' MANASA SARAS '

Last Rites of Hindus, For Malayalees abroad.

2012-01-24T13:14:00.000-08:00

                                                       LAST RITES OF HINDUS:
                                                                    (mprnair)
                                   (അന്ത്യേഷ്ടി അഥവാ അന്തിമോപചാര കര്‍മ്മം)

                             (Simplified for those, especially Malayalees, abroad)

                          “ അബ്ദ ദീക്ഷാദി ലോപേന പ്രേതാ യാതാ പിശാചതാം,
                               സ്വജനാല്‍ ബാധമാനാസ്തെ ചരന്തീതി ഖലു സ്മൃതി ”

It means , if we do not observe obsequies, it is supposed that the soul of the dead will not be eligible for
Moksha and also it will wander to enter into the body of any one closely related to it and will obsess that
person. Whether it is true or false, we are expected to do the rituals as a mark of our love and respect to the
dead one, not of fear of the dead, also since it it is being done from time immemorial. These Rites enable the
soul of the dead to transit successfully from the stage of ‘Preta’ to that of ‘Pitru’, which is eventually
supposed to be merged into ‘Devamsa’, in due course, provided we do the obsequies properly. At the
death bed itself, keeping the body clean, it is nice if possible we give drops of ‘Ganga water’, if the person
drinks the same. “Basil (Tulasi) water’, can be used as substitute. The following things, as far as possible,
may be collected for the procedure of the funeral, especially involving cremation: ഗംഗാ ജലം, തുളസിഇല,
അരി, ചന്ദനത്തിരി, രാമച്ചം , അകില്‍, ദര്‍ഭ, പ്ലാശ്, അശ്വത്ഥം മണ്‍കുടം, മൂടിയുള്ള കലശം, വെട്ടുകത്തി,
കിണ്ടിയും വെള്ളവും, ചുവന്ന പട്ടു്, നിലവിളക്ക്, എണ്ണ, തിരി , കൊള്ളി.(small dried twigs). അസ്ഥി
സഞ്ചയനത്തിന്: തോര്‍ത്ത്‌, പാല്, തൈര്, പനിനീര്, ഗോമൂത്രം , ഉതിര് പൂവ്, പൂമാല, സ്വര്ണ്ണം In case
there was no medical assistance, immediately after the death, family members can close the mouth and eyes
of the deceased, and put the arms straight. The body is cleaned and usually placed on the floor with the feet
pointing towards the South which is supposed to be the direction of the dead. The right and left toes are tied
together. (This should be untied just before cremation). An oil lamp is lit and placed at the head portion on
the North. Most often the body is bathed by purified water, and then dressed in new clothes. Sandalwood
paste is applied on the forehead. A new Cloth (Kodi Vasthram) may be put on the body from the family.
Garlands, wreaths and flowers can be placed on the body. Ladies and Children, after cleaning their bodies,
put wet rice and basil leaves at the mouth of the dead, before taking the body to cemetery or crematorium.
All the others who are bound to offer the same, do it at the crematorium floor. The body is then taken to the
crematorium or cemetery. The rightful person authorized to do the Karma, bathed and in wet cloth, puts as
the last, wet rice and basil leaves at the mouth of the dead. He then carries the pot of water three times
circum ambulating the body, while one lightly hits and breaks the sides of the water pot with the big knife
(വെട്ടുകത്തി).and on completing three rounds the pot is dropped out at the feet of the dead. A small piece
each from the cloths put on the dead body, may be torn out and kept. രാമച്ചം, അകില്‍, പ്ലാശ്, അശ്വത്ഥം,ദര്‍ഭ, all those things may be placed on and around the body, before burial or cremation. It may be set on fire or buried, as the case may be. All may bathe thereafter. If the body is cremated, ashes may be collected in the ‘Kalasham’, bought for the purpose, after neatly cleaning it with enough water, milk, curd, rose water, cow-urine, using the towel. The Kalasham may be wrapped in the piece of cloth taken from the dead body and the Kalsham may be decorated and taken with due respect, accompanied by lamp and lighted bathi to any punya river or sea, and immersed therein, with deep prayers for the rest of the soul and liberation. He may bathe thereafter. It is nice he does the ‘bali’ for 16 days, if possible. Thereafter, ‘Aandu bali’ or ‘Sradham’ may be done yearly, preferably on the ‘Thithi’, on which the person deceased. If it is convenient, after the first year, a ‘Kshethra Pind bali’, a ‘Thila Homam’ and a ‘Sayoojya Pooja’ may be done in any good temple, doing such poojas. One may get enough ‘Pitr-preethi’, because of these sat-karmas.


                                                                              'Subham’

My Bio

2011-09-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

MY BIO:

M. P. R. Nair has retired as Joint Secretary to the Kerala Public Service Commission. He is also a practising Astrologer for a little over 30 years. Originally hailing from the southern Indian state of Kerala, India, he and his wife are now settled in Pearland, Texas, along with his Son, Jeevan and his family.
Beside his post graduate degree in Literature, he has also obtained a post graduate diploma in Epigraphy and was awarded the title of Jyothisha Bhooshan after completing the necessary studies under the tutelage of learned persons and practitioners of this science. He is also well versed in the language of Sanskrit.
After his retirement as Joint Secretary, he actively pursued further studies in the subject of Astrology and has successfully provided consultation to thousands who have sought his advice, and is still doing it professionally well. He also has also a daughter and her family in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Do not ignore 'Luck', that is in our hand.

2011-05-03T14:36:00.000-07:00

"Your mind has enormous hidden dimensions. Open yourselves completely to
whatever reactions and emotions the world evokes from time to time. Accept them
all without any reservation or resentment. By assimilating everything and all, your
mind grows deeper, stabler and more enriched.”
“Realize that this is your birthright. This is your potential and possibility. Don't argue, don't lament or weep! Your mind can be set right! And the power to set it right is within yourself. It is a question of using the power, employing it and asserting it every time. None of you should suffer unduly. There is no necessity at all.”
These are the golden words of Paramahamsa Parivrajaka Sadguru Swamy Bhoomananda
Theerthaji Maharaj, who is continuing his highly scholarly discourse, ‘Mukthi Sudhakaram’ in Asianet Television Channel from March 22, 2010 onwards, based on the 11th Skandha of Srimad Bhagavatham, Monday through Saturday morning every week .
As Ma Gurupriyaji commented on this huge ‘Yagna’ we are hearing words of wisdom
directly from the right Teacher. We are like having a Divine Bath in the Devotional
Nectar of almost all our ancient Scriptures , besides Srimad Bhagavatham. Swamiji quotes profusely and explains in unequivocal terms that even a lay man can follow him so easily. Hearing his words of wisdom, we experience the presence of the Supreme Lord in our hearts. Each of his word relates to the day to day life of every human being. There is a lot to study, imbibe and assimilate from his speech. I feel often that Swamiji is the Avatara of Lord Krishna, especially when he reiterates Bhagavan’s words to Udhava. We are the luckiest to hear it in this century. But, I am really afraid to hear Swamiji repeating recently with pain, amidst his discourse that it will be difficult to proceed this manifestly voluminous Yagna, unless there is ample involvement of Devotees to help sponsor the program, of which only we are all the beneficiaries. It is for us, each one, irrespective of caste, creed colour,sex or age.
May our minds remain fixed at Sri Hari’s Lotus Feet, to do what is necessary to hear this Maha Yagna in full. It is really an unprecedented and spiritually enlightening discourse of the greatest soul of this century.If we miss this we will be the most unlucky people.Let us pray and do whatever we can for the grand success of this 'Theevra Yagna', the kind of which we have not seen before and we may not see afterwords. Please do not ignore it now and repent later.
Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya.
'Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu'
mprnair; 3rd May 2011.

The 24 Gurus referred to in Srimad Bhagavatham.

2011-04-29T15:32:00.000-07:00

Ohm Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.
The 24 Gurus referred to in Srimad BhagavatHam.
(M. P. R. Nair)
The present day life calls upon us to have an unusual degree of courage, awareness, growth, happiness, and prosperity. But, it is not an easy joke. Loads of difficulties are increasing day by day in our life, in spite of all our efforts. Life has series of problems such as poverty, disease, broken relationships, unhappy marriages, loneliness, depression, and prosecution and so on and so forth, besides, global suffering and natural disasters like earth quakes, floods, famines and tsunamis and the like. Some of them are very difficult to solve. It may not be so easy to get a right Spiritual Master for all to show the right path, either. Here comes Srimad Bhagavatham to help us to a great extent amidst many other things, with the story of 24 Gurus from the open nature, whom we can keenly observe and learn from them many helpful hints to solve many of our problems. The process of solving problems may perhaps be augmented if we keep up some of the basic requirements such as our unconditional love towards God with the ultimate aim of attaining Brahma Gignasa through Dharma Gignasa, and then selecting the righteous path of Pravarthy Marga, through the proper Nivarthy Marga. Dharma Gignasa involves righteous living and Brahma Gignasa enables us towards achieving Self-Realization. Nivarthy Margas are like taking wise decisions after Sravanam, Keerthanam, Mananam, Nitidhyasam and Dhyanam etc., and Pravarthy Marga is in executing things in the most systematic, righteous and perfect way, without prejudice to anyone.
Canto 11in Srimad Bhagavatham teaches us about whatever we want in our lives. One of the reasons for the eleventh Canto to be known as the crown of Bhagavatam, is because it contains innumerable discourses and Upakhyanas, with simple illustrations as to how we could live a fearless life. Swami Vallabacharya beautifully expounds the uniqueness of this Canto since it talks about liberation to both the Lord and the common people or jivas. The Lord became Srimad Bhagavatham to play in the hands of normal mortals like us, and in due course liberate the jivas. This canto deals with Bhagavatha Dharma for a common man. It is Sage Shuka elaborating on Bhagavata Dharma.
Amidst them comes the beautiful story of 24 Gurus. It is in Chapters 7, 8 and 9 in Canto11. (Nearly 109 Slokas). The scene is just before Swargarohana of Lord Krishna. Udhava’s all efforts to retain Lord Krishna here in Bhooloka, during Kali Yuga, failed miserably. He was also in utter disappointment when he heard from Krishna that he was not taking him to Vaikuntam, either. He appeared for one moment as ignorant of the fact that Krishna is always there and that Bhagavan has just finished only His duties of one of His many Avatars. We know the truth, aswell as Udhava, that there is nothing as wonderful and sweet as Krishna's name in this whole world. Udhava is a typical example of a common man though he is Krishna’s cousin and a Sishya of Great Brhaspati. So many instances are there in Srimad Bhagavatham, wherein he puts doubts regarding so many silly things to Krishna. I think Vyasa Bhagavan intends him as a representative of us. Every time you can see Krishna patiently describing to him the situation and clearing his doubt as if to a very close and intimate friend. If we closely watch, we can see that every time he is asking Krishna for a short cut also, as some of us do to our elders. However, finally Krishna advised Udhava to do ‘Sarvasangaparithyaga’ through ‘Sannyasa’. Spontaneously, as usual, he told Krishna, that he was ignorant and that he was always indulged in thinking about his body, created by Krishna’s Yogamaya, and all things related to the body such as his relations and his possessions. He added that his consciousness was merged with his body. So, he asked Krishna to kindly teach him the easiest method by which he could attain the Sarvasangaparithyaga through Sannyasa as He advised.
Bhagavan told him: “Those who do Tatwa Vichara to find out truth, by self and deep deliberations, gradually and eventually lift or raise his atma by his atma itself, from external sensory pleasures or mere worldly pleasures. Bhagavan exhorted him to liberate his soul from worldly pleasures or mere sensual pleasures.”
Gita puts this more nicely, like:
“Udharedatmanaatmanam, natmanamava sadhayel,
Atmaiva hyatmano bandhu , ratmaiva ripuratmana”, (Gita 6-5)
Let one raise the self by the self, and not let the self go down, for the self is the friend of the self and the self is the foe of the self.
Bhagavatham continues,
Guru of atma is atma itself, especially for man, he is his Guru, because by seeing, by observing and by inference, he clears his doubts and attains prosperity gradually. Those bold and brave ones, specialized in Samkhya and Yoga, recognize and distinguish, the omnipotent atma or soul, distinctly. Somany bodies are created here, with one to many legs and without legs, of which I like best, the body of man. Here Bhagavan makes the reference of the conversation, regarding 24 Gurus, between the Maha Tejaswi Dattathreya, Paramgnani Avadhootha , a wise, handsome and brilliant young Brahmin, wandering fearlessly, throughout the length and breadth of the world and the Dharma Tatwa Gnani King Yadu, son of Yayati, the forerunner of Krishna. When asked where did he get the extra ordinary intelligence and power , though he is wandering like a mad boy and doing nothing, the Brahmin said to Yadu, that he had many Gurus accepted by his own intelligence and they made him such a ‘jeevanmuktha’. He began to narrate the details of those Gurus and the lessons he learned from each of them.
The details of the 24 Gurus (Spiritual Masters) and the lessons learned from them as told by the Paramgnani Brahmin to King Yadu can be summarized as follows:
1.The Earth: (We feel smell because of the Earth; there is no smell, if there is no Earth)
From the earth I learned a sober person should never be distracted from progress on his own path even if he is harassed by other living beings, because they are acting helplessly under the control of God. He should consider it as his fate. He should be as steady as the earth. The earth teaches us ‘sahana shakthi’, (power of endurance). So the earth is called ‘sarvam saha:’ We should pardon others as Earth pardons. This is why it is called Bhoomimata, the mother earth. We have to learn ultimate ‘Kshama’ (patience) from Bhoomi. Like the mountain and the tree, he should dedicate himself to the service of others. We learn lessons by observing the way material nature, with its living and non-living components, functions.
2.The Air: ( We feel the sense of touch or ‘’sparsha’, because of the Air )
‘Pranavayu’(Breathing air) sustains our gnana, mind and words and so we must eat only that much required to sustain our pranavayu. A yogi or a transcendentalist may be surrounded by innumerable material objects possessing good and bad qualities. But like the wind he should never be entangled by them. When the wind carries different aromas, it never mixes with them. It is functioning only as a career and it is independent.
3.The Sky :(We hear because of the sky; if there is no sky, we will never hear any sound)
Though the sky extends everywhere and everything rests within it, it does not mix with anything. The soul and Supersoul have the same quality. The sky is never implicated or affected by the blowing action of the wind. In the same way the living entity or the Brahman in a Muni, is wide spread, indivisible, is never affected like the sky, though it may enter a body of material elements. Like the sky is not affected by clouds and wind, the atma or the soul, is not affected by the body, made of the ‘Panchabhoothas’ or the five elements like Prithuvi, Ap (water), Tejas, (fire) Vayu and the Sky.
4.The Water: (We feel taste or Rasam, because of water) It is a fact that one cannot live without Air and Water. 75% of the Earth is covered by water. Living being contains 70% of water. Since we cannot live without water, water is also known by the name ‘Jeevanm’.
The saintly person is like water , the most powerful detergent or cleaning liquid in the world, because he is free from all contamination, gentle by nature and when speaking creates a beautiful vibration like the flowing of water. By seeing, touching or hearing such a saintly person, the living entity is cleansed as if coming in contact with pure Ganga water
5.The Fire: (It is said that we feel the shape or form of things because of the presence of Fire.)
Even if a saintly person eats contaminated food by chance he is not affected, like the fire that burns up contaminated substances that are offered to it. Like fire, he is sometimes concealed and sometimes revealed. As the spiritual master, he burns up the past and future reactions of his disciples. The Supreme Soul is like fire in that He enters different bodies as fire manifests differently in various pieces of wood. Like the flickering fire, the waves of time flow constantly and imperceptibly bring with them birth, growth and death. But just as nobody can follow the changing pattern of a flame, no one can see the changes wrought by time upon them.
The Atma, with the help of maya created by itself, enters into different forms like devas and animals, and as if fire enters into different types of wood, it appears to simulate their ‘dharmas.’
6. The Moon:
Though the Moon waxes and wanes, it is not affected by this “change.” Similarly the living entity or atma, is not affected by the invincible changes of the body brought to it from the time of birth to the time of death.
7.The Sun:
A saintly person can accept a material thing with his senses and at the appropriate time he gives that thing to the proper person. So also the Sun evaporates water and returns it to earth as rain. Sun and saint are never entangled by this. A yogi accepting the sense objects renounces them at the right time. The sun is reflected in many objects but is never divided. Also the soul is reflected into various bodies but is always one and the same.
8.The Pigeon:
A certain pigeon once in the forest built its nest in a tree. He dwelt there for some years with a female companion and their children. As attached partners in their household they were with their hearts full of affection tied together. One day seeing his wife and children captured, by a hunter and thinking that without them life was not worth living, out of excessive attachment, the ‘madappura’ chose to be captured by the hunter. This teaches us that one should never lose oneself in excessive affection or deep and close association with anyone, because one thus indulging will have to suffer great distress. Man is not aware of the rarest human birth, by which one can liberate easily.
9.The Python:
He does not make arrangements for food, and he will not go in search of food either, but waits for food to come to him. It eats the food, without even looking for the quantity, quality or taste. A sadhaka should eat what he gets, sumptuously like this. He must be ready to starve for many days if such a situation comes, considering it as his ‘prarabdha karma phala’. People say that once the python takes its food, it can remain without food for six months. This exemplifies peacefulness and patience
10. The Sea:
Just like a tranquil sea, the saintly person, being full of knowledge, is never disturbed. He should be happy and pleasing in his external behavior. Internally he should be most grave and thoughtful, because his knowledge is immeasurable and unlimited. In all respects he is like the tranquil waters of the unfathomable and unsurpassable ocean. The sea has no change when rivers or streams come and join it. Similarly a saintly person should be calm and quiet, in pleasures and pain. Always ‘Shantham’.
11 . The Moth:
A silly man is captivated by a woman’s charm, gold, jewels etc., just like a moth is captivated by a flame and burns in it. It ends its life in the flame. A saintly person should realize that a woman is a ‘Deva maya’.
12. The Honeybee:
A renounced person who begs a little food from different houses is like a ‘madhukari’, or honeybee, or ‘Bhramaram’ (vandu). Also a honeybee takes nectar from different flowers, little by little. It is not greedy. So also an intelligent human being takes the essence of different scriptures. But a saintly person should not become greedy and collect too much of anything edible or food for future. In the same way, a saintly person should collect wisdom also little by little from various Scriptures. But, at the same time we should not hoard money in excess like the honeybee collects honey in excess, which is totally taken by other people later.
13. The Elephant:
A saintly person should remember how the great bull elephant is captured by the she-elephant; therefore he should never desire to touch the body of a young girl(with any bad intentin) even if it is made of wood. We should remember the story in Mahabharata, of Rishysringan, Son of Hirani, once happened to be in the track of women.
14. The Honey-thief:
When honey is stored in excess by the bees in honey combs, honey thieves take away them, killing all the bees inside. In the same way, when misers hoard money, robbers steal them, sometimes even killing them. A saintly person should never hoard money and go into danger. But, at the same time we must be austere and prudent also.
15. The Deer:
They are bewildered by the sound of a hunter’s horn, and thus are caught and killed. A renounced person should never become attracted by mundane sounds like sensuous music, especially the sweet singing and dancing of beautiful women. The deer is so beautiful. Really speaking seeing one such a beautiful deer itself is a most pleasant experience. One, who loves God, should love His creations also, not to speak of such an exquisitely beautiful deer.
So many things we can observe and study from the poor helpless animals, instead of killing and eating them. It is really a horrible herbicide (Killing of Guru).
16. The Fish:
They are caught on the hook by their uncontrollable tongues. A learned man should control all his senses by first controlling the tongue, which is the most powerful sense of all. If you win your tongue, you can succeed almost everywhere.
17. Pingala:
Once there was a prostitute lady in the Kingdom of Videha. She gave up her plans for earning money the bad way, out of frustration. Feeling satisfaction from her abandonment of material desires, she could remember Krishna and became peaceful forever.
18. The Kurara Bird:
One day a small hawk was holding some meat. A group of large hawks, who were unable to find any prey, attacked the small hawk. At that time, being in danger and out of fear for his life, the little hawk gave up his meat and experienced actual happiness. In the same way, a ‘Bhikshu’ should not also hesitate to give away, if one desires what he possesses, if the situation so warrants.
19. The Child:
A small child is happy due to ignorance, and a saintly person is happy due to having surrendered all to Krishna, without any attachment to anything.
20. The Young Girl:
Receiving a prospective bridegroom and his party, on a day when her parents were away from home, she went into the kitchen to prepare food for them. While beating rice, her bracelets jangled, and she was afraid that the young man would think her family was poor because she was doing all the work in the home. She broke all the bracelets except two on each arm, but these also jangled. She then removed one from each arm, leaving only one on each arm. Thereafter she worked in silence. All went well. So too, when many people live together, there will be clashing of interests and fighting. It is better to live alone. The Avadhoota studied this fact from that Kanya.
21. The Arrow-maker:
The devotee should be so absorbed in the Lord that he does not see duality, just as the arrow maker was so absorbed in his work of making a straight arrow that he did not notice the king passing by.
22. The Snake:
He makes no home for himself, but takes over the homes of others, having eaten them. A sage should similarly make no endeavors for his own shelter. He should be like a wanderer. You know, whatever you study, how much you learn from Scriptures or anywhere, it will never be as equivalent to getting knowledge by travelling and seeing the lives of people , all over the world. It will be the greatest experience in the world, because you are seeing and learning life in flesh and blood.
23. The Spider: (Oonanabhi)
God is like the spider because He creates the whole network of the cosmos from his own potency, and then withdraws the whole into Himself. This reminds me a small story. Robert Bruce was a King. He was defeated by his enemies many times. At last he ran away and hid in a cave. While in the cave, he watched a small spider repeatedly jumping to tie one end of the web at a point to make its nest. Really it was tired, but collecting all the remaining strength and power, it jumped again, this time tying the end of the web, at a point. It then made the net work complete. This opened the eyes of Robert Bruce and gathering all his forces he attacked his enemies and win the war in the end. The spider was his Guru..
24. The Wasp:
The wasp trapped a caterpillar in his hive. Inside the hive, out of fear and ‘vairagya’, the worm, in course of time took on the mentality of a wasp, and thus became a wasp in the end. This illustrates how one attains, what one’s mind is fixed upon.
The Avadhoota said to the Yadu King that from studying the life activities of the various animates and inanimates as narrated above, I have learned everything about the Self. The nature is an open book, who keenly observes it with providence. Let us not ignore anything in the nature as unimportant. The grass we tread mercilessly may perhaps contain the plants, ‘Mrtasanjeevani’, that can sometimes give back our life. Our culture is to see some ‘amsa’ of divinity in anything and everything.

Jai Hind,
29th April, 2011. God Bless America.

‘Subham’

FRACTAL ARTS, A Revolution in Designs

2011-02-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

The Story of an intimate friendship.

