By
Sri Swami Sivananda
A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION
Eighth Edition: 1997
(4,000 Copies)
World Wide Web (WWW) Edition : 2000
Website: http://www.divinelifesociety.org/
This WWW reprint is for free distribution
© The Divine Life Trust Society
ISBN 81-7052-039-8
Published By
THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY
P.O. Shivanandanagar—249 192
Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttaranchal,
Himalayas, India.
Contents
THE HINDUS are a profoundly religious people. Their goal of life is
Self-realisation or the attainment of God-consciousness. A religion
of some kind they must have-a religion which will stir the depths of
the heart and give room for the exercise of faith, devotion and love.
All Hindu festivals have a deep spiritual import or high religious
significance. All great Hindu festivals have religious, social and hygienic
elements in them. In every festival there is bathing in the morning
before sunrise in the river or tank or well. Every individual will have
to do some Japa, prayer, Kirtan, recitation of Sanskrit verses and meditation.
Man gets tired on account of hard work or monotonous actions. He wants
some change or variety. He wants relaxation. He wants something to cheer
him up. These festivals make him cheerful and happy, and give him rest
and peace.
In this book Gurudev has explained the significance and the philosophy
of many of our fasts and festivals. In two aspects of these observances,
he has always allowed the greatest freedom: (1) in the determination
of the dates of the festival, which, as he has explained on page 53,
vary, and (2) in the traditional ways of celebrating them. For instance,
in South India during the Durga Puja they have the Kolu when various
idols and toys are arranged in colourful galleries before which, every
evening, girls sit and sing. Again, in some places there is fire-walking
without the Kavadi (see page 109), held in honour of Draupadi Amman
who was born of fire; or in Ceylon, according to Yogi Satchidananda
of Ceylon, in honour of Kannaki Amman. Gurudev never disturbs anyone's
good beliefs and customs.
The way in which the most important festivals are observed at the Sivananda
Ashram, Rishikesh, in India is also given in this volume. If we have
no precedent, we can as well adopt that. On the particular day, it would
be even enough to read the chapter relating to that day, to remind ourselves
of the spirit of the occasion.
Gurudev observes in his Ashram not only the festivals of the Hindus
but those of the Christians and the Muslims, too: an example for us
to copy. In his eyes, there are no distinctions. The New Year's Day
according to the English calendar has the same significance to him as
the Tamil or the Telugu New Year's Day. Hence, when he talks of the
Telugu New Year's Day in this book, it can well be read Tamil New Year's
Day or Gujarati New Year's Day.
-The Divine Life Society
Devotees and followers of Sri Gurudev Sivananda in South Africa and
elsewhere, follow Gurudev's invariable custom of commencing all functions
with the following invocatory Kirtans, and concluding them with the
peace chants that follow.
Invocatory Kirtans
Jaya Ganesha Jaya Ganesha Jaya Ganesha paahimaam
Sri Ganesha Sri Ganesha Sri Ganesha rakshamaam
Jaya Saraswati Jaya Saraswati Jaya Saraswati paahimaam
Sri Saraswati Sri Saraswati Sri Saraswati rakshamaam
Saravanabhava Saravanabhava Saravanabhava paahimaam
Subramanya Subramanya Subramanya rakshamaam
Sivananda Sivananda Sivananda paahimaam
Sivananda Sivananda Sivananda rakshamaam
Jaya Guru Shiva Guru Hari Guru Ram
Jagad Guru Param Guru Sat Guru Shyam
Adi Guru Advaita Guru Ananda Guru Om
Chit Guru Chitgana Guru Chinmaya Guru Om
Jaya Siya Ram Jaya Jaya Siya Ram (2)
Jaya Radhe Shyam Jaya Jaya Radhe Shyam (2)
Jaya Hanuman Jaya Jaya Hanuman (2)
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare,
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare (3)
Sivananda Sivananda Sadguru Natha Sivananda
Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
Om trayambakam yajaamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanam
Urvaarukamiva bandhanaan mrityor muksheeya maamritaat.
Concluding Peace Chants
Sarveshaam swasti bhavatu, sarveshaam shaantir bhavatu,
Sarveshaam poornam bhavatu, sarveshaam mangalam bhavatu;
Sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu niraamayah,
Sarve bhadraani pashyantu, maakaschid duhkhabhaagbhavet;
Asato maa sad gamaya
Tamaso maa jyotir gamaya
Mrityor maa amritam gamaya;
Om poornamadah poornamidam poornaatpoornamudachyate,
Poornasya poornamaadaaya poornamevaavashishyate.
Om shaantih shaantih shaantih!
Meditation On Lord Shiva
Shaantam padmaasanastham shashadharamakutam panchavaktram trinetram,
Shoolam vajram cha khadgam parashumabhayadam dakshinaange vahantam;
Naagam paasham cha ghantaam damaruka sahitam chaankusham vaamabhaage,
Naanaalankaara deeptam sphatika maninibham paarvateesham namaami.
MEANING: I prostrate myself before the five-faced Lord of Parvati,
who is adorned with various ornaments, who shines like the crystal jewel,
who is seated peacefully in the lotus pose, with moon-crested crown,
with three eyes, wearing trident, thunderbolt, sword and axe on the
right side, who holds the serpent, noose, bell, damaru and spear
on the left side, and who gives protection from all fear to His devotees.
Meditation On Sri Shankaracharya
Padmaaseenam prashantam yamaniratamaanan gaari tulya prabhaavam,
Phaale bhasmaankitaam bhasmita rujira mukhaam bhojanindeevaraaksham;
Kambugreevam karaabhyaam avidtamurulasat pustakam jnaanamudraam,
Vandyam geervaana mukhyair natajana varadam bhaavaye shankaraaryam.
MEANING: I meditate on Sri Shankaracharya who is seated in the
lotus posture with Jnanamudra, who is calm, endowed with virtues like
Yama, Niyama, etc., whose glory is as great as that of Lord Shiva, who
wears the sacred ashes on the forehead, whose face resembles the blossomed
lotus, with lotus-like eyes, possessing sacred books in hand, who is
ever adored by people of high learning and wisdom, and who fulfils the
desires of his devotees (who prostrate themselves before him).
Meditation On Lord Dattatreya
Maalaakamandalu dharah karapadmayugme
Madhyastha paaniyugale damarutrishoolam;
Adhyastha urdhva karayoh shubha shankhachakre
Vande tamatrivaradam bhujashatkayuktam.
MEANING: I meditate on Lord Dattatreya, the son of Atri, who
has six hands, who holds the rosary and water-vessel in two hands, with
damaru and spear in the other two hands, and with conch and discus
in the upper two hands.
Meditation On Lord Ganesha
Gajaananam bhootaganaadisevitam
Kapittha jamboophala saara bhakshitam;
Umaasutam shoka vinaasha kaaranam
Namaami vighneshwara paada pankajam.
MEANING: I worship the lotus feet of Ganesha, the son of Uma,
the destroyer of all sorrows, who is served by the host of gods and
elementals, and who takes the essence of the kapittha-jarnbu fruit
(fruit resembling the bilwa fruit).
Meditation On Lord Subramanya
Shadaananam kumkumaraktavarnam
Mahaa matim divya mayoora vaahanam;
Rudrasya soonum sura sainyanaatham
Guham sadaaham sharanam prapadye.
MEANING: I always take refuge in Lord Guha (Lord Subramanya)
of six faces, who is of deep red colour and infinite knowledge, who
has the divine peacock to ride on, the son of Lord Shiva and the leader
of the army of the Devas.
Meditation On Sri Krishna
Vamshee vibhooshita karaan navaneeradaabhaat
Peetaambaraadaruna bimbaphalaa dharoshthaat;
Poornendusundara mukhaad aravinda netraat
Krishnaat param kimapi tattwam aham na jaane.
MEANING: I know not any other Reality than the lotus-eyed Krishna
with hands adorned with flute, looking like a heavy-laden cloud in lustre,
wearing a yellow silk garment, with His lower lip like a ruddy bimba
fruit, and with face shining like the full moon.
Meditation On Sri Rama
Dhyaayedaajaanubaaham dhritasharadhanusham baddhapadmaasanastham,
Peetam vaaso vasaanam navakamala dala spardhinetram prasannam;
Vaamaankaaroodhaseetaa mukhakamala milal lochanam neeradaabham,
Naanaalankaara deeptam dadhatamuru jataa mandalam raamachandram.
MEANING: One should meditate on Sri Ramachandra, with hands
reaching the knees, holding the bow and arrows, seated in the locked-up
lotus posture, wearing a yellow garb, with eyes vying with the newly-blossomed
lotus petals, with a pleasant gait, who has Sita seated on His left
thigh, who is blue like the clouds, who is adorned with all kinds of
ornaments and having a big circle of Jata on the head.
LORD VISHNU
His Mantra is: Om Namo Narayanaya
Suklambharadharam visnum sasi varnam caturbhujam
Prasanna vadanam dhyayet sarvavighnopasantaye
THE TWELVE months of the Hindu year, based on the lunar calendar, are
named after that star during whose ascendency the full moon of that
month occurs. The full moon day of Chaitra month, that is, the Purnima
during the ascendency of the Chitra star is particularly sacred to the
Chitra Guptas, the recording angels of the Hindu pantheon. A special
worship is offered to these celestial representatives of the god of
death, and an offering of spiced rice is prepared and later distributed
as prasad or holy sacrament. A fire worship is done at the close
of the ritualistic worship. By the performance of this religious observance
annually, these angels of the other world are greatly pleased and judge
man's actions with more sympathy.
The psychological effect of this worship, done on the very first full
moon day of every year (Chaitra is the first of the twelve months),
is to vividly remind us of the higher power that maintains a constant
watch over every act of ours on this earth-plane. This memory serves
as an invisible check on one's conduct. The conception of the Chitra
Guptas as located within each shoulder is a powerful inducement to keep
oneself engaged in constantly doing good actions only.
The term Chitra Gupta means "hidden picture". A true picture of all
our good and evil actions is preserved in the ethereal records. The
Hindu personifies it for the sake of worship. The real significance
of the worship of the Chitra Guptas is beautifully brought out in the
following story connected with it.
Brihaspati is the Guru or preceptor of Indra, the king of the gods.
Indra disobeyed Brihaspati on one occasion and the Guru relinquished
his task of instructing Indra in what he should and should not do. During
the period of the Guru's absence, Indra did many evil deeds. When the
compassionate Guru resumed his duty again, Indra wanted to know what
he should do to expiate the wrongs he had done in his Guru's absence.
Brihaspati asked Indra to undertake a pilgrimage.
While Indra was on pilgrimage, he suddenly felt the load of sins taken
off his shoulders at a certain place (near Madurai in South India),
and he discovered a Shiva Lingam there. He attributed the miracle to
this Lingam and wanted to build a temple for it. He had this constructed
immediately. Now he wished to perform the worship of the Lingam; the
Lord Himself caused golden lotuses to appear in a nearby pond. Indra
was greatly pleased and blessed. The day on which he thus worshipped
the Lord was Chitra Purnima.
When you perform worship on the Chitra Purnima day, remember this story.
If you have intense faith, if you feel with a contrite heart that you
have committed sins on account of ignorance, if you pray with faith
and devotion to the Lord to forgive your sins, if you resolve never
to commit them in the future, and if you resolve to be obedient to your
Guru and never to flout his counsel, then your sins will be forgiven.
There is no doubt about this. This is the significance of the above
story of Indra. Meditate on this story on Chitra Purnima day.
The Hindu scriptures prescribe elaborate worship of the Chitra Guptas
on this day. The Deity is invoked in an image or a kalasa (vessel
filled with water) and then worshipped with all the rituals and formalities
of the worship offered to God's image. Meditate on Chitra Gupta, reciting
the following verse:
Chitra guptam mahaa praajnam lekhaneepatra dhaarinam;
Chitra-ratnaambara-dhaararn madhyastham sarvadehinaam.
Then offer ritualistic worship with incense, camphor, flowers, etc.
Feed some Brahmins, the poor and the needy. Give bountifully in charity
and receive the Lord's blessings.
DEEPAVALI or Diwali means "a row of lights". It falls on the last two
days of the dark half of Kartik (October-November). For some it is a
three-day festival. It commences with the Dhan-Teras, on the 13th day
of the dark half of Kartik, followed the next day by the Narak Chaudas,
the 14th day, and by Deepavali proper on the 15th day.
There are various alleged origins attributed to this festival. Some
hold that they celebrate the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. In
Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Kali. It also commemorates
that blessed day on which the triumphant Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya
after defeating Ravana. On this day also Sri Krishna killed the demon
Narakasura.
In South India people take an oil bath in the morning and wear new
clothes. They partake of sweetmeats. They light fireworks which are
regarded as the effigies of Narakasura who was killed on this day. They
greet one another, asking, "Have you had your Ganges bath?" which actually
refers to the oil bath that morning as it is regarded as purifying as
a bath in the holy Ganges.
Everyone forgets and forgives the wrongs done by others. There is an
air of freedom, festivity and friendliness everywhere. This festival
brings about unity. It instils charity in the hearts of people. Everyone
buys new clothes for the family. Employers, too, purchase new clothes
for their employees.
Waking up during the Brahmamuhurta (at 4a.m.) is a great blessing from
the standpoint of health, ethical discipline, efficiency in work and
spiritual advancement. It is on Deepavali that everyone wakes up early
in the morning. The sages who instituted this custom must have cherished
the hope that their descendents would realise its benefits and make
it a regular habit in their lives.
In a happy mood of great rejoicing village folk move about freely,
mixing with one another without any reserve, all enmity being forgotten.
People embrace one another with love. Deepavali is a great unifying
force. Those with keen inner spiritual ears will clearly hear the voice
of the sages, "O Children of God! unite, and love all". The vibrations
produced by the greetings of love which fill the atmosphere are powerful
enough to bring about a change of heart in every man and woman in the
world. Alas! That heart has considerably hardened, and only a continuous
celebration of Deepavali in our homes can rekindle in us the urgent
need of turning away from the ruinous path of hatred.
On this day Hindu merchants in North India open their new account books
and pray for success and prosperity during the coming year. The homes
are cleaned and decorated by day and illuminated by night with earthern
oil-lamps. The best and finest illuminations are to be seen in Bombay
and Amritsar. The famous Golden Temple at Amritsar is lit in the evening
with thousands of lamps placed all over the steps of the big tank. Vaishnavites
celebrate the Govardhan Puja and feed the poor on a large scale.
O Ram! The light of lights, the self-luminous inner light of the Self
is ever shining steadily in the chamber of your heart. Sit quietly.
Close your eyes. Withdraw the senses. Fix the mind on this supreme light
and enjoy the real Deepavali, by attaining illumination of the soul.
He who Himself sees all but whom no one beholds, who illumines the
intellect, the sun, the moon and the stars and the whole universe but
whom they cannot illumine, He indeed is Brahman, He is the inner Self.
Celebrate the real Deepavali by living in Brahman, and enjoy the eternal
bliss of the soul.
The sun does not shine there, nor do the moon and the stars, nor do
lightnings shine and much less fire. All the lights of the world cannot
be compared even to a ray of the inner light of the Self. Merge yourself
in this light of lights and enjoy the supreme Deepavali.
Many Deepavali festivals have come and gone. Yet the hearts of the
vast majority are as dark as the night of the new moon. The house is
lit with lamps, but the heart is full of the darkness of ignorance.
O man! wake up from the slumber of ignorance. Realise the constant and
eternal light of the Soul which neither rises nor sets, through meditation
and deep enquiry.
May you all attain full inner illumination! May the supreme light of
lights enlighten your understanding! May you all attain the inexhaustible
spiritual wealth of the Self! May you all prosper gloriously on the
material as well as spiritual planes!
SALUTATIONS to the Divine Mother, Durga, who exists in all beings in
the form of intelligence, mercy, beauty, who is the consort of Lord
Shiva, who creates, sustains and destroys the universe.
This festival is observed twice a year, once in the month of Chaitra
and then in Aswayuja. It lasts for nine days in honour of the nine manifestations
of Durga. During Navaratri (the word literally means "nine nights")
devotees of Durga observe a fast. Brahmins are fed and prayers are offered
for the protection of health and property.
The beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important
junctions of climatic and solar influence. These two periods are taken
as sacred opportunities for the worship of the Divine Mother. They are
indicated respectively by the Rama-Navaratri in Chaitra (April-May)
and the Durga Navaratri in Aswayuja (September-October). The bodies
and minds of people undergo a considerable change on account of the
changes in Nature. Sri Rama is worshipped during Ramnavmi, and Mother
Durga during Navaratri.
MOTHER DURGA
The Saviour from all Sorrows and Dangers
The Durga Puja is celebrated in various parts of India in different
styles. But the one basic aim of this celebration is to propitiate Shakti,
the Goddess in Her aspect as Power, to bestow upon man all wealth, auspiciousness,
prosperity, knowledge (both sacred and secular), and all other potent
powers. Whatever be the particular or special request that everyone
may put before the Goddess, whatever boon may be asked of Her, the one
thing behind all these is propitiation, worship and linking oneself
with Her. There is no other aim. This is being effected consciously
or unconsciously. Everyone is blessed with Her loving mercy and is protected
by Her.
Durga Puja or Navaratri commences on the first and ends on the tenth
day of the bright half of Aswayuja (September-October). It is held in
commemoration of the victory of Durga over Mahishasura, the buffalo-headed
demon. In Bengal Her image is worshipped for nine days and then cast
into water. The tenth day is called Vijaya Dasami or Dussera (the "tenth
day"). Processions with Her image are taken out along the streets of
villages and cities.
The mother of Durga (that is, the wife of the King of the Himalayas)
longed to see her daughter. Durga was permitted by Lord Shiva to visit
her beloved mother only for nine days in the year. The festival of Durga
Puja marks this brief visit and ends with the Vijaya Dasami day, when
Goddess Durga leaves for Her return to Mount Kailas. This is the view
of some devotees.
In Bengal, Durga Puja is a great festival. All who live away from home
return during the Puja days. Mothers reunite with their sons and daughters,
and wives with their husbands.
The potter shows his skill in making images, the painter in drawing
pictures, the songster in playing on his instrument, and the priest
in reciting the sacred books. The Bengalis save money throughout the
year only to spend everything during the Puja days. Cloth is freely
distributed to the Brahmins.
The woman of Bengal welcomes the Goddess with a mother's love and sends
away the image on the last day, with every ceremony associated with
a daughter's departure to her husband's home and with motherly tears
in her eyes. This signifies the parting of Durga from Her beloved mother.
Durga Puja is the greatest Hindu festival in which God is adored as
Mother. Hinduism is the only religion in the world which has emphasised
to such an extent the motherhood of God. One's relationship with one's
mother is the dearest and the sweetest of all human relations. Hence,
it is proper to look upon God as mother.
Durga represents the Divine Mother. She is the energy aspect of the
Lord. Without Durga, Shiva has no expression and without Shiva, Durga
has no existence. Shiva is the soul of Durga; Durga is identical with
Shiva. Lord Shiva is only the silent witness. He is motionless, absolutely
changeless. He is not affected by the cosmic play. It is Durga who does
everything.
Shakti is the omnipotent power of the Lord, or the Cosmic Energy. The
Divine Mother is represented as having ten different weapons in Her
hands. She sits on a lion. She keeps up the play of the Lord through
the three attributes of Nature, namely, Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas. Knowledge,
peace, lust, anger, greed, egoism and pride, are all Her forms.
You will find in the Devi Sukta of the Rig Veda Samhita that
Vak, symbolising speech, the daughter of the sage Anbhirna, realised
her identity with the Divine Mother, the Power of the Supreme Lord,
which manifests throughout the universe among the gods, among men and
beasts and among the creatures of the deep ocean.
In the Kena Upanishad, you will find that the Divine Mother
shed wisdom on Indra and the gods and said that the gods were able to
defeat the demons only with the help of the power of the Supreme Lord.
The worship of Devi, the universal Mother, leads to the attainment
of knowledge of the Self. The story in the Kena Upanishad known
as the "Yaksha Prasna", supports this view. It tells how Uma, the Divine
Mother, taught the Truth to the gods. Goddess Shakti thus sheds wisdom
on Her devotees.
MOTHER KALI
The Destroyer of Demoniac Attributes
Devi worship is, therefore, worship of God's glory, of God's greatness
and supremacy. It is adoration of the Almighty. It is unfortunate that
Devi is ignorantly understood by many as a mere blood-thirsty Hindu
Goddess. No! Devi is not a vicious demoness nor is She the property
of the Hindus alone. Devi does not belong to any religion. Devi is that
conscious power of God. The words Devi, Shakti, etc., and the ideas
of different forms connected with these names are concessions granted
by the sages due to the limitations of the human intellect; they are
by no means the ultimate definitions of Shakti.
The original or Adi Shakti is beyond human comprehension. Bhagavan
Krishna says in the Gita: "This is only My lower nature. Beyond
this is My higher nature, the life-principle which sustains the universe".
The Upanishad also says: "The supreme power of God is manifested
in various ways. This power is of the nature of God, manifesting as
knowledge, strength and activity".
Truly speaking, all beings in the universe are Shakti-worshippers,
whether they are aware of it or not, for there is no one who does not
love and long for power in some form or other. Physicists and scientists
have now proved that everything is pure, imperishable energy. This energy
is only a form of divine Shakti which exists in every form.
A child is more familiar with the mother than with the father, because
the mother is very kind, loving, tender and affectionate and looks after
the needs of the child. In the spiritual field also, the aspirant or
the devotee-the spiritual child-has an intimate relationship with the
Mother Durga, more than with the Father Shiva. Therefore, it behoves
the aspirant to approach the Mother first, who then introduces Her spiritual
child to the Father for his illumination.
The Mother's Grace is boundless. Her mercy is illimitable; Her knowledge
infinite; Her power immeasurable; Her glory ineffable; and Her splendour
indescribable. She gives you material prosperity as well as spiritual
freedom.
Approach Her with an open heart. Lay bare your heart to Her with frankness
and humility. Be as simple as a child. Kill ruthlessly the enemies of
egoism, cunningness, selfishness and crookedness. Make a total, unreserved,
and ungrudging self-surrender to Her. Sing Her praise. Repeat Her Name.
Worship Her with faith and unflinching devotion. Perform special worship
on the Navaratri days. Navaratri is the most suitable occasion for doing
intense spiritual practices. These nine days are very sacred to the
Divine Mother. Plunge yourself in Her worship. Practise intense repetition
of the Divine Name, having a regular "quota" of repetitions per day,
and the number of hours spent on it.
Devi fought with Bhandasura and his forces for nine days and nine nights.
This Bhandasura had a wonderful birth and life. When Lord Shiva burnt
Cupid with the fire of His "third eye", Sri Ganesha playfully moulded
a figure out of the ashes, and the Lord breathed life into it! This
was the terrible demon Bhandasura. He engaged himself in great penance
and on account of it obtained a boon from Lord Shiva. With the help
of that boon, he began harassing the worlds. The Divine Mother fought
with him for nine nights (the demons have extraordinary strength during
the night), and killed him on the evening of the tenth day, known as
the Vijaya Dasami. The learning of any science is begun on this highly
auspicious day. It was on this day that Arjuna worshipped Devi, before
starting the battle against the Kauravas on the field of Kurukshetra.
Sri Rama worshipped Durga at the time of the fight with Ravana, to
invoke Her aid in the war. This was on the days preceding the Vijaya
Dasami day. He fought and won through Her Grace.
In days of yore, kings used to undertake ambitious expeditions on the
day of the Vijaya Dasami. Those kings who did not go on such expeditions
used to go out hunting in the deep forests. In Rajputana, India, even
up to this date, people arrange mock attacks on some fort on Vijaya
Dasami.
This day, however, has much to do with the life of Sri Rama. Nowhere
in the history of the world can we find a parallel to the character
of Sri Rama as a man, son, brother, husband, father or king. Maharishi
Valmiki has exhausted the entire language in describing the glory of
Sri Rama. And, we shall be rightly celebrating the Dussera if we make
honest efforts to destroy the demon of our ego, and radiate peace and
love wherever we go. Let us all resolve to become men of sterling character.
Let us resolve and act. The story of Sri Rama is known in almost all
parts of the globe, and if we but succeed in following even a hundredth
part of His teachings, we shall make our lives more fragrant than the
rose and more lustrous than gold!
Dussera can also be interpreted as "Dasa-Hara", which means the cutting
of the ten heads of Ravana. So, let us resolve today to cut the ten
heads-passion, pride, anger, greed, infatuation, lust, hatred, jealousy,
selfishness and crookedness-of the demon, Ego, and thus justify the
celebration of Dussera.
