THOUGHTS OF THE
DAY----JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
LECTURES
ON PRESET PANDEMONIUM HEALTHCARE BY ICSSS OF NASHVILLE
Indian Community
Seniors Support Services, Caring for the well-being of senior citizens of
Nashville has arranged two lectures by
reputed local doctors on March 6, 2021.
Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University
Medical Center. Dr. Goyal will be delivering
a Zoom Lecture on: Learn about the ten most popular dietary supplement
multivitamins, vitamin D, vitamin C, protein, calcium, vitamin
B or vitamin B complex, omega-3 fatty acids, green tea,
magnesium, probiotics, iron, vitamin E, and turmeric.
Dr. Vedavyas Bilyar, Associate professor in the Tristar psychiatry residency
program will be delivering a Zoom-lecture on: "COVID-19:
Surviving the Pandemic"-exploring the psychological toll on individuals
and populations. These Lectures will be followed by questions and answers.
Dr. Wasudev,
Chairperson of ICSSS, a Hindu American doctor and Philanthropist introduces to
us another philanthropist Hindu American doctor mentioned above as
follows: Dr. Biliyar is a
board-certified psychiatrist practicing in the Nashville area over the last 30
years, is familiar with the Nashville
Indian community as ex-chairman of the board of trustees at Sri Ganesha temple
and ex-president of IAN. He has been involved in religious education and
promoting mental health awareness through his stress management (SQ and EQ)
workshops and lectures on suicide prevention.
Why are the Hindu American
Doctors on the front-line during the pandemic in USA who are 1 in 7 among
practicing doctors? It is their Svadharma
and Sevadharma within the framework
of Hindu Dharma and their human services to serve people that the doctor’s
profession calls for. Many of them use EQ and SQ techniques while attending to
patients. Most of them are spiritually inclined. In USA they are known for
their temple building charitable disposition. In this context it is surprising
and amazing to go through a spiritual writing by a practicing doctor in UK Dr.
Kulakarni quoting slokas from all the 18 chapters, relating them to his
spiritual motivation in discharging his duty selflessly as a doctor with no
strings attached, that I mentioned earlier. This will be discussed
further in my yet another discourse that will be worth reading through.
“The Song of Eternity is a
dialogue between Lord Krishna, the divine in us, and Arjuna, the symbol of our
deluded ego (Jeevabhava). How our mental confusion, delusion, desires,
passions, etc. destroy our inner peace and how to overcome them is elaborated
in Gita. — Geeta is a consolation to the bereaved, disillusioned, disappointed,
morally slipped and spiritually fallen — It is a guidance to a politician,
businessman, mentally disturbed and teenager” says Swami Chinmayananda.
We are fortunate that we
have amidst us spiritually motivated doctors in this materially motivated country
as well as in other countries to which they have migrated pushing through their
own mental and physical exhaustion in order to help the growing number of
patients who fill our hospitals. I can see this pledge in the eyes of masked
doctors and nurses across the world, as they treat patients without hesitation,
no matter how mentally or physically draining it may be working for long
hours.
Rare few mentioned here have
also been able to give us timely advice and boost up our morale that we badly
need for our EQ management and preventive cures amidst their complex life
fighting COVID 19 War!
The majority of people
affected by the COVID-19 virus recover, but about 20% have severe disease, and
the mortality is around 5%. Older individuals, those with obesity and co-morbid
medical illnesses such as diabetes and lung disease, are particularly prone to
developing severe disease. It is possible that a state of chronic low-grade
inflammation which underlies each of these conditions may increase the risk of
disproportionate host immune reactions (with excessive release of cytokines),
characterizing severe disease in those with COVID-19. With this in mind,
it is important to note that exercise, some forms of meditation,
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant diet (such as turmeric and melatonin), and
yoga that have known benefits in reducing inflammation. Sleep loss also
elevates inflammatory cytokines; healthy sleep may reduce inflammation.
Clearly, a healthy lifestyle, including healthy sleep, exercise, and diet, may
be protective against developing COVID-19-related severe complications. These
principles of healthy living are beautifully summarized in the Bhagavad Gita.
You better hear from our nutrition expert than a spiritual thinker like me!
Castle Connolly has identified 11 top doctors in USA and publicized in NY Times
for 2021, and out of them 4 are Hindu Americans like Dr. Goyal. It is
interesting to note she mentions about turmeric, an Ayurvedic anti-oxidant,
most popular Hindu kitchen spice, about which Western American doctors know very little and care for.
Yuktahara-viharasya
yukta-chestasya karmasu Yukta-svapnavabodhasya yogo bhavati duhkha-ha ||
(Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 6, verse 17)
He who is temperate in his
habits of eating, sleeping, working and recreation can mitigate all physical
pains by practicing the yoga system.’’ teaches Gita. I do not think our doctors
question this?
Bhagavad Gita discusses at
length: Equanimity of mind; Right Performance without worrying about the
results; Treating everyone equally; Handling the Stress; Acting with
conviction; Acting without fears; Realizing change is inevitable despite all
our efforts and need for Setting High standards. Don’t you think
Psychiatrists use the same criteria in their Stress Management, EQ Management
and Resilience Build-up?
Mahatma Gandhi referred to
Bhagavad Gita as a ‘spiritual dictionary’ for better decision-making at the
cross-roads of life. Bhagavad Gita can certainly address the inner conflicts in
Doctor’s mind and may offer help to resolve their ethical dilemmas during the
COVID-19 pandemic. These teachings may bring courage and clarity in the minds
of healthcare professionals as the long-drawn war against COVID-19 would
require utmost patience and perseverance.
The pandemonium of COVID-19
pandemic has presented unprecedented set of dilemmas for the doctors across the
globe. The inner conflicts in doctor’s mind may adversely impact the chances of
winning this unique war against the unseen enemy. What is the
solution?
Bhagavad Gita can address
the mind’s inner conflicts while treading the noble path to service and guide
Doctor’s action during the pandemonium of COVID-19. The teachings of the Bhagavad Gita can enlighten
the doctors to efficiently handle their dilemmas and continue their selfless
service to society during the COVID-19 crisis. They should develop equanimity
and evenness of mind and treat everyone equally. Doctors should perform with
absolute focus and confidence without worrying for results and without any
fears. This is the time to set high standards for the society in terms of
professional commitment, moral obligations, work discipline, compliance with
guidelines and good personal health. Doctors also need to drive the inevitable
change for precautionary methods and building a better healthcare for tomorrow,
as the dust settles over the COVID-19 crisis.
Let us
show our gratitude to the physicians and other healthcare professionals for
their dedication to the nation, for helping all to cope with the situation,
guaranteeing the well-being of all and pray to Lord Dhanvanatari for their long
and healthy life to serve humanity!
--February
28, 2021
Comments:
Thanks for your encouragement
--Dr.
Vedavyas Biliyar
****************
WISDOM
OF LIBERATION IN KENOPANISHAD--WEBINAR 194
Mukti (Liberation) is the ultimate spiritual goal
of Hinduism. How does one attain Mukti? The goal is to reach a point
where you detach yourself from the feelings and perceptions that tie you to the
world, leading to the realization of the ultimate unity of things—the soul
(atman) connected with the universal (Brahman). Liberation
as in the individual identity is thrown away and all that is left is that you
and Brahman are one and there is no longer any separation between you and
Brahman. Like a bucket of water being thrown into an ocean.
The
power behind every activity of nature and of man is the Power of Brahman. To
realize this truth is to be Immortal” is the powerful messge of Kenopanishad.
The opening word of this Upanishad Kena means whom that can be
expressed better by Sankara’s brilliant paraphrasing of this Upanishad-“By
whose mere presence does that desire arise which moves the universe?” This
Desire of the Supreme was the link between the existent and non-existent says
Nasadeeya Sukta. There is a Sufi story about a seeker who calls on Allah day in
and day out for years and finally throws himself down and sobs: “how long have
I been calling and you do not answer!”. Then he hears a voice (Asareeravani):
“Who do you think has been making you call me?” I will soon highlight certain
aspects of Sufism and Bahai that conflates with Hinduism in my future E-mail.
The
first thirteen verses of this Upanishad declare, “He is the ear of the ear”
that is, that which moves the world is consciousness, which in the human being
becomes cognition, among the vital functions.
Then
the Upanishad elaborates that among gods only Indra (which name metaphorically
suggests as master of faculties of perception) has the sustaining power to
merit instructions from the brilliant Vedic scholar Uma who is later visualized
as consort of Siva (the ear of Adi Yogi). She teaches that the victory of the
Vedic gods over their adversaries has not been but of the Supreme Power working
through them--the creative triumph of order over chaos! We cannot win the
victory of good over evil, but can make ourselves as the doers as Gandhi
rightly expresses: “Making ourselves zero”. We have to realize that we
are not really the ultimate doer of any of our actions, including the act of
knowing: “It is the power of Brahman that makes the mind to think……. Therefore,
use this power to meditate on Brahman” ((IV-5.6)
While we can strive for destroying all our
attachments that is Moksha (Moha+kshaya=Moksha), Mukti that is Liberation is
not in our hands, but His decision. We usually use Moksha for Mukti (Moksha
Ekadasi), but there is a distinct difference. Sankara talks about
Vimukti not Moksha in his lyrics--sadaa Vimukti dayakam. We
worship Muktesvara and not Mokshesvara!
Mukti
has different levels. Desiring Mukti won’t lead you towards it, freeing
yourself from the bondages will. There are actionable steps you can take. There
are numerous ways to attain Mukti. No secret formula. Try what others say, but
believe after you experience it. Mukti is not a way of detaching yourself from
life, but leading it in a better way. One can always attain Mukti
through devotion. We must respect all those spiritual path
seekers. But Sadguru’ Jaggi Vasudev’s advice is more action-oriented in the
present-day context, the idea of “focus more on breaking concrete ropes than
desiring abstract freedom”. I will soon write about Liberation with quotes from
great thinkers soon. In the meantime, get yourself enriched from Swamiji’s
practical-to-earth wisdom on the subject to prepare yourself better in life to
progress towards our final goal in Life for Liberation, if not in this life but
in our subsequent lives!
We have talked about Jivanmuktas that the Advaitins believe in, before.
Upanishads declare that as long as Prana, the vital airs do not depart from
this body, does not leave. When such a person liberated in bodily existence
leaves the material body behind (termed as death in common parlance), the self
realizes its cosmic nature; it is never born again in this world of ignorance,
conflict and pain. That state is called Videhamukti (bodiless freedom).
It has profoundly influenced the thinking of ancient sages since
the time of the early Upanishads. For instance, it is said in Kena Upanishad
(I.2., II.5) that those who achieve self-knowledge become eternally free after
crossing the world of death.
WEBINAR-194 of FOWAI Forum presents a Zoom
presentation of Wisdom of Liberation in the Kenopanishad by Pujya Swāmi Chidānandaji on Pacific Time (USA): 8.00 am, Sunday, February 28, 2021.
Gist of the Presentation:
In just 34 mantras, supplied in 4
sections, the Kenopanishad of Sāmaveda offers splendid insights into the
highest Self-knowledge (ātma-jnāna), which indeed is the key
to liberation (mokhsa). Using an extraordinary expression, “the ear of
the ear,” this body of revelations helps us shift our identity from the
psychophysical personality of ours to the Pure Consciousness that we truly are.
This webinar will highlight only those mantras which throw light on the
awakening to brahma-vidyā. A second webinar, to be titled,
“Wisdom of Integration in the Kenopanishad”, will cover the yoga-shāstra in
this very sacred text.
(The Supreme Truth is) the
ear of the ear and the mind of the mind: shrotrasya shrotram, manaso mano
yat -- mantra 1.2
Join
Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86448002008?pwd=NUxmaXdmbXpxR0FJR3Y4R0lvV0Nsdz09
Meeting
ID: 864 4800 2008
Passcode:
386584
---February 26, 2021
Relevance
of the Bhagavad Gita for modern psychotherapy: Gita---A Panacea for
COVID 19
With no
end in sight, the Corona pandemic continues to take its toll on human health.
More in terms of mental than physical. Even as the International Labor
Organization study finds that one out of two young people are subject to
anxiety and depression, there are scant efforts to handle this psychedelic. The
young apart, the old as well as the children, are also suffering from the
mental distress. The Covid-19 protocol further adds to stress and fear. The
very feeling that wearing mask gives is sickening. People are scared to venture
out and are confined to homes unless it is necessary.
This is
an unprecedented global war and the mankind is facing the same enemy like
Mahabharata War facing enemy in Kurukshetra. The battlefield is the hospital
and our soldiers are the medical workers.
The
worldwide outbreaks of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a source of
unexpected stress and adversity for many people. Resilience is not
something we’re born with—it’s built over time as the experiences we have
interact with our unique, individual genetic make-up. But, there is a wealth of
wisdom to help us in our ancient scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita
for building psychological resilience.
The
pandemonium of COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented set of dilemmas
for the doctors across the globe, as emphasized in my previous blog. The inner
conflicts in doctor’s mind may adversely impact the chances of winning this
unique war against the unseen enemy. What is the solution?
Gita
talks about: Equanimity of mind; Perform without worrying about the results;
Treat everyone equally; Handling the Stress; Act with conviction: Act
without fears; Set high standards. The same need to be addressed and
examined to cope up with the global war of Pandemic.
Many of
us, like Arjuna, are burdened with anxiety and fear of the impending war and
seem to have given up. It is this giving up that is the most dangerous of all
the psychological states that leads to most of the problems of mental health.
Arjuna, out of fear of adverse outcome, tells the Lord that he sees little
point in fighting the war which he is not sure to win. Rather, in the heart of
his hearts, he thinks he is going to lose. It is then that Lord Krishna recites
his essential Gita lessons, suggesting why fighting is important, winning or
losing being of little consequence. So Krishna tells Arjuna to drive away his
fear and ready himself for the war.
We are
in a similar plight in this COVID situation and our fear is of defeat or death
and anxiety of uncertainty of the outcome. Gita lessons offer the panacea for
living in turbulent times which in Management jargon is a VUCA world that is
Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous.
Teachings
of the Bhagavad Gita can enlighten the doctors to efficiently handle their
dilemmas and continue their selfless service to society during the COVID-19
crisis. They should develop equanimity and evenness of mind and treat everyone
equally. Doctors should perform with absolute focus and confidence without
worrying for results and without any fears. This is the time to set high
standards for the society in terms of professional commitment, moral
obligations, work discipline, compliance with guidelines and good personal
health. Doctors also need to drive the inevitable change for building a better
healthcare for tomorrow, as the dust settles over the COVID-19 crisis.
With
huge hopes that the COVID-19 pandemic soon goes down the history as triumph of
human’s indomitable spirit and determination, who are indeed God’s finest
creation. With high hopes that Doctors respond to their calling, resolve their
dilemmas with timeless teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and rise to the occasion,
during this once in a lifetime crisis.
To me,
GITA stands for Govinda Intuitively Tells All. The Path
of Knowledge (Jnana yoga) promotes accurate awareness of nature of the
self, and can help reframe our thinking from an “I” to a “we mode,” much needed
for collectively mitigating the spread of the Coronavirus. The Path of
Action (Karma yoga) teaches the art of selfless action, providing
caregivers and frontline health-care providers a framework to continue efforts
in the face of uncertain consequences. Finally, the Path of Meditation
(Raja yoga) offers a multipronged approach to healthy lifestyle and mindful
meditation, which may improve resilience to the illness and its severe
consequences. So, we find urban monks like Swami Chidananda of FOWAI
forum are engaged in a series of weekend discourses on these three paths and so
also the philosopher Jaya Row of Vedanta Vision. While more work is needed to
empirically examine the potential value of each of these approaches in modern
psychotherapy, the principles herein may already have started help individuals
facing and providing care for the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context,
please go through an excellent presentation of another busy doctor,
Dr. Anand Kulakarni, who is currently busy with providing healthcare service to
COVID 19 patients in UK, who at the same time is spiritually busy too,
and has a presented a paper for our benefit: “Gita-A Panacea for COVID
19”.
“Doctors should continue to perform their own
dharma, but do so without desire or attachment, thereby transforming karma into
karma-yoga. The practice of karma-yoga consists of the performance of proper
action in a mood of unmoved by the success or failure of the action
undertaken. Acharya Madhwa interprets this with a new term called ‘Nishkaama
Karma’. This is so much applicable to the doctors working today in COVID
outbreak. It is a shame that some doctors are demanding exorbitant amounts of
remuneration for performing their duties in the current situation and trying to
make a quick buck. The same is true with some drug companies claiming their
medications to be effective, while they are not.” says Dr. Kulakarni
As of Sunday, the pandemic death toll was 497,403, higher than in any other country. More Americans have died
from Covid-19 than on the battlefields of World War I, World War II and the
Vietnam War combined. I am amazed and Self-inquisitive
at the Diagnostic, Therapy, Family, EQ and SQ Management of Dr. Anand Kulakarni
of UK joining the team
fighting the global war and alleviating human sufferings. Many of you may not
find time to go through even my E-mail but think of Dr. Anand! He is
motivated by the Gita Message: Veetaragabhayakrodhah sokhalobhabheetih
yudhyasva koronavishajwaram vigatajvarah--Devoid of passion, fear,
frustration, grief, greed and panic fight the Corona Pandemic without anxiety.
The
relevance of the Bhagavad Gita for modern psychotherapy has been widely
reviewed. However, relatively little empirical literature exists on the
effectiveness of versus spiritually integrated psychotherapy incorporating
Hindu psychotherapeutic insights. Clearly, more work is needed, and COVID-19
may provide an opportunity for conducting further empirical research. In
the meantime, it can be seen that by using the principles outlined here
may already be of benefit in helping those in need, and may be rapidly enabled
in the emerging era of telehealth and digital health!
Emerging
pandemics show that humans are not infallible and communities need to be
prepared. Coronavirus outbreak was first reported towards the end of 2019 and
later declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Worldwide countries
responded differently to the virus outbreak. A delay in detection and response
has been recorded in China, as well as in other major countries, which led to
an overburdening of the local health systems. On the other hand, some other
nations have put in place effective strategies to contain the infection and
have recorded a very low number of cases since the beginning of the pandemics.
Restrictive measures like social distancing, lockdown, case detection,
isolation, contact tracing, and quarantine of exposed had revealed the most
efficient actions to control the disease spreading. Based on the
experience of these countries, India responded to the pandemic accordingly and
was also spiritually guided by scriptures like Gita. Hindu rituals call
for body and space cleanliness all the time (aachaara vichaara).
Only time will tell how well India has faced the outbreak. We know the recovery
to normalcy has been faster in India though it is heavily and densely
populated. It will be beneficial for global community to focus on EQ and
SQ Management, particularly during Pandemonium
Indeed,
we have a lot to learn from the present fight and conquest to be wiser in the
future to live with Nature in harmony and peace. Let us not forget both the
virus and the material for the vaccine was already there in intelligence
Creation! He had created the Bat and Llama with anti-bodies and Corona
Virus too! We have been ignorant, egoistic, negligent and foolish and started
fighting when war broke out-yuddhakale sastrabhyasah!
Let us
show our gratitude to the physicians and other healthcare professionals for
their dedication to the nation, for helping all to cope with the situation,
guaranteeing the wellbeing of all and pray to Lord Dhanvanatari for their long
and healthy life to serve humanity!
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2021/02/relevance-of-bhagavad-gita-for-modern.html
MAHABHARATA
WAR VERSUS COVID 19 WAR
What
makes even migrant Hindu Doctors to UK and USA turn to Bhagavad Gita as panacea
to fight COVID 19 in spite of their skills, and Swami Chidananda of FOWAI Forum
and Jaya Row of Vedanta Vision to get busy with weekend Zoom lectures on Gita
for EQ and SQ Management during the current threatening pandemic that sees no
light at the end of the tunnel removing all darkness as
some of it may still linger on? Normally our Spiritual Gurus are
confined to talk about Liberation and Mukti in their discourses on Gita and not
a human annihilation subject like dismissing it as Fate Theory and Karma!
The
COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant burdens globally. Detrimental
effects include high rates of infection and death, financial hardships faced by
individuals, stress related to known and particularly unknown information, and
fear of the uncertainty regarding continued impact.
Healthcare
workers (HCWs), at the heart of the unparalleled crisis of COVID-19, face
challenges treating patients with COVID-19: reducing the spread of infection;
developing suitable short-term strategies; and formulating long-term plans.
HCWs must also continue to successfully treat non-COVID patients and maintain
personal responsibilities, including taking care of their families and themselves.
The psychological burden and overall wellness of HCWs has received heightened
awareness, with research continuing to show high rates of burnout,
psychological stress, and suicide. Are you not familiar with these factors,
while going through Bhagavad Gita though with different intention n that is
spiritually advance?
On
March 24, while announcing the unprecedented 21-day lockdown, India’s
Prime-minister Modi compared it to the war of Mahabharata which lasted all of
18 days. The insinuation was that if it took 18 days to finish off the ruinous
war of Mahabharata, the leeway of 21 days should be more than sufficient to
decimate and drive away the evil of Covid-19. Easier said than done! India’s
battle against the Coronavirus started on a war footing thereafter.
Can lessons to fight the virus be
garnered from the epic battle between the Pandavas and the Kauravas of
Mahabharata War? Can war strategies fortify us today to defeat this vicious
enemy?
Modi’s strategy of fighting the battle became weary while
the Coronavirus continued to threaten.
People lived with it only with the faith in HCWs and the hope, the
vaccine for coronavirus could be available by 2021.
Mahabharata
War, engaged 18 akshauhini soldiers 7 of Pandavas and 11 of Kauravas that is
1,530,900 and Sage 2,405,700 soldiers. The soldiers engaged in COVID 19 war may
not be much less? This war affected only those engaged in war, but coronavirus
global public.
Almost
all soldiers on Pandavas side died and there were only 8 survivors-- the five Pandavas,
Krishna, Satyaki, Yuyutsu. On Kauravas side only 4 survived; Sage Kripa;
Krithavarma; Ashwatthama; Vrishakethu (son of Karna).
As of date globally there are 2.4
million deaths and 111.3 million confirmed cases. In USA there are half
a million deaths ― by far the highest death toll for any country ― is
equivalent to about 1 in 650 Americans dying from a disease that’s been
circulating across the nation for nearly a year. The number of deaths equals
the entire population of Atlanta, Miami or Kansas City,
Missouri. That is more Americans who have died in a single year of
this pandemic than in World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War combined,”
President Joe Biden
said in a statement. The whole world is engaged in this war
fighting COVID 19 and is struggling.
It is interesting to hear from many
HCWs of Indian Origin, globally active, engaged in this epidemic war, compare
it to Mahabharata War, who are seeking help for EQ and SQ Management turning to their
Inner-net “click Bhagavad Gita when
mentally agitated and not resilient”
The Corona pandemic is being tackled on
a war footing. The two armies, comprising the authorities ostensibly backed by
civil society on the one hand and the Corona (sounding suspiciously like the
Kauravas) on the other, are face to face on the battlefield of human carnage.
Each day, the enemy employs new tactics, forcing humanity to devise new
strategies to meet the “novel’’ challenges. Arjuna is in doubt because of the
irresponsible behavior of some of his own tribe. How are we going to win this
war?
“The central theme of the Mahabharata
war strategy, in a sense, is trickery. The war had to be won at any cost. Fair
was foul and foul was fair, to rephrase Macbeth’s witches. Of the two warring
sides, the Pandavas made the maximum use of foul means, though some of them
look fair, with Lord Krishna playing the stellar partisan role.
It all began with the Pandavas
realizing that Bhishma, the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava army, should be
eliminated if they had to win the war. Arjuna placed Shikhandi (a transgender)
in front of him on his chariot. As Bhishma had vowed never to strike women, he
laid his bow down on seeing Shikhandi. Arjuna then pierced him with 25 arrows
and Bhishma fell from his chariot on the bed of arrows and remained there till
he decided to call it a day.
On the 13th day of the war, Abhimanyu,
the underage son of Arjuna, was trapped in the chakravyuha by the Kauravas;
technically, it was not an unfair warfare tactic. But what followed till the
end were a series of blatantly foul and ingenious tricks used by the Pandavas,
aided and abetted by Krishna.
Jayadratha, who killed Abhimanyu, was
tricked by Krishna into believing that the sun had set, thus giving an
opportunity to Arjuna to kill him as he had put down his weapons, thinking it
was the end of the day’s battle. Dronacharya was killed when he felt distraught
on account of Yudhisthira telling a white lie about the death of his son, Ashwatthama.
Upon the death of an eponymous elephant, Yudhisthira announced: “Ashwatthama is
dead.” Against the backdrop of the beating of war drums by his army to
celebrate the achievement, he added: “May be a man or an elephant.” What he
said later was inaudible, much like the nuanced dialogues against the
cacophonous background music in TV serials today on Mahabharata, Ramayana and
Gita!
Karna, the next commander-in-chief of
the Kauravas, was killed when Arjuna, instigated by Krishna and in violation of
the rules of the battle, struck him as he bent down to disengage the mired
wheel of his chariot. Then, on the final day, Bhima struck Duryodhana below the
belt with his mace on a signal from Krishna via Arjuna. The war was over and
the Kauravas lost in spite of the scheming Shakuni on their side; but the
acrimony created by it led to mayhem and more devastation in due course. It was
indeed a pyrrhic victory. Only two things came out unscathed: Bhishma Pitamaha
and Gita, the scripture.
Are there any lessons in these
maneuvers and shenanigans on how to win the war against corona, humanity’s
enemy number one today? Will the advice of Krishna to the Pandava army to duck
(comparable to a lockdown) in order to avoid the harmful effects of
Narayanastra launched by Ashwatthama work today? Are the Kauravas comparable to
community transmission? Will our
inherent shortcomings lead to devastation or will the Gitopadesha rescue us?
While we debate and discuss various strategies to fortify and arm ourselves to
the teeth to defeat the enemy, some good news has started to trickle in with
the arrival of effective Vaccines. [The latest ones are Dharma focused India’s
recovery seems to be rapid than materially focused USA and the
one-shot coronavirus vaccine made by Johnson & Johnson provides strong
protection against severe disease and death from Covid-19, and also may reduce
the spread of the virus by vaccinated people, according to new analyses posted
online by the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday.]
A new, controlled clinical study
conducted by doctors in France shows that a combo of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)
and (Z-Pak) completely cures coronavirus patients within six days of treatment.
Can Covid-19 be tricked into mutating as a malarial mosquito variant? The
government has allowed the use of hydroxychloroquine in combination with
azithromycin under close monitoring for serious patients. In the meanwhile,
Italian doctors said that Tocilizumab, a drug used to treat moderate to severe
rheumatoid arthritis, has shown more promise than HCQ, the anti-malaria drug.
Or will some other trick or a combination of tricks be able to mutate foul into
fair? Is that the way to win the corona war? Only time will tell.
Finally, could the Mahabharata or the
Corona disaster have been avoided? The compulsive obsession with finding an
heir to the throne of Hastinapura, from time to time, followed by an
all-consuming desire to wrest power by hook or crook led to devastation in the
Mahabharata. Is similar uncontrolled greed, coupled with a flawed value system,
at the root of the Covid-19 catastrophe? Is it time to get ready to face the
world beyond Corona: the restructuring of the global economic order? Are we
heading for a pyrrhic victory in the war against Covid-19?” wrote a former Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha,
and a retired IAS officer of the AP cadre in 2020.
Gita talks about: Equanimity of mind; Perform without worrying
about the results; Treat everyone equally; Handling the Stress; Act with conviction: Act without fears; Set high standards. The
same spiritual topics need to be addressed and examined to cope up with the
global war of Pandemic.
Dr. Anand Kulakarni, who is currently
busy with providing healthcare service to COVID 19 patients in UK, who at the
same time is spiritually inspired too
says “Gita is A Panacea for COVID 19, people need not only my care but
their strict observance of virus etiquettes and mental composure and overall it
depends on Divine Will!
All the short cuts and tricks employed
by Dharma oriented Mahabharata War fighters helped in Mahabharata war, but
these have failed employed by our Adharma oriented political strategists, that
cautions and calls for hard work and dedicated service. Dharma
contemplated actions always succeed in the end however wrong they may appear to
in execution while surrendering to His will! We are being
punished for the misuse of Nature and not abiding by
the Divine Mandate to live in peace and harmony with Corona virus which is also
a product of Intelligence’s creation. We need to be disciplined and win over by
the divine mercy and selfless services of HCWs who are equally seeking help
from Bhagavad Gita for their EQ and SQ Management while employing their
expertise in curing COVID 19 patients. Yet, zero COVID is not possible and
acceptable risk should be our goal as Gita says, you have to go by your Karma
DNA and not physical DNA alone and submit to ‘Karmanyeva adhikarisate’. It tells HCWs “veetaraga lobha bhaya krodhah yuddhyasva
vishajwaram vigatajvarah” and “Karmanyeva
Adhikariste’--Fight without anxiety Coronavirus devoid of passion, greed,
fear and anger and discharge your
duty morally bound!
These thoughts have prompted me to come up with a compilation on: Relevance of the Bhagavad Gita for
modern psychotherapy: Gita---A Panacea for COVID 19, that will be released this week-end.
Let us raise our voices to give us
strength to fight such wars if can’t
avoid, and also pray for the resilience in HRWs in fighting such
epidemics of universal annihilation by designating a day and time of SRE Day
“Vaidyo Narayano Harih’’ and wholeheartedly participate. It could also be a day
of food charity and donation to help the needy.
--February
28, 2021
USA
Hits Half a Million COVID-19 Deaths as Vaccine Rollout Ramps Up
At least half a million people have now died from COVID-19 in the U.S., according to the Johns Hopkins
University tracker.
Though deployment of the coronavirus
vaccine promises fewer cases and a lower death toll soon, the pace of deaths is
still high; the last 100,000 deaths occurred in just over a month.
Half a million deaths ― by far the highest death toll for
any country ― is equivalent to about 1 in 650 Americans dying from a disease
that’s been circulating across the nation for nearly a year. The number of
deaths equals the entire population of Atlanta, Miami or Kansas City,
Missouri.
“That is more Americans who have died in a single year of
this pandemic than in World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War combined,”
President Joe Biden
said in a statement. “On this solemn occasion, we reflect on their loss and on
their loved ones left behind.”
Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their spouses
will lead a moment of silence at the White House at sunset Monday, and they
invite all Americans to participate. The president also ordered all flags
to be flown at half-staff at all public buildings and grounds.
The disease continues to have a disproportionate effect on non-white Americans.
Black, Latino and Native American people are each around two to two and a half
times as likely as white people to die from the virus.
Still, reasons for hope have emerged. The U.S. is averaging about 81,000 new cases a day, the lowest
since early November. The pace of vaccinating people, which got off to a rocky
start late last year, has roughly doubled in the past month.
Biden announced recently that hundreds of millions of
additional vaccines were set to arrive in the U.S ahead of schedule, putting
the country on course to have enough doses for nearly the entire population by
July.
Grieved by the crisis, I am planning to release an
article soon titled: “Relevance of the Bhagavad Gita
for Modern Psychotherapy: Gita---A Panacea for COVID 19”.
We in Nashville, however did not think and
synchronize with the White House but let us set up a day to conduct Special
Pooja at Sri Ganesha Temple and pray for the departed souls while expressing
our gratitude to COVID 19 Soldiers of War, our Healthcare workers!
Let us show our gratitude to the
physicians and other healthcare professionals for their dedication to the
nation, for helping all to cope with the situation, guaranteeing the wellbeing
of all and pray to Lord Dhanvanatari for their long and healthy life to serve
humanity!
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2020/04/healthcare-deities-of-hinduism-prayers.html
--February 23, 2021
Comments:
It is extremely sad to know how the
situation was not handled properly resulting in this high number. Very
well written article. I agree completely.
\
RECALLING GITA AS YOGOPANISHAD ON THE
BIRTH DAY OF YOGIN "THE MOTHER"
Please recall my earlier E-mail on
Aurobindo’s Essays on Gita that is essentially Vedanta Vision of a Yoga Master
and Spiritual Guru. Mother of Aurobindo Ashram Pondicherry also thinks alike
and says the whole life is Yoga and the Gita is an integrated approach to our
life. One of the ardent participants while thanking for the e-mail
reminds me that is the Birthday of Mother and it is a great day of
celebrations In Pondicherry. Let me therefore focus on her Birthday,
contributions and Gita as Yogasastra. Please recall my earlier references to as
Yogopanishad.
Mothers Birth
Anniversary Pondicherry & Her Thoughts on Gita
Mother’s Birth Anniversary in Pondicherry is celebrated on 21st
February of every year. The special highlight of the Mother’s Birth Anniversary
in Pondicherry is the Ashram Tour which takes visitor across the spiritual
journey of Mother. The Ashram has documented every stage of Mother’s life and
is exhibited for the visitors. Mother also spent her last days in the Sri
Aurobindo Ashram.
Mother is the most sacred word in the world,
and it’s a special emotion for a woman to be a called a mother. But it’s an
eternal boon for someone to be called mother by the entire world and Mira Alfassa was one such woman to refer as
the mother. Celebrating her birthday and her contribution to the Sri Aurobindo
Society, Mother’s Birth Anniversary in Pondicherry is best experienced in Sri
Aurobindo Ashram.
Having been visited India in 1914 during World War I, Mother went
to Japan and there she met Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore. Having
being mighty inspired by him and her love for India made her come back to India
in 1920. Since then, she spent all her time in India. She visited Sri Aurobindo
Spiritual Retreat in 1914 and after returning back in 1920, she settled in
Pondicherry. Being an ardent follower of Sri Aurobindo, Mother founded the Sri
Aurobindo Ashram in 1926, when Sri Aurobindo retired into seclusion on 24th
November 1926.
Being the spiritual guide to the community, her birth is a special
festive occasion in Pondicherry. The Ashram where she spent her last day serves
as a memorial for her followers. People visit the Ashram from all over the
world on her birthday, February 21, marking Mother Birth Anniversary one of the
biggest festivals in Pondicherry. The followers visit Ashram for the Darshan
tour which introduces visitors to the spiritual life of Mother and her
spiritual journey is well documented in the Ashram.
In this world, we usually consider the biological father and mother as real
father and mother. However, according to Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, they are just
the medium to bring together the matter (Prakriti or nature) and Consciousness (Paramaatma or Purush). Let us study
the following Shlokas of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita that explain this concept.
Shrimad Bhagawad Geeta Adhyay 14
Shlok 3:
Mama YoniH Mahat Brahma Tasmin Garbham Dadhaami Aham |
SaMbhavaH Sarva-Bhuutaanaam TataH Bhavati Bhaarata ||
My womb is the Maha Brahma (Prakriti i.e. matter at large), in that I place the
seed; thence arises birth of all beings, O Arjuna.
Like the great Creator, O Bharat, is my eight-propertied primal
nature, the womb of which I fertilize with the seed of consciousness by which
all beings are shaped.
Krishna’s eight-part primal nature, is the womb in which he sows
the seed of consciousness, and all beings are born from this union of the
insensate and the conscious.
Shrimad Bhagawad Geeta Adhyay 14
Shlok 4:
SarvayoniShu Kaunteya MurrtayaH SaMbhavanti: YaaH |
Taasaam Brahma Mahat YoniH Aham BeejapradaH Pitaa ||
Whatever forms (of beings) are produced in all wombs, O Arjuna,
the great Brahma (Prakriti i.e. the matter at large) is their womb (mother),
while I am the seed-giving father to all beings.
The eightfold nature, O son of Kunti, is the mother that bears all
the beings of different births and I am the father that casts the seed.
There is no other mother except this primal nature, and no other
father except Krishna. No matter who the root is, there will be births so long
as there is meeting of the insensate and the conscious.
Thus, the true mother is Prakriti (matter or nature) and true
father is Purusha (Paramaatma or Consciousness). One needs to continuously
focus mind on the Consciousness (Paramaatma) that is inside us and try to
achieve freedom from the repeating cycle of birth-life-death in various life forms.
All Life is Yoga says The Mother
Integral Yoga of Sri & the Mother Mirra Alfassa
All Life is yoga and that is portrayed in 18 chapters of Gita as Tat
Tvam Asi. We may notice on page 316 something in Essays on the Gita
written by Sri Aurobindo. Near the very beginning of the page there is a line
in Sanskrit ” “vaasudevah sarvam iti” ….Here only the word “iti’
has been printed in bold in all editions of Essays of the Gita. Why? For
those seeking spiritual growth the whole Gita is the Legacy of Yoga. Gita is
Yoga Sastra and all its eighteen chapters have been designated as a
specific type of Yoga. The most luminous dialogue in Bhagavad Gita opens with
Vishada yoga or Yoga of despondency. Vishada Yoga means the unification of the
individual soul with the Supreme soul in moments of deep depression and
dejection. Gita can be described in the Mahavakyas of Upanishads significantly
with Tat Tvam Asi which means That Thou Art.
The first six chapters of the divine gospel dwell on Tvat -the
soul; The next six explain Tvam-- GOD (you know what it means) and last
six teach the union of the soul and GOD. In general understanding it
means: I am His; He is mine; and He and I are one! ‘Iti’ in bold types in
the writings of Aurobindo “vaasudeva sarvam iti” stands for “asi”
in “tat tvam asi”
The Gita can be divided into three sections, according to both Sri
Aurobindo and Sri
Krishnaprem(Ronald Nixon).
Sri Krishnaprem refer to chapters 1-6 as the Way of Purification,
chapters 7-12 as the Way of Illumination and chapters 13-18 as the Way of
Unity.
According to Sri Aurobindo:
The whole object of the first six chapters of the Gita is
to synthesize in a large frame of Vedantic truth the two methods, ordinarily
supposed to be diverse and even opposite, of the Sankhyas and the
Yogins. The Sankhya is taken as the starting-point and the basis; but it
is from the beginning and with a progressively increasing emphasis permeated
with the ideas and methods of Yoga and remolded in its spirit. The practical
difference, as it seems to have presented itself to the religious minds of that
day, lay first in this that Sankhya proceeded by knowledge and through
the Yoga of the intelligence, while Yoga proceeded by works and the
transformation of the active consciousness and, secondly, – a corollary of this
first distinction, – that Sankhya led to entire passivity and the renunciation
of works, sannyāsa, while Yoga held to be quite sufficient the inner
renunciation of desire, the purification of the subjective principle which
leads to action and the turning of works Godwards, towards the divine existence
and towards liberation. Yet both had the same aim, the transcendence of birth
and of this terrestrial existence and the union of the human soul with the
Highest. This at least is the difference as it is presented to us by the Gita.
[Sri Aurobindo, Essays on the Gita, Sankhya Yoga and Vedanta, p
75]
The seventh to the twelfth chapters lay down a large
metaphysical statement of the nature of the Divine Being and on that foundation
closely relate and synthetize knowledge and devotion, just as the first part of
the Gita related and synthetized works and knowledge. The vision of the
World-Purusha intervenes in the eleventh chapter, gives a dynamic turn to this
stage of the synthesis and relates it vividly to works and life. Thus again all
is brought powerfully back to the original question of Arjuna round which the
whole exposition revolves and completes its cycle. Afterwards the Gita proceeds
by the differentiation of the Purusha and Prakriti to work out
its ideas of the action of the gunas, of the ascension beyond the gunas
and of the culmination of desire-less works with knowledge where that coalesces
with Bhakti, – knowledge, works and love made one, – and it rises thence to its
great finale, the supreme secret of self-surrender to the Master of
Existence.”
[Sri Aurobindo, Essays on the Gita, The Two Natures, p 251]
“The Gita in its last six chapters, in order to found on a
clear and complete knowledge the way of the soul’s rising out of the lower into
the divine nature, restates in another form the enlightenment the Teacher has
already imparted to Arjuna. Essentially it is the same knowledge, but details
and relations are now made prominent and assigned their entire significance,
thoughts and truths brought out in their full value that were alluded to only
in passing or generally stated in the light of another purpose.”
[Sri Aurobindo, Essays on the
Gita,The Field and its Knower Natures, p 395]
--February 21, 2021
***************
INDIAN ORIGIN DOCTORS IN USA OFTEN
RESORT TO GITA FOR EQ AND SQ MANAGEMENT
As of Sunday, the pandemic death toll was 497,403, higher than in any other country. More Americans have died
from Covid-19 than on the battlefields of World War I, World War II and the
Vietnam War combined. I am amazed and Self-inquisitive
at the Diagnostic, Therapy, Family, EQ and SQ Management of Dr. Anand Kulakarni
of UK joining the team
fighting the global war and alleviating human sufferings. Many of you may
not have found time to go through even my E-mail let alone
the attached Gita message of Dr. Kulakarni that I sent you yesterday.
He is motivated by the Gita Message: Veetaragabhayakrodhah sokhalobhabheetih
yudhyasva koronavishajwaram vigatajvarah--Devoid of passion, fear,
frustration, grief, greed and panic fight the Corona Pandemic without anxiety.
PM Modi at
Indian-American doctors meet
India’s fight against the
novel coronavirus pandemic is driven by its people, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi has said, attributing the success against the contagion to the
implementation of the nationwide lockdown in its initial phase. (File photo)
India’s fight against the
novel coronavirus
pandemic is driven by its people, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi has said, attributing the success against the contagion to the
implementation of the nationwide lockdown in its initial phase.
In an address during the
virtual meeting of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
(AAPI) on Saturday, Modi said that the COVID-19
had been used as an opportunity to work towards making the country
self-reliant.
This is for the first time
that an Indian prime minister addressed the annual meeting of the AAPI, a
representative body of more than 80,000 Indian-American doctors in the
US.
Sharing the statistics of
various countries, Modi said India has performed much better in the fight against
the coronavirus.
“As against the death rate
of 350 individuals per million in the US and over 600 per million in European
nations like the UK, Italy and Spain, the rate of fatalities in India is less than
12,” he said.
“Uttar Pradesh has been
remarkably successful in fighting against the coronavirus,” Modi said. “And
same is the case with several other states as well.”
The prime minister
attributed this to the support from the people of the country. “Rural parts of
the country have largely remained untouched from this pandemic,” he said.
Without people’s
cooperation, Modi said, the success would not have been possible in the world’s
second-highest populated country — with high density, where social gathering is
a norm of life, large religious and political gatherings and large-scale
interstate migration are regular.
India defied the fears of
the world’s topmost experts in this regard, according to Modi.
India has been able to save
the lives of thousands and lakhs of its citizens because of the timely
lockdown, he told the Indian-American physicians.
Modi said the COVID-19
pandemic has been used as an opportunity to improve the healthcare facilities.
“For instance, at the start of the coronavirus, there was only one COVID-19
testing lab. Now there are 1,000, he said.
The prime minister
underlined that India, which imported most of its Personnel Protection Equipment
(PPE) kits at the start of the pandemic, was now almost self-reliant and in a
position to export them.
The country is making more
than 30 lakh N95 masks per week. More than 50,000 new ventilators are being
made available to the healthcare sector, all made inside the country, he
added.
Modi said he was proud of
the achievements and contribution of the Indian-origin physicians across the
world in the battle against the COVID-19.
India’s ambassador to the US
Taranjit Singh Sandhu echoed the prime minister and said the early lockdown has
helped delay the spread of the deadly virus and save lives.
Appreciating the role of the
Indian-American doctors during the COVID-19, Sandhu said: “You are the real
heroes who have risked your lives and have been out to assist others.”
There is a widespread
recognition of their contributions in the US, he added.
As America faces one of its
worst crises battling the novel coronavirus, Indian origin doctors on the
frontline have once again proven to be among the nation’s most vital healthcare
resources. Most of them are Hindus who are motivated by their SQ and EQ
management who excel in diagnostic and therapy skills. Backed by their
cultural bringing up, they are focused on Hindu Dharma,
janaseva hi janardhana seva, krinvanto viswamaaryam and sarvejanah sukhino
bhavantu etc., like Dr. Kulkarni of UK who draws his strength to serve
humanity from Bhagavad Gita as explained by him, as attached.
One of the largest doctors'
organizations of its kind, the AAPI represents more than 80,000 Indian-American
doctors, who constitute the largest ethnic group of physicians in the US. AAPI
members, as a group, are over-represented in all the hotspot areas, as well as
caring for underserved populations. They are bravely leading the enormous
challenge of fighting COVID 19 pandemic at their own personal risk without a
second thought, which speaks volumes for their compassion, commitment and sense
of duty.
According to the US Center
for Disease Control and Prevention, Asian American are least impacted by
coronavirus among various ethnic groups. According to a CDC data that was
recently updated, they account for nearly 4.4 per cent of the total infected
cases. The virus has killed more than 40,000 people in the US and over 763,000
have tested positive.
Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi
expressed his gratitude to the physicians and other healthcare professionals
for their "dedication to the nation, for helping all to cope with the
situation, guaranteeing the wellbeing of all--Indian Express, February 21,
2021.
Let us join him in extending our gratitude and
best wishes!
--February 21, 2021
**************
AUROBINDO’S ESSAYS ON BHAGAVAD GITA
The gist of Gita’s message in all my discourses in the past can be
briefly summed up as follows:
Do your duty to the v best of your
ability without worrying about the results. Perceive that GOD is present
equally in all beings and treat all beings equally. The four goals of human
life are: Doing one’s duty, earning wealth, material and sensual enjoyment
(with senses under control) and attaining salvation.The aim of the Gita
doctrine is to lead one to tranquility, happiness and equanimity. Gita
prescribes no rituals and says that the world needs different religions, cults
and deities to meet the vastly different needs of individuals.” “Don’t worry,
be happy’ may well be the goal of our lives, but the secret of achieving this
lies in Gita. The Gita Doctrine is beyond Religious and National
boundaries,
Gita’s last sermon is: 1) Do your
duty, to the best of your ability, dedicated to the Supreme without worrying
about the outcome. Remember the Supremeall the tikes; 2) Perceive that GOD is
within every living being. Mentally bow down to all beings and treat all beings
equally; 3) Perceive through the activities of mind, senses, breathing, and
emotions that the power of GOD is within you at all times, and is constantly
doing all the work using you as a mere instrument.
With these thoughts in the past, let
us see what the Spiritual Guru and Yoga Master Aurobindo conveys his
messages from his various Essays on Gita:
Almost all spiritual problems have
been briefly but deeply dealt with in the Gita, Sri Aurobindo remarked to a
disciple and he has tried to bring all that out fully in the Essays. In his
estimation the Gita is a great work of spiritual synthesis, for it built a
harmony between the three great means and powers, Love, Knowledge and Works,
through which the soul of man can directly approach and cast itself into the Eternal
Our object in studying the Gita, Sri Aurobindo wrote, will not be
a scholastic or academic scrutiny of its thoughts, nor to place its philosophy
in the history of metaphysical speculation, nor shall we deal with it in the
manner of the analytical dialectician. We approach it for help and light and
our aim must be to distinguish it’s essential and living message, that in it on
which humanity has to seize for its perfection and its highest spiritual
welfare.
Contents: Our Demand and Need from the Gita; The Divine Teacher,
The Core of the Teaching; Man and the Battle of Life; Sankhya and Yoga;
Equality and Knowledge; Above the Gunas; The Supreme Secret; etc.
“The thought of the Gita is neither pure Monism, although it sees
in one unchanging, pure, eternal Self the foundation of all cosmic existence,
nor Mayavada although it speaks of the Maya of the three modes of Prakriti
omnipresent in the created world; nor is it qualified Monism although it places
in the One his eternal supreme Prakriti manifested in the form of the Jiva and
lays most stress on dwelling in God rather than dissolution as the supreme
state of spiritual consciousness; nor is it Sankhya although it explains the
created world by the double principle of Purusha and Prakriti; nor is it Vaishnava
Theism although it presents to us Krishna, who is the Avatara of Vishnu
according to the Puranas, as the supreme Deity and allows no essential
difference nor any actual superiority of the status of the indefinable
relation-less Brahman over that of this Lord of beings who is the Master of the
universe and the Friend of all creatures. Like the earlier spiritual synthesis
of the Upanishads this later synthesis at once spiritual and intellectual
avoids naturally every such rigid determination as would injure its universal
comprehensiveness. Its aim is precisely the opposite to that of the polemist
commentators who found this Scripture established as one of the three highest
Vedantic authorities (prasthaana-trayaa) and attempted to turn it into a
weapon of offence and defense against other schools and systems. The Gita is
not a weapon for dialectical warfare; it is a gate opening on the whole world
of spiritual truth and experience and the view it gives us embraces all the
provinces of that supreme region. It maps out, but it does not cut up or build
walls or hedges to confine our vision.” writes Aurobindo.
