THOUGHT
OF THE DAY--NOVEMBEWERTO DECEMBER 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 ||
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 (puroḍāśa),
pulse (karu), mixed milk (sāṃnāyya),
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 brahmodbhavaṁ viddhi brahmākṣhara-samudbhavam
| tasmāt sarva-gataṁ
brahma nityaṁ yajñe
pratiṣhṭhitam
|| BG 3-15 ||
The Vedas emanated from the breath of God:
asya mahato bhūtasya niḥśhvasitametadyad-ṛigvedo
yajurvedaḥ sāmavedo
’thavaṅgirasaḥ
(Bṛihadāraṇyak
Upaniṣhad 4.5.11) [v9]
“The four Vedas--Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sāma Veda, Atharva Veda—all
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 pumāṁśh
chaiva yajñaśho
yajña yajñabhāvanaḥ
| yajñabhuk cheti pañchātmā yajñeṣhvijyo hariḥ
svayaṁ. In the Bhāgavatam (11.19.39), Shree Krishna declares to UddhavA:
yajño ’haṁ bhagavattamaḥ[v11]
“I, the Son of Vasudev, am Yajña.” The Vedas state: yajño vai viṣhṇuḥ
[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:
--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 न । यो अ॒स्याध्य॑क्षः पर॒मे व्यो॑म॒न्सो अ॒ङ्ग वे॑द॒ यदि॑ वा॒ न 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 SCIENCE
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 Gita “among 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
Comments:
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 vijñānenātmānaṁ 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--oṁ tad viṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padaṁ sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ 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 brāhmaṇas 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
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.
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
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:
- Sri Kapadri Stotram on Vinayaka from Skanda Puranam
- Face Book postings of Right-Hand Ekadanta and Dwidanta idols presently worshiped in Temples.
- Adi Vinayaka Temple of Parvati Created Human-faced Ganesha
- Chinna Jeer on Ekadanta Ganesha and Vishwaksena
- 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:
- Truti: Thirty Alpakalas make up one Truti
- Kala: Thirty Trutis make up one Kala
- Kastha: Thirty Kalas make up one Kastha, which is also known as a Nimisha, Noti, or Matra
- Ganita: Four Kasthas make up one Ganita
- Netuvirppu: Ten Ganitas make up one Netuvirppu
- Vinazhika: Six Netuvirppus make up one Vinazhika
- 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:
- Swayambhava Manvantara
- Swarochisa Manvantara
- Uttama Manvantara
- Tamasa/Tapasa Manvantara
- Raivata Manvantara
- Chakshusa Manvantara
- Vaivasvata/Shraddhadeva Manvantara (current)
- Savarni Manvantara
- Daksha Savarni Manvantara
- Brahma Savarni Manvantara
- Dharma Savarni Manvantara
- Rudra Savarni Manvantara
- Rauchya/Deva Savarni Manvantara
- 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.
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:
- 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.
- 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 pilgrims. This 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 pilgrims. This
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.
aṇoraṇīyān mahato mahīyānātmā guhāyāṁ nihito'sya jantoḥ ……….
The Infinite Self minuter of all that exists than the minute and greater than the great is set in the heart ….
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 Upaniṣad is one of the three Principal Upaniṣads belonging to Atharva Veda;
besides the two, Māṇḍūkya and Muṇḍaka. Praśna in Sanskrit means question; this Upaniṣad is fully set in question-answer
format and hence the name. In this Upaniṣad six seekers ask one question each and Ṛṣi Pippalāda (पिप्पलाद) answers them all. Unique features of this Upaniṣad 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 Saurāyaṇī, 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 Upaniṣhad ). 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:
- 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.
- 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)
- 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.
- 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.
- 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