1068. He entered Alive into the Tomb.....!

Hari Sarvottama Vayu Jeevottama!!!!

When the Prana Vayu (Vital Breath) leaves the Chaitanya (Consciousness) too departs and the individual lose the identity, “He” is now just called “body”. The Chaitanyahina (Lifeless) Deha (body) is disposed of by Bhu, Jala or Agni (Earth, Water or Fire) Samadhi.

Now, what is this Samadhi???  

The word Samadhi has two syllables “Sama” and “Adhi” Sama is Equal and Adhi is beginning. Equal to beginning is to merge with the source. The Jeevatma (Subtle Body) after detaching itself from the Stula Deha (Gross Body) has to merge with Paramatma (Supreme). The Gross body too has attained Samadhi as it is also merged with the five elements namely space, fire, water, air and earth. This procedure is the normal for an ordinary mortal, but there are a few who go into Sajeeva Samadhi (Entering the tomb alive). 

Sajeeva Samadhi is attained by an individual who willfully stops responding to external stimuli. This is achieved with years of practice in Pranayama (Breath Control). We know that Diaphragmatic breathing exercise is practiced to reduce high blood pressure, essentially here too breathing is so practiced that the brain is kept in Super Sub-Conscious state such that the bio-rhythm gets slower and slower. 

Since the individual in Sajeeva Samdhi has control over his breath, he does not allow his body to become lifeless. Hence the body cells do not get destroyed but the functioning of the body is stopped by will power that is got from leading a life filled with positive energy. The individual fixes his mind permanently with Paramatma and is able to stop the voluntary functions thus creating a Spiritual Energy force around him. Then a Brundavana is built around the person who sits still ceasing his breath, his body never gets decayed even after many years. 

The Spiritual Energy force and the already existing positive energy acts as a life force in the body. The time limit for the individual to remain in the Samadhi state depends upon the individuals bio-spiritual strength, which may vary depending on his conviction. However until then, the Atma (Soul) of the person in Samadhi state will continue to bestow grace to the devotees. As an invisible or unseen saint that soul guides the human race towards excellence.

One such saint is Guru Raghavendra Swamy of the Dvaita Philosophy of Sriman Madhva during the period between 1595 and 1671. He is renowned for entering into Sajeeva Samadhi at Mantralaya, Andhra Pradesh in the year 1671. 

Mantralaya is now a pilgrimage destination. Devotees believe that Guru Raghavendra helps the society and mankind to emerge out of troubles and miseries.  His Brundavan even to this day has an enormous positive energy and has created countless miracles.

One such incidence is when the collector of Bellary under the British Rule had visited the Brundavana. Sir Thomas Munro in the year 1801 (130 years after Guru entered the Brundavana) came to confiscate the land belonging to Sri Mutt. Amazingly 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.

Today, Shravana Bahula Dwitiya is the day when Guru Raghavendra Swamy entered Brundavana 346 years ago. This day is considered as “Aradhana Mahotsava” (Great Festival of Adoration). We normally observe jayanthi's (Birth Anniversaries) being celebrated, but the Madhva Sampradhaya rejoice the disappearance day as the great festival to adore. This is the true merger and hence calls for celebration.....isn't it???   

  

Devotees pay obeisance to 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 and is like a kalpa-vriksha (a desire fulfilling tree) for he always takes care of his devotees' spiritual needs.}

1067. Brother-Sister bond.....!

 “Raksha Bandhan” (bond of protection) is the celebration of relationship between a bother and a sister. The relationship which is no where else celebrated as in my country. It is a day when sisters pray for the well being of their brothers. The day this falls  on Shravana Purnima which is today and is  also known as Rakhi.

On this fullmoon day brothers make a promise to their sisters to protect them from all harms and troubles and the sisters pray God to protect their brother from evil and tie a thread called Rakhi on their brother's wrist and brothers promise to take care of their sisters. 

Raksha Bandhan got the significance from an incidence which happened in Mahabharata. It so happened that once Sri Krishna was with his asthabharya (eight wives). He started to cut an apple to distribute to them. In the excitement He hand cut His  wrist. Blood oozed out all His asthabharyas were shocked. The shock left some dumbstruck, some were worried and some did not know what to do. Draupadi who saw the gush of blood tore the edge of her saree and used it to stop the blood by tying it around the wrist.

Sri Krishna was touched by her gesture of devotion and pure love. He asked her what would she like in return of this favor. Draupadi, like a true sister, just asked for the Lord's holy presence in her life forever. From that moment onwards, Sri Krishna had been with Draupadi like a shadow protecting her from every small and big trouble. When the Kauravas tried to disrobe Draupadi in assembly of Hastinapura, she called for Sri Krishna continuously to reduce her. He did take care of her honor and provided her endless yarn of saree. Dushyasana who was assigned to disrobe Draupadi fell down tied unable to pull the continuously flowing lengthy saree.  

