534. If God is the creator of the Universe, who is His creator?

http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/if-god-is-the-creator-of-the-universe-who-is-his-creator

In the blog which was posted yesterday titled “An Atheist Graduate Son and Peasant Father in Conversation….!”

http://memyinnerthoughts.blogspot.in/2014/08/532-atheist-graduate-son-and-peasant.html

An illiterate peasant father tells his Graduate son that just as we conclude the existence of a gardener when we see a well kept garden, There has to be Absolute to have created this vast Universe. In some of the responses I found a question if God created the universe who created Him. This question though simple has baffled both the scientists and the spiritual seekers. I am also curious to take a plunge to explore the answer, first let me see what the question is asking about?

Though we all believe God to be a Supreme Power we have provided it different names in different language depending on the religion and the mindset of the person who adores that same God. Hindu religion has numerous Gods. Though there are verses depicting the universal oneness like

“Akashat patitam toyam, yada gachchati sagram, Sarva devo namaskaraha, keshavam pratigachchati”.

(Meaning: As every raindrops falling from the sky ultimately join the ocean, prayers offered to all gods ultimately reach the One Lord.)

the seekers are granted freedom to choose the deity they would wish to adore. And I in the initial stages regarded my deity to be the Super Hero who had a lot of saga in mythological references portraying His heroism. Even then the question, “If my Super Hero created everything, who created my Super Hero?” always bothering.

Nevertheless, when I transited from ritualistic approach in searching for the answer and went further deep into the spiritual aspect then I started describing Him to be Omnipresent, Eternal, and Formless Energy which cannot be comprehend by my five senses. That Formless Energy is “Brahman” in Hinduism, “Allah” in Islam or “Holy Trinity” in Christianity. That Formless Energy is beyond Time, Space and Causation. It is here I started to understand God in the lines of Sat (Existence), Chit (Awareness) Ananda (Bliss), which always existed, which was never born or would never die, then the question itself began to fade away.

Anything that is created gets destroyed as time elapse. But that Formless Energy was never created and hence can never be destroyed. But I keep looking at that Formless Energy in its manifestations and get perplexed, it is same as the ocean being viewed as waves, foam, bubbles, and saying that the waves bubbles and foam got destroyed as it hit the shore. 

I have observed the tea vendor at the tea stall pours tea from one glass to another several times very vigorously and in the process there is froth formed on the surface. Now if I say that the milk is the cause and the froth the effect, then can I consider milk and forth to be separate entities? No, they are one and the same. Hence when I say that this universe is created again I am wrong as I am looking at the manifested form of the Formless Energy.  Every form of living and non-living things originate from that Formless Energy and finally merge into it. It is not getting destroyed it is going back to the origin to come back afresh.

Someone asked a Sadhu from Himalayas, “Sadhu Maharaj, just as a sculptor is there for a sculpture to come into existence, if we look at this vast universe, should we not consider God to be the creator of the universe?”

After a brief silence, the Sadhu replied, “Your have a point there in saying so. But I would like to say that in your sculptor and sculpture analogy, the sculptor is separate from the sculpture. Moreover the sculpture exists even if the sculptor passes away. So a more appropriate analogy could be that of an actor and his act. This world is like an act to the Supreme Actor. When the actor stops acting, the actor still remains. Even while acting, the act being a just make believe one, the reality is the same – Actor only IS.”

532. An Atheist Graduate Son and Peasant Father in Conversation…!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/an-atheist-graduate-son-and-peasant-father-in-conversation

Alok, a fresh graduate who had left the village came back after his college. He was a very few from the village who had obtained a degree. Obviously father was very proud of his son’s achievement. In order to pay obeisance to his Kula Devata (deity of his family) the father wished to visit the temple on the hillock on the outskirts of the village. The young graduate was reluctant to join them.

Father asked his son “Is this what you have learned in your college? Don’t you wish to thank the one who has provided education to you?”

Son replied, “Dad, you are ignorant there is no God, it is a false belief that are being followed from centuries. If you come out of your conditioned mind you will know that everything here is because of Science and Technology.”

“Alok, I agree that I am ignorant, please tell me who created this universe?”

“Dad, many scientists like Darwin have proved time and again that millions and millions of years ago a piece of burning matter separated from Sun and cooled down, water was formed and due to the heat from the Sun moisture developed and there was the formation of a living cell. Gradually organisms and other forms of life came into existence. It was man who created road, rail, building and bridges. Not your God”

“Oh Oh,,, hmmm… that is interesting,” replied the father. Within himself he thought education has not induced humbleness in his son instead developed ego.

