THOUGHT
FOR THE DAY, 1st QUARTER 2018
RAMAYAN PATH AND
RAMAYANA PARAYANA
Ramayan Path is the act of reading
(Pathanam) and listening (Sravanam) Ramayana on specific days devoted to Sri
Rama the seventh Incarnation of Vishnu. Both these acts of holy reading and
listening are themselves considered to be Aaraadhana or act of worship of the
Supreme. Ramayana Parayana or Path worship is observed as any other
festival worship. It includes normal purification rituals, sankalpa or
religious resolution, Invocation reading and listening of the main text, aarati
(waving of Lamps), naivedyam (offering food), Mantrapushpam (floral offering of
Veda mantras) and concluding prayer. The function concludes with offering food
to Vedic scholars, feeding the poor and enjoying the blessed food with all
participants and listeners.
Rama is Paramatman. Sita is your Jivatman.
Ravana is your wandering mind that clouds Jivatman from
Paramatman. Hanuman is your intuition and Guru who
helps and guides you with his concept meditation power in the unification
of Jivatman with Paramatman.
We in Nashville started our Akhand
Ramayan path on March 18 and concluded it on March 24. Usually Ramayan Path is
focused on Ramacharit Manas of Sant Tulsidas, read by people drawn from Hindi
belt of India mainly Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal. Ramayana Parayana
is conducted by reading and listening Valmiki Ramayana in
Sanskrit during Dussehra or Navaratri concluding the ritual on
Vijayadasami Day celebrating Sri Rama Pattbhishekam, with which Yuddhakanda
concludes glorifying Ramayana reading as a means for
Preyas (worldly pleasures) and Sreyas (Perennial joy called Ananda).
Usually South Indians resort to Ramayana Parayana. I have explained in detail the
purport of Ramayan Path in my discourse: http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/04/why-do-we-revere-ramayana-or-sunderkand_7.html
But why Pattabhishekam (Crowning
Ceremony) becomes important in South Indian practice? To honor Rama we must
strive to live a life of Dharma and Sadhana. We must be open to the space of
cosmic consciousness beyond our biased human intellect and its conceited
opinions. To do this we must become Sita and make our lives into a vision and a
sacrifice. We must sharpen our intellect as Lakshmana to discern the eternal
from the transient. We must awaken our inner Hanuman and direct our Prana to
attempt the highest and leap beyond our limitations. We must overcome our own
Ravana, the intractable ignorance and ego urges within us.” Says David Frawley.
With loud reading and listening we charge ourselves and the surroundings with
Dharma.
The loss and regaining of Sita is our
loss and finding the knowledge of our true nature. Lakshmana is the
discriminating power of the buddhi that protects this inner receptivity. Rama
is the true Self within us that must awaken to reclaim it. Hanuman is the son
of Vayu, the cosmic energy that works through the air element. He is our inner
Prana devoted to the Divine couple, the Sita and Rama within us. Ravana
represents the separating self and its illusion powers through the ego-mind,
obsessed with external power and control.
The word "Ayodhya"
is derived from the Sanskrit word yudh, "to fight, to wage
war". Yodhya is the future passive participle, meaning "to be
fought. Atharvaveda refers to this city as unconquerable city of
gods. Jain Adipurana states that Ayodhya "does not
exist by name alone but by the merit of being unconquerable by enemies. Satyopakhyana
interprets the word slightly differently, stating that it means "that
which cannot be conquered by sins" and so David Frawley refers to it
as City of Dharma.The cities of Ayutthaya
(Thailand), and Yogyakarta
(Indonesia), are named after Ayodhya.
As a Tamil from South India and
focused on Ramayana Paryana during Fall Navarartri I believe Rama’s
incarnation was for the restoration of Dharma and in that respect he made
an excellent final job by making Sita the rightful Queen of
Ayodhya, Parasakti ruling the Capital of the Universe. That is why he
accepted her initially, though not contemplating on leading a married
life with her for long, on being certified by Agni who was the witness in their
marriage. Ramayana speaks about Dharma throughout its text more than any other
Purana or Gita or even Veda and Rama’s actions were always focused on Dharma.
Dharma over-ruled all other things in life including his leading a happy life.
When Ravana was deprived of his arms and chariot, instead of disposing him off
then and there he asked him to go back, rest and come back the next day
to fight! Though divorcing Sita later, that many call it mildly
abandoning, he did not remarry in order not to usurp Sita the
status as Queen of Ayodhya while he was King of Ayodhya and making
someone else queen. This many praise as Ekapatni-Vrata Dharma
(Solemnized Monogamy). He abandoned her after making sure that he fulfilled his
obligation as a monarch to leave behind his pro-genies to rule the
country. So Sita always remains as Queen of Ayodhya in our mind
and as Parasakti and Universal Mother to guide us in Dharma while
Rama left for Vaikuntha to assume his normal duties. He left behind Hanuman and
Vibhhishana as Chiranjeevis as perennial Soldiers of Dharma and Sita as the
Queen of Dharma and Ayodhya as the Dharma Capital of the World.
It is therefore no wonder Valmiki ended Yuddhakanda with the Coronation
of Sri Rama and Sita, leaving the rest for our endeavor and experience. That is
why Sita Rama Pattabhisahekam is an integral part of Ramayana Parayana
Ritual and Celebration!I
Will Sita-Rama
Pattabhisheka be a better ceremony than Sitarama kalyanotsva for
celebration in Hindu Temples with Abhishekam? I also wonder why Lakshmi
Jayanthi is not being celebrated on Panguni Uttiram Day? I saw nobody near
Lakshmi shrine yesterday like what I see on Ramanavami or Krishna Janmashtami or
Ganesha Chaturthi? Does Puranas tell us about the birthday of Parvti, Durga or
Sarasvati? Purans tell Bhudevi was born on Yugadi Day. We rarely have a
sanctum for Bhudevi though we parade her with all Vishnu deities. She is not
even in Navagraha altar while she is the presiding deity of a Nakshtra in Vedic
astrology. We do not celebrate her birthday too; in fact no female deity
birthday is celebrated! Tamils say Siva without Sakti is Sava?Strange and
intriguing are our temple traditions that has landed Sanatna Dharama in Hindu
Confusion-ism? American Hindus continue that confused tradition with no
thoughts focused and boast they are high intellectuals!
--March 31, 2018
Comments:
I enjoyed your post on Ramayan Parayana.
I read the Sundarakanda, in sanskrit,but kannada script ,whenever I feel like
,but specially during dasara. I relish the experience!
--A.S.
Narayana, Bengaluru
Spiritually Thinking of the
Sitarama Kalyanotsavam on the Panguni
Uttiram Day…
Today is Panguni Uttiram the day Rama
married Sita. May be
he won the contest last Sunday and we celebrated that event. Many of you might
not have liked my statement that Rama was not a good and loving
husband though substantiated quoting Valmiki Ramayana. I believe his
incarnation was for the restoration of Dharma and in that respect he made an
excellent job by making Sita the rightful Queen of Ayodhya. That is why he
accepted her initially on being certified by Agni who was the
witness in their marriage. Though divorcing Sita later, which
many call it abandoning, he did not remarry in order not to
usurp Sita the status as Queen of Ayodhya while he was King of
Ayodhya. Let us therefore review the wedding from spiritual aspect.
Please refer to Sita's narrtion in
Sunderkanda: भर्तुः
भक्तिम्
पुरः कृत्य रामात् अन्यस्य
वानर |न अहम् स्प्रष्टुम् पदा गात्रम् इच्छेयम् वानर उत्तम || ५-३७-६०
"O
Hanuman, the best of monkeys! Honoring the devotion to my husband, I cannot
touch the body of any man other that of Rama." Also Ravana had a
curse that if he touched any woman by force against her will his
head will be shattered to pieces.Yet Rama doubted her chastity after listening
to Hanuman's narration of his adventure!
Last Sunday Nashville took our memories
to Ayodha by rehearsing Sitakalyontsava in the typical South Indian grand
fashion to witness the actual ceremony of Sita and Rama to-day, Phalgun Uttar
or Panguni Uttiram Day, celebrated in Ayodhya. It was however a
simple affair in Tretyayuga unlike what some of you have witnessed last week in
Nashville. Our temple aptly called it Sita--Rama Kalyanotsava giving
importance to Sita and not Rama-Sita Kalyanotsava, though Rama won the bride in
an archery contest. Of course they do it to all Vishnu deities like Lakshmi
Narasimha, Radha Krishna etc. but not Siva which wedding is celebrated as Siva
-Parvati Kalyanotsava.
The Ramayana revolves around
Sita. It is more appropriate to call it Sitopakhyana than
Ramopakhyana that is inserted in Mahabharata! Who is Sita? Sita is born of a
furrow in the ground. She is one of the ayoni-jas or those not born of
the womb. She is discovered by King Janaka during his yearly ceremonial plowing
of the fields. She is therefore called Jaanaki.
The goddess is best known by the name
"Sita", derived from the Sanskrit word sīta,
meaning furrow. The Sita of the Ramayana
may have been named after a more ancient Vedic Goddess Sita, who is mentioned
once in the Rigveda as an earth goddess who blesses the land with good crops.
In the Vedic period she was one of the goddesses associated with fertility. A
Vedic hymn (Rigveda 4:57) recites: Auspicious Sita, come thou near; We
venerate and worship thee; That thou may bless and bring prosperity
to us; And bring us fruits abundantly. In Harivamsa,
Sita has been invoked as one of the names of goddess Arya: O goddess, you
are the altar's center in the sacrifice. The priest's fee (guru
dakshina); Sita to those who hold the plough and Earth to all living
being.
Indian Ramayana portrays Sita as a soft
and beautiful woman whereas Indonesian Ramayana depicts her as bold, strong and
powerful. She as Parasakti fights with Asuras and Asuris in Sri Lanka
herself, without depending on her husband for her freedom along with Ravana's
ten thousand abducted women and girls. In Ramavataram, Sita is
similar to Draupadi in many ways.
Trying to understand Rama and Sita in
human terms reflects a limited perception and bondage to Maya. This does not
mean that Rama and Sita had no human existence, but as the manifestation of a
transcendent reality. Rama as an avatar represents our highest spiritual
potential.
“Rama and Sita are not merely two
separate individuals. Sita is Rama’s feminine reflection. Rama is Sita’s power
of action. Their physical manifestation reflects a deeper unity between the
two. They are like the Sun and Moon, fire and water, earth and sky,
consciousness and bliss. Their energies are all pervasive within and without, a
universal metaphor.
To honor Rama we must strive to
live a life of Dharma and Sadhana. We must be open to the space
of cosmic consciousness beyond our biased human intellect and its conceited
opinions. To do this we must become Sita and make our lives into a vision and a
sacrifice. We must sharpen our intellect as Lakshmana to discern the eternal
from the transient. We must awaken our inner Hanuman and direct our Prana to
attempt the highest and leap beyond our limitations. We must overcome our own
Ravana, the intractable ignorance and ego urges within us.” Saysa David
Frawley.
It is time that we visit Ayodhya under
the plea to visit the wedding, which is to move from an outer fixation to
an inner view of life as a spiritual offering. Ayodhya is a divine city of
profound wisdom, deep devotion and unity consciousness. Ayodhya as the City of
Dharma is an ideal within the hearts of all that welcomes every creature and
every form of sincere aspiration. Lord Rama as the Avatar of Dharma exemplifies
that our true duty is to serve all life, not merely to fulfill our personal
desires. We have much to learn from this wonderful story, but must approach it
with humility and reverence. Last week we turned Nashville
to Ayodhya and let us continue to do so being the Relgious City of
USA!
The word "Ayodhya"
is derived from the Sanskrit words yudh, "to fight, to
wage war". Yodhya is the future passive participle, meaning
"to be fought". Atharvaveda refers to this city as unconquerable city
of gods. Jain Adipurana states that Ayodhya
"does not exist by name alone but by the merit of being unconquerable by
enemies. Satyopakhyana interprets the word slightly differently, stating
that it means "that which cannot be conquered by sins" and so
David Frawley refers to it as City of Dharma. The cities of Ayutthaya
(Thailand), and Yogyakrta (Indonesia). Yogyakarta city
is named after the Indian city of Ayodhya from the Ramayana epic. Yogya means
“suitable, fit, proper”, and karta, “prosperous, flourishing” (i.e., “a
city that is fit to prosper”). That means Dharma alone
sustains, Sathyameva jayate!
Puranas need to be properly projected
for its spiritual content after the introduction. We can do a good job here in
Baal Vihaar Schools. Our religious pundits and Pauraneekas have their own
style of exaggerating things drawing our attention away from its spiritual
content or not drawing our attention to it!
--March 30, 2014
Excellent and enjoyed reading it. Dharma is eternal
Law (Eg Righteousness) and Karma (Action we perform aligned to Law - speak the
truth, show respect to everyone including elders, perform daily prayers
specified by elders).
Recently one my friend hear Sri Jaggi Vasudeva where
he talks about Karma being critical and one need to follow (did u had a chance
to listen).
People always get confused between basic terms and
which is one need to focus (Dharma, Karma)-(not Kama and Artha)
I am sure you will have an article exclusive on this
--Balasubhramaniyan,
Atlanta
Dr Kalai Mugilan complimented with the words Thank you, Thank you!
PANGUNI
UTTIRAM AND GOOD FRIDAY FALLS ON THE SAME DAY IN MARCH 2018
This year Panguni
Uttiram, the day Rama married Sita, the holiest day in Hinduism on which day many divine weddings took
place and the holiest day in
Christianity, Good Friday a day of
fasting and penance in Christianity, signify Friday March 30, the holiest day
of the year for all irrespective of their religious belief! In 2016 Panguni
Uttiram was on March 22 on the Poornima day and preceded Good Friday that
was on March 25. They rarely come together hence this year is unique for
Hindu Americans who have found their partner in Christianity and their
children.
Muslims don’t celebrate Good
Friday. Like the Christians the Muslims
believe that the crucifixion episode took place on a Friday. Unlike the
Christians they do not believe that God allowed his Son, whom they think is a Messiah
and Hindus think as an Avtar, to be humiliated and killed off by his enemies.
Hindus believe in Karma theory and
justify Krishna’s death by the arrow of the unseen hunter was due to his Karma as human being
for in his previous birth as Rama, he killed
Vali by an arrow from behind
hiding. It was also to impress upon us
no one is above Laws of Karma. We read from the Quran:
That they said (in boast),
“We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah” but they
killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and
those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but
only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not: Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and
Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise. [Quraan 4:157-158]
Islam
believes that a Messiah would not be killed as a criminal at the hands of his
enemies. They believe that their plot was foiled, Allah saved Jesus from both
the cross, and from death, and instead of this Allah directly raised Jesus into
the heavens, thereby leaving the enemies of Jesus in defeat and protecting the
Messiah, and this is the real Good Friday. They would have prayed on that Good
Friday too praising Allah all the more! They
will be praying tomorrow also in all Mosques and will not stop though it is
Good Friday or Panguni Uttiram!
Living
in a Christian Belt Nashville, I began to seriously think How Christianity and
Hinduism have come together this year to celebrate both Panguni Uttiram and
Good Friday on the same day that is March 30. Muslims too will be praying in
mosques. This is a divine mystery of unification of all religious thoughts
focused on Tadekam that is Brahman.
Some Hindus who have chosen their partners from Christianity will try to attend
both temple and church on this day with their children brought up with both the
faiths. Let us understand Good Friday to solve the mystery. In Christianity Christmas and New Year are
celebrated solely on December 25 and January 1, irrespective of the day in which
it falls. Good Friday as the name
suggests is always celebrated on Friday like Tamils celebrate “Adi Vellikkizhamai” (Friday in the
Tamil Month of India) and “Purattasi
Sanikkizhamai” (Saturdays in Purattasi Month).
Good Friday occurs two days before Easter Sunday in the
United States. It is the day when Christians commemorate Jesus Christ's
crucifixion, which plays an important part in the Christian faith. It is not a
federal holiday in the United States, although it is a state holiday in some
states. It is a day of fasting and penance. With the belief all religions lead
to the same GOD, it is declared a National Holiday in India where
Christians are insignificant minority,
more than 90% being Hindus!
Good Friday is the Friday
before Easter, which is calculated differently in Eastern
Christianity and Western Christianity.
Easter falls on the first Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon, the full moon
on or after 21 March, taken to be the date of the vernal equinox.
Computus (Latin
for "computation") is a calculation that determines the calendar date
of Easter. Because the date is based on a calendar-dependent equinox rather than the astronomical one, there are differences between
calculations done according to the Julian calendar and the modern Gregorian
calendar. The name
has been used for this procedure since the early Middle Ages, as it was considered the most
important computation of the age.
The following table shows how Good
Friday is different each year. This makes me happy that no Christian can point
his finger towards us saying we are not consistent in our religious observance
and are guided by myths and astrologers.
It all the more justifies me as Hindu American because there are
many Hindu families here whose children have chosen their partners
from Christianity and a rare few from
Islam too:
Name
|
Holiday
Type
|
Where
It is Observed
|
|||
Fri
|
Apr 2
|
2010
|
Good Friday
|
State holiday
|
13 states
|
Fri
|
Apr 22
|
2011
|
Good Friday
|
State holiday
|
13 states
|
Fri
|
Apr 6
|
2012
|
Good Friday
|
State holiday
|
13 states
|
Fri
|
Mar 29
|
2013
|
Good Friday
|
State holiday
|
13 states
|
Fri
|
Apr 18
|
2014
|
Good Friday
|
State holiday
|
13 states
|
Fri
|
Apr 3
|
2015
|
Good Friday
|
State holiday
|
13 states
|
Fri
|
Mar 25
|
2016
|
Good Friday
|
State holiday
|
13 states
|
Fri
|
Apr 14
|
2017
|
Good Friday
|
State holiday
|
13 states
|
Fri
|
Mar 30
|
2018
|
Good Friday
|
State holiday
|
13 states
|
Fri
|
Apr 19
|
2019
|
Good Friday
|
State holiday
|
13 states
|
Fri
|
Apr 10
|
2020
|
Good Friday
|
State holiday
|
13 states
|
Would you believe that the date of
Easter is related to the Full Moon?
Specifically, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after
the full Moon that occurs on or just after the Vernal Equinox. This full Moon is referred to as the “paschal full Moon.” While the dates for Christmas
and Valentine's Day are fixed, Easter can fall any time between March 22 and April 25. Compare Panguni
Uttiram which also can fall in March or April. Panguni or Phalgun month
is special in Hindu Calendar Year and Panguni Uttiram, the most auspicious day
of the month because the Uttira Nakshatra coincides with the Poornima (Full Moon).You can thus see the astrological belief and influence
of Hinduism in observing religious
holidays in Christianity.
This Year Panguni Uttiram is the
holiest day as it falls on Friday. Friday is the most sacred day of the weak in
Hinduism and so also in Christianity and Islam. Good Friday is the sixth day of Holy Week for Christians and
falls two days prior to Easter Sunday each year. The day commemorates the
crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is the holiest Friday of the year. March Friday
on 30 thus becomes the most sacred day
for all the great world Religions of the world.
I wonder how our Ganesha Temple in Nashville missed this day to
celebrate Sitrama Kalyanotsava and were in a hurry to celebrate on Sunday 25
this Month? Friday was more sacred day than Sunday for a wedding! Perhaps the
thought that unfortunately Good Friday is not a Federal Holiday in Nashville
made them think otherwise with their fundraising goal than spiritual goal! I
hope they will seriously focus on Spiritual
Management after having succeeded
in their financial goals. Many
Christians in Nashville remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm
Sunday which falls on March 25, this
year, which marks the beginning of Holy
Week. This day is also on the Sunday before Easter Sunday. I am sure this was not in the mind
of our temple authorities to celebrate Kalyanoysava
on Palm Sunday as a gesture of goodwill to promote Interfaith Mission which
with they are also engaged in conducting temple tours regularly spreading the
message of Sanatna Dharma of Universal Oneness!
--March
29, 2018
Comments received:
As
you have observed I try to find time to go through your mails which
contains lots of interesting information assiduously collected, studied and
shared by you with us all. We are grateful to you forever.
As
you have mentioned earlier, the marriage of Bhagawan Sri Rama and Devi Seetha
are considered ideal by most of us and as you rightly opined in an earlier
mail, the union has not in many respects proved to be ideal !!
Firstly
the marriage took place in the absence of Dasaratha and Kausalya!! May be in
the elderly presence of Sage Viswamitra.
Then
Seetha did not heed Rama's words not to accompany him to the forest but stay
with his parents and take care of them in his absence. Seetha that way has
not been an ideal daughter in law.
Seetha
made Rama to follow the Golden deer (Asambhavam Hema Mrugasya Janma) and bring
it alive.
Rama
despite his skill in archery had to kill Mareecha which made him shout Ha
Seetha Ha Lakshmana?
Seetha,
despite Lakshmana's entreaty not to believe the shouts, admonished Lakshmana with unbecoming remarks
doubting Lakshmana's morality.
After
the Ravan's slaying, how the maryada
Purushottama , while refusing to take back Seetha to keep himself above board
in the world's eyes, and suggest that seetha may marry either Lakshman or
vibheeshana ? I had never heard about these but when you had mentioned this as
from Valmeeki Ramayana I believe.
After
proving her chastity by Agnipravesha, how Rama, again to show to the world
that he was above board, had the heart to send a pregnant Seetha to forest.
(Personally
we feel that Uttara Rama Charita is a later addition and does not form part of
the original Valmiki Ramayana)
Thus
as you rightly observed, I tend to agree that the Rama Seetha Marriage was not
ideal.
There
have been instances where after naming girls as Seetha, the parents have
changed their names to some other goddess' name, because Seetha was not happy in
her married life !! Nor Rama!!
--Sapthagirisan from
India
MY REPLY
Thank you very much. Generally I
do not go deep into Puranas as these can be interpreted as per the
context and our own thinking as Pauranikas often do.
Ramayana can be glorified for Ekapativrata or Ekapatnivrata,
both can be conveniently quoted for monogamy. Sita believed more in
Ekapativrata unlike later Satyavati or Draupadi in
Mahabharata that was needed for the Purana. I mostly use them to
suit Hindu American way of life if I am called for. In USA many Moms having
been disgusted with their unfaithful husbands decide to lead a
single parent life raising their kids. They also do not believe in the
institution of marriage. I hope you have seen my E-mail in this
regard. Sita raised her two intelligent kids singly very well in
life which Rama alone could not have done. By and large we have moved
away from sahadharminee concept and all said and done we still continue in a
male chauvinistic society. Our society glorifies Krishna's amorous life with
Radha even after many weddings and Rukmini-Krishna weddings
are seldom celebrated. If you think of it they would have hanged a woman
for similar act. you know the story of Ahalya! SKCON glorifies Radha-Krishna
only. What prevented Krishna from marrying Radha while he married 16008?
Only puranas can tell! Only Chennai has honored Rukmini and glorified
family values with Krishna Parivara (Family) being worshiped like Jaganntha Parivara. America is by
and large male chauvinistic society even in wages. So I played the other side
of the coin though I am quite aware of the points you have brought to my focus.
You will find another interesting interpretation tomorrow. Sita, Uma, Rudra ,
Skanda Krishna are all divinites mentioned in Vedas around whom stories
have been built by Puranas to suit the context but at the same time
leaving scope for lot of criticism. I wish many could send me such enlightening
feedbacks and educate me further. I am a novice in the field of religion
and spirituality and started seriously thinking about it after retirement
motivated by the late Sankaracharya while I was serving Tatas in Indore. My
Blog and interaction continuously educates me though my time is running
short and I started rather late in life unlike many of you and that too with no
parental guidance or Guru.
I regularly do Rama Parayana during Navaratri with
understanding and so I made that bold statement which generally people avoi
not to offend Rama and they do not mind offending Sita! Rama did not even
address her as his wife but as “Janakaatmaje” I am always careful
as I have learned scholars on my mailing list including Swami Chidanada, Phil
Goldberg and others. Yet I am not always right and need vigil by people like
you. I bring to your kind notice slokas pertaining to my statement from Chapter
CXV of Yuddhakanda. Gita Press Gorakhpur includes Uttarakanda as Valmiki
Ramayana though opinions differ again in order not to offend. From these slokas
it is clear divorce and even woman remarrying was a Dharma even in Tretayuga as
I consider Rama as the champion of Dharma. In VSN everybody talks about
“Srirama rama raameti” but what about” Ramay- raame-manorame” referring
to Sita? Have you heard any Pauranika or Swamiji explaining that?
Not even Sankarabhashyam? It is always Siva Parvati though it is
Lakshminarasimha or Radhakrishna or even Sitarama? My focus is on the ra-ma
mantra where Raa is the bijakshara in Ashtaksharee and Ma is the
bijkshara in Panchaaksharee. This is what Narada advised the hunter to focus on
who became Valmiki.
Viditaschastu
bhadram te yogya-ayam ranaparisramah |
suteeernah
suhridaam veeryaan na tvadarthammayaa kritah ||15||
rakshaa
tu mayaa vrittamapavaasdam cha sarvatah |
prkhyaatasyaatmavamsasya
nyangam cha parimaarjitaa ||16||
praaptachaaritra-sandeha
mama pratimukhe sthitaa |
deepo netraaturarayeva pratikoolaasi
me dhridha ||17||
tad gaccha tvaanujaane-adya yatheshtam
janakaatmaje |
etaa dasa diso bhadre kaaryamasti
na me svayaa ||18||
kah pumaastu kule jaatah striyam
parigrihoshitaam |
tejasvee punaraadadyaat suhrillobhena
chetasaa |19||
Raavanangapariklishtaam drishtaam
dushtena chakshushaa |
Katham tvaam punaraadadyaam
kulam vyapadisanmahat ||20||
yadartham nirjitaa may tvam so-ayamaasaadito
mayaa |
naasti nmay tvayyabhishvango yatheshtam
gamyataamiti ||21|
Tadadya vyaahritam bhadre mayaitat
kritabhuddhinaa ||22||
Lakshmane vaatha Bharate kuru bhuddhi
yathaasukaham
|
Satrughne vaatha Sugrieve raakshase
Vibhishane |
nivesaya manah Seeteyatha Yathaa vaa
sukhamaatmanah ||23||
A
RARE MANTRA FROM BRAHMA PURANA FOR SRIRAMA NAVAMI
Tomorrow is Rama Navami. Sri Ganesha
Temple in Nashville has also planned Sita Rama Kalyanotsavam tomorrow as they
were quite impatient to wait for Panguni Uttiram on 30th and auspicious Friday
too which was his Marriage anniversary day. They say Rama is Nityakalyana
Murti! Subhasya seeghram goes a proverb in Sanskrit! This is
a rare occasion that Lord Siva also joins us in offering prayers to Sri
Rama. As I informed you earlier RAMA nama is also a powerful Mantra combining
Panchakshari and Ashtaksahari. Choose the sloka in your choice language
and pray to Lord Sri Rama and Sita and be the beneficiaries of
divine grace on this holy occasion! You are not yet late to the Grand
Marriage Party! Being a jam session I am forced to send too many E-mails as I
do not wish the important dates of your Ishtadevatas.. I am quite satisfied
with Om Tad Brahma tad vaayu tad atma tat satyam tat sarvam tart puror
namah and also leave the choice to him to grant appropriate benefits that I
deserve that He decides as I may be stingy even in asking favors! You may
however go by the attractive offers Murlidharan Iyengar allures you
all and rushed the message for the occasion .May I extend my gratitude for
his caring and sharing these rare slokas. I wish I had the age to memorize all
these slokas. However I am aware of Lord
Siva's Advice "Kenopaayena Laghunaa" and "Sri Rama Rama Rameti" short-cut.(VSN)
A“Greetings
and Namaste. At the outset, I have no choice but to apologize for not being
able to post as frequently as before due to professional preoccupation. I am
endeavoring my best not to miss very important religious occasions, though it
is a bit rush. Hopefully, I will be able to spend more time on my personal
yearnings in the days to come.
As
tomorrow (Sun, 25/Mar/2018) is Sri Rama Navami, I am indeed delighted to
share a short and wonderful prayer on Lord Rama (and also Goddess Sita (in
the form of divine couple) by Lord Mahadeva. This taken from Brahma
Puranam, Uttara Khandam and Chapter 243.
The
splendid Phalashruti given by Lord Rama speaks enormously about
the sanctity of this hymn - in short, Lord Rama declares that one who chants
this hymn will get the benefit of performing all Yajnas and bathing in all holy
rivers multiplied by crore times. He also mentions that one who chants this
for 6 months will get all the rightful desires fulfilled and chanting this
prior to starting any deed will remove all obstacles.
In
this prayer, Lord Shiva prays to Lord Rama/Sita as the root and quintessence of
this universe and they themselves appear as various forms - e.g. forms such as
Shiva, Brahma, Kubera, Rudra, Chandra, Surya, Mahakala are indeed Lord Rama and
forms such as Lakshmi, Gauri, Savitri, Rudrani, Ratri, Mahakali, etc. are none
but Goddess Sita.
