THOUGHT FOR THE DAY--MAY &
JUNE 2022
Know
why the Asteroid Day is celebrated
Asteroid Day is here!
Officially, on 30th June every year, International Asteroid Day is observed to
raise public awareness about the threat of asteroids to Earth and the crises
communication actions that can be taken at the international level in case of a
credible near-Earth object threat.
The United Nations General
Assembly passed the resolution A/RES/71/90 in December 2016, to declare June
30th as International Asteroid Day. June 30th, 1908 marks the anniversary of
the Earth’s largest asteroid impact in recorded history – the Tunguska asteroid’s
impact over Siberia. The idea to mark the day belongs to astrophysicist and
famed musician Brian May of the rock group Queen, Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty
Schweickart, filmmaker Grig Richters and B612 Foundation president Danica Remy.
Their objective is simple – to spread awareness and impart education on the
importance of asteroids in our history and the role they play in the solar
system.
The General Assembly took the
decision on the basis of a proposal by the Association of Space Explorers that
was endorsed by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
(COPUOS).
Do you know that each year on
this day, a snapshot of the cutting-edge asteroid research from the largest
telescopes on Earth is released into the public domain!
Understanding the phenomena of
Asteroids
Asteroids are sometimes
misunderstood as just the ‘life-threatening,’ hazardous objects, whose purpose
is to destroy! They can be better understood as the leftover remnants of the
birth of the planets in our solar system that can serve humanity with knowledge
and understanding of the universe. Asteroids are small rocky bodies that orbit
around the sun. Usually, they orbit between Mars and Jupiter and form, what is
known as the ‘Asteroid Belt.’ They can be as small as 10 meters across or as
huge as 530 km in diameter. There are thousands of asteroids that are believed
to exist in our Solar
System.
The celebrations of World
Asteroid Day are incomplete without learning about what they are and how they
affect us and our lives. Time and again asteroids are seen in the
space but let us wish that they never hit our planet because they have the
potential to destroy it. Happy World Asteroid Day!
--June 30, 2022
I am neither overwhelmed nor surprised that the founders,
volunteer-governors and Yoga teachers of Nashville Sri Ganesha Temple are
doctors! Vedic mantras are the mantras in name of god
which have the power to cure any type of incurable disease. There are various
types of mantras for disease of
any kind. Villagers, where I lived, believed in mantra- cure came, to my father
who was a priest!
Ayurveda, means “knowledge of life,” or “science
of life,” and it is the most ancient system of health care in the world. We
don’t know the exact origins of Ayurveda, but the legend is that it was handed
down from Brahma (God) to humans through a lineage of sages in ancient India,
who continued to develop and refine the practices through insight derived via
deep meditation over five thousand years ago. These sages were not only holy
men but also physicians, and Ayurveda was a complete system for managing all
aspects of health as well as spirituality, including methods for increasing
longevity, healing disease, performing surgery, cleansing the body, maintaining
a healthy weight, and addressing ethical dilemmas and spiritual development.
Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary’s combined expertise in both modern
neurology and the ancient science of health known as Ayurveda has uniquely
positioned her as an expert able to pull from the broadest possible base to
treat her clients. She is passionate about raising awareness for the need of a
paradigm shift in contemporary medicine that focuses on patient empowerment and
a health-based (rather than disease-based) medical system. Dr. Chaudhary is a
regular guest on the Dr. Oz show, where her teachings about Ayurvedic medicine
have been applauded by a national audience.
Dr. Chaudhary was the Director of Wellspring Health in Scripps
Memorial Hospital for ten years, and remains a pioneer in the field of
Integrative Medicine. Dr. Chaudhary has successfully developed a powerful
system to manage chronic neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis,
Parkinson’s disease and migraine headaches, by incorporating fundamental
changes in diet, behavior, and stress, in addition to the standard allopathic
approach to these issues. This program has been so successful that many
patients now use it not just for neurological issues but also for a wider range
of health concerns, including weight issues and chronic disease.
Dr. Chaudhary is the author of The Prime and Sound
Medicine and has appeared as a medical expert on numerous programs
including The Dr. Oz Show and Home & Family.
She is also a neuroscientist and has participated in over twenty clinical
research studies in the areas of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s
disease, ALS, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Her research includes
groundbreaking work in stem cell therapies for diabetic peripheral neuropathy
and drug development for the treatment of ALS.
Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary spends her time doing research in Siddha
Medicine in Tamil Nadu, India and seeing patients for Integrative Medicine
consultations from San Diego, CA.
A book about Mantras; everything what you should know about
Mantras.
Mantras have beside their sound
effect and resonance effect a mystic meaning. Every language, every culture
uses such magic words which touch the soul. Indian culture, especially Ayurveda
healing methods and Yoga exercises, to which mantra application counts – have
been practiced for centuries. Mantras can be of great help in one´s life. You
learn about what mantras are, how many different kinds of mantras there are and
on which cultural ground they were developed. Mostly, they have religious and
philosophical backgrounds and a fundamental comprehension of disease and
healing, which differs from the modern western view. These alternative healing
approaches take consideration of the psychic aspect alongside the physical
aspect of a disease. Often healing words and comforting sounds and songs are
used, which in a subtle way activate the self-healing potential of a person.
Today, these alternative healing tools are applied by many people in the
western world, valued and practiced also by therapeutics. Deep spiritual
meditative moments are possible while hearing as well as while singing Mantras.
At the emotional level salutary feeling are woken up like rest, calmness, joy
and love. The introduction on the subject for everybody who is in search of an
alternative, musical remedial method; help to the meditation and access to own
spirituality; practical instructions to the everyday use with detailed
explanations. Mohini Heitel was born in a mountain village in northern India.
Already as a child, she became familiar with folk medicine, ritual ceremonies
and mantra healing songs. She first studied at the University of Agra in India,
where she obtained a Master of Science degree. She then worked as a college
lecturer and trained as a yoga and meditation teacher at the same time. This
activity led her to do lecture tours in Europe. She then studied medicine in
Bochum and Frankfurt am Main. After working for a long time as a general
practitioner with a focus on naturopathic treatments and psychotherapy, she
also tried to further develop knowledge of the traditional mantra tradition and
use it for therapeutic purposes. Since then, she has introduced the healing
effects of mantras to many people through concerts and CD releases.
--June 28, 2022
Integrative Medicine Consultations with an American M.D.
I am neither overwhelmed nor surprised that the founders, volunteer-governors and Yoga teachers of Nashville Sri Ganesha Temple are doctors! Vedic mantras are the mantras in name of god which have the power to cure any type of incurable disease. There are various types of mantras for disease of any kind. Villagers, where I lived, believed in mantra- cure came, to my father who was a priest!
Ayurveda, means “knowledge of life,” or “science
of life,” and it is the most ancient system of health care in the world. We
don’t know the exact origins of Ayurveda, but the legend is that it was handed
down from Brahma (God) to humans through a lineage of sages in ancient India,
who continued to develop and refine the practices through insight derived via
deep meditation over five thousand years ago. These sages were not only holy
men but also physicians, and Ayurveda was a complete system for managing all
aspects of health as well as spirituality, including methods for increasing
longevity, healing disease, performing surgery, cleansing the body, maintaining
a healthy weight, and addressing ethical dilemmas and spiritual development.
Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary’s combined expertise in both modern neurology and the ancient science of health known as Ayurveda has uniquely positioned her as an expert able to pull from the broadest possible base to treat her clients. She is passionate about raising awareness for the need of a paradigm shift in contemporary medicine that focuses on patient empowerment and a health-based (rather than disease-based) medical system. Dr. Chaudhary is a regular guest on the Dr. Oz show, where her teachings about Ayurvedic medicine have been applauded by a national audience.
Dr. Chaudhary was the Director of Wellspring Health in Scripps
Memorial Hospital for ten years, and remains a pioneer in the field of
Integrative Medicine. Dr. Chaudhary has successfully developed a powerful
system to manage chronic neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis,
Parkinson’s disease and migraine headaches, by incorporating fundamental
changes in diet, behavior, and stress, in addition to the standard allopathic
approach to these issues. This program has been so successful that many
patients now use it not just for neurological issues but also for a wider range
of health concerns, including weight issues and chronic disease.
Dr. Chaudhary is the author of The Prime and Sound
Medicine and has appeared as a medical expert on numerous programs
including The Dr. Oz Show and Home & Family.
She is also a neuroscientist and has participated in over twenty clinical
research studies in the areas of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease,
Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Her research
includes groundbreaking work in stem cell therapies for diabetic peripheral
neuropathy and drug development for the treatment of ALS.
Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary spends her time doing research in Siddha
Medicine in Tamil Nadu, India and seeing patients for Integrative Medicine
consultations from San Diego, CA.
--June 28, 2022
MYSTIC EXPERIENCE WITH ANCIENT TEMPLES
Narasimha Jayanti is an important Hindu religious
festival. According to Drik Panchang, this day is celebrated on the 14th day
(Chaturdashi Tithi) of Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaishakha. This year, it
was observed on Saturday, 14th May 2022.
Yoganarasimha Swamy Temple, Melukote
Did you know that the Lord Narasimha sitting in the Yoga posture
on top of the hill at the Yoga Narasimha Temple in Melukote, in religious
history is said to have been worshipped by His staunch devotee Prahalada?
The Yoganarasimha Swamy Temple, in Melukote in the Pandavpura
Taluk in the Mandya district of Karnataka, is located on hill top at an
elevation of 3590 feet. It is dedicated to Lord Narasimha, an incarnation of
Lord Vishnu in Lion-Man andromorphic form, deified in a Yogapatta (Yoga
posture), and is said to be one of the most revered of the seven divine temples
dedicated to Yoganarasimha. The temple's archives have references in the Vedic
literature. In religious history of Naradiya Purana, the archa
vigraha (idol) of Narasimha is said to have been worshipped by His royal
disciple Prahalada, son of an evil daitya king Hiranyakashipu. To support this,
claim the presence of a small cave, just under the deity is said to be the
place where Prahlada used to meditate.
However, in historical terms, the impressive structure of the temple built on
the top of a hill at an elevation of 3590 feet, around Narasimha idol is
believed to belong to the Hoysala period in the 11th-12 century though no
concrete date is known. Saint Ramanujacharya is said to have got this temple
built or renovated during his 14 years stay in Melukote when the Hoyasla King
Vishnuvardhana (embraced Srivaishnavism and became a staunch devotee of the
saint. During the days of Ramanujacharya's stay in Melukote with his disciples,
Yoganarasimha temple became the center of his activities to spread his
philosophy of Vishishtadvaita.
In later centuries, the temple was greatly improved by the Ballala Rayas of
Yadavapuri, the sovereigns of Vijayanagar and the Wodeyar kings of Mysore
Kingdom. Architecturally, too, this temple underwent a great deal of renovation.
The sanctum is a simple structure of Hoysala and Dravidian styles tending more
towards the latter. However, the intricate carvings on the pillars and the
overall structure of the temple offer a glimpse into the architectural style of
the bygone era. Temple has square sanctum with 2 gopuras - one at the entrance
Rajagopura of five tiers, and the Vimana Gopura above the sanctum of three
tiers; both gopuras are in Dravidian architectural style. The latest renovation
(year 2020) by a donor from Dubai, involved refurbishing the temple
towers including installing new filial (Kalashas).
Archa Vigraha or idol of Lord Yoga Narasimha, deified in the
garba Griha (sanctum sanctorum) is nearly three feet tall made of black granite
darkened with oil. The eyes of the Lord are as big as saucers. The idol is
deified in the yoga posture with the hands and feet adorned with Kavacha (the
Armor of the gods). This emphasizes the sharp nails and claws. Every day
after the abhisheka , the idol is seen beautifully dressed and adorned in gold,
with gold hands, feet and crown with large flower garlands covering his chest.
The temple on the hill top is approached with great effort,
climbing up many steps (around 380 steps), passing under various Mantapa arches
on the way. At the top there is an impressive Gopura or
gateway. After passing through more steps is the entrance to the actual temple.
Right at the entrance there is a low relief in brass showing Narasimha
surrounded by the other avatars (incarnations) of Lord Vishnu). From this point
circumambulate the inner shrine and during this process one can enjoy the
magnificent views of the plains from the top of the hill. The temple is
surrounded by a walkway, which is fortified because the massive hill drops
right down.
The temple has been richly endowed by the successive rulers of the
Wodeyar family of Mysore who have made immense contributions not only by way of
renovating the temple from time to time but also by way of donating gold crowns
and gems-studded jewels to the temple. One such contribution by
Krishnaraja Wodeyar III has an interesting story; he had donated a gold crown
to the temple deity. During a visit to Melkote along with his pregnant queen
Lingajammanni, Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, left her at the foot of the hill and
went up to visit the temple to pay homage to the God Narasimha. While eagerly looking
at the royal party going up the hill, the queen , by a false step, fell from a
height of 60 feet , but miraculously survived and was unhurt. In great
reverence, and as a thanks - offering, the King and the Queen then presented a
gold crown to the Lord Narasimha. Another object of interest in this temple is
a huge Nagari or drum donated by Hyder Ali. It is said that when Hyder
Ali was passing near the hill temple , few of his elephants used in
war became sick. Some of his followers suggested that if he vows to Yoga
Narasimha, the elephants will get well. Accordingly, when he vowed to
this deity, the elephants were cured. The happy King gifted a large
drum (Nagari) to the God. To this day this drum is beaten every day, during
Pooja in the temple. Its resonating sound declares the Pooja time to everyone
in the area.
Another unusual story attributed to H.H. Kantirava Narasimharaja Wadiyar, in
early 20th century, who preferred to build his royal temple for Lakshmi
Narasimha at Srirangapatna as the state temple than renovating the Yoganasimha
temple at Melukote. It was said at that time that it was not appropriate to
make it a state symbol since Yoganarasimha connoted celibate practice, instead
of kingly procreation symbolized by Lakshmi Narasimha.
Apart from the regular worship, pujas carried out on a daily basis, the temple
holds special pujas to celebrate the Narasimha Jayanthi festival every year.
Nowadays, the temple is also accessed from the foot of the hill
through a road which almost goes nearer to the temple. But still devotees have
to climb a few more steps to reach the temple doors.
There is an ancient Inscription at
kolanupaka Jagaddevuni Narayana Swamy
Temple saying that in 1148 The King
Tribhuvana Malludu won the bottle in Telangana He
established a fort on Ekashila Hillock at Bhongir in respect of for his victory
in elangana . At the same time, he visited Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy several Times.
In 15th Century the Vijayanagara Samrajya Samrat Sri Krishnadevarayalu wrote in
his autobiography that while he was going to war, he visited the temple and
chanted prayers the lord for victory. He got a son on the mercy of
Lord Nrusimha Swamy.
Yoga Anjaneyar Temple in Sholingur is
situated about one kilometer away from Yoga Narasimha Temple. The presiding
Deity is Aanjaneya and west facing. A visit to the temple is believed
to cure illness and hence its importance. The temple is also situated
on a Small Hill. Compared to Narasimha temple, Yoga Anjaneya temple, the number
of steps is less (Only 450). But the steps are steep. It is customary to visit
this temple after visiting Yoga Narasimha.
I had also personal experience of mystic power of
ancient temples. I prayed at the age of ten, along with my grandfather month-long at ancient
Anjaneya Temple in SHOLIGUR, near Chennai, to cure my grand-mother and
mother long ailing from mental illness, blindly believed to be god-possessed
and devil possessed. Miraculously, they were cured when physicians could not
help--(Vaidyo Narayno
Dhanvantaro Harih)\
“I practice my religion and pray for my three children every day.
Sometimes I pray for patients — the ones where my instinct tells me they need
an extra boost. I come back to my office and pray for them and wish they can go
back to their families and have a wonderful life”--Roopa Kohli-Seth, MD; Director, Critical Care
Institute, Mount Sinai Health System, New York.
--June
26, 2022
------------------------------------------------------
YOGA HAS MANY
MEANINGS IN VEDANTA SOCIETY
The word 'Yoga' is derived from the Sanskrit root 'Yuj', meaning
'to join' or 'to yoke' or 'to unite'. As per Yogic scriptures the practice of
Yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of the Universal
Consciousness, indicating a perfect harmony between the mind and body, Man
& Nature.
Yoga has many meanings and
connections in Sanskrit, a number of which are not recognized or understood.
Yoga means union, integration, harmony and balance as is commonly known. A
Yogic mind recognizes what is right, appropriate and in harmony at every given
moment, adapting according to time, place and person relative to that which is
infinite and eternal.
While in recent years the word
"yoga" has been heard more in gyms than in religious discourse,
"yoga" in its original sense has little to do with exercise.
"Yoga" comes from the Sanskrit verb "yuj," to yoke or
unite. The goal of yoga is to unite oneself with God; the practice of yoga is
the path we take to accomplish this. Spiritual aspirants can be broadly
classified into four psychological types: the predominantly emotional, the
predominantly intellectual, the physically active, and the meditative. There is
four primary Yogas designated to "fit" each psychological
type--Bhakti, Jnana, Karma and Raja.
In order to realize God a
person must totally renounce the world and live in a cave, monastery or
convent. What it does mean is that all aspects of our life must be spiritualized
so that they can be directed towards attaining the goal of
God-realization.
Repetition of any name of God
that appeals to us is good, so is repeating the holy syllable "Om".
It's helpful to have a regular time for meditation in order to create a habit;
it's also helpful to have a regular place for meditation that is quiet, clean,
and tranquil.
Present days, Yoga Education is
being imparted by many eminent Yoga Institutions. Yoga Sadhana of all hues and
colors is considered panacea for a meaningful life and living. Its orientation
to a comprehensive health, both individual and social, makes it a worthy
practice for the people of all religions, races and
nationalities. Now-a-days, millions and millions of people across the
globe have benefitted by the practice of Yoga which has been preserved and
promoted by the great eminent Yoga Masters from ancient time to this date. The
practice of Yoga is blossoming and growing more vibrant every day.
The government of India under
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, who gained the UN approval for International Yoga Day in 2015,
has designated #International
Yoga Day 2022 as "Yoga for
Humanity".
Yoga teaches us that the human
person as the individual #Purusha is a manifestation of the cosmic person, the supreme
Purusha, the universe as one Self. The entire universe is one Being and Person,
a single organic reality. We are all but different manifestations and functions
of that infinite and eternal Self.
Yoga for Humanity is #Purusha
Yoga, a common humanity and consciousness in all beings and in all
existence, including in every aspect of nature. The goal of Yoga is the
realization of that Purusha or Self as our own true nature. All divisions in
humanity and in the universe dissolve in that supreme Purusha.
Om Sri Yoga Purushaya Namah!
Please go through the elaborate writings of Vedanta philosophers
in Vedanta Society:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2022/06/yoga-has-many-meanings-in-vedanta.html
--June 25, 2022
-------------------------------------------------------
The Wheels of Chariot
Did you ever feel like life is going in a different direction than
intended? Is that because the wheels of your life are taking
your life chariot in a different direction? Or is the driver of
your life chariot not clear about the direction you need to
take?
Who must be driving the
life chariot to take you to the final destination?
rathastham ke:savam drushtva: punarjanma na vidyathe:
Sari:ra (human body) is the
chariot……its wheels are the pa:pa (sins) and punya (virtues)
from the past…it is pulled in directions by horses called …the movements and
direction of the horses (senses) are handled by a bridle called the manas (mind)…the
bridle (manas) is in the hands of a driver/leader called the buddhi,
intellect,
–
From the discourse of HH Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji
evaṁ buddheḥ paraṁ
buddhvā sanstabhyātmānam ātmanām (BG 3-43)
Thus knowing the soul to
be superior to the material intellect, O mighty armed Arjun, subdue the lower
self (senses, mind, and intellect) by the higher self (strength of the soul),
and kill this formidable enemy called lust.
In conclusion, Shree
Krishna emphasizes that we should slay this enemy called lust through knowledge
of the self. Since the soul is a part of God, it is divine in nature. Thus, the
divine bliss it seeks can only be attained from a divine subject, while the
objects of the world are all material. These material objects can never fulfill
the innate longing of the soul and so it is futile to create desires for them.
We must exert and train the intellect to think in this manner, and then use it
to control the mind and the senses.
This is explained very
beautifully in the Kaṭhopaniṣhad with the help of the model of a chariot:
mānagvaṁ rathinaṁ viddhi śharīraṁ rathameva tu
buddhiṁ tu sārathiṁ viddhi manaḥ pragrahameva cha
indriyāṇi hayānāhurviṣhayānsteṣhu gocharān
ātmendriyamanoyuktaṁ bhoktetyāhurmanīṣhiṇaḥ (1.3.3-4) [v21
The Upaniṣhads
say there is a chariot, which has five horses pulling it; the horses have reins
in their mouths, which are in the hands of a charioteer; a passenger is sitting
at the back of the chariot. Ideally, the passenger should instruct the
charioteer, who should then control the reins and guide the horses in the
proper direction. However, in this case, the passenger has gone to sleep, and
so the horses are holding sway.
In this analogy, the chariot is the body, the horses are the
five senses, the reins in the mouth of the horses is the mind, the charioteer
is the intellect, and the passenger seated behind is the soul residing in the
body. The senses (horses) desire pleasurable
things. The mind (reins) is not exercising restraint on the senses (horses).
The intellect (charioteer) submits to the pull of the reins (mind). So in the
materially bound state, the bewildered soul does not direct the intellect in
the proper direction. Thus, the senses decide the direction where the chariot
will go. The soul experiences the pleasures of the senses vicariously, but
these do not satisfy it. Seated on this chariot, the soul (passenger) is moving
around in this material world since eternity.
However, if the soul
wakes up to its higher nature and decides to take a proactive role, it can
exercise the intellect in the proper direction. The intellect will then govern
the lower self—the mind and the senses—and the chariot will move in the
direction of eternal welfare. In this way, the higher self (soul) must be used
to control the lower self (senses, mind, and, intellect).
--June 25, 2022
------------------------------------------------------
Varaha Swamy Temple, Tirumala
Did you know that the
Varahaswamy Temple in Tirumala, according to the Venkatachala Mahatmya, predates
the Sri Venkateswara Temple on the Tirumala-Tirupati hill, and is dedicated to
Vishnu-Narayana in the form of Bhu Varaha lifting the sunken Earth from the
ocean waters?
The Varahaswamy Temple, also
known as Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple or Shweta Varahaswamy Temple, in the hill town
of Tirumala in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, is dedicated to Lord
Vishnu-Narayana in the Varaha incarnation (anthromorphic form of Boar head with
human body). The Varaha incarnation of Vishnu happened in the Kritayuga, the
first in the cycle of four geological periods/ages/epoch/aeon, when He took
this form to retrieve the Mother Earth (Bhudevi) who was sunken in the cosmic
ocean and held captive by the asura Hiranyaksha. According to the Brahma
Purana, the Venkatachala Mahatmya in the Vaishnava Khanda Book of the Skanda
Purana and the Vishnu Smriti which narrates the tale of Varaha, states that
Varaha after killing the asura beneath the ocean, brought the mother earth on
his snoot to the surface and established himself, at the request of the
devotees, at the presenday Venkata hills at Venkatadri (later known as
Tirumala) on the North-western bank of the Swami Pushkarani (divine water
body). From then on, the hill region of Saptagiri or Tirumala was called as
Adivaraha Kshetra, the abode of Lord Varaha.
However, it was only at the
begining of Kaliyuga, the present epoch that Lord Vishnu himself appeared in
the form of Srinivasa, amidst the hills of Saptagiri (seven range of hills) to
Adivaraha Kshetra and sought a gift of land from Varahaswami, who had settled
there since aeons on the banks of the Swami Pushakarni. Lord Vishnu, who
appeared in the form of Srinivasa to restore peace and order on earth during
Kaliyuga, had left his abode Vaikunta leaving behind his consort Laksmhi. He
came to Venkatadri, and had married a local princess called Padmavati and he
had taken a loan from Kubera to meet his marriage expenses and thus piled up a
huge debt. Lord Varahaswamy had then granted a parcel of land to Srinivasa, who
because of his huge debt was even unable to pay the rent for the land to Sri
Varahaswami. An interesting theatrical narration in a book about the
conversation bewteen Lord Varaha and Lord Srinivasa reads: "Then Lord
Srinivas asked Varahadeva, “I know that you are the owner of this land tract.
You have saved the Earth, so you are truly the owner of the Earth, and
especially this place where you live. So, I ask you kindly rent me a place to
stay."
"The Lord further said,
“But I don’t have money since I was left by the goddess Laxmi. I don’t know
what I’m going to rent you out.”
The land donated by
Varahaswamy, where Srinivasa settled down and built his abode, is opposite to
Varaha's own abode, on the southern bank of the Swami Pushkarini, which over
the centuries has turned into a spectacular and one of the most divine Hindu
temples in India called the Tirumala Srinivasa or more populary as Venkateswara
Temple as it is located amidst the Venkatadri hill of the Sapatagiri range of
hills. However, his second consort Padmavati (Alamelu Manga) decided to live
separately in a nearby place called Tiruchanur (Alamelu Mangapuram) while his
chief wife Lakshmi continues to adorn his chest in the self-manifest form of
the Lord now worshipped in the temple. (Note:The legend related to this event
is very elaborate and not covered under this heading of Varahaswamy Temple).
In return for the gift of land
provided by Varahaswamy, Srinivasa had made an agreement assuring Varahaswamy
that he would be honoured with the first darshan, worship and offerings by all
the devotees visiting his temple. This tradition is in vogue to this day at
Tirumala and Lord Varahaswami continues to receive the age old traditional
first worship. Thus, the temple dedicated to Lord Varahaswamy is older than the
Venkateshwara Temple on the Tirumala Tirupati hill though the temple of
Venkateshwara is more popular.
In the Kali Yuga, a temple in
Dravidian architectural style was built around the Vigraha (idol) of Lord
Varahaswami in Tirumala, in the form of Adi Varaha, on the north - western
shore of the Swamy Pushkarni and near the middle of the North Mada Street of
the Tirumala town. This archa vigraha resembles the way Adi Varaha Murti has
been described in the Vaikhanasa Agama texts. In the revered Hindu text, Atri
Samhita or Samurtarchanadhikara, it is stated that the incarnation of Lord
Vishnu, Varaha is to be worshipped in three different forms, namely Adi Varaha,
Pralaya Varaha and Yajna Varaha. It is in the Adi Varaha form, along with
Bhudevi (Mother earth who he had rescued) to his left, that he is worshipped in
the temple at Tirumala.
Over the centuries the
importance of Varaha Swamy declined. In the 12th century when Saint Ramanjua
took charge of the Tirumala temples realised this lapse and advised every one
that as per dictums of Brahma Purana it was essential for the devotees to visit
Varahaswamy temple before visiting the Tirumala temple, and thus the importance
of this temple was restored and improvements made in its upkeep.
However, leaving aside the
legends related to Bhu Varahaswamy, historically the temple is named in an
inscription dated 1379, when the naivedyam (Prasada, a religious offering to
Gods) was offered to the deity by one Tirukkalikanri dasar. In the epigraph of
1380, the god has been named as Varaha Nayanar. Another epigraph of 1476 names
the deity as 'Jnanapriyan', meaning the "embodiment of knowledge".
One who worships this deity is said to enter the Jnanamayakosha.
Thirumala Iyengar, an
author-poet, who rendered service to this Adi Varaha deity, around 1532, got
the outer walls of the temple renovated and also built a circumambulatory
passage around the temple. Over time, as the temple got considerably weakened,
the Moola Vigraha of Bhu Varaha was shifted to the Narasimha Swamy enclosure in
the main shrine of of Venkateshwara, and remained there for 12 years. In the
20th century, Mahant Prayagdasji renovated the temple and rebuilt the garba
griha (sanctum sanctorum), and re-consecrated the Moola Vigraha. As the idol
was at a lower level, the level of the garba griha was later rasied along with
the Moolavar, and Jatabandhana (the ceremony of “fixing of pedestal”) was
performed for the idol.
This temple's main entry door opens to the north facing the Pushkarani. The
entrance gate leads to the Mukhamandapa with its doors facing east. But this
gate is opened only when the Chakrasnana (Ablution of the Divine Wheel) of the
Sudarshana chakra takes place in the Swami Puashkarani tank. The Mukhamandapa
leads to the antarala ( a small antechamber or foyer between the garbhagriha
(shrine) and the mandapa) and a small sukhanasa (an external ornamented feature
over the entrance to the garbha griha) a chamber where devotees get to stand
and worship the Lord deified in the garba griha. The Mula Vigraha faces north
and is flanked by Bhudevi, the earth goddess to his left. This idol stands on a
pedestal of 2 feet height and the deity has four hands with the two upper hands
holding Shankhu and Chakra. There are also small idols of Srinivasa and a
replica of the Moolavigraha of Varaha Swamy. There is no procession idol.
Worship is offered to the deity thrice a day according to the dictums of
Vaikhanasa agama shastra. In the holy month of Shravana, the fourth month of
the Hindu year (July-August) , and in the holy star of Shravana, Varaha Jayanti
(birthday of Varahaswamy) is celebrated here grandly, every year.
The small Vimanam tower above the garba griha of the Varahaswamy was slated for
decoration with gold plating with 42 kg gold and 1,800 kg copper deploying
especially skilled artisans. The Balalayam for undertaking this renovation was
done in December 2020 and the gold plating of the tower was expected to be
completed in a further five months’ time. During these five months of Balalayam
Sri Adi Varaha Swamy was to be worshiped in the form of Athi wood (Indian fig
tree wood) made deity--Narasimha Achar
Note: Unable to confirm if the worship at the temple has been
restored now after the gold-plating of the Vimana tower. HRF friends, who have
visited the temple recently may please confirm this and a photo of the dome
will be appreciated.
Varaha Avatar is glorified in the
Mantropanishad MNU:
bhūmirdhenurdharaṇī lokadhāriṇī uddhṛtāsi
Varāheṇa Krishnena śatabāhunā .. 38
(Mahanarayana Upanishad)
“The earth is the giver of happiness like the milk
cow, the sustainer of life and support for all living beings. Thou wert raised up by Krishna in His
incarnation of the boar having hundred hands”. Hindu religion reverences the earth which supports all life with
the same feelings which a mother would call in the minds of her children. The
earth is cited as the suitable illustration whenever one is in need of
impressing about the necessity of patience. Man transforms the surface of the
earth by cutting, digging, levelling and building with hard implements. Yet
she yields him prosperity and enjoyment in turn.
--June 24, 2022
------------------------------------------------------
What
is today’s Hinduism the Third Largest Religion
Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion,
according to many scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000
years. Today, with about 900 million followers, Hinduism is the third-largest
religion behind Christianity and Islam. Roughly 95 percent of the world’s
Hindus live in India. Because the religion has no specific founder, it’s
difficult to trace its origins and history. Hinduism is unique in that it’s not
a single religion but a compilation of many traditions and philosophies. Hinduism is referred to as a “way of life”
or a “family of religions. Most forms
of Hinduism are henotheistic, which means they worship a single deity, known as
Brahman. Hindus strive to achieve
dharma, which is a code of living that emphasizes good conduct and morality.
Hindus revere all living creatures and consider the cow a sacred animal.
There are two primary symbols associated with Hinduism, the OM and the Swastika. But many Hindus argue that their faith is
timeless and has always existed. Unlike other religions, Hinduism has no one
founder but is instead a fusion of various beliefs.
Around 1500 B.C., the Indo-Aryan people migrated to the Indus
Valley, and their language and culture blended with that of the indigenous
people living in the region. There’s some debate over who influenced whom more
during this time.
The Medieval Period of Hinduism lasted from about 500 to 1500 A.D. New texts
emerged, and poet-saints recorded their spiritual sentiments during this time.
In the 7th century, Muslim Arabs began invading areas in India. During parts of
the Muslim Period, which lasted from about 1200 -1757, Islamic rulers prevented
Hindus from worshipping their deities, and some temples were destroyed. Between
1757 and 1947, the British controlled India. At first, the new rulers allowed
Hindus to practice their religion without interference. But later, Christian missionaries
sought to convert and westernize the people. Many reformers emerged during the
British Period. The well-known politician and peace activist, Mahatma Gandhi, led a movement that pushed for India’s independence.
Starting in the 1960s, many Hindus migrated to North America and
Britain, spreading their faith and philosophies to the Western world.
Hindus can also worship at home besides Temples, and many
have a special shrine dedicated to certain gods and goddesses. Additionally, many Hindus take pilgrimages to
temples and other sacred sites in India.
Hinduism has many sects, and is sometimes divided into the
following: Shaivism (followers of Shiva). Vaishnava (followers of Vishnu);
Shaktism (followers of Devi); Smarta (followers of Brahman and all major
deities). The caste system is a social
hierarchy in India that divides Hindus based on their karma and dharma.
“What we call Hinduism
today has many names throughout history. This is just as Hindu deities have a
thousand names like the thousand names of Shiva, Vishnu and Lalita. We cannot
identify them by one fixed name only. Hinduism as arising from the Vedas is
Veda Dharma, as relevant to all humanity is Manava Dharma, as eternal and
infinite is Sanatana Dharma.
Mantra concentrated
Hindus look beyond speech and mind as the Upanishads state, and discover our
Inner Being that pervades and transcends all.”--David Frawley.
Please go through leisurely the full text:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2022/06/what-is-todays-hinduism-third-largest.html
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Must we
purify our mind by other means before we can practice ātma-vicāra?
The only
real yātrā (pilgrimage) is the inward one that Bhagavan Ramana
has shown us! If we have
even the slightest inclination to practice ātma-vicāra, we have
already gained sufficient citta-śuddhi by other means. To follow
this path we must be willing to surrender ourselves along with all our cares
and anxieties, likes and dislikes, hopes and fears.
Outward yātrās [pilgrimages
or spiritual journeys] are good at a certain stage of our spiritual
development, but sooner or later we need to leave all outward endeavors.
Ultimately the only real yātrā is the inward one that Bhagavan
has shown us, namely the simple path of self-investigation and self-surrender.
Ramaṇa Gītā is
not truly representative of Bhagavan’s teachings. There are a few useful
teachings in it, but as a whole it misrepresents his teachings, because it is a
selective and biased recording of some of his answers to questions asked by
Kavyakantha and his followers, whose aim was not to learn how to eradicate ego
but only to get his approval for their own aims, ambitions and beliefs, which
included to gain śakti and siddhis in order
to restore their idea of vēdic dharma and a vēdic society.
We are extremely fortunate, because having been caught in the web
of Bhagavan’s grace we now have a seat on a super luxury express train, so all
we have to do is set aside our luggage and travel at ease till the train takes
us to our destination. We just have to be willing to set aside our luggage.
That is, to surrender ourselves along with all our cares and anxieties, likes
and dislikes, hopes and fears.
If we let him, he will
carry all our burden for us. Even if we don’t let him, he will do so
nevertheless, but we will suffer unnecessarily. So leave all your cares to him.
That is all he asks of us. It is all happening perfectly by his grace. We just
have to stop interfering, which means stop rising as ego.
Please go through the
detailed text:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2022/06/must-we-purify-our-mind-by-other-means.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ma Kali, the Yoga of
Knowledge and Her Worship
“Ma Kali is the primary Goddess of Yoga, the background Yoga
Shakti, the power of Yoga or Kriya Shakti. Hers is the force that takes our
energy within, which causes us to seek the eternal and lose interest in the
outer affairs of life. She is the electrical stirring of the soul to Divinity.
She is the voice of the divine reverberating within us, when we let our ego
fade into the background. Kali is the power of the great current of awareness.
Kali is the great Prana cannot be found in the outer world but
only within. Then she redirects our life as a mystic journey to the inner
source, the heart of creation, and the Eternal flame.
Kali’s Shakti works to focus our energies back to the heart and
the core of our being. Kali’s energy reverses the ordinary process of creation.
Hers is the power that merges earth into water, water into fire, fire into air,
air om the many to the One,
reintegrating the world into our deepest Self and Being.
Ma Kali’s energy is like a simulated death experience. She helps
us withdraw our attention from the outer mind, emotions and senses into the
inner heart. In this regard, Kali is the prime Goddess of Jnana or
Self-knowledge. She takes us back to the Self in the heart, unifying all our
experience within it. Kali is Nirvana Shakti, the power that takes us to
dissolution or Nirvana. She is the magnetic pull of Nirvana within us.
In Yogic terms, Kali is the Nirodha Shakti, the power that gives
the ability to dissolve the fluctuations of the mind stuff or chitta that is
the tradition definition of Yoga through Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. Her
power checks, negates, masters and dissolves all the functions of mind and
prana into the infinite silent calm of the Purusha within the heart.
One is reminded of the experience of Paramahansa Ramakrishna, who
was a great devotee of Kali. After learning the importance of the Self-knowledge
of Vedanta through his guru Tota Puri, Ramakrishna meditated on the Self within
the heart in order to realize it. In doing so, the image of Ma Kali arose. He
found that he had to break through his attachment to her by removing her form
with the sword of knowledge. Yet he had to eventually realize that the sword of
knowledge was that of Ma Kali. She projects a form to teach us, but removes the
form to reveal her formless being as Pure Consciousness”.--David Frawley
What is
Kali Puja?
Kali Puja is one of the most sacred
Hindu festivals and dedicated to the Avatar (incarnation) of Goddess Durga in the fearsome form of Maa Kali. The Puja is performed to
protect oneself from evil and negative forces which harm our spiritual and
mental psyche. It also removes the feelings of insecurity that haunt us from
time to time. According to legend, Kali Maa manifested from the eyebrow of
Goddess Durga. Kali is also popularly known as Kal Bhoi Nashini (the destroyer
of evil). Worship of Kali Maa is conducted during Nishitha time (night) on
the Amavasya (new moon) of
Kartika month (November-December). Kali Puja is performed with great enthusiasm
predominantly in the Eastern region of the country like the state of West
Bengal. The celebrations include illuminating homes and temples with earthen
lamps, signifying the dispelling of darkness.
The
significance of Kali Puja
Kali Matha is one of the most
celebrated women goddesses of Hinduism. She always symbolizes victory and even
though she is depicted as fierce, she is very kind and benevolent. When the
fearsome Kali was slaughtering the demons on the battlefield and seemed
uncontrollable, Lord Shiva himself appeared before her in the form of an infant. Maa
Kali’s maternal instincts instantly came to the fore and she picked the little
baby to comfort it. Thus, this form of the Goddess is considered
benevolent and kind-hearted when she acts as a protective mother.
Mythology
Behind Kali Puja
Kali Puja is celebrated in two ways,
Brahmanic and Tantric (a major branch of Indian religious thought opposed to
the Vedic tradition). Kali Puja celebrations are observed with great fervor and
enthusiasm in the Indian sub-continent, especially in the Eastern states. It is
celebrated in a big way in Bengal and Assam, akin to the Durga Puja
celebrations.
The Brahmanic worship of Goddess Kali is observed in the traditional Hindu style of offering
oblations to the deity. In this form of worship, Kali Maa is adored as ‘Adya Shakti Kali’.
Tantric worship of Kali involves
chanting of Tantric Mantras and Stotras
(hymns), frequently accompanied by animal sacrifice. The offerings to Kali Maa
during this style of worship include meat, fish, and head of the goat and red
hibiscus flowers.
Pandals (temporary structures) are
especially erected for this occasion and images of the deity are installed on
the altar. Since Kali Puja coincides with the festival of Diwali, fireworks and
crackers light up the sky.
The cremation grounds in Assam and
Bengal also witness Tantric Pujas being performed at midnight on this day.
Rituals
of Kali Puja
The Kali Puja celebrations coincide
with several other popular Hindu festivals, especially Diwali. Both festivals
are celebrated for almost the same purpose, i.e. the triumph of good over evil
and the dispelling of darkness.
Those who pray to Maa Kali with
sincerity and deep dedication will surely be blessed with a positive and
never-say-die attitude. She dispels fear and negativity, while at the same time
ushering in joy and happiness. By performing the Kali Puja, one can get rid of
the darkness enveloping us like a shroud and break off the shackles which bind us to
despair and hopelessness.
Benefits
of celebrating Kali Puja
·
Gets rid of the darkness enveloping
human existence. In this current era, though there is enormous development in
science and technology, psychological problems are on the rise. It is very important
to curb any sort of negativity in life.
·
Brings joy and happiness in the
family. Families split for several reasons. It becomes important to keep the
family intact to enhance happiness. Goddess Kali helps her devotees to maintain
a good and peaceful family life.
·
Facilitates the triumph of good over
evil and the dispelling of darkness. The darkness inside humans - like anger,
resentment, rage, and ego - should be curbed. By praying to Goddess Durga, one
can be protected from all
problems in life.
----------------------------------/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Day of Yoga and World Music Day come together on
June 21 in 2022
International Day of Yoga and
World Music Day come together on June 21. I think, this unison fits
absolutely in this time, as we all need to sense about ways to improve our
health, and a life of melody on this very special occasion.
International Yoga Day is
celebrated to raise consciousness about the inclusion of Yoga in our daily
lives. It is a great international event that has been ongoing for more
than 25 years, in many countries of the world. It is significant that the key
aim behind the United Nations making out June 21 as the International Day of Yoga
was to highlight the potential of yoga in public health globally.
On the other hand, World Music
day marks the beginning of summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. It is a
great international event that has been ongoing for more than 25 years, in many
countries of the world. Thus, consistently, on June 21 we observe World Music
Day 2021 internationally to respect the musicians and singers for making the
world a superior spot to live.
Keeping the Covid-19 second
wave and its effects into consideration, now it’s time for all to focus more on
Yoga. We all will admit that Yoga will help us reduce stress, boost
energy, develop immunity system to combat the virus attack. Many
scientific evidence shows that yoga supports mental health, stress management,
mindfulness, healthy eating, weight loss and quality sleep. Yoga also gives us
mental and physical energy, a boost in alertness and enthusiasm, and fewer
negative feelings after getting into a routine of practicing yoga. Research
shows that a consistent bedtime yoga routine can help us get in the right
mindset and prepare our body to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Yoga is a physical and mental
exercise that gives us tranquility, confidence and strength through which
those who practice the asana become more productive and resistant in life. In
the wake of the corona-virus pandemic, yoga is increasingly being exercised by
the people to get immunity. The practice of Yoga strengthens our physical body,
as well as the microscopic systems that are not able to be seen to the eye. A
strong and disease-free body can be easily maintained by adopting a healthy
lifestyle and no doubt, with a regular yoga practice, combined with a few
minute meditations in this Covid times, can tackle all mental issues of people
and reap the immune-boosting results, though it is not a substitute for medical
treatment.
The idea of International Yoga
Day was first proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 27, 2014,
during his speech at the UN General Assembly. Right from the outbreak of Covid
Pandemic, PM Modi encouraged people to stay active and fit through Yoga during
the time of the virus attack. The government has thus decided to celebrate the
International Yoga Day through maximum use of digital, virtual and electronic
platforms rather than by conducting events that necessitate congregation of
people. Joining Yoga Day celebrations virtually at home with family signifies
the importance of social distancing and minimizing the spread of
COVID-19.
While we also celebrate
the Music day the same day June 21, let our family altogether fine-tune Yoga
and music together for the sake of peace and harmony in life. With social
distancing now essential in this Covid times, one can hardly step out for
health clubs and gyms or yoga classes, putting into practice a basic
yoga, music activities regularly at home could be an excellent way to stay
fit.
In the yogic
tradition, a mantra is a Sanskrit word that has special powers to
transform mind, body and spirit. A mantra is
a word, or a series of words chanted aloud or silently to invoke spiritual
qualities. 'Manas' translates as mind and 'tra' means instrument or tool.
Mantra with intonations takes
you to Divine Heights. In Hinduism, Bhajan and its Bhakti term Kirtan, have roots in the ancient
metric and musical traditions of the Vedic era, particularly the Samaveda. The Samaveda Samhita is not meant to be read as a text, but sung as it is like a musical score sheet that must
be heard.
--June 21, 2022
------------------------------------------------------
WORLD MUSIC DAY 2022 CELEBRATION
On this day, musicians perform for free
in parks, museums, train stations, castles etc. World Music Day has become a
worldwide phenomenon as countries across the world rejoice in their own unique
way to celebrate the day.
World
Music Day is celebrated on June 21 every year to honor the musicians and
singers for the gift of music, which gives flight to the imagination and life
to everything. Music servers as mediation for great musicians. The right kind
of music can help people to do wonders. Since India and USA are lands of
diversity with varied cultures, every region has its own unique musical form.
A
world without music would have no meaning to many and World Music Day is
observed to celebrate the power of this art. Hence, to mark the importance of
music, every year World music day is celebrated.
More than 120 countries celebrate World
Music Day and organize free public concerts in parks, stadiums and public
places. Music lovers organize different musical concerts and events on this
special day. World Music Day is celebrated to provide free music for all music
lovers and to provide a platform for amateur and professional musicians to
showcase their talents to the world. It is celebrated to highlight the
importance of music and how it is beneficial for the human mind and body.
WORLD MUSIC DAY HISTORY:
The World Music Day celebrated on June
21 is also known as Fete de la Musique.
It was a music festival which began in France in 1982. In 1981, French Minister
of Culture Jack Lang conceived the idea. Since then, the day has been
celebrated every year as World Music Day. As per another theory, American
musician Joel Cohen in France, in 1976, proposed an all-night music celebration
to mark the beginning of the summer solstice and since then the entire world
has celebrated World Music Day on June 21.
Music never been more accessible than in today's world. With
just a tap, we can tune in to our favorite songs by choosing the genres and
artists we love listening to. And, that's why World Music Day holds utmost
significance to the present generation. World Music Day is celebrated on June
21. The day cherishes the spirit of music, the vibrancy of vocals and the
melody of instruments. The day was first celebrated as Fete de la Musique in France in the year 1982. It was organized by
the then French Minister of Art and Culture, Jack Lange, and a French composer,
Maurice Fleuret.
