EXCLUSIVE E-MAILS
OF HINDU REFLECTIONS
Dear blog readers,
Knowing your interest in these E-mails I have been
able to recover many more E mails sent during the year 2016 to my regular
participants which would make an interesting study for you during your leisure hours on a variety of subjects. Your comments are
welcome. Please enjoy.
N.R.Srinivasan
HINDU REFLECTIONS
THE TOPICS ON VARIED SUBJECTS
Practical Application of Trigunas
The author below makes
many references to prac tical applicatins of Trigunas. Let me refer to important
one. Hindu Caste System which falsely draws support from Varna to make caste
birth-right, described in Vedas for divine administration of the Universe
with 33 devatas (controllers) by Deva. They details are found in
BAU. Bhagavad Gita talks about “Chaatur varnyam” and
not “Chaturvarnaah " and "gunakarma vibhagasah".
There is a scuttle difference here from language point of view which point is
missed by many, taking little liberty of Sanskrit grammar. The first one can be
attributed to birth; but the second one refers to characteristics
being developed by each individual. Gita says the four-fold
order has been created by Bhagawan according to the differentiation of Guna and
Karma. Manu says everybody is born with Sudra Characteristic-Janmanaa
jaayate Sudrah. Only at the end one can decide whether he remained as Sudra
alone or became a Vaisya, Kshatriya being Dvija or Sudra. In Vedic culture
majority decided to go through Upanayana Samskara but few remained
without it including women. There were many women Vedic scholars earlier.
This Lord himself demonstrated. Krishna started as a Sudra, became a Kshatriya
and ended as a great Guru teaching Gita and guiding Arjuna through a holy
war refusing to participate in Mahabharata War. This you can also see in
many others like Valmiki, Viswamitra, Rishabha and many more. Therefore
these characteristics are based on Trigunas and their mix and not
birth related about which I had discussed in my discourse on Caste System. Dr.
Kartikeyan who is a well-read scholar
unlike me has thrown more light on it. Please go through:
"Let us consider Plato’s
theory on the class structure of society. According to him society has a tripartite
class structure corresponding to the appetite – spirit – reason structure of
the individual soul. The appetite, spirit and reason stand for different parts
of the body. The class that corresponds to the “appetite” part of the soul is
the Productive class representing the abdomen of the body. They comprise of the
manual laborers and include merchants also. The spirit class is the
Protective class representing the chest. They constitute the warriors or
guardians of the society. Into this class come the brave, adventurous and
strong people. The third class is the Governing class corresponding to the
reason part of the soul. They represent the head of the body and consist of
individuals who are ‘intelligent, rational, self-controlled, in love with wisdom
and therefore well suited to make decisions for the community’. They are rulers
of the society. [May be he refers to Atman in Western concept and Trigunas
as Tripartite class!]
It can be seen that Plato is simply repeating
the class divisions of Hindu scriptures with only one modification. He limits
the classes to three as against four in the scriptures. We will see the details
of the Hindu divisions – called Varṇa(s) in the scriptures – below.
Plato’s restriction of the classes into three is defective. He covered only the
abdomen, chest and head of the body, but ignored the legs. Without legs, the
body is not complete. [Please refer to Purushasookta where leg is referred
to Sudra as well as Earth] This mutilation finds expression in his class
division also. It is evident that the merchants and agriculturists cannot be
considered as mere manual laborers and also that the other two classes would
require manual helpers in the discharge of their duties. Such helpers cannot be
included in the ‘appetite’ class. This vindicates the four-fold class division
of the Hindus. [All the three cannot be supported without Legs. English
Language speaks of Stand on your own legs!]
Divisions of society into various categories
or rather types have been there from ancient times. Hindu scriptures prescribe
four types of people (Varṇa) in society, differentiated by the ‘color’ of each
individual. This ‘color’ does not indicate the color of the skin, but the
inherent inclination in choosing the type of Karma for achieving one’s ends
(4.13 of Gīta). Therefore, this classification finds expression in one’s Karma
that he opts when left with many options. For this purpose, Karma(s) are
divided into four categories, respectively dealing with education and learning,
security and protection, food production and commerce, and finally, rendering
manual assistance for the above three categories (For details see Gīta 18.42,
43 & 44). A close look will reveal that this is an “inner to outer”
classification. Those who are naturally concerned with the inner-most aspect of
existence are termed as the Brāhmaṇa (ब्राह्मण) and those concerned with the
outer-most aspect as Śūdra (शूद्र). In between these two, come the
Kṣatriya (क्षत्रिय) and the Vaiśya (वैश्य),
according to each one’s closeness to the inner or outer aspects. Kṣatriya comes
next to Brāhmana and Vaiśya comes before Shūdra.
The society is a collective entity consisting
of all these types. Each type is so important that without it the society will
not prosper. (Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 1.4.11 to 1.4.14). [This was divine
society classification in BAU which Gita brought down to Earth. Brahman's
33 controllers needed them too to support society]. Therefore, mutual
respect and understanding and also joint efforts by these four types are essential
for the stability and progress of the society. So, what is required is not
antagonism among the types, but their peaceful co-existence; for, nature’s
diversity is not for contradiction or antagonism, but for ensuring physical
existence. The scriptures, on account of their declaration that the whole
universe emerged from and is possessed by a single ever-existent entity, cannot
think otherwise. They recognize the diversity and at the same time go beyond it
and see the unity that projects the diversity. [All clouded Aatmans can
ultimately join untainted Paramatman the Universal Light. There isa
Universal approach for allo Aatmans to join Paramaatman sooner or later]
Practical
application of the concept of Gunas
Before we get into the practical applications
of the concept of gunas, it would make sense to have a basic understanding of
what gunas are. The following excerpt from Wkipedia would provide an
overview of the gunas.
“Guṇa (Sanskrit: गुण)
depending on the context means ‘string, thread or strand’, or ‘virtue, merit,
excellence’, or ‘quality, peculiarity, attribute, property’. The concept
originated in Samkhya philosophy, but now a key concept in various schools of
Hindu philosophy. There are three gunas, according to this worldview, that have
always been and continue to be present in all things and beings in the world.
These three gunas are called: sattva (goodness, constructive, harmonious),
rajas (passion, active, confused), and tamas (darkness, destructive, chaotic).
All of these three gunas are present in
everyone and everything, it is the proportion that is different, according to
Hindu worldview. The interplay of these gunas defines the character of someone
or something, of nature and determines the progress of life.
In some contexts, it may mean ‘a subdivision,
species, kind, quality’, or an operational principle or tendency of something
or someone. In human behavior studies, Guna means personality, innate nature
and psychological attributes of an individual.”
There is no single word in English language
translation for the concept guna. The usual, but approximate translation is
“quality”.
As you can see, in the material world, gunas
are all-encompassing. Even an atom, which makes up all the objects of the
world, has the three gunas manifested in it: sattva in the proton, rajas in the
electron, and tamas in the neutron. All the three gunas are present in everyone
and everything in varying proportions. Typically, we use gunas to describe
characteristics of human beings, but there is no reason that the gunas cannot
be used to describe the characteristics of all the entities of the material
world, living as well non-living.
Gunas can also be used to characterize all the
fundamental operational principles that have been identified by philosophers.
However, since I am thoroughly familiar with only Hinduism, I intend to focus
only on the philosophy of Hinduism. I have tried to be as thorough as possible,
but I suspect that there are infinite applications of the concept of gunas and
therefore, no one person can capture all the applications. After I hit the
number 18 on these applications, I decided to stop, for 18 is an auspicious number
and even Gita and Mahabharata stops after 18 chapters. I am sure the
reader will get the message that I am trying to convey. I hope that, going
forward, others would further expand on the applications of the concept of
gunas.
[In 18, 1 stands for Saguna Brahman
followed by 8 his Eight controllers (Ashta Dikpalakas) It holds good even
if 1 extends to infinity by adding several Sunyas who as zero(Nirguna
Brahman) remains as silent invisible spectator--NRS]
Intellect=Sattva; Mind=Rajas; Body=Tamas
2. Living Being (Experiences)=Thinks,
Feels, and Perceives
Thinking=sattva; Feeling=Rajas;
Perception=Tamas
3. Living Being (Fields of
Experience)=Thoughts, Emotions, and Objects
Thoughts=Sattva; Emotions=Rajas; Objects=Tamas
4. Five Elements=Sky, Air, Fire, Water, and
Earth
Sky=Sattva; Air, Fire, Water=Rajas;
Earth=Tamas
5. Five Knowledge Sense Organs=Ears, Skin,
Eyes, Tongue, and Nose
Ears=Sattva; Skin, Eyes, Tongue=Rajas;
Nose=Tamas
6. Five Knowledge Senses=Sound, Touch, Sight,
Taste, and Smell
Sound=Sattva; Touch, Sight, Taste=Rajas;
Smell=Tamas
7. Five Work Sense Organs=Mouth, Hands, Feet,
Reproductive Organ, and Excretory Organ
Mouth=Sattva; Hands, Feet, Reproductive
Organ=Rajas; Excretory Organ=Tamas
8. Five Work Senses=Speech, Grasping,
Locomotion, Reproduction, and Excretion
Speech=Sattva; Grasping, Locomotion,
Reproduction=Rajas; Excretion=Tamas
9. Five Koshas=Annamaya Kosha, Pranamaya
Kosha, Manomaya Kosha, Vigyanamaya Kosha, and Anandamaya Kosha
Anandamaya Kosha =Sattva; Vigyanamaya
Kosha+Manomaya Kosha + Pranamaya Kosha=Rajas; Annamaya Kosha=Tamas
10. Seven Chakras=Muladhara(Lowest),
Svadhisthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha, Ajna, and Sahaswara(Highest)
Anahata+Vishuddha+Ajna+Sahaswara=Sattva;
Svadhisthana+Manipura+Anahata=Rajas; Muladhara=Tamas
11. Antahkarana=Manas, Buddhi, Chitta, and
Ahamkara
Buddhi+Chitta=Sattva; Manas=Rajas;
Ahamkara=Tamas
12. Four States of Consciousness=Waking,
Dreaming, Deep Sleep, and Turiya (the base-consciousness, Brahman, that
transcends the other three states of consciousness)
Waking=Sattva; Dreaming=Rajas; Deep
Sleep=Tamas
13. Five Pranas=Prana, Apana, Udana, Samana, and
Vyana
Prana=Sattva; Udana+Samana+Vyana=Rajas;
Apana=Tamas
14. Three Bodies=Causal Body, Subtle Body, and
Gross Body
Causal Body=Sattva; Subtle Body=Rajas; Gross
Body=Tamas
(Note: Causal Body (Karana Sharira)=Sheath of
Bliss (Anandamaya Kosha); Subtle Body (Sukshma Sharira)=Sheath of Intellect
(Vigyanama Kosha)+Sheath of Mind (Manomaya Kosha); Sheath of Vitality
(Pranamaya Kosha); Gross Body (Sthula Sharira)=Sheath of Food (Annamaya Kosha))
15. Fourteen Worlds (Lokas)=7 Higher Lokas
(Bhu, Bhuvar, Svar, Mahas, Janas, Tapas, and Satya) + 7 Lower Lokas (Atala,
Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Mahaatala, Rasaatala, and Patala)
Bhuvar+Svar+Mahas+Janas+Tapas+Satya=Sattva;Bhu=Rajas;Atala+Vitala+Sutala+Talatala+Mahatala+Rasaatala+Patala=Tamas
16. Four Varnas=Brahmans, Kshatriyas,
Vaishyas, and Shudras
Brahmans=Sattva; Kshatriyas=Sattva+Rajas;
Vaishyas=Rajas+Tamas; Shudras=Tamas
17. Four Ashramas=Brahmacharya, Grihastha,
Vanaprastha, and Sannyas
Brahmacharya=Sattva; Grihastha=Rajas+Tamas;
Vanaprastha=Sattva+Rajas; Sannyas=Sattva
18. Four Purusharthas=Dharma, Artha, Kama, and
Moksha
Dharma=Sattva; Artha=Rajas+Tamas;
Kama=Rajas+Tamas; Moksha=Sattva
It is not hard to see how deep, thoughtful,
and insightful the philosophy of Hinduism is. I also hope that this write-up
would inform the reader about certain core principles of Hinduism and hopefully
motivate one to study those principles in detail, especially, in light of the
fact that in the era of Internet so much information on every topic is so
readily available online, free of charge.
Please go through my detailed discourse on the
subject:
--E-Mail sent on
June 19, 2016
WHY UNHAPPY?
BEING BE!
To BE or NOT TO
BE is in our hands implies Kathopanishad while explaining the
imperishable nature of Aatman(Self) which Bhagavad Gita reiterates "na
hanyate hanyamane sareere". Focusing on BE we remain happy (preyas) in
this life and also prepare to be ever joyful (Sreyas) after many
lives or this life itself. The choice is in our hands. But there are a handful
today who have chosen the path of NOT TO BE. They have in that thinking not
only brought enormous misery to the world but to their group too as you
witnessed in Orlando and at many other places. But what can we do? Let us
pray to that Supreme to help these helpless to turn in the direction of
BE and not NOT -TO-BE. Is that possible? We have the example of the
great sage Valmiki. We all say Ramayana is History and not Mythology.
Then it should be possible! Let us try! But I am not Solomon! Let
us hear to the words of wisdom of Swami Chidananda and the inspirational
song from our philanthropic poet!
You know
Upanishadic thoughts are inspired by the thought "BEING wanted to
BECOMING". Vedas project Tadekam. He was alone and Happy being BE. He was
bored. He wanted to be "BECOMING"(Nasdeeya Sukta). He brought
forth this world of opposites "TO BE" and "NOT TO BE" for
his sport (leela). We are caught in his Amusement. But He is gracious to leave
the choice to us. He is the silent observer watching the fun! The ball is in
our court!
" What a great spiritual thought to take it with an open heart"
" What a great spiritual thought to take it with an open heart"
“Being Be” at any given time
Is” like to be alike” all the time
In any given situation
In life
Long or brief
Be it be
Made of joy
Be it be
Made of grief
Which can transpire
With every respire
In meditation
Then again
With Consecration
One can attain
Being Be
In everyday Occupation
One can sustain
“Being Be”
“Being Like to be Alike”
“Without Becoming”
As Self has no physical form
It has no charm nor harm
Realizing the difference
Between
Spiritual and physical
In Sheen
Will dissolve the illusion
Will absolve the delusion
“But mortals like me
Is too blind to see”
--RamPrasad
WHY UNHAPPY?
50% of our sorrow (much more
actually) will leave us if we grasp the meaning of the Upanishadic revelations
that point out that we, in our true nature, do not change at all!
We are
"avyaya-svarupa"!
Kathopanishad 1:2:19 declares, "You are the soul, which neither gets injured nor injures anyone" नायँ हन्ति न हन्यते || nāyam hanti, na hanyate || The belief that we have fallen, we are not progressing, we are way behind others, our meditation is not good etc. (and not facts) create sorrow.
Putting
aside these beliefs and staying free of conclusions restores 50% of our
"paradise lost"!
BE.
Don't
get lost in the dreamy business of BECOMING!
Swami Chidananda
|
--June
16, 2016
Is it wrong to say India is a Hindu
Country?
May I draw your kind attention to my
discourses Why I am called a Hindu and Vedanta Religion is everlasting,
universal and unifying spirituality. In
this context it is worth going through the write up by Maria Wirth who
lived for long in India:
"Though I have lived in India for a long
time, there are still issues here that I find hard to understand. For example,
why do so many educated Indians become agitated when India is referred to as a
Hindu country? The majority of Indians are Hindus. India is special because of
its ancient Hindu tradition. Westerners are drawn to India because of Hinduism.
Why then is there this resistance by many Indians to acknowledge the Hindu
roots of their country? Why do some people even give the impression that an
India which valued those roots would be dangerous? Don’t they know better?
This attitude is strange for two reasons.
First, those educated Indians seem to have a problem only with “Hindu” India,
but not with “Muslim” or “Christian” countries. Germany, for example, is a
secular country, and only 59 percent of the population are registered with the
two big Christian churches (Protestant and Catholic). Nevertheless, the country
is bracketed under “Christian countries” and no one objects. Angela Merkel, the
Chancellor, stressed recently the Christian roots of Germany and urged the
population “to go back to Christian values.” In 2012 she postponed her trip to
the G-8 summit to make a public address on Katholikentag, “Catholics Day.” Two
major political parties carry Christian in their name, including Angela
Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union.
Germans are not agitated that Germany is
called a Christian country, though I actually would understand if they were.
After all, the history of the Church is appalling. The so-called success story
of Christianity depended greatly on tyranny. “Convert or die” were the options
given—not only some five hundred years ago to the indigenous population in
America, but also in Germany, 1,200 years ago, when the emperor Karl the Great
ordered the death sentence for refusal of baptism in his newly conquered
realms. This provoked his advisor Alkuin to comment: “One can force them to
baptism, but how to force them to believe?”
Those times, when one’s life was in danger for
dissenting with the dogmas of Christianity, are thankfully over. Today many in
the West do dissent and are leaving the Church in a steady stream. They are
disgusted with the less-than-holy behavior of Church officials and they also
can’t believe in the dogmas, for example that “Jesus is the only way” and that
God sends all those who don’t accept this to hell.
The second reason why I can’t understand the
resistance to associate India with Hinduism is that Hinduism is in a different
category from the Abrahamic religions. Its history, compared to Christianity and
Islam, was undoubtedly the least violent as it spread in ancient times by
convincing arguments and not by force. It is not a belief system that demands
blind acceptance of dogmas and the suspension of one’s intelligence. On the
contrary, Hinduism encourages using one’s intelligence to the hilt. It is an
enquiry into truth based on a refined character and intellect. It comprises a
huge body of ancient literature, not only regarding dharma and philosophy, but
also regarding music, architecture, dance, science, astronomy, economics,
politics, etc. If Germany or any other Western country had this kind of
literary treasure, it would be so proud and highlight its greatness on every
occasion. When I discovered the Upanishads, for example, I was stunned. Here was
expressed in clear terms what I intuitively had felt to be true, but could not
have expressed clearly. Brahman is not partial; it is the invisible,
indivisible essence in everything. Everyone gets again and again a chance to
discover the ultimate truth and is free to choose his way back to it. Helpful
hints are given but not imposed.
In my early days in India I thought every
Indian knew and valued his tradition. Slowly I realized I was wrong. The
British colonial masters had been successful in not only weaning away many of
the elite from their ancient tradition but even making them despise it. It
helped that the British-educated class could no longer read the original
Sanskrit texts and believed what the British told them. This lack of knowledge
and the brainwashing by the British education may be the reason why many
so-called “modern” Indians are against anything Hindu. They don’t realize the
difference between Western religions that have to be believed (or at least
professed) blindly, and which discourage, if not forbid, their adherents to
think on their own, and the multi-layered Hindu Dharma which gives freedom and
encourages using one’s intelligence.
Many of the Indian educated class do not
realize that those who dream of imposing Christianity or Islam on this vast
country will applaud them for denigrating Hindu Dharma, because this creates a
vacuum where Western ideas can easier gain a foothold. At the same time, many
Westerners, including staunch Christians, know the value of Hindu culture and
surreptitiously appropriate insights from the vast Indian knowledge system,
drop the original Hindu source and present it either as their own or make it
look as if these insights had already been known in the West. As the West
appropriates valuable and exclusive Hindu assets, what it leaves behind is
deemed inferior. Unwittingly, these Indians are helping what Rajiv Malhotra
of Infinity Foundation calls the digestion of Dharma civilization into Western
universalism. That which is being digested, a deer for example, in this
case Hindu Dharma, disappears whereas the digester (a tiger) becomes stronger.
If only missionaries denigrated Hindu Dharma,
it would not be so bad, as they clearly have an agenda which discerning Indians
would detect. But sadly, Indians with Hindu names assist them because they
wrongly believe Hinduism is inferior to Western religions. They belittle
everything Hindu instead of getting thorough knowledge. As a rule, they know
little about their tradition except what the British have told them, i.e., that
the major features are the caste system and idol worship. They don’t
realize that India would gain, not lose, if it solidly backed its profound and
all-inclusive Hindu tradition. The Dalai Lama said some time ago that, as a
youth in Lhasa, he had been deeply impressed by the richness of Indian thought.
“India has great potential to help the world,” he added.
When will the Westernized Indian elite realize
it?
~ Maria Wirth (freelance writer who has
lived in India"
Can
anybody question why statue of Jesus Christ with the Epitaph INRI and Kaba the
Blackstone in Mecca are venerated? Which Religion has proclaimed loudly "Eko
Vipraah bahudaa vadanti"
"aatmavat sarvabhooteshu" "sarvejanah sukhino
bhavantu" "Krinvanto Viswamaryam" and all souls can be liberated
and each one has to work it out to exhaust one's own Karma and there isno
savior? Sindhu Tattva wrongly Spelt as Hindu Tattva is all-inclusive and
Universal.
--June 2016
Wise
Advice on Meditation by Swami Chidananda
Dhyaana (meditation) is a continuous
remembrance of the object of thought without any alien thought intervening in
the middle. A Yogi becomes sthitaprajnya (steadfast) on account of meditation.
This necessitates turning inwards and not focusing on an external object like a
Moorti as promoted by Bhakti Marga for Moorti Upasana which includes loud
Bhajans in groups. Dhyana calls for a mantra. By its very definition mananaat traayate iti Mantrah, by contemplating on which one gets
saved (from the shackles of worldly pains and pleasures), mantra is a powerful
tool in the minds of a yogi. Ramanuja says “Dhyaanam hi vijaateeya prtyayaantara
avyaahitam eka chintanam”—Dhyaana
is the cause of gaining greatness. Gita says one should meditate being seated
comfortably. Concentration of the mind becomes possible only then. Great
persons appear similar to those who are engrossed in deep meditation on account
of the fact they are keeping silent. Swami Chinmayananda says “when you pray
you speak and God listens and when you meditate silently He speaks and you
listen without any interruption”. Swami Chidananda has the following to say
quoting from an ancient Upanishad Cahndogya as well as Skanda Upanishad
which has joined the band wagon of the Principle Upanishads promoted by Puranas
dedicted to Kartikeya. Skanda Upanishad recommends Meditation
to be performed without the aid of an icon turning inwards like Chandogya.
"Go for
regular meditation," advises Chāndogya Upanishad (7:6:1).
dhyānam upāssva |
ध्यानम् उपास्स्व |
छान्दोग्य उपनिषद्
While Skanda Upanishad (as we saw yesterday) gave the high plateau definition - meditation is when the mind does not pursue any images - here is a suggestion that is "one notch below".
Adi Shankara defines meditation in this context as the steady flow of thoughts dwelling on supports supplied by scriptures such as god-forms, not interspersed with other thoughts.
The Upanishad here praises meditation as the source of greatness in diverse fields. We become insignificant when we have not tapped the benefits of meditation.
dhyānam upāssva |
ध्यानम् उपास्स्व |
छान्दोग्य उपनिषद्
While Skanda Upanishad (as we saw yesterday) gave the high plateau definition - meditation is when the mind does not pursue any images - here is a suggestion that is "one notch below".
Adi Shankara defines meditation in this context as the steady flow of thoughts dwelling on supports supplied by scriptures such as god-forms, not interspersed with other thoughts.
The Upanishad here praises meditation as the source of greatness in diverse fields. We become insignificant when we have not tapped the benefits of meditation.
“Everything great in nature seems to be silent
and looks as if meditating—the Earth, the Sky, The Mid Region
and the Celestial Region. The Waters, the Mountains are as if meditating! Gods
(Hayagrieva, Narasimha, Krishna) and Men (Buddha, Rishabha) are as if
meditating. So those who have gained greatness among men are as if they have
gained it through the aspect of meditation. Unlike those who are
inferiors are quarrelsome, slandering and abusive. Those who have gained
greatness on account of wealth and others are all those who have gained
it on account of a portion of the results of contemplation. So meditate
upon concentrated meditation as Brahman. He who meditates upon contemplation as
Brahman will have free movement at will in the entire region of it” says the
whole Mantra in Chandogya Upanishad.
Skanda
Upanishad (mantra 11) says:
अभेददर्शनं ज्ञानं ध्यानं निर्विषयं मनः । स्नानं मनोमलत्यागः शौचमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः ॥ Note the second quarter here says - dhyanam nirvishayam manah.
Meditation
is when your mind is not (occupied by or) pursuing any (sense objects or)
images!
Ordinary knowledge is much to do with filling. Upanishads recognize the place of acquisitive knowledge but excel in giving us insights into "letting go" of names and forms. They can help us inquire, "Who am I?" and give up our notions of who we are. |
Filling is important at times; emptying is "the need" at
other times!
Such a thought coming from an Upanishad of
recent origin propitiating a Purnic deity may be intriguing. Anything
associated with Kartikeya should be serious! Those who know
Skanda as Guruguha who even surpassed Lord Siva known for meditation, unlike
his playful brother Ganesha running with Modaka, should not be a surprise!
In this context may I draw your kind attention
to my detailed discourse on Meditation:
--E-Mail sent on June 5, 2016
Why US Hindu
Temples are open all day on Memorial Day?
Monday
May 30 is Memorial Day. My thoughts were focused on a Hindu Temple Special
Religious Events Pamphlet which says that Temple will be kept open all day long
with special worship being conducted by way of Shiva Abhishekam and
Aarati not forgetting Ganesha, the principal deity who under any circumstance
cannot be ignored as he is the Prathma Vandita and Gate-keeper of Shiva, his
other son having moved away from the family who did not want to play the second
fiddle though only celebrity in Ramayana. It is very thoughtful of our founding
fathers to have thought about Shiva and Not Vishnu on this day as Shiva's
permanent residence is in Smashan and his travel is between Smashana and
Kailsha mostly. Devotees therefore wait for him for Mahapradosha time every
fortnight when he is supposed to visit temples. But this is doubtful in these
days of mounting death rates due to Al Qaeda killings, natural disasters,
frequent accidents and epidemics and suicides which keeps him busy in Smashanas
even during Pradosha period. It is interesting to go through the light thrown
by Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev the relevant portion of which I have extracted for
your information which will in the meantime justify I am not exaggerating or
creating my own story. In order to please orthodoxy temple traditions always
associate Siva sanctums with Brahma though they push him to a niche in the
northern wall but give him equal respect in worship! In association with the
creator the fear of samashana is forgotten and associated with pleasant
memories of Soothikagriha birthplace which is not considered as
"asaucham" or impurity by orthodoxy in temple area and makes it fit
place for worship.
Memorial Day marks the day to commemorate the
sacrifices of our real heroes in freeing us from negative forces. It is the day
to remember those who died in the line of their duty. I met a teenager who was heading
the local cemetery rather than hitting the mall to enjoy the Memorial Day
Weekend sales. I was filled with awe at the attitude of gratitude that youth
carried in his heart. It is indeed okay to enjoy the weekend get-together or
getaway or just hit the mall to collect more trinkets but it is essential to
keep the real essence of the day alive.
“The moment of death or the possibility of
death is the most intense experience in most human beings’ lives. Most of them
would have never touched that level of intensity throughout their lives. In
their love, in their laughter, in their joy, in their ecstasy, in their misery
– nowhere else do they touch that level of intensity – only in death!
Shiva has shifted his residence to kayanta or
smashan. Shma refers to shava or corpse, shan refers to shanya or bed. Where
the dead bodies lie, that is where he resides, because he realized working with
living people is a waste of time. You cannot get them to the pitch of intensity
that is needed. You have to do so many tricks to make people a little intense.
The instinct of survival is dominant in every other creature. With the phase of
evolution where we have become human, a higher level of awareness and
intelligence has entered into our lives – this is the time where the instinct
of survival can be kept down and the longing to expand should be fired up.
Shiva sits at the smashan, bored with you and
your play, bored because the whole drama all over town is absolutely stupid.
The only real thing happens at the cremation ground. Maybe at the moment of
birth and the moment of death, something is happening. Maternity homes and
cremation grounds are the only two sensible places, though maternity is
happening a little too much. Shiva is sitting at a place where life makes utmost
sense. But if you are fearful, if you are on survival or self-preservation
mode, this will not make sense to you. Only if you are longing to expand and
touch the ultimate, it will make sense to you. He is not interested in those
who want to survive”-- Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev.
Unfortunately the clever Vaishnavas have been
able to convince Hindus that Smashana is a fearful, loathsome and impure place
and God cannot be found there. Visiting cremation grounds is prohibited though
many Pandas enjoy their life their exploiting the ignorant. One has to purify
himself by bath and other purification rituals before entering even his own
house, leave alone temples! They forget even Krishna was cremated as a human
being! They have also convinced that Siva when he lives in the company of
Brahma who is in charge of soothikagriha, birthplace, his residing place
becomes a temple and not smashana. But look at other religions. They
celebrate All Souls Day and Memorial Day and keep
the burial ground neat and clean with beautiful flower pots kept ever fresh and
visited frequently and celebrated on important days with all dear and near
ones! We call them Mlecchas too! Celebrate Memorial Day praying for all
departed souls who have sacrificed their lives for us and meditating upon
the most auspicious Veda mantra "Trayambakam
Yajamahe"
--E-Mail sent on May 26, 2016
Why Vaishnavas do not worship Navagrahas?
First of all Navagrahas
can’t draw support from astronomy as this is a concoction by modern astrologers,
may be based on some Purans, as I had explained earlier. Also
modern astrology is not truly based astronomy but like Puranas have
been-made-to-believe by astrologers. Jyotisha in Vedic culture was true science
and existed focused on astronomy. Over thousands of years this has been
corrupted, concocted and falsified and has become a myth called astrology.
To draw additional support even a sookta has been created by some
Sanskrit scholar later with no reference to Vedas or Upanihads and a
Rishi. One strong argument in this context
is Makara Sankranti which we are made to believe as Uttrayana Punyakala. We all
know that Winter Solstice day falls on December 22 and celebrated in many
faiths. No astrologer or Panchangam ever tried to correct the
situation as it affects the fraudulent business and ritualism o focused on Hindu
Worship.
Vaishnava Tradition is
focused on single God (Eko Devah) worship on Lord Maha Vishnu as
Sriman Narayana and worship only Vishnu and the Vishnu's Parivara and
accompaniments. Worship of Garuda, Lakshmi, Hanuman,
Sudarsana and Vishwaksena are very common in Vishnu Temples. Generally there
are no separate sanctums for subordinate deities like Garuda, Sudarsana
and Hanuman etc. Garuda is often found outside near the flag post. Vaishnavas
believe praying only to Lord Narayana or Krishna (Krishnaarpanamastu;
Narayaneti samarpayami) and feel no need not go through
various sub-deities. Vaishnavas treat all other deities as limited power
Devatas. No Azhwar sang in praise of any Navagraha so there
is no place for Navagrahas in Hindu Temples. Vishnu temples are
constructed based on Vaikhanasa and Panchaaratra Agamas. Navagraha shrine
inside a Vishnu temple is not provided in these Agamas. Among 108 Divya Desam
Temples only one temple has a separate sanctum for Navagrahas--Sri Koodal
Azhagar Perumal Temple, Madurai (probably influenced by local strong Saivism
later) has this distinction. These 107 temples serve as guide lines for
Vaishnava followers. While Rama is believed to have worshiped Siva and
Navagrahas together in Rameshwaram, he is found worshiping Aditya
(Surya-Narayana) by meditation only in Ramayana with sole focus as described in
Ramayana. There is no Navagraha sanctum or worship in Kali (worshiped as Durga)
Temple in Kolkata also. It is strange both Saivas and Vaishnavas are
believers in Astrology however false calculated they may be even when
based on wrong astronomy exploited by astrologers.
Kolaru Pathigam composed by
Thirujnaana Sambandhar praises Navagrahas and thus Siva temples
have Navagraha Sanctums. Siva followers attach too much importance to
sub-deities. They believe Siva is CEO with many sub-ordinates and feels
sub-ordinates should be pleased first to approach CEO and get his blessings!
Unless you please Ganesha (Prathama Vandita) you can’t please Siva! It
goes with Hindu culture to please or bribe the subordinates first to get the
favor of the boss! He worshiped Surya as Parabrahman
exclusively. If he had worshiped Siva and Navagrahas together in
Rameswaram area why such mention is not made anywhere in Valmiki Ramayana which
is so detailed and elaborate? Valmiki was quite aware of Lord
Kartikeya for whom he has devoted a chapter but there is no mention of Ganesha
either. I believe Rama worshiping Durga or Siva in Linga form is later
concoction by Saiva puranas. If at all Rama worshiping Durga or
Siva is found in Ramayanas it should be in later versions of Ramayana from
different authors. Only Valmiki Ramayana is Adikavya and authentic historic
version if Ramayana can be justified as History and not Myth. Even original
Lanka is disputed as to be the modern Sri Lanka known for long as Ceylon.
On my E-mail as to the myth
of Navagraha and Sivalinga consecration and worship by
Rama in Devipattinam and Rameswaram I received the following
comment from a very learned and orthodox Saivite which is interesting!
“The concept of Navagrahas is based on fraud,
deception and cheating. The astrologers for thousands of years made
fool of Hindus, and still continuing. As long as the people are
fools, crook astrologers will continue to exploit the fools. The
sons and daughters of these astrologers have become doctors and engineers by
studying the present day sciences and technologies in colleges and
universities. Just because Rama worshipped Navagrahas, or killed Vali
from behind his back, or deserted his pregnant wife, all the Vaishnavas need
not follow Rama. Even Saint Thyagaraja Swamy asked Rama in his song
as "Sri Rangaraju Vibeeshananiki Banga Naamamu Itina
Reethi........" As you said, Vaishnavas pray only Vishnu and
Thaayaar. They never pray Shiva or enter Shiva Temple. They
even tell their children as "Yaanai Thuratthinaalum sivan koil ulle
pokaathe." The meaning is "Even if an elephant is chasing you,
never enter a Sivan temple for saving your life". "Be prepared
to die but never enter a Sivan temple". In some of the Vaishnava
temples, they put naamam and call Ganesha as Thumbikkai Aazhvaar. I beg
off you to avoid posting such a controversial article.”
Nobody in my house ever visited a Siva temple
nor worshiped Navagrahas. But they all believed in horoscopes whether
right or wrong; that was the main criterion for marriage negotiations. My
marriage was also based on one such consideration. My birth star was
Visakha as per my original horoscope which I kept hidden from my parents. But after many years I found
the horoscope-exchanged showed my star was Swathi. I do not know whether
my father was in league with astrologers to change my birth star to make or
horoscopes compatible or my original horoscope was wrong?
Astrologers will do anything for money! Any how I have spent more than 55
years of happy married life thanks to Karma! Similarly I found my sister-in
law’s birth star was also manipulated to suit the occasion of my brother’s
wedding. I wonder whether horoscopes have any significance in our life or
their influence though we often resort to Navagraha Santi? Navagraha altars are ever busy which at the
same time reveals lineage, my identity and origin from the beginning of times.
This horoscope exchange business will soon vanish in Hindu American lifestyle.
Most of them do not have any horoscopes, I believe, which may disappoint
astrologers who want to continue their business in USA!
I was quite upset with my orthodox
Grand-father who was upset with me for visiting Ganesha temple and circumambulating
Navagrahas, with his orthodox and sectarian outlook. After seeing the
comments from my religious Saivite I am now forced to believe my grand-father
was right. We do not have temples for Brahma for he has nothing to do with
practicalities of life after having pushed us to this world. In fact he
is the cause for all our struggles for existence as we had nowhere else to go
out of acquired Karma! Therefore only the Vishnu aspect of Brhaman is
meaningful to us as he is the care-taker till we die. Siva-aspect of Brahman
does not come to the picture like Brahma-aspect in life-time. In GOD we focus
only on O which stands for
Operation! Siva is repeatedly praised as Smasaanavaasa or Kailasavasa. So his rightful place can’t be temples
like for Brahma. However he is the future planner of life who needs to be kept
in good humors and meditated upon. The overemphasized Siva’s and his
subordinates’ worship and rituals in temples seems to be exaggerated based
on the Vedas which insists only on meditation on Brahman. It is
superfluous to approach many devatas except to focus on One Deva and his
practical role in our life as Narayana in temple rituals and worship. As
composite Trimurti, both Jagannatha and Venkateswara seems to be ideal for
iconic worship or Murthi Upasana in
Hindu American Temples to suit all traditions fulfilling Puranic and Sectarian
thirst and desire of many as well as Vedic wisdom(tvam rudrastvam, vishustvam
brahmastvam)
of the spiritually inclined
in the passing phase
before switching over to Vedanta
Religion from the most confused and complicated Hinduism as is practiced today guided by
Puranas and Astrologers.
From
spiritual perspective here is how these
nine grahas are understood in Hindu astrology. The sun represents the soul, the
heart, the father, authority, heat, power and ambition. The moon is the mind,
mother, water, coolness, emotions, memory and common sense. Mars is courage,
bravery, sports, competition, maleness, passion, action, war, cuts and burns.
Mercury is intelligence, learning, teaching, speech, expression, communication
and writing. Jupiter is fortune, expansion, wealth, children, religion,
philosophy and wisdom. Venus is marriage, love, romance, luxuries, prosperity,
femininity, artistic expression, grace, and beauty. Saturn is slowness,
struggle, discipline, dryness, labor, asceticism, accidents, and chronic
disease. Rahu is material desire, dullness, ignorance, laziness, sleep and
addictions and ancestral karma. Ketu is asceticism, spirituality, psychic
ability, ghosts, eccentricity and occultism.
Lord Rama is the inspiration/Promoter
for Temple Traditions (Rameshavram/ Devipattinam) and
Mass Festival Celebrations (Dipavali).
Here is a reference to Veknkatesa Suprabhatam:
Suryendu Bhouma Budha Vaakpati Kaavya souri |Svarbhaanu ketu dvishat parishat
pradhaanaah|tvaddaasa daasa charamaavati daasa daasaah | Sri Venkataachalapate!
tava Suprabhaatam (Meaning):" Lord Of Venkata Hills ! May this
dawn be an auspicious one for You ! The Sun , the son of Sun ( Saneeswaran) ,
Moon, Kuja, Ketu, Budha and other Grahas (life-catchers) of the sky are
actually your servants' (Garuda, Vishwaksena,Sudarsana) servants.
They are all here." Venkateswara is believed to be Subrahmanya by some
and Devi by some others. Yet in this temple at no time there was any
special sanctum or
worship for Navagrahas. Ramanuja decided the Icon to be that of
Vishnu only since Narayana as Parabrahman is also Parasakti in his
Saguna form and also Brahma , Vishnu and Siva at the same time. Also the
above Suprabhata hymn reflects the Upanishadic thought of the
Mantra "Tasya bhaasaa sarvmidam Vibhaati" - All the luminaries
stated in the hymn shine because of Narayana only showing their subservience to
Venkateswara. The forms of worship in Puri Jagannath Temple as well as
Tirupati Venkateswara Tample baffles all devotees as to what these icons
really represent or symbolize?
Please find below the interesting
description of Devipattinam Navagraha Temple attached to Tilakeshwara
Temple where Rama worshiped both in the vicinity of Ramesvaram Temple. I
believe this should be Tilesvara Temple not Tilakeswara!
Devipattinam, where Rama installed
and worshiped Navagrahas
"Posted by Abhilash Rajendran on Tuesday, May 17, 2016
"Posted by Abhilash Rajendran on Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Devipattinam
is a coastal village near Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu. It is believed
that the Lord Rama prayed to Navagrahas at Devipattinam before embarking on his
journey to Lanka. Lord Rama placed nine stones as symbols of the nine planets,
Navagrahas, at Devipattanam and therefore the place is also known as
Navapashanam or Navabashana. It is an important place visited by pilgrims on
the way to Rameshwaram Dhaam.
The nine stones placed upright by Lord Ram can be still seen in
the water close to the beach near a bathing ghat of the Thilakeshwar Temple,
also known as Navagraha Temple. The nine stones symbolize the nine planets or
Navagrahas. Lord Rama performed the ritual so that the nine planets would
shed their auspicious light on him in the battle with Ravana to rescue Sita.
The Thilakeshwar Temple is dedicated to Shiva and Parvathi
(Durga). Shiva here is known as Tileswarar and the Goddess is known as
Soundaryanayaki. The shrine has a beautiful image of an eight-armed Durga with
weapons. The deity in the temple is worshiped with tila or sesame seeds.
People come from India and around the world to Devipattinam to perform Tarpan
(water-sesame oblation) for the ancestors. Devipattinam is around 14 km
northeast of Ramanathapuram.
--
E-Mail sent on May 21, 2016
Religion is Dharma
There is no word equivalent Dharma in English language. The word religion is used for it although it doesn’t connote the same meaning. The word religion is so widely used that most people consider both words are synonymous.
There is no word equivalent Dharma in English language. The word religion is used for it although it doesn’t connote the same meaning. The word religion is so widely used that most people consider both words are synonymous.
Religion connotes a set of exclusive system of
beliefs conforming to a strict theology originated by a particular person at a
particular time sometimes sounding dogmatic and embodied in a particular book.
The believers of a particular religion are deemed to be saved (for a possible
entry in heaven on the judgment Day upon the cataclysmic end of the universe as
in Christianity), while non-believers are presumed condemned to the eternal
hell. This archaic concept together with an injunction to convert others based
on historic inter-religious competition to enhance their numerical strength
drives a zealot of a religion to try to
proselyte non-believers by force, coercion or temptation. Many wars have ensued from religious strife
throughout history.
Dharma in the Sanatana Dharma has no English
equivalent. Foreigners called it Hinduism to compare it with other religions.