For
the readers, this theme of non-duality of deity forms will not be new - as this
has been consistent theme across all Puranas. Lunatics are those who cling to
their unsubstantiated and non-prescribed differentiation among the trinity. It
has been pellucidly corroborated in the scriptures that one who differentiates
the trinity is the right candidate for the goriest of all hells.
Sri
Bhagavannama Bodhendra Sarasvati was the 59th Peetadhipati of Sri
Kanchi Mutt and is known for his Rama Nama Upasana. His Adhisthanam
is in Govindapuram near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. Many people have experienced
the sound of Rama Nama japa emanating from His Adhishtanam although attained
Mahasamadhi in 1692. Though he authored many works, His magnum opus is Bhagavan
Namamruta Rasodayam. In the first chapter (called First Ullasa), Sri.
Bodhendra Swamigal splendidly elucidates the non-dualty Shiva and Vishnu:
sadAnanad
shrImAn anupadhika kAruNya vivasho jagat xemAya shrihari girisha rUpaM vidhRRitavAn
|
aparyAptaM
rUpaM jagadavanaye tatpunariti prabhurjAgarti shrIhari girisha nAmAtmakatayA ||
Meaning
: The Saccidananda Parabrahman took the form of Shiva and Vishnu for the
welfare of the universe. The same Parabrahman takes the forms of Shiva and
Vishnu Nama as Roopa alone is not sufficient to protect the universe.
sarvasya
lokasya sadA suguputyai nAmAtmako bhAti harIshayor yaH |
dayA
sudhAbdhi lalitAtmako me rAmaH sadA vaktra saroruhe a.stu ||
Meaning
: May Rama, who protects the universe in the Namas of Shiva and Vishnu,
reside in my mouth (lotus) eternally.
As
Lord Shiva corroborates in Vishnu Sahasranama, there is nothing beyond the name
Rama. I would like to conclude with an episode in the life of Sri Bodhendra
Swamigal which corroborates this beyond doubt.
Once
a Brahmin from the south travelled to the North on pilgrimage with his
beautiful wife. In a village where he was resting, his wife was taken away by
the Muslim ruler when he was asleep. As none came to his help, he somehow
reconciled with this calamity and continued with his pilgrimage. He returned to
the same place after finishing his pilgrimage to Kashi. While he was doing his
Anushtanam, a lady who looked like a Muslim came to him and started crying. She
was his wife but was in Islamic attire and she narrated her story of being made
a sexual slave and begged him to release her from the bondage even if he can't
take her back as his wife. The Brahmin took pity on her and told her that what
happened to her was against her wishes and therefore she is blemishless and
promised to enquire with the erudite scholars whether any Prayaschitta can be
done so that he can take her back as his wife. When he enquired the local
people for an erudite scholar on Shastras nearby, they pointed him to one Sri.
Jagannatha Kavi near Puri.
The
couple reached Sri Jagannatha Kavi's place around midnight. They woke him up
and explained their predicament. Sri Jagannatha Kavi gave a solution to their
plight immediately - he asked her to chant "Rama Rama Rama" (thrice)
and asked her husband to treat her as his wife as chanting the Rama Nama thrice
had dissolved all the sins. Jagannatha Kavi's mother came out and asked him why
he was asking her to chant thrice when chanting once itself is sufficient to
wash away all the sins.
When
this was happening Sri Bodhendra Swamigal was sleeping in the verandah of
Jegannatha Kavi's house as he was passing by the place and woke up and asked
Jagannatha Kavi whether there is any proof (any book) that prescribed what he
suggested to Brahmin's wife. Jagannatha Kavi replied that he has a book titled
"Bhagavan Nama Kaumudi".
Bodhendra
Swamigal was aware of the plight the reunited couple might face in the society
in spite of the shastra prescriptions and therefore he wanted to prove that
Rama Nama absolves one of all sins. He asked them to come to the tank of Puri
Jagannath temple next day. By the time they assembled there the following day,
the news spread like wildfire and huge crowd came to the tank to see what was
going to happen. Sri Bodhendra Swamigal asked the lady to bathe in the tank by
chanting Rama nama, When she immersed herself and stood, she appeared with
turmeric and Kumkum on her head along with a holy attire. Sri Bodhendra
Swamigal further reinforced this by asking her to cook for Him that day and did
Biksha on what she cooked!
Such
is the Rama Nama Mahima!. Let us all pray to Lord Rama on this holy day!”
For
the rare sloka from Brahma Puranam please visit:
March 24, 2018
WEBINAR-112 VAK - Speech (VAACH HA VAACHAM)
WEBINAR 112Presents a
lecture on Vāk
(Speech)-- vācho ha vāch, inspired by the first verse of Kenopanishaby: Mr. Radhakrishna Chilukur onSunday, March 25, 2018
.Gist of the Presentation:
Words link us to each other. Words are the
basis of all worldly knowledge. Words link us to the
Great Āchāryas of the past and present, who have provided sign-posts
to guide us in our sādhanā.
The student in the Kenopanishad does not ask
"What is Speech?" but rather "What impels us to speak?" The
first question is perhaps homework assigned to students like us, before we can
truly understand the Guru's Teaching about the second question.
In this session, he will review what our
great Āchāryas have said about Speech. He will also
bring in more recent discussion on the inter-relationship between Speech and
Thought. In doing so, we will become convinced that Speech and Thought are
not impelled by separate Gods, but by One. Such contemplative thinking will
perhaps make it easier to follow the teachings in the remainder of the Upanishad,
when taught by Swami Chidanandaji--“The wise ones become immortal who know
THAT….which is the speech of speech!”- ..vācho
ha vācham ...atimuchya dheerāh... amritāh bhavant KENOPANISHAD 1.1
Sri
Radhakrishna Chilikuri draws our attention to the first mantra of
Kenopanishad as follows:
Srotrasaya srotram manaso mano yad
vaacho ha vaacham sa u praanasya praanah| chakshusas chakshur atimuchya
dheeraah pretyaa-smaallookaad-amritaa bhavanti ||
The Self is ear of the ear, mind of the
mind. Speech of speech. He is also breath, and eye of the eye. Having given up
the false identification of the Self with the senses and the mind, and knowing
the Self to be Brahman, the Wise, on departing the life, become immortal.
This is the answer given by the guru to
his disciple who posed the question earlier: At whose behest does the mind
think? Who bids the body live? Who makes the tongue speak? Who is that
effulgent being that directs the eye to form and color and
the ear to sound?
By a series of questions and
answers this Upanishad explains that the Power behind every activity of a
person is the power of Brahman. To realize this Truth is to be Immortal as
explained in the last mantra: it is the Power of Brahman that makes the mind to
think, desire and will. Therefore use this Power to meditate on Brahman.
“Brahman” a Sanskrit word is sometimes
translated as “The Word”--Om ityekaaksharam Brahma or Sabdabrahman in
Vedas. Perhaps that inspired Swamiji to begin the topic with the
statement “Words link us to each other. Words
are the basis of all worldly knowledge”? In Sikh religion Vaachah is taken as
Vak. Sathya Vachan means Words of Guru. Here also Sathyam refers to
Supreme Spirit, embodiment of Truth. Sikhs greet each other wit Sat Sri Akaal--
Truth, Wealth(Knowledge) and Timeless (omnipresent)Being
Brahman translated as
"the Word" (Om), which literally means "Word THAT which grows
great" which in later times has been called Parabrahman, which should
really mean what transcends Brahman. Brahman is derived from the Sanskrit root "brih"--"to
grow, or grow great," which is undoubtedly only "vridh"
in another form. If so the English "word" is ultimately the same as
the Vedic Brahman even etymologically. In line with Vedas, the Holy Bible
starts as follows:” In the beginning there was the WORD; the word was with
God and the WORD was GOD." God is also constituted of three English
alphabets G=generator; O=operator and D=dis-solver corresponding to Brahman`
who is responsible for Srishthi (creation); Sthiti (maintenance)
and Laya (dissolution).
What is the Supreme Spirit?
By what relation to our experience shall we understand it? This is the subject
of inquiry in this Upanishad. As the Isavasyopanishad is known by its
first word “Eesaavaasaymidamsarvam” so also this Upanishad named after
its first word “Kena—by whom?” That is Brahman. This Brahman is
described as Sat-Chit-Ananda, pure Being (Sat), objectless Awareness
(Chit) and unclouded Joy (Aananda) all the three being on the same plane.
SAT-CHIT-ĀNANDA is only an abstraction of the manifold activities in the
universe into three basic urges namely: (1) to exist, (2) to know and express
and (3) to derive happiness; these urges are respectively SAT, CHIT and ĀNANDA,
which when merged together, like various colors in sunlight, are known as
SAT-CHIT-ĀNANDA or Ātmā and to be more precise Paramaatman as explained
in Chhandogya: Sathyam Jnaanam Aanadam Anantam or Bhuma.
Neither by the senses nor by human
reasoning can we hope to comprehend the nature of Brahman. This is so because
the subject, the object and the means are all identical. It is Brahman by which
the very understanding itself functions.
But please listen to the wisdom
thoughts of Radhakrishna Chilikuri for more detailed and illustrative
explanation.
--March 24, 2018
MOST SACRED HINDU
FESTIVAL LEAST FOCUSSED IN TEMPLE WORSHIP
Panguni or Phalgun month is special in
Hindu Calendar Year and Panguni Uttiram, the most auspicious day of the month
because the Utthira Nakshatra coincides with the Poornima (Full Moon) when all Hindu Traditions, Vaishnava, Saiva and Sakta
throng the temples to worship their
Ishta devatas or chosen deities and celebrate the day as Grand
Festive day of Celebrations significant for many celestial events.
Please recall my two discourses in this regard:
For your quick
reference I draw your kind attention to Wikipedia for the very elaborate
details about this month and the day as the
Grand Finale of the year. To the utter negligence and e refusal by
astrologers to go by the advice of Calendar Commission appointed by Pundit
Jawaharlal Nehru all the events have been preponed this year including Yugadi. I wonder whether we can
still go by Hindu Calendars and fulfill scriptural mandates in celebrating
festivals and rituals? Wikipedia however misses Sartyanarayana vrata and Navaa
varana Pooja, a regular monthly event like Skandahashti:
“This month is
special because the Utthiram nakshatram coincides with the full moon. This full
moon signifies the marriage of Parvati and Parameswara
(Lord Shiva), Murugan and Deivanai, and Aandaal (also known as
Kothai) and Rangamannar took place. On Panguni Uthiram, Narayana marries
Komalavalli Naachiyar and give his Kalyana Kola Seva to his Bhakthas. Again, Valmiki's Ramayana says it is on this
day and star that Sita's marriage with Rama was celebrated. From Brahmanda Puranam
we learn that on Panguni Uthiram every holy water joins Thumburu teertha (also
spelt as Tirtha), one of seven sacred tanks in Tirupati Tirumala.
The day is intended to underline the
glory of grahasta dharma (or the married life of a householder). The Almighty
manifests in the marital state as Uma Maheswara, Sita Rama, and Radha Krishna –
despite his changelessness, sans childhood or youth or old age. The Lord is
indeed a Nitya Kalyana Murthi. It is our duty to celebrate this day when the
Lord, in both Shiva and Vishnu temples, appears to devotees in his married
state. On Panguni Uthiram, in all places where Lord Subrahmanya has a temple,
his devotees carry in a kavadi the requisites for puja for him, in fulfilment
of vows. Such vow fulfilment by devotees carrying kavadis is a special feature
of Subrahmanya temples wherever they happen to be.
Devotees flock in hundreds to the all
Murugan temples during the Panguni Uthiram festival, which is celebrated in
March every year. It is the Jayanti (Day
of Incarnation) of Lord Ayyappan. It is also an
important festival day for Lord Subramanya (Muruga), as it is on this day that
Sri Deivanai married Lord Subramanya. On this day Goddess Mahalakshmi
incarnated on earth from the ocean of milk (after the ocean was churned by the
Gods and the demons) and hence it is celebrated as Mahalakshmi Jayanti. On this
day Goddess Parvati in the form of Gowri married Lord Siva in Kanchipuram and
hence this day is also celebrated as the Gowri Kalyanam day.
The month of Panguni
when coinciding with Phalguna, sees the festival
of Holi too. It is
celebrated in the Braj region, which includes locations traditionally connected
to the Lord Krishna: Mathura, Vrindavan,
Nandagaon, and Barsana, Kumaoni (Uttarakhand); also as Basatotsav
(Bengal), Phagwah (Bihar), Doḷajātra (Oriya), Ganga
Mela (UP), Dol Purnima (Bengal), Śigmo (Konkani), Rangapanchami (MP), Yaosang (Manipur),
Basnata Panchami (AP), Phakuwa (Assam), Shimga (Maharashtra), Manjal Kuli
(Kerala), Fagu Poornima (Nepal), Panguni Uthram Vasanthotsavam (TN). Mostly it
coincides with the end of Rang Panchami; Phalgun
Krushnapaksh Panchami celebrations, so called Panchami of Holi of Krishna,
which carries on as a celebration of spring. The playful throwing of natural
colored powders has a medicinal significance: the colours are traditionally
made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva, and other medicinal herbs prescribed by Ayurveda doctors. A very
auspicious day for all Hindus. The day of Panguni Uthiram is of special
significance to the worship of earth element, Prithvi lingam of Ekambareswarar
Temple,
where festivities last for 13 days”.
I don’t need to convince you
further as to the importance of this day for celebration in Hindu American
Temples where Hindus of all traditions come to worship their chosen deities in
the one and the same temple. Hindu Americans have been successful in taking
Diwali Celebrations to the White House to get Hinduism recognized as an
important minority Religion in the country.
No doubt Diwali is the most popular festival in Hinduism participated by
all traditions of Hinduism though it is basically dedicated to Rama, Krishna,
and Lakshmi. On the other hand Phalgun
Uttar is more broad based and suited to
all traditions. It is the only ideal
festival suiting all traditions of Hinduism and I wonder why this has not been
made as popular as Diwali and taken to the White House too! Only Tamils have
made Panguni Uttiram very popular. Though handful, Hindu
American Vaishnavites hailing from South India are able to convince
Hindu Temples to dedicate this day to
Andal a Srivaishanava Saint whose
sanctums are found in most of the Vishnu temples in Tamil Nadu.
Even though there are no Andal icons in Hindu American Temples dexterous
priests are able to convert Lakshmi
icon to Andal with bridal dress as the bride of Lord Ranganatha for the day and
conduct worship. Few Srivaishnavites are happy but majority of the Hindu
Americans do not understand the purport of this very sectarian festival! Andal
in fact is an incarnation of Bhudevi for whom also no sanctums are built though
she is popular as the spouse of Vishnu and invariably associated with all
Vishnu procession deities.
Lastly
Panguni Uttiram is the Divines’ Weddings Day and most sacred day for all Hindu
weddings on which day it is not necessary to consult astrologers. Yet I have
seen no Hindu American wedding being solemnized on this day in Hindu American Temples. Also no
Kalyanotsavas are conducted on this day though ideal by scriptural
considerations based on actual events predicted in Puranas. This is because our temple authorities are
guided by the sectarian priests from India. Also in India all Hindu weddings
are not necessarily conducted in Temples where as it is a must in USA. I feel
this is most suited in mixed-race and interfaith marriages where horoscopes
caste, creed, race do not come to play.
Lord Subhramanya had one from divines and the other from tribal.
Krishna’s married life also shows that he did m not care for caste, creed,
race, origin etc.
--March 25, 2018
VASANTA NAVARATRI--2018
While you are busy with Kalyontsava
thoughts and Rama Navami I would like to draw your attention to the Nine Holy
Nights of Vasanta Navaratri that started on March 18 and ends on March 26. Of
course I have talked on the subject a lot in the past and therefore it is just
a reminder to refresh your memories as well as for the information of
those who have joined us lately.
Goddess
Bhuvaneshwari, The Creator & Queen of the Universe
Astrologers say on 26 March, the Moon
will be in the star Pushya, transiting the sign Cancer ruled by the Moon. The
Moon will be sharing the sign with Rahu, making this day perfect to worship and
seek the blessings of Goddess Bhuvaneshwari. The two Gurus Jupiter (Guru of
Celestial beings) and Venus (Guru of Demons) will be squaring the Moon and will
be forming an auspicious yoga that is favorable to access her energy. The Moon
in its own sign becomes strong and hence this is an optimal day to reduce the impact
of afflictions caused by the Moon, if any, in the birth chart. Goddess
Bhuvaneshwari is the fourth among the Dasa Maha Vidyas (10 wisdom goddesses),
who is hailed as the creator and queen of the entire cosmos. According to
sacred texts, she controls the entire universe and she is so powerful that even
Navagrahas have no influence on her. Bhuvaneshwari is described as a
controller of all the three worlds, namely bhuh (earth), bhuvah (atmosphere)
and suvah (heaven) and as the Mother Goddess is a powerhouse who can destroy
obstacles and bestow you with courage, creativity, confidence, health, wealth
and fortune.
Sacred homa
to Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, the creator and the queen of the entire
universe, can bring relief from Moon afflictions and boost your positive
thoughts, good health, prosperity and popularity.It is believed that light and
sound ceremony to the Goddess with sacred red vermilion powder can bestow
auspiciousness, peace, prosperity and spiritual bliss. In Kerala Rakta
Pushpanjali worship is done on the last day, March 26.‘Raktha’ means blood
and ‘Pushpanjali’ means flower offering. This special offering can help fortify
your bloodstream, boost physical & mental strength and strengthen your
immune system. It is also appropriate to chant Bhavani Sahsranamam on this day.
--March 23, 2018
HINDU TEMPLES & WORSHIP BASED ON PRACTICAL SCIENCE
Science is based on well tested data.
There is nothing speculative about it. Religion is also a science with
the same characteristics of exactitude in its principles, methods attainable
results. Religion basically is a Science of Life. Einstein says:
"The science can change the nature of an element, help human
progress but it is only religion which can change human nature". It is
only religion that can remove hatred from our hearts that can give us a new
outlook, a new attitude towards others that can transform us into saints. It is
this change that gives religion its authenticity that proves that Religion is
also a science.
The Thoughts from ancient Seers, that
is Religions of the Upanishads, based on scientific studies say: “Do your
duty to the best of your ability without worrying about the results. Perceive
that God is present in all beings and treat all beings equally. The doctrine is
to lead one to tranquility, happiness and equanimity. They also set the four
goals of life: doing one’s duty (Dharma), earning wealth (Artha) for
leading comfortable, contended, happy life, material and sensual
enjoyment with senses under control that is Preyas (kama) and attaining
salvation to live forever with Ananda, perennial joy (Sreyas) sharing
with the Supreme in His abode (Mukti). The changing and ever-growing world
needed different paths of religions to meet the vastly different needs of
individuals. But in the process got into conflicts, fights and
killings in the name of religion moving away from the concept of science for
the benefit of humanity and became a strong political tool for personal gains
and pleasures of short duration. But Hinduism based on Dharma
was able to withstand the test of times and machinations by
its strong temple traditions. Over a time they too got
degraded and degenerated. It is therefore necessary for us to do a
rethinking and restore the past glory of equanimity, tranquility,
peace and happiness.
There is a well-coordinated
science in the background of temple worship.
Brahman is at once Intelligence and Energy. There is no dearth of logical
wisdom and intellectual ideas in the Hindu culture to convince the modern mind
of the scientific tempo underlying the spiritual concepts and worship practices
and temple traditions. Religion of the Upanishads does not
approve of the notion of appeasement as in religions practiced today. For, it
does not consider God as a glorified being in human form, amenable to
appeasement and inclined to deliver favors in return; moreover, it does not
recognize the acquisition and arrogation of physical possessions as a goal of
spiritual pursuit. Religion of the Upanishads, on the other hand, holds that
durable happiness is obtained only by living the life in conformity with the
principle of Ātmā or Self. The temples are
founded on practical science that helps establish this reinforcing contact with
the Divine. With a deeper understanding of this fact and proper guidance, the
youth in the U.S.A. can make the best use of the temples for their cultural and
spiritual evolution and all-round progress, thereby benefiting them and at the
same time enriching others who come in contact with them. It is the bounden
duty of our Temple Authorities and Religious Institutions to make Hindu
Americans aware of these intrinsic values to spiritually progress and lead
others spiritually starving. Please go through the detailed
article on the subject.
--March 23, 2018
BALAJI (SRINIVASA) KALYANOTSAVA IN NASHVILLE, TN, USA, ON APRIL 28,
2018
Kalyanotsava of Valli Devayanai with Lord
Subhramanya, Srinivasa Kalyanotsava with Sridevi and Bhudevi, Kalyanotsava of
Sri Rama and Sita, Kalyanotsava of Krishna with Radha and Kalyonotsava with
Siva and Parvati are the traditional celebrations in American Hindu Temples a
tradition imported from India popular only in South Indian Temples. Though not
popular with people of North Indian origin the mixed crowds is sold to the idea
of grand celebration with all pomp and show.
South Indians believe Ganesha is a life-time bachelor and so Hindu
American Temples have not dared to celebrate the wedding of their most popular
God Ganesha with Sidsdhi and Buddhi. Brahma as per Indian Hindu Tradition based
on Puranas is out of circulation in temple worship. Incidentally this also
clearly shows how our temple traditions
are purely Purana based and there are no signs of reverting back to worship of
Vedic tradition which is most
appropriate and necessary to Hindu
Americans of multi traditions drawn from various countries of the globe and
living with major culture of the land
who are leaning more towards
spirituality moving away from stereo type monatonous religious practices with which they are born.
Kayanotsavas are celebrated for the welfare of the individual family or the
devout society in the locality, invoking divine blessings for universal
welfare, peace, and prosperity. This divine wedding grants the power of Kalyana vrata to the
participants. It is believed that if an
unmarried woman takes up this Vrata (vow) with associated vows and penance, and
observes it whole heartedly and sincerely, her wish for a blissful marriage
would come true.
In this context it is worth understanding these
weddings. Eight types of marriages have
been prevalent in Hindu tradition. These are: 1. Braahma Marriage;
2. Daiva Marriage; 3. Aarsha Marriage; 4. Praajaapatya
Marriage; 5. Gaandharva Marriage; 6. Asura Marriage; 7.
Raakshasa Marriage; 8. Paisaacha Marriage. Of the eight forms of marriage
Braahma Marriage, as is most popularly solemnized today, is the one that
Dharmasaastra regards as the noblest and approves as Hindu Marriage and
recognized by Indian Government without any official registration. By making
wife sahadharmini she is also made spiritual partner in Hinduism by
Brahama marriage. This progressive spiritual thinking is an important
aspect of Hindu Braham marriage and that is why considered as noblest and
recognized by the Government. A special feature of Hindu Marriage is
it is a lifelong commitment. A Hindu girl is not only married to a
person but also married to the family which she adopts it as her own. This
became obsolete when joint family system became rare due to changes in the way
of life. A Hindu marriage is not just relationship between a husband and
wife it also engenders a close and lasting lifelong relationship
between members of both families.
Brahma
Marriage is also the choice of temple authorities to celebrate Kalyanotsava and
also solemnizes Hindu weddings in Temples invoking the blessings of the Divine
pairs. But none of the divine weddings above belong to the category of arranged
marriage group. They are generally based
on universal binding force of love or winning a bride as war bounty. I wonder how Subhramanya managed his married life with both a simple
tribal folk and a divine beauty of high intellect. Anyhow we did not hear
anything about it after the wedding nor about his children. Krishna seemed to
have managed well with 16008 wives though he could not overcome with his fascination
and calf-love of Radha that is being celebrated in temples though that wedding
never took place. Lord Srinivasa’s
wedding with Padmavati is never celebrated but always seen with Sridevi and
Bhudevi a compromising formula for all Vishnu deities. We are made to believe
Sridevi is Padmavati! Parvati remained miserable all her life with no womb-born
child of her own which privilege Siva denied. Even her mind born beautiful
child was beheaded in a fit of anger and replaced by an elephant head. She had
to compromise her married life with a wayward ascetic. Sita Kalyanam is celebrated as the grandest
of all and hailed as role-model (Sita
kalyaname vaibhogame)
Rama is not a good example
of ideal husband. Nor their wedding as happy wedding. Please recall your
memories of Yuddhakanda of Valmiki Ramayana. Probably he is not even an ideal
ruler! When Rama killed Ravana instead of himself rushing to Sita
and consoling her grief for the long suffering and torture he sends Vibhshana
to bring back Sita from Asokavana. He then questions her chastity and
gives her the option either to marry Lakshmana or Bharata or Vibhishana and did
not want to take her back and did not even touch her. Poor Sita realized
that she married Rama with Agnideva as her witness and entered Agni while cruel
and heartless Rama watched. She gave the option to Agnideva either to consume
her if she were guilty of any adultery by action or thought or bring her back
and tell Rama how chaste she was. Having proven her chastity she lived
with Rama happily with no ill-will towards him and had borne two
children. Rama later listening to a hearsay of an ill-nature
citizen who was doubting his own wife for adultery without
proper verification which Rama could have done also, ordered Lakshmana to
take her and leave her in the forest, misleading her as a trip
to visit holy sages, a wish once expressed to Rama. Rama failed in his duty to
examine the truth in both cases and to uphold his Kshatriya dharma of
protecting innocent citizen if not his wife! He did not have the courage to
accuse her openly and tell her that he wanted to divorce her but clandestinely
abandoned her. Sita by then understood what sort of husband she shared in
life! When again an opportunity came to reunite with Rama she refused and went
back to her mother saying enough is enough
Hindu immigrants in American
society are under pressure to accept variety of western practices including
premarital sex, cohabitation before marriage, LGBT relationships, and new age
sexual expressions of people being bisexual, polyamorous, gender-fluid
bordering on indulgence and promiscuity. With social media providing
opportunities for anonymous encounters, traditional monogamous relationships
and marriages are under threat of extinction among the millennials and
generations. More and more of our children choose not to marry, or raise
children for lack of opportunities for traditional long term committed
relationships in later ages. Pornographic gratifications seem to diminish the
value of committed marriages and monogamy.
So
American Hindu Temples being Religious institutions
celebrate divine weddings as traditional marriages to provide guidance to
getting started married life with divine blessing for a successful married life
that provides support for struggling relationships. Festivals and traditions
glorify family commitments and caring. Marital vows should be considered
sacred, and marriage that is blessed by God and elders help maintain strength
to survive trepidations. It is also a blessing in disguise as this ritual is
very popular with the public and a good money spinner for temple maintenance
and hence celebrated in a Hindu traditional grand style for long hours.
--March
18, 2018
UNITING EUROPE THROUGH VEDAS
I
have the pleasure in bringing to your kind attention a sensational news from
Croatia and a food for thought. Will this inspire us to start learning Vedas
with correct intonation and understand their meaning also if possible! Most
important thing is to teach Sanskrit in Sunday schools and making mother
responsible in teaching mother tongue as our time is short on weekends? If
Europe can do why can't we?
The Vedas have
Travelled to Europe Already……
Sharing with you all some highlights of
the rare Hindu religious event which happened in Croatia last week. The event
was conducted by Veda Union native European group who serves with a motive of
“Uniting Europe through the Vedas”.
(http://www.vedaunion.org/).
(http://www.vedaunion.org/).
|
www.vedaunion.org
European Union has united in political,
monetary, as well as other secular areas. Veda Union seeks to unite Europe on
spiritual level promoting unity, love and peace ...
|
\🙏 The event celebrates
the 10 year anniversary of Sound of Veda Fellowship in Croatia
🙏 11th chanting location of the Veda
Union Rudram 11 project, which is a goal to organize 11 times continuous
chanting of Sri Rudram Camakam hymns at 11 different locations in Europe
🙏 Event was attended
by about 400 Europeans from about 15 countries who chant Vedas in open throat
as group with highest discipline. Out of which 70% were ladies from age of 22
to 65 years. Traditionally dressed.
🙏 Water from 19 rivers
were brought for Rudra Abhishekam. Milk abhishekam to Lord Shiva was conducted
by everyone
🙏 Sahasralinga pooja
was conducted by priests (Indian origin) who travelled from US. They
explained via power point presentation the inner significance of the pooja and
mantras while conducting.
🙏 The next big
devotional project they are aiming to conduct this year is the Athi Rudra Maha
Yajna, 11 day auspicious festival which is highest form of worship of Lord
Shiva.