``THE secret of action'', so we might summarize the message of the
Gita, the word of its divine Teacher, ``is one with the secret of all life and
existence. Existence is not merely a machinery of Nature, a wheel of law in
which the soul is entangled for a moment or for ages; it is a constant
manifestation of the Spirit. Life is not for the sake of life alone, but for
God, and the living soul of man is an eternal portion of the Godhead. Action is
for self-finding, for self-fulfillment, for self-realization and not only for
its own external and apparent fruits of the moment or the future. There is an
inner law and meaning of all things dependent on the supreme as well as the
manifested nature of the self; the true truth of works lies there and can be
represented only incidentally, imperfectly and disguised by ignorance in the
outer appearances of the mind and its action. The supreme, the faultless largest
law of action is therefore to find out the truth of your own highest and inmost
existence and live in it and not to follow any outer standard and Dharma. All
life and action must be till then an imperfection, a difficulty, a struggle and
a problem. It is only by discovering your true self and living according to its
true truth, its real reality that the problem can be finally solved, the
difficulty and struggle overpassed and your doings perfected in the security of
the discovered self and spirit turn into a divinely authentic action. Know then
your-self; know your true self to be God and one with the self of all others;
know your soul to be a portion of God. Live in what you know; live in the self,
live in your supreme spiritual nature, be united with God and Godlike. Offer,
first, all your actions as a sacrifice to the Highest and the One in you and to
the Highest and the One in the world; deliver last all you are and do into his
hands for the supreme and universal spirit to do through you his own will and
works in the world. This is the solution that I present to you and in the end
you will find that there is no other.
Completely surrender your whole Self and Nature,
abandon all Dharmas to the Divine who is your highest Self, and absolutely
aspire all your members to the Supreme Spiritual Nature. If you can once
achieve it, whether at the outset or much later on the way, then whatever you
are or were in your outward nature, your way is sure and your perfection
inevitable. A supreme Presence within you will take up your Yoga and carry it
swiftly along the lines of your Swabhava to its consummate completion” writes
Aurobindo.
MESSAGE OF GITA PERCEIVED BY AUROBINDO
- We are a mind dwelling in
human ignorance or a soul founded in divine knowledge. It is our
faith.
- Our sraddha that
makes us what we are.
- Our nature is our soul's
manifestation, operates by its sanction and embodies its secret
self-knowledge and self-consciousness and its will of being in her motions
and forms and changes.
- Our being must not become
the egoistic creation of Nature, but the largeness of a divine, immortal
and spiritual Power. We need to completely
consecrate our Self, our nature and our life to the Highest and to nothing
else but the Highest.
- Yoga should be at
once a Yoga of integral knowledge, a Yoga of the integral will and its
works, a Yoga of integral love, adoration and devotion and a Yoga of an
integral spiritual perfection of the whole being and of all its parts and
states and powers and motions.
- There is an impersonal
Self in us which supports the stream of our personality and is one with
God's vast and impersonal spirit. God in the world and we in
the world are realities; we should accept life and action and do not
reject them.
- As the one Self he is here
all-pervasive and equal and impersonal in man and animal and thing and
object and every force of Nature.
- God created humans with
masks of Maya, therefore the soul of man lives in the surface fact
of mind and life and body and not in his Self and spirit; he
cannot see God and himself and the world as they really are, cannot
overcome this Maya, and so obliged do what he can with its terms and
figures.
- We must awake from this
light of Maya, that is darkness and live in the luminous truth of the eternal.
- A perfect perfection comes
only by living in the supreme and the whole Divine. The first
necessity, the original radical step is to turn away from all that belongs
to our lower Nature and fix ourselves by concentration of the will and
intelligence on that which is higher than either will or intelligence,
higher than mind and heart and sense and body. And first of all we must
turn to our own eternal and immutable Self, impersonal and the same in all
creatures. . Be that, be the eternal self, and be the Brahman.
- It is desire that makes
you go on saying I and mine. Slay then desire; put away attachment
to the possession and enjoyment of the outward-ness of things. Separate
yourself from all that comes to you as outward touches and solicitations,
as objects of the mind and senses. Learn to bear and reject all the rush
of the passions and to remain securely seated in your inner self even
while they rage in your members, until at last they cease to affect any
part of your nature. Bear and put away similarly the forceful attacks and
even the slightest insinuating touches of joy and sorrow. Cast away liking
and disliking, destroy preference and hatred, and root out shrinking and
repugnance. Let there be a calm indifference to these things and to all
the objects of desire in all our nature. Look on them with the silent and
tranquil regard of an impersonal spirit. The result will be an absolute
equality and the power of unshakable calm that the universal spirit
maintains in front of its creations, facing ever the manifold action of
Nature.
- Look with equal eyes;
receive with an equal heart and mind all that comes to you, success and
failure, honor and dishonor, the esteem and love of men and their scorn
and persecution and hatred, every happening that would be to others a
cause of joy and every happening that would be to others a cause of
sorrow. Look with equal eyes on all persons, on the good and the wicked,
on the wise and the foolish, on the Brahmin and the outcaste, on man at
his highest and every pettiest creature
- Draw back from this
external formation to your inner silent self; you will see that you the
Purusha are inactive, but Nature continues to do always her works
according to her Gunas. Fix yourself in this inner inactivity and
stillness: no longer regard yourself as the doer. Remain seated in your
Self above the play, free from the perturbed action of the Gunas. Live
secure in the purity of an impersonal spirit.
- Consider the action of the
Jivanmukta, the works of the Siddha.
- `The first step on the
free, the equal, the divine way of action is to put from you attachment to
fruit and recompense and to labor only for the sake of the work itself
that has to be done. An entirely desire- less and
disinterested working of the personal will and the whole instrumental
nature is the first rule of Karmayoga. Make of all you do from
the greatest and most unusual effort to the smallest daily act, make of
each act of your mind, each act of your heart, each act of your body, of
every inner and outer turn, of every thought and will and feeling, of
every step and pause and movement, a sacrifice to the Master of all
sacrifice and Tapasya.
- Next know that you are an
eternal portion of the Eternal and the powers of your nature are nothing
without him, nothing if not his partial
self-expression. Surrender all your actions
in the silence of your Self and spirit to the transcendent Master of your
nature. This way of divine works is a far better release and a more perfect
way and solution than the physical renunciation of life and works.
A work done by you must be free and desire- less; work
done without desire creates no reaction and imposes no bondage. Done in a
perfect equality and an unmoved calm and peace, but without any divine
passion, it is at first the fine yoke of a spiritual obligation, kartavyam
karma, then the uplifting of a divine sacrifice; at its highest it can
be the expression of a calm and glad acquiescence in active oneness.
An integral union of the individual's being with the Divine Being is the
condition of a perfect spiritual life.
- Each man has a Swadharma,
a law of his inner being which he must observe, find out and
follow. Follow then the law of your Swadharma, do the action
that is demanded by your Swabhava whatever it may be. Reject all motive of
egoism, all initiation by self-will, all rule of desire, until you can
make the complete surrender of all the ways of your being to the Supreme.
- Complete surrender of your
whole self and nature, this abandonment of all Dharmas to the Divine who
is your highest Self, this absolute aspiration of all your members to the
supreme spiritual nature. If you can once achieve it, whether at the
outset or much later on the way, then whatever you are or were in your
outward nature, your way is sure and your perfection is
inevitable.
Please go through the three selected
Essays :
The Divine Teacher; Man, and the Battle of Life & The Message
of Gita
--February
21, 2021
Physical
Sciences and Vedanta Science on Human Evolution in the Future
Since
the advent of settled life, human populations have expanded enormously. Homo
sapiens are densely packed across the Earth, and individuals are
unprecedentedly mobile. In this situation, the fixation of any meaningful
evolutionary novelties in the human population is highly improbable.
Human beings are just going to have to learn to live with themselves as they
are." said Tattler. The fittest will no longer spearhead
evolutionary change, because, thanks to medical advances, the weakest also live
on and pass down their genes. Other scientists see plenty of evidence that
human evolution is far from over.
Now
we have genetic samples of complete genomes from humans around the world,
geneticists are getting a better understanding of genetic variation and how
it’s structured in a human population. We can’t exactly predict how genetic
variation will change, but scientists in the field of bioinformatics are
looking to demographic trends to give us some idea.
In
short, humanity's future could take one of several routes, assuming we do not
go extinct:
Stasis.
We largely stay as we are now, with minor tweaks, mainly as races merge.
Speciation.
A new human species evolves on either this planet or another.
Symbiosis with machines.
Integration of machines and human brains produces a collective intelligence
that may or may not retain the qualities we now recognize as human.
Today,
man is becoming poignantly aware of his power to influence for good or evil his
own destiny. At this critical moment when he questions his future, we believe
it important to present to the public,. the most significant passages from
those books of Sri Aurobindo which deal with this problem, the future evolution
of humanity.
Most of us are spiritually inclined
though being scientists. Let us therefore see what the works of Aurobindo talks
about Future Evolution of Man Aiming at Perfection to lead a meaningful type in
general and not confined the rare few like him.
To
be wholly and integrally conscious of oneself and of all the truth of one's
being is what is implied by the perfect emergence of the individual
consciousness, and it is that towards which evolution tends. All being is one,
and to be fully conscious means to be integrated with the consciousness of all,
with the universal self and force and action.
The
plenitude of this consciousness can only be attained by realizing the identity
of the individual self with the transcendent Self, the supreme Reality. This
realization demands a turning of the consciousness inward. The ordinary human
consciousness is turned outward and sees the surface of things only. It recoils
from entering the inner depths which appear dark and where it is afraid of
losing itself. Yet the entry into this obscurity, this void, this silence is only
the passage to a greater existence.
Indeed,
this inward-turning movement is not an imprisonment in the personal self; it
is the first step towards a true universality. The law of the divine life is
universality in action, organized by an all-seeing Will, with the sense of the
true oneness of all.
New
powers of consciousness and new faculties will develop in the Gnostic being who
will use them in a natural, normal and spontaneous way both for knowledge and
for action. The life of gnostic beings might fittingly be characterized as a
superhuman or divine life. But it must not be confused with past and present
ideas of super-manhood.
It
would be a misconception to think that a life in the full light of Knowledge
would lose its charm and become an insipid monotony. The Gnostic manifestation
of life would be more full and fruitful and its interest more vivid than the
creative interest offered to us by the world.
Creation
in Hinduism is a continuous, cyclical process, in which modifications of Nature
and transmigration of souls as microcosms ensure the continuous and progressive
evolution of the macrocosm, which it says is also Brihat or ever
expanding. Involution of life forms into gross bodies constitute the first
phase of the cycle, and their evolution into subtle, or supra fine bodies is
the second stage. In the final stage, beings will possess only intelligence
bodies.
Technology
in the coming decades is certain to challenge traditional notions of religion.
But what are some of the most imminent changes to spirituality that technology
is likely to bring? For the short term, AI will advance mostly in
analytical tasks, working alongside human effort rather than replacing
it. Morality may not play much of a role at first — there’s no obvious path to
programming something we don’t understand ourselves. But the looming epoch of
pervasive AI is already holding a mirror to humanity, promoting soul-searching
work by prompting these tough questions.
Maintaining
a sense of culture and community work will be critical for the promotion of
Spirituality that conflates with Science to live in peace but not pieces and
also provide appropriate relief measures to the suffering and needy. Modern
IT mediums, FB, Zoom, Webinar etc., make it easy to propagate these
morale-raising events, even during the present crisis of
pandemonium and social distancing to remain socially connected and provide
a sense of connectivity among the global participants. Some of our popular
Urban Monks who are often technologists, scientists, engineers and doctors have
taken keen interest in successfully employing these audio/video mediums in
their global missionary work.
Spirituality
has changed from the philosophy of Recluse Sanyasis that moved to secluded
Ashrams or forests for mediation of the past to Urban Monks of today who
altogether bring new dimension to Spirituality in our daily life. Spirituality
need not be confined to forests and caves. As Swami Vivekananda said, it should
enter the marketplace, and the field and the factory.
“If
you are lending a helping hand to a poor student, or planting a tree, or
researching a creative idea to clean the environment, or nursing a patient in a
hospital during this critical coronavirus times, you are in every way serving
is that which is given to the right person, in the right way, and at the proper
time.”--Sister Nivedita
“To
lead the spiritual life, it is not necessary to withdraw into the
forest, hide oneself in a cave or go to a mountain top. What is needed is the
renunciation of false ideas, of identification with the false human
personality. It requires renunciation of ego, Abhimana, Ahamkara,
renunciation of desire, renunciation of attachment, renunciation of Mamata and
Asakti (mine-ness and attachment)”--Swami Chidananda Saraswati
Please
go through the very exciting and inspiring discourse “Physical Sciences and
Vedanta Science on Human Evolution in the Future” posted on the Blog:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2021/02/modern-sciences-and-science-of_16.html
--February, 20, 2021
HINDU
AMERICANS’ DILEMMA IN THE CELEBRATION OF VISVAKARMA JAYANTI
Vishwakarma Jayanti holds immense
religious significance for Hinduism followers. This day is celebrated in the
honor of God Vishwakarma, the divine carpenter and architect of this universe.
He is also the son of Lord Brahma. The greatness of his works is mentioned in
the Rig Veda and Sthapatya Veda, which is the science of architecture and
mechanics. Vishwakarma Puja is day of great importance for the worker
community. They pray to Lord Vishwakarma on this day for success in their
respective fields, along with smooth and safe working of the machines. The
craftsmen worship their tools on this day and refrain from using it on
Vishwakarma Puja. It is therefore a holiday for them and free
lunches are organized for them, in many places. It is directed to Ayudha Puja
during Ashtami in Navaratri in September. But some traditions celebrate it
after Magh Gupta Navaratri ( February 12, 2021 to February 21,
21021) on February 25 on Magh Trayodasi.
Vishwakarma Puja is the most important
and auspicious day for artisans and craftsmen all over the world. But
which is that auspicious day? Tell the State and tell the calendar say Hindu
confused astrologers and dictating Hindu pundits. Hindu Americans confused by
alarming Hindu Panchangas conveniently ignore this important festival day going
through the North American Panchangam that considers
this festival as unimportant and ignores it. Yet many Hindu American
Temples consider the American Labor Day (Monday September 6, 2021) as Special Religious
Event Day and keep the temple open all day.
Viswa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA)
that is striving for Global Unity of Hindus has not yet focused on such
celebrations bogged down by the fear of survival of Hinduism itself as their
mixed race married youths are no longer interested in visiting temples,
choosing their life-partners from other religions particularly Christianity and
Judaism joining rapidly growing virus of SBNR group and “Awesome without Allah”
group and confused by head-reeling multi-traditional and varied opinion
on temple worships and rituals. Inter-caste married couples may also be
not interested in visiting Temples. Those that are interested are confused but
mostly controlled by dominating partner, in bringing up their children. It is
largely dependent on the dominating partner and his/her parentage! Our urban
monks focused on Yoga, meditation and spirituality are not bothered on all
these problems and say go by the wisdom of Vivekananda: “You have to grow from
the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no
other teacher but your own soul." - Swami Vivekananda”
The VHP was founded in 1964 by Swami Chinmayananda in collaboration
with M.S. Golwalkar and S.S. Apte. It is stated its objective is
"to organize, consolidate the Hindu society and to serve and protect the
Hindu Dharma” VHP of America was founded in 1970 in New York to preserve,
promote and practice those great universal and eternal values which were
discovered and practiced by the Sages of Bharat. Though inspired by the same
ideals as those followed by Vishwa Hindu Parishad of Bharat, VHP of America is
distinct, legally separate and operationally independent Non-Profit
organization in its own right within the USA. In 1974 the Parishad office was
incorporated in New York State.
A great motivating factor for launching
VHPA and many of its programs was to bring the Hindu Community together and
to address many difficult issues facing the community as it started to
settle down in a largely unknown land. Bal Vihar programs were offered
to provide succor and support to families that were searching for ways to
impart Hindu values to their growing children. Towards this end, a Children’s
Book Store was started in New Hampshire and lecture tour programs were started
to share the knowledge of Hindu heritage with the community at large. And,
hugely popular Hindu Heritage Youth camps were started in the late seventies,
the first being in Rhode Island. Seva projects were started to offer concrete
assistance to institutions in Bharat. Nashville Sri Ganesha Temple Sunday
school is called Bal Vihar.
Why not then VHPA firmly say celebrate
Viswakarma Jayanthi on American Labor Day as there is no clear Hindu religious
mandate as to “tasmaat sastram pramanam tey karyakaarya vyavasthitou”--Scriptures
are final authority in all such matters!
Vishwakarma
Jayanti in Magh month is mainly observed in
Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. It falls on Magh Shukla Paksha
Trayodashi Tithiand this year on February 25. Gujarat follows Vikrama Samvatsara
calendar. For majority of Hindus his Jayanthi falls on the day of Kanya Sankranti
or Kanya Sankramanam which comes on the 16th or 17th of September as per the
Gregorian calendar. Vishwakarma Puja is celebrated as ‘Biswakarma Puja’
on the last day of Bengali Bhadra month, in the Eastern States of India like
Orissa, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Tripura. It is also referred as ‘Kanya
Sankranti’ or ‘Bhadra Sankranti’. In some parts of the country, especially in
Bihar and few northern states, Vishwakarma Puja is also observed after
Diwali. In the southern state of Kerala, Vishwakarma Puja is held on
the day of Rishi Panchami Day.
Bhadrapada
Shukla Panchami is known as Rishi Panchami and usually observed two days
after Hartalika
Teej and one day after Ganesh
Chaturthi. Currently Rishi Panchami day falls in August or September
on English calendar. This year it falls on September 11, 2021. Rishi
Panchami is not a festival but a fasting day observed by women to pay obeisance
to the Sapta Rishis which means seven sages and to get purified from Rajaswala
(mensuration) Dosha.
Hinduism
gives highest priority to purity and there are strict guidelines to maintain
purity of the body and the soul. In Hinduism women are believed to be
contaminated during their menstrual cycle. During menstrual cycle women are not
allowed to enter in the kitchen for cooking, to participate in any religious
activities and to touch any family members. Avoiding these guidelines creates
Rajaswala Dosha. Rishi Panchami fasting is advised to get rid of Rajaswala
Dosha. Rishi Panchami is more famous in Nepali Hindus and is also popular in
Thailand and the Far East. In some regions three days Hartalika Teej fasting
ends on Rishi Panchami. In view of the present controversy over women’s entry
into Kerala Sabarimalai Temple, this ritual has assumed importance as Aiyappan
Temples are built all over the globe like Venkateshwara Temples.
On the confusion of Jayanthi as to
birthday or not, the author of American Panchangam clarifies when Jayanthi
appears after a name of a deity it simply means a glorification day glorifying
a Puranic event or as arbitrarily fixed by astrologers. Thus Ramanavami, Ganesh
Chaturthi Skanda shashthi, Gokulashtami are all actual historic birthdays.
While Gokuklashtami celebrates Krishna’s Birthday Srijayanthi or Srikrishna
Jayanthi celebrates Krishna’s successful transfer to Nandagokula hiding his
parentage as Devakiputra and making Nandagokukla as his place of birth! Neither
Ganesha nor Skanda are neither womb born, nor historic yet allotted a birthday
based on myths and beliefs to vie with
Vaishnavism
by Saivism! It looks as though Vaishnavism conceptualized Avatar,
Janmatithi and Jayanthi which Saivism adopted later.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/09/hindu-american-way-of-labor-day.html
--February 19, 2021
*************************
VALENTINE’S DAY CALLS
FOR UNIVERSAL BINDING FORCE OF LOVE
Today is Valentine's Day
that has somehow attracted the attention of our temples. Some years back
Nashville Sri Ganesha Temple started the tradition of celebrating Valentine’s
Day as True Love Day directed to parents as the universal binding force love that
begins with parents in our lives. This day was dedicated Lord Siva and Parvati
by singing the hymn “Jagatahpitarau Vvande parvatee Paramesvarau”.
The history of Valentine’s Day—and the story of its patron
saint—is shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated
as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today,
contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was
Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Soon
follows lent and Vasanta panchami in the mating season of February.
Lupercalia was an ancient pagan festival held each year in Rome on
February 15. Although Valentine’s Day shares its name with a martyred Christian
saint, some historians believe the holiday is actually an offshoot of
Lupercalia. Christian church may have decided to place St. Valentine’s
feast day in the middle of February in an effort to “Christianize” the pagan
celebration of Lupercalia as they did Christmas celebration, diverting from worship of Sun
by Pagan Religions.
During the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and
England that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season, which added
to the idea that the middle of Valentine’s Day should be a day for romance. The
English poet Geoffrey Chaucer was the first to record St.
Valentine’s Day as a day of romantic celebration in his 1375 poem “Parliament
of Foules,” writing, “For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day! When every
foul cometh there to choose his mate.”
The red rose was believed to be the flower favored by Venus, the
Roman Goddess of Love, and has therefore come to represent that. Cupid is the
god of desire, erotic love, affection and attraction. He is the son of Venus,
goddess of love, and war god Mars. Cupid in Latin is 'amor', which means
love.
Religious St Valentine’s Day and the legend of red rose being
offered by Cupid (Kamadeva) to his beloved parents should have attracted the
then Chairman Dr. Reita Agarwal to take all students of Bal Vihar School to the
sanctum of Shiva for worship on St. Valentine’s Day though Parvati is missing,
while men were hovering round dinner table serving ladies and greeting with red
roses on this day at Sri Ganesha Temple motivated by Geoffrey Chaucer! Here is
an interesting news column from India Today, New Delhi, February 13,
2021:
What is Parents' Worship Day and why it
is celebrated on Valentine's Day in India
Parents' Worship Day also known as Matru Pitru (mother and father)
Poojan Divas was started by Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu in 2007 as an alternative
to Valentine's Day. Parents' Worship Day is celebrated on February 14 every
year. As visible from the title, this day is dedicated to one’s parents giving
them the respect, love, and care they deserve.
This initiative was started to bring a social awakening in every
home and human heart by celebrating true love and true valentine in its purest
form, the love for parents. Parents' worship day is the celebration of the bond
between parents and children.
Do celebrate the day of love (Valentine’s Day), but with
self-restraint and for true development. If young boys and girls meet, it will
only lead them to ruin.
Why is Parents Worship Day celebrated on Valentine’s Day:
Valentine’s Day is the celebration of love, affection, respect,
and care towards the person you adore and love. There is no greater and purest
love relationship than that of a parent and a child. To celebrate true love and
true valentine in its selfless form, Parents Worship Day is celebrated on
Valentine’s Day.
Do celebrate the day of love (Valentine’s Day), but with
self-restraint and for true development - Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu
Parents Worship Day motivates the positive spirit of serving
parents in the heart and soul of the children. This festival draws its
inspiration from the pooja of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati performed by little
Ganpati.
The idea is to spark the importance of cultural values our Indian
heritage holds in Indian children. Parents Worship Day is all about
strengthening family bonds and being grateful to our parents for everything
they do for us selflessly giving us an example of true and pure love.
Swami Chidananda of Hyderabad of
Chinmaya Mission on What is Intrinsic Love
It is a fact commonly observed that we Love something, a person
for example, so long as that object pleases us. The moment the object does
not conform to our wishes, our love begins to wane. Hence the Self is the only
object of Intrinsic Love. And everything is Lovable for the sake of the Self.
It is of course Paradoxical to say that the Self is both the subject and object
of love. But being paradoxical is the very nature of Transactional
(Vyavaharika) world in every aspect. That the Self is the only object of
Intrinsic Love is, however, indisputable. But, then the question arises, what
is the nature of the Self? Ordinary man thinks that ego is the Self. The
ego is the complex of Spirit and the mind-body organism which expresses itself
as “I” and ‘me’ and ‘mine’. Such a notion of the Self implies its distinction
from the other selves, similarly conceived, the Physical world and God. Naturally,
just as other selves and objects are loved for the sake of one’s own Self, God
too is loved for the sake of the Self. No wonder, one tends to get angry even
with God whenever one’s desires are frustrated. But, then, we are now asked to
love God for his own sake. How can we reconcile the fact that the self is the
object of Intrinsic Love with the ideal of Intrinsic Love for God? Obviously,
we cannot give up the ideal of Unselfish love for God, having been led on to it
through frustration with the world. The only solution, therefore, is to revise
our notion of the Self.
As the Self is the only object of Intrinsic Love, God can be loved
for his own sake only if the Self is non-different from God. Moreover,
if God is not our true self but an outside entity, we would even doubt his
existence. The utterances of mystics also give us assurance that God is the
Self of our Self, our True Being, near to us than our hands and feet. In fact,
this is the ultimate significance of describing God as the Inner Ruler (antaryamyamrutaha).
Our True Self is Infinite. We falsely imagine it to be finite, and, seeking to
pamper the ego, we go through a succession of births. It is certainly not the
narrow finite Self that is described in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad as the
real object of Love. What is meant is the Self in its True Nature as Brahman,
the Paramatman, the Supreme Self.
The Goal of Bhakti is the realization of the non-difference
between the soul and the God has been shown by the analysis of the content of
love as well as the object of love.
The basis of Para Bhakti is the conviction that God is no other
than our True Self. It is the Bhakti of the enlightened man, who looks upon God
as his very Self. When God is known as the Identical with the Self, the
devotee Loves Nothing but God. Bhakti practiced by ‘Jnani’ (the Wise man
who knows the real nature of God) is rated by Lord Krishna as the most
excellent one. It alone is Para Bhakti. Bhakti of other three types (‘Aarta’=
man in distress, ‘Arthaarthii’=man who seeks wealth, ‘Jignasu’= man who seeks
knowledge of the Real Nature of God).
When the devotee is firmly convinced that the self, which is the
object of Intrinsic Love, is no other than God, Self-Love is merged in God
Love, and God comes to be loved for his own sake. Instead of God being loved
for the sake of something else. Everything else becomes Lovable only in so far
as it helps to Realize God.
When the objects of love are finite, the Aim of Love, namely
Complete Integration of the Loved Object with the Lover, is not fulfilled and
this causes discontent. The object of Love is to bring about the complete
merging of Lover and Loved. When the Goal of non-difference of Lover and Loved
is reached, there can be no more love, so to say. But it is the nature of Love to
transcend itself. Love when it transcends itself, it becomes Timeless Presence
of Eternal Bliss. Meaning the Lover and the Loved become United as One
inseparable Self. In that Oneness there is the Presence of Infinite Love as
Infinite Bliss, because our True Self is Infinite.
Swamiji is evidently focused on Kamokarsheet mantra in MNU:
“Kamoe-akarsheen namoh namah | Kamo-akarsheet-kaamah karoti naaham
karomi kaamah kartaa naaham kartaa kaamah kaarayitaa naaham kaarayitaa eshaa te
kaama kaamaaya swaahaa ||
Salutations are to the Gods.
Desire performed the act. Desire did the act. Desire is doing the act, not I
(Self). Desire is the agent not I. Desire causes the doer to act not I. O
Desire, fascinating in form, let this oblation be offered to thee, Hail!
Kaamoekaarsheet’ in Sanskrit means ‘those acts that are out of
desire’. Nasadeeyasookta announces that Kaama or God’s will in the
form of desire to create the world existed at a time when this universe did not
come into being. Yadyaddi kurute jantuh tattat kaamasya cheshtitam
|| says Manusmriti II.4--whatever activity is found in a creature it is all due
to the movement of desire.
Spiritual codes declare that the five
universal elements and resident deities and one’s own heart witness the
thoughts and actions of a man even though they are concealed from others.
Worshipper here is represented as offering repeated obeisance to the gods who
witness the inside of all men and arraign them to the bar of divine justice. He
pleads not guilty and deposes that he, the Self in man, did not do any act or
it is an agent. Desire, charming to all in appearance, is the agent that did
acts and doing them. Therefore, in order to propitiate the Deity of
Desire, so that the worshiper may be left in his pure nature, as a resent of
all the withdrawal of all harmful desires, an oblation is offered into the
consecrated fire.
Saayana says that Kaama in this context
means Iswara-kaama or the desire of the Lord. Hence we pay our obeisance to
Iswara, Lord of the Universe with Iswara-prema!
Paramacharya on
Universal Love
Love and compassion to all beings
should fill our hearts always. Where there is love, there is the expression of
divinity, for God is love. Even as a light behind a screen becomes visible in
all its splendor when the screen is removed, so too, there is an effulgence of
jnana and prema when evil desires, hatred and anger are removed
from the mind. This truth has been brought out in songs of saints like
Pattinathar and Ramalinga Swamigal. God also appeared as Mother. He was
Thayumanavar (தாயுமானவர்) embodying and expressing the natural and spontaneous love of the
mother to all children. God has love for all and all things; He is the ocean of
love (kripaa samudram क्रुपासमुद्रम्). Love between equals is called maitri
(मैत्रि) or friendship; love shown to God and to superiors is bhakti and
love to inferiors is kripa. A house cannot be built, nor can it stand, except
on a strong and enduring foundation. The edifice of our life ought to be raised
on the foundation of universal love. We frequently come across the expression
“Dharma ensures success” (dharmamejayam தருமமே ஜயம்). This dharma should be basis of our
life. Katchaleswara Agraharam and the adjoining parts of Madras are known as
Kandakoshtam, like Kumarakoshtam in Kanchi. And Sri Ramalinga Swamigal has
praised Madras in the words, Dharmamihu sennai (தர்மமிகுசென்னை). Madras is justly renowned for its charity. He taught us the
unity of grace and love – the arul (அருள்) of Siva and anbu (அன்பு) of the Divine Mother – both of which can be earned only by
For my friends and family, I wish you a happy Valentine’s Day
celebration and wish you get cherished love filled moments on this special day
of love.
leading the dharmic way of life (nanneri நன்னெரி). If our heart is filled with love, we
will qualify for the grace of God.
“When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to
become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” —Paulo
Coelho.
For my friends and family, I wish you a happy Valentine’s Day
celebration and wish you get cherished love filled moments on this special day
of love.
Valentine's Day comes in the season of mating season and so also
Vasanta Panchami. Why not then celebrate the event on Vasanta Panchami?
--February 14, 2021
I
thoroughly enjoyed it
--Santhosh Venkatraman
*************
CHRONOLOGY
OF YUGAS BY YUKTESVAR AND SADGURU VASUDEV
A
short discussion with mathematical calculation of the yugas or ages will
explain the fact that the present age for the world is Dwapara Yuga, and that
194 years of Yuga have now (AD 1894) passed away, bringing a rapid development
in man's knowledge. This is based on 12000 ascending and 12000 descending
Divine Years that Manu brought to light based on Vedas. We are however
bombarded by the Yuga cycles based on Mahayugas (432,000 human years) and Kalpa
(432,000,000 human years) that I discussed at length. Puranas say that dharma
standing on 4 legs of a divine cow in Satya Yuga, gradually declines to 3 in
Treta, 2 in Dwapara and 1 in Kali, and logically cyclic also with an Avatar
appearing at each Yuga for dharmasamsthapana. But how can we
confidently say this is the way things happened in the past, the present as
well and how we can look forward with hope and confidence? Puranas and history
have left them to our own judgement and action!
Maharaj
Yudhishtira, noticing the appearance of the dark Kali Yuga, made over his
throne to his grandson, Raja Parikshit. Maharaja Yudhishtira,
together with the wise men of his court, retired to the Himalaya Mountains, the
paradise of the world. But there was none in the court of Raja Parikshit who
could understand the principle of events correctly calculating the ages of the
several Yugas.
About
AD 1600, William Gilbert discovered magnetic forces and observed the presenc of
electricity in all material substances. In 1609 Kepler discovered important
laws of astronomy, and Galileo produced telescope. In 1621 Drabble of Holland
invented the microscope. About 1670 Newton discovered the law of gravitation.
In 1700 Thomas Savers made use of a steam engine in raising water. Twenty years
later Stephen Gray discovered the action of electricity on the human
body.
England
united with Scotland became a powerful kingdom. Napoleon Bonaparte introduced
his new legal code into southern Europe. America won its independence, and many
parts of Europe were peaceful.
With
the advance of science, the world began to be covered with railways and
telegraphic wires. By the help of steam engines, electric machines, and many
other instruments, fine matters were brought into practical use.
Such
is the great influence of Time which governs the universe. No man can overcome
this influence except him who, blessed with pure love, the heavenly gift of
nature, becomes divine; being baptized in the sacred stream Pranava (the holy
Aum vibration), he comprehends the Kingdom of God.
It
is obvious our astrologers could not correctly predict these great events in
the Hindu almanacs based on Puranas-. The astronomers and astrologers who
calculate the almanacs have been guided by wrong annotations of certain
Sanskrit scholars (such as Kulluka Bhatta) of the dark age of Kali Yuga is
432000 years, of which 4994 have (in AD 1894) passed away, leaving 427006 years
still remaining. A dark prospect! And, fortunately, one not true as you see
above.
Today’s
view of history cannot account for ancient anomalies, such as the Pyramids and
advanced knowledge contained in India’s Vedas--but in 1894 an Indian
Monk, Yuktesvar Giri from Bengal, gave us an explanation not only
for our hidden past, but for the trends of today and for our future
enlightenment--the 24,000 year Yuga cycle.
Byasa
today, takes us on an amazing, mind-expanding investigation of the hidden
cycles underlying the rise and fall of the world’s great civilizations. Despite
world crisis and global shifts happening now, Steinmetz explains how the 24,000
years period known as the Vedic “Yuga Cycles of Time” hold the keys to our
past, present, and future conditions. With evidence from the findings of great
historians and scientist he demonstrates the truth of these cycles.
Learn
from him the deeper knowledge of the Vedic Yuga Cycles of Time, a
rare opportunity to spend time with this beloved teacher, author, and world
history pioneer. Byasa has spent over 50 years researching these Vedic Cycles
of Time. This course is for those who have already taken his “Introduction to
the Yuga Cycles of Time” and want to explore together these 24,000 years
cycles. Includes updated information on our current world crisis situations,
past civilizations of Egypt, Peru, India and more.
David
(Byasa) Steinmetz is an expert in the Yuga Cycles of Time and is co-author of
the book “The Yugas, Keys to Understanding our Hidden Past, Emerging Present
and Future Enlightenment”. He has been on the faculty of Ananda College
since the beginning, and has been a Kriya Yogi for over four decades. His
background as a scientist and astronomer and his knowledge of history and
ancient cultures offers students a rare opportunity to learn about the cosmos.
He is also the founder of Ananda College’s Library of Higher Consciousness.
While Yuktesvar and Byasa talk about 24000 divine Year's cycle, Jagadguru
Jaggi Vasudeva speaks of 12960 years conflating with precession of the
equinoxes though the knowledge comes from Yogesvar given to the world in 1894,
that he has fine-tuned though he does not mention his name.
The precession (caused by
gradual rotation of the Earth’s axis) of the equinoxes is the period of time
that it takes the Earth’s axis to pass through one complete cycle of the
zodiac. It takes the planet 72 years to pass through one degree of the zodiac
and 25,920 years to complete one full circle of 360 degrees. One half of the
journey takes 12,960 years and covers the four yugas. Satya Yuga lasts 5184
years. Treta Yuga lasts 3888 years. Dwapara Yuga lasts 2592 years. Kali Yuga
lasts 1296 years. These four yugas taken together come to a total of 12,960
years.
Please
go through “Kali Yuga – When Did it End and What Lies Ahead? by Sadguru Jaggi
Vasudev and “Yuga Cycles’’ by Yuktesvar Giri for an in-depth study and
full understanding of the divine years and Yuga cycles. Puranas by their
projection of 432,000 years for a Yuga cycle, made us fearful, anxious and
awe-inspiring while Yuktesvar Giri came up with practical and logical
explanation to modern events historically and spiritually convincing!
PURAIC
AND DIVINE YUGA CYCLES
- Satya
Yuga: 1,728,000 (4,800 divine) years
- Sandhya:
144,000 (400 divine)
- Main: 1,440,000 (4,000 divine)
- Sandhyamsa:
144,000 (400 divine)
- Treta
Yuga: 1,296,000 (3,600 divine) years
- Sandhya:
108,000 (300 divine)
- Main: 1,080,000 (3,000 divine)
- Sandhyamsa:
108,000 (300 divine)
- Dvapara
Yuga: 864,000 (2,400 divine) years
- Sandhya:
72,000 (200 divine)
- Main: 720,000 (2,000 divine)
- Sandhyamsa:
72,000 (200 divine)
- Kali Yuga:
432,000 (1,200 divine) years
- Sandhya:
36,000 (100 divine)
- Main: 360,000 (1,000 divine)
- Sandhyamsa:
36,000 (100 divine)
Please
go through detailed discourse on the subject:
Ratha
Saptami on February 19, 2021
Saptami
Tithi is dedicated to Lord Surya. Shukla Paksha Saptami in Magha month
is known as Ratha Saptami or Magha Saptami. It is believed that
Lord Surya Dev started enlightening the whole world on Ratha Saptami day which
was considered as birth day of God Surya. Hence this day is also known as Surya
Jayanti.
As
per the tradition in Hinduism, Lord Surya is believed to ride a chariot driven
by seven horses – this form is worshipped during Ratha Saptami puja and
festival. Ratha Saptami 2021 date is February 19. It is said that
the earth's inclination towards the sun is steepest on the Ratha Saptami day.
This day is also known as Achala Saptami.
It is considered to be the most
important saptami in a year. It is believed that in the Mahabharata,
Bhishmacharya chose this day to leave his body and attain ‘moksha.’ It is also
said that the earth's inclination towards the sun is steepest on the Ratha
Saptami day.
Special rituals are also held on the
day at temples dedicated to Surya especially at Arasavalli and Konark. The day
is of great significance in Tirupati Balaji Temple. One can witness, Lord
Balaji on seven different Vahanas on the day.
Interestingly, Ratha Saptami is also observed in the month of Margashirsha
(December-January) by certain communities. It is also dedicated to Sun god and
a fast is observed on this day. Taking bath at the time of sunrise is
considered highly auspicious. This is observed largely in North
Indiaprobably motivated by Bhagavad Gita in which Lord Krishna says Amomg
twelve months in a year He is Margasirsha.
Ratha
Saptami is highly auspicious in s day and it is considered as auspicious as Surya
Grahan for Dan-Punya activities. By worshipping Lord Surya and
observing fast on this day one can get rid of all type of sins. It is believed
that seven types of sins done, knowingly, unknowingly, by words, by body, by
mind, in current birth and in previous births are purged by worshipping Lord
Surya on this day.
On
Ratha Saptami one should take bath during Arunodaya. Ratha Saptami Snan
is one of the important rituals and is suggested during Arunodaya only.
Arunodaya period prevails for four Ghatis (approx. one and half hour for Indian
locations if we consider one Ghati duration as 24 minutes) before sunrise.
Taking bath before sunrise during Arunodaya keeps one healthy and free from all
types of ailments and diseases. Because of this belief Ratha Saptami is also
known as Arogya Saptami. Taking bath in water body like river, canal is
preferred over taking bath at home.
After
taking bath one should worship Lord Surya during sunrise by offering Arghyadan
(अर्घ्यदान)
to Him. Arghyadan is performed by slowly offering water to Lord Surya from
small Kalash with folded hand in Namaskar Mudra while facing Lord Sun in
standing position. After this one should light Deepa of pure Ghee and worship
Sun God with Kapoor, Dhup, and red flowers. By doing morning Snan, Dan-Punya
and Arghyadan to Suryadev one is bestowed with long life, good health and
prosperity.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/01/ratha-saptami_25.html
Saptami
Tithi is dedicated to Lord Surya. Shukla Paksha Saptami in Magha month
is known as Ratha Saptami or Magha Saptami. It is believed that
Lord Surya Dev started enlightening the whole world on Ratha Saptami day which
was considered as birth day of God Surya. Hence this day is also known as Surya
Jayanti.
As
per the tradition in Hinduism, Lord Surya is believed to ride a chariot driven
by seven horses – this form is worshipped during Ratha Saptami puja and
festival. Ratha Saptami 2021 date is February 19. It is said that
the earth's inclination towards the sun is steepest on the Ratha Saptami day.
This day is also known as Achala Saptami.
It is considered to be the most
important saptami in a year. It is believed that in the Mahabharata,
Bhishmacharya chose this day to leave his body and attain ‘moksha.’ It is also
said that the earth's inclination towards the sun is steepest on the Ratha
Saptami day.
Special rituals are also held on the
day at temples dedicated to Surya especially at Arasavalli and Konark. The day
is of great significance in Tirupati Balaji Temple. One can witness, Lord
Balaji on seven different Vahanas on the day.
Interestingly, Ratha Saptami is also observed in the month of Margashirsha
(December-January) by certain communities. It is also dedicated to Sun god and
a fast is observed on this day. Taking bath at the time of sunrise is
considered highly auspicious. This is observed largely in North India probably
motivated by Bhagavad Gita in which Lord Krishna says Among twelve months in a
year He is Margasirsha.
Ratha
Saptami is highly auspicious in s day and it is considered as auspicious as Surya
Grahan for Dan-Punya activities. By worshipping Lord Surya and
observing fast on this day one can get rid of all type of sins. It is believed
that seven types of sins done, knowingly, unknowingly, by words, by body, by
mind, in current birth and in previous births are purged by worshipping Lord
Surya on this day.
On
Ratha Saptami one should take bath during Arunodaya. Ratha Saptami Snan
is one of the important rituals and is suggested during Arunodaya only.
Arunodaya period prevails for four Ghatis (approx. one and half hour for Indian
locations if we consider one Ghati duration as 24 minutes) before sunrise.
Taking bath before sunrise during Arunodaya keeps one healthy and free from all
types of ailments and diseases. Because of this belief Ratha Saptami is also
known as Arogya Saptami. Taking bath in water body like river, canal is
preferred over taking bath at home.
After
taking bath one should worship Lord Surya during sunrise by offering Arghyadan
(अर्घ्यदान)
to Him. Arghyadan is performed by slowly offering water to Lord Surya from
small Kalash with folded hand in Namaskar Mudra while facing Lord Sun in
standing position. After this one should light Deepa of pure Ghee and worship
Sun God with Kapoor, Dhup, and red flowers. By doing morning Snan, Dan-Punya
and Arghyadan to Suryadev one is bestowed with long life, good health and
prosperity.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/01/ratha-saptami_25.html
Comments:
Thank you for the ride
WEBINAR 193--DECODING SHIVA THE
DESTROYER
In
the pitch darkness of Mahasivaratri, Shiva emerges as endless ash colored light
with which color he is worshipped as vyakta form of Shiva. Otherwise he is
mostly represented as dark black vyaktaavyakta form of Linga. In rare temples
he is also worshiped as Sphatika linga of colorless form but assumes all forms
as desired by the devotee during Abhisheka.
We have discussed about these at length. All these symbolic
representation of Shiva makes an interesting study that will be in the spiritual discourse by H.C. Guruprasad.
It is reasonable to assume on Shivaratri night he emerges as ash colored light
burning all evils that appear in the form of Kaalaraatri, and the devotees who
burn off all their greedy desires and
evils promoted by senses would be able to see him keeping the vigil.
The English word GOD all in caps) was also ingeniously coined where
G=Generator; O=Operator and D=Dissolver.
"Shiva"
means literally, “that which is not.”
Shiva is described as a non-being, not as a being. Shiva is not described
as light, but as darkness, Tamas.
Shiva
does not have any form as such. He just has a representative form a mysterious vyakta avyakta form linga in
which you seek his form by turning inwards searching him as antaryamin hidden inside, while we are hidden in darkness
engulfed with Maya!
Barbara
Taylor, the author of “Finding God in
the Dark” is a leading theologian in America.
“Strength, purpose and true faith are found in the shadows. Darkness is often treated as evil, a vast
unknown and the ultimate spiritual enemy but it may save us all” says Barbara
Taylor. Her thoughts were focused on the
philosophy if path of Enlightenment can help why not path of Endarkenment, a
word coined by her.
Endarkenment
is an all-time experience to deal with for Hindus as they try to find God by
Light as well as Darkness in their worship. Enigmatic Hindu Goddess of Time
Kaali is black. She represents the state where time, space and causation have
disappeared without any trace and hence she is black. God has created this
universe and entered into it as Antryamin or inner controller. God is hiding in
the dark in us which needs to be revealed.
Universe becomes a veil, a cloak for the divinity. When that is
destroyed, the divinity remains unveiled, so Goddess Kaali is naked and named
digambara having vast limitless space itself as her only vesture. Brahman is not seen even in the brightest of
lights with the help of physical eyes by the ignorant mind, but can be seen by
seekers even in the darkest surroundings that is Consciousness-Existence-Bliss
and needs no physical eye.
Devotees
in the broad daylight area seek God who is kept in darkness in Hindu Temples,
thoughtfully planned to lead one to spiritual heights. In Hindu concept Vishnu who represents
Sattvaguna (brightness), power of existence, is depicted as dark blue skinned
in iconic representation; Siva who represent Tamoguna, (darkness) the power of
annihilation is depicted with white complexion in icons. Thus darkness and
light complement each other. Our sages
turned their thoughts to pervading darkness and came out with spontaneous
outburst as is evident from the famous mantra: Asato maa sadgamaya tamaso
maajyotirgamaya mrityor maa amritam gamaya—Lead me from unreal to real; from
darkness to light and from death to deathlessness.
“Turning
into darkness, instead of away from it, is the cure for a lot of what ails me;
because I have a deep need to be in control of things, to know where I am
going, to be sure of my destination, to get there efficiently, to have all the
provisions I need, to do it all without help” says Barbara Taylor. She very
much echoes what was working in the minds of our ancient sages who came out
with their profound theory as to what life is and what is after in their quest
for Truth when they were frightened with
the darkness of death.
“Shiva
is described as a non-being, not as a being. Shiva is not described as light,
but as darkness. Humanity has gone about eulogizing light only because of the
nature of the visual apparatus that they carry. Otherwise, the only thing that
is always, is darkness. Light is a limited happening in the sense that any
source of light – whether a light bulb or the sun – will eventually lose its
ability to give out light. Light is not eternal. It is always a limited
possibility because it happens and it ends. Darkness is a much bigger
possibility than light. Nothing needs to burn, it is always – it is eternal.
Darkness is everywhere. It is the only thing that is all pervading.
“Shiva”
refers to both “that which is not,” and Adiyogi, because in many ways, they are
synonymous. If you have to contain the
existence within you even for a moment as an experience, you have to be that
nothingness. Only nothingness can hold everything. A vessel cannot hold an ocean. This planet
can hold an ocean, but it cannot hold the solar system. The solar system can
hold these few planets and the sun, but it cannot hold the rest of the galaxy.
If you go progressively like this, ultimately you will see it is only
nothingness that can hold everything.
The
word “yoga” means “union.” A yogi is one who has experienced the union. That
means, at least for one moment, he has been absolute nothingness. As the very
source of the yogic traditions, Shiva’s contribution in the making of human
consciousness is too phenomenal. He gave a meaning and a possibility of what
you could do with every point in the human mechanism. You cannot change a
single thing even today because he said everything that could be said in such
beautiful and intelligent ways. You can only spend your lifetime trying to
decipher it.
The
word "Shiva" literally means "that which is not." So the
temple was built for "that which is not." "That which is"
is physical manifestation; "that which is not" is that which is
beyond the physical. A temple is a hole through which you enter into a space
which is not. There are thousands of Shiva temples in the country, and most of
them don’t have any form as such. They just have a representative form and
generally it is a linga” says Jagadguru Jaggi Vasudev
Gist of the topic:
Lord
Shiva is one of the most adored forms of God in Hinduism. The symbolism
embedded in Shiva's form presents an interesting study in contrast and holds
many a lesson for the spiritual aspirant. With Shivarātri around the corner, a
bouquet of thoughts on the worship of Lord Shiva will be presented by the
speaker, H.C. Guruprasad, based on spiritual literature and laced with his own
experiences...
Please
go through my discourse on the subject delivered in the past:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/05/hindus-find-omnipresent-brahman-in.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/02/linga-and-saalagraama.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/02/mahaa-sivaraatri.html
--February 13, 2021
Comments:
Thank you for helping me appreciate nothingness
Masi Magham – Invoke Lord Shiva | Remove Painful Karma & Renew Your
Life
We have seen how in North India and Andhra, Magha Amavasya is
observed as silent day ritual engaged in Yoga. On the other hand, Masi Magam,
also known as Maasi Makam, is a Tamil Hindu festival which is celebrated
by Tamil speaking people. It is celebrated in Tamil month Masi during Makam
Nakshatra. Usually, Makam Nakshatra prevails during Pournami or full
moon day but that is not always true. Hence Masi Makam observation is not
linked with full moon or Pournami but with Makha Nakshatra. Makam Nakshatra is
also known as Magam and Magha.This year it falls on February 26.
On Masi Magam day, temples idols are taken to the seashore, pond or lake for a
ceremonial bath in a procession. The devotees who flock the procession take
dips in the water body to get rid of their sins. Masi Magam is observed not
only in India but also in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia,
on Makha Nakshatra which falls on
February 26 in USA.
The day marked by the brightest star in the Leo constellation,
Magha, in the Tamil month of Masi is when special cosmic energy fills the earth
plane that enables you to increase your abundance and help elevate the souls of
your ancestors. This once-in-a-year event can help you magnify your prosperity
and royalty consciousness, as the star energy of the day carries the qualities
of a King. Masi Magham day also supports you to seek the blessings of your
ancestors, as the presiding deity of Magha star is Pitrus (ancestors). Masi
Magham is an ideal day to wash away your painful karma and curses and start
anew to lead a healthy life with the blessings of your ancestors.
