THOUGHT OF THE DAY--SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER 2020
SPIRITUALITY AND HUMAN VALUES--" A MAN DOES NOT TURN SPIRITUAL BY MERE TEMPLE VISITS NOR BY AVOIDING IT”
Swami Chidananda sends a powerful message in his AUPA e-news of November 2020 reproduced below:
"SPIRITUALITY AND HUMAN VALUES
A Close Relationship
Because of their residual tendencies (vāsanās), a large number of people fail to live a truly value-based life despite belonging to spiritual organizations. Aware of it or otherwise, their life has some hypocrisy. There is a mismatch between their ideals and their actuals. As a result, religions and spiritual traditions have often got a bad name. Many an atheist would say he is a better human being than people professing to be religious, spiritual or whatever!
Sincere self-application pays. We as seekers must realize that we have come to this world with a baggage. Though it is our good fortune to receive a lot of guidance from saintly figures, our habits make it very difficult to take full advantage of the precious directions. Some of our habits may have their roots in our previous lives.
No matter what, we need to strive to weaken our bad habits and eventually eliminate them. As a verse in Viveka-choodāmani says, we are like a piece of sandalwood that, at present, is giving out foul smell. Certain contact with moisture has led to the growth of fungus all over the piece of sandalwood. By rubbing it against some sandpaper, this fungus layer will be gone and the innate, natural fragrance will fill the air around. Satsangs and sincere effort to follow the teachings of the Vedānta are the way to uncover the divinity in us.
The relation between spirituality and excellent human values is both ways: as we grow in spirituality, our conduct will be more and more value-based; when our behavior is anchored in noble values, we rise higher in spirituality. No wonder Shri Krishna supplies 20 human values in Geetā and calls them ‘wisdom’ itself! (He does not say they lead to wisdom.) In other words, it is difficult to distinguish between human excellence and spiritual elevation. Which among them is the means and which the end is difficult to decide. The dividing line between the means and the end becomes blurred.
Somebody once remarked, “A man does not become spiritual by merely going to temples.” A friend of his quipped, “No man becomes spiritual by merely avoiding temples either!” We must see thus that the very many tools (exercises, practices) that religions provide cannot be blamed per se. When they are used properly, they bless us with inner unfoldment. When they are a mere show, they of course fail. Earnestness therefore is the backbone of true spiritual growth and eventual liberation.
--Swāmi Chidānanda"
"The true Vedantic spirit does not start out with a system of preconceived ideas…. each man has been entirely free to search wherever he pleased for the spiritual explanation of the spectacle of the universe." – says Romain Rolland a French Nobel Laureate.
There have been several people of great achievements in Social Excellence. But ultimate fulfillment in life will come only from Spiritual Excellence. This is having the true knowledge about oneself as the pure Consciousness, ever unattached and beyond all cause-effect relationships.
The person who has achieved the utmost excellence in his life is a man of harmony. Krishna presents a vivid picture of such a man at several occasions in the Bhagavad Gita. In his personality and life, we see harmony between pair of opposites like gentleness and fearlessness, renunciation and service, faith and rationality, meditation and work, etc. Usually, we meet two kinds of noble people – the meditative introverted renunciation and the ever-ac social worker. A harmony of both of these in the same person is the epitome of Human Excellence.
Human Excellence can be broadly classified as Social Excellence and Spiritual Excellence.
Social Excellence requires three qualities – (1) Knowledge of ways to uplift mankind, (2) Capacity to put the knowledge into practice, and most importantly, (3) Strength of conviction. Conviction (shraddha) is the most important factor and is the seed of all good action. Conviction is of three things – (1) Conviction in the potential of oneself, (2) Conviction in the power of goodness, (3) Conviction in the potential of the world and society.
Swami Vivekananda was a perfect blend of Social and Spiritual Excellence. By following his teachings, we also can strive to inculcate these concepts in our life and attain both these aspects of Human Excellence. Similar is the approach of our urban monk Swami Chidananda and others like Chidananda of Pramartha Niketan, Sadhwi Bhagavati Sadhwi Shanbivi, and others.
Spirituality need not be confined to forests and caves. As Swami Vivekananda said, it should enter the marketplace, and the field and the factory. When all activities are infused with the leaven of spirituality, a silent revolution will come about. The real Satya-yuga will begin. For this, continuous effort in this direction—to focus one’s life on God, and give it a spiritual orientation—is highly necessary. (Swami Smaranananda)
If you are lending a helping hand to a poor student, or planting a tree, or researching a creative idea to clean the environment, or nursing a patient in a hospital during this critical coronavirus times, you are in every way serving is that which is given to the right person, in the right way, and at the proper time.” (Sister Nivedita)
To lead the spiritual life, it is not necessary to withdraw into the forest, hide oneself in a cave or go to a mountain top. What is needed is the renunciation of false ideas, of identification with the false human personality. It requires renunciation of ego, Abhimana, Ahamkara, renunciation of desire, renunciation of attachment, renunciation of Mamata and Asakti (mine-ness and attachment)--Swami Chidananda Saraswati.
I believe Yoga can help in this integration! Abstract Yoga is an art of excellent living. The principles of Yoga help the practitioners to achieve higher aims of life. The overall study ends with the conclusion that practice of Yoga has an important role in human life as the individual practicing Yoga can achieve the excellence.
It is much easier for dedicated doctors in this task as profession calls for that is often neglected. But every individual should have this in mind in his life-style!
I had this goal from my boyhood days but at that time I had not any focus on Gita or Upanishads. it may be just an inspiration or divine guidance. Without bothering you much with my personal life, I would like to draw a particular incidence where these human values helped me in my success getting full support from the Team I built. I had the hard task of building a factory in backward area needing support and also create job opportunities for the poor locals. To develop skills locally I needed the support from skilled staff. In order to build a Team of Expertise. I had to focus on human values to provide them more than normal comforts in life drawing them from progressive area. I built a kitchen under a tent and started cooking delicious food for them though the chief of the project, with my culinary skills. Such human values helped and soon I had a dedicated team to train locals and start the plant sooner than expected.
--November 6, 2020
Comments:
I often quote an anonymous American who said, “Sitting in church and thinking you’re spiritual is like sitting in a garage and thinking you’re a car.”
--Dr. Phil Goldberg of American Veda
Thanks for wonderful peace of wisdom! Well said. I treasure this communication. Appreciate your sincerity and wisdom.
--Dr. Vedavyas
Hope you are feeling better. Thanks a lot for sharing the comment by Dr.Phil Goldberg. It is so true, for each one need to examine, what one understands to be spiritual. Take care. Get well soon. Harihom
In sadgurudeva's smaraNam,
Brni. Vibha Chaitanya
SHARAD PURNIMA/TULA PURNIMA OF 2020
A full moon is the third of the four primary phases of the Moon. A full moon occurs when the sun and the moon are separated by 180°. The full moon shows 100% lightning and can fall in with lunar eclipses. The energy is a little higher on this sacred day. If you are a spiritual seeker, then you become more peaceful. If you are lively, you become more joyous. On this auspicious day, your capabilities get quadrupled and more new opportunities head your way.
As per Hindu lunar calendar, all Purnima dates are important. Sharad Purnima is one of the festivals that is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month Ashwin. This day carries huge religious significance because Goddess Lakshmi was born on this day. Sharad Purnima/Tula Purnima falls on October 30 this year.
Of all the Purnimas of the Hindu calendar, Sharad Purnima is the most popular of all. The night of Sharad Purnima holds immense spiritual and religious significance. This day is special as it is held that on this chosen day, moon possesses all the sixteen Kala(s). In Hinduism, each of the Kala denotes a specific human quality and Lord Krishna was the only one born with these 16 Kala (s). Hindu devotees therefore worship Chandra Dev (Moon God) with full devotion.
Also, according to the astrological it is considered that moon is closest to the Earth on this day and the moon rays possess nourishing elements. Therefore, on the day of Sharad Purnima, people spend their evenings under the moonlight to benefit the curative properties of the moon rays. In some traditions, it is forbidden to view the moon directly and it is seen as a reflection on a vessel containing boiling milk.
Sharad Purnima is a harvest festival that marks the end of the monsoon season and the onset of the winter season. This harvest festival is predominately celebrated in West Bengal, Gujarat, Orissa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. This festival is associated with Lord Krishna and is therefore celebrated with utmost enthusiasm and fervor in the northern regions of the country, especially in Vridavan, Braj, Mathura and Nathdwar.
According to the Hindu mythological stories, this day holds special significance for Hare Krishna followers as it is believed that on this auspicious day Sri Krishna performed the ‘Raas Lila’ in Vridavan with Radha and other Gopis. For this reason, Sharad Purnima is also referred as ‘Raas Purnima’. The night of Sharad Purnima is henceforth considered to be the night of love and couples express their love in the moonlight.
On Sharad Purnima, women, especially the newly-weds keep a fast. Those who desire to take the ‘Purnimasi Fasting’ start it with Sharad Purnima vrat. It is believed that by keeping a fast on this auspicious day the individual will be bestowed with happiness, good health and wealth.
Sharad Purnima is dedicated to worshiping Goddess Lakshmi. On this day, devotees offer prayers to Goddess Lakshmi to seek Her divine blessings. They also stay awake all night as it believed that Goddess Lakshmi descends on Earth on the day of Sharad Purnima and bless all those She finds awake with prosperity and wealth. Devotees also worship Lord Krishna and Moon God on Sharad Purnima.
In some parts of the country, devotees prepare poha, kheer, puffed rice or other sweets and leave it under moonlight. The preparations are then consumed later as it is believed they absorb the curative properties of moon rays in them.
On the occasion of Sharad Purnima, special religious programs and held in the temples in Vrindavan and devotees throng the temples in large numbers.
On the day of Purnima, every month, devotees keep a day-long vrat and worship Lord Vishnu. It is regarded as an ideal day for performing the Satyanarayan Puja and reading the vrat katha. Some people even perform the Lakshmi Narayan Puja to pray for a prosperous life. Maa Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth and Lord Vishnu is the one who protects and sustains life on earth. Therefore, devotees worship them and seek their blessings for gaining materialistic comforts.
Interestingly, this day is also perfect for performing Lord Shiva's Rudrabhishek.
But the Purnima of Adhik Maas is more significant because it is observed once in about three years. For the unversed, the Adhik Maas is an additional month in the Hindu Lunar calendar. It is added to align the Lunar calendar with the Solar Calendar. This is one of those years which has the Adhik Maas.
Devotees keep a day-long vrat and maintain celibacy. They break their fast only after sighting the Moon at night and offering their prayers to Moon (Chandra) deity.
--October 28, 2020
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LET US CELEBRATE 2020 VIJAYADASHAMI WITH 20/20 VISION
“Navratri, culminating with Dussehra, is a cultural festival of great importance and significance for all. It is a festival that is all about the goddess. In Karnataka, Dussehra is about Chamundi, in Bengal it is about Durga. Like this, it is about various goddesses in different places, but essentially it is about the feminine goddess or the feminine divinity.
Dussehra - The tenth day of celebration
Navratri is replete with symbolism about vanquishing evil and wanton nature, and about having reverence for all aspects of life and even for the things and objects that contribute to our well-being. The nine days of Navratri are classified as per the three basic qualities of Tamas, Rajas and Sattva. The first three days are Tamas, where the goddess is fierce, like Durga and Kali. The next three days are Lakshmi related – gentle but materially oriented goddesses. The last three days are dedicated to Saraswati, which is Sattva. It is related to knowledge and enlightenment.
Vijayadashami - The Day of Victory
Investing in these three will make your life in a certain way. If you invest in Tamas, you will be powerful in one way. If you invest in Rajas, you will be powerful in a different way. If you invest in Sattva, you will be powerful in a completely different way. But if you go beyond all this, it is no longer about power, it is about liberation. After Navratri, the tenth and final day is Vijayadashami – that means you have conquered all these three qualities. You did not give into any of them, you saw through every one of them. You participated in every one of them, but you did not invest in any one of them. You won over them. That is Vijayadashami, the day of victory. This brings home the message of how being in reverence and gratitude towards everything that matters in our lives leads to success and victory.
Dussehra - Devotion and Reverence
It is my wish and my blessings that all of you should celebrate Dussehra with total involvement, joy and love.
Of the many things that we are in touch with, of the many things that contribute in making and creating our lives, the most important devices that we employ in making a success of our lives are our own body and mind. Being in reverence towards the very earth that you walk upon, towards the air that you breathe, the water that you drink, the food that you eat, the people that you come in touch with and everything else that you use, including your body and mind, will lead us to a different possibility as to how we can live. Being in a state of reverence and devotion towards all these aspects is a way of ensuring success in every endeavor that we partake in.
Celebrate Dussehra with Joy & Love
Traditionally, in Indian culture, Dussehra was always full of dances, where the whole community mixed, met and mingled. But because of external influences and invasions over the past two hundred years, we have lost that today. Otherwise Dussehra was always very vibrant. Even now it is still so in many places, but it is being lost in the rest of the country. We have to bring it back. The Vijayadashami or Dussehra festival is of a tremendous cultural significance for all who live in this land – irrespective of their caste, creed or religion – and should be celebrated with gaiety and love. It is my wish and my blessings that all of you should celebrate Dussehra with total involvement, joy and love!
--Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev
“Vijayadashami uniquely celebrates both Sri Rama's victory over Ravana and Ma Durga's victory over Mahishasura.
Let us remember both together how the Avatar of Dharma and the Shakti of the Devi rule over the forces of Eternity and can transform our lives and our society if we bring them into our minds and hearts.
Ravana represents the sophisticated mind that turns away from its connection with our Inner Being and Consciousness under the lure of Maya and envy for worldly gain overpowered by Kama. Sri Rama is that eternal Inner Being we must honor over all outer display. We must remember this in our information technology era where mere appearance often dominates over content and essence.”--David Frawley
Ravana's ten heads symbolise that he had the knowledge of 6 Shastras and the four Vedas. He was intelligent. He was a Scholar and even wrote many texts. Arkaprakasha, Kumaratantra, Indrajala, Prakrata Kamadhenu, Prakrata Lankeshvara, Ravana Samhita, Rigveda Bhashya, Ravanabheta, Krishna Yajur Veda etc. are some of the best-known texts written by Ravana! He is known to have compiled Sama Veda with the relevant musical notes. He sang the ShivaTandava Stotram which describes the power and beauty of Lord Maheshvara. Extra ordinary Power granted by Brahma corrupted him. Though possessed with such noble qualities he was soon overpowered with ten forces of evil dominated by Kama and Ego. Ravana’s ten heads also symbolize his ego, pride, regret, anger, hatred, fear, greed, jealosy, lust and will. So, it was time for Rama (as champion of Dharma, to get rid of him of all these ten evils, turn to his true nature and get back to Vaikuntha to resume his divine duties as Dwarapalaka.
So, it calls for Ravana or Dasagriva (ten heads) Dahana (burning) on this Day of Victory and Success in Life! Symbolically ten heads are burnt by a fire-arrow by Rama.
May Goddess Durga bless you with all that you have wished for, on the auspicious festival of Dussehra! May you succeed in removing evil from your life! Happy Vijaya Dashami. On the joyous day of Dussehra, may Shri Rama and Maa Durga bless you with good health, wealth, peace, happiness and prosperity!
--October 26, 2020
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Parasakti worshiped with different names
Indian mythology is beautifully confounding to people who don't understand the basic principle of unity in diversity. There are many names ascribed to the same feminine principle of God. Vaishnavi or Narayani is one of them. The sister of Narayana may be called Narayani.
Of course! Goddess Durga, not Lakshmi (the consort of Vishnu) is called Narayani because she is revered as the sister of Lord Narayana. Another name given to Goddess Durga is "Padmanabha-sahodari". Udara means womb while sahodari means sister. And Padmanabha is the name given to Narayana or Vishnu. Thus, Goddess Durga represents her sisterhood to Lord Narayana. One of the meanings given for this name is "Exposer of Consciousness". It's a beautiful name because the Goddess is worshipped as the energy behind this universe, who holds the power to expose the consciousness so that unity with the divine can be achieved. Another meaning to this name is "the one who represents the real nature of the material world" - once again emphasizing on the primordial power of the feminine form of God.
Narayani also denotes "the innate power behind ultimate god". It also means "she who provides the basis for all living things." Or, "she who is the power behind Lord Narayana." She, who is the power of illusion behind Lord Narayana, she who is the personification of salvation, and she who is fit to be worshipped by the Devas.
There are 16 shlokas in Devi Mahatmyam that are called Narayani Stuti, in which this form of the Goddess is invoked and worshipped. Like Shiva, Goddess Durga is also ascribed many characteristics. However, the main theme of all of these is feminine power. She represents the energy of God as Parasakti. She is the mother who gave birth (Hiranyagarbha) to this universe. She is the one who operates it and she is the one who consumes it in herself. She is worshiped as the primordial power and is called 'Adya' or 'Adi-Shakti'. She represents the inner energy of God. The powerfully enraged forms of Durga are worshipped as Kali and Chandi, where she is represented as the slayer of demons who wreaked terror in the universe. As Bhagawati , she is worshipped as the giver of everything, the protector of the feminine aspect, and as the doting mother by her devotees.
There are thousnds of forms of Durga as slokas glorify, but the most populr worshipful form of Durga is the Sakti form seated on lion with eight hands that carry WMD from Brahma, Vishnu and Siva ready to fight Evil in the form of Asura.
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्येशिवेसर्वार्थसाधिके। शरण्येत्र्यम्बकेगौरिनारायणिनमोऽस्तुते॥
Sarva-Mangala-Maangalye Shive Sarvaartha-Saadhike | Sharannye Trya[i-A]mbake Gauri Naaraayani Namo[ah-A]stu Te ||
Salutations
to You O Narayani, Who is the Auspiciousness in All the
Auspicious; Auspiciousness Herself; Complete with All the Auspicious
Attributes; and Who fulfills All the Objectives of the Devotees
(Purusharthas - Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha); Who is the Giver of
Refuge; With Three Eyes and a Shining Face; Salutations to You O Narayani.
You are familiar with the above hymn in your daily worship. But please chant also the rare auspicious hymn on Narayani sent through courtesy with greetings by Murali-dharan Krishnan for Vijayadasami 2020.
Please also find attached Saraswati Rahasya Upanishad in Sanskrit with translation and explanation. No transliteration has been made. Devi Sharada also known as Kasmirapurivasini and Sringerivasini, is another aspect of Sarasvati mentioned in this Upanishad which is dated between 12th and 15th Century. Her temples are seen in both the places where her shrines are worshiped.
May the festival of Dussehra usher in the victory over the COVID 19 and Multi Headed Ignorance by claiming the transcendental knowledge in our lives through rare hymns like this!
MESSAGE FROM SINGAPORE
Greetings and Namaste. As Navaratri concludes with Vijaya Dashami tomorrow (Monday, 26-Oct-2020), I am delighted to share a rare Sri Narayani Stotram by Manu taken from Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, Skandha 8 and Chapter 1.
In this chapter, Sage Narada requests Sage Vyasa to bestow a hymn which is capable of destroying Maya, Moha, etc. Sage Vyasa in turn gives the attached hymn which was given to him by Lord Narayana. Lord Narayana tells Sage Vyasa that this hymn was created by Manu prior to starting the work of creation.
Pleased with the prayer, Goddess Narayani grants all wishes of Manu and declares that one who recites this hymn gets erudition, progeny, perfection, fame, charm, wealth, grains, indefatigability, victory, happiness and never gets defeated by enemies.May We Pray to Goddess Narayani with this beautiful hymn!
--October 25, 2020
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Sharing Insights of Indian scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita with youngsters
Here is an exciting message for you to Arise Awake and Act to share the insights of Hindu Scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita for youngsters. Don't miss the unique opportunity
The complex and profound philosophy of the Geeta is presented in a style that parents and elders can digest and in turn explain to their children by Swami Chinmayananda in his booklet Gita for Chidren. This book is like a crash course on the divine book of Gita. I believe Swami Chinmayanada has written this essentially for adults to gain an understanding about the ‘Song of the Celestial’. The intent is that the adults can transmit it to the kids to acquire basic understanding of Vedanta. The subject matter, however is complex even for adults like me to comprehend, to be frank. One needs to continually delve into the Gita again and again to manage to grasp even a few concepts of this divine book properly. After going through it several times as a parent and grandparent as well as prompted by request from several parents of our Baal Vihar School of Sri Ganesha temple Nashville I have selected 100 slokas from Gita, grouped them under different topics and rendered them with easy delivery for quick consumption by young scholars of Baal Vihar School of of age group 14 and above after gaining sufficient knowledge of Hindu Scriptures. In this, I have also taken considerable help from Gita Trishati Manual of Kalpatharu Research Academy of Sharada Peetham of Sringeri Shankar Math. I do accept it is easily said than done as Gita is a compendium of Upanishads discussed between the Universal person Bhagawan and an ardent knowledgeable student Arjuna. It is therefore left to Urban Monks like Swami Chidananda to make my ambition easier to take it to enlighten young scholars. I believe Swami Chinmaynanda when he presented Gita for Children had in mind “We are all Children of Immortal Bliss”. Here are few of my humble devoted attempts in rendering Gita for quick consumption and easy delivery. How good it is only Swami Chidanandji can tell if he can find time to go through it and guide me better also.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2011/08/wisdom-of-vedaanta-in-geetaa-forty.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2011/08/shatasloekee-geetaa.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2019/10/teaching-vedanta-to-children-and-adults.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2020/07/hindu-american-thoughts-on-national.html
Message from FOWAI Forum
“Inauguration of Wisedemy - a dedicated YouTube channel to disseminate wisdom amongst young people
We at FOWAI FORUM are happy to encourage WISEDEMY in its initiative to share the insights of Indian scriptures like the Bhagavad Geeta with youngsters. Let us all at FOWAI FORUM, do our best to support this enterprise of WISEDEMY.
Please find here the invitation to the inauguration of YouTube Channel of WISEDEMY:
We believe that every Indian child has a birthright to assimilate the life lessons of great heroes and wise men like Shri Rāma (in Vālmiki Rāmāyana), Shri Krishna(in the immortal Geetā), Bhishma, Yudhisthir, Vidura in the Mahābhārata), Chānakya(In the Arthashāstra) and Vishnu Gupta (Panchatantra) etc.
Young people will be able to absorb the life skills, soft skills and co-curricular skills based on Indian ethos and develop the mental sharpness, powers of concentration and stamina required to study his or her regular subjects more effectively as also view them in the right perspective.
To ensure that the best of these insights reach the keen students of the gen-next, we intend to provide this wisdom online in a form that is easy to connect for the younger generation.
We are fortunate to have the guidance of Shri Swāmi Chidānanda in this activity and he has also kindly consented to inaugurate the channel by delivering a keynote address.
This will be beamed on the auspicious occasion of Vijayādashami 26 Oct 2020 at 7 PM IST. Zoom meeting details are as follows:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84267910153? And pwd=bWRMQ1ZKdm5uZEFmdVJGRDgyNGZ5QT09
Meeting ID: 842 6791 0153
Passcode: 585863
The patrons of FOWAI FORUM have always chosen to enrich their lives with the highest wisdom. This is their chance to ensure that they pass on this gift of right guidance to the younger generation by doing following:
a. Nominate at least five young persons(between ages 14 years to 28 years) and motivate them to subscribe for YouTube channel Wisedemy and watch the programme on 26 Oct 20.
b. Parallelly send the information to mail: ID enrolment@winnerlifeskills.in (name, email ID and age of the persons nominated).
c. Forward this email to at least 50 contacts in order to get more viewership from young people for the channel starting 26 Oct 20.
We are quite sure that they will gain from the knowledge that is on offer and grow to make valuable contributions towards nation building.”
--October 25, 2020
Comment:
Nice to have resources
--Dr. Vedavyas
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VIJAYA DASHAMI 2020
Dussehra is observed on the Dashami Tithi, Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of the Moon) in the month of Ashwin. This year Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami will be celebrated on October 25 as per the Gregorian calendar,
However, in West Bengal and other eastern states, Vijaya Dashami shall be observed on October 26. The immersion or visarjan of the deities shall take place on this day. Our Ganesha Temple in Nashville is also celebrating Vijaya Dashami on October 26. Vijayadashami celebrations include processions to a river or ocean front that involve carrying clay statues of Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, accompanied by music and chants, after which the images are immersed in the water for dissolution and farewell. The immersion ceremony symbolizes the end of the goddess's annual sojourn to her paternal home and she returns to her husband Lord Shiva at their heavenly abode in Mount Kailash with her family members.
The nine-day long festival of Sharada Navratri in the month of Ashwin, Shukla Paksha that pays ode to Mother Goddess Durga concludes with Vijaya Dashami, also known as Dussehra. This auspicious day is also associated with Shri Rama. It was on this day that the son of King Dasharatha eliminated Ravana, who represented evil.
Though the festival of Dussehra is associated with two different legends, the common thing is that it celebrates the victory of good over evil. On this day, Goddess Durga put an end to a demon named Mahishasura's tyranny by killing him with her trident in a battle that lasted for nine days. Lanka's demon-king named Ravana also met the same fate as Mahishasura at the hands of Shri Rama. Thus, the Mother Goddess and Maryada Purushottam established Dharma and restored peace by ending chaos and destruction.
Shri Rama's victory over Ravana is recreated annually on this day in several parts of the country, and this tradition is referred to as Ravana Dahan. Devotees flock to see burning giant effigies of Ravana, his son Meghnad (Indrajeet), and brother Kumbhakarna. An artist dressed as Lord Rama holds a bow and fires arrows at the effigies to burn them into ashes. This ritual symbolizes the destruction of evil.
During Dussehra, artists also take part in a play based on Tulsidas' Ramcharitmanas, and this is famous as Ramlila. Interestingly, it finds a mention in UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
Vijayadashami is celebrated as victory of Lord Rama over Demon Ravana and also triumph of Goddess Durga over the buffalo Demon Mahishasura. Vijayadashami is also known as Dussehra or Dasara. In Nepal Dasara is celebrated as Dashain.
Shami Puja, Aparajita Puja (अपराजितापूजा) and Seema Avalanghan (सीमाअवलंघन or सीमोल्लंघन) are some of the rituals which are followed on the day of Vijayadashami. According to Hindu division of the day, these rituals should be done during Aparahna time.
Buddhists people celebrate this day as Ashok Vijayadashami, as it is believed that Mauryan King Ashoka was converted to Buddhism on this day. It’s also the day that Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar converted to Buddhism in 1956, which fell on 14 October that year.
In this context I would like to bring to your attention a speech by Sughosh Nagendr of International Sai Association, Abu Dhabi that may interest our Sai Devotee Participants in particular:
“Vijayadashami is Victory of Good over Evil of 2020
Navaratri festival is celebrated from ancient times as a mode of worship of Devi, the Divine Mother. Vijaya Dashami commemorates the day Goddess Durga appeared, riding a lion, to slay the buffalo demon, Mahisasura.
Vijayadashami is the day that follows the nine days of Navratri. Vijayadashami is a composite of two words "vijaya" and "dashami", which is the festival of celebration of victory of good over evil on the tenth day. Dasara is a compound Sanskrit word composed of "dasham" and "hara" meaning "evil" and "destroying."
The first day of Navaratri has another special significance to Sai devotees. Shirdi Sai Baba was born on this day in 1838. His Maha Samadhi occurred on Vijayadashami day in 1918. Swami has said, “The two bodies are different, but the Divinity is one. The first advent was revealing Divinity. The second advent is to awaken the Divinity (in human beings). The next advent is for propagating Divinity. The three Sai's are: Shirdi Sai, Sathya Sai and Prema Sai.” (Divine Discourse: September 28, 1990)
Vijaya Dashami is also the day on which Lord Rama killed the 10-headed demon king Ravana, who had abducted Lord Rama's consort Mother Sita, and it signaled the victory of good over evil.
The tenth day of celebration, Navratri is replete with symbolism about vanquishing evil and wanton nature, and about having reverence for all aspects of life. The nine days of Navratri are classified as per the three basic qualities of tamas, rajas and sattva. First three days are tamas, where the goddess is fierce, like Durga and Kali, next three days are rajas which is related to Lakshmi who bestows wealth and material comforts and the last three days are related to sattva dedicated to goddess Saraswati who bestows knowledge and enlightenment.
After Navratri, the tenth and final day is Vijayadashami. We go beyond all the qualities to attain liberation from the cycle of birth and death. This also means we are making progressive steps constantly in conquering all these three qualities. With the guiding principles of sathya, dharma, shanti, prema and ahimsa, we never give into any one of them i.e., tamas, rajas, sattva.
Over the past many decades, the festival of Dasara or Navratri in Prasanthi Nilayam has been closely associated with the "Veda Purusha Sapthaha Jnana Yagna", the week-long sacrificial ritual conducted in the Divine Presence, for the welfare of the whole world.
What should one do during these ten days of the Navaratri festival?
- Intensify our yearning for God.
- Sincerely practice the five fundamental human values.
- Get rid of our negative qualities and purify our heart.
- Live in unity, realize our innate divinity and the divinity inherent in everyone.
Let us then resolve as follows:
This Vijayadashami, I promise to revere the earth I walk upon, Love Mother Earth plus keep her clean by adoring her at all times, constantly remind myself to Love All and Serve All at all times, honor and respect all religions, make efforts to experience the oneness by seeing the world as one happy family (Vasudaiva Kutumbakam), be an exemplary citizen, and ensure to always speak obligingly, curb hatred and become self-reliant.
May Mother Parasakti shower Her choicest blessings on all of us!”
The time for the celebration of the victory of the good over the evil has arrived. Let's continue the same spirit. Wish this Dussehra of 2020 with perfect vision brings devotion, determination and dedication in your life. Happy Dusshera 20/20 of 2020!
TRINIDAD HINDUS CELEBRATE NAVARATHRI WITH REVERENCE
|
PORT-OF-SPAIN,
TRINIDAD/TOBAGO, October 20, 2020 (HPI by Paras Ramoutar): Amid the dreaded
Covid-19 Pandemic, Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago, as indeed, the world over,
are observing the Hindu religious of observance of Navaratri, Saturday Oct 17
to October 24, indoors or in their homes. Navaratri holds deep spiritual and
cultural significance to Hindus. Hindus always pray for their fellowmen
regardless of their ethnic or cultural or economic status. We pray and seek
the blessings and guidance of Mother Durga, Mother Lakshmi and Mother
Saraswati to bestow blessings that would bring peace, progress, health,
wisdom and prosperity to all of us. |
October 24, 2020
Webinar-185 REFLECTIONS ON GOD
We have discussed on this important topic in several of my E-mails in the past. However, I would like to bring the following to your consideration that I have discussed. We have discussed the entire work Saddrshana by Ramana Maharshi earlier.
“All that is real in me is God; all that is real in God is I. The gulf between God and me is thu bridged. Thus, by knowing God, we find that the kingdom of heaven is within us. As long as we believe ourselves to be even the least different from God, fear remains with us; but when we know ourselves to be the One, fear goes; of what can we be afraid?”
There is no God separate from you, no God higher than you, the real 'you'. All the gods are little beings to you, all the ideas of God and Father in heaven are but your own reflection. God Himself is your image. 'God created man after His own image.' That is wrong. Man creates God after his own image. That is right. Throughout the universe we are creating gods after our own image. We create the god and fall down at his feet and worship him; and when this dream comes, we love it!”
-- Swami Vivekananda
“In Advaita Vedanta God is never an object!
When God is not an object, the question of description does not arise.
How can we describe something that is not an object?
God is not something that is perceived by our senses. God is not something that can be imagined!
Is it possible for any animal to imagine the concept of a religion or a creator?
Is it ever possible for a computer to visualize its creator?
The human being is always curious to know God and in the bargain falls into the grip of dogmas.
Advaita Vedanta says, “Instead of looking for God outside as an object, sit quietly and introspect.
Who is this person introspecting?”
This introspecting subject is like a salt doll which jumped in to gauge the depth of ocean but never surfaced again to declare the ocean’s depth.
‘Realizing -God’ is not a process to be undertaken. The state of the ‘wholesale emptying’ of everything that this physical body/mind with its five senses has acquired as conditioning during its life on this earth, is a prerequisite to realize this subject ‘God’.
God is a subjective state devoid of any sensory memory!
It is the very existence of the seeker and consciousness of this existence. Consciousness-Existence is the ultimate substratum which forms the backdrop of this moving universe.
This unmoving stable backdrop is indeed ‘YOU,’ the ultimate “I” consciousness that appears as soon as we wake up from a deep slumber.
Consciousness-Existence devoid of any externality is ‘God’, if you insist on the name ‘God’.
Otherwise, strictly speaking, you are not there to utter the word ‘God’ when you are already ‘God’!”
--Dr R N Sreenathan, Director Chinmaya International Foundation, Vedantin; Neuroscientist.
Buddhist believe that their highest aim is to end cycle of rebirth. They believe living beings take birth after death due to karma. Many people don't define Buddhism as a religion. The most common definition of religion is a faith-based belief in something supernatural, whether this be a god, ancestor spirits, ghosts, or some form of afterlife or reincarnation. From what I've learnt of Buddhism, I would define it as a philosophy that sprang out of Sanatana Dharma that is Science of Upanishads. It is just silent on God that is being misunderstood as negation. So also, is Jainism. Jainism and Buddhism are part of shramaan tradition of India and can be said one of the oldest that are silent on existence of creator and super natural power and are not as vehement and vociferous as Chakravaka with his non-existent God philosophy!
In this context please go through the text by Subhash Kak;
“The Self-No-self dichotomy means that the philosophical foundations of Hinduism and Buddhism are different. In Hinduism, consciousness (ātman) is primary and at the analytical level it is different from matter. In Buddhism, on the other hand, consciousness is a phenomenon that emerges on the ground of the body although it survives in the chain of influences it engenders. .
Therefore, it will surprise many that this dichotomy of ātman versus anātman was declared false by the Buddha on his last day of life. He said:
“The Self (ātman) is reality (tattva), the Self is permanent (nitya), the Self is virtue (guṇa), the Self is eternal (śāśvatā), the Self is stable (dhruva), and the Self is auspiciousness (śiva).”Other adjectives used by the Buddha for the Self are “sovereign” (aiśvarya), “unchanging” (avipariṇāma), and “true” (satya).
These are precisely the “attributes” associated with the Self (ātman) in the Vedas. The attribute aiśvarya implies agency and brings to mind Īśvara, or Śiva. Īśvara is the free mind who has access to “transcendental knowing” or lokkottara-jñāna, which explains how Śiva-Maheśvara was integrated into worship in many parts of the Buddhist world.---
--Subhash Kak
Jainism considers the devīs and devas to be souls who dwell in heavens owing to meritorious deeds in their past lives. These souls are in heavens for a fixed lifespan and even they have to undergo reincarnation as humans to achieve moksha.
Thus, there are infinite gods in Jainism, all equivalent, liberated, and infinite in the manifestation of all attributes.
Jain scriptures reject God as the creator of the universe. Further, it asserts that no god is responsible or causal for actions in the life of any living organism. Ācārya Hemacandra in the 12th century put forth the Jain view of the universe in the Yogaśāstra says: This universe is not created nor sustained by anyone; It is self-sustaining, without any base or support.
I hope this background notes would help you to grasp Swamiji's speech better, delivered through Webinar.
Gist of the Presentation:
All the ‘great religions’ of the world, with the exceptions like Buddhism and Jainism, have God as the center-- One who dispenses the results of all our actions, good or bad. Questions regarding His form or looks, His presence in some particular place like heaven or everywhere, the value of worshipping Him and His ultimate relationship with the created beings are of great importance in understanding religion and spirituality. This webinar examines certain prominent aspects of the theory of God in the Advaita Vedānta, with some references to the teachings of Shri Ramana Maharshi.
References:
That Lord, having created this universe…… sa bhagavān sṛṣṭvā idam jagat
The first sentence in Ᾱdi Shankara’s commentary on Geetā.
All religions talk of God as the Cause of this world and of the individual souls: --sarvair-nidānam jagato’hamascha (Saddarshanam, Verse 3)
--October 23, 2020
JNANASAKTI SARASVATI (KNOWLEDGE) WORSHIP PROMOTES UNIVERSAL ONENESS OF VIVEKANANDA
The earliest known mention of Sarasvati as a goddess is in the Rigveda. She has remained significant as a goddess from the Vediperiod whenen Jainism and Buddhism did not exist, through modern times of Dharma based religious traditions. In fact, no religion followed today by the world existed then. The fight was dharma against Adharma and Jnana against Ajnana! The Goddess is revered by believers of Hindu Religion, the Jain religion of West and Central India as well as some Buddhist sects.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/10/worship-of-sarasvati-goddess-of-wisdom.html
Both Rishabha and Buddha ruled as kings during Vedic Period and turned as earliest philosophers like later Sankara, Ramanuja, Madhva and others. They did not start Jainism and Buddhism but the followers of them did building powerful sectarian religious walls like Abrahamic religions. While these disintegrations took place, gradually influenced by Vivekananda’s propagation of Vedanta Religion and Universal Oneness Hindu Americans have started the integration process by installing the idols of Mahavira and Buddha in Hindu Temples and celebrating their Jayantis. Unfortunately., Goddess Savitri is denied Devi worship in most temples being tied up as consort of Brahma whose idols are not worshiped. Of late Sringeri Math has popularized Goddess Sarasvati worship in temples and most recently Kashmir Sarada Peeth is becoming popular as the most sacred temple of worship. In this context Sarasvati Puja during Vasanta Navaratri and Sharada Navaratri should be quite attractive enough as Universal binding force of worship for all Dharma based religions promoting the Vedic mandate of “sanghacchadvam samvadadvam samanamaakootih” and unite together and set an example to followers of Abrahamic religions who are often fighting with each other though of same origin. In this context please review the veneration of Goddess Sarasvati in Jainism and Buddhism and also go through my discourse on Savitri cited above and
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2020/09/need-for-eternal-dharma-based-hinduism.html
SARASVATI IN JAINISM
Saraswati is also revered in Jainism as goddess of knowledge and regarded as source of all learning. Saraswati is depicted in standing posture with 4 hands, one holding text, other holding a rosary and two hands holding Veena. Saraswati is seated on lotus with peacock as her vehicles.