The closest literal meaning of dharma can be true nature or duty. Hinduism over
its long practice of Dharma got influenced by misunderstood Puranas and other
religions got diluted, corrupted and
also got drifted and so one may not be wrong in calling it a religion or
Hinduism. It also lost its association with the suffix “–ity” as in
Christian-ity. Mohammadan-ism later
delinked itself from “ism” and called itself Islam by force. Other religions
were helpless to delink with “–ism” at the hands of foreign rulers and had to
console to the situation including Judaism. It is high time Hinduism corrects
some of its wrong practices and reverts back To Sanatana Dharma based on wisdom
of Upanishads and Vedas.
Sanatana Dharma connotes voluntary and open
faith in an evolutionary Theology and Philosophy of life. It focuses on the duty of man in the
light of his true nature and the perennial and non-sectarian relationship of
human being and the Ultimate Reality (GOD) representing the Unity of all
Diversity manifested in the Nature and the Universe. Countless seers, sages,
thinkers and devotees have contributed for millennia the scriptures
of Sanatana Dharma which for our convenience and easy
understanding as well as other religions Vivekananda called Vedanta
Religion instead of Vedanta Dharma.
Vedanta religion is an Inclusive Path—according respect for
alternative paths—for spiritual journey of life leading towards the realization
of God within oneself, asserting that heaven and hell are basically states of
mind within oneself depending on one’s Karma.
The word karma has entered into English dictionary. Vedanta religion has
never prompted to proselyte or to wage wars against the followers of other
religions; actually it has given shelters to the victims of religious persecution of other
faiths from all over the world. The living example are the followers of Zarathustra living as Parsis in India having been
driven out of Iran enjoying their religious freedom. So also Tibetan Buddhists. Buddhism, Jainism
and Sikhism are among other leading religions rooted in the Vedanta
Religion. Hence Vedanta religion is
Inclusive and peaceful. All religions as practiced today are Exclusive.
For practicing Vedanta Religion one need
not have to move out of his
righteous religious practices. In
due course you will feel that there is no need for any barricaded religion and
eliminate also beliefs and myths and focus on Dharma alone.
Swami Sivanada defined Dharma as follows: Dharma is so called because it holds; dharma
alone holds the people. The word Dharma is derived from the root dhr=to hold and
its etymological meaning is that which holds this world or people of the
world, or the whole creation from the microcosm to the macrocosm. That includes
even environmental safety and protection
(Santi Mantras). In plain word Dharma
is generally defined as righteous-duty. It defines the principles of
righteousness, the holiness and the principal of unity.
My discourse titled “Vedanta
Religion—Everlasting, Universal and Unifying Spirituality” is posted on the Blog Hindu Reflections :
<Nrsrini.blogspot.com>
--E-mail sent on May 20, 2016
Is Ramyana Fact or Fiction
Stephen Knap who wrote this article is known for his writings on
Hinduism. Probably he is more critical than his Hindu Counter parts.
Present govt. should take initiative to find out the truth in
public interest like what Christianity has done. There are written records of
the execution of Jesus from the non-Christian Roman Emperors that ruled
Jerusalem at that time as well as inscriptions dating back to the 2nd century
near the place he was killed. I wonder how Knapp missed
these research findings which he should have known. Ramasetu controversy
was started during the DMK Government when Congress was in power. Rama
was projected as an Aryana and Ravana Dravidian! Congress neither contradicted
did or pursued the matter further in order to please their partner in Tamil
Nadu. Till date no historic fact has been found to the contrary! Bible as well
as Ramayana does indulge in oculist powers of Rama, Jesus and
Moses. I wonder how he missed Bithur near Kanpur which is claimed to be the
place where Lava and Kusa were born and also Sabarimalai ! Some of the tribes
referred in Ramayana do exist even to this day With these
observations of mine in mind you may go through the exhaustive
research findings of Stephen Knapp which gives food for thought for further
research based on facts.
Research Findings of Stephen Knapp
In the year 2007, the idea of whether Lord Rama exists or not has been called into question, by no less than some of the politicians in India. So it is a wonder how such persons can be accepted as leaders of the people of India who should be concerned with preserving and protecting the culture of the country.
In the year 2007, the idea of whether Lord Rama exists or not has been called into question, by no less than some of the politicians in India. So it is a wonder how such persons can be accepted as leaders of the people of India who should be concerned with preserving and protecting the culture of the country.
Obviously, they are neither
concerned nor aware of the depths of information that can be found in support
of the traditions for which India is especially known. Or, they are really
attempting to dismantle or destroy the authority of the timeless nature of
the In regard to Lord Rama, the point about ancient history is that
the farther you go back in time, the fewer references you can use that actually
refer to the incident in history. There may be many commentaries, but few
quotations to the actual events.
However, when it comes to the
Ramayana and the history of Lord Rama, there have been numerous authors who
have accepted the Ramayana as a history of ancient events. For example, the
first Governor General of India, Sri Rajaji, wrote on the Ramayana and called
it a history, as also did the English Indologist Sir William Jones. Various
other western authors have made a study of the culture and history of the
Ramayana, such as Philip Lutgendorf in his book Rama’s Story in Shiva’s City,
California University; Joe Burkhalter Flueckiger and Laurie Sears in The
Boundaries of Traditional Ramayana and Mahabharata Performances in South and
Southeast Asia, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; W. L. Smith on Ramayan
Traditions in Eastern India, University of Stockholm, and others.
There are also numerous places
that are indicated as the locations where various events happened in reference
to the pastimes of Lord Rama and Sita. Thus, they are accepted as historical
sites. I have personally visited many of these places, such as Ramesvaram,
Nasik, Hampi, and others where there are particular locations and sites that
are related to the events that took place in the life and adventures of Lord
Rama. Many people accept these sites as the locations for the events described
in the Ramayana. So how can this be unless there are not some reality behind
it?
However, why is there not more
archaeological evidence that points towards Rama’s existence? Because such an
effort has not been made in India and systematic excavations have never been
carried out, says historian Nandita Krishnan. She says that to doubt the
existence of Rama is to doubt all literature. There is little archaeological or
epigraphic evidence for either Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed, who are known
only from the Bible and Koran respectively.(?) Does it mean they did not exist?
If Rama performs miracles such as liberating Ahalya, the Biblical story of Jesus
walking on water or the Koranic tale of Mohammed flying to heaven on a horse
are equally miraculous. Such stories reinforce divinity.
She also describes in summary what
areas the events of Lord Rama’s life took place. She explains: “The Ramayana is
geographically very correct. Every site on Rama’s route is still identifiable
and has continuing traditions or temples to commemorate Rama’s visit. Around
1000 BC or earlier, no writer had the means to travel around the country
inventing a story, fitting it into local folklore and building temples for
greater credibility.
“In 1975 the Archaeological Survey
of India (ASI) unearthed fourteen pillar bases of kasauti stone with Hindu
motifs near the mosque at Ayodhya; reports of the excavations are available
with the ASI. Rama was born in Ayodhya and married in Mithila, now in Nepal.
Not far from Mithila is Sitamarhi, where Sita was found in a furrow, still
revered as the Janaki kund constructed by her father Janaka. Rama and Sita left
Mithila for Ayodhya via Lumbini. In 249 BC, Ashoka erected a pillar in Lumbini
with an inscription referring to the visits by both Rama and Buddha to Lumbini.
Ashoka was much nearer in time to Rama and would be well aware of his facts.
“Rama, Lakshmana and Sita left
Ayodhya and went to Sringaverapura – modern Sringverpur in Uttar Pradesh –
where they crossed the River Ganga. They lived on Chitrakoot hill where Bharata
and Shatrughna met them and the brothers performed the last rites for their
father. Thereafter, the three wandered through Dandakaranya in Central India,
described as a land of Rakshasas, obviously tribes inimical to the brothers’
habitation of their land. Tribals are still found in these forests. The trio
reached Nasik, on the River Godavari, which throbs with sites and events of
Rama’s sojourn, such as Tapovan where they lived, Ramkund where Rama and Sita
used to bathe, Lakshmankund, Lakshmana’s bathing area, and several caves in the
area associated with their lives in the forest.
“Rama then moved to Panchavati
near Bhadrachalam (AP), where Ravana abducted Sita. The dying Jatayu told them
of the abduction, so they left in search of Sita. Kishkinda, near Hampi, where
Rama first met Sugriva and Hanuman, is a major Ramayana site, where every rock
and river is associated with Rama. Anjanadri, near Hospet, was the birthplace
of Hanuman (Anjaneya); Sugriva lived in Rishyamukha on the banks of the Pampa
(Tungabhadra); Sabari probably also lived in a hermitage there. Rama and the
Vanara army left Kishkinda to reach Rameshwaram, where the Vanaras built a
bridge to Lanka from Dhanushkodi on Rameshwaram Island to Talaimannar in Sri
Lanka. While parts of the bridge – known as Adam’s Bridge – are still visible,
NASA’s satellite has photographed an underwater man-made bridge of shoals in the
Palk Straits, connecting Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar. On his return from Sri
Lanka, Rama worshiped Shiva at Rameshwaram, where Sita prepared a Linga out of
sand. It is still one of the most sacred sites of Hinduism.
“Sri Lanka also has relics of the
Ramayana. There are several caves, such as Ravana Ella Falls, where Ravana is
believed to have hidden Sita to prevent Rama from finding her. The Sitai Amman
Temple at Numara Eliya is situated near the Ashokavana where Ravana once kept
her prisoner.
“All the places visited by Rama
still retain memories of his visit, as if it happened yesterday. Time, in
India, is relative. Some places have commemorative temples; others commemorate
the visit in local folklore. But all agree that Rama was going from or to Ayodhya.
Why doubt connections when literature, archaeology and local tradition meet?
Why doubt the connection between Adam’s Bridge and Rama, when nobody else in
Indian history has claimed its construction? Why doubt that Rama traveled
through Dandakaranya or Kishkinda, where local non-Vedic tribes still narrate
tales of Rama? Why doubt that he was born in and ruled over Ayodhya?
“Rama’s memory lives on because of
his extraordinary life and his reign, which was obviously a period of great
peace and prosperity, making Ramarajya a reference point. People only remember
the very good or the very bad. Leftist historians have chosen to rubbish
archaeology, literature and local tradition.”
Nandita Krishnan also adds that
“Nobody believed that Homer’s Iliad was a true story till Troy was discovered
after extensive archaeology. Unfortunately, the sites of the Ramayana and
Mahabharata have now been built over many times and it may never be possible to
excavate extensively either at Ayodhya or Mathura.”
To further verify this aspect of
the history of Lord Rama, Pushkar Bhatnagar concludes that geographical
evidence for the epics is abundant. There still exist many places like
Rameshwaram, Kishkindha, Kurukshetra, Hastinapura, etc. where the visits of
Rama and Krishna are a basic part of local folklore.
Lack of archaeological evidence is
no excuse for denying the existence of history, sums up Bhatnagar. “If the
buildings of that time over 7000 years ago do not exist today, can we just
infer that civilizations and personalities of that time also did not exist?”
In literature, we have the
Ramayana and other texts such as the Puranas which also relate and verify the
history and existence of Lord Rama. People from many other regions of the world
have also accepted the Ramayana as worthy of attention, devotion, and
historical evidence. For example, we can see the effects of the Ramayana
tradition in many countries who have adapted their own form of the Ramayana and
worship of Lord Rama, especially in the countries of Southeast Asia. These
include Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia (Capuchia), Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia,
the Philippines and Vietnam. Other areas can also be found where the influence
of the history of Lord Rama is in effect, such as the continent of Africa was
once known as Kushadvipa for having been ruled by Kush, one of Lord Rama’s
sons.
The other fact is that many
millions of people feel the reciprocation from Lord Rama whenever they engage
in devotion to Him, or read the Ramayana, or hear the Ramayana in a katha, or
watch a television show or movie about Him, or go to one of the temples
dedicated to Him. This cannot be denied or neglected. Just because we have
insensitive politicians who cannot perceive this reciprocation does not mean
that we all are so spiritually undeveloped. This dedication and reciprocation
has spread throughout the world.
There have also been astronomers
who have identified the approximate time of the Ramayana by the descriptions of
the stars and constellations as given in the Ramayana, or even in the Bhagavata
Purana and other texts. Pushkar Bhatnagar, author of the book Dating the Era of
Lord Rama, claims that there is a significant amount of information available
to prove that Rama was a historical personality. He says, “Valmiki, who wrote
the Ramayana, was a contemporary of Rama. While narrating the events of the
epic, he has mentioned the position of the planets at several places.” He
explains that by using recent planetary software, it has been possible to
verify that these planetary positions actually took place precisely as
specified in the Ramayana. These were not just stray events, but the entire
sequence of the planetary positions as described by Valmiki at various stages
of Rama’s life can be verified today as having taken place.
Bhatnagar goes on to explain:
“This information is significant, since these configurations do not repeat for
lakhs of years and cannot be manipulated or imagined so accurately, without the
help of sophisticated software. The inference that one can draw is that someone
was present there to witness the actual happening of these configurations,
which got recorded in the story of Rama.”
Bhatnagar provides the following
quote from the Ramayana: “Rama was born on the Navami tithi of Shukla Paksha of
Chaitra masa (9th day of the increasing phase of the moon in the lunar month of
Chaitra). At that time, the nakshatra was Punarvasu, and Sun, Mars, Saturn,
Jupiter and Venus were in Aries, Capricorn, Libra, Cancer and Pisces
respectively. Lagna was Cancer and Jupiter & Moon were shining together. —
Ramayana 1.18.8,9
The conditions can be summarized
as follows, according to Bhatnagar:
- Sun in Aries
- Saturn in Libra
- Jupiter in Cancer
- Venus in Pisces
- Mars in Capricorn
- Lunar month of Chaitra
- 9th day after New Moon (Navami Tithi, Shukla Paksh)
- Moon near Punarvasu Nakshatra (Pollux star in Gemini constellation)
- Cancer as Lagna (Cancer constellation rising in the east)
- Jupiter above the horizon
According to the Planetarium
software, it provides the following date: Sri Rama Navami – 10th January 5114
BCE – Birth Day of Rama, Observation at 12.30 p.m.
Bhatnagar continues: “By using a
powerful planetarium software, I found that the planetary positions mentioned
in Ramayana for the date of birth of Lord Ram had occurred in the sky at around
12.30 p.m. of 10th January 5114 BC. It was the ninth day of the Shukla Paksh of
Chaitra month too. Moving forward, after 25 years of the birth of Lord Ram, the position of planets in the sky
tallies with their description in Ramayana. Again, on the amavasya (new moon)
of the 10th month of the 13th year of exile the solar eclipse had indeed
occurred and the particular arrangement of planets in the sky was visible.
(Date comes to 7th October, 5077 BC). Even the occurrences of subsequent two eclipses also tally with the
respective description in Valmiki Ramayana. (Date of Hanuman’s meeting Sita at
Lanka was 12th September, 5076 BC). In this manner the entire sequence of the
planetary positions gets verified and all the dates can be precisely
determined.”
Although this provides
verification of the existence for Lord Rama according to calculations as given
in the Ramayana, some people feel the timing for the day and year of His birth
may be different than what the planetarium software indicates. For example,
Vedic astrologer Nartaka Gopala devi dasi points out that “Regarding the
calculation of Lord Rama’s birth as 10th of January 5114 BCE – Birth Day of
Rama, Observation at 12.30 PM, there are 2 reasons why this cannot be correct.
His rising sign, or lagna, is Cancer. That places Aries in the tenth house, and
He has the Sun in Aries. The placement of the Sun in any birth chart will tell
the time of day of the birth. Sun in the tenth house means birth at noontime
(approx. 11 AM to 2 PM). There are no exceptions to this. (Lord Krishna
appeared at midnight, the Sun is in Leo, 4th house for Taurus rising. Birth at
6 PM means 7th house Sun. Birth at sunrise means 1st house Sun.) Also, in Lord
Rama’s chart the Sun is in Aries, and the dates for Sun in Aries are fixed, which
means the same each year on April 14th to May 13th. So how did the January 10
date come up? These two Jyotish corrections are common sense that any Vedic
astrologer would immediately see.” So there may be a difference in what the
planetarium software suggests. This also corroborates why we who follow the
Vedic calendar celebrate Lord Rama’s appearance in April-May each year. So the
traditional date appears accurate.
Furthermore, some people feel that
the appearance of Lord Rama took place many thousands or even millions of years
earlier, in the Treta-yuga. For example, the Bhagavata Purana clearly states
that Lord Rama became king during Treta yuga (Bhag. 9.10.51). We have been in
Kali-yuga for 5000 years. Before this was Dvapara-yuga which lasts 864,000 years.
Before that was Treta-yuga, which lasts over 1,200,000 years. Thus, according
to this, the existence of Lord Rama had to have been many thousands of years
ago. And if Lord Rama appeared in one of the previous Treta-yugas, it would
certainly indicate that Lord Rama appeared several million years ago. And this
is exactly what is corroborated in the Vayu Purana.
In the Vayu Purana (70.47-48)
[published by Motilal Banarsidass] there is a description of the length of
Ravana’s life. It explains that when Ravana’s merit of penance began to
decline, he met Lord Rama, the son of Dasarath, in a battle wherein Ravana and
his followers were killed in the 24th Tretayuga. The Roman transliteration of
the verse is:
tretayuge chaturvinshe
ravanastapasah kshayat
ramam dasharathim prapya saganah kshayamiyavan
ramam dasharathim prapya saganah kshayamiyavan
There are 1000 Treta-yugas in one
day of Brahma, and it is calculated that we are presently in the 28th cycle of
the four yugas (called divya-yugas, which is a cycle of the four yugas,
Satya-yuga, Treta-yuga, Dvapara-yuga, and then Kali-yuga) of Vaivasvata Manu,
who is the seventh Manu in the series of 14 Manu rulers who exist in one kalpa
or day of Brahma. Each Manu is considered to live for 71 such divya-yuga
cycles. So, without getting too complicated about things, from the 24th
Treta-yuga to the present age of this Kali-yuga, there is obviously a
difference of millions of years when Lord Rama manifested here on earth. Of
course, few people may believe this unless they are already familiar with the
vast lengths of time that the Vedic literature deals with.
Nonetheless, maybe there is
further reason why we should accept that Lord Rama appeared millions of years
ago. In the Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara-Kanda (or Book 5), Chapter 4, verse 27,
[Gita Press, Gorakhpur, India] it explains that when Hanuman first approached
Ravana’s palace, he saw the doorways surrounded by horses and chariots,
palanquins and aerial cars, beautiful horses and elephants, nay, with
four-tusked elephants decked with jewels resembling masses of white clouds.
Elsewhere in the Valmiki Ramayana,
Sundara-Kanda (or Book 5), Chapter 27, verses12, an ogress named Trijata has a
dream of Lord Rama, which she describes to the other demoniac ogresses upon
awakening. In that dream she sees Rama, scion of Raghu, united again with Sita.
Sri Rama was mounted on a huge elephant, closely resembling a hill, with four
tusks.
The question is how could there be
a mention of the elephants with four tusks unless Valmiki and the people of his
era were familiar with such creatures? A quick search on the Encarta
Encyclopedia will let us know that these four-tusked elephants were known as
Mastodontoidea, which are said to have evolved around 38 million years ago and
became extinct about 15 million years ago when the shaggy and two tusked
Mastodons increased in population. Now there’s something to think about, eh? So
this would mean that the specific planetary configuration that is described in
the Ramayana, and is verified by Pushkar Bhatnagar, may have indeed happened, but
at a time millions of years prior to merely 10,000 years ago.
In this way, as we go through the
evidence, we can see how Lord Rama was an actual historic personality, as
described in the Ramayana and in other Puranic texts. Nonetheless, there will
always be those for whom no matter what you present for verification, it will
not be enough. Some just won’t believe it. Some will, some won’t, so what,
let’s move on. But many in the world already accept the authority of the
Ramayana and other Vedic texts for the verification of the existence of Lord
Rama.
Jaya Sri Rama!
Why is Nasik named so and when?
Where is the birth place of Hanuman? From which place Sita was abducted by
Ravana? What is Nasik famous for? If you need answers to these please go
through the text below.
Nasik is an important holy city
located approximately five hours northeast of Mumbai. Lord Rama stayed here for
some time during his exile, and several pastimes depicted in Sri Ramayana took
place here. Every twelve years, the Kumbha-mela is held in Nasik, alternating
with the Kumbha-melas held at Allahabad, Haridwar, and Ujjain.
Residing on the banks of the holy
Godavari River, which flows to the Bay of Bengal, Nasik is one of the holy
dhamas where drops of nectar fell when the demigods and demons fought during
the churning of the Milk Ocean. It is said that if one takes sacred bath in the
Godavari River while the nectar is falling, he accumulates merit equal to
bathing in the Ganges for 60,000 years. Over 3.5 million people attended the
1991 Mela. The last Kumbha-mela in Nasik was held in August-September, 2015.
Nasik is also famous for the
pastimes of Lord Rama, the King of Ayodhya, who made Nasik his abode during his
14 years in exile. It is the same place where Laxman, by the wish of Lord Rama,
cut the nose of Shurpnakha. Consequently, this place was named “Nasik” (from
the Sanskrit word nasika). Also found here are the Sita Gupha caves, from which
Sita was abducted by Ravana. Sita Devi lived and cooked in this Gupha while in
exile at Panchavati. The surrounding area is known as Panchavati in
Dandakaaranya (Panchavati is the place in the forest Dandakaranya). Found here
is the birthplace of Lord Hanuman, and two of the 12 Shiva temples (Dwadasha
Jyotirlingas).
In 150 BC, Nasik was believed to
be India’s largest marketplace. From 1487-1818, the city was under Mughal rule
and was known as Gulshanabad (the City of Gardens). The city got its present
name in 1818 when the Peshwas got control of the city. The Peshwa rule did not
last long, however, as the British captured Nasik the very same year.
Sita-Rama Deities reside in the Sita Gupha, a small cave by the Kala Rama temple. This is the cave where Ravana abducted Sita. Devotees must crawl into the cave entrance to see the Deities.The nearby Kala (black) Rama Temple is the domicile of the very beautiful Sita-Rama-Lakshman Deities pictured above. A great tower stands over this temple, at a height of 83 feet.
Sita-Rama Deities reside in the Sita Gupha, a small cave by the Kala Rama temple. This is the cave where Ravana abducted Sita. Devotees must crawl into the cave entrance to see the Deities.The nearby Kala (black) Rama Temple is the domicile of the very beautiful Sita-Rama-Lakshman Deities pictured above. A great tower stands over this temple, at a height of 83 feet.
E-Mails sent on May15,
2016
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY
I have talked enough in 3 of my discourses on
Mother’s day in the past years as cited below. In raising children, parents are
also growing up and evolving. A woman isn’t necessarily perfect but a mom
is. Hearts expand by just thinking about moms who can go to any
length to ensure safety and love for her children and helicopter moms to see
the children among top ten at least if not first and in all activities,
talented or not! We come across in USA helicopter moms but not helicopter
dads.
Moms
who readily confess to their faults and resolve them inculcate the value of
honesty in their children. Owning up your imperfections is what real perfection
is. Moms come forward to share their hilarious goof-ups, embarrassing moments
and recommend fixes to parents who find themselves in similar tight
spots.
The Ten Commandments command people to honor
their parents (even if they don’t deserve it?). However, they don’t do a very
good job of outlining how to treat children well. They appear to forbid
murdering children, stealing from them, and bearing false witness against them
(if only implicitly), yet there’s nothing about obligations not to harm them in
non-lethal ways or about the need for people generally to be nice, nurturing,
and respectful to them. There’s nothing about the duties of parents to meet the
needs of their children or to do any of the other things that parents should do
for their children. Children comprise a rather large and very important part of
the human population, are especially vulnerable, and have distinct and
extensive needs, so an adequate list of fundamental moral rules like Ten
Commandments should contain at least some explicit directions
for how to treat them well. Today it all depends on the poor mother
as the child is nurtured and guided through for many year till it stands
on its own legs! Strangely Mass Worships are held on Mother's
Day in all churches with no reference to Mother Mary! This shows
again Christianity is male chauvinistic! In Bible also there are no
details as to the nurturing of Baby Jesus and how he was
brought up-to age 12 by Mary, when he deserted parents or this part might
have been deleted in house cleaning! Compare Krishna's Bala Leela who
found his deserted parents and was the darling of both Yasoda
and Devaki narrated at length in Puranas!
Hindu
mother is guided by the Wisdom of Vedas: "Matru devo bhava,
Pitru devo bhava Acharya devo bhava ; aatmavat sarva bhooteshu;
krinvantoi viswamaaryam and Ahimsa paramo dharmah" in
training the child. Here Sishyaanusana --The Commandments to the
Disciple in Taittareeya Upanishad should serve as
guidelines as what is expected of a child passing on to adulthood and how
a child should be brought up with that in
focus. On Mother's Day Lakshmi is worshiped as "
Trailokya kutumbineem...Vande Jaganmataram" in lone sanctums and
Parvati as (Jagatah Pitarau vande Parvatee paramesvarau).
Why
am I talking about children here? I believe Taittareeya Upanishad
Gurukula Farewell Advice should be kept in mind and proper training and
discipline initiated by the Mother while training the child and prepare
him for School. As you know handcuffing and booking children of age group
6-12 has become a regular feature. In 2015, 2000 children of this age group in
TN have been arrested. I have seen some Hindu kids too here. Only Mothers
can be effective in
bringing up the child in early days properly to save the
situation!
Wish you all a Happy Mother's Day and I
pray to Goddess Lakshmi (Jaganmatar-Mahalakshmi) to bless you all.
Her birthday is on May 9, 2016 too! Let us wish her Happy
Birthday on Akshaya Triteeya
Day!
-- E-Mail sent on May 7, 2016
Why Hindus rush to Temples to get Diamond
Jewelry blessed on Akshya Triteeya Day
Why Hindu ladies rush to buy gold
and precious stones particularly diamond on Akshya Triteeya Day and place it
before Lakshmi and pray to her to grace the same before gifting away to
their daughters particularly during their wedding? Hindu social life is so
knitted with religion they cannot but think of buying them and seek divine
blessing by conducting special puja on an auspicious day. Akshya
Triteeya is the Birth Day of Goddess Lakshmi. I have already explained in
detail the importance of Akshaya Triteeya Day. Lakshmi is prayed as “suvrna rajata srajaam” (glittering ray of Gold), Vishnu patni (consort of Vishnu) and (Vakshasthale Kausthubam), the diamond in the chest of Vishnu. Besides these
tributes they are also influenced by the past history of world famous diamonds.
The Ratnasastra informs us that
among all stones the diamond is the very best. It is said to have unique
mystical influence on each of the four divisions of society. Properly assigned
it brings power and good fortune; improperly it brings misfortune and defeat.
Astrologically it is associated with the planet Venus (Shukra, “brilliant”) the
brightest planet in the night sky, which, like a diamond, reflects the Sun’s
brilliance. India at one time was the source for all the
world’s diamonds and was the first to develop the techniques needed to process,
cut, and polish diamonds.
It was only after Alexander the
Great’s attempted invasion of India (326 B.C.) that diamonds began to enter the
European market. The Greeks referred to diamonds as ‘adamas’ meaning
‘unbreakable’ and believed them to be the tears of the gods. Over the centuries
caravans brought diamonds from India, through Arabia, the Ottoman Empire, and
finally into Europe’s diamond markets (Antwerp, Frankfurt, London, and
Vilnius).
In Sanskrit the word for diamond
is ‘vajra’, meaning lightning, the divine weapon of Lord Indra. In one battle
between the demigods and the demons, Lord Indra faced an insurmountable enemy
in the giant Vritrasura. Lord Vishnu instructed Indra to approach the Sage
Dadhichi and requested his bones for the creation of a powerful weapon. The
Sage agreed and sitting in vajrasana (diamond pose) gave up his body. The
demigods harvested his spinal column, the reservoir of the Sage’s mystic
energy, to create the Vajra thunderbolt, capable of killing the giant Vritra.
Unfortunately by 1729 India’s diamond mines were exhausted. As luck would have it, diamonds were next discovered in Brazil and subsequently South Africa. India’s 2000 year monopoly on diamonds thus came to an end.
Unfortunately by 1729 India’s diamond mines were exhausted. As luck would have it, diamonds were next discovered in Brazil and subsequently South Africa. India’s 2000 year monopoly on diamonds thus came to an end.
Below are short descriptions of
some of the more famous Indian diamonds. Many of these diamonds were cursed
after being stolen from Hindu temples. Famous diamonds were always the part and
parcel of the diety as you see.
The Orlov Diamond which was cut
and installed as the center jewel of Russian Imperiall Scepter, now in
Russia, originated from the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, Tamil
Nadu, India as the eye of the deity of Vishnu. Another diamond,
called the Black Orlov, was an eye of the deity of Brahma in Pondicherry,
India. Finally, it was cut up into three pieces in an
attempt to break its curse. The Nassak diamond is from the
Amaragiri mine in Mahbubnagar, Telangana, India. It adorned the deity of the
Triambakeshwar Shiva temple in Nassik (Maharashtra, India). It was stolen by
the British East India Company during the Third Anglo-Maratha War as a spoil of
war. Kohinoor Diamond meaning ‘the Mountain of Light’
discovered in the Krishna River was the largest diamond of
787 carats in the world till recently. It currently sits in the
crown of the Queen of England guarded in the Tower of London. The Blue
Hope diamond was originally stolen from a deity of Sita Devi and
bought by Jean-Baptiste Tavernier in 1660. Today it sits at 45
carats in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. New research by the
Smithsonian Institute indicates it was originally cut to produce an image of
the sun in the center when it was set against a gold background.
But all of these diamonds are pale in comparison to a recent discovery by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. They have detected a diamond 50 lights years away, measuring 4,000 Kilometers in diameter, with a mass of 10 billion, trillion, trillion carats; Truly a diamond in the sky. Even this shines because of Supreme Being (Brahman) only after whom the Sun, Moon and Stars shine (tasya bhaasaa sarvamidam vibhaati). Today I read in The Tennessean about the Diamond Lesedi la Rona 1105 carats. Who knows one day someone in India may research and say that it was also stolen from a deity from India. We still do not know about the diamonds that are recently discovered in Tiruvanatapuram (Travancore) in the Padmanabhaswamy Temple!
But all of these diamonds are pale in comparison to a recent discovery by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. They have detected a diamond 50 lights years away, measuring 4,000 Kilometers in diameter, with a mass of 10 billion, trillion, trillion carats; Truly a diamond in the sky. Even this shines because of Supreme Being (Brahman) only after whom the Sun, Moon and Stars shine (tasya bhaasaa sarvamidam vibhaati). Today I read in The Tennessean about the Diamond Lesedi la Rona 1105 carats. Who knows one day someone in India may research and say that it was also stolen from a deity from India. We still do not know about the diamonds that are recently discovered in Tiruvanatapuram (Travancore) in the Padmanabhaswamy Temple!
--E-Mail sent on
May 5, 2016
AKSHAYA TRITEEYA CELEBRATION IN
DIFFERENT TRADITIONS
As
per Hindu Astrology, the day is highly auspicious day because the sun and moon
are believed to be at their best position and shower brilliance on earth. Chandan yatra is held in Jagannath Temples on
this day. The once in a year Charan darshan of Lord Krishna at the Banke Bihari
Temple takes place on Akha Teej. Alms giving, donating food and clothes on the
day is believed to bring eternal glory. The Char Dham Yatra to the four temples
in Uttarkhand begins on the Akha Teej day.
Akshaya Tritiya is one of the Kalpadi Tithi and it marks
the beginning of Krita Era. Shraadha and Tarpana performed on this
day are highly meritorious and everlasting. The importance of
Akshaya Tritiya Shraddha is mentioned in the Garuda Purana. Akshya Triteeya is
a day of festivals and ritulas for Hindus of all traditions.
Akshay Tritiya was the day when Vyasa started writing the history of the great Bharat war in
the form of an epic Mahabharata.
This day is symbolized by god Vishnu, the preserver-god in the Hindu Trinity. According to Hindu
mythology, on this day the Treta
Yuga began and the river Ganges, the most sacred river of India, descended to the earth
from the heaven.
Basveswara Jayanti falls on this day (May 9,
2016). By strange coincidence Swami Chinmayanands is also born on the
same day. Two days later on Panchami tithi comes the Birthday of Sankara
and Ramanuja together. This bright fortnight may as well be celebrated as
Philosopher's fortnight honoring the great Philosphers of Hinduism
starting with Akshaya Triteeya and ending with BuddhaPurnima on May 21. Buddha
is also an Avatar of Vishnu believed by many.
Hindu American academics can celebrate this
fortnight by thanking their teachers as well as remembering past teachers
and scholars. Usually this is done on Guru Purnima day in India which can be
shifted to Buddha Purnima Day the final day of the fortnight.
It was on this day that Goddess Annapoorna
devi was born. Kubera received his wealth and position as custodian of wealth
and property with Goddess Lakshmi on this day, by praying to Lord Shiva at Shivapuram. It is traditionally observed as the
birthday of Parashurama, the
sixth incarnation of god Vishnu. The Puranic scriptures speak about how he reclaimed the land from
the sea. In Mahabharata, Yudhishthira receives the Akshaya patra, which he uses to serve food
for all the needy in his kingdom. It is on this day that poor Sudama, the best friend of Krishna visits Him (Lord Krishna) to greet Him after He became
the King. With nothing to offer, Sudama takes with him Poha (puffed rice) and offers it
to his friend and never discusses his poverty though he intends to. On his
return he finds his hut changed to a palace. It is on this day that Dushasana, Duryodhana's brother, unveils Draupadi at the royal court where
Krishna protects her providing the 'unending' veil...]
In more recent history, Adi Shankara recited the Kanaka
Dhara Stotr on this day for the sake of the poor couple at whose house he
stopped for Bhiksha and was offered their only available gooseberry. Goa and Kerala regions, even today, are referred to as Parushurama
Kshetra.
Akshaya Tritiya, the third day of the bright-half of the
lunar month of Vaisakha is considered one of the most sacred days of the year.
In Odisha, on Akshay Tritiya day, farmers start ploughing their
land and construction of chariots for Rath Yatra begins at Puri. This day is generally observed by fasting and worship
of Lord Vasudeva with rice grains. A dip in the river Ganges on this day is considered to be very auspicious.
The Vedic
scriptures say
that knowledge gained or charity done on Akshay Tritiya is very fruitful. It is
considered to be a very lucky day to start new business or venture. Many people
buy gold or property on this day.
Fasts are kept on this day and pujas are performed. In charity, fan, rice, salt, ghee, sugar, vegetables, tamarind, fruit, clothes, are given. The god Vishnu is
worshiped.
In Bengal, on the day of the Akshay Tritiya, "HalKhata"
- a ceremony to start the new audit book is performed - with the worship of Ganesha and goddess Lakshmi. Bengalis perform many rites and rituals on this day.
This day is most auspicious day for the Jat farming community. Early morning, a male member of a Jat
family goes to the field with a shovel. All the animals and birds encountered on the way to the
field are omens and predictions for rains and crops. Akshay Tritiiya is an
occasion for weddings, which are conducted in mass ceremonies. It is considered
an unboojha muhurat.
It is believed that god Kubera, the treasurer of the gods, is the richest deity.
Lakshmi Tantram says that even Kubera will pray to goddess Lakshmi, the goddess
of wealth and consort of Vishnu, on Akshay Tritiya. A day-long Kubera
Lakshmi Puja is performed in which an image of Lakshmi is worshiped with Sudarsana
Kubera Yantra, symbolising Kubera.
On Akshay Trutiya, a king or those who have the
responsibility of taking care of the subjects, should perform ‘puja’, with
gratitude and devotion, of the picture of ‘Vaibhav-Lakshmi’ with Sree Vishnu as
it helps to make the subjects happy and prosperous. We are graced
by ‘Goddess Lakshmi’ as she is the divine energy (shakti) of Sree Vishnu. How
can His ‘divine energy’ come here and bless us if Sree Vishnu is not invited?
Therefore, before worshiping Sree Lakshmi in any of her forms, first invite
Sree Vishnu and then invite Sree Lakshmi as the worshiper gets maximum benefit
of Lakshmi-tattva" (principle).
Please go through my detailed discourse on the subject:
Bhakti Marga followers interested in more and
more Slokas and Bhajans may please also go
through the Lakshmi Stotra sent through courtesy by Muralidharan Iyengar from
Singapore. Phalsrutis come always with fresh offers! A Hindu mind is
so fabricated with religion he cannot think of even buying gold without
chanting some sloka. Even our Muralidharan Iyengar is tempted to think
of Kohinoor Diamond on this day while thinking of the Lakshmi Gem that
came out of Samudhra Mathana on this day of which I separately talked
about! Politics and Religion go hand in hand with Hindus nay humans
to survive and succeed materially. Jewelers know the Hindu mind and know how to
attract crowds to gate-crash buying of gold jewelry on Akshaya Triteeya Day.
They may attach this sloka handout on this sacred day. They
are active participants of my Blog too! A spiritual seekers has no time
for these. He is busy with meditation on "Om Tad Brahma tad Vayu
tad Atma tat Satyam tat Sarvam tat Puror Namah ||" He keeps his
mantra simple to focus on Supreme!
“Akshaya Trityai falls on 09-May-2016 (Monday) and
in that connection I am delighted to share two stutis on Goddesss
Mahalakshmi taken from Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Ganapati Khanda, Chapter
22. This chapter contains Kavacham, Mantram and Stuti in that order but I
have given in the reverse order excluding the Mantra as Mantras always need
initiation by people who have authority over the Mantra.
Although the
stutis are short, their sacredness can be understood by the brief Phalashruti.
In the hymn by Lord Narayana, He mentions that even He can't effectively
pray to Goddess Lakshmi. Need to say anything more? In the Kavacham,
it is mentioned that unless this is recited, even chanting Mahalakshmi Mantra a
crore times will not bring any fruits. Both the hymns mention that one who
recites these will get immutable wealth in all his/her births.
Thanks to the
marketing gimmicks of Jewellers, Akshaya Trityai has become a mad rush
for gold accumulation in the hope that the wealth will have multiplier effect!
This has never been prescribed anywhere (prescribed only by jewelers :). But
the material wealth alone is useless for one's physical life and utterly
useless for the spiritual life. So, all of us have no choice but to reflect on
what wealth means to us and whether our assumptions are valid at some point in
our lives.
Recently, I
read a very interesting article http://swarajyamag.com/world/forget-kohinoor-the-british-looted-greater-treasures-from-india as a sequel to the ongoing debate of whether or not
India should claim the Kohinoor diamond from the British. The article
illustrates the amount of wealth plundered from India over two centuries by
British. The article also illustrates that the amount of wealth plundered in
the previous 600+ years would have been much more but the psychological damage
inflicted by British on the Indian and Hindu society is immeasurable. How many
of us know that India dominated World Economy with 30% of share for 1700 of the
last 2000 years and when we got independence it was less than 2%. The
biggest wealth we lost was self-esteem of the Hindu society - all other wealth
are irrelevant against self-esteem.
The last line
in the article is golden in my opinion "The Kohinoor should remind
Indians that they became enslaved because they were divided. And they should
say: “Never again.” It would be wrong to blame the foreign occupiers
for a willful self-destruction - we paid for our disunity. Self-Esteem and
Unity are the greatest wealth India needs now. Money will come and go, though
important. It is time all Indians
said "Never again"! May Goddess Lakshmi bestow the Indian/Hindu
society with self-esteem, deep appreciation/practice for our traditions,
pursuit of dharma, and harmony. May She bestow us the power to move away from
the dreary dead sand of dead habits! May She impel us to resolve to dump our
poverty of childish intra-group rivalries! May Akshaya Tritya make every one sarva
shreshtha.
--April 28,2016
VEDANTA PROCLAIMS
SPIRIT IS TRUTH; CHRISTIANITY BELIEVES IN SPIRIT OF TRUTH
Om tad Brahma tad Vaayu tad
Aaatmaa tat satyam tat sarvam tat purornamah—thus describes a Rigveda
mantra, the Democratic Vedanta God--The Supreme Being is that Sound
or word Om; That is Spirit, all-pervasive and circulating air
within the body as well as the outside world; That is the inner Self;
That is Truth; That is Everything; It is what That was before
all the present creations implying That is what it will be in the
future too. Hindu Scriptures
say: “Agnir devoe dwijaateenaam muneenaam
hridi deivataam; Pratimaa svalpabuddheenaam sarvatra viditaatmanaam”--Those who indulge in rituals have their Gods
in the fire; but the wise folks find God in their hearts. It is the dull-witted
one that seeks God in an icon (temple). Those who have higher understanding see
God in everything.
Same or similar thought is reflected in the
Holy Bible which is of recent origin compared to Vedas. Throughout the Gospel
of John the Holy Spirit is spoken of as an abiding, inner presence. In John
14:17, Jesus says that this Spirit of Truth will abide with his followers and
be in them. As Islam is also part of Abrahamic religion Allah is also the same
Spirit of Truth which in later gospels is ascribed to Jesus Christ
in Christianity and Prophet Muhammad in Quran. John of Damascus,
Thomas Aquinas, Dante, Nicholas of Cusa, and Martin Luther—have seen Muhammad
not as a “Spirit of Truth” but as a “Spirit of Error,” a false prophet or
heretic….. You see how all religions conflate in visualizing or perceiving God
as Spirit of Truth, which is the Upanishadic Thought! But
unfortunately Abrahamic Religions are prejudiced and identify Hinduism as
idolatry. All these have contributed to conflicts, quarrels and killings.
