1013. Excess should be avoided....!

Ati daanaat Balirvadho hyati maanaat Suyodhanah

Ati loulyaat Raavano hantah Ati Sarvatra Varjayet----Subhashitam.

Meaning:-

Bali met his end due to his extreme charity, Suyodhana was killed due to his excessive pride, and lust beyond control brought the end to Ravana. Hence excess should be avoided.

This is a Subhashitam which warns us of too much involvement in anything and everything. Bali who was bound by his limitless sacrifice and the sacrifice he made to Vamana against the advice of his Guru Sukracharya saw the end of him. Duryodhana, the eldest son of Dhritharastra, died of limitless self-esteem. Ravana too had lust which had no boundary and that brought his end.

Now if we notice in this Subhashitam we can observe that it was not the limitlessness which affected the three individuals mentioned here. All the three Bali, Duryodhana and Ravana were affected by the path in which they were treading. There is no limit to do anything if we are on the path of Dharma. I as an individual can go beyond to achieve anything but need to be within Dharma. 

They say that off the four Purushrthas namely Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha we can go beyond our limits to acquire Artha and to satiate our Kama but it needs to be within Dharma and Moksha. Artha and Kama are like the gushing river which should not breach the banks called Dharma and Moksha.    

I have always wondered why this Subhashitam did not mention about Raja Harishchandra who had gone beyond the boundary to utter Truth. He had to sell his wife and son to keep up the promise. He was subjected to lot of hardship in the cremation ground for being truthful. Why it is not considered limitlessness of uttering Truth by Raja Harishchandra??? As far as the sacrifice is considered why was Raja Shibi not accused of over indulgence in this Subhashitam when he readily offered the flesh from his thigh to the eagle in order to save the pigeon??? Was Puru not to be reprimanded for going beyond limit to exchange his youth with his aged father??? Will it not be crossing the limits when Bhishma made his vow to remain unmarried to facilitate his father Shantanu’s marriage with Satyavathi??? Would not Shri Rama be going beyond limits when he accepted to fulfil his father Dasharatha’s promise to Kaikeyi???

Where is the limit to do anything which makes us feel pleasant within??? There is a sense of satisfaction in whatever we aim at doing. That satisfaction brings the utmost joy that every individual yearn to experience. While Bali, Duryodhana and Ravana also aimed at the best going beyond but there was this self-cantered itch in what they wanted to achieve. They aimed at the best because they were trying to gratify their senses and never had the sense to satisfy the Self.

If we take up any task involving our emotions like Kama, Krodha, Moha, Mada Matsarya and Lobha, we will never be aware of what we are doing. Thus we lose control over the decisions we take. It is at that emotional movement we may cross our limits. It is required to be self controlled to act spontaneously and this spontaneity sparks when there is no selfishness in that act. The act of selflessness can be achieved only if one is treading on the path of Dharma. Either way one could cross the limit while on the path of Dharma or Adharma, but what need to be cautioned is already mentioned in this Subhashitam. Let’s not miss that point. 

It is not going beyond the limit that matters but the path that makes the difference.....Isn’t it???               

1012. Link between Rameshwaram and Kashi....!

The pilgrimage to Kashi starts from Rameshwaram!

It is a custom to first go to Rameshwaram and make a Sankalpa (volition) and collect the sand from the sea near Agni Theertha. The pilgrim carries the sand from Rameshwaram to Kashi and immerses the sand in Ganga. After the dharshana of Kashi Vishwanatha, Maa Vishalakshi and Maa Annapurna, the pilgrim will offer his obedience to Maa Ganga and carry Ganga water in a copper container. He is supposed to make a trip again to Rameshwaram and use the Ganga water to anoint the Sri Ramanatha Swamy at Rameshwaram.

Is there any significance in this practice or is it just a blind tradition followed???

Let us find out and before that a small story about Ganga will help us understand about why we need to displace the sand and water geographically!!!

In the Navama Skanda (9th Canto) of Srimad Bhagvatham is the story of Ganga. As per the legend, Sagara Chakraavarthi of Ikshvaku dynasty was ruling Ayodhya. He had two wives Keshini and Sumathi. Keshini had a son Asamanjasa while Sumathi was blessed with 60000 sons.

Once Sagara performed Aswamedha Yagna and as a part of the Yagna ritual the sacrificial Horse was to be released to wander in the nearby kingdoms. The Kings of those kingdoms had to either surrender and offer gifts or tie the wandering horse and fight against the King. The sacrificial horse after passing through many kingdoms finally arrives at the ashrama of Kapila Muni which is now Rameshwaram.

