Haru and his wife were a very unhappy and depressed couple because everyone in their village made fun of them because they had a very small nose.They were even more anxious that if they had children and they too had such small noses then their children too would have to face the same problem.Everyday they would ask God why he had put them in such a situation,and why they too could not have been like the others?
One day after a lot of thinking Haru decided he would go the forest and do penanace until God appears in front of him.Haru went to the forest and did penance until God finally appeared in front of Haru and blessed him with three boons.Haru thought for a while and then told God he will need to go back to his wife and after consulting with her he will ask the boons.God gave Haru a dice and assured him that three boons will be granted to him.He told Haru that he should ask for his boon and throw the dice nad his boon will be fulfilled.
So Haru ran home a very happy and pleased man thinking that now all their problems will be solved and they could live in peace hereafter.
When Haru reached home and told about his boon his wife was happy but she now changed her mind and felt that they should ask for money rather than a nose,because after all money can compensate everything else.Haru however did not agree with his wife because he thought that he went to the forest and did penance only for a better nose,so in anger he threw the dice saying noses, and lo and behold!in moments his body was full of noses.To undo the noses he threw the dice once again and asked for the noses to be removed and there yet again he had asked for the wrong boon because he found that all his noses vanished and how could one live without a nose??
So now the couple realised that though they had a small nose and were made fun of by all the people they were certainly better off than now,without any nose.
They also now worried that if people in their village came to know that God had granted them three boons and they did not make right use of the boons,they would all laugh at them,so the couple decided that it is best to get their original noses.So this time Haru threw the dice down asking for his original nose,sure enough he did get back his nose.
The moral of this story is it is very important for us to be grateful and thankful to God for all that we have.God knows what is the best for us,we may ask for the wrong things and then be unhappy with what we get.
It is important to have faith and trust in God and know that HE will always do whatever is good for us.
Jai Gurudev...
28/11/2011
27/11/2011
Bheema Meets Hanuman
The Mahabarath as most of us know has so many stories,which teach us moral lessons for our day to day lives.Here is one such story.This story gives us more than one lesson,how to be humble,that anyone who visits us should be treated with respect and certainly offered something.In our young days we were always told not to cross over someone and go,this story tells us why we should not do that.Read for more....
Arjuna had gone to the Himalayas in quest of Divine weapons from Indra. In case of war he would have to face invincible warriors like Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Aswatthama, Karna and many others. For this it was necessary to acquire more power. The other four Pandavas and Draupadi found life devoid of joy in his absence. Desiring a change of scene, they now moved on in search of a more peaceful place.
At last they came to the Narayanasrama forest,they decided to take rest and stay there for a while. One day, the north-east wind wafted a thousand petalled lotus near Draupadi who was sitting near the river Alakananda. The sweet scent of the flower charmed her. Draupadi felt a deep desire to possess that lotus known as Saugandhika.She requested Bhima to get her that flower. She was very insistent. Bhima was only too pleased to satisfy her least desire. He forthwith set out
in the direction from which the fragrance came. The way through the forest was far from easy.Before long at the foot of a mountain he saw a huge monkey resting on his path, blocking his way. He asked the monkey to get up and clear the way for him. The monkey was in no mood to oblige. It said: “I am too old and weak to move.You can jump over me”!! Proud Bhima incensed by this insolence, again asked the
Monkey to move. He said ‘You old monkey,you don’t know who you are talking to. I am a Kshatriya from the Kuru race. I am the son of Kunti and the Wind god. I am Bhima, brother of famous Hanuman. So,if you offend me any further, you will incur my wrath. I command you to better get up and move aside without wasting my time. The monkey said “If you are in such hurry, you can move my tail aside and go ahead.” Bhima’s threats did not have any effect on the monkey. In stead, it asked “who is Hanuman. Tell me what is so great about him. What did he do?” Bhima told him
“How can you be so silly and ignorant? Have you not heard of the mighty Hanuman who
Jumped over to Lanka, across the sea, one hundred yojanas wide, to find Sita , Rama’s wife? Indeed you are ignorant” The monkey only smiled. Finding no other way, Bhima tried to pull the monkey’s tail aside .But he could not move it even a little bit. He put all his might in the endeavor, but to no avail.
He was all perspiration. In spite of his best efforts he could not move the tail. As such the question of challenging this monkey for a show of strength did not arise. He felt very humiliated and subdued. He told the monkey
“You are no ordinary monkey. Please tell me who you are. I accept defeat and bow to you”.Hanuman said “Bhima, I am that Hanuman you mentioned a little while ago.
I am your brother. Your path ahead is perilous.It is the path of the gods and is not safe for men.So I came to caution you. I know you have come to collect the Saugandhika flower. I shall show you the pond, where this flower grows. You can collect as many as you want and go back. Bhima was happy. He bowed to Hanuman and requested him to show his huge form in which he jumped over the sea, one hundred yojanas wide, to land on Lanka.Hanuman increased his size till he seemed to occupy the whole landscape, like a hill.His form was dazzlingly white ; so Bhima had to cover his eyes . Assuming his normal form, Hanuman embraced Bhima and blessed
Him. He also assured him “When you roar like a lion on the battle field, my voice shall join yours and strike terror in the hearts of your enemies. I will be there on the flag of The chariot of Arjuna .You will be victorious”.