Goddess Sarasvati’s worship has been prevalent since ancient time in Indian culture. Goddess Sarasvati has significant role in Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism too. Jains usually worship deva, shastra and guru. All the Jaina canons were considered pious in Jainism as it is speech of Teerthankara and thus all canons written are called Agam. Sarasvati is better known as Sruta Devi in Jainism as it is a form of “Speech of Teerthankara”. There is an oldest Sarasvati sculpture excavated from Mathura Kankali mound. Scholars successfully identified this sculpture as Jain Sarasvati as it is excavated from a Jain site. This sculpture is headless with bent knees sitting posture. Left hand contains a book which is waist leveled. Right hand is palm less but remnant mala is clearly visible in this hand. Sarasvati is seated on a rectangular base which contains information to be carved in year 132 AD. Scholars are agreed to assign it Kushan era sculpture. This is the earliest depiction of Sarasvati in Jaina as well as Hindu tradition. It seems that literary work had begun for Jains in Kushan era that's why Sarasvati is sculptured and worshiped.
A relief sculpture in Asian Civgilizations Museum depicts Sarasvati, the goddess of learning, knowledge and music of 11thy cent6ury A.D. She is standing and four-armed, holding a manuscript, which identifies her. Although a relief sculpture it is deeply carved and almost three-dimensional. A jina sits at the apex of the stele which associates her with the Jain religion.She is better known as a Hindu goddess and consort of Brahma, but the cult of Sarasvati is very popular in Jainism, where knowledge is the most important means to salvation. Named for the Sarasvati River which, in ancient times, was as important as the Ganges and the Yamuna. Although the Sarasvati receded into a smaller river the goddess continued to play an important role in Indian religions.
“In Jainism Saraswati recognized as supreme deity of knowledge and wisdom. Hence Jinvani Maa is worshiped as Saraswati Mata.
जलचंदन अक्षत फल चरु, अरु दीप धूप अति फल लावै; पूजा को ठानत जो तुम जानत, सो नर द्यानत सुख पावै.
O’ Goddess Sarasvati, with my prayer, I offer water, sandalwood, rice, flowers, sweets, oil lamp, incense and fruits together, so my inner self is cleansed.
तीर्थंकरकी ध्वनि, गण धर ने सुनि, अंग रचे चुनि ज्ञान मई; सो जिनवर वानी, शिव सुख दानी, त्रिभुवन-मानी पूज्य मई.
O’ Goddess Sarasvati, meditation on your divine voice grants heavenly knowledge of salvation and wisdom. O’ Goddess, I pray in your name and bow before you.”
--Deepa Jain, Assistant consultant at Tata Consultancy Services
YAKSHINI SARASVATI DEVI
Sarasvati, the goddess of knowledge, is considered to be the source of all learning. This divine energy is the source of spiritual light, remover of all ignorance and promoter of all knowledge. She is respected and adored by all faiths, worldly persons and saints. She has four arms, one holding a book, the other a rosary and two hands holding a musical instrument Veena. Her seat is a lotus and the peacock is her vehicle representing equanimity in prosperity. In some places it is mentioned that the swan is her vehicle.
(Information has been taken from the book "Jain symbols, Ceremonies and Practices" by Pramodaben Chitrabhanu.)
SARASVATI IN BUDDHISM
Saraswati is the Divine Embodiment & bestower of Enlightened Eloquence & Inspiration, patroness of the arts, sciences, music, language, literature, history, poetry & philosophy, all those engaged in creative endeavours in Tibetan Buddhism. She is considered the peaceful manifestation of Palden Lhamo (Glorious Goddess)Saraswati became a prominent deity in Buddhist iconography – the consort of Manjushri in 1st millennium CE. In some instances such as in the Sadhanamala of Buddhist pantheon, she has been symbolically represented similar to regional Hindu iconography, but unlike the more well-known depictions of Saraswati
Siddharta’s Contemplation on Savitri
Despite his father’s efforts to hide from him the sick, aged and suffering the moment Buddha was exposed to them at age 29 his life collapsed seized by its impermanence. This is the moment when “fail all Nature’s means” of Buddha:
“An absolute supernatural darkness fall
On man sometimes when he draws near to God:
An hour comes when fail all Nature’s means;
Forced out from the protecting Ignorance
And flung back on his naked primal need,
He at length must cast from him his surface soul
And be the ungeared entity within:
That hour had fallen now on Savitri. || 3.6 ||
--Aurobindo on Buddha
Sarasvati (Tibetan:Yanchenma; dbyangs can ma)
As the goddess of learning and arts, Sarasvati (also spelled Saraswati) is in many ways a counterpart to Manjushri, the male Bodhisattva of discriminating wisdom.
Sarasvati is a peaceful yidam who holds a vina (a sitar-like lute) on her lap; she also sometimes holds a text.
She is white-coloured with one face, two eyes, and two arms.
A thangka reproduction can be seen on Dharma Publishing's Sacred Art site.
There is also a Hindu deity named Sarasvati with near-identical attributes.
She is sometimes connected to Palden Lhamo, who may be regarded as Sarasvati in wrathful form. (see her desceiption in My article Neela Sarasvati)
She is the Hindu goddess at the beginning, were afterwards led into Tibetan Buddhism, also called Fairy of Wonderful Sound.
Her body is very spotless white and her black hair is coiled on her head decorated with flowers.
She is wearing celestial clothes and the skirt in five colours.
Her left hand is holding Pipa-Lute and her right hand is picking it.
The music is so sweet that is can touch the heart of every living creature both in the heaven and in the world.
People of ancient times, being deficient in intelligence, prayed to the Buddhas.
The power of these Buddhas arose in the form of this goddess.
Tibetan Buddhism holds that anyone who rely on her with faith will find their wisdom becoming sharper, and their wishes for clarity of mind, accuracy of memory, and so forth will be fulfilled.
--Chinese Buddhist Encyclopedia
According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Tara emanated from the tear of Avalokiteshvara. Once Avalokiteshvara liberated all beings from the lower realms and an instant later saw that the lower realms were again filled with suffering beings. Saddened, a tear fell from his eye and from it sprang Green Tara. Both Avalokiteshvara and Tara embody the principle of compassion, one of the three main aspects of enlightened mind: compassion, wisdom and power.
Kwan Yin is generally explained as a Chinese feminine equivalent of Avalokiteshvara, who manifested to help all those suffering on earth. Thus, Tara is understood to be essence of Compassion. She is seen in Tibetan Buddhism as a compassionate savior who rescues devotees from peril. Both Amitabha and Avalokitesvara are renowned for their great compassion and Tara fits into this family.
In contrast to the Buddhist Tara who is described as a benevolent, compassionate, gentle and spirited young woman, eager to help and to protect, Tara as Mahavidya is a rather fearsome goddess striking terror. She is also moody and harmful. But at times, Tara-Mahavidya can also be benevolent and compassionate.
Like Durga, Tara is often said to rescue her bhaktas from desperate predicaments. Folk stories and legends show her typically appearing at the requests of her devotees to rescue them from jaws of sufferings. Tara is approached as one who protects, preserves and saves life. But Tibetan legends affirm that Tara is Tibetan connected to Tibetan royal line; a historical or legendary queen and mother.
--October 23, 2020
COMMENTS:
Thank you, Srinivasan for the very informative article. Love and good wishes.
--BRG Iyengar
SHARADA NAVARATRI SARSWATHI PUJA IN DIFFERENT TRADITIONS
In South India Saraswati Puja is done on Sunday, October 25, 2020
Vidyarambham Ceremony on Monday, October 26, 2020
Navami Tithi Begins - 06:58 AM on Oct 24, 2020
Navami Tithi Ends - 07:41 AM on Oct 25, 2020
In South India, Saraswati Puja is done on the last day of Navaratri and it is observed on the same day as Ayudha Puja. On the next day of Saraswati Puja children between the age of 4 and 5 go through Vidyarambham ceremony.
However, in the Northern and the Western India, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped for four days during Navratri. The Puja starts with Saraswati Avahan which is followed by Saraswati Puja, Saraswati Balidan and Saraswati Visarjan.
Maha Saraswati
In some regions of India, such as Vindhya, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam, as well as east Nepal, Saraswati is part of the Devi Mahatmya mythology, in the trinity (Tridevi) of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. This is one of many different Hindu legends that attempts to explain how the Hindu trinity of gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) and goddesses (Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati) came into being. Various Purana texts offer alternate legends for Maha Saraswati.
Maha Saraswati is depicted as eight-armed and is often portrayed holding a Veena whilst sitting on a white lotus flower.
Her dhyāna shloka given at the beginning of the fifth chapter of Devi Mahatmya is: Wielding in her lotus-hands the bell, trident, ploughshare, conch, pestle, discus, bow, and arrow, her luster is like that of a moon shining in the autumn sky. She is born from the body of Gauri and is the sustaining:
Dhyanasloka
of Chapter V of Devi Mahatmya:
ghaṇṭāśūlahalāni śaṅkha musale
cakraṃ dhanuḥ sāyakaṃ
hastābjairdhadatīṃ ghanāntavilasacChītāṃśutulyaprabhāṃ
gaurī deha samudbhavāṃ trijagatāṃ ādhārabhūtāṃ mahā
pūrvāmatra sarasvatī manubhaje śumbhādidaityārdinīṃ‖
Mahasaraswati is also part of another legend, the Navshaktis (not to be confused with Navdurgas), or nine forms of Shakti, namely Brahmi, Vaishnavi, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Varahi, Narsimhi, Aindri, Shivdooti, and Chamunda, revered as powerful and dangerous goddesses in Eastern India. They have special significance on Navaratri in these regions. All of these are seen ultimately as aspects of a single great Hindu goddess, with Maha Saraswati as one of those nine.
Mahavidya Nila Saraswati
In Tibet and parts of India, Nilasaraswati is sometimes considered as a form of Mahavidya Tara. Nila Saraswati is not much a different deity from traditional Saraswati, who subsumes her knowledge and creative energy in tantric literature. Though the traditional form of Saraswaticalled Veena Saraswati is of calm, compassionate, and peaceful one: Nila Sarasvati is the ugra (angry, violent, destructive) manifestation in one school of Hinduism, while the more common Saraswati is the saumya (calm, compassionate, productive) manifestation found in most others. In tantric literature of the former, Nilasaraswati has 100 names. There are separate dhyana shlokas and mantras for her worship in Tantrasara. She is worshiped in parts of India as an incarnate or incarnation of Goddess Tara but mostly outside India. She is not only worshipped but also been manifested as a form of Goddess Saraswati.
In South India Saraswati puja is observed on Sunday, October 25, 2020
Vidyarambham Ceremony on Monday, October 26, 2020
Navami Tithi Begins - 06:58 AM on Oct 24, 2020
Navami Tithi Ends - 07:41 AM on Oct 25, 2020
In South India, Saraswati Puja is done on the last day of Navratri and it is observed on the same day as Ayudha Puja. On the next day of Saraswati Puja children between the age of 4 and 5 go through Vidyarambham ceremony.
However, in the Northern and the Western India, Goddess Saraswati is worshipped for four days during Navratri. The Puja starts with Saraswati Avahan which is followed by Saraswati Puja, Saraswati Balidan and Saraswati Visarjan.
Maha Saraswati
In some regions of India, such as Vindhya, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam, as well as east Nepal, Saraswati is part of the Devi Mahatmya mythology, in the trinity (Tridevi) of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati. This is one of many different Hindu legends that attempts to explain how the Hindu trinity of gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) and goddesses (Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati) came into being. Various Purana texts offer alternate legends for Maha Saraswati.
Maha Saraswati is depicted as eight-armed and is often portrayed holding a Veena whilst sitting on a white lotus flower.
Her dhyāna shloka given at the beginning of the fifth chapter of Devi Mahatmya is: Wielding in her lotus-hands the bell, trident, ploughshare, conch, pestle, discus, bow, and arrow, her luster is like that of a moon shining in the autumn sky. She is born from the body of Gauri and is the sustaining base of the three worlds.
Mahasaraswati is also part of another legend, the Navshaktis (not to be confused with Navdurgas), or nine forms of Shakti, namely Brahmi, Vaishnavi, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Varahi, Narsimhi, Aindri, Shivdooti, and Chamunda, revered as powerful and dangerous goddesses in Eastern India. They have special significance on Navaratri in these regions. All of these are seen ultimately as aspects of a single great Hindu goddess, with Maha Saraswati as one of those nine.
Mahavidya Nila Saraswati
In Tibet and parts of India, Nilasaraswati is sometimes considered as a form of Mahavidya Tara. Nila Saraswati is not much a different deity from traditional Saraswati, who subsumes her knowledge and creative energy in tantric literature. Though the traditional form of Saraswat called Veena Saraswati is of calm, compassionate, and peaceful one, Nila Sarasvati is the ugra (angry, violent, destructive) manifestation in one school of Hinduism, while the more common Saraswati is the saumya (calm, compassionate, productive) manifestation found in most others. In tantric literature of the former, Nila Saraswathi has 100 names. There are separate dhyana shlokas and mantras for her worship in Tantrasara. She is worshipped in parts of India as an incarnate or incarnation of Goddess Tara but mostly outside India. She is not only worshipped but also been manifested as a form of Goddess Saraswati.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/10/worship-of-sarasvati-goddess-of-wisdom.html
--October 22, 2020
AYUDHA PUJA IS A PUBLIC RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY IN SOUTH INDIA
The Sharada Navaratri started on October 17, 2020 this year and will end on October 25, 2020. The Sharada Navratri startsed right after Adhikamas and the Adhikamas ended on October 16. Ayudha Puja is a Hindu festival observed as a regional public holiday in some Southern Indian states. Also known as Astra Puja in states like Odisha, this holiday is celebrated on the ninth day of Navaratri every year. This is celebrated on October 25, in India in 2020. It is a great day for worship and celebration by industrial labor who also eagerly look forward to gifts including bonus in recognition of their hard work during the whole year. Ayudha Puja is mainly in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala. Ayudha Puja is done on Navami Tithi during Navratri. Most of the time, it falls on Maha Navami during Navratri.
In Karnataka, the celebration is for killing of the demon king Mahishasura by goddess Durga. After slaying of the demon king, the weapons were kept out for worship. This is done on Durgashtami day in many traditions. It is said that Arjuna, retrieved his weapons of war from the hole in the Shami tree during this period where he had hidden it before proceeding on the forced exile. After completing his vanvas (exile period) of 13 years including one year of Ajnatavas (living incognito) before embarking on the warpath against the Kauravas he retrieved his weapons. In the Kurukshetra war that ensued, Arjuna was victorious. This event is celebrated as the worship of Divine WMD on Ayudha Puja Day.
Historically Ayudha Puja was meant to worship weapons and machines but in its present form all sort of instruments and equipment are worshipped on the very same day including musical instruments. In South India it is a day when craftsmen worship their tools and instruments similar to Vishwakarma Puja in other parts of India. The tools and instruments that are worshiped on this festival involve many common and seemingly mundane tools and implements used in everyday life, such as computers, books, cars, or kitchen tools.
Devotees will clean their instruments, tools machines and vehicles before performing puja (worship). Shopkeepers and businessmen will clean their shops and offices and even students get in on the act by cleaning their books. In factories machines are cleaned and lubricated. They also give a day of rest to all those objects worshiped giving it a day of rest in reverence.
The aim is to see the divine in everything, notably those things used in one's livelihood. It is believed that this day is also a blessed-one for anyone who cleans and worships their tools on this day.
In the traditions of Dussehra and Durga Puja, both culminate in the victor defeating evil in a final battle. It is easy then to see how this festival developed, as before fighting in any battle, just like Rama and Durga, it is important to ensure your weapons are clean and in the best working condition.
In ancient India, when conflicts between kingdoms were commonplace, the fighting would normally take place at this time of the year as the monsoon period has passed making it easier to wage war. This meant it would be a good time for armies to take stock of their weapons to be ready for any forthcoming conflict.
On Ayudha Puja, devotees also worship Saraswati, the Goddess of Wisdom; Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth; and Durga, who is also known as the divine mother.
In its modern form Ayudha Puja has become Vahana Puja when people worship their vehicles including cars, scooters, and motor bikes. During Vahana Puja all sort of vehicles, which are in use, are decorated with vermilion, garlands, mango leaves and banana sapling and worshipped. Most significantly during Vahana Puja a white pumpkin is decorated with vermilion and turmeric and smashed in front of the vehicle as a custom to get rid of all sorts of evils. Ayudha Puja means 'worship of tools' and it is this unique custom that names the day.
In South India most calendars mark Saraswati Puja along with Ayudha Puja. However according to most Dharma Shastras Saraswati Puja during Navratri is suggested during Purva Ashadha Nakshatra.
Philosophy behind Ayudha Puja
“In this universe, you can say ‘Nothing is significant’ or ‘Everything is significant.’ Both mean the same thing paradoxically! It is our perspective that varies. The remarkable aspect of life is that small, as well as big things, add meaning to our lives. So, a small needle has just as much utility as an aircraft. After all, you need it to stitch the clothes you are wearing. So, use and not size decide the value and meaning of things in our lives. Ayudha Puja recognizes this functionality and efficacy of tools, objects, and devices we use in our day-to-day life!
Ayudha Puja is the day we honor and express gratitude for all the instruments that add meaning to our life. It takes into consideration small things like pins, knives, scissors, and spanners as well as large devices such as computers, machinery, cars, and buses. In olden times, weapons used in war were worshipped as they were the means of defeating enemies. Reverence in ownership frees you from greed and jealousy. So, let us cultivate the skill of having reverence for every moment in life. Ayudha Puja is a time for doing just that – recognizing and honoring the utility of things in our life.
If we are filled with reverence for everything, life is so full. When we revere things, we indirectly worship the mind that conceived them. And our mind is nothing but divinity. All the thoughts that come to the mind to create an airplane, a camera or a microphone have all come from the same source, i.e., the Devi.
This is what we chant in the Chandi Homa performed on the eighth day of Navratri,
'Ya Devi sarva bhuteshu buddhi rupena samsthita.'--The Divine Goddess who resides in all beings in the form of intelligence, I bow down to You.
It succinctly describes that it is one divinity which manifests itself as the intellect in all beings. When we honor that intellect, we honor the Devi.
The utility in each device is recognized and honored as part of one Divinity. When we realize that everything is a part of divinity, deep rest comes to the mind.
This Navratri, brings our mhttp://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/09/hindu-american-way-of-labor-day.htmlind to deep fulfillment and rest by worshipping all that we have. Even the little things in our life hold the power to elevate us spiritually.”
--Words of wisdom from Gurudev Ravi Shankar
“Ayudha Pooja means, every implement that you use, whether it is in industry, agriculture or anything else, you approach it respectfully. But of all the instruments we use, the most fundamental instrument is our body and mind. Ayudha Pooja means to become reverential towards our own body and mind. If we become reverential towards something, reverence naturally brings a certain distance. If we become reverential towards our own body and mind, we will establish a clear distance between what are we and what is our body, and what are we and what is our mind. If there is a clear distinction between us and our body and mind, this is the end of suffering. Any suffering that we have known has entered us either through the body or the mind. If it is a living experience for us that we are not the body, we are not the mind, can suffering touch us? If there is a certain distance, it gives us the freedom to do whatever we want with life, but life leaves us untouched. It does not wound you in any way.”--Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/09/hindu-american-way-of-labor-day.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2013/10/hindu-worship-of-weapons-tools.html
--October 21, 2020
Navaratri Message: Worship of Threefold Justice of the Cosmos
Message from Swami Krishnanada on Navaratr, October 14, 1983:
Twice in a year, usually, the religious custom of India observes a unique festive worship in the name of the great Mother of the Universe, these two occasions of worship being called the Vasanta Navaratri and the Sharada Navaratri festivals. These seasonal changes in spring and autumn are generally periods when the body of the living being cannot easily adjust and accommodate itself with the changes of nature. People often fall ill during spring and autumn, one of the reasons for this phenomenon being the inability of the physical organism to adapt itself to the conditions of natural seasonal changes. The great Bestowed of bounty and the benefactor of all, the protective power of creation, is invoked as a remedy and a panacea for the ills of life, during these occasions especially.
These two periods of the year also happen to be an occasion of harvesting throughout India. In spring there is one kind of harvest, and in autumn there is another kind. It is a symbol of Dhanalakshmi, the divinity of prosperity, abundance, wealth and cattle, health and long life, and everything that we can consider as life’s magnificence. This is a natural and well-known reason behind the worship of the great Divine Power which is envisaged in religious devotion as something which is inseparably related to the protective forces that sustain all living beings.
The type of security and protection that we expect in this world of human beings is based on the humanly conceived notion of what is good and necessary for the welfare of all people. The insight of the ancient masters visualized the great power of divine protection as a threefold activity, designated in religious parlance as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.
The creation of the world is a threefold process taking place at the same time. Something originates, something is maintained in a particular position, and it gets transmuted into a condition which is the purpose of this very process. The universe is not a static, stale existence. It is a movement towards God.
The world appears to work like a machine, and there is a connection of the past with the future through the present, there is a transcendent element in the world. It is non-mechanistic, finally. From the point of view of biological studies, our body may be determined by the laws of biology; thus, we may say our body is a machine and it is mechanical. Also, from the point of view of one type of psychological study, our mental activity also can be considered to be mechanistic in its operation. Nevertheless, none of us are a machine. There is an element in us (Atman) which surpasses the mechanical activity of the body as well as of the mind.
This description of the internal processes of the human individual mentioned in these few words also applies to the cosmic process, where there is the coming, the maintenance and the destruction of all things; and God is the superintending principle directing this process, for a purpose which is He Himself. There is a terror in this world. It is not all beauty. That is Durga, a relentless direction for action for the fulfilment of the only purpose that can be justified in the world, and any other purpose is to be subsumed under this final purpose. So like the sword of Kalki, which is said to come sometime in the future, the weapons of Durga operate like the knives of the surgeon and the medicaments of the physician.
Wealth moves from one possessor to another possessor. People generally say that nobody keeps Lakshmi, or wealth, under one’s control perpetually or perennially, for eternity, and there is perhaps some truth in it. No one can possess all prosperity, inasmuch as the thing called prosperity belongs to no individual person. It is a general well-being of all things which appears to shift from individual to individual on account of the subjection of individuals to the process of transformation and change during evolution. Lakshmi is really not fickle, but appears to be moving from location to location on account of the human individual’s involvement in the process of evolution.
Tamas and rajas, fixity and action, are balanced by sattva, which is not actually one of the properties, as we are often told. It is a transcendent property. It balances the action and the operation of both tamas and rajas. Hence, it is inclusive of whatever is worthwhile and meaningful in the activities of tamas and rajas. The story of Saraswati in the Devi Mahatmya is, therefore, a transcendent description inclusive of all that is glorious and magnificent in the narrations concerning Durga and Lakshmi. So in our worships during the period of Navaratri, we worship the true God, and the untrue gods leave us one day or the other.
There was a great insight indeed in this institution of worships by the ancient masters, who created occasions at different periods of the year when we will be in a position to search our own hearts, to be true to our own selves, and thus be able to be true to others also. Therefore, in these worships we search our hearts, and bring our roots to the surface of our consciousness. We begin to see ourselves face to face as if in a mirror, and root out any hypocritical tendency that may be within us because Durga shall see them and destroy them for the sake of the coming in of Lakshmi, the prosperity which is true and sustaining, which can be possible only on illumination, which is equated with the coming of Saraswati, the goddess of learning—learning not in an academic or bookish sense, but in the sense of true wisdom and insight into the Truth of all things.
Also, we are accustomed to read a great meaning into this drama of the nine days of worship as an endeavor of the soul of man to overcome his bondage as involved in the processes, or gunas of prakriti—tamas, rajas and sattva. We fight, as it were, in this arduous sadhana which the whole of life is, and disentangle the soul from its involvement in the coming and going of things, samsara chakra, which is the process of birth and death, transmigration or metempsychosis. Whoever is involved in these gunas of prakriti shall have to come and go, and it cannot be avoided.
But the sadhana of the true spirit that is within us, the deepest soul that is in us, is and has to be a piercing endeavor to break through the fortress of gold, silver and iron—the Tripuras, as it is sometimes known in the Puranas, which were shot through by a single arrow by Rudra, Siva, who is known as Tripura Samhara. Many a name is given to this kind of involvement: avidya, kama, karma, granthi, tamas, rajas and sattva. We may call it the gold fort, the silver fort and the iron fort of the Tripuras, or Brahma-granthi, Vishnu-granthi and Rudra-granthi, or by any name. There seems to be a threefold involvement, which philosophers call the entanglement of the soul in prakriti—purusha involved in prakriti. This is shot through by the arrow of Rudra, and Rudra did not act singly. Brahma and Vishnu also combined with him in this action. We can read the story in the Siva Purana, and also in the Mahabharata, of how the Tripura Samhara took place, how Brahma, Vishnu and Siva jointly broke through the threefold fortress of the Tripuras, and there was the rejoicing of the gods. The gods regained their position, which means to say, the gods in our senses enter the Virat instead of getting locked up in our physical bodies, and liberation is attained. That is the success, the victory, the vijaya which is the tenth day, called Vijaydasami. Dasami is ‘the tenth day’, and vijaya is ‘victory’; therefore, it is the day of victory of the seeking spirit.
Many other connections are brought about in our narrations of the nine days’ worship and the tenth day’s Vijayadasami as having been the saga of the Ramayana, the destruction of Ravana by Rama, and many other things we read in the Puranas, all which finally focus upon a single truth and purpose, namely, the ardent march of the soul of man to the realization of Godhead.
The world is divine. It is the power of God, it is Shakti, and therefore, Shakta, the owner of the Shakti, is reached only through Shakti. The Almighty, the Creator, is reached through the creation. Narayana is reached only through Lakshmi, Siva can be seen only through Parvati, and the great God of the universe, the Protector, the Creator, Sustainer, is capable of communion and encounter only through His creation and Nature.
All these ideas are before you in honor of this glorious occasion of Durga Puja, Lakshmi Puja and Saraswati Puja, which is a vast religious field of contemplation for us. The more you think about it, the more glorious it will appear before you. Thus be our humble adoration to Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. God bless you all! Om Namo Narayanaya.
Mother Durga’ is the Power Terrible, which manifested out of the Eternal Truth, which is Paripoorna, and so has in itself all powers.
Man, the imperfect, the bound, the sorrowful, has a thousand names within. He is riddled with negative thoughts, fears, and yearnings. Then there are selfishness, jealousy, meanness, prejudice and hatred – just to mention but a few. The Sadhak must get rid of these lawless villains within. With Mother Kali’s Kripa, these destructive masters are to be annihilated. No amount of soft persuasions can avail. The forces of Sri Rudra must be applied. There must be a deep, determined, adamant resolve, and a fight royal within, as sanguine as Kali’s ferocious sword dripping with blood; and unless the Sadhak is ready to wear about his neck the Skull-mala of these murdered false values there can be no peace or order within.
Invoke the Only Mother - Goddess Durga - (The primordial Womb) - Maa Shakti - to help us annihilate within ourselves all negative forces; all weaknesses, - all littleness. It is these that have removed us from our own selves – the Supreme Parameshwara Swaroopa which we all are.
Now a mere elimination of our weakness in itself is no permanent achievement, for if the bosom is empty, again they will enter by the back-doors. In short, a mere negative sadhana alone is impotent. We must equally emphasize the positive side in our Right Effort – then only does the Purushartha become complete and whole.” --Swami Chinmayananda
--October 18, 2020
Comments:
Wish you and your family a very happy Dasara season.I meant to write this note but was tied up in Sundarakanda navaha parayanam (started set to conclude on Vijayadashami day). I am glad to let you know that I have been able to read all your mails uptodate. The most recent note on Navarathri was most enjoyable. May God bless you with long life good health and cheers! Love and good wishes
--BRG Iyengar
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LOOK AT PRESENT UNABATED PANDEMIC, TRACE HISTORY & TRUST IN VEDIC ASTROLOGY
2020 Chandramana Yugadi called Sarvari came with lot of despair and hope not heard of in the past cycle of 60 Years and even earlier as predicted by Vedic Astrology and reiterated by Chinna Jeer as the Year of Darkness and Karunamayi Amma as affected by Kala Sarpa Dosham and Kala Bandhana Yogam asking us to turn spiritual. Please go through a brief report of panchanga sravana (astrological predictions) on Vedic Lunar New Year Sharvari 2020. Valmiki Ramayana calls Sharvari as a Night of Dissolution in Ayodhya Kanda.
Vedic Lunar New Year 2020: Sharvari (Sarvari) Nama Samvatsara
Posted on February 29, 2020 by Juliana
Every year we celebrate the beginning of the Vedic Lunar New Year at the same astrological point that Lord Brahma created the universe! In this current year of 2020, Chaitra Shukla Pratipada tithi falls on March 24 for the U.S., and is set for the capital in Washington D.C., at 5:28:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time The horoscope for the Vedic New Year for the U.S. is calculated for this place, date, and time. Each country will have its own New Year chart based on the different coordinates and time zones.
The beginning of the Vedic New Year also marks the start of Vasant or Chaitra Navratri, the nine-night spring festival of Mother Divine, when Devi Durga comes down to bless and cleanse the world and all her children at the beginning of the Lunar New Year. Navratri and the Vedic New Year celebrations begin on March 24 in North and South America, and everywhere else in the world on March 25. This is based on the astrological principle that the day of Navratri begins when the pratipada tithi (culmination of the New Moon) is in place before or by sunrise.
The samvatsara for 2020-2021 is the fourth in a group of five years ruled by the Manes, who are of two kinds: they are the children of Lord Brahma, known as the Prajapatis, who are great rishis, progenitors, and protectors of the earth, the animal kingdom, and the human race. The Manes are also known as the “Ancestors.” The current five-year cycle ruled by the Manes extends from 2017 to 2022 and is considered to be a challenging period of much calamity.
Sharvari means “night or twilight,” as well as “pernicious or murderous.” Sage Varahamahira says that this year will bring famine, as we are seeing in parts of Africa already with the worst locust plague in at least 70 years. Additionally, the last Sharvari cycle was in 1960 during the Great Chinese famine from 1959-1961.
The last Sharvari year was 60 years ago in 1960, and before that, in 1900. These years are called “twilight years” since they represented times of significant world change (and with the name Sharvari meaning “twilight.”). 1900 was the beginning of the new century, but synchronistical, the U.S. Kelleher birth chart was running the same dasha-bhukti that we will have beginning later in 2020, i.e., the Rahu-Saturn Vimshottari dasha, which will extend from October 30, 2020 to September 6, 2023. The last time this dasha-bhukti occurred was from October 31, 1900 to September 7, 1903.
During that last Rahu-Saturn period that began in 1900, the U.S. was establishing itself as a dominant world power. The Wild West had been won, oil was king, and the steel industry was booming. The telephone was in use, electricity was being developed in urban areas, and there was much to celebrate amidst the booming economic growth and technological achievements of the period. It was a time of emerging political and social progressivism, as well.
The year 1960 was also a time of significant cultural change that ushered in a new era and the first rumblings of the truly modern America that we know today. The beginning escalation of the Vietnam War began. The Civil Rights Act of 1960 was established. It was the “Year of Africa” when a series of events took place, mainly the independence of seventeen African nations, highlighting a new Pan-African sentiment on the continent. This was the year when Africa emerged as a major player within the United Nations. JFK was elected, and the space race was just getting started. In 1960, the Cuban Revolution was in full force when the revolutionary government nationalized all U.S. property in Cuba, leading President Eisenhower to freeze all Cuban assets on American soil, sever diplomatic ties, and tighten its embargo of Cuba. There were Cold War rumblings at this time, and it was just generally the twilight of an old era that was dominated by conventional race, age, and gender stereotypes and roles.
Now as we are beginning this current “twilight year” of 2020, we are experiencing new levels of transformation in areas related to race, age, and gender. There is a great divergence blooming in the realm of political and cultural philosophies, values, goals, and priorities between various strata of society, including between the young and old, just as happened in the revolutionary decade of the 1960s. As in the beginning of the last century and then again in 1960, it feels like we are again heading toward something very different from anything we have known before, including unprecedented new developments in fashion, music, and the arts.
In this case, we are also facing the imminent awakening of Artificial Intelligence, along with other new medical and technological advancements, and we are also facing many new natural and human-made threats. We are on the verge of a huge wealth and power transfer from the Baby Boomers to the younger generations. The U.S. is still embroiled in conflicts and uncertainties abroad despite the will of some of the people and the attempts of the current administration to move away from the globalist agenda. It’s truly an exciting and at times unnerving time to be alive!
The Moon and Sun with Chiron in the 3rd house (respiratory illness) in a t-square with the lunar nodes and with the aspect from Saturn in Vedic Chart points to the novel coronavirus outbreak from China which has also hit many other countries including the U.S. Based on extensive astrological analysis about the outbreak going back to early January, this outbreak may kill significant numbers of the population as we have seen in the most serious pandemics in history.
Yes, it induces a lot of fear and even hysteria, and has already had a significant effect on travel (third house matters), and has taken a toll on businesses, schools, and the work force in certain countries due to illness and quarantine. Yet, the mortality rate remains relatively low, and the threat to the general public in the U.S. is considered to be minimal, while the true danger is mostly limited to elderly and already medically fragile individuals, as well as health care workers and first responders, which of course is a very sad and worrisome matter.
Everything happening in the world this year, for either “good or bad,” will be super-intensified by what’s known as a Kala Sarpa Yoga (Serpent of Time Combination), in which the ascendant and all the planets (inner and outer planets) lie between the axis of the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu, and on one side of the sky mirror (chart). I looked back and did not see a Kala Sarpa in any other Vedic New Year charts over the past 100 years. Keep in mind that the Kala Sarpa is affecting the whole world as it will appear in every country’s Vedic New Year chart. In Vedic astrology, Kala Sarpa is known as a dosha (fault or defect); and, in mundane (world) astrology, Kala Sarpa can be associated with catastrophic events or setbacks, reversals, and danger or harm to certain rulers or countries. This can point to all kinds of extreme energies and events, including wild and unbelievable conspiracies or conspiracy theories; riots and revolutions; but also groundbreaking original, and innovative discoveries. The overarching effect of Kala Sarpa can be dramatic, passionate, obsessive, or polarizing.
A very rare conjunction is in place this year including Pluto, Saturn, and Mars in Capricorn, and with Jupiter in an “out of sign” conjunction at the 29-degree edge between Sagittarius and Capricorn. This is called a stellae and is quite significant in that it has an intense quality. With the stellae also conjoined Ketu, this may suggest some kind of unique cultural or spiritual awakening. .
The last time a conjunction occurred with Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, and Pluto in Capricorn was during a time of prosperity and renaissance from 1000 to 1300 BCE. This has a positive connotation for the coming Vedic New Year. The 12th house energy of this combination indicates it could be a great year for all of us to become more involved in spiritual or charitable service in the world.
The 12th house also relates to international matters and also health matters, and with Ketu here especially, international travel conditions are upside down right now as we begin the Vedic New Year. Additionally, other nations are under duress, and hospitals and medical care systems everywhere are being stressed due to the novel coronavirus and Covid-19 disease concerns.
The intense 12th house energy also focuses on themes of ending, loss, worry, hidden enemies, and mysterious matters (that which may be hidden from us), and may suggest a great deal of dissatisfaction, confusion, paranoia, and angst in the mass mind. But all of this intense upheaval may also have some very positive outcomes too, in the end, as Jupiter is in the 29th degree of mastery in a trine with Venus in the 4th house.
Rahu in Gemini in the 6th house points to the current health epidemic and also the ongoing debt crisis in America. It also points to some impending turmoil and crisis involving the work force (unemployment issues arising), which may not fully abate until Rahu leaves Gemini in late September. Mercury as the 6th house ruler in the 2nd house suggests that certain medical and defense industry investments and profits may be on the rise. Mercury is also the 9th house ruler, and as it is placed in the 2nd house and un-afflicted, there is some element of protection and good fortune in terms of the overall economy, and possibly we will see some progress and gain in the second half of the year through trade and commerce.
Antares is a flaming red binary star in the heart of the Scorpius constellation. It is 883 times the size of our Sun. As the fifteenth brightest star in the sky, it indicates passion, pride, strength, strategic success, and sometimes, revenge. To have it conjoined the MC in the New Year chart is quite fortunate. Antares is also the abode of Archangel Uriel (Oriel), Angel of Light, Wisdom, and Peace, who is beaming blessings down on us this year.
Aldebaran in its lower manifestation can represent the danger of violence and sickness. It can ultimately be favorable for business and domestic matters, but it does also reflect the current pandemic and financial crisis. This placement can also be an indicator for catastrophic weather and/or seismic events this year.
The U.S. Kelleher chart is in the Rahu-Jupiter period of the Vimshottari dasha from June 7, 2018 until October 30. 2020. The nation may see certain kinds of progress and improvement in the Rahu-Saturn period from October 30, 2020 to September 6, 2023. . Further, this period may bring the nation together through a realignment with certain cherished values and traditions. It should also be a good period for relationships with our neighbors.
“In the year 2020 due to “Gruha bandana yogam” we all are facing this “stay-at-home” situation all around the world. In the year 2020 we have four Kala Sarpa Doshams which is why people all around the world are facing all kinds of problems. One of the Kala Sarpa Doshams is Kala Bandana Yogam which is what we all are experiencing. Kala Bandana Yogam ties humans in such a way that they are unable to do anything even like a simplest thing such as going to the temple. Everywhere around the world due to the Corona virus pandemic there is so much suffering, untimely death, sickness and unemployment.” says Karunamayi Amma.
May the winds, the oceans, the herbs, and night and days, the mother earth, the father heaven, all vegetation, the sun, be all sweet to us…Let us follow the path of goodness for all times, like the sun and the moon moving eternally in the sky…Let us be charitable to one another…Let us not kill or be violent with one another…Let us know and appreciate the points of view of others…And let us unite!
--October 18, 2020
COMMENT
This is another topic, that was in my mind this morning that I wanted read, and was surprised, and I will read it repeatedly....
--Aparna Arcot
EXPLORE DIVINITY OF SELF TO CONQUEST CONFLICTS
HUMAN ENCOUNTER WITH CONFLICTS AND SQ MANAGEMENT
“The Bhagavad Gita commences with a picture of the human predicament in a conflict of duty, of what is proper and improper, in an arena of the vast world which appears to the human individual as a field of opposing forces, where the good and the evil seem to be warring with each other. There is tension at every step, and man's life has been a ceaseless effort at self-adjustment with the changing contours of the world and human society. This situation converts the human being into a kind of movement towards what ought to be, or is yet to be, rather than something that is, independently by itself. This is the phase in human life which manifests itself as a series of perpetual types of restlessness, helplessness, dejection and despair.