2011-02-03T09:10:00.000-08:00

OHM NAMO BHAGVATHE VASUDEVAYA:
THE STORY OF AN INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP:
M P R Nair.
There is a saying that there is nothing in the world that is not n Srimad Bhagavatham. It may be a little exaggeration, but we know it is almost true. It is only true to say that what Sage Vyasa did not write about, does not exist. Amidst that multitude of subjects in Srimad Bhagavatha, there is a very beautiful story of a most intimate friendship between two identical persons of almost same age. They were like maternal twins, of the same age and almost difficult to distinguish one from the other. They were Krishna and Udhava. Uddhava was the closest friend and right-hand of Krishna since childhood. He was Krishna's cousin, being the son of Devabhaga, who was the brother of Vasudeva, Krishna’s father. Udhava was born at around the same time as Krishna and sent from Mathura to Vrindavan as an infant to be a playmate to Krishna. From then, Uddhava became the most intimate friend and follower of Krishna. Their intimacy began to deepen from the day on which Krishna and Udhava arrived in Mathura, after Krishna’s 14 years of stay in Vrindavan and Gokulam. They went together to Sandeepan’s Ashram at Avantheepuram, for Gurukula studies. Their friendship went on with more and more intimacy, day by day, for more than a century till Krishna had his Divine Ascent (Swargarohana)at the age of almost 125, still both appearing as young as 16. Both of them were in Dwaraka, at that time. Udhava was also a disciple of DevaGuru, Brhaspati, son of Maharshi Angiras, for some time. Some texts show that Udhava has another name as ‘Pavanayadhi’; might be derived from the disciple-hood of Brhaspati, I don’t know how that name came. Very often Udhava was mistaken for Krishna, because of his true similarity.
The whole spiritual world is deeply indebted to Krishna for his two invaluable Gitas. One, the Bhagavat Gita, the crown jewel in Sree Mahabharatha and the other, the Udhava Gita, the crown jewel of Srimad Bhagavatha. Bhagavad Gita is a part of Mahabharata. It is the advice given by Krishna to Arjun on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. It contains the essence of the Vedas and is the most popular of all the Hindu Scriptures. It contains 18 chapters. It is one of the most widely read and revered of the works sacred to the Hindus. It is their chief devotional book, and has been for centuries the principal source of religious inspiration for many thousands of Hindus. It is a dramatic poem, which forms a small part of the larger epic, the Mahabharata. It is included in the sixth book. please see more(Bhismaparvam) of the Mahabaharata and documents one tiny event in a huge epic tale.The Bhagavad Gita tells a story of a moral crisis faced by Arjuna, which is solved through the interaction between Arjuna, a Pandava warrior hesitating before battle, and Krishna, his charioteer and teacher. The Bhagavad Gita relates a brief incident in the main story of a rivalry and eventually a war between two branches of a royal family. In that brief incident - a pause on the battlefield just as the battle is about to begin - Krishna, one chief on one side (also believed to be the Lord incarnate), is presented as responding to the doubts of Arjuna. The poem is the dialogue through which Arjuna’s doubts were resolved by Krishna’s teachings.
Krishna gives nearly a two and half hours’ advice or instructions to Arjuna, standing in the midst of the Armies of Pandavas and Kouravas, coming nearly to 93 lakhs of people, at the Kurukshethra Yudha Bhoomi. In the latter, it was sermonized to Udhava at his private and personal meeting at the Prabhasa Kshethra, where Krishna was alone, preparing for his Divine Ascent (Swargarohana), after the war. Bhagavat Gita contains about 700 verses while Udhava Gita has nearly 1030 verses (to be exact, from verse 40 of Chapter 6, Canto 11 to Chapter 29).The Bhagavad-Gita is the essence of Hinduism. It teaches the non-sectarian universal spiritual philosophy on the metaphysical science of the highest Reality. It gives us the knowledge of the higher Self, and answers to two universal questions: Who am I, and how I can live a happy and peaceful life in this world of dualities. It is a book of wisdom, yoga or spiritual growth that inspired Thoreau, Emerson, Einstein, Gandhi and many others. Whereas Udhava gita is called the farewell message of Lord Krishna, a parting discourse, and is meant for those students who have first thoroughly studied both The Bhagavad-Gita and the Bhagavatham. Bhagavat Gita is kept as a hand-book of Manual for ready reference, by hundreds of thousands of people in India and in some part of the world abroad,irrespective of age, gender, caste, creed or color. Udhava Gita is a saga depicting the unique love and friendship that existed between Uddhava and Krishna. Both put together, paves way to ultimate Brahma Jnana. Our subject today is not either of the Gita; it is only regarding friendship.
For Uddhava, Krishna was his very life-breath and for Krishna, Uddhava was his dearest friend- ‘Atma Mitra’ or ‘Param Sakha’.In Krishna's own words to Uddhava:
"na thathame priyathama, aathmayonir na sakara:
na cha sankarshano na sreer naivathma cha yatha bhavan."(Bhagavatam-11-14-15) Meaning, my dear Udhava, neither Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva, Lord Sankarshana, the Goddess of Fortune, nor indeed my own self, are as dear to me as you are.
The following episode happens when Uddhava, sent on a mission by Krishna to Srigaalava Vaasudeva of Karavirapura. He was an impostor king claiming to be the only Lord Vaasudeva (Vishnu) on earth and forcing everybody to worship him. Udhava falls in love with the impostor's niece Shaibya, a gorgeous young woman thoroughly devoted to her uncle. But Krishna goes and beheads him in front of her eyes and she is enraged at both Krishna and Uddhava. Before all this, Acharya Shvetaketu, the foremost disciple of Saandiipani (guru of Krishna and Uddhava) sees Shaibya near his guru's Ashram and gets thoroughly infatuated with Shaibya, so much that he even leaves his Ashram to go after her to eventually become impostor Vasudeva's sidekick, just for her sake. But she keeps waiting for her uncle's permission to marry him, which never comes. After killing the impostor uncle, Krishna brings Shvetaketu to his senses by persuasion. That is the time when Uddhava also gets infatuated with Shaibya. Krishna was around 21 years old at that time. Invariably, same is the age Udhava too.
That night Krishna felt very concerned about Uddhava. During all the time that they had lived together from the days of their infancy, he had never seen Uddhava so constrained, and so absent-minded, behaving so strangely. Though a man of a few words, he had been open-hearted, quiet, self-effacing, always radiating warmth. With Damaghosha and Balarama, Krishna had travelled in the first chariot; Shaibya and her maids were in the next. The Acharyas followed in other chariots or on foot, while Uddhava, being in charge of the caravan, rode around all the time on the horse-back. At night, however, he came as usual to wherever Krishna happened to be waiting for him and, walking arm in arm or lying side by side as was their wont, they would exchange their impressions of the day. But a little after they began their journey, Krishna had sensed the change, though not clearly at first. As the days went by, a new mood seemed to possess Uddhava, and, during the last two nights, he had purposely kept away from Krishna, invariably avoiding his gaze even during the day-time. Because Krishna had insisted, Uddhava had promised to come that night and had done so. After a short conversation, both retired to sleep. Balarama was already fast asleep, breathing with heavy evenness. But Krishna, who usually went to sleep as soon as he closed his eyes, kept awake, for he found that his friend was tossing uneasily from side to side in his sleep. After some time, he sat up, drew closer to Uddhava and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder with a gesture of infinite tenderness. Uddhava woke up with a start; Krishna enveloped him in his arms. Udhava hugged him only coldly. 'Uddhava, I want to talk to you. Come,' he said.Uddhava got up and followed his friend to a cool place nearby. Udhava was found nervous.'My brother, you have become different these days,' Krishna said softly.Uddhava startled a little and Krishna noticed it. 'Do I look different? You are mistaken' he said with a forced smile. 'Uddhava, what has come between us? Have I done anything to offend you?' asked Krishna.'You would never offend me, and whatever you do, I will never take offence. Have you any doubt, Krishna?,' he asked anxiously.'No, Uddhava. That is why I want to know what troubles you.' Krishna felt a tremor passing through Uddhava's frame.'I will try to understand it for you,' said Krishna. 'Since we left Karavirapura something has happened to you - something which had not happened to you before.''Nothing has happened to me. I was with you all the time,' replied Uddhava again with a forced smile. Krishna smiled and said,'That is what I want to know. What happens to you and why, when I am with you? I see you feel a want, a sense of loss, a self-defeat - which you never did before. Tell me, Uddhava. Don't try to conceal it.' Krishna pressed Uddhava to his heart. Uddhava hesitatigly told.'If you want to know, I will tell you. I am tired of life. I want to give up this life and return to Badari Ashram,' he said and paused as he found he was unable to express himself clearly.'Why turn an ascetic? We are here to affirm life, to rise above it, not to deny it,' said Krishna.'You can do so, for you are a god. You are born to dominate life,' said Uddhava helplessly. 'I am not.' 'Life was meant to be lived. Even the venerable Parashurama said so. And both of us have lived it well so far,' said Krishna.'I have no desire to live well, Krishna. Don't make me more unhappy by having to confess it. I have made up my mind,' said Uddhava, his eyes full of a silent pathetic appeal to Krishna not to probe into his heart any further.'Brother, you can't be unhappy just because I want you to share your unhappiness with me,' Krishna suddenly stood up and gathered Uddhava to his breast as a thought struck him. 'Have you become infatuated with Shaibya?' he asked.Uddhava hid his face on Krishna's breast. 'Krishna, don't ask me.''I have gone mad. I have sinned. I have been untrue to you'. Krishna, finding his pathetic situation, comfoted Udhava with kind and loving words and advised him phylosophically. Their intimacy incresed double fold.
The next day Krishna asked him a for a favor. He asked Uddhava to visit Vrindavan, where Krishna’s soul mate Radha resided, and to give her a message. Uddhava gladly agreed. After all, getting to do a special assignment for no one else but Krishna, the divine one, was an honor. When he was ready to leave, Krishna smiled and waved him goodbye. Uddhava asked about the message and Krishna said he had none. Uddhava was surprised. He sat in chariot and started on his way, but he could not help wonder what would be Radha’s reaction. He was sure Radha would be very angry at this. He did not want to see a problem in Radha and Krishna’s relationship. So just before he entered Vrindavan, he got a parch-paper and wrote a hi-hello message to Radha and forged to look like it came from Krishna.
On reaching Vrindavan, he did not have problem finding Radha’s house. She gave him a warm welcome. After he settled, he handed over the message, hoping she would not examine the message in too much detail. For a moment Radha stared at the parch-paper and then she started laughing hysterically. Uddhava was confused. He asked Radha what was the matter. She said the message Krishna wrote was funny. Uddhava pretended surprise and asked what was the message. “The message says Uddhava’s study is still not complete.” replied Radha.On listening this, Uddava was stunned.‘How could she have known this?’ he wondered. Radha calmed him down.“I love Krishna and trust Krishna in ways beyond you can imagine.” She said “We are two bodies but same soul. There is nothing to be said in between us. We have walked the path of trust, love, devotion and sacrifices for so long that there are no boundaries in my being and his. He does not need to send me messages. He is my message. He is my love letter from the universe.”“But Uddhava, you have not learned to trust Krishna. You have not learned to give up your self, your ego, and stop your manipulating mind. You ego stands between you and the truth. Between you and the supreme awakening.”
“Erasing the sense of duality and being one with the universe, being one with the one who beholds universe, is this not the jist of the sacred ancient texts, Uddhava?”
Uddhava was speechless. Within a minute, Radha had explained the the deepest mysteries of life. He just wanted to stand there and listen.He spent the whole day at her house. She talked about life in layman’s terms of love and truth. But Uddhava found answers to his most profound questions in philosophies he learned all this life.Radha’s answers turned all of Uddhavas learning upside down and inside out and presented to him as a paradox, a paradox his doubting mind could never grasp. Uddhava’s ego surrendered. The constant chatter of thoughts at the back of his mind stopped and he saw a totally new world at the same place. An eternal, peaceful world where everything seemed OK.On reaching Dwaraka,Krishna smiled and said “So let’s talk about your title Maha-rishi.”“I am not that interested in the title anymore. ” replied Uddhava and bent to touch Krishna’s feet. Krishna rose from his throne. He hold on to Uddhava’s shoulders and smiled at him. ”Your journey is complete. You have arrived. Uddhava, I bestow you the responsibility of writing down my teaching in simple language for all those who do not have luxury of spending their life trying to be Maha-rishi. You will share the gems of knowledge that do not belong to any title such as Maha-rishi. “And for this great contribution to humanity, hereafter you shall be known as Maha-rishi.”
There in the end, as advised by Krishna, Udhava went to Badari Ashrama and spent the rest of his life in spreading and glorifying the name of his Atma-Thozhan.
His most important request to Krishna was:
“soham mamahamiti mooddamathir vigadda-
sthwanmayaya virachithathmani sanubandhe,
thathwanjasa nigaditham bhavathayathaham
sumsadhayami bhagavannanushadhi bhrthyam"(Bhgavatam-11-7-16)
Meaning, O my Lord, since my consciousness is merged in the material body and bodily relations, by Your illusory energy(Yoga Maya),I am thinking, "I am this body, and all of these relatives are mine." Therefore, my Lord, please teach me,Your poor servant, how I can very easily carry out Your instructions to become detached from worldly affairs (sarvasanga parithyagi), and to attain Jeevan-mukthi.
Lord Krishna is the Supreme Being, mercy incarnate. The awesome personality of Sri Krishna even after playing down his Superhuman magics, is really wonderful and extremely strange to understand and analyze by anyone.
Jai Hind.
Pearland,
Dt: Thursday, 3rd February 2011.
God bless America.

Srimad Bhagavatham and Bhagavataha Dharma, a little Introduction.

2010-11-16T08:52:00.000-08:00

OHMNAMO BHAGAVATHE VASUDEVAYA:

Srimad Bhagavataham, some light on it :

At the outset, before going into Bhagavatha Dharma, by this part of the Srimad Bhagavatham discourse , I intend to say a few words with a view to little acquaint ourselves with this great Purana, Srimad Bhagavatham, written by Krishna Dvaipayana Veda Vyasa, which is essentially the natural commentary of Vedanta Sutras, transcended from Lord Maha Vishnu. It includes the life and teachings of Lord Krishna, amidst His innumerable avataras and Leelas, wherein the Lord takes a particular form for a given purpose, at a given time and place. Indeed Srimad Bhagavatham is the path way to Reality, which can be defined as that which does not undergo any change whatsoever in all the three periods of time namely , the past, the present and the future. It takes us to Absolute Truth or Brahman. The most wanted prerequisite to spiritual advancement is Faith; we must be faithful to our word, deed and God.

Bhagavat Gita extols:

‘Dhanyathmani pasyanthi, kechidalmana,malmanad’,

Meaning :

We must meditate up on God, for only meditation refines our intellect and expands it to realize the Supreme Spirit, that dwells in every human being. It is meditation which can lift us from the mundane existence or Prakriti to attain one’s true self or Purush or the inner consciousness, which is nothing but the manifestation of Divine –Self. The Vedanta Sutras as enshrined in Srimad Bhagavatham, is based on 5 Principles. The first one is Iswara, Bhagavan or God or the Supreme personality of God-head. The second Principle is Jeeva, the individual living entity or Spirit-Soul. The third is Prakriti or matter. The 4^th is Kala; or Time, and the fifth and last Principle is Karma or Action.

The word ‘Purana’ literally means ‘narratives of ancient times’. Puranas are books of mythology. They reflect the social, political, religious, and artistic culture of India. The universal truth of devotion, justice and generosity portrayed by the role models in the ancient Indian context hold the same significance today. The narratives , therefore , create deep impressions in our minds. The puranic stories reveal that before every incarnation , there is a collective appeal to the Lord in the form of prayers from the good people aswell as Devas. They seek the Lord’s help to re-establish Dharma, after killing the wicked people. These prayers become the punya, because of which the lord assumes a particular form for a particular purpose. Ithihasas are epics or history. Really speaking both Puranas, like the 18 main ones including Srimad Bhagavatha, which is really mythohistorical, and ithihasas, like Ramayana and Mahabharatha, are the practical parts of Vedas. Vedas are truly theoretical. They both combine to make our Scriptures rich and great.

Puranas are expected to have ‘Pancha Lakshanas’ or 5 lakshanas or definite Parmeters, such as :

“Sargascha ,prathisargascha, vamso, manvantharanicha,

Vamsanucharitham, chaiva lakshananamthu panchakam”.

But Srimad Bhagavatham is ‘Dasa lakshana’. It has 5 more lakshanas.

Thus the total 10 lakshanas are :

1. Sargas consisting of creations, ie the uthppathi of Jagath, the origin of Jgath.

Prathisargas, (Cosmogony)containing extension of subsequent creations and the Pralayas.
Vamsas describing the details of lineage or family tree, so to say
Sthanam or description of the sustenance or existence of the Jagath.
Poshanam, describibg the Grace and Compassion of God in respect of prospects of Jagath or Abhivrudhi of Jagath. (Jagadabhivrudhi)
Uthayas or Uthis, depicting the latent impressions leading to Karma, Karma Vasana, and its strength and sagacity.
Manvanthara(Cosmology) or the origin of Manu and its description consisting of history of dynasties called Vamsanucharitham(Chronology)
Ishanukatha are stories extolling the glories various Raja Vamsas and different Avataras of God
Nirodh describing the various paths for getting Atma Jnana, by destroying the Ahamkaras that stand on its way, and finally,
Mukthi or Liberation, the returning to God to become one with the Asraya or the Lord Himself. …‘Bhakthya Bhagavatham Jneyam

Bhagavatham is the ‘Crown Jewel’ of Bhakthi Mahatmya. It is also said to be the ‘Vedasarasarvaswam’. It is written in the form of poetry. Also, as we explore we can see great heroes and heroines of the Indian culture and tradition , like, to mention a few, Dhruva, Prahlada, Harischandra, Viswamitra, Bhagiratha, Krishna, Kunti, Bhishma etc. They are still the role models for the Indian people. The subjects treated are those of Devatas, dharma, cosmology, art etc.

Srimad Bhagavatham, as already said, is originated from Lord Sree Maha Vishnu. He gave it to Lord Brahma in the form of 4 Slokas or ‘Chathusloki’. We can still see these 4 Slokas from 33 to 36 in Chapter 9 of the 2^nd Canto (Skanda) in our Bhagavatham. This Chathusloki is said to contain the quintessence of Vedas. Lord Brahma passed it on to Brahmarshi Narada. He handed over it to Brahmarshi Veda Vyasa, who made 18,000 slokas out of the original 4 slokas of Lord Sree Maha Vishnu. He divided these 18,000 Slokas into 12 cantos (Skandas), consisting altogether 335 Chapters. Brhmarshi Veda vyasa taught it to his son Shuka deva, who handed it over to King Pareekshit. Some more transfer stories are there regarding the origin of Srimad Bhagavatham, as said by Shuka deva in some other contexts, like, Sanmkarshana Moorthy, passed it on to Sanatkumaras, they in turn gave it to Maharshi Samkhyana, and Brihaspathy, who gave it to Sage Parasara , then Prasara transferred it to his disciple Mythreya, who gave it to his disciple Vidura etc. When the whole Bhagavatha is narrated to the listeners in the course of 7 days , it is called ‘Bhagavatha Sapthaha. Shuka deva conducted the first Bhagavatha Sapthaha, 30 years after Sri Krishna’s Swargarohana. After 200 years, Gokarna , a true Brhmin Devotee, conducted the 2^nd Sapthaha. 30 years after that, the 3^rd Sapthaha was conducted by

the Sanaka brothers. Hundreds of thousands of Sapthahas are conducted ever since and they are being still conducted in through out the world. ‘Sapthaha Vidhi’ lays down how it should be conducted and it narrates its Mahatmyam (merits) aswell.

It is also said that Adisesha spread Bhagavata in Patala (Present UP?); Brihaspathy in Swarga (Heaven); Sage Parasara on the Earth; and the 4 Sanatkumaras (Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana, and Sanatkumara ), beyond the worlds of Swarga.

In Vysa Maha Bhagavatham there are 18, 000 Slokas in 335 Chapters, contained in 12 Cantos or Skandas. The first 6 Chapters are earmarked to extol Bhagavata Mahatmyam, or the merits of Srimad Bhagavatham and the Sapthaha Vidhi etc. In the 12 Cantos (Skandas), various stories including the glories of Sri Hari are vividly described. Canto wise breakup with some important topics, can be summarized as follows:

The first Canto , known as Adhikari Skanda , consists, mainly among other things, of the details of Puranas, who made them and who are eligible to listen to them, Kunthi Sthuthi , Bhishma Sthuthi etc. This Canto has 19 Chapters.

The second Canto, known as Sadhana Skanda, describes Lord’s Leelas, the towards Bhakthi, the Cosmic manifestation etc. It has 10 chapters.

The third Canto describes the various principles and the immense diversity in the creations. It consists of 33 chapters.

The 4^th Canto, known as ‘Purusharthas’ deals with Dharma, Artha, Kama and

Moksha, supported by the stories of Dksha Yajna, Dhruva Charitha, Pruthu

Charitha, Upasana of Nirguna Brahma and the story of ‘Pracheena Barhi’ etc.

It has 31chapters.

The 5^th Canto, is the Rishabha Avathara, consisting of the story of Jadabharatha,

a very Sreshta Devotee of the Lord, the creative impetus etc. There are immense references of Astronomy and Geography in this Canto. This has 26 chapters.

The 6^th Canto, which is the Central One of the 12 Cantos, and so treated as

most important one, deals with the prescribed duties of mankind, mercy of the Lord, also proving that HE is mercy incarnated through the story of Ajamilan; Narayana Kavacham, Vruthrasura Charitha etc. It has 19 chapters.

The 7^th Canto contains the story of Bhaktha Prahlada, the Science of God etc. It has 15 chapters.

The 8^th Canto conveys to us the stories of Gajendra moksham, Amrutha Mathanam, Vamanavatharam, Malsyavatharam, withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations etc, with 24 chapters.

The 9^th Canto, consisting of 24 chapters, deals with the story of Ambareesha, Harischandra, Rama Charitha, Yaduvamsanuvarnana , Liberation etc.

The 10^th Canto is voluminous and the longest Canto with two parts of 49 and 41 chapters each, carrying the stories of Krishnavathara, Kaliya marddana, Gopika geetham ,Kesi vadham, Rugminee vivaham, Bana yudham, Sruti geetha etc.

The 11^th Canto has 31 chapters covering general history, the description of the multitude of more than 28 Avatharas of the Lord, the multi faceted forms of various types of worship to God, Devasthuthi, the relation between Atma and Samsara, the lakshnas of Bandtha and Muktha, the greatness of Satsang, Bhikshu geetha, Kriya Toga etc. A person singing singing this Canto is supposed to attain the transcendental devotional service of the perfect sages [the paramahamsas] for the destination.

The 12^th and the last Canto, carrying 13 chapters deals with the age of deterioration, Kali Dharma Niroopana, Bhoomi geetha, description of the 4 types of Pralaya, Brahmopadesa, the famous Boon given to Makkandeya by Lord Siva, the greatness of Bhagavatha etc.

The above 12 Cantos are supposed to be the various parts of the Body of the Lord Himself.

“Srimad Bhagavatha-khyoyam Prathyksha Krishna Evahi”

Srimad Bhagavatham is the Bhagavan itself.

It is for protecting His beloved devotees from the clutches of Kali. It establishes the fact that there is only one scientific truth and that is Brahman, the only one Reality. Maya conceals Brahman and projects the universe. Just as everything seen in a dream ceases to exist as soon as the dreamer wakes up, the universe ceases to be real when Brahman is realized.

After the Dhyana Slokas in Srimad Bhagavatha, Brahmarshi Veda Vysa takes us to Naimisharanya, supposed to be the Brhmanda Kendra, the centre of this Universe, where Shaunaka and a number of great Sages were conducting a sacrifice on the banks of Holy Ganges, to be completed in the course of a thousand years , with a view to realizing the Lord, for the total welfare of the humanity, as a whole. The great Sage Shukadeva, who got Srimad Bhgavatha from his father, Brahmarshi Veda vyasa, happened to lead the team of sages doing the Yanjna. Shukadeva was a Pramahamsa, a self-realized soul, with tremendous spiritual power and devotion to Lord. On the humble request of King Pareekshith, to enlighten him about the highest Truth about God, Shukadeva narrates the story of Srimad Bhagavatham as Sapthaha. Shukadeva assures the King that he will soon be freed from all worldly anxieties and troubles. It so happened in the end, aswell. Tens of hundreds of stories like this are there in Srimad Bhagavatham, and each story conveys important messages aswell.

Bhagavatha Dharma is contained in these stories. All the devotees of the Lord are Bhagavathas. Bhagavatha Dharma is Bhagavan or Deva; Bhaktha or devotee and Bhakthi or devotion. It shows the interrelation among these three. It explains the Devotional duties through which mortal beings could be rid of all fears. The observance of this Bhagavatha Dharma is the very essence of Srimad Bhagavatham and it will take one to the ultimate goal of God Realization. The 1060 axioms on ‘Bhagavatha Dharmam’ is written originally in Malayalam, by Sadguru Srimad Abhedanandaji Maharaj, of the well renowned Ahbedasramam, at Trivandrum, Kerala State in India. Sampoojya Swamiji underwent Samadhi and the present English translation is done by one of his chief disciples and a great friend of mine, Shri P. N.Balakrishnan Nair , retired Accountant General , an orator and writer of many spiritual books, including ‘Satsanga Peeyoosham’, a collection of Upanysas in Vedanta. The Bhagavatha Dharma contains 1060 Suthras (Axioms)which bring out the essence of Srimad Bhagavatham. They are not a verbatim interpretation of Srimad Bhagavatham, but they are precious gems from the ocean of Srimad Bhagavatham. As far as we are concerned, the thing is that the meaning of these axioms can be fully understood only when contextually applied as and when we study the hundreds of stories in Srimad Bhagavatham, one by one, and apply them then and there. We have only started the Dhyana Slokas, Kunthi Sthuthi, Bhishma Sthuthi etc. from the introductory chapters. There are six chapters in the introduction itself. The axioms can be meaningfully understood, only when studied simultaneously with the advance of our lessons. With out learning the stories, relevant contexts, environments , time periods and events, it seems not befitting to explain those axioms now. So, we may do it, according as our study of Srimad Bhagavatham, progresses, in due course.

Jai Hind

mprnair,

15th November 2010

Srimad Narayaneeyam, A Little Introduction

2010-07-28T16:32:00.000-07:00

Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya:

NARAYANEEYAM, A LITTLE INTRODUCTION

(M.P.R.Nair)

The story goes that one day lord Vishnu gave Brahma Dev an image of Narayana. The image was made of a very rare material called Pathala Anjana Sila. Lord Brahma gave it to Sage Sutapas. The Sage handed it over to Kasyapa Prajapati. He gave it to Srimad Vasudev, the father of Sree Krishna. Sree Krishna got it from His father and it was installed and worshipped at Dwaraka. Just before Swargarohana, at the end of Dwapara Yuga, Lord Krishna told His minister and devotee, Srimad Udhava, that this image would come floating in the sea that would engulf Dwaraka. Srimad Udhava was instructed to request Brihaspati, the Deva Guru, to install the image at a suitable place so that it would help the spiritual uplift and salvation of people suffering from the adverse effects of the coming Kaliyuga. Accordingly, Deava Guru Brihaspati collected this Divine Image and along with Vayu, the Wind-God, went all around the world to select a suitable spot. Finally, at the direction of Lord Siva, installed it at a place twenty five kilometers to the North-West of Trissur, in Kerala State in India. Since Guru and Vayu installed the image together, the place came to be known as Guruvayoor.

According to the story told in the ‘Guruvayupura Mahatmyam’, this Temple of Guruvayoor had thus its origin in the beginning of Kaliyuga, that is about 5, 100 years ago. King Janamejaya, the son of King Pareekshit, the grandson of Pandavas, was afflicted by leprosy, as a result of the curse of serpents. It is said that that he got his disease cured after long years of worship of the Lord of Guruvayoor as advised by Sage Atreya. Later, a Pandya King built a good temple for the Lord of Guruvayoor, as he escaped from a snake-bite as foretold by Astrologers during his pilgrimage to Guruvayoor. Historically, the temple dates back only from the 17^th century, by which time the temple came into great prominence. The glory of the temple of Guruvayoor came into more lime light mainly due to five great saintly devotees. These five devotees, who lived in the 16^th or 17^th century, were Vilwamangalam Swamiyar, Kurooramma, Poonthanam Namboodiri, Mana Vikrama Raja and Melppathoor Narayana Bhattathiri. Panamaram, Manjula etc., were also there to add their own share to the saturated devotion at Guruvayoor. Of all these, Melppathoor Narayana Bhattathiri , born in Melppathoor Illam situated on the east of Chandanakkavu Temple near Ponnani in Malappuram District, 450 years ago, in the year 1560 C E (Malayalam Year-735), by his great and scholarly poetical hymn, the NARAYANEEYAM, and his miraculous recovery from a crippling paralysis , has immortalized the temple of Guruvayoor. He was the second son of Mathrudathan Bhattathiri, a great scholar and priest. The father taught him Mimamsa and various other Sasthras. His elder brother Damodaran taught him Logic or Tarka Sasthra. He also learned Vedas, Astronomy, Maths etc., from one Madhavacharya. He married around the age of 20, the niece of Trikandiyoor Achutha Pisharodi, a celebrated Grammarian. The young Narayana, after marriage lead a profligate life of sensual enjoyment for some time.

One day, the great Achutha Pisharodi scolded him in the presence of his students for his irreligious life. It touched his heart very much and as a result he, then and there, accepted Pisharadi as his Guru. He learned Sanskrit Grammar from him. This was a turning point in Bhattathiri’s life. He was in his prime youth but his outlook in life was completely changed. He became a serious student and never cared for his physical comforts, though he was very young. During this time Achutha Pisharodi fell a victim to a serious attack of paralysis and suffered unbearable pain. Bhattathiri, the devoted disciple, could not bear the sufferings of his Guru. He therefore fervently prayed that the disease of his Guru, may be transferred to him and his Guru freed of the sufferings. The Lord was pleased and Bhattathiri accepted the ‘karam vipaka dana’ by which the sins of his Guru were transferred to him. It happened as he prayed and soon, while Pisharodi recovered, the disease made Bhattathiri a crippled person. The pain was excruciating. Sitting ‘Bhajanam’ in the temple of Guruvayoor was considered as a sure cure for paralysis and so Bhattathiri went to Guruvayoor for ‘bhajan’ along with his younger brother. During the 100 days of Bhajanam at the temple of Guruvayoor, he summarized the entire Bhagavatha Purana as ‘Narayaneeyam’. Every day he composed 10 verses and since he was severely debilitated, each composed verse, when recited was written down by his brother. Almost every verse, except the first two dasakas, until his Darshan of Bhagavan, ends with a prayer to the Lord of Guruvayoor to cure him of his illness. He requested his Lord to remove his disability so that he might walk to the temple with his legs and do pooja to the Lord, with his hands. It was with complete dedication, total surrender at the Lotus Feet of the Lord and with full Divine Providence, he began his poem. In the very beginning, the author introduces the subject to readers by establishing the identity of Lord Guruvayoorappan with Brahman, and invokes that Supreme Power. The first verse itself extols, how it is couched in a ‘samajjasa sammelan’ of beauty and devotion, equally mixed together to make it truly nectarine and sublime:

“ Sandranandavabodhathmaka manupamitham kaldesavadhibhyam……..jananam”, meaning:

There shines in grandeur, in the temple of Guruvayoor, the Lord, in truth and in reality, in the form of joy of ecstasy and jnana. It appears at first as a mere image, but on contemplation reveals itself to be the condensed essence of Consciousness- the Supreme Brahman, the ‘Sakshal Parabrahma”. HE is the ultimate end of all human endeavors. HE is non-comparable, ever beyond the limitations of time, space and measure. HE is extremely free from Maya, and whose nature, the numerous texts of Vedas seek to reveal. HE is the source of liberation through Purusharthas, to seekers. Wonderful indeed, is the fortune of mankind (to visit HIM at Guruvayoor)- ‘Hantha Bhagyam Janananm’. The last 3 words of the first verse, ‘Hantha- Bhagyam- Jananam’, are immortalized since they are inscribed at the entrance of the Shrine and we can see them there even now. All the remaining verses, one by one, are equally or even more beautiful. It may be noted with the deepest indebtedness in this context that while 330 billions of gods (muppathimukkodi devathakal) are waiting in queue in Vaikuntam, the original colorful abode of the Lord, to have a glimpse of a His Darshan for a moment, we can have it here at Guruvayoor, lavishly in abundance for hours together, if you want even almost always. Even the gods feel jealous of us. It is really, ‘Hantha Bhagyam Jananam’!!!! . We are lucky. Since it is the original Image that is kept in Guruvayoor, Guruvayoor is famed as ‘Bhooloka Vaikuntam’.