Music artists around the globe
organize concerts on World Music Day. The celebrations are no more restricted
to European nations. In fact, the day is marked by 120 countries, including India, Italy, Greece, Russia,
Australia, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Canada, the United States, the UK, Japan, China and Malaysia. Fests,
parades, fairs, feasts and dance parties are often the part and parcel of World
Music Day.
Since
music therapy is being shown to improve healing and stress levels in many
people, doctors and therapists are bringing this treatment into hospital
settings to improve patient outcomes. Music therapy can be used for both
short-term and long-term treatment, from an overnight stay to returning
regularly to the hospital for recurring therapies.
Mantra is a sacred, repetitive utterance of
a word or a sound which penetrates the depths of our subconscious mind
and helps in healing mind and body; filling the space in and around us
with positive vibrations. Healing benefits of chanting mantras are tremendous.
I recall how believers used to bring their ailing children to my priest father
in the village for mantra and Nattu-vaidya healing!
“If music is the food of
love, play on.” – William Shakespeare inspired by Vnugopala Krishna.
Music is everybody’s possession. It’s only publishers who think that people
own it.” -John Lennon
“When I hear music, I fear
no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest of
times, and to the latest.” – Henry David
Thoreau
--June 20, 2022
Comments:
Many thanks for your kind informative e mail
sir. Regards.
--A.N. Sapthagireesan
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Maneesha
Panchakam to keep,
one thinking for a lifetime!
The word manisha appears in the last line in all the five Verses. Manisha
Panchakam conveys the message that the Paramatman (consciousness) is same
within all beings regardless bodily distinctions of caste. Once a person has
attained Self-knowledge, considerations such as his caste are totally irrelevant.
Manisha Panchakam is a stotra containing
five verses (slokas) composed by Shri Adi
Shankaracharya, the Hindu philosopher. It is said that in these five verses Shankara
brings out the essence of Advaita
Vedanta.
The word Manisha means firm conviction, and Panchak means
five. So the name of the stotra can be translated as "Five verses of firm
conviction". Adi Shankara wrote the Manisha Panchakam at Varanasi (Kashi/Benaras), the ancient sacred city of India, and the home to the famous Kashi
Visvanatha temple.
If brevity is the essence of wit, Bhagwan Adi Shankaracharya
has it. And if wisdom is anybody's property, Shri Shankracharya shows it.
The setting: A swami with his disciples is on the
way to Kashi Vishwanath temple after a sacred dip in the Ganges. He recoils
from a sweeper doing his round of sweeping and asks him to move away.
The sweeper stuns the Swami with a challenging
spiritual poser - one body may move from another, but can the Atma of one
person be separated from another's?
Only five
verses in Maneesha Panchakam, but enough to keep one thinking for a lifetime!
"मनीषा-पञ्चकम् manīṣā-pañcakam
annamayādannamayaṃ athavā caitanyameva caitanyāt |
dvijavara dūrīkartuṃ vāñchasi kiṃ brūhi gaccha gaccheti || 1 ||
O great among the twice-born! What is it that you want to move
away by saying, “Go, go”? Do you want the body made up of food to move away from
another body made up of food? Or do you want consciousness to move away from
consciousness?
kiṃ gaṅgāmbuni bimbite’mbara-maṇau caṇḍāla-vāṭīpayaḥ
pūre cāntaramasti kāñcanaghaṭī-mṛtkubhayor vāmbare |
pratyagvastuni nistaraṅga-sahajānandāvabodhāmbudhau
vipro’yaṃ śvapaco’yamityapi mahān ko’yaṃ vibheda-bhramaḥ || 2 ||
Is there any difference between the reflection of the sun in the
waters of the Gangā and its reflection in the water in a ditch in the quarters
of the outcastes? Or between the space in a gold pot and in a mud pot? What is
this illusion of difference in the form, “This is a Brāhmana and this is an
outcaste” in the indwelling Self which is the ripple-free ocean of bliss and
pure consciousness?
Sri Shankara’s answer: —-
jāgrat-svapna-suṣuptiṣu sphuṭatarā yā saṃvidujjṛmbhate
yā brahmādi-pipīlikānta-tanuṣu protā jagat-sākṣiṇī |
saivāhaṃ na ca dṛśyavastviti dṛḍha-prajñāpi yasyāsti cet
cāṇḍālo’stu sa tu dvijostu gururityeṣā manīṣā mama ||1 ||
If a person has attained the firm knowledge that he is not an
object of perception, but is that Pure Consciousness which shines clearly in
the states of waking, dream and deep sleep, and which, as the witness of the
whole universe, dwells in all bodies from that of the Creator Brahmā to that of
an ant, then he is my Guru, irrespective of whether he is an outcaste or a
Brāhmana. This is my conviction.
brahmaivāhamidaṃ jagacca sakalaṃ cinmātra-vistāritaṃ
sarvaṃ caitadavidyayā triguṇayā’śeṣaṃ mayā kalpitam |
itthaṃ yasya dṛḍhā matiḥ sukhatare nitye pare nirmale
cāṇḍālo’stu sa tu dvijostu gururityeṣā manīṣā mama || 2 ||
“I am Brahman (Pure Consciousness). It is Pure Consciousness that
appears as this universe. All this is only something conjured up by me because
of avidyā (nescience) which is composed of the three gunas (sattva, rajas and
tamas)”. One who has attained this definite realization about Brahman which is
bliss itself, eternal, supreme and pure, is my Guru, whether he is an outcaste
or a Brāhmana.
śaśvannaśvarameva viśvamakhilaṃ niścitya vācā guroḥ
nityaṃ brahma nirantaraṃ vimṛśatā nirvyāja-śāntātmanā |
bhūtaṃ bhāvi ca duṣkṛtaṃ pradahatā saṃvinmaye pāvake
prārabdhāya samarpitaṃ svavapurityeṣā manīṣā mama || 3 ||
Having come to the definite conclusion, under the instruction of
his Guru, that the entire universe is always perishable, he who, with a calm
and pure mind constantly meditates on Brahman, and who has burnt his past and
future sins in the fire of knowledge, submits his present body to the operation
of his prārabdha karma. This is my conviction.
yā tiryaṅ-nara-devatābhir-ahamityantaḥ sphuṭā gṛhyate
yadbhāsā hṛdayākṣa-dehaviṣayā bhānti svato’cetanāḥ |
tāṃ bhāsyaiḥ pihitārkamaṇḍala-nibhāṃ sphūrtiṃ sadā bhāvayan
yogī nirvṛtamānaso hi gururityeṣā manīṣā mama || 4 ||
The Self or pure consciousness is experienced clearly within by
animals, men, and gods as ‘I’. It is by the reflection of this pure
consciousness that the mind, senses and body, which are all insentient, appear
to be sentient. External objects are perceived only because of this
consciousness. This Self is, however, concealed by the very mind, senses and
body which are illumined by it, just as the sun is concealed by clouds. The
yogi who, with a calm mind, always meditates on this Self is my Guru. This is
my conviction.
yatsaukhyāmbudhi-leśaleśata ime
śakrādayo nirvṛtāḥ
yaccitte nitarāṃ praśāntakalane labdhvā munir-nirvṛtaḥ |
yasmin-nityasukhāmbudhau galitadhīr-brahmaiva na brahmavit
yaḥ kaścit-sa Surendra-vanditapado nūnaṃ manīṣā mama || 5 ||
The Self, which is Brahman, is the eternal ocean of supreme bliss.
A minute fraction of that bliss is enough to satisfy Indra and other gods. By
meditating on the Self with a perfectly calm mind, the sage experiences
fulfilment. The person whose mind has become identified with this Self is not a
mere knower of Brahman, but Brahman itself. Such a person, whoever he may be,
is one whose feet are fit to be worshipped by Indra himself. This is my definite
conviction.”
--June 21, 2022
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United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the
International Day of Yoga
The practice of Yoga brings joy, health, peace from within and
deepens a sense of connection between an individual's inner consciousness and
the external world.
2022 Theme:
Yoga for humanity
The
COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented human tragedy. Beyond its immediate
impact on physical health, the COVID-19 pandemic has also exacerbated
psychological suffering and mental health problems, including depression and
anxiety, as pandemic-related restrictions were introduced in various forms in
many countries. This has highlighted the urgent need to address the mental
health dimension of the pandemic, in addition to the physical health
aspects.
People
around the world embraced yoga to stay healthy and rejuvenated and to fight
social isolation and depression during the pandemic. Yoga is also
playing a significant role in the psycho-social care and rehabilitation of
COVID-19 patients in quarantine and isolation. It is particularly helpful in
allaying their fears and anxiety.
In addition
to the human suffering, the COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted several
key vulnerabilities of the economic and developmental models of countries
around the world. Future prosperity demands that the member states rebuild
differently as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The essence
of yoga is balance - not just balance within the body or that between the mind
and the body, but also balance in the human relationship with the world. Yoga
emphasizes the values of mindfulness, moderation, discipline and perseverance.
When applied to communities and societies, Yoga offers a path for sustainable
living.
Yoga can be
an important instrument in the collective quest of humanity for promoting
sustainable lifestyle in harmony with planet Earth. In keeping with this
spirit, the theme for this year’s Yoga Day celebrations is “Yoga for Humanity.”
Learn Yoga from the Masters
The Permanent
Mission of India to the United Nations invites you to a celebration of the 8th
annual International Yoga Day on 20 June 2022, from 5:30-7:30 pm EST at
the North Lawn of UN Headquarters in New York, featuring a lecture and yoga
demonstration.
The World of Yoga
The
Permanent Mission of India to the UN presents “The World of Yoga” exhibition at the UN Delegates’ entrance
from 21 June - 1 July 2022. The digital exhibition offers a
glimpse into the annual celebrations of the Day and presents a standardized set
of Yoga practices, called the 'Common Yoga Protocol', a good starting point for
beginners to get inducted into the highly rewarding world of Yoga.
What is Yoga and why do we celebrate it?
Yoga is an
ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India. The
word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing
the union of body and consciousness.
Today it is
practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in
popularity.
Recognizing
its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21
June as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131.
The International
Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of
practicing yoga.
The draft
resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and
endorsed by a record 175 member states. The proposal was first introduced by
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address during the opening of the 69th
session of the General Assembly, in which he said: “Yoga is an invaluable gift
from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and
action ... a holistic approach [that] is valuable to our health and our
well-being. Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense
of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature.”
The
resolution notes “the importance of individuals and populations making
healthier choices and following lifestyle patterns that foster good health.” In
this regard, the World Health Organization has also urged its member states to
help their citizens reduce physical inactivity, which is among the top ten
leading causes of death worldwide, and a key risk factor for non-communicable
diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes.
But yoga is
more than a physical activity. In the words of one of its most famous
practitioners, the late B. K. S. Iyengar, “Yoga
cultivates the ways of maintaining a balanced attitude in day-to-day life and
endows skill in the performance of one’s actions.”
Healthy At Home
- Physical activity
The
COVID-19 pandemic means that many of us are staying at home and sitting
down more than we usually do. It’s hard for a lot of us to do the sort of
exercise we normally do. It’s even harder for people who don’t usually do a lot
of physical exercise. But at a time like this, it’s very important for
people of all ages and abilities to be as active as possible. WHO’s Be Active campaign aims to help you do
just that - and to have some fun at the same time.
WHO launches
mobile app for yoga
WHO in collaboration with the Government of India, has launched app WHO Yoga - a yoga app
to help people stay active and healthy! The app contains a collection of
videos and audio files to teach and accompany yoga practice, and is an
easy-to-use and free tool for both people, who are trying yoga for the first
time, and for those who already practice yoga regularly. The app was
developed by BeHe@lthy BeMobile,
a joint initiative between the World
Health Organization and the International
Telecommunication Union.
Why do we mark International Days?
International days
and weeks are
occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political
will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce
achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the
establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful
advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.
VEDIC
ORIGIN OF YOGA-David Frawley
In today’s world of asana
and exercise based yoga, it is easy to forget the spiritual and meditation
basis of the Yoga tradition. Dr. David Frawley explains the ancient foundation
of the Yoga Sutras and the greater Yoga tradition in Mantra Yoga, going back to
the mantra hymns of the Vedic Rishis and the seeds sounds of the Sanskrit
language. He reveals mantra as the language of yoga and jnana (knowledge),
bhakti (devotion) and karma (action) as its applications. He shows how chakras
and Kundalini energy were well known to the Vedic sages as a manifestation of
the power of mantra and cosmic sound. Yoga is the practice of Vedic
knowledge and reflects a Vedic Mantra basis, starting with the supreme mantra
OM, which is the indicator of Ishvara, the Supreme Divine Consciousness that is
the original Guru of the Yoga tradition. This talk makes clear the unity of
Yoga and Veda that many scholars today have forgotten.
We read in Mahabharata that
Krishna was in the habit of meditating on Brahman in the early hours before
sun-rise. Krishna in all probability was historical in character, and was a
philosopher who harmonized the Samkhya-Yoga with Brahma-Vada of Upanishads of
Vedas!
The government of India under Prime
Minister Narendra Modi,
who gained the UN approval for International Yoga Day in 2015, has designated #International YogaDay 2022
as "Yoga for Humanity".
Yoga teaches us that the human person
as the individual #Purusha
is a manifestation of the cosmic person, the supreme Purusha, the universe as
one Self. The entire universe is one Being and Person, a single organic
reality. We are all but different manifestations and functions of that infinite
and eternal Self.
Yoga for Humanity is #PurushaYoga,
a common humanity and consciousness in all beings and in all existence,
including in every aspect of nature. The goal of Yoga is the realization of
that Purusha or Self as our own true nature. All divisions in humanity and in the
universe dissolve in that supreme Purusha.
Sri
Yoga Purushaya Namah!
--June 19, 2022
------------------------------------------------------
FATHER’S DAY 2022
This year, Father's Day is celebrated on Sunday, June 19, 2022. Sonora Dodd is credited with organizing the
first-ever Father's Day in 1910, but it wasn’t until 1972 that President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation to recognize Father’s Day an official American holiday.
President
Calvin Coolidge acknowledged the observance in 1924, followed by President
Lyndon B. Johnson, who proclaimed the day as Father's Day in 1966. But
it wasn't made official until President Nixon came along.
More
than a century ago, Sonora
Dodd, who was raised by her
father after her mother died, encouraged local churches in Spokane, Washington
(her hometown), to honor fathers as a result of everything her own dad did for
her.
Dodd
asked that the recognition occur in June, the same month as her father’s
birthday. The churches obliged and the first
unofficial Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910 — but it wasn't
made official until decades later.
While
Father’s Day is always celebrated on the third Sunday in June each year, it
doesn’t always land on the exact same date.
Surprisingly it falls on June 19 as it was conceptualized this year 2022!
Hindu culture doesn't have
specific days for a relation. According to shastras, one must pay respects (namaskaram) to mother, father and Master
every day.
It does not make sense to
dedicate one day for father because our culture has a way of this relationship.
Father's day is required for
Western people because from the age of 5, kids sleep separately from parents.
They're brought up with their individuality highlighted.
In our culture, a son always
considers his father's word as final until the decision making scenario comes
up. He's let by the way of thinking and living of the Father.
There is no particular day
devoted to father and mother in Indian culture. Because we stay with them
generally life-long. We have that strong bond as long as we live. So one particular day was not needed so far.
Generally every day puja starts
with Mata, pitribhyam namah: (salutations to mother and father). Every occasion
starts with Matridevo bhava, pitru devo
bhava. (Mother and father are equal to gods) Every day we touch their feet.
In every event we take their blessings before us start. Later now for mother
and father they started allotting days.
Busy lives! A few can't respect
them every day living far away from them as it happened to me. I lived with
guardian fathers and mothers. A Few won't remember them every day. A few want
to make a memorable day for them. For any reason celebrating at least a day for
mother and father is a good gesture. Nothing wrong respecting father and mother
in any form is appreciated.
Whenever I would fail, you were there to pick me up and put
me back on the right path. Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today. Happy
Father's Day and God-father’ Day, thanks
for everything!
FATHER IS POLE STAR FOR
CHILDREN
One sees, The Pole Star,
A bright fixed point, every
night,
To the north, though far;
On high seas, if adrift, in
plight,
The Star, helps get bearings
right.
Fathers, like Pole Star,
Are there, when one is in
doubt;
They are our radars,
To tell us, to take which
route,
That to aspirations,
suit.
Fathers know pit-falls,
In their time, they have gone
through,
Having seen it all;
Lesson, failed fathers teach,
too;
Case study at home, so
true.
Kids dote, their fathers,
And see them, strong like King
Kong,
And like Dharmender,
Handsome; there is nothing
wrong,
When, kids imagine, play
along.
Some are super dads.
During lifetime, they blaze
trails,
And the world applauds.
Innings ends, bones, gone
frail;
Their legacy, generations,
hail;
There are no bad dads;
It is a myth, that we should,
bust;
To blame dad is fad;
As dads look harsh, in the
crust,
While hearts sing: 'family
first'
Comments:
Thanks
--Nashville
Nagarajan
Thanks for sharing the poem
--A.S. Narayana
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medical Profession’s Contribution to American Generosity in Nashville
Unpaid
teaching and direct pro-bono services. Participation in pro-bono activities
appears broad and not the selective domain of particular physician subsets reflect
the medical profession’s contribution to American generosity. Amounts of fees
waived in practice and engagement in volunteer activities have kept pace with
historic benchmarks in support of unmet needs for these social goods
Doctors of the World serves more than 1.6 million people
every year, through 400 programs in over 80 countries around the world. We are
there in conflict zones, refugee camps and rural communities, providing
care, creating infrastructure and advocating for the world's most vulnerable
people.
Americans
are generous people according to the recently published World for overall
giving with Myanmar and holds the top ranking for the 5 year giving Giving
Index. In 2014, the United States was
the singular country to be ranked in the top ten in all three key charitable
giving behaviors: volunteering time, donating money and helping a stranger. The
US shared the top ranking index. Evidence suggests that the national giving
behavior includes American doctors.
Grande and Armstrong utilized secondary data meticulously gleaned from
the 2003 Current Population Survey (CPS) Volunteer Supplement to assess rates
of physician volunteerism in certain broad areas of health-related and
non-health related activities. At a 39 % general rate of volunteerism, characterization
modeling found that married physicians working longer hours in their Midwest
practices were most likely to volunteer. A 3-year look-back reported by Gruen et al. in 2004 indicated a 54 %
participation in providing health–related expertise to a community organization
by American physicians Cunningham and
May noted in 2006 that more than two-thirds of physicians provided some
charitable medical services, three quarters of which was within their own
practices. The popular Medscape Physician Lifestyles Surveys between 2012 and
2015 echo that overall volunteerism by physicians runs around two-thirds.
US
physicians nurture skill sets and capacities that avail them of a wide variety
of opportunities for charitable activities. Beyond cash donations to charities,
many provide free (“pro-bono”) medical care to the needy domestically and/or go
abroad to give care to the poor in developing countries. By means of a short
survey called the “Physicians’ Giving Back Survey” (PGBS), we sought to
quantify physician preferences for and prevalence of pro-bono activities and to
see if profiles would emerge related to these preferences. Our survey questions
focused on physician time and philanthropy devoted to health-related direct
medical services and medical teaching rather than involvement in
non-health-related domains such as religious or civic organizations, hence the
notion of “giving back” to the profession and society that has provided
physicians in the US a desirable income and intrinsic respect. The importance
of quantifying physician preferences and correlating physician characteristics
related to those preferences lies in establishing a foundation for further
assessment of physician involvement in the discrete categories for pro-bono
activities by physicians. Such a foundation may be relevant to training,
professional development and policy recommendations that could have a
downstream influence on the allocation of the scare resources of physician
skills and time more efficiently to the benefit of the healing profession and
society as a whole. In exploring for physician types associated with the
discrete activities, we elected to cast a wide net touching on the native,
acquired, geographic and professional demographics as grouped in the stable and
dynamic domains described in our results.
Sri Ganesha Temple was built by American
philanthropic Hindu physicians and mostly managed by them by volunteer services
to provide a place for cultural, educational, and spiritual activities related
to Hinduism, to promote inter religious, social, and cultural understanding,
and to support humanitarian causes in Nashville where I live!
--June 18, 2022
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mystic: Meditation, the Brain, and
Humanity’s Mystical Birthright
“Revered
philosopher and psychologist William James celebrated the universality of
mysticism when he famously declared that mysticism has “neither birthday nor
native land.” Mysticism is the perpetual taproot of all vital spirituality, and
it is as much our spiritual birthright to be mystical as it is to express
artistic, ethical, scientific, and philosophical impulses. Yet mysticism’s
unique power to open the inner door to transcendent experience and a healing
sense of oneness with the whole of life is often misunderstood, and it is
sometimes dismissed as nothing more than a morbid fascination with weird mental
states and paranormal powers. And for those who are committed away from
anything that violates the standards of everyday, conventional rationality.
But, mysticism is also our
genetic birthright as current research on mystical experience in neuroscience,
genetics, and evolutionary cognitive science shows. The potential for mystical
experience has been engraved like a rail upon our brains, which are genetically
coded for transcendence. This startling insight is emerging more from science
labs than from academic centers of religious study.
Just as important as these
philosophical, religious, and scientific approaches to mysticism is the
practical study of mysticism, which we enact through the practice of
meditation. Meditation is the inner door to libertine insight. Although
meditation is an inbuilt human capacity, which we can all practice, the
cultivation of meditation has generally happened most intensely in disciplined
religious settings like monasteries and ashrams. The
meditative yoga of Hinduism, the contemplative practices of mystical
Christianity, Buddhist meditative practices, and similar practices in other
religious and philosophical traditions are mental programs that activate a
mental and biological process that leads from everyday awareness to nondual
union with the whole of life.
Dr. Rose traces
this meditative process as described in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity
and links it to the brain’s meditative pathway as described in current
contemplative neuroscience and neuro-theology. He also explains how to open the inner door of
meditative concentration by outlining and practicing with you some classic and
new meditation methods—and shares what he thinks of as the most basic
meditation practice.-- --Kenneth Rose
“Yogic
Mind Draws Us into Mystical Experiences
A mystical Jyeshtha full moon night
invited another lilt visitor, the Raccoon well past the midnight hour, to watch
him enjoy the seeds and stay around for nearly an hour.
Yoga is the highest form of reason (yukti), teaching us what is appropriate,
possesses the power of the buddhi or
our higher intelligence, the ability to discern what is most appropriate
according to the changing contexts of our lives.
Yoga is not a matter of commandments or
fixed rules but of conscious adaptation.
A Yogic mind recognizes what is right, appropriate
and in harmony at every given moment, adapting according to time, place and
person relative to that which is infinite and eternal.
Such
Yogic rationality manifests itself in principles like ahimsa. You do not want
to be harmed. No creature wants to be harmed. So adhering to the logic of life
and wanting to live, you don't harm any creature.”-- Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatij.
Yoga, Sweat and Mysticism by Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati
Yoga is fast, with a lot of jumping
around, except when it’s slower and done with smooth quiet movements.
Yoga is young, except for the 54% of American yogis who are now getting gray
hair (according to Yoga Journal studies). Yoga is done in partners, except
when it’s done solo, in trios or in groups. Yoga is about how you look;
any yoga magazine makes that clear. But if you listen to the teachers,
they tell you that Yoga is about how you feel, not how you look. But if
you read the ancient yogic sages, they say Yoga is about who you are, deep
inside. All of this is true, and none of it describes Yoga.
Yoga itself claims to be a
science. It uses proven methodology to get predictable results, just like
the battery in your car. On the physical level, the methodologies provide
reliable results, often likened to medical therapies, yet the sages always
targeted a deeper goal. Even the honored Patanjali, the ancient sage who
wrote yoga’s most popular book on the mind, agrees: Perfection of the body
is beauty, gracefulness, strength and brilliance. —Yoga Sutras 3.47
If this were the goal, every Olympic ice skater would have
attained it. If physical perfection were the goal, this text would end
with that sutra, yet it continues with 40 more sutras about progressively
deeper stages of yogic mastery. You attain the goal when you become one
with consciousness, as was promised in the beginning of the book: to know your
own Divine Self (svaroopa), inherent within you. The
results are reliable: if you do what the sages teach, you will experience
what they promise. This is yoga—pure mysticism, meaning it is about the
mystery of life, the mystery that is hidden inside every human heart and
being.
That is what distinguishes Yoga from
some type of physical therapy. You can go to a yoga class in any environment,
with any teacher, in any style, and the “peace that passeth understanding”
begins to infect you somehow. An exercise program doesn’t give you the
same peace. Yoga is still being transmitted through the generations from
teacher to student -- an osmosis that transcends mere technique.
It’s happening when your teacher
shares what she or he learns from teaching. Insights blossom while they
are teaching, revealing the nature of life and its source. Teachers love
to teach because it places in them in an ancient stream of unbroken
knowing. They love to share what they are still learning.
I call it the “Divine Interweaving”. Drawing from my own heritage and
lineage, “tantra” is the “loom” on
which both form and formless are woven together in the inner infinity of time
and space. You are the cloth that is woven of such a strange pairing; you
are the mystical reality that you’re just beginning to explore.
Yoga offers you so
many ways into the inner exploration. Some practices keep you in
perpetual motion, while others have you sit in stillness. The goal is the
same. The Greeks said it this way, “Know thyself.” I say it this
way, “At last, finally, after so many tries before, now, in this lifetime—know
your own Divine Self” - Kenneth Rose
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“EKO VIPRAH BAHUDA VADANTI”
is Applicable to Scientists Too Though Discouraged!
God- is not constrained to our observable universe. His creative
capacity is beyond what we can imagine, but it’s important to recognize that
any alter-native hypothesis from the standard Big Bang model is highly
speculative and may not ever be provable. Most of the speculation men
take part in, or speak so bravely about, are completely and totally shot full
of holes, we fill in too much with our imaginations which usually is not even
close to the truth of things. Speculation
is not completely forbidden in science. In fact, used at the proper stage of
science (hypothesis-forming), clever speculation can be quite useful.
Speculation is so easy and tempting in settings where it leads more to errors
than to accurate information, that most often speculation in science is
discouraged. But there is still a limited, useful, role for speculation in
science.
HINDUISM/SANATANA DHARMA AND BELIEF IN GOD
Hinduism/Sanatana
Dharma does not require a belief in God as is usually regarded as the basis of
western monotheistic religions, for following its teachings.
It is open to everyone
who wants to pursue the truth from any background, as long as they are willing
to look within and search out the origin of Consciousness within us. In this
regard, it is not simply a religion but more a science or pursuit of knowledge,
yet an inner science of meditation.
Hindu Dharma through
Yoga and Vedanta is beyond all dichotomies of monotheism versus atheism or
monotheism versus polytheism. It is based upon recognizing our true Self that
is one with all, the Divine within us as our true nature. It is rooted in inner
experience through sadhana or yoga practice, mainly mantra, meditation and
Self-inquiry, not any belief of the mind or particular ideology.
Its teaching is not
simply that there is only One God but that there is only One Self in all beings
and that our inmost Self is Brahman, the cosmic and
transcendent reality of
Being-Consciousness-Bliss Absolute.
Yoga and Vedanta are
based upon a search for our true Self (Atman or Purusha) for which there are
various approaches. The main factor required for this search is the ability to
question everything, above all to question our own identification with body and
mind. A belief is not required to pursue this search, only a willingness to
inquire and move within. We must question all beliefs to complete it.
This sadhana is based
upon Self-knowledge (Jnana), the path of Self-inquiry but other yogic
approaches can help. One must look to the Divine within as one's true Self and
the Being of all. It can also be based upon devotion or bhakti but as an inner
experience, a search for the Divine within, and recognizing the sacred nature
of all existence. This is not simply salvation by a belief but an inner change
of Consciousness from the thought-based mind to boundless Self-awareness beyond
time and space, body and mind.
--June 18,
2022
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOGA HAS MANY MEANINGS IN VEDANTA SOCIETY
The word 'Yoga' is derived from the Sanskrit
root 'Yuj', meaning 'to join' or 'to yoke' or 'to unite'. As per Yogic
scriptures the practice of Yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness
with that of the Universal Consciousness, indicating a perfect harmony between
the mind and body, Man & Nature. Yoga
has many meanings and connections in Sanskrit, a number of which are not
recognized or understood. Yoga means union, integration, harmony and balance as
is commonly known.
A
Yogic mind recognizes what is right, appropriate and in harmony at every given
moment, adapting according to time, place and person relative to that which is
infinite and eternal.
While in recent years the
word "yoga" has been heard more in gyms than in religious discourse,
"yoga" in its original sense has little to do with exercise.
"Yoga" comes from the Sanskrit verb "yuj," to yoke or unite.
The goal of yoga is to unite oneself with God; the practice of yoga is the path
we take to accomplish this. Spiritual aspirants can be broadly classified into
four psychological types: the predominantly emotional, the predominantly
intellectual, the physically active, and the meditative. There are four primary
Yogas designated to "fit" each psychological type--Bhakti, Jnana, Karma and Raja.
In order to realize God a
person must totally renounce the world and live in a cave, monastery or convent.
What it does mean is that all aspects of our life must be spiritualized so that
they can be directed towards attaining the goal of God-realization.
Repetition of any name of
God that appeals to us is good, so is repeating the holy syllable
"Om". It's helpful to have a regular time for meditation in order to
create a habit; it's also helpful to have a regular place for meditation that
is quiet, clean, and tranquil.
Present days, Yoga Education is being imparted
by many eminent Yoga Institutions. Yoga Sadhana of
all hues and colors is considered panacea for a meaningful life and living. Its
orientation to a comprehensive health, both individual and social, makes it a
worthy practice for the people of all religions, races and nationalities.
Now-a-days, millions and millions of people across the globe
have benefitted by the practice of Yoga which has been preserved and promoted
by the great eminent Yoga Masters from ancient time to this date. The practice
of Yoga is blossoming, and growing more vibrant every day.
Please go through the
elaborate writings of Vedanta philosophers in Vedanta Society: http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2022/06/yoga-has-many-meanings-in-vedanta.html
--June 16, 2022
------------------------------------------------------
THE VEDIC VISION OF YOU AS A PERSON (PURUSHA)
When Upanishads laud the
Purusha or Person, it is the Cosmic Being of Light. You are the Purusha, the
Person in the Sun, the Moon, the Fire, Lightning and the Waters. The entire
universe is your body. Your mind pervades all space.--David Frawley.
“I have gone through the
monograph on “puruSHa sUktam” prepared by Sri K. Sreekrishna and am glad to
state that the translation and the notes therein are quite enlightening and
appropriate. The language is direct, simple and eminently readable. One can get
a grand idea of this creation hymn. The creation hymn occupies a most
celebrated position in the vEdic lore. It is found in all the four Vedas. The
unqualified term "puruSHa" signifies “shreemannArAyaNa,” the
Source of this Universe. There is a hint in this hymn that the puruSHa,
being ever unborn, incarnates Himself in this universe in many ways for our
uplift. The terms, "hreeh" and "shreeh" mentioned as
consorts of the puruSHa, identifies the cosmic creator as “nArAyaNa,” having
“Goddess Laxmi” and “Goddess Earth” as His consorts. I congratulate Sri Koti
Sreekrishna on his abiding interest in scriptural studies”--Dr. N.S.
Anantharangachar
The Vedic vision of the essence
of our Self, Inner Being, and nature as a Person (Purusha) is not
merely as a physical being, social being, gender, age, ethnicity, occupation, nationality,
political or religious persuasion, or even one species or another. Every face
you see is ultimately your own. As Upanishads state: "You are the woman
and you are the man. You are the boy and you are the girl. You are the elder
who totters on a staff. You are born with your face to every side (Viśvatomukha)."
Shvetashvatara Upanishad IV.3.
CREATION ACCORDING TO HINDUISM
The creation as revealed in the
Bible is one of the hotly debated topics in the US. Some groups are in favor of
including the Biblical Creation in the Science curriculum. Occasionally,
instructors have taken the risk of teaching the Biblical Creation in their
Science classes and have faced all sorts of disciplinary action from the
management. More recently, many are advocating that “intelligent design” be
taught in US schools, side by side with “Darwin’s theory of evolution.” It is
noteworthy that the Hindus, have never treated 'Creation' with the same fervor,
although the topic does intrigue us at times, especially when so much noise is
made in the media about “Intelligent design (read Biblical creation).” The
Sanskrit word for creation is "sR~SHTi," which means,
"pouring forth. "The Hindu scriptures contain many creation texts
with "oneness" as the common underlying theme. The variety of
creation texts caters to human minds at different stages of spiritual
development. The multiplicity of creation texts is also well in accordance with
the plurality and plasticity of the Hinduism.
The way in which a religion
deals with the subject of creation greatly affects the psyche (principle of
life) of the followers of that faith. Respect for life forms, nature worship,
blending with nature, respect and tolerance for views and faith of others, a
gentle and universal out look of the world, a sense of the vastness of time and
the universe, spiritualism, systematic indifference (reasoned disregard)
towards transient things, inner strength, peaceful retreat from restlessness, a
great vocabulary on the inner life - all these come naturally to any true
Hindu.
Stanley Jones, an American
Christian missionary who spent decades in the early part of this century in
India comments thus: It is easy to talk with a Hindu about spiritual things. It
makes you feel that he is a spiritualized being. He is. Spiritual ideas are on
tap at once, and he talks about them fluently, easily, naturally. They are the
breath of his life. And not only the breath of his life, but also the strength
of his life.
Please through my
discourses:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2011/10/yajna-in-purusha-sookta.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2022/06/the-vedic-vision-of-you-as-person.html
--June
15, 2022
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Vata Purnima on June
14, 2022
'In honor of
celebrating the feminine qualities represented by the sacred Banyan tree'.
At the Linga Bhairavi,
‘Daha Nivaranam’ is an arpana that is done to quench any intense desire for
both men and women. This includes offering of consecrated jala (water) in an
adorned copper pot to the sacred Vata Vriksha (banyan tree) inside the temple
assisted with a powerful chant.
Among the various fasts observed by
married Hindu women, the Vat Savitri Vrat finds a special mention. As the name
suggests, this vrat is dedicated to Savitri, a woman who confronted Lord Yama
and dissuaded him from taking her husband Satyawan's life. Scroll down to know the
Vat Savitri Vrat dates in 2022, the Tithi timings and their significance.
Scores of married Hindu women observe
the Vat Savitri Vrat dedicated to
Savitri, a chaste woman who rescued her husband from the clutches of Lord Yama,
the God of death. This vrat is observed on the Amavasya Tithi in the month of
Jyeshtha (as per the Purnimant calendar). However, those who follow the
Amavasyant calendar celebrate this festival on the Purnima Tithi of Jyeshtha
month. And since the dates vary annually in the Gregorian calendar, scroll down
to know the Vat Savitri Vrat dates in 2022, the Tithi timings and their
significance.
On the day of the vrat, married women
worship the Banyan tree (vat vriksh), tie a sacred thread (kalava) around its
trunk, observe a day-long fast, and pray for their husband.
Interestingly, as per the Purnimant
calendar, this festival concurs with Shani Jayanti or the birth anniversary of
Shani Dev, i.e. on the Amavasya Tithi (New Moon Day) of Jyestha month. However,
according to the Amavasyant calendar, Vat Savitri Vrat is observed on the
Purnima Tithi (Full Moon day) of Jyestha month.
Vat Savitri Vrat 2022 dates
Women from North Indian states like
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana follow the Purnimant
calendar. Hence, Vat Savitri Vrat will be observed on Jyeshtha Amavasya Tithi,
which falls on May 30 this year.
However, in Maharashtra and Gujarat, Vat Savitri Vrat, also known as Vat
Purnima, will be celebrated on Jyeshtha Purnima Tithi. This year, it will be
celebrated on June 14. The Jyeshtha Purnima Tithi 2022 begins at 9:02 PM on
June 13 and ends at 5:21 PM on June 14.
Vat Savitri significance
The dates vary in the Purnimant and
Amavasyant calendars and fall fifteen days apart, but the essence of the
festival remains the same. This Vrat is dedicated to Savitri, a devout wife of
Satyawan who is worshipped for defeating Lord Yama, the God of death. Her devotion
and conviction compelled Yamraj to restore her husband's life. Therefore, on
Vat Savitri day, women observe a day-long fast, read the Vrat Katha and pray
for their husband's long life.
--June 14, 2022
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EARTH RESPECT AS MOTHER, LOVE AND WORSHIP
Although Shakti transcends
the boundaries of gender, form, and race, she is called the divine mother
because she's considered the source of all creation. Shakti, a name that means
“sacred force” or “creative principle,” represents the all-pervading energy
that creates our universe and all the beings who occupy it.
Hinduism treats earth as divine mother. She is
addressed as Bhudevi- Goddess Earth. She is consort of Narayana. Thus, one may
find her procession idol in almost all Vishnu temples as Vishnu’s
wife along with Laksmi also. (Sri Devi-Bhudevi)
bhūmirdhenurdharaṇī
lokadhāriṇī uddhṛtāsi varāheṇa kṛṣṇena
śatabāhunā .. (MN Upanishad)
The earth is the giver of happiness
like the milk cow, the sustainer of life and support for all living beings.
(Represented as such the earth is addressed). Thou wert raised up by Krishna in
His incarnation of the boar having hundred hands.
Hindu religion reverences the earth which
supports all life with the same feelings which a mother would call in the minds
of her children. The earth is cited as the suitable illustration whenever one
is in need of impressing about the necessity of patience. Man transforms the
surface of the earth by cutting, digging, levelling and building with hard
implements. Yet she yields him prosperity and enjoyment in turn.
Earth is represented as goddess,
which feeds everyone. All the forms of earth and of life on it are the children
of earth. Rivers, trees animals are attendants of the earth goddess.
In Hinduism Earth is sacred and
considered as Mother of all living beings BHUDEVI (भूदेवी). She is also called as Prithivi ,Vasundhara or vasudha (पृथ्वी ,वसुधरा ,वसुधा). Hindus revere the earth as
a symbol of tolerance forbearance, patience and steadfastness. Mother earth is
respected for all her natural resources especially the forests, herbs, minerals
and the vegetation.
Samudravasane devi pravatasthanamandale | visnupatni
namastubhyam padasprsam kahamasva may
"O Devi! You are clothed with water,
mountains are on your chest , you the consort of Vishnu I bow you and ask you
to forgive me for standing on you"
Some of the hymns and quotes
from various vedic texts are given below -:
Atharva veda says "The
earth is mother, Firmament the father"
It further says "Mata Bhumi putroham prithivyah" (Meaning
"Earth is my mother I am her son".
There are scores of other verses
that glorify Mother Earth. The hymn of these verses is known as "Prithivi Sukta" in AtharvaVeda. In these
verses, prithvi is described as vasudhara or vasudha (Possessor of wealth).
Hiranyavaksha (one with golden bosom). She is worshipped for providing
food and prosperity, sustaining the animal world and for growth of forests and
herbs, for providing space for lakes, rivers and large water bodies. She is described as holding Fire (AGNI) in her
belly (center of earth).
O Earth - brown, black, red and
multi-colored the firm Earth protected by Indra, on this Earth may I stand -
unvanquished, unhurt, and unslain. This earth, our mother, has nurtured
consciousness from the slime of the primeval ocean billions of years ago and
has sustained the human race for countless centuries. Will we repay our debts
to our mother by converting her into a burnt out cinder circling the sun into
eternity?
"BHU- Suktam" in "Taittirya Samhita " also states qualities of
mother earth.
Vishvasvam Maataram-Ossadhiinaam Dhruvaam Bhuumim Prthiviim
Dharmannaa Dhrtaam | Shivaam Syonaam-Anu Carema Vishvahaa ||
The Herbs (Plants)
which are like Mothers of the World (who sustains us) grows on
the Immovable Earth (Bhumi); the Earth which
is held byDharma, ... 17.2: ... and in which Auspiciousness
gently pervades throughout the World.
Girayas-Te Parvataa Himavanto-[A]rannyam Te Prthivi Syonam-Astu
| Babhrum Krssnnaam Rohinniim Vishvaruupaam Dhruvaam Bhuumim
Prthiviim-Indra-Guptaam | Ajiite-[A]hato Akssato-[A]dhyasstthaam Prthiviim-Aham
||
O Mother Earth, May
Your Hills and Snow-Clad Mountains (spread its coolness
within us); May Your Forests spread its delight within us,
11.2: You present a Vishwarupa with Your many colours
- Babhru (Brown) (of mountains),Krishna (Blue) (of rivers), Rohini (Red)
(of flowers); (But behind all these enchanting appearances) O Mother
Earth, You are like Dhruva - Firm and Immovable; And
You are protected by Indra, 11.3: (On Your firm foundation).
It
is Unconquered, Un-slayed and Unbroken Whole, I
stand firm (and whole, O Mother).
Vishvambharaa Vasudhaanii Pratisstthaa Hirannya-Vakssaa Jagato
Niveshanii | Vaishvaanaram Bibhratii Bhuumir-Agnim-Indra-Rssabhaa Dravinne No
Dadhaatu ||
She is Vishwambhara (All-Bearing),
She is Vasudhaa(Producer of all Wealth), She
is Pratishtha (Foundation on which we live), She
isHiranyavaksha (of Golden Bosom) and the Dwelling Place of
the World, 6.2: She holds the Vaishvanara (The
Universal Fire) within Her, the Fire which empowers
Indra and Rishabha; May the Mother Earth bestow on us (the
splendor of that Fire and make us strong).
Asambaadham Badhyato
Maanavaanaam Yasyaa Udvatah Pravatah Samam Bahu | Naanaa-Viiryaa Ossadhiiryaa
Bibharti Prthivii Nah Prathataam Raadhyataam Nah ||
Who extends Unimpeded
Freedom (both outer and inner) to Human Beings through HerMountains, Slopes and Plains,
2.2: She bears many Plants and Medicinal
Herbs of various Potencies; May She extend Her
Riches to us (and make us healthy)--Bhumi-Suktam,
Gayatries for Bhumi Devi
Om Dhanurdharayi cha vidmahey
serva siddhi cha dhimahi tanno dhara prachodayat.
Om Vasundharaya vidhmaye
bhu-dhatriya dhimahi tanno bhumi prachodayat.
--June 13, 2022
Living in the Presence of the
Mother Divine
Please recall my previous lecture “Pray to Divine Mother
to Ask Her to be the Mother for Yourself”. In creating this
universe God revealed two aspects: the masculine or fatherly, and the feminine
or motherly. If you close your eyes and visualize vast, illimitable space, you
become overwhelmed and enthralled — you feel naught but pure wisdom. That
hidden, infinite sphere wherein there is no creation, no stars or planets —
only pure wisdom — is the Father. And Nature with her diamond-dazzling stars,
the Milky Way, the flowers, birds, clouds, mountains, sky — the countless
beauties of creation — is the Divine Mother. In Nature you behold the mother
aspect of God, full of beauty, gentleness, tenderness, and kindness. The beauty
in the world bespeaks the creative motherly instinct of God, and when we look
upon all the good in Nature, we experience a feeling of tenderness within us —
we can see and feel God as Mother in Nature.
Like an insistent
child, constantly call to the Divine Mother until She says: “All right, what is
it you want?” She is so busy with creation, She doesn’t reply at once; but to
the naughty child who cries and cries for Her, She will come.
The Divine Mother is most anxious to have you
back with Her, but first you must prove to Her that you want Her alone. You
must cry urgently and unceasingly; then She smiles and is with you instantly.
Divine Spirit has no partiality; the Mother loves all. But Her devotees
appreciate Her love, respond to Her love. I see the effect on people who have
gained a little human love, or a little money — how happy they are! But if they
could see what strength, what joy, what love is in the Divine Mother, they
would fly away from all else.
Divine Mother, I heard Thy voice in the
speaking fragrance of the rose. I heard Thy voice in the lisping whispers of my
devotion. I heard Thy voice beneath the din of my noisiest thoughts. It was Thy
love that spoke through the voice of friendship. I touched Thy tenderness in
the softness of the lily.
O Divine Mother,
break the dawn and show Thy face of light! Break the sun and show Thy face of
power! Break the night and show Thy moonèd face! Break my thoughts and show Thy
face of wisdom! Break my feelings and show Thy face of love! Break my pride and
show Thy face of humbleness! Break my wisdom and show Thy face of perfection!
As I called to Thee
in the wilderness of my loneliness, Thou didst burst through the dawn to greet
me with Thy joy. Thou didst emerge from the molten door of the sun to pour Thy
power into the pores of my life. Thou didst tear away the night of my ignorance
to reveal Thy silver rays of speaking silence!
While others waste
their time, meditate, and you will see that in meditation that Silence will
speak to you….Everywhere I see the Divine Spirit manifesting in form as the
Mother. Water condensed becomes ice, and so invisible Spirit can be frozen into
form by my devotion’s frost. If only you could see the beautiful eyes of the
Mother that I beheld last night. My heart is filled with joy eternal. The
little cup of my heart cannot hold the joy and the love that I beheld in those
eyes — looking at me, sometimes smiling. I said to Her, “Oh! And people call
You unreal!” and Divine Mother smiled. “It is You who are real and all things
else are unreal,” I said, and the Divine Mother smiled again. I prayed, “O
Mother, be Thou real unto all.”
There are two kinds
of seekers: those who are like the baby monkey and those who are like the
kitten. The baby monkey clings to the mother; but when she jumps, it may fall
off. The little kitten is carried about by the mother cat, content wherever she
places it. The kitten has complete trust in its mother. I am more like that; I
give all responsibility to the Divine Mother. But to maintain that attitude
takes great will. Under all circumstances — health or sickness, riches or
poverty, sunshine or gray clouds — your feeling must remain unruffled. Even
when you are in the coal bin of suffering you don’t wonder why the Mother
placed you there. You have faith that She knows best. Sometimes an apparent
disaster turns into a blessing for you….
