achieving success in Sacrificial ritual).
The later Vedic Upanishads expand the idea further by suggesting that Yoga is a form of Yajna (devotion, sacrifice). Shvetashvatara Upanishad  in mantra  1-14, for example, uses the analogy of Yajna materials to explain the means to see one's soul and God, with inner rituals and without external rituals.  It states, "By making one's own body as the lower friction sticks, the syllable Om as the upper friction sticks, then practicing the friction of meditation, one may see the Deva who is hidden, as it were". Deva here refers to Brahman alone-Devo Ekah.
Aatmaanam aranim kritvaa pranavam chottaarinam |dhyaananirmathana abhyaasaat devam pasyen nighoodavat || 1-14 ||
The churning with Pranava (Om) means to practice those that are ordained and abstain from those that are prohibited and shining with virtues truth and penance as described in the mantra.   One has to burn to shine like the Sun (tapasa). Nighoodavat means nighoodha agnivat like the hidden fire in the churning media.
A Yajna includes major ceremonial devotions, with or without a sacred fire, sometimes with feasts and community events. It has, states Nigal, a threefold meaning of worship of the deities (devapujana), unity (sangatikarana) and charity (dána).
 Yajna has been a part of an individual or social ritual since the Vedic times. When the ritual fire – the divine Agni, the god of fire and the messenger of gods – was deployed in a Yajna, mantras were chanted.   The hymns and songs sung and oblations offered into the fire were a form of hospitality towards the Vedic gods.  The offerings were believed to be carried by Agni to the gods, the gods in return were expected to grant boons and benedictions, and thus the ritual served as a means of spiritual exchange between gods and human beings.  The Vedangas, or auxiliary sciences attached to the Vedic literature, define Yajna as follows:
Definition of a Vedic sacrifice
Yajña, sacrifice, is an act by which we surrender something for the sake of the gods. Such an act must rest on a sacred authority (āgama), and serve for man's salvation (śreyortha). The nature of the gift is of less importance. It may be cake (puroāśa), pulse (karu), mixed milk (nāyya), an animal (paśu), the juice of soma-plant (soma), etc., nay, the smallest offerings of butter, flour, and milk may serve for the purpose of a sacrifice.
— Apastamba Anja Paribhasa-sutras 1.1,
The duties for human beings are described in the Vedas, and the Vedas are manifested by God himself. Therefore, the all-pervading Lord is eternally present in the acts of sacrifice says Gita.
karma brahmodbhava viddhi brahmākhara-samudbhavam  |    tasmāt sarva-gata brahma nitya yajñe pratihhitam || BG  3-15 ||
The Vedas emanated from the breath of God: asya mahato bhūtasya niśhvasitametadyad-igvedo yajurveda sāmavedo thavagirasa  (Bihadārayak Upanihad 4.5.11) [v9] “The four Vedas--Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sāma Veda, Atharva Vedaall emanated from the breath of the Supreme Divine Personality. In these eternal Vedas, the duties of humans have been laid down by God himself. These duties have been planned in such a way that through their performance materially engrossed persons may gradually learn to control their desires and slowly elevate themselves from the mode of ignorance (Tamas) to the mode of passion (Rajas), and from the mode of passion to the mode of goodness (Sattva). These duties are enjoined to be dedicated to him as yajña. Hence, duties consecrated as sacrifice to God verily become godly, of the nature of God, and non-different from him.
The Tantra Sāra states yajña to be the Supreme Divine Lord himself: yajño yajña pumāśh chaiva yajñaśho yajña yajñabhāvana | yajñabhuk cheti pañchātmā yajñehvijyo hari svayaṁ.  In the Bhāgavatam (11.19.39), Shree Krishna declares to UddhavA: yajño ’ha bhagavattama[v11] “I, the Son of Vasudev, am Yajña.”  The Vedas state: yajño vai vihu [v12] Yajña is indeed Lord Vishnu himself.” Reiterating this principle, Shree Krishna says in this verse that God is eternally present in the act of sacrifice that matures to Japa sadhana.
To those who are not spiritually inclined, Yajna or offering oblations to sacred fire is a wisdom thought promoted by Vedas as Seva Dharma promoting health of society disinfecting the environment. Recently a complex mixture of over five dozen odoriferous and medical herbs mixture was obtained from Gurukul Kangri Pharmacy in Haridwar and burnt in an indoor environment to study its impact on the environment. A study carried out by a team of scientists at National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) Lucknow has claimed that smoke emitted during havans (fire sacrifice) reduces airborne bacteria to a large extent, minimizing possibility of infectious diseases.   Rigveda says, saints used to perform agnihotra-yagnas daily to purify the environment by sublimating the havan samagri (materials) in fire termed as vayusuddhi.
 
For those who are completely absorbed in God-consciousness, the oblation is Brahman, the ladle [long-handled spoon] with which it is offered is Brahman, the act of offering is Brahman, and the sacrificial fire is also Brahman. Such persons, who view everything as God, easily attain him. -- Read more:  
http://yogananda.com.au/gita/gita0400.html


Please go through my discourse:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2011/10/japa-yoga.html

 --December 28, 2019

INDIAN ORIGINS OF THE MINDFULLNESS TECHNIQUE
With mind, meditate on Me as being prana - Kaushitaki Upanishad, 3.2.
The indigenous dhyana parampara of our culture has been appropriated by the West and repackaged and delivered to the world in the form of so-called Mindfulness, without even acknowledging it's very Vedic roots. Ours is a deep tradition of contemplation and meditation.

The ancient Vedic Rishis churned more and more over the idea of creation and evolution and in this course they handed over to us the brilliant tradition of meditation which is unique to our ethos. Meditation, is being preached in the West as a remedial measure or therapy for many of our physical ailments, has a much superior dimension in the Indian value system which is being obliterated by the materialistic West.

Reclaiming this ancient knowledge, that has exemplary Vedic overtones, is the need of the hour. The goal of spiritual uplift makes it imperative to move ahead on the path of Shravan, Manama, Nididhyasana and at last the culmination in the form of Nirvikalpa Samadhi. The final stage Nididhyāsana is profound meditation on the Mahavakyas, which our seers performed to attain the Advaita of Atman and Brahman. This exquisite Jnana form of meditation with   such a transcendental purpose is the distinctiveness of the Sanatana tradition and difficult to find elsewhere.

Far beyond being a meditative process of the subtle mind, in Vedic culture this so-called “Mindfulness” occupies the central place as a holistic approach towards accomplishing oneness of the Atman with the Brahman.

Similarly, Buddhism aims at enlightenment and Mindfulness is considered the path towards enlightenment. In fact, several sources consider the English word “mindfulness” to be a simple translation of the Buddhist concept of Sati. As per Buddhism, Mindfulness (i.e. Sati) is not present in every state of mind, but needs to be brought into being instead. As soon as Sati is brought into an individual’s being, through various methods, she becomes Bodhisatva and reaches Nirvana thus achieving the goal of absolute enlightenment.

Sanatana Dharma cultures have a long tradition of myriad thought-schools constantly engaging in mutual exchanges, thereby getting influenced with each other. In this context the concept of so-called mindfulness can be traced back to the Vedic ontology particularly the Upanishadic wisdom, which subsequently got manifest in its variants across several Darshans of Indic tradition.

Jnanadeva tu Kaivalyam is the basis of the non-dual tradition which emphasizes on the Jnana Marg to achieve the aim of liberation with the aid of mindfulness. The semblance of the consciousness principles with the mindfulness concept proves this. Therefore the Vedic tradition is, beyond doubt, the foundation of the Mindfulness and the Jnana is a cardinal route to attain expertise over it.

इ॒यंविसृ॑ष्टि॒र्यत॑आब॒भूव॒यदि॑ वा द॒धे यदि॑ वा॒ यो अ॒स्याध्य॑क्षः पर॒मे व्यो॑म॒न्सो अ॒ङ्ग वे॑द॒ यदि॑ वा॒ वेद॑ ७॥
Whence all creation had its origin, he, whether he fashioned it or whether he did not, he, who surveys it all from highest heaven, he knows - or maybe even he does not know.
The aforementioned Nasidiya Sukta is the cornerstone of the inquisitorial approach employed by our Rishis to explore more and more on the subject of Atman and Brahman. In this Sukta, the question of creation is confabulated open-endedly, where first the answer is derived and then left open for further inquisition. This is the ultimate Jnana of the Upanishads.

In his introductory remarks about the Upanishads Maharshi Aurobindo wrote, “The Upanishads are the supreme work of the Indian mind, and that it should be so, that the highest self-expression of its genius, its most sublime   poetry, its greatest creation of the thought and word should be not a literary or poetical masterpiece of the ordinary kind, but a large flood of spiritual revelation of this direct and profound character, is a significant fact, evidence of a unique mentality and unusual turn of spirit.”

Adi Shankaracharya, the great sage of Adavita Vedanta, considers the Upanishads as “the knowledge of the Brahman after the removal of the veil of ignorance.” The consciousness principle is originated out of the mystical teachings of the Upanishads. In our culture, both the orthodox as well as the heterodox schools of thoughts draw inspiration from the Upanishads.

The Shad-Darsanas (Six schools of philosophy) or the Shat-Sastras are: the NYAYA, founded by Gautama Rishi, the VAISESHIKA by Kanada Rishi, the SANKHYA by Kapila Muni, the YOGA by Patanjali Maharshi, the PURVA MIMAMSA by Jaimini, and the UTTARA MIMAMSA or VEDANTA by Badarayana or Vyasa.
All of them have a common goal and that is attainment of liberation (nirvana), though the means are diverse. Among these various pathways, meditation is one of the eight limbs of Yoga being elucidated metaphysically by Patanjali, which is a culmination of the yogi’s sadhana, or practice. It is said, when a yogi reaches the state in which he or she is no longer a slave to the mind, moksha or the true and eternal liberation has been attained.

Mindfulness, thus occupies a place of significance in our classic wisdom and a quintessential technique for the attainment of the goal of enlightenment. Adi Guru Shankara remains the most profound yogi to expound the Advaita Jnana as the source of mindfulness for integration of the Atman and Brahman. Shankara states in his classic work Viveka chudamani:  "Reflection (manana) is hundred times superior to listening (sravana); meditation (nididhyasana) is hundred times superior to reflection; nirvikalpaka samadhi is infinitely superior”.

Hence, in India we have a brilliant tradition of assigning preference to extramundane upliftment over worldly advancements and “Mindfulness” meditation has been an important conveyance to those who aspire to traverse through the path of mystical expedition in Dharmic ethos.

Conversely, the West has always labored hard to appropriate whatever is ours, rewrap it with their own notions and then sell it to the world as their own, without even acknowledging the source.

This practice must be contained. We must individually and collectively safeguard our precious heritage from becoming the victim of such selfish onslaughts.

[Author of the above is Dr. Nidhi Misra who has obtained M. Phil and Ph. D. in History. She has published articles on a variety of historical, Dharmic and Samskritic aspects.]
Dr David Frawley shared this article on his Facebook page and wrote, “Mindfulness is often just another term from the meditation practices that have permeated the dharmic traditions of India. Meditation (dhyana), Self-inquiry (Atma-vichara), taking the attitude of the witness (sakshi-bhava), observing the mind and mindfulness (moment by moment awareness) are central to the Vedic and yogic traditions.”
--December 27, 2019


PARVATI CLONES NARAMUKHA VINAYAKA WORSSHIOPED IN TAMIL NADU AS IN MODERN MEDICAL SCIENCEHIPED IN TAMILNADU


DR.  V.P.  VARTAK SAYS MODERN CLONING CAUGHT THE IDEA FROM VEDAS
 A Vedic Research Scholar & Experienced Doctor from Veda Vijnana Mandal, Pune, India. Reports:
"During 1976, I found mentioned in the Rigveda, that a horse was developed from another horse and a cow was developed from skin of a cow. This miracle was done by three brothers called as Rubhus. I told this finding to an Augustus audience of scientists and doctors during May 1976; when all of them laughed and said this is impossible even for today’s science then how can it be in Vedic era? At that time the word ‘clone’ was not coined at all.
And in 1997 one Irish scientist from Edinburgh, U.K., prepared a lamb from udder of a sheep, the technique being called as ‘Cloning’. Was that not possible for our scientists? If the Indian scientists believed in the Vedic Truths they could have done this miracle, but they did not believe and did not try.  Vedas have given the principle that another animal can be produced from an animal’s skin. The principle came true in 1997, when Dolly was cloned from udder; that means from the skin of the lamb. (Urvashi was created like that).Some scholars criticized that when foreign scientists discover or invent something, you say that it was in the Vedas. For those scholars I would like to tell that the same Rubhus, who were the human beings as told in the Rigveda 1-110-2,4, made their old parents youthful again (Rigveda 1-20-4,1-110-8,4-33-3,4-35-5,4-36-4,4-39-9,1-161-3,7,1-111-1,3-60-3). Giving youthfulness to an old animal is not yet done by the modern science up to 2005 A.D. The miracle of Rubhus was similar to that of Ashvinau, who rejuvenated old sage Chyavana. (Rigveda 1-116-10). How can one deny a fact having so many references? We have to accept the superiority of Vedic sages in the physical sciences, and our scientists have to experiment on such Vedic concepts.
Working on the Vedic principles the sages in the Puranic period prepared a human Clone named as ‘Pruthu’, from one dead king Vena--Vishnu Purana 1-13-8, 9, 33 to 39.  In the modern era a human clone is not yet developed either from a living person or a dead. Modern science dreams that it can be done and the foreign scientists are after it; but the Indian scientists are not even thinking of it. Modern science says that an exact copy of Einstein could be produced by cloning. But I say that it is not possible. Bodily that clone may resemble Einstein; but may not be as intelligent, because there is a precedence in India, which shows that from a villain king Vena, a good-natured Pruthu was cloned. Mind and intelligence depend upon the previous deeds or Karmas as told in the rebirth theory, which is discovered by the ancient India, in Vedic era and has no parallel in the modern science. Here I want to point out that the name ‘Pruthu’ is a very scientific term, because it means an extension. The root ‘Pruth’ means to extend, so ‘Pruthu’ means an extension. The extension was from only one person Vena. The same is the process in cloning, which is an extension of only one animal. Normal offspring are not extensions of only one, they come after union of a male and a female. The word ‘Clone’ has no such root meaning. The Puranas say that the sages did churning of a thigh or a hand. Churning means ‘Manthana’. It is not only mechanical churning using a churner, but includes ‘Vichara-Manthana’, strenuous mental contemplation, along with dissection of dead body. By the strenuous intellectual efforts along with skill of hand, the seers produced a clone from a dead king Vena. The Puranas or the Vedas have not reported from tissue the clone was produced. But please note that in the present experiments it is not reported from which tissue of the udder the clone Dolly was produced. Recent reports state that the Stem cells are used for cloning an animal. The stem cells can be supposed to be the Vedic Chamas.
It is important to note that in the ancient experiment an abnormal clone ‘Nishada’ was produced, who had small head and large body. In the modern experiments, too, abnormal clones are produced. Many modern clones have died immediately. The survival rate of clones is minimal. (London news 11-4-2002. Yuwa Sakal 12-4-02); (WWW.eSakal.com) It is reported in the Vishnu Purana that the Nishada, though an abnormal clone, could live long and could produce children.
So far up to July 2005, no clone from a dead animal is produced by the modern science, though it is a dream of science; but Pruthu was a clone produced from a dead king ‘Vena’. We have ample scope to try in this field.
A male clone is developed from a male in the past history. It is not yet done by the modern science. Two different clones were produced from two different parts of one body in the past. This is not yet done in the modern era.
Shrimad Bhagawata (4/15) states that the sages, later, also had cloned a girl from the left hand of king Vena. This girl later married Pruthu. Such type of experiment of producing a male and a female from a dead male is not yet done in the modern science.
Similar other clones are also reported in the Puranas. Lord Ganapati was produced from the ‘Mala’ (ey), which means the superficial layers of skin of Parvati. This is possible according to the modern science. However, here a male is cloned from a female. Whether it is possible or not is not conceived by the modern science. But I think it is possible. Science knows that a single dose of ‘ X’ chromosome produces a male, while a double dose of X chromosome produces a female. Parvati might have used her skin-cell with two X chromosomes in its nucleus. She might have removed that nucleus having XX and replaced it by a nucleus of her genetic cell or an ovum, which contained a single X chromosome. This might have produced a male clone Ganapati. Ahi-Ravana and Mahi-Ravana used to produce Rakshasas from blood drops. This might be cloning from the white blood corpuscles, which contain nuclei. On 1st May 1999, Saturday, there appeared a news that Japanese scientists have prepared two clones from cells of cow’s milk. If the cells from milk can be cloned, it is certainly more possible to clone an animal from the blood cells"
-- December 24, 2019

WINTER SOLSTICE DAY, A DAY TO WORSHIP SUN AS UNIVERSAL LIGHT & ENERGY
The Sun god was always the most important in any polytheistic culture, and the winter solstice always marked his death and resurrection, or rebirth.  The Sun is the One God, the Light of lights, GOD (G=Generator; O=operator; D=Dissolver)  of gods of the ancient world. This religion of the Sun pervaded the ancient world. It predominated among the Egyptians, Persians, Hindus, and Scythians, to name but a few, extending to the Aztecs, Mayas, Incas, and Pueblo Indians of the New World. Ancient Pre-Christian European traditions of the Greeks, Romans, Celts, Germans, and Slavs, contain strong solar symbolism.  Monotheistic approaches like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam contain a symbolism of light. There is a strong solar symbolism in Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, and Shinto, and many other traditions. Such spiritual teachings of light link the human being to the Sun and regard us as “children of the Sun,” forms of light on earth taking birth to fulfill the solar will towards greater life and consciousness. We can say that the natural religion of our species is the Religion of the Sun. 
The Sun is the most powerful influence in nature, responsible for the light and energy through which all life on earth functions, and sustaining the force of gravity through which the earth revolves. The Sun is the ruler of our solar system and all that occurs within it. Yet though we all may welcome the sunlight every day, we seldom consider the spiritual reality of the Sun or honor the sacred presence and higher spirit behind it. We take the sunlight for granted or value it for providing us food, better health or an alternative energy source!
Each year, the winter solstice falls a few days before Christmas and New Year's Eve. This isn't just a fun coincidence; in fact, there's a much deeper meaning there. According to Alokananda.com, "The spiritual and energetic significance of the winter solstice is multi-layered, but the most direct relevance is that it symbolizes the birth of the sun." The birth of the sign is representative of the birth of Jesus. Alokananda.com says, "The birth of these higher beings at this time of the solstice is symbolic of the birth of the spiritual sun within, that we are not separate from the creator, as we have been conditioned to believe to feel that we are less than divine beings." That's where the religious aspect comes in.
The early Christian Gnosis did not spring up in isolation, but drew upon earlier sources. Drawing inspiration from the Hellenistic doctrine of the "Solar Logos" that itself was based on the earliest Upanishadic thought of adityo vai svayabhu Brahma--Sun alone is  the self-born Supreme, the early Christian symbolism depicted Christ as the Spiritual Sun, the illumination source, order, harmony, and spiritual insight and  practiced this veneration as the secret traditions of early Christianity.  Jesus Christ, Sun of God, illustrates how the Christian symbolism of the Spiritual Sun is derived from numerical symbolism of 108. Later Christianity made this Sun of GOD, Son of God calling Supreme as Holy Father which concept Islam did not accept as Allah can't be part and parcel of a Muslim where Islam means Submission to the Supreme1

While Christianity and Islam wielding political power could successfully eliminate many religions it could not do so with Hinduism which is firmly established as third religion of the world and it does not believe in conversion and proselytization to reach higher statistics.

Slowly and steadily USA is becoming a Land of Yoga and Meditation attracted to spiritual Hinduism. After the longest night, the days then begin to slowly lengthen and this if often seen symbolically as rebirth ~ a time of letting go and of welcoming new beginnings. In celebrating the sun and moon, it is also seen as the perfect opportunity for self-reflection - recognizing the light we all carry within, which guides us through darkness.  What better way to celebrate the Solstice than to take part in a 108 Sun Salutations practice of Yoga known in Sanskrit as Surya Namaskar.  Sun Salutations are practiced to salute the sun and greet the light. They’re a great way to create heat and Prana (energy) in the body, and it ensures by 108 you’ll be hot hot hot (in the best possible way)

Winter Solstice has been celebrated in cultures the world over for thousands of years. This start of the solar year is a celebration of Light and the rebirth of the Sun.   Emperor Aurelian established December 25 as the birthday of the "Invincible Sun" in the third century as part of the Roman Winter Solstice celebrations which by an erroneous calculation was thought as the date of Winter Solstice day. Later it was corrected as December 23rd.
Shortly thereafter, in 273, the Christian church selected this day to represent the birthday of Jesus, and by 336, this Roman solar feast day was Christianized.  Today, many people in Western- cultures refer to this holiday as "Christmas." Yet when we look into   Origin of Christmas it reveals its Pagan roots. The death and resurrection of Sun conflated with the thought of   crucifixion and resurrection of Christ!

Today is December 22, the astronomical Winter Solstice Day.  Except Hindus,   peoples of all other Faiths in the World raise their voices in veneration and praise to Sun as Solar Energy of the Supreme.  We are always late as Indians! This is because Hindus do not want to embarrass religious Gurus and astrology pundits who are not willing to change their decision of worship of  Sun god later on Makara Sankranti Day on January 14 which according to Nirayana Calendar without century correction is the Uttarayana Punyakala Day or Winter Solstice even though   they know they are wrong astronomically. They have ignored Sayana calculation based calendar that says with century correction Uttarayana Punyakala is December 22 in 2019.  But Hindu Religious Gurus and Astrology Pundits have not blessed this date as the sacred day! We taught astronomy to the world yet we do not believe in it! There is also no central authority in Hinduism as in other religions and everyone says who is tbell the cat to set things right?

--December 22 2019
Really enjoyed reading Winter Solstice day write-up. Very informative!
--B. C. Nair



ANCIENT REVERENTIAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS NATURE OF HINDUISM   IS THE BEST SOLUTION TO LIVE IN PEACE

Most ancient Upanishadic Knowledge of Hinduism, emphasizes a model where humans have a harmonious and reverential attitude towards nature which is criticized by Abrahamic Religions in early period. This model of  spiritual thinking later made a comeback in Europe during the Enlightenment. But the fear of a pagan revival is almost always writ large among those monotheist believers who regard with suspicion any allusions to a pre-monotheist, pagan past of many deities and natural religions as a threat to their religious base. Therefore  they use abusive epithets  to describe pagans or polytheists  that include witchcraft, Satanism, Mushrik etc.

Revival of paganism are showing up in many Western countries. Also, the voices of indigenous peoples from Latin America are finally being heard as they slowly overcome the legacy of centuries of colonialist domination. It can be reliably stated that the revitalization of the Hindu traditions of India will send a strong signal of encouragement to all indigenous, pagan peoples worldwide.

Slowly and steadily USA is turning to be a land of Yoga and Meditation as Phil Goldberg of American Veda says. His assessment is based on the observation that around 40% of church goers today have declared themselves of SBNR seeking the path of liberation from dharma based religions, fed up with stereo-typed   and doctrine  Christianity calling for proselytization.  The Mullahs and Rabbis are still able to cast their spell on their followers where interfaith marriages are few and far between.  
The Hindu view of nature is based upon the Vedas, Upanishads and Vedanta and their philosophical views, as well as Hindu devotional and ritualistic practices. According to Hindu thought, there is no separation between the Divine and the world of Nature. They are the two aspects of the same reality.
Today Argentines main focus is on Hinduism and its spiritualty practiced amidst Nature surroundings. They implement Gita philosophy in totality that says the world needs different religions, cults and deities to meet the vastly different needs of individuals leaving the choice to them to choose what is appealing to them. It is not only seriously practiced in Argentina a strong Catholic beef eating country but also influenced many Latin American countries.