🙏 The founder of the Veda Union is a
young gentlemen from Slovenia with a great vision. He learnt his first Vedas
from Chennai. He now also has an Institute for Vedic culture called “Gopuram”
in Slovenia to teach Vedas and Carnatic music.
 |
www.gopuram.org
O Inštitutu; V medijih; Vojko Kercan. Vojko
Kercan, soustanovitelj Inštituta za vedsko kulturo, Gopuram, se že več kot 10
let nenehno vrača v Indijo in poskuša ...
|
The post is written by an Indian
Chennai boy who attended this event recently. He was born in a Vedic parampara
Hindu Brahmin Iyer family and his forefathers were all Vedic scholars. He now
plans to learn modern Vedas and Carnatic music in Europe, after successfully
completing his traditional Brahmachari life, that is, school studies in English
-->> engineering college -->> masters abroad -->> getting
corporate work experience.__
Astonishing moment experienced by the
writer in his words – “I was getting delayed to the connecting flight and was
worried. A German lady next to me says – Chant Gayathri, all will be fine”
Please share this
post to create more awareness in younger generation parents and kids, to give
importance to Vedic learning. Vedas are not just for priests, it is a gift
given by God to the entire world. After claiming the birth right as Hindu or
Brahmin, we should also try to live towards it to understand the real meaning
of Life and be a good human being.💫
--March 16, 2018
INTRODUCING E-MAILS OF DISCOURSES ON HINDU CULTURE POSTED ON
HINDU REFLECTIONS
National Geographical Magazine suggests that the urge to worship
sparked civilization. It means Religion preceded civilization. This news is no
sensation to Hindus who are grown with the spiritual thinking of Sanatana
Dharma, the Eternal Tradition. To a Hindu everything about life started with
the spiritual urge as learnt from Upanishads.
Religion and philosophy have been the basis of Hindu culture
from the time of Rigveda. Our Rishis gave their due consideration to all other
aspects of life that contribute to the attainment of peace and joy. These
include social values, organizational aspects of society, political institutions including judiciary,
economics and financial management, sound educational system, chemical,
biological and health sciences, fine arts like music, dance, drama, painting
and sculpture, development of weaponry and defense system etc. Though the
subject is very vast an attempt has been made on a panoramic study and view of
ancient and medieval culture of Hindus in a series of discourses.
Swami
Chinmayananda says: “When a group of people live together for a long time in a
particular geographical area, living
certain values, the special individuality or fragrance that emanates from that
group is said to be their culture.” Culture is the behavior of the community
and not of the individual. When a certain individual behaves in a particular
way, we say “that is his or her nature”. Promotion of Culture calls for collective
action. Man’s control of nature external
is called civilization. This internal control of nature is called culture.
Hindu
culture is founded on the wisdom of Vedas and Upanishads and that provided
enduring foundation upon which this most ancient civilization was built. The great religious and spiritual masters
of India have time and again revived
their glorious culture. Unlike European
culture Hindus continue to cherish and live with their culture wherever they are located. Today
there are more than 400 Hindu Temples in USA besides many cultural and social
organizations for a population little more than 2 million. These temples play
the role of cultural centers in a foreign soil.
If
we want Hinduism to flourish in a foreign soil we have to promote Hindu
Culture. If cultural values deteriorate Hinduism will have its swan’s
song. Present day Hindu culture has its
origin in Vedic culture of Purusharthas (human values)—Dharma, Artha, Kama,
Moksha and therefore withstood all machinations and temptations wherever it
lives. An in-depth study and practice of Hindu Culture is not only
important but also imperative for our future generation if we want Hinduism to
flourish in a migrant country like USA where many cultures of migrants and Natives have vanished
caught in materialism.
Hinduism is a way of
life. Every important event in Hindu
life has to be sanctified through religious observance. This ritualistic
sanctification or sacrament is called Samskara. There are ten such Samskaaras.
Today because of changed times and altered life styles only few of these are
strictly followed. Under special
circumstances such lapses are condoned in Hindu culture.
A unique feature of the
Hindu culture is its rejuvenating capacity.
Customs which are obsolete and anachronistic have either been dropped or
have faded away for example human sacrifice, animal sacrifice, severe
penance, sati customs have their origin
in the Puranic period, or the Muslim invasion period, and do not have any Vedic
origins, like wearing marks on the forehead, ringing the bell, or Aarathi
etc. Hindu culture tailors itself
constantly to take the best of the modern technological age without losing its
roots. Caste system has almost vanished among Hindu Americans, though thrives
and fight with each other in India politically encouraged. Hindu marriages in
USA are based on universal binding force of love and each partner is free to
practice the religion he or she loves.
Hindu
Reflections has posted many interesting topics on the subject that has been
sent to the HR Forum with attractive introductions through E-mails. These introductory E-mails are reproduced
here for the benefit of those who are not on my mailing list and for those who
have joined the forum recently and hence missed some in the past. These are very
useful for a quick glance through for those who are otherwise busy, However
they can go through my classified list ad pick their topic of interest for a
detailed study.
CONTENTS
1. Complex Caste System of Hindus in India
2. Hindu Education System through the Ages
3. Administration, Economics, Healthcare System and Judicial
System Promoted by Vedic
Culture
4. Hindu Diet Codes, Scriptural Sanctions and Ethics
5. Origin and Growth of
Hindu Fine Arts; Rangoli and Kolam
6. Early Vedic Literature
7. Women in Hindu Society
through the Ages
8. Hindu Temples and Temple Worship
9. Hindu Samskaras
10. Amazing Numbers beyond Count from Hindu Scriptures
11. Grand Parents Memories are Cherished History
12. Hindu Traditions and Customs
13. Hindu Temples
14. One Hindu Complex for Many Traditions Overseas
15. Upanayana is Vedic Mandated Ceremony for All
16. What is in a name, Kris or Chris; don’t be Sure, I it may
Prove Costly!
17. Spiritual Vitamins for Healthy Brain
18. Vivaaha--Hindu Braahma Sacred Matrimony
19. Hindu Views on Child Birth Concept and Nisheka Sacrament
20. Hindu Samskaras Performed by Parents for Children
21. Teacher’s Day
22. Maangalya Dhaaranam and Sumangali Kriya in Hindu Wedding
23. Marriage culture in Ancient Hindu Society
24. Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah
25. Prologue to Sandhyavandanam Rituals of Hindus
26. Future of Hindu American’s Religious Identity is Hard to
Predict?
27. New Year Message from Hindu Reflections
28. Asvini Twins in Vedic Culture of Lithuania
29. The Legend of Tulasi
30. Hindu Women in the
Realm of Religion
31. Interfaith Harmony
32. Panchkarmas of Panchratra Tradition
33. Hindus can’t Claim Sanskrit Their Own and of Vedic Origin
34. Modern Science in Hindu Scriptures—Mostly Accurate, Minim
Wrong
--March 2018
TAT--TVAM--ASI
Pujya Swāmi Chidānandaji of FOWAI Forum will be
presenting a tele-discourse on Friday, March 08, 2018, Chicago Time, 8
30 p.m. The gist of the
Presentation is: This webinar will take a look at the nine times that
Uddālaka, the teacher, says to Shwetaketu, the student, in the sixth chapter of
the Chāndogya Upanishad, "tat tvam
asi" (You are that divine truth). Hundreds of great statements appear
in the Upanishads. Four among them - one each from the four Vedas - have become
very famous. This "tat-tvam-asi" from the Sāma-Veda has been the most
famous one. Apart from presenting the direct meaning of this great
statement (mahā-vākya), the highlights of the nine settings for making the same
revelation will be taken up.
Swami
Chidananda refers to the verse
6.8.7 in Chhandogya Upanishad below which goes like this:
स य एषोഽणिमा ऐतदात्म्यमिदम् सर्वं तत् सत्यम् स आत्मा तत्त्वमसि श्वेतकेतो …|
(sa ya eṣo’ṇimā aitadātmyamidam sarvaṃ tat satyam sa ātmā tattvamasi śvetaketo.)
That
“Sath” of this nature is very subtle. All this is having this “sath” as its Atman. That (fact having sath
as its Atman) is real. Sath is the
Atman in all. That (Supreme Cause) is thy (inner) self. Thou (i.e. your Antaryamin) art that.
The statement “Tat-Tvam-Asi” is seen repeated in verses 6.9.4, 6.10.3, 6.11.3,
6.12.3, 6.13.3, 6.14.3 and 6.15.3.
Verse 8.3.5
later says this Jivatman passing out of this body, attains that most
Supreme Light (Paramatman) and manifests in his own nature (as explained
in Gita “mamaivamsao jivabhootah”
Jiva is an integral part of mine)… and
this Brahman is Sathyam.
Esha samprasaado
asamaac-chareeraat samutthaaya param jyotir upasmapadya… etasyqa brahmano naama
Sathyamiti”
Here Esha
refers to Jivatma and parm jyoti to
Paramatman.
The word ‘Sathyam’ is usually translated as
truth or simply Sat and referred to Jivatman . But, it is not the case;
‘Sathyam’ has got specific meaning and
refers to Paramatman as defined in
Brahmasutra. That which has SAT is
Sathyam; this is explained in detail in 8.3.5 of this Upanishads as well as in
5.5.1 of Brihadaranyaka.
Taani ha vaa
etaani threenyaksharani sat-thi-yam iti | Tad Yat sat, tadmritam, atha yat thi, tan-martyam; atah yad yam, tenoobhe
yacchati | Yadanenobhe yacchati tasmaadym | aharaharvaa evamvit svrgam lokamiti
||
The word Sathya contains three letters,
“Sath”-“Thee”-“Yam. That which is sath
is the immortal; that which is designate as thee
is the mortal. That which is conveyed by Yam
that both these are regulated. That is Yam
because the two signified by the forms of sentient (immortal) and
non-sentient (mortal) is regulated by the Yam
or Paramatman. A person who knows Paramatman like this attains swarga (Brahman)
day in and day out.
Jivatman cannot do this regulation. Hence it
is of the nature of Brahman but not Brahman. It is an Amsa. While Atman and
Paramatman both can be Sat-Chit-Ananda Paraamatman is Sathyam Jnaanam Amalam
Anantam. Brahman is the Antaryamin of even the Self—Self of all Selfs. By
repeating 6.8.7 in several Mantras the
difference between “Sat” and “Sathyam “ is well brought to our focus. The first
step is to realize Self (Atman) to merge with Supreme Self (Paramatman).
The
term “idam sarvam” in the beginning signifies all sentient and non-sentient
entities. Tat-Tvam-Asi—As the
Supreme is signified by all terms (Eeasavasymidam
sarvam) that denote all sentient and non-sentient objects, that are the
body of Brahman, Brahman alone is signified
by the terms “Tat” and “Tvam”.
Tvam sigfnifies in the ultimate sense Paramatman alone as the Paramatman is the antaryamin the innerself of all. So
Paramatman is signified by Tvam is
the same as Tat the cause of the
universe. Aatmaya means Vyaapya-all things are pervaded by
Brahman.
Please also go through my discourse on
Mahavakyas: http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2013/09/mahaavaakyas-of-upanishadsreverberate.html
Kartikeyan Sridharan in his Science of
Chhandogya Upanishad has the following explanation:
Meaning: ‘He (that Great Being mentioned in
the previous verse) is absolute subtleness (subtle essence) which inheres in
all that is here; that (all that is here) is Satyam, He (the Great Being) is
Ātmā; you are that (Satyam), O, Śvetaketu.
The word ‘Sathyam’ is usually translated as
truth or simply ‘true’. But, it is not the case; ‘Sathyam’ has got specific
philosophical meaning. That which has SAT is Sathyam; this is explained in
detail in 8.3.5 of this Upaniṣad as well as in 5.5.1 of Bṛhadāraṇyaka. Further, in 2.6 of Taittirīya Upaniṣad it is declared
that whatever here is only Satyam. We must keep these in mind while trying to
understand the real import of the verse 6.8.7. The verse means that Ātmā is SAT; it
pervades all that is here; therefore, every being is Satyam; O, Śvetaketu, you
are that (what is Satyam).
In 6.9, Uddālaka explains to his son further
about how personal identity is lost on being merged with the Supreme Entity as
mentioned in 6.8.6, by citing the example of the process of making honey by
honey bees. The bees collect nectar from various trees and make honey mixing
all; when honey is produced, the nectar of a tree cannot distinguish itself
from the nectar of other trees; its personal identity is lost. All beings,
whether it be a tiger, or lion, or wolf, or a pig, or insect, or gnat, or
mosquito, all continue their existence in the same manner. This means that they
exist as merged in the Supreme Entity without knowing their personal identity,
as in the case of nectar of various trees in the honey. The verse says as
follows:
‘त इह व्याघ्रो वा सिंहो वा वृको वा वराहो वा कीटो वा पतङ्गो वा दंशो वा मशको वा यद्यद् भवन्ति तदाभवन्ति’ || 6.9.3 ||
ta iha vyāghro vā siṃho vā vṛko vā varāho vā kīṭo vā pataṅgo vā daṃśo vā maśako vā yadyad bhavanti
tadābhavanti. (6.9.3)
आभवन्ति (ābhavanti) = continue existence.
In spite of this express declaration and the
enlightening examples to the effect that on merging with Ātmā personal identity
of beings is lost, some interpret this verse to mean that these creatures
retain their identity and take birth again as the same beings. This is because
they misunderstand the meaning of ‘ābhavanti’ as continuance of existence ‘with
the same identity’, the italicized part being their inadvertent contribution.
It may be specifically noted that this verse is followed by the declaration in
6.9.4 that the said Supreme Entity is Ātmā and all, as in 6.8.7.
We find further elaboration of this idea in
6.10 also, the example quoted being that of rivers merging with the sea and
losing their personal identity. Till the end of the chapter, the same idea is
dealt with again and again.
--March 6, 2018
Pujyashri Jayendra
Saraswati Shankaracharya Attaining Samadhi
Please
recall my posting in "I made my Day"; "I once had an opportunity to meet three
Sankracharyas form Sringeri, Kanchipuram and Puri with whom I had a
long discussion on Hinduism and its future in the wake of growing
atheism. At the end of our discussion they strongly advised me that I should
think of contributing something towards Sanatana Dharma if not Hindu religion
at least after retirement. In all my wanderings round this world of care
working in several countries as a know-how, show-how and do- how man seeking
opportunities I never thought of it. But as the saying goes “Vipravakyo Janardhanah”—Learned
pundits words are words of God, it became true, and I started
seriously thinking about it inspired by few philanthropists,
who are well known doctors and engineers spending their time educating the
community in Hindu culture, religion, philosophy and spirituality, learning
themselves first, after my retirement in US" It is Pujyashri Jayendra Saraswati
with whom I had a long conversation in Indore for a long time in Tamil while
other two Sankarchryas were silent observers. His Holiness is no more with us
and has left us with his constant Upadesams from time to time for which we need
to wake up and act. My task is made easy as VHPA has elaborately explained
to you the dynamic role he played in leading us spiritually. It is unfortunate
that Tamil Nadu did not feel it their duty to honor this great saint while
Sridevi an actress of repute was honored with State funeral wrapped up in
National flag by Maharashtra Govt. So also Billy Graham in USA. All left
this mortal world in February. In fact atheist Tamil Nadu insulted the Saint
sometime back putting him behind the bars on flimsy reason with no proper background
check. They owe an apology to the Nation.
“World
Hindu Council of America (VHPA) is anguished to know that Pujyashri Jayendra
Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamigal attained samadhi on Wednesday, February 28,
2018, at Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India.
The
Mutt, Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, is one of the oldest religious institutions
in the world, established by Adi Shankaracharya in 482 BCE. Paramacharya
Pujyashiri Chandrasekhara Sarwaswati Swamigal, the 68th pontiff of
the Mutt, with divine guidance from Goddess Kamakshi designated Pujyashri
Jayendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamigal as the 69th pontiff of
the mutt on 22nd March 1954. He came to be affectionately called
Puduperiaval by his devotees.
Regarded as one of the most influential Hindu saints of 20th
Century, Puduperiaval’s ascendancy was one of the most important events in the
history of religious freedom in India. As Southern Indian states reorganized
with a new constitution starting
in the early 1950s, Hindu temples and other religious institutions were taken
over and controlled by the state governments, that started infringing on
the religious liberties of Hindus and interfering with the religious practices in
the Hindu temples. Puduperiaval’s knowledge of Hindu Dharma and the
nobility of his actions saved thousands of Hindu temples in Southern India from
destruction by the unscrupulous political parties. He undertook religious tours
covering entire India more than a dozen times by visiting thousands of cities,
towns, and villages, meeting millions of Hindu devotees, giving spiritual and
moral direction. Without his reassuring guidance rooted in Hindu Dharma, Hindus
would have lost a lot more civil rights in India. His dedicated service to the
nation and Hindu Dharma has reignited a sense of dignity and empowerment among
Hindus world over.
He
helped renovate thousands of Hindu temples throughout India and inspired to
construct new places of worship for the expanding population. He was
instrumental in constructing many primary and secondary educational
institutions, universities, medical schools and hospitals to serve the common
people.
Puduperiaval
had long association with VHPA and its sister organizations. Commenting
on the samadhi of Puduperiaval, Dr. Abhaya Asthana, commented, that,
“Puduperiaval’s samadhi has evoked a profound sense of grief among Hindus in
America. Puduperiaval was an ardent supporter of Hindu causes, visionary
and bold in action. He has set an example of spiritual leadership with a
sense of service and message of equality that will guide the Hindus for
generations to come. With his passing, Hindus in America have lost an
inspirational leader.”
70Th
Pontiff of Kanchi Mutt, Pujyashri Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal will
continue the divine work of Puduperival for the benefit of world peace
by upholding the Hindu Dharma”.
--March
4, 2013
INTRODUCING E-MAILS ON HINDUISM POSTED ON HINDU REFLECTIONS
Hinduism is one of the world’s major
religions. It is older than Jainism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Zoroastrianism which is one of the oldest religions in the world owes its
origin to the same scriptural source from which Hinduism has come. Such
an old religion is bound to lose its usefulness and cannot relate anymore to
changing times and people. Fortunately at different periods, many
genuine saints born in India have cleansed, reformed and revitalized
Hinduism. They made it relevant to their times. This would not have been
possible had Hinduism had a founder. Hinduism as is practiced today springs
from Sanata Dharma–The Eternal Religion. It was also called Maanava Dharma,
Religion of the Man and was meant for the whole of mankind.
Persia had a common border with
ancient India known as Aryavarta, the Land of the Aryans (refined and cultured
people). River Indus served as common border between this land and Persia. The
Persians could not pronounce Sindhu correctly; they pronounced it Hindu; they
also a called the people living on the other side of the river Sindhu, Hindu
which became Indu and the land began to be called India later. The
religion of the Aryans thus became Hinduism. Thus Hinduism has geographic
origin and has no relation to religious following.
"The religious culture which
goes by the name of Hinduism gave itself no name because it set itself no
sectarian limits; it claimed no universal adhesion, asserted no sole
infallible dogma, set up no single narrow path or gate of salvation; it
was less a creed or cult than a continuously enlarging tradition of the
God-ward endeavor of the human spirit"--Sri Aurobindo, India's
Rebirth.
Hinduism is a more recent nomenclature
given to a conglomeration of heterogeneous tradition and plurality of beliefs
and worship with a long history from the Vedic sacrificial religion of Aryans
through the worship of Epic and Puranic heroes and personal deities, cults and
sects, as well as philosophical systems rather than to a monolithic tradition or
a structure based on a single system of beliefs and worship or a single text as
scripture.
Nobody in particular is its founder. It
is the research output of countless learned men called Rishis who were Christ
like masters, through centuries. I believe anyone that searches after truth is
a Hindu. There is One and Only God and One Truth. The very first book of
Hindus named Rig Veda proclaims, "Ekam Sat, Viprah Bahudha
Vadanti". (There is only one Truth, only Pundits describe it in
different ways). So a Jew or a Christian or a Moslem who is in search after
truth is automatically a Hindu. There are more than a billion Hindus in
the world. The number of Hindus in USA and Canada are quite significant and
fast growing.
The concepts of utmost freedom of
thoughts and actions attract many to Hinduism. Hinduism never forbids any one
to question its fundamentals. On one side, in Hinduism, you may come across
people worshiping pests like rats, and still on other side you will come across
concepts parallel to Quantum Physics and Neil's Bohr Theory of nuclear
structure and reactions. On one side Advaita (non-dualism) and on the other
side Dvaita (philosophy of dualism) is discussed and promoted. Hinduism never
ever banished any one, since he or she wrote a wrong scripture or did not
observe a particular ritual.
This rich background of Hinduism
fascinates anyone to explore its granary of knowledge and worldly wisdom. Over
a decade I have been studying Hinduism though living outside India for
more than 30 years and every morning I get up I come with up a new
idea that I would like to share with my intimate readers. But I
have my own limitations too to process them for circulation!
Understanding Veda mantras that we use in our worships and rituals, and
studying Upanishads, Gita, Ramayana and Mahabharata, I
have tried to understand and analyze their relevance to today’s social
problems, individual problems and the Herculean effort of raising kids amidst
altogether different cultures. With deep thoughts and sensitivity
(for I am living amidst different culture including Hindu migrants from
different lands), I have tried to analyze topics such as, the
symbolic meaning of idols and their worship, Hindu festivals, Hindu Dharma,
cultural and social role of the temples, caste system, vegetarianism, family
values, our obligation to spiritually guide the society we live in based on
Vedic Maxims towards universal Oneness, joy and happiness and others and
how Sanatana Dharma has given birth to or influenced many
religions. I have so for delivered around 340
discourses on a variety of topics that I have posted on the blog. I am honored
and humbled at the same time by the glowing compliments that I continue to
receive from my global readers, India leading the rest. My global readers
had no opportunity to go through my popular E-mails to my HR Forum Participants
on general topics of interest on Hinduism by way of
introduction to such discourses and related topics. I have
collected as many as I could from the past that fall into general
category i which I have posted on my Blog Hindu Reflections
that should make an interesting study even to a very
busy person who has no time for my long discourses of research nature.
ENRICH,
ENLARGE AND CONTRIBUTE FURTHER TO SPREAD HINDU DHARMA & HINDU CULTURE!
(March 2, 2018)
LOVE THE RAINBOW, KNOW THE RAIN
DROPS BENEATH IT
Please
recall the Veda Mantra: "Tad Brahma Tad Sathyam". Who is
Brahman? Brahman is Sathyam? What is Sathyam? Sathyam
consists of three syllables—Sat+ thi+ yam (Chandogya). Here Sat
means Immortal, thi means mortal and yam means what is being
regulated. Sankara said in Brahmajnanavalimala Brahman is
real, the universe is mithya (it cannot be categorized as either real or
unreal). The jiva is Brahman itself and not different--(Brahma satyam
jaganmithyaa jeevo brahmaiva naaparah).
Mithyatva is that which is negated even where it is found to exist. The
followers of the Advaita School contend that the world-appearance is negated by
Brahman-knowledge and hence it is illusory. To the followers of Visishtadvaita,
mithya is the apprehension of an object as different from its own nature. It is
the same concept of actor playing a role of another and the way we look at it
as the man or his role!
Brahman is the Universal force that
regulates everything by creation or dissolution. According to the will of
the Brahman universe is being created out of Brahman or dissolved into Brahman.
In the dissolution state the universe is non-existent. In the creation state it
is existent and all active. But it is always contained in Brahman.This
changing phase on cyclic basis is called Maya or Mithyam in
Sanskrit which is difficult to translate into English like Sathyam which
can’t be translated. There are many words in Sanskrit like that for
example Dharma. There are also some English words that are difficult
to translate into Sanskrit like Religion. Mithya is appearance at
a particular time or circumstance not omnipresent like Brahman. May
be I am wrong! Please see the explanation from Swami Chidananda
below. I hope he may also explain to us as why Visishtadvaita and
Dvaita came into existence by other Acharyas who studied and were
also well versed in Advaita. How can we understand Adviata better than
them? I believe their understanding is based on progressive thinking and
not opposing thoughts. To me Vishitaadvaita is Visesha+ishta+advaita.
Advaita made extraordinarily pleasing that is made practical to day-to-day
life.
Our
appreciation and awesomeness of water enhances by the wonder of its creative
power rainbow! Water is often addressed as Brahma--Aapo vaa idam Brahma.
Similarly our awe and appreciation of Jagat increases manifold looking at
creation and enjoying nature. We appreciate an actor by his illusive role. Do
we not often praise our Lord as "Kapatanataka sootradhari"?
“There is a widespread
misunderstanding that Advaita Vedānta, by calling the world an illusion, looks down at the
creation. The truth is far from it.
A physicist calls a rainbow an
(optic) illusion but admires its beauty all the same. She draws the attention
of her students to the water drops behind the rainbow, which are real.
The Advaitin likewise
enthusiastically joins the affairs of the world but knows that Brahman beneath
it to be the truth.
Not only the objects of the world,
pleasing and distasteful, but also the pleasure and pain of the worldly
life are an illusion. In fact, the
experiencer (called the ego or the self) is an illusion, created by thought.
Brahman shines silently and in all
grandeur behind all the names and forms of this universe. Ādi Shankara asks us
to recognize the ‘vidyā-bhoomi’ (the ground of reality) where no divisions are
valid, and dismiss the ‘avidyā-bhoomi’ (the frame of reference marked by
erroneous perception) that hosts all the dualities. Even as the physicist
establishes the reality of the water drops, say in a physics class, she, on one
hand, dismisses the rainbow as regards its reality but happily joins her
students to behold a rainbow after the class if there is one in the sky at that
time!
So we must understand that the idea
of calling the universe māyā or mithyā (Brahma
satyam Jagan mithyam) is in no way contempt or condemnation of any kind. It
is rather the ultimate key to happiness, as we are fully relieved of our sense
of gain or loss, victory or defeat, birth or death.
Even as there is greater clarity in
us about the position of Advaita Vedānta with regard to the universe, we act in
the world with increased sense of responsibility and with enhanced sensitivity.
Let’s love the rainbow but know the
water drops!
Swami Chidananda, FOWAI Forum. (March
4, 2018)
Comments:
Thank you for the
email. Very interesting and a treasure.
I agree due to
"Avidya" and own artificial limitation we are unable to fathom and
also we do not recognize the progressive journey taken by various Acharyas
after Adi Shankara. Our limited knowledge oppose them all and get
confused.
The
ability to learn all in one journey is very vast and it can be so in every
journey for a person. The new journey beyond the current life can be more
complex and world may have new Acharya.
--Bala from Atlanta
HINDU TEMPLES &
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS NEED TO CHANGE THEIR ROLES
Please
recall my discourse: http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/…/vedanta-religion-everlasting-…
A century ago, in 1893, Swami Vivekananda impressed the Parliament of Religions in Chicago with his speech “Vedanta, the Future Religion”. Vedanta can ...
This discourse was not very seriously taken by all Hindu Americans, like Hindus in India, who feel satisfied today with the present day temple worship as imported from India not knowing how much Hinduism has moved away from its foundation based on Sanatana dharma even as visualized by Swami Vivekanada and others. They are also not serious about some of the revolutionary changes that are taking place in some of the famous pilgrim centers in India about which I talked about. I therefore sent you wisdom thoughts from various spiritual Gurus active in USA who have spoken with one voice that Hindu American Temples and Religious Institutions need a change in their present roles in order not only to save Hinduism as a minority religion but also take the lead to guide spiritually starved USA as pioneers in the field of Spirituality
A century ago, in 1893, Swami Vivekananda impressed the Parliament of Religions in Chicago with his speech “Vedanta, the Future Religion”. Vedanta can ...
This discourse was not very seriously taken by all Hindu Americans, like Hindus in India, who feel satisfied today with the present day temple worship as imported from India not knowing how much Hinduism has moved away from its foundation based on Sanatana dharma even as visualized by Swami Vivekanada and others. They are also not serious about some of the revolutionary changes that are taking place in some of the famous pilgrim centers in India about which I talked about. I therefore sent you wisdom thoughts from various spiritual Gurus active in USA who have spoken with one voice that Hindu American Temples and Religious Institutions need a change in their present roles in order not only to save Hinduism as a minority religion but also take the lead to guide spiritually starved USA as pioneers in the field of Spirituality
Swami
Vivekananda said in his speech at the Chicago World Parliament of Religions in
1893: “I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both
tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal
toleration, but we accept all religions as true” and boldly proclaimed “Vedanta
is the Religion of the Future”. Can Vedanta take the role of all religions
today? That is what I had focused in my discourse mentioned above. Tharoor from
India, an influential political leader now adds with approbation that
“acceptance… implies that you have a truth but the other person may also have a
truth, that you accept his truth and respect it, while expecting him to respect
(and accept) your truth in turn.” He seemed to be over-riding the Vedic Wisdom
that Truth is one (Devo Ekah), Sathyameva
Jayate and that Sathya is Deva explained in Chhandodgya Upanishad about
which I had talked a lot. He is a present day religious follower of much
corrupted sectarian Hinduism and so he looks logical to similar thinkers.
"The
religious culture which goes by the name of Hinduism gave itself no name
because it set itself no sectarian limits; it claimed no universal adhesion,
asserted no sole infallible dogma, set up no single narrow path or gate of
salvation; it was less a creed or cult than a continuously enlarging tradition
of the God-ward endeavor of the human spirit"—says Sri Aurobindo in his
India's Rebirth. It is to this religious culture Swami Vivekananda gave the
name “Vedanta Religion” as Hinduism even then was moving away from the basic
principles of Sanatna Dharma—Devo Ekah,
Vasudhaiva kutumbakam, Eko viprah bahuda vadanti, Atmavat sarvabhooteshu,
Sanghacchadvam sam vadadvam and sahanavavatu, sahanau bhunaktu saha veeryam
karavaavahai.