Gloom is but the shade of Divine Mother’s hand
outstretched caressingly. Don’t forget that. Sometimes, when the Mother is
going to caress you, a shadow is caused by Her hand before it touches you. So
when trouble comes, don’t think that She is punishing you; Her hand
overshadowing you holds some blessing as it reaches out to bring you nearer to
Her.
You were sent on
earth to experience God’s cosmic show and then return to your abode in Him….I
say, “Lord, this is Your show. So be it. But I do not care to be a part of it,
except to do Your will. As quickly as I can, I shall do Your work and get out
of this play of Yours; but I want to take others also away from this delusive
drama of comedies and nightmares.”…
But as long as it exists for you, have but one
trend of thought in your mind — God….Close your eyes, think of God, and give
the Divine Mother a call from your soul. This you can do anytime, anywhere. No
matter what else you may be doing, you can mentally converse with God: “My
Lord, I am looking for you. I don’t want anything but you alone. I long to be
with you always. You made me in your image; and my home is with you. You have
no right to keep me away from you. Maybe I have done wrong, tempted by
delusions of your cosmic play; but because you are my Mother, my Father, my
Friend, I know You will forgive me and take me back. I want to go Home. I want
to come to Thee.”
A Sannyasin devotee
once asked the Holy Mother, "I have been practicing religious disciplines.
I do not relax my efforts in that direction. But it appears that the impurities
of mind are not growing less."
The Mother said,
"You have rolled different threads on a real - red, black and white. While
unrolling you will see them all exactly in the same way." There are two
kinds of desires: one that stimulates enjoyment and the other that quickens
dispassion. Though externally they appear the same, their effects are different.
--June 12, 2022
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Take Charge
of Your Inner & Outer Ecology
Speaking Tree, Times of India
“You are an inseparable part of everything around you. Both the
human and cosmic body, are made up of five elements. In the yogic system, with
mastery over these five elements within, you take charge of both your inner and
outer ecology; the two are inseparable. But, human consciousness has grown so
fragmented, that most people have forgotten that interdependence is not a
theory; it is a reality. An experiential state of yoga means that you
experience the Earth as you experience your little finger -- as an integral
part of yourself.
The ISHA Foundation’s initiative, ‘Rally for Rivers’, comes from
the organic view that the individual and planet cannot be disengaged. Concern
over the serious depletion of water and soil is neither about being
ideologically chic or politically savvy; the concern is as ecological as it is
existential. Soil and water are not commodities, but life-making material. The
elemental composition of the human body is 72 per cent water and 12 per cent
earth.
Only when we truly understand our elemental connection with the
environment can we create a stable base for ourselves that empowers us to
explore higher possibilities. This is the significance of the muladhara chakra in the subtle anatomy:
Without a stable foundation, transcendence is not possible. But we overlook
this and opt to live in a psychological space that is utterly estranged from
our physical and existential reality. Though Nature has evolved humans to an
extraordinary level of self-awareness, we are refusing to accept the promotion!
The environmental situation we are in, currently, is grave. What
took Nature millions of years to produce, we seem ready to wipe out in one
generation. It is estimated that by 2030 we will have only 50 per cent of the water
we need for our survival in this country.
Since most of our rivers are forest fed, the best way to
resuscitate them is with more vegetation. But, the organic content of soil has
fallen drastically and the rapid pace of desertification is alarming. Soil
depletion in this country is so acute that nearly 25 per cent of Indian
agricultural land will not be cultivable in the next three to five years. In
forty years’ time, it is estimated that over 60 per cent will be
uncultivable.
The only way to increase organic
content is through tree cultivation and animal waste. If we destroy our
capability to generate food, we will be heading towards disaster. Due to lack
of vegetation and indiscriminate urban expansion, we are witnessing alarming
cycles of flood and drought. In the last 12 years, nearly three lakh farmers
have committed suicide. Agriculture has become a truly heart-breaking process.
But there is hope. This is a land of extraordinary responsiveness and
aliveness, evinced in its still-incredible biodiversity. When ancient sages
called this a ‘sacred land’, it was not pure hyperbole. With just a little
attentiveness and timely action, this land could rejuvenate faster than any on
the planet.”
The environmental situation we are in, currently, is grave. What took
nature millions of years to produce, we seem ready to wipe out in one
generation. It is estimated that by 2030 we will have only 50% of the water we
need for our survival in this country.
CULTIVATING YOUR INNER ECOLOGY
“Ecological wellbeing
is not just an issue of protecting the ecology of the world around, though this
is essential, we must also protect the inner ecology of our own body, prana,
senses and minds, the nature within us. We can do this only if we align our
awareness with our inner Self that is one with all. Then we will act wisely in
all that we do. We will see all of nature within us.
This inner ecological
harmony is the basis of Yoga and Ayurveda, which link the individual with the
universal in the image of the Purusha, the universe that is a single organism
with the unitary consciousness.
Remember to honor the
five elements of Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space within you. Recognize that
all the Lokas from the Earth to the subtle, causal and transcendent realms are
all part of us. Self-awareness is the foundation of all existence manifest and
un-manifest.”--David Frawley
In today’s world, says Sadhguru, most
people have forgotten the connection between themselves and everything around
them. If we realize this interdependence between the human and cosmic body, he
explains, then we will have no choice but to wake up and take action to save
our planet from impending disaster.
But there is hope. This is a land of
extraordinary responsiveness and aliveness, evinced in its still-incredible biodiversity.
When ancient sages called this a ‘sacred land’, it was not pure hyperbole. With
just a little attentiveness and timely action, this land could rejuvenate
faster than any other on the planet.
How can we lead a Life of Divine Contemplation--
Prashanti Nilayam
In everything you do, use
all the strength and talent with which you are endowed, speaking and acting
truthfully. At first, you might fail in this and you might encounter
difficulties and sufferings. But ultimately, you are bound to succeed and
achieve victory and Bliss. Each one of you should pay constant attention to
your habits and to the traits of your character. Always remember the maxim, Sathyameva Jayate (Truth alone
Triumphs). Through your behavior and your way of life, you can realize the
Truth and Paramathma (the Eternal
Self).-Divine Discourse, Prema Vahini-
Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
What does Scripture say about
Talents?
Our
awesome God created everyone with unique
abilities and talents
to help serve our brothers and sisters in GOD. Sometimes we’re not even aware
of the talents that we’re given by God until we run into different struggles in
life.
Give God thanks for all He has given you. Your talent can be
your special personality, your ability to give kind words,
musical ability, determination
in life, giving,
preaching, wisdom, compassion, teaching skills, charisma, communication skills,
or anything you’re good at.
Be wise and put them into use to help others. We are all part of
the body of GOD. Stop letting God’s gifts to you catch dust.
Use it or lose it! He gave them to you for a reason. How are you
using your talents to glorify God!
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope
that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used
everything you gave me’.” Erma Bombeck
“How could we enjoy heaven if during our lifetime we had used
most of our time, treasure, and talents for ourselves and our select group?” Daniel Fuller
“If you have money, power, and status today, it is due to the
century and place in which you were born, to your talents and capacities and
health, none of which you earned. In short, all your resources are in the end
the gift of God.” Tim Keller
“The greatest and best talent that God gives to any man or woman
in this world is the talent of prayer.” Alexander
Whyte
“If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally
astound ourselves.” Thomas A. Edison
“More men fail through lack of purpose than lack of talent.” Billy Sunday
“So many times we say that we can’t serve God because we aren’t
whatever is needed. We’re not talented enough or smart enough or
whatever. But if you are in covenant with a Guru, He is responsible for
covering your weaknesses, for being your strength. He will give you His
abilities for your disabilities!” Kay
Arthur
“Are you glorying in your
graces or your talents? Are you proud of yourself, that you have had holy
postures and sweet experiences? Your flaunting poppies of self-conceit will be
pulled up by the roots, your mushroom graces will wither in the burning heat,
and your self-sufficiency shall become as straw for the manure pile. If we
forget to live at the foot of the cross in deepest lowliness of spirit, God
won’t forget to make us feel the pain of His rod.” C. H. Spurgeon
--June 12, 2022
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.
OM IS THE SHORTEST MOST
POWERFUL MANTRA
OM is the smallest manŧra (मंत्र). It is also called
praṇav-manŧra. Probably 'praṇav' (प्रणव) means primordial (मूल; mūl). When we sound Om together, we're aligning
body/mind/spirit; we're aligning with one another; we're aligning with the
universe because it's the sound of the universe. OM is a matrix of all sounds,
when in its diversified form gives rise to all words used in language. The
mantra is considered to have high spiritual and creative power but despite
this, it is a mantra that can be recited by anyone. It’s both a sound and a
symbol rich in meaning and depth and when pronounced correctly it is actually
AUM.
Linguistically, all audible
sounds are produced in the space within the mouth beginning at the root of the
tongue and ending at the lips.
A- Emerges from the throat,
originating in the region of the navel.
U- Rolls over the tongue
M- End of lip
Aum actually consists of four
syllables: A, U, M, and the silent syllable. The first syllable is A,
pronounced as a prolonged "awe." The sound starts at the back of your
throat and you stretch it out. You will start feeling your solar plexus and
chest vibrating.
The second syllable is U,
pronounced as a prolonged “oo,” with the sound gradually rolling forward along
your upper palate. You'll feel your throat vibrate.
The third syllable is M,
pronounced as a prolonged “mmmm” with your front teeth gently touching. You
will now start to feel the top of your vibrate.
The last syllable is the deep
silence of the Infinite. As intelligence rises from the deep silence, you have
to merge your chant from the ‘M’ to the deep silence.
It is the sum and substance of
all the word that can emanate from a human throat.
Everything in the universe is pulsating and vibrating – nothing is really
standing still! The sound Om, when chanted, vibrates at the frequency of 432
Hz, which is the same vibrational frequency found throughout everything in
nature.
As such AUM is the basic sound
of the universe; so by chanting it we are symbolically and physically tuning in
to that sound and acknowledging our connection to all other living beings,
nature and the universe.
In addition the vibrations and
rhythmic pronunciation also have a physical effect on the body by slowing down
the nervous system and calming the mind similar to meditation. When the mind is
relaxed, your blood pressure decreases and ultimately the health of your heart
improves.
Finally, it is also a way to
delineate the time of our practice from the rest of our day and signify that
this is a special time in which to care for ourselves and practice being
mindful.
All in all, beginning and/or
ending your yoga practicing with AUM helps to connects us to our practice in a
deeper way than just with physical postures.
There is something mystical and
yet simple about the sound of Om. It connects one immediately
to the universe because it is the Primordial Sound that reverberates in the
entire cosmos and every cell of our body. Chanting it at 417 Hz is amazingly
beautiful. This frequency acts as a cleansing agent for our body, removing
negativity and blocks, toxicity from our body and mind.
In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali
dwells on it at length. He has said, “Repeat and meditate on the sound of Om:
It brings about the disappearance of all obstacles and an awakening of a new
consciousness.” What are the obstacles? In the next sutra, Patanjali says,
“Disease, languor, doubt, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, delusion,
impotency and instability are the obstacles that distract the mind.
But for this to happen, just chanting
is not enough — you have to meditate on the sound. Most people stop chanting
loudly and become content with it. No doubt it is a sweet hypnotic sound that
acts as a lullaby. You will feel calm and relaxed but it is not meditation. It
is like a tranquilizer which may give you good sleep, and you feel good in the
morning.
While commenting on the Yoga
Sutra, Osho has warned that if you use the Om as a hypnotic device, you will
become addicted to it. Mind you, it is no lesser an addiction than smoking cigarettes.
He says, “Repeat and create the
sound of Om all around you, but don’t be lost in it. It is such a sweet sound —
you will be lost. Remain alert — remain more and more alert. As the sound goes
deeper, you become more and more alert; so the sound relaxes your nervous
system, but not you. The sound relaxes your body, but not you. The sound sends
your whole body and physical system to sleep, but not you.”
This is what is meant by
awakening a new consciousness. A double process has started: The sound drops
your body into a restful state and the awareness helps you to rise to the
superconscious. The body moves to the unconscious and is fast asleep, and you
become a superconscious being. Everything around is relaxed and you, at the
center, are awake.
But to feel the new
consciousness the body has to be healthy. For Patanjali, the disease is a
disturbance in the body aura, in the prana, the bio-energy, the electricity of
the body. That’s why it can be cured through Om. Try this technique given by Osho:
“Sit alone in a temple sometime, under the dome. You can go to some old temple
where nobody goes — a circular dome is just to reflect the sound. Sit under it,
chant Om loudly, and meditate on it; let the sound reflect and fall on you like
rain and suddenly you will feel after a few minutes that your whole body is
becoming peaceful, calm and quiet — the body energy is settling.”
If a man can utter a
perfect chant so that the chanter is completely lost — only pure consciousness,
a flame of light, and all around, chanting — the energy falls into a circle,
becomes a circle, and you have one of the most euphoric moments in life. When
the energy falls into a circle, becomes harmony, there is no discord, no
conflict — you have become one.
OM and the Ascent of
Consciousness
“True higher education begins
with #OM, which awakens the ascending current of Consciousness within us
leading our minds into the Infinite, in which we can transcend the outer world
and all death and sorrow.
If our education emphasizes OM
and mantra to develop our higher intelligence, we will have more original
thoughts, creative insights and experience a greater harmony with the whole of
life. Our Self-awareness will expand to embrace the whole of existence.
OM is the basis of #Pranava or the Primordial Sound vibration behind the entire
universe, which underlies, pervades and energizes the whole of space and sets
in motion all of time.
OM is the indicator of #Ishvara, the Divine Cosmic Intelligence that is the Adi Guru of Yoga as
per Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Yet OM also leads us to the transcendent #Brahman beyond all manifest worlds and to our inmost Self that
pervades both the manifest and the un-manifest.
From OM all the great bija
mantras arise and can be energized through it. Whatever we begin with OM raises
our awareness. It sets in motion the meditative mind and energizes Kundalini
Shakti. OM is the very sound of #Shiva, the supreme deity of Yoga.
May OM inspire you from within, set in motion your deepest Yoga
practice, and merge you into both the manifest and the un-manifest, the known
and the unknown, the boundless Self-awareness that is the origin, goal and
foundation of all!”--David Frawley
OM ityekaksharam Brahma, Om tad Vauh, Om tad aatmaa, Om tat
satyam, Om tat sarvam; Om ityaatmaanam yunjeeta
--June 11, 2022
------------------------------------------------------
CORONAVIRUS
CRISIS IN USA
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School
of Public Health
Even if you feel
healthy and young at heart, you should take steps to stay that way — like
eating vegetables, wearing a seatbelt, and staying active.
Why
boosted Americans seem to be getting more COVID-19 infections
Alexander Tin
“As COVID-19 cases began to accelerate again
this spring, federal data suggests the rate of breakthrough COVID infections in
April was worse in boosted Americans compared to un-boosted Americans — though
rates of deaths and hospitalizations remained the lowest among
the boosted.
The new
data do not mean booster shots are somehow increasing the
risk. Ongoing studies continue to provide strong
evidence of additional protection offered by booster shots against infection,
severe disease, and death.
Instead,
the shift underscores the growing complexity of measuring vaccine
effectiveness at this stage of the pandemic. It comes as officials are weighing
key decisions on booster shots and pandemic surveillance, including whether to
continue using the "crude case rates" at all.
It also
serves to illustrate a tricky reality facing health authorities amid the latest
COVID-19 wave: even many boosted Americans are vulnerable to catching and
spreading the virus, at a time when officials are wary of re-imposing pandemic
measures like mask requirements.
"During
this Omicron wave, we're seeing an increased number of mild infections —
at-home type of infections, the inconvenient, having a cold, being off work,
not great but not the end of the world. And that's because these Omicron
variants are able to break through antibody protection and cause these mild
infections," John Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at
Weill Cornell Medical College, told CBS News.
"So,
one of the dynamics here is that people feel, after vaccination and boosting,
that they're more protected than they actually are, so they increase their
risks," he said. "That, I think, is the major driver of these
statistics."
On the
CDC's dashboard, which is updated monthly, the agency
acknowledges several "factors likely affect crude case rates by
vaccination and booster dose status, making interpretation of recent trends
difficult."
The CDC
had rolled out the page several months ago, amid demands for better federal
tracking of breakthrough cases. It has now grown to encompass data from
immunization records and positive COVID-19 tests from 30 health departments
across the country
For the
week of April 23, it said the rate of COVID-19 infections among boosted Americans
was 119 cases per 100,000 people. That was more than double the rate of
infections in those who were vaccinated but un-boosted, but a fraction of the
levels among unvaccinated Americans.
That
could be because there is a "higher prevalence of previous infection"
right now among those who are unvaccinated and un-boosted, the CDC said. More
boosted Americans may now have abandoned "prevention behaviors" like
wearing masks, leading to an uptick.
Some
boosted Americans might be more likely to seek out a lab test for COVID-19, as
opposed to relying on over-the-counter rapid tests that go
largely unreported to health authorities.
"Home
testing has become, I think, the single biggest concern in developed countries
that can interfere with our measurements," CDC's Ruth Link-Gelles
told a conference hosted by the National
Foundation for Infectious Diseases last month.
Some federal officials
have floated the possibility of adopting a survey — similar to those relied on
by authorities in the United Kingdom — as an alternative way to track a
"ground truth" in COVID-19 cases, though plans to stand up such a
system do not appear imminent.
"Moving
beyond this crisis, I do think the future is in random sampling. And that's an
area that we're looking at closely," Caitlin Rivers, a top official on the
agency's disease forecasting team, told an event hosted by the National Academies last week.
Meanwhile,
federal officials are also preparing for key decisions on future COVID-19
vaccine shots, which might up the odds that additional shots might be able to
fend off infections from the latest variants.
In the
short term, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky recently told reporters that her agency was in talks
with the Food and Drug Administration about extending the option for second boosters to more adults.
Right
now, only adults 50 and over and some immunocompromised Americans are eligible
to receive a fourth dose.
Next generation of vaccines and boosters
Further
down the road, a panel of the Food and Drug Administration's outside vaccine
advisers is scheduled to meet later this month to weigh
data from new booster candidates produced by Pfizer and BioNTech as well as
Moderna.
BioNTech
executives told investors last month that regulators had asked to see
data for both shots specifically adapted for the Omicron variant in addition to
"bivalent vaccines," which target a blend of mutations.
Those
new vaccines would take about three months to manufacture, the White House's
top COVID-19 official Dr. Ashish Jha told reporters.
"It's
a little bit of a challenge here because we don't know how much further the
virus will evolve over the next few months, but we have no choice because if we
want to produce the hundreds of millions of doses that need to be available for
a booster campaign, we have to start at risk in the early July timeframe or
even somewhat sooner," Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA's top vaccines official,
said at a recent webinar hosted by the American Medical
Association.
Marks
said that bivalent shots seemed likely to be favored, given the "wiggle
room" it could offer for unforeseen variants beyond Omicron.
Vaccines
that might offer even better "mucosal immunity" – actually fighting
off the virus where it first infects the respiratory system – are still a ways
off, Marks cautioned.
"I
think that we are in a transition time and I, again, will speak openly to the
fact that 2022 to 2023 is a year where we have to plan for trying to minimize
the effect of COVID-19 with the tools that we have in hand," Marks said at
a recent event with the National Foundation
for Infectious Diseases.
"I
do believe that, potentially by the 2023-2024 season, we'll start to see second
generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccines," he added later.”--CBS News
--June 10, 2022
------------------------------------------------------
World Environment Day 2022 emphasizes on Only One
Earth.
World
Environment Day is celebrated on June 5 every year across the globe. It is the
most important day for environmental action and transformative changes to
preserve the planet. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) organizes
events for World Environment Day every year to spread awareness and encourage
action for the protection of the environment.
The first World Environment Day was observed with the slogan “Only One
Earth” 50 years ago. Five decades later, it still stands true as the
Earth is still our only home, and humanity must safeguard its finite resources.
The World Environment Day 2022 global campaign uses the theme # Only One Earth
to call for transformative changes to policies and choices to enable cleaner,
greener, and sustainable living in harmony with nature.
History and significance
In 1972, the first United
Nations Conference on Environment was attended by India's Indira Gandhi. At the
conference, a series of principles, the Stockholm Declaration and Action plan
and several other resolutions were adopted by participants. The Stockholm Conference
also marked the creation of the United Nations Environment Program
(UNEP).
"The idea of World
Environment Day was born 50 years ago at the 1972 UN Conference of the Human
Environment in Stockholm. It was born out of the understanding that we need to
stand up to protect the air, land and water, on which we all depend,"
Inger Andersen, under-secretary-general of the United Nations and executive
director of the UN Environment Program, said in a message for World Environment
Day 2022.
Since 1974, World Environment
Day has been celebrated annually, and it has become an important platform for
promoting progress on the environmental dimensions of the Sustainable
Development Goals.
Led by the UNEP, over 150
countries participate each year in the events. Big corporations,
non-governmental organizations, communities, governments, and celebrities
around the world come under one banner to champion environmental causes.
World Environment Day 2022 host
country: Sweden
World Environment Day is hosted
by a different country every year where celebrations and meetings take place.
The host country, this year, is Sweden. A high-level international meeting will
be organized this year with support from UNEP and partners.
The meeting is named
“Stockholm+50: "a healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our
responsibility, our opportunity”. It will be held on June 2 and June 3,
2022. The most urgent environmental issues will be highlighted through
the events.
"This movement that began
in 1972 stands at a critical juncture today. It’s now or never. Because we are
one people and we have only one earth. We have only one home. And that is worth
standing up for," Andersen said in her
message!
Mother Nature seems mad. We can't say for sure that this is punishment for our sins,
but we do know what the planet needs to stop its anger.
Our Mother
Earth is currently facing a lot of environmental concerns. The environmental
problems like global warming, acid rain, air pollution, urban sprawl,
waste disposal, ozone layer depletion, water pollution, climate change and
many more affect every human, animal, and nation on this planet.
bhūmir dhenurdharaṇī lokadhāriṇī | uddhṛtāsi varāheṇa kṛṣṇena śatabāhunā mṛttike hana pāpaṁ yanmayā duṣkṛtaṁ kṛtam |mṛttike brahmadattāsi kāśyapenābhimantritā | mṛttike dehi me puṣṭiṁ tvayi sarvaṁ pratiṣṭhitam | mṛttike pratiṣṭhite sarvaṁ tanme nirṇuda mṛttike | tvayā hatena pāpena gacchāmi paramāṁ gatim ||
The earth is the giver of
happiness like the milk cow, the sustainer of life and support for all living
beings. Represented as such the earth is addressed: “Thou wert raised up by Krishna in His incarnation of the boar having hundred hands O
excellent earth, destroy my evil deeds as well as sins connected with me! O
excellent earth, thou art a gift from God to creatures! Thou art prayed over by
Kaśyapa! O excellent earth, grant me prosperity, for everything depends on
thee! O excellent earth, on which all creatures are supported, cleanse all that
(sin) from me! O excellent earth, my sins having been destroyed by thee, I
attain to the highest goal.
The repetition of the address
‘O excellent earth’ five times should be taken as an indication of the devotion
which the seer of the mantra felt when he thought of the glory of the earth.
Hindu religion reverences the earth which supports all life with the same
feelings which a mother would call in the minds of her children that is
forgotten today migrating to Western culture. The earth is
cited as the suitable illustration whenever one is in need of impressing about
the necessity of patience. Man transforms the surface of the earth by cutting,
digging, levelling and building with hard implements. Yet she yields him
prosperity and enjoyment in turn.
Ya devi sarvabhuteshu matru - rupena
(Mothe Earth) samsthita | Names tasyai, namas tasyai, namas tasyai
namo namah
With this prayer let us focus
on what the planet needs to stop its anger!
-June 5. 2022
Comments:
Thank you very much for the article on this very important topic
which everyone needs to know for sure.
Here is one line that, I think, is the essence of this article:
“We are ecologically interwoven with the entire
universe, not just with nature on Earth but with all the forces of time, space,
energy, life and mind in the cosmos”. Excellent piece. Thank you.
- Nagarajan.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOOKING OUT LOOKING IN, UNITING
THE INNER AND THE OUTER
Uniting
the Inner and Outer, Yoga is the Spiritual Responsibility at a Time of Global
Crisis!
Dark clouds are
gathering, powerful forces constellating in the outer and inner worlds. We are
witnessing preparations for war and the actions of terrorists, our media
saturated with acts of violence and the war drums of politicians. Many people
are finding their dreams haunted by images of bombs falling and a sense of what
is sacred being desecrated. We seem to be embarking on another cycle of
violence, with the theme of mass destruction as a call to
arms. How can we bring our spiritual ideals onto the world
stage, bring the light of our hearts into the growing darkness? It is easy to
feel isolated or ineffectual, to think that the destiny of the world is in the
hands of politicians blinded by power, or terrorists caught in images of
martyrdom. But there is a part that we can play, a way that we can bring light
into the darkness and work to awaken the world.
We need to realize
that we are the link of love that unites the inner and outer
worlds. Then the energy of the divine will flow freely from the inner to the
outer and our present time of crisis can unfold into a new era of global
awareness.
Looking out while
looking in will make me calmer and less judgmental. Most distractions
in meditation spring from the thoughts arising from me judging others and from
the stress created by others judging me. These will be significantly reduced,
improving the quality of my japa and meditation. I’ll also become more
tolerant, more patient, more forgiving.
When we see others make
mistakes, instead of getting annoyed, irritated or angry, we must look within
and see that we make mistakes too, so what’s the big deal if someone else also
makes mistakes? Mistakes need to be corrected, of course, but the way I’ll
do it will be different now. There will be more compassion, less irritation;
more love, less anger.
In Vedic knowledge
systems we learn to cultivate our inner senses through the mind and subtle body
and yet further into a deeper unity consciousness, our inner Self or Atman,
which is the ultimate seer and knower by which reflected light the mind and
the senses function.
The Vedas are said to be Shruti, what is heard, meaning
the revealed Mantra knowledge of the nature of the eternal and infinite
reality. May our Inner-seeing and Inner-hearing guide us to the highest cosmic
knowledge and Self-realization.
Please go through the detailed
discourse:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2022/06/looking-out-looking-out-uniting-inner.html
bāhya-sparśeṣv asaktātmā vindaty ātmani yat sukham
sa brahma-yoga-yuktātmā sukham
akṣayam aśnute
Such
a liberated person is not attracted to material sense pleasure but is always in
trance, enjoying the pleasure within. In this way the self-realized person
enjoys unlimited happiness, for he concentrates on the Supreme.
Śrī Yāmunācārya, a great
devotee in Krishna consciousness, said:
yad-avadhi mama cetaḥ kṛṣṇa-pādāravinde nava-nava-rasa-dhāmany udyataṁ rantum āsīt || tad-avadhi bata nārī-saṅgame smaryamānebhavati mukha-vikāraḥ suṣṭhu niṣṭhīvanaṁ cha ||
“Since I have been engaged in the transcendental loving service
of Krishna, realizing ever-new pleasure in Him, whenever I think of sex
pleasure I spit at the thought, and my lips curl with distaste.” A person
in brahma-yoga, or
Krishna consciousness, is so absorbed in the loving service of the Lord
that he loses his taste for material sense pleasure altogether. The highest pleasure
in terms of matter is sex pleasure. The whole world is moving under its spell,
and a materialist cannot work at all without this motivation.”
But a conscious person focused on “Anoraneeyam mahato maheeyaan; Prithveem uddhritaci Varahena Krishnena
satatabhuna; Eko vipraha bahudaa vadadanti” of Vedanta, can work with
greater vigor without sex pleasure, which he avoids. That is the test in
spiritual realization. Spiritual realization and sex pleasure go ill together
attracted to any kind of sense pleasure, due to his being a liberated
soul.
--June 4, 2022
------------------------------------------------------
WORLD BIYCLE DAY
World Bicycle Day is
celebrated every year on June 3. The day aims to develop a culture of cycling
for basic transportation, commutation, and strengthening physical and mental
health. World Bicycle Day draws attention to recognize the longevity,
uniqueness, and versatility of the bicycle, and that it is an affordable,
reliable, simple and clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of
transport.
Cycling is a healthy,
low-impact exercise that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, the scraped
knees and scratched elbows after falling from our cycles are part of what makes
childhood memories of playing so nostalgic.
However, as time went by,
and we grew up, those cycles were left to rust in backyards and building
compounds. Acknowledging the uniqueness, longevity, and versatility of the
bicycle, every year World Bicycle Day is celebrated.
WORLD BICYCLE DAY HISTORY:
The first bicycle day was
celebrated on June 3, 2018. Professor Leszek Sibilski, a Polish social
scientist working in the United States, led a grassroots campaign with his
sociology class to promote a UN Resolution for World Bicycle Day.
The original UN Blue and
White #June3WorldBicycleDay logo was designed by Isaac Feld and the
accompanying animation was done by Professor John E. Swanson.
HOW WORLD BICYCLE DAY IS CELEBRATED?
Usually, on this day people
would join others on a bicycle ride around town and hold other events that
would involve bicycles.
As per un.org, "The
bicycle contributes to cleaner air and less congestion and makes education,
health care and other social services more accessible to the most vulnerable
populations.
A sustainable transport
system that promotes economic growth, and al to achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals."
reduces inequalities while
bolstering the fight against climate change is critic
QUOTES TO SHARE ON WORLD
BICYCLE DAY:
·
Nothing compares with the
simple pleasure of a bike ride. - John F Kennedy
·
-Cyclists see considerably
more of this beautiful world than any other class of
·
Learn to ride a bicycle.
You will not regret it if you live. — Mark Twain
·
-Give a man a fish and feed
him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for citizens. A good bicycle,
well applied, will cure most ills this flesh is heir to. Dr. K.K. Doty a
lifetime. Teach a man to cycle, and he will realize fishing is stupid and
boring. -Desmond Tutu
·
-Cycling isn’t a game, it’s
a sport. Tough, hard, and unpitying, and it requires great sacrifices. One
plays football, tennis, or hockey. One doesn’t play at cycling. -Jean de Garibaldi
·
Life is like riding a
bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving. -Albert Einstein
·
-I’m lazy. But it’s the
lazy people who invented the wheel and the bicycle because they didn’t like
walking or carrying things. -Lech Walesa
--June 3, 2022
--------------------------------------------------------------
How Yoga can lead to a Universal Vision of Humanity by Stephen
Knapp
First of all, yoga is not a religion, it is a spiritual science
that has been practiced and developed over thousands of years. Archeological
evidence shows figures in yogic positions from the Indus Valley region that
date as far back as 3000 BCE. Yoga is also mentioned in various Vedic
literature, such as some of the Upanishads, the Bhagavad-gita, the Bhagavata
Purana, and others, all of which date back thousands of year.
Nowadays
people often practice yoga merely for improving their physical fitness, or for
their mental and overall well-being. There is nothing wrong with that, and yoga
can do that most efficiently. But there is also a higher aspect of yoga, which
for some has been forgotten. The great rishis of old in India gave it for our
preparation to reach higher states of consciousness.
Morihei Ueshiba,
the founder of the Aikido method of martial arts said: “Above all, one must
unite one’s heart with that of the gods. The essence of God is love, an
all-pervading love that reaches every corner of the universe. If one is not
united to God, the universe cannot be harmonized. Martial artists who are not
in harmony with the universe are merely executing combat techniques, not Aiki (Ai--uniting harmony and love with ki--the universal energy).”
The
essence of this perception has been related in the ancient Vedic texts, as we
find in the Svetasvatara Upanishad (6.11) which states, “He is the one God
hidden in all beings, all pervading, the self within all beings, watching over
all worlds, dwelling in all beings, the witness, and the perceiver.
We
are all but small reflections of the Supreme Consciousness. When we put the
greater whole above ourselves, and realize that we all contribute to the
condition of this planet, then uniting with a common cause and with that
Supreme Consciousness will be easy.
In the Yoga Vashishtha, the teacher mentions that in the
earliest of stages of spiritual practice only one-sixteenth of the mind can be
devoted to God. Fifteen-sixteenths has to go to the world. We cannot dub the world as entirely bad while
we desire it from our deepest recesses. We
are carrying the world with us wherever we go, though we feel that we have
renounced the world. The world cannot be renounced by anyone who carries the
body with him, because the world is not outside. This body is called the world;
it is hanging so heavy on our minds and our consciousness, and it has become so
intensely part and parcel of what we ourselves are, that we are ourselves the
world.
A very wise suggestion that has come from Gurudev Swami
Sivanandaji Maharaj that we should keep a spiritual diary, together with a
daily routine. This is a system of personal check-up that we maintain for
assessing the progress that we are making and the amount of control that we have
been able to exercise over the calls of the inner nature.
Social relations are very necessary. We cannot be brooding
individually somewhere in a corner and crying that we have lost everything, the
world is not helping us, the world does not want us, we have abandoned our
homes, we have no friends, we have no wealth, we have no house, and God is not
coming!
We initially require guidance for the spiritual seeker. Most sincere spiritual seekers become nervous
in their personality, quick in irascible behavior, sudden in counteracting
whatever is placed before them, and manifest an incapacity to accommodate
themselves or even to be charitable in their feelings, in their words and in
their outer behavior with people. Our relationship with God is a state of
balance that we establish between the consciousness within and the
consciousness that is operating everywhere. It is a system of harmony that is
introduced in the relationship between the inner soul and the cosmic soul. . We have to be a watchdog of our own selves.
This spiritual diary or the daily routine as advised by Sri
Gurudev, is a kind of a diary, a ready-reckoner, as it
were, by means of which we can keep watch on our own selves.
Individually we are jivas,
but there is a super-individual witnessing power in our owns selves
called sakshi that
will help us in knowing what is actually the reason behind a particular
occurrence in which we are involved, and also the counter co-relate of ours,
namely the world, is also involved.
The scriptures tell us that one-fourth of our knowledge comes
from the study that we make, one-fourth of knowledge come from the teacher,
one-fourth comes by the passage of time, and one-fourth comes by one's own
effort.
In the stages of yoga
practice, up to the level or the point of concentration of dharna and dhyana, we appear to be
different, but when we touch the point of real absorption bordering upon the
finale of dhyana that
is called samadhi,
we will find that all pilgrims have landed in a particular point, the peak of
attainment—all types of yoga converge at this point.
There is a natural aspect, a physical aspect, a social aspect
and an individual aspect in our daily life and in our spiritual practice, but
there is also a super-social, super-individual and cosmic aspect simultaneously
in us. Sometimes in the administration
of a medicine for curing an illness, a specific dose is prescribed to be taken
at particular intervals, and if the intervals are broken, the chain of action
of the medicine breaks and it will not produce the desired result. In a similar
manner is this cyclic action that takes place in the continuity of practice in
which we have to be engaged every day—it has to become our daily bread.
With this joyous beginning, we continue a joyous day of spiritual
practice with the hope that we end with that limitless joy. Spiritual sadhana is supposed
to be a movement from one state of joy to another state of joy. From bliss the
world has come, in bliss it is located, by bliss it is sustained, and to bliss
it shall return one day. Joy is the beginning of this creation, joy is what
sustains this world, and joy is also the culmination and the final longing of
this world. So live a life of inner quest of the highest spirit with a
beginning which is joy, a procedure which is also joy, a progress that is joy,
which shall consummate in a joy which is the aim of yoga, of spiritual vision,
of religious practice—of our very life itself, this existence in Toto.
Please
go through the detail text of this important subject:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2022/06/how-yoga-can-lead-to-universal-vision_2.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Uniting the Inner and Outer:
Spiritual Responsibility at a Time of Global Crisis
Dark clouds are gathering,
powerful forces constellating in the outer and inner worlds. We are witnessing
preparations for war and the actions of terrorists, our media saturated with
acts of violence and the war drums of politicians. Many people are finding
their dreams haunted by images of bombs falling and a sense of what is sacred
being desecrated. We seem to be embarking on another cycle of violence, with the theme of mass destruction as a call to arms.
What is our responsibility at this time of global crisis? How can
we constellate peace amidst the forces of war? How can we bring our spiritual
ideals onto the world stage, bring the light of our hearts into the growing
darkness? It is easy to feel isolated or ineffectual, to think that the destiny
of the world is in the hands of politicians blinded by power, or terrorists
caught in images of martyrdom. But there is a part that we can play, a way that
we can bring light into the darkness and work to awaken the world.
In our own journey we know that any time of crisis is also a time
of opportunity. “When powerful forces constellate, they carry the potential for
transformation as well as destruction.” What is true of our individual journey
is also true for the world. The tremendous clash of opposites, of light and
dark that is threatening such destruction and seemingly polarizing the world
belongs to the birth pains of a global transformation. But in order for this
transformation to be successful it needs our attention. It needs the participation
of those committed to service, whose consciousness can be aligned to something
greater than their personal well-being.
At any time of real crisis our work is to look beyond the plane of
action and reaction to where real help and grace are given. Through our prayers
and devotion, we align ourselves with the love and power of the divine without
whose presence we are left alone with our own self-destructive conflicts.
Sadly, we have tended to place prayer and devotion solely within the sphere of
our personal relationship with the divine, not recognizing its larger dimension
which concerns the well-being of the whole. Yet we have seen the power of
prayer in the context of the larger world: after the tragedy of September11th
we had the tangible experience of people all around the world praying, working
to hold a space of love and remembrance so that the energy of the divine could
help to repair the fabric of life brutally torn apart by the acts of violence.
This moment of global remembrance through prayer did not last, but it points to
what is possible when we direct our attention to the larger whole.
Only the divine that can heal and transform the world—the forces
of antagonism in the world are too powerfully constellated for us to resolve on
our own. But the divine needs our participation: we are the guardians of the
planet. Working together with the power and love of the divine, we can help
turn this moment of crisis into a time of global awakening. And what is the
nature of this work? In our masculine culture we identify work with
"doing" and activity. But to hold a space for the divine requires the
feminine quality of "being." Through the simplicity of living our
inner connection to the divine, we link the worlds together.
Central to this transformation and awaking is the uniting of the
outer and inner worlds. Much of our present predicament comes from isolating
ourself in the outer physical world, to such a degree that we have almost
forgotten the presence of the inner worlds. And yet it is always from within
that divine grace and healing come. Those who have committed themselves to
spiritual work have turned inward, and through meditation, prayer, dream works,
and other practices, have begun to reclaim the inner world.
Looking inward now, one might glimpse something quite wonderful: a
web of light and love that has been woven around the world. This web has been
woven together over the past two decades by the masters of love and their
helpers, those who look after the spiritual well-being of the world. It is the
container for our global transformation, for the awakening of the world, and
now it needs to be brought into consciousness. This web is a network of the
spiritual light of those who have given themselves in service to the divine.
Its structure has similarities to the internet, but it is made of light and
exists on an inner plane. We are inwardly linked together through this web, and
through our prayers and devotions we can bring the light of the divine to where
it is needed in the outer as well as the inner world. This global network of
light and love is very powerful; it can counter the destructive ego-driven
worldly forces. It can take us beyond the clash of opposites into the oneness
that is at the source of life.
But to work with this web we need to realize that we are
the link of love that unites the inner and outer worlds. We carry the potential
for global transformation in our own hearts, in our lived connection to the
divine. We need to step out of the enclosed world of our individual aspiration
to recognize this larger dimension to our spiritual practice. Wherever we are
we can consciously connect to this network of light. Then the energy of the
divine will flow freely from the inner to the outer and our present time of
crisis can unfold into a new era of global awareness.
--PUBLISHED IN CADUCEUS MAGAZINE
-----------------------------------------------------
PRAY to Divine Mother to Ask Her to be the Mother for Yourself
Swami Kriyananda told
this story, of Swami Vivekananda’s prayers to Divine Mother, many times over
the years. He held it up as an example of how to pray to Her, and how we forget
all of our worldly needs when we have Her vision. Here is the story in Swami Vivekananda’s
own words:
Swami
Vivekananda’s Prayers to Divine Mother
“One day the idea struck
me that God listened to Sri Ramakrishna’s prayers. So why should I not ask him
to pray for me for the removal of my pecuniary wants, a favor the Master would
never deny me. I hurried to Dakshineswar and insisted on his making an appeal
on behalf of my starving family.
“He said, “My boy, I
can’t make such demands. But why don’t you go and ask the Mother yourself? All
your sufferings are due to your disregard of Her.”
“I said, “I do not know
the Mother; you speak to Her on my behalf. You must.”
“He replied tenderly, “My
dear boy, I have done so again and again. But you do not accept Her, so She
does not grant my prayer. All right, it is Tuesday—go to the Kali Temple
tonight, prostrate yourself before the Mother and ask Her any boon you like. It
shall be granted; She is Knowledge Absolute, the Inscrutable Power of Brahman
and by Her mere will She has given birth to this world. Everything is in Her
power to give.” I believed every word and eagerly waited for the night.
“About nine o’clock, the Master commanded me
to go to the temple. As I went I was filled with a divine intoxication. Me feet
were unsteady. My heart was leaping in anticipation of the joy of beholding the
living Goddess and hearing Her worlds. I was full of the idea.
“Reaching the temple, as
I cast my eyes upon the image, I actually found that the Divine Mother was
living and conscious, full of divine love and beauty. I was caught in a surging
wave of devotion and love. In an ecstasy of joy I prostrated myself again
before the Mother and prayed, “Mother,
give me discrimination! Give me renunciation; give me knowledge and devotion;
grant that I may have an uninterrupted vision of Thee!” A serene peace
reigned in my soul. The world was forgotten. Only the Divine Mother shone
within my heart.
“As soon as I returned,
Sri Ramakrishna asked me if I had prayed to the Mother for the removal of my
worldly wants. I was startled at this question and said, “No sir, I forgot all
about it. But is there any remedy now?”
“Go again,” said he, “and
tell Her about your wants.”
“I again set out for the
temple, but at the sight of the Mother forgot my mission, bowed to Her
repeatedly and prayed only for knowledge and devotion. The Master asked if I
had done it the second time. I told him what had happened. He said, “How
thoughtless! Couldn’t you restrain yourself enough to say those few words?
Well, try once more and make that prayer to Her. Quick!”
“I went for the third
time, but on entering the temple a terrible shame overpowered me. I thought,
“What a trifle have I come to pray to the Mother for! It is like asking a
gracious king for a few vegetables! What a fool I am!” In shame and remorse I
bowed to Her respectfully and said, “Mother, I want nothing but knowledge and
devotion!”
“Coming out of the temple
I understood that all this was due to Sri Ramakrishna’s will. Otherwise how
could I fail in my object three times? I came to him and said, “Sir, it is you
who have cast a charm over my mind and made me forgetful. Now please grant me
the boon that my people at home may no longer suffer the pinch of poverty!”
“He said, “Such a prayer
never comes from my lips. I asked you to pray for yourself, but you couldn’t do
it. It appears that you are not destined to enjoy worldly happiness. Well, I
can’t help it.” But I wouldn’t let him go. I insisted on his granting that
prayer. At last he said, “All right, your people at home will never be in want
of plain food and clothing.””
—from The Life of Swami Vivekananda, pp. 94-96
"Pray to the
Divine Mother with a longing heart. Her vision dries up all craving for the
world and completely destroy all attachment.....It happens instantly if you
think of Her as your own mother. She is by no means a godmother. She is your
own mother. With a yearning heart persist in your demands of Her. The child
holds to the skirt of its mother and begs a penny of her to buy a kite.... it
begins to cry and will not give up his demand....
You too must force your
demand on the Divine Mother. She will come to you without fail."
-The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
--May 31, 2022
Thank you Mama
--Aparna Arcot
------------------------------------------------------
Secrets
of the Sages & the Vision of Modern Scientists
Navaratri is a time when all the branches of knowledge are
presented - Vedic mantras, music, dance and other arts. It is a time for
rejuvenation and reaffirming a commitment to knowledge. The Vedic mantras
originate in a vast collection of ancient knowledge known as the Vedas. This
tradition of knowledge, which goes back thousands of years, is praised all over
the world for its depth and understanding. The scriptures which we still have
today, offer detailed insight into a wide range of subjects and sciences
covering all aspects of life, ranging from medical science, astronomy,
mathematics, dance to statecraft and many more. In recent years, "experts" have said ancient
Indians had spacecraft, the internet, and nuclear weapons—long before Western
science came on the scene.
The nature of mantras
Every sound has a certain effect on the consciousness. For
example, when we hear some pleasant music, it calms us. Other types of music
make us get up and dance - even without knowing the meaning of the lyrics! In
the same way, the ancient sages, called Rishis, going deep in meditation,
researched the effect of different vibrations on consciousness. Assimilating
these different sounds, perceived in deep meditation, the Rishis came up with
mantras, which 7have a specific impact on consciousness. During Navaratri,
various Homas are performed and mantras are chanted which have a harmonizing
impact on the consciousness, as the Rishis described in the Vedas.
In fact, in our modern science today, the theory of quantum
mechanics claims that particles act as waves of probability. In the words of
scientist Niels Bohr, ‘everything we call
real is made of things that cannot be regarded as real’. As science
progresses, we find out many things that seemed magical a few years back become
obvious with an expanded understanding. Just because one does not know how a
mobile phone works, does not mean one cannot use it. In the same way, though
science has not yet discovered how mantras work, we can no longer doubt the
impact that mantras have on the environment and consciousness.
Ancient knowledge is accurate even today
These seer-scientists were called 'seers,' because they 'saw' the
knowledge. They did this by going into deep meditation and quieting the mind.
In such a state, the Rishis could understand the characteristics of the forces
of nature. Their calculations and mathematical methods are accurate even today.
Thousands of years ago these seer-scientists had already described many things,
which Western science has discovered only in the last few centuries – an
example being the description of molecules and atoms. Observing nature, the
Rishis could describe the energy or consciousness that is pervading this whole
creation. After passing on their knowledge orally for generations, it was
finally written down in four main scriptures of the Vedas.