With Hanuman’s embrace Bhima’s strength had also increased. Hanuman wanted to free
his brother Bhima from his ego and to give him greater strength to fight his enemies. Hanuman then took leave of his brother after blessing him. Following Hanuman’s advice, Bhima collected many Saugandhika lotuses from the pond and went back to present them to Draupadi, anxiously waiting for his return.
Thus we find Hanuman on the flag "Kapidvija" of Arjuna's chariot.
Jai Gurudev....
Arjuna had gone to the Himalayas in quest of Divine weapons from Indra. In case of war he would have to face invincible warriors like Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Aswatthama, Karna and many others. For this it was necessary to acquire more power. The other four Pandavas and Draupadi found life devoid of joy in his absence. Desiring a change of scene, they now moved on in search of a more peaceful place.
At last they came to the Narayanasrama forest,they decided to take rest and stay there for a while. One day, the north-east wind wafted a thousand petalled lotus near Draupadi who was sitting near the river Alakananda. The sweet scent of the flower charmed her. Draupadi felt a deep desire to possess that lotus known as Saugandhika.She requested Bhima to get her that flower. She was very insistent. Bhima was only too pleased to satisfy her least desire. He forthwith set out
in the direction from which the fragrance came. The way through the forest was far from easy.Before long at the foot of a mountain he saw a huge monkey resting on his path, blocking his way. He asked the monkey to get up and clear the way for him. The monkey was in no mood to oblige. It said: “I am too old and weak to move.You can jump over me”!! Proud Bhima incensed by this insolence, again asked the
Monkey to move. He said ‘You old monkey,you don’t know who you are talking to. I am a Kshatriya from the Kuru race. I am the son of Kunti and the Wind god. I am Bhima, brother of famous Hanuman. So,if you offend me any further, you will incur my wrath. I command you to better get up and move aside without wasting my time. The monkey said “If you are in such hurry, you can move my tail aside and go ahead.” Bhima’s threats did not have any effect on the monkey. In stead, it asked “who is Hanuman. Tell me what is so great about him. What did he do?” Bhima told him
“How can you be so silly and ignorant? Have you not heard of the mighty Hanuman who
Jumped over to Lanka, across the sea, one hundred yojanas wide, to find Sita , Rama’s wife? Indeed you are ignorant” The monkey only smiled. Finding no other way, Bhima tried to pull the monkey’s tail aside .But he could not move it even a little bit. He put all his might in the endeavor, but to no avail.
He was all perspiration. In spite of his best efforts he could not move the tail. As such the question of challenging this monkey for a show of strength did not arise. He felt very humiliated and subdued. He told the monkey
“You are no ordinary monkey. Please tell me who you are. I accept defeat and bow to you”.Hanuman said “Bhima, I am that Hanuman you mentioned a little while ago.
I am your brother. Your path ahead is perilous.It is the path of the gods and is not safe for men.So I came to caution you. I know you have come to collect the Saugandhika flower. I shall show you the pond, where this flower grows. You can collect as many as you want and go back. Bhima was happy. He bowed to Hanuman and requested him to show his huge form in which he jumped over the sea, one hundred yojanas wide, to land on Lanka.Hanuman increased his size till he seemed to occupy the whole landscape, like a hill.His form was dazzlingly white ; so Bhima had to cover his eyes . Assuming his normal form, Hanuman embraced Bhima and blessed
Him. He also assured him “When you roar like a lion on the battle field, my voice shall join yours and strike terror in the hearts of your enemies. I will be there on the flag of The chariot of Arjuna .You will be victorious”.
With Hanuman’s embrace Bhima’s strength had also increased. Hanuman wanted to free
his brother Bhima from his ego and to give him greater strength to fight his enemies. Hanuman then took leave of his brother after blessing him. Following Hanuman’s advice, Bhima collected many Saugandhika lotuses from the pond and went back to present them to Draupadi, anxiously waiting for his return.
Thus we find Hanuman on the flag "Kapidvija" of Arjuna's chariot.
Jai Gurudev....
Gita Jayanti
Gita Jayanti is the birthday of the Baghavad Gita,and is celebrated every year on the Shukla Paksha Ekadashi in the month of Margashirsha.
The Gita as we all know is the teachings of Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra when Arjuna is totally confused,perplexed and filled with sorrow on seeing that he will be fighting against his Guru, his grand father and all such great ones.The Baghavad Gita consists of 700 shlokas in all.Lord Krishna says one who chants the Gita with love and devotion is very dear to him.Even if one can chant a shloka Krishna will be very pleased,even if that is not possible Krishna says it is enough even if one can chant the name Krishna once atleast.
It is believed that chanting all the 700 shlokas on the Gita Jyanti day is very good for the spiritual upliftment of every aspirant.For the busy people who are unable to find 3 hours to sit and chant all the verses of the Gita,it is said chanting these 7 selected verses from Chapters 8,10&11 will suffice too.
The shlokas to read from the chapters are as under:
Chapter 8-9
"avim puranam anusasitaram
anor aniyamsam anusmared yah
sarvasya dhataram acintya-rupam
aditya-varnam tamasah parastat"
"One should meditate upon the Supreme Person as the one who knows everything, as He who is the oldest, who is the controller, who is smaller than the smallest, who is the maintainer of everything, who is beyond all material conception, who is inconceivable, and who is always a person. He is luminous like the sun, and He is transcendental, beyond this material nature."
Chapter 10-8:
"ham sarvasya prabhavo
mattah sarvam pravartate
iti matva bhajante mam
budha bhava-samanvitah"
"I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts."
