WHY IS THIS VAIKUNTHA YEKADASHI MUKKOTI DWADASHI?

Sri Padma Purana mentions that Lord Vishnu, in spite of being aware of the tyranny that Mura demons had created, came to the door of his heavenly abode Vaikuntha and opened the doors. Earlier, Mura had approached Lord Shiva, who directed him to Vishnu by stating that Vishnu alone could give him a fight. However, Lord Vishnu pretends to be weaker than Mura, runs away from him and rests in a cave in Badari. From his fatigue emerged a goddess called Haimavati. While Lord Vishnu was still pretending to be tired and asleep, Mura dashes into the cave and gets burnt into ashes by a sheer glance of Haimavati. Lord Vishnu was impressed with her victory and the destruction of Mura and offers to bestow a boon. He calls her Yekadashi and she says that whoever observes fast on this Yekadashi should be redeemed of their sins and ge

t eligibility to have Mukti or Mokshada. Some sources state that the boon was sought by Mura. Generally, fasting is mandatory on all Yekadashis. But, fasting on this Margashira/Pushya Shukla Yekadashi is equal to fasting on the remaining 25 Yekadashis. It is stated that the over three crore deities descend from Heaven to have a holy bath at Tirupati and therefore Darshan of either Tirupati Balaji or Balaji at other temples is highly meritorious. Since Vishnu himself opened the doors of Vaikuntha to Mura, it is called Vaikuntha Yekadashi. As over three crore deities descended to Earth, the next day or Dwadashi is denoted as Mukkoti Dwadashi.

SRI KRISHNARPANAMASTU| SARVE JANAHA SUKHINO BHAVANTU||

JADABHARATOPAKHYANA - XVII

(Jadabharata continues his line of argument or clarification to King Rahugana, who had tried to chide Jadabharata for carrying the palanquin erratically. This particular line of thought can be a lesson to several people around us today. PLEASE SHARE IT IF YOU LIKE IT)

ShOchyAnimAmstAnaDhikastavADhirviShTyA nigruhNan niranugrahO(a)si|

Janasya gOptEti vikatThamAnO na shOBhasE vrudDhasaBhAsu duShTaha||

Jadabharata states:

“Owing to the pride of being a king, you are getting the works done for free from these poor guys. By doing so, you are inviting more misery. In spite of that, you still boast yourself as their king and take pride in saying so. You are cruel and you will not shine in any confluence of knowledgeable persons. You are not the protector, not the king. Lord Vishnu alone is the protector and Vishnu alone is the King and He is present in you.”

Some commentators alter the words “ShOchyAnimAmstAnaDhikastadeenAn” into ShOchyAnimAn twamaDhikaShTadeenAn” and say that it means Jadabharata had said (or meant): “You are forcefully making the servants, who are suffering a lot of trouble and are desperate, carry the palanquin and you are not a king by quality or character. You only have a body of a king…” On the contrary, Sri Madhwacharya clarifies, what Jadabharata meant to state was that the king had a wrong or false pride by misunderstanding the life he was enjoying was because of his own inherent quality or eligibility some other trait. In reality, Lord Vishnu is the ONLY king, which Jadabharata wanted King Rahugana to realise, conceive and follow. Jadabharata wanted the king to be aware of the fact that he was not the real king and that Hari was the real king.

YEvam mUlagOptrutwam cha ViShNOrEva|

Quote Jadabharata:

“Just as Hari is the primary Karta or doer of all our acts of carrying the weight of palanquin, walking etc., being a king perchance, you are not the King but Lord, who is intrinsic, is the king in reality.”

This leads to another question that commentators raise: “If that is the way, then it should not be said that someone is walking on the ground. It should be stated that someone is walking on or in Lord Hari.” Jadabharata clarifies this too, which can be perceived in the next post. (to be continued). SRI KRISHNARPANAMASTU     

JADABHARATOPAKHYANA - XVI

(This is in continuation with the previous posting and since it is related to philosophical debate, it is better to consider it in a sequence. PLEASE SHARE IT IF YOU LIKE IT)

In the previous posting, Jadabharata clarified to King Rahugana that the only and ultimate Karta or Kartru is the Lord, which should be applied to everything, every minute action, speech, reaction etc., Questions like ‘kasya hEtOho’ cannot be raised, though some scholars convert the words “Kasya hEtOho” into “kasyachid” to restrict the meaning to “due to any one reason”, which is incorrect, unwarranted, according to Sri Madhwacharya. Sri Acharya says:

YamAnmUlakAraNaBhUtO ViShNurEva atO muKhyam srvakAraNatwam tasyaiva| MUlAshraya vivakShA yadi na syAt, kutaha pruThivyAm chalateeti vyavahAraha? YatO(a)vAntarAshrayA bahavaha santyamGhryAdyAha|

Lord Hari is the origin, genesis of even the nature, which is normally conceived as the origin and therefore, bearing the weight, as in the case of four servants bearing the weight of the palanquin in which Rahugana was being carried, and moving or walking etc., all depend on Him and His desire or will. The conception that ‘X,Y,Z etc… is walking, sitting, speaking and so on’ is for worldly transaction. It is only desirable and quite mandatory at that, all actions of all living and non-living beings or things rests only and only with the Lord.    