Sanatana Dharma talked about Tadekam--That One
and its 33 controllers. Later Vishnu Sahasranama named it Zero as
well as Infinity (Sunyah and Anantah). That gave scope for 330 million
names and controllers called Devatas with individual
identity names. The process has not stopped and we are adding further names and
Sanctums in Temples for Andal, Swami Narayan, Saibaba, Santoshi maa, Karumari
Amman and so on. Islam taking the inspiration gave 99 names to Allah the
Truth. It is because the secret of zero was only known to our sages. They
only knew numbers 1 to 9. So they arrived at 9 and added another 9 lineally and
came up with 99 (9+9=99, a poor way of learning mathematics without zero). They
then stopped at 99 and gave up. Christianity came up with three names
Holy Spirit (TRUTH), Holy Father and Holy Son and called Son as Spirit of
Truth. Quran followed and called Mohammad Spirit of Truth (Allah) as you read
in the text Huff post. Judaism stuck with Truth Alone and also said it is
Spirit. The other two walked out of Spirit is Truth revelation and went
with the concept believing Jesus as the spirit of Truth and Mohammad
as t the Spirit of Truth.
Gospel of John says: “In the beginning there
was the Word; the Word was with God and the Word was god, He was with God in
the beginning” The Word here conflates with OM described in Vedanta. May be
this became Amen or Amin later! It is also clear the Word is Spirit (Om tad
Brahma). May be God here refers to Saguna Brahman Custodian of
Generation, Operation and Dissolution for which the three letters of God
G, O, and D stand for. HE in the Gospel may refer to the WORD or Spirit and
therefore the appropriate preposition should have been IT in English. Hindu
scriptures translate Brahman too as HE only often. Christianity and
Islam, living in male chauvinistic
society took advantage of the wrong preposition and associated He with
Jesus in Christianity and Islam with Mohammad. So both Jesus and Mohammad are
now considered as Spirit of Truth in the article above to bring in unity in
thinking. They both separated from their origin Judaism to which also they
added the suffix –ism (to make it look inferior). Jehovah is "the
unchanging, eternal, self-existent God," "I am that I am,"
a covenant-keeping God--Exodus (3:14). This is exactly the expression
“Tad Brahma” or “Aham Brahmasmi”.
Judaism and Hinduism being the most ancient religions think alike or perhaps
Judaism followed closely Hinduism; they perhaps believe in the same Supreme
Spirit. Brothers and Neighbors later separated fighting with each other.
Of late Abrahamic Religions are trying to live
together in peace and harmony studying deeply their own holy books.
They are trying to find out common ground in understanding the Known
(Incarnations, Prophets etc.) as Spirit of Truth as common basis for
mutual understanding of TRUTH and live in Peace. Whatever it is, TRUTH is ONE.
This essentially is the Upanishadic Thought and Vedic wisdom which the
Abrahamic Religions reflect though not accept with grace. In this
context it is worth going through the interesting write up of
the Religious Columns of Huff Post included in my discourse “Does
Christianity draw Inspiration from Sanatana Dharma”.
Inspired by these I have come up with my
discourse titled: "Vedanta, Everlasting Universal Unifying Spirituality
and Religion". Watch for the same next month.
-- E-Mail sent on April 30, 2016
DO YOU WISH TO SEEK SELF WITHIN OR OUTSIDE?
There are five stages and
understanding each one of them must be crystal clear and this is a journey
people will take (irrespective of the cycle of birth)
a)
Incentives to Spiritual Life (clear understanding between Spiritual life and
religious life) and how to steer from the Scylla and Charybdis that can
surround it on both sides
b)
Importance and Need of Moral Preparation
c)
The Relation of God to Saints and observe this thru our sense and mind
d)
The beginnings of the Pilgrimage
e)
The highest Ascent
"The bad news is that 999 out of 1000
people talking of Self-knowledge have their hearts somewhere else - in fame,
name, wealth, power or popularity - that is expansion of their empire. They
cannot help us. Now the good news. There always are, though rare, some saints
and sages for whom the 'Self' is 'not the other' - ananya. Shri
Ramana Maharshi was one such enlightened figure. (It is not desirable to judge
anybody in the present times, so do not ask for someone in body to be named.)
The Upanishad mantra says the insight dawns upon us when conveyed by such a
master who is in Self-abidance (ātma-nisthā)"'--Swami
Chidananda.
Raman Maharshi rarely spoke but kept
silence. But the rare one out of 1000 who reached him had the Spiritual Osmosis
to know the Self. Below you will find what the other 999 secular
educated will be guided by. The choice is yours. Are you worried about What you
will become or How will you be saved from being born repeatedly
and struggle each time all the time worried as to what you will become? We
talked about True Self (spiritual prosperity). Professor Below talks about true
self (material prosperity) It is good for Pravritti, But we need to
prepare somewhere for Nivritti. Otherwise we will end up with kindergarten in our
spiritual evolution! We must at least strive to reach high school level in this
life. Otherwise our time is lost! You will soon hear about it more! May
be professor is talking about Macrocosm and I on Microcosm! "What is the
use of gaining the whole world when you have lost your own soul" said
Jesus too once!
Harvard Professor Explains How We Think About
The 'True Self' All Wrong
Antonia Blumberg Associate Religion Editor, The
Huffington Post
According to Chinese philosophers like
Confucius, Xunzi and Laozi, we shouldn't be trying to discover our "true
self."
Harvard University professor Michael Puett
teaches a class on classical Chinese philosophy that has gotten buzz for being
one of the school's most popular
courses.
This month he published a book called The Path: What
Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life, co-written by journalist Christine
Gross-Loh, that consolidates the lessons from his class for a wider audience.
"A lot of my students enter college
thinking, 'I have four years to find myself and get really good at figuring out
who I am and what my talents are,'" Puett told The Huffington Post.
"What they find in practice is that it's a fruitless search."
Puett said that, according to Chinese
philosophers like Confucius, Xunzi and Laozi, we should do away with the notion
of a "true self" altogether. Our goal, instead, should be to
recognize which habits, preferences and patterns shape our identities most and
try to overcome these patterns to realize greater potential for our lives.
Practices like meditation and
mindfulness, which grew out of Buddhist, Taoist and other philosophical
and spiritual movements of Confucius's day, weren't just intended to help us
practice self-love and acceptance, Puett said. "They were
developed to help us overcome the 'self,'" he said.
Puett further explained these ideas in a
recent video for Big Think:
Story continues below.
If we get angry at little things or find
ourselves acting irritable, bored, or defensive, Puett said that's an
opportunity to ask ourselves: "Is that just me, and I should love myself
for being that? Or are those just patterns I've fallen into?"
"One of the goals of meditation is to
break us out of those patterns and gain some distance from them," he said.
Chinese philosophers believed in something
called the "Tao," or "the way," which
is the founding principle of Taoist religion but also played an overarching
role in the philosophical thought of ancient China, Puett said. The Tao is
essentially everything - the universe in a constant state of flux and
transformation.
The Tao can also be our model for breaking out
of ruts, Puett said. The path to a good life, according to Chinese
philosophers, is one in which we strive to mimic the flexibility modeled by the
Tao and transcend our habits of personality.
"These philosophers would say, think of
the good life as a world in which you are constantly striving to be a better
human being," Puett explained.
It can be as minor as the way you greet
someone, your tone of voice, or the way you walk down the street, Puett
suggested. Simple as it sounds, the more we learn to break out of our scripts,
the better we get at shaping our reality to serve the highest good.
Every year Puett's students are tasked with
putting this ancient philosophy into practice. They start doing things
like taking classes or signing up for extra-curriculars that break their own
rules about who they are and what they're good at.
As one of Puett's students is quoted in the
book: "You can adopt new habits and literally change the way you take in
the world, react to it, and interact with other people."
So the next time you face a quandary and think
- "What does my 'true self' want? How would my true self respond?" -
consider the wisdom of Chinese philosophy.
Confucius and company would argue that our
definition of the self "should be unbelievably open-ended," Puett
told HuffPost.
"Train yourself to be open to the
world," he said, "and who knows what you'll become?"
--E-Mail sent out on April 27, 2016
Sadness,
a mere habit
Here is a Mantra from Mundaka Upanishad to
which our attention is drawn by Swami Chidanada which calls
for developing right discipline before starting prayer or
meditation.
Naayam
aatma bala-heenenaa labhyo na cha pramadaat tapaso vaapya lingaat |
Etair-upaayaat-yatate yatsu vidwaan tasyaisha aatmaa visate brahma-dhaama || (Mundaka Upanishad 3-2-4)
The Self is not gained by the weak in body,
mind and spirit, nor by the insincere, nor by those practicing (meaningless)
austerities, but wise men who strive with vigor, attention and propriety attain
union with Brahma.
The Self can be realized only by right
discipline. It can't be realized by those who are weak in mind, who
are restless and those who practice wrong short-cut disciplines.
The Mantra in 3.2.4 of Mundaka Upanishad not only refutes any success to
foolish and stupid methods, but also at the same time points out the right path
and correct methods of perfection. The mantra promises sure success to all
those who are healthy in body and intellect and spirit, and who have necessary
amount of discriminating understanding to differentiate the true from the
false, and thus live in self -denial---denying themselves the false pleasures
gained in courting delusions like sorrow. People do pray to their chosen
deities in their helplessness and address him as Deenabandhu,
Anaathabandhu etc and often find no solace. There is no such
short-cut. It calls for harmonious and progressive growth of Body, Mind
and Spirit. That is indeed the right technique recommended by Yogasastra of
Patanjali. Short cut techniques like severe Austerity (tapas) or Akhand
Path (Non-stop recital of scriptures) will not help if the mind is agitated to
start with. We need to follow the techniques of
self-purification, meditation and submission to reach the Supreme Being
and enjoy perennial happiness (Sreyas). Let us here the wisdom thoughts from
Swami Chidanda focused on this Mantra:
There are people who are not sad even in grave
circumstances and then there are those who are sad on a daily basis! We need to
therefore examine if sadness is mostly a habit of the mind. When we are sad,
things seem to go wrong more than before; when things go wrong, we become
sadder. What supports this vicious circle? Upanishads talk about 'living in
error' or 'unintelligent living' where we slip and fall into foolish habits
again and again. Using the word 'pramāda', Mundaka Upanishad (mantra
3.2.4) cautions us, "You cannot come upon the bliss of Self-knowledge
unless you give up mechanical living!" It is mere psychological habit to
stay attached to wealth, position and relationships. (Adi Shankara defines pramāda
as (a mental state caused by) attachment to son, wealth etc.) Living in
awareness is indeed the panacea for immature repetition of false ways.
(E-Mail sent on April 25, 2016)
TRANSMISSION
OF THE FLAME
People like me who listen
to or learn Vedanta by self-study try to obtain some kind of
scholarship in Vedanta. But the understanding of the
Self (Aatman) is possible only when it is taught by one who has realized
Brahman. I can't be the Transmitter of Flame. True understanding of
Self will not be there when taught by a man of inferior understanding.
Kathopanishad says Self cannot be known when taught by a person of
inferior order as it is subtler than the subtle and beyond reason. You should
therefore understand what I have done so far is to create interest in you like
the way I got interested after completing my mission of Pravritti.
It is therefore necessary for you to seek the guidance
of proper Vedantins. Please read through what Swami Chidanada has to say
on this mantra from Kathopanishad. Blessed are they who through the illumined
Teacher attain to Self-realization. Those who see themselves in all and all in
them as Geeta says help others through spiritual Osmosis to realize the Self
themselves. Sanyasis like Ramana Maharshi believed in true silence and not
endless speech like the present day Gurus. But those who approached him with
all sincerity and joined him in meditation had the spiritual Osmosis. You
have heard the story of Kalidasa and Valmiki. They were the recipients of
spiritual Osmosis. You need the Divine Grace!
TRANSMISSION OF THE FLAME
अनन्य-प्रोक्ते गतिः अत्र नास्ति । कठ 1.2.8
| ananya-prokte gatir-atra nāsti |
The transmission takes place without fail,
when (the flame comes from) someone established in the Self. (Katha Upanishad
1.2.8)
There is a bad news and then there is good
news too.
The bad news is that 999 out of 1000
people talking of Self-knowledge have their hearts somewhere else – in fame,
name, wealth, power or popularity – that is expansion of their empire. They
cannot help us.
Now the good news. There always are, though
rare, some saints and sages for whom the ‘Self’ is ‘not the other’ – ananya.
Shri Ramana Maharshi was one such enlightened figure. (It is not desirable to
judge anybody in the present times, so do not ask for someone in body to be
named.) The Upanishad mantra says the insight dawns upon us when conveyed by
such a master who is in Self-abidance (ātma-nisthā).
Others give long lectures, write huge
volumes or preside over big projects on the scriptures. This sage, without all
such din and roar, helps a seeker by a mere gaze. For others, the ‘Self’ is
other than themselves. For this sage, the ‘Self’ (ātmā) is
‘not the other’ (ananya).
The word ‘gati’ has three
meanings, as Ādi Shankara explains in his commentary. ‘gati’ –
literally meaning movement – can mean ‘moving / going in countless, wrong
directions’. When the sage, established in the Truth, showers his grace upon
us, we simply cannot move in any of those wrong directions. (gatih na
asti).
‘gati’ can also mean ‘samsāra-gati’ –
the ways of the world, numerous ways in which we remain shackled in worldly
attachments. The anugraha of the mahātmā frees us from such
worldliness. (gatih na asti).
Thirdly, by grammar, the sentence may be
taken as – prokte agatih atra na asti– where the
‘a’ gets dropped because of ‘sandhi rules’. In such a case, ‘gati’ is
in a complimentary sense – movement in the direction of Self-knowledge or even attainment
of the Self-knowledge. ‘agati’ then is uncomplimentary – not moving
in the right direction. Then the Upanishad statement implies – there is no way
the seeker would not gain Self-knowledge. (agatih na asti).
We must therefore ‘hitch our wagon to a star’
as the idiom goes. We must reflect on the life and work of enlightened masters.
That paves the way for the “transmission of the flame” to take place.
(E-Mail sent on April 4 2916)
Identify yourself and act
appropriately when depressed
For millions of years all over the world people of all religions
have been taught to worship the Lord of the world, his Incarnations, the
saviors and prophets. They have been taught to consider themselves helpless,
miserable creatures and to depend upon the mercy of the Lord
or some persons for relief from that hopeless situation. Unfortunately, slokas
and phalasrutis make him believe that the god is Anaathabandhu and
Deenabandhu and will immediately relieve him from such depressed situation.
Without getting the expected outside help and relief he further gets depressed
and even turns angry at that God to whom he earlier pleaded.
Spiritual approach of Vedanta says one has to work his way
out himself and exhaust or reduce past Karmas with good
Karmas. For this you need a cool and calm mind and right action.
Swami Chidananda has the following words of wisdom to the Depressed:
“We
human beings are endowed with different skills, natures and temperaments. Some
of us are good in linguistics, others in handling finance and yet others in
managing people. Some are slow and steady but others are aggressive and fast.
Some are very sensitive or even delicate while others can bear with criticism
and work in hostile environments.
Depression
is the result of ill-placed comparison. Instead of feeling sad over our
failures, we must identify our strengths and work upon them. Quite possibly, we
failed at something we are not meant for.
In
our depressed situation self-realization is important to discover who we are.
Identify what you are. Recognize how you are made. Work steadily on your
strengths. Have the courage to give up those ways in which your energy was
getting wasted. Win you will”
Self-control
and meditation helps to overcome depression. Religious approach is to plead for
mercy while disappointed get more depressed or get annoyed over one’s self.
Spiritual technique helps to calm down oneself, analyze oneself and bring
the mind under control and think about positive steps to overcome depression.
When you pray you talk and want God to listen to you. When you meditate He
talks or the Self within you talks and you listen. That is the right path
of wisdom.
(E-Mail sent on April23, 2016)
Swatantra Devi for Hindu Americans of
Multi Traditions.
May I draw your kind attention to an
interesting news column titled “Patriotism in India Oh
Mother”—A nationalist slogan sends sectarian sparks” The Economist, April 9th—15th
2016.
In this contest we should understand the idea
of Bharat Mata was conceptualized by Bankim Chatterji.
Consequently efforts were made to make Bharat Mata, a unifying force and
National Icon which were strongly influenced by Westerns fabrications such as
Britannia and America’s Statue of Liberty. However it
did not take off to make Bharat Mata a secular National Symbol
acceptable to all in India after Independence. A social life of Hindu is so
fabricated that he cannot think of anything without relating it to religion. So
Bharat Mata in due course became a deity for worship joining the galaxy of 330
million Gods and Goddesses. In their iconography of Bharat Mata Hindus
miserably got confused and failed. Bharat Mata’s iconography remained
vague. Did she have four arms or ten? Was she accompanied by
a lion, or a map of India? And which map at that as the map went on changing
and still changing? They got consoled building several temple dedicated
to the would be goddess, including the one in the holy city of Varanasi opened
in 1936 by none other than Mahatma Gandhi who fasted so much for Hindu
Muslim unity. After Independence the temple of Bharat Mata at
Haridwar has gained full Hindu Temple Religious Status with Aagama/Tantric form
of religious worship like some Saibaba Temples in India.
Some private schools in secular India now
require applicants to wish victory to Mother India. I do not know whom or
what cause they are fighting for? The BJP Chief Minister of Maharashtra says
that anyone who avoids the words “has no place in India”. Baba
Ramadev a Yoga Leader who runs a prosperous noodle business upped the ante
further by asserting that were it not for India’s constitution he would have
“beheaded hundreds of thousands” for refusing to repeat the chant. Mother India
will need to get her squabbling children in line before someone gets hurt.
Of course nobody can raise any objection
for her worship in Hindu temples as Vedas say Matru Deo Bhava. Here we should go by the Bharat Mata
that was accepted by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936. That was Bharat Mata with a crown
clad in Sari as national dress of India for which even Christians and Muslims
have no objection as they all wear Sari. Only the color combination of red and
green will be more pleasing to Christians and Muslims for which Hindus will
have no objection. Also the Bharat Mata icon Gandhi had in mind had the full
map of British India even before Queen Victoria had given away some part of the
land as gift to Prince of Wales to make separate countries. It will
be a good idea to compulsorily build one prayer hall with Bharat Mata
Icon at the entrance in all towns and villages acceptable to all
religions and inside the hall have all religious symbols as in Ramakrishna Math
temples as common place of worship. Incidentally that will inspire all in India
to fight for the original land of India for reuniting as happened in Germany.
Unfortunately Mahatma Gandhi along with other
ill-advised Congress Members agreed to partition and a revised map
of India. Fortunately the revised map has not entered the Bharat Mata Temples
of India and she has been made a Hindu Goddess with many arms, weapons and Lion
of all imagination and even with a flag of India. Therefore, if Bharat Mata is
made secular icon Indians can start the agitation for reunification of Akhanda
Bharat.
We cannot advise Hindus in India politically
or religiously from here. They will continue with their 330 million Gods adding
more with sectarian squabbles and political flights. Let us see how Hindu
Americans can make their worship more meaningful and spiritual in our One
Temple for Many Traditions!
It will be a good idea to consecrate Liberty
Statue in all Temples as Swatantra Mata and worship with mantra Jai Mata Di paying our first obedience as Prathama
Vandite! This should be acceptable to all including Neo-Hindus. We should not
mind such a Devi as we are quite accustomed to make sanctums for Buddha,
Mahavira, Swami Narayan, Saibaba, Nagdevata etc., and worship also with
Aagama/Tantric scriptural sanctions. Vaishnava followers generally do not
like Navagraha Puja or Ganesh Puja as Prathama Vandita. They visualize Ganesha
as Vishwaksena for they do not like elephant head with broken tusk (a defect in
Vigrahas is objectionable in Sastras). So Swatantra Devi will be welcomed with
open arms and even would be preferred as Presiding Deity. These Temples may
also be called As Daya Sindhu (Merciful God) Temples instead Hindu Temples or
even Sanatana Dharma Temples. The additional deities could be Venkateswara and
Jagannatha and Aiyappan as explained earlier. Mata as presiding deity will also
please all Devi worshipers and others will not have any objection. All
religions will appreciate this broad-minded idea. Spiritual followers will also be favorably disposed
as it only reflects “Eko
Viprah Bahudaa Vadanti”
--
E-Mail sent on April 7, 2015
Can Gita be official book and Bharat
Mata Secular God of India?
Statue of Liberty like the Star Spangled
Banner of USA is an official icon of veneration and honor, irrespective of
religious or political affiliations. Fight is now going on as to make the Holy
Bible Official Book of Tennessee.
“In additional to the constitutional issues
with the bill, my personal feeling is that this bill trivializes the Bible,
which I believe is a sacred text. If we believe the Bible is the inspired word
of God, then we should not be recognizing it only as a book of historical and
economic significance. If we are recognizing the Bible as a sacred
text, then we are violating the Constitution of United States and the
Constitution of the State of Tennessee by designating it as the official state
book’’—with these remarks Governor Bill Haslam Vetoed the Bill that waited for
his signature for its passing. The sponsors of the Bill that are
making the Holy Bible the official book have not lost hope and hope the
General Assembly Session next week will make it a bill. It takes only a
simple majority in both chambers to overcome the Governor’s veto.
Hindu Americans will be happy if the bill is
not passed. If it is passed what would be bothering in their mind can be easily
imagined. Someone may even seek justice and equal treatment in a court of
law like a Sikh serving on the army fought for his five religious
symbols recently and won the case, overcoming the army regulations of
dress and discipline. At the same time Hindu Americans should know what
is happening in India! India’s Constitution would not also permit making Gita
or Veda the official book. Hindus are also finding it impossible to make
Hinduism the religion of India though Hindus are all concentrated in India only
and not spread out like Christians and Muslims all over the globe that
dominate in many countries wiping out other faiths or by
conversion of them to their faiths. Four in five is a Hindu in
India. Germany however has boldly declared Christianity as its
State Religion. But recently in the election-fevered state of Assam Bharat
Mataki jai is being chanted at election rallies. In a giant
country of multiple creeds and tongues, and even more opinions, simple slogans
carry complex and even dangerous messages. Being the state known for Devi
worship by Hindus this sounds perilously close to the religious chant, jai
mata di.
In this contest we should understand the idea
that was conceptualized by Bankim Chatterji and the consequent efforts to make
Bharat Mata, a unifying force and National Icon which were strongly influenced
by Westerns fabrications such as Britannia and America’s Statue of Liberty.
However it did not take off to make Bharat Mata a
secular national Symbol acceptable to all. A social life of Hindu is so
fabricated that he cannot think of anything without relating it to religion. So
Bharat Mata in due course became a deity for worship joining the galaxy of 330
million Gods and Goddesses. In their iconography of Bharat Mata Hindus
miserably got confused and failed. Bharat Mata’s iconography remained
vague. Did she have four arms or ten? Was she accompanied by
a lion, or a map of India? And which map at that as the map went on changing
and still changing? They got consoled building several temple dedicated
to the would be goddess, including the one in the holy city of Varanasi opened
in 1936 by none other than Mahatma Gandhi who fasted so much for Hindu
Muslim unity. I wonder why he could not come up with an idea like that of
Statue of Liberty acceptable to all! Recently the temple of Bharat Mata
at Haridwar has gained full Hindu Temple Religious Status with Aagama/Tantric
form of religious worship like some Saibaba Temples in the
country.
May be a new wave of protests may start to
make Bharat Mata a National Symbol for Worship or Veneration like Statue of
Liberty after the success of taking Yoga to the United Nations.
Some private schools in secular India now
require applicants to wish victory to Mother India. I do not know whom or
what cause they are fighting for? The BJP Chief Minister of Maharashtra says
that anyone who avoids the words “has no place in India”. Baba Ramadev
a Yoga Leader who runs a prosperous noodle business upped the ante further by
asserting that were it not for India’s constitution he would have “beheaded
hundreds of thousands” for refusing to repeat the chant. Mother India will need
to get her squabbling children in line before someone gets hurt. Of course
nobody can raise any objection for her worship in Hindu temples as Vedas say Matru Deo Bhava. Once the iconography of Bharat
Mata is settled India may even pass a law to make the worship of Bharat
Mata and chanting Bharat
Mata Ji mantra
compulsory in all religious institutions of Worship besides public Institutions
within the provisions of secular state similar to the salute of
National Flag!
[Adapted from the article in a column
Patriotism in India titled “Oh Mother—A nationalist slogan sends sectarian
sparks” The Economist, April 9th—15th 2016]
--E-Mail sent on April 16, 2016
If we want names of every town to be Desi why not Change Hindu and Hinduism?
The Haryana government on Tuesday April 12,
2016 decided to rename Gurgaon district as Gurugram district. The decision
was taken by the Manohar Lal Khattar government in view of demands by people of
the area. The decision to change the name of Gurgaon to Gurugram has been taken
on the basis of the representations received at several fora, an official
spokesman said. Will they also change Punjab to Panchanadee Kshetra?
It is strange nobody wants to change the name Hindu
and Hinduism which are wrongly pronounced names and has been given to us
by Arabs while we want to change name of even small towns that had remained
popular with crowds over centuries of rule by the British and
Independence, none protesting. Suddenly Hindus have become Desa-premis.
These changes seem to be top priority of the present government not other
vital issues! May be that helps people to keep themselves busy with trivial
many than focus on important few. The name Hindu given by Arabs
constantly reminds Hindus as to the atrocities and ruthless rule of
Arbas and Muslims over a long period. We are also happy with the
names Mukherji and Banerji as well as Iyengars also given by the
British! India recently changed Calcutta to Kolkata, Benares to
Varanasi, Baroda to Vadodara, Madura to Madurai etc., and getting it accepted
by all Nations in the world protested by majority Hindus. Based on the
detailed justification as elaborated in my discourse below it would
be proper to call ourselves as SINDHUS and our following SINDHUTATTVA (Sindhu
Taattva) and India to SINDHU RAASHTRA. (We call international as Antar-raashtra
already) The word Sindhuraashtra is secular unlike INDIA which
comes from another wrong pronunciation of Hindu to Indu and India by Greeks.
This should be acceptable to all religions in India as Sindhu means river which
may mean Land of Many Rivers. It would bring back the sweet
memories of our sages who developed the riverbank philosophy
to us meditating on Supreme Being in cool and calm atmosphere on River
banks. At least Hindu Americans who lead a classless and caste-free society
should call themselves Sanatanists or Sindhus. Please go through my detailed
discourse for details:
India has struck a goldmine in launching on
a Guru's name to name one of its districts in Haryana starting with
Dronachrya. It can afford to name each street by a guru's name in all important
towns for it is the Land of Gurus; Still there will be many Gurus
left out. Of late you might have read about noodle selling Gurus in the Journal
Economics that I have also forwarded to you.
It is also worth going through brief life
story of Guru Dronacharya summarized from Mahabharata as sent by
IndiaDivine.Org in this regard taking away our attention from the fight for
change of names in India given by foreigners. Where is our pride if we
console to wrong terms of Hindu and Hinduism given by ruthless rulers from Arab
Countries?
--E-Mail sent on April16, 2016
LECTURE BY CHASE BOSSART OF YOGA WELL
INSTITUTE ON PRANAYAMA TECHNIQUES
Yoga,
to a student of Vedanta, starts with and is continued in self-control.
Therefore Upanishads including Bhagavad Gita clearly say Yoga means in
its practical application, the firm control of the sense organs. To yoga
practitioner the extreme development of his powers of concentration through a
successful achievement in the control of his sense-organs is the greatest
Penance or Tapas (Aikaagrya paramam tapah). Therefore
Yoga practitioners start with Pranayama which
means not mere breath control but control of five Life's Vital forces. You may
also notice that in all Hindu rituals Achamana, Pranayama and Dhyana
are important progressive steps-- purification, self-control and
meditation. In fact every Hindu is expected to start his day with the
Nityakarma called Sandhyavandana which essentially focuses on these three
progressive steps. Unfortunately this Pranayama is reduced
to Nasika-yama (Breath or Nose control) in modern
practice of Yoga for the physical Benefit of body and Mind only. Control of the
sense-organs does not mean merely the negative idea of taking our sense-organs
away from their sense-objects. This is only half the battle. Success can
be achieved in self-control only when our minds are fixed firmly in
steady concentration and meditation upon the Atman(Self). Please go
through my earlier discourse on Meditation. Mr. Chase of Yoga-well institute
in California has special ways of explaining principles behind breathing
techniques for healthy living based on his training with Desikachar. Please
participate in the event this Sunday at Sri Ganesha Temple if you are in or
around Nashville or be guided by the wisdom thoughts of Swami
Chidananda. I wonder whether Regular practice of
SANDHYAVANDANA in proper manner avoiding nasikayama and practicing
Meditation after self purification could be what Swami Chidananda has in
mind when he says: "Moderation is the best policy. Without going to
extremes, if we engage in activities and enjoyments with no excess anywhere, we
will rise in Yoga". For this you may not need a Yoga Teacher if you learn
the technique from YOGA--WELL institute!"
--April 14, 2016)
Amazing Intelligence of Crows
You may kindly recall my note on Kanu Pongal
on which day crows are fed with rice balls by women folks in Tamil Nadu:
"On the next day of Pongal
women visit their parent's house as a means of touching base with their
roots. That is why this day is called Kaanum pongal meaning
a pongal day for visiting or seeing others. Kaanum got corrupted to kanu
in usage. Young girls and women prepare various colored rice and head to the
river banks or water tanks. Rice balls are made and laid out on banana
leaves with broken coconuts and bananas. Cooked rice is fed to the fish
and other creatures. Birds appear and feed on the food that is set out in
the open. Crows appear in large numbers and part-take the food. It
is very interesting to note that before the crows eat, they call their mates to
part-take the food that they are about to eat. Valuable lessons can be
learnt here, to share what one has with his near and dear and friends.
This bird spirit is reflected in celebrating Pongal. It is customary in Brahmin
families for the women to offer these colored and prepared food (sweet, salty
and spicy) rice balls to the elements of nature and pray for the welfare of all
at their parent’s home, their husband's home and brothers: “kannu pidi vaithen
kaakkaiku pidi vaithen Pukkam pongi vaazha pirandaam tirandu vaazha
udalpirandavaal usandu vaazha pongalo pongal”. Usually this worship
takes place near the 'Brindavan' of Tulsi at home. These acts serve as
'Bhootayagna' an offering of food to the living creatures like ants, insects,
birds, fish etc. Brothers give gifts to the sisters, who pray for their
well-being. This prayer is extended to all in the world who are considered as
brothers. Generally Tamils address equals and bit older as anna
(brother) and elders as maama (uncle) even though not related.
Feasts are prepared and the whole family part-take in it. Vedas say whole world
is one family and therefore these prayers are universal"
Hindus depend on crows to carry
their food offerings to departed elders, leaving on roof tops, who are
believed to be enjoying their good Punyas in Pituloka or
Svargsaloka depending on the quality of life they led in their most
recent life on Earth. I believe this calls for not only their
knowledge of all elders but also identify them with individual families.
I believe this belief should have inspired Scentists to conduct research
on the long memories of crows. it is also amazing how Hindu Religious
mind has picked upon crow and not Eagle (which is most venerated as Garuda),
peacock, dove, swan,parrot etc which are all identified with divines. Also
Pitruloka and Svargaloka are believed to be at higher levels and
therefore it needs a bird like crow which can fly to great heights like
Eagle and for long distances. Also crows are seen in abundance and every day
and almost a daily companion of humans watching all activities. Hence the
dependence and trust on crows a for this unbelievable Job. Also
crows have similar feelings like men jointly mourning when one dear and
near departs. When any crow dies all crows fly from various spots and cry
together! Is it not amazing!
Here is a study on crows with
the religious back up of a Hindu mind:
Study Shows the Amazing Intelligence of Crows
In Hinduism crows play a very
special role. They are considered the representatives of the forefathers,
and offerings are made to the forefathers through the crows. For this reason it
is recommended to feed various grains to the crows every day. Sani, the
Lord of the planet Saturn, is depicted holding a crow. People who are
suffering from negative effects of Saturn period are recommended to feed crows
to appease Saturn.
In the Ramayana there is the story of a great
rishi named Kakabhushundi who was blessed by Lord Rama to be immortal and
live eternally as a crow. He later taught the Ramayana to Garuda, the
vahana (mount) of Lord Vishnu. (For more info you can also read: The Life of Kaka Bhusundi the Crow
Sage)
The scriptures are full of stories of
the intelligence of crows and their special position and relation to
humanity. It is said that the crows have their own language, and in previous
yugas the humans could converse with them.
Today there is an interesting article in the
news about research on the intelligence of crows. They have come to learn that
crows can identify particular humans and can even teach this knowledge to
their children, instructing them which humans are good and which are bad.
Further crows are known to mourn for their dead and offer homage to them by
placing offerings of twigs on their bodies. How the crows communicate such abstract
concepts among themselves may be beyond present science’s purview, but
those who have studied scriptures such as Ramayana and Mahabharata will be well
aware of such things.
Study Shows the Amazing Intelligence of Crows
(Article by Manuel Valdes)
For nearly every step of his almost 12-mile
walk, Darryl Dyer has company. Flocks of crows follow him, signaling each
other, because they all know that he’s the guy with the peanuts.
“They know your body type. The way you walk,”
Dyer said. “They’ll take their young down and say: ‘You want to get to know
this guy. He’s got the food.’ ”
Scientists for years have known that crows
have great memories, that they can recognize a human face and behavior, and can
pass that information onto their offspring.
Nowadays, researchers are trying to understand
more about the crow’s brain and behavior, specifically what it does when the
birds see one of their own die. They react loudly to the dead, but the reasons
aren’t entirely known.
Among the guesses is that they are mourning;
given that crows mate for life, losing a partner could be a significant moment
for the social animals! There are anecdotes of crows placing sticks and other
objects on dead birds — a funeral of sorts.
Using masks that look creepily human,
researchers showed up at Seattle parks carrying a stuffed crow. They recorded
the reactions. It takes one crow to signal an alarm, and then dozens show up.
They all surround the dead crow, looking at it as they perch on trees or fly
above it, a behavior called mobbing.
“Crows have evolved to have these complex
social relationships, and they have a big brain,” said Kaeli Swift, a
University of Washington graduate student who led the study.
How big of a brain? Crows are on par with
smart mammals, like dolphins and primates, in brain-to-body proportion. They
have been known to be problem solvers and are among the few animals recorded to
use tools.
In another part of the experiment, using
slightly radioactive tracers, researchers measured the brain activity of crows
after they were shown a dead bird. The scans showed the section of the
hippocampus — the part involved in memory formation — light up at the sight of
death.
“In that particular situation at least, that
crow was learning about a place, or a face, or a situation and associated it
with that dead crow,” said John Marzluff, the lead researcher.
To Marzluff, this
and upcoming research on crows highlight a special relationship humans have
with a bird that has thrived in its cities and civilization.
--March 19, 2016
Choose the Good (Sreyas) over the Pleasant (Preyas)
Here
is an important message on which I have spoken from my limited knowledge
of Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita some time back.:
Kathopanishad
says that every person is given the choice to tread the path of
that which is right & good called Sreyas to attain
infinite Joy or succumb to Preyas, the path of immediate
pleasure. Those who choose the path of Sreyas will make the best of
their lives, spiritually elevated or attain Eternal Bliss if
they are able to exhaust all their Karmas while those who succumb to the latter
will have to pay the price in their repeated birth.
The path of Preyas is one of delusion & untruths. Bhagvad Gita calls it Rajasic Joy. It says: “Know that to be rajasic joy where there is pleasure in the beginning and lots of pains thereafter”. The path of Sreyas is one of Sattvic Joy that spiritually elevates to achieve the goal of Eternal Bliss or Perennial Joy.
Please read
through the wisdom thoughts from Swamiji sent by courtesy Fowai forum.
Any such message when received from a Guru attains the sacred status and Mantra
as we all believe in.
CHOOSE THE GOOD OVER THE PLEASANT is there some simple advice that the Upanishads give us, which we could apply in daily life? Yes, develop steady discrimination with regard to 'the good' and the 'pleasant'. Calling the good 'shreya' and the pleasant 'preya', Katha Upanishad declares, "Those of us who opt for the 'shreya' and wisely reject the 'preya' are sure to move upwards." The context is clearly such a situation when the 'good' and the 'pleasant' are opposed to each other. Such situations rise daily. We must agree, the pleasant can sometimes be good too. You may wish to listen to some classical music or watch the beautiful sunrise; these are good and pleasant. Another time, we may feel tempted to talk ill of a third party, which is not at all necessary; there is pleasure in such gossip but we know it is bad. There is clear opposition here between "preya" (gossip) and "shreya" (avoiding the unnecessary negative talk).
The 'good' and
the 'pleasant' confront man.
shreyas cha, preyas cha manushyam etah. श्रेयश्च प्रेयश्च मनुष्यम् एतः | Chapter 1, Valli 2, mantra 2 *Swami Chidananda |
Manu in the Bible and History of Mankind
Here is a detailed write up by
Abhaya Mudra Dasi linking sacred Bhagavata story to Holy Bible and Holy Koran
with quotes from all these scriptures. Hinduism also talks about the Biblical
Armageddon (Revelation 16:16) as Pralaya (Great Deluge). According to Puranas
such Pralayas take place at the end of each Manvantra called Kalpa Pralaya.
Manvantara means “the Rule of Manu. We are currently under the jurisdiction of
The Brahma, Vaivasvata Manu which we know from the Sankalpas we chant when
taking religious resolutions. Very descriptive details of Pralaya written
in Bhagavatam has inspired the present author with the following write-up
linking up with the Biblical and Koran stories to the current Vaivasvata
Manvantara. The same story appearing in Bible and Koran simultaneously
with different names should not surprise us as they both sprang from Abraham
who is their Manu. Lord Vishnu came as Matsya, the fish to save Sage Manu
(Vaivasvata—the seventh Manu) from the floods and to recover Vedas from the
demon Hayagrieva. Soon I will send a discourse on this Puranic first
Avatar. I strongly believe there should be one and only incident of Deluge and
one universal story on this great flood that people who have moved
into other beliefs and faiths from the Eternal Tradition (sanatana
Dharma) made it their own story with different names and
descriptions. However names like Raama and his sons linger on in their
stories too which gives a clue as to the background original incidence and the
story in spite of their repeated house-cleaning of their scriptures to delete
all reference to Hinduism. Hinduism has no such plans and even tries to correct
some mistakes that have crept in while copying by foreign authors
resulting in wrong interpretations. We often feel the True History
of India is not what we learn in schools since
archaeological evidences researched today tell a different story,
some of which I have brought to your notice. The write-up below reveals
current European History is also not correct. For
example, Bulgaria has a modern history of around 1300 years which today’s
so-called scholarship considers as one of the oldest nations. Bulgaria has
preserved its name throughout the ages, and according to the ancient verse
quoted in the write-up, the histories of these areas are far, far more ancient.
The Danuvi River mentioned is obviously the Danube which till today forms the
northern boundary between Bulgaria and Romania.
Yahweh (YHWH) mentioned below is
the national god of the ancient kingdoms of Israel (Samaria) and Judah. Jehovah later Latiniztion of the
word Yahweh is popular with English Authors of the Bible.
A Texas man says recently that he has found
fossils from NOAH's Flood!
Manu in the Bible and the History of
Mankind
“The Manu named King Satyavrata formerly saved
himself by tying the small boat of the entire world to the horn of the Matsya
avatara, the fish incarnation. By the grace of the Matsya avatara, Manu saved
himself from the great danger of the flood. May that same fish incarnation save
us from the great and fearful danger caused by the son of Tvashta.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam
6.9.23)
A single event of the ancient world has been
covered by a number of scriptures—even though some of these old historical
texts are not generally considered as Vedic. Elements of the history
of Vaivasvata Manu, our current Manu, can be found as the story of “Noah
and the Flood” both in the Bible and in the Koran. The great flood
is also described in some other scriptures including the Book of Enoch
and the Book of Jasher. The inundation is also described in the Sumerian
epic poem Gilgamesh. Manu, who is the progenitor of humanity, has made a
significant mark on history. Therefore it is natural that he has been discussed
in numerous scriptures from different periods throughout millennia. It would
appear that the Noah we read about in the Bible is none other than the
current Vaivasvata Manu.
The Book of Jasher, which is an apocryphal
work (and which is twice mentioned in the Bible says the following in
4.13-14 about the birth of Manu:
“And the wife of Lemech conceived and bore him
a son at that time, at the revolution of the year. And Metushelach called his
name Noach, saying, ‘The ground was in his days at rest and free from
corruption.’ And Lamech his father called his name Menachem (Manu), saying,
‘This one shall comfort us in our works and miserable toil from the ground,
which YHWH (God) had cursed.’”
In the book of Enoch—an ancient Jewish
religious work that is mostly preserved in its original form in Ethiopia—Noah
is described as a follower of God’s rule (dharma). It is written there that he
lived during a period that had become degraded due to the intermingling of the
demigods with human women and that this intermingling had produced giants of
demonic nature. In time practically all humankind became corrupted. Foolish
people began to worship mere inhabitant of the Earth as gods … a vice that
continues till this day in our present Kali Yuga.
The different Manus are described in
Shrimad Bhagavatam 8.13 and the flood is described later.
“O King Parikshit, at the end of the past
millennium, at the end of Brahma’s day, because Lord Brahma sleeps during the
night, annihilation took place and the three worlds became covered by the
waters of the ocean. At the end of Brahma’s day, when Brahma felt sleepy and
desired to lie down, the Vedas were emanating from his mouth, and the great
demon named Hayagriva stole the Vedic knowledge. Understanding the acts of the
great demon Hayagriva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who is full of
all opulence, assumed the form of a fish and saved the Vedas by killing the
demon.” (SB 8.24.7-9).
Shrila Prabhupada comments, “Because
everything was inundated by water, to save the Vedas it was necessary for the
Lord to assume the form of a fish.” (Note that this verse does not relate to
the form of Matsya who saved Manu at the end of a certain millennia when only a
partial annihilation takes place.)
At the end of each Manvantara (lit. “rule of
one Manu”), and before the next progenitor of humankind Manu takes charge, a
total dissolution of the Earth—a flood—occurs. This is obviously the same
devastating flood that is also described in the Bible, in the Book of Enoch and
in the Book of Jasher. As Noah was an enlightened personality, he was saved
from the flood along with other sages and his sons. It is said that his ark, or
huge boat, remained atop the Malaya Mountain after the flood.
