THOUGHT OF THE DAY--MAY & JUNE 2021

 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY--MAY &   JUNE 2021  

BIDDING GOOD-BYE TO  JUNE 2021

Let us bid good-bye to this great month of June 2021, with special emphasis   on the landmark of Juneteenth becoming National Holiday and Second Independence Day.  Slowly and steadily, June 21 is gaining importance as most celebrated day in the year around Father’s Day and Summer Solstice Day beyond Yoga, Mantra and World Music celebration. Let us also not forget Mid-summer June 24, celebrated by Sweden and other European countries. 

Juneteenth is the oldest known US celebration of the abolition of the chattel slave system, and the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in Texas. Celebrated on June 19, it became an official national holiday known as Juneteenth National Independence Day by law on June 17, 2021 and therefore assumes the most important day of the month as well as the year 2021.  

 

Whole nation of USA will be celebrating their grandest social celebration day of the year as ‘son et lumiere’, an entertainment held by night bursting fire-crackers, thus telling its history by the use of lighting effects and sound on July 4. This is not sound of fury but joy with which it will celebrate Juneteenth also. In 2021,   President Joe Biden Declared Juneteenth   as a National Holiday and Second Independence Day after years of struggle for such a declaration. Hindu Americans while joining the majority for social celebrations, with their cultural discipline and with the spirit of sanghachhadvam and sarve janah sukhino bhavantu, may celebrate this day too as a Special Religious Event Day.   For them, July 4 is additionally Religious Freedom Day and a day to pay homage to Swami Vivekananda, who gave up his ghost on this day and brought Unitarian Vedanta Religion to USA that is attracting growing SBNR, “Awesome without Allah” and other Spirituality groups, whose number is very large.   

 

Juneteenth marks our country’s Second Independence Day. Although it has long celebrated in the African American community, this monumental event remains largely unknown to most Americans. To Hindu Americans, it is Vasudhaiva kutumbakem Day--All people (subjects) are created equal. Migrant Indian American do take an active part in celebrating this day unlike Native American Indians. More than 12,000 American Indians served during World War I, and after the war, the American flag began to be given a prominent position at American Indian gatherings, especially those held on the 4th of July. This symbol of patriotism and national unity is carried into powwow and rodeo arenas today to create National spirit in them and to make them forget injustice done to them in the past. 

 

On “Freedom’s Eve,” or the eve of January 1, 1863, the first Watch Night services took place. On that night, enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and private homes all across the country awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. At the stroke of midnight, prayers were answered as all enslaved people in Confederate States were declared legally free. Union soldiers, many of whom were black, marched onto plantations and across cities in the south reading small copies of the Emancipation Proclamation spreading the news of freedom in Confederate States. Only through the Thirteenth Amendment did emancipation end slavery throughout the United States. 

 

The post-emancipation period known as Reconstruction (1865-1877) marked an era of great hope, uncertainty, and struggle for the nation as a whole. Formerly enslaved people immediately sought to reunify families, establish schools, run for political office, push radical legislation and even sue slaveholders for compensation. Given the 200+ years of enslavement, such changes were nothing short of amazing. Not even a generation out of slavery, African Americans were inspired and empowered to transform their lives and their country. 

 

Indian Americans too had their initial troubles and struggles. My thoughts get back to this scientific fact looking at the Color Struggle to live in peace and harmony with White Immigrant Race Supremacy  and Red Natives honored as Indians. 

Prime colors yield Black and Brown but not White. White need seven color waves   (race) to dance together that the White cannot claim for their title as they are no White. As any rainbow will demonstrate, black isn’t on the visible spectrum of color. All other colors are reflections of light, except black. Black is the absence of light. Unlike white and other hues, pure black can exist in nature without any light at all. 

 

Some consider white to be a color, because white light comprises all hues on the visible light spectrum. And many do consider black to be a color, because you combine other pigments to create it on paper. But in a technical sense, black and white are not colors, they’re shades. They augment colors. “And yet they do function like colors. They evoke color feelings, that created Juneteenth day accelerated by “black Lives Matter” upsurge.    Indians are dumped as browns by these groups, but science says we are Reflections of Light or Universal Light. That is why Hindus believe in Vasudhaiva kutumbakam.  

 

While we are jubilated over this great event this month we cannot also forget the abhorred thralldom of Black slaves and White Supremacy and Power. Please go through the NGM reporting this month which perhaps is the motivate force for the Black Lives Matter struggle and success that benefits all. 

  

Ugly truths buried in the soil are being unearthed & Tulsa Massacre in USA 

The discovery last week of 751 mass graves at the site of the Marieval Indian Residential School in Canada’s Saskatchewan province follows the uncovering in May of 215 graves at another such school in British Columbia.
Thursday’s announcement by the Cowessess First Nation has jolted a nation grappling with generations of widespread and systemic abuse of Indigenous people. 

“This was a crime against humanity, an assault on First Nations,” Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous First Nations in Saskatchewan said. “We will not stop until we find all the bodies.”

On Friday in Oklahoma, meanwhile, scientists confirmed that bullet wounds were found in one of the skeletons exhumed from a mass grave in Tulsa (pictured above). That provided more evidence that the body—and other remains found nearby—are linked to the 1921 massacre of hundreds of Black people in Tulsa by white mobs in one of the deadliest race killings in U.S. history. The 100th anniversary of what is called the Tulsa Race Massacre, long hidden from view, is being commemorated this month. 

These burial sites reveal painful truths amid debates what history can be taught, and scholars such as Elizabeth Alexander call for an exploration of America’s full history. 

“They’ve found people who had been disappeared by history,” writer DeNeen L. Brown said in a National Geographic documentary that aired this month about the Tulsa massacre. “The earth had unleashed the truth. … It wasn’t a movie. It wasn’t a chapter in a book. It happened to real people.” 

As many as 300 people are thought to have been killed. Nearly 100000 people were left without homes, almost the entire Black population in Tulsa. The skeletons unearthed were of adults in their 30s and 40s. Experts believe women and children may not have been killed at the same rate during the massacre based on the fact that men were placed in plain coffins while women and children’s coffins were decorated or had art on them. 

During the excavation process, descendants of massacre victims and other community members gathered at Oaklawn Cemetery where they prayed over the remains, before carrying boxes marked “Human Remains” to the laboratories for investigation.  

Canada’s own history, like that of the U.S., is fraught with abuse of its Indigenous population. More than 150,000 indigenous students were enrolled in Canada’s residential school system, now closed. Abuse was rampant. “I was so scared all the time,” Deedee Lerat, who from 1967 to 1970, attended the school where those mass graves were found. Lerat  told Nat Geo: “I remember thinking ‘don’t be noticed’ because I saw what they did to the kids that were noticed. Lerat said she suffered physical, emotional, and verbal abuse while at Marieval. Children as young as three years old were removed from their parents, forced to attend the schools and prohibited from speaking their native languages. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement that “the findings in Marieval and Kamloops are part of a larger tragedy. He tweeted, “we will honor their memory and we will tell the truth about these injustices.” 

"They are a shameful reminder of the systematic racism, discrimination, and injustice that Indigenous peoples have faced–and continue to face–in this country. And together, we must acknowledge this truth, learn from our past, and walk the shared path of reconciliation, so we can build a better future.” 

A Maddening debate over Race Theory is presently going on and parents do not want their children taught in schools on crucial race theory. After the discovery of hundreds of bodies in unmarked graves at former schools for Indigenous children, communities across Canada are cancelling or altering plans to celebrate a patriotic holiday on Thursday, increasing the pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to call off national celebrations. 

[National Geographic Society supports the Explorers working to inspire, educate, and better understand human history and cultures.] 

 --June 30, 2021

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WEBINAR-202 FIRE AS A METAPHOR IN THE BHAGAVAD GITA  

FIRE AND FLAME AS METAPHOR IN SCRIPTURES

 

Flame is a stream of hot, burning gas from something on fire: Fire (material that is in) the state of burning that produces flames that send out beneficial heat and light, and might also produce harmful smoke if not regulated. 

 

Agni is the most popular god of the Rigveda as is evident from the number of hymns addressed to him in the scripture. Fire is central to all Vedic rituals, addressed in its seven forms of sacred fire and seven flames.    Agni is the primary recipient of all Vedic sacrifices and all offerings to other gods are made through him.  In our divine body he is represented by the eyes and by the digestive fire Jatharagni. Symbolically he represents insatiable desire and hunger for food.  As the most potent and visible form of energy, useful but destructive at the same time, he was both feared and revered by the Vedic people.    No wonder a Western poet   expresses his feelings on Fire and Flames: 

“So far away we wait for the day
for the light source so wasted and gone;
We feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days
Through the fire and flames we carry on” 

 

The Vedas not only equate the Self with fire, they also equate the heart, which is the seat of the Self, with fire. The Self is said to exist like a flame the size of a thumb in the heart. This small flame in the heart is the real person, power and presence that allows the body and mind to function. It is like the pilot light in a stove that lights all the other burners on the stove. The light of the Self lights all the other fires of the body, Pranas, senses and mind. Even the digestive fire can only work with its support.” says David Frawley 

 

In the Vedas, Agni is called Jatavedas or the knower of all births as he knows the births of all creatures as their indwelling Self. Jatavedas is the Jiva or the individual soul hidden in the body. This Jiva when awakened discovers its unity with the Supreme. Then it becomes Vaishvanara or the universal person, which symbolizes the liberated soul. Jatavedas or the individual fire becomes Vaishvanara, the fire of the universal Self, which is the other main Vedic name of Agni.  

 

Self-inquiry (Atma-vichara), such as we learnt from Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, is regarded as the simplest and most direct path to Self-realization. One might say metaphorically that Self-inquiry requires a certain flame (Ojas). It requires that we ourselves become a flame and that our lives become an offering to it. Without such an inner fire, Self-realization may elude us whatever else we may attempt. Therefore, it is important to look at Self-inquiry not simply as a mental practice but as an energetic movement of consciousness like the rising up of the flame from a great fire. 

 

Please recall the Agni Gayatri Mantra from MNU: Vaisvanaraya vidmahe laleelaya dheemahi tanno agnih prachodayat--May we know Vaiśvānara! For that, may we meditate upon Lālīla! May Agni impel us towards it! 

 

Fire is called Vaiśvānara because He is favorable to all men by helping their cooking and worship. It is explained that fire is called Lālīla, because oblations are licked up by flicker­ing flames. 

 

taṁ tapaḥ satyaṁ tapaḥ śrutaṁ tapaḥ śāntaṁ tapo damas tapaḥ nśamastapo dānaṁ tapo yajñaṁ tapo bhūrbhuvaḥ- suvar-brahma itadupāsvaitattapaḥ   

 

Right is tapas. Truth is tapas. Understanding of the scriptures is tapas. Sub­duing of one’s senses is tapas. Restraint of the body through such means like fast is tapas. Cultivation of a peaceable disposition is tapas. Giving gifts without selfish motives is tapas. Worship is tapas. The Supreme Brahman has manifested Himself as Bhuḥ, Bhuvaḥ and Suvaḥ, Meditate upon Him, This is tapas or austerity par excel­lence! 

 

All the eight items separately emphasized here as “austerity or tapas” practically include all that is required for a complete moral and spiritual discipline. The term tapas is derived from the Sanskrit root tap literally meaning to give heat (fire) and light (flame). 

 

Primarily, therefore, tapas imply an activity of mind or body which demands keen concentration of thought or an effort requir­ing unusual and continuous physical strain and heat burning of all negative tendencies and invoking the inner flame. 

 

Bhavagad Gita states: 

Preferable to the material sacrifices is the knowledge-sacrifice (Jnana-yajna). All actions are comprehended in knowledge. 

 

As a fire when enkindled burns up dry wood and turns it to ashes, so the fire of knowledge (Jnanagni) turns all our karmas to ashes--Bhagavad Gita IV. 33, 37 

 

In this Self-sacrifice, the Self is not only the offering; the Self is the offeror and the fire in which the offering is given. In this regard we are again reminded of the words of the Gita. 

Brahman is the process of offering. Brahman is the substance offered. Brahman is the offeror, who places the offering into the fire of Brahman. Brahman alone is attained by this action of absorption in Brahman.
Gita IV.24. 

 

If we look at Self-inquiry as a Self-sacrifice or Atma-yajna, we gain a new perspective to take our practice to a deeper level beyond the complications of the outer mind. 

 

“Behind all of our senses through which we perceive the external world is a more primary internal sense of self-being through which we know that we exist and through which we are one with all existence. This self-sense is more immediate than all the outer senses which are only possible through it. But it is so immediate and given, our very sense of being, that we take it for granted and ignore it. In the maze of sensory information we lose track of who we really are. We get caught in the movements of the body and the mind and forget our true nature that transcends them and for which alone they work. 

 

We must remember this very subtle inner fire through which the mind and senses shine and reveal their objects of perception. Cultivating this direct awareness of the Self (aparoksha anubhava of Vedanta) is a lot like conducting a fire sacrifice. Behind all of our states of mind, even the most ignorant or confused, like a flame hidden in darkness, the Self shines as the eternal witness of all. What is important is to bring that flame out, like a fire hidden in wood, through the friction of inquiry.” says David Frawley 

 

This Self within the heart transcends all the worlds. As the supreme Agni or digestive power, it has the capacity to eat or absorb the entire universe. As the Taittiriya Upanishad ends; 

 

I am food. I am food. I am food.
I am the eater of food. I am the eater of food. I am the eater of food.
I consume the entire universe. My light is like the Sun! 

 

We invoke Gayatri pleading for strength to bring out the radiance in us referred as Ojas which is the same as flame in us. While bidding farewell to Gayatri, we insist on her, brahmvarchasaam dattva vrajata brahmalokam--go back to your abode after kindling Ojas or flame radiant   in us. This fire needs to be kindled for the flame. This is referred as brahmatejobalam in Ramayana.  MNU refers to it as tapa-oja-tejo balam, the flame of formidable strength coming from our inner-fire, Jatharaagni. 

 

Hinduism is not alone; other religions talk about fire and flame too. Here is a Lutheran prayer; this prayer is inspired from Revelations of the Holy Bible: 

 

 “Help us to transmit this holy Flame to all people of Goodwill, so that the Flame of Love extinguishes the Fire of Hatred everywhere on earth and that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, be the King and the center of all hearts in the Sacrament of His Love on the Throne of our altars. 

 

Jesus' first coming to earth was humble (Luke 2:7) and included His sacrificial death (Philippians 2:8). His second coming, however, sees Jesus arrive as the King of kings and Lord of lords, with piercing eyes. He sees all, and therefore is justified in making war. When John first received his vision of Jesus at Patmos, he reported that Jesus' eyes were "like a flame of fire" (Revelation 1:14). 

 

Fire and Flame in Islam   

To burn a fire in the dream and see people being guided by the light of such a fire implies that the person who had enkindled the fire will, through knowledge and wisdom, become a guiding light for the people. Turning away from worshipping fire to embrace Judaism or Christianity in a dream means experiencing major changes in one's life. Worshipping fire in a dream means desiring worldly pleasures. Worshipping the fire in a dream also means desiring to work for the ruler or a king, or it could mean going astray. If the fire one is worshipping is not lit in the dream, it means that he is seeking unlawful earnings. If no flames, are seen in the fire, it suggests he will acquire unlawful (Haraam) wealth. If one sees himself inside hell-fire, where his eyes turn dark-blue and his face charcoal black in the dream, it means that he befriends Allah's enemy and consents to their deception and chicanery. Consequently, he will surely be humiliated and despised by people, and in the hereafter, he will suffer the consequences of his sins.

 

We look forward to 7/4 radiant flame of Vivekanada to guide us beyond religious and national boundaries while avoiding 9/11 hell-fire of Al-quid-a of hatred and devastation.    

Let us actively participate in this brain storming presentation on our vital element, one of the Pancha Bhootas, we worship daily.  We have discussed some of these things in our E-mails on yoga day and will talk about it in the amazing topic “scientists discover 29 planets and alien activity”, to follow.

FOWAI FORUM (INDIA) AND STEP (USA) Invite you to join the WEBINAR-202 FIRE AS A METAPHOR in The Bhagavad Geetā

  

Gist of the Presentation:

Fire is jnāna (wisdom); fire (as a steady flame) is a yogi’s mind; fire is (any field of) work that necessarily has the smoke of some shortcomings; fire is the higher path (uttarāyan ) by which a soul travels after death; fire is many more things if we go by the numerous illustrations that Shri Krishna uses in the Geetā to convey a spectrum of philosophical teachings. This webinar will take a sweeping glance at the multi-splendored comparisons with fire in the great work.

 Every work has shortcomings as fire has smoke around it. 18.48

Selfish desire covers wisdom just as smoke covers fire. 3.38

The mind of a yogi is like the steady flame in a windless spot. 6.19

  --June 26, 2021

 

 

INDUHHINDU AMERICANS CELEBRATE JUNE 24 AS WORLD MIDSUMMER DAY & WORLD SAINT KABIRA DAY

Sweden, while still celebrating, Midsommar  Pagan rituals of a Swedish Ancient Cult called the Hårga, though a Christian country, leads rest of Europe with its cosmopolitan policies and religious freedom.

A cosmopolitan community prevails where individuals from varying locations (physical, economic, etc.) enter relationships of mutual respect despite their differing beliefs & faiths (religious, political, etc.).  By comparison, Immanuel Kant envisioned a cosmopolitan world prevails where armies are abolished and humans are governed under a representative global institution. In all instances, proponents of cosmopolitanism share an emphasis that all humans should form one cohesive and united community.

In a looser but related sense, "cosmopolitan" is also used to describe places where people of various ethnic, cultural and/or religious backgrounds live together in Peace but not in Pieces and interact with each other. This very much reflects Vedic wisdom of Sanghacchadvam samvadadvam samaanamaakootih and Hindu philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. The most defining feature of an interconnected world is not the exchange of goods and services but the proliferation of ideas, morals and thoughts across borders and oceans. The idea of a connected, globalized world or the so-called “global village” is one where the nation-states appear as a single entity with fluid borders that exists within the overarching interests and demands of a cosmopolitan world. Cosmopolitan principles are increasingly changing global practices as they continue to define the goals of international organizations, shape the perspective of citizens across boundaries and alter the autonomy that is preserved by states.  Sweden still celebrates Summer Solstice Festival of Universal Solar Religion of the past that I explained before as Mid-Summer Festival, on June 24.

The midsommarstång is usually decorated with green garlands and flowers and placed within a prominent space in town for people to dance around. Historically, there were also plenty of notions about the magic of Midsummer. People thought that plants were especially magical that night and that supernatural beings were at their most active, which made it a perfect time to collect healing plants and try to predict the future. Also, rolling around naked in the dew on Midsummer morning was said to be good for your health. Midsummer brings communities together, as it usually takes place outdoors in parks and community spaces. Sweden is known for its naked sauna of males and females together!

Today, June 24 is still a celebrated holiday and it’s incredibly popular. In Sweden, it comes only second to Christmas and people travel from all over the world to experience it themselves. During the time of the Summer Solstice, inhabitants of the British Isles and Scandinavia have nearly a full day of sunlight, making it easy for them to imagine how the Pagans once lived and they reenact the traditions of old.

Midsummer is celebrated on June 24 and it’s a day that’s meant for us to appreciate all the gifts that nature gives us. It is the naked deer season! The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year and that lands on June 20, but because the old Julian calendar marked it differently, the date for Midsummer Day remains June 24. The holiday originates from Sweden, but it’s celebrated all over the world and many use the weekend closest to the date for traditional festivities.

Midsummer started as a pagan ritual for fertility and a successful harvest during the Stone Age. The pagans believed that plants had healing properties during the summer solstice and they honored the day showing reverence to nature with rituals. They danced around maypoles, fashioned garnets, and herbs were picked on Midsummer’s Eve and bonfires were used to keep away any evil spirits. It was said that spirits were free to roam the earth when the sun was turning towards the southern hemisphere.

In the fourth century, the holiday was changed to fit into Christian beliefs that honored St. John the Baptist called St. John’s Day. In the Gospel of Luke, Saint John’s birthday is said to be six months before the birth of Jesus, which would put his birthday in June. It was celebrated by bathing in water the night before for purification, a feast, and prayer on the holiday, but despite the name change, some of the customs from Midsummer remained.

In the Middle Ages, Germany had its own Midsummer rituals which would eventually be adopted by Sweden and others. Germanic neo-pagans called their summer solstice festival Litha. In their rituals, the Maypole was decorated with leaves and raised on May 1, which is where the name comes from. It was hard to find green leaves during that time, and the holiday was moved to Midsummer.

Sant Kabir Das Jayanti or the birth anniversary of Saint Kabir Das is marked on Jyeshtha Purnima as per the Hindu Vedic Calendar called Panchang. This year, the day is falling on Thursday, June 24, Summer Solstice Global Celebration Day.  While Christians celebrate it as St John’s Day, Hindus celebrate it as Kabira Das Day, Sikhs Guru Kabira Day  and Muslims as Faquir Kabira Day! He was a famous social reformer, poet and a saint. The major part of his work was collected by the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan Dev. His writing had a great influence on the Bhakti movement and includes titles like Kabir Granthawali, Anurag Sagar, Bijak, and Sakhi Granth. On this day, many of Kabir Das’s followers remember him and recite his poems and teachings.

On the occasion of Kabir Jayanti, let us recall one of his unforgettable Doha that echoes Wisdom of Sanghacchadvam, aatmavat sarvabhootshu and Hindu philosophy of vasudhaibva Kutumbakam”, and Summer solstice celebration humanity devoted to Universal Solar Religion:

“Lift the veil that obscures the heart, and there you will find what you are looking for. I am not a Hindu, nor am a Muslim I! I am this body, a play of five elements; a drama of the spirit dancing with joy and sorrow”

Hindu Americans are focused on all celebrations that unite all cultures in joint celebration. Though Hindus in USA often chooseindus in Usa m their life partners from other faiths, they still continue with Hindu Dharma and Culture and both partners raise their kids with Vedic wisdom and Hindu Dharma and culture more often than not. Many marriages even among Hindus living in USA indus are inter-caste based thus breaking the sectarian walls, unlike in India, to live as a cohesive force with an eye on Cosmopolitanism. As Hindu Americans, let   us celebrate Kabir’s Birthday along with Annual Summer Solstice Observed Day Celebration on June 24, in the spirit of sanghacchadvam and vasudhaiva kutumbakam, in our place of worship.

Sadguru Kabira was born on this important observance day June 24, as the Sun turns south and starts its southern journey. Hindu astrologers in their negligence not doing the century correction, do not think of the actual astronomical day June 20 or the nearest observance day on Kabira day of June 24 as the Religious Special Event Days and proclaim July 16 as Dakshinayana Punyakala Day. What would have Kabira said about the significance of this period? These six months are the sadhana pada (period of practice)  and this time is important because now you can do the right things and join Urban Monks  in singing Dohas and dancing with the Sun and Stars. He is not there with us but his spirit is all there with us when we focus our thoughts on Modern Urban monks who like him have not run to forests in seclusion and self-oriented but remain with us guiding us spiritually. We have a bunch of lady Monks too!

 

As we move into Dakshinayana, on this day let us hear what Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev has to say as to the spiritual significance of this part of the year. Sun’s reluctance to turn South after a long journey, that being a slow movement, in seeing as a slow process,  is understandable and his southern journey  to start   may need a couple of days but not that late as our Religious pundits and Astrology Experts think and wrongly guide us.

 

Sadhguru: “Dakshinayana is the time when the Sun begins to trace a southward movement in the Earth’s sky in the northern hemisphere of the planet. Dakshinayana is significant in the life of anyone who is doing any kind of yoga. In this phase, your relationship with the planet is very different than what it is in the northern run. Particularly for those of us who are living in the northern hemisphere, it is very significant that the sun is now moving south and the planet is moving in an anticlockwise direction. These together produce a certain impact on the human physiology. All the practices we do have been structured keeping this aspect in mind.

 

It was during this time of the year that Adiyogi turned south and became a Dakshinamurti – he began to transmit the fundamentals of the yogic science to his first seven disciples, who are now celebrated as the Sapta-rishis. It was not on a whim that he decided to turn south. He turned south because the sun turned south. The southern run of the sun became significant because this was the first phase of the teaching. This became the sadhana pada where he taught the Sapta-rishis what they should do. The northern run or Uttarayan is referred to as the samadhi pada or kaivalya pada. It is a time for realization.

The sadhana pada is always more important because in the process of making anything happen, the most important thing is to do what is in our hands right. What is not in our hands, we only have to wait. Sadhana is something which is in our hands – we can do something about it. It may be a lesser dimension than the other but it doesn’t matter, it is in our hands. It becomes important because we can make it happen.

Watering and putting manure to a plant is important. Flowers will come as a consequence of that. It is not our doing. This is just like that. These six months are the sadhana pada and this time is important because now you can do the right things. If you do the right things, when the time to harvest comes, the right kind of harvest will come.”

We start planting as summer starts, harvest the crops after Winter solstice and enjoy Pongal on Makara Sankranti Day after a prayer session with relatives, friends and labor and even animals that helped in our sadhana!

Each solstice is a domain of experience unto itself. At the summer solstice, all is green and growing, potential coming into being, the miracle of manifestation painted large on the canvas of awareness. Every aspect of Indian life is rooted in solstice and spirituality!

A single sunbeam Kabira is enough to drive away many shadows. The Sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world’s joy. Happy Solstice & Kabira day!

--June 24, 2021

Comments Thank you. Very usef--Bala from Atlant WORSHIPING LORD

 

KRISHNA THE YOGA GURU AND MUSIC THERAPIST ON JUNE 21

Please recall my yesterday’s E-mail on Celebrating International Yoga Day and World Music Day on June 21 every year which is also Celebrated Summer Solstice Day. Lord Krishna is the logical Presiding Deity for this Celebrated Day of Yoga, Mantra and Music on the Eve of Mid-Summer (June 24).

Music heals. Music therapists can meet the spiritual, psychological and aesthetic needs of the afflicted by producing sounds testifying to the fact that beauty continues to exist in the world. So does mantra administered by a Guru!

Yoga is holistic therapy. Yoga therapy meets individuals where they are with the intention to reduce suffering. The yoga sutras tell us suffering is always based on Avidya or ignorance, which is a lack of awareness resulting in separation from our true Self or true nature.   Wellbeing can be experienced through moving away from Avidya to Vidya or clarity. The yoga therapist is trained to help guide students toward Vidya through self-awareness, self-discovery and self-realization. Through increasing self-observation skills students become more and more self-aware through which suffering is reduced, and the experience of joy and peace naturally increases. When we begin by bringing the physical body into balance with a deeper awareness of food, rest, exercise, and breath we lay the foundation for years of healthy active living. Yoga Therapy can help to reset the body, mind, spirit connection and enliven the overall experience by teaching Clients how to live a more present and mindful life.

The social fabric in Hindus is so knitted that no human activity is segregated from the divine. Hindus customarily invoke God before the beginning of any religious or spiritual endeavor; they believe that any bad vibrations in the immediate vicinity of worship are eliminated by the mere utterance of his praise or name, So, Hindu Americans invoke, Siva-Parvathi on Parent’s Day, Bhudevi on Mother’s day, Kamadeva or Krishna on Valentine’s Day, Lakshmi on Dhan Teras Day etc.  With this cultural background, it would be proper to celebrate World Music day and International Yoga Day in Hindu Temples dedicating it to Lord Krishna.

Lord Krisahna, Adi Yogi

We all know the Legacy of Yoga in Bhagavad Gita in 18 Chapters delivered by Lord Krishna for our benefit. He was a Yogi who sat up every morning for meditation merging himself with the transcendental self in the tradition of previous Avatars, of Kurmavatara known for Kurmasana for cosmic balance and Yoga Therapy of Yoga Narasimha. Puranas hail Siva as Adiyogi too!

Lord Krishna, Master Musician, Father of Music

Krishna’s flute is a symbol of total surrender goes with the theme of Yoga. The flute is the oldest musical instrument known to man-kind.  Bamboo-flute is the only musical instrument which is most natural and does not contain any mechanical part.  It is the simplest and cheapest instrument.

Bamboo-flute is the most favorite musical instrument of Lord Krishna.  There is one Sanskrit sloka in which Lord Krishna tells his love Radha, why he loves the flute more than Radha herself.

He says thus:” Oh, my beloved love, hear!  This bamboo-flute is a symbol of total surrender.  If anyone is willing to be like this bamboo, then I unite their individual soul to me and deliver them with eternal liberation.”  He further explains: ”The bamboo made itself ready by completely getting rid of the Ego (the pulp inside it was completely removed).  It bore the sufferings of being bored as the holes were made.  Thus, the bamboo-flute has completely surrendered to me.  As it has emptied the egoism, and had made its inner hollow quite void, I could bring out any kind of tune out of it as I desire.”

In the human personality structure as in the flute, there are eight main spots.  The five organs of perception, mind, intellect and ego.  If you get rid of your ego, and become like a hollow bamboo-flute, then, the Lord will come to you, will pick up you with great love, put his lips unto you and breathe through you, and out of the hollowness the captivating melody will emerge for all creations to enjoy--Blogger on Google.

Lord Krishna as a simple cow-boy, as a Gopala, attracted all the Gopalas and Gopikas with his Divine Music, because their love towards him was as simple as a bamboo and as divine as his flute. Lord Krishna is called as Muralee Krishna, Venu-gopala, and Vamsi Krishna.

 Yoga, Mantra and Music are Remedies to Mind Filled With Dejection – Sorrow – Despair in Hinduism

Daurmanasya literally means ‘frustration’. A complete control over one’s own mind is a virtue that we often hanker for. Patañjali (200 B. C.) the great master of Yoga, had dealt with this topic from two standpoints.

1.   In the negative aspect, one should try constantly to avoid or overcome the various obstacles that disturb our mental balance or concentration.

2.   In the positive aspect, repeated efforts should be made to tackle the mind directly and control it. That is Yoga, Mantra and Music.

Patañjali in his Yogasutras lists nine major and five minor obstacles which he refers to as ‘antarāyas’ to the control the mind. ‘Daurmanasya’ is listed as the second in the list of minor impediments. Literally it means ‘being in a bad state of mind’. In effect, it refers to the frustration which one gets when one’s desires are unfulfilled or thwarted.

It is neither possible nor desirable to fulfill all our cravings and ambitions. Hence we should take recourse to discrimination and be convinced that desire is the root-cause of all our troubles. Once the intensity of desire is lessened, the shock of disappointment will also be lessened. When it is completely eliminated, the problem is permanently solved.--Swami Harshanand

Is that not enough justification for Hindu Americans,  if not Hindus in India,  to make JUNE 21, a Special Religious Events Day to raise our voices to the Supreme to bring Joy, Peace and Light at the end of the Dark Tunnel!

vyAmOha-praSamaushadham muni-manO-vRtti-pravRttyaushadham daityEndrArti-karaushadham tri-jagatAm sanjIvanaikaushadham | bhaktAtyanta-hitaushadham bhava-bhaya-pradhvamsanaikaushadham SrEya: prApti-karaushadham piba manaS SrI-kRshNa-divyaushadham ||    

Sri Krishna principle as the medicine for curing all the ills of the world and for destroying all the evil forces including (COVID 19).  It is a medicine that removes the delusions caused by chasing material and non-spiritual things;  It is a medicine that has the power to turn the minds of the sages towards Sri Krishna ( i.e.) , it can make them fall in love with Sri Krishna It is a medicine that can cause endless headache and panic to the chieftains of Asura-s like Kalanemi in the three worlds; It is a medicine that performs wonders and confers benedictions to the devotees of the Lord.  It is a medicine that banishes the fears of samsara; and, It is a key medicine that confers auspiciousness and happiness for its partakers.

Medicine heals, Mantra magnetizes; Yoga unites and Krishna attracts all to cater for our benefits!

--June 22, 2021

Comments:

LORD KRISHNA SAYS TO THE WORLD AS "ORU PAKKAM VARUVATHU, MARU PAKKAM THARUVATHARKE". (IN TAMIL)  The air comes in from one side of the flute, and goes out from the other end of the flute.  The incoming air does not stay inside of the flute.  Whatever I give you, you use a bit for your survival, and give away the rest to the needy.  You do not keep it with you for your tomorrow or future.  That means, Unchavritthi. Saint Thyagaraja did.

--Prof G. Nagarajan

 

 

 

SANT KABIR DAS JAYANTI 2021 

 

Midsummer Day celebration on June 24, started as a pagan ritual. The pagans believed that plants had healing properties during the summer solstice and they honored the day showing reverence to nature with rituals. They danced around maypoles, fashioned garnets, and herbs were picked on Midsummer’s Eve and bonfires were used to keep away any evil spirits. It was said that spirits were free to roam the earth when the sun was turning towards the southern hemisphere. In the fourth century, the holiday was changed to fit into Christian beliefs that honored St. John the Baptist and called it St. John’s Day. But to people of all faiths in India, conventional Midsummer Day June 24 is Kabir Jayanti Day that has the healing power to all with his Dohas, who are fighting and killing in the name of religion.  Christians made Midsummer Night St. John’s Day and Hindus made this day Kabir Day.

 

Hindus in India strongly believe today based on Archeological studies, the Muslims who ruled India for eight centuries are the flag-bearers of an intolerant monotheism. Yet there was even more religious plurality during that period. Sufism mingled with local faiths; the currently popular devotional cults of Rama and Krishna, and the network of ashrams and sects, expanded fast under the Moghul Empire. Medieval India furnishes more evidence of sectarian violence between the worshippers of Shiva and Vishnu than between Hindus and Muslims. 

 

Kabir is considered both a Sufi and Brahmin saint. Kabir's poetry draws on both Hinduism and Islam, though he was critical of certain aspects of both faiths. Some of his verses are included in the compilation of Sikh scriptures known as the Adi Granth. 

 

Every year, Kabir Das Jayanti will be observed on Purnima day during the Jyeshta month as per the Hindu calendar. On this special day, devotees take time to read and recite his poems and teachings. His poems are famously called Kabir Ke Dohe and this will be recited by spiritual leaders to the devotees at the Kabir temples. Along with this, people also exchange good wishes and prayers to their loved ones. 

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Kabir Jayanti falls on Thursday, June 24, 2021. The life and teachings of Sant Kabir Dās (probably 1455 – 1551) have had a tremendous impact on entire India and a little abroad too. We revere him for breaking all the social barriers, touching the core of lofty spirituality and appealing to humanity to live noble values of life without getting confined by narrow boundaries of any kind.  

He very much echoes Gita Doctrine. His Dohas lead one to tranquility, happiness and equanimity. His Doctrine is beyond Religions and National Boundaries focused on humanity!

 

Kabir can’t be easily categorized as a Sufi or a Yogi -- he is all of these. He is revered by Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs. He stands as a unique, saintly, yet very human, bridge between the great traditions that live in India. Kabir says of himself that he is, "at once the child of Allah and Ram." 

 

He was born in Varanasi (Benares), India, probably around the year 1440 (though other accounts place his birth as early as 1398), to Muslim parents. But early in his life Kabir became a disciple of the Hindu bhakti saint Ramananda. It was unusual for a Hindu teacher to accept a Muslim student, but tradition says the young Kabir found a creative way to overcome all objections.  Hindus have also defied Shirdi Saibaba (a born Muslim) and raised temples for his worship with agama sastra guidelines. 

 

The story is told that on one particular day of the year, anyone can become a disciple by having a master speak the name of God over him. It is common for those who live near the Ganges to take their morning bath there in the sacred waters. The bhakti saint Ramananda took his bath as he did every day, by arising before dawn. On this special day, Ramananda awoke before dawn and found his customary way down to the steps of the Ganges. As he was walking down the steps to the waters, a little hand reached out in the predawn morning and grabbed the saint's big toe. Ramananda was taken by surprise and he expressed his shock by calling out the name of God. Looking down he saw in the early morning light the hand of the young Kabir. After his bath in the early light, he noticed that on the back of the little one's hand was written in Arabic the name Kabir.  He adopted him as son and disciple and brought him back to his ashram, much to the disturbance of his Hindu students, some of whom left in righteous protest. 

 

Not much is known about what sort of spiritual training Kabir may have received. He did not become a saffron robed sadhu or monk.  Kabir never abandoned worldly life, choosing instead to live the balanced life of a householder and mystic, tradesman and contemplative. Kabir was married, had children, and lived the simple life of a weaver. 

 

Although Kabir labored to bring the often-clashing religious cultures of Islam and Hinduism together, he was equally disdainful of professional piety in any form. This earned him the hatred and persecution of the religious authorities in Varanasi. Nearing age 60, he was denounced before the king but, because of his Muslim birth, he was spared execution and, instead, banished from the region.

He subsequently lived a life of exile, traveling through northern India with a group of disciples. In 1518, he died at Maghar near Gorakhpur. 

 

One of the most loved legends associated with Kabir is told of his funeral. Kabir's disciples disputed over his body, the Muslims wanting to claim the body for burial, the Hindus wanting to cremate the body. Kabir appeared to the arguing disciples and told them to lift the burial shroud. When they did so, they found fragrant flowers where the body had rested. The flowers were divided, and the Muslims buried the flowers while the Hindus reverently committed them to fire. 

 

Dukh Mein Simran Sab Kare, Sukh Mein Kare Na Koye Jo Sukh Mein Simran Kare, Tau Dukh Kahe Ko Hoye 

While suffering everyone Prays and Remembers Him, in joy no one does! The suffering you experience in the world is designed to wake you up. You wake up when you realize God. If you did that during your happy times, then you will not experience suffering. 

 

Bura Jo Dekhan Main Chala, Bura Naa Milya Koye Jo Mann Khoja Apnaa, To Mujhse Bura Naa Koye 

I searched for the bad and crooked, did not find a single one! When searched myself, “I” found the crooked one. 

 

Jaise Til Mein Tel Hai, Jyon Chakmak Mein Aag. Tera Sayeen Tujh Mein Hai, Tu Jaag Sake To Jaag

Like sesame contains the oil, fire in flint-stone. Your heart is the seat of the Divine, realize if you can.

  

When there is darkness surrounding us, we can always enlighten ourselves with the couplets of Kabir and be good human beings focused on human Dharma and values! Wishing a very Happy Sant Kabir Day Jayanti.” 

 --June 21, 2021

 

 

International Yoga Day and World Music Day on June 21

• International Day of Yoga 
• World Music Day
• First Summer Day (World Observance Summer Solstice Day also observed as National Energy Shopping Day 
• World Handshake Day 
• Atheists Solidarity Day 

World Music Day is celebrated every year on 21 June. Popularly called 'Make Music Day', and 'Fête de la Music' in French, this day marks the importance of music in everyone's life. According to a survey, 92% of Indians take solace in music during their hard times. Music is not just a healing therapy, it also ensures a good mood and healthy mental well-being. On this day, people step out on the streets to play and enjoy music. It is an open event where anyone can join and play music. For Tamils in particular Margazhi is the Month of   Devotional Music. I have talked to a lot about Chennai Musical Festival Season in December (3 C’s--Christmas Carnatic Concerts). But let us join World Music Celebrations in the spirit of sanghacchadvam samvadadvam. Living in the Music City of USA Nashville this Day makes lot of significance to me. We have talked a lot on Holistic Yoga Therapy, Music and Mantra Therapy a lot, a vital too in EQ and SQ Management.  Agro scientist in India have researched and   employed Music as a stimulant to crops and useful tool in Grow More Food Campaign. However, with the Covid19 pandemic this year, the World Music Day celebrations are restricted to everyone's homes. 

 

World Music Day is celebrated alongside International Yoga Day. Both music and Yoga play an important role in maintaining sanity for everyone. Not just musicians, but everyone celebrates this day with full enthusiasm.

 

Yoga is an ascetic discipline that includes breath control, simple meditation, bodily postures and Asanas. Yoga is widely practiced for good health and relaxation. International Yoga day is celebrated on the 21st of June to create awareness on the benefits of yoga. Yoga shows us a way of living that aims at "a healthy body in a healthy mind." Imparting a bit of yoga in our lifestyle can bring about tremendous positive change. On this Yoga day, let us make it a practice and make our life full of positive energy in both body and mind. Happy yoga time!!!

 

"There is music the moment we start listening."

There is music all around us. The chirping of the birds, the flowing water, the cry of babies, a ringing telephone, the vehicles passing by, the rattling of utensils - And what not. It is all around. The moment we align ourselves to the rhythm of the music, life feels wonderful. Like a smile, music is also a universal language which can be felt and understood by everyone.

 Music has the power to do just about anything. It has the ability to make you feel emotions that you may have been connected to before. Not only that, music is able to heal you during the worst of times. 

For tons of music lovers around the world, this is a special day. It honors musicians around the world and their contribution towards making everything all that more melodious. The existence of various genres in music does not only indicate variety but it also a reflection of the history and culture from where they have emerged from. 

World Music Day was first celebrated in France in 1982. The Minister of Art and Culture, Jack Lange, gave this festival a green light, along with a renowned French composer named Maurice Fleuret. Every year, it is celebrated on the day of the summer solstice, which is June 21. The aim behind this was to bring people out on the streets and enjoy themselves listening to the music, however they like it instead being couch potatoes watching TV or spending time before two dimensional internet screen!

Since then, around 120 countries in the world celebrate this incredible day including India.  The day is usually celebrated by musicians coming out to play their instruments in the streets, parks, stadiums, and theatres. Free concerts are organized where musicians play for fun and entertainment and not for money.

For many of us, music is an integral part of our lives. Be it being professionally trained or being a self-proclaimed bathroom singer, it does not matter because this is something that we absolutely love. Therefore, what better way to celebrate this than today as it celebrates music through and through!

"Music is a world within itself. It's a language we all understand, enjoy and enliven" -Stevie Wonder

 

 Wishing you a lifetime of wellness and goodness on the occasion of International Yoga Day and World Music Day!  Keep stretching not straining, musing and meditating!

--June 21, 2021

  Comments:

 

Very good write-up. Thanks for the wonderful wishes.

 

--Nashville Nagarajan. 

 

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Thinking of Bijoy Govindajee Temple of Manipal on this WRD & IFD, June 20, 2021 

 

Did you know that Jackfruit, a perennial tropical fruit, originated in Kerala of South India (being its natural habitat) in the rain-forests of the Western Ghats? Kerala is known for Parasurama and Palasa. Archaeological findings in India have revealed that jackfruit was cultivated in India 3000 to 6000 years ago. It is the state fruit of Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the national fruit of Bangladesh. 

 

There is this Sacred Jackfruit Tree, a historical site in the Indian state of Manipur where a jackfruit tree growing on the small hill of Kaina has been used to carve images of Hindu god Krishna, particularly deified in the Shree Govindajee Temple at Imphal. The original location of the jackfruit tree has been declared an historical archaeological site by the Archaeological Department of Manipur. The ornate wooden plank called avani palaka, made of the wood of the jackfruit tree, is used as the priest's seat during Hindu ceremonies in Kerala. There is a saying in rural India and Sri Lanka, which reads" "with jack and a coconut in your backyard you will never starve" Bhagawan in Gita says: (Oshadhi) vrikshanam asvattoham, among medicinal plants I am Aswattha tree! 

Kerala and associated thoughts of Palasa from the Land of Parasurama that he recovered from sea, take me to the Rare Joint celebrations of World Refugees Day (WRD) and International Father’s Day (IFD) ,  June 20 in 2021. Every year Father’s Day will not be June 20 for it can’t be third Sunday of June every year.  

  

Parasurama is well known for his dedication to his father who killed even his mother, doubted for her chastity at the command of his father but took refuge in him and sought the restoration of life to his mother to get rid of the sin of his forced heinous crime at the bid of his Father who was his Refuge! 

 

Earlier to Parasurama Avatar was Narasimha Avatar who took the merciful and kind god-father Laksahminarasimha,  cooled down form after meditation as Yoga Narasimha,   to take care of his devotee young lad Prahlada. His earthly father was the mostcruel father, yet Prahlada pleaded for his Moksha appealing to Heavenly Father! Our devotion to father should be inspired by Prahlada,  ideal son! 

Happy Father’s Day celebrations happen in the honor of good-hearted and strict paternal figures. You can wish this day to a person whom you consider your father or who is precious in your life as a father or dad, guardian, or a person like that.  

 

Onam festival is celebrated to honor King Mahabali who visits “Kerala” at the time of Onam. Bali was blessed to be chiranjeevi (Ever immortal) after he was vanquished by Trivikrama, his heavenly father who was kind to his prodigal and egoistic son Bali who is a descendent of Kashyapa. In Indian mythology, Virochana was the grandson of Hiranyakashipu, the son of Prahlada   and the father of Bali. So it is all the story of Father and Son and son taking refuge in Heavenly Father, who is Narayana. 

In our daily prayer we take Refuge in Narayana our heavenly Father with the hymn Kayena Vacha… 

 Kayena Vacha Mana-Sendriyair Va | Budhyaatmana Va Prakruteh Swabhavath Karoami Yadyad Sakalam Parasmai | Narayana Yeti Samarpayami  ||

Whatever I do with my body, speech, and mind or with other senses of my body, or with my intellect and soul or with my innate natural tendencies I offer (dedicate) everything to Narayana. 

This is complete surrender to Heavenly   Father and taking Refuge in him that calls for combined celebration of WRD and IFD  at least once a year if not daily, and June 20 of 2021 gives the rare opportunity to bring our worship together focused on love of Father and seeking Refuge in him. 

We pray for all who leave their homes in search of new beginnings and possibilities. Heavenly Father Narayana is the source of all goodness, generosity and love. Let us pay our gratitude and thank him   not only being recipients but also for opening the hearts of many to help those who are fleeing for their lives. Good Lord looks   with mercy on those who pray that are fleeing from danger, homeless and hungry. Let us not forget to pay our gratitude for all those who work to bring them relief. We pray to Narayana to inspire generosity and compassion in all our hearts; and guide the nations of the world towards that day when all will rejoice in his kingdom of justice and of peace uniting world as one family (Vasudheka kutumbakam). Let us approach Narayana with all these, wishing all a Happy WED & IFD of June 20, 2021! 

 

“No Father puts his child in a boat unless the water is safer than the land.”— Warsan Shire 

--June 20, 2021

Comments:

Wishing you very very Happy Farher’ Day

--Santosh Venkatraman

 

What a coincidence mama, today I was cutting jackfruit!

--Aparna Arcot

 

 

HINDU REFLECTIONS ON INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY 2021 

 

We celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21 that is also Summer Solstice Day (UTC), though our Panchangas misguide us including North American Panchanga.  Therefore, it is a Special Religious Event Day for Hindu Americans.  Since 2015, International Yoga Day is observed on June 21 to spread awareness among the masses about the importance of Yoga and its effects upon human health. 

 

According to the yoga tradition, a human being has three interpenetrating bodies—physical, subtle, and causal—each influencing the other. Every aspect of our yoga practice can shape and direct these three bodies to develop a foundation for powerful and lasting healing and awakening. Our practice is most effective when we understand how our three bodies are related, and how to apply specific practices to awaken a deeper level of intelligence and well-being. 

 

For example, undigested life experiences stored in the subtle body cloud your inherent brilliance, and can also manifest in your physical body where appropriate yoga practices can help reveal and resolve deep-seated restrictions. Likewise, meditation is the most powerful practice to clear the distortions deep in the causal body and align us with a brighter and bigger Self. The best practice addresses all aspects of our being—physical, subtle, and causal. Experience how to make your personal practice the best practice for you. 

 

“Yoga at home and Yoga with Family” 

International Yoga Day 2021 theme is “Yoga at home and Yoga with Family”. You know the whole world is going through COVID-19 pandemic and almost every country has imposed lockdown in a certain form. In this situation, it is hard or impossible for people to go outdoor for exercise or yoga even if the lockdown is getting softer in some parts of the world. Even if lockdown gets lighter, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports reveal that Corona Virus won’t spare the world for many years. In this situation, it is risky to go outside and take part in group activities. Social distancing and a strong body immune system are the only available cures that we should embrace. International Day of Yoga 2021 theme focuses upon telling people to stay motivated at home and adopt a healthy lifestyle by doing exercise and yoga. People are getting fatter and desperate at home because they feel like caged animals. Exercise helps us to stay optimistic and yoga helps us to explore new ideas to spend time and earn money without going outside. Thus, venue of this Yoga Day is our home. Let’s appreciate the theme 2021 of International Yoga Day and practice yoga at home until this curse of COVID-19 leaves us. 

 

We observed World Safety Day and the 2021 Mission “Keep your kitchen clean and safe”. The need for clean and pure food is the necessary ingredient of Yoga practice. Suddha concept is very important for a yoga practitioner. Among other terms that use the word, suddha, in Indian philosophy and religion are suddha vichara, which refers to pure thoughts; suddha vidya, which means “pure wisdom”; and suddha ahara, which refers to pure food or that which best nourishes the body. In addition, suddha manas, or "pure mind," is a necessary state for effective meditation. Without suddha manas, the yogi cannot achieve higher states of consciousness. The asuddha manas, or "impure mind," prevents Self-realization. 

 

Few among us keep in mind the truth, so eloquently said in the Upanishads, that what we eat influences how we think‘. The food we consume, says Rishi Uddālaka, splits into three parts. While the grossest part is excreted, the middle one turns into flesh and the subtlest portion converts into the mind.  “annam-ashitam tredhā vidheeyate, tasya.. dhātuh .. yah anisthah tad manah”--Food that is eaten divides threefold. Its subtlest portion transforms into one's mind-- Chāndogya Upanishad 6.5.1.  We can say therefore: If we want our mind to be pure, we must mind what we eat?]  

 maneeshiyaa manah manasaa santih--by control of the senses mind is under control and by controlled mind one becomes calm says MNU. It also says: Yatyah vedanta-vijnana-sunischtaarthah suddha-sattvah sanyasa-yogaat param-uchhyanti--our Spiritual Guru, eating pure and clean food, developing Vedanta Intellect,   practice Sayasa-Yoga to achieve the highest goal in life.  