Narayaneeyam is his masterpiece. It is like a condensed form of famous Bhagavatha Purana. The subject matter of the extensive Bhagavatha is summarized and re-cast in Narayaneeyam, in his original, inimitable and elegant style. Srimad Bhagavatham carries 18, 000 verses, but they are condensed to 1036 verses in Narayaneeyam, divided into 100 dasakas in 12 Catos. Each dasakam carries approximately of 10 slokas. Both as a poem (kavya) and as a devotional hymn, Narayaneeyam occupies a very high and top place in Sanskrit literature. Unlike other hymns, it also exposes more great truths of Vedanta. It is a rare literary masterpiece in Sanskrit, using as many as 18 meters, and poetic devices for creating sound effects through Anuprasa, Yamaka, different allegories etc., and also using effective figures of speech, puns, witticisms and the like.

‘Kaliyamarddanam’, ‘Rasacreeda’ etc., are some of the examples of his marvelous pieces of poetic beauty. It is also a rare hymn of devotion, probably the longest hymn in Sanskrit. As a literary piece it is pre-eminent. As a unique hymn, saturated with Divine Bhakthi, it is unparalleled. In addition to being a devotional work, Srimannarayaneyam contains the gist of all Upanishads and is therefore a work of great significance from the Vedantic point of view also. He has transformed sublime philosophy into scintillating poetry. We cannot imagine the audacity of a young man in his twenties, attempting a summary of Devarshi Vyasa’s Srimad Bhagavatham in Sanskrit hymns, with such a literary beauty, devotional content, and Vedantic insight.

On the 100^th day Bhattathiri had a vision of the Lord in the form of Venugopala, with exquisite beauty and grandeur. The 100^th Dasaka composed on that day gives a graphic description of the Lord, as he saw in his vision, from Bhagavan’s head to foot. It really defies description. It is known as the famous ‘Kesadipada Varnana’ of the Lord. The 100^th Dasaka starts beautifully with the verse:

“Agre pashyami thejo nibidda thara kalayavalee……..mandalaischa.” , meaning:

I see before me with my mortal eyes, a bluish radiance excelling the beauty of kayampoo flowers. It is like a most attractive ‘teja punjam’-radiant light; I feel like bathed in nectar or amrt. In the midst of that radiating luster, I see the Divya Tejas of a child, a budding youth, with resplendent beauty and grace. I feel really astonished and wondered to see His ornamented and most beautiful ‘anga-prathyangas’. I also witness Naradadi Rishis, (1008) Upanishads in the form of Apsarasses, around His ‘Prabha Mandalam’. Until that time he was appealing to the Lord at the end of every verse to cure his disease. After the wonderful Darshan, he forgot that request throughout the slokas in the last and the 100^th Dasaka, not knowing himself that he was free from the incurable disease and was hale and healthy. He submitted his precious gift of Narayaneeyam, at the Lotus Feet of the Lord, in November 1586 (28^th Vrischikam 762, Sunday, Malayalam Year), as denoted by the kaliyuga samkhya word, ‘ayurarogyasoukhyam’, seen as the last word in the last sloka of Narayaneeyam, at the young age of 27. In commemoration of this great event, we celebrate ever since gratefully, 28^th Vrischikam of every year as ‘Narayaneeyam Day’. Somehow or other, the book reached readers’ accessibility only in the year AD 1851. It is believed that he lived a healthy life at the ripe old age of 106 and wrote many more Sanskrit works on Grammar and Devotional hymns and acclaimed by many Scholars as ‘Abhinava VedaVyasa’. Some historians affirm that he must have lived at least up to the age of 86. The immortal composition Narayaneeyam is so named for two reasons, as mentioned by the poet himself in the last verse of the last dasaka. First, it is due to glorifying Lord Narayana, and secondly it is composed by Narayana Bhattathiri.

Unlike in Vyasa Maha Bhagavatham, here the poet himself is the speaker, who sings before Lord Guruvayoorappan, in a sublime tune about His glories and prays to Him, in person. It is unique that in a temple within our reach, witnessed by hundreds of people like us, Bhagavan cured an incurable disease of His devout Bhaktha. This proves that He is Immanent and Omni Powerful. The temple is full of saturated Divine Power. It is no wonder that every day Bhakthas are getting new experiences from there. Hearing the ‘Parayana’ or reading of Narayaneeyam is also believed to possess the wonderful power of healing of illness, both mental and physical, of Devotees. The ‘Nithya Parayana’ of Narayaneeyam is supposed to give ‘ayurarogya soukhyam’ to its listeners. Dedicated to the ardent service at the Lotus Feet of Narayana, the presiding Deity of Guruvayur, Brahmasri Melppathoor Narayan bhattathiri, who gave the world this great devotional Hymn, ‘Srimad Narayaneeyam’ is really a ‘Maha Purush’. His devotion is unshakable. He is affectionate to his fellow beings. He wants to reveal to them, the greatness and superiority of his self-chosen path of Devotion to the Lord, so that they are also encouraged to adopt the same path for God-Realization. Inspired by an incessant flow devotion to the Lord, the poet’s thoughts and feelings find eloquent expression in theses holy verses in praise of His Sportive Incarnations, aswell. Narayaneeyam is truly an outstanding monument to Bhattathiri’s deep insight in Vedanta.

Narayaneeyam has been translated into different languages , including Tamil. Narayaneeya Sapthaham, like Bhagavatha Sapthaham, is conducted in Guruvayoor Temple by Devaswom invariably on every Narayaneeyam Day. Devotees also arrange to conduct Sapthaham and many other poojas based on Narayaneeyam, as offerings to God. In certain other temples and in many houses, they are used to conduct ‘Narayaneeya Parayanam’ in different places on several occasions. Besides being a general prayer, it also works in certain places as a panacea for all ailments mostly with impairment or loss of motor functions of nerves. Innumerable devotees flock at the Guruvayoor Temple and offer worship to the Lord, reciting this hymn of prayer in the firm hope, belief, and trust that they would be cured of all their ailments. ‘Narayaneeya Archana’ or even ‘Kesadipadavarna Archana’ is supposed to be a panacea for rheumatism. The increase in the number of devotees, day by day, in hundreds of thousands, in Guruvayoor, is clear evidence that Bhagavan answers their prayers favorably in time. HE will never leave His Bhakthas in trouble, who resort to ‘Sharanagathy’.

Padaravindame Saranam, Guruvayoorappa Saranam.

“ Swasthi prajabhyam, paripalayantham,

Nyayena marggena, mahim maheesha,

Go Brahmanebhya, Shubhamasthu nithyam,

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu”

Pearland, Jai Hind

^28th July, 2010. God Bless America.

‘Subham’

Sat-Sanga Peeyoosham, a must read Book

2010-07-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

SATSANGA PEEYOOSHAM '' is a compendium of essayas in Malayalam,on spititual and cultural topics ,compiled by Shri: P. N. Balakrishnan Nair. Most of them have been broad-cast as "Subhaashithams" by All India Radio, Trivandrum Station over the last ten years.This is their first appearance in book form.
The book contains 365 pages comprising comprehensive essays on 21 topics in PartOne, and 20 topics in Part Two.
The topics include, Principle and purpose of prayer, How to maintain close relationship with God, Causes for grief and their remedies, Causes of fear and their remedies, Will-power vs faith in God, Observe mind and control it, Love should be unselfish, Let the mind be free from evil infuences, Pilgrimage to mental peace, Spiritual literacy, Man-woman equality in the household, The need for politeness in word and deed, Place of Gita in our daily life, Human effort and God's help, Discipline in Individual and society, Human values and so on .....
Copies can be had from :-
Abhedashramam, Fort, Trivandrum -695023, Kerala, India(Phone 0471-2450519)
Price.Rs.225
To get copies by Post: Please contact the author :-
P.N.Balakrishnan Nair, J/49, KRIPA, Jyothi Nagar, Kesavadasapuram, Trivandrum-695004
Kerala, India.(Phone 0471-2541716 or mobile 9847661716)
email:- guruabheda@gmail.com

WHY WE WORSHIP GOD AND WHAT IF NOT?

2010-07-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

OHM NAMO BHAGAVATHE VASUDEVAYA:

WHY WE WORSHIP GOD AND WHAT IF NOT ?
M P R Nair.
Principle of God or Iswara Tatvam:

We worship God because we have Bhakthi or love towards God. Bhakthi really means remembering always God. ‘Swaswaroopa sathanam Bhakthi.’, meaning discovery of one’s own soul (atma swaroopa) is Bhakthi. All the other rituals are only the ways and means to reach that goal. The realization of God in oneself is Jnana. It requires ‘Vairagya’, hesitation towards excessive worldly pleasures. Realization of Brahman or Self-realization, requires Bhakthi, Jnanam and Vairagyam. ‘Sadhakas’ by repeated ‘Sadhanas’, like repetition of God’s name and constant prayers with austerities in all its sacredness and sanctity, become ‘Sidhas’. At that stage, God becomes the same as man. But, it is not an easy task to become a Sidha.

Isavasya Upanishad says:
“Om Isavasyamidam sarvam yatkiñca jagatyam jagat |
tena tyaktena bhuñjitha ma grdhah kasyasvid dhanam..”…., meaning:

Isam (the One God) is present (inhabits) here everywhere; the entire universe is covered by the Supreme Being; live a happy life in this world, enjoy your existence; and do not suffer.

“Ulppathimcha vinasham cha , bhoothanam agathim gathim
vethividyam avidyam cha savachyo Bhagavan ithi”

It is another definition of God.

“ Thathathvameesvara: sakshath paramathmethi geeyathe
Thadeva jeevasamjnamsyath samkhaathopadhi samyutham”
meaning, the principle of God is that, it is the Absolute Truth which is non dual, Unique and Indivisible (Ekam and Aparischinnam). It is ‘Paramathma’ or Iswara or Sat-Chit-Ananda. The same exists in various forms and names in different living beings.

In the Vishnu Purana (6.5.79) Parashara Rishi defines Bhagavan a"s:

"aiśvaryasya samagrasya vīryasya yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ
jñāna-vairāgyayoś caiva ṣannāḥ bhaga itīṇganā”, meaning-

strength (Potency); fame, wealth, knowledge, beauty, detachment. Ithi shannan iva Bhagavan;

Bhagavan has the above six features.

Sruthi, refers to God as ‘Brahmam’; Smrthi, as ‘Paramathma’ and Puranas, as ‘Bhagavan’. They are all the same; the great ocean of boundless mercy and grace. God alone is the Reality. HE flourishes ubiquitously. His Power is quite unlimited and there is no other power in the world to control it. In no time it can access the peak of the highest mountain and the depth of the deepest sea and cause explosion there. No one can predict its actions. Only a very small fraction of His power is given to us, the whole living beings. HE is 'PARAMA KALYANA NIDHI', means the real resources of all the perennial joy in the world. As His creations, we owe him worship to replenish His power. Love leads the Devotees to God. He is Transcendent, Immanent, Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent. HE is not an object; HE is the Subject, the only one subject. Our Sanathana Dharma teaches us that there is Divinity in anything and everything. Worshipping God through Bhakthimargam is proved to be easier than Karmamargam and Jnanamargam. Only 'PARAMA HAMSAS' can get God-Realization. The saying goes that ‘Manthramoolam gurorvakyam..’, and hence a S`at-Guru can help facilitate Self-Realization. Also, Adi Sankara re-iterates that ‘Isvaro gururatmeti ...’ , meaning, God is the same as Guru and Self. A Sat-Guru can therefore make us ‘Adhikari’ for God-Realization, which is the ultimate purpose of human birth. With the help of a Sat-Guru, imbibing BHAGAVATHA DHARMA, through Bhakthimarga, and applying that in life in its all facets, one can achieve God-Realization and can become a Jeevan-Muktha in the path of Brahma-Nirvana. Definitely it is not an easy task, but we can give a try in this Janma itself, if we have that environments and determination.

Meeting a Sat-Guru:

I had the fortune of having Darshan of H.H. Sree Maharanyam Muraleedhara Swamiji of Madhurapuri Ashram, Madras. It was a quite unique experience that ever remain fresh in my memory. The Ashram was like Vrindavan, every inch of it was permeated with the sublime presence of the Lord. The place was exquisitely beautiful. It was almost surrounded by mountains. On one side of the Ashram, beautiful and healthy cows along with their sweet calves were seen grazing freely. It really defied description. The atmosphere echoed with sweet and melodious ‘Akhandanama Sankeerthan’. On the other side of the Ashram, we found Tulasi plants, like a little dense forest amidst various kinds of other flowerings plants. Reaching closer, devotees were seen reciting Hare Rama keerthan, while perambulating around a tall and shining lighted brass lamp, near a most beautiful and effulgent vigraha of Lord Krishna, in a big and grand prayer hall. Devotees were deeply immersed in singing the Lord’s name and playing musical instruments according to its tune, while they were walking. My joy and ecstasy knew no bounds; I felt that I was in some heavenly abode. Unknowingly within seconds we were also in that stream of devotees, singing His glorious names.

The Veda Patasala on one side of the Ashram, like that we heard of in ancient Nalanda and Thakshasila, attracts special attention. The Sanctum Sanctorum there, is known as ‘Namadwaar’, being followed in the same way as those of Chaithanya Maha Prabhuji of the 15th centuary. Swamiji has started many such Namadwaars at different places in various parts of India and they are all functioning perfectly well with increased attendance of devotees, day by day. A long cherished desire of Swamiji was materialized here in America at Manvel, Houston, when the Mayor inaugurated the first Namadwaar, outside India on Sunday, 28th February, 2010. The Namadwaar is a power house of Divine Prayers, for universal peace and harmony by the manifestation of the power of Divinity in each individual through the very simple path of chanting the Divine Name. Prayers to the Almighty from time immemorial are most powerful; they will never go in vain. More things are wrought by prayer, than this world dreams of. Prayers, powered by the Divine names, are extra ordinarily powerful. All our ancient scriptures extol this fact in unequivocal terms. We are really fortunate and blessed for partly being the instrumental inspiration in the enlightening process of as many people as possible.

The existence of Universe:

We are watching these days that the most modern Science is coming to agree that it is because of the transformation of the Supreme Power that the Universe exists. The processes of Creation, Sustenance and Dissolution are taking place on a regular basis on account of this Supreme Power. Most modern books of Science like ‘Hyper Science’, ‘…After Einstein’ etc. are throwing light on this unknown Power and more and more researches are on the way finding out the truth in our old adages of the yore, and those in our Ancient Scriptures. I am sure that even if all the great Scientists of the world try together, they cannot even create a tiny ant, not to speak of man, the number one miracle of His creation. The chemical combination of real life is only with HIM. You can make egg and make poor man eat them to dangerous end, but that egg will never hatch!!!!. But, the all embracing power of God, binds everything in the world together, since it is equally related to everything alike. The God is not in heaven, He is within our reach, very near to us, in us, around us, and we can touch and feel Him, if we can overcome the delusion or Maya, His own creation, between Him and us. Who knows it is not His protective shield, for His own self-defense. I don’t know.

The purport of Temples/Churches:

Temples are constructed following ‘Tantrasamuchayas’, also compromising between sacred and spiritual ideals, worldly, secular and local restrictions. They are intended to limit and accommodate at first a fraction of the Power of God therein, with the help of ‘Agama Sastras’ etc., physically and mentally into various units, so that people can access and enjoy the blessings of that Supreme Power, more easily, than to stand aghast at its manifestly voluminous, invisible and invincible form. It is for our comfort and convenience that temples are made, installing there Moorthy or Moorthies in lovable forms, of the Supreme Consciousness, obeying the rules of Vastu, and also combining with pragmatic concerns. The various Moorthies are made inter connecting mutually their names and forms for us to concentrate our attention in worshipping them in front of us. They are often divided and given separate assignments of the affairs of our day to day life, like for removing hindrances Lord Ganapathy, Lord Dhanwanthari Moorthy for curing diseases, Lord Maheswara for ‘Ayur dosha’, and Lord Maha Vishnu for peaceful life etc.The temples turn our static piety into dynamic spirituality, when it becomes a Sanctum-Sanctorum, by appropriate rituals and sacred observances as per temple rules. The effulgence emerging from the ‘Sreekovil’ of such a temple, makes us enjoy the immeasurable and inexplicable experience of bliss of ecstasy of devotion to God. Worship of God, in its proper perspective, establishes Divine Presence in abundance there, and it enables the Divine Energy within us to manifest itself, besides granting favors by Him. It is laid down in our Scriptures that idols of gods, worshipped in our temples are considered as the incarnations of the chosen deities of devotees or personal gods. They are known as ‘Archavatharas’ of God, as different manifestations of the BRAHMAN. The more we worship properly, the more will be the Divine Grace there, and that is why we experience the impact of saturated Devotion by having Darsan at Guruvayoor, Sabarimala, Chottanikkara, Vadakkum-Nathan etc; they are oceans of Devotion while many temples are like tributaries, rivers, backwaters and the like. “Ekam Sat Viprah Bahudha Vadanti..”, meaning, the Universal Reality is the same , but different people call it by different names.

They are worshipped by people using elaborate rituals prescribed in the ‘Agama Shastras’. The idols thus become ‘Moorthies’, with full Divine Presence in them and then they lavishly shower blessings on true Devotees. It is like, there is water on earth, but in order to get it for drinking without contamination, we want a good well or tap or the like. There may be milk all over the body of a cow, but we could get it only through its udder. A fan can give you breeze, only when it is switched on, and the like. The temple is the LKG for learning Bhakthi.

The easiest Bhakthi Marga:

Satsangs bring together the similarly placed souls for common worship, service, charity, education and culture. Satsang is like nectar. It is precious. As water diminishes when we drink it, we have to replenish the deficiency of the Divine Power, by mantra-sakthi and restore the grace, always to the brim. In ‘KaliSantharanopanishad’, writen about 5000 years ago, it is laid down that, at the end of Dwapara Yuga, when Brahmarshi Narada asked Lord Brahma, as to what could be done for salvation in Kaliyuga, Brahma gave Narada, the following mantra: (This is the one Swamiji uses in all his Namadwaars):-
“Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare,
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare,”

The mere recital of this Mahamantra, consisting of 16 times the holy names of the Lord, man gets relieved from all the evils of Kaliyuga and that he could not find any other way to get-rid of the miseries, though he searched all the four Vedas. Sage Narada then asked Lord Brahma, ‘Lord, what are the rules to be observed for reciting this Mahamantra? ‘. In reply Lord Brahma said ‘There are no special rules to be observed for reciting this Mahamantra; it can be chanted by any one at any time, without regard to purity or impurity and anywhere and everywhere. They are really ‘manthrastras’, meaning arrows of manthra, perfectly fruitful, if hit at the target. It will definitely hit if done with Divine Providence and dedication

‘Dhyanal krite; yanjai; tretayam; dwaparerarchanad,
Yadapnoti, tadapnoti, kalou sankeerthya Kesavam’, meaning,

for getting Salvation, meditation was the way in Krita Yugga or Satya Yuga; Yanja or sacrifice was the way in Treta Yuga; Archana or worshp of idols was done in Dwaapara Yuga. Namasankeerthan is the only way to achieve moksha in Kali Yuga. All our Scriptures exhort us for Namasankeerthan in this KaliYuga.

In the 11th Canto (ekadasa skanda) in Srimad Bhagavatha, it is written: ,
“Namasankeerthanam yasya, sarva papa pranashanam
Pranamo dukha shamana: tam namami Harim param’. ,
that is, prostrate unto that Supreme Power Sree Hari, the singing of whose Divine names, obliterates all sins, and paying respects to whom attenuates all the sorrows of the world. Namasankeerthanam causes inner transformation.

Bhagavat Gita re-iterates that 'Jnana' is the highest state in life. As such, how can one attain the highest state by merely chanting the Lord’s Divine names? Our Swamiji answers the question simply quoting from the Gita itself as;
‘Swalpamalpasya dharmasya, trayate mahato bhayat’, meaning;
even if you perform the smallest Dharma, I will protect you from the worst fear. Smallest dharma is really Namasankeerthan, and ignorance or 'ajnana', is the worst fear and enemy. Annihilation of anjana is verily, Jnana.

Sharanagathy:

God or Deva has Grace and Effulgence. Only complete surrender to God or ‘Sharanagathy’, is easiest way to realize the fullness and grandeur of His love. God is the only reality; the only Truth. One cannot but sing His glory, because we are all parts of the God - individual units of microcosms of the huge, voluminous and indefinable Macrocosm. The Supreme Power is Brahman, the Paramatma, and it is infinite. It is the all pervading Consciousness. We are jeevatmas, the infinitesimals; the relation is like that of an ocean and a drop of water, thereof. If Brahman is fire, jeevatma is a spark, therein. The union of jeevatma with Paramatma or the Jeevatma-Paramatma aikyam, or Pindandam merging with Brhmandam or the Microcosm becoming one with the Macrocosm, is the ultimate aim of our birth and it will be repeated until the last life exists. Only God, the Supreme Truth is perennial; everything else is ephemeral. Sanathana Dharma, the perennial wisdom, makes it clear to us. We should try to concentrate on things which last long, for only it could give us permanent joy. So, we should concentrate on God. The higher the soul evolves the more spiritual the understanding becomes, until rapport with the Divine Spirit is attained. This is atonement and it makes a man perfect. For making easily eligible to be loved by God, we must remain grateful, humble, patient, generous, show response, be motivating, be brave in all our actions, be disciplined in prosperity, spread good ideas, fetch name, fame and reputation to the family and to the country by dedication to work, be intuitive, and also have patience, persistence, perseverance, and providence.

What, if we negate God:

If we negate or contradict, God, He will not punish us. Punishment is not His work.
Srimad Bhagavatham says (11-2-37):
“ Bhayam dwiteeyabhiniveshata: sya – deesadapetasya , viparyayo smrti:
tanmayayato budha aabhajetham, bhaktyaika yogam Gurudevatatma.”, meaning:
one who turns away from God, loses his real self and falls a prey to the erroneous belief due to His Maya (delusion) and believes that the body is the self and finally he is endangered and he himself will be put in troubles of ‘Shoka’(sorrow), ‘Moha’ (worldly desires)and fear (Bhayam) and ruined at the end. No one can save him, from the peril he himself has created.

Whom can we emulate in Bhakthi?:

In Bhakthi and Worship, we can emulate the example of Bhaktha Hanuman.
“Deha drshtya tu dasoham, jeeva drshtya tvadamsaka:
Vastutastu tvamevahamiti me nischitamati:”, meaning,
Apparently, I am your servant, but really I am your jeevamsa, and in that sense you and I are the same. The inter relation between Bhagavan, Bhakthi and Bhaktha is the real Bhagavatha Dharma, which we should follow invariably, for a meaningful and peaceful life.

(nairradhakrishnan@hotmail.com)
Pearland, Jai Hind
24th July 2010. God Bless America.
‘Subham’

An Astrologer From India

2010-03-20T03:20:00.000-07:00

An Astrologer from India

I am practising Indian Astrology for the last 40 years. I have done a lot of research on various Nativities in respect of Medical Astrology, Childlessness, Horary, etc.

Introduction to Indian Astrology

Astrology actually dates back from the origin of man, Indian Astrology is no exception. In India, Astrology is popularly known as Jyothissastra, meaning the science of light, primarily intending the Sun. The relevance of the Sun and the Moon is very important in India from time immemorial. Indians worshipped the Sun and are still worshipping it as God. It is emphasized in Vedas originated about 5000 years Before Christ (BC). The Vedas contain ample references to Astrology especially the Atharva Veda is almost full of it, used in the context of finding out auspicious times for starting good things etc. Even in scriptures came out during this period on
Sruthis (what is heard) and Smrithis (what is remembered) there were references of Astrology. How ever Vedanga Jyothisham or Vedic Astrology is supposed to be first written documents on Astrology in its ancient form in India.

Astrology and Astronomy went hand in hand in India for many millennia. There were sooth-sayers in India like the Oracle of Delphi. There were also learned and well renowned Astronomers in ancient India. Aryabhatta, Bhaskaracharya, Kalidasa, Varahamihira, Bhattolpala are a few among them. Some others though not studied Astrology as a vernal occupation dedicated their lives for the cause of Astrology and contributed precious and valuable information through their hard work and research on the subject. These people with very meagre resources they had and with their naked eyes identified the various planets and measured the distance to
them from the earth and found out their sizes and shapes. Their recordings when verified later with those found out with the help of telescopes invented by Galileo were accurate. They also predicted correctly the time of solar and lunar eclipses that are to come for many years as well.

Astrology, they proved, is an empirical science like that of Physics or Chemistry, thanks to the presence of the Sun, the Moon and the stars as typical and visible evidences. The tools to prove its veracity are very limited and handful, only the Sun, the Moon, the stars, the 12 signs and the 9 planets in all, which can not be brought into a test tube or a laboratory. They stand far away from the people. One can not touch and feel them, but their impact on us is tremendous and foretelling. In Indian Astrology 27 stars are used for delineation purpose. The difference in Western Astrology is that only one star, the Sun, is used there. The Dasha, Bhukthi, Antara based on the Moon is not taken into account in Western Astrology. It is given vital importance in Indian Astrology to find out the timing of events, exactly to the hour, minute and second of a happening.

In Indian Astrology the names of the 12 signs of the Zodiac came into existence 500 years BC. The names were assigned to each sign based on the shape of constellation each sign carried. For instance the shape of the constellation contained in the first sign of Zodiac was that of the head of a goat and therefore it was named after goat namely Mesha (Mesha means goat in Sanskrit). Similarly the second sign is Rishabha meaning Bull in Sanskrit and so on. There are many synonyms for each sign in Sanskrit. A small state Kerala in India took the names of their months for the signs to exactly fit in the Calendar Year. Kerala is also famous for well renowned astrologers especially among Namboodiri castes like Machattilayath, Puliyoor Purushothaman Namboodiri, the Astrologer of Pazhur Padippura and the like. The land of Kerala is very beautiful with its sweet rivers, evergreen forests, wild sanctuaries and a variety of loving and affectionate people in a part of the world blessed by nature in all respects.

There were hundreds of thousands of books in Astrology in ancient India. Originally most of them were written in palm leaves, chemically prepared for the purpose. Almost all books were written in Sanskrit. The most voluminous literature in the world namely Tantra is also written in Sanskrit. These books were later translated into many Indian and foreign languages and were spread throughout the world. Famous universities have copies of these books with them. The Vedas, Upanishads, Agamas (Sastras or science) Puranas, Ithihasas like Ramayana, Mahabharatha, Mahabhagavatha, Bhagavad Gita and many other books on Indology, depicting the culture and rich heritage of India and conveying the message of good will, peace, fraternity, moral principles and human values etc. were all printed originally in Sanskrit. Their manuscripts are even available in India in certain particular libraries.