Mythology of Masi Magham
Masi Magham has an
interesting legend. After every four Yugas an Armageddon is believed to wipe
out the world and the earth has seen numerous such apocalypses. The world would
then be created afresh from the beginning. Once, Lord Brahma, the Creator, came
to know about Lord Shiva’s plan to recreate the universe after destruction.
Lord Brahma then sought the guidance of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva asked Lord
Brahma to fill a Kumbha (pot) filled with Amrit (elixir) and the source energy
to recreate the world and place it at the top of Mount Meru. Lord Brahma
requested him to begin his work of re-creation from Kumbakonam (a sacred
temple city in Southern India). This was where the pot was found on a Magha
star day in Masi month.
Another interesting history
associated with Masi Magham is the chronicle of King Vallalar of
Thiruvannamalai, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. King Vallala had no child so
he prayed to Lord Shiva to perform his last rites. The king died on a Masi
Magham day, and as per the promise, Lord Shiva performed his last rites, He
also declared that whoever takes a bath in the sea during Masi Magham will get
"Moksha." People believe that every year Lord Shiva visits the
seaside to perform the last rites of the King Vallalar.
Once there was a group of
saints who were very arrogant. They gained enormous power and began to ignore
the Gods, and were not carrying out their duties towards the people. As Lord
Shiva wanted to teach a lesson to the saints, he took the form of a beggar. The
saints did not recognize him and thought he was a devil. The Saints also sent a
mad elephant to attack Lord Shiva. On seeing this, Lord Shiva tore the elephant
and wore the elephant’s skin as his garment. This historical episode is known
as “Gaja Samhara,” which happened on the day of Masi Magham.
It is believed that on this day, the
celestial beings and Pitrus (enlightened souls) come down to the earth
in their astral forms and take a holy dip in the sacred waters to wash their
sins and also the sins of the human race. Holy rivers are endowed with more
powers on this day and therefore millions of pilgrims gather at the designated
places like Kumbakonam (a temple town in Tamil Nadu) to take a dip in the
sacred water sources.
Significance of Masi Magham
Magha star’s symbol is a
throne, which represents royalty and the consciousness it engenders. The Moon
occupies the sign Leo and transits Magha which is ruled by Ketu. Also, the
association of the King and Queen of the planets, the Sun and the Moon, with
the sign Leo, makes it perfect to enhance prosperity, fame, royalty blessings
and set high life goals. Planetary combination on this day also helps to get
rid of negative ego, enhance leadership skills and decision-making skills.
Rituals of Masi Magham
The main part of the
celebration is the ritual bath given to the deities in the waters of
'Theerthavari' or the Bay of Bengal. Devotees would gather near the seashore in
the early morning to offer their prayers. Idols of the deities in the temple
are also given ceremonial bath on this day near the water bodies and are taken
as a procession. Poojas and rituals are held here which are celebrated with
pomp and piety, where thousands of people gather for this auspicious event.
Among them, Gaja-Pooja to worship the elephant and Ashwa pooja to worship the
horse are highly prominent.
“Magha is a star that has
great potential both in material and in spiritual realms. Masi Magha is a great
time to receive blessings from Enlightened Souls and also from your own
Ancestors. It is a day to experience the transformational energy of Siva to
remove Karma and renew our lives. It is a day to a Magnify Royalty
Consciousness, Abundance and Ancestral Blessings.
Help receive the blessings
of your ancestors; Enjoy good health, wealth and knowledge; Help get rid of
curses caused by mistreating priests and learned Vedic scholars; Cleanse negative energy and fill your
life with positivity; ,Grant
happiness and peace of mind. According
to scriptures, invoking Shiva and Vishnu together in the form of
Shankaranarayanar (‘Shankara’ is another name of Shiva & Vishnu is known as
‘Narayanan’) can bring together the blessings of the Duo to cleanse negative
karma and fill your life with abundance, love, success and ensure overall
wellbeing. Yajna ritual on this day
gives relief from Kala Sarpa Dosha (Affliction created by Rahu and Ketu), Rahu
afflictions, remove debts, wedding obstacles and any impediments in life
According to Tamil scriptures, Vishnu incarnated as Varaha (boar)
Avatar on Masi Magham day (It is celebrated on September 9, 2021 this year by many)
to save the earth from the underworld. Performing this special Pooja to
Vishnu on this day can help realize wishes and fulfill desires. According
to the scriptures, on Masi Magham day, River Goddess Ganga purifies all water
sources. Immersing and offering a copper sheet engraved with your birth chart
in the sacred tank of Kumbakonam Powerspot is a proxy technology that can wash
away your sins and relieve you from the adverse effects of the planets for
ongoing blessings.” writes Dr. Pillai of Astroved.
--February
18, 2021`
*************************
MAUNI AMAVASYA
Mauni
Amavasya (Hindi:मौनी अमावस्या), also
known as ‘Mauna Amavasya’ is a unique Hindu tradition observed on the amavasya (no moon day) during the Hindu month of Magha. It falls during the month
of January-February as per the Gregorian calendar. Mauni Amavasya is also
referred as 'Maghi Amavasya' as it is observed in the month of Magha. The word
'mauni' or 'mauna' signifies silence, therefore on this chosen day, most of the
Hindus observe complete silence.
There
is another significant ritual associated with this day known as Mauni Amavasya
Snan. This practice of taking a holy bath is very predominant during the Kumbh
Mela and Magha Mela.
Mauni
Amavasya is a day dedicated for spiritual Sadhna. This practice is very popular
in different parts of the country, especially in Northern India. The
celebrations of this festival are very distinguished in Allahabad, in the
Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. During the Kumbh Mela in Prayag (Allahabad),
Mauni Amavasya is the most important day for bathing in the holy Ganges and is
popularly referred as the day of ‘Kumbh Parva’ or ‘Amrit Yoga’. In Andhra
Pradesh, Mauni Amavasya is celebrated as ‘Chollangi Amavasya’ and it is also
known as ‘Darsh Amavasya’ in other regions of India. Mauni Amavasya is
therefore a day to attain knowledge, happiness and wealth. Plese go through the
message from Sadhvi Shambavi, a Yoga visionary of American Vedanta institute.
Sasdhvi Sambhavi on Mauni Amavasya
"Mauni Amavasya or Mauna Amavasya is an
auspicious and important Hindu tradition on the dark Moon day of the month of
Magha in the Hindu calendar (January-February). Mauni Amavasya means to dwell
in your inner silence, the absolute silence where only truth prevails.
Mauni Amavasya is a sacred day where we maintain
a spiritual fasting of the heart, mind, body and atman celebrating an inner and
outer silence. It is a powerful day to assimilate the outer knowledge as our
inner experiential wisdom to ensure we nurture the spiritual wealth of
happiness and well-being. In India devotees bathe in the sacred Ganga River
offering prayers, mantra japa and rituals.
Mauna is not mere outer silencing of one’s
speech, it is the awareness of an inner silence which creates the basis for dhyana
shakti or meditative silence.
There is an intrinsic difference between
‘practicing silence’ and ‘becoming silence’. When we are practicing something,
obviously we are not that. When we consciously aspire for silence, there is a
possibility of becoming silence. And spirituality is all about experiencing the
truth of all reality not mere learning, reading, cutting and pasting other
people’s inspiration. Spirituality is not a curiosity, it is a way of
life.
When the mind and emotional nature experience a
deeper sukūn, the heart and mind mirrors our inner reality or truth. Only
through Mauna can we enter into the guhya or secret cavern of the
spiritual heart in which the entire universe dwells in its true luminosity, the
blue flame of Maa kali.
Mauna is one of the key Yoga practices and even
the Yamas and Niyamas like ahimsa, satya and brahmacharya require Mauna to
develop. Tapas or yogic practices with the goal of transformation and
transcendence emerge as fire within us through mauna shakti nurtured in shanti.
Mauna is the basis of pratyahara, which is
control of the senses and motor organs from the standpoint of a higher
awareness. Without conscious mastery of speech, there can be no harmonizing of
the senses or motor organs on any level.
Mauna guides one in the experience of ‘Ishvara
Pranidhana’, where devotion and conscious Śraddhā श्रद्धा or
conviction in the sacred, a sacred attitude, is an important factor that helps
transformation and transcendence. The tranquility and purification of both
heart, mind and expression are the first steps towards transformation.
When we are comfortable in our inner space we
cultivate Viveka or inner discernment which is only possible when we observe
rather than react at a vocal level to any situation. Developing a higher
consciousness must remain the focus of all our spiritual practices. This
requires discipline, Viveka or discrimination, dedication and an inner
orientation of our lives in sync with the cosmic universe and all existing
earthlings. These are important times when we need to draw our consciousness to
create harmony and peace amidst everyone all over the world.
Our expression, speech and actions unveil our
karma. We must be astutely aware of the karma in our expression and thoughts,
in what we say, which is the action our words compel us to, and the energies
they set in motion within and around us. The spoken word is the first and
foremost of our weapons and harsh words usually precede or accompany violence
and abuse knowingly or unknowingly. Yet speech is also the expression of the
guidance and affection we offer in life, which usually begins with words of
compassion or love.
The Vedic way of life is synchronizing our
vibrations with the Cosmic Cycles of the solar and lunar system which represent
the basic concept of time in human experience. Our ancient Rishis understood
the importance of this Vedic phenomenon and revered these time cycles through
rituals and prayers. In todays modern existence where we expect the Universe to
revolve around us instead of revering these time cycles we are trapped in
endless cycles of maya.
Awakening the Yoga Shakti through mantra is the
key to our happiness, peace and well-being. Mantra Yoga is the powerful energy
behind the mind, through which we can develop the powers of attention,
concentration and meditation. Mantra forms the basis of Prana, which consists of
subtle sound energy vibrations prior to any word formation. Mantra is the
primary form of the Yoga Shakti or transformative power of Yoga, whose basis is
Vak Shakti or the Divine Word and cosmic sound vibration.
Through Mantra Yoga we can master the entire
inner practice of Yoga, harmonize the mind or chitta, and move into the higher
consciousness of our true Self, Atman or Purusha. All the great Goddesses or
Devis are forms of Vak Shakti, primarily in Her three great manifestations as
the power of Creation- Mahasarasvati, Preservation- Mahalakshmi, and
Dissolution- Mahakali.
Mauni Amavasya offers an opportunity to transcend
our maya nature for personal and worldly harmony and peace. Sadhana is a
powerful tool to create the Shakti force within oneself to mirror the fire in
one’s own self, illumining the divine in us." --Sadhvi Shambhavi, Yoga
Visionary
February
10, 2021
Comments:
Very
good information
Motivation and Significance of Amavasya Vrata
Manusmriti says that of the
five important rites that ought to be performed by a householder, Pitru Yagna
or worship of ancestors is one of the most important duties. Garuda Purana says
that Shraddha is so significant in one’s life that those who fail to carry out
this for their pitrus could witness downfall. The ancient text also mentions
that Pitrus live in Pitru loka or Soma loka which is near the Moon. Pitru
Tarpanam is performed by a person who has lost his father.
In India, saints and sages have always emphasized
the importance of offering Amavasya Tarpanam. Tarpanam is the ritual of
offering food to our late ancestors to appease them. It is believed that
Tarpanam is no less important than other forms of worship. Tarpanam offered on
new moon day (Amavasya) is called Amavasya Tarpanam. In many cultures, the
practice of ancestor worship is widely prevalent. It is present in Europe,
Asia, Africa, etc. The purpose of ancestor worship is to ensure that the
ancestors are happy and satisfied and thereby develop a positive attitude
towards the living and willing to render special favors or assistance. Such
rituals acknowledge the profound influence that ancestors have over our lives.
It is believed that when ancestors are unhappy and dissatisfied, they will
cause serious problems in our lives. Catholic countries in Europe celebrate
November 2 as All Souls Day to honor all dead souls. Families visit cemeteries
on this day and light candles for dead relatives, leave flowers on their
graves, etc. Some cultures observe rituals to invoke the ancestors' spirits for
protection, and intercession on their behalf or even to ask for advice.
Vengeful spirits are believed to manifest as ghosts and harm the living. In
most cultures, ancestor spirits are believed to call the souls of people who
are sick or near death, to the underworld and guide their souls, or meet the
soul when they reach the underworld. \
The
concluding Mantra of Amavasya ritual reads: ”Yesham napita na bhrata
na bandhur na gotrinah| te triptim akhila yantu mayatyaktaih
kusastilaih;--this sesame released from dharba is not meant for father,
brother or relative or anybody belonging to my gotra but for all dead. It
is no exaggeration if I say this was what prompted Catholics to come up with
All Souls Day around Diwali. St Thomas started first church in the World in
Kerala in India. He knew many rituals and mantras of Hinduism. He converted
first few Brahmins impressing them with his occult powers. He threw arghya
water at sun that did not fall back while the arghya waters of Brahmins
fell back. He convinced them that Sun who is none other than Son of his God has
accepted the water while not theirs and thus convinced them. As earlier started
the beginning of Christianity as a separate religion branched out from
Universal Son Religion! St. Thomas version was from the earlier Holy Bible when
St. John’s version was made official based on four canonic versions.
Chandogya
Upanishad cites a dialogue between father Uddalaka Aruni and his son Svetaketu.
The father explains to his son that anything experienced in the physical world
exists as it is, yet there is a greater truth beyond it all. The father
provides this example to his son: If someone strikes at the root of a large
tree, it would bleed, yet remain alive. Even if the tree is struck at the stem
or at the top, it would bleed but would still survive. The tree would live on
because it is nourished by its Supreme Living Self. However if the life of the
tree, the Living Self, leaves the tree, then it would wither in the same exact
manner as the physical body would and die when the Living Self has left it.
Both the Living Self and the True Self do not die. One cannot see it, but must
understand its essence. Attempting to understand this concept is a path for
knowing our higher selves, or the Real Self, which is Brahman.
Mahanarayana Upanishads tell us that
the journey of the departed mortals pass through the dark path of Pitiryana,
which intersects at Pitriloka (the world of departed ancestors), and finally
ends at the Moon (Chandraloka). The soul first reaches a place in Pitriloka and
depending on the karma, will proceed further on a journey to the Moon during
the six months of Dakshinayana when the Sun makes its journey southwards, which
is considered the time of the darker phase of the moon. After reaching the
Moon, they rest in joy and peace.
Dr. Pillai of Astro-Vedic Center says
“Your brain is not different from the brain of your father, mother, grandma,
great grandparents, or even their earlier generation. Just as you have
inherited biological genes, you have also inherited the genes of their Soul.
You keep thinking their thoughts; their emotions and thoughts live through you.
This adds up to your Karma.” So, upon liberating these thoughts from earthly
attachments and suffering, you liberate yourself as well.
Performance of ancestral rituals to
ancestors reduces their suffering and brings them happiness of honor and
nourishment. The Vedic scriptures stress that before the beginning of the
ritual, the evil spirits should be driven out from the selected piece of land
which the ritual will be performed. The scriptures also speak to the importance
of offering oblation in the form of cereals, cow’s milk (except from that of a
camel, sheep, doe and buffalo), honey, barley, wheat, rice, sesame seeds, peas
and mustard are common cereals and grains. Any water used in offerings should
also be free from odor and foam. During the ritual, great care should be taken
that an eunuch, an untouchable who disposes corpses, sinner, imposter, patient,
cock, dog, a naked person, monkey, pigs, a woman on her menses, and anyone who
has had a birth or death occur in their home does not witness the ritual. If
any of these individuals observe this ritual, then neither the deities nor the
ancestors will accept the offerings.
Our Ancestors’ Souls travel on the dark
path to their place called Pitruloka or Chandraloka, depending upon their good
and bad deeds. When their generations does the tarpan for them, they get light
on their travel path and in turn blesses the person and his entire family
receives their complete blessings. When you do this continuously, you can excel
in your life.
Special priests perform such rituals at
specific holy rivers or water bodies. But Dr. Pillai also suggests a simple
method for ancestral
rituals, or tarpanam,
that can be easily be performed at home during waning Moon phases preceding
Amavasya to receive blessings of ancestors:
- Place a teaspoon of a mixture of black sesame seeds and
rice, a coin, a few small pieces of Darba grass into the palm of your
right hand
- Sprinkle a few drops of water over the offerings
- Make a heartfelt prayer to your ancestors and pour the
water over the offerings calling upon six generations of dead ancestors on
your father’s side and then of your mother’s side to accept your offering;
ask them to be healed, be at peace, and to not return to Earth, and to
cross into the light
- Ask your ancestors to send you their blessings
- Pour the rest of the water to wash off the offerings
completely”
Amavasya
refers to the lunar phase of the New Moon. The lunar month starts on the day
following full moon or Poornima and because of this Amavasya falls in the middle
of the month. Amavasya is generally
considered an inauspicious time except for the Kartik Amavasya which
occurs on the day of Diwali. Diwali Amavasya is celebrated by all traditions as
an auspicious day. Apart from that,
auspicious occasions such as weddings are not solemnized during Amavasya
period. However, it is a period of great planetary significance and most
planets exude great power on this day. Amavasya is also considered as an ideal
time to conduct rituals and powers to please those in the family who have
passed for their heavenly abode.
Tamils attach importance to three Amavasyas in Tamil
Calendar--Adi, Purattasi and Masi
Amavasyas.
Aadi is the name of a month in Tamil that begins on a date in mid-July
and ends mid-August. It is said that during Aadi Amavasya the Sun moves towards
the South called Dakshinayana. This is the first new moon day during this
time and therefore very powerful and auspicious.
Aadi Amavasya is an important day for reaching out
to your Higher Self. The dark, or waning, phase of every lunar month,
especially the New Moon day (called Amavasya in Sanskrit) facilitates
communication with that Higher Self. During this time ancestral souls visit the
Earth. The New Moon in the Tamil month of Aadi (mid-July to mid- Aug) is
considered especially auspicious for performing rituals to reach out to the
souls of our ancestors, honor them and find happiness in our lives. After your
ancestors are relieved of their karma they bless you with abundance. Sun starts
its Southern journey after standing still on this Amavasya day after ending
Uttarayana journey or Northern journey This falls on August 8, 2021 this year
The soul first reaches a place in
Pitriloka and depending on the karma, will proceed further on a journey to the
Moon during the six months of Dakshinayana when the Sun makes its journey
southwards, which is considered the time of the darker phase of the moon. After
reaching the Moon, they rest in joy and peace.
In
the Purattasi
month, during the 15-day Mahalaya period, ancestors visit the
earth to bless their kinsfolk. After we propitiate them, they are believed to be
more willing and able to cross over to the other worlds. They become pleased
and satisfied when we honor them by offering them the black sesame seeds, rice,
Durva grass, sandalwood, and tulsi). Once they have crossed over to the other
world completely and successfully, they become family deities. Then they will
be able to bestow many blessings, thereby improving our lives immensely. Hindu
Puranas like the Agni Purana, Matsya Purana and Garuda Purana talk at length
about Tarpanam. In fact, Lord Yama, the god of death, has explained the
significance of Tarpanam performed during this period.
If someone is not able to perform
Shraddha on all Tithis then single Shraddha (for all) on this day, October 6,
2021 is enough to appease all deceased souls in the family. If death
anniversary of ancestors are not known or forgotten then those Shraddhas can be
performed on this Tithi. That's why this
Amavasya Shraddha is also known as Sarvapitra Moksha Amavasya.
In West Bengal Mahalaya Amavasya marks
the beginning
of Navratri festivity. It is believed that Goddess Durga was
descended on the Earth on this day.
Mauni Amavasya or Mauna or Masi Amavasai is an auspicious and important Hindu
tradition on the dark Moon day of the month of Magha in the Hindu calendar
(January-February). Mauni Amavasya means to dwell in your inner silence, the
absolute silence where only truth prevails. Maghamasa is called Masi in
Tamil (11th month).This year it falls on February 11, 2021.
Mauni (Silence) Amavasya is a sacred day where we
maintain a spiritual fasting of the heart, mind, body and atman celebrating an
inner and outer silence. It is a powerful day to assimilate the outer knowledge
as our inner experiential wisdom to ensure we nurture the spiritual wealth of
happiness and well-being. In India devotees bathe in the sacred Ganga River
offering prayers, mantra and Japa rituals.
Comments:
Thank you. I read thru the entire article. It is very
good. I did not know about Mauni
amavasya before.
--Aparna
Arcot
ENIGMATIC
PATANJALI MAHARSHI
Patanjali, also called Gonardiya, or Gonikaputra,
(flourished 2nd century BCE or 5th century CE), author or one of the authors of
two great Hindu
classics: the first, Yoga-sutras,
a categorization of Yogic
thought arranged in four volumes with the titles “Psychic Power,” “Practice of
Yoga,” “Samadhi” (state of profound contemplation of the Absolute), and
“Kaivalya” (separateness); and the second, the Mahabhashya
(“Great Commentary”), which is both a defense of the grammarian Panini against
his chief critic and detractor Katyayana and a refutation of some of Panini’s aphorisms.
The
Yoga-sutras seem to span several centuries, the first three volumes
apparently having been written in the 2nd century bce and the last book in the
5th century ce. Authorities therefore tend to credit more than one author
writing under this name, although there is wide variance in opinion. There is a
possibility that many people used this name, because it was used by the authors
of a number of other works on such diverse
subjects as medicine, metrics, music, and alchemy--Britannica.’
“Maharishi
Patanjali is a saint who is believed to have lived some time during the 2nd
century BCE. Known for his treatise on Yoga, entitled “Patanjali Yoga Sutra”,
he was not only an authority on the Science
of Yoga, but was also a scientist and a doctor whose clarity and
wisdom was remarkable.
Tradition
says that Patanjali was also the author of the treatise “Mahaabhaashya” which
is an exposition on Paanini’s “Ashtaadhyaayi”, although there has been
considerable debate as to whether the two works “Yoga Sutras” and
Mahaabhaashya” are by the same author. In addition, tradition claims that he
has to his credit, a medical text “Charakapratisamskrtah”, which is a revision
of the medical treatise of Charaka – however this work was lost.
Hence
tradition extolls Patanjali thus, “I bow with my hands together, to the eminent
Patanjali, who removed the impurities of the mind through Yoga, of speech
through Grammar, and of the body through medicine” (Translation of the verse
from Bhoja Rajamaarttaanda Commentary on the Yoga Sutras).
But
the question as to whether all the three treatises belong to the same author
remains unanswered. There are a number of legends regarding his parentage. One
popular legend says that he was the son of Atri, and Anasuya.
Maharishi
Patanjali is said to be the incarnation of Anantha, the holy serpent on whom
Maha Vishnu reclines in Yoga Nidra. According to another legend, seeing Vishnu
enraptured watching the dance of Siva, Adisesha wanted to learn the dance so
that he could please his Lord. Impressed by this, Vishnu blessed Adisesha and
said that Lord Siva would bless him for his devotion. He would take birth so
that he could bless the human race and master the Art of Dance, said the Lord.
It was at this time that a virtuous woman named Gonika, who was totally devoted
to Yoga, was praying for a worthy son, with a handful of water, when she saw a
tiny serpent moving in her hand. Very soon, it turned to human form. This
serpent was none other than Adisesha, who had incarnated as Patanjali.
As
to the place of his birth, tradition says that he was not born in any ordinary
place. He was from an exalted place, an ethereal celestial abode. Maharishi
Patanjali decided that he should have thousand students to learn the science.
People from different parts of the land came to him as students. They all
gathered in the Southern part of the Vindhya Mountains. Before beginning to
teach, Patanjali put a curtain between him and his students. He also put
forward a condition that none of his students shall leave the hall during the
class. He also said that none should peer through to the other side of the
curtain. The students agreed.
The
knowledge flowing from the other side was astoundingly profound. At this
juncture, one of the students could not resist nature’s call. He went out
thinking that the Master seated on the other side would not know that he had
left the hall. At the same time, another student, inquisitive to know what was
going on, on the other side, lifted the curtain. At that moment, the nine
hundred and ninety-nine students were turned to ashes. It was then that the person
who went out, returned to the hall.
Patanjali,
with compassion, told the remaining person that he would share the knowledge
with him. But since he had not obeyed the instruction of the Master, he would
be turned into a Brahma Raakshasa. He would be free from the curse only if he gets a
student to whom he could transmit the knowledge acquired from Patanjali. Saying
this, Patanjali disappeared. The Brahma Raakshasa waited for a student for a
long time until Patanjali, out of compassion came disguised as a student and
freed him from the curse. The student in disguise, wrote the knowledge he got,
on leaves. Half of the leaves were eaten by a goat. It is said that Patanjali
collected the remaining notes and went to the Himalayas.
The
Jeeva Samadhi of Patanjali is believed to be in Tirupattur Brahmapureswara
Temple.”
“In the yogic system, the snake is used as a
symbolism for un-manifest energy or kundalini
because till it moves, you don’t even realize that it is there. Patanjali
is symbolically depicted in the famous half-man, half-snake form indicating
that he has risen above the Duality of life and attained to ultimate oneness,
and in doing so, has opened the door for others to achieve the same. Half of
his body has been symbolically made into snake, because he is not seen as a
person anymore. He is seen as the very basis of the yogic system. Patanjali
chose the description Chitta Vritti Nirodha for yoga – a technology
which can take you towards our Liberation or Realization.”--Sadguru Jaggi
Vasudev,
It seems odd to us, in this time of
superstar teachers with their eponymous schools of So-and-So Yoga that so
little is known about Patanjali. But anonymity is typical of the
great sages of ancient India. They recognized that their teaching was the
outcome of a cooperative group effort that spanned several generations, and
they refused to take credit for themselves, often attributing their work to
some other, older teacher, as many Upanishads are, whose Rishis stay
anonymous.
Your kind attention is drawn to
"Fifteen-steps Non-dualistic Raja Yoga of Sankaracharya" included in
the above discourse along with other appendices that makes the discourse a
compendium on Yoga.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2011/10/ashtaangayoga-of-pataanjali.html
--February
7, 2021
Comments:
Thank you mama. I had learnt Patanjali
and Vyaghrapadar watched Shiva dance in Chidambaram.
--Aparna
Arcot
Thank you for your observation. This
calls for a lengthy explanation: Siva is known as Adi Yogi, which
fact is supported with the limited Saivite version as well as this version.
His watching Siva’s dance along with the tiger-footed Vyaghrapada and also
Jaimini by some, however does not explain his origin. This story explains his
birth as an incarnation of Adisesha like Balarama and Ramanuja that supports
his divine origin and immense potential as the author of Ashtanga Yoga which is
employed for Liberation and not as mere physical and mental exercise as is
practiced today. Looking at the fifteen-fold of Raja Yoga of Sankaracharya, it
further reveals that even Patanjali did not focus on the full effect of Raja
Yoga in his eight-fold path like that fifteen-fold raja Yoga of Sankaracharya.
As you know Sankara is an Avatar of
Siva (Tulsidas) like Hanuman who is another expert of Yoga. We
read in the Mahabharata also that Krishna was in the habit of meditation
in the hours before sun-rise practicing fifteen-fold Rajayoga. Bhagavad Gita
was originally a Yoga Upanishad. Krishna in all probability was historical
(which is now proved by planetarium software) and was a philosopher (mentioned
as Devakiputra in Chandogya Upanishad) who harmonized Sankhya yoga with the
Brahmavada of the Upanishads. Chandrasekharendra Sarsvati or Peryava (whom I
had med to and even got an Upadesa) predates Sankara to Patanjali that has only
dealt with essential eight-fold path. I had not explained all this to
others as none was as inquisitive as you.
In the Statue present in eastern gopura
of the Thillai Nataraja temple, Vyaghrapada is depicted with tiger legs and
also carrying a stick with hook and flower basket on this right shoulder.
Several paintings also depict Vyaghrapada worshipping Shiva accompanied by
Patanjali as a duo and sometimes as a trio with Jaimini, indicting later date
of Patanjali.
--NRS
Thank you mama, I will read the 15 fold
Raja- yoga. I do recall seeing the
statue of Vyaghrapadar depicted with Vyaghrapaada, when we went a
couple of years ago
back
to Chidrambaram. Please continue your articles, these are treasures.
FIFTEEN-FOLD RAJA YOGA OF SANKARACHARYA
Raja yoga
is one of the four classical schools of yoga alongside Jnana (knowledge or
self-study), Bhakti
(devotion) and Karma
(action), each offering a path to moksha
(spiritual liberation) and self-realization.
In essence, Raja yoga is the yoga of mind and body control, with a focus
on meditation and energetics. It encompasses teachings from all the different
paths, and it is from Raja yoga that hatha yoga and modern asana practice
developed. Since Raja yoga involves all three dimensions of human existence (physical,
mental and spiritual), it enables practitioners to achieve balance and harmony
on all of these levels.
Modern
ordinary Yoga student, takes up a minor
part of Shankara’s Raja Yoga for their primary practice. To begin with, this is beneficial to lead a
healthy physical life, but it is necessary to see greater depths of Yoga that
remain far beyond what modern Yoga teaches stretch without strain. Modern Yoga
has turned to outer practices with its commercial and physical exercise
approaches. Shankara takes the main outer practices and techniques of Yoga and
replaces them with inner meditational ways or ways of Self-knowledge or the
realization of non-duality. This can be learnt from his Aparokshanubhuti
that deals with Raja Yoga, which also occurs in the Tejobindu Upanishad.
The Sanskrit idiom is at times terse and difficult to be literal with.
Shankara is the main traditional
teacher of Jnana Yoga or the “Yoga of Knowledge,” which is usually
regarded as the highest yogic path. Even Patanjali states that liberation or
Self-realization is gained by knowledge, not by any other means and makes Yoga
a means of achieving that higher knowledge (Vedantavijnana-sunischitaartthah
yatyayah suddhasatvaah sanyaasayogaat paramuchyanti).
Shankara and Jnana Yoga bring clarity
to the higher goal of Yoga. Shankara states that Self-realization requires
knowledge, not merely Samadhi, and that this knowledge rests upon inquiry or vichara, which is a higher mental
activity, not simply actions like asana
or pranayama, which have value more
for purifying the mind and body than for the direct realization of the Self.
This means that one can practice asana and pranayama forever and still not gain
liberation, though these practices may aid with physical health and
psychological well-being. We must move beyond them to a deeper meditation.
Patanjali defines Yoga as ‘Chitta vritti nirodha’ or the restraint
of the modalities of the mind. Shankara describes the goal of Yoga as abiding
in the ‘Brahma Vritti’ or the ‘mode
of the mind that assumes the nature of Brahman’. It is through nirodha or restraint of the other vrittis that the Brahmavritti becomes manifest. Yet the development of the
Brahmavritti is also the best means of restraining the other vrittis of the
mind. The Brahmavritti merges the mind in the depths of pure consciousness. The
other outer vrittis of the mind can continue at the surface like the waves on
the sea or go entirely silent. It does not matter to one who dwells in Brahman.
Shankara’s fifteen-old Raja Yoga
expands and deepens the eight-fold Yoga such as taught by Patanjali. His
discussion of it clears up many misconceptions about the nature of Yoga, which
should lead us to pure Unity Consciousness. Shankara makes clear the nature of
Brahman consciousness that is the real goal of Raja Yoga and that is the
Supreme Self, Paramatman, and Original Purusha, Adi-Purusha.
For those who are not yet ripe in their
spiritual life or sadhana, the more
ordinary practices of Hatha Yoga should also be included. This includes almost
everyone. Thus Shankara makes it clear he is not rejecting these lesser
practices but simply adding a higher dimension to them. He also ends stressing
the need for devotion as a foundation
for the knowledge, which otherwise is likely to remain dry and conceptual
only.
Ramana Maharshi, as we have discussed
at length, similarly states that a ripe mind (pakva manas or pakva chitta)
is necessary to be able to benefit from the higher knowledge. We see that
such a ripe mind is already a high state of awareness and requires proficiency
in Hatha Yoga already or a strong state of Sattva Guna or purity in mind and
body. Shankara’s Jnana Yoga or Yoga of Knowledge is gained through the
application of his Raja Yoga or higher Yoga practices. Shankara has
discussed these Hatha Yoga practices, including Kundalini, the chakras, nadis,
different pranayamas, mantras and rituals.
Please
go through the detailed write-up on the subject “The Fifteen-fold Non-dualistic Raja Yoga of
Shankaracharya” with quotes from Aprokshanabhuti by David Frawley as
attached.
Complete yoga involves breathing
exercises, meditation and philosophical readings — all leading to inner peace
and the relief of suffering.
As yoga has exploded as a physical
exercise some advocates have pushed back –including Iyengar’s son, Prashant, who
was quoted as saying that “what has spread all over the world is
not yoga. It is not even non-yoga; it is un-yoga.” Sheetal Shah, put out a release about
Iyengar’s passing and sought to emphasize the late guru’s spiritual focus.
“Iyengar’s lifelong work of teaching the whole of yoga or the understanding
that yoga is not just the physical endeavor of mastering postures, but a
spiritual practice rooted in the Hindu concept of dharma, has deeply informed
our work at the Foundation,” Shah wrote. “Where too many yoga
practitioners conflate yoga with asana [or postures], he sought to educate
seekers on all of yoga’s limbs and their essential spiritual aim.”
--February 7, 2021
Psychic Health-care of Humans and
Plants by Mantras, Music, Yoga and Yajna
In
today’s polluted atmosphere, we witness mass destruction of forests,
disappearance of many species of plants, animals, insects, birds, disturbance
in eco cycles, ozone depletion, global warming, acid rain and decreasing
agricultural production. Most significantly human health is at stake. Many
killing diseases like cancer and AIDS are on the rise. Coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus in
2020 that has taken many lives globally. Increased alcoholism and drug abuse is
a great challenge. Human mind is under great stress giving rise to more
violence and many complex family and social problems. The list is unending. Let
us understand not only the healing power of Vedic Science Therapy of Mantras,
Classical Music, Yajna and Yoga in unison with Ayurveda on humans
but also the power of Vedic Mantras chanted with intonation and Music
preferably “Classical Instrumental Music” for abundant healthy growth in
plant life.
Yajna
has
its specific health significance apart from the ritual and spiritual benefits.
They were regularly practiced in the Vedic ages somewhere benefiting people
physically and mentally in person and also in masses. A research team of
Indians and Americans found that microbial activities in the soil and water
around the Yajnasala were remarkably less compared to normal
ground.
In recent years Music Therapy is
becoming popular even though it is known from ages that music has an impact on
our physical and physiological conditions. Soothing and rhythmic music has an
impact on physical and physiological conditions of living organisms, plants and
animals. When musician plays his flute with melodies, all are drawn towards the
music with magnetic attraction. We are well aware of the
effect of lute playing by snake charmer on snake! Especially Secret of the
Power is hidden in Hindu Vedic mantras. It has been noticed that
plant which is exposed to Vedic chanting has a tremendous effect on growth,
leaf size and inter-node. Experiments conducted clearly indicate the
Vedic chanting (Mantras) having higher frequency which affect the ability of
plants to perform their functions, resulting in greater growth.
Yoga
Therapy in India with its main stress on Universal Well-being takes
us progressively through the development of Body, Mind and Spirit. YMCA with
its ulterior motive of Christian Missionary Propagation employs progressive
development of Spirit, Mind and Body in reverse order and often
omits OM but focuses on Meditation Techniques and Savasana at the end of
vigorous Yoga practice.
One
of the earliest studies of the effect of music on plants
was conducted in 1962 by Dr. T. C. Singh, Head of Botany at Annamalai
University. He exposed balsam plants to classical music and found that their
growth rate increased by 20% compared to a control group, along with a 72%
increase in biomass. He then exposed crops to raga music over
loudspeakers and found they yielded 25% – 60% more than the national
average. The researchers at Annamalai University experimented with flute,
violin, harmonium, and Veena music, and even saw positive results exposing
plants to the vibrations from traditional Indian dance. They ultimately
concluded that the violin was the most effective instrument. These
results were replicated by Canadian engineer Eugene Canby. He exposed his wheat
fields to J.S. Bach’s violin sonata and experienced a 66% increase in
yield.
Why Physicians of Indian Origin
often prefer to specialize in psychiatry is because among various branches
of medicine, this blends well with their cultural background and bringing up,
to succeed as doctors in alleviating human sufferings by successful EQ and
SQ Management. To this day, the South Asian country remains a
hot-spring of ancient wisdom on mind-body health and spirituality. The Indian
Diaspora, especially in North America, is a visible force in the field of psychiatric
medicine. An estimated 5000 persons of Indian origin practice psychiatry in the
USA and Canada, and an estimated 10% of these are in academic psychiatry. This
is because of their bringing up in Hindu Culture. This wisdom has been steadily
permeating American life for the past century. Mindfulness -- the cultivation
of a focused awareness on the present moment, a concept with origins in ancient
Indian philosophy -- is "gaining its fair share of attention" in the
West, with increasing numbers of Americans practicing meditation. Yoga
and meditation have become the favorite past-time of everyone from Scientist-celebrities,
Super-models to High-powered CEOs. The Indian Spiritual Way
has spread far beyond the U.S., and tourists from around the world are
flocking to the densely-populated country in search of inner peace, with an average
of 22 percent annual growth, according to recent data from Stanford Research
Center funded by Spa-finder Wellness--New York Times.
Good Lord has not only given us Vedic Mantra,
Classical Music, Yoga, Meditation and Yajna, endowed with psychic power, but
also brought us to this life endowed with Individual Karma DNA! Assuming karmic
responsibility, for who we are and what are life circumstances have become, is
the foundation for any sadhana or deep psychological healing, even for
any mature and conscious way of life. Without it, we are not connected to our
own inner being but are driven by external circumstances and momentary
relief. We are not spiritually awake or mature and exceptions are rare.
Our karma goes with us even beyond death. So, let us assume our karmic
responsibility in life and do not hope to be dependent on external factors
exclusively. He only helps us with these factors we talked about, to carry on
our karmic responsibility smoothly. The painful end of some Yoga masters often
baffles us, if we think in isolation, not linking to Karma DNA of Individuals.
Please go through my very descriptive
discourse on these interesting topics:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2021/02/psychic-health-care-of-humans-and.html
--February
6, 2020
*****************
INDIAN
HISTORY NEEDS REWRITING
Principal Economic Adviser to the Ministry of Finance, India, Sanjeev
Sanyal recently argued that that Indian history needs to be revisited and
rewritten to help future generations appreciate the True History of India.
Sanyal said that false narratives never get replaced merely by criticism and it
can only be replaced by a new narrative, which needs to be written down.
Somebody has to actually write down the alternative real story, he said. But
the writing of the new narrative itself takes effort and we are not, I am
afraid, putting up enough effort into this. Please take up one section of
Indian history to start with and simply look at the evidence and rewrite
it," he suggested.
Indian History needs rewriting
Sanjeev Sanyal
Textbooks on Indian history have to be purged Colonial biases that
ignore historical evidence.
The debate over the need to re-write Indian history textbooks is
heating up and, yet again, it is likely to spiral into an ugly political spat.
Sadly this debate will distract from the many sensible reasons history books
need to be changed.
Indian history is mostly written from the perspective of Delhi or at
most Northern India, as if the rest of the country barely existed except as
mere provinces. The average Indian student, for instance, will learn almost
nothing about the great Satavahana, Vijayanagar or Chola empires of Southern
India. Unless you live in the Northeast, you may never have heard of the Ahom
kings who ruled Assam for 600 years and even defeated the Mughals. This absurd
imbalance needs to be corrected. Moreover, history is not just about the rise
and fall of empires but also about other streams of history. For instance,
Indian textbooks say almost nothing about the country’s rich maritime history
beyond a passing reference to Chola naval raids on Southeast Asia. Students
learn very little about thriving Indo-Roman trade or the exploits of ancient
Odiya merchants who pioneered sea routes across the eastern Indian Ocean. The
great influence of Indian civilization on Southeast Asia is barely mentioned,
if at all.
We hear about groups who came to India as conquerors but nothing of
people who came to India peacefully as traders and refugees—Parsis and Jews
from the West and the waves of Southeast Asian tribes from the East. Similarly,
even university-level textbooks are written as if the geographical landscape of
the country is static. Little is mentioned of shifting coastlines and rivers,
changing wildlife, and evolving cities.
The extraordinary history of Indian science is similarly ignored or,
as some would argue, deliberately downplayed. There is more than adequate
evidence that ancient Indians made great advances in metallurgy, medicine,
mathematics and so on. As others have also pointed out, by downplaying genuine
scientific contributions, textbook writers have created a vacuum that is filled
with claims of flying chariots.
Most readers will be surprised to know that many well-known events and
characters of Indian history are based on very thin evidence. Emperor Ashoka is
much revered for having turned into a pacifist after witnessing the human cost
of his invasion of Kalinga. However, texts such as Ashokavardana clearly
mention major massacres of Jains and Ajivikas that he ordered long after his
supposed conversion. Far from being Ashoka the Great, the evidence suggests an
unpopular king whose empire began to crumble while he was still alive. Even the
regret over the Kalinga war looks suspiciously like propaganda given that none
of the inscriptions in Odisha mention it.
Not only have mainstream historians built grand stories on wobbly
evidence, they are also strangely impervious to the continuous flow of new
evidence being thrown up by archaeology, genetics, and climate sciences and so
on. Thus, Indians are still taught about the Aryan Invasion in 1500BC despite
the fact that genetic and archeological studies find no evidence for any
large-scale migration from Central Asia. The date of 1500BC was always
arbitrary and we have good reason to believe that climate change caused the
decline of Harappan cities five centuries earlier.
This is not to suggest that everything good about Indian civilization
is of indigenous origin. Over the centuries, we gained from absorbing foreign
ideas and influences, especially in food, architecture, and language. Try to
imagine India without the chillies and tomatoes brought by the Portuguese, cricket
and railways brought by the British or the Taj Mahal built by a Turko-Mongol
emperor. However, it is also true that the same foreign invaders caused the
deaths of millions of people through warfare and famine. Indian students need
to be told about both the good and the bad.
Readers will be amazed by the extent to which colonial era ideas are
casually perpetuated. For instance, whenever I write an article mentioning
ancient Indians, I have noticed that a subeditor will often put the word
“Indian" in inverted commas. It is probably done unconsciously but it is a
continuation of colonial-era propaganda that Indians were not a nation till the
British turned up. For obvious reasons, colonial writers blatantly disregarded
heaps of evidence that Indians have had a strong sense of belonging to a
civilization for thousands of years. What is less obvious is why we continue to
perpetuate the colonial-era idea.
Indian history textbooks need to be rewritten. Opponents will argue
that the current government will use this opportunity to insert “right-wing
biases" but this is no excuse for perpetuating outdated scholarship and
the biases of colonial and Marxist historians. Indian historians tend to mix up
the evidence with their opinions. This happens everywhere to some extent as all
history is written from some perspective, but mainstream Indian historians are
notorious for doing so.
Perhaps one way forward is for the next
generation of textbook authors to separate the hard evidence from their
interpretations. This will have two good outcomes. First, it will make the
author’s opinions more transparent. Second, it will encourage students to think
more critically and draw their own conclusions.
This will have the added advantage of making
the subject more an exploration of the past rather than the memorizing
dates.
Sanjeev Sanyal is the author of Land of the
Seven Rivers: A Brief History of India’s Geography (2011).
Children of Indian American Parents born in
USA are usually acquainted with Indian History in Discover India Camps. In such
camps History of India should be taught based on hard evidences without any
personal opinion or political bias. Students need to be told about both the
good and the bad based on established facts and leave facts to students to
think critically and draw their own conclusions. They should know the past
(true history) without any biased opinion. Fortunately, now lot of this
information on hard facts are now available though they have not yet entered
into Indian History Books now taught in India. Some of these are under critical
study by American Medium like Hinduism Today of Hawaii. I have also
regularly brought to your notice recent archeological evidences, scientific
discoveries and DNA studies.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-can-be-wrong-history-about-ancient.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/11/why-i-am-called-hindu-and-my-following.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2020/04/indians-once-pioneers-of-science.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2019/03/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html
--February
5, 2021
Wonderful read mama! It's true that
the history is heavily distorted. Sadly, forgive but not forget has gotten completely
inverted in the nation--Vishwas Shashidhar
HINDU
REFLECTIONS AND HINDU UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
Thanks
for your continued interest, comments and valued suggestions during the year
2020. I am happy to note the participation and registration on the Blog has
gone up with 206 participants and may soon reach the landmark of 800000
pages being read by the bloggers this year, Those of you who are not on the
blogger list may like to register for whatever benefit it brings. Those
of you who feel that there are too many E-mails from me, and do not wish to
receive the same in the future may please write to me for cancellation.
For
the benefit of New Comers:
Hindu
Reflections is devoted to spread the message of Hindu Dharma, Hindu ancient
culture, Hindu Gods and Goddesses, Hindu Festivals and Rituals,
Hindu Temples and Temple worship, Hindu Sacraments (samskaras), Vedic knowledge
and wisdom based on Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita, Hinduism’s Influence on other
Religions and Faiths and its teachings aimed at Outreach and Universal Oneness
to promote peace, prosperity and Happiness and Interfaith Dialogues all
available at one source. Please visit Hindu Reflections <nrsrini.blogspot.com> and download the
“Classified list of Discourses” published in August 2019 for your guidance and
use.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/03/classified-discourses-posted-on-blog.html
POLICY
OF HINDU REFLECTIONS:
These
discourses are compilations from the references indicated in each discourse as
well as other sources as prepared lectures for delivering at Vedanta Class of
Sri Ganesha Temple, Nashville. TN, USA. Anybody is free to download
partly or fully any discourse from the blog Hindu Reflections <nrsrini.blogspot.com> modify and redistribute or
republish for spreading the wisdom of Vedas and scriptures further WITH SIMPLE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Their popularity and quality can be well appreciated going
through the various comments received from eminent personalities and spiritual
Gurus in my article on Classified List.
Please
go through the following information passed on by Dr. Phil Goldberg, author of
American Veda on Hindu University of America. I have been serving the
global participants with the same objectives for more than a decade with no fee
being charged that I hope you do appreciate.
HINDU
UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
How
Hindu Dharma Transformed America
This
course explores the history and impact of Vedic Wisdom on America’s Spiritual
Landscape. Hindu Dharma has irrevocably altered the way Americans understand
and practice the spiritual dimension of life. With profiles of the key
individuals—both Indian and Western—who propagated Dharmic teachings and
integrated them into the fabric of American society, this course will analyze a
structured history and analysis of the transmission of Sanatana Dharma to
America over more than 200 years. It explores the profoundly transformative,
yet vastly unappreciated, impact of Vedantic principles and yogic methods on
healthcare, psychology, neuroscience, and religion.
In
rigorously exploring the history and influence of Hindu Dharma, the course will
be organized mainly around the key disseminators who forged a vital connection
between the ancient rishis and the modern West. First among those Vedic
transmitters were the swamis, gurus, and yogacharyas who brought their gifts to
the West, from the earliest (Swami Vivekananda and Paramahansa Yogananda) to
those who established a foothold in the 1960s and 70s (Maharishi Mahesh Yogi,
Srila Prabhupada, Swami Muktananda, and others) to those teaching today (Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar, Mata Amritanandamayi, Sadhguru, etc.) – as well as luminaries
who strongly impacted America without ever coming here (Sri Aurobindo, Ramana
Maharshi, and others). We’ll examine both the diversity and commonalities of
teachings that penetrated America’s spiritual soil, and show how the core
principles were skillfully adapted to the language, values, and communication
methods of the new cultural context—and the tradeoffs that were made in the
process. The obstacles the ambassadors from India had to overcome—racism,
religious bigotry, colonial assumptions, finances, etc.—will be discussed as
well. Also covered will be the prominent Westerners who imbibed Vedic wisdom
through gurus and/or texts, integrated what they learned into their personal
lives and their areas of expertise, and ultimately disseminated what they
valued most to vast numbers of people. This second-hand transmission was
sometimes explicit and properly attributed, and at other times altered so much
(in style if not substance) that the original source was either vague or
entirely obscured. In that context, we’ll examine the contribution of
philosophers and public intellectuals (from Emerson to Aldous Huxley to
contemporary scholars); psychologists (William James, Carl Jung, Abraham
Maslow); scientists (Nikola Tesla, Erwin Schrodinger); and artists, including
novelists (Herman Hesse, J.D. Salinger), poets (W.B. Yeats, Allen Ginsberg),
filmmakers (George Lucas), and musicians (the Beatles especially). The
course will also describe how Hindu Dharma has influenced certain Christian and
Jewish leaders, leading to significant shifts in religious attitudes, beliefs,
and practices. The course will conclude with a look at the future in light of
recent phenomena such as the medical embrace of hatha yoga and meditation and
the assimilation of Hindu citizens of Indian descent since 1965.