Religious observances, traditional worship and observances at times
have more than one significance. Apart from being the adoration of the
Divine, they commemorate stirring events in history, they are allegoric
when interpreted from the occult standpoint and, lastly, they are deeply
significant pointers and revealing guides to the individual on his path
to God-realisation.
Outwardly, the nine-day worship of Devi is a celebration of triumph.
This nine days' celebration is offered to the Mother for Her successful
struggle with the formidable demons led by Mahishasura. But, to the
sincere spiritual aspirant, the particular division of the Navaratri
into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the Supreme Goddess
has a very sublime, yet thoroughly practical truth to reveal. In its
cosmic aspect, it epitomises the stages of the evolution of man into
God, from Jivahood (the state of individualisation) to Shivahood (the
state of Self-realisation). In its individual import, it shows the course
that his spiritual practice should take.
Let us, therefore, examine in detail the spiritual significance of
Navaratri.
The central purpose of existence is to recognise your eternal identity
with the supreme Spirit. It is to grow into the image of the Divine.
The supreme One embodies the highest perfection. It is spotless purity.
To recognise your identity with That, to attain union with That, is
verily to grow into the very likeness of the Divine. The aspirant, therefore,
as his initial step, has to get rid of all the countless impurities,
and the demoniacal elements that have come to cling to him in his embodied
state. Then he has to acquire lofty virtues and auspicious, divine qualities.
Thus purified, knowledge flashes upon him like the brilliant rays of
the sun upon the crystal waters of a perfectly calm lake.
This process demands a resolute will, determined effort, and arduous
struggle. In other words, strength and infinite power are the prime
necessity. Thus it is the Divine Mother who has to operate through the
aspirant.
Let us now consider how, on the first three days, the Mother is adored
as supreme power and force, as Durga the Terrible. You pray to Mother
Durga to destroy all your impurities, your vices, your defects. She
is to fight with and annihilate the baser animal qualities in the spiritual
aspirant, the lower, diabolical nature in him. Also, She is the power
that protects your spiritual practice from its many dangers and pitfalls.
Thus the first three days, which mark the first stage or the destruction
of impurity and determined effort and struggle to root out the evil
tendencies in your mind, are set apart for the worship of the destructive
aspect of the Mother.
MOTHER SARASWATHI
The presiding Deity over Creation and Dissolution
Once you have accomplished your task on the negative side, that of
breaking down the impure propensities and old vicious habits, the next
step is to build up a sublime spiritual personality, to acquire positive
qualities in place of the eliminated demoniacal qualities. The divine
qualities that Lord Krishna enumerates in the Gita, have to be acquired.
The aspirant must cultivate and develop all the auspicious qualities.
He has to earn immense spiritual wealth to enable him to pay the price
for the rare gem of divine wisdom. If this development of the opposite
qualities is not undertaken in right earnest, the old demoniacal nature
will raise its head again and again. Hence, this stage is as important
in an aspirant's career as the previous one. The essential difference
is: the former is a ruthless, determined annihilation of the filthy
egoistic lower self; the latter is an orderly, steady, calm and serene
effort to develop purity. This pleasanter side of the aspirant's Sadhana
is depicted by the worship of Mother Lakshmi. She bestows on Her devotees
the inexhaustible divine wealth or Deivi Sampath. Lakshmi is the wealth-giving
aspect of God. She is purity itself. Thus the worship of Goddess Lakshmi
is performed during the second set of three days.
Once the aspirant succeeds in routing out the evil propensities, and
develops Sattwic or pure, divine qualities, he becomes competent to
attain wisdom. He is now ready to receive the light of supreme wisdom.
He is fit to receive divine knowledge. At this stage comes the devout
worship of Mother Saraswathi, who is divine knowledge personified, the
embodiment of knowledge of the Absolute. The sound of Her celestial
veena awakens the notes of the sublime utterances of the Upanishads
which reveal the Truth, and the sacred monosyllable, Om. She bestows
the knowledge of the supreme, mystic sound and then gives full knowledge
of the Self as represented by Her pure, dazzling snow-white apparel.
Therefore, to propitiate Saraswathi, the giver of knowledge, is the
third stage.
The tenth day, Vijaya Dasami, marks the triumphant ovation of the soul
at having attained liberation while living in this world, through the
descent of knowledge by the Grace of Goddess Saraswathi. The soul rests
in his own Supreme Self or Satchidananda Brahman. This day celebrates
the victory, the achievement of the goal. The banner of victory flies
aloft. Lo! I am He! I am He!
This arrangement also has a special significance in the aspirant's
spiritual evolution. It marks the indispensable stages of evolution
through which everyone has to pass. One naturally leads to the other;
to short-circuit this would inevitably result in a miserable failure.
Nowadays many ignorant seekers aim straight at the cultivation of knowledge
without the preliminaries of purification and acquisition of the divine
qualities. They then complain that they are not progressing on the path.
How can they? Knowledge will not descend until the impurities have been
washed out, and purity is developed. How can the pure plant grow in
impure soil?
Therefore adhere to this arrangement; your efforts will be crowned
with sure success. This is your path. As you destroy one evil quality,
develop the virtue opposite to it. By this process you will soon bring
yourself up to that perfection which will culminate in identity with
the Self which is your goal. Then all knowledge will be yours: you will
be omniscient, omnipotent and you will feel your omnipresence. You will
see your Self in all. You will have achieved eternal victory over the
wheel of births and deaths, over the demon of worldliness. No more pain,
no more misery, no more birth, no more death! Victory, victory be yours!
Glory to the Divine Mother! Let Her take you, step by step to the top
of the spiritual ladder and unite you with the Lord!
At the Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, the following are the regular features
during the Durga Puja celebrations:
1. A special ritualistic worship of the Mother is conducted daily,
which includes the recitation of the Durga Saptashati.
2. Laksharchana for the Mother in the temple, with recitation of the
Sri Lalita Sahasranama, is also conducted.
3. All are exhorted to do the maximum number of Japa of the Navarna
Mantra, Aim hreem kleem chaamundaayai vichche, or the Mantra
of their own tutelary Deity.
4. An elaborately decorated altar is set up for the evening Satsangs,
with the picture of Mother Durga for the first three days, Mother Lakshmi
for the next three days, and Mother Saraswathi for the last three days.
Many sacred verses from the scriptures are recited and many Kirtans
are sung. The Durga Saptashati or the Devi Mahatmya is
recited and explained in discourses. The function concludes with the
formal floral worship and Arati. Sometimes scenes from the Devi Mahatmya
are also enacted.
5. Earnest spiritual aspirants fast with milk and fruits only on all
the nine days, or at least once in each of the three three-day periods.
6. Besides the books representing Saraswathi, all instruments and implements
like typewriters, printing machinery, etc., are also worshipped on the
ninth day.
7. On the Vijaya Dasami day, all aspirants en masse are given
initiation into various Mantras according to their tutelary Deities.
Deserving aspirants are initiated into the holy order of Sannyas. Initiation
in the study of the alphabets is given to young children, and to the
old children also! New students commence their lessons in music, etc.
During the morning Satsang the books which were worshipped on the ninth
day are again worshipped and a chapter from each of the principal scriptures
like the Gita, Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, Ramayana, and Srimad
Bhagavatam is recited.
8. On the Vijaya Dasami day, there is Kanya Puja also. Nine girls below
the age of ten are worshipped as the embodiment of the Divine Mother.
They are fed sumptuously and, amongst other things, presented with new
clothes.
9. On this last day a grand havan is conducted in the temple,
with recitation of the Durga Saptashati and other verses in praise
of the Divine Mother.
TO BRING to one's mind repeatedly the inspiring lives of great personalities,
the wise men of all the ancient religions had set apart particular days
in the year, as specially sacred and auspicious on their account. On
these days, nations and races glorify these lofty personalities, they
re-live the spirit of the great events to perpetuate the memory of these
great men. Thus we find that the calendar of the Hindus is marked by
birthdays of divine incarnations, saints and sages, the Gita Jayanthi,
Guru Purnima, Shivaratri, Vaikunta Ekadashi, and many more auspicious
occasions. The Gayatri Japa Day is one such very holy and glorious day
intended to remind all of the greatest and most glorious of all Mantras,
the sacred Gayatri Mantra.
The Gayatri is the life and support of every true Hindu. It is the
impregnable spiritual armour, the veritable fortress, that guards and
protects its votary. In fact, that is the very meaning of the word Gayatri-"that
which protects one who sings it".
The Gayatri is the divine power that transforms the human into the
Divine and blesses man with the brilliant light of the highest spiritual
illumination. Whoever may be one's favourite Deity, the regular repetition
of a few malas (rosary of a hundred and eight beads) of Gayatri
Japa every day will shower upon one incalculable benefits and blessings.
It is universally applicable, being purely an earnest prayer for light
addressed to the Almighty Supreme Spirit. The Para Brahma Gayatri Mantra
is the most important of all Mantras. For every Brahmin of any creed
or order of life, this has been prescribed as being the sole transcendental
guiding light. The Brahmachari or celibate, the Grihastha or householder,
and the Vanaprastha or one who is retired, must repeat this Mantra every
day; the Sannyasin or renunciate is asked to repeat Om instead of this
Mantra.
The nature of the Gayatri Mantra is such that you can repeat it while
meditating on any form you like. It is generally conceived of as a female
Deity by the majority of devotees. One who worships God as Mother adheres
to this belief. But, in its true light, the Gayatri never speaks of
a female at all. You cannot find a single word in the entire Gayatri
Mantra, which speaks of a female. The feminine form of the word "Gayatri"
cannot make its Deity a female. It is only the name of its metre and
not the Deity.
Some people think that the Gayatri Mantra is presided over by the sun.
In fact, even this idea is to be modified a little. The sun that it
speaks of is not that which shines over this earth before our physical
eyes, but tat savituh or "that Sun", the great Sun which this
sun or moon does not illumine, and which is the impersonal, absolute
Brahman.
Therefore, this is the greatest of all Mantras as its presiding Deity
is none other than Para Brahman Himself. Hence, why hanker after other
Mantras? The Gayatri itself is the crest-jewel or the king of all Mantras.
It is the most powerful of all Mantras. Na gayatryah paro mantrah-"There
is no Mantra greater than the Gayatri".
Each word, each letter of the Gayatri bears on its head the highest
Vedantic concept of the absolute, supreme Truth. Do Japa of the Gayatri-it
will give you the most excellent fruit, the fruit of immortality! The
Mantra is as follows:
Om bhur bhuvah svah
Tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dheemahi
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayaat.
Om: symbol of Para Brahman.
Bhuh: Bhu Loka or the physical plane.
Bhuvah: the astral plane.
Svah: the celestial plane.
Tat: That; the transcendental Paramatma; God.
Savituh: the Creator.
Varenyam: fit to be worshipped.
Bhargah: remover of sins and ignorance; glory, effulgence.
Devasya: resplendent, shining.
Dheemahi: we meditate.
Dhiyah: the intellect, understanding.
Yo: who.
Nah: our.
Prachodayaat: enlighten, guide, impel.
MEANING: "We meditate on the glory of the Creator who has created
the universe, who is fit to be worshipped, who is the embodiment of knowledge
and light, who is the remover of all sins and ignorance. May He enlighten
our intellect!"
Herein there are five parts: Om is the first part; Bhur bhuvah
svah is the second; Tat savitur varenyam is the third; Bhargo
devasya dheemahi is the fourth; and Dhiyo yo nah prachodayaat
is the last. While chanting the Mantra you should pause after every
part.
This rare and most precious divine treasure of the Gayatri Mantra is
neglected by the youth of the present day. This is a very serious lapse
indeed. Open your eyes now on this sacred day and start in right earnest
the Japa of the Gayatri. Repeat it at least 108 times (1,008 is better!)
on the Gayatri Japa day. Then continue it (at least 108 times daily)
without missing even a single day.
May the whole world be made Gayatri-conscious through the inspiration
of the auspicious Gayatri Japa Day! May you all be thrice blessed by
taking the vow of daily Gayatri Japa right from this very moment! May
you realise the inner Truth of the Gayatri Mantra!
Gayatri Japa is observed on the day after the Raksha Bandhan or Avani
Avittam (July-August).
THE FULL moon day in the month of Ashad (July-August) is an extremely
auspicious and holy day of Guru Purnima. On this day, sacred to the
memory of the great sage, Bhagavan Sri Vyasa, Sannyasins settle at some
place to study and discourse on the thrice-blessed Brahma Sutras
composed by Maharishi Vyasa, and engage themselves in Vedantic,
philosophical investigation.
Sri Vyasa has done unforgettable service to humanity for all times
by editing the four Vedas, writing the eighteen Puranas, the
Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. We can only repay
the deep debt of gratitude we owe him, by constant study of his works
and practice of his teachings imparted for the regeneration of humanity
in this iron age. In honour of this divine personage, all spiritual
aspirants and devotees perform Vyasa Puja on this day, and disciples
worship their spiritual preceptor. Saints, monks and men of God are
honoured and entertained with acts of charity by all the householders
with deep faith and sincerity. The period Chaturmas (the "four months")
begins from this day; Sannyasins stay at one place during the ensuing
four rainy months, engaging in the study of the Brahma Sutras and
the practice of meditation.
Mark fully the deep significance of this great day. It heralds the
setting in of the eagerly awaited rains. The water drawn up and stored
as clouds in the hot summer now manifests in plentiful showers that
usher in the advent of fresh life everywhere. Even so, all begin seriously
to put into actual practice all the theory and philosophy that have
been stored up in them through patient study. Aspirants commence or
resolve to intensify with all earnestness, their practical spiritual
Sadhana right from this day.
Generate fresh waves of spirituality. Let all that you have read, heard,
seen and learnt become transformed, through Sadhana, into a continuous
outpouring of universal love, ceaseless loving service, and continuous
prayer and worship of the Lord seated in all beings.
Live on milk and fruit on this day and practise rigorous Japa and meditation.
Study the Brahma Sutras and do Japa of your Guru Mantra, during
the four months following the Guru Purnima. You will be highly benefited.
The day of worship of one's preceptor, is a day of pure joy to the
sincere spiritual aspirant. Thrilled by the expectation of offering
his reverent homage to the beloved Guru, aspirants await this occasion
with eagerness and devotion. It is the Guru alone that breaks the binding
cords of attachment and releases the aspirant from the trammels of earthly
existence.
The Srutis say: "To that high-souled aspirant, whose devotion
to the Lord is great and whose devotion to his Guru is as great as that
to the Lord, the secrets explained herein become illuminated". Guru
is Brahman, the Absolute, or God Himself. He guides and inspires you
from the innermost core of your being. He is everywhere.
Have a new angle of vision. Behold the entire universe as the form
of the Guru. See the guiding hand, the awakening voice, the illuminating
touch of the Guru in every object in this creation. The whole world
will now stand transformed before your changed vision. The world as
Guru will reveal all the precious secrets of life to you, and bestow
wisdom upon you. The supreme Guru, as manifested in visible nature,
will teach you the most valuable lessons of life.
Worship daily this Guru of Gurus, the Guru who taught even the Avadhuta
Dattatreya. Dattatreya, regarded as God and the Guru of Gurus, considered
Nature Herself as His Guru, and learnt a number of lessons from Her
twenty-four creatures, and hence he is said to have had twenty-four
Gurus. The silent, all-enduring earth with its lofty forbearance, the
shady fruit-bearing tree with its willing self-sacrifice, the mighty
banyan tree reposing with patience in the tiny seed, the drops of rain
whose persistence wears away even the rocks, the planets and the seasons
with their orderly punctuality and regularity were all divine Gurus
to him. They who will look and listen, will learn.
Become a personification of receptivity. Empty yourself of your petty
ego. All the treasures locked up in the bosom of Nature will become
yours. You will progress and attain perfection in an amazingly short
time. Become pure and unattached as the mountain breeze. As the river
flows continuously, steadily and constantly towards its goal, the ocean,
so also let your life flow ceaselessly towards the supreme state of
absolute Existence-Knowledge-Bliss, by letting all your thoughts, all
your words and all your actions be directed only towards the goal.
The moon shines by reflecting the dazzling light of the sun. It is
the full moon on the Purnima day that reflects in full splendour the
glorious light of the sun. It glorifies the sun. Purify yourself through
the fire of selfless service and Sadhana, and like the full moon, reflect
the glorious light of the Self. Become the full reflectors of Brahmic
splendour, the light of lights. Make this your goal: "I will be a living
witness to divinity, the brilliant Sun of suns!"
The Supreme Self alone is real. He is the Soul of all. He is all-in-all.
He is the essence of this universe. He is the unity that never admits
of a duality under all the varieties and diversities of nature. Thou
art this immortal, all-pervading, all-blissful Self. Thou art That!
Realise this and be free.
Remember these four important lines of the Brahma Sutras:
1. Athatho brahma jijnasaa-Now, therefore, the enquiry of Brahman.
2. Janmasya yathah-From which proceed the origin, etc.
3. Sastra yonitwat-The scriptures are the means of right knowledge.
4. Tat tu samanvayat-For, That is the main support (of the universe).
Jaya Guru Shiva Guru Hari Guru Ram;
Jagad Guru Param Guru Sat Guru Shyam.
It is through the medium of the preceptor that the individual can raise
himself to Cosmic-Consciousness. It is through that medium that the
imperfect can become perfect, the finite can become infinite and the
mortal can pass into the eternal life of blessedness. The Guru is verily
a link between the individual and the Immortal. He is a being who has
raised himself from this to That and thus has a free and
unhampered access to both realms. He stands, as it were, upon the threshold
of immortality, and, bending down, he raises the struggling individuals
with his one hand, and with the other, lifts them up into the kingdom
of everlasting joy and infinite Truth-Consciousness.
Do you realise now the sacred significance and the supreme importance
of the Guru's role in the evolution of man? It was not without reason
that the India of the past carefully tended and kept alive the lamp
of Guru-Tattva. It is therefore not without reason that India, year
after year, age after age, commemorates anew this ancient concept of
the Guru, adores it and pays homage to it again and again, and thereby
re-affirms its belief and allegiance to it. For, the true Indian knows
that the Guru is the only guarantee for the individual to transcend
the bondage of sorrow and death, and experience the Consciousness of
the Reality.
Give up the delusive notion that to submit to the preceptor, to obey
him and to carry out his instructions, is slavish mentality. Only the
ignorant man thinks that it is beneath his dignity and against his freedom
to submit to another man's command. This is a grave blunder. If you
reflect carefully, you will see that your individual freedom is in reality
an absolute abject slavery to your own ego and vanity. It is the vagary
of the sensual mind. He who attains victory over the mind and the ego
is the truly free man. He is the hero. It is to attain this victory
that a man submits to the higher, spiritualised personality of the Guru.
By this submission he vanquishes his lower ego and realises the bliss
and freedom of the infinite Consciousness.
To strengthen and affirm the faith of the wavering man and to guarantee
the attitude that is necessary for the fruition of all worship, the
ancients have deified the personality of the Guru. To adore the Guru
is indeed to adore the Supreme. In this world of mortality, the Guru
is verily like an ambassador in an alien court. Just as an ambassador
represents fully the nation to which he belongs, even so, the Guru is
one who is the representative of the sublime transcendental state which
he has attained. Just as to honour the ambassador is to honour the nation
that he hails from, even so to worship and to offer adoration to the
visible Guru is verily the direct worship and adoration of the Supreme
Reality. Even as a distant tree though it cannot be seen is nevertheless
known by the fragrance its fully-bloomed flowers waft far and wide,
so also, the Guru is the divine flower who disseminates the Atmic aroma
of divinity in this world, and thus proclaims the immortal Lord who
is invisible to the physical eye. He is the standing witness to the
Supreme Self, the counterpart of the Lord on earth, and through worship
of him one attains the Self.
Remember and adore Sri Vyasa and the Gurus who are fully established
in knowledge of the Self. May their blessings be upon you! May you cut
asunder the knot of ignorance and shine as blessed sages shedding peace,
joy and light everywhere!
At the Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, the Guru Purnima is celebrated
every year on a grand scale. Many devotees and aspirants come from all
parts of the country.
1. All aspirants awake at Brahmamuhurta, at 4 o'clock. They meditate
on the Guru and chant his prayers.
2. Later in the day, the sacred worship of the Guru's Feet is performed.
Of this worship it is said in the Guru Gita:
Dhyaana moolam guror murtih;
Pooja moolam guror padam;
Mantra moolam guror vakyam;
Moksha moolam guror kripa
"The Guru's form should be meditated upon; the feet of the Guru should
be worshipped; his words are to be treated as a sacred Mantra; his Grace
ensures final liberation".
3. Sadhus and Sannyasins are then worshipped and fed at noon.
4. There is continuous Satsang during which discourses are held on
the glory of devotion to the Guru in particular, and on spiritual topics
in general.
5. Deserving aspirants are initiated into the Holy Order of Sannyas,
as this is a highly auspicious occasion.
6. Devout disciples fast and spend the whole day in prayer. They also
take fresh resolves for spiritual progress.
Wake up at Brahmamuhurta (at 4 a.m.) on this most holy day. Meditate
on the lotus feet of your Guru. Mentally pray to him for his Grace,
through which alone you can attain Self-realisation. Do vigorous Japa
and meditate in the early morning hours.
After bath, worship the lotus feet of your Guru, or his image or picture
with flowers, fruits, incense and camphor.
Fast or take only milk and fruits the whole day.
In the afternoon, sit with other devotees of your Guru and discuss
with them the glories and teachings of your Guru.
Alternatively, you may observe the vow of silence and study the books
or writings of your Guru, or mentally reflect upon his teachings.
Take fresh resolves on this holy day, to tread the spiritual path in
accordance with the precepts of your Guru.
At night, assemble again with other devotees, and sing the Names of
the Lord and the glories of your Guru.
The best form of worship of the Guru is to follow his teachings, to
shine as the very embodiment of his teachings, and to propagate his
glory and his message.
IN DAYS of yore, there were communities of cannibals in India. They
caused much havoc. They threatened the lives of many innocent people.
One of them was Holika or Putana. She took immense delight in devouring
children. Sri Krishna destroyed her and thus saved the little children.
Even today, the effigy or figure of Holika is burnt in the fire. In
South India, the clay figure of Cupid is burnt. This is the origin of
the great festival of Holi.
It begins about ten days before the full moon of the month Phalgun
(February-March), but is usually only observed for the last three or
four days, terminating with the full moon. This is the spring festival
of the Hindus. In the spring season all the trees are filled with sweet-smelling
flowers. They all proclaim the glory and everlasting beauty of God.
They inspire you with hope, joy and a new life, and stir you on to find
out the creator and the Indweller, who is hiding Himself in these forms.
Holi is known by the name of Kamadahana in South India, the day on
which Cupid was burnt by Lord Siva.
Another legend has it that once upon a time an old woman's grandchild
was to be sacrificed to a female demon named Holika. A Sadhu advised
that abuse and foul language would subdue Holika. The old woman collected
many children and made them abuse Holika in foul language. The demon
fell dead on the ground. The children then made a bonfire of her remains.
Connected to this legend of the demon Holika is Bhakta Prahlad's devotion
to Lord Narayana, and his subsequent escape from death at the hands
of Holika. Prahlad's father, Hiranyakashipu, punished him in a variety
of ways to change his devotional mind and make him worldly-minded. He
failed in his attempts. At last he ordered his sister, Holika, who had
a boon to remain unburnt even in fire, to take Prahlad on her lap and
enter into the blazing flames. Holika did so. She vanished, but Prahlad
remained untouched and laughing. He was not affected by the fire on
account of the Grace of Lord Narayana.
This same scene is enacted every year to remind people that those who
love God shall be saved, and they that torture the devotee of God shall
be reduced to ashes. When Holika was burnt, people abused her and sang
the glories of the Lord and of His great devotee, Prahlad. In imitation
of that, people even today use abusive language, but unfortunately forget
to sing the praises of the Lord and His devotee!
In North India, people play joyfully with coloured water. The uncle
sprinkles coloured water on his nephew. The niece applies coloured powder
on her aunt's face. Brothers and sisters and cousins play with one another.
Huge bundles of wood are gathered and burnt at night, and everywhere
one hears shouts of "Holi-ho! Holi-ho!" People stand in the streets
and sprinkle coloured water on any man who passes by, be he a rich man
or an officer. There is no restriction on this day. It is like the April
Fool's Day of the Europeans. People compose and sing special Holi songs.
On the festival day, people clean their homes, remove all dirty articles
from around the house and burn them. Disease-breeding bacteria are thereby
destroyed. The sanitary condition of the locality is improved. During
the festival, boys dance about in the streets. People play practical
jokes with passers-by. A bonfire is lit towards the conclusion of the
festival. Games representing the frolics of the young Krishna take place
joyously around a fire.