ABOUT DHANURMASA - II

This is about Dhanurvayateepata and Dhanurdhruti.

YOgEshu parvakAlaha syAt vyateepAtashcha vAiDhrutihi say Smrutis. Therefore, both VyateepAta and VaiDhruti are ranked as Yogas and Parvakala. These are Pitrudinas or those very beloved to ancestors or

forefathers.

Yoga is one of the components of Panchanga, along with Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra (star) and Karana. Yoga is different from Aanandaadi Yogas or Gauri Panchanga that is usually mentioned in every Panchanga. Yoga represents the sum of longitudes of the Sun and the Moon for a given lunar day. Like Nakshatras or constellations, Yogas too are 27 in number and their duration is 13.20 degrees each that keep happening every day on a cyclical basis in a specific sequence starting from Vishkambha and ending with Vydruti Yoga. Although Yoga is given secondary importance in the ordinary parlance of Astrology, some of them, especially the Vyateepata and Vydruthi are forbidden for auspicious events.

Vyateepaata actually means great calamity or prone to sudden mishaps or chaos. Vyateepaata Yoga is in the 17^th position in the list of 27 Yogas. Like Nakshatras, Yogas also have presiding deities or Abhimani Devatas) and Vishwedevatas are the presiding (abhimani) deities for Vyateepata Yoga. Though Yogas like Vyateepata and Vaidhruti are not considered good for auspicious events, they are highly appropriate, auspicious and special for ceremonies, especially those related to Pitrus or ancestors or forefathers.  

Generally, 12 or more Vyateepata days occur in a year. If it is associated with Dhanurmasa, it is called Dhanur-Vyateepata Yoga, which is most significant for performing Pitru-related activities. It is said that any Pitru karya or charity given in respectful reverence to one’s Pitrus on the sacred day of Dhanur Vyateepata Yoga during Dhanurmasa is considered 1000 times more meritorious than the one performed during Ardhodhayaadi parva kala.

On this day of Vyateepata, after the early morning pujas akin to Dhanurmasa, Tarpana should be offered to the Pitrus, followed by Arghya. Sankalpa shloka is as follows:

DhanrmAsaniyAmaka SankarShaNaprEraNayA SankarShaNarUpee ParamAtmapreetyarTham DhanurvyateepAtaparvakAlE pitrutarpaNAKhyam karma kartum Adau vyateepAtArGhyadAnam KariShyE||

VyateepAta mahAsatwa sarvapApapraNAshan|

SahasrabAhO VishwAtman gruhANArGhyam namO(a)stu tE||

VyateepAta namastE(a)stu namastE vishwamangala|

ViShNuchakraswarUpAya namastE divyatEjasE||

Reciting the above hymns and keeping water in the palm, the Arghya should be given as is done during the Mahalaya and Tarpana should be offered to all Pitrus in the same order.

Prayer:

ViShNupriya vyateepAta pitruNAmAnRuNaprada|

PitrUNAm mama VaikunTham prayachCha Bhagavan HarE||

TwatprasAdEna mE BhaktirastvEvamanapAyinee|

JnAnavijnAnavairAgyam prayachChaBhagavan mama||

AnEna DhanurvyateepAtapUjArGhyatilatarpaNAdikarmakaraNEna ViShNuchakrAntahasThitasudarshanAtmaka SankarShaNarUpiparmAtmA preeyatAm||Sri KriShNArpaNamastu||

GANGAVATARANA - II

Hearing the words of chief priests and Rutvijas, Sagara, who was sitting in the Yaga Mantap, summoned his 60,000 children and told them:

“Dear children, although this great sacrifice⁴ is being conducted by most virtuous, pious and expert priests and Rutvijas, the sacrificial horse has been stolen due to the mystic powers of demons, leaving me in a state of confusion as to what I should do next. Therefore, all of you should immediately go round the sea-surrounded globe, find the horse and bring it back. I wish you good luck. In case the horse is not found anywhere on Earth, then, under my instructions, dig up the Earth in search of the kidnapper till you find the horse. As I have taken the pledge⁵ (Yagnadeeksha) of performing the sacrifice, it is not proper on my part to come with you. Therefore, I, along with my grandson, priests and Rutvijas, will stay here till the horse is seen by me once again. I wish you good luck and please start off for now.”   