The Astrologers of the yore in India found out truths full of significance to human life and relevant to modern times. Vedic Astrology truly gives more importance to stars. The ancient astrologers of India traditionally had deep knowledge in the subject. This tradition established that human beings acquire the temperaments of the powerful planets in their native charts. They found out that it is the influence of these planets that determines the personality of the human beings. Many of the medical discoveries in India are related to traditional Astrology. In olden days doctors in India were expert practitioners in Astrology as well and with the assistance of their knowledge in Astrology their treatment was most effective.

There are so many branches in Indian Astrology like Jathaka or Native Chart, Prasna or Horary, Muhurta or Electional Astrology, Vana Nireekshana or Meteorology, Nashta Prasna or Missing persons or things, the affairs of Sanctum Sanctorum of temples and the like.

Indian Astrology is very sharp, because there is provision to go deep into the root cause of the matter since each sign and planet is divisible into 60-minute parts called the shashtyamsa. By studying these parts in detail the intricacies can be realized. Moreover the saptavarga and the ashtakavarga studies also reveal the manifold characteristics of various planets in detail. The planets are supposed to be hereditary transmitters from one generation to the other. Births and re-births are taken place to complete the cycle of life. The horoscope indicates the residues of the results of the deeds of the past births or karma phala. In this birth one will carry three sorts of karma, sanchitam that is stored from the past birth, prarabdham accumulating in this birth and aagami stored for the future. The doctrine of karma says so. When the karma phala is exhausted there will be no more births. The microcosm becomes one with the macrocosm, which is the materialization of life as if a drop of water becomes one with the sea.

In India, Astrology is considered to be the supreme knowledge granted to human being by the Gold Almighty. If it is not properly used it will become tantra virodha causing havoc in life. It should therefore be used only after deep study, dedication and full providence. The three time periods namely past, present and future are supposed to be the transcendence of time and space in Indian Astrology. It is therefore true knowledge. It is the path of eternal bliss. The conscious, unconscious and subconscious are contained in it. Old Indian sages say that no knowledge is complete with out the knowledge of Astrology. It is the most valuable possession human beings can have. Astrology can be used to cure diseases, to gain any knowledge, to make friends with any one and gain his intimacy, to answer questions, to lead healthier and happier life, to get through interviews, to negotiate successfully most difficult business deals, to determine the sex of a child, to gain wealth, to evaluate the position of stocks and shares, to win horse races, to speculate successfully and to lead a better and meaningful contented life. Astrology provides the basic human needs of food, shelter and companionship and above all an urge to create an orderly world governed by dependable rules and to develop a re-assuring structure of beliefs. Lastly one who understood Indian Astrology in its proper perspective attains Moksha or eternal liberation through which our Creator is realized to fulfill the purpose of our life.

Thank you, God bless you.

I would like to share some of my experiences as follows:

** Prepared several hundreds of Horoscopes/Nativity Charts and delineated them according to Indian Atrology.
** Conducted hundreds of Prasna/Horary in a most scientific manner.
** Studied Medical Astrology in detail. Accurately analyzed hundreds of cases of diseases.
** Handled Electional and Mundane Astrology in a fruitful way.
** Conducted "Deva Prasna", regarding Sanctum Sanctorums, in more than 500 temples.
** Studied in detail Gemology and successfully suggested gems for several people.
** Published varieties of articles (My First Prediction, A Prasna Session, Planets and Leagal Profession, Planets and Criminal Propensities, etc. to mention a few)
** in leading Astrological magazines and journals in India
** Conducted Group discussions on various topics (Horoscope Matching, Missing Persons, Lost Articles, Marriage and related Problems, Family Life, Health
** Education, Longevity, Old Age, Diseases of mind and body, Childhood, Unnatural births, etc.) in Astrology.
** Conducted several training programs (Fundamentals of Indian Astrology, Calulating and Analyzing Birth Charts, etc.) in Indian Astrology.

Please feel free to Counsel

Email me at nairradhakrishnan@hotmail.com

NAMA MAHATHMYAM

2010-03-17T08:27:00.000-07:00

OHM Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya.

NAMA MAHATHMYAM

(Advantage of Namasankeerthan)

M.P.R.Nair.

At the outset, by ‘Namamahathmyam’, I mean the benefit or advantage of reciting God’ name. Namajapam, Namasankeerthan, Nagarasankeerthan, Bhajan etc. are quite familiar to us from time immemorial or from the origin of man, but it is a very great subject, not possible to cover exhaustively in a small article. I am attempting only to throw some light partly on the mahathmyam alone of reciting God’s name

The existence of the rich tradition of Namasankeerthan is well known in almost all parts of the world from very ancient times. Namasankeerthan is often done by devotees singing in congregation. Sankeerthan means singing keerthans or songs in a ‘samyak’ or most beautiful way. When this is done by walking through the streets of city or cities, it becomes Nagrasankeerthan. Bhajan includes divine songs, accompanied mostly by musical instruments of different varieties. Bhajan mutts or Bhajan halls are also common even today. Thank God, in these days the number of ‘Satsangs’ are also seen increasing day by day in various parts of the world. A Malayalam verse lays down the benefit of Satsang as follows:

‘Chitswaroopamarivaneluppamay satsangatholam nannalla mattonnum’,

that is, there is no good thing other than Satsang , for God-realization.

In temples we watch the performance of pooja, we meditate on the Deity, whereas in Sankeerthan or Bhajan, we fix our minds on the lord by singing His divine names, His ‘gunas’ or dispositions and His Leelas or Dvine plays. Bhajan has the unique feature of inculcating Bhakthi directly in people. Sometimes we may go in trance or weeping or crying like a small child or dance, often ignoring completely the surroundings. Bhakthi really means remembering always God. ‘Sadhakas’ by repeated ‘Sadhanas’, like repetition of God’s name and constant prayers with austerities in all its sanctity, become ‘Sidhas’. At that stage, God becomes the same as man. They have no desires. God is everywhere. Love leads the Devotees to God. Our Sanathana Dharma teaches us that there is Divinity in anything and everything. So, there is divinity in music and hence musical reciting will be more beautiful, emotional and exciting. The saying goes that ‘Manthramoolam gurorvakyam’, and hence it adds another premium of beauty, if we learn it from a Sat-Guru.

It reminds me here, though some personal, the opportunity of my family in having got Darshan of H.H. Sree Maharanyam Muraleedhara Swamiji of Madhurapuri Ashram, Madras. It was a quite unique experience that ever remain fresh in my memory. The Ashram was like Vrindavan, every inch of it was permeated with the sublime presence of the Lord. The place was exquisitely beautiful. It was almost surrounded by mountains. On one side of the Ashram, beautiful and healthy cows along with their sweet calves were seen grazing freely. It really defied description. The atmosphere echoed with sweet and melodious ‘Akhandanama Sankeerthan’. On the other side of the Ashram, we found Tulasi plants, like a little dense forest amidst various kinds of other flowerings plants. Reaching closer, devotees were seen reciting Hare Rama keerthan, while perambulating around a tall and shining lighted brass lamp, near a most beautiful and effulgent vigraha of Lord Krishna. Devotees were deeply immersed in singing the Lord’s name and playing musical instruments according to its tune, while walking. My joy and ecstasy knew no bounds; I felt that I was in some heavenly world. Unknowingly within seconds we were also in that stream of devotees, walking and singing His glorious names.

A long cherished desire of Swamiji was materialized here in America at Manvel, Houston, when the Mayor inaugurated the first Namadwaar, outside India on Sunday, 28^th February, 2010. The Namadwaar is a power house of Divine Prayers, for universal peace and harmony by the manifestation of the power of Divinity in each individual through the very simple path of chanting the Divine Name. Prayers to the Almighty from time immemorial are most powerful; they will never go in vain. Prayers, powered by the Divine names, are extra ordinarily powerful. All our ancient scriptures extol this fact in unequivocal terms.

In ‘KaliSantharanopanishad’, writen about 5000 years ago, it is laid down that, at the end of Dwapara Yuga, When Brahmarshi Narada asked Lord Brahma, as to what could be done for salvation in Kaliyuga, Brahma gave Narada, the following mantra: (This is the one Swamiji uses in all his Namadwaars):-

“Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare,

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare,”

and said that by the mere recital of this Mahamantra, consisting of 16 times the holy names of the Lord, man gets relieved from all the evils of Kaliyuga and that he could not find any other way to get-rid of the miseries, though he searched all the four Vedas. Sage Narada then asked Lord Brahma, ‘Lord, what are the rules to be observed for reciting this Mahamantra? ‘. In reply Lord Brahma said ‘There are no special rules to be observed for reciting this Mahamantra; it can be chanted by any one at any time, without regard to purity or impurity and anywhere and everywhere.

After giving us all Vedic Scriptures, Brahmarshi VedaVyasa said that he had searched all Sastras and finally found out that the very essence of all Sastras is to worship Lord Narayana, through Namasankeerthan, for real salvation. In this age of Kali many people are seen by nature knowledgeable but without character, hunting after pleasure without conscience, engaging in commerce without morality, using science without humanity, worshipping God without any sacrifice, impure of mind, engaged in politics without principles, gambling, drinking, illicit relations with women, falsehood, intoxication, passion, violence showing animosity, earning wealth without properly working, and thus committing real sins of the society, eventually ruining the human race and wasting the most sacred human birth. Namasankeerthan or chanting the names of God is the only way to reach the Supreme Lord, which is the ultimate aim of mankind.

To quote from our Puranas, a few examples stressing the importance of reciting God’s name:-

‘ Kalou kalmasha chithanaam papadravyopajeevanam,

Vidhi kreeya viheenam, gathir Govinda Keerthanam.’,

that is, Kali makes our mind poisonous, makes us living on polluted things and do rituals in an improper way using mean short-cuts, and therefore the only way out is to recite the names of Govinda to mitigate all evils.

Our Scripptures also tell us ;

‘Dhyanal krite; yanjai; tretayam; dwaparerarchanad,

Yadapnoti, tadapnoti, kalou sankeerthya Kesavam’, meaning,

In the 11^th Canto (ekadasa skanda) in Srimad Bhagavatha, it is written:

“Namasankeerthanam yasya, sarva papa pranashanam,

Pranamo dukha shamana: tam namami Harim param’. , that is,

prostrate unto that Supreme Power Sree Hari, the singing of whose Divine names, obliterates all sins, and paying respects to whom attenuates all the sorrows of the world. Namasankeerthanam causes inner transformation.

Bhagavat Gita re-iterates that Jnana is the highest state in life. As such, how can one attain the highest state by merely chanting the Lord’s Divine names? Our Swamiji answers the question simply quoting from the Gita itself as;

‘Swalpamalpasya dharmasya, trayate mahato bhayat’, meaning;

even if you perform the smallest Dharma, I will protect you from the worst fear. Smallest dharma is really Namasankeerthan, and ignorance or ajnana, is the worst fear. Annihilation of anjana is verily, Jnana.

In Adhyatma Ramayana by Ezhuthachan, Sutheekshna Muni, the best disciple of Rishi Agasthya, tells Rama, when asked what boon he wants from him;

‘Mutteedum bhakthya nin namamucharikkayeedanam.

Mattoruvaramapekshikkunnenillapotti’ ………………..meaning,

he wants nothing except the blessings for reciting His name with the deepest devotion in mind

devotion in mind.

Bhakthakavi Poonthanam, sings in his famous ‘Jnanappana:

‘Sakthikoodathe namangaleppozhum, bhaktipoondu japikkanam nammude,

Sidhakalam kazhivolameevannam, sradhayode vasikkanamevarum..’

Here, ‘Japa’, is made of two letters, ‘ja’ and ‘pa’,

‘Jakaro janma vischeda: pakara: papanashanam’;

‘ja’ stands for liberation or moksha and ‘pa’ stands for obliteration of all sins. Thus, Japa atonce removes our sins and makes us free from janmas.

Poonthanam continues:

‘Bhaktitannil muzhuki chamanjudan , mathaneppole nrutham kuthikkanam,

Parilingane sancharicheedumbol, prabdangalasheshamozhinjupom’. , meaning

shortly, the japa of God’s name without any hesitation, will help us to get-rid of all our difficulties in life.

All famous Philosophies of great Sages like that of Madhvacharya, Ramanujacharya, Sankaracharya, Sri Vallabhacharya, etc. teach us the importance of reciting Nama or God’s name. God is love and our hearts should abound in unconditional Supreme Love for God. We should believe in God, as a fish believe in water. Only complete surrender to God is the way to realize the fullness and grandeur of His love. God is the only reality; the only Truth. He is atonce transcendent and immanent. One cannot but sing His glory, because we are all parts of the God - individual units of microcosms of the huge, voluminous and indefinable Macrocosm. The Supreme Power is Brahman, the Paramatma, and it is infinite. We are jeevatmas, the infinitesimals; the relation is like that of an ocean and a drop of water, thereof. If Brahman is fire, jeevatma is a spark, therein. The union of jeevatma with Paramatma or the Jeevatma-Paramatma aikyam, or Pindandam merging with Brhmandam or the Microcosm becoming one with the Microcosm, is the ultimate aim of our birth and it will be repeated until the last life exists.

Only God, the Supreme Truth is perennial; everything else is ephemeral. Sanathana Dharma, the perennial wisdom, makes it clear to us. We should try to concentrate on things which last long, for only it could give us permanent joy. So, we should concentrate on God. The higher the soul evolves the more spiritual the understanding becomes, until rapport with the Divine Spirit is attained. This is atonement and it makes a man perfect.

Jeevatma is chained to the earth by Karma and when karma ceases to exist the soul or jeevatma gets liberated. Karma is the law of consequences – of merit and demerit. Karma depends on Character. When we change our Character, we change our Karma. When character is lost, everything is lost. Character, in its turn, depends on habits. Good habits should be cultivated from the very childhood. For making easily eligible to be loved by God, we must remain grateful, humble, patient, generous, show response, be motivating, be brave in all our actions, be disciplined in prosperity, spread good ideas, fetch name, fame and reputation to the family and to the country by dedication to work, be intuitive, and also have patience, persistence, perseverance, and providence.

Sri Bhagavannama Bodhendra Swamiji says, “The ever blissful Supreme Lord, out of compassion for the welfare of the world, took up various forms such as Sri Vishnu, Sri Siva etc. Feeling that these forms alone will not suffice for redemption of the world, He also became the Divine Names, such as ‘Hari’ Shambhu’ etc., and is ever alive in theses names. Divine Namas are not mere names. Like the Deities, they are also verily the Lord, the ‘wordy idols’. Nama possesses all the powers of the Lord. There is no better boat than the recital of God’s name, to help us cross over the troubled ocean of life. Ajamila, the horrible sinner, as laid down in Srimad Bhagavatha, was purified and taken to Heaven, by the messengers of Lord Vishnu, when he uttered ‘Narayana’, through calling his own son.

Of all the wisdom so far I have gained, I tell you truly that the most important one is the knowledge about the mahathmya of Namasankeerthan, that we rarely recognize or appreciate until it has been depleted. So, make your decision to grab this precious moment in joy, faith and thankfulness to God, and chant:

“Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare,

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare,”

and count your many blessings instead of your blemishes, right from now onwards. In the beat of a heart, let this moment remain in history, as the most auspicious occasion to know how to commune with God.

May God bless all.

Jai Hind; 17th March 2010.

SANATHANA DHARMA, yet another perspective.

2010-02-23T09:39:00.000-08:00

Little Introduction:
The entire edifice of Indian philosophical thought, known as ‘Sanathana Dharma’ is founded firmly on Vedas. It is the perennial wisdom of ages. Vedas are the original Scriptures of Hindu teachings, and contain spiritual knowledge encompassing all aspects of our life, also for the mankind in general. They can be really supposed to be the basic constitution of all religions. Humans did not compose it and hence it is known as ‘apourusheya’. They have stood the test of time. ‘Veda’ means wisdom, knowledge or vision. The laws of Vedas regulate the social, legal, domestic, and religious customs of the Hindus to the present day. All the obligatory duties of the Hindus at birth, marriage, death etc. owe their allegiance to the Vedas. The Vedas are mainly compiled by Vyasa Krishna Dwaipayana around the time of Lord Krishna.
Sanathana Dharma, embracing Vedas, draw forth the thought of successive generation of thinkers, and so from time to time according as the situation demands, essential things are added on to it, unnecessary things are made obsolete from it and requisite modifications suitable to the time are brought to it periodically to keep it always new, fresh and most useful to man, without even any damage to its pristine glory. It is handed down through generations by the word of mouth from time immemorial by ‘Mantradrashtas’ or Rishis of the yore, as ordained. It is very strong and everlasting. No one can destroy it. Since it is intended for the well being of all people on the mother Earth, hopefully one day the whole world will accept it, irrespective of caste, creed or color, as a panacea. If the world is to live in peace and prosperity, it is also absolutely essential to propagate and cherish Sanathana Dharma. I believe that as long as Sanathana Dharma is there, nothing will happen to Hinduism, whatever may be done against it by anyone, since they are one and the same. We need not worry much about that, provided we trust, imbibe and follow its doctrines strictly, and put it into practice truly, sincerely and with dedication.
Sanathana Dharma has numerous connotations. Literally Sanathana Dharma may mean eternal righteousness. It is really Vedic Dharma. Dharma denotes duty. Dharma also means virtues, righteousness, natural laws, giving alms, sa`th etc. There is also a famous axiom, ‘Dharmo rakshathi, rakshitha’, meaning, one who protects Dharma, is protected by Dharma. “Ahinmsā Paramo Dharma”, meaning, non-violence is the chief of all Dharmas. Any type of cruelty is also considered as Adharma. ‘Dharmam chara’ is used to mean Practice righteousness -- act according to your Dharma. Now, Dharma is a complex word with innumerable meanings.
Sanathana Dharma is a perennial philosophy. It is supposed to be the breath of Lord, and hence it is natural and ubiquitous and hence people who love Sanathana Dharma, love nature also. It extols love towards God and hence it is Supreme Dharma, by which the heart of man achieves his highest welfare. It is Eternal Faith. It embodies all ancient Hindu Scriptures, and it is Vaidika Dharma, embracing Vedic injunctions. Though it is very vast and exhaustive, at the core of Sanathana Dharma, we can find four fundamental doctrines to follow, namely:-
1. The entire phenomenal world –the perceptible universe – Drshya Prapancham, with all its diversities consisting of every animate and inanimate object of creation, is only the manifestation of ONE single Divine Ground, known as BRAHMAN, and apart from that they are all nonexistent.
2. Human beings can, not only acquire knowledge about this Divine Ground by study of Scriptures, observation, reasoning and inference, but can also realize its existence by a direct communion with it through contemplation and meditation.
3. Man possesses a double nature of which one is a phenomenal ego confined to the body, mind and intellect, and the other is higher Ego, which is the Eternal Self, surpassing the limitations of all earthly concepts of self-identification. It is possible for man through spiritual practice, and Divine Grace through Guru’s blessings, to realize his identity with the Supreme Eternal Self, the BRAHMAN.
4. Man’s life on earth has only one end and purpose; and that is to realize his identity with the Eternal self and thus attain the undivided, unitive knowledge of the Divine ground –BRAHMAN, and act accordingly.
BRAHMAN is the only one Scientific Supreme Truth and it forms the Akhanda (Infinite), Nithya, Sathya, Shudha, Budha, Mugdha Swaroopa or the Omniscient and Omnipotent.
The word ‘BRAHMA’ literally means ‘to grow’ or ‘to expand’ or ‘swell’. Adi Shankara puts it as the quintessence of his philosophy: “BRAHMA SATHYAM; JAGAT MITHYA, JIVO BRAHMAIVA NA APARAH”- Brahman (the Absolute) is alone real; this world is unreal; and the Jiva or the Individual soul, is non-different from Brahman. The forces opposed to Vedic Dharma were more numerous and powerful at the time of Adi Shankara than they are today. We owe him so much on that account, because without him Vedas would have remained inaccessible to us. BRAHMAN is not an object, it is the Subject- the only Subject and the Essence. It is constituted by Sat-Chit-Ananda; Sat, that which exists eternally; Chit, is the light of knowledge; and Ananda is bliss. This is precisely the true nature of our spirit.
The electro-magnetic waves of the Scriptures contained in Sanathana Dharma are helping all of us, in our day today life, knowingly or unknowingly to a great extent in making improvements in various fields of our lives individually, physically, mentally and spiritually. Sanathana Dharma is really meant for all and it is above religion; it envisages that every individual should attain the Self and thus bring about the welfare of humanity. It is beautifully depicted in Manusmrthy that we should handle Sanathana Dharma, little delicately aswell:
“satyam bruyat priyam bruyat na bruyat satyam apriyam
Priyam ca nanrutam bruyat esha dharmah sanatanah”, meaning:

All that you speak must be truth, but you do not have to say all that is true. Speak truth in such a way that it should be pleasing to others. Never speak truth, which is unpleasant to others. This is the path of eternal morality or Sanatana Dharma.
All Scriptures of other religions put together will come to only half of the Scriptures in Sanathana Dharma. Approximately 1280 foundation books are there, in hundreds of languages, with more than 10,000 commentaries, and more than one lakh of sub-commentaries. The Scriptures therein, reveal 330 million gods, hundreds of thousands of Rishis and a huge variety of ‘acharas’, rituals etc, among many other precious gems of axioms, aswell.
Jai Hind,
God Bless America.

Who is the Right Guru ?

2010-02-23T09:33:00.000-08:00

Who is the right Guru? What is a Guru for? Is a Guru compulsory? When does one seek a Guru? How to get a Guru? How to identify the right Guru? What can we do until we get the right Guru?
At the outset, these questions baffled me very much and I think there would be many like me. By Guru, I mean ‘Atmeeya Guru’ or a Spiritual Master. In the present day world, we could see around us different types of people,: some of them handling politics without principles, some amassing wealth without work, some hunting after pleasures without conscience, some others earning knowledge without character, yet others engaged in commerce without morality, a few handling science without humanity, and a few others worshiping God without any sacrifice I think it is all mainly because of the absence of a right Guru for them for proper guidance. It is equally true that it is very hard to find the right Guru, because the fake Gurus are proliferating themselves almost every day. However, let us try to explore various avenues to find out the qualities of a Sat- Guru (The best Spiritual Master) and wait patiently to meet him, if it is so ordained.
Who is a Guru?
Guru is a Sanskrit word, literally meaning a teacher. Scholars say:
“Gukaraschandhakarasthu, rukarasthannirodhakrit;
Andhakaravinasitwad, gururithyabhidheeyate”… That is:
‘Gu’ means ‘andhakara’or darkness, symbolizing ignorance and ‘Ru’ means, ‘nirodha’ or destruction of that darkness; Guru removes the darkness of ignorance and hence he is called Guru. Guru is like a lamp burning in full effulgence.
A Guru is also supposed to be a great Aacharya. An Aaacharya is :
“aachinothihi: sastrani, aachare stapayityapi;
Swayamacharate tasmad, aacharyathyabhidheeyate”, means:
He who knows the meaning of Sastras or Science, establishes them with the help of rituals and he himself adapts them as such in his life, for the service of the entire humanity and to the inhabitants of the world, at large, is called an Aacharya.
The Scriptures say that a man in whom we find manifestations of qualities, belonging to God, such as purity, sublimity, nobility, loftiness of conduct, character, nature, thought, feeling, and action, can be said to be a Guru in Vedic parlance. He is considered as ‘Prathyaksha Devata’ or visible God. God reveals Himself through Guru. He is a self-realized Soul. Saint Adi Sankara, Saint Ramanuja, Madhavacharya, Sree Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sree Ramana Maharshi etc. are some typical examples.
What is a Guru for? Is a Guru Compulsory?
We need a teacher to learn something in a better and proper manner. For instance to learn mathematics well, we need a teacher. Why then we do not have a teacher for learning Yoga and Meditation, which help us develop mentally, physically and spiritually, aswell. Why do students go to Universities for specialized studies when they can study at home? It is to get expert teaching in proper perspective in those subjects. As every rule admits exceptions, a Guru need not be a high scholar for example, Sree Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Sree Ramana Maharshi, became Mahatmas without passing through any academic courses.
When does one seek a Guru?
God is in every body, but to know his sublime presence within, we have to keep open our inner eyes. It is here that a Spiritual Guru is inevitable with his immeasurable help. A Guru really is the path to God. He encourages the seeker and inspires him. If you have supreme devotion to God, and the same kind of devotion to your Guru, then the essence and subtle truths of Scriptures are revealed to you in due course. When you become extremely advanced, you need no help from anybody else to realize the presence of God. The only thing is that the time taken for this may vary from person to person, depending on his persistence, perseverance, providence, and dedication to attain Guru kripa or mercy of his Guru.
Who is the right Guru?
The most important thing a Spiritual Master does for us is to make us consciously aware of something vast and infinite within ourselves, which is nothing other than God himself. Only a Sat-Guru can do this for us.
“na twaham kamaye rajyam, na swargam na punarbhavam;
Kamaye d:ukha taptanam, praninam aarti nasanam” means:
He doesn’t crave for kingdom, or heaven, or rebirth; all he craves for is only the removal of the sufferings of people. We will enjoy ‘Brhmanandam’, a kind of ecstasy of extreme bliss, when we remember the real Guru, for he is our ‘Atma Swaroopa’ or the same form as our soul, and ‘Jnana Moorthy’, or the embodiment of ultimate knowledge. Guru facilitates our inner spiritual urge and progress. He is our private tutor in Spiritual Life. He teaches us what we need to know and help our soul to evolve to the next level. He can inspire us and increase our aspirations so that we can begin to realize the highest and noble things of divine nature. We can attain God’s grace by efforts through a real Guru. He is invested in his Sishya or Student. Our visit to Guru brings transformation in us and unless and until you become a ‘Jnani’, or one with applied and ultimate knowledge, you cannot recognize a Jnani, in full. One devoid of ‘Jnana’, cannot possess divinity. The higher the soul evolves, the more spiritual the understanding becomes until perfect rapport with the Divine Spirit is attained. This is atonement, which makes a man perfect. The fact is that if you have true and full faith in your Sat-Guru, he can even change your fate.
How to get and recognize a Guru?
A real Guru may not be so smooth to you. At first you may feel disturbed in mind before him. But, something will attract you towards him and you will wish to be with him. Sometimes, he may not be so friendly to you in words and deeds. The practice is that you don’t look for a Guru. When you suffer from the pain of ignorance and when your mind earnestly and sincerely urges for a Spiritual Master, he will come to you, or you will be called to him. Some people believe that it is ‘poorva-janma punyas’ or good deeds transmitted from your past life that bring a Guru into your present life. Majority seems to support the former view. Sometimes you will try to move away from him, but you cannot. There will be something in you that will keep you closer to him like a magnet; the less ego, the more attraction. The dignity of the presence of a Guru, makes us to offer it to him freely and without any inhibition. A Sat-Guru’s life will be his message and he leads by example. He is often to us like a mother.
What can we do until we get the right Guru?
Here comes the Bhagavatha Dharma or the principles for doing the righteous things in our life, for our help.
Srimad Bhagavatam lays down:
“ Narayana, Akhila Guro Namasthe”, meaning,
Oh! Lord Narayana, you are the Akhila Guru or the Guru of all Gurus, and we bow to you.
All the other Gurus only come under you. But, we cannot see the Lord in person to ask a boon, or any blessings or guidance. But the Lord also protects Bhagavata Dharma, which shows the path to God, for even to the down-trodden and to all sinners of the world, aswell. Vaideeka Dharma (Rituals) is very strict in its discipline. It earmarks hell, as the punishment for people who do not follow the Scriptures in the way in which they are prescribed. . In Srimad Bhagavatham, the Lord says that it is only pardonable if mistakes creep in unknowingly while reading it. The Lord is so merciful. Srimad Bhagavatham itself is supposed to be the Lord. We can find there in, answers to almost all our questions relating to our day to day affairs of life, provided we dig some deep. So, we can unequivocally accept Srimad Bhagavatham as our ‘Akhila Guru’, until we get a Guru in person, and let us wait for it hopefully with unconditional love to God, Almighty, through dedicated ‘Narayana Seva.’
Jai Hind'
God Bless America.