Kapila Muni is seated in the seat of silence and the 60000 sons of Sagara come looking for the horse. Assuming Kapila Muni who was sitting with his eyes close to have captured the horse, they shout at him disturbing his transcendental state. Enraged at being disturbed Kapila Muni opens his eyes resulting in 60000 sons of Sagara burning down to ashes.

Worried, Sagara sends his grandson Anshumantha (son of Asamanjasa) to find the whereabouts of his 60000 sons and also the sacrificial Horse. Anshumantha finally reaches the ashrama of Kapila Muni and get to know about the incidence. Kapila Muni advises him that only Vishnupaadabhavi Ganga can wash off the sins of his uncles. So Ganga has to flow over the heap of ash.

Sagara, his son Asamanjasa, then Anshumantha and his son Dileepa make many attempts to bring the celestial river Ganga down, but do not succeed. Finally King Bhagiratha, son of Dileepa takes up the task performs a severe penance and is successful. He routed it to Ganga Sagara (which is now called Bay of Bengal).

It is said that Ganga after it enters Sagara would touch the shore in Rameshwaram near Agni Theertham where the ashes of the ancestors of Bhagiratha were present. In Treta Yuga when Shri Rama and his vanara sena built the Sethu (bridge) to go to Sri Lanka, Ganga could not reach the sands of Rameshwaram. Hence it was made a custom for every pilgrim to carry the sand which has the ashes of 60000 sons of Sagara from Agni Theertham to Kashi and immerse in Ganga.

Now why should we bring Ganga water to anoint Sri Ramanatha Swamy at Rameshwaram???

As told earlier the waters of Ganga does not reach Rameshwaram and in due course there were many rivers like Padma, Meghna, Godavari, Krishna, Irrawaddy and Kaveri draining out into Bay of Bengal. So no longer was it Ganga Sagar it became the confluence of many rivers apart from Ganga. Hence the anointment of Sri Ramanatha Swamy at Rameshwaram is done from the original Ganga water brought by the pilgrims without being amalgamated with other river waters.

Could be a strange custom but we did take the sand of Rameshwaram and immerse it at Kashi Ganga, now we have carried with us the small copper pots filled with Ganga water to anoint Sri Ramanatha Swamy at Rameshwaram.....When???

Waiting again for his graceful call..... !!!

1011. Ghats of Varanasi....!

A boat ride along the river Ganga at Kashi provides the mammoth view of numerous Ghats there. Ghat is a place where Hindus burn the mortal remains on the wooden pyre. The divinity of Kashi lies in the unique combination of physical, metaphysical and supernatural elements associated with our self. Ghats of Kashi are natural supplement to the concept of divinity and hence considered as the one which liberates the Jeevatma from the bondage of Samsara.

They say “Kasyam Maranam Mukti” hence it is the land where people come to shed their mortal coils. Our body is associated with Pancha Tattva (Five elements namely Space, Air, Fire Water and Earth). After the mortal coils are shed the body is confined to Fire element and in turn is absorbed by water, space, air and earth.

That is how the connection between cosmic order and harmonic relationship between Brahmanda (Micro Cosmos) and Pindanda (Micro Cosmos) is established through interlink of Meso Cosmos (which are the Ghats). Puranas mention that Maharudradeva whispers the Taraka Mantra in the ear of the dead here so that the Jeevi can cross Vaitarni River in the land of Yamaraja.

There are now only two Ghats where the burning of the mortal remains is allowed. Harishchandra Ghat and Manikarnika Ghat.

Harishchandra Ghat named after the descendent of Ikshvaku dynasty Raja Harishchandra who has his name associated with Satya (Truth).

Once Rishi Vishwamitra and Rishi Vashishta have a debate and Vishwamitra claims that there is no one in this universe who will never tell a lie. Rishi Vashishta who was the kula guru of Ikshvaku Vamsha tells that his disciple, Raja Harishchandra is the one who will never utter a lie or cheat anyone. Rishi Vishwamitra wants to disprove the claim and puts Raja Harishchandra to test asking for the kingdom as Dakshina (Ritual fee). Raja Harishchandra generously gave up the entire kingdom. Viswamitra accepted the kingdom but let it remain with Raja for the time being and tells him that he will accept it in near future.

After a few years there is famine and the King uses the wealth in the treasury and seeing this as an opportunity Rishi Vishwamitra comes to claim the kingdom. To compensate the treasure used in famine, Harishchandra sells his wife and son into slavery. In Kashi, he devoted himself as a worker in a crematorium under Dom Raja, Veera Bahu. He is no longer Raja Harishchandra now his identity is Veeradasa, the servant of Veera Bahu. 