“It is important that Western thinkers examine the Hindu view of the world and its profound philosophy of Vedanta which sees the unity of all beings in the Self. Vedanta can provide a spiritual and philosophical vision for a deeper ecological approach that we so desperately need to save our Nature  and replenish the pristine beauty while  enjoying the bounties if Nature that good Lord has provided us!”- says David Frawley of American Vedanta Institute.
This Hindu philosophy is very well reflected in the Veda Mantra:

Saantih antariksham saantih prithvee saantih aapah saantih oshadhyah saantih vanaspatayah saantih viswedevaah saantih brhma  saantih sarvam saantih saantireva saantih saa maa   saantiredhi || (Veda)

There is peace in the heavenly region; there is peace in the atmosphere; peace reigns on the earth; there is coolness in the water; the medicinal herbs are healing; the plants give tranquility; there is harmony in the celestial objects and perfection in eternal knowledge; everything in the universe is peaceful; peace pervades everywhere; May that knowledge of peace come to me (that has been provided by the Creator)

--December 21, 2019




QUESTIONABLE MAKARA SANKRANTI, CHRISTMAS, HANUMAN JAYANTI AND UTTARAYANA PUNYAKALA DATES

Hindu Temple Religious Events in Nashville Ganesha Temple do not mention about most significant religious events of Dattatreya Jayanti on Kartik Purnima, Sayana Makara Sankranti/Winter Solstice Day, on 22/23 December, Hanuman Jayanti on December 26, while they mention about Christmas on December 25.  I have talked about Dattatreya Jayanti but other misunderstood and intriguing sacred Winter Festivals need some explanation.
There are two different systems to calculate that confuse us as to Makara Sankranti date: nirayana (without adjusting for precession of equinoxes, sidereal) and sayana (with adjustment, tropical). The January 14 date s based on the nirayana system, while the sayana system typically computes to about December 23, per most Siddhanta texts for Hindu Calendars. Sayana system embraces astronomical Winter Solstice Day that falls on December 22.  On Friday, December 22, 2019 at 5:23 p.m. ET, the winter solstice will officially begin and we will experience the longest night of the year and the shortest day of the year for the Northern Hemisphere. The winter solstice, which marks the shortest day of the year, has spawned rituals and celebrations from the earliest human times. December 25 was chosen by the church as the birth of Christ close to Pagan celebrations to attrtact them to join Christmas celebrations  though his birth occurred much later in spring that wasa not recorded but the eventsa indicate based on Biblical statements.
The astronomical season denotes the winter solstice as the first day of winter although, slightly confusingly, the date can also be known as midwinter, because the days get longer after it has passed and the countdown to Spring begins. This year, the Astronomical Winter will last until 20 March 2020,  the date of the spring (or vernal) equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. Under the more straightforward meteorological definition, which splits the year into four seasons of three full months each based on the Gregorian calendar, winter starts on 1 December every year and Spring starts on March 1.

By strange coincidence in North India Holi is celebrated on March 10,  burning the bonfire Holika Dahan that also signifies end of winter while South India  that really  has no winter like the North celebrates closure of winter earlier on Sivaratri Night on February 21.

In 2019 the Northern Hemisphere's winter solstice – the shortest day of the year – falls on Sunday 22 December. It is the first time in four years that it hasn't fallen on 21 December, the solstice's most common date, although on rare occasion it can also occur on 20 or 23 December instead. The winter solstice marks the date that the Earth is at its maximum tilt from the sun.

 Pagans and the winter solstice
The winter solstice marks the date when the Earth's axis rotates to the point that the North Pole has its maximum tilt from the sun, thus delivering the shortest period of daylight in the year.
It spawned rituals and celebrations from the earliest human times, with some traditions now associated with Christmas beginning as observances of the astronomical phenomenon.
For example, the origins of Christmas trees and wreaths can be found in the 12-day pagan holiday of "Yule", which centered on the solstice. The festival was observed by the early Germanic peoples of Northern Europe, who gathered to celebrate the revival of the sun bringing brighter times ahead.
Celtic druids would mark the winter solstice with the cutting of mistletoe and lighting a "yule log", believed to banish darkness and evil spirits.
Romans had their own similar observance called Saturnalia (in honor of the god Saturn), which began on 17 December and involved a full week (ending on modern Christmas  Day) of partying and subverting ordinary social behavior.
While many of the traditions around the period were absorbed into Christmas following the rise of Christianity, the year's shortest day still holds significance for many.
Thousands of pagans continue to gather every year at Stonehenge, and it is thought that the iconic stones were carefully placed to frame the sunset on the winter solstice. In Ireland, an annual lottery is held to select around 120 people to be present at Newgrange, a vast 5,000-year-old burial mound. The lucky few (the event reportedly receives more than 30,000 applicants last year) can witness the winter solstice sunrise floods the vast chamber with light and illuminates the prehistoric art within.
We cling to so many things - emotions, attitudes, beliefs and perceptions, not to mention the material things that fill our homes. We also clench our jaws and grip our muscles, causing us tension and suffering.  As autumn comes to a close, the last of the leaves part from their branches. Fall's letting go process beckons us to release our grip on things that we should release from our stalk.

In yoga philosophy, releasing is known as Aparigraha. It literally means non-grasping, non-clinging. It's time to loosen up our grip and open our minds.   Aparigraha teaches us the beautiful freedom of trust and surrender. In releasing, we open to receive. This prepares you for the emergence of the Divine Light at the winter solstice.
 
Andal dedicated Tiruppavai to Tamil Holy Month of Maargzhi that begins tomorrow December 16. Winter Solstice, Sayan Makara Sankranti, Hanuman Jayanti, Christmas Hanukha, Kwazaa, New Year, Vaikuntha Ekadasi all celebrated in this Holy Month for Krishna said in Gitaamong months I am Maargazhi” in Tamil.  Tamil culture is the oldest surviving culture in India having trade relationas with China. Go through the attached material
Holiest month of Margaseersha (maasaanam margaseehoham-Gita) starting after Chaturmasa leads you to holy festivals of Winter of the Globe through Wintersolstice, culminating in  Holi,  a festival commemorating burning of the evil!
--December 15, 2019

FESTIVALS OF HOLIEST MARGASIRSHA AND WINTER
Of the 12 Months, I am Margashirsha Masa. Of the seasons, I am the Kusuma (Spring– Flowery season or Vasanta) tells Krishna to Arjuna. Tamil holiest month Margazhi also starts on December 16 while Margaseersha ends on December 25, leaving things to Margazhi to continue the divine prayers by singing Thiruppavai and Tiruvembavai in all Vishnu and Siva temples. Margazhi classical Bhajan Music fills the air in Tamil Nadu that also travels to Buddhist country of Thailand who celebrate the first fortnight of Margazhi as Festival of Trippaavai Trimbavai.
Lord Krishna practiced what he preached and so delivered Gita on Mokshada Ekadasai Day on December 7 and also started the Mahabharata War to preserve Dharma destroying the evil and protecting the virtuous. Bhishma who was a Vasu devata also decided to fall on December17 on Maghasirsha but waited for 58 days to deliver VSN after resurrection on third day after cremation and then ascend heaven during Uttarayana Period.
 Bhagawan in his Trinity form as Dattatreya   descended on Earth   as Guru of all gurus on Marghasirsha Purnima that falls on December 11 in 2019.
Advised by the good Lord Margasairsha  month running a relay race with Margazhi assumes importance for spiritual practices, because this period/month forms  also Brahma Muhurtham of Devas. Good Lord extended the benefit for three more weeks that runs in Pushya month for Tamils.  He therefore said “Maasatthil Marghazhi enakku”  since Andal appeared with her Tiruppavai singing in his glorification and also falling in love with Him-”maddalam kotta Madhusoodanan kaittalampattra kanaakkanden  naan”.   
The Brahma Muhurtham of devas coincides with Brahma Muhurtham of Humans in these months. Practices like meditation and penances done during the Brahma Muhurtham, gives favorable and multiplied results. Thus worshiping  God during Brahma Muhurtham would help devotees to concentrate more and helps in getting closer to the Lord. These are also considered as sunya  masaas  prohibiting any  samskara  celebration so that whole focus is on the divine immediately after Chaturmas that ends its silence on Kartik Purnima Day. Tamils say “Thai pirandal vazhi pirakkum” that is on Makara Sankranti on January 14 and start getting ready for all social celebrations.
North Indians wake up a little later to celebrate Holi falling in Kusuma ritu or Vasanta about which good Lord also talks about. Springtime, called Vasant Ritu, is considered the king of seasons for its mild, pleasant weather across much of India. In 2020, Vasant Ritu begins on February 18 and ends on April 19.  
Also Winter solstice Day starts towards the closure of this month. This falls on December 22, 2019. Sayana Makara Sankranti falls on December 23 heralding Uttarayana punyakala though by wrong notion misled by astrologers Hindus  do not join others to celebrate this holiest day and celebrate it later on January  14 as Nirnaya Makara  Sankranti without any astral corrections
As Jagannatha Lord of all the world he has not neglected in guiding or prompting  all others who worship him in their own way. He also said in Gita the world would need different religions, cults and deities to meet the vastly different needs of individuals.  During Krishna’s life period on Earth there was no concept of Religion but only Varnashram Dharma.
Christmas is celebrated on December 25 the last Day of Margaseersha. We do not know what Made Christians to choose this day as the birth day of Jesus Christ falls actually  much later in April that I  have explained in detail.
It is reasonable to believe Xmas tree also joined the family of wish-fulfilling trees Kalpavriksha in Hinduism. The color green signifies everlasting light and life. Romans decorated their houses with evergreen branches during the New Year, and the fir tree symbolized life during the winter.    In many countries, different trees are used as Christmas trees. In New Zealand a tree called the 'Pohutakawa' that has red flowers is sometimes used and in India, Banana or Mango trees are sometimes decorated.  Natural Fir tree with its triangular form and dazzling light at the top Symbolizes Trinity, Holy Son and Holy Father at the base and Holy Spirit as Universal Consciousness or Light as a single point on the top.
December 25 was used as a celebration of the birthday of the sun god. It was observed near the winter solstice. This is close to Sayana Makara Sankranti on 23 December. The apostles in the Bible predicted that some Christians would adopt pagan beliefs to enable them to make their religion more palatable to the pagans around them. Therefore, some scholars think the church chose the date of this pagan celebration to interest them in Christianity. I believe it is divine inspiration as it falls in Margaseersha/ Margazhi. Also Hanukah is celebrated during this period from December 22 to December 30. Also all African descendants in USA celebrate Kwanzaa from December 26 to January 1.
Thus you can see how the whole world celebrate these holy festivals in the holiest months of Margaseesha/Margazzhi as per Lunar and Solar calendars glorified in Bhagavad Gita!
--December 15, 2019

GLOBAL EMPEROR RAMA & INVINCIBLE CITY AYODHYA
 Ramayana is not a political history we seek in the present context but the soul of Global Ramarajya, Ayodhya. That is why the name Rama and   Ayodhya   immortalized by Valmiki echoes in the air all over the world from California to Russia after countless number of years, which dates we are trying to discover! The Tapas of Valmiki, turned a political history to a book of Vedas and Itihasa and   the tapas of half a millennium that has culminated in Civilizational Landmark of Ayodhya Verdict. When one regards a historical episode from the perspective of realism, it becomes history: merely, history.  However, when we regard it from the perspective of an event that has the capacity to transform our hearts, it becomes poetry—a poem that is far more effective and impactful than mere imaginative poetry.
There have been numerous authors who have accepted the Ramayana as a history of ancient events. For example, the first Governor General of India, Sri Rajaji, wrote on the Ramayana and called it a history, as also did the English Indologist Sir William Jones.

Valmiki was a Historian, Poet, Vedic astrologer and a Pious Rishi at the same time. Therefore   we come across his rendering of the Ramayana and his excellence in his various fields of specialization here and there.   His   knowledge of Vedic astrology   mentioning planetary position on all important occasions on the life-line of Rama has made modern software studies easy. This complex rendering of Adikavya has puzzled many and also drawn voluminous criticisms.
The two slides on the cover of the book of Pushkar Bhatnagar together display, with the help of a powerful software, that the unique astral conditions at the time of birth of Rama were present in the sky on 10 January 5114 B.C. This book employs the scientific advancement of the West to prove the antiquity of the East. 
Dr. Badri Narayana    established that Sethu bund is man-made but the date could be anytime between 5800 to 7000 years BC.  Around 11000 years before   the   present the sea level was 120 meters lower than now and the naturally available raised land due to receding waters at Sethu was a land mass connecting India with Lanka. That means the land bridge at Sethu existed by itself before 11000 years ago. It helped Rama and his army to cross the sea with the help of boulders spread on the raised land still covered with sea waters at inconvenient height
One of the intriguing issues of Ramayana is that it says that Rama ruled for 11,000 years. His father Dasaratha also was said to have lived for 60,000 years while saying Rama went to forest at the age of 25 for 14 years! Information like this makes the 'rational' one dismiss the very history of Rama. There is nothing irrational or fictional about it if we know some basics of Time computation in olden days that is explained vividly in my discourse and the author was Sage Valmiki, historian, saint  and poet all-in-one!
Is it possible that Rama was a historical figure and Ramayana based on a historical figure?  It is true that there is not much direct evidence for Rama’s existence except for the Ramayana itself, and other ancient texts that refer to him. This however doesn’t necessarily mean that he did not exist, since we also only have textual evidence of the existence of figures like Socrates, Jesus, and Confucius, and their existence is not doubted by most historians.
Some of the questions for which we need answer are: Why month of fasting among Muslims is called Ramadhan?  Why place in Gaza strip is called Ramallaha?  Why place in London is named as Ram’s gate? Why capital of Italy is known as Rome (misnomer of Rama). To our amazement Rama has been mentioned in Bible, New Testament, Mathew chapter 2/18, where it is mentioned   “A voice was heard in RAMAH”. Rama is proper noun there.  Who is this Ramah?
Across South-East Asia wherever you go, Lord Rama is revered as a Hero.  Ramayana is glorified throughout the region as a model of ethical behavior, devotion to duty, respect for parents, gurus etc. Most of the countries have their own versions of Ramayana, a story that is embedded in their daily lives and culture. It is unofficially the national epic of many countries. Even in Islamic states like Indonesia, “Rama Kakavin” or “Rama Kavya” is known to many (played in Indonesian ballet).  
Historically if India is Ramabhumi and Rama was its earliest ruler, Pakistan and beyond were Sitabhumi ruled by the earliest rulers Lava, and Kusa who were sons of Rama.  Rama is now firmly established as a historic figure and not a Puranic myth based on archeological studies and Ayodhya Verdict by Supreme Court of India.
Ayodhya Verdict is not a verdict of Rama Janma Bhumi or Babri Masjid.   Ayodhya Verdict is   a verdict for Universal Binding Force to act for restoring ancient culture and true history based on archeological findings, evidences and  scriptural revelations  wherever it got vanished due to natural calamities or sabotage.
All the historic evidences stated in this article and the timely efforts by Modi Government at the Center and UP Government after the Ayodhya Verdict   paves the way for the re-emergence of the ancient city Ayodhya on a global scale.  Ayodhya means a city that is Invincible. Since Ayodhya symbolizes   as a Capital city of Dharma, Universal Law, Ancient Heritage and Culture propagation, its re-blossoming as global city like Rome  is of a great value for not only India, but the whole world to live in peace.
The peremptory task is to establish true history jointly by India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Such history researchers and students must be supported through partnership programs at mainstream level so they could do their work in   an   effective united way. That would help to live in peace but not in pieces. Bangladesh should also join hands in breaking all the artificial religious walls and culturally bind themselves with Bengali language as Germany did..  Religious tourism can be excellent opportunity in this regard where Pakistan can attract Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims.  This wisdom has just sprouted as reported earlier by creating corridor paths to visit holy shrines.  If UNO is successfully working why not this Ancient Aryavarta Union function with its own set of constitution and MOU with Ayodhya as its Global Peace  Head Quarters that is Invincible to all hates and prejudices like UNO Headquarters in New York?
Please go through my detailed Discourse:
--December 14, 2019
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 A Brilliant Analysis
--A.S. Narayana
DATTATREYA JAYANTI
Today is Dattatreya Jayanti Day celebrated in the lone temple in Baton Rouge Louisiana and various monasteries spiritually active in USA that even our American Panchanga has forgotten! In 2018 Avadhuta Hall of Trinity for was inaugurated by a Swamiji with all fan-fare.
Datta Jayanti, which is also known as Dattatreya Jayanti, is a Hindu festival, celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hindu God Dattatreya. The day is celebrated every year on full moon day of the Margashirsha month according to the Hindu calendar, Panchang.
God of Hindus, Dattatreya is believed to be a combined incarnation of Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Datta was the son of Atri and Anasuya. He was born during the Pradosha period.
According to Hindu beliefs, on the occasion of Dattatreya Jayanti, devotees take bath early in the morning; observe a day-long fast, worship the lord using flowers, incense, lamps, and camphor. Believers of Datta, also read sacred books such as Avadhuta Gita and Jivanmukta Gita. These books are known to have Dattatreya’s sayings.
Temples dedicated to Dattatreya are located pan India, but the most important ones are said to be in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
Sri Dattatreya remained an Avadutha throughout his life – a sage who remains in pure nature. He was a supreme yogi. Dattatreya narrated the secrets of Vedanta to Lord Subrahmanya and this teaching later came to be known as Avadhuta Gita.

The twenty four gurus that Dattatreya found in Nature and Society became very famous and is part of several scriptures.
Dattatreya is worshipped in many places in India. The day is marked by special pujas and satsangs.

Story of the divine birth of Adi Guru Dattatreya
Anasuya, the wife of Sage Atri, was a pious lady and performed intense austerities to beget a son with qualities of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Above all Anasuya was noted for her Pativrata Dharma – unparalleled devotion to her husband.
To test her Pativrata Dharma, the Trimurtis appeared in the guise of three Sanyasins and asked her to give food in nude. This put Anasuya in a great dilemma. Confident of her Dharma, the pious lady took some water and sprinkled it on the three Sannyasins in order to clean their feet before giving food. Immediately, the three Sannyasins were transformed into three babies.
Anasuya suddenly felt like she is a mother and fed the three babies with milk from her breast. Thus she gave alms to the Trimurtis in the way they wanted it.
Soon Atri Maharshi returned and realized that the three babies were Trimurtis who had come to fulfill the wish of Anasuya. The sage embraced the three children and they suddenly took the single form of Dattatreya.


--December 11, 2019


JOURNEY OF ROW OF DEEPAVALI LIGHTS (Jivatmas) THROUGH FESTIVAL OF LIGHTSOF KARTIGAI & X-MAS TO REACH  JAGAJJYOTI (Paramatman) ON  SIVARATRI

Dipavali--Kartik Purnima---Kartigai Deepam--Hanukha -- Christma--Kwanza-- Makara Jyothi--Jagajjyoti (on Sivaratri)

Row of Deepawali Lights reaching Maximum Intensity on Kartigai deepam end as dazzling divine light on Sivaratri Night.
Hindu Americans celebrate Kartigai Deepam with a row of Lights on December 10 but continue to keep the Joy of Lights through X-Mas  and   New Year and after, while Tamils carry it to Pongal and Kannadigas to Kamana Habba  joining North Indians  with  Holy bonfire ending unitedly bowing to Supreme  on Sivaratri!
In the evening  Kartigai Deepam Festival, the Mahadeepam is seen on the top of the Annamalai Hill in Tamil Nadu at around six o’ clock employing 3600 Kg of melted butter this being a very important ceremony  at Tiruvannamalai.   Arunachaleswarar is said to be visually represented in the form of Agni on the hill top. There is a very mammoth gathering on this day at the Arunachaleswarar temple to witness this glorious and sacred event. The night ceremony starts with Lord Periya Nayagar going out procession on the Rishaba vahanam that is made of gold. This is another spectacular event at Arunachaleswar temple at Tiruvannamalai the abode of Ramana Maharshi. The wet ash is distributed as prasadma during Margazhi Bharani to anoint us to protect from all evil. 
Temples of ancient India were definitely more than religious centers. I had discussed about their   socio-economic relevance before.  However, the subtle mechanism of an Indian temple to re-connect a common man with the five elements besides paying obeisance about which I talked about needs also focus on the fact of balance in our subtle and gross bodies that holds the secret of wellbeing- that has not been widely understood.
It helps to perceive this subject better if we look at the five elements not only for their physical or gross qualitative aspects but also for their subtle and energetic characteristics. The balancing of the elemental frequencies happens at the ‘subtle’ (quantum realm) through resonance. Hence the qualitative aspects of ‘the five elements’ becomes more critical phenomenon than their quantitative effects.
As we enter a temple complex, all five senses are systemically yet subtly engaged.  Most apparent manifestation of fire is through the flame or ‘jyoti’ that is swung around the deity and one takes its warmth/energy (with both hands) as the priest offers it to every one- and bring it to our face and head. In the evening, the light of ‘deepams’ or the ‘earthen-lamps’ enlightens the environment.
During the winter months we need to build up sufficient heat energy within ourselves and the atmosphere. That thought perhaps is the reason why our ancients thought about row of lights. I still recall how my mother continued keeping Deepavali mud-lamps burning through the month of Karthik to complete the Elephant worship as Gajalakshmi for three days starting with Kartikai Deepam. I also talked about nine lamps kept burning for Navadurga perennially!  The religious fire activity continues in some form of other till Kaamadahana and Sivaratri as explained in my discourse ”Festival of Lights Ancient in Tradition, Universal in Appeal”.
Spiritually thinking about Deepavali multi-lamps burning through the whole month of Kartik and ending in mighty single lamp as single mighty Siva deepam visualized as Annamalai Deepam (sought refuge by Ramana Maharshi) or even later as Makara Jyothi or column of fire on Sivaratri Night   take my thoughts to Divine Heights!
The row of lights symbolize Jeevatmas burning through a long period yearning for liberation join the Universal Light on Sivaratri Night after dissolution of their physical bodies after so called death, a journey for Liberation, or even earlier on Vaikuntha Ekadasi Day (based on sectarian beliefs) when gates of Swarga are opened to at once visualize Universal Light which Gita explains as that Light which even thousands of Suns cannot match (divi surya sahasrasya- in Viswarupa)!

Tasya bhasa sarvamidam vibhati- that Universal Light is the source of all other lights. Annamalai Deepam or Sivajyoti on Sivaratri takes into its fold all lights of Deepavali and Kartigai.  That is why we talk about Deepavali, a row of lights but talk only of Siva deepam or Vishnu deepam--A Single Jyoti of Siva and Vishnu, the Universal Light! Kartigai festival is also known for countless lamps burning in front of the temples and at homes symbolic of Jeevatmas praying to One Supreme Light!

Millions of lights of Christmas and the three enlightened lights of sages that followed the Divine star all lead us to that the Manger in Bethlehem during Festival of Lights which in reality is the Prayer of Lights to the Light of all lights called Jesus. na tatra tarakam--even that divine star which the three wise men that included an Indian followed is no match to the Universal Light called Jehovah by Jews meaning That I Am,  that Moses visualized as Burning Fire in the bush.
 Incidentally as Hindu Americans  we are beautifully blending with major culture of USA celebrating Festival of Lights too  that starts after Halloween and often extended up to January 18 by Orthodox Christians. USA also has changed the name to Festival of Lights from Christmas Lighting unifying many faiths that I described under the theme--Festival of Lights, Ancient in Tradition, Universal in Appeal.  If American Christians can do it, we can do it too! Let us understand Karthik Purnima Celebrations with this background and decide on “Sanghacchadvam Samvadadvam samaanam akootih”--come together, pray together with common objectives as Vedas dictate.  May be this Vedic Mantra has inspired  Christianity too to come with Christmas Lighting inspired by ancient Ramarajya that started with lighting the whole ncible Ayodhya (unconquerable) which is off limits  to all darkness that pervade us!
 
Light. It’s a source of life. So it’s no wonder that it inspires so many of the world’s most celebrated festivals.

From the simplest, most exquisite candlelight to large and inventive displays in every shape, size and color, light illuminates our festivals. And the festivals in turn bring light and joy at what’s often the darkest time of the year.