2009-09-11T10:31:00.000-07:00

OHM

Vedic Astrology

Vedic Astrology or Vedanga Jyotisha is Jyothissastra or Jyotish in short in Sanskrit. Earliest mention of Vedic astrology comes in the Vedas, originated more than 5000 years before Christ, preceded by details of this Divine Science supposed as being revealed by Lord Siva to his Spouse Goddess Parvati. According to many others, Vedic Astrology was revealed to mankind by Lord Brahma who in his infinite wisdom is the only God amongst Gods and humans to truly know the future. Vedic Astrology cannot be taken on any level other than the level of Vedanta, since it contains the quintessence of the Philosophies of the entire world. The signs of the stars give prophesies and presages. They point out the force of supernatural things, and put forth true judgments and disclosure.
Vedanta is one of the world's most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. Vedanta is the philosophical foundation of Hinduism; but while Hinduism includes aspects of Indian culture, Vedanta is universal in its application and is equally relevant to all countries, all cultures, and all religious backgrounds. Vedanta came from ‘Veda’ (Knowledge) and ‘Anta’ (the end or goal). Knowledge here means God; so Vedanta is the search for God or search for self-realization. According to Vedanta, God is infinite existence, infinite consciousness, and infinite bliss. The term for this impersonal, transcendent reality is Brahman, the divine ground of being. Yet Vedanta also maintains that God can be personal as well, immanent and assuming human form in every stage. God dwells within our own hearts as the divine Self or Atman. The Atman is never born nor will it ever die. Neither stained by our failings nor affected by the fluctuations of the body or mind, the Atman is not subject to our grief or despair or disease or ignorance. Pure, perfect, free from limitations, the Atman, Vedanta declares, is one with Brahman. The greatest temple of God lies within the human heart. Our real nature is divine; God-realization is our birthright. Sooner or later, we will all manifest our divinity—either in this or in future lives—for the greatest truth of our existence is our own divine nature. Vedanta affirms that all religions teach the same basic truths about God, the world, and our relationship to one another. Thousands of years ago the Rig Veda declared: "Truth is one, Sages call it by various names." The world's religions offer varying approaches to God, each one true and valid, each religion offering the world a unique and irreplaceable path to God-realization. The conflicting messages we find among religions are due more to doctrine and dogma than to the reality of spiritual experience. While dissimilarities exist in the external observances of the world religions, the internals bear remarkable similarities. God dwells within our own hearts as the divine Self or Atman. The Atman is never born nor will it ever die. Neither stained by our failings nor affected by the fluctuations of the body or mind, the Atman is not subject to our grief or despair or disease or ignorance. Pure, perfect, free from limitations, the Atman, Vedanta declares, is one with Brahman. The greatest temple of God lies within the human heart. Our real nature is divine; God-realization is our birthright. Sooner or later, we will all manifest our divinity—either in this or in future lives—for the greatest truth of our existence is our own divine nature.
The four Vedas of the earliest Sanskrit hymns and verses are Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda. The Atharva Veda contains plenty of references to Jyotish, used in the context of finding out auspicious times for starting rituals etc. The ancient Hindu Scriptures, accepted as Sanatana Dharma or Vaidika Dharma, considered as the breath of the Lord and comprising the greatest and voluminous literature in the whole world, in the form of Sruti or revelations, Smriti, Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads, Tantrs, Puranas, Ithihasas and the like, extol the importance of Jyotish, in them. However Vedic Astrology or Vedanga Jyotish is supposed to be the first written documents on Astrology in its ancient form in India. Sanatana Dharma is not for any particular religion, it is for every one of us, irrespective of caste, creed, color or age. Knowingly or unknowingly, we followed many of its norms and we are still following them, and we will follow in future, for our well being. Most famous modern Philosophers and writers are seen endorsing its prospects and hopefully if followed, I feel certain that it may gradually fill the void of spiritual bankruptcy and one of its consequent results of recession, aswell.
Vedic Astrology helps to resolve doubts concerning children, health, spiritual growth, and other subjects. Suggestions regarding donations, gemstones, herbs, mantras, yantras (mystic diagrams), and rituals are integral parts of the system. As all Astrological studies are based on Astronomy, Vedic Astrology was also based on Astronomy. Aryabhatta, Bhaskaracharya, Kalidasa, Varahamihira, Bhattolpala, Jaimini etc., are a few among the world renowned Astronomers, dealt with Astrology also, in ancient India. Some others though not famous Astronomers, dedicated their lives for the cause of Astrology and contributed precious and valuable information through their hard work and research on the subject. These people with the meager resources they had, and with their naked eyes identified the various planets and measured the distance to them from the earth and found out their sizes and shapes. Their recordings when verified later with those found out with the help of telescopes invented by Galileo were exact and accurate. They predicted correctly the time of solar and lunar eclipses that are to come for many hundreds of years ahead, aswell.
Vedic Astrology is very sharp, because there is provision to go deep into the root cause of the matter since each sign and planet is divisible into 60-minute parts called the shashtyamsa. By studying these minute parts in detail the intricacies can be realized. Moreover the saptavarga and the ashtakavarga studies also reveal the manifold characteristics of various planets in detail. The planets are supposed to be hereditary transmitters from one generation to the other. Births and re-births are taken place to complete the cycle of life. The horoscope indicates the residues of the results of the deeds of the past births or ‘karma phala’. In this birth one will carry three sorts of karma, sanchitam, that is stored from the past birth, prarabdham, accumulating in this birth and agami stored for the future. The doctrine of karma says so. When the karma phala is exhausted there will be no more births. The microcosm becomes one with the macrocosm, which is the materialization of life as if a drop of water becomes one with the sea.
Amongst other amazing aspects of Vedic Astrology, the most impressive one is the Dasa System or the periods and duration of planetary cycles in human life (exclusive to Hindu Astrology) where predetermined periods are designated to the nine planets and a detailed interpretation is available at birth. The interpretation of Nakshtra or constellation of stars, is the most superior and sophisticated method of analysis. Vedic system is also the only reliable system to offer remedial measures to the adversities of malefic planets, some of which are mentioned even in the Atharva Veda. Vedic Astrology covers Karmic, Spiritual and Materialistic aspects of one's entire life with the timing of events. It is s really richer and more accurate than all other systems especially for the prediction of events with Time Frame. This, not only tell us, what is going to be happen in our life but also, when it will happen, provided the analysis is deep, authoritative,scientific,classical,unblemished,impartial,and with full Providence.Nakshatra (Star or Constellation) is further division of the Zodiac into 27 parts, each part of 13 degree 20'. This division is based on the average daily motion of the Moon, in the Indian Astrology. These Nakshatras are zone or group of stars or a major star, which are at a great distance from our Solar system. Each Nakshatra or Star is ruled by a planet, called 'Star Lord’ in this system. Two or more planets in the same RASHI (SIGN) and same BHAVa (HOUSE) in a horoscope can give different results.
Vedic Astrology is considered as the supreme knowledge granted to human being by the God, Almighty. If it is not properly used it will cause ‘tantra virodha’ causing havoc in life, to the person who misuses it. It should therefore be used only after deep study, dedication and full Providence, in its proper perspective. The three time periods namely past, present and future are supposed to be the transcendence of time and space in Vedic Astrology. It is therefore true knowledge. It is the path of eternal bliss. The conscious, unconscious and subconscious are contained in it. Old Indian sages say that no knowledge is complete with out the knowledge of Astrology. It is the most valuable possession human beings can have. Vedic Astrology can be used to find out the ways to cure diseases, to gain any knowledge, to make friends with any one and gain his intimacy, to answer questions, to lead healthier and happier life, to get through interviews, to negotiate successfully most difficult business deals, to determine the sex of a child, to gain wealth, to evaluate the position of stocks and shares, to win horse races, to speculate successfully and to lead a better, meaningful and contented life. One who uses Vedic Astrology in its proper perspective attains Moksha or eternal liberation also, through which our Creator is realized to fulfill the ultimate purpose of our life. There are so many branches to Vedic Astrology like Jathaka or Nativeity Chart; Prasna or Horary, Muhurta or Electional Astrology, Vana Nireekshana or Meteorology, Nashta Prasna or Missing persons or things, ‘Deva Prasna’ or the affairs of Temple or Church, and the affairs of all Sanctum Sanctorum, and the like. Authoritative texts are there to study deep into those subjects.
There were hundreds of thousands of books in Astrology in ancient India. Originally most of them were written in palm leaves, chemically prepared for the purpose. Almost all books were written in Sanskrit. The most voluminous literature in the world namely Tantra is also written in Sanskrit. These books were later translated into many Indian and foreign languages and were spread throughout the world. Many famous universities in the world, besides India, have manuscripts and copies of these books with them. The Vedas, Upanishads, Agamas (Sastras or science) Puranas, Ithihasas like Ramayana, Maha Bharatha, Maha Bhagavatha, Bhagavad Gita and many other books, depicting the culture and rich heritage of India and conveying the message of good will, peace, fraternity, moral principles and human values etc. were all printed originally in Sanskrit. Since these books are available in many languages, it is not difficult to get them and study by interested people.

‘Subham’

Yola

2009-09-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

Yola

ASTROLOGY, SOME NEW PERSPECTIVES:

2009-06-24T14:14:00.000-07:00

Astrology, Some correct perspectives:

Little Introduction:

Astrology dates back from the origin of man. The word Astrology is derived from two Greek words Astra (Stars) and Logos (Study). So, Astrology is the study of Stars. Astrology is Astronomy brought to earth and applied to the affairs of men. It teaches us that the Universe is governed by a perfect system, accurately timed with marvelous precision and accomplished with unerring exactness. It is a noble Science included under Vedangas as early as around 50,000 years ago. Astrology, they proved, is an empirical science like that of Physics or Chemistry, thanks to the presence of the Sun, Moon and the stars as typical and visible evidences. The tools to prove its veracity are very limited and handful, only the Sun, Moon, Stars, the 12 signs of the Zodiac, and some planets in all, in our Solar system, which can not be brought into a test tube or a laboratory. They stand far away from us. One can not touch and feel them, but their impact on us is tremendous and foretelling.

The Impact of Planets:
It is not a secret now that each planet has its own unique polarization /frequency which all living things in the universe are affected on a cellular level. The influence of time and space of an event stamps then and there, a permanent seal on it through the planetary alignment, the forces of which are flowing around us in invisible channels directing our lives towards certain conditions, some of which can be adjusted and or modified by knowing them well in advance in the right time, some times for our favor. Astrology gives us a vague picture of almost the whole of life. It is more sophisticated and more useful than any other Science. It is really the science of the Absolute. Albert Einstein once said:
“The more I study the Universe, the more I believe in a Higher Power.”
In concluding the introduction to his Autobiography, ‘Wings of Fire’, Shri: A.P.J. Abdul Kalam writes:
“We are all born with a divine fire in us. Our efforts should be to give wings to this fire and fill the world with the glow of its goodness”.

Geocentric:
The planets in the sky, which are within our Solar System, have impact on earth. The most important of them are the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune, the North Node (Rahu) and the South Node (Kethu). Their route is the Zodiac, which is divided into 12 Signs, from Aries to Pisces. From the earth we see the Sun rising, moving across the sky, and setting, because of the rotation of the earth. The time it takes for the earth to rotate completely around the Sun once at a speed of around 1000 miles per hour, is what we call a day or 24 hours. Earth’s rotation gives us day and night. The earth, in its turn, revolves round the Sun, at a speed of 67,000 miles/ hour, once in around 365 days and this is the year. Since we are on the mother Earth, it is Geocentric.

Stars cannot compel; they only impel:
There are so many branches in Astrology like Jathaka or Native Chart, Prasna or Horary, Muhurta or Electional Astrology, Vana Nireekshana or Meteorology, Nashta Prasna or Missing persons or things, the affairs of Sanctum Sanctorum of temples and churches, and the like. Horoscope or Natal Chart, as pointed out above, reveals the influence of time and space of a birth, stamped permanently on it, through the planetary alignment, their relations with the cusps and angles etc. In this context, we must always remember the Universal fact that Stars cannot compel, they only impel. Sometimes, as William Shakespeare said, we may feel that:
“The fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves”.

Destiny and Fate :
However, it is seen that stars help us shape our Destiny, but the ultimate Destiny or Fate is unto HIM, the Supreme Lord, the Brahman. Fate mostly depends on Karma, which is the law of consequences – of merit and demerit. Karma depends on Character. When we change our Character, we change our Karma. Character, in its turn, depends on habits. One may say that when character is lost, every thing is lost. Habits, attitudes and behaviors are closely linked to our unconscious. Do not turn the normal law of self-preservation inside out by bad habits and addictions. Again, Astrology is the only available proof for ‘Karma Theory’, which is the reason for all the happenings in the world. The three time periods namely past, present and future are supposed to be the transcendence of time and space in Astrology. It is therefore a true knowledge. It is the path of eternal bliss. The conscious, unconscious and subconscious are contained in it. Old Sages used to say that no knowledge is complete with out the knowledge of Astrology. It is therefore considered as the supreme knowledge granted to human being by the Gold, Almighty. If it is not properly and divinely used it will definitely cause ‘ tantra virodha’ to the Astrologer, causing havoc in his life. It should therefore be used only with utmost discretion after deep study, dedication and full providence.

Births and Re-births:
The planets are supposed to be hereditary transmitters from one generation to the other. Births and re-births are taken place to complete the cycle of life. The horoscope shows the residues of the results of the deeds of the past births or ‘karma phala’. In this birth one will carry three sorts of karma; ‘sanchitam’ that is stored from the past birth; ‘prarabdham’, accumulating in this birth and ‘aagami’, stored for the future. The doctrine of karma says so. When the ‘karma phala’ is exhausted there will be no more births. The microcosm becomes one with the macrocosm, which is the materialization of life, as if a drop of water becomes one with the sea.

Children and Character:
If a child grows in the habit of getting unconditional love from his parents, getting situations to help develop self-esteem, values, morals, and good traditions of life, enjoyment, good health, secure surroundings, chances to develop skills and abilities, of course coupled with strict discipline, he will have strength of character, which leads him to proper Karmas, the consequences of which will be a meaningful life. One thing is certain that unto every violation of law of the nature, there is meted out a penalty and it is inevitable. We can then try to resort to genuine, harmless and good processes of actions to mitigate evils, hoping for comfort and certainly with the ultimate aim of raising the level of our mind to a little more God-head, bearing in mind that the result of which depends on many other factors also, like the time for fructification of our prayers, the bank balance of our ‘papa-punyas’
or merits and demerits, transcended from our previous births, if any, etc.

Some laws of Nature :
In this context, since we came to know that the violation of nature’s law is the primary and most important cause of grief in life, we should try to understand at least some of the major laws of nature, so that we may not purposely violate them and invite unnecessary troubles and worries into our lives, although it is a cosmic fact that a prick of conscience is instilled in us by the mother nature when ever we try to think or do an evil thing. People with wisdom and virtue will realize it easily that it is against the law of nature and they avoid it at once, when recognized. Wisdom is knowing what to do and virtue is doing it. The most conspicuous nature’s law, I think, is its vicissitudes. Nature is indifferent, it is not constant, and it exhibits no freedom in its existence, but only necessity and contingency. Some split seconds are enough for the utter annihilation of a part of the world, or even the whole world, for that matter. Second one is that this variety of the Nature is under constant change owing to time, space and causation, which cannot be predicted exactly by any one. Because of the intensity of variety in nature, not even two leaves in a big tree are exactly similar, not to speak of humans. This phenomenon of the Nature teaches us a lesson that the expectations of two persons, whether it be husband and wife, father and mother, brother and sister, or two lovers, so to say, will never be on the same level. Very often this is the root cause for beginning all troubles. So, we should not expect anything and every thing from the other. We should learn to contain ourselves and try to be happy and contented with what we have, and share the excess.

Helps Liberation:
Astrology is really like a vast ocean. A famous Vedic Astrologer once said that he is only a particle of sand on the bank of the great ocean of Astrology. Astrology is spiritual, mystical, magical, and it is the music of the cosmos. A true and learned Astrologer can guide one to do the right thing at the right time and can guide to avoid the wrong thing at the tempting time. It is a Divine Science too, though empirical predictive in nature. It s purely based on mathematics, if the time and calculations go wrong, every thing will go wrong. The most important thing to be borne in mind about Astrology is that it should never be taken on any level other than the level of Vedanta, since it contains the quintessence of the philosophies of the entire world. Also, it is true that no better boat than a well written Horoscope can help a man cross over the troubled sea of life. Astrology ultimately helps our Atma (soul) to become Jivatma (manifested soul) and eventually to be one with Paramatma (The God), through deliverance or Liberation (Moksha or Sayoojya), which alone is supposed to fulfill or materialize the purpose of human birth. The higher the soul evolves, the more spiritual the understanding becomes until perfect rapport with the Divine Spirit is attained. This is the atonement, which makes a man perfect. Astrology, if approached in proper perspective, will be most helpful to achieve this goal. Astrology also reveals the greatest fact that the God, Almighty, is atonce transcendent and immanent, the principle emphasized in Sanatana Dharma, which is followed in countries like India, from time immemorial, by people of all caste, creed and color, irrespective of young and old.

Remedy rectifies to a certain extent:
Being known that there are sins in our deposit, we are expected to do ‘pariharas’ as remedial measures and ‘prayaschithas’ or amends, to mitigate the evils. If we believe God as the most powerful and all pervasive, kind and merciful, HE will accept our prayers and will pardon us for our mistakes. There is no man in this world who has not sinned in one way or other. Guilty conscience will never boost you up. It must be remembered in this context that for anything and everything we should not try to bring down God to our level and try to get things done as we wish. It is bad.
Bhagavat Gita says :
“ Udharedatmanatmanam, natmanamavasadayet,
Atmaivahyatmanobandhu: atmaivaripuratmana:”,
meaning, let one raise the self, by the self and not let the self go down, because the self is the friend of the self and self is the foe of the self. You should not degrade yourself. The inner urge should be kept up. There is conflict of Dharma and Adharma in our mind. All your enemies are with in you first. With diligent perseverance and persistence, we should hold on to Dharma and raise ourselves. It is nice to remember Shakespeare here, where Cassius reminds Brutus, in his Julius Caesar:
“Men at sometime are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our Stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings”

Some General Rules:
The Astrology Chart consists of 12 Bhavas. Some of the important things, amidst the hundreds of thousands, represented by each bhava can be put briefly in general, as follows:

First Bhava (Tanu bhava) :
Happiness, longevity, age, birth, caste or community, health, characteristic mark, virtues, sufferings, physique, form, shape, complexion, fame, prosperity, success, sex etc. This bhava is called Lagna (Rassenamudayo lagna:). This is known also as Ascendant and is supposed to be the Key to all other bhavas.

Second Bhava (Dhana bhava) :
Wealth, family, clothes, pearls, ruby, gems, minerals, horses, business, path, science, art, speech, right eye, penury, rise and fall, all movables, court cases, death of husband and wife, common enemies etc.

Third Bhava Bhratru bhava) :
Younger brothers and sisters, communications, servants, slaves, laborers, courage, valor, wicked intention, right ear, help, neighbors, small journeys, hearsay, letters, children of friends, friends of children etc.

Fourth Bhava (Sukha bhava) :
Pleasures, garden, fields, mother, friends, caves, maternal uncle, nephew, treasures, vehicles, cot, seat, cleverness, winsome manners, place of birth, education, estates, property of diseased etc.

Fifth Bhava (Putra bhava) :
Children, Intelligence, resourcefulness, genius, discriminatory faculty, merits of past lives, mantras, ministers, cheerful mind, pregnancy, spiritual practices, literary composition, charters, lotteries, clubs etc.

Sixth Bhava (Satru bhava) :
Thieves, enemies, obstacles, diseases, physical injuries, serious illness amounting to death, fear, battle, donkey, cruel deeds, get-well from illness, demise of friends, shepherds, enemies of wife etc.

Seventh Bhava (Kalatra bhava) :
Marriage, passion, partner, husband, wife, companion ship, union of lovers, inward and outward movements, bad chamber, ladies’ apartments, war, lost articles, business, litigation, dispute etc.

Eighth Bhava (Ayur bhava) :
Death, cause of death, total destruction, disaster, scandals, place of death, hostel, hermitage, difficulties on the way, fortress, corruption, fight, vulnerable points, deed of will, relations of servants etc.

Ninth Bhava (Bhagya bhava) :
Fortune, religion, merit, compassion, good luck, penance, father, grand children, charity, worship of gods, spiritual practices, Vedic hymns, noble conduct, wells, temples, voyage, insurance, health of father, tenants etc

Tenth Bhava (Karma bhava) :
Profession, all kinds of services, cities, assemblies, street, residence, command, support, refuge, kingship, position, utility, magistrate, great men, reputation, father in-law, enemies of friends, lawyers etc.

Eleventh Bhava (Labha Bhava) :
Gain of wealth, acquisition of desired objects, elder brother, one’s own progeny, left ear, elephant riding, crops, gold, maidens, trusts, perfidy of friends, ambassadors, advisors, cattle, death of father ec., and,

Twelfth Bhava (Vyaya bhava) :
Loss, sinful deeds, fall, hell, left eye, loss of position, physical handicap, defective limbs, renunciation, expenditure through charity, luxurious living, sacrifices, agricultural operations, tribulations, accidents etc.
Sharing Experience:

Now, I would like to share some of my experiences with you as follows:

** Prepared several hundreds of Horoscopes/Nativity Charts and delineated
them Astrologically. ** Conducted hundreds of Prasna/Horary in a most scientific manner.

** Studied Medical Astrology in detail. Almost accurately analyzed hundreds
of cases of diseases.

** Handled Electional and Mundane Astrology in a fruitful way.

** Conducted "Deva Prasna", regarding Sanctum Sanctorums, in more than
500 temples.

** Studied in detail Gemmology and successfully suggested gems for several
people as useful.

** Published varieties of articles (My First Prediction, A Prasna Session,
Planets and Leagal Profession, Planets and Criminal Propensities, etc. to
mention a few) in leading Astrological magazines and journals.

** Conducted Group discussions on various topics (Horoscope Matching,
Missing Persons, Lost Articles, Marriage and related Problems, Family
ife, Health

** Education, Longevity, Old Age, Diseases of mind and body, Childbirth,
Unnatural births, etc.) in Astrology.

** Conducted several training programs in Astrology, Calulating and
Analyzing Birth Charts, etc.

Please feel free to Counsel, Email me at nairradhakrishnan@hotmail.com

‘Sarvesham Santhir Bhavathu’

‘Subham’

2009-04-13T15:39:00.001-07:00

Bhagavatha Dharma..Last installment

2009-03-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

Bhagvatha Dharma-11:
Chapter-11:
Eleventh and Twelfth Skandas:

1059. Pathitha skhalitha schaartha:Kshuthwa vaa vivashofbruvanHaraye nama: ithychai:muchyathe sarva pathakaath.(When you are falling down, when you commit errors , when extreme sorrow befalls you, when you are sneezing and when you are tired, loudly say “Sri Haraye Nama:” (Prostrations to Sree Hari); then you are freed from all sins and you attain God-realization
1060.
Bhave Bhave yathaa Bhakti: paadayosthava jaayathe,
Thathaa kurushwa devesha: naathasthwam no yatha: prabho.
Naamasankeerthanam yasya sarva papa pranaashanam
Pranaamo du:khasamana: tham namaami Harim param.
(Oh! God of all Gods! You are our Master and sole protector. Do unto us, that by which we can get unflinching devotion to your Holy Feet. We prostrate before Lord Hari, the chanting of whose names destroys all our sins and prostration before whom mitigates all our sorrows.)

[Thus the translation of Bhagavatha Dharmam by Shri: PNB Nair ends here. It contains 1060 Suthras (Axioms)which bring out the essence of Srimad Bhagavatham. Bhagavatha Dharmam is not a verbatim interpretation of Srimad Bhagavatham. Bhagavatha Dharmam is really the Devotee (Bhakthan), the Devotion (Bhakthi) and the Deva(Bhagavan)(the Supreme Truth). It shows the interrelation among theses three. It explains the Devotional duties through which mortal beings could be rid of all fears. The observance of this Bhagavatha Dharmam is the very essence of Srimad Bhagavatham and it will take one to the ultimate goal of God Realization.]
HARI OM THAT SAT.