Structure of the Vedas
The Vedas were written in
an ancient form of Sanskrit, and the word 'Veda' itself comes from the Sanskrit
root 'vid,' which means 'to know.' There are four Vedas, the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and the Atharva Veda. Each Veda is subsequently made up
into four parts. The first, Samhita, are
verses or hymns, which form the base, like a textbook. The Brahmana gives instruction on how to apply the
knowledge, such as how to perform rituals. Aranyaka illustrates
the deeper meaning behind the rituals being performed. Upanishad means ‘sitting close’ the teacher to
receive instruction. This is where the Vedanta (literally a 'culmination or end
of knowledge') is expounded: the knowledge of the ultimate truth of existence,
planetary positions and their movements, grammar, and the phonetics that need
to be mastered first in order to be able to study the Vedas correctly. The
Vedas are a storehouse of knowledge about nature “from the microcosm to the macrocosm,” says Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Paravidya and Aparavidya: the Nature of Education
The nature of education
involves knowing and through wanting to know, more can be learned. ‘Vidya’ is a Sanskrit word meaning education or
knowledge. There is knowledge that one knows by experience, just as one knows
the taste of a pineapple. Trying to describe the taste of a pineapple to
someone who has never tasted it, or describing the way wading through water feels
to one who has never experienced it is nearly impossible. This is the way
with paravidya, meaning ‘knowledge of that which is
beyond (para).’ Beyond any knowledge that can be measured and
taught, this type of knowledge just has to be experienced. An enlightened Guru
gives us a glimpse of this type of knowledge, through the Guru’s grace, taught
to others. We all have asked ourselves these questions: Where have I come from?
How did life on this planet begin? How did the universe come into being? Over
5,000 years ago; the Rishis, the authors of the Vedas, also pondered these same
questions. Through interacting and by a questioning nature, in deep meditation,
the Rishis came to an understanding of the origins and nature of the cosmos.
The Tradition Continues
This tradition of
scientific inquiry found in the Vedas is alive even today. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
says that our modern scientists are the
modern-day Rishis, and like the sages of thousands of years ago, they also
explore the universe. Sri Sri says, “All are to be honored, whether ancient or
modern
As we continue to revive
the Vedas, modern science has taken notice of the ancient Vedic knowledge with
a sense of reverence. “Today’s quantum
physics discoveries are startling,” says Sri Sri. “There is so much similarity
to Vedic knowledge. Dr. Hans-Peter Dürr, the physicist has told us that
whenever he is giving a lecture on quantum physics, he
feels as if he is speaking on Vedanta. The whole universe is made up of one
substance. Ancient Rishis and modern
physicists both say the same thing,” notes
Sri Sri.
”Vedic knowledge through the ancient Rishis has inspired humanity
since the dawn of history.
“Vedic wisdom can
direct us to a new humanity today, giving us the consciousness and cosmic
insight to develop our technology with wisdom and compassion, at the same time
allowing us to directly access the entire universe within us. May the vision of the Rishis awaken with you!”--David Frawley.
--May 30, 2022
-----------------------------------------------------
Memorial Day for Indian Americans by Inder Singh
When a nation has raised itself
to liberty, when it has finally broken through the shackles of subjugation and
slavery, it calls for celebration. Liberty does not come without a price.
People pay for liberty and freedom with their lives, with their toil, with
their blood, sweat and tears.
In the United States, the last
Monday of May is observed annually as Memorial Day – a day of national
awareness and reverence, honoring those Americans who died while defending
American nation and its values. Memorial Day parades and memorial services are
held to remember, reflect and honor those who have given their all-in service
to their country. It was first observed on May 30, 1868 and became an official
federal holiday in 1971.
Like the US, several other
nations, pay tribute to their martyrs and freedom fighters who sacrificed their
life and preferred the gallows for attainment and preservation of freedom. They
are held in high esteem and their memories are kept alive by raising befitting
memorials so that they could serve as a source of inspiration and courage for
future generations.
Many Indian Americans may not
know the historical background of Memorial Day. However, like Americans,
several Indians hold gatherings of family and friends for parties and
barbecues. Most of the Indians in America may also not know their own day of
reverence.
Soon after Indians started
coming to the United States in the beginning of the twentieth century, they
started facing hostility and bigotry from the white American population. They
attributed prejudice and racism of the white people due to their being
nationals of a subjugated country. In 1913, they formed Hindi Association of
the Pacific Coast with a major objective to liberate India from British
colonialism. They started publishing a weekly journal, Gadar which
was sent free to thousands of overseas Indians all over the world. After
sometime, Hindi Association became known as the Gadar party after the name of
their weekly magazine. When the World War l started in 1914, it provided an
excellent opportunity to overthrow the British Government while the British
Indian forces were busy fighting war in Europe. As many as 8000 Overseas
Indians hurried homeward to free their motherland from British slavery. The
British spies and traitors, however, foiled their plans and hundreds of
Gadarites were arrested and prosecuted under the Defense of India Act.
Some paid the ultimate price with their lives, hundreds were jailed, some
for life. It is such a pity that there is no memorial day for them!
The Gadar Movement was the saga
of remarkable courage, valor and determination of overseas Indians to free
India from the shackles of British slavery. Indians had come to Canada
and the United States either for higher education or for economic
opportunities. Instead, they imbibed the fire and zeal of revolutionaries and
became the trailblazers of freedom struggle for their motherland, India. They
may have lived ordinary lives but they left an extra-ordinary legacy.
The lives they lived, the
sacrifices they made, and, the deaths they died, make a part of Indian
American heritage. The Indian American community, at least on Memorial Day,
should remember the sacrifices of Gadarites and organize tribute events to
perpetuate the memory of the brave Indians who laid down their lives in pursuit
of freedom for India.
On the Mahalya Amavasya the
ancestors or ‘pitrs’ are worshipped with dhoop, diya and flowers. This day is
celebrated by Hindu Americans in honor of the ancestors and the members of the
family spent the day in their remembrance. Mantras are recited to invoke the
blessings of ancestors. On this day, people thank their ancestors who have
contributed for their life. They also ask apology from their forefathers and
pray that their souls rest in peace. Additionally, it is performed for the entire community of 'pitr' –
both from paternal and maternal side – collectively during the Pitru Paksha or Shraaddha paksha (Fortnight of ancestors), right before Sharad Navaratri in autumn.
Please recall my yesterday's
message on American Holiday of Thanksgiving showing how Hindu Americans join
Western Americans at the dining table and celebrate the American holiday.
They should celebrate Memorial Day too joining Western Americans!
--May 29, 2022
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A Hindu
American Thanksgiving: It's All about Gratitude
Many American families gather for
Thanksgiving, a day to share food, family memories, and gratitude for both.
While the arrival of early settlers and the colonization of North America is
part of our shared history as Americans, it is important to learn and remember
the full history of colonization and the reality that it included centuries of
genocide, the theft of land, and oppression.
Indigenous Peoples in America
recognize Thanksgiving as a day of mourning. It is a time to remember ancestral
history as well as a day to acknowledge and protest the racism and oppression
which they continue to experience today. Since 1970 there has been a gathering at the Plymouth Rock historic
site in Massachusetts on Thanksgiving Day to commemorate the National Day of
Mourning. The United American Indians of New
England will host the 52st Annual
National Day of Mourning on November 25, 2021. Their message is "We Are
Not Vanishing. We Are Not Conquered. We Are As Strong As Ever"
says Paul Chats Smith (Comanche) co-curator of the exhibit Americans;
he looks at the Thanksgiving story is as important to the United States’ image
of itself as a nation.
If Thanksgiving
is a festival of gratitude, then Hindus have been preparing for it their whole lives.
If Thanksgiving is a festival of
gratitude, then Hindus have been preparing for it their whole lives. In India,
take a walk down the Mumbai waterfront in the early morning mist, and you see
ordinary citizens quietly feeding the fish and the birds. Their daily day
doesn't really begin until the deities in their home shrine have been venerated
with fresh flowers and offered prasadam.
It is only after eating a little of this blessed offering does the family sit
down to their meals. Many remember to keep aside a portion of the food for a
hungry person or the birds. It is all about sharing. Every Hindu festival is
about counting one's blessings and thanking God for them. Indeed, buying a new
car or new home entails special puja or prayer ceremonies to bless the new item
and to offer thanks. "Gratitude is exalted as one of the most important
virtues (dharma) in many Hindu texts," says Dr. Vasudha Narayanan,
Distinguished Professor of Religion and University of Florida.
"It is both a human and divine
virtue; prayers and panegyrics say Vishnu has qualities such as compassion and
gratitude. By this they mean that if a human being does a good deed, the divine
being wants to show his gratitude in many ways. The Ramayana says: Krite cha prati kartavyam esham dharmah
sanatanah (Ramayana, Sundara Kanda) "To repay a good deed with
another--this is the essence of Sanatana Dharma." Narayanan, who is also
Director, Center for the Study of Hindu Traditions (CHiTra), has lived in Florida for many years and has
seen how Hindu Americans have interacted
with the festival of Thanksgiving. She says, "It is a 'secular'
holiday and the sentiments are something we can all resonate with but
obviously, there are no 'family traditions' for new immigrants.
We do go to friends’ homes; in the 1970s
and even early 80s, we were frequently invited by local American friends who
worked hard to find us vegetarian fare and make stuffing without stock.
Eventually, as the Indian population got larger, there were more events hosted
by Indo-American families. In Gainesville, a university town, we used to invite
students for a home cooked Indian meal, just as our professors used to invite
us when we were students." Are there any Hindu prayers which are popular
with families for this occasion? Since saying of 'Grace' before food is not a
traditional custom in India where often food was sanctified and served, this is
new territory for Hindus. In fact, even for the South Indian festival of Pongal which is generally interpreted as
'thanksgiving', there are no specific prayers, says Narayanan. Yet as she
points out, "The Hindu traditions are dynamic; we add, we modify, we
jettison, and we co-opt rituals very easily. And in some groups, the prayer brahmarpanam has become popular (see
http://www.sathyasai.org/devotion/prayers/brahmar.html)
Anju Bhargava, founder of Hindu
American Seva Communities (HASC) finds her own way of offering thanks. She
says, “Our family tradition is to go around the table and share at least one
thing that has happened to you that you are grateful for. This sharing is the
communal prayer creates a spirit of thankfulness." Having worked with many
Hindus in creating community awareness of service or seva, she says, “The Thanksgiving
observance fits in very well with the Hindu sensibility - festivities filled
with food, company of friends and family and with a values- oriented focus;
a time to appreciate all that you have in life and a time to share your merits
with others, so it is only natural that Hindu Americans join in the spirit of
the observance with a natural élan. Hindus do know how to party and celebrate.
What we need to do more is to serve, to bring the UtsavSeva (service through
festivals) component more to the forefront." She adds, "Seva is an important aspect on this
holiday. Many of us feed the homeless in some manner or form - either actually
serve on that day, or before or after or even collect canned food and
deliver."
Indeed sharing with the less
fortunate, and with family and friends is an important part of Thanksgiving.
But what do Hindu Americans put on their Thanksgiving table? They are not a
homogenous lot so the menu is as varied as the number of Hindus in this
country!
Many Hindus do eat meat and for them
the Thanksgiving turkey is a must, sometimes with tandoori coloring and spices.
Yet for the large numbers of Hindus who are vegetarian, the turkey is a no-no
and like President Obama, they grant it an official pardon! Some Brahmin
families dress Cauliflower like Turkey ball, keep at the table and pray. Hindus who are vegetarians relish the many
fixings on the Thanksgiving table and also turn to meatless alternatives like
tofu or lasagna or celebrate with a full-fledged Indian vegetarian meal.
Fortunately, vegan and vegetarian food is so popular in America now that Hindus
have a really easy time of it. Thanksgiving is all about sharing food so
multicultural America has a lot to share. Says Vasudha Narayanan, " Most
friends I know end up with international fare and create new traditions that
way; so everything from hummus to seven-layered dip to eventually moving to
good Andhra fare or avial and double-ka-meetha for sweets!"
Thanksgiving is a festival totally in sync with the Hindu state of mind - it's
about remembering the Almighty and his many blessings, and in turn sharing with
the less fortunate.
--May 28, 2022
------------------------------------------------------
GOING
BEYOND BODY AND MIND ACCORDING TO THE TEACHINGS OF BHAGAVAN RAMANA MAHARSHI
In
Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi’s Upadesa Saram (The Essence of Instruction), we
have in concise form all we need to know in order to attain liberation in this
life. The teaching is densely packed in, making the teaching all the sweeter
for the ripe seeker of Truth. Here you will find universal teachings for
enlightenment, the true Vedanta.
That
said, two other of Ramana’s texts which compliment this are Nan Yar? (Who am I?) and Ulladu Narpadu (Forty Verses on
Reality). Together, these three texts form a comprehensive
complete teaching for liberation in concise form.
The translation into English from the original Sanskrit by
Professor K. Swaminathan is available with comments– this is the same
translation found in the Collected Works of Sri Ramana Maharshi published by
Sri Ramana Ashramam
Upadesha Saram 22. I am not the body,
the senses, the prana, the intellect, or the ignorance behind them. I am
Unitary Being. That which is dependent is non-being.
vigrah-endriya
prāṇa-dhītamaḥ
| nāhameka-sat tajjaḍam
hyasat
An important Vedantic meditation method
is to discriminate between the seer and the Seen (Drig-Drishya Viveka). We must learn to differentiate our true Self,
subjectivity and sentience from the various bodies, vehicles or instruments
that depend upon it, and which we are falsely identified with.
This discrimination practice starts
with the physical body, which is a material form and instrument of action in
the outer world. The body consists of various organs, tissues and processes,
and is dependent upon food, water and air and other external factors. It is
very different than our Self-awareness that is uniform, continuous and
independent. We must first learn to see that we are not the body, which is a
product of the elements of nature and is transient and external to our inner
awareness.
Then the inquiry moves to the five
cognitive senses, which are instruments of outer knowledge. We are no more our
eyes and ears than we are any visual or audio instruments. Our cognitive senses
are active at some times but forgotten at others. They connect body and mind,
but our inner consciousness is their guide and can exist without them.
Then the inquiry proceeds to prana,
from which arises the power of action. We are not the breath but the awareness
that witnesses the breath. We are not the vital force but the consciousness
that upholds it from within. The prana sustains various processes in the body
and mind, which depend upon its energy for their function, much like a force of
electricity. But our inner nature remains constant regardless of the
fluctuations of prana that govern our outer activity.
This meditative inquiry then takes us
to the mind, specifically its intellectual or knowing power, the Buddhi that
allows us to determine what is true or false, real or illusory. We are not the
intellect, which is an instrument of logic, perception, volition and memory;
just as we are not our computer, its memory bank or its calculation capacities.
We are the awareness through which these operate. Only when we surrender the
mind to the silence of consciousness within, can it reflect the light of true
awareness.
Finally, this path of discrimination
leads us to questioning the ignorance or state of not-knowing behind body,
senses, prana and mind, which adheres even in the state of deep sleep and
shadows dream and waking. We learn to witness that primal state of avidya or
not-knowing, the ignorance of our true Self. Behind that not-knowing is a
deeper knowing, not as some outer knowledge but as an inner state of seeing. We
are that true, self-luminous Self!
We
should practice Self-inquiry not only relative to the mind but in our physical,
sensory and pranic activities, turning our awareness inward in search of our
true nature. Self-inquiry is not just tracing the movement of thought into the
heart but placing our entire existence at the core of our being. Every breath,
thought, movement or cognition can function as a means of Self-inquiry, if we
inquire into its origin.
OSHO explains how
to drop our identification with the body and mind, through ‘witnessing.’
From all that OSHO has
spoken on living-dying, the constant message, the ‘master key’ is that of the
ability to witness, to know oneself as separate from the body-mind. Reminding
ourselves, or helping the other to experience this for themselves, in the last
weeks, day and hours, and through the transition itself, would surely be the
greatest gift we could give ourselves or someone else. Here, OSHO
explains how….
The first layer: the body
There
are many possibilities within you, layer upon layer. The first layer is of the
body. If you get identified with the body, you are getting identified with the
temporal, the momentary. Then there is bound to be fear of death.
The
body is a flux, like a river – continuously changing, moving. It has nothing of
the eternal in it. Each moment the body is changing. In fact, the body is dying
every moment. It is not that after seventy years suddenly one day you die. The
body dies every day. Death continues for seventy years; it is a process.
Death
is not an event; it is a long process. By and by, by and by, the body comes to
a point where it cannot hold itself. It disintegrates. If you are identified
with the body, of course the fear will be constantly there that death is
approaching. You can live, but you can live only in fear. And what type of life
is possible when one’s foundations are constantly shaking and one is sitting on
a volcano and death is possible any moment?
The
second layer: the mind
Then
there is a second layer within you: that of the mind – which is even more
temporal and more fleeting than the body. Mind is also continuously
disintegrating. Mind is the inner part of the body and the body is the outer
part of the mind. These are not two things. Mind and body is not a right
expression. The right expression is mind-body. You are psychosomatic. Not that
the body exists and the mind exists. The body is the gross mind, and the mind
is the subtle body… aspects of the same coin – one outer, the second inner.
…Real
life is beyond both body and mind. You are in the body, you are in the mind,
but you are neither. The body is your outer shell, the mind is your inner
shell, but you are beyond both. This insight is the beginning of real life. How
to start this insight? That’s what meditation is all about.
Moving
beyond sickness and health….
Start
witnessing. Sometimes the body is healthy; sometimes the body is ill. Watch,
just watch, and suddenly you will have a sense of a totally different quality
of being. You are not the body. The body is ill, of course, but you are not
ill. The body is healthy, but it has nothing to do with you. You are a witness,
a watcher on the hills… far beyond. Of course, tethered to the body, but not
identified with the body; rooted in the body, but always beyond and
transcending.
The
first meditation is to separate yourself from the body. And by and by, when you
become more acute in your observation of the body, start observing the thoughts
that continuously go on within your mind. But first watch the body; because it
is gross it can be observed more easily and will not need much awareness. Once
you become attuned, then start watching the mind. Whatsoever can be watched
becomes separate from you. Whatsoever you can witness, you are not it. You are
the witnessing consciousness. The witnessed is the object; you are the
subjectivity.
The
body, and the mind also, remain far away when you become a witness. Suddenly
you are there – with no body and no mind… a pure consciousness, just simple
sheer purity, innocence, a mirror. In this innocence, for the first time you
know who you are. In this purity, for the first time existence becomes life.
For the first time you are. Before it, you were simply asleep, dreaming; now
you are. And when you are, then there is no death. Then you know that you will
be witnessing your death also.
One
who has become capable of witnessing life has become capable of witnessing
death…because death is not the end of life; it is the very culmination of it.
It is the very pinnacle of it. Life comes to its peak in death.
ATMA-SMARANA: THE VEDANTIC PRACTICE OF
SELF-REMEMBRANCE.
“Self-remembrance is one of the key
practices of meditation in the Vedantic tradition. Self-remembrance grounds us
in our eternal reality and in our prime purpose in life, which is to realize
who we are in our inmost essence beyond all outer changes of time, place or
action.
Self-remembrance is not remembrance of
our ordinary self: our personality or social status. Self-remembrance is not a
looking backward in time to what occurred to us from childhood to our present
stage of life. Self-remembrance is remembering our true nature and original
Self beyond body and mind, thought, emotion and sensation.
This is the Self that we were before
birth and will return to after death, and in which we renew our bodies and
minds in the state of deep sleep. This is the Self that is ever abiding at the
core of our being, the spiritual heart. Such Self-remembrance is called Atma-Smarana in Vedanta texts,
remembrance of our true Self or Atman, not ahamkara-smarana, remembrance of our personal self or
ego.
We all have a sense of an inner Self
and unity Consciousness during the peak experiences of our lives, moments of peace,
creativity, love and insight, but do not know how to fully discover it. It is
rarely more than an inspiring intimation that we cannot sustain, however much
we might wish to make it last.
To remember our true Self, we must let
go of our outer self and ego, which is a fabrication of the mind and the
influences of the outer world. This is difficult and daunting to do as we have
so many needs, demands, and desires that pull us outward and distract us. It
requires a strong power of detached attention to abide in the state of
Self-awareness.
Yet
once we have tasted its peace and ananda,
we can use that impression as a means to return to it. The calm of
Self-awareness will absorb all other mental states and remove all mental
disturbances”--David Frawley
SHAKTI AND THE YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI
Patanjali was a sage in India who is believed to have authored a
number of Sanskrit works, the most prominent of which is the Yoga Sutras, a classical yoga text dating to 200
BCE – 200 CE.
Though references to yoga within Hindu scripture had already long
existed, it’s believed they were too diverse and complex for the general
public, so Patanjali created the Yoga
Sutras as a way
of compiling already existing teachings into a format easier to follow and
understand.
Today, the Yoga
Sutras are the
most commonly referenced text on yoga, making Patanjali “the father of yoga” in
the eyes of many.
Beyond the Yoga
Sutras, commentaries
on two other notable works are attributed to an author named Patanjali as well.
One of them is the Mahabhashya, dating from about the second century
BCE, which is a commentary on an authoritative Sanskrit grammar text written by
the Indian grammarian, Panini.
The other is the Charakavarttika, dating somewhere between the eighth
and 10th centuries, which is a commentary on the Charaka Samhita, a
large treatise on Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine).
While modern scholars generally believe this timeline makes it
impossible for it to have been the same Patanjali who compiled all three of
these works, there are many who hold a more traditional view that a single
Patanjali is indeed responsible for all three.
Some might think it ridiculous for anyone to believe that a single
person could be the author of texts written possibly more than 1,000 years
apart, however, Patanjali is also considered by many within the Hindu tradition
to be a divine figure.
As written by David Gordon White in his book “The Yoga Sutra of
Patanjali: A Biography,” “‘Patanjali’ is listed as the name of one of the 26
mythical divine serpents in a number of Puranas.”
The major Puranas (18 in number) are ancient Hindu texts said to have been composed by the
sage Veda Vyasa.
The Vishnudharmottara
Purana, a supplement
to the Vishnu Purana, says the “image of Patanjali’s Yoga
teaching should have the form of Ananta.” Ananta is described in Hindu legend
to be the divine Lord of Serpents who is said to hold all of the planets of the
universe on his 1,000 cobra hoods.
As you can see, the Vishnudharmottara
Purana, which dates
to the sixth century, makes a connection between the “yoga’ Patanjali and the
“Ananta” Patanjali, as if they are one and the same.
Taking note of this, King Bhoja — an 11th-century patron of arts,
literature, and science — wrote in the introduction of his “Royal Sun”
commentary of Patanjali’s Yoga
Sutras:
“I bow with folded hands to Patanjali, the best of sages, who
removed the impurities of the mind through yoga; the impurities of speech
through grammar; and the impurities of the body through medicine. To he whose
upper body has a human form, who holds a conch and a wheel, who is white and
has a thousand heads, to that Patanjali, I offer obeisance.”
King Bhoja’s praise of Patanjali not only recognizes the “yoga”
and “Ananta” Patanjali to be the same person, but also the “grammar” and
“ayurveda” Patanjali. Though there are other instances of the four-in-one
Patanjali portrayal throughout history, as the centuries have gone by, Bhoja’s
prayer has become one of the more well-known and recited examples.
Of the three works, the Yoga Sutras have been especially influential on modern culture.
“Yoga” is a Sanskrit word meaning to yoke or to unite. A yoke, or
wooden beam used between a pair of animals to allow them to pull a cart
together, generally serves two functions: to unite the animals to said cart,
and to control the movements of the animals using ropes attached to the
yoke.
Just as a yoke is a mechanism of control and unity, yogic practice
is a mechanism of controlling the body, breath, senses and mind to enable more
effective meditation for the purpose of liberation.
The first two parts of Patanjali’s process are yama (restraint from unethical actions)
and niyama (observance of positive actions), which help to
control the lower instincts of one’s nature and cultivate good character.
The next three, asana (physical postures), pranayama (breath
control), and pratyahara (sense withdrawal), enable control
over the body, breath, and senses.
Finally, dharana (concentration), and dhyana (meditation),
help one to control the mind, leading the yogi to samadhi (absorption
with the Divine).
This system is known as ashtanga yoga
(literally “eight limbs”) — not to be confused with capital-a Ashtanga yoga,
which is a specific method of yoga practice taught by the late K Pattabhi Jois
and other teachers following in his lineage.
The Bhagavad
Gita, probably
the best known religious text of Hinduism, states that liberation is attained
with the help of the mind. It also states that the mind is the best of friends
for one who has conquered it, but the greatest enemy to one who fails to do so.
So although the process outlined in the Yoga Sutras does indeed help to instill relaxation
and physical health — the contemporary multi-billion dollar yoga industry
focuses nearly exclusively on this — yoga is more accurately a process of
controlling the mind in pursuit of liberation.
Though we may never know the full truth of Patajali’s life (or
lives) to the standards of modern academic historians, the fact remains that a
huge number of people have been and continue to be inspired and uplifted by the
practice of yoga. Regardless of the dates of origin or whether authored by one
or several, the influence of these texts has continued to affect and transform
the lives of millions.
Please go through what
David Frawley says about Patanjali and Ashtanga:
“Some
scholars state that there is no mention of Shakti in the Yoga Sutras. This is
incorrect. Shakti is the last word in the Yoga Sutras that sums up its entire
teaching and defines its goal as the realization of the Purusha. It suggests
what is referred to as Kundalini Shakti in other Yoga texts.
The Yoga
Sutras ends (YS IV.34) with a description of Kaivalya, the highest Samadhi and
the state of the Purusha that is the goal of Yoga practice, in the following
words:
“The
subsidence of the gunas when the
Purusha has no interest in them is Kaivalya
(liberation), or when there is the resting in the Self-nature of the Shakti or
power of Consciousness (Kaivalyam Svarūpa
pratiṣṭhā vā Citi Śaktir iti).”
The last
term in the Yoga Sutras here is Chiti Shakti or power of consciousness, as
resting in its Self-nature which is the Self-nature of all. That is Kaivalya or
liberation, the Self-realization of abiding as Purusha/Atman. This Chiti Shakti
is also the Purusha Shakti or Atma Shakti, the knowledge power of the higher
Self.
This
Chiti Shakti echoes the Chit Shakti or power of Consciousness in Shaivite and
Shakta philosophy, whose manifestation in the individual is Kundalini Shakti,
which unfolds the process of Self-realization in its ascending movement from
the root chakra below to the top of the thousand petal lotus of the head.
This last
verse of the Yoga Sutras reflects in meaning the third verse of the text (YS
I.3) that explains Yoga as resulting in “Abidance in the Self-nature of the
Seer (Tadā Draṣṭuḥ Svarūpe avasthānam) or Purusha, which results
from the Chitta Vritti Nirodha, the
definition of Yoga as the detachment from, calming and dis-identification with
the mind or chitta (YS I.2).
Equating
these two verses at the start and end of the text, we see that the Purusha or
Seer (Drashta) and the Shakti of consciousness (Chiti-shakti) are united in the
same Self-nature. Purusha/Atman and its Shakti or power of seeing and knowing
are one, like Shiva and Shakti.
Patanjali
and the Serpent Power
The
name Patanjali refers to a type of serpent and he is portrayed in iconography
as with serpent heads or serpents behind him. In this regard, Patanjali is
identified with Ananta, the cosmic serpent on which Bhagavan Vishnu sits during
the Pralaya, when the universal manifestation is withdrawn. It suggests Shiva
Mahadeva, who is the lord of serpents and Adi Yogi or the primal guru of Yoga.
This means that Patanjali appears as another manifestation of the Serpent Power
like Kundalini which is called the Serpent Power. In the context of Yoga,
serpents symbolize high powerful electrical forces of Consciousness and its
Shakti, which have a knowledge power far beyond the energetic capacities of the
mind.
Patanjali,
Mantra and Vak Shakti
Patanjali,
besides being a Yoga Seer, was famous as a grammarian who commented on the
great Panini who had codified classical Sanskrit. Such Sanskrit grammar was not
just an academic pursuit but a profound meditative study on how all sounds
manifest from OM or Pranava, the primordial cosmic sound, a path of Mantra
Yoga. As such, Patanjali was well acquainted with mantra and Vak Shakti, the
power of speech that has always been associated with Chit-Shakti and Kundalini
Shakti. These Sanskrit sounds are not just words but reflect the vibratory
powers behind the universe as a whole.
Patanjali
Yoga Sutras (YS I.26) refers to Ishvara as the eternal Guru of Yoga, not
limited by time, whose indicator (vacaka) is Pranava/OM (YS nI27). This means
that Mantra Yoga, which arises from OM, is the basis of Patanjali’s Raja Yoga
and of Ishvara Pranidhana, surrendering to Ishvara, which is mentioned as one
of the main means of gaining Samadhi, one of the three principles of Kriya Yoga
and one of the five Niyamas.
Mantra
Yoga unfolds its power in the individual through Kundalini Shakti, which has
three and a half coils like Om, and consists of the letters of the Sanskrit
alphabet that correspond to the petals of the six chakras of the subtle body.
At a cosmic level, Vak Shakti is Ishvara Shakti, the power of Ishvara that is
one with Ishvara, as Adi Yogi and Yoga Shakti. When her mantric power is
awakened within us through her manifestation as the Kundalini, She takes us
back to the state of Ishvara and our own inmost Self.
Such
diverse correlations clearly show the profound connections that exist between
Yoga Sutras and Shakti practices. While many other such correlations are also
possible, what Patanjali taught about Yoga and the teachings of the
Shakta tradition cannot be separated. Shakti is an integral part of the Yoga
Sutras in its views of Pranava, mantra, Consciousness and perception. Shakti
texts teach an integral Raja Yoga, much like the Yoga Sutras, with practices of
all eight limbs of Yoga, as well as an emphasis on Shiva and Shakti.
Honoring
the place of Shakti in Yoga is the very essence of Yoga. Without this Yoga
Shakti or power of consciousness, the inner Yoga of Self-realization cannot
succeed. Do not leave the Shakti out of your Yoga practice or out of your study
of the Yoga Sutras.” ‘
--David
Frawley (Vamdeva Shastri)
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY AS WRITTEN
IN PRASANTHI NILAYAM
How can we lead a life of
divine contemplation even as we dispense our duties? Bhagawan lovingly coaches
us, taking an example.
Do not give up your worldly
duties, but do them with the name of God on your lips, inviting the grace of
God on your heads. Do not involve yourselves in the affairs of your neighbors
or others to the extent that you get so entangled that you cannot extricate
yourselves. Spend your time in the contemplation of the beauties of nature,
which are spread out before you in earth and sky — green expanses of the crops
you have raised, cool breezes that waft contentment and joy, the panorama of
colored clouds, the music of the birds, and so on.
Sing the glories of God as you
walk along the bunds of the fields and the banks of the canals. Do not talk
hatefully in the midst of all this evidence of love, do not get angry in these
placid surroundings; do not disturb the sky with your shouts and curses, and do
not pollute the air with vengeful boasts.
- Divine Discourse of Satya
Saibaba, Sep 02, 1958.
karmany-evadhikaras te ma
phaleshu kadachana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur ma te
sango ’stvakarmani--Bhagavad Gita
You have a right to perform
your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.
Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor
be attached to inaction.
Do your duty, but do not
concern yourself with the results. We have the right to do
our duty, but the results are not dependent only upon our efforts. A number of
factors come into play in determining the results—our efforts, destiny (our
past karmas), the will of God, the efforts of others, the cumulative karmas of
the people involved, the place and situation (a matter of luck), etc. Now if we
become anxious for results, we will experience anxiety whenever they are not
according to our expectations. So Shree Krishna advises Arjun to give up
concern for the results and instead focus solely on doing a good job. The fact
is that when we are unconcerned about the results, we are able to focus
entirely on our efforts, and the result is even better than before.
A humorous acronym for this
is NATO or Not Attached to Outcome. Consider its application
to a simple everyday activity such as playing golf. When people play golf, they
are engrossed in the fruits—whether their score is under par, over par, etc.
Now if they could merely focus on playing the shots to the best of their
ability, they would find it the most enjoyable game of golf they have ever
played. Additionally, with their complete focus on the shot being played, their
game would be raised to a higher level.
The fruits of your actions are
not for your enjoyment. To perform actions is an
integral part of human nature. Having come into this world, we all have various
duties determined by our family situation, social position, occupation, etc.
While performing these actions, we must remember that we are not the enjoyers
of the results—the results are meant for the pleasure of God. The individual
soul is a tiny part of God (verse 15.7), and hence our inherent nature is to
serve him through all our actions.
dāsa bhūtamidaṁ tasya jagatsthāvara jangamam
śhrīmannārāyaṇa swāmī jagatāṁprabhurīśhwaraḥ (Padma Puran)[v40]
“God is the Master of the
entire creation; all moving and non-moving beings are his servants.” Material consciousness
is characterized by the following manner of thoughts, “I am the proprietor of
all that I possess. It is all meant for my enjoyment. I have the right to
enhance my possessions and maximize my enjoyment.” The reverse of this is
Spiritual consciousness, which is characterized by thoughts such as, “God is
the owner and enjoyer of this entire world. I am merely his selfless servant. I
must use all that I have in the service of God.” Accordingly, Shree Krishna
instructs Arjun not to think of himself as the enjoyer of the fruits of his
actions.
Even while working, give up the
pride of doership. Shree Krishna wants Arjun
to give up kartritwābhimān, or the ego of being the doer. He
instructs Arjun never to chase after preconceived motives attached to his
actions nor consider himself as the cause of the results of his actions.
However, when we perform actions, then why should we not consider ourselves as
the doers of those actions? The reason is that our senses, mind, and intellect
are inert; God energizes them with his power and puts them at our disposal. As
a result, only with the help of the power we receive from him, are we able to
work. For example, the tongs in the kitchen are inactive by themselves, but
they get energized by someone’s hand, and then they perform even difficult
tasks, such as lifting burning coal, etc. Now if we say that the tongs are the
doers of actions, it will be inaccurate. If the hand did not energize them,
what would they be able to do? They would merely lie inert on the table.
Similarly, if God did not supply our body-mind-soul mechanism with the power to
perform actions, we could have done nothing. Thus, we must give up the ego of
doing, remembering that God is the only source of the power by which we perform
all our actions.
All the above thoughts are very nicely summarized in the following popular
Sanskrit verse:
yatkṛitaṁ yatkariṣhyāmi tatsarvaṁ na mayā kṛitam | tvayā kṛitaṁ tu phala-bhuk tvameva madhusūdana
“Whatever I have achieved and whatever I wish to achieve, I am not the doer of
these. O Madhusudan, you are the real doer, and you alone are the enjoyer of
their results.”
Do not be attached to inaction. Although the nature of the living being is to work, often
situations arise where work seems burdensome and confusing. In such cases,
instead of running away from it, we must understand and implement the proper
science of work, as explained by Shree Krishna to Arjun. However, it is highly
inappropriate if we consider work as laborious and burdensome, and resort to
inaction. Becoming attached to inaction is never the solution and is clearly
condemned by Shree Krishna.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mulabagilu,
Linked to the Itihasas, Ramayana & Mahabharata
I
believe Dr. Hiranya Gowda of Nashville was from Mulabagilu! Dr. Gowda excelled at school, and in December 1960, he graduated
from Government Medical College in Mysore, India. For the next three years he
interned in India before coming to St. Louis for his residency in General
Practice and Otolaryngology and moving to Nashville in 1970.
In the years since, Dr. Gowda taught otorhinolaryngology at
Meharry for 29 years and at Vanderbilt Medical School for 25 years. He is a philanthropist co-founder
of the Sri Ganesha Temple and the Hindu Cultural Center of Tennessee in 1980.
“Did you know that Mulabagilu, an ancient town
in Karnataka with link to the Itihasa (history) of Ramayana and Mahabharata,
was an important provincial capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th
century, and also now a great religious center of Madhvas?
Mulabagilu
(ಮುಳಬಾಗಿಲು), a
hill landmark at an elevation of 837 m, in the Kolar district of Karnataka, was
known in Ithihasa times of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Mulabagilu is a corrupted
form of the Kannada word "Mudala Bagilu", meaning the eastern gate.
This town is situated at the eastern pass, from the table land of Mysore to the
famous temple of Tirupathi. In some old inscriptions the name appears as
Muluvayi also. of the many temples constructed by Vijayanagara rulers and Chola
kings seen here and in its vicinity are: Sri Anjaneya Temple, Sripadarajamutt
and its holy tank the Narasimha Thirtha, the Someshwara Temple; in Virupakshi
village Sri Virupakshi Swamy Temple; and the nearby Garuda Temple, one of the
ancient epic Ramayana-related temples. Mulabagilu is also a sacred place for
Muslims as the dargah or mausoleum of Sufi Saint Baba Hyder Vali of Mulbagal.
Baba Hyder Vali of Mulbagal or Syed Shah Baba Hyder Auliya Hussaini Suharwardis
is located here.
Historically,
however, this town in the later part of the fifteenth century was an important
provincial capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. In the eighteenth century, the
hill fort in Mulabagilu was the scene of the Battle of Mulabagilu on 4 October
1768 during the First Anglo-Mysore War.
A
legendary tale narrated to the oldest temple here called the Kshetra Palaka
(guardian deiety) Sri Anjaneya Temple (or the Hanuman temple) says that the
idol of Hanuman in this temple was installed by Arjuna, one of the Pandavas,
after the Mahabharata war. It is stated that Arjuna, tired after epic
Kurukshetra war, went on a pilgrimage and brought his flag used on his chariot
during war consisting of an image of Vayu Putra Hanuman and established this
temple here which was then called Shathaka Vatipuri. Sage Vasishta is also
believed to have installed the idols of the main deity Srinivasa, Padmavati and
Rama-Sita-Lakshmana in this temple. This shrine was expanded to its present
elegant form by the rulers of the Vijayanaga Empire in the 15th century.
The
Sri Anjaneya Temple's entrance though looks comparatively small, has a very
spacious interior with many sculptures of Hanuman on the walls. The principal
archa vigraha (Idol) of Lord Veeranjaneya, deified in the garba griha (sanctum
sanctorum), which is nearly 12 feet tall, is sculpted in black granite stone.
The temple Vimana tower has stucco images of Hanuman and his retinue with
folded hands. The Mukha Mandapa (Entrance hall) has idols of Vishnu’s ten
incarnations and those of Hanuman. Just beside the main shrine there are many
other subsidiary shrines such as of Lord Chenna Kesava, Lord Ranganatha and
Lord Lakshmi Narasimha. This temple was renovated and enlarged by Raja
Todarmal, the Finance Minister in Akbar’s Court. The statue of Todarmal and his
wife can be seen carved on the temple wall. There is also sculpture of a lizard
on the wall covered with a brass shield which people worship by touching it
hoping that it would free them from ill effects of a 'Malli Pathan' or lizard
falling on their body.
Mulabagilu,
known as Bhaskara area, also became a great center of Madhva denomination of
Hindusim, with the Sripadarajamutt established by Sripādarāya or Sripadaraja (1422
-1480 AD) in the fifteenth century AD, who described himself as the bee at the
lotus feet of Vithala. Sripadaraja was a Dvaita philosopher, scholar, composer
and the guru of Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya Emperor of Vijayanaga Kingdom, and
educated Vyasatirtha in the Shastras. There is a Swayamvyakta Yoga Narasimha
temple near the vrindavana (samadhi
or tomb) of Vyasatirtha here. The Mutt is also known as the 'Nalanda of South
India'.
Formerly
it was customary for some of the pilgrims to Tirupati, who passed through
Mulbagal from the western parts, go through the preliminary ceremony of
purification here by shaving their heads and bathing in the waters of Narasimha
Thirtha.
Apart
from the famous Veeranjaneya (Hanuman) Temple, this town has a Poorna Prasidda Someshwara
Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The childless couples pray here for a child by
making pradhakshinas.
About
4 km away from Mulabagilu there is the Sri Virupaksha Swamy Temple, in
Virupakshi village, which was built before the 14th century by Vijayanagara
rulers and resembles the Virupaksheshwara Temple in Hampi. Legend says that the
Virupaskha linga was installed by great sage Atri Maharshi, father of Shriguru
Dattatreya. The linga changes its color in 3 ways from sunrise to sunset.
There
are also two gigantic boulders on the top of Mulabagiu hill, described as the
Mahadevana - gundu and the Babaiyyana - gundu; there are two reservoirs on this
hill.
Mulabagilu,
a provincial town, also the taluk head-quarters, with a population of 57,276
(as of 2011 census), is 29 km east-north-east of Kolar, in the Kolar district
in the state of Karnataka, and about 95 km from Bangalore”--Narasimha Achar.
--May 25, 2022
Comments:
Very
good article. Good to know about Mulubagilu, the home town of our Dr. Gowda.
I need to say that he made significant
contribution to that Sri Hanuman Temple to perform major renovations and uplift
of the temple about 5 years ago. I saw the pictures of the renewed temple and
it is very nice.
--Nashville
Nagarajan
------------------------------------------------------
The sound of the Vedas must pervade the world for all time to come
,
Paramacharya was born in 1894 and died in 1994 at
99. I had a unique opportunity to meet him and listen to his advice in Indore while
he visited TATAS. As advised by him I started my Hindu Reflections focusing on
spiritual writings and spreading it worldwide, that you receive also often!
Paramacharya - The sound of the Vedas must pervade the
world for all time to come. Everyone must sincerely work towards achieving this
end. It is your duty to ensure the good not only of the Brahmin community, not
only of all the castes of India, but of all the countless creatures of earth.
It is a duty imposed on you by Isvara- it is a divine duty. It is
important that we perform this duty we owe to the people of the present. But it
is equally important that we perform it so as to be saved from committing a
crime against future generations. "As it is nobody cares for the
Vedas" you are likely to tell me. "Who is going to care for them in
the coming years? What purpose is served by all the efforts we take now to keep
up their study” I do not share this view. When the wheel keeps turning that
part of it which is now down has necessarily to come up. Modern civilization
with its frenzied pace is bound to have its fall after attaining its peak. We
have been carried away by the supposed comforts made possible by advanced
technology. But one day we will realize that they do not give us any felling of
fullness and that we have indeed created only discomforts for ourselves through
them.
--May 24, 2022
COMMENTS:
Sure mama
should we propose Veda chanting Gurukkal in the temples in the US - only
genuinely interested self-disciplined boys/ men to be admitted.
--Aparna Arcot
------------------------------------------------------
HINDU-HISTORY TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS NEEDS A DRASTIC
CHANGE
Vedic Aryans and the
Origins of Civilization
In a major finding that could impact
the understanding of Indian ancestry, the DNA study of a 4500-year-old skeleton
found in Rakhigarhi, in Haryana, suggests that modern people in India are
likely to have descended from the same population.
These path-breaking insights came to
light after scientists were able to sequence genome from the skeleton of a
woman and study the archaeological evidence found in Rakhigarhi, a village
located some 150 kilometers from Delhi. Rakhigarhi is the largest
Harappan site in India.
“The ancient-DNA results completely
reject the theory of steppe pastoral or ancient Iranian farmers as source of
ancestry to the Harappan population. This research also demolishes the
hypothesis about mass human migration during the Harappan time from outside
South Asia,” Prof Vasant Shinde, director of the Rakhigarhi project, said.
Shinde said the new breakthrough
completely sets aside the Aryan migration or invasion theory. “The skeletal
remains found in the upper part of the citadel area of Mohenjodaro belonged to
those who died due to floods and not (of those) massacred by the Aryans as
hypothesized by Sir Mortimer Wheeler. The Aryan invasion theory is based on
very flimsy ground,” Shinde said, adding that the history being taught to us in
text books should now be changed.
The DNA revealed that there was no
migration or inclusion of any Iran or Central Asian gene into Harappan people.
"There is a continuity till the modern times. We are descendants of the
Harappans. Even the Vedic culture and (that of) Harappans are same,” Shinde
said.
“This research, for the first time, has
established the fact that people of Harappan civilization are the ancestors of
most population of South Asia. For the first time, the research indicates
movement of people from east to west. The Harappan people's presence is evident
at sites like Gonur in Turkmenistan and Shahr-i-Sokhta in Iran. As the
Harappans traded with Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persian Gulf and all over South Asia,
there are bound to be movements of people resulting into mixed genetic
history,” he added.
These revelations assume political
significance as there have been demands to rewrite the history books to say
that Vedic people were the original inhabitants of the country and they did not
come from Central Asia. “Our premise that the Harappans were Vedic people thus
received strong corroborative scientific evidence based on ancient DNA
studies,” he added.
Another significant claim in the study
published in the scientific journal Cell, titled "An Ancient
Harappan Genome Lacks Ancestry from Steppe Pastoralists or Iranian Farmers”, is
that farming was not brought to South Asia by large-scale movement of people
from the Fertile Crescent where farming first arose. Instead, farming started
in South Asia by local hunter-gatherers.
As the study results were published,
separate statements were issued by Harvard Medical School which had
collaborated in the study.
"Even though there has been
success with studies of ancient-DNA from many other places, the difficult
preservation conditions mean that studies in South Asia have been a
challenge," says senior author David Reich, a geneticist at Harvard
Medical School, the Broad Institute, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
In this study, Reich, along with
post-doctoral scientist Vagheesh Narasimhan and Niraj Rai, who established a
new ancient-DNA laboratory at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleo-sciences in
Lucknow, led the preparation of the samples. They screened 61 skeletal samples
from a site in Rakhigarhi, the largest city of the Indus valley Civilization. A
single sample showed promise: it contained a very small amount of authentic
ancient DNA. The team made over 100 attempts to sequence the sample. Reich
says: "While each of the individual data sets did not produce enough DNA,
pooling them resulted in sufficient genetic data to learn about population
history."