The one time Emperor of Saptamahadwipas (seven continents) is now working as the assistant to the incharge of the Ghat. This is all because of the clash of ego among Rishi Vishwamitra & Rishi Vashishta.

Veeradasa had to collect the crematorium fee, rice and vastra to allow the cremation. He also had to see that the mortal remains is completely turned to ashes. From the thus collected, he had to give the crematorium fee to Dom Raja and keep the rice and vastra for his use.

One day his wife arrives at Kashi with the dead body of their son. His wife who is now a slave cannot afford the crematorium fee nor the rice and vastra. Harishchandra tells her he can afford to let go the rice and vastra which is his part but she has to pay the crematorium fee which belongs to Dom Raja. He is firm on the decision and asks her to fetch the fee. Rishi Vishwamitra accepts that Raja Harishchandra is indeed honest.

The Dom Raja who is in-charge of the cremation is overwhelmed by the behaviour of Raja and names the Ghat as Harishchandra Ghat.

When we arrived at the Manikarnika Ghat we could see three pyres burning and a few waiting for the Dahana Samskara. There is no time limit and the burning happens nonstop.

The Ghat for its tranquillity attracts many foreign tourists who are amazed looking at the way the oldest religion of the world disposes the dead.

Here death is a celebration and people come here to stay at the old age homes like Mumukshu Bhavan waiting for the eleventh hour to fade away. The smoke engulfed at the Ghat area irrespective of day or night making the place Eternal.

1010. A pilgrimage to Kashinagara

The landscape between what was once the two rivers called Varuna & Assi before the decent of Holy Ganga is Varanasi. When Ganga made her appearance the two rivers joined her. It was then the land got the holy tag and became the place of “learning & burning”.

Learning not just the Para vidya (lower knowledge) but also the Apara Vidya (higher knowledge), burning not just the mortal remains but also the inner enemies within. Lower knowledge being the art of knowing about the things outside us, while the higher knowledge is the art to know about our Self.

As we took the pilgrimage to the oldest city of the world called Kashinagara, we were told by our boatman that if you happened to take a sag of rice and start to pour a hand full of it on the deity situated in the every temple the rice in the sag may get over but the temple count won't. Every house in the by lanes of Kashinagara has a small temple.

The most significant among them is the Sri Kashi Vishwanatha, Maa Vishalakshi, Maa Annapurna, Sankat mochan Hanuman, Kshetrapalaka Kala Bhairava.

We happen to take the Aarti seva at Sri Kashi Vishwanatha and were at the temple doors at 2.30 A.M. After a thorough security check we were allowed into the temple. There were around 200 seva karthas and we were allowed to sit in front of the sanctum which has doors on all four sides.

The Shiva linga which was unusually not at the center but at one corner was visible to all. The aarthi ritual started with Abhisheka (anointment) with water from Ganga, milk, curd & jaggery. This ritual was performed chanting Rudrachamakam. Abhiskhekam was followed applying scandal oil to the linga and decorating with flowers. The Shiva linga was immersed with lots of flowers and then camphor was lit on the four sides of the Linga. The sounds of Damaru and Shanka filled the air with the swaying of aarthi lamp. This was an enchanting moment the chant “Har Har Shambho Mahadev Kashi Vishwanatha Gange, Sadashiv Maa Parvathi Sanghe" was loud and clear.

Before making the trip to this holy city I read about Kashi in some books and blogs. One of the seeker from Japan had posted about her experience as a write up in her blog. She admitted that though she did not know much about the rituals performed she could relate to them.

One of her friends responding to the write up wanted to know if Kashi and Ganga were clean. The response this Japanese lady gave was thought provoking. She wrote thus: "I am here at this oldest holy city not to gauge or assess how clean the city is nor am I here to give a test report on Ganga water. I am here to cleanse my inner self. I will have done my part if I can clean my inner self without polluting the outside of me".

1009. Ganga Saptami....

Srimad Bhagavatam says when Maha Vishnu grew from Vamana (Dwarf) to Trivikrama (Gigantic Form) to measure the three worlds His foot stretched to Satyaloka the abode of Brahma. Excited to see His holy feet, Brahma immediately offered humble worship with water from his Kamandala. This holy water, purified and sanctified by the touch of the His feet, gushed down as the sacred Ganga. Today is Ganga Saptami, according to Hindu Mythology Ganga descended to the earth on this day on the request of Sage Bhagiratha. When she descended on the earth from Heaven, it was Lord Shiva who took her in His matted hairs to check her mighty force which otherwise would have swept the whole Earth away.