Next day morning father look his son to their sugarcane field and on the way they had to cross a garden. Seeing the garden the young man asked his father, “Dad, when I left for the city there was no garden in the village, how come a beautiful garden has shaped up?

“Alok, it just came on its own. You know all of a sudden the flowering plants started growing and the ornamental foundation plants germinated and when they reached certain height and it stopped growing. Perfect humidity, favorable temperature and circumstances got created so that this beautiful garden came into existence.”

The young man understood the sarcastic remarks from his father. “Dad, stop kidding if there is a garden there must be a gardener to prepare and maintain it?”

“Alok, if you feel a small garden cannot come into existence without a gardener, then how is it you believe that this huge universe came into existence on its own, without a creator?”

Alok could realize his mistake and kept quite. His father continued, “Alok, we villagers may not be as knowledgeable like you but we believe that there is someone above us who is taking care of all of us. For you to believe so or not is all at your judgment. These are all ideologies which should not be force on others. No one else should enforce beliefs upon you, not even me or your mother. However, I only want you to keep your mind open, so that you don’t become a victim of narrow mindedness. You can never ever deny the existence of Absolute Consciousness that is operating this universe as well as your body in a perfect harmony with precision. Tell me do you have control over your heart beat, breath, on converting the food you consume to chyle and chyle to energy and distributing that energy to all parts of your body.”

“But those things take place due to the anatomy of the body.”  

“No Alok, there is a Supreme Power that resides in your heart and gives strength to the anatomy of the body, in the same way it is that Supreme Power which is the cause for you to get inspired to do something good or reprimand you when you try to do something stupid. It is the same Supreme Power that energizes your mind and gives rise to the thoughts which makes you experience happiness and sorrow. That Supreme Power is omnipresent, eternal, and blissful energy that many of us refer to as God, the Absolute Consciousness.” 

With all his ego of edification blown off, the son accepted the wisdom of his father and replied, “Dad, I know that there is some Supreme Power that science cannot prove and if that is what you are referring to as God. I do believe in it. Let us go to the temple on the hillock tomorrow morning. ”

533. Do you wish to have a portrait of Lord Krishna!!!!!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/do-you-wish-to-have-a-portrait-of-lord-krishna

Once there was a painter in Hastinapura who could create wonders on the canvas. He was considered the best portrait painter in the region. Once he taught of painting the portrait of Sri Krishna and came to Dwaraka. After introducing himself to the guards at the entrance of the fort, he put forth his wish to draw the portrait of Sri Krishna. He was allowed to the chamber of Sri Krishna. Beaming a smile at the painter Sri Krishna asked, "I heard you want to draw a portrait of me. Are you certain that you can draw my image?" 

The painter boasted, "I have made the portrait of many Kings and Warriors in Hastinapura and am sure that I can do a portrait of you as well."

Hearing this Sri Krishna said, “If you are confident enough you can start right away and what am I supposed to do.” 

The painter said, “If you could just sit still for about an hour without swaying that would be of great help to me, I can draw an outline and then later on I will fill in the details.” Obliging to the request Sri Krishna sat down and remained without moving for the painter to make the preliminary sketches. 

After sometime the painter with a huge sigh of relief said, “I am done.”

Smiling Krishna asked, “When will the portrait be ready?”

The painter answered, “By this time tomorrow I will have it completed.” Saying so the painter took leave thanking Krishna.

The whole night he worked on the task of accurately putting the colours to the outline of the portrait of the Lord on canvas. When he was satisfied with it he covered the portrait with a silk cloth and took it to the palace.

Amazingly for him the tiring work of the whole night went waste as he found the image in the portrait was different he observed that there was only a slight resemblance between Krishna and the portrait.

Krishna who looked at the portrait pointed out, “My dear artist, there seem to be little similarity to me and the portrait”. 

The painter said, “Forgive me, Give me another chance and I will bring a better one tomorrow.” This went on for ten days. Every time the painter brought the portrait it did not look the same as the Lord.

The painter had put all his efforts but it was impossible for him to capture Sri Krishna on the canvas. And now the painter started to feel embarrassed and thought of running away from Dwaraka to save from being humiliated. As he was about the cross the border he confronted Sage Narada. Narada asked, “You seem to be leaving the city quite disturbed. Tell me what the matter is.”

The painter told him all that had happened. Laughing at the words of the painter Narada said, “Well, Krishna is the master director of the whole universe and He scripts everything to perfection. If you use your methods it will never work. I will suggest you a method if you listen to my words and follow them implicitly surely you will succeed.

With no other option the painter agreed to do exactly as Narada wants him to do. The next morning he went to Krishna, and said, “My Lord with your grace I have at last been able to capture you exactly as you are. I request you have a look.” Saying so he removed the silk covering, when the cloth came away, it revealed a clean mirror which reflected the image of Krishna as he was.
 