"Ancestry like that in the Indus
Valley Civilization individuals is the primary ancestry source in South Asia
today," says Reich. "This finding ties people in South Asia today
directly to the Indus Valley Civilization."
The authors of the study, however, have
a word of caution. “Analyzing the genome of only one individual limits the
conclusions that can be drawn about the entire population of the Indus Valley
Civilization.”
Here is what David Frawley & N S
Raja Ram wrote in Voice of India:
“Einstein was fond of saying: “A theory
must not contradict empirical facts”. The Aryan invasion theory then clearly
fails this basic test. It is now time to heed Einstein’s advice and take a look
at the historical processes that led to the formation of this theory.
Before we get to the paradox in question, we first need to be very
clear that by ‘Aryan’ we mean the culture and the society that derive from the
Vedas, and not any race. Dravidians are those who live in the Dravida country,
which, lies in the south of the peninsula. It is a geographical, and not a
cultural term that stands in opposition to the Aryans. In fact, Dravidians are
also Aryans as long as they are part of the same culture. And this has been the
Indian view from time immemorial.
The Paradox of Aryan Invasion Theory
It arises
from the fact that the Harappans of the Indus Valley have left profuse
archaeological records over a vast region – from the borders of Iran and beyond
Afghanistan to Eastern UP and the Tapti Valley. This is an area well over a
million square kilometers in extent that must have supported several millions
of people, assuming even a moderate population density. And yet these people
have left absolutely no literary records. The Vedic Aryans and their successors
on the other hand have left us a literature that is probably the largest in the
world. But according to the Aryan invasion theory there is absolutely no
archaeological record that they ever existed. So we have a concrete history and
archaeology of a vast civilization of ‘Dravidians’ lasting thousands of years
that left no literature, and a huge literature by the Vedic Aryans who have
left behind to history and no archaeological records.
It is
also worth noting that the earliest ‘Dravidian’ literature – in Tamil – dates
from no earlier than the first century BCE, more than two thousand years after
the period when the Harappan society was at its Height. This is made doubly
paradoxical by the fact that the Harappans we know were literate while the
invading Aryans supposedly were not, and yet it is the literature of the
illiterate Aryans that has survived; of the literature of the literate
Harappans, not a trace is said to have remained.
Then
there is the further paradox of the sciences. The proponents of the Aryan
invasion tell us that geometry and astronomy were borrowed by the Indians from
the Greeks following Alexander’s invasion of India. But the so-called Indus
(Harappan) sites from Mahenjo-Daro, Harappan and many others show that the
inhabitants must have been quite adept at geometry and basic arithmetic. From
time immemorial, town planning with carefully laid out streets and drainage
systems has been the hallmark of the Hindu city. The world had to wait some two
thousand years, until the Roman Empire, before town planning and sanitation
attained the same levels as in Harappan cities. How could this be possible if
the Indians knew no geometry before Alexander? Where did the mathematics needed
for all this come from?
All this
is still only the beginning. Harappan sites from Baluchistan to Gujarat to UP
have revealed Yajnasalas or Vedic sacrificial altars showing
that its inhabitants were followers of the Vedic religion. The Sulbasutras,
which are mathematical texts from the post Vedic period, contain detailed
technical instructions for the construction of sacrificial altars of various
kinds. Based on Seidenberg’s pioneering work and a comparison of the Sulbasutras with
Egyptian and Old-Babylonian records, it is shown later that the mathematics of
the Sulbasutras must have existed long before 2000 BCE. In the
same context, we also make the case that even Egyptian pyramids of the third
dynasty and earlier (before 2500 BCE) were very probably based on a Vedic
funeral altar known as the Smasana-cit. The late American
mathematician and historian of science Seidenberg in fact demonstrated that all
ancient mathematics is derived from “Vedic mathematics’ as the Sulbasutras are
commonly known. All this preceded Pythagoras the ‘father of Greek geometry’
(which he was not) by two thousand years or more.
We are thus left with the paradox of examples of construction that
are part of the supposedly Dravidian Indus sites, while the instructions for
building them are found in the Vedic literature of the invading Aryans who
supposedly destroyed them. A paradox indeed! Thus the only explanation is it
was Vedic mathematics – as the Sulbasutras
are commonly known – that made the great cities of the Harappan civilization
possible.
Einstein
was fond of saying: “A theory must not contradict empirical facts”. The Aryan
invasion theory then clearly fails this basic test.
These new
findings about ancient mathematics are now making their way into modern books
on history of science. Historians of science as a rule have shown themselves to
be more willing than many ‘establishment’ Indian historians to change their
views in the face of mounting evidence. The scientific evidence against the
invasion theory therefore is just overwhelming. The real question comes down to
one of interpretation of the Rigveda and the steps necessary towards
formulating a chronology of the Aryans in the light of new data as well as new
scientific techniques now available to the historian. And this we see as one of
the principal contributions of the present work.
As far as
the Aryan invasion theory is concerned, the question may now be framed not so
much as an explanation of facts or evidence, as one of sociology and politics.
How could this theory that is contradicted by nearly all the evidence, continue
to be the ‘establishment’ version of history found in our texts, and even in
such authoritative sources as the Encyclopedia Britannica?
How did
it get established in the first place? To understand this we must go back to
the issue raised by Einstein, and study the process by which a
theory is formed and gets established.
This
leads us to a second story – the story of the rise and impending fall of this
theory of a mythical invasion that really belongs to the pseudo-sciences, but
was somehow sustained by politics and appeals to authority. This is by itself a
fascinating story, one that should be known to everyone interested in history,
and not only of India. Heaven knows how much falsehood has been perpetrated on
generations of unsuspecting students as ‘history’ by ‘experts’ with axes to
grind.
But
unlike India, most other ancient societies have left behind nothing but mute
monuments, with no living continuing tradition to rise up and challenge the
portrayal of their past by scholars with alien mindsets. As custodians of this
great tradition, it is the duty of Indian scholars to lead the effort in the
writing of a more balanced and accurate history of the ancient world. And this
goes far beyond the Aryan invasion and the Aryan-Dravidian conflicts.
It is now
time to heed Einstein’s advice and take a look at the historical processes that
led to the formation of this theory”--David
Frawley & N S Rajaram, Voice
of India.
--May 22, 2022
LEAVE THE EPHEMERAL, HOLD THE ETERNAL
Spirituality
and happiness both are very important concept of a human life. In spirituality
person relate himself or herself to a broader than himself/ herself and also
make able to find a meaning or purpose of life this process also makes him/her
happy and satisfied in life. The present study is aimed to find the correlation
between these two important concepts of human life spirituality and happiness.
The SHS questionnaire of Lyubomirsky and Leeper to measure happiness and DSES
scale developed by Underwood are used in this study. Cluster sample of 100 (25
to 30 years) were selected from Udaipur city. Pearson Product Moment
Correlation method was used to compute correlation coefficient between the
scores of SHS and DSES. Results of this study showed that there is a positive
high correlation between spirituality and happiness.
Since spirituality is so deeply rooted in providing meaning, it is a
direct access point for greater happiness. Spirituality brings a sense of
meaning to a chaotic world. When life events (large and small) take on greater
significance, spiritual people are better able to cope with stress.
Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas
Realize
the divinity within yourself and the oneness of all life. Manifest that
divinity in your daily life through peace, love, and service to all
beings.
Vedantic
Meditations, Self-Inquiry and the practice of “Who AM I” will transform the way
in which you perceive yourself and the world and will take you to the highest
knowledge, peace and bliss.
Swami
Sivananda says that Vedanta must enter your bones, nerves, cells and interior
chambers of your heart.
Join
Rukmini Chaitanya in her next online course: Who Am I: The Practice of Vedantic
Inquiry to elevate your mind and discover that you are immortal, fearless, and
free!
https://online.sivanandabahamas.org/.../who-am-i-the.../
Please
recall my discourse:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/01/who-am-i-i-am-not-body-body-is-not-for.html
Please
do not miss Webinar of Swami Chidananda-- LEAVE THE EPHEMERAL,
HOLD THE ETERNAL
Gist of the Presentation:
Before bringing his immortal advice to King
Dhritarāshtra to a close, the wise counsellor of
Hastināpura,
Vidura, gives the old man some very precious tips on living a happy life. In
the last and eighth chapter of the section, famously known as Vidura-Neeti in
the Mahābhārata, there is an emphasis on holding on to
dharma, which is timeless, and letting go of our attachment to pleasure,
comforts, friends, family etc. By the same token, we are asked to say goodbye
to our aversion to pain, inconveniences, critics, adversaries etc.
The 32 verses of this chapter* can be helpful
to any of us to make mid-course corrections in our way of living, to set our
priorities right and to get ready to leave this world with dignity and grace.
This webinar will give a bird’s eye view of
the entire chapter while highlighting verse 13.
Renounce the transitory things and establish
yourself in things of permanent value!
॥॥ त्यक्त्वा अनित्यं , प्रतितिष्ठस्व नित्ये ॥ ॥
/ tyaktvā anityam, prati-tisthasva nitye /
Vidura-Neeti, 8:13
[*The 8 chapters, 33 thru 40 of Udyoga-Parva,
constitute Vidura-Neeti.]
--May 21, 2022
Personal Ecology: A Reflection on
Community
You will not be
fully confident in your leadership until you are sure about who you are at your
core, what you stand for, and how you want to change your part of the world.
This is a journey I have been on
myself these last few years, a journey to connect with my true self and what I
most want to create in this next phase of my life!
Vedic
Concept of Ecology by David Frawley
Our
Present Crisis as a Species
We live
in an ecological era in which we can no longer ignore, exploit or harm our
natural environment without significant consequences to our own lives, and to
our future as a species. The Covid
Pandemic is one sign of this danger along with climate change and the damage to
our natural environment that we have wrought by our exploitation of nature’s
resources.
Over the
past several centuries since the industrial era and rapid growth of the human
population we have disrupted and polluted our biosphere in a fundamental
manner. Our information technology era today has become aware of the problem,
but has yet to arrive at a fundamental solution to this complicated issue and
often contributes to it.
The
Human Being and the Cosmic Being
In
the Vedic view, the human being is a manifestation of the Cosmic Being. We are
not just products of our society, we are linked to the universe as a whole. The
Cosmic Being, called Purusha in the Vedas, is the consciousness behind the
entire universe, of which all creatures and all worlds form its various cells,
limbs and organs, much like the cells, limbs and organs of the human body. In
other words, the human being is a manifestation or replica of the greater
universe in a miniature or individualized form in time and space.
This
Comic Person or Purusha can potentially manifest itself through the human
being, linking us back to our universal origins. Yet for that to occur we must
return to the core of our being and the highest potential of our species, which
is one of Self-realization, the discovery of the Self-aware universe within us
as our true nature.
This
unity of the individual Self or Jivatman with the universal and transcendent
Self or Paramatman is the foundation of Vedic thought, such as examined in Yoga
and Vedanta. Great Rishis and Yogis have achieved that state of unity with the
Cosmic Being and taught that to others in a continual line of instruction for
thousands of years in India.
Yoga
in its true sense aims at the unification of the individual with the universal
being, the Purusha mentioned in the Yoga Sutras as its goal. Vedanta aims at
the unification of the individual Self (Jivatman) with the universal Self
(Atman). For this various purpose various sadhanas and meditation practices are
recommended on an individual level, rooted in the study and application of
various core texts or shastras, along with special lifestyle disciplines as in
the Yamas and Niyamas of Yoga.
This
means that we are ecologically interwoven with the entire universe, not just
with nature on Earth but with all the forces of time, space, energy, life and
mind in the cosmos. There is an interdependence of all life and an underlying
unity to all existence. We have a potential inner connection to Cosmic
Intelligence, far more transformative connection than to any internet or media
system that we have created, or any collection of human based historical
knowledge.
Discovering
the Universal Self
How
then do we discover that inner Self, Atman or Purusha, which takes us from the
individual to the universal, from the human to the cosmic? This transformative
process must begin with a responsible ecological way of life at personal and
collective levels, including respecting and not interfering with or exploiting
any of nature’s ecosystems on this planet. We must learn to look upon all
ecosystems as part of our own greater being and consciousness, not as something
on the outside or apart from us.
The
additional advantage of this cosmic view is that it also aids in the evolution
of consciousness in our species, and the unfoldment of a higher intelligence
within us at both individual and collective levels as the root of fulfilling
our right role as an intelligent species on the planet on our planet.
We
must recognize the organic unity of the whole of life of which we are part of,
much like the organic unity within our own human body. As such, we must learn
our proper role in the cosmic order, not just in our human society, which is to
serve the whole of life and nature and care for it as we would our own home and
family, which it actually is!
The view
of the ancient Vedic Rishis was to root our civilization in this higher cosmic
vision. We need this more than ever in our global technological age
“We spent a generous
amount of time learning Personal Ecology, which
is the art of maintaining balance, pacing, and efficiency to sustain our energy
over a lifetime of activism. Personal ecology is crucial to leadership
development because without people doing the work on the ground, the field
cannot sustain this work over time and we will not be able to see the results
we want. We cannot have programs that are more inclusive, networked, or
collective if we cannot sustain ourselves and our partners in this work.
Last year, for Creating Space X, we traveled to Baltimore.
Although the meeting was a success and I had a lot of fun interacting with
our community, I must admit that I completely failed at maintaining balance.
The meeting momentum, the change in time zone, the 12-hour flight, plus
all the unpacking and repacking, the three-days of waking up at 3am Pacific and
going to bed late into the night, compiled by the running around, and a red-eye
flight back home; all of that caught up to me the second I arrived home and my
body finally gave into the exhaustion in the form of shingles. Yes, I came down
with a case of shingles! Even the doctors were surprised that at my age I could
get this, but it was a reminder, once again, that I do have physical limits. We
all do, and when we are in complete imbalance we all have ways of knowing it;
for some our bodies may give out for others they may lose the joy they find in
their work, or some sacrifice everything outside of their work and lose the
space and people that rejuvenate them.
It goes without saying that last year, was a painful lesson
for me; one I refused to repeat. This year, I cannot pretend that I was an
unwavering Zen master these past weeks, far from it, but I can confidently say,
I did NOT get sick as a result of this work. Which for me, is always the
ultimate tell-tale sign. For one, I did not skip meals, I slept at least six
hours a night, and I prepared as much as possible beforehand so that there were
the least amounts of hiccups. Eating, rest, and organization may seem like the
simple basics, but all of which other non-profit colleagues have also confessed
to deserting at different stress-filled times.
At Rockwood, the participants were able to reflect on our
ability to find balance. For that entire week, we were placed in this beautiful
outdoor setting, others prepared our food, folks that reminded us that it
was time to eat, snacks appeared at perfect intervals, our schedules were
pre-set, the internet was spotty and there was little cell phone reception. At
home, this is not a reality for most of us. Although, taking care of ourselves
to remain balanced seems like a completely independent endeavor, I am
constantly learning that it’s more sustainable when we have the help of those
around us. By spreading the load, not only for the actual work, but looking out
for each other’s welfare, we are making personal ecology attainable
and sustainable for more than just ourselves.
The biggest difference for me this year, was having others
do little things to help me do the physical work and reduce the toll on me
personally. The extra brownies didn’t help that much (although they were
delicious), but being brought a healthy lunch by Elizabeth one day, the
help of others to carry heavy supplies, my husband changing his schedule
and taking more on at home, having a staff “supply/set-up-party;” all of those
things added up enormously. Taking moments to meditate and
reflecting right then-and-there on how I was doing with my personal ecology,
helped some too, but being in community in this way, was for me the greatest
change maker. In turn, I hope to be a personal ecology catalyst for those
around me and continue to create this “collective ecology;” where we are all
together in balance with ourselves and one another.
Being in balance means that we know our limitations, and can
constantly remain at a pace that challenges us but does not harm or break us.
Some may find their balance right away, but others, myself included, will be
working through this for a lifetime to remain in this work for as long as
possible in a way that brings joy and sustainable change for the communities we
hope to change. I do believe that together, we can make this happen without
self-sacrificing parts of ourselves through this and in the end that is at the
core of collective leadership which clearly differentiates it from the
traditional, individual, heroic models”-- Miriam Persley
If you don't have
confidence in yourself, how can you expect other people to?
Having a positive self-attitude affects everything we do and impacts all the people around us - from
friends to co-workers. Personal Ecology is a unique tool for creating and
reinforcing a healthy and positive self-image.
Personal Ecology uses Dr. Lloyd Glauberman's revolutionary HPP method
to unlock the power of our unconscious mind - removing barriers to a healthy
sense of self-esteem. With HPP programs, we can expect new positive thoughts
and behaviors to spontaneously appear in
our life. Let us become calm and centered, avoid self-sabotage, and tap into
our inner personal power. The first step to accomplishing our dreams is
self-confidence. The first step to self-confidence is Personal Ecology.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashtakshari Mantra and its Role
in your Life
Ashta:kshari Mantra reveals the
beautiful ever-lasting bond between you and the supreme power, God. Even if you
realized this truth from a guru through the mantra or not,
the bond existed and will continue to exist forever.
There are
several mantras. Each one describes a unique quality of that supreme
power, God. These divine qualities are
countless, just like the number of stars in the universe. Let’s take for
example the mantra, “Sri Ra:ma:ya Namaha”. This describes Sri Rama’s exquisite
beauty and how it is extremely captivating and pleasing to everyone. “Sri
Pundari:ka:ksha:ya Namaha” describes the lotus petal-shaped, wide eyes of God.
Like this, Sri Bhi:shma:cha:rya
sung 1000 such qualities of God known as Sri Vishnu Sahasra Namam. It does not
mean that Sri Vishnu Sahasra Namam completely described all the qualities of
God. It simply means that Sri Bhi:shma:cha:rya selectively revealed this many
qualities describing God via this many mantras.
If mantras are
innumerable, how can I learn them all?
Sri Prahla:da meditated
a mantra given by his Guru, Narada Maharshi. It is Ashta:kshari
Maha:mantra, the 8 lettered Na:ra:yana mantra. Also known as “Mantra Bramha”,
the greatest of mantras.
Ashta:kshari Maha:mantra is
also known called Mantra rajam (king of all mantras). It is
celebrated throughout Vedic culture, texts, and history as the most potent
means to end suffering. It was so mercifully shared with the world by Sri
Ra:ma:nujacha:rya to end the suffering of others.
Ashta:kshari is the seed of all mantras.
A seed of a tree includes within
its thousands of parts like branches, leaves, fruits, and many other seeds.
Similarly, this mantra is the seed mantra of all mantras able to grant all
kinds of amazing benefits to the world when chanted with complete faith.
Prahla:da was able to fall from a cliff, survive fire, emerging from an ocean,
and even able to drink poison without troubles due to the strength of this
mantra. The complete trust Prahla:da had in this mantra brought God
Himself in the form of Sri Narasimha avatar. He trusted in God so much
that God was with him throughout his life giving him strength to cross all
kinds of hurdles. That is the role
that mantras play in peoples’ lives whom have faith.
Does it eliminate the
coronavirus?
We cannot ask for the
elimination of anything. Everything belongs to the universal existence. The
appropriate desire is to seek protection from God from any upcoming hurdle
(virus or any other hurdle) in the journey of life, devoted to Him carrying out
righteous activities responsibly.
The abuse of chemicals during
crop-production, disrupting the natural course of animals for material gains,
or the misuse and overuse of natural resources to benefit greedy lifestyles,
eating habits must be reformed. Until then, we will continue to see the effect
in the form of all such viruses. Everyone has played a part in contributing to
those ill-practices and the impact of it is affecting the world currently in
the form of COVID-19.
Let’s take an oath that we
change our conduct and act more responsibly. Hopefully, God will protect us
all.
A 40-day Ashtakshari Mahamantra
Havan
For the sake of all those who
want to live responsibly, and spend life devoted to and in service of God, a
divine prayer program has begun and is the 7th day today. As described in agama
scriptures, this 40-day Ashta:kshari Maha:mantra japam is being
carried out in a specific procedure that involves lakhs of mantra
japam in meditation, while making offerings and prayers to God through the
fire Devata, Agni, and flowers to God residing the form Deity.
How does God protect us when
the mantra is chanted?
As soon as God makes
a Sankalpa, a divine decision to relieve us from ill-health due to the
impact of our sins, His prime instrument, weapon, and ornament, Sri Sudarshana
takes action. Thus, the Sri Sudarshana Homam also is being performed in
gratitude to his obedience and humble devotion in exercising God’s will.
Ashta:kshari Maha:mantra is therefore a clear gateway that eliminates ignorance
and bestows knowledge about ultimate truths of life, and its goal.
--From the discourse of Sri Chinna
Jeeyar Swamiji
knamiṁ tasya
bahubhirmantrai: kiṁ tasya
bahubhirvratai: |
ō nārāyaṇāyēti mantra: sarvārthasādhaka: |
Whoever chants ‘naaraayaNa ashtakshari mantra’ japa – they
need not chant any other mantra(s). As all the Phalas (uses and benefits),
which can be derived from the other mantras, can get by chanting this great
mantra itself.
THE MEAING OF THE SHIVA LINGA
Mahanarayana Upanishad being a
Mantra Upanishad includes the following mantras for meditation:
sadyojātaṁ prapadyāmi sadyojātāya vai namo namaḥ .
bhave bhave nātibhave bhavasva
mām . bhavodbhavāya namaḥ
I take refuge in Sadyojāta. Verily I salute Sadyojāta again and again! O
Sadyojāta, do not consign me to repeated birth; lead me beyond birth, into the
state of bliss and liberation. I bow down to Him who is the source of trans
migratory existence.
These and the succeeding 4
formulas of salutation and prayer are called Pañca-brahma-mantras, directed to Supreme Being is
employed in the worship and meditation of Mahādeva Linga visualized as having
five faces turned towards the four quarters and up.
These are also prescribed for
japa by a person who desires divine illumination.
The
term Sadyojāta literally means “he who is born today”. The Lord
described here is the embodiment of all knowledge. His westward face is
supposed to be responsible for the evolution of the universe from the unevolved
condition.
When this face
is pratyag-vṛtti (out-turned), the cycle of birth and death begins to turn
and sustains creation. When it is prāg-vṛtti (in-turned) Mahādeva grants Release.
That aspect of Mahādeva, which
is responsible for Saṁsāra is called Sadyojāta. The worshipper who has
realized the limitations and miseries of the world, therefore, prays to
Sadyojāta:
May He not consign me any more to the round of birth and death, but lift me out
of it and set me on the path of Release. He who binds the jīva with His
delusive power alone can give him Release, and the helpless bound Soul has
nothing with him to buy his release except humility, self-surrender,
self-abnegation and continuous aspiration implied in the word namaḥ.
vāmadevāya namo jyeṣṭhāya namaḥ śreṣṭhāya namo rudrāya
namaḥ kālāya namaḥ kalavikaraṇāya namo balavikaraṇāya namo
balāya namo balapramathāya namaḥ sarvabhūtadamanāya namo
manonmanāya namaḥ
Salutation to Vāma deva! Salutation to Jyeṣṭhā! Salutation to Śreṣṭha! Salutation to Rudra! Salutation to Kāla! Salutation to Kala- vikaraṇa! Salutation to Balavikarana! Salutation to Bala! Salutation to
Balapramathana! Salutation to Sarvabhūtadamana! Salutation to Manon-
mana! These eleven salutations are subjoined to eleven Divine Names describing
the northward face of Mahādeva.
The Names in their numerical
older of occurrence are now interpreted:
1. The beautiful and
shining One or (taking the sense of generous for Vāma) the generous God.
2. The Eldest, existing before
creation.
3. The most worthy and
excellent.
4. He who causes creatures to
weep at the time of dissolution.
5. He who is the Power of time
responsible for the evolution of Nature.
6. He who causes changes in the
evolution of the universe beginning with Prakṛti.
7. He who is the producer of
varieties and degrees of strength.
8. He who is the source of all
strength.
9. He who suppresses all power
at the time of retraction.
10 The Ruler of all the created
beings.
11. He who is the kindler of
the light of the soul.
aghorebhyo ghoraghoratarebhyaḥ / sarvataḥ sarva sarvebhyo namaste astu rudrarūpebhyaḥ .
Now, O Sarva, my salutations be
at all times and all places to Thy Rudra forms, benign, terrific, more terrific
and destructive.
Uttering this mantra, one salutes Mahādeva’s southward face and the aspect
called Aghora Śiva or Dakṣiṇāmūrti.
Rudra is the Supreme Lord
dwelling in all created beings. He is endowed with many forms that are either
Sāttvika, Rājasa or Tāmasa called here respectively as Aghora, ghora and
ghoratara.
tatpuruṣāya vidmahe mahādevāya dhīmahi . tanno rudraḥ
May we know or realize the Supreme Person. For that, may we
meditate upon Mahādeva and to that meditation may Rudra impel us. /Śiva
Gāyatrī/
Here this Gāyatrī is reproduced
to worship and meditate upon the eastward face of Mahādeva.
īśānaḥ sarva vidyānām īśvaraḥ sarva bhūtānāṁ brahmādhipatir-brahmaṇo' adhipatirbrahmā śivo me astu sadāśivom
May the Supreme who is the luster of all knowledge, controller of all created
beings, the preserver of the Vedas and the one overlord of Hiraṇyagarbha, be benign to me! I am
the Sadāśiva described thus and denoted
by Prāṇava.
This is the mantra prescribed for the worship and meditation of Mahādeva as ūrdhva-vaktraṃ, i. e., with upturned face.
The expression sadāśivom stands for Sadāśiva Om. This mantra is also referring to the Supreme Lord. Sadashiva is
explained as sarvada niravadyaha.
The Chāṇḍogya III 19 1 describes that the whole universe was hatched out of
a golden egg, which lay a complete year before it brought forth
offspring.
The spherical dome of the
heavens above, appearing to us capping the earth on which we live, may be
likened to an enormous semi-section of an egg containing the world.
Perhaps this golden egg landed itself to be fancied as the visible symbol of
the limitless all-inclusive Divine Reality into which the manifold universe was
believed to be reabsorbed at the end.
Pancha Bhoota
Sthalam refers
to five temples dedicated to Shiva, each
representing a manifestation of the five prime elements of nature: earth,
water, fire, air, and ether. Pancha indicates
"five," Bhoota means "elements," and Sthala means
"place." The temples are located in South India, four in Tamil Nadu and one
in Andhra Pradesh. The five elements
are believed to be enshrined in the five lingams of the temples, with each lingam named based on
the element represented. Amazingly, all these 5 temples are located on the
longitudes 78 - 79° E, with very minute differences.
The Liṅga which is worshipped by the devotee of Śiva is but a handy
replica or a convenient diminutive form of the universal semi-spherical emblem
of the Unlimited.
Śiva Liṅga
may be carved out of stone, naturally found as stalagmite, or shaped out of
gold, metal and the like. The Liṅga therefore, is a symbol concealing a truth behind. This
word LINGA occurring in various compound names above are to be interpreted in
the light of the tradition behind the word!
Please go through David Frawley
says:
“The Shiva Linga is part of a
vast nature symbolism of ascending cosmic energy and consciousness. Such
ascending forms pervade the whole of nature and include mountains, fire, trees,
standing stones, pyramids, Sun, Moon, lightning, and even the mantra OM.
We find such cosmic dualities
as Shiva and Shakti in the yin and yang of Taoism and many other traditions.
These are often related to ancient traditions of standing stones, pyramids,
pillars and obelisks on the Shiva side. On the Shakti side we have sacred
flowers, grottos, caves, rivers, springs, lakes or sacred circles.
The sexual reductionism of the
Shiva linga by modern Western scholars and their often-graphic images involved,
particularly those trained in Freudian psychology, is part of their deep-seated
sexual obsessions overall, which are almost pathological. They see sex organs
everywhere as if there were no deeper meaning to anything else.
While the Yoga and Shaivite
traditions recognize seven chakras from the root chakra below to the thousand
petal lotus above, modern psychologists remain trapped in the lower two chakras
and their sexual connotations, which is only their outer functions.
The Supreme Shiva (Parashiva)
is the supreme light of Consciousness, our inner Self (Paramatman) that is
eternal and infinite. The Supreme Shakti (Parashakti) is the power of
Consciousness (Chit-Shakti) which is the ultimate origin of all creation.
All this can be found by
studying Shaivite and Shakti texts from the Saundarya Lahiri of Shankaracharya
to the many works of Kashmir Shaivism and the vast practice of Sri Vidya.
Please learn about the cosmic powers within us and how they can lead us to the
Supreme Transcendent!
Shiva Mahadeva is the Supreme Yogi. From him
arises the knowledge of meditation, mantra, prana and asana. He takes us to the
highest Samadhi and our inmost Self beyond body and mind."
Namah Shivaya!
What is Moksha, Is it Liberation, Freedom, or
Bliss?
“The
mind like the body needs its daily rest and renewal to reset its perception and
creativity, and to remove mental toxins and blockages. Deep meditation is the
best way to do this. Otherwise the mind becomes more dense, conditioned,
reactive and disturbed. Note our examination.
Learn
how to reset your mind to connect to your highest awareness and its
transformative power of expression.”--David Frawley
Rebirth,
suffering, and the cycle of death
The most fundamental
tool yoga gives us to achieve moksha is conscious awareness. Through the
use of awareness, we can slowly begin to see our projections, desires,
attachments, and judgments for what they are. Once these distorting factors
become conscious, they are able to dissolve and unblock the way to a direct
experience of reality. When we become liberated from the illusionary world of
Maya we are able to be in yoga: the union of the inner self (Atman) with the
oneness of all life (Brahman) is a
philosophy that all share common beliefs around the concept
of self-realization and enlightenment. These ideas of the possibility of
freedom, liberation, and the emancipation from the bondage of suffering,
attachment, and ignorance are the guiding principles for these spiritual paths.
The philosophical concepts of Moksha, Maya, Karma, and Samsara are necessary
for yogis to learn and understand if they wish to move along the path of
enlightenment. Even if your goal is not self-realization, the spiritual
practices originating from these philosophies can reduce suffering and increase
your sense of inner-peace, contentment, and joy.
--May 21, 2022
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Power of Durga in the Ancient Mridanga Saileswari Temple
Constructed by Sage Parasurama
There is an
ancient temple in India made famous by thieves. Four times in recent history,
thieves stole the temple idol but returned it as they could not go far with it.
The reasons they gave makes the story even more intriguing.
Mridanga Saileswari Temple is an ancient temple
located at Muzhakunnu, Kannur district in the southern state of Kerala. The
temple is among the 108 temples believed to have been established by Sage
Parasurama. There is a story behind the temple getting the name “Mridanga
Saileswari”.
Mridangam is a percussion instrument from India
of ancient origin. In ancient Hindu sculpture, mridangam is often depicted as
the instrument of choice of Hindu deities like Ganesha and Nandi, the vehicle
and follower of Shiva. Mridangam is also known as Deva Vaadyam or the musical
instrument of the Gods. It is believed that a piece of rock, perhaps a meteor,
in the shape of Mridanga fell from heaven at this place and Sage Parasurama,
feeling the presence of Goddess, invoked her into the Rock and established a
temple for her.
Mridanga Shaileswari temple is also considered
as the birthplace of South Indian Classical dance, Kathakali. In this temple,
Goddess Sakti is present in three forms namely, Kali, Saraswati and Lakshmi.
A couple of
years back, Rtd. Director-General of Police of Kerala State, Shri Alexander
Jacob made public the stories of four robberies that happened in this temple in
previous years. The estimated value of the temple idol is around 1.5 crores.
With no security around the temple, it was an easy target for thieves.
The first break-in at the temple took place in
1979. The thieves took the idol from the temple, but the next day morning, the
idol was found to be abandoned few meters from the temple. The Police couldn’t
find the culprits. The idol was re-consecrated as per the rituals. The ritual
lasts 41 days and requires certain mantras to be recited 41 Lakh times.
A few years
later the story repeated. But this time, police could not find the idol and the
investigation was stuck without any leads. The temple authorities decided to go
for an Ashta mangala Devaprashna. Ashta
Mangala Deva Prasna is conducted to ascertain the causes and to plan
remedial actions.
With the deva prashna, it was calculated that the
idol was travelling towards the state of Tamil Nadu but the powerful idol of
Goddess will return to its abode by its own divine power.
As predicted,
on the 42nd day, Police received information of an abandoned idol beside a
highway in Palakat near Tamil Nadu with a note left behind. The note read –
“The idol is from Mridanga Shaileswari Temple, we are not able to take it any
further. Please return it to the temple”. Again the idol was re=-consecrated
like the previous time with rituals lasting 41 days. But the Police could not
trace the thieves this time too.
Since this is
the second time, Police suggested improving the security for the temple by
posting a police guard there. But the temple authorities declined the offer
saying that the Goddess can protect herself.
Soon thieves
struck for a third time, this time, a gang from the state of Karnataka. They
planned their route through the forests of Wayanad to Karnataka to
evade the Police. The Police were clueless for the next three days, but this
time, both the temple authorities and the local people were confident that the
Goddess will find her way back, even if the police failed to find the culprits.
On the third
day by mid-afternoon, the Police received an anonymous call from a lodge in
Kalpatta, Wayanad in Kerala. The caller introduced himself as one of the gang
members and gave details of the location of the idol. He requested the Police
to return the idol to the temple citing that they are not able to take the idol
with them. Police found the idol at the lodge, with flowers and a lighted lamp
placed near the idol. The usual rituals followed and the idol re-consecrated.
Statue of Pazhassiraja at Mridanga Saileswari
Temple
Police made a
breakthrough in the second robbery attempt by accident. A gang of idol thieves
from Tamil Nadu were caught when they attempted to steal idol from another
temple in Cochin. They confessed stealing idol from Mridanga Shaileswari a few
years back. Same way, people behind the third robbery attempt was also caught
accidentally when they attempted to steal idol from a temple in Kasaragod in
Kerala. They confessed their role in the third robbery attempt at Mridanga
Shaileswari Temple.
Naturally the
curious Police wanted to know, the reason behind the serial thieves, abandoning
the Mridanga Shaileswari idol halfway through. Both the gangs gave the same
reason that astonished the police.
When they touched the idol, they lost their
sense of direction and everyone entered into a confused state of mind and lost
all sense of direction and could not proceed further and they decided to
abandon the idol halfway through.
Three failed attempts did not deter another gang
of idol thieves. This time it was a gang of seasoned thieves from a minority
community in Kerala state itself. They did not believe in the supernatural
powers of the idol. They also abandoned the idol. When later caught, they gave
the same reason for abandoning the idol.
There are a lot
of things around us that we cannot reason with our intelligence and our
scientific knowledge.
Waiting
for blessed darshan of Durga
Mata in Shaileshwari temple as and when AMMA permits.
Comments:
Thank you
kindly Sir, for posting this article; it revived in me personally the faith I
have in divine power, it truly overwhelms me in so many ways knowing about the
divine spirit which is everywhere, empowering the humans in their beliefs in
their destiny stirring the inner spirit to follow the spiritual ways, which
glows with “God’s Grace”. I realize
their journey for soul’s liberation.🙏
Dr. Ram Prasad
Such incidents give us faith in the existence
of The Almighty!
--A.N. Sapthagireeshan
Thank you for
forwarding this. I love to have Darshan of the
Devi. But all depends on her grace only. Thank you again.
--Rekha Pattanaek
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BUDDHA PURNIMA on may 16, 2022
Swami Vivekananda on Buddha- Buddha was a great
Vedantist (for Buddhism was really only an offshoot of Vedanta), and Shankara
is often called a "hidden Buddhist". Buddha made the analysis,
Shankara made the synthesis out of it. .Buddha never bowed down to anything —
neither Veda, nor caste, nor priest, nor custom. He fearlessly reasoned so far
as reason could take him. Such a fearless search for truth and such love for
every living thing the world has never seen. Buddha was the Washington of the
religious world; he conquered a throne only to give it to the world, as
Washington did to the American people. He sought nothing for himself. Buddha
was a reformer of Hinduism.
Buddha Purnima is on May 16 this year
(in India and Nepal) or May 19 (for those in Southeast Asian countries). The
date varies because May has two full moon days, and the Buddhist and Hindu
lunar calendars can be interpreted differently. Buddha’s birth is celebrated as
part of a festival called ‘Vesak,’ which combines the three key events of his
life — his birth, enlightenment, and death. Join us on a deep dive into the
fascinating life of this profound spiritual leader.
HISTORY OF BUDDHA PURNIMA
Buddha Purnima (also known as Buddha
Jayanti) celebrates the birth of Prince Siddharta Gautama — a Nepali prince
(circa 563-483 B.C.) who later went on to become known as the Buddha, the
founder of Buddhism. The word ‘Purnima’ is Sanskrit for ‘full moon’, which
explains why it is celebrated on a full moon day, and ‘Jayanti’ means
‘birthday’. The word Buddha is given to those who attain ‘bodhi’ or wisdom,
hence the name was ascribed to Siddartha once he attained enlightenment. It is
commonly celebrated during the month of ‘Vaisakhi’ in Hindu/Buddhist lunar
calendars.
However, Buddha’s followers never
officially celebrated his birthday, though, for many centuries, festivals to
honor Buddha were held. In fact, the celebration of Buddha Purnima was not
formalized until modern times. It was only in May 1950, at the first conference
of the World Fellowship of Buddhists in Colombo, Sri Lanka, that Buddha Purnima
was officiated as a celebration during Vesak. It was agreed upon that the day
of the full moon in May would be auspicious, due to Buddha attaining nirvana on
a full moon day.
The reason why Buddhism began to gain
popularity was due to the teachings of non-violence, respect for life, and a
more equal approach to the role of women — concepts that were very much in
keeping with both tradition and modern ideas of progress. Thus, many countries
around the world began to become primarily Buddhist nations, especially in
Asia. Buddhism itself branched into sub-sects as each culture adapted and
assimilated the main tenets. Today, Buddhism is practiced in different forms
all over the world, and it is especially inclusive because it does not
celebrate any deities (as other religions do). The philosophical bent of
Buddhism gives it popularity across various groups of people.
Is the Buddha a god?
No, Buddha was a human who was
considered to be extraordinary, but not
a god. He was a seeker who found enlightenment by using morality,
meditation, and wisdom, which is why many find his teaching applicable to their
lives. It is said as 'Mata Pita Guru Deivam' because, Mata is
the one who can show you who your father (Pita) is. Pita will take you to your
desired Guru for education. Guru will lead you to God directly. You cannot
reach God without a Guru. So that is what this saying means.
Is Buddhism gaining popularity around the world?
Strangely, Buddhism is predicted to
see a decline, from 7% to 5% due to the relative infertility of Buddhist
communities and people groups. There is no known correlation between the
practice of Buddhism and a decline in fertility, however, our best guess is
that it has something to do with Buddhist monks practicing celibacy!
What did the real Buddha look like?
Buddha is commonly depicted as a
bald, chubby figure who is smiling; or a sage figure sitting cross-legged, with
coiled hair and elongated earlobes. The real Buddha probably looked emaciated
because of all the fasting he did, and some early carvings show an old man with
a robe and topknot, sitting in a meditation position. The “laughing Buddha”
commonly associated with Buddhism is actually a depiction of a legendary
Chinese monk called Budai, who lived
1300 years after Buddha died.
Buddha Philosophy Framed Focusing on Gita
If you want to live a life where you
can experience peace, joy, and fulfillment, then there is an urgent need to be
more in control of your mind and emotions. If you are the servant of your mind
and its’ innumerable desires, and make decisions based upon waves of emotion
that can sweep over the mind, you will fundamentally be unhappy. And there is a
deep spiritual reason for this.
uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayetātmaiva hy ātmano bandhur
ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ-6.5
One
must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The
mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.
By the self (Atman), i.e., by the mind, which is unattached to
sense-objects, one should raise the self. One should not allow the self to sink
by a mind which is of the contrary kind. ‘For the self alone,’ i.e., the mind alone is the friend of the self;
and it alone is the foe of the self. [The figure of speech here is of
Samsara as the ocean in which the individual self is like an object with
liability to sink. What causes its sinking is the lingering attachments of the
mind to some objects, though in the discipline of Jnana Yoga one may keep aloof
from such objects. A mind with such attachments is the foe and without them,
the friend.]--Sankara.
According to Buddhist philosophy, there is
only void after the completion of this material life, but Bhagavad Gitā teaches
differently. Actual life begins after the completion of this material life. For
the gross materialist it is sufficient to know that one has to end this
materialistic way of life, but for persons who are spiritually advanced, there
is another life after this materialistic life.
Swami Vivekananda- “All my life I have been
very fond of Buddha. I have more veneration for that character than any other—
that boldness, that fearlessness, and that tremendous love! He was born for the
good of men. Others may seek God, others may seek truth for themselves; he did
not even care to know truth for himself. He sought truth because people were in
misery. How to help them, that was his only concern. Throughout his life he never had a
thought for himself.”
Comments:
Excellent
article Sir. Till now, I didn’t know the meaning of Buddha Poornima and
now I know. Thanks to you.
Some of my points of view:
- I respect Buddha for his
teachings.
- I don’t like the fact that he is now
considered one of the Vishnu avatars - replacing Balarama (changing the
history) - including in Indian school system
- On the same note, there is a false
beliefs among western people (due to some group trying to change the fact). The
wrong belief is that Hinduism came from Buddhism. (A couple of people here
argued with me on this at 2 independent times). (Again changing history).
Buddhist have very effective marketing of Buddhism. With the overall trend of
(any) religious beliefs declining while “being spiritual” is gaining grounds,
Buddhism is growing with many followers - even though, among them, many won’t
accept that they are Buddhists. Thanks again for a great article.
-Nashshville Nagarjan
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PRANAYAMA IMPROVES HEALTH AND PURIFIES
THE MIND FOR SPIRITUALITY
The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 attacks the lungs and
respiratory system, sometimes resulting in significant damage. COVID-19 often leads to pneumonia and even acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS),
a severe lung injury. Recovering lung function is possible but can require
therapy and exercises for months after the infection is treated.
“Working toward recovery starts simple: with a focus on
breathing,” says Johns Hopkins physical therapist Peiting Lien. She offers a series of breathing exercises to aid in recovery
for those who had COVID-19 or another serious illness.
Benefits of Breathing
Exercises
“Deep breathing can help restore diaphragm function and increase
lung capacity. The goal is to build up the ability to breathe deeply during any
activity, not just while at rest,” notes Lien.
Deep breathing exercises can also lessen feelings of anxiety and
stress, which are common for someone who experienced severe symptoms or was
admitted to a hospital. Sleep quality may also improve with these breathing
exercises.
Anyone can benefit from deep breathing techniques, but they play
an especially important role in the COVID-19 recovery process. The exercises
can be started at home during self-isolation and easily incorporated into your
daily routine.
Yoga is an ancient system of practices used to
balance the mind and body through exercise, meditation (focusing thoughts), and
control of breathing and emotions. Studies have shown benefit of yoga in
healthy volunteers as well as cancer patients. The benefits range from
decreasing inflammation to improvement in immune system. Pranayama is a term
used to describe breathing techniques that are an integral part of yoga
practice. Pranayama and meditation may help manage stress and improve lung
health. Breathing techniques and
meditation help to reduce stress and improve lung health in health care workers
dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Let us see what the yoga practitioner
Vedantin David Frawley says about it:
“PURIFYING THE MIND
WITH EVERY INHALATION AND EXHALATION
“Our thoughts rise and fall
with the movement of the breath. Inhalation energizes our thoughts relative to
whatever our focus may be. Exhalation disperses our thoughts and creates the
space to move on to additional thoughts.
This natural process
can be developed by conscious pranayama to purify the mind and take our
awareness to a deeper level.
Draw in positive
thoughts and inspirations on inhalation and release negative thoughts and
disturbances on exhalation. In this way every breath purifies the mind.
Mentally repeat the
mantra OM on inhalation to draw in the universal Prana, that is creative vibration and awareness of
the immortal Self (Atman). Abide in that on retention.
On exhalation mentally
repeat the solar mantra HREEM and let go of any negative thoughts or agitation
hidden in the mind, allowing them to naturally disperse like darkness by light.
In this way you can
both access a deeper Self-awareness and remove any blockages in the mind that
are preventing you from dwelling in it.
To put it in Vedanta
terms on inhalation that you are the Self of all beings and on exhalation you
negate the world as unreal. On inhalation you energize pure Consciousness and
on exhalation you negate the mind and the world as unreal.”
--May 15, 2022
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Autobiography
vs. Biography vs. Memoir
The three primary formats used to tell a life
story are a biography, an autobiography, and
a memoir. Distinguishing between the three can feel a bit confusing since they
all share several similarities. But there are some distinct differences.
Simply put, a biography is the life
history of an individual, written by someone else. An autobiography is the
story of a person’s life, written by that person, and a memoir focuses on
reflection and establishing an emotional connection, rather than simply
presenting the facts around their life.
What is Biography?
A biography, also called a bio, is a
non-fiction piece of work giving an objective account of a person’s life. The
main difference between a biography vs. an autobiography is that the author of
a biography is not the subject.
Biographies include details of key
events that shaped the subject’s life, and information about their birthplace,
education, work, and relationships. Biographers use a number of research
sources, including interviews, letters, diaries, photographs, essays, reference
books, and newspapers. While a biography is usually in the written form, it can
be produced in other formats such as music composition or film.
What is an Autobiography?
An autobiography is the story of a
person’s life written by that person. Because the author is also the main
character of the story, autobiographies are written in the first person.
The purpose of an autobiography is to
portray the life experiences and achievements of the author. Therefore, most
autobiographies are written later in the subject’s life.
They often begin during early childhood
and chronologically detail key events throughout their life. Autobiographies
usually include information about where a person was born and brought up, their
education, career, life experiences, the challenge One of the main differences
between an autobiography vs. a biography is that autobiographies tend to be
more subjective. That’s because they are written by the subject, and present
the facts based on their own memories of a specific situation, which can be
biased.