Hinduism
is a more recent nomenclature given to a conglomeration of heterogeneous
tradition and plurality of beliefs and worship with a long history from the
Vedic sacrificial religion of Aryans through the worship of Epic and Puranic
heroes and personal deities, cults and sects, as well as philosophical systems
rather than to a monolithic tradition or a structure based on a single system
of beliefs and worship or a single text as scripture.
By
the time Nanak arrived on the scene all the renaissance work recovering
Hinduism from Buddhist influence and Atheism revolting against Vedic
sacrificial religion that was done by the great Trinity Acharyas of the South
eroded to a large extent in the North while South turned its attention in a
different direction building strong sectarian walls moving away from the
universal concept of Hinduism.
Thus
its deterioration and degradation that just started earlier was recognized but
was wrongly diagnosed by Guru Nanak who felt the pain was mainly caused by the
Islam then and wanted to reform those that were converted in large numbers by
brutal force and authority. This happened mostly in the North. British employed
diplomacy and could easily convert many to Christianity by hanging a carrot
before the poor and illiterate masses in the South. Nanak did not want a
separate religion as is clear from his Vishnu worship and calling Gurudvaras as
Hari Mandirs which are often called as Durbara Sahib now -a-days. He was only
preaching the concept of Nirguna Brahman and Sathya vachan that is Om. We have
talked about these in detail earlier.
Sri
Aurobindo liked Sikhism- "The Sikh Khalsa, writes Sri Aurobindo, was an
astonishingly original and novel creation and its face was turned not to the
past but to the future. Apart and singular in its theocratic head and
democratic soul and structure, its profound spiritual being, its first attempt
to combine the deepest elements of Islam and Vedanta, it was a premature drive
towards an entrance into the third or spiritual stage of human society, but it
could not create between the spirit and the external life the transmitting
medium of a rich creative thought and culture. And thus hampered and deficient
it began and ended with narrow local limits, achieved intensity but no power of
expansion..." (Foundations of Indian Culture). Thus it became a minor
religion in India segregating loosely form Hinduism.
In
this context it is worth rethinking and understanding once again the rationale
of Vedantic philosophy and its need to propagate as the Religion of the World
as visualized by Swami Vivekananda. I present to you the timely message of a
Vedic scholar from Kerala Sridharan Kartikeyan presenting his analytical and
critical study:
RELIGION
OF THE UPANISHADS
The
rational spiritual philosophy of the Upanishads
finds practical expression as a religion, as is usual with any other spiritual
philosophy, it must be known as the ‘Religion of the Upanishads’.
What is now being practiced as the Hindu religion is only a highly corrupted
version of this religion. Hindu religious practices have to undergo thorough
reformation to live up to the most scientific spiritual philosophy of the world
which constitutes their essence.
The
religion of the Upanishads is the religion of ultimate freedom, a religion that
promotes personal liberty. It does not require anybody to invariably follow a
particular faith or to uphold any specified belief or to observe any prescribed
rite or discipline; it is absolutely devoid of such demands and dictates. You
are at liberty to ponder over whatever is preached to you and then accept only
that which is felt reasonable; no dogmatism and no authoritarianism. This
religion does not recognize the services of priests and mediators; it also does
not recognize any differentiation between the God and the worshiper or between
the leader and the follower. All is One; there is only ‘I’, all in One.
Religion
of the Upanishads asserts unity of origin and unity
of essence of all beings. It is all about transcending the diversity of
external appearances and characteristics and attaining to the unity of inner
essence. The spirit of this inner equality makes it devoid of all kinds of
discrimination and hatred. It is the universal religion. What it presently
lacks is proper dissemination of its principles. Effort to inculcate these
principles in the minds of all has to start at the very stage of childhood.
This is essential to illumine their future lives with positive values and
broader vision of universal oneness.
All
known religions possess various sets of prescriptions on rites and observances
as a means to practice their distinct spiritual philosophy. These prescriptions
mostly aim at appeasing the God of their perception, for favors of physical
well-being. This appeasement is made by singing praises to that God, visualized
in human form, and by offering presents in the form of money, gold and other
valuables; this is akin to bribing some power-wielding, greedy mortals for
securing protection and favors. In contrast, Religion of the Upanishads does
not approve of this notion of appeasement. For, it does not consider God as a
glorified being in human form, amenable to appeasement and inclined to deliver
favors in return; moreover, it does not recognizes the acquisition and
arrogation of physical possessions as a goal of spiritual pursuit. Religion of
the Upanishads, on the other hand, holds that durable happiness is obtained
only by living the life in conformity with the principle of Ātmā. An action
that is in conformity with this principle is known as Puṇya karma (meritorious
deeds) and the opposite as Pāpa karma (evil thoughts and deeds) When a puṇya karma is
done, the doer feels contented and enriched, since it resonates well with his
inherent essence which is SAT-CHIT-ĀNANDA. On the other hand, when a pāpa karma is done, the doer is upset
internally as it is repugnant to his very essence. This contradiction between
the inner essence and the outer expression throws him into a chaos which
diminishes his strength and culminates in his total ruin. In the social front,
when pāpa
karmas become rampant threatening the peace and well-being of the society, the
ultimate ruling principle, SAT-CHIT-ĀNANDA, intervenes by churning out
sufficient opposite forces to contain the adverse impacts and to finally assert
itself. This is what Gīta says ‘saṃbhavāmi yuge yuge’ (4.8). Pāpa karmas are like obstructions to
natural flow of water in a river; when they reach an intolerable level, water
musters sufficient force and thrashes away all the obstructions with a violent
sweep.
All
self-centered pursuits for physical yields will end up in retaliations and
entanglements. Only by abiding with the principle of Ātmā that one can secure
hassle-free, durable happiness. We should therefore get enlightened about that
principle. That is why Upanishads say that only by knowing the Ātmā one can
attain bliss. Gīta prescribes this knowing as the only one goal deserving to be
pursued, not too many, as would be the case with physical benefits (Gīta 2.41
to 2.44).
(March 3, 2018)
Comments:
Thanks for the inspiring message --Dr. Ved Biliyar
INTERNATIONAL MOTHER
LANGUAGE DAY—APRIL 21, 2018
Do
you know today is International Mother Language Day? Probably our Sunday School
Teachers who struggle so hard to teach various mother tongues on weekends may
not even know. SANSKRIT is Mother of all Mother languages. If we want to
preserve and perpetuate Hinduism in USA for future generation and help the
country to spiritually progress we need Vedic wisdom. For understanding Vedic
wisdom we need Sanskrit. English language has been successful in developing as
International Language through political Force. Sanskrit can do it with its
richness and spiritual force. Many nations are busy in studying it. Even
Pakistan which hates it most needed “STAN” (Sanskrit suffix meaning place
or land like Hindustan) for its name and existence. Make Sanskrit language a
spoken language at least among Hindu migrants and preserve its pristine glory
to make the country progress spiritually with the universal binding force of a
divine language. The UN agency said that school teachers should encourage
children to use their mother languages to introduce themselves and talk about
their families and culture. Adults must also converse and share messages in
their own mother tongue. Social media can play an important tool in creating
awareness about every language. IT IS
WORTH CELEBRATING THIS SUNDAY International Mother Day to bring awareness in
children the study of Mother Language and Mother of all Mother Languages SANSKRIT.
International
Mother Language Day:
The first word that a new born baby utters is usually a word of his/her own
mother tongue. With age, the child might learn many other languages and get
adept with many foreign languages but the comfort of speaking in one’s own
mother tongue is unmatched. Celebrating this affinity of an individual with
his/her own mother tongue, the world is today observing International Mother
Language Day. Mother is the best teacher to teach the language at birth at
homes and so it is honored as Mother Language and not Parents Language or
Father Language.
India
has always believed in diversity and plurality. It respects all languages. India
is divided into provinces (states) based on the language spoken by the
majority. It won’t be wrong to call India, a mosaic of diverse languages and
cultures. The mother tongue of a person is in a way the identity of a person.
Thus, it is important to preserve every language so as to maintain the cultural
heritage of every community. So, here are the major aspects of this day that
you need to know:
International
Mother Language Day has been observed annually since 2000 to promote peace and
multilingualism around the world and to protect all mother
languages. It is observed on
February 21 to recognize the 1952
Bengali Language Movement
in Bangladesh.
The
day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in November 1999 (30C/62). In its
resolution A/RES/61/266, the United Nations General Assembly called on its
member states "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages
used by people of the world" on 16 May 2009. In
the resolution, the General Assembly proclaimed 2008 as the International Year
of Languages to promote unity in diversity and international understanding
through multilingualism and multiculturalism. The resolution was suggested by
Rafiqul Islam, a Bengali living in Vancouver, Canada. He wrote a letter to Kofi Annan on 9 January 1998 asking him to take a
step to saving the world's languages from extinction by declaring an
International Mother Language Day. Rafiq proposed the date as 21 February to
commemorate the 1952 killings in Dhaka during the Language Movement. This
resulted in the creation of Bangladesh with the help of India separating from
Pakistan.
Languages
are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and
intangible heritage. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues
will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual
education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural
traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on
understanding, tolerance and dialogue.
UNESCO
Says "One language disappears on average every two weeks, taking with
it an entire cultural and intellectual heritage". You know what happened
to European languages and culture in USA. Only Mexican migrants by sheer
number have been successful in introducing Spanish as the additional official
language of USA that has encouraged Americans to study the same in schools and
colleges in preference to European languages. There is no chance any of the
Indian Languages will ever become popular in USA. By the end of this
century English will become the Mother Language of Hindu Americans
and with that will vanish Hindu culture unless mothers at home take
interest in educating their children! Hindu Temples will become historic
monuments unless they revise their present sectarian focus. But slowly
"USA is becoming a Land Of Yogis" says Dr. Phil Goldberg and 40%
of its major religion Christianity are spiritually starved. Here Sanskrit and
Vedic wisdom can have a magic spell on the Nation and indirectly a blessing
effect on its own generation. It is therefore necessary for American Hindus to
Arise and Awake to the situation--Uttishthata Jagrata Charaiveti Charaiveti
(February 21 2018)
HAPPY PRESIDENTS’ DAY
Today is Presidents’ Day. Washington's Birthday, also known
as Presidents' Day, is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of
February. The day honors presidents of the United States, including George
Washington, the USA's first president. American Churches do not consider this
day as a Special Religious Worship Day to hold special masses. Hindu temples in
America also do not observe this day as a Special Religious Worship Day as they
do with other American holidays in a spirit of cooperation including
Valentine’s Day. Washington’s Birthday is on April 22 but celebrated on 3rd
Monday of February.
The idea of honoring all Presidents
on a specific day gives me an idea as how this concept can be adopted in our
worship pattern. Somehow we have forgotten to honor our Teachers and Gurus as
mandated in Upanishads “Acharya devo Bhava”. I believe by ACHARYA it
refers to only our spiritual teachers which may at best include our Sunday
School teachers who handle Vedic or Puranic heritage classes and moral values.
We need to honor this category of teachers on any specific day. Due to tireless
service of few philanthropic Hindu personnel we have more than 400 Hindu
temples in USA most of which have established Sunday schools. Slowly USA
is becoming a land of Yogis and Anandas (spiritual Gurus) as they find
the political policy here is one of non-interference. It is
therefore necessary and peremptory to identify any single day in a year to
honor these spiritual Gurus including our Acharya Parampara.
Ramakrishna Math which is also firmly
established at various places in USA honors all its monks and Vedanta Institutions
by special worship on January 1 calling it Kalpataru Divas. They do not join
American crowd in celebrating New Year’s Day as Hindu Temples which is not as
per sastric injunctions also. We have also on Hindu Calendar Guru Purnima
day which is the birthday of Vedavyasa who is also an Avatar of Vishnu.
In my own opinion ideal day would be Aksahya Trirteeya day on which
Basavesvara was born and Rishabha another avatar of Vishnu took to Sanyasa and
founded Jain philosophy that
is celebrated in India. Immediately follows birthday of Ramanuja
and Sankara. It is therefore ideal to observe this day as
Philosophers’ Day similar to Presidents’ Day honoring all philosophers
who took birth at critical times and revived or energized Sanatana
Dharma. Hindu Temples in India celebrate each Achrya’s or Guru’s Day based on
their sectarian leanings. As multi traditional we may choose
any one of the following days to honor our Guru Parampara;
1. New Year’s Day
2. Akshaya Triteeyaa
Day
3. Guru Purnima day
At any rate we need to observe Guru
Purnima Day to honor Vedavyasa to whom we owe our debts for all the Puranic
knowledge and wisdom of Vedas and even temple tradition. In addition he is also
an important Avatar of Vishnu but for whom we would have been lost to Vedas. Please
talk to your temple authorities about it.
--(February 19, 2018)
Yes, It is a very
good idea to honor Sunday School teachers in one of those three days you
mentioned.
--Rekha Pattanayak
INTRODUCING
FESTIVALS & RITUALS POSTED ON HINDU REFLECTIONS
We
all need a religion which will stir the depths of the heart and give room for
the exercise of faith, devotion and love. In this Hinduism has the
longest history and colorful tradition with built in religious discipline among
all religions in the world being the oldest religion. Hindu way of life
is so knitted that no human activity is segregated from the divine and so are
the Hindu Festivals. Hindu Reflections includes 74 discourses on Hindu
Festivals and Rituals posted over the past seven years. We get tired of hard
work or monotonous activity in the country of our migration. We want some
change or variety. We want relaxation. We want something to cheer us up.
Celebration of Hindu Festivals make us cheerful and happy and give us
rest and peace. Moreover it indirectly helps to promote Hindu culture in
the minds of young generation who are born in a foreign soil and are constantly
influenced by the various cultures of the land forgetting our own.
Hindu American Temples play a significant role in this to promote and
perpetuate Hindu culture. "In India Religion has entered into the cooking
pot" said Swami Vivekananda once. It is this that makes festivals
and rituals a special attraction particularly to children! In the bargain they
learn about the festival and turn religious too! Hindus eagerly wait for a
particular festival or ritual looking forward to the Prasad (blessed food)
delicacies. Tamils even name their festivals after food--Pongal with its spiced
and flavored Kichadi, Karadiyan Nobu with its special lentil cake, Koodarai
Vellam (though corrupted) for its sweet Kichadi. Besides we have Ram
Navami with varities of Panakams and spiced lentils though a fasting day,
Krishna Jayanti with 32 types of sweets and savories, Hanuman Jayanti with
crispy pepper vada, Ganesh Chaturthi with sweet Modakams etc. Perhaps
this makes Hinduism spicy and so no proselytizing is required like
other religions! The list is endless. I wonder anybody has made a
booklet out of it giving the recipe and explaining the significance? Only you
need to visit Puri Jagannath Temple where every day is celebrated as a
festival day with countless delicacies offered to Lord Jagannath. I could
hardly see a priest skinny and famished there!So also Udupi. I believe Lord
Krishna takes care of his devotees very well! you have to visit any ISKCON
temple!
Celebration
of Hindu Festivals and observance of Hindu religious takes one’s thought to its
past culture and also makes one religious. All great Hindu Festivals have
religious, social and hygienic element in them. In every festival there is
bathing in the morning before sunrise. Every individual will have to do some
prayer, Japa, Kirtan, Recitation of Sanskrit verses and Meditation.
All
things in this vast creation function upon definite laws. There is always a
beautiful system and sound rationale governing every phenomenon and process,
mundane or mystical. Just as gross elements and physical forces operate
variously under different conditions, so too the subtler and higher forces
respond and react in the inner mystic planes and in the purely spiritual
process like worship, prayer, meditation performance of rituals etc. Therefore
we find definite injunctions for performing rituals and certain types of
worship like Pradosham, Vratas, Eclipses, Ekadasi etc. Some are meant for
morning observance, some for mid-day and some others for evening observance.
Thus a sort of religious discipline is built in the worship and performance of
rituals that indirectly influences our way of life and attitude to life.
I
hope this introduction will help those who are busy in their life’s pursuits to
take a quick glance at them to understand the significance of Hindu Festivals
and Rituals and then go to individual discourses at leisure to understand
their full meaning and its socio-religious significance. This will also be
useful guide to introduce the subject to young minds in our Baal Vihaar Schools
and Hindu Heritage Classes.
With
the help of my classified list of discourses you may pick your discourse
of choice for your detailed study:
(February 11, 2018)
ROLE OF HINDU AMERICAN
TEMPLES--V
Convincing the modern mind of the scientific temper underlying the
spiritual concepts and worship practices.
For such an effective instruction, the temples should first
promote a better understanding through convincing information about the
significance and relevance of temple worship in human life. The Murti of a
Deity in a temple is a dynamic source of spiritual power. There is an
efficacious science of mantras and rituals for the installation of power in the
Murti of a Deity by invoking the spiritual power from the infinite source,
Brahman. A Deity with certain special powers will have a suitable symbolic form
that represents these divine aspects. The relevant mantras and rituals are used
for invoking the special spiritual powers represented by a particular form.
Invoking and installing spiritual power in a Murti is a very engaging and
illuminating subject for study. In this context, it is relevant to quote the
following observation of Srikant, the author of the well-known book Power in Temples
– A Modern Perspective:
"According to the highly explorative science of Hindu Dharma,
Brahman, the Supreme Reality and the source of all phenomenal manifestations,
is at once personal and impersonal. In our deepest dimension, we are that
timeless source as revealed by the Upanishads: ‘tat tvam asi’ – ‘That Thou
Art’. By worshiping the Reality in its personalized aspect, the worshiper
gradually moves closer to the Reality. This liberates one from the limitations
of one’s imperfect personality and one comes in contact with the all-powerful
Divinity. This is an expansion which liberates us from the worries and pains of
our limited existence, reinforces us physically, mentally and spiritually and
brings to life the Divine Bliss (ananda) that transcends the experiences of our
ordinary senses. We can even achieve supreme emancipation, as basically we are
that timeless Supreme Divine. Hindu philosophy asserts that everything in
the universe is the manifestation of the One Supreme Source. Today, modern
science also asserts that all the phenomena in Nature are the manifestations of
a universal capacity, which is referred to as energy; but science is yet to get
a deeper understanding of the fundamental nature of this mysterious basic
factor called energy, which manifests as the innumerable phenomena. According
to Vedanta, Brahman is at once Intelligence and Energy. We tend to
consider a block of stone or metal as inert and lifeless. But today’s science
knows that there are tremendously moving energy fields within them that are in
a sort of web-like relationship with the whole universe. Hindu philosophy
compliments this view of science by highlighting the fact that the stone and
everything else are the manifestations of Paraa-Shakti, the transcendental
supreme Energy of Brahman, which is at once Energy and Intelligence.’’
Energy
vibrations and forms are two important aspects of the
phenomenal universe. The world of forms is the gross expression of energy. Both
these aspects are used in invoking the spiritual power and for communion with
the Divine. The energy vibrations are employed in the form of suitable mantras
and the form aspect as the Deities. Thus, there is a well-coordinated
science in the background of temple worship and it is the bounden duty of
temples to make the modern world sufficiently aware of this fact. This is
very necessary to counter effectively the fallacious and malicious ideas spread
by vested interests against this highly rational form of Hindu spiritual
practice for communion with Ishwara and spiritual expansion. Certainly, those
who visit temples and offer their devout worship will experience its sublime
benefits by way of reduction in tensions, reinforcement of the inner faculties,
and the salutary effects in the material and spiritual dimensions of life.
Along with this, if they get themselves familiar with the rationale and the
principles involved in the invocation of the Divine in temples, it will go
a long way in deepening their faith and enhancing their quest through matured
understanding and mellowed wisdom. Only when man comes in communion with his
inner Self, the Divinity within, he can find freedom from such maladies
that affect his body-mind-sense complex. Hindu philosophy offers the
know-how to achieve this communion and freedom. The temples are founded on
a practical science that helps establish this reinforcing contact with the
Divine. With a deeper understanding of this fact, the youth in the U.S.A. can
make the best use of the temples for their cultural and spiritual evolution and
all-round progress, thereby benefiting them and enriching others who come in
contact with them. The modern man endowed though with a scientific bent of
mind, intellectual upbringing and a technological background, not infrequently
tends to be influenced by misguiding views and is often pestered with needless
doubts and skepticism. Vested quarters like the materialists and dogmatic
religionists, are hell bent on propagating distorted versions of the great
Hindu Dharma. It is possible to counter such campaigns if we take appropriate
and effective intellectual measures. There is no dearth of logical wisdom and
intellectual ideas in the Hindu culture to convince the modern mind of the
scientific temper underlying the spiritual concepts- Jyotirmayananda
(February 16, 2018)
Comments: Well articulated. Thanks to the powerful massage, Can you
write on this theme as an article for Aradhana to be published next month?--Dr.Vedavyas
WHERE DO
YOU GO WHEN YOU DIE
Please recall the following in my Ramanuja’s Millennial Lecture on
“The Life of Ramanuja”. Though you might have convinced about
Ramanuja’s mystic powers you may still wonder how the dead body of Alavandar
could react to the promises of Ramanuja?
“Ilaya Perumal by virtue of his esoteric power had
a clear vision about the parting message of Alavandar. He was moved
with grief and instantly made the 3 promises: (I) that he would write a
commentary on Veda Vyasa's Brahma Sutra (II) that he would perpetuate the
memory of Vyasa and Parasara and (III) that he would strive to propagate
Visishtadvaita on the lines of the 4000 Holy Postulations of Azhvars; the
fingers unfolded one by one automatically and stretched out to normal
position confirming that these were his last wishes”. May I draw your attention
to the following amazing report by Newsweek in this dialogue:
Where Do You Go When You Die? The Increasing
Signs That Human Consciousness Remains After Death
Clinically, we understand death to mean the state that takes hold
after our hearts stop beating. Blood circulation comes to a halt, we don’t breathe,
our brains shut down—and that’s what divides the states we occupy from one
moment (alive) to the next (dead).
Philosophically, though, our definition of death hinges on
something else: the point past which we’re no longer able to return. Those two
were more or less the same until about 50 years ago, when we saw the advent of
CPR. Today, someone’s heart can stop and they can be dead, and then they can
come back.
Modern resuscitation was a game-changer for emergency care, but it
also blew apart our understanding of what it means to be dead. Without many
people returning from the dead to show us otherwise, it was natural to assume,
from a scientific perspective, that our consciousness dies at the same time as
our bodies. Over the last few years, though, scientists have seen repeated
evidence that once you die, your brain cells take days, potentially longer, to
reach the point past which they’ve degraded too far to ever be viable again.
This does not mean you’re not dead; you are dead. Your brain cells, however,
may not be.
“What’s fascinating is that there is a time, only after you and I
die, that the cells inside our bodies start to gradually go toward their own
process of death,” Dr. Sam Parnia, director of critical care and resuscitation
research at New York University Lang One Medical Center, told Newsweek. “I’m
not saying the brain still works, or any part of you still works once you’ve
died. But the cells don’t instantly switch from alive to dead. Actually,
the cells are much more resilient to the heart stopping—to the person
dying—than we used to understand.”
Scientists working on human cadavers have from time to time
observed genes that are active after death, according to University of
Washington microbiology professor Peter Noble. For a 2017 study published in
Open Biology, Noble and his colleagues tested mice and zebrafish and found not
just a handful, but a combined total of 1,063 genes that remained active, in
some cases for up to four days after the subject had died. Not only did their
activity not dissipate—it spiked.
“We didn’t anticipate that,” Noble told Newsweek. “Can you
imagine, 24 hours after [time of death] you take a sample and the transcripts
of the genes are actually increasing in abundance? That was a surprise.”
Quite a few of these are developmental genes, Noble said, raising
the fascinating and slightly disturbing possibility that in the period
immediately following death, our bodies start reverting to the cellular
conditions that were present when we were embryos. Noble found that certain
animals’ cells, post-mortem, remained viable for weeks. The research suggests a
“step-wise shutdown,” by which parts of us die gradually, at different rates,
rather than all at once.
Exactly why some cells are more resilient to death than others
can’t yet be said. In a 2016 study published in the Canadian Journal of
Biological Sciences, doctors recounted shutting off life support for four
terminally ill patients, only to have one of the patients continue emitting
delta wave bursts—the measurable electrical activity in the brain we normally
experience during deep sleep—for more than 10 minutes after the patient had
been pronounced dead; no pupil dilation, no pulse, no heartbeat. The authors
were at a loss for a physiological explanation.
Parnia’s research has shown that people who survive medical death
frequently report experiences that share similar themes: bright lights;
benevolent guiding figures; relief from physical pain and a deeply felt
sensation of peace. Because those experiences are subjective, it’s possible to
chalk them up to hallucinations. Where that explanation fails, though, is among
the patients who have died on an operating table or crash cart and reported
watching—from a corner of the room, from above—as doctors tried to save them,
accounts subsequently verified by the (very perplexed) doctors themselves.
How these patients were able to describe objective events that
took place while they were dead, we’re not exactly sure, just as we’re not
exactly sure why certain parts of us appear to withstand death even as it takes
hold of everything else. But it does seem to suggest that when our
brains and bodies die, our consciousness may
not, or at least not right away.
“I don’t mean that people have their eyes open or that their brain’s
working after they die,” Parnia said. “That petrifies people. I’m saying we
have a consciousness that makes up who we are—ourselves, thoughts, feelings,
emotions—and that entity, it seems, does not become annihilated just because
we’ve crossed the threshold of death; it appears to keep functioning and not
dissipate. How long it lingers, we can’t say.”
Comments:
Thank you very much for this information. Very interesting and
great knowledge that proves what we have always preached about the dead. The
Garuda Purana mentions the same condition, yet it was wrote thousands of years
ago. We have on occasion heard Pundit preach in Crematoriums before Cremating
the Body that the dead person is always by its body until the body is
completely burnt to ashes. This is a great new awakening for those that have
forgotten what the scriptures say and could lead to more and more of us looking
back and reading so we learn a lot more. Thank you for this very powerful
message.--Pundit Kishor Dutt Maharaj
The above article is in line with the Hindu Funeral rituals
which last 10 days plus another 2 days to complete the send-off of the beloved
departed. The rituals are based on a similar belief that the dead person’s
conscience takes that many days to finally dissipate from the material world in
which it once lived and start its onward journey, and hence treated with
set rituals like offering water for thirst, food, material gifts for journey to
yonder world etc. etc. Once again science has merely established and proved
what the Vedic Hindu world was aware of millennia ago .Also go through my two
discourses on the subject:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2011/09/hindu-rites-for-deceased-parents-and.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/11/where-does-jeevaatma-travel-after-so.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/11/where-does-jeevaatma-travel-after-so.html
Interesting
article by Newsweek. Thank you for sharing. Hinduism had recognized much
earlier that the body and soul are two independent entities.it also suggested
that soul is eternal and discard one’s body regularly to renter an new one. Therefore
this article makes perfect sense.
--Tarun Surti
(February 18,
2018)
GRADUAL
DECLINE IN THE OUTLOOK OF GODS, GURUS & VEDIC TRADITION
In recent times there has been much interest in an intensive study
of different aspects of Hindu Dharma the world over. Scholars of modern times
are examining from various angles several aspects of temple worship such as its
rationale, significance, and the role of temples in social context. I
have been circulating the message of Swami Jyotirmayananda on the same.
Our spiritual leaders feel:
“The Mandirs have to play a significant role in the growth
of the Hindu community in terms of its capacity to uphold Hindu Dharma.” --
SWAMI DAYANANDA SARASWATI (www.arshavidya.org)
“We need
to make temples not just a center of rituals and congregation but lighthouses
of present condition.
I believe Hindu
Devatas philosophy and knowledge, which are the basis
of Hindu Dharma.” -- SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR (www.artofliving.org)
“Creating an environment
where the youth understand, appreciate and love their Hindu culture is a
crucial need today, as is uniting all Hindu temples under one umbrella.” --
SWAMI CHIDANANDA SARASWATI (www.parmarth.com)
Why
these serious thinking by spiritual leaders? Evidently all is not going
well and we have to understand our Yuga functionaries in our exercise of Para
Tattva and Rita. They are also subject to karmic cycles. They change in
every yuga cycle and are not permanent. Even Vedic Truth of Devo Ekah seem to
change. Our Puranas have also predicted Dharma that
stood stable on four legs in Kritayuga has now started standing on one
leg. So the original concept of devo ekah also got
diluted during present times to Trinity Concept and we seem to think
any worship to any Devata mentioned in Vedas as 33, now multiplied
to more than 330 million and more with added modern Gurus will
bring the desired results. Of course it will bring the results as
religious pundits predict but when? May be after many more millions of years
and many millions of births. In our current busy schedule, we
particularly Hindu Americans, do not even notice these changes nor are we
concerned with time or cycle of births. We have no plans to get back to Vedic
wisdom and are happy with mechanical worship in temples guided by a
priest. Being service minded we feel that modern devatas and Gurus are needed
to be respected just as a subordinate respects his superior and
believe everything has an amsa of divinity, guided by modern Gurus and misunderstanding
Gita (Mamivamso Jeevabhootah). Before thinking of a remedy we
should diagnose the disease. It is therefore worth understanding this gradual
degeneration in the History of the Human Past influenced by Puranas or by our
lack of understanding their hidden values of Para Tattva in their enigmatic
stories and sermons of modern fake Gurus that has brought us to this pitiable
condition. I wish Puranas have been made simpler or more explicit in
guiding us spiritually. Please go through the article posted on the
Blog. Your valued comments are welcome:
Comments Received:
I
fully agree with your outlook and citation of other authors and their quotes.