Exactly so, if one wishes to have the portrait of the Lord with temporary painting materials he can only have Him temporarily. In this visible universe everything is temporary each and every thing is constantly changing. Is it possible to have a perfect vision of the Lord with such ephemeral forms???? Yes, it is possible to have a picture perfect vision of the Lord; one can obtain it only on the clean mirror as the painter did, which is ones own purified Mind and Heart......... Let us get the potrait of the Lord inside us????????

531. The Real Independence for my Country…...

It is been 67 years since we have driven out outsiders from our country and called ourselves an independent country. We celebrate the independence day every year. Are we independent in real sense? How can we be independent?

My views looking at the scenario now is there are three things which we need to be considered seriously to say we are an independent country.

1. Women has to be respected. Women have a very special position both at home and in society. They are capable of taking important decisions as they used to do in the Vedic era. Manusmriti says “Yatra Naryastu Pujyante, Ramante Tatra Devata” (Divinity Blossoms where women are respected). Male chauvinism is an attitude that causes some men to think women are inferior and exist only to serve them. For how long should women in my country tolerate such idiots???     

2. State and religion has to be separate. Agreed ours is the country of many religions and we are proud of it. Our constitution allows an individual to practice the religion of his choice. No one has the right to question him or distract him from the belief he has in certain ideology. What is the necessity for the religion to get mingled with administration of the state? Why do we not look at it different? If these two are inevitably amalgamated where is independence????

3. Business and politics has to be separate. Agreed that a businessman can be a politician and a politician can be a businessman. But how is it that a person who is unsuccessful entrepreneur becomes a successful business magnet when he becomes a politician? There could be two aspects one he is misusing the power or he is corrupt and using his business to defend his unlawful earnings. How long does this “Chalta Hai” (Take it for Grant) attitude remain in us and yet we say we are independent???

We had heard in ancient days Kings used to go on to the streets in disguise at night to know the pulse of the subjects and verify the value of their administration. With the inputs received the King would rectify his way of administration so that his subjects do not face hardship. If someone like me writes about it in a blog the response would be “Your thoughts are all old and it does not have place in the modern world. Now with the use of technology the administration can get the feedback.” But one has to keep in mind that those feedback can also be manipulated.

I feel with heavy heart and regret to say that unless we have a society that respects women, politicians who do not use religion to come to power and business to cover their loot and citizens who feel that this country is theirs and start to work for its prosperity my country is not really independent. 

Yet I take the privilege of celebrating the 67 years of Independence today as I am proud of those individuals who have don the role of excellent Leaders to take my country forward, Mothers who are nurturing the future of my country, Teachers who are molding the hope of my country, Soldiers who are guarding my country, Farmers who are feeding my country and Industrialist who are helping develop infrastructure in my country. I bow to all those souls.......

Happy Independence Day!!!!! 

530. What is our True Nature and What’s the Purpose of our Life?

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/mysticism/what-is-our-true-nature-and-what-s-the-purpose-of-our-life

Realisation of everlasting Bliss has to be the goal of every seeker. It is indeed our true nature. With the realisation of the true nature one becomes adept to derive happiness even from what seem to be trouble to others. Osho says suffering is illusory; Bliss is our true nature. It is not so because some great man has said, but it is so because it is truly so and only great men like Osho can experience and say so.

“Ananda” as it is called in Sanskrit is our true nature. It is hard to believe that life sometimes throws a difficult hurdle in our venture, make us lose hopes on our near and dear ones, and upsets our best of the best plans. But the knack lies in going to the core so that we are not attached to superficial outcomes and expectations of the actions we perform.

The true nature of the mango tree is to bear mango fruits at the appropriate season. If we ask the mango tree if it is the purpose of the tree to deliver mango it say no, as it does not produce mango by reciting some mantras or by doing some tiring work. The tree depends on the climate, nature and many more factors like it should not rain when the tree is flowering. If it does rain, there will be fewer yields of fruits. Even though the true nature of the mango tree is to bear mango fruits it does not have the capacity to maintain the quantity of the yield year after year. 

Amazingly we humans have been gifted with the purpose of life through which we can definitely reach the ultimate goal, THE BLISS. What is the purpose of our life?  Vedas gives us in detail about what has to be our purpose of life to attain that everlasting Bliss. Upanishads simplify them to four “Purushartha” (Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha). Some modern thinkers do concur that our true nature as Self, but do not approve that every individual has purpose of life. It is like saying mangoes are manufactured in factories like the cool drink advertisement we see.