Human life is full of conflicts. The sources of conflict are mainly fourfold; that between the higher and the lower nature in one's own self; that between oneself and other people; that between oneself and the world of Nature; and that between oneself and God. The Bhagavad Gita endeavors to prescribe methods of resolving this fourfold conflict in an ascending series of methodology, right from the lowest concept of things to their highest universality. The inner schism which one feels within oneself as a psychological conflict is on account of one's fall from the status of God-consciousness, which consequently becomes the cause of a gulf between man and man, and between man and the world. No one who is not established in God as an entirety of existence can feel a kinship with Nature or even a sense of brotherhood with others, let alone have peace of mind within one's own self. Unselfish dedicated work for the welfare of all (Sarvabhutahite ratah) and constant devotion to God as the universality inseparable from one's true being is mark of perfection (Sthitaprajna).
The Yoga way of meditation prepares one for the higher identification of oneself with the world as a whole, Nature in its comprehensiveness, and God as the All-Being. The Bhagavad Gita is designated as Brahma-Vidya, or the science of the Absolute; Yoga-Sastra, or the art of meditation; and Krishna-Arjuna Samvada, or the union of God and man. The first definition makes out that the Bhagavad Gita provides a metaphysical foundation for life as a whole, the second aspect points out that it is a guideline for self-discipline and self-integration, and the third portrayal declares that the teaching is centered on the journey of man to God, and his final union with God. The great promise that God bequeaths to man in the Bhagavad Gita is in the proclamation that He is ready to grant all the needs of the devotee when he unquestioningly and undividedly centers his consciousness in God-Being. The concluding verse of the Bhagavad Gita announces that prosperity, victory, happiness and established polity will reign supreme wherever Krishna, the Lord of Yoga, and Arjuna, the bowman of action, move forward seated in a single chariot, implying thereby that perfection is possible and is attainable when the Universal and the particular commingle in a state of harmony and balance in the world as well as in the individual. Here is a recipe for the blessedness of all. The God of the Bhagavad Gita presented in the eleventh chapter is, verily, the God of universal religion, not of a religion, but religion as such, religion as it is, and as it ought to be.” --Swami Krishnananda.
CONFLICT BETWEEN SCIENCE AND RELIGION
Even though some religious believers see themselves as facing an assault, science is not intentionally targeting them. Religion and science are mutually exclusive philosophies that are seeking to answer the same questions. Just as the Pauli Exclusion Principle tells us that no two particles can occupy the same quantum state; religion and science are similarly prevented from occupying the same epistemological space.
There is no requirement or overwhelming desire in science to destroy religion. The only will is to answer questions about the unknown. However, religions have addressed these questions poorly in the past, causing millions of people to become emotionally invested in the veracity of their answers. This has made religion into an inevitable and unintentional casualty of scientific progress.
The only way wherein science and religion can be perfectly reconciled is for one to learn to factually understand the successive relationships between all of the quantum-physical realities of Life and all of the mental realities of Life and all of the spiritual realities of Life as focused in Gita. To not pursue that sequential approach to the ultimate Truth / Reality is to leave -- as Einstein said it -- science lame and religion blind.
Some scientifically minded people like Carl Sagan, Schroeder etc., do not dishonor God but recognize as Universal Force because they tried to figure out the mechanisms of God's works. For centuries they tried to reconcile science and religion.
A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is acquired through the scientific method and repeatedly tested and confirmed through observation and experimentation.
The Big Bang and Evolution of repetitive nature are the best answers to those particular aspects of science without bringing in "God did it" by the creationists.
Science and religion have mutually evolved together. All science thinking (and indeed all culture) is evolved out of religions, a sort of self-inquiry promoted by science of Upanishads
Buddhist believe that their highest aim is to end cycle of rebirth. They believe living beings take birth after death due to karma. Many people don't define Buddhism as a religion. The most common definition of religion is a faith-based belief in something supernatural, whether this be a god, ancestor spirits, ghosts, or some form of afterlife or reincarnation. From what I've learnt of Buddhism, I would define it as a philosophy that sprang out of Sanatana Dharma that is Science of Upanishads. It is just silent on God that is being misunderstood as negation. So also, is Jainism. It is not necessary that all religions believe in God/creator and supernatural power. Jainism and Buddhism are part of shramaan tradition of India and can be said one of the oldest that are silent on existence of creator and super natural power and are not as vehement and vociferous as Chakravaka with his non-existent God philosophy!
--October 17, 2020
WORLD FOOD DAY 2020
Highlights of World Food Day Celebrated on October 16 Every Year
- World Food Day 2020 is on October 16.
- The day is earmarked to spread awareness about food security.
- PM Narendra Modi will launch a commemorative coin to mark the day.
The current health crisis initiated by Coronavirus pandemic has made us all sit up and take note of the importance of maintaining our health. The need of consuming nutritious food got the long-due impetus and the problem of food scarcity got the attention it really needed. This year's World Food Day is devoted to highlight food and agriculture as a significant part of COVID-19 response. In India, PM Narendra Modi is launching a commemorative coin to mark the special day, stressing the peremptory need to rise to the occasion and generously helf in fighting hunger.
World Food Day 2020: Date and History
United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) marked October 16 of every year as World Food Day in the year 1979. World Food Day 2020 also marks the 75th anniversary of FAO. Initially, World Food Day was launched to commemorate the establishment of FAO. Gradually, the day turned into a global event, creating awareness about food shortage and reviving food systems across the globe. This year it has been significant calling for help more than normal.
Every year, World Food Day endeavors to promote food and preserve food resources. In light of the current pandemic this year, the day will be celebrated with the theme - "Grow, nourish, sustain Together. Our actions are our future."
World Food Day 2020: Significance
World Food Day creates many programs and activities to highlight and take necessary actions for food security and good nutrition for all, with a special focus on poor and vulnerable communities around the world.
In regard to World Food Day 2020, the official website of FAO says:
World Food Day is calling for global solidarity to help all populations, and especially the most vulnerable, to recover from the crisis, and to make food systems more resilient and robust so they can withstand increasing volatility and climate shocks, deliver affordable and sustainable healthy diets for all, and decent livelihoods for food system workers. This will require improved social protection schemes and new opportunities offered through digitalization and e-commerce, but also more sustainable agricultural practices that preserve the Earth's natural resources, our health, and the climate.
FAO urges people to celebrate the people who produce, plant, harvest, fish or transport our food and call on the public to thank these #Food Heroes who, no matter the circumstances, continue to provide food to their communities and beyond - helping to grow, nourish and sustain our world.
World Vision USA, a humanitarian organization has risen to the occasion helping children, families, and their communities to overcome poverty and injustice and also appeals to the public to join them in serving the vulnerable and to help kids in poverty worldwide who are impacted by COVID-19’s aftershocks: hunger, preventable disease, and violence. They have stressed the need to provide basics like life-saving food, child protection programs, educational support, and more. They have also called for the help to limit the spread of the virus both abroad and here in the USA.
The coronavirus pandemic has thrown between 88 million and 114 million people into extreme poverty, according to the World Bank’s biennial estimates of global poverty.
“annam na nindyaat; annam parichaksheeta; annam bahukurveeta”--Don’t abusae food; don’t discard food; grow more food--Taittareeya Upanishad
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/01/know-hunger-and-act-is-collective.html
--October 16, 2020
Goddess Durga - Know everything about Maa Ambe
Maa Durga represents Shakti, the power of the Supreme Being that preserves moral order and righteousness in the creation. She is also called Divine Mother, protects mankind from evil and misery by destroying evil forces such as selfishness, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, anger, and ego. Goddess Durga represents a united front of all Divine forces against the negative forces of evil and wickedness.
She is the mother of the universe and believed to be the power behind the work of creation, preservation, and destruction of the world. Since time immemorial she has been worshipped as the supreme power of the Supreme Being and has been mentioned in many scriptures - Yajur Veda, Vajasaneyi Samhita and Taittareya Brahman.
Uma of Upanishads called as Parvati, became the consort of Lord Shiva in Puranas. It is said that the Goddess Shakti takes on different forms such as Kali, Chandi or Durga to fight the demons. She is the power behind all creation, preservation and destruction in the Universe. Literally translated, Durga means a fort that is difficult to overcome. A more elaborate meaning of Durga is the destroyer of all evils and diseases.
The worship of Maa is done twice a year for 9 days known as “Navratra”, once during the summer (Chaitra Navratra) and once during the winter (Sharad Navratra), the latter being more popular and known as “Durga Puja” is several States of India. Her nine avatars are:
Shailaputri--Shailaputri literally the daughter of the mountains. Variously known as Sati Bhavani, Parvati or Hemavati, the daughter of Himavan, the king of the Himalayas, she is the first among Navadurgas. The embodiment of the power of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, she rides a bull and carries a trident and a lotus in her two hands.
Brahmacharini-- The second form of Mother Goddess, and her name means one who practices devout austerity. She holds a rosary in her right hand and a water utensil in her left hand. Filled with bliss and happiness, she is the way to emancipation.
Chandraghanta-- The third facet of Goddess Durga is Chandraghanta. She has a “chandra” or half-moon in her forehead in the shape of a “ghanta” or bell. She is the apostle of bravery and possesses great strength to fight in the battle against demons.
Kushmanda-- Kushmanda is the fourth form of
the mother goddess. She is considered the creator of the universe. The universe
was no more than a void full of darkness, until her light spreads in all
directions like rays from the sun.
Skandamata--The fifth aspect of the Mother
Durga is known as Skanda Mata-the mother of Skanda or Lord Kartikeya, who was
chosen by gods as their commander in chief in the war against the demons.
Skanda Mata has four arms and three eyes, holds the infant Skanda in her right
upper arm and a lotus in her right hand which is slightly raised upwards
Katyayini--The sixth form of Mother Durga is known as Katyayani. According to legend, she is the daughter of a great sage called Kata, who wished to have a daughter in the form of a goddess. Katyayani was born to Kata as an avatar of Durga.
Kaalaratri --Kaal Ratri is the seventh form of Mother Durga. She has a dark complexion, disheveled hair and a fearless posture. She is black like Goddess Kali and holds a sparkling sword in her right hand battle all evil. Her gesture of protection assures us of freedom from fear and troubles.
Maha Gauri--Maha Gauri is intelligent, peaceful and calm. She wears white clothes, has four arms, and rides on a bull.
Siddhidatri--Siddhidatri is the ninth form of Goddess and has supernatural healing powers. She blesses all Gods, saints, yogis, tantrics and all devotees as a manifestation of the Mother Goddess.
During these festivals Maa is invoked in different forms Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, particularly in Kolu festival (of dolls) of South India. Praying to the form of Durga destroys all evils and vices inside use, praying to the form Lakshmi is associated with the gain of spiritual wealth and divine qualities and calling upon the form of Saraswati gives the knowledge which liberates us from all evil and negativities.
Khetri during Navratri
The ritual planting of khetri seeds in a pot on the first day of Navratri is an important ritual. The ritual is also known as Ghatasthapana. Khetri is barley seeds. The seeds grow during the nine days. The first shoots appear on the third day. Khetri during Navratri is a symbol of hope, fertility and prosperity.
It is extremely satisfactory to see khetri seeds grow into shoots (small plant, which is the embodiment of the Goddess. The growing and blossoming of the plant in the house is considered highly auspicious and is a sign of the presence of Mother Goddess Shakti.
On the tenth day, people bid farewell to the plant in a ceremonious procession that involves playing with dry colors. In some region, the shoots are cut and distributed as holy offering.
Khetri is kept in homes during Chaitra Navratri and Sharad Navratri. In Nepal during Dashain, several beds of Khetri are created in homes.
I had posted a Rare sloka on Bhagavati from Padma Purana sent from Muraloidharan Krishnan from Singapore with Navaratri Greetings that I gratefully acknowledged on your behalf. I have already talked about Coronasura in my earlier E-mail
It is customary to burn the towering effigies of Ravana, Kumbhhakarna and Indrajit on Vijaya Dasmi Day marking evil's destruction symbolizing victory of Dharma over Adharm. The festival also starts the preparations for Diwali, the important festival of lights, which is celebrated twenty days after Vijayadashami. Bogged down by economic crunch and COVID 19, this year, Bengali artists have been innovative to create the artifact of Coronasura besides Mahishasura seeking the help of Durga. as Kaalaratri. In this they were inspired by the Mumbai crowd who burnt Coronasura on Holi Festival Day. Besides, being highly religious and innovative, they were inspired by two religiouws-facts--The year Sarvari is affected by Kalasarpa Dosha that is still in full operation bringing enormous miseries to humanity. In Ramayana War both Lakshmana and Rama were enmeshed with serpents released by sarpastra by Indrajit, who swooned for long that made the army fear that they were dead. Thanks to the timely intervention of Garuda coming with two powerful vaccines Sanjivikarani and Vishalaya the serpents ran away in panic and Rama and Lakshmana were back to normal to resume fight and eliminate Kumbhakarna, Indrajit and Ravana progressively. Thus, their artifact draws full religious sanctity and support
COVID is probably derived from Covida in Sanskrit that means clever man. Name Covid beloto rashi Mithun (Gemini) and Nakshatra (stars) Punarvasu.COVID is so wise in this year of Sarvari, the year of Darkness of Kalasarpa Dosha that nobody is able to conquer it for it started punishing all those that meddled with Nature! Or is that Covidasura whose idols are manufactured in Bengal for this year Durgapuja substituting Mahishasura? Only GOVIND can help COVID! Tamils spell them alike! (in lighter vein!)
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2011/09/navaraatri-kolu-festival-of-dolls-and.html
With Best Wishes for Navaratris invoking the Blessings of Devis to overcome the Present Pandemonium and Restore Peace and Prosperity!
--October 16, 2020
Vedas taught us that Criticism is an Important Part of Learning Process.
A closer look at criticism and how to deal with it
“Criticism is disapproval expressed by pointing out faults or shortcomings. Constructive/positive criticism addresses an area that needs improving without speaking to the person himself. In the classroom, when a teacher advises a student how to give up neat work instead of blaming a slackness of character, the student will be more receptive to discipline. Toxic or negative criticism aims at character assassination. It serves to instill fear at some level. It is likely to leave a person feeling defensive and humiliated since the substance of criticism is aimed at the character, not the work of the author.
A critic is often in a position to exercise efforts to manipulate and damage personal credibility in trying to prove themselves superior. Yet, it may also serve as valuable feedback inadequately expressed. How do we know when criticism serves any purpose?
Check for substance in the assessment. If evaluation is heavily interspersed with name calling or guilt provocation, it is toxic criticism we're looking at. Constructive criticism encourages and enhances performance. Constructive criticism also addresses details that call for a compliment.
Any form of criticism may be skimmed for information and be a source of feedback for our efforts. Accept criticism with grace. Don't counter criticism immediately. Resist the temptation to prove them wrong or give excuses. Use your sense of judgment. Ignore criticisms of critical people.
Be open to any significant changes. Look for new ideas to optimize performance.
Nobody's appraisal is absolute. Listen to criticism. Rephrase what has been said so that it's conveyed that you understood. It calms the critic. It is called the ‘public smile'. Avoid overtly critical people. Never ever internalize criticism.
Not all criticism is bad. We all pass judgments at some point but never imagine ourselves to be at its receiving end. It may leave us feeling overwhelmed and rightly so. In such instances, taking a step back and evaluating ourselves, devoid of any partiality, paints a clearer picture of whom we are and our capabilities.
This internal criticism, an unbiased appraisal of oneself, can be a private reprimand. Seek external criticism/feedback from unbiased people you know well and ask for their assessment. If there is an agreement that the critique directed is unfair, take steps to counter it. Also judge if it is directed because you serve good competition. Look for ways to soften their blows. Never shout back, it deepens the damage. Initially, calmly talking to the ‘critic' when he/she is not distracted, is in a better frame of mind, can help place your views. If no amount of discussion helps, the best thing to do is either nothing at all or to let go.”
My Blog registrants include people from other faiths including a Druid Priest. To my surprise I have not come across one adverse comment and all appreciation over a decade! Of course, there have been some casual commentators with no seriousness for self-promotion that I have eliminated. Most of the criticisms have helped me in developing new ideas that again got appreciated. While my HR Active participants have been carefully chosen Blog-participants are globally drawn and volunteered themselves progressively realizing the constructive message it carries. While I have drawn benefit from modern psychologists whose views, I have briefly described above I have also been largely guided by Upanishadic and scriptural criticism Healthy Guidelines:
Vedas taught us that Criticism is an Important Part of Learning Process
Why can it lead to conflict and enmity? How can we use it as a tool for self-improvement, social harmony and higher awareness?
Differences of opinion are natural occurrences in life. After all, each person has his or her own mind and particular point of view. But disagreements need not result in conflict or enmity. For thousands of years Vedic Rishis have used critical analysis and debate, not for discrediting others, but as a means to understand and realize the broader truths of life for achieving wisdom, wellbeing and prosperity for all. No two Rishis agreed upon everything and yet they admired a variety of paths and honored the right of each person to have different or even changing views. So are our Philosophies from great Acharyas!
Vedic texts are not a dictate; they offer no commandments or final conclusions. They consist of dialogues between the Guru or the preceptor and the Shishya or disciple. They begin with different points of view or even contrary ideas, examining a topic from all angles. The Shishya could disagree with the Guru, but communication was cordial. Such differences were presented through the Shishya’s questions which the Guru answered systematically. We find this approach already well developed in the earliest Upanishads, notably the Brihadaranyaka, centered around an in-depth debate with numerous sages. Even Krishna says to Arjuna that he has told him everything he knew on the subject and discussed with Him. He has no mandate and tells Arjuna take whatever is good for him!
In Kautilya’s Arthashastra, he mentions earlier teachers of the subject, and presents their various viewpoints before respectfully disagreeing with them and presenting his own, explaining the reason for his different conclusions, while acknowledging the wisdom of those who had gone before.
Respectful disagreements and courteous conduct are considered hallmarks of a civilized society. Yet today we see social, religious, and political disagreements threatening friendships, marriages, families, businesses, and even nations. In this process there is no accepted tradition of respectful dialogue and debate to objectively examine our differences. Vedic wisdom can fill in that gap for us and restore a deeper level of communication according to a higher consciousness.
In the E-mails sent by me I always look forward for your comments to improve my text where necessary. I often revise them based on appropriate criticism! So are the Webinars from Swami Chidananda of FOWAI Forum. We should learn this profound Vedic way of dialogue and debate, recognizing a variety of points a view to help people understand its wisdom in a contemporary context.
You can always submit your views via e-mail. I often feel depressed when I do not hear from participants on my topics for a long time though appreciated in Facebook!. I do realize many of you are too busy with your own mission and goal in life. Even your occasional review and opinion helps me in my own learning process and inspire me with new ideas. But for your active participation, today, I would not have come with 440 discourses 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, 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!.
My past background working as secretary on National Standards Committee has helped me in my present work. In the beginning I had taken lot of care to constitute a National Committee on Standards with all round interest composed of Manufacturer, User, Technical experts and Sister Institutions etc. Similarly, I have taken pains to include active spiritual seekers, religious pundits, spiritualists and expert Gurus who can supervise my work and advise when time permits in my active participants’ list ,
In my standards formulation work an expert prepared a preliminary document that was placed before the National Committee for thorough vetting. Then the draft was approved for wide circulation for three months inviting comments from all, worldwide. These comments were thoroughly considered and the draft was finalized by the committee and published as a National Standard Specification. This took almost a year for its completion. Comments from vested interests played a vital role in its formation. Probably this is the technique Sage Vedavyasa taught us as the compiler of our scriptures making them a compilation of discussions, claiming no personal credit or authorship as is evident from Bhagavat Gita and Upanishads that is still followed traditionally by great spiritual thinkers.
Please go through two types of criticism on HINDUISM as attached though I have often discussed many including SBNR and Awesome without Allah Movements!
--October 15, 2020
Comments:
This is a topic I have been wanting to read on. I will be rereading it several times, thank you!
--Aparna Arcot
Modern Psychiatry and Vedanta Manovijnana & The difference between a Doctor and Vaidya
One of my enlightened participants complimented me for my message on World Mental Health day 2020 stating “Thank you for supporting Mental Health”. I believe that should be the main focus of everyone who is focused on spiritual progress. What helps my ailing physical health is my spiritual mental health!
“The best thing you could do is master the chaos in you. You are not thrown into the fire; you are the fire” says Mama Indigo
The basis of mental and emotional problems is that the human mind is not Self-aware but is caught in ignorance, duality and karma. The mind is a conditioned reaction system dominated by sleep, memory, compulsion, wishful thinking, emotion and attachment. It is rarely aware in the present, focused or concentrated in a steady manner. That is why it easily falls into addictions and creates conflict.
Merely cultivating the mind or intellect is not enough. We must question the reality of the mind from the inner witness state that is our true Seer and Self. We must learn to examine our thoughts and observe them objectively as mere disturbances in a deeper awareness that is our true nature and real source of unitary knowing and feeling. Then we can let go of the conditioned mind for unconditioned consciousness and go beyond duality and sorrow. This requires a continual state of awareness and meditation.
Modern science identifies consciousness with the mind and the mind with the brain. This identification has resulted seeking to improve our mental and emotional functioning through altering brain chemistry with pharmaceutical preparations. Mainstream science usually does not recognize consciousness as a spiritual or cosmic principle apart from the mind, though some trends in the new physics are beginning to suggest this. It is still a largely physical view of the mind that we find in medicine today.
Psychiatry is Mental Health Psychology as a Science, preventive and curative. However, in the context of Spiritual learning it is more than a science of knowledge. It is the innate understanding of our invisible form of Inner-net, dark when it is left in its natural state but gets illumined and shines leading us spiritually through science of Vedanta known as Mano-vijnana that is unity of mind with our Self or Inner Cosmos by means of Sanyasa -Yoga.
Vedanta defines mind in the broadest sense, what is called chitta in Sanskrit, as all aspects of conditioned consciousness. Under the concept of chitta is included reason, emotion, sensation, memory, the instinctual part of the mind, and the ego; all that we ordinarily consider to possess some degree of consciousness within us. Yet under the concept of chitta is also a higher creativity and intuition beyond the ordinary mind and physical consciousness, which few people may develop in a significant manner. Chitta moreover extends beyond the personal mind, to collective and cosmic aspects of mind. Chitta is mind as a cosmic principle, not simply the human mind.
Our inner Self holds the entire universe in the small space within the spiritual heart (Hridaya). This is a space of Consciousness (Chidakasha) behind all manifestation in the time-space world.
What is the nature of the mind? How is it related to our deeper consciousness? And, above all, who are we in our real being? What is our true identity or true Self behind the endless stream of thoughts going on inside us? In recent times Ramana Maharshi threw light on them about which we discussed at length guided by Swami Chidananda.
These have always been the prime questions that we must ask in order to discover the ultimate meaning and purpose of our existence. They are the basis of the seeking of liberation and Self-realization. In Yoga, the Divine is defined mainly as the essence of consciousness. The yogic spiritual quest is a practice of meditation in order to discover that.
Hindus pray to the Supreme as “Vaidyo Narayano Harih”. We must know the difference and similarities between a Vaidya and doctor. Vaidya Rammanohar explains that in Ayurveda there are five distinct terms for medical practitioners depending on how evolved they are as human beings. The first stage is Chikitsaka which is equivalent to a doctor or physician as understood in the West. A Vaidya is at a very advanced stage of physical, mental and spiritual evolution. A Vaidya is able to delve deep into the patients' psyche, understand and feel the pain of the patient and recommend appropriate treatment. To reach this state, he must adhere to a disciplined lifestyle and strict diet. His own body and mind then become a diagnostic tool. This is quite unlike western medicine system which depends on a large number of external diagnostic tools. Moreover, doctors don't have any such lifestyle or diet restrictions as a part of their professional requirement. Hindu philanthropic spiritual Psychiatrists may be ideal in this context to speak on Manovijnana Tattva and not me!
Upanishads say: “Vijnanena atmanam vedayati”; “Atmana vindate veeryam”; Om ityatmanam unjeeta”. This vijnana is mental science or Psychiatry of Vedanta, called Mano-vijnana. One realizes our Inner -cosmos by science of Vedanta. Realizing Self within one gets Spiritual strength. Merge this Self (Attributive Consciousness) with Absolute Consciousness. Then there is no need for the hunt of pleasure or fear and anxiety for pain; it is all everlasting Perennial Joy; om ityekaksharam anusmaran yah prayaati deham tyajan sah yaati parmaam gatim--one who leaves the body remembering OM achieves Supreme destination (Gita); Vedantavijnanasunischitaarthaah sudhhasatvaah yatayah sanyasayogaat paramuchyanti-- Those who have rigorously arrived at the conclusion taught by Vedanta through direct knowledge, whose minds have been purified dissolve themselves, get themselves liberated through renunciation and by the practice of the discipline of Yoga (MNU)
May I also draw your attention to MNU mantras that I have explained in the past!
mānasamiti vidvāɱsastasmādvidvāɱsa eva mānase ramante| omityātmānaṁ yuñjīta ||
Some wise people consider that inward spiritual mental health is the means of liberation. Therefore, wise people delight only in inward focus on Inner-net. The term mānasa (Manasa vijnana) is interpreted as inward worship or contemplation upon the Supreme and His divine excellences.
Speaking from the view-point of religious evolution we may say that (a) singleness of purpose, (b) subjugation of lower passions and (c) devotion to duty - are cultivated by the religious seeker through the meticulous performance of overt sacrificial acts continuously for a long time. The word mānasa in a limited sense stands here only for spiritual mental health (SQ).
The Spiritual seeker practicing Sanyasa Yoga should concentrate his thoughts on Him uttering the syllable OM. He who practices meditation on the Supreme thus, with the aid of Prāṇava and with Manasa attains the unlimited greatness of the Supreme. By that he attains the greatness of Brahman.
With this Background Knowledge go through the articles; Mind and Consciousness & Chidakasa Darsana by Padma Bhushan Vamaderva Shastry (David Frawley).
--October 12, 2020
Comments:
Very good topic. I have started reading and need to continue reading this wonderful article. It needs some focused mind and concentration while reading. Not for casual reading. And this article carries very significant points that everyone should know towards understanding and controlling the mind power and emotions.
I will read it fully and convey my humble thoughts. Thank you very much for sharing such great knowledge and wisdom.
--Nashville Naga Rajan
Definition of "chittam"" has been enigmatic for me. Out of the 4 aspects of personality (manas, Buddhi, Ahankara, Chittam), chittam appears to be the sum total of experiences stored in our memory that comes back to fill our mind when it is not engaged. This includes conscious, unconscious, subconscious memories of real and mental experiences that may be imagined and creative. Analyzing these memories is what we do in psychoanalysis.
--Dr. Vedavyas
*************
CORONA VIRUS GIVES BIRTH TO CORONASURA
Lot of live performers around the country right now have found their livelihoods threatened, if not taken away entirely, by the escalating global crisis that is the coronavirus. Public health measures like social distancing, banning large gatherings, shutting down bars, and ordering city residents to shelter in place are necessary right now to halt the spread of the virus before it overwhelms American hospitals nationwide. The CDC Says 12,469 People Died During the Swine Flu Pandemic. COVID-19 Has Killed 17 Times More People in 8 Months. That has not weakened the souls of live artists. And they also make drag as we know it pretty much impossible to do at the moment, forcing many queens to get creative to go on line performances. Hindu artists are not lagging behind though shocked by the loss of their famous artist SPB due to complications of Corona virus.
Shilparamam opens with a play on Coronasura
HYDERABAD: After more than eight months of lock down for Corona virus, it was the very first time that artists came back to the stage. On Sundayevening, Shilparamam Madhapur opened its doors to the art of Drag. Drag is an art form which has been there for ages in India, but was never considered part of mainstream art. It was the very first time in the state when Drag was represented in a state-owned organization.
Hyderabad-based dancer and drag artiste Patruni Sastry and their team of performers — including Raghavendra Chivukula, Sajiv Pasala, Dheeraj Gupta and Ganeshan Chandran — presented a Drag interpretation of an ancient mythological story of Mohini Bhasmasura. Explaining the concept to the people Patruni said, “Mohini and Bhasmasura story is a tale for today’s world. Bhasmasura, a God-made accident, created havoc in the world which ultimately needed to be tamed by Mohini by asking the rakshasa to come in a dance battle.
The story draws comparison with the current situation of how we are combating Corona.” Sajiv Pasala played Bhasmasura, dragged in an androgynous form with colors reflecting neon and translucent painted face. Mohini was played by Patruni Sastry with their regular exaggerated dress-up as tranimal drag. Ganesha Chandran played the Shiva while Dheeraj and Raghavendra were the ‘Corona-sura’. (A hypothetical demon depicting Coronavirus).
The first performance narrated the story of how Shiva grants a boon to Bhasmasura, that whoever he puts his hand on would turn to ashes. This puts Shiva’s life in stake when Bhasmasura tried to put his hand on Shiva himself. Following this, Shiva runs to Vishnu for rescue. The second performance was an artistic representation performed by Patruni where they showcased how Vishnu transformed into Mohini, bringing in the idea of gender fluidity.
Here, they used two masks — one of a man and other of a woman — to showcase the idea of gender fluidity of the character. The third performance was the dance battle between Mohini and Bhasmasura, followed by a final performance where they depicted an extrapolation of how Mohini would fight Coronasura, by maintaining social distancing, washing hands and wearing masks. The event ended with Patruni thanking Shilparamam for providing an opportunity to bring drag into the cultural hub of the city.
--Express News Service
Kolkata gears up for Durga Pooja to fight Coronasur in 2020
Hindu mind that created Sheetal (small-pox) Dei has now come up with the idea of Coronasura and his Dahana on Vijaya Dasami Day in this Kalasarpa Dosha Sarvari Year of Darkness! You may kindly recall a group of residents in Worli, Mumbai burnt an effigy of 'Coronasur' or the monster depicting the deadly coronavirus, this Holi. The title 'Coronasur' is a combination of coronavirus and 'Asur', a name given to monsters in ancient Hindu texts. Holi dahan marks the beginning of Holi festivities.
The idea for ‘Coronasur’ in Kolkata originated after just one of the 80 artisans, who got tested, came out positive for Covid last month. The one who tested positive is a Kumartuli artisan, but doesn’t live there. The remaining 79 live in the colony.
The artisans said this made them believe that they are protected by Maa Durga, which is why they decided to make Mahishasura in the form of coronavirus.
They are calling it ‘Coronasur’ as they believe that goddess Durga will rid the world of the virus.
The coronavirus is manifesting in the Mahishasura in multiple ways. While some artisans are shaping the demon’s head like the virus with spikes, others are shaping the asura’s ear and jewelry.
Speaking to The Print, Sujit Pal, treasurer of Kumartuli Mritshilpi Association, said, “This year, business has been the worst-hit in decades.
“We are getting one-third of the price we get every year for idols. The number of orders has also shrunk by 70 to 75 per cent. In this situation, we are trying to find innovative ways to make the idols look new and fresh,” he added.
“I have got an order for a ‘Coronasur’. So, I am making the asura’s head as the virus. None of us has seen the virus, we have only seen the image in newspapers and TV channels. So I am creating the asura based on the imaginary picture of the virus,” Sujit said.
Artist Indrajit Pal said, “I have orders from two big puja committees for ‘Coronasur’. So I am trying something different from others. I will try to make the hair, ears and some jewelry of the asur in the form of the virus.”
Speaking about their businesses this year, he said: “I made at least 8 big idols, 12 feet in height. None of them have been sold yet. They are priced at Rs 1.5 lakh and I am offered around Rs 40,000 to 45,000. I will keep them for the next year,” he added.
Artisans are also planning to bring the migrant crisis issue and the financial distress in their theme.
“We can create themes based on the current situation, but nobody is ready to pay for our labor this year. But still we are trying to work on some contemporary ideas,” added Indrajit.
According to Sujit, the association has 210 members, who are known for their work in Kumartuli. Every year, the association gets over 100 orders for Durga idols from NRI associations outside India. However, this year, they got around 30 orders from abroad.
He said the association has taken several measures, including distribution of masks, sanitizers, necessary medicines and other stuff to the artisans. The idol-making areas are also getting sanitized routinely, Sujit added.
Let us watch how Innovative Nashville Bengali Association will be celebrating Durgapuja this year! Will they help these starving artisans and save the ancient art?
If there’s a silver lining to the current pandemic, it’s that web-savvy queens are expanding their online presence, often picking up cash as bars and venues remain closed — and entertaining the rest of us cooped-up folk in the process. We’re seeing a lot of people go live and a lot of people share recorded stuff that they’re producing in their own apartments that’s super exciting—it’s forcing a lot of drag queens to be more creative in different ways.
“Make sure you are registered to vote. When you get that little thing in the mail, it makes you feel good about yourself, that you have taken your voting rights to heart, and that you are able to use those rights," said Andrews, during NextGen Florida and Omni's "Stay and Slay" virtual drag during the present epidemic times.
If not cure, these contributions by artists bring our Awareness to the serious nature of Corona Virus while cheering us with a sense of humor with its innovative EQ Management form art for the occasion!
--October 11, 2020
Comments:
Very Interesting sir. Thank you for the information.
--Nashville Naga Rajan
CONCENTRATION, MEDITATION, and CONTEMPLATION PROGRESSIVELY LEAD TO SAMADHI
Through concentration we become one-pointed. Through meditation we expand our consciousness into the Vast and enter into its consciousness. But in contemplation we grow into the Vast itself, and its consciousness becomes our very own. In contemplation we are at once in our deepest concentration and our highest meditation. The truth that we have seen and felt in meditation, we grow into and become totally one with in contemplation. When we are concentrating on God, we may feel God right in front of us or beside us. When we are meditating, we are bound to feel Infinity, Eternity and Immortality within us. But when we are contemplating, we will see that we ourselves are God, that we ourselves are Infinity, Eternity and Immortality.
Contemplation means our conscious oneness with the infinite, eternal Absolute. In contemplation the Creator and the creation, the lover and the Beloved, the knower and the known become one. One moment we are the divine lover and God is the Supreme Beloved. The next moment we change roles. In contemplation we become one with the Creator and see the whole universe inside us. At that time when we look at our own existence, we do not see a human being. We see something like a dynamo of light, peace and bliss.
Meditation vs. Contemplation
Concentration gives the message of alertness; Meditation gives the message of vastness and Contemplation gives the message of inseparable oneness.
If we meditate on a specific divine quality such as light or peace or bliss, or if we meditate in an abstract way on Infinity, Eternity or Immortality, then all the time we will feel an express train going forward inside us. We are meditating on peace, light or bliss while the express train is constantly moving. Our mind is calm and quiet in the vastness of Infinity, but there is a movement; a train is going endlessly toward the goal. We are envisioning a goal, and meditation is taking us there.
In contemplation it is not like that. In contemplation we feel the entire universe and farthest Goal deep inside ourselves. When we are contemplating we feel that we are holding within ourselves the entire universe with all its infinite light, peace, bliss and truth. There is no thought, no form, no idea.
In contemplation everything is merged into one stream of consciousness. In our highest contemplation we feel that we are nothing but consciousness itself; we are one with the Absolute. But in our highest meditation there is a dynamic movement going on in our consciousness. We are fully aware of what is happening in the inner and the outer world, but we are not affected. In contemplation, too, we are unaffected by what is going on in the inner and outer worlds, but our whole existence has become part and parcel of the universe, which we are holding deep inside us.
We concentrate because we want to reach the Goal. We meditate because we want to live in the heart of the Goal. We contemplate because we want to become the Goal.
After we have finished meditating, how do we go about contemplating?
Contemplation comes after many years, when one is very advanced in the spiritual life. Contemplation is the highest rung of the inner ladder. Very, very few spiritual aspirants have the capacity to do even limited contemplation, and they certainly cannot do so at their sweet will.
Contemplation must be mastered before God-realization, so it cannot be ignored or avoided. But, in your case, the necessity for contemplation has not come because your concentration and your meditation are not yet perfect. When your concentration is perfect and your meditation is perfect, at that time your contemplation will also have to be perfected. Then you will really be able to enter into the Highest.
A contemplation exercise
Try to imagine a golden being and feel that he is infinitely more beautiful than the most beautiful child that you have ever seen on earth. This being is your Beloved Lord Supreme. You are a divine lover and the golden being is your Beloved Lord Supreme.
Now, try to imagine that your own existence and also that of your Beloved are on the top of a mountain in the Himalayas or at the very bottom of the Pacific Ocean, whichever is easier for you. Once you feel this, then inwardly smile.
After a few seconds please feel that you yourself are the Beloved Supreme and that the golden being is the divine lover. It is like a divine game of hide-and-seek. When you become the Supreme Beloved, the divine lover seeks you, and when you become the divine lover, you search for your Beloved Supreme. One moment you are the supreme lover and the next moment you are the Supreme Beloved.
In the beginning, please do this with your eyes half open. When you become expert, you can close your eyes.
Samadhi: The Height of Divine Consciousness
Above the toil of life my soul is a bird of fire winging the Infinite. Samadhi is a spiritual state of consciousness. There are various kinds of samadhi. Among the minor samadhis, savikalpa samadhi happens to be the highest. Beyond savikalpa comes nirvikalpa samadhi, but there is a great gulf between these two: they are two radically different samadhis. Again, there is something even beyond nirvikalpa samadhi called sahaja Samadhi-- Chinmaya Mission.
Please go through my detailed compilation on Samadhi from various renowned yoga Gurus as attached:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2020/10/samadhi-state-in-which-we-become-one.html
OCTOBER 11, 2020
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WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 2020
This year’s World Mental Health Day, on 10 October, comes at a time when our daily lives have changed considerably as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The past months have brought many challenges: for health-care workers, providing care in difficult circumstances, going to work fearful of bringing COVID-19 home with them; for students, adapting to taking classes from home, with little contact with teachers and friends, and anxious about their futures; for workers whose livelihoods are threatened; for the vast number of people caught in poverty or in fragile humanitarian settings with extremely limited protection from COVID-19; and for people with mental health conditions, many experiencing even greater social isolation than before. And this is to say nothing of managing the grief of losing a loved one, sometimes without being able to say goodbye.
The CDC Says 12,469 People Died During the Swine Flu Pandemic. COVID-19 Has Killed 17 Times More People in 8 Months!
The economic consequences of the pandemic are already being felt, as companies let staff go in an effort to save their businesses, or indeed shut down completely.
Given past experience of emergencies, it is expected that the need for mental health and psychosocial support will substantially increase in the coming months and years. Investment in mental health programs at the national and international levels, which have already suffered from years of chronic underfunding, is now more important than it has ever been.
This is why the goal of this year’s World Mental Health Day campaign is increased investment in mental health.
WHO says!
- Around 1 in 5 of the world's children and adolescents have a mental disorder.