Light doesn’t just add warmth and decoration. It has real symbolic meaning   and so is integral to many of the world’s religions and traditions.  Light lends real meaning to our festivals.
Whatever our beliefs or faith, these festivals of light give us a good opportunity to pause for thought in our busy lives. They give us time to take stock and reflect on both our past and what the future might hold.

Christians believe that Jesus is the light of the world and the birth of Jesus is celebrated at Christmas.  Another tradition in the UK is that many Anglican (Protestant) churches have Christingle (Christ light) services on Christmas Eve (24 December in the UK).
A Christingle is a symbol of Christ's light given to children during the service. It consists of an orange with a candle pushed into its centre, a red ribbon around the outside, and sweets or dried fruits stuck into the orange with cocktail sticks. The orange symbolizes the world, the candle represents Jesus Christ (the light of the world), the red ribbon represents the blood of Jesus and the fruits represent the fruits of the earth.
Santa Lucia is celebrated on 13 of December. in Scandinavian countries. She is deeply linked with the light, in some Countries she is the preserver of the light, and the night of her celebration (13 of December) is the longest one during the year.   Scandinavian people deeply feel the tradition of Santa Lucia and one interesting thing they do in order to celebrate this Santa is to wake up people in the house early in the morning. All the girls in the house wear a white dress and put on their head a wreath with candles( in the tradition there are 12 candles  one for each month), then they start singing a song about S. Lucia and go through all the room of the house waking up all the members with the song and the light of the candles.
Buddhist community also use light in their religious festival. They make a big box with and attach   gas balloon with that box   to enable it to fly.  Then they put a candle inside the box. They lit the candle inside and let loose the    box to fly in the sky. The candle-light box fly in the sky and they watch it till it   disappear. The Buddhist community do it in memory of their ancestors. The festival is called "Buddha Purnima". They believe the souls   take refuge under the feet of Buddha in heaven. --Buddham saranam gacchaami! Purnima means full moon time. The festival occurs in the Purnima once in a year.
The most ancient tradition of erecting and worshiping a banana tree at   the entrance as well as inside decorating the canopy where God is worshiped and  on  important ceremonies  like wedding that takes place  under canopy for  a wish should have inspired  Christians to erect  a tree during Festival of Lights   as a wish tree. Children eagerly look forward to get their most cherished gifts from under the Christmas tree that carries the Divine Star above.
What about the gift under the tree as if coming from the star and the tree? This again is a concept got from ancient Hinduism.
Kalpavriksha also known as kalpataru, kalpadruma or kalpapādapa, is a wish-fulfilling divine tree in ancient Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.
 Kalpavriksha is also identified with many trees such as Partijata (Erythrina variegata), Acacia, Ficus benghalensis,  Madhuca longifolia, Prosopis cineraria, Bassia butyracea, and  Mulberry tree (Morus nigra tree).  Nobody is really sure when Fir trees were first used as Christmas trees. It probably began about 1000 years ago in Northern Europe.  It is reasonable to believe Xmas tree also joined this family of wish-fulfilling trees!

--December 8, 2019



THE QUANTUM LEAP OF VEDANTA TO VIMUKTI IS THE ONLY PATH AND NONE OTHER

The Quantum leap Swamiji suggests is to take the straight short path to know the Supreme. Row of lights of Diwali (Jivatmas) march straight to the Universal Light  Kartigai Deepam  as Annamalai Deepam (Paramatman) that Ramana Maharshi Visualized  or as Sivajyoti (paramatman) on Mahasivaratri Night. Purushasukta rishi says   vedahametam (veda+aham+etam) purusham mahaantam aaditya varnam - Know this Cosmic personality   AHAM (Aa to Ha pervading Aksharam  that is Brahman), resplendent like the Sun.  tamevam vidwaan-amrita iha-bhavati | naanya-h panthaa ayanaaya vidyate  He is the one by realizing whom the realized masters (Vedantavijnaana sunuschitaarthaah) become immortal, even in this life. There is no other way for liberation (Purushasuktam). Vedas say vijñānenātmāna vedayati …………. vijñānādānandam  (MNU)--By unbroken direct realization (Vijnaanam) a person knows the Ātman (Self) that leads to  Bliss (Anandam) --Infinite Happiness(Parmatman)-Sathyam, Jnaanam, Amalam, Anantam!

Recently Swami Chidananda in a series of lectures enlightened us on ātmārpana-stuti (A Hymn by which One Surrenders Completely to the Lord) a composition that excels in its spirit of leaving everything to God.  This might be still be  green in your memory with my added explanation.  In Verse 10 Appayya Dikshitar  says:  “tvat-pādābja-prapadanam-rite naiva pashyāmy-upāyam”- - I do not see any other way out except surrendering to your lotus feet!

WEBINAR-162 presents a discourse on ”THE QUANTUM LEAP IN VEDĀNTA”--Enlightenment defies all phenomena:
Swamiji has chosen the right day of Mokshada Ekadasi to deliver his message the day of deliverance of Gita.  In the karma-kanda section of the Vedas it is said, apama somam amrta abhuma and aksayyam ha vai caturmasya-yajinah sukrtam bhavati. In other words, those who perform the four-month penances become eligible to drink the soma-rasa beverages to become immortal and happy forever. This is the leap the wise take being “sanyasayogaat sunischitartah yatyah paramuchyanti

Gist of the Presentation: The movement from the field of ignorance to that of wisdom is not really a movement! It is not a travel in space or time! In that sense, it is not a phenomenon at all! Enlightenment is not something that happens; it is rather ever-present. In this sense, the liberating insight as revealed by the Upanishads is comparable with the quantum leap of physics. This webinar will examine the nature of the transition (if at all it is one) from bondage to freedom, from avidyā to vidyā:
 tat sarvadā svātmatayā hi bhāti--The Supreme Truth is evident all the time as the Self (in verse 34 of Saddarshanam of Shri Ramana Maharshi). Hence know the same and follow the same.

The   spontaneous outburst by the great Advaita scholar Appayya Diksahitar   the above advice to take a quantum leap in Vedanta and the message of Ramana Maharshi,  tat sarvadaa svaatmataaya  bhaati-- to me seems to be  all  inspired by the Veda mantra naanyah pantha ayanaya vidyate-- No other way is known for eternal life.  I chant this from Purushasukta during my daily worship that I also hear during Abhishekam in Temples to any Vishnu deity. I do not know why it is restricted to Vishnu deities  only like Rudram for Siva family deities! That is our training in Agama Sastras!
Vedahmetam Purusham mahantam adityavarnam tamasaha parastat tameva viditvati mrityumeti; nanya pantha vidyate ayanaya"
"I know the mighty Purusha of Truth (enlightenment) beyond darkness. Only in knowing him does one pass over death. There is no other path leading to eternal life". Yajurveda 31:18 confirms this exclusive way to eternal life in the Purushasukta: "... No other way is known for eternal life" (Nanyah pantha vidyate-ayanaya)

This mantra is for, to visualize him for meditation, and thus to know him. Compare this to what Vishvamitra says  in the Ramayana "aham vedmi mahAtmAnam rAmam satya-parAkramam / vasiSHto api mahAtejo ye ceme tapasi sthitA:" - I know the great souled Rama, of deeds beyond measure, powerful in truth, more brilliant than Vasishta, who protected my yajnya well". Or, Mandodari's praise of Rama as Mahavishnu in the same, " tamasa: paramo dhAtA shankacakra gadhAdara" - O Creator, who bears the Conch, the Disk, and the Mace as weapons, who is Supreme above all darkness. The image of the sun here is especially effective, as the tamas referred to here is the darkness of the soul, ignorance and inactivity.

Vedas do declare that there is only one Truth, referred to as Purusha, and only one path to Him. One must understand that Truth here refers to the Supreme Spirit (God Himself), and not to the accuracy of an idea. This Truth (GOD) may be known by many names which include Jesus, Christ, Messiah, Purusha Prajapati (Vedas), Kalimatullah (Qur'an), etc., but each character in this list must meet the acid test of the attributes of God: supreme love, supreme sacrifice, supreme demonstrable power, supreme purity, etc.

Only one way is taught whether it is Vedas and Upanishadsa, Holy Bible,  or  the Qur'an.  Jesus said:   "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” in the Bible as  the whole revelation of  GOD concerning salvation where G means  one who generates, O means one who operates in the  Universe and D means one who dissolves takes back everything to Himself that is ISA in Isa-vasya Upanishad.   Isa for the Supreme has been adopted by Abrahamic religions later. Eleven times the Qur’an refers to Jesus as ‘Isa al-Masih, that is, “Jesus the Messiah.” So, the Qur’an itself calls Jesus the Messiah.  In the Jewish and Christian context, Messiah simply means “Anointed One.” What Muslim neighbors need help understanding is the purpose for which Jesus was anointed, which opens a clear window to the gospel. Roughly messiah means avatar.
 The Svetasvataropanishad 3:8 repeats this mantra (Veda-aham-etam-purusham) as well as Mahanarayana Upanishad, thus univocally all of them say "I know the (one) Supreme Purusha or  Prajapati (Man who is also Lord of Creation)... Only in knowing Him does one pass over death. There is no other path leading to eternal life". Yajurveda 31:18 concludes the same. This way is also referred to as the "para-gati" (one supreme way) to salvation.

 Who is that person whom we invoke? MNU says;

vidhartaaram havaamahe  vasoh kuvidva naati nah | savitaaram nrichakshasam ||
We invoke  the Creator of the Universe who sustains the creation in many ways and who witnesses the thoughts and deeds of men. May He grant us plenty of excellent health!
This and the above are the prayers of the aspirant who wishes Supreme Illumination. Vasu   means the riches of divine knowledge and vidhartartri is the grantor of it. Savita impels our intellect towards that knowledge. The health we are seeking for is Spiritual Health.
Please recall the Veda mantra we always chant at the conclusion of worship in temples and homes--o tad viṣṇo parama pada sadā paśyanti sūraya divīva caksurātatam: "Just as the sun's rays in the sky are extended to the mundane vision, so in the same way the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu can always be seen by the wise and learned devotees. Because those highly praiseworthy and spiritually awake brāhmaas are able to see the spiritual world, they are also able to reveal that supreme abode of Lord Vishnu."
What are referred to as four paths to salvation in Hinduism are really four necessary aspects of the one path: that is, of one's relationship with the Purusha Prajapati. According to the Vedas, these are:
1. Accepting the work (Karma Maarga) of transferring one's sins to the Supreme Sacrifice
2. Knowing (Jnaana Maargaa) personally the Purusha who is the supreme knowledge (paravidya) which liberates;
3. Meditating (Yoga Maarga) upon the written Word of God which teaches us about the Supreme God; and
4. Devoting (Bhakti Maarga) one's life to the Purusha in gratitude for his sacrificial substitution
Charging Action (Karma) with Knowledge (Jnaana) Meditate (Yoga) with Steadfastness (Bhakti) is the one and only path for salvation. There is no other Way!
--December 7, 2019
Comments:
Thanks for the insights. I love this week's topic.
--Dr. Vedavyas



MOKSHADA EKADASHI, THE GITA DELIVERANCE DAY
Tomorrow 7 Dec 2019, Saturday is Ekadashi. Mokshada Ekadashi is observed during the waxing phase of the moon in the month of November – December. The importance of this Ekadasi was narrated to Yudhishtira by Sri Krishna and is found in the Brahmanda Purana. Observing this Ekadasi helps in destroying all the sins. In 2019, the date of Mokshada Ekadashi is December 7. Ekadasi fasting is dedicated to Bhagvan Srihari Vishnu and is observed twice in every Hindu month. The name Mokshada because the Ekadasi has the power to annihilate (Moha - Maya) - desires and illusion. Moksha Consists of two words moha+kshaya=depletion of all attachments.
Story of Mokshada Ekadashi
There is a popular belief that observing Mokshada Ekadasi (Kannada Word) will help in granting heaven to dead forefathers. Legend has it that King Vaikhanasa, a popular ruler, once had a dream that his father was in hell. The King found himself helpless as he could not help his father with all his power and riches. Soon he took the advice of Parvata Muni, who had the knowledge of past, present and future. Parvata Muni found that the father of King Vaikhanasa had committed some sins and as a result he was suffering in hell. To help his father the Saint asked him to observe Mokshada Ekadasi. Soon the king, his wife and relatives observed Mokshada Ekadashi and saved the King’s father from hell.

Sadhguru tells us about the significance of Ekadashi, and how not eating food on certain days can bring health and vibrancy to the body, and create the right situation for a human being to turn inwards.
Sadhguru: Ekadashi means the 11th day after the full moon and the 11th day after the new moon. The human physiology goes through a cycle called a mandala, approximately every 40 to 48 days. In this cycle, three specific days, which may be different from person to person and need not come with equal spacing, will arise when the body does not demand food. If you identify those days in your life and not give the body food – because it is not asking – a lot of your health issues will be handled by that simple pattern.
This cycle in the system is something that most people can identify if they take away the nonsense of “so many calories, so much protein and so much mineral should be eaten.” If they listen to the body, these three days can be easily identified by most human beings. So it was told that three times in those 48 days, you should not eat. This was said because somebody observed his own system and from that he expressed this. But then people did not have the awareness so they fixed the Ekadashi for not eating. If you look, there are three Ekadashis in 48 days. It goes well.
The reason is because the planet itself is in a certain state on that day, so if we keep our body light and available, our awareness will turn inward. The possibility of opening the door within is more on that day. If you have a full stomach, and you are unaware and dull, you will not notice it. So to stay alert and also to purify the body, you go without food on that day – you ate dinner the previous day and the next thing you eat is dinner on Ekadashi.
If you are unable to go without food – because your activity levels are such and you do not have the sadhana to support you – you can go on phalahara or fruit diet, which is light on the stomach so that your inner doors will open. Forceful denial of food is not the point. The point is to make everything into a conscious process. We do not want to compulsively eat like this, we choose.
Gita Jayanti is also observed on the 11th day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) of Margashirsha month as per traditional Hindu calendar. Gita Jayanti 2019 date is December 7. It is believed that the Bhagavad Gita was rendered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna on this day. Gita Jayanti falls on the Shukla Paksha Ekadashi day of the Margashirsha month (November – December). That is why Krishna said in Bhagavad Gita maasanaam margaseershoham.
December 6, 2019
Comments:
Thanks for enlightening. You are rendering wonderful service to Hinduism.

--A.S. Narayana


HISTORIC BIRTHDAYS OF RAMA AND KRISHNA AVATARS LIKE BUDDHA
Recent Planetarium studies reveal both Rama and Krishna were human historical figures as well as divine avatars like Buddha. Rama was born on 10 January 5114 BCE and Krishna was born on 27 July 3112 BCE. Please see the details as attached.The Lord Buddha was born in 623 BC in the sacred area of Lumbini located in the Terai plains of southern Nepal and mostly celebrated on Buddha Purnima Day that falls in May or sometimes in April according to Hindu Calendar. Our Astrology and Religious Pundits ridicule saying this is all wild speculation and disrespectful of divine Avatars that took place millions of years ago. This is because we celebrate Rama Navami in April and Krishna Jayanti nay Gokulashtami   in August as decided by these Pundits on wrong days.  Hanuman is born in December to South Indians and in April to North Indians. First of all they should correct their own wrong Panchnagams!  According to their Panchangas we celebrate Uttarayana Punyakala on Makara Sankranti Day on April 14 and Dakshinayana on July 16. Astronomers today know Winter Solstice day falls on December 22 and Summer Solstice Day falls on June 21, which Day has been recommended by Prime Minister Modi for International Yoga Day  being the auspicious Winter Solstice Day which we however ignore to celebrate as our  Pundits have not told to celebrate!
Planetarium studies are based on the model in which Chaturyugas consist of 12000 years (Kali=1200; dwapara=2400; Treta=3600; Krita=4800 years; Total 12000 years in a Chaturyuga).  In this  model based on Yukteswara they have not ignored the fact in Puranas that also says one Chaturyuga consists of 12000 Divine years. This in Tretayuga amounts to 12000X360=4320000 human years. Therefore one Kalpa is 4320000000 human years. Veda mantra describes Brahma as divine bull that appears repeatedly roaring that has --”Chatwari sringe thripaadaa dwe seerhse  sapta hastaaso asya  vrishbhasya brahmasya”- This Bull Brahma has 4 horns, 3 feet, 2 heads and  7, 0-shaped hands That mantra hides this figure of Kalpa of 4-3-2-0000000 human years which is Kalpa the duration for  each creation.
Sandhyavandana Mantra says ”pasyema saradssatam and our elders in Vedic Asirvada or blessing say “satamaanam bhavati sataayuh” thus establishing the fact the human life has a norm of 100 years. These Vedic benedictions are true for all times. Only in Tretayuga it is 100 Divine years or 100X 360 human years and in Kaliyuga 100 human years. It is also predicted that people will be so much loaded with adharma, being deteriorated in human values they will just lead a dog’s life of 20 years towards the end of Kaliyuga. Thus we see that even Vedas often make statements in human years also to boost our appeal.
According to planetarium studies Rama lived only 70 divine years and Sita even much less according to Tretayuga Dharma.  Ramayana states Rama was banished at the age of 25, returned after 14 years that makes 39 years. Then he ruled from  Ayodhya the entire globe   for 11000 human years  assisted by his sons Lava and Kusa  or 31 Divine years. Neither He nor Sita could see 100 divine years of that period. Krishna closed Kaliyuga when he gave up his ghost at 128 human years being the start of Kaliyuga. Thus he lived beyond 100 years according to Kuladharma and this is the maximum one can hope to live in the current period. I believe in it as I am still active at 90 and may or may not see saradassatam 100 winters that rests on His sweet will! I believe this will help in understanding my forth coming article “Sarvabhauma Emperor   Sri Ramachandra and Invincible Ayodhya” in the wake of Ayodhya Verdict on Ramajanma Bhoomi.
--December 6, 2019




MOKSADA EKADASI ON DECEMBER 7, 2019
Mokshada Ekadashi is observed during the waxing phase of the moon in the month of November – December. The importance of this Ekadasi was narrated to Yudhishtira by Sri Krishna and is found in the Brahmanda Purana. Observing this Ekadasi helps in destroying all the sins. In 2019, the date of Mokshada Ekadashi is December 7. Ekadasi fasting is dedicated to Bhagvan Srihari Vishnu and is observed twice in every Hindu month. The name Mokshada because the Ekadasi has the power to annihilate (Moha - Maya) - desires and illusion. Moksha Consists of two words moha+kshaya=depletion of all attachments.
Story of Mokshada Ekadashi
There is a popular belief that observing Mokshada Ekadasi (Kannada Word) will help in granting heaven to dead forefathers. Legend has it that King Vaikhanasa, a popular ruler, once had a dream that his father was in hell. The King found himself helpless as he could not help his father with all his power and riches. Soon he took the advice of Parvata Muni, who had the knowledge of past, present and future. Parvata Muni found that the father of King Vaikhanasa had committed some sins and as a result he was suffering in hell. To help his father the Saint asked him to observe Mokshada Ekadasi. Soon the king, his wife and relatives observed Mokshada Ekadashi and saved the King’s father from hell.
Sadhguru tells us about the significance of Ekadashi, and how not eating food on certain days can bring health and vibrancy to the body, and create the right situation for a human being to turn inwards.
Sadhguru: Ekadashi means the 11th day after the full moon and the 11th day after the new moon. The human physiology goes through a cycle called a mandala, approximately every 40 to 48 days. In this cycle, three specific days, which may be different from person to person and need not come with equal spacing, will arise when the body does not demand food. If you identify those days in your life and not give the body food – because it is not asking – a lot of your health issues will be handled by that simple pattern.
This cycle in the system is something that most people can identify if they take away the nonsense of “so many calories, so much protein and so much mineral should be eaten.” If they listen to the body, these three days can be easily identified by most human beings. So it was told that three times in those 48 days, you should not eat. This was said because somebody observed his own system and from that he expressed this. But then people did not have the awareness so they fixed the Ekadashi for not eating. If you look, there are three Ekadashis in 48 days. It goes well.
The reason is because the planet itself is in a certain state on that day, so if we keep our body light and available, our awareness will turn inward. The possibility of opening the door within is more on that day. If you have a full stomach, and you are unaware and dull, you will not notice it. So to stay alert and also to purify the body, you go without food on that day – you ate dinner the previous day and the next thing you eat is dinner on Ekadashi.
If you are unable to go without food – because your activity levels are such and you do not have the sadhana to support you – you can go on phalaahaara or fruit diet, which is light on the stomach so that your inner doors will open. Forceful denial of food is not the point. The point is to make everything into a conscious process. We do not want to compulsively eat like this, we choose.
--December 6, 2019
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STOP WORRYING START WORKING--MMM VITAMIN
“Rather than focus on what others are doing or not doing, we must focus on ourselves. We must walk a straight line in our own lives, not trying to beat others out of the way or step on their heads as we proceed, but rather we must simply walk the truth of our own path, and find the way even among the challenges, obstacles and barriers on the road.
In our lives we frequently get frustrated and broken by feeling that others are blocking our way and thwarting our path. We blame their presence and their actions for our own failure. We tell ourselves that we would have been able to succeed if only they had let us, if only they had moved out of the way for us. We try to push people and obstacles aside to clear a way for ourselves in life.
However, obstacles never stop coming. People who are jealous never stop trying to block our path. For how long can we try to move them aside? How many obstacles, how many enemies can we try to push away? The answer is to simply find our own way, around them, between them. If they are blocking the path on the right, we walk on the left. If they are blocking the path on the left, we walk on the right.
We must be more concerned about finding our own way rather than focusing on moving all of those whom we think are blocking our path.
For those who are pure in mind, thought and deed, there will always be a path in which to walk. The path may be narrow at times and it may seem that obstacles and enemies line both sides. But we must humbly and sincerely make our own way on the path of life. We must just keep walking the path of our dharma, the path of righteousness, the path of honesty, purity and piety without worrying about those who try to block our way.
So much of our precious time, energy and focus is wasted in the futile task of trying to remove obstacles and other people from our path, but this is not necessary. The more attention we give to those who are trying to sabotage us and thwart our progress, the less time and energy we have to walk the right path. By doing that, in a way the enemies win, for they have stolen our peace of mind, our tranquility, and our joy, as well as our time. Instead of trying to fight them out of the way, we must remain humble, pure and single-minded on the goal. If we can see our destination clearly then we will always be able to find a path in which to walk.
Find your own path around the obstacles. Carefully examine the situation and see where the path is clear. Then, choose that path and continue on your way."
--December 2, 2019
I like it
--Shubha Bhaumik

Are Yazidi tradition and culture similar to those of Hindus?
The Yazidi religion is often misunderstood, as it does not fit neatly into Iraq's sectarian mosaic. Most Yazidis are Kurdish speakers, and while the majority consider themselves ethnically Kurdish, Yazidis are religiously distinct from Iraq's predominantly Sunni Kurdish population. Yazidism is an ancient faith, with a rich oral tradition that integrates some Islamic beliefs with elements of Zoroastrianism, the ancient Persian religion, and Mithraism, a mystery religion originating in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Yazidis have inhabited the mountains of northwestern Iraq for centuries, and the region is home to their holy places, shrines, and ancestral villages. Outside of Sinjar, the Yazidis are concentrated in areas north of Mosul, and in the Kurdish-controlled province of Dohuk. For Yazidis, the land holds deep religious significance; adherents from all over the world—remnant communities exist in Turkey, Germany, and elsewhere—make pilgrimages to the holy Iraqi city of Lalesh. The city is now less than 40 miles from the Islamic State front lines.
As Kurdish speakers, Yazidis often share the same political fate as Iraq's other Kurds. In the late 1970s, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein launched brutal Arabization campaigns against the Kurds in the north. He razed traditional Yazidi villages, and forced the Yazidis to settle in urban centers, disrupting their rural way of life. Hussein constructed the town of Sinjar, and forced the Yazidis to abandon their mountain villages and relocate in the city.
With the help of U.S. air support, the Kurds vowed to retake Sinjar in 2014. For the Yazidis the stakes are especially high. "It's difficult to see how Yazidism could exist if they all left northern Iraq," says Allison. "The struggle is truly existential”--(From National Geographic Magazine 2014)
Research into the origins and identity of the Yazidis has yielded some startling and unmistakable similarity with India’s Hindus. there is little doubt that the Yazidis are a lost tribe linked to the ancient Hindus of India. The overlapping features are clearly not those that are to be found among the Abrahamic religions.
Below are some among the innumerable visages of the Yazidis and their cultural life that leave little scope for denying the obvious.
1) Yazidis kiss a peacock shaped lamp. Hindus light a peacock shaped lamp
2) Yazidis temples have a pyramid-shaped gopura, just like Hindu temples
The Yazidi symbol is a peacock with its wings spread. The peacock is the mount of Skanda or Subrahmanya, son of Lord Shiva. The most important point to note is that peacock, the national bird of India, is a native of south and southeast Asia, and Africa. It is not found in Iraq or Syria at all, which are West Asian lands.
3) The Yazidi mural on wall of their holy Lalish temple is unmistakably Hindu. One can see the saree, India’s unofficial national dress.
4) Yazidi temple at Lalish has snake symbol at the entrance. You won't find this among other tribes of Arabia or Mesopotamia. For Hindus, Subrahmanya is the other avatara of snakes and worshiped very closely for all snake related pujas like Naga Panchami.
5) Yellow sun Yazidi symbol 21 rays.
Number 21 is sacred to Hindus (Ganesha). Offerings are in 21 count like Modaka (sweet).
Their Transcendental Gods
The highest deity of the Hindus and Yezidis are counterparts of each other. The highest God of the Hindus is the transcendental Brahman or Shiva, the “Father” who creates his Son, Murugan-Karttikeya through his emanation of energy. For the Yezidis, the highest God is their Supreme Being, a transcendental deity who creates his Son, Tawsi Melek, from his own emanation of light.
Reincarnation
Both Hindus and Yezidis share a belief in human reincarnation and transmigration.
Anointing
Both Hindus and Yezidis are blessed by their holy persons at the sacred space between the eybrows. They also anoint themselves at this “Third Eye” region.