The Book of Jasher 5.13 discusses why
Vaivasvata (Noah) was chosen as the present Manu:
And Noach was a just man, he was
perfect in his generation, and YHWH chose him to rise up seed from his seed
upon the face of all the earth.
The book describes the many long years during
which the flood ravaged the Earth. It tells how all creatures had to endure
being tossed from one side of the ark to the other. Despite the fear that Manu
and the rest of the animals and sages endured in the boat, we know from Shrimad
Bhagavatam that Lord Matsyadeva protected the ark throughout the flood’s
duration.
After the flood Manu and his sons populated
the Earth. The sons of Manu are mentioned as being three in number in the Book
of Jasher, but the Vedic literature mentions at least ten among whom
Ikshvaku is prominent. Since the Book of Jasher was scribed in a mleccha
tongue, it mentions only the facts that are considered more important for the
people of that time and who spoke that language:
“And these are the names of the sons of
Noach: Yafe (Ikshvaku), Ham and Shem; and children were born to them after
the flood, for they had taken wives before the flood.” (Book of Jasher 7.1)
It is interesting that in the line concerning Noah,
the name of Rama appears along with the name of Kush in the same paragraph,
possibly an indirect reference to Lord Shri Ramachandra:
“And these are the sons of Ham; Kush,
Mitzraim, Put and Kanaan, four sons; and the sons of Kush were Seba, Havilah,
Sabta, Raama and Satecha, and the sons of Raama were Sheba and Dedan.”
(Book of Jasher 7.10)
After some years the children and descendants
of Manu populated the entire Earth. Once again, in due course of time, the
people again became irreligious. They built a city with the Tower of Babel that
was supposed to reach for the heavens where they proposed to install human
idols. According to the Bible, such misguided plans could not work and their
skyscrapers were destroyed by the designs of the Lord. Assisted by His devotees
(the demigods), the mouths of the inhabitants of the city were made to
mispronounce their language, and thus Babel became the source of the English
word “babble.” Since the citizens could no longer understand each other,
conflicts arose and in this way they destroyed both the city and themselves.
Thus different languages were created which now rendered the immoral citizens
incapable of working together and considering competing with the demigods.
Since this occurs at the end of Kali Yuga, we propose that this event this
could have marked the end of another chatura-yuga cycle and the beginning of another
Satya Yuga.
Manu is described in the Bhagavata as living
for seventy-one yuga cycles. Our present Manu has already lived for
twenty-eight yuga cycles. This means that already in his lifetime twenty-eight
major destruction must have occurred with the onset of each consecutive
Satya Yugas.
In the Book of Jasher the nations that were
born from the sons of Manu are mentioned and some of them, like Turkey and
Bulgaria, are still recognizable today:
“And the sons of Yafet the son of Noach went
and built themselves cities in the places where they were scattered, and they
called all their cities after their names, and the sons of Yafet were divided
upon the face of the earth into many divisions and languages. And these are the
names of all their families according to all their cities which were built to
them in those days after the tower.” (10.6)
“And the children of Tugarma are ten families,
and these are their names: Kuzar, Partzinak, Bulgar, Elikanus, Ragvina, Turki,
Buz, Zabuk, Ongar and Tilmatz; all these spread and rested in the north and
built themselves cities. And they called their cities after their names, those
are they who abide by the rivers Hital and Altak unto this day. But [the
families of] Angoli, Bulgar and Partzinak, they dwell by the great river
Danuvi; and the names of their cities are also according to their names.”
(10.10)
As those nations were directly founded by
different sons of Manu, it is obvious that their history—and thus the history
of the world—is much older than the fairy tale that “historians” have been
trying to wholesale us for the past many centuries. For example, Bulgaria has a
modern history of around 1300 years which today’s so-called scholarship
considers as one of the oldest nations. Bulgaria has preserved its name throughout
the ages, and according to this ancient verse the histories of these areas are
far, far more ancient. The Danuvi River mentioned is obviously the Danube which
till today forms the northern boundary between Bulgaria and Romania.
All nations have one father and one culture
which is the self, same Vedic culture that is rooted in the worship of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Shri Krishna.
Source: vedicastrologers.org
Texas man says he found fossils from “Noah’s
flood”
Texas man says he found fossils from “Noah’s
flood,” and the director of an anti-science museum that claims evolution is “an
old-fashioned theory” is supporting him.
Wayne Propst was helping his aunt out, laying
dirt near her home in the town of Tyler when he found snail fossils, he
told local news station KYTX. He and his aunt believe the fossils
happened during the fabled worldwide flood described in the biblical book of Genesis.
“From Noah’s flood to my front yard, how much
better can it get?” Propst said.
KYTX Wayne Propst shows the fossils
to KYTX.
He sent photos to Joe Taylor, director and
curator of the Mt. Blanco Fossil
Museum in Crosbyton,
Texas, for analysis. Taylor holds the
positions that evolution is not real, that a worldwide flood
occurred a few thousand years ago, and that Noah — the man that the Bible
describes as building an ark large enough to save two of every animal species
from the floodwaters — brought dinosaurs on his ark with him.
Taylor told KYTX that Propst’s fossils are
indeed from the time of that purported flood.
However, James Sagebiel, the collections
manager at the Texas Vertebrate Paleontology Collections, told
the Tyler Morning Telegraph that
Propst’s fossils are actually millions of years old.
“The rocks there are about 35-40 million years
old, and these little turret snails are commonly found in marine rocks of that
age,” Sagebiel said. “It I s not unusual.”
Millions of years ago, the place where Tyler,
Texas, now stands would have been coastline, he added.
Though some researchers believe that the
inspiration of the Noah’s ark story was a
large-scale flood event in the Middle East, there is no scientific evidence that a flood
covering the entire Earth occurred in human history. Plus the logistics of
getting two of each animal — especially dinosaurs, as Taylor believes were
present — on one boat, cared for by only Noah’s family would be downright
impossible. (Huffington Post)
--E-Mail sent on 3/25/2006
Panguni Uttiram
and World Water Day--March 22, 2016
Tuesday 22, 2016 is Panguni Uttiram Day which is an Unique Day to
celebrate many Divine weddings and births about
which I have elaborately discussed a week before. Our friend from
Singapore has sent this Vishnu Hymn
Sage
Narada as attached above in your favorite language.
By
strange coincidence Tuesday 22 is the real World Water Day celebrated all over
the world Though . To me all Devatas like Brahma, Vishnu, Siva are all sprung
form Aapah, Verily Water that is Brahman. So don't forget to chant the
following Mantra which I explained you in detail in my discourse;
"Aaapo vaa idam sarvam viswaa bhootaanyaapah praanaa
vaa aapah pasava aapo annam aapo amritam aapah samraad aapah svaraad aapah
chchandsyaapah jyoteeshyaapo yajushyaapah satyamaapah Sarva Devata
aapo bhoorbhuvah suvaraapa OM"
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/01/aapo-vaa-idam-sarvam-verily-all-this-is.html
This day was first formally proposed in Agenda 21 of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. In 1993, the first World Water Day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly and since, each year focuses on a different issue.
This day was first formally proposed in Agenda 21 of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. In 1993, the first World Water Day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly and since, each year focuses on a different issue.
The UN and its member nations devote this day
to implementing UN recommendations and promoting concrete activities within
their countries regarding the world's water resources. Additionally, a number
of nongovernmental organizations promoting clean water and sustainable aquatic
habitats have used World Water Day as a time to focus attention on the critical
issues of our era. Events such as theatrical and musical celebrations,
educational events, and campaigns to raise money for access to clean and
affordable water are held worldwide on World Water Day, or on convenient dates
close to March 22.
The occasion of World Water Day is also used
to highlight required improvements for access to WASH
(water, sanitation, hygiene) facilities in developing countries.
Vedas have given utmost importance to Water
and mandates worship of Water as an Emanation (Vyaahriti) of Brahaman. Water
was the first vital element that was revealed to the world by Saguna Brahman as
Narayana who gave his audience to the world reclining on Adisesha. Planet
Earth was still submerged in water then.
God in His avatar Varaha lifted the Earth submerged in water (uddhritna
krishnena Satabahuna) and then Brahma started creation as directed by Him!
Here is a message
sent by Muralidharan Iyengar from Singapore on this Auspicious Day:
“Greetings and
Namaste. The full moon day in the month of Phalguna is of religious
significance all over India in different contexts. In the south, it is
celebrated as the wedding day of Lord Rama/Sita, Parvati/Parameshvara,
Devasena/Kartikeya, Andal/Rangamannar, etc as well as the birth of
Mahalakshmi. Phalguni/Uttara is considered to be very auspicious for
marriages. There are also many festivals such as Holi that signify
Phalguna/Pournami.
In this connection, I am happy to share a very
rare and sweet hymn on Lord Vishnu by Sage Narada taken from Chapter
2 of Brihan Naradiya Puranam. This was sung by Sage Narada
but retold by Sage Shaunaka in the Purana. The brief Phalashruti
mentions that one who recites this hymn gets absolved of all sins and
reaches the abode of Lord Vishnu.
Over the years, we have seen tons of citations
from Puranas where the essence of Sanatana Dharma - ekam sat |
viprAH bahudha vadanti || - is established beyond doubt even while
extolling various deity forms. Sage Narada beautifully reiterates this point a
couple of times in the attached prayer.
shiva-svarUpI shiva-bhAvitAnAM hari-svarUpI
hari-bhAvitAnAM | 10 |
(Meaning: Lord Vishnu appears as Lord
Shiva for those who are devoted to Lord Shiva and as Lord Hari for those who
are devoted to Lord Hari).
brahmendra rudrA .anila vAyu martya gandharva
yaxA .asura deva sa~NghaiH |
svamUrti-bhedaiH sthita eka Ishas taM AdiM
AtmAnaM ahaM bhajAmi || 14 ||
(Meaning : The only Supreme Being takes
different Murti forms such as Brahma, Indra, Rudra, Agni, Vayu, etc.)
So, it is needless to say that trying to zoom
into non-existent bhedas among various forms of the Brahman is a fictitious and
futile exercise which might temporarily give comfort to one's ego but zilch to
spirituality.
The lives of real Mahatmas stand embodiment to
this fact that religious fanaticism is an anathema to them. To give an example,
Saint Thyagraja's devotion to Lord Rama and his divine vision of Lord
Rama in his life need no introduction. Only one a billion/trillion can
attain his divinity. It is true that he has sung innumerable songs on Lord Rama
(rAma eva daivatam - balahamsa, rAma nI samAnamevaru - Karaharapriya,
etc.) But the same Thyagaraja who sang "rAma nAmaM bhajare -
Madhyamavati" also sang "Shiva Shiva Shiva yena rAdA -
Pantuvarali". Sri Vadiraja was a great seer in the Dwaita
tradition but he personally consecrated Lord Manjunathaswamy in
Dharmasthala and did he need any lecture on being a staunch Vaishnavite?
To say the least, fanaticism is symptom of
spiritual under-development or , more precisely, non-development. Spirituality
is not a land of DMK/ADMK politics of Tamil Nadu - either you are with me or
against me!
May We Pray to The Supreme Brahman with this
beautiful prayer on Phalguna/Uttara day!”
-- E Mail sent for Panguni Uttiram
March 22, 2016
SIDDHAR TALKS ON PRESENTDAY SLAVERY
I have talked a lot about Siddhar Sanyasis of
Tamil Nadu. A true Sanyasi is one who is alive to the problems of the
world around him while his thoughts are focused on the Unknown as some
tall cliff which is surrounded by storms and clouds round its breast but
yearns for eternal sunshine on its top. Further please note how our Puranas are
down-to-earth in their predictions. My only wonder is why the author speaks
about USA where people live happier healthier and not India while still
poverty and illiteracy prevails to a large extent after many
decades? Our Puranas always have a ready answer to the present day
problems and Hindus always seek Gita for a solution! May be the
have an answer for India! They may say still India is a Dharmabhumi and USA
Karmabhumi!
Present-day Siddhar’s Talk on Modern
Day Slavery
The entire modern society is a giant scam to
enslave the population.
For example, in 1913 the US income tax rate
was 1%. You could keep 99% of your hard earned income.
Today, if you are self-employed in the United
States you have to pay around 40% of your income in taxes (income tax +
self-employment tax). It almost becomes impossible for people to earn a living
through self-employment.
Instead they are forced to work for
corporations, where they will not be directly charged self- employment tax
(around 14% of total income). You are put in a situation where it is only
possible to live working as a slave for a corporation.
On top of the 40% income tax and
self-employment tax one has to pay, there are also state taxes which vary
between 3% and 5% depending on the state. Then there is sales tax, so you are
also paying every time you purchase anything, even the food you need to
survive.
Don’t forget property tax, which the
government perpetually charges you on land you already own, if you are lucky
enough to own your own land. Basically the people have to pay rent on all the
property in the country perpetually, even though it is their own land. Can
there be a simpler scam then renting people’s own properties to them, forever?
Where would people be happier? In a country
where you have to work like a slave and give 50% of your income to the
government in the form of various taxes, or in a country where income tax was
just 1%, like it was in 1913 in the United States?
Supposedly slavery was ended in the 1800’s,
but in reality it was just transformed and expanded in the form of bonded
laborers enslaved to corporations and the taxing governments. It is no
coincidence that various unbearable taxes were created shortly after
slavery was abolished. There has always been a class of elite who want to
profit off of others’ labor.
In the Bhagavata Purana this is
predicted as follows:
shaka-mulamisa-ksaudra-
phala-puspasti-bhojanah
anavrishtya vinankshyanti
durbhiksha-kara-piditah
phala-puspasti-bhojanah
anavrishtya vinankshyanti
durbhiksha-kara-piditah
“Harassed by famine and excessive taxes,
people will resort to eating leaves, roots, flesh, wild honey, fruits, flowers
and seeds. Struck by drought, they will become completely ruined.” – Bhagavata
Purana 12.2.9
nityam udvigna-manaso
durbhikṣa-kara-karśitāḥ
niranne bhū-tale rājan
anāvṛṣṭi-bhayāturāḥ
durbhikṣa-kara-karśitāḥ
niranne bhū-tale rājan
anāvṛṣṭi-bhayāturāḥ
“In the Age of Kali, people’s minds will
always be agitated. They will become emaciated by famine and taxation, and will
always be disturbed by fear of drought.” – Bhagavata Purana 12.3.39
Note: This gist of
this topic was spoken to me last month by a Siddhar who stays in a garbage pile
in Mettukuppam, next to Saint Vallalar’s disappearance temple. The Siddhar
did not want his photo taken or for his name to be known, but he wanted this
message to be spread. There are other points which he had given, which I will
try to mention in later posts. Since we have never known his name, we have
always referred to him as Vadalur Mauna Baba, as previously he went 12 years
without speaking (observing mauna) due to intervention by higher siddhas.
Cosmic Dance at Sudekum Planetarium
Those of you who are my local
participants may like to watch the Cosmic Dance of Siva at Sudekum Planetarium
on Sunday March13, at 6 PM. Others may enjoy my discourse on Cosmic Dance
and Symbolism of Nataraja. Mahasivaratri falls on next Sunday on March 7.
Therefore the next Sunday should be March 13 which is the day on which Daylight
Time Begins as Lord Siva comes to our rescue to save us from dreadful
Winter this year. It is not March 12 as Wagdevi has e-mailed.
Tamils herald Mahasivratri and celebrate it saying "Sivaratri vandal Kulir
Kalam Siva siva enru Odidum,''--Dark Winter cold runs away chanting the
name of Siva Siva! Tamils are always scared of cold but not summer. You
should only see them in Margazhi Bhajans! It is fun for us to watch! So
Siva receives overdosage of Bhakti from Tamils! Besides cold it
also drives our darkness(tamas) ignorance.
Kalam
means Time. Siva is the custodian of Time whom you worship as "Kalaya
Swaha". He is the emanation of Brahman whom you worship in visible form of
endless column of fire on Sivaratri night. The UNKNOWN is beyond the column
whom even Brahma could not find but could feel. It is the fire you recognize as
you dance Sivathandava but can't see. It is the fire that consumes the
Abhishekam Milk you consume which is burnt by Jataraagni (Stomach fire). The
Unknown said in Gita ''Aham Vaiswanaro bhootva"--I become fire or
Siva. If you close your ears you can hear the Jataraagni burning. You can feel
it as it maintains your body temperature to keep you functioning. You can't see
it for Brahman is the Unknown. That is why You offer Pranahuti Veda
Mantra or Gita sloka Brahmaarpanam as a prayer before taking food to
maintain your body heat. Brahma here is Brahman. Its move either way
is a warning.
I would like to remind you hear a Hindu mind is always
preoccupied to associate TIME with the Supreme Brahman based on Vedas.
Samvatsara (Year, a landmark of TIME) is meditated upon as Brahman in
Mantra Pushpa (Samvatsarovaa apaam Pushpam!) That is why we enjoy
Mahasivaratri and celebrate it(as end of winter) all night keeping
vigil looking at the Jyoti. When you light a wick it ends in a single
point. At the end of the glow the tip leads you to the
Unknown. I will talk about "Uncommon Understanding of the
Unknown" elaborately this week. Do not postpone to read it
and forget to send your comments as you normally do caught in your
busy schedules. It also helps you to understand the significance
Sivaratri. Bhagawan who is none other than Virat Purusha as revealed in Gita
itself says "Rudraanaam aham Sankarah (Siva)" among my eleven
controllers, Rudras, I am SIVA. Rudra too is only a
Devata like Brahma and Vishnu. The unknown whom we address as Brahman(ever
Growing) cannot be recognized by any name or form or dance. But he can
be heard as our inner voice Om when you meditate "Om antascharti
bhooteshu guhaayam viswamoorti" The Lord of the Universe is the
Inner Voice OM which vibrates in our spiritual heart as we dance and feel the
heat generated that destroys cold and darkness(tamas).
Meditate with Mindfulness on the known column of Fire (Siva) to reach the Unknown, the ultimate goal.
Meditate with Mindfulness on the known column of Fire (Siva) to reach the Unknown, the ultimate goal.
--
E-Mail sent on March 11, 2016
17
Resolutions to Help You have A Spiritually Renewing 2016
As the new
year dawns,
it's time to set some intentions for what you hope to accomplish in the months
ahead. Instead of taking on daunting new diets or exercise regimens, start
with some resolutions that will nourish your spirit, instead.
HuffPost Religion brainstormed 17
resolutions to help you have a mindful and renewing 2016. Let us know how they
go!
1. Start Meditating
Whether you take 5 minutes or 50 minutes every day to sit and
breathe deeply, you will thank yourself for beginning a meditation practice.
Meditation offers countless
benefits
to our lives, including reducing stress and increasing self-awareness. Not sure
where to start? Try our daily
meditations,
which feature songs, poems and guided exercises you can do in under 10 minutes.
2. Express gratitude.
Practicing gratitude has been shown to improve the immune system, help us sleep
longer and deeper, and decrease feelings of loneliness, among many
other benefits. Click here to discover
nine ways to start practicing gratitude daily.
3. Connect with nature.
If you’ve ever experienced awe at the sight of a brilliant sunset
or towering mountain peak, then you know the value of this
resolution. Take time to connect with nature this year -- go on hikes, say a
prayer for the environment, keep a plant on your desk to lovingly tend to every
day.
4. Listen to your grandparents,
elders and spiritual teachers.
The greatest spiritual wisdom may be hidden in your own home. Make
a date to call or sit down with your parents and grandparents and ask them to
share some life advice with you. What guiding philosophy has informed their
lives? If you're daring, ask them their thoughts about death, God and the
afterlife.
5. Cultivate happiness.
As we learned from the Tao of Happiness, lasting joy is within our reach.
But we may have to shift our relationship to happiness from one of cause and
effect to a more sustainable mindset. Nurture positive thoughts, practice
self-care and try to find the little pockets of joy in every moment.
6. Make a record of your dreams.
Dreams can be powerful tools for self-reflection, and if we’re
lucky, they can help
guide us
to exciting new territory in our lives. Here’s a tip: Keep a journal near your
bed, and when you wake up write down everything you can remember from your
dreams the previous night. Colors, impressions and images are fair game even if
you can’t remember full sequences. Judith Orloff, M.D said the
more we get in a habit of recording our dreams the better we’ll train our
brains to remember them.
7. Unleash your creativity.
Many of the habits
of highly creative people are essentially mindfulness practices in disguise, like making
time for solitude and staying grounded in the present moment. Immerse yourself
in creative activities on a regular basis, and let yourself get lost in the
moment. Have no expectations or judgment about what you manifest.
8. Go on a retreat.
Sometimes the greatest revelations come to us in moments of solitude
and reflection. Get perspective on your life by getting away -- take a solo
trip or sign up for a meditation
class.
At the very least, take mini “retreats” regularly to a certain grove, library
or house of worship where you can be still and check in with your spirit.
9. Practice forgiveness.
“Forgiveness is the ultimate spiritual practice,” said Rev.
Adriene Thorne, executive minister of Middle Collegiate Church in New York
City. “All other spiritual offerings depend on it.” In 2016, liberate yourself
from anger, resentment and grudges. In their place, fill your heart with
compassion for yourself and others.
10. Speak your truth.
Don Miguel Ruiz’s iconic personal growth book, The Four Agreements, begins with
the lesson: Be impeccable with your word. Ruiz goes on to explain the ways in
which gossip and self-deprecation inhibit us from realizing our true selves.
Consider the words you use to communicate and express yourself. Speak with
clarity and integrity, and say what you mean.
11. Laugh more.
Laughing feels good, but did you know it can also reduce
stress,
improve our immune system and relieve pain? For some, like laughter yoga
instructor Jeannette Sanger, it’s a spiritual practice, too. “When you’re
laughing you’re not thinking about yesterday or tomorrow," Sanger said.
"You’re just totally joyful, the way children are.” Laugh heartily, as
often as you can, in 2016.
12. Stay present.
“You can do a hundred things during the day,” said Larry Kasanoff,
director of "Mindfulness:
Be Happy Now," his new documentary. “Just do them one at a time and be
present in the moment." Do everything with mindful awareness and always
maintain your footing in present reality.
13. Donate your time, money and
energy.
In his recent book, Altruism: The Power of Compassion to Change
Yourself and the World, Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard outlines the life-changing
potential
of serving others. Consider the people and causes you’d like to better support
in the upcoming year. Connect with your congregation or spiritual community to
see if there are humanitarian projects already underway that you can contribute
to.
14. Do little acts of kindness.
Related to #13, pay attention to the small, everyday opportunities
to make someone smile. It’s easier than you think. Compliment your
coworkers on a project they’ve been working on, give your barista an extra tip,
send a loved one an actual letter in the mail. Make a habit of doing something
kind every day -- eventually it will become second nature.
15. Practice hospitality.
In these times of division and xenophobia, be a bastion of
acceptance in your own community. Open your heart and your doors to strangers.
Engage in interfaith dialogue; invite your neighbors over for dinner. Be
generous with your love, as with your time and resources.
Astronaut Images via Getty Images
16. Honor the sacred.
People discover the divine in myriad places. A seed can be
sacred; pregnancy can be
sacred; even our
daily lives
are filled with opportunities to experience the divine. Develop rituals that
help you honor the sacred on a regular basis. Build a shrine in your house with
images you hold dear. Say a prayer of gratitude before you sip your morning
coffee, honoring the farmers, roasters and delivery workers who made that
steaming mug possible. Take nothing for granted and hold everything with
reverence.
17. Set intentions.
Intentions are potent seeds we plant in order to affect change in
our lives and in the world. In her book Living With Intent, author and
meditation teacher Mallika Chopra wrote: “Intents are expressions of who we
aspire to be as individuals -- physically, emotionally, spiritually -- as
members of our families and communities, and even as citizens of Mother Earth.”
Set some intentions for the year, and write them down to make them stick. Share
them with your loved ones, and return to them often to re-calibrate and check
your progress.
-- E-Mail
sent on January 1,2016
Hindu
Reflections—Yearly Review
I have talked enough about Hindu Reflections
on Holiday Season and about the other faiths that are influenced by
Hinduism as well as the effect on American Hinduism of
several cultures and faiths living in USA. My discourses often facilitate to
promote interfaith dialogue to live in peace and harmony. Let me also
talk about my year long work on Hindu Reflections on Hindu Religion,
Science, Spirituality and culture, including its relation with
other cultures. All religions draw their strength from Eternal Tradition
(Sanatana Dharma). Therefore Hinduism conflates with world religions mostly and
has very few conflicts. These little conflicts are inflated and
infuriated with fanaticism by a few, all in the name of One Supreme
Being, disturbing world peace.
Search Engine of Hindu Reflections has been
too busy throughout last year gathering and providing lot of
information to those exclusively registered as active participants (HRA)
though I have not received many comments except from a handful. Though I
received almost triple the load I could digest only part of them and transmit
to you that may or may not have directly interested all
of you. If you read my general footnote to my E-mails that I recently
started posting you will understand why I walk away from Orthodox Hindu
approach in my discourses. But the seeking engine for the Blog has been
moving fast and added another 50000 pages during the year. This is too fast
compared to 100000 landmark in four years.
Out of the 264 postings of my discourses on the
Blog 10 are picked up by the Google as the most popular among
world readers. The order of 10 top popular discourses has changed
from my previous report. Google reveals there is the thirst to know the
meaning of mantras used in Hindu worship and their purport from Blog
visitors and Participants. The next set of interest is in astrology,
astrological deities and astrological beliefs. The most popular deity seems to
be Vishwaksena whose worship started first as Ganapati of Vedas, in
spite of my more concentration on Ganesha of Puranas as the popular deity
pushed to the forefront. Vishwaksena misses the fat belly, Modaka and
the rat of Ganesha. There is also keen interest to know the
hidden meaning of numbers in Chamakam and such mysteries sealed in mantras.
These two topics are closely following the top ten.
It makes more sense for Hindu Temples in
America to concentrate on these aspects particularly due to high level of
education among the devotees. They can't be forced to blind faith as well as
implicit obedience to elders as in India. Mantras contain deep meanings in
capsule form. Though I have been focusing on Hindu Americans, most
readers are Hindus form India where many things are not explained
in performing Hindu rituals and worships which they are often told to repeat
after the priests or believe in astrologers and blindly
follow. I am not therefore surprised to receive often glowing
comments by way of appreciation from India and occasionally from Americans who
are interested in Interfaith Dialogues and are not Hindus. Surprisingly
there is not one negative comment but all appreciations from even those who are
not Hindus. The topics on Why I am a Hindu, Siddhas, Manglya
Dharanam and Smarta tradition are catching the eye of every one.
I do not post all the subject matters of my
E-mails on the Blog. Many of them are exclusively intended to active
participants only and are not necessarily related to subjects posted on the
blog. If related, I sometimes add them as appendices. I am glad blog is more
frequently visited by readers than before whose frequency is rapidly
growing. I often revise my postings on the Blog when I come across fresh
information and so please visit Blog often at your convenience.
1) Some Veda Mantras Used in Hindu Rituals and
Worships
11130
2) Hindu Reflections On
Eclipses and Full Moon
7606
3) Sani
Peyarchi—Saturn’s Transit Through our Birth Charts
5645
4) Navagraha
Devatas—Nine Hindu Deities in the Solar
system
4294
5) Hindu Rites for
the Deceased Parents and Ancestors
3652
6) Hindu Views on
Conception and Child
Birth
3457
7) Pradosham, Its
Significance
2778
8) Knowledge of
Brahman
2215
9) Homa Mantras from MNU
2207
10) The Veda Hymn that
Hypnotized the World Gathering
2044
The top ten countries in the
rankings who follow my discourses are India, United Sates, Russia,
Malaysia, United Kingdoms, France, Canada, Germany, Australia and
Ukraine. I do not know why Russia and Ukraine? Have more Hindus started
moving to Russia now to learn another difficult language? Having lived in
Germany and Russia for long I know how difficult it is to live there
with English alone. I started speaking their languages and digesting their
culture too. I have spoken enough on Hindu Reflections; let me have your
reflections as to how I can improve my performance to serve you
better and continue beyond 2016. I have just enough topics to take care
of the blog this year which I am planning to close by the end of the year.
--January
2, 2016
HAPPYY
NEW YEAR MESAGE
Happy Holidays in USA begins with Thanksgiving
Day and ends on the midnight of January 1. It is rather sad the
Nation as a whole has forgotten The Bill of Rights Day, December 15
coming in between which is indeed the real Independence Day. This had
remained the dream of FDR who wanted the day to be a National
Holiday. Winter Solstice Day, December 22 is left to
celebration by Pagan Traditions although their tradition reflects throughout
the spirit of Christmas Season in Yule logs, Christmas trees, Candle light
and Christmas lighting. By coincidence all these occur towards latter
half of December only.
American Hindu Temples
observe Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day as Special
Religious Days keeping their temples open all day and conducting
special Homas and Abhishekas to their chosen deities and facilitating visitors
to offer special prayers. This fulfills the desire of founding-fathers of the
temple to please their children, their friends' and relatives’ children who are
married to the major faith of the land. But these children can't
forget Hindu Temples and the colorful celebrations by force of habit
than reverence. Pope Gregory XIII after whom the Gregorian calendar is named
agreed to January 1 named after Roman God Janus because it suited Christianity
as an auspicious day which was subsequently forced on the world as
International New Year Day. Christian majority then ruled the world. Bill
of Rights Day is virtually American Hindus Thanksgiving Day, without which
Hindus would not have enjoyed such religious freedom in building so many
temples and preserving their culture. I wonder why USA has forgotten this
memorable day in the Holiday Season! May be caught amid highly commercialized
three holidays celebrated with grandeur they have ignored this day and FDR!
Winter Solstice (Uttarayana) Day is
the appropriate auspicious day to observe as New Year Day and make
resolutions in Hindu Temples praying to their chosen deities which is the
astronomical correct Uttarayana Punyakala Day. Hindu
astrologers have been fooling the people without correcting their
almanacs, like Gregorian calendar does, and therefore ignorant Hindus think
Uttarayana begins on January 14 or Tamil Month Thai. Tamils have
also made this day more attractive saying “Thai pirnadaal Vazhi pirakkum”—with Thai begins the way to live.
It is strange all religions started only in
the Northern Hemisphere with the progress of civilization.
However people in Southern Hemisphere celebrate Summer solstice on
December 22 but join New Year celebration on January 1. Probably it is their
Thanksgiving Day as the long summer days come to an end which they enjoyed and
long winter days begin their journey.
We are closing the year of battle of
nerves and mass murder 2015; fascination for destruction and
killing lifted its head with jubilation in many countries kindled and nurtured
by hatred. The human thought that it takes to respect the image of God in
another person reached its point to the lowest in 2015. As we prepare to
leave2015 behind and turn the page, we can all strive to be better. Powerful
fear emotion during 2015 has ruined our quality of
life. Anxiety became the= defining condition. Nature did not oblige Tamil Nadu
and Chennai. Faith and the spiritual life should give us strength and courage
to face our fears and fight anxiety. We must recognize that there
are many things out of our control for which we pray for divine
intervention. He will listen only when we have the right attitude, mind and
willingness to help others. The ball is in our court.
TIME Magazine chose Angela Merkel as No.1
Woman of the year known for dignity, compassion and humanity and the most
dreaded World Terrorist Abu Bakar al Baghdadi with Quran on one hand and gun on
the other as No.2, Man of the Year. Why these opposites and extremes are
clubbed together? Hindu Philosophy is no stranger to pairs of
opposites as I often discuss in my discourses! One need to realize darkness for enjoying light.
Probably TIME conveys Upanishad’s message of Da, Da, Da
(dama, daana and Dayaa) to all Muslims to keep Quran in
one hand and raise the other hand to Allah dropping the a sword
and to follow the path of Constraints, Compassion and Charity
drawing inspiration from the World’s leading Woman of the Year.
Follow the Christians and Muslims in Egypt who come together and pray to Mary
or Mariam, another powerful woman in the Holy Bible and Quran.
Let us be guided by the wisdom of Vedas
and Upanishads in the coming year. Here is a Rigveda
mantra for you to focus and know its purport. Let us pray
for Peace and Prosperity on Earth, the popular theme of Nativity Scenes.
pragnaye vachamiraya vrishabhaya
kshitinam sa nah parshadati dvishah- Rig Veda 10.187.1
Word meaning: Kshitinam = lord showering
blessings on the people; Agneya= in the form of Agni, used for lord of fire;
vacham=our speech, pra eraya = inspired by insensitive; Vah Naha= us; Dvisha=
beyond hatred; parshart= give us relief from.
What is the purport of this Mantra and what
does it imply? Oh human being! Do you want that you should be relieved from
hatred? Are you fed up hating your fellow brothers and obtaining the same in
return? You have developed hatred towards other considering that they are
obstacles in the way of your happiness; the more you hated them they have
returned the same, has not the hatred increased in the same degree? The hatred
and feeling of vengeance has increased so much that an ocean of hatred surround
you to-day. If now you are totally fed up and want to come out of the cycle of
hatred then you wake up and extend your voice to the Lord of Agni (Supreme
Spirit) present in the whole universe, the lord who fulfills the desires of all
the people.
If hate is present in ourselves, we have yet
to accept the truth about what is really
going on within us. If we have hate in our heart for another, this is an
expression of our own internal hate we have for ourselves. We do
not punish our own hate and also forget it after some time. But
the hate in others we never forget and take revenge. That is human
nature. So avoid hate from all angles.
Everyone should practice three C’s—Control of
self (damam ); Charity (daanam); and Compassion (dayaa). In Sanskrit letters
these are Da, Daa and Da or 3 Da. The first letter
"Da" means "damaa" and stands for self-control. The second
“Daa” means “Daana” or Charity. The third letter "Da" means
"Dayaa" and stands for Compassion. Brihadarnyaka Upanishad
wants us to win over evil by all these three noble acts.
These are mandates of Vedas to burn the fire
of hatred. After having burnt the hatred let us strive for Peace on
Earth and Happiness for all guided by the Shanti mantras—“prithvee santih;
Sarvejanaah sukhino bhavantu”- - May there be Peace on Earth! May all people on
Earth live happily! Our friend Dr. Ram Prasad has sent me a
beautiful poem for the Happy Holidays to be forwarded to you as
attached which I have taken the liberty of slightly modifying to suit my
theme. I would also like join him to Wish you all a very Happy and
Prosperous New Year on January 1, 2016 though I would have
preferred December 23, Winter Solstice Day the most sacred
day. We all agree January 1 is a social events day and not a religious
day for temple visit and to make religious resolutions
to improve our life-style.
China leaps into
Successful Hanuman Year in 2016. Let us leave behind 2015 the Year of
Hate and Violence and leap into the Leap Year of 2016 to strive for
Success, Peace and Happiness!
Wish you all a
Happy, Prosperous, Healthy and Peaceful New Year!
--January
1, 2016
NEW YEAR MESSAGES I RECEIVED AND
SHARED
New Year Blessings:
Keep Moving Towards the Light – Grow Those Wings & Fly
Swami Chidananda Saraswati
At
this beautiful time of the New Year, it is the time when most people pray that
the New Year will be easier, better, more successful than the year which has
passed. However, at this time when we pray and make our own resolutions, it is
so important to remember the ultimately the purpose of our lives is not just to
have things be as easy as possible, nor to be as successful and/or prosperous
as possible. The point of our lives is to realize our own true divine nature,
to awaken and unfold into the divinity of ourselves. In many cases, that
process requires both inner struggle as well as patience.
There
is a beautiful story of a man who noticed, on a tree outside his home, a
beautifully woven cocoon. He carefully watched the cocoon every day in order to
catch the first glimpse of the butterfly he knew would emerge. Finally, one day
he saw a tiny hole in the cocoon which grew quickly as the hours passed. He sat
watching the butterfly break her way out of the cocoon. However, suddenly he
noticed that it seemed the butterfly had stopped making progress. The hole did
not get any larger and the butterfly seemed to be stuck. The cocoon was
bouncing up and down on the branch as the butterfly tried to squeeze herself,
unsuccessfully, through the hole she had created.
The
man watched in dismay as it seemed his butterfly would not be able to emerge.
Finally, he went inside, took a small pair of scissors, and carefully cut the
cocoon, allowing the butterfly to emerge easily. However, the butterfly
immediately dropped to the ground instead of soaring gracefully into the sky as
he imagined she would.
The
man noticed that the butterfly's stomach was swollen and distended and her
wings were small and shriveled, explaining her inability to fly. He assumed
that after some time, the stomach would shrink and the wings would expand, and
she would fly in her fullest glory. However, this was never to be.
The
man didn't know that it was the very act of forcing her body through the tiny
hole in the cocoon which pushed all the fluid from the butterfly's stomach into
her wings. Without that external pressure, the stomach would always be swollen
with fluid and the wings would always be small and shriveled. His butterfly
would never be able to fly.
In
life, so frequently, we avoid challenges, looking for an easy, quick way to the
goal. We pray to God to remove our obstacles. We look for people who will
"cut our cocoons," so that we do not have to work and push our way
through. Ultimately the key in life is to realize, experience and manifest those
wings so that we may BE the soaring, beautiful butterfly. We must realize that
it is those times of difficulty which give us our wings. That difficulty has
been placed in our path specifically because it is exactly what we need in
order to take the next step of our own awakening, what we need to unfold
another petal of the divine flower we are born to be. The obstacles in our path
are God's way of showing us how to fly. With every bit of pushing and
struggling, our wings become fuller and fuller and only then are we able to fly
in our true glory.
So frequently, people come to me and say, "Oh, why has God given me so much strife? Why has He put so many obstacles in my path? Why is He punishing me? Please remove these obstacles from my path." We must realize that challenges and hurdles are not punishments. Yes, the law of karma plays a large role in what we receive in this lifetime, but even things which may seem like "bad" karma, are actually opportunities for growth. Through pushing and struggling our wings become fuller and we become able to soar. Even an extra small hole to squeeze through is actually an opportunity for our wings to expand to great lengths.
So frequently, people come to me and say, "Oh, why has God given me so much strife? Why has He put so many obstacles in my path? Why is He punishing me? Please remove these obstacles from my path." We must realize that challenges and hurdles are not punishments. Yes, the law of karma plays a large role in what we receive in this lifetime, but even things which may seem like "bad" karma, are actually opportunities for growth. Through pushing and struggling our wings become fuller and we become able to soar. Even an extra small hole to squeeze through is actually an opportunity for our wings to expand to great lengths.
So,
let us learn to take our challenges for what they are, rather than looking
around for a "different" hole, or for someone with a pair of
scissors. Let us appreciate and celebrate our challenges and realize that God
has given them to us in order that we may truly recognize and then embody our
divine fullness.
At
this auspicious time of the New Year, I pray that, regardless of how small or
big the hole in your cocoon seems, regardless of how quickly or slowly you seem
to be pushing through it, and regardless of whether you can yet envision the
glory of who YOU really are, you may all have the courage, patience,
understanding and full faith in the Divine to keep moving toward the light. The
world today needs all of YOU, in your fullest, most awake, most realized way.
Our world is in the midst of such despair, such darkness, such rampant
devastation. Only if each of us moves – with courage, fearlessness and
dedication – toward the light, toward the truth of our Selves, toward our own
divinity, can we serve as torchbearers of that light for the rest of the world.
His Holiness Sri Kanchi Mahaswami:
“In
all that you do, let love be the sole motive. Any need must be with reference
to another. Let action be out of love. Passions such as desire and hatred,
anger and malice must be totally eschewed. If love becomes the grounding
principle of all deeds. then most of the ills of the world will vanish”.
[Does this sound very much like what I sent
you quoting Rig Veda for New Year' day Message from Hindu Reflections?]
Please also read
the Twelve Wisdom Thoughts from
great authors and spiritual leaders:
We will open the books. Its pages are blank.
We are going to put the words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity
and its first chapter is New Year’s Day-- Edith Lovejoy Pierce
One resolution I have made and try always to keep is this: To rise above little things—John Burroughs
One resolution I have made and try always to keep is this: To rise above little things—John Burroughs
Hope
smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering: “It will be
happier”—Alfred Tennyson
Although the life of a person is a land full of thorns and weeds, there is always the space in which the good seeds can grow. You have to trust!—Pope Francis
We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we are harder—John Wolfgang von GoetheWhen something weighs on your conscience, give it up—Prophet Muhammad
You are never too old to set another goal to dream a new dream—C.S. Lewis
If you breathe in and are aware that you are alive—that you can touch the miracle of being alive—then that is a kind of enlightenment--Tich Nhat Hanh
The wind is blowing; those vessels whose sails are unfurled catch it and go forward on their way; but those which have their sails furled do not catch the wind. Is that the fault of the wind? We make our own destiny—Swami Vivekananda
For last year’s words belong to last year’s language; and next year’s words await another voice --T. S. Eliot
Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world—Desmond Tutu
Yes, you must live life beautifully and not allow the spirit of the world that makes you gods out of power, riches and pleasure make you forget that you have been created for greater things—to love and to be loved—Mother Teresa
Although the life of a person is a land full of thorns and weeds, there is always the space in which the good seeds can grow. You have to trust!—Pope Francis
We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise, we are harder—John Wolfgang von GoetheWhen something weighs on your conscience, give it up—Prophet Muhammad
You are never too old to set another goal to dream a new dream—C.S. Lewis
If you breathe in and are aware that you are alive—that you can touch the miracle of being alive—then that is a kind of enlightenment--Tich Nhat Hanh
The wind is blowing; those vessels whose sails are unfurled catch it and go forward on their way; but those which have their sails furled do not catch the wind. Is that the fault of the wind? We make our own destiny—Swami Vivekananda
For last year’s words belong to last year’s language; and next year’s words await another voice --T. S. Eliot
Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world—Desmond Tutu
Yes, you must live life beautifully and not allow the spirit of the world that makes you gods out of power, riches and pleasure make you forget that you have been created for greater things—to love and to be loved—Mother Teresa
--January 1, 2016
Hindu
life started on river banks as I have described at length in my discourse on
"Why I am called Hindu and my Religion Hinduism?" Rigveda
contains mantras for the invocation of holy rivers in connection with
purification rites. To the Vedic seers the great rivers mentioned in the mantra
as well as the later verse represented divinity. They often expressed their
devotion and gratitude to these life-sustaining and purifying rivers by
appropriate invocation which practice is seen even today in all Hindu rituals.