“Michael A. Singer, the renowned author had a deep inner-awakening in 1971 while working on his doctorate in economics and went into seclusion to focus on yoga and meditation. In 1975, he founded Temple of the Universe, a now long-established yoga and meditation center where people of any religion or set of beliefs can come together to experience inner peace Avoid Your Own Fall --Do not let your energy be scattered writes Michael Singer. If you can learn to remain centered with the smaller things, you will see that you can also remain centered with bigger things. Over time, you will find that you can even remain centered with the really big things like the present pandemic. The types of events that would have destroyed you in the past can come and go, leaving you perfectly centered and peaceful. You can be fine, deep inside, even in the face of a deep sense of loss. There‘s nothing wrong with being peaceful and centered as long as you are releasing the energy, not suppressing it. Ultimately, even if terrible things happen, you should be able to live without emotional scars and impressions. If you don‘t hold these issues inside, you can go about your life without getting psychologically damaged. No matter what events take place in life, it is always better to let go rather than to close. There‘s a place deep inside of you where the consciousness touches the energy, and the energy touches the consciousness. That‘s where your work is. From that place, you let go. Once you‘ve let go, every minute of every day, year after year, then that‘s where you‘ll live. Nothing will be able to take your seat of consciousness from you. You‘ll learn to stay there. After you‘ve put years and years into this process, and learned to let go no matter how deep the pain, you will achieve a great state. You will break the ultimate habit: the constant draw of the lower self. You will then be free to explore the nature and source of your true being—Pure Consciousness says He seems to have been influenced by Upanishads and Gita. Please refer to Gita slokas: 

dhyayato vishayaanpumsaha sangasteshoopajaayate |
sangaatsanjaayate kaamaha kaamaatkrodhobhijaayate ||2- 62 || 

 

krodhaad bhavati sammohah sammohaat smritivibhramaha |
smritibhramshaad buddhinaasho buddhinaashaat pranashyati || 2-63 || 

 

When a man constantly thinks about objects, attachment or worry for those objects arises. From attachment is born desire, and from desire is born anger.  From anger comes delusion, from delusion comes loss of memory, from loss of memory comes destruction of intellect, and once the intellect is destroyed, he perishes. 

 

The attachment grows into constant worry and irritation. When irritation starts, peace of mind is disturbed and individual feels very frustrated and angry. He feels weaker and more insecure and also unable to judge the pros and cons of the consequences. He loses EQ managing power. The delusion of mind leads him to the confusion of the memory and loss of reasoning ability. These two verses unfold a rational survey, which penetrates into the basic psychological aspects' human nature.   

Yoga Therapy stands distinctly apart from other therapies in that it is based on the application of yoga philosophy through a holistic approach to individuals. Yoga therapy does not take the place of medical treatments. In fact, the yoga therapy approach provides tools that a student can use in concert with other approaches they are taking to treat their health conditions. Yoga therapists take into consideration the medical history of each student and any contraindications that may be a result of their unique history. 

In this way yoga therapy meets individuals where they are with the intention to reduce suffering. The yoga sutras tell us suffering is always based on Avidya or ignorance, which is a lack of awareness resulting in separation from our true Self or true nature. Ignorance, or this separation from our true Self, is the root of all other obstacles that limit us from feeling our true nature of peace and joy. Well-being can be experienced through moving away from Avidya to Vidya or clarity. The yoga therapist is trained to help guide students toward Vidya through self-awareness, self-discovery and self-realization. Through increasing self-observation skills students become more and more self-aware through which suffering is reduced, and the experience of joy and peace naturally increases. 

 

The physical asana practice can be used to reduce suffering in the body by bringing awareness to imbalances in the skeletal, muscular and other systems of the body. Pranayama, mudras, mantras and work with chakras can bring awareness to imbalances or blockages in the flow of energy through the body. Awareness of and healing of patterns of the mind and spirit are developed through meditative practices, affirmations and other tools of self-reflection.  

The five disturbances of Daur Manas (disturbed mind) mentioned by Sage Patanjali in Yoga Sutra (I.31) are pain, affliction, depression of mind, instability of body, irregular breathing. For overcoming the situation, Sage Patanjali recommends the practice of focusing on some object or thought (I.21) – single-minded focus on something we are passionate about. That could be your Ishta devata symbolized by OM!

 

 We all  benefit  from Yoga looking at Adiyogi and  Avatars that brought forth Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali and Raja Yoga or Vedantavijnana Sanyasyoga of Sankara--Kurmasana of Kurma Avatar that  brought  cosmic balance that we need for our inner balance; turning to Yoga Narasimha of  Narasimh Avatar that brought peace and love of God to Prahlada through Meditation; Celibacy and three steps of Yoga of Vamana;  Giving up ego, anger and WMD seeking peace in Meditation of Parasurama Avatar;  enliven his  frustrated  and barren life when S turning to Yoga-Vasishtha by Rama;   Legacy of Yoga in Bhagavad Gita preached to the world by Lord Krishna, practicing himself in early hours of the day every day,  amidst Nature, and  Detachment and Meditation of Buddha seated on Padmasana practicing Yoga in the company of Nature under a Medicinal Bodhi Tree! 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/06/international-yoga-day-and-legacy-of.html

--June 20, 2021

WORLD REFUGEE DAY, JUNE 20, 2021

 

Under international law, a refugee is someone who is forced to flee their home country to escape persecution or a serious threat to their life, physical integrity or freedom. This may be linked to their race, religion, nationality, political beliefs or membership of a social group. But also to situations of conflict, violence or public disorder. Refugees are protected by international law and cannot be sent back home if their life or freedom would be at risk. There are 26 million refugees across the world and over half of them are children. The total number of displaced people worldwide is 79.5 million. This includes not only refugees but also asylum-seekers and people displaced inside their own countries.

 An asylum-seeker is a person who is applying (or preparing to apply) for asylum in another country to seek international protection. A final determination of the protection need, however, has not yet been made for such persons. While not every asylum-seeker will ultimately be recognized as a refugee, an asylum-seeker may not be sent back to their country of origin pending a final determination

World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the globe. It falls each year on June 20 and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.

 

World Refugee Day shines a light on the rights, needs and dreams of refugees, helping to mobilize political will and resources so refugees can not only survive but also thrive. While it is important to protect and improve the lives of refugees every single day, international days like World Refugee Day help to focus global attention on the plight of those fleeing conflict or persecution. Many activities held on World Refugee Day create opportunities to support refugees.

 

World Refugee Day falls each year on June 20 and is dedicated to refugees around the globe. World Refugee Day was held globally for the first time on June 20, 2001, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. It was originally known as Africa Refugee Day, before the United Nations General Assembly officially designated it as an international day in December 2000.

 

Each year, World Refugee Day is marked by a variety of events in many countries around the globe in support of refugees. These activities are led by or involve refugees themselves, government officials, host communities, companies, celebrities, school children and the general public, among others. 

The shared experience of COVID-19 has showed us that we only succeed if we stand together. We have all had to do our part to keep each other safe and despite the challenges, refugees and displaced people have stepped up.

Given the chance, refugees will continue to contribute to a stronger, safer and more vibrant world. Therefore UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency's World Refugee Day campaign this year is calling for the greater inclusion of refugees in health systems, schools and sport. Only by working together can we recover from the pandemic.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres says: Only together can we end this pandemic and recover. Only together can we revive our economies. And then, together, we can all get back to the things we love. Together we heal, learn and shine. Perhaps Anhtonio Guterres is influenced by the Veda Matra: saghcchadvam samvadadvam samanamaaootih

This year’s U.N. World Refugee Day coincides with Father’s Day.To be a refugee means exiting one life and entering another. “You walk through a cut border fence into statelessness, vulnerability, dependency, and invisibility,” Nat Geo Explorer Paul Salopek once wrote.

Today is World Refugee Day Too! We all take refuge in our father! Lakshminarasimha started the concept of God-father providing refuge orphaned by his cruel most father for whom the kindest son sought refuge and got moksha! That should be the dedication of every son however bad a father may be! Father is an institution and God is our Father in Heaven whom we all need to join with our Shraddha! Happy Father's Day!

 

--June 20, 2021

 

COMMENTS:

 

Thank you!  . Very lucid explanation.

--A.S. Narayana

 

Ganga Dussehra 2021: Celebrating Ganga amidst Corona Crisis

Ganga Dussehra is celebrated by all believers of the Hindu faith in India and across the world. It is one of the most auspicious festivals and marks the descent of the sacred Mother Ganga to Earth, hence Goddess Ganga is worshipped during this period. This festival goes on for a period of 10 days and is also known as Gangavataran, it starts just a day before Nirjala Ekadashi, another important day for Lord Vishnu's devotees. 

 

According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Ganga descended to the Earth on Dashami in the month of Jyeshtha to free the souls of Bhagiratha's ancestors from a curse. 

 

On this day, devotees take holy dips into the river Ganga as it is believed that a dip in the the holy river washes away all past and present sins. People also believe that the water from the river has medicinal benefits and cures ailments. According to the Hindu calendar1, Ganga Dussehra is in the month of Jyeshtha, during the Shukla Paksha or the Full Moon fortnight. 

 

 This year on account of Covid-19 norms Ganga Dussehra celebrations will not be held, authorities said on Saturday. Hundreds of devotees participate every year in the festival that involves taking a holy dip in Ganga River. 

Covid-19: India's holiest river is swollen with bodies--How can we promote Hinduism as a Science Based Spiritual Religion? 

  

The discovery of the graves and rotting bodies, and the fear that they could be infected with the coronavirus, has sent shockwaves through the villages along the river's banks. Behind the story of the floating bodies lies traditional beliefs, poverty, and a pandemic killing people at lightning speed. Are we praying for Save Mother Ganges on Gunga Dusserah Day for sparing living humans?  

 

Originating in the Himalayas, the Ganges is one of the world's largest rivers. Hindus consider it sacred, they believe that bathing in Ganges will cleanse their sins and use its water for religious rituals. 

 

Hundreds of corpses have been found floating in the river or buried in the sand of its banks. Those who live close to where they have washed up, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, fear they are Covid-19 victims. 

 

India has been overwhelmed by a devastating second wave of the pandemic in recent weeks. It has recorded more than 25 million cases and 275,000 deaths, but experts say the real death toll is several times higher. 

 

The bodies on the river banks, taken together with funeral pyres burning round-the-clock and cremation grounds running out of space, tell the story of a death toll unseen and unacknowledged in official data.  

 

River beds dotted with graves 

The horror in Uttar Pradesh first came to light on 10 May when 71 corpses washed up on the river bank in Bihar's Chausa village, near the state border. Officials said some of the remains could be body parts which had found their way into the Ganges after routine cremations on the banks, but they suspected the corpses had been dumped in the river. The police installed a net across the water to catch any more.   In Kannauj, Kanpur, Unnao, and Prayagraj, the river bed is dotted with shallow graves. Videos sent to the BBC from the Mehndi ghat embankment in Kannauj show scores of human-sized mounds. Many look just like a bump in the river bed, but each one hides a body. At the nearby Mahadevi ghat, at least 50 bodies were found. 

 

A 'massive' discrepancy in the death toll 

Traditionally, Hindus cremate their dead. But many communities follow what is known as "Jal Pravah" - the practice of floating in the river the bodies of children, unwed girls, or those who die from infectious diseases or snake bites. 

Many poor people also cannot afford cremation, and so they wrap the body in white muslin and push it into the water. Sometimes, the bodies are tied to stones to ensure they remain submerged, but as many are floated without weights. In normal times, corpses floating in the Ganges are not an uncommon sight. 

 

What rare is that so many are turning up in such a short time, and in so many places along the river bank. A journalist in Kanpur told the BBC the corpses were evidence of a "massive discrepancy between the official Covid-19 death figures and the actual numbers on the ground". 

 

The discovery of the graves has triggered panic in the area. People fear that the bodies buried on the surface will begin to float in the river once it rains and the water levels rise. Last Wednesday, the state government banned "Jal Pravah" and offered funds to poor families unable to afford cremations. In many places, police have been pulling corpses out of the river with sticks and recruiting boatmen to bring them ashore. There, the decomposed bodies are either buried in pits or burnt on funeral pyres.  Vipin Tada, the superintendent of police in Ballia, said they were talking to village council leaders to make them aware that bodies should not be floated in the rivers and that those who could not afford a cremation could seek financial help. 

 

Ghazipur District Magistrate Mangala Prasad Singh told the BBC that teams were patrolling embankments and cremation grounds to stop people from dumping bodies in water or burying them. But his team is still finding one or two bodies in the river every day. "We have been performing their final rites, as per rituals," he said. 

 

Let us focus on wisdom of Vedas and not on myths and beliefs of Puranas that can punish us for our ignorance, when wrongly understood. We have killed the original scientific potency of Ganges water due to our own act of pollution and negligence of ECO balance!

 

--June 19, 2021

 

 

FATHER'S DAY, GAYATRI JAYANTI, PAPAHARA DASMI & SUMMER SOLSTICE DAY, JUNE 20, 2021

 

FOURFOLD CELEBRATIONS OF COSMIC FATHER SUN, EARTHLY FATHER, MOTHER GANGES & MOTHER OF KNOWLEDGE GAYATRI ON JUNE 20, 2021

 

Teja-oja-yaso-balam balam- Radiance of Sun, Brilliance of Gayatri, Fame of Father we need in life to guide us, Mother Ganges who washes away our sins, these are being prayed for and celebrated on this Memorable Day of June 2020. “Gāyantaṃ trāyate iti Gayatri” -- Because it protects the one who recites it, it is called Gayatri.

 

The summer solstice 2021 will take place on Sunday 20, 2021 in USA. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year and takes place between 20 June and 22 June annually depending on where you are located in the Northern Hemisphere. While those in the northern hemisphere have been enjoying lighter evenings for some time now, this important date officially marks the beginning of the astronomical summer. The summer solstice occurs when one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. Following the summer solstice, the days will gradually begin to grow shorter until the autumn equinox, signaling the end of summer, takes place on 22 September 2021.

 

At 12:38 p.m. Eastern Time on this day (1638 GMT), the sun reaches the point where it appears to shine farthest to the north of the equator, over the Tropic of Cancer, thus marking the summer solstice. The height of the midday sun has been getting progressively higher since Dec. 21 (the winter solstice), as its direct rays have been gradually migrating to the north.

 

The sun's height above the horizon at noontime is 47 degrees higher now, compared to six months ago. (As always, your clenched fist held at arm's length covers about 10 degrees of the sky. At midday, the sun will now appear nearly "five fists" higher in the southern sky as compared to Dec. 21st.)

 

A "solstice" is a staying of the sun's apparent motion over the latitudes of the Earth. In the summer solstice, the sun stops its northward motion and begins heading south. During the winter solstice, the sun does the opposite, turning north. In the Southern Hemisphere, today marks the start of winter.

 

On this day in Lewiston, Maine, for instance, as the sun crosses the meridian at 12:42 p.m. EDT, it will attain its highest point in the sky for this entire year, standing 70 degrees above the southern horizon. Since the sun will appear to describe such a high arc across the sky, the duration of daylight is now at its most extreme, lasting 15 hours and 29 minutes for Lewiston.

 

Daylight lasts longer at more northerly latitudes; less at more southerly latitudes. North of the Arctic Circle, for instance, the sun now remains above the horizon 24/7 (providing the so-called "midnight sun" effect). On the other hand, at the equator days and nights are equal, lasting 12 hours (a circumstance there that lasts all year long).

 

Surprisingly, the earliest sunrise and latest sunset do not coincide with the summer solstice. In fact, at mid-northern latitudes, the earliest sunrise actually happened on June 14, while the latest sunset won't occur until June 27.

Legends have it that Gods go to sleep during the Dakshinayana period. (Hindu Summer Solstice Day) As the sun enters Karka rashi during Dakshinayana, therefore it is popularly also known by the name of Karkataka Sankranti. Dakshinayana generally lasts for six months starting June 21st and lasts till the month of January. It ends during Makar Sankranti when the Uttarayana phase begins. In 2021, Karka Sankranti will begin on 16th July. Please go through my discourse on Dakshinayana andAadi Festivals of Tamils:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/.../dakshinaayana-and-aadi...

 

The summer solstice has a deep spiritual meaning for many in Western Culture too. For those who live in the Northern Hemisphere, it is at this moment in June that astrologers believe the Sun will be at its most powerful. As the longest day of the year, the summer solstice represents new beginnings as summer officially begins. Signaling the start of a brand-new season, the summer solstice is viewed as a time of abundance. Many choose to celebrate the Sun, as this moment could be seen as the ultimate triumph of light over dark. While the summer solstice has its roots in nature, it’s also a time of inner reflection and revitalization, as it's said you can also obtain enlightenment at this time.

 

It is unfortunate that the most religious and spiritual focused Hindus do not celebrate this astronomically sacred Summer Solstice Day guided by false astrologers and religious pundits that we discussed at length but rush to temples to celebrate Father’s Day inspired by the Western culture, that conduct Mass Congregation in Churches praying to Heavenly Father to look after the well-being of their earthly father!

 

In 2021, Father’s Day will be celebrated on third Sunday, June 20. This happens to be the same day as the summer solstice (June 20 at 11:32 P.M. Eastern Time), which makes it the perfect time to kick-off the summer season with a father-focused worshipful and celebration day. On this day, we a thank fathers and father figures for the sacrifices they make, whole heartedly taking the responsibility of raising children as worthy citizens in the family. We have talked about this important day a lot in the past years. Please go through my past discourses:

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/.../hindu-american-way-of...

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/.../philosophically-thinking...

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/.../hindu-american-religious...

 

This year gives Hindu American’s a rare opportunity to make it a unique Special Religious Events Day paying obeisance to Sun God also, who is celebrated as visible Brahman praised as Vidhartara (Spiritual Father), creator of the Universe who sustains the creation many ways and witnesses our thought and deeds, while celebrating Father’s Day worshiping Siva and Paravati (jagatah pitarah), and benevolent Lakshmi Narasimha who took the responsibility of parenting Prahlada after killing his cruel father who tortured his son all through his life. If you are celebrating your Dad’s Day this year do not forget to pay your obeisance to Sun God--Adityo vai svayambhubrahma, teja ojo balam (MNU) Sun is the self-born Brahma, verily energy, splendor and strength. This ojas is referred Brahmatejas in Ramayana, digbalam kshatriya balam Brahmatejo balam balam--this ojas power is far superior to muscle strength. Aadityo vai teja ojo balam--Sun alone is the energy, splendor and strength. Some celebrate Gayatri Jayanti on Jyeshtha sravana ekadasi too?

 

It is believed by some that Goddess Gayatri made her appearance on the 10th day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) of Jyeshta month. Gayatri Jayanti day is observed by special prayers and pujas to Gayatri Mata invoking her in three forms as Ved Mata, Dev Mata and Vishwa Mata popularly after Upakarma Day in the month of Sravana but by some in Jyeshtha Sukla Dasami (June 20)or Ekadashi on Monday.

 

Gayatri is the mother of the Vedas (Gayatri Chandhasam matha) Gayatri, however, has three names: Gayatri, Savitri, and Saraswathi. These three are present in everyone. Gayatri represents the senses; it is the master of the senses. Savitri is the master of Prana (Life Force). Many Indians are familiar with the story of Savitri, who brought back to life her dead husband, Sathyavan. Savitri derived from savitar signifies Truth. Saraswathi is the presiding deity of speech (vaak). The three represent purity in thought, word, and deed (thrikarana shuddhi). Although Gayatri has three names, all three are in each of us as the senses (Gayatri), the power of speech (Saraswathi), and the life force (Savitri)--Satya Sai Baba.

 

Anyhow this day June 20, gives unique opportunity celebrating triple celebrations, tripling the divine wisdom in the Plava Samvatsara of Wisdom and Knowledge! BETTER INDEED IS KNOWLEDGE THAN PRACTICE; THAN KNOWLEDGE MEDITATION IS BETTER; THAN MEDITATION THE RENUNCIATION OF THE FRUITS OF ACTIONS: PEACE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWS RENUNCIATION--GITA. I wonder how AUPA e-Newsletter and North American Panchangam missed this most important four-fold benefit Day of June 20 and our Hindu American Temples just rush to temples to celebrate Father’s Day mostly?

 

A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows. The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world’s joy. Happy solstice (Spiritual Father's) day!

A father is neither an anchor to hold us back nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way. Happy Father’s day to all of you!

--June 19, 2021

 

 

  

HUA is inviting us to benefit by their Webinar presentation and discussions on   "Jivanmukti - Freedom from Karma" on June 19th at 9 AM PDT / Noon EDT 

  

Jivanmukta is one who is inwardly free while living in this world. The Jivanmukta has dissolved his limited ego in infinite consciousness and no longer accrues new karma. The Jivanmukta nevertheless still has karma from past incarnations to dissipate. Although untouched by that karma, he must review the lifetimes of karmic involvement and realize them as dreams.   The karma exists of memories of ego-consciousness in the subconscious, and it is released into cosmic consciousness through meditation.  The Jivanmukta may even work out karma from an entire lifetime in one meditation, or reincarnate in multiple bodies to work out karma more quickly. Yogananda said that the Jivanmukta does not actually need to work out past karma, but does so as an excuse to help others attain liberation or without care because he is eternally free. 

We come across today Jivita-mukta urban monks who have not retired to forests in seclusion, but living amidst us diagnosing our spiritual deficiencies and prescribe appropriate yoga therapy to lead a meaningful life, while themselves practicing Sanyasayoga.  A   modern Monk takes my thoughts to Oliver Goldsmith: As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form, Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm, Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread, Eternal sunshine settles on its head

 

Gist of Presentation: What is the relationship between the Jivanmukta, i.e., the liberated person and Karma? In the liberating vision of Advaita Vedanta we don't need to go to a special place (read - svarga) or have a special experience (read - samadhi) to be free while living. What is this vision, and how does it put an end to all limitation and inadequacy, once and for all? This webinar will delve into these questions such that you will get the vision of the Rishis and also a roadmap of how to be free by Swamini Prajnyananda Saraswati.

--June 18, 2021

Comments:

Excellent presentation! I think the present day leaders around the world suffer from these five defects. Lots of ego, seekers of pleasure, ignorant, intolerant of obstructors. Whether Putin, Jin Ping, or that North Korean leader, Trump... long list! Most Govts are transactional….they see first: what is in it for me?

--A. S. Narayana

 

 

Develop a Can-Do Attitude with JAYA ROW

The weekly podcast is presented by Jaya Row, expert on Indian scriptures. She examines aspects of our modern lives through learnings from ancient scriptures in an attempt to provide answers to our most contemporary dilemmas.
Chapter 7 of Bhagavad gita Contains strong messages appropriate to  the present period of pandemic living with anxiety  and dilemma of the future even when we are successful temporarily killing Coronasura.

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/metrolife/metrolife-lifestyle/five-podcasts-for-your-mental-well-being-909432.html

Jaya Row begins series of lectures on Gita on June 19.  Please be benefitted by active participation;

Gist of her presentation:

Bhagavad Gita - Chapter VII 

INTRODUCTION 

Krishna, after six chapters of inspired oration, realizes that Arjuna has still not understood what He has been teaching. While Arjuna has the requisite knowledge, he is unable to act because he has not absorbed its wisdom. To stimulate Arjuna's thinking, Krishna now presents the knowledge from a fresh perspective. Beginning with an analysis of the world, Krishna details how Brahman permeates the universe. He emphasizes the importance of choosing the eternal Spirit over the ephemeral world. He describes the four types of spiritual seekers in the world and concludes the chapter by saying only the wise who seek Brahman finds the lasting happiness of Enlightenment. 

 

ESSENCE OF CHAPTER VII OF BHAHAVAD GITA

 

In the first six chapters Krishna has given all the knowledge required for a person to lift off from the material realm to heights of Perfection. Arjuna, however, remains unmoved. He has not assimilated the knowledge. He needs to ponder over it to transform it to wisdom. This is the case with us all. There is a huge gap between knowing and doing. Like Arjuna we speak words of wisdom. But we are unable to use the knowledge to overcome the challenges of life and emerge victorious. This is because we have not followed through the three phases of sravana, manana and nidhidhyasana. Sravana is listening or reading, the intake of knowledge. Having listened, we need to reflect and mull over it, contemplate on it, look at it from different angles. Only then will the knowledge get integrated into our system. This is called manana. When the knowledge is internalized we begin to live it. Nidhidhyasana is meditation which leads to Realization, the last step to gaining knowledge of Self.

Krishna bridges the knowing-doing gap in Chapter VII by enforced reflection. He presents the knowledge from a fresh perspective and ignites original thinking. He promises knowledge as well as wisdom by which we can attain the Highest. He infuses devotion which helps convert theory to practice.

Krishna begins with an analysis of the world and shows how Brahman permeates the universe. As humans we have the choice of staying with the world or penetrating through to the Spirit. Pursue limited, myopic goals or rise above the obvious and seek the Eternal. The choice is ours. Krishna supports us in our chosen path and ensures we obtain what we strive for. All paths eventually lead to Him. In the end everyone seeks happiness, infinite bliss. Some look for it in the world, some through different religious practices. Krishna respects all paths. In this lies the open-mindedness of the Indian tradition. Not only do we respect all faiths but we accept even agnostics and atheists in our fold. 

 

The onus is on us to figure out the quickest and most effective path to the goal of total Fulfilment. The ignorant, unaware of the higher, seek and obtain finite ends. A few people visualize that which transcends the material plane and worship God. They belong to four categories. Some turn to God only to enhance their wealth. They believe that supplication to God will bestow riches on them. The distressed, who meet with tragic circumstances and are agitated, seek solace. Others are curious and look for answers to questions. But the Jnanis, the wise, excel. They see the futility of worldly pursuits and abide in the Transcendental. They are not carried away by the glitter of transitory joys. They seek permanent happiness. They reach Enlightenment.
in this context please recall my elaborate explanation of MNU  mantra “Vedantavijnaana sunischitarthah  suddhasattva yatayah sanyaasayogaat parantakale paramuchyanti sarve” that modern monks suitably adopt to live in peace  and not with despair and anxiety. Sanyasayoga is the popular Rajayoga.  

 

Brahman is hidden, un-manifest, shrouded by Maya illusion. We see the manifestations and get carried away by them. The deluded world does not know Me - the Unborn, the Imperishable - says Krishna. But the virtuous who have freed themselves from the delusion of the pairs of opposites worship Me with determination. 

 

Shri Krishna elaborated upon the technique of meditation. But one question was left unanswered. What or whom do we meditate upon? Shri Krishna answers that question in this chapter. He urges us to meditate upon him and begins speaking to us as Ishvara.  

 

Before he describes what Ishwara really is, he assures us that we shall know him completely through knowledge combined with wisdom. Just academic knowledge about Ishvara is not sufficient. He adds that those who seek wisdom, which is the vision of Ishvara in his essence, are rare. 

 

Shri Krishna says that there are 2 aspects of Ishvara, the lower and the higher. The lower nature comprises the five elements plus the mind, ego and intellect. The higher nature comprises the life-giving force which is also the experiencer, the subject. Ishvara is the ultimate cause of the universe. As the origin and cause of the universe he pervades all things like a string pervades beads in a necklace. To illustrate, he gives examples of his manifestations or vibhootis - he is the fragrance in earth and brightness in fire and so on. 

 

So then, what is it that veils Ishvara from us, prevents us from accessing Ishvara? It is his maaya, which is nothing but the three gunaas - sattva, rajas and tamas. Sattva represents harmony, rajas represents action and tamas represents inertia. These three forces or energies create the entire universe. Only by surrendering to Ishvara can we cross over this maaya, and only a certain kind of person is fit to do so. 

 

According to Shri Krishna, there are two categories of people - those who perform evil actions and those who perform good actions. The performers of good actions who turn to something that is higher than them are called devotees. Those devotees are further divided into 4 types: the distressed, the inquisitive, the seeker of liberation and the wise. The wise devotee is the dearest to Ishvara because he seeks Ishvara as his own self, seeking nothing else. 

 

But unlike the wise devotee, the other three types of devotees seek Ishvara for something finite. Ishvara is not against this because at the very least it strengthens their faith and weakens their ego, so that one day they can aim for the real deal - realization of the infinite Ishvara, not a deity that can only provide finite ends. Till that happens, Ishvara delivers the results through those finite deities.  

 

Ishvara's true nature is beyond maaya, which means he is beyond the three gunaas, beyond our mind and senses, unborn and unchanging. He is beyond space and time. But ever since the beginning of creation, most of us bound by maaya are under the sway of space, time and the three gunaas. 

 

The conclusion is clear. Only those who aspire to realize Ishvara in his true infinite nature, and are ready to do so every moment of their life, will attain Ishvara. Karma yoga purifies our mind to prepare us for this task. But we need to learn the means by which we can gradually train ourselves to go beyond the finite notion of Ishvara.    

 

 Often, we tell ourselves that we cannot accomplish a certain task.

It's time to turn our negative beliefs into positive actions.

Watch this short clip by Jaya Row to learn how! 

 

 

 

--June 17, 2021

 

 

 

Musical Discourse - “Bharata – The Land of Bhakti”

 

Pratibha Sundaresan has arranged a   lecture on   Music for Moksha    focused on Bhakti Marga about which I talked on Tyagaraja Celebration Day last year, besides several side material benefits. The most appropriate and vital importance is Music Therapy we currently need, even after being vaccinated for protection. A recent report says   Music helped most of us get through the Pandemic. Music is also helpful in Annam bahukurveeta--Grow More Healthy Food campaign! Who knows the limit of Wisdom of Hinduism for our Wellbeing?  Have you heard of Dance Therapy? Someone may arrange that too highlighting its threptic values. Hope the learned speaker will also touch on some these proven side effects in the introductory discourse 

 

Dance/movement therapy (DMT) is defined by the American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) as the psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual, for the purpose of improving health and well-being. 

 

 It is a holistic approach to healing, based on the empirically supported assertion that mind, body, and spirit are inseparable and interconnected; changes in the body reflect changes in the mind and vice versa. DMT as an embodied, movement-based approach is often difficult to describe, as it is necessary to actively engage in the process to get a true sense of what it is.  I am not aware of any such studies on the effect    Indian Classical Dances! 

 

Dance provides an active, non-competitive form of exercise that has potential positive effects for physical health as well as mental and emotional wellbeing. Dance therapy is based on the idea that body and mind are co-relational. The therapeutic approaches with various forms of Indian dances are a new entrant to dance literature. Ayurveda held dance as a power of healing (therapy) and inner awareness (psychology). Indian philosophy also supports the facts of Sangeet (song, dance and music) for benefit of human health physically as well as mentally. The powerful dance form of Bhangra (Punjab), Karagam (Tamil Nadu), Chou, Rayabese, Dhali (West Bengal) gives good health and strength. The fast footwork of Kathak dance helps to release anger and tension. Manipuri dancers make rounded movements and avoid any jerks, sharp edges or straight lines. It gives them undulating and soft appearance, proper body control and peace of mind. All these body movements, body balancing, expression, muscle movement, muscle constriction and relaxation have a strong effect on therapeutic movements. In India today the dance therapists are conscious about this matter and in therapeutic sessions they actually improvise different dance movements according to the need. 

 

Healing Saint Kabir gives to those who are engaged in fights and killing in the name of religion, the   essence of all the scriptures in simple sakhis, which are couplets with musical rhythm. His sakhis are so important that they are accepted as supreme testimony for profound spiritual truth.   We need his sakhis and dohas that have the power as healing therapy. His Jayanti is   celebrated on June 24. 

 

The uses and benefits of Music Therapy have been researched for decades. Key findings from clinical studies have shown that music therapy may be helpful for people with depression and anxiety, sleep disorders, and even cancer. Studies have shown that music therapy can be an effective component of depression treatment. According to the research cited, the use of music therapy was most beneficial to people with depression when it was combined with the usual treatments (such as antidepressants and psycho-therapy). When used in combination with other forms of treatment, music therapy may also help reduce obsessive thoughts, depression, and anxiety in people with OCD. 

 

In 2016, researchers conducted a feasibility study that explored how music therapy could be combined with CBT to treat depression. While additional research is needed, the initial results were promising. The concept of a mantra began in the Indian Vedic tradition, then became a part of the Hindu religion. While not explicitly mandated, mantras have also become a part of the culture and custom of Buddhism, Jainism, and other Eastern traditions. The syllable “om” is probably the most well-known mantra, and has made its way into some yoga classes.  Mantras chanted with intonations can have a soothing effect on the mind even among people who are not religious. The utterance of mantras often focuses on calming the mind, controlling the breathing, and eliminating unhealthy or unkind thoughts. Some mental health professionals encourage their clients to meditate or do yoga as a way to control stress, and some may encourage clients to utter mantras as mechanism to calm their minds.. 

 

 A team at the University of West Virginia interested in examining the effects of mantra on cognitive impairment found that engaging in a mantra known as Kriya Kirtan for 12 minutes a day for 12 weeks altered plasma blood levels involved in cellular aging, which were associated with improvements in cognitive function, sleep, mood, and quality of life. 

 

Another team at the University of Pennsylvania, which studied the effects of mantra on patients with memory loss, found that after eight weeks the brain scans of participants showed significant increased cerebral blood flow in several areas. Most importantly, their performance on neuropsychological testing showed improved visuospatial memory, increased connectivity, and improved verbal memory. The Alzheimer Prevention Foundation recommends the Kriya Kirtan meditation on its website. 

 

Mantra is essentially the rhythmic repetition of words, phrases, or syllables. Because it occupies your mind to chant or sing the sounds, it stops your normal train of thought and clears your mind. 

 

Some forms of mantra meditation will also include finger-tapping to engage more of your senses. In the case of Kirtan chants, music enhances the rhythmic pattern and creates a deeper meditative experience. It can be done alone or in a group using a call-and-response pattern. Traditional mantras are often based on Sanskrit; some Kirtan chants have roots in Hinduism. 

 

How is mantra meditation affecting the brain? This is still under investigation by neuroscientists such as Andrew Newberg at Penn. A recent review article examining the research on this subject suggests that mantra meditation activates areas of the brain such as the thalamus, which is related to sensory perception, and the hippocampus, which is related to memory function, and that it can help synchronize networks in the prefrontal cortex which improves cognitive performance. 

 

Of course our Kriya Yogis have their own theory too as to its effect on Chakras and Kundalini Power that I talked about in the past! 

 

 MESSAGE FROM PRATHIBHA SUNDARESAN

 

Please find the details of the upcoming event organized by Ganesha Temple Cultural Committee on Saturday June 26^th , 2021 at 6pm CT on YouTube.

 

A musical discourse by Kalaimamani Dr. Ambika Kameshwar as she travels through India in a circumambulation exploring the devotion and surrender of great saints through their compositions, showcasing the true spirit of Bhakti that governs our mother land, Bharata.

 

--June 17, 2021

 

 

Hindu-Jain participation in the Parliament of the World's Religions is Oct21

We can always see light at the end of the dark tunnel. Wisdom comes when we confront our egos and wisdom comes when we can surround ourselves with people who have spiritual depth and compassion and love. If we are unable to do this, the secular culture of ours will eat us alive, keep restless and lonely and leave us devoid of spiritual meaning and fulfillment. For this we have to look back how we were once strong in our culture and spread the message round the globe that had impact on all faiths and beliefs.  We need to focus on Universal Oneness, fusion not fission, and understand that Truth is One and Common for All. The world is One family—Vasudeka Kutumbakam.  Esoteric Sanat Kumara Tradition that came out of Hinduism had a very strong influence on people for some time. 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. Swami Vivekananda was a perfect blend of Social and Spiritual Excellence. By following his speach delivered at world Forum of Religions and his teachings, we also can strive to inculcate these concepts in our life and attain both these aspects of Human Excellence. 

 

Hindu reflections has been focused on these thoughts in the past. I would like to bring specifically following discourses though more are detailed in the discourse “We have a Lesson to Learn from Past Esoteric Traditions”   

 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/01/let-us-foster-message-of-peace.html 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2019/02/interfaith-fusion-of-faiths-to-live-in.html 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2020/11/we-have-lesson-to-learn-from-past.html 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2020/09/need-for-eternal-dharma-based-hinduism.html 

While appreciating this joint approach from two most Dharma Focused Religions, I have pleasure in forwarding this messge further,  sent through courtesy Sant Guptaji who is no stranger to you, a philanthropist with Vedanta Vision for your timely awakening and action--uttishthata, Jagrata, charaiveti charaiveti!

 

Message from Mihir Meghani off HAF:

Namaste all, the 2021 Parliament of the World's Religions will be from Oct 17-18 virtually - https://parliamentofreligions.org. Girish Shah, Mat McDermott and I are actively brainstorming ideas, along with others in interfaith. This email is to get you all thinking about 1) registering yourself, 2) thinking about presentations/panels you want to put together. Note upcoming deadlines. I think it will be good to have many people from dharmic traditions create unique distinct panels/programs and we can hope several will be accepted. We can share ideas with each other and perhaps suggest people from other spiritual and religious traditions who could be good fits on panels you think about. I will set a call for us all in the near future on this topic. Also, if you feel it is helpful, I can create a google document where we can all put out ideas in.

 

 --June 13, 2021

 

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Webinar-201 THE CHALLENGE OF COVID-19--How Students of Upanishads may face the Pandemic

I have been romancing with Corona Pandemic not being affected and then vaccinated and sending E-mails on Strength of our   Spirituality backed by Scripture and Science that has also attracted the attention HH Swami Chidananda, appropriate to the present pandemic struggle and the Strength required in the future to develop immunity to avoid such shocks in life.  No doubt, I draw strength from Swamiji’s many messages and from the wisdom “poovodu sernda naarum manam perum” - a thread that associates itself with the flowers tied in the garland benefits from their smell! Spiritual approach to the subject is usually dismissed as myth and philosophy normally, but in recent times it has influenced many healthcare champions to draw Strength from Spiritualty and Scriptures that I have also touched here! Swami Vivekananda has combined Indian Spirituality with Western material Strength, maintaining that the two supplemented and complemented one another. It is no surprise Swamiji is attracted to him whose death anniversary will be on July 4 that calls for paying our homage to this emerging Father of Viswa Hindus and Champion of Hindu Dharma.  

 

The world is passing through a calamitous situation with the ongoing pandemic of Covid-19 striking the global population in multiple waves since its onset in December 2019. The pandemic has severely challenged the administrative machineries of the governments and the prevailing healthcare system.  

 

Pandemics in olden times were regarded as the curses of gods that created even deities like Seetal devi and Mariamman. The ancient theory of the curse of gods that created fear and awe prompts us to take holistic, scientific-and spiritualistic look at the phenomenon. 

 

Our primordial scriptures say that pandemics are the fallout of adharma i.e. violation of the tenets of righteousness by humans. This view is further corroborated by the ancient treatises on medicine authored by Sage Charaka who was the greatest exponent of Ayurveda, the science of healthy living. 
Righteousness is dharma—the 10 principles of human living that promote peace, progress and prosperity in the world. These are—patience, forgiveness, mind control, regulation of the senses, cleanliness, honesty, application of intellect, true knowledge, abjuring anger and truthfulness. Vedas say: 

 

  annamaya-praanamaya-manomaya-vijnanamaya-aanada mayam atma 

 

Fivefold self is comprised by the sheaths of food, breaths, mind, intellect and bliss that calls our equal focus on all the four to maintain inner balance. Good Lord is the custodian of cosmic balance.   We are obligated not to disturb this   cosmic balance while enjoying the benefits of Nature focused on ECO balance.  

 

It is not difficult to see how many of the above tenets of dharma and to what extent are being violated by the present generation of global humans. But the most significant violation in the current context is lack of true knowledge and its application. We are predominantly reductionist in our approach to various things in all walks of life. Modern systems of healthcare regard the human body as a conglomerate of various physical organs carrying out their specific tasks and human physiology as a play of various chemicals in the body internals. We do not take a holistic view of the body—a view that takes into account human mind, intellect, ego self, the soul and the super-soul, God. Our view also fails to consider the interconnectedness of all sentient beings in the infinite spiritual medium which is God. We are working with half knowledge, and half knowledge is dangerous. 

 

We have a largely mechanistic outlook towards dealing with Nature. We think that we are entities outside of the inert Nature and the latter can be milked at will. We have defiled our environmental elements—polluted the air with harmful gaseous effluents, soil with chemical pesticides and fertilizers as also plastic waste, water with hazardous waste of factories and ether by microwave radiation. We have thus polluted the ‘Panchabhutas’, meaning all the five primal elements of nature—air, earth, water, fire and ether. This is the result of using wrong, environment-unfriendly technologies which are not in line with true knowledge. Our medical technologies and systems are also largely misaligned with true knowledge enshrined in Ayurveda. We are paying a huge price for all this.  

 

The pandemic is a stern reminder to the current crop of humans to revisit and refine its understanding of material nature based on the eternal wisdom of the Vedas. We need to shed our intellectual arrogance and bring about suitable changes in our living paradigms to align them with eternal true knowledge.  

 

We need to adopt a holistic approach in dealing with Mother Nature in which all sentient beings are regarded as intimately linked in both material and spiritual terms with their creator God controlling and regulating them real time. We will then be working in line with true knowledge handed down to us by the omniscient creator. Only there lies a lasting solution to the present set of catastrophic problems confronting us. 

 

Vedas say   the Self enters the womb and emerges with its full compliments. “annena praanaah pranair balam balena medhaa medhayaa maneesha maneesha manah manasaa santih” By food,  vital forces of life (Breaths) from vital forces mind, from mind senses control, from senses control calmness emerges. It is this calmness we seek after pandemic and rehabilitation. We need to strengthen all these to develop immunity.  

 

In some ways, Covid-19 has radically altered the world as we know it. Mundane tasks like getting a haircut now seem like distant dreams to a huge portion of the world. Simultaneously, the global economy is in crisis and families are struggling to make ends meet. Yet, amid this chaos and uncertainty, some things remain unchanged: populations most vulnerable to illness before the pandemic remain incredibly vulnerable. 

 

People with mental health challenges are less likely to receive adequate healthcare. Women are disproportionately affected by depression and anxiety.   

Indeed, as governments and health agencies navigate recovery, it is vital that they attend not just to the effects of COVID proper, but to lingering health issues that left some populations particularly vulnerable to the virus.  It is Important to remember that individuals with diabetes and heart disease constitute “at-risk” populations. Given as much, recovery must include strategies to reduce the prevalence of these conditions—efforts that will save countless lives in or out of a pandemic. A holistic approach should involve, for example, the empathetic encouragement of physical activity and romancing with Nature for families emerging from months of lockdown. With time, more complex behavioral changes, including smoking cessation, can also become part of the recovery process. For many people, the pandemic has awakened a profound appreciation of the value of personal wellbeing.  A healthy society will be better equipped to endure a potential resurgence of Covid-19—and any other novel health crisis that may emerge. 

 

Mind-body empowerment is our ultimate source of energy and protection; there is much to do beyond washing hands and disinfecting surfaces.  Our immune system is a mind-body entity, and we learn and practice respect for it not out of a fear-based need to avoid illness, but rather out of appreciation, gratitude, and love for being alive as human. 

  

Our breathing practice, as a way to settle the mind, is a source of power throughout the day. Life is often stressful, yet here we have a great opportunity through simple practice. At various intervals amidst the day of activity, find a quiet place, sit and take at least 10 minutes for deep, slow breathing. Perhaps before each meal? The important aspect is to do it on a regular schedule, to make it a ritual, and to use it as a show of our power to protect our composure from the frenzy of the world. 

 

Our relationship with gravity is essential to life; walking and stretching are valuable. To derive even more out of stretching and movement, we might attend classes of tai chi, Qi gong, yoga or Pilates. Any of these activities are best approached in a way that is gentle and enjoyable, not one that pushes us to our limits of exhaustion. 

  

Energy is the bottom line with dietary considerations. Select foods that help rather than hinder the immune system, but also respect the energy level at the time of eating. Eating too large of a meal or eating when tired will overburden the digestion and weaken the system. 

  

Returning to our orientation to living, it is even more powerful to pair our attitude of honoring life with actually expressing it in words. So as we are joyfully doing things that demonstrate our love of life, we may also take full advantage of all our relationships. All the people we encounter, whether we find them supportive or challenging, are parts of our life. There is a difference between respect and approval. To support our immune system, we address all the players that make up our world with respect. It is the entirety of our world that we are respecting, even when we see parts of it ripe for change. 

‘‘tyagenaike amritmamaanasuh…bibhrajate yadyatayo visanti” (MNU) Immunity that our hermits have obtained can plant the strength brilliantly in our heart by following Sanyasayoga.  

 

For further explanation and additional information go through my recent discourse posted on the Blog: 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2021/06/vedanta-vision-of-body-mind-intellect.html 

 

Gist of the Presentation: “Strength, strength and strength is the message of the Upanishads,” said Swāmi Vivekānanda. “When you have Self-knowledge, even death becomes insignificant like a side dish,” says¹ Lord Yama, who adds², “It is not prāna or apāna that keeps you alive; there is another factor upon which the two depend.” We may add, “It is not vaccine or medicine that can save you. You need soul-power to keep going.”

 

This webinar will especially highlight certain spiritual perspectives, which in turn promote healthy attitudes and intelligent outlooks, whereby we can do right things at the right time without yielding to fear, anxiety or stress. Mature understanding and right emotional preparedness follow Self-knowledge (ātma-jnāna). Then there is a holistic outlook towards the pandemic.

 

/ mrityur-yasya upasechanam / Kathopanishad 1.2.25

 

/ na prānena, na apānena, martyo jeevati kaschana / Kathopanishad 2.2.5

--June 12, 2021

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RAISING CHILDREN AS GOOD HINDUS FOCUSED ON DHARMA & VALUES 

"Teaching our religious practices, beliefs and culture to our kids is to keep the bond between us, them and our ancestors. I want them to feel a connection and continuity in their growth/evolution as individuals in pursuit of the truth/perfection in their conduct.  

Temple is trying to provide an unmet need to give them a religious identity and meaningful principles and practices comparable to other faith communities I believe it is important for parents to empower themselves by validation by higher authority reinforced by the faith community to do good.  

Fortunately, advanced scholars will automatically seek the truth, and will not stop till they find it regardless of whatever false indoctrination they grow up with. I want to put people on their pursuit to rise above apparent limitations to greater potential. I am trying to practice this mission in everyday life left.” writes Dr.  Vedavyas commenting on my recent E-mail on Learning Quantum Physics and living with WWW, who is the father of our Sri Ganesha Temple and Sunday School in Nashville.

 

In this context an article by Satguru Bodhinatha  Veylanswami "Raising Children as Good Hindu" as attached, presents a survey of character building designed to augment any Hindu tradition or denomination. The key is this: start teaching early and don’t stop until your children leave the home. Even if you did nothing more than what is outlined here, that would be enough to send them on their way as good Hindus, well equipped to live as happy, effective citizens of the modern world. I am sure this would help a lot our Baal Vihaar Sunday School at Sri Ganesha Temple, Nashville and similar institutions, while serving as a practical manual to all concerned Hindu American Parents. In this context go through my discourse http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/01/sanatana-dharma-is-for-humanity-not-for.html 

 

Raising Children as Good Hindus  

Many Hindu families visiting our Hawaii monastery, particularly those with young children, ask if I have any advice for them. I usually respond with one or two strategic suggestions. I always stress the importance of presenting Hinduism to their children in a practical way so that it influences each child’s life for the better. Hindu practices should, for example, help children get better grades in school and get along well with others. Of course, there is not enough time in a short session to present all the many guidelines that a parent would find useful. Therefore, I decided to write up a full complement of suggestions to be handed to Hindu families in the future who want to know ways to present Hinduism to their kids. You hold the results in your hands: a parent’s guidebook of minimum teachings to convey to children. It is based on the teachings of my Sat guru, Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, founder of HINDUISM TODAY, distilled from insights he gained from over 40 years of closely working with hundreds of families in a score of nations. 

--Swami Bodhinatha Velaswamy, Hinduism Today, April 1, 2021  

 

Please go through the Table of contents in his  text for all the topics described in detail so vital to all those interested in raising children with Hindu Dharma Values and Hindu Cultures living in Peace with other cultures and faiths, but not in Pieces as unwelcomed migrants. 

HUA, has become very active in recent times, concerned with Hindu American parents raising their children amidst multi -cultures, focused on Hindu Dharma values. Here is its Summer Program focused on Hindu Karma of Life: 

“What a person thinks, does he or she become.” To facilitate a deeper understanding of this important principle/philosophy of life starting at a young age, Hindu University of America brings three courses that can be taken by children (10 years and above) as well. These courses will enable young, impressionable minds to use the age-old wisdom of the Indic Knowledge System to remain calm and focused in the eye of the storm called life. 

 

 Gita Vidya Sadhana: This course by Shri Gopi V. Prasad in a 6-week period will help students integrate the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita in their lives through focused chanting and meaning of 140 key shlokas of the Bhagavad Gita. It will be helpful in calming the mind, increased concentration and better decision-making capabilities. To read more and register for the course, please visit the link below: 

https://www.hua.edu/product/gita-vidya-sadhana-for-teens-parents/ 

[Please recall my detailed discourse on the subject:    

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2011/08/shatasloekee-geetaa.html published as early as 2011. Gita's message is particularly needed for the young and strong, who want to shape their destiny, wish to live and enjoy life at its best, and help in establishing Orderliness in Society and Dharma which gets disturbed every now and then. This booklet contains 100 verses, taken out of Gita from chapters 2 to 18 in that context for essential and easy reading for the young mind.]  

 

Lessons from Valmiki Ramayana: This course by Shri Shantanu Gupta will help students get a well-versed understanding of the story, lessons, and teachings of one of the greatest epics - The Ramayana, written by ancient Indian scholar & sage Valmiki. They will explore how this ancient epic continues to reverberate and resonate across generations, transcending time and culture in a unique way. To read more and register for the course, please visit the link below: 

https://www.hua.edu/product/lessons-from-valmiki-ramayana-for-teens-parents/ 

[Indian epics such as Ramayana and the Mahabharatha have given utmost importance to the ideal man or woman possessed of virtues who are role models to humankind. These epics and the Panchatantra stories that emphasize the need for personal values have long been the traditional resources to impart value education to Indian students. The Thirukkural, a compendium of couplets in Tamil, presents 1330 values. These values that its author Thiruvalluvur espouses are still held as models of a virtuous human being in Tamil Nadu, where Thiruvalluvar lived. An Individual’s Values is The Society’s Strength. Indian texts have always held that human beings are distinct from other beings because of the strong values that can be manifested in their noble thoughts, actions, and deeds.  The basic fiber of an individual, which has enabled him or her to acquire admirable qualities, determines moral strength, and the individual’s strength determines the strength of the society to live in peace but not pieces.  