One way to address the issue is to print, either on paper or TV screen, what
are being chanted in Sanskrit and other language so the devotee can read what
has been chanted. Now with multiple media, those chanting can be properly be
explained for interested person to read because it is very difficult for the
Priest to chant and explain its meaning simultaneously.
Thanks. I am honored.
I am sure my readers particularly our temples' management team from
different temples will find time to go through my series of E-mails
on the Role of Hindu American Temples" by Jyotirmayananda. In the present
context I would draw your kind attention to my past e-mail quote:
“Hindu Reflections has put in lot of efforts not
only to explain all the mantras and also signify their purport
on our Shodasa Upachaara Puja (16-steps worship) ritual and Hindu
Samskaras which has been well received by Hindus and others all over the globe.
It is left to the sweet will of Hindu American Temples to bring out suitable
manuals to guide the devotees. I wonder whether they have even seen them
as I had no feed back from the founding fathers of four temples on my
mailing list!”
Long back Kamala Raghunathan
requested my permission to post my dispatches from HR that included
explaining all mantras used in our rituals and worships. I agreed and
temple had it on their website for a while. Then a wise chairman decided to
delete all of them. I therefore had to start this Blog. This is not a
loss for me but for the community.
I
have forwarded your email to Pankaj who is a current chairman. I will talk to
him about publishing a booklet with all the slokas chanted during Pooja. It can
contains all the necessary explanations of slokas and their related reading
materials.
(February 12, 2018)
PURPORT OF IMAGE
WORSHIP IN TEMPLES AND HOMES
People in Vedic culture did not worship images (Murrti) although
they invoked various gods and goddesses. Probably Shaivism and Vaishnavism
played an important role in elevating it as an acceptable form of divine
worship and domestic worship. The temples legitimized image worship
and further elevated its ritual and spiritual importance. In the epic
Ramayana, Rama advised Vibhishana to worship the image of Jaganntha
the family deity of Ikshvakus. Ravana worshiped the image of Siva and
Indrajit Devi, symbols of Gods. In the epic Mahabharata, Arjuna worshiped image
of Shiva to obtain the mighty Pasupatha weapon. Ekalavya worshipped the image
of his Guru Dronacharya. Probably this was the origin for worshiping
the images of gurus smotivated by Acharya Devo bhava mandated in
Vedas that inspired installation and consecration of idols of Gurus in
Temples. May be Guru image worship is approved by Vedavyasa
who is an incarnation of Vishnu. Anyhow Image worship is of Puranic origin
and not Vedic.
In the Bhagavad-Gita, Lord Krishna cautions people about
worshipping the un-manifested Brahman. He also gives the assurance that in
whatever form and manner people approach him in their own limited mental
build-up, he will accordingly reciprocate. It looks as though while
Bhagavan does not approve image worship he does not prohibit it and also
assures he will still fulfil their material needs other than Mukti. Probably
our Sankalpa in temple was also designed towards that end to express our reason
for worship. Our demands should not be too big to get disappointed at times for
He knows our depth and quality of devotion. So Vedas say “Yad bhadram tanma
aasuva” – Leave the choice to Him, He knows what is good for you and what
you deserve.
More than any abstract concept, an image or a symbol (yantra)
serves as the best aid in practicing concentration and meditation. By keeping
the mind concentrated on a particular image, one can bring it under control and
stabilize it in the thoughts of the deity. Recent research confirms the
beneficent effects of meditation, and how the mind can be effectively used to
heal the body or change one’s way of thinking and attitude. There is some
growing evidence that thoughts can manifest reality. It is now a widely
accepted fact that guided meditation and visualization technique can help
people to overcome their hidden fears, control their emotions, change their
responses, or learn new behavior. The ancient seers of India were aware of the
benefits of concentration and meditation. Hence, they encouraged the internal
and external rituals and domestic worship. They knew that concentration and
meditation upon the forms of God, and objects of Nature helped people control
their fickle minds and become stabilized in the thoughts of God.
When a devotee worships an image, he also worships the deity who
is present in him as his hidden Self. All the prayers that you offer to the
images are also simultaneously addressed to the hidden deity. You are the
priest in the worship of the deity, while your hidden Self is the silent priest
or the Self, who makes sure that your prayers reach their destination with
augmented power. When a devout Hindu folds his hands in front of a deity to
pray or offer his respects, his hands point not only to the deity in front of
him but also the deity that lives in him and in Paramapada, Supreme abode
above. Thus, symbolically in image worship one not only worships the concrete
form of God (murtam) but also the subtle, invisible and formless Self (amurtam)
in the body. But this thought should be kept in mind while offering prayers,
instead mechanically offering prayers.
We often keep an image as an artifact in our drawing rooms and
that does not become an image for worship. It acquires the status of Murthi
image for worship by rituals like Atmapuja and Consecration. That is the
principle involved in temporary image installation on special occasions like
Ganesh Chaturthi (Aavaahan) and its immersion (Visarjan11, 2018) after
de-consecrating it after a proper send-off ceremony.
--February 11, 2018
Thanks, Thanks,
Thanks!
Dr. Kalai Mugilan
ROLE OF HINDU AMERICAN TEMPLES--IV
Some directional points
which the temples should seriously consider
In this context, I would
also like to quote the following observation of Sri A. Radhakrishnan, writer
and intellectual, who gives some directional points which the temples should
seriously consider: “There is an urgent need for a clear projection and true
assimilation of the Hindu ideals. Barring a few who have taken to the
siritual path with all seriousness, the rest are either ignorant of the
fundamentals of our Dharma or are deplorably lackadaisical in their approach.
The rather mechanically observed rituals and ceremonies on several occasions
without any clue as to their true purport and significance do not help either.
No wonder, the ill-informed followers unwittingly fall a prey to the
machinations of self-proclaimed agnostics and decry all Hindu religious
practices. Such people really don’t know what they are running down and
ridiculing, much less what they stand to gain by earnestly observing those
rituals and ceremonies. Any attempt to remedy this situation should strike at
the roots. Temples should impart sound knowledge about these rituals and ceremonies
and their rationale, and clearly explain the meaning of various mantras chanted
on the occasion, their significance, etc. Language should not be a barrier
since Sanskrit usages can be properly and accurately rendered into English or
any other language familiar to the seeker. One should come out from the
cloister and educate the seekers properly. And in doing so, it is essential to
link the performance and the objectives of the hoary rituals and practices to
the theories and principles of modern science so as to render them] logical and
intelligible to the modern man. The seemingly wide gap between old-world
postulates and recent directives should be narrowed down or eliminated so as to
prevent doubters raising irrelevant queries and issues. The knowledge imparted
should be perfect and unambiguous. No doubt, a clear presentation of the Dharma
will appeal to the Hindus as well as non-Hindus, all alike, because basically
Hinduism contemplates an ideal, all-inclusive way of life for mankind and not a
set of unverifiable doctrines and dogmas, and unalterable religious edicts for
a section of them. With a view to drive home this aspect of our Dharma it would
be advisable to hold effective interactive sessions with the followers of other
faiths as well. But before attempting such a step the Hindus themselves must be
adequately equipped. Hence it is essential that they should be well-informed
and adequately trained. Temples of yore used to render yeomen service in this
regard. There is no reason why those of the present day also can’t achieve
similar results. Instruction calls for capable instructors and the temples
cannot afford to ignore this aspect.”--Jyotirmayananda
[Hindu Reflections has
put in lot of efforts not only to explain all the mantras and also
signify their purport on our Shodasa Upachaara Puja (16-steps worship)
ritual and Hindu Samskaras which has been well received by Hindus and
others all over the globe. It is left to the sweet will of Hindu American
Temples to bring out suitable manuals to guide the devotees. I wonder
whether they have even seen them as I had no feed back from the founding
fathers of four temples on my mailing list!]
--February
10, 2018
THOUGHTS ON MAHA
SIVARATRI 2018
Lord Siva is the
most mysterious Hindu God whose appearance as a column of fire on Mahasivaratri
Night is celebrated as projected and glorified in Puranas.
In the early and late Vedic texts there is no consensus as to the origin
of Siva as Trinity deity now popularly worshiped! Was he pre-āryan? Was he
contemporary but external to the āryans? Was he a mountain or a forest god? A
malevolent force of nature? Or was he clearly as āryan as Agni, Vāyu and Soma,
as Doris Srinivasan would have us believe? Did he gain all his epithets by
absorbing the gods of smaller autochthonous cults? What were the stories that
led to his names in the Śatarudriya? We have traversed close to two thousand
years of textual history and as yet we haven’t even reached the part where he
becomes unequivocally Śiva or Śankara. I urge all to learn Sanskrit, read the
Vedic corpus and find your own answers! Narayanasookta says—Sa brahma
sa siva (sa Harih) sendrah soksharah paraamah svarat. Bhattabhasakara
explains: Paramaatman is NarayaNa, the source of Jivas. He is the creator,
protector and dissolver of the universe. He is Svarat because He is the only
independent Reality causing all other dependent categories. Is He then Naryana
the auspicious? Puranas seem to have their own independent views rightly or
wrongly and our temple worship is mainly focused on Puranas though they
quote lot of Veda mantras and do not bother to explain to the
worshipers.
Mahasivaratri is
being celebrated on Tuesday February 13, 2018 with all reverence as a
short cut to attain Moksha as promised in Phalasrutis directed to benevolent
Siva ad not terrible Rudra. Hinduism gives lot of liberties to pick a
convenient deity to suit the occasion, your mood, your desire as well as
purpose and the nature of celebration planned. I take great pleasure
in forwarding the message from Muralidharan Iyengar of Singapore coming
out with his latest discovery of another rare sloka from Matsya purana with
Phalasruti.
In the same MATSYA
PURANA, Siva tells his wife, Parvati how out of anger he cut off one of the five heads of Brahma,
how on account of the sin of Brahmahatya the head stuck to his hand, how
terrified he had become when the skull would not fall off despite his best
efforts and how finally he got relieved by the grace of Sri Narayana who helped
him to get rid off the skull. He says:
"The only
way it could be got rid off was when the skull got filled up with alms and any
amount of alms received could not fill it up. Only when Lord Vishnu out of
compassion and grace gave him alms enough to fill the skull, it fell off. He
confesses to Parvati “Because of your good fortune, I escaped. I was mortally
afraid that I could never get over this trauma. I got relief like one securing
a treasure in his dream"
Tatra Narayanas Srimaan
Mayaa Bikshaam Prayaachita
Tatas Tena svakam
paarsvam Naka Agrena Vikaaritam
Mahati Sravati Dhaaraa Tasya Raktasya Nissrutah
Svapna Vishnu Prasaadaat SusONi Kapaalam Tat
Sahasratam SpOTias
Vedas say:
Narayanam param
brahma tattvam Narayanh parah | Om antascharati bhooteshu guhayam visva
moortishu tam Rudrastvam yagnastvam vashatkarastvam Vishnustvam prajapatih|
Rest
is all story, mythology, slokas and Phalasrutis to drive this Truth to the
ignorant who can’t meditate
We are accustomed
to Puranic stories without which we can't think of God. We need colorful
ceremony. Hence I take this
opportunity to bring your focus two views on Siva one based on the study
of Vedas and the other based on Puranic glorification. Please go through
my discourse on Mahasivaratri based on Puranas to explain the purport of
celebrating Mahasivaratri. Do you have the time?
Message
from Muralidharan Iyengar from Singapore:
Mahashivaratri
- Very Rare Karunabhyudaya Stotram By Sage Bhrigu From Sri Matsya Puranam
Greetings
and Namaste. As Sri Mahashivaratri falls on 14-Feb-2018 (Tuesday), I am
very delighted to share a very rare and beautiful prayer on Lord Shiva
by Sage Bhrigu taken from Matsya Puranam, Narmada Mahatmyam
and Chapter 193. This hymn is titled "Karunabhyudaya Stotram".
Though the Phalashruti is brief it says it all - that Lord Shiva
gets pleased with the one who recites this hymn as he was pleased with Sage
Bhrigu.
As
the hymn is slightly difficult in terms of lexicon, I have endeavored to give a
brief summary of the meaning. Sage Bhrigu prays to Lord Shiva as the
creator/protector/destroyer of the universe and requests Him to emancipate Him
from worldly pursuits and pulls such that he may get the immutable wealth.
We
have seen in the last several years that Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva
are NOT different Gods (who eternally quarrel among themselves to ensure their
superiority over the other two) - but just names attached to the one and only
Almighty while performing different divine duties. It is plain idiocy to
think/act otherwise and we have seen innumerable quotes from our
scriptures.
In
Kurma Puranam, Chapter 94, Lord Brahma mentions to Daksha
(on his confusion that Vishnu is a superior God to Shiva) that Vishnu and Shiva
are one and the same through the following text:
yastavaiSha
mahAyogI raxako viShNur avyayaH | sa devadevo bhagavAn mahAdevo na saMshayaH ||
86 ||
manyante
ye jagad yoniM vibhinnaM viShNuM IshvarAt | mohAd aveda-niShThadvAt te yAnti
narakaM narAH || 87 ||
vedAnuvartino
rudraM devaM nArAyaNaM tathA | ekI bhAvena pashyanti mukti-bhAjo bhavanti te ||
88 ||
yo
viShNuH sa svyaM rudro yo rudraH sa janArdanaH | iti matvA yajed devaM sa yAti
paramAM gatim || 89 ||
sRRijat
etaj jagat sarvaM viShNus tat pashyatIshvaraH | itthaM jagat sarvaM idaM
rudra-nArAyaNodbhavam || 90 || viShNAvapi samAhitaH | samAshrayen mahAdevaM
sharaNyaM brahma-vAdinAm || 91 ||
tasmAt
tyaktvA harer nindAM
Meaning
: Mahayogi Lord Vishnu, one who protects, is also Lord Mahadeva, who is
the Lord of all Devas and let there be no doubt. Due to ignorance and irreverence
to Vedas, people see these two as different and they shall go to hell without
any doubt. One who walk the path of Vedas see both Lord Narayana and Lord Shiva
as one and the same and only they get emancipation and Mukti. He who is Vishnu
is indeed is Rudra and Rudra indeed is Janardana and one who performs Puja in
this way attains the highest abodes of the Lord. Lord Vishnu creates this
universe and Lord Shankara oversees and protects the universe. Therefore stop
casting aspersions on Lord Rudra and fix your focus on Lord Vishnu and Lord
Shiva who is the refuge of all Brahmavadins.
It
is high time the Hindus left the imaginary fight of superiority to Lord Vishnu
and Lord Shiva themselves. And even if we fight here in this terrestrial abode
it will be of no use in their abodes - and it does not require enormous brain
to understand this simple truth. On a different but related note, the Hindus
need to comprehend that there is an existential crisis for the Sanatana Dharma
as it is besieged on multiple fronts by pseudo-seculars, pseudo-atheists (who
are anti-Hindus but OK with other faiths), pseudo-experts (like Wendy Dorniger,
Ramchandra Guha, Pankaj Mishra who misrepresent Hindu faith and philosophy),
missionaries of conversion, Dravidan parties, etc. etc. If Sanatana Dharma has
to survive, then Hindus need to unite
and speak in one voice to protect and pass Sanatana Dharma to future
generations. There is absolutely no space for petty and irrelevant quarrels such
as Who is greater God? Vishnu or Shiva or Brahma. It is plain lunacy and
illiteracy.
After
a long long time, Hindus learnt this in a very hard way during the ugly episode
in Tamil Nadu last month where the Tamil cinema lyricist Vairamuthu
blasphemously painted Andal, the consort of Lord Vishnu, as a Dasi by quoting a
reference which does not claim what he said. Hindus learnt in a hard way that
unity is the urgent need of the hour and the other idiotic and childish
rivalries need to be shown the door.
I
personally do not think this rare unity would have been possible without divine
ordainment because far more heinous insults were heaped on Hindus in the 70
years of Dravidian rule in Tamil Nadu - including the garlanding of Lord Rama
with chappals by EVR. It is reasonable to assume that these forces expected
similar mild response and they could go on with blasphemy unfettered. But
Lord's plan was perhaps different. The rare show of unity of Hindus took every
one by surprise - including the usually apathetic Hindus. This resulted in
recalibration of the political parties to court Hindus in different ways -
though such moves are nothing but cold political moves to ensure that there is
no Hindu consolidation resulting in shifting voting patterns in Tamil Nadu and
therefore see the demise of Dravidian philosophy (which anyway is in its death
bed).
The
rare unity must continue with the blessing of the Lord and the unfeigned effort
of one and all as the evil forces will do all in their might to ensure that the
unity is broken. History will tell whether we rose up to the occasion as adults
and chose to remain as unwise kids!
May
We Pray to Lord Rudra, who is also Lord Dakshinamurthy, to bestow us the right
knowledge and resolve!
--February
10, 2018
RAMANUJA MILLENNIAL
SLIDE SHOW AND LECTURES
COMPLETE TEXT OF MY LECTURE IS
SENT TO ALL THAT I HURRIED THROUGH STRUGGLING TO DELETE THE DETAILS
COVERED IN SUPPORT OF MY TODAY'S LECTURE AT SRI GANESHA TEMPLE. THE
BY COURTESY JET. OTHERS WHO MISSED THE SLIDE SHOW AND LECTURE PLEASE ENJOY
AND ENRICH. YOUR ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO THIS MESSAGE IN THE COTEXT
Guru
Nanak was a Hindu
Portrait of Guru Nanak (1469-1539), as
seen in taxis and shops, the GURU is invariably shown as wearing a pagari or
turban, like his pupils (Sikh-s) to-day. But this is a recently-imposed
convention, not followed in his own days and in subsequent centuries.
In traditional paintings, the Gurus
never wore turbans, a custom that even according to Sikh teaching itself was
only instituted by the tenth and last Guru, Govind Singh, in 1699. All the
Gurus are typically shown as wearing a topi (Hindu-style cap) and patka (sash).
We discuss one instance.
K.C. Aryan (born 11 August 1919, died
2002), a Partition refugee from West Panjab, was an accomplished painter. He founded
the Museum for Tribal and Folk Art in Gurgaon, still functioning today. He
saved plenty of old paintings, sculptures and other arts & crafts objects
for posterity by collecting them in his museum or donating them to more
established institutions.
1970, he presented to the publishing
unit of Punjabi University Patiala a manuscript with illustrations for a book,
100 Years Survey of Panjab Painting (1841-1941). It was eventually published by
the PUP in 1975, but only in mutilated form. The Senate Board of the University
objected to the inclusion of one particular painting, and threatened that if it
were published, the grant for the whole publishing unit would be stopped.
The contentious painting, executed by
a Pahari painter in the mid-19th century (whose name, as often in folk art,
remains unknown), shows a topi-wearing Guru Nanak praying to Lord Vishnu. The
Board took the Sikh-separatist line that that Sikhism has nothing to do with
Hinduism, and that the Gurus are above the “Brahminical” gods. It is the same
line that keeps the Sikh establishment from calling their central shrine, the
Hari Mandir (“Vishnu temple”), by its proper name, hiding it behind the
superficial designation “Golden Temple” or the Moghul term “Darbar Sahib”. It
is also why in 1922 they threw out from the Hari Mandir the murti-s that had
been worshipped there ever since Arjan Dev inaugurated it in 1604. Sikh
identity as a separate religion, rather than as one of the many panth-s in the
Hindu commonwealth is based on a denial of history, and this requires a
constant censoring of unwilling historical data: names changed, scriptures
doctored, murti-s thrown away, the publication of a painting suppressed.
\K.C. Aryan donated the painting
in ca. 1982 to the Himachal State Museum in Shimla. There, it is significantly
not on display but kept in storage. That is, if it has not been lost or
illegally sold by some babu unconcerned with art and heritage; or somehow
eliminated by one with Khalistani leanings eager to destroy the evidence for an
inconvenient fact: that Guru Nanak was every inch a Hindu.
--February
4, 2018
ROLE OF HINDU AMERICAN TEMPLES--III
In
temple, knowledge, devotion and service are blended into a harmonious whole-
A temple is a place where jnana
(knowledge), bhakti (devotion) and karma (service) are blended into a
harmonious whole. A temple should be managed in such a way that all these three
aspects are given expression. Young people should be trained as volunteers to
promote a proper perspective about these vital aspects. For this purpose the
authorities of the temples have to make themselves well informed about the
potentials of temples as spiritual and social institutions. All these are as
need to be budgeted properly. It is well highlighted by the sages that temples provide an opportunity for all to
progress in their spiritual development through serving the common cause,
namely, Ishwara.
How the Hindu temples differ from
the Christian churches or the mosques of the Muslims
It is an unfortunate fact that
many devotees themselves are not sufficiently aware of how the Hindu temples
differ from the Christian churches or the mosques of the Muslims. Churches and
mosques do not have any deeper significance than being mere halls for mass
prayer. On the other temples are
vibrant centers of Divine energy. Even intelligent Hindus often fail to
appreciate this vital distinguishing feature. In the words of Sri S. Gurumurthy
(http:// gurumurthy.net/),
renowned columnist, “The Hindus should not enter the temple mentally comparing
the temple with churches which are mass assembly and prayer halls. There are
subtle forces which operate through the deities installed in the temple,
through the mantras regularly chanted and the appropriate rituals daily
conducted there. So temples are a different phenomenon altogether. This
psychological shift is needed for the Hindus not to suffer a complex when they
compare the temples with churches which are designed and aimed for altogether
different objects. This may also help to differentiate the practices of
Christianity and Sanatana Dharma. But in
the USA the temples also serve more
intense social purposes and therefore there is bound to be some confusion about
the concept of temples as they are in India and those in the USA.”
Some directional points which the
temples should seriously consider
In this context, I would also like
to quote the following observation of Sri A. Radhakrishnan, writer and
intellectual, who gives some directional points which the temples should
seriously consider: “There is an urgent
need for a clear projection and true assimilation of the Hindu ideals.
Barring a few who have taken to the spiritual path with all seriousness, the
rest are either ignorant of the fundamentals of our Dharma or are deplorably
lackadaisical in their approach. The rather mechanically observed rituals and ceremonies on several occasions
without any clue as to their true purport and significance do not help
either. No wonder, the ill-informed followers unwittingly fall a prey to the
machinations of self-proclaimed agnostics and decry all Hindu religious
practices. Such people really don’t know what they are running down and
ridiculing, much less what they stand to gain by earnestly observing those
rituals and ceremonies. Any attempt to remedy this situation should strike at
the roots. “Temples should impart sound
knowledge about these rituals and ceremonies and their rationale, and clearly
explain the meaning of various mantras chanted on the occasion, their
significance, etc. Language should not be a barrier since Sanskrit usages can
be properly and accurately rendered into English or any other language familiar
to the seeker. One should come out from the cloister and educate the
seekers properly. And in doing so, it is essential to link the performance and
the objectives of the hoary rituals and practices to the theories and
principles of modern science so as to render them logical and intelligible to
the modern man. The seemingly wide gap between old-world postulates and recent
directives should be narrowed down or eliminated so as to prevent doubters
raising irrelevant queries and issues. The knowledge imparted should be perfect
and unambiguous. No doubt, a clear presentation of the Dharma will appeal to
the Hindus as well as non-Hindus, all alike, because basically Hinduism
contemplates an ideal, all-inclusive way of life for mankind and not a set of
unverifiable doctrines and dogmas, and unalterable religious edicts for a
section of them. With a view to drive home this aspect of our Dharma it would
be advisable to hold effective interactive sessions with the followers of other
faiths as well. But before attempting such a step the Hindus themselves must be
adequately equipped. Hence it is essential that they should be well-informed
and adequately trained. Temples of yore used to render yeomen service in this
regard. There is no reason why those of the present day also can’t achieve
similar results. Instruction calls for
capable instructors and the temples cannot afford to ignore this aspect.”--Swami Jyotirmayannda
--February 4, 2018
ROLE OF HINDU
AMERICAN TEMPLES --II
The special role
temples can adopt overseas in initiating “inter-faith” dialogs with people of
the Abrahamic faiths
Another
special role, which the temples can adopt overseas, is in initiating “inter-faith”
dialogues with people of the Abrahamic faiths, just as the latter do in the
Western countries. In recent years, Churches and Mosques have initiated
interfaith meetings, often with an ulterior motive of identifying future
prospects for possible conversion to their own faiths. While the Acharyas of
our traditions have no mental reservations about attending such meetings in
churches or mosques or any place of worship, it is not often easy for people of Abrahamic faiths to
visit our temples. They often have mental blocks about our places of
worship because of the behavioral and intellectual conditioning that they have
had through their Western education, their parents and their religious
teachers, about religions originating from the Hindu traditions. It is here
that the religious traditions arising from Sanatana Dharma have greater
advantage over the Abrahamic faiths since our traditions are devoid of such
inhibitions and confer no special virtue on those who attract others to our
spiritual traditions. No doubt, we also welcome those who want to earnestly explore
our paths to self-knowledge. By ourselves initiating a monthly or
quarterly inter-faith dialogue sessions within the portals of our temples,
we can perhaps dispel many misconceptions, which are spread by the adherents of
Abrahamic faiths about our forms of worship and our religious traditions. We
can also thus be effective communicators with our neighbors who are of the
Abrahamic faiths.
[Hindu
migrants choosing their partner from Abrahamic faiths is ever on the increase
and their children are confused with no guidance either to turn
atheist or so called SBNR. To them Sanatanma Dharma has universal appeal]
Modern man
should develop a rational and scientific understanding of the use of temples-
In this context,
it is worthwhile to quote here a few lines from the book, “Power in Temples --
A Modern Perspective”(www.integralbooks.com) “Modern man should develop a rational and scientific
understanding of the use of temples in refining his spiritual, mental and
physical
life. It is in the absence of such understanding that these institutions evolved by the sages to elevate man have often degenerated into centers of priest-craft and empty ritualism or business centers. A priest who just parrot-like recites some Sanskrit verses without any understanding of their content steeps himself and others in ignorance. About people who just repeat scholastic lines to impress the gullible without knowing their inner significance, the Rig-Veda says, ‘Such people are like those who tend sterile cows feigning that they are tending milk cows.’ Rituals are meant to discipline the mind, to refine it and tune it to the higher facts. They give a sublime, artistic quality to worship. To that extent they are desirable. But when they are given more importance than the human factor itself, making them an end, they degenerate into empty ritualism. “The priests should be well trained and well paid. Are we not paying psychiatrists a big sum even for a single consultation?
life. It is in the absence of such understanding that these institutions evolved by the sages to elevate man have often degenerated into centers of priest-craft and empty ritualism or business centers. A priest who just parrot-like recites some Sanskrit verses without any understanding of their content steeps himself and others in ignorance. About people who just repeat scholastic lines to impress the gullible without knowing their inner significance, the Rig-Veda says, ‘Such people are like those who tend sterile cows feigning that they are tending milk cows.’ Rituals are meant to discipline the mind, to refine it and tune it to the higher facts. They give a sublime, artistic quality to worship. To that extent they are desirable. But when they are given more importance than the human factor itself, making them an end, they degenerate into empty ritualism. “The priests should be well trained and well paid. Are we not paying psychiatrists a big sum even for a single consultation?
Then why
should we hesitate to provide a decent livelihood to priests and others who
serve in temples, which help maintain the inner health of the society? On their
part, the priests should equip themselves with modern education and
specialization in ancient knowledge. They should be able to give spiritual
solace to people and give them guidance. “All those who are to be employed in
temples should be carefully selected, for they should have special cultural
ability to serve. They should reflect brightness, love and divine grace,
which are the fundamental characteristics of the atmosphere in a temple. “Those
who do not have a philosophical bent of mind and faith in the greatness of
their duty are unfit to be employed in temples. The vital purpose of the temple
will be defeated if it is managed by the narrow-minded and the ignorant.
“As one
spiritually advances, naturally the rituals become less important. Over-emphasis
on ritualism is unhealthy. Medicine helps cure illness, but its overdose
causes injury and if continued even after the cure, the same medicine may
create further complications. Everything has to be examined and accepted with a
balanced frame of mind. Blind acceptance and blind rejection are both
irrational.”