The holy waters are prayed to make their presence in the waters to purify one
who takes a bath in it. This is expressively seen in the verse priests usually
chant to consecrate the waters used in the worship of the lord by way of
Kalasa: Gange cha Yamunaa chaiva
Godavari Sarasawati Narmade Sindhu Kaveri jalesmin sannidhim kuru || Oh
Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada,
Sindhu and Kaveri please make your presence in these waters contained in the
pot. This modern verse has its origin in the Rigvedic mantra:
Imam me gange yamune sarasvati sutudri stoma
sachataa | asakniyaa marudvridhe vitastaya-arjakeeye srinuhyaa sushomayaa ||
Oh
Gangaa, Oh Yamunaa, Oh Sarasvatee, Oh Sutudree, Oh Marudvridha, Oh Aarjakeeya,
come together and listen to this hymn of mine along with Parusni, Asikni,
Vitastaa and Sushomaa. Having come upon here please listen to this praise
offered by me. Sushomaa is the river that flows through a region where soma
creepers used in Vedic sacrifices grow. Vitastaa never dried up. Sutudree has a
fast current.
It
is obvious that these are the rivers on the banks of which Rigvedic people
settled at a very remote period. Sushomaa is identified with Sohan, Vitastaa
with Jhelum, Asaknee with Chinab, Marudvridhaa with Maruwaardwaaan, Purushni
with Rabi and Sutudree with Sutlej.
A
recent article by IndiaDivine.Org replaces Sindhu river mentioned in our
usual mantras employed by priests to invoke Seven holy rivers into the
water pot (Kumbha) by Kshipra river. I wonder why they did not think of
Brahmaputra or Alka. May be Brahmaputra is a male river and so not favored.
Alka probably is the other name to Ganges. I wonder why Krishna is neglected?
May be it is lost in South versus North controversy? May be Ujjjain is
favored as one of the Jyortirlinga places situated on Kshipra River? All
said and done Saivites are in majority and forceful! I believe they gave
up hope on Indus which we have now lost to Pakistan. Anyhow, please go
through the description and photographs of these seven sacred rivers as
described and attached. It will take a long time to convince our conservative
orthodox Brahman priests to convince to replace Sindhu by Kshipra. May be
IndiaDivine.Org has taken Sindhu as adjective to mean river--Sindhu
Kaveri means River Kaveri and not Indus and Kaveri perhaps?
--January 8, 2016
Kaiwara, Historic Town in Karnataka
Kaiwara, a historic town in the Kolar District
of Karnataka State was known as Kaiwara Nadu in the bygone ages. It was
ruled by Nikirili Chola Mandala during the Chola era.
According to the local legends, Lord
Ramachandra visited Kaiwara twice. Once with Vishwamitra when He was on a
mission to protect the yajnas being performed by the rishis and the second time
with Mother Sita and Lakshmana during Their exile. There is a cave known as Ramara
Guhe in the temple of Amara Narayana.
In Dwapara-yuga, Kaiwara was known as Ekachakrapura
and was the dwelling of Pandavas during their exile. Pandavas lived here
as poor Brahmanas in incognito. Kaiwara’s citizens were being constantly
harassed and harmed by a demon named Bakasura. Kunti Devi requested Bhima to
put an end to this menace. Bhima fought and slew Bakasura.
In the current days, Kaiwara is famous for Sri
Yogi Narayana Yathindra popularly known as Kaiwara Thataiyya. Thataiyya
lived between 1726 and 1836 and was a bilingual devotee poet of Lord Amara
Narayana. He wrote in Telugu and Kannada languages. His most popular literary
contribution is Kalajnana, a prophetic text.
The temple of Sri Amara Narayana is near the
bus stand. It is a very beautiful temple. The pillars in the mukha-mantapa are
intricately carved and are rich with architecture. This temple doesn’t have the
Deities of Jaya and Vijaya unlike the other Vishnu temples. Perhaps this is the
only temple not to have the dwara-palakas.
--January 10,
2016
MAKARA
SANKRANTI FAIR AND CELEBRATIONS
Unakoti a mountain in Tripura, on
the sides of which are carved out stone images and a spring descending in
the rivulet makes it an archaeological wonder
unparalleled in Tripura. The hilly forests, the spring, chirping of
birds, the carvings in stones and rocks, the leisurely – scattered idols and
hearsay have given a special significance to Una-koti. Makara Sankranti Fair
in Tripura is Famous Tourist Attraction Day.
Thursday
14, 2016 is Makara Sankranti which happens to be Uttarayana Punyakala
according to our misleading astrologers who refuse to correct their Panchangams
in India which should be a religious observance day on December 22 Winter
Solstice Day,. Thanks to our misleading astrologers we are celebrating this
holiest day on a wrong day after 22 or 23 days. For Hindu Americans this does
not matter as they often observe their religious days as per convenience
or on weekends following their Christian Brethren, for example Holy
celebrations. May be they are afraid of questioning the religious
authorities in India? Our temple in Nashville too mentions this
day as Uttarayana Punyakala. However we want to please Tamils and
support by celebrating Pongal, a welcome hot dish in cold winter though
it is celebrated by various traditions in different ways! My only wonder is why
they did not postpone it to Sunday, 17? Thursday is not a convenient day to
visit temple as Thanksgiving Thursday which is long week-end. North American
Panchangam also marks this day as Thai,1 and Uttarayana Punyakala,
prepared by a famous astrologer from India. We do not follow this
Panchnga published by Council of North American Temples strictly and
only publish it every year to show our astrological ability to India.
Anyhow it is a great day for Tamils being Pongal, a festival named after food.
They draw their support from Vedas to name this festival after food as Vedas
glorify food as Vyahriti of Braman (Supreme Spirit) in Taittareeya Upanishad.
Please go through my detailed discourses on these subjects form the Blog which
I have updated. Tamils name another festival named after food --Karadiyan
Nonbu. American Hindus wanted to add Kooda Arai Vellam festival ,
Sweetened Pongal with extra jaggery but Indian Tamils did not oblige and so
they now call it correctly--Koodaarai Vellum (seer Govinda) festival.
A story revolves around one Kalu Kamar, the
famous sculptor. He was assigned the task to build a crore of the deities
in his dream. But keeping the last idol unfinished Kalu created his own image.
Thus ‘Koti’ could not be completed. So, the place got its name as Unakoti --One
less crore.
The idols here were worked out in different
periods of time and, therefore, these were influenced by different religious
sects. Some archaeologists opine that these were of the period of Pal dynasty,
as a Shaiva Tirtha, others have traced it as a Buddhist meditation center.
Hence, Unakoti is also seen as a symbol of religious unity.
American Hindu temples are also motivated to install deities from various
traditions and religions in their confused complex but often they are confused
as to how to attract people by proper religious observances and also please all
deities! So they go by the logic where you cannot convince Confuse! Every year
during Ashokastami and Makar Sankranti big fairs are held at Unakoti.
Peoples from far and near come there for a holy dip in Sitakund.
Unakoti has been included in the tourism map
of Tripura and the North-East as a remarkable tourists’ resort. Common pilgrims
frequent the place. Tourists from far and wide also converge in Unakoti with
much enthusiasm. One can have a trip to Unakoti via Kailashahar or Dharmanagar.
The journey takes 20 minutes from Kailashahar and 45 minutes from Dharmanagar.
--January 11, 2016
MESSAGE ON MAKARA SANKRANTI DAY 2016
January 14 is our astrologers' projected
Uttarayana Punyakala beginning day, supposed to be the most
sacred day when the Sun is presumed to start its Northward journey.
Bheeshma waited for this day on bed of Arrows to ascend to Heaven! We have
been misguided by astrologers for centuries! No Sankaracharya seem
to come to our rescue. We try to prove Puranas are true and not mythology
and fix holy spots of birth like Ramajanma Bhoomi but not this day
or Hanuman's Birthday! I have talked enough about this day in my discourses on
“Makara Sankranti” and “Pongal, A Festival of Tamils named after
Food”. Tamils attach more importance to "Teertham and Prasadam"
than God! The actual astronomical Uttarayana Punyakala started on
December 22 in 2015 which was celebrated in many traditions, and is not
special to Hindus alone, as Winter Solstice Day in the Northern
Hemisphere.
The winter solstice is celebrated by many
people around the world as the beginning of the return of the sun, and darkness
turning into light. The Talmud recognizes the winter solstice as "Tekufat
Tevet." In China, the Dongzhi Festival is celebrated on the Winter Solstice
by families getting together and eating special festive food.
I often wonder why New year is
celebrated on January 1, an insignificant day based on Roman Calendar and named
after Roman God Janus. We rush to Hindu Temples to perform Special Abhishekams.
Yet we do not accept we are belief oriented? Pope Gregory jumped into the
arena and accepted the date as according to him January 1 happens to be the
circumcision day of Jesus Christ. But Catholics celebrate January 6th
as Epiphany Day and it is believed by many that the three wise men
arrived in Bethlehem on this day when Mary delivered Jesus. So, the
birthday of Jesus Christ remains a mystery like Hanuman’s Birthday!
The most logical and acceptable day to start
the New Year in the Northern Hemisphere would have been Winter Solstice day on
December 22 (USA)and in the Southern Hemisphere in June on Winter
solstice day for them. The June solstice is the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. The
date varies between June 20 and June 22. These two are the most
significant days astronomically to start the New Year's day which would have
been acceptable to all humanity which could have avoided all confusion as to
the various religious and traditional calendars all over the world. I wonder
why divine wisdom did not guide humanity on this aspect! I wonder why Hindus do
neglect celebration of these most significant astronomical auspicious
days in Hindu Temples but observe them on wrong days? Yet
Hindus boast that they go by Sastric injunctions as told by Lord
Krishna In Bhagavad Gita! Anyhow I am no Sankaracharya or Jagad Guru.
This year I would like to draw your attention to Winter solstice day
Celebrations of 2015 all over the globe except in India and few
countries, provided by courtesy Huff-post:
Winter solstice Celebrations in 2015 in Global Traditions
In 2015, the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will begin
on Dec. 22 at 4:48 a.m. UTC. Your turning point may be different
depending on where you are located like the New Year celebrations.
Officially the first day of winter, the winter
solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the sun.
This is the longest night of the year, meaning that despite the cold
winter, the days get progressively longer after the winter solstice until the summer solstice in
2016.
The winter solstice is celebrated by many
people around the world as the beginning of the return of the sun, and darkness
turning into light. The Talmud recognizes the winter solstice as "Tekufat
Tevet." In China, the Dongzhi Festival is celebrated on the Winter Solstice
by families getting together and eating special festive food.
Until the 16th century, the winter months were
a time of famine in northern Europe. Most cattle were slaughtered so that they
wouldn't have to be fed during the winter, making the solstice a time when
fresh meat was plentiful. Most celebrations of the winter solstice in Europe involved merriment and
feasting. In pre-Christian Scandinavia, the Feast of Juul, or Yule,
lasted for 12 days celebrating the rebirth of the sun god and giving rise to
the custom of burning a Yule log.
In ancient Rome, the winter solstice was
celebrated at the Feast of Saturnalia, to honor Saturn, the god of agricultural
bounty. Lasting about a week, Saturnalia was characterized by feasting,
debauchery and gift-giving. With Emperor Constantine's conversion to
Christianity, many of these customs were later absorbed into Christmas celebrations.
One of the most famous celebrations of the winter solstice in the world today takes place in the
ancient ruins of Stonehenge, England. Thousands of druids and pagans
gather there to chant, dance and sing while waiting to see the spectacular
sunrise.
Pagan author T. Thorn Coyle wrote in a 2012 HuffPost article that for
many contemporary celebrants, solstices "are a chance to still ourselves
inside, to behold the glory of the cosmos, and to take a breath with the
Sacred."
In the Northern hemisphere, friends gather to
celebrate the longest night. We may light candles, or dance around bonfires. We
may share festive meals, or sing, or pray. Some of us tell stories and keep
vigil as a way of making certain that the sun will rise again. Something in us
needs to know that at the end of the longest night, there will be light.
In connecting with the natural world in a way
that honors the sacred immanent in all things, we establish a resonance with
the seasons. Ritual helps to shift our consciousness to reflect the outer world
inside our inner landscape: the sun stands still within us, and time changes.
After the longest night, we sing up the dawn. There is a rejoicing that, even
in the darkest time, the sun is not vanquished. Sol Invictus -- the Unconquered
Sun -- is seen once again, staining the horizon with the promise of hope and
brilliance.
last December the Circle Sanctuary, a
prominent U.S.Pagan organization headed by Selena Fox, observed the
solstice with an all-ages Yule celebration on Saturday Dec. 19 complete
with music, crafts and storytelling.
--From Courtesy HuffPost:
--E Mail to HRA participants on Makara
Sankranti Day
BRAHMINS OF THE SOUTH AND THEIR TABOO
ON FOREIGN TRAVEL
It is quite revealing to know about the origin
and growth of Brahmins particularly in the South who culturally
developed themselves as intellectuals, priests and scholars in Tamil
Nadu or more correctly in the Madras Presidency of British India coming from or
converted by Brahmins of Aryan Caste System. Later with the regional
demarcation of Madras Presidency to four main States, Tamil Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala, we find a number of these Brahmin pockets all
over these four States. They are called by different names and some carry their
surnames indicating these Brahmin sub-sects. They are so numerous and it is
difficult to enlist all of them. Of all the Brahmin in India, Tamil Nadu Brahmins were pushed to the forefront thanks to EVR Periyar who tried
his hands to eradicate Brahmins. His first slogan in Murasoli was "if
you see a Brahmin and Cobra together kill the Brahmin first" and
"Ariyane! veliyeru"--Get out Arya. He conveniently quoted :"Go!
Brahmanebhyah" in his slogans.
Tamils can't help mixing English and Tamil often! They make love in
English if you watch Tamil movie. His mission failed and many migrated to
greener pasture like me. His mission to kill Ganesha too miserably failed
causing traffic damage today for every street corner in Chennai has a Ganesha
idol. It is unfortunate other Brahmins elsewhere lost their popularity in the
fight. I have however collected few names from the attached article as
follows:
Group 1. Nambootharies of different
Vedic groups who are glorify Parasurama along with their North
Indian counterparts Bhumihar, Chitpawan and Sarasvat Brahmins.
Group 2. Pushpaka Brahmins of Kerala who show attributes of both
Brahmins and Kshatriyas called Ambalavasis who include
Konkanstha Brahmins, Iyers etc. They also include many sub
castes like Nambisan, Unni, Mittatu, Nambidu etc. There are similar
Brahmins all over India—Chittapawan of Maharashtera, Bhumihara of
Bihar, Mohyal of Punjab and Tyagis of Uttar Pradesh to name a few. Also most of
them belong to Viswamitra Gotra. Puranas say Viswamitra was a Kshatriya by
birth but rose to Brahmarishi Brahmin status by his personal efforts.
It is also interesting to learn about their
contributions to Fine Arts of India.
Group 3. Tuluva Brahmins have their own long story and long
list as mobile and migrant community. Historically they can be grouped as
three: Haige or Haive (North Kannada); Taulava (Dakshina Kannada) and Kerala.
When Parasurama found no Brahmins in the land,
he is said to have elevated the fishermen class to the upper class of Brahmins.
This confirms why some Brahmins believe in eating fish and still claim to be
vegetarians and call themselves Brahmins.
In Tulu Nad Nadu we can find many
migrant Brahmins—Chitpavana, Karada, Konkanastha, Sarasvata and Gowd Sarsvata.
Sarasvatas originally hailed from Punjab. Nairor Nayyar is a surname,
still used by Punjabis which is popular in Kerala. Many are Janardhana
worshipers and it is a popular name for many.
Hebbars who are Panchgramis originally hailed
from Tamil Nadu and followed Ramanuja when he migrated to Karnataka. Some
Hebbars embraced Saivism. Vaishnava Hebbars converted Sudraas to Gowdas
making them followers of Venkataramana of Tirupati.
I have also attached a text which explains why
there is a taboo for foreign travel for Brahmins. I was hesitant to reveal my
foreign travel plans to my orthodox family in those days knowing the
treatment meted out to a distant relative of mine who sailed to England in my
younger days though superficially they were nice to him. They did not like his
style or changed manners. I landed in Germany to take up a scholarship program
for three years and then only informed my family. I am a product of British
India.
I am sure you will enjoy the attached detailed
text. If Udupi Brahmins, Uttara kannadigas Dakshina
Kanndigas, Sarasvats, Sivalli Brahmins, Kerala Brahmins, Hebbars,
Smartas as well as Nairs, Wariors, Unnis, Nambeesans, Gowdas and
others want to know their Background and tradition please go
through the attached text. I know my background as a Srivaishnava follower of
Ramanuja which helped me to describe my family background in my Memoirs. It is
good to convey your background of the past to enjoy the present and leave
behind your memoirs for your children.
Benefits
of Walking Barefoot
I grew up in an orthodox family as a young
kid. My parents and grand-parents never felt that I needed a footwear and I
never questioned their wisdom or frugality. I started my life as a
villager in Karnataka and walked almost 4 miles to my school on mud roads with
barefoot. Even when I moved to Chennai at the age of 9 I never had a
footwear till I finished my B.Sc. Only when I went to graduate
technological studies I was forced to wear foot-ware due to workshop and
lab rules. I walked almost 3 miles to my school and 4 miles to my college
for four years bare foot. I walked to temple everyday about a Km. I had
my first pair of leather shoes for the graduation ceremony. Incidentally
all leather sandals, are of natural three dimensional fiber and
still breathe and simulate somewhat conditions of walking with
barefoot keeping touch with Mother Earth. I started wearing plastic
footwear even at home after my long stay in Germany where I had my post
–graduate research and factory training. What a change! I always felt bad about
my school and college days full of struggle and discrimination as the
unfortunate days of my life comparing others. Now I feel how lucky I was
after going through the article below and being among few fortunate nature
blessed in life having reaped the benevolences of Mother Earth. Probably
that adds to the secret of my long, healthy and active life at 86! I also
feel how wise our temples are unlike churches and mosques in not allowing
footwear and spending long hours in prayers and Circum-ambulation. Please enjoy
the benefits from the medical studies.
BENEFITS
OF WALKING BAREFOOT
Do you notice you feel better when you walk
barefoot on the Earth? Recent research has explained why this happens.
Your immune system functions optimally when
your body has an adequate supply of electrons, which are easily and naturally
obtained by barefoot contact with the Earth.
Research indicates that electrons from the
Earth have antioxidant effects that can protect your body from inflammation and
its many well-documented health consequences. For most of our evolutionary
history, humans have had continuous contact with the Earth.
It is only recently that substances such as
asphalt, wood, rugs, and plastics have separated us from this contact.
It is known that the Earth maintains a
negative electrical potential on its surface. When you are in direct contact
with the ground (walking, sitting, or laying down on the earth’s surface) the
earth’s electrons are conducted to your body, bringing it to the same
electrical potential as the earth. Living in direct contact with the earth
grounds your body, inducing favorable physiological and electro-physiological
changes that promote optimum health.
There is an emerging science documenting how
conductive contact with the Earth, which has is also known as Earthing or
grounding, is highly beneficial to your health and completely safe. Earthing
appears to minimize the consequences of exposure to potentially disruptive
fields like “electromagnetic pollution” or “dirty electricity.”
Some of the recent evidence supporting this
approach involves multiple studies documenting Earthing’s improvement in blood
viscosity, heart rate variability, inflammation, cortisol dynamics, sleep,
autonomic nervous system (ANS) balance, and reduced effects of stress.
The Ultimate Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory
Grounding or Earthing is defined as placing
one’s bare feet on the ground whether it be dirt, grass, sand or concrete
(especially when humid or wet). When you ground to the electron-enriched earth,
an improved balance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
occurs.
The Earth is a natural source of electrons and
subtle electrical fields, which are essential for proper functioning of immune
systems, circulation, synchronization of biorhythms and other physiological
processes and may actually be the most effective, essential, least expensive,
and easiest to attain antioxidant.
Modern science has thoroughly documented
the connection between inflammation and all of the chronic diseases, including
the diseases of aging and the aging process itself. It is important to
understand that inflammation is a condition that can be reduced or prevented by
grounding your body to the Earth, the way virtually all of your ancestors have
done for hundreds if not thousands of generations.
How the Modern Running Shoe May be Destroying
Your Health
Materials such as metals are electrical
conductors. They contain free or mobile electrons that can carry electrical
energy from place to place.
Your body is somewhat conductive because it
contains a large number of charged ions (called electrolytes) dissolved in
water. Your blood and other body fluids are therefore good conductors. Free or
mobile electrons can also move about within your body
Other materials, called insulators, have very
few free or mobile electrons. Plastic and rubber are good insulators and are
used to cover electrical wires to keep the conductors from touching each other
and from touching your skin, which could otherwise give you a shock.
Traditionally shoes were made of leather,
which actually conducts electrons and therefore maintains a conductive contact
between the Earth and your feet. However modern day rubber and plastics are
electrical insulators and therefore block the beneficial flow of electrons from
the Earth to your body.
How the Different Types of Electricity Impact
Grounding
There are three different forms of electricity:
- Direct current (DC) electricity
- Alternating current (AC) electricity, and
- Static electricity
All of these forms of electricity are present
in the environment and can affect the way you feel.
Direct Current--consider an ordinary flashlight with
two type D batteries. When the light is switched on, a current created by
chemical reactions in the batteries causes electrons to flow to the bulb, which
converts the electrical energy into light. The electric field travels to the
bulb virtually instantaneously, while the electrons move slowly – about three
inches per hour.
Alternating Current or AC is the type of electricity that is
delivered to homes and businesses. Alternating current is produced by electric
generators and is distributed throughout a community via wires that are
overhead or buried under the ground.
In contrast to direct current electricity, the
actual flow of electrons in an alternating current circuit is virtually zero,
as the electrons mainly go back and forth (60 times per second in North America
and 50 times in Europe) without actually progressing along the wire. Therefore,
for an AC current in a typical lamp cord, the electrons do not actually “flow.”
Instead they vibrate back and forth by a distance of about a hundred-thousandth
of an inch.
This means that the electrons in your
household wiring are probably the same ones present when your house was built.
In contrast to direct current, the electrons excited by a generator do not flow
to your home and then return to the generator after delivering energy to your
lights or appliances. The electrical energy flows at about the speed of light;
the electrons only vibrate back and forth.
This point is important because of confusion
about the subject from statements such as this: “Every time an electron leaves
a power plant to create electricity for our homes, schools and offices it must
return to create more electricity – fundamental law of physics.” This statement
is completely incorrect.
There is absolutely no fundamental law of
physics that requires the electron sent out from an alternating current
generator to return to the generator to create more electricity.
It has also been asserted that power companies
have begun using the Earth as one part of the alternating current circuit to
save on the expense of wire needed to meet increasing demands for electricity.
Again, this statement is completely inaccurate and misleading. It is a
statement that leads some to believe that walking barefoot or using grounding
devices will connect people to the electrical distribution system and thereby
electrify their bodies with alternating current electricity.
In fact, the U.S. National Electrical Code
does not permit connecting an electrical system directly to the Earth. In other
words the Earth does not carry a return current back to the generator. Instead
electrical systems are grounded to protect from lightening and other extraordinary
events.
How Your Home Electrical Connections Can Zap
Your Health
The wiring in homes and buildings and the
power distribution system acts as an antenna that can transmit and receive both
natural and man-made electromagnetic fields. Many technologies add
significantly to our electromagnetic environment: cell phone towers, Wi-Fi,
wireless routers, satellite TV and cordless telephones. And a variety of
devices introduce spikes or transients that distort the 60 cycle electric field
in the wiring, particularly when appliances are switched on or off.
Source: articles.mercola.com
--E-mail sent to HRA participants on
January 14, 2016
SAI BHAJAN
Sai Baba is worshiped as a spiritual Guru by people around the
world though Some Hindus have deified him. He taught a moral code of
love, forgiveness, helping others, charity, contentment, inner peace, and
devotion to God and guru. It is clear he did not claim himself to be God or Son
of God but his followers made him God and an Avatar. He gave no distinction
based on religion or caste. Sai Baba's teaching combined elements of Islam and
Hinduism. He gave the Hindu name Dwarakamayi to the mosque in
which he lived, and practiced Muslim Namaz. I
often wonder why he is not called SAIKRISHNA? He also said, "Trust
in me and your prayer shall be answered". This made him God in
the eyes of his followers. Lord Krishna also said “Mamekam saranam
vraja aham tvam mokshayishyaami” in Bhagavad Gita—Take refuge in me! I shall
liberate you. He always uttered “God is King" – Allah Malik. This
saying has entered into Hindu Bhajans as Indian Hindus fear threat of Islam more than any other
religion and have to live in peace with them.
The word Sai in Sufi faith means Saint. In
Banjara language Sai means “The Good” or “Truth”, Banjaras are International
nomads. They originated from Rajasthan and spread their culture all over.
They are in Andhra to significantly. A locale in Hyderabad is called Banjara
Hills. Many in Andhra are Sai followers influenced by Satya Saibaba who
was born in Andhra. Proud with their national spirit subsequently
they raised Satya Saibaba to Parabrahman. It is true all elevated souls have to
merge with the source so did Satya Saibaba!This goes with theory
"Aham Brahmasmi"--I am Brahman. We have to only wait for
our time and chance.
I have pleasure in reproducing a Telugu Sai
Bhajan which reflects Sai Philosophy which his followers may like. He is
raised to the status of Parabrahman. I was reminded of this when I
got invited to Sai Bhajan congregation though I planned to be a silent
observer. I am not a Bahajan person. My dealings are one-to-one basis
with the Supreme Spirit in silent meditation looking inwards. Even though I am
a follower of Vishishtadvaita Philosophy I do not cry for the help of Ramanuja
in my meditations. I have all my respects to Saibaba as he preached about
Universal Oneness and one God as in Sanatana Dharma. America is One Nation
with Many Gods. As an American Hindu I believe in One God Many Religions.
Gita also said world needs many religions. Obviously civilized world can’t
follow Banjara Philosophy for to the world they are not civilized. Sai
followers may enjoy the following Sai Bhajan in Telugu and may like to practice
the deep philosophy involved in it. To me Supreme Spirit is not identifiable by
any name neither can be found in closed walls nor substituted by any human
being but can be found everywhere or no-where!
Allah
Yesus Buddha Deva Antaru Neevae
Moula Sai
Mahavira Nanaku Neevae
Rama Krishna Shiva Rupa Dhaariyu Neevae
Vedha Gita Grantha Mula Saramu Neevae
Madhamulanni Poojinchu Daivamu Neevae
Sarva Dharma Priya Satya Sai Neevae
Sairam Sairam Sairam Satya Sairam (2)
O Sairam! You are Allah, Jesus, Buddha, Mahavira and Guru Nanak.
You took the forms of Rama, Krishna and Shiva. You are the essence of the
Vedas, the Gita and the Granth Saheb (Sacred Book of the Sikhs). You are the
One Lord worshiped by all the religions. You are Sathya Sai who loves all
religions. We chant your name repeatedly.
Rama Krishna Shiva Rupa Dhaariyu Neevae
Vedha Gita Grantha Mula Saramu Neevae
Madhamulanni Poojinchu Daivamu Neevae
Sarva Dharma Priya Satya Sai Neevae
Sairam Sairam Sairam Satya Sairam (2)
O Sairam! You are Allah, Jesus, Buddha, Mahavira and Guru Nanak.
You took the forms of Rama, Krishna and Shiva. You are the essence of the
Vedas, the Gita and the Granth Saheb (Sacred Book of the Sikhs). You are the
One Lord worshiped by all the religions. You are Sathya Sai who loves all
religions. We chant your name repeatedly.
--E-Mail sent on January 15, 2016
NAMAKKAL, A TEMPLE City around mountains
Namakkal is
situated 52 kms south of Salem in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. As
soon as one enters the city of Namakkal, one sees a beautiful mountain situated
right in the heart of the city. This is the only mountain in this area
but surprisingly unlike the other cities and towns in India the
whole city of Namakkal is built around this mountain. Here is a Puranic story
connected with the place:
Lakshmi Devi desired
to have a vision of Narasimha Avatara. Narasimha did
not take Lakshmi Devi and Garuda along with Him then. Hence Lakshmi Devi missed
to witness the pastimes of Lord Narasimha. She visited Kamalalaya
Lake in this area and performed penances on the bank of the sacred Lake.
When Lakshamana had regained his consciousness and was cured, Hanuman placed
the Sanjeevani Mountain back in the Himalayas from where he had uprooted it. On
the way back, he went to Gandaki River to bathe in its sacred waters. There he
found a Narasimha Saaligrama sila which he carried along on his way to
Srilanka. When Hanuman was flying over this area, it was the time of performing
the sandhya-vandana (daily prayers). He spotted Mother
Lakshmi and approached Her with his request of holding the stone deity
till he performed his daily prayer as it could not be left on the ground. In
the meantime, the saaligrama stone deity started growing until it became
heavier for Mother Lakshmi to hold. Unable to bear the weight, she kept the
stone down and it grew into a huge mountain. No matter how much
Hanuman tried, he could not move the stone. Suddenly there was a bright
light atop the mountain. It was the effulgence emanating from the
transcendental body of Lord Narasimha who had appeared to present
his vision to Lakshmi Devi and Hanuman, fulfilling their desires. Since
Mother Lakshmi chanted the holy names of the Lord near this hill, he named this
hill as Namagiri. ‘Nama’ means Lord’s holy name and ‘giri’ means the hill.
Later this place came to be known as Namakkal. In Tamil language ‘kal’ means
stone. Lord Narasimha blessed Lakshmi Devi and gave Her the name as Namagiri
Thayar or Namakirti Thayar.
Siva purana has its own story to tell: "All the deities went to Lord Shiva and requested to him to cool down Narasimha’s anger after killing Hiranyakasipu. Then Lord Siva appeared in his most devastating form as Sarabha. Lord to overcome the anxiety and fear of Devas cut off of the neck of ferocious Narasimha, wore the head of Nrisimha with the garland of skull in his neck. The remaining body was carried by Veerbhadra and abandoned at a mountain". Thus ended the Nrisimha avatar as desired by Devas. We do not know which one to believe. Saivites needed a story to justify Sarabha Avatara and establish Supremacy of Siva! Listening to the story of Ramesvara Linga of Rameswaram, we have to believe Namakkal story too for here is an archaeological proof and ancient deities. As usual Narasimha faces West to oblige Lakshmi who faces East. You may recall my description of Parthasarathy temple in Chennai. Probably Narasimha does not need to face light of the Sun rising in the East. He has his own Light!
There are
three main temples in Namakkal – Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Sri Ranganathar
Temple and Sri Anjaneyar Temple. These temples are beautifully decorated with
mantaps of intricately carved pillars. Atop Namagiri Mountain is the Namakkal
fort. But an interesting thing to note is this
place is also called Trimurti Sthalam (place). On the right side of Lord Narasimha is Lord
Siva and on his left side is Lord Brahma offering him prayers a rarity in
Hindu sectarian temple worship. In the altar, on the surrounding walls, one can
also have the sacred view of Sri Vaikuntha Narayana, Sri Ugra Narasimha,
Sri Varaha and Sri Vamana. Amusingly there is no Gopuram (Tower) atop this
temple since the Lord is in the cave and the Gopura could not be constructed
for such a huge saligrama mountain. Namakkal inspires ever
quarreling Vaishanvites and Saivites to have Siva-Vishnu and
also Brahma icons together for worship which leaves no room
for a quarrel. Hindus have problems in newly created Gods too--Shirdi and
Satya Saibabas. They have not yet planned temples for Satya Saibaba. Soon
there may be one in Andhra!. Shirdi Saibaba idols have found their place in
Hindu American Temples as well as exclusive temples. If we have Swami Narayan
temples why not Saibaaba Temples? More the merrier. Sectarian worship
quarrels are not specific to Hinduism alone. We are witnessing the fights
between Protestants and Catholics and Shias and Sunnis. Many religions
sprung out of disagreements and quarrels. Religion is the last
refuge for scoundrels say some. I wonder why there
should be fight if one claims to be religious? America believes in
One Nation; Many Gods. Sanatana Dharma says One God; Many Religions, Many
names.Each name needs a temple they feel often. Hinduism also believes in One
Father Many children and not divorce and remarriage as per convenience.
Namakkal has inspired Hindu Americans to have their Siva-Vishnu
complexes all over USA. I wonder why they have not taken bold steps to have the
Brahma deity also equally poised like Namakkal but dump him
in the Northern wall hiding place while invoking him in worship Mantras?
Probably they are afraid of Siva Purana.In Namakkal both Siva and Brahma
eulogize Lord Narasimha which contradicts Siva Purana. May be Namakkal is
Vaishnava dominated in later periods as it happened in Puri
Jagannath to-day.
Please enjoy the
scenic beauty of the temple and the full story. Here is a temple without
borders: No Gopuram above; No walls around.
--E-mail
sent on January 16, 2016
MY PARENTS BELIEVED IN BALAJI AND I IN OM
My parents believed in Balaji and named me SRINIVASAN and I believe in OM. Recently Obama said USA is "one Nation, many Gods". Hindu American Temples have implemented his new-found policy long before his existence and the name! You see in Hindu Temples besides cluster of Hindu divines and avatars, Buddha, Mahavir, Guru Nanak, Saibaba, Swami Narayan and Serpent God of pagan belief too. They respect Christians and Muslims who do not like idols and added the names of Allah and Jesus in their bhjans unlike Cartoon Charlie. Sai Baba believers have richly drawn from World book of Prayers which is in my library too though I am not a bhajan Singer in crowds. Hinduism believes in One God, many names, many religions and many ways of worship too. In USA they need not fear Sankaracharyas or many conservative Gurus or go by agama or Tantric worships. They are encouraged by its bold Constitution and amendment No.1, Bill of Rights.
My parents believed in Balaji and named me SRINIVASAN and I believe in OM. Recently Obama said USA is "one Nation, many Gods". Hindu American Temples have implemented his new-found policy long before his existence and the name! You see in Hindu Temples besides cluster of Hindu divines and avatars, Buddha, Mahavir, Guru Nanak, Saibaba, Swami Narayan and Serpent God of pagan belief too. They respect Christians and Muslims who do not like idols and added the names of Allah and Jesus in their bhjans unlike Cartoon Charlie. Sai Baba believers have richly drawn from World book of Prayers which is in my library too though I am not a bhajan Singer in crowds. Hinduism believes in One God, many names, many religions and many ways of worship too. In USA they need not fear Sankaracharyas or many conservative Gurus or go by agama or Tantric worships. They are encouraged by its bold Constitution and amendment No.1, Bill of Rights.
Ganges worship in
India demonstrates this philosophy as revealed by the article below by the
editor IndiaDivine.Org. People of all religions visit Varanasi out of curiosity
or faith as people do in America in visiting Hindu temples. only they do not
follow what goes on and indulge in side talks. Ganges water carries all burnt
sins and worships to its source of One Ocean of Earth called by many names as
it encompasses a particular nation or spot on Earth. I often think of all these
and retire to solitude to meditate on Gayatri Mantra and OM.
Materialistic India
Bares its Soul to the Ganges
It is a scene which has repeated itself every
day for more than three thousand years in this holiest of India’s cities – a
place as ancient as Babylon or Thebes – which Hindus consider to be the beating
heart of their religion.
While modern India rushes headlong to embrace
many of the material aspects of Western capitalism – even Varanasi has an
outlet of McDonald’s – standing on the ‘ghats’ of Varanasi at dawn, it seems as
if time is standing still.
All strands of society are on show – from an
aged scholar who stands motionless up to his neck in the water chanting mantras
to two young fisherman’s boys who, oblivious to the old man’s prayers, are
noisily trading splashes just a few feet away.
For all the material changes of the last
decade, India remains a deeply religious country, with more than 93 per cent of
Indians believing in God according a major survey conducted this year by the
Centre for the Study of Developing Societies in New Delhi.
However to speak to India’s new urban elite,
like the young mobile phone company executives we met a week ago on the upper
reaches of the Ganges, is to wonder whether India will follow Europe into
Godlessness in the century to come.
When
asked to talk about or explain their pujas and
interaction with Mother Ganga, several could only
shrug and answer “Well, that’s what we do”
interaction with Mother Ganga, several could only
shrug and answer “Well, that’s what we do”
It is a debate which pre-occupies many in
India as old social structures are broken down by children who earn more than
their parents and increasingly absorb the attitudes and mores of Western
culture.
However Saurabh Sharma, a 49-year-old IT
specialist who spent several years living in California before retiring to
Varanasi, is among those who believe that the battle for India’s soul is far
from a foregone conclusion.
“The Hindu religion will endure because of its
capacity to reinvent itself and to assimilate new cultures and traditions,” he
says, “Hinduism has shown over the centuries that it is a philosophy that can
adapt to the times, but remain true to its heart.
“In Europe Christianity has become irrelevant
because it is a fixed system, instead the West has embraced the ‘philosophy of
more’ – more cars, more houses, more holidays – but India has no desire to
succumb to the European way.”
The interest in religion is not confined to
the elderly. Among the devotees standing on the ghats is 18-year-old Abishekh
Srivasta, a medical student at Varanasi’s university, who has been sent by his
mother to cast an offering of flowers and sugar into the Ganges. Does he see
any contradiction between his ancient religious faith and his modern scientific
training?
“I believe in both equally,” he says, “I
believe there has to be a balance between the rational world and the religious
world.”
So does he believe, as per Hindu tradition,
that a dip in Mother Ganga will wash away his sins?
“No, I believe that you have to be a good
person. That if you have a pure soul by your words and deeds, then you will
attain ‘moksha’ [enlightenment],” he adds. “My parents believe in [the Goddess]
Durga but I believe only in ‘Om’ the infinite truth that lies behind everything
in the world – we are both religious, but perhaps in different ways.”
The inclusiveness of the Hindu religion is
everywhere on display in Varanasi where people come to ‘Ganga Ma’ for
everything from saying their praying and cremating the dead to washing their
underpants and pestering a living off the tourists.
As we walk the ghat in the morning sun, a holy
man invites us (for a fee, of course) to join him in prayer. Is it right, we
ask the Pandit, that a Christian-born foreigner should join his ceremony which
promises to deliver peace to our families?
“It makes no difference because to us God is
one,” he says applying a crimson dot to our foreheads, “people of all faiths
come to worship here because they believe in the centrality of God that will
endure for eternity.”
After reciting his mantra, including several
of Ma Ganga’s 108 names such as ‘destroyer of poverty’ and a ‘staircase to
heaven’ we ask the old man whether he worries about the gathering forces of
materialism in the new, urban India.
“I am not worried because every human being is
created differently,” he says, “Some men want cars and money, others do not. A
lamp may be a thousand watts or a single watt, but it is true, is it not, that
both give off light?”
--E-Mail sent on January18, 2016
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PULSES
Thinking of the International Year of Pulses I
am reminded of a Hindu ritual included in Upanayana and and Vivaha
(Wedding) ceremonies called Palikaa ceremony. Seeds of rice, black
gram, green gram, sesame and mustard (a group of plants for
balanced food) are soaked in milk and sown in the five different pots by five
Suhaasanees (young girls). On the fourth day of marriage (in the five-days’
marriage of ancient tradition) or at the conclusion of the wedding ceremony
when the seeds have germinated the pots are immersed in a sacred river or pond.
This custom, called, Pancha-paalika, is meant for the protection and prosperity
of the family for whom the function is performed. Incidentally this is asking
for peace through flora and fauna awakening once duty towards environmental
protection and prosperity; Recall the mantras we chant in daily prayers—Oshadhayah
saantih; vanaspatayah saantih It is also symbolic of fertility
praying for good progeny. It is also the Mantra addressed to
Goddess of Fertility seeking for good progeny.
The 68th UN General Assembly declared 2016 the
International Year of Pulses (IYP). United Nations has obliged India with
Yoga last year. This year it supports India's Dhal Roti Chawal Dharma
(Vegetarianism) based on the wisdom of Bhagavad Gita though not in favor of
Go-Samrakshna Dharma(Save the Cow--Calm the Hindus). Bhagavad Gita and Vedas
are against animal protein except Ghee and Milk which are in the sacred
list though depriving the calf of its due share from its mother. So they
are not sure about the Holy Cow war for the have Asvamedha, goat and Bull
sacrifice of the Vedic culture which they gave up after food research!
Madhva stopped goat (Aja) sacrifice. The IYP 2016 aims to heighten public
awareness of the nutritional benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food
production aimed towards food security and nutrition. The Year will create a
unique opportunity to encourage connections throughout the food chain that
would better utilize pulse-based proteins, further global production of pulses,
better utilize crop rotations and address the challenges in the trade of pulses
.
Pulses have double the proteins found in wheat
and triple the amount found in rice. They are also rich in micro nutrients,
amino acids and B-vitamins and they are vital parts of a healthy diet.
Pulses are the key ingredients in many signature regional and national
dishes across the world – from Falafel to Dhal to Chilly and baked beans.
Pulses are affordable alternative to more expensive animal-based protein,
pulses are ideal for improving diets in poorer parts of the world, where
protein sources from milk if often five time more expensive than protein from
plant sources.