On the last day of Holi, people take a little fire from this bonfire
to their homes. They believe that their homes will be rendered pure,
and their bodies free from disease.
Nowadays, people are found indulging in all sorts of vices in the name
of the Holi festival. Some drink intoxicating liquor like toddy and
fall unconscious on the roads. They indulge in obscene speech as a result
of drinking. They lose respect for their elders and masters. They waste
their money in drink and dice-play. These evils should be totally eradicated.
Festivals like Holi have their own spiritual value. Apart from the
various amusements, they create faith in God if properly observed. Hindu
festivals always have a spiritual significance. They wean man away from
sensual pleasures and take him gradually to the spiritual path and divine
communion. People perform havan and offer the new grains that
are harvested to the gods before using them.
There should be worship of God, religious gatherings and Kirtan of
the Lord's Names on such occasions, not merely the sprinkling of coloured
water and lighting of bonfires. These functions are to be considered
most sacred and spent in devotional prayers, visiting holy places, bathing
in sacred waters, and Satsang with great souls. Abundant charity should
be done to the poor. Then only can Holi be said to have been properly
celebrated. The devotees of the Lord should remember the delightful
pastimes of the Lord on such happy occasions.
All great Hindu festivals have religious, social and hygienic elements
in them. Holi is no exception. Every season has a festival of its own.
Holi is the great spring festival of India. Being an agricultural country,
India's two big festivals come during the harvest time when the barns
and granaries of our farmers are full and they have reason to enjoy
the fruits of their hard labour. The harvest season is a festive season
all over the world.
Man wants relaxation and change after hard work. He needs to be cheered
when he is depressed on account of work and anxieties. Festivals like
Holi supply him with the real food and tonic to restore his cheer and
peace of mind.
The religious element in the Holi festival consists of worship of Krishna.
In some places it is also called the Dol Yatra. The word dol literally
means "a swing". An image of Sri Krishna as a babe is placed in a little
swing-cradle and decorated with flowers and painted with coloured powders.
The pure, innocent frolics of little Krishna with the merry milkmaids
(Gopis) of Brindavan are commemorated. Devotees chant the Name of Krishna
and sing Holi-songs relating to the frolics of little Krishna with the
Gopis.
The social element during Holi is the uniting or "embracing" of the
great and the small, of the rich and the poor. It is also the uniting
of equals. The festival teaches us to "let the dead bury the dead".
We should forget the outgoing year's ill-feelings and begin the new
year with feelings of love, sympathy, co-operation and equality with
all. We should try to feel this oneness or unity with the Self also.
Holi also means "sacrifice". Burn all the impurities of the mind, such
as egoism, vanity and lust, through the fire of devotion and knowledge.
Ignite cosmic love, mercy, generosity, selflessness, truthfulness and
purity through the fire of Yogic practice. This is the real spirit of
Holi. Rise from the mire of stupidity and absurdity and dive deep into
the ocean of divinity.
The call of Holi is to always keep ablaze the light of God-love shining
in your heart. Inner illumination is the real Holi. The spring season
is the manifestation of the Lord, according to the Bhagavad Gita.
Holi is said there to be His heart.
ON THE full moon day of the month of Kartigai (November-December) which
falls on the ascension of the Kritigai star, the Hindus celebrate the
Kartigai Deepam. It is on this day that the huge beacon is lit on the
holy hill Arunachala, in South India.
Once Lord Shiva assumed the form of a hill at Tiruvannamalai in South
India. Here He quelled the pride of Brahma and Vishnu who were quarelling
as to their relative greatness. One day, when Lord Shiva was in meditation,
Parvati left Him and went to the hill of Arunachala. There She performed
penance. She was the guest of the sage Gautama. It was during Her penance
here that Mahishasura was killed by Durga hidden by Parvati. Parvati
saw Shiva as Arunachalesvara. She was taken back by the Lord to His
side, and made His Ardhangini once more, that is, She occupied half
of the body of the Lord.
Arunachalesvara is Tejo Lingam. Arunachala or the Tiruvannamalai Hill
is the place that represents the fire element. (The five elements are
represented by five holy places in India.)
When the light on the top of the Tiruvannamalai Hill is unveiled on
the Kartigai Deepam day, people see the big light and worship it. They
recite again and again in a loud voice "Harohara". The esoteric meaning
is that he who sees the light of lights that is burning eternally in
the chambers of his heart through constant meditation attains immortality.
The light on the Arunachala brings the message to you that the Self
or Lord Shiva is self-effulgent, He is the light of lights.
On the Kartigai Deepam day in South India, people make bonfires in
front of temples in the evening. It is said that Lord Shiva burnt the
chariots of several demons who were torturing sages and celestials.
This bonfire symbolises this legend.
People place rows of earthen lamps in front of their houses on the
evening of Kartigai Deepam and worship the Lord. They also light a variety
of fireworks.
Annihilate the three impurities, namely, egoism, selfish action and
delusion. Burn the mind, senses and the desires in the fire of knowledge
of the Self or Shiva-Jnanam. Attain full illumination and behold the
light of lights, which illumines the mind, intellect, sun, moon, stars,
lightning and the fire. This is real Kartigai Deepam.
May the light of lights illumine you all! May Lord Shiva bless you
with more light! May you merge in this supreme light and attain the
eternal abode of bliss and immortality!
SALUTATIONS and adorations to the Supreme Lord, the primordial power
that divided the year into the four seasons. Salutations to Surya, the
Sun-God, who on this great day embarks on his northward journey.
The Sanskrit term "Shankramana" means "to begin to move". The day on
which the sun begins to move northwards is called Makara Shankranti.
It usually falls in the middle of January.
Among the Tamilians in South India this festival is called the Pongal.
To many people, especially the Tamilians, Makara Shankranti ushers
in the New Year. The corn that is newly-harvested is cooked for the
first time on that day. Joyous festivities mark the celebration in every
home. Servants, farmers and the poor are fed and clothed and given presents
of money. On the next day, the cow, which is regarded as the symbol
of the Holy Mother, is worshipped. Then there is the feeding of birds
and animals.
In this manner the devotee's heart expands slowly during the course
of the celebrations, first embracing with its long arms of love the
entire household and neighbours, then the servants and the poor, then
the cow, and then all other living creatures. Without even being aware
of it, one develops the heart and expands it to such proportions that
the whole universe finds a place in it.
As Shankranti is also the beginning of the month, Brahmins offer oblations
to departed ancestors. Thus, all the great sacrifices enjoined upon
man find their due place in this grand celebration. The worship of the
Cosmic Form of the Lord is so well introduced into this, that every
man and woman in India is delightfully led to partake of it without
even being aware of it.
To the spiritual aspirants this day has a special significance. The
six-month period during which the sun travels northwards is highly favourable
to them in their march towards the goal of life. It is as though they
are flowing easily with the current towards the Lord. Paramahamsa Sannyasins
roam about freely during this period, dispelling gloom from the hearts
of all. The Devas and Rishis rejoice at the advent of the new season,
and readily come to the aid of the aspirant.
The great Bhishma, the grandfather of the Pandavas, was fatally wounded
during the war of the Mahabharata, waited on his deathbed of nails for
the onset of this season before finally departing from the earth-plane.
Let us on this great day pay our homage to him and strive to become
men of firm resolve ourselves!
As already mentioned, this is the Pongal festival in South India. It
is closely connected with agriculture. To the agriculturalist, it is
a day of triumph. He would have by then brought home the fruits of his
patient toil. Symbolically, the first harvest is offered to the Almighty-and
that is Pongal. To toil was his task, his duty, but the fruit is now
offered to Him-that is the spirit of Karma Yoga.
The master is not allowed to grab all the harvest for himself either.
Pongal is the festival during which the landlord distributes food, clothes
and money among the labourers who work for him. What a noble act!-It
is an ideal you should constantly keep before you, not only ceremoniously
on the Pongal day, but at all times.
Be charitable. Be generous. Treat your servants as your bosom-friends
and brother workers. This is the keynote of the Pongal festival. You
will then earn their loyalty and enduring love.
The day prior to the Makara Shankranti is called the Bhogi festival.
On this day, old, worn-out and dirty things are discarded and burnt.
Homes are cleaned and white-washed. Even the roads are swept clean and
lovely designs are drawn with rice-flour. These practices have their
own significance from the point of view of health. But, here I remind
you that it will not do to attend to these external things alone. Cleaning
the mind of its old dirty habits of thought and feeling is more urgently
needed. Burn them up, with a wise and firm resolve to tread the path
of truth, love and purity from this holy day onwards. This is the significance
of Pongal in the life of the spiritual aspirant.
If you do this, then the Makara Shankranti has a special significance
for you. The sun, symbolising wisdom, divine knowledge and spiritual
light, which receded from you when you revelled in the darkness of ignorance,
delusion and sensuality, now joyously turns on its northward course
and moves towards you to shed its light and warmth in greater abundance,
and to infuse into you more life and energy.
In fact, the sun itself symbolises all that the Pongal festival stands
for. The message of the sun is the message of light, the message of
unity, of impartiality, of true selflessness, of the perfection of the
elements of Karma Yoga. The sun shines on all equally. It is the true
benefactor of all beings. Without the sun, life would perish on earth.
It is extremely regular and punctual in its duties, and never claims
a reward or craves for recognition. If you imbibe these virtues of the
sun, what doubt is there that you will shine with equal divine lustre!
He who dwells in the sun, whom the sun does not know, whose body the
sun is, and by whose power the sun shines-He is the Supreme Self, the
Indweller, the immortal Essence. Tat Twam Asi-"That thou art".
Realise this and be free here and now on this holy Pongal or Makara
Shankranti day. This is my humble Pongal prayer to you all.
On the Shankranti day, sweets, puddings and sweet rice are prepared
in every home, especially in South India. The pot in which the rice
is cooked is beautifully adorned with tumeric leaves and roots, the
symbols of auspiciousness. The cooking is done by the women of the household
with great faith and devotion, feeling from the bottom of their hearts
that it is an offering unto the Lord. When the milk in which the rice
is being cooked boils over, the ladies and the children assemble round
the pot and shout "Pongalo Pongal!" with great joy and devotion. Special
prayers are offered in temples and houses. Then the people of the household
gather together and partake of the offerings in an atmosphere of love
and festivity.
There is family re-union in all homes. Brothers renew their contacts
with their married sisters by giving them presents.
The farmer is lovingly greeted by the landlord and is given presents
of grain, clothes and money.
On the next day, the herds of cows are adorned beautifully, fed and
worshipped. In some villages the youth demonstrate their valour by taking
"the bull by the horn" (and often win their brides thereby!). It is
a great day for the cattle.
On the same day, young girls prepare various special dishes-sweet rice,
sour rice, rice with coconut-and take them to the bank of a river or
tank. They lay some leaves on the ground and place on them balls of
the various preparations for the fish, birds, and other creatures. It
is an extremely colourful ceremony. The crows come down in large numbers
and partake of the food. All the time a valuable lesson is driven into
our minds-"Share what you have with all". The crow will call others
before beginning to eat.
Both these days, which are family re-union days, are regarded as being
inauspicious for travel. This is to prevent us from going away from
home on those days.
When you celebrate the Shankranti or Pongal in this manner, your sense
of value changes. You begin to understand that your real wealth is the
goodwill and friendship of your relatives, friends, neighbours and servants;
that your wealth is the land on which your food grows, the cattle which
help you in agriculture, and the cow which gives you milk. You begin
to have greater love and respect for them and for all living beings-the
crows, the fish and all other creatures.
In Maharashtra and in North India, spiritual aspirants attach much
importance to Makara Shankranti. It is the season chosen by the Guru
for bestowing his Grace on the disciple. In the South, too, it should
be noted that it was about this time that Mahadeva favoured several
of the Rishis by blessing them with His beatific vision.
RAKSHA BANDHAN is called Avani Avittam in South India. This falls on
the full moon day of the month of Sravan (August-September). It is an
important Hindu festival. Hindus wear a new holy thread and offer libations
of water to the ancient Rishis on this day.
Recitation of the Vedas on this great day is highly beneficial.
This festival is also known as Upakarmam, and is specially sacred to
the Brahmins, who have been invested with the sacred thread. When the
Brahmin boy is invested with this holy thread, symbolically his third
eye, or the eye of wisdom, is opened. This festival of Upakarmam reminds
the wearer of the sacred thread of its glorious spiritual significance.
Brahmins also offer libations of water to their ancestors to whom they
owe their birth and to the great Rishis to whom they are highly indebted
for their spiritual knowledge and the Vedas themselves. The true
Hindu never forgets his benefactors!
The followers of the four different Vedas have their Upakarmam
on different days.
On this day, Sachi, the consort of Indra, tied a holy thread or amulet
around the wrist of Indra, when he was defeated by the demons. Then
Indra, the king of gods, gained victory over the demons by the power
of this protection (Raksha means "protection") and recovered the lost
city of Amaravati.
In North India, on this day, an amulet known as a Raksha or Rakhi,
is tied round the wrist of brothers by the sisters as a protection from
evil during the coming year. Brahmins and Purohits similarly tie amulets
round the wrists of their patrons and receive gifts. A Mantra is recited
when the Rakhi or the silken thread is tied. The silken thread is charged
with the power of the Mantra, which is as follows:
Yena baddho balee raajaa daanavendro mahaabalah;
Tena twaam anubadhnaami rakshey maa chala maa chala.
"I am tying on your hand this Raksha, with which the most powerful
and generous King Bali himself was bound; O Raksha, don't go away; don't
go away."
The power of this Mantra protects the wearer from evil influences.
This falls on the 7th day of the bright fortnight of the month of Margaseersha
(December-January). People worship the sun in the early morning and
recite the Surya Sahasranama. Good actions done on this day give
manifold results. Brahmins become celestials if they fast on this day
and worship God; Kshatriyas, that is, people of the warrior caste, become
Brahmins; Vaishyas, the merchants, become Kshatriyas: and Sudras or
men of the servant caste, become Vaishyas. If women fast on this day,
they attain knowledge and derive virtues. If widows fast on this day,
they get rid of widowhood from the next birth onwards. Even the sin
of slaying a Brahmin is expiated by the power of fasting on this day.
He who takes a bath at the time of sunrise is purified like Mother Ganges.
He can never become a poor man.
Fast on this day. Observe the vow of silence. Remain in a solitary
place. Do Japa. Practise intense meditation with faith and devotion.
You are sure to attain God-realisation on this very day!
THIS FALLS on the first day of the month of Chaitra (March-April) according
to Chandramana. This is a day of rejoicing. This is new year's day for
the people of Andhra Pradesh and also the Telugu people all over the
world.
Those who live north of the Vindhya hills observe Barhaspatyamana.
Those living south of the Vindhya hills observe Sauramana or Chandramana.
There is a peculiarity about the practices of the various sects of
Brahmins; one who is not conversant with them finds it difficult to
understand their meaning. Even though they are all Brahmins, certain
differences in their lineage may be traced among them. These become
manifest in their distinctive calendars where the dates and months vary.
Some have calculations according to the solar system, and others according
to the lunar system, with the result that despite all being Brahmins,
the New Year differs among different sects. Thus there is a Telugu New
Year's Day; a Tamil New Year's Day, and a New Year's Day distinct from
these in the almanac of North India.
THE DIVINE MOTHER or Devi is worshipped during the Vasanta Navaratri.
This occurs during the spring. She is worshipped by Her own command.
You will find this in the following episode in the Devi Bhagavata.
In days long gone by, King Dhruvasindu was killed by a lion when he
went out hunting. Preparations were made to crown the prince Sudarsana.
But, King Yudhajit of Ujjain, the father of Queen Lilavati, and King
Virasena of Kalinga, the father of Queen Manorama, were each desirous
of securing the Kosala throne for their respective grandsons. They fought
with each other. King Virasena was killed in the battle. Manorama fled
to the forest with Prince Sudarsana and a eunuch. They took refuge in
the hermitage of Rishi Bharadwaja.
The victor, King Yudhajit, thereupon crowned his grandson, Satrujit,
at Ayodhya, the capital of Kosala. He then went out in search of Manorama
and her son. The Rishi said that he would not give up those who had
sought protection under him. Yudhajit became furious. He wanted to attack
the Rishi. But, his minister told him about the truth of the Rishi's
statement. Yudhajit returned to his capital.
Fortune smiled on Prince Sudarsana. A hermit's son came one day and
called the eunuch by his Sanskrit name Kleeba. The prince caught the
first syllable Kli and began to pronounce it as Kleem. This
syllable happened to be a powerful, sacred Mantra. It is the Bija Akshara
(root syllable) of the Divine Mother. The Prince obtained peace of mind
and the Grace of the Divine Mother by the repeated utterance of this
syllable. Devi appeared to him, blessed him and granted him divine weapons
and an inexhaustible quiver.
The emissaries of the king of Benares passed through the Ashram of
the Rishi and, when they saw the noble prince Sudarsana, they recommended
him to Princess Sashikala, the daughter of the king of Benares.
The ceremony at which the princess was to choose her spouse was arranged.
Sashikala at once chose Sudarsana. They were duly wedded. King Yudhajit,
who had been present at the function, began to fight with the king of
Benares. Devi helped Sudarsana and his father-in-law. Yudhajit mocked
Her, upon which Devi promptly reduced Yudhajit and his army to ashes.
Thus Sudarsana, with his wife and his father-in-law, praised Devi.
She was highly pleased and ordered them to perform Her worship with
havan and other means during the Vasanta Navaratri. Then She
disappeared.
Prince Sudarsana and Sashikala returned to the Ashram of Rishi Bharadwaja.
The great Rishi blessed them and crowned Sudarsana as the king of Kosala.
Sudarsana and Sashikala and the king of Benares implicitly carried out
the commands of the Divine Mother and performed worship in a splendid
manner during the Vasanta Navaratri.
Sudarsana's descendants, namely, Sri Rama and Lakshmana, also performed
worship of Devi during the Vasanta Navaratri and were blessed with Her
assistance in the recovery of Sita.
It is the devout Hindu's duty to perform the worship of Devi for both
material and spiritual welfare during the Vasanta Navaratri and follow
the noble example set by Sudarsana and Sri Rama. He cannot achieve anything
without the Divine Mother's blessings. So, sing Her praise and repeat
Her Mantra and Name. Meditate on Her form. Do worship. Pray and obtain
Her eternal Grace and blessings. May the Divine Mother bless you with
all divine wealth!
This is an important bathing day. All Hindus observe it. It is also
known as Magh Sukla Panchami as it falls in the month of Magh (January-February).
This is the festival that marks the first day of spring.
Vasanta means the spring season, which is very congenial for doing
vigorous Yoga Sadhana.
Men, women and girls wear yellow cloth. The yellow colour is a sign
of auspiciousness and spirituality. It represents the ripening of the
spring crops. Even the food is coloured yellow by using saffron. All
the folk get together and sing songs connected with spring.
All get up in the early morning, take bath and worship the sun, Mother
Ganga, the Deity of the sacred river Ganges, and the earth.
On this memorable day, Lord Shiva burnt the god of love, Cupid. The
gods had sent Cupid to tempt the Lord while he was absorbed in Samadhi,
in order to beget a powerful son who would be able to destroy the wicked
demon Tarakasura. Cupid discharged an arrow at Lord Shiva from behind
a tree. Shiva became very greatly enraged. He opened His third eye and
reduced Cupid to ashes. More details of this story are given in the
chapter on Skanda Sashti.
The Bengalis call this festival Saraswathi Puja. They worship the Goddess
Saraswathi on this day. The image of the Goddess is taken in procession
and immersed in the holy Ganges.
SRI APPAYYA Dikshita was born in the Krishna Paksha of the Kanya month
of Pramateecha Varsha 1544 A.D.) on the auspicious hour and day under
the Uttaraproshtapada constellation. His Jayanthi is celebrated every
year on 2nd October.
Sri Appayya, the greatest name in the 16th century annals of South
India, is the reputed author of more than 104 books, representative
of all branches of knowledge in Sanskrit literature. He attained greatness
mainly by his works on Vedanta. All the schools of Vedanta have drawn
unique and unrivalled authority and support from his pen.
Of his Vedantic work, the Chaturmata Sara Sangrah is justly
famous for the impartial justice with which he has expounded the tenets
of the four great schools, namely, the Dwaita, Visishtadwaita, Shivadwaita
and the Adwaita. This exposition is given in his Nyaya Muktavali,
Nyaya Mukhamalika, Nyaya Manimala, and Nyaya Manjari (all these
together form the Chaturmata Sara Sangrah).
In almost all branches of Sanskrit learning and literature-poetry,
rhetoric, philosophy-his name was peerless among his contemporaries,
or for that matter, for decades after him and till today. His Kuvalayananda
is generally the first work of rhetoric that is taken up for study.
As is usual, Pundit Jagannatha, his contemporary and rival, levelled
some criticism on it in his Rasagangadhara
His poems in praise of Lord Shiva are great favourites among the worshippers
of Shiva. He has also written a learned commentary entitled Parimalam
on Vedanta; this is an outstanding monument of his philosophic erudition.
He had a gigantic intellect. Great was the reverence paid to him in
his own lifetime; even today he is greatly revered. Once he went to
the village which was the birthplace of his wife. A grand reception
was accorded to him by the villagers who were proud of calling him one
of themselves. There was great excitement. All hailed him with the words,
"The great Dikshita is coming amongst us!". There was no other talk
among the villagers for days before the event. The day came, and the
distinguished guest, Appayya Dikshita, was greeted by crowds of people
who flocked to have a sight of the grand lion of learning.
An old lady, curious to a degree, came out, staff in hand, to see the
phenomenon; with the freedom that is conceded to one of her age, she
made her way easily through the crowd and looked at him steadily for
some minutes. Dim recollections of a face, floated in her mind.
Definitely recalling the face, she exclaimed, "I have seen this face
somewhere. Wait. Oh yes! are you not the husband of Achha?"
The great scholar confirmed her surmise with a smile.
The good old lady was disappointed. With her face and spirits fallen,
she retraced her steps homeward, remarking, "What ado to make-just over
Achha's husband!"
Appayya summarised a world of wisdom when he perpetuated the incident
in a half verse: "Asmin grame achha prasiddha-In this village the name
and precedence are Achha's!"
Appayya is considered as an Avatara of Lord Shiva. When he went to
Tirupati temple in South India, the Vaishnavas refused him admission.
The next morning they found the Vishnu murti in the temple changed
into a Shiva murti. The spiritual head of the temple was most
astonished and startled. He begged pardon and prayed to Appayya to restore
the original form of Vishnu.
Appayya flourished in the middle of the 16th century. He was a great
rival of Pundit Jagannatha in the field of poetry. Appayya had no independent
views on the doctrinal side of Shankara's Vedanta, but carried on fierce
controversies with the followers of Vallabha at Jaipur and other places.
He summarised his views in the Siddhantalesha, which is the most
admirable digest of the doctrinal differences among the followers of
Shankara.
No doubt, he is among the greatest of the spiritual luminaries that
India has produced. Though a detailed account of the history of his
life is lacking, his works are sufficient testimony of his greatness.
On this great day (2nd October) when you celebrate the birthday of
Appayya Dikshita, pray and worship the Lord and your Guru. Study Appayya's
works, especially his great devotional work, Atmarpana Stuthi.
Om Namo Bhagavate Dattatreyaya
DATTATREYA Jayanthi falls during December-January on the full moon
day of the month of Margaseersha. His story is told as follows.
Anusuya is quoted as the model of chastity. She was the wife of Atri
Maharishi, a great sage and one of the seven foremost seers and sages.
She was well established in the Pativrata Dharma, the main elements
of which are devotion to husband and regard of him as God Himself. She
did severe austerities for a very long time in order to beget sons equal
to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the Hindu Trinity.
Once, Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Parvati requested their husbands (the
Trimurtis) to test the Pativrata Dharma of Anusuya, by asking her to
give them alms with an unclothed body.
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva came to know of the austerity and desire of
Anusuya. So, they agreed to their wives' request, as they knew that
by agreeing to it, they would also be fulfilling Anusuya's wish. They
put on the garb of Sannyasins and appeared before Anusuya, asking her
to give them alms as specified by their wives. Anusuya was in a great
dilemma. She could not say "No" to the Sannyasins. And she had to maintain
her Pativrata Dharma also, which she would be violating if she appeared
naked before men other than her own husband. She meditated on the form
of her husband, took refuge at his feet and sprinkled over the three
Sannyasins a few drops of water used for washing the feet of her husband.