Comments:
India once welcomed all Parsis and Jews and created a haven for them to live in peace and practice their religion without fear! They should do the same thing for all left out Yezidis 700,000 or so and make them permanent residents of Kashmir and Ladak. They will in gratitude take care of militant Muslims who are sabotaging the country! It will thus benefit both!
--December 5, 2019




THERAUPTIC VALUE OF YOGA-- VEDIC WISDOM TO GO BEYOND OUR ANXIETY
Timothy McCall, MD is a board-certified physician specializing in internal medicine,  and the author of three books, Examining Your Doctor: A Patient's Guide to Avoiding Harmful Medical Care (Citadel Press); Yoga as Medicine: The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing (Bantam); and his latest, Saving My Neck: A Doctor's East/West Journey Through Cancer (Whole World Publishing). He is co-editor of the first medical textbook on yoga therapy,  The Principles and Practice of Yoga in Health Care (Handspring Publishing, 2016). He practiced medicine for more than 10 years in the Boston area before devoting himself full-time to investigating and teaching yoga therapy. Certified as a yoga therapist by the International Association of Yoga Therapists, he is the Founder/Director of Yoga As Medicine Seminars and Teacher Trainings and, until 2016, co-directed a yoga therapy center just outside of New York City. Timothy has traveled extensively, studying with many of the world's leading yoga teachers and yoga therapists including BKS Iyengar and TKV Desikachar. His primary teachers have been Patricia Walden, Rod Stryker and Donald Moyer. He has practiced yoga and meditation from various traditions for over 20 years and Tantra for more than a decade.  
Through personal anecdotes Dr. McCall shares his perspective on the changing landscape of yoga as medicine. He talks about research studies and the shift in awareness in the United States during challenging times.  Dr. McCall shares his recent road to recovery from the throat cancer, an inspiring testimony to the power of the practice of Ayurveda and also explains how Yoga as preventive medicine helped him in his recovery.

Vedic Wisdom of Yoga Therapy
Anxiety is almost epidemic in the modern higher tech world, though it is a long standing human problem.
Anxiety is largely Vata Dosha disorder in Ayurvedic medicine, a problem that arises from an excess of the air and space elements and lack of earth, water and fire, not just in the body but also in the mind. This is the foundation of the Yoga and Ayurveda approach to anxiety that has many aspects.
When Vata Dosha increases, in which the element of air predominates, the mind, emotions and subtle energies become disturbed. With the resulting sense of un-groundedness and volatility fear naturally arises in the mind. When this sense of fear becomes deep-seated and enduring it gives rise to anxiety, in which we can easily lose peace of mind and mental stability. While anxiety is more common in Vata dosha types it can occur in other types when such Vatogenic factors increase in their lifestyle or with the aging process.
Anxiety means that we are worried that something bad might happen to us, so much so that we imagine it occurring. Or anxiety can reflect a fear that something bad that did happen to us in the past will happen again, a reverberation of traumas as it were.
Anxiety can be projected on to anything. We can become anxious about not having enough money, about our health, about our relationships, about our or work, our age, or even about our spiritual practice. We can become anxious about the state of the world, the condition of people we know and not just ourselves.
 When anxiety has set in we can become anxious about almost anything and conducting our ordinary activity can become wrought with concern. The specter of something negative that might occur puts us in a state of fear-based hesitation and paralysis that inhibits positive thoughts and responses.
Anxiety is a product of worry and is bred by thought. The more we think about something bad possibly happening, the more anxious we get. When the dreaded event doesn’t occur, we have become so obsessed with anxiety that we transfer it on to something else.
Anxiety is common in those who have overly active minds, who are perfectionists and want everything to turn out as they want, who lack faith and trust and are worried about what might happen more so than being aware of what actually goes on.
Yet our current high tech way of life increases anxiety for everyone by removing us from the Earth and the organic basis of life. Anxiety is almost epidemic in our stressful, changing society in which we are overstimulated, have high expectations and depend upon technology for our wellbeing. When a computer crashes or a cell phone fails to work we quickly become anxious and are unable to go on with our ordinary activity.
Factors that Increase Vata Dosha and Promote Anxiety
Anxiety can be caused or stimulated by many factors, many of which just reflect a lifestyle that is irregular, out of balance, or lacking in discipline. Anxiety can be situational, health based, behavioral or rooted in a wrong use of the mind and senses. It can be the result of trauma, accident or injury.
 Dietary factors of irregular meals or fast eating, or eating of food that is too cold or light in properties cause Vata dosha to increase, causing us to become ungrounded, malnourished, with an irregular metabolism and energy flow. This lack of physical strength causes the mind to be volatile and uncertain.
 Lack of relaxation and rest, particularly lack of deep sleep, leave us depleted and unable to renew our energies. This can promote anxiety in the long run.
 Excessive worry in the mind can spiral out of control and become self-perpetuating, making is so that we never feel confident and assured, and remain in an anxious state.
 With anxiety there is a lack of physical and psychological immunity. Physically we are agitated by environmental factors like wind, cold and dryness and become hypersensitive with allergies. We may be easily disturbed by noise and have strange sensations of touch, tingling or ringing in the ears.
 Psychologically, we find it hard to cope with difficulties and opposition in life. We cannot tolerate opposition, criticism or things not going our way. The world becomes too much for us to handle and we withdraw in fear.
 Treatment Factors
It is the contention of Yoga and Ayurveda that anxiety or any other major psychological conditions cannot be treated by drugs alone or even as the primary treatment. This is because the human being is a person and a consciousness, not a machine or chemical factory that can be treated by inorganic drugs. To truly change our psychology requires a change in our consciousness, behavior, perception and sense of self.
 Yoga and Ayurveda provide us many tools for treating anxiety. We start with Yoga.
  • Deep and gentle asana practice done slow in a slow and gentle manner promoting stillness and relaxation, ultimately a calm sitting pose.
  • Deep and gentle pranayama absorbing positive prana on inhalation and relaxing and letting go of stress and anxiety on exhalation.
  • Pratyahara, withdrawal from excess sensory stimulation of an electronic or media level, particularly anything violent or traumatic. Renewing ourselves with natural impressions of the sky, clouds, water, plants, rocks and vast natural vistas, like a mountain view.
  • Cultivating a strong power of attention and concentration by chanting mantras or fixing the gaze at various places from chakras within to outer objects and lights, like a candle flame.
  • A slow and gentle meditation cultivating peace, trust, faith, devotion and surrender to the Divine, developing Bhakti or devotion, surrendering anxiety to Divine love and presence.
  • Calming mantras like OM Shanti, the seed mantra Sham or Shreem or Kleem.
  • Meditation that cultivates detachment and the state of the witness, observing the mind and its thoughts, rather than getting caught in their disturbances.
  • Connecting to our inner eternal Being and letting go of our obsession with the transient outer world as most important.
  • Bringing ritual back into our lives, attuning ourselves with the forces of nature, with incense, flowers, candles and ghee lamps etc. Pilgrimage, visiting temples.
  • Right relationship with those who increase our sense of peace and wellbeing, honoring great spiritual teachers and deity forms.

In terms of Ayurved
  • A nutritive Vata reducing natural foods diet, avoiding artificial foods, with adequate whole grains, beans and dals, nuts, root vegetables, dairy products, and oils, with regular eating habits and not eating between meals.
  • Herbs to calm the mind and increase Ojas (physical and psychological immunity) like ashwagandha, brahmi, manduka parni, shankha pushpi, and jatamamsi and preparations like Chyavan Prash, Brahma Rasayana, Ashwagandha Lehyam.
  • Application of Ayurvedic massage oils to head and back like Balashwagandha, Chandanadi or simple sesame oil. Shirodhara or oil drip to the head and Ayurvedic massage overall. Taking oils internally, including Brahmi ghee.
  • Aroma therapy with calming oils like sandalwood, khus (vetivert), lavender, rose.
Additional Considerations
Yet for many people anxiety has become obsessive and compulsive and so it is very difficult to treat, particularly by oneself. Right association and right relationship are essential to address but for this we have to reach out.
 In addition to go beyond our anxiety we must stop being fixated upon ourselves or looking for comfort and security externally. We should do service or karma yoga to help others. We should cultivate fearlessness. It is beneath your dignity as a center of eternal consciousness to be anxious about the transient world and let it dominate you. Affirm your inner strength and your higher awareness beyond body and mind! Then anxiety will not dare approach you.--Dr. David Frawley
 Dharana In Yoga – A Method For Concentration Of Mind

Dharana means the act of holding, preserving or retaining in the mind. In yoga it indicates a steady abstraction of the mind. It is the first among the three constituents of antaranga yoga or esoteric concentration and the sixth part of Patanjali’s eight fold Yoga, where it is defined as “the binding of chitta or the mind to a desha (a restricted sphere of attention).

Unlike dhyana (meditation), it is not ekagrata (a state of pin pointedness) but in it, the natural tendency of the mind to move from object to object is to be curbed and still it is focused on an object, which may be a picture, image, symbol, a part of the body, the tip of the nose, or chakra (a spiritual energy center) inside the body.

Definitions of dharana are found in many texts. In Goraksha Paddhati (II.52-58) and Yoga Yajnavalkya (VII 1-15), dharana is defined on the basis of the five basic elements in the body such as earth, water, fire, air, and akasha (ether) giving their location and the effects of concentration on them.

Patanjali has recommended training the mind by practicing the five parts called bahiranga yoga or the external yoga so that the mind gains the ability to be steadied on any desired object.

In dharana, various aspects of the object or concentration may come up in the mind, but the mind does not lose sight of that object as a whole. With continued practice for a long time, the mind starts getting attached to only one of the aspects, leaving other aspects aside. The one single experience pertaining to that aspect of that object starts appearing in the mind again and again. Here, dharana gets turned into a deeper state of absorption which is called dhyana or steady concentration.-- Abhilash Rajendran

 -- December 1, 2019
Comments:
Thanks for this useful information
--Aparna Arcot
I have an interesting observation: People who have never been exposed to yoga seem to get maximum benefit when they discover something within. Indians who are already exposed and practice meditation at some level don't get new benefits unless they step up their practices to next level.
--Dr. Vedavyas



GANESHA, IS HE A MYTH OR MYSTERY DEVATA & THE PURPORT OF HIS WORSHIP
 Hindu scriptures Iti-ha-sa means it is so and Purana means Pura (whatever was conjectured before) is nava is still fresh (truth). Looking at the ancient temples and the Ganesha and Ganeshini deities in temples of India though sporadic and slokas I am bound to believe these are not Myths and are based on history. I therefore bring to your knowledge the following topics elaborated in my discourse:
  1.   Sri Kapadri Stotram on Vinayaka from Skanda Puranam
  2. Face Book postings of Right-Hand Ekadanta and Dwidanta idols presently worshiped in Temples.
  3. Adi Vinayaka Temple of Parvati Created Human-faced Ganesha
  4. Chinna Jeer on Ekadanta Ganesha and Vishwaksena
  5. Vinayaki or Ganeshini - Elephant-headed Goddess
Lord Siva while he went to visit Parvati who she was taking  bath was stopped by a  posted sentinel  Naramukha Vinayaka  created by Parvati out of the sandal paste smeared on her body (sughandim pushavardhanim),  replaced  him with a ekadanta sentinel drawn from  the army of Vishwaksena. His army has many such celestials like ekadantaa, dvidantas, tridantas and chaturdantas mentioned in 1 above. He was upset as Vidhartara or Visawakarma alone is the creator excluding himself also. Therefore it is logical to conclude He also did not engage in any new creation by beheading and transplanting elephant head  on human body with two tusks which puranas project as if it is an act of angry person.  Also in order to please upset Parvati questioning her Kriyasakti   Jnaanasakti and Icchaskti  He made the Ekadanta sentinel Vighnaraja accepting him as their adopted son. Ucchishta Ganapati as Lord of Discarded Food is another exaggeration and wrong projection. Siva is an auspicious and pleasant devata and not angry devata though descended from Rudras! Also Ganesha was a Ekadanta sentinel and did not become ekadanta breaking his tusk in an angry mood whom Siva raised to the status of Upadevata a benevolent god who helps humanity for the success in any   material undertaking. To counteract it Sakta followers picked up another leader Ganeshini or Vinayaki and started worshiping her who even walked with tiger feet with ekadanta elephant head, a divine form. Normal female elephants do not have tusks like divine Airavata that has four tusks.
Also if you follow Puranas closely avatars like Narasimha and Hayagrieva are shown with their angry mood, also we hear of Krishna in an angry mood lifted the wheel to destroy Kauravas who killed Abhimanyu in disguise and also hurled nuclear weapon Sudarsana Chakra art Sisupala and Narakasura in an angry mood. Divines too are influenced by anger like humans when called for Lokasamrakshana, protection of the world and dharmasamrakshna, restoring Laws of Dharma to protect the good and destroy the evil!  That is why anger (Manyu) is deified in Vedas like Kama (love) --manyurakaartsheet namo namah! In this perspective the anger of Siva beheading Naramukhah Vinayaka and Dwidanta Ganesha breaking his tusk and hurling at moon expressed as a human instinct is preposterous! Our iconography is so confused that is  not even sure whether it is right tusk or left tusk. So you find both kind of deities worshiped in Temples today!
What I have done in my compilation is to collect all authentic Itihasic facts together to make sense in our religious following!  But whatever I say with facts and figures may not be acceptable to those brought up with authoritative conservative religious doctrines unless    corrected by a saffron robed Guru of outstanding reputation like Sadguru who is very much focused on it.  Water from Shanka alone is holy Teertha! I am neither a   religious Pundit nor a Spiritual Guru. So I have presented my compilation based on the authentic information I have collected over years without expressing any opinion of my own with added  wisdom thoughts and advice from  Srila Prabhupada  as to why we worship such deities  whatever may be the fact, the purport and limited results that we get  and what to do to reach the ultimate goal of perennial joy! Please take a dispassionate view of the discourse attached and take your own decision as to what is good for you!
The popular Devata we are worshiping today is Ekadanta Ganesha, a gana picked up by Siva from the army of Vishwaksena  (devasenapati) and anointed as Vighnaraja and is  neither a mythological Ganesha of human body with transplanted elephant head nor Naramukha Vinayaka Parvati created as sentinel.  That is why we sing in popular Bhajans “Iswaraputram Vinayakam” and not “Parvatiputram Vinayakam”. Devatas have limited powers and grant us material success, peace and prosperity, mentally preparing us for spiritual   thinking and advancement!



--November 30, 2019

RAMA AVATAR WHOM WE WORSHIP AND RAMA THAT SCIENCE  DISCOVERS
We are always blessed by our elders in Kaliyuga with the Vedic mantra “satamanam bhavati” that means 100 human years based on Kaliyuga Dharma which is a reasonable aspiration. MNU Sandhyavandana mantra also says jeevema saradassatam” let us look forward to 100 years of life. These two Divine blessings are true for all the Yugas but governed by the Yuga Dharma.  There are rare few who live beyond 100 years.  You know when Krishna died at the age of 128 years Kaliyuga started.  As per Kaliyuga Dharma Krishna being human and historic lived a long life beyond 100.  The standard he left behind was 1/3 of a divine year that is 120 years maximum for humans.  We also know even today a rare few do,  because of their meritorious deeds cross 100 and get bonus years to complete their mission as per His will.  We also know that 360 human years are 1 divine year and 360 divine years are 1 Brahma year. Even each Brahma lives only 100 years and we are in the 51st year of  Svetavaraha Kalpa and Vaivasvata Manvantara and  the next Brahma is believed to be Hanuman as per Jagadguru  Chandrasekharendraaraswati.
With this understanding let us understand historic Rama’s lifeline. According to Tretayuga Dharma Rama lived only for 70 Divine  years while Krishna lived 128  human years years based on Kaliyugadahrma. He came to the world to close Dwaparayuga.
Now Rama was taken to forest by Viswamitra at the age of 14, went to vanavasa at the age of 25 and came back after 14 years and ruled 11000 years.  Here is our confusion. While Valmiki treated Rama as a Dharmic  human king not revealing his identity as avatar,   only in the end  he makes  Rama  realize he is Vishnu Avatar and also presents  his history as  holy scripture to the world. Rama’s life line years of 25+14=49 is believed to reach  11000 years which in reality is only 11000  human years divided by 360= approximately  31  Divine years.  That makes Rama’s life only 70 divine years. In Treatyuga also people could hope for 100 divine years  as per Sandhyavandana benediction of  Jeevema saradassatam. But why Rama had a premature death according to then Yuga  Dharma. Unlike Krishna Rama was focused on very letter of Dharma without caring for results. His wrong insistence of dharma results in premature death of Vali, Sita and Sambhuka. Also he caused pains to two Pativratas,  Sita questioning her fidelity and  Panchakanya Mandodhari to lose her Pati-sevan in prime of life. While he was responsible for Tara’s widow marriage with Sugriva and suggested Sita to marry Lakshmana or Bharata or Satrughna or even Vibhishana after deciding to divorce her and banishing her even after she took fire-entry test, he was silent on Mandodhari and did not insist her to marry  Vibhishana.   He neglected the correct interpretation of Dharma by his Sage-minister Jabali accusing him as an atheist.  But why all this negative projection?  This is just to emphatically tell and show people focused on sevadharma that Sevadharma is very difficult to understand  even to yogis-- sevaadharmah paramagahano yoginaamapyagamyah.  Vishnu in his next avatar appearing as Yogi showed this several times though to a common man it appeared that he was not following Dharma to the rule. Krishna did not believe in operation successful but patient died! Krishna even atoned for the sin of Rama. Rama killed  Vali  hiding against Kshatriya Dharma for which Krishna had to pay for by planning his final departure being killed by a hunter mistaking him to be deer.  Rama himself realized his sin of killing Vali and so did not kill Ravana when his chariot was smashed and the chariot driver ran away and stood wounded, exhausted and helpless! He said to helpless Ravana ”go back, take rest and come back tomorrow to fight” (inrupoy naalai vaa). But it was too late! Earlier he had committed a sin! This is again to caution all that we have to atone for the sin we commit and there is no escape! Only He will help us in our atonement as to not to feel the pain for long! Do we teaxxch real Purana values to chidren? It is for you to decide.
Pusahkar Bhatnagar has used a model of 12000 Human years for Chaturyuga drawing support from Yukteswar ignoring religious contradictions that  could  arise. By feeding all planetary positions at the time of  birth of Sri Rama as provided by Vedic astrologer Valmiki to golden software he has come to the conclusion historic Rama was born in the year 5114 BCA in his book. That will necessarily tell we have long back completed 1200 human years of Kaliyuga and are in Dwaparayuga. Bhatnagar has ignored all references to religious concept of Kaliyuga. His focus was to prove Rama was a historic figure of recent origin. That he has done. What does it matter we are in Kaliyuga or   Dwaparyuga! Krishna’s appearance again will be only at the end of the Kalpa! May be our worst days are over!
In my yesterday’s E-mail I said we are still in the beginning of Kaliyuga having spent only around 5000 and odd years after the ascension of Lord Krishna another Historic King besides Avatar and still long way to go to complete years 432,000 human years of Kaliyuga.  I also wrote people will live only for 20 years towards the end.  We have seen in the beginning of kaliyuga it was 1/3 of One divine year that is 120 years maximum but towards the end of Kaliyuga this will fall to dog level of 1/5 of 120 human years that is 20 years.
Since I am still living at 90 and serving you,  I do believe in my yesterday’s e-mail.  But today we hear so many infantile deaths and Al-Quid-a employing kids in large numbers that may soon bring down the human lives to go by the prediction of 20 years and nobody seems to control this mass destruction. Thus Kaliyuga may end soon fast!  You may still be fresh from the news wildly circulated fast news few years back in Tamil Nadu that Kalki had already arrived! After the storm there was lull!
Whom to believe? Science or Mogy?   Bhatnagar or our religious pundits and astrologers of Kaliyuge Prathama paade? Our Astrologers have presented us only many   false Panchangas, confused us and forced them  on religious pundits ignoring the recommendations of National Panchanga Commission after Independence  and  we know that  they have not cared to do century corrections from the beginning of times to boast as Vedic Astrologers! So we observe Astronomical Winter Solstice Day of December 22, on January 14 on Makara Sankranti Day which is  forced on us as  false Uttarayana Punyakala  Day and the  Sun has started his Northern Journey and Similarly Dakshinayana Punyakala on July 16, instead June 21 which is also International Yoga Day. I would go by Bhatnagar till I am presented with a true auspicious religious Panchanga!
--November 29, 2019


HINDU COMPLEX AND CONFUSING UNITS OF TIME
Hinduism is known for its complex and confusing units of time. Because of the extensive span of Hinduism and Hindu mythology, time can become increasingly complex and enigmatic. Just as there are multiple systems of measuring time today, there are multiple Hindu systems as well. Here is the the most comprehensive one. Let us start with the smallest unit of time and move forward: This would also help  forthcoming lecture on  Historic Global Rama and Invincible Ayodhya. Keep it handy to understand -Puranic times
The Smallest Units of Time
The smallest unit of time in Hindu mythology is known as Alpakala. If two leaves are placed on top of each other and they are pierced by a needle, the time required for the needle to pass from the first leaf to the second leaf is known as Alpakala. The next units of time are pretty simple:
  1. Truti: Thirty Alpakalas make up one Truti
  2. Kala: Thirty Trutis make up one Kala
  3. Kastha: Thirty Kalas make up one Kastha, which is also known as a Nimisha, Noti, or Matra
  4. Ganita: Four Kasthas make up one Ganita
  5. Netuvirppu: Ten Ganitas make up one Netuvirppu
  6. Vinazhika: Six Netuvirppus make up one Vinazhika
  7. Ghatika: Sixty Vinazhikas make up one Ghatika
Now, this is where it became confusing for me, especially with the obscure wording of the Bhagavata Purana. Sixty Ghatikas comprise one Ahoratra, which is one 24-hour day for regular human beings. Fifteen days (ahoratras) constitute one Paksha and two Pakshas constitute a Chandra masa, which is a 30-day lunar month. Twelve Chandra masas (lunar months) make up one year for human beings.
Human Years vs. Deva Years
We are now going to move away from the human scale and transitioning to the godly scale. One year for human beings (twelve Chandra-masas) is equivalent to one ahoratra (one day and night) for the devas! 360 deva-ahoratras form one year for the devas. A deva-year is known as a Deva-Vatsara, also known as a Divya-Vatsara.
The Yuga Scheme