 

The Puranas are full of mythological stories that tell us about the traditions of those times, the lives of the heroes and values of life. Indian mythological stories are an excellent way to teach important moral values to children.     We come across either over-simplified book (geared towards kids) and there are the scholarly tomes. Neither is a good fit for a curious young person who needs something in between they can read independently. The problem is that authors are burdened by wanting to make Hinduism look nice compared to other religions. As a result, writing becomes apologetic and defensive.  We find writers have a poor understanding of the subject and so are unable to appreciate the complexities and so end up with awkward script. I hope HUA will make a good job in teaching complex Puranas to young scholars, making it spicy and juicy. This is a problem before our Voluntary teachers in Baal Vihaar Schools.]  

 

 Exploring Hinduism for Teens and Parents: This course by Dr. D.K. Hema Hari and Dr. D.K. Hari will facilitate a structured exploration of various facets of one of the world’s most ancient families of traditions. It will prepare the students to see the world from a Hindu perspective and experience how different it is, from the one that they already know. To read more and register for the course, please visit the link below: 

https://www.hua.edu/product/exploring-hinduism-for-teens-and-parents/

 Please go through my discourse on the subject: 

Teaching of Vedanta guided by the wisdom of Upanishads creating an environment where the youths understand, appreciate and love their real Hindu culture based on Sanatana Dharma and not based on Hinduism that is practiced today or taught in Religious classes in Hindu Temples based on myths and beliefs, copied from India today, is of vital importance.  This is a very crucial need today in USA if we have to live with Hinduism forever and also make it Universal and attractive to all as Swami Vivekananda visualized and dreamed stating that “Vedanta is the Religion of the Future”.  Children too should be taught Vedanta from very early age says Swami Sivananda and others. One of the most difficult situations we face in providing spiritually for our children is that children want to fit in with their peers, most of whom are not being raised with any spiritual teachings and only believe in a material reality.   Then again, their friends who are raised in religion are sometimes antagonistic to Eastern perspectives.  Thus, helping to create a community of peers who are also encountering Vedanta’s universal and transcendental teachings is pivotal.  As a third objective,   parents need to have the opportunity to focus completely on spirituality on their own retreat while Vedanta teachers are taking care of children. The children learn by witnessing their parents’ seriousness, their respect for the teachings, the path and the teacher.     

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2019/10/teaching-vedanta-to-children-and-adults.html 

 

It is up to us to bring out the best, of what we as humans can be, by appropriately and appealingly conveying to young minds,  the universal messages of the Upanishads through Puranas, Itihasas, Nitisastras and Gita--Sanghachhadvam, samvadadvam, samanmakootih; vasudhaiva kutumbakam; sarvejanah sukhino bhavantu; atmavat sravabhuteshu, ahimsa paramo dharmah; aa no bhadrantu kratavah  yantu visvatah; krinavant visvamaryam, while  raising children in USA, that is equally important in other migrant countries, including India, where the tendency is to imitate the West, meeting their affluent materialistic cousins grown in USA.  

--June 12, 2021

 

 

HERBS AND SPICES & THEIR HEALTH BENEFITS

 

I still remember how I got acquainted with ancient Pakasastra  from  a Jain Muni edited by my grandfather, composed and printed by me for Madras University. Pākaśāstra (पाकशास्त्र) refers to the “science and art of cooking”, as explained in the 17th century Bhojanakutūhala, a work dealing with the ancient Indian principles of dietetics and culinary art. It contained many secrets like making cactus edible and nutritious. Food assumes utmost importance among the three basic needs of human life, the other two being clothing and shelter. The role of food is evident in constituting growth and development of all living beings--annatto praanam praanato parakramam. The science upon the food substances is also equally important. Indians had realized this significant role of food in human life even in the early phases of their development. The concept of deification can be seen even in the annasūkta of Riggveda. The Sanskrit sources of ancient India indicate eminent contributions in the field of dietetics (pathyāpathya-nirṇaya) and in the science and art of cooking (Pākaśāstra and Pākakalā). 

Bogged down by Coronavirus Pandemonium since last year, Health Emergency has become global concern International Concern. In spite of the joint efforts of all the Nations, it does not seem to be still flattening the curve. Amid such uncertainty, being immune is the best strategy to defend against corona attack. As the whole world is referring back to immune-boosting grandma remedies, interest is rekindled in the Indian system of Medicine, which is gifted with an abundance of herbal medicines as well as remedies. Among them, spices (root, rhizome, seed, fruit, leaf, bud, and flower of various plants used to add taste and flavors to food) are bestowed with immense medicinal potential. A plethora of clinical as well as preclinical studies reported the effectiveness of various spices for various ailments. The potential immune-boosting properties together with its excellent safety profile are making spices the current choice of Phyto-research as well as the immune-boosting home remedies during these skeptical times.   The immune impact of various Indian spices and their potential to tackle the novel coronavirus, with specific focus on the safety and toxicity aspects of spices, has attracted the attention of researchers all over the world. 

Spices come with a host of health benefits, including boosting our immunity and keeping us protected from infections such as bacteria, virus etc. Including certain spices that come with immunity boosting properties can prove to be beneficial during this flu season. Most popular ones are: Turmeric, Black Pepper, Cumin, Ginger, Clove and Cinnamon.      

Ayurveda is a traditional Indian system of medicine. It aims to preserve health and wellness by keeping the mind, body, and spirit in balance and preventing disease rather than treating it. 

To do so, it employs a holistic approach that combines diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. 

Ayurvedic herbs and spices are also an important component of this approach. They’re thought to protect your body from disease and offer a variety of health benefits, including improved digestion and mental health.  

There are 15 Ayurvedic herbs and spices with science-backed health benefits. 

Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic spice that may help your body manage stress more effectively. It may also lower your blood sugar levels and improve sleep, memory, muscle growth, and male fertility. 

Boswellia is an Ayurvedic spice with anti-inflammatory properties. It may reduce joint pain, enhance oral health, and improve digestion, as well as increase breathing capacity in people with chronic asthma. 

Triphala is an Ayurvedic remedy consisting of three Ayurvedic spices — amla, bibhitaki, and haritaki. It may help reduce joint inflammation, improve digestion, and promote oral health. 

• amla (Emblica officinalis, or Indian gooseberry) 
• bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica) 
• haritaki (Terminalia chebula) 

Brahmi is an Ayurvedic herb believed to lower inflammation, improve brain function, and reduce symptoms of ADHD. It may also increase your body’s ability to deal with stress, though more research is needed. 

Share on PCumin is an Ayurvedic spice commonly used to add flavor to meals. It may decrease symptoms of IBS, improve risk factors for type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and perhaps even offer some protection against foodborne infection. 

 Turmeric is the Ayurvedic spice that gives curry its yellow color. Curcumin, its main compound, may help reduce inflammation and improve heart and brain health. However, large amounts are likely needed to attain these benefits. 

Licorice root is an Ayurvedic spice that may help reduce inflammation and protect against various infections. It may also treat digestive problems and relieve skin irritations. 

Gotu kola is an Ayurvedic herb that may help boost memory and reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as improve a variety of skin conditions. 

Bitter melon is an Ayurvedic spice that may help lower blood sugar levels and boost insulin secretion. It may also reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, though more research is needed before strong conclusions can be made. 

Cardamom is an Ayurvedic spice that may lower blood pressure, improve breathing, and potentially help stomach ulcers heal. However, more research is necessary. 

GINGER: Antioxidants  and other nutrients in ginger may help prevent or treat arthritis, inflammation, and various types of infection. Researchers have also studied its potential to reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, and other health problems. 

Black pepper and its active compound piperine. an alkaloid,  may have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Laboratory studies suggest that black pepper may improve cholesterol levels, blood sugar control, and brain and gut health

Cloves are the dried flower buds of the Syzygium Aromaticum tree. For years, cloves have widely been used not only as a spice but also as a medicine for many ailments. Health Benefits of Cloves--Improve digestion; Controls Diabetes; Good for Bones and Joints; Boosts Immune System; Reduces Body Pain and Inflammation; Relieves Toothache and Prevents Cancer.  

 Precautions 

Ayurvedic herbs and spices are generally considered safe when consumed in amounts typically used to prepare or flavor foods. Yet, most of the studies supporting their benefits typically used supplements offering doses far exceeding that. 

Supplementing with such large doses may not be suitable for children, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, people with known medical conditions, or those taking medication. 

Therefore, it’s necessary to consult your healthcare provider before adding any Ayurvedic supplements to your regimen. 

It’s also worth noting that the content and quality of Ayurvedic products are not regulated. Some Ayurvedic preparations may mix Ayurvedic herbs and spices with minerals, metals, or gems, rendering them potentially harmful. 

For instance, a recent study found that 65% of Ayurvedic products studied contained lead, while 32–38% also included mercury and arsenic, some of which had concentrations that were up to several thousand times higher than the safe daily limit. 

Another study reported that up to 40% of people who use Ayurvedic preparations had elevated levels of lead or mercury in their blood. 

Therefore, those interested in Ayurvedic preparations should only purchase them from reputable companies that ideally have their products tested by a third party. 

Ayurvedic herbs and spices are generally safe in small amounts. Supplements containing large doses of these herbs and spices, as well as Ayurvedic preparations that have mixed them with other minerals, metals, or gems may be harmful. 

The bottom line 

Ayurvedic herbs and spices have been an integral part of traditional Indian medicine for centuries. 

An increasing amount of scientific evidence supports their many proposed health benefits, including protection against type 2 diabetes and heart disease. 

Thus, adding small amounts of these herbs and spices may help both flavor your meals and boost your health. 

That said, large doses may not be suitable for everyone, so make sure to seek advice from your healthcare provider before adding Ayurvedic supplements to your healthcare regimen. 

And remember, Ayurveda employs a holistic approach to health that also includes physical activity, adequate sleep, stress management, and eating a variety of fruits and vegetables daily. 

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” hearkens back to Hippocrates, the father of medicine.  This quote, though thousands of years old, acknowledges the importance of healthy eating and how the nutrients in various foods have healing properties. A healthy lifestyle with good nutrition is vital for maintaining good health and disease prevention. “Let food be thy medicine…” is a great approach to take when looking at lifestyle changes needed to prevent and reduce disease. This does not suggest that conventional medicines are not necessary, but rather shows the significant role that a healthy diet plays in disease prevention. Take full advantage of what a healthy diet can do for you! 

Therefore, to focus on this issue Vedas mandate the Mantra :"oshadivanaspatibhyah swaha'' offering oblations to the fire pleading for  vanaspatayah  santih-calmness in food yielding plants and osadhayah santih--calmness in medicinal plants,  in our conclusive mantra of daily worship to the Supreme invoking all-round peace and cosmic balance.

Book titled Food As Medicine: How to Use Diet, Vitamins, Juices, and Herbs for a Healthier, Happier, and Longer Life is a holistic approach to healing through making smart food choices by health guru Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa that combines spiritual advice and integrative medicine to provide healthful recipes and nutrition plans targeting common and chronic illnesses for a longer, healthier, natural life. 

  --June 11, 2021

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 WORLD FOOD SAFETY DAY 2021

 

Food safety practices help prevent the foods you eat from making you sick. Food-borne illnesses are caused by microorganisms that may be present on food when purchased or that may get into food during preparation, cooking, serving, storage or transportation from one location to another. Microorganisms are invisible and can grow on meat, poultry, seafood, eggs and dairy products, as well as in raw or cooked vegetables and fruits. 

While everyone is at risk for food-borne illnesses, some people may be at higher risk for getting sick from eating unsafe food. These include pregnant women, infants and young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems or chronic illnesses. Signs and symptoms of food-borne illnesses range from upset stomach, diarrhea, fever, vomiting, abdominal cramps and dehydration to more severe illness and even death. Follow the food safety guidelines of WHO for keeping food safe.  It is no wonder this subject has attracted WHO and FAO.  People are more cautious today than before, suspecting that the present virus jumped from animal to man through an intermediary that is from Wuhan wet market. 

 Several months after WHO declared COVID-19 as a Global Public Health Emergency of International Concern, it does not seem to be flattening the curve. Amid such uncertainty, being immune is the best strategy to defend against corona attack. As the whole world is referring back to immune-boosting grandma remedies, interest is rekindled in the Indian system of Medicine, which is gifted with an abundance of herbal medicines as well as remedies. Among them, spices (root, rhizome, seed, fruit, leaf, bud, and flower of various plants used to add taste and flavors to food) are bestowed with immense medicinal potential. A plethora of clinical as well as preclinical studies reported the effectiveness of various spices for various ailments. The potential immune-boosting properties together with its excellent safety profile are making spices the current choice of Phyto-research as well as the immune-boosting home remedies during these skeptical times.   The immune impact of various Indian spices and their potential to tackle the novel coronavirus, with specific focus on the safety and toxicity aspects of spices, has attracted the attention of researchers all over the world. 

 

Spices come with a host of health benefits, including boosting our immunity and keeping us protected from infections such as bacteria, virus etc. Including certain spices that come with immunity boosting properties can prove to be beneficial during this flu season. Most popular ones are: Turmeric, Black Pepper, Cumin, Ginger, Clove and Cinnamon.      

 

World Food Safety Day 2021 

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed in 2018 that June 7 would be regarded as World Food Safety Day every year. 

 

This came into effect after the intergovernmental organization noted that the burden of foodborne diseases was affecting children under the age of 5 and persons living in low-income countries. 

 

Last year, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution to further strengthen global efforts of food safety to reduce the burden of foodborne disease. 

 

This year's theme is “Safe food today for a healthy tomorrow”. It discusses the fact that the production and consumption of safe food have immediate and long-term benefits. 

 

The WHO writes: "Recognizing the systemic connections between the health of people, animals, plants, the environment, and the economy will help us meet the needs of the future" 

 

"Food safety, everyone’s business” 

With an estimated 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses annually, unsafe food is a threat to human health and economies, disproportionally affecting vulnerable and marginalized people, especially women and children, populations affected by conflict, and migrants. An estimated 420 000 people around the world die every year after eating contaminated food and children under 5 years of age carry 40% of the foodborne disease burden, with  125000 deaths every year. 

 

World Food Safety Day on 7 June aims to draw attention and inspire action to help prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly facilitate the observance of World Food Safety Day, in collaboration with Member States and other relevant organizations. This international day is an opportunity to strengthen efforts to ensure that the food we eat is safe, mainstream food safety in the public agenda and reduce the burden of foodborne diseases globally. 

 

Food safety is everyone’s business 

 

Under the theme “Food safety, everyone’s business”, the action-oriented campaign promotes global food safety awareness and calls upon countries and decision makers, the private sector, civil society, UN organizations and the general public to take action. 

 

The way in which food is produced, stored, handled and consumed affects the safety of our food. Complying with Global food standards, establishing effective regulatory food control systems including emergency preparedness and response, providing access to clean water, applying good agriculture practices (terrestrial, aquatic, livestock, horticulture), strengthening the use of food safety management systems by food business operators, and building capacities of consumers to make healthy food choices are some ways in which governments, international organizations, scientists, the private sector and civil society work to ensure food safety. 

 

Food safety is a shared responsibility between governments, producers and consumers. Everybody has a role to play from farm to table to ensure the food we consume is safe and will not cause damages to our health. Through World Food Safety Day, WHO pursues its efforts to mainstream food safety in the public agenda and reduce the burden of foodborne diseases globally! 

    

Wish you Happy and Healthy World Food Safety Day 2021!  Keep your Kitchen Safe!

 

 

VEDANTA VISION OF BODY, MIND, INTELLECT AND SPIRIT 

Many people are living their lives in the past or in the future and are often faraway from present time. They are either worried about the past or anxious about the future. While preoccupying themselves with their past mistakes and losses or pondering about what will tomorrow bring and how will they survive in the future, they are missing to enjoy life in present time. 

 

Therefore we hear people talk about the connection between the body, mind and spirit and balance.  Many people have a hazy interpretation of what it means, but it simply pertains to an individual’s physical, mental and emotional/spiritual health. 

 

While the mind is set of impulses, feelings and emotions, intellect is thinking, reasoning, judging. When intellect guides the mind, the person is considered as wise. Intellect is not intelligence as you can see from countless examples of intelligent people doing stupid things. 

 

In Chapter 6, Verse 6 of Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna makes the following statement about the mind: “For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy.” Uncontrolled mind has potential to mess up a person’s life. 

 

It’s true, that it’s not possible to be truly healthy if there is an issue with the mind, body, or spirit. The kind and compassionate Western Healthcare Holistic-healing providers utilize alternative, integrative, holistic, and traditional forms of pain-reducing therapies to patients.   Their team approach is   integrated approach focused on body, mind and spirit. 

 

The Yogic teachings express that to create a peaceful, harmonious, joyful environment in our community, at home, at work, or in relationships, we must first find peace within ourselves. By observing our inner nature and our reactions which have their habitual reactions and consequences, we can understand and learn to pause, step back and choose to respond in more peaceful and accepting ways. 

 

Gita says: “na hi (vi) Jnanena sadrisam” There is nothing comparable to Intellect. Ignorance is the cause of our bondage driven by mind and knowledge of Brahman or intellect (Jnana) of the form of vivid perception (Vijnana) is the cause of Liberation. Supreme knowledge or Intellect comes from the mature state of wandering mind. This Intellect in mature state is called Vijnana in Vedanta. 

 

From food are produced vital airs (five pranaas) and sense of creatures. From Praanas mind, from mind (manas) Intellect (jnana) of the form of vivid perception of the intellect (vijnana), Supreme, and from such vivid perception or Vijnana, Brahman, the blissful, the cause of the universe is attained.

.   

The ultimate goal of Yoga is Self-realization, whether Patanjali or Shankara, which is a radical shift of our awareness from its identification with body and mind to its natural state of pure consciousness detached from body and mind. This Self is the Universal Self, not the bodily self or mental self or the embodied self in any form. 

 

We are bombarded today, through Zoom and Webinars, on the peremptory need for Yoga Therapy for Corona preventive measures, panacea for COVID 19,   after-care to get back to mental balance and improve all kinds of health. It even calls for focus in kitchen with herbal products. Yoga therapy may be defined as the application of yogic principles to a particular person with the objective of achieving a particular spiritual, psychological, or physiological goal. The means employed are comprised of intelligently conceived steps that include but are not limited to the components of the spiritual teachings of Patanjali--yama, niyama,  asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and Samadhi.  Also included are the application of meditation, textual study, spiritual or psychological counseling, chanting, imagery, prayer, and ritual to meet the needs of the individual.  

 

Yoga therapy with its universal appeal, respects individual differences in age, culture, religion, philosophy, occupation, and mental and physical health. The knowledgeable and competent yogi or yogini applies Yoga Therapy according to the period, the place, and the practitioner's age, strength, and activities. Yoga therapy is a self-empowering process, where the care-seeker, with the help of the Yoga therapist, implements a personalized and evolving Yoga practice, that not only addresses the illness in a multi-dimensional manner, but also aims to alleviate his/her suffering in a progressive, non-invasive and complementary manner.  Depending upon the nature of the illness, Yoga therapy can not only be preventative or curative, but also serve a means to manage the illness, or facilitate healing in the person at all levels. Yoga therapy aims at the holistic treatment of various kinds of psychological or somatic dysfunctions ranging from back problems to emotional distress. Both approaches, however, share an understanding of the human being as an integrated body-mind-intellect system, which can function optimally only when there is a state of dynamic balance within us just like the external cosmic balance-need call on World Environment Day.  

 

Please go through the compilation from Gita, Upanishads, Spiritual Gurus, Psychologists, Spiritually inclined Psychiatrists and Holistic Yoga Therapists: 

 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2021/06/vedanta-vision-of-body-mind-intellect.html

--June 13, 2021

 

PANCHAKLESA IN HINDUISM & URBAN MONKS ON KARMA  

PANCHAKLESHA IN HINDUISM--FIVE PSYCHIC AFFLICTIONS 

Pancha Klesha in Hinduism is the five psychic afflictions. They are ignorance, ego or cognition of self-existence, attachment to the pleasurable, hatred of obstructers and fear of death. The concept is mentioned in Yoga Sutra II/3 shloka (avidyasmita – raga – dweshabhiniveshah). 

Pancha Klesha 

Avidya; Asmita; Raga; Dvesha; and Abhinivesha 

According to Yoga philosophy, the fivefold activities of mind, intellect and ego combined are of two types un-afflicted (Akilsta) and motivated or originated by afflictions (kilsta)--Pancha Klesha is klista or the five afflictions. 

 

As per Yoga Sutra, Avidya believes illusion to be true and by which one is misled. When a person is afflicted by avidya, the person does not see what is real but delusively perceives the unreal to be real. Such a person thinks temporary to be permanent, impure to be pure and unholy to be holy. They are unaware about the source of pain and pleasure. True self is unknown to them.Such people forget about the transience of the world. They chase evanescent pleasures which cause nothing but suffering. They think everything to be the impermanent body ignoring the true Self. 

 

Mistaking consciousness for mind which only reflects consciousness is asmita; Raga is seeking pleasure again and again of the same kind; Anger and frustration to the obstructions of pleasure is dvesha. Abhinivesha as per Yoga Sutra II 7/9 is fear of death which felt equally by the learned and the fool. 

 

Pancha Klesha may occur in all creatures with a mind in all conditions. Avidya or ignorance is the root cause of Pancha Klesha. Pancha Klesha may be due to past deeds. The deeds of the past and present life give pain in this life and future lives. (Yoga Sutra (II/12).--Karma Phala. 

Pancha Klesha can be overcome by penance, study of original texts, and repetition of mantra, complete surrender to God by seeing God in all animate and inanimate. Dropping all forms of ignorance and merging with prakriti or supreme truth puts an end to Pancha Klesha. 

 

Karma as viewed by Modern Urban Monks 

 

 “The past impressions of life go far beyond the moment you were born, but in your perception right now, at least from the moment you were born till today, what kind of parents, family, and education you had, what kind of religious and social background, what kind of cultural realities – all these impressions have gone in. Someone has become a different character simply because of the type of information that has gotten into him. This is what is Karma. This information is traditionally called karma or karmic body or causal body – that which causes life. All negative things happen to us once we are on the spiritual path.     For those who are not in a hurry, there is another kind of path.   If you get onto the fast track and try to go slow, you will be run over. If you are on the slow path and try to go fast, you will get a ticket. Every seeker must always decide – does he want to just enjoy the road or does he want to get to the destination quick?” says Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev 

 

“Forget what you think you know about karma—Sadhguru shows us it’s not a punishment for bad behavior, but a vehicle for transformation and empowerment.  His  book will take us back to be in charge of our own life.”—says Tom Brady. 

 

“Karma, meaning action, is a Vedic term for explaining the reincarnating soul’s evolution from life to life. Karma is portrayed as the effect of our individual actions, extending from past lives resent and future lives. It is often regarded as a force of determination, like fate or destiny. We speak of a person’s karma catching up with them, ‘what goes around comes around’ or ‘as you sow so shall you reap’, indicating this inescapable result of what we have done.  

 

Today’s science emphasizes genetics as the main mechanism behind this evolutionary process. It has discovered an underlying ‘genetic code’ behind the vast diversity of life, linking all creatures together in the evolutionary process.   

We can contrast this with the view of Yoga, the science of consciousness that arose in India, which recognizes an evolution of consciousness as well as one of form. Yoga neither denies evolution in order to justify a religious view of creation, nor reduces evolution to a blind play of material forces. Yoga teaches that form cannot evolve without consciousness. An inner consciousness brings about evolutionary changes of form, not the form itself, which is no more than a shell. The creatures that we observe in life are the result of an inner consciousness evolving its self-expression through the great movement of time. Karma and rebirth are the means of this evolution of consciousness, its underlying modus operandi. Only an intelligence that is reborn can evolve in awareness. Otherwise intelligence would die with the body.  

  

Our karma, we could say, is the DNA of our reincarnating soul. Just as the body has its particular genetic code, the reincarnating soul has its particular ‘karmic code’. The soul’s karmic code is based upon the life patterns it has created, the habits, tendencies, influences and desires it has set in motion over many births. These karmic tendencies or samskaras like seeds ripen in the soil of our lives, taking root and sprouting according to circumstances. Our soul’s energy is filtered through our karmic potentials, which create the pattern of our lives down to a subconscious and instinctual level.  

 

For the evolution of our species and for our own growth in consciousness, we must consider both the genetic and karmic codes. 

   

The Vedic astrological chart is probably the most important document we have in life and more important than our genetic code. Yet like our DNA it is a code written in the language of nature and needs to be deciphered by a trained researcher to make sense of its indications. Through the Vedic astrological chart we can understand the greater purpose of our lives, our vulnerabilities and our hidden strengths that help us fulfill our true karmic potential.  

 

Our present planetary crisis, our crisis in consciousness, is also a ‘collective karmic crisis’.  The problem is that our culture does not believe in karma. We don’t teach the law of karma in our schools and or even many of our religions are ignorant of it. Many who speak about the law of karma act in violation of it as well. We think that if we make money or become famous that we have achieved the goal of life, regardless of the karmas we have set in motion for ourselves or for our world.   

 

Our individual soul is a karmic center of consciousness that we must face sooner or later. When we die, the only thing that goes with our soul is its karma. The bodily self does not continue but the soul–the sensitive core of awareness within us that allows us to feel happiness or sorrow–goes on to wherever its karma may lead, which we must eventually experience.  

 

While few of us can reach the state of supreme enlightenment, all of us can bring aspects of enlightenment into our daily lives. We can bring a unitary consciousness into our environment, establishing our relationship with all aspects of the conscious universe from greeting the Sun in the morning to remembering the stars at night. We must respond to the evolutionary message of our karma, which is to take responsibility for our world and look upon all creatures as our own Self.” says DavidFrawley 

Human genetic modification is the direct manipulation of the genome using molecular engineering techniques. Recently developed techniques for modifying genes are often called “gene editing.” Genetic modification can be applied in two very different ways says medical science: Somatic genetic modification and Germline genetic modification. 

Encouraged by Genetic Modification possibility in the field of Medicine, David Frawley feels, we can also modify and improve our lives by correcting our Karmic DNA to bring enlightenment to our lives without resigning to fate theory. 

 

People who find themselves dogged by misfortune often blame it on ‘bad luck’. But the scriptures say that your destiny is the sum total of all your past choices. Once you act, you must be prepared to deal with the consequences. That is the Law of Karma. Therefore, the question you should be asking yourself is – are you making the right choices? 

In Good Karma, Jaya Row demystifies this spiritual phenomenon and explains how it affects your life today. Sharing insights that you can put into action, this book shows you how to break out of negative cycles and create a better future for yourself. 

Surviving COVID 19 Pandemic by self-imposed discipline, we are all on borrowed time. More time is more life, and more life of it can be made sweeter turning to spirituality. Life expectancy in 1900 was 47 in 1900 and now it is 78. Does it mean to say good Lord has been showing us concession by way of incentive to transcend Laws of Karma? We are not that spiritual than the ancients! But this leniency cannot last long!  We need to wake up and turn spiritual and practice 3 D’s--Daya, Dama and Daana! 

 

Laws of Karma, we learn from  scriptures,  help us in our post analysis of certain events of our lives,  occurred  wit or without our involvement.  Modern Monks boost up our morale by saying that it is possible to correct our DNA of Karma by our own action!  

  

Gita says in Chapter 6: Redeem yourself by yourself. Nobody else can help you; Moderation and regulation of life’s activities are a must for material or spiritual progress;  When the mind is in a scattered state there is no power. A gathered mind has power, is calm and effective;  The intellect has high penetrating power when developed. It enables effortless excellence and takes you to Self-realization: Yoga is the separation of union with sorrow. Disconnect this union with sorrow. Then you fill find happiness within yourself; All desires are born of imagination; The test of spiritual development is the ability to see yourself in others and all beings in yourself; The doer of good never suffers. Selfish people will be destroyed. 

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June 2021 issue of AUPA, the e-newsletter

 While forwarding the salient points brought to our notice by the editor Swami Chimanandaji, I would again reiterate we should not forget to focus on the most sacred Vaiaskha Suklapaksah culminating in Buddha Purnami. Thinking on the same lines as Indra Gautami of USA, focused on twin culture of Hindus and Americans, I would consider even whole month of May 2021 of Blooming flowers,  as a blossoming spiritual month focused on Yoga after gloomy April 2021 that had some tragic death due to storms. Americans say April rains bring May Flowers and Memorial Day brings Warmth of summer to cheer up our pensive mood of Memorial Day heightened by Corona Deaths of 2021 and unnecessary wars! 

Spiritually inclined, I am amazed at the Jayantis of five Avatars, five Devis and several gurus and acharyas in this sacred fortnight that can be conveniently clubbed together and celebrated on week-ends, without violating scriptural sanctions as confirmed by Sivacharya, author of NA Hindu Panchangam.  Further, symbolic Kurmasana of Kurmavatara that brings cosmic balance in the world, Narasimhavatara that developed Yoga for EQ Management, Parasurama Avatara that symbolizes Brahmatejobalam over WMD that he mastered too but gave up for lifetime Meditation  never to retire, giving the concept of failure and retirement should not weaken our souls, power of Prakriti of four Devis that  has victimized us in the pandemic for our negligence and abuse of  Nature and the Guru Tradition started by Lord Subhramanya whose guidance we need for EQ and SQ Management! I wonder why our religious Pundits and Spiritual Gurus are not focused on these Jayantis for group celebration during Vaisakha Sukla Paksha if not May ?  Indira Gautam of USA a popular Spiritual Adviser advises: 

 

“It pains me to note that, even as the pandemic has reasonably come under control in the country where I live, most of you in my motherland India are facing the fury of this menace all the more.  Being a student of the Geetā, my mind goes to the beautiful illustration that Bhagavan Shri Krishna gives in the second chapter. “The ocean remains at the same level even as rivers bring huge amounts of water into it. So does an illumined woman stay composed, even as waves of calamities occur in her life.” (A liberal translation). We must, first of all, follow right advice from medical experts and wise people around us. We cannot afford to neglect measures like the SMS: Sanitize, Wear Mask, Keep Social Distance.  On a spiritual front, we must go by the directions of the Geetā and train our mind to remain fixed in God, in the Pure Self. Then we become the ocean. Otherwise, we are like the boat, as illustrated by Geeta again, that gets carried away in dangerous directions by un-favorable winds. When we are not anchored in God, we naturally get attached to many things of the world. These attachments and aversions become the un-favorable wind, against which we become helpless. Let us act bravely – outside and inside. The calm is sure to follow this long storm. Let us pray for all those who have been severely affected by the ravages of this global crisis (too on Memorial Day)”  

 

Vaisakha Sula Triteeya 

Akshaya triteeya; Parsurama Jayanti 

 

Vaisakha Sukla Panchami:  

Sankara Jayanti; Surdas Jayanti  

  

Vaisakha Sukla Saptami:  

Ganga Jayanti  

  

Vaisakhasukla Astami:  

Bagalmatidevi Jayanti  

  

Vaisakha Sukla Navami   

Sita Jayanti; Matangi Jayanti  

  

Vaisakha Sukla Dasami:  

Kanyaka Paramesvari Jayanti   

  

Vaisakha Sukla Chaturdasi:  

Narasimha Jayanti; Chinnamasta Jayanti  

  

Vaisakha Pournima  

Kurma Jayanti; Buddha Jayanti; Subhramanya Jayanti; Periyazhvar Jayanti   

 

 

Message from AUPA

We are happy to let you know this e-newsletter AUPA has completed years and we will begin our 7^th volume next month, in July.

In this last issue of volume 6, we are delighted to share with you a piece of excellent writing by renowned author Michael Singer. He guides his readers on how to handle thought with spiritual maturity. The majority of students of life, despite exposure to much literature, fail miserably when negative thoughts rise in them. They fall prey to the vicious games that their own mind plays. Please read Singer to know how, with a little will and with a lot of skillful watching, you may escape the traps of your own thoughts and emotions.

For ‘the quote of the issue,’ we have none else than Eckhart Tolle, who does not mince words when he says we look for peace but it is already within us!

The International Yoga Day (IYD) is approaching and we appeal to all of you to get back to the yoga mat, more regularly and more sincerely.

We trust you will like all the regular features in this issue too, as you did before.

 

--Swami Chidananda and Team AUPA

--June 5, 2021

LEARNING QUANTUM PHYSICS & LIVING WITH THE DIGITAL WORLD CAUGHT IN THE WEB

 

Just as the Reformation was ushered in by the printing press in the 16th century, the web has helped proliferate different interpretations and articulations of religions and the need for spirituality, by urban monks, to live in peace but not in pieces and we have also witnessed the emergence of new communities and faiths like "SBNR",”Ghar Wapsi”, “Awesome without Allah” etc., focused on SQ Management than focused on ritualistic stereo-typed religions. Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Jewish communities flock the Web and amplify the distinctions and differences, while Buddhists and Jains are observing Silence Ritual! 

The concept of religious ritual is so deeply embedded in our social fabric that it is natural for it to have made the leap to virtuosity. And it hasn't just reared its head in worlds such as Second Life and Reincarnation. Social networks, including Facebook, have active and close-knit communities of religious followers of all creeds, gathering in what science writer Margaret Wertheim described in her 1999 book, The Pearly Gates of Cyberspace, as "a new kind of realm for the mind". Perhaps, depending on your attitude to religion, it's more apt to describe these digital collectives in science fiction author William Gibson's words: a "consensual hallucination". 

The importance of the web in everyday life – from banking to shopping to socializing in these pandemonium days – means that religious organizations must migrate their churches and temples to virtual real estate in order to stay relevant and to be where the people are. Religious leaders and spiritual Gurus have websites, blogs and Twitter feeds; there are email prayer ad Bhajan lines and online confessionals, social networks for yogis and apps that bring the faithful to pray together.  "Being web-savvy should be a required skill for religious and spiritual leaders in general these days. The web may have encouraged a lowest-common-denominator eclecticism and turned us into consumers of religion and spirituality " says Sister Catherine Wybourne, that I regret, I can’t expand like Urban Monks to make it more spicy, interesting and involving. I wish, I had some organizational help and support!

Computer Science has taught us that we live in an inter-dependent, inter-twined, inter-woven, inter-related, and inter-connected Universe. If we can't avoid a two-dimensional screen, let us turn three-dimensional, avoid blaming the consequential ills and find a remedy says the Urban Monk David Frawley.

TRANSCENDING OUR TWO-DIMENSIONAL MEDIA WORLD  

 

 “We spend our time looking at small flat screens, which are not only limited in size but lose the depth vision of the third dimension. We live more in a two-dimensional world of small screens than in the actual three-dimensional world. Our own minds easily get reduced to the boundaries of a box. 

 

Whatever their resolution, screens cannot equal the myriad nuanced colors of the Earth. We interact more with screens than with the world of nature, where everything is subtle and unique. Add to this our urban environments which are made of cement, steel, paved streets, high rise buildings, polluted air and traffic noise, and the artificiality in our minds is magnified further. 

 

Our minds easily get caught in a narrow two-dimensional view of life in terms of irresolvable dichotomies, promoted by a sophisticated media, as if human behavior could be reduced to simplistic dualities, of one group or ideology versus another as good or bad, right or wrong. This polarization of human life is increasing, making real dialogue difficult, with conflicts getting more pronounced. 

 

EXPANDING OUR PERCEPTION 

Most of us work with computer screens and cannot avoid them. They aid in efficiency and communication in many ways. Fortunately, there is much we can do to counter this two-dimensional reduction of our lives.  

 

Simple perceptual exercises can be of enormous help. We can begin with going out to view the vastness of the sky, the clouds and the stars. We should try find an unobstructed horizon at sunrise, sunset or the night sky. Viewing the fluid realms of rivers, lakes or the ocean soothes the mind. Hikes into mountains and hills widen our perspective. Regular retreats into nature can help if we live in a restricted urban realm. We should cultivate a mind that functions in the image of nature, its abundance and ongoing transformations.  

 

Pranayama helps as when our senses and minds are constricted so is our breath. Mantra breaks the inertia of our dualistic thoughts in a unitary flow of attention. Meditation is essential for creating space and silence in our awareness. Even something as simple as gazing at a flame can light the flame of consciousness within us. 

 

Make sure to counter this dimensional limitation several times a day, better yet for entire days or weeks. You will find life is much more than human competition and conflict. Our inner Self-awareness transcends all limitations into the Infinite and Eternal. Searching that out is the path from mortality to immortality” advises David Frawley.  

 

Because of our obsession with two-dimensional screen and over indulgence that call for transcending our two-dimensional world, we cannot just stop blaming the digital world to which we are suddenly thrown! Let us look at its positive contributions to our lives in recent times when it is not possible to get a convincing answer for our queries from our study circles. Google thus acts as our friend in need! Internet often contributes with its Prajna for my Vijnana focus and delivers whatever Inner worth it brings out with which I interact with you all to make it Inner Worth! 

 

Just observe the digital world! It is a continuously growing world of servers and clients. The server is a big computer and the client is a small computer. And all the servers are serving the clients. The relationship between the server and the client is that of a mother and a child. The server is always serving the requests of the clients. The servers are not governing the client’s objective of the whole system. I often wonder while I n the digital world when the servers are serving the clients then why in the human world the Governments are not serving the people? This is really a very strange thing!!  All the efforts of the society should ultimately move towards digital and virtual governance. The whole system should be a transparent, online, real-time, collaborative and virtual system.  

 

All our needs are basically three-fold: Business, Social, and Spiritual. We all want to basically fulfill our survival, social and spiritual needs. We all act and interact with one another in some way and try to make this world a better and beautiful place to live. We are all a World Wide Web of so many relationships. The computer scientists and information technologists have been successful in tying all the computers and all the information of the whole world in one common thread called the network. This is where Scott McNealy of the Sun Microsystems has once said that the Network is the Computer. The computer network of the whole world has become one big computer. It has become a digital nervous system of the whole world. This has been made possible at the level of a machine but the same is not becoming made possible at the level of all the human beings of the whole world. Can this be really possible? Can the whole world be just one cosmic family and how?   This is a fundamental question in the context of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.   

 

Werner Heisenberg had called the Universe a participating Universe. That is, the Universe has a meaning only when we are interacting with the Universe. (Digital World has made this easy and handy). This is also the emphasis of the string theory that the whole cosmos is a web of inter-connected vibrating energy strings. The whole existence is a web of potential photons, vibrating strings, and super-strings. The insight of the quantum physics is that the whole existence is an unbroken wholeness. The greatest discovery of the quantum physics is that the Universe can neither be continuous, that is infinitely divisible, nor discrete or discontinuous, that is made up of finite and indivisible parts. The Universe is neither discrete nor continuous. It is now called a participative Universe. It is an inter-dependent, inter-twined, inter-woven, inter-related, and inter-connected Universe. We cannot live as separate islands. This is the discovery of the outer world and the outer science. The Vedic and Upanishadic sages, the Buddhas (enlightened ones), the mystics and the Zen Masters have discovered this truth long back in the ancient past in their inner world. This was the result of their inner search and an inner revelation. This was the result of an in-search and not a research. This was the result of their Yoga and Meditation. On the basis of this realization, they have called the whole existence a Parasparam Abhyantaha. This is in Sanskrit and when translated means that inter-dependent and inter-connected we all live in some way or the other and we can never live anymore as separate islands. This is the dream of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.  

Enlightened Leadership (often assisted by Internet in the absence of a Guru) is a small experiment in that direction of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.  The whole Network of the people of the world can become their Net-Worth. Let us take a quantum leap towards that Quantum Consciousness. You and Me together means “We”. We mean, the whole world. We mean Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. We all are inter-connected with that common thread called the Consciousness. 

 

 Religion does not always embrace the views of science, but it hasn’t been shy about adopting science’s most marketable product — technology.  In the modern era, technology has become all the more ubiquitous in people’s modes of worship. Some of the modern popular Hindu Spiritual Gurus and Urban Monks are Engineers, Doctors and Scientists and have successfully made use of the Internet to popularize Vedanta Religion that Vivekanada projected at World Forum as The Religion of the World for The Future!

One difference clearly separates the internet spirituality of the 21st century from TV and radio evangelism of the 20th century that Billy Graham TV Evangelist used: Dominant and traditional forms of spirituality no longer get all of the air time. Eastern philosophies and other “alternative” forms of spirituality, which are now highly popular on YouTube, Webinar and Zoom, had cultural presence in the last half of the 20th century, but they had remained marginalized, part of the hippy counterculture of the ’60s and the maligned “new age” spirituality of the late ’80s. 

 

The internet’s open forum for spiritual discussion has had a number of effects on the way people practice spirituality. First of all, it appears to have diminished ritualistic devotion to traditional spiritual paths. In other words, with so many choices, people are less likely to simply choose their family’s and culture’s traditional preferences. Many may not go to Churches, Mosques, Synagogues and Temples. Those that do not believe in a god have found a united voice by connecting digitally to those with a similarly skeptical mind. Self-identification as agnostic or atheist has skyrocketed since the introduction of the internet in the 1990s, becoming the top spiritual identification in the U.K. and the second-most likely in North America, Australia, and Europe. The label SBNR “spiritual but not religious,” and the label “Awesome without Allah”   born out of the phenomenon of internet dating services, have become increasingly popular as well. 

  

Dogma is far from dead in the internet age, however.  On the more extreme sites, violence in defense of one’s dogma is encouraged and supported by the internet community, as has been the case with Christian anti-abortion and Islamic jihadist terrorist groups.  Nonetheless, many spiritual practitioners see the internet and technology as a force for good, a tool that can unite humanity spiritually in a way that will make a better world … someday. New age guru Deepak Chopra sees the internet as an extension of the human mind and consciousness, and believes it to be a harbinger of a great leap in human spiritual development. 

 

 "Religious leaders and Spiritual Gurus will have to get used to the idea of being more accountable and transparent in their dealings and of having to engage, on equal terms, with those who stand outside the traditional hierarchies," says Wybourne.  Yet the web has not de facto increased inter-faith communication.   "If you want to do that, you need intensively to create that community. Unless you're looking for diversity, you're not going to find it online," says Campbell.  

 

On the web, you're more easily able to find your tribe," explains Professor Heidi Campbell, a researcher at Texas A&M University, whose most recent book, When Religion Meets New Media, looks at how Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Jewish communities engage with the web. "The distinctions and differences are amplified online." 

 

The search for answers is part of our social narrative and so it is unsurprising that we have gone to the web to ask the questions. There, we are finding our communities, whether they are organized under a traditional doctrine with well-established rituals, or are evolutions that have been produced by people who feel they have seen the light. The greatest danger of the web is not that it will kill or change religion, but that, as Campbell argues, we will see the differences in our faiths because of our desire to find our own kind. 

 

Spirituality will likely be present alongside technology for a long time, perhaps because technology makes the need for spirituality even greater. Albert Einstein famously once said, “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” At its worst, spirituality can polarize people, encouraging bigotry and fear. At its best, it cultivates virtue and love for one’s fellow humans. Ironically, the information technology that is defining this era has similar tendencies — it can polarize and isolate people, or it can connect and empower people. So, perhaps it is up to us to use both, in tandem, to bring out the best of what we as humans can be and also widely circulate the universal messages of the Upanishads--Sanghachhadvam, samvadadvam, samanmakootih; vasudhaiva kutumbakam; sarvejanah sukhino bhavantu; atmavat sravabhiiteshu, ahimsa paramo dharmah; aa no bhadrantu kratavah  yantu visvatah; krinavant visvamaryam, that had remained in limited circles. It is only internet that has made terms like Brahman,  Atman, Avatar, Dharma, Mantra,Puja, Yoga etc., understood by all and popular too.  

-- June 5, 2021

Comments:

Thanks for the comparison of WWW as the repository of all the knowledge in the world and having unifying effect while being inclusive of all the differences. However, our concept of consciousness is more inclusive, including manifest, unmanifest, matter and energy

--Dr. Vedavyas

 

Teaching our religious practices, beliefs and culture to our kids is to keep the bond between us, them and our ancestors. I want them to feel a connection and continuity in their growth/evolution as individuals in pursuit of the truth/perfection in their conduct.

 

Temple is trying to provide an unmet need to give them a religious identity and meaningful principles and practices comparable to other faith communities.

Dr. Vedavyas: I believe it is important for parents to empower themselves by validation by higher authority reinforced by the faith community to do good

Fortunately, advanced scholars will automatically seek the truth, and will not stop till they find it regardless of whatever false indoctrination they grow up with.

I wan to put people on their pursuit to rise above apparent limitations to greater potential. I am trying to practice this mission in everyday life left.--Vedavyas

 

Hindu Reflections on World Environment Day 2021 

 

Humans were once a fairly average species of large mammals, living off the land with little effect on it. But in recent millennia, our relationship with the natural world has changed as dramatically as our perception of it. There are now more than 7 billion people on this planet, drinking its water, eating its plants and animals, and mining its raw materials to build and power our tools. These everyday activities might seem trivial from the perspective of any one individual, but aggregated together they promise to leave lasting imprints on the Earth. Human power is now geological in scope—and if we are to avoid making a mess of this, our only home, our politics must catch up. Making this shift will require a radical change in how we think about our relationship to the natural world. That may sound like cause for despair. After all, many people refuse to admit that environmental crises like climate change exist at all.   People have imagined nature in a great many ways across history. In this, Hinduism leads the rest.

“In our arrogance and ignorance, we have destroyed the environment of this planet. We have polluted the oceans, we have made the air unbreathable, and we have desecrated nature and decimated wildlife. But the Vedanta seers knew that man was not something apart from nature, and, therefore, they constantly exhort us that, while we work for own salvation, we must also work for the welfare of all beings” said Karan Singh once.

What does Hinduism teach about the environment?

Most Hindus understand 'environment' to mean the natural world – everything around us that is part of the Earth and nature. Key teachings for Hindus include:

Ahimsa – the principle of non-violence. Most Hindus believe that all living things are sacred because they are part of God, as is the natural world. Many Hindus believe being non-violent means showing respect for all life, human, animal and vegetable.

Karma – the belief that all actions bring consequences. The Hindu belief in reincarnation draws on the idea of karma. The law of karma is not limited to one lifetime but many lifetimes. If people do negative things in this life, they may pay for these in their next reincarnation.

Many Hindus believe that nature cannot be destroyed without humans also being destroyed, because we need the natural world in order to survive, and also because every atman is a part of Brahman.

Belief in karma should encourage many Hindus to accept responsibility for their actions, including how they treat the environment.

Moksha – the release from the cycle of reincarnation and the end of all suffering. Many Hindus believe that righteous action is an essential starting point in the quest for moksha.

The Hindu declaration at Assisi in 1986 stressed the beliefs that:

·         Humans are a part of nature, indissolubly linked to everything else.

·         God is revealed through the graded scale of evolution, of which humans are just one element, even though they are the highest part at the moment.

“The Earth is our mother and we are all her children”--Ancient Hindu teaching--BBC

Today, June 5 is World Environment Day. Nature and Hinduism are so entwined that it is quite impossible to think any celebration without running to the altar of Bhudevi on this important Day.  Unfortunately,   exclusive altars to Bhudevi are absent in USA and rare in India, though Bhudevi icons are popular as consort of Vishnu processional deities in all temples.  We also ignored to popularize Sitadevi, daughter of Bhudevi altars like Parvati and Lakshmi and so ignored Sita Jayanti. The need for an ecological balance is stressed in the Vedas and Upanishads and this message is repeated in the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Gita, Puranas and in the messages of Hindu saints.   Please recall Veda Mantras on Mother Earth in MNU and on food plants (vanaspatayah santih) and Herbal Plants (oshadhayah santih) to which I draw your attention.   Majority of Hindus stop at the worship of Nature in temples and homes and are not serious about global warming, pollution, and emissions.

Here are a few thoughts which ancient seers of Sanatana Dharma had shared more than 5000 years ago regarding the importance of nature and majority of them are highly relevant today.

Earth, in which lie the sea, the river, and other waters, in which food and cornfields have come to be, in which lives all that breathes and that moves, may she confer on us the finest of her yield. Earth, in which the waters, common to all, moving on all sides, flow unfailingly, day and night, may she pour on us milk in many streams, and endow us with luster. (From the Atharva Veda - Hymn to the Earth - Bhumisukta)

May those born of thee, O Earth, be for our welfare, free from sickness and waste, wakeful through a long life, we shall become bearers of tribute to thee! Earth my mother, set me securely with bliss in full accord with heaven, O wise one, up-hold me in grace and splendor. (From the Atharva Veda - Hymn to the Earth - Bhumisukta)

Earth, atmosphere, sky, sun, moon, stars, waters, plants, trees, moving creatures, swimming creatures, creeping creatures all are hailed and offered oblations. (Taittiriya Samhita i-8-13, Swaha mantra)

American Hindus love to hear other cultures praise their worship of Nature and take pride in them. They indulge and glorify worship of man-animal deities--Ganesha, Narasimha, Hayagriva etc., Holy Cow, Divine Eagle, Divine Monkey, Mountains, Nagas (Snakes), Tulsi, Asvattha   and the numerous other plants and animals that form part of Hindu worship in India that are packed in the messages  of wise Hindu Saints to teach us that we humans are part of Nature and not outside it and above it. Here is the most recent message from a Western Urban Monk who is sold to Hinduism influenced by such thoughts to live in peace with nature but not in pieces. Let us not forget going through the present pandemic, Nature is in control of us and we are not controlling Nature. Let us rise to the occasion and restore ECO-balance and preserve pristine beauty of Nature, while enjoying her bounties;

 

 “No religion, perhaps, lays as much emphasis on environmental ethics as does Hinduism. It believes in ecological responsibility and says like Native Americans that the Earth is our mother. It champions protection of animals, which it considers also have souls, and promotes vegetarianism. It has a strong tradition of non-violence or ahimsa. It believes that God is present in all nature, in all creatures, and in every human being regardless of their faith or lack of it.’”--Dr. David Frawley.

 

ECO-Balance is in our hands. Let us recall the oft repeated slogan of Swami Vivekananda from Vedas; Uttishthata Jagrata Prapya Varan Nibodhata charaiveti charaivet  (Arise, Awake and  stop not till the goal is reached; move forward, move forward)

 

 On World Environment Day, let us stop harming the nature, let us stop polluting it… Let us join hands to bring a positive change to make Planet Earth a much healthier, greener and happier place to live.

--June 5, 2021

Environmental Awareness Everyday

 

“The entire universe is your environment pervaded by your own inmost consciousness”

 

Dr. David Frawley

.

Live in Harmony with All ...

Ancient Vedic Lifestyle and World View draws from the wisdom of the Rishi civilization even to this day and age and is experienced as the primal grace of connectivity between all beings and Maha Prakriti the Great Nature.