Course
Learning Objectives:
In this
course students will be able to:
- Understand the profound impact of
Hindu Dharma on American institutions, culture, and spirituality.
- Appreciate the remarkable
achievements made by gurus, swamis, and yogacharyas in the face of
challenges, obstacles, and resistance.
- Identify and evaluate the subtle
(sometimes hidden) ways that Vedic principles changed American psychology,
medicine, the arts, and religion.
- Distinguish between skillful adaptation
and misappropriation in the Western embrace of Hindu Dharma.
- Discover the enormous breadth,
variety, and depth of the Dharmic teachings that came to America.
- Learn about American history from
different angles.
- Contemplate the future of Hinduism
in America and how to safeguard the integrity of the ongoing adaptation to
Western culture.
Class
Structure
The
class will meet once a week for up to 90 minutes. The teacher’s presentation,
with the help of audio and video recordings, will last approximately 60
minutes. The remaining time will be devoted to questions and open discussion.
There will be 10 such sessions followed by an additional session devoted to the
presentation and discussion of student’s reflections regarding what they
learned from the course and how they expect it will influence their
lives.
Comments:
Thanks
a lot for your valuable service to mankind by spreading the knowledge and
wisdom to common people. Very good to know about the course offering of
the Florida Hindu University. I met a couple of professors from there in a
Hindu conferences in San Francisco. Very fascinating with a lot of knowledge on
Hinduism, obviously. Also, they were conversing in Sanskrit only - meaning,
using Sanskrit as a spoken language (even on phone calls.). Just wanted
to share with you.
--Nashville
Nagarajan
\
Thiruvaiyaru
Thyagaraja Aradhana Music Festival in 2021
Thyagaraja
Aradhana, dedicated to Saint Thyagaraja, the greatest saint composer of
Carnatic music, is observed in Paush month. Thyagaraja Aradhana 2021 date is
January 29 to February 2. The music festival is held during this period for
five days. The festival is held at Thiruvaiyaru near Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu
and is also therefore known as Thiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja Aradhana. The festival
is observed on the fifth day during the Krishna paksha or waning
phase of moon in the Telugu month of Paush or Pushya. The 174th Aradhana
Festival Pancharatna Keerthana is on February 2, 2021.
On
the Thyagaraja Aradhana festival day, hundreds of Carnatic musicians pay their
homage to the Saint Thyagaraja by rendering his ‘pancharatna kritis’ in chorus
at his samadhi at Thiruvaiyaru. Another highlight on the day is the Unchavruthi
Bhajan.
Sri
Thyagaraja attained Samadhi on the Pushya Bahula Panchami day or the fifth day
after full moon in Pushya masam.
On
this occasion, I received a detailed note on this great celebration, from a
friend, philosopher and guide of mine Sri. BRG Iyengar from Bangalore,
introduced to me by Kamala Raghunathan. Please enjoy. Though my knowledge of
Carnatic Music and CQ is a big Zero, I blindly follow my household on such
occasions.
On Saturday some of you might have
listened to a lecture by Ramnath Kaushik, on Ragam, Thalam and Pallavi on Zoom
arranged by Nashville Sri Ganesha Temple this week-end. It will be followed by
other local musicians.
Carnatic Music, in particular based on
spirituality, by saints like Thyagaraja is a great boon during the pandemonium
for our EQ and SQ Management promoted by his ardent followers, though credit
goes to much research that has been done by Western Music.
Earlier, I have talked to you about how
Music helps in plant growth and increase yield in grow more food programs. Some
universities offer a Music Therapy Equivalency Program. These courses of study
give students just the credits needed to obtain a music therapy degree they are
missing from their previous coursework.
If you already have a Bachelor of Arts
in Music, or any other number of music degrees, an equivalency program is a
great way to not necessarily take all the coursework required for a full
Bachelor’s degree in music therapy. You will take mostly the requisite courses
in psychology, education, and clinical practice to become a board-certified
music therapist.
What
is Music Therapy?
Music
Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to
accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a
credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy
program.
Music
Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a
therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social
needs of individuals. After assessing the strengths and needs of each client,
the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including
creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Through musical
involvement in the therapeutic context, clients' abilities are strengthened and
transferred to other areas of their lives. Music therapy also provides avenues
for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express
themselves in words. Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in
many areas such as: overall physical rehabilitation and facilitating movement,
increasing people's motivation to become engaged in their treatment, providing
emotional support for clients and their families, and providing an outlet for
expression of feelings.
Music therapy as a source of healing
has been documented by Harvard psychologists as an effective method of changing
feelings and behavior for a healthier life and outlook.
There are five different classes of
psychological modification which music therapy is known to help with:
What Matters
– Music has the ability to grab our attention, and keep it there.
Think of every time you’ve listened to a great solo and was hypnotized by its
beauty.
What You Feel
– Music can make us feel certain emotions, and music therapists use music to
unleash and explore emotions at the appropriate time during a session.
What We Do
– Music makes us move to the beat, tap our feet, and give up control of our
bodies. Music therapy utilizes this for therapeutic purposes.
How We Think
– As an intervention tool, music can change our thinking about adverse
situations and mindsets. This is especially true when we find a song that
speaks to a specific experience in our lives causing depression, PTSD, and any
other number of psychological sickness.
How We Communicate
– Much of what music says to us is without words. Many music therapists find
non-verbal communication through musical improvisation helps us understand our
emotions better, transforming how we tell people about them.
Even further, researchers at the
Greater Polish Cancer Center have found music therapy aids in physical healing,
as is the case with cancer patients. As the scientific world learns more about
the relationship between music, the body, and the mind, further applications
are expected to manifest within the field in the coming years. Soon we will be
hearing about its contribution during Coronavirus crisis.
Due to the present COVID 19 situation and considering the safety
of the vidwans, vidwamsinis, members and rasikas, 174th Annual Aradhana
festival will be inaugurated on 1st February 2021 evening 4.00 PM and will
conclude on 02 February 2021 8.30 PM. Keeping in mind the SOP and other
guidelines issued by the Central / State Governments, those visiting are requested
to ensure social distance, wear face masks and adhere to all the other
protocols. Entry may be restricted according to the Government regulations
issued from time to time.
Music lovers please enjoy on this
occasion:
01-CEtulAra_shrIngAramu-bhairavi-tyAgarAja
(1).mp3
02-JagadAnandakArakA-by
Sheela.mp3
03-DuDukugala_nannE_dorakoDuku-gauLa.mp3
04-SAdhincenE_O_manasA-Arabhi.mp3
05-Kanakana_rucira_kanakavasana-varALi.mp3
06-EndarO_mahAnubhAvulu-shrI.mp3
07. Vandanamu -by Shanthi.mp3
08. Seethakalyana-by Sheela.m4a
09 anjaneyam-thodi-by
Shanthi.wav
10. jagadanandakaraka-by
Sheela.wav
11.
MangaLa-nI_nAma_rUpamulaku-SowrAshtra-Adhi-T...
12. Thyagaraja mangalam.m4a
--February 1, 2021
Comments:
We
continue enjoying on daily basis your brilliant, inspirational, informative
and educative articles. We cannot adequately thank you for these. I am n sending you some material relating to
Thyagaraja’s Aradhana. Of course, I cannot add to what you already know.
However, I wanted to share with you the same.
--BRG Iyengar
Thank you so much for sharing the
insight and great comments / write up on Saint Sri Thyagaraja. Very timely.
--R. Nagarajan
Thank
you. Very nice article. I knew some of these about music but I do not know how
to sing. Anyway, I love to listen. Classical music has a divine appeal.
--Ratna De
Many Thanks for sharing this
--Ranga
Nambakam
Dear
Mama, this is so interesting, and informative, I am sharing with the children.
--Aparna
Arcot
Coronavirus
Mardhini and Warriors
Please recall the Veda mantras kamaya
swaha, manyuve swaha and mrityuve swaha that calls for deification of
desire, anger and death in mind and pouring oblations to sacrificial fire.
Inspired by these Hindu religious iconography has created Coronavirus
Mardhini and Warriors to pray to the Supreme pleading for relief
India’s goddesses of
contagion provide protection in the pandemic – just don’t make them angry
Tulasi Srinivas
[Professor of Anthropology, Religion and Transnational Studies,
Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies, Emerson
College]
Hindus in India have had a helping hand – several in fact – when
it comes to fighting deadly contagions like COVID-19: multi-armed goddesses
co-opted to help contain and kill pestilence.
Collectively known as “Amman,” or the Divine Mother, the goddesses
of contagion – and it always goddesses, not gods – have been called on for
their services before. They have been deployed in many of the deadly pandemics
India has experienced from ancient times until the modern age.
In conducting my fieldwork as a cultural anthropologist who
studies religion, I have seen small shrines all over
India dedicated to these goddesses of contagion, often in rural, forested areas
outside village and town limits.
The goddesses act as “celestial epidemiologists” curing illness. But if angered they can also inflict disease such as poxes, plagues, sores,
fevers, tuberculosis and malaria. They are both poison and cure.
Blowing hot and cold
One of the first images of a contagion goddess recorded is of the demon-turned-goddess Hariti, carved and worshiped during the deadly Justinian plague of Rome that came to India via trade routes, killing between 25 to 100
million people globally. In the late 19th century, my hometown of Bangalore
suffered an epidemic of bubonic plague, which required the services of a contagion goddess. British
colonial documents record the repeated waves of illness that stalked the city,
and the desperate pleas to a goddess named “Plague Amma.”
Hindu priests today wearing
protective gear perform rituals in front of the Hindu goddess Kali.
In south India, the premier contagion goddess is Mariamman – from the word “Mari” meaning both pox and transformation. In
the north of India, she is known as the goddess Sheetala, meaning “the cold
one” – a nod to her ability to cool fevers.
The goddesses’ iconography emphasizes their therapeutic healing
powers. Sheetala carries a pot of healing water, a broom to sweep away dirt, a
branch of the indigenous Neem tree – said to cure skin and breathing disorders
– and a jar of ambrosia for eternal life. Mariamman, on the other hand, carries
a scimitar with which to smite and decapitate the demons of virulence and
illness.
Contagion goddesses are not angelic and gentle, as one might
expect caregivers to be. They are hot-tempered, demanding and fiery. They are
deemed wilderness goddesses – highly local and traditionally worshiped
primarily by lower caste, Dalit, tribal and rural folk. Some are associated
with tantric practices and dark magic.
Ritual readiness
Placating the goddesses through blood sacrifice, decorative offerings and
self-mortification, was – and in some places, still is – a way of preparing for a pandemic in parts of India.
Sometimes, painful piercings, hook swinging and self-flagellation were offered when patients recovered from
illnesses, both mental and physical. Or in a sanitized version of blood
sacrifice, small silver images of the patient were offered as a prophylactic
against illness.
Rituals have often involved variolation. A devotee would be
inoculated with infected pus and the goddess invoked through possession to save
them. The aim was to trigger a milder form of the illness and gain
immunity.
High caste Hindus and those who mirror high-caste practices often
ignored and shunned the contagion goddesses, fearful of the blood rites,
possession and the tantric rituals, which they associated with low caste worship.
But these local contagion goddesses merged over time with the
Divine Mother Shakti, the feminine personification of the
energy behind creation. This domesticated the goddesses, making them more
acceptable to bourgeois Hindus.
The goddesses’ post-pox lives
With the widespread use of modern antibiotics, retrovirals and
vaccines in the mid 20th century, traditional Hindu healing rituals
became less relevant. Contagion goddesses were beginning to be forgotten and
ignored. But a handful of them developed rich post-pox lives, reinventing themselves for modern
afflictions. Some goddesses moved on from focusing on disease alone.
In Bangalore, a city plagued by traffic fatalities, the goddess
Mariamman transformed from a cholera goddess into the protector of drivers. Now
known as “Traffic
Circle Amman,” the goddess’s temple sees cars and
trucks line up every day for blessings, before drivers face the deadly
maelstrom of city traffic.
Other goddesses came into being to fight new illnesses. On Dec. 1,
1997, World AIDS day, a new goddess named AIDS Amma was created by a
science schoolteacher, H.N. Girish, not to cure AIDS but to teach worshipers
the prophylactic measures necessary to prevent the disease.
COVID-19 conscripts
During the COVID-19 crisis all the contagion goddesses have been
re-conscripted.
The Indian government’s quick action in instituting a stay-at-home lockdown that lasted two months prevented widespread contagion, but
it also meant that people weren’t allowed to go to temples to worship the
goddesses and ask for intervention. So priests offered special decorations,
including garlands of acidic lemons believed to placate the goddesses.
The goddesses have also been recalled in posters by Indian artists
that circulate through Facebook. Artist Sandhya Kumari’s rendering of “Coronavirus Mardini” – a hygienically masked Mother
India attacking the coronavirus with a trident – recalled Shakti’s killing of
evil, a familiar image to all Hindus.
A nationalistic caption was added during reposting – “Mother
India will end the Coronavirus, but it is every Indians duty to stay at
home and take care of loved ones. Jai India!”
In Kumari’s rendering, the goddess’s
iconography is updated for the pandemic. The goddesses’ many gloved hands
grasp sanitizer, masks, vaccination needles and other medical equipment. The
coronavirus is held in chains, immovable and shorn of its virulence.
While controversies over temples reopening dominates the news, a new deity, crafted from polystyrene and called “Corona Devi” has been installed in a temple
dedicated to the pox goddess. Mr. Anilan, the priest and single devotee, says
he will offer worship for “Corona Warriors” – health care workers,
firefighters, and other front-line personnel. Here science and faith are
not seen as inimical to one another, but as working together,
hand-in-glove.
COVID-19 has undoubtedly increased the goddesses’ workload. And with no known universal cure and possible viable vaccine, the contagion
goddesses may well have their hands full for some time.
Soon someone will come up with Coronavirus Mardini Sahasranama
Stotram Ashottara Sata Namavali, Dhyanasloka and Gayatri too!
---January 31, 2021
************
Webinar-192 Highlights of Isavasya
Upanishad
Life in the world and life in the
spirit are not incompatible. Work, or action, contrary to knowledge of GOD, but
indeed, if performed without attachment, is a means to it. On the other hand,
renunciation is renunciation of the Ego of selfishness--not of life. The end,
both of work and of renunciation, is to know the Self within and Brahman
without, and to realize their identity. The Self is Brahman, and Brahman is
all.
HH Swami Chidananda draws our
attention to the famous quote from Mahatma Gandhi on this Upanishad. “If all
the Upanishads and all the other scriptures happened all of sudden to be
reduced to ashes, and if only the first verse in the Isopanishad were left in
memory of the Hindus, Hinduism would live forever”, Said Mahatma Gandhi. What
Gandhi had in mind with his great tribute is made clear in his reply to a
journalist who wanted the secret of his life in three words: “Renounce and
Enjoy” (tena tyaktena bunjitah),
from the first verse of this Upanishad. The fifth century Greek writer
Dionysius the Aeropagite said that as he grew older and wiser his books got
shorter and shorter. He would have envied the sage of this Upanishad o 18
mantras that he presented as Vedic Wisdom to the whole world of past, present
and future!
We have discussed at length this
Upanishad. I draw your kind attention to my Introduction to this Upanishad with
which I began the lengthy discourse:
“Easavasyopanishad or Easopanishad
leads the ten cardinal Upanishads on which Sankara and others have elaborately
commented upon. They are also referred as Major Upanishads or Principal
Upanishads. This Upanishad gets its name since it begins with the word
Eesaavasyam in its first mantra. It appears in the Samhita portion of
Sukla Yajurveda and is also called Vaajasaneyi Samhita. This contains 18
mantras. Though this is a very short Upanishad it expounds very effectively the
nature of Brahman, the nature of the means to realization, and the nature of
the supreme goal in life. This Upanishad can be broadly classified into four
main groups: 1) Introduction to Atma Vidya [Mantras 1&2]; 2) The souls that
are not enlightened souls are Spiritual Suicides [Mantra 3]; 3) Description of
the Paramaatman and Mantras to goal reach the goal [4 to 8];
4) The nature of Sadhana (spiritual exercise) to be undertaken by the Spiritual
Seeker [Mantras 9-14]; and, 4) Prayers to be practiced by Spiritual
Aspirant [Mantras 15-18].
This Upanishad has attracted the
attention of many a scholar, resulting in the maximum number of Sanskrit
commentaries on any single Upanishad. Sankara is the earliest and the first to
comment upon it. This Upanishad has attracted the attention of many scholars
like Brahmananda Sarasvati, Sankarananda, Uvateerya and Vedanta Desika who has
not chosen to comment on the other Upanishads. In spite of the strenuous
efforts of these great intellectual giants in Vedanta this Upanishad continues
to baffle the reader even today! This Upanishad expounds all essentials of true
Vedanta School of thought in a remarkably brief manner. Five mantras that form
the essence of this Upanishad are found even in the Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad.
In this Upanishad the nature of Supreme Reality, his glory and the meditation
upon that Supreme are significantly expounded.”
The Bhagavad Gita presents a synthesis of the highest spiritual
effect of the individual with the most practical social co-operation. We
should carry on the activities of life, but we should do so remembering that
all that we do belongs to GOD. Work done in this spirit will not cling to us in
rebirth. This teaching that is explained in the Bhagavad Gita is found tersely
enunciated in the Easavasyopanishad in the first two verses. The Vedantic
teaching about higher knowledge should not confuse us into neglect of duties
and indifference about discipline of mind and control of senses. To
go through the activities of daily life in a spirit of detachment serves as
preparation for the reception of higher knowledge and for self-realization that
secures Moksha. Indeed, philosophical learning without discipline of
conduct is more to be dreaded than even ritualism without the knowledge of
Vedanta. Higher enlightenment is impossible, and even if it were possible,
worthless, unless there has been preparation and purification by means of
restraint of the senses. Fill the span of life given to you, says the
Upanishad, with work and worship as is done by people without higher knowledge,
but carry on the work in the spirit of detachment and understand the forms in
the sense that you have learnt from the higher knowledge. Thereby you
shall pass through Death to Immortality. With this basic understanding go
through the enlightening discourse by HH Swami Chidananda, which in his
inimitable style will be more practical to life and easy to follow--Quick
delivery for easy consumption!
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/06/easavasyopanishad-loadstar-of-all.html
As an Upanişad, the Īśāvāsya indeed
gives us powerful pointers to Self-knowledge, to the oneness of the ātmā and
Brahman. The mantras reveal the nature of the Highest Reality and throw light
on the enlightened perception of the awakened ones. In addition, we get
guidance on several secondary topics like karma, and upāsana etc. The webinar
will take a bird’s eye view of this treatise, which was the favorite of the
likes of Mahātmā Gāndhi.
| tadejati, tannaijati |
(mantra 5)
It moves; it doesn’t move.
| na karma lipyate nare |
(mantra 2)
Selfless action never binds us.
--January, 29, 2021
BRAHMA TEMPLES BRAHMA UPANISHAD AND
BRAHMA SAMHITA
TWO ANCIENT BRAHMA TEMPLES IN INDIA
TAVANUR BRAHMA LONE TEMPLE IN KERALA
Mannil Thrikovu temple is located at Tavanur on Kuttipuram – Chamravattam
road in Malappuram district, Kerala. The main deity worshipped in the temple is
Brahma. It is believed that this is only Brahma temple in Kerala. The shrine is
also known as Tavanur Brahma Temple and also as Tavanur Cheru Thirunavaya
Brahma temple.
It is believed that Navagrahas, Pancha Bhootas and Nakshatras
offer prayers to Brahma here.
Brahma, the creator as per Hindu Puranas, is not widely worshipped
in temple due to a curse on Him by Shiva. The most popular Brahma temple is
located at Pushkar in Rajasthan.
Thirunavaya in Kerala represents a convergence of the Trimurtis:
Brahma, Visnu, Siva. There are three temples here, dedicated to the worship of
these divine personalities, therefore the place is considered to be equal to
Varnasi.
The Navamukundan Visnu temple is on the right (northern) bank of
the Bharathapuzha, while the Brahma and Siva temples are on the left (southern)
bank, in Tavanur (Thavanoor) village.
The Brahma Temple here was consecrated by Lord Parasurama, who
brought and settled the Brahmins here. Parasurama himself is considered to be a
"Brahma-Kshatriya", or one who perfectly balances the duties of both
Brahmana and Kshatriya. For this reason, Brahmadeva is said to be Parasurama's
guru, and having executed a great yajna here in Tavanur, Parasurama dedicated a
temple to his guru, Lord Brahma.
Unfortunately, the Brahma Kshetra is seldom visited today, and no
regular worship or festivals are held here. Most devotees and visitors go to
the Navamukundan Temple, which is the predominant temple in Thirunavaya. At
Navamukundan there is a daily program of worship, including regular Brahma
pujas.
Near the Siva Temple sits the famous Vedic Vidyalaya Othanmar
Madom, a famous school of Sanskrit and Vedic education associated with
Parasurama's colony of Brahmins.
PUSHKAR BRAHMA TEMPLE
Jagatpita Brahma Mandir is a Hindu temple situated at Pushkar in the Indian state of Rajasthan, close to the sacred Pushkar Lake to which its legend has an indelible link. The temple is one of
few existing temples dedicated to the Hindu creator-god Brahma in India and remains the most prominent among them; the temple structure
dates to the 14th century rebuilt later. The temple is made of stone slabs, it
has a hamsa bird motif. The temple sanctum sanctorum holds his consort Gayatri;
the temple is governed by the Sanyasi sect priesthood. On Kartik Poornima, a festival dedicated to Brahma is held when large numbers of
pilgrims visit the temple, after bathing in the sacred lake. Pushkar is said to
have over 500 temples; the structure dates to the 14th century. The temple is
described to have been built by sage Vishwamitra after Brahma's yagna, it is believed that Brahma himself chose the location for his
temple. The 8th century Hindu philosopher Adi Shankara renovated this temple, while the current medieval structure dates
to Maharaja Jawat Raj of Ratlam, who made additions and repairs, though the original temple
design is retained.
Pushkar is described in the scriptures as the only Brahma temple
in the world, owing to the curse of Savitri, as the "King of the sacred places of the Hindus".
Although now the Pushkar temple does not remain the only Brahma temple, it is
still one of few existing temples dedicated to Brahma in India and the most
prominent one dedicated to Brahma. International
Business Times has identified Pushkar Lake and the
Brahma temple as one of the ten most religious places in the world and one of
the five sacred pilgrimage places for the Hindus, in India. Origins According to the Hindu
scripture Padma Purana, Brahma saw the demon Vajranabha trying to kill his children and
harassing people, he slew the demon with his weapon, the lotus-flower. In this
process, the lotus petals fell on the ground at three places, creating 3 lakes: the
Pushkar Lake or Jyeshta Pushkar, the Madya Pushkar Lake, Kanishta Pushkar lake; when
Brahma came down to the earth, he named the place where the flower fell from
Brahma's hand as "Pushkar".
Brahma decided to perform a yajna at the main Pushkar Lake. In
order to perform his yajna peacefully without being attacked by the demons, he
created the hills around the Pushkar – Ratnagiri in the south, Nilgiri in the north, Sanchoora in the west and
Suryagiri in the east and positioned gods there to protect the yajna
performance. However, while performing the yajna, his wife Savitri could not be
present at the designated time to perform the essential part of the yajna as
she was waiting for her companion goddesses Lakshmi and Indrani. Annoyed, Brahma requested god Indra to find a suitable girl for him to wed to complete the yajna.
Indra could find only a Gujar's daughter, sanctified by passing her through the
body of a cow. Gods Vishnu and the priests certified her purity as she had passed through a
cow, it was her second birth and she was named Gayatri. Brahma married Gayatri
and completed the yajna with his new consort sitting beside him, holding the
pot of amrita on her head and giving ahuti.
But when Savitri arrived at the venue she found Gayatri sitting
next to Brahma, her rightful place. Agitated, she cursed Brahma that he would
be never worshipped, but reduced the curse permitting his worship in Pushkar.
Savitri cursed Indra to be defeated in battles, Vishnu to suffer the separation
from his wife as a human, the Agni, offered the yajna to be all-devouring and the priests
officiating the yajna to be poor. Endowed by the powers of yajna, Gayatri
diluted Savitri's curse, blessing Pushkar to be the king of pilgrimages, Indra would always retain his
heaven, Vishnu would be born as the human Rama and unite with his consort and the priests would become scholars
and be venerated. Thus, the Pushkar temple is regarded the only temple
dedicated to Brahma. Savitri, moved into the Ratnagiri hill and became a part of it
by emerging as a spring known as the Savitri Jharna; the temple, set on high plinth, is approached through a number of marble steps leading to an entrance gate archway, decorated with
pillared canopies.
The entry from the gate leads to a pillared outdoor hall and the
sanctum sanctorum. The temple is built with stone blocks, joined together with
molten lead; the red shikara of the temple and symbol of a hamsa - the mount of Brahma – are distinct features of the temple. The
shikara is about 70 feet in height; the hamsa motif decorates the main entry
gate. Marble floor and walls inside the temple have been inlaid with hundreds
of silver coins by devotees, as mark of offering to Brahma. There is a silver turtle
in the mandap, displayed on the floor.
Brahma Upanishads & Brama Samhita
There is also a rare Brahma Upanishad which prescribes no rituals
echoing Bhagavad Gita. "Abandon the external rites and rituals, and
rest in peace with your soul and pursuit of its wisdom, the one who does so has
understood the Vedas" says Brahmopanishad.
The origins of the text known as Brahma-samhita are lost in cosmic
antiquity. According to Vedic tradition, these “Hymns of Brahma” were recited
or sung countless millennia ago by the first created being in the universe,
just prior to the act of creation singing of the holy names of God.
The text surfaced and entered calculable history early in the
sixteenth century when it was discovered by a pilgrim, who is none other than
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, exploring the manuscript library of an ancient temple in
what is now Kerala state in South India. Prior to the introduction of the
printing press, texts like Brahma-Samhita existed only in manuscript form,
painstakingly handwritten by scribes and kept under Brahmins' custodianship in
temples, where often they were worshiped as Sastra-Deity, or God
incarnate in holy scripture. Even today the tradition continues. We worship
Ramayana and Gita with waving lamps(aarati) and singing their glory during
Navaratri and Gita Jayanti Day!
What we now have as Brahma-Samhita is,
according to tradition, only one of a hundred chapters composing an epic work
lost to humanity. Upon discovering the manuscript, Sri Chaitanya employed a
scribe in hand-copying the manuscript and departed with the copy for His return
journey to the North. Upon His return to Puri (Madhya-lila, Ch. 11), Sri Chaitanya
presented Brahma-Samhita to appreciative followers like Ramananda Raya and
Vasudeva Datta, for whom Chaitanya arranged copies to be made.
Gradually, Brahma-Samhita was “broadcasted everywhere” and became one of the
major texts of the Gaudiya-Vaisnava canon.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2021/01/brahma-upanishad-brahma-samhita.html
--January 30, 2021
THAIPUSAM
IN THAILAND
The Kavadi Attam (Burden Dance)
Many
Hindu Americans may not know about the Kavadi Attam of Tamil devotees of
Murugan during Thaipusam Festival! Thaipusam is most remembered for the handful
of worshipers who pierce their faces and bodies with swords, skewers, and
hooks. Even walking on burning coals is sometimes a part of the festival.
Heavy,
intricate shrines known as kavadis are attached to volunteers with sharp
skewers. They symbolize the burdens carried. The largest of the burdens, known
as the vel kavadi, requires the person carrying it to be pierced by 108
small spears (vels)!
Sometimes
the contraptions are so large and heavy that several men have to offer
assistance. The kavadis are then carried through the crowd until finally
removed for prayers at a designated place. Other worshipers carry pots of milk,
fruit, or grains as offerings to Lord Murgan.
The
worshipers who pierce their tongues, cheeks, and faces with sharp objects
hardly bleed and report feeling very little pain! Many claim that their wounds
heal nearly immediately and don't produce scars.
Before
being pierced, devotees are worked into a trance-like state with chanting and
drums. Once entranced, the crowd helps to take care of them as they are led
through the procession. Tongues are often pierced and pinned through the cheeks
as a symbolic gesture of the volunteer giving up the gift of
speech.
THAILAND:
PHUKET: THAIPUSAM FESTIVAL BEGINS
Thai/Nat
The outrageous body-piercing "Vegetarian" festival began on the Thai
island of Phuket on Wednesday. More than a hundred religious devotees marched
through the streets of the idyllic resort with swords, umbrellas and tree
branches hanging from gaping holes in their faces. Thousands of
festival-watchers saw the men shake themselves into a trance, then impale
themselves with anything they could lay their hands on - the bigger the better.
For those keen to test their religious devotion, the Phuket Vegetarian festival
represents the ultimate test. These men believe they have been possessed by the
gods, and ordered to perform in the bizarre annual ritual. The aim is to pierce
the face with the largest, most unlikely objects possible, whilst blocking out
the pain by entering a trance-like state. The festival began more than a
century ago. Legend says that a Chinese opera troupe was on the island
entertaining migrant workers, when plague struck. The performers thought they
were blame because they'd neglected their gods. They repented and performed
rites of purification which saved the island. Now, in commemoration, each of
the island's five Chinese temples stages daily re- enactments of the
purification rituals. It begins early every morning, when the devotees believe
they are possessed by spirits. They've abstained from meat, alcohol and sex for
nine days and nights to cleanse themselves of impurities. The piercing, which
follows, is to show the superiority of the now-resident "gods" to
mere mortals.
It
is astonishing such self-inflicted pain rituals, in its madness of Bhakti
galore, have crossed the shores of Tamil Nadu and are being currently
celebrated on a grander scale even today by Buddhists. Please go through the report from a Thailand
reporter! Orthodox Hindus in India question the act of Hindu
Americans who have installed the idols of Buddha and Mahavir Vardhamana in multi-traditional
temples and also worship them. They also accuse them as being Americanized,
neglecting sacred Hindu scriptures! But look at the Thai Buddhist
Tradition that has not forgotten its grass-roots, the origin of Buddhism from
Sanatana Dharma! Here, we have a lesson to learn to bring together all Dharma
based religions! Hindus in India often take pride in such celebrations
off-shore in support of strong influence of Hinduism over many lands!
Why
Thailand Has Hindu Statues at Buddhist Temples
Erawan
Shrine, Bangkok
From
the stunning Grand Palace in Bangkok to the local one hidden away in the soi,
each of Thailand’s temples are beautiful in their own right. But as well as
gorgeous gilded edges, stuccos and statues of the Buddha, you might come across
statues of Hindu gods such as Ganesh or Brahman. Strange? Not really — here’s
why.
A
Hindu Past
Whilst
Thailand is a country where 95% of its population are Buddhists, this wasn’t
always the case. Thailand’s past — before it was even known as Thailand — was
punctuated by a series of different ruling kingdoms, but in its earliest days,
it was ruled by the powerful Khmer Empire. This empire, now modern-day
Cambodia, followed Hinduism, and as a result, the religion spread to places
under its control, including Thailand.
As
the Khmer Empire ruled over modern-day Thailand, its Hindu ways and practices
began to shape the land and the culture. Hinduism’s roots in the foundation of
Thailand are evident all over the country. For example, Thailand’s former
capital of Ayutthaya was named after Ayodhya, the birthplace of the Hindu god
Rama, whilst the Phanom Rung temple in Isaan, built in the Khmer style, was
dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and made to represent the sacred site of Mount
Kailash. Even Thailand’s national epic, Ramakien, was derived from the
Hindu epic Ramayana.
Even
though the days of the Khmer Empire ruling Thailand are long over, many temples
still have Hindu statues standing side by side with Buddhist statues. Buddhism
isn’t like Abrahamic religions that are strict on monotheism, and
Thailand’s Hindu past means that many figures have transcended through to Thai
culture. Whilst you’ll often see a statue of the Hindu god Ganesh, Thais refer
to it as Phra Pikanet. Thais don’t generally pray to Phra Pikanet, but
do so in certain circumstances. For example, as Ganesh is seen as the remover
of obstacles and a fan of the arts, artists or those who are opening a new
business pray to him. Along with Ganesh, it’s common to see statues of Shiva (Phra
Isuan), Brahma (Phra Phrom), Indra (Phra In) and Vishnu (Phra
Narai). Whilst they might not have the same reputation or level of worship
as the Buddha, they’re still important facets of Thai culture even hundreds of
years after the Khmer Empire left.
Thailand’s
Hindu statues can be seen all over the country, but there are a few notable
statues that are popular attractions. Suvarnabhumi Airport and Bangkok’s Grand
Palace have striking statues of the Hindu giants, also known as yak, whilst
the Erawan * (Shrine in Bangkok is home to a small, golden statue of Brahma
that was the subject of a terror attack. Outside of Bangkok, Chachoensao
Province is home to several huge statues of Ganesh, whilst other temples around
the country feature somewhat less grand but equally beautiful statues of Hindu
gods.
*Iraivan
in Tamil means Creator
--January 28, 2021
THAIPOOSAM OF TAMILS IN MANY LANDS
CELEBRATED ON JANUARY 28, 2021
Thaipoosam, is a festival celebrated by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai
(January/February), usually coinciding with Pushya star, known as Poosam in Tamil. The festival is also observed among Keralites and is vernacularly called Thaipooyam (Malayalam: തൈപ്പൂയം). It is mainly observed
in countries where there is a significant presence of Tamil community such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, South
Africa, Canada and other places where ethnic Tamils reside as a part of the local Indian diaspora population such as Réunion, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, Jamaica and the other parts of the Caribbean.
It is a national holiday in many countries like Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius. In certain states of Malaysia and in the nations of Sri Lanka and Mauritius it is a government and a bank
holiday. In Singapore, it was previously a national
holiday but was removed from the official list of national holidays to improve
business competitiveness.
Ganesha is the most popular deity in India whose idols are found
all over the countries mentioned above. But his popularity outside is nowhere
near that of Skanda, affectionately called Murugan by Tamils. That
supports my strong conviction that Sanatkumara (that is Sknda) Esoteric
tradition prevailed strongly in all these countries who is popular even today
among all religious followers and not exclusive to Hindus alone, though may be
prime movers. That again supports my strong conviction that Skanda is the most
favored deity acceptable to all religions if we were to succeed in establishing
Vedanta as Universal Religion and still live with temple tradition with its
showmanship appeal. The next choice is Venkateshwara acceptable to all
traditions among Hindus. Malayalees are trying hard to bring Ayyappan to the
forefront, Bengalis Durga and Odisha natives Lord Jagannatha as suitable
deities too acceptable to all traditions.
The word Thaipusam is a combination of the name of the
month, Thai, and the name of a star, Pusam (Tamil word for Pushya). This particular star is at its highest point during the
festival. The festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan (aka Kartikeya) a Vel "spear" so he could
vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman and his brothers. It is also commonly believed that Thaipusam
marks Murugan's birthday; Some other sources suggest that Vaikhasi Vishakam,
which falls in the Vaikhasi month (May/June), is Murugan's birthday.
Penang Calls off Thaipusam festivities, Devotees Told to Stay Home
GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA, January 8,
2021 (Free Malaysia Today): Penang's famous week-long Thaipusam festivities
will not take place this year following concerns of a Covid-19 spike as the
state's five districts are now red zones. Every year, about three million
people from all over the country and overseas converge on the island to take
part in a 4.35 mile chariot procession from Little India to Waterfall Road, in
a tradition which began almost 150 years ago. At a press conference today,
Penang Deputy Chief Minister P. Ramasamy also urged all devotees to stay home
this Jan 28. "Stay at home. We are all in a red zone. We do not want a
Thaipusam Covid-19 cluster. We plead to you to pray at home," he
said.
--Hinduism Today Magazine
Malaysia continues to
encourage the practice of the respective traditions of the minorities. Malays
too actively participate in this week-long Hindu heek-long WWeekndu festival besides their own. Many of the beliefs and practices have developed
as a result of multiple cultures and inter-marriages among the cultures who
settled in Malaysia.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/02/thai-poosam.html
ALL
THAT IS CALLED OLD SOUL NEED NOT GLITTER
Hindu
culture calls for respecting elders. It's usually a compliment to be referred
to as an old soul, as it implies grace and wisdom. But there can be downsides
from being mature beyond your years. As Merzon explains, "No one enjoys
being a newbie, but in fact, the benefit of being a new soul is that they
carry around a lot less karma."
She
adds that old souls come into this life with an agenda to experience and
complete karma, while new souls "want to make form out of light," and
"experience what it's like to be a being in a body." As such, the new
souls' experience is a bit more lighthearted, where being an old soul can feel
heavy. But in addition to that, because the old soul comes to this life with
more experience and understanding, they're able to handle obstacles and
challenges with greater clarity, old soul is experiencing in this life.
A
new soul "wants to be fresh and new and maybe have a more hedonistic
lifestyle," while an old soul "wants to go into the depths and
learn." Old souls may also feel somewhat isolated, as they can see through
much of the illusion and separation in modern culture. Running 90+, I can
certainly claim more experience and even somewhat claim wiser than many of you
but not comparable to Urban Monks that are born with lesser Karma loads and
with a mission to fulfill! Not only do such souls, though younger
than mine, feel deeply connected to God, spirit, the universe—whatever it
is they call it—but they also feel that with nature, the people in their lives,
and even strangers. "An old soul has a sense of connection to the universe
and therefore to other souls," Brailsford says, adding, "We probably
have that connection to everyone, but maybe it doesn't show up in this
lifetime." Maybe I too have to incarnate with such a connection in my
future lives for it is too late in this life!
Analyzing
the reaction and comments I occasionally receive from you I am able to
understand how some souls are far superior to that of me and how immature many
are who rarely go through my spiritual discourses and react. They feel they
have enough time and incarnations to last and this life should be enjoyed
however short it may be. This goal makes them anxious frustrated and angered in
the process that further extends the time-line for liberation or Mukti!
With
these observations, please go through an interesting article as indicated to
understand what it actually means matured soul and why we should respect and
listen to them though not old like that of me! If in the process, I appeal to
you to be on the spiritual path for progress and also guiding you, it has
been purely of selfish motive to cut short my time and incarnations to
join the team of enlightened Urban Monks of today who see some light at the
end of the tunnel for me.
COMMENTS: YOU DO NOT HAVE FUTURE LIVES.
THIS IS THE LAST ONE FOR YOU BEFORE YOU ATTAIN MOKSHA. YOU HAD DIVINE
DHARSHANS AND TALKS WITH GODS. YOUR PRESENT LIFE HAS SAMPOORNAM.
WHEN GOD IS WITH YOU, WHAT ELSE YOU NEED? WE NEED YOUR DAILY BLESSINGS
UNTIL YOUR KNOWN LAST DAY.
--Prof.
Govindaswamy Nagarajan
Very
interesting article. I am very interested in all you send. But I am busy with
everything what is going on; I live by myself. I cannot do as much as I used to
do or cannot remember as well as before. But please keep on sending
the articles. I will do what I can.
--Ratna
De
INNOVATIVE HINDU GENIUS CREATES CORONAVIRUS MARDHINI with army of CORONAVIRUS WARRIORS
India’s goddesses of contagion provide protection in the pandemic
– just don’t make them angry
Tulasi Srinivas
[Professor of Anthropology, Religion and Transnational Studies,
Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies, Emerson
College]
Hindus in India have had a helping hand – several in fact – when
it comes to fighting deadly contagions like COVID-19: multi-armed goddesses
co-opted to help contain and kill pestilence.
Collectively known as “Amman,” or the Divine Mother, the goddesses
of contagion – and it always goddesses, not gods – have been called on for
their services before. They have been deployed in many of the deadly pandemics
India has experienced from ancient times until the modern age.
In conducting my fieldwork as a cultural anthropologist who studies
religion, I have seen small shrines all over
India dedicated to these goddesses of contagion, often in rural, forested areas
outside village and town limits.
The goddesses act as “celestial
epidemiologists” curing illness. But if angered they
can also inflict disease such as poxes, plagues, sores, fevers, tuberculosis and malaria.
They are both poison and cure.
Blowing hot and cold
One of the first images of a contagion
goddess recorded is of the demon-turned-goddess
Hariti, carved and worshipped during the
deadly Justinian
plague of Rome that came to India via trade routes,
killing between 25 to 100 million people globally. In the late 19th century, my
hometown of Bangalore suffered an epidemic
of bubonic plague, which required the services of a
contagion goddess. British colonial documents record the repeated waves of
illness that stalked the city, and the desperate
pleas to a goddess named “Plague Amma.”
Hindu priests today wearing
protective gear perform rituals in front of the Hindu goddess Kali.
In south India, the premier contagion goddess is Mariamman – from the word “Mari” meaning both pox and transformation. In
the north of India, she is known as the goddess Sheetala, meaning “the cold
one” – a nod to her ability to cool fevers.
The goddesses’ iconography emphasizes their therapeutic healing
powers. Sheetala carries a pot of healing water, a broom to sweep away dirt, a
branch of the indigenous Neem tree – said to cure skin and breathing disorders
– and a jar of ambrosia for eternal life. Mariamman, on the other hand, carries
a scimitar with which to smite and decapitate the demons of virulence and
illness.
Contagion goddesses are not angelic and gentle, as one might
expect caregivers to be. They are hot-tempered, demanding and fiery. They are
deemed wilderness goddesses – highly local and traditionally worshiped
primarily by lower caste, Dalit, tribal and rural folk. Some are associated
with tantric practices and dark magic.
Ritual readiness
Placating the goddesses through blood
sacrifice, decorative offerings and
self-mortification, was – and
in some places, still is – a way of preparing for a pandemic
in parts of India.
Sometimes, painful piercings, hook swinging and self-flagellation were offered when patients recovered from
illnesses, both mental and physical. Or in a sanitized version of blood
sacrifice, small silver images of the patient were offered as a prophylactic
against illness.
Rituals have often involved variolation. A devotee would be
inoculated with infected pus and the goddess invoked through possession to save
them. The aim was to trigger a milder form of the illness and gain
immunity.
High caste Hindus and those who mirror high-caste practices often
ignored and shunned the contagion goddesses, fearful of the blood rites,
possession and the tantric rituals, which they associated with low caste
worship.
But these local contagion goddesses merged over time with the
Divine Mother Shakti, the feminine personification of the energy behind creation. This
domesticated the goddesses, making them more acceptable to bourgeois
Hindus.
The goddesses’ post-pox lives
With the widespread use of modern antibiotics, retrovirals and
vaccines in the mid 20th ncentury, traditional Hindu healing rituals
became less relevant. Contagion goddesses were beginning to be forgotten and
ignored. But a handful of them developed rich post-pox
lives, reinventing themselves for modern
afflictions. Some goddesses moved on from focusing on disease alone.
In Bangalore, a city plagued by traffic fatalities, the goddess
Mariamman transformed from a cholera goddess into the protector of drivers. Now
known as “Traffic Circle Amman,” the goddess’s temple sees cars and trucks line up every day for
blessings, before drivers face the deadly maelstrom of city traffic.
Other goddesses came into being to fight new illnesses. On Dec. 1,
1997, World AIDS day, a new goddess named AIDS
Amma was created by a
science schoolteacher, H.N. Girish, not to cure AIDS but to teach worshipers
the prophylactic measures necessary to prevent the disease.
COVID-19 conscripts
During the COVID-19 crisis all the contagion goddesses have been
re-conscripted.
The Indian government’s quick action in instituting a stay-at-home
lockdown that lasted
two months prevented widespread contagion, but
it also meant that people weren’t allowed to go to temples to worship the
goddesses and ask for intervention. So priests offered special decorations,
including garlands of acidic lemons believed to placate the goddesses.
The goddesses have also been recalled in posters by Indian artists
that circulate through Facebook. Artist Sandhya
Kumari’s rendering of “Coronavirus Mardini” – a
hygienically masked Mother India attacking the coronavirus with a trident –
recalled Shakti’s killing of evil, a familiar image to all Hindus.
A nationalistic caption was added during reposting – “Mother
India will end the Coronavirus, but it is every Indians duty to stay at
home and take care of loved ones. Jai India!”
In Kumari’s rendering, the goddess’s
iconography is updated for the pandemic. The goddesses’ many gloved hands
grasp sanitizer, masks, vaccination needles and other medical equipment. The
coronavirus is held in chains, immovable and shorn of its virulence.
While
controversies over temples reopening dominates the news, a new deity, crafted from polystyrene and called “Corona
Devi” has been installed in a temple
dedicated to the pox goddess. Mr. Anilan, the priest and single devotee, says
he will offer worship for “Corona Warriors” – health care workers,
firefighters, and other front line personnel. Here science and faith are
not seen as inimical to one another, but as working together,
hand-in-glove.
COVID-19 has undoubtedly increased
the goddesses’ workload. And with no
known cure and no
viable vaccine, the contagion goddesses may well
have their hands full for some time.
Soon someone will come up with Coronavirus Mardini Sahasrana
Stotram Ashottara Sata Namavali, Dhyanasloka and Gayatri too!
--January 24, 2021
**************
What Role Do We as Indian Americans Play in Wiping
Out Hunger?
[Let
us create a reputation that we are smart, compassionate change-agents, who make
this community we live in, stronger.]
Please
recall the timely caution of Muralidharan Krishnan to not only raise our voices
to the Supreme to eradicate hunger and poverty among human beings that has
alarmingly increased during the present Pandemic crisis even in USA, but also
dedicate ourselves to this cause, physically and fiscally.
“The
Pournima (Full Moon) day during the month of Margashirsha (29/30 Dec 2020) is
celebrated as Devi Annapoorna Jayanti in many traditions, especially in
Varanasi. Devi Annapoorna is also known as Devi Shakambhari and Devi
Shatakshi. The new year is about to dawn at this critical juncture with
both promise (through Covid-19 vaccines and restart of many economies) and
threat (through more infectious variants of COVID spreading like fire in parts
of Europe and signs of food crisis in many places)”
Though
Annapurna Jayanti is over and even forgotten by many of us as this is not
recognized as Special Religious Event Day in Hindu American Temples, Shakambari
Jayanti is yet to come. Mother Shakambari, one of the main incarnations of
Goddess Durga, is also worshiped with great devotion and gaiety. On the
occasion of Shankambhari Jayanti, religious works, Jagrans etc. are performed
in Shakti Peethas across India. All the incarnations of Durga have taken place
to fulfill one purpose or the other. Many incarnations of Mata are famous, but
this incarnation draws our attentions most during present crisis pervaded by
disease and hunger. She is also called Banashankari (वनशंकरि) or
the Goddess of the forest. She is hailed as Shataakshi (शताक्षी)
because she has one hundred eyes to mean having her eyes on all things!
Traditionally
Shakambhari Devi is worshipped in the form of Shakti while worshiping Goddess
Durga. This year, Maa Shakambhari Jayanti will be celebrated in India on 28
January 2021. We may not even know such an important day exists and unknowingly
be the victims of her wrath and displeasure. Coming from Bangalore I am quite
familiar with Banasankari Temple as well as Banasankari Navaratri and therefore
thought of drawing your attention to observe this festival as devotion to Devi
and dedication to solemnize our service to eradicate hunger from fellow
beings.
Shakambhari
Navratri is popular in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and
some parts of Tamil Nadu. In Karnataka, Shakambhari Devi is known as
Banashankari Devi and Banada Ashtami is an important day during Navratri. Most Navratri begins on Shukla Pratipada except Shakambhari
Navratri which begins on Ashtami and ends on Purnima. Hence Shakambhari
Navratri spans for total eight days,
Puranas
describe in the days of yore; several famines took place at various places
across the earth. Animals started dying, flora and fauna started drying up.
Death was rampant. This deterioration and imbalance did upset Bhramaji. Life on
Earth began to end. People started dying due to a lack of food and water. To
resolve this all the sages came together and worshiped Goddess Bhagvati. Heeding
to the sages Goddess Durga incarnated in the form of Shakambhari. She blessed
the earth with rain. She filled the earth with herbs, vegetables and water. All
the creatures became alive again and the earth too got filled with greenery on
all sides.
This
Puranic anecdote is based on Annastuti (where anna is praised as Vyahriti
of Brahman) in MNU that I had explained before and that in turn inspired
Sankaracharya to compose and sing Annapurna hymn before Annpurani Devi in
Kasi.
When
we came to America, most of us thought we had left hunger behind. This was the
land of milk and honey, of plenty, anyone willing to work hard would be
successful. Well, then we found out that was not so. Inequities linger in every
society where segments of population are marginalized, get left behind, and
America was no exception. It was shocking that even in the 21st century, more
than 40 million people in America were hungry! We did not call it hunger…
we termed it “food-challenged,” a word more palatable. For the longest time,
hunger in America was hidden, not immediately visible yet lurking in every
neighborhood.
We
discovered that hunger in America did not necessarily mean homelessness. It
plagued not only the homeless, but also underpaid dual income families, children,
veterans, seniors – people who live in a home, people amongst us! Despite the
US’s developed nation status, our minimum wage does not afford people a living
wage, and the smallest crisis in their life exposes them to great financial
instability, needing them to seek food assistance.