Bhagavatha Dharma - 11

2009-03-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

Bhagavatha Dharma -11:
CHAPTER XI :
Eleventh and Twelfth Skandas :
1024. Detachment comes from contemplation.
1025. When you feel detached from each and every object in this world, it means you have developed devotion to God.
1026. So long as God remains away from your body, there will be a bad smell for the body.
1027. By merely thinking about godly men you can become free from all sins.
1028. Man’s natural tendency is to live a bestial life in younger days. So try to get rid of your beastliness under the supervision of a Guru.
1029. Don’t talk much. Try to observe silence at least for three hours daily.
1030. Misuse of tongue (words) and hands (actions) is a great offence against God.
1031. Do not condemn the faith of other religions.
1032. Pray daily without fail.
1033. The body has its origin from desire. So the paths of Yoga and Knowledge are not suitable for God–realization in Kaliyuga. Chanting the Names of God is the simplest and most effective means for this in Kaliyuga.
1034. Almost everyone possesses theoretical knowledge. But only virtuous persons can translate that knowledge into their life.
1035. Try to speak sweetly; and keep a cool temperament.
1036. It is a sin to think about the sins of others.
1037. Don’t get elated by gains or dejected by losses.
1038. Give help to others as the Sun does. But never feel proud about doing so.
1039. Don’t cry when someone dies. You must cry only to get God.
1040. Don’t get entangled in sorrows and pleasures. Try to remain happy in any event.
1041. Man, who is now Nara can become Narayana if he tries for that.
1042. Man and woman engaged in spiritual practices should necessarily avoid mutual company
1043. Give away your wealth instead of amassing it.
1044. The main thing that causes man’s downfall is his tongue. He who has his tongue under control will get God also under his control.
1045. Your desire for enjoyment of pleasures is the cause for all your sorrows.
1046. Learn innocence from children.
1047. Don’t entertain desire for pleasures.
1048. Peace of mind is alien to those who live in cities. Therefore, holy men should live in solitude.
1049. God creates, protects and destroys everything by His Maya (delusive power)
1050. Even birds and animals are uplifted by the company of Holy men. Therefore, avoid the company of lustful people.
1051. Idle talk is a great sin. Speak only with measured words.
1052. Penance is the name of giving up desires. Giving up tendencies is Chivalry. Meditation of God is Truth. Righteousness is the greatest Wealth. A pundit is on who knows the path to reach God. He who translates his knowledge into life is Wise. He who installs ego in his intellect is Ignorant. One who is rich in his good qualities is the really rich man. That which is subordinate to Maya is soul. One who is always happy is the really wealthy man. One who is always unhappy is the destitute. One who has the senses under his control is God. The brave is one who has destroyed all his internal foes. A true Bhakta is he who does not entertain even the slightest degree of contempt against anyone.
1053. Human body is most sacred. If you don’t get the good fortune for the company of holy men, don’t get disappointed. But you must strictly avoid the company of worldly men. The duty of avoiding the company of worldly men is yours.
1054. Don’t be exulted by praises. So also don’t get dejected by insults. One who cannot bear insult is a weakling. One who insults you is really your well-wisher.
1055. Don’t get into the problems of others unnecessarily. Try to uplift yourself first.
1056. It is difficult to please the world; it is not so difficult to please God.
1057. Everyone knows that the last journey has to be performed alone. Nevertheless, man cannot live without woman, and woman cannot live without man. What a paradox?
1058. At the time of death, man should think only about the God’s form. God will then convert that man into His own form.
(To be continued)

Bhavatha dharmam - 10

2009-03-17T18:03:00.000-07:00

Bhagavatha Dharmam-10 :
CHAPTER X :
Tenth Skandha(Second half):
(Translation by Shri: PNB Nair)
996. This world is never bad. It is your polluted mind that sees the world as bad.
997. So long as the mind contains emotions and tendencies, it will remain polluted. Mind will get purified insofar as these emotions and tendencies are controlled.
998. Tightly hold the holy feet of God well before your body is invaded by the disabilities due to old age and time.
999. In old age, people lie in the sick bed for seventeen days and die on the eighteenth day.
1000. The sorrows of birth, old age and death are your own creations.
1001. You must learn the secret of action and give up all actions before actions themselves give you up. When you give up all actions, you become surrendered to God.
1002. There are two rules which man should necessarily observe:-(1) Give up sins; and (2) Perform good actions.
1003. A man breathes 21600 times a day. So if he can recite on name of God along with each breath, his life will be fulfilled without doubt.
1004. When you are fifty years old, know that death has already occupied half of your body.
1005. Giving the senses whatever worldly objects that the body needs for its upkeep is using them. But giving the senses whatever they ask for the sake of sensual enjoyment is misusing them. Those who misuse wealth and strength are Daityas(Demons).Those entrapped in fashion-related tendencies are merely misusing their time and money.
1006. (i) Lakshmi is the name of money acquired through all means, fair as well as foul .That money is used for good causes as well as for enjoyment of pleasures.(ii) Maha Lakshmi is the name of money acquired through rightful employment based on eligibility and other righteous means .That money is used only for noble purposes.(iii) Alakshmi is the name of money acquired only through sinful means. That is used only for the enjoyment of sensual pleasures. That money will continue to give disturbance and restlessness to man.
1007. Don’t enter into a marriage as a slave to the senses. You should marry only with full control over the senses.
1008. Listen to the stories of Lord Krishna over and over again. He will attract your mind and make it His own.
1009. If the wife is virtuous, her husband will be free from sorrows.
1010. Speak only what you think in your mind. Try to maintain unity of your words and deeds.
1011. Treat Lakshmi(goddess of wealth) as your mother and worship at home. That will make you happy. If you try to become Lakshmi’s master, you will be beaten by the broomstick of Alakshmi.
1012. Don’t be under the control of your innate nature. Rather, keep it under your control. Innate nature will be cultured by positive actions, thoughts about God, recital of God’s names, company of godly men, reading of good books etc.
1013. First ensure that your mind is cultured. Then only you should start to advise the world. If your own inner self gets satisfaction from your actions, it shows that your innate nature has been cultured.
1014. If Veda Mantras get into the hands of sensuous people, they will interpret the Mantras according to their convenience, by giving opposite meanings.
1015. If Brahmacharis come to your house, receive them respectfully.
1016. The soul becomes restless in old age.
1017. If there is difference of opinion at home, go on a pilgrimage.
1018. Destitution is not a misfortune. Forgetting God in destitution is the greatest misfortune
.1019. One who eats food without sharing it with others will become destitute.
1020. Give up all your enmities and tendencies before death. Tendencies will cause rebirth.
1021. If man will think about death often, he cannot commit sins.
1022. Desire (for worldly pleasures) is a strong impediment to Bhakti.
1023. If a man’s food is impure, his prayer will also be impure.
(To be continued)

Bhagavata Dharmam 9, Continued

2009-03-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

Bhagavatha Dharmam-9 :
Tenth Skandha(First Half)
(Translation by Shri: PNB Nair)
803. Husband and wife should love each other. But mere physical attachment is not love. Today the word “love” has been corrupted very much. When you are governed by emotions and tendencies, you cannot realize the value of true love. A life without love is delusion.
804. A yogi will not become a rogi.(sick) If a yogi gets some disease, it means that he has erred in the path of Yoga.
805. A thoughtful man should think of Lord Krishna only at all times. If a man goes into a trance, with eyes wide open, while sitting in meditation, that condition is genuine Samadhi
.806. A true Bhakta does not fear death. He will welcome death with pleasure.
807. He is true Bhakta, who sees his own faults and praises the merits of others.
808. The body of the one who makes others happy by the purity of his thoughts, words and actions will naturally become the abode of God.
809. There are many obstacles in the path of Jnana(knowledge). Self realization will be possible only through total renunciation and control of all the eleven senses.
810. If you receive the blessings of all, there will be God’s presence in your house. Don’t make cause for any one to criticize you.
811. Respect everyone. The greatest gift that we can give to anyone is respect. In truth, all beings are different manifestations of God. With this conviction, we must respect all.
812. Take care to see that actions of others do not disturb your peace of mind.
813. Avoid all actions that may cause unhappiness to others.
814. If God is in your mind, you will forget hunger and thirst.
815. Pure body and mind are nothing but Mathura and Gokul.
816. There will be no injustice in the kingdom of God. Whatever happens there will be just and fair.
817. Pilgrimage to holy places is good. But along with that it should be ensured that our body and mind are also kept as pure as the holy places.
818. When Lord Sri Krishna is residing in your mind there will be no trace of unhappiness in it.
819. The best time for meditation of God is Brahma muhurtha( one-and-a –half hours prior to sun-rise).It is necessary to do meditation for at least half an hour during this period. If you do this regularly for twelve years, you will have the experience of God.
820. God has given you wealth in order to spend it for poor- feeding and other noble purposes.
821. Mahatmas (great men) cannot be tested on the basis of their caste or creed. Their greatness is in their eyes and thoughts.
822. When four eyes meet at one place, you experience Ananda(Bliss)
823. Ordinary beings remain separate from God. So they are afflicted by fear.
824. When you see friends don’t tell them about your comforts. Only enquire about their comforts
.825. When you return from distant places bring something special for God. If you do so your life at that place will have the fragrance of Bhakti.
826. There is no other thing as sacred as Jnana(knowledge).Bhakti comes out of pure Jnana.
827. Look at women not as mere females, but as the images of Parasakti. (Superior cosmic power.)
828. When the desire for enjoying unrighteous and unlawful pleasures arises in you, and you eat food merely for satisfying the taste of your tongue, take it that Poothana (not pure) is dominating your tongue.
829. When your mind finds pleasure in listening to dreadful and wanton conversation, it means that Poothana is dominating your ears.
830. If you pay more attention to the leather (Body), you will become a cobbler in your next birth. Therefore, instead of wasting time for pampering the body, worship God as much as possible.
831. The one whose mind is poisonous and body alone is beautiful, she is Poothana. The one whose appearance is beautiful while actions are cruel, she is Poothana. The one who praises anyone on seeing face to face, but insults later on is Poothana.
832. Don’t be deluded by the external beauty of a person and believe that person to be pure internally too.
833. As man is a heap of tendencies, his downfall is quick. Poothana makes her appearance through the eyes.
834. When we are able to see God in everything, then only we can derive the joy of ‘seeing’.
835. Jiva (the soul) is egotistic Even though there is nothing of its own, poor thing! It takes pride in everything.
836. Wishing happiness to others is the characteristic of true devotees of God
.837. One who,by the grace of God, is able to see God in everything, will be accepted by the Goddess of Bhakti as her own.
838. Jiva (the soul) has no right to deal with Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth). If it does so, Lakshmi will vanish immediately.
839. Cow’s urine purifies everything. Drinking and bathing in cow’s urine will eradicate diseases. It is useful for purifying the mind also. By drinking cow’s urine 108 times you get relief from all sins. Do this for six months.
840. If you waste your time on ‘fashion’ and allied bad habits, you cannot progress in the path of Bhakti.
841. On festival days, make good use of your thoughts, words and seeds. Think of God for a longer time than usual. Give food to the poor. Invite holy men to your house, pay them respects and offer them food and clothing.
842. ‘Poor and destitute’ are the children of God. We should be ashamed to call them so. Whatever we give them should be given with humility and respect, fixing our eyes on the ground.
843. If the desire to receive arises in you, it is called Moha (delusion). If your desire is always to give, that is called Prema(love)
844. If you misuse your wealth, Lakshmi( goddess of wealth will forsake you.
845. There is a golden opportunity in everybody’s life when luck becomes favourable. Without wasting that occasion, give all that you have to your fellow creatures lavishly and spread the message of universal love. If luck is not in your favour, you cannot earn anything however much you desire to do so.
846. God will be pleased if you pay your homage to holy men and Brahmins.
847. Married life is not for enjoyment. On the contrary, it should be used for the worship of God. If the chariot of marriage goes astray, it will topple down.
848. If importance is given for carnal pleasures, know that the chariot is going astray. Even after realizing that you are moving in the opposite direction, if you continue the same path, the chariot will definitely fall into deep pit.
849. If the memory of anything comes to your mind when you are about to sleep at night, that is the thing in which your mind finds more pleasure. The mind of a greedy person finds pleasure in wealth while that of a lustful person in women. What gives more pleasure to your mind in the waking state, that you will see in your dream also. A man’s character can be determined from the dreams he sees.
850. A right seeker gets his first vision of God in his dreams.
851. Recite the names of God while cooking your food. Sing the sweet songs on Krishnabhakti(devotion to Lord Krishna) melodiously.
852. While performing your duties maintain your devotion also. This is known as Maryada bhakti( limited devotion)
853. God will appear before you in any form. So you must respect everyone. If not you will be deceived.
854. Those who waste money for carnal pleasures are Rakshasas.(demons)
855. God will never part with a true spiritual seeker. But God will forsake those who are not sincere in spiritual practices. Anyone who takes pride in his spirituality will also be forsaken by God. So be careful not to take pride in your spiritual practices.
856. If you are not able to detach yourself from worldly bonds during your life time, it would not be possible after death also.
857. The world is wonderful. What you can see with your eyes closed is the world. The world that is deep-rooted in your mind is a strong impediment.
858. Bhakti(devotion) cannot reach perfection without Bhavana (imagination).
859. Your mind does not part with you even in your death.
860. The mind becomes free from all thoughts when you are in deep sleep. That is why you get the experience of happiness during sleep.
861. The mind exists because of its thoughts on worldly objects. There fore, when worldly objects are forsaken, the mind ceases to exist.
862. The mind always needs a support. There fore, withdraw the mind from negative thoughts and lead it to positive thoughts.
863. Yoga is difficult for pleasure-mongers. First pre-requisite for Yoga is celibacy. He who acts contrary to this principle will be afflicted by serious diseases leading to disaster.
864. Do not show hatred towards anyone in this world.
865. Give up the desire to enjoy worldly pleasures.
866. A spiritual seeker should not get involved in the mesh of unnecessary arguments. Thinking of worldly objects is the practice of mind from time immemorial. Induce that mind to listen to the stories and think of Lord Krishna. When the nectar of Sri Krishna’s stories falls on your ears, thoughts of worldly objects will automatically disappear.
867. Your senses being Gopis, join them with Lord Krishna.
868. Time will deceive you once. At that time you will have to leave your house with tears. Those who know this truth will, renounce the house well in time.
869. Like YasodDevi(Foster-mother of Lord Krishna)you should try to see God even while performing your normal duties.
870. Each and every action of a Bhakta (Devotee) is soaked in Bhakti(Devotion), because all his actions are performed under the orders from God.
871. Man falls into dangers when his intellect rejects God and seeks worldly objects.
872. Man does not see God because he is not praying with a pure heart.
873. God gives every thing, even to a wicked man, with the expectation that his soul might recover from its fall and improve in the near future.
874. God does not accept a man as His without testing.
875. How much sin does a man commit for the sake of a little money? Several small sins combined together become a great sin. Oh! Man! Even if you do not do anything good, it will be a good thing if you can desist from committing sins.
876. God is the only one who deserves to be loved. Because of your love towards worldly things, you have to spend most of your life in tears.
877. A soul gets a human body when papa and punya (merits and demerits of past actions) are equal. When you start experiencing grief, take it that your papa is being mitigated.
878. When you are engaged in household affairs, you cannot remember any other thing. But when you are engaged in Japa( recital of God’s names) you remember only household affairs and allied worldly matters.
879. Even when sitting for meditation on God, man is often thinking of the worldly pleasures that he has experienced. Human nature is generally to forget God, on the pretext that of meditating on God.
880. It is also human nature to seek for anything that is not easy to get.
881. God never forgets man. But man unnecessarily burns his heart by engaging himself in useless thoughts.
882. If you lose everything in the service of God, never mind .That is a blessing of God. But if your service of God is only for the sake of food, that is not service.
883. When you develop distaste for worldly matters, you get the taste of God. When that taste is full, God will take care of your worldly affairs also.
884. Bhakti in the form of love, binds God to our hearts. Jnana and Yoga have no power to bind God in this manner. Bhakti means Shakti(Power)
885. God is free from all desires while the soul is full of desires.
886. Man’s love is fragmented or scattered among many things. Some of his love goes to wife and children come for various luxuries of life and finally not a bit of love remains for God.
887. Money earned through unfair means leads to three main vices, viz. gambling, immorality and addiction to liquor and meat.
888. Blinded by money-power, man forgets that his body is mortal and subject to decay. So he hurts other fellow creatures He who realizes that this body belongs to God and has to be used for the service of God, is the most fortunate person.
889. Those who use their time and money solely for enjoyment of worldly pleasures will take birth as trees in their next incarnation. Sinners necessarily have to take re-birth as trees, because trees are said to be in the Papa Yoni. (Sinful womb)
890. If someone cries for Kannaya (Lord Krishna), sitting in solitude, then Kannaya will rush to his side and console him.
891. Never beg to God for anything. Recollect the helps done by God to us, time and again. You can bind God only with the rope of Love.
892. Do not eat your food without sharing it with others. If you share your food joyfully with others, your satisfaction will be thousand times more than what you get by eating alone
.893. While circum-ambulating in the temples, keep on chanting the Names of God.
894. Man observes certain discipline in his food; but not in his worship. If a man eats his food without worshipping God, he is eating sin.
895. You must tell the story of your grief to God only, in private. Never talk about it to others.
896. When you surrender the fruits of your actions to God, He will give you everything including Himself. When you surrender the fruits of your good actions to God, He will fill your coffers with valuable gems.
897. Never entertain the desire to enjoy the fruits of your actions already surrendered to God. When you perform each and every action on behalf of God, that action will take shape as Bhakti.
898. You can do whatever you want to do. But take care not to move away from God. Then all your actions will turn into Bhakti.
899. Man is affected by sinful thoughts when he becomes weak. Make it a habit to think of God at least for five minutes at the beginning of each hour during the day. This will ward off all sins from you.
900. You must be happy always, whatever be the circumstances in which God has placed you. Make all your actions be subjected to the will of God. You don’t know the results of your actions; but God knows.
901. Sound and its echo are alike. If you have ill will towards others, they will also have ill will towards you.
902. You must be active always. If your body is not tired of day-long activity, you cannot get good sleep. If you remain idle, you will be fall in the grip of sinful thoughts. Good actions will give good sleep. That sleep will lead you in the path of Bhakti.
903. When the culture and tendencies of previous births no longer influence you, you will derive happiness from your actions.
904. When your children are five years old, you must try to inculcate the culture of righteousness in them. Don’t give them rice as food on Ekadasi days. Parents who do not give instructions to their children in the path of Bhakti and righteous living are their enemies.
905. Impressions formed in a child’s mind are long-lasting. A child’s mind is very tender. Good culture inculcated in childhood will make the youth glorious.
906. The company of great men you protect you from down fall. The fear of fall is only when you walk alone. If you walk holding the hands of God, there is no need for any fear.
907. God exhorts all living creatures to His side through the melodious sound of His divine flute. But this sound does not reach the ears of those creatures that are enchanted by the attraction of worldly objects.
908. Do not reject any one. That is the main requirement of Bhakt.
909. There is no greater sin than arrogance. All other sins have atonement; but not for arrogance.
910. He, whose body is handsome but mind is wicked, is Bakasura.
911. Where ignorance and arrogance are reigning, that is the kingdom of sin.
912. Arrogance will show up when fame and greed for wealth are on the increase.
913. When man is about to commit a sin, his conscience will warn him against it. But because of man’s weakness, he is not able to desist from the sin. As a consequence, mishaps constantly attack him. A true Bhakta (devotee) is on who does not allow shelter to sin in his mind.
914. Soul and senses are mutually related. Therefore, the soul is unable to prevent the sinful actions of the senses. It simply remains as a mere witness.
915. Cut off any sinful thought from the mind as soon as it occurs. Once sin enters into the mind of any one, it will never leave him. But there is one remedy for it. That is to go and weep before the Lord.
916. If a sinful thought is allowed to remain in the mind even for a short while, it will be very difficult to get rid of it later.
917. The mind is always with you. Therefore, wherever you go, it will, continue to induce you to commit sin.
918. When guided by tendencies, you will tend to commit sins, even if your conscience forbids. Divine knowledge is often swept away in the current of tendencies. Therefore, you have no hesitation to commit sins. Strangely enough, you don’t even get peace of mind without committing sin! What is the remedy for this? The only remedy is to make God a witness to all your actions.
919. No action is possible without pronouncing a sound. If not by your tongue, you are always making sound with your mind. Therefore, before committing any sin either your tongue or mind will make the sound of it. If you want, you can get rid of that sin then and there.
920. Everyone knows that telling a lie is sin. Similarly, it is well known that hurting others is also sin. Nevertheless, the weakness of your mind makes you commit such sins.
921. If you have committed a sin by chance, recite the names of God. Make God the witness to all your actions. If you do so, God will take away your tendency to commit sin.
922. Sins already committed will not be mitigated without suffering the punishment for them. But if you surrender both the punya(merits) and papa(demerits) of your actions to God, they will not affect you.
923. If you receive the mercy of holy men and evolved souls, you will be freed from the tendency to commit sins.
924. Your tendency to commit sins arises from desire and anger. Both are born out of Rajo guna (the quality of restiveness).So you must always try to eradicate Rajoguna and cultivate Sattwa guna (the quality of solemnness)925. If you can derive happiness from the worship of God at least once, the whole world will then appear to you as quite silly. People go after worldly objects for happiness, only because they are unable to find happiness from worship of God.
926. A woman who cannot see God in her husband cannot feel the presence of God in other images also.
927. The more you enjoy worldly pleasures, the more is your tendency to commit sins. Reduce the enjoyment of pleasures and your sins also will get reduced.
928. Try to check all your bad habits. Try to curtail the urge that ‘’I want more, I want more”. This will make you happy.
929. To see only “things” is the nature of soul. God sees not “things”, but only “attitudes”
930. If God has given you sufficient wealth, use it for rearing cows. Service to cows will ward off all fears such as untimely death and other similar mishaps.
931. If a man having immense wealth in his possession chooses to enjoy it without giving anything to others, he is Dhenuka Asura. Asses like him will consider the body as the greatest wealth.
932. This world is like a wild fire. It encompasses and burns the creatures from all the four sides. Burning from all sides, this terrifying fire destroys everyone. Therefore, close your eyes and loudly recite the holy names of God. God will put out this wildfire which comes to us in the form of woes
.933. If you can remain totally absorbed in the recital of God’s names, this wild fire will not affect you.
934. Do not collect the poison of hatred in your heart.
935. A woman who takes her husband to the presence of God or to the company of godly men is the real wife.
936. A real housewife is the woman who leads her husband in the spiritual path and encourages him to perform good actions. A wife who entangles her husband in worldly pleasures is his enemy.
937. Bliss cannot be experienced unless the worshipper and worshipped become one. This is the first step to enter into the realm of God.
938. Food shall never be disrespected and left over food shall never be served to god-men
939. If you have to depend on something, depend on God’s holy feet only; nothing else.
940. Look at every woman as your mother. Then carnal desires will not arise in your mind. So also, try to see Lord Krishna in every thing.
941. The time between 11PM and 3.30AM is not suitable for taking bath and food.
942. Man’s greatest enemy is desire. All other bad qualities come from that. Loss of Budhi (discriminative power) is its ultimate result.
943. A Pathivratha (a woman who is faithful to her husband without blemish) can convert even God into a child.
944. Love intensifies during separation. Separation is beneficial while re-union is sometimes detrimental (to love)945. If the seeker’s mind is restless while meditating on God, he will not get the vision of God. He will see only darkness. But the meditation should be continued without getting disappointed. Gradually the light of God will become visible to you.
946. He who is dominated by Rajoguna can see only faults, even in faultless things.
947. Do not waste your time on worldly talks and thoughts. If you waste the most valuable time, how can you uplift yourself in this birth?
948. The reason for all the unrest of today is forgetting God.
949. By Sadhana (spiritual practices) you get many Sidhis (supernatural powers). If you are not carried away by these powers, you will get God in the end. So carry on with your spiritual practices, without being enamored of the Sidhis.
950. Do not trust your mind till the last breath. If you trust the mind, it will throw you into a dark pit.
951. You must continue your prayers and worship of God till the last day of your life. Your prayer must be like this:-“Oh God! Bless me to continue my prayers, worship and recital of thy names till my last breath.” Let death come at any time.
952. By spiritual practice man gets many powers. Some get word power. That makes them famous. People start running after them. So they become proud of their word power. Pride is the first step towards their downfall. Their followers start praising them. The poor soul thinks that he has become great. This brings about his total downfall.
953. When love of God increases, the seeker gets the feeling that God belongs to him. At the culmination of Sadhana, this feeling changes and he will see his God and himself as one single entity. Even after this experience of identification with God, the seeker does not stop his spiritual practices. Because, he knows that as soon as he stops Sadhana, Maya (delusion) will catch hold of him.
954. However, most people show the tendency to stop spiritual practices after reaching its culmination.
955. When you get wealth and comforts, don’t forget God. Whatever be the circumstances, never give up worship of God.
956. If you think that pleasurable objects of the world are giving you happiness, you become unhappy in their absence. What you have to seek is the happiness which is not related to any worldly object. Otherwise, the result will be unhappiness only.
957. If a man thinks of something constantly in his mind, its shape will reflect on his face.
958. When man becomes egotistic, his voice will become hoarse. That will affect his mind also.
959. Speak about your own faults and always praise the glories of God. God will soon be pleased with you.
960. Praise God when your happiness ends, when your unhappiness ends and also when your life end.
961. Take refuge in God. This is the greatest duty of man. It is God’s duty too, to accept the refugee as His own.
962. Gift of food and clothing to others is a noble act. But the noblest gift one can give is the stories of God. Great devotees of God are those who give out the stories of God without expecting anything in return.
963. Make God your debtor. Don’t make yourself a debtor to God by begging something from Him.
964. By constant worship of God, the body of the devotee becomes divine.
965. Delusion demands pleasures; love demands renunciation. Delusion intensifies in union; love intensifies in separation.
966. When anger leaves you, greed also goes with it. But desire does not go. If you want to defeat desires, you must take refuge in Lord Krishna. Take only moderate food. Remain in solitude. Overcome sleep. Read RasaPanchadhyayi at midnight. Carnal desires are usually aroused around midnight. At that time you must necessarily worship Lord Krishna. Desires will flee only when His names are heard
.967. Don’t be proud of beauty. If you belittle any creature, you cannot acquire devotion. Humility and simplicity are the aids to the path of devotion.
968. Don’t look at anyone with a faulty vision. It is a sin to think of this body which is merely skin. On seeing shapes (bodies) emotions arise in your mind. This world is never a beautiful thing. God alone is beautiful.
969. Whenever you perform any noble action, you must tell yourself:- “God is making me an instrument for the performance of this action.”
970. Do not entertain any desire either to live long or to die early.
971. Sinners commit sins even when walking along the road. Good men perform good actions even when walking along the road. Don’t look at anybody when you are walking along the road.
972. God will fulfill all your good intentions. Man’s hunger is his egotism. That hunger makes him feel that all others should respect him. But when man is honoured by God, that hunger will subside and his egotism will be shattered.
973. You should not have the desire to know what the world tells about you. If someone gives a good opinion about you, you become happy and you will have goodwill to that person. If it is the opposite you will have ill will against him.
974. Keep in touch with God, somehow or other.
975. A son gives a little happiness but more sorrow.
976. In which attitude you think of God, God accepts you in the same attitude.
977. He is the rich one, who like Akroora, is honoured in the council of God. Those who are honoured by the world tend to become proud and that leads to their downfall.
978. Ordinary water is not suitable for washing our mind. Tears of love flowing out of our eyes incessantly will wash out the impurities of both mind and eyes.
979. Insulting others is a nefarious act. This is divine law. If a man commits sin using a particular sense organ, he will suffer sorrow on account of the same organ.
980. If a man’s mind is impure, that mind will be restless at the time of his death.
981. How should love be expressed? Learn this from the conduct of Bala Rama and Sree Krishna.
982. Intellect becomes crooked when it follows the senses. When it follows God, it becomes straight again.
983. Thakshaka, the serpent in the form death will come and bite every one. This will definitely happen on any one of the seven days of the week. When black hairs turn white, when teeth begin to fall, take it as a notice for the arrival of death. At least on receipt of notice from death, one must start worshipping God.
984. He is Kamsa, who enjoys pleasures by hurting others. Today their number is on the increase. Consequently, man has to face unending dangers on account of his desire, anger and other allied vices.
985. If your words and deeds are not alike, those words will have no power. The mistake of those who try to put Jnana (knowledge) into practice is this. They would hold discussions on spirituality while living in luxurious bungalows. This is not correct. Instead of putting too much theoretical knowledge into your head, it is better to put into practice whatever knowledge you have acquired. Whatever advice Lord Krishna had given to the world, He had put into practice all of them in His life.
986. What has man to do? He must serve godly persons having good spiritual power. Knowledge is achieved only through service. Knowledge acquired through one’s own efforts will generate egotism. On the other hand, knowledge achieved by the service of great men will give humility and discrimination.
987. Today teachers who should impart knowledge are living in luxury. So the students also live in luxury. But control of senses is essential for students.
988. Control of senses is the main factor for God-realization. If the student does not have this he cannot get knowledge. Therefore, develop control of senses and detachment. Having once given up any worldly pleasure, take care not to enjoy it again. It is equivalent to eating the spew.
989. A solemn atmosphere will purify the mind. Polluted atmosphere will likewise pollute the mind.
990. Jnana (knowledge) is not for preaching. True Jnanis(learned) will never be proud of their knowledge
.991. Love likes to remain concealed. However it automatically gets revealed very often.
992. Knowledge without Bhakti is worldliness only.
993. A Jnani(learned man) always speaks little. When Jnana(knowledge) is blessed by its mother Bhakti, Jnani becomes silent.
994. The so called Jnanis do not surrender themselves to God.Their mind is deluded by the thought that “I am a learned man”. Because of this feeling of pride, humility evades them. Good qualities will shine forth only when they are combined with humility. When pride is dominating in a person, only bad qualities will show up.
995. In union, we see with our external eyes; in separation we see with our mind’s eyes
(Continued to 10)