It was on the Ganga Saptami day in 1986 my mother left for the Divine abode. Every year it was a custom to offer Tilatarpana on Vaishaka Shukla Saptami Thithi. I cannot count my fortune and the blessing which has provided an opportunity to be here in Ganges this year to perform the ritual. My priority though should be not to pollute Ganges while performing the rituals.

They say rivers have the ability to clean themselves if left alone to flow naturally. It's mere flowing force will maintain its purity automatically. The chain link of problem starts when a lot of silt gets accumulated, the quantity of flow reduced because of dams built, the width of the river shrinks, catchment area gets encroached, industries are set up and the effluences are linked to the river. With this chronology it is never possible to find the real culprit for the rivers to get polluted. As Buddha tells there is no point in finding the cause but it is necessary to work on the effect and see that it does not recur. It is an overwhelming sight to see the Namame Gange Mission for clean Ganga is yielding wonderful results and we are able to hear the local people say that now the river is much lively. After my Prime Minister declared he was the son of Ganga Maa and pledged to restore the river its pristine glory.

Ganga is one of the major rivers of the Indian subcontinent and is the national river, flowing east through the Gangetic Plain of northern India into Bangladesh. The 2,510 km river rises in the western Himalayas in the Uttarakhand and drains into the Sunderbans delta in the Bay of Bengal. On the banks of this river are situated many well known places of pilgrimage such as Haridwar, Prayag and Kashi. It is on the banks of this holy river that many Rishis, Munis and Tapasvis have been performing their spiritual endeavours.

1008. Ganga Aarthi....

Ganga Aarti is performed at Dashashwamedha Ghat in Kashi on the banks of Ganges every evening. By performing the aarti ritual Agni, Ganga, Surya and Maharudradeva are all revered. This ritual is a magnificent event one must participate during the visit to Kashi. The involvement in this ritual will escalate the spiritual connection we have with that ever flowing sacred river. We witnessed a huge gathering participate in the aarthi evening. The entire ghat area was lit up with a beautiful golden glow from the lamps which was mesmerizing.

It was like a fair taking place at Dashashwamedha Ghat, the devotees were patiently waiting for the aarti to begin sitting at the ghat.

There were a lot of devotes waiting in the boats to view the ritual from the riverside. Vendors were busy selling flowers, tiny oil lamps and incense sticks as offerings for Maa Ganga as it happened to be her day of descend to this earth. There were lot of enthusiastic people with their professional camera equipments to capture this grand event.

A few groups were getting photographed with the Ganga as a backdrop. A few stunned-looking foreign nationals were hurriedly trying to figure out a vantage point so that they can have the glimpse of the rituals.

Amidst all this we observed five raised platforms with all the arrangements made for aarthi. There was idol of Maa Ganga, a eight-tiered lamp, flowers, incense sticks, a conch shell, a huge brass lamp with a snake hood and many other items to perform the aarti rituals. It was indeed a delightful sight to experience the synchrony of the young pandas (as those who perform the aarthi are called) wearing the same attire (Dhoti & Kurta) and the one end of the Angavastra tightly wound around the waist and the other long end running from front to back across the shoulder.

All the pandas were young and carried a beaming radiance on their face. They are all students of Gangotri Seva Samiti who learn Vedas and Upanishads under a head priest.

The whole spectacular event took around 45 minutes, the Veda mantras and the blowing of conch....all en-trilling.

One of the must see event......... experienced by the grace of
Gangadhareshwara, my eternal Guru.

1007. I love my Self.....!

Brihadarnayaka Upanishad says, “Atmanastu Kamaya Sarvam Priyam Bhavati”(It is only due to the love for one’s self that everything else becomes dear). This is once such wonderful observation by the Rishi Yagnavalkya about Mind Psychology. Everyone loves anything not for the sake of that thing, but for his own gratification.

Sri Krishna in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 verse 55 uses the word “Atmaenvatmana Tustah” which is when the lower self is contented with Higher self.  He says that can happen when one drops all desires (Prajahati Yada Kaman).

When as a seeker I look at the verse from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad as well as Bhagavad Gita it might look contrary but there are important differences if observed with more contemplation.

Rishi Yagnavalkya was mentioning the desire that is from the root of narcissist approach while Sri Krishna was pointing out at the Self-Actualisation. A narcissist has extreme selfishness and is very calculative with a grandiose view of himself and a craving for praise and admiration from others. While a person who is self-actualized has spontaneity with self-acceptance and has resistance to approbation.