Then
came this pandemic, COVID-19. It bared everything. The ugliness stared at us in
our face. We saw how broken our societies, our supply chains, our way of living
was. Suddenly, hunger became very visible. The pictures of hunger invaded our
homes, making it impossible for us to turn away. Food banks were the only news
topic covered some evenings. And it was gut-wrenching and ironic to watch
farmers destroy harvest-ready crops due to the closed economy while lines of
cars at food distribution sites were growing by miles. And the people in the
cars looked no different than you and me! What a nightmare!!!
Months
later, even as restrictions are lifted, economists suggest that unemployment,
business shutdowns and layoffs will take a long-term toll on our society. With
unemployment touching 25% and rising, food banks will have to continue to
supplement food for many families for many months. And that means the community
at large will need to help support their food banks.
What
role do we play as Hindu Americans?
The
burgeoning Indian American population in USA is proof of a community focused on
the value of education and work ethic. We are scaling all peaks. Our focus on
savings and living a life within our means shelters us from having to
drastically shift our standard of living during adversity.
But
we can wield our strength better by participating in the circles of influence
that spearhead solutions for area issues, the legion of active volunteers and
contributors to mainstream causes. While some of us are getting involved, our
individual efforts are not concerted or impactful enough to match the magnitude
of challenges we see today. We need to regroup, recommit ourselves, and act as
one.
This
is what HungerMitao has set out to do. HungerMitao (which
means wipe out hunger) is a movement to engage the Indian American community in
the fight against hunger across America. It is not an organization, but a secular,
grassroots movement. It was formed to raise hunger awareness, increase
volunteerism, as well as channel the collective resources and contributions of
the Indian American community towards a hunger-free America.
The
Feeding America network of food banks covers and serves the entire country with
amazing efficiency and transparency. So, instead of starting a separate
initiative, HungerMitao supports the food bank system. Donations of all
resources go directly to the food banks and are acknowledged by them.
In a
little under 2.5 years, as HungerMitao, the Indian American Community enabled
more than 10 million meals for the food banks in the US! And that was before
COVID.
Since
then, with collaboration with Indiaspora and its ChaloGive campaign,
in just 2.5 weeks, 6 million additional meals were enabled. 10 million meals
in 2.5 years, additional 6 million meals in 2.5 weeks! This is an
example of what is possible when a community collaborates around a common
issue/cause. Such selfless unity enables a community to take on any
challenge, and our community shines.
HungerMitao
is as much about eradicating hunger as it is about unifying the fragmented
efforts of the Indian American community, focusing it on the humanitarian cause
of HUNGER. This galvanizing effort will further raise the image of the
Indian American community in this land that we have made home. We are, and
want to be known as smart, compassionate change-agents, who make this
community we live in, stronger. We give where we live so our community
benefits from our presence.
And
while we may never be able to eradicate hunger, it is our duty to ensure no one
goes hungry.
As the
pandemic continues, we must ensure everyone has the food they need during this
difficult time. The majority of network food banks report seeing a record
increase in the number of people needing help, with an average increase of 60%
across the country. Between March and June, roughly 4 in 10 people visiting
food banks had not received food assistance before the pandemic. 50
million people may experience hunger because of COVID-19, 60% increase in the
number of people seeking help from food banks 8 billion meals needed to meet
increased demand.
In
this time of uncertainty, Feeding America along with its network of local
leaders works to ensure that this pandemic does not perpetuate inequity or
deepen the burdens often borne disproportionately by communities of color and
low-income people. Some of us lack the protections of a safety net. By focusing
on the needs of people most impacted, we must better ensure the health and
safety of all communities.
It
is in this context, the prayer to Goddess Shatakshi is quite timely and
relevant - for, she is the great nourisher of mankind in every respect. May
Goddess Shatakshi save the mankind from further inanition! May Goddess
Shatakshi bestow nourishment to the sense and reasoning of Sanatana Dharma
followers to see the larger picture and impel them to do their part to save it
from extinction! Let us therefore celebrate Maa Shakambhari Jayanti
on 28 January 2021 this year and also make it a SRE Day every year.
[Born
and raised in India, Raj Asava held senior/executive positions for several
large companies and held the position of president at two, started-up
organizations over the four decades of his corporate career. Asava retired as
Chief Strategy Officer of Perot Systems in 2010. He and his wife Aradhana
(Anna) launched HungerMitao (wipe out hunger), a 100%
volunteer-driven grassroots movement, in the fall of 2017. HungerMitao is
fighting hunger through the Feeding America network of food banks. Since the
two years it has launched, the Indian American community has enabled more than
10 million meals working with food banks in North Texas, Houston, New York
City, Atlanta, and Seattle]
Let
us join such club and open a branch! Annam na nindyaat; annam na
parichaksaheeta; annam deyam, sraddhaya deyam; anaam bahu kurveeta
Please
go throuh detailed description of Shakabari avatar as well as hymns on
Shaikambari and Annapurna Ashtakam of Sankaracharya.
--January 24, 2021
*************
CARING AND SHARING HINDU CULTURE
WHO’s
Focus on Religious and cultural aspects of Hinduism-- hand hygiene of Corona
Virus Pandemonium
“There
are several reasons why religious and cultural issues should be considered when
dealing with the topic of hand hygiene and planning a strategy to promote it in
health-care settings” says WHO, drawing maximum support from Hinduism.
The existence of a wide awareness of everyone’s contribution to the
common good, such as health of the community, may certainly foster HCWs’
(Health Care Worker) propensity to adopt good hand hygiene habits.
For
instance, hand cleansing as a measure of preventing the spread of disease is
clearly in harmony with the fundamental Hindu value of non-injury to others
(ahimsa) and care for their well-being (daya).
In
the Hindu culture, hands are rubbed vigorously with ash or mud and then rinsed
with water. The belief behind this practice is that soap should not be used as
it contains animal fat. If water is not available, other substances such as
sand are used to rub the hands. In a scientific study performed in Bangladesh
to assess fecal coliform counts from post-cleansing hand samples, hand
cleansing with mud and ash was demonstrated to be as efficient as with
water. In the Sikh culture, hand hygiene is not only a holy act,
but an essential element of daily life. Sikhs will always wash their hands properly
with soap and water before dressing a cut or a wound. This behavior is
obviously expected to be adopted by HCWs during patient care. A natural
expectation, such as this one, could also facilitate patients’ ability to
remind the HCW to clean their hands without creating the risk of compromising
their mutual relationship. Hindu cultures, consider the left
hand as “unclean” and reserved solely for “hygienic” reasons, while it is
thought culturally imperative to use the right hand for offering, receiving,
eating, for pointing at something or when gesticulating.
In the
Sikh and Hindu cultures, a specific cultural meaning is given to the habit of
folding hands together either as a form of greeting, as well as in prayer
instead hugging or embracing that necessitates body contact.
Washing
hands in a clockwise movement is suggested and goes well with the positive
manner of cheerful and auspicious occasions. Studies have shown the importance
of the role of gesture in teaching and learning and there is certainly a potential
advantage to considering this for the teaching of hand hygiene, in particular,
its representation in pictorial images for different cultures.
Both
the CDC guideline58 and the present WHO guidelines recommend that HCWs wash
their hands with soap and water when visibly soiled. Otherwise, hand rubbing
with an alcohol-based rub is recommended for all other opportunities for hand
hygiene during patient care as it is faster, more effective, and better
tolerated by the skin.
External
and internal cleanliness is a scripturally enjoined value in Hinduism,
consistently listed among the cardinal virtues in authoritative Hindu texts
(Bhagavadgita, Yoga Shastra of Patanjali).
According
to scientific evidence arising from efficacy and cost–effectiveness, alcohol-based
hand rubs are currently considered the gold standard approach.
In some
religions, alcohol use is prohibited or considered an offence requiring a
penance (Sikhism) because it is considered to cause mental impairment
(Hinduism,). Even the simple denomination of the product as an “alcohol-based
formulation” could become a real obstacle in the implementation of WHO
recommendations.
In
general, in theory, those religions with an alcohol prohibition in everyday
life demonstrate a pragmatic vision which is followed by the acceptance of the
most valuable approach in the perspective of optimal patient-care delivery.
Consequently, no objection is raised against the use of alcohol-based products
for environmental cleaning, disinfection, or hand hygiene. This is the most
common approach in the case of faiths such as Sikhism and Hinduism. For
example, in a fundamental Hindu textbook, the Shanti Parva, it is explicitly
stated that it is not sinful to drink alcohol for medicinal purposes.
There is a well-coordinated science in the background of temple
worship but unfortunately Hindu temples do not make the modern
world sufficiently aware of this fact. Yet WHO has drawn its strength from
Hinduism. Please go through the discourse that was circulated to you
before and convince yourselves:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2018/03/hindu-temples-worships-based-on-very.html
Daanena
dvishanto mitraah bhavanti | Yajnena dvishanto mitraah bhavanti-- By acts
of charity enemies become friends; by conducting Yajna ritual for general
benefit enemies become friends! Though sailing in the same boat India has shown
its spirit of vasudhaiva kutumbakam, sharing and caring and spirit of
selfless charity. Please go through the following new how India is
engaged with this Charity service:
India's
vaccine diplomacy in south Asia pushes back against China
By Sanjeev Miglani, Gopal Sharma (Reuters)
NEW
DELHI/KATHMANDU (Reuters) - India will give millions of doses of
COVID-19
vaccine to South Asian countries in the next few weeks, government sources said
on Thursday, drawing praise from its neighbors and pushing back against China’s
dominating presence in the region.
Free
shipments of AstraZeneca’s vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of
India, the world’s biggest producer of vaccines, have begun arriving in the
Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepa
Myanmar
and the Seychelles are next in line to get free consignments as India uses its
strength as one of the world’s biggest makers of generic drugs to build
friendships.
“The
government of India has shown goodwill by providing the vaccine in grant. This
is at the people’s level, it is the public who are suffering the most from
COVID-19,” said Nepal’s Minister for Health and Population Hridayesh
Tripathi.
The
gesture comes at a time that India’s ties with Nepal have been strained by a
territorial dispute and Indian concern over China’s expanding political and
economic influence in the Himalayan nation sandwiched between the Asian giants.
China,
which had promised Nepal help to deal with the pandemic, is awaiting Nepali
clearance for its Sinopharm shots.
“We’ve
asked them to submit more documents and information before we give them the
approval,” said Santosh K.C., spokesman for Nepal’s department of drug
administration.
CHINESE
RIVALRY
Bangladesh
was supposed to get 110,000 doses of vaccine free from Chinese firm Sinovac
Biotech, but Bangladesh refused to contribute towards the development cost of
the vaccine leading to deadlock.
Bangladesh
has instead turned to India for urgent supplies and on Thursday was due to
receive 2 million shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine as a gift from India.
“India
is making the AstraZeneca vaccine which makes all the difference. It can be
stored and transported at normal refrigerated temperatures and countries like
Bangladesh have that facility,” a Bangladesh health official said.
Meanwhile
India’s arch-rival Pakistan on Thursday thanked China, its close strategic
ally, for a pledge to provide half a million doses of the vaccine free of
charge by the end of the month.
India
for years has struggled to match the pace of Chinese investment in countries
such as Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Maldives, where China is building ports, roads
and power stations as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.
But the
demand for vaccines in these countries desperate to revive their
tourism-dependent economies has offered Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
government a way to claw back ground, diplomats say.
India
is considering giving away anything from 12 million to 20 million shots to its
neighbors in the first wave of assistance over the next three to four weeks,
one government source said.
India
is also helping with the training of health workers in some of these countries
and the setting up of the infrastructure to administer the shots, the source
said.
“It’s a
well-crafted, calibrated series of actions you are seeing, they confirm the
validity of our ‘neighborhood first’ policy,” said a former Indian ambassador,
Rajiv Bhatia. “It plays to our strengths in science and pharma, and this is our
moment to shine”.
Innovative
Hindu genius creates Coronavirus Mardhini with her Army of Coronavirus
Warriors to culminate the present pandemonium. It looks as though there prayers
have been heard!
In
this context, please go through attached write up “India’s goddesses of
contagion provide protection in the pandemic – just don’t make
them angry“ by Professor of Anthropology, Tulasi Srinivas of Emerson
College, USA.
--January 24, 2021
******************
KATHA UPANISHAD ON ENIGMA OF LIFE AND DEATH
(A
dialogue of Nachiketas with Mrityu)
Vājaśravas
father of Nachiketas, was giving away all his possessions in charity.
Nachiketas, though young but enlightenhed, was curious to know, being also his
possession to whom he will be given away. Annoyed by his
repeated question, in a fit of anger, Vajasravas told his son that
he would give him to Mṛtyu (Yama, The Lord of Death).
The innocent boy on hearing the angry words of his father began to think how he
could be useful to Mṛtyu. Without any clue therefore, he
reached the abode of Mṛtyu, but had to wait there for three
nights to have a meeting with Mṛtyu. As a recompense for this 3-night
delay, Mṛtyu allowed Nachiketas to ask three
boons from him.
Truths
are presented in the Veda mystically, in Brahmans ritualistically and in the
Upanishads philosophically. Three nights are three darknesses, three knots in
the consciousness (granthi).
In the
individual consciousness the three knots are
(1) Brahma-granthi at
the Navel,
(2) Vishnu-granthi at
the heart and
(3) Rudra-granthi at
the middle of the brows – bhru-madhya.
Crossing
over the three nights, piercing the three knots, Nachiketa has arrived at the
fourth state – the Turiya.
The
first boon Nachiketas asked was that his father be pacified and no longer be
angry with him; the second was for obtaining a ‘fire’ of the gods, which is
capable of leading one to heaven and immortality; Mṛtyu
readily gave him these boons. Then Nachiketas asked the third boon: “On the
question of a dead person, some say that he continues to exist, whereas others
say that he ceases to exist (at death); I wish to be taught by you on this
issue.’ To the third question, Mṛtyu
said, “This is a very subtle issue; even the gods (deva) had this doubt in the
past. It is not easy to know; ask for any other boon. Do not compel me”
Nachiketas
replies, “If even the gods had doubts, I see none other than you to tell me
about this secret knowledge. So, I am not going for an alternative boon”
(verses 1.21 and 1.22).
In the
last Valli Mṛtyu repeats the concept of immortality
that he had described at length before and discusses aspects of attaining
it. Those who realize this all-pervading Ātmā attain immortality (verse 6.2).
Everything in this universe is under the control of Ātmā and follows its rules
(6.3). Ātmā is the ultimate of all and is beyond the grasp of the senses; those
who know it become immortal (6.7 to 6.9, 6.12, 6.13 and 6.18). Since Ātmā is
not within the reach of senses, seekers have to rely on other means. They must
refrain from going after the senses; instead, they have to control their
activities; this control of senses is called yoga. This will take them to
realization of the ever-existing Ātmā (6.11). When one gets rid of all the Kāma
within (through this control of the wandering senses) he will become immortal
(6.14 and 6.15). Mentioning about the different types of nerves in the ‘Heart,’
verse 6.16 points out the particular nerve that lays down the path to
immortality. Path to immortality is the theme of all Upanishads,
that they do in their own style that we have discussed in the past.
The
problem of the Katha Upanishad may be regarded as what pertains to the enigma
of life and death. The great question of life is also the great question of
death. Life and death are a continuous process. They are not end in themselves.
And the three questions of Nachiketas, as well as the boons bestowed on him by
Yama, pertain to the evolutionary process of the cosmos from sense to mind,
from mind to Spirit; from objects to the internal conditioning factors of
perception, and finally to the Absolute.
While
the main quest is on Brahman, the discourse also deals at length on the
words like Sraddha and Jnana we often come across in our Upanishadic
studies that can’t be easily translated into English.
Please
go through the detailed compilation from several authors:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2021/01/katha-upanishad-on-enigma-of-life-and.html
--January
23, 2020
Comments:
Thank
you for this Compilation and the Key Presentation.
--TKP
Naig
Thank
you, Happy New Year! How are you doing ? Do you have Purusha Sukta and
Nasadiya Sukta Commentaries? If you do, would you please send it
--Ratna
De
HINDU REFLECTIONS ON THE LEGENDRY US
PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION OF 2021
Biden took the helm, appealing
for unity to take on crises echoing the Vedic wisdom sanghachhadvam
samvadadvam, in matters that affects all the people though
individuals often need the difference to meet their individual needs.
What we learn from Upanishads is in the process of learning you may disagree
with your master and go by your consciousness that should not lead no
disrespect and devastation. “We may disagree on certain issue or modus
operands, that is democracy and that is America. The right to dissent
peaceably, within the guardrails of our Republic, is perhaps our Nation’s
strength. But disagreement must not lead to disunion or destruction” says
Biden!
The
color has long represented bipartisanship, combining the color red,
representing the Republican Party, and blue, representing the Democratic Party.
Swing states are also sometimes referred to as Purple States because their
electoral status comprises near-equal numbers of red and blue voters. Purple is
also the color of the suffragette movement, representing “loyalty, constancy to
purpose, unswerving steadfastness to a cause. Politicians have long used the
color purple to share this message of bipartisanship.
Hillary
Clinton, inspired by Hindu American friends and celebrities devoted to
Hinduism, wore the purple color when she delivered her concession speech after
losing the 2016 presidential election to Donald Trump as a way to represent
both parties coming together. Her husband, former president Bill Clinton,
even wore a purple tie. Soon, this message was forgotten. The message of unity
and togetherness was a key theme in Biden’s inaugural address Wednesday.
“We
must meet this moment as the United States of America. So today, at this time
in this place, let’s start afresh, all of us. Let’s begin to listen to one
other again, hear one another, and see on another. Politics doesn’t have to be
a raging fire destroying everything in its path.” said Biden.
Vedas
say rising fire from Yajnas (Sacrificial fire) make enemies, friends,
unlike raging fire that destroys everything in its path--Yajnena dvishantah
mitro bhavanti. Everyone need to have the glowing urge for sacrifice
in serving!
Purple
— a blend of red and blue — was the
color of the Inaguration day of 2021. (It’s also
one of the signature colors of the suffragists.) Vice President Kamala Harris,
Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton all wore variations of the purple
color.
The
incoming First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, also
selected her ensemble carefully. Her custom "ocean
blue(with tinge of red)" coat and matching dress set made in wool tweed
with a matching silk face mask was created by the female-founded American brand
Markarian. The ocean blue color "was chosen for the pieces to signify trust,
confidence, and stability," the label said in a press statement.
[Vishnu is always presented in ocean blue color symbolic of peace--santatakaram…….
padmanabham] Dr. Biden the pale purple dress and coat from American
designer Jonathan Cohen's fall/winter 2021 collection and matching mask from
the designer's studio collection. Cohen is the son of two Mexican immigrants,
who immigrated to San Diego to carve out a better life for their family. All
Lives Matter was in her mind perhaps!
In
addition to purple's special meaning for Harris, the color has often
been worn by women in the political sphere as a sign of "unity"
— of Republican red and Democratic blue coming together.
The
former Secretary of State wore purple again to the 2021 Inauguration, once
again selecting a Ralph Lauren Collection suit, as she shared a strong
sentiment about the significance of welcoming Harris to the Vice Presidency.
Harris’s
outfit was designed by Christopher
John Rogers, the latest Black designer whose clothes she
has spotlighted, indicated that “Talents are not restricted to any color or
race”. She openly expressed that she chose purple outfit and pearl necklace,
knowing the mind of her President who is keen to heal the wound and bring unity
and clarity of e probes Unum--one among many (vasudheka kutumkam)!
Kamala
Harris has continually described her racial identity as Black, South Asian,
Indian-American, African-American, and Jamaican-American. Seperated from her
Jamaican father she was brought up and educated by her Hindu mother Shyamala
Gopalan and grew up mostly addicted to Indian food and attracted to Hindu
culture. She therefore had a perfect understanding of what her name symbolized!
The
Hindus believe that pearls can reduce your karma and make your relationships
strong. The Quran says that Paradise is full of priceless pearls, while
the Greeks promoted pearls as a symbol of honesty and integrity. A pearl gem
can help you deal with negative situations in life by surrounding you with
healing energy and positivity—much like the mollusk organism surrounds the
parasite with layer after layer of protection fluid in an attempt to heal.
Kamala in
Sanskrit means lotus that can be pink, red, blue or white according to Rigveda.
Kamala Harris with her outfit and her consort represented all these colors.
This was not accidental but intentional based on her Hindu values. Both Biden
and Kamala Harris (Hindus pronounce Harris as Harish) claim they
are PIOs-Person of Indian Origin. I hope Kamala Harris will stand up to the
Hindu Value symbolism of her name Lotus that she has learnt from her mother! I
am sure she would have discussed about the outfits for the occasion with other
VIP Women!
Growth,
purity, birth – some of the terms that one correctly hears when learning about
the Dharmic and symbolic importance of the lotus. The lotus also
represents the highest level of consciousness when in search for enlightenment
and purity. Lotus Flower is one of the most popular symbols in Hindu religion.
It is believed that Lord Brahma emerged from the navel of Lord Vishnu sitting
on a lotus. Goddess Sarasvati, the Hindu Goddess of learning, is shown sitting
on a white lotus. Lotus flower is a symbol of eternity, plenty and good fortune
and Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth, is usually depicted with
a Purple lotus flower. The symbolism of Lotus flower is
mentioned in the 5th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita by Lord Krishna:
- One who does all work as an
offering to the Lord, abandoning attachment to the results, is as
untouched by sin (or Karmic reaction) as a lotus leaf is untouched by
water (5.10). Thus Lotus is a symbol of purity and enlightenment amid
ignorance (the smutty swamps in which it grows).
Lotus
in spite of being in water never gets wet. It is not bothered about its
surrounding but it blooms and performs its job and vanishes. The ultimate aim
of living beings is to perform the duty to the best of one’s ability!
Lotus
flower is frequently mentioned in the ancient Sanskrit Hindu scriptures, as
padma (pink lotus), kamala (red lotus), pundarika (white lotus) and utpala
(blue lotus). The earliest reference can be found in the Rig Veda. (Here red
represents power and prosperity and not Republican Party)
--January 21, 2021
Comments:
Inaugural
symbolism augurs well for good interracial harmony!
--A.S. Narayana
VERY
PROUD India Celebrates Kamala Harris’ inauguration as U.S. Vice President
A
tiny lush-green Indian
village surrounded by rice paddy fields was beaming with joy Wednesday hours
before its descendant, Kamala Harris,
takes her oath of office and becomes the U.S. vice-president.
Harris
is set to make history as the first woman, first woman of color and first
person of South Asian descent to hold the vice presidency.
In her
maternal grandfather’s hometown of Thulasendrapuram, about 350 kilometres (215
miles) from the southern coastal city of Chennai, people were jubilant and
gearing up for celebrations.
“We are
feeling very proud that an Indian is being elected as the vice-president of
America,” said Anukampa Madhavasimhan, 52, a teacher.
Harris’
grandfather moved to Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state, decades ago.
Harris’ late mother was also born in India, before moving to the U.S. to study
at the University of California. She married a Jamaican man, and they named
their daughter Kamala, a Sanskrit word for “lotus flower.”
Ahead of the U.S. elections in November,
villagers in Thulasendrapuram had pulled together a ceremony at the main Hindu
temple to wish Harris good luck. After her win, they set off firecrackers and
distributed sweets and flowers as a religious offering.
Posters
of Harris from the November celebrations still adorn walls in the village and
many hope she ascends to the presidency in 2024. President-elect Joe Biden has
skirted questions about whether he will seek reelection or retire.
“For
the next four years, if she supports India, she will be the president,” said G
Manikandan, 40, who has followed her politically and whose shop proudly
displays a wall calendar with pictures of Biden and Harris.
Ahead of
the inauguration, special prayers for her success are expected to be held at
the local temple during which the idol of Hindu deity Ayyanar, a form of Lord
Shiva, will be washed with milk and decked with flowers by the priest.
On
Tuesday, an organization that promotes vegetarianism sent food packets for the
village children as gifts to celebrate Harris’ success.
Trump’s
presidency ends with turmoil and apprehension; Trump’s presidency comes to an
end: ‘We will be back in some form’ says President Trump in his Farewell
speech
Indian
Americans Celebrate Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris
Vice
President-elect Kamala Harris delivers an address to the nation from
Wilmington, Del., on Saturday. Harris will not only be the first Black, and first
female, vice president. She's also the first Indian American and the first
Asian American elected to the office.
After
Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris paid tribute to her mother, Shyamala Gopalan
Harris, an Indian immigrant, in her victory speech Saturday night, Twitter
erupted in celebration of Indian moms.
"Thinking
about Shyamala and all the Indian moms out there feeling the emotions my mom is
feeling right now; to vote for, and elect, someone who was raised around the
same food, the same discipline, the same culture," read the tweet from
Vibhor Mathur.
Harris
will not only be the first Black, and first female, vice president. She's also
the first Indian American and the first Asian American elected to the office.
Her late mother was born in India and immigrated as a teenager to California,
where Harris was born.
Some
Indian Americans are calling
Harris' election an early Diwali present. The Indian festival of
lights begins this weekend.
Along
with Harris' victory, all four other Indian American Democrats in Congress were
re-elected this past week. (Though another Indian American lost his bid for a House seat in Texas.)
Together with Harris, who served in the U.S. Senate, they have been dubbed by
some Indian media as the "Samosa Caucus" — after the popular
Indian snack.
Rep.
Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Indian-born Democrat from Illinois, called Harris'
election "a transformative, meaningful moment for our country."
In
a statement emailed to reporters, the U.S.-India Business Council congratulated
Harris and President-Elect Biden, calling their victory "truly a barrier
breaking moment, and one that celebrates the diversity of America."
The
U.S. India Political Action Committee called Harris' election "one of the
most inspirational days for young girls everywhere, especially Black and Indian
girls. A victory for decency, class, truth, maturity and unity."
The
Washington-based Hindu American Foundation also issued a statement noting Harris' South Asian
background, congratulating her and Biden, and pledging to work with their
administration.
Despite
President Trump's friendship with Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, surveys done before the election showed Indian
Americans overwhelmingly planned to vote for Biden and Harris. --AP News.
Kamala
Harris’ VP bid brings out pouring of pride among Indian Americans, a growing
force in Democratic politics
Atlanta
lawyer Amol Naik was surprised by his emotional reaction to Joe Biden’s
selection of Kamala Harris as his running mate.
It’s
not that Harris will be the first Black woman to be a major party’s vice
presidential nominee; it’s that she will be the first Indian American.
“I have
just been moved by it in a way that I didn’t expect,” said Naik, whose parents
emigrated from India to North Carolina. “It’s just really a remarkable thing
that this could happen. It gives you a lot of faith in the country.”
The
California senator’s ascent to the top tier of American politics drew an
outpouring of pride among Indian Americans, a growing force in Democratic
politics. They rewarded Biden and Harris with crucial votes in the
handful of states that decided the election, along with a surge of campaign donations.
“You’re
going to see a lot of that being uncorked in the next few months,” said
Karthick Ramakrishnan, a UC Riverside public policy professor.
Historic
breakthroughs have been a constant in Harris’ 17 years in politics. She was the
first Black woman to hold every office she has won — San Francisco district attorney, state attorney general and U.S. senator from
California. With the United States in the midst of a historic reckoning with
systemic racism after George Floyd died when a Minneapolis police officer knelt
on his neck, her status as the first Black woman tapped as a major vice presidential
nominee has generated enormous media attention.
Less
remarked upon has been Harris’ distinction as the first Indian American to
reach all of those positions. But Naik was one of many who saw Biden’s choice
of Harris as a watershed cultural moment for the nation’s 4.5 million Indian
Americans.
“It
wasn’t that long ago when Indian Americans were not at all part of the American
mainstream,” said Naik, who has worked in Georgia Democratic politics. “That’s
now happened. We have Sanjay Gupta on CNN. We have [comedian] Aziz Ansari —
people everyone knows. That was not the case in the 1990s when I was growing
up.”
Television
director Kabir Akhtar wrote Tuesday on Twitter that it was “incredible to see
an Indian American on the ticket. A whole generation of us felt like outsiders
in our country growing up. So happy for all the young women and POC in our
country who can see someone who looks like them on the presidential
ticket.”
Harris
is the daughter of two immigrants, a key aspect of her biography as she and
Biden work to unseat President Trump. A core part of Trump’s political identity
is his anti-immigrant agenda.
Harris
rarely speaks publicly about her father, Donald Harris, a Jamaican-born
economist who taught at Stanford University.
But she
often talks about her late mother, breast cancer researcher Shyamala Gopalan,
who moved from India to California in the late 1950s to study at UC
Berkeley.
In an
interview in June on a Los Angeles Times podcast, Asian Enough, Harris said her
mother was “conscious of race” when raising her and her sister, Maya, in deeply
segregated Berkeley in the 1960s and ‘70s.
“She
knew that in America, her daughters would be treated, for better or worse, as
Black women and Black children, and she raised us with a sense of pride about
who we were,” Harris said. But it was “never to the exclusion of always being
very proud and very active in terms of our Indian culture as well.” -- Los
Angeles
--January
20, 2021
Comments:
A very well written article in the very
appropriate time. Excellent Sir. We all are happy about the election
outcome and that she is there as VP. I have learned a lot from this article.
Thanks a lot.
--Nashville
Nagarajan
****************
2021 Banada Ashtami/Shakambari Navaratri
Shakambhari
Navratri begins on Paush Shukla Ashtami and ends on Paush
Purnima. Paush Shukla Ashtami is known as Banada Ashtami or Banadashtami.
Shakambhari
devi is the third form of the Mother as depicted in the "Murti
Rahasyam" part of "The Devi-mahatmyam" or most popularly,
"Sri Sri Durga Saptashati/Sri Sri Chandi
Most
Navratri
begins on Shukla Pratipada except Shakambhari Navratri which begins on Ashtami
and ends on Purnima. Hence Shakambhari Navratri spans for total eight days.
However in some years due to skipped Tithi and leaped Tithi Shakambhari
Navratri might span for seven and nine days respectively.
Shakambhari
Mata is incarnation of Devi Bhagwati. It is believed that Devi Bhagwati
incarnated as Shakambhari to mitigate famine and severe food crisis on the
Earth. She is also known as Goddess of vegetables, fruits and green leaves and
depicted with green surroundings of fruits and vegetables.
Shakambhari
Navratri culminates on Paush Purnima which is also known as Shakambhari
Purnima. Shakambhari Purnima is also known as Shakambhari
Jayanti as it is believed that Devi Shakambhari was incarnated on the
very same day.
Shakambhari
Navratri is popular in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and
some parts of Tamil Nadu. In Karnataka, Shakambhari Devi is known as Banashankari
Devi and Banada Ashtami is an important day during Navratri. It I also
popular in Malaysia, Trinidad, Tobago, Texas, Virginia and other places but not
Nashville where I reside.
It is clear to us that there is birth
and there is death (jaatasya maranam
dhruvam; punarapi jananam punarapi maranam). Passion is the cause of birth.
Time is the cause of death. What is created by passion is destroyed by time. If
passion comes, the seed sprouts. If time comes, the tree dies. Kaalo Jagat Bhakshaka: Even the sun and
the moon disintegrate when time comes. If there is no passion, there is no
production. If there is no time then there is no destruction. Therefore we have
to conquer Kaala and Kaama. Iswari (Isvareegam
sarvabhootaanaam) burnt Kaama and kicked time. this is a long process. But what we are
facing at present is akala mrityu, untimely mrityu that forces our soul to
wander for some time in unknown territories as ghosts may be till the time
arrives for destined journey! So if we go to her, there is neither birth nor
untimely death for us. Let us therefore pray to the Universal Mother!
Though these eight days are not
celebrated as SRE days in many Hindu American Temples, they remind our special
attention this year due to Corona Virus Pandemic, devastating death, economy
and hunger. Let us set up a tradition to celebrate this Navaratri from now on
as it is appealing to all tradition as we have earlier ignored Annapurna
Jayanti on December 29, 2020 and is also popular off shores of Indian in many
lands.
I
will talk about it later in detail as to why we should focus on it as a
period for Food-drive and charity days
based on the work presently being carried out by HUNGER-MITHAU Movement in
USA!
--January 18, 2021
PRICELESS PHILOSOPHIC THOUGHTS & SPROUTING
MODERN SCIENCE REVEALED IN VEDAS
I was
attracted to a news column that said two advice-filled notes Albert Einstein
wrote to a bellboy in Japan 95 years ago brought $1.5 million at an auction
Tuesday (Oct. 24)., including one that advocated for "a calm and modest
life," fetched more. Though philosophical, Einstein did not find
time to focus much on Sanatana Dharma like other celebrities described in this
discourse, but believed in conflation of Science and Religion.
If we
closely examine wisdom thoughts of Vedas and their Upanishads as well as Gita,
we come across several philosophic thought that are priceless and would have
brought billions of dollars to make us all rich. Inspired by Sanatana Dharma,
its fore-runner the Holy Bible too contains several gems of philosophical
thoughts. The above exciting news opens our mind to the granary of philosophic
thoughts in our scriptures.
Participants
of Hindu Reflections are no strangers to such wisdom thoughts that are
periodically brought to their attention through Webinar and AUPA messages of
FOWAI Forum and my discourses, yet this incidence makes us more attentive to
them than before, often casually glanced through.
In this
compilation I draw your attention to the Blog posting of the Hindu scholar Dr.
Jayashree Saranthan, titled “Einstein’s Theory of Happiness – tested through
Veda Vyasa’s” that also draws our attention to another publication in Live
Science: “Einstein’s ‘Hidden formula’ for Happiness sells for $
1.5 million” by Laura Geggel, Senior Writer of Live Science.
It is
interesting to note how spiritual philosophies from East or West can fill our
lives with spontaneous joy that leads to happiness in life. Albert Einstein was
well known for his philosophic thoughts and scientific discovery. I have also
talked about some US celebrities who drew their inspiration from Vedas and
Upanishads to you before, and also, I have talked to you at length about our
ancient sages who were also great scientists. Of course, we are well aware of
Sir C.V. Raman and Abul Kalam Azad of modern times!
When I
settled in Nashville after retirement in 1999, I observed a group of
retired doctors that are temple fathers, actively working in the temple
office and serving community. They found Joy in their voluntary service,
without relaxing in their homes, that can be called Santosha in
Sanskrit, that brought them Happiness in retired life that is called
Sukha in Life in Sanskrit, a state of Being. Hindus
believe that such selfless services to society, charity given with no strings
attached (sraddhaya deyam), Compassion (daya) and Constraints
(dama), leading a calm life with yoga and meditation would lead to
Eternal Bliss called Aanada in Sanskrit (no equivalent in
English) that may be called Perennial Joy after this life itself
or more lives, based on individual’s performance.
Inspired
by these philanthropists I started Hindu Reflections with weekly dispatches of
its messages that gives me Joy with each dispatch that in turn has given me
Happiness in life that has incidentally brought laurels without my
expectations. My pocket was empty but my mind was full. So, I too thought
that “Retirement should not Weaken my Soul”, like the Seva minded
Temple Fathers. Guided by the wisdom of Gita I started working continuously--veetaragabhayakrodhah
yudhyasva vigatajvarah--devoid of passion, fear and anger act without
anxiety! Ananda to end this journey of Joy of momentary feeling that leads to
Happiness, the State of being in Life to obtain the permanent state of Aananda
is not in my hands and that depends on my Karma and Good Lord’s Judgement in
this life as well as subsequent lives!
“Science
can only be created by those who are thoroughly imbued with the aspiration
toward truth and understanding. This source of feeling, however, springs from
the sphere of religion. To this there also belongs the faith in the possibility
that the regulations valid for the world of existence are rational, that is,
comprehensible to reason. I cannot conceive of a genuine scientist without that
profound faith. The situation may be expressed by an image: science without
religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” -- said Albert
Einstein, and his famous aphorism has been the source of endless debate between
believers and non-believers wanting to claim the greatest scientist of
the 20th century as their own.
Please
go through my compilation that discusses these two-fortune fetched philosophic
thoughts of Einstein in the light of Hindu scriptures and Holy Bible that I am
sure should have also influenced the genius mind, though not given open
expression. Spiritual thinkers like Jayashree Sharanathan and Laura
Geggle can lead us to greater heights than a scientist like Einstein for their
minds are mostly focused on Science.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2021/01/priceless-philosophic-thoughts.html
--January 17, 2021
DREADED
RAVENS OF ENGLAND & VENERATED CROW AND EAGLE HINDUS
Hinduism
is often ridiculed as a religion of myths and pagan traditions, but such things
existed in all traditions once and are also continuing in certain cultures.
Look at the story of iconic Ravens that are being nurtured and pampered in the
Tower of London!
One of the iconic ravens
that resides in the Tower of London
is missing, and officials fear the worst. Will the tower fall, as legend warns?
(Probably not.) But, given the other narratives confronting England--COVID 19
at its most deadly since the pandemic began to uncurl from far-away China a
year ago; the traumas and tribulations of the Brexit; the consequent fraying of
the bonds that unite the United Kingdom--could it not be said that the portent
is already in the process of realization?
The
entwinement of the ravens’ destinies with the nations’ might have been foreseen
last August, when worries related to the coronavirus pandemic stripped the
Tower of London of its legions of
visitors. The ravens--sometimes collectively called an “unkindness”--became
bored and restless without the detritus of human contact that kept them in
snacks in addition to a regular diet. They were also said to pine for the
stimulation of a human audience for their party tricks that include mimicry.
Merlina,
a female raven (Corvus corax), joined the corvid community at the
tower in 2007, and has reigned since then as "the ruler of the
roost," tower representatives tweeted
in a thread on Jan. 13.
But
Merlina, one of seven royal ravens in the tower, has been missing for several
weeks, "and her continued absence indicates to us that she may have sadly
passed away," representatives wrote in one of
the tweets.
The
Tower of London, in the United Kingdom, is a lofty fortress built by William
the Conqueror; he began its construction in the 1070s, and other monarchs
further enlarged and reinforced the building, according to the U.K. website Historic
Royal Palaces (HRP). Inside its fortified walls, Britain's kings and
queens have imprisoned traitors to the crown; staged executions; stockpiled
weapons; and hoarded precious jewels.
They
also created a home there for a small group of ravens (the birds have been
known collectively as "an unkindness" since at least 1486, when the
term was published in "The Book of St. Albans," according to Merriam-Webster).
Lore dating to the days or Charles II — King of Scotland, England and Ireland
from 1660 to 1685 — states that six ravens must live in the tower at all times,
and "the crown and the Tower itself would fall if they left,"
according to HRP.
Today,
there are seven ravens residing there; six "official" birds, and one
spare, HRP says. Merlina, along with Erin, Grip, Harris, Jubilee and Poppy, occupied
lodgings in the Tower's South Lawn (the so-called spare raven is not named on
the HRP website). One of the Tower guards, known as a Beefeater or a Yeoman
Warder, is also the designated Raven-master, tasked with caring for the birds.
Christopher Skaife is the current Raven-master, feeding his charges
blood-soaked dog biscuits "as a special treat;" settling flock-based
feuds; and foiling escape attempts, the
Audubon Society wrote in a profile in 2018.
Merlina
was "a free-spirited raven," and she went missing around
Christmastime, Skaife told
BBC News on Jan. 14. Feathers in the wings of Tower ravens are
regularly trimmed to keep the birds close to home, though the birds are still
able to fly short distances. Despite these precautions, some of the more
adventurous ravens still manage to stray too far, HRP representatives said.
"There
is a long and storied history of the ravens being spotted out and about around
the local area, including a pair who used to nest at St Paul's Cathedral,"
HRP representatives told Live Science in an email. "In 2011, one of the
current ravens — Munin — reached as far as Greenwich [5 miles or 8 kilometers
from London], before being returned a week later. However, the ravens generally
choose to stay at the Tower, where they are incredibly well-fed and cared for
by the Raven-master and his team," they said.
Sadly,
Merlina's prolonged absence suggests that the long-standing "queen"
will return home nevermore.
"She
will be greatly missed by her fellow ravens, the Ravenmaster and all of us in
the Tower community," tower representatives tweeted.
In Celtic
mythology, the warrior goddess
known as the Morrighan often appears in the form of a crow or raven
or is seen accompanied by a group of them. Typically, these birds appear in
groups of three, and they are seen as a sign that the Morrighan is watching—or
possibly getting ready to pay someone a visit.
In some tales of the Welsh myth cycle,
the Mabinogion, the raven is a harbinger of death. Witches and sorcerers
were believed to have the ability to transform themselves into ravens and fly
away, thus enabling them to evade capture.
The Native
Americans often saw the raven as a trickster, much like Coyote.
There are a number of tales regarding the mischief of Raven, who is sometimes
seen as a symbol of transformation. In the legends of various tribes, Raven is
typically associated with everything from the creation of the world to the gift
of sunlight to mankind. Some tribes knew the raven as a stealer of souls.
But in contrast Hindus venerate crows,
a cousin of raven and worship Eagle
that has been raised to the status of a deity (Garuda). To know why crow
is venerated, we have to go to Ramayana:
Rama saw the crow that was hurting Sita
and he recognized that wasn’t just any ordinary crow, but that was Lord
Indra’s son, Jayant, who was disguised in the form of a crow. Jayant was
trying to flirt with Sita. When Lord Rama found out, he become outraged
and he said to Jayant, “Now I will kill you!” But Jayant apologized and begged
for Rama’s forgiveness. “Please have mercy on me!”
Rama obliged him and said, “I will
not kill you, but I will punish you for your offense. I will also give you a
boon. Now, I will aim my arrow at your eye. From now on, you will have
only one eye. You will only be able to use one eyeball at a time, not both. The
boon is that whatever is invisible for two-eyed creature will be visible for
you. My arrow will perform magic with your eye. You will be able to see
ancestors and unsatisfied souls. Jayant, you will have a long life.
Whoever feeds you during the time of
honoring our ancestors (Pitru Paksha), their ancestors will be
satisfied.” From that day forward, the crow has one active eyeball, a
long life, and a strong connection with ancestors. This is story behind the
crow’s significance in Indian mythology.
SABARIMMALAI--Place
Where Eagle Guards God’s Jewelry
Sabarimala Temple of Kerala, India is
one Indian temple that is unique of its kind in various aspects. Thousands of devotees throng
to this temple on the auspicious ‘Makara Sankranti’ season, which usually
falls in the month of January. The temple is opened only during this season and
various miracles take place during this period, following the ‘Makara
Jyoti’ at the east of Sabarimala Hill, which is very popular. The
history says that the King Pandalam, who adopted Lord Ayyappa as his son,
secured a promise from the Lord. According to this, the ornaments/jewelry
dedicated to the Lord by the King will be adorned to the Ayyappa idol in
Sabarimala on the ‘Makara Jyothi day’ of every Sankranti festival (mostly on
Jan 14). So, according to the custom, on such period, the concerned staff
representing the Kingdom carry those jewelry from the palace to the temple, by
foot, following a pooja and reverence. They start on January 12 and
will reach the temple by Jan 14.
Following Aarti, immediately a holy
eagle (referred as the Royal Garuda, the god vehicle of Lord Vishnu) flies
over the palace and starts flying ahead of the people carrying ornaments, as a
guard to them. Once the ornaments reach the temple, the main deity is
adorned with those and a candle is lit in the temple, and in
parallel immediately, a ‘Makara Jyoti’ is seen on the top of the hill
eastwards to the Sabarimala hill.
One more uniqueness of this temple is
thousands of devotees visit this temple, irrespective of religion.
THIRUKAZHUKUNDRAM:
AN ECOLOGICAL HERITAGE SITE OF TAMILNADU
Commonly known as Pakshi Thirtham and
Dakshina Kailasam it is one of the most well-known sites of religious
importance in Tamil Nadu. The hillock
is named as Vedagiri, since it is traditionally believed that the four (Rig,
Yajur, Sama and Atharvana) Vedas are seen one above the other in the form of four
rocks. Lord Shiva is believed to be emerging from the head of the fourth
(Atharvana) Veda and said to have derived the name Vedagiriswarar (a suayambu
lingam), the presiding deity of the temple situated on the hilltop. The absence
of a Nandi before the presiding deity on the hilltop is a unique feature of
this temple.
Thirukazhukundram is traditionally rich
in history and spirituality. According to a legend the `sacred kazhugu
would regain its original form and attain moksha (salvation) at the end
of Kali Yuga. Hence this place is named `Tirukazhu(gu) kundram’ (the
hill of sacred eagles) and also Pakshi Thirtha> (in Sanskrit),
meaning “water made holy by the visit of the birds”.
According to a legend, sage Pusha and
sage Vidhadha were cursed by Lord Siva to become eagles, for some offense. It
is believed that they are the two eagles that visit Thirukazhukundram daily
from time immemorial, in order to worship Siva and to obtain salvation from His
curse. It is said that after a bath in the Ganges in the morning, they come
here at noon for food, reach Rameswaram in the evening for darshan and return
to Chidambaram for the night. The eagles circle around the temple top and
approach the priest. They eat the balls of rice and after cleaning their beaks
in the water kept in a small vessel nearby, take off, circle around the tower
again and fly off. This has been going on for centuries now. The scene is also
sculpted on one of the walls in front of Goddess Tirupurasundari, in the lower
temple. The two sacred eagles appearing over the temple to worship the Lord
every day are a major attraction for the devotees.
Sacred mountains play a vital role in the
conservation of local ecology and the environment. Sacred Mountains and sacred sites within
mountains have resulted in communities maintaining and preserving their natural
resources in often-pristine conditions. Indigenous communities have long
realized the value of the high diversity of natural resources within mountains
and those mountains are resources of nature. Sacred mountains are protected due
to cultural beliefs associated with them which have resulted in conservation of
precious water, timber, flora, fauna, and other natural resources.
--January
17, 2021
Work-shop
on Me:dha:vi: Becoming the Best Us
Please
do not miss the Adhyatmic five-day workshop on Medhavi by HH Chinna
Jeeyar as detailed below. You should be no stranger to this subject as we have
gone at length on EQ and SQ Management on more than one occasion bogged down by
present pandemonium'.
The
book “THE VEDIC APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP” by
Mahesh Prabhu presents how the wisdom of the Rishis can be used by individuals
across the geographies, race, religion and cultures to attain calm mind, social
peace and harmony, amid great many detrimental factors, for a sustainable
wealth creation. This book will provide you practical Vedic
knowledge, is not as a mere spiritual or religious material; but it can
help individuals at a personal, familial as well as institutional level.
This
book presents timeless yet time-tested Vedic teachings for people to gain
greater clarity for creating credible opportunities even amid great many
uncertainties for achieving sustainable property, through appropriate EQ and SQ
Management techniques. You may please recall my elaborate E-mail communicating
the discourse by HH Chidananda on EQ and SQ Management delivered to Madras
Management Institute at their request, realizing the Vedic wisdom on personal
management contained in them.
Please
go through the attached introductory note on the book.
Udupi
Mahesh Prabhu is a seasoned media, management & political consultant. He is
a Founder and Chairman of Vedic Management Center and Vivaswaan. A fellow of
the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland, London (UK) and
member of the International Federation of Journalists (USA), he also holds a
Master’s in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing. For
more information visit www.indiamahesh.com
Jeeyar’s Message
The
workshops will be led by seasoned instructors and facilitators ensuring
necessary and sufficient support through this very important self-improvement
journey.
JET USA
is offering Me:dha:vi: Workshop Series-Becoming the Best Us for
anyone 18+ years old.
Feb
8th-12th 7:00 PM-8:30 PM CST
Becoming
the best us - workshop series based on Ramayanam. Studies found that in any
given day we, have 6000+ thoughts, speak 7000+ words and make 35000+ choices.
What if our thoughts, speech and choices are always aligned? The result.
Outcome maximization. Such an alignment is called tri-karana suddhi.
What
typically stops us from doing things in a tri-karana suddhi manner? 2 gaps.
Good examples and good practice. The team at Prajna has developed an
experiential learning and self-improvement series to plug these 2 gaps. We will learn from the best of Sri
Rama and his favorite lieutenant, HHHhHanuman
on aligning thoughts, speech and actions. And we will practice the show-how and
do-how through role plays.
The
focus of the parts are: Part I--Improve communication along 6
dimensions; Part II - Condition mind through 6 techniques; Part III -
Execute ably through 7 strategies. Each part is a 5-day x 1.5 hour long
investment into improving ourselves. As
Abe Lincoln says, "Whatever you are, be a good one." Come - let us
invest in ourselves, and become the best us.
Please join
free orientation session to get a peek into what the workshop covers and how it
will benefit you on Jan 19th, 2021 from 8.00 - 9.00 PM CST.
INTRODUCTION
The VEDIC APPROACH OF
MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP
By
Mahesh Prabhu
[Udupi Mahesh Prabhu is a seasoned
media, management & political consultant. He is a Founder and Chairman of
Vedic Management Center and Vivaswaan. A fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of
Great Britain & Ireland, London (UK) and member of the International
Federation of Journalists (USA), he also holds a Master’s in Business
Administration with a specialization in Marketing.]