Absolute is the cause of all causes and He is the Supreme Enjoyer. He expands Himself unlimited to make unlimited enjoyable relationships possible. The catch is that it becomes our purpose of life to get benefited by His efforts of providing us enjoyable relationship possible. There are basically two ways of commissioning the purpose of life:

1) Self-centered approach.

2) Absolute-centered approach.

In the Absolute-centered approach we are not the doers and hence we are the not enjoyers also. If we are not the enjoyers how do we experience the ultimate Bliss is the question then? How much ever immense and sincere our efforts are the outcome might not always be as expected, this is the reality that every one has to accept without an iota of doubt. The result holds the key for our happiness (as it cannot be called Bliss for simple reason that it is not eternal) or remorse feel. But once we become only the means for the action in the hands of the Lord and do the duty, we are always at Bliss and the outcome of the action neither provides us temporary happiness or temporary agony. This is how a spiritual person lives his life and is always in Bliss. This is how an individual experiences "Poornata" completeness in life.

In contrast, at the self-centered approach we are the doers and hence we are the enjoyers. We anticipate the results and so become attached to the superficial outcomes and expectations of the actions done. We assume all our actions have its source in our egoistic mind and there is no Absolute, no ultimate purpose. The egoistic mind says “it’s all about me and my efforts,” and hopes “everything will go about as the way I want.” This results in a hit-or-miss, trail-and-error, short-lived happiness and depression when it’s all over. This is how an avaricious materialistic person lives his life and is sometimes happy and sometimes in anguish.

The purpose of LIFE is a LIFE of purpose ...........ROBERT BYRNE

529. Guru who could Transform Matter in an Instant……..!!!!!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/guru-who-could-transform-matter-in-an-instant

Venkanna was an orphan looked after by his maternal uncle. He had to graze cattle all the daylong so that he earns his food from his aunt. His life was miserable yet he had no other option as he was illiterate. One day he happened to see a Saint along with his followers, the compassion on his face of the Guru made him run and fall at his feet. Tears rolled down he did not know what to ask the saint. 

Acharya looked at him with kindness blessed him and asked Venkanna to remember the Lord whenever he was in distress. Venkanna felt a strange sense of peace entering into him. Days rolled by and one day Siddi Masood Khan, the Nawab of Adoni under the province of Ali Adil Shah II of Bijapur Sultanate who was from the Siddi tribe from Africa was passing through that region. His messenger brought a note to him written in Kannada script. Unable to read the local language, the Nawab called out to Venkanna who was nearby grazing cattle and thrusted the note asking him to read the message. A startled Venkanna politely told the Nawab that he was illiterate. The Nawab could not believe that a young Brahmin would be uneducated and suspected that he might be bluffing. He ordered him to read the message failing which he would be beheaded for disobedience. 

Venkanna did not know what to do shivering he remembered the Gurus words and remembered the Lord. Like magic he was able to understand what was written there. The news in the message was about the victory for the Nawab. In the happy mood the Nawab appointed Venkanna as the Diwan of Adoni. 

Years rolled by Venkanna who was now the Diwan of Adoni made efforts to know about the Guru who had saved his life and bestowed him the position at which he was at present. He will know that the Guru was Raghavendra Swamy, the pontiff of Dvaitha Philosophy of Madhva Siddhanta. He told about the greatness of the Guru to his Nawab. Understandably the Nawab was skeptical about Guru and did not accept any authority other than Allah, the Almighty.

Nawab wanted to test the credentials of Guru and see if he was really as good as his Diwan had claimed to be. He asked the Diwan to invite the Guru to his durbar. He asked his men to place red meat in a silver plate and cover it with silken clothes. He offered it to the Guru who sprinkled water from his kamandala (water pot) on the plates. Later the silk clothes covered were removed. The Nawab and the whole durbar was waiting for this moment without battling is eyelids. When the clothes were removed the red meat in the plate had turned into fruits and sweet smelling flowers. The Nawab and the entire durbar were astounded and instantly realized the greatness of the Guru. Nawab felt low of his act and wanted to make amends he was willing to give the Guru anything within his capacity.

Guru told the Nawab he was a Sanyasi a Sarva Sangha Parityagi he needed nothing. But as atonement for his act he wanted Guru to ask for something. Then the Guru finally asked for the village of Manchale on the banks of the River Tungabhadra. Nawab was surprised since that was land filled with rocks and boulders yielding no crops or revenue. But as Guru insisted he gave the land. Today on the very place stands the Brundavana of Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy. And a pious pilgrimage center for the followers of Dvaitha Mata Siddantha.

Now what was the necessity for Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy to transform the plate of meat to plate of flowers and fruits? 