BHAGAVATHA DHARMAM-8

2009-03-12T09:07:00.000-07:00

CHAPTER VIII:
The Ninth Skandha:
(Trnslation by Shri: P.N. Balakrishnan Nair)
:723. Those who make good use of the God-given gifts like time, wealth, strength etc. are Devas (god-like men).Those who misuse them are Rakshasas (demon-like men)
724. When there is lust in your mind, you can see only lust everywhere.
725. You should always maintain the limits of morality as exemplified by Lord Sri Rama.
726. When we emulate the example set by Mahatmas (great souls) our natural tendencies will subside. But the minutest tendencies deep-rooted in mind and intellect will still remain. Mind will become pure only by ultimate knowledge. Never entertain the feeling that your mind is pure.
727. Worship properly the Moon which is governing deity of the mind and SuryaNarayana (the sun-god) which is the governing deity of the intellect. The intellect gets easily purified for those who perform the worship at the three Sandhyas ( Sun-rise, mid-day and sunset)
728. Where there is Bhakti (devotion),there you get the protection of Jnana (knowledge) in the form of Sudarsana (the divine wheel of Vishnu)
729. A real Vaishnava(devotee of Lord Vishnu) will not see the faults of others. He will see his own faults again and again.
730. Those who pursue the course to attain God should totally avoid the company of lustful men and women. They should avoid the company of not only women, but also those men who always keep company with women.
731. It is difficult to develop Bhakti when you live among lustful and luxurious people. There is no reason for disappointment even if you don’t get the company of good men. But make it sure that you don’t get into the company of lustful men.
732. The woman who insults her husband by cruel words will be born as a female crow in her next birth.
733. When you build a house for you imagine that it is Ayodhya.If you live on the banks of the river of Bhakti your body also will become Ayodhya.
734. Human life is momentary. Remember this truth always and put on the garment of Bhakti. Humility is the ornament that adorns Bhakti.
735. Depend upon God only. Never depend upon your mind. If you depend upon your mind, your downfall is certain.
736. God always resides in those who try to make others happy and comfortable.
737. In grief, God’s sacred Names will give you great relief.
738. Both men and women should live within the moral limits prescribed for them.
739. Bhakti which disregards the Dharmic limits has no value and is useless.
740. If any person has all good qualities present in him, that person is none other than God.
741. Make all efforts to emulate all the good qualities of Lord Sri Rama in your life.
742. While man performs meritorious acts on one side, he commits sins also through the other side. So the ultimate result gets nullified.
743. Parents are visible forms of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Narayana. So they should be worshipped with purity of thought, word and deed.
744. Man should strictly adhere to one wife in his life. A house-holder, who enjoys worldly pleasures in accordance with the moral code prescribed by the scriptures, is in effect a celibate person.
745. Being faultless is the quality of God. If you happen to see any fault in your Guru preceptor) that alone should not be emulated by you.
746. Women should not touch the feet of any man other than their husband, even if it happens to be a great man. They should prostrate before such people without touching their feet. This is the injunction of scriptures.
747. Never hurt the feelings of Mahatmas.
748. Every word in the Ramayana has the power to redeem our sins.
749. You must invariably give up enmity and hatred.
750. If you happen to speak or hear about drinking poison, recite the names of Rama with love. Then nectar will ooze from your throat and that will neutralize the poison.
751. You must regard elder brother as Rama and younger brothers as Bharata and Lakshmana.
752. Bharath is the land of action. Whatever action you perform here will definitely bear fruit
.753. What you think about others; that others will think about you too.
754. Love is not accepting something from others. Always giving is the sign of love. Love is broken when emotions, tendencies and selfishness crop up.
755. Those who wish to see others happy will never be unhappy.
756. Prarabdha (result of past actions) has necessarily to be suffered. But take care not to acquire new Prarabdha.
757. Detachment is to be kept within one’s own self. It is not to be displayed for convincing others.
758. If you want to be happy, you should first cultivate in yourself, contentment, forbearance, egalitarianism and the habit of doing good to others.
759. If you will respect everybody, your life will be as sweet as sugar-candy.
760. If the very sight of a person can change your character, that person is none other than God. If you can always think of Sri Rama, you can see the whole world as your mother.
761. Try to install God in your eyes, ears and face.
762. By worshipping and meditating on whom all your worldly desires subside, that person is God.
763. That intellect, which is deeply immersed in the thoughts of carnal pleasures, is blunt and life-less.
764. Those who are unable to live without thinking of God and worshipping Him are Vaishnavas(true devotees)
765. Diseases keep away from those who worship Tulasi plant daily.
766. One who makes others cry without cause is Ravana. He who boasts himself and compels others to praise his glories is also Ravana.
767. If there is no similarity between the habits of husband and wife their marriage cannot be successful. Marriage is the unification two minds dwelling in two different bodies.
768. When you praise the parents of your wife, she becomes happy. Similarly, if you love the world, you will be loved by the world.
769. When the hairs near your ears become grey, remember that you are approaching old age.7
70. There is no end for desires.
771. God forgives even the greatest mistakes committed by man.
772. Ultimate Truth is simple. But the worldly activities are complicated. So even while in the midst of activities, keep thinking of God.
773. Life is not beautiful without penance.
774. Cause of man’s happiness and unhappiness is his own actions.
775. The species in which a soul takes birth is dependent on its past actions.
776. The results of past actions must be endured inevitably.
777. Man’s life has to be bound by certain moral principles. A man whose life is unprincipled is worse than animal.
778. Too much of reading and understanding leads to pride. This is hindrance to Bhakti.
779. Those who are struggling in worldly matters are wasting their time and money. He who is reluctant to serve Lord Hari, wastes the whole of his life, doing only harm to others.
780. A man’s mind has to be tested with reference to his food and other habits. That is to say, your character can be guessed from your food and other habits.
781. If the worldly pleasures appear to you as sweet, you cannot have Bhakti.
782. Worldly pleasures by themselves are not harmful. Excessive desire for them is harmful.
783. Bhakti without detachment cannot thrive.
784. Vasana(tendencies), like Soorpanakha would appear beautiful in the beginning. Later it will reveal its true colour.
785. Worship of God is not for convincing others; but for pleasing only God.
786. Man cannot live without love. But, instead of loving God, man loves everything other than God and consequently he is subjected to terrible sorrow. Love of God can be developed by curtailing the love of worldly things little by little.
787. Without realizing one’s own faults, one cannot see God. Finding fault with others is an obstruction to the vision of God.
788. He who dies with a tendency to hate others cannot reach God’s abode. So take the vow that “I will not hate anyone”.
789. It is difficult to remain detached amongst the people attached to worldliness. Your eyes and body might commit sins unknowingly, however hard you may try to control them.
790. Recite the holy names of God and think of noble things before retiring to sleep at night and rising from bed in the morning.
791. It is a sin to insult food.
792. Showing insult or disrespect towards holy men will lead to total annihilation.
793. Avoid cooking food on Ekadasi day(eleventh day after a Full moon or New moon).
794. Try to be innocent and impervious like children.
795. Faults enter into our mind through the eyes. So keep a control over the eyes. Then life will become faultless.
796. It is good for house-holders to read Ayodhya Kanda in Ramayanam daily. That will be helpful to avoid quarrels in the house.
797. It is difficult to lead a peaceful life without spending a term in the forest. Therefore, go to some forest area on the bank of a river and spend one month every year worshipping God.
798. Neck does not become adorned by ornaments. The real ornaments that will adorn the neck are recital of God’s names and observance of celibacy.
799. Your old age will be glorious if you have controlled carnal desires in the youth. Efforts for uplifting the soul should start from younger days.
800. In spite of getting a human body, running after worldly pleasures is equivalent to exchanging nectar for poison.
801. Man’s desires and greed do not become old even in his old age. Tendency for enjoying pleasures does not diminish by enjoyment. It only increases just as fire in a pyre burns with more intensity when ghee is poured into it. In fact you are not enjoying pleasures; the pleasures are enjoying you. Greed does not reduce. You are getting reduced.
802. Listening to the stories of God can be a test for your defects. If you can shed tears of joy while hearing the stories of God, know that you are listening properly.
(To be continued)

BHAGAVATHA DHARMA - 7

2009-03-11T19:47:00.000-07:00

Bhagavatha Dharma -7 :
CHAPTER VII (Seventh and eighth Skandas)
[Translation by Shri: P.N. Balakrishnan Nair]
536. To think and say that “I have no ego” is by itself an expression of ego.
537. It is man’s pride that makes him unhappy.
538. If a man preaches Jnana (wisdom) to others and his actions are diametrically opposite to his preaching, he is a Rakshasa( devil)
539. Bhakti cannot be experienced in actual life without Jnana (knowledge) and Vairagya(detachment)
540. Money will influence the greedy, while praise influences the egoist.
541. A wife who prevents her husband from sinful acts by reasoning is called Pathni. But the wife who persuades her husband to the path of spirituality is called Dharma pathni.
542. Normally voluptuous men are easily influenced by women. It is therefore easy for a wife to bring her husband to the right path. A righteous wife, if she so desires, can lead her husband to the path of Bhakti.
543. If the basic intention of Yogic practice is not pure, that Yogi will definitely fail in his practice. One can achieve several superhuman powers through yogic practice; but not God-realization, which is the ultimate goal of human birth.
544. Man never gets satisfaction from enjoyment of pleasures. Satisfaction comes only from renunciation.
545. This world is more akin to selfishness and deception. Even the relationship between husband and wife is often found to be full of selfishness and deception.
546. A son can by his merits uplift only his own family. But a daughter can uplift not only the family of her parents but that of her husband also.
547. It is good to work for the uplift of society; but it often gives rise to ego.
548. No one gets Bhakti from the advice of any other person; Bhakti comes only through God’s grace.
549. He, whose vision is corrupted, sees the world in a perverse manner; that is to say, he sees justice as injustice and injustice as justice.
550. In old age, man becomes more attached to his body and so he becomes totally incapable of worshipping God.
551. All living creatures have to under go many births and deaths before attaining human birth, which is very rare and difficult to get.
552. We experience happiness and unhappiness depending upon the results of our past actions.
553. Worship of God is obstructed only due to the weakness of human mind.
554. Man can get rid of his wickedness with the help of God’s grace.
555. One who does not see this world as such actually sees God in it.
556. Goddess of Sleep stands in the way of listening to God’s stories and praising His glories.
557. While singing songs in praise of God, use of the correct pitch and rhythm will add impetus to
your love of God.
558. It is a good sign if you are ashamed of committing sinful actions.
559. Impurities in your mind will be eradicated by singing songs in praise of God.
560. Without singing songs in praise of God, listening to the stories of God will not be complete. (Kathanthe keerthanam kuryad= Praise the Lordat the end of His story)
561. By praising God, your sins are destroyed and your mind becomes pure. Into that pure mind God enters instantaneously.
562. Vision of God will not occur without the grace of Guru. It is therefore the essential duty of man to seek refuge in a Guru or other great souls.
563. God is the indweller of everything. Once this wonderful fact is realized, man can see the whole world as nothing but God. Thereafter he cannot find any place to commit a sin.
564. Humility and helplessness are two trusted friends of man. God will easily accept those who possess these qualities. Humility and feeling of helplessness will remove all obstacles from the path towards God.
565. Superficial knowledge may sometimes cause obstruction to the worship of God.
566. Spend your life with this strong concept:-“Let all my actions be soaked in Bhakti”.
567. When actions are pure, it is called Bhakti.
568. “My Lord is watching whatever I do”. Remember this truth while performing your duties. 569. “My Lord is listening to whatever I talk; all my actions are supported by my Lord.” When this attitude strengthens, you attain God-realization.
570. God is all-pervading; let this be your natural attitude.
571. In this world, only those who have controlled their senses can be said to be independent. Those who are independent are self-willed. Therefore, learn how to be independent under the guidance of suitable Gurus.
572. Those who eat their God-given food, without first offering it to God, will have to meet death by starvation.
573. A lighted lamp brings light to your home and heart at the same time. Service brings happiness to the one who serves.
574. You hesitate to prostrate before the Lord at the temple, because of the fear that your beautiful cloths may get soiled.
575. Only the best among best things should be offered to God.
576. If your hairs stand on end or tears drop from your eyes while praying to God, it means God has heard your prayer.
577. Cook food for the sake of God. Offer it God before eating. Take the vow that “without offering to God I will not take anything for myself.”
578. Hearing the stories of God without observing the rules for listening and understanding the essence of the stories, is a waste of time. Retain the essence of these stories carefully in your ears and mind.
579. An image of God is better than picture for worship. First think of a form of God. Make a beautiful pedestal according to your financial capacity, for placing the God’s image. Do not speak during worship. If you become body-conscious, during worship, prostrate before the Lord. (Prostration is not allowed for women).Slavish attitude towards the Lord is best suited for worship.
580. If the presence of God is not felt in the image of God, it is not possible to feel the presence of God in other beings and things.
581. If you worship God after committing sinful deeds, you will feel that God is annoyed.
582. When the mind is impure, worship of God will not give satisfaction.
583. If you forget some lines while chanting the hymns of God, prostrate before the Lord and that will make the chanting complete.
584. God accepts even your small offerings, and makes them big.
585. However much he offers to God, the feeling that “I have been able to offer only very little to my Lord” is the nature of a Bhakta.
586. Prema (Love) puts life into the lifeless.
587. Ordinary beings do not care for God and so God also does not care for them.
588. God is the only person deserving our love. If your heart melts and tears of joy drop from your eyes during prayer, take it that God has accepted your prayer.
589. All our offerings to Him are returned to us by God after multiplying them many-fold.
590. Enjoyment of pleasures increases desires and weakens the senses. Thoughts about worldly objects reduce our powers. But thoughts about God give us all powers.
591. Man exceeds all limits while enjoying worldly pleasures. So he has to suffer all the miseries arising from that. How can God become responsible for that? How can you blame God for that?592. Man loses his power of discrimination when faced with extreme grief.
593. Drink the nectar of God’s Names and Stories. Your senses will come under control.
594. When your mind is occupied by worldliness and sinful thoughts, take recourse to the pleasure of listening to stories of God and drinking the nectar of God’s names. When NamaBrahma (cosmic energy in the form of God’s names) becomes one with NadaBrahma (cosmic energy in the form of sound) ParaBrahma (ultimate cosmic reality) becomes apparent.
595. Extremely sinful people cannot have taste or pleasure in singing the hymns of Lord Sri Krishna. To destroy their sin, they should invariably listen to the stories of God and sing the hymns of God.
596. Lingering thoughts on the enjoyment of material pleasures is more harmful than actual enjoyment of pleasures.
597. If you receive God’s mercy, you will have the desire to perform righteous actions.
598. Because the minds of people are vitiated, they madly run after ordinary material pleasures. Not being able to endure even the slightest grief, they make a hue and cry about it.
599. Do not even imagine that Samsara (material world) is sinful. You are responsible for all your sins; not the world. If you have sinful tendencies in your mind, you are the only one responsible for that.
600. To love even those who hurt them is the habit of Mahatmas(great men)
601. The pleasure you get sex and other bodily contacts, is similar to the pleasure derived by scratching the itches on the skin; meaning that the ultimate result thereof is pain only.
602. Get up from bed at Brahma muhurtha( one and a half hours before sunrise.)Meditate on God, have Darsan and say your prayers. Pay obeisance to Mother Earth also.
603. Lord Sri Krishna is the charioteer of your body-chariot. If you realize this truth, your chariot will definitely reach its goal. On the contrary, if the mind controlled by the senses happens to be the charioteer, it will fall into some deep pit and be shattered.
604. Everyday after taking bath, sit at a solitary place and worship God. The preliminary sadhanas for a beginner are the following:-(i)Service and doing pooja to God;(ii)Chanting the names of God:(iii) Singing the hymns of God;(iv) Company of holy men and listening to Stories of God.(v) Reading the scriptural texts;(vi) Surrendering all actions to God;(vii) Recompensing for all sins committed;(viii) Surrendering the fruits of all actions to God.
605. If your eyes are sparkling with love and your mind is broad, you aredearest to God
606. Do not ask for anything from God. Asking for something is nothing but trading.
607. If you ask for material gains in return to your worship of God, you are a Vaisya(trader).Giving less and taking more is the trait of a trader.
608. Lead a very humble and simple life. Keep the mind out of reach for worldly desires.
609. Vasana (innate tendency) is your greatest enemy. If you do not enjoy worldly pleasures as dictated by Vasana, your mind will get agitated. So long as you continue to enjoy the pleasures, your desire for them will go on increasing. Therefore, wrap up your mind securely in the cloth of Bhakti.
610. If the son is righteous, his parents will attain the worlds of the righteous even if they are not righteous. But if the son is unrighteous, his parents, even if they are righteous, can reach only the worlds of the unrighteous.
611. The crow is the messenger of departed souls.
612. One who becomes a father has to take up great responsibilities. A father who does not inculcate good culture into his son is the greatest enemy of that son.
613. God’s mercy is more apparent in His punishment than in protection.
614. Your position in the society, wealth or education has no value at the time of death.
615. The knowledge which is not useful at the time if death is not real knowledge.
616.To think bad about those who are living with us and to think high about those who have departed, is a common trait of all living beings.
617. Man sometimes inscribes his name on the house in which he lives, on the ring that he wears, and on his own body. Too much of publicity in this manner destroys his Punya( merits of good actions)
618. Man’s genuine friend is Dharma (righteous living). The basis of all happiness is Dharma; not Dhana (riches)
619. Truth God’s own form. There is no other greater sin than untruth.
620. The desire arising from Viveka (the power of discrimination) to see every one happy is Truth in its real form. Therefore, try to reflect this Truth always in your thought, word and actions.
621. Before going to bed each night, reflect in your mind thus:- “Today, have I been able to do anything that pleases my Lord.”
622. Mercy should be expressed with due care. Mercy expressed out of place may cause hindrance to the service of God.
623. It is the duty of everyone to maintain purity.
624. Mind follows the soul after death of the body.
625. The soul gets more and more involved in worldly affairs. It cannot therefore, have full cognition of all the sins committed by the mind.
626. Maintain purity of thought, word and action. That also is a great penance. Show goodwill even towards enemies. If you do so, God will stand by your side and punish your enemies.
627. If you feel unhappy when faced with an insult, that shows you are an egotist. On the other hand, if you take refuge at the feet of God in all humility, that shows you have not taken that insult to heart.
628. Not hurting anyone by thought, word or action is called non-violence
.629. Brahmacharya (celibacy) is broken when man thinks of female body and woman thinks of male body. Celibacy is a great spiritual practice which enables you to keep the mind undisturbed.
630. Renunciation is another expression of Dharma.
631. Those who are contented with what God has given them should be considered as rich; those who are not so, should be considered as destitute.
632. Avoiding idle talk is silence. Not talking mentally is also silence. Silence gives mental peace as a result of which all thoughts of sins are eradicated from the mind.
633. Whatever misfortunes have occurred in this world, all of them are caused by carnal desires. Those who are blind with such desires, lose their power of discrimination.
634. Read the holy texts in plenty. When detachment is complete, take Sanyasa (renunciation).
635. When husband and wife live a pure life like Sanyasins their life will be happy. When female company becomes holy company, house-holder’s life becomes most glorious.
636. A house-holder’s mind should not be too harsh or too soft. He should not be under the influence of woman.
637. When Rama is not in his heart, man becomes blind with Kama (lust)
638. Charity has a special place in the house-holder’s life. By spending money for charity, your earnings become pure.
639. A house-holder should spend at least one month in a year in solitude at the banks of holy rivers like Ganges and worship God. Worldly subjects should never be discussed at holy places.
640. Wherever on the earth any action is performed, the impact of that action will linger there as the culture of that place.
641. When Sattwa Guna prevails in us, our sleep reduces.
642. Never entertain the feeling that “I am earning”
.643. If man can recollect the sins committed by him, he will understand that the miseries so far suffered are not sufficient retribution for the sins. Actually God gives us much more than what we deserve.
644. Man becomes godly or devilish because of himself. It is his own culture that makes man godly or devilish.
645. Elevate your Vasanas (tendencies) to a higher level. Company of holy men will elevate your Vasanas.
646. Man becomes what he thinks and what he speaks.
647. Death will certainly come today or tomorrow. It first affects the legs. When the legs become cold or weak it should be understood that death is nearing. At least at this stage man should start worshipping God.
648. Death is closing in. But it should be faced with the feeling:- “When Lord Sri Krishna, who is the death of death itself, is in my heart, how can death come near me?”
649. Intellect of those devoted to sexual pleasures will eventually become blunt.
650. Before his birth as a human, there were no relatives for man. Similarly after death also, there will be no relatives.
651. Man seeks refuge in God only when he is weak. It is in extremely miserable circumstances that he calls upon God for help.
652. Instead of making the heart suffer by shouting “Hayyo Hayyo”, try to say “Hari, Hari” from this moment.
653. If you will start meditating on Hari from today, you can certainly remember and see Hari at the time of death. When the legs become cold or lose their strength, understand that you are already in the grip of death.
654. Call upon God desperately like Gajendra(king of elephants). Read the story of Gajendramoksham (liberation of the king of elephants in Sreemad Bhagavatham) daily. You will certainly see God at the time of death. Besides, nightmares and other ill-omens will be totally eliminated during your lifetime.
655. Read the story of Matsyavatara (God’s incarnation as Fish) daily. It is beneficial to read Rasapanchadhyayi (Five chapters in Bhagavatham, tenth Skandha dealing with Rasakreeda) at midnight.
656. If you worship God constantly, God will come running to your side at the time of your death. Therefore, pray to God daily to come for your rescue at the time of death.
657. Tulasi and Lotus are two things dearest to Bhagavan.
658. God’s devotees should be honored and worshipped more than God Himself.
659. When you attribute the presence of God in a stone-idol, that idol actually gets the attributes of God. By worshipping that idol with strong conviction we can reach God within no time. It is, therefore, certain that those who worship Archavataras (God incarnated as idols) with full faith will reach God.
660. When good culture takes root in us,that will make our last days and next birth pure.
661. The experience of joy on the vision of God occurs for the first time in sleep.
662. Holy men and Brahmins come to you with good intentions only. They should never be disrespected. Their advices should be accepted and obeyed implicitly.
663. Goddess Lakshmi resides in flowers.
664. Jnana (knowledge) does not remain for long in the rich. It is in destitution that knowledge remains permanently.
665. Hunger and thirst are diseases of the body. Suffer them to the extent possible.
666. If you can practice drinking the poison of insults, you will soon get Amtitha(deathless state). ‘Poison’ is the name for adversity. That is why it gives distress. If you carry Ganga in the form of Bhakti on your head, it will be easy to drink this poison.(Allusion is to the story of Lord Shiva drinking poison during the churning of Ksheerasagara(ocean of milk)
667. One who suffers sorrows for making others happy becomes Shiva (godly). On the other hand, one who makes others unhappy to get happiness for him is worldly.
668. Do not think of any insults that you may have suffered. Also do not remember anyone who has done harm to you. This will protect you from indigestion.
669. When the attack of poison (worldly miseries) becomes too much, chant the Names God. God’s names will transform poison into nectar
.670. When you are sixteen years old, Manthanam(churning or agitation) starts in your mind. If the poison in the form of Vasanas (innate tendencies) begins to appear, think of Manthara (the mount which churned the Ocean of Milk) and fix your thoughts on it. If the churning is continued in this manner nectar in the form of Bhakti will invariably make its appearance.
671. God puts you into a fire-test. Initially He tests you by giving poison (sorrows).If you pass that test, He will give you nectar.
672. If you have wealth, use it for helping others.
673. If you do not get happiness during your life time, know that you are committing sins.
674. If you receive exceptional fame, know that your punya(merits of past good actions) has declined. Those who run after name and fame will definitely not receive the nectar (of Bhakti).
675. Man begins to worship God only when his desire for riches ends.
676. Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth will not desert those whose mind is straight forward and pure.
677. Those who have the blessings of Lakshmi shall be merciful to all. That is to say, they should use their wealth to mitigate the hardship of others to the extent possible.
678. Nectar of Bhakti will not flow through any house in which there is always quarrelling.
679. Beauty is merely your imagination. Anything that appears beautiful to you cannot be beautiful in the eyes of a dog. Therefore beauty depends on how you look at it.
680. You must necessarily give up your desire for the enchantments of the world, the desire for things which appear beautiful to your eyes and the desire for worldly objects. When the desire for God increases, desire for worldly things will reduce.
681. When you look at this world with lust in your eyes, desires will grow. If you look at it with God in your eyes, desires will soon vanish.
682. Those who keep women in their thoughts while walking along the road are Rakshasas (demons). Those who look at another’s wife with lustful eyes are really Rakshasas.
683. You should not show discrimination in serving food. If you do so, you will suffer serious stomach disorders.
684. If a bit of punya(merits of good actions) of earlier birth is left in us, we won’t suffer the results of our sins at once.
685. Do not ever take pride in or entertain the feeling that you have controlled your senses .Desire for worldly pleasures may lie hidden in your mind. When opportunity arises it may show up and pull you down.
686. Brahmacharis(celibates) who protect their semen will remain strong and healthy.
687. He who wears over his head the umbrella of righteousness cannot be hurt by anyone.
688. If worship of God is done jointly by husband and wife, God will be pleased very soon.
689. Bad company makes the householder’s life topsy-turvy.
690. Give up bodily view and take up godly view.
691. Do not look at anyone with discriminating eyes. Try to see everyone with divine eyes. If your eyes are good, the out come will also be good. Sreemad Bhagavatham gives you perfect eyes and perfect vision.
692. God sees the creation, man sees the creator.
693. The form which comes to your thoughts frequently will remain fixed in your mind permanently.
694. Man becomes subservient to fear and grief because he is not able to feel the presence of God constantly.
695. Householder’s life is not a hindrance, but is conducive to Bhakti. But too much attachment to the household is a great hindrance to Bhakti.
696. As you take food everyday, take the company of holy men also daily.
697. Brahmins should perform Sandhya vandan three times a day.
698. The young men who observe celibacy should refrain from thinking about, speaking about and touching women. (Avoid contact of women by thought, word and action)
699. Celibate men should not look at the face and hairs of women, because these are the places where lust resides.
700. Senses are powerful enough to mislead you. You must have heard the stories in which even the minds of great men had been carried away by the senses.
701. The face of one who looks at another’s wife with carnal desire will become tanned and black.
702. If your head automatically stoops in reverence on seeing an unknown person, take it that godliness is more predominant in him.
703. Donate at least one-fifth of your income for charity. It is likely that all money that comes to your possession may not be pure.
704. Mendicants do not come to your house for begging. The purpose of their visit is to give you proper guidance. Along with that, they accept and take away a part of your sin in the form of pittance offered by you.
705. Pure-hearted and righteous spiritual seers and chaste women are the supporters of this earth.
706. If a man, after having offered a gift to some one fails to give it, his place after death will be in the hell.
707. If you have anxiety about your future, there is no harm in saving one-fifth of your income.
708. Relatives and friends will be at your service, so long as you have money and wealth in your possession.
709. You can save one-fifth of your income for the old age also. If you do so, you can avoid begging from your children.
710. Selfishness dominates in this world. So people remain ignorant. Selfish people have no hesitation to do any wicked deed. The results of their wickedness are suffered by others and in turn they have to suffer the wickedness of others. Wicked people often crave for fame and happiness.
711. Telling untruth is said to be pardonable in four cases; 1) to solicit a marriage; 2) while talking to women; 3) when one’s life is in danger; and 4)for the protection of cows and Brahmins.
712. When money is spent for good causes, even if some obstructions might come in the way, the ultimate result will be peacefulness. But if money is misused, you will have no peace of mind till your death.
713. God is the master of our body and mind. Do our duties with this in mind.
714. Wicked men always say “mine, mine” and they are punished by God. Wise men always say “thine, thine” and they are protected by God.
715. The donor of a gift should not feel proud of giving it. A gift becomes futile, unless it is given with humility.
716. By surrendering himself to God man binds God in his heart. Surrender of one’s ego or pride is far better than surrender of the body
.717. Only the strong can traverse the path of God and follow God’s injunctions in life. And who is the strong? The strong is the one who has defeated his inner foes like lust, anger, greed, delusion, hatred, and egotism.
718. God visits the house of righteous men and asks for three things from them; their body mind and wealth. These three should be surrendered to God. By this total surrender they get admission to Rasaleela. The union of Jivatma (individual soul) with Paramatma (cosmic soul) is Rasaleela. Real surrender is the total surrender of Jivatma to Paramatma .God takes up the role of a gate-keeper in respect of devotees like Mahabali who surrender themselves totally to Him. 719. By worshipping God with your body, Thamoguna (quality of ignorance) in you reduces. Worship of God with wealth will reduce your Rajoguna (quality of restlessness). God will not be pleased with the surrender of your body and wealth, unless it is accompanied by the surrender of mind. Unless your mind is involved in the worship, you will not derive satisfaction from that worship. Engaging the body in the worship of God and the mind in worldly affairs at the same time, are totally incongruous activities. If you can shed a few drops of tears of joy from your eyes at the time of worship, take it that God is showering His mercy on you.
720. Acceptance of gift from anyone is bondage for the receiver.
721. If you install a Sreevigraha (image for worship) of God in your house, Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth) will come into your house uninvited. So better worship God rather than running after Lakshmi for wealth.
722. When God decides to shower His blessings on anybody, at first He will snatch away all his riches. It is only the wealth and riches that make a man egotist. It is the same wealth that insults God as well as the entire world.
(To be continued)

Bhagavata Dharmam - 6

2009-03-07T14:26:00.000-08:00

CHAPTER-VI (Fifth and Sixth Skandhas)

446. Giving up all worldly activities at once is dangerous. Renounce them gradually using due discrimination.

447. Detachment arises when it is realized that this world is a mere illusion. Attachment is due to the feeling that it is real.