Connecting to the rhythms of the cosmic cycles must be experienced through being in sync with Mother Earth, Mother Nature, the Planets, stars and Nakshatras.

The intrinsic connect with the natural world, its animal kingdom and birds allows us to dive into our deeper wisdom and inner strength and conviction which becomes our guiding force for peace and harmony.

When we cultivate the seeds of positivity, compassion and nurturing the mind becomes a powerful tool for harmonizing our existence.

The Yogic teachings express that to create a peaceful, harmonious, joyful environment in our community, at home, at work, or in relationships, we must first find peace within ourselves. By observing our inner nature and our reactions which have their habitual reactions and consequences, we can understand and learn to pause, step back and choose to respond in more peaceful and accepting ways.

Ancient Yogis related the practice of yoga with ahimsa, which is the practice of peace, inner strength and the power of mind and consciousness, not just physical postures but transcendent attitudes.

Yogic teachings encompass all eight limbs of Yoga, with the Yamas and Niyamas forming the most important, starting with the sacred art of ahimsa, peaceful, attentive and considerate contemplation.

 

 

 

 

 

CONFERENCES ON YOGA & WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY (WED)

 

You may recall that Health Station Program of Nashville. With my background basic information, I have made your participation in these Zoom comfortable. But why all these events are scheduled on June 5, and taxing our brain?

  

Directly or indirectly, the pandemic is affecting human life and the global economy, which is ultimately affecting the environment and climate. It reminds us how we have neglected the environmental components and enforced human induced climate change. Moreover, the global response of COVID-19 also teaches us to work together to combat against the threat to mankind. Though the impacts of COVID-19 on the environment are short-term, united and proposed time-oriented effort can strengthen environmental sustainability and save the earth from the effects of global climate change. 

 

World Environment Day (WED) on June 5, is a "day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our external environment." The resolution that created the day said governments and organizations in the United Nations system should "undertake on that day every year world-wide activities reaffirming their concern for the preservation and enhancement of the environment, with a view to deepening environmental awareness and to pursuing the determination expressed at the Conference." Today the day is celebrated in over 100 countries, and millions of people have been involved in thousands of registered activities. 

 

Modern-day yoga is largely promoted as a practice to improve oneself on the physical, mental, and spiritual levels. Ensuring ecological balance, however, is actually a lot more relevant to the yogic lifestyle than one might think. The original teachings of yoga are established with ethical practices in mind, and these apply to the way we treat the environment. Recall the Shanti Mantra Sarve Shantih. We need all-round peace and happiness with ECO-balance. 

 

In terms of our relationship with nature, we can practice this concept in many different ways. For instance, you might think that refusing a dish with meat is an insignificant gesture, but it can cause a ripple effect on the planet and its inhabitants. Eating less meat or adopting a vegetarian diet minimizes harm caused on animals. Incidentally, COVID 19 disaster is of animal origin and careless handling of animal market in our avariciousness!  A decreased demand on animal products also means increased availability of grains that can go toward feeding the hungry.   Our discarded items end up in landfills, or worse, polluting our mountains, oceans, and even cities. (annam na nindyaat; bahu kurveeta; na parichaksheeta--Don’t abuse food, don’t waste food, grow more food) 

 

What yoga teaches us is that we are all connected in some way, and we need to be mindful of our actions. Small acts like changing your diet, refusing single-use plastics, and opting for sustainable clothing have a profound effect on the environment. We depend on the environment for resources, and it depends on us to take care of it. 

 

It is no surprise, these   Forums felt equal importance for the preservation and enhancement of our inner environment by regular practice of Yoga and getting ready to observe International Yoga Day with greater enthusiasm to recoup ourselves, as the pandemic in USA is fading. We wish other less fortunate countries too to recover soon and be focused on Yoga.

HEALTH STATION

Sri  Ganesha Temple

Two practical topics

At. 3.00 P.M.: "Everything you need to know about Allergies." Causes, symptoms, and relief by Dr. Hiranya Gowda.

At 4.00 P.M. Lessons from Yogic Science" Practice for Healthy Living by Vani Venkatesh.

 

Please note at the same time and in continuation: International Conference, USA June 2021 being held. 

What is International yogacon USA?  International YogaCon USA is a comprehensive Yoga Conference that aims to procure wellness & cultivate positivity in today’s challenging times & help people combat pandemic stress. Not just this, but it is a virtual month-long celebration to mark the “International Yoga Day.” 

Date:  Starting from 5th June 2021; Fees:  Free but registration is mandatory 

Key elements of the Conference 

• First-ever global conference organized by AAYM 
• 50 different programs spread over 4 weekends are distributed into 4 categories - 1.Webinars; 2. Yoga sessions; 3. Workshops ; 4.Spiritual discourses 

90 eminent presenters that include the top Scientists, Physicians, Spiritual Gurus, Yoga therapists, Researchers, Academicians, Celebrities, Sportsmen, and Yoga Schools. Representation from India, USA, UK, France, Canada, Australia, Italy, Germany, Gulf countries, and South America.

 

Topics of Talk in the Conference 

Yoga & Resilience; Role of Yoga post COVID; Yoga & Technology; Inclusion of Yoga in Medical Curriculum; Yoga in Cardiovascular & other complex diseases; Kriya Yoga; Yoga in Depression; Yoga for Addiction Management And many more 

Although yoga & meditation have been around for centuries, there’s still something we know very little about-The science behind it! 

To help you get acquainted with this lesser-known knowledge & explore the science behind yoga & mediation, American Academy of Yoga & Meditation brings to you ‘International YogaCon USA 2021’. Register for this international conference where you will discover a plethora of information under the guidance of eminent doctors & researchers from across the globe. This conference is free to attend but with mandatory prior registration. Here is the link – https://www.aaymonline.org/yogacon-usa/   Get ready to discover the science behind yoga & meditation with a number of engaging webinars in the month of June. 

American Academy of Yoga & Meditation is bringing to you a virtual & comprehensive conference –'International YogaCon USA 2021’ 

Register yourself to witness this experience with some eminent speakers from all around the world. 

Note – The fees for these webinars is simply a free registration.

 

Yoga is prescribed for inner balance while recalling our duty to keep the   Cosmic Balance in the outside world on WED on JUNE 5.

“SPIRITUAL PRACTICE FOR CRAZY TIMES: Within you is a sanctuary of peace and fortress of strength. In challenging times, when life gets chaotic, confusing, and overwhelming, accessing that refuge is needed more than ever.  Find out how to better deploy meditation, mindfulness, and other powerful techniques from the world’s spiritual tradition (of Yoga) as well as modern science.  

 

Discover how to establish a regular practice that suits you and your circumstances. Create a personal inventory of interventions you can draw on at a moment’s notice whenever the need arises. Utilize and create sacred spaces to reframe your perceptions and upgrade your thought patterns. Improve your spiritual time management to sanctify relationships. Uplift and recalibrate your spirit with art, music, and time in nature. Engender ways to stay clear, composed, and balanced during life’s rough patches—and better equipped to act decisively to help restore sanity in the world around you.” says Dr. Phil Goldberg conveying his mission for the occasion, getting ready for a workshop to be made available on Zoom, soon. Thank God, he did not keep us wandering further on WED of June 5 from zoom to zoom!

 

Besides, Jaya Row of Vedanta Vision, in her Zoom discourse on Gita, Chapter 6, Sankhya Yoga, "Decodes Devotion" beyond praying for what we already have on WED of June 5. What can I wield further on this WED, June 5? All pursuits direct us to wisdom thoughts on WED on June 5! Are they confusing us, unable to convince us of eradicating our darkness of ignorance with no light visible at the end of the tunnel, worrying on wellness on WMD June 5? Thank God! I have neither learnt the technique of Zoom, nor participate!

 

The theme for World Environment Day 2021 is “Ecosystem Restoration” and will see the launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Ecosystem restoration can take many forms: Growing trees, greening cities, rewilding gardens, changing diets or cleaning up rivers and coasts. This is the generation that can make peace with nature. 

 

It is our responsibility to keep our surroundings clean and green and we all must make the best of the efforts to do so, to save our Mother Earth and live happily. Happy World Environment Day.

 

You cannot control what goes on outside, for those call for a team effort, but you can always control what goes on inside! Yoga is the journey of Self, through the Self, to the Self!

--June 4, 2021

 

 

Raising Children as Good Hindus 

This article by Satguru Bodhinatha  Veylanswami "Raising Children as Good Hindu" as attached, presents a survey of character building designed to augment any Hindu tradition or denomination. The key is this: start teaching early and don’t stop until your children leave the home. Even if you did nothing more than what is outlined here, that would be enough to send them on their way as good Hindus, well equipped to live as happy, effective citizens of the modern world. I am sure this would help a lot our Baal Vihaar Sunday School at Sri Ganesha Temple, Nashville and similar institutions, while serving as a practical manual to all concerned Hindu American Parents.

Raising Children as Good Hindus 

 Hinduism Today, April 1, 2021    

 

Many Hindu families visiting our Hawaii monastery, particularly those with young children, ask if I have any advice for them. I usually respond with one or two strategic suggestions. I always stress the importance of presenting Hinduism to their children in a practical way so that it influences each child’s life for the better. Hindu practices should, for example, help children get better grades in school and get along well with others. Of course, there is not enough time in a short session to present all the many guidelines that a parent would find useful. Therefore, I decided to write up a full complement of suggestions to be handed to Hindu families in the future who want to know ways to present Hinduism to their kids. You hold the results in your hands: a parent’s guidebook of minimum teachings to convey to children. It is based on the teachings of my Sat guru, Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, founder of HINDUISM TODAY, distilled from insights he gained from over 40 years of closely working with hundreds of families in a score of nations.

Swami Bodhinatha Velaswamy

Table of Contents 

Introduction:P arents Are the First Gurus in Religion, Culture and Character 

• PART ONE: TEACH AND PRACTICE HINDUISM IN YOUR HOME 
• PART TWO: TEACH ABOUT THE SOUL AND OUR PURPOSE ON EARTH 
• PART THREE: TEACH OF HINDUISM’S GREATNESS 
• PART FOUR: TEACH ABOUT HINDUISM AND THE OTHER WORLD RELIGIONS 
• PART FIVE: TEACH HOW HINDUISM GRANTS EXPERIENCE OF GOD 
• PART SIX: TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO LIVE POSITIVELY IN THE WORLD

 

 

• BUILDING GOOD CHARACTER
• 
  
• PART ONE 

• CULTIVATE NINE SPIRITUAL QUALITIES 
• 1. DEVELOP A POSITIVE SELF-CONCEPT 
• 2. DEVELOP PERCEPTIVE SELF-CORRECTION 
• 3. DEVELOP POWERFUL SELF-CONTROL 
• 4. DEVELOP A PROFOUND SELF-CONFIDENCE 
• 5. DEVELOP A PLAYFUL SELF-CONTENTMENT 
• 6. DEVELOP A PIOUS CHARACTER 
• 7. DEVELOP PROFICIENCY IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION 
• 8. DEVELOP PARENTAL CLOSENESS 
• 9. DEVELOP A PREJUDICE-FREE CONSCIOUSNESS\ 
  
   
• PART TWO
  
• GUIDE CHILDREN WITH LOVE, NOT FEAR

nrsrini.blogspot.com/2019/10/teaching-vedanta-to-children-and-adults.html 

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THINKING AFRESH ON MEMORIAL DAY 2021 

 

Please recall my recent E-mail on Memorial Day in which I wrote: “Have you wondered   why it is widely celebrated with enthusiasm and reverence both by religious and civil institutions throughout the country? It is perhaps based on ancient Hindu culture that no social event should be celebrated without running to a religious altar and praying to the Supreme!  The concept of Hindu religious ritual is so deeply embedded in our social fabric that it is natural for it to have made the leap to virtuosity.  We can find that answer in the holiday’s rich spiritual legacy that also heralds the joyous dawn of summer unofficially on the Memorial Day! From its inception in the aftermath of the Civil War, Memorial Day has embodied core aspects of faith: sacrifice, love, and rebirth. It brings more spiritual meaning to Hindu Americans in 2021 than other   cultures.  The following messge from a Nashville contributor to NY Times reflects my thoughts too! Coming from a Westerner, it may surprise you! Please go through and convince yourself. I am convinced it is appropriate to make it a Special Religious Event Day on this unofficial Summer Declaration Day that brings warmth, hope, optimism and spirit of service to our cold frozen lives! Let us bid good-bye to May with our blooming heart! April rains while May flowers with brilliance and beauty!

 

“We Were Called to Sacrifice as a Nation. We Didn’t Answer. 

For the first 13 years of my life, my country was at war in Vietnam. Every night, my father would watch the news — sometimes Huntley and Brinkley, sometimes Walter Cronkite — and almost every night I sat on the floor next to him while he smoked a cigarette and swirled the ice in his glass. I loved the scent of him, the smell of smoke and sweat and whiskey. I would lean against his warm leg, only half listening to the news. 

I don’t remember how old I was when I first noticed the casualty counts that closed those broadcasts, but at some point it dawned on me that boys in America grow up and go to war, and some of them die there. American boys had been dying in Vietnam for my entire life, and I assumed they would always be dying there. 

My father never went to war. He was too young for World War II and too old for Vietnam. During the Korean War, he was in the Army Reserve or the National Guard; I don’t remember which. He was prepared to go when called, but he was never called. He once remarked that his was the only Alabama unit to spend the entire Korean War in Alabama, and he regarded this circumstance impassively, with neither relief nor dismay. It was simply the luck of the draw. 

Young men of my father’s generation grew up during wartime and generally expected to serve when their turn came. No generation since has felt the same way. There are compelling reasons for that shift — the protracted catastrophe in Vietnam not least — but I’m less interested in why it happened than in what it tells us about our country now. What does it mean to live in a nation with no expectation for national service? With no close-hand experience of national sacrifice? 

I don’t mean to glorify war. I have vehemently opposed every ill-advised military excursion this country has engaged in and mourned the unnecessary suffering that our leaders’ arrogance has caused all over the globe. But ever since I sat at my father’s knee and listened to the nightly casualty count in Vietnam, I have never been anything less than grateful for the servicemen and women themselves, and every year I find it a little bit heartbreaking to be reminded of what Memorial Day has become. 

For some service members’ families, Memorial Day is truly a time for remembrance and fresh grief, but it has been decades now since those profound losses were felt in every community, by nearly every family. For most of us, Memorial Day simply marks the unofficial beginning of summer — a chance to cookout, to go swimming, or to sit with friends in the shade of the long, long afternoon, waiting for lightning bugs to come out. 

In 1906, the American philosopher William James delivered an address at Stanford University that was later published as “Proposing the Moral Equivalent of War.” In it, he made the case for a form of compulsory national service that would instill the same virtues as those so often ascribed to military service. Without the fear and brutality of war, national service would be a morally uncomplicated way for young people “to get the childishness knocked out of them, and to come back into society with healthier sympathies and soberer ideas.” 

Some of James’s own sober ideas have not survived the test of time. He thought, for instance, that waging “immemorial human warfare against nature” was an apt use of young people conscripted into national service, though the human war against nature has never needed reinforcements. We have been waging unceasing war against nature for the entire history of humanity.

Nevertheless, the need for some non-martial way to nurture communitarian qualities is more urgent now than ever. We have lately been reminded of the absolute necessity for Americans to be motivated by warm fellow feeling across divides of region, race, class, politics, religion, age, gender or ability; to cultivate a sense of common purpose; to make sacrifices for the sake of others. And that reminder came in the form of watching what happens when such qualities are absent, even anathema, in whole regions of the country. 

Lied to by the president of the United States and egged on by craven commentators, many Americans staunchly refused to give up social gatherings, no matter that staying home was the best way to keep the virus from spreading. They refused to wear masks, and they mocked and harassed people who did. Some are, even now, rejecting a vaccine that could keep the virus from mutating into so many variants that there will be no hope of containing it. And they have done it all, they insist, because they are patriots

COVID  19 tolthat we may never know their true number, but by one estimate as many as 900,000 Americans have already died of the virus. If you exclude the Civil War, in which Americans fought on both sides, that’s more Americans lost to Covid than in all the other wars we have fought. Combined. 

In short, the coronavirus pandemic became a perfect illustration of James’s “moral equivalent of war.” We weren’t fighting a human enemy, but we were fighting for our lives even so. This national calamity, this invasion by a destructive and unstoppable force, was our chance to come together across every possible division. We could finally remember how to sacrifice on behalf of our fellow Americans, how to mourn together the unfathomable losses — not just of life but of security, camaraderie, the capacity for hope. 

Plenty of Americans — essential workers, first responders, hospital staff, teachers and many others — lost their lives because they made such sacrifices. Millions more complied unhesitatingly with measures designed to keep the most vulnerable among us safe. But too, too many of us did not. Too many were hostile to the very idea that they should alter their behavior even in the smallest way for the sake of strangers. 

But for those “patriots,” we might be able now to imagine the proclamation of another kind of Memorial Day, one that commemorates not self-sacrifice in war but the lives we saved (that includes spiritually in Hindu American concept) by joining together to serve the same cause. If Vietnam exploded the unquestioned commitment to national service, the coronavirus pandemic should have been the very thing to bring it back. 

That it did exactly the opposite tells us something about who we are as human beings, and who we are as a nation. There is more to mourn today than I ever understood before.” 

[Margaret Renkl is a contributing opinion writer who covers flora, fauna, politics and culture based in my hometown Nashville, the Religious City of USA]

--May 31, 2021

 

HOLY VAISAKHA SUKLA FORTNIGHT

Krishna says in Gita that among months I am Margasheersha. It is no wonder that my discourse on the Holy Month Margazhi has become very popular. To this I would add among Sukla Pakshas in a Hindu Calendar Year, Vaisakha Sukla Paksha is the holiest though it has not caught the attention of many and neither religious pandits nor spiritual gurus talk about them all at one place. Please go through the galaxy of festivals and rituals and convince yourself. 

Vaisaka Sukla Triteeya: 

 

Akshaya Triteeya; Parasurama Jayanti;

Basaveswara Jayanti; Balarama Jayanti 

 

In Jainism, this day is celebrated to commemorate Lord Adinatha, who was Rishbha Avatar,  whom they adopted as  their first God.

 

Vaisakha Sukla Panchami: 

Sankara Jayanti; Surdas Jayanti 

 

Vaisakha Sukla Saptami: 

Ganga Jayanti 

 

Vaisakhasukla Astami: 

Bagalmatidevi Jayanti 

 

Vaisakha Sukla Navami  

Sita Jayanti; Matangi Jayanti 

 

Vaisakha Sukla Dasami: 

Kanyaka Paramesvari Jayanti  

 

Vaisakha Sukla Chaturdasi: 

Narasimha Jayanti; Chinnamasta Jayanti 

 

Vaisakha Pournima 

Kurma Jayanti; Buddha Jayanti; Subhramanya Jayanti; Periyazhvar Jayanti 

 

--May 31, 2021

 

 

 

AUROBINDO ON SECRET OF THE VEDAS THAT HAS INSPIRED CURRENT VEDIC RESEARCH

 

Sri Aurobindo on "Secret of the Veda" has given us a mystic interpretation of the Vedic hymns unlike Sayanacharya's 14th century ritualistic commentary. It is a study of the way of writing of the Vedic mystics, their philosophic system, their system of symbols and the truths they figure, and translations of selected hymns of the Rig-Veda. Is there at all or is there still a secret of the Veda? Sri Aurobindo asks in the opening sentence of this book. He examines the ritualistic and naturalistic theory of nineteenth-century European scholars and then sets forth his own view. He states, "The hypothesis I propose is that the Rig-veda is itself the one considerable document that remains to us from the early period of human thought of which the historic Eleusinian and Orphic mysteries were the failing remnants, when the spiritual and psychological knowledge of the race was concealed, for reasons now difficult to determine, in a veil of concrete and material figures and symbols which protected the sense from the profane and revealed it to the initiated... To disengage this less obvious but more important sense [of the Vedic ritual system] by fixing the import of Vedic terms, the sense of Vedic symbols and the psychological functions of the Gods is thus a difficult but necessary task, for which these chapters and the translations that accompany them are only a preparation." 

 

On the subject of the “Secret on Vedas” from Aurobindo, may I draw your attention once again to my popular discourses on the subject? 

 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2017/06/gems-of-wisdom-and-knowledge-from-vedas.html 

 

Vedas are one of the greatest gifts to humanity that India   has ever produced for the benefit and well-being of the world. A few Vedic mantras like the Gayatri mantra are commonly practiced that have afforded great reverence, yet the rest of the ten thousand verses of the Rigveda are seldom examined or recited. I have kindled your thoughts to realize their priceless value in our day-to-day life to live in peace but not in pieces as I had learnt from reputed   spiritual Gurus.  Professor P.R. Mukundan from RIT in USA is also presently engaged to research and preserve old Rig Vedic manuscripts.   

 

May I further draw your attention to Gayatri Mantra and another Rigveda mantra which I chant daily during Veda-parayana  from Mahnarayana Upanishd contained   in Daharavidya (knowledge of Brahman) to illustrate the above contention: 

 

Gayatri is the Mother of all scriptures (Vedas).  The complete translation of the Gayatri-mantra is: “We meditate on the most adorable, desirable and enchanting luster and brilliance of our Supreme Being, our Source Energy, our Collective Consciousness….who is our creator, inspirer and source of eternal Joy.  May this warm and loving Light inspire and guide our mind and open our hearts.” 

For every kind of power, proofs are often searched, by direct perception or by the process of inference. In the past many Men have tried to find out by what direct proof they could experience the transcendental power of Gayatri-mantra. They found the ultimate proof in the Sun.  Please recall how   the Solar Religion got started inspired by Vedas about Winter Solstice day, that today many traditions of the world celebrate on December 25 that Christians celebrate as the birthday of Son of the Sun. We are all Children of this Immortal   Bliss, Source of all Energy! Without the Sun there will be no light at all and the entire universe will be plunged in darkness. All activities will come to a standstill. In this world hydrogen is essential for the growth of plants and of living beings. The Sun’s primary components are hydrogen and helium. Without hydrogen and helium, the world cannot survive. Hence, the ancient men concluded that the Sun was a visible proof (of the transcendental power of gayatri mantra). They also found some subtle secrets about the Sun. Hence, they adored the Sun as the principal deity in the Gayatri-mantra.

Sun worship, veneration of the sun or a representation of the sun as a deity, as in Atonism in Egypt in the 14th century BCE. Although sun worship has been used frequently as a term for “pagan” religion, it is, in fact, relatively rare. Though almost every culture uses solar motifs, only a relatively few cultures (Egyptian, Indo-European, and Meso-American) developed solar religions. All of these groups had in common a well-developed urban civilization with a strong ideology of sacred kingship. 

Chapter 3 of Chandogya Upanishad starts with an enquiry into the essence of   Sun as the source of energy   in this phenomenal world as well as others and finally comes to the conclusion that all this is Brahma only (सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्म – sarvaṃ khalvidaṃ brahma – 3.14.1); everything originates from it, exists in it and finally merges into it. 

 

The Vedas such as Rigveda and others are the Wisdom for all the worlds. The essence of their figurative and enigmatic teachings starts with the Sun stressing the importance of Vedic Fire Sacrifice: The rays of the Sun related to the five directions such as the East, West, South, North and Upward are the Honey cells. The flowers are related to the Karmas prescribed by the respective Vedas. From these flowers the respective bees of the form of the several Vedic mantras bring the honey of the form of Somarasa, ghee, the milk and other substances to the orb of the Sun. From the oblations of the form of soma, ghee, milk etc. are formed the five nectars of the Sun in the form of Yasas (fame), Tejas (brilliance),  Veerya (power), Sukla  (light), and Krishna (darkness)  and the movement in the middle. These are the five nectars or Amrutas that are resorting to the middle of the Sun making it the most powerful source of Energy. 

 Chandogya Upanishad 3.12 (1,2,5…) 

This entire creation of this universe is Gayatri. Gayatri is speech and protects (trayati) the entire creation on this universe. Gayatri indeed is all that exists. Speech is Gayatri; for speech sings and removes fear from mankind’s mind and soul. 

 

Chandogya Upanishad 4.17 (1-6) 

Prajapati (the progenitor of the worlds) often brooded on the existence of three worlds. From them he extracted their essences. Fire was extracted from earth, air was extracted from the sky and the sun was extracted from heaven.

He further brooded on these three deities. From them he extracted their essences as well. The Riks (Rig-veda) were extracted from fire, the Yajus-mantras (Yajur-veda) were  extracted from air, and the Saman (Sama-veda) were extracted from the sun. 

 

He brooded on the three Vedas as well. From them he extracted their existences. Bhuh was taken from the Riks, Bhuvah was taken from the Yajus-mantras and Svah were taken from the Samans. 

 

“Chatvari sringa trayo asya pada dve sirse sapta hastaso asya, Rigveda IV.58.3.” This means Brahman has Four horns, three feet, two heads and seven hands.  This only suggests Brahman is  Kaalpurusha or Time, symbolizing the Yuga number or cosmic age of 4,320,000,000 years which is one Kalpa. We are now in Svetavaraha Kalpa. The mantra suggests only the numbers in order 4, 3, 2 and seven zeros but we must understand   the true depth of the riddle language of Vedas which is not easy. 

 

Carl Sagan is American astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist, astrobiologist and philosopher. Carl Sagan’s contributions to cosmology and modern space science are unprecedented. He was a devout Hindu and has been seen quoting: “The Hindu religion is the only one of the world’s great faiths dedicated to the idea that the Cosmos itself undergoes an immense, indeed an infinite, number of deaths and rebirths. It is the only religion in which the time scales correspond, to those of modern scientific cosmology. Its cycles run from our ordinary day and night to a day and night of Brahma, 8.64 billion years long. Longer than the age of the Earth or the Sun and about half the time since the Big Bang. And there are much longer time scales still.”   

Scientific validation for ancient knowledge’ scheme of Government of India   covers both humanities and the sciences. Researchers at all higher education institutes, including the IITs, NITs, central universities and others, will be eligible to avail the benefits offered under the scheme. This move is one in a series of efforts that the government is making to encourage research in ancient texts.

The latest scheme will work along the lines of the Impacting Research Innovation and Technology (IMPRINT) initiative under which a study is carried out across 10 domains, including in healthcare, information and communication technology, energy, sustainable habitat, water resource and river system, advanced materials, manufacturing, security and defense, among others.

Here are my six most popular discourses posted on the blog Hindu Reflections. These focus on Veda mantras used in our daily temple and home worships. Besides I have also circulated to you discourses explaining mantras chanted during Nitya karmas and Naimittika karmas (daily and specific duties like Sandhyavanadana). It is interesting to note these six discourses are most popular with readers from even India. This shows how starved these religious followers are about the deeper meaning of the mantras they use in worships and rituals fed up with just parrot chanting. It looks our priests and parents are just focusing on mechanically chanting these mantras just to repeat after them with no focus on spirituality. 

  
http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/02/some-vedic-mantras-used-in-hindu_20.html 

 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2013/08/august-2013-mantras-and-hymns-for.html 

 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/02/homa-mantras-from-mahaanaaraayana.html 

 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/02/sooktas-from-mahaanaaraayana-upanishad.html 

 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2013/08/shoedasa-upachaara-poojaa-vidhaanam16_7065.html 

 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2013/09/invocation-and-conclusion-worship.html 

 

--May 31, 2021

 

 

 

 

ICCSS Health Station on Allergy & Yoga, June 5, 2021

 

In today's world, Allergy as I understand from my son who is an experienced internist, graduated from Brown and Harvard, is that with every sneeze, cough or tickle in the throat, many people wonder: Do I have COVID-19? For the millions of allergy sufferers around the country, this question becomes a little more complex — allergies or COVID-19 (also known as the coronavirus), or perhaps a cold or the flu? Following are ways to tell if you are suffering from allergies, a cold or the flu, or if you should call you physician and get tested for COVID 19.  “For any non-emergency health concern, contact your physician or visit an urgent care center where doctors can examine you and determine the best treatment.” he advises, who lives in California.  COVID-19 symptoms vary broadly and can range from mild to severe.

 

Allergy symptoms range from mild to severe and can occur seasonally or be present year-long. In patients with asthma, allergies can cause a cough, wheeze and shortness of breath. Allergies are caused by our immune system overreacting to normal things in our environment — such as pollen, dust, mold, pet dander — and are not contagious. Medications can typically treat our symptoms and allergy immunotherapy — allergy shots — can often help patients find long-term relief.

Common Allergy symptoms are: Sneezing; Runny or stuffy nose; Itchy or watery eyes; Itchy nose or ears; Post-nasal drip (which can sometimes cause a mild sore throat); Mild fatigue

The coronavirus (COVID-19) is a viral illness spread through droplets via coughing, sneezing, and close personal contact. Symptoms typically start between 2-14 days after exposure and will typically resolve within ~14 days after onset, whether the symptoms are mild, moderate or severe. It is important to note that if we have received the COVID-19 vaccine, it is still possible we can get COVID-19. If we are vaccinated and test positive for COVID-19, our symptoms are expected to be milder. Common COVID 19 symptoms are: Fever; Dry cough; Shortness of breath; Intense Fatigue: Body Aches; Loss of Smell.  We are fortunate to hear more about it from Dr. Hiranya Gowda who is a rare combination of renowned doctor/spiritualist/GYM (Gymnasium, Yoga and Meditation) specialist/ philanthropist and temple father of Sri Ganesa Temple. He may surprise us also enlightening us with his expertise on Holistic Yoga besides Allergy.  e may surprise vus

 

I have gone through with you discussing on long and complicated history of yoga as I understood though I am neither a spiritual Guru nor a Yoga Master. I usually go to a   YMCA as I feel the need for the balanced functioning of Body, Mind and Spirit.  Yoga is deeply embedded with Hindu beliefs. It is fascinating stuff that we need to focus if spirituallyoriented, but what matters for most of us however is modern yoga. There are multiple schools of modern yoga. Each tends to emphasize different parts of the practice.   I am not an expert to discuss the merits of any particular yoga school, while you are anxiously waiting to hear the learned Yoga Guru of long standing, but rather what makes any yoga practice holistic in the present context.

 

Yoga, like many spiritual practices, is what you make it. You can dedicate yourself to a certain school and follow it as if it were the only way. Or, you can sample around as to find the appropriate one that works for you. The world is far too big and complicated and diverse to stick with just one way of doing things. Having neglected to learn and practice yoga with a Guru’s guidance in my boyhood days,  I  concentrate on the practice itself that suits  my advanced age  and  call it holistic yoga, a yoga that feeds my  body and my  spirit. Retirement has neither weakened my body nor soul though shook me at 72 with 4-byepass heart surgery, but now I am focused on Gita’s  upadesa--yudhayasva vigatajvarah--act without anxiety.

 

We have now a rare opportunity to hear about the merits of   yoga to lead a healthy life from Vani Venkatesh on June 5. Holistic Yoga on which the present speaker will be talking,  will be more interesting for Hindu Americans as some of them are already acquainted with the subject  Yoga integrated Ayurveda, which is a hot topic today presented by Gurus like Vivekananda, Paramahamsa Yogananda and David Frawley for a long time.

 --May 30, 2021

 

Shankara & His Raja Yoga 

 

An avatar a concept in Hinduism that means "descent", is the material appearance or incarnation of a deity on earth. The word also implies "to overcome, to remove, to bring down, to cross something"--a form, to destroy evil and its sources, and restore the cosmic balance between the ever-present forces of good and evil. 

 

Avatars brought with their descent Yogasastra (Divine elements of Yoga) in their material appearance: Kurmasana of Kurmavatara  with its cosmic balance; meditation of Hayagriva;   Ugra Narasimha after completing his mission presented Hatha Yoga to the world that he practiced himself and progressively turned to to Yoga Narasimha, Lakshmi Narasimha and Prahlada Varada; Parasurama’s retirement turning to a Muni to practice Sanyas Yoga giving up WMD; Yoga Vasishta inclination of Rama, dejected by the departure of Sita;  Yoga legacy of Bhagavad Gita delivered  by Krishna prescribing 18 kinds of Yoga; and  Padmasana, Mouna, Meditation, Sanyasayoga and Enlightenment (Vijnanena atmanam vedayati) by Buddha. That inspired Patanjali to come up with Ashtanga Yoga and then Sankara to come up with his Raja yoga. Today we come up with several new modifications of yoga as the world needs different approaches to yoga, to meet the vastly different situations and needs of individuals, the latest being Al Quida syndrome, COVID pandemic and conflicting world that we hear from Modern Yoga Gurus. Yoganada Paramahamsa practiced and propagated yoga to the Western world, particularly USA.

 

You will hear further about it on June 5 from Dr.  Vani Venkatesh on Science of Yoga to lead a Healthy Life on Zoom conducted by Sri Ganesha Temple, Nashville, USA. We would have welcomed to hear from the other speaker Dr. Hiranya Gowda also, who is a rare combination of reputed doctor/ Spiritualist/Yoga Master/GYM Specialist. GYM stands for Gymnasium, Yoga and Meditation according to him that is the pet subject of this gifted philanthropist.

 

Shankaracharya, or Adi Shankara the teacher, is one of the greatest spiritual masters in the history of India. Shankara has often been called the greatest philosopher of India, if not of all time and of the entire world. His teaching is highly rational, clear and concise, as well deeply mystical, unfolding all the mysteries of Self, God, the universe, the Absolute and immortality, with subtle meditative examinations of mind and consciousness. Most of what today is called Advaita (non-dualistic) Vedanta reflects the mark of his insights or even follows his language of discourse. He is the main classical teacher of the Advaita Vedanta tradition that derives from the Vedas. 

 

Shankara’s greatness has been hailed by such monumental modern gurus of India as Swami Vivekananda, Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, Ramana Maharshi, Swami Chinmayananda, Swami Dayananda (Arsha Vidya) Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Paramahansa Yogananda, to name a few. Most of the original Yoga that came to the West starting with Vivekananda was styled “Yoga-Vedanta,” reflecting Shankara’s influence, and aimed at Self-realization through meditation, not simply at skill in asana practice. Indeed, Shankara has been a more dominant figure than Patanjali for these great Yoga-Vedanta masters and for India as a whole historically. He has been regarded as a veritable manifestation of Lord Shiva, the king of the Yogis himself, evidenced by his name Shankara, which is one of the main names for Shiva as well. 

 

Shankara is the main traditional teacher of Jnana Yoga or the “Yoga of Knowledge,” which is usually regarded as the highest yogic path. Even Patanjali states that liberation or Self-realization is gained by knowledge, not by any other means and makes Yoga a means of achieving that higher knowledge. 

 

People forget that Shankara was a great Raja Yogi as well, one of the greatest of all time. Shankara discusses all the main aspects of Raja Yoga in his different books and exhibits the secrets of the chakras, mantra, pranayama, concentration and meditation, as well as the intricacies of Nirvikalpa Samadhi, the highest yogic state. Shankara’s great poem Saundarya Lahiri or the Wave of Bliss remains the most famous work of Tantric Yoga and Shakti Sadhana reflecting all the secrets of Sri Vidya, mantra, yantra and Tantra. 

 

Shankara composed beautiful chants to the Hindu Gods and Goddesses that remain repeated and sung today more than any other Sanskrit poet. The musical cadence of some of his chants like Shivo’ham, or “I am Shiva,” has entered into the western kirtan movement as well. 

 

Shankara is usually dated to the eighth century by Western scholars but is placed much earlier by most Indian scholars. Though he lived only to the short age, he left a legacy of teachings, temples and lineages that affected the whole of India and marked an entire era. 

 

 "Shankara’s Non-dualistic Raja Yoga 

 It is often highlighted by academics that Shankara does refute Samkhya-Yoga philosophy, particularly in his commentaries on Vedic texts, and so appears to be against Yoga. This is a misunderstanding. It is not the practice of Yoga overall that Shankara criticizes but the ideas of Purusha and Prakriti as separate realities and that the Purushas are many, which do occur in Samkhya and Yoga Sutra philosophy. Counter to these ideas, Shankara proclaims Kevala Advaita or pure unity as the highest reality instead. 

 

Shankara has a slightly different view of Raja Yoga than the philosophy of Samkhya or Patanjali, and teaches his own system of Raja Yoga based upon Advaita or the non-dualistic view. It is not Yoga per se that Shankara refutes, but simply the dualistic aspects of Samkhya and Yoga philosophy, which are arguably not their real implication, or necessary for the practice of Yoga overall, which after all aims at unity consciousness. Shankara never criticizes the Yoga of Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita but promotes it strongly. 

 

Specifically, Shankara taught a fifteenfold Raja Yoga in his important short work Aparokshanubhuti. Aparoksha refers to the knowledge gained by direct perception in consciousness itself, which is beyond both reason and sensory perception. Anubhuti is the experience of that from moment to moment as the ground of one’s own being. This is the knowledge born of Samadhi that is the highest form of knowledge. 

 

Shankara’s fifteen-fold Yoga combines Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga rather than the physical practices of Hatha Yoga. This fifteen-fold Raja Yoga of Shankara is quite advanced, even for advanced Yogis. There may be not a single person in the world, much less in the West, who can follow it directly without already having undergone considerable training and preliminary support practices. We are not necessarily recommending that the ordinary Yoga student take up Shankara’s Raja Yoga as their primary practice, but rather to use it to see greater depths of Yoga that remain far beyond what modern Yoga has become, particularly in its commercial and exercise approaches. Shankara takes the main outer practices and techniques of Yoga and replaces them with inner meditational ways or ways of Self -knowledge or the realization of non-duality. 

 

The following is a translation and short commentary of the portion of Aparokshanubhuti that deals with Raja Yoga, which also occurs in the Tejobindu Upanishad. The Sanskrit idiom is at times terse and difficult to be literal with, so I have in places opted for a degree of simplification, as well as including in brackets some important Sanskrit terms. Shankara’s Yogataravalli and Saundarya Lahiri have similar ideas. We begin with a few verses earlier on in the text to put it into context. 

 

The Importance of Vichara or Inquiry 

 Jnana Yoga or the Yoga of Knowledge is based upon deep thought, observation and inquiry (vichara). This is also the background of Shankara’s Raja Yoga, without which one cannot understand it. Shankara states: 

11. Without inquiry (vichara) there is no knowledge, which is not gained by any other means, just as an object is revealed only by light and not by anything else. 

12.” Who am I? How did this world come into being? Who is its creator? What is its material cause?”This inquiry is of that kind. 

13. “I am not the body which is a collection of the elements, nor am I the conglomerate of the sense organs. I am distinct from all that.” This inquiry is of that kind. 

14. “Everything arises through ignorance and is dissolved by knowledge. The different thoughts are the creator of all this.” This inquiry is of that kind. 

15. “Of all this universe, the material cause is the One subtle unchangeable being, just as one finds pots made of clay.” This inquiry is of that kind. 

16. “I am the One, subtle knower, witness and unchangeable being, of that there is no doubt.” This inquiry is of that kind. 

 

Yoga is a means of gaining this higher knowledge, a practice called Sadhana in Sanskrit. In this regard, Yoga consists of two factors: 

• The first is outer practices to purify the body and the mind so that they have the capacity to gain the higher knowledge. This consists of the outer limbs and practices of Yoga as Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, and Pratyahara, as well as the preparatory practices and sattvic life-style necessary to even begin the practice of Yoga. 
• The second consists Samyama as all three together) as developing the higher knowledge of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi (yogic through deep meditation. However, it must be noted that the yogic Samadhi or Samyama can be used for lesser goals than the higher Self-knowledge (Atma-Vidya or Purusha-vidya), but that is another issue and is not the true goal of Yoga. 

Shankara and Jnana Yoga bring clarity to the higher goal of Yoga. Shankara states that Self-realization requires knowledge, not merely Samadhi, and that this knowledge rests upon inquiry or vichara, which is a higher mental activity, not simply actions like asana or pranayama, which have value more for purifying the mind and body than for the direct realization of the Self. This means that one can practice asana and pranayama forever and still not gain liberation, though these practices may aid with physical health and psychological well-being. We must move beyond them to a deeper meditation. 

Even meditation cannot bring us Self-realization unless it is allied with a deeper inquiry or vichara, meaning meditation on the Self, rather than on other objects or ideas-[Vedantavijnaana] On the other hand, without deep meditation, vichara or inquiry is not enough either, as it can remain merely at a conceptual level. In this regard Shankara teaches his fifteen-fold Raja Yoga to aid in the realization of the knowledge generated by vichara or inquiry, and as a deeper level of inquiry. Clearly the role of knowledge and vichara has not been given its proper central place in most of modern Yoga. Shankara teaches us how to bring it back.

• For those who are not yet ripe in their spiritual life or sadhana, the more ordinary practices of Hatha Yoga should also be included. This includes almost everyone. Thus, Shankara makes it clear he is not rejecting these lesser practices but simply adding a higher dimension to them. He also ends stressing the need for devotion as a foundation for the knowledge, which otherwise is likely to remain dry and conceptual only. 
  
  
• Ramana Maharshi similarly states that a ripe mind (pakva manas or pakva chitta) is necessary to be able to benefit from the higher knowledge. We see here that such a ripe mind is already a high state of awareness and requires proficiency in Hatha Yoga already or a strong state of sattva guna or purity in mind and body. Shankara’s Jnana Yoga or Yoga of Knowledge is gained through the application of his Raja Yoga or higher Yoga practices.  Shankara has discussed   Hatha Yoga practices, including Kundalini, the chakras, nadis, different pranayamas, mantras and rituals." 

--Dr. David Frawley (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri

 

--May 30, 2021

 

 

YOGA COURSES HUA--SUMMER 2021

The concept of Yoga and its threptic value for EQ Management was given to the world by Yoga Narasimha Avatar that I explained. Did he start with Hatha Yoga and employ EQ Management to parentage Prahlada to be called Prahlada Varada? Later Avatars continued focusing on Yoga--Rama(Yoga Vasishtha), Krishna (Bhagavat Gita of 18 Yoga legacy chapters) and Buddha (Meditation, Mouna, Nirvana)  that inspired Patanjali to come up with Ashtanga Yoga and then Sankara to come up with his Raja yoga. Today we come up with several new modifications of yoga as the world needs different approaches to yoga to meet the vastly different situations and needs of individuals, the latest being Al Quida syndrome,  COVID pandemic etc. HUA has therefore risen to the occasion with its own version of Yoga continuing the work started by Paramhamsa Yogananda tackling it at grass roots starting with Youth-Early bird catches the prey!  I believe Sri Ganesha Temple in Nashville started adult yoga program and youth yoga program some years back and now have the opportunity to take further guidance from HUA! Please do not miss the opportunity. I have the pleasure to forward the message sent to me.  At 91+, I am continuing with a bit of Raja Yoga of Sankara, about which I will talk to you soon.

--May 2021

 

 

Let Us Focus on Faith & Gratitude on Memorial Day 

This year, Memorial Day is on Monday, May 31, 2021. This means that Memorial Day weekend—the three-day span that encompasses Memorial Day—will take place from Saturday, May 29 through that Monday, May 31. Mahalaya Amavasya Day is the Religious All Memorial Day for Hindus on which day fasting is observed and Food Charity is done, praying for all the departed souls we care for!   

 

Memorial Day officially became a federal holiday in 1971 in USA. In 1968, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was finally passed, which both declared that Memorial Day would take place on the last Monday in May and required that federal employees be granted a day off. In 1971, Memorial Day officially became a federal holiday intended to observe and honor the people who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military.   

 

On Memorial Day, as Hindus, as we pay our respects to those who have given all to the nations that we migrated from and USA, let us ponder how our faith can amplify the meaning of this day. Have you wondered   why it is as widely celebrated by religious and civil institutions throughout the country? It is perhaps based on ancient Hindu culture that no social event should be celebrated without running to a religious altar and praying to the Supreme!  The concept of Hindu religious ritual is so deeply embedded in our social fabric that it is natural for it to have made the leap to virtuosity.  We can find that answer in the holiday’s rich spiritual legacy that also heralds the joyous dawn of summer unofficially on the Memorial Day! From its inception in the aftermath of the Civil War, Memorial Day has embodied core aspects of faith: sacrifice, love, and rebirth. It brings more spiritual meaning to Hindu Americans in 2021, as they are still in their festive mood after celebrating Jayntis of great many Gurus, Devis in May 2021 and four out of ten Dasavatars in the holy fortnight of Vaisakha Sukla Paksha culminating in special Blood Full Moon on May 26. It is a May of abundant Flowers (and Vaccines), after the unusual storm of April that even killed some in TN! In Hindu belief, the full moon day or Purnima holds special significance and is widely recognized as a symbol of Enlightenment (Full light at the end of the tunnel), fullness, abundance, and prosperity, more so Vaisakha Purnima. Hindu month of Vaishakha is regarded as one of the most fortunate months to perform fast, donation, homa, and other religiously relevant and significant things. This year Hindu stargazers and spiritualists all over the globe watched the fantastic Full Blood Moon while celebrating Jayantis of Kurma and Buddha, in May 2021. May be red moon is a sign of the end of present disruption and suffering in the wake of Coronavirus pandemic and reflects also the difficult year!

 

Memorial Day is deeply rooted within sacrifices made during the Civil War. The death of hundreds of thousands of Americans for the unity of their country and the freedom of its residents tie this holiday to the noblest principles of selflessness and patriotism. Maintaining the focus of this day of remembrance on the sacrifice of individuals has allowed Memorial Day to remain largely apolitical. While war is often divisive, our faith can make the commemoration a unifying civic event. Taking a spiritual approach to Memorial Day focuses on the selflessness soldiers demonstrate by sacrificing everything, even their lives, for their comrades and their country. Our focus on those individuals allows the commemorations to transcend debates over the rightfulness of particular wars and honor instead the suffering of those who served and died for them.  

 

During the Gettysburg address, Abraham Lincoln says that the world can never forget their deeds in Gettysburg, and emphasizes “a new birth of freedom.” This notion of rebirth connects the spiritual significance and civic duty of Memorial Day. The idea that Lincoln presents– those soldiers have through their sacrifice secured the rebirth of their country– has obvious religious connotations. This spiritual dimension brings together a wide range of faiths who believe in rebirth and in life after death and makes all the more pressing the civic duties of Memorial Day. It makes remembering and honoring fallen soldiers more important as they remain alive in our collective civic memory. Secondly, Memorial Day is not merely about delivering eulogies, but also about learning from examples of virtue. Lincoln spoke of the rebirth of a nation, and this rebirth is achieved when communities pledge themselves to live by the virtues embodied by those honored during Memorial Day.  

 

The implications of applying this principle to Memorial Day today can be significant. Particularly, to grieving families, the act of remembering the enemy with respect can bring a degree of healing and closure- viewing the other no longer as an enemy but as another human being. Following the Civil War this would certainly be important, as the country struggled to once more become a united entity, but it also remains important today, as it makes Memorial Day a unifying civic event. It is Memorial Day’s ability to withhold judgment that creates room for a genuine reflection and mourning from us. The role of our faith in helping us fulfill these duties is as prominent now as ever, as it is through faith that we understand the sacrifice, love, and rebirth that their lives and deaths embody.  

 

The civic duties of Memorial Day are both consequential and spiritually demanding. To honor those who gave their lives for our country we must protect the freedoms they sacrificed to give us, live by the principles they defended, and mourn their deaths while also celebrating their lives. The role of faith in helping us fulfill these duties is as prominent now as ever, as it is through faith that we understand the sacrifice, love, and rebirth that their lives and deaths embody. That includes the sacrifice our Healthcare doctors, nurses and assistants have made fighting Coronavirus!  

 

May we bow our heads to the Selfless Service of Anjlee Bahen and pray for her soul for a smooth onward journey, on this day, as we believe death is only a journey and not an end, with our Sraddhanjali! Let us also pray for the departed souls of those being victims of untimely death due to Corona virus on this Memorial Day! But at the same time let us continue our physical and fiscal help for the wellbeing of those who are suffering from this merciless pandemonium and strengthen the hands of VHPA inspired by Selfless Anjlee Bahen!  

May Santakaram (of Kurma), Vajra Nakham (of Narasimha), Brahma-tejobalam (of Parasurama) and Santachittam (of Buddha) guide help us to maintain serenity in Peace and Danger, whose Jayanthis we celebrate all in Sacred Vaisakha Sukla Paksha (May 2021)

 

Real heroes never die. They always live in our hearts to inspire us, motivate us and guide us in our lives. That is why we celebrate their death Anniversaries Too Remembering Them! Happy Memorial Day 2021

--May 28, 2021

Comments:

Thank you NR, beautiful thoughts so well expressed. Sending prayers for Pandya. It sounds like she was a wonderful woman committed to her faith.  

--Terry Kucel

 

 

 

RELIGIOUS MEMORIAL DAY FOR HINDUS THAT INSPIRED CHRISTIANITY 

 

As Hindu Americans, we will be joining the majority cultures to celebrate Memorial Day and Memorial Week-end this year on May 29-31.   As I wrote to you earlier, our Memorial fortnight is Mahalaya Paksha with the concluding final ceremony on Mahalaya Amavasya day. Every year during the Mahalaya period, our ancestors’ spirits come to the Earth plane to receive our offerings through Tarpanam and bestow their blessings on us--these blessings have the power to change our destiny. This fortnight window is a time you can seek help from your ancestors to dissolve the karma affecting all aspects of your present life, including your health, wealth, career, and relationships. 

Here is a mantra that says: 

Aayuh prajaam dhanam vidyaam svargam moksham sukhanicha | prayacchanti tathaarajyam preetaanreenaam pitaamahah || 

Pitru deities (Vasu, Rudra, Aadiytyas) bless humans pleased with their oblations on Amavasya days, with long life, children, wealth, education, heaven (svarga), happiness and liberation (Moksha). 

 

It is heartening to note, the farewell mantra of Amavasya ritual prescribed by Hindu scriptures reflects the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam--whole world is one family.  It also shows, when Jivatmans leave   the bodies after so called death, mingles with others and realign themselves and the modified Jivatman that returns back to earth enters the womb of a mother. It is not the same one that left the body of a specific person but a realigned Jivatman that is determined by the merits of new parents. Yet, it may recall traces of its past as witnessed in some incarnations.  Hence Amavasya ritual includes this farewell mantra which is logical and necessary: 

Yesham napitaa nabhraataa na bandhur naanyagotrinah | Te triptaimakhilaam yaaantu mayaatyaktyaih kusastilaih || 

This oblation of mine delivered through holy Dharbha grass, water and sesame is to please all souls including those who were not my parents, spinsters, relatives and others who do not belong to my lineage. [This universal prayer is logical and necessary with the deep study of the journey of the soul after so called death that I had discussed at length].  