"Unlike data, information &
knowledge - WISDOM is ETERNAL. Vedic word विद् represents greater Wisdom and it is
about knowing your own true Self and your mind to achieve perpetual peace,
sustainable prosperity & eternal bliss - harmoniously. THE VEDIC APPROACH
TO MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP presents how this wisdom of the Rishis
can be used by individuals across the geographies, race, religion and cultures
to attain calm mind, social peace and harmony, amid great many detrimental
factors, for a sustainable wealth creation." U Mahesh Prabhu | Author
Management is crucial – not just for
individuals in leadership positions, but for anyone with responsibilities.
Managing is about utilizing limited available resources to create value,
generate wealth and achieve viable prosperity. While there is no shortage of
appealing and entertaining definitions on the subject matter; the knowledge and
approach to achieve these objectives are limited.
The oldest works on management and
leadership – Arthashastra and Artha Sutras – were written by the Vedic Rishis
(sages) over thousands of years. These Rishis even offered Pro Bono services to
the Kings; as their Rajaguru (Royal Mentors). Some of these Rajaguru even
helped to build some of the most powerful and prosperous empires of their
times. Their teachings on management, leadership, and wealth creation are not
driven by ephemeral processes; but by helping individuals to achieve and retain
a calm mind to identify challenges, create credible strategies to achieve
daunting objectives.
In this book U. Mahesh Prabhu, a
seasoned international media, management, and political consultant, presents as
to how by knowing, understanding, and realizing, these timeless yet time-tested
Vedic teachings modern individuals and leaders can achieve greater clarity,
create fine opportunities, even amid great uncertainties, and attain
sustainable prosperity.
It was in January of 2016, I, along with
Dr. David Frawley, a.k.a. Acharya Vamadeva Shastri was talking about
taking Vedic teachings to the next level. We agreed upon the fact that Yogasans
(as Yoga is known), Dhyana or Meditation, and Ayurveda
were by far the most relevant and accessible aspects of Vedic knowledge.
However, they were not all. As you shall see in Chapter 1, Vedic knowledge
systems were not limited to mind and body; but have a more
significant application in the areas of management, leadership, politics, and
diplomacy. Acharya Vamadeva was quick to point out the relevance of Kautilya’s
Arthashastra – by far the oldest available book in the areas of not just
politics, but also management, diplomacy, and leadership.
“Be advised, there have been no in-depth
studies in this domain,” Acharya Vamadeva advised, adding, “We have a
great challenge on our hand when it comes to translation and interpretation of
these texts.” His observations, as I later found out, were accurate.
Sanskrit is the oldest surviving language to
this day. However, it is also a complex one. It is a language of wisdom. Most Sanskrit
scholars today follow a book entitled Ashtadhyayi, which was written by
a Sanskrit Grammarian by the name Panini. Although Panini
lived over 2,000 years ago, Vedic texts, which are more than, at least, 5000
years old, do not follow him.
Arthashastra was originally written over 4,000 years
ago by a Rishi named Bharadwaja; later, it
is enlarged by the likes of Parashara, Pishuna, Shukracharya, including
many others. But the only version of Arthashastra that is available
today is the one edited and compiled, with commentary, by Kautilya, a.k.a.
Chanakya a.k.a. Vishnu Sharma, a.k.a. Vishnu Gupta. It is
the last book we can confirmedly suggest bearing authentic Vedic ethos,
philosophy, and principles. Kautilya’s version of Arthashastra, henceforth
addressed in this book as Kautilya’s Arthashastra, was written around
the same time as Panini’s Ashtadhyayi.
Interestingly, since Panini fails
to mention the existence or non-existence of Kautilya, some historians
have tried to use this as a premise to negate the existence of Kautilya, thoroughly.
I do not approve of this theory. Also, I
firmly believe that Panini’s Ashtadhyayi is the wrong book to be used to
decode Arthashastra or any other Vedic texts; including Rigveda,
Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda, Upanishads, Aranyaka’s, Valmiki’s Ramayana,
Vyasa’s Mahabharata and, also, Kautilya’s Arthashastra.
Now, if Panini’s Ashtadhyayi is
not a worthy work to decode any of the Vedic texts, what could be the right way
to understand the countless books of commensurate wisdom authored by the Rishis
and Rishikas?
We have spent a lot of time reading the
original books and comparing them with various books claiming to be “authentic
translations.” We spent years translating, retranslating, and reinterpreting
until we found a suitable modus operandi to run future translations.
Through this trial and error method, we
found what we believe to be a credible approach. We found that unlike Panini’s
Sanskrit, Vedic Sanskrit was more lucid. Although they had a poetic rhyme
if we could get past each word and differentiate the combined words (Sandhi),
we could find simple words understanding whose meaning becomes easy. There is
more, while most people like to think Sanskrit is a “dead language,” we
beg to disagree.
If you consult any thorough linguist,
(s)he could prove you the striking similarities between not just most Indian
languages, but also European languages, including English.
When we started to observe and analyze
each word, then reinterpret set words differently; we arrived at a unique
understanding of Vedic knowledge like never. Hundreds of articles made
available on the official website of the Vedic Management Centre, www.vedic-management.com, follows this approach.
Although we have published over six
books based on the perennial wisdom of the Vedic texts, there is a reason we
took a while to publish this book. We wanted to create a thorough groundwork to
define, beyond confusion and misinterpretations, the very idea of the word Vedic.
We look at Vedic knowledge, not as a
mere spiritual or religious material; but in the context of a text that can
help individuals at a personal, familial as well as institutional level.
This book is not supposed to be
stand-alone. We at Vedic Management Centre intend to establish Vedic
Management as a credible management discipline and practice to address
trivial to complex aspects of management and leadership for all times.
--January 17, 2021
Webinar
Dimensions of Karma Yoga by Sri Siddhartha Krishnaji
The Philosophy of the Karma Yoga of the
Bhagavad Gita
As
human beings, we are intensely body-conscious. We are acutely hungry when it is
lunchtime or dinnertime. We suffer from the pangs of thirst when the sun is
very hot. We get fatigued, due to which we fall into deep sleep. And we have
anxieties caused by the operations in human society. We have fears from inside,
from outside, and from above. All these are staring at us as realties.
We
cannot deny that we are intensely conscious of a world outside, and also
intensely conscious that we are a body, despite the fact that we assert the
bodiless condition of our essential being from the point of view of the
scriptures or in the light of what we have heard from Vedantins like Ramana Maharshi. We live with physical limitations but are also intensely
anxious about our social involvements, and we cannot deny this fact. There are occasions when many of us feel that
work is a bondage. We have no time due to our being busy in the office or
having to do a lot of work in the management of the family, etc. One feels
oftentimes tired of this daily routine, and there are occasions when we are
impelled by sentiments of renunciation occasioned by the sufferings caused by
involvements in work and responsibility. Renunciation is not an attitude of
disgust with the world. It is a
preparatory step that we take to train ourselves for understanding the very
same world in a better manner.
The
aim of life is ultimately an inclusive attitude of consciousness, and not an
attitude of exclusiveness at any time. The withdrawal physically, socially or
politically is, therefore, something like a runner in a race who lags back only
to rush forward after a few seconds. We
cannot understand God unless we understand the world. “First and foremost, make
peace with your brother before you make peace with God,” is an admonition which
may be applicable to every one of us. We should not go from this world with the
idea that we have an enemy. That would be a very disadvantageous circumstance
in which we quit the world.
Karma
yoga is a system of internal training, an educational career into which we get
introduced, and it is much more this than the art of solidarity that we are
trying to bring about in the world. The world cannot be changed. It is just as
it is. It has not changed for centuries and it is not going to change, but the
understanding of it changes. The knowledge that we have about the world
increases as the training continues further and further, and we are able to
handle situations better. For this purpose it is that we are asked to perform
our duty.
Our
getting fed up with the work in which we are engaged is, again, a matter to be
subjected to internal analysis. The
mind wants a change, and it gets tired of a monotonous routine which it has
been following earlier. Change is the spice of life. We require variety at all
times, whether it is in outward life or our inner spiritual sadhana.
We
have to proceed from the physical and social level to the psychological,
rational and the spiritual stages. We have to live a life of friendliness,
service-fullness and adjustment with the outward circumstances of human
society, not because that is going to do any good to society but because of the
fact that is an indication of the maturity of our own mind. The whole universe will be the same way in
the future as it was earlier.
The
systems of karma yoga, bhakti yoga, etc., are only internal arts of
self-adaptation to the conditions that are demanded of us by the existing rules
prevailing in the cosmos. Neither excess on one side nor excess on the other
side is permitted. Yuktāhāravihārasya
yuktaceṣṭasya
karmasu, yukta-svapnāvabodhasya yogo bhavati duḥkhahā (BG 6.17). An
excessive emphasis on the side of austerity or an excessive emphasis on the
side of indulgence, both are equally disadvantageous because truth is in the
middle. “’Everything is’ is one extreme, ‘Everything is not’ is another
extreme,” said Buddha, “but the truth is in the middle. It neither is, nor is
it not “
In
the words of Ramanuja, the superiority of Activity (Karma Yoga) over Jnana Yoga
is valid even when there is competency for one to adopt Jnana Yoga.--“ For, if
you abandon all activities to qualify yourself for Jnana Yoga, then, for you, who is thus inactive while following
Jnana Yoga, even the nourishment of the body,
which is necessary for Jnana-nishta, will not be achieved”
Hence,
our duty would be, properly speaking, more in the nature of an understanding of
the events of life in an impersonal manner, and taking them in the spirit of
their actualities and not in their idealities. What is, is as important as,
what ought to be. We should not neglect what is because of our over-emphasis on
what ought to be. We would very much wish that the whole Earth is flooded with
the joys of heaven, but it is not so. The Earth is what it is. So to invoke the
bliss of heaven to the level of the Earth, we have to take our stand on the
Earth first, as we build an edifice on the ground and not in the skies.
Truth
is, really speaking, what God sees with His eyes, goodness is that which God
loves, and righteousness is that which God does. We cannot do what God does, we
cannot think what God thinks, and we cannot see things as God sees. It is true,
but we can take one step in that direction. Even if we move one inch in the
direction, we have taken a step, and it
is a step in the proper direction.
Thus,
one has to be always infinitely patient with the confidence that one has taken
the right step, just as a farmer is happy even if he has merely sown the seed
in the field and he does not know whether the crop will come up or not. It is
beyond him, and he is not worried about it. The kisan, the person who works in the field, is satisfied because he
has done his duty. He has done it in the proper manner, and therefore, it
brings him satisfaction. What makes us happy is not the expected fruit which is
out of our reach and beyond our control, but the consciousness of having done
what is proper with the light of the highest understanding available to us.
A
Karmayogi performs all his work as a devotional ritual and offer it to the
Supreme-Soul. In the practice of devotion-cum-action the individual experiences
a spontaneous flow of inner-awareness into the day-to-day life that prepares
him for the direct experience with the Supreme. Dr. Radhakrishnan explains this
concept in these words: “The teacher distinguishes, as modern psychologists do,
two main types of seekers--introverts whose natural tendency is to explore the
inner life of spirit and extroverts whose natural bias is towards work in the
outer world. Answering to these, we have the Yoga of Knowledge, for those whose
inner being is bent towards flights of deep spiritual contemplation, and the
Yoga of Action for personalities with
love of action. But this distinction is
not ultimate, for all men are in different degrees both introverts and
extroverts.
Here
is, in a small outline, the whole philosophy of the karma yoga of the Bhagavad
Gita, which is the prerequisite to the higher contemplations on God with the
final aspiration of unity with God.
Lord
Krishna said in Chapter3, Karma Yoga: “There is nothing unattained that I
should obtain, yet I engage in Action (3.22)
For, if I do not engage in action relentlessly, people would follow my
path everyway. These worlds would perish if I do not work, and I shall be the
cause of confusion and destruction of all these people (3.23-24). All beings
follow their nature. Even the wise act according to their own nature. What
then, is the value of a sense of restraint? (3.33) Control over attachment, and
aversion, is needed to attain peace of mind and tranquility. It is lust born
out of passion that becomes anger when unfulfilled. Lust is insatiable and is a
great devil. Know this as the enemy. (3.37) The senses, the mind, and the
intellect are said to be the abode of lust; with these it deludes a person by
veiling Self-knowledge (3.40) Therefore, by controlling the senses first,
control this devil of material desire that destroys Self-knowledge and
Self-realization (3.41) The senses are said to be superior to the body, the
mind is superior to the senses, the intellect
is superior to the mind, transcendental knowledge (vijnana) is superior
to the intellect, and the Self is superior to transcendental knowledge (3-42)
Thus, knowing the Self, to be superior to the intellect, and controlling the
mind by intellect that is purified by spiritual
practice, one must kill this mighty enemy, Lust” (3.43)
With
this brief Philosophy of Karma Yoga that I have learnt from great Gurus that I
shared with you; I request you to listen to the learned speaker to get at
profound knowledge on Karma Yoga.
Dimensions of Karma Yoga to
be presented by: Sri Siddhartha Krishna
Scheduled
on Indian Standard Time: 9.30 pm, Sunday, January 17, 2021 and Pacific Time
(USA): 8.00 am, Sunday, January 17,
2021
Gist of the Presentation
Karma
Yoga (yoga of action) is the first of the three forms of yoga discussed in the
Bhagavad Gitā. As a practice which purifies the heart and prepares a
practitioner for other forms of yoga, Bhagavān Shri Krishna places a lot of
emphasis on Karma Yoga. This talk will explore the idea of Karma Yoga by
discussing its various dimensions and their application in our lives: the
avoidance of non-activity (akarma), performance of one’s duty (niyata karma),
sacrifice (yajna), selfless action (nishkāma karma), renunciation of doership
(ahamkartritva tyāga) and working for the uplifting of the society
(loka-samgraha). According to the Gitā, nirvana, the goal of human life, is to
be attained while remaining fully engaged in the well-being of all beings.
--January
16, 2021
Comments:
Your presentation
appears to be as good. Are you competing?
--Dr.
Vedavyas Biliyar
********************
CONFUSING HINDU PANCHANGAS & OUR
DILEMA
Today is Makara Sankranti and astrologers say today begins
Uttara Ayana Punyakala. How can our expert astronomers get convinced by our
Religious pundits?
Vedic wisdom says, our rishis sat together and prayed together
with equanimity--sanghaccchadvam samvadadvam samanamaakootih………
Each Panchanga today says follow the temple tradition that follows my timings
for rituals and festivals to abide by the sastric injunctions! Confusing
and contradicting Panchanga s have promoted sectarian cults, running to temples
at different times in small groups, in India. At least Hindu Americans can come
together and worship together in multi traditional temples guided by one
Panchangam, aiming at Unitarian worship!
Occupied with the anxiety of religiously devoted and the temple
authorities to perform rituals on auspicious days prescribed in scriptures I
approached an astrological member of a reputed astrological bureau in Bengaluru
as to Uttarayana Punyakala Celebration on Makara Sankranti Day and the author
of NA Panchangam onHanuman Jayanthi being
celebrated on different days in different states of India that we also follow,
based on performing priests.
Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated in the month of
Chaitra, Vaishakha or Dhanu depending on the state in India one belongs to. In
Maharashtra Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on Purnima (full moon day) in the
Hindu month of Chaitra. In Tamil Nadu and Kerala it is celebrated in Margazhi/Dhanus
month on a New moon day. In Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Hanuman Jayanthi is
celebrated by starting Diksha of 41 days from Chaitra Purnima and finishing it
on the tenth day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Vaishaka.
Amrican Pnchanga sides with Tamil Nadu and Kerala? Why Hanuman should be
born on different dates to different States? Only Rama can tell as
Valmiki was silent about it, though a knowledgeable astrologer.
If you read the Panchangam, they always call the
Birthday as for Avatars where they are not sure of the Tithi. Where they are
sure of the Tithi Birthdays are designated by Tithis--Rama Navami, Gokula
Ashtami, Vinayaka chaturthi and Skanda Shashti etc. It is
Varaha Jayanthi, Vamana Jayanthi, Narasimha Jayanthi, Hanuman Jayanthi etc., as
the Tithis are not known or doubtful!
Brahman is addressed as Kaala or Time. It is interesting to
note that Veda mantras talk about only Tithi and not Naksahatra:
kalā muhūrtāḥ kāṣṭhāścā aho-rātrāśca sarvaśaḥ | ardhamāsā māsā ṛtavaḥ saṁvatsaraśca kalpantām |
All nimeṣas, kalās, mūhurtas, Kāṣṭhās, days, half-months,
months, seasons, were born from the self-luminous
Person. The years and Kalpas also were born from Him. Half months
stand for Paksha that consists of 15 Tithis! Hence, only when Tithis are known
of a deity at the time of birth, there birth Tithi is celebrated. Otherwise it
is celebrated as Jayanti1
Author of NA Panchngam says: Jayanthi in Sanskrit really means
"Victory" / "auspicious"/ "Conquer", but in
practice it is observed as avatar day or birthday too. We could consider
Hanuman Jayanti as the Day of Victory for Hanuman based on Puranas. Any
Hari katha Upanyasakar or Pouranikar can explore the Puranas and give the
instances or quotes from the respective Puranas which may clear this doubt in
people's mind. Till then we are to consider Hanuman Jayanti not as His
birthday but observe it as a day of Victory for Hanuman!”
By strange coincidence Vedic astrology and American Panchanga has
shown preference to Dhanus Amavasya leaning towards Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but
not Ayodhyavasis who celebrate in April along with Rama Navami while devotees
also chant Hanuiman Chalisa of Tulsidas in Temples that are t dominated by
South Indian temple fathers and priests. Our Ganesha Temple in Nashville
is in the Council of Hindu American Temples but observes Hanuman Jayanthi in
April and Tamils run with vadamala on this day and ignore Dhanus Amavasya.
All these need an explanation as to the sacredness and correctness of
celebration in the context of tasmat sastram pramanam te!
We only talk of Ganesh Chaturthi and Vinayak Chaturthi and not
Ganesha Jayanti. Ganesha followers believe so strong in the beheading of
Naramkuha Vinayaka of Parvati by Siva and replacing it with elephant head and
thus believe his birth is true and the myth is true too. I do not believe
auspicious Siva to be an angry person to behead a dutiful guard, but possibly
he only replaced the guard with an ekadanta species that existed that was born
on the same day as Naramukha Vijayaka created by Parvati. There are Ekadantas,
dwidantas, tridantas and chaturdantas too with human body like Vishwaksena. I
wonder why Siva had to murder poor elephant to create Ganesha instead just
fixing surgically the human head, though glorified as doctor and surgeon.
Jamadagni did it in restoring Renuka at the request of his dutiful son
Parasurama, though we believe that even Gods at times lose their thinking
power, follow foolishly to carry a sanyasi father’s command given in a fit of
anger. Modern Hindu American youth will not be convinced by such myths though
tutored wrongly in Sunday Schools on Hinduism. Better we stay with Vedic
heritage classes and teach Vedanta to young minds instead myths and fantasies!
Our Purana researcher of rare slokas for various rituals and
festivals from Singapore sends his greetings for Makara Sankranti as follows: “Wish all of you Happy Makara Sankranti/Pongal! The month
Pousha/Thai marks the beginning of auspicious occasions after the austere
Dhanur/Margazhi month. May the start of Uttarayana shower
auspiciousness in every dimension of your lives!
As we all know, the earth moves around the sun in an orbit. It
takes the earth one year to go around the sun. During this movement the earth's
axis is tilted. On December 22, the South Pole is closest to the sun. To the
people on earth, it seems like the sun starts moving from the South to the
North in December. This movement in the northerly direction is called
'Uttaraayana Punyakaala' meaning the holy period of Northern directional
movement. This astronomical Winter Solstice day is celebrated by all traditions
in the world except Hindus that include Hindu Americans.
Our member from Astrological bureau says:
Gregorian calendar is carrying out century correction as well as
leap year correction and correctly predict astronomical Winter Solstice while
Hindu panchangas have not carried out any such corrections. Hence the discrepancy
of start of Uttarayana. But who is to bell the cat? Panchangas have arbitrarily
fixed Makara Sankranti day as the start of Uttarayana.”
Our astrologers who have not carried out the necessary correction
in Panchanga calculations, have fixed the Uttarayna Punyakala observance
on Makara Sankranti Day after 22 days of actual astronomical occurrence, that
is religiously observed by most traditions on December 25, three days later in
modern days. This worries orthodox religious observers as
they attach sacredness to such rituals as per sastric injunctions. One
Pouranica explanation given is the turning of the seven horses from southern
direction to northern direction is a very slow process and the real alignment
takes that long to celebrate Winter Solstice day on Makara Sankranti Day when
the actual journey starts. On the same argument, it can be said Romans
also felt that way but postponed by just three days to observe it on December
25, instead December 22, that Christians blessed it as Eucharist Day
(birthday feast of Jesus Christ). Thus, the Westerners have a better
believable thought!
Our religious Pundits often criticize Americans celebrating
holidays conveniently on weekends instead on actual days of occurring! They
forget Hindus too ignore auspicious days and celebrate them at their
convenience or as guided or misguided as explained above! This also gives
leverage to Hindu American Temples to celebrate festivals and rituals on
weekends at their convenience looking at the practices in India by Hindus,
instead listening to their sermons! Orthodox Hindus will however blame us
Americanized if we celebrate them on weekends ignoring Panchanga dates, right
or wrong!
We need to celebrate astronomical Winter Solstice Day as Special
Religious Event Day (SRE). All Jayanthis not known by Tithis need not be
celebrated as SRE. MKakara Sankranti should be celebrated as Sankrati/Anna
Sthuti (harvest) SRE Day. As Viswa Hindus we need to follow North American
Panchangam that should guide us in saghacchadvam samvadadvam-our sages sat
together and prayed together says Vedas!
May contentment overflow on the
auspicious occasion of Pongal, good luck and prosperity set foot in your home
and success touch your feet. Wishing you a very happy Pongal!
--January 15, 2021
Hindu
Teachings and Spiritual Practices Offer Many Ways to Live Through the Present
Crisis
Unprecedented…
This is our generation’s war… Nothing will ever be the same…
Last year, many have tried to explain
how all of the disruptions from COVID-19 have affected them. There has been an
overwhelming feeling of unfairness, as people have cancelled everything from
weddings to funerals. The sacrifices required have been big, whether risking
personal health and safety to provide for others, losing the opportunity to
celebrate once in a lifetime events or, increasingly losing your job.
In the face of the financial and
physical stress brought on by COVID-19, it can be difficult to consider our
emotional and spiritual health. However, in a world of uncertainty, Hindu
teachings and practices are helpful in taking care of ourselves in the most
essential and basic of ways.
The
Bhagavad Gita can be a particular source of comfort at this time. For most of
us, our dharma today is to first and foremost follow the guidelines
being put out by our local, state, and federal governments to protect
ourselves, our families, and our communities on small and large scales, despite
the sacrifices entailed.
Remembering some of the many principles of dharma:
satya (truth), ahimsa (non-harming), karuna (compassion),
and aparigraha (non-greed) all grounded in our individual context, to
make decisions while letting go of expectations of the results can bring much
needed clarity and peace.
Even as much is outside of our power,
we have the ability and responsibility to take care of ourselves holistically,
on physical, mental, and spiritual levels. Routines are important, and
predictability can be soothing.
Let us nourish ourselves with Yoga
exercise and food we enjoy, and use newly available time to do things that help
ourselves move towards our values, towards our dharma. Kama, enjoyment
of the material world, too is one of the four traditional goals of human life
as per our Hindu teachings, and it is important to find both meaning and joy in
these times. Social distancing doesn’t have to mean social disconnecting, and
we can still find ways to connect with friends, family, and others who inspire
us or make us laugh with the limitless potential of the internet.
Hindu teachings and spiritual practices
offer many ways for us to bring ourselves back to the here and now, and release
ourselves from the pain and regret around thinking about that which has already
passed, and the anxiety and fear around thinking about the future which we
cannot predict or control.
Though
many Mandirs (temples) are currently closed to devotees, many are also using
streaming IT services to help people feel spiritually connected,
and it can be an easy and convenient time to engage in them virtually, or bring
practice to your home.
Psychologists love to encourage people
to use all their senses in grounding techniques, and Hinduism offers many ways
to engage. Our Spiritual Gurus are busy in guiding us on EQ and SQ management
during the pandemonium through Webinar, Zoom etc.
Puja in particular can
call upon all the senses: the smell of agarbatti (incense), the
reverberation of a bell, visually pleasing Murtis, the sensation of bringing
our palms together, and the taste of prasad melting on in our mouths together
in a puja can be lovely ways to set aside stress and center ourselves. Zoom
puja has helped us a lot in the absence of physical participation, though we
miss the Prasad.
Hindu Temples engaged themselves with
different kinds of Yajnas, fire sacrifices with herbal fagots during
pandemonium with limited crowds. I have discussed at length about the threptic
smoke values of such Yajnas! Many Hindu rituals are designed with scientific
values. Realize the help you derive from some of these rituals. Vedas declare
Yajnas is the best among all rituals that is also glorified in Puranas! This
tradition continues even in modern days, for its benefits. Vedas declare Yajnas are the best for the
society and group worship!
yajña
iti yajño hi devānāṁ yajñena hi devā divaṁ gatā
yajñenāsurānapānudanta yajñena dviṣanto mitrā bhavanti yajñe
sarvaṁ pratiṣṭhitaṁ tasmādyajñaṁ paramaṁ vadanti || MNU||
Others devoted to the Vedic religion say
that sacrifice is the means of liberation. Sacrifice is indeed dear to divines.
Verily, divines have attained heaven by
their previous deeds of sacrifice. They have driven away demons by sacrifice.
By sacrifice those who are hostile become friendly. Everything is supported by
sacrifice. Therefore they say sacrifice is the supreme means of liberation
(including mental agitation).
iScience
has proven what we know intuitively: music can decrease stress, and
bhajans, with their uplifting lyrics, can bring peace of mind. Expressions of bhakti
through art, from bharatnatyam (a dance form) to rangoli (a 2
dimensional art form), are all uplifting ways to bring yourself to the moment.
Sacred month of Margazhi just reminded about
these things.
If the path of bhakti yoga, or
liberation through devotion, described here isn’t appealing, there are three
other paths as well. We can use jnana yoga, or intellectual stimulation,
to engage in reading scripture or even watching the Mahabharata or finding
videos of Puranic tales, religious discourses and spiritual discourses on
YouTube. Raja yoga, or meditation, is an option for those of us who can
simply look within to find calm. Karma yoga, selfless action, can bring
particular fulfillment and peace at these times, if we can safely check on
elderly neighbors, donate supplies, or spend time advocating for voices that
are going unheard and join activities like Hungry-Mithau of USA, that has been started during the pandemonium by Hindu Americans feeding the poor and hungry!
Too often we are told that the Hindu
tradition requires an individual journey, and that seeking help feels weak,
difficult, and counterintuitive. This is a misunderstanding! We’ve
always had strong examples across our scriptures of people in difficult
situations using conversation with gurus and Gods to heal pain.
Pay attention to your distress and
understand when you could use some help. If you’re feeling aches and pains that
don’t have a medical basis, they may be from suppressing stress or depression.
If you feel like you can’t control your racing thoughts, and are experiencing
physical symptoms of anxiety like sweating palms or shallow breathing, you
don’t have to keep suffering. Yoga and pranayama can be helpful, but at a
certain level of distress, are very difficult to do, and accessing another tier
of help can be important.
Therapists are neither gods nor gurus,
but their training does allow them to provide a function that’s always been
valued in our faith — the space to slow things down, process how you’re
feeling, and to come to a clarity about what you need and how to get it.
Restrictions on telehealth have been lifted recently for many providers, so
seeking help is still feasible!
These unprecedented times have brought
unprecedented levels of distress upon us all, and taking care of ourselves is
important though it can be difficult. Above all else, it’s important to be kind
and patient with yourself, as you
navigate your circumstances and figure out your dharma in this moment.
Nama- stay healthy!
--January
14, 2021
Why do humans embrace rituals? Disease and danger may be at the
root of the behaviors.
[While the origins of many rituals
remain murky, emerging research suggests we evolved such social practices to
ward off or address common threats].
Celebrated in regions across India, Nepal, and other countries,
Chhath Puja is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival dedicated to the sun god Surya.
By Tim Vernimmen, January 12, 2021, National Geographical Magazine
Earlier this month, people around the world participated in one of
humankind’s largest ritualized celebrations. To commemorate another trip around
the sun, New Year activities included fireworks, kisses, and resolutions—as
well as some practices unique to specific cultures, such as cooking black-eyed peas and greens in the southeastern United
States, eating a grape with each midnight clock strike in Spain, or burning effigies that represent the previous year in Central and South America.
All human cultures have their rituals—typically repetitive,
symbolic behaviors that we experience as purposeful, though we generally can’t
explain how they are supposed to work. These rituals can reinforce a sense of
community and common beliefs, but their bewildering diversity can also alienate
and separate people, particularly when the valued rituals of one culture strike
another as bizarre.
Most scientists who study rituals consider their murky origins to
be one of their defining characteristics. But recently, researchers have come
to suspect that before rituals became purely social and highly peculiar, many
may have started out as attempts to avoid disaster.
Ritualization may have helped human cultures maintain behaviors
that people thought would keep them safe, even after the initial reason for a
behavior was forgotten, according to the authors of a number of recent research papers published in a special issue of the
journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.
Ritualized ways of preparing food or cleaning the body, for example,
may have emerged as ways to prevent disease. Many rituals also provide
psychological comfort during times of hardship, and after they become common
practice, they help to bring people together by reinforcing a sense of
community.
Now, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, humans are again adopting new
behaviors in response to a threat, although it’s too early to tell whether any
of these behaviors will become truly ritualized. By definition, this would only
be the case when the social significance of the behavior takes precedence over
its practical use in avoiding disease or disaster, says psychologist Mark Nielsen of the University of Queensland in
Australia. This is what sets rituals apart from other cultural practices, such
as cooking.
“When you first learn to cook a
certain dish, you probably copy a recipe, but once you’ve made it several
times, you might do it your own way,” he says. That kind of personalization
doesn’t usually happen with ritualized practices, he explains, which are very
carefully repeated until eventually, “they lose their functional value, and
they are exercised for their social value instead.”
The comfort of routine
In regions where natural disasters and disease are common and the
threat of violence and disease is high, societies
tend to be “tighter,” meaning they have stronger social
norms and a lower tolerance for deviant behavior, says Michele
Gelfand, a psychologist at the University of
Maryland. They also tend to be more religious, placing a high priority on
ritualized behaviors.
Gelfand’s research has found that people’s attitudes about social
conformity change when they are exposed to threats or even the perception of
danger. When the movie Contagion—which portrays a fictional tale of a
worldwide pandemic—hit theaters in 2011, Gelfand and colleagues conducted a
questionnaire study that found people leaving
the theater felt more hostility toward social
deviants.
When we all move in synchrony, or perform the same actions in a
predictable way, as rituals often require, it can create a reassuring sense of
togetherness. And in the face of danger, group cooperation may be a matter of
life and death.
“The culture of the army is a great example,” Gelfand says. The
synchronized group movements practiced by military units around the world
prepare them to act as one in dangerous situations.
Rituals can also help people overcome other types of fear and
anxiety. Martin
Lang of Masaryk University in the Czech Republic believes the
predictability of rituals makes them inherently comforting. His team found, for
instance, that women on the island of Mauritius felt less anxious about giving a public speech after a repetitive prayer ritual in
a Hindu temple.
The humanity of rituals
Some phenomena that superficially resemble rituals have been
observed in other primates, says primatologist Carel van Schaik of the
University of Zurich, Switzerland, who has studied the evolution of culture in
orangutans. Like all animals, primates are born with instincts that help them
avoid danger and disease, and they can also learn to avoid risks after a bad
experience or by observing others in their group.
However, researchers have found no evidence that non-human
primates engage in true rituals, van Schaik says. “These only emerged from our
cultural minds, which evolved in the unusual environment we created for
ourselves.”
Van Schaik believes many social rituals originated when humans
started living in ever bigger groups, particularly after agriculture enabled
larger populations living in the same place. “That fateful decision exposed
humans to all kinds of violence, disaster, and disease,” he says, “from
conflicts within groups to wars between groups to infectious diseases that
could now spread swiftly across entire villages.”
To prevent such catastrophes from occurring, he says, humans put
their very nimble, whimsical minds to work. “Because we were so socially
oriented, I think we tended to interpret any bad luck as something someone—a
spirit, a demon, or a god—did to us, perhaps because our behavior upset them.
And so we tried to find a way to do things that would prevent such disasters
from happening again.”
Many religious rituals, for example, address hygiene, sexuality,
or the way we treat food in ways that are related to disease risk, while others
apply to matters of property and family that are often at the root of
conflicts. Not all rituals are effective because we don’t always understand
what is producing the risk we are trying to control. “But some did work,” van
Schaik says.
In addition to cropping up in response to risk, some rituals
likely persist because of their continued association with risk prevention. In
the rural Indian state of Bihar, for example, where maternal and infant mortality
at birth remains high, cognitive scientist Cristine
Legare of the University of Texas at Austin documented 269 rituals associated with pregnancy and birth. “Most of them [are] attempts at avoiding negative outcomes,” she
says.
A significant proportion of these perinatal rituals, such as the
nutritious food that is prepared for the mother to eat during Chhathi, a Hindu
ritual practiced on the sixth day after birth, are perfectly consistent with
modern medical advice, Legare says. “Many others are likely neutral,” she adds,
“while the ones that are dangerous, such as bathing the infant immediately
after birth or feeding it formula until a priest or imam can provide the
blessing to begin breastfeeding, are risky because of a lack of clean
water.”
This illustrates how resilient even some counterproductive rituals
can be once they gain social significance, says Legare, who studies these
practices to learn how to promote healthy behavior in culturally sensitive
ways. “It is important to keep in mind that to most people, the mechanisms of
modern medicine are just as opaque as rituals are.”
While traditional rituals have been successfully passed down
across many generations, the practices of modern medicine are relatively new.
“When a doctor tells you, I’m sorry, but there’s nothing we can do for you,
that may be true, but it is very discouraging as well,” Legare says. “So many
people around the world will go and look for other options.”
The evolution of rituals
In the era of the pandemic, practical medical advice, such as
handwashing, has become somewhat ritualized. Health experts advise us exactly how we should scrub and for how long, providing a sense of comfort that after 20 seconds, we’ve
probably washed enough.
Other social practices—such as elbow bumps and air hugs—are also
catching on. And wearing a mask (or choosing not to) has become a way to show
loyalty to a social group as well as a scientifically valid way of reducing the
risk of disease transmission. It’s unclear whether these practices will
eventually be repeated to the point that we forgot why we ever started
performing them, becoming true rituals in the process. But our efforts to
understand why the pandemic struck, from religious explanations to an emphasis on how humans have exposed themselves to disease by
damaging the environment, echo the searches of our ancestors
to find out what they had done to deserve disaster.
Fortunately, Gelfand says, our quintessentially human search for
understanding has also led to scientific inquiry, putting us in a better
position than ever before to prevent future catastrophes. “When people around
the world put their mind to this,” Gelfand says, “we might actually really
learn something.”
National Geography though draws our attention more to Hindu
rituals than others, has not done a good justice to Hinduism that is based on
Vedanta Religion which is not only spiritual but practical with scientific
approach with its branch of Ayurveda, Life Science. Please go through the note
above: Hindu Teachings and Spiritual Practices Offer Many Ways to Live through
the Present Crisis
--January, 14, 2021
VIVEKANANDA'S BIRTHDAY COMMEMORATION
MESSAGE
Today is Vivekananda’s Birthday. Take a glance at the
“Compilation of Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda” by Eknath Ranade in 1962
on the 100th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
State of affairs of our nation lends a new significance to the
message of Swami Vivekananda. For his was the message of strength--the strength
of the body, the mind and the will. And this strength in all its aspects is the
greatest need of the hour. Swami Vivekananda wanted the nation to have “muscles
of iron and nerves of steel inside which dwells a mind of the same material as
that of which the thunderbolt is made”.
Vijnanena Atmanam vedayati; Atmana
vindate veeryam; sanghacchadvam samvadadvam; aa no bhadrantu kratavah yantu
visvatah; vasudhaiva kutumbakam; atmavat sarvabhooteshu; matru devo bhava pitru
devo bhva Acharya devo bhava; sraddhaya deyam; sraddhaya jeevema;
Da da da; Uttishtharta Jagrataare are some of the Upanishadic thoughts he has
focused on. I do not think you need the meaning as I have talked often about
them at length. Let us ennoble ourselves with wisdom and act in life to live
and let live!
--January 12, 2021
Comments:
I wrote a poem to commemorate Swami's
birth anniversary ' monk and his disciple ' . You may kindly browse.
LECTURE BY SWAMI ATMAJNANANANDJI ON MAA
SARADA DEVI’S BIRTTHDAY
While many of you in Nashville might
have missed the lively talk Sri Sarada Devi, the Female Monk of Ramakrishna
Math, who was knon for her simplicity as a house wife and mother and at the
same time a profound philosopher of human values and simpliciy. it is no
surprise everyone called her mother and ran to her seek solace from their
misery and distress. For those who missed his inspiring lecture, i give below
her brief life sketch and simple quotes high human value, motherly love and
affection:
Sarada Devi, the wife of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, is popularly
known as Holy Mother and she was integral part of Sri Ramakrishna’s spiritual
self. In 2021, the date of Sharada Devi Jayanthi is January 6. This is the
166th birth anniversary of Maa Sarada Devi. Special programs are conducted on
the day by Ramakrishna Ashram in India and around the world. Sarada Devi
Jayanti is the birthday of Holy Mother Sarada Devi as per traditional Hindu
calendar.
Holy Mother was born on December 22, 1853 at Jayrambati in rural
West Bengal in India. She was married to Sri Ramakrishna at the age of five.
She came to Dakshineswar to live with Sri Ramakrishna at the age of
eighteen.
Sarada Devi, after passing away of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa,
accepted the mantle of his spiritual mission and became the Mother for all his
followers.
She passed away on July 20, 1920.
The greatness of Sarada Devi is that
living like a common woman doing all the household chores; she could yet lift
those who sought her to great spiritual heights.
As per Tithi her birthday falls on Paush Krishna Paksha Ashtami.
Her famous oft-repeated quote is:
I tell you one thing. If you want peace of mind, do not find fault
with others. Rather learn to see your own faults. Learn to make the whole world
your own. No one is a stranger, my child; this whole world is your own.
Here are other quotes that reflects her humane philosophy:
·
Let me tell you how to love all equally. Do not demand anything of those
you love. If you make demands, some will give you more and some less. In that
case you will love more those who give you more and less those who give you
less. Thus your love will not be the same for all. You will not be able to love
all impartially.
·
I am the mother of the wicked, as I am the mother of the virtuous. Never
fear. Whenever you are in distress, say to yourself, ‘I have a mother.
·
You see, my son, it is not a fact that you will never face dangers.
Difficulties always come, but they do not last forever. You will see that they
pass away like water under a bridge.
·
Even the impossible becomes possible through devotion.
·
Don't be afraid. Human birth is full of suffering and one has to endure
everything patiently, taking the Name of God. None, not even God in human form
can escape the sufferings of the body and mind.
·
One should
not hurt others even by words. One must not speak an unpleasant truth
unnecessarily.
·
No one can suffer for all time. No one will spend all his days on this
earth in suffering. Every action brings its own result, and one gets one's
opportunities accordingly.
·
We suffer as a result of our own actions; it is unfair to blame anybody
for it.
·
As you smell the fragrance of a flower by handing it or the smell of
sandalwood by rubbing it against a stone, so you obtain spiritual awakening by
constantly thinking of God.
·
Even Avatars, saints, and sages have to undergo the ordeal of suffering,
for they take upon themselves the burden of sins of omission and commission of
ordinary human beings and thereby sacrifice themselves for the good of
humanity.
·
The happiness
of the world is transitory. The less you become attached to the world, the more
you enjoy peace of mind. I tell you
one thing. If you want peace of mind, do not find fault with others. Rather
learn to see your own faults. Learn to make the whole world your own. No one is
a stranger, my child; this whole world is your own.
·
Let me tell you how to love all equally. Do not demand anything of those
you love. If you make demands, some will give you more and some less. In that
case you will love more those who give you more and less those who give you
less. Thus your love will not be the same for all. You will not be able to love
all impartially.
--January 12, 2021
Comments:
Beautiful
write-up on Holy other!!! Thank you very much! I miss talking to you. Hope
Covid situation will be over in the near future. Wishing you happy New Year.
--Balachandran Nair
*******************
Thought of the
Day-November and December 2020
“THOUGHT OF THE DAY--NOVEMBER &
DECEMBER 2020” is now posted for your convenience to go through any of the
E-mail that you might have missed during this period of anxiety and Pandemic.
Some unusual things have happened during this period. It is after 800
years we had the great conjunction of two giant planets Saturn and Jupiter that
made all religions to raise their voices to heaven worshiping the divine
appearance in the form of a bright star. Then suddenly Dhanvantari
appeared with his Amrita Kalasa loaded with vaccines towards the closure of the
year.
It was too much for me to unload the wagon-full of E-mails during
these agitated period of pandemonium, resurgence of racism, political turmoil,
social- distancing and my own health threat running twice to ER.
But I could not dismiss them because of the timely arrival and profound messge
as you might have noticed! You too were busy, in addition taking care of
your children at home away from school and colleges,that hardly gave an
opportunity even to glance through many of them so lengthy and heavily loaded
with thoughts and variety of information. I hope this compilation will give you
again the opportunity to have a second look at them and also catch with those
you forgot to store. Besides Sanatana Dharma my thoughts were focused on
Ancient Esoteric Traditions that had united the world, unlike
400 religions loaded world of today, the tenacity with which few
hundred Hindu Dharma based Kalasha Community are surviving amidst all
Islam fanatic Pakistan and the fresh thinking by Buddhists
and Islam seeking their origin of Sanatana Dharma in Thailand and
Indonesia.
As usual the holiest Margazhi month started with a Bhajans,
Carnatic music and Christmas Carole loaded with many festivals among which
festivals on December 25, promoted
Universal Worship Day for all. It was Christ-mas For Christians and Kris-Mass
for Hindus being Gita Jayanti as well as Vaikuntha Ekadasi Day. This day was
also dedicated to our entire Guruparampara starting from Lord Krishna and
specially focused on our beloved Guru Swami Chinmayananda. Ancient crystal mala recorded VSN
reminded by Chinna Jeer, Gita brought to forefront by FOWA, Ramana’s Gitai
Narpadu, Tiruppavai and Tiruvembavai filled the December atmosphere.
Tamils reminded us not to forget Raman Maharshi in the Guruparampra list we are
planning celebrating his 141st Jayanthi. Perturbed by the mounting
poverty and hunger due to pandemonium people raised their voices to
Goddess Annapurna on her Jayanti Day paying tributes to selfless service of
organizations like Hunger-Mithau American Hindu group, towards the
end of the year. This year Hindu Americans celebrated their Festivals of Lights
Season starting from Diwali and culminating with Kartigai Deepam. Slowly and
steadily they have influenced other religions to observe this Season as
Festival of Lights Season moving away from the customary focus as Christmas
Season (December 25th being notional birthday of Jesus Christ not
supported by the Holy Bible) that got intensified looking with awe and
reverence at the Universal Star appearance on Winter Solstice Day that wai
lingered on to December 25. Many recalled
the days of yore when December 25 was celebrated as Solar Religion Day. This
busy time also had demand on our extra time to focus on Zoom and WEBINAR
promoted lectures rituals, group chanting etc., while we were already
stressed-out by the on-line conferences in our official capacity besides
attending to rushing patients if we are a doctor.
With my focus on sanghacchadvam and
Universal oneness, I got attracted to International Corruption Day, National
Veterans Day, International Pulses Day, World Violin Day etc. Many of you were
also busy with Carnatic Christmas season, calling you from Chennai that was
started in British days with a spirit of fusion, bringing together Bhajan
groups, Music and dance groups and Christmas Carole groups, that continued
season’s spirits on line through zoom or
WEBINAR demanding your time. My poor knowledge of IT kept me at bay that
attracted least attention to my dry Vedanta and high-volume E-mails and
discourses running concurrently!
These two months took our thoughts to great heights to join the
groups that feed the hungry and economically depressed, moving away from normal
family get-together and joyous celebration, giving altogether a new
meaning to Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year that I have discussed at
length. Soon Tamils will be celebrating a great festival of caring and sharing
Pongal, a festival named after food, while Indians as a whole, will
be waking up late to watch the journey of Sun in the northern direction that he
started on December 22,Winter Solstice Day and start their prayers too! Better
late than never!
November elections thrilled us as the new team give the hope to
Hindu Americans that it will be sympathetic to Hindu Values and Dharma since
the elect President and Vice-president both claim to be Persons of Indian
Origin (PIA)! Of course, we enjoyed religious freedom, political
support and non-persecution in the present regime too celebrating Diwali in White
House! We followed our usual non-interference philosophy and did not take
active part in Movements like “Black Lives Matter” and also did not seriously
focus on “sanghacchadvam samvadadvam samaanamaakootih”. We sighed
deep on New Year’s Eve, and bade good-bye to the darkest year in our life-time,
while looking forward to 2021 with Optimism, Constraint, Hope and Faith in
Hindu Values! As Hindu Americans we honored the Cultural Calendar and ran to
temple for Abhishekam, like Sivaratri Night, ignoring it was Eucharistic Sacred
Day worshiping Mother Mary! To Tamils Mary is Mariamman. Ārōkkiya annai
(Healthcare Mother) also known as Our Lady of Vailankanni, is the title
given to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Tamils as she is said to have
appeared twice in the town of Velnkanni, Tamil Nadu, India, in the 16th
to 17th centuries. Her church in San-Thom in Chennai is visited for worship by
many Hindus with sick children, seemingly supporting indirectly Interfaith but
though based on blind faith.
The tradition of worship of Mary confined to Catholics today
should have been started by Kerala Hindu converts who were Devi worshipers and
were the earliest to go to church because the most ancient temples can be found
only in Kerala. Later this should have been made Eucharist by Rome
Catholic church.
I have taken you through a cross-section of my high volume
E-mails during these two months that should interest you to go through them at
your leisure and send your reactions as in the past.
May you fill your New Year 2021, with new adventures,
accomplishments, and learnings!
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2021/01/thought-of-day-november-december-2020.html
The
rare 'triple conjunction' of Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn this Sunday
Just
weeks after Jupiter and Saturn dazzled stargazers by canoodling side-by-side in
the night sky, another "great conjunction" of planets is on the way —
and this time, Mercury is invited to the party, too. On Sunday
(Jan. 10), the three planets will appear close together in a rare triple
conjunction event. According to Live Science's sister site
Space.com, the three bodies will form a "small, neat
triangle" low in the west-southwest sky, appearing about 30 to 45 minutes
after sunset that evening. Jupiter will appear at the top of the triangle,
glowing about two-and-a-half times brighter than Mercury, and 10 times brighter
than Saturn.
Trikonasthanas
or trikonas or trines are conventionally the Lagna or the Birth-ascendant, the
fifth and the ninth bhava or house counted from the Lagna (or the Chandra-lagna
or the Surya-lagna). They form the Dharma-trikona and are also known as
the Lakshmisthanas, these bhavas and their lords signify luck and
prosperity. The Lagna
is both, a kendrasthana and a trikonasthana.
From
time immemorial, a meeting of Jupiter and Saturn was deemed the most auspicious
of all planetary get-togethers, the only one called a “Great
Conjunction.” There was good reason for such attention: This is the rarest
meeting between any of the five bright planets. It happens just once every
two decades, and 2020 brings the closest Jupiter-Saturn conjunction since
1623, during Galileo’s times. Jupiter-Saturn meetings were believed to
have numerous earthly effects, none of them good. One famous consequence was
that presidents supposedly suffered risks for their very lives if they were
elected or in office when these planets met, and the Web offers no shortage of
astrological tables making such a purported case. Great conjunction on
December21, 2020 appeared as a very bright “Christmas Star fitting for
the Christmas season!
We
saw the "Christmas star back on Dec. 21, the two biggest
planets in our solar system — Jupiter and Saturn — appeared so close that they
shined almost as one. This great conjunction, which happens every 20 years, was
nicknamed the "Christmas star." Now, a few weeks later, these slow-moving
planets will soon both fade from our view as Earth speeds off around the sun.
However, before they sink into the sun's glare, they're going to be joined in
the sky by Mercury — the solar system's smallest planet — for a short yet
spectacular triple conjunction.
A
conjunction is said to occur when two or more planets align in the night sky as
seen from Earth. It's all about line of sight, because Jupiter, Saturn, and
Mercury each take a very different amount of time to orbit the sun. Distant Saturn
takes 29 years, Jupiter 12 years, and tiny Mercury just 88 days.