Raghava, having been instructed by their father Sagara, the highly powerful and strong 60,000 children went in different directions of the globe in search of the horse, with a pure sense of satisfaction. They searched for the sacrificial horse in all places on Earth. But, the horse was not seen. Later, as directed by their father, each one of them chose an area of one Yojana long and one Yojana wide and started digging the earth with their nails that were like the thunderbolt (Vajrayudha), spikes that produced sounds like lightning and giant ploughs that could easily plough the Earth. Getting dug and shattered by them, Goddess Earth screamed horribly. When those sixty thousand princes were digging the Earth, the screaming sounds of most powerful serpents, Asuras, who were living under ground and were then dying due to the onslaught of the prices, was reverberating. Within a very short period, the 60,000 brave children of Sagara Maharaja had dug up the land measuring 60,000 yojanas wide and 60,000 yojanas deep, as though they wanted to win a war against the under world⁶. Ramabhadra, the children of Sagara thus dug Jambudweepa in this manner and moved everywhere, in search of the horse. Seeing thousands of inhabitants of Patala Loka (under world) like serpents, Asuras and Rakshasas being killed by the children of Sagara, the deities, Gandharvas, Apsaras, serpent gods, who were all perplexed and terrified, went to Pitamaha Brahma. They offered worship and honored him with Stotras and prayers. The perturbed deities told Brahma, wearing bleak faces:

 “Oh Great Lord, the 60,000 children of Sagara are digging up this Jambudweepa. As a result, lakhs of great beings are being destroyed. Oh revered, they are catching anyone they find while digging the underworld and saying ‘he is the one who has stolen our horse and therefore he has spoiled the sacrifice’ and killing that person. Thus, they have been torturing all the animals.” (to be continued…) SHARE IT IF YOU LIKE IT PLEASE   

ABOUT DHANURMASA

Piercing and shearing cold marks the transit of Sun into Sagittarius or Dhanus Rashi and that is why it is called Dhanur(s) Masa. The body refuses to get out of bed or even uncover itself from the comfort of the blanket, which is the first symptom of laziness. The body bends like a bow which is why it is called Dhanur Masa. The Rishis and Munis have therefore prescribed two important things for Dhanrmasa. One is performance of puja before sunrise and the other is consumption of Mudganna or Huggi after offering it to the Lord as Naivedya.

Dhanurmasa is the Ushahkala or the early hours of the morning for deities. When the Sun moves to Makara that marks the Uttarayana, it becomes daytime for deities. It is our bounden duty to perform puja before daybreak when it is also pre-daybreak for deities.

Mudga means green gram and a dish prepared with equal quantity of green gram and rice with spcies, prominently pepper, is called Mudganna. This is mandatorily the item to be offered as Naivedya during Dhanurmasa.

Anyone offering Mudganna to the Lord as Naivedya before sunrise during Dhanurmas attracts the Punya that is equivalent to the Punya secured through Puja offered for one thousand years.

KOdanDasThE savitari mudgAnnam yO nivEdayEt|

SahasravArShikee pUjA dinEnaikEna sidDhyati||AjnEya PurANa||

Points to remember:

Dhanurmasa puja performed at a time when stars are still glittering in the sky is highly meritorious; puja performed when no stars are seen is mediocre and that offered after sunrise is worse. However, puja performed in the noon or later is totally futile.

If Dhanurmsa Puja cannot offered for any reason, at least watching it being performed by others is meritorious or advisable. Puja can be watched after taking bath.

In unavoidable circumstances, Dhanurmasa puja can be performed first before sunrise and lather Sandhyavandana can be performed.

After performing Dhanurmasa puja, feeding Brahmin with Mudganna and consuming the same by self before sunrise is the correct or prescribed tradition.

The Vyateepata and VaiDhruti Yogas that occur during Dhanurmas are considered to be very sacred, auspicious and meritorious Parva Kala and certain special norms and tradition have been prescribed to be observed during that period.

Shall furnish details about Dhanurvyateepata and DhanurvaiDhruti in the next posting. SHARE IT IF YOU LIKE IT PLEASE   

JADABHARATOPAKHYANA - XV

JADABHARATOPAKHYANA - XV

The next question of Rahuguna to Jadabharata was: “The being (Jeeva) struggles while doing the Karma, but gets satisfaction or happiness or the good or bad or medium ‘result’ (Phala). To that extent, he is the ‘performer’ and he has that sense of ‘having achieved or performed’ (Kartrutva). Even then, based on your own line of thinking (Jadabharata’s), if the being is ‘not independent’, why should it be said that he/she is the ‘performer’?”

Jadabharata replies:

Ayam janO nAma chalan priThivyAm yaha pArThivaha parThiva kasya hEtoho|

TasyApi chAnChryOraDhi gulPhajanGhAjAnUrumDhyOrashirODharamsAha||

AmsE cha dArvee shibikAm cha yasyAm sauveerarAjEtyapadesha AstE|

Yasmin BhavAn rUDhanijABhimAnO rAjA(a)smi sinDhuShwiti durmadAnDhaha||  

“Paramatma is the primary performer (Karta). Ignoring his status as primary performer and assuming self as ‘another performer’ is untenable. If the ‘primary performer’ status is not accepted, how do you (Rahugana) say that you are walking? It is far from truth because, on the ground or the surface, my two feet are lying; above them, my ankles, knees, thighs, waist, stomach, chest, shoulders, neck and then the head. In such a case, how do you define yourself or at least your walking? Are you walking on the feet, the ankles, knees, thighs and so on? How do you presume that you are walking? This is because the feet or knees are not the ones that are sheltering me. It is the earth, which is my primary shelter. But, Paramatma is the shelter for that Earth too.