Immediately the Trimurtis were transformed into three babies on account
of the glory of her chastity. At the same time, there was accumulation
of milk in her breast. She thought that these children were her own
and fed them with the milk, in a nude state and cradled them. She was
eagerly expecting the arrival of her husband who had gone to have a
bath.
As soon as Atri Rishi returned home, Anusuya related all that had happened
during his absence, placed the three children at his feet and worshipped
him. But, Atri knew all this already through his divine vision. He embraced
all the three children. They became one child, with two feet, one trunk,
three heads and six hands. Atri Rishi blessed his wife and informed
her that the Trimurtis themselves had assumed the forms of the three
children to gratify her wish.
In the meantime, Narada went to Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Parvati and
informed them that their husbands had been turned into children through
the power of the Pativrata Dharma of Anusuya and that they would not
return unless they asked for their husbands as alms from Rishi Atri.
Thus Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Parvati assumed the form of ordinary women,
appeared before Atri and asked for their own husbands as alms. Atri
duly honoured the three ladies and, with folded palms, prayed to them
that his wish and the wish of Anusuya should be fulfilled.
Then, the Trimurtis appeared in their true form before Atri and said,
"This child will be a great sage according to your word and will be
equal to us, according to the wish of Anusuya. The child will bear the
name of Dattatreya." Saying this they disappeared.
LORD DATTATREYA
Who is regarded as an Incarnation of the Trinity.
The child Dattatreya soon attained manhood. As he had the rays of the
Trimurtis and as he was a great man of the highest wisdom, all the Rishis
and ascetics worshipped him. He was gentle, peaceful and amiable. He
was an Avadhuta-an ascetic who always remains naked. He preached the
Truth of Vedanta. Dattatreya taught his Avadhuta Gita to Lord
Subramanya. This is a wonderful book which contains the truths and secrets
of Vedanta and the experiences of Self-realisation.
Once, while he was roaming happily in a forest, he met King Yadu, who,
on seeing Dattatreya so happy, asked him the secret of his happiness
and the name of his Guru.
Dattatreya said, "The Self alone is my Guru. Yet, I have learnt wisdom
from twenty-four other individuals and objects. So they, too, are also
my Gurus."
Dattatreya then mentioned the names of his twenty-four Gurus and spoke
of the wisdom that he had learnt from each as follows:
"The names of my twenty-four Gurus are earth, water, fire, sky, moon,
sun, pigeon, python, ocean, moth, honey-gatherers (black bee), bees,
elephant, deer, fish, the dancing-girl Pingala, raven, child, maiden,
serpent, arrow-maker, spider and beetle.
1. I learnt patience and doing good to others from the earth.
2. From water, I learnt the quality of purity.
3. I learnt from air to be without attachment though I move
with many people in this world.
4. From fire I learnt to glow with the splendour of Self-knowledge
and austerity.
5. I learnt from the sky that the Self is all-pervading and
yet it has no contact with any object.
6. I learnt from the moon that the Self is always perfect and
changeless and it is only the limiting adjuncts that cast shadows over
it.
7. Just as a sun reflected in various pots of water appears as so many
different reflections, so also Brahman appears different because of
the bodies caused by the reflection through the mind. This is the lesson
I have learnt from the sun.
8. I once saw a pair of pigeons with their young birds. A fowler
spread a net and caught the young birds. The mother pigeon was very
much attached to her children. She fell into the net and was caught.
From this I have learnt that attachment is the root cause of earthly
bondage.
9. The python does not move about for its food. It remains contented
with whatever it gets, lying in one place. From this I learnt to be
unmindful of food and to be contented with whatever I get to eat.
10. Just as the ocean remains unmoved, even though hundreds
of rivers flow into it, so also the wise man should remain unmoved among
all the various sorts of temptations, difficulties and troubles.
11. To control the sense of sight and to fix the mind on the Self,
is the lesson I learnt from the moth.
12. I take a little food from one house and a little from another house
and thus appease my hunger. I am not a burden on the householder. This
I learnt from the black bee which gathers honey from various
flowers.
13. Bees collect honey with great trouble, but a hunter comes
along and takes the honey away easily. From this I learnt that it is
useless to hoard things.
14. The male elephant, blinded by lust, falls into a pit covered
with grass, even at the sight of a female elephant. Therefore, one should
destroy lust.
15. The deer is enticed and trapped by the hunter through its
love of music. Therefore, one should never listen to lewd songs.
16. Just as a fish that is covetous of food falls an easy victim
to the bait, so also the man who is greedy for food loses his independence
and easily gets ruined.
17. There was a dancing girl named Pingala. Being tired of looking
for customers, one night she became hopeless. She had to be contented
with what traffic she had that day and retired to a sound sleep. I learnt
from this fallen woman the lesson that the abandonment of hope leads
to contentment.
18. A raven picked up a piece of flesh. It was pursued and beaten
by other birds. It dropped the piece of flesh and attained peace and
rest. From this I learnt that a man in the world undergoes all sorts
of troubles and miseries when he runs after sensual pleasures and that
he becomes as happy as the bird when he abandons them.
19. The child who sucks milk is free from all cares, worries
and anxieties, and is always cheerful. I learnt the virtue of cheerfulness
from the child.
20. The maiden was husking paddy. Her bangles made much noise
and there were visitors from her husband's house. To silence the bangles,
she removed them, one by one. Even when there were just two, they produced
some noise. When she had only one, it did not make any noise, and she
was happy. I learnt from the maiden that living among many would create
discord, disturbance, dispute and quarrel. Even among two there might
be unnecessary words or strife. The ascetic or the Sannyasin should
remain alone in solitude.
21. A serpent does not build its own hole. It dwells in the
holes dug out by others. Even so, an ascetic should not build a home
for himself. He should live in a temple or a cave built by others.
22. I learnt from the arrow-maker the quality of intense concentration
of mind.
23. The spider pours out of its mouth long threads and weaves
them into cobwebs. Then it gets itself entangled in the net of its own
making. Even so, man makes a net of his own ideas and gets entangled
in it. The wise man should, therefore, abandon all worldly thoughts
and think of Brahman only.
24. The beetle catches hold of a worm, puts it in its nest and
gives it a sting. The poor worm, always fearing the return of the beetle
and sting, and thinking constantly of the beetle, becomes a beetle itself.
I learnt from the beetle and the worm to turn myself into the Self by
contemplating constantly on It; thus I gave up all attachment to the
body and attained liberation."
The king was highly impressed by listening to these enlightening words
of Lord Dattatreya. He abandoned the world and practised constant meditation
on the Self.
Dattatreya was absolutely free from intolerance or prejudice of any
kind. He learnt wisdom from whatever source it came. All seekers after
wisdom should follow the example of Dattatreya.
On Dattatreya Jayanthi, get up at Brahmamuhurta and meditate. Fast
and pray throughout the day. Do not mix with anybody. Live in total
seclusion. Forget the body. Identify yourself with the blissful Self.
Study Dattatreya's glorious works, namely, the Avadhuta Gita and
the Jivanmukta Gita. Worship Lord Dattatreya's (or, your own
Guru's) form. Take wholesome resolves that you will follow the great
teachings of Lord Dattatreya. You will realise the Self very soon.
At the Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, this day is celebrated every year
on a grand scale, in the Dattatreya Temple, on a hillock near the main
Ashram.
1. The glorious Image of Lord Dattatreya is duly worshipped, with bathing
and flowers.
2. All the spiritual aspirants assemble there, singing the Lord's Names
and glories.
3. Discourses are given by Yogis and Sannyasins, on the life and teachings
of Lord Dattatreya during this gathering as well as during the night
Satsang at the Ashram. The Avadhuta Gita and the Jivanmukta
Gita are also read and explained.
4. It is a day of great rejoicing.
May you all enjoy the choicest blessings of Lord Dattatreya, and may
you all attain the highest goal, Self-realisation in this very birth!
SALUTATIONS to Lord Ganesha who is Brahman Himself, who is the Supreme
Lord, who is the energy of Lord Shiva, who is the source of all bliss,
and who is the bestower of all virtuous qualities and success in all
undertakings.
Mushikavaahana modaka hastha,
Chaamara karna vilambitha sutra,
Vaamana rupa maheshwara putra,
Vighna vinaayaka paada namasthe
MEANING: "O Lord Vinayaka! the remover of all obstacles, the
son of Lord Shiva, with a form which is very short, with mouse as Thy
vehicle, with sweet pudding in hand, with wide ears and long hanging
trunk, I prostrate at Thy lotus-like Feet!"
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most popular of Hindu festivals. This
is the birthday of Lord Ganesha. It is the day most sacred to Lord Ganesha.
It falls on the 4th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapada (August-September).
It is observed throughout India, as well as by devoted Hindus in all
parts of the world.
Clay figures of the Deity are made and after being worshipped for two
days, or in some cases ten days, they are thrown into water.
Lord Ganesha is the elephant-headed God. He is worshipped first in
any prayers. His Names are repeated first before any auspicious work
is begun, before any kind of worship is begun.
He is the Lord of power and wisdom. He is the eldest son of Lord Shiva
and the elder brother of Skanda or Kartikeya. He is the energy of Lord
Shiva and so He is called the son of Shankar and Umadevi. By worshipping
Lord Ganesha mothers hope to earn for their sons the sterling virtues
of Ganesha.
The following story is narrated about His birth and how He came to
have the head of an elephant:
Once upon a time, the Goddess Gauri (consort of Lord Shiva), while
bathing, created Ganesha as a pure white being out of the mud of Her
Body and placed Him at the entrance of the house. She told Him not to
allow anyone to enter while she went inside for a bath. Lord Shiva Himself
was returning home quite thirsty and was stopped by Ganesha at the gate.
Shiva became angry and cut off Ganesha's head as He thought Ganesha
was an outsider.
When Gauri came to know of this she was sorely grieved. To console
her grief, Shiva ordered His servants to cut off and bring to Him the
head of any creature that might be sleeping with its head facing north.
The servants went on their mission and found only an elephant in that
position. The sacrifice was thus made and the elephant's head was brought
before Shiva. The Lord then joined the elephant's head onto the body
of Ganesha.
Lord Shiva made His son worthy of worship at the beginning of all undertakings,
marriages, expeditions, studies, etc. He ordained that the annual worship
of Ganesha should take place on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapada.
Without the Grace of Sri Ganesha and His help nothing whatsoever can
be achieved. No action can be undertaken without His support, Grace
or blessing.
In his first lesson in the alphabet a Maharashtrian child is initiated
into the Mantra of Lord Ganesha, Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah. Only
then is the alphabet taught.
The following are some of the common Names of Lord Ganesha: Dhoomraketu,
Sumukha, Ekadantha, Gajakarnaka, Lambodara, Vignaraja, Ganadhyaksha,
Phalachandra, Gajanana, Vinayaka, Vakratunda, Siddhivinayaka, Surpakarna,
Heramba, Skandapurvaja, Kapila and Vigneshwara. He is also known by
many as Maha-Ganapathi.
His Mantra is Om Gung Ganapathaye Namah. Spiritual aspirants
who worship Ganesha as their tutelary Deity repeat this Mantra or Om
Sri Ganeshaya Namah.
The devotees of Ganesha also do Japa of the Ganesha Gayatri Mantra.
This is as follows.
Tat purushaaya vidmahe
Vakratundaaya dheemahi
Tanno dhanti prachodayaat.
Lord Ganesha is an embodiment of wisdom and bliss. He is the Lord of
Brahmacharins. He is foremost amongst the celibates.
He has as his vehicle a small mouse. He is the presiding Deity of the
Muladhara Chakra, the psychic centre in the body in which the Kundalini
Shakti resides.
He is the Lord who removes all obstacles on the path of the spiritual
aspirant, and bestows upon him worldly as well as spiritual success.
Hence He is called Vigna Vinayaka. His Bija Akshara (root syllable)
is Gung, pronounced to rhyme with the English word "sung". He
is the Lord of harmony and peace.
Lord Ganesha represents Om or the Pranava, which is the chief Mantra
among the Hindus. Nothing can be done without uttering it. This explains
the practice of invoking Ganesha before beginning any rite or undertaking
any project. His two feet represent the power of knowledge and the power
of action. The elephant head is significant in that it is the only figure
in nature that has the form of the symbol for Om.
The significance of riding on a mouse is the complete conquest over
egoism. The holding of the ankusha represents His rulership of
the world. It is the emblem of divine Royalty.
Ganesha is the first God. Riding on a mouse, one of nature's smallest
creatures and having the head of an elephant, the biggest of all animals,
denotes that Ganesha is the creator of all creatures. Elephants are
very wise animals; this indicates that Lord Ganesha is an embodiment
of wisdom. It also denotes the process of evolution-the mouse gradually
evolves into an elephant and finally becomes a man. This is why Ganesha
has a human body, an elephant's head and a mouse as His vehicle. This
is the symbolic philosophy of His form.
He is the Lord of Ganas or groups, for instance groups of elements,
groups of senses, etc. He is the head of the followers of Shiva or the
celestial servants of Lord Shiva.
The Vaishnavas also worship Lord Ganesha. They have given Him the name
of Tumbikkai Alwar which means the divinity with the proboscis (the
elephant's trunk).
Lord Ganesha's two powers are the Kundalini and the Vallabha or power
of love.
He is very fond of sweet pudding or balls of rice flour with a sweet
core. On one of His birthdays He was going around house to house accepting
the offerings of sweet puddings. Having eaten a good number of these,
He set out moving on His mouse at night. Suddenly the mouse stumbled-it
had seen a snake and became frightened-with the result that Ganesha
fell down. His stomach burst open and all the sweet puddings came out.
But Ganesha stuffed them back into His stomach and, catching hold of
the snake, tied it around His belly.
Seeing all this, the moon in the sky had a hearty laugh. This unseemly
behaviour of the moon annoyed Him immensely and so he pulled out one
of His tusks and hurled it against the moon, and cursed that no one
should look at the moon on the Ganesh Chaturthi day. If anyone does,
he will surely earn a bad name, censure or ill-repute. However, if by
mistake someone does happen to look at the moon on this day, then the
only way he can be freed from the curse is by repeating or listening
to the story of how Lord Krishna cleared His character regarding the
Syamantaka jewel. This story is quoted in the Srimad Bhagavatam.
Lord Ganesha was pleased to ordain thus. Glory to Lord Ganesha! How
kind and merciful He is unto His devotees!
Ganesha and His brother Lord Subramanya once had a dispute as to who
was the elder of the two. The matter was referred to Lord Shiva for
final decision. Shiva decided that whoever would make a tour of the
whole world and come back first to the starting point had the right
to be the elder. Subramanya flew off at once on his vehicle, the peacock,
to make a circuit of the world. But the wise Ganesha went, in loving
worshipfulness, around His divine parents and asked for the prize of
His victory.
Lord Shiva said, "Beloved and wise Ganesha! But how can I give you
the prize; you did not go around the world?"
Ganesha replied, "No, but I have gone around my parents. My parents
represent the entire manifested universe!"
Thus the dispute was settled in favour of Lord Ganesha, who was thereafter
acknowledged as the elder of the two brothers. Mother Parvati also gave
Him a fruit as a prize for this victory.
In the Ganapathi Upanishad, Ganesha is identified with the Supreme
Self. The legends that are connected with Lord Ganesha are recorded
in the Ganesha Khanda of the Brahma Vivartha Purana.
On the Ganesh Chaturthi day, meditate on the stories connected with
Lord Ganesha early in the morning, during the Brahmamuhurta period.
Then, after taking a bath, go to the temple and do the prayers of Lord
Ganesha. Offer Him some coconut and sweet pudding. Pray with faith and
devotion that He may remove all the obstacles that you experience on
the spiritual path. Worship Him at home, too. You can get the assistance
of a pundit. Have an image of Lord Ganesha in your house. Feel His Presence
in it.
Don't forget not to look at the moon on that day; remember that it
behaved unbecomingly towards the Lord. This really means avoid the company
of all those who have no faith in God, and who deride God, your Guru
and religion, from this very day.
Take fresh spiritual resolves and pray to Lord Ganesha for inner spiritual
strength to attain success in all your undertakings.
May the blessings of Sri Ganesha be upon you all! May He remove all
the obstacles that stand in your spiritual path! May He bestow on you
all material prosperity as well as liberation!
THE GITA Jayanti, or the birthday of the Bhagavad Gita, is celebrated
throughout India by all the admirers and lovers of this most sacred
scripture on the eleventh day (Ekadashi) of the bright half of the month
of Margaseersha (December-January), according to the Hindu almanac.
It was on this day that Sanjaya narrated to King Dhritarashtra the dialogue
between Sri Krishna and Arjuna, and thus made the glorious teachings
of the Lord available to us, and to people of the world, for all time.
The Gita Jayanti marks one of the greatest days in the history of mankind.
Nearly six thousand years ago on that day a dazzling flash of brilliant
light lit up the firmament of human civilization. That flash, that marvellous
spiritual effulgence, was the message of the Bhagavad Gita, given
by the Lord Himself on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Unlike ordinary
flashes of light which die away after a split-second, this brilliant
flash of that memorable day has continued to shine through the centuries,
and even now illumines the path of humanity on its onward march to perfection.
The Gita is the most beautiful and the only truly philosophical
song. It contains sublime lessons on wisdom and philosophy. It is the
"Song Celestial". It is the universal gospel. It contains the message
of life that appeals to all, irrespective of race, creed, age or religion.
The Gita was given to us about six thousand years ago through
Arjuna, an Indian prince, by Sri Krishna, the Lord incarnate. The teachings
are based on the Upanishads, the ancient, revealed metaphysical
classics of India. The Gita shows a way to rise above the world
of duality and the pairs of opposites, and to acquire eternal bliss
and immortality. It is a gospel of action. It teaches the rigid performance
of one's duty in society, and a life of active struggle, keeping the
inner being untouched by outer surroundings, and renouncing the fruits
of actions as offerings unto the Lord.
The Gita is a source of power and wisdom. It strengthens you
when you are weak, and inspires you when you feel dejected and feeble.
It teaches you to embrace righteousness and to resist unrighteousness.
The Gita is not merely a book or just a scripture. It is a living
voice carrying an eternally indispensable and vital message to mankind.
Its verses embody words of wisdom coming from the infinite ocean of
knowledge, the Absolute Itself.
The voice of the Gita is the call of the Supreme. It is the
divine sound explained. The primal source of all existence, all power,
is the manifested sound, Om. This is the Divine Word. It is Nada Brahman,
whose unceasing call is: "Be ye all ever merged in the eternal, unbroken,
continuous consciousness of the Supreme Truth." This is the sublime
message that the great Gita elaborates and presents in all comprehensiveness
and in a universally acceptable form. It is verily this message of the
Bhagavad Gita that I wish to recall and reproclaim with emphasis
to you.
To be always conscious of the Divine, to ever feel the Divine Presence,
to live always in the awareness of the Supreme Being in the chambers
of your heart and everywhere around you, is verily to live a life of
fullness and divine perfection on earth itself. Such constant remembrance
of God and such an attitude of mind will release you forever from the
clutches of Maya and free you from all fear. To forget the Supreme is
to fall into Maya. To forget Him is to be assailed by fear. To live
in unbroken remembrance of the Supreme Truth is to remain always in
the region of Light, far beyond Maya's reach.
Mark carefully how the Gita stresses again and again this lofty
message. The Lord declares: "Keep thou thy mind in Me, in Me place thy
reason".
In another verse He says: "Therefore, at all times remember Me and
fight. You will surely attain Me, having thus offered yourself".
And yet again: "Perform thou action, remaining united with Me at heart".
The Gita guides you to glory with the watchwords: "Be thou divine-minded,
devoted to Me as your goal, and let your subconscious mind be divine".
The Lord gives the following firm assurance also: "I become the saviour
from this mortal world for those whose minds are set on Me".
Such is the most illuminating message of the Gita, seeking to
lead man to a life of perfection even while performing his ordained
role here. Long has this message been neglected by man. Forgetting the
Lord, the world has turned towards sense indulgence and mammon. A terrible
price has been paid. O man, enough of this forgetfulness! The Lord has
warned you against heedlessness: "If, out of egoism, thou wilt not hear,
then thou shalt perish".
It is a matter of great regret that many young men and women of India
know very little of this most unique scripture. One cannot consider
oneself as having attained a good standard of education if one does
not have a sound knowledge of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. All post-graduate
knowledge, all research in universities is mere husk or chaff when compared
to the wisdom of the Gita.
Live in the spirit of the teachings of the Gita. Mere talks
or lectures will not help you in any way. Become a practical "man-of-the-Gita".
The Gita may be summarised in the following seven verses:
1. "Uttering the one-syllabled Om, the Brahman, and remembering Me,
he who departs, leaving the body thus, attains the Supreme Goal".
2. "It is meet, O Lord, that the world delights and rejoices in Thy
praise; the demons fly in fear to all quarters, and all the hosts of
Siddhas bow to Thee!"
3. "With hands and feet everywhere, with eyes, heads and mouths everywhere,
with ears everywhere, He exists in the world, enveloping all".
4. "Whosoever meditates on the omniscient, ancient ruler of the whole
world, minuter than an atom, the supporter of all, of form inconceivable,
effulgent like the sun, such a one goeth beyond the darkness of ignorance".
5. "They, the wise, speak of the indestructible Asvattha, having its
roots above and branches below, whose leaves are the metres or hymns;
he who knows it is a knower of the Vedas".
6. "And I am seated in the hearts of all; from Me are memory and knowledge,
as well as their absence. I am verily that which has to be known by
all the Vedas; I am indeed the author of Vedanta, and the knower
of the Vedas am I".
7. "Fix thy mind on Me; be devoted to Me; sacrifice to Me; bow down
to Me; having thus united thy whole Self with Me, taking Me as the Supreme
Lord, thou shalt verily come to Me".
Read the whole of the Gita on Sundays and other holidays. Study
carefully again and again the verses in the second discourse, which
deal with the state of the Sthitaprajna (a perfected Yogi and sage).
Also study the eight nectarine verses in the twelfth discourse.
The study of the Gita alone is sufficient for the purpose of
scriptural study. You will find in it a solution to all your problems.
The more you study it with devotion and faith, the deeper will your
knowledge become, the more penetrative would be your insight, and the
clearer your thinking. Even if you live in the spirit of one verse of
the Gita, all your miseries will come to an end and you will attain
the goal of life-immortality and eternal peace.
None but the Lord can bring out such a marvellous and unprecedented
book, which grants peace to its readers, and which guides them in the
attainment of supreme bliss.
The teachings of the Gita are broad, sublime and universal.
They do not belong to any particular cult, sect, creed, age, place or
country. They are meant for all. They are within the reach of all. The
Gita has a message for the solace, peace, freedom, salvation and perfection
of all human beings.
At the Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, the holy and auspicious Gita Jayanti
is observed every year on a grand scale:
1. All the aspirants wake up at 4 am and do meditation on the Lord.
2. From sunrise to sunset there is unbroken recitation of the Gita.
The Samputa-method is used, that is, before and after each verse of
the Gita, the following Samputa is recited:
Sarva dharmaan parityajya maamekam sharanam vraja;
Aham twa sarvapaapebhyo mokshayishyaami maa shucha.
Thus, between two verses of the Gita, this verse is recited
twice. This is an extremely efficacious method of earning the Grace
of the Lord and the Gita, the Mother.
3. All spiritual aspirants fast the whole day (it is also the Ekadashi).
4. Various competitions are held, especially for small children to
manifest their talents in the recitation of the Gita. In the
case of the slightly older children, they are given a chance to discourse
upon the Gita. This is a wonderful way to of encourage children
to study this sacred scripture.
5. In the evening, a special Satsang is held at which learned scholars,
Yogis and Sannyasins discourse upon the the holy scripture.
6. Leaflets, pamphlets and books containing the teachings of the Gita,
as also translations of the holy scripture, are distributed.
Take a resolve on Gita Jayanti that you will read at least one discourse
of the Gita daily. Recite the Fifteenth Discourse before taking your
meals. This is done at the Sivanandashram.
Keep a small pocket-sized edition of the Gita with you at all
times. Mark a few verses in it which inspire you. Everyday, while you
are waiting for your bus or train, or whenever you have a little leisure,
pull out the book and read these verses. You will be ever inspired.
May you all lead the life taught by the Gita! May the Gita,
the blessed Mother of the Vedas, guide and protect you! May it
nourish you with the milk of the ancient wisdom of the Upanishads!
Glory to Lord Krishna, the Divine Teacher! Glory to Sri Vyasa, the
poet of poets, who composed the Gita! May his blessings be upon
you all!
Yatra yatra raghunatha kirtanam;
Tatra tatra kritha masthakanjalim;
Bhaspavaari paripurna lochanam;
Maarutim namata raakshasanthakam
MEANING: "We bow to Maruti, Sri Hanuman, who stands with his
palms folded above his forehead, with a torrent of tears flowing down
his eyes wherever the Names of Lord Rama are sung".