This post might not have been very interesting so far. But this is when it gets really fascinating. 12,000 Deva-Vatsaras make up one Chaturyuga, also known as a Divya-yuga or Mahayuga. A Chaturyuga consists of 4 Yugas: Kritayuga (Satyayuga), Tretayuga, Dwaparayuga, and Kaliyuga. Kritayuga is 4,800 Deva-Vatsaras, Tretayuga spans 3,600 Deva-Vatsaras, Dwaparayuga is 2,400 Deva-Vatsaras long, and Kaliyuga is 1,200 Deva-Vatsaras long.
Thus, if the calculations are performed, Kritayuga lasts approximately for 1,728,000 human years. Tretayuga lasts for 1,296,000 human years. Dwaparayuga lasts for 864,000 human years. And Kaliyuga lasts for 432,000 human years. Those are enormous numbers! Thus, a Chaturyuga lasts for 4,320,000 human years.
Kritayuga is known as the Golden Age as it is the best Yuga. During Kritayuga, there is no crime and everybody is righteous. All men resemble religious saints. The weather is always pleasant during Kritayuga, there is no mining or agriculture because the Earth produces its own resources, and there is an absence of disease. Everybody is gigantic and big-built, but also virtuous and honest. Everybody lives on for thousands of years.
Treta Yuga is next Yuga. During Treta Yuga, humans become slightly less virtuous and righteous. Violent kings are born and cause bloody wars. The weather starts becoming extreme and humans start mining and farming.
The third Yuga is Dwapara Yuga. During this time period, humans, in general, become less strong and able. Diseases become common and humans start fighting each other for power. The average life span is reduced to a couple centuries.
Kali Yuga is the final age. “Kali” means “dark”, so it an age of darkness and ignorance. It is the opposite of Kritayuga. Humans become dishonest sinners and commit unbelievable sins. Knowledge is disregarded as useless and the scriptures fade into the past. The wealth and strength of humans are lesser than the previous Yugas. By the end of Kali Yuga, humans have ruined the environment and their average lifespan is merely 20 years.
Manvantaras and the Time Scale of Brahma
Now, there are 71 Chaturyugas in a Manvantara. Thus, a Manvantara lasts for 852,000 Deva-Vatsaras, or 306,720,000 human years. Every Manvantara has a new Indra, a new group of gods, and a new Manu. This is when we must understand that the terms “Indra” and “Manu” are just positions, not names of specific people. Every Manvantara, the Manu is the one who is the progenitor of the human race and is the first man on Earth. Each Manvantara also has a new group of Saptarishis (seven great sages).
There are 14 Manvantaras in a Kalpa, which is one day-time of the creator god, Brahma. Before the first Manvantara, after the last Manvantara, and between all the Manvantaras, there are periods called Sandhikalas. A Sandhikala is essentially a transitional period during which the Earth is submerged in the Garbodhaka ocean. There are 15 Sandhikalas and each Sandhikala has the same duration as a Kritayuga (4,800 Deva-Vatsaras, or 1,728,000 human years). If we add up all of the Sandhikalas and all of the Manvantaras, we get 4,320,000,000 human years, or 11,935,200 Deva-Vatsaras.
Thus, one day-time of Lord Brahma lasts for 4,320,000,000 human years (11,935,200 Deva-Vatsaras). Obviously, after every Kalpa (day-time of Lord Brahma), there is a night-time of Lord Brahma, which is known as a Brahma-Ratra. The Brahma-Ratra is the same length as a Kalpa. Thus, one full day of Lord Brahma consists of a Kalpa and a Brahma-Ratra and is 8,640,000,000 human years (23,870,400 Deva-Vatsaras). Just think about that for a second!
 
The Creation and Destruction Cycle
At the beginning of every Kalpa (day-time of Lord Brahma), the entire universe is created by Lord Brahma. He creates the aspects of nature, immovable objects, qualities of beings, rishis, devas, etc. Throughout the Kalpa, life exists in the universe. In every Manvantara of the Kalpa, a new Indra and group of gods, a new Manu, and new Saptarishis are born. At the end of the Kalpa, the lower ten realms of the universe are destroyed. Spiritual beings transcend to higher realms or to the spiritual Vaikuntha planets which are outside the material universe. Others who aren’t free from the bonds of materialism perish and are reborn in the next Kalpa. Then, during the Brahma-Ratra, the universe is dark and nothing exists. During the Brahma-Ratra, Lord Vishnu sleeps on Ananta-Sesha in the Garbodhaka Ocean. Soon enough, the Brahma-Ratra is over and the Kalpa cycle starts again.
Thirty days (Kalpa + Brahma-Ratra) of Brahma make on month and 12 months make one year. Thus one year of Brahma is 360 days of Brahma, or 3.1104 trillion human years (8,593,344,000 Deva-Vatsaras). A year of Brahma is known as a Brahmavarsha. Brahma lives for 100 years. Thus, the lifespan of Brahma, known as the Mahakalpa consists of one hundred Brahmavarshas. A Mahakalpa is 311.04 trillion years (859,334,400,000 Deva-Vatsaras)! At the beginning of the Mahakalpa, Brahma is born and at the end, Brahma passes away.
These numbers just make us realize how insignificant we are in the grand scheme of things. A mayfly’s lifespan of just 24-hours is minuscule compared to our lifespan. Similarly, our lifespan is insignificant when compared to the lifespan of the devas. But their lifespan is atomic when compared to the lifespan of Lord Brahma.
Where are we?
You are probably wondering: Where are we in this endless expanse of time?
Our Brahma is currently 51 years old. We are living during the first day (Kalpa) of his 51st year. The previous Kalpa was known as the Padma-Kalpa. The current day of Brahma (Kalpa) is known as the Shveta-Varaha Kalpa. Within this Kalpa, six Manvantaras have already passed and we are living during the seventh Manvantara, known as the Shraddhadeva Manvantara, also known as Vaivasvata Manvantara. The name of our Manu is Vaivasvata Manu, the son of Surya and Sanjana. The name of our Indra is Purandar. Our Saptarishis are Kashyapa, Atri, Vasistha, Vishwamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni and Bharadvaja.
Within this Manvantara, we are currently in the Kali Yuga of the 28th Chaturyuga. This Kali Yuga is said to have begun at midnight of 18th February, 3102 B.C.E. in the Julian calendar. Thus, 5,121 years of this Kali Yuga have passed and 426,879 years are left till the end of this Kali Yuga.
As stated above, there are 14 Manavantaras in the Kalpa. The Manavantaras of our Kalpa are:
  1. Swayambhava Manvantara
  2. Swarochisa Manvantara
  3. Uttama Manvantara
  4. Tamasa/Tapasa Manvantara
  5. Raivata Manvantara
  6. Chakshusa Manvantara
  7. Vaivasvata/Shraddhadeva Manvantara (current)
  8. Savarni Manvantara
  9. Daksha Savarni Manvantara
  10. Brahma Savarni Manvantara
  11. Dharma Savarni Manvantara
  12. Rudra Savarni Manvantara
  13. Rauchya/Deva Savarni Manvantara
  14. Indra Savarni Manvantara
You now know about all 14 Manvantaras of our current Kalpa. Below is a chronological timeline of notable events that have taken place in our Kalpa:
  • Beginning of Swayambhava Manavantara: Brahma creates the Universe, Vishnu takes Matsya Avatar and kills the demon Hayagriva, Vishnu takes Varaha Avatar and rescues the Earth
  • Swayambhava Manavantara: Story of Dhruva
  • Tamas Manavantara: Lord Vishnu saves Gajendra
  • End of Chakshusha Manvantara: Matsya Avatar saves King Satyavrata
  • 4th Treta Yuga of Vaivasvata Manvantara: Narasimha kills Hiranyakashipu
  • 7th Treta Yuga of Vaivasvata Manvantara: Vamana seizes the land of the asura king Bali
  • 10th Treta Yuga of Vaivasvata Manvantara: Birth of Dattatreya
  • 15th Treta Yuga of Vaivasvata Manvantara: Reign of King Mandhata
  • 19th Treta Yuga of Vaivasvata Manvantara: Parshuram annihilates Kartavirya Arjuna and other Kshatiyas
  • 24th Treta Yuga of Vaivasvata Manvantara: The Ramayana
  • End of 28th Dwapara Yuga of Vaivasvata Manvantara: The Mahabharata
  • End of 28th Kali Yuga of Vaivasvata Manvantara

--November 28, 2019
Comments:
This is a Doctorate Thesis
--Prof. G. Nagarajan


Our vision for Education   & Environmental Sustainability as a Core Concept in the School Education System.
Here is a message “Our vision for Education” sent by Anil Pandya for your information; informing “Everyone is a Change-maker “ and Ashoka in Belgium is one attaching his program. Recently I forwarded to you a parallel program initiated by Dr. Vedavyasa Biliyar, a Philanthropist and Bal Vihar Chairman who for a long time focused on  the children for the Present  hold-on-to   Hinduism  in USA if not in  the Future. IAF another Forum started by him at the temple has found some scholars in the community who have been willing to share some glimpses of their wisdom over the years of their experience in education.   Hearing to the experts no doubt brushes up our understanding and help us be informed consumers and advocates of appropriate innovation, in advising the future generation of intellectuals.   Education is key to the global integrated framework of sustainable development goals. Education is at the heart of our efforts both to adapt to change and to transform the world within which we live. It is recognized as having one of the highest long-term returns on investment of all development goals. There is a need to rethink and broaden the notion of lifelong education. It should enable people to develop awareness of themselves and their environment.
Inspiration for all these comes from the  Programs at International Level on ESD (Education for Sustainable Development), EE (Environmental Education) and Climate Change Education (CCE) etc.
International Conference on Sustainability Education (ICSE 2019) is planned with a view to explore pathways to address current and emerging sustainability challenges through education by empowering learners with new skills, values and attitudes that lead to more sustainable societies. The Conference is being organized as a major sustainability event to bring together thought leaders, practitioners, teachers, educators, policy makers as well as youth from around the globe to share innovative ideas, case studies, practices and policies and come forward with recommendations for incorporating environmental sustainability as a core concept in the school education system.

The first of its kind conference was being organized in New Delhi, India at the India Habitat Centre on 09-10 September, 2019.
 ICSE 2019 aims to aid implementation of education for sustainable development (ESD) which is culturally-relevant, locally appropriate, occurring across national school education system.
World Parliament of Science, Religion & Philosophy gathering was held in Pune as part of the glorious 150th Birth Anniversary celebrations for Mahatma Gandhiji this week, the World Peace Center (Alandi) of Maeer’s MIT, Pune, and the MIT World Peace University, Pune.
 Addressing the theme of “Science, Philosophy and Spirituality, Which is Best?” Pujya Swamiji brilliantly shared His inspirational message that we should “Whilst we may pursue management courses in a number of fields within our universities and colleges to me there are three things that we must truly learn to manage which I term as the Three Ts: Tongue Management, Time Management and Thought Management. When we learn to manage these three Ts everything else becomes much easier to manage. To me this is the essence of spirituality, and the essence of our culture. When we really learn and implement these three things, our lives become successful and we become assets to the world.” He also spoke of the “culture of oneness and togetherness and trusting each other, and that culture, nature and future are three very important things that we must dedicate ourselves to. We must protect our culture, be grounded in our culture and connected to our culture. We must also take care of our nature, our environment, and when we do both of those things then – and only then – will our future be secured.” Listen to His speech available on the Internet.
Sadhvi Bhagawatiji concurred, sharing that “the science and philosophy that we learned in school are magnificent tools that help us achieve so many wonderful things in the world but, ultimately, it is spirituality that actually gives our lives direction. “I come from America - from the world of the other MIT, the MIT in which the Technology is technology of math and science and engineering. But here, at this MIT, it is a technology of life because it's bringing spirituality in, and all of the academic subjects, all of the knowledge, all of the facts are wonderful but, when we wake-up in the night wondering "Who am I? What is the purpose of my life? What's my dharma?" we don't turn to those academic subjects for the answers. Only our spirituality gives us those answers, and that's why it's so essential to be anchored and grounded in spirituality. Jnaan, what we call knowledge or wisdom, is not just the accumulation of facts, but Jnana is actually deep wisdom that assimilates all of that and grounds us and anchors us in the truth.” The day prior, both Pujya Swamiji and Sadhviji were presented with the India Today Aaj Tak Safai Giri Best Sanitation Institute Award for the work that the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, of which Pujya Swamiji is President and Sadhviji is Secretary-General, has done to bring faith into action for water, sanitation and hygiene, and for inspiring changes in behavior and for capacity building. 
I do hope this would help both our IAF and Bal Vihar schools in  their  Educational Programs. Please refer to my discourses on the topic:



--November 24, 2015
Comments:
Thank you uncle. This is what I was looking for and exactly what I needed for the Temple

--Sunanda K, Manager, Sri Ganesha Temple, Nashville, TN, USA
 
THANKSGIVING IS A SOCIAL CUM RELIGIOUS EVENT FOR HINDU AMERICANS

Thanks giving is truly American holiday enjoyed spiritually by Hindu Americans. Not only is it unique to our country, it is a celebration of values that actually make America great--Openness to people who look or act differently, religious tolerance, sympathy for the persecuted and the belief in human values,   though occasionally disturbed by negative forces!

Is there justification in celebrating Thanks Giving Holiday in Hindu American Temples observing it as special Religious Events Day?  Past History of USA reveals we are more indebted to Native Indians than any other community long before Pilgrim Fathers arrived in the soil who over time conquered the whole land killing many, mainly Conquistadors! It is because of the Natives we see the Brahma, Vishnu and Siva Peaks and ancient Siva Linga in Colorado like  what we  do looking  up to Mount Kailasa and Manasa   Sarovar in the Himalayas. Columbus was not wrong in his outburst to call them Indians when they surprised him by their presence as he landed. I am sure they offered a hot meal too on arrival thinking him  a ship-wreck, the usual Indian courtesy and hospitality as happened in India; when Romans were throwing Jews and Christians to wolves in the arena, they were worshiping in Church and Synagogue in Kerala as early as 50 A.D.!

Thanks to our ancestors today Hindus are the fourth largest Religion in USA. Maria Wirth says slowly and steadily the followers of Sanatana Dharma in USA are rapidly growing. You can see a video on YouTube a large crowd in merriment dancing celebrating the event of 7 million people embracing Hinduism in January this year. USA does not ask your religion. Therefore you do not get official statements. It is high time all Dharma oriented religions come together and live in Peace but not in Pieces under the banner of Sanatana Dharma as before highlighted by Jagadguru Chandrasekaharendra Saraswati. It is therefore fitting and proper thanking Native Indians and celebrating Thanks Giving as a Special Religious Day commemorating our past History of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, whole world of  One Family Under Only GOD!

The ancestors of Native Americans split from Siberians and Asians about  25,000 years ago, perhaps when they entered the now mostly drowned landmass of Beringia, which bridged the Russian Far East and North America. Some populations stayed isolated in Beringia, and Willerslev sequenced one new example of such an "Ancient Beringian," 9000-year-old remains from Alaska's Seward Peninsula. Meanwhile, other groups headed south. At some point, those that journeyed south of the ice sheets split into two groups—"Southern Native Americans" and "Northern Native Americans" (also sometimes called Ancestral A and B lineages), who went on to populate the continents.

Please recall my E- Mail “WE ALL HAVE A MIXTURE OF GENETIC MATERIAL THEN WHY WE FIGHT AS ARYANS AND DRAVIDIANS”  sent recently. Studies using ancient DNA have been rewriting prehistory all over the world in the last few years and in India; there has been  fascinating discovery one after another. All Hindu Americans have a mixture of genetic material based on DNA researches in India and Harvard. The majority of Native Americans are mostly of East Asian ancestry and also significantly of North Eurasian ancestry, what makes them partly connected not only with the Siberians (their closest “cousins”) and the Chinese, but also with the Europeans, mainly those living in northern latitudes (I say the majority because some of them come from later waves of Siberian immigrants, like the Athabaskan and the Inuit tribes).
Recently an ancient Siva temple in ruins has been discovered in the dense forests of USA. Hinduism had been the religion of the world from the beginning of times. Today it is again spreading in all countries of the world as world religion. The ancient Indians settled in America are known to the world as Red Indians. Generations of present Kaliyuga migrated from Bharat traveling through frozen sea between 20000 to 30000 years settled in the continent of America and were called Red Indians say the expert historians. Settling there they worshiped Siva says a research publication Sadathala.
 Three of the peaks of Grand Canyon are named after Hindu Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. A thorough research by Kutch Research Foundation is astonishing as to why it is Called VISHNU Schist mountain layer? Name is given by original tribes of the Red Indians--original GENETICALLY decedents of Asian origin, though they went there about 20,000 years ago by land when north Atlantic was frozen. They believe this place is the place of their worshiping god.”     Ramani’s blog and other Western researchers do support the date of Red Indians to 20000 years as migrants of the ancient land of India. You are perhaps aware of Horse Island ad Ash Island in USA. California is believed to be Kapilaranya (Chandrasekharendra Saraswati) reminding the story of Ikshvaku King Sagara with horse and the burnt out ashes of his sons? So it is reasonable to assume that Rama ruled California too? Gypsies in Europe are also of Indian origin, Jagadguru Chandrasekharendra Saraswati says:
“What we call Hinduism today was the universal religion in the past. Looking at the Practice of Hinduism in many parts of the globe there is no question of certain things being taken from Bharat (Later British Indian Empire) and introduced into another country. In the beginning the Vedic Religion was prevalent all over the world. Later, over the centuries, it must have gone through a process of change and taken different forms. These forms came to be called the original religions of these various lands which in the subsequent period, historical times, came under Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism,  Judaism, Christianity or Islam as the case may be”  

The Kingdom of Kush was an ancient kingdom in Nubia, located at the Sudanese and southern EgyptianNile Valley. The Kushite era of rule in Nubia was established after   a century later.  During classical antiquity, the Kushite imperial capital was located at Meroë. In early Greek geography, the Meroitic kingdom was known as Aethiopia. The Kingdom of Kush with its capital at Meroe persisted until the 4th century AD, when it weakened and disintegrated due to internal rebellion. The seat was eventually captured and burnt to the ground by the Kingdom of Aksum. Afterwards the Nubians established the three, eventually Christianized, kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria and Alodia. (Wikipedia).   If we believe in what Sankaracharya thinks about California then California is part of Ikshvaku  Empire of Sagara days! Ikshavakus have beaten the Briitsh who often boast the Sun never sets in British Empire!

The name America was coined by Martin Waldseemüller from Americ Vespucius,  and  denoted the New World. America denoted the Habitat of Native   Indians of the New World who admired Grand Canyon  peaks as Brahman, Brahma, Vishnu Siva and  consecrated and worshiped Sivalinga on the Banks of Colorado River.   The Blessed food they offered to Supreme from the harvest was shared with all including later migrants.  Let us therefore chant the mantra and enjoy Thanks Giving Dinner with all friends of relative of all faiths. Natives brought Sanatana Dharma with them 20000 years ago from their habitat of the land of Himalayas!
 Sangacchadhvam sam vadadhvam sam vo manaamsi jaanataam/ devaa bhaagam yathaa purve sanjanaana upaasate // (X-191-20)
Come together! Speak together! Let our minds be all of one accord like the divines that sat together in the past in harmony to worship.

[All people should live with one mind without enmity and this can be achieved only by the divine grace says the mantra]

At this time of Thanksgiving we pause to count our blessings. The freedom of this great country in which we live. It’s opportunity for achievement. Its noble laws for Freedom of Worship.  Its non-interference in religious worship. The friendship and confidence you have shown in us. For all of these things we are deeply thankful. Our best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving.
November 23, 2019
Comment
I am enjoying your correlations and stories integrating the world with Hindu Puranas and mythology having included/interconnected with the entire human race and history of mankind, almost in poetic intuitions. I believe your writings have generated hypothesis for research material for a lot of researchers and intellectuals who are interested in promoting universal values, all-inclusive religious practices, and religious harmony.
I have been blessed to run into a lot of like-minded organizations and learned people with open mind in Nashville. We are blessed to have you among us.

--Dr. Vedavyas

Kaba (Vishnu) temple constructed on the esoteric, Tantric, octagonal Vedic pattern in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Please recall about Ayodhya Verdict based on history about which we discussed a lot.   Historically if India is Ramabhumi then Rama was its earliest ruler. Astronomical Dating of the Ramayana by Dr. P.V. Vartak says Rama was a historic figure and he returned to Ayodhya 6th December 7272 B.C.
Pakistan and beyond were Sitabhumi ruled by the earliest rulers Lava, and Kusa who were sons of Rama.  Rama is now firmly established as a historic figure and not a Puranic myth based on archeological studies and Ayodhya verdict.  History confirms Lahore is named after Lava who is its earliest king.  It is Rama who was responsible for this partition. When Sita exhausted all possible venues to unite with Rama who was one track minded on Prajadharma, she by her   power of Pativrata dharma split the land into two and entered into it. While Rama ruled Eastern   part of the Split Land from Ayodhya that extended as far as Burma and beyond Land Lava and Kusa ruled the Western Part. Lava ruled from Lavapuri modern Lahore who had   conquered Rama as recorded in Asvamedha Yajna description of Rama. Present Ash island, Horse island, mis-spelt Kapilaranya as California, Brahma-Vishnu-Siva peaks of Grand Canyons, ancient Colorado Sivalinga, migration of Indians to the continent of America 20000 years ago all suggests Ikshvaku dynasty extended to American continents from Sagara days. Therefore a Vishnu Siva complex underground where Kaba is worshiped is not a myth that is did not to be explored or wild gesture. Further archeological studies will establish the truth. I am not sure whether International Court of Justice can take up the case as SCI did in India and thoroughly discussed over 10 long years! Please go through the exciting news. If a temple there existed it may not have been out of the reach of Arabs who were known for such destruction and raising their holy places as is familiar to history about their atrocities in the past!
Though the present evidence suggests that the Black Stone worshiped in Kaaba is a Shiva Linga, new evidence suggests that there could have been a huge Temple Complex, where now stands a truncated Kaaba. This temple housed 360 Deities.
Lord Vishnu seems to have been another Primary Deity along with Shiva.  The ground floorplan of Mecca is after the Vedic Principle of Temple Construction. It has eight points, representing the Devathas and Ashtadikpalakas. The eight corners occupied the images of the sentinel Vedic deities Indra, Varuna,  Yama, Agni, Vayu, Kubera,  Ishana and Niruti. The central square represents the present truncated Kaba, the central sanctum housing the image of the Reclining Vishnu “in labor”. Therefore this shrine is remembered even in convert, Islamic tradition as the Navel of the World. Its other name “Haram” is the Sanskrit term “Hariyam”, i.e. the shrine of Lord Vishnu alias Hari.
The rectangular dent near the upper left corner of the central square that marks the spot where the cylindrical Shivlinga stone is vertically partially embedded on the exterior of the southeast corner of the Kaba wall. Therefore perambulation of the Shivlinga involves circling the entire Kaba building. Even after conversion, Muslims feel compelled to observe the seven-fold ancient Vedic perambulation. The Kaba sanctum itself is always kept secretively shut to hide its Vedic interior.
The seven-stories-high Kaba building is covered perpetually by a ghilaf, i.e. a black burqa, hiding its Vedic saffron-color stone surface, lotus designs and what are believed to be Sanskrit inscriptions on the inner side of the sanctum walls. International pressure on the Saudi government should continue to be exerted by all countries until the Kaba is thrown open to all people as in pre-Muslim times.
This information, when coupled with the information from Muslim sources that there were 360 idols in the temple, indicates that Lord Vishnu was surrounded by an entourage of other deities, of which Lord Shiva was one. But the Muslims being iconoclasts, they destroyed the idols of other deities, while Shiva’s emblem, a round, cylindrical, dark, black-red stone, they retained as a central, featureless object of reverence... (from Ramanji’s Blog and others)
--November 21, 2019
WORLD TELEVISION DAY
 November 21 is WORLD TELEVISION DAY.    Television was recently born and was passing through its infancy when I too was born in 1930. The need for proper broadcast of messages and televising it was felt from time immemorial.  You may here just recall how Mahabharata War was telecasted to Sanjaya who gave a running commentary to blind Dhritarashtra.    Conceptualization of Telecasting comes from in Mahabharata with Viswarupa Darsana of Lord Krishna on three occasions and telecast of Mahabharata War to Sajaya for 18 days.   You will be listening to  and watching Swami Chidananda   this week end by Telecast on Echoes of Upanishads in Gita. Let me therefore present to you Hindu Reflections on this important day celebrated as World Television Day! A life today is felt useless   without television, computer and Internet for we have forgotten the  use of Inner-net long back which did all the service in promoting Vedic directive of aano bhadrantu kratavah yantu viswatah that  I will  try to explain.
Rigveda sums up the limitless open mindedness in one all-encompassing richness ''Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah'' (1.89.1 Rigveda) "Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions”
This is a mass appeal calling for mass action! It is the necessary wisdom for intelligent successful existence, its propagation and broadcast, televise and telecast for the individual and the society in any place, to  any age all over the globe as Vedic society always  felt Vasudhaiva kutumbakam, the whole world is one family!
It should be noted that the emphasis is on the noble thoughts. Since ideas are like seeds for future actions , like seeds , news  that we receives may be good ennobling, beneficially inspiring , useful, revolutionary, powerful, opening new vistas  or  news may be useless, potentially harmful, damaging, corrupting, virus, even stale, obsolete, failed, demoralizing, discouraging, triggering mischief, hatred, malice, disharmony, absurd, impracticable, just frivolous, funny. Bad inputs result in mental promiscuity, pollutes the mind, distort the normal healthy behavior, promote crime, apart from wasting time, can even waste a precious life. You may now understand why there are  checks and balances in modern telecasting  and Internet media!
In the name of freedom of speech today we do not have control over the news that is broadcasted through the powerful and fastest running Internet and   Telecast media.  Open mindedness must necessarily have the discriminating anti-virus/ firewall, one should be able to filter and receive what is good.
Commenting on Rigveda mantra "Let noble thoughts come to us from all sides." Mahatma Gandhi said I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the culture of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.”   I believe he was looking for help from radio at that time since television and computer were just born after I too was thrown to the world in 1930.