Chapter 10-9:
"mac-citta mad gada prana
bodhayantah parasparam
kathayantas ca mam nityam
tusyanti ca ramanti ca"
"The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me."
Chapter 10-10:
"tesam satata-yuktanam
bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam
yena mam upayanti te"
"To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me."
Chapter 10-11:
"tesam evanukampartham
aham ajnana-jam tamah
nasayamy atma-bhava-stho
jnana-dipena bhasvata"
"To show them special mercy, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance."
Chapter 10-12,13:
arjuna uvaca
"param brahma param dama
pavitram paramam bhavan
purusham sasvatam divyam
adi-devam ajam vibhum
ahus tvam rsayah sarve
devarsir naradas tatha
asito devalo vyasah
svayam caiva bravisi me"
"Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ultimate abode, the purest, the Absolute Truth. You are the eternal, transcendental, original person, the unborn, the greatest. All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala and Vyasa confirm this truth about You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me."
Chapter11-38:
"tvam adi-devah purushah puranas
tvam asya vishvasya param nidhanam
vettasi vedyam ca param ca dhama
tvaya tatam vishvam ananta-rupa"
"You are the original Personality of Godhead, the oldest, the ultimate sanctuary of this manifested cosmic world. You are the knower of everything, and You are all that is knowable. You are the supreme refuge, above the material modes. O limitless form! This whole cosmic manifestation is pervaded by You!
I am told that chanting these seven verses everyday is indeed very good and will certainly take one closer to the Krishna.
Here is an insight into how we should celebrate this day as conveyed by Swami Sivananda of The Divine Life Society.Read on....
GITA JAYANTI
By
SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA
THE HOLY 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 by Sri Krishna, the Lord incarnate, through His most devoted disciple, Arjuna. Its teachings are based on the sacred 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 how to resist unrighteousness and follow the path of virtue and righteousness.
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 Gita elaborates and presents in all comprehensiveness and in a universally acceptable form. It is this message of the 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 a constant remembrance of God and such an attitude of mind will release you forever from the clutches of illusion and free you from all fear. To forget the Supreme is to fall into illusion. 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, peace and bliss, far beyond the reach of illusion and delusion.
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 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. Put into practice the teachings of this most sacred scripture and attain eternal bliss and peace.
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:
All the aspirants wake up at 4 am and meditate on the Lord. From sunrise to sunset there is unbroken recitation of the Gita. The Samputa method is used, that is, before and after each verse the following Samputa is recited:
Sarva dharmaan parityajya maamekam sharanam vraja;
Aham twaa sarvapaapebhyo mokshayishyaami maa shucha.
Thus, between two verses, this verse is recited twice. This is an extremely efficacious method of earning the Grace of the Supreme Lord and the Gita, the Mother.
Aspirants fast on the day, as it is also the Ekadashi day. Competitions are held among the little children, to develop their talents in the recitation of the Gita. In the case of the slightly older children, they are given a chance to deliver discourses. This is a wonderful way of encouraging them to study the scripture.
In the evening, a special Satsang is held at which scholars, Yogis and Sannyasins discourse upon the Gita. 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 every day. Recite the fifteenth discourse before taking your meals. This is done at the Sivananda Ashram.
Keep a pocket-sized edition of the Gita with you at all times. Mark a few verses in it which inspire you. Everyday, while you wait 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!
Jai Gurudev...
The Gita as we all know is the teachings of Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra when Arjuna is totally confused,perplexed and filled with sorrow on seeing that he will be fighting against his Guru, his grand father and all such great ones.The Baghavad Gita consists of 700 shlokas in all.Lord Krishna says one who chants the Gita with love and devotion is very dear to him.Even if one can chant a shloka Krishna will be very pleased,even if that is not possible Krishna says it is enough even if one can chant the name Krishna once atleast.
It is believed that chanting all the 700 shlokas on the Gita Jyanti day is very good for the spiritual upliftment of every aspirant.For the busy people who are unable to find 3 hours to sit and chant all the verses of the Gita,it is said chanting these 7 selected verses from Chapters 8,10&11 will suffice too.
The shlokas to read from the chapters are as under:
Chapter 8-9
"avim puranam anusasitaram
anor aniyamsam anusmared yah
sarvasya dhataram acintya-rupam
aditya-varnam tamasah parastat"
"One should meditate upon the Supreme Person as the one who knows everything, as He who is the oldest, who is the controller, who is smaller than the smallest, who is the maintainer of everything, who is beyond all material conception, who is inconceivable, and who is always a person. He is luminous like the sun, and He is transcendental, beyond this material nature."
Chapter 10-8:
"ham sarvasya prabhavo
mattah sarvam pravartate
iti matva bhajante mam
budha bhava-samanvitah"
"I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts."
Chapter 10-9:
"mac-citta mad gada prana
bodhayantah parasparam
kathayantas ca mam nityam
tusyanti ca ramanti ca"
"The thoughts of My pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are fully devoted to My service, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss from always enlightening one another and conversing about Me."
Chapter 10-10:
"tesam satata-yuktanam
bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam
yena mam upayanti te"
"To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me."
Chapter 10-11:
"tesam evanukampartham
aham ajnana-jam tamah
nasayamy atma-bhava-stho
jnana-dipena bhasvata"
"To show them special mercy, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance."