Thus, when someone says ‘King Rahugana is coming’, the primary sense of the Paramatma ‘driving’ Rahugana should also be conceived. Moreover, the wooden palanquin is lying on our shoulders and we are the four carriers. In that palanquin, your body is lying, which is being identified as a king and you happen to be a ‘titular king’ by chance. You have rooted in that body your sense of being a king of Sindhu Empire. You have become blind with that false pride or vanity. Why no one mentions that king Rahugana is coming on the shoulders of four carriers? If the Earth is perceived as primary shelter or performer, then Paramatma, who is the ultimate ‘performer’, should be conceived as ‘The Performer”. Similarly, Paramatma is more important than the Earth. Therefore, even if the being has the tangential feeling of being the performer, the ultimate truth that Paramatma is the ‘only performer’ should always kept in the mind and everything correlated to it. (contd…)      PLEASE SHARE THIS IF YOU LIKE IT

GANGAVATARANA

GANGAVATARANA

(Chapter 39 of Balakanda in Ramayana provides insight into Gangavatarana. PLEASE SHARE IT IF YOU LIKE IT)

VishwAmitra vachaha shrutwA kathAntE RaGhunandana|
UvAcha paramapreetO munim deeptamivAnalam||1||

ShrOtumichchAmi bhadram tE vistarENa kathamimAm|
PUrwakO mE katham Brahmnyajnam vai samupAharat||2||

Tasya tadwachanam shrutwA kautUhalasamanwitam|
VishwAmitrstu KAkutsthamuvAcha prahasanniva|
ShrUyatAm vistarO RAma sagarasya mahAtmanaha||3||

ShankarashwashurO nAmnA himavAniti vishrutaha|
VindhyaparwatamAsAdya nireekShEtE parasparam||4||

TayOrmadhyE pravruttO(a)bhUdyajnaha sa puruShOttama|
Sa hi dEshO naravyAGhraprashastO yajna karmaNi||5||

Delighted by hearing the fact that King Sagara began preparations for performing a Yagna that Vishwamitra said at the end of the narration, Raghava told the sage, who was glowing with high radiation and sitting there:
“Great sage, good wishes to you. I am desirous of knowing in detail how our ancestor Sagara, began the Yagna, completed it. Please tell it.”
Hearing the words of Ramachandra, curious Vishwamitra smiled and told Sri Rama:
“Rama, I will tell you in detail the story of the sacrifice performed by Sagara. Listen to me carefully. Father-in-law of Mahadeva Shankara, who is popularly known as Himavanta goes near the king of mountains Vindhya to see the latter. Vindhya too goes very close to see Himavanta, who is charming with high towers1. Purushd arrange to retrieve the horse. If the sacrificial horse is not brought back, the sacrifice will get obstructed. This is inauspicious and a bad omen for the performer (Yajamana) as well as us (Rutvijas). Therefore, ensure that the sacrifice is undisturbed.”ottama, the Aryavarta2, the region between Vindhya and Himalaya, is very suitable for performing sacrifices. The sacrifice desired by Sagara was begun at this place. Sagara began the performance of sacrifice and as per the norms; he sent away the sacrificial horse (Yagnashwa) on the expedition3. The Stallion was being guarded by the valorous and obedient heir of Sagara, Amshumanta (Son of Asamanja). Indra, who wanted to disturb the sacrifice, assumed the form of a demon on the day the sacrificial horse was set free and kidnapped the horse. Perturbed by the loss of sacrificial horse, all Rutvijas came to performer of sacrifice, Sagara, and said: 

“Maharaja, someone has abducted our sacrificial horse on the day of its launching in lightning speed. Please immediately initiate steps to catch and destroy the culprit, who has stolen the horse an

Dwarakanath Simogga

JADABHARATOPAKHYANA - XIV

(Jadabharata continues to provide insight into the lessons of philosophy to Rahugana. SHARE IT IF YOU LIKE)

“It is but natural for all the beings to have the feeling of ‘mine’ and ‘my’, the symptoms of ego, pride, vanity. It is not advisable to ignore such feelings. B

ut, such feelings should be overpowered, erased and destroyed by serving Lord Hari and the Gurus or Lord Vishnu and Lord Vayu. That alone can ensure salvation,” says Jadabharata. 

BhrAtruvyamEnam twamadaBhraveeryamupEkshayA(a)pyEDhitamapramattaha|

GurOrharEshcharaNOpAsanAstrO jahi vyaLeekam swamAtmamOham||

The word Atmamoha means self-esteem or the sense of ego. Jadabharata is telling Rahugana to shun the sense of self-esteem or egoism, self-pride, selfishness. When Jadabharata had earlier told Rahugana that even though born with a body or physique, he (Jadabharata) had no misery that is always attached and inherent with the body, the king had asked “How is it possible?” Rahugana had further argued: “When the existence of body is true, the related misery or distress comes along with it.” 

Different doctrines or schools of thought contend that what Jadabharata meant was to rid the ego, pride, self-esteem etc., by considering the existence of body as false. The line of such argument is called falsification or Mithyavada. However, Sri Madhwacharya advises ‘AtmamOham jahi” or win over the false pride about the body. Moha means passion and Atmamoha means passion for self, which drives human mind towards passion towards the body, which is often mistaken as soul. The capacity to drive away the passion over self comes with passion one develops towards the Lord, which is inculcated with the belief that Lord alone is independent and all our bodies and their actions are driven, mentored and monitored by Lord. 