448. Never give the mind an opportunity to commit sin.

449. Train your mind to keep away from worldly affairs.

450. Do not reject anything. You must feel the presence in everything. If you can salute every one with a dispassionate state of mind, that will be beneficial for your spiritual uplift.

451. One who cannot control his senses will continue to be a pleasure-monger even if he lives in a forest.

452. Keep the mind focused on the aim of life and perform your actions on the basis of that aim.

453. If you want to be happy, you must necessarily forget the past. Forsake the worldly bonds of forty years and go to the forest and live a secluded life from the forty-first year.

454. Passions and Vasanas (tendencies) will not leave you without leading a married life.

455. Human life is not intended for enjoyment of worldly pleasures. It is for doing Thapas (penance)

456. Human life which is very rare,should not be wasted on silly pleasures of the senses.

457. Because of your passion and interest towards sensual pleasures, your body and soul remain separate. Therefore you cannot experience the presence of God in you.

458. Because of too much attraction towards materialistic objects of the world, materialism becomes deep-rooted in you.

459. Preaching Brahmajnana (Spiritual knowledge) on the one hand, and craving for fame and riches on the other, is futile knowledge. Such pseudo-preaching of Brahmajnana is detrimental to both the preacher and the listener.

460. Jnanis (wise men) do not entertain special love for anything. They do not talk unnecessarily. They do not keep any thing for themselves.

461. By serving great men you get the passport to enter the kingdom of Bhakti.(Devotion)

462. One who is not able to uplift those immersed in the world of actions is not a real Guru even if he is considered to be so by the world; kinsmen appearing to be so in common view are not kinsmen; father is not father; mother is not mother, because they have no right to be a Guru or kinsman or father or mother.

463. Never trust your senses. Also do not trust the mind if it is running after the senses.

464. If you cannot detach yourself from the worldly desires, it means you have not learned even the elementary lessons of Bhakti.

465. Power of our eyes is derived power the mind, power of the mind from intellect and power of the intellect comes from the cosmic power.

466. Do your duty. But do not desire to enjoy its result.

467. He who practices self control and detachment from a very young age, and has a growing taste for Satsang and Bhajan, reaches God in his old age.

468. You must overcome Kama (desires) while you are young. Youth is the time when desires for wealth and pleasures arise in man. Therefore, if you overcome desires at a young age, detachment will become your constant companion.

469. God has invested Maya (delusive power of God) in four things. namely, (1) Extreme fascination or tasty foods; (2) Avarice or excessive desire for wealth; (3) Being fussy about dressing; (4) Restlessness in the matter of household affairs. What is condemned here is the tendency of undue desire for worldly pleasures and not women in general.

470. Unlimited love towards any individual will cause hindrance to worship of God.

471. Do not place unlimited love on any one in such a measure as to hinder your prayers and worship of God.

472. By thinking of worldly things, you lose your peace of mind.

473. There is no necessity to give up your home. What is to be given up is your attachment to it.

474. Contact with God or Godly men will fulfill your life. The result of all other contacts is misery only.

475. Do not eat anything after Eleven at night, because that time belongs to Rakshasas (devils)476. You should take bath and pay oblations to the Sun before sunrise.

477. Perform your duties as a devotee properly and lead a life fully devoted to God.

478. Man commits more sins mentally than physically.

479. Mental worship is not easy. Even a slight thought about worldly objects can cause obstruction to mental worship.

480. If you do sacred observances regularly for twelve years you will reap their good results without doubt.

481. Ego is at the root of all our short comings. It is very difficult to overcome inherent tendencies acquired in the long past.

482. Let any one live in your house; but allow none in your mind.

483. The world outside is not a hindrance to worship. The real hindrance to Bhakti is the world within you.

484. Don’t be crooked and never put on false appearances. Too much of simplicity is also dangerous.

485. One who is not your friend need not be your enemy. But it is certain that today’s friend will turn out to be your enemy on any other day.

486. Practice non-attachment, while living in your house. Thereafter, abandon the house.

487. We should expect death any time and be ready for it. One who is ready to face death will not fear it.

488. Man prepares everything for his next birth, during the present birth itself.

489. Never disregard any living being including animals and birds.

490. If a person shows symptoms of Bhakti even from childhood, it can be taken that he is living his last birth. Similarly if a person is able to see the presence of God everywhere, that person also is in his last birth.

491. Jnana( spiritual knowledge) is not for preaching to others. Its purpose is to worship God and to develop Bhakti.

492. Jnana is not for enjoyment of pleasures. It is only for seeking God.

493. Improper use of words and water are great crimes.

494. Words improperly used will bring destruction to the user. Same is the case with water also.

495. Speaking and eating are the functions of the tongue. It therefore requires strict control.

496. Hatred and tendencies give rise to new activities.

497. New activities cause new births also.

498. Your mind can be controlled only by yourself.

499. Eat food which nourishes your body, without regard to taste.

500. When a man constantly experiences the presence of God near him, he remains under the cover of fearlessness.

501. Teachings (of Guru) should be received with humility.

502. Speak only such words that are pleasing and beneficial to others.

503. If you happen to tell a lie, observe fasting on that day. Also recite the names of God in order to atone for the sin of telling lies.

504. Approach holy men in order to attain purity of mind.

505. Tendency to commit sin arises from ignorance. Ego is the root cause of ignorance.

506. If you are lucky enough to surrender yourself to Lord Sri Krishna, you will not have the desire to commit sinful actions.

507. Bhakti purifies the mind of even the most atrocious man. Control of the mind or control of the senses, or observance of penance will not purify the mind as much as Bhakti.

508. A man who remembers God at every inhalation and exhalation of his breath cannot commit any sin.

509. Ignorance is rooted out by knowledge. To keep the knowledge steady we must surrender ourselves to God. If ignorance is not rooted out, Vasanas (tendencies) cannot be destroyed. Vasanas prompt man to commit sins.

510. Vasanas are destroyed by self-surrender more effectively than by self control.

511. Think of the sublime form of God without break. Recite the supreme names of God constantly. By his practice you will reach the abode of God.

512. Engage yourself constantly in worship, meditation and Japa (recital of God’s names). Otherwise, be firm in any one of these Sadhanas.(practices)5

13. Meditation of God purifies mind. So, make meditation a regular habit. If you do not get concentration while meditating, take to recital of God’s names. If that too is found difficult, surrender everything to God.

514. Those who resort to the recital of God’s names will definitely have God realization one day.

515. Recite God’s names at every footstep. If you do so, you can have a meeting with Yagna Purusha. Constant recital of God’s names is the most effective method to reach God in Kaliyuga.

516. He who is constant in Japa Sadhana can even change his destiny.

517. There are two rules to be observed invariably in the performance of JapaSadhana. (1)Brahmacharya Celibacy) and (2)Aparigraha (Non-acceptance of worldly possessions.)

518. By completing Japa 50million times, knowledge of God’s divine form will dawn in you. On completion of Japa 130 million times, Jeeveswara Aikyam (union of individual soul with cosmic soul) will take place.

519. Love of God can be achieved only by the gradual rejection of delusive objects of the world. Gold (wealth) and women are the two main objects of delusion. Make all efforts to ensure that these two do not find place in your mind.

520. The mind of Ajamila was distracted at the very sight of an immoral woman. Is it necessary to describe the state of the mind of those who watch cinemas today?

521. Sin enters into our mind at the very first sight. Because of distorted sight, our mind soon becomes impure.

522. Do not look at any one except on the basis of spirituality.

523. Quality of a man’s life depends mainly on his food, possessions, pleasures, position, children and books. If these are negative or retrograde, his life is bound to be a failure.

524. Recital of God’s names even without knowing their meaning or importance will be beneficial.

525. When you fall down or some misfortune comes to you, don’t cry out “Hayyo” “Hayyo”, but say “Hari” Hari”

.526. Even the greatest sinner, if he repents for his sinful actions, can transform his life. Therefore, sinners should not be rejected.

527. A man who is attracted by wealth and women will become a puppet in the hands of Maya (delusion)

528. Those who are deluded by the pleasures of the world are not entitled to worship God.

529. Even the greatest sinners need not lose heart. God’s names will root out all their sins.

530. Mahatmas (great souls), even if they happen to curse some one, will soon confer their blessings on them.

531. Widows are as sacred as the river Ganges.

532. Never change (according to your convenience) Mantra (Name of God given by Guru for recital), Moorthy (form of God given by Guru for meditation), and Mala (string of beads given by Guru for counting while reciting God’s names)

533. On whom God showers His special grace, that fortunate man will have no special desires for worldly pleasures.

534. If any hindrance occurs to worldly pleasures, take it that God is going to give you unworldly pleasures.

535. After marriage, most people lead a life like that of an animal . (What a pity)

( To be continued)

BHAGAVATA DHARMA - 5

2009-03-03T15:17:00.000-08:00

CHAPTER-V :
(Translation by Shri: P N B Nair)
The Fourth Skandha :
357. Jnana (Knowledge) does not sustain in an unworthy man. A worthy man cannot shine without knowledge. Wealth and knowledge will be fruitful only in worthy persons.
358. Constructive knowledge gives peace.
359. Whose life is luxurious, he cannot enjoy the happiness of knowledge.
360. All are not entitled to handle Vedanta. Even the Vedas are intended only for the dispassionate.
361. Knowledge will not shine forth without dispassion and self control.
362. Entry for lust into the mind is through the eyes. So do not permit Ravana disguised in the form of lust to come before your eyes.
363. You give up your wealth at the time of death. But Dharama follows you. It is therefore evident that Dharama is superior to wealth. So make your wealth to be in conformity with Dharama.
364. Man’s enemy is not outside, but is in his mind. If you can destroy the internal enemy, you will have no fear for enemies in your life.
365. If you have ill-will towards any body, they will also have ill-will towards you. This is an irrevocable law of the nature. So avoid ill-will, not only to living beings but also to nonliving things.
366. Selfishness will make you mad. When it increases, you begin to hate others. Whose action is detrimental to others; he cannot progress in life.
367. If speaking on a subject is shameful, avoid even the thought of it.
368. Man hides his sins; so his life becomes highly impure.
369. Purity of attitude is a great Thapas(penance). So do not entertain any hatred towards worldly people.
370. If you can treat every one as equals, your good actions will be successful.
371. If you can see divinity in others, others will see divinity in you also.
372. Jealousy and rivalry are two major defects of the intellect. Do not have displeasure towards any one.
373. Your faith has to be firm.
374. If you cannot be friendly with all, don’t worry. Ensure that you have no enmity towards any one. Absence of enmity is as good as friendship.
375. Maintain intense love towards your ‘Ishtamoorthy’ (most favorite form of God) and surrender everything there.
376. Lord Shiva is Acharya (preceptor) for all Mantras. So while practicing Mantras, conceive Lord Shiva in your mind as Acharya. That will give you quick results.
377. It is a sin even to hear some one insulting others.
378. He who has no desires lives a contented life in this world.
379. In spite of having strength to strike back, he who endures all cruelties against him without complaint is a Dhanyatma (one who is rich in soul).He who endures insult without protest will reach God quickly.
380. Discussion of the faults of someone behind his back is sin.
381. Devil will ride on the back of those who worry about their past.
382. God will not enter into a mind which is filled with thoughts on earthly objects and ungodly beings.
383. The mind and intellect wandering along too many subjects cannot be peaceful.
384. If quarrel or disquiet happens in your house on a day, you should not go out that day. You cannot find peace outside also.
385. Pictures which might entice your mind should not be kept at home. The impact of such pictures on your mind can cause hindrance to the service of God.
386. The world may not respect those who lead a very simple life.
387. Spiritual practices cannot bear fruit without the grace of God.
388. Worship your Ishta devatha( form of God which appeals to you most) with total surrender. Keep it in mind that all godly forms are of the same God.
389. Lord Ganesha represents Prithwi Thathwa (principle of the earth element. If you worship your Ishtadevatha in the form of Ganesha, obstacles are removed. Lord Shiva represents Jalathathwa.(principle of the water element).Worship of Ishtadevatha in the form of Shiva brings wealth. Thejastathwa (principle of the fire element) is represented by Parashakti(the Goddess of supreme power. Worship of Ishtadevatha in the form of Parashakti will also bring wealth. Lord Vishnu represents, Akash thathwa. (Principle of ether element. Worship of Ishtadevatha in the form of Vishnuwill increase your Prema (love of God)
390. Do not pamper the body too much. Also avoid too much decoration of the body.
391. Man can enjoy pleasures moderately, using discrimination and also observe penance.
392. Try to observe Godliness in every one. That by itself is a great penance. Speaking the truth and speaking pleasingly are penance of words. Purity, simplicity, celibacy, non-violence etc. constitute penance of the body.
393. Never speak cruel words.
394. Self control, righteous behavior, nobility of culture etc. will give you peace of mind. But wealth does not give peace. Excessive wealth causes enhancement of sensuality and vicious tendencies.
395. Vicious tendencies attract the man towards luxurious life. God-consciousness will not sustain in those who lead a luxurious life. They cannot realize God even after a series of births.
396. Enjoyment of worldly pleasures tends only to increase the desire for gratification of the senses. So, worldly pleasures which are considered to be a source of happiness, in fact turn out to be sources of extreme unhappiness.
397. Small boys are the images of Lord Sri Balakrishna. They should never be insulted.
398. Children are innocent. They should be given opportunity to acquire good culture from the very early age.
399. If your mind does not deviate towards worldly subjects at the time of worshipping God, it means you have acquired a good taste for God-worship.
400. If the Punya (merits of good actions) of all the worlds concentrate in your body, your children will have noble qualities in them.
401. If the mother is well educated, her child will get the benefit of more than a thousand teachers.
402. God alone is the real friend of man.
403. If you call Him with Prema(love) and Bhava(intense feeling), the merciful Lord will definitely come to you with all His speed.
404. Without earnest desire, you cannot get God. Therefore, worship Him with utmost earnestness.
405. Where there is Suneethi, Kali will not enter that house. (Where there is good sense of justice, there evil thoughts have no place)
406. Swabhava (inherent nature of a person) cannot be easily changed. Swabhava Sudhi (purity of nature) occurs only when Punya (the merits) from sathkarma(good actions) accumulate considerably.
407. Watching of cinema causes impairment to your eye-sight, brings diseases to the body, pollutes your mind and makes the life miserable. Is it not foolish to fall in darkness by spending money for that?
408. A mother who permits her children to watch cinema is their enemy.
409. Children get bad habits due to the fault of their mother, ignorance due to the fault of their father, cowardice due to the fault of their ancestry and penury due to their own fault.
410. Respect all. One who starts form his house with the blessings of all willreceive the blessings of a Mahatma (a godly person) on the way.
411. If you get the touch of Mahatmas on your head, all your mental disturbances will subside.
412. Japa (Repetition of God’s names) and meditation should go side by side with each other. Which Names of God are repeated in Japa, the form of God appropriate to that Name should be meditated on.
413. Sadhana (spiritual practice) performed with Sradha (steadfastness), will yield quick results.
414. Eating of rice as food will increase Rajo Guna. Fruits in food will increase Sattwa Guna.
415. Practice self control step by step. Self control is essential for developing Bhakti.
416. Once you have given up something, take care that your senses do not get attracted towards it again.
417. Those having firm determination will receive God’s help without doubt.
418. Just as a real Vaishnava(devotee) is craving to have the vision of God,God is craving to make Himself visible to those elevated devotees.
419. Continue your spiritual practices. But never be proud of it. A devotee who appeals to God in all humility, with tears in his eyes, will soon receive the mercy of God.
420. God always accompanies those who have taken refuge in Him. You run after God, and then worldly pleasures will run after you, like the shadow behind a person who walks towards the sun.
421. Verbal advices may not yield quick results. But demonstrative advices give instant result.
(to be continued)

BHAGAVATHA DHARMAM ...Continued..

2009-03-01T18:21:00.000-08:00

BHAGAVATHA DHARMAM:CHAPTER IV - Third Skandha
(Trnaslated by Shri. P.N. Balakrishnan Nair)

216. Keep the mind always engaged in spiritual activities. If the mind is allowed to rest even for short while, it is likely to slip into sinful thoughts.

217. Eating food is not a sin. But self-identification with food and forgetting God for the sake of food are sins.

218. Followers of Saranagathi Dharma (the principle of surrender to God) become more and more humble. So they receive God’s grace.

219. One who defeats his tongue is the real winner. The life those who cannot master their tongue will be a failure.

220. If food is pure, simple and limited, it will develop good qualities. Consequently, power of endurance increases and power of endurance makes the intellect steady.

221. Lead a very simple life. Simple life makes you a Sadhu. (Godly man)

222. Intellect will get polluted by taking food from the house of sinners.

223. When a man’s life becomes pure, the Lord visits his house uninvited and stays there always.

224. Chant the Lord’s names with intense devotion so that He will come and knock at our doors.

225. God will respect him who has given up ego.

226. Our mind reflects what we are closely attached to.

227. Man’s mind is pure at the time of birth. Later, it changes in accordance with its associations in the world. While good associations give fulfillment of life, bad associations bring down-fall. Association with people leading luxurious life makes a man greedy of material pleasures. On the other hand, association with spiritually evolved men makes him spiritually inclined. Bad habits, once acquired cannot be changed easily. So come what may, let the mind and intellect be never allowed to go astray from God.Always remember the following words of Sri Bhagavan:-Mayyeva mana aadhtswa, mayi budhim nivesayaNivasishyasi mayyeva atha urdhwam na samsaya: (Geeta 12-8)(Repose your mind in me, let your intellect enter into me, then you shall, without doubt live in me here and hereafter)

228. Follow the teachings of great men in your life.

229. By thinking of the great Rishis early in the morning, their good qualities will enter into our mind.

230. Robbery and immoral life are great sins. Those committing these sins should be discarded, even if they are your parents or brothers.

231. No one should be rejected. But their sins should be rejected.

232. Bhakti is not accessible to those who wander in pursuit of the senses.

233. It is God’s grace that gives us the chance for company with Godly men. But it is our own responsibility, to avoid bad company.

234. God’s grace will not be available, until worldly pleasures are given up.

235. Penance destroys all sins and makes the life pure. It is the duty of house-holders to look after the house-hold during eleven months of the year and to do penance in solitude at a holy place during the remaining one month.

236. The first step towards penance is control of tongue.

237. Where there is love, there even the life of a beggar would be enjoyable without hesitation.

238. Those who rob the wealth of others are ‘ Dhritharashtras’

239. A son who follows the path of virtue can open the gates to the heavenly abode for his parents.

240. One who does no work and lives on the food provided by others, is robber. One who captures the wealth of others and lives on that is also robber. A man having means, but failing to entertain guests properly is robber. One who cooks food for himself (without sharing it with others) is robber. One who eats food without offering it to the God of fire is also robber.

241. Greed is the father of sin and selfishness is its mother.

242. One who insults his invited guests will fall into hell.

243. Those who endure everything, despite having the strength to resist are Mahatmas.

244. They are Rakshasas(Devilish)who misuse their power. They are Devas (Godly) who make use of their power, wealth and time intelligently.

245. Satwik food gives the power of endurance. Those who can control hunger are bound to be happy.

246. Do not get angry with those who insult you. Take insult as blessing of God or as a good omen.

247. If needs are reduced, sins will also reduce.

248. The good results of pilgrimage will be available in full, if it is performed in conformity with scriptural requirements. Before starting a pilgrimage the following vows are to be taken:-i) From today I will observe strict celibacy;ii) From today I will not get angry with any one. andiii) From today I will avoid idle talk.

249. If Brahmins or holy men are not respected, pilgrimage will not yield any result.

250. If you suffer insult without protest, your sins will be passed on to the person who insulted you and simultaneously, his punya (merits of past good actions)) will come to you.

251. Observe fasting on the day you reach any holy place. Never insult Brahmins(Those who have realized the Supreme Truth) and other Mahatmas (great souls). By fasting at holy places and refraining from insulting others, you are freed from all sins and your body also gets purified. Satwik Bhava will dawn in you.

252. Holy waters become holy because of touch of Holy men.

253. Excessive wealth brings danger.

254. Think of cremation ground at least three or four times a day. That will bring out change in your understanding.

255. Discussion of worldly matters on the banks of Yamuna is sin.

256. When you see a herd of cows, mentally visualize Lord Sri Krishna standing in their midst.

257. Get your senses wedded to God and not to worldly pleasures.

258. When the pain of separation becomes unbearable, you will get God

259. If a man can imagine that he is always in the presence of God, he will not be affected by grief, fear or delusion.

260. On seeing Mahatmas do not speak to them about worldly subjects.

261. He who has been accepted by God as His own, will never come back to the world of miseries.

262. So long as a man belongs to some one in this world, he cannot belong to God.

263. Perform only such acts as would please God.

264. The very sight of a sinner will frighten us.

265. Sins will not leave us without suffering their results.

266. Surrender your Punya (results of good actions) always to God.

267. Best thing should necessarily be offered to God.

268. A man who commits sins will take rebirth as animal.

269. On whom God showers His mercy, that man’s mind becomes pure.

270. Women should avoid walking outside their houses after sun set.

271. At sun set, worship Tulasi, by lighting a lamp at its bed, and performing Arathi with Deepa (light) and Dhoopa(fragrant smoke)

272. Sun set is the time when Lakshmi( Goddess of wealth) visits the house. At that time,if the front door is closed , Lakshmi will go back after saying “Jaya Sree Krishna”.

273. Perform Japa (recital of God’s Names) at every evening without fail.

274. Do not pamper the body too much.

275. If the husband and wife do not have self-control, their children will become sinful.

276. It is essential to observe Brahmachrya (celibacy) on sacred days like Dwitheeya, Panchami, Ashtami, Ekadasi,Chathurthi,Pournami, Amavasya, and on other days of special significance like birthday etc.

277. Your Bhakti (devotion) will not develop if your associates are devoid of Bhakti.

278. Today, because of ‘fashion’ and other weaknesses of man, his time and wealth are being wasted. Those who are under the grip of such weaknesses do not find time to serve God. Therefore, those who wish to serve God should not get entangled in such ‘fashion and weaknesses.

279. Avoid discrimination in the matter of giving food.

280. Down fall of great men occurs not due to Kama(desires) but due to Krodha (anger).

281. Error in the path of service will also lead to one’s down fall.

282. Spiritual practices should be continued till the last breath, even after reaching the stage of Sidha (achiever).

283. Do not bother about what the world speaks about us. But we must always try to ascertain the opinion of the Lord of the world about us.

284. Give the names of God not only to your children but also to your house.

285. Bhakti will not arise so long as the delusions about names and forms remain in our mind.

286. Pride of Knowledge is the cause of down fall for the followers of Jnana Marga (the path of knowledge)

287. Lobha(greed) is what stands in the way of Bhakti Marga.(the path of devotion)

288. Kama(desire) stands in the way of Karma Marga(the path of actions)

289. The enemy of Jnana Marga (the path of knowledge) is Krodha(anger)

290. By discrimination it may be possible to control desires, but not anger.

291. It is extremely difficult to overcome anger.

293. If you commit a sin, however small it may be, within the premises of a temple, its impact will be tremendous.

294. If you do not repent from the bottom of your heart about sins, if any, you have committed, you cannot get the vision of God even after many births and deaths.

295. Seeing one’s own faults will give as much good results as a vision of God does.

296. If there is greed in you, it will go on increasing every moment. Increasing is the nature of greed.

297. Increase of greed gives rise to excessive passion for worldly pleasures. Enjoyment of worldly pleasures results in the increase of sins.

298. Greed should be destroyed with the weapon called ‘contentment’. Contentment is a great wealth.

299. All actions done for common good are Yagnas(sacrifices). Such actions will purify your mind.

300. Speaking the truth is a great Yagna.

301. The root cause of all sins is the misuse of the tongue. words)

302. He whose life is free from sins will definitely enjoy peace and happiness.

303. Intelligence is not to be used merely for earning wealth .It should be used for the worship of God.

304. Human body has nine openings in it. The soul leaves the body through them. If the senses are used for the service of God, the soul will merge in God.

305. To control oneself, without causing grief to anyone by thought, word or deed is a great Yagna. Unnecessary tormenting of the soul will cause a break to this Yagna. Always remaining peaceful is another Yagna.

306. Without purity of heart knowledge will not sustain in the mind. Bookish knowledge is not real knowledge.

307. God’s presence cannot be experienced in an impure mind

.308. Sustained knowledge is absent in man because of his life immersed in luxuries.309. Those who rely merely on bookish knowledge are the ‘so called pundits’, while those who constantly serve God with pure love are ‘real pundits’

(To be Continued)

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2008-05-07T17:34:00.000-07:00

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