Chapter 10-12,13:
arjuna uvaca
"param brahma param dama
pavitram paramam bhavan
purusham sasvatam divyam
adi-devam ajam vibhum
ahus tvam rsayah sarve
devarsir naradas tatha
asito devalo vyasah
svayam caiva bravisi me"
"Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ultimate abode, the purest, the Absolute Truth. You are the eternal, transcendental, original person, the unborn, the greatest. All the great sages such as Narada, Asita, Devala and Vyasa confirm this truth about You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me."
Chapter11-38:
"tvam adi-devah purushah puranas
tvam asya vishvasya param nidhanam
vettasi vedyam ca param ca dhama
tvaya tatam vishvam ananta-rupa"
"You are the original Personality of Godhead, the oldest, the ultimate sanctuary of this manifested cosmic world. You are the knower of everything, and You are all that is knowable. You are the supreme refuge, above the material modes. O limitless form! This whole cosmic manifestation is pervaded by You!
I am told that chanting these seven verses everyday is indeed very good and will certainly take one closer to the Krishna.
Here is an insight into how we should celebrate this day as conveyed by Swami Sivananda of The Divine Life Society.Read on....
GITA JAYANTI
By
SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA
THE HOLY 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 by Sri Krishna, the Lord incarnate, through His most devoted disciple, Arjuna. Its teachings are based on the sacred 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 how to resist unrighteousness and follow the path of virtue and righteousness.
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 Gita elaborates and presents in all comprehensiveness and in a universally acceptable form. It is this message of the 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 a constant remembrance of God and such an attitude of mind will release you forever from the clutches of illusion and free you from all fear. To forget the Supreme is to fall into illusion. 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, peace and bliss, far beyond the reach of illusion and delusion.
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 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. Put into practice the teachings of this most sacred scripture and attain eternal bliss and peace.
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:
All the aspirants wake up at 4 am and meditate on the Lord. From sunrise to sunset there is unbroken recitation of the Gita. The Samputa method is used, that is, before and after each verse the following Samputa is recited:
Sarva dharmaan parityajya maamekam sharanam vraja;
Aham twaa sarvapaapebhyo mokshayishyaami maa shucha.
Thus, between two verses, this verse is recited twice. This is an extremely efficacious method of earning the Grace of the Supreme Lord and the Gita, the Mother.
Aspirants fast on the day, as it is also the Ekadashi day. Competitions are held among the little children, to develop their talents in the recitation of the Gita. In the case of the slightly older children, they are given a chance to deliver discourses. This is a wonderful way of encouraging them to study the scripture.
In the evening, a special Satsang is held at which scholars, Yogis and Sannyasins discourse upon the Gita. 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 every day. Recite the fifteenth discourse before taking your meals. This is done at the Sivananda Ashram.
Keep a pocket-sized edition of the Gita with you at all times. Mark a few verses in it which inspire you. Everyday, while you wait 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!
Jai Gurudev...
23/11/2011
Mantras
Another superlative article on mantras and their effects by Banu didi...
Mantras - Sound vibrations that permeate every cell of your being and allow your mind to dissolve and repose. But what are they? What do they mean? Where did they come from? There are so many questions surrounding these ancient syllables. Speaking about Mantras is the revelation of ancient secrets that have been kept sacred from several ages, secrets that continue to benefit humanity irrespective of its circumstances.
Mantras are impulses or rhythms of the consciousness. They create vibrations in the spirit. Their effects, influence, method and mode of working are all a mystery.
In Sanskrit, it is said, Manana trayate iti mantra. Mantra is that which saves you from repetitiveness. A repetitive thought is a worry. Mantras help to free you from your worries. Often we wonder why we chant some sounds without understanding their meanings? Can something beyond our understanding help us?
The meaning of every mantra is infinity. It is a sound vibration beyond the cognition of the mind. When the mind is unable to cognize, it simply dissolves and moves into a meditative space.
The mantra is like a seed. Every seed has the potential to become a tree. Similarly, these sound vibrations contain all the possibilities of creation. Some mantras are in the seed form, called the bija mantras. Others are fully expressed, i.e, the fruit of the mantra is also expressed, like the Gayatri mantra.
Mantras are a secret. That which is kept a secret alerts the sub-conscious mind. The mantras work at the level of the consciousness. When we want a seed to sprout, it needs to be sown into the soil, hidden, a secret. If it is simply thrown around, birds may eat them up. We can read and learn about mantras and their uses from books and the internet but that will only satisfy the intellect and not translate into experience.
When we chant the mantras, or listen to them, we get purity of mind and word. This prepares us for meditation. As a result of the sound vibrations, different patterns of the mind re-arrange themselves to become tranquil. Agitation is reduced, helping us to turn inward. For instance, when we laugh, our happiness increases. When we cry, the heaviness of our sorrow is released. Just the sounds of laughter and crying have helped. Mantras act in a similar manner. Repetition of the Mantras creates a psychological or mental response that is very deep and beyond the realm of words or expression. It can only be experienced. Speech falls short as it cannot go beyond the expression level into the experiential level.
When the mind is calm and centered, it can turn inward. Only a mind turned inward can experience the vastness and beauty of the Divine consciousness. When our focus is outward on the objects of the senses, our mind is scattered and racing behind one craving or another. Physical senses seek to know all about the external universe. Meditation is the tool for inner exploration. Antarmukhi Sada Sukhi – one whose mind is turned inward is ever in bliss. Mantras are the tools which allow the mind to dissolve and repose in the Self.