Then how did the ancients receive news from all parts of the globe and also cherished it. We did not have televisions then nor internet nor radio. But our sages were blessed few.  They did not have any Dooradarsan (TV) but had Dooradrishti  (distant vision) which they used it as Divyadrishti (divine vision). They were also fastest Inter planet Travelers as you know from the story of Narada (triloka sanchri) and Sanat Kumaras.  Did people only get divine controlled good news and noble thoughts? No, you know Narada was also kalahapriya who spread conflicting news and created friction in society like modern days!  Good lord believed in freedom of speech. It helped him in his mission of Dharm--to punish the ill-spoken and protect those with Satyavachan.  This was possible by their computer Intellect (Trikala jnana), Inner-net (spirit-on) and divine vision (divyachakshu), television.  But their use was granted to limited blessed few earned through Constraint (Dama),   Compassion (Daya), Charity (Dana)  and   Yoga of Sacrifice (Sanyasyoga).
History of World Television Day
In 1927, a 21 year old inventor by the name of Philo Taylor Farnsworth invented the world’s first electronic television. He lived in a home without electricity until he was 14 years old. In high school, he began to think of a system that could capture moving pictures, change them into a code, and then move those images with radio waves to different devices. He was years ahead of the mechanical television system as his structure captured moving images using a beam of electrons. Farnsworth later famously transmitted the image of a dollar sign using his television after a fellow inventor asked “When are we going to see some dollars from this thing?”  Neither of them knew the television would become the emblem for an international day promoting the spread of global information.

On November 21 and 22 in 1996, the United Nations held the first World Television Forum. Here, leading media figures met to discuss the growing significance of television in the rapidly changing world and consider how they might enhance their mutual co-operation. UN leaders recognized that television could bring attention to conflicts, raise awareness of threats to peace and security, and sharpen focus on social and economic issues. Television was acknowledged as a major tool in informing, channeling, and affecting public opinion, having an undoubtable presence and influence on world politics. Because of this event, the UN General Assembly decided to name November 21 World Television Day, not to celebrate the object itself, but the symbol for communication and globalization in the contemporary world that it represents.
In recognition of the increasing impact television has on decision-making by bringing world attention to conflicts and threats to peace and security and its potential role in sharpening the focus on other major issues, including economic and social issues, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day (through resolution 51/205 of 17 December 1996).
World Television Day is not so much a celebration of the tool, but rather the philosophy which it represents. Television represents a symbol for communication and globalization (kratavah viswatah) in the contemporary world.
Wish you all A Happy Faster Progressive World Television IT  Day for Better and Brighter Future!
--21 November 2019
MORE FAITH LESS FEAR  

"In one question-and-answer session, a woman asked me with tears in her eyes, “How do you overcome fear? I live my life so afraid all the time. The object of my fear changes as time passes, but the fear remains.”

In my opinion, this omnipresent fear is the most insidious obstacle to our peace, happiness and progress in life. When I say fear, I don’t necessarily mean terror. Rather, I mean all that makes us anxious, nervous, tense and in need of controlling our surroundings. The root of fear is distrust. We have been betrayed, injured and abused. We decide that the world and those around us cannot be trusted. Thus, we lose that faith which is so crucial.

So what is the answer? The answer to fear is to firmly root ourselves in God (by whatever name, whatever form you choose). When we realize that God is always with us, always for us, we will never be afraid, regardless of the circumstances.

Our family and friends may betray us. They may injure us. But, if we give ourselves to God, if we make our relationship with Him our first priority, then we will never be broken inside; we will always be cared for.
We must realize that if God can provide for even the smallest insects, He certainly will provide for us. - H.H. Pujya Swami Chidananda Saraswati of Paramrtha Niketan
 Comments:
Your E mail gives a healing touch to those who tread the life's journey always
--dr. A.P. SapthagireesahaN

WHY FEAR AT ALL?
Atmanaa vindate veeryam--yudhyasva vigatjvarah-- One gets strength turning inwards and sees the Self; Act without anxiety--Gita says Swami Chidananda of Fowai Forum. Please keep your hand on the Inner-Net button for emergency call.
Personally I realize and experience  the truth in what Swamiji says;  so believe in it. 
I started my spiritual service after my heart surgery in 2002 not even knowing the meaning of Vedanta but not having any fear for the future.  Neither retirement, nor life threat bothered me. I believed in the retirement should not weaken the soul and Vaidyo naarayano Harih. You can always receive the free medical care from the Supreme Lord if engaged in his service with dedication doing your share of effort. I see this in many others too!

--November21, 2019




SOME RANDOM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON HINDUISM
If you have not closely followed my recent E-mails  as many others  do   saying busy, you may not be able to fully absorb all we discussed in a casual manner today . I

have therefore  pulling things out of Internet and feeding to my Inner--net that dictates me things   that are exclusively prepared for you  being a philanthropist and intellectual

They would be safe in your hands when I am gone: What do I do at the computer is a puzzle to my family and often for me too!

Devanagari originally had 48 alphabets beginning with Aa and ending with Ha. 48 is a holy number and Mandala. You might have heard of mandala puja. Bhagawan says in Gita Aksharaanaam Akaarosmi that has pervaded all  48 letters; bindu (m) on  Aaha closes the chapter with Aaham. this our pundits  translated as I and developed various meanings, Hindu  Pundits are genius! first make a false statement (Aham=I) and then develop several meanings to it instead simple explanation.Hamsa also is derived from Ha, Sa, Aa,
Vowels are Pranakshara and So represent Brahman as Prana is Brahman (MNU) Sanskrit Devanagari Alphabets 15 pranaksharas or vowels and 33 consonants. Fifteen is a Paksha--ardhamasa maasah rithavah  eva adityah tad Brahma (MNU) Brahman is custodian of Time. 15 or 1+5=6 or six seasons-ritu. 33 represents 33 Vedic gods--12 Adityas+11rudras 8 vasus+Indra+prajapati. While Vowels are Atman,  Consonants are body of Brahman
The genius of Hindus created Hari-Haraputra Aiyaappa to compromise fighting factions. Poor Parvati created a bodyguard Naramukha Vinayaka, now worshiped in a lone temple. Knowing the popularity of Vishwaksena, the head of Gajanna clan, Puranic Ekadanta as separate devata was created and made a celebrity.   Again you know ekadanta species is also a celestial clan and we have also Vinayiki and Ganeshini as female species of this clan also worshiped in temples as Devi! I have talked all about this recently.
Both science and scriptures agree Rama and Krishna are historic figures and Rama ruled the entire world with Dharma and not an exclusive  Hindu God. Even today the Ramas are an indigenous people living on the eastern coast of Nicaragua. Since the start of European colonization, the Rama population has declined as a result of disease, conflict, and loss of territory.
Historically if India and beyond is Ramabhumi and Rama was its earliest ruler, Pakistan and beyond were Sitabhumi ruled by the earliest rulers Lava, and Kusa who were sons of Rama.  Rama is now firmly established as a historic figure and not a Puranic myth based on archeological studies.  History confirms Lahore is named after Lava who is its earliest king.  It is Rama who was responsible for this partition. When Sita exhausted all possible venues to unite with Rama who was one track minded on Prajadharma, she by her   power of Pativrata dharma split the land into two and entered into it. While Rama ruled Eastern   part of the Split Land from Ayodhya that extended as far as Burma and beyond Lava  and Kusa ruled the  Western Part. Lava ruled from Lavapuri modern Lahore who had   conquered Rama as witnessed in Asvamedha Yajna of Rama. People later tried to unify artificially but the curse of Sita remained and finally partition took place in 1947. 

The Kingdom of Kush  was an ancient kingdom in Nubia, located at the Sudanese and southern EgyptianNile Valley. The Kushite era of rule in Nubia was established after   a century later.  During classical antiquity, the Kushite imperial capital was located at Meroë. In early Greek geography, the Meroitic kingdom was known as Aethiopia. The Kingdom of Kush with its capital at Meroe persisted until the 4th century AD, when it weakened and disintegrated due to internal rebellion. The seat was eventually captured and burnt to the ground by the Kingdom of Aksum. Afterwards the Nubians established the three, eventually Christianized, kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria and Alodia. (Wikipedia

This is history and not a myth because the modern history of the  British  says  Brittan  conquered and ruled Indian Empire based on  Indus/Gandhara Valley civilization and   Ramarajya civilization. Even British Indian Empire consisted of present Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Burma and even Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan. Later they too got engaged in splitting and giving  away as gifts to Prince of Wales  land in  the process of integrating British Isles  of Ireland, Scotland and England. 

Why would such a kind, compassionate, inclusive, progressive Rama punish his own innocent wife with exile who then gave up her ghost exhausting all means to lead a happy married life and met with a pre-matured death while he continued to live happily as a King enjoying Dharma for 10000 years? 

I believe his sons Lava  and Kusa  were also vexed  and did not live with him based on historic facts above!   May be it is the curse of  Sita that split  India to India and Pakistan  in modern days also    as we experience, while she entered Mother Earth devastated as  it got split and welcomed her to take into her bosom! While India is  part of Rama Bhumi celebrated today, Pakistan is part of the Sita Bhumi we lost forever! Her grief is our grief for all our generations to come! As you are called Rama this may interest you too!

You are perhaps  aware of Horse Island ad Ash Island in USA. California is believed to be Kapilaranya (Chandrasekharendra Saraswati) reminding the story of Ikshvaku king Sagara with  horse and the burnt out ashes of his sons? So it is reasonable to assume  that Rama ruled California too?

A thorough research by Kutch Research Foundation is astonishing. Why Grand Canyon is Called VISHNU Schist mountain layer? Name is given by original tribes of the Red Indians--original GENETICALLY decedents of Asian origin, though they went there about 20,000 years ago by land when north Atlantic was frozen. They believe this place is the place of their worshiping god.”   Ramani’s blog and other Western researchers too support the date of  Red Indians to 20000 years as migrants of the ancient land of India.

--November 17, 2019
Comments:
Thank you so much for your Blogs that you write, it is truly divinely inspired, that few people are taking advantage of your knowledge filled with historical facts, and I am one of them who sincerely see the value of your blogs,,,, please keep writing them as long as you are divinely inspired,
After reading your blog now I am aware of Lava Kusha Lahore and Kasur Sharada. Corridor, I will read more about these subjects,,,,thank you with sincere appreciation and sincere respect, God Bless
--Dr. Ram Prasasd, Editor Aradhana



SEETALRAMA, THE CHAMPION OF PRAJAADHARMA AND WOMEN LIBERATION

It is customary to teach Ramayana as Purana in Baal Vhaar schools and similar religious classes and also enact it as a drama or ballet. But Ramayana is considered as Itihasa (iti+ha+sa) meaning it happened so in Sanskrit, that means a true history. Today researchers have clearly established Rama and Krishna were historic figures as avatars and really ruled over the lands called Aryavarta. But do we teach the true history or even real Ramayana? Have we ever focused on Why Rama abandoned Sita in her Pregnancy on which thousands have spoken for and against!
Historically if India is Ramabhumi and Rama was its earliest ruler, Pakistan and beyond were Sitabhumi ruled by the earliest rulers Lava, and Kusa who were sons of Rama.  Rama is now firmly established as a historic figure and not a Puranic myth based on archeological studies.  History confirms Lahore is named after Lava who is its earliest king.  It is Rama who was responsible for this partition. When Sita exhausted all possible venues to unite with Rama who was one track minded on Prajadharma, she by her   power of Pativrata dharma split the land into two and entered into it. While Rama ruled Eastern   part of the Split Land from Ayodhya that extended as far as Burma and beyond. Lava  and Kusa ruled the  Western Part  that extended beyond  Pakistan including   Afghanistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan etc. Lava ruled from Lavapuri modern Lahore who had   conquered Rama as witnessed in Asvamedha Yajna of Rama. People later tried to unify this artificially   split land but the curse of Sita remained; lands got spilt and joined repeatedly  and finally  thanks to British and four Christian votes partition took place in 1947.
Then the  question arises should Indians stop at Ayodhya Verdict and continue the fight for the historic  Sita-Rama  Rajya  like the British or at least a sort of Union with  MOU for peaceful living  like UNO based not on myth but true history. That calls for rewriting true history   and teach in schools.
Why do I call popular Sitarama as Seetalrama. Rama was cold to Sita.  Seetal means cold.   Even though he was a champion of rehabilitating abused, distressed and down trodden woman in society  with   dignity and grace as a king devoted to Manava dharma, he was indifferent to Patni-dharma  and  in the end abandoned  Sita who completely shattered and broken down gave up her ghost early in  her prime of life while Rama ruled over Ayodhya for more than 10000  (?) years solely devoted to Prajaa Dharma.
Why would such a kind, compassionate, inclusive, progressive person punish his own innocent wife with exile when pregnant, who then gave up her ghost exhausting all means to lead a happy married life and met with a pre-matured death while he continued to live happily as a King enjoying Dharma longer believed as  10000 years?  This 10000 yearrs need to be fixed by historic research! I believe his son Lava also did not live with him but was the celebrated King of Lavapuri which is the present day Lahore named after him. Perhaps he was the king of whole present day Pakistan. May be it is the curse of  Sita that split   British India  Empire to India and Pakistan  later as it happened while she entered Mother Earth devastated as  it got split and welcomed her to take into her bosom! While India is Rama Bhumi celebrated today Pakistan is the Sita Bhumi we lost forever! Her grief is our  perennial grief for all our generations to come!

Then the question arises should Indians, that includes citizens of all faiths, stop at Ayodhya Verdict or  continue the fight for the historic Sita-Rama  Rajya  or at least a sort of Union with  MOU for peaceful living  like UNO based not on myth but True History. That calls for rewriting true history and teach in schools.

Please go through my detailed discourse: “Seetal Rama, the Champion of Prajadharma and Women Liberation” that walks through Valmiki Ramayana that explains the grief  and sad end of a Pativrata that still haunts the subcontinent of India that was once called as Aryavarta, Bharatakanda, Jambudveepa and recently  Ashoka Empire, Mughal Empire and lastly British India Empire  where they boasted the Sun never sets in British Empire looking at Ikshvaku Dynasty that ruled the Globe once with Dharma!

--November 16, 2019

SCHEMES OF EDUCATION AND HEALTH DELIVERY TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY IS BASED ON HINDU DHARMA
This year the Nobel Prize in Economics was conferred on the economists Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duplo and Michael Kremer for their “experimental approach to alleviating global poverty”.
These Nobel laureates have adapted RCT, a tool of medical science to development economics, which has reportedly yielded a better result in the identification and solution of problems.
 Their application of randomized control trials (RCT), a tool developed and successfully used by them in development economics, intensifies project focus down to micro-interventions at a local level that yield results which can be observed in the short term. It is now being used across the world in programs improve education and health delivery and to alleviate poverty. The experimental approach, in the context of their work, really mean the recognition of the need to use evidence as a critical input in policymaking.
Thinking on similar lines two groups of philanthropists in Nashville where I live have been working for some  years on two  parallel programs detailed below whose vital importance  needs no special elaboration:
  1. Indian Community Seniors Support Services” (ICSSS)   strives to provide services that contribute to the health and vitality of the community and thus help Seniors age gracefully. We will plan to link Seniors with information about the different resources available in our community and also create atmosphere for fellowship and networking. The goal is to enhance emotional, social and health issues and more importantly help and address loneliness and isolation.

  1. INDOAMERICAN FORUM is a non-profit group dedicated to having community dialogue on issues relevant to Indian community, fostering community development. Program is open to public.

    Indian American immigrants have excelled in academics, and have become leading scholars and educators in the United States and around the world. We in Nashville community are blessed with quite a few scholars working in the leading edge of health, technology and education.  . Access to quality Health and Education in the third world has always been a concern for the humanitarians and leaders of the world. Indian immigrants have a special role in helping the less privileged world by improving health and education in these under-served areas.   Such projects by some   families  from Nashville to successfully contribute to the underprivileged in India  are already in operation and so also from many other cities in USA while their services to underprivileged  community locally is highly commendable.

I moved to Nashville in 2000 and was not only highly impressed by the yeoman service of Nashville Temple Fathers but also motivated to do something though fortune did not favor me materially in my struggle for existence focused on dharma though I could otherwise become rich. I had the obligation to fulfill in life wise advice  by  Sankaracharyas while in India who   told me that after retirement I should focus on spiritual focus and propagation of  Hinduism.   Though Indian Migrants in USA are  affluent   and rich, they  are leading an empty  life with no focus on spirituality and hence are also not able to guide their children  with spiritual education though there is  some hootch-poach approach in temples. Charity begins at home. Parents need it more at the first instance. I could not build a Forum like these two philanthropist groups but started my little contribution by way of a blog  Hindu Reflections that has caught up attention of  society  globally. The proof of the pudding is in eating it. You may like to see what appreciation this has brought about from the attached Unique Appreciations.   Though all these are a drop in the Ocean of Charity yet nevertheless they are quite powerful for motivation for people to get involved effectively in Sevadharma for Janaseva is Janardhana Seva, Service to Humanity is Service to God. What is the use of gaining the whole world when we have lost our own soul? Retirement should not weaken our souls! Yuddhyasva vigatajwarah--act without anxiety or constraint says Gita. Focus on DA, DA, DA (dama, daya, dana)--Constraint, Compassion and Charity!

--November 16, 2019




PAKISTAN TAKES SECOND MAJOR DECISION TO OPEN SHARADA CORRIDOR AFTER KSARTARPUR CORRIDOR
Here is a golden opportunity for Pakistan, Afganistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and India to sit together and evolve  Samjoutha MOU for a sort of mini UNO and live in Peace if not Pieces. Pakistan has shown its willingness by opening the second corridor.
After Kartarpur, Pakistan gives green signal to open Sharda Temple corridor. The decision to open the Sharada Temple corridor will be the second major decision by Pakistan to facilitate the Hindu pilgrims in India. The country sees the move as another major step towards de-escalation of tensions with India after Kartarpur corridor.-- Seema Gupta, Islamabad, March 25, 2019

Directed by the Central Government, Uttar Pradesh Government has started the process of identifying alternative sites in and around Ayodhya for the proposed mosque based on Ayodhya Verdict.  This is obligatory as a mosque was destroyed that was constructed on a historic  site knowingly or unknowingly later.  Since the land belongs to Central Government it should settle the issue in a manner that will promote Indian National integration not as an issue of Hindus or Muslims. Even Christians should join the melting pot and think of national Integration being Indians. They should not forget that four Christians strengthened the hands of Ismail Jinnah who was fighting   for an integrated Pakistan like India with Muslim majority with total support of minority Christians and Hindus for the then historic decision of Partition. They all should think of a secular State like USA. Historically if India is Ramabhumi and Rama was its earliest ruler, Pakistan and beyond were Sitabhumi ruled by the earliest rulers Lava, and Kusa who were sons of Rama.  Rama is now firmly established as a historic figure and not a Puranic myth based on archeological studies.  History confirms Lahore is named after Lava who is its earliest king.  It is Rama who was responsible for this partition. When Sita exhausted all possible venues to unite with Rama who was one track minded on Prajadharma, she by her   power of Pativrata dharma split the land into two and entered into it. While Rama ruled Eastern   part of the Split Land from Ayodhya that extended as far as Burma and beyond  Lava  and Kusa ruled the  Western Part. Lava ruled from Lavapuri modern Lahore who had   conquered Rama as witnessed in Asvamedha Yajna of Rama. People later tried to unify artificially but the curse of Sita remained and finally partition took place in 1947. 

The Kingdom of Kush  was an ancient kingdom in Nubia, located at the Sudanese and southern EgyptianNile Valley. The Kushite era of rule in Nubia was established after   a century later.  During classical antiquity, the Kushite imperial capital was located at Meroë. In early Greek geography, the Meroitic kingdom was known as Aethiopia. The Kingdom of Kush with its capital at Meroe persisted until the 4th century AD, when it weakened and disintegrated due to internal rebellion. The seat was eventually captured and burnt to the ground by the Kingdom of Aksum. Afterwards the Nubians established the three, eventually Christianized, kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria and Alodia. (Wikipedia)

This is history and not a myth because the modern history of  the  British  says  Brittan  conquered and ruled Indian Empire. Therefore this is not a verdict of Rama  Janma Bhumi or Babri Masjid.  Indian Empire that got split has its  early history  older than 10k years and doesn't start from 712 A.D. Pakistan and INDIA  should encourage thesis on Indus/Gandhara Valley civilization and   Ramarajya civilization. Even British Indian Empire consisted of present Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Burma and even Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan. Laster they too got engaged in splitting and giving  away as gifts to Prince of Wales  land in  the process of integrating British Isles  of Ireland, Scotland and England. The peremptory task is to establish true history jointly by India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Such history researchers and students must be supported through partnership programs at mainstream level so they could do their work in   an   effective united way. That would help to live in peace but not in pieces. Bangladesh should also join hands in braking all the artificial walls.  Religious tourism can be excellent opportunity in this regard where Pakistan can attract Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimsThis wisdom has just sprouted as reported earlier creating corridor paths to visit holy shrines.  If UNO  is successfully working why not this Aryavarta Union function with its own set of constitution and MOU?

Today we remain divided and reunion may not be possible. Even Rama was not compromising, separated from Sita, and split the land as two kingdoms of Ayodhya and Lavapuri. How can we  hope  for such MOU with petty minded  doctrine and so called man-made religions unless we realize the wisdom of Jagadguru Chandrasekharendra Saraswati?"