Since
Mercury is the first planet from the sun and we're on the third planet, it's an
inner planet to us. So, just like Venus, Mercury always appears to be
relatively close to the sun. It's therefore always in our daytime sky, but we
only ever see it just before sunrise or just after sunset when it's as far from
the sun as it gets from our point of view while the sun isn't in the
sky.
-January 10, 2021
Spirituality Triggers the Mind and Melodious Music the Heart in
the Sacred Month Margazhi that Transforms our Lives
Lord Krishna tells is in Gita maasaanaam
margaseershoham and I as a Tamil feel ms Margazhi with its
Bhajans and Keertanas and also Carnatic Music around December 25, visualizing
Krishna with his flute alluring Gopis of Ayarpadi! I believe at one time
Margazhi should have been Margaseersha due to proximity. Dhanus of Malayalis,
Margazhi of Tamils and Margaseersha of the rest are all 9Th month
among 12 months of a year. In ancient times December was also the
ninth month because universal Solar Religion started in March. So Krishna
essentially gave importance to the ninth month of the year whatever may be our
tradition and whatever may be our calendar that makes us believe that all
people are created equal and Krishna with his flute presides 9th
month of the year! Nataraja joined him on December 20 performing cosmic
dance with his Damaru min the month of Margazhi on Arudra Darsanam day!
To me Margazhi is a month for Spiritual Stability and musical
extravaganza taking our thoughts to divine heights. Saint Aandal considered
first 27 days (perhaps focused on 27 stars or Nakshatras presided by
celestial bodies) sacred and observed fast and on Koodarivellum day turned to
Supreme Light, engaged in cooking and serving, in caring and sharing with all
beings for the rest of three days with all her friends (Gopis) of Ayarpadi.
Swami Chidananda also advised us to focus Gita Jayanti Day on all
our Guru celebrities headed by Paramaguru Lord Krishna who taught Arjuna and
alsao drawing our attention to the latest in the series Swami
Chinmayananda. This thought when deeply focused surprised me that Swami
Vivekananda and Maharshi were also born in the month of Margazhi, on January 12.
HUA considered this day, an auspicious day to start their new semester focused
on dharmic contributions of our ancient sages.
It equally surprised me that Saint Thyagaraja chose to ascend
heaven on this day and reach Paramapada on January 6th realizing
that Uttarayana Punyakala had already started on December 22, astronomical
winter solstice day though our religious pundits say that it starts on Makara
Sankranti Day. They also wait for man-made Makara Vilakku on Sabarimali missing
the Sun in full speed beyond the hovering Eagle. So, Margazzhi is
an auspicious month for great souls to arrive on Earth as well as depart from
Earth!
Tamils say Hanuman can’t miss the month of Margazhi! Sri Hanumān
Jayanti was celebrated with all the fanfare (permissible in these Covid-19
times) at home and temples in South India. Though they ignored
Ayodhyavasis of Ramajanmabhumi who celebrate Hanuman Jayanthiin April,
gatherings chanted Hanumān Chalisā forty times. They would neither miss the
special Bhajans and Bharata-nātyam in addition to formal worship (poojā) during
Margazhi nor would miss delicious lunch prasād nor mouth-watering Peda and hot
pepper crispy Vadai!
I regret very much I was the only one that did not learn classical
music in my youthful days in my family, but yet listen to the profound
spiritual content of Thyagaraja’s Kirtanas and Bhajans. That could have led me
to Bhaktimkarga that he not only promoted but also practiced, instead dry
Vedanta with which I am struggling. What did I learn listening to him? Bhakti
offer of Food makes it Prasad! When water enters Sankha with Bhakti, it becomes
Tirtha! When Abhishekam water is consumed, it becomes Sanjeevini or Amruta!
When I take a pleasure trip to pilgrim spots with Bhakti, it turns to be
Tirthayatra! When I enter an ashram or a room with Bhakti, it becomes a
Temple OR Devalaya! When I murmur lyrics of a musical composition with Bhakti,
it becomes Kirtan! Any helping act with Bhakti, becomes Seva! Any good act with
Bhakti turns to Punyaphala to improve my balance sheet of Karma! When Bhakti
pervades a person, he becomes Human!
Parvati too took her avatar in the month of Margazhi pleased with
the little sweet and salt Pongal as Annapoorna Devi, on December 29, to enable
to multiply food several times (annam bahukurveeta) and alsao distribute
among the needy with no strings attached (sraddhayaa deyam).
I enjoyed the smoothing effect of all kinds of music during
Margazhi spending my troubled youthful days in Chennai. It was then known as
Carnatic Christmas season inviting the Whites called Durais. Its streets are
flooded with Bhajan Singers even today who culminate their trip at a temple
that welcomes them with hot Pongal. I often joined them too in the past.
They also took care not to annoy the food donors by avoiding the trampling of
beautifully drawn Kolams on the streets enjoyed by birdsused to enjoy Christmas
holidays that filled the mind as well as soothed the mind that I miss in USA!
Once, I was in Thailand where I did not miss my Margazhi Bhajans! There
even Buddhists were singing gobbled Tiruppavai and Thiruvembavai in Buddhist
Temples!
Healing with sound is believed to date back to ancient Greece,
when music was used in an attempt to cure mental disorders. Throughout history,
music has been used to boost morale in military troops, help people work faster
and more productively, and even ward off evil spirits by chanting.
More recently, research has linked music to a number of health
benefits, from boosting immune function and lowering stress levels to improving
the health of premature babies.
Guided meditation is a form of sound healing in which you meditate
to voiced instruction in a session. Meditation can involve chanting or
repeating mantras or prayers. Probably, this is what is aimed at in the
Spiritual Margazhi Madhuradhvani (sweet melody) Season.
There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel as we welcome the
New Year 2021 in Margazhi, and several pharmaceutical companies in the East and
the West have come out with vaccines against the Coronavirus in this month
blessed by Krishna who has sent Dhanvantari with Kalasa filled with Vaccines
and antibodies developed through Llamas.
We are deeply engaged with Inspiring Spirituality and
Healing Divine Music in Margazhi, focused on EQ and SQ Management in 2021.
Vaccine, medicine and precautions outside will fail if we, inside, lack
immunity, courage and resilience. We know what we need to do for boosting our
own resistance to disease. Let’s vow to do the best and leave the rest!
-
January 10, 2021
**************
Pongal and Makara Sankranti 2021
Key
Highlights
- Pongal celebrations concur with
Makar Sankranti festival
- People who hail from Tamil Nadu
celebrate Pongal
- Pongal festivities include Boghi,
Thai or Surya Pongal and Mattu Pongal
Makar
Sankranti is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in India as per the Solar
calendar. It is observed pan India with much zest and fervour but is known by
different names. In Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti is known as Pongal, and the
festivities span over three days. Pongal is one of the biggest festivals for people
who hail from Tamil Nadu, and it is broadly classified as Boghi, Thai Pongal
and Mattu Pongal. Read on to know the Pongal 2021 dates and other important
details.
The
festivities begin with Boghi. This year, Boghi will be celebrated on January
13. Dedicated to Indra Dev, the King of the Devas and the God of rains, Boghi
marks the beginning of the Pongal festivities. It is celebrated on the last day
of the month of Margazhi (Margashirsha). On this day, people refurbish their
home by either cleaning or repainting it. Old clothes and other items are
discarded. After cleaning /repainting, people decorate their home and courtyard
by making traditional Kolams (rangoli/alpana) with rice flour. Farmers worship
equipment that they use for farming, and thus, they pay ode to Lord Indra and
hope for a good yield.
Thai
Pongal or Surya Pongal 2021 date
This
year, Thai Pongal will be celebrated on January 14.
Thai
Pongal symbolizes abundance and prosperity. People rise early, take a bath,
wear new clothes and worship the Sun God. Thai Pongal, also known as Surya
Pongal is the most important day of Pongal festivities.
Family
members in the rural prepare Pongal in the open field or their home's
courtyard. People tie turmeric leaves to the utensil and smear it with turmeric
and kumkumam paste. And this utensil is used for preparing pongal. And as the
rice gets cooked and the froth spills over the utensil, people chant
"pongalo pongal". This spilling over of cooked rice symbolizes
prosperity, and it represents growth.
Mattu
Pongal date
This
year, Mattu Pongal will be celebrated on January 15.
The
third day of the Pongal festivities, Mattu Pongal, as the name suggests, is
dedicated to cattle. Farmers decorate their cows and bulls with garlands and
smear turmeric and kumkumam on their forehead. Since cattle has been an
integral part of farming for ages, farmers pay ode by worshipping them on this
day. As per family tradition, some women offer rice mixed with turmeric and
kumkumam to crows and by doing so, pray for their brothers' well-being. These
small balls of colored rice are placed on a turmeric leaf, and the same is
offered to the crows.
The
Pongal festivities get extended by a day in villages. The fourth day is
referred to as Kaanum Pongal.
Kaanum
Pongal
This
year, Kaanum or Kanu Pongal will be celebrated on January 16. Community
get-togethers and fairs mark Kaanum Pongal celebrations in villages.
Makara
Sankranti is mainly celebrated as the harvest festival, marking the arrival of
the spring season. The day is synonymous with kite flying as well. Makar
Sankranti activities and rituals include taking a holy dip in the Ganges,
offering Naivedya or special food items to the Surya or Sun god and
distributing food and clothes to the poor. Makar Sankranti is a day associated
with happiness, charity and prosperity.
Makaravilakku 2021
Makaravilakku
is one of the most important festivals at Sabarimala Temple in Kerala.
Thousands of devotees of Lord Ayyappa gather at temple to see
man-made Makarvilakku (light or flame).
On
the Sabarimala Makaravilakku day, the evening deeparadhana is the most
important puja. During the deeparadhana, Lord Ayyappa gives darshan fully
attired in the Thiruvabharanam – gold ornaments – which is specially brought
from the Pandalam Palace.
Before the evening deeparadhana on
Makaravilakku day, an eagle hovers over the Sabarimala Temple. Next the Makara
Star appears on the sky – Makara Jyothi is the star that appears on the sky on
the day in the evening. Next is the appearance of Makaravilakku – it is the
light that appears three times in the distant hill at Ponnambalamedu.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/01/makara-sankranti.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-festival-named-after-food-and_8133.html
Let
us thank the sun
For burning himself to give us life
Let us thank Plants
For sacrificing themselves for us
Let us thank cattle and animals
For Helping us to sustain our life
Let us care and share
Wishing
you Happy Pongal!
--January
10, 2021`
Message from Krishnan Muralidharan:
As Uttarayana is about to start with Sun moving into Capricorn on
Wednesday (14-Jan-2021), I am
delighted to share a rare hymn on Lord
Surya taken from Samba Puranam
and Chapter 43 as Makara
Sankranti is an occasion to worship Lord
Surya.
May I take this occasion to wish all
of you Happy Makara Sankranti/Pongal!
The month Pousha/Thai marks the beginning of auspicious occasions after the
austere Dhanur/Margazhi month.
May the start of Uttarayana shower
auspiciousness in every dimension of your lives!
Comments:
Thank you mama. Today I read about
the 108 namas of Surya as told by sage Dhaumya to Yudhishthira, which
Yudhishtira mediated on to get the akshaya patra from Surya.
--Aparna
Arcot
SWAMI VIVEKANANDA’S BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATION 2021
The Birthday of Swami
Vivekananda is a regional holiday in the Indian state of West Bengal on January
12th each year. This
holiday commemorates the birthday of an Indian Hindu monk on this day in 1863.
History of Birthday of
Swami Vivekananda
The first teachers who
brought Yoga to the West came with the profound teachings of Vedanta as their
greatest treasure to share with the world. They presented Vedanta as the
philosophy of Self-realization and Yoga as the methodology by which to achieve
it. Such great masters began with Swami Vivekananda at the end of the
nineteenth century and continued with Swami Rama Tirtha, Paramahansa Yogananda,
and the many disciples of Swami Shivananda of Rishikesh.
Swami Vivekananda was
born as Narendranath Datta in Kolkata on January 12th
1863. Showing an interest in spirituality from an early age, Narendranath
would become the chief disciple of the 19th-century saint Ramakrishna, who
practiced Islam, Christianity and other religions to live his words: "many
opinions, many paths."
After Ramakrishna's
death in 1886, Narendranath renounced the world and became a monk, adopting the
name "Swami Vivekananda." He travelled across India and seeing the conditions
of the people at first-hand, his compassion drove him to seek material help
from the West. He later travelled to the United States, representing India at
the 1893 Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago.
Vivekananda became a
celebrity in America and for three years he spread the Vedanta philosophy and
religion in America and England. He returned to India to found the Ramakrishna
Math and Ramakrishna Mission. His lectures and writings have been
gathered into nine volumes of his Complete Works.
Vivekananda died
unexpectedly on July 4th 1902 at the age of 39, fulfilling his prophecy that he
would not live to reach 40.
In 1984, the date of
Swami Vivekananda's birthday was chosen by the Indian Government as National
Youth Day. The Government stated that 'the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals
for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the
Indian Youth Day.' The final aim is to have a country full of responsible
youth. Youth is the backbone of any nation. They are the pillars of strengths
that contribute to national growth. The primary focus of celebrating national
youth day is to motivate the young folks of the country and help them make
better life decisions.
On National Youth day,
youths take a pledge to be focused and stay ambitious in fulfilling their goals
and being responsible citizens. The day celebrated on Swami Vivekananda’s
birthday is a noble way to pay him respect. Swami Vivekananda was a visionary
and maker of modern India.
On 17 December 1999, in
its resolution
54/120(link is external), the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the recommendation
made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12
August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day.
The Assembly recommended
that public information activities be organized to support the Day as a way to
promote better awareness of the World Program of Action for Youth,
adopted by the General Assembly in 1996 (resolution 50/81).
Security Council Resolution
2250(link is external) on Youth, Peace and Security represents an unprecedented
acknowledgement of the urgent need to engage young peacebuilders in promoting
peace and countering extremism, and clearly positions youth as important
partners in the global efforts.
International Youth Day is celebrated annually
on 12 August to bring youth issues to the attention of the international community
and celebrate the potential of youth as partners in today’s global
society.
The Day gives an opportunity to celebrate and mainstream young
peoples’ voices, actions and initiatives, as well as their meaningful,
universal and equitable engagement.
The theme of
International Youth Day 2020, “Youth Engagement for Global Action” seeks to
highlight the ways in which the engagement of young people at the local,
national and global levels is enriching national and multilateral institutions
and processes, as well as draw lessons on how their representation and
engagement in formal institutional politics can be significantly
enhanced.
As the United Nations
turns 75, and with only 10 years remaining to make the 2030 Agenda a reality
for all, trust in public institutions is eroding. At the international level,
against the backdrop of an increasingly polarized world, the international
system of governance is currently undergoing a crisis of legitimacy and
relevance. In particular, this crisis is rooted in the need to strengthen the
capacity of the international system to act in concert and implement solutions
to pressing challenges and threats (examples include some of the worst
contemporary conflicts and humanitarian emergencies, such as Syria and Myanmar,
as well as global challenges, such as the COVID-19 outbreak and climate
change).
Enabling the engagement
of youth in formal political mechanisms does increase the fairness of political
processes by reducing democratic deficits, contributes to better and more
sustainable policies, and also has symbolic importance that can further
contribute to restore trust in public institutions, especially among youth.
Moreover, the vast majority of challenges humanity currently faces, such as the
COVID-19 outbreak and climate change require concerted global action and the
meaningful engagement and participation of young people to be addressed
effectively.
“Giving young people
from all walks of life the opportunity to truly be active participants in the
social and political life of their societies, as well as in the multilateral
project, means ensuring that we are building a world that is truly for
them."— Audrey Azuay, Director General, Message on the occasion of the
International Youth Day
Phil Goldberg considers January 12, Vivekananda’s Birthday to be
an auspicious day, since two of the most important Indian teachers featured in
the course, Swami Vivekananda and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, were born on that day.
He will be lecturing on “Exploring the history and influence of Hindu
Dharma, around the key disseminators who forged a vital connection
between the ancient rishis and the modern West.”
--January 9, 2021
Science of Spirituality for Our Relief during Pandemic
You don’t need a
psychiatrist to tell you it’s been a brutal year. But looking back on 2020,
it’s clear we’ve undergone a big psychosocial stress test: Our response to the
deadly challenge of Covid-19 helped us discover what we value and who we really
are, a mirror held up to humanity.
Without much preparation, the pandemic cut us off from friends,
family and much of the external world. And many of us got the unwelcome chance
to find out what we missed and what we could do without. Surveys tell us that
we are more anxious and depressed than we were a year ago!
Some of us found that the solitude wasn’t as bad as we feared.
Psychologists love to remind us that we humans are easily bored and have
trouble entertaining ourselves without stimulating activities, which is exactly
what the pandemic took from us. Maybe we can tolerate our own company better
than experts predicted.
Buddhist feel strongly
“Life entails suffering and that much suffering is inescapable. Indeed, to
be alive is, in part, to suffer, at least some of the time. Mindfulness emerged
because the Buddha realized that attempts to escape suffering, to put suffering
out of our minds, to banish it to the nether regions, almost always backfire in
the long run. Doing so often produces mental disharmony and sets one
up to be in chronic fear of one’s own memories, feelings, and
experience.”
The goal of mindfulness is
to cultivate a meta-perspective on one’s consciousness and personhood that can
foster greater mental (and relational) harmony. This is the position of
seeing one’s self (and others) as a human being, trying to do the best they
can. “We can capture the desired attitude of this observer position with
the acronym C.A.L.M.” says a psychiatrist. The “C” stands for curiosity,
a stance of wondering what thoughts and feelings are present and where they
come from, thus cultivating as much awareness as possible. The “A” stands for
acceptance, which means that whatever flows through one’s stream of
consciousness will be taken in and accepted rather than denied and rejected.
The “L” stands for an attitude of loving compassion for one’s self (and
others). And finally the “M” stands for Motivated to learn more and to seek to
do so from a position of security. It means, a cultivating an openness to additional experiences and insights, and doing so from a
centered position of balance and resilience.
Mindfulness is an important
development in mental health and largely attracting the
attention. The benefits of mindfulness are greatly enhanced when it is
accompanied by deeper understanding of human consciousness and the human
condition. Such a perspective can help to ensure that applications of
mindfulness are done, well, mindfully.
Perhaps now so more than during any other times of our lives,
mindfulness can help ease the seemingly overwhelming stresses and burdens of
these difficult times.
It’s important to note that mindfulness in and of itself is no
panacea, but that the integration of its practices into the rhythms and
routines of our lives can go a long way toward quieting the monkey mind and
calming a chaotic heart.
First off, let’s ensure that this isn’t underplayed - there are
real uncertainties and unknowns about what we face on the macro scale as a
society and on the micro-scale individually. We face economic uncertainty,
health unknowns, scarcity mindsets, while it's seemingly impossible to get an
accurate picture of the potential implications of this pandemic that have on
our nation and the world. But again, these mindfulness practices and activities
along with other healthy habits and practices, paired with actions when
appropriate, can be the key to personal joy and freedom!
Science of Spirituality is a worldwide spiritual organization
dedicated to transforming lives through meditation. India Association Nashville
is drawing our attention to the timely help from Science of Spirituality
Organization to alleviate our mental torture and sufferings! Lord
Krishna says in Gita “masanam margaseershah (Margazhi) aham”- among
months I Am Margazhi. What Science and spirituality has been doing is being
done by Spiritualty and Music in the month of Margazhi toning us up and pepping
us, every year since time immemorial. Urban monks feel Margazhi is the
month of Stability preparing us for Mobility in Thai. Please go through my next
E-mail: “Spirituality Fills the Mind and Melodious Music the Heart in the
Sacred Month Margazhi”
Message from India Association
Nashville
Please
find below the individual events, which are part of this series:
Science
of Spirituality is excited to present Online Hindi Meditation workshop series
events, starting Jan 14. All the events are free and there is no charge.
The series is available at https://www.sos.org/webinars/meditation-for-inner-peace
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/393312428608443
Topics include:
Meditation Transforms Life
Meditation and Prayer
Healthy Life through Meditation
Meditation and Spiritual Life
Importance of Meditation in Family Life
Love Devotion and Meditation-
--January 8, 2021
KOODARAIVELLUM FESTIVAL IN THE SACRED MONTH OF MARGAZHI ON JANUARY
11
On the 27th day of Margazhi month the hymn starting
with the words "Koodaarai Vellum" from Tiruppavai is dedicated to
Aaandaal and sung with all reverence before offering the sweet pudding
(Sakkarai Ponga, Akkaar Vadisal, Ksheeraannam etc) to the deity. On this
day, andal with her friends
completed their fasting and started enjoying themselves
for the rest three days. The song "vaiyathu vazhveergal..." should be
think of before entering into Koodarai vellum pasuram.
In the pasuram, "Vaiyathu vaazhvirgal", andal is telling us how to involve in
the fasting on previous days and what are all the procedures. One should always
chant the name of the Lord for the whole day of fasting, avoid ghee,
milk, take bath early in brahmamuhurtha, don’t indulge in beautification normal
to girls, don’t indulge in prohibited things (eating outside,
speaking unnecessary words, etc.), and indulge in kind acts like
helping others, so on...
With the 27th pasuram, "koodarai
vellum" she is concluding the fasting:
koodaarai
vellum seer gOvindhaa undhannai(p)
paadi(p) paRai kondu yaam peRum sammaanam
naadu pugazhum parisinaal nanRaaga(ch)
choodagamE thOL vaLaiyE thOdE sevip poovE
paadagamE enRanaiya palagalanum yaam aNivOm
aadai uduppOm adhan pinnE paaR chORu
mooda ney peydhu muzhangai vazhi vaara(k)
koodi irundhu kuLirndhElOr embaavaay
These girls are wearing so many ornaments and decorated themselves
and went to temple. There they sung the glory of Narayana. They wore new
garments. Eat well the milk-rice (Finishing their fasting by eating milk
itself). How to prepare that milk-rice? Since all these days, they avoided milk
and ghee, now they poured the ghee in amount so that it covered the rice
itself. How to quantify that? It is very simple. When you take the rice in your
hands, the ghee should flow free from that it should fall from your forearm.
The final punch is very important. "Koodi irundu kulirnadelo" Share and
enjoy the same food with everyone present there.
In Vishnu temples, (I don’t know whether they are preparing Paal
soru) Sweet, ghee sakkara pongal will be prepared and in even houses, they
prepare sarkkaraipongal and offer it to god and then distribute to other houses
and then they eat. By keeping this fasting and ending this with cheerfulness,
makes our enemies to drive away from us.
Andal is a psychiatrist, Dietician, beautician, and what
not! The enemy she is talking about is the uncontrollable mind only. By
doing fasting, then preparing delicious dish and then sharing the same with
others make our mind cool and harmless. After a full dieting for long, if we
load ourselves with ghee and milk, the proteins will get accumulated into
appropriate places and necessary amino-acids will start secreting.
Enjoy this Koodaravalli with your near and dear ones in the sense
of Thanksgiving that is caring and sharing not only with the family and friends
but also at the same time not forgetting the needy including birds and animals!
This reminds the spirit of Thanksgiving Celebration of Hindu Americans!
Philosophic
Explanation by Srimad Andavan
The Gopis had stumbled upon their
biggest ever accomplishment having obtained the company of the invaluable
supreme soul, Kannan in solitude. They answer to the question from Kannan as to
their needs.
koodaarai vellum seer gOvindhaa – You should shower your affection on us similar to the way you
shower compassion on the cattle. We should indeed drown in the ocean of your
compassion without reaching the shore. Even in your previous incarnations, you
have won over all those who have been your sworn enemies, those who ran against
you with the might of their strength or the might of their penance. You have
given yourself to us after all this. Many suitors tried in vain to
win the hand of Sita by stringing the mighty Shivadhanus. You came as Sri Rama
and engaged the bow with power, only to break it and bring the heads of the
other suitors down in shame. Oh Krishna, you who won the hand of Sita during
Raamaavathaaram, pray shower your benevolence on us.
The adversaries quote that the world
is a delusion. The reality is void alone.
There are no celestial worlds. There
are no Jeevathmans. The supreme exists neither. Everything perceivable is only
an illusion. You by means of your imparts through the Bhagavad Gita, have
refuted all these adversaries thoroughly. Oh Govinda! You have affirmed with
clarity that everything perceivable is absolutely true and real. You are one
who has won over your adversaries with arrows and weapons. At the same time,
with your affection, mercy, beauty and high-mindedness you have also won those
devoting themselves to your lotus feet. We have been observing this ritual
(nombu) for the past twenty-six days. You are our sole object of attainment and
means of attainment. We pray to you along with your consort Nappinnai to bestow
upon us the highly acclaimed merit that befits us duly.
undhannai(p) paadi(p) paRai kondu
yaam peRum sammaanam naadu pugazhum parisinaal nanRaaga--.Kannan then asks as to what merits are they aspiring for. The
Gopis reply, “When Sri Rama was about to be crowned, Sita came down till the
doors and garlanded Him with her beautiful glances and saw Him through. Sri
Rama then removed His garland and decorated Sitha with it. We seek such merits
from you Oh Kanna”.
choodagamE thOLvaLaiyE thOdE sevippoovE
paadagamE enRanaiya palagalanum yaam aNivOm– The wonderful hands
that do service to your lotus feet, need to be bejeweled with bangles that are
enmeshed with the finest of all the nine gems. The hands that cuddle you need
to be adorned with the finest of shoulder jewelry. You adorn the
Makara-kundalas (ear rings) on your ear. To match the greatness of these, you
should bestow a pair of diamond ear-rings to the beautiful ears that listen to
your sweet flute all the time. These ears should be decorated with flowers
(chevippoovu) as well. You would touch our feet during the observance of ammi
midiyal (stepping on stone during wedding) during our holy matrimony. Such legs
need to be decorated with the ornament of jingles (paadagam). You should thus grant
us with all the jewelry that we seek.
Women decorate themselves with jewels
before clothing themselves. For dressing they only
needed the finest and fragrant most silk attires worn by him.
Kannan then says “But I do not possess so much to be given to all of you”. The
Gopis say, “Pray get us our attires from the same place from where you granted
Draupadi with rolls and rolls of attire, when she pleaded unto you taking your
holy names like Krishna, Govinda”.
adhan pinnE paaR chORu mooda ney
peydhu muzhangai vazhi vaara(k) koodi
irundhu kuLirndhElOr – Until we attained you, we were determined not to take ghee or
milk and not to decorate our tresses with fragrant flowers. But we have won you
now. From now on, we shall bejewel ourselves, wear grand silk
attire, get our tresses
decorated by you with flowers and we shall relish the sweetness and delicacy of
ksheeraannam (milk rice) and take great delight in enjoying your unending
company with us. The milk rice should look like as if being taken out after
having dipped in a trough of ghee. While relishing it, the ghee should drip
down the wrist till the elbow. We should enjoy the supreme bliss with you here,
similar to that which is enjoyed by the nityas and the muktas(liberated
souls) in Srivaikuntham with you Oh Sriman Narayana.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2011/11/aandaal-kodai-incarnation-of-bhoodevi.html
--January 8, 2021
HUMBLE
RESPECTS and TRIBUTES TO SAINT THYAGARAJA
[One of TRINITY of the Carnatic music on
his REMEMBRANCE DAY, January 6]
Thyyagaraja
(4 May 1767 – 6 January 1847), also known as Thyāgayya, was a renowned composer of Carnatic music, a form
of Indian classical music. He was prolific and highly influential in the
development of India's classical music tradition. Thyagaraja and his
contemporaries, Shyama Shastri and Muthuswami Dikshitar, are regarded as the
Trinity of Carnatic music. Thyagaraja composed thousands of devotional
compositions, most in Telugu and in praise of Lord Rama, many of which remain
popular today.
Tyāgarāja
was born Kakarla Thyagabrahmam in 1767, to a Telugu Vaidiki Mulakanadu Brahmin
family in Tiruvarur in present-day Tiruvarur District of Tamil Nadu.
Thyhyagaraja
was the third son of his parents, and Panchanada Brahmam and Panchapakesha
Brahmam are his elder brothers. He was named Thyagabrahmam/Thyagaraja after
Thyagaraja, the presiding deity of the temple at Thiruvarur, the place of his
birth.
He
has also composed krithis in praise of Krishna, Shiva, Shakti, Ganesha, Muruga,
Saraswati, and Hanuman besides his main focus on Rama.
In
addition to nearly 700 compositions (kritis), Thyagaraja composed two musical
plays in Telugu, the Prahalada Bhakti Vijayam and the Nauka Charitam. Prahlada
Bhakti Vijayam is in five acts with 45 kritis set in 28 ragas and 138 verses,
in different metershyin Telugu. Nauka Charitam is a shorter play in one act
with 21 kritis set in 13 ragas and 43 verses. The latter is the most popular of
Thhygaraja's operas, and is a creation of the composer's own imagination and
has no basis in the Bhagavata Purana. Thyagaraja also composed a number of
simple devotional pieces appropriate for choral singing.
--- January
6, 2021
Comments:
Many
thanks for the timely recap. On Saint Thyagaraja.
--A.N. Sapthagireesan
******************
|
SHARADA
DEVI JAYANTHI
Sarada
Devi, the wife of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, is popularly known as Holy
Mother and she was integral part of Sri Ramakrishna’s spiritual self. In 2021,
the date of Sharada Devi Jayanthi is January 6. This is the 166th birth
anniversary of Maa Sarada Devi. Special programs are conducted on the day by
Ramakrishna Ashram in India and around the world. Sarada Devi Jayanti is the
birthday of Holy Mother Sarada Devi as per traditional Hindu calendar.
Holy
Mother was born on December 22, 1853 at Jayrambati in rural West Bengal in
India. She was married to Sri Ramakrishna at the age of five. She came to
Dakshineswar to live with Sri Ramakrishna at the age of eighteen.
Sarada
Devi, after passing away of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, accepted the mantle of his
spiritual mission and became the Mother for all his followers.
She
passed away on July 20, 1920.
The greatness of Sarada Devi is that
living like a common woman doing all the household chores; she could yet lift
those who sought her to great spiritual heights.
As per Tithi her birthday falls on Paush Krishna Paksha Ashtami.
Her famous oft-repeated quote is:
I tell you one thing. If you want peace
of mind, do not find fault with others. Rather learn to see your own faults.
Learn to make the whole world your own. No one is a stranger, my child; this
whole world is your own.
Here are
other quotes that reflects her humane philosophy:
·
Let me tell you how to love all
equally. Do not demand anything of those you love. If you make demands, some
will give you more and some less. In that case you will love more those who
give you more and less those who give you less. Thus your love will not be the
same for all. You will not be able to love all impartially.
·
I am the mother of the wicked, as I
am the mother of the virtuous. Never fear. Whenever you are in distress, say to
yourself, ‘I have a mother.
·
You see, my son, it is not a fact
that you will never face dangers. Difficulties always come, but they do not
last forever. You will see that they pass away like water under a bridge.
·
Even the impossible becomes possible
through devotion.
·
Don't be afraid. Human birth is full
of suffering and one has to endure everything patiently, taking the Name of
God. None, not even God in human form can escape the sufferings of the body and
mind.
·
One should not hurt others even by
words. One must not speak an unpleasant truth unnecessarily.
·
No one can suffer for all time. No
one will spend all his days on this earth in suffering. Every action brings its
own result, and one gets one's opportunities accordingly.
·
We suffer as a result of our own
actions; it is unfair to blame anybody for it.
·
As you smell the fragrance of a
flower by handing it or the smell of sandalwood by rubbing it against a stone,
so you obtain spiritual awakening by constantly thinking of God.
·
Even Avatars, saints, and sages have
to undergo the ordeal of suffering, for they take upon themselves the burden of
sins of omission and commission of ordinary human beings and thereby sacrifice
themselves for the good of humanity.
·
The happiness of the world is
transitory. The less you become attached to the world, the more you enjoy peace
of mind. I tell you
one thing. If you want peace of mind, do not find fault with others. Rather
learn to see your own faults. Learn to make the whole world your own. No one is
a stranger, my child; this whole world is your own.
·
Let me tell you how to love all
equally. Do not demand anything of those you love. If you make demands, some
will give you more and some less. In that case you will love more those who
give you more and less those who give you less. Thus your love will not be the
same for all. You will not be able to love all impartially.
--January 6, 2021
********************
HUA Course on the Vital Connection
between the Ancient Rishis and the Modern West by Phil Goldberg
Please go through the yeoman service carried out by HUA
detailed by Dr. Phil AGoldberg. My only concern on the topic
is, we have not even reached the border lines of the metaphysics of Hindu
Dharma seeing the political turmoil, racial conflicts and Hindu Youths in USA
invariably choosing their partners from other religions while walking away from
Hinduism or being lukewarm to it! Hindu Americans after the Awakening by
Sami Vivekananda more than a century ago, have not yet attained spiritual
stability while HUA has a grand plan for spiritual mobility. Therefore, the
title for the course could have been “How Hindu Dharma can Transform
America”
Here are my further thoughts based on my study from others as well
as myself:
What is this religion which we call
Sanatana, Eternal?
It is the Hindu religion only because the Hindu nation has kept
it, because in this Peninsula it grew up in the seclusion of the sea and the
Himalayas, because in this sacred and ancient land it was given as a charge to
the Aryan race to preserve through the ages. But it is not circumscribed by the
confines of a single country, it does not belong peculiarly and forever to a
bounded part of the world. That which we call the Hindu religion is really the
eternal religion, because it is the universal religion which embraces all
others. If a religion is not universal, it cannot be eternal. A narrow
religion, a sectarian religion, an exclusive religion can live only for a
limited time and a limited purpose. This is the one religion that can triumph
over materialism by including and anticipating the discoveries of science and
the speculations of philosophy. It is the one religion which impresses on
mankind the closeness of God to us and embraces in its compass all the possible
means by which man can approach God. It is the one religion which insists every
moment on the truth which all religions acknowledge that He is in all people
and all things and that in Him we move--Sri Aurobindo
All Hindus, both in Bharat and around the world, should unite in
terms of Sanatana Dharma doctrine and organization, because
otherwise external and internal adharmic forces will annihilate, or at least
marginalize and discriminate against Hindu religion also in her historical
homeland – Bharat. Listen to the warning of a Western admirer and staunch
defender of Sanatana Dharma, Frenchman Francois Gautier: “The enemies of Hindus
are united, even if it is in disunity, even if it is a temporary arrangement
based on a common hatred. Christian conversions, the onslaught of Muslim
fundamentalism, the abhorrence of communists for Hinduism, the infinite dangers
of globalization and Americanization, the disregard of India’s intellectual
elite of India for their own culture and spirituality, are slowly but surely
making a dent in India’s psyche … Disunity has always been the curse of
Hinduism and India and whichever enemy conquered this country, did it not
because of superior strength, but because they were helped by Hindu betrayers.
Remember the last great Hindu empire, that of Vijaynagara. The Christians have
a Pope, the Muslims the word of the Koran, communists have Der Kapital of Karl
Marx, but Hindus are fragmented in a thousand sects, which often bicker with
each other.”
In a recent e-mail Muralidharan Krishnan from Singapore, who
is quite familiar with Hinduism at crossroads in India and the Far east
writes;
“In the context of Hindu Dharma, Sanatana
Dharma has faced more vicious attacks from all quarters in 2020 - repulsive
mockery of sacred personalities like Andal and Thirugyna sambandhar, perverted
parodies of sacred hymns like Skanda Shashti Kavacham, forced marriage of Hindu
girls through deception and above all questioning the veracity of the concept
of Hindu Dharma itself. The root of this lies in the erosion of Hindu ethos and
characteristic disunity. A house divided is very easy to run over- as India was
under foreign rule for 1000 years. If we trace root cause of all invasions,
they are due to disunity and personal settling of scores at the expense of own
ethos, country and religion.
Every Hindu must read the
excellent Open Letter to Great Gurus of Hinduism by Francois Gautier https://www.francoisgautier.com/2019/07/24/an-open-letter-to-all-the-great-gurus-of-india/. ("Disunity has always been the curse of Hinduism and India
and whichever enemy conquered this country, did it not because of superior
strength, but because they were helped by Hindu betrayers"). If Hindu
factions don't unite leaving their petty and silly intra-sect politics, there
may not be any Sanatana Dharma left a century or two from now and Lord may need
to send another Adi Shankara to revive it.”
Hindu Americans must realize, if Hindus and politicians in India
will not, that we don’t live in Satyayuga anymore, that the world
entered Kaliyuga, period of spiritual darkness, strife and blind
materialism, long time ago. Consequently, Sanatana Dharma, if we want it
to survive and even thrive in this murky period, must adapt in terms of
doctrine, organization and scope of operations. Many Hindu leaders and sages in
the last two centuries have come to this fundamental conclusion (Ram Mohan Roy,
Swami Devananda Saraswati, Swami Vivekananda, Vinayak Savarkar,
Aurobindo Ghose, swami Chinmayanda Saraswati etc.), but so far insufficient and
lukewarm steps have been made to bring in life all necessary measures and
institutions for unification and survival of Sanatana Dharma in Kaliyuga. Therefore, think about
following comprehensive measures to be implemented in a reasonable period of
time. Fortunately for us progressive Urban Monks, including Female
Gurus assuming the role of Mother, like Paramartha Niketan, Fowai forum,
Chimnmaya Mission, ISKCON, American Hindu University, American
Vedanta Institute, VPHA, and HMEC etc., have joined the above prime
movers to make Vedanta as the Religion for the World in the future, as Swami
Vivekananda promoted in USA. Here are some suggestions:
Agreement on common religious doctrine: An incredible and bewildering array of doctrines, spiritual
lineages (sampradayas) and sects might seem as a positive, vibrant and
inclusive aspect of Hinduism to some people, but in reality it has become a
huge shortcoming long time ago. Namely, this astounding diversity has enabled
enemies of Sanatana Dharma (both domestic and foreign) to depict it as a
bundle of contradictions, as a quasi-religion without internal coherence,
collection of weird gurus and embarrassing customs … On the other hand we have
a long, elaborated, venerable tradition of Vedanta thought, which culminated
with brilliant works of swami Vivekananda and Aurobindo Ghose. These two giants of Vedantic
thought not only achieved synthesis between advaita and dvaita Vedanta,
but furthermore, were able to achieve superb synergy between Vedanta and modern
Western philosophy. We may call it, integral Vedanta which can
be the most adequate doctrinal basis for a truly unified and global Sanatana
Dharma. There can be no doubt about it – many “Hindus” will adamantly
reject this proposal and continue to insist on their sectarianism, but
then everybody will finally know that these people are not really interested in
well-being of Sanatana Dharma as a whole, but only in their petty sects
and their self-interest and glorification
Establishment of common religious organization: With the inception of World Hindu Council (Vishwa Hindu
Parishad – VHP) in 1964 major step in the right direction has been already made
and we have to commend brave and visionary individuals and organizations for
that. Nevertheless, much remains to be done: We need no Hindu “Vatican”
with a Hindu “Pope”, but a high council of major acharyas,
shankaracharyas, Spiritual Gurus, American Hindu Universty, American Vedanta
Institute, and HMEC etc., would be very recommendable, both in terms
of Hindu representation and efficiency. It should be complemented with a
central administrative-expert institution, which would both prepare
Dharmic position on pressing contemporary topics (spirituality, rituals,
economics, politics, environment, sexuality …) and have a leading role in
influencing the above mentioned high council. These two institutions
ought to be also in charge of discerning, which religious self-identifying
Hindu denominations are truly Hindu and which not. Why is this so important?
Because we are globally faced with many “religious” organizations that work in
their own way.
Conducting unified, well-planned and massive missionary
activities: Although the false notion that Sanatana
Dharma has never been and should not be a missionary religion is
unfortunately still present, one has to be aware of the essential fact that in
the 21st century world has really become a global village and
among them, many migrate to USA mainly from India fed
up sectarian rivalries and communal strifes! Besides, there are many millions
of people all over the world (especially in the West) who already practice one
or more Dharmic practices (meditation, yoga, ayurveda etc.). Also among
Church goers 40% in USA do not want to attend sterio- typed sermons and
1 in 4 American Islam Faith followers call themselves “Awesome without Allah”
group. Why not bring these multitudes – if they want it, of course
– totally into Hindu Spiritual fold? Again, various Hindu organizations
(Ramakrishna Mission/Vedanta Society, Chinmaya Mission, ISKCON and others
mentioned above including Interfaith group) have performed relatively
well in this field of activity, but unified, thoroughly-planned and
well-executed approach would yield much better results.
Going forward, it appears certain that a revival of Hinduism and
Hindu culture must happen. This appears inevitable at this moment in time. Even
as this process happens, care must be taken that the rich contributions of
Hindus to the world in terms of culture, arts, philosophy, scholarship, Yoga,
Dhanurveda, Martial training etc. are not lost.
In recent times, the Australian government has apologized to the
aboriginal people for their crimes against them. The South African government
has apologized for apartheid. The Japanese have apologized for their war crimes
in Asia. The Germans have apologized to the Jews for the holocaust. Even Boris
Yeltsin apologized for the Bolshevik Revolution. But from whom should Hindus
seek an apology? From the Arabs who gave us Muhammad Bin Qasim? From the
Afghans who gave us Mahmud Ghazni? From the Turks who gave us Qutb al-Din
Aibak? From the Turko-Mongols who gave us Aurangzeb? From the Portuguese who gave
us Aleixo Diaz Falcao? Or from the English who gave us Reginald Dyer? Hindus do
not expect an apology from anyone but to get back to its Vedic Culture of “Vasudhaiva
kutumbakam” and “Krinvanto viswamaryam”.
With the passing of times, the world felt the need for different
religions, cults, deities and prophets to meet the vastly different needs of
the individuals essentially based on the Wisdom of Vedas but in the
process got confused and corrupted even and got messed up. Sanatana Dharma
leads all to tranquility, happiness and equanimity. No rituals are prescribed.
It is beyond walled religions and National boundaries.
It is worth going through ”An Open Letter to All the
Great Gurus of India” by Francois Gautier referred by
Muralidharan Krishnan in my attached collection.
In Vedanta Religion the complimentary relationship of people of
all religions and faiths, between science and religion, is quite close
and therefore appealing to all irrespective of their religious or non-religious
status as propagated by Vivekananda at the Conference of World Religions. It is
the essence of Hinduism that is extremely vast and has immense potential in
providing deep insights for resolving many of the issues in various fields of
science, such as life and consciousness studies, cosmology, etc. and to live in
peace but not in pieces. It also gives a broad view of the science of God and
religion. Therefore, it will be most appealing to all including Gharwapsis,
SBNR, and “Awesome without a Allah”
Muslims, if suitably learnt practiced and propagated.
Since this spiritual knowledge has
not come from Hinduism in practice in India, this should come from Hindu
Americans globally drawn who should take the lead to guide the world.
We therefore need focus on temple
traditions we imported from our ancient land better explained by the wisdom
thoughts of modern Gurus who have been concerned with us and
guiding us too through their spiritual establishments:
“The Mandirs have to play a significant role in the growth of the
Hindu community in terms of its capacity to uphold Hindu Dharma.” -- SWAMI
DAYANANDA SARASWATI (www.arshavidya.org)
“We need to make temples not just a center of rituals and
congregation but lighthouses of philosophy and knowledge, which are the basis
of Hindu Dharma.” -- SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR (www.artofliving.org)
“Creating an environment where the
youth understand, appreciate and love their Hindu culture is a crucial need
today, as is uniting all Hindu temples under one umbrella.” -- SWAMI CHIDANANDA
SARASWATI (www.parmarth.com)”
Message from Phil Goldberg:
My
fall course for Hindu University of America, “How Hindu Dharma Transformed
America,” was a great success. Because all the students said they learned a
great deal of valuable information about Indian spirituality’s astonishing
impact on American life, I was asked to offer the course again this coming semester.
I hope your year is off to a good
start. My coming semester. will begin on January 12 – an auspicious day,
since two of the most important Indian teachers featured in the course, Swami
Vivekananda and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, were born on that day.
Course
content:
In rigorously exploring the history and
influence of Hindu Dharma, the course will be organized mainly around the key
disseminators who forged a vital connection between the ancient rishis and the
modern West. First among those Vedic transmitters were the swamis, gurus, and
yogacharyas who brought their gifts to the West, from the earliest (Swami
Vivekananda and Paramahansa Yogananda) to those who established a foothold in
the 1960s and 70s (Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Srila Prabhupada, Swami Muktananda,
and others) to those teaching today (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Mata
Amritanandamayi, Sadhguru, etc.) – as well as luminaries who strongly impacted
America without ever coming here (Sri Aurobindo, Ramana Maharshi, and others).
We’ll examine both the diversity and commonalities of teachings that penetrated
America’s spiritual soil, and show how the core principles were skillfully
adapted to the language, values, and communication methods of the new cultural
context—and the tradeoffs that were made in the process. The obstacles the
ambassadors from India had to overcome—racism, religious bigotry, colonial
assumptions, finances, etc.—will be discussed as well. Also covered will be the
prominent Westerners who imbibed Vedic wisdom through gurus and/or texts,
integrated what they learned into their personal lives and their areas of
expertise, and ultimately disseminated what they valued most to vast numbers of
people. This second-hand transmission was sometimes explicit and properly
attributed, and at other times altered so much (in style if not substance) that
the original source was either vague or entirely obscured. In that context,
we’ll examine the contribution of philosophers and public intellectuals (from
Emerson to Aldous Huxley to contemporary scholars); psychologists (William
James, Carl Jung, Abraham Maslow); scientists (Nikola Tesla, Erwin
Schrodinger); and artists, including novelists (Herman Hesse, J.D. Salinger),
poets (W.B. Yeats, Allen Ginsberg), filmmakers (George Lucas), and musicians (the
Beatles especially). The course will also describe how Hindu Dharma has
influenced certain Christian and Jewish leaders, leading to significant shifts
in religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices. The course will conclude with a
look at the future in light of recent phenomena such as the medical embrace of
hatha yoga and meditation and the assimilation of Hindu citizens of Indian
descent since 1965-- Phil Goldberg
- JANUARY4,
2021
Comments:
I wish to heartily compliment you on
your "HIGH VOLUME CONTRIBUTION" all these years. Wish you Happy New
Year 2021, with more youthfulness than before!
Regards,
Swami
Chidananda, FOWAI Forum
THOUGHTS ON JOY AND
HAPPINESS DURING CHRISTMAS 2020
When
Jesus was born, the angels announced “good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10). All who find Jesus know, with the
shepherds of the nativity, the joy He brings. Even before His birth,
Jesus had brought joy, as attested to in Mary’s song (Luke 1:47)
and by John’s response to hearing Mary’s voice as he “leaped for joy” in his
mother’s womb (Luke 1:44).
WESTERN
AND BIBLICAL THOUGHTS OF JOY HAPPINESS
When I
settled in Nashville after retirement in 1999, I observed a group of
retired doctors that are temple fathers, actively working in the temple
office and serving community. They found Joy in their voluntary
service, without relaxing in their homes, that can be called Aahlaada
in Sanskrit, that brought them Happiness in retired life that is called
Santosha in Life in Sanskrit, a state of Being. Hindus
believe that such selfless services to society , charity given with no strings
attached (sraddhaya deyam), Compassion (daya) and constraints
(dama), leading a calm life with yoga and meditation would lead to
Eternal Bliss called Aanada in Sanskrit (no equivalent in
English) that may be called Perennial Joy after this life itself
or more lives, based on individual’s performance.
Inspired by these philanthropists I started Hindu
Reflections with weekly dispatches of its messge that gives me Joy with each
dispatch that in turn has given me Happiness in life that has incidentally
brought laurels without my expectations. My pocket was empty but my mind
was full. So, I too thought that “Retirement should not Weaken my Soul”, like
the service minded Temple Fathers. Guided by the wisdom of Gita I started working
continuously--veetaragabhayakrodhah yudhyasva vigatajvarah--devoid of
passion, fear and anger act without anxiety! Ananda to end this journey of Joy
of momentary feeling that leads to Happiness, the State of being in Life to
obtain the permanent state of Aananda is not in my hands and that depends on my
Karma and Good Lord’s Judgement in this life as well as subsequent lives!
With
this Hindu philosophy of understanding let us understand what the Western views
are on the subject in this Christmas Season of Joy. Here is an interesting
narration from the author of National Geographic Magazine well said:
WHERE
WILL FAMILIES FIND JOY?
By George Stone, Travel Executive Editor
Joy is a little word with vast potential.
Last week I asked readers to describe joy, a word that illuminates the human
journey. “I define joy in one word: Service. The act of helping
others In whatever capacity I can has never failed to fill me up from top to
bottom with pure joy,” writes reader Rachel Rowley. “I define joy as
being in the present without having to try,” says Lynn MacKenzie.
To many travelers, joy resides within the family.
“Joy to me is sharing time with my children and grandchildren and seeing them
having success and growing together as a family,” says Geri Foucher. “I
felt the most overwhelming joy when I held one of my baby children or
grand-children in my arms and they looked at me with the love and trust only
children are able to offer,” writes Conceição Brito, of Lisbon,
Portugal.