Rakhi has a historical significance too. Alexander who invaded India had to encounter fierce resistance from Paurava King named Puru (Porus). Though he was defeated and taken into custody the King did not let his self esteem go down. To him it was an intruder who had captured him not a king. When Alexander asked Puru as to how he would want him to treat. He told Alexander to treat him as how a king would treat another king. 

Alexander was taken back listening to the King. He made him his friend ad returned back his kingdom. Alexander’s wife Roxana sent a Rakhi to Puru, asking him not to harm her husband, and accordingly King Puru who gave full respect to Rakhi and its tradition, restrained himself from attacking Alexander personally.

Long live the bond of Brother-Sister.

1066. Happy Friendship Day....!

Is it possible to go through life without having a friend??? They say that the friends we make are the family we choose. When we say we choose is there any chance to keep in mind that our choice matter and only make good friends??? No, it isn’t simply because like in all dimensions of life, we attract all kinds of people and the circumstances of meeting them also differ. 

A friend who may seem be good at the start of the friendship may show off his true colours later on. Nothing can be taken for granted, especially in a friendship. The best example is the friendship between Dronacharya and Drupada. Drupada and Drona were friends in Gurukula, noticing the worried expression on Drona’s face; Drupada discovered that his friend was concerned about how he would earn a living after Gurukula. Drupada assured him that he need not worry since once he is crowned King, he would give half of his Kingdom to Drona. As a King he failed to keep up his promise when Drona came to him remembering the promise made.

Good friends are the ones who are concerned of your welfare and always want you to be comforts. They always wish the good for you, even if it may seem to look as if they are being un-supportive and not with you. They tell you what they really feel and what their actual opinion on the topic in question is, instead of sugar coating the truth or hiding behind lies to please you. With good friends, there is mutual respect for each other and this respect ensures that opinions on either side is always be valued. Sri Krishna and Sudama were good friends in Sandipani Gurukula. Sri Krishna did not promise anything to Sudama and even Sudama did not expect anything from his friend. Just to please his nagging wife Sudama came to Dwaraka with a small bundle of beaten rice which was Krishna’s favourite. Sri Krishna relished the beaten rice and showered the riches on Sudama more than he could have asked for.

There is no “bad friend” as this phrase do not strike well, if one is intentionally bad he is not a friend. Yet this kind of friendship exist and stand on the matter of gain and loss. For the most part of the friendship it is only the gain aspect which keeps them together and if the loss surfaces then there is a crack in their friendship. Many think Duryodhana and Karna were great friends, but my personal feel is that Duryodhana would have made anybody who had the courage to contest against Arjuna his friend and crowned him King of Anga, necessarily not Karna only. H e saw the gain in having Karna as his friend. Though we can say that Karna was loyal to his friend even after knowing that he was the eldest of Pandavas, but it is more important for a friend to lead the other on the right path. Karna in fact inflated the ego of Duryodhana and leading him to wrong path.   

  

The friendship between Sri Krishna and Sudama is Uttama (Superior) as there were no promises yet the welfare of both was the key. The friendship between Duryodhana and Karna is Madhyama (Middling) as the friendship itself was made with an objective; though one was loyal, the friendship was unethical as it seem to be more like feudalistic approach by Duryodhana in his choice of a friend. The friendship of Dronacharya and Drupada is Adhama (Inferior) as there was a promise made and the benefit of the promise was looked for. When it was not fulfilled either if them never hesitated to vanquish each other.

Dear friends, let us make friends without any promises or objectives only then the purity of friendship can be experienced. A friend does not make a promise but will rush to give his maximum support to his friend always.

Happy Mitratva Divas.......:)

1065. Daughter of the Ocean.....!

She is Bhargavi and also Samudra Tanayee. Bhargavi since she is the daughter of Bhrigu Maharshi. Bhrigu was one of the Saptarishis (Seven Sages) born out of the Mind of Brahma, they are called Manasa Putras. The purpose of creating them was to educate the inhabitants of this earth plane about the secrets of this universe and the mysticism surrounding it. They came to the earth plane and started guiding the people here on how to perform Homas and Havanas and its benefits. Maharishi Bhrigu felt that the Homas and Havanas would enrich the mind and lead one to enlightenment, but will it satisfy hunger? 

While the other six Rishis of the Saptarishi group adored Maa Saraswathi, the Goddess of Wisdom, Bhrigu set out to find a Deity who could satisfy hunger. Humans were mortals who were subjected to hunger and thirst. Bhrigu felt that before preparing them to thread the path of enlightenment it was important to help them sustain and nourish their body.    

He went to Varuna, the Water God and learnt from him that Anna (Food) is the only means to satisfy hunger and help nourish the body.