Why should we repose in the Self? How is this going to help in our day-today life?
When the river is calm, the reflection is clearer. When the mind is calm, there is greater clarity in the field of expression. Our sense of observation, perception and expression improve. As a result we are able to communicate effectively and clearly.
Most of our problems or misunderstandings arise because of a lack of proper communication. When our mind is free from agitation, the way we interact and communicate is so much more pleasant and effective. Our efforts are not hindered by rifts caused due to communication gaps. This leads to a lot of positivity in our outlook and progress in life.
Mantras are as subtle as the air which creates ripples in the water as it gently moves over it. Air is all-pervading and at the same time affects specific regions. The field of the mantras is also such. It is all –pervading and also creates an impact on the one who is practicing.
Jai Gurudev.
Mantras - Sound vibrations that permeate every cell of your being and allow your mind to dissolve and repose. But what are they? What do they mean? Where did they come from? There are so many questions surrounding these ancient syllables. Speaking about Mantras is the revelation of ancient secrets that have been kept sacred from several ages, secrets that continue to benefit humanity irrespective of its circumstances.
Mantras are impulses or rhythms of the consciousness. They create vibrations in the spirit. Their effects, influence, method and mode of working are all a mystery.
In Sanskrit, it is said, Manana trayate iti mantra. Mantra is that which saves you from repetitiveness. A repetitive thought is a worry. Mantras help to free you from your worries. Often we wonder why we chant some sounds without understanding their meanings? Can something beyond our understanding help us?
The meaning of every mantra is infinity. It is a sound vibration beyond the cognition of the mind. When the mind is unable to cognize, it simply dissolves and moves into a meditative space.
The mantra is like a seed. Every seed has the potential to become a tree. Similarly, these sound vibrations contain all the possibilities of creation. Some mantras are in the seed form, called the bija mantras. Others are fully expressed, i.e, the fruit of the mantra is also expressed, like the Gayatri mantra.
Mantras are a secret. That which is kept a secret alerts the sub-conscious mind. The mantras work at the level of the consciousness. When we want a seed to sprout, it needs to be sown into the soil, hidden, a secret. If it is simply thrown around, birds may eat them up. We can read and learn about mantras and their uses from books and the internet but that will only satisfy the intellect and not translate into experience.
When we chant the mantras, or listen to them, we get purity of mind and word. This prepares us for meditation. As a result of the sound vibrations, different patterns of the mind re-arrange themselves to become tranquil. Agitation is reduced, helping us to turn inward. For instance, when we laugh, our happiness increases. When we cry, the heaviness of our sorrow is released. Just the sounds of laughter and crying have helped. Mantras act in a similar manner. Repetition of the Mantras creates a psychological or mental response that is very deep and beyond the realm of words or expression. It can only be experienced. Speech falls short as it cannot go beyond the expression level into the experiential level.
When the mind is calm and centered, it can turn inward. Only a mind turned inward can experience the vastness and beauty of the Divine consciousness. When our focus is outward on the objects of the senses, our mind is scattered and racing behind one craving or another. Physical senses seek to know all about the external universe. Meditation is the tool for inner exploration. Antarmukhi Sada Sukhi – one whose mind is turned inward is ever in bliss. Mantras are the tools which allow the mind to dissolve and repose in the Self.
Why should we repose in the Self? How is this going to help in our day-today life?
When the river is calm, the reflection is clearer. When the mind is calm, there is greater clarity in the field of expression. Our sense of observation, perception and expression improve. As a result we are able to communicate effectively and clearly.
Most of our problems or misunderstandings arise because of a lack of proper communication. When our mind is free from agitation, the way we interact and communicate is so much more pleasant and effective. Our efforts are not hindered by rifts caused due to communication gaps. This leads to a lot of positivity in our outlook and progress in life.
Mantras are as subtle as the air which creates ripples in the water as it gently moves over it. Air is all-pervading and at the same time affects specific regions. The field of the mantras is also such. It is all –pervading and also creates an impact on the one who is practicing.
Jai Gurudev.
22/11/2011
Gratitude&Beauty
Such a truly wonderful article......
You cannot be grateful and feel the lack. The two cannot exist at the same time. When you feel grateful, you feel full. When you feel lack, grumbling begins from some corner. If you feel grateful, gratitude will increase in you and you will be given more. If you keep on grumbling, the negativity in you will increase. Jesus said, "For those who have not, what little they have will be taken from them. And to those who have, more will be given. And more. And more." This is the law of the nature. For those who do not have this knowledge, there is no way to get out of their grumbling. It becomes a habit.
This applies to relationships too. If you love someone, know that nothing is lacking. Trust that they also love you very much. If you doubt someone's love, your doubt grows no matter what you receive from them. If you want to be close to someone, first begin to feel that person is already close to you. When you ask people, "Do you trust me?" you are doubting their trust. When you are in doubt about a trust, you grow in doubt -- and there is no limit to it.
Whatever is, that grows. If you sow a seed, that seed will grow. If the seed itself is lack, then lack is what grows. Today you feel a lack, and tomorrow you will feel some other lack, and then in a year, even if all these things are provided, still you will feel some lack. Observe carefully and see what you have been given. Then you become grateful. In gratefulness, everything that supports life grows. When people grumble all through life, their minds don't focus properly. Naturally, they tend to lose out. Even on the material plane, when consciousness is flooded with lack, lack grows. But if you feel you have plenty, plentifulness grows.