“What we call Hinduism today was the universal religion in the past. Looking at the Practice of Hinduism in many parts of the globe there is no question of certain things being taken from Bharat (Later British Indian Empire) and introduced into another country. In the beginning the Vedic Religion was prevalent all over the world. Later, over the centuries, it must have gone through a process of change and taken different forms. These forms came to be called the original religions of these various lands which in the subsequent period, historical times, came under Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism,  Judaism, Christianity or Islam as the case may be".  Islam means Saranagati or Self-surrender. Salam or Shalom means Peace or Shanti, a Hindu benediction! Jehovah meansc  “That I Am” or  Ahamasmi-- all based on Sanatana Dharma Wisdom ThoughtsWhy would such a kind, compassionate, inclusive, progressive Rama punish his own innocent wife with exile who then gave up her ghost exhausting all means to lead a happy married life and met with a pre-matured death while he continued to live happily as a King enjoying Dharma for 10000 years? 

I believe his sons Lava  and Kusa also did not live with him based on historic facts above!   May be it is the curse of  Sita that split  India to India and Pakistan  in modern days also    as we experience, while she entered Mother Earth devastated as  it got split and welcomed her to take into her bosom! While India is Rama Bhumi celebrated today, Pakistan is the Sita Bhumi we lost forever! Her grief is our grief for all our generations to come!
  
Ramesh Kumar, member of the National Assembly of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also confirmed the news. (Photo by Irfan Ahmed not posted)

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Sharda Devi temple is one of the ancient temples of Hindus, located in the Neelum Valley in PoK
  • The temple is at least 5,000 years old and was established in 237 BC during Ashoka's reign
  • The decision to open the Sharda Temple Corridor is being seen as a major step by Pakistan towards peace with India
Pakistan is all geared up to give green signal to open the Sharda Temple corridor in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a move which the country sees as another major step towards de-escalation of tensions with India after Kartarpur corridor.
The decision to open the Sharda Temple corridor will be the second major decision that Islamabad will take to facilitate the Hindu pilgrims in India.
The pilgrims had demanded facilitation for Sharda Devi temple just like the Kartarpur corridor.
Sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) confirmed that India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had already sent a proposal to open the corridor.
"After Kartarpur, a piece of big news is in the offing for Hindus. Some of the government officials will visit the area and later submit a report to the prime minister," an official of MOFA said.
Sharda Devi temple is one of the ancient temples of Hindus, located in the Neelum Valley in PoK at the edge of the Line of Control (LoC).
The temple is at least 5,000 years old and was established in 237 BC during Ashoka's reign.
The temple is attached to a pond called 'Madomati', the water of which is known to be sacred.
Ramesh Kumar, member of the National Assembly of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also confirmed the news.
"Pakistan has decided to open the Sharda temple. I am going to visit the place in a couple of days. I will also send a report in this regard to Prime Minister Imran Khan. Work on the project will start from the current year after which Hindus in Pakistan will also be able to visit the site," Ramesh Kumar said.
The decision to open the Sharda Temple Corridor is being seen as a major step by Pakistan towards peace with India, asserting that dialogue is the only way towards a solution to ease the tension between the two nuclear powers.
--November 15, 2019
Comments:
That is a brilliant article! It will be great if India, Pakistan, etc., rejoin culturally at least! I learnt much from this article.
--A.S. Narayana

SATYAMEVA JAYATE HISTORIC BUT NOT PURANIC AYODHYA VERDICT CALLS FOR TRUE HISTORY

I am not a Hindu but a Vedantin. Rama was also  not a Hindu  for the word Hindu did not exist then and he was Aryaputra of Aryavarta,   a vast stretch of land ruled by Dharma after his conquest celebrated by Rajasooya Yajna with all participation. Rama caught in confusion in ruling with Dharma unlike Lord Krishna also historic figure bought lot of misery to himself and  also inflicted on Sita. Please wait for my forthcoming topic “Sheetal Rama, the Champion of Prajaa Dharma”  Present  Ayodhya Verdict is on the ancient Kingdom of Ramarajya  and its king Rama whom  they worshiped and  built temples as they do today to Sai Baba who is also  considered as Non-Muslim of no religious concept by Hindus! The verdict was over the building  of a mosque over this ancient historic temple which were excavated that  provided evidence of history. The court verdict is also a  directive not to teach false history, establish true history and teach true history.
Settling a fractious issue that goes back more than a century, the Supreme Court in a historic verdict on Saturday backed the construction of a Ram temple by a government trust at the disputed site in Ayodhya, and ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque in the Hindu holy town. The central government had acquired the land of 67 acers including the disputed site in 1991. Directed by the Central Government, Uttar Pradesh Government has started the process of identifying alternative sites in and around Ayodhya for the proposed mosque:   "We have been asked to find the land for mosque at prominent and attractive place."  This is obligatory as a mosque was destroyed that was constructed on a wrong site knowingly or unknowingly later.  Since the land belongs to Central Government it should settle the issue in a manner that will promote Indian National integration not as an issue of Hindus or Muslims. Even Christians should join the melting pot and think of national Integration being Indians. They should not forget that four Christians strengthened the hands of Ismail Jinnah who was fighting   for an integrated Pakistan like India with Muslim majority with total support of minority Christians and Hindus for the then historic decision of Partition. They all should think of a secular State like USA. Historically if India is Ramabhumi and Rama was its earliest ruler.  Pakistan and beyond were Sitabhumi ruled by the earliest rulers Lava, and Kusa who were sons of Rama.  Rama is now firmly established as a historic figure and not a Puranic myth based on archeological studies.  History confirms Lahore is named after Lava who is its earliest king.  It is Rama who was responsible for this partition. When Sita exhausted all possible venues to unite with Rama who was one track minded on Prajadharma, she by her   power of Pativrata dharma split the land into two and entered into it. While Rama ruled Eastern   part of the Split  Land from Ayodhya that extended as far as Burma and beyond Land Lava  and Kusa ruled the  Western Part. Lava ruled from Lavapuri modern Lahore who had   conquered Rama as witnessed in Asvamedha Yajna of Rama. People later tried to unify artificially but the curse of Sita remained and finally partition took place in 1947. 
The Kingdom of Kush  was an ancient kingdom in Nubia, located at the Sudanese and southern EgyptianNile Valley. The Kushite era of rule in Nubia was established after   a century later.  During classical antiquity, the Kushite imperial capital was located at Meroë. In early Greek geography, the Meroitic kingdom was known as Aethiopia. The Kingdom of Kush with its capital at Meroe persisted until the 4th century AD, when it weakened and disintegrated due to internal rebellion. The seat was eventually captured and burnt to the ground by the Kingdom of Aksum. Afterwards the Nubians established the three, eventually Christianized, kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria and Alodia. (Wikipedia)

You cannot say all this is a myth because the modern history of British  says  Brittan  conquered and ruled Indian Empire. Therefore this is not a verdict of Rama  Janma Bhumi or Babri Masjid.  Indian Empire that got split has its  early history  older than 10k years and doesn't start from 712 A.D. Pakistan and INDIA  should encourage thesis on Indus/Gandhara Valley civilization and   Ramarajya civilization. Even British Indian Empire consisted of present Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Burma and even Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan. Laster they too got engaged in splitting and giving  away as gifts to Prince of Wales  land in  the process of integrating British Isles  of Ireland, Scotland and England. The peremptory task is to establish true history jointly by India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Such history researchers and students must be supported through partnership programs at mainstream level so they could do their work in   an   effective united way. That would help to live in peace but not in pieces. Bangladesh should also join hands in braking all the artificial walls.  Religious tourism can be excellent opportunity in this regard where Pakistan can attract Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimsThis wisdom has just sprouted as reported earlier creating corridor paths to visit holy shrines.  If UNO  is successfully working why not this Aryavarta Union function with its own set of constitution and MOU
Today we remain divided and reunion may not be possible. Even Rama was not compromising, separated from Sita, and split the land as two kingdoms of Ayodhya and Lavapuri. How can we  hope  for such MOU with petty minded  doctrine and so called man-made religions unless we realize the wisdom of Jagadguru Chandrasekharendra Saraswati?"
“What we call Hinduism today was the universal religion in the past. Looking at the Practice of Hinduism in many parts of the globe there is no question of certain things being taken from Bharat (Later British Indian Empire) and introduced into another country. In the beginning the Vedic Religion was prevalent all over the world. Later, over the centuries, it must have gone through a process of change and taken different forms. These forms came to be called the original religions of these various lands which in the subsequent period, historical times, came under Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism,  Judaism, Christianity or Islam as the case may be"Islam means Saranagati or Self-surrender. Salam or Shalom means Peace or Shanti, a Hindu benediction! Jehovah meansc  “That I Am” or  Ahamasmi-- all based on Sanatana Dharma Wisdom ThoughtsWhy would such a kind, compassionate, inclusive, progressive Rama punish his own innocent wife with exile who then gave up her ghost exhausting all means to lead a happy married life and met with a pre-matured death while he continued to live happily as a King enjoying Dharma for 10000 years?  I believe his sons Lava  and Kusa also did not live with him based on historic facts above!   May be it is the curse of  Sita that split  India to India and Pakistan  in modern days also    as we experience, while she entered Mother Earth devastated as  it got split and welcomed her to take into her bosom! While India is Rama Bhumi celebrated today, Pakistan is the Sita Bhumi we lost forever! Her grief is our grief for all our generations to come!

--November 13, 2014
Webinar 160 ĀDI SHANKARA'S INTRODUCTION TO BRAHMA-SUTRAS
Gist of Presentation by Swami Chidananda:
Hailed as Adhyāsa Bhāshya, this piece of the commentary is an excellent basis for understanding the essential outlook of Advaita Vedānta. Clear and valuable definitions of the nature of the fundamental error (adhyāsa)  are supplied by Shri Bhāshyakāra. How there can be lack of discrimination between spirit and matter, the sentient and the inert, is brought out. All the Upanishads aim at removing this basic erroneous perception. A study of this portion can lay a firm foundation for the right grasp of all Vedāntic study.
                     | adhyāso nāma atasmin tad-buddhih |
The error of superimposition is the notion of that in what is not that.
                 (A line from the adhyāsa-bhāshya)


My E-mail Forwarding:
Please go through the detail of proposed discourse focused on “How there can be lack of discrimination between spirit and matter, the sentient and the inert, is brought out. All the Upanishads aim at removing this basic erroneous perceptio

I have neither been able to lay my hands on Sankara’s  Adhyaasa nor I do  have the maturity to go into a philosophical  discussions even if I could lay my hands on, being still in the school level of understanding Vedanta. Influenced by my daily   MNU Parayana with minimal understanding I have the following explanation for you. But you will be wiser to listen to Swamiji for the right thoughts on the subject made easy delivery and quick consumption for our understanding.

aoraīyān mahato mahīyānātmā guhāyā nihito'sya janto ……….
The Infinite Self minuter of all that exists than the minute and greater than the great is set in the heart ….  
this mantra from Mahanarayana Upanishad also found in Katha Upanishad as Svetasvatara says The Supreme is subtler than ether and the minutest atom, for then only He can be present in everything whatever that exists.--Isavaysmidam sarvam. Being thus all-pervasive He encompasses and trans­cends the sum total of the Universe.

Spirit and matter are the two basic aspects of creation.  By definition, they represent essential duality.  As human souls, incarnate in physical bodies, we mirror that same duality.  We are part spirit and part matter.  In each of us there exists a divine spark that descended from spirit into matter, eons ago, in order to evolve consciousness.  It is through experience on the material plane that the germ of divine consciousness awakens and finds its way back to its spiritual Source. 

At some point in this experiential learning process, the divine spark breaks through the density of matter and becomes self-aware.  The soul encased in material substance perceives that it is more than its apparatus:  the body, emotions, and mind.  It realizes that it has access to a higher, more subtle dimension of consciousness.  As the light of the soul grows in intensity, the individual discovers the Path of Return—the path by which the soul consciously returns to the realm of spirit.

To understand intellectually that we are not a psycho-physical entity is a necessary first step, but this understanding is not sufficient. The fact that we are not the body must become an actual experience that penetrates and liberates our muscles, our internal organs and even our cells. A sudden, fleeting recognition of our true nature brings us a flash of pure joy, but when we have full knowledge that we are not the body, we are that joy--Francis Lucille
On earth   man is a transitional being. Therefore, in the course of his evolution, he has had several natures in succession, which have followed an ascending curve and will continue to follow it until he reaches the threshold of the supra-mental nature and is transformed into the superman.
What I lean from our scriptures is: “On the first night, the sperm and ovum mix (to form zygote), and on the fifth night the mixture ferments into a bubble (blastocyst). On the tenth night it develops into a form like a plum, and after that, it gradually turns into a lump of flesh. In the course of a month, a head is formed, and at the end of two months the hands, feet and other limbs take shape. By the end of three months, the nails, fingers, toes, body hair, bones and skin appear, as do the organ of generation and the other apertures in the eyes, nostrils, ears, mouth and anus”. Mother adds with her Advaita Wisdom: “This precise detail is not superfluous;  ‘on earth that we often repeat’ means that man does not belong merely to earth: in essence man is a universal being, but he has a special manifestation on earth.”
Statements of Upanishads may be looked into by the two categories that has given scope for different philosophies: 1. Bheda srutis or statements that expound difference between the Supreme Brahman, Jivatman and Matter. 2. Ghata Srutis are scriptural statements that harmonize unity texts and duality texts.  The one Supreme Brahman is described as the inmost principle or Antaryamin in all other entities sentient and non-sentient. There is the body-soul relationship between the Universe and Brahman. Thus the one non-second Supreme Brahman is inseparably qualified both the “Chith” and the “Achith”. This unity of Brahman and the reality of other entities are both harmonized. The body-soul relationship is the master-key to resolve the apparent contradiction between the Bheda vakya’s and Abhedavakyas. Abheda Srurtis are statements in Upanishads that expound the Oneness of the Absolute Brahman. Brahman is not Plural (na adviteeyam) but it is qualified by Plurality.
The visible Universe is matter. The natural law (Truth or Sathyam) that governs the functioning of the universe is Sunya (a no-thing) that cannot be “seen” or “touched” in anyway. This Truth can only be intuited or inferred. It is this unseen law that is called as spirit. So the essence of “anything” is the spirit of the “thing”. Matter and spirit cannot really be separated. They always function as ONE.

This natural law is called by Saivites as Shiva and the visible universe is called as Shakti. Shiva and Shakti cannot be separated. Together they create this cosmic dance (dance of Nataraja on Arida darsanam night).

With the above thoughts I am able to understand the Puranic  stories  of Ahalya’s transfer into stone as well as her re-emergence from stone, Narasimha  as Sthambodhbhva Murti  (emerging out of wooden Pillar) and Jagannatha as Daru-Brahman where Brahman is explained as SATHYAM and not mere Sat (Sat=immortal, thi=mortal and yam=as  regulator--Chhandogya Upanishad) and not as Myth which word Hindus hate when somebody calls  our Puranas are Myth!  Concerning which is truth it is written: before creation came into existence Brahman existed as the Un-manifest. From the Un-manifest he created the manifest. From himself he brought forth himself. Hence he is known as the Self-existence--Taittareeya

 --November 9, 2019

  



CELEBRATE KARTIK SUKLA PAKSHA AS FOOD CHARITY FORTNIGHT

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Nashville is celebrating  Prabodhini Ekadashi Shakotsav  annual celebrations today.  Over hundred varieties of raw vegetables will be offered to the Swaminarayan Bhagwan and Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj in haatdi. Devotees bring all different types of raw vegetables to offer in the Shakotsav Annakut. After the ceremony, the gathered devotees will have the opportunity to take home the raw vegetables as prasad.
The greatness of Prabodhini Ekadashi elaborated in Skanda Purana  holds great significance for Hindus as it marks the beginning of the auspicious ceremonies like marriages, child naming ceremonies, griha pravesh and so on. Prabodhini Ekadashi holds immense importance among the ‘Swaminarayan sect’.  The following Uttana Dwadasi is celebrated as Tulasi Vivaha Day that open the   flood gates for marriage celebrations for many. This day honors the religious initiation or ‘diksha’ of Swaminarayan by his guru and mentor Guru Ramanand Swami. Devotees observe this sacred fast to wash away their evil deeds and sins committed during the lifetime. Also by offering prayers to Lord Vishnu with devotion on the day of Prabodhini Ekadashi, followed by liberal  acts of food charity on Kartik Purnima Day (annadaana), also called Dev Diwali day; it is believed that a person can attain salvation or ‘moksha’ and go straight away to ‘Vaikunth’ after death.
“In Hindu tradition, serving spiritual seekers and monks has always been of utmost importance. This can be a path in itself. The most beautiful expression of this is the Annadanam – the sacred offering of food ”to the needy” - says Jaggi Vasudev.
Important occasions in your life, such as birthdays, anniversaries or any other day of your choice, can be an opportunity to offer Annadanam and be a part   your endeavor to spread joy, health and wellbeing. You can also offer Annadanam in memory of a loved one. For special occasions like Mahashivaratri, Guru Purnima,  Mahalaya Paksha and Kartik Suklapaksha. .It is Annadanam from generous donors that allows Temples and other charitable  foundations to serve food to the thousands  of devotees who visit the place. Through a simple act of donating Annadanam, you can touch 
Unique Annabhishekam to Lord Shiva
The seventh month in the calendar is the holy month. According to astrology Sun resides in the house / rasi Libra. The harvesting of paddy in Tamil Nadu would have got completed by this time. People are more interested in thanking Lord Siva with Annam (cooked fragrant rice). They believe that Lord Siva has only created annam (cooked rice) and He alone offer His grace and protect His subjects with annam (cooked rice). This month’s conclusion is celebrated on Kartik Purnima day with Annabhishekam for Siva as an annual event.
Lord Siva: the Preserver of Annam
Lord Siva is the preserver of annam (Annanam Pathaye Namaha). He is considered as annam and he is also the consumer of annam (Ahamannam .. Ahamannatho). The devotees believe that anyone who witnesses annabhshekam will be relived from the troubles of rebirth. Rudra is focused as Brahman  who is the preserve of annam as Vedas declare  in this ritual.
Devotees will collect the cooked rice covered around Lingam and immerse it in rivers or ponds. The cooked rice used to cover the base and floor will be collected and distributed to devotees.
 IMPORTANCE OF FOOD CHARITY
Daanasoora Karna (Karna was known for his charitable disposition and hence the title) of Mahabharata fame forgot one thing in his list of charity in this world. He offered no food as charity to others in his entire life. So he felt the pangs of hunger even in the higher worlds. He was therefore sent back to Earth for fourteen days to make up for his deficiency. On his return to higher regions after Annadaana (Food Charity) he had plenty of food and enjoyed his life.

Life depends on food. Food Charity (Annadaana) is important. The gift of food is the greatest gift. Therefore focus your thoughts on food charity not only during this special fortnight but all throughout  the year. All celebrated temples in India have in their program Food Charity Scheme (Annadaana Kainkarya). USA also runs such programs during Thanksgiving and Christmas when they collect all food materials from all residents and distribute to the poor. Celebrate Kartik Suklapaksha as Food Charity Fortnight!

Vedas say: annatto praanam--Life grows with food,   annam  na nindyaat-- don’t abuse food and annam bahu kurveeta, multiply food. The purport of the above rituals is to be generous and at the same time not to be foolish to waste food, think of the ritual as motive force  for liberal  food charity  to the needy making the ritual symbolic for spiritual inspiration.
Vedas say: Annena praanam, praanat balam, balena jnaanam, jnaanena vijnaanam,  vijnaanaat  atman,  atmanaa vindate veeryam……
With food one is able to lead life, build physical strength in life, with strength   gain worldly knowledge, go deep with knowledge turn inwards or visualize Self within; with Self gain spiritual strength to focus on joining the source.
“Man does not belong merely to earth: in essence man is a universal being, but he has a special manifestation on earth.” So the Self  has to find out the path to proceed further up to reach the source through spiritual uplift after its special manifestation as per the divine will! Hence all these rituals!
--November 10, 2019

DAMAGE CAUSED TO HINDUS BY WESTERN JOURNALISTS & CORRESPONDENTS

 Francois Gautier, a very popular and long-standing French resident correspondent in New Delhi says “Many western journalists and correspondents are still biased against Hindustan (Bharat or India).  The western media should at least respect the country with its wisest past and that still gives birth to humans with wonderful qualities.  Most of the western correspondents posted in New Delhi take little notice about the uniqueness of India paying almost no respect to the billion-plus nation even after 70 years of its independence.  India is never in the news in the West unless there is some major catastrophe or huge elections.  Hindu tolerance  has been one-way traffic for the Hindus as they experienced cruel genocides in the sad history of humanity. But Hindus have shown extreme tolerance and Hinduism is the only religion that never tried to convert others. 
Nehru had to nurture the sentient of a sizable Muslim population that did not join Pakistan (west or east) and continued to live in India .For these reasons, Nehru asked historians to show esteem  to Muslim rulers like Akbar or Aurangzeb and ignore the greatness of Hindu warriors like Chatrapati Shivaji, Maharana Pratap, Rani Lakshmibai etc.,    knowing that Hindus would not react, not to speak of protesting!  Majority of the people here remain Hindus, the establishment even after independence tried its best to  turn itself as anti-Hindu. It encouraged people to negate anything associated with Hinduism.  

Today the Hebrew language has unified Israel like nothing else, which should inspire India to revive Sanskrit.   Hindus   have been persecuted for nearly two thousand years. Six million Jews were terminated in gas chambers in by Adolf Hitler.  Around  eighty million Hindus had to die at the hands of Muslim invaders. He stresses the need to write true History of India as hit happened as I recently wrote to you. Please go through the full report in the Internet.
--November 8, 2019

KARTHIK PURNIMA, KARTIGAI DEEPAM AND MAKARA SANKRANTI FOLLOW DIWALI THAT STARTED FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS  SEASON

I wonder why Hindus should run to temple on different days for observing  Special Religious Event Days in different temples for related festivals, Kartik Purnima of all India and Kartigai Deepam of Tamils. At least Multi Traditional Hindu American Temples should try to bring all traditions together as unifying force drawing inspiration from Diwali Celebrations we recently celebratedtogether!
For Karthik Festival of Lights which is more  auspicious than Diwali Festival of Lights, Hindu Americans can  draw inspiration from Telugu Tradition which my mom followed though I am a Tamil that I described: In Telugu households of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karthika Maasalu (month) is considered very auspicious; the Kartika month starts on the day of Deepaavali. From that day till the end of the month, oil lamps are lit every day. On Karthika Pournami (full moon of Kartheeka month) oil lamp with 365 wicks, prepared at home, are lit in Lord Shiva temples.
Whatever Conservative Hindu Americans may feel, they cannot keep their   children happy without Christmas Tree Lighting expecting gifts under the tree from friends and relatives.   Krishna played music and enjoyed with his friends under Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, the night-flowering jasmine or parijata or hengra bubar as well as Pinna Maram (Tamil), clerodendrum infortunatum. This perhaps inspired Christmas tree! Let us start our series of Festival of Lights on Dhan Teras day and complete it on Makara Sankranti Day ending with the the Worship of Sun as Aditya, The Universal Light which is also celebrated as Makara Vilakku in Malayalam Tradition. Incidentally we are beautifully blending with major culture  of USA celebrating Festival of Lights that starts after Halloween and often extended up to January 18 by Orthodox Christians. USA also has changed the name to Festival of Lights from Christmas unifying many   faiths that I described under the theme--Festival of Lights, Ancient in Tradition, Universal in Appeal.  If American Christians can do it, We can do it too! Let us understand Karthik Purnima Celebrations with this background and decide on “Sanghacchadvam Samvadadvam samaanam akootih”--come together pray together with common objectives as Vedas dictate.
Kartika Purnima is a Hindu, Sikh and Jain cultural festival, celebrated on the Purnima (full moon) day or the fifteenth lunar day of Kartik (November–December). It is also known as Tripuri Purnima and Tripurari Purnima. It is sometimes called Deva-Diwali or Deva-Deepawali, the festival of lights of the gods. Karthikai Deepam is a related festival celebrated in South India and Sri Lanka on a different date.
 Tripurari is an epithet of god Shiva. Shiva in his form as Tripurantaka ("Killer of Tripurasura") killed Tripurasura on this day.    The killing of the demon(s) and destruction of his/their cities with a single arrow - by Shiva overjoyed the gods and they declared the day as a Festival of Illuminations. This day is also called "Dev-Diwali"—the Diwali of  Devas or Shining Ones. Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights.  
Kartik Purnima is also the birthday of Matsya, god Vishnu's fish-incarnation (avatar), it is also the birthday of Vrinda, the personification of the Tulsi plant and of Kartikeya, the god of war and son of Shiva. This day also is considered special for Radha, the lover of Krishna - Vishnu's incarnation, it is believed that Krishna and Radha danced rasa and Krishna worshipped Radha on this day. This day is also dedicated to the pitrs, dead ancestors.  
Underhill believes that the origins of this festival may lie in ancient times, when a sacrifice called Shakamedhah was performed to attain victory over enemies.
Kartik Purnima is closely associated with Prabodhini Ekadashi which marks the end of Chaturmas, a four-month period when Vishnu is believed to sleep. Prabodhini Ekadashi signifies the awakening of the god. Chaturmas penance ends on this day.   Kartik Purnima is also the last day to perform Tulsi Vivah ceremony that can be performed from Prabodhini Ekadashi. Also, it is believed that Vishnu, on this day, returns to his abode after completing his stay in Bali. Hence, the day is known as Deva-Diwali.  
 Kartik Purnima is the most popular day for bathing in the Ganges at Varanasi;  the devotees also take a bath in the evening during moonrise and offer worship by way of six prayers such as Shiva sambuti, Satait and so forth.  Annakuta, an offering of food to the deities, is held in temples.    