Sri
Ramakrishna highlights the great significance of temples thus: ‘Know that there
must be manifestation of God in places where countless people have practiced
austerity. From time immemorial numerous devotees and men of realization have
come to these holy places to have a vision of Ishwara. Therefore, Ishwara
though equally present everywhere, manifests in temples in the same way as
water though can be found anywhere by digging the ground, it is certain that
one can find water more easily at the site of a tank or a lake’. So, let us maintain
temples as a Spiritual Dynamo that bestows solace and strength to one and all—Swami Jyottirmayananda
--February 3, 2018
LET US CELEBRATE RAMANUJA'S MILLENNIUM WITH OPEN
MIND
We often hear about
the contradicting views of Trinity Acharyas Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhva and
how each is superior to the other two. This is because we view them with
our Sectarian Traditions and try to establish how our tradition is Superior to
others. All these controversies will not arise if we think of Devo
Ekah. All Vedas started with “Harih OM” if you have studied Vedas are
listened to our priests. Also “Sada pasynti Soorya…..tad vishnor paramam
padam”. Hari and Narayana both mean Deliverer of Mankind who is Vishnu one
who is all pervading whether on earth or heaven. Deva is thus not only
deliverer of Mankind but even Devatas like Indra when they err. He is Rudra “Rutaat
trayate iti” one who delivers us from Samsara. That is what Satarudram is!
Puranas carved out Trinities out of them and sculptors created a three
faced God. Its worship did not become popular and it remains in museum or
Elephanta caves! We also ignored the focus on creative aspect of Deva in our
temple worship. Trinity Acharyas should all be venerated as progressive
thinkers. They made us understand our scriptures better as explained
below. But we stick to our sectarian views. Nashville will be celebrating
Millennium of Ramnuja. You may not find a Saiva speaker there! Many Saivites
will not be interested to participate in the celebration thinking Ramanuja is a
promoter of sectarian Vaishnavism and is the Guru of Vaishnavas and
will be busy with Ganesha worship. Ramanuja is not the founder of
Vaishnavism. It is a product of Bhagavata Devotional School. It existed long
before Ramanuja was born. What the Trinity Acharyas preached was Vishnu
Darsan or Vishnu Tattava which is Para Tattva that is Brahma Tattva—Narayanam
Parabrahma tattvam Narayanah Parah. Please attend the seminar to learn
more about it and broaden your vision if you are in Nashville.
Please refer to Mantra 8-3-5 of Chandogya
Upanishad;
Sat tad amritam; ti tanmartyam; yam tenobhe
yacchati
Sat=immortal; thi=mortal and yam=by that both
these are regulated
Again Taittareeya Upanishad says:
Sathyam Jnaanam
Anantam Brahma. Shvetavtara and Bhagvad Gita clearly say Jivatma and Parmatma
are different entities (mamivamaso jivabhootah sanatanah). While
Jivatma and Parmatma are both sat-chit-ananda Parmatman is
sat-chit -ananda+ that is Sathyam Jnaanam Anantam Amalam.
Ganesha is worshipped as sat--chit -ananda vigrahaya Namah. I therefore
feel all devatas are sat-chit-ananda, DEVA is Sathyam Jnaanm
Anantam Amalam Brahma. DEVO EKAH. Unfortunately Deva and
Devatas are confused in our scriptures. Also Gita says “Yanti
devavratan devan piturn yanti pituvratah-- mamekam” here this reference to
deva is to Devatas and not Parabrhaman. Mamekam rwefers to Brahaman.
No doubt
Sankara explained well scriptures as no one has done but later
Ramnuja and Madhva came with even better explanation of
Upanishads. Even devatas make mistakes but realize them as Sankara did standing
before Visvanatha and came with a VishNu Tattva in
Bhajagovindam and Atmabhoda.
Here is an example quoted from my discourse Life
of RAMANUJA:
"While
he was on his wanderings, it is believed that the Lord himself appeared
before him at Tiruk Kurum Kudi disguised as a Srivaishnava, got Samasrayanam
(Sanctification with Conch and Disc) from Udaiyavar.
When he visited Sarasvati Peetam, Goddess Saraswati was so impressed with his
commentary on Brahma Sutram that she named it "Sri Bhashyam"
and conferred on him the title of "Bhashyakaarar". She
was overwhelmed with his explanation of the Chandogya passage “kapyaasam
pundareekam eva akshinee” to mean as a full blown Lotus which is
bloomed by the rays of the Sun which Sankara explained as hinder parts of a
monkey. It must be noted that while the other commentaries are known by
the names of their authors like 'Sankara Bashyam' written by Aadhi
Sankara, the commentary of Ramanuja is always referred to with the
venerable honorific 'Sri' denoting its unsurpassed quality and clarity
and known as ' Sri Bashyam'. All these showed Ramanuja
was in direct touch with God."
Please think of such progressive thinking by
Ramanuja and Madhva. It is Sankara that inspired these to make further study
and but for Sankara we would not have opened our vision to further thinking by
Ramanuja and Madhava.
Comments:
Thank
you very much for the explanations about Ramanuja—Dr. Narayan Bhat
--February 3, 2018
DID VISHNU TATTVA AND GURUSEVA OF RAMANUJA INFLUENCE GURU NANAK TO
FIND SIKHISM?
Guru Nanak was born was born on 15 April 1469 long after the Trinities
Madhva being the latest. By that time Hinduism was greatly influenced by the Vishnu
Darsan (tattva) and Guru Bhakti motivated mainly by the teachings of
Ramanuja. Guru Nanak founded Sikhism solely based on Sathya Vachan
and Guru Tradition. Historic evidences show that
he started his new religion greatly influenced by Ramanuja.. Sathya
stands for VishNu that is NarayaNa that is Parabrahman. Please recall here the
sloka i explained in my lecture BHirth and Descent of Ramanuja:
Chaitraadram-sambhavam Vishnor-darsana-sthaapanotsukam |
tundaree-mandale seshamoortim Ramanujam bhaje—Divyasuristotram -16
I worship Bhagvan Sri Ramanuja, the incarnation of Ananta,
who took birth in the month of Chaitra (April-May) under the sixth lunar
mansion in Tundareedesa to establish the philosophy of Vishnu. (Vishnu
Darsanam)
Guru Nanak followed the philosophy of Vaishnavism and “Acharya
devo bhava” as can be gathered from the information provided by
IndiaDivine.Org:
“The contentious painting, executed by a Pahari painter in the
mid-19th century (whose name, as often in folk art, remains unknown), shows a
topi-wearing Guru Nanak praying to Lord Vishnu. The Board took the
Sikh-separatist line that that Sikhism has nothing to do with Hinduism, and
that the Gurus are above the “Brahminical” gods. It is the same line that keeps
the Sikh establishment from calling their central shrine, the Hari Mandir (“Vishnu
temple”), by its proper name, hiding it behind the superficial designation
“Golden Temple” or the Moghul term “Darbar Sahib”. It is also why
in 1922 they threw out from the Hari Mandir the murti-s that had been worshiped
there er since Arjan Dev inaugurated it in 1604. Sikh identity as a separate
religion, rather than as one of the many panth-s in the Hindu
commonwealth is based on a denial of history, and this requires a constant
censoring of unwilling historical data: names changed, scriptures doctored,
murti-s thrown away, the publication of a painting suppressed.”
K.C. Aryan donated the painting in ca. 1982 to the Himachal
State Museum in Shimla. There, it is significantly not on display but kept in
storage. That is, if it has not been lost or illegally sold by some babu
unconcerned with art and heritage; or somehow eliminated by one with Khalistani
leanings eager to destroy the evidence for an inconvenient fact: that Guru
Nanak was every inch a Hindu”.
You are all
familiar that Sikhs greet each other with the words “Sat Sri Akal”
Sat
is derived from the Sanskrit word "Satya" and means "Truth or
Real". Sri (or Shri or Shree), an honorific word, is of Sanskrit origin
used as a form of respect or veneration of the Almighty. Akaal or Akal [A+Kaal=
The One beyond time] is one of the many names used for "the timeless
being, God". Thus, the phrase means "Venerated Almighty is the
Ultimate Truth.
Sat
Sri Akal
is a Jaikara or Call of Victory now used, often, as a greeting by the
followers of Sikhism. It is the second half of the Sikh Clarion call, given by
the Tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh " Bole So Nihal Sat Sri
Akal", one will be blessed eternally who says that God is the ultimate
truth.
In Ramanuja
Philosophy Sat stands for NarayaNa or VisahNu; Sri stands for his
power Lakshmi; and Akal stands for timeless or eternal. You can thus see how
Sikhism is based on Vishnu Tattva and Guru Bhakti.
--February 1, 2018
ROLE OF HINDU AMERICAN
TEMPLES –I
Hindus can and should Educate the Hindu masses in temple-
Prof. G.
C. Asnani www.hinduvoice.net) says,
‘Hindus can and should educate and guide the Hindu masses in temples’. He has a
few points for consideration: “All Hindus go to a temple every day or worship
Ishwara in a corner of their house. Temple is a very natural and common place
for Hindus coming together. It is a very relevant suggestion that temples
should be used for strengthening Hindu society. All other religious communities
in the world get guidance from their religious places – Christians from a
Church on Sundays, Muslims from a Mosque on Fridays, etc.’ We Hindus can, and
should, educate and guide the Hindu masses in temples at least once in a week
on a suitable day (perhaps Sunday) of a week, when people are relatively free
from their daily routine work. “The Chief of the Hindu Temple or some other
knowledgeable person with the permission of the temple authorities should
devote a part of his religious sermon time, say 15 minutes out of one hour,
highlighting the fact that Hindu Dharma has come under great danger as some
concerted efforts are taking place to remove Hindu Dharma from Hindustan, in
several ways including in the guise of the so-called secularism (which is in
fact rabidly anti-Hinduism), it is the duty of persons in charge of a Hindu
Temple to make efforts to protect Hindu Dharma. Normally, a Hindu religious
teacher avoids this topic, claiming that he is not involved in
politics.
It is a
sad irony that the Hindu Temples in India are under Government control; vide
“Government Control of Hindu Temples in India -- A Blatant Violation of
Secularism & Religious Freedom” (http://tinyurl.com/547xea). As rightly pointed out by Swami Dayananda Sarasvati, the
Government Control is robbing the Hindu Temples of their cultural &
religious vitality: “In India one of the key challenges Hindus face is
Governmental control of and interference in the management of temples, which is
robbing temples of their cultural and religious vitality. The funds contributed
by ordinary Hindus out of their simple religious devotion are being diverted by
the Governments for various purposes, without the consent and knowledge of the
donors. The temples themselves are being deprived of funds for their upkeep and
maintenance. Services to devotees and pilgrims, who often travel long
distances, are suffering. The arts and culture promoted by temples are on the
decline. Some of the money is also being used for anti-Hindu activities. We
wish to urge Hindus all over the world to educate themselves on this crucial
issue that affects their religious freedom, and to act to
correct this
situation.” (http://tinyurl.com/2mpe4k). Evidently Hindu temples of India controlled by government
cannot be our role models!
The valuable
roles that temples can play in the ethos of the Hindu community
It is time to
give special attention to remove the dross that has gathered around the Hindu
traditions through the ages. It is these superficialities which the vested
interests highlight to obscure the valuable roles that temples can play in the
ethos of the Hindu community. The temples, religious institutions and cultural
organizations can be effectively made to become the focal points for
inculcation of awareness of the cultural traditions for the new generation. For
this, first of all we have to clear the many misconceptions about temple
worship amidst our youth. They should be adequately informed about the
well-coordinated science evolved by the rishis of India based on subtle facts
of evolution of the universe, the interconnections in the human life, universe
and the Ultimate Reality. Once the new generation is educated about these
facts, they will discard the misconceptions that they may have acquired from
the false propaganda against our spiritual traditions. Once that is accomplished,
the Hindu youngsters will themselves become the best ambassadors of their
cultural heritage. Weekly and monthly classes on Sundays (to take
advantage of the weekly holidays) can be held in temples intended for the new
generation. Factual information about the intellectual and
spiritual explorations which have taken place from ancient times, traditional
arts and sciences of Hindus should be in the syllabi for such instructional
sessions. In the beginning, most of our youth may not understand the information
thus imparted from the viewpoint of the traditional logic of Hindu ancient
methods of learning because of their mental conditioning by the West oriented
scientific logic. However such efforts if undertaken by the Acharyas with a
special talent for teaching, it is possible to remove all such
impediments. Temples can and should establish suitable environments for
discussing and exploring various aspects of the concepts of Dharma and its
relevance to everyday life. The temples should be maintained with utmost
care for cleanliness and order. They should function as centers of solace and
wisdom in every respect. The priests should be well trained, should have
modern education, should be well-versed in traditional knowledge, be
service-oriented and well-paid. They should at least have a modicum of
knowledge of the Abrahamic faiths so that they can converse with inquiring
Westerners who come to our temples. There is much virtue and value if a
practicing Hindu can share his or her own insight of Sanatana Dharma with a
Westerner just as the latter will often share his or her tradition with a
Hindu walking into a church or a mosque.--Swami jyotirmayananda
--January
31, 2018
MILLENNIUM
CELEBRATION OF RAMANUJACHARYA IN NASHVILLE
I
have pleasure in bringing to your notice the announcement by Sri Ganesaha
Temple celebrating the millennium of Saint Ramanuja. In this context Hindu
Reflections has posted five Commemoration Lectures as detailed below.
These are posted on the Blog <nrsrini.blogspot.com> for your reading as
well as downloading. Your comments and suggestions are welcome.
Saint Ramanuja Acharya was a Hindu
theologian,philosopher and one of the most important exponents ofthe Vaishnavism tradition within Hinduism. He wasalso
the single most influential thinker of devotional School of Hinduism. He was born in Sriperumbadur, Tamil Nadu. He lived the unusually long life of 120 years (two cycles of Hindu Calendar Years), from 1017 to 1137 C.E. Sri Ramanuja Acharya’s 1000th birthday was
celebrated grandly
across the world and in India last year. India released Rs. 25 commemorative
stamp in New Delhi in his honor. The "Statue of
Equality", a
216-foot-high
metallic statue has been commemorated on the 1000th birth anniversary of the philosopher-saint. Ramanuja never entertained any caste
distinctions and
was conferring his
benedictions for everyone.
The Advaita system
evolved by Sankara and
Vishishtadvaita
system propounded by Sri Ramanuja are of considerable antiquity and popularity.
--January 30, 2018
THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE OF TEMPLES & RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS IN
USA
“The Mandirs have to play a
significant role in the growth of the Hindu community in terms of its capacity
to uphold Hindu Dharma.” -- SWAMI DAYANANDA SARASWATI (www.arshavidya.org)
“We need to make
temples not just a center of rituals and congregation but lighthouses of
philosophy and knowledge, which are the basis of Hindu Dharma.” -- SRI SRI RAVI
SHANKAR
“Creating an environment (www.artofliving.org)where the youth
understand, appreciate and love their Hindu culture is a crucial need today, as
is uniting all Hindu temples under one umbrella.” -- SWAMI CHIDANANDA SARASWATI
(www.parmarth.com)
In recent times there
has been much interest in an intensive study of different aspects of Hindu
Dharma the world over. Scholars of modern times are examining from various
angles several aspects of temple worship such as its rationale, significance,
and the role of temples in social context. In a series of E-mails I
would like to bring to your specific attention the special study made by
Swami Jyortirmayananda on Vital topics that are of interest to migrant Hindus
in USA though I had circulated the whole text of general interest to all
global Hindus in general and Hindus in India Particular. I received no
feedback earlier since it was too long and you were all too busy. and that
might have missed your attention too! They will be released in installments in
order not to miss your attention. It is of vital interest to Hindu Americans.,
particularly those who manage temples financially with all sound fanfare
but not spiritually., if they wish Hinduism to survive on American soil after
we have gone! Let us not face the same fate as European Culture that vanished
in USA.We need to promote Hindu Dharma culture and not Hinduism as
prActiced in India with sectarian traditions. Let us hear to our enlightened spiritual
Gurus who have studied our needs!
--January 28, 2018
IS VISHNU SAHASRANAMA A SLOKA (VSn) OR Narayana
Mantra FOR MEDITATION?
Who is the God in the orb of the Sun? He is Samvatsara or
Kalapurusha, custodian of times of all the 360 days in a year (samvatsarah
purushah bhootaanaam adhipatih-MNU). He is Brahman. “Ambasyapaare
bhuvanasya madhye nakasya prishthe mahato maheeyaan (MNU)”— One who is
greater than the great, resides in the vast ocean (Narayana), in the
atmospheric region and on the surface of the celestial abode. He is Narayana.
He is Vishnu . Rig Veda I.155.6, says “With four times ninety names (chaturbhih
sakam navatim cha namabhih), he (Vishnu) sets in motion moving forces like
a turning wheel (chakra).” This suggests that even in Vedic times Vishnu had
360 names or forms, one for each degree of the zodiacs like a turning wheel
(chakra).” And that Vishnu is Brahman and that is Narayana with 360
names.
Narayana is Parabrahman according to Ramanuja. The
words Narayana and SATHYAM appear in VSN. Sathyam is an
exclusive term used to Parabrahman and well defined in Chandogya Upanishasd as
a principle that regulates both Mortals and Immortals (Sat+thi+yam). VSN is
therefore the endless attributes of Narayana or Paramatman who is
Anantam. VISHNU SAHASRANAMA lists around 1000 names of
Sri Narayana. Who can know all his epithets? While the names
of other deities are common names and therefore could be taken to refer to Sri
Narayana also (in addition to them) there are certain important names that
relate exclusively to Sri Narayana and Sri Narayana only (e.g.) SIVA means
auspicious and SAMBHU means one who grants happiness. These are common to all
right from Sri Narayana to the least of the deities who are believed to be
auspicious and who are believed to shower happiness.
But, NARAYANA is a Proper noun applicable to him only.
Appayya Dikshitar bemoaned that he could not dispute this fact because
according to Sanskrit grammar, when the words “Nara” and “ayana”
are joined, it does not become “Naaraayana” (unlike in other cases) but comes out as “NaaraayaNa” with an emphasis on the last “Na”, and becomes a Proper
noun applicable to the sole and exclusive entity of “Sri VishNu NarayaNa”
(like UttraayaNa and not Uttarayana).
Let us see just a few of these:
(I) NARAYANA is the deliverer of Mankind: This word is derived in
two ways:
Naraanam + Ayanam =Narayanah (i.e.) the one who is the ultimate
refuge of all beings the support of the host of all souls, and
Naraah + Ayanam + Yasya+ (Sahah) = Narayanah (i.e.) the one for
whom the entire universe consisting of living beings and things constitute his
body.
Whatever object is there in the Universe as seen or heard,
Narayana remains pervading all of them both inside and outside says the Sruti Vakya:
Anthar bahis cha tat sarvam vyaapya narayana smritah
(ii) HARI: The word is derived thus: “Harir Harathi
Paapaani” (i.e.) one who takes away sins. Only when sins are removed that a
jiva can attain Moksha and it is only Sriman Narayana who can do this- Not
Brahma, Not Siva, Not Indra or any other deities.
All Vedas start with the words “Harih Om”
This mantra from Taittariya
Aranyaka III.15.1 also reveals VishNu or Hari is Parabrahman:
Harih harantamanuyanti devaa visvasyesaanam vrishbham mateenaam ||
Like servants Gods follow Hari who is
the Lord of the universe, who leads all thoughts as the foremost leader and who
absorbs into himself the universe at the time of dissolution.
Adhi Sankaracharya in his commentary on the Kali
Santarana Upanishad (2.1) says:
"That which takes away ignorance and its effect is
'Hari'; the remover who destroys the belief that things can exist in them apart
from Hari. Hari, the remover is the remover of sorrows, the giver of
consolation"
(iii)VISHNU: 'Vis" to enter, to pervade and 'nu' Naturally
(i.e.) one who pervades naturally. There is no object moving or non-moving, which
can exist without me, says Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita (10.39):
Na Tadasthi Vinaa Yath Syaath Mayaa Butham Chara Acharam ||
The roots 'VIS' and 'VISH' mean 'to spread in all directions'
(ref: Visanti = enter) while the root 'VIS' also means 'surround ' (ref:
vivesti) all meaning' all pervading'. It is the centripetal force
that holds the universe together, the basis of all light, matter and life (vide
Brihad Devata 2.69) as the inner cohesion through which everything exists,
Vishnu dwells in everything and owns everything and according to Mahaabhaarata
(5.70.13)
"He is VISHNU because he overcomes all. He is the symbol of
perpetual life and therefore the ultimate goal of all temporary beings”.
Sankara wrote on exhaustive commentary on VSN as directed by his
Guru Govindpaadaachrya, his first ever commentary. I wonder why
Satarudram and Chamakam though in Vedas was not chosen?
Perhaps VSN was nothing but several epithets of Parabrahman who is Ananta,
whose author was Vedavyasa. Vedvyasa also started writing Mahabharata
paying obeisance to Narayana and also closed it similarly. Though it is called
1000 names it contains 1031 names in which 2 are repeated four
times 74 are repeated twice, and 14 thrice but not Narayana. VSN
does not have the introductory slokas or Phalasrutis as we chant today, in
Shanti Parva. IT begins with “Visvam Vishnu” and ends with “Vasudevobhi
rakshatu”
Please recall my recent E-mail that a pilot research
findings of The Department of Physiology, Pondicherry, International
Stress Management Association, Hyderabad, Department of Physiology, Little
Flower Medical Research Center, Kerala revealed, depression, anxiety,
stress and cortisol were significantly decreased and blood
pressure was regulated within normal limits and MMSE scores and spatial
memory was significantly improved followed by regular chanting of Vishnu
Sahasra Nama(VSN) like earlier studies on Vedic Gayatri Manrtra. It
is obvious VSN is also equally effective like Veda Mantras. This makes us
believe VSN is also a mantra, not just Namavali, to focus on Paraabrahman! VSN
is most popular among all Shasranamas often resorted to in Temple and
Home worship for prayer. It is worth chanting it with full understanding of
1000 names as explained by Sankara and others.
--January
28, 2018
TEACHING THE SUBTLE TRUTH
WEBINAR
10 presents “WHAT WAS YAMA’S REPLY to The Challenge of Teaching the Subtlest
Truth” organized by FOWAI
FORUM (INDIA) AND STEP (USA) to be presented
by: Pujya Swāmi Chidānandaji on Sunday, January
28, 2018
Gist
of the Presentation:
Everybody hears the fascinating story of
Nachiketā and Lord Yama, the God of death. Many students are often curious
as to what Yama’s reply to the highly deserving young fellow was. How did he
convey Self-knowledge? What were the pointers he used to express That which
is beyond words? What illustrations and metaphors were employed?
Did he use the approach of “asserting the nature of the Supreme Truth” or that
of “negating what That is not”? Above all, did the divine teacher spell it out
at all? Or did he play with high-sounding words and cleverly evade the central
issue? The webinar will examine the core components of the great “Dialogue
with Death” as found in the Kathopanishad.
Death
is an unpleasant journey if unplanned reaching tough terrains, long and
winding, wandering aimlessly and return
to earth to struggle again to plan better our next trip; or a pleasant
journey for some time to Disneyland and return (Svarga) back and prepare for
the final trip; or a well planned
trip for final landing on a Wonderland (Paramapada) never to return enjoying
perennial joy with OM. If we contact OM with mental concentration called
meditation (divine satellite contact) for help that will provide us GPS (God
prompted Service) taking you through greener pastures with rest and recreation
(Chandraloka etc.) in-between to reach the Wonderland. GPS has different plans
depending on the season we travel —Uttarayana or Dakshinayana on whose dates we
are confused; may be it is OM’s intentional play. May be Om never travels, we travel but Om
can reach us. Sun never travels we
travel but Sun reaches us. We don’t
need Yama an intermediary agency if we directly contact OM!
It is Om, which
neither is born nor ever dies! (mantras 1:2:15, 1:2:18)
[Note: All the webinar videos
are available on YOUTUBE/fowaiforum].
FOWAI
Forum draws our attention to the following mantras from Kathopanisahad. Kathopanishad opens our mind to the secrets
of immortality. It is to be found in purification of the heart, in meditation,
in realization of the identity of the Self within and Brahman without. For
immortality is Union with God. This Upanishad starts with the appiness be with us all!
Om….Peace…..Peace…..Peace!
Sarva vedaa yat
padamaamananti tapaamsai sarvaani cha yad vadanti | Yad icchanto brahmacharyam
charanti tat te padam saangrahena braveemi OM ityetat || 1-2-15 ||
Etad-dhyeva-aksharm
brahma etad–dheyva-aksharam param| ethad-yeva-aksharam jnaatvaa yoe
yad-icchati tasya tat || 1-2-16 ||
Na Jaayate mriyate vaa
vipaschit naayam kutaschit babhoova kaschit | ajo nityah saasvato-ayam puraano
na hanyate hanyamaane sareere ||1-2-18 ||
By
these mantras it is conveyed-- The Brahman(OM) , this self-hidden in all being,
is not revealed to all; but to seers, pure in heart, concentrated in mind—to
them is he revealed. The senses of the wise man obeys his mind, his mind obeys
his intellect, his intellect obeys his ego, and his ego obeys the Self. Soundless, formless, intangible, undying,
tasteless, beyond nature, is the Self. Knowing it as such, one is freed from
death.
I
do not think you need actual translation
or more elaboration on the topic for getting yourself ready to listen to
Swamiji and understand him well within the short time of his lecture on the
deep subject. I draw your attention to my various discourses on Upanishads and
Gita quoting explaining the above mantras. If you have missed them the
following two lectures will help you:
Let us listen to the wisdom thoughts of Swamiji to
understand the subject better!
--January
27, 2018
RAMANUJA
SHATABDI COMMEMORATIVE LECTURES
He
got married and started teaching, but took sanyas when one day his
wife ill-treated one of his students, Kanchipurna, and his wife for being from
a lower caste. He later became the head of the mutt at Srirangam, a famous temple
in Tamil Nadu, where he nominated 74 acharyas to succeed him.
Ramanuja presented a religion of love and redemption
through Bhakti and prayer rather than of knowledge to the common masses at
large. By preaching this universal love of Vishnu, he brought to them such a
God as they were yearning for. By his own compliance Ramanuja set an
example of the conduct of an ideal disciple.
With
approximately 550 million adherents, Vaishnavism is the most prominent faction
within Hinduism today none like in the days of Sankara. In fact, recent statistics suggest that
Vaishnavas make up approximately 70 percent of all Hindus with the vast
majority of these followers situated in India. There is no Hindu who does not
celebrate and enjoy festivals like Rama
Navami, Krishna Jayanti and Deepavali all based on appreciation of Vishnu
(sustenance aspect of Parabrahman) concept. In the past 50 years, the Gaudiya
Vaishnava branch has increased the worldwide distribution of the tradition,
largely through the activities of the ISKCON.
His Sahasrabdi (1000Th Birthday) celebration started last
year and will come to an end on April 22, which is his 1001th Birthday. Hindu
Reflections join all Hindus on the Globe that are celebrating his Millennium
and in that connection takes pleasure in releasing three commemorative lectures
that are posted on the Blog
--January 26, 2018
VASANT PANCHAMI
Today is Vasant Panchami. May Goddess Sarasvati bestow you with knowledge and wisdom! Saras
means flow. When it fills it flows. She
keeps our life filling and flowing intellectually, artistically and
spiritually.
“Allowing the cosmic feminine principle to fully
express itself through all forms of art, without fear or manipulation, is the
essence of true culture.
Saraswati
represents the feminine principle of art and music as the muse, performer and
dancer. Allowing the cosmic feminine principle to fully express itself through
all forms of art, without fear or manipulation, is the essence of true culture.
Honoring
Saraswati today requires that we respect and promote learning, not merely to
pass tests in school or to memorize information, but to allow our lives to
mirror an enduring creative inspiration.
Remembering
Saraswati can help us renew our minds and hearts for a deeper connection to the
cosmic reality, of which our human world, with its transient gains and losses,
is but a shadow.” says David Frawley.
PRAYER TO LORD OF THE UNIVERSE
The Heavenly beauty of God is unsurpassed. The
sages of olden times always perceived his sweetness. He therefore presented
that beauty in the form of Sarasvati ever flowing and filling with her sweet
music emanating from her lute. Their incessant prayers to the Ruler of the
Universe was:
Madhu vaataa ritaayate | madhu
ksharanti sindhavah | maadveer nah santvoshadheeh | madhu naktamutoshasi |
madhumat paarthivam rajah | madhu dyaurastu nah pitaa | madhmaanno vanaspatih |
madhumam astu sooryah | maadhveer gaavo bhavantu nah |
O Thou Lord of the Universe! As the wind blows
showering sweetness, as the ocean and the rivers are emanating sweetness, so
may the paddy and barley spread sweetness over us by growing in abundance; may
the nights and dawns, even the dust particles of the earth be full of
sweetness; may the high and glorious sky like a father shower sweetness over
us; unto us; may the sun radiate sweetness; may all our cows be all sweetness
to us by giving us very sweet milk!