Suppose somebody gives us a bucket of soil to eat can we eat it? Yes, we can but we need to convert it to vegetation. We have to sow a seed and wait for months for the soil to get transform into vegetation and one day the whole of the soil can be converted to something which we can eat. Exactly the same way Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy transformed the plate of meat to plate of flowers and fruits….This is Transformation of Matter. While in natural process transformation of matters is bound to Kala (Time), Desha (Space) and Nimmita (Causation) Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy being a Spiritual Soul could do it without the binding of the three……..

On this day of Sarvana Bahula Dwiteeya, 343nd Aradhana Mahaotsava is celebrated. It was on this day Sri Raghavendra Prabhu entered into Samadhi 342 years ago.

Rajadhiraja Gurusarvabhouma Srimad Raghavendra Karunaa Samudra Jaya Jaya.

528. The Saint who Spoke from his Samadhi............

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/the-saint-who-spoke-from-his-samadhi

Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy is a bona fide Acharya and Saint of the Madhva sampradaya. He preached the philosophy of Dvaitha which emphasizes on complete devotion and surrender to Lord Krishna. Madhva philosophy is based on nine “PRAMEYAS” or a philosophical foundation that begins with Vishnu-tattva being Supreme Absolute Truth.

Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy the greatest author and preacher in the line of Madhva Tradition was born in the year 1595 and entered into Brundavana (Samadhi) in the year 1671. He scripted many literature to establish Lord Krishna as the Absolute. He highlighted the need to chant the name of the Lord to obtain mental peace. While he was the head of the Sri Mutt in Kumbakonam from 1624 to 1636 he performed many miracles. After successfully completing his work as a pontiff of the mutt he chose to enter “Sajeeva Samadhi”, where a Saint enters into Samadhi while still alive.

                                              Sri Raghavendra Brundavana at Mantralayam, A.P 

Devotees believes that even today he is still alive within the Brundavana (Samadhi) on the banks of Tungabhadra river in Mantralayam, Karnool district of Andhra Pradesh. He has manifested himself to many people, including Sir Thomas Munro, the then Collector of Bellary who came to confiscate the land belonging to Sri Mutt. Amazingly Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy answered to the queries in English from within the Samadhi and this incident is preserved as a note in the Madras Gazetteer. It can be seen in letter format: “Extract from Madras District Gazetteer” by W. Francis Esq ICS Volume No 1 Bellary Reprint 1916 by the Superintendent Govt. Press, Madras.

Some of his teachings that he preached before entering into the Samadhi were as follows:

“Without right living right thinking is hard to come. One has to perform the ordained duties according to one's Dharma in life without hankering for the rewards and at the same time offering the rewards to Lord is correct Sadachara (right living). This is real karma yoga.”

“A social activity done for the benefit of worthy people is itself Lord's worship. Every action performed in this life which serves the society is worship. Hence life is precious and even a second that has gone will never come back. Abiding to the Shastras and performing actions by always remembering Him is the highest duty.”

“Always beware of people who merely perform miracles without following the Shastras and yet call themselves Guru. You have seen me perform miracles. These are based on Yoga Siddhi and Shastras. There is no fraud or trick involved in it. These were performed by me only to show that He is great and that such wonderful powers can be attained with His grace. I have never performed it for my personal benefit.”

“Jnana, knowledge is greater than any miracle. Without knowledge no miracle takes place. If one performs miracle without knowledge it is mere black magic. Neither the performer nor the observer is benefited from those acts.”

“Devotion towards Lord is important, but it should not be a blind faith. Blind faith is not devotion one has to accept Him wholeheartedly and only then he will experience Him. Blind Faith is only stupidity.”

Devotees pay obeisance to Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy with the following mantra:

pujyaya raghavendraya satyadharmarataya ca
bhajatam kalpavrikshaya namatam kamadhenave
 

{Sri Raghavendra who rides on the chariot of truth and righteousness is like a kalpa-vriksha (a desire fulfilling tree) for he always takes care of his devotees' spiritual needs.}

527. The Dance of Goddess Maha Lakshmi in Abundance……..!!!!!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/god-and-i/the-dance-of-goddess-maha-lakshmi-in-abundance

A country has a better economy only if there is enough money that is circulating in the market than that is lashed in the banks as deposits. If we do not spend what we earn and put them in the bank then economy is not well. Even the Economic Institutions would like to have more creditors just as they are not satisfied with only depositors. That is how wealth should be viewed at.