Jadabharata tells to Rahugana: AbhimAnAdEva samskArO(a)nyaThA nEti parihAraha| 

Earlier, Jadabharata had said “DEhEna jAtasya hi mE na santi” and the king had in turn asked “How is it possible”. Jadabharata replies as above. “Misery grips family life due to passion or attachment. Once the passion is won over, there is no room for misery” and such a state can be attained only by passionate devotion towards the Lord. (Contd….)

BIRTH OF KARTHIKEYA

(The story of birth of Karthikeya and the Birth of Ganga or Gangavatharana as narrated by Sri Valmeeki through a conversation between Vishwamira and Srirama. PLEASE SHARE IT IF YOU LIKE)

TAm kathAm KaushikO RAmE nivEdya madhurAkSharAm|

PunarEvAparam vAkyam KAkutsthamidamabraveet||1||

AyOdhyAdhipatihi shUraha pUrvamAseennarAdhipaha|
SagarO nAma dharmAtmA prajAkAmaha sa chAprajAha||2||

VaidarbhaduhitA RAma kEshinee RAma nAmataha|
JyEShThA sagarapatnee sA dharmiShTA satyavAdinee||3||

AriShTanEmErduhitA suparNabhaginee tu sA|
DwiteeyA sagarasyAseetpatnee sumatisanjnitA||4||

TAbhyAm saha mahArAjaha patneebhyAm taptavAmstapaha|
Himavantam samAsAdya BhruguprasravaNE girau||5||

For the question “TeenpaThO hEtunA kEna?” that Rama asked, which meant “Why Ganga flew in three ways?” Vishwamitra explained to Rama how Ganga went to Devaloka. He narrated the details of the birth of Kartikeya as it was related to the same story. Subsequently, he started telling another incident related to the reasons for Ganga to flow down to the Earth and the Patala Loka in very sweet words. 

“Dear son, once a pious, brave and popular king called Sagara was the King of Ayodhya. He did not have children for a very long time. A zest to get children developed in him. Keshini, a virtuous, righteous and truthful daughter of the then king of Vidarbha, was the eldest wife of Sagara. Sumati, who was one of the daughters of Arishtanemi (Kashyapa) and sister of Garuda, the golden eagle, was the second wife of Sagara. Sagara, along with his two wives, began a penance in a sub-mountain called Bhrugupravana, which was adjacent to Mount Himalaya, in the name of Bhrugu Maharshi seeking children. Worshipped for a period of one hundred years through penance, Bhrugu Maharshi, a great person among those known for the virtue of being truthful, got impressed and gave a boon to the king: 

ApatyalABhaha sumahAnBhviShyati tavAnaGha|

Keertim chApratimAm lOkE prApsyasE puruSharShaBha||7||

“Oh great man without any stain of sin, several children, who will earn the praise of universe, will be born to you and from those children, you will earn unmatched fame. One of your two wives will give birth to only one child and the other will beget 60,000 children.” Delighted and pleased with Bhrugu Maharshi for bestowing the boon, the two princesses Keshini and Sumati, honored and worshipped the sage in appropriate manner and told him with folded hands: 

“Oh revered, May your boon become a reality. But, we want to know from you as which one of us will beget one son and who will beget sixty thousand children.”

Hearing their words, most pious Bhrugu Maharshi, replied to them in these interesting and good words: 

“Oh princesses, this subject is entirely left to your desire. You have to decide about your desires.” 

Rama, after hearing the words of Bhrugu Maharshi, Vidarbha princess Keshini expressed her desire in front of Sagara to have only one son. Sister of Garuda, Sumati, heartily welcomed the other option to have enthusiastic and respectable sixty thousand children. Later, Sagara revolved around Bhrugu Maharshi, prostrated before him and saluted the sage and returned to Ayodhya, along with his two wives. With the passage of time, eldest wife Keshini delivered the famous son called “Asamanja”. Sumati, on the other hand, delivered a bottle gourd-like embryo. Sixty thousand children came out after breaking it. Female nurses nurtured those 60,000 children by keeping in separate pots filled with ghee. After they were nurtured for several years, the babies which were in the form atoms, gradually developed and got human form. Later, they became young and efficient children. Did I not tell you earlier that Sagara begot a son called Asamanja from his eldest wife Keshini? Every day, he used to throw children playing on streets into Sarayu River and laughing at those children fluttering in waters, screaming, crying and drowning in the river. It was all a fun for him (Asamanja). Sagara being a pious king, who was always thinking of the welfare of his subject, once extradited Asamanja from the kingdom as he was committing grave crimes every day, was always thinking of torturing the people and was a scourge of virtuous citizens. Asamanja had a son called Amshumanta, who was brave, soft spoken and a beloved of all the people. 

After the passage of several years, Sagara got a desire to perform a sacrifice. Endowed with the knowledge of Vedas, Sagara decided to perform the Yajna and began preparations for it, along with the Rutvijas.