After being at sea for months with the Merchant
Marines, Timothy L. O’Neil recalls being invited to a home-cooked
holiday dinner by a man in Toulon, France. “This was a joyous occasion to be
with a family on Christmas Eve.”
Travelers are a resilient lot—especially little travelers. This week, Heather
Greenwood Davis shares a few secrets from the travel world that will
help you navigate the holidays. The key is finding hope wherever you go.
“Opportunity and a sense of optimism are the best gifts a parent can give this
holiday season,” she writes.
Making travel resolutions, finding ways to see the world from home, and actively planning your next trip are steps that will
lead to a happy New Year. There’s something else you can do: “Playing loud
music and spontaneously dancing” works for Jennifer Lefferts and her
family. Wherever you find joy, I hope you share it with the world.
WHAT IS THE SOUND OF JOY THIS
SEASON?
“How do you measure joy? In Japan there’s a way: Each December, choirs
across the country perform “Ode to Joy” in hundreds of concerts,
including one of the world’s most monumental singing spectacles: a
10,000-person chorus harmonizing a message of peace, hope, and joy.
The choral of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony became a holiday
tradition. “While world wars, fascism, and communism couldn’t silence the
Ninth, the current pandemic has posed an obstacle to group singing,” she
reports. “For some Japanese, singing ‘Ode to Joy’ is a way for them to
connect more broadly with humanity.” writes Rachel Ng of
National Geographic Magazine
Toshiaki Kamei, former mayor of Naruto,
directs the national association of societies dedicated to performing the
piece: “We believe singing Daiku [the choral of Beethoven’s Ninth] together
with people from various cultural backgrounds helps we learn to accept
diversity and promote world peace.” What makes the movement so captivating?
“This symphony has that capacity to heal and repair broken people and a
broken world at times. The Ninth elevates us to recognize the best parts of
ourselves,” says author and film- maker Kerry Candaele, whose
movie, Following the Ninth, documents the global impact of Beethoven’s final
symphony.
In an echo of our ode to yorokobi (joy), reader Joy
Lopez sent us a message of peace that resonates. “We are most caught up in
that golden flush of happiness and pleasure and enchantment when repeating
rituals of goodness,” she reports from her garden, noting that caring for the
soil nourishes the Embracing the season with snow and all, finding time for
others, soul, the planet, and our connection to one another. “When people
join together to do good,” she says, they are creating “that invisible
glow of joy.”
Embracing the season with snow and all finding time
for others, and giving into laughter are wonderful ways to wrap up the
year.”
Every
human heart hungers for joy. Humankind constantly seeks happiness.
Happiness results from things that happen in one’s life or to the
people whom that person loves. Many people seek happiness by acquiring cash, by
enjoying pleasurable emotions, or by seeking gratification through people,
places, or positions. “Joy is the emotion evoked by
well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one
desires. Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment; a
pleasurable or satisfying experience’’ defines Webster dictionary. But what is the view of Hindu Scriptures on the subject? I will
write about it in my next E-mail.
Is there a Biblical difference between Joy and
Happiness?
There is no explicit difference between Happiness
and Joy. Both involve the emotions, both are pleasurable feelings, and
both are mentioned in Scripture in passages that equate the two. Bible uses the
words happy and happiness about 30 times, while joy and rejoice
appear over 300 times.
It is
common today to hear believers speak of a difference between joy and happiness.
Christian teachings usually make the following points: 1) Happiness is a
feeling, but joy is not. 2) Happiness is fleeting, but joy is everlasting. 3)
Happiness depends on circumstances or other people, but joy is a gift from God.
4) Happiness is worldly, but joy is divine. But there is no such distinction
made in Scripture, and forcing a distinction between two words that are so
obviously close in meaning is unnecessary.
If a
person is joyful, then he or she is happy. There’s no such thing as glum joy.
We cannot drain joy of emotion and still call it “joy.” When God’s Spirit gives us joy, then we are happy people.
Christians should be joyful; happiness should characterize our everyday
lives.
Joy is
often presented as “true” contentment based on faith. Happiness, in contrast,
is often thought of as “false” or “superficial” emotion dependent on
circumstances. But this is a false dichotomy. There is nothing in the Bible
that suggests we divorce joy from happiness. The two are equal. There is a
temporary happiness and an eternal happiness, but we can call both “happiness.”
We don’t need to split hairs between the meaning of joy and happiness.
We just need to decide where our joy comes from. Are we happy in the Lord, or
are we content with the happiness the world affords? Solomon the Wise
says “The joy of the world is hollow, but the joy of
the Lord is rich and abundant. The world’s happiness will fade
with time, but God’s people will be happy forever”
Curfews,
quarantines and even border closings complicated Christmas celebrations Friday
for countless people around the globe. But pandemonium did not weaken the soul
of the Faithful! Ingenuity, determination and imagination helped to keep the
day special for many. “Radical acceptance of the endless unpredictable change
that is the very essence of this life’’ recalling the philosopher, Alan Watts
gives the solace!
There is no greater joy than to have an
endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun. So, I
think of HR Tidings! When I wish someone joy, I wish them peace, love,
prosperity, happiness – all the
good things. I don't have the power to make life fair, but I do have the
opportunity to make your life joyful.
THOUGHTS OF JOY, HAPPINESS AND PERENNIEL JOY ON GEETA JAYANTHI
2020, KRIS-MASS DAY
[Joy is momentary Triggering Emotion.
Happiness is Long Lasting State of Mind and Bliss is Eternal happiness and
Perennial Joy.]
HAPPINESS--EMOTION OR A STATE OF MIND?
There is a basic definition, that there
are six basic emotions (joy, fear, anger, disgust, sadness, surprise).
Sometimes joy is mistakenly called happiness. Happiness can come
along with joy but it can also come around without. It is a continuous
flow of joy that can be disturbed by other flows of feelings. Joy is a mere
triggered response.
Happiness is more state of mind than
emotions. Sanyasis, Fakirs, Sadhus, Monks etc., have no desire to acquire
more, and yet they are happy and look contented. They do not go through
the rat-race of comparing themselves with others.
In Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna also says
that the root cause of our unhappiness is our insatiable desires. The lesser
are our desires the happier we are. It requires tuning our mind.
The sense of comparison with others also
tend to make us unhappy. Though we all know that we can’t even take a straw
with us when we die, yet there is a mad race to acquire things and if we fail
to do so we become very unhappy! Hence happiness is a state of mind. But we
should try not to give the remote control of our happiness to others in the
sense we should remain unruffled by anybody’s remarks or comments and remain
happy and calm. Happiness is long lasting continuous joy that can on rare
occasions overturns as you have seen in the life of Sri Rama!
Bliss on the other hand is perennial joy
that is a state of Consciousness called Aananda in Sanskrit and beyond the
purview of mind. It calls for attaining divine Status called Ananda in
Sanskrit that can’t be described in English but can be roughly taken as
perennial joy. We need to establish stillness of heart and mind for it to get
through to us that calls for constant practice of Sanyasa Yoga.
When people join together to do good,
they are creating the invisible glow of joy. Thus, it is not an emotion
but a natural feeling of living in Peace together but not in pieces.
People strive to be happy, which creates
desire and suffering. If you are at peace you aren’t thinking about trying to
be happy all the time. If you are happy you don’t have to think about it--peace
is just doing its work moving, you forward!
BE HAPPY WITH THE DIVINE
The Lord has created all creatures and
everything out of Himself by His own Will and Power. Here, one can unite with
the Divine in the physical body. There is always some purpose behind His Play.
So there must not be any self - will and you must not think of giving up this
life.
Katha Upanishad
Perennial joy got by spirituality ever abides. But not worldly pleasure
that seems pleasant to the senses. Both these differing in their purpose,
prompt us to action. All is well for those who choose perennial joy of
spirituality, but for those who choose worldly pleasure, they miss the goal of
life that is liberation.
Taittariya Upanishad
The Self is the source of abiding joy.
Our hearts are filled with joy in seeing him enshrined in the depths of our
consciousness. If he were not there, who would breathe, who live? He it is who
fills every heart with joy.
Brihadarnyaka Upanishad
How happy we are on Earth? Take for
granted that there is a very strong, youthful and learned person, learned in
all the scriptures, acquainted with every branch of learning, highly educated,
highly cultured, very youthful, never falling sick, very strong, king of the
whole world. Such a person naturally must be a standard of happiness. He has
nothing to grieve for and nothing is there that he lacks. He is the Emperor of
the whole world. He has no enemies to fear, nothing that he lacks because
everything has become his. He has no fear either from outside or from inside.
He is physically well-placed, intellectually highly illumined, externally no
fear exists for him and he possesses everything. Such a person's happiness can
be regarded as 'one unit' of happiness. It is only a theoretical conception,
because such a person does not exist in this world. So, this is what can
be regarded as the greatest happiness of a human being. But this is not the
entire happiness, says the Upaniṣhad. There are entities far greater in
happiness than this person. We are in the lowest form of existence. Those
who have performed highly virtuous acts and departed from this world and gone
to Pitruloka of the forefathers enjoy happiness which is one hundred times
greater than the happiness of the
happiest, more powerful and happier. They are the celestial
minstrels, the Gandharvas, who are supposed to be celestial musicians. The
happiness of the Gandharvas is one hundred times more than the happiness of the
inhabitants of the forefathers' world, whose happiness is one hundred times
more than the happiness of the happiest of human beings. There are
celestials born as gods. The happiness of such people
who are born celestials in paradise, the ājānadevas, is one hundred times more
than the happiness of those other celestials. Indra is the king of gods;
Indra's happiness is greater by one hundred times the happiness of the
celestials. And the happiness of Brihaspati who is the Guru of the gods is
still greater by a hundred times than the happiness of Indra. Greater than the
happiness of Brihaspati is that of Prajāpati, the creator of the Universe
who sustains the creation in many ways and who witnesses the thoughts and deeds
of humans says Brihadaranyaka Upanishad“
What do the Great Thinkers say
Happiness is?
I want everyone to be happy. If you
unite consciously with the Divine, you will be happy, because without the
Divine life is useless. There is no existence without Him. The Lord is
everything”--Mother
“Yoga is a process of rejoicing. It is a
movement through happiness. From one state of joy, we move to another state of
joy.”– Swami Krishnananda.
“To achieve that state of lasting
happiness and absolute peace, we must first know how to calm the mind, to
concentrate and go beyond the mind. By turning the mind’s concentration inward,
upon the self, we can deepen that experience of perfect concentration.” Swami
Sivananda
“A man who as a physical being is always
turned toward the outside, thinking that his happiness lies outside him,
finally turns inward and discovers that the source is within him.” Soren
Kierkegaard
“To live happily is an inward power of
the soul.” Marcus Aurelius
The inward journey is about finding your
own fullness, something that no one else can take away.” Deepak Chopra
(Happiness is Fullness)
“Peace is happiness at rest. Happiness
is peace in motion” -Yvan Ama
-JANUARY 3, 2021
COMMENTS:
You
are family's eldest and most profound thinker! We look forward to your guidance
for many more years. May this be the Happy New Year, we have all been waiting
for!
--A.S. Narayana
NEITHER VACCINE NOR ANTIBODY NOR VIRUS CAN COME WITHOUT DIVINE
HANDY-WORK
A wet
market in Wuhan, China, called the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, is believed
to be the source of COVID-19. Vegans lament that this was all due to human
greed to over-exploit nature for nutritious food and consequent disturbance of
eco balance and why not we all go Vegan?
Intelligence
creation is a mystery. He who made the tiger also made the lamb and also
planned for their co-existence that we disturb! Parading in Science and
forgetting the Divine, we feel that we can control Nature, but in reality
Nature is controlling us! We need here EQ and SQ Management to lead a peaceful
life with Nature. Nature has both the components for saying “No” and “Yes” that
Swami Chidananda brought to our lime-light that I communicated to you
yesterday, which many of you might have dismissed with a quick glance and
dismissed it without going into the deep philosophy. None commented! We must
believe in “Isavasyamidam sarvam” that
all things come from him only. Corona Virus was already there in Nature and
also the remedies and antidotes existed in Nature to keep the virus at bay and
balance, when it became pandemic. With
this understanding let us look at the modern wonder of science we admire or
pride not knowing his hands and guidance.
Many of
us think we got the vaccine within the shortest period of nine months by
all coming together and working hard in a spirit of co-operation, both the
government and the people. Here again, we are motivated by the Vedic wisdom, “sanghacchadvam samvadadvam” that
brought a global effort. But what we do not know is that it was possible only
due to 12 years of dedicated hard work
to alleviate human sufferings and service to humanity in solving a puzzle
by a team of workers. This is a reminder
to focus on “Janaseva hi Janardahaa seva”.
I am sure you are all familiar with the story of a little squirrel that
helped Nala in building the Rama-setu for the army to cross the ocean! Now we
are baffled with the story of Llama that has helped to provide an effective antibody with the dedicated
service of scientists.
Please go through these two stories to
understand the glory of Nature that reveal the handy-work of the Divine to us!
I.
They spent 12
years solving a puzzle. It yielded the first COVID-19 vaccines.
[Long before anyone knew of SARS-CoV-2, a small band
of government and university scientists uncovered a prototypical key that
unlocked life-saving immunization]
The road to salvation
On January 6, 2020, just minutes after he took that phone call
at the ski shop, McLellan messaged Wang and Daniel Wrapp, a graduate student,
on WhatsApp.
“Barney is going to try and get the coronavirus sequence out of
Wuhan, China,” McLellan wrote to them. “He wants to rush a structure and
vaccine. You game?”
The two labs worked in concert with one another, determining
the virus’s structure in about two weeks and
using the 2P mutation to stabilize its proteins. Graham’s lab partnered with
Moderna, and Corbett designed and executed clinical assessments to immunize
mice with an mRNA vaccine made with the modified
proteins starting in February. “When we got the first results from the mice,
and they had a great antibody response, it was so gratifying,” Corbett says. By
March 4, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had greenlit the Moderna vaccine
for human trials.
At about the same time, Pfizer and BioNTech spoke with Graham
about using the 2P mutation in their vaccine. Because their work was patented
and widely published, other drug makers—including Nova ax and Johnson &
Johnson—also based their candidates on the design. Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine
would become the first authorized in the U.S. after it showed an impressive
95-percent efficacy rate. Moderna’s vaccine was 94-percent effective.
(Related:
Here’s the latest on COVID-19 vaccines.)
Further tests would be needed to judge how much the 2P mutation
contributes to the overall efficacies of the frontrunner vaccines. Phil
Dormitzer, Pfizer’s chief scientific officer and vice president of viral
vaccines, says it’s “absolutely clear” that stabilizing pre-fusion proteins led
to remarkable advances with potential RSV vaccines. “I’m very glad we picked
those mutations to move forward,” he says, referring to the Pfizer-BioNTech
COVID-19 vaccine.
Graham doesn’t quite know how to answer when asked how it feels
to have decades’ worth of work contribute to rapidly developed vaccines that
could save hundreds of thousands of lives amid a harrowing global pandemic.
“That's not the way we usually think about it,” he says. “I don’t think you
really think that much about your feelings until you get to certain
milestones.”
But the question—posed using the phrase “such a time as
this”—makes Graham hearken back to the biblical tale of Esther, a queen who was made a royal for “such a time as this.”
“I have kind of felt like my whole career has been lining up for
‘such a time as this,’” Graham says.
II. Llama antibody engineered to block coronavirus
[Based
on antibodies isolated from llamas, researchers engineered an antibody that
prevented SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, from entering cells in
laboratory experiments. Follow-up work
is being planned to test the antibody in animal models of the disease]
e HERE HHE
Llamas and other animals make small
antibodies that might serve as the basis for potential therapeutics. Animals produce antibodies much like those
made by the human immune system. But some animals, such as llamas, also produce
another type of antibody that’s only about a quarter of the size of a typical
human antibody. Such “single-domain” antibodies, or Nano bodies, have several
features that make them of interest as potential therapeutics. Nano bodies are
very stable, so they could potentially be stored for a long time after
production. They can also be delivered by an inhaler directly to the lungs,
which makes them particularly promising for respiratory infections such as
COVID-19.
The World Health Organization declared
COVID-19 an international pandemic on March 11, 2020. Researchers of Texas, in collaboration with a
Belgian research team, had developed Nano bodies from llamas for research into
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
(MERS). Both these diseases are caused by coronaviruses related to SARS-CoV-2.
An antibody called VHH-72Fc (blue)
binds tightly to the spike protein on SARS-CoV-2 (pink, green and orange),
blocking the virus from infecting cells in culture. research
The research team injected a llama with
forms of the viruses’ spike proteins. Spike proteins are found on the
surface of coronaviruses. They latch onto cells, then undergo a structural
change that allows the virus to fuse with the cell. Once the virus enters the
host cell, it can copy itself and produce more viruses. The Nano bodies that
the scientists harvested from the llama bloodstream and produced in the
lab bound to the spike protein and prevented the virus from entering
cells.
The researchers decided to test whether
any of the Nano bodies they had developed could also stop SARS-CoV-2 from
infecting cells. Their work was funded in part by NIH’s National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID). Results were published on May 5, 2020,
in Cell.
Out of the 12 Nano bodies targeting
either the SARS or MERS viruses, one called SARS VHH-72 showed an ability to
bind to the spike protein on SARS-CoV-2 as well. However, it also unbound
quickly, which made it unlikely to prevent the virus from entering cells.
The researchers analyzed the structure
of the antibody bound to the spike proteins of the SARS and MERS viruses. Based
on this analysis and previous
work revealing the structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein,
they were able to engineer the Nano body to stick more tenaciously to the
virus. They did this by fusing two copies of the Nano body together.
The engineered Nano body bound strongly
to SARS-CoV-2 and was able to stop the virus from entering cells in laboratory
experiments.
“This is one of the first antibodies
known to neutralize SARS-CoV-2,” McLellan says.
The researchers are planning follow-up
experiments in animals, with the hopes of eventually testing their Nano body in
human trials. Antibody therapy could potentially be used as a treatment for
people who are already infected or at high risk of becoming infected—by Sharon Reynolds
-
JANUARY 3, 2021
WHY
HINDU AMERICANS SHOULD PREFER DECEMBER 25 FOR NEW YEAR RESOLUTION?
Vedas
give most important considerations to Uttarayana and Dakshinayana of six
months’ duration. Therefore, Winter Solstice Day that leads us from darkness to
light is the real New Year Day! Vedas do not speak of Yugadis or New Years that
Hindus Worship at different times in the Cultural Gregorian Calendar Year,
honored by the world, in a spirit of unity and friendship supported by
UNO. December 25 was celebrated as Solar Religion Day around Winter Solstice
Day!
“The
January 1 New Year’s date has no specific astronomical dating, though it was
probably once connected to a winter solstice proximity. That being so, the
January 1 New Year is a cultural event of considerable importance, but not an astronomical
or astrological event in itself. It does not correspond to any specific
astronomical timing but originally reflected ancient Roman culture and
politics. Of course, we can celebrate it and give good wishes to all. The
cultural alignment of this New Year's date started in Europe and the West, but
is now going global with the spread of Western civilization, and so is widely
recognized and used in many countries. Some Western astrologers, however, do
treat the January 1, New Year’s as an astronomical event and interpret charts
for January 1 as part of mundane or political astrology, including forecasts
for the coming year for the planet and its many nations. However, Vedic
astrology would not give January 1 such importance.” says David Frawley.
It
has often been said that Catholics know how to celebrate. The Church has a
built-in pattern within the liturgical calendar that provides what man needs to
celebrate the feasts of the year: times of preparation and penance building to
major feasts that are prolonged, and multi-level feast days spread throughout
the year. Probably Catholics are influenced by Hindu celebration of
Navaratri, Divali Pongal etc. Rev. Pius Parsch sums it perfectly when he
was writing about today’s feast, January 1, the Octave Day of Christmas: “Today
is the octave or the eighth day after the feast of Christmas. In the spirit of
the Church the great feasts of redemption should not be restricted to a single
celebration but should continue on through a full week. Mother Church is
good psychologist; she understands human nature perfectly. When a feast comes,
the soul is amazed and not quite prepared to think profoundly upon its mystery;
but on the following days the mind finds it easy to consider the mystery from
all sides, sympathetically and deeply; and an eighth day (indicative of all
eight directiions) affords a wonderful opportunity to make a synthesis of all
points covered. The octave of Christmas is not the best example because other
feasts distract one from the Christmas theme; this octave day, therefore, takes
on greater importance. Today for the last time the Church leads us to the crib
at Bethlehem (The Church’s Year of Grace, Volume I, pp. 244-245).
Kerala
Christians being the oldest sprung from Hinduism would like to celebrate
birthday and anniversary celebrations to more than just a day. They jokingly
call it their “Birthday Octave, using the church term, but the reasoning behind
it is similar to Father Parsch’s: They can’t celebrate completely in one day.
I’m not saying family celebrations are the same as the Liturgy, but their human
nature is still the same. They recognize that schedules are busy, and there are
different people and activities that will be too much to fit in one day.
The
main difference between the Easter Octave and the Christmas Octave is that
every day in Easter is another solemnity, and Christmas only has two
solemnities, December 25, Christmas and January 1, Mary Mother of God. The days
in-between are varying levels of feast days.
The
number eight is supposed to represent perfection or rest. Some have traced the
origins back to Jewish festival customs, such as circumcision of the Jewish boy
was on the eighth day, the feast of Tabernacles lasted seven days and concluded
with a solemnity, forming an octave, and the feast of the Dedication of the
Temple by Solomon and purification lasted eight days. It is also said that
Jesus rose from the dead on the eighth day (which is why Sundays are considered
on par with solemnities). The development of the octaves within the liturgy was
gradual, and it was not until the 8th century that Rome celebrated octaves for
certain feasts.
If
January 1st is the feast of Mary, how this is believed
to be repeating the feast of Christmas as Christmas and the Solemnity of the
Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God? Within this feast is multiple layers,
but the title itself indicates it is a feast of the Lord, repeating the
solemnity of Christmas, but also honors Mary as the Mother of God. The Mass
readings return to the stable at Bethlehem, picking up right after the Gospel
from Midnight Mass of Christmas. The shepherds went in haste to the
stable...with Mary pondering all these things in her heart, and ends with the
Circumcision. The Gospel indicates this is both a feast of Jesus and
Mary.
First,
the actual title of this feast is “the Octave Day of Christmas and the
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.” Within this feast is
multiple layers, but the title itself indicates it is a feast of the Lord,
repeating the solemnity of Christmas, but also honors Mary as the Mother of
God. This again inspire from Hindu female worship of Devi as the power of her
consort and mother as First God (matru devo bhava). The Mass readings
return to the stable at Bethlehem, picking up right after the Gospel from
Midnight Mass of Christmas. The shepherds went in haste to the stable...with
Mary pondering all these things in her heart, and ends with the Circumcision.
The Gospel indicates this is both a feast of Jesus and Mary.
I
therefore strongly feel, like Christmas, here also Christianity has cleverly
connived to make January 1, their octave sacred day, a day of celebration
as New Year for all with reverence and religiosity! The
practice of starting the New Year in January is about 400 years
old now! In Mesopotamia at around 2000 B.C., the New Year was celebrated
during the time of the Vernal Equinox, which was around March 25 that is
close to Yugadi celebration by Hindus!
Both
December 25 as well as January 1 is a Liturgy Day or Eucharistic Service Day as
discussed above! If Hindu Americans need to have a Cultural Event Day,
blend with American Culture that should also be a Religious Event Day to
run to temple to make a New year Resolution, that could be December 25,
that was Solar Religion Day around Winter Solstice, that Catholic world
blessed as Christ Liturgy Day later! December 25 is the designated day
that celebrates Shining Star of conjunction of planets on the tree that points
to heaven during the season of Festival of Lights on X-Mass Day,
where X stands for Jesus Christ to Christians and Kris or Krishna to
Hindus. Both are Purusha or Cosmic Person glorified in Purusha Sukta.
Krishna’s Universal Form described as Divisurya sahasra in Gita attracted
nuclear scientist Oppenheimer that supports the ancient following of Solar
Religion.
-
January, 2021
DIVIDED INDIANS CELEBRATE
NEW YEAR ON DIFFERENT DAYS WITH DIFFERENT NAMES AND WAYS
The New Year signifies that the time has arrived to bid farewell
to the by-gone year and to welcome the New Year. Traditionally, the New Year
was celebrated on the first of March every year. However, this date was
switched to January 1, as it was considered to have a more religious
significance by Christian dominated countries in the world. With the growth of
the Western culture across the globe, New Year’s Day on January 1 in the
Gregorian calendar has been one of India’s many celebrations. There are
different opinions as to when New Year’s Day that falls on January 1, in the
Gregorian calendar was first celebrated in India. Some say that it was observed
when the British colonized India while others say that its popularity bloomed
only after the 1940s.
I believe January 1, is neither has any astronomical nor
astrological significance. To my best of knowledge, January 1 is
well-known for two Christian religious events:
Feast of St. Basil – Orthodox Christian. Orthodox Christian
commemoration of St. Basil the Great, who wrote a Eucharist Liturgy which bears
his name.
Solemnity of Mary of God – Christian Liturgical feast of Mary celebrated by the Catholic Church.
Misguided by our astrologers and Panchangas, we do not celebrate
astronomical Winter Solstice on 22, the actual starting day of spiritual
Uttarayana Punyakala, but celebrate posthumously after 22 days on Makara
Sankranti Day, that is also incidentally the first day of Tamil Month Thai. Is
there any justification, why Hindu American Temples are kept open all day long,
on January 1, declaring it as Special Religious Event Day, performing special
Abhishekam attracting devotees! Devotees also rush to temple to participate in
the rituals and also make New Year resolutions seeking the blessings of the
Lord in their fulfillment!? It is strange how Hindus are also brain-washed by
religious pundits and astrologers, like Christians by Popes!
I however feel there is a remote consideration as to why Hindu
Americans do so! They may also be thinking of a day in holy month of Margazhi
that is nearer to Winter Solstice Day after December 25, that
Christianity celebrates, that could carry some religious weight to be
celebrated as posthumous Uttarayana Punyakala day! This is better than
celebrating Uttarayana Punyakala day on Makara Sankranti, and that too on Tamil
Thai 1. If we want to be thus logical on this issue for unity, why not
promote Sanatana Dharma and Vedanta religion for Universal Oneness as Swami
Vivekananda said for all Hindus first? Besides various Hindu religious New
Years in a Gregorian Year are celebrated by differing Hindu traditions at
different times, based when it is marked in these calendars often fighting on
dates! New Year’s Day in the Gregorian calendar, is celebrated worldwide
and falls on January 1. Vedas do not speak about any of these New
Year or their celebrations, which are purely religious promotions that Gita
blessed later. Vedas only speak of Ayanas and Chatur masas. Why not then start
the New Year on Winter Solstice Day as Solar Year dedicated to Sun?
You are perhaps aware every year on the third Sunday in January,
people from all cultures and backgrounds come together to celebrate on January
14, World Religion Day. The day celebrates the commonality of the major faiths
of the world. It may surprise you to know that there are over 4,000 recognized
religions in the world. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of
the United States initiated World Religion Day in 1950. They might
have been attracted by the worship of Sun on Makara Sankranti Day as Solar day
(on Januuary 14, by Hindus of later date when Vedic Religion
turned to Hinduism, that neither celebrates it on actual Winter Solstice Day
nor joins the Pagan Religions observing December 25 as Solar Religion Day
of general agreement by all in earlier days.
America as a Country of all Faiths and Beliefs today likes to call
Christmas Season as Festival of Lights Season that is celebrated at its peak on
December 25 with its focus on bright star on X-mas Tree that has become
brightest in 2020. X-mas is a Greek word where X stands for Greek alphabet. USA
does not openly declare it as Solar Day in order not to offend its majority
White Christians, though a Secular Nation that says “All Men are Created Equal”
Christ-mas is also Kris-mas this year Celebrating deliverance of Gita on this
day. Kris is the abbreviation for Krishna in USA, and so Kris-mas is Krishna
masa that is Margazhi. In 2020 Hindu Americans worship Krishna in Margazhi that
surprisingly falls on DECEMBER 25. Taking clue from here we could celebrate
Christmas Day as Kris-mas Day every year and give a spiritual meaning as
to why American Hindus designate Christmas Day also as Special Religious
Event Day? Are we not rejoicing Carnatic
Christmas in Chennai more than Margazhi Bhajanai?
Vedic Hindu religion represents the most intact surviving remnant
of this ancient solar religion, which spanned the whole globe before the deluge
at the end of the last Ice age. It will be therefore appropriate to celebrate
World Solar Religion Day, on December 25 every year, instead third week of
January. India should carry this message to the UNO as they did Yoga! They
missed the opportunity to sponsor World Religion Day to UNO, leaving it to
Baha’i, though they had better reason to promote Vedanta Religion as World
Religion!
The Upanishad's vision of Sun as the symbol of Supra-mental comes
to be affirmed by Einstein's discovery of Light as the manifestation of
something Integral which inheres both wave and particle.
Hindu New Years of 2021 - The New Year Dates of Different Hindu
Communities in 2021
Different communities in Hindu religion have different dates
for New Year in a calendar year. Below are the Hindu New Year dates in 2021.
When is the Hindu New Year? Or when is the New Year in Hindu Religion? There is
no single answer to this question. The numerous cultures that are part of
Hinduism follow independent calendars and the New Year Day in these calendars
are based on seasons and the agrarian economy of the region. Some calendars are
lunar calendars and the New Year dates changes yearly. Majority of the Hindu
New Year date falls in the months of March and April. Here is a list of the New
Year dates in Hindu religion.
New Year – January 1, 2021 - Majority of Hindus welcome the New
Year with prayers to their choice deity for peace and prosperity.
Pongal – January 14, 2021 – A decade back DMK Government of
Tamil Nadu had made Pongal as the Tamil New Year. (This decision was revoked by
the next government.) Some people consider it to be New Year.ar. This is
closest to Gregorian January 1 and based on Solar and would have suited for proper
alignment with most of the Nations that officially follow Gregorian Calendar,
Nephi – March 14, 2021 – Bali Hindu New Year (Indonesia).
This calendar is also based on the Saka Era but with major regional variations.
Nephi is based on lunar calendar and therefore the date varies yearly. Saka
Year 1941 begins in Bali.
Saka New Year – March 22, 2021 – This New Year is
based on the calendar followed by the Government of India and declares the
beginning of the Saka Year 1943, that many state in Inia follow.
Ugadi – April 13, 2021 – New Year in Karnataka, Telangana
and Andhra Pradesh declaring the beginning of Saka year 1943. Ugadi is
the New Year in Telugu and Kannada culture. The New Year day is observed on the
first day of the month of Chaitra (March – April). It is based on lunar
calendar and therefore the date changes yearly.
Gudi Padva – April 13, 2021 – New Year in
Maharashtra declaring the beginning of Saka Year 1943. Chaitra month (March –
April). It is a major celebration in Maharashtra and is also known as
Shalivahan Shaka New Year. Gudi Padwa is based on lunar calendar and therefore
the date changes yearly.
Nav Varsh Samvat or Hindi New Year – April 13, 2021 – This New Year is observed in major states in North India
and it is also known as Chaitra Shukladi, declaring the beginning of Vikram
Samvatsar 2078. It is celebrated on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada (March – April) –
the first day after the No Moon (Amavasya) in Chaitra Month. The Hindi New Year
is based on lunar calendar and therefore the date changes yearly.
Cheti Chand – April 14, 2021 – The New Year day
of Sindhis. The New Year day is observed on the second day of the month of
Chait (March – April). It is based on lunar calendar and the date changes yearly.
Varusha Pirappu or Puthandu – April 14, 2021 – The Tamil New
Year. It falls on the first day of the Chithirai month (April – May). The
Tamil calendar is a solar calendar and the New Year date falls during Mid-April
mostly on April 13 or 14
Vishu – April 14, 2021 – Malayalam Zodiac New Year in
Kerala. It falls on the first day of Malayalam month Medam (April - May).
The calendar followed in Kerala is a solar calendar and the New Year date is
constant mostly – April 14 or 15.
Maha Vishuba Sankranti - April 14 - Odia New Year in Odisha.
It is also known as Pana Sankranti.
Naba Barsha or Poila Baisakh – April 15, 2021 –
New Year in Bengal - Year 1427 as per traditional calendar begins. This is the
New Year in Eastern parts of India, especially in Bengal. The Bengali New Year
is observed on the first
day in Baisakh month (April – May). This calendar is also a solar
calendar and therefore the New Year day falls on April 14 or April 15.
Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu – April 15, 2021 – New Year in
Assam. It is observed on the first day in Baisakhi month (April – May). This
calendar is also a solar calendar and therefore the New Year day falls on April
14 or April 15.
Juir Sheetal in Mithila - Juir Sheetal in Mithila is also
known as Maithili New Year and is observed in Bihar (the Mithila region of
India) and Nepal. It is annually observed on April 14 or April 15.
Kutchi New Year - July 12, 2021 - New Year in
Kutch Region in Gujarat. Kutchi New Year is observed on the second day of the
shukla paksha or waxing phase of moon in Ashada month – Ashad Beej or
Dwitiya.
Chingam 1 – August 17, 2021 – New Year according to Malayalam
Calendar. The Year 1195 begins in this calendar. This is the New Year
according to Malayalam Calendar. Chingam (August – September) is the first
month in the Malayalam Calendar. But Malayalis popularly celebrate Vishu as the
New Year.
Hindu Vikram New Year – November 5, 2021 – Gujarati New Year - Vikram Samvat 2078 begins. It is also known
as Vikram Calendar or Vikram Samvat.
Thus, you may see, how disunited we are in celebrating New Year
with one voice and one name for all Indians. While Jawaharlal Nehru was
Prime Minister, he had set up a National Calendar Reform Commission
of Experts to suggest one calendar for the whole country. But unfortunately,
its recommendations were vehemently rejected by certain sectarian religious
heads that is now lying in National Archives. I think, Karunanidhi,
in his entire political- llife came out with one sensible plan
to start the New year on the Tamil month of Thai 1 hat was in force for
some years in Tamil Nadu, well tried out. This was the closest Solar New Year
to universally followed Gregorian calendar, but unfortunately its fighting
rival ADMK, threw it out when it came to power. Spiritual thinkers are of the
opinion that our Mobility starts in the Tamil month of Thai and reaches
Stability in the holiest Tamil month of Margazhi (Thai pirandaal vazhi
pirakkum-- Life begins with the arrival of Thai). Lord Krishna says in Gita
that among twelve months in a year, I am Margazhi, about which I spoke
a lot earlier!
May I draw your attention to the obligatory Hindu daily prayer
Sandhyavandana Mantra:Pasyema saradassatam | jeevema saradassatam |
nandaama saradassatam moedaama saradassatam | bhavaama saradassatam srinavaama
saradas-ssatam……………. roehitaakshah sooryoe vipaschin manasaa punaatu
||
[Let us live looking at Soorya for
hundred winters, let us live for hundred winters , let us rejoice for hundred winters,
let us enjoy for hundred winters let us hear for hundred winters,
May Lord Soorya glowing like a fireball purify our mind!]
The day starts for a Hindu with this
prayer pleading to Sun God as Parabrahman, who leads all other deities they
worship. Essentially this is Solar Spiritual Religion, universal in
appeal to humanity that dreads winter and yearn for Sun to take care of their
lives. That is why the mantra says 100 winters instead 100 years.
2020 will go down as a signature 12 months in historical past,
alongside years like 1968, 1945 and 1865. It will long be remembered and
studied as a time when more than 1.5 million people globally died during a
pandemic, racial unrest gripped the world, and democracy itself faced
extraordinary tests,” wrote Dean Banquet, The Times’s editor.
“Overall, the world faced a moment in history, marked by the
ecological crisis and grave economic and social imbalances that only worsened
by the Corona Virus crisis. But it was the pandemic that largely shaped the
world this year, and the Pandemic that would allow humanity to really consider
what global cooperation can achieve says Pope Gregory in his Christmas 2020
speech
In a remote valley in northern Pakistan, hemmed in by sheer rock
walls and high pastures, members of tiny group, Kalash, gather to celebrate, a
New Year festival that coincides with the Winter Solstice. Hindu Americans have
a lot to learn from their life style and struggle to survive in spite of
constant intimidation.
While the Coronavirus has forced the world to adopt social
distancing, the Kalash have
practiced being a community in isolation for millenniums! They are the smallest
minority group of 4000 surviving in a country overwhelmed by majority of more
than 200 million people that practice Islam. The two-week festival is a
portrait of contrasts: snow and fire, solemn ritual and frenzied activity,
gender segregation and public filtration, community and isolation. In our
present confusion and misguidance by religious pundits from India regarding Uttarayana
Punyakala, why can’t we make New Year Celebration a continuous celebration from
Astronomical Winter Solstice Day to Makara Sankranti Day, that would include
many important religious days, all happening in the holiest month of Margazhi,
hailed in Gita, learning a lesson from Kalash community? Then our religious
Pundits and astrologers would not rise in revolt!
The New Year!
As the clock ticked in the midnight,
Fireworks flashed through the sky.
Explosions heard everywhere,
Not to wake up but to put people into intoxicants.
Drums fell on deaf ears
For the lame to dance on the darkest hour.
The end relished, the beginning
perished
without a sense of ownership.
The lonely New Year Sun rose quietly
only empty streets to watch its glory and beauty.
A deadly silence spoke in volumes
of the time that we are in now.
A ray of hope pierced through the
earth
Looked for the values deep hidden.
The majestic Eagle kept wondering
If man would ever learn new ways of celebration
To Live and Let Live in Joy leading to Bliss
There is always a Light at the End of the Tunnel!
Every end marks a new beginning. Let us keep our spirits and
determination unshaken, and we shall always walk the glory road. With courage,
faith and great effort, we shall achieve everything you desire. Together we can
succeed! I wish you a Happy New Year.
We may not be able to visit a temple this year due to social
distancing. Let us illumine a candle in our home altar, in the prayerful light
of faith and holy hope, and offer an incense of fragrant devotion at the altar
of our heart for our silent invocation to God. May it draw us into
Self-reflection and meditation! AUM-Shantih, Shantih, Shantih!
Comments:
Happy New
Year! Very good New Year article enjoyed it. I do enjoy Carnatic Christmas in a
smaller dose than Margazhi Bhajanai. I am very slow and true to my name Bala very
playful. All my teachers are aware of this Bala’s nature and somehow keep me in
their list of students.
--Bala from Atlanta
Thank you for your new year's
message. Thanks to you, this whole month has been a celebration, and I
will call it Krishna masa as you suggested. I am proud of our temple
recognizing the importance of invoking God during any celebration and counting
our blessings.
It is good that you are able to bring
up comparable events in our tradition to be able to blend the cultures. I
firmly believe that Dharma should consider Desha and Kala and be practiced
accordingly, if it is to help people live more peaceful life and get benefitted
from their faith. I don't want our traditions to be a burden/liability/another
injunction of do's and don'ts pushing people away.
--Dr. Vedavyas
I
totally agree with you. Dhanyavaadaalu.
--Purushottama Rao
BIRTHDAY
OF AGASTYA, HEAD OF ALL SIDDHAS ON JANUARY 2, 2020
The
Tamil Siddhas are a mystical group of perfected beings who attained immense
knowledge and achieved supernatural siddhi powers. The day when the star
Ashlesha falls in the Tamil month of Margazhi (JANUARY 2, 2021) is celebrated
as the birthday of sage Agastya, the head of the Tamil Siddhas.
It is believed that participating in Agastya’s birthday ceremonies can invoke
his blessings to fulfill your desires, bestow knowledge, overall wellbeing, and
success.
Birth
of Sage Agastya and His Greatest Deeds
According
to scriptures, Agastya was born to the celestial damsel Urvashi and demi-gods
Varuna and Mitra. The legend describes that Varuna and Mitra were overwhelmed
by the beauty of Urvashi and deposited their semen in a Kumbha (mud pitcher),
and two babies were born out of it. The two babies were named as Agastya and
Vashista (one of the Sapta rishis- seven sages). As Agastya was born out of
Kumbha, he is also called as Kumbhayoni (the one born from a pot).
Sacred
scriptures highlight Agastya’s greatest deeds to help humanity.
- According to Padma Purana, Agastya Muni
drank the water of the entire ocean to expose the hidden demon named
Kalakeya to the army of devas (celestial beings)
- In the Shiva Purana, Shiva asks Agastya to
restore the balance of the Earth as he is the one who is capable of
achieving this with the power of his tapas (meditation)
- Agastya was hailed as Vindhyakuta, the one
who subdued Vindhyas. Padma Purana explains that once the mount Vindhyas
was growing taller every day and blocking the Sun. So, Agastya visited
Mount Vindhyas, and it bowed before him to pay respect to the sage.
Agastya asked the mount to remain in this position until he
returned.
- Agastya resolved the drought in South India
with the blessings of Shiva, who filled his water pot with the water from
the Ganga river. A demon tried to snatch the water pot from Agastya. To
save Earth and the water pot, Ganesha took a form of a crow and pushed the
pot at the destined location, and it started flowing as river Kaveri which
eradicated the severe drought in South India.
Papanasam-
Agastya’s Eternal Living Powerspot
As
per Powerspot legend in Papanasam, Sage Agastya and his wife Lopamudra arrived
at this sacred spot of Papanasam at the guidance of Shiva, to balance the earth
plane on the Southern end when all the gods, goddesses, demons and all heavenly
beings gathered in the North to attend the wedding of Shiva with Parvati.
Agastya travelled to Papanasam and restored the balance. Pleased by his
devotion, after the marriage, Shiva gave darshan to Agastya in his marriage
form. A temple has been constructed at the place where he meditated. Puranas
also state that Agastya stayed in the south and did not return to Kailash
(abode of Shiva). Hence, this sacred spot of Agastya at Papanasam is considered
as his eternal living Powerspot, as the revered sage is believed to eternally
live at this sacred spot and bless his devotees.
On the occasion of Agastya Jayanti,
seven priests from the sacred Kashi Vishwanath temple will conduct the
Saptarishi Arati for the Yogeshwar Linga, in the presence of Adiyogi at the
ISHA Yoga center on January 2, 2021
When Sadhguru visited the Kashi
Vishwanath Temple, his first experience of this pooja was very powerful. Sadhguru
describes the pooja as the creation of powerful stacks of energy. He says “It
is a technology. What they build up in this temple in that forty-five minutes
to one hour is phenomenal. I’ve never seen anything like that anywhere
conducted by priests.”
Sadhguru explains that this technology
was transmitted by Adiyogi to his first seven disciples, the Saptarishis,
thousands of years ago. When Adiyogi asked the Saptarishis to go to different
parts of the world and offer the science of yoga, they asked him, “How can we
carry your Presence with us?” Granting their request, Adiyogi taught them this
process – the Saptarishi Arati.
--January
1, 2021
Comments:
How do we tell the greatness the saints
with what they said or what they performed magic so our next generation can
understand? Our US born kids may not
believe.According
to Padma Purana, Agastya Muni drank the water of the entire ocean to expose the
hidden demon named Kalakeya to the army of devas (celestial beings). Though
believing is what we are taught. I am sure sending a space ship to moon or man
landed in Moon. Many do not believe, Moon being God to many.
--Bala
from Atlanta
Puranas
are exaggerated texts focused on certain things with myths and phantasies. That
is why my main focus is on Vedas, Gita and Upanishads. It requires all the
skill to impart the purport of Puranas, American Kids do enjoy Star Wars,
Superman etc. but do not question too. I have often talked to our Sunday
School Teachers to guide the young minds properly with Puranas and not to
misguide--NRS
Super response and always appreciate
it. I sometimes err and my mind does distract. But people like u bring it back.
Thank you -- Bala from Atlanta
Webinar-190 SAYING NO, By Pujya Swāmi
Chidānandaji
Anything that makes you weak physically, intellectually and
spiritually, reject as poison” said Swami Vivekananda. Strong words but
true words. Anything which drags us down, spreads negativity needs deep
introspection. This calls for appropriate EQ and SQ Management. Mental
health like all others have a genetic and environmental component. The
genetics we can't control, but environment, the people around us, and what we
do-- that can be controlled.
Therefore it is advisable to strictly avoid prolonged exposure, to
unfamiliar people, places and situations that make us go round and round in our
head negativity! But we cannot really remove people from our lives. There
will always be few people who make us see go red. That’s why we need a friend
and intimacy, a partner, or someone who will understand us to find, why and how
of life that we sometimes stumble upon. The best friend would be our Inner-net!
Brain maturation, formation of the neural pathways and intrinsic connections
continue to develop throughout one’s life. But the plasticity of the brain, the
ability to learn, is most exceptional in the first 5 years of life. Later in
life, this remarkable quality may be diminished. But with training, our brain
retains the ability to learn new things. The more new things we learn the more
new connections our brain cells make. Learning new things is a popular way of
preventing the brain from growing old. I have experienced this all
my life!
Looking at the flagstaff “No” of Swami Chidanandji, I started
looking back at my own life. We come across few or many roadblocks in our path
of life. God had given me a good share of the same. I successfully struggled
with these “No” in life and succeeded in leading a meaningful happy life. I
would not like to describe them here for that may look like I am seeking your
sympathy or glorification. But if anybody is curious I would like to gladly
share.
I said no to the everyday parayana in the FB
and Newspaper about the virulence of Corona Virus and tried to
focus on my interaction with HR Forum. I have a good friend who is a
reputed psychiatrist, temple father and a spiritualist who believes in dharma,
karma and yoga with the philosophy krinvnto viswamarym. I
closely observe his lifestyle both in his official and private life focused on
Seva Dharma that helps me. I was also fortunate to continuously receive
spiritual vitamins through AUPA and FOWAI Forum. The Year 2020was a year of big
stress test. The pandemic gave us an unwelcome chance to find out what we
missed, what we could do without — and how much risk we are willing to
take.
While meditation can’t mitigate global pandemonium that is
promoted by some, it can, at the very least, clear our mind and
complexion. Meditating, Dr. Woolery-Lloyd said, initiates “the relaxation response,” which activates the body’s parasympathetic nervous system and
decreases cortisol and inflammation. Meditation is “The Life-Changing
Magic of Tidying Up” for the mind.Harvard Medical School shows that taking
slow, deep breaths triggers the relaxation response and can stop
psycho“. “Something as simple as sleep can change the skin barrier,” Dr.
Woolery-Lloyd said.
Antioxidants stabilize the unstable molecules to leave skin clearer, calmer,
brighter and more even toned. Vitamins A and C (abundant in fruits and
vegetables), lycopene (found in tomatoes), and polyphenols (green
tea, dark chocolate) are all great options, according to Dr. Bowe. Exercise
increases antioxidants, as well logical stress from being translated to
physical inflammation in the skin.
I’m a big believer in the healing power of nature too.
“People say, ‘I don’t have the time,’ but it doesn’t have to be this drawn out
thing. Just going outside and seeing a tree and looking at a few birds is
proven to lower inflammatory markers in our body. If all else fails, cry.
“Crying is a stress reliever and helps decrease cortisol levels,” said Dr.
Purvisha Patel, a dermatologist and the founder of Visha
Skincare. “This can result in fewer
breakouts.” She notes that orgasms have a similar effect on cortisol and are,
by all accounts, more enjoyable. I often cry over past lapses in privacy, not
noticed by others. All these proved “Yes” to me while I said “No”
to pandemic pandemonium, and also had to run two times to emergency, and get
hospitalized during the stressful 2020, keeping social distancing,
including people at home, focusing on “Vigata bhayam vishajvaraat
yudhyasva vigata jvarah” as Swami Chidananda once
advised. It all amounts to appropriate EQ/SQ Management with patience,
optimism, hope and trust in the Supreme to turn the flagstaff from No to
YES!
I do not confuse my instinct with fear. This might take a bit of
time and thought to unravel but it’s important. Saying yes or no out of fear
means we are in a negative mindset. I said no to stay on the path I was
on and I said yes to the opportunities that were right for me.
Our deepest fear is not
that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond
measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask
ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?’
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small
does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that
other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as
children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light
shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are
liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates
others.”
If I shed tears when I miss
the stars, I will miss the moon also!
Say “no” to attachment,
fear and anger and say “yes” to Da, Da, Da-constraint, compassion and charity
(dama, daya, daana) to be ever happy!
But listen to Swamiji for proper and fuller understanding of the
subject.
Gist of
the Presentation:
On both the planes of dharma and brahma, the
ability to refuse, reject or turn away from unhealthy proposals, unwise options
and untrue understanding is of tremendous importance. This webinar will examine
the place of “saying no” in the contexts of right living and of right seeing.
The former enables us to live in integrity and the latter blesses with
liberation.
“Reject as poison - whatever weakens you
physically, mentally or spiritually!” - Swāmi Vivekānanda
--January 1, 2021