Swami Vivekananda had said if a room has ventilation and a window that room will always have enough fresh air. So is it same with the economy of the country as much as we earn we need to spend according to our budget. This will help the earning potential of each individual and help improve all in finance. Inevitably about half of the earning of an individual will go for the routine expenses such as groceries, rent, tax, fee, electricity bills and water bills. And a little of the remaining is kept for future in the name of investment for rainy days, and remaining small portion of the earning is spent on entertainment. When there is a crunch it is this portion of entertainment which is getting the beating for a middle class person.

This month is Shravana and there is a continuous festive season from here starting with “Varamahalashmi Vrata” where Goddess Lakshmi is adored. I feel this festivals, melas and fairs were an arrangement made by our ancients to see that economy is in constant flow. Just as water which is stagnant stinks wealth has to be in continuous flow for the well-being of the society. Economy of a place will flourish only if money is earned and spent. Goddess Lakshmi is called Chanchala for this same reason, She is always in the move and She looks beautiful only if She is in circulation with Her gracious dance moves. When She is in circulation She is with you, me and with all. She is happy to be with anyone She does not discriminate at all. She will never differentiates between a lawful or an unlawful. But it is not right to blame Her for She is just like the food that will satisfy the hunger of the rich as well as poor. She is like the tree which gives shade to a criminal as well as a righteous person. She is like a fire which gives warmth in a cold rainy morning to a healthy person as well as an ailing person. Having said that She enjoys the company of a person who is shedding sweat to get Her.     

She is not only worshipped for Wealth (Aishwarya) and also for Status or Position (Yashas). This status is not that a person earns but it is something which a person is showered with. If a person is the minister, the people in reality bow to the position not to the person. Because if it was for the person then even after his tenure he should have got the same respect, only his sycophants will continue not all. This wealth is also the same as position so it is better not to go behind them instead work efficiently and let it come running behind us.

A person who is on the path of spirituality understands this and accepts Goddess Lakshmi as mother who stays with her kid and does not try to tempt her to get her blessings. Varamahalakshmi Vrata is the festival which needs to be celebrated with all the purchases to make the economy flow not in the intention of allure our mother. Why should a kid entice the mother??? 

Lets us just get tuned to her frequency.....and experience the abundance in Her!!!!!

526. Importance and Significance of Varamahalakshmi Pooja

The glory of performing the Varamahalakshmi Pooja is mentioned in Skanda Purana. This is a pooja or ritual to appease Maha Lakshmi, the consort of Maha Vishnu. She is the personification of auspiciousness, prosperity and wealth. The feast is performed on the Shravana Masa, Shukla Paksha Shukravara, that is, the Friday immediately following the full moon day in the auspicious month of Shravana (corresponding to August - September). This pooja is undertaken by the women folk for excellent progeny, great health, and to wish long life for their husbands.

Mahalakshmi is symbolic of eight forces namely SHRI (Wealth), BHU (Land), VIDVAT (Knowledge), PREM (Love), KIRTI (Fame), SHANTI (Peace), TUSHTI (Sufficiency), and PUSHTI (Strength). She is ever ready to grant boons to her devotees so usually referred to as “Vara Lakshmi”.

Representations of Lakshmi are found in Jain and Buddhist monuments, in addition to Hindu temples. Generally thought of as the personification of material fortune and prosperity, she is somewhat analogous to the Greco-Roman Aphrodite or Venus, as she also represents eroticism and is similarly thought to have originally “born of the sea” in her famous myth, as did the goddess Venus.

She is the consort of Maha Vishnu and is paired in all his incarnations. Rama (in her incarnation as Sita), Krishna (as Rukmini) and Venkateshwara (as Kolhapura Lakshmi). In Vaishnava traditions, She is believed to be the Mother Goddess and the Shakti of Narayan.

The appearance of goddess Lakshmi is related to an ancient story. Durvasa, the short-tempered sage once presented Indra, the king of the celestial beings with a garland of flowers which would never wither. Egoistic Indra gave the garland to his elephant Airavata. Sage Durvasa saw the elephant trampling the divine garland and cursed Indra, for he had shown disrespect to the sage. The sage cursed Indra that he and all his followers would lose their power because it had made them so proud and vain. Due to the curse, the demons vanquished the celestial beings out of the heavens.

The defeated celestial beings then went to seek refuge to the Creator Lord Brahma who asked them to churn the ocean of milk, Ksheersagar, to obtain the nectar of immortality. They then went to Maha Vishnu, to seek his assistance. Maha Vishnu took the Avatar Kurma (Tortoise) and supported the Manthara Mountain which served as a churning rod, while the king of the serpents, Vasuki, became the churning rope. The celestial beings and the demons both helped each other in churning the ocean of milk.