Bhrigu did penance and invoked Maha Lakshmi, the Goddess of Abundance. She blessed humans with abundance in cultivating food grain which sustain their body and keep them nourished to pursue the path of enlightenment. Since it was Maharshi Bhrigu who invoked her she is called Bhrigu Putri or Bhargavi. This is her Tattva (Absolute State) part which was in the unmanifested form. As the manifested form she is Samudra Tanayee.

At the time of churning of the ocean by devas and asuras to obtain ambrosia there were many precious things that emerged after Halahala (Poison). Kamadhenu the wishfulfilling cow, Ucchaisravas the flying horse, Airavatha the white elephant, Kaustubhamani the divine gem, Padmaraga the padparadscha sapphire, Parijatha the divine flower, Apsaras the celestial dancers and then it was Maha Lakshmi. Since she emerged out of the ocean she is called Samura Tanayee.

She emerged sitting on a lotus flower which blooms in muddy marsh yet remains clean. This signifies that a seeker has to be a part of the mundane world within the world but also unsullied by the world. She has four arms representing the four purushrthas namely Dharma (Righteousness), Artha (Prosperity), Kama (Desire) and Moksha (Liberation). She is seen wearing red sari symbolising active energy with gold border which indicates opulence, the cascade of gold coins from her palm indicates the inexhaustibly. Two elephants on either side are depicted as pouring water from a pot; the elephant is the symbol of royal power and the water gush from the pot indicate the constant effort in the form of sadhana by the devotee to obtain her grace.

I bow to that Absolute State of Maha Lakshmi and entreat for the welfare of the entire mankind.            

1064. Happy Festival Time....!

Starting with the Varamahalakshmi Vrata in
Shravana Maasa there are a lot of Hindu festivals lined up for the next few months. We have Krishnaastami, Ganesha Chaturthi, Anant Chaturdashi in Bhadrapada followed by Dasara in Ashvija and Deepavali in Karthika.

Festivals help create an atmosphere where the mind which is always immersed in the mundane affairs will focus on spiritual impetus. Thereby giving the opportunity to experience the sense of belongingness by bringing together the families and communities. We need to be fortunate that our ancient traditions have gifted us with various festivals. It is amazing to know that every Utsava (Festival) is intertwined with Vrata (Religious Votive).

While Utsava is the outer way to express life in its natural state of liveliness, Vrata is to purify the three namely Manasika, Vachika and Kayaka (Thought, Word and Deed). The word Vrata is a combination of two syllables “Vr” means conduct and “rta” is order. Vrata means orderly conduct which is self discipline. Vrata though is guided by some ritualistic practice as suggested in scriptures, it is personal where conviction becomes the key. I remember the incidence in Ramayana where Sitamata offered sand balls instead of the prescribed traditional rice and til balls as pinda to her father-in-law (King Dasharatha) while in exile. The Jivatma of Dasharatha accepted it joyfully. The orderly conduct at display.

The festival does have a tinge of pomp and show but it is not to be pretentious. Moreover there are different ways every individual would think of adoring the Deity and make an offering during festivals. I have observed that some raise objection to the kind of offering made, be it the Naivedya or the choice of fruits or flowers. I fail to understand how one can decide on what could be offered and which has to be avoided. Besides, in that sense what is there for us to offer which is not His? Who are we to intervene between a devotee and his Deity on the issue of adoring or offering?

When Sri Krishna went to Hastinapura as the divine ambassador, He wished to stay at Vidura’s place. When He arrived Vidura had left his house and his wife was present. On seeing Krishna, she was very happy and her joy knew no bounds. She was so spellbound that she did not know what was happening. She welcomed Him with respect. Krishna waited for Vidura. Seeing Krishna sitting in her house she was lost in thoughts. She didn’t know what to do. She offered him bananas. In total joy, she peeled the banana, gave the pealed skin and threw the fruit down. Lost in ecstasy she offered Him banana peels and without any objections He happily ate all them. 

This is a perfect example to illustrate how a devotee lost in ecstasy behave and also how the Deity value the love and affection shown to Him by His devotee. He never minds what is given to Him by His devotees what is more important to Him is the love for Him. He values only the devotion shown to Him because He is Bhaktavatsala, the devotee is very dear to Him than anything else. Maharshi Valmiki in Ramayana and Bhagvan Vyasa in Mahabharata have brought out these incidences to make us think what is more important. 

So undeterred by the probe made by others on what you have offered or how you have performed the rituals, just offer yourself to the Deity and enjoy the Bliss. 

Happy Festival Time.....! 

1063. Lay off.....Good or Better???

Many Information Technology companies are calling layoff. As per the trend this sector will see around 2 lakh annual dismissal in the years to come. The reasons could be many small issues accumulating to be huge enough to hand over the pink slip to employees. Some feel it is due to automation, higher salary expectations, protectionist policy of U.S and U.K and so on.   