Pulse crops such as
lentils, beans, peas and chickpeas are a critical source of plant-based
proteins and amino acids for people around the globe as well as a source of
plant-based protein for animals. Pulses are leguminous plants that have
nitrogen-fixing properties which can contribute to increasing soil fertility
and have a positive impact on the environment. Pulses as part of a healthy diet
to address obesity, as well as to prevent and help manage chronic diseases such
as diabetes, coronary conditions and cancer. Global production of pulses,
better utilizes crop rotations and addresses the challenges in the trade of
pulses.
“This
is the greatest opportunity in a century to give pulses the attention they
deserve. Pulses can help to increase food security for those with
shortages and to tackle the increase of diseases linked to lifestyles such as
obesity and diabetes. Plus, they improve cropping systems and are good
for farmers,” says Hakan Bahceci, Chairman of CICILS. “The International
Year of Pulses will give pulses additional research attention and nutritional
programming, which will lead to dietary uptake. Increased pulse
consumption will grow both healthier people and a healthier planet. We
deeply appreciate the United Nation's dedication to the task.”
Pulses are annual leguminous crops yielding
between one and 12 grains or seeds of variable size, shape and color
within a pod, used for both food and feed. The term “pulses” is limited
to crops harvested solely for dry grain, thereby excluding crops harvested
green for food, which are classified as vegetable crops, as well as those crops
used mainly for oil extraction and leguminous crops that are used exclusively
for sowing purposes (based on the definition of "Pulses and Derived
Products" of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO). India is the largest producer of pulses and also consume. India Pulses
and Grains Association will host a three day mega event for the global pulses
trade and industry in Jaipur in February. Over 800 delegates from India
and across 24 countries including Australia, USA, Canada, Russia, Spain,
Pakistan, Kenya, Myanmar are expected to participate in the Conclave.
Bhagavad Gita has the following to say on
Sattvic type of Food:
“Aayuh sattvabalaarogya
sukha-preeti-vivardhanaah | Rasyaah snighdhaah sthiraa hridayaa aahaaraah saatvikapriyaah
||”— Foods that promote longevity, virtue, strength, health, happiness and joy
are juicy, smooth, substantial and nutritious. Such foods are liked by persons
in the mode of goodness (saatvictype).
One should eat Saatvic food for protecting and
sustaining life like a patient who takes medicine for protection from diseases,
says Mahabharata (12-212-14). Persons in the mode of goodness like Saatvic
foods. One can also become noble person by taking Saatvic food, because one
becomes what one eats.
Please go through my discourse:
--E-Mail sent on January 17, 2016
Some Brahmins of South India
It is quite revealing to know about the origin
and growth of Brahmins particularly in the South who culturally
developed themselves as intellectuals, priests and scholars in
Tamil Nadu or more correctly in the Madras Presidency of British India coming
from or converted by Brahmins of Aryan Caste System. Later with the regional
demarcation of Madras Presidency to four main States, Tamil Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala, we find a number of these Brahmin pockets all over
these four States. They are called by different names and some carry their
surnames indicating these Brahmin sub-sects. They are so numerous and it is
difficult to enlist all of them. Of all the Brahmins in India Tamil Nadu
Brahmins were pushed to forefront thanks to EVR Periyar who tried his hands to
eradicate Brahmins. His first slogan in Murasoli was "if you see a
Brahmin and Cobra together kill the Brahmin first" and "Ariyane!
veliyeru"--Get out Arya. He conveniently quoted :"Go!
Brahmanebhyah" in his slogans Tamils can't help mixing English and Tamil
often! They nmake love in English if you watch Tamil movie. His mission failed
and many migrated to greener pasture like me. His mission to kill Ganesha too
miserably failed causing traffic damage today for every street corner in
Chennai has a Ganesha idol. It is unfortunate other Brahmins elsewhere
lost their popularity in the fight. I have however collected few names
from the attached article as follows:
Group 1. Nambootharies of different
Vedic groups who are glorify Parasurama along with their North
Indian counterparts Bhumihar, Chitpawan and Sarasvat Brahmins.
Group 2. Pushpaka Brahmins of Kerala who show attributes of both
Brahmins and Kshatriyas called Ambalavasis who include
Konkanstha Brahmins, Iyers etc. They also include many sub
castes like Nambisan, Unni, Mittatu, Nambidu etc. There are similar
Brahmins all over India—Chittapawan of Maharashtera, Bhumihara of
Bihar, Mohyal of Punjab and Tyagis of Uttar Pradesh to name a few. Also most of
them belong to Viswamitra Gotra. Puranas say Viswamitra was a Kshatriya by
birth but rose to Brahmarishi Brahmin status by his personal efforts.
It is also interesting to learn about their
contributions to Fine Arts of India.
Group 3. Tuluva Brahmins have their own long story and long
list as mobile and migrant community. Historically they can be grouped as
three: Haige or Haive (North Kannada); Taulava (Dakshina Kannada) and Kerala.
When Parasurama found no Brahmins in the land,
he is said to have elevated the fishermen class to the upper class of Brahmins.
This confirms why some Brahmins believe in eating fish and still claim to be
vegetarians and call themselves Brahmins.
In Tulu Nad Nadu we can find many
migrant Brahmins—Chitpavana, Karada, Konkanastha, Sarasvata and Gowd Sarsvata.
Sarasvatas originally hailed from Punjab. Nairor Nayyar is a surname,
still used by Punjabis which is popular in Kerala. Many are Janardhana
worshipers and it is a popular name for many.
Hebbars who are Panchgramis originally hailed
from Tamil Nadu and followed Ramanuja when he migrated to Karnataka. Some
Hebbars embraced Saivism. Vaishnava Hebbars converted Sudraas to Gowdas
making them followers of Venkataramana of Tirupati.
I have also attached a text which explains why
there is a taboo for foreign travel for Brahmins. I was hesitant to reveal my
foreign travel plans to my orthodox family in those days knowing the
treatment meted out to a distant relative of mine who sailed to England in my
younger days though superficially they were nice to him. They did not like his
style or changed manners. I landed in Germany to take up a scholarship program
for three years and then only informed my family. I am a product of British
India.
I am sure you will enjoy the attached detailed
text. If Udupi Brahmins, Uttara kannadigas Dakshina
Kanndigas, Sarasvats, Sivalli Brahmins, Kerala Brahmins, Hebbars, Smartas
as well as Nairs, Warriors, Unnis, Nambeesans, Gowdas and others want to
know their Background and tradition please go through the attached text.
I know my background as a Srivaishnava follower of Ramanuja which helped me to
describe my family background in my Memoirs. It is good to convey your
background of the past to enjoy the present and leave behind your memoirs
for your children.
--E-Mail sent on January 14, 2016
Hanuman’s figurine in Obama’s Pocket
I have talked enough about Hanuman over several years. In fact I talk too
much on too many subjects. Some e-mails fall on rocky soils and some on fertile
soil too. I go on with my mission in life. Coming from Our
President or a Sadguru or Swamiji and walking with
Rudraksha and Tulasi beads and saffron robes makes the subject more
attentive and interesting as well as religious for Hindus. I may be
rather late in the arena. Church well water is always holy. So
Puranic Hanuman becomes central figure. It goes well with
International Yoga day. I will soon talk about another poor Vedic animal
Garuda. I am not sure Garudi (A gym) in Karanatka comes from Garuda!
Anyhow one day Obama or his successor may take a fancy for this divine eagle
which is also the symbol of USA and also declare Hanuman Jayanti a
Holiday. But Hindus have to decide as to one date for his Jayanti. I
believe the photo below with the Hindu priest, chosen man of wisdomand
priest for the occasion, is about Diwali or deepavali. Diwali
may sooner be declared as National Religious day if Hindus multiply. I
believe "Diw" in Diwali means to shine. Deepa in Deepavali
means light. North Indian chose "to shine" and South Indians
chose "Deepam" as in every religious celebration they like to light
the lamp particularly by a celebrity, especially people from Kerala with
surrounding Rangoli. I am sure Hindutva people would take the subject to
UN to make it International Hanuman Day. This year they
manged with PULSES (IYP) about which I talked about. Hanuman likes
pulses and South Indian Hanuman in particular " Milagu
Vadai", a hard crispy made out of Black gram pulses and pepper. It goes
well with International Year of Pulses, IYP. With this South Indians easily get
a passport to Heaven! They know how to please Gods with Prasadams. Sometimes
Prsaadams are more important than prayers or meditation. You are familiar with
Satya Narayana Vrata! Enjoy the presidential presentation of Ashtasiddhi
Hanuman and Rama Bhakta.
“Hanuman Figurine is President Obama’s
Lucky Charm
A
statuette of Lord Hanuman is among few items that US President Barack Obama
always carries in his pocket and seeks inspiration from whenever he feels tired
or discouraged.
President Obama disclosed this on a YouTube interview which the White House scheduled as a way to reach younger audiences as it promotes Obama’s final State of the Union address on Tuesday.
Asked to show off an item of personal significance during the interview with YouTube creator Nilsen yesterday, 54-year-old Obama pulled from his pockets a series of small totems, each of which he said reminded him “of all the different people I’ve met along the way.”
President Obama disclosed this on a YouTube interview which the White House scheduled as a way to reach younger audiences as it promotes Obama’s final State of the Union address on Tuesday.
Asked to show off an item of personal significance during the interview with YouTube creator Nilsen yesterday, 54-year-old Obama pulled from his pockets a series of small totems, each of which he said reminded him “of all the different people I’ve met along the way.”
It
included rosary beads given to him from Pope Francis, who he met at the White
House this fall; a tiny Buddha statue procured upon him by a monk; a silver
poker chip that was once the lucky charm of a bald, mustachioed biker in Iowa;
a figurine of the Hindu monkey God Hanuman; and a Coptic cross from Ethiopia,
where he visited in July, CNN reported.
“I carry these
around all the time. I’m not that superstitious, so it’s not like I think I
necessarily have to have them on me at all times,” Obama said.
But
he said they do provide some reminders of the long path of his presidency.
“If I feel tired, or I feel discouraged sometimes, I can kind of reach into my pocket and say yeah, that’s something
“If I feel tired, or I feel discouraged sometimes, I can kind of reach into my pocket and say yeah, that’s something
I can overcome,
because somebody gave me the privilege to work on these issues that are going
to affect them,” he said.
Obama,
whose father was a Kenyan and mother a white woman from Kansas, spent initial
days of his life in Indonesia where Hinduism is a popular religion.”
SRADDHA IN GITA AND A GIANT PROJECT ON IT BY A
WESTERNER
I was very
much moved with my spiritual bent of mind to go through the article published
by Huff-post and the spirit of sacrifice that is reproduced below
focusing on the word Sraddha appearing at several places in Bhagavad Gita by a
Western couple. There are many such words in Bhagavad Gita on some of which I
too have focused my attention. Please go through my forthcoming discourse
on Sthitaprajna. Coming from a Western couple makes it more interesting
and seriouness in thinking. Such words cannot be dismissed by a
simple translation and should be read with the context. Zack Braunstein and his
girl-friend have conducted 62 interviews around the country for a
project they are calling "Searching
for Sraddha." They've
met with teachers, writers, Hindu yogis, orthodox Jews, Buddhist monks,
interfaith priests, activists, lawyers, as well as people they've randomly
encountered on the street. I do not know how many countries
and interviews will be needed to go through my 265 discourses and
exclusive E-mails to make an ABC of Hinduism, Hindu Culture,
Hindu philosophy and Spirituality and convert it to a book format. I know the
limitations of a Blog as the poor means for propagation. But I am
helpless with my limited Computer skills that I learned only few years ago.
I had occasions to
attend Bhagavad Gita classes at Ganesha Temple and listen to various
knowledgeable participants. In spite of so much discussion taking
place and wisdom generated
by these Gita devotees and scholars the knowledge that is generated during
these discussions is buried within four walls of the class room limited to few
participants who come and go. I am at the same time surprised how this one word
SHRADDHA made these Western couple so serious? They decided to quit their jobs
and explore what shraddha means to different people around the country. They
embarked on a cross-country journey in September. I do not know how many of
us can do such kind of sacrifice and dwell into unfathomable depth of
Hindu Scriptures? I wish
our Gita Class participants take their discussions seriously,
consolidate them and spread the wisdom generated to people at
large. A short pencil is better
than long memory confined to few intellectuals. That had been the
motivation and purpose in my publication of 265 discourses to American Hindu
community so far, in the Blog in spite of being criticized for too many
E-mails. By some of my active participants. I have walked them
through a panoramic view of Hinduism. I am not at fault.
Sanatana dharma is the culprit with its vast ocean of Vedic
wisdom. Wherever I look, I see its reflection only. I have also
added the wisdom thoughts from others when situation warranted."Yo maam
pasyati sarvatra mayi eva saha pasyati"--one who sees me everywhere
sees me only says the Gita Philosphy. Those who are interested may register with my
Blog and derive the benfit or enroll as active participants.
"Krinvanto Viswamaaryam"-Let
us ennoble the whole world! "Uttishthata Jagrata Charibeti
charaibeti":--Arise! Awake! Move Forward!
What Is The One Thing That Makes You
Who You Are?
Antonia Blumberg Associate Religion Editor, The
Huffington Post
"Braunstein and Sam Wrigglesworth
interviewed Sri Dharma M. in New York, NY.
Zack Braunstein was reading the Bhagavad Gita,
an ancient Hindu scripture, several months back when he stumbled upon a
compelling term: Shraddha, a Sanskrit word that translates loosely
as "faith"
or "devotion" but
can more broadly reflect the driving force within a person's being. The word
seemed to capture something Braunstein had searched for in his own life -- and
he imagined it might resonate with others, as well.
Shortly after Braunstein, a writer and
meditator, and his girlfriend, photographer Sam Wrigglesworth, decided to quit their jobs and
explore what shraddha means to different people around the country. They
embarked on a cross-country journey in September to ask people:
"What is the thing at the center of your
being that if you woke up without you would be a totally different person
living a different life?"
“It’s the hardest question I could think to
ask,” Braunstein told The Huffington Post.
The pair has conducted 62 interviews around
the country, Braunstein said, for a project they're calling "Searching for Shraddha." They've met with
teachers, writers, Hindu yogis, orthodox Jews, Buddhist monks, interfaith
priests, activists, lawyers, as well as people they've randomly encountered on
the street.
Hindu chaplain Gadadhara Pandit Das said faith
is key to what shraddha represents.
"It is upon this faith that we can move
forward in our lives," Das told HuffPost. "For example, we can't know
for sure whether God exists. However, if we choose to have faith then we can
move forward to investigate whether or not there is a God."
It's that inner spark that Braunstein hoped to
uncover in each of his interview subjects.
Sam Wrigglesworth The pair met up with Grandpa
W. for an interview in Woodstock, New York.
“I was curious about the things other people
had as far as convictions or beliefs that were so central to them that the idea
of living without them was unthinkable,” Braunstein said.
Interviews average around 45 minutes to an
hour, Braunstein said, and often go remarkably deep.
“There comes a point when language fails us
and we start to approach the ineffable," Braunstein said.
"Eventually, it’s almost like I’m not in the room anymore. They’re
focusing that inner lens so intensely."
One interviewee depicted on the
website works for the
Fellowship of Reconciliation, an interfaith peace organization. (Braunste and
Wrigglesworth are keeping the subjects semi-anonymous to respect their
privacy.) Reflecting on his work for racial justice and nonviolence, the
reverend said:
I get up every day and I do what I was born to
do. Every day. It’s life-giving, it’s holy, it’s sacred. I get joy out of it.
In the midst of facing tanks and tear gas, I still get joy.
Another man spoke of being raised in a
conservative Mennonite community but later encountering non-Christians when he
went to work with refugees in Vietnam. Many of these people, he said, were
"better pacifists" than some of the Mennonites he knew -- and the
revelation turned his sense of the world on its head.
I had to either say, Life is lying to me,
or I had to say, What I have been taught as to who are the good people and
who are the bad people–I have to go back and relook at that. I think the
God that created this world can’t lie to us through life.
Many of Braunstein's interviews eventually
reach similar conclusions, he said, despite the fact that the subjects come
from a wide variety of faiths and background.
“People talk of this sense of expansiveness,
of love," he said. "People talk about communities in which they’re
not the central figure, of charity and giving. Some people talk about God.”
Sam Wrigglesworth Braunstein and Wrigglesworth
interviewed Connie H. in Beacon, New York.
The pair hopes to end their project in Oregon by
mid-March. Braunstein is planning to write a book based on the interviews and
Wrigglesworth aims to compile a photo book before they wrap up the
project, though, there will be two final interviews to conduct, Braunstein
said. For those, he and Wrigglesworth will have a chance to get in the hot seat
and turn the camera back on themselves".
--January 26, 2016
Garuda Purana
Vedic Sages who cried to the Unknown
with the mantra "Mrityor maa Amritam gamaya" (Lead me from
Death to Immortality!) as well as faithful followers of Puranas who feared God
of Death, Yama were bogged down with the fear of death. Both treated the
subject in their own style. Much of the Garuda Purana deals with issues
connected with death, particularly funeral rites and the metaphysics of
reincarnation. Portions of the Garuda Purana are typically given a holy reading
as funeral liturgy, and those who believe in Puranas will only read this
text as part of funeral rites. Others chant relevant portions from Bhagavad
Gita and Upanishads during funeral rites. For the faithful devotee
of Bhakti Marga (Path of Devotion), however, the workings of death and the
administration of Yamaraja is of relevance to the living as well, and so
Garuda Purana is read as a holy text like meditating on Mrityunjaya
Mantra or praying for the soul or "Ram nam Satya Hai! Satya bholo
Mukti Hai!", chant the name of Lord Sri Rama (or God to reach heaven as
other religions think) to attain salvation!
In Jaimaniya Braahmana (an early Upanishadic
Thought) the deceased are met by a guardian who asks them a question. If they
answer the question correctly they go to an immortal world; if not, they fall
down and stay in an apparently intermediate world in which re-death
eventually reaches them. In both cases, re-death takes place in higher
world, not here on earth. Thus the Braahmana speaks of Punarmrityu (re-death)
in other worlds and not about Punarjanma (re-birth) on Earth which idea caught
up other religions who dwell upon as One time death on Earth, based on
the Decision on the Day of Judgment. This only confirms how other
religions are benefited by Eternal Tradition (Sanatana Dharma) as
to "Life after Death" which have started later heavily
criticizing Hinduism that has adopted later Upanishadic thoughts on Karma and
Punar-janma (Reincarnation) based on further thinking by wise sages.
Science always comes with its latest findings based on research, so are
Upanishads. It is for you to pick the right one appealing to you.
The various subjects covered in Garuda Purana
are:
Table of Contents
1. The Miseries
of the Sinful in this World and the Other
2. The Way of Yama
3. The Torments of Yama
4. The Kinds of Sins which lead to Hell
5. The Signs of Sins
6. The Miseries of Birth of the Sinful
7. Babhruvâhana’s Sacrament for the Departed One
8. The Gifts for the Dying
9. The Rites for the Dying
10. The Collecting of the Bones from the Fire
11. The Ten-Days’ Ceremonies
12. The Eleventh-Day Rite
13. The Ceremony for all the Ancestors
14. The City of the King of Justice
15 The Coming to Birth of People who have done Good
16. The Law for Liberation
2. The Way of Yama
3. The Torments of Yama
4. The Kinds of Sins which lead to Hell
5. The Signs of Sins
6. The Miseries of Birth of the Sinful
7. Babhruvâhana’s Sacrament for the Departed One
8. The Gifts for the Dying
9. The Rites for the Dying
10. The Collecting of the Bones from the Fire
11. The Ten-Days’ Ceremonies
12. The Eleventh-Day Rite
13. The Ceremony for all the Ancestors
14. The City of the King of Justice
15 The Coming to Birth of People who have done Good
16. The Law for Liberation
I wonder whether Garuda Paruna is
an exaggerated text as for as its description of hell is concerned? One
who goes through the portion relating to Crime and Punishment as
revealed in Garuda Purana,one would be more inclined to go with the wisdom of
Vedas and Upanishads. I was once accused when I used the word Mythology to
translate the word Purana. After going though Garuda Purana and Siva
Purana, I may not be wrong in calling Puranas as Mythology! Somehow
Garuda Purana reading has been confined only to the period of obsequies. I
believe there are many portions in Garuda Purana which would build in us
comfort and not fear and wisdom not mere stories. I have not come across them.
I would much rather recite Bhagavad Gita than this portion of Garuda
Purana for the holy reading during funeral liturgy.
Please read the attached text and store it for
your reference, as well as my discourse on Naraka, Svarga and Liberation
as ensured by Upanishads. This topic is very popular with Global Readers and so I draw your particular
attention if you have missed it. Sanatana Dharma guarantees
salvation for all; it is only question of time and depends on the individuals
for the final exhaustion of all Karmas and attaining the status of
Jeevan-mukta to ultimately merge with the source, Supreme Spirit which I have
discussed often unlike so called religions. Hinduism with its elaborate rituals
and blind worships of late has become more a religion
than Dharma where Dharma roughly translates to Manava Dharma or Human Values.
--January 27, 2016
VEDAS SOLVE BERMUDA TRIANGLE MYSTERY
Hindus often talk of Chidambara Rahasyam and
Westerners talk about Bermuda Triangle when they have no convincing
reasons to explain a mystery that puzzles them. They
both believe in sea monsters and devils.
Bermuda
Triangle or the Devil’s Triangle, is a region in the western part of the North
Atlantic Ocean, where a number of aircrafts and ships are said to have
disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The area referred to as the
Bermuda Triangle, or Devil’s Triangle, covers about 500,000 square miles of ocean
off the southeastern tip of Florida. When Columbus sailed through the
area on his first voyage to the New World, he reported that a great flame of
fire (probably a meteor) crashed into the sea one night and that a strange
light appeared in the distance a few weeks later. He also wrote about erratic
compass readings, perhaps because at that time a sliver of the Bermuda Triangle
was one of the few places on Earth where true north and magnetic north lined
up. William Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest,” which some scholars claim was
based on a real-life Bermuda shipwreck, may have enhanced the area’s aura of
mystery. An especially infamous tragedy occurred in March 1918 when
the USS Cyclops, a 542-foot-long Navy cargo ship with over 300 men and 10,000 tons
of manganese ore onboard, sank somewhere between Barbados and the Chesapeake
Bay. The Cyclops never sent out an SOS distress call despite being equipped to
do so, and an extensive search found no wreckage. “Only God and the sea know
what happened to the great ship,” U.S. President Woodrow Wilson
later said. In 1941 two of the Cyclops’ sister ships
similarly vanished without a trace along nearly the same route.
Many myths and beliefs surround Bermuda
mystery. There is no single theory that solves the mystery. Although
storms, reefs and the Gulf Stream can cause navigational challenges there,
maritime insurance leader Lloyd’s of London does not recognize the Bermuda
Triangle as an especially hazardous place. Neither does the U.S. Coast Guard,
which says: “In a review of many aircraft and vessel losses in the area over
the years, there has been nothing discovered that would indicate that
casualties were the result of anything other than physical causes. No
extraordinary factors have ever been identified.”
While you find no logical reasoning or
proper explanation in science for the existence and the calamities
associated with it, Rigveda seems to have the answer. Asya Vamasya Sukta
in Rig Veda states :”When Earth gave birth to Mars, and Mars separated from his
mother, her thigh got injured and she became imbalanced (Earth rotated in its
axis) and to stop it Godly doctors, Aswini Kumars poured iron into the
triangular shaped injury and Earth got fixed in her current position. That is
why Earth’s axis is bent at a particular angle. That triangular shaped
injury on our planet which was filled with iron went onto become Bermuda
Triangle. Iron stored inside earth for years becomes natural magnet and Bermuda
disappearances, fog, high and low temperature water streams colliding are a
result of this. Simhika, the gigantic demon had the power to attract
object's shadow flying over ocean and pull it into the waters and devour
them. Many Westerners also have a belief that calamity in Bermuda
Traiangle zone is a devilish act. However, Ramayana speaks
of the Sea on the way to Lanka. The devil Simhika in
Ramayana is not linked to Bermuda Triangle Mystery though Hindus
exaggerate it saying over millions of years these positions of changed.
They also say world was all one piece at one time and America was
Aindra kanda. Sankaracharya refers to California as Kapilaaranya
(apabrahmsa-distorted word) citing nearby Ash island and Horse
Island linking it to Sagara and Bhagirata story. Brahmanda Purana
(composed more than 5000 years ago) and Rig Veda (written more than 23000 years
ago) clearly state that the planet Mars was born out of Earth. That is why he
is called as Bhauma (‘son of Bhumi’) or Kuja (Ku = Earth + Ja = Born out of) in
Sanskrit.
Astonishingly in Tantric practices Mars
Yantra (Amulet) for Kuja-dosha Parihara (bad effects due to planet Mars)
prescribed by astrologers is triangle (tilted) shaped. In that logic,
inhabitants in Mars are siblings of all humans born on planet Earth.
Mars also controls all land related issues in human lives like Real Estate
Business, Agriculture, Sibling etc. according to astrologers.
--E-Mail sent on January 30, 2016
What is Real Happiness?
Who am I? Why am
I here? What is the purpose in life? How then I shall live?--these are the
questions for which we try to find answers in our religious faith and spiritual
pursuits. With our materialistic approach we all strive to be happy all the
time. “There is more to Life than being happy. Happiness without meaning
characterizes a relatively shallow, self-absorbed, or even selfish life
in which things go well, needs and desires are easily satisfied, and
difficult or taxing estrangements are avoided” says a Western journalist Emily
Smith. That kind of Happiness comes and goes but Meaningful Happiness has
longevity. Some of the things that give us happiness in life are
sacrifice, friendship, sustaining career, raising children and family
that require commitment; these are also not easy. But
Meaningful Happiness to our life is much deeper and difficult. Being
human always points, and is directed to do something or someone other than
oneself. The more one forgets himself by giving himself a cause to serve or
another person, the more human he becomes. This is well described in Upanishads
and Bhagavad Gita as Pravritti. Material Happiness is associated with
taking but Pravritti Marga teaches both taking and giving. It makes happiness
more meaningful. Here stops the Western philosophy of a
Meaningful Happiness.
Western Religions
believe in one time punishment or reward and says humans have “One life to
live; Make it more meaningful”. It also believes that all their sins are taken
care of if they lead a Meaningful Life. Those who do not believe in it are
permanently doomed. But Upanishads say humans go through
cycle of births and deaths and it is an opportunity given in each
birth to reduce the number of births and deaths and reach the final reward of
Perennial Joy by combining with the source from which it came.
They also say everyone can be saved without being permanently condemned.
Based on one’s good performance one can move faster towards this goal.
Otherwise this cycle is a long and winding path . This calls for
judicious combination of Pravritti Marga and Nivritti Marga to spiritually
elevate oneself in each life and ultimately attain perfection. Thus we find in
life few rare births, who pursue only Nivritti Marga to reach the final goal.
But majority needs to lead a life of Pravritti and Nivriitti, more focused
on Nivritti in their latter part of life after achieving success in
Material Happiness as well as Meaningful Happiness. This Nivritti may be
roughly defined as spiritual aspiration in life. Meaningful Happiness is
happiness based on Manava (human) Dharma in Hindu Concept which Western
philosophy defines as Human Values.
Please watch for
my forth coming discourse: "Judicious blending of Pravritti and
Nivritti leads to Sreyas(Perennial Joy)
--E-Mail sent on February 2016
Nine
Interfaith Weddings bring religions together
Please find
below nine Interfaith Weddings. Though Hindus and the religions sprung out of
it are only 2 to 3% they seem to be the most progressive group
among religions who are promoting mostly Inter-faith weddings. In due course
the Hindu Religion as practiced by them today will vanish and Hinduism in its
present form will be wiped out including temple worship
from US soil after few generations. Hindu Americans more
often than not find their partners in Christianity which is the major religion
of the country because of major attractions of easiness, color, beauty and
majority group of affluence and prosperity rather than religious attraction.
They initially undergo both type of weddings and take several oaths but soon
forget them. Soon they become uninterested in both the religions they come form
and look more towards Atheism which is alarmingly growing in USA. US Courts say
Atheism is a Religion as I have discussed in one of my topics. The children
born out of Inter-faith weddings are more likely to join this group and enjoy
life and privileges rather than submitting to rigid ritualistic religions.
Hindus often pride in saying Hinduism is Not a Religion but not in their
practice. This will not buy the love of their children to sustain Hinduism. You
have seen what happened to European Cultures in America over 300 years or so?
American Hindus who are Hindutva sympathizers cry wolf and are worried about
forceful conversion of the poor and low castes in India to Christianity as if
they are the guardians of Hindus in India. They missed the bus when vast
numbers were converted by force to Islam whom they could not buy back! Instead
they promoted Casteism and continuing still to gain political advantage.
They are having all the trouble because of this. Hindus in India should know
what is best for them.
Hindu
Americans have come a long way in removing the caste and traditional barriers
and have welcomed Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism etc., which sprung out of it to
their fold. It also welcomes several cult based groups into its fold to call
them all as Hindu Americans and also provide facilities for worship within
their One Temple for Many Traditions. Abrahamic religions are not yet ready.
Unfortunately American Hindus are marching and merging in it. This will
not save Hinduism unless they revive the original concept of Sanatana Dharma,
practice it and lead others. Is it time to start Inter-faith dialogue and work
our way through spirituality to Universal Oneness? Your views on the subject
are invited.
For
interfaith couples, marriage ceremonies represent so much more than tying the
knot.
01/29/2016
01:34 pm ET
Carol Kuruvilla Religion Associate Editor, The
Huffington Post
Noor al-mosawi
Planning
a wedding is notoriously
stressful. But for the growing number of
people who are
falling in love with a partner of a different faith, a wedding can come with
the added challenge of trying to decide how to honor their two (or more)
religions.
Should couples have one ceremony that brings their faiths together, or two separate events? Who will officiate? How much say should the parents have?
The Huffington Post reached out to nine interfaith couples who spent weeks thinking about these questions. From using a Muslim peace greeting during a Catholic ceremony to reading poems by the Sufi mystic Rumi in both Persian and English, here are some of the creative ways these couples celebrated their religious identities on their big day.
Should couples have one ceremony that brings their faiths together, or two separate events? Who will officiate? How much say should the parents have?
The Huffington Post reached out to nine interfaith couples who spent weeks thinking about these questions. From using a Muslim peace greeting during a Catholic ceremony to reading poems by the Sufi mystic Rumi in both Persian and English, here are some of the creative ways these couples celebrated their religious identities on their big day.
1) Hardik and Michelle's Hindu and
Jewish Wedding
As we started
planning our interfaith wedding, we discovered many similarities between Hindu
and Jewish customs. We therefore decided to integrate both of our traditions
into one fusion ceremony that was co-officiated by the Maharaj and the Rabbi.
To us, this symbolized the joining of our cultures going forward."
2) Harneet and Rouella's Sikh and Catholic Wedding
2) Harneet and Rouella's Sikh and Catholic Wedding
We decided that since both of our religions
are a key part of our identities, we would honor them both. As such, we had
both a Sikh and a Catholic ceremony. The Sikh ceremony was in the morning in a
Gurudwara and the Catholic ceremony in the afternoon in a church. Leading up to
the wedding, we also had a number of cultural traditions that we did, including
a Mangalorean Roce, Punjabi Haldi and Mehendi. During the reception following the
ceremonies, we had a combination of Mangalorean and Punjabi traditions included
in the reception."
-- Harneet Singh and Rouella Joan Mendonca, Seattle, Washington
-- Harneet Singh and Rouella Joan Mendonca, Seattle, Washington
3) Shannon and Seema's Hindu and
Christian Wedding
Since Seema is Hindu and I am Christian, it
took a lot of time, discussion and planning to figure out the right way to
honor both of our faiths. For the wedding we chose to have a Pandit (a
Hindu priest) to honor the traditions and ceremony of the Hindu culture... To
honor the Christian faith we chose to get married in front of our family and
loved ones, exchange vows and rings... The only thing we didn't have was
Scripture from the Bible."
--Shannon and Seema Paul, Long Beach, California
--Shannon and Seema Paul, Long Beach, California
4) Medina and Frank's Christian and
Muslim Wedding
Medina Fredericks :"Frank and I chose to
have a civil ceremony officiated by our friend, Rabbi Joshua Stanton. Although
a rabbi married us, we did honor both our faith traditions. Frank’s two older
sisters read verses from the Bible, and my uncle read a passage from the
Qur’an. Since my mother is from Afghanistan, my two older brothers read a
marriage poem by Rumi in both Persian and English. We also included elements
from an Afghan Wedding Ceremony later during the reception such as putting
mehndi on the hand, drinking sweet juice and eating Afghan sweets to bless the
marriage."
-- Medina and Frank Fredericks, Queens, New
York
5) Lena and Buzz's Buddhist and Christian
Wedding
Leo Druker: "On our wedding day in Leesburg,
VA, we integrated the foundations of love and peace from both the Christian and
Buddhist traditions. We had a Vietnamese Buddhist monk from my mother's temple
come to bless us with chanting while my father's Presbyterian pastor provided a
message on authentic, unconditional love. The ceremony was a powerful example
of acceptance, as we witnessed the monk and my pastor stand side-by-side
overlooking the Potomac River. As a couple, we wholeheartedly believe that the
common denominator of any religion is the transformative power of love."
-- Lena Linh Franklin & Buzz Wehunt,
Atlanta, Georgia
6) Venay and Kristi's Christian and
Hindu Wedding
We chose to honor both of our faiths in our
wedding by having a dual ceremony. As guests arrived the scene was set for a
traditional Indian ceremony. We had a dear family friend of the groom's father,
Uncle Madhu, lead us through the rituals of a Hindu marriage ceremony as we
paid respect to our families, exchanged a mangalya (wedding necklace) and
performed the sapthapadi (seven steps around the fire). After a short
intermission where chai and samosas were served to guests, we gathered everyone
again for a traditional 'American' ceremony. The groom's uncle and godfather
was ordained and married us in a very traditional format including scripture,
poetry, a ring exchange and blessings."
-- Venay and Kristi Nyamathi, San
Francisco, California
7) Katie and Shaan's Catholic and
Muslim Wedding
We actually had two interfaith wedding
ceremonies. It was important to us that both ceremonies be a fusion of our two
faiths and cultural backgrounds, to fully represent the unity of joining our
lives together in marriage. The religious
ceremony (held 9/11/11)
was officiated by a Catholic priest and a Muslim imam, and held in the
University of Chicago chapel used both for Catholic services and Muslim Friday
prayer. We had readings from the Bible and a Muslim devotional poem. The
ceremony included both the traditional Catholic Rite of Marriage and a Nikah,
traditional Islamic marriage contract signing. We were also aware of the
significance of the date and felt like our ceremony was a symbolic counter to
the horrific acts a decade prior.
The legal marriage ceremony (held the day before, on 9/10/11) was officiated by an interfaith minister. She spoke of the commonalities between our two faiths (both Abrahamic, worship the same God, similar values, recognition of Jesus, deference of Mary). We began the ceremony by passing the sign of peace (an important Catholic ritual) that tied in the Muslim greeting of 'As-salaamu Alaikum,' meaning 'Peace be with you.' This ceremony also included some sayings from the Prophet and scripture from the Bible. Processional music was performed by strings (cello, violin) and a tabla and sitar (nod to Shaan's Pakistani heritage, which was also celebrated the night prior in a henna party)."
The legal marriage ceremony (held the day before, on 9/10/11) was officiated by an interfaith minister. She spoke of the commonalities between our two faiths (both Abrahamic, worship the same God, similar values, recognition of Jesus, deference of Mary). We began the ceremony by passing the sign of peace (an important Catholic ritual) that tied in the Muslim greeting of 'As-salaamu Alaikum,' meaning 'Peace be with you.' This ceremony also included some sayings from the Prophet and scripture from the Bible. Processional music was performed by strings (cello, violin) and a tabla and sitar (nod to Shaan's Pakistani heritage, which was also celebrated the night prior in a henna party)."
-- Katie McHugh Akbar
and Shaan Akbar, Pasadena, California
8) Rhowena and Veeren's Hindu and
Catholic Wedding
Noor Al-Mosawi:
"We honored our two faiths in many ways on our wedding day. First,
we made the choice to both wear, including our entire wedding party, fully
traditional (with a bit of a modern twist) attire for each ceremony. We had all
our outfits made in India and the Philippines. Did we mention that we performed
BOTH ceremonies on the same day? This
way our guests and family members could enjoy the full experience of our faiths
and cultures at the same time. For the Hindu ceremony, we chose Pundit Sharma,
who spoke perfect English and Sanskrit so he could explain/translate the entire
ceremony to everyone. This gave everyone (including ourselves) the opportunity
to be connected with what was happening and be able to relate to the different
aspects of the Hindu ceremony. For our Catholic wedding, Father Ben of Our Lady
of the Assumption Church embraced our Hindu guests and made it a point to
verbally welcome them at the commencement of our ceremony. We also served our
guests with authentic Indian and Philippine dishes for breakfast, lunch and
dinner."
-- Rhowena Adolfo and Veeren Patel, Toronto,
Canada
9) Jessica and Neil's Hindu, Christian
and Jewish Wedding
We tried to incorporate both mine and my
husband’s religious and cultural backgrounds in our wedding day by holding two
separate ceremonies in one day. A 'western' ceremony, where I wore a white
wedding dress, which incorporated both Christian and Jewish elements to
represent my family, ending in the
Jewish tradition of breaking the glass to a chorus of 'Mazel Tov!' We followed
this with a traditional Hindu ceremony officiated by a Hindu Pandit where my
husband rode up on a horse to meet my family, and we walked around a fire. We
both wore traditional Indian outfits; him in a sherwani and me in a colorful
lehenga. During the reception we continued with the Jewish traditions by
dancing the hora and getting lifted up on chairs, while later we were
entertained by an Indian dance group. Our Canadian and Indian influence even
carried into the meal, where guests had a choice of North American cuisine, or
fusion Indian dishes. It was a long day with two ceremonies and a lot of
things to do and see, but well worth it as it was a memorable day for not only
us but also our guests."
-- Jessica and Neil Bhasin, Toronto,
Canada
--E -Mail sent on february2, 2016
Simple Living
High Thinking
Spiritually inclined Hindus
struggle hard to lead a life of “Simple Living and High Thinking” unlike the
materialistic thinking majority. Both Simple Living and High Thinking are aimed
at leading a life of Happiness. But people devoted to spiritual pursuits look
for different kind of superior happiness unlike the materialistic majority and
those who focus only on simple living. This happiness is the Perennial Joy to
merge with the source called Moksha or Liberation. This needs Nivritti Marga.
We all need happiness in life but Hinduism
says this happiness should be acquired with Dharma in focus. Hinduism has four
wonderful goals in life called Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama
(enjoy life) and Moksha (Liberation). Here you see Dharma comes first. It only
means we should enjoy wealth and pleasures with focus on Dharma on which we
talked about in the past. Hindu way of simple living is Pravritti Marga
(a life focused with selfless service while enjoying happiness). High
Thinking is leading a Pravritti Marga with more focus on Nivritti Marga
(towards spiritual uplift and progress towards Liberation while leading simple
living). We will talk about Pravritti and Nivritti tomorrow. Please enjoy
the topic below more detailed on Simple Living and High Thinking as
received from India.Divine.Org:
"If one is truly serious about achieving
the ultimate goal of human life by perfecting his spiritual inquiry, he must
adopt a life style that is conducive to the cultivation of self-realizing
knowledge. This life style can be beautifully summarized in the phrase ‘simple
living and high thinking’. Here simple living is in relation to maintenance of
the body, and high thinking is in relation to the aim of one’s intellectual
pursuits.
In order to exist in this world it is
necessary to maintain one’s bodily existence, but as will be shown later,
maintenance of the body is not progress towards the goal of life. Maintenance
just allows one to perform the activity of existing in a particular body, which
does not denote any accomplishment of a goal. This maintenance of the body
involving mainly our activities of eating, sleeping, mating and defending is
not in itself any great feat or achievement. Even the animals are engaging in
these activities of bodily maintenance. The cows also eat, the birds also mate,
the hogs also sleep and the dogs also defend. Simply engaging in these
activities of maintenance does not actually make one human. For this reason,
one who is interested in achieving the real, permanent goal of life does not
focus solely on these activities of bodily maintenance, but he rather focuses
primarily on the path of perfection. This is why he adopts the process of
simple living.
The basic principle of simple living is
accepting whatever is necessary for maintaining the body, so that we can use
the energized body for higher philosophical pursuits directed towards our pure
self-identity. One only accepts that which is necessary for existence and does
not take anything that is an unnecessary complication to life. In this way, by
the process of living simply, one will be able to, if properly directed, arrive
at the point of ‘high thinking’, the actual human essence.
What exactly is the meaning of ‘high thinking’?
High thinking entails the comprehension of the self as distinct from the
temporary material body. Why should such an understanding be considered high?
The first reason is because it is the factual reality of existence. Secondly,
one’s vision is not focused simply on the low activities of bodily maintenance
but on the higher realm of the eternal self. The soul is the actual energy
source of the entire body. The soul is constitutionally superior to the dull,
unconscious matter. Thus, the understanding of the superior energy, the
conscious soul, is higher than the understanding of the inferior energy, the
unconscious matter.
This body that we generally identify with is
exactly like a vehicle being driven by a conscious driver. A car by itself is
nothing but dead matter, but when a driver operates the vehicle, it appears to
produce life symptoms (movement, production of by-products, signs of
intellectual control, etc.) In the same manner, when the conscious soul makes
contact with the material vehicle known as the body, the body appears to be
possessing life. Factually, it is the soul within the body that is producing
the life-symptoms. In the Gita this is stated as follows:
yatha
prakashayaty ekah
kritsnam lokam imam ravih
kshetram kshetri tatha kritsnam prakashayati bharata
kshetram kshetri tatha kritsnam prakashayati bharata
“Just as the sun alone illuminates the
universe, so does the living entity, one within the body, illuminate the entire
body by consciousness! ”
As the sun is present everywhere in the form
of its energy, light, in the same way, the soul is experienced throughout the
entire body in the form of its energy, consciousness. Thus consciousness is the
symptom of the soul.