Amongst the host of divine gifts which appeared from the ocean, Lakshmi appeared and then chose Maha Vishnu as her consort, as only He had the power to control Maya (illusion). Because of this, Lakshmi is also called the daughter of the sea; since the Moon also appeared from the ocean during the churning, the moon is referred to as her brother. Goddess Lakshmi's traditionally accepted vehicle, the owl which is a bird that sleeps through the day and prowls through the night.

The rituals of worship during the Mahavaralakshmi Vrata differ from region to region in south India, but they all have the same basic format. The performer begins the day with a holy purification bath, and wears clean clothes. The arena is decorated with rangoli. A geometrical design known as mandala is then drawn on the clean surface of the floor. A sacred pot (kalash) is filled with pure water and rice (akshata), topped with a bunch fresh mango leaves, and a coconut smeared with turmeric powder is placed atop. Also, sandal paste and kumkum are applied to the kalash, and a cloth is tied around it before placing it on the mandala. Goddess Lakshmi is then invoked. Fresh flowers and grains are used in the worship, indicating growth and prosperity. Prayers in the form of Lakshmi Ashtottara and Sahasranama are then chanted. Women folk exchange auspicious articles as gifts and food. The function concludes with the singing of several hymns and songs in praise of Vara Lakshmi.

525. Dialogue between Two Thoughts in my Mind this Morning....!

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/faith-and-rituals/dialogue-between-two-thoughts-in-my-mind-this-morning

Today morning I was recalling the heroics of the Hanuman, the egoless devotee of Lord Rama. He contributes the success of his entire activities comprising of searching, finding and helping His Lord in uniting with Sitadevi, just to the chanting of Rama’s Nama. The modesty in him inspires me to channelize the achievement of whatever I do to Sri Hari. And also he has in a subtle way put sense into me not to go behind material world in one episode that happened after the war. 

After Sri Rama Patabhishekam (Coronation), pleasing with Hanuman’s service and devotion Sitadevi presented a pearl necklace to him. But to her utter surprise, Hanuman separated each pearls, and started breaking them one by one. When he was asked for the reason for his action, Hanuman told that he wanted to find if Lord Rama was in it. His logic was how could a pearl necklace be an object of appeal and interest, when he had Lord Rama in his Heart?

Now when this thought came in my mind there was another thought that surfaced and has a counter attack to the first one. The dialogue between the first thought and the second thought when on like this:

First Thought: Hanuman has set a good example by preferring devotion to materialism.

Second Thought: But, to lead a life in society materialism is necessary. Money beats everything and with money the sense of security is swanked.

First Thought: Of course money is needed for survival and can be earned for the need. Money has to be earned in a limit but devotion should be unlimited, money can buy only gross matter but it fails in dealing with subtle issues. 

Second Thought: Like???

First Thought: Recently one of the politician could not be saved even with so much money he had.

Second Thought: But there are many instances where even a person who was pious could not be saved, so do I conclude that as money is useless so is devotion to Absolute.   

First Thought: Hmmmm... You have a point there.

Second Thought: So you agree that just as amassing money gets you nothing so does devotion get you nothing.

First Thought: I would not look at it that way. A rich man or a poor man can come out of the hospital alive if he is predestined to. Money or his prayers might have nothing to do. It is merely his destiny which will play a major role at that time.

Second Thought: That makes both money and devotion the same ---useless.

First Thought: Tell me, can a person who has amassed money carry it with him afterlife. Is it possible for him to transfer his existing bank account and unaccounted wealth to his next life????

Second Thought: What a silly question? definitely not!!!

First Thought: Amazingly devotion to Absolute spills on to his next journey. All actions that are performed at subtle level get imprinted making a strong impression and travel along with the subtle body. The memories of such actions become part of the self. Money stays back but devotion becomes your nature and hence it does not leave you. Like how sugar does not lose its sweetness even when its solid state is converted into liquid state so does devotion remain in your nature.    

Second Thought: Any proof?????

First Thought: Yes, that too from the voice of the Lord of the Universe in Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 6 verses 43. Lord Krishna replying to Arjuna’s doubt as to what might happen if a seeker dies when in the middle of Spiritual Practice, the Lord says thus:

O, scion of the clan of Kurus! He (seeker) will regain the spiritual discernment of his previous birth, and then he will strive harder (in the next birth) than ever for perfection.

The Second Thought just faded away........!

524. Relationship is nourished by Trust.....

http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-blogs/seekers/self-improvement/relationship-is-nourished-by-trust

Any relationship thrives only on the trust and understanding. Lack of understanding and lawful separation of couples from a marital relationship has become a regular feature that some in this generation are facing. If deeply introspected we can pinpoint that the main reason for it is the short of belief among each other. Failure of trust is when the belief is over ruled by the words of the other person. Assumptions play a lot of role, once the trust on the individual is lost.