 

The Fifteen days before the Navratri there is Amavasya which is called Mahalaya. This is the time which is called Pitri paksha and is considered as a very good time to offer prayers to the departed souls and ensure that they rest in peace. Food is offered to the ancestors. It is said that lord Vishnu himself said that on these days the ancestors come to earth and if they are not offered puja and food, they feel offended.   

 

I believe Mahalaya Paksha riuals of Hindus had inspired Christianity though it is not observed by all Christians in USA today,  like the Memorial Day on last Monday of May. This varies from year to year that could be earliest on May 25 or latest on May 31. This year it is on May 31.  

 

All Souls' Day is a celebration to remember those who have died, in particular one's relatives. It always falls on November 2 and is preceded by Halloween on October 31 and All Saints' Day on November 1. Together these three days of remembrance of the dead form the triduum (a religious observance lasting three days) of Hallowtide or Allhallowtide. People traditionally visit the graves of deceased relatives during this time. 

 

Known liturgically as the "Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed", All Souls' Day is often seen as a continuation and extension of the All-Saints' Day celebrations conducted the day before. While All Saints' Day is dedicated to those who are in heaven, All Souls' Day is a day of prayer for those who have died but have not yet reached heaven (similar to Svarga/Moksha concept of Hindus). The custom of placing lit candles on the graves of deceased relatives on All Saints' Day often continues into All Souls' Day. 

 

All Souls' Day is related to the Mexican festival Day of the Dead (in Spanish "Día de los Muertos") and the ancient Celtic seasonal festival Samhain to mark the end of the harvest and to remember the dead that is celebrated from sunset on October 31 to sunset on November 1. 

We will talk about Memorial Day 2021 tomorrow!

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/09/mahaalaya-pitrupakshahindu-memorial-day.html

 

--May 27, 2021

 

 

Vaisakha Purnima of May 2021 that brings resilience, strength and meditation we need in life  

.  

They say gloomy rains bring blooming May-flowers! Today, May 26 is Vaisakha Purnima in Hindu calendar in 2021. It is Also Super Blood Moon Night.  

 

On Wednesday, a full "Super Moon" will brighten the night sky over the USA. At the same time, a total lunar eclipse will be visible across the West during the predawn hours. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is between the full moon and the sun. The Earth's shadow covers the moon, which often has a red color, hence the "blood" moon nickname. Although it's completely in the shadow of Earth, a bit of reddish sunlight still reaches the moon (symbolic of ray of light and hope at the end of dark tunnel). As a spiritual thinker, I  believe, that ray of reddish sun-light comes from the resilience of Kurma Avatar and Buddha Avatar that are  celebrated on this day in 2021. Of course we are able to visualize Super-moon because we live in digital world that brings this extra knowledge, which otherwise would have gone from being noticed. Being Hindu American, I bring these thoughts from both the cultures, Eastern and Western!  

 

In Hindu belief, the full moon day or Purnima holds special significance and is widely recognized as a symbol of Enlightenment (Full light at the end of the tunnel), fullness, abundance, and prosperity.  The Hindu month of Vaishakha is regarded as one of the most fortunate months to perform fast, donation, Homa, and other religiously relevant and significant things. In Hindu Panchang, the auspiciousness and importance of Vaishakha month are clearly shown. The Purnima that falls in the month of Vaishakha is celebrated as Vaishakh Purnima. The day also holds immense significance as on this particular day people also celebrate two of the Avatars of Vishnu Kurma Jayanti and Buddha Jayanti. I have already communicated   to you about the more popular Buddha Jayanti popular all over the globe both in Hinduism and Buddhism.  

 

It is believed that on this day Lord Vishnu took the form of Kurma or tortoise and lifted the gigantic Mandaranchal Parbat on his back during the churning of the ocean. Since that day, Kurma Jayanti is celebrated in the honor of Lord Kurma. This is the second avatar of Lord Vishnu among his ten avatars or the Dashavatar.   

 

The Kurma Avatar was reincarnated as a result of a curse by Durvasa. Durvasa once presented a garland to the king of the Gods, Indra. Indra put the garland gifted by Durvasa on Airavat, the elephant’s head. The elephant happened to throw the garland on the ground. Seeing this, Durvasa was infuriated and he cursed Indra that ‘his entire kingdom be destroyed’. This very curse led to the churning of the ocean.  

  

As a result of the curse, the Devas were on the verge of defeat. As a last resort, the Devas went to Brahma. Brahma advised the Devas to take refuge in Lord Vishnu. As advised the Devas approached Lord Vishnu, Vishnu announced that, in order to defeat the Asuras, the ocean needed to be churned. On churning, Amrita or nectar would be produced, that nectar would help the Devas to be immortal. And in this way, the Devas would get triumph over the Asuras.  

 

Significance  

It is an auspicious festival for the Hindus. During the event of Samudra Manthan or the churning of the ocean, Lord Kurma took the Mandaranchal Parbat on his back and helped in the churning. Without this Kurma avatar, the ocean would not have been churned and the fourteen divine ratnas (gems) would not have emerged. Therefore, Kurma Jayanti holds great significance for the Hindus and devotees to express their gratitude in the form of observing fast and offering donations. This day is also considered auspicious for initiating constructions, shifting into a new house, or any other work-related to Vastu sastra.  On this day, special pujas and ceremonies are organized in Vishnu temples all across the nation. People worship the Kurma avatar religiously and with full devotion.  

 

Fourteen Ratnas(Treasures) produced from the Ksheerasagara Ocean  

  

• Lakshmi: the Devi of Fortune and Wealth, who accepted Vishnu as Her eternal consort.  
• Apsaras: various divine nymphs like Rambha, Menaka, Punjisthala etc., who chose the Gandharvas as their companions.  
• Varuni: taken - somewhat reluctantly (she appeared disheveled and argumentative) - by the Asuras. 

 

• Likewise, three types of supernatural animals appeared:  
• Kamadhenu or Surabhi (Sanskrit: kāmadhuk): the wish-granting cow, taken by Brahma and given to the sages so that the ghee from her milk could be used for Yajna and similar rituals.  
• Airavata and several other elephants, taken by Indra.  
• Uchhaishravas: the divine seven-headed horse, given to Bali. 
  
  Three valuables were also produced:  
• Kaustubha: the most valuable ratnam (divine jewel) in the world, worn by Vishnu.  
• Parijata: the divine flowering tree with blossoms that never fade or wilt, taken to Indraloka by the Devas.  
• Sharanga: a powerful bow, given to Lord Vishnu. 
  
  Additionally produced were;  
• Chandra: the moon which adorned Shiva's head.  
• Dhanvantari: the "Vaidya of the Devas" with Amrita, the nectar of immortality. (At times, considered as two separate Ratna)  
• Halahala: the poison swallowed by Shiva.  
• Shankha: Vishnu's conch  
• Kalpavriksha: a divine wish-fulfilling tree 

 

• This list varies from Purana to Purana and is slightly different in the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Lists are completed by adding the following Ratnas:  
• Jyestha(Alakshmi): the goddess of misfortune  
• The umbrella taken by Varuna  
• The earrings given to Aditi, by her son Indra  
• Nidra or sloth (Nidra Devi) Amrit swallowed by the devatas and one Asura called Svarbhānu, also known as Rahuketu, who was beheaded and sent into outer space as Rahu and Ketu  

 

Kasyapa Legend  

 Vedic literature such as the SamaVeda and YajurVeda explicitly state Akupara/Kurma and the sage Kasyapa are synonymous. Kasyapa - also meaning 'Tortoise' - is considered the progenitor (Prajapati) of all living beings with his thirteen wives, including vegetation. Ira [meaning 'fluid']... is known as the queen-consort of still another old creator-god and father of creatures, Kashyapa, the Old Tortoise Man, and as such she is the mother of all vegetable life.  

 

The sun is called akupara also, i.e. unlimited, because it is immeasurable. The ocean, too, is called akupara, i. e. unlimited, because it is boundless. A tortoise is also called a-kupa-ara, because it does not move in a well [On account of its shallowness]. Kacchapa (tortoise) is (so called because) it protects (pati) its mouth (kaccham), or it protects itself by means of its shell (kacchena), or it drinks (√pa) by the mouth. Kaccha (mouth or shell of a tortoise) = kha-ccha, i. e. something which covers (chhadayatl) space (kham). This other (meaning of) kaccha, 'a bank of a river', is derived from the same (root) also, i.e. water (kam) is covered (chadyate) by it. 

 

The legend of the churning of the Ocean of Milk (Samudra manthan) developed in post-Vedic literature is itself inextricably linked with Kurma (as the base of the churning rod) and involves other sons of Kasyapa: the Devas/Âdityas (born from Aditi) and the Asuras/Danavas/Daityas (born from Danu and Diti) use one of the Naga (born from Kadru) as a churning rope to obtain Amrita. Garuda, the king of birds and mount of Vishnu, is another son of Kasyapa (born from Vinata) often mentioned in this legend. In another, Garuda seeks the Amrita produced (eating a warring Elephant and Tortoise in the process) to free his mother and himself from enslavement by Kadru.  

  

The 'kurma-nadi' meaning 'tortoise-nerve' or 'canal of the tortoise', is in relation to steadying the mind (slowing down thoughts) in Yogic practice. Nadi' itself means 'vein', 'artery', 'river', or 'any tubular organ of the body' (as well as 'flute').  Although the Kūrmanāḍī is generally stated to be located in the upper chest below the throat, S. Lele believes this refers to the Muladhara Chakra, located near the tailbone, based on the root-word 'naL’ meaning 'to bind.  

 

'Pani-kacchapika'   meaning 'hand tortoise is a special positioning of the fingers during worship rituals to symbolize Kurma. The Kurmacakra is a yantra, a mystical diagram for worship in the shape of a tortoise.  Kurmasana (Tortoise Posture) is a Yoga posture. 

 

M. Vettam notes from Vedas and Upanishads that there are ten Vayus (winds) in the body, one of which is called 'Kurma' in regards to opening and closing the eyes.  

Varuna and Earth are married to each other. Together they play a pivotal role in sustaining different life forms on this planet. Kurma Avatar was the divine strategy of Lord Vishnu to establish cosmic equilibrium in the Universe. 

 

Bellamkonda Ramaraya Kavindrulu (1875–1914) was an Indian poet, author, yogi, Sanskrit scholar and a philosopher. He was an ardent devotee of Kurma/Varaha. He died young and many of his works are lost. His works both in Telugu and Sanskrit are under the custody of trust that are brought to limelight. I have not come across his sloka on Kurma. However, I give below the rare sloka and Dhyan sloka I know: 

 

Athaatah sampravakshyaami kurma-mantram mahaadbhutam | Ekah kurma-avataaro-abhoonmathyamaane mahodadhau || Taaro om namo bhagavate kum kurmaaya dharaadahara | dhurandharaaya n.asyaante siddhavarno mato manuh || prakriticchanda uditam kasyapo-asya munirmanah | devata bhagavan vishnurmatah kacchaparupadhrik || 

Om namo bhagavate kum kurmaya ||  

(The rishi is Kasyapa, prakriti Chhandas abd Devata Kacchapa) 

Peetambaram kurmaprishtham nyastanalaankulasobhitam | dheergha-grievam mahaagraaham gilantam raktalochanam ||  (Dhyana sloka)  

 

 Month of May 2021 has been fascinating, taking my thoughts to both cultures (born and adopted). May 2021 is unique bringing Jayantis of many Gurus,  Devis, Matangi and Chinnamasta and four Avatars of Dasavatara-- Parasurama, Narasimha, Kurma and Buddha. These celebrations kept you and me busy focused on them taking our thoughts away off from the present cruel pandemonium, that will come back to us on May 31, Memorial Day when we grieve over many that parted, so dear to us, that calls for perseverance, hope, confidence, resilience, strength meditation and divine blessings hoping for the light at the end of the tunnel, a glimpse of which we see tonight!  

 

Oh Lord Kurma! Serene Alike in Peace and Danger! May we obtain that illimitable gift of thine! 

 

 --May 26, 2021

 

 

HAPPY BROTHERS’ DAY, MAY 24, 2021 

 

Bhai Dooj or Bhaiya Dooj is a Hindu festival celebrating the unconditional love bond between a brother and a sister. Bhai Dooj defines the eternal love between siblings, dedicated to strengthening the bond between them. Probably, this has inspired National Brothers’ Day, that is  celebrated as a National Event Day in many countries, though not a holiday! Though India does not celebrate a Brothers’ Day, they do celebrate the Hindu Holiday Raksha Bandhan, which acknowledges the bond between brothers and sisters, much like our National Brothers’ and Sisters’ Day on May 2! Nevertheless, Hindu culture has inspired the world to come up with Brother’ day, Sisters’ day, Siblings’ Day etc.  

 

“Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero.”–says, Marc Brown, author and illustrator of children’s books.  

 

The word Brother stems from Latin word ‘brater’ and the Proto-Germanic word ‘brothar,’ which itself comes from the   Sanskrit word “bhratr”.’  Regardless of origin, both in words and in blood, our brothers have our backs over and over again. They’re our closest friends and, sometimes, the most annoying too! But we love them anyway. Even some of the most famous people in history had brothers to lean on and be annoyed by. 

 

I never had the opportunity to spend all my childhood with my brother and got separated and missed the fun of fighting with him too. I grew up with  “atthaan/ammanji”  brotherhood with my maternal uncle’s sons and also very close to my brothers-in-law.  I don’t know what made English language to come up with this word brother-in-law, but it was true in my case as I loved them more than my blood brother and even fought with them. Later that made me coin the phrase “Udaracharitanam tu vasudhaiva Bhratrubandhanam”, promoting Universal Brother-hood.  

 

I often wonder why Hindu Religion though celebrates Rama Navami and Krishna Janmashtami do not celebrate the birthdays of Lakshmana, Bharata, Satrughna, Balarama and Subhadra. Perhaps this neglect is the root cause of world trouble today plagued by the fight between brothers and sisters?  

 

Brother’s Day has been celebrated on May 24 since the year 2005. Although the exact details of the holiday are unknown, it was Alabama-based C. Daniel Rhodes who had first organized the holiday and its proceedings. In some regions, National Brother’s Day is an unofficial holiday. It is not to be confused with National Siblings Day, which takes place in April. You are lucky if you are blessed with having a strong unbreakable bond with your brother. Fortunately, there are other people who can sometimes fill the void of a brother in our lives like mine,  and serve as one to us, like a cousin, brother-in-law, or a friend. In fact, everyone should have that one brotherly person in their lives who they can count on for some sincere advice or who can get them out of a pickle. For all their quirks and annoyances, a brother is sometimes your best secret keeper and will never expose you or leave you behind. Feel free to go all out on this day with the mushy stuff in expressing your affection for your brother and his importance in your life.  

 

Brotherhood is also very strong among men. Whether it is a blood relation or not, men take their ‘bro code’ VERY seriously. Really, there isn’t much that can ever come between a strong brother-hood in the long term. This theme has inspired countless movies, books, paintings, plays,   TV series and Nations, like the aptly named “Band of Brothers.” History has many distinguished brother duos and groups. Stories told by the Brothers Grimm are famous to this day, and advancement in flying and aeronautics wouldn’t have been possible without the Wright Brothers putting their minds together.  Recall the terms “Hindu-China Bhai Bhai” and the statement of Kurchev,”between a Brother and a Friend, I stand by the Brother”.  

 

National Brothers’ Day is mostly observed in the United States, but many other countries around the world also acknowledge the day. Australia, Russia,   and European countries like France and Germany all celebrate brothers on May 24.  

 

“When brothers agree, no fortress is as strong as their common life.” – Antisthenes, Greek philosopher and star pupil of Socrates. 

 

No matter how far we are, we’re close to each other. Thanks for being the Light at the end of my tunnel of Darkness! Happy Brothers’ Day 

-- May 24, 2021

Comments:

 

You have replaced my big brother who has been our role model. Happy brother's day to you!

--Dr. Vedavyas

Excellent

--A. S. Narayana

 

 

 

CHINNAMASTA DEVI & NARASIMHA JAYANTIS ON MAY 25, 2021

I have talked a lot about Narasimha Jayanti on May 25, 2021.  Our participant Muralidharan, also reminds us of Chinnamasta Mahadevi Jayanti on the same day. Earlier he talked about Matangi Jayanti in May. Thus May is also Mahadevis’ 

 May celebrating Matangi, Sita and Chinnmasta Devis’ Jayantis. I wonder why he was silent on Sita Jayanti in May. Perhaps, even Puranas have neglected Sitadevi, who is the real Mahadevi, glorified in Vedasasa Aditi and one among Panchakanyas to be venerated!

 

Incidentally May 2021 also celebrates three Jayantis of Kurma, Parasurama and Narasimha.

 

MAHADEVI, THE GODDESS IN VEDIC ASTROLOGY 

 

"Mahadevi, the Great Goddess, has many names and forms in Jyotish, the Vedic astrological science of light. These range from her cosmic influence to connections with specific planets, signs, Nakshatras and phases of the Moon. In Hindu thought, the Goddess is the Mother of the Universe from which the origin, sustenance and dissolution of everything arises through her Kala Shakti or power of time. 

  

MAHADEVI, THE MOON AND THE SUN  

The Moon is well known in the ancient world and traditional cultures as the manifestation of the Goddess. This is true in Vedic astrology. The Moon is the face and smile of the Universal Mother and grants her grace, inspiration, insight and bliss. The Goddess as Uma Parvati, the wife of Shiva, is the presiding deity (pratyadhi-devata) of the Moon, also ruling the cosmic waters. 

Yet in the Vedic hymn on the Marriage of the Sun and the Moon (Rigveda X.85), the Goddess is identified with the Sun, and the Moon is her suitor moving around her. As the Sun Goddess, she is called Surya Savitri, with Savitri as the knowledge power of the Sun as in the Gayatri mantra. 

 

MAHADEVI AND THE PLANETS 

The Goddess is most associated with Venus among the planets. Venus is the artistic, beautiful and blissful form of the Goddess, Lakshmi, giving abundance and fertility. Yet there are forms of the Goddess associated with all the planets.  

 

In the Tantric Devotional system of the Ten Wisdom Goddesses is the following order of Goddesses for all the planets, of great importance in inner Yoga practices.  

 

MAHAKALI – as the great force of time (Kala Shakti) behind all the planets 

BHUVANESHVARI, the Queen of the Universe, with the Sun 

TRIPURA SUNDARI, the Goddess of Beauty and Bliss, with the Moon 

TRIPURA BHAIRAVI, the Goddess of Fire and Transformation, with Mars 

MATANGI, the Goddess Speech and Art, a form of Sarasvati, with Mercury 

TARA, the High Priestess and Voice of the Guru, with Jupiter 

KAMALA, the Lotus Goddess, a form of Lakshmi, with Venus 

DHUMAVATI, the Grandmother form of Kali, with Saturn 

BAGALAMUKHI, who has the power to stop and to paralyze, with Rahu 

 

CHINNAMASTA, with her cut off head, with Ketu 

Yet there are many such correlations. Warrior Goddesses like Chandi and the fierce red form of Kali are associated with Mars. Durga riding a lion relates to the Sun.

 

Different Goddesses can be worshipped for countering negative planetary influences. For example, Durga can be approached to counter the negative effects of Rahu.  

 

The Goddess is associated with Taurus, Cancer and Libra, signs of Venus and the Moon as feminine planets. Yet she is most associated with Virgo ruled by Mercury, which in Vedic thought is a young girl with an exuberance of creativity, not the virgin of Western thought.  

 

 In brief, the Goddess pervades Vedic astrological symbolism, which reflects her power and presence. "--David Frawley.

 

Shakti is the divine force which marked to destroy demonic forces (CORONASURA) and restores balance. The entire God in Hinduism has own Shakti and without this energy they have no power. Goddess Lakshmi is the energy of Vishnu. Goddess Parvathi is the energy of Shiva. Shakti is also called Devi or mahadevi, assuming unusual roles as Sati, Parvathi, Druga and Kali. Goddess Shakti is referred as 'The Divine Mother'. The goddess indicates the energetic, dynamic principles of feminine power. Goddess Shakti is the general principle of energy, power or creativity. Shakti Devi shows the eternal and Supreme Power who manifests energy, and substance of everything. She is related with same as the power of gods. According to the Hindu philosophy, the Shakti defines the unity of opposites. The inspiring force behind this is endless play that creates the illusionary world of occurrence and is the power of desire. This desire is present in individual who without attributes is the unknown and shapeless aspect of the divine.

Sita according to me is Bhudevi and hence not included as Sakti Aspect. Sita is a symbol of modesty, humility, tolerance patience, woman-hood and victim in the male chauvinistic world!

Muralidharan Krishnan’s e-Mail

Greetings and Namaste. As Sri Nrusimha Jayanti falls on Tuesday, the 25th of May 2021, I am delighted to share a very rare 6-stanza hymn on Lord Nrusimha taken from Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, Skandha 8, and Chapter 9. May We Pray to Lord Nrusimha with this rare hymn (please see my Rare Mantras from Puranas collection).

 

25-May-2021 also happens to be Vaikhasi Vishakham, an important occasion devoted to Lord Kartikeya. And 25-May-2021 also happens to be Chinnamasta Jayanti (one of the 10 Mahavidyas).

--May 23, 2021

 

 

 

World Religions   Inclined Towards Sanatana Dharma Need Dynamic Leadership 

United Religions Initiative (URI) Organization in USA is of recent origin. It directs all participants--Faith Communities, Interfaith Groups and URI Cooperation Circles etc., with respect to: Prayer/Reflection, Services/Rituals, Outreach, Advocacy and Education. 

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is an Ancient Hindu Philosophy that inculcates an understanding that the whole world is one family.  Whatever our personal values or system of beliefs, many would agree that how we interact with our fellow human beings should reflect certain core values such as kindness, honesty, fairness and compassion. Against the backdrop of this understanding of equality and unity, the Hindu world has been able to embrace the reality of diversity through its philosophy of pluralism. 

 

Hindus believe that the Divine (existence, pure being, light of consciousness): 1) Manifests in different forms; 2) Can be understood and worshipped by various means; 3) Speaks to each individual in different ways to enable them to not only believe in the Divine, but experience and know the Divine. Hindus, during the centuries to come, gave refuge to all the persecuted religious minorities of the world in India, from the Jews to the Parsis, from the Christian Syrians to the Tibetans today. Contrary to Christianity and Islam, Hindus never sought to impose militarily their religion and way of life to other nations. The aim of the Gita’s doctrine is to lead one to tranquility, happiness and equanimity. The Gita Doctrine is beyond Religious and National Boundaries.  

 

The Kinship of the Bible and Qur’an is a recent awakening after long suffering by religious wars of Crusades, Conquistadors, Allah Hu Akbar walking with drawn swords,  Al-Qaida with loaded guns, etc.--An Interfaith Perspective targeted to general audiences with a view to promoting mutual esteem between those who profess one of the Abrahamic Faiths, Judaism, Christianity or Islam that sprang from the faith in the same God. The greatest tragedies of our time have stemmed from the deep divisions that have developed among the children of God with particular world focus referring to those who fall within the three major monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It had for centuries inflicted Sanatana Dharma in India that made India to come up with Modern Hindu Religion, fitting the definition of Religion,  similar on lines with Abrahamic Religions,  that is somewhat being corrected by hotchpotch approach by Hindu Americans to get back to the source. 

 

Vedic wisdom has recently   started influencing Abrahamic Religions, though Dharma based religions are trying to move apart in the mainland, India, as seen in the writings of visionaries like Ted Brownstein based on Baha’ism who are alive to the growing SBNR and “Awesome without Allah” movements.  Hindu Americas have raised altars for different deities, Buddha, Vardhamana, Swami Narayan, Saibaba etc., in their Multi Traditional Complex and promote the Vedic mandate “sanghacchadvam samvadadvam samanamaakootih” --Come together, pray together and treat all equal. 

 

Whereas Americans have not been enchanted with the many gods and goddesses or the rituals and complex mythology of Hinduism, they have been attracted to Vedanta philosophy and the meditation and yoga practices that go along with it. In this Vedanta Religion, experience takes precedence over belief or dogma attracted by its philosophy of vasudhaiva kutumbakam; sarvejanah sukhino bhavantu, moving away from walled religion to universal spirituality.

USA is a conducive and fertile soil for such Unitarian Movements, with its philosophy of E pluribus Unum.  “E Pluribus Unum" was the motto proposed for the first Great Seal of the United States by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson in 1776. A Latin phrase meaning "One from many," the phrase offered a strong statement of the American determination to form a single nation from a collection of states. This concept is slowly progressing where USA (United States of America) could also mean Unified Spirituality of America and that could lead to United Religions of America (URA). 

Baha’i was inspired by Sufi’s in India that was inspired by   Hinduism and Vision of Vedas seeing the interfaith fusion in Indonesia.  

The worldwide Bahá’í community is working to give practical expression to Baha'u'llah's vision of world unity in the Teachings of Baha'u'llah on issues such as the elimination of all forms of prejudice with an emphasis on race unity, the equality of women and men, the spiritual education of children, the importance of family cohesion, and the establishment of world peace.  This Movement is very active in USA, including my city, though lacks the depth of wisdom of Upanishads and Leadership like Chinmayananda and his Mission, Divine Life Society, American Vedanta institute and Ramakrishna Mission in USA, active.

 

"The time has come for us to recognize the truth that we are all related by the Spirit, by that of God in everyone, and that no amount of dogmatic schism will ever change the deep-seeded need to love and be loved by one another. We are all Friends in the Spirit, and we are all siblings in the family of God”, writes the author in his book--Kinship of Bible and Qur'an.

All our needs are basically three-fold: Business, Social, and Spiritual. We all want to basically fulfill our survival, social and spiritual needs. We all act and interact with one another in some way and try to make this world a better and beautiful place to live. Here, the adoption of the philosophy of Vasudhaiva kutumbakam, sarve janah sukhino bhavantu is time warranted and call of the hour for the present turbulent world.  

 

The insight of the quantum physics is that the whole existence is an unbroken wholeness, an inter-dependent, inter-twined, inter-woven, inter-related, and inter-connected Universe. We cannot live as separate islands. This is the discovery of the outer world and the outer science.  That is what Upanishads   teaches for our inner world to live in Peace but not in pieces and progress towards Eternal Bliss, Perennial Joy! 

 

It is high time Hindu Americans as pioneers   of Universal Spirituality wake up to the need of the hour and lead the country better spiritually toward Universal Oneness and living in peace and harmony. Hindu Americans should wake up to the message of Gita and promote it to all. The aim of the Gita’s doctrine is to lead one to tranquility, happiness and equanimity. The Gita Doctrine is beyond Religious and National Boundaries. Hindu Reflections has done the ground work.  Could that start from Nashville Hindu Americans, who have pioneered many things in promoting Community Services. It also needs the support and attention of VHPA, HMEC, HTC of North America, HAF, HUA, and HCCT Etc.  

 

Islam also means submission to the will of GOD. With this philosophy why can’t they embrace the Philosophy of Baha’u’llah who do not deny Allah and remain in Peace but not in Pieces?  If Sufism and Baha'ism is widely practiced among followers of Islam without conversion, there will be all round global peace and it will be a boon to India to progress. Hindus reverting back to Sanatana Dharma will enable them to be world leaders in spirituality. Probably, this may be easier and faster if Hindu Americans and American Muslims take the lead, who have the advantage of being better Intellectuals (prajnyas) among their unfortunate crowd in other parts of the globe. This goes with Gita Doctrine that the world needs different religions, cults and deities to meet the vastly different needs of individuals. 

 

“In the beginning the Vedic religion (called Sanatana Dharma whose followers can be called Sanatani) was prevalent all over the world. Later, over the centuries it must have gone through the process of change and taken different forms. These forms came to be called the original religions of the various lands which in the subsequent period--during historical times-- came under Buddhism, Christianity or Islam as the case may be” says Jagadguru Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi. Baha’i movement is the latest in this series.  

Philosophic Teachings of Baha’i is more deeply and logically based in Upanishads and Gita and its teachings have originated from the Teachings of Upanishads. But where is Vedanta Vision of Hindu Americans in USA touching the ailing hearts of all faiths? Where is the Arise Awake call of Vivekananda to Community operative in Nashville where Baha'is are active with universal appeal? 

 

Please go through my detailed discourse on the subject as attached: 

 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2021/05/progressive-gradual-changing-world.html

--May 23, 2021

 

 

BUDDHA JAYANTI 2021 ON MAY 26, 2021 

 

Buddha Jayanti is held on a full moon in late April or May each year. In 2021, Buddha Jayanti falls on May 26 in India. It will be the 2,583rd birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. It is a National holiday in India. Many Hindus believe Buddha to be the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, as indicated in scriptures. Jayadeva glorifies Buddha avatar in his Dasavatara stotra. Some Hindu American Temples have installed sanctums for Buddha and celebrate Buddha Jayanti as for other Hindu deities. 

 

Vesak Day also known as Wesak Day/ Buddha Purnima/ Buddha's Birthday is a major Buddhist festival celebrated by all the Buddhists throughout the world, with great ceremonial rituals. This day actually memorializes the birth, enlightenment (nirvana) and passing away (Parinirvana) of the Lord Gautama Buddha on one day. 

 

Vesak Day date varies every year as it follows the lunar calendar. Due to diverse Buddhist cultures around the world, Vesak day is celebrated on different dates by different traditions. In the first Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists held in Sri Lanka in 1950, it was decided to celebrate Vesak as the Buddha's birthday. In this conference the Maharaja of Nepal requested all the countries having Buddhist population, to make the first full-moon day of May a Public Holiday name Vesak in honor of the Buddha, the Lord of peace and harmony. In China and Hong Kong Buddha's birthday is celebrated on the eighth of the fourth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. 

On Vesak Day the Buddhist temples are decorated with flags and flowers. The devotees are expected to assemble in temples before dawn. The ceremonial rituals like hoisting the Buddhist flag and the bathing of the Lord Buddha are done. The monks chant the hymns of the holy triple gem: The Buddha, The Dharma (his teachings) and The Sangha (his disciples). In evening, various candlelit processions are organized in the streets. 

 

Lord Buddha mentioned the only way to pay homage to Him by truly and sincerely following his teachings. So the sole aim of Vesak is to practice love, peace and harmony. On Vesak people generally perform noble deeds like making donations to charity, organize blood donation camps, distribute gifts and food to poor and needy, release the captured animals, take vegetarian food etc. 

 

Buddhism is a minority faith in both countries India and Nepal where the vast majority of people identify as Hindu. Indeed, since Siddhartha was born into a Hindu family, Buddhism is considered to have originated in part from the Hindu religious tradition and some Hindus revere Buddha as an incarnation of a Hindu deity. 

 

Buddhists make up roughly 1% of the adult population in the United States, and about two-thirds of U.S. Buddhists are Asian Americans, according to Pew Research Center estimates. Among Asian Americans, 43% of Vietnamese Americans and a quarter of Japanese Americans identify as Buddhist, with most of the rest identifying as either Christian or religiously unaffiliated. 

 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres 

 

"Vesak", the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May, is the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world. It was on the Day of Vesak two and a half millennia ago, in the year 623 B.C. that the Buddha was born. It was also on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha attained enlightenment, and it was on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha in his eightieth year passed away. 

The General Assembly, by its resolution54/115 of 1999, recognized internationally the Day of Vesak to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made for over two and a half millennia and continues to make to the spirituality of humanity. This day is commemorated annually at the UN Headquarters and other UN offices, in consultation with the relevant UN offices and with permanent missions, which also wish to be consulted. 

 

Background 

The teachings of the Buddha, and his message of compassion and peace and goodwill have moved millions. Millions around the world follow the teachings of the Buddha and on the Day of Vesak commemorate the birth, the attainment of enlightenment and the passing away of the Buddha. 

 

A Message from the former Secretary-General, Javier Perez de Cuellar, to Buddhists on the Day of Vesak in May 1986 reads: 

 

"For Buddhists everywhere it is indeed a felicitous opportunity, while commemorating the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Gautama Buddha, to celebrate his message of compassion and devotion to the service of humanity. This message is today perhaps more relevant than ever before." 

 

Peace, understanding and a vision of humanity that supersedes national and other international differences are essential if we are to cope with the complexities of the nuclear age. 

 

This philosophy lies at the heart of the Charter of the United Nations and should be prominent in all our thinking, especially during this International Year of Peace"--Javier Perez de Cuellar. 

 

 Message of the UN Secretary-General 

 

I send warm wishes to all celebrating the Day of Vesak, a sacred occasion to millions of Buddhists around the world. 

 

As we honor the birth, enlightenment and passing of Lord Buddha, we can all be inspired by his teachings. 

 

And as the human family suffers the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are reminded of the sutra: “Because all living beings are subject to illness, I am ill as well.” 

 

This timeless message of unity and service to others is more important than ever. It is only together that we will stop the spread of the coronavirus and recover. 

On the Day of Vesak, let us celebrate Lord Buddha’s wisdom by taking action for others with compassion and solidarity, and by renewing our commitment to build a peaceful world. 

--António Guterres 

 

This timeless message of unity and service to others is more important than ever. It is only together that we will stop the spread of the coronavirus and recover. 

 

Narasimha Avatara arrived instantaneously as Jvala Narasimha to fight the storm that affected Prahlada’s pious life, and after quelling the storm assumed the calm and serene pose of Yoga Narasimha that influenced later avatars, the latest being Buddha. Buddha wanted to find out the root cause of all the storms in our lives, and so drew inspiration from the Adiyogi Narasimha and went into long meditation. He got his enlightenment by this Yoga therapy, which incidence is being celebrated on Buddha Purnima Day. “Veetaraga bhayakrodhah yuddhyyasva vigatjvarah sanyasa yogat”--Fighting the storm of passion, fear and anger progress in life without anxiety, practicing detachment Yoga-- This is the message of Gita that Buddha got on Enlightenment that he spread to the world to live in peace and harmony. 

 

 May the Month of Monks in 2021 end with the grand celebration of Buddha Purnima Jayanti on May 26, 2021!

 

May Buddha Purnima's full moon   remove the darkness of ignorance from our lives and guide us to the path of peace and enlightenment!  

 --May 22, 2021

 

 

NARASIMHA JAYNTI   FOCUSED ON YOGANARASIMHA

Recent Scientific Research has shown that Pranayamas, Meditation, and Mantras could provide a broad-spectrum Stress Management in our physical condition that is needed for immune build up in the body so that viral infection could be averted and/or its virulence reduced by appropriate Yoga Therapy. Narasimha Avatar among Dasa Avatars is the earliest incarnation that give us the idea of Stress Management by Yoga. Lord Vishnu took instant and most ferocious form of man-lion to kill the most formidable evil and after the task was done needed to give up the form and be benevolent to his young devotee Prahlada with the active cooperation of his consort Lakshmi in her most affable form.  He for the first time brought the concept of Yoga for stress management turning to Yoga Narasimha from Jwala Narasimha and blessed Patanjali to come up with his Yoga Sastra. Hindus therefore are focused on Yoga Narasimha with his consort Lakshmi during the present crisis and are jubilant to celebrate his birthday with great devotion and strict fasting. All subsequent Avatars practiced and preached Yoga and meditation--Parsurama, Rama, Krishna and Buddha that I explained before. 

 

Why do images of Sudarshana have Yoga Narasimha on the other side? 

  

In the Vishnu temple the village of Poondi, near Chennai, you may see   a shrine dedicated to Chakrathalwar,  that is the Sri Vaishnava name for Sudarshana, the deity of the Sudarshana Chakra, the famous discus weapon of Vishnu. Sudarshana is generally depicted with 16 hands holding various weapons glorified in Shodasayudha stotra of Vedanta Desika.  But what's interesting is on the other side of images of Sudarshana is an image of Yoga Narasimha. Shodasayudha stotra prays to one of the weapons as Satavaktragni, which breathes fire through hundred faces. This symbolically represents Jvalamukhi Narasimha who emerged out of the pillar with flames   coming from the angry lion-head. Also,  the Chakra is emitting flame all around. Thus, Narasimha Avatar is close to Sudarsana chakra. After the killing of Hiranyakasipu, Narasimha, calmed down and assumed the form of Yoga Narasimha of meditative mood, with Lakshmi on his lap. 

Again, it is interesting to note that we come across Panchabrahma Mantras in MNU. Siva as well as Narasimha are praised as “Eesanah Sarvavidyanam”. Hence whilst Saivites glorify Rudra as Prabrahman, Vaishnavites glorify Narasimha as Parabrahman. Also, whilst Saivites worship Siva as Adiyogi, Vaishnavites consider Narasimha as Adiyogi. We have seen how Parasurama retired to forest after vanquished by Rama to practice Yoga, how Rama turned to Yoga after Sita entered Mother Earth leaving him forever, as described in Yogavasishtha, how Krishna spent morning hours in Yoga and  and also authored  Yogopanishad as Bhagavad Gita and Buddha practiced Yoga and meditation for enlightenment, all inspired by Yoga Narasimha as Adiyogi! 

 

Yoga Narasimha is a form of Vishnu's incarnation as Narasimha the man lion, seated cross-legged in a Yogic posture. The 87th chapter of the Uttara Kanda of the Brahmanda Purana says a sage did penance on the banks of the Padma Thadagam, as it was filled with lotus flowers, near the Gaja Giri Kshetram (the present Anaimalai) seeking progeny, and wanted the Lord to appear in His Narasimha avatar. The Lord appeared as Ugra Narasimha and the heat that emanated from Him was unbearable. Even the celestials were affected by it and they all came to Gaja Giri Kshetram and prayed to the Lord to calm down. The Lord could not be pacified and then they sought the help of Prahlada, whose arrival quietened Him to some extent. They prayed to the Goddess Mahalakshmi, who also took her abode in Him as Narasingavalli, after which He became Yoga Narasimha. We come across various symbolic justifications for this, like Yoga Narasimha being the Shakti behind the Sudarshana Chakra, or Yoga Narasimha and Sudarshana representing Purusha and Prakriti. 

 

Perhaps the only scriptural citation to explicitly discuss the reason is   the Ahibudhnya Samhita, one of the Pancharatra texts which are foundational in the development of Vaishnavism about which we discussed in the past.  Here is what the Ahirbudhhnya Samhita say:

 

Yoganarasimha: 

tanmadhye yoganrsimhalekhanam tanmadhye yogapattena pinaddhaggam sanatanam | narasimham chaturbahum chatuscakradharam param || 26-62 

samasinam asokasya mule kalanaladyutim | sarvabharana samyuktam sarvabhaktartiharinam || 26-63 || 

apara samkhya kalyana guna purnamaharnavam | bhaktanukampinam nityam sarvalokaika nayakam || 26-64 || 

ekatra kalpita sudarsana narasimha- manyatra kevala sudarsanamujjvalaggam | (Some text has 'kalpita' for 'kevala') samkalpitobhayamukham ghatitastrajalam srivisnupajjaragatam yutamantrajalam || 25-25 ||

Sudarsana Murti; 

atascha bhagavan visnuschakrarupi vyavasthitaḥ | hanyante tena chakreṇa visve daiteyadanavah || 30-16 ||

astrani tani nirjagmurviṣṇurupat sudarsanat | amoghani tato'straṇi bhisanani mahanti cha || 30-19 ||

prajah srastum manaschakre chakrarupi jagatpatiḥ | sraṣṭumastrani sarvani svasmadrupanmahamune || 30-20 ||

[Meaning in essence: Sri Sudarsana Murti and Sri Yoga Narasimha Murti are here with a dual combination. The Sudarsana Murti is in violent form with 16 hands. Sri Narasimha has four hands. Both save bhaktas from the actions of enemies, diseases and save from Graha Doshas.] 

 

According to [Pancharatra] Aagama Sastras - there is a need for Sudarshana Azhwar to be always backed up by some form of energy. Ideally, it is supposed to be a "Simha [Lion] Moorthy"- any Simha Moorthy for that matter - for the same purposes as mentioned that the Sudarshana derives his energy from Yoga Narasimha - although no mention has been made of the Avatar. 

 

Lord Narasimha’s nails an incarnation of Sudarsana Chakra  

Lord Nrsimha is so exalted that even His nails are glorified by the Vaishnava acharyas! In the Sudarsana-sata-nama stotra of the Sri Vaishnava sampradaya, it is said that Lord Narayana's Sudarshana Chakra descended as the tusk of Varaha, the axe of Parasurama, and the nails of Nrsimha. In this way, the nails of Nrsimha accompany the Lord in His various avatars.  

 

Trivikram Panditacharya a disciple of Srila Madhavacarya wrote the Nakha Stuti, meditation on Lord Narasimhadevas nails : Nakha-Stuti - First Sloka pantu asman puruhuuta vairi balavat matanga madhyat ghata kumbi uchadri vipatana adikapatu pratyeka vajrayitabr "O Sri Nrisimha, who is omnipresent, may your nails protect me and others at all times. Just as a lion attacks powerful elephant groups and splits apart their heads with its nails and the vajrayudha (Indra's defense weapon) splits the highest mountains, in the similar way, the Asuras (who through the blessings of Sri Brahma, Rudra and the demigods) are like powerful exhilarating elephants who are easily killed by each of Sri Nrsimha's nails which are precious and powerful."   

Second Sloka; prathatha shrimadkanteravasya sunakhara darita arati duura pradvastha dvanta shanta pravitata mansa bhavitah buribhagai "All demigods are devoted to and praying to these nails, which eliminates all bad elements in this world. They are very [devoted to] these nails as it will give all six senses of a brahmana or good qualities of the devataas. These nails will even give complete knowledge and the demigods come out of the darkness (of ignorance) by praying to these nails, they get peace and knowledge of all the qualities of Sri Hari."  

SB 5.18.8 oṁ namo bhagavate narasiṁhāya namas tejas-tejase āvir-āvirbhava vajra-nakha vajra-daṁṣṭra karmāśayān randhaya randhaya tamo grasa grasa om svāhā; abhayam abhayam ātmani bhūyiṣṭhā oṁ kṣraum || 

I offer my respectful obeisance unto Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, the source of all power. O my Lord who possess nails and teeth just like thunderbolts, kindly vanquish our demon-like desires for fruitful activity in this material world. Please appear in our hearts and drive away our ignorance so that by your mercy we may become fearless in the struggle for existence (durig pandemic) in this material world.  It is thus reasonable to believe Lord Narasimha’s nails incarnated as Sudarsana Chakra in his hands in his form of Chaturbhuja Yoga Narasimha.    

 

Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi (May 25, 2021) is celebrated as Narasimha Jayanti. Lord Narasimha was the 4^th incarnation of Lord Vishnu. On Narasimha Jayanti day Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Narasimha, a half lion and half man. The main aim of the Narasimha avatar was to end the tyranny of Hiranyakashipu and restore the path of Dharma, peace and prosperity.  Prahlada the young son of Hiranyakashipu and an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu paved the way for the removal of Adharma and was also blessed by divine parents to be an ideal son that inspired Father's Day celebration. Hence of all the 64 forms of Narasimha Yoga Narasimha need to be focused as we badly need Yoga therapy in 2021! I believe after popular Rama and Krishna Avatars of Dasvatara, Narasimha Avatara worship is widespread and popular!

Prahlada requested Narasimha to pardon his cruel father's sins and grant him Moksha or liberation to him, indeed a noble gesture unthinkable. Even Narasimha should have been surprised! How can Lord refuse his beloved devotees request? He blessed Prahlada to be a Chiranjeevi, (Immortal) and a permanent companion of his.  Prahlada was first ever to honor his father, however bad he may be, and bring him Eternal Bliss in spite of all the cruelty meted out to him. Bhagawan says in Bhagavad Gita that among deityas (demons) he is Prahlada (deityaanam prhlaadosmi), thus complimenting the noble and   pious King Prahlaada.  Here is a scenario of most pious and noble son and the cruelest father who would have any how killed him for his being adamant as to not to accept that his father was Superior to Narayana. There is a good lot of philosophical thinking behind it. 

 

Narasimha Jayanti was the day when Shri Vishnu appeared as a half-man-half-lion to uproot evil, restore Dharma, remove fear and anxiety and bring back confidence, peace and prosperity. Here's extending my warm greetings to you and your family on this auspicious day. May you derive the strength to win all the battles in your life including Coronavirus through the blessings of Yoga Narasimha this year!

 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/05/vishnus-incarnation-as-narasimha.html

 --May 22, 2021

 

 

If Genetic Studies says Ramayana Was Real, Then Sitayana with Aboriginals is True too!

Genetic Studies Prove Ramayana Was Real 

An international team of researchers consisting of geneticists, anthropologists, archaeologists and historians have found that the Epic Ramayana is a chronicle of events and characters recorded by Sage Valmiki and not a work of fiction.  

 

Daily Pioneer reports 

Ramsevak Kol, a tribe from the Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh, stands head and shoulders above other Indians.  Genetic studies prove that he is one of the descendants of King Guha of Ramayana.  

 

The mystery behind the characters in Ramayana has been solved by a team led by Dr. Gyaneshwer Chaubey, ace genetic scientist of the Estonian Biocentre in Estonia. A three-year long research by Dr.  Chaubey and his team drawn out from Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, Delhi University, Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur and Institute of Scientific Research on Vedas has found that the Bhils, Gonds and the Kols, categorized as Scheduled Castes and Tribes by the modern day administrators of India are the true descendants of characters featured in Ramayana. The peer reviewed scientific paper authored by the team has been published by PLOS ONE, a respected scientific portal.  

 

  “Guha, the Nishad King, is the ancestor of the present day Kol tribe we found in these regions. This ancestry was established by genetic studies. These groups of people carry the basic indigenous genetic traits of India. Ramsevak and thousands like him spread across the States of UP, MP, Odisha, Chhattisgarh are the true descendants of Lord Rama and his contemporaries,” Dr. Chaubey told The Pioneer from Tartu in Estonia via video conferencing. 

 

Ramayana of Aboriginal traditions    

Aboriginal traditions in India have their own versions of the epic Ramayana. The tribal Ramayana stories in India have woven numerous subplots into the main story. Indian Tribes of Bhils, Mundas, Santhals, Gonds, Sauras, Korkus, Rabhas, Bodo-kacharis, Khasis, Mizos and Meiteis have their version of the Ramayana. Interesting stories are woven into the main theme based on the occupation and culture of the tribes. In some versions, Ravana is given the status of a hero. 

 

 Deccan Herald writes: 

 

The greatest of Ramayana narrator Valmiki was from  Kirat tribal.  

In a Malayalam tribal version, Hanuman insists on sitting at Rama's feet, so that when Rama sneezes, Hanuman can wish him long life (as per tradition) – and the sneeze marks that even Rama is subject to the bodily needs of a human.  

 

In Assam, where hill women have specialized in weaving, Sita is characterized as a fine weaver. In puppet shows among the tribals, some are Ravana upasakas (worshippers). As such Ravana can never be killed. The legend states that Rama killed only the chaya ( shadow) of Ravana and not the real demon king.  

the puppetry recital three curses are showered on Rama for killing Ravana-- Brahma Hatya (killing of a Brahmin), Bhakta Hatya (Sambuka, Ravana) and Chaya Hatya (killing of a singer – Ravana). Many tribal traditions believed in Ravana and not Rama. Ravana puppet does not have to endure manipulation and the puppet of Ravana is complex or beautiful. His Sattva (good) character is created in puppetry, which makes him look like a hero.  

 

Physical and socio-cultural landscape acquires a unique native character and defines the sacred geography of the region, tribal reside. Linking the Ramayana with local geography and rituals; by incorporating songs and narratives from the native repertoire; and by making the characters follow moral and ethical codes of the community, each tribal group renders its version of Ramayana.  

 

Gonds from Madhya Pradesh have their own Ramayana, which reflects their local traditions and is closely linked with their oral narrative repertoire. They are also known for their distinct folk painting tradition. The entire Ramayana was transferred on to the canvas by the Gonds in the IGNCA exhibition at New Delhi in 2008. The Gond Ramayana has been translated in Hindi and 500 folk songs based on Rama theme have been documented in Madhya Pradesh with the support of Adivasi Kala Parishad, Bhopal. 

 

Mizo tribes of the North East also have tales influenced by Rama legend. In Manipur, Ramayana is performed in Wari-leeba (traditional story-telling), Pena-sakpa (ballad singing), Khongjom parva (narrative singing accompanied by Dholak) and Jatra (folk-theatre) styles. 

 

Again in the tribal versions, there are Buddhist and Jain variations. In the Tai-phake community in the North-East, Rama is a Bodhisattva. One of the most spectacular tribal dance forms used for Ramayana in Odisha is known under the generic name of Chau and it has three distinct styles: Mayurbhanj Chhau of Odisha, Purulia Chhau of Bengal and Saraikela Chhau of Jharkhand. Purulia and Seraikela Chau dances are known for the use of elaborate masks and even today many dance troupes perform the complete Ramayana in 28-long sessions. 

 

Again Rama may be a nayak or an avatar, a nomadic cultural hero, or a king. But his brother Lakshman becomes the main hero in many tribal tales. He is a jati, and, therefore, the most powerful character of the story. In some, he is a calm, cool and wise young man, devoid of any aggressive behavior. 

Among the Baiga tribe in Central India, there is an interesting episode in which Lakshman has to undergo a fire ordeal to prove his chastity. In many folk and tribal versions, Sita takes the avatar of Kali and kills Ravana and other demons. Again, Mankali tribal dancers of Kerala, the whole tribal troupe only depicts the episode of Sita getting enamored of Maricha the golden deer.  

 

Do you know this year Sita Jayanti also known as Janaki Jayanti is being celebrated on May 21, 2021  in India   though neglected by Hindu Americans in USA!  

“Sita is the name in India for everything that is good, pure, and holy; everything that in a woman we call woman. Sita— the patient, all suffering, ever-faithful, ever-pure wife! Through all the suffering she had, there was not one harsh word against Rama. Sita never returned injury. Be Sita”--Swami Vivekananda. 

 

May Goddess Sita Bless You with Optimism, Hope and Courage to fight all calamities in life and Shower you with Success, Happiness and Peace!  

 

--May 21, 2021

Comments:

Convincing proof

A.S. Narayana

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RELEVANCE OF YOGA THERAPY TO COVID 19

Yoga is welcomed world over for its health promoting and wellness creating aspects. Research over three decades   has shown the efficacy of yoga practices including meditation in establishing homeostasis in non-communicable diseases by reducing stress levels and promoting healthy life style. Interconnectedness of the mind and body and correcting the imbalances have been intensively investigated to provide a holistic framework for the health of individuals.