I am not going into the details of the cause of lay off, in a way it has helped economy of my country. These are my analyses and if we know them, I think they can say that lay off can be good if not better.  

Since the year 2000 the Information Technology has been one of the job generator in my country. It kicked off very well and the starting pay for an engineer without experience is around Rs.2 Lakh and about Rs.15 Lakh for those who have put in ten years of experience. Over 50 lakh employees aged between 25 to 40 years earn anywhere between 20 Lakhs to 2 Crores per annum depending on the company, experience and luck. With such huge salary they are able to set aside heavy savings to make down payments for property purchase. This is happening in all IT hubs but if I have to talk only on my city Bengaluru, the Real Estate czars have the Software Engineers in their soft gloves. There was a huge demand for mid-segment residential properties across Bengaluru as the real estate dealers tapped the IT employees as their clientele.

These Techies who have nil experience of haggling in buying groceries or veggies lined up to purchase the residential properties resulting in superfluous boom in real estate market. Bengaluru began to grow and it also resulted in the outsiders from other states to pour in. The infrastructure development became a priority and the cost of living also shot up. One has to agree that the dream of owning a house for a domicile resident was vanquished by these IT sectors.  As per a report the IT population in Bengaluru is around 3 lakh. They contribute to the biggest buyer category of 45 percent of the total project launches in the last 5 years. They have unknowingly widened the rich poor parity. 

I remember a saying in Kannada “Haasige Iddashtu Kaalu Chaachu” (Stretch your legs only as much as the cot allows you to). This saying highlights the importance of spending only within the capability. Even the vendors on the street of Bengaluru preferred to have IT sector employees as their customers. Those who bargain with them are categories as low-end customers and they automatically become the second line clientele.    

  

Why do I say this lay off is good???

Understandably it is hard for those who had lived life in royal comforts to accept the lay off as they have their own commitments. Also there are many industries like caterers, tour operators and travel agency which depend on the IT sector. With the serious threat of lay off, there is a possibility that the real estate sector which is yet to recover from the demonetization drive will collapse. Experts say the insecurity in the sector has pushed those prospective property buyers to think twice before investing further. Even if that prediction does not point out to real estate lull, the central government conviction to provide affordable housing with lower interest rates may push the sales of residential properties down. With the lay off or with the central government conviction the hype created by the real estate sector will be in check and the land price will not zoom up unnecessary.

1062. Evidence from the deviated River......!

Aryamba could no longer trek all the way to River Purna to have her daily bath. One day while she was on her way to the river she fell unconscious. Her only son told her not to go to the river to take bath. He would fetch the water for her. Once while the young lad was returning with the pail of water he suddenly thought, “How nice it would be if the river flowed near our house”. Just that sincere Sankalpa (Conviction) was enough for the river to change its course and followed his footsteps. The village was called Kalady (Foot Print) and the boy was Sri Sri Sankara.  

This is a story which we can find in the book Sankara Digvijaya. The post was not to remind of this story but clear the fog of doubt over the exact period of Sri Sri Sankara. There are many evidences to prove that Sri Sri Sankara appeared before the start of Christian era. When Alexander came here he was accompanied by Pyrrho, the Greek philosopher. While explaining the weary Emperor on philosophy he uses the simile of “Rajju Sarpa Nyaya” (Logic of Rope and the Snake). This simile is the basis of Advaitha Philosophy.       

Some perverts may argue that Sri Sri Sankara could have reiterated the logic taken from the Greek philosopher. So the Paramacharya of Kachi Kamakoti Peetam Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi who was fondly called Periyavaa (Great Man) had the carbon dating done on the sand of the river. The microfossils found in the soil can be dated, he asked a reputed geologist to arrange for a diver to dive and take out sand from two different locations of the River Purna (presently called River Periyar). One location should be before the River makes the diversion towards Kalady and the other near the Sri Sri Sankara Janmabhoomi ashrama in Kalady. By using the technology of carbon dating it was easy to ascertain the age of the sand.  The geologist performed the research on the sand taken from two different locations and the result was astonishing.

The sand taken from the first location that is from the place before the river diverged yielded an age of being more than 1,00,000 years whereas the sand from the second location near the Janmabhoomi Ashrama at in Kalady was close to about 2500 years! Thus the age of the river sand at Kalady confirms that Sri Sri Sankara was indeed born in the year 509 BC, which is 2500 years back!

Moreover we all know that the advent of Maharudradeva as Sri Sri Sankara was to revive the diminishing Sanatana Dharma under the Buddhists and Jain sects. If Sri Sri Sankara had to be born in 788 A.D as believed then there was no need for it as both the religion had by that time a few followers.