SRI HANUMAN is worshipped all over India-either alone or together with
Sri Rama. Every temple of Sri Rama has the murti or idol of Sri
Hanuman. Hanuman is the Avatara of Lord Shiva. He was born of the Wind-God
and Anjani Devi. His other names are Pavanasuta, Marutsuta, Pavankumar,
Bajrangabali and Mahavira.
LORD HANUMAN
Om Sri Hanumate Namah
He is the living embodiment of Ram-Nam. He was an ideal selfless worker,
a true Karma Yogi who worked desirelessly and dynamically. He was a
great devotee and an exceptional Brahmachari or celibate. He served
Sri Rama with pure love and devotion, without expecting any fruit in
return. He lived to serve Sri Rama. He was humble, brave and wise. He
possessed all the divine virtues. He did what others could not do-crossing
the ocean simply by uttering Ram-Nam, burning the city of Lanka, and
bringing the sanjeevini herb and restoring Lakshmana to life
again. He brought Sri Rama and Lakshmana from the nether world after
killing Ahiravana.
He had devotion, knowledge, spirit of selfless service, power of celibacy,
and desirelessness. He never boasted of his bravery and intelligence.
He said to Ravana, "I am a humble messenger of Sri Rama. I have come
here to serve Rama, to do His work. By the command of Lord Rama, I have
come here. I am fearless by the Grace of Lord Rama. I am not afraid
of death. I welcome it if it comes while serving Lord Rama."
Mark here how humble Hanuman was! How very devoted he was to Lord Rama!
He never said, "I am the brave Hanuman. I can do anything and everything."
Lord Rama Himself said to Sri Hanuman, "I am greatly indebted to you,
O mighty hero! You did marvellous, superhuman deeds. You do not want
anything in return. Sugriva has his kingdom restored to him. Angada
has been made the crown prince. Vibhishana has become king of Lanka.
But you have not asked for anything at any time. You threw away the
precious garland of pearls given to you by Sita. How can I repay My
debt of gratitude to you? I will always remain deeply indebted to you.
I give you the boon of everlasting life. All will honour and worship
you like Myself. Your murti will be placed at the door of My
temple and you will be worshipped and honoured first. Whenever My stories
are recited or glories sung, your glory will be sung before Mine. You
will be able to do anything, even that which I will not be able to!"
Thus did Lord Rama praise Hanuman when the latter returned to Him after
finding Sita in Lanka. Hanuman was not a bit elated. He fell in prostration
at the holy feet of Lord Rama.
Lord Rama asked him, "O mighty hero, how did you cross the ocean?"
Hanuman humbly replied, "By the power and glory of Thy Name, my Lord."
Again the Lord asked, "How did you burn Lanka? How did you save yourself?"
And Hanuman replied, "By Thy Grace, my Lord."
What humility Sri Hanuman embodied!
There are many who want wealth in return for their services. Some do
not want wealth, but they cannot resist name and fame. Others do not
want any of these, but they want approbation. Still others want nothing,
but they boast of their deeds. Hanuman was above all these. That is
why he is recognised as an ideal Karma Yogi and an unsurpassed adept
in Bhakti. His life is full of object lessons. Everyone should try his
best to follow the noble example of Hanuman.
His birthday falls on Chaitra Shukla Purnima (the March-April full
moon day).
On this holy day worship Sri Hanuman. Fast on this day. Read the Hanuman
Chalisa. Spend the whole day in the Japa of Ram-Nam. Sri Hanuman
will be highly pleased and will bless you with success in all your undertakings.
Glory to Hanuman! Glory to his Lord, Sri Rama!
THIS IS THE birthday of Lord Krishna, the eighth Divine Incarnation.
It falls on the 8th day of the dark half of the month of Bhadrapada
(August-September). This is one of the greatest of all Hindu festivals.
Lord Krishna was born at midnight. A twenty-four hour fast is observed
on this day, which is broken at midnight.
Temples are decorated for the occasion. Kirtans are sung, bells are
rung, the conch is blown, and Sanskrit hymns are recited in praise of
Lord Krishna. At Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, special spiritual
gatherings are organised at this time. Pilgrims from all over India
attend these festive gatherings.
The Lord appeared when the moon entered the house of Vrishabha at the
constellation of the star Rohini, on Wednesday, the 8th day of the second
fortnight of the month of Sravana, which corresponds to the month of
Bhadrapada Krishnapaksha according to the Barhaspatyamana, in the year
of Visvavasu, 5,172 years ago (from 1945), which means 3227 B.C.
Study the Bhagavatam and the Pancharatras, which are
equal to the Upanishads. You will know all about the glory of
Lord Krishna, His Lilas and superhuman deeds. The eighth Avatara, Krishna,
who has become the Beloved of India and the world at large, had a threefold
objective: to destroy the wicked demons, to play the leading role in
the great war fought on the battlefield of Kurukshetra (where he delivered
His wonderful message of the Gita) and to become the centre of
a marvellous development of the Bhakti schools of India.
There is no true science except devotion to Lord Krishna. That man
is wealthy indeed who loves Radha and Krishna. There is no sorrow other
than lack of devotion to Krishna. He is the foremost of the emancipated
who loves Krishna. There is no right course, except the society of Sri
Krishna's devotees. The Name, virtues and Lilas (divine pastimes) of
Krishna are the chief things to be remembered. The Lotus Feet of Radha
and Krishna are the chief objects of meditation.
Sri Krishna is the ocean of bliss. His soul-stirring Lilas, which are
the wonder of wonders, are its waves. The honeyed music of His flute
attracts the minds of His devotees from all three regions. His unequalled
and unsurpassed wealth of beauty amazes the animate and the inanimate
beings. He adorns His friends with His incomparable love.
His palms bear the signs of a lotus and discus, the right sole of His
feet of a flag, lotus, thunderbolt, an iron goad, barley seed, and the
Swastika. His left sole has the rainbow, triangle, water-pot, crescent,
sky, fish, and a cow's footprint. His Form is composed of condensed
universal consciousness and bliss. His Body pervades the entire cosmos.
Devotion is the only means of attaining Lord Krishna. Bhakti kindles
love for the Lord. When love is directed towards Krishna, man is freed
from the bondage of the world.
Though Lord Krishna appeared in a human body, He had a divine body
not composed of the five elements. He did not take any birth here in
the usual sense of the term. He did not die. He appeared and disappeared
through His Yoga Maya as He has declared in the Gita. This is
a secret, known only to His devotees, Yogis and sages.
His enchanting form with flute in hand is worshipped in myriads of
homes in India. It is a form to which is poured out devotion and supreme
love from the hearts of countless devotees not only in India but also
in the West. Millions of spiritual seekers worship Him and repeat His
Mantra, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.
Lord Krishna was great in knowledge, great in emotion, great in action,
all at once. The scriptures have not recorded any life more full, more
intense, more sublime and grander than the life of Sri Krishna.
Krishna has played various roles during His stay in the world. He was
Arjuna's charioteer. He was an excellent statesman. He was a master
musician; he gave lessons even to Narada in the art of playing the veena.
The music of His flute thrilled the hearts of the Gopis and everyone
else. He was a cowherd in Brindavan and Gokul. He exhibited miraculous
powers even as a child. He killed many demons. He revealed His Comic
Form to His mother, Yasoda. He performed the Rasa Lila, the secret of
which can only be understood by devotees like Narada, Gauranga, Radha
and the Gopis. He taught the supreme Truth of Yoga, Bhakti and Vedanta
to Arjuna and Uddhava. He had mastered every one of the sixty-four fine
arts. For all these reasons He is regarded as a full and complete manifestation
of God.
Incarnations of God appear for special reasons under special circumstances.
Whenever there is much unrighteousness, whenever confusion and disorder
set in on account of unrighteousness and baffle the well-ordered progress
of mankind, whenever the balance of human society is upset by selfish,
ruthless and cruel beings, whenever irreligion and unrighteousness prevail,
whenever the foundations of social organisations are undermined, the
great Incarnation of God appears in order to re-establish righteousness
and to restore peace.
An Incarnation is the descent of God for the ascent of man. A ray from
the Cosmic Being in His potential state of manifestation descends on
earth with mighty powers to keep up the harmony of the universe. The
work done by the Incarnation of God and His teachings produce a benign
influence on human beings and help them in their upward divine unfoldment
and Self-realisation.
The Incarnation comes to reveal the divine nature of man and makes
him rise above the petty materialistic life of passion and egoism.
The greatest manifestations are called Incarnations proper. Rishis,
Munis, prophets, sons of God and messengers of God are minor manifestations.
The Incarnations usually come with their particular or favourite groups
or companions. Lord Rama came with Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna.
Lord Krishna came with Balarama, Devas and Rishis. Sanaka came with
Sanandana, Sanatkumara and Sanatsujata. Some, like Sri Shankara and
Ramanuja, come as teachers and spiritual leaders. Some, like Chaitanya,
are born to instill devotion in the hearts of people and turn their
minds towards God. The Incarnations proper, like Krishna, come only
when there is widespread catastrophe in the world.
LORD KRISHNA
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
On the holy Krishna Janmashtami, the ladies in South India decorate
their houses beautifully, ready to welcome the Lord. They prepare various
sweetmeats and offer them to the Lord. Butter was Krishna's favourite,
and this is also offered. From the doorway to the inner meditation room
of the house the floor is marked with a child's footprints, using some
flour mixed with water. This creates the feeling in them that the Lord's
own Feet have made the mark. They treat the day as one of very great
rejoicing. There is recitation of the Bhagavatam, singing and
praying everywhere.
The Janmashtami is celebrated at the Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, with
the following programme of intense spiritual activity:
1. During the preceding eight days, Japa of Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
is done intensely.
2. Those who can, will recite the Bhagavatam during this period.
Others will listen to it being recited.
3. On the birthday itself everyone fasts and spends the whole day in
holy communion.
4. Everyone greets others with the holy Mantra, Om Namo Bhagavate
Vasudevaya.
5. A grand havan is performed on that day.
6. There is continuous Satsang from 4a.m. early in the morning till
night. Yogis, Sannyasins and learned men discourse upon the glorious
life and teachings of the Lord.
7. From sunset people assemble in the elaborately decorated temple
and sing the Lord's Names and glories.
8. Many hymns and portions of the Bhagavatam, especially the
Gopika Geetam, are recited.
9. Towards midnight, there is a grand worship of Lord Krishna. The
Lord is bathed with milk while His Name is chanted 108 times.
10. This worship concludes with offerings of flowers, waving of lights
(Arati), and reading of that portion of the Bhagavatam which
deals with the birth of Krishna. This synchronises with midnight, the
hour of the Lord's birth, at which time the murti of the Lord is rocked
in a beautifully decorated cradle. After this item, all the assembled
devotees partake of the holy prasad or sacrament, and then retire,
filled with the Grace and blessings of Lord Krishna.
If you cannot read the whole of the Srimad Bhagavatam during
these days, at least you should recite the following four most important
verses from the book. The leading two verses and the closing verse are
the prologue and the epilogue respectively:
"Hear from Me the most secret knowledge coupled with the essential
experience and its component parts.
"May you realise by My Grace, the knowledge of Myself and what form,
qualities and actions I am endowed with.
1. "Before creation I alone existed. There was nothing, neither existence
nor non-existence. I am that which remains after dissolution.
2. "Understand that to be Maya or illusion which is devoid of any purpose,
which is not to be found in the Self and which is unreal like light
and darkness.
3. "As the primary elements are amalgamated, with one another and also
separate from one another at the same time, so I pervade the whole universe
and am also separate from it.
4. "The aspirant should, by the method of positive and negative, know
that thing which exists always and everywhere.
"Experience this truth through the highest superconscious state so
that you will not be disturbed even by illusory objects".
There is another beautiful verse in the Bhagavatam which you
can recite daily: "In days of yore, the Lord, born of Devaki, brought
up in the house of Yasoda, killed the wicked Putana of illusive form
and lifted the Govardhana hill, killed Kamsa and the sons of the Kuru
race, and protected the sons of Kunti. Thus is recited the essence of
the ancient Bhagavat Purana consisting of the nectarine stories
of the deeds of Lord Krishna".
May the blessings of Lord Krishna and Sri Radha be upon you all!
Guru charanam, bhaja charanam,
Satguru charanam, bhava haranam.
Maanasa bhajare, guru charanam,
Dustara bhava saagara taranam.
Guru maharaaj guru jaya jaya,
Para brahma satguru jaya jaya
RELIGION IS realisation; it is not mere learning-this is the divine
message which stands deeply in the minds of every Hindu. This is not
a mere fancy. This is not a mental conception. This is not a stretch
of imagination. It is not a coinage of the brain. Nor is it a decision
arrived at by vehement vituperation and incongruent argumentation promulgated
by an ordinary intellectual prodigy.
This is the assertion of Shankara, India's greatest philosopher-saint,
the incarnation of Lord Shiva, reverently known as Srimath Adi Shankaracharya.
What can we take him for except the Lord Himself, who proclaims authoritatively
and undauntedly: "I am the Self of all; I am the all; I am transcendent;
I am one without a second; I am the Absolute; I am the infinite Consciousness;
I am homogeneous bliss".
Shankara is our Vedanta Guru. He was God incarnate. He was born at
a time when Indian thought and culture were decaying; when they underwent
sore distraction; when ethical glory and the widespread influence of
the Buddhistic cult was gradually dying; when there was complete chaos
and confusion; when innumerable sects sprang up and, with their own
individual doctrines, confounded the masses; when evil social influences
and blind superstitions, garbed falsely in the clothes of religion,
attracted the credulous masses into a frenzy, and ambushed them into
complete ignorance of the ultimate Reality. There were no less than
seventy-two cults and sects of this type which carried away people from
the right path.
BHAGAVAN SHANKARACHARYA
The Founder of the School of Monistic philosophy,
Who is regarded as the Avatara of Lord Shiva.
The advent of Lord Krishna rejuvenated Hindu religion and saved many
a soul from complete ruin, souls which would otherwise have subjugated
themselves to passivism due to the misinterpretation of the Vedas
and the Upanishads. In the same way, Shankara appeared on
earth to deliver very many struggling souls. He set them free, and enlightened
them through his peaceful, unostentatious persuasion and loving propaganda.
Through his irresistible logic, he planted the triumphant banner of
unique intellectual conquest over all other schools of philosophy. Before
him, all other theories proved to be phantoms and fallacies.
It was only Shankara who gave the unshakable concrete form to Hinduism
and established the unity and purity of enlightened Hindu thought and
culture. Superstitions and corrupt practices melted away in no time.
The age-long six systems of theism which were suppressed by the prattlers
re-emerged in their original glory only through the concerted efforts
of Shankara.
His victory over other systems of philosophy was not due to a stubborn
grip onto his own faith and reasoning without considering the pros and
cons of others. He had mastered even the minutest intricasies of the
other theories. The underlying currents of his thoughts were the foundations
of the other systems. It is for this reason alone that his philosophy
was recognised with much reverence by all the other schools of thought,
despite differences in their superstructure.
The secret of his conquest and the charm therein lay in his most apt
and reasonable illustrations in every case. He never based his arguments
on theoretical axioms and untestified hypotheses, but entirely on integral
experience. Further, all his arguments were based upon the Vedas
as well, which are genuine and authoritative.
Shankara never entered into hot discussions to substantiate his case
or disprove others' theories. With his gigantic intellect he poured
out his masterly exposition in simple and clear terms with the same
supreme authority of the Gita, Upanishads and the Brahma Sutras,
the self-evident validity of the Sruti Pramana, and so on.
Above all, the philosophy of Shankara is not restricted to the highly
intellectual. It is within the easy reach of even the layman. With his
profound knowledge, all-comprehensive learning, keen intuitive insight
and convincing explanations, he has erected the strong edifice of Vedanta,
equally accessible to the scholar and the layman. How effectively he
prescribed "Bhaja Govindam" to the scholar who was racking his brains
in committing various scriptures to memory!
Vedanta is not the only aspect of philosophy he has preached to the
world. He has entered the heart of every earnest seeker after truth.
He encourages the worship of various forms of the Lord and greatly advocates
Bhakti. Without a tinge of partiality to one form or the other, he has
composed innumerable hymns, each brimming with devotion and philosophical
truth, each inculcating divine ecstasy and perennial joy even in the
tender undeveloped mind. His untiring work for the welfare of mankind
marks him out as a veritable, dynamic Karma Yogi, too.
At the background of all these, his devotion to his Guru is supermost.
Mark what he says: "Any person who realises 'I am That Brahman' through
the unparalleled mercy and glance of the Sadguru, loses all feelings
of doubt and, with his mind free from illusion, attains liberation even
while living in the body". How much efficacy and glory lie in devotion
to the Guru!
Shankara Jayanthi falls on the 5th day of the bright half of Vaisakh
(May-June). On this day, study his works, pray and meditate. May you
be showered with his blessings!
PROSTRATIONS and humble salutations to Lord Subramanya, the Supreme
Being, who is the ruler of this universe, who is the indweller of our
hearts, who is the second son of Lord Siva, who is the beloved of Valli
and Deivayanai, who bestows boons easily on His devotees, who is the
embodiment of power, wisdom, love and bliss.
The mighty demon, Tarakasura, had been oppressing the celestials very
much. He drove them out from heaven. All the gods then went to Brahma
to appeal for help.
Brahma said to the gods, "O Devas, I cannot destroy Taraka, as he has
obtained My Grace through severe penance. But let Me give you a suggestion.
Get the help of Cupid, the God of Love. Induce him to tempt Lord Siva,
who remains absorbed in His Yoga Samadhi. Let Lord Siva unite with Parvati.
A powerful son, Lord Subramanya, will be born to them. This son will
destroy the demon that harasses you."
Indra, the chief of the gods, thereupon requested Cupid to go with
his wife, Rati, and his companion Vasanta (the season of spring), to
Mount Kailas, the abode of Siva. Cupid carried out the instruction at
once, for it was already springtime. Standing behind a tree, Cupid shot
his arrow of passion towards Siva, whilst Parvati was placing some flowers
in His hands. The moment their hands met, Siva experienced a distracting
feeling. He wondered what it was that disturbed His Yoga. He looked
around and saw Cupid crouching behind the tree.
The Lord opened His "third eye", the inner eye of intuition, and Cupid
was burnt to ashes by the fire that emanated from it. That is why the
God of Love is also called Ananga, which means "bodiless".
After burning Cupid, the Lord ascertained by His Yogic vision that
the birth of Lord Subramanya was absolutely necessary to destroy the
powerful Taraka. Siva's seed was thrown into the fire which, unable
to retain it, threw it into the Ganges, which in turn threw it into
a reed forest. This is where Lord Subramanya was born; hence, He is
called Saravanabhava-"born in a reed-forest". He became the leader of
the celestial hosts and the destroyer of Taraka as Brahma had ordained.
Lord Subramanya is an incarnation of Lord Siva. All incarnations are
manifestations of the one Supreme Lord. Lord Subramanya and Lord Krishna
are one.
Lord Krishna says in the Gita: "....of army generals, I am Skanda".
The Lord manifests Himself from time to time in various names and forms,
for the sake of establishing righteousness and subduing the wicked.
Lord Subramanya is a ray born of the Consciousness of Lord Siva. Valli
and Deivayanai are His two wives. They represent the power of action
and the power of knowledge respectively. He is the easily accessible
Godhead in this dark age of ignorance and godlessness. In this He is
no different from Hanuman. He gives material and spiritual prosperity
and success in every undertaking of His devotees, even if they show
a little devotion to Him. He is worshipped with great devotion in South
India. Lord Subramanya's other names are Guha, Muruga, Kumaresa, Kartikeya,
Shanmukha, and Velayudhan.
In His picture, Lord Subramanya holds a spear in His hand, just as
Lord Shiva holds the trident. This is an emblem of power. It indicates
that He is the Ruler of the universe. His vehicle is the peacock. He
rides on it. This signifies that He has conquered pride, egoism and
vanity. There is a cobra under His feet, which indicates that He is
absolutely fearless, immortal and wise. Valli is on His one side, Deivayanai
on the other. Sometimes He stands alone with His spear. In this pose
He is known as Velayudhan; this is His Nirguna aspect, which is free
from the illusory power of Nature.
The six heads represent the six rays or attributes, namely, wisdom,
dispassion, strength, fame, wealth and divine powers. They indicate
that He is the source of the four Vedas, the Vedangas and the
six schools of philosophy. They also indicate His control over the five
organs of knowledge as well as the mind. They denote that He is the
Supreme Being with thousands of heads and hands. That His head in turned
in all directions signifies He is all-pervading. They indicate that
He can multiply and assume forms at His will.
There are big temples of Lord Subramanya at Tiruchendur, in Udipi,
Palani Hills, in Ceylon and Tiruparankundrum. The Lord spent His childhood
days in Tiruchendur and took Mahasamadhi at Kathirgamam. If anyone goes
to Kathirgamam with faith, devotion and piety, and stay in the temple
there for two or three days, the Lord Himself grants His vision to the
devotee. The devotee is filled with rich spiritual experiences. A big
festival is held in the temple every year on Skanda Sashti. Thousands
of people visit the place. "Mountains" of camphor are burnt on this
occasion.
Skanda Sashti falls in November. It is the day on which Lord Subramanya
defeated the demon Taraka. Great festivals are held on this day with
great pomp and grandeur. Devotees also do Bhajan and Kirtan on a grand
scale. Thousands are fed sumptuously. Many incurable diseases are cured
if one visits Palani and worships the Lord there. In South India, the
Lord Subramanya's Lilas are dramatized on the stage.
In addition to the Skanda Sashti, devotees of Lord Subramanya observe
weekly and monthly days in His honour. Every Friday, or the Kartigai
Nakshatram day every month, or the sixth day of the bright fortnight,-all
these are sacred days for His devotees. The sixth day of the month of
Tulam (October-November) is the most auspicious of them all. This is
the Skanda Sashti day.
In many places the festival commences six days prior to the Sashti
itself and concludes on the day of the Sashti. During these days, devotees
recite various inspiring hymns and read stories connected with Lord
Subramanya. They worship the Lord and take Kavadi (see below).
They go on pilgrimage to the various Subramanya shrines.
The famous Nakkerar has composed the Tirumurukatrupadai in His praise.
He who studies this famous work daily with devotion and faith, gets
certain success in life as well as peace and prosperity. The Tiruppugal
is another well-known book in Tamil, which contains the inspiring
devotional songs of Arunagirinathar in praise of Lord Subramanya. The
Kavadichindu songs are also in praise of the Lord. The Skanda
Sashti Kavacham is another famous hymn in praise of Lord Subramanya
and is sung particularly on festive occasions.
The Kavadi Festival
Perhaps the most potent propitiatory rite that a devotee of Shanmukha
undertakes to perform is what is known as the Kavadi. The benefits that
the devotee gains from offering a Kavadi to the Lord are a millionfold
greater than the little pain that he inflicts upon himself.
Generally, people take a vow to offer the Lord a Kavadi for the sake
of tiding over a great calamity. Though this might, on the face of it,
appear a little mercenary, a moment's reflection will reveal that it
contains in it the seed of supreme love of God. The worldly object is
achieved, no doubt, and the devotee takes the Kavadi; but after the
ceremony he gets so God-intoxicated that his inner spiritual being gets
awakened. This is also a method that ultimately leads to the supreme
state of devotion.
Kavadi: The Kavadi has various shapes and sizes, from the simple
shape of a hawker's storehouse (a wooden stick with two baskets at each
end, slung across the shoulder) to the costly palanquin structure, profusely
flower-bedecked and decoratively interwoven with peacock feathers. In
all cases the Kavadi has a good many brass bells adorning it and announcing
it as the Kavadi-bearer draws it along. As the Kavadi-bearer very often
observes silence, the bells are the only eloquent signs of a Kavadi
procession.
Now, the two baskets hanging at each end of the Kavadi contain rice,
milk or other articles that the devotee has vowed to offer the Lord.
The more devout among them, and especially those who do it as a Sadhana,
collect these articles by begging. They travel on foot from village
to village, and beg from door to door. The villagers offer their articles
directly into the basket of the Kavadi. The Kavadi-bearer continues
begging until the baskets are full or the avowed quantity is reached,
and then offers the Kavadi to the Lord. Some keen devotees undertake
to walk barefoot from home to one of the shrines of Lord Subramanya,
bearing the Kavadi all the way and collecting materials for the offering.
He has to walk a hundred miles sometimes! The people who place the articles
in the baskets also receive the Lord's blessings.