This understanding of consciousness is important. Consciousness is the power, energy, beauty and wealth that permeates all creation. This entire creation is full of life -- it abounds in the trees, birds, animals, rivers and stones. Without it, not a blade of grass can move. Without it, there can be no progress. Without it, there is no beauty.
One of the most precious faculties the human body possesses is recognition of beauty. The basis of creation is beauty. In the Vedic tradition, the entire creation is seen as nothing but waves of beauty. Truth is a quest of the intellect, but beauty is felt with the heart. Intellect analyses, is curious to know what is inside the flower, how it grows, what season it comes up in but the heart doesn't care about this detailed knowledge.
Beauty comes in many forms. Spring has its own beauty. In midsummer everything is green and full. And in autumn, the color of the falling leaves is spectacular. "Wow! This is so wonderful!" -- an appreciation of beauty wells up in the heart and takes over the whole being.
The very process of maintaining beauty is beautiful. Water rises as vapor and forms clouds on the Great Lakes -- and the Great Lakes flow into Niagara Falls. Without that process, the water would flow down once and the Falls would disappear. It would be like the fireworks on the Fourth of July -- they last for some time and then are over. But in creation, a rainbow comes and then it comes again and again and again. Underneath what has been created with so much beauty, there is a maintenance principle that sustains this phenomenon.
It is all pervasive, this beauty. Life cannot be a celebration, cannot be joyful, cannot be fulfilling, if there are no waves of beauty. This Thanksgiving, as you celebrate and rejoice with your loved ones, observe the richness in your life. Observe the wealth that nature has given you. Let the gratitude in you rise and let the waves of beauty wash you.
Sri Sri
Jai Gurudev.....
You cannot be grateful and feel the lack. The two cannot exist at the same time. When you feel grateful, you feel full. When you feel lack, grumbling begins from some corner. If you feel grateful, gratitude will increase in you and you will be given more. If you keep on grumbling, the negativity in you will increase. Jesus said, "For those who have not, what little they have will be taken from them. And to those who have, more will be given. And more. And more." This is the law of the nature. For those who do not have this knowledge, there is no way to get out of their grumbling. It becomes a habit.
This applies to relationships too. If you love someone, know that nothing is lacking. Trust that they also love you very much. If you doubt someone's love, your doubt grows no matter what you receive from them. If you want to be close to someone, first begin to feel that person is already close to you. When you ask people, "Do you trust me?" you are doubting their trust. When you are in doubt about a trust, you grow in doubt -- and there is no limit to it.
Whatever is, that grows. If you sow a seed, that seed will grow. If the seed itself is lack, then lack is what grows. Today you feel a lack, and tomorrow you will feel some other lack, and then in a year, even if all these things are provided, still you will feel some lack. Observe carefully and see what you have been given. Then you become grateful. In gratefulness, everything that supports life grows. When people grumble all through life, their minds don't focus properly. Naturally, they tend to lose out. Even on the material plane, when consciousness is flooded with lack, lack grows. But if you feel you have plenty, plentifulness grows.
This understanding of consciousness is important. Consciousness is the power, energy, beauty and wealth that permeates all creation. This entire creation is full of life -- it abounds in the trees, birds, animals, rivers and stones. Without it, not a blade of grass can move. Without it, there can be no progress. Without it, there is no beauty.
One of the most precious faculties the human body possesses is recognition of beauty. The basis of creation is beauty. In the Vedic tradition, the entire creation is seen as nothing but waves of beauty. Truth is a quest of the intellect, but beauty is felt with the heart. Intellect analyses, is curious to know what is inside the flower, how it grows, what season it comes up in but the heart doesn't care about this detailed knowledge.
Beauty comes in many forms. Spring has its own beauty. In midsummer everything is green and full. And in autumn, the color of the falling leaves is spectacular. "Wow! This is so wonderful!" -- an appreciation of beauty wells up in the heart and takes over the whole being.
The very process of maintaining beauty is beautiful. Water rises as vapor and forms clouds on the Great Lakes -- and the Great Lakes flow into Niagara Falls. Without that process, the water would flow down once and the Falls would disappear. It would be like the fireworks on the Fourth of July -- they last for some time and then are over. But in creation, a rainbow comes and then it comes again and again and again. Underneath what has been created with so much beauty, there is a maintenance principle that sustains this phenomenon.
It is all pervasive, this beauty. Life cannot be a celebration, cannot be joyful, cannot be fulfilling, if there are no waves of beauty. This Thanksgiving, as you celebrate and rejoice with your loved ones, observe the richness in your life. Observe the wealth that nature has given you. Let the gratitude in you rise and let the waves of beauty wash you.
Sri Sri
Jai Gurudev.....
14/11/2011
The Coal Basket
There once lived an old man with his grandson in a farm.Grandfather used to regularly chant the Baghavad Gita,which left the boy wondering,because he found that there was no visible change in their life whatsoever.So one day the little boy gathered courage and asked his grandfather why he chanted the Gita.His grand father just smiled at the little boy and showed him a coal basket lying near the fireplace and asked him to run down to the lake below and fetch some water in the basket.The boy gave his grandfather a puzzled look but nevertheless ran down to fetch water in the basket.He filled the basket with water and started on his way home, but as he expected all the water drained out of the basket,and by the time he reached home there was no water in the basket.He told his grandfather that the basket could not hold the water.His grandfather again smilingly told him to be a bit faster this time.This went on a few times and each time the result was the same.Finally the boy was exhausted and tired and asked his grandfather why he asked him to fill a basket with water knowing that it cannot hold water.Gradfather now looked at the little boy with love and affection and told the boy to look at the basket closely.The boy looked at the basket and saw that the basket was now clean and shining and no sign of any coal there.He told his grandfather that the basket looked clean now.