      

Brihat Sankara Vijaya of Sri Chitsukhacharya says, “On Banuvasare (Sunday), Vaisakha Sukla Panchami in the year Nandana, a son was born to Sivaguru and he was named ‘Sankara’ in 2593 Kali which corresponds to 3102-2593=509B.C 

(Note: 3102 is the number of since the prevailing Kaliyuga started).

1061. Science and Scriptures....!

Maharshi Vyasadeva has recoeded many astonishing  incidences which the modern scientists are  scientifically attempting them now. Hence when the whole world express their wonder about those researches we Indians are aware of the technologies which are already mentioned in our puranas.

Though it is a very insignificant effort I trying to compile all those scientific approach which I came through while studying our ancient literatures. 

Vyasadeva in his 18 Puranas and Mahabharatha has mentioned many unique ways of births. Let us look at it one by one.

In the lineage of Dhruva there was a king named Vena. He died without progeny and the sages churn his dead body at the thigh a dwarf was cloned. He was named Nishada and he llate on be the ancestor of Nala and Ekalvavya. And from his right hand come King Prithu from whom this earth came to be known as “Prithvi”. This is no way inferior to the modern day Genetic Engineering.  

Vyasadeva himself was born in a distinctive way. His father Parasara while crossing the river Ganga observes the planetary pattern indicating a very rare celestial occurrence which would happen once in many millions of years. He knew that a child conceived at that exact moment would be destined to bring good to humanity. He explained the significance of the moment to the women who was rowing the boat and requested her to be the field for him to sow the seed of progeny and to participate in the accomplishment of a cosmic mission. Sage Parasara planned “Sadyo-Garbha” which is similar to modern day Extra-Uterine conception and thus the great Vyasadeva was born.

Vyasadeva helped Gandhari the mother of Kauravas who had their gestation outside their mother’s womb. The entire 100 embryo were stored in jars of ghee, and it does sound like Test Tube babies. Further the birth of the six sons of Kunti and Madri were by In-Vitro Fertilisation wherein the Viryanu (sperm) came from donors; Surya, Yama, Vayu, Indra, Ashwini Brothers.

Birth of Balarama throws light on surrogation by the foetus transfer. The embryo of Devaki and Vasudeva is transferred to the womb of Vasudeva’s another wife Rohini. The embryo was extracted out of Devaki hence Balarama is called Sankarshana also.

If these are different kinds of births there are few more scientific events like sex change of Shikhandi to avenge the death of Bhishma. Hormonal changes that happened in Arjuna for him to become Brihannala, the transgender so that he can spend the incognito period in the royal harem of Virata, the King of Matsya Desha.

Back to future in a Time Machine in the story of the King Ravatha, who along with his daughter Revathi travels to a different galaxies and meets Brahma in Brahmaloka. He is shocked to learn that many ages have passed when he returns back to his Kingdom. He later becomes the father-in-law to Balarama. 

The knowledge of Prosthesis from fitting the artificial limb to Rani Vishpala who lost her leg in the battle.  

Abhimanyu learning about Chakravyuha while still in the womb of his mother Subhadra. Ashwattama had a gem on the forehead which might be like the modern silicon chip which updated him of the new techniques of warfare.   

Srimad Bhagavatham narrates how the embryo develops. It states that after 5 days a “Budbuda” appears, embryology calls this as ‘Bubble stage’ on 10th day it is “Karkandhu” which is a Zygote. 15th day an egg is formed embryology accepts it by describing that stage as having oval shape. The head of the fetus is formed at the end of the first month and soon nostrils develop there appears Prana and vocal chords also develop. Foetal heart begins working in the second month of pregnancy. I was shocked to learn that, because I had studied in the modern books that the foetal heart begins in the fifth month of pregnancy. First the penis is developed, then the anus. Then ears develop, in them the hearing sense appeared and the directions are born by the ears. Which the modern science first ridiculed and now they accept the chronology. 

1060. If what I deserve is already destined......!

We in Hinduism believe in Karma Siddhanta  and all the Shad Dharshanas (Six Insights) namely Samkya (Rationalism), Yoga (Union), Nyaya (Logic), Vaisheshika (Distinctionism), Mimamsa (Exegesis), Vedanta (Upanishad) have all in one sense or the other reflected on Karma. Sri Krishna tells in Bhagavad-Gita, “Gahanaa Karmano Gatih” (hard to know the pace of Karma). It is hard but not impossible to know and learn about the intricacies of the theory of Karma.

Superficially the interpretation of this theory does say that what I deserve in this birth is an outcome of the merits I accumulated over the past births. In other words one may conclude that the efforts I put into the present work may not bear direct relevance to its success. And, thus, if I believe in this theory of Karma from this perception, then I would prefer to do nothing in this birth giving the reason that what I deserve is not influenced by my efforts on the work I have taken up now? This is pure nonsense to think so. 