The Kavadi-bearer: The Kavadi-bearer is required to observe
various rules between the time he takes up the Kavadi, and the day of
the offering. He has to perform elaborate ceremonies at the time of
assuming the Kavadi, and at the time of offering it to the Lord. He
also puts on the dress of a Pandaram, a Saivite mendicant. It consists
of a saffron-coloured cloth, a conical scarlet cap, and a cane silver-capped
at both ends. Lord Siva, the Supreme Pandaram Himself, loves to wear
this dress. The Pandaram lives on alms only. The bare chest of the Kavadi-bearer
is covered with several rudraksha malas.
The Kavadi-bearer observes strict celibacy. Only pure, Sattwic food
is taken; he abstains from all sorts of intoxicating drinks and drugs.
He thinks of God all the time. Many of the Kavadi-bearers, especially
those who do it as a spiritual Sadhana, impose various forms of self-torture.
Some pass a sharp little spear through their tongue, which is made to
protrude out of the mouth. Others may pass a spear through the cheek.
This sort of piercing is done in other parts of the body also. The bearer
does not shave; he grows a beard. He eats only once a day. The spear
pierced through his tongue or cheek reminds him of the Lord constantly.
It also prevents him from speaking. It gives him great power of endurance.
The Kavadi-bearer enjoys a high state of religious fervour. He dances
in ecstasy. His very appearance is awe-inspiring; there is divine radiance
on his face. Devotees often experience the state of feeling union with
the Lord. Sometimes the Deity enters them and possesses them for some
time.
Agni Kavadi: This is the most difficult Kavadi-offering. With
the Kavadi hanging on his shoulder, the devotee walks through a pit
of burning coals. Hymns are sung in praise of the Lord by those assembled
all around the pit. Drums are beaten and incense is burnt. The entire
atmosphere is awe-inspiring. The true devotee enters into ecstasy and
easily walks over the fire.
At the Sivananda Ashram in India, Skanda Sashti is observed for six
days, preceding and including the Sashti day.
1. Devotees of Lord Subramanya live on milk and fruit and do rigorous
Sadhana.
2. All spiritual aspirants get up at 4am during Brahmamuhurta and meditate
on the Lord.
3. On each of the six days, all the participants do as many malas of
the Mantra Om Saravanabhavaya Namah as possible. They even greet
one another with this Mantra.
4. Yogis and learned scholars deliver lectures on Subramanya Tattwa
or the divine sport of the Lord. During the evening Satsang, hymns in
praise of Lord Subramanya are sung. Readings are taken from my book
Lord Shanmukha and His Worship. Devotees sing inspiring songs
on the Lord.
5. Every day there is elaborate ceremonial worship of the image of
Lord Subramanya installed in the Bhajan Hall.
6. On the last day a grand havan (fire-worship) is conducted.
The Satsang is devoted entirely to the adoration of Lord Subramanya.
Pray from the bottom of your heart: "O my Lord Subramanya, O all-merciful
Lord! we have neither faith nor devotion. We do not know how to worship
Thee in the proper manner, or to meditate on Thee. We are Thy child
who have lost the way, forgotten the goal and Thy Name. Is it not Thy
duty, O compassionate Father, to take us back? O Mother, will you not
introduce me to Thy Lord? Mother's love for Her children is deeper and
truer than any object in this world. Though we have become worthless
and undutiful children, O beloved Mother Valli, pardon us! Make us dutiful
and faithful. We are Thine from this very second. Always Thine. All
is Thine. It is the Mother's duty to correct, educate and mould Her
reckless child when it strays aimlessly on the wrong path. Remove the
gulf or the veil of delusion that separates us from Thee. Bless us.
Enlighten us. Take us back to Thy Lotus Feet. We have nothing more to
say. This is our fervent prayer to Thee and Thy Lord, our beloved and
ancient Parents."
May Lord Subramanya shower His Grace upon you!
Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram
SALUTATIONS to Lord Rama, an Incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who is measureless,
who is of the nature of pure Consciousness and bliss, who is the consort
of Sita, Master of Sri Hanuman, and the Lord of the three worlds, who
took His birth at His own will in order to establish righteousness,
destroy the wicked and protect His devotees.
Ramnavami or the birthday of Lord Rama falls on the 9th day of the
bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra (March-April).
Rama was the Lord Hari Himself, incarnate on earth for the destruction
of Ravana. He was well accomplished, beautiful and endowed with royal
marks. His glory and prowess were unlimited. He was peerless on earth.
He was free from malice. He was gentle. He was the protector of all
His people. He always addressed them in gentle words. He never used
any harsh words even when somebody provoked Him. He held sway over the
whole world.
Let Sri Rama be your ideal. Ideals are remembered and adored for the
purpose of adopting them in your own life. The Ramnavmi celebration
or the Vasanta Navaratri every year is an opportune period for us to
saturate ourselves with the spirit of Lord Rama. We love and adore our
ideals because we express thereby our yearning to unite with them. In
our worship of God it is implied that we should be virtuous, good and
perfect even as God is. Hence the wise instruction: "One should become
divine in order to be able to worship God". One cannot be a real worshipper
of Lord Rama unless one makes an honest attempt to grow in the virtues
that the Lord represents. On the other hand, worship of Lord Rama is
itself the surest means to develop such virtues.
One who approaches Sri Rama with love and worshipfulness becomes large-hearted,
pure in spirit, good-natured and dispassionate in thought, word and
deed. A true devotee of Lord Rama is His representative, with His power
and His knowledge.
Lord Rama was the prince of the Ikshvaku race. He was virtuous and
of manly strength. He was the Lord of the mind and the senses. Brave
and valiant, He was yet gentle and modest. He was a sage in counsel,
kind and sweet in speech, and most courteous and handsome in appearance.
He was the master of all the divine weapons, and a great warrior. Ever
devoted to the good and prosperity of His kingdom and His subjects,
He was a defender of the weak and the protector of the righteous. Endowed
with numerous wondrous powers of the mind, He was well versed in all
sciences-in military science as well as the science of the Self.
Deep and unfathomed like the ocean, firm and steadfast like the Himalayan
mountains, valiant like Lord Vishnu, He was the joy of Kaushalya. Though
fierce like fire on the battlefield, He was calm like the cool breeze
of the Mandara Hills, patient like Mother Earth, bounteous like the
god of wealth and righteous like the lord of justice himself. In the
pains and the griefs of His people, His heart swiftly sympathised with
the sufferers. In the festive scenes which held them in joy, He like
a father, shared their joys. By His honour and heroism, as well as by
His gentleness and love for His subjects, He greatly endeared Himself
to the hearts of His people. Such a great person was the Lord Rama!
Lord Rama was the best of men with a sterling character. He was the
very image of love. He was an ideal son, an ideal brother, an ideal
husband, an ideal friend and an ideal king. He can be taken to embody
all the highest ideals of man. He led the ideal life of a householder
to teach the tenets of righteousness to humanity. He ruled His people
so well that it came to be known as Ram-Rajya, which meant the rule
of righteousness, the rule which bestows happiness and prosperity on
all.
The noblest lesson embodied in the Ramayana is the supreme importance
of righteousness in the life of every human being. Righteousness is
the spiritual spark of life. Cultivation of righteousness is the process
of unfoldment of the latent divinity in man. The glorious incarnation
of the Supreme Being in the form of Lord Rama has exemplified the path
of righteousness. Let mankind follow His footsteps and practise the
ideals cherished by Him, for it is only thus that there can be everlasting
peace, prosperity and welfare in this world.
None but the righteous can be truly happy. None but he who has the
correct sense of duty and the will for its implementation can be said
to live worthily. One must be imbued with a definite conviction about
the supremacy of moral principles, ethical values and spiritual ideals.
These ought to guide one's day-to-day actions and serve as powerful
means for the culture of the human personality. That is the purpose
of life. That is the way to Self-realisation. That is the message and
the mission of Lord Rama's fife on earth.
To a devotee, Sri Rama is not simply a good and a great person, but
God Himself. Rama was the son of King Dasaratha of Ayodhya, but He is
also the divine omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient God. The destruction
of the ten-headed Ravana signifies the annihilation of the mind or the
ten senses. Worship of Lord Rama is worship of the all-pervading Godhead
Himself. Read the prayers offered by Mandothari and Brahma in the Yuddha
Kanda of the Ramayana. They refer to Rama as the one Creator
of the universe, the God of all, the Ruler of the universe.
Devotion to God is not a simple emotion. It is the result of intense
dispassion and purity of heart and attitude. You should strive your
utmost to possess the good qualities that are extolled in the Ramayana
and exemplified in the life of Lord Rama. Otherwise, emotion may
rise up in you temporarily to a kind of ecstasy, but you will not experience
divine consciousness thereby. Devotion is a fruit which ripens gradually
through the processes of self-restraint and virtue. Without intense
dispassion there can be no real Sadhana for Self-realisation. Only after
detachment from the world of things, is it possible to attain the Supreme
Godhead. Remember this.
Devotion has absolutely nothing to do with age, caste, creed, position
or sex. Generally, the worldly-minded people say: "We will practise
meditation and devotion when we retire from service." This is a serious
mistake. How can you do serious Sadhana after squeezing out all your
energy in working? How will you be able to practise the strict Yogic
discipline in your old age? Is there any certainty in life? No, the
spiritual seeds of discipline and devotion must be sown in you while
you are young, while your heart is tender and untainted. Then only will
it strike a deep root, blossom forth and bear fruit when you become
old and retire. Only then can you bravely face the god of death and
meet him with a smile!
I shall tell you the means of attaining the final release from the
great cycle of births and deaths. Devotion to Lord Rama is a great purifier
of the heart. From devotion arises knowledge. From knowledge comes the
realisation of the pure Self. Knowing this perfectly, one goes to the
Supreme Abode and merges in the Supreme Self.
Without first developing devotion to Rama who is the Self, who lives
in the hearts of all beings, who is all bliss and who is peerless, how
can man cross the ocean of worldly life which has sorrow, pain and misery
for its waves?
Do thou therefore worship Lord Rama who is Vishnu and the consort of
Sita who is Lakshmi. Abandon all foolishness and enmity. Take to the
service of Lord Rama.
The Lord is extremely fond of those who have surrendered themselves
to Him. He has given this promise in the Ramayana: "To anyone
who once takes shelter under Me and solicits 'I am Thine', I bestow
fearlessness from all beings. This is My vow".
Even a great sinner who is full of evil qualities and who is fond of
other people's wealth, is freed from all kinds of faults that pertain
to worldly life if only he remembers the Lord always. He attains purity
and goes to the supreme abode of the Lord.
The Name of Lord Rama is the greatest purifier of the heart. It wipes
away all one's sins. Not only this, but it wipes away the sinful tendencies
as well. The Name is sweeter than the sweetest of objects. It is the
haven of peace. It is the very life of pure souls. It is the purifier
of all purifying agencies. It quenches the consuming fire of worldly
desires. It awakens the knowledge of God. It bathes the aspirant in
the, ocean of divine bliss. Glory to Sri Rama and His Name!
O Devotee! recite His Name, sing His glory and serve His Lotus Feet.
Enthrone in your heart Lord Rama of dark hue, whose image is reflected
in the heart of Lord Shiva. Blessed is the pious soul who uninterruptedly
drinks the nectar of Sri Rama's Name which has been churned out of the
ocean of the Vedas, which removes the impurities of the Kali
Yuga or the iron age, which lives constantly on the lips of Lord Shiva,
which is a sovereign remedy or unfailing specific to cure the disease
of worldly existence and which is the life of Mother Sita.
Ram-Nam burns ignorance, passion and sin. With or without knowledge,
correctly or incorrectly, when the word "Rama" is pronounced it showers
a rain of good upon the devotee. Sri Rama is Brahman who takes one across
the ocean of worldly existence. Rama is one in across whom the Yogis
sport, that is, the Self within.
Lord Shiva tells His consort Parvati: "This Ram-Nam is equal to the
Lord's thousand Names, or repetition of the Mantra a thousand times".
LORD SRI RAMA
Om Sri Ramaya Namah
I call this the anti-gossip tonic. When you find that you are wasting
your time in gossip, repeat His Name several times. You can make up
for the time lost, and the mind will be slowly weaned away from the
habit of gossiping.
Sri Rama is also a wish-fulfilling tree. He will bestow upon you whatever
you want! Just read what Lord Shiva further says:
"The seat of all good things, the destroyer of all impurities of this
age of darkness, purer than purity itself, the food for the journey
of aspirants on the path to salvation, their only resting place, the
very life-breath of virtuous men, is the Divine Name of Sri Rama. So
say the sages".
On the auspicious Ramnavmi day take a firm resolve that you will repeat
Ram-Nam with every breath and that you will endeavour to lead a righteous
life.
Ramnavmi is one of the most important festivals of the Vaishnava sect
of the Hindus. However, even those who adore Lord Shiva celebrate the
occasion. Some observe a strict fast on the day. Temples are decorated
and the image of Lord Rama is richly adorned. The holy Ramayana is
read in the temples. At Ayodhya, the birthplace of Sri Rama, a big fair
is held on this day.
In South India the Sri Ramnavmi Utsavam is celebrated for nine days
with great fervour and devotion. Those talented in the art of story-telling
narrate the thrilling episodes of the Ramayana. The Kirtanists
chant the holy Name of Rama and celebrate the wedding of Rama with Sita
on this great day. It is an extremely colourful ceremony, highly inspiring
and instructive, too.
At the Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, Ramnavmi is celebrated for nine
days as follows:
1. Spiritual seekers do as much Japa as possible. The sacred Mantras
Om Sri Ramaya Namah or Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram are
chanted.
2. Devotees read the whole of the Ramayana, either the Sanskrit
version of Sage Valmiki or the Hindi version of Saint Tulsidas, during
these nine days.
Those who cannot recite the entire epic may read this single verse
which contains in a nutshell the story of the Ramayana: "Formerly,
Sri Rama went to the forests, where Rishis did penance, and killed the
illusive deer. Sita was carried away and Jatayu was killed. Rama met
Sugriva, killed Vali and crossed the ocean. The city of Lanka was burnt
by Hanuman. The demons, Ravana and Kumbhakarna, were then killed. Thus
is recited the holy Ramayana".
3. Devotees greet one another with "Sri Ram" or "Jai Ram-ji-ki".
4. Those who have adopted Lord Rama as their favourite Deity observe
a fast, taking only milk and fruit for all the nine days. Some fast
only on the Ramnavmi day itself
5. On the final or Ramnavmi day, there is a grand worship of Lord Rama
in the gorgeously decorated temple. All the Vedic rituals including
Laksharchana are performed.
6. A havan is also performed.
7. From four in the morning to late at night, there is Ram and Ram
alone everywhere!
8. Leaflets, booklets and books relating to Lord Rama are distributed.
9. Special meetings are held in the evening at which discourses on
the life and teachings of the Lord are delivered.
10. Earnest seekers take resolves to accelerate their spiritual progress.
O beloved seekers! time is fleeting. Know the value of time. Time is
most precious. Utilise every second profitably. Do not procrastinate.
Abandon all idle gossiping. Forget the past. Live every moment of your
life for the realisation of the divine ideal and goal. Unfold your latent
faculties. Grow, evolve and become a superhuman or a dynamic Yogi. Struggle
hard and reach the goal of life.
May you all attain the final beatitude of life through intense devotion
towards Lord Rama! May you live immersed in the ecstasy of divine love!
May Sri Rama who is as effulgent as a million suns and who is adored
by the gods and devotees, protect you all! May the blessings of Lord
Rama be upon you all!
ALL THINGS in this vast creation function upon definite laws. There
is always a beautiful system and sound rationale governing every phenomenon
and process, mundane or mystical. Just as the gross elements and physical
forces operate differently under different states and conditions, so
also the subtler and higher forces respond and react in the inner mystic
planes, and in the purely spiritual processes like meditation, prayer,
worship, etc. Therefore, you will find definite injunctions for performing
certain types of worship in the morning, certain other injunctions for
the midday prayers, and still others for the evening worship. Again,
some observances are meant to be performed during certain phases of
the moon, some when a particular star is in the ascendant, or at the
time of a particular conjunction of planets.
The Pradosha worship is to be done in the evening twilight on the 13th
day of each lunar fortnight. It is the worship of Lord Shiva for victory
and success in all undertakings, and the fulfilment of all your heart's
cherished desires. When you desire to obtain a favour from a superior
person, don't you naturally approach him at a moment when he is likely
to be in a very pleasant frame of mind? You will perhaps see him after
he has had a good dinner and is happily chatting with a friend in a
hearty, expansive mood. Even so, the Hindu, especially the Hindu who
is engaged in the motivated type of worship, usually selects the most
pleasant aspect of God for his worship. He performs it at a time which
the ancient Rishis experienced as being the most helpful and efficacious
in propitiating the Deity. The Pradosha worship is based on such mystic
psychology.
Pradosha is the worship of Lord Shiva and Parvati when they both are
in an extremely propitious mood. Repeatedly worsted in war by the demons,
the gods approached Lord Shiva to bless them with a leader for their
celestial hosts. They came to the Lord at twilight on the thirteenth
day of the lunar fortnight and found Him in the blissful company of
His consort, Parvati. Hymned and glorified by them, Siva immediately
granted their prayerful request. Hence, the extreme auspiciousness of
the period.
The Skanda Purana relates how Sandilya Muni prescribed this
Vrata to a certain Brahmin lady. She came to the sage with two boys,
her son, Suchivrata, and an orphan prince, Dharmagupta, whose father
was slain in battle and the kingdom overrun by enemies.
Acting upon the advice of the sage, the woman and the boys performed
the Vrata with great devotion. After four months, that is, in the eighth
Pradosha, Suchivrata obtained a pot of nectar and drank the divine ambrosia.
Prince Dharmagupta won the hand of a celestial princess and, as ordered
by Lord Siva, with the help of the celestial king himself, his enemies
were slain and his kingdom restored to him. Then Dharmagupta attained
the Lord's supreme abode. So easily, and yet so greatly is the Lord
of Kailas pleased by this Vrata.
One who takes this Vrata fasts on that day, and keeps vigil at night
after the fast is over. Bathing an hour before sunset, the worshipper
first performs a preliminary worship of Lord Shiva, together with all
the others of His divine family, namely, Parvati, Ganesha, Skanda and
Nandi. After the worship of Ganesha, Lord Shiva is invoked in the special
kalasha placed on a square mandala with a lotus drawn
in it and spread over with darbha grass. After the formal worship
has been completed, a Pradosha story is read and heard by the devotees.
This is followed by the recitation of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra 108
times. In the end the sacred kalasha water is partaken of, the
sacred ash is applied to the forehead, and the water which was used
to bathe the Lord, is drunk. A gift of a pot, a cloth and an image of
the Lord is given to a Brahmin to conclude the worship.
A very important point to be remembered in this connection is that
during this auspicious period all the hosts of celestial beings and
gods come down from the heavens and attend the worship in their subtle
forms. This adds immensely to the sanctity of the worship.
This Vrata is highly lauded by the scriptures and is of very great
sanctity and importance to worshippers of Lord Shiva. The mere sight
of the Deity in a temple during this period will destroy all sins and
bestow bountiful blessings and Grace upon the fortunate beholder. Even
a single bael leaf (leaf taken from the wood-apple tree) offered
to the Lord at this unique, auspicious moment equals a hundred Mahapujas.
It is usual to have special additional lights in the shrine during the
Pradosha. To light even a single wick at this juncture is highly meritorious
and productive of untold benefits, spiritual as well as material. Most
fortunate and blessed is the person who performs the Pradosha Vrata,
for upon him Lord Shiva showers His choicest Grace and blessings in
a very short time.
Here is the Yogic interpretation of the Pradosha:
According to the Shiva-Raja Yoga, concentration is directed towards
the central point in the middle of the eyebrows, where the spiritual
light can be perceived by the Yogi who turns the vision inwards. The
Yogi passes through various stages, all of which are subdivisions of
the four states of waking, dreaming, deep sleep, and the Superconscious
State or Samadhi. Each one of these states is further sub-divided into
four states, for example, the waking-dreaming, waking-sleep, waking-fourth,
and waking-waking. It will be seen that when the states are sub-divided
in this way, the first three states comprise a total of twelve sub-states.
The thirteenth is the fourth-waking. There is correspondence between
this and the 13th day of the lunar fortnight, either bright or dark.
Those who worship Mother Shakti have certain beliefs of their own,
one of which is that the Goddess that is worshipped acquires one ray
on each of the days of the bright fortnight, starting from the first
day. Thus, on the full moon night, the Goddess would have received fifteen
rays and would be ready for the final form of worship intended to benefit
the devout worshipper in all ways. That is why the Navavarana worship
is always conducted on the full moon day.
The moon is believed to have a direct influence on the mind. Incidentally,
the word mati means both the moon and the mind.
According to Shiva-Raja Yoga there are two channels through which the
Prana flows. These are the Ida and the Pingala, ruled respectively by
the moon and the sun. Midway between these two there is a third, known
as Sushumna. The Yogi is asked to start the practice of Yoga when the
breath is passing through the lunar channel. This coincides with the
flow of the breath through the left nostril. If, however, at the time
of practice the flow is through the right nostril, the Yogi is asked
to perform a special exercise by which to change the flow to the left.
When the Yogi concentrates on the point between the eyebrows, he transcends,
stage by stage, the first twelve sub-states. The current of breath continues
flowing through the lunar channel. The "moon" is gaining more and more
strength. When the 13th day is reached, the spiritual power of the Yogi
has correspondingly increased, and he is in a condition to see the lights
which appear in the nerve centre in between the eyebrows. In inverse
proportion to the increase in concentration is the duration of the Yogi's
breath. At the start of the practice, the breath will occupy a space
of 16 fingers (inches approximately). The moment the concentration has
led him from the waking to the dream state, the length of the breath
becomes only 12 fingers. In this way, when he reaches the thirteenth
stage, only 4 fingers of breath would remain. As this breath now circulates
only within the nostril, no breath is noticeable at the tip of the nose.
From that moment the light is fixed permanently at the centre between
the eyebrows, and the Yogi would have realised the object of his practice.
Let me now describe the actual process of Shiva-Raja Yoga:
The Yogi sits in utter darkness, with the head and body erect, eyes
open, and the gaze directed to the centre of the eyebrows. He utters
the Mantra in his mind and, without restraining his breath, concentrates
his gaze at the middle of the eyebrows, ever on the thought of the appearance
of the lights. The deep concentration resulting thereby yields the following
fruits, in order.
First, he overcomes the distractions of his mind. He reaches a stage
wherein he seems to hear somebody talking somewhere in the distance.
The words are not distinct, but a sort of murmur is heard. Nevertheless,
since his mind is elsewhere, he pays no attention to it. In fact, the
sound comes from nowhere outside. It is his own mind that produces these
sounds. The mind is actually functioning in its form as sound. Soon
afterwards, this sound ceases, and he begins to see all sorts of visions,
in the same manner as we see pictures in a movie. It appears (as if
in a dream) that he is passing through hills of varying degrees of beauty,
through seas and lakes of all sorts of colours and shapes, and through
clouds of different hues. The clouds appear dark and thick at first
and thin out gradually. These are scenes which are very pleasant to
witness. But they are only thought-forms, an imagery created by the
mind as it is functioning as a form. It is in this stage that the Yogi
may hear musical notes as well-of the flute, violin, cymbals or any
other instrument.
The Yogi then passes through an entirely different experience. He suddenly
awakens from a deep sleep. He does not remember when he got into the
sleep state, but he is conscious of the sudden awakening. The truth
is that he had not slept at all. His mind became a complete blank, he
lost consciousness of the workings of the mind, which was nonetheless
still active all the time. When he regained consciousness, he suddenly
felt his awareness once again. He is now tempted to examine himself
to ascertain if his posture is still erect and if his eyes are still
fixed between his eyebrows. Finding no change in these he realises that
the temporary loss of consciousness was only a stage which he passed
through in his Yoga.
Next comes the stage when he feels as if something of the nature of
a hot nail is pricking him at the centre of his eyebrows. In the earlier
period of his practice there will only be this sensation, but as he
advances, this is followed by the appearance of the lights. Even then
there are various stages which have to be passed before the lights get
their proper shape.
At first a yellow and a red light appear, the red being in the centre
and two yellow flame-like lights on either side. After a few days, all
these colours pass away and he begins to see a steady light of the shape
and colour of the moon. As his practice advances, this grows brighter
and brighter, and the whole room in which the Yogi sits is gradually
illumined, starting with the intensity of twilight until it becomes
a flood of bright light. Yet in this state nothing that is in the room
is seen; other things which are not there, begin to appear. They come
and go with amazing rapidity, and reveal many things to him.