(Taittareeya
Aranyaka)
Let
us worship that God-principle of Sweetness and beauty on this day of Vasant
Panchami heralding the Sweet Season of Vasanta Ritu!
PLEASE
GO THROUGH MY DISCOURSES:
--January 22, 2018
HOW DID RAMANUJA DECIDE PARAMATMAN IS NARAYANA AND BASE
HIS VISHNU TATTVA
It
calls for research on our part on our scriptures as to know why Ramanuja went
into deeper study of our scriptures for proper understanding of Advaita which
means there is no other Principle to Devo Ekah. I have pleasure in
bringing to your knowledge my own deep study with my limited knowledge.
Perhaps you may come even with deeper and better study.
How
did Ramanuja conclude Parmaatman as Narayana and base his philosophy on Vishnu
Tattva? Here he had been guided by the divine message he received from Peria
Nambi who got it direct from Lord Varadraja. The message of Lord
Varadraja to Peria Nambi was:
1.
I
am the absolute Brahman, the cause of Prakriti which is the cause of the
Universe.
- O large-minded one, the distinction between Jiva and Isvara is axiomatic.
- Self-surrender (at the lotus feet of Parabrahman) is the only way of liberation for hose who strive after the final beatitude.
- The liberation of My devotees, even though they fail to remember Me at the last moment of their life, is sure to take place.
- As soon as My devotees give up their bodies, they attain the Supreme Object.
- Take refuge in Mahatma Mahapurna who is endowed with all virtues. Go soon to Ramanuja and tell him what I have told you. (Prapannamritam x 66, 67, 68, 69)
Guided
by the above divine message Ranmanuja studied Brahmasutras of Vedavyasa
that he got from Kashmir, Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas and Bhagavad Gita
and then came to the above conclusion. Since he was a Smarta like Sankara
and also a renowned scholar in Advaita Philosophy studied under the
famous Guru Yadavaprakasa. He should have been very much influenced by
Bhajagovindam which was the last composition of Sankaracharya as this text had
been completed by two of his successors. Unlike their contemporaries who had
sectarian views both Ramanuja and Sankara were broad minded.
I do not know whether Ramanuja has made any specific reference to the
scriptural texts I have cited below but from my own general reading they are
quite substantial and authoritative. Also I have not also quoted
all references I had given in my discourse on The Self and The Supreme that are
voluminous. I also strongly believe that I do not owe further explanation as
these quotes from our scriptures and their explanation are self-explanatory.
Adi
Sankara declared in unequivocal terms what is to be chanted and what is to be
meditated upon always ‑ it is Bhagavad Gita that should be chanted and it is
the divine form of the consort of Lakshmi that should be constantly meditated
upon:
“GEyam
Gitaa naama sahasram; DhyEyam Sripathi Roopamajasram" Bhaja
Govinda--27
Sankara
further says that this is the way to achieve what he calls "Vishnutvam"
(ultimate self) because Vishnu is the only reality that is 'within you, within
me and elsewhere.
Tvayi
Mayi Sarvatra EkO Vishnuh" and Sama chittah Sarvatra Tvam vaanchasya
chiraat yadi 'vishnutvam--Bhaja.Govindam.
Verses 24 and 25.
This
is because he was a great Scholar who knew what he was saying and said it
candidly without any bias or prejudice
Vedavyasa
is the editor, author and compiler of all Puranas. He is also a minor
avatar of Vishnu. All the four Vedas compiled by him start with “Hari Om”
1. Harih
Om! AgnimeeLE purohitam! yagjnasya dEvam ritvijam hOtaram ratna
dhatamam! Harih Om! (Rig VBeda)
2.
Harih Om! Eeshetva urjetva! vaayavastha upaayavastha Devovah
savita! Prarpayatu sreshta tamaya karmaNe! Harih Om! (Yajur Veda)
3.
Harih Om! Agna ayaahi veetaye! GriNano havya dhaathaye! Nihotaa
satsi Barhishi! Harih Om!(Samaveda)
4. Harih Om!
SannO deveer abeeshTaye! Apo bavantu Peethay Samyor abhisravanthu nah!
Harih Om! (Athrva Veda)
In our 16-step
worship we always chant the Rigveda Mantra:
Tad Vishnoh
Paramam Padam Sadaa Pasyanti Soorayah Diveeva Chakshur-aathatham / Tad
Vipraaso Vipanyavo Jagruvaamsa Samindate / Vishnor yad Paramam Padam //
The Nityasuris (Liberated souls) with
eyes wide open enjoy Lord Vishnu's divine form happily. These great and wise
Nityasuris are also proficient in praising the Lord endowed with supreme
knowledge they are ever vigilant"
Rigveda
also states--From Narayana was born Brahma; From Narayana was born Rudra--
Narayanaat
Brahma JaayatE / Narayanaat RudrO JaayatE
Purushasooktam from Yajurveda
Taitaareeya Aranyakam says that Paramatma is the one who has Mother
Earth and Mother Mahalakshmi as his consorts. This is applicable only to Lord
Narayana.
Hrees
cha Te Lakshmis Cha Patnyou"
Ramayana
Epic
Ramayana advocates worship of Vishnu only as Rishabha and Jagannatha and not
Rudra, Durga and Navagrahas as some think. There is no mention of these deities
other than Vishnu in Valmiki Ramayana.
Rama
in his parting advice to Vibhishana advises him to do Jagannatha Aradhana
in Uttara Kanda as follows: In Sarga 108, Slokas 30-31 he said to
Vibhishana: “Rakshasendra Mahaa bala! Aaraadhaya Jagannaatham
Ikshvaaku Kuladaivatam | Aaraadhaneeyamanisam devairapi savaasavaih ||”—O
mighty Rakshasa King! Worship Lord Jagannatha the presiding deity of Ikshvaaku
dynasty. He (Vishnu) is to be worshiped even by the Devas (divines)
together with Indra”.
Valmiki
says in the last chapter of Uttara Khanda Sloka 10 : “Ayodhyaapi
Puree ramyaa soonyaa varshaganaan bahoon| Rishabham praapya Rajaqnam
nivaasamupaayaasyati || The beautiful Ayodhya remaining desolate for
long years, will become habitable again having secured the protection of King
Rishabha. Rishabha is an incarnation of Vishnu acceptable to both Jains and
Hindus. Rishabha was the first Teerthankara.
Vedavyasa is
also the author of Mahaabhaarata and
17 other Puranas:
He
begins the epic Mahabharat with an invocation first and foremost only to
SRI NARAYANA (which we usually sing in the introductory portion of
Vishrusahasranama) thus:
Narayanam
Namaskritya
naram chaiva narottamam | Deveem Sarasvatim vaacham tatho jayam
udhirayeth
And,
he concludes the epic with the Sloka that says that ONLY SRI NARAYANA should be
meditated upon ALWAYS. Why because Narayana is Paramatman.
To
dispel any doubts as to the statement being a superficial conjecture, he
affirms with all the force at his command that only after making a thorough
research of all the Saastras and only after great deliberation and discussions
with knowledgeable persons that he had arrived at this unassailable and
irrefutable conclusion thus:
Aalodya
sarva saastrani vichaarya cha punar punah | Idamekam sunishpannam Dhyeyo narayanas
sadaa ||
Mahabharata
says at the time of deluge, everything disappears but there is only one that
remains‑ -the one that is the ATMA of all Atmas and that is Sri NARAYANA thus:
Aabutha
samplavE praaptE pralinE prakritou mahaan | Ekah thishtathi visvaatma sa thu
narayana prabhu (Shanti Parva 210.24)
Esha
Daatha Vidhaata Cha SarvEshaam PraaNinaam Prabhu Param Hi Pundarikaakshath
Na Bhutam Na Bhavishyat (Mahabharata
Bhisma Parva 67-18)
VASUDEVA
is the greatest Soul; He is the supreme; He is the God of all Gods. There is
none greater than him. He is the creator of all beings; the one who decides
their destiny. There was not nor ever will be any God higher than VASUDEVA,
PUNDARIKAKSHA (another name of Lord Narayana)
MAHA
BHARATA (Saanti Parva 355.41) and DAKSHASMRITI explain how all performances in
accordance with Saastras reach Sri Vishnu:
Rites
performed as prescribed in the Saastras invoking the Manes, Divinities,
Brahmins or the Fire God‑ all these performances reach ONLY Lord Vishnu
since he is the indweller of all these entities. (Visnu is called Yajanpurusha)
Ye
Bhajanti (Yajanti) Pitroon Devaan Brahmanaan Sa Hutasanath | Sarva Bhuta Antar
Aatmaanam VishnumEva Bhajanti (Yajanti) te ||
In
MAHABHARATA Sage Vyaasa says:
"Brahma,
Nilakanta (Siva), Indra and other devatas are not worshiped by the discreet
because they can grant only trivial, temporary worldly benefits and definitely
not Moksha‑ that can be granted only by Sri Narayana.
Brahmam
sithikanTam cha yaascha anyaahh devata smrutah | Prati buddhah Na SEvantE
yasmaat parimitham phalam || (Saanti Parva350.36)
DATES OF IMPORTANT HISTORIC EVENTS DEEPLY
HIDDEN IN OUR SCRIPTURES
Buddha,
the founder of Buddhism, thought to have lived in India from 563 B.C. to 483
B.C. The Buddhist tradition that celebrates his birthday on April 8
places his birth in the 11th century B.C., and it was not until the modern era
that scholars determined that he was more likely born in the sixth century
B.C., and possibly in May rather than April. Sankara is believed to have lived
for 32 years from 509–477 BCE. This dating, is based on records of the heads of
the Shankara's cardinal institutions Maṭhas at Dvarak Peetha the Govardhan
Matha and the Badri & the Kanchi Peetham. This conforms to the
chronology calculated based on the Hindu Puranas. The traditional hagiographies
of Rāmānuja place his life to the period of 1017–1137 CE, yielding
a lifespan of 120 years. These dates have been questioned by modern
WESTERN scholarship, based on temple records and regional literature of 11th-
and 12th-century outside the Sri Vaishnava tradition, and modern era
scholars suggest that Rāmānuja may have lived between1077-1157. You know
very well the sectarian rivalries in those days which had instigated them
to cleverly manipulate things and also insert them in later Puranas.
Based
on logic the events that took place in shaking Hinduism for a Renaissance by
Ramanuja it is reasonable to believe that Buddha was born in 11Th
century BCE, Sankara in the sixth century BCE (as confirmed by the learned
Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati) and Ramanuja was born in 1017 and died in 1137.
Knowing that Indian History has been often meddled with Western Scholars with
ulterior motives and hired by the foreign rulers, is it worth relaying on
modern history written by Westerners as well as Western educated historians?
Further Westerners had no knowledge how Vedas and Puranas had hidden important
dates in mantras and slokas. Look at the Veda Mantra: Chatvari sringa trayo asya pada dve sirse sapta hastaso
asya, Rigveda IV.58.3.” This means
Brahman has Four horns, three feet, two heads and seven hands. This
only suggests Brahman is Kaalapurusha or Time, symbolizing the Yuga
number or cosmic age of 4,320,000,000 years which is one Kalpa. (mein
SAMAY hoon) We are now in Svetavaraha Kalpa. The mantra suggests only the
numbers in order 4, 3, 2 and seven zeros but we must
understand the true depth of the riddle language of Vedas which is
not easy.
The Historians say Vedas are only 6000 or 7000
years old. Our scirpture and even our Sankalpas made during worships distinctly
say when this Manvantara started!
As
Ramanuja’s birth caused destruction of evil mindedness and brought about an
efflorescence of right understanding in men, scholars ascertain his year of
birth with the help of the word ”dhirladha” which literally means
knowledge has been attained. In accordance with the rule ankasya vama
gatih--figures have to be valued from right to left. The word dhirladha
presents 3 Main letters, dh, l, and dh. dh=7 and l=3. So
dhi(7)rla(3)dha (9) reveals 939. So his birth took place in Saka era of 939 or
4118 of Kali era or 1017 Christian era. Tradition has it that during his
passing away all who were there heard a celestial voice say, ”dharmo
nashtah” which means that “Dharma which has been embodied itself is
now removed from the sight of people”. In accordance with the rule “ankasysa
vama gatih” words “’dha(9)rm(5)o na(0)shta(1)h” indicate
figures 1059 which is Saka era corresponding to 1017 of Christian era. I
have also talked about mystery contained in Hanuman Chalisa of Sant
Tulasidas.
You
can thus see how ingeniously our spiritual scholars have preserved historic
records that could be easily remembered in slokas and mantras and also cannot
be easily tampered with. They left it to the ingenuity of later scholars to
unfold them and use. David Frawley stresses the importance of research on historic
dates and events hidden in our scriptures in revising and restoring
the past history, giving such examples, as it is not worth
depending on past history based on manipulations from time to
time by vesed interests and mischief mongers.
The
present Shasrabdi celebration of Ramanuja is based on his birth date on
which all agree. His birth day is also his anniversary day according to
religious Pundits. Only Western Historians disagree with his year of birt
h and demise due to some foul play by sectarian interests but not date
and month. No such celebration based on scriptural date of birth of
Sankara seems to have been taken place as his scriptural date is based on
the recent research work of various Sankar Maths. It is also doubtful
whether his Sahasrabdi based on modern history will be celebrated at all
in the future? In this context Madhva Navami and Madhva Jayanti dates are
agreed by all. All these are not for the present generation to worry
about! At the same time we should not forget these great souls and
their contributions and honor them every year. The ideal period to honor all
these saints will be Vaisakha Suklapaksha. It is not possible to honor all
saints individually that are too many and whose contributions to Hinduism are matchless.
Basavesvara was born on Vaisakha Sukla Thriteeya, Sankara on
Panchami and Ramanuja on Tiruvadirai in Vaisakah Suklapaksha Week., all within
the same week! It will be a great idea to dedicate first week of Vaisakha
Suklapaksha in our temples as Special worship Day to honor all
philosophers, monks and monasteries like Presidents’ week in USA. USA has
become home for many Hindu monks and monasteries whose service needs
recognition, veneration and worship. Ramanuja taught us that Bhagavataseva is Bhagavatseva—Honoring
God’s men is honoring God. That he not only preached but
practiced also.
--Jannuary
20, 2018
LET US CELEBRATE
SAHASRABDI OF RAMANUJA WHO REJUVINATED HINDUISM WITH VISHNU-TATTVA
In
the olden days, when everyone accepted the authority of the Vedas, when people
had regard for the veracity of the truths expounded in them, none questioned
the numerous references declaring Narayana as the Para-Tattva and this
fact was well established. Since Paramatma is called Nara, the waters which he
created are known as 'Naaraah'. Once, this water was his resting place. A
quarter of the water below receded to bring earth above and the creation
started. Otherwise it was water alone everywhere! Hence, he is called
Narayana”. (NARA means water and AYANA means resting place). He was the only
Deva understood by all.
Over a long period of Hindu history
each Hindu began to worship his / her own chosen personal God to
whom each paid exclusive obeisance- whether it was one of the
misunderstood 33 crores that came from 33 Vedic Devatas or those that
fall beyond the pale of these - village deities like Paraasakti,
Maariyamman, Maanasa, Ayyanaar etc.
But,
the adherents of other deities went too far to twist the
expressions in the Vedas and other scriptures with interpolations to bend the
statements therein to dislodge Vishnu and install their Ishtadevata. They
concocted and fabricated any number of spurious Puranas and even upanishads on
the lines of the genuine ones to somehow claim one‑up‑manship, glorifying their
Ishta-dEvatas and resorted to a well orchestral propaganda. Uma a Vedic sage of
great Intelligence who even Indra sought for knowledge was later elevated as
wife Siva, the benevolent and auspicious form of Rudra.
Shankara
established the doctrine of non-dualism, advaita-vedanta, stating that
all living entities were on an equal level with God. The ignorant misunderstood
him and prided in “I am God” and “I am the body”. Sankara
prominently stressed those texts which afforded an answer to the
rationalistic atheism of the Buddhists, yet the teachings of Sankara were also
not wholly theistic, and thus a further unveiling of the ultimate reality was
destined. In his last days even he started having a second look at
Vishnu Tattrva. That destiny was fulfilled through Sri Ramanujacharya. Ramanuja
qualified Shankara's impersonal philosophy, and Madhva more strongly propounded
the existence of a personal God.
The
Trinity Acharyas, Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhva brought renaissance to
Hinduism initiated by Sankara, standardized and popularized
by Ramanuja and further fortified by Madhva which made Hinduism survive
during pre -independence days under Muslim and Christian rulers who tried to
convert many Hindus to their religion with carrots and sticks. It
is also interesting that all the three Acharyas focused on Vishnu Tattva and
focused on prayers and worships of Sustenance aspect of Narayana that is
Vishnu. Worship of Vishnu and focus on Vishnu Tattva based on
love and devotion is gaining grounds today ably supported by Gaudiya Sampradaya
and ISKCON Movement not only in India but also overseas. Before the
invasion of foreigners, worship of Siva and Sakti dominated Hinduism.
Though Hinduism is third largest religion more than 90% live in India
only. Around 70% of the Hindus in India are inclined towards -para tattva
of yonder days as evidenced by Vishnu worship but those that actually follow
the Vishnu-tattva established by Trinities are alarmingly low.
These too have become sectarian oriented like Saivites in pre-Ramanuja period
and this needs serious reform. Hope Ramanuja Sahasrabdi celebrated
over a year will bring new light and hope to the followers of Vishnu to spreads
the message of love, devotion, tolerance, respect for Gurus and the
devoted—Bhagavat and Bhagavata seva, as promoted and practiced by Ramanuja.
A
216 feet metallic Statue of Equality of Ramanujacharya was inaugurated in
Hyderabad last year. India started his 1000 Year Celebration, Ramanuja
Sahasrabdi, last year which will come to an end on April 22 this year which is
his 1001th birthday. Migrant Hindus in several countries have not lagged
behind. Sri Ganesha Temple in Nashville, USA will celebrate his Sahasrabdi
on February 4. On this occasion several speakers will throw light on Ramanuja’s
life, work and contribution to Vishnu-Tattva as Universal binding force of Love
and Devotion. Hindus are mostly concentrated in India. Today around 70% among
Hindus follow Vaishnavism preached by Ramanujachrya of
Vishitadvaita, Madhva of Dvaita, Chaitanya of Gaudiya Sampradaya and Prabhupada
of ISKCON. They are in minority among American Hindus.
In this connection Hindu Reflections will be providing
background material for your reading: 1) Cause of descent of Ramunuja; 2) Life
of Ramnuja and 3) Parting Message of Ramanuja to his disciples, that is equally
important to all those who follow Vaishnavism. These will be posted on the Blog
<nrsrini.blogspot.com>
Please
find the first lecture in the series on the Blog Hindu Reflections:
COMMENTS:
A.S Narayana preserving for posterity-is easier in
poetic form than as prose. poetry easier to remember, and pass on from
generation to generation; To make poems appealing, the poet plays with facts.
Some ingenuity is needed to extract facts from poetry! As a recent convert to
poetic form of writing, I feel it is a vast ocean that needs to be explored. Our
ancestors had done all the work, and it was all lost, only poetry remains
through thousands of years.
Thank you for this compilation that gives both details of his life and glimpse of his philosophy without complications
--Dr. Vedavyas
CHANT VEDA MANTRAS WITH INTONATION TO KEEP PURE, HEALTHY, AT HEART AND SEEK LIBERATION
To
hear the chanting of mantras and stotras in Mandirs, Monasteries and homes by Sanskrit Pundits is a unique
experience and needs initiation. It is not simple learning of a poem or choir
singing. Harmonium and other musical instruments must not be used while
chanting Veda Mantras. With the help of
a competent Sanskrit Pundit one must learn chanting of Veda Mantras and
particularly Samagana Mantras. Mantras must awaken holy thoughts in the mind of
the spiritual aspirant. In Vedic texts Devanagari scripts are marked with swara
marks with varying pitches. While most mantras are in Samhita patha some are
rendered with Ghana patha swaras for effective rendering. It will be beneficial
to teach and practice Veda mantras in chorus among youngsters in temples and
Baal Vihaar classes guided by Pundits trained in Vedic chanting. Mantrapushpam by Ramakrishna Math is a Vedic
Chanting book with swara (sound pitch) marks. When the mantras are chanted with
intonations a divine atmosphere is created with holy vibrations all around.
These
are chanted in syllabic style—a type of heightened speech with one syllable to
a tone. Three levels of pitch are employed: a basic reciting tone is
embellished by neighboring tones above and below, which are used to emphasize
grammatical accents in the texts. These Rigveda hymns are the basis for a later
collection, the Saamaveda (“Veda of the Chants”), the hymns of which are sung
in a style that is more florid, melodic, and melismatic (one word to two or more
notes) rather than syllabic, and the range of tones is extended to six or more.
The Vedas are chanted today exactly as they were centuries ago.
Vedanta
asserts that the entire cosmic creation began with sound: "By His
utterance came the universe." –says Brihadaranyaka in 1.2.4. The
Vedanta sutra “anaavrittih
sabdaat’’ endorses that ultimate
Liberation (Mukti) comes from sound (Om). Bhagavad Gita also mentions
about Om-- Omityekaksharam
Brahma.
Our Sun lies
93,000,000 miles away, surrounded by the vacuum of space. Sound won't travel
through space, of course. But with the right instrument, scientists can
"hear" pulsations from the Sun. It is
most astonishing that this sound reverberates sacred mantra "OM".
Scientists are still trying to correlate why/how the ancient Hindu mantra and
sun's sound conflate!
Please refer to the
following Mantra from MNU which is from Rigveda: “Chatvaarsringaa trayo asya
paadaa dve seershe saptahastaaso asya|Tridhaa baddho vrishabho roraveeti maho
devo martyaa aavivesa”—the syllable Om is conceived as the
Bull. Four are its horns, three its feet, two its heads, and seven its
hands. The threefold-bound bull (the
great God or Brahman) roars loudly and
enters mortals.
(I have explained this mantra in two other
different ways in other contexts).
Katyayana likens speech to Brahman. He quotes the above
MNU mantra to assert this claim. Katyayana explains that in the verse, the
"four horns" are the four kinds of words i.e. nouns, verbs,
prepositions, and particles; its "three feet" mean the three tenses,
past, present and future; the "two heads" imply the eternal and
temporary words, distinguished as the "manifested" and the
"manifester"; its "seven hands" are the seven grammar cases
(Vibhaktis); "threefold bound" is enclosed in the three organs the
chest, the throat, and the head; the metaphor "bull" (vrishabha) is
used to imply that it gives fruit when used with knowledge; "loudly
roars" signifies uttering sound, speech or language; and in "the
great god enters mortals" entails that the "great god" speech,
enters the mortals. Thus, primal sound Om is often referred to as Shabda
Brahman or "word as The Absolute”.
Maitri Upanishad states: He
who is well versed in the Word-Brahman, attains the Supreme Brahman.
Mantra
or sacred sounds, are used to pierce through sensual, mental and intellectual levels of existence (all lower
strata of consciousness) for the purpose of purification and spiritual
enlightenment. By sound vibration one becomes liberated.
The
resplendent Self is attainable by the practice of spiritual disciplines as
truth and continence. The chanting of mantras with correct intonations itself
is a great spiritual discipline—samyak
prayogena brahmloke maheeyate—one
who recites mantras with intonations attains highest merit purifying his body
and mind.
Prodigious
energy was expended by ancient Indian culture in ensuring that these texts were
transmitted from generation to generation with inordinate fidelity. Many forms of recitation or paathas
were designed to aid accuracy in recitation and the transmission of the Vedas
from one generation to the next.
All hymns in each Veda were recited in this special way. Each text was recited
in a number of ways, to ensure that the different methods of recitation acted
as a cross check on the other.
Ramakrishna Math illustrates how Panchaksharee Namah Sivaya can be
recited in various forms of recitation in Mantra Pushpam. These various Paathas are:
Samhita-patha: continuous recitation of Sanskrit
words bound by the phonetic rules of euphonic combination;
Pada-patha: a recitation marked by a conscious
pause after every word, and after any special grammatical codes embedded inside
the text; this method suppresses euphonic combination and restores each word in
its original intended form;
Krama-patha: a step-by-step recitation where
euphonically-combined words are paired successively and sequentially and then
recited; for example, a hymn "word1 word2 word3 word4 ...",
would be recited as "word1word2 word2word3 word3word4 ..."; this
method to verify accuracy is credited to Vedic sages Gargya and Sakalya in the
Hindu tradition and mentioned by the ancient Sanskrit grammarian Panini (dated
to pre-Buddhism period);
Jata-pāṭha,
dhvaja-pāṭha
and ghana-pāṭha are methods of recitation of a text
and its oral transmission that developed after 5th century BCE, that is after
the start of Buddhism and Jainism; these methods use more complicated rules of
combination and are less used.
These
extraordinary retention techniques guaranteed the most perfect canon not just
in terms of unaltered word order but also in terms of sound. That
these methods have been effective, is testified to by the preservation
and regular use of the most ancient Indian religious text, the Rigveda and also
scientific studies. Please recall my recent E-mails communicating
the research work of James Hartzell
studying chanting of Vedas in Sanskrit
by Vedic scholars and Pilot Research Findings by a team of Indian scientists on
chanting of Vishnu Sahasranama. These scientific studies show that Vedanta and
Science conflate with each other as far as physical benefits are
concerned—clean body and mind. Vedanta goes a step further and says that it is
a step forward for Liberation. UNESCO
proclaimed the Vedic Chanting Tradition as a Masterpiece of the Oral Intangible
Heritage of Humanity in 2003.
Śivapañcākṣarī mantraḥ
1. saṁhitā pāṭhaḥ — nama̍ḥ śi̱vāya̍ ca |
2.
padapāṭhaḥ — nama̍ḥ | śi̱vāya̍ | ca̱ |
3.
kramapāṭhaḥ — nama̍ḥ śi̱vāya̍ | śi̱vāya̍ ca |
4. jaṭāpāṭhaḥ
nama̍ḥ śi̱vāya̍ śi̱vāya̍ ca namo̱ nama̍ḥ śi̱vāya̍ |
śi̱vāya̍ ca ca śi̱vāya̍ śi̱vāya̍ ca śi̱vāya̍ ca |
5.
ghanapāṭhaḥ
nama̍ḥ śi̱vāya̍ śi̱vāya̱ namo̱ nama̍ḥ śi̱vāya̍ ca ca śi̱vāya̱ namo̱ nama̍ḥ
śi̱vāya̍ ca | śi̱vāya̍ ca ca śi̱vāya̍ śi̱vāya̍ ca |
Śatamānam
bhavati — āśīrvādam
1. saṁhitā pāṭhaḥ
śa̱tamā̍naṁ bhavatu śa̱tāyu̱ḥ puru̍ṣaś-śa̱tendri̍ya̱
āyu̍śye̱vendri̱ye prati̍ tiṣṭhati ||
--January 14, 2018
HAPPY
PONGAL AND MAKARA SANKRANTI
I
am happy to forward you a Pongal message from Sri Mualidharan Iyengar of
Singapore wishing you Happy Pongal and Makara Sankranti.
“Greetings
and Namaste. At the outset, may I wish you all a Very Happy Pongal &
Makara Sankranti tomorrow (14-Jan-2018)!
In
this connection, I am delighted to share a very rare Stotra on Lord Surya
taken from Padma Purana, Srishti Khanda, Chapter 195 titled Surya
Shanti. This chapter contains procedure for appeasement of Lord Surya
with this prayer and it also includes a Moola Mantra and a Surya
Gayatri (which is slightly different from the commonly known ones). It also
includes two sets of 12 important names of Lord Surya.
Interestingly
the Phalashruti is longer while the prayer itself is short and sweet. In
essence, reciting this prayer every day will be an effective antidote to all
diseases and it is capable of all one could ask for - health, wealth, progeny,
spouse, knowledge and finally the abode of Lord Surya. It is given that
reciting this prayer in a holy place multiplies the benefit by a crore times
while in front of Devas and saints begets the abode of Lord Surya.
May
We Pray to Lord Surya during Makara
Sankranti!”
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/01/makara-sankranti.html
--January 13,
2018
SATYAM
BROOYAAT & SATYAMEVA JAYATE
Speaking
the truth is the cornerstone of all rightful living. But in life, we encounter
many hurdles on the path of speaking the truth.
satyam brūyāt priyam brūyāt na brūyāt satyam-apriyam |
priyam cha nānritam brūyāt eṣa dharmah sanātanah ||
Speak
the truth in a manner that is pleasing to the listener. But do not speak the truth that is
unpleasant to the listener. Also, do not speak untruth even if it were
pleasant to the listener. This is the path of eternal Dharma. Mahatma
Gandhi titled his biography "My experiments with truth" and showed
how he tried to uphold the truth, but also how he struggled with it
We should be careful in speaking the truth. The purpose should be good
and the words used and the manners in which they are spoken are important. So
the value of truthfulness is relative to a situation. According to the Indian
scriptures while living in the world of relativity truth can be interpreted in
many ways.