In this virtual world this is what is happening if we observe. Most of us, work for monthly wages. The money I spend on sustaining myself on any given day would be the outcome of my effort in the previous month. The efforts I put in during that month yielded me nothing to help me in that month, but has influenced my salary slip of this month. 

If I don't work this month then what would happen to my salary next month? Well, if I truly believed that there would be a next month in my life and I would need to sustain myself in that month, I would need to work this month, 

Now a new question arises if the above logic is considered then those who believe that they had a few past births that got them what they deserve in this birth, from where would they get the deserved fortune for the next birth if they are to come back by taking another birth. Would they not do something to secure the fortune for the next  birth?

This precisely seem to be the problem either there is carelessness in doing something or there is fear of doing nothing.  These situation arises out of a belief in the past births without a conviction about the future ones. If one believed in both, one would still continue to work. But, then, it is customary for the 'rational' human beings to cherry-pick their beliefs to suit what they want to do, isn't it? 

So, I believe that my work in my past births will take care of me in this birth but I do not believe that there is a future birth for which I need to do something in this birth to take care of the things I deserve then. 

As far as I am concern I do not indulge in reasons for my inaction. And as far as the fruit for the action done in this birth I do not care. If anyone ask me if this is Karma Sanyasa I do not know but I feel so. 

The purusharthas (pursuit of life) too indicate the purpose if life has to be spontaneous and not to be planned and done by calculating the loss and gain......Am I right???

1059. The Mystery behind tying the Cat....!

The year was 1924 and a group of young men from Madras Province decided to visit Muktinath temple in Nepal. This temple on the banks of river Gandaki is one among the 108 Divya Desams (sacred place).
 

The group reaches the Muktinath temple and in the group there was a young man who while swimming in the river Gandaki stumbled upon a fist size “Salagrama Sila” this Sila is considered auspicious among all Vaishnavites and the one who takes it home has to give a milk ablution to it daily as per tradition. Now he has brought the Sila he purchases a cow so that daily he can milk the cow and use the milk for ablution. It so happened that every morning he got up early and milked the cow and went to take bath and there was this cat in his house which would drink all the milk. Fed up with the cat he decides to tie the cat before milking the cow and after the ablution program was over he would let the cat free.

This became the procedure daily. He got married and the procedure was the same, and he had son and the procedure was same but it was not the same cat and the cow but it was their offspring. His son becomes young man and the procedure did not change. Now this person had become old so lets his son do the ablution and the procedure of tying the cat continued. The old man died in the year 1975 and his son who worked for a company was given a quarters and he shifted the entire family to the quarters. As he could not accommodate the cow he sells it but fortunately since cats and dog do not need much accommodation he takes the cat.

The milk to be used for ablution was brought from the nearby dairy and the ablution to the Salagrama Sila was done uninterrupted, but the cat was tied to avoid it drinking the milk kept for ablution. He got married and the procedure remained the same and he had son and the procedure was same but it was not the same cat but it was its offspring. His son becomes young man and the procedure was not changed. This person also gets old and his son who now works for an IT company has no time to do ablution to the Salagrama Sila hence he donates it to the temple but ritual of tying the cat early morning continued.

This person also passes away in 2000 and the IT son gets married and the new bride asks the mother-in-law why the cat is always tied early in the morning. The mother-in-law does not know but she does not want to say “I do not know” and display her ignorance, so she intelligently tells her daughter-in-law that it is a tradition which is been honoured for more than 200 years in the family and even she has to continue doing so. And the cat is tied early in the morning for some time and let loose, even when the milk is stored in the refrigerator. 

The tradition of tying the cat early morning continues and hence the family gets the name “Pillikattu” family meaning the family which tie the cat  (Pilli in Telugu is cat).

This is how we blindly follow some routine procedures giving it the name “traditions”, The real essence of why it is been done none of us know and none of us care to know also. 

1058. Life is like the game of dice.....!

Yudhisthira was an ace player of Game of Dice. He was an expert in moving the pawns very tactfully and winning the game. The opponents could not read his moves. What made Yudhisthira lose his magic touch on that fateful day??? Not once but twice??? In the first occasion he lost all his brothers and his wife as the stake in the game. The second time he lost the entire kingdom kingdowas expanded by performing the Rajasuya Yagna. A human makes mistake once, but here is the wisest of all men succumbing twice. How was it possible???

Sahadeva, the son of Madri and the youngest of the Pandavas was an expert astrologer. Duryodhana knew very well about it and he approached Sahadeva to fix an auspicious time to offer “Kaalabali” (a ritualistic sacrifice performed before war to ensure victory). Sahadeva following the path of Dharma treated Duryodhana as a Parsnuvi (Patron) and told him, “The appropriate time to offer the sacrifice would be on the day when Surya and Chandra are in the same house, that is on “Amavasya” (New Moon). Duryodhana had to wait for another ten days for teg auspicious day. He did offer “Kaalabali” on the new moon day, yet the outcome of the war did not turn out to be as he had expected. 