Thus far, we have dwelt upon only the first four stages of the entire
series of sixteen stages which have to be passed through by the Shiva-Raja
Yogi before he finally attains union with Lord Shiva. The details of
the experiences at each stage vary from man to man, as also from day
to day. But, in the main, these are the stages:
At first, the Yogi is aware of what transpires about him. He is in
the waking part of the waking state. Then the pictures come in the dream
part of his waking state. The feeling of overpowering sleep occurs in
the deep sleep part of the waking state. The appearance of the light
occurs in the fourth part of the waking stage.
The dream and the deep sleep states also have their four sub-divisions
which have to be passed. When the Yogi comes to the thirteenth stage,
he is in the waking part of the fourth state. The vision of Lord Shiva
in the form of Self-Consciousness now begins. The form of the Lord appears
before him as though coming out of the lights, which began at stage
four of the sixteen stages. From this stage onwards the mind loses its
sense of separate activity. It becomes deeply absorbed in the Self within.
On the 13th lunar day Nature assists the worshipper in waking up from
his mental deep sleep and in becoming aware of the fourth state. The
Yogi who practises his Yoga on the Pradosha day gets these experiences
of Lord Shiva quite readily.
Similar to the above is the significance of the worship of Lord Ganesha
on the 4th day of the lunar fortnight. This corresponds to the Fourth
part of the waking state, when the lights are first seen. On the 8th
day or the Ashtami, Mother Durga is adored. This corresponds to the
fourth part of the dream state. Ekadashi or the 11th day corresponds
to the deep sleep part of the deep sleep state. In this state there
is complete unawareness of the mind. This is the most favourable moment
for a direct contact with God, the indweller. If we fast and pray on
this day, we can reduce our bodily activities to the minimum and can
have the vision of the Lord who resides in our heart.
If we thus analyse the rationale of our holy days, we discover that
our ancients took particular care to effect a synthesis of Yoga-Karma,
Jnana and Bhakti.
At the Sivananda Ashram in India, a special havan and an elaborate
worship are conducted for the long life, health, success and prosperity
of all. The Lord's sacred prasad is sent to devotees all over
the world.
YOU ARE all familiar with Narada Rishi. He is the Triloka Sanchari-the
one who moves about in the three worlds. When he once visited the earth
plane, there was great misery. He was unable to find a way to relieve
human suffering. He at once approached Lord Narayana and related to
Him the sad state of affairs on earth.
Lord Narayana said to Narada, "O venerable Rishi, let people observe
the Satya Narayana Vrata in the evening of Shankranti or Purnima. Let
them all hear the story (Katha) of Satya Narayana. All miseries will
come to an end. There is no doubt of this."
Rishi Narada thereupon returned to earth and preached the glory of
the Satya Narayana Vrata. Many observed the vow without taking any food
during the course of the day and attained what they desired. All were
happy and prosperous.
The observance of the Satya Narayana Vrata does not cost much. You
need only give a small gift to the pundit who comes to read the story
and then distribute some prasad which also need not be very costly.
Some wheat flour and sugar will make up the prasad. A little
curd and some fruit are required. Even the poorest man can observe this
Vrata.
In North India the vow is observed by the vast majority of people.
It takes about three hours to complete the whole observance. It is generally
observed on the full moon day, particularly the Kartik, Vaisakh, Sravan
and Chaitra Purnimas and the Shankranti day. It can also be done on
new moon days.
Five stories are connected with this Vrata. They speak about the glory
of Lord Narayana and His Grace, His prasad, and of the incalculable
benefit derived by observing the Vrata. He who hears these stories with
faith, devotion and one-pointedness of mind derives considerable benefit.
The first of these is the story of Narada, narrated above. The other
stories have great moral lessons in them concerning truthfulness, fulfilment
of promises, etc.
2. The Story of a Poor Brahmin
There was a very poor Brahmin. He was living on alms. Lord Narayana
appeared before him in the form of an old Brahmin, asked him to observe
the Satya Narayana Vrata and gave him His word of assurance that he
would be free from poverty, by observing this Vrata. The Brahmin acted
accordingly. All his desires were fulfilled.
3. The Story of a Wood-cutter
The same Brahmin then did the Vrata on a grand scale. A poor wood-cutter
entered the compound of the Brahmin to drink some water. The Katha of
Satya Narayana was going on. The wood-cutter, attracted only by the
skill of the story-teller, sat down and heard it with rapt attention.
He also was inspired to observe the Vrata in his house. He took some
prasad and ate it.
Then he went to the market-place and sold his bundle of fuel. He received
double the usual amount for his fuel. He immediately purchased the things
that were necessary for the Vrata and observed it along with his family
members, with intense faith and devotion. All his desires were fulfilled.
He enjoyed everything that was possible on this earth plane. After death
he attained the supreme abode of Satya Loka where Truth alone prevails.
4. The Story of a Merchant
Once upon a time King Ulkamukha reigned over the earth. He was a devotee
of Lord Satya Narayana. The queen, too, was very pious. One day they
observed a fast and performed the Satya Narayana Vrata on the banks
of the holy Bhadrasheela.
A merchant named Sadhu came to the king and asked him what he was doing.
The king explained to the merchant all about the Satya Narayana Vrata.
When Sadhu returned home he narrated to his wife, Lilavathi, the glory
of the Satya Narayana Vrata as he heard it from the king. Thereupon,
both resolved to observe it, provided they were blessed with a child.
Lilavathi soon brought forth a girl whom they named Kalavathi.
Sadhu now thought that he would postpone the Vrata till after his daughter
was married. The wedding of Kalavathi took place in course of time,
but Sadhu had entirely forgotten his resolve. After some time he went
to foreign countries for trade along with his son-in-law.
Lord Narayana felt it was high time He reminded Sadhu of his resolve.
One night, while Sadhu was at a place called Ratnasarpur, he was suddenly
arrested and imprisoned along with his party by the royal police. The
police suspected them to be thieves. At the same time, thieves had robbed
the property of Sadhu in his native place.
Meanwhile, poor Lilavathi and Kalavathi were leading a miserable life
in the streets. One day Kalavathi went to get alms and it so happened
that she received some prasad of Lord Satya Narayana from a temple.
She came back to her mother and pleaded that they, too, should observe
the Vrata. They thus observed the Vrata and worshipped Lord Satya Narayana.
That very day, the king of Ratnasarpur dreamt that Sadhu and his party
were not really guilty of any theft and that they should be released
else he would be destroyed along with his relatives. The king at once
released Sadhu and his party from prison, giving them double the value
for their merchandise.
Sadhu was on his way back to his native village when Lord Satya Narayana
appeared before him in the guise of a mendicant and asked him what he
had in the boat. Sadhu suspected that the mendicant might ask him for
some money. He therefore replied that there were bundles of leaves only
in the boat.
The mendicant replied, "Your words will come true, O merchant!"
That night, while Sadhu was on his usual round of checking the contents
of the boat, he found that the jewels had indeed all turned into leaves!
He realised that this was due to uttering falsehood to the mendicant.
He quickly went out in search of the mendicant, found him in a secluded
spot and begged his pardon.
The mendicant sternly said, "You have not kept up your promise of observing
the Satya Narayana Vrata." Then he revealed his true identity to the
merchant, gave him words of solace and disappeared.
Sadhu came back to his boat and found that all the bags contained jewels
again. He worshipped Lord Satya Narayana with intense faith and devotion.
After five days, Sadhu reached his native place. He sent a message
to inform his wife and daughter of his arrival. At the time when the
messenger arrived to give the news, Lilavathi and Kalavathi were hearing
the Satya Narayana Katha. When they had finished the worship they went
to meet Sadhu, but, alas! they had forgotten to take the prasad of
the Lord.
Lord Satya Narayana wanted to point out their carelessness in not taking
the prasad. The boat with its wealth and their son-in-law sank.
The son-in-law struggled in desperation for his life. Sadhu who was
on the shore prayed and worshipped the Lord. A divine voice was heard
in the sky: "Kalavathi has not taken My prasad. So this has happened."
Kalavathi hurried back to her house and ate the prasad. She returned,
and with sheer joy on her face, beheld both her father and her husband
who was miraculously saved through the Grace of Lord Satya Narayana.
Even the boat and the jewels were recovered miraculously. All rejoiced.
Sadhu narrated all that had happened during his travel and how he was
saved by the Lord when in distress.
Thenceforth, the couple, Sadhu and Lilavathi, regularly observed the
Satya Narayana Vrata during Purnima and Shankranti, and lived happily
ever after. They attained the blissful abode of Lord Narayana.
5. The Story of King Tungadhwaja
One day King Tungadhwaja went out hunting. After walking a long distance
he was overcome by fatigue. He sat under a banyan tree. Some boys of
the cowherd class were performing the Vrata of Satya Narayana in the
vicinity of the banyan tree. The boys came to know that a king was resting
under the tree. One of them respectfully took some prasad and
placed it before the king.
The king did not want to attend the function, nor prostrate before
the Lord. He did not take the prasad either. In fact, he cast
a look of disgust at the offering, and proudly returned to his capital.
The Lord wanted to teach the king a lesson. The king was given the
news that his sons and daughters died and his whole property was destroyed.
He inwardly understood that this was due to the disrespect he had shown
to the Lord and His prasad. He repented very much for his wrong
doing.
With a sore but repentant heart, he made his way to the banyan tree
where the boys had worshipped the Lord. He himself now performed the
worship with intense faith and devotion. Lord Satya Narayana showered
His Grace upon the king. He got back his lost property and his children.
The king thereafter regularly worshipped the Lord and lived happily.
He who observes this Vrata, which is even being observed by the gods
themselves, with faith, devotion and self-surrender; he who hears the
sacred story of Lord Satya Narayana with faith and devotion; he who
attends the worship and eats the prasad-he certainly attains
health, wealth and joy. He is uplifted from the mire of worldliness
and the clutches of death. He finally abides in the Truth.
In the Kali Yuga, worship of Lord Hari through the Satya Narayana Vrata
makes one happy, peaceful and prosperous. This is the truth described
in the ancient epics.
THIS FALLS on the 13th (or 14th) day of the dark half of Phalgun (February-March).
The name means "the night of Shiva". The ceremonies take place chiefly
at night. This is a festival observed in honour of Lord Shiva. Shiva
was married to Parvati on this day.
People observe a strict fast on this day. Some devotees do not even
take a drop of water. They keep vigil all night. The Shiva Lingam is
worshipped throughout the night by washing it every three hours with
milk, curd, honey, rose water, etc., whilst the chanting of the Mantra
Om Namah Shivaya continues. Offerings of bael leaves are
made to the Lingam. Bael leaves are very sacred as, it is said,
Lakshmi resides in them.
Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, such as the Shiva Mahimna Stotra
of Pushpadanta or Ravana's Shiva Tandava Stotra are sung
with great fervour and devotion. People repeat the Panchakshara Mantra,
Om Namah Shivaya. He who utters the Names of Shiva during Shivaratri,
with perfect devotion and concentration, is freed from all sins. He
reaches the abode of Shiva and lives there happily. He is liberated
from the wheel of births and deaths. Many pilgrims flock to the places
where there are Shiva temples.
The Story Of King Chitrabhanu
In the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, Bhishma, whilst resting
on the bed of arrows and discoursing on Dharma, refers to the observance
of Maha Shivaratri by King Chitrabhanu. The story goes as follows.
LORD SHIVA
Om Namah Shivaya
Once upon a time King Chitrabhanu of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who ruled
over the whole of Jambudvipa, was observing a fast with his wife, it
being the day of Maha Shivaratri. The sage Ashtavakra came on a visit
to the court of the king.
The sage asked, "O king! why are you observing a fast today?"
King Chitrabhanu explained why. He had the gift of remembering the
incidents of his previous birth.
The king said to the sage: "In my past birth I was a hunter in Varanasi.
My name was Suswara. My livelihood was to kill and sell birds and animals.
One day I was roaming the forests in search of animals. I was overtaken
by the darkness of night. Unable to return home, I climbed a tree for
shelter. It happened to be a bael tree. I had shot a deer that
day but I had no time to take it home. I bundled it up and tied it to
a branch on the tree. As I was tormented by hunger and thirst, I kept
awake throughout the night. I shed profuse tears when I thought of my
poor wife and children who were starving and anxiously awaiting my return.
To pass away the time that night I engaged myself in plucking the bael
leaves and dropping them down onto the ground.
"The day dawned. I returned home and sold the deer. I bought some food
for myself and for my family. I was about to break my fast when a stranger
came to me, begging for food. I served him first and then took my food.
"At the time of death, I saw two messengers of Lord Shiva. They were
sent down to conduct my soul to the abode of Lord Shiva. I learnt then
for the first time of the great merit I had earned by the unconscious
worship of Lord Shiva during the night of Shivaratri. They told me that
there was a Lingam at the bottom of the tree. The leaves I dropped fell
on the Lingam. My tears which I had shed out of pure sorrow for my family
fell onto the Lingam and washed it. And I had fasted all day and all
night. Thus did I unconsciously worship the Lord.
"I lived in the abode of the Lord and enjoyed divine bliss for long
ages. I am now reborn as Chitrabhanu."
Spiritual Significance of the Ritual
The Scriptures record the following dialogue between Sastri and Atmanathan,
giving the inner meaning of the above story.
Sastri: It is an allegory. The wild animals that the hunter
fought with are lust, anger, greed, infatuation, jealousy and hatred.
The jungle is the fourfold mind, consisting of the subconscious mind,
the intellect, the ego and the conscious mind. It is in the mind that
these "wild animals" roam about freely. They must be killed. Our hunter
was pursuing them because he was a Yogi. If you want to be a real Yogi
you have to conquer these evil tendencies. Do you remember the name
of the hunter in the story?
Atmanathan: Yes, he was called Suswara.
Sastri: That's right. It means "melodious". The hunter had a
pleasant melodious voice. If a person practices Yama and Niyama and
is ever conquering his evil tendencies, he will develop certain external
marks of a Yogi. The first marks are lightness of the body, health,
steadiness, clearness of countenance and a pleasant voice. This stage
has been spoken of in detail in the Swetaswatara Upanishad. The
hunter or the Yogi had for many years practised Yoga and had reached
the first stage. So he is given the name Suswara. Do you remember where
he was born?
Atmanathan: Yes, his birthplace is Varanasi.
Sastri: Now, the Yogis call the Ajna Chakra by the name Varanasi. This
is the point midway between the eyebrows. It is regarded as the meeting
place of the three nerve currents (Nadis), namely, the Ida, Pingala
and the Sushumna. An aspirant is instructed to concentrate on that point.
That helps him to conquer his desires and evil qualities like anger
and so on. It is there that he gets a vision of the Divine Light within.
Atmanathan: Very interesting! But how do you explain his climbing
up the bael tree and all the other details of the worship?
Sastri: Have you ever seen a bael leaf?
Atmanathan: It has three leaves on one stalk.
Sastri: True. The tree represents the spinal column. The leaves
are threefold. They represent the Ida, Pingala and Sushumna Nadis, which
are the regions for the activity of the moon, the sun and fire respectively,
or which may be thought of as the three eyes of Shiva. The climbing
of the tree is meant to represent the ascension of the Kundalini Shakti,
the serpentine power, from the lowest nerve centre called the Muladhara
to the Ajna Chakra. That is the work of the Yogi.
Atmanathan: Yes, I have heard of the Kundalini and the various
psychic centres in the body. Please go on further; I am very interested
to know more.
Sastri: Good. The Yogi was in the waking state when he began
his meditation. He bundled up the birds and the animals he had slain
and, tying them on a branch of the tree, he rested there. That means
he had fully conquered his thoughts and rendered them inactive. He had
gone through the steps of Yama, Niyama, Pratyahara, etc. On the tree
he was practising concentration and meditation. When he felt sleepy,
it means that he was about to lose consciousness and go into deep sleep.
So he determined to keep awake.
Atmanathan: That is now clear to me; you certainly do explain
it very well. But why did he weep for his wife and children?
Sastri: His wife and children are none other than the world.
One who seeks the Grace of God must become an embodiment of love. He
must have an all-embracing sympathy. His shedding of tears is symbolical
of his universal love. In Yoga also, one cannot have illumination without
Divine Grace. Without practising universal love, one cannot win that
Grace. One must perceive one's own Self everywhere. The preliminary
stage is to identify one's own mind with the minds of all created beings.
That is fellow-feeling or sympathy. Then one must rise above the limitations
of the mind and merge it in the Self. That happens only in the stage
of Samadhi, not earlier.
Atmanathan: Why did he pluck and drop the bael leaves?
Sastri: That is mentioned in the story only to show that he
had no extraneous thoughts. He was not even conscious of what he was
doing. All his activity was confined to the three Nadis. The leaves,
I have said before, represent the three Nadis. He was in fact in the
second state, namely, the dream state, before he passed into the deep
sleep state.
Atmanathan: He kept vigil the whole night, it is said.
Sastri: Yes, that means that he passed through the deep sleep
state successfully. The dawning of day symbolises the entrance into
the Fourth state called Turiya or superconsciousness.
Atmanathan: It is said that he came down and saw the Lingam.
What does that mean?
Sastri: That means that in the Turiya state he saw the Shiva
Lingam or the mark of Shiva in the form of the inner lights. In other
words, he had the vision of the Lord. That was an indication to him
that he would realise the supreme, eternal abode of Lord Shiva in course
of time.
Atmanathan: So it appears from what you say that the sight of
the lights is not the final stage?
Sastri: Oh no! That is only one step, albeit a difficult one.
Now think of how the story continues. He goes home and feeds a stranger.
A stranger is one whom you have not seen before. The stranger is no
other than the hunter himself, transformed into a new person. The food
was the likes and dislikes which he had killed the previous night. But
he did not consume the whole of it. A little still remained. That was
why he had to be reborn as King Chitrabhanu. Going to the world of Shiva
(Salokya) is not enough to prevent this. There are other stages besides
Salokya. These are Samipya, Sarupya and finally Sayujya. Have you not
heard of Jaya and Vijaya returning from Vaikunta?
Atmanathan: Yes, I have understood now.
Lord Shiva's Assurance
When creation had been completed, Shiva and Parvati went out to live
on the top of Mount Kailas. Parvati asked, "O venerable Lord! which
of the many rituals observed in Thy honour doth please Thee most?"
The Lord replied, "The 14th night of the new moon, in the dark fortnight
during the month of Phalgun, is my most favourite day. It is known as
Shivaratri. My devotees give me greater happiness by mere fasting than
by ceremonial baths and offerings of flowers, sweets and incense.
"The devotee observes strict spiritual discipline in the day and worships
Me in four different forms during each of the four successive three-hour
periods of the night. The offering of a few bael leaves is more
precious to Me than the precious jewels and flowers. My devotee should
bathe Me in milk at the first period, in curd at the second, in clarified
butter at the third, and in honey at the fourth and last. Next morning,
he should feed the Brahmins first and, after performing the prescribed
ceremonies, he can break his fast. O Parvati! there is no ritual which
can compare with this simple routine in sanctity."
Parvati was deeply impressed by the speech of Loid Shiva. She repeated
it to Her friends who in their turn passed it on to the ruling princes
on earth. Thus was the sanctity of Shivaratri broadcast all over the
world.
The two great natural forces that afflict man are Rajas (the quality
of passionate activity) and Tamas (that of inertia). The Shivaratri
Vrata aims at the perfect control of these two. The entire day is spent
at the Feet of the Lord. Continuous worship of the Lord necessitates
the devotee's constant presence in the place of worship. Motion is controlled.
Evils like lust, anger, and jealousy, born of Rajas are ignored and
subdued. The devotee observes vigil throughout the night and thus conquers
Tamas also. Constant vigilance is imposed on the mind. Every three hours
a round of worship of the Shiva Lingam is conducted. Shivaratri is a
perfect Vrata.
The formal worship consists of bathing the Lord. Lord Shiva is considered
to be the Form of Light (which the Shiva Lingam represents). He is burning
with the fire of austerity. He is therefore best propitiated with cool
bathing. While bathing the Lingam the devotee prays: "O Lord! I will
bathe Thee with water, milk, etc. Do Thou kindly bathe me with the milk
of wisdom. Do Thou kindly wash me of all my sins, so that the fire of
worldliness which is scorching me may be put out once for all, so that
I may be one with Thee-the One alone without a second."
At the Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, the Shivaratri festival is celebrated
in the following manner.
1. All spiritual aspirants fast the whole day, many of them without
taking even a single drop of water.
2. A grand havan is performed for the peace and welfare of all.
3. The whole day is spent in doing the Japa of Om Namah Shivaya
and in meditation upon the Lord.
4. At night all assemble in the temple and chant Om Namah Shivaya
the whole night.
5. During the four quarters of the night the Shiva Lingam is worshipped
with intense devotion.
6. Sannyas Diksha is also given on this day to sincere seekers on the
path.
Offer this inner worship to Lord Shiva daily: "I worship the jewel
of my Self, the Shiva residing in the Lotus of my heart. I bathe Him
with the water of my pure mind brought from the river of faith and devotion.
I worship Him with the fragrant flowers of Samadhi-all this so that
I may not be born again in this world."
Here is another formula for the supreme worship of the Lord: "O Shiva!
you are my Self. My mind is Parvati. My Pranas are your servants. My
body is your house. My actions in this world are your worship. My sleep
is Samadhi. My walk is circumambulation of you. My speech is your prayer.
Thus do I offer all that I am to you.
VAIKUNTA Ekadashi falls in the month of Marga-seersha (December-January).
This is observed with all solemnity in the temples of Lord Vishnu. Fasting
is prescribed on all Ekadashis, that is, the 11th day of the lunar fortnight,
twice a month.
In this Kali Yuga, even if just one Ekadashi is observed with dispassion,
faith and devotion, and if the mind is wholly fixed on Hari, one is
freed from the rounds of birth and death. There is no doubt about this.
The scriptures give us their assurance on this point.
Devotees fast on this day, observe vigil the whole night and do Japa,
Hari Kirtan and meditation. Some do not take even a drop of water. Those
who are unable to fast completely can take some light fruit and milk.
No rice should be taken on Ekadashi days. This is very important. The
sweat that fell down from the head of Brahma assumed the form of a demon
and said to the Lord, "O Lord! now give me an abode to dwell."
Brahma replied, "O demon! go and dwell in the rice particles eaten
by men on Ekadashi day and become worms in their stomach."
For this reason rice is prohibited on Ekadashi. If one observes the
Ekadashi fast regularly, Lord Hari is propitiated. All sins are destroyed.
The mind is purified. Devotion gradually develops. Love for God becomes
intense. Orthodox people in South India observe complete fasting and
vigil even on ordinary Ekadashi days. For the devotees of Lord Vishnu,
every Ekadashi is a very sacred day.
Benefits of Fasting
Nowadays, many educated people do not observe fasting on this sacred
day. This is due to the impact of the dark, vicious, materialistic forces.
When the intellect develops a little, people begin to enter into arguments
and unnecessary discussions. Intellect is a hindrance on the spiritual
path. They who have not developed the heart but who have developed their
intellect begin to doubt and question at every step. They are led astray.
They want a "why" and a "how" for everything. They want "scientific"
explanations for all phenomena.
God is beyond proofs and presumptions. One has to approach religion
and the scriptures with great faith, reverence and purity of heart.
Then only are the secrets of religion revealed unto him like the apple
in the palm of one's hand. Does anybody ask his mother to prove who
is his father?
Fasting controls passion. It checks the emotions. It controls the senses
also. It is a great penance. It purifies the mind and the heart. It
destroys a multitude of sins. Fasting controls the tongue in particular
which is the deadliest enemy of man. Fasting overhauls the respiratory,
circulatory, digestive and urinary systems. It destroys all the impurities
of the body and all sorts of poisons. It eliminates uric acid deposits.
Just as impure gold is rendered pure by melting it in the crucible again
and again, so also this impure mind is rendered purer by repeated fasting.
Young and robust Brahmacharis (celibates) should observe fasting whenever
passion troubles them. Only then will they have very good meditation,
as the mind will be rendered calm. The chief object of fasting is to
render the system calm so that one is able to practise meditation rigorously
during that period.
Withdraw the senses and fix the mind on God. Pray to God to guide you
and to throw a flood of light on your spiritual path. Say with feeling:
"O God, guide me! Protect me, protect me! I am Thine, I am Thine! Forsake
me not!" You will be blessed with purity, light and strength. Follow
this Sadhana on the days that you fast, Ekadashi days in particular.