- Depression is one of the leading causes of disability, affecting 264 million people
- Almost 800 000 people die by suicide every year; 1 person dies from suicide every 40 seconds. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in individuals aged 15-29 years. -
- Around 1 in 9 people in settings affected by conflict have a moderate or severe mental disorder.
- Less than half of the 139 countries that have mental health policies and plans report having these aligned with human rights conventions.
This year, the topic of mental health has perhaps become the most important one due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the effect it has had on the mental state of humans for the past 9-10 months.
“This year’s World Mental Health Day, on 10 October, comes at a time when our daily lives have changed considerably as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” writes the World Health Organization.
Their official page goes on to say that the past few months have been challenging for all frontline workers, students, teachers, friends, relatives, and hundreds of other professionals.
As the economic consequences of the pandemic are being felt by millions of people worldwide, it is understood that 'the need for mental health and psychosocial support will substantially increase in the coming months'.
Keeping this in mind, the theme of the year is increased investment in mental health.
The WHO defines mental health as a state of well-being in which an individual can realize his/her own potential and can handle stresses of everyday life while working productively and fruitfully, making a meaningful contribution to the community. In other words, mental health refers to your cognitive, emotional, and social well-being. Mental health affects how you think, feel, behave, and is crucial at every stage of life.
The choices you make in your everyday life can influence the state of your mental health. But sometimes, reading something inspirational can also have a positive effect on us.
Quotes
- “What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation.” Glenn Close
- “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.” Fred Roger
- “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.” Joubert Botha
- You don’t have to be positive all the time. It’s perfectly okay to feel sad, angry, annoyed, frustrated, scared and anxious. Having feelings doesn’t make you a negative person. It makes you human.” Lori Deschene
- ”Healing takes time, and asking for help is a courageous step.” Mariska Hargitay
- “The best thing you could do is master the chaos in you. You are not thrown into the fire, you are the fire.” Mama Indigo
- “Often it’s the deepest pain which empowers you to grow into your highest self.” Karen Salmansohn
- “There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.” - John Green
- “Mental health needs a great deal of attention. It’s the final taboo and it needs to be faced and dealt with.” - Adam Ant
- “Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you doesn’t mean you can, should, or need to do it alone.” - Lisa Oliveria
Alive to the situation Nashville ICCSS has planned today for a zoom presentation of “Live Long and Lead a Healthy Life & Learn about Longevity Strategies” by an expert Dr. Pramod Wasudev at 3.00 P.M.
Recently people in Nashville were benefited by the zoom lecture on “CHILD ABUSE-What you should know about it” by Dr. VEDAVYASA BILIYAR M.D.
Dr. Biliyar is a board-certified psychiatrist practicing in Nashville area over the last 30 years. He has his medical degree from Bellary, India and completed residency in Cherokee, IA and child fellowship at Vanderbilt University. He specializes in children and adolescents, and families, and has combined psychotherapy, parent training and medication management of complex hospitalized patients as well as day today emotional, behavioral and parenting problems.
He is currently directing an adolescent inpatient program, and in charge of training residents as clinical associate professor in the Tristar psychiatry residency program.
He is familiar to Nashville Indian community as ex-chairman of board of trustees at Sri Ganesha temple and ex-president of IAN. He has been involved in religious education and promoting mental health awareness through his stress management workshops and lectures on suicide prevention.
Let us dedicate this day to such selfless Healthcare Providers by offering our Prayers to Lord Dhanvantari, a special avatar of Vishnu, so essential taking care of our healthy living with EQ & SQ VALUES. Many of them are philanthropists too like the two doctors mentioned above. May their tribes increase!
“MIND IS NOT SELF-AWARE: THE ROOT OF ALL MENTAL PROBLEMS
The basis of mental and emotional problems is that the human mind is not Self-aware but is caught in ignorance, duality and karma. The mind is a conditioned reaction system dominated by sleep, memory, compulsion, wishful thinking, emotion and attachment. It is rarely aware in the present, focused or concentrated in a steady manner. That is why it easily falls into addictions and creates conflict.
Merely cultivating the mind or intellect is not enough. We must question the reality of the mind from the inner witness state that is our true Seer and Self. We must learn to examine our thoughts and observe them objectively as mere disturbances in a deeper awareness that is our true nature and real source of unitary knowing and feeling. “--David Frawley’s message on World Mental Health Day 2020.
Then we can let go of the conditioned mind for unconditioned consciousness and go beyond duality and sorrow. This requires a continual state of awareness and meditation.
--October 10, 2020
Comments:
Thanks for promoting mental health
Dr. Vedavyas
WEBINAR 184--WHAT BLOCKS SELF-KNOWLEDGE
All philosophers talk about turning to our INNER- for perennial joy instead turning to the INTERNET for momentary happiness, among whom Ramana is Maharshi is the latest, practical and wisest! ‘What is the use of gaining the whole world (in your Ego) when you have lost your own soul?’ said Jesus in his preaching too! “Seek the real treasure distributed by Ramana Maharsahi and get over your Ego” says Swami Chidananda on which he will throw enormous light in his forthcoming lecture. Please do not miss the opportunity saying you are otherwise busy!
We live in an illusion; no thoughtful person can deny this. But according to some people, behind the illusion that we see and live there exists nothing; there is nothingness, emptiness. Whereas others tell us that what we see and feel, the life we live, is a deceptive and illusory appearance behind which, beyond which, within which, there is a Reality, an eternal Truth which we do not see in our present state of Ego, but which we can experience, if we take the trouble and follow the Truth that is the real treasure hunt!
Real treasure is not gold or diamond but everlasting bliss which cannot be extinguished by any earthly force. Ramana Maharshi distributed the real treasure for free during his lifetime. Here is a miniscule part of that treasure.
If we progress, the world progresses. As you are, so is the world. Without understanding the Self, what is the use of understanding the world? Without Self Knowledge, the knowledge of the world is of no use. Dive within and see the treasures that are locked up there. Cut open your heart and see the world through the eyes of your Supreme Self. Tear down the veils and you will see the divine majesty of your own Self.
People that are on the lower rungs of the ladder waste their energies by being preoccupied with questions like will there be a prophet, will someone come to save the world, will the world will be rejuvenated…etc.
Everyone is an Avatar of God. One who knows the Truth sees everyone else as a manifestation of God. Those who have eyes can alone see; and to the pure, everything is pure.
Setting time apart for meditation is only for spiritual novices. A man who is advanced always enjoys the divine beatitude, whether he is employed in work or not. While his hand is in society, he keeps his head cool in solitude.
There is no conflict between work and wisdom. On the other hand, selfless work leads to Self-Knowledge.
He should surrender the ego that binds man to this mundane earth. Giving up the body-consciousness is the true renunciation.
Self-analysis leads to self-realization and this is the best path to know god.
When you do not know properly about the present, why should you trouble yourself about the future? Take care of the present, the future will take care of itself.
The world is neither too good nor too bad; it is a mixture of both good and bad. Unmixed happiness and unqualified sorrow will never be found.
Solution to the puzzle of God – Self-inquiry, the solving of the great problem "Who am I?" by inquiry into the nature of one's own self.
You lost sight of the bliss because your meditative attitude had not become natural. When you become habitually reflective, the enjoyment of spiritual beatitude becomes a matter of natural experience.
Self-progression in the spiritual realm is not easily discernible.
Enlightenment can happen only through deep reflection and constant meditation.
-- From “The Mountain Path” October 1981 Issue – page 196 to 198
I will also communicate to you tomorrow “The Teachings of Ramana Maharshi: An Integral View” by David Frawley tomorrow that will help you to clear your doubts if any listening to down-to-earth Swami Chidananda of FOWAI Forum.
Gist of the Discourse by Swami Chidananda:
“Images are the stuff this ego is made of,” says1 Shri Ramana Maharshi. The complex operation of thoughts ensures that there are always numerous pictures of who we are, which act as a smokescreen that conceals the Pure Self. Then there are images of others, which too arise incessantly in our consciousness and which generate endless likes and dislikes. All these, with their din and roar, prevent Self-abidance. Therefore we must resort to self-enquiry, being equipped with the sword2 of detachment. The ego, a bundle of memories, cannot stand the heat of this enquiry and flees3 upon being intensely questioned.
This webinar will throw light on the role of memories, images and attachment to concepts in sustaining the illusion called the ego.
~
1 | roopodbhavo roopa-tati-pratisthah | Saddarshanam, verse 27
2 | asanga-shastrena dridhena chittvā | Geetā 15. 3
3 | dhāvati ahankāra-pishācha eshah | Saddarshanam, verse 27
--October 9, 2020
Comments:
I like it
--Kadambi Murali Sriragachar
CONCENTRATION, MEDITATION, and CONTEMPLATION PROGRESSIVELY LEADS TO SAMADHI
Through concentration we become one-pointed. Through meditation we expand our consciousness into the Vast and enter into its consciousness. But in contemplation we grow into the Vast itself, and its consciousness becomes our very own. In contemplation we are at once in our deepest concentration and our highest meditation. The truth that we have seen and felt in meditation, we grow into and become totally one with in contemplation. When we are concentrating on God, we may feel God right in front of us or beside us. When we are meditating, we are bound to feel Infinity, Eternity and Immortality within us. But when we are contemplating, we will see that we ourselves are God, that we ourselves are Infinity, Eternity and Immortality.
Contemplation means our conscious oneness with the infinite, eternal Absolute. In contemplation the Creator and the creation, the lover and the Beloved, the knower and the known become one. One moment we are the divine lover and God is the Supreme Beloved. The next moment we change roles. In contemplation we become one with the Creator and see the whole universe inside us. At that time when we look at our own existence, we do not see a human being. We see something like a dynamo of light, peace and bliss.
Meditation vs. Contemplation
Concentration gives the message of alertness; Meditation gives the message of vastness and Contemplation gives the message of inseparable oneness.
If we meditate on a specific divine quality such as light or peace or bliss, or if we meditate in an abstract way on Infinity, Eternity or Immortality, then all the time we will feel an express train going forward inside us. We are meditating on peace, light or bliss while the express train is constantly moving. Our mind is calm and quiet in the vastness of Infinity, but there is a movement; a train is going endlessly toward the goal. We are envisioning a goal, and meditation is taking us there.
In contemplation it is not like that. In contemplation we feel the entire universe and farthest Goal deep inside ourselves. When we are contemplating we feel that we are holding within ourselves the entire universe with all its infinite light, peace, bliss and truth. There is no thought, no form, no idea.
In contemplation everything is merged into one stream of consciousness. In our highest contemplation we feel that we are nothing but consciousness itself; we are one with the Absolute. But in our highest meditation there is a dynamic movement going on in our consciousness. We are fully aware of what is happening in the inner and the outer world, but we are not affected. In contemplation, too, we are unaffected by what is going on in the inner and outer worlds, but our whole existence has become part and parcel of the universe, which we are holding deep inside us.
We concentrate because we want to reach the Goal. We meditate because we want to live in the heart of the Goal. We contemplate because we want to become the Goal.
After we have finished meditating, how do we go about contemplating?
Contemplation comes after many years, when one is very advanced in the spiritual life. Contemplation is the highest rung of the inner ladder. Very, very few spiritual aspirants have the capacity to do even limited contemplation, and they certainly cannot do so at their sweet will.
Contemplation must be mastered before God-realization, so it cannot be ignored or avoided. But, in your case, the necessity for contemplation has not come because your concentration and your meditation are not yet perfect. When your concentration is perfect and your meditation is perfect, at that time your contemplation will also have to be perfected. Then you will really be able to enter into the Highest.
A contemplation exercise
Try to imagine a golden being and feel that he is infinitely more beautiful than the most beautiful child that you have ever seen on earth. This being is your Beloved Lord Supreme. You are a divine lover and the golden being is your Beloved Lord Supreme.
Now, try to imagine that your own existence and also that of your Beloved are on the top of a mountain in the Himalayas or at the very bottom of the Pacific Ocean, whichever is easier for you. Once you feel this, then inwardly smile.
After a few seconds please feel that you yourself are the Beloved Supreme and that the golden being is the divine lover. It is like a divine game of hide-and-seek. When you become the Supreme Beloved, the divine lover seeks you, and when you become the divine lover, you search for your Beloved Supreme. One moment you are the supreme lover and the next moment you are the Supreme Beloved.
In the beginning, please do this with your eyes half open. When you become expert, you can close your eyes.
Samadhi: The Height of Divine Consciousness
Above the toil of life my soul is a bird of fire winging the Infinite. Samadhi is a spiritual state of consciousness. There are various kinds of samadhi. Among the minor samadhis, savikalpa samadhi happens to be the highest. Beyond savikalpa comes nirvikalpa samadhi, but there is a great gulf between these two: they are two radically different samadhis. Again, there is something even beyond nirvikalpa samadhi called sahaja Samadhi-- Chinmaya Mission.
Please go through my detailed compilation on Samadhi from various renowned yoga Gurus as attached:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2020/10/samadhi-state-in-which-we-become-one.html
--October 11, 2020
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AUPA, 64 OF OCTOBER 2020
These e-newsletters from Swami Chidananda’s desk, as you know, have kept going, Covid or no Covid. They are thankful to technology for making it possible for them to remain active in all such ways, including a number of online Satsangs and Vedānta classes under various banners.
This issue brings to us an astounding article by Prof. Subhash Kak, who claims that The Buddha made a second revelation just before dying that the Self indeed was the truth. Buddhism is otherwise believed to have dismissed the Self, and that is often cited as the main difference between Vedānta and Buddhism.
We also find a great quote from Erwin Schrodinger who makes a case for blending Eastern thought with Western science.
All the regular features like 'Learn a New Word,' 'Dr. G Wrote' etc. are sure to interest us! Team AUPA and Swami Chidananda send us their Greetings for Happy Navarātri and a great Vijaya Dashami in October 2020.
I forward AUPA 64 Messages for your leisurely reading with my observations on the most exciting topic Buddha and Vedanta:
Please go through the detailed text ‘Buddha and the Veda” by Subhash Kak in AUPA 64 0f October 2020.This topic brings to you an astounding article by Prof. Subhash Kak, who claims that Buddha made a second revelation just before dying that the Self indeed was the truth. Buddhism is otherwise believed to have dismissed the Self, and that is often misquoted as the main difference between Vedānta and Buddhism. Buddha did not find Buddhism of modern concept. His followers named the religion only focusing on the earlier part of the story as happened with Advaita Philosophy of Sankara. Buddha developed a Philosophy of Emptiness with a purpose and going silent on GOD. So was Sankara silent on Paramatman dwelling on the theory of Part for the Whole and individual Self alone abides in all as Supreme Lord.
No-self philosophy was advanced by Buddha as an upāya (means) to get his followers off from attachment to old ideas like Sankara who tried to remove the growing tendency of atheism projected wrongly by the followers of Buddha.
Just as the Veda speaks of a churning between avidyā (materiality) and vidyā to obtain deep knowledge of the Self, the Buddha spoke of a churning between emptiness and non-emptiness. Buddha had used emptiness to help his disciples separate themselves from earlier attachments. He tried the supersession of the Non-self-doctrine by the Self doctrine.
It will surprise many that this dichotomy of ātman versus anātman was declared false by the Buddha on his last day of life. Buddha said: “The Self (ātman) is reality (tattva), the Self is permanent (nitya), the Self is virtue (guṇa), the Self is eternal (śāśvatā), the Self is stable (dhruva), and the Self is auspiciousness (śiva).” Other adjectives used by the Buddha for the Self are “sovereign” (aiśvarya), “unchanging” (avipariṇāma), and “true” (satya).
These are precisely the “attributes” associated with the Self (ātman) in the Vedas. The attribute aiśvarya implies agency and brings to mind Īśvara, or Śiva. Īśvara is the free mind who has access to “transcendental knowing” or lokkottara-jñāna, which explains how Śiva-Maheśvara was integrated into worship in many parts of the Buddhist world.
In this context please recall my earlier reference to three atonements of Sankarachharya before Lord Viswanatha:
The three sins of Sri Adi Shankara (Sub value- Eternal truth, harmony of thought, word and deed)
Sri Sri Sankara along with his disciples once visited Sri Vishwanatha Temple at Kasi. After taking bath in Ganga he headed straight to the temple. At the temple in front of Lord Vishwanatha, Sri Sri Sankara began to seek pardon to the three sins he had committed. His disciples were surprised and wondered what those sins could be for which Acharya was doing Prayaschitta (Atonement).
One of the disciples out of curiosity to know about the three sins that Acharya had committed asked Sri Sri Sankara about it. Sri Sri Sankara explained, “Though I believe that Absolute is Sarvavyapta (Omnipresent) and had expressed so in many of my works, I have come all the way to Kasinagara to have His darshana, as if He was present only in Kasinagara. I have committed the sin of saying one thing and doing the other. This is my first sin. Taittriya Upanishad says, “Yatho Vacho Nivartante Aprapya Manasa Sah.”(The words return and mind fails to comprehend Him). Though I knew that He is beyond the realm of thoughts and words, I have made an attempt of describing Him by words in “Sri Kasi Vishwanatha Ashtakam.” Again I have committed the sin of not practicing what I preached. This is my second sin. Now the third sin, in my “Nirvana Shatakam” I had written clearly, Na Punyam Na Papam Na Saukhyam Na Dukham Na Mantro Na Teertham Na Veda Na Yajnaha Aham Bhojanam Naiva Bhojyam Na Bhokta Chidananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham
I have neither higher nor lower merits. Nor pleasure or pain, I do not need sacred chants, nor I need to go on pilgrimages. I do not need scriptures, rituals, or sacrifices (yajnas). I am neither the enjoyed nor the enjoyer, nor enjoyment. I am the form of Consciousness-Bliss. I am auspicious, I am auspicious.
Yet, here I am standing in front of the Lord praying for the atonement of my sins. This is the third sin.
Learning
The profound insight in this episode in the life of Sri Sri Sankara’s reveals the importance of harmony in our thought, word, and deed. If one has the keenness to attain Absolute he has to maintain harmony in his thoughts as well as words and deeds. No matter how good our intentions are, the world looks for our presentation. But no matter how good our presentation is Absolute looks for our intentions. It is said, Manas Ekam vachas Ekam, karman Ekam Mahatmanam, Manas Anyatha vachas Anyatha, karman Anyatha Duratmanam. (Superior people are those who have perfect harmony in their thoughts, words and deeds, Inferior are those who lack harmony). One should know and start practicing this in our life.
Who can undo the statement made by Bhagawan Himself as to the Individual-Self and the Supreme-self: Sankara has not negated these statements of Bhagawan!
mamaivānśho jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ | manaḥ-ṣhaṣhṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛiti-sthāni karṣhati (BG 15.7:)
The embodied souls in this material world are my eternal fragmental parts. But bound by material nature, they are struggling with the six senses including the mind.
In this verse the identity of the living being is clearly given. The living entity is the fragmental part and parcel of the Supreme Lord--eternally (Sanatanah). According to Vedic version, the Supreme Lord manifests and expands Himself in innumerable expansions of which primary expansion is called Vishnu-Tattvas and the secondary expansion are called living entities. Vishnu-tattva is the personal expansion, and the living entities are separated expansions. Sankara talks about this Vishnu-Tattva both in Bhajagovindam and Atmabodha that I explained at length earlier on several occasions. In the next verse, Gita explains when a soul moves from one body to another upon death, what happens to the mind and the senses.
--October 5, 2020
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SPIRITUALITY IN DAILY LIFE
“One who has “discovered” one’s innermost Reality and identifies oneself with all that exists is called a “sthita-prajna” in Chapter Two of the Bhagavad Gita. The Lord tells Arjuna how such a person behaves, how he talks, how he sits and moves around. The Gita describes also the behavior of a true Bhakta, or devotee, in Chapter Twelve and the characteristics of a person who has transcended the three gunas in Chapter Fourteen. The people refered to in these contexts are extraordinary spiritual personalities who have crossed the ocean of samsara, of relative existence, and whose very sojourn on earth is a blessing to all: “One’s lineage is made pure, one’s mother made blessed, and Mother Earth rendered sacred, by one whose mind is merged in Brahman, the shoreless ocean of consciousness and bliss.
Here we will deal not with such persons who have reached the highest point in spiritual life, but with sincere spiritual aspirants whose lives in the midst of society reflect the spiritual awakening in their hearts as explained by modern Urban Monks, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating,” as the proverb says.
What are the external signs of a God-realized soul, or rather, how does a Sadhaka, one who is treading the spiritual path, behave? How is spirituality reflected in a common person whose life is circumscribed by the social conditions around him or her? What about monks who have dedicated their lives to the highest spiritual ideal?
Men and women dedicated to spiritual values develop the ability to withstand even terrible tragedies in their lives. For example, I may mention one such incident which I had the opportunity to see personally. A lady devotee in Kolkata suddenly lost her son, a brilliant student preparing for his Senior Cambridge [present class twelve] examinations, in a drowning accident. The lady is very much devoted to Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Sarada Devi. Even then, when I heard about it, I felt that she would be devastated and went personally to her house to offer some consolation. But to our surprise, instead of being consoled by us, the lady tried to console us, saying, “The Lord gave and the Lord took him away. What is the use of sorrowing?” This attitude was possible for her only because of her deep faith in, and devotion to, the divine personalities. Spirituality helps to develop detachment to worldly matters and creates a sense of renunciation.
I may mention the case of Dr. Jiten Dutta, an unassuming bachelor whom I knew in the late nineteen-fifties. He was a man of strong opinions, but, with all that, he had a soft heart and felt for the poor. He would go to treat patients in Kolkata, but would give the fees he received to one of our girls’ schools in rural Bengal, and would have receipts issued to his patients in the name of the Ashrama, as if their payments were actually donations. In this way, he donated more than a hundred thousand rupees for the said institution, which would be worth ten times the amount today!
Swami Muktananda, known as Ban-baba or Banbihari Maharaj. Banbihari Maharaj spent all his monastic life at Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service, Varanasi. All his life he worked in the surgical department of the Sevashrama [hospital], bandaging the wounds—surgical and otherwise—of the innumerable patients who came to the hospital for treatment. With the greatest dedication he worked day after day for years together. His was really worship of the Rogi-Narayana—God in the form of the patient. He was full of love for all, with a sweet smile. He worked tirelessly, at any time of the day, as a true karma yogi. Ban-baba’s loving and compassionate heart endeared him to one and all. For sixty years he carried on his service to the patients. People, even senior surgeons, believed that a patient would be cured if Banbihari Maharaj would but take up the dressing of the wounds and the care of the post-operative period. Invariably, it came true. He passed away in 1996 at the ripe old age of ninety-three. Ban-baba’s life is a testimony to all those aspiring to live a spiritual life in the midst of intense activity.
There are many examples of Swamis who had lived exemplary lives, but it is not possible to describe all these lives here. Now let us look at a grand example from the Catholic Christian tradition, of one who, in the midst of multifarious chores in the kitchen of a monastery in seventeenth-century France, maintained the constant awareness of God’s presence. His name was Brother Lawrence, and what we know about him is from a small book entitled The Practice of the Presence of God: “His conversion, at eighteen, was the result of the mere sight on a midwinter day of a dry and leafless tree standing gaunt against the snow; it stirred deep thoughts within him of the change the coming spring would bring. From that moment on he grew and waxed strong in the knowledge and love and favor of God, endeavoring constantly as he put it, `to walk as in His presence.’” Thus, Brother Lawrence, in the midst of his heavy duties in the monastery, invoked the presence of God all the time. He said that we should establish ourselves in a sense of God’s presence by continually conversing with Him.
The Lord says in the Gita, “Mam-anusmara yudhya cha; Remember Me and fight” So, to make our lives fully focused on God, continual effort to keep our mind on God is necessary. This method of remembering Him will make us progress spiritually, without disturbing our day-to-day activities, in whichever vocation we may be engaged.”-- says Swami Swarnananda.
“if you are lending a helping hand to a poor student, or planting a tree, or researching a creative idea to clean the environment, or nursing a patient in a hospital during this critical coronavirus times, you are in every way Spiritual serving God that which is given to the right person, in the right way, and at the proper time.” (Sister Nivedita)
Vivekananda redefining Sanyasa Dharma said Spirituality need not be confined to forests and caves. It should not be confined to sitting in isolation and meditating being a Sanyasi. It should enter the marketplace, and the field and the factory. When all activities are infused with the leaven of spirituality, a silent revolution will come about. The real Satyayuga will begin. For this, continuous effort in this direction—to focus one’s life on God, and give it a spiritual orientation—is highly necessary” says Swami Smaranananda of Ramakrishna Math.
To lead the spiritual life, it is not necessary to withdraw into the forest, hide oneself in a cave or go to a mountain top. What is needed is the renunciation of false ideas, of identification with the false human personality. It requires renunciation of ego, Abhimana, Ahamkara, renunciation of desire, renunciation of attachment, renunciation of Mamata and Asakti (mine-ness and attachment)--Swami Chidananda Saraswati.
“Spirituality is a commitment to living our lives from a place of seeing spirit, rather than focusing on matter. Sadhviji offers that you can see the world materially (identifying with the body) or spiritually (see the spirit flowing through all, including the body). Being spiritual is a decision to focus on spirit in life, and over time the changes are remarkable. It does not call for retiring to forest and meditate in seclusion but serve the society with a spirit of selflessness and sacrifice” says Sadhvi Bhagavati of Paramartha Niketan.
True spirituality is not to renounce life, but to make life perfect with the Divine Perfection. This is what India must show to the world now.--The Mother
Spirituality helps in Crazy Times too!
Do you ever feel torn between finding refuge and staying informed and engaged? Have you ever felt too stressed out to meditate? Too anxious to roll out your yoga mat or pray?
The truth is, when the world gets chaotic and confounding, we need spiritual practice more than ever. That's when our souls need sustenance the most. That's when we really need to recharge and ground ourselves to take on the challenge.
Spiritual Guru, Philip Goldberg draws on authoritative texts and masters from every spiritual path, especially the empirical methods of the Yoga tradition--as well as contemporary psychology, scientific research, and decades of interviews and personal experience. The result is a wide range of techniques to relieve the mind and body, refresh the spirit, and gird you for constructive action. You'll get insightful instruction in practices ranging from deep meditation to cognitive reframing to "spiritual space management," from silently communing with nature to actively engaging with spiritual companions. And you'll find detailed guidelines for creating a regular practice routine--along with an inventory of supplementary methods that helps your personal SQ needs.
This breezy, thorough, pragmatic book on Spirituality Helps in Crazy Times of Phil Goldberg will help you find refuge and healing personal needs and lifestyle. From the crazy times we're living in--and it will prepare you for taking robust steps to help restore sanity in the world around you.
--October 4, 2020
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THERE IS NO ROOM FOR FEAR FOR A STHITAPRAJNYA
Living in the era of a great pandemic, Fear has become overwhelming owing to the resultant personal, social and economic uncertainty. According to Rishika Atri, “Fear is a sign of lack of knowledge and wisdom.” According to Ayurvedic Rishi Sushruta “Fear is the root cause of many psychological problems and results in weakness and diseases of the body.” The goal of Vedic knowledge is to help us attain a state of perfect mental and emotional equilibrium, called Sthitaprajna. This naturally helps us resist disease and attain a healthy longevity.
Please recall Arjuna’s two questions in Bhagavad Gita that cover the entire range of Yoga and its practical fruition. Equally so, they bring forth the nature of the Knower’s inward and outward life. It is very significant that Arjuna uses the word ‘sthitaprajna’ in his first question, whereas he uses ‘sthitadhee’ in the next:
sthita-prajñasya ka bhas?asamadhi-sthasya kesava | sthita-dhih? kim´ prabhas?etakim asita vrajeta kim || 2.54 ||
Arjuna said: O Krishna, what are the symptoms of one whose consciousness is thus merged in transcendence? How does he speak, and what is his language? How does he sit, and how does he walk?
We have quite a number of Upanishads, where Self-knowledge and Self-Knowers are presented and explained. But the words sthitaprajna and sthitadhee are not mentioned in them. These two concepts, especially the background in which they are presented here in Gita, throw special light on the whole subject of Self-knowledge and Self-Knower.
To this first significant question Arjuna raises Krishna briefly but fully gives his answer:
प्रजहातियदा कामान् सर्वान्पार्थ मनोगतान्। आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्ट: स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते ।।
prajahåti yadå kåmån sarvån pårtha manogatån | åtmany-evåtmanå tushtah˙ sthita-prajñas tadochyate ||
Bhagavån Sri Krishna said: O Pårtha, When the living being abandons all material desires that enter the mind and becomes self-satisfied within, then that person is considered to be sthita-prajna.
Krishna emphasizes here only two points in describing the sthita-prajna state. All the desires have to be renounced. After so renouncing, the seeker must be able to take his repose on his own Self within. And in so doing, he must find all the delight and fullness he seeks and yearns for. Leave everything and all, and rest upon your own inward Self. Such restfulness must be delightful, so much so that the seeker will not feel like having anything else for his satisfaction.
The mind has first of all to be disconnected from all the desires it fosters towards things of this world or the other world. Any desire is a desire indeed. And it has the sure effect of disturbing the mind. The only way to make the mind undisturbed is to keep away all desires. In any kind of desiring, the mind gets drawn outside.
A question may arise now: Is the desire for Self-realization also to be renounced? Well, if it is a desire that is not good. In trying to realize the Self, why should one foster anything like a desire at all? In looking at your body, is there any question of desiring at all? To look at your own mind likewise, does not imply any desiring. So too, to look at the Self within and try to realize what it is, why should any desire be there? Generally, you desire to get at some place away from where you are, or you desire to get an object which is different from you. Where the thing sought is different from you, a desire for it is possible and relevant. But in striving to realize your very Self, the Self that you already are, where is the need for any desire at all? You can have an urge for it, an impetus or compulsion for it. That is no desire.
Desire is something that pulls or pushes the mind away from its center and leads it elsewhere. But here the process is just reverse. The mind, if at all, must get to its own center, its own essence and being. That process is certainly different from desiring.
Krishna clearly states that after the mind gets rid of the desiring habit and desires, it should become self-seated and in that self-seated-ness, the seeker should find all the delight he needs, to make him remain immersed within himself. This point is quite important and clear.
Every day we go into deep sleep for several hours. In sleep (sushupti), the mind itself ceases to be, it becomes extinct, not to speak of the desire it generates. Unmindful of the body, mind and intelligence, the sleeper sleeps to get lost into himself. In what way does this deep sleep state (sushupti) differ from sthita-prajna state? In the suspension of desires, in their disappearance for a while, sushupti and sthita-prajnata may be held to be the same, or nearly so. Even to say this is not true, because sushupti is a biological development. When the body gets tired after being wakeful and active, the biological system sends it to sleep, a state of utter restfulness. It is not something that we generate. Sushupti is a regular state we have just like wakefulness, as a counterpart of wakefulness. Like dream and wakefulness, sushupti is also a state, repetitive in nature, and even periodical. All the three appear in sequence and complement one another. By sleeping for hours together, no special change is brought to the mind, its structure and function. Also, it is not a condition that one should leave all his desires, in order to get into sushupti.
In sthita–prajnata, the whole development starts with an effort – the clear discrimination to eliminate desires; and as a result, desires become extinct in the end. It is not then like one slipping into sushupti to forget everything and remain dead to the world and environments for a while. The similarity between sushupti and sthitaprajnata is that in both there is no awareness of the objects outside. The difference between the two is that in sushupti one becomes unconscious of himself, whereas in sthita-prajna state one remains fully conscious of himself. In addition, the sthita-prajna enjoys full delight born of himself, his Self.
Our consciousness generally moves about in three states, each different from the others. Wakefulness is the state in which grossness and externality prevail. Only when one wakes up, his waking consciousness brings in the presence and perception of the external objects, including earth, water, fire, air and space. So, the entire gross world is a result and outcome of our wakefulness, wakeful consciousness.
Whenever wakefulness takes place, it can only be from and after sushupti (deep sleep). Jagrat (wakefulness) cannot be except as a contrast and succession to sushupti. If jagrat is broad-based, external and gross, sushupti is just the opposite of these. In sushupti, one remains drawn into himself, subtle and internal, so much so that he does not even know that he is. None says, or can say, that ‘I am sleeping’, ‘I am in sushupti’. The awareness of sushupti comes to us only after we wake up from it. Wakefulness alone is the state in which we have ‘current awareness and knowledge’.
In as much as we have this sushupti state, just like the jagrat state, and that also lasts every time for hours, can we allow the waking state all its seeming value and relevance as we do now? In judging the value and truth of existence of objects, we cannot become blind or partial. A judgement based solely on our jagrat state will not be adequate. The parallel state of sushupti should also become equal ground in making our assessment. And sushupti completely negates the entire waking state realities. If the existence of objects including our own body was absolute, then when we, the perceivers, go into sushupti state, how does none of these objects, including our body, seem to exist and get felt at all? Does the object world come first before us, or we first wake up ourselves, and then alone perceive the gross existence?
Our waking or sleeping does not depend upon the existence of anything other than ourselves. The inward states are brought about by every individual himself. As we wake up ourselves, so also do we get into sleep all by ourselves! Whether any object exists outside or not, one can and does slip into sushupti. Do not people sleep while travelling? Even when someone dear and near is present nearby and a dialogue goes on with him, sometimes one slips into sushupti, to the surprise of all concerned!
Similarly, wakefulness also sets in all by itself. One wakes up himself, as he went into sleep, and then begins to feel the presence of his body and the rest of objects around.
There is another state in between, the dream state, svapna. Svapna is a state in which the dreamer, unlike in sushupti, wakes up into a new world, similar to the waking world but different from it, to enjoy and suffer the activities and interactions taking place exclusively there. The dream objects, interactions and the resulting experiences often, rather invariably, invalidate and contradict the wakeful objects and interactions with them and the resulting joy and suffering. This is similar to the waking world invalidating and contradicting the dream world. But the wakeful and dreamer are the same. Naturally the truth of both the states – jagrat and svapna –– perceived by him remains the same, because, the test of any existence is its experience by oneself. Waking world derives its status because it is perceived by us. Dream too has its similar status on the ground of being perceived by us.
Besides these two mutually invalidating and contradictory states is the sushupti state, in which both the waking world and dream world are completely negated, and the wakeful and the dreamer remains all by himself, to be the only subject, devoid of all object connections and consequences. The waking and dream objects together with the interactions and resulting experiences subsist solely on the subject wakeful and subject dreamer. Without the subject, neither can ever be. Whereas in sushupti, the subject sleeper remains all by himself. Like the objects depending upon the subject (in jagrat and svapna) the subject does not depend upon the objects (sushupti)
Sushupti is thus the full and independent state of the subject. It is this subject alone that brings about by itself, for itself, in itself, the wakeful and dream state, without any kind of linkage with anything else. In waking the grossness and externality of objects prevail, whereas in svapna, the objects remain within the body and as such are subtle in nature. Even the externality we experience during dream reigns within the body. Dream is in fact a sheer expanse within the gross body. Yet the objects of dream are felt to be external. The internal dreamer and wakeful, produces, all in himself, the externality in both states.
The comparison of the three states goes a step further. Only in jagrat we have the awareness that ‘I am awake’, ‘I am doing this, experiencing this....’. While dreaming, the dreamer does not feel that ‘I am dreaming’. It is instead to him a waking state itself. Only when he wakes up, he realizes that he was in a dream state. So, in dream he does not have the current awareness about what he is, as happens in waking.
In sushupti, it is not at all so. He does not have any awareness at all as he will have in waking or dream. Unaware of anything outside or inside, doing nothing, knowing nothing, he sleeps, to feel on waking up that he was sleeping. It is this lack of awareness that poses the problem, the only problem, in understanding the ‘I’, the sleeper, the dreamer and wakeful. This constant ignorance is what the sthita-prajna state removes outright.
The subject, the Self, reveals itself in all its fullness and delight. ‘Atmani eva atmana tushtah’ denotes this self-revealing and self-delighting situation. Thus, in this single verse, Krishna presents not only the yoga state of fullness but also the spiritual and philosophical goal discussed and revealed in the Upanishads and allied scriptural texts.
"Self-realization is meant to ensure fulfilment for one’s own self. It is not reaching somewhere or getting at something external, like going to the peak of a mountain. The attainment is in dissolving the mind and intelligence, and getting into the very core of oneself. In other words, it is like multiplying everything with zero."
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/01/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html
--October 3, 2020
WEBINAR 183 SAAGAR SE SAAGARMAATAA
A Moral from Indian Navy’s Expedition
The Indian Navy Team that scaled the Mt. Everest following the Tibet Route needs to be appreciated for its steadfastness and desire to achieve something impossible normally. We need such a determination to spiritually advance in life!
New Delhi, May 13, 2004: Led by Commander Satyabrata Dam, Indian Navy’s 14-member team made its first ever attempt to scale Mt. Everest that summer. The Honorable Defense Minister, Shri George Fernandes along with the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Madhvendra Singh, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, flagged off the expedition on March 08, 2004 aboard a submarine. Cdr. Satyabrata Dam, the team leader and Nitin Singh, Seaman First Class, the youngest member of the team, were among those who were present at the flag off ceremony. The expedition attempted to summit via the north face and was expected to reach the summit sometime later that month.
The expedition route from the north face via Tibet has never been attempted before by teams of the Indian Armed Forces. This route is by far considered the more difficult and technically challenging route. Successfully, the Indian Navy was the First Navy of the world to scale what is sometimes also referred to as the ‘Third Pole’.
Commander Dam, the team leader, was a submariner and he summited the Everest, he was the first submariner, mountaineer to achieve this feat.
Scaling Mt. Everest (height 8,850 meters) was a dream that only the bravest of brave dare to dream, even fewer attempted it. Many from among those who actually began the journey never made it to the summit. Many never made it back…
The physical, mental and spiritual challenges that the team faced are unique, as is the experience of reaching the summit and the joy of success!. To ensure success for the expedition, the carefully selected team, underwent rigorous training of the body, the mind and spirit. Suh an effort and mental make-up is needed to reach Spiritual heights
The activities called for Spirit of adventure, Team Work, Endurance, Will Power, Cohesiveness and Stamina. MNU says:
“Vedantavijnana sunischititarthah suddasattvaah yatayah sanyasayogaat paramuchyanti sarve”
With this background please go through an exciting narration and moral conveyed by one of the active participants of the team.
Gist of the Presentation:
This webinar will present a recount of Indian Navy’s journey to the top of the world in the year 2004. The presenter was a member of the successful team. Commander (Indian Navy, retired) Lijo Chacko will relate some of his experiences during the ascent to a few of life's everyday realities. He says his attempt will however be to try to make it more of a fun session than anything else!