What happened??? 

We all are familiar with the Bhagavad-Gita quotes which are labelled as “Gita Saar” and published as calendars and pocket books. 

The first quote in it says:

 
“Whatever has happened is happened for good. 
Whatever is happening is happening for good. 
Whatever will happen will happen for good.”

 
Though Sri Krishna did not tell Arjuna in exactly the same words as in the quote, but I presume that this quote is reflecting on the verse 33 of chapter 11 in which Sri Krishna explains Arjuna about the predestined play at work in the material world and remind Arjuna that he is just an instrument. 

Now coming to the subject why did the astrology of Sahadeva fail and how did Yudhisthira, the ace player of game of dice lose the game???

Yudhisthira was skilful in the Game of Dice agreed but Shakuni used the dice made out of the bones of his brothers. Thus he had command over dice so that he could manipulate the fall of numbers. Yudhisthira who was very tactful in handling his pawns was crippled by the voodoo tricks of Shakuni. Pandavas had to lose the game and that was predestined.   

Let us see the second incidence.

When Sahadeva told Duryodhana about Amavasya, Sri Krishna became alert and the next day which was not new moon day he performed “Tarpana” (a ritual of offering to ancestors). Tarpana is performed on new moon according to the scriptures. Looking at this rare gesture by the Lord, Surya and Chandra were shocked and they came down to Hastinapura to ask Sri Krishna about it. Immediately Sri Krishna asked Yudhisthira to perform “Kaalabali.” The trick here was that Yudhisthira became the first to do the “Kaalabali.” ritual ahead of Duryodhana and as far as Amavasya is concern, we all know that the new moon happens when Surya and Chandra are in one house. There they were both together standing side by side. Sri Krishna made it happen.

Whatever has to happen will happen .......just be a part of it and enjoy the turn of events.

He is there to see it happen so just be a instrument in His hands....then you too will enjoy the play .

1057. “I” the bitter enemy.....!

There are two words in Sanskrit “Ahamkara” (Ego) and “Asmitha” (“I”ness). We often confuse these two words as in the English translation we tend to interchange them to convey our thought. As I understand “Ahamkara” is one among the four Anthahkarna (Inner Conscience) along with Manas (Mind), Buddhi (Intellect) and Chitta (Memory). 

Ahamkara refers to a sense of self that is somewhat self-existent and though it is shaped up by the information received from the external resource it does not depend on it to obtain a place in my conscience.   

Asmitha is one of the four afflictions of mind along with Avidhya (Ignorance), Raga (Attraction), Dwesha (Aversion) and Abhinivesha (clinging to live). It is just a sense of “I”ness without Ego coming into play. It is just the identification of the perceiver with the reflection of the perception. From this identification there is a feel of “I” see, “I” hear etc. This “I”ness is felt as soon as one is awake in the morning. So Asmitha rely on its association to outward appearance for its place in my conscience.   

In simple words, Ahamkara is sense of self that is related to internal experiences while Asmitha is more self worth when it is related to external experience, hence we compare ourselves and feel that we are better or worse than others.

Once there was a sculptor who got his training done under Devashilpi Vishwakarma, the divine architect. His sculptures look very much real. He was so perfect that it was impossible for anyone to differentiate between the statue and a real human. Vishwakarma was very pleased with his Shishya for the dedication and the efforts of learning the art to perfection. He wished to reward him appropriately he said, “I am overwhelmed by the interest you have on learning the art, I wish to grant you a boon for your sincerity in learning.”

The sculptor said, “Oh! Deva, let me know in advance the date and time of my death.”

Vishwakarma was surprised by the request but yet granted it.

Years passed on and finally the time came for the sculptor to face death. A few month before the appropriate time of death the sculptor designed nine statues which looked exactly like him. No one could make out the difference between him and the nine statues he had made. On the day of his death he placed all the nine statues in a row and stood as the tenth so that he could dodge God of Death.

When God of Death arrived, he was amazed to see ten sculptors. He was in a dilemma as to who was real. He immediately rushed to the Creator and informed him of the situation. The Creator smiled and whispered something in his ears. God of Death grinned and left. Then the God of Death stood in front of those statues and said “Oh! Marvelous, so well and perfectly designed even the Creator cannot make something like this. No one has ever created like this before nor can be done in future. But I feel there is a slight defect in one of the statues.”

Hearing the word “defect” the sculptor jumped out and asked “Where is the mistake?” God of Death immediately threw the Pasha (Noose) on the sculptor and said “This is the mistake. If you had remained silent and stood as one among the statues maybe you could have won over death. But those thoughts like, “I” am perfect; “I” cannot make mistake, which has engulfed you has exposed you to me. Now everything is over, Dear”.