This consciousness is the eternal companion of
the soul. As one cannot separate heat from fire, one also cannot separate
consciousness from the soul. The soul, along with its consciousness, is
eternal. They do not cease to exist even after the body has come to an end.
At this point one may wonder, “What happens to
the soul when the body is finished?”
As a person puts on new garments, giving up
old and useless ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up
old and useless ones. Throughout one’s life the body is slowly but surely
deteriorating, coming closer and closer to its end. When that body is no longer
able to accommodate the soul, the nature provides the soul with another
suitable body according to his previous actions. As the embodied soul
continuously passes in this body from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul
similarly passes into another body at the time of death. One who understands
this fundamental truth of the self – that the eternal soul is separate and
distinct from the temporary material body – becomes a self-realized soul. This
stage of self-realization is the culmination of the process of high thinking
backed by a dedicated life style of simple living directed towards the aim of
life.
Saraswati Stuti
Vasant
Panchami is associated
with Devi Saraswati worship. A
very rare Saraswati Stuti from Skanda Purana, Nagara Khanda, Chapter
46 titled Sarasvati Tirtha Mahatmyam
appears as part of Hatakeshvara Mahatmyam which is circulated.
Devi
Saraswati mentions that
one who prays to Her on 8th/14th Lunar days (Ashtami/ Chaturdashi) after
due holy dip at River Sarasvati (which is now extinct) gets all wishes
fulfilled with Her grace!
May
we pray to Goddess Saraswati on Vasant Panchami with this rare hymn!
THE
HYMN ON SARASWATI
sūta uvāca -
|| dhyānam ||
cakāra bhāratīṁ devīṁ svayameva caturbhujām || 1 ||
dadhatīṁ dakṣiṇe haste kamalaṁ sumanoharam |
akṣamālāṁ tathā 'nyasmiñ jita-tāraka-varcasam || 2 ||
kamaṇḍaluṁ tathā 'nyasmin divya-vāri-prapūritam |
pustakaṁ ca tathā vāme sarva-vidyā-samudbhavam || 3 ||
|| stotram ||
sadasad devī yatkiñcid bandha mokṣātmakaṁ padam |
tatsarvaṁ guptayā vyāptaṁ tvayā kāṣṭhaṁ yathā 'gninā || 4 ||
sarvasya-siddhi-rūpeṇa tvaṁ-janasya-hṛdi-sthitā |
vācā-rūpeṇa-jihvāyāṁ jyotī-rūpeṇa-cakṣuṣī || 5 ||
bhakti-grāhyāsi deveśī tvamekā bhuvana-traye |
śaraṇāgata dīnārta paritrāṇa parāyaṇe || 6 ||
tvaṁ-kīrtis tvaṁ-dhṛtir medhā-tvaṁ bhaktis-tvaṁ prabhā-smṛtā |
tvaṁ-nidrā tvaṁ-kṣudhā kīrtiḥ sarva-bhūta-nivāsinī || 7 ||
tuṣṭiḥ puṣṭir vapuḥ prītiḥ svadhā svāhā vibhāvarī |
ratiḥ prītiḥ kṣitir gaṅgā satyaṁ dharmo manasvinī || 8 ||
lajjā śāntiḥ smṛtir dakṣā kṣamā gaurī ca rohiṇī |
sinīvālī kuhū rākā devamātā ditis tathā || 9 ||
brahmāṇī vinatā lakṣmīḥ kadrūr dākṣāyaṇī śivā |
gāyatrī cā'tha sāvitrī kṛṣir vṛṣṭiḥ śrutiḥ kalā || 10 ||
balānāḍī tuṣṭi kāṣṭhā rasanā ca sarasvatī |
yatkiñcit triṣu lokeṣu bahutvādyatra kīrtitam || 11 ||
gandharvāḥ kinnarā devāḥ siddha-vidyādharoragāḥ || 12 ||
yakṣa guhyaka bhūtāśca daityā ye ca vināyakāḥ |
tvat-prasādena te sarvaṁ saṁsiddhiṁ paramāṁ gatāḥ || 13 ||
tathā'nye'pi bahutvādye na mayā parikīrtitāḥ |
ārādhitāstu kṛcchreṇa pūjitāśca suvistaraiḥ || 14 ||
harantu devatāḥ pāpaṁ anye tvaṁ kīrtitā 'pi ca || 15 ||
sarasvatyuvāca -
yo māṁ atra sthitāṁ nityaṁ snātvā 'tra salile śubhe |
aṣṭamyāṁ ca caturdaśyāṁ pūjayiṣyati mānavaḥ |
tasyā'haṁ vāñchitān kāmān saṁpradāsyāmi pārthiva || 16 ||
|| iti śrīskānde mahāpurāṇe nāgara-khaṇḍe hāṭakeśvara-kṣetramāhātmye
sarasvatī-tīrtha-māhātmya-varṇanaṁ-nāmā'dhyāye śrīsarasvatī stutiḥ sampūrṇam ||
--E-mail sent on February 10, 2016
Know
all Faiths and Traditions of Society You Live-in
Today
is Ash Wednesday.
Yesterday was Mardi Gras. Do you know what they are? Do you know why I talk
about them? Whatever it is, it is good to know all traditions of the Society we live in. It may sometimes
come to your help when your tradition is criticized! You may be wondering what
Hindu Reflections has to do with it?
I attended Christian School all through
my school days. I was teased or abused for wearing Namam on the forehead
all the time. But both by my Christian friend including teachers, and
Hindus who did not fail to pay their salute to Ganesha in front of our school
and take Vibhuti Prasad did not mind Vibhuti on the forehead if any had it.
I thought probably Ganesha was more powerful! I then did not know
about Brhaman or Atman and Ganesha was the boosted deity of Puranas
neglecting Subhramanya hailed in Ramayana? In order to avoid criticism I wiped
out Namam from my forehead everyday on leaving the house and before
entering the school. Hindus were also forced to attend Christian prayers
to begin the day. If we did not attend the prayer to start the day we were
given a tardy note. We were often criticized for our Pagan practices if they
did not like! EVR Periyar had started his Dravidian Movement just then.
Both Christian and my Non-Brahmin friends were also up against my
Pigtail or Choti =which I could not avoid.
They did not bother Sardarjis as they were afraid of their strengrth to
fight back! My grandfather who was very religious managed with his
turban in the University. I was caught between Periyavals at home
and Periyar Followers, Christian teachers and friends in the Public!
I did not know then why Vibhuti was tolerated for I did not
know significance of Ash Wednesday then being in Protestant School?
Probably many of you know that Hindus who are
Non-vegetarians do not eat meat on Fridays like Catholics and also on specific
religious days. Christians and Muslims also observe Fasting on certain
religious days. Only thing is Hinduism is well organized with its
periodic Ekadasi and Amavasya and specific religious days to
do fasting. This periodic fasting on regular basis is more advantageous health-wise(recommended
by Ayurveda) unlike Christian and Muslim fasting and feasting which is
done at a stretch for 40 days or a month in the year. They believe in get
it all out at one time and please the Lord!
Christians also have specific
religious days for atonement of their sins. Hindus atone for their sins
every day and in all prayers. "Sarvaparadham kshamasva" (forgive all
my sins) and "Narayana iti samarpayami", Krishnarpanamastu" (I
surrender everything at the feet of the Lord" are the usual favorite
ending of prayers. Probably Christians are too busy to atone each day and in
all prayers.
This year, Mardi Gras falls on February 9,
2016. As it is commonly understood, Mardi Gras is a raucous
celebratory affair
that serves as a final shebang before the 40-day abstinence of Lent. But there
are several key characteristics of this holiday that may have gotten lost in
transition.
1. Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday," is
the culmination of Carnival, which by its Latin roots means the "removal
of flesh/meat." Christians often abstained from
dairy and meat products
altogether during this period -- which of course would make for much leaner
Carnival season than people today celebrate. Pope Gregory XIII made Mardi Gras
an official holiday in 1582.
2. Mardi Gras only became a holiday
in 1582, when Pope
Gregory XIII placed it on the Gregorian calendar on the day before Ash
Wednesday. The holiday arrived in North America in the late 17th century with
the LeMoyne brothers who had come to defend France's claim on Louisiana.
3. That said, Mardi Gras may have roots in pagan spring
festivals that date back
thousands of years. The ancient Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia
both included traditions of feasting and
masquerades,
which are components of the modern Mardi Gras festival, too.
4. In some countries Mardi Gras is called
"Shrove Tuesday" after the term shrive, which means
"to confess." This refers to the unofficial custom of going
to confession
on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday as a way of shedding sin and guilt before
the spiritual journey of Lent.
5. Perhaps most famously celebrated in New
Orleans and Rio de Janeiro, Mardi Gras is a highly international
holiday. Some of the
other major celebrations take place in Germany (as "Karneval"), Italy
(as "Martedi Grasso"), Trinidad (as "J'Ouvert"), and Mexico
(as "Martes de Carnaval").
Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Lenten season, a period of 40-some days focused
on spiritual purification and repentance. It is a day of fasting
for Catholic and Anglican churches. Ash Wednesday gets its
name from the practice of the distribution of ashes upon the foreheads of
Christians.
If we are criticized for Pagan practices
please watch what the so called advanced religions believe in. It is good to
know other cultures when we live in a multi-cultured and multi- religious
society. You are better equipped to face criticism.
--E Maiol
sent on Ash Wednesday
Why are Indian gurus selling noodles?
Follow the Modern Gurus. Enter their
Gurukulas. It may cost a lot! But it is worth the trouble. You will soon
be double rich--Material wealth and Modern Spirituality to freely travel round
the Globe with saffron robes and Rudrakshi Mala. You may even build as
Ashrams in as many countries as you can! If not convinced by what I say please
go through the BBC News column from Soutik Biswas Delhi correspondent
reproduced below:
“Image
copyright Getty Images Image caption Baba Ramdev's Patanjali is one of India's
fastest-growing consumer goods companies
Why do Indian gurus sell noodles - and much
more?
Popular yoga guru Baba Ramdev is behind one of India's
fastest-growing consumer goods companies. Forbes magazine calls his Patanjali
empire the "Indian
version of Body Shop".
The saffron-robed, bearded Mr Ramdev sells
honey, health drinks, fruit juices, sweets, cookies, spices, tea, flour,
muesli, pickles, soap, balms, shampoos - and noodles.
An avid supporter of Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, he has taken on Nestle's hugely popular Maggi instant noodles. Despite
early concerns about
the quality of his noodles,
he is promoting the brand as a healthy alternative to similar food products.
The guru's noodles are cooking well in the market.
Thriving business: Encouraged by Mr Ramdev's commercial
success, another guru, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, has unveiled his own
line of food products.
Better known for his bling and for tacky
performances on stage and cinema as a rotund rock star and bike-riding hero,
the guru will now also sell pickles, honey, bottled water, and yes, noodles.
The guru, who runs a thriving sect, wants the
"nation to become healthier" by consuming "organic
products". The controversial leader lists 117 "humanitarian
activities" on his website, including efforts to eliminate homosexuality,
running an international blood bank, promoting vegetarianism and feeding birds.
Down in southern India, Sri Sri Ravishankar, a guru popular with the middle and
upper classes, has a line of ayurvedic (traditional Indian medicine) products,
including toothpaste, protein shampoos, herbal tea, anti-diabetic tablets,
balms and syrups, produced out of a "world-class" facility in
Bangalore.
The country's most famous woman guru Mata Amritanandamayi runs hospitals, a TV channel,
engineering colleges and business schools, among other things.
Meanwhile, Sri Satya Sai Baba, an orange-robed guru with an afro
hairstyle, left behind a multi-billion dollar empire, straddling hospitals,
clinics and universities, when he died in 2011.
Image caption Baba Ramdev's noodles posed a challenge
to better-known multinational brands Image copyright AFP Image caption Gurus
have shown remarkable political nous
Indian gurus have long leveraged their mass followings and networks - political and business
- for commercial gain.
In the early days, they made money mediating
between the east and west. Mahesh Yogi, for example, sold yoga and
meditation to millions of foreigners. But times have changed, and the gurus -
living gods to the legions of their supporters - have adapted nimbly.
Key Role: With more than a little help from
politicians, the gurus have gone from strength to strength. It obviously
helps that their followers easily translate into captive markets for the
products they want to make and sell. Their home-grown marketing savvy helps
them build modern-day consumer goods empires. Most make Ayurvedic and organic
products, tapping into the country's ancient heritage.
Most of the successful gurus are known to be
supporters of the incumbent governments, and display remarkable political nous.
"Gurus - spurious or genuine - are key
players in the business and politics of spirituality," says Lise McKean,
anthropologist and author of Divine Enterprise, a book that examines the
business side of the Hindu religion.
"The activities of many gurus and their
organzations in the 1980s and 1990s are related to the simultaneous expansion
of transnational capitalism in India and abroad."
Image copyright AFP Image caption Mata
Amritanandamayi runs hospitals, a TV channel, engineering colleges and business
schools. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has unveiled his own line of products.
So selling yoga to foreigners is almost passé.
The new-age - and often brash - gurus have set their sights beyond their
followers and are reaching out to India's growing domestic market, a move that
must be making a number of multinational companies skittish. So, their products
are now finding buyers even among the non-believers.
'Health is spirituality': One of them is sociologist Shiv
Visvanathan, who has visited some 20 shops selling Mr Ramdev's products. He
says he is impressed by the quality of some of his wares.
"The flour is top quality, the shampoo is
good. The biscuit, which dissolves quickly when dipped in tea, is bad," he
says.
But more seriously, he says, Mr. Ramdev is
catering to the virtuous cycle of the Indian household - "health, medicine
and cosmetics".
"The gurus like Mr. Ramdev are telling us
is that health is spirituality," says Mr. Visvanathan.
Clearly, spiritual capitalism is alive and
well in India. The empires of devotion are flourishing. One guru famously said
that wealth followed worship.
His message was meant for his devotees who
were shunning their charitable obligations. It could have been aimed at the
gurus themselves”
--E-Mail sent on February 10,
2016
Ujjain, Strolling in the City of Time
Please recall my discourse Why am I a
Hindu? My analysis had been the word Hindu comes from sindhu with its Vedic
Sanskrit meaning River. Basically we are all riverine people or originated from
river valley philosophy and not historic people originating from Indus valley.
This article by IndiaDivine.Org reproduced below goes further to support Harappan
People are riverine people. This in turn proves that historic
Aryan Invasion theory is wrong. It all started with Harappan-Dravidian culture
which later was called "Aryan" meaning those who are noble.
It is likely that from these migrating Harappan riverine people from Sarasvati
Valley the present Indus River got its name Sindhu. These
Harappa-Dravidian people became more refined and cultured to start Vedic
culture and were called Aryans when they moved from Sarasvati valley
further seeking river valleys like Indus, Ganges etc.
Sarasvati, Ganges and Indus were all addressed as sindhavas or rivers and the people were also called Sindhus or Hindus. Recently I sent you an E-mail indicating how Kshipra River of late has been included among seven sacred rivers replacing SINDHU. This is because of Ujjain through which Kshipra flows which is also famous for many other things besides Jyotirlinga. Ujjain also conducts river Aarti worship every evening. This ancient tradition of devotional waving of lamps to the river is inspired by the riverine people and we derive our name HINDU from River valley philosophy from our ancient sages who spent their whole time on river banks performing fire sacrifice(yajna), meditating and teaching in Gurukulas.
I lived for a long time in Indore in
Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh means Middle Region. I always enjoyed
visiting Ujjain frequently. Here people always strolled on the middle of
the road! Perhaps that is why the author calls it a strolling city
of Middle Region! Every time I went I came across an interesting story about
this ancient city of Kalidasa. I often made fun of local people that
Kalidasa took away all intelligence from the land getting irritated
seeing people driving all the time in the middle of the road and the illiteracy
prevailing. Kalidasa as a wood cutter was sitting at the edge of
the branch and was cutting the root of the branch dangerously
who later became a genius blessed by Devi like Vaklmiki! What has
befallen this ancient city of Wisdom? The roads were unsafe, lorries
often went turtle when moved to sides. I worked then as the
Project Chief for Tatas. You can guess the sad state of this ancient city and temples
today. UNESCO has not brought it under its protective royal umbella.
Please enjoy the following text from IndiaDivine.Org:
“Masters of tens of millions of lives live
here. They rule from a barrack-like building, set in grounds holding huge masonry
structures that look like enormous versions of a child’s geometry set. And, in
a way, that is what those edifices are. They were constructed over 275 years
ago by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur, governor of Ujjain.
Using these instruments today, as their
predecessors had done, traditional astronomers and mathematicians like Pandits
Bharat Tiwari and Giriwap Prasad Sharma write an annual ephemeris giving the
predicted positions of nine celestial bodies for a whole year.
These meticulously accurate charts are
printed, widely circulated, and referred to by astrologers all over India to
prepare horoscopes governing the lives of crores of believers. Ujjain’s Vedha
Shala is, undoubtedly, a most unusual but also, clearly, the most influential
Observatory in the world. This, however, is only one of this ancient city’s
fabled attractions.
History
class
Reputedly colonized by migrants from the
Harappan civilisation in 2015 BC, Ujjain has been a center of scholarship, trade and
pilgrimage for a reputed four millennia. Scholarship established the Prime
Meridian of Hindu cartography through Ujjain. Trade routes linking the Mauryan
capital of Pataliputra with the ports of the west coast ensured continuing
prosperity for the town. And pilgrims homed into the famed temple of Mahakal,
the Lord of Time, now the focal point of Ujjain.
In today’s troubled age, the great temple is
ringed by barbed wire and bristling with security personnel and queue fences.
But pilgrims still pour in, still worship in the small sanctum and then,
ascending a few steps, whisper their requests into the silver ear of Nandi
gazing down at his all-powerful Lord.
Haven of temples
Holy Ujjain is dotted with temples and you
would have to be here for a busy month if you planned to worship in all of
them. The Harsiddhi Ma Temple was installed by the Marathas when they
ruled Ujjain. This temple of the Mother Goddess stands on an elevated plinth
and its interiors have been richly decorated, with its ceiling holding the
powerful Sri Yantra, prime emblem of the Mother.
In front of this temple is one of the 51
Shakti Peethas in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tibet and Sri Lanka.
Devotees cannot enter this sunken temple, but may view the idol through the
three viewing holes cut into its ceiling. These important temples are located
in town.
Leaving them behind we drove out through scrub
and farm-land to the greatly revered Sandipani Ashram. This small
complex of buildings, set in a garden, is of particular interest to
Krishna-bhaktas.
Legend says…
Here, apparently, the sage Sandipani taught
Lord Krishna, Balaram and Sudama. The original ashram has been rebuilt as a
temple enshrining the idol of Sandipani. The head priest here is Rupam Vyas who
informed us that he was the 202nd direct descendant of the guru.
The shiva lingam installed in the temple in
front of the Sandipani Temple represents Harihara, a pujari assured us.
He also explained that as the Vishnu aspect of Harihara incorporates Krishna,
the Nandi in front of this idol stands … and does not sit as he is usually
depicted … in honor of the Cowherd Prince.
It is believed that the tank in the complex
was created by Lord Krishna by causing the River Gomti to bubble up here so
that his guru, who was from Mathura, could bathe in its sacred waters. Krishna
also washed his slate in this tank and so it is known as both Gomti Kund and
Ankpat.
We drove westwards from here through more
truly rural terrain and parked outside the walled grounds of the Godkalika
Mandir. A descriptive board at the entrance of the walled complex said that
the great poet Kalidas had worshiped here and that the temple showed
evidence of repairs and renovations from the first century BC to the modern
reign of the Scindias. The single-celled temple sits on a plinth in the center
of a small courtyard with rooms all around. The idol of Kalika is a red
head wearing a silver crown.
It is simple, unsophisticated, and clearly
represents a very primal Deity, possibly worshiped from those very early days
when this area was populated by tribal communities.
It is said that Kalidas’ genius blossomed only
after he had worshiped here and many of the most important verses in his
Meghdooth describe the glories of Ujjain.
Wish-fulfilling tree
Another shrine of legendary antiquity is the
Siddhavat. At the edge of a terrace rising from the banks of the Kshipra
River rises the reputedly immortal Siddhavat Tree. It was, apparently planted
by Sita and its roots go down to the nether world.
This is possibly why devotees come here to
perform rituals for the repose of the departed souls of their near and dear
ones. It is also, however, a Kalpavriksh, a wish-fulfilling tree and
threads are tied to it, milk poured on its branches and coconuts offered.
As sunset approached, we drove across a bridge
spanning the Kshipra River and went to the west bank ghats below the Monastery
of Dutta Akhada. In the evening, Ram Ghat, rising out of the far bank,
shimmered atop its reflections as if they had been embossed on watered silk. A
small percussion band and a devotee with a conch assembled near us.
And then, at sunset, just as the lights winked
on like fireflies all over Ujjain, a lone young pujari on our side began the
evocative fire ritual of aarti. The drums beat, the cymbals crashed, the
conch called, the moving lights spun swift, luminous, webs in the water
capturing our minds in a spell that bridged countless centuries.
The Harappans had been a riverine people so they, too, had probably had such river-worshiping
rituals. We had beamed back four thousand years to the time when those
civilized people of the Indus Valley had fled from northern, equestrian
invaders and laid the ancient foundations of the City of Ujjain.
--E-mail sent on February 12, 2016
From
today, we can hear the cosmos. We can see the unseen!
This
is the most profound explanation I've heard of what it means to detect
gravitational waves
The scientific world is still reeling over the
first-ever detection of ripples in the fabric of space-time, called
gravitational waves.
Albert Einstein predicted their existence 100
years ago but never believed
we'd actually detect the waves. So right now if you hang around physicists,
who can't contain their excitement, you're bound to hear some profound
scientific poetry.
One scientist from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave
Observatory
(LIGO) experiment, which announced the detection of
gravitational waves
on February 11, shared what is perhaps the most beautiful and poignant
description Tech Insider has heard so far.
Physicist Szabi Marka, a LIGO collaborator based at Columbia
University, gushed about the coming scientific revolution to a crowded Columbia
lecture hall in New York.
"The skies will never be the same,"
Marka told the audience, mainly physics students. "Gravitational waves
will let us listen to the music of the cosmos."
Marka's use of the word "listen" is
no accident.
Sound travels as waves, and so does a
gravitational wave. Except instead of air or water or some other matter,
gravitational waves move through a medium that permits everything in it — you,
me, the Earth, the stars — to exist at all.
What's more, when something calamitous happens
in outer space, like the truly awesome collision of two black holes, the waves
warp space as they pass by. Until September 2015, when LIGO first recorded this
"music," it was entirely out of reach of humankind.
No telescope that detects light of any
wavelength — radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray, or gamma
— could have detected such an
event.
"Imagine that you can touch, you can
smell, you can taste, you can see, and one day, one day you can hear. That day
is a glorious day," Marka said. "You can appreciate Beethoven … Your
life will never be the same again. This is what happened to us. This is what
happened to us as a community."
Marka finished: "From today, we can hear
the cosmos. We can see the unseen."
Many researchers, like Marka, told us the
discovery of gravitational waves is just the beginning of a revolution in
science. It's such a
radically new paradigm that the detection itself brought with it a (growing) list of
firsts.
"We're humans, we're curious, and on a
quest to understand such weird things that are a big part of our
universe," Kip Thorne, a physicist at Caltech and a cofounder of LIGO, told
Tech Insider. "It's a quest that's part of dream of humanity that goes
back to a child's earliest days."
Read the original article on Tech Insider. Follow Tech Insider on Facebook and Twitter. Copyright 2016.
Does this mean we can see Brahman?
I don't think so. Yet it is a land mark in Paravidya. We need Aparvidya
to see the unseen. Our sages had the knowledge of Paravidya and Aparavidya and
so could communicate personally with the unseen. That is where I am
struggling hard with you. Please go through the details sent by our active
participant Balasubrahmaniyan. I extend
my sincere thanks to Bala on your behalf.
--E-Mail sent on February 12, 2016
Indus Valley Civilization and Its Links
Please refer to my earlier talks on the subject.
The Vedas however speak of the Sarasvati as a very large and flowing
river. If the dating of the Vedic literature is correct, then there is a
discrepancy because the Sarasvati river dried up before the Vedas were supposed
to have been written. This is an interesting situation. It might seem possible
then, that with other evidence showing that there was no influx of an invading
people, that the Vedas were then written by the people of the Indus Valley.
Another point that speaks against
Aryan Invasion Theory is finding of Altars at several Indus
Valley Civilization sites. Fire rituals and sacrifice were an important
part of Vedic religious practices. But what was significant about these alters,
is that they were aligned and constructed in the same manner as later
discovered altars were. The fire altars were then Vedic in construction
indicating that the Harappan's were a Vedic culture.
The idea that there wasn't in fact an Aryan
invasion is supported on many levels, including the present day legacy of
these Indus cities in the traditional arts and crafts, and in the layout of
houses and settlements in India. Please go through the new Discovery in Oman
which has links to Indus Valley Civilization:
"Newly Discovered Tomb in Oman has Links
to Indus Valley Civilization
\Archaeologists have unearthed a site near
Sinaw that could reveal India’s ancient Indus Valley civilization’s far
reaching influence on the Omani society thousands of years ago, according to
officials of the Ministry of Heritage and Culture. During an excavation,
archaeologists have found a tomb from 2,300 years ago of a man who was buried
with sword and daggers made of iron and steel from the Indus Valley
civilization. It has been scientifically proven that iron and steel arms were
first made in the Indus Valley civilization.
Sultan Bensaif Al Bakri, director of
Excavations and Archaeological Studies of the Ministry of Heritage and Culture
has said that this finding may prove the influence of the Indian civilization
on Oman during that period. However, he said that further studies would be
carried out on this regard.
Al Bakri has said that a 2,300 year-old
underground chamber was found during excavations 22 km south of Sinaw. This was
the burial chamber of a man in his 50’s, buried along with his personal arms.
Near his grave, two male and female camels were also buried. They were
slaughtered after the death of the man. The walls of the graves of these camels
were erected with stones.
He said that the man was buried separately, on
the right side of the camels’ graves, with his 88cm sword in front of him. In
addition, two daggers were tied on the right and left sides of his waist. A
robe and woolen cap was also buried along with him. According to the
descriptions provided by the archaeologists, the sword and daggers were made of
iron and steel which was first made in the Indian civilization from where it
spread to the neighboring civilizations, including Oman, said Al Bakri.
He said that the sword was kept in front of
the man as the handle of the sword was facing him. Its handle was partly
covered with textured ivory shaped like an eagle’s beak. It is believed that
the man was a chieftain of a tribe, as is evident from the sword and the robe.
He was buried as his head was on a pillow and his hat was kept near his head.
He was wearing leather shoes.
The Ministry of Heritage and Culture will
restore these arms and will display these models in the proposed national
museum scheduled to open at the end of this year.
This finding was made during an excavation
carried out by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture in coordination with the
ministry of transport and communications that was working on the project of
Sinaw-Mahout-Duqm road. While digging, the Ministry of Transport and
Communications found a graveyard spread across 100 sq m. This major
archaeological finding was made when the ministry excavated 35 graves that came
in the way of the proposed road. Archaeologists have concluded that these
graves were of two different periods. One is of third century BC while the
second is of the first century BC, which included various tombs, potteries and
utensils."
--E Mail sent on February13, 2016
Vasant Panchami
Yesterday we celebrated
Vasanta Panchami. All of you might have gone through my detailed discourse on
the subject. I believe many of you might not have gone through the added
appendices which contains interesting educative information on Vasanta
Panchami. Please go through the same reproduced below:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/01/vasanta-panchami.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/01/vasanta-panchami.html
Significance of Vasant Panchami
Vasant Panchami is an important Indian
festival celebrated every year in the month of Magh according to the Hindu
calendar. Celebrated on the fifth day of Magh, the day falls somewhere in the
months of February or March according to the Gregorian calendar. The
significance of the day lies in the worship of Goddess Saraswati, symbol of
wisdom and also the onset of spring season.
According to the popular belief, the origins
of this festival lie in Aryan period. Aryans came and settled in India through
Khyber Pass, crossing the Saraswati River among many others. Being a primitive
civilization, most of their development took place along the banks of the River
Saraswati. Thus, River Saraswati began to be associated with fertility and
knowledge. It is then that the day began to be celebrated.
According to mythology, a popular associated
with this day is connected with poet Kalidasa. After he was married off to a
beautiful princess through trickery, the princess kicked him out of her bed as
she learned that he was foolish. Following this, Kalidasa went to commit
suicide, upon which Saraswati emerged from the waters and asked him to take a
dip there. After taking a dip in the holy waters, Kalidasa became knowledgeable
and began writing poetry. Thus, Vasant Panchami is celebrated to venerate
Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of education and learning.
In today’s times, the festival is celebrated
by farmers as the on-coming of the spring season. The day is largely celebrated
in Northern Parts of India. Here, people offer food to the Brahmins and
organize rituals in the name of Goddess Saraswati.
The colour yellow is the predominant colour
associated with the festival, the origins of which are supposed to be the
fields of mustard which can be seen in Punjab and Haryana during this period.
Kite flying is also commonly associated with this festival. Children as well as
adults fly kites on this day to celebrate freedom and enjoyment.
Another tradition associated with this day is
that of initiating studies in the young. Young children often begin learning on
this day, which is believed to be the reason why the school sessions start in
the month of March. Sweets with a yellow hue are also distributed on this day
and people can also be seen donating books and other literary material to the
poor.
What do people do?
Vasant Panchami is a famous festival that
marks the end of the winter season and ushers in the springtime. Sarasvati is
the Hindu goddess of the Vasant Panchami festival. Young girls wear bright
yellow dresses and participate in the festivities. The color yellow holds a
special meaning for this celebration as it signifies the brilliance of nature
and the vibrancy of life. The whole place bursts with yellow during the
festival.
People dress in yellow and they offer yellow
flowers to others and to the gods and goddesses. They also prepare and feast on
a special pastry called kesar halwa orkesar halva, which is made from flour,
sugar, nuts, and cardamom powder. This dish also includes saffron strands,
which gives it a vibrant yellow colour and mild fragrance. During the Vasant
Panchami festival, India’s crop fields are filled with the colour yellow, as
the yellow mustard flowers bloom at this time of the year. Pens, notebooks, and
pencils are placed near the goddess Devi’s feet to be blessed before they are
used by students.
Public Life
Vasant Panchami is a public holiday.
Government offices, schools, colleges do not operate on the day. However, at
the same time, private offices are operational. Public transport also operates
throughout the day but there is heavy traffic congestion during to processions
at various places.
Background
The celebration of the Vasant Panchami is
centered on the Hindu goddess Sarasvati. Sarasvati is the goddess of wisdom.
She embodies the different facets of learning such as the sciences, arts,
crafts and skills. She is said to be calm and collected. She is often pictured
seated on a lotus or a peacock, wearing a white dress.
Hindus believe that Saraswati bestows the
greatest wealth to humanity, the wealth of knowledge. In the Vedas the prayer
forSaraswati depicts her as a white lady in white dress bedecked with white
flowers and white pearls, sitting on a white lotus, which is blooming in a wide
stretch of water. She holds Veena, a string-instrument, like Sitar, for playing
music. The prayer finally concludes, “Oh Mother Saraswati remove the darkness
(ignorance) of my mind and bless me with the eternal knowledge.”
As I gave you the significance of symbols
associated with the Goddess of wealth, Ma Lakshmi during the Diwali
celebration, I would like to acquaint you with the important symbols associated
with Ma Saraswati on the eve of Basant Panchami.
White dress, white flowers, white pearls,
white lotus :- All these signify absolute purity, true knowledge of the purest
kind. For acquisition of supreme knowledge, one has to perform activities
founded on purity and divine wisdom.
Lotus in water: Water here symbolizes the ocean of
life indicating that one has to attain supreme knowledge living in the world
and not running away from it. As we know lotus makes its way through water and
rises above its surface with glory. It remains in water but is not
incapacitated by it. These are two important characteristics on which knowledge
must rest.
Veena: Veena symbolizes the music of life. The
collective sound of all our thoughts and actions in the cosmic forms operates
as music in the universe.
The Book: Ordinarily a book is a means of acquiring
knowledge. But in the hand of Saraswati it symbolizes total knowledge.
Saraswati is the Goddess of all knowledge-worldly as well as spiritual.
Hamsa (Swan): At times Saraswati is shown sitting
on a white hamsa (swan). The swan is known to have a tremendous amount of
discriminating power. It has a very sensitive beak through which it can
discriminate the right and the wrong. It can discriminate between the real and
unreal. It can separate the milk from water.
In ordinary sense, a white swan represents
purity and the capacity to discriminate between right and wrong and the will to
accept the right.
The Peacock: The peacock represents ordinary worldly
knowledge. As most of you know peacock’s moods keep on changing. It is overly
influenced by weather conditions; sometimes dancing in ecstasy and when in the
agony of separation, weeping for long, likes most of us.
Now look at the picture above, the peacock is
placed on the right side anxiously waiting to be used by Saraswati as her
carrier, whereas the swan is on the left side, completely relaxed. This
represents the desired balance between head and heart. Men of knowledge must
possess this quality.
In the final analysis all the symbols
associated with the image of Goddess of learning are reminders to the seeker of
worldly or spiritual knowledge that he or she must possess the power of
discrimination while maintaining purity and peace. On Vasant Panchami I pray to
Mata Saraswati to kindle the light of true knowledge in you and your children
and eliminate the dullness of intellect.
The Symbolism of Goddess Saraswati’s Veena
Goddess Saraswati (Saraswatee) is a revered
and popular household name among the Hindus of India. She is the
personification of knowledge and purity. The well-known Sanskrit writer Dandin
refers to her as sarvashukla saraswate (all-white Saraswati).
In many parts of India, the annual worship of
Saraswati (Saraswati Puja) in the months of February/March is an important
festival, especially in the educational institutions where she occupies the
pride of place over any other deity. The pot-bellied elephant god Ganesh also
is worshipped on Ganesh Chaturthi, but more as the prime remover of obstacles
(vighneshwara) than anything else. In certain states of western India, Ganapati
is the more popular of the two deities.
When you look at any image of Saraswati, an
idol or a picture, the thing – apart from the white Saraswati herself – that
comes to the notice immediately and prominently, is the musical instrument
Veena. The sage Yajnavalkya has said, ‘One who is skilled in veena-play attains
salvation without effort.’ This Veena in the hands of Saraswati stands for a
number of things in a number of ways. What are they? Here is a list.
1) Veena is not an ordinary lute, it stands
for jnaana veena, the icon of all knowledge (religious and secular, spiritual
and worldly). When theVeena is played and the musical notes are produced, it is
as though knowledge is radiating out in all directions.
2) Saraswati holds the upper side of Veena
with her left hand and the lower side of Veena with her right hand. This
signifies her full command over all branches of knowledge as well as her
ability to play any part (branch of learning) with dexterity.
3) Veena is seen as the abode of divinity with
each of its physical part signifying the seat of some subtle aspect of god or
goddess. The instrument’s neck is Shiva, the strings are Parvati, the bridge is
Lakshmi, the secondary gourd is Brahma, the dragon head is Vishnu, and the
resonating body is Saraswati. Thus Veena can be said to be the source of all
happiness.
4) Veena represents the entire system of
Indian music and is the generic name for all stringed instruments. There is one
Sruti Veena on which 22 srutis can be produced simultaneously.
5) Veena (music) symbolizes life and the
strings represent the various feelings. The musical sound of veena is closest
to human voice (female).
6) The sound of veena stands for the
primordial sound of creation. This sound filled the universe with vital energy
Praana. Naarada, the mind-born son (maanasa putra) of Brahma, always carries a
veena with him. In fact, Veena is Narada’s signature.
7) The sound of Veena represents the melody of
mantras (the laws or formulas) that brought order to the initial chaos at the
time of creation.
8) Vibration of veena is divine knowledge that
flows like the water of a river when the instrument is played.
9) The veena placed in the hands of Saraswati
is the most evolved string instrument in a given age.
10) The strings of veena stand for the
physical organs of action and control over strings means control over senses.
11) Knowledge should be imparted skillfully
and artistically similar to the manner of playing a veena.
12) Divine name of Veena is ‘kachchapi‘, a
female tortoise. Just as a tortoise withdraws its sense organs when not in
action, so also one desirous of attaining spiritual knowledge should have
introversion. Only one who is withdrawn from the sense objects like a tortoise
can attain excellence in playing veena and enjoy its music fully.
13) The reason why some artists make the upper
hand of veena in the form of tortoise is as follows. A female tortoise, after
laying her eggs, covers them with sand and then goes about doing her other duties
while keeping watch on them. In a similar manner, Saraswati, after giving
spiritual birth to many of us through Veena, protects and nurtures us.
14) Veena is also called Muktchandi that means
multi-rhythmic potential.
--E Mail sent on February 2016
Training of Body, Mind and spirit
through Yoga, Meditation and Bhakti
I had an opportunity to attend a seminar on Meditation and Bhakti
on Sunday 14, 2016 at Sri Ganesha Temple, Nashville, TN, USA. The topics on
which lectures were given by specialists in the field were: Scriptural basis
for meditation practices in Hinduism:
Practice
of yoga in preparation for meditation; Yoga as a Healing Art; Art of happy
living through meditation practice: Bhakti and Surrender in
Meditation Practice; Inner Engineering: Technologies for Wellbeing .
I was quite educated by these lectures and I left the hall
gaining wisdom though I have spoken on these
subjects in detail in the past and as posted on the Blog Hindu Reflections.
Swami Chinmayanada once said when we pray we
speak and He (Atman) listens and when we meditate He (Brahman) speaks and we
listen. What he conveys by this is Yoga, meditation and contemplation prepares
us for Bhakti Vedanta which in turn takes us to direct dialogue with Him and
leads us to Liberation. One learned speaker talked about Dhyana. As you all
know every deity we worship has a Dhyana sloka and Gayatri Mantra specific to
the deity. Dhyana Sloka is meant for Bhajans and Prayers while Mantra are
for Meditation (mananaat traayate iti mantrah), meditating on
which one who comes into direct communion with the Atman contained
within. Every Gayatri Mantra has a Rishi and meter. Yoga
helps in progressive building of Body, Mind and Spirit to elevate one self. A
healthy body and mind is part of the game and a pre-requisite on which the
expert spoke. As we are born we pass through a short period of care-free
life, happiness and no worries and then when we pass on to bachelorhood we go
after desires, ambitions, ego, anxiety etc. This stage
needs yoga and meditation says the speaker from ISHA Foundation. This is the
age of eight at which Hinduism prescribes Upanayana or
Vedic studies. Here don’t go by what our religious Pundits say that this
should be restricted to Brahmin boys only though in the past it was also
applicable to Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and girls too. Vedas have no reservation on
this except to say seek a good and knowledgeable Guru.
If you seriously go through my discourses on
Prologue to Sandhyavandana and the three times Sandhyavandana discourses, they
only prescribe guidelines and mantras for Yoga, Meditation and contemplation by
turning inwards. These are the simplest rituals and easier to follow by all
which the authors above have explained in a complicated way. This also keeps
your body, mind and spirit properly directed to the Supreme. We often
think we are doing Pranayaama but what we are doing is only
Nasikayama (breathe control) without spiritual thought in modern Yoga Schools.
Another speaker quoted 10 slokas from chapter 6 of Bhagavd Gita, Dhyana
Yoga--the Way of Contemplation. In fact Lord Krishna, to whom Vedavyasa
has shifted his authorship out of his modesty, used to spend his early hours in
meditation on Brahman as mentioned in Gita Kosha of Sankar Math. Gita was
initially called Yogopanishad and in fact is a compendium of all
Upanishads. One of the speakers mentioned of 20 Upanishads which can be
called Yogopanisahads. Of these five are called Bindu Upanishads—Tejo, Naada,
Dhyaana, Brahma and Amrita. Of the twenty such Upanishads I have talked
about Kaivalya Upanishad in the past and will be talking about Amrita Bindu
Upanishad next week. Those of you who have missed these lectures will not be
lost if you go through my various discourses given at different times. As far
as the healing powers are concerned I have collected lot of
information which is contained in my Yoga Digest sent to you.
ISHA Member also talked about the
merits of meditation on the river banks in cool and calm atmosphere. Here
again please go through my discourse "Why am I called Hindu and my
Religion Hinduism". My conclusion was the word Hindu comes from sindhu
in Sanskrit which means river and not modern Indus which is mistakenly ascribed
to us while describing us as Hindus. Our origin goes back to Sarasvati
Valley as evinced by Harappa and Mohenjadoro and hence our philosophy is
Riverine Philosophy. or Saras which again means flow. Our
sages were known for flow of thoughts and therefore children of
Sarasvati. My name nadipuram also refers to Kaveri River
(river-town) near Mysore. It is no surprise Sadguru who is also from
Karnataka suggests river banks for meditation. He should have known about
Vedic Scholars Settlement (Agrahara) near Mysore on the river bank
as patronized by the then rulers to which heritage I belong to be called
Nadipuram Srinivasan.
I was looking forward to a moderation summary
of all the speeches for our education but that did not come due to lack of
time. This was an unique event and first of its kind probably
inspired by the Seminar on Jagannatha of Puri by Jagannatha Society of USA in
the same temple and the importance given to Yoga Practice and Research by
United Nations last year declaring Dakhinayana Punyakala Day as The
International Day of Yoga(IDY). I am confident wisdom will prevail on Ganesha
temple to celebrate IDY as a Special Religious Events Day and Meditation Day
every year since this is the day on which all spiritually inclined people begin
their study of Vedas
One of the misconceptions one needs to try to
prevent from happening when modern meditation movements (Such as Art of Living
or ISHA foundation) teach quick fix breathing techniques to an effective
meditation. It is a misconception that meditation is easy and results are
quick. Practice of Yoga is a lifelong discipline and as one of the speakers
spoke the practice of Yama and Niyama are the prerequisites
and so meditation calls for sustained practice. Lifelong
humility and surrender are critical (Saatveeka Bhaava and Saranaagati) - so
that your self-improvement efforts don't become an end in itself but a means to
and end of self-purification."