Self-actualization is the pinnacle of personality escalation while a narcissist is the victim of personality disorder. Self growth with inward exploration is the aim of a self-actualized person and the tool he uses to practice this is Self-Confidence. On the contrary, a narcissist is an outwardly person who is on the wrong track and his Self-Centered attitude hurts not him but all those involved with him. Amazingly these traits are not mutually exclusive we can observe a few hovering between self-actualization and narcissism. Self-actualized person and a narcissist can be described as autonomous, self-accepting, lacking inhibitions, charismatic, unconventional, and nonconforming.

The key difference is that in the growth of a self-actualized person there is transcending of ego and an effort to realise the purpose of their existence. This enables him to think that we all are from the same source and act accordingly to make the world a better place to live. A narcissist rather than subduing the ego tries to puff it up. He develops an obsessive focus on self which projects him as elite and hence it becomes very difficult to involve himself in community activities. Both narcissists and self-actualized people are charismatic because they are independent and full of energy. The difference though is that a narcissist is manipulative and wants to act only for his personal gain. A Self-actualized individual plans a scheme so that it can benefit all those who are with him.

In short we can summarise the traits of a Self-actualised person who cannot and should not be confused to be a narcissist. They are 

1.  Self-directed, but never Selfish.

2.  Self-accepting, but never Arrogant.

3.  Self-confident, but never Egotistic.

4.  Childlike, but never Immature.

5.  Charismatic, but never calculative.

6.  Indifferent, but never cold and aloof.

1006. Which part of the body is important???

A mother of a college going young man asked him, “Which according to you is the most important part of the body????”

The youngster was puzzled by this question from his mother and tried to take a guess at what he thought would be the correct answer.  

As he was able to hear the question from his mother he thought to make the sound waves audible was very important, so he said, “Amma, Shravana (ability to hear) is important so it is ears, isn’t it.”

“No, even those who have difficulty in hearing can manage and live on, thinking about it and then tell me there is no hurry.” 

The next day the young man returned from his college. He was thinking about the answer for the question, he had contemplated the correct answer. So this time he told his mother, “Amma, Drushya (ability to see) is very important, so it must be our eyes. Right???” 

Mother looked at her son and smiled, “You are on the right path of thinking, but that is not the correct answer because there are many people who are blind.” 

The young man was stumped again, He continued his quest for answer and over a few days he did mention many parts of the body both internal and external, but his mother always said, “No. But you are getting smarter every time you are trying to answer.”  

It was like the situation in Taittiriya Upanishad where Varuna and his son Bhrigu discuss about Brahman. The question was what is Brahman? Every time Bhrigu would think and came back repeatedly to Varuna and told Annam (Food), Prana (Breath), Manah (Mind), Buddhi (Intellect). None was correct then Varuna asked him to contemplate and the answers he had got to arrive at the exact answers. The material body, deeper than it was the vital breath, then the thinking mind, and the intellect —and found something very mysterious. What did he realise? Finally Brighu realised that Bliss is Brahman.  Anando Brahmeti Vyajanat.

Likewise this young man too had many answers to his mother question and a year passed and one day his Thatha (grandfather) passed away. Everyone in the house was unable to bear the loss of the elderly man who was always jovial. His absence created a silence which was eerie and that was most unbearable. The young man’s father also could not control the tears.

Amma looked at her son and asked, “Do you know the most important body part yet, my son?”

The son was surprised at the timing at which his mother was expecting him to answer the year long question. She asked him to look at his father.

She said, “My son, the most important body part is your shoulder. No, it is not because it can hold the head when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry at sometime in life. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it. And your shoulder too will have enough space to accommodate your friend who is in grief.”

The young man’s father had his head inclined on the shoulder of his friend who was patting it and consoling him.     

It is quite common for people to forget the good things told about them, they even forget all the good deeds done to them. But they will never forget how one makes them feel.  

1005. Turn Around Time (TAT) of Sri Hari.....!

Turn Around Time (TAT) in the computing world it is the total time taken between the submission of a program for execution and the return of the complete output to the user. This TAT is sum total of waiting time and execution time. Not only in the computing sector, even in the workflow chart of laboratories there is mention of this TAT. It is the time interval between electrocardiogram screening and placement of the printout in the patient chart. So in every sector there is a time interval between the submission and execution which is considered and reported. 

In Srimad Bhagavatam we have in the Astama Skanda (8^th canto)  the TAT of Sri Hari explained. Near the mountain called Trikoota were several enchanting lakes belonging to Varuna, the God of Oceans. Once it so happened that a huge herd of elephants which inhabited the forest nearby came to one of the lakes to quench the thirst. The herd was led by Gajendra. As soon as Gajendra went into the lake his feet was gripped by a hungry Crocodile. The crocodiles have a mighty grip and enormous strength when in the water, it tried to drag the elephant into the deep water. The fellow elephants made a chain and try to pull him out. The long fierce tug-of-war lasted for a very very long period of time finally the elephants were exhausted and their spirit faded.