[The name Everest was originally proposed by Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India. He chose the name of his predecessor in the post, Sir George Everest. In Nepal, Mount Everest is known as Sāgarmāthā, meaning 'Goddess of the Sky' or 'Peak in the Sky'.]
--October 2, 2020
Gandhi Jayanti 2020:
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi or Mahatma Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat. This year will mark Gandhi’s 151st birth anniversary !
Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated on October 2 every year to mark the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. It is observed across states and territories in India, and is one of the officially declared national holidays. On this day, people celebrate with prayer services, commemorative ceremonies and cultural events that are held in colleges, local government institutions and socio-political institutions. The statues of Mahatma Gandhi are decorated with garlands and flowers. His favorite song Raghupati Raghava is also sung at some of the meetings. His birth anniversary is celebrated in other parts of the world too.
People honor Gandhi’s contributions towards the Indian Independence movement, and his non-violent way of life. He led the Dandi Salt March in 1930, the year and month I was born. In 1942, he launched the Quit India Movement, in which year I decided to live in Chennai to pursue my education leaving my parents in Mysore. He was also instrumental in abolishing the age-old practice of untouchability. So i remember these years in my life too!
On June 15, 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that declared October 2 as International Day of Non-Violence. The resolution reaffirms “the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence” and the desire “to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence”.
Say No to Violence says the UNO
The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.
According to General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/271 of 15 June 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day is an occasion to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness". The resolution reaffirms "the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" and the desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence".
The name of Mahatma Gandhi transcends the bounds of race, religion and nation-states, and has emerged as the prophetic voice of the twenty-first century. The world remembers Gandhi not just for his passionate adherence to the practice of non-violence and supreme humanism, but as the benchmark against which we test men and women in public life, political ideas and government policies, and the hopes and wishes of our shared planet.
In my opinion, his life’s struggle and life style brings to lime-light Hindu Scriptural Wisdom; “atmana vindate veeryam; yudhyasva vigata jwarah; ahimsa paramo Dhramah; uttishthata, jaagrata chatraiveti charaiveti, atmavat sarva bhooteshu; vasudhaiva kutumbakam; krinvanto viswamaryam; satyameva jayate!
Please go through the special message from David Frawley on the occasion:
"MAHATMA GANDHI AT 150 YEARS WITH 20/20 VISION IN 2020
Mahatma Gandhi remains the most well-known and respected figure of modern India and its Independence Movement. His spiritual approach to political activism has influenced the entire world, including the civil rights movement in the United States through Dr. Martin Luther King. Yet while many people know about Gandhi, few understand what he represented or the traditions he reflected.
Mahatma Gandhi was not a political leader and never held any political post. He was primarily a spiritual and religious teacher. He shaved his head and wore the white loincloth of a sadhu or Hindu holy man. He was called a Mahatma or great soul, a term for great gurus and spiritual leaders. His favorite book was the Bhagavad Gita of Sri Krishna, and his favorite mantra was Om Ram. While he had previously been a lawyer up to his inner transformation in 1921, he renounced that for his spiritual work.
Gandhiji regarded his social and political work as a form of Karma Yoga, service to humanity and to the Divine. He organized prayer meetings where mantras were chanted and religious leaders of various types gathered together. He took no money for himself and commonly mingled with the masses. He honored strict dharmic principles of right living, such as we find from Vedic texts to the principles of traditional Yoga.
For the people of India, Gandhi was not a new figure with unusual practices as he is for westerners, he was the representative of a venerable ancient tradition of spiritual leaders, many who addressed the social and political issues of their times from the standpoint of Karma Yoga. The masses of India did not see Gandhi as a unique individual but as the affirmation of their own older traditions that they knew quite well. They projected the respect for the traditional sadhu upon Gandhi, even if they knew little about him personally.
Gandhi, Dharma and Karma Yoga
Mahatma Gandhi promoted the Dharmic values that have permeated India’s civilization Hindu, Buddhist and Jain. Most known in this regard is the principle of ahimsa or non-violence that he gave primary emphasis to, even putting his own life at risk. In addition, he emphasized satya or truth and said that truth was the most important principle, not any mere belief. He called his movement Satyagraha or holding to truth. He strived to live a life of simplicity, austerity and self-control. This is much like the five yamas of Yoga, ahmisa, satya, brahmacharya (self-control), asteya (non-stealing) and aparigraha (non-coveting).
Gandhiji similarly emphasized the prime principles behind the five niyamas of Yoga practice; tapas as austerity including fasting which he did to challenge the British, svadhyaya as self-study, Ishvara-pranidhana as surrender to the Divine, saucha as purity and santosha as contentment.
Yet Gandhi was not unique in his spiritual orientation for India’s Independence Movement. Lokamanya Tilak, the main Congress leader before him, emphasized the Bhagavad Gita and made Ganesh Puja into a national movement, as well as honoring the Vedas. Sri Aurobindo, who would have probably been the leader the independence movement if he had not first retired into his special Yoga practice, similarly emphasized Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana and India’s vast Yoga tradition.
The Indian Independence Movement found great inspiration in figure of Swami Vivekananda, who brought Yoga and Vedanta to the modern world, and his guru Paramahamsa Ramakrishna. Many sadhus and Swamis aided in the Independence movement from various traditions including the Arya Samaj that had as its motto the return to the Vedas.
Gandhiji was not part of western politics left or right of his times, and would not fit into their new forms today. He was a fierce critic of British colonialism, but also of communism, which he rejected as a great danger for India. He was against capitalistic greed as well. He severely criticized the Christian missionaries who tried to convert him.
In honoring Mahatma Gandhi we must recognize the tradition he reflected and was the basis for the respect he gained in India. We should look to the values he emulated, not just to his personal achievements. Today we also need to follow dharmic values and practice Karma Yoga to achieve a better and more peaceful world.
We need a deeper understanding of Yoga, Vedanta and Veda, for which its modern growing popularity since Vivekananda is just an initial entry into a vast temple of Self-realization and universal Consciousness. Along with Gandhi all the great leaders of India’s Independence deserve their respect, including those who found it necessary to use the forms of arms against the cruel British rule that sought to dismantle India’s civilization and humiliate its people. Yet Gandhi’s ability to gain a worldwide attention for India must be honored as well for years to come.
A Personal Note
I came to know Gandhi during my participation in the anti-war movement and civil rights movement in the United States in my youth from 1966-1973. He was the first figure from India I came to know of and find an affinity with, whose influence led me to India’s great gurus including Yogananda, Aurobindo, Anandamayi Ma, Vivekananda and Rama Tirtha, and eventually to Yogic and Vedic teachings overall. While I cannot claim to simply be a Gandhian but more under the influence of Sri Aurobindo, I must honor his role in my life and his influence in my inner development--Vamadeva Shastri "
--October 2, 2020
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WORLD HEART DAY 2020
World Heart Day is celebrated on 29th September of every year. It is aimed at drawing people’s attention to heart illness and the range of associated health issues. The day is commemorated to promote different preventative steps and changes in lifestyle to avoid any cardiovascular diseases, like heart attack, stroke, heart failure and any other condition related to the same. On average, more than 17 million people die from heart-related illnesses every year. This is a more than that of people who die from HIV, malaria, and cancer.
History of World Heart Day
It was launched in 2000 by the World Heart Federation as an annual event that was planned to be taking place every last Sunday of September. However, they decided to fix it on every 29th day of September and it has been celebrated on that day ever since.
World Heart Day 2020: Here’s how yoga keeps your heart healthy
World Heart Day: It is extremely essential to take care of one’s heart to lead a healthy lifestyle. Ahead of World Heart Day, let’s take a look at how yoga and spirituality together can work as the best tools to help mitigate undue stress and worry from one’s life.
According to World Health Organization reports, 31 per cent of the total deaths worldwide are due to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). It is extremely essential to take care of one’s heart to lead a healthy lifestyle. Among various other factors like food and lifestyle, stress is one of the biggest reasons for affecting one’s heart health. Ahead of World Heart Day, let’s take a look at how yoga and spirituality together can work as the best tools to help mitigate undue stress and worry from one’s life. ANI spoke to internationally acclaimed Yoga master, philanthropist, lifestyle coach, and author Grand Master Akshar as he explained the importance of maintaining good heart health and how yoga and exercising can help maintain a healthy heart. He said, “The heart is a vital organ that pumps blood throughout the body fueling it. We must take care of this most important organ by exercising regularly, eating nutritious food and getting adequate sleep each night.”
“Yoga is a science that is focused on holistic wellness that uses various methods such as asanas, pranayama, meditation, mudras, chanting and more for individual well-being. You can eliminate depression, anxiety and stress, which are the biggest factors for high blood pressure and cardiovascular disorders,” added the yoga guru.
Hailing from the Himalayas, Grand Master Akshar has also trained legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, wrestling champions-sisters Geeta and Babita Phogat, International athlete - Padma Shri Awardee Bajrang Puniya, to name a few.
Talking about the benefits of yoga, he said, “Practicing yoga regularly leads to a strong body and mind. It boosts immunity, protects and strengthens your heart in the process. For heart patients, you can include the practice of Hriday Mudra along with simple asanas such as Dandasana (Staff Pose), Sukhasana (Easy Pose), Tadasana and Vrikshasana (Tree Pose). “In order to prevent the onset of any heart conditions, individuals are recommended to practice Dhanurasana (Bow Pose), and Chakrasana popularly called Wheel Pose (also known as Urdhva Dhanurasana -Upward facing Bow Pose),” added the renowned spiritual guru, Akshar.
By combining movement with breath, yoga nourishes you from within. Practicing regularly at least thrice a week helps one improve aspects of their physical, mental and spiritual well-being. Follow these simple asanas in your daily fitness routine. You can hold each posture for up to 30 seconds and repeat the set 3 times. Grand master Akshar also shared six easy asanas to build heart health: Sukhasana - Happy Pose Sit in an upright position with both legs stretched out in Dandasana. Fold the left leg and tuck it inside the right thigh. Then fold the right leg and tuck it inside the left thigh. Place your palms on the knees. Sit erect with spine straight.
Ardha Padmasana: Begin with Sukhasana, and place your right foot on your left thigh facing upwards. Push your knees to the floor, as you straighten your back. Place your palms on your knees facing upwards.Repeat the same on the other side. Padmasana Sit in Ardha Padmasana with your right foot over your left thigh. Lift your left foot and place it on your right thigh facing up. Pull your feet closer to your hips. Place your palms on your knees facing up. Repeat with the other leg. Hold your palms close to the ground, inhale and exhale.
Dandasana :Start in a seated position and stretch your legs out forward. Join your legs bringing your heels together, keep your back straight. Tighten the muscles of your pelvis, thighs and calves. Place your palms beside your hips on the floor to support your spine. Relax your shoulders. Padahasthasana Begin in Samasthithi. Exhale and gently bend your upper body down from the hips and touch your nose to your knees. Place palms on either side of feet. As a beginner, you may have to bend your knees slightly to accomplish this. With practice, slowly straighten your knees and try to touch your chest to your thighs. Maintain this final posture for 10-30 seconds with normal breathing.
Vrikshasana: Stand in Samasthithi, lift your right leg off the floor and place your right foot on your lift inner thigh. Now, balance on your left leg taking support with your palms if needed. Join your palms in Pranam Mudra at your heart chakra and lift up towards the sky. Repeat on both sides.
Meditation for a calm mind: Simple and effective meditation techniques such as Ropan Dhyan, Sthithi Dhyan, Super Power Meditation, Aarambh Dhyan, Swaas Dhyan reduce stress, and anxiety allowing for an improved ability to manage thoughts and behaviour. When you include the practice of meditation even for as little a 5-10 minutes a day, it increases coping skills, motivation, planning and problem-solving. Keep your heart happy The biggest risk factors for CVDs include tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, harmful use of alcohol and inadequate physical activity. Physiological factors, including high blood pressure (hypertension), high blood sugar or glucose, and high blood cholesterol can also trigger heart-related diseases. Leading a disciplined life, clean living, healthy habits and attention to your diet and sleep can make all the difference. While there are millions of people struggling to control the risk factors that lead to cardiovascular disease, there are many others who remain largely unaware of the potential risk that they face. A large number of CVDs such as heart attacks and strokes can be prevented through regular health check-ups, monitoring your diet, following an exercise routine, and changing your lifestyle habits wherever necessary.
(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
--Hindustan Times, Asian News International by Alfea Jamal, New Delhi
Stress and tension is the root cause of all kinds of cardiovascular diseases. So stay happy and keep on smiling. A healthy heart will give you the courage to face and overcome any challenge in life. Let us pray for the helthy heart of all those victims to Vaidyo Narayano Harih who incarnated for us as Lord Dhnanvantari with Amrita Kalasa on one hand an the Leech on the other hand suggesting cure and recuperations who is now saving us from COVID 19 listening to our prayers ! Someone may soon have to think of WORLD CORONA VIRUS DAY TOO!
--September 29, 2020
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BRAIN, MIND AND CONSCIOUSNESS IN PSYCHIATRY & VEDANTA
In modern Psychiatry brain, mind and consciousness are equated, with the mind regarded as only a function of the brain, and consciousness a function of the mind. Mind and consciousness are reduced to brain chemistry, as if there were no real intelligence there.
We use the human mind, which is a wonderful machine. We churn it around and create more advantages and more adventures out of it. The best advantage we create is that instead of having an experience of direct perception, we generate new perceptions. We generate a divided perception. We separate seeing from hearing; touching from smelling. We separate these sense perceptions and put on another cloak on ourselves called the cloak of perceptions and individuate our perceptions into five separate perceptions and multiply our joy of experiencing around us.
In Vedanta, mind and consciousness are related but different and can be clearly discriminated from each other at both physical levels and extending into higher dimensions of awareness and Self-realization.
The brain is purely physical and reflects primarily the life of the physical body. However, higher energies and thoughts can move through the brain through its connection with the deeper mind and consciousness.
The mind only holds the reflection of true consciousness, which is transcendent. The mind is not conscious in its own right. Much of our minds are subconscious or unconscious, with various instincts, emotions, memories and compulsions hidden deep within us. The outer mind brings wisdom (Jnana) into the body and the senses for dealing with physical reality and its numerous demands.
Yet there is also an inner mind that holds our deeper karmas along with the energies of the subtle body that transcends death. We must understand the different functions of the outer and inner minds and learn to work more with the science of inner mind (Vijnana) in order to reach true consciousness (Prajnana).
Pure Consciousness (Prajnana) is our true Self beyond body and mind, which are but its instruments. It is one with Universal Consciousness and beyond the karmas of body and mind or the cycle of birth and death. This is the Atman or Purusha of Yoga and Vedanta (Vedanta Vijnana)
Vijnaanena atmanam vedayati | Prajnananam Brahma
Bhagavad Gita uses the terms Jnana and Vijnana--Jnana is the spiritual wisdom which is attained through the study of the sacred books and also through the lessons imparted by an accomplished teacher or Guru. This is called Paroksha Jnana. The Vijnana is Visesha Jnana which means the experiential knowledge obtained through inner intuitional wisdom and self-realization, Vijnana is also called Aparoksha Jnana. This Aparoksha Jnaana Gita says na hi jnaanena sadrisam, there is nothing comparable to this knowledge.
When the mind is purified and the resolve is firm, then all the knots of conflicting emotions are released and the knowledge of the Supreme become revealed to the individual. It is the knowledge of the Supreme-self which unfolds the mysteries about other branches of knowledge; such as the Physical-self, the Psychological-self and the Spiritual-self. It is through the art of developing a communion with the Supreme-self, the embodied-self becomes enlightened in due time. It is the intimate with the in-dwelling Supreme-soul that makes the fundamental basis for the acquaintance with everything that exists within and without.
Rishi Uddalaka says to his son Svetaketu; “Know, by knowing which everything else is known” We come across same statement in Mandukya Upanishad: “kasmin bhagavo vijnate sarvam idam vijnatam bhavati”
Modern science identifies Consciousness with the mind and the mind with the brain. This identification has resulted seeking to improve our mental and emotional functioning through altering brain chemistry with pharmaceutical preparations. Mainstream science usually does not recognize Consciousness as a spiritual or cosmic principle apart from the mind, though trends in the Quantum Physics are beginning to suggest this that again is dismissed as quackery by the main-stream. It is still a largely physical view of the mind that we find in medicine today.
Vedanta view of the mind, however, is very different. It is based on meditation yoga practice and inner experience, rather than outer experimentation. It tries to understand the mind through introspection or turning our awareness within, rather than by analyzing outer mental patterns. It encourages us to observe the mind rather than follow its reactions. It teaches us to understand the process of perception and how it conditions us, rather than to merely examine our memories.
Vedanta says we are Atman and not body which is but a perishable housing. We come here as atman entering the womb donated by Veeyra (semen) breathe Prana (vital airs) to enjoy life. We came to see how a different kind of experience can be enjoyed by us. What is the different kind of experience?
Let us enjoy the show more or suffer the show more caught up in the world, whichever way we liked to create it, because we have been using this adventure of coming into this world, coming into several layers of worlds, several layers of consciousness, we have created this in order to have new experiences. By following this system of putting our attention back here we are able to discover that all these were adventures that we created. But in the adventure, we should not forget to plan an arrangement to find a friend who will be like us but has the knowledge, awareness, consciousness of all the levels of creation that we have done. The purpose of life is to be able to take advantage of that arrangement we made ourselves. The purpose of life is to get this opportunity to go back home. And the arrangement to go back home is: Be ready, seek in your heart, a perfect living master, a human being like ourselves who will automatically come into our life through coincidences, circumstances and say, “I’m here. Are you ready? We’ll go home.” We hold the hand and we walk together back home.
During this journey of joyous experience, Atman, experiencing Jagrat Avastha (waking state), Swapna Avastha (dreaming state), Sushupti Avastha (sleep state) and finally overcoming all three states arrives at Turiya Avastha (deep meditative state) to find that friend and following it reaches its original home.
According to Vivekananda there is Eternal Soul that is Atman. This Eternal Soul sometimes called Paramatman is the real friend behind. In a way there is also a non-eternal soul. It is called Jiva which is Atman plus body and mind (so it becomes Jivatman). It is this Jivatman that is adventurous. The perfect man is the Eternal Soul !
"Brain, mind and consciousness are clearly distinguished in Yoga and Ayurveda. Brain is physical. Mind extends to the subtle body and its karmic core continues beyond death. Pure Consciousness, the Atman or Purusha, is beyond body and mind, birth and death. Meditation is the key to higher states of mind and consciousness. Altering brain chemistry can help with physical based issues but we must move beyond chemistry to mantra to change the mind into a sattvic field that can reflect the Self within."--says David Frawley
CULTIIVATING OUR INNER BEING
What we call ourselves is largely only our outer personality of body, senses and mind, particularly as expressed at a social level. This reflects our outer activity and becoming in the external world of time and space, not our true essence or eternal nature.
The question therefore arises, who am I in my inner nature, my Inner Being apart from all transient outer circumstances? This is the deeper question we must inquire into within our own deeper awareness.
How we appear at a social, media or personality level is certainly important and must be carefully addressed for our wellbeing and functioning in the world, but it is not the whole, much less the core of what we truly are.
Our dharmic purpose in life rests not upon outer actions, though these may be part of it, but upon our inner spiritual practice or sadhana, our yogic quest for our true eternal nature. For that we must learn to cultivate our Inner Being, our core consciousness centered in the eternal, infinite and universal, embracing the whole of nature and all of the cosmos, not just our human world. Please remember to do something every day to nourish and promote your Inner Being, whether it is pranayama, mantra, meditation, study of shastras, communing with the forces of nature, honoring your Ishta Devata, developing an inner vision or creative expression as you are inspired.
Only our Inner Being goes beyond death, not our human personality, property or social recognition. Remember your Inner Being and learn to live in it and death and sorrow can never overcome you”.--David Frawley.
In this context please go through the speech of THE PURPOSE OF HUMAN LIFE (Find who you really are) by Ishwar Puri in the above compilation and as provided by AUPA September 2020.
--September 27, 2020
Comments:
Very Interesting
--Dr. Santosh Venkatraman
Need for Eternal Dharma based Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism to come together and Worship in Unison
“In the dim past what we call Hinduism today was prevalent all over the world. Archaeological studies reveal the existence of relics of our Vedic religion in many countries. All historic, archeological and Upanishad information confirms that there is no question of certain things being taken from Bharat and introduced into another country. In the beginning the Vedic Religion was prevalent all over the world. Later, over the centuries, it must have gone through a process of change and taken different forms. These forms came to be called the original religions of these various lands which in the subsequent period, historical times, came under Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Christianity or Islam as the case may be” writes Jagadguru Chandrasekharendra Saraswati in his book of Dharma.
“Do your duty the best of your ability without worrying about the results. Perceive that GOD is present equally in all beings and treat all beings equally. The four goals of human life are: doing one’s duty, earning wealth, material and sensual enjoyment with senses under control and attaining salvation. The aim of the Gita doctrine is to lead one to tranquility, happiness and equanimity. Gita prescribes no rituals. The Gita says that the world needs different religions, cults and devas to meet the vastly different needs of individuals. Its doctrine is beyond Religions and National Boundaries” says Gita.
We came here to enjoy life and that is the purpose of human life. We came to see how a different kind of experience can be enjoyed by us. The secret of achieving this lies in the Gita.
The meditation-based philosophies arising out of Sanatana Dharma are India’s great gift of knowledge to the world that remain at the cutting edge of science, spirituality and psychology today. While they are rising again today, it is time to bring them back into the mainstream of human inquiry, starting in India. Highly educated Hindu Americans need a de-mythologized and less ritualistic Hindu Dharma to blend modernity with the vision of the Vedas, Upanishads and other Hindu scriptures. Additionally, temples need to get actively involved in establishing harmonious and respectful relations with American public in their local communities.
We need both vertical as well as horizontal integration of all Dharma based religions of the East that once sprang from The Eternal Tradition called Sanatana Dharma which Swami Vivekananda placed before the world Religious Forum at Chicago more than a century ago as “Vedanta, religion of the Future for the World” to live in peace but not in pieces.
“I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal." --Vivekananda on 9/11 of 1893 at Parliament of Religions.
Hindu Americans’ job is made easy since such a fusion already exists in the Southeast countries of Buddhist Thailand and Islamic Indonesia elaborately described in the discourses. Besides our wise temple fathers had that vision and so installed separate sanctums for Buddha and Mahavir Vardhamana, in Multi-traditional Hindu Temples so that like-minded people could come together and pray together!. It is unfortunate that American Jains (JAINA) are trying to separate themselves from this unity vision with an eye on Washington to project their superiority as Champions of Dharma and latest thinkers on healthcare, Vegans!
Wisdom lies in all Dharma based religions joining together and follow the Vedic dictum “Sanghacchadvam samvadadam…” and “Tamaso maa jyotirgamaya…” with which all rishis sat together and prayed to the unknown from which Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism were carved out as philosophic thoughts aimed at universal peace that later the followers compartmentalized. Are we not living together today with different philosophies of Advaita, Visishtadvaita and Dvaita under the banner of Hinduism? Southeast Asiatic Countries have shown how they live in peace and harmony together whether they are a Buddhist Country or Islamic Country focusing their thoughts on their origin of Sanatana Dharma. If this is seen possible by all Hindus, Abrahamic religions who have their origin in GOD (The Holy Spirit) and Abraham will regret their separation, and join together giving up conversion, intimidation, senseless brutal killings, violations, hatred and abuses and join the crowd of those who believe in “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—The Whole World is One Family!
But there is one difficulty! These three religions are born out of hatred and violence though not because of wide difference in philosophies. That is why the New Testament quotes Jesus as saying that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God". Abrahamic religious followers are today rich, affluent and materially prosperous and crooked also unlike Dharma based Religious followers. Maybe they have to learn from Dharma based Religious Unity once it is achieved in USA, uniting SBNR and “Awesome Without Allah” Groups whose numbers are growing rapidly. But the initiative has to come from American Hindus. If one Malala can change the Pakistan Nation’s attitude towards women in Pakistan and one Reema Abbasi can change the mood of the Nation to willingly restore the ransacked ancient temples by her powerful journalism, stating: “Lack of harmony impacts everyone, including the people in India and Pakistan”, a minority group of highly educated Hindu Americans can certainly lead the country spiritually and worship together to live in peace but not in pieces! A powerful pen and will is mightier than the sword of brutality!
Please go through the detailed discourse as posted on Hindu Reflections:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2020/09/need-for-eternal-dharma-based-hinduism.html
--September 26, 2020
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Webinar 182: SPARKS FROM FIRE
In the second Muṇḍaka, the first part is almost entirely devoted to assert that the universe emerged from immortal Puruṣa.
tadetat satyaṃ yathā sudīptāt pāvakādvisphuliṅgāḥ sahasraśaḥ prabhavante sarūpāḥ;
tathākṣarādvividhāḥ somya bhāvāḥ prajāyante tatra caivāpi yanti. (2.1.1)
That truth (which the previous verse mentioned about) is this: like sparks, having (various) shapes/forms, spring up in thousands from a blazing fire, several kinds of beings come forth from the Imperishable (Puruṣa) and also return to it.
We come across the same idea in 2.1.20 of Bṛhadāraṇyaka. Here, it is further stated that the beings at the end merge with the Imperishable. Thus, it is declared that all beings emerge from and merge with the Imperishable entity, which is Puruṣa (Ātmā). This fact is seen asserted in Bṛhadāraṇyaka 2.4.12 & 2.4.13 and Chāndogya 6.9.1 to 6.9.4 & 6.10.1, 6.10.2. Gīta also presents the concept of origination and dissolution of beings.
In essence Swamiji says humans are nothing but the miniature representation that is Microcosm of the Macrocosm. I have talked about it long back:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/05/microcosmic-human-body-springs-out-of.html
The word Agni is used in many contexts, ranging from fire in the stomach, the cooking fire in a home, the sacrificial fire in an altar, the fire of cremation, the fire of rebirth, the fire in the energetic saps concealed within plants, the atmospheric fire in lightning and the celestial fire in the sun. In the Vedas, Agni represents all the gods, all concepts of spiritual energy that permeates everything in the universe. In the Upanishads and post-Vedic literature, Agni additionally became a metaphor for immortal principle in man, and any energy or knowledge that consumes and dispels a state of darkness, transforms and procreates an enlightened state of existence.
In Sri Aurobindo's conception, Indra is the God of Mind lording over the Indriyas, that is, the senses (sight, touch, hearing, taste etc.). Vayu represents air, but in its esoteric sense means Prana, or the life force. So, when the Rig Veda says “Call Indra and Vayu to drink Soma Rasa” the inner meaning is to use mind through the senses and life force to receive divine bliss (Soma means wine of Gods, but in several texts also means divine bliss, as in Right-handed Tantra). Agni, the God of the sacrificial fire in the outer sense, is the flame of the spiritual will to overcome the obstacles to unite with the Divine. So, the sacrifice of the Vedas could mean sacrificing one's ego to the internal Agni, the spiritual fire.
In this context please go through Gita:
Bhoomir aapo analo vaayuh kham mano buddhir eva cha |Ahamkaaram iteeyam may bhinna prakitir ashtadhaa ||(7_4)
Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intellect and egoism – thus is my Nature (Prakriti) divided into eight categories.
Apareyamitastvanyaam prakritim viddhi may paraam | jeevabhootaam mahabaho u yayedam dharyate jagat || (7-5)
This is my lower Nature (Prakriti); different from this, O mighty armed one, know the higher Prakriti of mine in the form of individual soul (Jeevaatma) by which this world is sustained.
Etadyoneeni bhootaani sarvaanyeetyupadhaaraya | aham kritnasya jagatah prabhavah pralyastathaa || 7-6)
Know that all beings have these two for their origin; I am the origin of the entire Universe as also its destroyer.
In these three slokas above Bhagavad Gita describes that humans are nothing but the miniature representation of the Macrocosm. This applies to all living entities also. Eight–fold Prakriti mentioned in 7-4 is lower energy. The other Nature mentioned in 7-5 is called higher energy referred as Consciousness, Atma, Akshara, Purusha and Chetana (Sat-Chit). Prakriti is also described as Asat. It is the material cause. Prakriti is the original source of the material world consisting of three modes (Gunas), and eight basic elements out of which everything in the universe has evolved according to Sankhya doctrine. That which creates diversity as well as the diversity itself, and all that can be seen or known, including the mind is called material Nature (Prakriti)
In order to understand the subtle nature of Divinity in us it is very important to understand the difference between two. The eight-fold aspects of the Divine nature constitute the human body and the bodies of other creatures. This s known as Apara Prakriti or gross manifestation. Beyond the gross is the subtle nature of the Divine known as Para Prakriti which forms the essence of everything called Self or Atman.
It is worth recalling here the Vedic Aachamana (Purification ritual) Mantra: “Aardram jwalati jyotiraham asmi | jyotrirjwalati brahmaahamasmi | yo aham asmi brahma aham asmi | ahamevaaham maam juhomi swaaahaa // (MNU)
The self-effulgent waters are luminous. Fire is luminous. I am Brahman. I who am such a one (different from body and others) am having Brahman as my Self. Being of that form as I am, I offer myself as an oblation unto the Supreme Consciousness (prajnaanam Brahma).
This Mantra is expounding that the Aatman is distinct and different from the body, the Indriyas and others. It is a wonder that though it is wet it burns. This is suggestive of body having 70% water being reduced to ashes at the time of cremation. This mantra suggests offering back of the pure Self to its original master for getting rid of the sin of having stolen it.
The mantra quoted above from MNU is generally prescribed for chanting during Aachamana or sipping water in a specified way for ceremonious self-purification. This symbolic action consists in taking a very small quantity of water by the mouth which should not pass below the throat. These few drops of water are considered as an oblation made to the deities dwelling in the body; for all the Gods dwell in man. Taittariya Samhita says “Brahmano vai sarvaa devataa”—The Braahmana (Brahmopaasaka) is all the Gods. That is why we touch twelve parts of the body identifying with 12 names of sustenance aspect of Brahman—Vishnu during Sandhyavandana ritual.
The drop of water represents the finite Self. The fire in man (Jhataraagni) into which it is offered stands for the Supreme Light (light of all Lights), the Ground of all Gods. The Mantra, therefore, truly enunciates the refunding of the individual Self into its source, the Supreme Self, or the realization of the identity between the Jeevaatma and Iswara when the clouds created by ignorance are removed.
Please go through the following explanation of the Mundaka Upanishad quotes from Swami Krishnananda:
Tad etat satyam: yathā sudīptāt pāvakād visphuliṅgāḥ sahasraśaḥ prabhavante sarūpāḥ, tathākṣarād vividhāḥ, saumya, bhāvāḥ prajāyante tatra caivāpi yanti (2.1.1):
“O Master, how has this world come?” The disciple raises the question.
From a large conflagration of fire, thousands of sparks emanate in all directions. In a similar manner, varieties of individualities—species of beings and things—emerge from this Imperishable Reality and return to it, as sparks of fire that rise from the conflagration shoot up and then go back to their source, which is the fire itself. Thus, it is the world coming from its cause, which is the Imperishable Brahman. It comes, it is sustained, and it returns. There is a beginning, and a middle, and an end for this world. Therefore, the world is not real, merely because of this simple fact that it has a beginning and an end, and a tentative middle.
The illustration of the fire and sparks indicates that there is some quality in us which will enable us to reach God. This is to indicate that in spite of our separation from God, our fall from Brahman, as it were, we are still endowed with that potential for returning to Brahman, because the feet of Brahman are planted in our own heart. The Atman that we are is an indication of the Universal that Brahman is, just as the character of the spark is, in essence, the same as the character of fire. This illustration makes out that basically we are verily that which we are seeking. If we are entirely dissociated from that, there will be no possibility of our returning to it. The Atman is Brahman basically.
Divyo hy amūrtaḥ puruṣah sa bāhyābhyantaro hy ajaḥ aprāṇo hy amanāḥ śubhro akṣarāt parataḥ paraḥ (2.1.2). It was said that from that Imperishable Being, everything proceeds; the world is created by That. That Supreme Imperishable is the divine, formless Purusha.
The origin of all things is Consciousness. It presupposes all thoughts, all actions, and all types of awareness of objects. Even to think, there must be consciousness behind the thought. Even when we assert or deny a thing, consciousness is behind the act of affirmation and denial. If we totally doubt and become a confirmed agnostic or atheist, even in that act of our agnosticism or atheism there is a consciousness of our being such a thing. Even if we say nothing exists, there is a consciousness that affirms that nothing exists; therefore, something exists. That something is the consciousness of even the denial of all things. Such is the Purusha, which is the Supreme Consciousness.
Sa bāhyābhyantaro hy ajaḥ: Inside and outside, it is there. Consciousness cannot be divided into parts. It has no fractions. There is no division in Consciousness. It is indivisible. The denial of Consciousness is an act of Consciousness only; therefore, it is to be considered as pervading all things, and not located somewhere. It is not only in one place, it is everywhere.
Ajaḥ: It is unborn; it has no beginning. To conceive the beginning of Consciousness is impossible, because there must be somebody to conceive that Consciousness as the beginning. It cannot be created by anybody, because the very question of the creation of Consciousness is raised by Consciousness itself. Hence, finally we have to accept that Consciousness is the Ultimate Reality; it is unborn in its nature.
Aprānaḥ: It is not individual prana consciousness—breathing, etc. It has no mind, because there is no necessity for it to think anything. As there are no objects in front of it, why should there be a mind? As it is not an individual with a body, therefore there is also no prana. Śubhraḥ: Pure, simple radiance. Akṣarāt paratah paraḥ: Even the so-called imperishable prakriti is perishable in the light of a still higher imperishability that is beyond prakriti—paratah paraḥ.
I hope this background will enable you to go through Swamiji's presentation with rapt attention and quick consumption!
Gist of Presentation:
A wonderful metaphor in the Mundaka Upanishad1 says every one of us has come from God and will return to God just as sparks rise from fire and fall back into it. A word2 in the mantra – of the same nature – is significant. Fire is hot and has light. Every spark too is hot and luminous. Likewise, every individual soul too, like God, is Existence (sat) and Consciousness (chit). Every one of us thus is divine3, formless4, and is really untouched by birth5 and death. The webinar will go into the implications of this comparison between ‘fire and sparks’ and ‘The Creator and the created’. The advaita (nondual) interpretation emphasizes on the eternal oneness between God and man; everything else is a part of ‘deliberate superimposition’ (adhyāropa), which is a teaching method.
1 yathā sudiptād pavakād visphulingāh – Mundaka Upanishad 2.1.1
2 saroopāh – Mu. Up. 2.1.
3, 4 and 5 – divya, amurta, aja – Mu. Up. 2.1.2
--September 25, 2020
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Shiva Rudram Chamakam- Science explained
Chamakam is a sanskrit hymn dedicated to Rudra (an epithet of Lord Siva), taken from the Yajurveda (Taittariya Samhita (TS) 4.5, 4.7).
The 11th Anuvaka of Sri Rudram Chamakam (चमकम्) describes complex mathematics behind formation of different molecules by combination different number of atoms.
This
hymn is referred to in the Siva Purana and recitation of the Śatarudrīya is
claimed, in the Jābala Upanishad, to lead to immortality.
Rudram chanting can be done with or without the accompaniment of a Vedic yagna
ritual. When accompanied with the Vedic fire ritual, it is called the Rudra
Yagnam. It is said that Lord Siva, after Bhasmasura was killed with the
help of Lord Maha Vishnu, performed the Tandava Dance and then performed the “Rudra
Yagna” for the betterment of humanity.
The place where first Rudra Yagna was performed is where the “Sri Kalahasti” Temple stands now; this temple also has one of the 5 (Pancha bhootha – Vayu, Agni, Jala, Akash, Prithvi) lingas called Vayu linga.
It consists of two texts from book four of the Taittiriya Samhita (TS 4.5, 4.7), which is a recension of the Krishna Yajurveda.
Sri Rudram or the Namakam (chapter five) describes the name or epithets of Rudra, which represent his aspects. Additionally, the devotee asks for the benevolent aspect of Siva to be invoked rather than the terrible aspect and requests forgiveness of sins. The Chamakam (chapter seven) asks for the fulfilment of wishes. Each part consist of eleven anuvaka or hymns. Traditionally Rudra is assigned the number 11, and among the thirty three deities of the Vedic pantheon, eleven are considered forms of Rudra.
Sri Rudram
The anuvakas of Sri Rudram correspond to the eleven hymns of TS 4.5, with the final anuvaka extended by an additional eight verses, including the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra. The central Saivite mantra, Aum Namah Sivaya is also derived from the Sri Rudram, it appears (without the aum) in TS 4.5.8.l.
There are eleven hymns; each has its own purpose and meaning. For instance, the seventh anuvakam is for education, progeny; the eighth anuvakam is for destruction of enemies and possession of one’s own things from them.
Chamakam
Second part of the text, corresponding to TS 4.7, asks God for fulfillment of wishes. The repeated phrase, cha me literally means, “and to me [be this granted]“, accompanied by a list of desirables, which are primarily necessary appurtenances for Vedic sacrifices.
The original context of the Chamakam is the piling up of the fire-altar of the Vedic religion. The hymn invokes, apart from Agni and Vishnu at the beginning, a pantheon of Vedic deities that are successively linked with Indra to enable the yajamana or sacrificer/patron to successfully perform Vedic fire sacrifices or yagnyas, such as the Agnishthoma, Somayaga, and the Ashwamedha. The Chamakam can be interpreted both as a preparatory for a physical external sacrificial ritual, and the inner, possibly yogic sacrifice involving pranic control, since the yogic “vital airs” are explicitly mentioned as sacrificial adjuncts in anuvaka, or stanza 10.
11th Anuvaka of Chamakam
Eka cha
may, thisra cha may, panchas cha may, saptha cha may, nava cha mayEkadasa cha
may, tryodasa cha may, pancha dasa cha may, saptha dasa cha may, Nava dasa cha
may, eka trimsathis cha may, tryovimsathis cha may,
Pancha vimsathis cha may, saptha vimsathis cha may, nava vimsathis cha may, Eka
trimsathis cha may, tryatrimsathis cha may, pancha trimsathis cha
may,Chathasras cha may, ashtou cha may, dwadasa cha may, shodasa cha
may,Dwathrimasthis cha may, shat trimsas cha may, chatvarimsa cha may,
Chathus chathvarimsa cha may, ashta chatvarimsa cha may,
Vaajas cha prasavas cha pijascha kradis cha suvas cha moordha cha
Vyasniyas cha anthyayanas cha anthyas cha
Bhouvans cha bhuvanas chadhipadhis cha.
Eka cha may means 1,
Square root of 1 = 1.
thisra cha may means 1+3 = 4.