--E-Mail sent on February 15, 2016
Pradyumna’s
City Por
Bajin Siberia
Both Dwarka and Rama Setu have a deep
connection with Hindu mythology. While the submerged city of Dwarka in
the west is believed by some to be the lost city of Krishna, Rama Setu, or
Adam's Bridge, the limestone shoals from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to the
northern coast of Sri Lanka, is taken by a section of Hindu devotees to be the
bridge that Rama crossed to bring Sita back from the clutches of the demon king
Ravana.
The marine archaeology has found proof of Krishna´s
Dwarka. But the work on further excavation has met a formidable roadblock in
the form of academic indifference and government apathy. Dr. S.R. Rao a
renowned marine archaeologist led the underwater cultural heritage
project of India. He had submitted a proposal for further excavations of Dwarka and also promoting it as a
pilgrimage-tourism center. It is clear that for almost a decade the
Government of India had not shown much interest in the Gulf of Cam
bay. The National Institute of Ocean Technology established carbon-14 date
of 7,500 years for the wood samples excavated from under the sea and the
existence of a civilization dating to that period. This study is not directly
connected with Krishna´s Dwarka. But Dr. Rao strongly believes Krishna’s
Dwaraka existed 4000 years ago.
Please find another report on Pradyumn'a City Por
Bajin in Siberi as attached. Someday all these loose ends will be tied
together to show Lord Krishna was a historic figure like Buddha. Unlike Rama,
who Puranas say ruled over Ayodhya for 10000 years, they say Krishna
lived only for 128 years which is possible for a human being.
Planetary software studies by Dr. Narahari of Memphis have also proved
Mahabarata War was an historic event and its date has also been confirmed as I
explained to you before. “In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna is mostly represented as
a teacher of great wisdom and erudition; he figures as a Yogi. Gita records
that Krishna sat up every morning for meditation ‘merging with the
transcendental Self’. We read in the Mahabharata also that Krishna was in
the habit of meditating on Brahman in the hours before sun-rise. Krishna in all
probability was historical in character, and was a philosopher who harmonized
the Sankhya yoga with the Brahmavada of the Upanishads” says Prof S. K. Ramachandra
Rao of Kalpataru Research Academy, Sringeri Sarada Peetham, Shankarmutt.
Puranas have elevated Buddha to be an Avatar of
Vishnu for his outstanding contributions to Hindu Philosophy. Buddha had been
silent on Brahman and stopped at Nirvana. Krishna in this context went far
beyond and expounded Brahman consolidating all Upanishads and also
merging Sankhya Philosophy with it for an united approach for salvation
through Yoga and Meditation. That is why he is regarded as Poorna avatar by Puranas
and Jayadeva has raised him to the status of Parabrahman based on Bhaktivedanta
in his Dasvatara stotra. Have we not to-day raised Siababas,
Swaminarayana, Sankara, Andal etc., to the status of Gods and part of
Parabrahman? If you closely observe Krishna also felt that we should not focus
on even Vedic deities like Indra who are only controllers in the administration
of Brahman looking after certain functions in Brahman’s administration of the
Universe. That is why he stopped traditional Indra worship and resorted
to Govardhana Puja which is the worship directed to Panchbhutas. Today we
worship Siva in Panchbhuta (five Elemental) forms describing him as none other
than Brahman following the teachings of Gita!
Here is a verse from Brahma Samhita:
Isvarah paramah
krishnah sac-cid-ananda vigrahah |
anadir adir govinda sarva karana-karanam
anadir adir govinda sarva karana-karanam
“The Supreme Controller is Krishna. He possesses a
spiritual body composed of eternity, knowledge and bliss. He has no beginning,
yet He is the first. He is the cause of all causes”. Here Krishna does not
refer to avatar of Vushnu but refers to Parabrahman. MNU also refers
to Krishna in the Mantra “Krishnena Satabahuna” which text precedes
Bhagavata which I have discussed. It is clear we should take the words
“devata”, “Isvara” etc. as referring to only controllers under the
administration of Brahaman. Puranas mention 330 million such controllers
need-based as the Universe started growing.
The word "Brahman" comes from
the root "brih" to
grow, and the universe is still growing. To me Ganesha is only a
controller of obstacles in this Manvantara and that is why he is not mentioned
in Ramayana along with Kumara in Ramayana who is celebrated in an exclusive
Sarga. We are adding further controllers like Saibaba and Swami Narayan,
Andal, Kali, Mariammn etc whose temples are multiplying.
In higher planes of spiritual world marriage
is one of relationship called Rasa where no physical sex act is involved.
We are now thinking of recognizing perverted same-sex marriages
where reproduction is not possible without divine power of creation but physical
sex acts as sensual pleasures are involved. Urvasi was created by a
male sage by a divine act. That is how we can explain the births of
Ganesha, Subhramanya and others as Ayonijas (not womb born). On the planet
earth, however, human beings do become pregnant, although the tendency is to
avoid having children. Many Incarnations took place on Earth. That is why we
are making lot of research to prove Rama and Krishna are historic figures like
Buddha. Why are we not claiming other Avatars as Historic? I believe they
did not take place on earth! If you see Dasavatars only from Parasurama onward
we have earthly Avatars and have their legally wedded wives who are
also earth born. Of the earlier avatars, we sometimes worship
Narasimha with Lakshmi alone and Vamana also with Lakshmi as Sakti
aspects. Lakshmi is the Sakti aspect of Vishnu as well as Narayana.
Krishna’s son Pradyumna Established a Kingdom in
Siberia. It is believed that a Palace built by him is in Por Bajin. This has a
striking resemblance to Krishna’s Dwaraka, now excavated off the coast of
Gujarat, India. ‘Por-Bajin is legally treated as one of the most mysterious
archaeological monuments of Russia,’ says the official website for the complex,
about 3,800km from Moscow.
Please go through the detailed text as attached on Krishna's son Pradyumana's City Por Bajin Siberia.
Please go through the detailed text as attached on Krishna's son Pradyumana's City Por Bajin Siberia.
--E-Mail
sent on 2/20/2016
STUDIES
OF ALL RELIGIONS IN UK FINDS HINDUS ARE THE HAPPIEST
From the beginning of times humans believed in
a higher power, something bigger and more powerful than themselves. They needed
to believe in someone who had inconceivable powers and was so much bigger than
themselves and also to answer the big mysteries of the world. So they worshiped
the sun, the moon, fire and even created gods of the seas. Anything explainable
was considered an extension of the holiness of God; even love and beauty
intrigued humans and they made goddesses of love and beauty. Being
oldest, the followers of Sanatana Dharma mis-intrerpreting the meaning of
KOTI created innumerable number of gods of the Mysterious (330 millions
whose tribe is increasing), worshiped them and remained happy and contented.
Vedas refer to One Supreme God (Iswara) TADEKAM and 33 Koti Devatas. Koti
in Veda means kind. Puranas converted them to numbers (330 million)
and independent Gods. Today in Houston (USA) there are 100 Indian
Associations for a population of 120000. The other day 60 and odd
associations in Nashville went to welcome the Indian Councillor.
Hindus pride in Unity in Diversity! "If there are two Malayalees there are
three associations" they say in India too. I would only say Hindus in
America are Confused Desis who do not know how to meditate on
Brahman to-day and how to live with one another also. We need Unity
with our Diversity. Please refer to the details as given in the
context of 33 Koti Devatas in the enclosed text. Do we need so many
temples for such small population in small cities? Why can't they
build one Vedic Spiritual Education Center and one temple and spread
the message of Sanatana Dharma and complete the task begun by
Swami Vivekananda? We can hardly support our cultural activity with our
indifference and diversity! Joint Family system once the pride of the
country is shrinking. You should only visit Vrindavan once remembered for
the childhood pranks of Krishna is today the world's City of Deserted Widows!
We are in search of retirement homes for elderly to dump them to loneliness! He
has been kind to me! I enjoy life with my daughter at 86 in USA!
Anyhow, here is an interesting study from
Katharyn Snowdon to pride on and worth going through. What makes Hinduism
so strong? Although Hinduism has changed a lot over thousands of years it
has the solid foundation of Sanatana Dharma which
taught all people in the world “Eko Viprah bahuda vadanti”,
“sarve janah sukhino bvhavantu”. “”atmavat sarvabhooteshu” and “Krinvanto
viswamaryam”—The one the Pundits call by many names; May all people live
happily! See the same Self in All Beings! and, Let us ennoble the whole world!
Hinduism has aligned itself today with world religions to be recognized as
world religion but it has not deviated from its basic principles derived
from Sanatana Dharma which suits all religions. That is why it has
withstood all tsunamis over thousands of years; it not only survives but also
leads in Happiness wherever it has moved and in whatever cultures it lives. One
day it can be the Lodestar of all Religions based on UNIVOICE
Vedanta. A century before Vivekananda boldly pronounced on American soil
"Vedanta is the Religion of the Future". Here only Hindus alone
are capable of starting the dialogue:
“Religious people from all different faiths
are happier than those who have “no religion”, official data released on
Tuesday revealed. Of all the faiths in the UK, Hindus are the happiest,
scoring well above the national average and just under the demographic of
people who consider themselves to be “in very good health”, according to data
compiled by the Office for National Statistics.
Christians – of all denominations – were the
second happiest, followed by Sikhs and Buddhists. Those who followed these
religions were happier than the average person, who scored a happiness rating
of 7.38 out of 10.
On average, Hindus scored a rating of 7.57 for
happiness, followed by Christians at 7.47, Sikhs with 7.45 and Buddhist at
7.41.
Happiness among Jews fell below the
national average, with a rating of 7.37.
Muslims had the lowest happiness ranking of
the religions listed, with a score of 7.33.
Those who follow “any other religion” came in
at 7.26. And people who belonged to “no religion” were the unhappiest, scoring
just 7.22.
The ONS report analyzed personal well-being
data for more than 300,000 adults in the UK. The samples were collected over
three years, between 2012 and 2015.
Four areas of a person’s well-being were
assessed.
In addition to “happiness”, “life
satisfaction”, “worthwhile” and “anxiety” were also ranked.
The average measure nationally for “life
satisfaction” was 7.5.
For “feeling that what you do in life is
worthwhile”, the average was 7.8 and for “anxiety” it was 2.9.
Results were also broken down by age (see
graphs below).
The main findings from the graphs showed that
those aged between 65 and 79 tended to report the highest average levels of
personal well-being.
In average, ratings of life satisfaction and
happiness were at their lowest for those aged between 45 and 59.
Well-being ratings fell among the
oldest age groups (those aged 75 and over) – this fall was steepest for
feelings that activities they do in life are worthwhile.
Those aged 90 and over reported higher life
satisfaction and happiness compared with people in their middle years. (I am
waiting for the day!)
Average anxiety ratings increased through
early and middle years, peaking between 45 to 59 years, but then falling and
remaining relatively unchanged for those aged 65 and over.
But a word of Caution! If
migrant Hindus are not focused on Sanatana Dharma and Spirituality, who
are in negligent minority, there is a danger of they moving into
major religious group and losing their very identity. Hindu Americans can
successfully lead the country towards Spiritualism with their background
and culture if they plan well. The multi-cultured country like USA is
moving towards atheism having been fed up with walled religions, beliefs
and pagan practices. Here the major religious group of Christianity leads
all others, almost one third among them being atheists. Hindu
attraction in wed-locks is to this major religion. This is a very
interesting turn which gives scope for Hindu Americans to lead them
Spiritually. Otherwise progressively Hindu Americans too are more likely
to join this group and turn atheists. First generation Hindus as well as
others forget their mother tongue. By second generation, they forget their
culture. By third generation they forget their religion. By fourth generation
they are rootless and feel like rudderless ships. Since their parents also
neglect most of their language and culture they are unable to help their
children". This will be very much true and valid for
Kaliyuga as predicted in Purans to wait for its doom.
But it may not be an immediate threat in India for some
more time where they are almost 90%. Caste system may vanish in due
course in India but along with it Sanatana Dharma too can vanish.
Original caste system (VARNA) was society welfare
oriented and faith in wise men called Gotra-patis to guide the
society. There were no kings or political systems to rule then! See what
has happened in India today!We can't even keep track of castes and
the number of castes brought under scheduled and backward castes for political
gains! We pride being secular and firm believers in Unity in
Diversity. We have found a good phrase to harp on and
say we are happy!
--E-Mail sent on February 21, 2016
Mahaa Sivaratri
Mahasivaratri is celebrated this year on March
7 this year on Monday. It is necessary to know the significance of
this ritual, whom we are worshiping and for what we are praying for about which
I have dealt in detail in the past. In the Epic Mahabharata, the Rudras are eleven in number and
are named Mrgavadha, Sarpa, Nirriti, Ajaikapad, Ahi Budhnya, Pinakin, Dahana,
Ishvara, Kapalin, Sthanu and Bhaga. While Kapalin is described the foremost of
Rudras here in the Bhagavad Gita (Rudraanaam Sankaraschaasmi) it is
Sankara who is considered the greatest of the Rudras. Both
Kapalin and Sankara are epithets of Siva. In any Hindu Religious Following we
should go by the Vedic dictum “Vedokhilam dharmamoolam”—Vedas are the ultimate
authority. Vedas define Saguna Brahman as Deva and his controllers as
Devatas. Veda mantras refer to Him as Deva Ekah”” or “Tadekam”.
Rudra is therefore a Devata like Brahma and Vishnu. Veda mantra also
says: “tvam Rudrastvam, Vishnustvam, Brahma tavam Prajapatih” Brahma or
Prajapati or Manu, Vishnu and Rudra are Vyahrirtis(Emanations) of Brahman. In
Christianity Holy Spirit is the equivalent of Brahman, Holy Father, The God
and Holy Son the Devata
Puranas later elevated Brahma, Rudra,
Siva and many others to Deva status glorifying in each Purana a Devata as
Deva and sometimes even downgrading or condemning other Devatas. For
example in Siva Purana Siva curses Brama and throws him out of circulation
in Temple worship with Sarsavati sharing the fate of her husband and
Vishnu is reduced in status oftenpardoned or blessed by Siva. Vedavyasa
who is the editor and compiler of all Puraanas is also the editor of Siva
Purana. Out of modesty and respect to the authors of Puranas he reproduced what
they said but often included in the Puranas describing Siva and Vishnu are one
and the same. Still there is constant rivalry between Saivitesa and
Vaishanvites. Looking at the then practices, Bhagawan who is
Nirguna Brahman or Satchitananda or Pure Consciousness says in Bhagavad
Gita: “Devavrataa Devaan Yanti …..yaanti madyaag jinopi vaa”—Worshipers of Gods
go to Gods and those who worship Me alone, they surely come to Me”. This
one statement has led us to worship 330 million Gods giving the impression of
being polytheistic.
So, the Jyoti you worship on Mahasivaratri
is none other than that Supreme Light (tasya bhaasaa sarvamidam
Vibhati)--The source of Light for all that shines after Him, from which Light
Moses received his Ten Commandments and The Three stars that led the
source the three Wisemen(May be Brahma, Vishnu, Siva). Please do not be
frugle and settle down for less as the Mantra advises: “yad bhadram tanma
aasuva”—He knows what is good for you; Leave it to Him. Chant the Mantra:
“Mrityor Moksheeyaa maamrutaat”—Save me from repeated deaths but not from
Immortality! Remember the Mritunjaya Mantra: “Namo Rudraaya
Vishnave Mrityurme Pahi” – Salutations to Rudra and to Vishnu; Guard me
from death. On this night you are praying to Vishnu and Rudra only as you
have already thanked Brahma for the opportunity given to you
to elevate yourself if you are leading a Sattvic loaded life or cursed by
him for having accumulated more sins by your Rajasic or Tamasic
loaded life in your own indifference and neglect. Vishnu is still looking after
you and will handover you to Rudra according to your accumulated Karmas.
There is yet a chance to avoid temporary Naraka or Hell and enjoy life for a
short time in Sivaloka or Vishnuloka which are the names of Swarga only
from where you will return back to earth to continue to struggle to get
final word for Liberation when you will reach Brahamloka or Parmapada. In
Brahmaloka you get drawn to the very source you came from. Vedas talk about it
as “Tadvishnoh Paramam padam”, the Loka to which Vishnu will lead direct to
Paramapada avoiding Rudra if you have crossed the last
death at that final stage. Upanishads also mention them as Brahmaloka, the
abode of Brahma—“Brahmalokam gamishyate”—They reach Brahmaloka, our final
destiny. Recall the Mantra I spoke about long back which says such liberated
souls reach their final destination—“Te Brahmaloke tu paraantakale
paraamrittaat parimuchyanti sarve”—They get themselves released into the region
of Brahman (Brahmaloka) at the dissolution of their Body.
Here is the Unique Veda mantra which
should be meditated upon at the end of all prayers. It is addressed to
the UNKNOWN recognized in our Consciousness by the sound of OM only whom we
recognize as Brahman or Ever Growing (brih means to Grow). This Mantra is
sandwiched between two OMs to mean everything is enclosed in that Unknown.
"OM antaschariti Bhootshu guhaayaam
viswamoortishu | tum yajnastvam vashatkaarastvam indrastvam rudrastvam
vishnutsvam brahma tvam Prajaapatih|| Tvam tvadaapoe jyoti raso amritam
brahma bhoor buvah suvah OM"--That Supreme Being moves inside the spiritual
heart of created beings possessing manifold forms. O Supreme!Thou art The
Sacrifice;Thou art the expression Vashat we chant while offering oblations;Thou
art Indra; Thou art Rudra; Thou art Vishnu; Thou art Brahma; Thou art
Prajapati; Thou art THAT; Thou art Water in the rivers and the ocean; Though
art the Sun or Jyoti; Thou art the flavor, Thou art the Ambrosia
(Amrita)Though art the body of the Vedas; Though art the Threefold World and
Thou art OM.
-- E-Mail sent on February 27, 2016
Ancient Indian mandala Found In Peru
The
drawing of the square Vastumandala is a ritual pre-requisite to the making of
the temple. Vastumandala contains 81 squares based on
Smarangansutrdara and Tantrasamuchekaya. The central square is
Brahmasthana. It is the vital center, a place assigned to Brahma, the
Lord of Creation and the place for realization of Brahman. In Puranic
tradition this position is assigned to the Major Hindu Gods Vishnu
and Siva who were only Devatas in Vedic worship while Brahma became subordinated
as you have read in Siva Purana today. Both these deities who are
Vedic Devatas before are made to represent Universal Brahman
in their respective system of belief and worship. Vedas Speak of 33 Koti
Devatas. Here Koti in Vedic Sanskrit is kind and in classical
Sanskrit Crore (karod) representing huge number. So 33 Koti devatas mean 33
varieties of devatas and not 330 million of which we are accused of. This
only needs proper understanding and explanation. I will talk about
it a lot next week. Don't miss to read as it is very vital to our practice
and propagation of Hinduism. In Vatsumandala the rest 32 Devatas are
accommodated as Padadevatas.They are the Gods of Vedic pantheon and are
assigned subsidiary position in the Mandala as regents. They include
eight Dikpalas Indra, Agni, Yama, Niriti, Varuna, Vayu, Soma and Isana whom you
can see in Kanchipuram and Tanjavur temples. Thus our temple worship is based
on beliefs and the designation Hindu religion is apt word
today as we go by beliefs and faiths aligning with all other belief-based
religions. Since 32 deities are all around the Vatsumandala we do not
prostrate within the mandala eight parts touching the floor where these
deities are residing as regents. We finish this near Flagpost Garudagambha. We
are expected to do only circum-ambulation and Atma pradikshina only near
sanctum and within Mandala. Even our priests violate this rule
because of ignorance!
Here is an interesting dispatch from IndiaDivine.Org. Unfortunately I could not send you actual pictures taken as E-mail won't take it. I have stored it in my collection of Ancient Hindu Temples. It is huge. If you need let me know. Peru speaks in terms of circles for Mandalas which is an ancient concept. We talk of Suryamandala and Chandramandala. Mandalapuja consists of 48 rounds. Vastumandala in squares is a later development and goes with temple architecture though it retains the word Mandala.It also gives a clue as to how old is thePeru cuture is --long before Temple architecture started. Convince yoursaelf how Incan tradition grew up from Vedic Tradition. Also they speak of Viracoacha, the great teacher God of Andes. In Chandogya Upanishad both Indra, King of Gods and Virochana, King of Demons approach Brahma to know about Atman. Does the name Viracoacha sound similar? Draw your own conclusions.
Here is an interesting dispatch from IndiaDivine.Org. Unfortunately I could not send you actual pictures taken as E-mail won't take it. I have stored it in my collection of Ancient Hindu Temples. It is huge. If you need let me know. Peru speaks in terms of circles for Mandalas which is an ancient concept. We talk of Suryamandala and Chandramandala. Mandalapuja consists of 48 rounds. Vastumandala in squares is a later development and goes with temple architecture though it retains the word Mandala.It also gives a clue as to how old is thePeru cuture is --long before Temple architecture started. Convince yoursaelf how Incan tradition grew up from Vedic Tradition. Also they speak of Viracoacha, the great teacher God of Andes. In Chandogya Upanishad both Indra, King of Gods and Virochana, King of Demons approach Brahma to know about Atman. Does the name Viracoacha sound similar? Draw your own conclusions.
Unexplainable
Discovery: Ancient Indian Mandala Found at Peru’s Nazca Lines
The Nazca lines of Peru are, without a doubt,
the most enigmatic and mysterious geo-glyphs ever discovered on the planet, but
the discovery of an Ancient Indian Mandala makes the Nazca lines, even more,
mysterious.
Many of us have wondered, together with
countless scholars, what the exact purpose of the mysterious lines is… yet no
one has been able to fully understand, nor answer, the exact purpose of these
mysterious lines. Were these giant figures meant to be seen from above? Do hey
mimic constellations in the sky? What were the ancient’s trying to say to
future generations? Were the Nazca lines mere ancient art? If so… why would
ancient mankind create art that cannot be fully appreciated from the ground?
These are some of the questions that have been
asked for decades, yet no one has been able to answer them. There are over 800
straight lines, 300 geometric figures and 70 animal and plant designs also
called bio-morphs. The largest figure found at Nazca stretches about 200 meters
across. Interestingly, thelglyph found at Nazca goes for 9 miles.
There are some scholars that have discovered
curious patterns in the numerous designs and they suggest that the Nazca might
be one of the earliest known examples of applied geometry. According to some
claims, scientists from the University of Dresden researched the Nazca lines,
measuring the magnetic field and electric conductivity and discovering that
electric conductivity was 8000 higher on the Nazca lines than next to them.
But perhaps one of the most enigmatic
depictions of Nazca is what is known as the Mandala. Depicted in an extremely
remote area, it sits atop an arid mountain plateau, causing confusion among
those who have been able to observe it directly.
The Mandala is considered a ritual symbol in
Indian religions and represents the universe. Today, the mandala has become a
generic term used to describe any diagram, chart or geometrical pattern that
represents the cosmos. The Mandala also symbolizes the notion that life is, in
fact, a never ending cycle. But what is it doing in Peru? Who created it… and
for what purpose?
The Mandala at Nazca seems to have been carved
with extreme precision and detail, created on the ground measuring around 180
feet across, with an inner circle of the same diameter. In addition, several
other smaller circles, approximately 20 feet in diameter are etched in the
landscape along with a series of strategically placed holes.
The Ancient Hindus were among the first people
on the planet to use a Mandala spiritually, but the most famous Mandala most of
us know are in fact made by Buddhists. In Ancient Sanskrit, mandala means
‘circle’, even though the depiction of the symbol may be dominated by a set of
squares or triangles, the mandala as a whole is a concentric creation.
Archeologists today have failed to understand,
or even ask, how an ancient symbol, that originated half-way around the world,
got to a remote, arid mountain near Nazca.
Interestingly, according to some local
legends, the mysterious Incan creator god Viracocha, commissioned the Nazca
Lines and glyphs in the past. These lines are said to be created by the
Viracocha himself. He was the great teacher God of the Andes.
Viracocha was one of the most important
deities in the Inca pantheon and seen as the creator of all things or the
substance from which all things are created, and intimately associated with the
sea. According to the myth recorded by Juan de Betanzos, Viracocha rose from
Lake Titicaca (or sometimes the cave of Pacaritambo) during the time of
darkness to bring forth light.
Source: ancient-code.com
--E-Mail sent on February 28, 2016.
Who do we worship on Mahasivaratri
Night?
Here is the synopsis of Swamiji
Chidananda’s talk on Web-Air:
"How does Shivaratri Connect to the
Upanishads?--The
Upanishads speak mainly of Brahman, the Impersonal Reality. Employing a strong
language, the Kena (1:4) points out that the highest truth is NOT what people
(usually, popularly) worship! (na idam yad idam upasate)! That may
seem to put away all names and forms of God, including Vishnu, Shiva and Devi!
However when we see Kaivalya Upanishad (1:7), we find the sacred revelations
encouraging us to meditate on the "Three-eyed Lord, the Companion of
Uma..."! (uma-sahayam parameshvaram...). Thus Shivaratri, the
Holy Night of Shiva, is very much accommodated in the scheme of things! The
vision thus is to go from "form" to the "formless" and from
"name" to the "nameless “
Please go through the wisdom words above
from Swamiji Chidananda expressing his views on whom do we worship on Sivaratri
Night. In this connection please go through my detailed discourse on the
subject. It istrue that we worship on Sivaratri Night Siva in the
formless and nameless form as Vyahriri of Parabrahman.
But that is not the Linga, the Vyakata-avyakta form which the
Vaishnavites also worship as Salagrama. This is the Jyothi that is
celebrated in Puranas as the story goes. This is the Annamali Deepm worshiped
by Tamils as Fire Element on Aridra darsanam Night and again mentioned as
Brahman in Ten Cardinal Upanishads. Earliest wisdom thoughts in Vedas had
a clear distintinciton among Deva, Devaa and Devata. Thus we come across
terms Deva Ekah, Vaisvadeva, Aditir Devaa and Aapph Devata and Sarva Devataah.
My understanding is Deva is singular and refers to one and only Parabrhman in
his manifested form or Saguna Brahman. Simlarly Devaa is also feminine
singular, the Sakti aspect of Saguna Brahman. He is worshiped in his visible
form as Vaisvadeva and Aditir Devaa; so the suffix DEVA is applied only
to Agni and Earth only. But later there was a mix up in Rishis hearing Vedas
and these terms were indiscriminately used and caused confusion making
followers Sanatana Dharma looking polytheistic and not followers of Monoism.
So the Jyoti we worship is the nameless Parabrahman. This is the Jyoti in
which Moses could not see the Holy spirit being blindfolded by the dazzling
Light but could hear as ITS inner Voice and receive the Ten Commandments.
It is the column of Fire or Jyothi which is celebrated in Ten
Cardinal Upanishads on which Sankara, Sayana and other Gurus have
commented also. These Upanishds describe Parabrahman in the following words.
Deva Ekah, Tadekam, “tasya Bhaasa sarvamidam vibhaati”. The same is described
in Geeta as “Divi Soorya Sahasra” I may not be wrong if I conclude
Nirguna Brahman presents Himself/Hereself/Itself as Saguna Brahman
in the form of fire whom we worship as Nature and not in any other
conceivable man-made or natural occurring form like stone or Linga.That may be
the origin of Agni worship? If we look at the Jyothi that emerges out of
lamp it is in the conical form of a sphere pointing to Tadekam which
later got tied up in Linga worship concept. Who are the 32 deities
in 81 squares first invoked in Vastusastra in Bhoomipuja for temple
consteruction? These are 33 Vedic devatas in which Brahma and Prajapati are
taken as different entities to make 33 but they or perhaps one Devta. 33 Koti
means 33 kinds in Vedic Sanskrit and not 33 Crores of later Classical Sanskrit.
Hence the confusion that puranas project as 330 million gods. This is clarified
in BAU. These are the 33 controllers of Parabrahman.
I
also strongly believe that we should go by the 10 Cardinal Upanishads and not
later self-styled Upanishads which even elaborate on lot of Phalasrutis as in
Ganapati Atharvaseersha Upanishad and Narayanopanishad. The later authors
styled their bhakti out-pouring as Upanishads to give the same status as 10
cardinal Upanishads. Kaivalya Upanidhad is a later Yogaopanishad strongly
promoted by the author who is follower of Puranic Siva or
Rudra the devata, the Vyahriti of Brhaman hailed in
Upanishads. Puranas speak of Sivaloka and Vishnuloka. There are no
Devilokas? Vedas speak of Bramhaloka (bramhalokam gamishyate; tadvishnoh
paramam padam). So our highest goal is to reach the Loka of Parabrhaman. The
blessed few Nityasuris, Parameshthis or Pramahmsas reach Brahmaloka or
Parmapada direct. They too have for some time enjoyed their Punya in
Sivaloka or Vishnuloka mentioned in Puranas which are nothing but
Swarga, an intermediary station of enjoyment (its opposite is Naraka). They
exhaust all their Punya karmas there come back to earth, clear the balance
sheet of karma, turn Gunateetas and reach Brhamloka. By the time Bhagavadgita
was presented to us by Vedavyasa who refers to Parabrahman (Naryana) as
Bhagawan throughout speaking to Nara, Puranas had made their way into
Bhagavadgita. Therefore Gita says “Devavrataah Devaan yanti mahyeva
Maam”-- Worshippers of Devas (that includes Brahma, Vishnu and Siva) go to
Devas and those who worship Bhagawan come to Bhagawan who showed his manifested
form Viraatpurusha in Viswaroopam in Gita itself. So it is clear our
prayers on Mahasivaratri Night is focused on the Nameless in its manifested
form as Jyothi alone and our Abhishekam on Linga pouring tons of Milk on stone
Moorti Linga without focus on Him is meaningless. It can be symbolically done
and the Milk sent to feed the poor which will please Brahman more who
asked us to practice three D’s—Daya, Dama and Daana.
Please go through my following published
discourses and also wait for my exciting draft discourse next week titled
"Uncommon Understanding of the Unknown". Please help me with
your inputs to improve or correct my misunderstandings for its final
posting on the Blog. You have one month's time to critically go through.
--E-Mail sent on March 1, 2016
International Women’s Day, March 8, 2016”
Here is a song released yesterday on IWD by a gospel
singer. Hindus worship the power aspect of Brahman as Parasakti
(God is Woman as Saguna Brahman). For a Hindu this song appeals
nothing unusual for he starts the day with Matru Devo bhaa, Pitru
devo Bhava and Aachaarya devo Bhava before even turning his eyes to Sun
and God for his morning prayers:
It isn't every day popular music extols the feminine virtues of the divine in Christian sermons.
"God Is A Woman," gospel singer CeeLo Green in his new song;
The singer, best known for his 2006 hit "Crazy," released the track on March 8 in honor of International Women's Day. Beneath the track on his Sound-cloud page, Green also wrote a short "manifesto of thought and intention," praising the "mother of the moon and stars."
In the song, Green sings:
God is a woman
Although this idea’s non-traditional
I think God is a woman
Making each one of her children original
I stare at the sky until the stars start to fall
If there’s a God at all
It’s a woman
Although this idea’s non-traditional
I think God is a woman
Making each one of her children original
I stare at the sky until the stars start to fall
If there’s a God at all
It’s a woman
You might be wondering why I sent Happy
Mother’s day Greetings to-day? For Devi is the Mother of all Mothers for
us. Mother earth has been celebrated so in the Upanishads. Why don’t we
celebrate International Women’s Day as International Mothers’ Day in our Hindu
Temples? We as Hindu Americans and Citizens of Indian Origin
have double loyalty. Our President, India’s Prime Minister,
Narendra Modi and UN Secretary-General have glorified this Day more
than Mother’s Day to be celebrated on Sunday, the May 8 this year.
What inspired me with this thought was the message from Swami Chidananda. From
my discourse indicated below Hindus were the earliest to initiate Devi worship
Concept and also offer first worship to Mother, followed by father
and then Guru after worshiping their chosen deity. Hindu women enjoy
equal status in pay and work; of course there is also abuse particularly among
low castes, male chauvinists, uneducated as well as dowry minded.
For a cultured Hindu, Mother worship is for all
times and all days. Why then we cannot join the others in the
world making it a day of Special Religious Events Day? We do have a
Special Day for Sister too—Rakhi. Here is the message from Swami Chidananda:
“On
this International Women’s Day, we express love and respect to all women of the
world. One of the major roles that a woman plays in her life is that of a
mother.
The Taittiriya Upanishad exhorts all of us to look at our mother as the ‘special gift’ from God.
| मातृ देवो भव - तैत्तिरीय उपनिषद् 1.20 mātru-devo bhava = Let your mother be (a representative of) God for you!
The vision of the Upanishads is that divinity resides in every one of us. To see God in our mother is a great beginning towards the realization that sees God everywhere.
The mother in turn sees her child as a gift from God. After mentioning the mother first, the Upanishad urges us to see God in the father, in the teacher and in our guests.
Swami Chidananda”
The Taittiriya Upanishad exhorts all of us to look at our mother as the ‘special gift’ from God.
| मातृ देवो भव - तैत्तिरीय उपनिषद् 1.20 mātru-devo bhava = Let your mother be (a representative of) God for you!
The vision of the Upanishads is that divinity resides in every one of us. To see God in our mother is a great beginning towards the realization that sees God everywhere.
The mother in turn sees her child as a gift from God. After mentioning the mother first, the Upanishad urges us to see God in the father, in the teacher and in our guests.
Swami Chidananda”
International Women's Day (IWD), originally called International
Working Women's Day, is celebrated on March 8 every year--In different
regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of
respect, appreciation, and love towards women for women's economic, political,
and social achievements. In some regions, the day
lost its political flavor, and became simply an occasion for people to express
their love for women in a way somewhat similar to a mixture of Mother's
Day and Valentine's
Day. In other
regions, however, the political and human rights theme designated by the United
Nations runs strong, and
political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought
out and examined in a hopeful manner.
The official United Nations theme for
International Women's Day in 2016 is Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for
Gender Equality. The UN observance on 8 March will reflect on how to
accelerate and build momentum for the effective implementation of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development. It will equally focus on new
commitments under UN Women’s Step It Up initiative, and other existing
commitments on gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s human rights.
UN Women's initiative Planet 50–50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality
Step It Up asks governments to make and follow through with national
commitments to address the challenges that are holding women and girls back
from reaching their full potential. As of February 2016, more than 90
concrete government commitments and firm pledges have been made to
overcome gender equality gaps at, and since, a historic event — the Global
Leaders’ Meeting on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment: A Commitment to
Action co-hosted by UN Women and the People’s Republic of China — in September
2015.
The World Economic Forum predicted in 2014
that it would take until 2095 to achieve global gender
parity.
Then one year later in 2015, they estimated that a slowdown in the already
glacial pace of progress meant the gender gap wouldn't close entirely
until 2133.
This great push for gender parity may be
challenged by men in isolated pockets! Though not that popular as IWD, IMD is
also celebrated in some countries.
International Men's Day (IMD) is an annual
international event celebrated on 24 November. Inaugurated in 1992 on 7
February by Prof Thomas Oaster the project was re-initialized in 1999 in
Trinidad and Tobago since 7 February 1994.
May I draw your kind attention to two of my
discourses on the subject in the past. Your comments are always welcome
to further my knowledge on the subject.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/05/veneration-and-compilation-for.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/05/hindu-american-perception-of- htmlhttp://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/03/hindu-women-in-realm-of-religion.htmlhttp://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2011/11/women-in-hindu-society-through-ages.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/05/veneration-and-compilation-for.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/05/hindu-american-perception-of- htmlhttp://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/03/hindu-women-in-realm-of-religion.htmlhttp://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2011/11/women-in-hindu-society-through-ages.html
Here are two messages on IWD:
"Let us devote solid funding, courageous
advocacy and unbending political will to achieving gender equality around the
world. There is no greater investment in our common future."— UN
Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon
"Saluting the accomplishments of all
women on International Women's Day & gratitude for their indispensable role
in our society--From 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' to better health &
education facilities, our Govt's efforts towards women-led development are
unwavering. Our financial inclusion efforts, skill development initiatives
& MUDRA Bank will empower our Nari Shakti to contribute to India's growth--
Narendra Modi".
Lot of research work is going on to prove incidences in
Ramayana and Mahabharata are historic and not mythological stories. To me
Mahabharata is more convincing being historic than Ramayana. Ramayana War
deals with two humans and the rest with bears and Monkeys who had all Human
instincts which gives the clue that it was a period of transition
in which humans came out of animals and co-existed and had contacts with the
other worlds. It also deals with Rakshas who are aliens to Earth.
Ramayana speaks of Devas, Rakshasas, Sadhyas, Yakshas, Kinnaras, Kimpurushas,
Gandharvas etc., besides humans. During Ramayana period travel between planets
was a reality and normal further confirmed by the Kubera Vahana of
Pushpaka and Narada's frequent visits`. This possibility came to almost an end
during the Mahabharata period as the Mahabharata War was among humans
only except for Ghatotkacha who was a Rakshas the last traces of the Raksha
race that lingered on planet earth. There are many facts to prove
that Krishna was a historic figure like Buddha for he lived only for 128
years on planet Earth while Rama ruled in Ayodhya for 100000 years, which is
not possible for a human. At the same time Krishna showed he is an avatar on
many instances wielding his powerful weapon Sudarsana, killing Rakshasas,
reviving the dead embryo and showing his Universal form which his later Avatar
could not do. There is no one incidence to know Buddha is an Avatar of Vishnu.
He led a life of Sanyasi and died as Sanyasi. Knowing what is happening today
making Saibaba, Andal, Swami Narayan etc. as Gods, I believe this trend
started with Buddha and inferring 99% of Krishna’s life as normal human being.
Rama walked to heaven with his human body while Krishna faced an
accidental human death before his ascension. Thus there is also
down-to-earth policy adopted by the Unknown progressively starting from
Kritayuga to Kaliyuga.
I am more convinced Mahabharata to be a
historic document but not Ramayana. But time and again we come with fresh
historic evidences or concoctions to argue Ramayana was a reality and happened
in Ayodhya. Who knows what historic facts or concoctions newer Ramayanas will
bring forth? You all know there are many Ramayanas including Jaina Ramayana.
Researcher are trying to prove Rama was more human than God like Krishna
and ultimately say he was also a historic figure like Krishna and Buddha. In
that context Parusurama can also be included in this History-Club being
a contemporary of Rama. Please go through this exciting new discovery which
says Rama was more human and deals more with Rama's married
life and attitude towards married life as frustrated and vexed husband:
--E Mail sent on International Women’s day
New Ramayana Discovery Stuns Scholars in
Kolkata
It’s one of those rare discoveries that send
ripples across time and space zones. A sixth century manuscript of Ramayana –
that focuses on the separation of Rama and Sita and portrays them more as
humans – has been found tucked inside a Purana at a little known Sanskrit
library in Kolkata.
The Eureka moment came purely by chance.
Scholars working on the Sixth Century Vanhi Purana at the Asiatic Society
library were puzzled to find that the manuscript seemed incomplete. They
started looking through the Catalogus Catalogorum -a global repository of
Sanskrit manuscripts compiled by German scholar Aufrecht -and realized two more
identical manuscripts existed. One was preserved at the India Office Library at
London and the second at the Kolkata-based Samskrita Sahitya Parishad, a
100-year-old research institution partly funded by the HRD ministry. Their
curiosity whetted, the scholars scoured the archives and found the complete
version of the Vanhi Purana manuscript. When they were analyzing it, they
stumbled upon the Dasa Griba Rakshash Charitram Vadha, which did not have any
bearing with the Vanhi (fire) Purana.
For some time they could not understand why
the slokas of the purana suddenly started telling another story. But they did
feel that the story was extremely familiar because the predominant characters
were Rama, Sita and Ravana. Before long, the scholars realized that they were
reading a Sixth Century version of the Ramayana with many interpolations. It is
markedly different from the more accepted 4 BC Valmiki Ramayana.
“Interestingly in this version, there are just
five kandas (sections) instead of the accepted seven. There is no Balkanda –
the part that deals with Rama’s childhood – or Uttarkanda. This Ramayana ends
with the return of Rama and Sita from exile and his ascension to the Ayodhya
throne,” said Anasuya Bhowmick, lead scholar of the Asiatic Society for the project,
who is working with the manuscript. This Ramayana does not begin with the curse
that drove Dasarath to send his son to exile. Instead, it begins with a curse
that befell goddess Lakshmi when rakshash guru Shukracharya got angry with Lord
Narayan for killing Shukracharya’s wife, who would bring dead rakshashas to
life in a war between Gods and demons.
The other curse falls on both Lakshmi and
Narayan when Dharitri cannot bear the pain of the constant battle between Gods
and demons. In both cases, Laxmi and Narayan are told that they will have to
bear the pain of separation.
“This version of the Ramayana focuses
more on the separation of the husband and wife rather than that of father and
son. Again, Ram here is more human than God, with follies like anger and
failure. Some interesting details -like the ages of Sita and Rama at the time
of marriage and the date when Sita was abducted by Ravana are in this version,”
said Sanskrit scholar Manabendu Bandyopadhyay, president of the Parishad and
general secretary of Asiatic Society. “We will take about a year to complete
the reading and interpretation of this version of the Ramayana and it will be
published as a book by Asiatic Society" Bhowmick said.
E-Mail
sent on March 11, 2016