JADABHARATOPAKHYANA - XIII

(Jadabharata continues to explain to Rahugana)

DravyaswaBhAvAsayakarmakAlairEkAdashAmee manansO vikArAha|

Sahasrashaha shatashaha kOTishashcha kShEtrajnatO na miThO na swataha syuhu||

The mind indulges in eleven types of activities in conjunction with the body, the sensory organs, depending upon the time, the Karma and related currents, including emotions. Among them, passion or compassion results in secondary and tertiary types of activities, while other activities are only considered as the results of coincidental causes. However, all these activities happen and trigger further reactions because of the will of the Almighty because none of the thoughts, actions, feelings, emotions etc., is under the control of human mind. There is nothing that can happen as per the intrinsic or self-motivated human desire. The thoughts that arise in the mind cannot be consigned as having emanated from the earlier thoughts or independently since such a conclusion is illogical and improbable.

KShEtrajna AtmApuruShaha purANaha sAkShAt swayamjyOtirajaha parEshaha|

NArAyaNO BhagavAn VAsudEvaha swamAyayA(A)tman vyavaDheeyamAnaha||

Hari is like an aberration because he is intrinsic and inherent in every being and stays in every physique. Unlike the beings, he is unimaginably, comprehensively and inexplicably knowledgeable. He perceives the biological body independently and becomes a synonym of Purana, self-luminary, free from the process of birth and he is the Purushottama. Bhagavan Vasudeva, who is known as Narayana alone is the ultimate truth and he is not shapeless, formless and so o

n in the ordinary sense of these terms. Although this Narayana is present in all beings, he is not dependent on the beings. He stays in the beings of his own desire and is self-reliant. He remains invisible to beings.

Sri Madhwacharya in his Bhagavata Tatparya Nirnaya reaffirms this syllogism by citing a Shloka in Garuda Purana:

SwamAyayA(A)tman vyavaDheeyamAnaha swEchChaya swasminnEva tirOhitatvEna sThitaha|

swAtmADhAraha swEchChayaiva jeevadruShTEstirOhitaha|

KShEtrajnEtyuchyate ViShNurjeevasThaha PuruShOttamaha|| Iti cha||

As mentioned in Garuda Purana, “SwayamAyayAtman vyavaDheeyamAnaha” means that Sri Hari takes shelter in Himself of his own desire and remains invisible to the being. Being self-sheltered, Vishnu is intrinsic and inherent in the beings, which expression is reminiscent of Atma or soul as per Bhagavata, and therefore, He is Purushottama, which concept is hidden in the word Paresha. That is why He is called Kshetrajna, states Garuda Purana. (To be continued…)

PLEASE SHARE IT IF YOU LIKE

BIRTH OF KARTIKEYA

(This is in continuation of the previous post/s related to Birth of Karikeya, the background, which culminates into the Birth of Ganga or Gangavatarana, as narrated by Sage Vishwamitra to Srirama mentioned in Chapter 37, Balakanda, Srimadvalmeeki Ramayana)

Skanda ityabruvandEvAha skannam garbhaparisravAt|
KArtikEyam mahAbAhum kAkutstha jwalanOpamam||27||

PrAdurbhUtam tataha kSheeram kruttikAnAmanuttamam|
ShaNNAm ShaDAnanO bhUtwA jagrAha stanajam payaha||28||

GruheetwA ksheeramEkAnhA sukumAravapustadA|
Aajayat swEna veeryENa daityasainyagaNAnwibhuhu||29||

SirasEnAgaNapatimabhyaShinchanmahAdyutim|
TatastamamarAha sarwE samEtyAjnipurOgamAha||30||

Rama, since Kartikeya, who was broad shouldered and was reminiscent of Yagneshwara, the deities also called him as Skanda as he had fallen from the womb. Skanna in Sanskrit means one who has fallen to the ground. 

Pure and nutritious milk filled the breasts of the deities of Star Krittika. All the six mothers (deities) sat together to feed breast milk to Skanda. Being a divine person, Skanda manifested himself with six faces and drank the breast milk of all the six mothers, simultaneously. Born with a soft body, Lord Skanda with six faces drank the breast milk fed by all the six mothers for one full day and won the battle against demons with his sheer should power and strength. Agni and the other chief deities arrived and performed the coronation of Skanda as the chief commander of the army of deities. I have narrated the entire story of the birth of Kartikeya and the grand origin of Ganga in detail, This story is highly meritorious and gracious. 

Bhaktashcha yah KArtikEyE KAkutsTha Bhuvi mAnavaha|

AayuShmAnputrapautrashcha SkandasAlOkyatAm vrajet||

Rama, Any man who is a devotee of Kartikeya and surrenders to him without any bias or prejudice will have a long life, beget children and grandchildren, will have all pleasures and happiness in life and will finally get into the Skanda Loka.”

HAPPY HANUMAD VRAT

Presenting transliteration of Laghvayustuti to mark HANUMADVRAT on Margashira Ritu Shukla Trayodashi. May LORD VAYU bless everyone with peace, spirituality and prosperity.