Manu Smriti (4.138) says “Satyam bruyaat - priyam bruyaat- na bruyaat
satyam apriyam- priyam cha nanrutam bruyaat - esha dharmah sanaatanah”."
Only speak the truth
that is pleasant to others. Do not speak the truth that might be unpleasant to others. Never speak untruth
that is pleasant to others. This is the path of the eternal morality called
Sanatana Dharma
We all should speak
the truth, which is agreeable, not the truth which is disagreeable. One should
not speak an untruth. Thus speaking truth is also governed by Dharma. The
criterion is based on the pain caused to beings.
How you speak is as important as what is said. Priyam means speech that does not hurt others. Hitam is something that is said for the good or betterment of
others. One should be careful of speaking truth but not hurting others.
Manu warns of dire
consequences to those who lie on the witness stand in legal matters. Therefore
he insists all Varnas must speak only the truth (tasmaat satyam hi vaktavyam sarvavarneshhu saakshhibhih... Manu
Smriti 8.83). But even in this case, Manu allows falsehood to be uttered
provided the life of a human being is saved by the utterance of such
falsehood.
The TaittirIya
Upanishhad contains the instruction "satyam
vada" in Sikshavalli which is interpreted as speaking the truth that
is worthy of being uttered. Sathyam in
Upanishadic concept also refers to Brahman (Chandogya).
Regarding - "na bruyat sathyam apriyam"-
some live examples could bring out the inner meaning of this from the practical
sense on which Dr. Ved is elaborating
in his forthcoming discourse.
On examining a
patient, if a doctor feels that the patient is suffering a terminal illness,
the doctor will not directly reveal it to the patient, but would put it in a
way that the message reaches but does not bring a shock to the patient which
may result in his instant collapse. Sometimes silence is observed so that Satyam
and Ahimsa are practiced.
Let us
view this sloka in the spiritual context.
This
sloka from Manu Smriti which Dr. Ved quotes
is composed after the
Mantra in Mundakopanishad for
practical and legal considerations that runs as follows:
Satyameva jayate naanritam satyena pantha vitatoe devayaanah | Yena-akramanti
rishayo hi aapta-kaamaah yatra tat satyasya paramam nidhaanam ||
(III-1-6)
Truth alone wins. By Truth is laid out the path divine along
which the Seers, free from desires, ascend to the Supreme abode of Truth (Brahman). [The
seekers free from deceit and delusion, pride and vanity, criminality and
falsehood, and having no desire, enthusiastically seek and surely discover the
realm of Truth which leads to God-head.]
It is this Truth that is
meant by the word Satyam in "Satyameva
Jayate", which is the National Motto of India. The Universal
Truth on realizing which will lead us all to victory from all the struggles in
this world. The Truth that Hindus sustained from age immemorial and gifted to
the world today in a capsule form is contained in words of Modern Indian motto: "Satyam Eva Jayate”
The word Sathyam in Sanskrit consists of Three
syllables Sat +thi+yam. Here sat means
immortal thi means mortal and yam means what is being regulated. So Sathyam
means the Creator that is Vidhartaara—Parbrahman denoted by the word GOD in English, a word constituted by three English letters
G,O and D where G stands for Generator,
O for Operator and D for Dissolver. Hence the motto of USA E pluribus Unum --In
GOD we trust corresponds to Satyameva Jayate.
Jesus said: “Those who believeth in me shall live in Me” that is they will attain the status of
Immortality. So contemplation on Brahman
alone leads to victory that is Mukti or Liberation—victory over Samsara,
struggle in this world of pleasure and pain.
“Sathyamiti Satyavachaa raatheetarah”--Satyavacha says be truthful
always (Taittyareeya Upanishad)
--January 13, 2018
Excellent!
Dr. G. Nagarajan, Nashville
700th YEAR CELEBRATION OF
MADHVA NAVAMI
India
celebrated 700th Year of Madhva Navami last year. It is considered
as the day he
entered the Badarikasrama and disappeared into the Himalayas to meet
with Vedavyasa and got enlightened with Dvaita philosophy. This year
it falls on January 26. January 26, 2018 is also the day Madhvacharya, the
third of the trinity of philosophers after Sri Shankaracharya and Shri
Ramanujacharya, attained Nirvana. His Nirvana took place on the 9th day of the
Lunar month of Magha Masa in the year 1317 AD. Sri Madhvacharya was
teaching his disciples, the Aitareya Upanishad Bhashya, at the
Sri Anantheshwara Temple on this day. Suddenly a heap of flowers
were showered on him and he disappeared into the heap of flowers not to be seen
later. He is considered to be the third incarnation of Lord Vayu,
Vyahrirti of Brahman, after Hanuman and Bheema
It is a pity that the two
great events of our lifetime Ramanuja Sahasraabdi and Madhvasaptasati Navami went
without being recognized by American Hindus in temple worship as many temple in
USA did not declare them as Special Religious Worship Days. I had
talked a lot about Ramanuja Sahasrabdi before. We will not have
another such event in our lifetime. Probably Hindu Americans are mostly
Saivites and are invariably sectarian in their worship pattern though caste
system has disappeared. This calls for serious thinking by religious
authorities in USA particularly in the context of many of their children move
away from Hinduism by fatal attraction of love and turn
atheists. Also we pay least respect to our teachers in USA where
education is considered as career builder but not character builder. But Hindu
Americans are taking care of it to some extent in Bal Vihaar Vedic Heritage
classes but its value is lost once the child moves out from parents for higher
studies. A day like Gurupurnima Day is hardly remembered for
worship. It is therefore worth dedicating January 1 as
All Saints Day Honoring all saints and Vedanta Institutions in USA
strengthening the hands of Ramakrishna Math who celebrate January 1 Kalpataru Divas, honoring all
saints and Vedanta Institutes all over the world. This will remind us and help
reviving our “Gurur Devo Bhava” culture. Sri Visvesa Teertha, the
fifth time Parivarya says that a person could attain salvation (“moksha”) only
if he served society. “The welfare of the country is possible only if ‘sant’
(saints), ‘samaj’ (society) and ‘sarkar’ (government) come together,” he said. Please
go through a write up on Madhvacharya by Swami Sivananda.
It is worth noticing here
that all Hindus today believe in temple worship and are therefore
Dvaitins or followers of Madhva philosophy which is the progressive development
in Hindu philosophy. Vaishnavism today is 70% among all Hindus though not in
USA. Sankara towards the end in Bhajagovindam advised all
to mainly meditate on sustenance aspect of Parabrahman
that is Vishnu, moving away from the worship of five deities he early recommended
which Ramanujachrya brought to focus on all and Madhvacharya
ordained with no wavering of mind for worship by all. Univocally all
did not focus on Brahma the Creator as his task has been
done as we are born. We are under Vishnu’s care as long as we live in this
world and then handed over to Siva to be sent back to this world through the
good offices of Brahma or move upwards when we realize Sivoham. That is why he
spends most of his time in Smasaana or burial ground—Smasaanavaasa.
SWAMI SIVANANDA ON MADHVACHARYA
Madhvacharya was a great religious
reformer and an orthodox commentator on the Brahma Sutras and the ten
Upanishads. He was born in 1199 A.D. at Velali, a few miles from Udipi in the
district of South Kanara in South India. He was a Tulu Brahmin by birth. He was
born of Madhya Geha and Vedavati. Vedavati was a virtuous woman. Madhva is
regarded as an incarnation of Vayu, the Wind-God. The father gave him the name
Vasudeva.
Madhva distinguished himself in
physical exercises and field games. He had a wonderful physique. He could
wrestle, run, jump and swim. So people gave him the nickname Bhima. Madhva took
to the study of the Vedas and the Vedangas and became well-versed in them. He
took Sannyasa in his twenty-fifth year. Achyutaprakashacharya initiated him.
Madhva was now known by the name Purna Prajna. Achyutaprakashacharya found that
Madhva was a brilliant Sannyasin with efficient knowledge in Vedanta and other
scriptures. He put Madhva as head of the Mutt in his place. Madhva received the
name of Ananda Tirtha now. He went on an extensive tour in Southern and
Northern India to preach his gospel of Bhakti. He made several converts. He
went to Badrinarayan, and soon after his return, he wrote his commentary on the
Bhagavad Gita and the Vedanta Sutras. He built several temples at Udipi, the
principal center of the Madhva sect. Most of the orthodox Madhvas try to go to
Udipi at least once in their life.
Madhva had superhuman powers. He
performed many miracles. He saved a boat which was caught in a storm. A boat
which contained an image of Lord Krishna capsized. Madhva brought back the
image from the ocean. During his tour, king Ishvara Deva in Maharashtra asked
Madhva to work in building a dam. Madhva noticed that he had been unconsciously
working for the king the whole day. Once he stilled the waves of the ocean when
he went to take bath.
Madhvacharya is the great exponent
of the Dvaita school of philosophy. His Vaishnavism is called Sad-Vaishnavism
in order to distinguish it from the Sri-Vaishnavism of Ramanujacharya.
According to his philosophy, the Supreme Being is Vishnu or Narayana. Every
follower of the Madhva school should have a firm belief in the
Pancha-bheda—five real and eternal distinctions—viz., the distinction between
the Supreme Being and the individual soul, between spirit and matter, between
one Jiva and another Jiva, between the Jiva and matter, between one piece of
matter and another. The phenomenal world is real and eternal. The worship of
Vishnu consists in (i) Ankana, marking the body with His symbols, (ii)
Namakarana, giving the names of the Lord to children and (iii) Bhajana, singing
His glories. Madhva laid much stress on constant practice of the remembrance of
God (Smarana). He says, “Form a strong habit of remembering God. Then only it
will be easy for you to remember Him at the moment of death”. Madhva pointed
out that when the Lord incarnated, no Prakrita Deha or material body was put on
by Him. He prescribed a rigorous kind of fasting to his followers.
Renunciation, devotion and direct
cognition of the Lord through meditation lead to the attainment of salvation.
The aspirant should equip himself with the study of the Vedas, control of the
senses, dispassion and perfect self-surrender, if he wants to have the vision of
the Lord. These are some of the important teachings of Madhvacharya, the
renowned exponent of the dualistic school of philosophy.
January 12, 2018
EFFECT
OF SANSKRIT MANTRAS/SLOKAS ON HUMAN BRAIN
James
Hartzell is a postdoctoral researcher at the Basque Center on Cognition, Brain
and Language, in Spain; a Guest Researcher at the Center for Mind/Brain
Sciences at University of Trento, in Italy, and a Consultant for the Center for
Buddhist Studies at Columbia University, in New York. His MRI scans show
that memorizing ancient mantras increases the size of brain regions associated
with cognitive function. Professional Vedic pundits from several
government-sponsored schools in the Delhi region were recruited for the study.
MRI scanning was remarkable. Numerous regions in the brains of the Pundits were
dramatically larger than those of controls, with over 10 percent more grey
matter across both cerebral hemispheres, and substantial increases in cortical
thickness. Does that mean substantial increase in the gray matter of critical
verbal memory organs are less prone to devastating memory pathologies such as
Alzheimer's? We don't know yet. Anecdotal reports from India's
Ayurvedic doctors suggest this may be the case. What about Indian
Psychiatrists? Are they conflating or conflicting? This raises the possibility
that verbal memory “exercising” or training might help elderly people at risk
of mild cognitive impairment retard, or, even more radically, prevent its
onset.
My
concern is different. Is it the Sanskrit Language or the Vedic Mantra? I
reported previous studies on Gayatri Mantra. Please recall. Sanskrit effect
question requires detailed functional studies with cross-language memorization
comparisons by studying Tamil Pundits chanting Thiruvoymozhi and Thiruppugazh.
Why not other languages? Only Sanskrit and Tamil are used in Mantras and
worship by Hindus! If Sanskrit language is the answer my thinking become easy.
I have been trying very hard to impress on our Baal Vihaar Authorities as
to how important it is to teach Sanskrit to young kids and also
start teaching of Vedas similar to ancient Gurukulas. Many
religious institutions are now doing this in India as free education
with free food. I had even sent a detailed report of an Irish priest-teacher in
an Irish convent. I had not even an acknowledgement from anyone. Hope it has
not gone into archives as most of my E-mails on which I have burnt several
candles. Luckily I have on my mailing list American Hindu Psychiatrist
and other doctors well read in Sanskrit, and currently teaching in
Baal Vihaar too. . Hope this communication will draw their specific
attention to these studies and they will give their opinion based
on their study and experience. I would also request them to think about whether
this effect is exclusive to Sanskrit or is also applicable to other languages
used in worship whose mantras/slokas are chanted like Tiruppugazh,
Tiruvoymozhi”
A
pilot research findings of The Department of Physiology, Pondicherry,
International Stress Management Association, Hyderabad, Department of
Physiology, Little Flower Medical Research Center, Kerala reveals depression,
anxiety, stress and cortisol were significantly decreased and
blood pressure was regulated within normal limits and MMSE scores
and spatial memory was significantly improved followed by regular
chanting of Vishnu Sahasra Nama(VSN).
It is obvious VSN is also equally
effective like Veda Mantras. Veda mantras call for proper intonation while
chanting.
Mantras are the impulses which
create vibrations in each cell of our body and influence brain. In Sanskrit
mantra is defined as “mananaat traayate iti mantrah” that
means Mantra saves us from worries. Mantra chanting or listening purify our
minds. Hence the psychological response due to repetition of the mantras can
only be experienced and can’t be expressed! Mantra recitation is part of
physiological process of speech and is influenced by Buddhi (intelligence),
Manas (mind), Agni (heat) and Vaayu (air). It is mentioned in Phalasruti that
chanting of VSN regularly will help to achieve the goals of professional or
personal objectives, relaxation from stress and improvement in positive
thoughts. Please refer to the following in this regard:
Why does my child study Sanskrit?
by
Rutger Kortenhorst
A Neuroscientist Explores the "Sanskrit Effect"
I believe chanting of
Vedic mantras with concentration calms the mind.
--A.S. Narayana, Bengaluru
True. But proper pronunciation as well
as grammar is to be thought which is lacking in our society.
--Murali K.S., Bangalore
A Neuroscientist Explores the
"Sanskrit Effect"
MRI scans show that memorizing ancient mantras increases the size
of brain regions associated with cognitive function
A hundred dhoti-clad young men sat cross-legged on the floor in
facing rows, chatting amongst themselves. At a sign from their teacher the hall
went quiet. Then they began the recitation. Without pause or error, entirely
from memory, one side of the room intoned one line of the text, then the other
side of the room answered with the next line. Bass and baritone voices filled
the hall with sonorous prosody, every word distinctly heard, their right arms
moving together to mark pitch and accent. The effect was hypnotic, ancient
sound reverberating through the room, saturating brain and body. After 20
minutes they halted, in unison. It was just a demonstration. The full
recitation of one of India´s most ancient Sanskrit texts, the Shukla
Yajurveda, takes six hours.
I spent many years studying and translating Sanskrit, and became
fascinated by its apparent impact on mind and memory. In India's ancient
learning methods textual memorization is standard: traditional scholars, or
pundits, master many different types of Sanskrit poetry and prose texts; and
the tradition holds that exactly memorizing and reciting the ancient words and
phrases, known as mantras, enhances both memory and thinking.
I had also noticed that the more Sanskrit I studied and
translated, the better my verbal memory seemed to become. Fellow students and
teachers often remarked on my ability to exactly repeat lecturers’ own
sentences when asking them questions in class. Other translators of Sanskrit
told me of similar cognitive shifts. So I was curious: was there actually a
language-specific “Sanskrit effect” as claimed by the tradition?
When I entered the cognitive neuroscience doctoral program at the
University of Trento (Italy) in 2011, I had the opportunity to start
investigating this question. India's Vedic Sanskrit pundits train for years to
orally memorize and exactly recite 3,000-year old oral texts ranging from
40,000 to over 100,000 words. We wanted to find out how such intense verbal
memory training affects the physical structure of their brains. Through the
India-Trento Partnership for Advanced Research (ITPAR), we recruited
professional Vedic pundits from several government-sponsored schools in the
Delhi region; then we used structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at
India’s National Brain Research Center to scan the brains of pundits and
controls matched for age, gender, handedness, eye-dominance and
multilingualism.
What we discovered from the structural MRI scanning was
remarkable. Numerous regions in the brains of the Pundits were dramatically
larger than those of controls, with over 10 percent more grey matter across
both cerebral hemispheres, and substantial increases in cortical thickness. Although
the exact cellular underpinnings of gray matter and cortical thickness measures
are still under investigation, increases in these metrics consistently
correlate with enhanced cognitive function.
Most interestingly for verbal memory was that the pundits' right
hippocampus—a region of the brain that plays a vital role in both short and
long-term memory—had more gray matter than controls across nearly 75 percent of
this subcortical structure. Our brains have two hippocampi, one on the left and
one on the right, and without them we cannot record any new information. Many
memory functions are shared by the two hippocampi. The right is, however, more
specialized for patterns, whether sound, spatial or visual, so the large gray
matter increases we found in the pundits’ right hippocampus made sense:
accurate recitation requires highly precise sound pattern encoding and
reproduction. The pundits also showed substantially thickening of right
temporal cortex regions that are associated with speech prosody and voice
identity.
Our study was a first foray into imaging the brains of
professionally trained Sanskrit Pundits could not directly address the Sanskrit
effect question (that requires detailed functional studies with
cross-language memorization comparisons, for which we are currently seeking
funding), we found something specific about intensive verbal memory training.
Does the pundits’ substantial increase in the gray matter of critical verbal
memory organs mean they are less prone to devastating memory pathologies
such as Alzheimer's? We don't know yet, though anecdotal reports from
India's Ayurvedic doctors suggest this may be the case. If so, this raises
the possibility that verbal memory “exercising” or training might help
elderly people at risk of mild cognitive impairment retard or, even more radically,
prevent its onset.
If so, the training might need to be exact. One day I was filming
four senior pundit teachers demonstrating the different recitation speeds.
Partway into one session all four suddenly stopped. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“One of us made a slight error," came the response. "I don’t
mind," I said. "Yes, but we do," and they restarted the entire
recitation from the beginning.
The views expressed are those of the author(s) and are not
necessarily those of Scientific American.
PARYAYA RITUAL OF UDUPI & SPIRITUAL
DEMOCRATIC MANAGEMENT OF KRISHNA TEMPLE
The power granted to States in India
to enact Hindu Religious Endowment and Charitable Institutions’ Control
Act by the Secular Government of India astonishes and
bothers millions of Faithful in India. Jurists, advocates and other civil
society leaders express concern over “illegal” government control of
Hindu temples and are analyzing the constitutional
rights of their administration and management. Swami Paramatmanandaji,
secretary of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha (HDAS), had filed a writ
petition in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the
different State Acts used for controlling temples. In this context it
surprises us as to why we look up to India for guidance for our
temple traditions and worship. We will be wiser heeding to the advice and
seeking guidance from various spiritual monasteries set up in USA and their
Gurus than looking to India. I had talked a lot about our need to
change from Puranic to Vedic approach in the past.
UDUPI is not unfamiliar to Hindu
Americans known for its mouthwatering and tempting culinary delicacies. But
only the first generation of migrants know about its eight Mathadipatis and
teir tireless and joint service without quarreling, unlike other
sectarian Matadhipatis, to spread the message of Dvaita Philosophy all
over India and also implement it in the temple worship of Lord Krishna in the
famous temple of Udupi to be a role model to all with their
Know-how, Show-how and Do-how in spite of governmental interference and
machinations, appealing to the generous consciousness of its citizens and
pilgrims. In this context I draw your attention to the annual event of Paryaya
Religious Festival of Udupi and Change of Seers every alternate
Even Year for infusing fresh wisdom and thought to lead the society to brighter
and better spiritual world. Unlike other temples that run as Government
Department or Business Corporation, KrishnaTemple is under regular
Spiritual Management.
LET US
FOLLOW THE FOOTSTEPS OF DEMOCRATIC SHARE AND CARE MONKS (SEERS) OF UDUPI
KRISHNA TEMPLE
Paryaya is
a religious ritual which takes place every alternate year in Sri Krishna Matha
(Krishna Temple) of Udupi. The puja and
administration of Krishna Matha is distributed among the Swamijis (seer or monk
or pontiff) of Ashta Matha's
established by Dvaita philosopher Sri Madhvacharya. Each swamiji of every
matha gets chance to perform puja to Udupi Sri Krishna by
rotation for a period of two years. These 8 Maths are Palimaru, Adamaru, Krishnapura, Puthige, Shirur, Sodhe, Kaniyooru and
Pejavara.
Shree Vishwesha Thirta swamiji of Pejavara Matha is now in charge.
This will be transferred to Palimaru Matha on 18 Jan 2018.
During Paryaya, the puja and
administration of Krishna Matha is handed over from Swamiji of one of Ashta
Matha to the Swamiji of another Ashta Matha. It takes place every two years in
even numbered years.
The Paryaya takes place in
the early hours of 18 January of even numbered years at Udupi. The preparations
start from the previous year itself. The ascending Swamiji goes to a place
called Dandathirta and
takes dip at holy pond and does puja as per tradition. He enters Udupi city at
around 3AM. A procession is taken from Jodukatte (Near Taluk office) of Udupi
town, where ascending Swamiji and other Swamijis are carried in planquin along
with cultural shows and plays. Previously, the procession started from
Kinnimulki which was considered as southernmost tip of Udupi town. The Swamiji
then enters Krishna Matha accompanied by outgoing Swamiji, where the reins of
Krishna Matha are handed over formally. There are many rituals
which are followed as it was seven hundred years ago. A public ceremony
is held at Rajagana within the premises of the Krishna Matha for benefit of
general public.
Sri Vidhyadheesha Theertha Swamiji, Sri
Palimar Matha will ascend the Paryaya Peetha, also called the ‘Sarvajna
Peetha’, at the Sri Krishna Temple on January 18. This will be Vidhyadheesha
Theertha Swamiji’s second Paryaya.
The Paryaya festival has a long history
and it all began in 1298 AD, when Sri Madhvacharya appointed eight seers to
propagate the Dwaita philosophy. The change in administration, once in two
years, was initiated by Sri Vadiraja Theertha Swamiji in 1532.
The Paryaya festival falls on the fourth
day after ‘Makar Sankranti’ in the even years of the English calendar.
Rituals are initiated one year before Paryaya
by the ascending Swamiji. Main among them are Baale (Banana) Muhurtha, Akki
(Rice) Muhurta, Kattige (Fire wood) Muhurtha and Battha (Paddy) Muhurta.
First, Baale Muhurta is
performed, one year prior to the Paryaya by the ascending Swamiji. In Baale
Muhurta, banana or plantain saplings are planted along with tulasi (Basil) to
meet the needs to Krishna puja and for feeding
of devotees. After that, Akki Muhurtha is performed, where rice is stored in
Mudi (made from hay). Around 48 Mudis are stored on Akki Muhurtha. Kattige
Muhurtha follows Akki Muhurtha. Firewood is stored in the form of ratha
(Chariot/Temple car) for future use during Paryaya. The firewood stored is used
for cooking prasada and feeding devotees who come to Krishna Matha during the
two years of Paryaya. Battha Muhurtha is performed after Kattige Muhurtha.
Battha (dried paddy) is stored for meeting future requirements within premises
of Sri Krishna Matha. All these muhurthas are done on auspicious days with
offering to Chandreshwara, Ananteshwara and
Sri Krishna
deities. These are done for smooth running of the Paryaya. Now-a-days these
have become symbolic as Krishna Matha ( Krishna mutt ) and other Ashta Matha's
( Ashta mutt's ) have lost all their land holdings to tenants due to
passage of Land reform act 1975 passed by Karnataka legislature. The
expenses to perform pooja, run the temple, feed the devotees daily are by voluntary
contributions of devotees in cash or kind. Many times loans are taken by
respective Matha (mutt) which is in charge of Krishna Matha (Krishna temple )
during paryaya period for meeting the expenses to run the Krishna Matha at Udupi.
Preparations for this year
Paryaya festival began last year in advance. The current appointed Swamiji has
already undertaken a pilgrimage to important holy places in India with the
intention of spreading the Dvaita philosophy.
A fortnight before the Paryaya festival
the Swamiji enters Udupi and a warm reception is given which is referred as
‘Pura Pravesha.’Next important event is the Horakanike procession. On the
Paryaya day there are elaborate ceremonies and processions involving
the Seers of the eight mutts.
All devotees to temple enjoy sumptuous
free meal everyday irrespective of their caste or creed. Observing prescribed
spiritual discipline and chanting mantras, a Dwija can also enjoy a 25 items
menu along with Swamiji not even found in five-star hotel list! I was once an
honored guest of Swamiji introduced by someone as a devotee from USA. I do not
know whether Pejawar Swamiji mistook me to be a philanthropist and Danasoora
Karna or it was the normal customary Udupi courtesy!
I felt Lord Krishna is my Cowherd and
He takes me to greener pastures like Christ who is our Shepherd. He guides me
to Heaven that declares the glory of GOD who is my Generator, Operator
and Dissolver and to the firmament which is His handy work!
--January
6, 2017
NEW YEAR MESSAGE
& SALUTE FROM HINDU REFLECTIONS
Hindu
Reflections, devoted to spread the message on Hindu
Dharma, Hindu ancient Culture,
Hindu Gods and Goddesses, Hindu Festivals and Rituals, Hindu Sacraments
(samskaras), Vedic Knowledge and Wisdom Based on Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita,
A Brief Review of Philosophers and Philosophies of India, Hinduism’s Influence
on other Religions and Faiths and its teachings Aimed at Outreach and Universal
Oneness to Promote Peace, Prosperity and Happiness and Interfaith Dialogues all
available at one source, has completed its mission yesterday after
being active well over seven years. My last discourse
has been posted on the Blog yesterday about which you will hear next
week. Please visit Hindu Reflections <nrsrini.blogspot.com> and
download the “Classified List of Discourses” published in March 2015 for your
reference, guidance and use.
It
had been a pleasure working with you for the past seven years and I thank
you for all the glowing tributes you have showered on me,
whether I do deserve or not, though I am neither a Spiritual Guru
with saffron robes nor a Religious Pundit with Rudhrakshi or Tulasi Malas.
333 Discourses in Seven Years whose 400000 pages have influenced people drawn
from different faiths from about 25 countries is no small achievement and it is
all your inspiration and moral support. I have been trying to understand
Hinduism myself about which I started studying seriously since 2002 and I thank
you for your inspiration and support in educating me. Whatever I have
assimilated I had shared with you studying Hindi scriptures and listening to
the preaching of ancient and modern day Gurus who are active in USA. I will
however stay active with my E-mails on the “Thought of the Day”, if not
discourses as long as my health permits and memory stays alert.
We as Hindu Americans have overcome caste
differences and are seriously concerned in preserving the basic
principles of Sanatana Dharma for our future generation and also for promoting
it to those who are spiritually starved in the country whose number is
increasing in leaps and bounds. Our Temple traditions need to broaden its
perspective
without
simply copying it from Hindu India, as Mr. Muralidharan Iyengar from Singapore
has also been feeling along with other Spiritual leaders active in USA, to make
it more appealing to our children who often find their partners from the major
cultures/faiths of the land attracted by universal binding
force of physical love. I wish it blossoms into divine love! The temple as an
institution which we have established with so much of effort and personal
sacrifice should not become a museum of arts or a piece of archeology but a perennial
place of worship and mass assembly sanctum for prayers for all those who
believe in Manava (human) Dharma. I hope
I too have contributed somewhat in that direction though not significant and it
is for you to judge and tell me. May the year 2018 bring a fresh approach
on our perspectives and a resolve to bring into effect Sanatana Dharma
for influencing future generations and also spread it in the country of our
adoption and through it all over the Globe for “Vedanta is the
Religion of the Future to the World” as Swami Vivekananda
foresaw a century before. India is not very serious or concerned
about it as I understand going through the projection of Muralidharan Iyengar
though they take pride in the establishment of International Yoga Day to draw
applause from the gallery! Back to the Past of Sanatana Dharma will
lead us to Better and Brighter World of Tranquility, Happiness and Equanimity.
Wish you all A Happy Prosperous Peaceful
Spiritual Awakening Year 2018
-- January 1,
2018
Comments:
I
know you have put in a lot work and long hours to compile all the essays in
your blog. Please DO NOT stop writing but post whenever possible.
People may not read it today, but one day they will come back to read your
essays.
--Kamala
Raghunathan
We
are very appreciative of your effort in bringing the principles of Sanathana
Dharma to people like us. We thank God for your
presence here in Nashville. May God give you Happy and Healthy life!
--Dr.Narayana Bhat