What is a Memoir?
Memoir comes from the French word memoir, meaning memory or reminiscence. Similar to an
autobiography, a memoir is
the story of a person’s life written by that person.
The difference between a memoirs vs. an
autobiography is that a memoir focuses on
reflection and establishing an emotional connection, rather than simply
presenting the facts around their life. The author uses their personal
knowledge to tell an intimate and emotional story about the private or public
happenings in their life. The topic is intentionally focused and does not
include biographical or chronological aspects of the author’s life unless they
are meaningful and relevant to the story.
--May 16, 2022
Comments:
Thank you for
sharing the story! It is encouraging to express feelings, life, family,
activities past and present thru writing.
--Manisha Paul
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Shiva Panchakshari: A 5 Letter
Mantra That Could Save you Even from Hell
Panchakshara is a Mahamantra which is composed of five
letters, Namassivaya.
A Mantra is that which removes all obstacles and miseries of one
who reflects on it and bestows eternal bliss and immortality. Panchakshara is
the best among seven crores of Mantras. There are seven Skandhas in Yajurveda.
There is Rudradhyayi in the center of the middle Skandha. In this Rudradhyayi
there are one thousand Rudra Mantras. Namassivaya or the Siva Panchakshara
Mantra shines in the center of these one thousand Rudra Mantras.
Om Namah Shivaya: The Maha Panchakshari Mantra. It is the great Vedic mantra
to achieve awakenings, enlightenment and moksha. Many believe that this 5
Letter Mantra had the power to even Save you from Hell and the effects of bad
karma.
Complete meaning of Om Nama Shivaya, benefits of om nama shivaya
Om Namah Shivay mantra generates a very high energy. These waves enhance human
intelligence to the optimum level. Chanting Om Namah Shivaya slowly during
Meditation gives Harmony, Concentration, and strength.
Rig Veda defined Supreme being as Maharudra. Bhagwan Shivji symbolizes the
Maharudra (रुदन रोकने वाला ) means the one who wipes out the tears. If a yogi chants
the mantra with true devotion towards Sachidanand, their mind, body, and soul
go through the transcendental phase, and they can even switch to higher
dimensions of reality.
The Mantra ॐ नमः शिवाय (Namah Shivaya) Direct Translation: Adoration to Bhagwan Shivji. ‘The mantra
focuses on Bhagwan Shivji who is understood to be the god of all yogis and the
god of yoga along with being the god of time and also the god who gives Moksh.
The repetition of the mantra is such that the last syllable of the mantra is
the doorway to Shiva-consciousness, moving from the end to a new beginning. Om
Namah Shivaya is Panchakshari mantra excluding Omkar (primary cosmic
vibration). Namah Shivaya attached with the five essential elements of the
materialistic world NA – MA -SI – VA – YA.
Na Earth Element (Prithvi Tattva)
Ma Water Element (Jal Tattva)
Si Fire element (Agni Tattva)
Va Air element (Vayu Tattva)
Ya Space element (Akasha Tattva)
Om Namah Shivaya mantra chanting brings
transcendental changes to the body of the chanter. Yogis all around the world
are busy in chanting the auspicious mantra through which they have increased
their abilities to infinite levels.
Health Benefits of Om Namah Shivaya
•improves your blood
circulation and stabilizes heartbeat. Mantra can even enhance your blood
purification system.
•Chanting the mantra also purifies your rationalizing process which improves
your physiological as well as intellectual well-being.
•It also heals your sorrows, emotional pain and takes you out of the darkness
and show the positivity of life.
•It also reduces the chances of heart strokes and organ failure.
It spreads positivity in your house Worshipping Shiva in the home
brings happiness into the family. Shiva & Shakti both get established in
that house. You start understanding others problem and becomes ever ready to
give helping hand to others. Moreover that, Moral values will start growing in
the kids. Positive vibes will get emitting from that house and from the people
living in that house. Chanting Om Namah Shivaya makes the law
of attraction works better in your favor.
Every substance including deities is the manifestation of Shiva’s
energy. Chanting Om Namah Shivaya is
like worshipping the primary elements of nature means invoking your inner
Shiva.
-May 14, 2022
------------------------------------------------------
Older People
Fret Less about Aging in Place
WASHINGTON (AP) — the older you are, the less you fret about
aging in place.
That’s a key insight from a new Associated Press-NORC Center for
Public Affairs Research poll, which found that U.S.
adults ages 65 or older feel much better prepared to age in their own homes
than those 50-64, who are mostly still in the final stretches of their working
years.
The poll also documented greater insecurity around aging in place
for older Black and Latino Americans, the likely result of a deep-rooted wealth gap that markedly favors white people.
Aging in one’s own home, or with family or a close friend, is a
widely held aspiration, with 88% of adults 50 and older saying it’s their goal
in an earlier AP-NORC poll.
The outlook among those 65 or older is upbeat, with nearly 8 in
10 saying they’re extremely or very prepared to stay in their current home as
long as possible.
--AP-NORC Poll
Aging in Place - The Benefits to You and Your Loved Ones
It probably comes as no surprise that most adults would
prefer to remain in their homes as they get older and age in place. The
decision to move to a nursing home or long-term care facility is a difficult
one, and those options usually aren't the ideal outcome. When you have an
elderly loved one, it can be difficult to balance your obligations along with
providing the care that they need. Additionally, many people don't live as
close to their loved ones as they wish, which makes care difficult. However, there
are many options available that can keep your loved one happy and independent
in their home for as long as possible, and there are actually many benefits to
aging in place.
Aging in Place Can Lead to Better Health Outcomes
A four-year analysis of aging in place found that those who received care in
their homes had improved mental and physical health compared to individuals who
were in nursing homes. The study also found aging in place to cost thousands
less than other care options. Traditional long-term care facilities can
diminish a person's independence, but by receiving supportive health services
at home, most people can actually save money while increasing their sense of
wellbeing and happiness.
Aging in Place is tailored to Your Needs
There is a huge variety of services that are available to those who would
like to remain in their homes as they age. Senior
Helpers Milwaukee provides different levels of care that are tailored to
your specific loved ones and their needs. Whether it's comprehensive chronic
disease care, or simply some companionship, Senior Helpers is skilled at
meeting all different levels of need. Some of the services we provide
are:
- Alzheimer's and dementia care
- Parkinson's care
- Transitional care after surgery
- Personal care
- Companionship care
- Chronic disease care, and more
I am 92 and I too join the crowd living
in my home with my daughter and grand-children!
--May 14, 2022
=-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HUMAN
APPROACH TO THE WORLD PEACE
Today in spite of the global
communication made possible by our new information technology, we are finding
increasing divisions and conflicts in the world and in individuals, in the
human mind itself. Such increasing conflicts are not only between nations but
within nations, including deep disagreements in democratic countries about
prime values, principles of education, and the future condition of society.
Challenges to physical and mental health are increasing in the post-pandemic
era.
Platitudes of promoting peace will not take us
very far. For lasting peace, we must emphasize inner values beyond our fixation
on the material world, our obsession with physical reality and the physical
body, the pursuit of pleasure and power, and the arrogance of our own minds
that think they alone are right. We need greater respect for nature and the
universe over our personal or social triumphs. We need to honor that universal
Self in all beings and in the entire universe animate and inanimate. This is
also the way of our own highest Self-realization
When we rise in the morning
and listen to the radio or read the newspaper, we are confronted with the same
sad news: violence, crime, wars, and disasters. I cannot recall a single day
without a report of something terrible happening somewhere. Even in these
modern times it is clear that one's precious life is not safe. No former
generation has had to experience so much bad news as we face today; this
constant awareness of fear and tension should make any sensitive and
compassionate person question seriously the progress of our modern world.
It is ironic that the more
serious problems emanate from the more industrially advanced societies. Science
and technology have worked wonders in many fields, but the basic human problems
remain. There is unprecedented literacy, yet this universal education does not
seem to have fostered goodness, but only mental restlessness and discontent
instead. There is no doubt about the increase in our material progress and
technology, but somehow this is not sufficient as we have not yet succeeded in
bringing about peace and happiness or in overcoming suffering.
We can only conclude that
there must be something seriously wrong with our progress and development, and
if we do not check it in time there could be disastrous consequences for the
future of humanity. I am not at all against science and technology - they have
contributed immensely to the overall experience of humankind; to our material
comfort and well-being and to our greater understanding of the world we live
in. But if we give too much emphasis to science and technology we are in danger
of losing touch with those aspects of human knowledge and understanding that
aspire towards honesty and altruism.
If,
for example, the leader of the United States of America and the leader of the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics suddenly met each other in the middle of a
desolate island, they would respond to
each other spontaneously as fellow human beings. Dalai Lama suggests that world
leaders meet about once a year in a beautiful place without any business, just
to get to know each other as human beings. Then, later, they could meet to
discuss mutual and global problems. Many others share my wish that world
leaders meet at the conference table in such an atmosphere of mutual respect
and understanding of each other's humanness.
The achievement of justice, harmony, and peace depends on many
factors. We should think about them in terms of human benefit in the long run
rather than the short term. Nations have
no choice but to be concerned about the welfare of others, not so much because
of their belief in humanity, but because it is in the mutual and long-term
interest of all concerned. An appreciation of this new reality is indicated by
the emergence of regional or continental economic organizations such as the
European Economic Community, the Association of South East Asian Nations, and
so forth.
Such human qualities as
morality, compassion, decency, wisdom, and so forth have been the foundations
of all civilizations. These qualities must be cultivated and sustained through
systematic moral education in a conducive social environment so that a more
humane world may emerge. The qualities required to create such a world must be
inculcated right from the beginning, from childhood. We cannot wait for the
next generation to make this change; the present generation must attempt a
renewal of basic human values. If there is any hope, it is in the future
generations, but not unless we institute major change on a worldwide scale in
our present educational system. We need a revolution in our commitment to and
practice of universal humanitarian values.
Although materialistic knowledge in the form of science and technology has
contributed enormously to human welfare, it is not capable of creating lasting
happiness. In America, for example, where technological development is perhaps
more advanced than in any other country, there is still a great deal of mental
suffering. This is because materialistic knowledge can only provide a type of
happiness that is dependent upon physical conditions. It cannot provide
happiness that springs from inner development independent of external factor.
For renewal of human values and attainment of lasting happiness, we need to
look to the common humanitarian heritage of all nations the world over. May
this essay serve as an urgent reminder lest we forget the human values that
unite us all as a single family on this Planet!
Please go through the detailed discourse:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2022/05/human-approach-to-world-peace.html
--May
13, 2022
MONOTHEISM, RELIGION & SCIENCE
Why science and religion are the same?
Science and religion are closely
interconnected in the scientific study of religion, which can be traced back to
seventeenth-century natural histories of religion. Natural historians attempted
to provide naturalistic explanations for human behavior and culture, for domains
such as religion, emotions, and morality.
How religion and science are related?
Science focuses on testable claims and
hypotheses, whereas religion focuses on individual beliefs. The “science and
religion” movement emphasizes dialogue and contact, saying that science and
religion should work with each other, rather than be at odds or studying
different areas.
What is the difference between faith and science?
Likewise, faith excludes looking at
scientific facts, and science excludes putting value in what one believes. That
is part of the concepts of faith and science.
Is there conflict between science and religion?
We found that 56% of Americans say
there generally is conflict between science and religion but that this sense of
tension is more common among the religiously unaffiliated— those who describe
their religion as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular.”
What are the differences between religious and scientific
knowledge?
Scientific knowledge is concerned with how the
world works now, and reliably predicting how it will operate in the future.
Religious knowledge assumes the existence of some manner of greater being, and
is focused on determining/acting according to its will.
Why does one believe in science more than religion?
“The question of truth is as central to
[religion’s] concern as it is in science. Religious belief can guide one in
life or strengthen one at the approach of death, but unless it is actually true
it can do neither of these things and so would amount to no more than an
illusory exercise in comforting fantasy.”
What is science really says about religion?
Science investigates the natural world,
while religion deals with the spiritual and supernatural — hence, the two can
be complementary. Many religious organizations have issued statements declaring
that there need not be any conflict between religious faith and the scientific
perspective on.
Should science be considered a religion?
Science, especially operational
science, is knowledge gained through observation and experimentation. There are
theories disguised as science that could and should be considered religious in
nature but science as a whole should never be considered a religion.
Ajeet Kumar, the Author, who is Associate Professor of History,
Sanatana Dharma College, Alappuzha, Kerala, says: “The Vedas teach us that
creation is without beginning or end. Science is said to have proved that the
sum total of cosmic energy is always the same. Then, if there was a time when
nothing existed, where was all this manifested energy? Some say that it was in
a potential form in God. In that case God is sometimes potential and sometimes
kinetic, which would make him mutable.
Pew Research Center engaged a small group of Muslims, Hindus and
Buddhists to talk about their perspectives. These one-on-one, in-depth
interviews took place in Malaysia and Singapore – two Southeast Asian nations
that have made sizable investments in scientific research and development in
recent years and that are home to religiously diverse populations. The
discussions reinforced the conclusion that there is no single, universally held
view of the relationship between science and religion, but they also identified
some common patterns and themes within each of the three religious groups.
In keeping with
thematic comments that Hinduism contains elements of science, many interviewees
said the concept of evolution was encompassed in their religious teachings. “In
Hinduism we have something like this as well, that tells us we originated from
different species, which is why we also believe in reincarnation, and how
certain deities take different forms. This is why certain animals are seen as
sacred animals, because it’s one of the forms that this particular deity had
taken,” said a 29-year-old Hindu woman in Singapore. When asked about the
origins of human life, many Hindu interviewees just quickly replied that humans
came from primates.
The Muslims interviewed tended to speak of an overlap between
their religion and science, and some raised areas of tension between the two.
Hindu interviewees, by and large, described science and religion as overlapping
but compatible spheres. By contrast, Buddhist interviewees described science
and religion as parallel concepts, with no particular touchpoints between the
two. Let us look into
the thoughtful comments and guidance from Sharon Suh, Ajay Varghese and Pew
Research Center religion experts including Basheer Mohamed, Neha Sagan, and
David Frawley.
Christians worldwide vary in whether they see disagreement between
science and their religion’s teachings. Christians see as a conflict between science and religion!
Please go through the detailed discourse:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2022/05/monotheism-religion-science.html
--May 8, 2022
------------------------------------------------------
AZADI KA AMRIT MAHOTSAV
75th Independence Day
will be celebrated on Aug. 15, 2022, and the government has planned 75 weeks of
events, dubbed Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
The Salt March started in
Ahmedabad on March 12, 1930, and was led by Mahatma Gandhi as a non-violent
protest against the British monopoly on salt.
NEW DELHI: Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a series of events to observe
next year’s 75th independence anniversary, starting with a commemoration of the
Salt March to mark the beginning of the freedom movement over nine decades
ago.
India’s 75th Independence
Day will be celebrated on Aug. 15, 2022, and the government has planned 75
weeks of events, dubbed Azadi Ka Amrit
Mahotsav.
A special committee
comprising 259 members from the ruling party and opposition was set up last
week to prepare the celebrations. Every week, one major event is going to be
held ahead of Aug. 15.
The Salt March started in
Ahmedabad on March 12, 1930, and was led by Mahatma Gandhi as a non-violent
protest against the British monopoly on salt.
Gandhi and his 78 followers
walked for 24 days until they reached the coastal town of Dandi on the Arabian
Sea, 390 km away. He addressed large crowds all along the way, with millions of
people joining the struggle for freedom.
“Salt was never valued on
the basis of mere cost,” Modi said at Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.
“For Indians, salt represents honesty, trust, loyalty, labor, equality and
self-reliance. Amrit Mahotsav means
elixir of energy of independence. It means elixir of inspirations of the
warriors of freedom struggle, elixir of new ideas and pledges and nectar of atma nirbharta (self-reliance).”
A controversy has arisen,
however, as media reports said that the freedom movement leaders being
celebrated during the events would not include India’s first Prime minister,
Jawaharlal Nehru, who is widely regarded as the architect of modern India and a
visionary who laid the foundations of a pluralist and secular nation.
But it was unsurprising
that Nehru was being left out of the celebrations, according to Prof. Aditya
Mukherjee from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
“It is a matter of utter
shame when the whole world recognizes Nehru as a beacon of the freedom movement
and Indian democracy and our own country will celebrate minus Nehru,” he told
Arab News. “The greatest tragedy for the nation is that people who did not
share the values of the national movement — secularism, democracy — they are in
power and celebrating independence. What values of independence are we celebrating
when the international community has downgraded India as a democracy?”
Sudheendra Kulkarni, a political commentator
and advisor to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who led the first
government of the now ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, said Modi should do much
more to invoke the legacy of the Dandi march.
“Mahatma Gandhi not only
stood for India’s political independence, but also for a nation that is
committed to Hindu Muslim unity,” Kulkarni said. “Modi should show sincerity
and commitment to India’s secular unity.”
He suggested that the 75th
anniversary of independence be celebrated jointly with Pakistan and Bangladesh,
which belong to the subcontinental family that became independent from the
British in 1947.
“Modi should give a call
that the 75th anniversary should be celebrated jointly by the people of India,
Pakistan and Bangladesh," Kulkarni said. “People of Pakistan and
Bangladesh are part of the undivided India and fought together against colonial
rule.”
--May 8, 2022
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mother's Day for the year 2022 is celebrated/ observed on Sunday, May 8th.
Mother's Day is observed the second
Sunday in May. It is a time to honor mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers
for their contribution to family and society. Since it is not a federal
holiday, businesses may be open or closed as any other Sunday. The compliment
to Mother's day is Father's Day, celebrating the contributions Father's make to raising a
family.
Countries
that celebrate Mother’s Day--Saudi Arabia, and more celebrate
Mother’s Day on March 21 (spring equinox). Some countries like United Kingdom and
Ireland and others celebrate the Day on the fourth Sunday during Lent and call
it Mothering Sunday. Many eastern and southern Eurasian countries including
Russia celebrate Mother’s Day together with International Women’s Day on March
8th. Mother’s Day celebrations around the world.
Mother’s Day celebrated its 100 year
anniversary in 2014. In the year 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law
Mother’s Day stating that the Day would be celebrated on the second Sunday of
May and be a national holiday.
The most popular gifts/ideas to give
for Mother’s Day in order of popularity are 1) Greeting Cards, 2) Flowers, 3)
Special outings, 4) Clothing andaccessories, and 5) Jewelry. Many mothers like a phone call or hugs and
kisses as well“
Matru devo bhava” in Hinduism
Our ancient culture
believes that on the woman depends, the sustenance of the whole country. That
is why the country is referred to as the Motherland!
“The mother’s lap is the
first school for every child. It is his first temple; mother is the foremost
God. Mother is everyone’s primary wealth. It is the duty of every person to
recognize this truth. Everyone must cherish their parents as embodiments of the
Divine.
Women have a very crucial
role in individual and social uplift. They are the makers of the home, the
nation and the world. They shape the generation to come. For this, it is
imperative for women to be educated in a well-planned manner, and to be endowed
with the wisdom, fortitude and faith that can equip them for this great
responsibility. They must be armed with deep rooted virtue and firm faith, in
the ideals of womanhood, laid down in our sacred texts.”
(The author Sri Sathya Sai Baba (1926-2011) was a revered spiritual guru
to millions.)
Hooray for all the moms in our lives—mothers, grandmothers,
godmothers, stepmothers, mothers-in-law, foster
moms, bonus moms, other-mothers,
aunts, wives, partners, sisters, friends, fellow moms, mentors and women who love with a mother’s heart. “God could not be everywhere, and
therefore he made mothers (as Matru devo bhava).” – Rudyard Kipling. Hindu Americans celebrate this day in Hindu Temples as Special Religious
Day!
--May
7, 2022
BRAIN, MIND AND CONSCIOUSNESS
Consciousness being energy of
the soul is spiritual, whereas mind is material. Mind is material since
it is one of the elements of the subtle body; Consciousness is spiritual
being an integral energy of the soul; we can avoid mind influencing our
consciousness by careful introspection.
Consciousness is the energy of
the soul whereas mind is part of the material body. Mind is one of the elements
of the subtle body. Just as our eyes have the ability to see and when we direct
our eyes on a particular object our eyes see that object. Just as the power of
seeing is the characteristic of the eye, the power of consciousness is the
characteristic of the soul. Consciousness in that sense is spiritual in nature
whereas mind is one of the objects on which the consciousness gets focused.
Therefore, the difference is that the consciousness is spiritual whereas mind
is material being part of subtle body.
From a practical perspective,
we sometime say – our mind is disturbed, my consciousness is gone down,
etc. We may use the words ‘mind’ and ‘consciousness’ interchangeably, but
from philosophical point of view these words are technically different.
To understand our situation in
the material world from a philosophical perspective, Bhagavad Gita 13.22 says
the following:
purushah prakriti-stho hi
bhunkte prakriti jan gunan
karanam guna sago sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu--BG 13.22
The living entity in the
material nature thus follows the ways of life, enjoying the three modes of
nature. This is due to his association with that material nature. Thus, one
meets with good and evil among various species.
For the purpose of enjoying (bhunkte),
the soul (purusha) gets situated in material nature (prakriti stho hi).
Just like a person who wants to enjoy a cricket match, although he can see in
all directions in the room, but his eyes and vision gets focused only on the TV
screen. Through the TV screen his vision enters into the cricket ground, he
starts identifying, observing, experiencing what is happening on the cricket
ground, and starts feeling emotions accordingly. Events that are happening on
the cricket ground are like events happening in the material world and the screen
on which the events are displayed is like the mind.
What happens on the cricket
ground the video camera captures it, the sound recorder records the commentary
etc. All these inputs are integrated and brought forward to the television. The
television screen offers them for enjoyment or suffering to the soul (sad
asad yoni janmasu). Similarly, what our eyes, ears, nose and other senses
perceive, all those inputs are integrated by the mind and offered for
perception by the soul.
The mind offers objects for
perception and when the soul focuses its consciousness on the object then the
soul’s desire change. For example, if the mind offers an agitating picture to
the soul and the soul decides to focus on that picture, the consciousness also
gets agitated, and the soul starts feeling disturbed or angry. If the picture
is essentially alluring, then the soul by focusing on that becomes allured. In
this way the mind proposes various objects and situations for material
engagement and enjoyment for the soul. To the extent the soul focuses
its consciousness on the mind, to that extent the soul gets affected by the mind. That
is why we say that the best way to deal with the mind is to neglect it.
Just like if a TV show is going
on in the house but if we do not look at it, it will just go on and we can
continue doing our work. Similarly, the mind may offer us some inputs but as
soul we may decide not to invest our consciousness in it then the mind will not
affect us. This way by thoughtful internal observation and introspection we can
delink our consciousness from our mind. Thus, we will not get influenced by the
mind’s feelings and moods and our consciousness will stay good even if our mind
is in an irritated mood.
To summarize, the mind is
subtle material whereas the consciousness is spiritual being an integral energy
of the soul. By careful introspection we can avoid mind influencing our
consciousness.
“Vedic thought teaches that the
brain, mind, and consciousness are fundamentally different in nature, though related
in function.
The physical brain is but an
instrument for the mind, but the mind also has its own level of existence
extending beyond physical reality. The core mind, consisting of our karmic
patterns, leaves the body at death and moves on to another body for another
physical life.
Yet the mind, which has its own
structure and function, is not the origin of consciousness, which has no form.
The mind is but an instrument for a deeper consciousness, orienting it
outwardly to time, space and practical reality. Mind is a composite
consciousness of conditioned responses, memories and capacities, not a
self-aware intelligence. It has a subtle material nature and is part of the
external world.
The true Self dwells beyond
body and mind and is the real source of awareness, not limited by change,
action, name or form. This Atman or inner Self is one with Brahman, the
universal and transcendent consciousness. Universal consciousness or Atman and
embodied consciousness or mind are linked, but very different. We must
surrender our minds to the unitary consciousness within by making them silent,
receptive and calm like a mirror.
When modern science looks to
the brain as the seat of consciousness, it is like measuring a person by
examining the movements of their shadow.
Vedic Self-knowledge first
teaches how to transcend the brain along with its biological limitations and
compulsions; and second how to transcend the mind, which is an individualized
consciousness, and move beyond its conditioned karmic limitations.
This leads us to pure
Consciousness, which is an all-pervasive universal principle like space or
light. It requires going to the core of our awareness that persists behind
waking, dream and deep sleep, birth and death.
Do not demean your Divine Self
by reducing your unbounded consciousness to the transient physical organ that
we call the brain, nor to the matrix of karmic conditioning we call the mind.
The highest intelligence is to know one's true Self within, not to have the best brain or even the best mind, which are but your
instruments.”--David Frawley
--May
7, 2022
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shankaracharya Jayanti-
Significance and Observance
About Shankaracharya Jayanti
Considered one of the most significant celebrations in Sanatan
Dharma, Shankaracharya Jayanti marks the day of birth
of Adi Shankara, an 8th century Indian philosopher and theologian. Also
known as Jagathguru, Adi Shankaracharya or Bhagavatpada
Acharya (guru at the feet of Lord), he preached Vedic knowledge and
expounded the Advaita Vedanata doctrine that influenced the growth of Hinduism.
Shankaracharya Jayanti dates
As per the Hindu calendar, Shankaracharya Jayanti is observed on Panchami tithi (fifth day)
during Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaisakh. According to the Gregorian
calendar, the day falls in April or May.
Who is Adi Shankara?
Sri Adi Shankaracharya or Adi Shankara is regarded as one
of the greatest gurus and philosophers in Hinduism. He is known as the saviour
of Vedic Dharma and the exponent of Advaita Vedanta.
He explained the concept of Aatma (soul), Parmatma (divine soul), Vairagya
(renunciation) and Moskha (salvation). His teachings contributed to the growth
of the Hindu culture when it was in a state of decline. Along with philosophers
Madhava and Ramanuja, Shankaracharya is said to have resuscitated Hinduism.
Shankaracharya Jayanti Celebrations
The day is celebrated with enthusiasm at Shankaracharya Mathas (monasteries) around the
country.
Havan, puja, and satsang are
organized at Mathas like Shringeri Sharada Peetham in Kerala, Kanchi Kamakoti
Peetha in Kanchipuram, etc.
- Discussions
and speeches on Sanatan Dharma are held on this day.
- Adi
Shankaracharya expounded the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta.
- He
explained and reinterpreted Hindu scriptures like the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita,
and the primary principles of Brahma Sutras.
- He
traveled to various nations in order to revive Hinduism.
- He
established four monasteries (mathas) in four corners of India — Sringeri in
the South, Kashmir in the North, Puri in
the East, and Dwaraka in the West.
The Legend of Shankaracharya Jayanti
Shankara was born to a humble Nambudri Brahmin couple in Kaladi
(in the present-day Kerala) in 788CE. His parents, Shivaguru and Aryamba,
who were a childless couple, had prayed to Lord Shiva to bless them with a child. Soon, they had a baby boy who
went on to become a great teacher. A legend associated with Shankaracharya
considers him an incarnation of Lord Shiva himself, who had appeared in
Aryamba’s dream and promised to take birth as her child. Some believed
that Lord Shiva incarnated on earth to restore order at a
time when there was absence of harmony and mankind was deprived of
spirituality.
As he grew up, Shankaracharya
traveled several places to find a suitable Guru. After observing severe
penance, he found the ashram of Govinda Bhagavathpada, better known
as Patanjali. He was a learned philosopher of the Vedanta School of
Thought. Shankara became the disciple of Govinda, under whose guidance he
learnt about the Vedas and the six Vedangas.. Govinda also guided Shankara to
preach the tenets of Advaita Vedanta. It is said that Lord Vishnu visited
Shankara at Badrinath and asked him to make a statue of the
deity in Alaknanda River. In the present time, the temple is popular as Badrinarayan
Temple.
Shankaracharya died at the young age
of 32 in 820 CE at Kedarnath, which lies in the present-day
Uttarakhand.
--May 6, 2022
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL SPACE DAY
We celebrate National Space Day on the first Friday in May, which
is May 6 this year. It was created to inspire all of us in the
pursuit of knowledge and progress. There’s so much going on in the universe, it
definitely deserves a day to reflect on everything! Though it’s unlikely you’ll
be able to celebrate in outer space, you can still take part in your own corner
of the universe with our gravity-defying facts, figures, and ideas for
getting involved this National Space Day.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL SPACE
DAY
We could say that National Space Day’s history starts at the
beginning of the universe itself, when an intense pressure and temperature
resulted in the Big Bang, exploding the universe and everything in it into
existence.
Ever since, the curious-minded have been fascinated with space and
its state of feeling so near and yet so far. Whilst early cultures identified
things in the sky as gods or spirits, it was the ancient Greeks who developed
the study of planets and stars into something resembling the astronomy we know
today. Although the heliocentric system was first suggested by the ancient
Greeks, the theory wasn’t developed and published until 1543 when Copernicus
outlined his ideas about the planets revolving around the sun.
Astronomy was further advanced by Galileo Galilei in the 17th
century, who has often been referred to as ‘the father of astronomy’ due to his
avid pursuit of it against the wishes of his patrons, colleagues, and even the
Pope. He invented important apparatus for observing space and proving his
theories, although he spent much of his life under house arrest for his
work.
Centuries later, space continued to be a contentious issue when
the space race began between Cold War rivals, America and Russia. The two
countries competed to be the first to achieve space flight and eventually put a
man on the moon. The victory was America’s, when Apollo 11 and its team of
astronauts landed on the moon on July 16, 1969.
In 1997, the Lockheed Martin Corporation introduced National Space
Day as a one-off event, and it was later expanded to International Space Day in
2001, due to its extreme popularity, by former astronaut and Senator John
Glenn.
Suns, stars, moons, and infinite realms. How do we even begin to
explain the magnitude of space? What’s truly beautiful about space is that it
may be endless, and yet there are millions of billions of secrets that it
holds, each important and keeping everything in place. Humans have not even
scratched the surface of the secrets that this infinite vacuum we know as space
holds. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t celebrate what we do know, and be in
awe of it.
On the first Friday in May each year, scientists, astronomers,
astronauts, science buffs, and more, observe National Space Day, celebrating
its mysteries and beyond. There is plenty to discuss and learn about space
during this annual observance; from documentaries on television to discussions
on online forums, everyone can benefit from learning about space.
The history of space is older than life on Earth and dates back to
the beginning of the universe, following the Big Bang, which propelled life,
time, and existence. The yearly celebration of space on Earth was started by
Lockheed Martin in 1997 as a day to promote space and the fields of STEM among
the youth.
In 2001, former Astronaut Senator John Glenn broadened the scope
of National Space Day celebrations, encouraging everyone to participate and
learn about space exploration.
--May 6, 2022
------------------------------------------------------
1005th Birth Anniversary of Sri
Ramanujacharya on May 5, 2022
Sri Ramanuja Acharya (1017-1137 C.E.) was a
great Hindu philosopher and thinker. He is the most venerated Acharya in the
philosophy of Sri Vaishnavism. He was born in 11th century in the
village of Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu in 1017 CE. Sri Ramanuja birth name was
Lakshmana and also referred to as Ilaya Perumal which means the radiant one. He
was disappeared at the age of 120 in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu in 1137 CE. Ramanuja
is also known as Ramanujacharya. Sri Ramanuja Jayanthi is
celebrated each year and Jayanthi day is decided based on Tamil Solar Calendar.
Ramanuja Jayanthi is celebrated during Chithirai month
on Thiruvathirai Nakshatra day (May 5, 2022).
Notes: All timings are represented in 12-hour notation in local
time of Nashville, United States with DST adjustment (if
applicable)]. Hours which are past midnight
are suffixed with next day date. In Panchanga day starts and ends with sunrise.
‑‑May 5, 2022
ISHA-- Top Reviews of Philosophy of India from the United States
In the West, one often seems to think
that the philosophy of India coincides with the tradition of Advaita. In fact,
we are dealing with a caricature of Indian philosophy which is being reinforced
by certain esoteric and popular writers.
There are various philosophical schools of Hinduism, and Vedanta is only one of
them. It amounts to a philosophical meditation on the sacred books of the
Vedas, comparable to Western scholasticism. Within Vedanta there also are
several schools, of which Advaita Vedanta is only one example. Hebbar has
devoted this book, as its title suggests, to two other vedantic schools,
Visistadvaita and Dvaita Vedanta.
In itself, the realization that
Indian philosophy is larger than the Advaita tradition is already interesting
enough. But this also has philosophical implications for people who like to
study the wisdom of the East. Some New Age authors create the false impression
that in India, besides Buddhism (and possibly Jainism), there really is only
one doctrine: there is only one single Soul and that soul is identical to God.
Within the very context of traditional Indian Vedanta, a considerable number of
philosophers simply do not endorse this view. Instead, they defend the
proposition that every soul is indeed dependent on a deity, but that this does
not mean that they can be reduced to God. In their view, immortality does not
mean that the individual gets completely immersed in 'Brahman' but that it
always retains its unique identity as a soul. The Advaitin propositions are in
this context understood as an expression of ignorance.
In his book, Hebbar also creates a
dialogue between these two alternatives to the Advaita doctrine, Dvaita and
Visistadvaita Vedanta, in areas such as philosophical epistemology, natural
philosophy, the philosophy of psychology and the philosophy of theology. The
use of many footnotes show that Hebbar stays close to the actual doctrines as
expressed in Indian texts. They incidentally also show how long Indian
philosophical terms can be (e.g. bhagavadrupagunakriyadinam).
Hebbar always confronts arguments from one movement with counter-arguments of
the other theory, so that the reader feels he's witnessing a lively discussion.
This makes the rich variety of positions within Indian philosophy even more
tangible. Hebbar demonstrates that Indian philosophical speculation already
reached a high level of sophistication many centuries ago, and goes far beyond
a mere slavish repetition of Advaita teachings. For instance, according to
Visishtadvaita, although all souls remain individual, they do share a common
nature, whereas Dvaita states that every soul also differs from all other soul
by nature.
There is a lot in this book that may
lead to intellectual pleasure for philosophers. For example, Visishtadvaita
claims that the Vedas are not written or dictated by God, but impersonal and
unwritten. This would be necessary because otherwise the Vedas could not be
used as evidence for the existence of God anymore, as this would entail a
circular argument (petitio principia p.
100). Fundamentalist Christians could learn something from this basic insight.
Incidentally, all this does not mean that India was ever
characterized by a perfect kind of religious tolerance. Hebbar describes
vitriolic controversies in which a follower of one tradition accuses adepts of
the other tradition of demonic errors. There is a case of a king who made a
philosopher choose between conversion to a particular system of thought and the
death penalty. Apparently, tolerating intellectual dissenters is not only
difficult for Westerners.
--May
5, 2022
---------------------------------------------------------------
Akshaya Tritiya — ushering
infinite auspiciousness is on May 03 Tuesday
Akshaya Tritiya is one of the
most holy and auspicious days celebrated by the Hindus across the country. It
is believed that anything that commences on this day will always emerge
victorious. This day is thus symbolic of good luck, success and fortune
gains.
Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated
on the third day of the Shukla paksha of the Indian month of Vaisakh. According
to the Gregorian calendar, this falls in the month of April-May. It is on this
day that both the Sun and the moon are said to be at their planetary best. This
day is also known as 'Akha Teej'
History of Akshaya
Tritiya
According to mythology and ancient
history, this day marks a lot of important incidents
- Lord Ganesha and Ved Vyasa
started writing the epic Mahabharata on this day.
- This day is also
celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Parashurama, the sixth
incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
- On this day, Goddess
Annapurna was born.
- On this day, Lord Krishna
bestowed wealth and monetary gains on his poor friend Sudhama who had come
to his rescue for help.
- According to the
Mahabharata, on this day Lord Krishna presented the 'akshaya patra'
to the Pandavas while on their exile. He blessed them with this bowl that
would continue to produce unlimited amount of food that would never leave
them hungry.
- On this day, the River
Ganges descended from the heaven on earth.
- It is on this day that
Kubera worshipped Goddess Lakshmi and thus was assigned the job of being
the treasurer of Gods.
- In Jainism, this day is
celebrated to commemorate Lord Adinatha, their first God.
- Various
deities in Puri Kshetra are worshipped
- Balarama Jayanti is
celebrated
Rituals during Akshaya Tritiya
- Devotees of Vishnu worship
the deity on this day by keeping a fast. Later, charity is done by
distributing rice, salt, ghee, vegetables, fruits and clothes to the poor.
Tulsi water is sprinkled all around as a symbol of Lord Vishnu.
- In Eastern India, this day
commences as the first ploughing day for the upcoming harvest season.
Also, for businessmen, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped
before starting a new audit book for the next financial year. This is
known as 'halkhata'.
- On this day, many people
buy gold and gold jewelry. As gold is symbolic of good fortune and wealth,
buying this is considered pious on this day.
- People plan weddings and
long journeys on this day.
- New business ventures,
construction work is started on this day.
- Other rituals include
taking a holy bath in the Ganges, offering barley into a sacred fire and
making donations and offerings on this day.
- Jains complete their
year-long Tapasya on this day and end their worship by drinking sugarcane
juice.
- Performing spiritual
activities, meditation and chanting holy mantras is considered important
to ensure good fortune in the future.
- Devotees of lord Krishna
embalm the deity with sandalwood paste on this day. It is believed that on
doing so, the person is bound to reach the heaven after death.
- Take holy dip in various Tirthas in
Puri Jagannath
Let us be grateful and thank
Muralidharan for sending us Narayana Dasakam and reminding to observe
this day as holiest -- a Multiple of Festivals and Rituals day.
||
śrīnārayaṇa daśakaṁ evaṁ kavacaṁ - śrīnārada purāṇam ||
The
following is a rare collection of Lord Balabhadra (Lord Balarama) Stotra, Lord
Narayana and Sri Narayana Kavacham taken from Brihan Naradiya Mahapuranam,
Uttara Khanda and Chapter 56. This chapter explains the procedure to take
divine bath and worship various deities in Purushottama Kshetra - currently
known as Puri Jagannath.
||
śrībalabhadra stotraṁ ||
namaste-haladhṛṅ-nāmne namaste-musalāyudha |
namaste-revatī-kānta namaste-bhakta-vatsala || 1 ||
namaste-balināṁ-śreṣṭha
namaste-dharaṇīdhara | pralambāre-namaste'stu trāhi-māṁ kṛṣṇa-pūrvaja
|| 2 ||
nīla-vastra-dharaṁ
devaṁ
phaṇā-vikaṭa-mastakam
| mahābalaṁ haladharaṁ kuṇḍalaika-vibhūṣitam
|| 3 ||
rauhiṇeyaṁ
narā-bhaktyā labhed abhimataṁ phalam | sarva-pāpair-vinirmukto viṣṇu-lokaṁ ca
gacchati || 4 ||
|| śrīnārāyaṇa
daśakaṁ ||
om
namo nārāyaṇāyeti yaṁ vadanti manīṣiṇaḥ |
kiṁ-kāryaṁ
bahubhir-mantrair mano-vibhava-kārakaiḥ | namo-nārāyaṇāyeti
mantraḥ
sarvārtha-sādhakaḥ || 1 ||
āpo-narasya sūnutvān narā iti ha kīrtitāḥ | viṣṇos tāstvālayaṁ
pūrvaṁ
tena nārāyaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ || 2 ||
nārāyaṇa-parā-vedā
nārāyaṇa-parā-dvijāḥ |
narāyaṇa-paraṁ-jñānaṁ
nārāyāṇa-parā-kriyā
|| 3 ||
nārāyaṇa-paro-dharmo
nārāyaṇa-paraṁ-tapaḥ |
nārāyaṇa-paraṁ-dānaṁ
nārāyaṇa-paraṁ-vratam
|| 4 ||
nārāyaṇa-parā-lokā
nārāyaṇa-parāḥ-surāḥ |
nārāyaṇa-paraṁ-nityaṁ
nārāyaṇa-paraṁ-padam
|| 5 ||
nārāyaṇa-parā-pṛthvī
nārāyaṇa-paraṁ-jalam
| nārāyaṇa-paro-vahnir nārāyaṇa-paraṁ-nabhaḥ ||
6 ||
nārāyaṇa-paro-vāyur
nārāyaṇa-paraṁ-manaḥ |
ahaṁkāraśca
buddhiśca ubhe nārāyaṇātmake || 7 ||
bhūtaṁ bhavyaṁ bhaviṣyacca yat-kiñcij jīva-saṁjñitam
| sthūlaṁ sūkṣmaṁ paraṁ caiva sarvaṁ-nārāyaṇātmakam
|| 8 ||
nārāyaṇāt-paraṁ-kiñcin
neha paśyāmi mohinī | tena-vyāptaṁ-idaṁ sarvaṁ dṛśyā'dṛśyaṁ carā'caraṁ ||
9 ||
āpo
hyāyatanaṁ viṣṇoḥ sa cā sāvaṁbhasāṁ-patiḥ |
tasmād apsu sa ityevaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ aghā'paham || 10 ||
|| śrīnārāyaṇa kavacaṁ ||
pūrve-māṁ-pātu-govindo
dakṣiṇe-madhusūdanaḥ |
paścime-śrīdharo-devaḥ keśavas-tu-tathottare || 1 ||
pātu-viṣṇus-tathā'gneye
nairṛte-mādhavo'vyayaḥ |
vāyavye-tu-hṛṣīkeśas tatheśāne-ca-vāmanaḥ ||
2 ||
bhūtale-pātu-vārāhas
tathorddhe-ca-trivikramaḥ || 3 ||
||
iti śrīnārada-mahāpurāṇe uttara-khaṇḍe
puruṣottamamāhātmye
śrīnārayaṇa daśakaṁ evaṁ
kavacaṁ sampūrṇam ||
--May 2, 2022
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HINDU-HISTORY TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS NEEDS A
DRASTIC CHANGE
Vedic Aryans and the
Origins of Civilization
In a major finding that could impact
the understanding of Indian ancestry, the DNA study of a 4500-year-old skeleton
found in Rakhigarhi, in Haryana, suggests that modern people in India are
likely to have descended from the same population.
These path-breaking insights came to
light after scientists were able to sequence genome from the skeleton of a
woman and study the archaeological evidence found in Rakhigarhi, a village
located some 150 kilometers from Delhi. Rakhigarhi is the largest
Harappan site in India.
“The ancient-DNA results completely
reject the theory of steppe pastoral or ancient Iranian farmers as source of
ancestry to the Harappan population. This research also demolishes the
hypothesis about mass human migration during the Harappan time from outside
South Asia,” Prof Vasant Shinde, director of the Rakhigarhi project,
said.
Shinde said the new breakthrough
completely sets aside the Aryan migration or invasion theory. “The skeletal
remains found in the upper part of the citadel area of Mohenjodaro belonged to
those who died due to floods and not (of those) massacred by the Aryans as
hypothesized by Sir Mortimer Wheeler. The Aryan invasion theory is based on
very flimsy ground,” Shinde said, adding that the history being taught to us in
text books should now be changed.
The DNA revealed that there was no
migration or inclusion of any Iran or Central Asian gene into Harappan people.
"There is a continuity till the modern times. We are descendants of the
Harappans. Even the Vedic culture and (that of) Harappans are same,” Shinde
said.
“This research, for the first time, has
established the fact that people of Harappan civilization are the ancestors of
most population of South Asia. For the first time, the research indicates
movement of people from east to west. The Harappan people's presence is evident
at sites like Gonur in Turkmenistan and Shahr-i-Sokhta in Iran. As the
Harappans traded with Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persian Gulf and all over South Asia,
there are bound to be movements of people resulting into mixed genetic
history,” he added.
These revelations assume political
significance as there have been demands to rewrite the history books to say
that Vedic people were the original inhabitants of the country and they did not
come from Central Asia. “Our premise that the Harappans were Vedic people thus
received strong corroborative scientific evidence based on ancient DNA
studies,” he added.
Another significant claim in the study
published in the scientific journal Cell, titled "An Ancient
Harappan Genome Lacks Ancestry from Steppe Pastoralists or Iranian Farmers”, is
that farming was not brought to South Asia by large-scale movement of people
from the Fertile Crescent where farming first arose. Instead, farming started
in South Asia by local hunter-gatherers.
As the study results were published,
separate statements were issued by Harvard Medical School which had
collaborated in the study.
"Even though there has been
success with studies of ancient-DNA from many other places, the difficult
preservation conditions mean that studies in South Asia have been a
challenge," says senior author David Reich, a geneticist at Harvard
Medical School, the Broad Institute, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
In this study, Reich, along with
post-doctoral scientist Vagheesh Narasimhan and Niraj Rai, who established a
new ancient-DNA laboratory at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleo-sciences in
Lucknow, led the preparation of the samples. They screened 61 skeletal samples
from a site in Rakhigarhi, the largest city of the Indus valley Civilization. A
single sample showed promise: it contained a very small amount of authentic
ancient DNA. The team made over 100 attempts to sequence the sample. Reich
says: "While each of the individual data sets did not produce enough DNA, pooling
them resulted in sufficient genetic data to learn about population
history."
"Ancestry like that in the Indus
Valley Civilization individuals is the primary ancestry source in South Asia
today," says Reich. "This finding ties people in South Asia today
directly to the Indus Valley Civilization."
The authors of the study, however, have
a word of caution. “Analyzing the genome of only one individual limits the
conclusions that can be drawn about the entire population of the Indus Valley
Civilization.”
Here is what David Frawley & N S Raja
Ram wrote in Voice of India:
“Einstein was fond of saying: “A theory
must not contradict empirical facts”. The Aryan invasion theory then clearly
fails this basic test. It is now time to heed Einstein’s advice and take a look
at the historical processes that led to the formation of this theory.
Before we get to the paradox in question, we first need to be very
clear that by ‘Aryan’ we mean the culture and the society that derive from the
Vedas, and not any race. Dravidians are those who live in the Dravida country,
which, lies in the south of the peninsula. It is a geographical, and not a
cultural term that stands in opposition to the Aryans. In fact, Dravidians are
also Aryans as long as they are part of the same culture. And this has been the
Indian view from time immemorial.