VAsudEvam sadAnandasteerTham sandOhasandOha sheelam|
SwAminam sachchidAnandarUpam nandayAmO vayam nandateerTham||
Sri HanUmantamEkAtaBhAjam RAGhava SripadAmBhOjaBhrungam
MArutim prANInm prANaBhUtam nandayAmO vayam nandateerTham|| BheemarUpam parm preeyavAsam BhAratam BhArtashreelalAmam|BhUmiBhruDhwamsanam BhArateeshamnandayAmO vayam nandateerTham||DEvachUDAmaNim pUrNabODham KriShNapAdAravindaikavAsam|ChittachintAmaNim pUrNarUpam nandayAmO vayam nandateerTham||MAyigOmAyumAyAnDhakAraDhwamsamArtanDamUrteeyamAnam|sajjanAnandasandOhaDhEnum nandayAmO vayam nandateerTham||IndirAkAntamAnandamUrtim sundareemandirAnandarUpam|DAsamEkam taThA tattwarUpam nandayAmO vayam nandateerTham||||
Iti Srimatkavikulatilaka SrimattrivikramapaNDitAchArya duhitA SrikalyANeedEvee virachitA LaGhuvAyustutihi sampUrNam

A respectful tribute to Srimad Bhagavad Gita

Today, the Margashira Shukla Yekadashi day, #Gita Jayanti is being celebrated across the globe to commemorate the origin of Bhagvad Gita. It was the day on which the 18-day Great War between Kauravas and #Pandavas broke out. Lord Krishna was asked by a proud Arjun to park the chariot at the centre of the Army. Lord Krishna was a great psychiatrist too and He wanted to make not only Arjun but also the entire humanity understand the nuances of lif...e. Therefore, Lord Krishna wantonly parked the chariot in such a location from where Arjuna could easily view the likes of most revered #Bheeshma Pitamaha, Guru Sri Donacharya, Krupa, #Ashwatthama, apart from his brothers Duryodhana, Dushshasana and a host of others. Another point to be taken note of is that, according to a rough estimate, about one-tenth of the then population of the entire globe, was involved directly and indirectly in that Kurukshetra. While refusing to fight, Arjuna pointed out that with such a huge population being on the verge of destruction, only widows, childless mothers, unmarried girls might remain. At that moment, Lord Krishna just says, “When I am there, who are you to think of birth and death? Why do you think the destruction of this corporal body as the end of life or life-cycle? Why do you think those standing against you are your near and dear? With what authority do you think you are going to fight and you are going to kill everyone?” This has become the universal, non-sectarian and eternal philosophy that touches all aspects of human world. It is historical, philosophical, political, didactic, epigrammatic, sociological and all-in-one work that is beyond the precincts of time, age and class. 

Gita Jayanti is celebrated worldwide by all devotees of Lord Krishna. En-masse recitation of all 700 verses of the Gita are chanted on this day. Some devotees fast on this day as it coincides with Yekadashi Bhajans and special Pujas are performed to mark the special occasion. Discourses, lectures, debates are also held on Gita. 

In Malaysia, the Gita Jayanti Team celebrates the occasion annually.

In Singapore, Gita Jayanti is celebrated on a grand scale for about a month. Each year, a different organisation from among 36 such organisations takes the responsibility of organising the programmes and coordinating with others.

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JADABHARATOPAKHYANA XII

Jadabharata was so prolific and knowledgeable that his logical establishment of truth about certain intricate aspects of life took Rahugana by surprise. As Jadabharata went on speaking, Rahuhana had nothing else to do but hear, understand and assimilate. In fact the situation was such that Rahugana forgot that he was on the way to meeting Kapila Maharshi and that he was a king. On the contrary, Jadabharata remembered that he was the king and Rahugana, by a matter of sheer chance and his Karmic exaltation, had ascended the same throne on which Jadabharata was seated in his past life. Jadabharata says now:

Sa VAsanAtmA viShayOparaktO guNapravAhO vikrutaha ShODashAtgmA|

Chitram PrThangnAmaBhee rUpaBhedamantarbahiShThaha swapuraistanOti||

DuhKham SuKham vyatimishram cha teevram kAlOpapannam PhalamAvyanakti|

Aalingya mAyArachitAntarAtmA swadEhinam samskritichakrakUTam||Sri Madhwacharya’s Bhagavata Tatparya Nirnaya Panchama Skandha||

(There is no word in English for Manas apart from Mind and hence please treat mind in this particular context as Manas.)

Mind is comprising of the Trigunas namely Satwika, Rajasa and Tamasa. Therefore, the mind is home for the qualities, traits or characters emanating from these Trigunas and their innumerable combinations. In the Lingashareera or the human body that possesses Shodashakalas or

sixteen skills, the most important aspect or part is this very mind. Call it the culprit or the beacon of knowledge. Driven by the Samskara or the merits and demerits of previous lives, the mind assigns to the human being various names, shapes like the form of a human, Deva, Asura etc., in accordance with the Papakarmas, the positive or negative energies emanating from human action, thought and deeds. These things may happen in dreams or when the human being is awake. When the being is awake, the mind directs the actions and reactions through the sensory organs and such actions and reactions may be sinful, virtuous, meritorious, pious so on and so forth. By doing so, the mind creates the prospective forms such as Deva, Asura and Manushya to the human being. 