When the efforts of the herd went in vain and the death started staring at the eyes of the elephant king, his thoughts turn to Sri Hari, the sole savoir. The elephant king looked around the lake and found a fully blossomed lotus. He picked it up with his trunk and cried for the “Adi Moola” to rescue him.

Meanwhile Sri Hari was busy playing the game of dice with His consort Maha Lakshmi in Paramapada. He distantly heard the cries of His devotee from the lake. As soon as the submission was made by Gajendra, He had to rush. The TAT is very well described by the great Poet Sri Potana in his Potana Bhagavatham thus:  

Sri Hari in His eagerness to save the life of Gajendra, has no time to tell Sri, His beloved wife. He does not like to waste time to take His attributes Shanka (Conch) and Chakra (Discus). He does not call any of His Nitya Sooris (Eternal Servants - Ananta, Garuda or Vishwaksena ). While rushing out He even forgets to let go the edge of the Saree of Maha Lakshmi which He was romantically holding while playing the game of dice with her.

As Sri Hari dashed out of Paramapada, Maha Lashmi was inevitably pulled by the Saree He was holding. She had to free herself from the galloping Sri Hari.   Garuda seeing His master scamper off, flew to keep pace with Him. Shanka and Chakra also followed. And in no time Sri Hari was at the lake. He released the Chakra at the crocodile and saved Gajendra. In this TAT the wasting time though was the period when the tug-of-war was happening between the herd of elephants and the crocodile.

There is no Service Level Agreement (SLA) as He is given us an open call sheet, any time and any place. We have a history of Him appearing from a pillar once to protect His little devotee. And in one cases He did not appear in person too, but loads and loads of Saree just unfurled at His behest to protect the modesty of His devotee who gave out a distress call to Him.

Just one call to Him is enough.....Do you agree???    

1004. Education Wealth and Health....!

Vidhya (Education), Sampat (Wealth), and Swasthya (Health) are the three important essentials which we yearn for, but the worth of each of them depends on the way it is used.

First let us take education:  “Vidhya Dadati Vinayam” says a Shubhashitam. The meaning is education gives (brings) humility. Getting educated will be a wasteful process unless the knowledge obtained from it is transformed in to wisdom. That wisdom will be expressed through the character. Though education is not the metaphor for an exemplary character, it does polish the mind. Education is not achieved by sitting in a classroom. It is acquisition of knowledge by any means to broaden the vision and gain the ability to comprehend things around in a better way.

Education should never be a source to earn wealth alone. Sage Vashishta tells Shri Rama that money is the most essential thing for “Dhana moolam idam Jagat” (Money is the basis of this universe). Money sufficient to be happy and lead a simple life is what is required. Money can buy anything and everything, it can buy us the entire range of apparatus to make us happy, but it cannot procure happiness for us.

To amass wealth is also a Yoga (Fortune) and it should never be disdained. Money if earned in excess can be useful for generous activities associated with health care and edification. Money earned can be for good or evil depending on how the individual is using it.

With the good education and adequate wealth, what if there is no good health???  

“Swasthyam Paramam Bhagyam” (Health is the highest fortune). Sanskrit word for health is “Swasthya.” It is not just a word but it has an insightful meaning. The word Swasthya is made of two root words “Swa” (Self) and “Stha” (occupied with). So Swasthya can be roughly translated as “Occupied with one’s own Self”.

It is my health which allows me to use my thus accumulated knowledge and wealth. Without the health neither my education nor my wealth seems to be appeal me. If I have to be strong to withstand the ups and downs of life, it is the health which needs to be supporting my body. With an uncertain health one has everything but yet nothing. Health is not achieved by regular workout in the gym or a disciplined walk in the park, though they may aid for better living. Health is never got by following a strict diet and going cautious on hygiene.

How then is good health achieved???  

       

Health is not just a well maintained body. When I believe in Karma Siddantha (Doctrine of Karma) then I accept that “Poorva janma kritam paapam vyaadhi roopena baadathe” (Fruits of the vicious deeds from past life manifest as disease to cause pain). The moment this body came out of the womb it has brought the chronic illness along with it in its DNA. Good health does not mean not affected by illness. Good health is to realize this and have the strength to overcome it. That poorva janma kritam paapam needs a body and it can manifest only in the body, mind can stay away from it.