The sculptor had to follow the God of Death without arguing further......! 

1056. Why dearth in words?

Communication is very important in this civilised society. We have to talk and interact with others to express our feeling and also to know their feelings. One important observation is that the interactions which we do with many will not be in the same wavelength. The interaction will be best and fruitful only if the wavelength matches. Also we would want to interact with some avoid, while we some, a few we love to only listen to and we have some with whom we end up being upset.  There is so many difference in the way we interact, now why is this difference?

There are different people who will take the word in a different ways. And at the same time the words can also be presented in the way it suites the person who we are presenting it. We have a different ways while talking to a friend and the boss. A friend can take any kind of word but a boss is very particular about the word flow from you. 

There is a story of a young man who completes his education under an eminent astrologer. The young man starts his journey of life.  He was good at predictions and soon became famous. His fame reached the King who wished to show him his horoscope.  

The young man looked at the horoscope and told the king, “I have never seen such a horoscope in my life.  You will lose your sons and grandsons. Your enemies will take away your kingdom.  Though you get the kingdom back it will be when you are old.” 

Hearing this, the King was annoyed and ordered the guards to put the young man into the prison.  Meanwhile the Guru of the young man came to know about the incidence, he came to see the King. Though the King was reluctant to see another astrologer, his minister convinced him to listen to the astrologer. 

Guru saw the horoscope and came to know his shishya was correct in analysing the horoscope, he said, “Oh! King, I have never seen such a horoscope all my life. I say you are very fortunate to live longer than your sons and grandsons. Your enemies take away your kingdom but even in your ripe age you fight and get it back. You rule your kingdom till your death.” 

The King was very happy to hear the prediction from the Guru. He was so happy that he wanted to reward the Guru. Guru told him to release the young man.  Once his student was released from the prison, the Guru took him away and taught him the last lesson:

Priyavakya pradaanena sarve tushyanti jantavaha 

tasmaat tadeva vaktavyam, vachane kaa daridrataa?

Every individual is happy with pleasant words.  Hence use only such words.  Why dearth in words?  

What the young man and his Guru told the King was the same in intent but the content was presented differently.  One version was palatable and the other was not.

Vachane kaa daridrata?

Why dearth in words?

1055. Atma Linga

Ravana once went to meet Maharudradeva in Mount Kailasa. He was stopped at the foot of the mount by Nandi as the Lord was Maa Parvathi  privacy. Feeling insulted Ravana tried to lift the mount. Maharudradeva pressed the ground with his big toe and the mighty Ravana was stuck beneath the huge mount. 

Now humiliated Ravana wanted to please his Lord who was fond of music. He ripped opened his belly pulled out his intestine and started to play it as Veena. Nandi who was witnessing this was shocked to see the height of devotion.

Maharudradeva who is the darling of his devotees came down and was generous enough to grant him a boon. Seizing the opportunity Ravana asked Maharudradeva to give him the Atma Linga.

Atma Linga is an ovaloid of the supreme self having the center everywhere and the circumference nowhere. It is the source of Shakti, the power. 

Ravana was very careful to take it to Lanka. The uniqueness of it was thwasif placed on the ground the Atma Linga would stay fixed. Ravana was a Asura (Demon) and the legend says that the one who worshiped Atma Linga would become immortal. The Suras (Demi-Gods) requested Maha Vishnu to foil the attempt of Ravana to take the Atma Linga to Lanka.

Maha Vishnu asked Ganesha to approach Ravana in the guise of a young Brahmin and using his Sudarshana veiled the sun. Thinking it to be twilight Ravana thought of performing the Sandhyavandana (Sun worship). He could not place the Atma Linga down. He saw the young  Brahmin and gave it to him asking him not to let Atma Linga down.

The Brahmin boy agreed on one condition that he would call  out trice and if Ravana did not come  he would place the Atma Linga on the ground. Ravana had  started his Sandhyavandana when the Brahmin called out three times and placed the Atma Linga on the ground.

Ravana came back and tried to lift the Atma Linga but all his efforts went futile. The Atma Linga got fixed to the earth. Frustrated Ravana used all his strength and pushed it into the earth further, so that only a little tip was visible. That little tip resembled the ear of the cow. Gokarna is the place and the Atma Linga is Sri Mahaballeshwara. The

Temple is in the costal region of Karnataka.  

Atma Linga is two word i.e. is Atma and Linga.
Atma is the main source of Power. Atma is the creator, destroyer or maintainer of the world. Linga  is that which gives identity in this materialistic world.

Every individual has Atma Linga within which aid to contemplate on and experience the eternal bliss.

Har Har Mahadeva!!!