The Paradox of Aryan Invasion Theory
It arises
from the fact that the Harappans of the Indus Valley have left profuse
archaeological records over a vast region – from the borders of Iran and beyond
Afghanistan to Eastern UP and the Tapti Valley. This is an area well over a
million square kilometers in extent that must have supported several millions
of people, assuming even a moderate population density. And yet these people
have left absolutely no literary records. The Vedic Aryans and their successors
on the other hand have left us a literature that is probably the largest in the
world. But according to the Aryan invasion theory there is absolutely no
archaeological record that they ever existed. So we have a concrete history and
archaeology of a vast civilization of ‘Dravidians’ lasting thousands of years
that left no literature, and a huge literature by the Vedic Aryans who have
left behind to history and no archaeological records.
It is
also worth noting that the earliest ‘Dravidian’ literature – in Tamil – dates
from no earlier than the first century BCE, more than two thousand years after
the period when the Harappan society was at its Height. This is made doubly
paradoxical by the fact that the Harappans we know were literate while the
invading Aryans supposedly were not, and yet it is the literature of the
illiterate Aryans that has survived; of the literature of the literate
Harappans, not a trace is said to have remained.
Then
there is the further paradox of the sciences. The proponents of the Aryan
invasion tell us that geometry and astronomy were borrowed by the Indians from
the Greeks following Alexander’s invasion of India. But the so-called Indus
(Harappan) sites from Mahenjo-Daro, Harappan and many others show that the
inhabitants must have been quite adept at geometry and basic arithmetic. From
time immemorial, town planning with carefully laid out streets and drainage
systems has been the hallmark of the Hindu city. The world had to wait some two
thousand years, until the Roman Empire, before town planning and sanitation
attained the same levels as in Harappan cities. How could this be possible if
the Indians knew no geometry before Alexander? Where did the mathematics needed
for all this come from?
All this
is still only the beginning. Harappan sites from Baluchistan to Gujarat to UP
have revealed Yajnasalas or Vedic sacrificial altars showing
that its inhabitants were followers of the Vedic religion. The Sulbasutras,
which are mathematical texts from the post Vedic period, contain detailed
technical instructions for the construction of sacrificial altars of various
kinds. Based on Seidenberg’s pioneering work and a comparison of the Sulbasutras with
Egyptian and Old-Babylonian records, it is shown later that the mathematics of
the Sulbasutras must have existed long before 2000 BCE. In the
same context, we also make the case that even Egyptian pyramids of the third
dynasty and earlier (before 2500 BCE) were very probably based on a Vedic
funeral altar known as the Smasana-cit. The late American
mathematician and historian of science Seidenberg in fact demonstrated that all
ancient mathematics is derived from “Vedic mathematics’ as the Sulbasutras are
commonly known. All this preceded Pythagoras the ‘father of Greek geometry’
(which he was not) by two thousand years or more.
We are thus left with the paradox of examples of construction that
are part of the supposedly Dravidian Indus sites, while the instructions for
building them are found in the Vedic literature of the invading Aryans who
supposedly destroyed them. A paradox indeed! Thus the only explanation is it
was Vedic mathematics – as the Sulbasutras
are commonly known – that made the great cities of the Harappan civilization
possible.
Einstein
was fond of saying: “A theory must not contradict empirical facts”. The Aryan
invasion theory then clearly fails this basic test.
These new
findings about ancient mathematics are now making their way into modern books
on history of science. Historians of science as a rule have shown themselves to
be more willing than many ‘establishment’ Indian historians to change their
views in the face of mounting evidence. The scientific evidence against the
invasion theory therefore is just overwhelming. The real question comes down to
one of interpretation of the Rigveda and the steps necessary towards
formulating a chronology of the Aryans in the light of new data as well as new
scientific techniques now available to the historian. And this we see as one of
the principal contributions of the present work.
As far as
the Aryan invasion theory is concerned, the question may now be framed not so
much as an explanation of facts or evidence, as one of sociology and politics.
How could this theory that is contradicted by nearly all the evidence, continue
to be the ‘establishment’ version of history found in our texts, and even in
such authoritative sources as the Encyclopedia Britannica?
How did
it get established in the first place? To understand this we must go back to
the issue raised by Einstein, and study the process by which a
theory is formed and gets established.
This
leads us to a second story – the story of the rise and impending fall of this
theory of a mythical invasion that really belongs to the pseudo-sciences, but
was somehow sustained by politics and appeals to authority. This is by itself a
fascinating story, one that should be known to everyone interested in history,
and not only of India. Heaven knows how much falsehood has been perpetrated on
generations of unsuspecting students as ‘history’ by ‘experts’ with axes to
grind.
But
unlike India, most other ancient societies have left behind nothing but mute
monuments, with no living continuing tradition to rise up and challenge the
portrayal of their past by scholars with alien mindsets. As custodians of this
great tradition, it is the duty of Indian scholars to lead the effort in the
writing of a more balanced and accurate history of the ancient world. And this
goes far beyond the Aryan invasion and the Aryan-Dravidian conflicts.
It is now
time to heed Einstein’s advice and take a look at the historical processes that
led to the formation of this theory”--David
Frawley & N S Rajaram, Voice
of India.
--May 22, 2022
LEAVE THE EPHEMERAL, HOLD THE ETERNAL
Spirituality
and happiness both are very important concept of a human life. In spirituality
person relate himself or herself to a broader than himself/ herself and also
make able to find a meaning or purpose of life this process also makes him/her
happy and satisfied in life. The present study is aimed to find the correlation
between these two important concepts of human life spirituality and happiness.
The SHS questionnaire of Lyubomirsky and Leeper to measure happiness and DSES
scale developed by Underwood are used in this study. Cluster sample of 100 (25
to 30 years) were selected from Udaipur city. Pearson Product Moment
Correlation method was used to compute correlation coefficient between the
scores of SHS and DSES. Results of this study showed that there is a positive
high correlation between spirituality and happiness.
Since spirituality is so deeply rooted in providing meaning, it is a
direct access point for greater happiness. Spirituality brings a sense of
meaning to a chaotic world. When life events (large and small) take on greater
significance, spiritual people are better able to cope with stress.
Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas
Realize
the divinity within yourself and the oneness of all life. Manifest that
divinity in your daily life through peace, love, and service to all
beings.
Vedantic
Meditations, Self-Inquiry and the practice of “Who AM I” will transform the way
in which you perceive yourself and the world and will take you to the highest
knowledge, peace and bliss.
Swami
Sivananda says that Vedanta must enter your bones, nerves, cells and interior
chambers of your heart.
Join
Rukmini Chaitanya in her next online course: Who Am I: The Practice of Vedantic
Inquiry to elevate your mind and discover that you are immortal, fearless, and
free!
https://online.sivanandabahamas.org/.../who-am-i-the.../
Please
recall my discourse:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/01/who-am-i-i-am-not-body-body-is-not-for.html
Please
do not miss Webinar of Swami Chidananda-- LEAVE THE EPHEMERAL,
HOLD THE ETERNAL
Gist of the Presentation:
Before bringing his immortal advice to King
Dhritarāshtra to a close, the wise counsellor of
Hastināpura,
Vidura, gives the old man some very precious tips on living a happy life. In
the last and eighth chapter of the section, famously known as Vidura-Neeti in
the Mahābhārata, there is an emphasis on holding on to
dharma, which is timeless, and letting go of our attachment to pleasure,
comforts, friends, family etc. By the same token, we are asked to say goodbye
to our aversion to pain, inconveniences, critics, adversaries etc.
The 32 verses of this chapter* can be helpful
to any of us to make mid-course corrections in our way of living, to set our
priorities right and to get ready to leave this world with dignity and grace.
This webinar will give a bird’s eye view of
the entire chapter while highlighting verse 13.
Renounce the transitory things and establish
yourself in things of permanent value!
॥॥ त्यक्त्वा अनित्यं , प्रतितिष्ठस्व नित्ये ॥ ॥
/ tyaktvā anityam, prati-tisthasva nitye /
Vidura-Neeti, 8:13
[*The 8 chapters, 33 thru 40 of Udyoga-Parva,
constitute Vidura-Neeti.]
--May 21, 2022
Personal Ecology: A Reflection on
Community
You will not be
fully confident in your leadership until you are sure about who you are at your
core, what you stand for, and how you want to change your part of the world.
This is a journey I have been on
myself these last few years, a journey to connect with my true self and what I
most want to create in this next phase of my life!
Vedic
Concept of Ecology by David Frawley
Our
Present Crisis as a Species
We live
in an ecological era in which we can no longer ignore, exploit or harm our
natural environment without significant consequences to our own lives, and to
our future as a species. The Covid Pandemic
is one sign of this danger along with climate change and the damage to our
natural environment that we have wrought by our exploitation of nature’s
resources.
Over the
past several centuries since the industrial era and rapid growth of the human
population we have disrupted and polluted our biosphere in a fundamental
manner. Our information technology era today has become aware of the problem,
but has yet to arrive at a fundamental solution to this complicated issue and
often contributes to it.
The Human Being and the Cosmic Being
In
the Vedic view, the human being is a manifestation of the Cosmic Being. We are
not just products of our society, we are linked to the universe as a whole. The
Cosmic Being, called Purusha in the Vedas, is the consciousness behind the
entire universe, of which all creatures and all worlds form its various cells,
limbs and organs, much like the cells, limbs and organs of the human body. In
other words, the human being is a manifestation or replica of the greater
universe in a miniature or individualized form in time and space.
This
Comic Person or Purusha can potentially manifest itself through the human
being, linking us back to our universal origins. Yet for that to occur we must
return to the core of our being and the highest potential of our species, which
is one of Self-realization, the discovery of the Self-aware universe within us
as our true nature.
This
unity of the individual Self or Jivatman with the universal and transcendent
Self or Paramatman is the foundation of Vedic thought, such as examined in Yoga
and Vedanta. Great Rishis and Yogis have achieved that state of unity with the
Cosmic Being and taught that to others in a continual line of instruction for
thousands of years in India.
Yoga
in its true sense aims at the unification of the individual with the universal
being, the Purusha mentioned in the Yoga Sutras as its goal. Vedanta aims at
the unification of the individual Self (Jivatman) with the universal Self
(Atman). For this various purpose various sadhanas and meditation practices are
recommended on an individual level, rooted in the study and application of
various core texts or shastras, along with special lifestyle disciplines as in
the Yamas and Niyamas of Yoga.
This
means that we are ecologically interwoven with the entire universe, not just
with nature on Earth but with all the forces of time, space, energy, life and
mind in the cosmos. There is an interdependence of all life and an underlying
unity to all existence. We have a potential inner connection to Cosmic Intelligence,
far more transformative connection than to any internet or media system that we
have created, or any collection of human based historical knowledge.
Discovering
the Universal Self
How
then do we discover that inner Self, Atman or Purusha, which takes us from the
individual to the universal, from the human to the cosmic? This transformative
process must begin with a responsible ecological way of life at personal and
collective levels, including respecting and not interfering with or exploiting
any of nature’s ecosystems on this planet. We must learn to look upon all
ecosystems as part of our own greater being and consciousness, not as something
on the outside or apart from us.
The
additional advantage of this cosmic view is that it also aids in the evolution
of consciousness in our species, and the unfoldment of a higher intelligence
within us at both individual and collective levels as the root of fulfilling
our right role as an intelligent species on the planet on our planet.
We
must recognize the organic unity of the whole of life of which we are part of,
much like the organic unity within our own human body. As such, we must learn
our proper role in the cosmic order, not just in our human society, which is to
serve the whole of life and nature and care for it as we would our own home and
family, which it actually is!
The view
of the ancient Vedic Rishis was to root our civilization in this higher cosmic
vision. We need this more than ever in our global technological age
“We spent a generous
amount of time learning Personal Ecology, which
is the art of maintaining balance, pacing, and efficiency to sustain our energy
over a lifetime of activism. Personal ecology is crucial to leadership
development because without people doing the work on the ground, the field
cannot sustain this work over time and we will not be able to see the results
we want. We cannot have programs that are more inclusive, networked, or
collective if we cannot sustain ourselves and our partners in this work.
Last year, for Creating Space X, we traveled to Baltimore.
Although the meeting was a success and I had a lot of fun interacting with
our community, I must admit that I completely failed at maintaining balance.
The meeting momentum, the change in time zone, the 12-hour flight, plus
all the unpacking and repacking, the three-days of waking up at 3am Pacific and
going to bed late into the night, compiled by the running around, and a red-eye
flight back home; all of that caught up to me the second I arrived home and my
body finally gave into the exhaustion in the form of shingles. Yes, I came down
with a case of shingles! Even the doctors were surprised that at my age I could
get this, but it was a reminder, once again, that I do have physical limits. We
all do, and when we are in complete imbalance we all have ways of knowing it;
for some our bodies may give out for others they may lose the joy they find in
their work, or some sacrifice everything outside of their work and lose the
space and people that rejuvenate them.
It goes without saying that last year, was a painful lesson
for me; one I refused to repeat. This year, I cannot pretend that I was an
unwavering Zen master these past weeks, far from it, but I can confidently say,
I did NOT get sick as a result of this work. Which for me, is always the
ultimate tell-tale sign. For one, I did not skip meals, I slept at least six
hours a night, and I prepared as much as possible beforehand so that there were
the least amounts of hiccups. Eating, rest, and organization may seem like the
simple basics, but all of which other non-profit colleagues have also confessed
to deserting at different stress-filled times.
At Rockwood, the participants were able to reflect on our
ability to find balance. For that entire week, we were placed in this beautiful
outdoor setting, others prepared our food, folks that reminded us that it
was time to eat, snacks appeared at perfect intervals, our schedules were
pre-set, the internet was spotty and there was little cell phone reception. At
home, this is not a reality for most of us. Although, taking care of ourselves
to remain balanced seems like a completely independent endeavor, I am
constantly learning that it’s more sustainable when we have the help of those
around us. By spreading the load, not only for the actual work, but looking out
for each other’s welfare, we are making personal ecology attainable and sustainable
for more than just ourselves.
The biggest difference for me this year, was having others
do little things to help me do the physical work and reduce the toll on me
personally. The extra brownies didn’t help that much (although they were
delicious), but being brought a healthy lunch by Elizabeth one day, the
help of others to carry heavy supplies, my husband changing his schedule
and taking more on at home, having a staff “supply/set-up-party;” all of those
things added up enormously. Taking moments to meditate and
reflecting right then-and-there on how I was doing with my personal ecology,
helped some too, but being in community in this way, was for me the greatest
change maker. In turn, I hope to be a personal ecology catalyst for those
around me and continue to create this “collective ecology;” where we are all
together in balance with ourselves and one another.
Being in balance means that we know our limitations, and can
constantly remain at a pace that challenges us but does not harm or break us.
Some may find their balance right away, but others, myself included, will be
working through this for a lifetime to remain in this work for as long as
possible in a way that brings joy and sustainable change for the communities we
hope to change. I do believe that together, we can make this happen without
self-sacrificing parts of ourselves through this and in the end that is at the
core of collective leadership which clearly differentiates it from the
traditional, individual, heroic models”-- Miriam Persley
If you don't have
confidence in yourself, how can you expect other people to?
Having a positive self-attitude affects everything we do and impacts all the people around us - from
friends to co-workers. Personal Ecology is a unique tool for creating and
reinforcing a healthy and positive self-image.
Personal Ecology uses Dr. Lloyd Glauberman's revolutionary HPP method
to unlock the power of our unconscious mind - removing barriers to a healthy
sense of self-esteem. With HPP programs, we can expect new positive thoughts
and behaviors to spontaneously appear in
our life. Let us become calm and centered, avoid self-sabotage, and tap into our
inner personal power. The first step to accomplishing our dreams is
self-confidence. The first step to self-confidence is Personal Ecology.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashtakshari Mantra and its Role
in your Life
Ashta:kshari Mantra reveals the
beautiful ever-lasting bond between you and the supreme power, God. Even if you
realized this truth from a guru through the mantra or not,
the bond existed and will continue to exist forever.
There are
several mantras. Each one describes a unique quality of that supreme
power, God. These divine qualities are countless,
just like the number of stars in the universe. Let’s take for example the
mantra, “Sri Ra:ma:ya Namaha”. This describes Sri Rama’s exquisite beauty and
how it is extremely captivating and pleasing to everyone. “Sri
Pundari:ka:ksha:ya Namaha” describes the lotus petal-shaped, wide eyes of God.
Like this, Sri Bhi:shma:cha:rya
sung 1000 such qualities of God known as Sri Vishnu Sahasra Namam. It does not
mean that Sri Vishnu Sahasra Namam completely described all the qualities of
God. It simply means that Sri Bhi:shma:cha:rya selectively revealed this many
qualities describing God via this many mantras.
If mantras are
innumerable, how can I learn them all?
Sri Prahla:da meditated
a mantra given by his Guru, Narada Maharshi. It is Ashta:kshari
Maha:mantra, the 8 lettered Na:ra:yana mantra. Also known as “Mantra Bramha”,
the greatest of mantras.
Ashta:kshari Maha:mantra is
also known called Mantra rajam (king of all mantras). It is
celebrated throughout Vedic culture, texts, and history as the most potent
means to end suffering. It was so mercifully shared with the world by Sri
Ra:ma:nujacha:rya to end the suffering of others. Ashta:kshari
is the seed of all mantras.
A seed of a tree includes
within its thousands of parts like branches, leaves, fruits, and many other
seeds. Similarly, this mantra is the seed mantra of all mantras able to grant
all kinds of amazing benefits to the world when chanted with complete
faith. Prahla:da was able to fall from a cliff, survive fire, emerging from an
ocean, and even able to drink poison without troubles due to the strength of
this mantra. The complete trust Prahla:da had in this mantra brought
God Himself in the form of Sri Narasimha avatar. He trusted in God so much
that God was with him throughout his life giving him strength to cross all
kinds of hurdles. That is the role
that mantras play in peoples’ lives whom have faith.
Does it eliminate the
coronavirus?
We cannot ask for the
elimination of anything. Everything belongs to the universal existence. The
appropriate desire is to seek protection from God from any upcoming hurdle
(virus or any other hurdle) in the journey of life, devoted to Him carrying out
righteous activities responsibly.
The abuse of chemicals during
crop-production, disrupting the natural course of animals for material gains,
or the misuse and overuse of natural resources to benefit greedy lifestyles,
eating habits must be reformed. Until then, we will continue to see the effect
in the form of all such viruses. Everyone has played a part in contributing to
those ill-practices and the impact of it is affecting the world currently in
the form of COVID-19.
Let’s take an oath that we
change our conduct and act more responsibly. Hopefully, God will protect us
all.
A 40-day Ashtakshari Mahamantra
Havan
For the sake of all those who
want to live responsibly, and spend life devoted to and in service of God, a
divine prayer program has begun and is the 7th day today. As described
in agama scriptures, this 40-day Ashta:kshari Maha:mantra
japam is being carried out in a specific procedure that involves lakhs
of mantra japam in meditation, while making offerings and prayers to God
through the fire Devata, Agni, and flowers to God residing the form
Deity.
How does God protect us when
the mantra is chanted?
As soon as God makes
a Sankalpa, a divine decision to relieve us from ill-health due to the
impact of our sins, His prime instrument, weapon, and ornament, Sri Sudarshana
takes action. Thus, the Sri Sudarshana Homam also is being performed in
gratitude to his obedience and humble devotion in exercising God’s will.
Ashta:kshari Maha:mantra is therefore a clear gateway that eliminates ignorance
and bestows knowledge about ultimate truths of life, and its goal.
--From the discourse of Sri Chinna
Jeeyar Swamiji
knamiṁ tasya
bahubhirmantrai: kiṁ tasya
bahubhirvratai: |
ō nārāyaṇāyēti mantra: sarvārthasādhaka: |
Whoever chants ‘naaraayaNa ashtakshari mantra’ japa – they
need not chant any other mantra(s). As all the Phalas (uses and benefits),
which can be derived from the other mantras, can get by chanting this great
mantra itself.
THE MEAING OF THE SHIVA LINGA
The Shiva Linga is part
of a vast nature symbolism of ascending cosmic energy and consciousness. Such
ascending forms pervade the whole of nature and include mountains, fire, trees,
standing stones, pyramids, Sun, Moon, lightning, and even the mantra OM.
We find such cosmic
dualities as Shiva and Shakti in the yin and yang of Taoism and many other
traditions. These are often related to ancient traditions of standing stones,
pyramids, pillars and obelisks on the Shiva side. On the Shakti side we have
sacred flowers, grottos, caves, rivers, springs, lakes or sacred circles.
The sexual reductionism
of the Shiva linga by modern western scholars and their often graphic images
involved, particularly those trained in Freudian psychology, is part of their
deep-seated sexual obsessions overall, which are almost pathological. They see
sex organs everywhere as if there were no deeper meaning to anything else.
While the Yoga and
Shaivite traditions recognize seven chakras from the root chakra below to the
thousand petal lotus above, modern psychologists remain trapped in the lower
two chakras and their sexual connotations, which is only their outer functions.
The Supreme Shiva
(Parashiva) is the supreme light of Consciousness, our inner Self (Paramatman)
that is eternal and infinite. The Supreme Shakti (Parashakti) is the power of
Consciousness (Chit-Shakti) which is the ultimate origin of all creation.
All this can be found
by studying Shaivite and Shakti texts from the Saundarya Lahiri of
Shankaracharya to the many works of Kashmir Shaivism and the vast practice of
Sri Vidya. Please learn about the cosmic powers within us and how they can lead
us to the supreme transcendence.
Om Namah Shivaya!
What is Moksha, Is it Liberation, Freedom, or
Bliss?
“The
mind like the body needs its daily rest and renewal to reset its perception and
creativity, and to remove mental toxins and blockages. Deep meditation is the
best way to do this. Otherwise the mind becomes more dense, conditioned, reactive
and disturbed. Note our examination.
Learn
how to reset your mind to connect to your highest awareness and its
transformative power of expression.”--David Frawley
Rebirth,
suffering, and the cycle of death
The most
fundamental tool yoga gives us to achieve moksha is conscious
awareness. Through the use of awareness, we can slowly begin to see our
projections, desires, attachments, and judgments for what they are. Once these
distorting factors become conscious, they are able to dissolve and unblock the
way to a direct experience of reality. When we become liberated from the
illusionary world of Maya we are able to be in yoga: the union of the inner
self (Atman) with the oneness of all life (Brahman) is a philosophy that
all share common beliefs around the concept of self-realization and
enlightenment. These ideas of the possibility of freedom, liberation, and the
emancipation from the bondage of suffering, attachment, and ignorance are the
guiding principles for these spiritual paths. The philosophical concepts of
Moksha, Maya, Karma, and Samsara are necessary for yogis to learn and
understand if they wish to move along the path of enlightenment. Even if your
goal is not self-realization, the spiritual practices originating from these
philosophies can reduce suffering and increase your sense of inner-peace,
contentment, and joy.
--May 21, 2022
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Power of Durga in the Ancient Mridanga Saileswari Temple Constructed
by Sage Parasurama
There is an
ancient temple in India made famous by thieves. Four times in recent history,
thieves stole the temple idol but returned it as they could not go far with it.
The reasons they gave makes the story even more intriguing.
Mridanga Saileswari Temple is an ancient temple
located at Muzhakunnu, Kannur district in the southern state of Kerala. The
temple is among the 108 temples believed to have been established by Sage
Parasurama. There is a story behind the temple getting the name “Mridanga
Saileswari”.
Mridangam is a percussion instrument from India
of ancient origin. In ancient Hindu sculpture, mridangam is often depicted as
the instrument of choice of Hindu deities like Ganesha and Nandi, the vehicle
and follower of Shiva. Mridangam is also known as Deva Vaadyam or the musical
instrument of the Gods. It is believed that a piece of rock, perhaps a meteor,
in the shape of Mridanga fell from heaven at this place and Sage Parasurama,
feeling the presence of Goddess, invoked her into the Rock and established a
temple for her.
Mridanga Shaileswari temple is also considered
as the birthplace of South Indian Classical dance, Kathakali. In this temple,
Goddess Sakti is present in three forms namely, Kali, Saraswati and Lakshmi.
A couple of
years back, Rtd. Director-General of Police of Kerala State, Shri Alexander
Jacob made public the stories of four robberies that happened in this temple in
previous years. The estimated value of the temple idol is around 1.5 crores.
With no security around the temple, it was an easy target for thieves.
The first break-in at the temple took place in
1979. The thieves took the idol from the temple, but the next day morning, the
idol was found to be abandoned few meters from the temple. The Police couldn’t
find the culprits. The idol was re-consecrated as per the rituals. The ritual
lasts 41 days and requires certain mantras to be recited 41 Lakh times.
A few years
later the story repeated. But this time, police could not find the idol and the
investigation was stuck without any leads. The temple authorities decided to go
for an Ashta mangala Devaprashna. Ashta
Mangala Deva Prasna is conducted to ascertain the causes and to plan
remedial actions.
With the deva prashna, it was calculated that the
idol was travelling towards the state of Tamil Nadu but the powerful idol of
Goddess will return to its abode by its own divine power.
As predicted,
on the 42nd day, Police received information of an abandoned idol beside a
highway in Palakat near Tamil Nadu with a note left behind. The note read –
“The idol is from Mridanga Shaileswari Temple, we are not able to take it any
further. Please return it to the temple”. Again the idol was re=-consecrated
like the previous time with rituals lasting 41 days. But the Police could not
trace the thieves this time too.
Since this is
the second time, Police suggested improving the security for the temple by
posting a police guard there. But the temple authorities declined the offer
saying that the Goddess can protect herself.
Soon thieves
struck for a third time, this time, a gang from the state of Karnataka. They
planned their route through the forests of Wayanad to Karnataka to
evade the Police. The Police were clueless for the next three days, but this
time, both the temple authorities and the local people were confident that the
Goddess will find her way back, even if the police failed to find the culprits.
On the third
day by mid-afternoon, the Police received an anonymous call from a lodge in
Kalpatta, Wayanad in Kerala. The caller introduced himself as one of the gang
members and gave details of the location of the idol. He requested the Police
to return the idol to the temple citing that they are not able to take the idol
with them. Police found the idol at the lodge, with flowers and a lighted lamp
placed near the idol. The usual rituals followed and the idol re-consecrated.
Statue of Pazhassiraja at Mridanga Saileswari
Temple
Police made a
breakthrough in the second robbery attempt by accident. A gang of idol thieves
from Tamil Nadu were caught when they attempted to steal idol from another
temple in Cochin. They confessed stealing idol from Mridanga Shaileswari a few
years back. Same way, people behind the third robbery attempt was also caught
accidentally when they attempted to steal idol from a temple in Kasaragod in
Kerala. They confessed their role in the third robbery attempt at Mridanga
Shaileswari Temple.
Naturally the curious
Police wanted to know, the reason behind the serial thieves, abandoning the
Mridanga Shaileswari idol halfway through. Both the gangs gave the same reason
that astonished the police.
When they touched the idol, they lost their
sense of direction and everyone entered into a confused state of mind and lost
all sense of direction and could not proceed further and they decided to
abandon the idol halfway through.
Three failed attempts did not deter another gang
of idol thieves. This time it was a gang of seasoned thieves from a minority
community in Kerala state itself. They did not believe in the supernatural
powers of the idol. They also abandoned the idol. When later caught, they gave
the same reason for abandoning the idol.
There are a lot
of things around us that we cannot reason with our intelligence and our
scientific knowledge.
Waiting
for blessed darshan of Durga
Mata in Shaileshwari temple as and when AMMA permits.
Comments:
Thank you
kindly Sir, for posting this article; it revived in me personally the faith I
have in divine power, it truly overwhelms me in so many ways knowing about the
divine spirit which is everywhere, empowering the humans in their beliefs in
their destiny stirring the inner spirit to follow the spiritual ways, which glows
with “God’s Grace”. I realize their
journey for soul’s liberation.🙏
Dr. Ram Prasad
Such incidents give us faith in the existence
of The Almighty!
--A.N. Sapthagireeshan
Thank you for
forwarding this. I love to have Darshan of the
Devi. But all depends on her grace only. Thank you again.
--Rekha Pattanaek
------------------------------------------------------
BUDDHA PURNIMA on may 16, 2022
Swami Vivekananda on Buddha- Buddha was a great
Vedantist (for Buddhism was really only an offshoot of Vedanta), and Shankara
is often called a "hidden Buddhist". Buddha made the analysis,
Shankara made the synthesis out of it. Buddha never bowed down to anything —
neither Veda, nor caste, nor priest, nor custom. He fearlessly reasoned so far
as reason could take him. Such a fearless search for truth and such love for
every living thing the world has never seen. Buddha was the Washington of the
religious world; he conquered a throne only to give it to the world, as
Washington did to the American people. He sought nothing for himself. Buddha
was a reformer of Hinduism.
Buddha Purnima is on May 16 this year
(in India and Nepal) or May 19 (for those in Southeast Asian countries). The
date varies because May has two full moon days, and the Buddhist and Hindu lunar
calendars can be interpreted differently. Buddha’s birth is celebrated as part
of a festival called ‘Vesak,’ which combines the three key events of his life —
his birth, enlightenment, and death. Join us on a deep dive into the
fascinating life of this profound spiritual leader.
HISTORY OF BUDDHA PURNIMA
Buddha Purnima (also known as Buddha
Jayanti) celebrates the birth of Prince Siddharta Gautama — a Nepali prince
(circa 563-483 B.C.) who later went on to become known as the Buddha, the
founder of Buddhism. The word ‘Purnima’ is Sanskrit for ‘full moon’, which
explains why it is celebrated on a full moon day, and ‘Jayanti’ means
‘birthday’. The word Buddha is given to those who attain ‘bodhi’ or wisdom,
hence the name was ascribed to Siddartha once he attained enlightenment. It is
commonly celebrated during the month of ‘Vaisakhi’ in Hindu/Buddhist lunar
calendars.
However, Buddha’s followers never
officially celebrated his birthday, though, for many centuries, festivals to
honor Buddha were held. In fact, the celebration of Buddha Purnima was not
formalized until modern times. It was only in May 1950, at the first conference
of the World Fellowship of Buddhists in Colombo, Sri Lanka, that Buddha Purnima
was officiated as a celebration during Vesak. It was agreed upon that the day
of the full moon in May would be auspicious, due to Buddha attaining nirvana on
a full moon day.
The reason why Buddhism began to gain
popularity was due to the teachings of non-violence, respect for life, and a
more equal approach to the role of women — concepts that were very much in
keeping with both tradition and modern ideas of progress. Thus, many countries
around the world began to become primarily Buddhist nations, especially in
Asia. Buddhism itself branched into sub-sects as each culture adapted and
assimilated the main tenets. Today, Buddhism is practiced in different forms
all over the world, and it is especially inclusive because it does not
celebrate any deities (as other religions do). The philosophical bent of
Buddhism gives it popularity across various groups of people.
Is the Buddha a god?
No, Buddha was a human who was
considered to be extraordinary, but not
a god. He was a seeker who found enlightenment by using morality,
meditation, and wisdom, which is why many find his teaching applicable to their
lives. It is said as 'Mata Pita Guru Deivam' because, Mata is
the one who can show you who your father (Pita) is. Pita will take you to your
desired Guru for education. Guru will lead you to God directly. You cannot
reach God without a Guru. So that is what this saying means.
Is Buddhism gaining popularity around the world?
Strangely, Buddhism is predicted to
see a decline, from 7% to 5% due to the relative infertility of Buddhist
communities and people groups. There is no known correlation between the
practice of Buddhism and a decline in fertility, however, our best guess is
that it has something to do with Buddhist monks practicing celibacy!
What did the real Buddha look like?
Buddha is commonly depicted as a
bald, chubby figure who is smiling; or a sage figure sitting cross-legged, with
coiled hair and elongated earlobes. The real Buddha probably looked emaciated
because of all the fasting he did, and some early carvings show an old man with
a robe and topknot, sitting in a meditation position. The “laughing Buddha”
commonly associated with Buddhism is actually a depiction of a legendary
Chinese monk called Budai, who lived
1300 years after Buddha died.
Buddha Philosophy Framed Focusing on Gita
If you want to live a life where you
can experience peace, joy, and fulfillment, then there is an urgent need to be
more in control of your mind and emotions. If you are the servant of your mind
and its’ innumerable desires, and make decisions based upon waves of emotion
that can sweep over the mind, you will fundamentally be unhappy. And there is a
deep spiritual reason for this.
uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayetātmaiva hy ātmano bandhur
ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ-6.5
One
must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The
mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.
By the self (Atman), i.e., by the mind, which is unattached to
sense-objects, one should raise the self. One should not allow the self to sink
by a mind which is of the contrary kind. ‘For the self alone,’ i.e., the mind alone is the friend of the self;
and it alone is the foe of the self. [The figure of speech here is of
Samsara as the ocean in which the individual self is like an object with
liability to sink. What causes its sinking is the lingering attachments of the
mind to some objects, though in the discipline of Jnana Yoga one may keep aloof
from such objects. A mind with such attachments is the foe and without them,
the friend.]--Sankara.
According to Buddhist philosophy, there is
only void after the completion of this material life, but Bhagavad Gitā teaches
differently. Actual life begins after the completion of this material life. For
the gross materialist it is sufficient to know that one has to end this
materialistic way of life, but for persons who are spiritually advanced, there
is another life after this materialistic life.
Swami Vivekananda- “All my life I have been
very fond of Buddha. I have more veneration for that character than any other—
that boldness, that fearlessness, and that tremendous love! He was born for the
good of men. Others may seek God, others may seek truth for themselves; he did
not even care to know truth for himself. He sought truth because people were in
misery. How to help them, that was his only concern. Throughout his life he never had a
thought for himself.”
Comments:
Excellent
article Sir. Till now, I didn’t know the meaning of Buddha Poornima and
now I know. Thanks to you.
Some of my points of view:
- I respect Buddha for his
teachings.
- I don’t like the fact that he is now
considered one of the Vishnu avatars - replacing Balarama (changing the
history) - including in Indian school system
- On the same note, there is a false
beliefs among western people (due to some group trying to change the fact). The
wrong belief is that Hinduism came from Buddhism. (A couple of people here
argued with me on this at 2 independent times). (Again changing history).
Buddhist have very effective marketing of Buddhism. With the overall trend of
(any) religious beliefs declining while “being spiritual” is gaining grounds,
Buddhism is growing with many followers - even though, among them, many won’t
accept that they are Buddhists. Thanks again for a great article.
-Nashshville Nagarjan
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PRANAYAMA IMPROVES HEALTH AND PURIFIES
THE MIND FOR SPIRITUALITY
The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 attacks the lungs and
respiratory system, sometimes resulting in significant damage. COVID-19 often leads to pneumonia and even acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS),
a severe lung injury. Recovering lung function is possible but can require
therapy and exercises for months after the infection is treated.
“Working toward recovery starts simple: with a focus on
breathing,” says Johns Hopkins physical therapist Peiting Lien. She offers a series of breathing exercises to aid in recovery
for those who had COVID-19 or another serious illness.
Benefits of Breathing
Exercises
“Deep breathing can help restore diaphragm function and increase
lung capacity. The goal is to build up the ability to breathe deeply during any
activity, not just while at rest,” notes Lien.
Deep breathing exercises can also lessen feelings of anxiety and
stress, which are common for someone who experienced severe symptoms or was
admitted to a hospital. Sleep quality may also improve with these breathing
exercises.
Anyone can benefit from deep breathing techniques, but they play
an especially important role in the COVID-19 recovery process. The exercises
can be started at home during self-isolation and easily incorporated into your
daily routine.
Yoga is an ancient system of practices used to
balance the mind and body through exercise, meditation (focusing thoughts), and
control of breathing and emotions. Studies have shown benefit of yoga in
healthy volunteers as well as cancer patients. The benefits range from
decreasing inflammation to improvement in immune system. Pranayama is a term
used to describe breathing techniques that are an integral part of yoga
practice. Pranayama and meditation may help manage stress and improve lung
health. Breathing techniques and
meditation help to reduce stress and improve lung health in health care workers
dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Let us see what the yoga practitioner
Vedantin David Frawley says about it:
“PURIFYING THE MIND
WITH EVERY INHALATION AND EXHALATION
“Our thoughts rise and
fall with the movement of the breath. Inhalation energizes our thoughts
relative to whatever our focus may be. Exhalation disperses our thoughts and
creates the space to move on to additional thoughts.
This natural process
can be developed by conscious pranayama to purify the mind and take our
awareness to a deeper level.
Draw in positive
thoughts and inspirations on inhalation and release negative thoughts and
disturbances on exhalation. In this way every breath purifies the mind.
Mentally repeat the
mantra OM on inhalation to draw in the universal Prana, that is creative vibration and awareness of
the immortal Self (Atman). Abide in that on retention.
On exhalation mentally
repeat the solar mantra HREEM and let go of any negative thoughts or agitation
hidden in the mind, allowing them to naturally disperse like darkness by light.
In this way you can
both access a deeper Self-awareness and remove any blockages in the mind that
are preventing you from dwelling in it.
To put it in Vedanta
terms on inhalation that you are the Self of all beings and on exhalation you
negate the world as unreal. On inhalation you energize pure Consciousness and
on exhalation you negate the mind and the world as unreal.”
--May 15, 2022
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Autobiography
vs. Biography vs. Memoir
The three primary formats used to tell a life
story are a biography, an autobiography, and
a memoir. Distinguishing between the three can feel a bit confusing since they
all share several similarities. But there are some distinct differences.
Simply put, a biography is the life
history of an individual, written by someone else. An autobiography is the
story of a person’s life, written by that person, and a memoir focuses on
reflection and establishing an emotional connection, rather than simply
presenting the facts around their life.
What is Biography?
A biography, also called a bio, is a
non-fiction piece of work giving an objective account of a person’s life. The
main difference between a biography vs. an autobiography is that the author of
a biography is not the subject.
Biographies include details of key
events that shaped the subject’s life, and information about their birthplace,
education, work, and relationships. Biographers use a number of research
sources, including interviews, letters, diaries, photographs, essays, reference
books, and newspapers. While a biography is usually in the written form, it can
be produced in other formats such as music composition or film.
What is an Autobiography?
An autobiography is the story of a
person’s life written by that person. Because the author is also the main
character of the story, autobiographies are written in the first person.
The purpose of an autobiography is to
portray the life experiences and achievements of the author. Therefore, most
autobiographies are written later in the subject’s life.
They often begin during early childhood
and chronologically detail key events throughout their life. Autobiographies usually
include information about where a person was born and brought up, their
education, career, life experiences, the challenge One of the main differences
between an autobiography vs. a biography is that autobiographies tend to be
more subjective. That’s because they are written by the subject, and present
the facts based on their own memories of a specific situation, which can be
biased.
What is a Memoir?
Memoir comes from the French word memoir, meaning memory or reminiscence. Similar to an
autobiography, a memoir is
the story of a person’s life written by that person.
The difference between a memoirs vs. an
autobiography is that a memoir focuses on
reflection and establishing an emotional connection, rather than simply
presenting the facts around their life. The author uses their personal
knowledge to tell an intimate and emotional story about the private or public
happenings in their life. The topic is intentionally focused and does not
include biographical or chronological aspects of the author’s life unless they
are meaningful and relevant to the story.
--May 16, 2022
Comments:
Thank you for sharing
the story! It is encouraging to express feelings, life, family, activities past
and present thru writing.
--Manisha Paul
------------------------------------------------------
The
Impact of the Self-Awareness on Learning and Leading True Life
By Patricia Steiner
Robert was just released from prison
after 10 years of incarceration. The day after his release, he showed up as a
student in my class. I liked him from the first day that we met and gave him
lots of time and attention. Within three weeks, he was back in prison. I don’t
know why. I do know that I lose up to half of all my at-risk students each
semester.
How
is it that someone as smart as Robert can be so unreachable? Is he unique? What
prevents people like Robert from learning? After spending considerable time and
energy researching this problem, I landed on the study of the self-awareness process.
If we believe in the concept of lifelong learning and development, then we must
acknowledge the value of self-awareness as an important precursor to learning
effectiveness.
Although
definitions vary, self-awareness is generally seen as an inwardly focused
evaluative process in which individuals use reflection to make self-comparisons
to reality and the feedback of others. The goal of the self-awareness process
is to create better self-knowledge, make adjustments and improvements, and
accommodate for weaknesses. The self-awareness process brings into question
one’s identity by allowing one to compare themselves to others and their
feedback in a new way. This form of comparison is seen as allowing evaluation
of alternatives, identification of problems and progress towards goals. Sharon
Merriman of the University of Georgia, Athens, has described the self-aware
adult learner as one who:
·
has an independent self-concept;
·
can direct their own learning;
·
has accumulated a reservoir of life
experiences that can be a resource;
·
has learning needs closely related to
changing social roles;
·
is problem-centered and interested in
immediate application of knowledge; and is
internally motivated, rather than externally, to learn.
Without
self-awareness skills, thinking can be distorted by self-deception—a
thought-process that can lead someone to be misinformed and cause them to
miscommunicate, miss-learn and misinform others. Self-deception can be
described as a skewing of our cognitive awareness in order to find a way to
avoid pain and anxiety, a way to cope with life’s frustrations, and make sense
out of events that are incongruous. This manifests as discrepancies between
espoused and actual behavior and often leads to feedback-avoiding behavior,
which can negatively impact the way evidence is gathered, conclusions are
reached and lessons are learned. Most of us are subject to self-deception from
time to time.
The
development of a therapy, method or strategy to mitigate the negative effects
of self-deception is of great need to my clients and students. As a college
professor, it has been my experience that a lack of self-awareness process
skills inhibits or prevents learning just as the lack of self-awareness process
skills prevents leaders from seeing and solving problems. The lack of the
self-awareness process in learners can create an inability to form
relationships with peers and an unrealistic view of the self is often part of
the student persona. When applicable, I add a self-awareness process exercise
into my syllabus. At most, I have scheduled private one-on-one meetings with
the most serious offenders to discuss issues that might connect them to the self-awareness
process and hope that this meeting acts as a springboard to students finding
their own way toward success.
It doesn’t matter what the topic is, Ann has the answer. She has
an answer and she is always right. Because she knows a lot, she is constantly
giving out information. Ann desperately wants people to learn from what she
knows and believes that her advice and information are the reason for her
team’s success. Ann is not aware of the reaction of her peers on the receiving
end. Her classmates know that they have to pretend to listen to her and then go
off and do what they feel is best which is often something different.
If
we are not skilled in self-awareness processing or if we are operating in
denial, we cannot effectively learn about ourselves and our own personal needs,
strengths and weaknesses. Lifelong learning and development depends on accurate
and meaningful knowledge about us as individuals. A lack of this knowledge can
be devastating to our learning process and outcomes. The self-awareness process
may provide individuals with greater control over events in their lives. The
process is found to be important in “meaning-making” and is a critical concern
for both education and leadership scholars and practitioners. Some refer to
self-awareness, reflection and strategic thinking as metacognitive skills that
make an impact on student learning, requiring the ability to access prior
knowledge in order to synthesize information, correct misconceptions, ask
questions and draw inferences. Self-awareness becomes the most important
construct in emotional intelligence. Additional research reveals self-awareness
as a tool to combat complexity and chaos in contemporary society. Other
scholars apply self-awareness to the authentic leader/follower theoretical
framework and process. Many emphasize self-awareness along with trust and
engagement in producing more authentic leaders from authentic followers.
Robert
was a victim of self-deception. From a learning perspective, the self-awareness
process or the lack thereof is an issue of significance on a large scale.
Self-deception can impede personal learning, and create barriers, as it becomes
a barrier to the self-awareness process. Many students are too entrenched in
what Columbia University’s Jack Mezirow refers to as “habits of mind” to see
their own self-deception and blocks to self-awareness.
Self-awareness
results in implicitly creating a feedback loop that is critical to monitoring
and controlling behavior. This runs deep into our identity, allowing sensitive
and appropriate reaction to the perceptions of others. Self-awareness theory
suggests that individuals who are more cognizant of how they are perceived by
others are better at incorporating information from others into their
self-appraisals and, ultimately, into their behavior. Leaders are more
effective when they demonstrate that they are receptive to feedback from
others.
Students
often deal with the same self-deception problem. Because self-deception blocks
the self-awareness process it is repeatedly a surprise to them that their
problems and ultimately their solutions start with them.
In
general, people dealing with self-awareness problems blame others around them
for things that go wrong and block their awareness of their own responsibility
for the problems they face, thus preventing solutions or progress. That problem
with the assignment or lack of focus, the poor grade or lack of understanding
in class needs to be, at least in part, the responsibility of the student.
Robert
was never able to admit to his disconnect with the outside world and eventually
committed another offense. As the years go by and self-deception takes over, he
will have less and less chance to reach reasonable and expected goals.
“True education
is not just about memorizing information, having technical skills, or knowing
how to use computers. It requires control of the mind, power of attention, and
introspection, so we know ourselves. Yoga and meditation need to be part of
education.”--David Frawley
Practical
Approach to Lead Integral Life with added Spiritual Education
It should include four
in depth to Ayurvedic
Healing, Ayurvedic
Astrology, Yoga,
Ayurveda, Mantra and Meditation and Integral
Vedic Counseling.
Ayurveda
– teaches the
foundation of Ayurveda for wellness, right living, and countering common
diseases and afflictions of body and mind. Its specific focus is on Ayurveda
and Yoga psychology as addressing the complications of our high tech society,
including the yogic aspects of Ayurveda, making Ayurveda relevant to all.