Ramana Maharshi had cancer there was no way escaping from it. Many were puzzled looking at Ramana Maharshi because the whole body was in pain but there was no sign of pain in his eyes. Doctors would ask, “You must be in great pain?” Ramana would reply, “Yes there is great pain, but it is not happening to me. I am aware that there is great pain happening to the body; I know that there is great pain happening. I am seeing it, but it is not happening to me.” 


Tha t was what Ramana Maharshi told about “Manonasha”..............What say???

1003. Parents-Children Bond....!

Having children and nurtured them to be a better human is the ultimate experience of every parent. The entire life of parents stand on this pivot. Now, what is the criterion to be “Better Human”??? For some it could be making their children a successful professionals, for some it could be to bring name and fame to the family. Undoubtedly though which everyone agrees to is, to be a better human is to put others first and self last. 

It naturally comes to be empathetic as they grow with nature, in nature everything is like “Living for other” which the Sanskrit Shubhashitam mentions as “Paropkaryam.” As a child grow up to be a teenager and then an adult if the priority change from living for others to being self-centered, then it is a problem for the parents. Even more problematic is when the children emotionally blackmail the parents, take their love and affection for granted and start having Narcissistic synonym.

One can end a friendship or even the martial relationship if they feel they are let down, but it can never happen with the parent-child relationship. There is a blind spot when it comes to behaviour of the children where the emotional blackmail is allowed and accepted by the parents. Some children even necessitate the parent to take back their personal authority, and stepping away from enabling their puny behaviour.  

A few adult children get “stuck” in the blame or victim role and can’t move along. My elders when addressing the age of such an adult used to say “Elu Katte Vayasu” (7 donkey age) A donkey age is referred to as three times the age of a human age. That is a human of age 3 correspond to 1 donkey. So the age of 7 donkey would be 21years of human age. Maybe they addressed so to point out that the adult has gone past the years now more than the years taken to raise them and astonishingly the mental maturity has not been attained even after going past the physical maturity.  

Having children would be an incredible blessing. As they grow up to become adults themselves, it is also essential to shift gears in the parent-child relationship. As a parent it is important to guide them, but with a firm and clear decision on what can be allowed and what should not be and what behaviours is not accepted or encouraged. They say a child at certain age has to be treated like a friend and it also requires for the children to acknowledge the feel and reciprocate it back to the parent. When the child has reached that age the main aim if any they have is to see that the parents are in the comfort zone. There is no need for materialistic reassure, but just emotional bond they yearn for will do wonders.      

It is healthy to see the unconditional love from the parents and the reciprocal adoration from the children which makes a happy family. This is reworking part of the parent-child bond, doing the best to help an adult son or daughter stop blaming, and start finding solutions for the issues they encounter on their own. It is amazing when they say they know all on some matters and they become ignorant of some. This takes strength, but it is really the most loving and helpful thing one can do to their wards: loving them, but stepping away from the drama, setting firm limits, and not feeding the problem. Maybe while still parenting a shift to an appropriate stance is better in a way to accommodate the strength, health, and emotional growth of the children. And most importantly that shift by the parents should not be underestimated by the children as insecurity feelings. 

1002. Sanatana Dharma.....!

Sanatana Dharma is a way of life. It does not endorse any particular Dharma or a Deity nor does it speak about ritualistic worship. It is a system which has no founder or a philosopher, but its logic and reasoning is based on Vedas which are timeless Truth without any author.

Over the ages there had been many Acharyas who expounded on that timeless Truth in their own way and made it available for us. Though some categorise themselves as the followers of a particular Acharya, none can be proclimed as the founder of the Sanatana Dharma.
The ultimate aim of this system is to achieve Atma Jnana (Self
Realisation). The individual will try to seek the Truth, know about it and then merge with it, to become THAT.

For a Sanatani, Virat Purusha (Absolute Being) is the Niyamaka
(Controller) of this Jagat (Universe) who is beyond the plane of physical existence (Transcendent), yet within (Immanent). To him Vedas are scriptural authority and those scriptures direct him to Tapah
(Austerity), Soucha (Cleanliness), Daya (Compassion) and Satya
(Truthfulness).

Outer and inner self control of Jananendriya (Sense Organs) and Karmendriya (Motor Organs) along with Manah (Mind) and Buddhi (Intellect) is Tapah.

The hygiene of Deha (Body) along with the clarity in Antahkarana (Conscience) is to achieve Soucha.
Love and showing compassion to all life forms as they too are the manifestation of that Virat Purusha is Daya, it starts with Ahimsa (Non-violence).