There is this episode in Mahabharata which throws light on how one should perceive a relationship:     

Duryodhana's wife Bhanumathi and his close friend Karna were playing a game of dice. The stake between them was substantial. As the game progressed, it was evident that Karna was winning and Bhanumathi was losing. Karna could not suppress his delight. Just then Duryodhana entered his queen's chamber. Karna had his back to the door while Bhanumathi was facing it. Seeing her husband coming, she was about to stand up out of respect as was the custom in those good old days. As she was just rising, Karna, thinking that she was trying to get away from the embarrassment of certain defeat in the game, snatched at her drape, studded with pearls.

Tugged at by Karna's powerful hands, the thread snapped and all the pearls rolled on the floor. Queen Bhanumathi was stunned and did not know what to say or do. She was afraid that, for no fault of hers, she would be misunderstood by her husband because of Karna's offensive and insensitive behavior. Bhanumathi was immeasurably upset. Seeing her shocked state and sensing that something was wrong, Karna turned round and saw his friend Duryodhana. He was also deeply shocked and distressed beyond words. Here he was, in the royal chamber, playing a game of dice with his friend's wife and, as if this was not enough, he had the audacity to catch her at the drape, thus embarrassing and endangering her chaste reputation. He stood dumbfounded and transfixed. Surely, Duryodhana would not tolerate such immodesty. He readied himself for the inevitable punishment. Both Bhanumathi and Karna had misjudged him. He had implicit faith and great love for his queen and greater was his faith on his friend Karna.

Trust in friendship & marriage must have poured in fear, emotions, and stopped flow of thoughts........in the minds of all the three at that time. Some of us face such situations at some point of life with reference to our better half. We either lead them to loss of trust in friendship or marriage or both. Duryodhana was indifferent in the above case. He said he would pick up all the pearls and join them together, while he wanted both Bhanumathi and Karna to continue with the game.

Lessons of life are always there for us, do we understand them................?????

523. Brother-Sister Relationship grows stronger with Nag Panchami.....

http://www.speakingtree.in/public/spiritual-blogs/seekers/faith-and-rituals/brothersister-relationship-grows-stronger-with-nag-panchami

Celebrated on the fifth day of the Hindu calendar month of Shravana is Nag Panchami the day dedicated to Snake god. On this day women take oil head bath and perform pooja to a snake carved out of stone or go to an ant hill where the snake has inhabited and offer obeisance to it. But I feel that the essence of this festival is forgotten but the practice of pouring milk into the anthill is observed. The focus should have been on the relationship between the brother and sister which is the significance of this festival. Instead of nurturing the inhuman activities of pouring milk to anthill and instigating snake catchers to catch hold the hundreds of snakes and defang them in a most cruel way for the devout to worship in the name of tradition.

What does the tradition say??? it says to revere the snake and not to harm it and cause problem for its peaceful existence. Snakes are good friends to farmer they would not let the rats eat away the crops.

Women offer milk, cotton garland, turmeric powder, vermillion, flowers and soaked till seeds and sugar to the stone image of a snake that is ok, the same should not be done to the anthill. Anthills are places where snakes take shelter, would it be comfortable if our shelter is splashed with milk and sticky sugar syrup.

On this day a very few ignorants pour milk in the anthill, while some women pray for the well being and for the prosperity of their brothers. Some even observe fast on this day for the sake of their brothers. They strongly believe that by doing so, brothers are protected from all kinds of dangers and troubles. Brothers in turn lavish their sisters with beautiful gifts. This festival also strengthens the bond of love and affection between sisters and brothers.

Why was the worship of Snakes traditionally made relevant to strengthen the Brother-Sister Relationship?? I do not know but I think the ancient seers could have visualized the DNA double helix structure which resembles the Cosmic Serpent and made it a symbol for the relationship. Amazingly science also agrees that I share my DNA with my sister and not my wife.

It is said that one can choose friends but not relatives. As relatives are not chosen but they happen, but then there is a twist to this statement. In any relationship we can always choose to be friends with our relatives also and most suited for this is the Brother-Sister relationship. This is a very complex relationship which includes in it an amalgamation of compassion, competition, benevolence, and jealousy. All these emotions overlaying each other and hence the parents are usually sandwiched and do not often realize what is happening. They are amazed and unable to comprehend how when the two fight each other, in a short time will get together to fight with parents. It is a unique relationship which lasts for a long period and should last for a long period.

Nag Panchami is one such festivals which bring the siblings together, even if the sister is been married and is with her in-laws and make them remember those funny events when they spent together.