Square root of 4 = 2.
Panchas cha may means 5+4 = 9.
Square root of 9 = 3.
Sapta cha may means 7 + 9 = 16.
Square root of 16 = 4.
Nava cha may means 9 + 16 = 25.
Square root of 25 = 5.
Ekadasa cha may means 11 + 25 = 36.
Square root of 36 = 6.
Tryodasa cha may means 13 + 36 = 49.
Square root of 49 = 7.
This goes on till Nava ving satis cha may where ytou derive 361 + 39 = 400 and square root of 400 = 20.
The algorithm described in this 11th anuvaka of chamakam has odd numbers in them with hidden even numbers between them.
This
description is about multiple combinations of atoms to form various molecules.
Siva is described to be in anu-poorva sthiti (pre-atomic state), which
means electrons, protons and neutrons.
They combine to form atoms and these atoms when combine is different numbers will form molecules.
Vishnu (mean, the one who is spread all over) is such molecules which create elements and substances in this creation.
Acharya Kaṇāda used these concepts to Vaishesika Sutras, which describe Laws of Motion & Concept of Atom.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/01/what-do-odd-and-even-numbers-in.html
--September 21, 2020
Adhik Maas Significance
Are you confused by pundits this year as to the performance dates of festivals? Usual conflicting Solar and Lunar Calendars has brought in added confusion this year with the concept of Adhikamasa or Extra Month that occurs once in three years. Hindus are stuck up with it as our ancestors refused to accept the recommendations of National Panchangam Commission whose recommendations are lying in archives that shows the world how Hindus are blind to facts? They have not learnt from Gregorian leap year and century correction steps! I hope one day wisdom will prevail on American Hindus to go back to the National Archives of India and go by the wisdom of wise pundits appointed by the late Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru! Alternative would be for all traditions to go by Solar Calendar. This should be possible with Hindu Americans drawn from global Hindus as they are not under the influence of astrologers and pundits in India! Solar calendar followers are not less religious!
What is Adhik Maas
The thought of Adhika Masa or Purushottam Masam, is specific in the Hinduism based on the cycles of the Moon.
A lunar month is around 29.5 days long and a solar month, which is the usual of 30 to 31 days.
The lunar year consists of 354 solar days and solar year consists of 365 days.
As year passes, each lunar month will start 11 day earlier to the corresponding solar month.
Thus, there is a difference of 11 days in between the lunar and solar year.
At every three solar years this difference between the two calendars becomes a full month or around 29 days. To correct and get these two calendars [Lunar and Solar] identical an extra month is added and this is called Adhik maas.
Vasishta Siddhanta, a written by Sage Vasishta, says that this Adhika Masa occurs after every 32 months, 16 days and 8 Ghadis. [Ghadi means 24 minutes]
According to the drik panchang, the Ashwina month will begin with Pitru Paksha on September 3, Krishna Paksha (waning phase of the Moon). The first half of Ashwin will continue until Pitru Paksha ends on the Amavasya Day on September 17. Subsequently, the Adhik Maas will begin and shall continue till October 16. Adhik masa is being celebrated as divine month.
Religious significance of Aadhik Maas
During this period of Aadhik Maas or purushottam masa people carry-out various types of religious rituals like keeping fast, recitation of religious Holy Scripture, Mantras, Prayers, performing various types of puja’s and Havana.
Vrats of various timings (full day, half day, weekly, fortnight, full month) are carried out as per the tolerance capacity of individuals, keeping fast with one time vegetarian food.
By performing good deeds / sat-karma in this month the individuals can control their Indriyas and they come out from the Cycle of Punar-janam i.e. cycle of rebirth and also their miseries, Sins are eliminated.
By Performing penance knowingly or unknowingly in this adhik masa in any form can inspire on spiritual merit will attain the peace and Graha Dosha [Planetary Defect] or any specific dosh, Dosh Nivaran puja, if performed in this Aadhik Maas will gives more [Aadhik means More, Additional] results.
One can observe this divine month, which usually arrives after thirty-two months, by performing scriptural reading and parayans, holding a katha series of a sacred text. During the entire month patha of hindu shastra like as shrimad Devi Bhagavat, shrimad bhagwat puran, shri vishnu puran, Bhavishyottar Purana etc.
These religious rituals can wipe-out all the sins accumulated during his life and past life also [Prarabdha and Sanchit Karma].
Benefit of Adhik masa vrat
Keeping fast during Aadhik maas, is equivalent to performing a hundred Yagyas, which is the path to reaching the place of complete [Bliss] perfect happiness, pleasure and peace.
The purpose of Vrat in this month is to appease deity to achieve and fulfill once desires, to bring the divine grace and blessing, gaining back lost health and wealth, getting offspring, divine help and assistance in difficult time in one’s life.
Eliminate all the sins accumulated during past and present life.
Precautionary measures during Adhik maas vrat
During the period of this Aadhik Maas or fasting on certain specific days one should keep himself clean and pure, observe sexual abstention, speak truth, practice patience, avoid non-vegetarian food, alcohol and conscientiously perform all the religious rituals.
Adhik Maas Daan
Daan /charity holds great importance in human life after that the person can have a joyous comfort. Daan is intended to proportionate the Sins committed deliberately or unknowingly in his lives or previous one. Daan is plenteous when you give your valuable possessions unhesitatingly and without any desire in return of that. Daan is worthy and pure when you do it in secret. You can gain in more when you give out best to the poor.
Bhandara are conducted in Adhik maas in many of the Temples by contributing in such a Annadaan events is more devotional and blissful. Giving donations in Annadan and Vastra daan in this month can reduces the malefic effects of Navagrahas.
Functions Prohibited during Adhik maas
During this Adhik maas period, Marriages, Tonsures (Mundan), New house warming ceremonies (Griha Pravesh, Bhumi Poojan), buying new ornaments and vehicles are prohibited.
Do’s and Dont’s During Aadhik Masam
Adhik masam is also Known as Purushottam Maas, so worshiping the Lord Vishnu in this month is expected and that also gives More benefits
Below are some of the functions that are strictly prohibited during the Adhika Masam or Adhika Masa
Dont’s
- Devata Pran Pratishta: Installation of new Idols of God in the Temple
- Yagna: Any form of Yagna, homam or Fire related rituals.
- Vrats: Any Vrat associated to Goddess are prohibited. But Ekadashi Vrats during Adhika Maas can be perormed.
- Choodakarma or Puttu Ventrukalu: First Hair Removing ceremony of a new born child
- Vivaha: Marriages are rigorously prohibited during Adhika Masam.
- Gruha Pravesha: House warming [Gruha Pravesham, Vaastu Shanti] or entering in a newly Constructed house is prohibited in Adhika Masam.
- Devotees on a first time pilgrimage are prohibited in the Adhika Masam.
Do’s
Functions that can be performed During the Adhika Masam
- Regular God worship; specially God Vishnu
- Sandhya Vandanam
- Sreemantam or Baby shower ceremony can be performed in Adhika Masam.
- Shradha Karma or offering to the ancestors can be performed in Adhika Masam.
- Chaturmas Vrat and Ekadashi Vrat can be performed in Adhika Masam.
- Rituals related to Dosh Nivaran Puja]
Comments:
I read your email just sent to me. Lots of good thoughts on confusion between Lunar & Solar calendar workings and observations, corrections etc. I am also with you with regard to standardization of Solar Calendar for our normal usage, using the national data. There are certain unique significant geographical calculations that are precisely calculated by the Lunar system which can be adapted and added to the solar calendar systems as a sub-set. Our sastras/tradition/customs have considered this and hence we have been practicing adhika masa every fourth lunar year.
This confusion is not only in Hindu faith. I have attended Jews and Muslims panchanga sadas too, they follow the Lunar calendar system, there are similar corrections being adapted in Jews & Muslims calendar system. Similar to the Hindu lunar calendar system Jews adapt adhika masa every fourth year whereas Muslims have one "adika varusha" (additional year) every 34th year (instead of every fourth year, they do the correction every 34th year).
M R Ravi Vaidyanaat Šivãchãriar
Director - Religious Affairs
The Hindu Temple Society of North America
Flushing, New York.
This is a very elaborate description of the special month occurring every 3 years. Very good to know Sir. Thank you.
--Nashville Naga Rajan
GIANT RED JUPITER BENEFICIAL DIVINE PLANET
Strange things are seen and happening in the Sky in this year 2020 of Pandemics-- abnormal devastating wildfire and storms indicating Nature has lifted herself in anger and also revealing her immense power and mystery telling she is in control of humans and humans are not controlling her.
From the American West, where hundreds of thousands of acres are now burning, to Australia, Siberia, Portugal, Brazil and Indonesia, the world is being forced to change how it lives with Fire worshiped as Agni by us. Some call it “Natural Revenge”. As the Earth warms from the burning of fossil fuels, wildfires are becoming larger, hotter, more frequent and far more destructive. Will Jupiter with his brightest appearance of Red Spot and great conjunction of Saturn in December, will cause further devastation as Vedic astrology forecasts? Anyhow watch these strange happenings and wait for scientists’ explanation!
We know for the first time in human history that the solar system has two planets where life exists. In a cosmic sense, we wouldn’t be alone anymore. Scientists revealed on September 14 that they have detected traces of a gas in the Venusian atmosphere that, according to everything they understand about Venus, shouldn’t be there.
Jupiter is the guru among the planets who guides the solar system and connects us to galactic energies. The red spot on the planet is like an inner eye. Jupiter grants life, wisdom, prosperity, and dharma. Rules over the night sky. Do not forget that that celestial forces are ever looking over us that is why we pray daily “Dyau Shantih Antariksham Shantih”-- May there be peace in the Atmosphere and the Sky!
Turbulent Jupiter is a gas giant - meaning that it is not composed of rock or other solid matter. It is the third brightest object in the night sky after the Moon and sparkling Venus, and is the largest planet within the solar system. Jupiter's outer atmosphere is home to a massive storm called the "Great Red Spot" that has existed since at least the seventeenth century! Jupiter was named after the Roman God, and served as the patron deity of the Roman State. In other words, Jupiter ruled over laws and social order much like Zeus for the Greek State. Jupiter is the biggest planet in the solar system, and it is believed the gas-giant's creation was crucial in allowing Earth, and life, to form.
Jupiter and Venus are all over the news this year. NASA says life may be possible in Venus and life on Earth might have come from other planets. Holy Bible mentions the arrival of 144000 men led by their Lord (originally mentioned as Sanatkumara that is Skanda and later substituted by Lord with the Lamb) arrived on Earth to save it! In the last month August Hubble captured crisp new portrait of Jupiter's storms. Hubble showed that the Great Red Spot, rolling counterclockwise in the planet's southern hemisphere, is plowing into the clouds ahead of it, forming a cascade of white and beige ribbons. The Great Red Spot is currently an exceptionally rich red color, with its core and outermost and appearing deeper red. This brightness of Jupiter revealed also holes in the dark spot. All that makes exciting further studies of this Red giant planet and its impact on our life on Earth.
Watching the two planets slowly approach each other will be as fascinating as the conjunction itself. It’s the anticipation, like the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop: on New Year’s Eve at midnight, everybody goes crazy when the ball reaches the end of its journey to mark the beginning of the new year, but it’s every bit as much fun watching the ball descend as it ticks off the last 60 seconds of the old year.
On Sept. 21, Jupiter and Saturn will be 7.9 degrees apart; on Oct. 21, they’ll be 6.4 degrees apart; on Nov. 21, the separation will be 3.2 degrees. Then, on Dec. 21, the two planets will be cheek by jowl in the southwestern sky just after sunset, 0.1 degree apart, the closest conjunction since 1623.
How much is 0.1 degree? The width of your fist, with the back of your hand facing you, held a full arm’s length from your face, is 10 degrees; the width of your little finger is 1 degree. Jupiter and Saturn will, therefore, be separated by one-tenth the width of your pinkie.
Of course, the conjunction itself will be dazzling, with Jupiter shining at magnitude -2.0 and Saturn at +0.6 (remember, the lower the magnitude, the brighter the object; Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, shines at a magnitude of -1.46).
Jupiter and Saturn are only in conjunction once every 20 years, so, after the Great Conjunction on Dec. 21, the two gas giants will slowly move apart through the 2020s, as the faster Jupiter races ahead of Saturn. Then, through the 2030s, Jupiter will begin to catch up to Saturn, until the next Great Conjunction in October 2040, and so on, to April 2060, March 2080, and September 2100.
By pure coincidence, the Great Conjunction of 2020 occurs on the Winter Solstice 2020, which marks the beginning of winter.
As you watch Jupiter and Saturn get closer over the next three months, you might get the feeling that they’re moving toward each other, like two cars about to have a head-on collision. But, in fact, they’re moving in the same direction: Jupiter is chasing and catching up to Saturn. Jupiter’s 12-year orbit is inside Saturn’s 30-year orbit, so Jupiter is moving faster (29,236 mph for Jupiter compared to 21,653 mph for Saturn). It’s like a horse race, with a faster horse on an inside lane closing the gap on a slower horse that got a head start.
Jupiter in Vedic Astrology
The role and importance of Jupiter in Vedic Astrology is immense. Jupiter is known as the Devguru (teacher and guide of the Gods). It is the largest planet of the solar system, it is so huge that a 1000 earths can be accommodated within it. It can make the Sun wobble on its path when placed on one side of the Sun with all other planets placed on the other side.
Jupiter is made up of Yang energy and is by nature, Jupiter is a hot fiery ball of fire and gases. Jupiter is capable of showing you the way, when life is filled with darkness. It is a symbol of true wisdom and knowledge. Jupiter is known to bestow his natives with gentility, calmness and somberness of an old man. It can bless you with wisdom, humility and compassion. You know how Tamils believe in Guru Peyarchi for its strong benevolent and malevolent effects, as a result of the movement of Guru in your janma kundali. Guru Peyarchi occurs when the Jupiter planet moves from one zodiac sign into another completing its stay period. According to Indian Astrology, Jupiter (Guru) which is known as the planet of knowledge, wisdom, and fortune, is the most auspicious planet among all the 9 planets. Jupiter takes 12 years to complete its full cycle of 12 years where it stays almost a year each of the total 12 Zodiac signs and then moves to the next. On Wednesday, November 11th, 2020 (As per Vakya Panchang) Planet Jupiter–Guru–Brihaspati Deva will be transiting and leaving Scorpio (Vrichika) and will then move to Dhanus (Saggitarius). This is a very auspicious time and special worships are conducted in temples of Tamil Nadu. This transit effect on individuals will depend on the planetary position of Jupiter in relation to other planets in one’s horoscope that is being influenced by this annual event for which one has consult an astrologer! So, Guru Peyarchi has genera effect as well as natural effect!
The Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn is coming in December on Winter Solstice Day. ”The winter solstice of December 2020 is marked by a Saturn-Jupiter conjunction and solar eclipse, with Jupiter near its maximum point of debility, showing the danger of large scale political and economic turmoil or division, which will likely influence the next twenty years until the following Jupiter-Saturn conjunction. The contentious American presidential election of November 2020 occurs just before this!” writes David Frawley, a Vedic scholar and astrologer. Did the Coming events Cautioned us about the long spell of the Epidemic? Only Vedic astrologers can tell! I wrote to you about Amma Karunamayi’s as well as Chinna Jeer’s description of Kalasrpa Dosha in thic Dark year of Sarvari as the name suggests.
Jupiter, also known as Guru, is indeed deemed a teacher in Indian Vedic astrology. Jupiter is considered the Guru of all the gods and planets in astrology. It is also considered as the most sacred and holy amongst all the planets. Jupiter or Guru is the representative of saints, spiritual gurus as well as spiritually inclined people.
Apart from this, Jupiter also represents teachers, astrologers, philosophers, individuals working in financial institutions, writers, artists, etc.
Jupiter is considered a male planet in Vedic Astrology. Jupiter gets exalted when it is situated in Cancer which is also known as Guru of the High. It is also powerful when it is in the zodiac sign of Sagittarius & Pisces.
These placements of Jupiter make the planet strong and as a result, the effects on the native’s health & education are strong and positive. A native with a strong influence of Jupiter is caring, intelligent as well as can be religiously and spiritually inclined. Such natives also tend to be creative and humanitarian.
Natives with a strong influence of Jupiter have a strong financial position and generally do not face any serious financial crisis throughout their lifetime. Such natives are generally humorous in nature and their outlook is positive in most areas of life. These natives also do not get distracted easily when faced with hurdles.
They also tend to keep an upbeat attitude when faced with hurdles and hence easily squeeze through the obstacles. Such natives are optimistic and hence enjoy every moment of their life to the fullest. Such natives have cordial relations with the people around them and they help their loved ones in every possible way in times of need.
They are also bound by a special aura that others find attractive and are often interested in fostering friendships with them. These people tend to be focused and disciplined and hence get desired results.
The planet Jupiter becomes powerless or debilitated with it is placed in the zodiac sign of Capricorn. Jupiter in Capricorn is also known as Guru of Low. Other planetary aspects can also weaken Jupiter in kundali birth chart. A weak or debilitated Jupiter can also isolate the native as well as can direct them away from religious and spiritual work. Native can also be prone to fraudulent activities. Similarly, various inauspicious planets can have a strong influence on guru in a horoscope, causing different problems for the native as well. Jupiter also gives negative results in the 6th, 8th and 12th house.
--September 20, 2020
***************
Modern Weapons in Ancient Texts –The Unknown Inheritance. Magic, Myth or Science?
Dhanurveda, the science of defense, weaponry, missiles and warfare is related to Yajurveda. This Upaveda is almost extinct. Out of 109 parts of Yajurveda only seven parts are now available.
The Upaveda of the Yajurveda is Dhanurveda, which gives an elaborate description of military science, a treatise written on administration, weapons, arms, and ammunitions. Vedic scholar Indra Dev Khosla writes: “There is an elaborate description of army divided into various categories, land force, air force, and all the soldiers equipped with many kinds of weapons and skilled in the strategy of warfare. There is a hymn that explains the concept clearly; ”Namah senabhyah senanibhyascha Vo namo rathibhyo, arthebhyascha Vo namo. Namah Kshatribhya, Sangrihitribhyascha Vo namo namo mahadbhya, arbhakebyascha Vo Namah” (Yajur 16.26) meaning, “our salutation to the great warriors, to respectable commanders, the warriors fighting from chariots and the drivers of the chariots, Salutation to all those who fight the enemy either on land or in the air”. In relation to the defense of a country the Vedic sage says: “sastrene rakshite Rashtre sastrachinta pravartate” meaning, “When the country is well protected through arms, only then, there can be peace, prosperity and all kinds of developments.” There are so many hymns about the defense planning and at the same time seeking peaceful negotiations with others. The head of the state is expected to have an attitude of tolerance, respect, and hospitality towards varieties and diversities in different communities and countries. Hindu soldiers of the various armies of the Indian kings were well-known for their valor as well as the use of weapons. The weapons in use were bows and arrows, swords and shields, lances, javelins, and tridents, armors and similar objects specially designed for combat battles. The use of words like Satagni (that which kills one hundred persons at a time) and Sammohanastra (weapon that makes people unconscious) have induced some scholars to presume that the use of cannons and poison gases was also known.
Our Rishis knew how to hold on to classified information secret confusing with myths that only few knowledgeable and deserving could unlock. So, in general public realized it is all metaphoric and reinforced the supremacy of heavenly forces over humans, though military science as conceptualized by Vedas was slowly and steadily progressing that caught up the imagination of modern scientists. Imagination is more powerful than knowledge.
Dhanurveda, the standard work on Vedic military science being lost, the dissertations on the science found in the Mahabharata, the Agni Purana, Akasha Bhairava Tantra, Kautalya Arthasastra, Manusmriti, Matsya Purana, Mahabharata, Manasollasa, Yukti Kalpa Taru, Vishnudharmottara Purana, Viramitrodaya, Samarngana sutradhara, shkraniti, and other small works on Dhanurveda like Aushnas Dhanurveda, Vasistha Dhanurveda, Sadshiva Dhanurveda and NÏti Prakashika are the only source of information on the subject left to us that do not throw much light but some authors speculate on sketchy information. Not many people know that the Nazis studied these literatures (stolen and kept secret) and used that knowledge to come up wiwith WMD Weapons were generally classified into Yantamukha, Hastamukha and Muktamukha,. The name of some Weapons like Agneyastra Vajra suggest that fire-arms were in use. Chakravyuha etc, suggest they had good system of planning. They also used psychological warfare techniques .
Ramayana and Mahabharata are not Puranas but Itihasas meaning “it happened so” implying that they are Historic besides holy texts! K. Sadananda, based on translation work, states that the Kurukshetra War started on 22 November 3067 BCE. B. N. Achar of Memphis used planetarium software to argue that the Mahabharata War took place in 3067 BCE. So, both Valmiki and Vedavyasa were talented sages who were historians too! Dhanurveda or Military Science had rapidly developed from the time of Vedas to the time Mahabharata. Even the scanty information available from Dhanurveda Mantras show how deep the Military science had developed from ancient time to understand WMD used in Mahabharata War. Please go through the Dhanurveda Mantras pertaining to “The characteristics of the tip of Arrowhead” in the attached text’’. Amazed with these thoughts on our ancient text which unfortunately got lost or stolen or hidden somewhere, perhaps being still researched our Scientist have not indifferent to these exaggerated WMD purely accredited to Divine grace and of supernatural powers. Without going further with my imagination, conjectures and wild conclusions I would like to bring to your kind attention a report on the knowledge of Astra and Dhanush used during Mahabharata War by Kongari Mahalakshmi, B.Tech. in Computer Science from Vijnan Institute of Science and Technology detailed below.
The Vedas inspired to explore the new inventions of science and technology and to imagine the unimaginable. Bohr, Heisenberg and Schrodinger regularly read Vedic texts. Heisenberg stated, Quantum theory will not look ridiculous to people who have read Vedanta. Vedanta is the conclusion of Vedic thought.
Today after we have read and understood quantum physics, if we go back and read the Upanishads, we recognize many echoes or threads in it from the theories of quantum physics. That is how some modern scientists perceived it and glorified Upanishads and acted on the message conveyed!
KNOWLEDGE OF ASTRAS AND DHANUSH IN MAHABARATA WAR
“The knowledge of Astra (Missile) and Dhanush (Launchers) emerged from Mahabharata War deity. Each Astra was blessed by its deity.
The function of an Astra is more than that of a missile. It is said that Astras used in Mahabharata probably might have also used technologies of emitting most dangerous rays like Gamma and others, which have exceptional powers to penetrate. Some Astras return to the person who launches it, for instance, Krishna's Sudharsana Chakra. This may be similar to the re-usable missiles which the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is working on.
Astras like Brahmashira, Brahmasthra, Pasupatasthra, Vaishnavasthra, Narayana Astra, Agneyasthra, Vayavasthra, Nagasthra, Vajrasthra, Varunasthra etc. were used in Mahabharata along with positive indications of the use of Nuclear weapons (atom bomb), otherwise how could the war cause the death of around 1.5 billion people in a matter of 18 days!
Barbarika (the one, to end the Mahabharata war), a character in Mahabharata, had the ability to mark its targets either to save it or to destroy it with the help of his unique Astras (three arrows or missiles)
During the war, one of Arjuna’s cousins launched the 5th weapon called Brahmasthra, which had the impact of a mighty nuclear power. According to the legend it was clear that Arjuna himself had to obtain the consent from Lord Krishna, who needed to explain the ways or consequences of such weapons.
It was believed that as a result of this launch; it has created layers upon layers of hot rays that penetrated the sky and slowly settled on to the earth (as multiple layers). Upon realizing that the never before used weapon has been accidentally released by his own cousin; and upon seeing the massive destruction that this weapon brought, Arjuna pleaded with Lord Krishna to gather all resources to protect what was left on the earth from the massive heat. With the kind guidance from Lord Krishna, Arjuna managed to protect the earth from the nuclear heat-wave by deflecting it skyward. This prevented the earth from complete destruction by such nuclear disaster. It was also told that the nuclear cloud and heat-wave were noticeable in the area tens of kilometers wide and approximately 10 nautical miles in thickness.
The three weapons evolved from Sri Krishna’s chakra are:
- Highest Chakra
(weapon) but never before used: Sudharshana:
This was the most secretive and complicated weapons owned by Lord Krishna himself.
The energy from this weapon would be able to destroy dozens of planets. - Second Chakra: Brahmasthra was a gift from Agni Deva to Lord Krishna and has 7 levels.
- Level Brahmasthra First
- Level Brahmasthra Second
- Level Brahmasthra Third
- Level Brahmasthra Fourth
- Level Brahmasthra Fifth (used by Arjuna’s cousin during “Kurukshethra”)
- Level Brahmasthra Sixth (equivalent to the destruction of Hiroshima)
- Level Brahmasthra Seventh ( widely used for self -protection and medicines around the world)
- Third Chakra:
It has eleven (1–11) sub-species.
From the ancient Sanskrit scripture, it was widely mentioned that the Gods were using weapons of high destructive power similar to that of nuclear power. However, it must be noted that the ancient weapons did not utilize the same earthly materials (may be astral) as its contents. Modern scientists use uranium in nuclear research. As mentioned above, Chakra Sudharshana and Brahmasthra were ancient nuclear weapons that had its own levels of complexity. Each level had different rays of destruction.
--Kongari
Mahalakshmi (B.Tech Computer Science and
Engineering, Vignan Institute of Technology and Science)”
In this context please go through supporting information from learned scientists on the topic in the attached text. Upanishads say that Creation and dissolution is based on fission and fusion of Pancheekarana Grossification Tattva--from Void (Ether) evolved Air, from Air Fire, from Fire Water and from Water Earth with reducing subtlety and progressive addition of sound (sabda), Touch (sparsa), Form (rupa) , Taste (rasa) and Smell (gandha) leading to--Akasa, Vayu, Agni, Apa and Prithvi that inspired theory of Relativity.
PM Modi laid out foundation of country's first Vedic Research Centre at Banaras Hindu University, at Varanasi - the country's first such institute on September 18, 2018. The center explores lost or ignored ancient Indian Vedic texts related to various sciences and also conduct multi-disciplinary research. The center will also prepare course material on Vedic scientific knowledge for inclusion in existing courses and to fill up the absence of Vedic sciences in various scientific texts currently taught in educational institutions. There will be a state-of-the-art research laboratory to study and research the effect of Vedic Mantras, Rituals, Yoga and Meditation on the human mind through neuro-psychological studies. BHU Vice-Chancellor Professor Rakesh Bhatnagar said there was a need for research on establishing a linkage between ancient wisdom and modern knowledge and exploring the Vedas, the illustrious source of knowledge.
I hope the message contained in this E-mail will help our Sunda School teachers to attract modern youth to our scriptures and build faith in them on Upanishads and Itihasas (Epics) and their mantras and slokas for their scientific and Spiritual Values and not dismiss them as mere philosophy or myth as projected by other faiths!
--September 20, 2020
Comments:
Thanks mama. I have heard my father mention this in context with - why Drona did not accept Ekalavya as his student! Our Rishis knew how to hold on to classified information secret.
--Aparna Arcot
This e-mail initially sent to Dr. Ved on his query by NRS:
Do you have any theories to explain so called Asthras powered by Manthras? I believe people built up legendary images of these warriors who are skilled in using weapons more effectively remembering the teachers who taught them, and it is poetic imagination that connected these warriors to the divine powers harnessed through practices prescribed in the Vedic tradition. I always worried that the educated Rishis protected their secret knowledge of the truth and perpetuated myths for consumption by ordinary people.”--Dr. Ved.
His reply:
Thanks for the research. You realize it is all metaphoric and reinforce the supremacy of heavenly forces over humans?
--Dr. Ved Biliyar
**********************
ALL RELISH TEMPORARY DEEP SLEEP BUT FEW STRIVE TO GET BLISS (ANANDA)
Dreams and the deep state of sleep (Sushupti) have been a mystery and a puzzle to people of all ages throughout time. It's no wonder, the average person is "asleep" about one third of his life. Upanishads say during Sushupti the Soul rests in Brahman alone and is of temporary nature.
A beginner on the path of Salvation or even one in the intermediate phase, should endeavor to forget dreams and strengthen the fibers of the mind and psyche through dailysadhana--consistent spiritual disciplines. We especially want to forget bad dreams as quickly as possible, lest by remembering them we impress them in the subconscious and make them manifest in daily life.
The key here for the seeker is not to carry the dream into daily life and then start to do what he did in the dream in the physical world. This would only make more karmas and compound the situation, stop thesadhanas and open a door for perhaps endless other karmas or a complete life change, change of personality. The remedy is to perform certainsadhanas, tapas, penance, self-inquiry, even a penance for having the dream, while remembering the high standards of virtue and good conduct that should have been maintained during that sleep cycle.
The jivatma resting in the Paramatma during the state of sushupti is different from the atma reaching the Supreme One, as a result of acquiring Brahma jnana. Jivatmas that unite with Paramatma insushupti state rise again to continue with their samsaric life. Once asleep, they lose their identity. When they wake up, they are again fully conscious of who they are. Their losing their sense of identity during sushupti is as temporary as sleep itself. Brahman, which has all the jivas as body, is very subtle.
Swami Vivekananda felt the need for the sleeping soul in every individual to wake up and spiritually advance and lead the others too. Later he felt that the soul of India too should wake up from its deep slumber re-echoed by the Nightingale of India Sarojini Naidu who composed the poem :”Arise, Awake, Stop Not, Till Thy Goal is Reached”
“Sleep is the state of Consciousness in Advaita Vedanta. Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy – by one or more or all of these-and be free. All power is within you; you can do anything and everything. Believe in that, do not believe that you are weak. Stand up and express the divinity within you.
Commenting elaborately on this in Katha Upanishad Sankaraacharya writes: “Oh, living beings sleeping in beginning-less ignorance, turn towards the acquisition of the knowledge of the âtman; and awake, i.e.,put an end to the sleep of ignorance, horrible in form and the seed of all misery.
Space holds everything within it, but being subtle, does not get contaminated by what it holds. Similarly, though its consciousness pervades the body, the soul is not affected by the attributes of the body says Gita in 13.33. The soul experiences sleep, waking, tiredness, refreshment, etc., due to the ego that makes it identify with the body. One may ask why changes in the body in which it resides do not taint the soul. LoKrishna explains it with the example of space. It holds everything, but yet remains unaffected, because it is subtler than the gross objects it holds. Similarly, the soul is a subtler energy. It retains its divinity even while It identifies with the material body.
Even though Christianity does not recognize they have considerably drawn help from Upanishads to learn about the Sleeping Soul. We also hear such calls from Western Philosophers like Longfellow.
Buddha, St. Francis, Gandhi, and others were all active in their spiritual awakening. They knew that it is almost impossible for oppressed or hypnotized people to become spiritually awake, so they fought against the oppression—in non-violent ways. That is the correct way to be a soldier of God. So awaken your sleeping soul now, if you haven’t already done so. And then help others do the same. Jesus in his divine gospels lamented: “Of what use is gaining the whole world when you have lost your (hold) soul (in slumber)”
“I am reminded of Swamiji's exhortation to our people: 'Teach yourself, teach everyone his real nature. Call upon the sleeping soul and see how it awakes. Power will come, glory will come, goodness will come, purity will come, and everything that is excellent will come, when this sleeping soul is roused to self-conscious activity.' Swamiji's call for evolution of self-conscious activity is indeed the evolution of righteousness in the heart. When there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in character. When there is beauty in character, there is harmony at home. When there is harmony at home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world. Hence let us work for the evolution of the enlightened citizen, which is the mission of Swamiji. Such enlightened citizens should have a strong body and indomitable spirit as advocated by Swamiji in order to 'Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.' The goal is a prosperous India with peace in itself and giving it to the whole world’’ said Abdul Kalam Azad inaugurating a Ramakrishna center.
Patanjali’s Dharmamegha Samadhi says that this level arises when you have lost even the desire to know God or to be enlightened. This Samadhi cannot be gained by effort, it reveals itself when all effort has dissolved. It is a Divine Gift, beyond notions of Absolute and relative.
When even the temptations of the Yogic Powers cause no distraction, it is said that Pure Knowledge showers down like a Cloud of Virtue, bringing liberation and the Bliss of the Divine.
In Advaita this isJivanmukta—liberation while still in a physical body. The afflictions of all karmas have been removed, the Yogi becomes ever free and shines in his or her own glory. It is said that in this state, the Yogi sees without eyes, tastes without tongue, hears without ears, smells without nose, and touches without skin. His/her mere intention can work miracles. The Yogi simply wills and everything comes into being.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2020/09/all-go-through-temporary-deep-sleep-but.html
--September 19, 2020
Comments:
Thank you very much for this excellent article
--Dr. Brahm Parsh
ATONEMENT FOR SINS AS A RITUAL OF SANATANA DHARMA INFLUENCES OTHER RELIGIONS TOO !
Hindus perform Kamokarsheet Manyurakarsheet Homa and Japa (meditation and fire oblation) once a year on Upakarma day in Bhadrupada/Sravana Masa as mandated by Upanishads. In our daily life, we commit many sins knowingly or unknowingly. According to the law of Karma, every action we commit has an equal and opposite reaction. In Sanskrit, ‘Kamokarsheet’ means acts that are done out of desire and ‘Manyurakarsheeth’ means acts that are done out of anger. The recitation of Kamokarsheet Japam is the repentance for all the sins committed due to desire and anger.
This Sanatana Dharma annual traditional ritual has influenced other religions too. Jainism and Judaisam also have similar annual observance probably influenced by Upanishads being the earliest, surprisingly around the same period!
Paryushan is an 8-day festival in Jainism observed around August and September, depending on the lunar calendar. The word Paryushan has several meanings; Pari means all kinds and Ushan means to burn, so one meaning is to burn all kinds of karma. Another meaning of Paryushan is to get closer to one’s soul, through introspection, meditation, and austerities. Paryushan is observed by Shwetamabar Jains (one sect of Jainism). Das Lakshan, meanwhile, is a 10-day festival that occurs directly after Paryushan. Its name references the ten virtues that are celebrated during each day of the holiday. Das Lakshan is observed by Digambar Jains (another sect of Jainism).
During Paryushan and Das Lakshan, Jains try to reduce their involvement with worldly affairs like shopping, socializing, entertainment, and eating out. Instead, a Jain is supposed to spend the time focusing inward on their own soul, reflecting on their habits and actions, and affirming their commitments to Jain principles. The end of each festival centers on forgiveness. Friends and family say the following phrases to each other:
Shwetambar Jains, celebrating Paryushan: Michhami Dukkadam!
Digambar Jains, celebrating Das Lakshan: Uttam Kshama!
Translation: If I have hurt you, knowingly or unknowingly, through my thoughts, words, or actions, I humbly ask for your forgiveness.
Today starts Rosah Hashana/Yom Kippur Rituals. Rosh Hashanah marks the start of the Jewish High Holy Days leading up to Yom Kippur. It marks the beginning of the 10 “Days of Awe,” in which Jews focus their attentions on repentance and reflection leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, considered to be holiest day of the Jewish year. Traditionally, the blood of an animal was sacrificed as a way to remove sin or defilement.
--September 18, 2020
Compliments:
Thanks for sharing such good information.
--Inam Munjal
Four Auspicious Saturdays of Purattasi Dedicated to Popular Deity Venkateswara
Purattasi Sani or Tirumala Shanivara is a Hindu festival celebrated in some parts of South India. The Hindu deity, Venkateswara, is worshiped during this festival. It is celebrated during the Tamil month of Purattasi, which generally falls in the months of September and October of the Gregorian calendar. Puratasi Masam is of great importance as it is believed that Lord Venkateswara appeared on the earth in this month. Lord Vishnu devotees consider this as the ideal month for thanking Lord Vishnu for preserving the Earth and looking after in Kali Yuga. All the Saturdays of this month are treated as holy days and Devotees gather in large number at Lord Vishnu temples and special prayers are offered. Particularly the Odd Saturdays first, third, fifth are of more important. Tirumala Annual Navarathri Brahmotsavam are also observed during this month where Tirupathi will be flooded with lakhs of devotees. Some Non-vegetarians will take only vegetarian food during this month.
The 4 spectacular Saturdays in the Tamil month of Purattasi (mid-Sep to mid-Oct) are celebrated every year because of their strong connection to Vishnu and financial prosperity. During this month, the Sun will be in Virgo, a sign ruled by Mercury. Mercury’s overlord is Vishnu, the Supreme Archetype of wealth. Purattasi Saturdays are highly auspicious to participate in chanting, Poojas, and Yajna for Vishnu, who can give prosperity blessings on these power days.
Significance of Vishnu Saturdays during Purattasi
The planetary alignment during the upcoming Vishnu Saturdays makes these Saturdays special to receive unique blessings of Vishnu. Vishnu Saturdays start when Mercury, ruled by Vishnu is in its exalted position, and the day lord Saturn is in its own sign Capricorn. The below planetary combinations during Vishnu Saturdays help you receive the powerful prosperity blessings of Vishnu.
First Saturday [Sep. 19, 2020 (IST)]: Boosts intelligence and Helps Achieve Financial Goals
On this day, the Moon will be in the sign Virgo and transiting the star Chitra, the star of opportunity. The Moon will be along with exalted Mercury and the Sun. This cosmic alignment can boost your intelligence and help cultivate perseverance to achieve your financial goals and gain favorable Vishnu blessings.
Second Saturday [Sep. 26, 2020 (IST)]: Helps Invite All Kinds of Prosperity
On this day, the Moon will be in the sign Capricorn and transiting the star Uttarashada carrying the power to give permanent victory. The Moon will share the sign with the day lord Saturn, who is strongly placed in its own sign. This Moon and Saturn combination can help invite all kinds of prosperity and wealth blessings from Vishnu.
Third Saturday [Oct. 3, 2020 (IST)]: Supports Becoming Progressive in Life
On this day, the Moon will be in the sign Pisces and transiting the star Revati, the wealth and nourishing star. The Moon will also be receiving the aspect of Saturn. This combination of planets along with Vishnu’s blessings can help you take advantage of your hard work and progress in life.
Fourth Saturday [Oct. 10, 2020 (IST)]: Helps Reduce the Burden of Loans
On this day, the Moon will be in the sign Gemini and transiting the star Punarvasu. As the Moon will be receiving the aspect of Mars and Jupiter, it can bless you with spiritual knowledge and fortune. Invoking Vishnu on this day is believed to help you grow spiritually and also reduce the burden of any loans.