Sticking to a word is a must; Satya is a Vrata (Vow) which pass through the twin gateways of being necessary and kind.
Sanatani acknowledges his existence as a part of Karma (Cause and Effect) so he also agrees in Punarjanma (Rebirth.
Karma is action which starts with a Ashaya (Intent) and ending with
the physical manifestation in word or deed. Hence we are the creators of our own destiny, “as we sow, so shall we reap”.
Reincarnation is the natural process of birth, death and rebirth. At death we drop our mortal coils and continue evolving in the inner worlds with subtle body, until we again enter the womb of another mother. We are not the body in which we live, but the subtle body which inhabits many bodies in its evolutionary journey through the
cycle of life and death.
The Virat Purusha is referred to in Vedas as Brahman (a few confuse this Brahman to brahmana, who is the knower of Brahman or to Chatur Mukha Brahma, the creator who sprang out of the Virat Purusha). 

ThisVirat Purusha is Sarvocha (Supreme), Sanatana (Eternal), Sarvavyapta (Omnipresent), Sarvashakta (Omniscient) Sarvajna (Omnipotent). He is
beyond the concepts of Kala (Time), Pari (Space) and Hetu (Cause). His attributes are Sat (Existence), Chit (Consciousness) and Ananda
(Bliss) and His manifestation is perceived in the sound “OM”.
Om represents the primordial and powerful sound symbol of Virat Purusha. It is that sound which has all other sounds in it along with all words, all languages and all mantras. It consists of 3 syllables AUM. As we open our mouth we will be pronouncing “A”, when our mouth
is partially closed it is “U”, and totally closed when pronouncing
“M”. So the 3 syllables AUM cover the whole spectrum of sound. 

OM is a vast as well as subtle subject. If the Virat Purusha is the manifested form OM the energy of all energies is the unmanifested.

1001. Sharing is a Religious Act.....!

Once Yudhisthira questioned Sri Krishna, “Is it possible for a seeker to attain heaven without performing any kind austerities?”

The reply to this question by Sri Krishna is very profound if it is understood to the core. He says thus:   

“Annadau Jaladaschaiva Aturascha Chikithsakah
Trvidham Svargam Ayati Vina Yajnena Bharatah”

“Oh, son of Bharata, those who share food grains, drinking water and medicine to the needy go to heaven without performing any kind of austerities.”

In Sri Vishnu Sahasranama, the thousand names of Maha Vishnu, the 32^nd nama is “Bhaavanah” (He who gives everything to His devotees). When He is the giver of everything then the question that crops up is why Sri Krishna tells Dharmaraya that one has to share Anna (Food), Jala (Water) and Chikitsa (Medical Treatment) to the needy.

Here a slight insight is required to know what Sri Krishna said. Though in reality He is “Bhaavanah” the provider of everything to His devotees, there could be some who do not ask Him to provide. They could be atheists who do not believe that He exists or those who are sure that He will provide by any means and there is no need to ask Him (Staunch Believers and animals, birds, reptiles).

Sri Krishna in His answer very specifically states that one who shares food, water and medicine, this indicates that we are all been provided by Him, and we can only share. We sometimes foolishly think we are the providers or givers. In fact if we contemplate deep we will know that we have not brought anything at birth which we can think we can give??? I do not have anything which I can state is mine here??? Had I not come with empty hands and will I not live empty handed???  

He is the greatest provider and He provides according to what we deserve. Now let us not confuse with the word “Deserve.” I have seen many having this doubt when they see a person who is working very hard and not remunerated appropriately for his work and also when they find a useless fellow who does not work properly is rewarded, this is their biggest dismay. This is nothing but Karma at play with the difference between the Yoga (Fotune) and Yogyatha (Deservance); He is only a “Karma Phala Daata” (Dispenser of the resultant fruit). So our Bhagya (Fortune) is not connected to what we are doing now, as what we do now is accounted as Agami Karma (Portion of action in present life). Our Yogyatha (Deservance) which is more about what we are doing now at present can only denote our actions but not the fruit. If the Yogyatha and Yoga are in concord then no one is surprised, it is a bit weird only if there is a mismatch between both of them. In fact the mismatch is more often observed, hence for some Karma Siddhanta is obnoxious.        

Now this is why Sri Krishna has emphatically stated that those who share food, water and medicine will be bettering their Agami Karma and hence in turn will amass good Yog (Fortune) for the life after. After all Heaven is not somewhere else, it is to live in this earth plane in tranquility and peace. If not deserving in this life span let us create our future for the next. So there is a need to share what we have with those who are in need. Moreover by getting into the act of sharing, we are playing in His hands as the part of His scheme as “Karma Phala Daata”..... What say???