The grandfather now took the little boy on his lap and told him that like the basket got clean and shining after a few dips in the water, if we regularly chant the Gita we will be cleansed of all the impure thoughts within and will help us remember the Lord always.
Though the result of our sadhana may not be immediately visible to us, it is certain that every time we chant the lords name with love and devotion,it sure reaches HIM.
There are many many stories which assure us that even if a person takes the Lord's name once,with or without his knowledge it is certain that he will be taken care of by HIM.
Jai Gurudev.
Stay tuned for more....
The grandfather now took the little boy on his lap and told him that like the basket got clean and shining after a few dips in the water, if we regularly chant the Gita we will be cleansed of all the impure thoughts within and will help us remember the Lord always.
Though the result of our sadhana may not be immediately visible to us, it is certain that every time we chant the lords name with love and devotion,it sure reaches HIM.
There are many many stories which assure us that even if a person takes the Lord's name once,with or without his knowledge it is certain that he will be taken care of by HIM.
Jai Gurudev.
Stay tuned for more....
03/11/2011
Do Your Duty
This story from Mahabaratha tells us how doing one's duty is much more important than gaining THE ENLIGHTENED BUTCHER
(A story from Mahabharata)
This story from Mahabharata brings to light that our spiritual
achievement is useless if we neglect our duties or Dharma.
Kaushika was his parents' only son.
"Mother," he said one day, " I want to go off into the jungle and
devote myself to spiritual studies. "
His mother said with concern, "But son, your father and I are very old. Your father is so
sick he can hardly move. If you go away, what will happen to us?
Who will attend to our needs?"
Kaushika did not listen.He was determined to study the Vedas. His mother cried in vain
as she watched her son turn his back on her and leave for the jungle.
Eventually Kaushika acquired great mystical powers.One afternoon, as he was meditating under a tree, a crane flew up, and perched herself on a branch above Kaushika. Some
bird droppings fell on Kaushika's head. Kaushika furiously threw a fiery gaze at the crane. The crane immediately fell dead.The sage felt sorry for what he had done. "How could I have allowed my anger to take over me that way?" He mourned.
Later in the day, he went to a village to beg for alms. The lady of the house asked him to wait and went to get some food. Right then her husband arrived. She immediately set aside the pot of food she was taking to the sage and went to attend her husband.
After washing his feet, giving him food, and attending to his needs, she came back out to give the alms to the sage. The sage was very insulted. "You put your husband before a pious sage? Do you know the power of a Brahmin?" She calmly replied, "Yes, a true Brahmin is he who has mastered his anger. Please do not threaten me, I am not a
crane that will die by your fiery gaze." The sage was amazed. "How does she know about the crane?"he wondered.
The lady continued, "Oh holy one! You are a learned Brahmin but you have not understood the truth about virtue. If you want to be enlightened, go to Dharmavyadha who lives in Mathura. Any one will tell you where he lives." The sage thanked the lady and hurried to Mathura. "He must be a great and learned sage indeed," Kaushika thought to himself.
But when he finally reached Dharmavyadaha's place, he found it to be a butcher shop!
A very ordinary looking man came out and said, "Welcome holy one. I am Dharmavyadaha, the man you seek." "How can a butcher be spiritually enlightened?" Kaushika
asked in amazement.Dharmavyadaha smiled and said with compassion, "I know the
story of the crane and of the woman who sent you here. Come,let us go to my house. "
The sage could not contain himself and blurted out, "But butchering animals is such a sinful profession! Are you not ashamed?"
"I am not," the butcher calmly said. "I am engaged in a family trade. I work hard and honestly at it. There is no reason for me to be ashamed of my work!"
"Holy one," continued the butcher. "If I do injury to other creatures, so do you as you did to the crane. " "As we walk on the soil, we are trampling on numerous
creatures. Nor is the air devoid of creatures." "You see that farmer tilling the land? He is killing so many animals that thrive under the soil." They reached the butcher's house. The butcher's wife was doing her house hold chores and his two boys were playing.
The butcher introduced the sage to his wife and boys. Then the butcher entered the house and touched his parents'feet."Here is a learned Brahmin who has come from a far-off place."the butcher told his old father."Welcome, holy one," the father said.
Before leaving the room, the butcher remarked, "My parents are my Gods. My wife and my children attend to them with devotion and love. We consider caring for them to be
our greatest duty." "In doing one's duty cheerfully, lies true virtue. This is what the
dutiful wife sent you to learn."
"Oh learned one!" the butcher continued, "You have run away from your responsibilities and deserted your aged father and mother. Spiritual achievement is useless if one has neglected one's Dharma, or duties."The sage remembered his mother crying, "Who will look after us when you are gone my son?" The sage apologized, "You have shown me the path of true virtue, the true meaning of Dharma, Oh pious one. I am deeply
indebted to you." Kaushika immediately returned to his parents and served them
lovingly till the end of their days.
Jai Gurudev...
(A story from Mahabharata)
This story from Mahabharata brings to light that our spiritual
achievement is useless if we neglect our duties or Dharma.