Tripuri Purnima is only next to Maha Shivaratri, amongst festivals dedicated to Shiva worship.  To commemorate the killing of Tripurasura, images of Shiva are carried in procession. Temple complexes in South India are lit up throughout the night. Deepmalas or towers of lights are illuminated in temples. People place 360 or 720 wicks in temples, to secure escape reaching hell after death;  the 720 wicks symbolizes the 360 days and nights of the Hindu calendar  In Varanasi, the ghats come alive with thousands of diyas (brightly lit earthen lamps).  People gift lamps to priests; the lamps are kept throughout the night in houses and Shiva temples. This day is also known as "Kartik Diparatna" - the jewel of lamps in Kartik.  Lights are also floated in miniature boats in rivers. Lights are placed under Tulsi, Sacred fig and Amla trees; the lights in the water and under trees are believed to help fishes, insects and birds who saw the light to attain salvation.  

People in Odisha celebrate Kartik Purnima by setting afloat miniature boita (boats) made from banana stem to remember the historical significance of the day The festival is a mass commemoration of the state's glorious maritime history when it was known as Kalinga and tradesmen and mariners known as sadhabas traveled on boitas to trade with distant island nations that share borders with the Bay of Bengal like Indonesia, Java, Sumatra and Bali.
In Tamil Nadu, Karthikai Deepam is celebrated where the Purnima corresponds to the Krittika nakshatra. People light rows of lamps on their balconies. In Tiruvannamalai, a ten-day annual festival is held to celebrate Karthikai Deepam.
In Telugu households of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karthika Maasalu (month) is considered very auspicious; the Kartika month starts on the day of Deepawali. From that day till the end of the month, oil lamps are lit every day. On Karthika Pournami (full moon of Kartheeka month) oil lamp with 365 wicks, prepared at home, are lit in Lord Shiva temples. Apart from that, Kartika Purnima is read and fasting is observed till sunset, every day for the whole month. Swaminarayan Sampraday also celebrates this day with faith and fervor.  
Jainism
 Kartik Purnima is an important religious day for Jains who celebrate it by visiting Palitana a Jain pilgrimage centre.  Thousands of Jain pilgrims flock to the foothills of Shatrunjay hills of Palitana taluka on the day of Kartik Purnima to undertake the auspicious yatra (journey); also known as the Shri Shantrunjay Teerth Yatra, this walk is an important religious event in the life of a Jain devotee, who covers 216 km of rough mountainous terrain on foot to worship at the Lord Adinath temple atop the hill.
As devotees are kept away from worshipping their lord for four months of the monsoon season, the first day attracts the maximum number of devotees. Jains believe that Adinath, the first tirthankara, sanctified the hills by visiting it to deliver his first sermon. According to Jain texts, millions of sadhus and Sadhvis have attained salvation on these hills.  
Sikhism
There are no auspicious days in Sikhism. Any month, day or moment a person remembers the Divine is considered auspicious.  Nanakpanthi Hindus and other followers of Guru Nanak's philosophy celebrate this festival on Kartik Purnima, according to the (Hindu) Bikrami calendar. Kartik Purnima is celebrated as Gurupurab or Prakash Parva that is Guru Nanak Jayanti Worldwide.

  
--November 7, 2019

125TH ANNIVERSARY OF PARAMAHAMSA YOGANANDA
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of Government of India on Tuesday released a special commemorative coin on the 125th Anniversary of Pramahamsa Yopgananda, known as the Father of Yoga in the West.   
Paramahansa Yogananda (5 January 1893 – 7 March 1952), born Mukunda Lal Ghosh was an Indian yogi and guru who introduced millions of Indians and Westerners to the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga through his organization Yogoda Satsanga Society of India and Self-Realization Fellowship. In 1946, he published his autobiography, titled Autobiography of a Yogi which is on the list of the "100 best spiritual books of the 20th Century" created by Harper San Francisco, a division of Harper Collins Publishers. The book has been regularly reprinted ever since and is known as "the book that changed the lives of millions".
--November 6, 2019
Thank you for the mail. I am initiated in Kriya Yoga in the lineage of SRF. I have read that book. I wish I can collect the coin.
--Rekha Pattenayak
Thanks for letting me know.
--Ratna De
Pakistan has opened a 1,000-year-old Hindu temple in Sialkot for "worship"
Here is an exciting news amidst many disturbing news you hear about  Hindus in  Pakistan and POK. Pakistan has opened a 1,000-year-old Hindu temple in eastern city Sialkot for "worship" for the first time since partition on the demand of the local Hindu community, officials said on Monday.

A Netherlands born Western educated Pakistani Reema Abbasi is the inspiration behind this rethinking of Pakistan to not only restore the Hindu Temples for worship but also repair and renovate the ancient temples as World Heritage.

Historic Temples in Pakistan makes a case for keeping ancient emblems of faith alive and for pluralism in a land of irony besieged by unpalatable extremism says Reema Abbasi in her book.

Historic Temples in Pakistan: A Call to Conscience Paperback – January 19, 2015 available in paperback on Amazon by Reema Abbasi (Author), Madiha Aijaz (Author)


Pakistan opens 1000-year-old Shawala Teja Singh temple in Punjab for worship after 72 years
The Shawala Teja Singh temple, located in city's congested Dhaarowal locality, some 100-km from Lahore, is more than 1,000 years old, according to the book 'History of Sialkot' by the late Rashid Niaz.

The Shawala Teja Singh temple, located in city's congested Dhaarowal locality, some 100-km from Lahore, is more than 1,000 years old, according to the book 'History of Sialkot' by the late Rashid Niaz.
"The Evacuee Trust Property Board, which looks after the holy places of minorities in Pakistan, has opened Shawala Teja Singh temple after the partition on the demand of the local Hindu community," ETPB spokesperson Amir Hashmi told PTI.
He said since there was no Hindu population earlier residing in the city the temple was closed for worship.
"The temple was partially damaged during attacks on temples here in reaction to Babri Mosque in 1992," he said, adding that the ETPB carried out restoration work of the temple on the direction of Board chairman Dr. Amir Ahmed recently.
ETPB Deputy Director Fraz Abbas told PTI that the restoration work of this temple is still underway and the board is expected to complete it shortly.
"The temple has been opened for worship for the first time since partition. Some 2,000 Hindus are residing in this locality and they are so happy to visit their centuries-old worship place. Now a good number of local Hindus are visiting it. Hindus from other parts of the country are also expected to visit this temple," he said.
Abbas said the visiting Indian Hindus will also be taken to this temple.
Local Hindu leaders Rattan Laal and Rumaish Kumar have welcomed the government's step to restore the temple and open it for the minority community.
Hindus form the biggest minority community in Pakistan.
According to official estimates, 75 lakh Hindus live in Pakistan. However, according to the community, over 90 lakh Hindus are living in the country.
Majority of Pakistan's Hindu population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions and language with their Muslim fellows.
Here is an earlier news column from India Today few years back.  Glad to note they have kept up their promise influenced by the writings  of Reema Abbasi and others
Pakistan to restore, hand over 400 Hindu temples
The Pakistan government wants to reclaim temples and hand them over to the Hindu community. The government has decided to reclaim and restore 400 temples to the Hindu citizens of Pakistan.
From now on, two to three such historic and heritage temple complexes will be restored by the government of Pakistan every year.
HIGHLIGHTS
  • Many temples in Pakistan were encroached or converted to madrasas
  • Pakistan will start restoration process from Sialkot's Jagannath Temple
  • 408 of 428 Hindu temples in Pakistan were converted into toy stores, schools etc. after 1990
Pakistan's federal government has decided to reopen Hindu temples across the country in phases, fulfilling the longstanding demand of the minority Hindus that their places of worship be restored to them. When most Hindus left Pakistan during Partition, many temples were lost to encroachment; even in places where some Hindu families stayed back, local strongmen muscled in and occupied temple land. Many temple complexes ended up being used as a common facility and some even became madrassas.
Now the Pakistan government wants to reclaim temples and hand them over to the Hindu community. The government has decided to reclaim and restore 400 temples to the Hindu citizens of Pakistan.
The process will begin with two historic shrines in Sialkot and Peshawar. Sialkot has a functioning Jagannath Temple and now the 1,000-year-old Shivalaya Teja Singh is set to be restored. Hindus had stopped visiting the shivalaya (shawala) after a mob attack during Babri mosque demolition protests in 1992. In Peshawar, the Pakistani courts had ordered reopening of the Gorakhnath Temple and it's been declared a heritage site.
From now on, two to three such historic and heritage temple complexes will be restored by the government of Pakistan every year.
Earlier, the All-Pakistan Hindu Rights Movement conducted a survey across the country and the result shocked everyone. The survey found there were 428 Hindu temples at the time of Partition and 408 of them were turned into toy stores, restaurants, government offices and schools after 1990.
According to a recent government estimate, at least 11 temples in Sindh, four in Punjab, three in Balochistan and two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were operational in 2019.
Pakistan recently agreed to open the Kartarpur Sahib corridor to facilitate pilgrimage to Guru Nanak's birthplace from Punjab on the Indian side. The Pakistan government has also approved a proposal to establish a corridor that will allow Hindu pilgrims to visit Sharda Peeth, an ancient Saraswati temple in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
--November 4, 2019
Comments: Good to know. As India-Pakistan were earlier one, citizens of the two countries share common ancestry. The two Governments should allow people to travel freely for religious and cultural purposes.
--A.S. Narayana

STUDY OF SELECTED MANTRAS FROM PRASNA UPANISHAD
Praśna Upaniad is one of the three Principal Upaniads belonging to Atharva Veda; besides the  two, Māṇḍūkya and Muṇḍaka. Praśna in Sanskrit means question; this Upaniad is fully set in question-answer format and hence the name. In this Upaniad six seekers ask one question each and Ṛṣi Pippalāda (पिप्पलाद) answers them all.  Unique features of this Upaniad are, first, its precision in the postulations on the origin and existence of beings and second, its psycho-spiritual expositions on the power of human will power in attaining desired objectives.
Six seekers who approached Ṛṣi Pippalāda for instructions on the nature of Brahma were Kabandhī Kātyāyana, Bhārgava Vaidarbhi, Kauśalya Aśvalāyana, Gārgya Saurāyaī, Satyakāma Śaibya and Sukeśā Bhāradvāja. Pippalāda asked them to wait for one more year in penance, abstinence and faith and then ask questions as they like; he assured to answer them all, so far as his knowledge permits. Self-purification (saucha),  steadfast desire (sraddha) and  sacrifice (tapas) or Sanyas yoga are required to absorb such Vijnaana. Hence the instruction for one more year of penance

Unfortunately neither you nor I can join this  Vijnaana Forum tethered in  our material world! I would however like to  recall your memory back to  the Vijnaana (spiritual science)  of  Prasnopanishad sent by a Vedic scholar Sreedharan from Kerala as attached  which  I have  also discussed in tits and bits in the past with my limited knowledge to get at the glimpse on the topics to be discussed. Moksha is the preliminary requisite for Mukti or Kaivalya. Moksha consists of two words moha+kshaya, getting rid of all desires by way of illusion. Therefore Swamiji is not promising  about Mukti or Liberation that depends on our own Sadhana. Remember what Bhagawan also said in Gita: "mokshayikshami maa suchah"--Don't  worry, I shall relieve you from all desires when you surrender to Me  so that you can attain Mukti by your all clear path of Sadhana without further worry!

--November 3, 2019


BALANCING ENERGIES SPENDING LONG HOURS IN TEMPLE ATMOSPHERE & BY RITUALS AND WORSHIPS

How the Space  in which we worship and pray in temples  affect us?  At the time of the Romans the existence of a real consciousness of the environments was theorized, a soul called "Genius Loci".   Ancient Architects of Temple Traditions knowingly or unknowingly,  divine inspired must have thought about   bio-energetic and emotional aspects of the world around us in order to create places to live in a positive way around the temple. Let us examine the well-being and the energetic relationship between man and the environment from the time of entering the temple and leaving it. if not living around the temple as in olden days.

In the Hindu Temple Tradition the theme of sacred architecture and its symbolism in the temple habitat atmosphere was well developed with focus on healthy environments. In fact I lived in temple itself   and spent all my childhood and completed primary education.  My life today  i was blessed withcan be understood with clarity by the Science of Bio-energetics that I am blessed with.  Please recall my discourse on temple’s role and the statement of Jaggi Vasudev of Inner engineering:Temples were built as public charging sites, where people could charge themselves with an inner energy. People visited temples daily before they started their day, so that they could go about their lives with an enhanced sense of balance and depth”. Now Bioenergetics   says that  the activities of worship are also based on energizing! Please go through my discourse and enrich yourselves:

The deeper we probe into Vedic knowledge and its iconography, we realize how a deliberate attempt was made to knit the ‘phenomenon and principals of well-being’ with a layman’s life by personifying energies and by creating rituals to establish the connect with natural elements. Seen from this perspective, it is amazing to find how folklore, crafts, art, daily practices and festivals were used as ‘devices and opportunities’ to introduce a common man to the principles of universe- in a very dynamic and artistic manner, writes Architect and Building Biologist Raman Vig.                                       
Just like all the inanimate world is made out of elements of the periodic table, at the most fundamental level, all living forms on earth are created from five elements. The balance of these five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether determines the well being of a living creature at both gross and subtle level.                                                     
The intent of Bioenergetic Architecture is to create spaces that facilitate ‘health happiness and harmony’ in the lives of people who inhabit such spaces. Therefore, knowledge of the five elements (also known as Panch tatva or Panch mahabhoot), and their application in space design as well as integration with our lifestyle becomes integral to this subject.
Five elements and ‘health, happiness, harmony’
The five elements and their properties have been extensively explained in various Vedic literature (especially Taittiriya Upanihad ). An element (mahabhoota) is the substance (dravya) which has an associated property called ‘guna’ ( qualitative aspect).
Humans perceive this ‘element-property’ (or dravya-guna) relationship through the five senses and this is how connect of our ‘body-mind-energy’ with five elements happens – incessantly from the time we are born till we leave our body.
In many ancient cultures around the world, there seems to be a clear understanding of how closely the well being of human beings is related to the natural elements. Therefore many ancient cultures integrated the five elements with daily rituals in some or the other manner.
This seems especially evident in Indian culture. What seems ritualistic at face of it, is interestingly a very systematic way formulated by sages (alias scientists!) to bring back balance ( or resonance) of ‘panch-mahabhootas’ (or the five basic elements) in our body.
The deeper we probe into the Vedic knowledge and it’s iconography, more we realize how a deliberate attempt was made to knit the ‘phenomenon and principles of well-being’ in a layman’s life by personifying energies and by creating rituals to establish the connect with natural elements. Seen from this perspective, it is amazing to find how folklore, crafts, art, daily practices and festivals were used as ‘devices and opportunities’ to introduce a common man to ‘Universal Principles’ in a very dynamic and artistic manner.
How Indian Temples facilitate balancing of Five elements
Temples of ancient India were definitely more than religious centers.  Their socio-economic relevance has already been well studied. However, the subtle mechanism of an Indian temple to re-connect a common man with the five elements – whose balance in our subtle and gross bodies holds the secret of well-being- has not been widely understood.
It helps to perceive this subject better if we look at the five elements not only for their physical or gross qualitative aspects but also for their subtle and energetic characteristics. The balancing of the elemental frequencies happens at the ‘subtle’ (quantum realm) through resonance. Hence the qualitative aspects of ‘the five elements’  becomes more critical phenomenon than their quantitative effects.
As we enter a temple complex, all five senses are systemically yet subtly engaged in following manner:
  1. Earth element (as we take off shoes):  While reverence and hygiene are prime reasons for a common man to take off the shoes before entering any temple; however besides these the moment we take off our shoes to enter the temple premises, spontaneous grounding ( earthing) happens . This bringing numerous physical, physiological and bio-energetic benefits in a matter of just minutes, ranging from impact on blood viscosity resulting in improved circulation and oxygenation and stabilization of blood glucose and more (Watch the movies: “The Grounded” and “Heal for free’ to understand the science behind grounding). Later ( after or during the puja), receiving ‘prasadam’( all food is earth element) and consuming same, is a way of imbibing the earth element ( that has been charged through the chants and energized field of sanctum sanctorum). Also, the kum-kum and ‘bhasm/ vibhooti’ that is received is put on ‘ajna’ chakra       (third eye or forehead) and some put it on ‘vishudhi’ chakra ( throat) too – to resonate these with the energy of earth element.
  2. Water element during cleansing and as ‘panch-amrit’:  Before proceeding towards the inner chambers of a temple, when we cleanse our hands, face and feet ( and often face and top of head- the sahasrara chakra too) with water, our body temperature equalizes and a wave of ‘freshness and alertness’ engulfs our whole being.
Later (after or during the puja) receiving ‘charan-amrit’ or ‘ panch-amrit’ and consuming same, is a way of imbibing the positive vibrations generated through chants that water absorbs in its molecular memory! Water has memory and it works as a carrier of information and this fact was known to our sages who made water integral to all rituals (refer to the work of Dr. Emoto Masuru for more on the subject)
  1. Fire element (flame of ‘aarti’/earthen lamps):  Most apparent manifestation of fire is through the flame or ‘jyoti’ that is swung around the deity and one takes it’s warmth/ energy (with both hands) as the priest offers it to every one- and bring it to our face and head. In the evening, the light of ‘deepams’ or the ‘earthen-lamps’ enlightens the environment.
  1. Air element (fragrance of flowers, incense etc.):  A visit to an Indian temple is like having aromatherapy! Our olfactory senses get a dose of delightful fragrances – during the rituals, through the flowers we offer and through burning of camphor / cow ‘ghee’ etc. All fragrances flow through to the subtle element of air.
  2. Sound element (ringing of the gong/bell and mantra chanting): Most temples have a bell at the entrance or there is bell ringing during ‘aarati’ or ‘puja’ of the deity. The Sanskrit ‘shlokas’ recited in correct manner simulate specific sound frequencies. Each sound has impact on us and our cellular being starts to resonate with its vibrating frequency. The sound element is representative of the space element – the subtlest of all ‘pancha-tattvas’. Many of us may also be able to relate to the ‘singing bowls and bells’ from Tibetan culture where similar techniques are used to resonate with the space element.
Through appropriate instrumentation it is possible to demonstrate how aforementioned ‘resonance’ of ‘pancha-tattvas’ impact  us on subtle and gross levels. However, the proof of the pudding is in eating it. All it takes to get an experience of aforementioned is by visiting some ancient temple (preferably with an open heart and mind!) and observe how the play of five elements resonates at all levels. (The author is a researcher and a space designers working with principles, protocols and procedures  of  Bio-energetic Architecture)
-- November 3, 2019



CELEBRITIES OF USA CONVERTED TO HINDUISM WHO ACT AS OUR MISSIONARIES
Thanks for your great thinking to plan a seminar "THREADS 2019 is a unique conference that tells the saga of Hindu contributions to the USA. held in Boston, MA from Nov. 1 - Nov 3, 2019.My compliments wishing the conference all success. At the same time I have also been thinking on similar lines though I do not have your potential and organizational strength sent the following message to my global participants.

Slow and steady people are attracted to Hinduism in USA which has its firm foundation in Sanatana Dharma that calls for all Hindus to seriously think about practicing SD practiced in Vedic culture and propagated by Swami Vivekananda and propagate it wherever they are settled. Please look at several American celebrities, like Kelli Williams, Julia Roberts, David Frawley, Phil Goldberg, Velan Samy of Hawaii, Peter Arnett etc., that help us in promoting Spirituality based on Sanatana Dharma. We need to hold on to our children who have chosen their partners from other faiths in inter-racial matrimony. Indirectly they serve as our missionaries in spreading the message of Hinduism and making it attractive too being most popular people in American Society.

The meditation-based philosophies are India’s great gift of knowledge to the world that remain at the cutting edge of science, spirituality and psychology today. While they are rising again today, it is time to bring them back into the mainstream of human inquiry, starting in India.  The Hindu Temples and various Hindu monasteries 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.  The growth of Hindu Dharma in America critically depends on the extent to which the Hindu children remain anchored in their timeless traditions. Ensuring this will require collective thought and action.  Educated Hindus need a demythologized and less ritualistic Hindu Dharma to blend modernity with the vision of the Vedas, Upanishads and other Hindu scriptures.   Additionally, temples need to get actively involved in establishing harmonious and respectful relations with American public in their local communities. This could be done by occasionally inviting them to our temple festivals, helping the local charities and working actively with the Council of the World Parliament of Religions to improve inter-community relations.  Though Hindus can worship at shrines in the home, a temple also provides a focal point for the community, and an opportunity to translate their Dharma into collective practice.

--November 1, 2019

Thanks for your kind words and wishes.  They really mean a lot to all of us. 
--Ajay Shah, VHPA



TULASI VIVAHAM
Importance of Tulsi Shaligram Puja - Tulsi Puja 2019
 Tulsi Puja, also known as Tulsi Shaligram Puja, is observed during the waxing phase of the moon in Kartik month as per traditional lunar calendar. Tulsi Vivah 2019 date is November 9. Tulsi, Holy Basil, is associated with Lord Krishna and is found in the majority of Hindu homes and is worshiped daily. The date of Tulsi Puja is November 8 for those observing it on Utthana Ekadasi. November 9 for those communities observing it on Karthika Shuddha Dwadashi or the day after Ekadasi. Some communities observe it on Kartik Purnima, which is on November 12.
Tulsi Puja is usually performed between Karthik Shuddh Ekadasi and Kartik Purnima. The main ritual involves the wedding of Tulsi Plant to Lord Vishnu in the form of Shaligram. Tulsi Pooja also marks the end of Diwali fortnight for many communities.

Greatness of Tulsi PujaI
It is believed in Hinduism that Lord Vishnu goes to sleep on Ashada Shukla Paksha Ekadasi (June - July). He then wakes up on Kartik Shukla Paksha Ekadasi (October - November).There is a popular belief after waking up, he first listens to Tulsi.This is the reason why Tulsi Puja is performed on the next day of Kartik Shukla Paksha Ekadasi.
Benefits of Performing Tulsi Puja Vivah
A person performing Tulsi Vivah puja gets the same punya as performing Kanya Daan or marriage of a daughter. 

It is believed that all problems in marriage will be solved by performing Tulsi Vivah. Couples who are finding difficulties in marriage should perform Tulsi Puja.
Please go through my discourse:

--November 1, 2019