Research has shown Pranayamas, Meditation, and Mantras could provide a broad-spectrum immune build up in the body so that viral infection could be averted and/or its virulence reduced. 

All yoga practices utilize deep relaxation which could release all tensions and stresses to prevent immune suppression that would otherwise have weakened the responses to the onslaught of infectious bacteria and viruses. We need to practice antidote for stress – at work or even at home – at the time of experiencing the stress, not 5 h later when we can cloister ourselves in a room for a short time!

Any holistic therapy should address the entire spectrum of body-mind-consciousness of an individual so that the totality of human personality is ready for the next evolution in human consciousness. The five sheaths of body, prana, mind and emotions, knowledge, and bliss are addressed in the modules developed here with the understanding that an imbalance in any one could bring disorder in all sheaths. The disorder is perceived only when it percolates to mind or body level and mending them in isolation will only bring transitory relief. For a complete cure, all the above sheaths must be addressed and set right so that the person is not only symptoms free but also ready to explore the depths of consciousness moving beyond the frail human condition.

Further Research will help us understand the precise role of yoga therapy in conditions like COVID-19. Till such times, the well understood underlying mechanisms for the use of yoga for stress reduction and immune modulation should be considered as the basis for its complimentary role in the management of an infectious condition like COVID-19. 

 --International Yoga Journal

 

Research Shows Yoga Can Help with Respiratory Recovery from COVID-19

BY FTASHA EICHENSEHER

 

Nearly 10 percent of people diagnosed with COVID-19 experience prolonged symptoms, including trouble breathing, blood clots, headaches, nausea, muscle pain, and fatigue that last weeks, months, possibly years after testing positive for the novel coronavirus. 

Yoga teachers and yoga therapists (certified practitioners who use yoga to address specific physical and mental health issues) have been working with these COVID long-haul patients to help them ease stress and pain, maintain mobility, and breathe easier, and now science is starting to back their Yoga  Therapy methods.

Late last year, researchers at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California did a meta-analysis of effective pulmonary, or lung, rehabilitation treatments and determined that breathing exercises that strengthen the diaphragm (think three-part yogic breathing or Ujjayi Pranayama) and stretching (asana or gentle movement coordinated with the breath) are important for recovery. Their study, published in the journal Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, recommends a series of breathing exercises depending on the severity of symptoms—all designed to rebuild respiratory muscles that have taken a hit from COVID-19. 

Another review of post-acute COVID treatments, published in the journal BMJ last summer, recommends “breath control” techniques similar to Ujjayi and pranayama practices that call on breath retention to work through chronic coughing and breathlessness.

COVID Long-Haul Syndrome Symptoms

So how does COVID-19 ravage the body long-term? 

Ingrid Yang, MD, is a doctor and yoga therapist who has been working with COVID patients since the pandemic started (FC). She explains that COVID acts like an inflammatory disease, setting off an immune-system response that kills off healthy cells. The inflammation is exacerbated by stress. Many of the symptoms of COVID are in fact the result of out-of-control inflammation, particularly in the lungs, brain, and blood vessels, where the virus attaches via its ACE2 enzyme receptors. 

“We know that yoga helps decrease inflammation in general,” says Yang, who is also the author of Adaptive Yoga. And now she leverages pranayama and asana practices to both address generalized stress and inflammation as well as teach people to breathe easier post COVID infection.

In early March, Yang will be part of a team of yoga therapists and yoga and Ayurveda practitioners teaching free classes online. The series, hosted by the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) and Give Back Yoga University, is designed to help both COVID sufferers and caretakers find accessible ways to heal. “Our Supporting COVID-19 Healing project also offers education for yoga professionals bringing this work to their communities,” says Rob Schware, Executive Director of Give Back Yoga Foundation and the creator of Give Back Yoga University.

It’s common for COVID patients to suffer from acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, in which fluid leaks into the lungs, breathing becomes difficult, and the body struggles to get the oxygen it needs. Yang explains that the lungs of ARDS patients lose elastin and become more rigid. “While yoga won’t bring back the elastin, you can teach people how to accept their new normal and breathe better,” says Yang. She teaches breathing exercises and postures that help put enough pressure on the lungs to keep them open. “Any program that helps people feel like they are back in control and doing something for themselves is going to help,” says Yang. 

 

Yoga Bharati, India

Yoga Bharati, follows the particular principles of practice established by Sage Patanjali, a brilliant thinker and author who lived around 250 BCE and Swami Vivekananda, a man of great magnetism who worked both in India and America during the late part of the 19th century.

Vision: "Saha nau Bhunaktu"-May We Nourish all with Health and Happiness through Holistic Yoga.

VYASA: Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation (VYASA) is a premier yoga university in Bengaluru, India with over 30 years of research background working to make yoga as a socially relevant science, based on the teachings of Swami Vivekananda — the four streams of Yoga with unity in their diversity. VYASA aims to bring the applications of yoga to bring health, harmony, peace the world over are now spread across the globe in nearly 30 countries.  VYASA conducts short term and long term courses on yoga and its allied subjects and have affiliations with other Indian universities and is recognized as the deemed university by United Grants Commission (UGC) India. 

Yoga Bharati brings a wealth of knowledge about yoga through Yoga Teacher’s Training course from Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation, VYASA, Bangalore, India and Yoga Alliance. Yoga Bharati is a non-profit, voluntary organization with a vision of enhancing Health (physical), Happiness (mental), Knowledge (intellectual) & Peace (Spiritual) in life through a holistic approach to yoga. It was started by a group of passionate Indians in Bay area, USA under Yogashree Raghuramji's guidance in the year 2001.

 YB-SEVA VIBHAAGA’S MISSION

a) Improve the health status of the needy people by educating them about good lifestyle, diet, positive thinking - They aim to do several camps in the villages to succeed in this mission.  They have a good team of volunteer teachers who are in this project.

b) To provide free Yoga sessions for the under-privileged Youth, women and kids.

c) To bring about health awareness in the higher sects of society- with talks on Understanding Yoga and positive well-being, Special meditation sessions, on diet and nutrition, healthy lifestyle, etc.

At Yoga Bharati, they try  to heal the diseases and health conditions resulting from modern lifestyle and stress with  a team of eminent board members, medical consultants, yoga faculty, instructors   Yoga therapists and counsellors who believe that Holistic Yoga brings about wholesome nourishment to all. They conduct Yoga classes, Professional workshops on health ailments, Stress management workshops, Yoga retreats and personalized Therapeutic yoga sessions for several health ailments.

FREE WEBINAR ON HOLISTIC YOGA BY HUA ON MAY 22, 2021:

Covid-19, as we know attacks the lungs, and diminishes the oxygen inflow. Now is an appropriate time, to learn the essentials of Pranayama along with Asana practice, and take initiative for our health and wellbeing.

While the scope of Yoga is vast, it also helps us improve our health and wellness, both in prevention and in rehabilitation. When practiced wrongly, it can also lead us to injuries and ailments. As Hatha Yoga Pradipika says:

prāṇāyāmena yuktena sarva-roga-kṣhayo bhavet | ayuktābhyāsa-yogena sarva-roga-samudghamaḥ

In this webinar, we will look into the Classical definitions of yogasana and pranayama and their subtle nuances coupled with some demonstrations that can make our yoga practice both safe and effective. We will also introduce the course Holistic Yoga - Deepen Your Yoga Practice and other courses offered by Hindu University of America.

--May 18, 2021

 

Noble Mission of Baha’i Community of Nashville, A Call to

Hindu Americans to Wake-up!

Bahá’is an off-shoot of Sufi Movement, come from virtually every national, ethnic and religious background, making the Bahá’í Faith the second-most widespread religion in the world. The Bahá’í Faith is the youngest of the world’s independent religions. Since its inception in Persia (now Iran) in 1844, it has grown to more than five million followers in 236 countries and territories. Bahá’ís believe in one loving Creator, one unfolding religion and one human family. 

The worldwide Bahá’í community is working to give practical expression to Bahá’u’lláh’s vision of world unity in the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh on issues such as the elimination of all forms of prejudice with an emphasis on race unity, the equality of women and men, the spiritual education of children, the importance of family cohesion, and the establishment of world peace. 

The Bahá’í Faith has been an active part of religious and social life in Middle Tennessee since the 1930s. 

  Baha’is Community of Nashville 

1556 Bell Road, Nashville, TN 3721 

Meaningful Conversation in Nashville by BAHA’I Community 

Participate in free online spiritual discussions and classes with others in your community and be part of a different kind of conversation — one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the deeper truths that unite us. 

 

Is there such a thing as a just, equitable and even moral economy? 

Whatever our personal values or system of beliefs, many would agree that how we interact with our fellow human beings should reflect certain core values such as kindness, honesty, fairness and compassion. But if that is how we interact with each other individually, then should those same values also inspire our economic systems? 

Typically, economies are talked about in terms of theories, policies or statistics. But isn’t our economic system also a reflection of our values or, if not, shouldn’t it be? Do we create our economic systems or do they create us? Do the choices we’re currently making (or failing to make) truly reflect our values? More often than not, the determining question asks what is good for my bottom line – as an individual, as an organization, as a society. And the determining answer is usually whatever yields the highest dollar amount. But what if what is good for the collective also happens to be good for the individual? What if as a society, we judged ourselves not on the wealth of our richest, but by the comfort of our poorest? What if our decisions were made not based on principles of scarcity, but on spiritually founded principles of love, justice, and our essential oneness? 

 Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the deeper truths that unite us – as we discuss the spiritual perspective offered by the Bahá’i teachings on the need for an economy driven by morality. Please join us for a lively discussion as we explore how an economy based on spiritual principles can allow for the conditions needed for all of humanity to reach its full and true prosperity. 

 “The good pleasure of God consists in the welfare of all the individual members of mankind.” – Teachings of Baha’i. Does this sound Hindu ancient wisdom and daily prayer of sarve janah sukhino bhavantu? 

 I believe Baha’i was inspired by Sufi’s in India that was inspired by   Hinduism and Vision of Vedas seeing the interfaith fusion in Indonesia. Sufi mystic traditions became more visible during the 10th and 11th centuries of the Delhi Sultanate and after it to the rest of India and then to the world. Both Sufis and Bahá'ís have adapted spiritual practices that are very similar. This may be due to the nature of Baha' Allah frequenting Sufi gatherings, living amongst Sufis as such in Iraqi Kurdistan. We have seen how Baha' Allah was in regular communication with Sufis, some Sufis were amongst his earliest followers so it is not without surprise that some practices would have been carried over in the Bahá'í Teachings. Most Sufi’s practices are comprised majorly of Recitation (dhikr), Meditation (muraqaba), Accounting (muhasaba), Audition (sama') and Prayer (salat). All of which are aimed at purifying (latifa) the spiritual centers (lata'if) or chakras within each human being.   

 It is high time Hindu Americans as pioneers of Universal Spirituality wake up to the need of the hour and lead the country better spiritually toward Universal Oneness and living in peace and harmony. Hindu Americans should wake up to the message of Gita and promote it to all. The aim of the Gita’s doctrine is to lead one to tranquility, happiness and equanimity. The Gita Doctrine is beyond Religious and National Boundaries.  Could that start from Nashville Hindu Americans, who have pioneered many things in promoting Community Services. It also needs the attention of VHPA, HMEC, HTC of North America, HAF, HUA, HCCT Etc. 

If Sufism and Baha'ism is widely practiced among followers of Islam without conversion, there will be all round global peace and it will be a boon to India to progress. Hindus reverting back to Sanatana Dharma will make them world leaders in spirituality. Probably, this may be easier and faster if Hindu Americans and American Muslims take the lead, who have the advantage of being better Intellectuals (prajnyas) among their unfortunate crowd in other parts of the globe. This goes with Gita Doctrine that the world needs different religions, cults and deities to meet the vastly different needs of individuals.

“In the beginning the Vedic religion (called Sanatana Dharma whose followers can be called Sanatani) was prevalent all over the world. Later, over the centuries it must have gone through the process of change and taken different forms. These forms came to be called the original religions of the various lands which in the subsequent period--during historical times-- came under Buddhism, Christianity or Islam as the case may be” says Jagadguru Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi. Baha’i movement is the latest in this series. 

 Philosophic Teachings of Baha’i is more deeply and logically based in Upanishads and Gita and have originated from the Teachings of Upanishads. But where is Vedanta Vision?; Where is Arise Awake call of Vivekananda to Community in Nashville?

--May 17, 2021

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Hindu Reflections on Papanasam Shri Ramalingaswamy 108 Shiva Temple in Kumbakonam 

Papanasam (Sri Ramalingeswarar Temple/ 108 Shiva Linga Temple) – In Tamil literally it means “Destruction of Sins” It is believed that worshipping Lord Shiva in this temple would remove all sins. Lord Ramalingaswami is in the main shrine. On a hall (Mandap) there are 106 Shiva Lingas in 3 rows. Other significance of the temple is that Kamadhenu the divine cow has an equal place with Nandhi the bull vehicle of Lord Siva before His shrine. Besides, there are shrines to Nandi, Kamadhenu, Murugan and his consorts Valli Deivayanai, sanisvara and Kasi Visalakshi.   

 

Lord Rama installed 107 Shivalingas and asked Sri Anjaneya to bring one from Kasi thus making the total 108. Lord Rama, after rescuing Sita, performed Shiva Puja in Rameswaram to cleanse Himself of sins that befell on Him in the war killings. While returning to Ayodhya from there, Lord Rama still felt that the sins of killing Kara and Dooshana in Janasthanam were still following Him. The main Linga was named Ramalingaswami and the one brought by Sri Anjaneya was named Hanumantha Linga. A shrine was built for Mother Parvatavardhini later. The shrine faces west in violation of the Hindu canon of temple architecture. The Sivalingas, too face west.  

 

108 Shivalayam Temple -Arulmigu Ramalinga swamy Alayam at Papanasam, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, BHARAT (India) (Period of origin - Before 8th century) 

 

While Lord Rama with his wife Sita returning to Ayodhya, they felt that some dosham was still following them. They realized that the sin of having killed Khara and Dushan, the two demons was following them and hence decided to do poojas to Lord Shiva here. 

 

They instructed Hanuman to bring one Shivalinga from Kasi. He made some delay in bringing that. Hence Rama and Sita decided to make linga’s by themselves and they collected sand from nearby river Kudamurutty, made Shiva lingam and placed under a vilva tree. Meanwhile, Hanuman brought one Shivalinga from Kasi and placed outside the southern side of the temple. Hence Rama Blissfully granted that all the devotees who worship the 106 Shivalingas situated in one hall and the presiding deity Sri Ramalingaswany in the sanctum, they have to worship the Hanumanthalingam (the108th Lingam) and then only to worship Parvatavardhini to complete their prayers. 

 

The greatest Surya statue of South India with his son lord Sani Bhagavan is found in the eastern prakara of this temple and in the map published by   "Sree Ram Sanskritik Shodh Sansthan Nyas” Delhi; this place has been marked worth of the holy places visited by Sri Ram, during his exile. This very well establishes the legendary connection this temple is having with Ramayana. 

 

We often come across ancient temples like the one cited above where a Vishnu deity is seen worshiping Siva and vice versa that has caught the imagination of temple forefathers and architects for long. They have been caught up with the idea of compromising fighting factions of Hinduism. Here, Aiyappan and Venkateswara Temples lead the rest.  In America, Hindus are trying to create universal forum for all by building multi traditional temples.  

 

We often come across rare slokas and pictures showing Rama worshiping Siva   or Siva Linga and Krishna worshiping Shiva or Shiva linga by doing Namaskaram.  Our participant Muralidharan Iyengar from Singapore has done lot of research in this field going through all Puranas. Religious acts like pouring water on Shiva (abhisheka priya) linga is not worship, but it is an act nourishing the lives as Shiva also means life. It is just like pouring water on a plant sapling. In VSN, a text like Bhagavad Gita in the Itihasa Mahabharata Siva glorifies Rama--“Srirama Rama Rameti…sahasrnama tattulyam”, guiding Parvati in her worship of Vishnu. 

 

Worship   means seeking for Liberation and Moksha from material world and to enter into the kingdom of Bhagavan, Brahmaloka that is a spiritual world, ultimate resting place and supreme destination, where Jivatman enjoys Bliss devoid of all sheaths as on Earth or other Lokas.  

 

Bhagavan Krishna touched feet of Sudama and many sages, he gave obeisance to his mother Yashoda and spent long hours on meditation on Parabrahman in his chosen human form with Manava dharma.  This was not in his Avyakta Swarupa or Nothingness or No Form that he revealed in his Viswaroopa Darsan, thrice during his Avatar! 

 

In all   contradictions and intrigues found in exaggerated texts glorifying one deity at the cost of other deities, and where sectarian religious followers play it for sectarian promotion and religious marketing, we have to go by what Vedas (vedokhilam dharmamulam) say. 

 

Our scriptures are Polymorphic Monotheistic; Narayana (waterborne) is the   Supreme Being in Saguna form, and all the rest are his plenary expansions. 

 

Narayana is present in each and every atom including in living beings as Paramatman. Macrocosm Parmatman (Narayana) in his microcosmic form is present in all beings. Shiva is a particular aspect of Narayana who is   all pervading.  Shiva aspect is present in all living beings like Vishnu and Brahma aspects. When Shiva leaves a living body it becomes Shavam (absence of shivam).   Shiva is called Mahadeva which means greatest among all deva clan or divines.  Krishna as Bhagavan in Gita is referred as “Devadideva” which means God of all ‘devatas’ or deities (yanti deva-vrataa devah). 

 

Bhagavad Gita says Krishna (Personal form) is the source of impersonal Brahman. Narayana is Supreme Creator, Preserver, and Destroyer. Brahma is an instrument as an accessor; there is Brahma for each and every universe. Rudra is a sub-due who takes part in destruction. We say “HariHara” (not Harahara) which means when Hari becomes Hara. Brahma is a mortal just like us but he lives for very long time of 100 Brahma years; Brahma is himself a created being; and there are many Brahmas but Narayana is unique. 

 

Shiva Purana, is a highly exaggerated text promoted by Shaiva kings during the medieval period and so are similar Puranas. Current Shiva Purana and others are not consistent with Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita. Gita says world needs today different religions, cults and deities to meet the vastly different needs of individuals. As you know Bengal recently created last year Coronasura Mardhini as an Avatar of Durga to fight COVID 19! Nevertheless, Puranas do include often rare slokas that stress on equal status for Trinities we worship with Paramatman we meditate, thus saving from their guilt in offending Vedas. But at the same time, they misguide us with overblown “phalasrutis” as shortcuts to Mukti and highway to heaven to overcome the Laws of Karma to which even human avatars were no exceptions! GOD (Generating, Operating and Dissolving forces) is our invincible fence! 

 

Look at the following mantras from MNU and convince yourselves: 

oṁ antaścharati bhūteṣu guhāyāṁ viśvamūrtiṣu | tvaṁ yajñastvaṁ vaṣaṭkāras-tvam indrastvaɱ rudrastvaṁ viṣṇustvaṁ brahma tvaṁ prajāpatiḥ | tvaṁ tadāpa āpo jyotī raso'mṛtaṁ brahma bhūrbhuvaḥ suvarom || MNU ||  

That Supreme Being moves inside the heart of created beings possessing manifold forms.  O Supreme Though art the Sacrifice (yajna), Thou art the expression of Vaṣaṭ, Thou art Indra, Thou art Rudra, Thou art Brahma, Thou art Prajāpati, Thou art That, Thou art the water in the rivers and the ocean, Thou art the sun, Thou art flavor, Thou art ambrosia, Thou art the body of the Vedas, Thou art the threefold world and Thou art Om. 

 

tasyāḥ śikhāyā madhye paramātmā vyavasthitaḥ  | sa brahmā sa śivaḥ /sa hariḥ/ sendraḥ so'kṣaraḥ paramaḥ svarāṭ..  

Paramātman dwells in the middle of that flame. (Although He is thus limited) still He is the four-faced creator, Śiva, Vishnu, Indra, the material and efficient Cause of the Universe and the self-luminous Pure Consciousness. 

 

agnirmukhaṁ brahmā śiro viṣṇurhṛdayaɱ rudraḥ śikhā pṛthivī yoniḥ prāṇāpānavyānodānasmānā saprāṇā śvetavarṇā sāṁkhyāyanasagotrā gāyatrī caturviṁśaty-akṣarā tripadāṣṭkukṣiḥpañcaśīrṣa upanayane viniyogaḥ || 

Fire represents the mouth; the four-faced Brahma, the head; Viṣṇu, the heart, Rudra, the crown- hair, Earth, the source; the in-breath, the out- breath, the diffused breath, the up-breath and the middle breath, the breath. Gāyatrī is fair in hue and is of the same family as Paramātman attained by the Sānkhyas—the illumined sages.

 

In this mantra addressed to Gayatri deity, she is conceived as non- different from Brahman. Therefore, in our body of microcosmic form, Brahma is the head, Vishnu is Heart and Siva the Crown-hair while Brahman resides inside the cavity of the heart as Antaryamin and Vidhartara watching all our activities and suitably rewarding or punishing. 

 

Sandhyavandana, saluting the meeting point of the Nature and the Supreme is a prayer to the Universal Light that is visible to us as Orb of the Sun, for illuminating and invigorating our Strength of Intellect, that Swami Chidananda explained to us recently-“bhargodevasya dheemahi dheeyoyonah prachodayaat” We need the same illumination and invigoration with which the Sun takes care of flora and fauna.

--May 16, 2021

 

 

THINKING SITAAYANA INSTEAD RAMAYANA ON   SITA NAVAMI DAY ON MAY 21, 2021   

 

I wonder why neither Valmiki nor Tulsidas thought of a title Sitayana for their historic Epoch Ramayana! Similarly, Sundarakanda not titled Hanumat kanda!

 Sita-Rama-Ayana is better suited! Perhaps that is why Rama patronized three-striped squirrels are absent in USA, a land that reminds of Kapilaranya (California), with its nearby Horse Island and Ash Island though Ramayana Ballets are very popular in a Muslim ruled country? Sita Navami is celebrated exactly after a month on Vaisakha Sukla Navami in some parts of India. Influenced by male chauvinistic American society, Hindu Americans also do not consider this most important day as SRE day for worship! In today’s backdrop of rising woman power in USA, and after listening to Webinar 198., Praise of Intelligence (Prajnya) by Swami Chidananda, you will certainly appreciate revising the titles Ramayana and Sundarakanda to Sitayana and Hanumatkanda.  

 

Hindu Puranas glorify five sacred women celebrities, and Sita is one among them. Hindu scripture prescribe the following sloka for morning prayer:  Ahalyaa, Draupadii, Seetaa, Taaraa, Mandodari tathaa | Panchakanyaah smaren nityam sarva mahaapaataka naasanam || By remembering the Five Pure Women Ahalya, Draupadi, Sita, Tara and Mandodari all the great sins are wiped out or destroyed.  

This sloka explains all those Hindu women stand for. Draupadi fought for her rights; Sita was ready to undergo all the hardships that her husband went for; Tara established her right by making her son Angada the next king of Kishkinda; Ahalya, a sinner, was reformed and proved that every sinner has a future; and Mandodari, a chaste woman, but married to a demon Ravana advised him to send back Sita to Rama.  

 

According to the Hindu Mythology, it is said that the state of Mithila once suffered severe drought and King Janaka was suggested to perform a Yagna and run a plough on the ground to get rid of the problem. And as the King did the same, he found Mata Sita in the form of a child. Since King Janaka had no children, he adopted her and gave her the name Sita.  

 

Goddess Sita, is the central female character of the Hindu epic Ramayana and daughter of King Janaka of Videha. She is an avatar of  Bhudevi, Goddess of Nature (Prakriti) and wife of Vishnu. Sita is the consort of Lord Rama and is revered as a paragon of spousal and feminine virtues for all Hindu women. She is renowned for her dedication, self-sacrifice, courage and purity.   The meaning of her name is “furrow” that symbolizes the place where she was found by her father. When we hear of Sita, the first thing that strikes us is her unconditional bond of love with Lord Rama. In the face of extreme hardship, Lord Rama’s queen displays extraordinary character, founded on her pure devotion to the Lord. Rama, had to pass Shiva’s test of lifting and breaking a heavy bow, to win the right to marry Sita. Rama is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, while Sita is the incarnation of Goddess  Bhudevi, hence, they were born to be together connected by a string of eternal love. Sita embodies the character of an ideal woman to an ideal man, containing the right thoughts and actions.   

 

When Rama was banished to the forests, for fourteen years, she willingly gave up her luxurious life at the kingdom to accompany Rama, as she believed that it was her duty to stay with her husband. Rama initially denied her, but she still persisted and accompanied him. She was so worried when Rama went alone in the forests, she sends Lakshmana to accompany him, thereby risking her life by staying alone. She successfully passed and endured the test of fire, agni pareeksha, clearing all doubts of Rama, regarding her purity, thereby also proving that she had been untouched by any other man, during her period of abduction by Ravana. At the end of the story, she again proved her purity, however this time, she vanished inside the earth, from where she had originated.   

 

Please recall my recent E-mail:  Let us spend More Time Out-side Interacting with Nature and be Nurtured by Nature”. This thought is inspired from the life of Sita, who came out of Earth and went back to Earth in tote.   

 

In Valmiki’s Ramayana, Sita’s origin is depicted to be from Mother Earth itself. Thus, Sita is a part of Nature, and is shown to always be in harmony and at peace with Nature.   She never at once regretted sacrificing the comforts of palatial life, as her inner frequencies were seamlessly in a sync with the frequencies of the forests, animals, lakes, trees, birds and rivers. Sita had a special connection with these elements of the earth. In Ramayana, when the couple is first crossing the Ganga, Sita prays to Goddess Ganga to protect Sri Rama from all the hardships of forest life. When Ravana abducts her, she calls out to all these elements of the natural world to come and rescue her. She calls upon the rivers, the animals, the trees, desperately begging to save her from the hands of the evil Ravana. The trees wept in the form of sap, as they couldn’t help Sita. Even the animals were heartbroken to see her being captured by the cruel devil. While she was being abducted, it seemed like the entire Earth went into a trance of poignancy. In all her attempts to ask Nature for help, she wakes an old vulture, Jatayu who dies fighting Ravana and drops her jewels to some monkeys, who later helped Rama in finding Sita.   

 

She is also very generous, when it comes to gratitude. She willingly gifts Hanuman the necklace that Rama gave her, as a token of appreciation of all the help that that he and his army provided to Rama to rescue her back. Her generosity is also highlighted when she asks the wives of all the monkey warriors to accompany them back to Ayodhya, to participate in the grand celebrations there with them.   

 

To celebrate the birth of Goddess Sita, devotees place symbols of a plough and Goddess Earth in front of the idols of Rama, Sita, King Janaka and Mata Sunayana. Sita Navami puja is then performed using rice, sesame and barley as offerings. Sita Navami is celebrated with fervor and gaiety all over India and people seek blessings from Sita Devi for happiness and long life of their spouse. Worshipping Lord Rama and Sita together brings peace, harmony and happiness in marriage. Many women also observe fast with purity, devotion and faith which inspire qualities like sacrifice, modesty, motherhood and dedication that we need.    

 

In our society today, separation, divorce, and single parenthood are increasing realities. The Ramayana, written thousands of years ago, dealt with those issues. Sita was a single mother, unofficially divorced. Though unhappy with the separation from her husband, she taught her children to respect their father. She did not teach them hate and vengeance. No one could say her children came from broken homes or that they were affected by that fact in any way. Rama did not attempt to have their custody so he could bring them up in a manner befitting their social obligations. He knew that in the hermitage Sita would ensure they were raised to be future kings. In our society, we see men and women fighting with each other and using their children as weapons.    

 

The Ramayana   is a story of the struggle to overcome difficulties and the tough choices the characters made in keeping with dharma, the socially accepted ideals of that time. By emphasizing the qualities of strength and courage in the stories, we can change the contemporary societal perspective of Hindu women who are seeking strong role models, as these characters serve as an inner moral compass. Social justice will then have more meaning then to be an explicit part of the Diwali celebration around the world.   

 

Many people in India find it difficult to justify or reconcile themselves to the fact that in a culture which worships Saraswati as the Goddess of Learning, so many girls are deprived of even primary education; in a culture which worships Lakshmi as the Goddess of Wealth, so many modern-day Lakshmis live a slavish life of economic dependence; in a culture where male Gods have had to appeal for perfection to the feminine Shakti, women among many communities are not allowed to venture out of their domestic confines without male  protection. it also shows how far we have deviated from Sanatana Dharma. Even Indra had to seek the guidance of Uma in Upanishads! This bewilderment and guilt have compelled numerous people to pick up cudgels on behalf of women, throwing up important social movements. It is noteworthy that a majority of women's rights struggles and movements in modern India have been often initiated, led and sustained by men.  These thoughts occupy our attention today to correct the situation   looking at the struggle of Sita as a single parent bringing up two illustrious sons as future rulers to carry the flag of Ikshwaku Dynasty and the fame of Ayodhya that is in the mind of all Hindus today!  

 

Initial stroke of calamity from outside like the present pandemic or the surging up of greed from within do produce the normal human reaction of desperation. But as the first effects subsides, turning inwards, every human being realizes highest values of life that mankind or womankind could ever manifest under similar circumstances and also influence the life of others in similar conditions.   While we sought refuge in Rama and Hanuman nlast month, Matangi and Sita are there bestowing their motherly love on us. 

 Hindu Americans need to give equal importance and reverence to Sita Navami as given to Rama Navami and Hanuman Jayanti. Please go through my detailed compilation on this vital topic:  

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2021/05/thinking-of-sitayana-on-sitanavami-day.html 

 

--May 16, 2021

 

WHY HINDUS WORSHIP DEITIES OF REFUSES (UCCHISHTA FORM)?

 

Waste management involves the regular collection, transportation as well as processing and disposal or recycling and monitoring of different types of waste materials. These services can save our business a considerable amount of money, and can also prevent the environment from being harmed. “Hazardous waste" means waste, or combination of wastes, which because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics may cause, or significantly contribute to, an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible illness or incapacitating reversible illness or pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed.

Waste management and recycling collection can help conserve our planet’s natural beauty which can be flawed by thoughtless disposal of waste, fly-tipping and senseless littering. Landscapes can be ruined through littering and places of tourist interest can lose their attraction; it is also a blight for those who live in areas where waste collection and recycling is not managed effectively and responsibly. Natural beauty is a legacy and a right for future generations and conserving it, as well as our natural resources, for their benefit is our responsibility today. It is our bounden duty to care of Mother Earth and preserve her Pristine Beauty while enjoying her Natural Bounties. The social obligations of Hindus is so knitted that no human activity is segregated from the divine. One of the forms of Matangi, is often associated with pollution, which is embodied in her most popular form, known as Uchchhishta-Chandalini or Uchchhishta-Matangini. Fearing the risk involved and the success needed, the Waste Management Workers raise their voices to the  divine who is presented to them as Uchhishta Ganapati and Ucchishta Matangi within framework  of Mahavakya Sarvam Kalvidam Brahma though looks odd and bizarre to other religious faiths. We need their grace to remain active, healthy and successful in this important mission of serving humanity.  

 

Hindus venerate Alakashmi, Kama and Manyu deities too invoked in Veda mantras!  Please recall specific mantras of MNU for Homa that plead to the Supreme yearning for all around purity and cleanliness of body parts and surroundings. We start Homa ritual with Sthala suddhi and Punyahavarchana, stressing the need for cleanliness around pleading to Ucchishta deities that Puranas created!

The 9th Mahavidya Matangi is never given the same honor like other Mahavidyas. Some parampara doesn't even consider her as Mahavidya at all. But they call her Siddhavidya only.  Matangi is placed as a minister to Srividya. She is only known as Mantrini now a days. Though Mahavidya Matangi and Mahamantrini Shyamala is same but still different. The most important difference is, Matangi is the daughter of Rishi Matanga. But Shyamala appeared from the sugarcane bow of Sri Lalita. Shyamala is always associated with art and music stuff. Matangi is always shown in warrior's attributes. So where comes Ganapati? Ganapati is associated with Matangi very deeply. So, I had to clarify their differences before going to the story of Mohiniswar Ucchista Ganapati -the Ganapati of Matangi.

 

Once upon a time, there was a great demon, Vidyavana, who was very proud of his Vedic knowledge and lifestyle. In his reigns, Brahmins were allowed to do their Vedic sadhana and all the Vedic rituals were done properly. But this Vedic centric activities made the life of Sudras, Chandalas and all non-Vedic people hard to spend. They were tormented and suffered. Even the gods of heaven suffered due to this. Because, Vidyavana spread only Brahmavad, where Nirgun Brahma will be worshiped and other deities will be rejected. As the gods were used to drink wine and eating meat, Vidyavana proclaimed them Smleccha (heretic) and stopped the wine offerings to Indra and other gods. This made all gods suffer. So, they prayed to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva took Avatara as Rishi Matanga and did great sadhana of goddess Neela Saraswati. Pleased with him, the goddess born as his daughter from the yajnakunda of rishi Matanga. As Matanga's daughter she came to be known as Matangi. As Matangi blossomed her first flower, Rishi Matanga wanted to tie her knot with a perfect gentleman. But none of the Vedic Brahmin wanted to marry Matangi, nor the Vedic influenced any Kshatriyas as she was dark in color (black color was associated with non-Vedic people). Matangi did sadhna of Lord Ganapati to have a husband. Rishi Matanga gave her initiation in 32 letter mahamantra of Ucchishta Ganapati. Both the father and daughter did sadhna of this form of lord. Pleased with them, Lord Ucchishta Ganapati appeared from the yajnakunda of Matangasrama. He was completely naked, red in color, he had a head of an Elephant. This peculiar form impressed Matangi. She proposed to marry him. Lord Ganapati agreed to marry her. And they were married at the month of Chaitra in sukla sasthi.

 

All gods then pleaded to lord Ganapati to kill demon Vidyavana as they came to know, only this half human half elephant form of Almighty can kill Vidyavana (Vidyavana was granted by lord Brahma that he will be killed only by that human, who has a head of animal, who will act like an animal but he will be a Brahma-Jnani. As for Vidyavana one who spend his life like an animal cannot have wisdom of redemption).

 

Lord Ganapati promised them that he will do the job. Lord Ganapati then spread the non-Vedic path of Hinduism which came to be known as Vamachara (actually Vamachara is vast. Ucchista Ganapati only spread its one part which is known as Ucchishaachaaram). This path was easy, and very unique. All the Vedic rishis left their Vedic ways to practice this left path. Lord Ganapati taught them this path, while he was in union with his spouse Matangi. When Vidyavana came to know this way of sadhana, he became furious. He wanted to destroy this path. He came before Ucchishta Ganapati, and saw an Elephant headed naked man, was having sex with his wife, who was dark in color. All the disciple of him, were in same state with their spouses. They were eating meat and fish. They were drunk but still they were chanting Vedic mantras without any wrong pronunciations. Vidyavana was shocked and asked Lord Ganapati to have a debate. So that Vidyavan can defeat him. The condition was whoever will lose in battle, will be killed by the winner. Lord Ganapati agreed. And still in union with his spouse he started the war of the words with Vidyavana. This debate continued for 6 days. In the 7th day of krishna chaturdasi of Vaisakha month, Vidyavana was defeated in debate. Lord Ganapati proofed his Vedic philosophy wrong, as he said: why can be anything wrong or right, sin or virtue, purity or impurity, high or low... if everything is brahma 'सर्वं खल्विदं व्रह्मासि'. How can you divide anything in this world as divine or non-divine if everything is nothing but Brahma itself? It is Maya, my beloved Maya who has blinded you with this dualism. So that you cannot understand what true Brahma is!'

 

Lord Ganapati described him the UcchisHta Suktam of Atharva Veda. And taught him the great Yoga of Ucchishtachara. As Vidyavana was defeated in the debate, he was immediately killed by lord Ganapati by his Ankusha. All the living and non-living creatures praised him. All the gods and demons praised him. He then proclaimed, in the dark age of Kaliyuga, 'only my path can give salvation. Vedic path will be impossible to follow in that age, also will be fruitless. In Satyayuga Veda to be followed, in Treta Smriti to be followed, in Dvapara Purana should be followed but in Kaliyuga वाममार्गैक केवलम् .' --Leftpath alone can save us!  After this, Lord disappeared with his spouse Matangi. From that day on, Lord Ucchishta Ganapati of 32 letter mantra came to be associated with Matangi. Though this Matangi form, who is Ganapati's wife is none but Ucchishta Chandalini. There is another Matangi, who defeated lord Shiva in debate by her beautiful song of Vedic wisdom, later she got married to Lord Shiva. This form of Matangi is known as Laghu Shyama. For her Ananda Ganapati is to be worshiped. Raja Shyama is the minister of Sri Lalita. For her Trailokyamohana Ganapati is to be worshiped.

 

Before going to battle against Ayodanasura, Bhubaneswari did great sadhana of Ganapati. As he granted her obstacle free victory, Bhubaneswari gave her two mind born daughters- Sumukhi (with whom lord came to be known as Sumukha) and Mohini (with whom lord came to be known as Mohiniswar) to lord Ganapati as Arghya.

 

It is also said that Moda Ganapati was worshiped by Matangi (Shiva patni), before going to battle against demon Kilakasura. Matangi is one of the prominent goddesses venerated by Ganapatyas. Meru Tantra specifically described her mantrakrama in chapters of Ganapatya Panchamnaya. Goddess Matangi Sadhana is prescribed to acquire supernatural powers, especially gaining control over enemies (including pandemic diseases of mass destruction), attracting people to oneself, acquiring mastery over the arts and gaining supreme knowledge.

Now is the most opportune movement to appease the enraged Devis, Matangi and Sita Devi, whose Birthdays fall on May 15 and May 21 respectively. Matangi is described as “Aabrahmakita jannanee” and “karunaa-sagaramayee”. Her wrath has created countless viruses to destroy the wicked and arrogant disproportionately but  at the same she is full of love, compassion and pity for those innocent and helpless. It is this Ucchishta Matangi Devi that caught the imagination of Bengali artists last year to come up with the artifact of Covidasura Mardhini. Her Jayanti falls today.

Neglected and divorced by a king and husband Rama Sitadevi after all struggle to raise two noble kids and successors,  left the world in frustration and joined her source   Earth that we all have enraged by disturbing the Eco-balance and destroying Natural beauty. We have also neglected celebration of her Jayanti for long. Let us correct the situation realizing our long neglect and indifference!

May 2021 is the month to appease enraged Devis and pay our due obedience and to listen to the sermons of our Gurus seeking guidance for EQ and SQ Management of our lives. Devis and Gurus are active in blooming Flowers of May!

 

Message from Muralidharan Krishnan

 

As Sri Devi Matangi Jayanti falls on 15-May-2021 (as per some traditions today 14-May), I am delighted to share a rare 5-stanza prayer on Goddess Devi by Lord Brihaspati taken from Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, Skandha 6,  and Chapter 8.

 

Goddess Matangi is considered the 9th Mahavidya among the 10 Mahavidyas and considered the tantric equivalent of Goddess Sarasvati. In some traditions, the 10 forms are equated with 10 Avatars of Mahavishnu and Matangi is associated with Buddha Avatar. Matangi has several forms such as Raja Matangi, Rajashyamala, Ucchista Matangini. Kamakhya Temple is one of the most promient shrines of Matangi Devi. There is at least one Ashtottaram, two Sahasranamas and one Kavacham. I think there is a separate sahasranama for Shyamala and Rajamatangi.

 

--May 15, 2021

 

 

Webinar-199 The relevance of Arjuna Vishāda Yoga to a spiritual seeker by Dr. Sunderraji Ellur

 GURUS’ GOSPEL FROM GITA TO CRIPPLING CORONA VIRUS CRISIS 

Why has Webinar- 199 thought of Dr. Sunderraj Elluru, a renowned surgeon and also an enlightened Spiritual scholar studied under Guru Thimmappa Gowda whom we have heard before to enlighten us and boost up our morale and that too in May covered with dark clouds of Corona pandemic in India though not in USA? But an enigmatic ailment of brain injuries among spies, soldiers, diplomats and others are bothering USA currently. Corona means Crown in Latin. Does that mean Corona is concerned with the brain that calls for psychotherapy and meditative Upadesas (sermons) of Mystic Monks of May whom Dr. Sunder Raj joins that we badly need bogged down by pandemic that has not yet shown the “Light at the end of the Tunnel”?  Crown of our brain can be observed in newborn infants as the “soft spot” on top of their head (anterior fontanelle). The energy collected here is associated with our intellect, our beliefs, and our attachments. When the Crown Chakra   is activated and balanced, there is no fear or anxiety.  Our Gurus activate Crown Chakra Healing and connect with all that travels through our Sahasrara Chakra.  

 

We have in the past talked about Dr. Anand Kulakarni of UK, who walks with his Stethoscope and Bhagavad Gita in Hand, while treating his COVID Patients. Dr. Sunderraju joins Dr. Kulakarni and others who have felt the need of spiritually integrated psychotherapy and counselling in their work.  We discussed on the subject in detail based on Dr. Anand Kulakarni’s article: Relevance of Gita for Modern Psychotherapy--A Panacea for COVID 19. 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2021/02/relevance-of-bhagavad-gita-for-modern.html 

 

“Dr. Len Sperry's book on Spirituality in Clinical Practice provides a thoughtful, engaging, and compelling discussion of both the theory and application of spiritually integrated psychotherapy and counseling. In the ten years since the first edition of this classic text was published much has changed in the field and Dr. Sperry has well-articulated these new developments in this fast-growing area of research and clinical practice. Psychologists, counselors, spiritual directors, and anyone interested in spiritually informed clinical practice should have this book and will find this important second edition of tremendous value” says Thomas G. Plante, Santa Clara University, USA. Ayurveda, the ancient science of life and medicine practices yoga therapy based on manovijnaana (psychology) and Yogasastra (science of Yoga), guided by Bhagavad Gita that is Yogopanishad of 18 chapters.  DR Sunder Raju is focused on Chapter2, Vishadayoga in Webinar 199.  

 

What does the Bhagavad Gita do for us grief stricken? It talks about: 1) Nature of the World; 2) Who Am I; and 3) Go-up the Ladder. Chapter 2 of Bhagavad Gita   summarizes the contents of these 3. 

 

Recently we learnt from an earlier Webinar on Viduraneeti about the Powerful Intellect and its superiority of Strength. Krishna emphasizes the importance of sense control which requires a strong and alert intellect. He then gives the formula for self-control. With a powerful intellect that keeps the senses and mind subdued you take off into higher realms. He concludes with the definition of happiness. We all seek happiness but are clueless about where it lies or how to obtain it.  In Gita there is a clear indication that we can follow to rise to higher levels of happiness until we attain infinite happiness. Thereafter nothing in the world will impact on our Bliss. We will remain untouched like the ocean that remains still in spite of all the turbulent rivers entering it.   

 

 Gist of the webinar199 Presentation:

 Unless we do a proper diagnosis correct treatment is not possible. Vyāsāchārya presents the problem as samsāra and its diagnosis through the syndrome of rāga shoka and moha.  As a seeker, unless I am aware of samsāra and its ramifications, I will not seriously consider the treatment Lord Krishna offers in the subsequent chapters and then the entire study has the risk of becoming a mere academic exercise. The verses prior to Lord Krishna's teaching from 2.11 also contain the nature of the student and the nature of the teacher which are helpful for a sincere seeker. 

--May 15, 2021

 

 

 

Surdas Jayanti on MAY 17, 2021 & Basvesvara Jayanti on May 14  

  

Surdas, the blind saint and poet, sang about the childhood adventures of Lord Krishna. In 2021, the date of Surdas Jayanti is May 17, along with the popular Sankara Jayanthi. The bhajans that Surdas sang were simple, easy to sing and contained short incidents from the life of Krishna peppered with philosophical teachings and moral lessons. Sursagar is his collection of poetry and is an important literary work that helped in spreading the Bhakti movement in North India.

 

Surdas was a part of the Bhakti Movement spreading across the Indian subcontinent. This movement represented spiritual empowerment of the masses. The corresponding spiritual movement of the masses first happened in South India in the seventh century and spread to North India in the 14th-17th centuries. It was non-violent and silent warriors like Surdas who protected Hinduism from invaders and iconoclasts. There only weapon was bhakti - devotion. 

 

It must be noted that historians and scholars have no one opinion regarding Surdas's birth and death. An Indian postage stamp indicates that Surdas was born in 1479 A D and left his body in 1586. 

 

Legend has it that Surdas had the darshan of Lord Krishna in a dream and Krishna asked him to go to Vrindavan. Here he found an able Guru in Shri Vallabhacharya, who was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. After gaining knowledge of Hindu scriptures, Surdas began to sing devotional songs dedicated to Lord Krishna in Vrindavan. His fame soon reached Mughal courts and Mughal emperor Akbar became his patron. 

 

Apart from the monumental literary work, Sur Sagar, Surdas is also noted for other literary works like Sur-Saravali and Sahitya-Lahiri. 

 

He and Basvesvara are other additions to our Guruparampara and Mystic Monks of May. Jayntis of Vallabhacharya, Chinmayananda, Adi Sankara,  Basvesvara,   Surdas   and Buddha are all celebrated in May 2021-- A guru galore month. To this we may add SITA Jayanti as she is The Mother of all mothers of beings on Earth. Mother is the first Guru as we come out of her and visualize the Light at the end of the Tunnel having spent around 9 months in darkness. “April rains for May to flower” is very meaningful phrase for a spiritual seeker.  Our miseries that are devastating us can be overcome listening to the   Mystic Monks of May, focusing on their birthday celebrations in May and listening to their messages who in turn are inspired by Guruparampara tradition started by Adisankara--asmadaacharya paryantaam vande guruparamparaam. 

 

The word Guru in Sanskrit consists of two syllables--"Gu" and "Ru". Gu stands for darkness (ignorance) and Ru stands for its remover. "Gukaaroe andhakaarasya rukaaroe-tan-niroedhakaha"— A Guru is so called because he removes the darkness (of ignorance). The gloom caused by storm of April 2021 (even peoplewere killed in storm in Tennessee)  will bloom for those who turn to Gurupadesa in May 2021 for their EQ and SQ management with the arrival of team of Gurus! Let us bid good-bye to Mystic Monks Meditative May on Buddha Purnima Day with our obeisance to all Gurus!

Birth Anniversary of Basaveshwar, May 14, 2021 

  Basavanna Jayanti, or Basava Jayanti, marks the birth anniversary of the 12th Century thinker, social reformer, saint and religious teacher, Basaveshwara. In 2021, the date of Basava Jayanti is May 14 - as per the Karnataka Government Calendar. The day is also known as Basaveshwar Jayanti.
Basavanna is considered to be the founder of Lingayatism or Lingayat Sect or Veerashaivism. He was responsible for sweeping social changes in Karnataka and surrounding regions around 900 years ago. In 2021, it is the 888th birth anniversary of the social reformer. 

A true humanist, Basaveshwara stood for the upliftment of the downtrodden and fought the evils that had crept into the Brahmanic Vedic tradition. He preached that there is only one Supreme Being and that is Shiva; and that all animate and inanimate are equal before the Supreme Being. 

 

The philosophy and teachings of Basaveshwara had universal appeal and eternal value and it attracted millions of people. The equality of sexes and social justice, which was unheard in many parts of the world in 12^th century, was introduced at the grassroots level of the Kannada society by Basavanna.

He is the creator of Vachana Sahitya, A Kannada literary work on various aspects of life. He is also the co-founder of Anubhava Mantapa. 

Vachana, penned by Basavanna, propagates values of universal brotherhood, social awareness and aims at equality in the society. Vachana is a prosaic form well known in Kannada literature – great teaches in few words like the Mahavakyas of the Upanishads. 

 

What Basavanna Taught the World? 

Don't rob; Don't kill; Never ever lie
Don't get angry; Don't think negative about others
Don't self-describe; Don't tease others
This is the way of self-respect; this is the way to get respected by the world.
This is the way of impressing my Lord Kudala Sangama Deva 

 

 http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/04/basaveswara-philosopher-forgotten.html

 

--May 14, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

2021 Akshaya Tritiya on MAY 14 

 

Akshaya Tritiya which is also known as Akha Teej is highly auspicious and holy day for Hindu communities. It falls during Shukla Paksha Tritiya in the month of Vaishakha. Akshaya Tritiya falling on a Rohini Nakshatra day with Wednesday is considered very auspicious.  Why not then falling on Friday dedicated to Lakshmi? The word Akshaya (अक्षय) means never diminishing. Hence the benefits of doing any Japa, Yajna, Pitra-Tarpan, Dan-Punya on this day never diminish and remain with the person forever. Akshaya Tritiya is considered to be a holy festival among Jains also.

 

Akshaya Tritiya is believed to bring good luck and success. which has different meaning for aspirants! Most people materially focused, rush to purchase Gold on this day, as it is believed that buying Gold on Akshaya Tritiya brings prosperity and more wealth in coming future. Being Akshaya day it is believed that Gold, bought on this day, will never diminish and would continue to grow or appreciate. 

 

Akshaya Tritiya day is ruled by God Vishnu who is the preserver God in the Hindu Trinity. According to Hindu mythology Dharmic Treta Yuga began on Akshaya Tritiya day. Usually Akshaya Tritiya and Parashurama Jayanti, birthday anniversary of 6^th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, falls on the same day but depending on staring time of Tritiya Tithi Parashurama Jayanti might fall one day before Akshaya Tritiya day. 

 

Akshaya means “Endless” that which never diminishes.  What should be that in our short span of life on Earth that we need to aspire for? As per Hindu Election Astrology, the three lunar days, Yugadi, Akshaya Tritiya and Vijay Dashmi do not need any Muhurat to start any new ventures as these days are free from all malefic.

Mystic Monks of May began with the celebration of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on May 7, followed by Chinmayananda Jayanti on May 8, Bhagawan Parasurama  Jayanti on May 14, Bhagawan Shankara Jayanti on May 17, Blind Monk Surdas Jayanti on May 17, culminating in Buddha Purnima Jayanti on May 26.  Present pandemonium has taught us to focus our prayers not on material wealth but on Health as Wealth.   What is the use of gaining the whole world when you have lost your own body strength and soul? Let us therefore be inspired and enriched by the wisdom thoughts of Mystic Monks of May and spiritually enriched,  instead rushing for gold on Akshaya Triteeya  Day which is also the Birthday of  Parasurama, the Great guru of  Danasura Karna who even donated his life focused on dharma.  Let us celebrate it in May 2021 as Akshaya Vedantavijnaana Triteeya that will be endless in all the Worlds-- Bhur Bhuvar Suvar Om! 