“Every year, the Saturdays that fall in the month of Kanya, when the Sun is in Virgo, is an auspicious time. Why are these Saturdays going to be important? These 4 Saturdays are very important for wealth. And the Sun is shining in Virgo. According to astrologers It’s going to be a great time for people to work on their prosperity. “~ Dr. Pillai
MavthiruviLakku, MaviLakku During Purattasi Saturday
In Srivaishnava Community, during the month of Purattasi (Mid. August/Mid. September) on a Saturday, used to light a lamp made of rice flour with added jaggery, Cashew, Ghee etc. Normally, this is done on any one of the Saturdays, on the first, third or fifth Saturday of Purattasi Tamil month. Mainly, this is done when there is no Utsavam (procession of deities) and Dwajarohanam is going on in the Tirupati Hill Temple; finding a Saturday when the Festivities are going on in the Balaji Mandir of Tirupathi, it is very difficult, so in case of no odd number Saturday available, then they choose any other suitable Saturday.
‘Maa Vilakku‘ in Tamil literally translates to ‘lamps made from flour’. Lamps or diyas made from rice flour, sweetened with jaggery, are considered hugely auspicious in Tamil adu. They are prepared on special occasions like Purattasi Sani, Thai Velli (Fridays in the sacred Tamil month of Thai), and Karthigai Deepam (a Tamil festival that is celebrated after Diwali). These Maa Vilakku or rice flour lamps are also believed to be a favorite of Mariamman (Monsoon Devi) the very powerful Goddess. When diseases like chicken pox occur in a family, these lamps are prepared with great sanctity and offered to the Goddess, as a means to appease her. Maari means also rain (Mummari Paidu). The acid gases generated are supposed to bring in rain after sultry weather. The sweet dough Prasadam has cooling effect and nutritional values. Tamils convert left over Prasadam to their famous Athirasam and do not discard as a matter of respect.
Many of the Tamils [irrespective of the Sect & sub-sects] offer Maavilakku to the GOD of their choice; Amman, Perumal, Murugan ; in temples or at their homes. In Shivites custom, they offer this on the 1st Aadi and 1st Thai Vellikizhamai [Kataka/Karkatam and Makara months' first Friday]
Maavilakku on Purattasi Saturdays are very important for Tamils. The reason behind this ritual is that the lord Venkatachalapathy expects his devotees to be close to him in hills. However, that is not possible for every one due to myriad reasons. For those who could not travel to Tirupati hills can light Maavillakku in their homes and worship lord Venkateshwara by reciting the name 'Govinda'. The Lord blesses them through rays of Maavillakku light. Scientifically the carbon emitted through the mixture of rice flour and cow's ghee will destroy all negative radiations from the home. Tamil Brahmin bachelors also observe Sanyas Vrata (oonchavritti) during these Saturdays,.The wick of the light is directed upwards to Bhoo Vaikuntham, Heaven on Earth.
I have explained above briefly many facets of the greatness of Purattasi Festivals and Rituals. But those of you who can read Tamil can go through the elaborate details about these festivals and rituals as attached in Tamil.
Here is a message from Krishnan Muralidhara Singapore:
With the onset of Bhadrapada month ( Purattasi in Tamil) today as per solar calendar, it is time to worship Lord Srinivasa (Lord Balaji/Venkateshwara) of Tirupati especially on Saturdays. In this context, I am delighted to share a very rare Srinivasa Stotram by Bhadramati taken from Skanda Puranam, Vaishnava Khanda, Venkatachala Mahatmyam, Papanashana Tirtha Mahatmyam and Chapter 20. In the brief Phalashruti, Lord Bhagavan mentions that wealth, comforts, progeny and emancipation are bestowed upon the chanter.
The second canto of Skanda Purana is known as Vaishnava Khanda and the first 40 chapters are known as Venkatachala Mahatmyam and contains several hymns on Lord Srinivasa. In fact, I had shared another hymn several years ago. In Chapter 18, Sage Suta mentions the greatness of Venkatachala as below:
venkaTeshvaraM devaM yaH pashyati sakRRin naraH | sa naro muktiM Apnoti viShNu-sAyujyaM-ApnuyAt || 2 ||
dasha-varShais tu yat puNyaM kriyate tu kRRite-yuge | tretAyAM-eka-varSheNa tatpuNyaM sAdhyate nRRibhiH || 3 ||
dvApare pa~nca-mAsena taddinena kalau-yuge | tatphalaM-koTi-guNitaM nimiShe nimiShe nRRiNAm || 4 ||
niHsandehaM sarva-devashca munayaH pitaras tathA ||
Meaning : One who has the darshan of Lord Venkateshvara attains Vishnu Sayujyam. What is accrued by performing penances for 10 years in Krita Yuga is achieved in one year in Treta Yuga, 5 months in Dvapara Yuga and one day in Kali-yuga. But the benefit is multiplied by crore times if one has darshan of Lord Venkateshvara even for a minute.
May We Pray to Lord Venkateshwara in this Bhadrapada month with this beautiful hymn!
--September 18, 2020
Comments:
Very good one Sir. And perfect timing (as always!). Thank you Sir.
--Nashville Naga Rajan
EQ & SQ Management of Disasters with a Common Cause
More than five million acres have burned on the West Coast. Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes. And at least 27 are dead. More favorable weather in Oregon has allowed firefighters to make some progress. but the largest fires are still mostly uncontained.
Scientists say climate change — specifically warmer temperatures that dry out vegetation — is a major factor in the region’s worsening fires. Climate is also playing a role thousands of miles away on the Gulf Coast, where Hurricane Sally strengthened overnight and made landfall in Alabama this morning. Scientists believe that warmer temperatures make such storms both slower and capable of holding more moisture, which can make them more destructive.
Climate change is not the only factor contributing to this record-setting fire season, and to the smoke that is choking people along the West Coast. A century of trying to suppress all forest fires, and a population boom at the “wildland-urban interface,” are major factors as well, Helvarg writes.
It’s important to remember that fires are a normal part of the ecology in California, from the coniferous forests in the Sierra Nevada to the chaparral shrub-land in the south. Periodic blazes clear out decaying vegetation, restore nutrients to the soil, and help plants germinate.
Humans, however, continue to make California’s wildfires worse at every step. By suppressing naturally occurring fires, fuel has accumulated in forests and shrub-lands, increasing the danger when fires do ignite. People are also building closer to areas that are prone to burn. That increases the likelihood of starting fires and raises the blazes’ damage toll. People have also introduced invasive plant species like eucalyptus trees, which have spread throughout California and readily ignite. And burning fossil fuels emits greenhouse gases that are warming the planet, increasing the amount of vegetation that can burn. Even with this backdrop, some of the fires in California stand out because they are raging in places that don’t burn very often.
Because the coastal forests are under the influence of marine weather systems, they are much cooler and retain more moisture than the pine forests of the Sierra Nevada and other inland areas. The coastal forests do burn periodically and are home to many species that have adapted to fire, but they rarely ignite during the summer.
As for the Californians fleeing the fires, Covid-19 has made it harder to coordinate evacuations and shelters. The declining air quality from the wildfires is also a threat to people with Covid-19, since exposure to air pollution can damage airways and make people more susceptible to respiratory infection. Extreme heat also worsens the public health impact of Covid-19 as people spend more time in enclosed spaces together to avoid the heat.
In this context it is interesting to go through the Spiritual message from David Frawley with the background understanding why Agni (fire) occupies prime role in Hindu veneration:
Agni is a Sanskrit word meaning fire and connotes the Vedic fire god of Hinduism. He is also the guardian deity of the southeast direction and is typically found in southeast corners of Hindu temples. In the classical cosmology of the Indian religions, Agni as fire is one of the five inert impermanent elements (pañcabhūtá) along with space (ākāśa), water (ap), air (vāyu) and earth (pṛthvī), the five combining to form the empirically perceived material existence (Prakriti).
In Vedic literature, Agni is a major and oft-invoked god along with Indra and Soma. Agni is considered the mouth of the gods and goddesses and the medium that conveys offerings to them in a homa (Fire ritual). He is conceptualized in ancient Hindu texts to exist at three levels, on earth as fire, in the atmosphere as lightning, and in the sky as the sun. This triple presence connects him as the messenger between gods and human beings in the Vedic thought. Agni remains an integral part of Hindu traditions, such as being the central witness of the rite-of-passage ritual in traditional Hindu weddings as well being part of Diya (lamp) in festivals such as Divali and Aarti in Puja.
The word Agni is used in many contexts, ranging from fire in the stomach, the cooking fire in a home, the sacrificial fire in an altar, the fire of cremation, the fire of rebirth, the fire in the energetic saps concealed within plants, the atmospheric fire in lightning and the celestial fire in the sun. In the Vedas, Agni represents all the gods, all concepts of spiritual energy that permeates everything in the universe. In the Upanishads and post-Vedic literature, Agni additionally became a metaphor for immortal principle in man, and any energy or knowledge that consumes and dispels a state of darkness, transforms and procreates an enlightened state of existence.
Scientists say wild fires are a natural phenomenon, cyclic in nature and part of eco-balance. Also they explain the part played by moisture, timely and untimely rain in the natural management of wildfire. Any disturbance in this eco-balance causes disaster as we have seen above. Its meaning is beautifully conveyed by Khandava Dahana story in Puranas. Here is an appeal by Agni to Arjuna to exercise Kshatriya Dharma to preserve Eco-balance:
“The Brahmana then revealed himself to be Agni. He said, "It is my nature to burn. I have been longing to burn this Khandava forest, which has been apportioned to me by food. However, Indra's friend Takshaka, the king of snakes resides there with his friends. The lives of all in that forest is forfeit to me, but out of affection for his friend, Indra is preventing me from consuming this forest. Whenever I begin to burn it, he orders his thunder clouds to cause pouring rain, dousing my flames. This hunger has started consuming my very self, I cannot bear it any longer. I ask you to protect me while I burn the Khandava forest."
You do not need an explanation of this context! Arjuna as a part of Kshatria Dhrama protected the Natural Law of Forest Fire as well as its protection from untimely rain and storm and championed the Natural law of Eco-balance. In turn that Dharma rewarded him-dharmo rakshati rakshitah. This story also tells the need to properly understand our mythological stories and convey the purport to children and not present it as myth and fantasy in our Baal Vihar!
“CALIFORNIA FOREST FIRE AND KARMIC CONSEUENCES BY FRAWLEY
As a naturalist and environmentalist I have frequently written on ecological issues as in my book Yoga and the Sacred Fire (Lotus Press 2004). I supported Georg Feuerstein (who sadly left us in 2012) on these crucial issues. The following is my statement on current forest fires.
Current forest fire problems as in California, Oregon and Washington are not something new. These have been occurring throughout the Western United States and globally with similar fires from Australia to Europe and the Amazon. This burning of the forests has been a huge problem for decades, which makes us wonder why it has not been properly examined and controlled.
The causes of these fires are several and not easy to address. Certainly, environmental disruption, over cutting of forests, climate change, global warming, and pollution in the atmosphere are important parts of this.
Yet human issues are also significant, with overpopulation, encroachment on forest lands, and reckless use of forest lands for recreation. California with its dry summer Mediterranean climate is naturally fire prone, yet people are living and playing there in record numbers.
Suppression of natural forest fires is another important consideration. Pictures from forest lands in the nineteenth century show fewer but larger trees spread further apart. As smaller regular forest fires have been suppressed for human usage, a mass of smaller trees has come up with greater fuel density for fires. Recent tree losses to beetles has also brought in more flammable material. This results in hotter and faster spreading fires such as we saw here in New Mexico several years ago.
So what do we do? That is the big question. Restoring our natural ecosystems is very difficult, particularly when they have been significantly compromised for years. Overall ecological responsibility is required, both at personal and national levels, not simply blaming someone else for the problems.
Certainly, these forest fires are a sign of our current humanity’s ongoing disharmony with nature. To counter that we must restore our honoring of the sacred in the whole of life and in our own consciousness, treating our resources with respect and according to the laws of nature.
I would recommend that you contemplate this problem seriously and come up with solutions that can work in your own life.
Om Hreem Agnaye Namah!
May we honor the sacred fire that is the basis of the universal life! ”
--September 16, 2020
Comments:
A good compilation on Agni in the context. Thanks
--Nashville Naga Rajan
,
In a cosmic sense, we wouldn’t be alone anymore!
Here is an exciting news from NASA today;
After the moon, Venus is the brightest object in the night sky, gleaming like a tiny diamond in the darkness. The planet is so radiant because of its proximity to Earth, but also because it reflects most of the light that falls across its atmosphere, more than any other world in the solar system.
Something really weird is happening in those clouds.
Scientists revealed today that they have detected traces of a gas in the Venusian atmosphere that, according to everything they understand about Venus, shouldn’t be there. They considered many explanations for what could be producing the gas, known as phosphine, and settled on an explanation guided by what they know about our own planet. On Earth, phosphine—a toxic gas—is produced by microorganisms.
“As crazy as it might sound, our most plausible explanation is life,” Clara Sousa-Silva, a molecular astrophysicist at MIT and one of the authors of the new study, told me.
Before everyone starts screaming, I need to emphasize that the discovery of phosphine molecules in Venus’s atmosphere does not mean that scientists have found proof of alien life. The detection is simply evidence of a phenomenon scientists can’t yet explain. The phosphine could be created by some form of life, or it could be forged by a chemical process that scientists just haven’t seen before.
Either way, Venus, a world with a reputation for being hot and hellish, just became one of the most intriguing—and closest—spots in the universe for investigating the question of whether life exists beyond Earth. A NASA rover is currently on its way to Mars to look for signs of life, but the robot is designed to find long-dead microbes, preserved in the rusty soil for billions of years. The phosphine discovery presents the tantalizing possibility that life might be on Venus right now. If this discovery is confirmed, which will likely require sending a spacecraft, we would know for the first time in human history that the solar system has two planets where life exists. In a cosmic sense, we wouldn’t be alone anymore.
At this moment, there are no spacecraft around Venus, and no rovers on its surface, which would melt them within minutes. The story of this discovery began on Earth, where Jane Greaves, an astronomer at Cardiff University in Wales, had read scientific papers positing that, if you were an alien astronomer looking at Earth from afar, phosphine could be a bio-signature for our planet. She decided to test the idea out on Venus, which is similar in size and mass, using a ground-based telescope in Hawaii to observe the planet for just a few hours, almost on a whim. “I wasn’t really expecting that we’d detect anything,” Greaves told me.
She found the signature of phosphine, a distinct pattern of light the gas emits from within the planet’s clouds. Observations from another telescope, in Chile, captured the same mark. Soon, Greaves was in touch with Sousa-Silva at MIT, who has spent her career studying phosphine.
THE HOLY BIBLE
Book of Revelations mentions arrival of 144,000people, chapters 7 and 14 from Planet Venus led by a Lamb! This was unthinkable at the time Bible was written. But today Science says it is a possibility. We have several such statements in Vedas that has inspired Scientists like Carl Sagan As admitted by them alone. Only the New Version has deleted the Word Sanatkumara in the context and mentions of a lamb about which I spoke about that you might have dismissed as myth!
The 144,000 will be descendants of Abraham! But, the 144,000 will not necessarily be members of the Jewish race. The 144,000 will come from every race of people! Furthermore, the Bible says the numberless multitude that go through the great tribulation will come from all nations, kindred, tongues and people. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations and Revelation 7 affirms this! Because the numberless multitude will be multinational, the first-fruits of the same harvest (the 144,000) will be multinational. Remember, first-fruits are a sample of the coming harvest!
Here is the s Cosmic History of White Brotherhood about which also I talked about in my discourse on Skanda who is Sanatkumara in Chhandogya Upanishad!
The Cosmic Council and Sanat Kumara
“The cosmic council on the God-Star Sirius convened and decreed the dissolution of earth and her evolutions. One and all were the living dead—empty shells. Nowhere on earth was there a mystery school—not a chela, not a Guru, no initiates on the path of initiation unto Christhood “The hour of the judgment had come….Let earth and her evolutions be rolled up as a scroll and lit as a taper of the sacred fire. Let all energies misused be returned to the Great Central Sun for repolarization.” 16. (Opening of the Seventh Seal, Pg. 11)
“In that moment …a flame of freedom leaped. It was the flame of Sanat Kumara, known as the Ancient of Days, the Hierarch of Venus, sister Star to earth in this solar system. Sanat Kumara came before the cosmic council and he said,” Wait! Do not snuff out Terra. I will go! I will be the soul on Terra who elects to keep the flame of freedom for all life. I will keep the flame until some respond, until one responds. And then the few and then the many come to acknowledge the fire of the heart. I will go.” 17. (CHM: Paths of Light and Darkness Pg. 244)
“After considerable deliberation the Cosmic Council and The Nameless One gave their approval of my petition and the dispensation for a new divine plan for earth and her evolutions came into being.” 18. (Opening of the Seventh Seal Pg. 12-13)
“And the Council of the One Hundred and Forty and Four forming a single solar ring around the great white throne intoned the Word with the great beings of light, forming the inner circle round about the Throne and saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was and is, and is to come.” And I heard the echo of their chant of the “Holy, holy, holy” all the way home to the morning star, to my twin flame whom you know as Venus, and to the sons and daughters of the Love Star. Winged messengers of light had announced my coming and the disposition of the Cosmic Council and the dispensation granted. The six—my brothers, the Holy Kumaras, who sustain with me the seven flames of the seven rays—mighty Victory and his legions, our daughter Meta, and many servant sons and daughters whom you know today as the Ascended Masters welcomed me in a grand reception. That evening, the joy of opportunity was mingled with the sorrow that the sense of separation brings. I had chosen a voluntary exile upon a dark star. And though it was destined to be Freedom’s Star, all knew it would be for me a long dark night of the soul.
Then all at once from the valleys and the mountains there appeared a great gathering of my children. It was the souls of the hundred and forty and four thousand approaching our palace of light. They spiraled nearer and nearer as twelve companies singing the song of freedom, of love and of victory. Their mighty chorusing echoed throughout elemental life, and angelic choirs hovered nigh. As we watched from the balcony, Venus and I, we saw the thirteenth company robed in white. It was the royal priesthood of the Order of Melchizedek, the anointed ones who kept the flame and the law in the center of this hierarchical unit. When all of their numbers had assembled ring upon ring upon ring surrounding our home, and their hymn of praise and adoration to me was concluded, their spokesman stood before the balcony to address us on behalf of the great multitude. It was the soul of the one you know and love today as the Lord of the World, Gautama Buddha. And he addressed us saying, “ O Ancient of Days, we have heard of the covenant which God had made with thee this day and of thy commitment to keep the flame of life until some among earth’s evolutions should be quickened and once again renew their vow to be bearers of the flame. O Ancient of Days, Thou art to us our Guru, our very life, our God. We will not leave thee comfortless. We will go with thee. We will not leave thee for one moment without the ring upon ring of our chelaship. We will come to earth. We will prepare the way. We will keep the flame in thy name.
And so as the Lord God directed me, I choose from among them four hundred servant sons and daughters who would precede the hundred and forty and four thousand to prepare for their coming. For though they knew the darkness of the darkest star, in reality they did not know, as I knew the real meaning of the sacrifice which they were now offering to make in the name of their Guru.
We wept in joy, Venus and I and all of the hundred and forty and four thousand. And the tears that flowed on that memorable evening burned as the living sacred fire flowing as the water of life from the great white throne and the Cosmic Council, our sponsors.” 19. (Opening of the Seventh Seal Pg. 14-15)
I leave the rest to your reaction and to know the message behind our Scriptures!
--September 14, 2020
SUBHRAMANYA BHUJANGA OF SANKARACHARYA
Subramanya Bhujangam is a brilliant hymn of Adi Shankaracharya that extols ineffable supremacy of Muruga, son of Shiva, who is also famous as Kartik and Skanda. The story of composing Subramanya Bhujangam shows the unfathomable compassion that Muruga has for his devotees. There are many legends built around his snake-form. In Kukke Subhramanya he is worshiped as snake.
Bhujangasana is often used within Surya Namaskaram or vinyasa as a transitional pose in a collection of asanas. Traditional yoga texts state that practicing Bhujangasana can eradicate disease, increase overall heat in the body and awaken kundalini, a divine energy that is thought to be located at the base of the spine and bring about self-realization. Bhujangasana is also thought to open multiple chakras within the body, including the heart and throat chakras. Yogasanas meditating with Bhujangashtaka of Siva are quite popular. But this Subhramanya Bhujangam is more detailed and effective during the present pandemonium crisis.
Benefits of Cobra Pose Bhujagasana--Stretches muscles in the shoulders, chest and abdominals; Decreases stiffness of the lower back.; Improves menstrual irregularities; Elevates mood; Invigorates the heart; Stimulates organs in the abdomen, like the kidneys; Relieves stress and fatigue; Opens the chest and helps to clear the passages of the heart and lungs; Improves circulation of blood and oxygen, especially throughout the spinal and pelvic regions; Improves digestion; Soothes sciatica and Helps to ease symptoms of asthma. A little time spent in cobra pose can go a long way towards alleviating stress, anxiety and even depression.
Sankara is from Kerala. Lord Muruga, presiding deity at Palani, is looking towards the West, that is Kerala and hence, the Hindus in Kerala to the utter neglect of North India believe Murugan is their guardian deity. Parallel -thinking goes with Tamils looking at Kerala in the West and at Ananta Padmanabha of Tiru- Anantapuram in association with Sanatkumara that is Skanda, that takes them to divine heights reminding them of the most popular epithet of Vishnu-“Santakaram Bhujagasayanam Padmanabham Suresam”. The uniqueness of Tirucchendur temple is Sri Subrahmanya Swamy is facing east in the form of a seven hooded cobra Snake and Sri Lakshmi Narasimha is facing west in a single image. A huge mirror is placed to see Lord Muruga. Being avatar of Sanat Kumara, Murugan or Skanda desired to worship Narasimha Avatar of Vishnu. Hence Mayan, the divine architect constructed this shrine at Tiruchendur. Even now Lord Subramaniyan is seen in the posture of worshiping Lord Narasimha in the sanctum sanctorum. No doubt Sankara had knowledge of Chhandogya Upanishad that says Sanatkumara is Skanda! World itself is built upon the coils of the serpent Ananta Shesha. Vishnu is also often depicted resting on the coils of Ananta Shesha and Sanatkumara standing before him singing in praise! It is said that when Ananta Shesha uncoils time and creation take place, and when he recoils the universe ceases to exist!
Bhujanga means a snake, or one that has shoulders as locomotive limb. Bhujanga prayātam is a meter which has twelve syllables in each quarter (pāda). Only first, fourth, seventh and tenth are light. Rest of the syllables are heavy syllables-- (Santakaram Bhujagasayanam…..)
In the Natya Shastra Chapter 16 which was written by Bharata muni, the definition is given: “The meter with the feet of twelve syllables of which the first, the fourth, the seventh and tenth are light [and the rest heavy], is called Aprameyā.”
This Bhujanga prayāta which is also known as Aprameyā is a type of vritta. There are several types of vrittas. The Vritta stanzas are further recognized in three forms, with Samavritta where the four quarters are similar in its embedded mathematical pattern, Ardhasamavritta where alternate verses keep similar syllabic structure, and Vishamavritta where all four quarters are different. A regular Vritta is defined as that where the total number of syllables in each verse is less than or equal to 26 syllables, while irregulars contain more. When the meter is based on morae (matra), a short syllable is counted as one mora, and a long syllable is counted as two morae.
This meter is named as Bhujanga by ancient Indian mathematician Pingala and its composition resembles the serpentine movement of a snake. Prayātam means advancement or movement. Many stotras are written in this meter. One of them which doesn't have a suffix Bhujanga is Shivashtakam which starts with the lines: Prabhuṃ prāṇanāthaṃ vibhuṃ viśvanāthaṃ jagannāthanāthaṃ sadānandabhājam
A rival scholar grew jealous of Adi Shankara’s felicity in debates. He cast an evil spell on Adi Shankaracharya that caused severe stomach pain to the Acharya. Murugan from Tirucchendur looking at him suffering in Kerala appeared in the dream of Adi Shankaracharya and summoned him to Tiruchendur Templ and wjhen he reached, showed him the rarest of rare vision – Muruga standing and Adi Shesha spreading his hood over him. This rare darshan of Muruga inspired Adi Shankara to sing a hymn in the Bhujanga meter, as it conjures wavelike, graceful movements of a snake. This composition came to be known as Subrahmanya Bhujangam.
Shri Subramanya Bhujangam is a stotra sung under inspiration by Sri Aadi Sankara at Tiruchendur. When he meditated upon Sri Subramanya, he became aware of a self-luminous-lighshining in his hand words came out his mouth in extempore in Bhujanga meter. Adi Sankara composed this hymn of 33 verses, in the peculiar Bhujanga meter noted for its sinuous movement like that of a serpent. The hymn is full of piety, spiritual exaltation and ecstasy. It also reveals the efficacy of praise, prayer and meditation on Subrahmanya. Shri Subrahmanya Bhujangam stotra, is the outcome of the Acharya’s ecstasy. It is the high road that connects the human mind with the divine ecstasy. This is the only Bujanga composition with 33 hymns. Probably Sankara had in mind then, the 33 Vedic deities who are the deputies of The Supreme ruling over the Universe within the body as well as outside the body.
Listening to this composition confers mental strength and solace to all caught in samsara. The hymn explains to a devotee the infinite power and grace of Kartikeya. The hymn shows that Muruga is the very essence of the Mahavakyas in Upanishads that convey the truth of the identity of the atma with Brahman. Contemplating on Muruga one gains purity of thought and gradually becomes enlightened.
Chandogya Upanishad says Skanda is Sanatkumara and Sanatkumara is Skanda. Skanda purana says Sanatkumara agreed to be born as Skanda to Lord Siva Alone at Siva’s request and entered into the Veerya of Lord Siva. You know the rest of the story. SECTION LXVII of the Sambhava Parva of Mahabharata mentions the various gods and demons who incarnated in human forms as characters of Mahabharata.
“And he, called Vasudeva, endued with great valor was among men a portion of him called Narayana--the god of gods--eternal. And Baladeva of exceeding strength was a portion of the Naga, Sesha. And, O monarch, know that Pradyumna of great energy was Sanatkumara.(that is Skanda) And in this way the portion of various other dwellers in heaven became exalted men in the race of Vasudeva, increasing the glory thereof.”
Sanatkumara who descended on Earth and worshiped by Hindus as Lord Skanda, also glorified in the Holy Bible, was popular among many esoteric traditions of the world and religions and popular in The Great White Brotherhood , a spiritual 'fraternity' of Ascended Beings, including Lord Sanat Kumara, long since dedicated to the eventual Salvation of Mankind and the establishment of Divine Law again in the Three-dimensional Reality. Thus, Skanda as Sanatkumara is looked upon eagerly for the Salvation of Mankind of the entire the world. It is our misfortune that among Hindus Skanda is least popular leaving his position to His brother Ganesha who has been pushed to the forefront with leaps and bounds with all sorts of myths and fantasies except for Tamils. Skanda is the most venerated deity of Tamils with six celebrated ancient Temples in Tamil Nadu!
With this background I would like to acquaint you with the powerful Subhramanya Bhujangam composed by Adisankara with meaning. To Tamils, that are Murugan worshipers as prime deity, I have included a Tamil devotional rendering of Subhramanya Bhujangam of Sankara in Sanskrit. Please go through the Blog where this bhujangam is included in the Hymns and Mantras on Healthcare Deities. Lord Subhramanya has blessed Sankara as Healthcare Deity and permanently cured him of chronic stomach-ache virus! Please go through th sloka in Sanskrit by sankara as well as its Tamil rendering for those who know Tamil.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2020/08/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html
Hymns for Recitation & Mantras for Meditation of Healthcare Deities
Thus, all-inclusive Subhramanya, Venkateswara , Jagannatha and Bhudevi (Mother of all mothers and Prakriti) are ideal deities to worship as Saguna Brahman for Hindu Americans of all traditions to focus on Devo Ekah, Nirguna Brahman. Why run to gate-kkeepers, avatars and governing deities with specific wants instead leaving choice to Him! Vidhartaram Havamahe! yadbhadram tanma asuva! Dvo Ekah
--September 13, 2020
LITTLE DROPS OF WATER MAKE THE MIGHTY OCEAN, SO, CONTRIBUTE YOUR MIGHT!
Swami Vivekananda brought Yoga, Vedanta and Hinduism to the World Forum of Religions in Chicago on Spiritual 9/11 of 1893 as a part of a global spiritual transformation from outer religious beliefs to inner spiritual practices, allowing each individual to discover the higher truth within his or her own nature. Today we are still bogged down with Satanic 9/11 of 2001 with added misery of Corona Virus that is persisting on 9/11 of 2020 that calls for perfect vision 20/20 in this 2020 Year of Sarvari, the Year of Darkness with Kala Sarpa Dosha as cautioned by Karunamayi Amma calling for Spiritual Awakening and Univocal Prayer of “sanghacchadvam samvadadvam samaanamaakootih”. It is pleasing to hear the following message from VHP at the time of 9/11 of 2020 at this critical and threatened hour!
“I invite you to come, join us and learn what this vibrant community has accomplished in the last 50 years and how it sees itself evolving in the next 50 years and beyond,” Dr. Abhaya Asthana, President REFLECTIONS@50: WALKING IN DHARMA is a power packed virtual conference to be held on Sept 19-20, 2020 as a community outreach effort toward deeper understanding of the contribution of Hindus in America in the past five decades.”
Hindu Reflections in USA has not lagged behind and over a decade is devoted to spread the message of Hindu Dharma, Hindu ancient culture, Hindu Philosophy, Hindu Gods and Goddesses, Hindu Festivals and Rituals, Hindu Temple, Temple worship Hindu Sacraments (samskaras), Vedic knowledge and wisdom based on Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita, Hinduism’s Influence on other Religions and Faiths and its teachings aimed at Outreach and Universal Oneness to promote peace, prosperity and Happiness and Interfaith Dialogues all available at one source. Please visit Hindu Reflections <nrsrini.blogspot.com> and download the “Classified list of Discourses” published in March 2015 for your guidance and use.
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/03/classified-discourses-posted-on-blog.html
Your special attention is drawn to the following discourses on the eve of the conference on WALKING IN DHARMA, organized by VHP that provides lot of Food for Thought for discussions at the Conference:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/01/sanatana-dharma-is-for-humanity-not-for.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/01/let-us-foster-message-of-peace.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/09/satanic-nineeleven-and-spiritual.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/02/one-who-follows-dharma-will-be.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/06/hindu-american-religious-and.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/06/international-yoga-day-and-legacy-of.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/05/vedanta-religion-everlasting-universal.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-one-god-vedic-deities-and-grahas.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/12/let-us-consolidate-our-temple.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/12/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html
(Wisdom of Vedas prompts the Need for Spiritual Education)
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2018/02/changed-outlook-of-vedic-tradition.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2018/08/our-spiritual-goal-is-unity-not.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2019/02/interfaith-fusion-of-faiths-to-live-in.html
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2019/12/v-behaviorurldefaultvmlo.html
(UNIQUE WORSHIP OF NATURE OF HINDUISM THE BEST GUIDE TO LIVE IN PEACE)
--September 12, 2020
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WEBINAR
181, YĀJNAVALKYA-MAITREYI-SAMVĀDA
[A Celebrated Dialogue between a Sage (Rishi) and his Wife]
Sage of Upaniṣads, Yājñavalkya had two wives, Kātyāyanī and Maitreyī . Of these, Kātyāyanī was an ordinary housewife while Maitreyī was interested in scriptural studies too. Having decided to renounce the householder’s life for a higher life, Yājñavalkya tells Maitreyī that he is going to divide whatever wealth he has, between his two wives. Upon this, Maitreyī, being interested in attaining to immortality, asks her husband whether she would be immortal on her becoming the owner of the whole earth full of wealth. Immortality cannot be attained by wealth says Yajnavalkya. Maitreyī sees no use with that which is unable to bring her immortality. So she asks Yājñavalkya to teach about the thing which would lead to immortality.
For the past few months FOWAI Forum has been telling us we are not the gross body but subtle body called Atman, chip of the same block of Universal Consciousness called Paramatman. Being “purnat purnam” part of the whole this Atman is endowed with all the auspicious qualities of Paramatman. This Atman is adventurous and travels to enjoy new experiences in the world and as humans it can also go back to its source when it does not like. But unfortunately in its journey gets clouded with Maya and karma picked on the way and forgets its true nature and needs to wake up after going through wake-up, dream and deep sleep stages to reach Tureeya when the Supreme as a friend holds its hand and takes it back.
Atman is destined to live for 100 years as humans and enjoy life-jeevema saradassatam, pasyema saradassatam. But bogged down by fear of untimely death like 9/11 or Corona Virus we raise our voices to the Supreme--Mrityor maa Amritam gamaya, Lead us from Death to Immortality or Eternity!
Everyone would like to enjoy Eternity that is aspired after like Maitreyi, which is what we know as immortality, is something trans-empirical, and not conditioned by the process of time, and it has nothing to do with the ownership of property. You may possess or you may not possess; it is absolutely immaterial as far as the question of immortality is concerned, because immortality is not dependent upon connection of values external. It is a state of being as such. Neither the husband is dear to the wife, nor the wife is dear to the husband. What is dear is a condition which they try to bring about in their mind by that relation. That condition is always missed, and so the happiness expected never comes.
Anything that is outside you cannot belong to you and cannot satisfy you, and it will leave you. So, it shall bring you sorrow. It is a point which is eternally true. All things shall desert you, one day or the other--(gatavati pranau dehaapaaye bhaaryaa bibhrati tasmin kayae). Even those things which you regard as dearest and nearest, most desirable and valuable, shall desert you and leave you, bringing sorrow, because they do not belong to you.
You cannot understand the nature of any object in this world unless you know wherefrom it has come. You cannot understand things, because whatever is observed through even the subtlest instrument, even the best microscope, etc., is an effect, not a cause. It is a product of certain circumstances. The conditions that have been responsible for the effectuation of these forms that you are observing are transcendent, and therefore they are invisible. Unless the cause behind the form that is visible is perceived, the form cannot be really known.
How can you know the beauty of the music by merely hearing one note? That note is connected to many other notes. And when every note is harmoniously related to all other notes to which it is related, and all the notes are grasped at one stroke in one single harmonious symphony, that becomes music; it is beautiful. Unless that total expanse or continuity is grasped by the mind at one stroke, which means to say that unless the infinite Being behind the finite objects is grasped by the consciousness, no finite object can be known fully, nothing can be understood perfectly. Therefore, nothing can give you satisfaction. There is no hope of immortality through any possession in this world, is the conclusion of Sage Yājñavalkya.
All knowledge is a partial aspect of the Supreme Absolute, which is Knowledge Itself. It is not knowledge in the sense of an information about things, but the very existence of all things which is inseparable from the knowledge of things. And so, any knowledge or wisdom that is worth mentioning is a fraction, a spark, a ray, of the Supreme Absolute.
We cannot understand how anything can come from the Absolute. We can only give some analogical comparative illustrations, and the Upaniṣhad employs here the comparison of smoke arising from fire. Sa yathārdra-edhāgner abhyāhitāt pṛithag dhūmā viniścaranti: Just as when you burn wet fuel, smoke may arise from its burning process, everything may be said to proceed in this manner, as it were, from the Supreme Being – a continuous emanation. It has to be called a curious emanation, as that which emanates has the potential character of that from which it emanates. We are always to remember that the nature of the cause is always present in the existence of the effect. So, the effect, which is knowledge, is a fraction of the appearance of the plenum of wisdom which is the Para-Brahman, the Absolute. Everything comes from That.
All the four Vedas and all that is contained in them; anything that is implied in the Vedas, the eternity that is embosomed in the Vedas – all these things are emanations from the Absolute.
This consciousness which is solid Reality ultimately, the substantiality of the whole universe, appears to localize itself in the body of individuals by entering into the process of permutation and combination of the elements earth, water, fire, air, ether, etc. A particular combination in some percentage of these five elements becomes a body, an embodiment. When consciousness enters this particular formation of the elements, it is what we call the individual, the Jīva, or a particular finite body. It arises in this form and dissolves itself in this form, as it were, as long as it is connected to this formation of the elements. The birth of the individual and the death of the individual are described here as being the consequence of the association of consciousness with the formation of the five elements in a certain proportion. It is the elements, the five elements which combine in certain ways, under different conditions, that are responsible for the objects of sense, as we call them. Animate or inanimate, whatever may be – all the objects, all the bodies are really the elements in some shape, color and tangibility. They appear to have a value, a worth, and meaning, because of the entry of consciousness into them. And when the formations change, when there is a different type of formation of the elements that is called the death of the individual. It is not a death really; it is a transformation, a reformation of the particular form into which these elements have been cast by the need of that unit of consciousness which is called the Jīva. When this consciousness gets entangled in the forms of the elements, it is called birth. When it is freed from them, it is called liberation. When it is freed from the elements, it will not be conscious of any particular thing – na pretya saṁjñāsti.
When there is total isolation of consciousness from all its associations in the form of these permutations and combinations of elements called the body, there would be no particular consciousness. There would be no feeling, hearing, touching, smelling, – nothing particular whatsoever, no consciousness at all. So bluntly says Yājñavalkya, without commenting on the meaning of this statement, "After dissolution, there is no awareness."
Yājñavalkya clarifies that nothing in this phenomenal world is able to provide us immortality, since they are mortal by nature. The only immortal thing is Ātmā and therefore, those who seek immortality have to strive for attaining to it. Ātmā is Sat-Chit-Ānanda; we are but Ātmā holding this body. What works in us is the inner urge of existence (Sat), of knowledge and expression (Chit) and of joy (Ānanda). It is because of this inner urge that we engage in various deeds. We love things in furtherance of this urge of ours, not for the sake of the things. Love for father, mother, spouse, son, daughter, wealth and everything in this world is not for their sake but for furthering this urge only. In order to perpetuate what we want to derive from this love, we have to attain to the ultimate principle of Ātmā, as, it is Ātmā that is eternal. It is through knowing Ātmā that everything comes to be known properly; for, everything here is only Ātmā in essence. Consequently nothing can be known in isolation of Ātmā, just as the different notes of a drum beat cannot be known by sounds other than that of its own general note. That means, everything known to be separate is involved in the general, all-inclusive one. Merged with the general, there is no separate identity. Take the case of lumps of salt. They come from ocean water and in the form of salt they have separate identity. But, when they dissolve in the ocean water, this identity is lost; everything becomes ocean only. Likewise, every being or thing here comes out from the endless, boundless ocean of gross elements that is nothing but a mass of Pure Intelligence, and merges into it at the end. After such merging, there is no separate identity for individual being or thing. Yājñavalkya reasserts this ceasing of individual identity when Maitreyī seeks a clarification. He further says that the activities of smelling, hearing, knowing, etc. are necessitated, only when there exists duality. But, when everything becomes Ātmā, nothing of that sort happens; for, there is only a single identity that is Ātmā and nothing else to be known.