Fasting is one of the ten canons of Yoga. However, avoid excessive
fasting. It will produce weakness. Use your common sense. If you cannot
fast for the full twenty-four hours, at least fast for 10-12 hours and
then take some milk and fruit. Gradually increase your fast to 15 hours
and then up to 24 hours. Fasting makes a man strong, both spiritually
and mentally.
In his code, the Manu Smriti, the great Hindu lawgiver, Manu,
prescribes fasting for the removal of the five capital sins. Diseases
that are pronounced incurable by doctors are cured by fasting. Occasionally,
a complete fast is greatly desirable for all to keep up good health,
to give adequate rest to the internal organs and maintain celibacy.
All diseases have their origin in overeating and verily fasting is the
only method to cure this.
Complete fasting helps to control sleep. Taking recourse to tea to
control sleep is not desirable. You will not gain any spiritual strength
if you depend on an external agent. During fasting avoid all company.
Live alone. Utilise your time in Sadhana. When breaking a fast do not
take a heavy meal or a heavy food that is hard to digest. Milk or some
fruit juice is beneficial.
Moderation in eating and withdrawal of the senses in Yogic meditation
are the obverse and the reverse of the same coin. Moderation consists
in taking a little food or water just to keep the body in good working
order.
In the Gita you will find: "Verily, Yoga is not for him who
eats too much, nor who abstains to excess, nor who sleeps too much,
nor to the excessively wakeful".
The Yogi withdraws his senses from the particular sense objects. The
senses are made to turn into or get involved into the mind. When one
is fully established in these two practices, supreme control of the
senses is achieved.
Once there was a demon, Mura, who oppressed the gods. The gods approached
Lord Hari for protection. Hari sent Yoga Maya to kill the demon. Yoga
Maya carried out the behests of the Lord successfully.
Then the Lord said to Yoga Maya, "Those who observe Ekadashi will be
freed from all sins, and you will be called by the name Ekadashi."
King Ambarisha was a great votary of Lord Hari. He practised the Ekadashi
Vrata for a year. Ambarisha obtained His Grace. On one occasion he fasted
for three consecutive days. He was about to break the fast when Rishi
Durvasa appeared as his guest. The king received him with due respect
and requested him to take his meals. The Rishi agreed and went to bathe
in the river. The king waited patiently for a long time, but the Rishi
did not return. Time was running out; if the king did not eat anything
before the day ended his Vrata would not bear fruit. And if he ate,
he would be showing disregard to the Rishi. As a compromise the king
took a little water to serve both the conditions.
When Durvasa returned from his bath, he knew exactly what had happened,
and was angry. He tore a hair from his tuft and charged it to kill Ambarisha.
The king was unmoved. The discus of Lord Vishnu destroyed the power
of the hair of Durvasa. It now followed the Rishi wherever he went and
tried to destroy him.
Rishi Durvasa went to Brahma and Shiva for help, but to no avail. He
went to Lord Hari who said to him, "I am dependent on My devotees. My
heart is in the possession of My devotees. Go thou, therefore, to Ambarisha;
beg his pardon and thou shalt be saved."
Ambarisha thereupon prayed to the charged hair to desist from its course,
and saved the Rishi. Durvasa thanked him from the bottom of his heart.
LORD SHIVA describes the glory of this Vrata in the Skanda Purana.
It is performed by a woman whose husband is still living. Maha Lakshmi
is the abode of all auspiciousness and prosperity. This worship of Maha
Lakshmi is done to obtain good progeny, and for the health and long
life of the husband.
The Vrata is observed on the Friday immediately preceding the full
moon day of the month of Sravan (August-September). After a purificatory
bath, the lady should put on a clean, fresh cloth and make a mandala
with the drawing of a lotus upon it. A kalasha filled with
rice and topped with fresh mango leaves, a coconut and cloth are placed
on the mandala and Lakshmi is invoked therein. Fresh grains are
used in the worship as they convey the idea of growth and prosperity.
After the worship of the kalasha, follows the worship of Ganesha,
then the worship of the raksha or the sacred thread. Now the
main worship of Vara Lakshmi begins and the raksha is worshipped
a second time. It is then tied to the right hand of the lady. After
the worship various auspicious articles are given as charity to some
deserving lady whose husband is alive. This lady is also fed with dainties.
Lakshmi not only bestows wealth and all sorts of material prosperity,
but also imparts divine wisdom to all Her devotees. She is Vidya Shakti.
She introduces Her devotees to Her Lord. She recommends them to Her
Lord for their salvation.
y
MOTHER LAKSHMI
The Giver of Prosperity and Happiness
She is the power of Lord Narayana who is also known as Lord Vishnu
or Lord Hari. Narayana is God's aspect of preservation. He is an embodiment
of Shuddha Sattwa. Lakshmi is His causal body. She is Maya, the illusory
power of Nature. She deludes the whole world by Her veiling power and
projects it through Her projecting power. She Herself as Vidya-Lakshmi
enlightens the spiritual aspirant. Beauty, grace, a picturesque scenery
or charming landscape, modesty, love, prosperity, music, the five elements
and their combinations, the internal organs, mind, Prana, intellect-all
these are Her manifestations.
Without Lakshmi even Sannyasins cannot do propaganda or preaching work
or run their institutions. They are in fact more in need of Lakshmi
than the householders because they have to do great dynamic work for
human weal. Sri Shankara worshipped Devi, Lakshmi and Saraswathi for
success in his work. All great prophets and divine messengers who have
done great spiritual work in the past were devotees of Mother Lakshmi,
Devi and Saraswathi.
May Goddess Lakshmi bless you all! Let us repeat Her Mantra:
Om mahaadevyai cha vidmahe;
Vishnu patnyai cha dheemahi
Tanno lakshmi prachodayat.
The Eclipse
WHEN THE gods and the demons churned the milky ocean in days of yore,
nectar came out of it. Lord Vishnu assumed the form of Mohini, a charming
lady, deluded the demons and distributed the nectar only among the gods.
But Rahu had disguised himself as a god. The sun and the moon pointed
this out to Mohini who immediately slashed off the demon's head. Since
the nectar had by then already reached up to the neck, he did not die.
Thus the head came to be known as Rahu and the body as Ketu. To avenge
this betrayal, Rahu and Ketu periodically eclipse the sun and the moon.
Astronomically speaking, when the sun, the moon and the earth are all
in line, with the moon or the earth at the centre, a solar or lunar
eclipse takes place respectively.
At the time of the eclipse, people bathe in the sacred rivers. They
do charitable acts. They give cows, money and gold. The day after the
eclipse they feed the poor, the Brahmins and the Sadhus. After the eclipse
they clean their houses, vessels, etc., and take a bath before they
start cooking.
One should not take food during the eclipse. When the eclipse begins
the food should by then have been digested. One should take food only
after seeing the sun or the moon free from the eclipse. When the clear
sun or the moon is not seen before sunset or sunrise, in the case of
the solar and lunar eclipse respectively, food can be taken only after
the sun or the moon is seen the next day.
Pregnant women should not see the sun or the moon during the time of
the eclipse. If they do the child born may have some kind of defect.
He may be born deaf, dumb or blind. Householders are forbidden from
sexual intercourse on the day of the eclipse, for the same reason.
At this time one should take great care in avoiding bleeding, scorpion
stings, etc. These have disastrous results. Even an earthworm has a
poisonous effect when it bites one during an eclipse.
Those who do Japa at the time of the eclipse derive great benefits.
The effect of Japa and Sankirtan during the eclipse contributes towards
relieving the suffering of humanity and also of the planets. These people
receive the blessings of the gods. They attain perfection quickly. Those
who wish to tap the subtle force locked in the Mantra that will cure
scorpion stings should stand in water and repeat the appropriate Mantra.
The little intellect cannot understand many things in this universe.
Hence, have faith in the words of sages.
Ignorance has eclipsed Self-knowledge. However, this eclipse will disappear.
You will shine in your own glory. This is the spiritual significance
of the eclipse.
Mahalaya Amavasya
The dark fortnight of Aswayuja (September-October) is known as the
Mahalaya Paksha or the fortnight specially sacred for offering oblations
to the departed ancestors. The last day of this period, the new moon
day, is considered as the most important day in the year for performing
obsequies and rites.
The renowned hero of the Mahabharata, Karna, when he left the
mortal coil, ascended to the higher worlds and the great charity he
had done here was returned to him hundredfold. But, it was all gold
and silver; there was no food, as he had not done any food-charity!
He prayed to the god of death. So, he was sent back to earth for fourteen
days, to make up for this deficiency.
For fourteen days, he fed Brahmins and the poor, and offered oblations
of water. On his return to the higher regions, he had food in plenty.
It is these fourteen days that are commemorated in the Mahalaya Paksha.
Due to the grace of the god of death, it has been ordained that offerings
made during this period benefit all the departed souls, whether they
are connected to you or not.
Charity in the form of food is important during this observance. Life
depends upon food. You cannot preach religion to empty stomachs. This
human body is the most important vehicle for realising God. How precious
must food be which keeps the body fit for Yoga! The gift of food is
the greatest gift. Therefore, give food in plenty, not only during the
Mahalaya fortnight but all through the year.
Om Tat Sat Brahmaparnamastu
THE IDOL is a support for the neophyte. It is a prop in his spiritual
childhood. A form or image is necessary for worship in the beginning.
It is an external symbol of God for worship. It is a reminder of God.
The material image calls up the mental idea. Steadiness of mind is obtained
by image worship. The worshipper will have to associate the ideas of
infinity, omnipotence, omniscience, purity, perfection, freedom, holiness,
truth and omnipresence with the form of worship he chooses.
It is not possible for all to fix the mind on the Absolute. A concrete
form is necessary for the vast majority for practising concentration.
To behold God everywhere and to practise the presence of God is not
possible for the ordinary man. Idol worship is the easiest form of worship
for the modern man.
A symbol is absolutely indispensable for fixing the mind. The mind
wants a prop to lean upon. It cannot hold a conception of the Absolute
in the initial stages. Without the help of some external aid the mind
cannot be centralised. In the beginning, therefore, concentration or
meditation is not possible without a symbol.
Everyone an Idol Worshipper
Idol worship is not peculiar to Hinduism. Christians worship the Cross.
They have the image of the Cross in their mind. The Muslims keep the
image of the Kaaba stone when they kneel and do prayers. The people
of the whole world, save a few Yogis and Vedantins, are all worshippers
of idols. They keep some image or the other in their mind.
The mental image also is a form of idol. The difference is not one
of kind, but only of degree. All worshippers, however intellectual they
may be, generate a form in the mind and make the mind dwell on that
image.
Everyone is thus an idol worshipper. Pictures, drawings, etc., are
only forms of idols. A gross mind needs a concrete symbol as a prop
and a subtle mind requires an abstract symbol. Even a Vedantin has the
symbol Om to fix his wandering mind. It is not only the pictures or
images in stone and in wood that are idols, but dialectics and great
leaders also become idols. So, why condemn idolatry?
A Medium for Establishing Communion With God
Idols are not the idle fancies of sculptors, but are shining channels
through which the heart of the devotee is attracted to God and flows
towards Him. Though apparently the image is worshipped, the devotee
feels the presence of the Lord in it and pours out his devotion unto
it. It is the appalling ignorance of the modern sensual man that clouds
his vision and prevents him from seeing Divinity in the lovely and enchanting
idols of His forms.
The wonderful scientific advances of this century ought to convince
one of the glory of idol worship. How are the songsters and orators
confined to a small boxlike thing called a radio or a T.V.? The latter
are merely lifeless, mechanical structures which would break into a
thousand pieces if thrown violently; and yet, if you know how to handle
it, you can hear through it the music and see through it the pictures
occurring several thousands of miles away. Even as you catch the sound-waves
of people all over the globe through the radio and T.V., it is possible
to commune with the all-pervading Lord through the medium of an idol.
The divinity of the all-pervading God is vibrant in every atom of creation.
There is not a speck of space where He is not. Why do you then say that
He is not in the idols?
There are many who would glibly say: "Oh, God is an all-pervading formless
Being. How can He be confined to this idol!" Are these people ever conscious
of His omnipresence? Do they always see Him and Him alone in everything?
No. It is their ego that prevents them from bowing to the idols of God
and with that motive they put this lame excuse forward.
Empty vessels make much sound. A practical man who does meditation
and worship, who is full of knowledge and real devotion, always keeps
silent. He influences and teaches others through silence. He alone knows
whether an idol is necessary in the beginning of concentration or not.
However intellectual one may be, one cannot concentrate without the
help of some symbol. An intellectual or a learned person may say on
account of his pride and vanity: "I do not like an idol. I do not wish
to concentrate on a form." He cannot concentrate on the formless One.
He thinks that people will laugh at him when they come to know that
he is meditating on an idol. He never does any meditation on the formless
One. He simply talks and argues and poses. He wastes his life in unnecessary
discussions only. An ounce of practice is better than tons of theories.
Intellect is a hindrance in the vast majority of intellectual persons.
They say that the existence of Brahman is guess-work, the superconscious
state is a bluff and Self-realisation is an imagination of the Vedantins.
Deluded souls! They are steeped in ignorance. They are carded away by
their secular knowledge which is mere husk when compared to the knowledge
of the Self. There is no hope of salvation for such people. First, their
wrong impressions should be flushed by good impressions through Satsang.
Then only will they realise their mistakes. May the Lord bestow on them
clear understanding and thirsting for real knowledge!
A Symbol of God
The idol is a substitute or symbol. The image in a temple, though it
be made of stone, wood or metal, is precious for a devotee as it bears
the mark of his Lord, as it represents something which he holds holy
and eternal. A flag is only a small piece of painted cloth, but to a
soldier it stands for something that he holds very dear. He is prepared
to give up his life in defending his flag. Similarly, the image is very
dear to a devotee. It speaks to him in its own language of devotion.
Just as the flag arouses martial valour in the soldier, so also the
image arouses devotion in the devotee. The Lord is superimposed on the
image and the image generates divine thoughts in the worshipper.
A piece of ordinary white paper or coloured paper has no value. You
throw it away. But, if there is the stamp of the Government on the paper
(currency note), you keep it safe in your money pocket or trunk. Even
so, an ordinary piece of stone has no value for you. You throw it away.
But, if you behold the stone idol of Lord Krishna at Pandharpur or any
other idol in shrines, you bow your head with folded palms, because
there is the stamp of the Beloved Lord on the stone. The devotee superimposes
on the stone idol his own Lord and all His attributes.
When you worship an image, you do not say: "This image has come from
Jaipur. It was bought by Prabhu Singh. Its weight is 50 lbs. It is made
of white marble. It has cost me Rs.500." No! You superimpose all the
attributes of the Lord on the image and pray: "O Inner Ruler! You are
all-pervading. You are omnipotent, omniscient and all-merciful. You
are the source of everything. You are eternal, unchanging. You are the
life of my life, the Soul of my soul! Give me light and knowledge! Let
me dwell in Thee for ever!"
When your devotion and meditation become intense and deep, you do not
see the stone image. You behold the Lord only who is pure Consciousness.
Image worship is very necessary for beginners.
An Integral Part of the Cosmos
For a beginner, the idol is an absolute necessity. By worshipping the
idol, the Lord is pleased. The idol is made up of the five elements.
The five elements constitute the body of the Lord. The idol remains
an idol, but the worship goes to the Lord.
If you shake hands with a man, he is highly pleased. You have touched
only a small part of his body and yet he is happy. He smiles and welcomes
you. Even so, the Lord is highly pleased when a small portion of His
cosmic body is worshipped. An idol is a part of the body of the Lord.
The whole world is His body. The devotion goes to the Lord.
The worshipper superimposes on the image the Lord and all His attributes.
He does the sixteen forms of reverence to the Lord. First, the Presence
of the Deity is invoked. Then a seat is offered, the feet are washed,
water is offered, and then hospitality is offered. The idol is bathed,
dressed and invested with the sacred thread. Sandal paste is applied
to its forehead, flowers are offered, and incense is burnt. Then a lamp
is lit and waved before the Deity. Food is now offered, together with
the burning of camphor. A gift of gold is offered. Finally (the sixteenth
step), the Deity is bidden farewell.
In these external forms of worship, the inner love finds expression.
The wandering mind is fixed now in this form of worship. The aspirant
gradually feels the nearness of the Lord. He attains purity of heart
and slowly annihilates his egoism.
To the worshipper who has faith in the symbol, any kind of image is
the body of the Lord, be it made of stone, clay, or brass, or be it
a picture, drawing, etc. Such worship can never be idolatry. All matter
is a manifestation of God. God is present in everything. Everything
is an object of worship, for all is a manifestation of God who is therein
worshipped. The very act of worship implies that the object of worship
is superior and conscious. This way of looking at things must be attained
by the devotee. The untutored mind must be trained to view things in
the above manner.
Idol worship Develops Devotion
Idol worship makes concentration for man simple and easy. You can bring
before your mind's eye the great pastimes of the Lord in His particular
incarnation in which you view Him. This is one of the easiest modes
of Self-realisation. It is one that suits the majority of people today.
Just as the picture of a famous warrior evokes heroism in your heart,
so also a look at the picture of God will elevate your mind to divine
heights. Just as the child develops the maternal feeling by caressing,
nursing and protecting its doll made of rags, and suckles it in an imaginary
manner, so also the devotee develops the feeling of devotion by worshipping
the idol and concentrating on it.
Unveiling the Divinity in the Idol
Regular worship and other modes of demonstrating our inner feeling
of recognition of divinity in the idol unveil the Divinity latent in
it. This is truly a wonder and a miracle. The picture comes to life.
The idol speaks. It will answer your questions and solve your problems.
The God in you has the power to awaken the latent Divinity in the idol.
It is like a powerful lens that focuses the sun's rays onto a bundle
of cotton. The lens is not fire and the cotton is not fire either, nor
can the sun's rays by themselves burn the cotton. However, when all
three are brought together in a particular manner, fire is generated
and the cotton is burnt. Similar is the case with the idol, the aspirant,
and the all-pervading Divinity. The idol is the lens which brings into
focus the all-pervading rays of Divinity and lights up the aspirant
with divine illumination.
God is enshrined in the idol. From here, He will protect you in a special
manner. The idol will perform miracles. The place where it is installed
is at once transformed into a temple, nay, a Vaikunta or Kailas in reality.
Those who live in such a place are freed from miseries, from diseases,
from failures and from worldliness itself. The awakened Divinity in
the idol acts as a guardian angel blessing all, conferring the highest
good on those who bow to it.
The Image-A Mass of Consciousness
The idol is only a symbol of the Divine. A devotee does not behold
therein a block of stone or a mass of metal. It is an emblem of God
for him. He visualises the indwelling Presence in the idol. All the
sixty-three Nayanar saints of South India attained God-realisation through
worship of the Shiva Linga, the image of Lord Shiva. For a devotee,
the image is a mass of consciousness. He draws inspiration from it.
It guides him. It talks to him. It assumes the human form to help him
in a variety of ways.
The image of Lord Shiva in the temple at Madura in South India helped
the fuel-cutter and the old woman. The image in the temple at Tirupati
assumed a human form and gave witness in the court to help His devotees.
These are marvels and mysteries. Only the devotees understand them.
When Idols Become Alive
For a devotee or a sage, there is no such thing as insentient matter.
Everything is consciousness. The devotee actually beholds the Lord in
the idol. Narsi Mehta was put to the test by a king. The king said,
"O Narsi! if you are a true, sincere devotee of Lord Krishna, if, as
you say, the idol is Lord Krishna Himself, let this idol move." According
to the prayer of Narsi Mehta, the idol did move. The sacred bull, Nandi,
standing before Shiva's idol, took the food offered by Tulsidas. The
idol of Krishna played with Mirabai. It was full of life and consciousness
for her.
When Appayya Dikshita went to the Tirupati temple in South India, the
Vaishnavas refused to grant him admission. The next morning they found
that the idol of Lord Vishnu in the temple had changed to the idol of
Lord Shiva. The priest was greatly astonished and startled. He asked
pardon and prayed to Appayya Dikshita to change the idol again to that
of Lord Vishnu.
Kanaka Das was a great devotee of Lord Krishna in Udipi, in the district
of South Kanara, in South India. He was not allowed to enter the temple
on account of his low birth. Kanaka Das went round the temple and saw
a small window at the back of the temple. He seated himself in front
of the window. He was soon lost in singing songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
Many people gathered round him. They were very powerfully attracted
by the sweet melody of his music and the depth of his devotion. Lord
Krishna turned round to enable Kanaka Das to get His Darshan. The priests
were struck with wonder. Even today, pilgrims are shown the window and
the place where Kanaka Das sat and sang.
The idol is the same as the Lord, for it is the vehicle of the expression
of the Mantra-consciousness which is the Deity. The devotee should regard
the idol in the temple with the same attitude of respect and reverence
that he would evince should the Lord Himself appear before him in person
and speak to him in articulate sound.
Vedanta and Idol Worship
A pseudo-Vedantin feels ashamed to bow before an idol in the temple.
He feels that his Advaita (attitude of oneness) will evaporate if he
prostrates himself. Study the lives of the reputed Tamil saints-Appar,
Sundarar, Sambandhar, and others. They all had the highest Advaitic
realisation. They saw Lord Shiva everywhere. Yet, they visited all temples
of Shiva, prostrated before the idol and sang hymns which are on record
till today. The sixty-three Nayanar saints solely practised the worship
of the idols of Shiva and attained God-consciousness thereby. They swept
the floor of the temple, collected flowers, made garlands for the Lord
and put lights in the temple. They were illiterate, but attained the
highest realisation. They were practical Yogis and their hearts were
saturated with pure devotion. They were embodiments of Karma Yoga. All
practised the Yoga of synthesis. The idol was all consciousness to them,
not a mere block of stone.
Madhusudana Swami, who had Advaitic realisation, who beheld oneness
of the Self and who had the feeling of oneness with all creation, was
intensely attached to the form of Lord Krishna with flute in His hands.
Tulsidas realised the all-pervading essence. He had Cosmic Consciousness.
He communed with the all-pervading, formless Lord. And yet, his passion
for Lord Rama with bow in His hand did not vanish. When he was at Brindavan,
beholding the idol of Lord Krishna with flute in hand, he said, "I will
not bow my head to this form." At once Lord Krishna's form assumed the
form of Lord Rama. Then only he bowed his head.
Tukaram also had the same cosmic experience as that of Tulsidas. He
sings in one of his songs: "I see my Lord all-pervading, just as sweetness
pervades the sugar-cane", and yet, he always speaks of his Lord Vittala
of Pandharpur with His hands on the hips. Mirabai also realised her
identity with the all-pervading Krishna, and yet she was not tired of
repeating again and again, "My Giridhar Nagar!"
From the above facts, we can clearly infer that one can realise God
through worship of the idol; that the idol is a great aid for the realisation
of the Lord in His all-pervading, formless aspect also; that the worship
of the idol is very essential for the purpose of concentration and meditation
in the beginning; and that such a worship is not in any way a hindrance
to the attainment of God-realisation.
Those who vehemently attack idol worship are groping in extreme darkness
and ignorance, and have no real knowledge of worship. They enter into
unnecessary, vain debates and discussions against idol worship to show
that they are learned persons. They have not done any real Sadhana at
all. They are persons who have made idle talking and tall talk their
habit and profession. They have ruined themselves. They have unsettled
the minds of countless persons and ruined them also. The whole world
worships idols alone in some form or another.
The mind is disciplined in the beginning by fixing it on a concrete
object or symbol. When it is rendered steady and subtle, it can be fixed
on an abstract idea such as Aham Brahma Asmi. As one advances
in meditation, the form melts in the formless and one becomes absorbed
in the formless essence. The worship of idols is, therefore, not contrary
to the view of Vedanta. It is rather an aid to the highest Vedantic
realisation.
Conclusion
Idol worship is only the beginning of religion. Certainly it is not
its end, The same Hindu scriptures which prescribe idol worship for
beginners, also speak of meditation on the Infinite or the Absolute
and contemplation on the significance of Tat Twam Asi for advanced
aspirants.
There are different grades of worship. The supreme state is Self-realisation.
Second in rank is meditation on the Supreme Self. The third is the worship
of symbols. The fourth is the performance of rituals and pilgrimages
to holy places. The Shastras, the Gurus, are like kind mothers.
They take hold of the hands of the aspirants and take them step by step
till they are established in the highest superconscious state. Glory
to the Hindu Rishis who take aspirants from the lower to the higher
form of worship!
Beloved children of the Lord! Shed your ignorant disbelief this moment.
Enshrine supreme, unshakable, living faith in your heart this very moment.
Recall to your mind the glorious examples of saints of the past. They
believed, and they reaped the rich spiritual harvests. You too can enjoy
great peace, happiness and prosperity here, and attain Him here and
now if you have faith in idol worship.