Kaushika was his parents' only son.
"Mother," he said one day, " I want to go off into the jungle and
devote myself to spiritual studies. "
His mother said with concern, "But son, your father and I are very old. Your father is so
sick he can hardly move. If you go away, what will happen to us?
Who will attend to our needs?"
Kaushika did not listen.He was determined to study the Vedas. His mother cried in vain
as she watched her son turn his back on her and leave for the jungle.
Eventually Kaushika acquired great mystical powers.One afternoon, as he was meditating under a tree, a crane flew up, and perched herself on a branch above Kaushika. Some
bird droppings fell on Kaushika's head. Kaushika furiously threw a fiery gaze at the crane. The crane immediately fell dead.The sage felt sorry for what he had done. "How could I have allowed my anger to take over me that way?" He mourned.
Later in the day, he went to a village to beg for alms. The lady of the house asked him to wait and went to get some food. Right then her husband arrived. She immediately set aside the pot of food she was taking to the sage and went to attend her husband.
After washing his feet, giving him food, and attending to his needs, she came back out to give the alms to the sage. The sage was very insulted. "You put your husband before a pious sage? Do you know the power of a Brahmin?" She calmly replied, "Yes, a true Brahmin is he who has mastered his anger. Please do not threaten me, I am not a
crane that will die by your fiery gaze." The sage was amazed. "How does she know about the crane?"he wondered.
The lady continued, "Oh holy one! You are a learned Brahmin but you have not understood the truth about virtue. If you want to be enlightened, go to Dharmavyadha who lives in Mathura. Any one will tell you where he lives." The sage thanked the lady and hurried to Mathura. "He must be a great and learned sage indeed," Kaushika thought to himself.
But when he finally reached Dharmavyadaha's place, he found it to be a butcher shop!
A very ordinary looking man came out and said, "Welcome holy one. I am Dharmavyadaha, the man you seek." "How can a butcher be spiritually enlightened?" Kaushika
asked in amazement.Dharmavyadaha smiled and said with compassion, "I know the
story of the crane and of the woman who sent you here. Come,let us go to my house. "
The sage could not contain himself and blurted out, "But butchering animals is such a sinful profession! Are you not ashamed?"
"I am not," the butcher calmly said. "I am engaged in a family trade. I work hard and honestly at it. There is no reason for me to be ashamed of my work!"
"Holy one," continued the butcher. "If I do injury to other creatures, so do you as you did to the crane. " "As we walk on the soil, we are trampling on numerous
creatures. Nor is the air devoid of creatures." "You see that farmer tilling the land? He is killing so many animals that thrive under the soil." They reached the butcher's house. The butcher's wife was doing her house hold chores and his two boys were playing.
The butcher introduced the sage to his wife and boys. Then the butcher entered the house and touched his parents'feet."Here is a learned Brahmin who has come from a far-off place."the butcher told his old father."Welcome, holy one," the father said.
Before leaving the room, the butcher remarked, "My parents are my Gods. My wife and my children attend to them with devotion and love. We consider caring for them to be
our greatest duty." "In doing one's duty cheerfully, lies true virtue. This is what the
dutiful wife sent you to learn."
"Oh learned one!" the butcher continued, "You have run away from your responsibilities and deserted your aged father and mother. Spiritual achievement is useless if one has neglected one's Dharma, or duties."The sage remembered his mother crying, "Who will look after us when you are gone my son?" The sage apologized, "You have shown me the path of true virtue, the true meaning of Dharma, Oh pious one. I am deeply
indebted to you." Kaushika immediately returned to his parents and served them
lovingly till the end of their days.
Jai Gurudev...
Veer Maruti
We have all heard of Lord Anjaneya and his devotion for Baghvan Ram.I have always wondered why Hanuman is wearing sindoor all over.I am sure many may know the reason for this.Here is an interesting story which tells us the reason for the sindoor or rather why Lord Anjaneys is smeared with sindoor all over.
Read on....
One day, Hanuman noticed that Sitaji wore a red powder in the parting of
Her hair. Curious, Hanuman enquired, what it was that She was wearing. “
Dear Hanuman, it is sindoor that I am wearing”, said Sitaji. “What is
sindoor and why was it so important?” asked Hanuman. Sindoor makes
Lord Ram happy and would give Him a long and happy life, explained Sitaji.
Hanuman scratched his chin and thought for a while. He realised that
Sitaji did it because she loved Ram and showed it by putting sindoor
in Her hair. “I love Ramji too,” thought Hanuman, “And I’m going to prove
it!” So guess what He did? Well if Sita ji can put sindoor in Her hair to show
Her love, He decided to cover Himself with it to show His love! He took the
sindoor powder and smeared his whole body with it. And He felt very
happy and smiled a big smile. When He entered Sita’s room, He was
completely red, His face, the nose, dhoti, everything was completely red.
It looked as though He had taken a bath in the red powder!
Sita looked at Him in surprise and asked Him why he had covered himself
in sindoor. With a shy smile Hanuman said, “ Sitaji, you are a Devi, a
goddess. By putting a little sindoor in your hair, you can make Lord Ram
happy and His life longer. But I am only His servant, His dasa, so I will
have to do more than that. And that is why I had to cover my whole body
with sindoor.”
So,this is the reason why Hnuman is red. This also
shows the great love Hanuman had for Lord Ram and how much He
thought about the welfare of Lord Ram, His master.
Jai Gurudev...
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