 

In the introduction to 'Gitanjali', for which Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize in 1913, WB Yeats wrote, "We write long books where no page perhaps has any quality to make writing a pleasure, being confident in some general design, just as we fight and make money and fill our heads with politics - all dull things in the doing - while Mr. Tagore, like the Indian civilization itself, has been content to discover the endless soul and surrender himself to its spontaneity."  

 

Due to the Coronavirus lockdown, we cannot go anywhere and meet anyone to celebrate Akshaya Tritiya. So, send  greetings to your dear ones on this day amidst lockdown. 

 Happy Akshaya Tritiya to you and your family. May this auspicious day bring you a new beginning of greater prosperity with a better meaning! May Lord Vishnu bless you with   limitless Health, Wealth and Prosperity!  Happy Akshaya Vijnana Tritiya! 

 

 http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/04/akshaya-triteeya-festival-and.html 

 May 14, 2021

 

 

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY APPOINTS FIRST HINDU CHAPLAIN

After graduating from Northwestern University, Amar had an unquenched thirst for spiritual growth. Seeking answers and purpose, he departed from the United States and studied under the tutelage of world-renowned Swami Prakashananda at a traditional ashram abiding in formal monkhood on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Upon the completion of his studies he traveled to Asia, and explored all the way from Himalayas to the southernmost parts of India, ultimately returning to the US in February 2019. Fusing Eastern philosophy with his Western upbringing, Amar brings a fresh perspective to higher living, speaking and inspiring on topics such as meditation and mind management to hundreds of professionals across the US.  

 

Amar's previous engagements include management consulting at Accenture, political organizing, and stem cell research at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine 

 

EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, USA, May 3, 2021 (dailynorthwestern.com). After exploring various career paths, Amar Shah (class of 2016) is returning to Northwestern (ranked as one of the top 30 universities in the world) as the inaugural Hindu chaplain. Following graduation, Shah studied as a Hindu monk for two years, and now wants to share the knowledge he acquired in his training, he said. Shah added that his main goal as chaplain is to provide pastoral care and guidance through a Hindu perspective. 

"I see my role as more of a translator between past and present," Shah said. "I then hope to be able to care for and provide a little bit more of a backbone and support in the community that we know could use it right now, particularly in light of mental health concerns due to the pandemic." 

 

Shah was announced as Hindu chaplain in late April, after students had advocated for the creation of the position since fall 2019. Shah said that he is looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to spiritual life at Northwestern and serve the greater community. 

 --Hindu Press International 

 

Religious and Spiritual Life in Northwestern University 

Northwestern University is a private institution founded in 1851. Northwestern University is recognized nationally and internationally for the quality of its educational programs at all levels. Innovative teaching and pioneering research take place in a highly collaborative, diverse, and interdisciplinary environment that combines the resources of a major research university with the affections and individual attention of a small college. 

 

The primary mission of Religious and Spiritual Life is to support the quest for meaning and purpose through exploration, practice, and growth in our religiously diverse and inclusive communities.  In the mid-1990s a student group called the Northwestern University Council of Religions formed with the goal of promoting interfaith dialogue and engagement. Subsequently, interfaith living-learning residences and Associate Chaplains were hired from other religious and spiritual traditions to expand the program beyond its Protestant roots.   

 

The University Chaplain and Executive Director (UCED) establishes and maintains effective collaborative working relationships with student leaders, religious student organization advisors (of over 40 registered students clubs and organizations), Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and campus service departments in order to provide a holistic and balanced student activity and involvement program that complements and supplements the mission of Student Engagement while advancing the mission of Religious and Spiritual Life.  

 

UCED understands the local, national, and global landscape regarding interfaith, multi-faith, non-religious and spiritual practices, and has an understanding of the impact these issues and affiliations have on the student learning experience. The University Chaplain and Executive Director  brings to the University the gravitas to provide leadership in moments that span celebration and crisis to the community, while also having the interpersonal skills to be sensitive to highly emotional personal situations where discretion, empathy, and good judgment are required.  

--May 12, 2021

 

Comments:

 

This is a great news. Thanks for sharing. 

- Nashville Nagarajan.  

 *************************************************************

 

CHANGING PHASE OF RELIGIONS SEEKING KINSHIP

Hinduism, also known as Sanatana Dharma, is the world’s oldest living religion. It is a natural religion, meaning its philosophy and practices are considered universally accessible through sincere study, reason, and experience apart from special revelation. Hinduism is also an indigenous religion made up of a diverse family of philosophies and traditions that have been practiced primarily throughout Asia for thousands of years. Today, Hinduism is a global religion with adherents living on every continent, and comprising majorities in three countries: India, Nepal, and Mauritius.

 

Most traditions, sects, or schools within Hinduism share certain distinctive, core beliefs despite the absence of an identifiable beginning in history, single founder, central religious establishment, or sole authoritative scripture. Two of these core beliefs are that of the oneness of existence and pluralism.

 

All beings, from the smallest organism to man, are considered manifestations of the Divine (existence, pure being, light of consciousness) or reflections of the Divine’s qualities, depending upon the school of thought. Because of this shared divinity, Hinduism views the universe as a family or, in Sanskrit, Vasudhaiva  Kutumbakam.

 

Hinduism also advances the concept of the equal worth of all mankind, as expressed in the ancient hymn:

Ajyesthaso akanishthaso ete sambhrataro vahaduhu saubhagaya.

“No one is superior, none inferior. All are brothers marching forward to prosperity.”

 

Mankind, because it is believed to be the most spiritually evolved, thus carries a special responsibility to honor the equal worth of all people and the underlying unity of existence through one’s relationship with oneself and others. Ensuring that   One’s thoughts of kindness, equanimity, empathy, generosity, and equal regard is how this responsibility is met.

 

The popularly recited Hindu invocation demonstrates this concern for universal kinship and well-being:

Om sarve bhavantu sukhinah. Sarve santu niraamayaah. Sarve bhadraani pashyantu. Maa kaschid dukhbhaag bhavet.

 

“May all beings be happy; May all beings be healthy; May all beings experience prosperity! May none in the world suffer!”

 

Against the backdrop of this understanding of equality and unity, the Hindu world has been able to embrace the reality of diversity through its philosophy of pluralism. Every being, with their varying likes and dislikes, their unique personalities, and their different cultures, not only connect with one another in their own unique ways, but connect with the Divine in their own individual ways.

 

As such, Hindus believe that the Divine (existence, pure being, light of consciousness): 1) Manifests in different forms; 2) Can be understood and worshipped by various means; 3) Speaks to each individual in different ways to enable them to not only believe in the Divine, but experience and know the Divine.

 

This embrace of pluralism has contributed to the incredible spiritual and religious freedom one witnesses within Hinduism — in its many deity traditions, paths or Yoga, schools of thoughts, saint traditions, ways of worship, etc.

 

The worldview of pluralism is not just applicable to Hindus, but to all members of this universal family. Accordingly, Hinduism acknowledges not just the possibility, but also the existence of more than one path (religion) or way of relating to Truth (God).

 

This true, unadulterated pluralism is captured in the ancient Sanskrit hymn:

Ekam sat vipraha bahudha vadanti.--“Truth is one, the wise call it by many names.”

 

The aim of the Gita’s doctrine is to lead one to tranquility, happiness and equanimity. The Gita Doctrine is beyond Religious and National Boundaries.

 

In relating to other religions, Hinduism asserts that it is not only harmful, but inherently flawed to insist that one’s own path towards God is the only true and meaningful path. Based on this firm pluralistic belief, Hinduism has never sanctioned proselytization. Further, over their vast history, Hindus have never invaded another land in the name of religion. It is also clear that, for centuries in Southeast Asia, it has been this Hindu brand of absolute pluralism, which has provided the ideal environment for peaceful coexistence and prosperity for at least eight major religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Jainism and Zoroastrian.

 

Unfortunately, threatened for extinction under long Muslim Rule and proselytization under British Rule seeking political favor,  Hindu Religion   degenerated and started compartmentalization for self-defense moving away from Vedic background of   Hinduism   in the Mainland,  though its past  are seen in pockets in South-east Asia and USA. “induHinduism is a more recent nomenclature given to a conglomeration of heterogeneous traditions and plurality of beliefs and worship with a long history of development from the Vedic (that which has originated from Vedas—the four ancient texts which contain the core of Hindu Philosophy and beliefs) sacrificial religion through the worship of epic and Puranic heroes and personal  deities, cults and sects, as well as philosophical  system rather than to a monolithic tradition or structure based on a single system of beliefs and worships or single text as scripture”  says Champaka Lakshmi in her book on The Hindu Temples. It is therefore   peremptory that Hindus should wake up and follow the guidelines stated by Swami Vivekanada, and as presented to the world Forum of religions in USA--Vedanta is the Religion of the Future for the World, that I discussed at length. This would help Universal Oneness and spiritual focus to Live in Peace but Not in Pieces!

However, Vedic wisdom has recently   started influencing Abrahamic Religions, though Dharma based religions are trying to move apart in the Mainland, as seen in the writings of visionaries like Ted Brownstein based on Baha’ism who are alive to the growing SBNR and “Awesome without Allah” movements.  Hindu Americas have raised altars for different deities, Buddha, Vardhamana, Swami Narayan, Saibaba etc., in their Multi Traditional Complex and promote the Vedic mandate “sanghacchadvam samvadadvam samanamaakootih”

“Historic Temples in Pakistan: A Call to Conscience”  by  Reema Abbasi from Pakistan is an attempt to record in pictures the history of an Islamic country’s Hindu past, especially as extremist activity mounts against Pakistan's religious and ethnic minorities, including Ahmadis, Christians, Sikhs and Shia Muslims.  The book seeks a journey towards pluralism, preservation of some of the most ancient places in history, tolerance and participation and empowerment of a community that is facing a major onslaught of hardliners.

 

Whether Dharmic based religions have not yet woken up from slumber and lethargy, mutual esteem between those who profess one of the Abrahamic Faiths, Judaism, Christianity or Islam has started.

 

KINSHIP OF BIBLE AND QUR’AN

Author Ted Brownstein is an experienced grassroots interfaith organizer and popular writer. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in Biblical Studies and has taught numerous classes in the Bible and Qur’an, religious peacemaking and interfaith dialogue. Ted is a founder of the Lake Worth Interfaith Network, an organization that builds bridges between Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Baha’i and other faith communities. He currently serves as an Ambassador for the Parliament of the World’s Religions, on Boards of Directors with Abrahamic Reunion, JAM and All Interfaith, and the Lake Worth Interfaith Network. Previous publications include The Interfaith Prayer Book (2014), a compilation of prayers from 14 world faiths (2014) and Soaring in the Heaven of God’s Love (2017), an interfaith perspective on prayer.

 

The study of kinship has attracted the attention of many scholars in various linguistic, anthropological, and religious contexts. Because kinship terms are one of the linguistic systems of any language, the researchers adopted Halliday's Systemic Functional Linguistics theory as an analytical tool. This is because this SFL can explicate different fields of study such as linguistics and discourse analysis. Such fields are regarded as fields of language socialization that cannot be studied inseparable from their social or cultural contexts. To achieve a textual analysis of kinship terms, the researchers used selected sampled texts taken from the Glorious Quran and the Holy Bible. The main findings pointed out that Halliday's model can be applied to different social fields such as religious, political, and economic texts. Such an analysis of these texts may lead to give some solutions to the social and economic problems in which human beings may face in everyday life.

 

As religious communities continue to struggle to define their unique places in an increasingly diverse society, the need for increased understanding has never been greater. The Kinship of the Bible and Qur’an – An Interfaith Perspective is targeted to general audiences with a view to promoting mutual esteem between those who profess one of the Abrahamic Faiths, Judaism, Christianity or Islam.

 

Hindu Americans drawn from the cream of Hindu society of India and other parts of the World are not silent either on the issue of need for Kinship of Religions that are Dharma and Spirituality focused. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) was founded in September 2003 by Mihir Meghani, an emergency care physician, Aseem Shukla, an associate professor in urologic surgery, Suhag Shukla, an attorney, Nikhil Joshi, a labor law attorney, and Adeeti Joshi, a speech therapist.  The organization describes itself as a human rights and advocacy group, providing "a loud-speaker for the 2 million strong Hindu American community", that aims to educate the government and the public about Hinduism and the issues concerning the Hindus globally. It emphasizes the "Hindu and American ideals of understanding, tolerance and pluralism.” According to Harvard professor Diana L. Eck, the foundation has emerged as "the first major national advocacy group looking at Hindu Dharma identity. Scholar Vinay Lal has noted that the organization draws on the claims of Hinduism being unique in its tolerance and religious pluralism as well as the enormous goodwill created by Gandhi and Vivekananda in the West.

 

USA is a fertile soil for such movements.  Slowly and steadily USA is also progressing to be a land of Yoga, Meditation and Spirituality moving away from walled religions promoted by Hindu Urban Monks that are active in USA supported by emerging Western Hindu Monks and Authors (Velan Samy, David Frawley, Phil Goldberg, Francois Gautier, Robert Arnett, Maria Wirth etc.) who have adopted Hinduism or attracted to it including American celebrities that are attracted to Hinduism.  This makes the task of HAF easy and promising.

 

 

 

 

2021 Akshaya Vedantavijnana Tritiya on MAY 14 

 

Akshaya Tritiya which is also known as Akha Teej is highly auspicious and holy day for Hindu communities. It falls during Shukla Paksha Tritiya in the month of Vaishakha. Akshaya Tritiya falling on a Rohini Nakshatra day with Wednesday is considered very auspicious.  Why not then falling on Friday dedicated to Lakshmi? The word Akshaya (अक्षय) means never diminishing. Hence the benefits of doing any Japa, Yajna, Pitra-Tarpan, Dan-Punya on this day never diminish and remain with the person forever. Akshaya Tritiya is considered to be a holy festival among Jains also.

Akshaya Tritiya is believed to bring good luck and success that has varying   and appropriate  meaning to its aspirants! Most people materially focused, rush to purchase Gold on this day, as it is believed that buying Gold on Akshaya Tritiya brings prosperity and more wealth in coming future. Being Akshaya day it is believed that Gold, bought on this day, will never diminish and would continue to grow or appreciate. 

 

Akshaya Tritiya day is ruled by God Vishnu who is the preserver God in the Hindu Trinity. According to Hindu mythology Dharmic Treta Yuga began on Akshaya Tritiya day. Usually Akshaya Tritiya and Parashurama Jayanti, birthday anniversary of 6^th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, falls on the same day but depending on staring time of Tritiya Tithi Parashurama Jayanti might fall one day before Akshaya Tritiya day. 

 

Akshaya means “Endless” that which never diminishes.  What should be that in our short span of life on Earth that we need to aspire for? As per Hindu Election Astrology, the three lunar days, Yugadi, Akshaya Tritiya and Vijay Dashmi do not need any Muhurat to start any new ventures as these days are free from all malefic.

 

Mystic Monks of May began with the celebration of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on May 7, followed by Chinmayananda Jayanti on May 8, Bhagawan Parasurama  Jayanti on May 14, Bhagawan Shankara Jayanti on May 17, Blind Monk Surdas Jayanti on May 17, culminating in Buddha Purnima Jayanti on May 26.  Present pandemonium has taught us to focus our prayers not on material wealth but on Health as Wealth.   What is the use of gaining the whole world when you have lost your own body strength and soul? Let us therefore be inspired and enriched by the wisdom thoughts of Mystic Monks of May and spiritually enriched,  instead rushing for gold on Akshaya Triteeya  Day which is also the Birthday of  Parasurama, the Great guru of  Danasura Karna who even donated his life focused on dharma.  Let us celebrate it in May 2021 as Akshaya Vedantavijnaana Triteeya that will be endless and evanescent  in all the Worlds-- Bhur Bhuvar Suvar Om! 

 

In the introduction to 'Gitanjali', for which Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize in 1913, WB Yeats wrote, "We write long books where no page perhaps has any quality to make writing a pleasure, being confident in some general design, just as we fight and make money and fill our heads with politics - all dull things in the doing - while Mr. Tagore, like the Indian civilization itself, has been content to discover the endless soul and surrender himself to its spontaneity."  

 

Due to the Coronavirus lockdown, we cannot go anywhere and meet anyone to celebrate Akshaya Tritiya. So, send greetings to your dear ones on this day amidst lockdown. 

  

Happy Akshaya Tritiya to you and your family. May this auspicious day bring you a new beginning of greater prosperity with a better meaning! May Lord Vishnu bless you with   limitless Health, Wealth and Prosperity!  Happy Akshaya Vijnana Tritiya! 

 

 http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/04/akshaya-triteeya-festival-and.html 

 

 

 

 

 

International Nurses Day, May 12, 2021

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 1. UN theme for 2021 is “A Voice to Lead and a Vision for Future Healthcare”. Nurses are the heart of healthcare. - Donna Wilk Cardillo.  

 

Oh Lord Vaidyanatha! The world is in crisis today and nurses are being strongly challenged. Help them to be the best nurses they can be despite the situation. Lord, let nurses be the source of strength for their patients and families. Let them be each other’s light in this difficult time. Fill them with energy so that they can power through their shifts. Shower them with love which they can give to every person under their care.  

 

“We start our work every morning with a prayer and we pray that every patient who has tested positive recovers soon. We also say a prayer for our own safety. We want to perform our job to the best of our capabilities but that can happen only if we don’t get infected ourselves,” said a Hindu nurse working with COVID 19 patients,  who did not want to be identified. 

 

Here is the finest tribute from Kaiser Permanente, an American integrated managed care consortium, based in Oakland, California, USA that has been widely publicized: 

 

Nurses have been on the front lines facing the global pandemic for the past year, caring for patients and making a difference every day. To the 63,000 nurses within Kaiser Permanente and the 4 million nurses across the nation, we thank you for your unwavering strength, your service, and your sacrifices. 

Thank you for all you bring to our patients, members, and communities: 

• Hope and healing 
• Devotion and dignity 
• Empathy and education 
• Innovation and inspiration 
• Courage and commitment 
• Hard work and humanity 

We honor and celebrate you this Nurses Month, every day, and always. 

Greg A. Adams
Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Kaiser Permanente 

 

The Mental Health and Faith Community Partnership   provides an opportunity for psychiatrists and the mental health community to learn from spiritual leaders to whom people often turn at times of mental distress to improve understanding of the best science and evidence based treatment for psychiatric illnesses among faith leaders and those in the faith community. You may kindly recall Swami Chidananda’s speech at Madras Medial Psychiatric Medical Conference on EQ and SQ Management that I communicated to you. Among various branches of science and technology, it looks as though only medical sciences use a religious symbol as its motto, invoking divine guidance in their performance.  Mostly doctors are patrons and founding fathers of Hindu Temples in USA.  

 

It is significant to note the World Health Organization or American Medical Association logo, or the “star of life” on the side of an ambulance, shows a snake wrapped around a stick, that has to do with those who fix what ails us. Well, that stick is the asclepiad, or rod of Asclepius. In ancient Greek mythology, Asclepius was the son of Apollo, and the god of medicine and healing.  The snake that's wrapped around the rod may symbolize rejuvenation, because snakes shed their skin, or it could simply represent the healing of snakebites. It might also have something to do with anti-venom or the medicinal properties of snake venoms.    

As a Hindu, I believe, even Greeks were influenced to create Asclepius, as the God of Health, inspired by   Lord Siva who is hailed as Vaidyanatha   (Caretaker of all  medical Science professionals) of Puranas. Siva is also known as Nilakantha, storing snake venom, who also carries a snake around his neck as ornament.  To me the rod represents Trisula (Trident) of Siva and the snake Subhramanya. Subhramanya is often worshiped as snake based on mythology (Kukke Subhramanya). The three spikes of trident represent Kapha, Vatha and Pittah in Ayurveda. In the physical body, vata is the subtle energy of movement, pitta the energy of digestion and metabolism, and kapha the energy that forms the body's structure whose harmonious and normal functioning is needed to be healthy person that need focus in medical treatment. Siva is the presiding Deity of Ayurveda or Life Science.  

 

At the end of the 19th century, “The Lady with the Lamp” — or as she is more widely known, Florence Nightingale — founded modern nursing. Thanks to her strict use of hand-washing and hygiene practices while caring for wounded soldiers in the Crimean War, Nightingale and her helpers reduced the death rate from 42% to 2% — ushering in nursing as we know it today. From May 6 to 12, we recognize the important role nurses play in our lives by celebrating National Nurses Week.  

 

As of 1998, May 8 was designated as National Student NursesDay, to be celebrated annually. As of 2003, National School Nurse Day is celebrated on the Wednesday within National Nurses Week (May 6-12) each year. International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on May 12th of each year. 

 

 “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” This quote is often used to show both Einstein's religiosity and his belief in the compatibility. Whether Einstein believed in religion or not, psychologists’ research shows why some people can find peace during the COVID-19 pandemic, while others may be struggling with their faith. We have gone through narrations from doctors fighting with Corona Virus patients who have judiciously combined religious faith, moral boost up from Gita and Bible with clinical methods in treating successfully their patients.  

 

Dr.  Mahesh Kulkarni is a Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, currently working for the East London NHS Foundation Trust who is dedicated to working with clients that have acute and chronic mental health difficulties and comorbidities. He specializes in ADHD, Behavioral Problems, Depression, OCD and Anxiety Disorders. Therapies include a range of holistic methods in supporting a young person to overcome their difficulties, using principles from Systemic, Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Group therapy. He values working collaboratively with all involved in order to achieve the best for patients and their families. 

 

Kay Bajwa, spends her time in quarantine praying five times a day and working with members of her mosque to find ways to help the less fortunate during these difficult times.“ This whole ordeal is bringing us closer together and closer to Allah,” she says. “Spending time praying and being with him is comforting.” 

 

Religion and belief are now seen by many researchers and clinicians as an important way to cope with trauma and distress thanks to research over the last three decades. “Religion was largely looked upon as an immature response to difficult times,” says Kenneth Pargament, PhD, professor emeritus of psychology at Bowling Green State University, who since the 1980s has been on the forefront of the research on religion and resilience. Despite the attitudes he faced at the time, Pargament and a handful of others pressed on, conducting research on the impact of religion on people’s mental health. “People who made more use of positive religious coping methods had better outcomes than those who struggled with God, their faith or other people about sacred matters,” Pargament says. 

 

Religiously inclined   Hindu providers, start their work often with a prayer to the Supreme. It is interesting to watch Hindu doctors as philanthropists and temple fathers on the front-line in USA, working tirelessly with voluntary service  in temple management even after retirement, with a vision of EQ and SQ Management of the community.  

 

Om bhishaje namah--Bhagavan is the expert Physician who treats the disease of the fear. oshadhi vanaspatibhyah swaha-- oblations are offered to food and medicine yielding plants.[He alone is the real physician working through his nourishing and healing plant kingdom] 

Vidhartaram havamahe vasoh kuvidvanati nah | savitaram nrichakshasam nah--we invoke the Creator of the universe who sustains the creation in many  

ways and who witnesses the thoughts and deeds of Individuals (that includes Healthcare providers). May He grant us plenty of  Health as Wealth!

 

If Lord Siva is Vaidyananatha (father of all doctor) Jagajjyothi Parvati is the (Mother) nurse assisting him as a team. Last year Bengal Artists portrayed Indian aspect of Florence Nightingale, Lady with the Lamp as  Covidasura-Mardhini and invoked her with the prayer of Ganapati Muni, a disciple of Ramana Maharshi: Dhūtākhila rogāḥ śvāsāḥ tava vātāḥ | Mātaḥ vitarantu Praṇasya balam naḥ || Oh Divine Mother! All ailments are eradicated by your breath; prayer to thy breath to protect and strengthen my life!  

 --May 12, 2021

Comments:

 

NURSES ARE ANGELS

Caring for the sick

And the wounded, even in War fronts

Often at the nick

Of time, from hearts they comfort;

The dying soldier says: 'thank you, sister' as he departs

Now thanks to COVID

The dread, nurses, from great risk,

Have nowhere to hide;

Their frontline tasks are so brisk

To care for them, hope powers that be, don't shirk

 

[Your E-mail on these Divines took my thoughts to them to write this couplet]

 

--A.S. Narayana

 

 

Parasurama Jayanthi on May 14

Please refer to earlier e-mail today in which I have referred to Parasurama Jayanthi on May 14. Please also refer to my detailed discourse on Akshaya Triteeya:http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/04/akshaya-triteeya-festival-and.html.

 

For the benefit of our Jagannatha Society members Sri Muralidharan Krishnan has researched on a rare sloka Jagannathashtakam that they may include in their weekly prayers. Let us be benefited by all the Gurus during this May for Monks, sacred month devoted to Guruparampara  that I explained earlier; Gurus Brahma gurur Vishnu gurur devo Mahesvarah. Sri Muralidharan draws our attention to add Guru Parasurama to our list who is none other than Jagannatha or Narayana.

 

Message from Muralidharan:

 

Greetings and Namaste. Akshaya Trityai and Lord Parashurama Jayanti fall on 14-May-2021 (Friday). In this connection, I am delighted to share a very rare Sri Jagannathashtakam by Lord Yama taken from Brahma Puranam and Chapter 45.

 

As mentioned in the past, hymns on Lord Parashurama are very few and I have already shared whatever I have.

 

Akshaya Triteeyai is celebrated, in recent times, is marked by prayers for greater wealth and comforts although as per Shastras the day should be spent worshipping Lord Vishnu and more importantly performing Tarpana to ancestors and offering charity to the needy.

 

But Akshaya Triteeyai this year happens (once again) when the entire humanity is being held hostage by Corona virus with hundreds of thousands of new infections and thousands of deaths every single day. This is a time when the entire humanity understands first hand that there is no better wealth than health.

 

Lord Yama extols Lord Jagannatha as the master of the universe and bestowal of all wealth and comforts. May we pray to Lord Jagannatha to bestow best of health and long life in addition to the material and spiritual welfare!

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SANKARA JAYANTI 2021, MAY 17, 2021

Shankaracharya Jayanti 2021 is observed on Panchami tithi (fifth day) during Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaisakha as per the Hindu calendar. In the year 2021 Shankaracharya Jayanti observes on Monday, 17 May. Even though his year of birth is disputed, the month and Tithi of his birth is not disputed.   

Lot of us feel that Hinduism is in doldrums today and under attack from all sides. We know there is a clear and present existential threat from the forces of Wahhabi Saudi funded Islamic demographic jihad, US funded evangelical conversions and cultural war and Europe funded left intellectual terrorism via media and proxy NGOs. Lot of us doubt whether we'll be ever able to overcome these evil forces. But what lot of us don't know is that around a 1000 years ago Hinduism was in a bigger mess because of self -created problems. We were on the verge of internal collapse. That is when divinity gifted us one human being - Adi Sankaracharya!  

  

Shankaracharya, who brought out Santana Dharma, from the clutches of rituals, is also considered as an incarnation of Lord Shiva by many people. It was Shankaracharya who had revived the teachings of Upanishads.   

  

One of India’s greatest philosopher and saint, Shankaracharya arrived on the scene when there was complete destruction of truth, culture and morality. There was utter chaos and confusion and Shankaracharya set the house in order with his peaceful message of Vedanta. He established the four Mathas in four corners of India to propagate Vedanta.  

  

We pay our respects to him and pledge that we will continue our knowledge building efforts in the hope that it will awaken the sankara within each of you to fight the anti -dharma anti-India forces that plague us today.  

Adisankaracharya was an Indian philosopher and theologian who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta.  Although he is credited by some with unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in Hinduism his influence on Hindu intellectual thought has been questioned; until Vācaspati Miśra (tenth century CE), his works may have been overshadowed by his older contemporary, Maṇḍana Miśra.  The historical fame and cultural influence of Shankara may have grown centuries later after his death, particularly during the era of Muslim invasions and consequent devastation of India. His works in Sanskrit discuss the unity of the Ātman and Nirguna Brahman "brahman without attributes". He wrote copious commentaries on the Vedic canon (Brahma Sutras, Principal Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita) in support of his thesis.   His works elaborate on ideas found in the Upanishads. Shankara's publications criticised the ritually-oriented Mīmāṃsā school of Hinduism.  He also explained the key difference between Hinduism and Buddhism, stating that Hinduism asserts "Ātman (Soul, Self) exists", while Buddhism asserts that there is "no Soul, no Self".

 

Shankara travelled across the Indian subcontinent to propagate his philosophy through discourses and debates with other thinkers. He established the importance of monastic life as sanctioned in the Upanishads and Brahma Sutra, in a time when the Mīmāṃsā school established strict ritualism and ridiculed monasticism. He is reputed to have founded four mathas ("monasteries"), which helped in the historical development, revival and spread of Advaita Vedanta of which he is known as the greatest revivalist. Adishankara is believed to be the organizer of the Dashanami monastic order and unified the Shanmata tradition of worship.   

The Sringeri records state that Shankara was born in the 14th year of the reign of "Vikramaditya", but it is unclear as to which king this name refers. Though some researchers identify the name with Chandragupta II (4th century CE), modern scholarship accepts the Vikramaditya as being from the Chalukya dynasty of Badami, most likely Vikramaditya II (733–746 CE).  

Several different dates have been proposed for Shankara:  

509–477 BCE: This dating, is based on records of the heads of the Shankara's cardinal institutions  Maṭhas at Dvaraka Pitha, the Govardhana Mattha   and Badri and the Kanchi Peetham. According to their records, these monasteries were founded in Kali 2593 (509 BCE) by a person named Adi Shankara. The successive heads of the Kanchi and all other major Hindu Advaita tradition monasteries have been called Shankaracharya leading to some confusion, discrepancies and scholarly disputes. The chronology stated in Kanchi Matha texts recognizes five majors Shankaras: Adi, Kripa, Ujjvala, Muka and Abhinava. According to the Kanchi Mattha tradition, it is "Abhinava Shankara" that western scholarship recognizes as the Advaita scholar Shankara, while the monastery continues to recognize its 509 BCE chronology. The exact dates of birth of Adi Shankaracharya believed by four monasteries are Dwaraka at 491 B.C., Jyotirmattha at 485 B.C., Puri at 484 B.C. and Sringeri at 483 B.C. Also, as per astronomical details given in books Shankara Satpatha, Shankara Vijaya, Brihat Shakara Vijaya and Prachina Shankara Vijaya, it is believed that Shankaracharya was born in 509 B.C. The Kashmiri king named Gopaditya built temples of Jyeteshwara and Shankaracharya, thus implying that the Shankaracharya must have visited Kashmir before his birth.  

Late 20th-century and early 21st-century scholarship tends to place Shankara's life of 32 years in the first half of the 8th century. According to the Indologist and Asian Religions scholar John Koller, there is considerable controversy regarding the dates of Shankara – widely regarded as one of India's greatest thinkers, and "the best recent scholarship argues that he was born in 700 and died in 750 CE in Kedarnath in modern Utteranchal.  

788–820 CE: This was proposed by early 20th scholars and was customarily accepted by scholars such as Max Müller, Macdonnel, Pathok, Deussen and Radhakrishna. The date 788–820 is also among those considered acceptable by Swami Tapasyananda, though he raises a number of questions.Though the 788–820 CE dates are widespread in 20th-century publications, recent scholarship has questioned the 788–820 CE date. 

  

Sadashiva Samarambham Shankaracharya Madhyamam | Asmad Acharya Paryantam Vande Guru Paramparam ||

 

Beginning with Sadasiva, through Adi Shankaracharya in between and up to my own preceptor, I bow with reverence to the entire tradition of preceptors.  

 

Upanishads touch a wide spectrum of human endeavors, and are thus not limited to metaphysics only, that Swami Chidananda often brings to our attention explaining how the vision of the Vedanta has a place for everything but everything in its place. Sankara 's works are also not purely focused on metaphysics, but are focused on human problems of ailments and sufferings. This is evident from his Bhujhagashtaka and Vaidhyanathashtaka, Kanakadhara stotram (poverty and health) and others. They both however, slowly and steadily lead us to Vedantavijnana after making us prajnyas.   Our strongest supremacy of intellect enumerated in Viduraneethi meant for a greedy king cannot reach border lines of metaphysics. 

As we talked before, the whole month of May is May for Mystic Monks that includes Parasurama also, whose Jayanthi is celebrated on Akshaya Triteeya Day on May 14. Parasurama however failed to join Guru Parampara as his name was associated with Karna only who was not able to use his knowledge because of the curse from his Guru. He also bewailed our thoughts by murdering his mother, obeying father but did not focus on Pitruvakya paripalana like his next Avatar of Rama. He was focused on Digbalam  kshatriyabalm Brahmatejo balam balam and focused on destruction of ego and violence of Kshatriyas who moved from their svadharma of protecting the innocent and killing the evil and restoring world order.  Thus, it is an intriguing Avatar and his Jayanthi on Akshaya Triteeya Day is not that popular as Ramanavami but celebrated in pockets, in rare temples of Kerala and others.

[Since Siva is busy as Adiyogi and Vaidyanatha and worshiped as such, virtual active Guru Tradition of Hinduism starts with Adisankaracharya.]

 

 

 

 

 

TEMPLE OF VAIDYALINGAM & VAIDYANAATHA ASHTAKAM BY SANKARA

 

Marudhamalai Temple (Coimbatore) 

  

About 12-km away from Coimbatore railway station is the Marudhamalai temple of Lord Muruga. The temple is situated on the Marudamalai (Maruda is the colloquial form of Marunthu which means medicine; Malai means mountain) mountain and is one of the most visited temples in the region, the reason being that the presiding deity, known as "Dandayuthapani" is believed to have performed several miracles here. 

 

In the course of the epic fight to kill Ravana, Lakshmana, the younger brother of Lord Rama, was hit by Ravana's son, Indrajit, by a 'Nagastra' (also spelt as Nagashastra), probably by arrows dipped in snake-poison or by an arrow delivering a number of serpents. When Lakshmana was lying unconscious, Rama, much perturbed at heart, requested Anjaneya to fly to the Kailas (also spelt as Kailash) Mountain in the Himalayas to bring Sanjeevini, the medicinal herb and an antidote to all poisons. 

 

Anjaneya reached the mountain but was unable to locate the particular herb wanted. So, instead of coming back empty handed, he uprooted the Gandamarutha Mountain and carried it with him, so that the required medicine could be taken, from it. It is said that while he was carrying the mountain, a chip of it fell down at this spot and it is known today as "Marunthu - Malai". 

 

The peculiarity of this hill is that, even now, during the rainy season, many kinds of medicinal herbs, largely used in the preparation of medicines in Ayurvedic pharmacopeia, grow on it. People believe that even the bitter leaves of trees and the ordinary grass that is found on the mountain tastes sweet when cooked. Anjaneya installed a Linga on this  Marunthu Malai, which is to this day devoutly visited and worshipped by pilgrims venerated as Vaidyesvara Lingam. Probably this sacred lingam inspired Sankara to compose the following Vaidhyanaathaashtakam. 

Why do we worship Herbal Mountains? Vedas say: 

 
yadoṣadhībhiḥ puruṣān paśūɱśca viveśa bhūtāni carācarāṇi …… From whom the Creatrix of the world, Prakṛti, was born, who created in the world creatures out of elements such as water, who entered beings consisting of herbs, quadrupeds and men as the inner controller. 

Here some details are given in the order of evolution, namely, the Prakṛti, the five elements consisting of water and the rest, the terrestrial region, plants, animals and men. Paramātman having created all dwells as the innermost Spirit of all creat­ures. 

 

 ataśca viśvā oṣadhayo rasāśca yenaiṣ  bhūtastiṣṭhaty antarātmā   (MNU)

From Him arise all herbs and essences come forth; united with the essence of the herbs the individual Soul seated in the subtle body dwells in creatures. 

[Particular reference to medicinal plants without mentioning other plants in his program of creation is noteworthy. That is why He said in Gita vrikshanam asvattoham]

Please derive the benefit by chanting another sacred sloka from Sankara appropriate to the present Corona virus crisis. Please note here Rama worshiping Lord Siva that should add to the pride of followers of Siva Sampradaya.  In this context, I will soon bring to your kind attention the Hindu Reflections on Papanasm Shri Ramalingaswamy 108 Shiva Temple in Kumbakonam:  

Shri Vaidyanatha Ashtakam     

Sri Vaidyanatha Ashtakam is a beautiful Hymn Composed by Sri Adi Shankara devoted to Lord Shiva, who is known as Vaidyanatha. Lord Shiva is considered as the king among physicians (Lord Vaidyanatha) and many people pray to him for curing serious illness/disease when they or their family members are affected by it. Devotees who are desirous of getting cured of diseases should recite Shri Vaidyanatha Ashtakam thrice a day. Shri Vaidyanatha Ashtakam has been translated into English by Sh. P. R. Ramachandran for our benefit and full understanding. 

 श्री वैद्यनाथाष्टकम् 

Shri Vaidyanatha Ashtakam 

श्रीराम सौमित्रि जटायुवॆद-
षडाननादित्य कुजार्चिताय ।
श्री नीलकण्ठाय दयामयाय
श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय ॥ १ ॥ 

Sreerama soumithri jatayu veda,
Shadaanadithya kujaarchithya,
Sree neelakanthaaya dayaamayaaya,
Sree vaidyanaathaaya namasivaya--1 

I salute that God Shiva, who is the king among physicians, who is worshipped by Rama and Lakshmana, who is worshipped by Jatayu, who is worshipped by the Vedas, who is worshipped by Lord Subrahmanya, who is worshipped by the Sun God, who is worshipped by the Mars God, who is having a blue neck, and who is the personification of mercy. 

 गंगाप्रवाहॆन्दु-जटाधराय

त्रिलॊचनाय स्मरकालहन्त्रॆ ।
समस्त दॆवैरपि पूजिताय
श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय ॥ २ ॥ 

Ganga pravaahendu jathaadharaaya,
Trilochanaaya smarakaala hantre,
Samstha devairapi poojaya,
Sree vaidyanaathaaya namah sivaya--2

I salute that God Shiva, who is the king among physicians, who wears the flow of Ganges and the moon on his head, who has three eyes, who had killed the God of love and death, and who is worshipped by all devas. 

 

भक्तप्रियाय त्रिपुरान्तकाय
पिनाकिनॆ दुष्टहराय नित्यम् ।
प्रत्यक्षलीलाय मनुष्यलॊकॆ
श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय ॥ ३ ॥ 

Bhaktha priyaaya, tripuraanthakaaya ,
Pinakine dushtha haraaya nithyam,
Prathyaksha leelaaya manushya loke,
Sree vaidyanaathaaya namah sivaya--3 

 

I salute that God Shiva, Who is the king among physicians, who is the lover of his devotees, who has destroyed the three cities, who holds the bow called Pinaka, who destroys bad people daily, and who plays in the world of humans. 

 

प्रभूतवातादि समस्त रॊग-
प्रणाशकर्त्रॆ मुनिवन्दिताय ।
प्रभाकरॆन्द्वग्निविलॊचनाय
श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय ॥ ४ ॥ 

Prabhootha vataadhi samastha roga,
Pranaasa karthre muni vanditaaya,
Prabhaakarendwagni vilochanaaya,
Sri vaidyanaatahaaya namah sivaya--4 

 

I salute that God Shiva, who is the king among physicians, who cures all great diseases like rheumatism and arthritis, who is saluted by great sages, and to whom, the Sun god, Moon and God of fire are eyes. 

 

वाक्श्रॊत्रनॆत्राङ्घ्रिविहीनजन्तॊः
वाक्श्रॊत्रनॆत्राङ्घ्रिमुखप्रदाय ।
कुष्ठादिसर्वॊन्नतरॊगहन्त्रॆ
श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय ॥ ५ ॥ 

Vaksrothra nethraangihri viheena jantho,
Vakchrothra nethranghri sukha pradaaya,
Kushtadhi sarvonnatha roga hanthre,
Sri Vaidyanaaathaaya namah sivaya--5 

 

I salute that God Shiva, who is the king among physicians, who blesses those beings who have lost their speech, hearing, sight and ability to walk, with these abilities and who provides cure for devastating diseases like leprosy. 

 वॆदान्तवॆद्याय जगन्मयाय
यॊगीश्वरध्यॆयपदांबुजाय ।
त्रिमूर्तिरूपाय सहस्रनाम्नॆ
श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय ॥ ६ ॥ 

Vedantha vedhyaya jagan mayaaa,
Yogiswara dhyeya Padaambujaaya,
Trimurthy roopaya sahasra namne,
Sri vaidyanaathaaya namah sivaya--6 

 

I salute that God Shiva, who is the king among physicians, who can be known through Vedanta, Who is spread throughout the universe, who has   lotus feet that is meditated upon by great sages, who is of the form of the holy trinity and who has thousand names. 

 

 स्वतीर्थ मृत् भस्मभृदंगभाजां
पिशाचदुःखार्तिभयापहाय ।
आत्म स्वरूपाय शरीरभाजां
श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय ॥ ७ ॥ 

Swatheertha mrudbasma bhrudanga bhaajaam,
Pisaacha dukha arthi bhayaapahaaya,
Athma swaroopaya sareera bhaajaam,
Sri Vaidyanaathaaya namah sivaya--7 

 

I salute that God Shiva, who is the king among physicians , who removes all sufferings caused by bad spirits, sorrows and fears by dip in his holy tank, by the holy ash in the temple, and by the mud below the Neem tree of the temple, and who is the personification of soul, occupying human body. 

 

 श्री नीलकण्ठाय वृषध्वजाय
स्रग्गन्धभस्माद्यपिशॊभिताय ।
सुपुत्र दारादि सुभाग्यदाय
श्री वैद्यनाथाय नमः शिवाय ॥ ८ ॥ 

Sree neelakanthaaya vrushabha dwajaya,
Sraggandh  basmadhyapi shobithaaya,
Suputhradaraadi subhagyadaaya,
Sri vaidyanaathaaya namah sivaya--8 

 

I salute that God Shiva, who is the king among physicians, who has a blue- neck, who has   bull on his flag, who shines by flowers, sacred ash and sandal, who grants good children and good wife and who blesses us with all good luck. 

 

 वालाम्बिकेश वैद्येश भवरोगहरेति च।
जपेन्नामत्रयं नित्यं महारोगनिवारणम्॥९॥ 

Balambikesa vaidyesa bhava roga hareti cha
Japen naama thrayam nithyam mahaa roga nivaranam. 

Those who recite this prayer thrice a day with devotion and pray the Lord Vaidyanatha, who is with his consort Balambika, and who removes the fear of birth and death would get cured of all great diseases. 

  

|| इति श्री वैद्यनाथाष्टकम् || 

 

 Sankara praised Subhramanya in Subhramanya Bhujangashtakam. Bhujanga means snake. Snake is a symbol of medical profession.  May be as Guruguha Subhramanya,  he enlightened his father  on medical science!

  

World Health Organization or American Medical Association logo, or the “star of life” on the side of an ambulance, shows a snake wrapped around a stick, that has to do with those who fix what ails us. Well, that stick is the asklepian, or rod of Asclepius. In ancient Greek mythology, Asclepius was the son of Apollo, and the god of medicine and healing.  The snake that's wrapped around the rod may symbolize rejuvenation, because snakes shed their skin, or it could simply represent the healing of snakebites. It might also have something to do with anti-venom or the medicinal properties of snake venoms.   

As a Hindu, I believe, even Greeks were influenced to create Asclepius, as the God of Health, inspired by Vaidhyantha Siva of Puranas. Siva is also known as Nilakantha, storing snake venom, who also carries a snake around his neck as ornament.  To me the rod represents Trisula of Siva and the snake Subhramanya. Subhramanya is often worshiped as snake based on mythology (Kukke Subhramanya) 

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every 12 May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth with the theme-A Voice to Lead and a Vision for Future Healthcare in 2021. Nurses are the heart of healthcare. - Donna Wilk Cardillo

 

Oh Lord Vaidyanatha "The world is in crisis today and nurses are being strongly challenged. Help them to be the best nurses they can be despite the situation. Lord, let nurses be the source of strength for their patients and families. Let them be each other’s light in this difficult time. Fill them with energy so that they can power through their shifts. Shower them with love which they can give to every person under their care."  

“We start our work every morning with a prayer and we pray that every patient who has tested positive recovers soon. We also say a prayer for our own safety. We want to perform our job to the best of our capabilities but that can happen only if we don’t get infected ourselves,” said a nurse who did not want to be identified.

--May 8, 2021

Comments:

Grateful to you for details of Marudhamalai. Also for Vaidyanatha ashtakam with meaning. There is Marundeeswarar koil in Thiruvanmiyur also.

--A.K. P. Saptagireesan

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MOTHER’S DAY, MY 9,  2021

A Mother's Love is always unconditional and pure for her children. Since the day she first feels you inside her womb till the day she is alive, she only gives and never complains. She is a selfless, loving human who sacrifices her wants for the needs of children. She protects you, loves you, cares for you and gives her best to make you a competent human being. 

 

Can you even imagine a life without her? It seems impossible. "Youth fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; a mother's secret hope outlives them all," a famous quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes sums up the eternal significance of a mother. 

 

Therefore, to honor the love of all the mothers and pay tribute for everything a mother does assiduously for her child Mother's Day is celebrated every year, more as a social event in USA.  This year it falls on May 9 that also coincides with the Teacher’ week-end celebration Sunday.  They join the Nation in celebrating Mother’s Day and so give gifts to their mother to express love to them for always being there. Apart from this, people also pen beautiful letters for their mother and they bake cakes and make their mother's favorite meals on the occasion of Mother's Day. 

 

In Hindu culture Mother is considered as first God who is also the child’s first teacher.  To them every day begins with the ritual Matru devo bhava, pitru devo bhava aacharya devo bhava--consider your Mother as your first God; Father, the second God; Teacher, the third God. The social fabric of Hindu Americans is so knitted that no human activity is segregated from the divine.   A cultured Hindu child is not content celebrating this important day as a mere social event and so rushes to the temple to make it a SRE Day and offers prayers to his choice Devi.   Vedas say Mother Earth is the Mother of all mothers. Unfortunately, there are no sanctums built for Mother Earth though she is celebrated as Bhudevi as the consort of all Vishnu processional deities including his Avatars. Sathyabhama, one of the consorts of Krishna is the incarnate of Mother Earth! So, for this sacred occasion, I have collected few mantras and slokas on mother from our scriptures that you may include in your prayers.  

 

Manu-smṛti 2.145:  

उपाध्यायान् दशाचार्य आचार्याणां शतं पिता | सहस्रं तु पितॄन् माता गौरवेणातिरिच्यते ॥ १४५ ॥ 

upādhyāyān daśācārya ācāryāṇāṃ śataṃ pitā | sahasraṃ tu pitṝn mātā gauraveṇātiricyate || 145 || 

In veneration, the Preceptor excels ten Sub-teachers; the Father a hundred preceptors, and the Mother a thousand Fathers. — (145) 

 

Mahābhārata (yakṣa-praśna): 

yakṣa uvāca
kiṃ svid gurutaraṃ bhūmeḥ kiṃ svid uccataraṃ ca khāt | kiṃ svic chīghrataraṃ vāyoḥ kiṃ svid bahutaraṃ nṛṇām 

The Yaksha asked, 'What is weightier than the earth itself? What is higher than the heavens?' What is fleeter than the wind? And what is more numerous than grass?' 

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca
mātā gurutarā bhūmeḥ pitā uccataraś ca khāt | manaḥ śīghrataraṃ vāyoś cintā bahutarī nṛṇām 

Yudhishthira answered, 'The mother is weightier than the earth; the father is higher than the heaven; the mind is fleeter than the wind; and our thoughts are more numerous than grass.' 

 

जननी जन्म भूमिश्च स्वर्गादपि गरीयसी ||   

Jananee janmabhoomischa praannaadapi gareeyaci || 

Mother and mother-land are far superior to even the heaven (Valmiki Ramayana) 

 

 हस्तस्पर्शो हि मातृणामजलस्य जलांजलि: ।  

Hastasparso hi maatrunaam jalasya jalaanjalih | 

The touch of a mother's hand is like the handful of water for one in want of it. 

 

गुरु पत्नी राजपत्नी ज्येष्ठ पत्नी तथैव च| पत्नी माता स्वमाता च पंचैता मातर: स्मृता: ।। 

Gur patnee raajapatneejyeshtha patnee tathaiva cha | patnee maataa svamaataa cha panchaitaa maatarah smritah || 

The wife of the teacher , the wife of the king , the wife of the elder brother , the mother of the wife ( the mother-in-law ) and one's own mother — these five are said to be mothers. 

 

सहस्त्रं हि पितुर्माता गौरवेणातिरिच्यते । 

Sahastram hi piturmata gaurvenatirichyate  | 

In importance mother excels father a thousand times. 

 

नास्ति मातृसमा छाया नास्ति मातृसमा गति: | नास्ति मातृसमं त्राणं नास्ति मातृसमा प्रपा ।

Naasti matrisama chaya naasti matrisama gatih | naasti matrisamam tranam naasti matrisama prapa || 

There is no shade like a mother, no resort like a mother, no security like a mother, no water house like a mother. 

माता गुरुतरा भूमे: खात् पितोच्चतरस्त  |

Maata gurutara bhoome khaat pitochatarastatha || 

Mother is weightier than even the earth. Father is loftier than even the sky

. 

माता भूमि: पुत्रो अहं पृथिव्या । 

Maata bhoomi putro aham prithivya || 

The earth is my mother. I am her son. 

 

In Padmapuran 5.46.12 

 

मातरं पितरं चैव यस्तु कुर्यात् प्रदक्षिणम् । प्रदक्षिणीकृता तेन सप्तद्वीपा वसुन्धरा ।। 

Maataram pitaram chaiva yastu kuryaat pradakshinam | pradakshineekritaa tena sapta dveepaa  vasundharaa || 

He who circumambulates mother and father, he has circumambulated the earth with its seven Continents.  

  

“Naasti veda param shastram, naasti maatuh paro guruhu. Naasti daanaat param Mitram iha loke paratra cha.”  

There is no greater scripture than Vedas; There is no greater teacher than mother; There is no greater friend than giving offerings; either in this world or in the other worlds. 