[Excerpts from Science of Upanishads from Sreedharan Swamy and The conversation of Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi on the Absolute Self by Swami Krishnananda]
Gist of presentation by Swami Chidananda of FOWAI Forum
Have no hope of immortality through wealth,” says1 Yājnavalkya to his beloved wife Maitreyi, and we thereby learn a law of the Vedānta, “The finite can never take us to the infinite.” The Self is the real source of happiness2, and the true object of all our love. We love certain people or objects of the world, and mistake them to be the source of happiness as, at a given time, they seem to please us. The individual self, an impostor, is the culprit here. The great rishi of the Brihadāranyaka Upanishad instructs us here a second law, “Real happiness comes from within”. The dialogue runs into 14 mantras and many are the gems of wisdom that we can collect here. The basis for the threefold sādhanā (spiritual practice) of Vedānta, namely shravana3, manana and nididhyāsana, is also supplied in this portion. The webinar will present the highlights of this immortal samvāda.
1 | amritatvasya na āshā asti vittena | Brihadāranyaka Br. Up. 2.4.2
2 | ātmanas-tu kāmāya sarvam priyam bhavati | Br. Up. 2.4.5
3 | ātmā vā are shrotavyah | Br. Up. 2.4.5
--September 12, 2020
PATRIOT DAY, SEPTEMBER 11
September 11, 2001, four planes were hijacked. The hijackers then deliberately flew three of the planes into two important buildings, the Pentagon in Washington DC and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York. The fourth crashed into a field near Shanks Ville, Pennsylvania. The loss of life and damage that these hijackings caused form the biggest act of terrorism ever on United States soil. Nearly 3000 people died in the attacks and the economic impact was immense.
The attacks have greatly increased attention to National security in the United States. This has had huge implications for United States National and International politics. This is particularly true for the relationships between the United States and Islamic countries in the Middle East.
Symbols
The most potent symbol of the events that happened on September 11, 2001 are pictures and videos of planes flying into buildings, of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center engulfed in smoke and later collapsing and of people falling from buildings. Pictures taken of damaged buildings and relatives looking for loved ones in the days and weeks after the attacks are also often shown. The flag of the United States is often displayed around images of the events on September 11, 2001. This is to remind Americans that their country remained strong in the face of massive terrorist attacks. Patriot's Day (or Patriots' Day) commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord, which were fought near Boston in 1775. Patriot's Day is annually held on the third Monday of April. It should not be confused with Patriot Day, held on September 11 to mark the anniversary of terrorist attacks in the USA in 2001.
In 2009, President Barack Obama rededicated it as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance. It is not a public holiday therefore government offices, educational institutions and businesses do not close on this day. On Patriot Day, the national flag is flown at half-mast on all United States government buildings and establishments. Individuals are also encouraged to display flags on their homes as well as raise their voice to the Supreme.
Why I talk about Corona Virus Today/? Both are closely related bound by Adharma! Both brought the curse of Akala Mrityu--untimely death. 9/11 brought never ending miseries to Al-Qaida and gave birth to "Awesome without Allah" while Corona virus brought in Natural Awareness, healthier and cleaner habits!
Let's as Hindu Americans take today to remember... especially those who may feel the pain of this day most acutely. Let us offer special prayers in our temple and at home appealing to the Supreme for all round peace and happiness! We are equally threatened today with Corona Virus pandemonium today!
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि
पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद्दुःखभाग्भवेत्
।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Nir-Aamayaah |
Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu, Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet |
Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||
May everyone be happy, may everyone be free from all diseases, may every one see goodness and auspiciousness in everything, may none be unhappy or distressed; Om peace, peace, peace!
Tribute in Light Will Shine After All in Sickness and Health
Tribute in Light is a commemorative public art installation first presented six months after 9/11 and then every year thereafter, from dusk to dawn, on the night of September 11. It has become an iconic symbol that both honors those killed and celebrates the unbreakable spirit of New York.
Assembled on the roof of the Battery Parking Garage south of the 9/11 Memorial, the twin beams reach up to four miles into the sky and are comprised of eighty-eight 7,000-watt xenon lightbulbs positioned into two 48-foot squares, echoing the shape and orientation of the Twin Towers. The installation can also be viewed from a 60-mile radius around lower Manhattan.
The museum because of financial troubles due to pandemonium announced on Thursday 3, that the tribute, which features 88 specially made lights used to create the projections that tower over the city until dawn on Sept. 12, needed to be canceled as a result of the financial crunch due to Corona virus crisis despite that in this year 2020, its message of hope, endurance and resilience are more important than ever!
“In the last 24 hours we’ve had conversations with many interested parties and believe we will be able to stage the tribute in a safe and appropriate fashion,” Alice M. Greenwald, the president and chief executive of the museum said for our comfort and confidence!
Thanks to the governor, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Lower Manhattan Development Corp, New York City will continue to be a source of comfort to families and an inspiration to the world going forward with its GPS of New York Twin Light That never goes dim!
As Hindu Americans and GPS of (Global Positioning System) of Spirituality we should join the masses to raise our voice to the Supreme to make this Satanic 9/11, Spiritual 9/11 in 2020 with 20/20 (9+11=20) that calls for perfect vision!
Neither Satanic 9/11 nor Corona Pandemic (threatening with untimely death) should weaken our Souls. Gita calls us--Veeta-raaga-bhaya-krodhah yudhyasva (duritaani) vigatajwarah--devoid of passion, anger and fear fight calamities without anxiety. Upanishad says: yad bhadram tanma asuva, therefore offer your oblation with the mantra Paramaatmane Swaha and pray with the mantra tamaso maa jyotirgamaya--Good Lord knows what is Good for our welfare, therefore offer oblations to the Supreme with the mantra “Lead us from Darkness to Light”. That is the New York Twin Beam of Siva and Sakti--Power & Action!
Please go through my discourse:
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/09/satanic-nineeleven-and-spiritual.html
Glossary of Sanskrit Terms by Swami Krishnanananda used in topics on Hinduism
In many topics on Hinduism, Vedas, Upanishads and Spirituality we come across Sanskrit words not translated but simply inserted unknowingly or knowingly including my discourses. Some of these have been simply adopted in English and also included in the English Dictionary. Some of these are: Avatar, Advaita, Atma, Bhakti, Brahma, Buddha, Dharma, Deva, Devi, Guru, Gita, Ishwara, Jiva, Karma, Loka, Mahatma, Muni, Maya, Nama, Prana, Prasad, Paramatma, Pundit, Purana, Rajas, Raja, Rishi, Sanatana, Shanti, Swami, Sloka, Sattva, Siddha, Tantra, Tattva, Tapas, Upanishads, Veda, Vichar, Yoga, Yogi, Yuga and Yajna. Peculiarly the word Spirituality was a later coined word from spirit which is Self or Atman of Sanatana Dharma which can be roughly understood vas Adhyatma Vidya in Sanskrit though rarely used. Similarly, the Word GOD was coined after Hindu concept to represent Brahman who is responsible for Srishti, Creation; Sthiti, Maintenance; and Laya, Dissolution. In fact, the word GOD should be used in all capital letters but seldom done where G=Generator; O=Operator and D=Dissolver. Swami Krishnananda has made our task easy in rendering Hinduism Topics in English with the help of translation as attached. Pease download and keep it handy to understand my E-mails and discourses where translation is not provided to some Sanskrit words.
Comments:
Thank you for the great list.
--Nashville Naga Rajan& Prof. G. Nagarajan
Mahalaya Pitru Paksha Honoring Our Ancestors
Mahalaya Paksha (September 2 to16, 2020) is a sacred time to honor our ancestors, expressing gratitude and appeasing departed souls with prayers and sacred rituals to help them achieve Sadgati or the necessary momentum for moving to the next higher levels of consciousness.
Ancient Vedic traditions explain that an individual is born with three main dharmic responsibilities.
The dharmic responsibility to the Divine Being or Devata is called 'Deva-rin.'
The dharmic responsibility to the Sages, Guru or Teacher is called 'Rishi-rin.'
The dharmic responsibility to one's parents and ancestors is called 'Pitri-rin.'
Honoring and taking responsibility for one’s dharmic actions during the Pitri Paksha is a very auspicious time. This fortnight of ancestor worship is nothing but a reminder of duties of Dharma and responsibilities towards our Ancestors and teachers from whom one has learnt the wisdom and grace.
The Vedas explain we must show gratitude towards those who have contributed to our present life welfare and wisdom through our Teachers, Mentors, Parents, Relatives and social associations. Pitru Paksha observances pave the way for the flow of gratitude to the countless souls who have brought Love, Light and bliss into our lives through prayer, teachings, spiritual guidance, meditation and mantra propitiations.
Our lives must reflect the deeper truth of all these influences in our expression and behavioral attitudes. Spirituality must guide us to the highest truth where we learn to be comfortable with our sacred presence in every situation. The spiritual grace must flow in our relationships with the teacher, parents, children, partners and friends.
The dark fortnight in the Hindu lunar month of Bhadrapada is called 'Pitri fortnight'. Pitri Paksha is a time when we are reminded that nothing is permanent in this world. Our worldly journey o Samsara must search out the deeper reason for this lifetime and work towards unfolding a greater wisdom through the grace of our ancestors. Though the energy of our ancestors and departed souls is more common during all waning Moons and new Moons, in particular, it is this Bhadrapada month that it is strongest, perhaps reflecting the declining energy of the autumn season.
The Amavasya or dark night of 16/17 September Pitri Paksha is the most auspicious time to worship the Pitris or deceased ancestors and departed souls. The ritual of shraadh performed during this Sarvapitri Amavasya or Mahalaya amavasya is the most significant day of Pitru Paksha. By appeasing the ancestors also clears the way for our success in life, helping us overcome obstacles and remove karmic debts both at a personal and collective level. It is an important time for psychological clearing and emotional healing; releasing the sorrow associated with our relatives and loved ones who are no more.
At this time, it is helpful to offer food and seva to the Pundits or Brahmin priests, the less fortunate, or even promoting education to children. The term Shraadh has originated from the Sanskrit word shraddha or deep faith. The shraadh rituals are performed for the ancestors with deep gratitude for giving us our life experience.
Jivatman or Soul’s Destiny
Most of the time, our ancestors are unable to experience liberation owing to unfulfilled desires, which keeps them bound to the Earth to some degree. Especially souls that experience sudden death through accidents, suicide, or unexpected diseases get caught on Earth in the nether regions and are unable to move on to the higher planes after death as is normal.
The rituals of shraadh help both the ordinary and troubled soul deal with death and move upwards to the higher realms. If someone in your family has had a troubled life or death, they may be especially in need of these rituals, though these can be of benefit to all departed souls.
During the days of shraadh, we propitiate and honor our ancestors and departed souls to help the soul transition to its next incarnation. Our ancient Rishis not only honored the living soul but also understood the importance of honoring the disembodied aspect of the soul. Departed ancestors are still connected to us and we can both benefit from them and benefit them by honoring this connection with rituals and prayers.
Just as the living soul has certain powers, the departed soul continues to hold exceptional powers, including the ability to see into the future. The spirits of departed souls and ancestors need continuous support and prayers for them in their further evolution. The departed soul in turn holds mystical powers which continue to impact our life on various levels, helping us understand the
During these prayer offerings and mantra japa to our ancestors, we may gain spiritual experiences. One should acknowledge the experience but not get attached to it; the key is to move on in the path of our sadhana. subtle energies and occult forces behind our outer lives, particularly warning us as to unforeseen dangers that may be approaching us.
दत्तात्रेय Sri Dattātreya
Sri Dattātreya is the Universal Inner Guru, the Guru of all Gurus who holds the combined energy of the great Hindu trinity, Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. He was born to the great Saint Atri and his devoted wife Anusuya. Sri Dattātreya carries all the wisdom of life and nature and bestows it upon us for our inner spiritual growth and well-being. He is the dispeller of all fear which restricts our spiritual growth. He grants us the highest grace and divine bliss.
Pitru Paksha Sacred Offerings
Shraaddh rituals consist of following main activities –
Vishwadeva Sthapana
Pindaan
Pindan is the offering of rice, cow’s milk, Ghee, sugar and honey in form of Pinda (rounded heap of the offering) to the ancestors. Pindaan should be done with whole-heartedness, devotion, sentiments and respect to the deceased soul to fulfil it.
Tarpan
Tarpan is the offering of the water mixed with black sesame Barley , Kusha grass and white flours. It is believed that ancestors are appeased by the process of Tarpan.
Feeding the Vedic pujari or Brahmin who performs all vedic rituals brings many blessings during the Shraddha rituals. Offering food to the crows and birds are also made before food is offered to the Brahmin.
The Naivedya or sacred food is offered to the Devata or deity and the Pitris. The Devasthana or place for the Devata or deity must be made sacrosanct by placing a murti (vigraha)or deity picture. In particular, a picture of Sri Dattātreya should be kept in our sacred space. Making sacred offerings or Tarpanam of Akshat or unbroken rice grains, barley, black sesame seeds, honey, black gram, amla, pomegranate, muskmelon, darbha grass, white fragrant flowers and water appease the ancestor’s energies. For the purpose of shraadh for the Pitris, pluck darbha grass along with its root.
Keep a Tulsi plant or leaves with the offerings to mitigate against the possible disturbances or negativity of departed souls. Tulsi has sacred qualities of purifying the atmosphere generating deep sattva energy.
Feed the crows and birds.
For appeasing the Pitrus, we should honor Sri Dattātreya with three malas of 108 repetitions any of the three mantras below to Sri Dattātreya. If one is experiencing a lot of disturbances to the departed souls one must chant nine malas of Shri Dattatreya mantras. Before chanting, offer two incense sticks and seven white flowers.
Jai Sree Gurudev Datta Om Draam Dattatreyaaya Namah
Om Datttreya vidmahe Digambaraaya dhiimahi Tanno Datta prachodayaat Om Digambaraaya vidmahe Yogishwaraaya dhiimahi Tanno Datta prachodayaat....
__David Frawley
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/09/mahaalaya-pitrupakshahindu-memorial-day.html
--September 9, 2020
Comments:
Thank you for this E-Mail
--TKP Naig
LONG NEGLECTED NOW RECOGNIZED USA ESSENTIAL WORKERS
A year ago we didn't appreciate hospital housekeepers or grocery store workers the way we do today. Perhaps some of us took the mail carrier, food delivery driver, or meat packer for granted!
Today, we celebrate the people whose work requires them to be on the front lines while so many others work from home. More than 55 million Americans work in jobs that are deemed essential, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Social distancing is not an option for many of these jobs. Many essential workers work for low pay and without protective equipment. Some work anxiously, fearing exposure to the deadly coronavirus. Too many have died after contracting COVID- 19.
Led by an amazing cadre of nearly 17 million health professionals, they continued to show up for work during the height of statewide stay-at-home orders in April. These essential workers continue to show up today, mostly without hazard pay or, in the case of many undocumented farmworkers or meat packers providing America’s food, without legal protection. It’s a similar story throughout many parts of the world.
These workers have kept on in fields through record temperatures and wildfires and in Midwest packing plants with conditions that have spurred on COVID-19 infection—and death.
In the U.S., Labor Day was deemed a holiday in September way back in 1894 to recognize workers, but it took 44 years for strong labor laws to be put into effect to protect them. The crises this year has provided the biggest spotlight in decades on workers—and the dignity of their labor.
This recognition is
overdue, says Panella Page, whose work as a housekeeper in a Detroit
hospital is suddenly vital—and more dangerous. “If the hospital is not cleaned
properly, even more people will die,” she tells Nat. Geo.
It’s scary, she says, to report to work “for your purpose and your passion, to
get a paycheck that you don’t know whether you’ll be around to deposit.”
On this Labor Day, let’s salute these essential workers, whose remarkable level of commitment comes in a society with an uncertain commitment to them.
--September 7, 2020
Comments:
Thank you Sir. Good information.
--Nashville Nagarajan.
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Wisdom Thoughts from AUPA 63
AUPA #63 brings us bonanza of September Tidings of Wisdom Thoughts from Great Modern Spiritual Minds as follows:
Professional excellence may bring to us many rewards, trophies or awards. Human excellence alone can bring to us profound peace, and that alone blesses the society. Towards achieving human excellence, spirituality that involves some philosophy, a few scriptures and a little metaphysics becomes necessary besides a little contribution from all of us too!
A person who meets with his joys and sorrows with equanimity is a person of patience. Such a person whose mind does not get defiled even when factors to distract him are around him is capable of turning to his Inner-net with solitude and by constant practice enjoys perennial joy of the Supreme
We keep learning and growing, all through our life. The Covid-19 crisis has taught us many lessons – about personal hygiene, food habits, caring for Nature, healthy lifestyles etc. While facing the tough challenge of this pandemic, we have begun to change. We have adopted many good habits. Many of us are more regular in our exercise, meditation etc.
Strength will come to us only through a struggle with weakness.
Can we continue to live rightly – COVID or no COVID? It is important that we do not yield ‘the conquered ground’ either because of tiredness or because of temptations and distractions.
All living beings desire to be happy always, without any misery. In everyone there is observed supreme love for oneself. And happiness alone is the cause of love. To gain that happiness, which is one’s nature and which is experienced in the state of deep sleep, where there is no mind, one should turn to one’s Inner-net. (Please wait for a detailed discourse on the subject).
Going through the present pandemic let us learn lessons from our past mistakes; remember “History tells ourowes! History repeats.” (You will hear about it tomorrow from NGM.) Amidst the agony of the pandemic, there is the apprehension that communities are grinding their axe, getting ready for yet another battle. Countries are getting ready for another showdown over disputes regarding land and sea. Exercise the greatest caution and steer clear of all negative emotions and false values. Let us stay equal-minded and pray for peace on the earth, for all to be cheerful--sarve bhavantu sukhinah.
Learn More! Whine less! We have the Puri and Masala too!
Please go through for these wisdom thoughts and much more from great minds from AUPA 63 of HH. Swamiji Chidananda and his team.
[The word AUPA is derived from AUPANISHADA, which means related to the Upanishads.
LINK
AUPA No 63, Sept 2020 Vol 6, issue 3.pdf]
--September 6, 2020
Comments:
Practicing some of it. Thanks for elaborating which helps.
--K. C. Chennabasappa
WHY HINDU AMERICANS RUSH TO TEMPLES ON LABOR DAY
Hindu Americans go out of the way to keep the Temple open on Labor Day Monday, all day long and also observe it as a special religious day of observance, and conduct special pujas. Hinduism is a religion of conveniences, compromises and justification for all kinds of worship and devotion as we all know and believes in the philosophy. Worship can be done at any time any day any place and any purpose as per convenience! One justification for holding such special poojas on non-religious Hindu days seems to be, the holiday weekend attracts crowds from neighboring towns and so temple should be kept open for longer hours. The other strong reason seems to be to accommodate the feelings and sentiments of Hindu Americans married to someone from the major religion of the country. At present this happens to be Christian community. It is to welcome and attract such Inter-faith married couples to Hindu Temples and allow them to participate in Hindu religious worship, and impress upon the public of the broad outlook of Hindu community to make it attractive to both the partners. These couples are equally attracted by the divine voice of the Bible that says:" My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all peoples" (Isiah 56:7).
It is also true we owe an obligation to our country of adoption and also want to blend with the local culture in the spirit of saghacchadvam samvadadvam as our ancients did! The Social fabric in Hindu Way of Life is so knitted that no activity is segregated from the divine. Divinity pervades everywhere and in every being. The several facets of human life are but an expression of the divinity that is all pervading. Man, being the crown and jewel of creation, has to recognize this and live up to it. Life is a splendid opportunity given to us by God and we have to honor that person who loves his labor and is dedicated to it. So, Labor Day and the Spirit to Serve and dedication by his own sweat that keeps the man active becomes a day to pay tribute to the Institution of Labor. So, on a Labor Day with free time at his disposal man has more time to attend temple and offer worship. Also, the attractive lunch prepared for the day by the temple authorities and keeping the temple open long worship hours makes his visit with the family and friends on this Special Religious Event Day enjoyable bringing happiness and tranquility to his otherwise hectic life in divine atmosphere of serenity! This is the philosophy of Labor Day Worship.
Here is the Resolution of the Labor Department of USA on Labor Day: “The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known, and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pays tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.”
In this context the following message from Tulsi Gabbard a well -wisher of Hinduism and politician becomes significant too:
“Today we celebrate the working men and women across this country who make up the backbone and engine of our economy and whose hard work too often goes unsung.
Labor Day has a special meaning in my home state of Hawaii — one that has deep lessons for our country today. The history of Hawaii is rooted in agriculture. At one time, the majority of the land was held by sugarcane and pineapple plantations run by four major corporations. Wages were meager. Working conditions were miserable. Laborers were treated as though they were dispensable. Immigrant communities from all different parts of the world were pitted against each other as the company bosses worked to undermine their ability to organize for better working conditions and better wages.
Finally, the working people of Hawaii stood up and said no more. They went on strike, shut down the economy of the state and held strong, refusing to be divided against each other for scraps of the livelihood they earned with their hard work. They organized under one rallying cry — an attack against one of us is an attack against all of us. And things began to change. Their voices were heard.
But it is this history of standing together and fighting for each other that lays the foundation for how we can advocate for a better future. Hawaii is one of the most diverse states in the nation, representing cultures, religions and ethnicities from all parts of the globe. The fact that we are able to maintain a sense of unity in the face of adversity is due not only to our history of organizing, but to the spirit of aloha that is at the heart of who we are.
Aloha means that I come to you with an open heart, with love, respect and care — regardless of the color of your skin, where you come from, how you worship God, who you love, or what political party you belong to.” This makes lot of sense at the present turbulent and anxious times that call for “sanghacchadvam samvadadvam samaanamaakootih” -- come together pray together with a sense of equanimity. What better day could be there than Labor Day to raise our voices to the Supreme.
Viswakarma Day is observed as a religious day of great importance, particularly in Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, U.P., Madhya Pradesh and others. South Indians keep one day exclusive for Ayudha Puja during Navaratri (eighth day) and in turn pay obeisance to Viswakarama who is the son of Brahma who helped him in his task of Creation and building the Universe and townships. He was a product of Milky Ocean like Lakshmi. Let us therefore dedicate this day to the great Architect of Industrial development for Humanity and make it more significant to our children to stress the value of Labor and hard work! Viswakarma puja on this day should be appealing to all the Hindu Americans drawn from different traditions of Hindus from India and there can't be any other day better suited than Labor Day. It should also be appealing to migrant specialists who are by and large engineers or technologists from India that are in large numbers to Lord Viswakarma the Divine Engineer and architect who worked with his own hands for our benefit and taught us dignity and pride of Sramadan or Charitable Disposition of Labor!
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/09/hindu-american-way-of-labor-day.html
Karmanyeva Adhikaraste! Perform your Prescribed Duty! Work is Worhip! Work without Anxiety-Yudhyasva vigatajwarah! You put great effort in everything that you do, and you deserve to be appreciated by a grateful Nation. May you grow and prosper some more in your chosen career and voluntary work! Have a wonderful time on Labor Day!
--September 6, 2020
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TEACHERS’ DAY AND ITS IMPORTANCE
Considering that teachers mold future generations, taking one day every year to say “thank you” is the least we can do. No matter where you are in the world today, remember, that behind everyone’s success there is a teacher, that matters! The significance of this day is ever-evolving, including taking lessons from life and making your experiences the teachers you needed to shape you into who you become. For school students, the day also means getting roses, chocolates, gifts including handmade cards to profess their affection for their favorite teachers. For senior students, Teacher’s day is one of role reversal and celebration. Almost everybody has a favorite teacher, someone who went above and beyond to encourage you because they could see you’re potential. On October 5, take time to celebrate World Teachers’ Day — a global event launched by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1994.
While the whole world celebrates World Teachers’ Day on October 5, every country celebrates the day on different dates. In India, September 5 is marked as Teachers’ Day as it’s the birthday of a highly-respected teacher, philosopher and prolific statesman, Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan. Dr. Radhakrishnan said that “teachers should be the best minds in the country.”
Dr, Radhakrishnan was the first Vice President of India (1952–1962) and went on to become the second President of India (1962-1967). He was born in the erstwhile Madras Presidency near the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu border. Being a bright student, he completed his education by winning scholarships, despite lack of finances. After completing his MA in Philosophy in 1908, Dr. Radhakrishnan taught the subject at Madras Presidency College. He then held the post of Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University from 1931 to 1936, followed by Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1939, succeeding Madan Mohan Malviya. He was knighted in 1931, and was awarded the Bharat Ratna -- the highest civilian award in India in 1954. He was made an honorary member of the British Royal Order of Merit in 1963.
"Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is observed as Teachers' Day," Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan had said, and the tradition of celebrating Teachers' Day started from 1962 in India, in honor Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and all the teachers.
UNESCO’s 2020 message: “With the theme: ‘Young Teachers: The Future of the Profession,’ we recognize the critical importance of reaffirming the value of the teaching mission. We call upon governments to make teaching a profession of first choice for young people. Above all, we celebrate the work of dedicated teachers around the world who continue to strive every day to ensure that ‘inclusive and equitable quality education’ and the promotion of ‘lifelong learning opportunities for all’ become a reality in every corner of the globe.” The official event will take place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on October 7.
It is surprising, though not inspired by Christianity that largely influences American culture political and educational leaders in USA began discussions for a day to honor teachers as early as 1944 perhaps looking at Americans drawn from Eastern cultures that respect teachers at par with parents! Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim National Teacher Day. Congress declared March 7, 1980, as National Teacher’s Day. The National Education Association continued to observe Teacher Day on the first Tuesday in March until 1985 when the National PTA established Teacher Appreciation Week as the first full week of May. The NEA Representative Assembly then voted to make the Tuesday of that week National Teacher Day.
National Teacher Appreciation Day, also known as National Teacher Day, recognizes the dedicated educators across the country. As part of Teacher Appreciation Week, the celebration takes place on the Tuesday of the first full week in May each year.
The National Education Association describes National Teacher Day “as a day for honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives.”
In India, Teachers' Day is observed on September 5, the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, an exemplary teacher and the second president of India. Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was a philosopher, scholar and politician who dedicated his life towards education and the youth of the country.
This year, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, and schools being shut, the celebrations will be given a miss. However, prayers honoring Vedic mandate Acharya Devo bhava, virtual wishes and greetings are a perfect way to tell your teachers you remember them now and always will.
As Hindu Americans let us not forget our Sunday School Teachers offering their voluntary service at Hindu American Temples and Hindu Cultural Societies, to honor them on Teachers’ Day, who through their selfless voluntary service prepare the mind of our children to understand, appreciate and love their heritage of Hindu culture and also develop an attitude to adopt the noble principles of Vedas that "we are children of God", "the whole world is one family", "we must come together and speak together with equanimity" and """serving humanity is serving God!" These are not taught in regular American Schools. These schools also educate children worshiping their parents, honoring guests as well as worshiping Nature. Hindu scriptures abound with the worship of nature, not simply as material forces but as powers of light and consciousness pervaded with wisdom and beauty.
“Creating an environment where the youth understand, appreciate and love their Hindu Dharma culture is a crucial need today, as is uniting all Hindu temples under one umbrella.” says Swami Chidananda Saraswati.
Teachers play a critical role in educating and shaping our children: the future leaders of our country. They are kind, patient, hard-working, dedicated, and understanding professionals who help mold our children and guide them in positive directions. We entrust our children with the teachers, and they affect their lives daily.
--September 5, 2020
Comments:
Good article. Thank you for providing the significance of teachers. My father was a teacher in high school and earned an excellent reputation in our small town back in India. He was serving as a guide in not only school lessons but in real life also for so many people in and around the place. I am very happy that you wrote this article on the day of my father’s anniversary. Thank you very much.
--Naga Rajan, Nashville
Vande Bhuvaneshwarim Mataram- Salutation to the Mother Principle Bhuvaneshwari
Bhuvaneshwari Jayanti on Bhadrupada Sukla Trayodasi is believed to be the day when Goddess Bhuvaneshwari incarnated on earth. Bhuvaneshwari is the Goddess, who rules over the universe. She is also regarded as the creator, apart from being the sustainer of the world. Veda Mantra describes Aditi, Mother of All Mothers and All devas as Primordial Energy and Parasakti. It is clear that Aditi of Vedas is Bhuvaneswari of Puranas. She is known by names such as Saavitree, Gaayatree……. Sandhyavandana Mantra invokes Gāyatrī, Sāvitrī and Sarasvatī as the splendor of all the gods. Supreme Power is thus worshiped through the Gāyatrī that is Aditi as Bhuvaneshwari!
Lalita Sahasranamam gives a vivid description of the descent of Bhuvaneswari on Earth. Lalita is glorified as Bhuwaneswari and Bhuvana in LSN: “294 Bhuvaneshwari – She who is the Goddess presiding over the universe; 295 Ambika – She who is the mother of the world”
A modern text gives the legend of origin of Bhuvaneshvari as follows:
“Before anything existed it was the sun which appeared in the heavens. The
rishis (sages) offered soma the sacred plant to it so that the world may
be created. At that time Shodashi was the main power, or the Shakti through
whose blessings the Sun created the three worlds. After the world was created
the goddess assumed a form appropriate to the manifested world.”
Worshiping Aditi/Gayatri as Bhuvaneswari, the ruler of the Universe depicts the full and influential nature of female deities in India. Throughout history, goddesses have been portrayed as the mother of the universe, through whose powers, the Gods, their male counter-parts, carried on the responsibility of governing the Universe on their shoulders. She alone is Almighty. Without her even Siva is sava (corpse). Universe is created and destroyed by her. The gradual changes in belief through the goddess emerged in historical religious literature as a term to define the power brought in the concept of Bhuvaneswari and much later Bharatmata (powerfully used during independence fight by India) to express how the different Goddesses, though very different in personality, all carry the power of the universe with them!
Lalita Sahasra namam says Goddess Bhuvaneshwari gave her Shaktis-- Saraswati to Brahma, Lakshmi to Vishnu, and Gauri to Shiva. She informed Tridevas that her Shaktis that they are given to will help them create and preserve the world, and when the appropriate time comes, it will be destroyed completely so that a new creation can be started afresh by Brahma and Saraswati.
Sri Rama paid equal respect to Mother and Mother Earth--jananee janmabhumischa pranadapi gareeyasi-- Mother and Mother Earth are dearer than our Self (Supreme) within! He equally treated his natural mother as well as mothers he grew-up with. So also, Krishna who is hailed as Yasodananda and Devakiputra! I too grew up with my mother who gave birth and mother-angel (my maternal aunt) who brought me up under strange circumstances!
All Mahans – great yogis, jnanis and bhaktas who renounced the whole world for spiritual prowess, for Self-Knowledge, for the sake of their Lord – have nevertheless had a soft corner for their mothers. Sri Adi Shankara, the great Jnani and proponent of Advaita, came back to his mother at the time of her death and shed profuse tears of grief at her passing! Sri Ramana Maharshi, the great sage who had no possessions, maintained no relationships and was beyond the four ashramas, had a special relationship with his mother who lived with him in her later years, and eventually became a ‘mother’ to all his devotees and disciples too. Swami Vivekananda once wrote in a letter to a friend, “…If there is any being,- I love in the whole world, it is my mother.
That is why Bhuvaneshwari occupies a prestigious position amid the galaxy of deities in the hearts of all Hindus! Glancing through my E-mail sent on Bhuvaneswari Jayanti Day one kind-heart and emotionally moved mother wrote” Thank you, uncle!. Very nice article; it brought tears in my eyes”.
Bhuaneshwari as Durga and Kali, originated from the united power aspect of Trinities, mostly embraced as Mother Principle by Advaitins and Saktas priding in exclusivity. Vishishtadvaita and Dvaita followers without engaging in fight brought the concept of Bhudevi (Bhuvaneshwari) and Sridevi (Lakshmi) drawing strength from Purushasukta “hrischa lakshmischa patnyau”. Bhumi (Earth) was still under creation at the time of Purushasukta and so Purusha was identified with his consorts “Hri” meaning modesty and “Lakshmi” meaning Prosperity that later turned into Sridevi and Bhudevi of Puranas who became consorts of Vishnu in processional Vishnu deities whoever may be the prime Vishnu deity (moola vigraha).
It beats all my wits while the birth and purpose of Ganesha is made very clear in Lalita Sahasranamstotra, why Puranas should build all sorts of myths stories to justify Ekadanta and Mooshika Vahana? The protagonists are not even clear as to which side of tusk Ganesha broke, right or left. So, we have some icons with left hand tusk broken and some with right hand consecrated in temples! Even they made Sankara’s slokam Ekadam+tam as Ekadantam to fit their story.
Hope this would make you go through my discourse with rapt attention that has been compiled with utmost care collecting all information scattered all over the map of Hinduism. Celebrate Bhuvaneswari Jayanti giving it even more importance than Diwali and also start installing a sanctum for her in all Hindu American Temples as she is a Devi venerated by all traditions and presiding deity of Gayatri mantra and Mother of All mothers worshiped as Devi Maa and also make Bhuvaneswari Jayanti for Hindu Americans Special Religious Event Day!
Gandhadvaaraam duraadharshaam nityapushtaam kareeshineem ||
Amba Bhavani Sharade Jagadambe Bhuvaneswaree Ishvaree(ga)m sarvabhootaanaam ||
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2020/09/vande-mataram-bhuvaneshwarim-salutation.html
--September 5, 2020
PROGRESSIVE DEGRADATION OF SANATANA DHARMA IN THE CLOAK OF HINDUISM
From both Nixey’s book as well as Priolkar’s book, that deals with “Death of Classical Age in Rome and Violence perpetuated by Christianity” we can note that triumph of Christianity and the destruction of Paganism is not a happy tale. On the contrary, it is a very sad one. While in the Indian case, the memory survives through those whose families survived and migrated to far off places, in case of the classical age, there is no living memory of the incident. What is left are the works from the classical age, the literature, the defaced sculptures act as mute witnesses to this sad story.
As a surviving Pagan civilization, Hindus can see that there are more important things that changed, which Nixey fails to mention in her book. This silence perhaps answers eloquently what difference it made to Rome to have been converted. The interactions that the Romans had with the Divine, their Mythology, their Sacred arts, the ability to sacrilege life, the ability to view science, arts, rituals within the common framework of things that can produce Vidya – these things aren’t even spoken about, or even considered worthy of lament.
This outlook that the Romans had is not unlike the Hindu outlook, where a learned person was equally at home performing rituals to the Devas while indulging in highly abstract mathematical/computational work, and be able to describe these in through ornate poetic language. There was no fake distinction between Science, Art, Rituals that we see even in the post-Christian world. Life was one unified whole (purnamadah purnamidam.......) where pursuit of the three Purusharthas was simultaneously sought for. While Renaissance was able to revive science & art, these were still garbed in the Christian clothing. Further, Renaissance wasn’t able to revive the Pagan religion, despite the fact that it indulged in the fruits of the Pagan religion.
Thus, the inability to understand Western culture on its own terms is biggest difference that conversion of Rome to Pinnacle of Christianity has resulted in. And to the predatory nature of Christianity, aided by colonization & later on globalization, this attitude has spread all over the world. The effects of this can be seen among the modern educated Hindus whose worldview is shaped by the prevalent western discourse, and hence, they are unable to evaluate their own culture in a sympathetic manner. We see the effect of this in how the laws of India are drafted and interpreted by such people who aren’t able to comprehend centuries old Hindu traditions, such as that of the temple traditions of Sabarimala, since the western frame of reference that they are trained to view the world with, is devoid of categories for pagan traditions.
Nixey’s book is highly recommended to every Hindu who will see a glimpse of his own civilization in the classical Rome suffering at the hands of Christianity. The motives, methods & madness of the followers of this cult is similar to the other cults whose acts brought much suffering to our Hindu ancestors. The use of the legal framework to subjugate the Pagans, the deceptions, the subversion of their culture, art, science – these are things that a keen observer can identify happening in India even to this date.
Coming out of India either out of frustration or in search of greener pasture, we can have freedom of thinking and practice Dharma and not religion as our ancestors practiced in the ancient past. They were guided by the noble principles--atmavat sarvabhooteshu; sanghacchadvam samvadadvam samanmaakootih; krinvanto viswamaryam; Eko viprah bahuda vadanti; Vedanta vijnana sunischitartah suddhasatvaah om ity-aatmaanam-yunjeeta etc., that brought out the philosophy of Vasudhaiva kutumbakam and Sarvejanah sukhino bhavantu. These have been highlighted repeatedly with elaborate explanation and needs no explanation and should have become your daily mantra! The national awareness of rapidly growing “SBNR”, “Awesome without Allah”, “Black Lives Matter” and symbolic selection of Kamala Harris as Black-Brown-White races mixed-culture for Vice President, should strengthen the hands of migrant Hindu American people to lead the Nation spiritually guided by Sanathana Dharma. This may be called including pandemonium that has brought people together as Spiritual Renaissance Time that Dr. Phil Goldberg presents as Spirituality for Crazy Times!
While I agree with the above material kindly forwarded by Kalai Mugilan I would like to bring to your kind attention my small compilation, “Which Religion tells the Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing but Truth” that British promoted and paraded for long “The Sun never sets in the British Empire”.
The British had to coin a new term and demean “Hinduism” in the eyes of common people right from the start. They were successful. Everywhere children learnt in schools about the ‘terrible caste system’ in Hinduism, Sati, Pariahs, etc. People didn’t ask further. They *knew* now that Hinduism is greatly inferior to the two big religions. That paved the way for successful proselytization!
Yet there is always the fear that intellectual people may discover that they were deceived for the sake of power and that truth may be different from what they were taught in religious class. In Germany, there is a saying which expresses certain folk wisdom: The King says to the Pope: “You make sure that people stay stupid and I make sure they stay poor.” But today many Western Intellectuals fed up with the sermons of Christianity have started studying Vedas to turn Spiritual getting at the bottom of the Truth that can be One only! If One Girl Malala can Change the whole system of women education in Pakistan handful of Intellectual Hindu Americans can lead the country spiritually to live in peace but not in pieces. They have added support from American Gurus and Scientists too!
“The religious culture which now 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 Godward endeavor of the human spirit. An immense many-sided and many-staged provision for a spiritual self-building and self-finding, it had some right to speak of itself by the only name it knew, the eternal religion, Sanatana Dharma”--Aurobindo
--September 4, 2020
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