Yoga teaches Raja Yoga, the approach of the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita
and Yoga Sutras, with reference to Vedanta or the Yoga of knowledge (Jnana
Yoga), and an emphasis on Yoga psychology and the science of consciousness. In
addition it teaches the spiritual Tantric Yoga of mantras, deities, working
with the subtle body, chakras, Kundalini and Shiva/Shakti energies by integrating Yoga and Ayurveda.
Vedic
astrology, Jyotish –emphasize the astrology of
healing, Vedic medical or Ayurvedic astrology, yogic astrology, mantras and
deities relative to astrological remedial measures. It also examines mundane astrology, social, political and
civilizational issues.
Vedic
counseling should emphasize an integral approach combining Vedic
knowledge systems of Ayurveda, Yoga, Vedanta and Vedic astrology, along with teaching
the foundation of Vedic dharma living and karmic life-management.
Shiva Panchakshari: A 5 Letter
Mantra That Could Save you Even from Hell
Panchakshara is a Mahamantra which is composed of five letters, Namassivaya.
A Mantra is that which removes all obstacles and miseries of one
who reflects on it and bestows eternal bliss and immortality. Panchakshara is
the best among seven crores of Mantras. There are seven Skandhas in Yajurveda.
There is Rudradhyayi in the center of the middle Skandha. In this Rudradhyayi
there are one thousand Rudra Mantras. Namassivaya or the Siva Panchakshara
Mantra shines in the center of these one thousand Rudra Mantras.
Om Namah Shivaya: The Maha Panchakshari Mantra. It is the great Vedic mantra
to achieve awakenings, enlightenment and moksha. Many believe that this 5
Letter Mantra had the power to even Save you from Hell and the effects of bad
karma.
Complete meaning of Om Nama Shivaya, benefits of om nama shivaya
Om Namah Shivay mantra generates a very high energy. These waves enhance human
intelligence to the optimum level. Chanting Om Namah Shivaya slowly during
Meditation gives Harmony, Concentration, and strength.
Rig Veda defined Supreme being as Maharudra. Bhagwan Shivji symbolizes the
Maharudra (रुदन रोकने वाला ) means the one who wipes out the tears. If a yogi chants
the mantra with true devotion towards Sachidanand, their mind, body, and soul
go through the transcendental phase, and they can even switch to higher
dimensions of reality.
The Mantra ॐ नमः शिवाय (Namah Shivaya) Direct Translation: Adoration to Bhagwan Shivji. ‘The mantra
focuses on Bhagwan Shivji who is understood to be the god of all yogis and the
god of yoga along with being the god of time and also the god who gives Moksh.
The repetition of the mantra is such that the last syllable of the mantra is
the doorway to Shiva-consciousness, moving from the end to a new beginning. Om
Namah Shivaya is Panchakshari mantra excluding Omkar (primary cosmic
vibration). Namah Shivaya attached with the five essential elements of the
materialistic world NA – MA -SI – VA – YA.
Na Earth Element (Prithvi Tattva)
Ma Water Element (Jal Tattva)
Si Fire element (Agni Tattva)
Va Air element (Vayu Tattva)
Ya Space element (Akasha Tattva)
Om Namah Shivaya mantra chanting brings
transcendental changes to the body of the chanter. Yogis all around the world
are busy in chanting the auspicious mantra through which they have increased
their abilities to infinite levels.
Health Benefits of Om Namah Shivaya
•improves your blood
circulation and stabilizes heartbeat. Mantra can even enhance your blood
purification system.
•Chanting the mantra also purifies your rationalizing process which improves
your physiological as well as intellectual well-being.
•It also heals your sorrows, emotional pain and takes you out of the darkness
and show the positivity of life.
•It also reduces the chances of heart strokes and organ failure.
It spreads positivity in your house Worshipping Shiva in the home
brings happiness into the family. Shiva & Shakti both get established in
that house. You start understanding others problem and becomes ever ready to
give helping hand to others. Moreover that, Moral values will start growing in
the kids. Positive vibes will get emitting from that house and from the people
living in that house. Chanting Om Namah Shivaya makes the law
of attraction works better in your favor.
Every substance including deities is the manifestation of Shiva’s
energy. Chanting Om Namah Shivaya is
like worshipping the primary elements of nature means invoking your inner
Shiva.
-May 14, 2022
------------------------------------------------------
Older People
Fret Less about Aging in Place
WASHINGTON (AP) — the older you are, the less you fret about
aging in place.
That’s a key insight from a new Associated Press-NORC Center for
Public Affairs Research poll, which found that U.S.
adults ages 65 or older feel much better prepared to age in their own homes
than those 50-64, who are mostly still in the final stretches of their working
years.
The poll also documented greater insecurity around aging in
place for older Black and Latino Americans, the likely result of a
deep-rooted wealth gap that markedly favors white people.
Aging in one’s own home, or with family or a close friend, is a
widely held aspiration, with 88% of adults 50 and older saying it’s their goal
in an earlier AP-NORC poll.
The outlook among those 65 or older is upbeat, with nearly 8 in
10 saying they’re extremely or very prepared to stay in their current home as
long as possible.
--AP-NORC Poll
Aging in Place - The Benefits to You and Your Loved Ones
It probably comes as no surprise that most adults would
prefer to remain in their homes as they get older and age in place. The
decision to move to a nursing home or long-term care facility is a difficult
one, and those options usually aren't the ideal outcome. When you have an
elderly loved one, it can be difficult to balance your obligations along with
providing the care that they need. Additionally, many people don't live as
close to their loved ones as they wish, which makes care difficult. However,
there are many options available that can keep your loved one happy and
independent in their home for as long as possible, and there are actually many
benefits to aging in place.
Aging in Place Can Lead to Better Health Outcomes
A four-year analysis of aging in place found that those who received care in
their homes had improved mental and physical health compared to individuals who
were in nursing homes. The study also found aging in place to cost thousands
less than other care options. Traditional long-term care facilities can
diminish a person's independence, but by receiving supportive health services
at home, most people can actually save money while increasing their sense of
wellbeing and happiness.
Aging in Place is tailored to Your Needs
There is a huge variety of services that are available to those who would
like to remain in their homes as they age. Senior
Helpers Milwaukee provides different levels of care that are tailored to
your specific loved ones and their needs. Whether it's comprehensive chronic
disease care, or simply some companionship, Senior Helpers is skilled at
meeting all different levels of need. Some of the services we provide
are:
- Alzheimer's and dementia care
- Parkinson's care
- Transitional care after surgery
- Personal care
- Companionship care
- Chronic disease care, and more
I am 92 and I too join the crowd living
in my home with my daughter and grand-children!
--May 14, 2022
========================================================================================
BIRTH
AND DEATH AS A CONTINUOUS PROCESS
Life is
an unending journey. Death is merely a comma, not a full stop in life,
just as a traveler stops for a rest when overcome by exhaustion.
“Punarapi jananam punarapi maranam, Punarapi janani jathare
shayanam,
Iha sansāre khalu dustāre, Kripayapāre pāhi Murāre,
Bhaj Govindam, Bhaj Govindam, Govindam Bhaj Mūdhamate” – Adi Shankaracharya
He who
takes birth dies and he who dies is reborn. That which is created is
destroyed, and that which is destroyed is re-created in a different form.
Thus the cycle of the universe continues.
The
Bhagavad Gita 2:27 says, “Jātasya hi dhruvo mrityuh, dhruvam janma
mritasya cha”
Just as
people shed off their old clothes for new ones, the soul sheds its old and aged
body and takes birth in a new body, in accordance with its deeds.
The
scriptures say that we adorn three bodies:
- The gross
body, which is made of the five
fundamental elements – earth, water, fire, air and sky. This body is
visible to the naked eye.
- The subtle
body, which consists of mind and senses
through which our consciousness meets the world.
- The causal body, consisting
of subconscious and unconscious phenomena like lust, passion, ignorance,
etc.
The
soul will not attain liberation as long as it does not shed all three bodies.
Liberation is only possible through true knowledge. The fire of
true knowledge helps burn the three bodies, thus clearing the path of
liberation. This burning of three bodies is not to be taken literally.
At the time of death, the soul sheds only its gross body. It
carries with it the subtle and causal bodies, because its desires and wishes
remain unfulfilled.
In
computer jargon, the hardware changes, but the software remains the same. The
program is unchanged and therefore the new-born infant does not need to be
taught to suck milk from its mother. Be it a child or the young one of an
animal, it instinctively knows to feed itself as it has sucked the milk of so
many mothers over its past births. Every soul fears death. Even a
child, who knows nothing about death, suffers from fear. We can
understand a man fearing snakes and scorpions if either a snake or a scorpion
has bitten him previously. But why does one fear death while still alive?
The answer to this question is that though one has not died in this birth, the
experience of dying in previous births is present in the software of his
psyche.
Hence, he fears death and
runs away from it. After death, the soul leaves the body and finds a new
body and is reborn. It leaves the new body when it dies either by its
natural death or accidently, in accordance with its destiny. God also chooses
to be reborn out of compassion for us, but ordinary souls have come to this
world because of previous deeds. Ordinary souls are dependent on past
deeds and have to accept whatever body and life comes to it because of previous
deeds. God is independent while ordinary souls are dependent.
“We live between the
mysteries of our birth and death in the physical world. Yet birth and death are
continuously happening on many different levels. Beginnings and endings are
integral to the beauty, wonder and mystery of life. Gains and losses are
occurring at every moment. Creation and dissolution are interwoven. We cannot
move forward without letting go of what is behind us.
Every breath we take in
is a kind of new birth and every breath we exhale is a letting go or release.
To move on in the present we must let go of the past. Our thoughts continually
arise and fall, with most entirely forgotten.
The question therefore
arises as to who or what is born or dies in any final manner? If we can endure
through the many forms of birth and death, creation and dissolution in that happen
in our lives, is not our inner awareness inherently beyond birth and death in
all forms?
Our inner being and
power of seeing ever witnesses the rising and falling of the waves of life
through our biological processes, our sensory impressions, our emotions and
thoughts, through waking, dream and deep sleep and the aging process. Yet we
endure through all these changes and variations, with an inner Self-awareness
that is always present for us to access.
Death is the great guru
that teaches us the transience of our material lives, yet is also the
inspiration for a new birth and creation. What is transient must die or pass
away, just as seasons must change. Yet the creative process continues in all
its mystery.
The ultimate truth is
that nothing belongs to us, not our property, wealth, position, nor even our
body and mind. All will pass away in the inevitable course of time. Yet our
inner awareness remains. That is our true immortal Self and bliss.
Embrace your inner
seeing that gives light to all. Let go of the weight of memory. Be not only in
the present but be an enduring presence of Self-awareness. Then birth and death
in all forms will be a return to immortality and the eternal”--David Frawley
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HUMAN
APPROACH TO THE WORLD PEACE
Today in spite of the global
communication made possible by our new information technology, we are finding
increasing divisions and conflicts in the world and in individuals, in the
human mind itself. Such increasing conflicts are not only between nations but
within nations, including deep disagreements in democratic countries about
prime values, principles of education, and the future condition of society.
Challenges to physical and mental health are increasing in the post-pandemic
era.
Platitudes of promoting peace will not take us
very far. For lasting peace, we must emphasize inner values beyond our fixation
on the material world, our obsession with physical reality and the physical
body, the pursuit of pleasure and power, and the arrogance of our own minds
that think they alone are right. We need greater respect for nature and the
universe over our personal or social triumphs. We need to honor that universal
Self in all beings and in the entire universe animate and inanimate. This is also
the way of our own highest Self-realization
When we rise in the morning and listen to the radio or read the
newspaper, we are confronted with the same sad news: violence, crime, wars, and
disasters. I cannot recall a single day without a report of something terrible
happening somewhere. Even in these modern times it is clear that one's precious
life is not safe. No former generation has had to experience so much bad news
as we face today; this constant awareness of fear and tension should make any
sensitive and compassionate person question seriously the progress of our
modern world.
It is ironic that the more
serious problems emanate from the more industrially advanced societies. Science
and technology have worked wonders in many fields, but the basic human problems
remain. There is unprecedented literacy, yet this universal education does not
seem to have fostered goodness, but only mental restlessness and discontent
instead. There is no doubt about the increase in our material progress and
technology, but somehow this is not sufficient as we have not yet succeeded in
bringing about peace and happiness or in overcoming suffering.
We can only conclude that
there must be something seriously wrong with our progress and development, and
if we do not check it in time there could be disastrous consequences for the
future of humanity. I am not at all against science and technology - they have
contributed immensely to the overall experience of humankind; to our material
comfort and well-being and to our greater understanding of the world we live
in. But if we give too much emphasis to science and technology we are in danger
of losing touch with those aspects of human knowledge and understanding that
aspire towards honesty and altruism.
If,
for example, the leader of the United States of America and the leader of the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics suddenly met each other in the middle of a
desolate island, they would respond to
each other spontaneously as fellow human beings. Dalai Lama suggests that world
leaders meet about once a year in a beautiful place without any business, just
to get to know each other as human beings. Then, later, they could meet to
discuss mutual and global problems. Many others share my wish that world
leaders meet at the conference table in such an atmosphere of mutual respect
and understanding of each other's humanness.
The achievement of justice, harmony, and peace depends on many
factors. We should think about them in terms of human benefit in the long run
rather than the short term. Nations have
no choice but to be concerned about the welfare of others, not so much because
of their belief in humanity, but because it is in the mutual and long-term
interest of all concerned. An appreciation of this new reality is indicated by
the emergence of regional or continental economic organizations such as the
European Economic Community, the Association of South East Asian Nations, and
so forth.
Such human qualities as
morality, compassion, decency, wisdom, and so forth have been the foundations
of all civilizations. These qualities must be cultivated and sustained through
systematic moral education in a conducive social environment so that a more
humane world may emerge. The qualities required to create such a world must be
inculcated right from the beginning, from childhood. We cannot wait for the
next generation to make this change; the present generation must attempt a
renewal of basic human values. If there is any hope, it is in the future
generations, but not unless we institute major change on a worldwide scale in
our present educational system. We need a revolution in our commitment to and
practice of universal humanitarian values.
Although materialistic knowledge in the form of science and technology has
contributed enormously to human welfare, it is not capable of creating lasting
happiness. In America, for example, where technological development is perhaps
more advanced than in any other country, there is still a great deal of mental
suffering. This is because materialistic knowledge can only provide a type of
happiness that is dependent upon physical conditions. It cannot provide
happiness that springs from inner development independent of external factor.
For renewal of human values and attainment of lasting happiness, we need to
look to the common humanitarian heritage of all nations the world over. May
this essay serve as an urgent reminder lest we forget the human values that
unite us all as a single family on this Planet!
Please go through the detailed discourse:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2022/05/human-approach-to-world-peace.html
--May
13, 2022
MONOTHEISM, RELIGION & SCIENCE
Why science and religion are the same?
Science and religion are closely
interconnected in the scientific study of religion, which can be traced back to
seventeenth-century natural histories of religion. Natural historians attempted
to provide naturalistic explanations for human behavior and culture, for domains
such as religion, emotions, and morality.
How religion and science are related?
Science focuses on testable claims and
hypotheses, whereas religion focuses on individual beliefs. The “science and
religion” movement emphasizes dialogue and contact, saying that science and
religion should work with each other, rather than be at odds or studying
different areas.
What is the difference between faith and science?
Likewise, faith excludes looking at
scientific facts, and science excludes putting value in what one believes. That
is part of the concepts of faith and science.
Is there conflict between science and religion?
We found that 56% of Americans say
there generally is conflict between science and religion but that this sense of
tension is more common among the religiously unaffiliated— those who describe
their religion as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular.”
What are the differences between religious and scientific
knowledge?
Scientific knowledge is concerned with how the
world works now, and reliably predicting how it will operate in the future.
Religious knowledge assumes the existence of some manner of greater being, and
is focused on determining/acting according to its will.
Why does one believe in science more than religion?
“The question of truth is as central to
[religion’s] concern as it is in science. Religious belief can guide one in
life or strengthen one at the approach of death, but unless it is actually true
it can do neither of these things and so would amount to no more than an
illusory exercise in comforting fantasy.”
What is science really says about religion?
Science investigates the natural world,
while religion deals with the spiritual and supernatural — hence, the two can
be complementary. Many religious organizations have issued statements declaring
that there need not be any conflict between religious faith and the scientific
perspective on.
Should science be considered a religion?
Science, especially operational
science, is knowledge gained through observation and experimentation. There are
theories disguised as science that could and should be considered religious in
nature but science as a whole should never be considered a religion.
Ajeet Kumar, the Author, who is Associate Professor of History,
Sanatana Dharma College, Alappuzha, Kerala, says: “The Vedas teach us that
creation is without beginning or end. Science is said to have proved that the
sum total of cosmic energy is always the same. Then, if there was a time when
nothing existed, where was all this manifested energy? Some say that it was in
a potential form in God. In that case God is sometimes potential and sometimes
kinetic, which would make him mutable.
Pew Research Center engaged a small group of Muslims, Hindus and
Buddhists to talk about their perspectives. These one-on-one, in-depth
interviews took place in Malaysia and Singapore – two Southeast Asian nations
that have made sizable investments in scientific research and development in
recent years and that are home to religiously diverse populations. The
discussions reinforced the conclusion that there is no single, universally held
view of the relationship between science and religion, but they also identified
some common patterns and themes within each of the three religious groups.
In keeping with
thematic comments that Hinduism contains elements of science, many interviewees
said the concept of evolution was encompassed in their religious teachings. “In
Hinduism we have something like this as well, that tells us we originated from
different species, which is why we also believe in reincarnation, and how
certain deities take different forms. This is why certain animals are seen as
sacred animals, because it’s one of the forms that this particular deity had
taken,” said a 29-year-old Hindu woman in Singapore. When asked about the
origins of human life, many Hindu interviewees just quickly replied that humans
came from primates.
The Muslims interviewed tended to speak of an overlap between
their religion and science, and some raised areas of tension between the two.
Hindu interviewees, by and large, described science and religion as overlapping
but compatible spheres. By contrast, Buddhist interviewees described science
and religion as parallel concepts, with no particular touchpoints between the
two. Let us look into
the thoughtful comments and guidance from Sharon Suh, Ajay Varghese and Pew
Research Center religion experts including Basheer Mohamed, Neha Sagan, and
David Frawley.
Christians worldwide vary in whether they see disagreement between
science and their religion’s teachings. Christians see as a conflict between science and religion!
Please go through the detailed discourse:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2022/05/monotheism-religion-science.html
--May 8, 2022
------------------------------------------------------
AZADI KA AMRIT MAHOTSAV
75th Independence Day
will be celebrated on Aug. 15, 2022, and the government has planned 75 weeks of
events, dubbed Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
The Salt March started in
Ahmedabad on March 12, 1930, and was led by Mahatma Gandhi as a non-violent
protest against the British monopoly on salt.
NEW DELHI: Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a series of events to observe
next year’s 75th independence anniversary, starting with a commemoration of the
Salt March to mark the beginning of the freedom movement over nine decades
ago.
India’s 75th Independence
Day will be celebrated on Aug. 15, 2022, and the government has planned 75
weeks of events, dubbed Azadi Ka Amrit
Mahotsav.
A special committee
comprising 259 members from the ruling party and opposition was set up last
week to prepare the celebrations. Every week, one major event is going to be
held ahead of Aug. 15.
The Salt March started in
Ahmedabad on March 12, 1930, and was led by Mahatma Gandhi as a non-violent
protest against the British monopoly on salt.
Gandhi and his 78 followers
walked for 24 days until they reached the coastal town of Dandi on the Arabian
Sea, 390 km away. He addressed large crowds all along the way, with millions of
people joining the struggle for freedom.
“Salt was never valued on
the basis of mere cost,” Modi said at Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.
“For Indians, salt represents honesty, trust, loyalty, labor, equality and
self-reliance. Amrit Mahotsav means
elixir of energy of independence. It means elixir of inspirations of the
warriors of freedom struggle, elixir of new ideas and pledges and nectar of atma nirbharta (self-reliance).”
A controversy has arisen,
however, as media reports said that the freedom movement leaders being
celebrated during the events would not include India’s first Prime minister,
Jawaharlal Nehru, who is widely regarded as the architect of modern India and a
visionary who laid the foundations of a pluralist and secular nation.
But it was unsurprising
that Nehru was being left out of the celebrations, according to Prof. Aditya
Mukherjee from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
“It is a matter of utter
shame when the whole world recognizes Nehru as a beacon of the freedom movement
and Indian democracy and our own country will celebrate minus Nehru,” he told
Arab News. “The greatest tragedy for the nation is that people who did not
share the values of the national movement — secularism, democracy — they are in
power and celebrating independence. What values of independence are we
celebrating when the international community has downgraded India as a
democracy?”
Sudheendra Kulkarni, a political commentator
and advisor to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who led the first
government of the now ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, said Modi should do much
more to invoke the legacy of the Dandi march.
“Mahatma Gandhi not only
stood for India’s political independence, but also for a nation that is
committed to Hindu Muslim unity,” Kulkarni said. “Modi should show sincerity
and commitment to India’s secular unity.”
He suggested that the 75th
anniversary of independence be celebrated jointly with Pakistan and Bangladesh,
which belong to the subcontinental family that became independent from the
British in 1947.
“Modi should give a call
that the 75th anniversary should be celebrated jointly by the people of India,
Pakistan and Bangladesh," Kulkarni said. “People of Pakistan and
Bangladesh are part of the undivided India and fought together against colonial
rule.”
--May
8, 2022
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mother's Day for the year 2022 is celebrated/ observed on Sunday, May 8th.
Mother's Day is observed the second
Sunday in May. It is a time to honor mothers, grandmothers, and
great-grandmothers for their contribution to family and society. Since it is
not a federal holiday, businesses may be open or closed as any other Sunday.
The compliment to Mother's day is Father's Day, celebrating the contributions Father's make to raising a
family.
Countries
that celebrate Mother’s Day--Saudi Arabia, and more celebrate
Mother’s Day on March 21 (spring equinox). Some countries like United Kingdom
and Ireland and others celebrate the Day on the fourth Sunday during Lent and
call it Mothering Sunday. Many eastern and southern Eurasian countries
including Russia celebrate Mother’s Day together with International Women’s Day
on March 8th. Mother’s Day celebrations around the world.
Mother’s Day celebrated its 100 year
anniversary in 2014. In the year 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law
Mother’s Day stating that the Day would be celebrated on the second Sunday of
May and be a national holiday.
The most popular gifts/ideas to give
for Mother’s Day in order of popularity are 1) Greeting Cards, 2) Flowers, 3)
Special outings, 4) Clothing andaccessories, and 5) Jewelry. Many mothers like a phone call or hugs and
kisses as well“
Matru devo bhava” in Hinduism
Our ancient culture
believes that on the woman depends, the sustenance of the whole country. That
is why the country is referred to as the Motherland!
“The mother’s lap is the
first school for every child. It is his first temple; mother is the foremost
God. Mother is everyone’s primary wealth. It is the duty of every person to
recognize this truth. Everyone must cherish their parents as embodiments of the
Divine.
Women have a very crucial
role in individual and social uplift. They are the makers of the home, the
nation and the world. They shape the generation to come. For this, it is imperative
for women to be educated in a well-planned manner, and to be endowed with the
wisdom, fortitude and faith that can equip them for this great responsibility.
They must be armed with deep rooted virtue and firm faith, in the ideals of
womanhood, laid down in our sacred texts.”
(The author Sri Sathya Sai Baba (1926-2011) was a revered spiritual guru
to millions.)
Hooray for all the moms in our lives—mothers, grandmothers,
godmothers, stepmothers, mothers-in-law, foster
moms, bonus moms, other-mothers,
aunts, wives, partners, sisters, friends, fellow moms, mentors and women who love with a mother’s heart. “God could not be everywhere, and
therefore he made mothers (as Matru devo bhava).” – Rudyard Kipling. Hindu Americans celebrate this day in Hindu Temples as Special Religious
Day!
--May 7, 2022
BRAIN, MIND AND CONSCIOUSNESS
Consciousness being energy of
the soul is spiritual, whereas mind is material. Mind is material since
it is one of the elements of the subtle body; Consciousness is spiritual
being an integral energy of the soul; we can avoid mind influencing our
consciousness by careful introspection.
Consciousness is the energy of
the soul whereas mind is part of the material body. Mind is one of the elements
of the subtle body. Just as our eyes have the ability to see and when we direct
our eyes on a particular object our eyes see that object. Just as the power of
seeing is the characteristic of the eye, the power of consciousness is the
characteristic of the soul. Consciousness in that sense is spiritual in nature
whereas mind is one of the objects on which the consciousness gets focused.
Therefore, the difference is that the consciousness is spiritual whereas mind
is material being part of subtle body.
From a practical perspective,
we sometime say – our mind is disturbed, my consciousness is gone down,
etc. We may use the words ‘mind’ and ‘consciousness’ interchangeably, but
from philosophical point of view these words are technically different.
To understand our situation in
the material world from a philosophical perspective, Bhagavad Gita 13.22 says
the following:
purushah prakriti-stho hi
bhunkte prakriti jan gunan
karanam guna sago sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu--BG 13.22
The living entity in the
material nature thus follows the ways of life, enjoying the three modes of
nature. This is due to his association with that material nature. Thus, one
meets with good and evil among various species.
For the purpose of enjoying (bhunkte),
the soul (purusha) gets situated in material nature (prakriti stho hi).
Just like a person who wants to enjoy a cricket match, although he can see in
all directions in the room, but his eyes and vision gets focused only on the TV
screen. Through the TV screen his vision enters into the cricket ground, he
starts identifying, observing, experiencing what is happening on the cricket
ground, and starts feeling emotions accordingly. Events that are happening on
the cricket ground are like events happening in the material world and the
screen on which the events are displayed is like the mind.
What happens on the cricket
ground the video camera captures it, the sound recorder records the commentary
etc. All these inputs are integrated and brought forward to the television. The
television screen offers them for enjoyment or suffering to the soul (sad
asad yoni janmasu). Similarly, what our eyes, ears, nose and other senses
perceive, all those inputs are integrated by the mind and offered for
perception by the soul.
The mind offers objects for
perception and when the soul focuses its consciousness on the object then the
soul’s desire change. For example, if the mind offers an agitating picture to
the soul and the soul decides to focus on that picture, the consciousness also
gets agitated, and the soul starts feeling disturbed or angry. If the picture
is essentially alluring, then the soul by focusing on that becomes allured. In
this way the mind proposes various objects and situations for material
engagement and enjoyment for the soul. To the extent the soul focuses
its consciousness on the mind, to that extent the soul gets affected by the mind. That
is why we say that the best way to deal with the mind is to neglect it.
Just like if a TV show is going
on in the house but if we do not look at it, it will just go on and we can
continue doing our work. Similarly, the mind may offer us some inputs but as
soul we may decide not to invest our consciousness in it then the mind will not
affect us. This way by thoughtful internal observation and introspection we can
delink our consciousness from our mind. Thus, we will not get influenced by the
mind’s feelings and moods and our consciousness will stay good even if our mind
is in an irritated mood.
To summarize, the mind is
subtle material whereas the consciousness is spiritual being an integral energy
of the soul. By careful introspection we can avoid mind influencing our
consciousness.
“Vedic thought teaches that the
brain, mind, and consciousness are fundamentally different in nature, though
related in function.
The physical brain is but an
instrument for the mind, but the mind also has its own level of existence
extending beyond physical reality. The core mind, consisting of our karmic
patterns, leaves the body at death and moves on to another body for another
physical life.
Yet the mind, which has its own
structure and function, is not the origin of consciousness, which has no form.
The mind is but an instrument for a deeper consciousness, orienting it
outwardly to time, space and practical reality. Mind is a composite
consciousness of conditioned responses, memories and capacities, not a
self-aware intelligence. It has a subtle material nature and is part of the
external world.
The true Self dwells beyond
body and mind and is the real source of awareness, not limited by change,
action, name or form. This Atman or inner Self is one with Brahman, the
universal and transcendent consciousness. Universal consciousness or Atman and
embodied consciousness or mind are linked, but very different. We must
surrender our minds to the unitary consciousness within by making them silent,
receptive and calm like a mirror.
When modern science looks to
the brain as the seat of consciousness, it is like measuring a person by
examining the movements of their shadow.
Vedic Self-knowledge first
teaches how to transcend the brain along with its biological limitations and
compulsions; and second how to transcend the mind, which is an individualized
consciousness, and move beyond its conditioned karmic limitations.
This leads us to pure
Consciousness, which is an all-pervasive universal principle like space or
light. It requires going to the core of our awareness that persists behind
waking, dream and deep sleep, birth and death.
Do not demean your Divine Self
by reducing your unbounded consciousness to the transient physical organ that
we call the brain, nor to the matrix of karmic conditioning we call the mind.
The highest intelligence is to know one's true Self within, not to have the best brain or even the best mind, which are but your
instruments.”--David Frawley
--May
7, 2022
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shankaracharya Jayanti-
Significance and Observance
About Shankaracharya Jayanti
Considered one of the most significant celebrations in Sanatan
Dharma, Shankaracharya Jayanti marks the day of birth
of Adi Shankara, an 8th century Indian philosopher and theologian. Also
known as Jagathguru, Adi Shankaracharya or Bhagavatpada
Acharya (guru at the feet of Lord), he preached Vedic knowledge and
expounded the Advaita Vedanata doctrine that influenced the growth of Hinduism.
Shankaracharya Jayanti dates
As per the Hindu calendar, Shankaracharya Jayanti is observed on Panchami tithi (fifth day)
during Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaisakh. According to the Gregorian
calendar, the day falls in April or May.
Who is Adi Shankara?
Sri Adi Shankaracharya or Adi Shankara is regarded as one
of the greatest gurus and philosophers in Hinduism. He is known as the saviour
of Vedic Dharma and the exponent of Advaita Vedanta.
He explained the concept of Aatma (soul), Parmatma (divine soul), Vairagya
(renunciation) and Moskha (salvation). His teachings contributed to the growth
of the Hindu culture when it was in a state of decline. Along with philosophers
Madhava and Ramanuja, Shankaracharya is said to have resuscitated Hinduism.
Shankaracharya Jayanti Celebrations
The day is celebrated with enthusiasm at Shankaracharya Mathas (monasteries) around the
country.
Havan, puja, and satsang are
organized at Mathas like Shringeri Sharada Peetham in Kerala, Kanchi Kamakoti
Peetha in Kanchipuram, etc.
- Discussions
and speeches on Sanatan Dharma are held on this day.
- Adi
Shankaracharya expounded the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta.
- He
explained and reinterpreted Hindu scriptures like the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita,
and the primary principles of Brahma Sutras.
- He
traveled to various nations in order to revive Hinduism.
- He
established four monasteries (mathas) in four corners of India — Sringeri in
the South, Kashmir in the North, Puri in
the East, and Dwaraka in the West.
The Legend of Shankaracharya Jayanti
Shankara was born to a humble Nambudri Brahmin couple in Kaladi
(in the present-day Kerala) in 788CE. His parents, Shivaguru and Aryamba,
who were a childless couple, had prayed to Lord Shiva to bless them with a child. Soon, they had a baby boy who
went on to become a great teacher. A legend associated with Shankaracharya
considers him an incarnation of Lord Shiva himself, who had appeared in
Aryamba’s dream and promised to take birth as her child. Some believed
that Lord Shiva incarnated on earth to restore order at a
time when there was absence of harmony and mankind was deprived of spirituality.
As he grew up, Shankaracharya
traveled several places to find a suitable Guru. After observing severe
penance, he found the ashram of Govinda Bhagavathpada, better known
as Patanjali. He was a learned philosopher of the Vedanta School of
Thought. Shankara became the disciple of Govinda, under whose guidance he
learnt about the Vedas and the six Vedangas.. Govinda also guided Shankara to
preach the tenets of Advaita Vedanta. It is said that Lord Vishnu visited
Shankara at Badrinath and asked him to make a statue of the
deity in Alaknanda River. In the present time, the temple is popular as Badrinarayan
Temple.
Shankaracharya died at the young age
of 32 in 820 CE at Kedarnath, which lies in the present-day
Uttarakhand.
--May 6, 2022
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL SPACE DAY
We celebrate National Space Day on the first Friday in May, which
is May 6 this year. It was created to inspire all of us in the
pursuit of knowledge and progress. There’s so much going on in the universe, it
definitely deserves a day to reflect on everything! Though it’s unlikely you’ll
be able to celebrate in outer space, you can still take part in your own corner
of the universe with our gravity-defying facts, figures, and ideas for
getting involved this National Space Day.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL SPACE
DAY
We could say that National Space Day’s history starts at the
beginning of the universe itself, when an intense pressure and temperature
resulted in the Big Bang, exploding the universe and everything in it into
existence.
Ever since, the curious-minded have been fascinated with space and
its state of feeling so near and yet so far. Whilst early cultures identified
things in the sky as gods or spirits, it was the ancient Greeks who developed
the study of planets and stars into something resembling the astronomy we know
today. Although the heliocentric system was first suggested by the ancient
Greeks, the theory wasn’t developed and published until 1543 when Copernicus
outlined his ideas about the planets revolving around the sun.
Astronomy was further advanced by Galileo Galilei in the 17th
century, who has often been referred to as ‘the father of astronomy’ due to his
avid pursuit of it against the wishes of his patrons, colleagues, and even the
Pope. He invented important apparatus for observing space and proving his
theories, although he spent much of his life under house arrest for his
work.
Centuries later, space continued to be a contentious issue when
the space race began between Cold War rivals, America and Russia. The two
countries competed to be the first to achieve space flight and eventually put a
man on the moon. The victory was America’s, when Apollo 11 and its team of
astronauts landed on the moon on July 16, 1969.
In 1997, the Lockheed Martin Corporation introduced National Space
Day as a one-off event, and it was later expanded to International Space Day in
2001, due to its extreme popularity, by former astronaut and Senator John
Glenn.
Suns, stars, moons, and infinite realms. How do we even begin to
explain the magnitude of space? What’s truly beautiful about space is that it
may be endless, and yet there are millions of billions of secrets that it
holds, each important and keeping everything in place. Humans have not even
scratched the surface of the secrets that this infinite vacuum we know as space
holds. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t celebrate what we do know, and be in
awe of it.
On the first Friday in May each year, scientists, astronomers,
astronauts, science buffs, and more, observe National Space Day, celebrating
its mysteries and beyond. There is plenty to discuss and learn about space
during this annual observance; from documentaries on television to discussions
on online forums, everyone can benefit from learning about space.
The history of space is older than life on Earth and dates back to
the beginning of the universe, following the Big Bang, which propelled life,
time, and existence. The yearly celebration of space on Earth was started by
Lockheed Martin in 1997 as a day to promote space and the fields of STEM among
the youth.
In 2001, former Astronaut Senator John Glenn broadened the scope
of National Space Day celebrations, encouraging everyone to participate and
learn about space exploration.
--May 6, 2022
------------------------------------------------------
1005th Birth Anniversary of Sri
Ramanujacharya on May 5, 2022
Sri Ramanuja Acharya (1017-1137 C.E.) was a great
Hindu philosopher and thinker. He is the most venerated Acharya in the
philosophy of Sri Vaishnavism. He was born in 11th century in the
village of Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu in 1017 CE. Sri Ramanuja birth name was
Lakshmana and also referred to as Ilaya Perumal which means the radiant one. He
was disappeared at the age of 120 in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu in 1137 CE. Ramanuja
is also known as Ramanujacharya. Sri Ramanuja Jayanthi is
celebrated each year and Jayanthi day is decided based on Tamil Solar Calendar.
Ramanuja Jayanthi is celebrated during Chithirai month
on Thiruvathirai Nakshatra day (May 5, 2022).
Notes: All timings are represented in 12-hour notation in local
time of Nashville, United States with DST adjustment (if
applicable)]. Hours which are past midnight
are suffixed with next day date. In Panchanga day starts and ends with sunrise.
‑‑May 5, 2022
ISHA-- Top Reviews of Philosophy of India from the United States
In the West, one often seems to think
that the philosophy of India coincides with the tradition of Advaita. In fact,
we are dealing with a caricature of Indian philosophy which is being reinforced
by certain esoteric and popular writers.
There are various philosophical schools of Hinduism, and Vedanta is only one of
them. It amounts to a philosophical meditation on the sacred books of the
Vedas, comparable to Western scholasticism. Within Vedanta there also are
several schools, of which Advaita Vedanta is only one example. Hebbar has
devoted this book, as its title suggests, to two other vedantic schools,
Visistadvaita and Dvaita Vedanta.
In itself, the realization that
Indian philosophy is larger than the Advaita tradition is already interesting
enough. But this also has philosophical implications for people who like to
study the wisdom of the East. Some New Age authors create the false impression
that in India, besides Buddhism (and possibly Jainism), there really is only
one doctrine: there is only one single Soul and that soul is identical to God.
Within the very context of traditional Indian Vedanta, a considerable number of
philosophers simply do not endorse this view. Instead, they defend the
proposition that every soul is indeed dependent on a deity, but that this does
not mean that they can be reduced to God. In their view, immortality does not
mean that the individual gets completely immersed in 'Brahman' but that it
always retains its unique identity as a soul. The Advaitin propositions are in
this context understood as an expression of ignorance.
In his book, Hebbar also creates a
dialogue between these two alternatives to the Advaita doctrine, Dvaita and
Visistadvaita Vedanta, in areas such as philosophical epistemology, natural
philosophy, the philosophy of psychology and the philosophy of theology. The
use of many footnotes show that Hebbar stays close to the actual doctrines as
expressed in Indian texts. They incidentally also show how long Indian
philosophical terms can be (e.g. bhagavadrupagunakriyadinam).
Hebbar always confronts arguments from one movement with counter-arguments of
the other theory, so that the reader feels he's witnessing a lively discussion.
This makes the rich variety of positions within Indian philosophy even more
tangible. Hebbar demonstrates that Indian philosophical speculation already reached
a high level of sophistication many centuries ago, and goes far beyond a mere
slavish repetition of Advaita teachings. For instance, according to
Visishtadvaita, although all souls remain individual, they do share a common
nature, whereas Dvaita states that every soul also differs from all other soul
by nature.
There is a lot in this book that may
lead to intellectual pleasure for philosophers. For example, Visishtadvaita
claims that the Vedas are not written or dictated by God, but impersonal and
unwritten. This would be necessary because otherwise the Vedas could not be
used as evidence for the existence of God anymore, as this would entail a
circular argument (petitio principia p.
100). Fundamentalist Christians could learn something from this basic insight.
Incidentally, all this does not mean that India was ever
characterized by a perfect kind of religious tolerance. Hebbar describes
vitriolic controversies in which a follower of one tradition accuses adepts of
the other tradition of demonic errors. There is a case of a king who made a
philosopher choose between conversion to a particular system of thought and the
death penalty. Apparently, tolerating intellectual dissenters is not only
difficult for Westerners.
--May
5, 2022
---------------------------------------------------------------
Akshaya Tritiya — ushering
infinite auspiciousness is on May 03 Tuesday
Akshaya Tritiya is one of the
most holy and auspicious days celebrated by the Hindus across the country. It
is believed that anything that commences on this day will always emerge
victorious. This day is thus symbolic of good luck, success and fortune
gains.
Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated
on the third day of the Shukla paksha of the Indian month of Vaisakh. According
to the Gregorian calendar, this falls in the month of April-May. It is on this
day that both the Sun and the moon are said to be at their planetary best. This
day is also known as 'Akha Teej'
History of Akshaya
Tritiya
According to mythology and
ancient history, this day marks a lot of important incidents
- Lord Ganesha and Ved Vyasa
started writing the epic Mahabharata on this day.
- This day is also
celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Parashurama, the sixth
incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
- On this day, Goddess
Annapurna was born.
- On this day, Lord Krishna
bestowed wealth and monetary gains on his poor friend Sudhama who had come
to his rescue for help.
- According to the
Mahabharata, on this day Lord Krishna presented the 'akshaya patra'
to the Pandavas while on their exile. He blessed them with this bowl that
would continue to produce unlimited amount of food that would never leave
them hungry.
- On this day, the River
Ganges descended from the heaven on earth.
- It is on this day that
Kubera worshipped Goddess Lakshmi and thus was assigned the job of being
the treasurer of Gods.
- In Jainism, this day is
celebrated to commemorate Lord Adinatha, their first God.
- Various
deities in Puri Kshetra are worshipped
- Balarama Jayanti is
celebrated
Rituals during Akshaya Tritiya
- Devotees of Vishnu worship
the deity on this day by keeping a fast. Later, charity is done by
distributing rice, salt, ghee, vegetables, fruits and clothes to the poor.
Tulsi water is sprinkled all around as a symbol of Lord Vishnu.
- In Eastern India, this day
commences as the first ploughing day for the upcoming harvest season.
Also, for businessmen, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped
before starting a new audit book for the next financial year. This is
known as 'halkhata'.
- On this day, many people
buy gold and gold jewelry. As gold is symbolic of good fortune and wealth,
buying this is considered pious on this day.
- People plan weddings and
long journeys on this day.
- New business ventures,
construction work is started on this day.
- Other rituals include
taking a holy bath in the Ganges, offering barley into a sacred fire and
making donations and offerings on this day.
- Jains complete their
year-long Tapasya on this day and end their worship by drinking sugarcane
juice.
- Performing spiritual
activities, meditation and chanting holy mantras is considered important
to ensure good fortune in the future.
- Devotees of lord Krishna
embalm the deity with sandalwood paste on this day. It is believed that on
doing so, the person is bound to reach the heaven after death.
- Take holy dip in various Tirthas in
Puri Jagannath
Let us be grateful and thank
Muralidharan for sending us Narayana Dasakam and reminding to observe
this day as holiest -- a Multiple of Festivals and Rituals day.
||
śrīnārayaṇa daśakaṁ evaṁ kavacaṁ - śrīnārada purāṇam ||
The
following is a rare collection of Lord Balabhadra (Lord Balarama) Stotra, Lord
Narayana and Sri Narayana Kavacham taken from Brihan Naradiya Mahapuranam,
Uttara Khanda and Chapter 56. This chapter explains the procedure to take
divine bath and worship various deities in Purushottama Kshetra - currently
known as Puri Jagannath.
||
śrībalabhadra stotraṁ ||
namaste-haladhṛṅ-nāmne namaste-musalāyudha | namaste-revatī-kānta
namaste-bhakta-vatsala || 1 ||
namaste-balināṁ-śreṣṭha
namaste-dharaṇīdhara | pralambāre-namaste'stu trāhi-māṁ kṛṣṇa-pūrvaja
|| 2 ||
nīla-vastra-dharaṁ
devaṁ
phaṇā-vikaṭa-mastakam
| mahābalaṁ haladharaṁ kuṇḍalaika-vibhūṣitam
|| 3 ||
rauhiṇeyaṁ
narā-bhaktyā labhed abhimataṁ phalam | sarva-pāpair-vinirmukto viṣṇu-lokaṁ ca
gacchati || 4 ||
|| śrīnārāyaṇa
daśakaṁ ||
om
namo nārāyaṇāyeti yaṁ vadanti manīṣiṇaḥ |
kiṁ-kāryaṁ
bahubhir-mantrair mano-vibhava-kārakaiḥ | namo-nārāyaṇāyeti
mantraḥ
sarvārtha-sādhakaḥ || 1 ||
āpo-narasya sūnutvān narā iti ha kīrtitāḥ | viṣṇos tāstvālayaṁ
pūrvaṁ
tena nārāyaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ || 2 ||
nārāyaṇa-parā-vedā
nārāyaṇa-parā-dvijāḥ |
narāyaṇa-paraṁ-jñānaṁ
nārāyāṇa-parā-kriyā
|| 3 ||
nārāyaṇa-paro-dharmo
nārāyaṇa-paraṁ-tapaḥ |
nārāyaṇa-paraṁ-dānaṁ
nārāyaṇa-paraṁ-vratam
|| 4 ||
nārāyaṇa-parā-lokā
nārāyaṇa-parāḥ-surāḥ |
nārāyaṇa-paraṁ-nityaṁ
nārāyaṇa-paraṁ-padam
|| 5 ||
nārāyaṇa-parā-pṛthvī
nārāyaṇa-paraṁ-jalam
| nārāyaṇa-paro-vahnir nārāyaṇa-paraṁ-nabhaḥ ||
6 ||
nārāyaṇa-paro-vāyur
nārāyaṇa-paraṁ-manaḥ |
ahaṁkāraśca
buddhiśca ubhe nārāyaṇātmake || 7 ||
bhūtaṁ bhavyaṁ bhaviṣyacca yat-kiñcij jīva-saṁjñitam
| sthūlaṁ sūkṣmaṁ paraṁ caiva sarvaṁ-nārāyaṇātmakam
|| 8 ||
nārāyaṇāt-paraṁ-kiñcin
neha paśyāmi mohinī | tena-vyāptaṁ-idaṁ sarvaṁ dṛśyā'dṛśyaṁ carā'caraṁ ||
9 ||
āpo
hyāyatanaṁ viṣṇoḥ sa cā sāvaṁbhasāṁ-patiḥ |
tasmād apsu sa ityevaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ aghā'paham || 10 ||
|| śrīnārāyaṇa kavacaṁ ||
pūrve-māṁ-pātu-govindo
dakṣiṇe-madhusūdanaḥ |
paścime-śrīdharo-devaḥ keśavas-tu-tathottare || 1 ||
pātu-viṣṇus-tathā'gneye
nairṛte-mādhavo'vyayaḥ |
vāyavye-tu-hṛṣīkeśas tatheśāne-ca-vāmanaḥ ||
2 ||
bhūtale-pātu-vārāhas
tathorddhe-ca-trivikramaḥ || 3 ||
||
iti śrīnārada-mahāpurāṇe uttara-khaṇḍe puruṣottamamāhātmye
śrīnārayaṇa daśakaṁ evaṁ
kavacaṁ sampūrṇam ||
--May 2, 2022
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