 

“Janani Janmabhoomischa Jahnavee cha Janaardhanaha | Janakaha panchamaschaiva jakaaraah pancha durlabhaha.” 

Mother (Janani), Motherland (Janmabhoomi), Jahnavi [Ganga], Janaka [father], and Janardhana [Lord Vishnu] are five rarities, names that begin with letter Ja.  

 

“Maata gurutaram Bhoomehe , Khaaat pitottara tathaa, Manah sheegrataram vaayoho, chintaa bahutaree trunaat.”  

Mother is greater than earth, father is higher than sky. Mind is speedier than wind and worry is more numerous than grass.” 

 

“Maatraa samam naasti shareera poshanam, Vidyaa samam naasti shareera bhooshanam, Bhaaryaa samam naasti shareera toshanam, Chintaa samam naasti shareera shoshanam.”  

 

None equals mother in caring; None equals to knowledge in jewels; None equals to wife in loving; and None equals worry in torturing.” 

  

आयु: पुमान् यश: स्वर्ग कीर्ति पुण्यं बलं श्रियं । nपशु सुखं धनं धान्यं प्राप्नुयान्मातृ वन्दनात् ।। 

 Aayuh pumaan yash svarga keerti punyam balam sriyam | pasu sukham  dhanam praapnu-yaan matru vandanaat || 

 

A man who serves mother truthfully will be blessed with long life, success, heaven, fame, Lakshmi, wealth, cattle, food grain, and everything.  

 

[I was always called by kith and kin as Sundara’s son (her petname) to the envy of my father!] 

I see you in things I do, I hear you in things I say — and these are some of the things I’m most proud of. The highest compliment anyone can give me, Mom, is to say that I’m like you- (A tribute to my natural mother and foster mother)

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2015/05/which-deity-should-hindus-worship-on.html 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2014/05/veneration-and-compilation-for.html 

 

--May 8, 2021

Comments:

 

Mother is synonymous with Nature and Sustenance of Life. The privilege of life is ours because of our Mothers. May we live in Conscious Gratitude every day for their contribution to who we are!

--Jagadguru Jaggi Vasudev

 

 

Let us remember the Mother of the Universe on Mother’s Day, for she is the Mother of us all and of everything! Jai Ma! Jai Bhavani! Jai Jagadambe

--David Frawley

Beautiful essay on Mother's Day!

 

--A.S. Narayana

*************

  #71 AUPA e-news, May 2021

 

 In the wake of shocking galloping Corona virus pandemic in India, Swami Chidanananda draws our attention to the important message on the hot topic from Indira Gautam of USA, though it is getting back to normalcy in USA. India was parading last year as the champion of COVID 19, champion to the envy of USA and was laughing at its arch enemy China. India looks China with jealousy because of its economic progress and prosperity and blames USA for its wrong favoring an evil power.  Being proud of its success, it broke all discipline and indulged in vain religious celebrations with pomp and show that has landed her in present trouble. India though joined other countries in social celebration of World Earth Day in April, never bothered to rise to spiritual level to make it a Special Religious Event Day. Hindu Americans too neglected this day though Vedas glorify Mother Earth in the mantra Bhoor Bhuva Suvar OM.  Sadly, there are no sanctums for Mother Earth contemplated in Hindu Temples. Vedic Shanti mantras also call for peace and a calmness in food giving and healing plants as guardian angels of Nature--Vanspatayah shantih; Oshadhayah Shantih. India has to learn its lesson --Pride goes before a fall; There is no life without discipline and no discipline without sacrifice.  It is this that is focused in the message of Indira Gautam and Swami Atma-shraddhananda in his message Absence of  Jealousy--The Test of Non-violence. 

 

“Humanity is locked down; everybody is staying indoor, suspending all activities. The trees, the rivers, the hills, the animals, the birds, the sun, the moon and so much else of Nature seem to be as active, silently, as ever before. It seems to be business as usual for them! 

 

Mother Nature seems to send us a message, ―You are not necessary. The air, earth, water and sky – without you – are fine. When you come back, remember that you are my guests. Not my masters. Even as disease and death are around us, everywhere in the world, with especially India facing an unforeseen crisis of huge proportions, we should not only introspect but must prepare to live differently whenever things return to normal. 

Nature protects her protectors: “prakritih rakshati rakshitā “,  May we, the humans, promptly learn the lessons! May we not err again! ” 

 

Swami Shraddhananda in his message draws our attention  to the quote of Swami Vivekananda from Gita: ”He who hates none, who is the friend of all, who is merciful to all, who has nothing of his own, who is free from egoism, who is even-minded in pain and pleasure, who is forbearing, who is always satisfied, who works always in Yoga, whose self has become controlled, whose will is firm, whose mind and intellect are given up unto Me, such a one is My beloved Bhakta. From whom comes no disturbance, who cannot be disturbed by others, who is free from joy, anger, fear, and anxiety, such a one is My beloved. He who does not depend on anything, who is pure and active, who does not care whether good comes or evil, and never becomes miserable, who has given up all efforts for himself; who is the same in praise or in blame, with a silent, thoughtful mind, blessed with what little comes in his way, homeless, for the whole world is his home, and who is steady in his ideas, such a one is my beloved bhakta.”  

 

Hindus should get back to this Dharma Philosophy origin of theirs and protection of nature both inside and outside, not only to overcome the crisis but also lead the world towards hope, optimism and happiness.   

Sita Jayanti falls on May 21 this year which will also go without any celebration in Hindu temples of America though Rama Navami and Hanuman Jayanti were celebrated as SRE days.  Sita, as appropriately christened by herfather Janaka,  is a part of Nature, and is shown to always be in harmony and at peace with Nature. We will discuss about it soon. I am surprised Sita has not attracted the attention of Swami Chidanandji!

 

“April rains for May to flower” is very meaningful phrase for a spiritual seeker.  Our miseries that have devastated many in April can be overcome listening to the Modern Monks, focusing on their birthday celebrations in May and listening to their messages who in turn are inspired by Guruparampara tradition started by Adisankara.  It looks as though “May is for Monks”.  May includes--Vallabha Jayanti on May 7; Chimayananda Jayanti on May 8;, Sankara Jayanti on may 17; Buddha Jayanti on May 26. We have discussed all about their teachings in the past for our EQ and SQ Management. Swami Chidananda draws our attention to Swami Chidananda and Vallbhacharya; also 71st Ramana Aradhana. 

 

Words fail to describe the debt we owe to Pujya Swāmi Chinmayānandaji who touched millions of lives– especially Hindus in all the parts of India and the Hindu diaspora in all the corners of the world. He carried the message of dynamic spirituality through his powerful discourses on the Geetā and other Vedānta works. 

 

Vallabha rejected asceticism and monastic life that has inspired modern urban monks, suggested that through loving devotion to God Krishna and his Gita Upadesa,   any householder could achieve salvation – an idea that became influential all over India. 

 

Swami Chidananda further draws our attention to Sri Ramana Maharshi’s Akshara-manamālai (Marital Garland of Letters) 46that is much like the mantra in Sāmaveda‘s Kenopanishad (2.5), ―What a great loss it is if the Supreme Truth is not known in this life!  

 

This Sunday May 9, 2021, Pujya Swami Chidānanda speaks at the 71^st Aradhana Celebrations of Sri Ramana Maharshi.  A brief description of the topic on this that is also zoomed over YouTube is SADDARSHANAM, Image Consciousness versus Pure Consciousness: The ego thrives in images of who we are while the truth of our existence is Pure Consciousness that is devoid of any image. The play of pairs and triads takes place in the domain of images. Particular self-images cause particular kinds of hurt and pride.  Self-inquiry questions the reality of the images and that leads to the Realization of the Pure Self. 

  

The Upanishads, ancient accounts of mystical revelations, have been the inspiration behind all systems, practical and metaphysical of Hindu way of life and religion and remain the primary source of spiritual guidance to live in peace but not in pieces for millions of believers today. Upanishads touch a wide spectrum of human endeavors, and are thus not limited to metaphysics only. Swami Chidananda and his team have pointed out in this issue, how the vision of the Vedanta has a place for everything but everything in its place drawing our attention to specific quotes of Upanishads. I have touched on these subjects with my limited knowledge and at the same time drawing your attention to the booming zooming lectures of inspiring talks. Please go through the full message from AUPA clicking on the link.

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2021/03/urban-monks-on-spirituality-its-impact.html 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2020/12/most-beloved-gurudev-chinmayananda-his.html 

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2012/04/philosophy-schools-of-hinduism.html

 AUPA No 71, May 2021, Vol 6, issue 11.pdf

 

‖ namaste ‖

Continuing our effort to show that Upanishads touch a wide spectrum of human endeavors, and are thus not limited to metaphysics only, we have pointed out in this issue, right in the beginning, how the vision of the Vedanta has a place for everything but everything in its place.

We are truly happy to share with all of you, the readers, an excellent piece on “jealousy and violence” by Swami Atmashraddhanandaji of the Ramakrishna Mission. His insights can help all to understand better their own mind’s working.

We have announced with much pleasure the names (with pictures) of two new webinar presenters – Dr. Sunder Ellur and Dr.  Ranjini Manian. We will have completed 200 webinars when these two present their webinars.

When it comes to learning about life, we need not do that through only spiritual teachers. Under ‘Quote of the Issue’, we have drawn this time from Audrey Hepburn, an English film actor of yesteryears. She was the heroine of the famous movie Roman Holiday.

We trust you will enjoy all our regular features including the pieces of wisdom shared by Late Dr Sid Gautam and by Smt, Indira Gautam.

Wishing every one of you total safety,

Swami Chidananda and the AUPA Team

 

--May 7, 2021

 

 

 

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY-2021 

As you read this, journalists all over the world are uncovering the stories that are important to all of us. Their words matter.

 

Every year, 3 May is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom, to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO's General Conference in 1991. This in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced the landmark on media pluralism and independence. 

 

At the core of UNESCO's mandate is freedom of the press and freedom of expression. UNESCO believes that these freedoms allow for mutual understanding to build a sustainable peace. I believe this mandate is motivated by the Vedic wisdom: “Aa no bhadrantu kratavah yantu  visvatah” and “krinvanto visvamaaryam”--Let good news  come from all corners of the world and let us ennoble the world (with our news service)

It serves as an occasion to inform citizens of violations of press freedom - a reminder that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered. 

It is a date to encourage and develop initiatives in favor of press freedom, and to assess the state of press freedom worldwide. 

 

"The theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, “Information as a Public Good”  underlines on   the  indisputable  importance  of  verified  and  reliable information that  calls our attention  to  the  essential  role of free and professional  journalists  in  producing  and  disseminating this information, by tackling misinformation and other harmful content."— Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day.  

 

This year’s World Press Freedom Day theme “Information as a Public Good” serves as a call to affirm the importance of cherishing information as a public good, and exploring what can be done in the production, distribution and reception of content to strengthen journalism, and to advance transparency and empowerment while leaving no one behind. The theme is of urgent relevance to all countries across the world. It recognizes the changing communications system that is impacting on our health, our human rights, our religion, our past history, democracies and sustainable development. To underline the importance of information within our online media environment, WPFD 2021 will highlight three key topics: 1) Steps to ensure the economic viability of news media; 2) Mechanisms for ensuring transparency of Internet companies; and 3) Enhanced Media and Information Literacy (MIL) capacities that enable people to recognize and value, as well as defend and demand, journalism as a vital part of information as a public good and spiritual progress for Universal Oneness.

--May 3, 2021

 

************

Thought of the Day--March/April 2021

Please go through any E-mail that you might have missed in the past two exciting months March-April 2021. We had many brain-storming spiritual discourses booming through Zooming that I pre-reviewed for you on the basis of gist of the subject--Gita lectures, Path to Liberation and Strength of intellect to illuminate and invigorate us. March began with the celebration of Maha Sivaratri, whom  in this present crisis we worship as Vaidyeswara, soon followed oli, yugadi ugadi Puthandu  Plava yugadi, Puthandu, Vishu , Bishaki etc, that brought optimism, confidence and hope with millions vaccinated yet maintaining discipline. We v took the opportunity to pay our gratitude to the healthcare providers, mainly focused on nurses and doctors.  While celebrating   International Women’s Day we realized how women have slowly and steadily found their right place in society in leading and even ruling.

We for the first time noticed   that a Hindu calendar Solar Year starts with Devi worship as nine days of celebration of Devi Navaratri (Vasanta Navaratri) in keeping with the Vedic mandate matru devo bhava, pay respect to your mother as first god who is also your first teacher. We realized the divine plan in influencing Western mind to plan   Mother’s Day and Teacher’s Day so close by with the possibility of celebrating together as Teacher’s Day is Week-long Celebration, these will be elaborated in the next dispatch.  It also amazes us that Rama Navami climaxes Vasanta Navaratri, whom we worship as Universal   Father--matpita Ramachandrah and pitru devo bhavah. Immediate Purnima led us to Hanuman Jayanti Day, which is the day of glorification, despite anxiety of South   Indians who celebrate his birthday  on Dhanur Amavasya. This day is also busy with Hanuman Chalisa in Hindu American Temples that celebrates his Ashta siddhis, yasodairyam and buddhi balam  that Swami Chidanandji explained to us at length as five kinds if  strength  even at physical level. Then we scratched our heads to find the meaning of Jnaana, Vijnaana and Prajnaana. Tamils rushed to temple with usual pepper Vadai  garland that brings tears in our eyes  that promotes  bhaspavari-paripurna-lochanam  anjali in bidding farewell to Hanuman, chanting Hanuman Chalisa too not knowing what that 40 signifies. At Forty, we need to be cutie (adorable person) and not naughty!anuman Chalisa Hanumaan Chalisa too !anumanH

 

We regretted that we neglected Mother Earth for long (Mother of all mothers of Beings)  and abused Nature that has landed us in the present pandemonium that made us more attentive than usual to celebrate  World Earth Day this year and also felt the need for a sanctum for her like the one we have in Mysore in Bhudevi Farm. Of course she is worshiped as Bhudevi, the consort of Vishnu and Vishnu Avatars as processional deity along with Sridevi. Also this year made us more enthusiastic to plant a tree in our back yards  with our BG Philosophy enliven by blue (Water reflecting sky) and green (plants). We also remembered the Vrikshavatar of Jagannatha in Tiruppulllani as Asvattha remembering Bhagavan’s revelation--Vrikshanaam asvattoham.  Of course Krishna always allured Gopis with his charming flute-music   relaxing under the Kadamba tree that I also described in detail. Of course you have been made to walk through leafless early blooming trees heralding spring and the need to preserve flora and fauna he gave us to enjoy the pristine beauty of Nature.

I hope the present posting of past E-mails will make them  convenient to  leisurely go through, that is now posted on the Blog , sparing your time and space to store them: Hindu Reflections <nrsrini.blogspot.com

http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2021/05/thought-of-day-marchapril-2021.html

--MAY 5, 2021

 

Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic 

 

The Covid-19 Pandemic has caused a massive loss of life, particularly for the elderly, and many millions worldwide have tested positive for the virus. Yet the psychological suffering the pandemic causes may be as difficult as the physical suffering, particularly as it lingers on well into 2021. 

 

 First is the psychological suffering that goes with the danger of the disease itself, its symptoms, and the loss of life involved. The psychological stress of the health care workers treating it is also be enormous. In addition is the suffering of the relatives whose loved ones suffer or are taken away by the disease. 

 

Second is the widespread fear, sometimes panic, among people that they or someone close to them may come down with or succumb to the virus, which is highly contagious, making physical human contact into a danger to be avoided. 

 

 Even the lockdowns and social distancing necessary to counter the pandemic have psychological side-effects. Being confined at home can contract and disrupt our mental energies and emotions. It is particularly difficult for children who are at stage of life when they want to be active and expressive. The mind does best when it has space and when confined our thoughts and emotions more easily become negative. 

 

Yet in addition to these health worries are many other problems caused by the pandemic. The economic fallout from the lockdown pushing the world to the brink of a financial depression is a matter of great concern for everyone. Economic uncertainty hangs like a cloud, even for those who may not any symptoms from the disease. This results in fear, anxiety, worry and agitation in the psyche. 

 

 Thee social disturbances from the pandemic are bringing up deep-seated political, religious and cultural divides. We see greater polarization in countries East and West, with people getting emotionally disturbed at individual and collective levels. We must remember that these are conditions of increased fear affected by the pandemic, blocking real solutions to the problem which require a united approach to the disease. The media too often highlights panic for the power of sensationalism to draw in readers, but which can become irresponsible and misleading. 

 

Yoga and Ayurveda 

How then can we address the psychological ramifications of this massive pandemic? Here Yoga and Ayurveda provide many tools to help bring peace and clarity to our psyche, which people throughout the world have experienced. 

 

 Fear is the root of all mental disturbances in Vedanta thought. It is the first emotion that arises from ignorance of our true nature that gets us caught in duality, conflict and uncertainty. To remove fear we must remove our attachment to the separate self and look to our higher Self that is one with all and beyond death and sorrow. We must have a broader vision of the unity of life and our own inner immortal nature. 

 

 According to Ayurveda, fear is the main emotion that imbalances the primary biological air humor, Vata Dosha, which governs the nervous system, and is closely connected to our Prana. By disturbing Vata dosha in body and mind, fear upsets our equilibrium for body, prana and mind, down to instinctual and subconscious levels. It can literally paralyze us. 

 

 Fear promotes Apana Vayu, the downward movement of Vata, which is the main factor of disease in Ayurveda, disrupting digestion, disturbing sleep and reducing acuity of mind and senses. It causes inertia, negative thinking and attitudes, leading to anxiety and depression. 

 

There are many Ayurvedic herbs for the mind (Medhya Rasayanas) that help promote calm and meditation like Brahmi, Manduka Parni, Tulsi, Jatamamsi, Shankha Pushpi, Amla, Ashwagandha and Calamus. These counter the Vata dosha in the nervous system behind fear. A regular nutritive Vata-reducing diet is helpful to support these herbs. An Ayurvedic practitioner can guide you with these. The application of Ayurvedic massage and their calming massage oils like Chandanadi or Balashwagandha is very important. 

 

From a yogic perspective, pranayama, mantra and meditation counter fear by opening up the prana and mind to deeper energies. Fear blocks the prana and reduces its flow, causing our awareness to fall into inertia and negativity. Pranayama restores the flow of prana dispersing fear, particularly if we practice a slow and deep inhalation and hold it within. Fear causes superficial or rapid breathing or even forgetting to breath, which inhibit the positive prana in the lungs and heart, and black the mind as well. To counter fear we must breathe from the navel and let go of emotional stress held there. 

 

 Above all, we should learn to witness our fear from the standpoint of the Seer within us, our true consciousness. Whatever we deeply see and witness in our minds will naturally get transformed. This is the essence of meditation. To dwell in the state of the Seer transforms what we see, even our own thoughts extending to subconscious compulsions. 

 

Fearlessness 

Overall, we must learn to keep our minds free from outside disturbances and attempts to intimidate us, which the both the social and mainstream media frequently throws at us, provoking fear and panic, or just distracts us with fantasy and entertainment that fails to address the reality of our lives. We must beware of taking negative sensory impressions in through our minds and senses, which carry emotional toxins, and open ourselves to healing presence of nature and its boundless space. We must learn to draw our mind and prana within through meditation. 

 

We must challenge our fears and move beyond them with a respect for the cosmic dharma, using difficulties for inner growth. What takes us forward in life is not that we never fall down, but that we always get up and keep going, even if we fall for a while. 

 

 We are immortal souls with the consciousness of the entire universe dwelling deep within us. There is no challenge we cannot overcome with a higher awareness, but fear can prevent us from doing so if we fall into its murky shadows. 

 

Lord Shiva grants freedom from fear with his abhaya mudra, as does Ma Durga and Ma Kali. Divine grace and presence, however we best relate to it, will neutralize all fear. But we must be open to it within our own deeper minds and hearts. We must remember our true Self beyond body and mind, birth and death. Fear is not our ultimate reality. Fearlessness is our true nature. 

--David Frawley

We need to be stoic in the present situation of crisis.  Lord Shiva is the greatest stoic that is one who is indifferent to pleasure and pain. That is why He was able to consume the poison that threatened creation during the Samudra Manthana. We must be dispassionate about everything including our kith and kin, and the world in general but doing our duty in compliance with Manava Dharma.  Not only stoicism internally but also to what happens externally in the world around us. This will detach us from Maya, and liberate us from Maya’s clutches. With this philosophic outlook I will send you my next E-mail describing Marunthumalai (Marudamalai) near Coimbatore presided by Vaithalingeswara,and Gandhamadana, a chip of Kailasa of Hanuman known for his physical strength and Power of Intellect, and Vaidhyanathaashtakm by Sankara, a rare couplet for prayer, needed during our misery caused by devouring COVIDasura.  (Hindu ingenuity created Covidasuramardhini  last year bogged down by fear of the pandemic to  celebrate  Durgashtami  unable to sell  Mahishasuramardhini artifacts) 

 

Balambikesa vaidyesa bhava roga hareti cha | Japen naamathrayam nithyam mahaa roga nivaranam.  

 

Those who recite this prayer thrice a day with devotion and pray the Lord Vaidyanatha, who is with his consort Balambika, and who removes the fear of birth and death would get cured of all great diseases.    (I will send you this in my next E mail)

 

In this context, I also draw your attention Gita sloka 2-56: 

Duhkheshv-anudvigna-manah sukheshu vigata-sprihah | vita-raga-bhaya-krodhah sthita-dhir munir uchyate --2:56 

One whose mind remains undisturbed amidst misery, who does not crave for pleasure, and who is free from attachment, fear, and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom. 

 

An enlightened person does not allow the mind to harbor the material frailties of lust, anger, greed, envy, miseries etc. If one permits the mind to brood over miseries, then the contemplation on the divine ceases and the mind is dragged down from the transcendental level. The process of torture works in the same manner. More than the present pain itself, it is the memories of past pain and apprehensions of future pain that torment the mind. But when the mind drops these two and has to simply grope with the present sensation, the pain surprisingly shrinks to a manageable (within the limits of tolerance) size. It is well known that historically Buddhist monks adopted a similar technique for tolerating torture from invading conquerors. A sage of steady wisdom is one who does not allow the mind to hanker for pleasure or lament for miseries. Further, such a sage does not permit the mind to succumb to the urges of fear and anger.    Cancer did not weaken the soul of Ramakrishna and was guided by the Gita wisdom 'yudhyasva vigatajvarah'--act without anxiety.

 

Veetasoka bhayarbheetih yuddhyasva  covidajvaram vigatajvarah--Devoid of grief, fear and panic fight the COVID virus without anxiety!

--May 2, 2021

 

 

Let us spend More Time Out-side Interacting with Nature and be nurtured by Nature

 

We all intrinsically think that nature must be good for our health and happiness. A recent analysis of a large-scale nature challenge scientifically shows how important feeling part of nature is to our physical and mental health.  

 

People of all ages and abilities enjoy higher levels of health and well-being when they have nature nearby in parks, gardens, greenways, naturalized schoolyards and playgrounds, and natural landscaping around homes and workplaces. Access to nature has been related to lower levels of mortality and illness, higher levels of outdoor physical activity, restoration from stress, a greater sense of well-being, and greater social capital. Natural elements that promote well-being include trees, diverse vegetation, local biodiversity, water features, parks, natural play-scopes, and community and school gardens. The integration of nature into towns and cities has secondary benefits that contribute to better health and more sustainable societies. Trees and vegetation capture carbon dioxide and mitigate global warming. They buffer noise, offer shade, reduce the effect of heat islands, and trap particulates and other airborne pollutants. Parks and other natural areas filter groundwater, reduce storm-water runoff, and prevent combined sewer overflows, improving the functioning of both public and private water systems. In order to promote people-nature contact across American communities, public health practitioners and policymakers should form alliances with parks departments, planning and design departments, housing agencies, greening and garden organizations, cooperative extension services, school districts, and nature centers to prioritize access to natural areas, productive landscapes, and other green spaces for people of all ages, income levels, and abilities. Moreover, public health officials, physicians, nurse practitioners, and other health professionals should advise patients and the public at large about the benefits of green exercise, personal and community gardening, and nature-based play and recreation. 

 

Why some folks are inherently nurturing,   or warm-blooded or have an affinity for art or math? Ayurveda, the sister-science of yoga, and the traditional medical system from India, can explain this says Dr. Carrie M.D. 

Ayurveda defines each of us as having a “Prakriti”, a personal nature. That nature is made from “Doshas” or elemental energies (like wind, sun, and earth energies). When we understand our particular nature, we can make choices that support our health and inherent strengths, and avoid foods and experiences that undermine us. 

\\"Eco-therapy”, recently interesting Western Physicians based on Ayurveda is gaining traction as a means to help people tap into nature’s therapeutic powers. The term covers a range of interventions, not all of which are evidence-based. But some psychologists are working to ground such programs in science, says Ryan Reese, PhD, a psychotherapist in Bend, Oregon.  

 

There are a growing number of studies and campaigns putting forward evidence that a connection with nature makes us healthier and happier people, something that few of us nature lovers would argue with. 

 

Medical studies shows  that there is a scientifically significant increase in people’s health, happiness, connection to nature and active nature behaviors, such as feeding the birds and planting flowers for bees – not just throughout the challenge, but sustained for months after the challenge had been completed. 

 

Children exposed to the natural world showed increases in self-esteem. They also felt it taught them how to take risks, unleashed their creativity and gave them a chance to exercise, play, and discover. In some cases nature can significantly improve the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), providing a calming influence and helping them concentrate. And for people suffering from physical illness or mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, interacting with nature can help people control their symptoms or even recover, alongside conventional medication.  

 

According to Dr. Richardson there is already research evidence that exposure to nature can reduce hypertension (abnormally high blood pressure), respiratory tract and cardiovascular illnesses; improve vitality and mood; benefit issues of mental wellbeing such as anxiety; and restore attention capacity and mental fatigue. But more than that, feeling a part of nature has been shown to significantly correlate with life satisfaction, vitality, meaningfulness, happiness, mindfulness, and lower cognitive anxiety. 

If we can help people to connect with nature, that’s not only just good for them, but also it is great news for nature. It is a reciprocal relationship because as important as nature has been shown for our health and happiness, our interactions with the natural world are just as important for protecting nature and the environment. Ultimately, we want to see everyone taking action to restore nature – for nature’s sake and for ours. Ultimately, we want to see everyone taking action to restore nature – for nature’s sake and for ours.  

 

Whatever you call it, connectedness to nature seems to benefit mood and mental health. In a meta-analysis, Alison Pritchard, PhD, ABPP, at the University of Derby in England, and colleagues found that people who feel more connected to nature have greater Eudaimonia well-being—a type of contentment that goes beyond just feeling good and includes having meaningful purpose in life. Feeling connected to nature was a significant predictor of happiness. In fact, nature might help to buffer the effects of loneliness or social isolation.  There is urgency in fostering these connections,  because while people benefit from their connection with the natural world, the environment also benefits when people feel connected and committed to caring for the Earth—and between climate change and habitat loss, the planet is in serious need of some care.  When people are disconnected from nature, they aren’t motivated to work on wicked problems like climate change. We’re losing the environments that contribute to our flourishing.

The key question is, how do we help people feel connected to nature so we’re motivated to protect the places that will help us thrive?” 

 

 Key points:

1.   Spending time in nature is linked to both cognitive benefits and improvements in mood, mental health and emotional well-being. 

2.   Feeling connected to nature can produce similar benefits to well-being, regardless of how much time one spends outdoors. 

3.   Both green spaces and blue spaces (aquatic environments) produce well-being benefits. More remote and biodiverse spaces may be particularly helpful, though even urban parks and trees can lead to positive outcomes. 

4.   Preserving pristine beauty of nature and living in harmony with nature that is an act of Dharma in Hinduism should engage every one’s attention.  

 

Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April 30, 2021, in USA, although some states observe it on dates that better coincide with the local area’s planting times.  Dedicate a tree to someone who is special to you.   

 

While most holidays celebrate something that has already happened and is worth remembering, Arbor Day represents a hope for the future. The simple act of planting a tree represents a belief that the tree will grow to provide us with clean air and water, cooling shade, habitat for wildlife, healthier communities, nourishing by Nature and endless natural beauty — all for a better tomorrow 

 

  “oshadhivanaspatibhih annam bhavati annena praanam…”--From herbs and trees food is produced. By food, vital breaths and senses are

 nourished--MNU 

[Extracted and abridged from BBC Jeremy Cole’s’ News column and message from American Psychological Health Association] 

 

 http://nrsrini.blogspot.com/2016/10/trees-symbolize-life-inspire-spiritual.html

--May 2, 2021

 

 

May Day is more a Day of Celebration of Spring than Labor in USA 

 

Labor Day or International Workers' Day is observed each year on the first day of May to celebrate the achievements of the working class. The day, also called May Day, is also observed as a public holiday in many countries. Labor Day is a public holiday in India as well, where it is celebrated as Antarrashtriya Shramik Diwas (International Labor Day). The day is known as “Kamgar Din” in Hindi, “Karmikara Dinacharane” in Kannada, “Karmika Dinotsavam” in Telugu, “Kamgar Divas” in Marathi, “Uzhaipalar Dhinam” in Tamil, “Thozhilaali Dinam" in Malayalam, and “Shromik Dibosh” in Bengali where  Communists      party rules and in states where communist  pockets are active  openly are underground. In most part of North India, however, Labor Day has lost significance as a holiday and are focused on Viswakarma Day. In USA not much attention is given to May Day as they have their own Labor Day celebration in September.

 

The International Labor Organization (ILO), an agency of the United Nations deals with Labor issues and mainly works towards raising standards of laborers across the world. ILO celebrates Labor Day with rallies and demonstrations over the globe and spreads awareness about the key issues it tackles, like eradicating forced labor, demand for the minimum wage law, protecting the rights of migrant workers, among others. 

 

But Americans eagerly look forward to celebrating May Day on May 1, more so in 2021 unlike last year, as many are vaccinated and social distancing is relaxed.  April showers that were still shedding their tears to COVID19 victims made way to May Flowers! May first fortnight  starts enjoying  pleasant climate   celebrating  Teachers Week  that sandwiches Teacher’s Day  on May 4 (first Tuesday) and Mother’s Day that follows on May 9, 2021 (second Sunday),  that have given an opportunity to celebrate both the exciting days together on May 9.  Hindu Americans run to the temples to conduct Bhajans with the Mantras Matru devo bhava Aacharya Devo bhava enjoying the get-together of all Baal Vihar participants, praying and jubilating! Looking back at past decades, May has had different meanings for diverse cultures and countries. Today, specifically in the United States as other countries, it is a celebration of the Season of Spring. We’ve got the best tips to make sure that your May Day is one to remember! 

 

May Day is a public holiday celebrated on May 1 in many different cultures around the world. It is a day of unity, togetherness, and rebirth; a day for everyone to come together and celebrate life as we know it! 

 

A plethora of observances and celebrations take place on May Day on May First. Throughout the years and decades, there have been different meanings, festivities, and representations of May Day. The meaning of seasonal change has been the most significant one amongst different countries.

 

May Day is one of the four ancient Celtic cross-quarter days, making it an astronomical holiday as it falls between the March equinox and June solstice. Originating from its Celtic name, “Belthane,” Beltane was a spring celebration that included dancing, singing, special bonfires, and house doors and animals would be decorated with yellow May flowers and ribbons. During this time, in various communities in Ireland, people would visit special wells and the Bethanie dew was believed to bring beauty and youthfulness to those around it. 

 

In the middle ages, English villages had homes with maypoles from rejoice and celebrations of May Day. Villagers would go into the woods to find maypoles set up from towns and cities. Because maypoles came in different sizes, villages would compete with each other to see who had the tallest one. People would dance around them because the pole symbolized male fertility as baskets and wreaths symbolized female fertility. 

 

In the 19th century, a new meaning of May Day came about. May Day also became known as International Workers’ Day for labor rights and an eight-hour work- day in the United States. 

 

As time went on, different cultures created their own traditions in alignment with their beliefs. Europeans and Americans celebrate May Day with flower crowns, maypole dancing, and by making flower baskets to share with loved ones. In Hawaii, May Day is known as “Lei Day”, a celebration of the Aloha spirit and the giving of the flower. What is a better way to celebrate than with the people you love! Aloha is living in harmony. When you live the Spirit of Aloha, you create positive feelings and thoughts, which are never gone. 

--May 1, 2021

 

 

 

This Is 40: Bizarre Factoids about the Enigmatic Number Forty that baffles us

Mandala Puja

When God flooded the Earth, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, and Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days. Stevens Crawshaw says that even before the arrival of the plague, the biblical notion of a 40-day period of purification had crossed over into health practices. After childbirth, for example, a new mother was expected to rest for 40 days. 

 

Often Mandala period is prescribed to Pujas, observances, rituals and in-take of medicines in Hindu culture. With regard to mandala puja the individual is expected to complete the full course of 40+1days. It is also customary to think of a holy number as odd and therefore Mandala could be holy figure of 40 as in Hanuman Chalisa, Ulladu Narpadu etc. with added 1 or sometimes 2 as indicative of not stopping at forty as conclusive, a typical Hindu tradition (as in Ulladu narpadu of Ramana),  withal austerities and routines prescribed in the scriptures. The strict Vrata that the individual observes during Mandala Puja of Aiyappan and Hanuman helps to cleanse his soul and hence clarity of vision(divya drishti). The divine power propitiated through Mandala Puja blesses the devotee with incredible boons that would change his life forever. Usually, Mandala Puja is done to please the favorite deity of the person, whichever form of GOD it might be. Even women can undertake Mandala Puja with a break of five days during menstruate period. Hence Hanuman Chalisa is chanted 40 times to make it fortified and more effective   to reap the benefits.  For those who are unable to chant all 700 verses of Bhagavad Gita, International Gita Society has presented Sri Gita Chalisa for daily reading and contemplation.

 

A great poet was invited by Mughal Emperor Akbar in his court to display his magical powers after hearing a lot about the poet from Khan-e-Khana Rahim and Toder Mal. When the person declined, he was imprisoned. He started writing Hanuman Chalisa being a prisoner in the kingdom of Akbar. It is said that on the 40th day, the entire Fatehpur Sikri was surrounded by giant monkeys. They even entered the palace premises and started hurting the guards. After seeing all the mess by monkeys in the palace, people requested Akbar to release the person. After the person was released all the monkeys vacated the palace and the Akbar came to know those animals came to save the person. The person is none other than Tulsidas, a realized soul and saint, poet, often called reformer and philosopher from Ramanand Sampradaya, in the lineage of Jagadguru Ramanand Acharya renowned for his devotion to the Lord Shri Rama. Let us learn more about the mysticism and magic of this number 40.

1. Forty is the only number in English whose letters appear in alphabetical order. 

2. Minus 40 degrees, or “40 below,” is the only temperature that is the same in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. 

3. When the bubonic plague gripped Europe during the Middle Ages, ships would be isolated in harbor for 40 days before passengers could go ashore. The Italian word for 40 is quaranta—hence quarantine. 

4. There are 40 spaces on a standard Monopoly board. Proving that life is a gamble, the game gives players equal odds (one in 40) of 5. Forty is the maximum number of players a Major League Baseball team can sign to its roster at once. 

6. Forget “nine months”; a typical pregnancy actually lasts 40 weeks. 

7. It took chemists 40 attempts to develop the magical spray we know as … wait for it … WD-40 (full name: Water Displacement, 40th formula). 

8. In literature, 40 is the number of thieves Ali Baba clashes with in Arabian Nights. 

9. Also, 40 is the number of winks Dr. William Kitchiner suggests taking for a perfect nap. 

10. In religion, 40 seems to be shorthand for “a long time.” Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness being tempted by the devil; the great flood lasted 40 days and 40 nights; the Jewish people wandered the desert for 40 years. 

11. And if you need more evidence that 40 sounds like a lot, please see the standard American workweek: 40 hours. 

--Reader’s Digest 

Forty is a Life Force: Science, religion, and literature all agree—you can always count on 40. 

COVID-19: There is more to the number 40 than quarantine  

 COVID-19 pandemic 40 days of lockdown, imposed reminds us the significance of number 40 in culture, science, mathematics and religion Forty is a significant number across cultures and belief system 

A full-term pregnancy 

The connection begins with literally with the beginning of human life. The gestation of human pregnancy is 40 weeks (280 days). “The date of delivery is usually calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period and gestation is around 40 weeks. However, only 4% of women deliver on the due date. Some pregnancies extend to 42 weeks but, usually in India, we don’t wait beyond 40 weeks as complications seem to develop after that, in the Indian context,” says Dr. Smithy Sanel George, senior gynecologist, Thrikkakara Municipal Cooperative Hospital (Kochi).  

 

Confinement after childbirth is also usually 40-45 days depending on which part of the country you are from or your faith. “A six-week confinement or sava mahina (45 days) is recommended after childbirth in most communities of Eastern India,” says homemaker Rashmi Sinha from Patna. “This period is for the mother to recoup after delivery and for a healthy nurturing of the infant. As both their bodies are weak, it is important they are kept away from infections. Traditionally both mother and child are given oil baths and body massage. The time is also one of bonding between the mother and the baby.” 

Dr. George says this is not all old wives’ tales. “According to science, after childbirth, a woman’s internal organs go back to original size by 40-42 days. Until then the body tends to have edema or bloating, which subsides by this time. We are told not to read, watch television, sew or do anything that strains the eye because even the eyes are also mildly affected by this.”  

 

Mourning and remembering the departed. Vineesh Shah, a priest from Gujarat, says, “The 40-day period is spent in prayers for the departed soul. However, the bereavement period differs from 13 days to a year.” Different cultures use the six-week period for penance, mourning or confinement, he says. 

 

To beat the plague  

Associations exist with disease and spread too. In the middle Ages, ships anchoring at Italian ports had to observe the ‘quarantena’ or isolation for 40 days, which prevented sailors from disembarking. What initially started as ‘trentino’ or 30-day isolation extended by 10 days to become ‘quarantena’ (40 days) in the belief that any infection or plague would either clear up by then or the affected would be dead. Quarantine, the English derivative, became a practice that spread across Europe as plagues repeatedly ravaged the continent. Quarantine today means any kind of isolation to prevent contagious diseases. --(The Hindu) 

 

The number 40 has religious significance    

Lent began on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 — also known as Ash Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday, which is traditionally a somber holiday, a church's priest or pastor will dip their finger into a tray of ashes and spread them on congregants' foreheads in the shape of a cross. While doing this, they'll say, “from dust you came and from dust you will return.” The ashes are made by burning palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday (this year, Palm Sunday falls on March 28). 

 

Lent is 40 days long, not including Sundays (that means the season is technically 46 days long). The fact that it's 40 days has significance. According to Father William Saunders of the Catholic Education Resource Center, "the number 40 has always had special spiritual significance regarding preparation ... most importantly, Jesus fasted and prayed for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert before He began His public ministry (Matthew 4:2)." 

 

Lent ends three days before Easter Sunday on Thursday, April 1, 2021. The week before Easter Sunday — called Holy Week — is a big deal in the Christian church. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus's triumphant arrival in Jerusalem, where he received palm branches at his feet. Then comes Holy Wednesday, which acknowledges Judas's plan to betray Jesus. The day after Holy Wednesday is Maundy Thursday, which commemorates the Last Supper between Jesus and his disciples. Maundy Thursday is the last day of Lent.  

 

Then there is Noah’s Ark, it rained for forty days and forty nights, the Ark features in traditions of a number of Abrahamic religions including Judaism, Islam, Christianity and others. And a theological interpretation is that the Ark is offering salvation to man. So, what could that mean to you emotionally and psychologically? Salvation can mean recovery, or escape in forty days from a problem state (Mathew 4:2). 

 

The religious associations with 40 are many:   the period from Jesus Christ’s resurrection to ascension was 40 days; he also fasted in the desert for as many days before the temptation; the Hindu prayer ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ has 40 couplets; Gita Chalisa and Gitai Narpadu of Ramana Maharshi has 40 verses; the Hebrew people lived in the Sinai desert for as many days and so on. The 40 days of the Lenten fast is commemoration of the number of days Jesus Christ is believed to have fasted in the desert.  

 

Some Buddhist traditions: After forty days the Buddha attained enlightenment. 

 

In Hebrew tradition a simple understanding of the Torah is that Moses spent forty days in Heaven to receive the Torah. 

 

Islam: It is traditional to spend forty days in mourning in many Islamic cultures. Muhammad was forty years old when he first received the revelation delivered by Gabriel. 

 

Hinduism: Like other great religions Hinduism has specific rituals for honoring their dead, depending on the community, traditionally there are forty days of ritual, after which the grieving family reintegrate with their society. 

 

Some Russian cultures believe the spirit of the dead linger at the site of their death for forty days, and the spirit will be honored for those forty days. 

 

Ancient Egyptian culture: Forg Yuugioh – after forty Days suffering will be removed. Egyptians also recognized the period of forty days of preparation for journeying into a new life. 

 

In the Hindu astrological tradition too, the number is significant. “One year is divided into nine Mandalams based on the planets: three of 40 days and six of 41days each. Of these, the most significant are ‘Karikidakam’, ‘Vrishchikam’ and ‘Meenam’, each of which has 40 days,” says K.  Aravindakshan, scholar and an authority on Hinduism and temple practices. Vrishchikam is also associated with Lord Ayappan, penance and prayer, which explains the significance of the 40-day fast before setting out on the pilgrimage to Sabarimala.  

The Sufi way 

‘Chilla’, derived from the Persian ‘chehel’ meaning 40, is a 40 day retreat for the practice of penance and solitude in Sufism. As part of the ritual, the practitioner sits in a circle meditating without food for 40 days and night in a solitary cell called ‘chilla-khan’ 

 

A number of joys 

However, not all associations are esoteric. Mathematicians refer to it as a ‘Harshad number’, derived from the Sanskrit harsha (joy) and da (to give). “It has been defined thus by mathematician D.R. Kapekar. A Harshad number is divisible by the sum of its digits 4+0=40 and 40 is divisible by 4,” says Susan Mathew Panakkal, Head of Department, Mathematics, St. Teresa’s College, Kochi.  

 

It is also a Stormer number, named after mathematician Carl Stormer. A Stormer number is a positive integer ‘n’ for which the greatest prime factor of ‘n2 + 1’ is greater than or equal to ‘2n’. ‘n2’ is n to the power of two or n squared. And in science ‘negative forty’ (-40) is the temperature at which the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales correspond: - 40 Degrees C = - 40 Degrees F.  

Ramana Maharshi and Shankara are two of the greatest and most important sages in the tradition of Advaita—the Vedic state of non-dualism, or the oneness of the self and Brahma. Shankara, (509--477 BCE)  consolidated the teaching of the Upanishadic and Brahmana Sutras into a practical philosophy of living, while Ramana Maharshi revived these principles and beliefs in the 20th century, bringing about a worldwide renaissance of Advaita. This invaluable volume contains the pearls of their combined wisdom, including some of Shankara’s major works translated by Ramana. Among them: Shankara's famous “The Crest Jewel of Discrimination” and Maharshi's seminal “Forty Verses on Reality--Ulladu Narpadu" There is also a rare hymn on Lord Shiva taken from Vayu Mahapuranam, Uttarardha and chapter 35 titled Vishnu Mahatmyam that has 40 slokas.

 

In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Hanuman Jayanthi is observed for 40+1-days which starts on Chaitra Purnima.

 

Life for you my dear friend 

Has only just begun 

So, get out there into the world 

And have a little fun 

And prove it to everyone 

That life does begin at forty 

And makes you Smarty!

--Gary Wayne Hill     

 

When Rama asked Hanuman as what he thought of him, Hanuman said: "When I think I am body, I am Thy servant, O Lord. When I feel, I am Jiva, I am your part, when I feel I am Atman, you and I are one." (Ramayana).  

 

Hanuman is introduced to us as an adult in Ramayana, probably in his Forty. Hence Chalisa in praise of him as Smarty. Sri #Hanuman, son of Vayu, holds the cosmic Prana, greatest of Yogi  (suddha-sattva Sanyasa Yogi), most wise (Vedanta Vijnaani), messenger of Sri Rama(Ramaduta), finder of Ma Sita (Sitaanveshi), carries the rejuvenating Sanjivani herb (Sanjeevini Vahini) from the Himalayas, all that we need to develop body strength, mental strength and boldness at heart. He has everything we need today in our time of crisis.  Time to awaken his spirit within us in all that we do for healing, harmony and realizing universal Consciousness (EQ and SQ Management). 

 

Being Sita & Rama blessed Chiranjeevi he is always at his forty and remains   cutie (adorable).

 

Jai Sri Ram! Jai SitaRam!, Jai Jai  Bajrangi-bali! 

 

Comments:

“Narpadai thaandinaal Naayi gunam”--In Tamil Nadu young people say,  “Ignore his word and ignore his actions just because he is over 40now and has acquired Naai gunam”. That means, all the people over 40 have naai (Dog) behavior!

--Prof. G. Nagarajan

 

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VEDAS MANDATE PAY OBEISANCE TO MOTHER, FATHER AND GURU (TEACHER) AND IN THAT ORDER

 

It looks as though materialistic USA is also Divine influenced  and follow  Hindu Americans and do pay obeisance to Mother, Father and Teacher though not in that order. For them Teacher comes first then Mother and then Father in a calendar year. Teacher’ day comes on May 4 and Mother’s Day on May 9 (second Sunday in May). Father’s day is celebrated on June 20, the third Sunday in June. All church traditions conduct Masses on these days when they fall on Sundays. Teachers are honored during all the working days that week in schools besides first Tuesday in May.    Therefore it should be logical include teacher also on Mother’s Day Sunday Mass and Hindu Temple SRE.

USA that includes Hindu Americans, celebrate World Earth Day on April 22. Vedas praise mother Earth as The Mother of all mothers of the beings.

Then follows Arbor’s Day on April 30 which can be concluded as Father of the World Day. Adi Jagannatha appeared as Aswattha tree in Tiruppullani earliest to meditating sages that Krishna later affirmed that among trees “I am Asvattha” from which the phrase Father of the Nation is coined. Therefore, Arbor’s Day is a fitting day to pay our obeisance to Father, declaring it SRE Day.

National Teacher Day is observed on the first Tuesday of May and also the first full week of May (May 4 ending with March 9, Mother’s day this year.   We’re more than ready to show our appreciation to those who have taught us. Everyone has had that favorite teacher that has helped inspire them. This day meant to honor them was actually made by a teacher. None other than First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt herself, a loving mother and invigorating teacher. Eleanor Roosevelt was more than Franklin D. Roosevelt’s wife, she has a history of civic duty and was an advocate for fellow teachers. Her love for education began at a young age when she was privately tutored and encouraged by her aunt Anna “Barnie” Roosevelt. No matter how high she rose on the social ladder, she never forgot where she came from.

In 1953, Eleanor Roosevelt stood up to Congress in hopes of convincing them that teachers needed a day to be recognized for all that they do. Until that point, the celebration of the day wasn’t clear. It’s believed that some schools in certain states were already observing the day, but there wasn’t a clear consensus and she wanted to make it official.

The National Education Association (NEA) in partnership with the Kansas State and Indiana State Boards of Education, lobbied Congress in order for the day to be recognized. Despite her best efforts, the first National Teacher Day didn’t become an official national day until 1980.

At its inception, National Teacher Day was celebrated on March 7 until 1984 when it was moved to May. Thanks to the assistance of the National PTA, it evolved into Teacher Appreciation Week, giving teachers more time to bask in appreciation. A year later, the NEA established that the first Tuesday of the week in MAY would be National Teacher Appreciation Day. Incidentally, Tuesday is dedicated to Hanuman who is known for his Strength of intellect as well as physical strength.

By mysterious coincidence, May 9 is dedicated to both Mother and Teacher and calls for fitting tributes and celebrations. Teacher’s Day was started by a woman celebrity who was also a deeply involved teacher. Therefore this day is also worth considering as SRE Day in Hindu American temples. 

Sankara Jayanti is celebrated on May 17, who leads all Gurus in our modern historic times.  In Puranas, Vedavyasa   and is the reputed Guru whose birthday is celebrated in July 24, on Guru Purnima Day.  Thus we see justification to observe all these days as SRE days in Hindu American Temples, that follows the pattern and order of Matru devo, bhava, Pitru devo bhava  and Acharya devo bhava.

India also celebrates Teacher’s Day on September 5, after Guru Purnima Day but keeping the order.

The first day of Chaitra Navratri is also marked as the first day of the Hindu calendar which is observed during the full moon phase aka the Shukla Paksha phase is dedicated to Devi as Mother. The ninth day of Chaitra Sukla Paksha Is dedicated to Ramachandra as our Father (matpita Ramachndrah). Sankaracharya Jayanti is observed on Shukla Paksha Panchami of Vaishakha month (May 17, 2021) paying obeisance to Entire Guru Tradition that he heads as a modern Sanyasi. Thus, worshiping Mother, Father and Guru in succession by orthodoxy comply with Vedic mandate: matro devo bhava, pitru devo bhava achrya devo bhava, in that order. Soon follows Buddha Purnima and Guru Purnima dedicated to Gurus again.

Sadashiva Samarambham Shankaracharya Madhyamam | Asmad Acharya Paryantam Vande Guru Paramparam

Beginning with Sadashiva, through Adi Shankaracharya in between and up to my own preceptor, I bow with reverence to the entire tradition of preceptors.

[Since Siva is busy as Adiyogi and Vaidyanatha and worshiped as such virtual active Guru Tradition starts with Adisankaracharya]

National Teacher’s Day in USA is celebrated on May 4. Hindu American Baal Vihaar Schools are also obligated to pay their gratitude to these religious teachers. It is therefore worthwhile to dedicate the Sunday that comes after first Tuesday to the religious teachers appreciating their free and dedicated service (achrya devo bhava besides usual matru devo bhava, on May 9).  Sunday May 9 is convenient for both Motherhood and Teacher Tradition celebrations with equal weightage. Though we run to the altar of Siva on that Day but not to that of Parvati, with the mantra jagatah pitarau vande, there seems to be no focus or citation on Teacher.  May be Siva fits in as Adiyogi and Yoga inspirer and dance inspirer to our teachers. Ideal would be Lord Krishna who is Universal Guru who illuminates and invigorates our (dheeyoyo nah prachodayaat) Intellect everyday with his Bhagavad Gita teachings.

 COMMENTS:

Thank you Mama

 --Aparna Arcot