This mind, which is made up of the will of the Lord and the Nature (five elements), stays and embraces the human body in which it stays. Under the influence of the uncontrollable Time that invariably brings with it the feelings or senses of mirth, wrath, distress, saddity or variations and combinations of these senses. This further creates heaps and heaps of bliss, ecstasy, sin, displeasure, dejection, depression, unhappiness and discomfiture that keep repeating in human life and that is what is the cycles of Karma, the cycles of birth and death from which there is no escape at all. (To be continued. If you like it, kindly share it)

JADABHARATOPAKHYANA - PART XI

The transformation that Emperor Bharata undergoes from his royal life to that of Bharata Muni, Deer and then to Jadabharata is something fictitious despite being factual. Now, Jadabharata begins analysing the questions of Rahugana, who lost no time in realising that Jadabharata was not what or how he appeared physically. Rahugana asks Jadabharata to further explain the total, unparalleled, indescribable and unintelligible independence, compared to all other beings, including other deities. Rahugana wanted to know why the Jeeva or the being does not have the Kartrutva. Jadabharata replies: "It is very simple. The thoughts in a being arise due to Sattwa, RajO and TamO GuNas or varied combinations of these three Gunas or qualities or traits. The fact is that no being has any control over these qualities as they are derived from Karmas, which are predetermined and predirected by the Lord.

TaThaiva rAjannurgArhamEDha vitAnavidyOruvijrumBhitEShu|

Na vEdavAdEShu hi tattwavAdaha prAyENa shudDhO nu chakAstisADhu||

The Kalpasutra and other scriptures might extol that the most auspicious, expensive and meritorious Yagas that a Gruhastha performs are driven by his own Karma, which is not entire true. It is relatively true. It is more an exterior and outwardly perception. Lord alone prompts the Jeeva to perform the Yagna and receives all the offerings himself.Jeeva will consume or experience whatever the Lord 'wills and delivers' of his own judgement. Not all can clearly understand that what is outwardly conceived is falsification and that the inward effect, impact and merit is beyond perception. Only those who have learnt the intricacies of Shastra can understand a little about this secret of Karma Yoga and others cannot even understand an iota of this hard truth. 

Garuda Purana further affirms: 

Na vEdEShwalpabudDheenAm Brahmatattwam sameekShyatE|

MalhAbudDhistu vEdEShu pashyEd Brahmaiva kEvalam||

For those semi-knowledgeable, who are unaware of culture and tradition, the Vedic concepts like 'SwargakAmO yajEta' etc., that state that through Aradhana or devotion to Hari alone, the inducement to perform Yaga arises in one's mind, cannot be realised at all. Only those aware of culture and tradition can know such things through VAkyasamanvaya or correction of sentences and Padasamanvaya or correlation of words. This is because each sentence, word and syllable in spiritual texts convey different meanings, depending on one's inherent Karma Yoga and the related capacity to decipher the intricacies. (To be continued....)

ORIGIN OF KARTIKEYA

TapyamanE TapO dEvEsEndrAha sagnipurOgamAha|

SEnApatimabheessantaha pitAmahamupAgaman||

With Lord Shiva engaged in a deep penance in Himavatprabhavashikhara, prominent deities like Agni, the Fire God, along with Lord Indra, went to Pitamaha Brahma, with a hope to secure a capable chief commander. Agni, Indra and other deities saluted Lord Brahma and said: 

“Lord, earlier, Lord Shiva earlier handed over a commander in the form of an embryo and retired to Himalayas, along with Umadevi and is presently engaged in an arduous penance. Please think what we should do next to secure an efficient chief commander for the welfare of the universe, for punishing the evil and protecting the pious. You are well aware of the method involved and the secret behind the issue. You are the only savior for us.”

Brahma, the Lord of all the three worlds, listened to the appeal of deities, consoled them with sweet words and said: 

“Oh deities, there is no escape for you from the curse ‘Na prajAha swasupatnishu” — there is no chance for you to beget children from your wives — delivered by Umadevi. That is a true statement. There is no doubt in this. Therefore, henceforth you will not beget sons from your wives. Destroyer of enemies and chief commander of the army of deities will be none else than the one Lord Agni would beget from most mystic, sky-flowing Ganga Devi. Being the eldest daughter of Himavanta, Goddess Ganga will naturally look after the child born for Lord Agni from her. That will not enrage Uma either. It is because, hasn’t that radiation of the prospective chief commander in the form of embryo originated from the union of Shiva and Uma? Uma too will be impressed if that divine child is borne by her elder sister. There can be least doubt about this.”” 

Rama, after hearing the sweet words of Lord Brahma, they felt that their wish had been realised, saluted and worshipped Lord Brahma again. All the deities went to Mount Kailas, which was bound by springs, streams and mines of various ores, and offered prayers to Lord Agni, as advised by Lord Brahma, with the intent of securing a chief commander: 

“Yagneshwara, please accomplish this task for the sake of all deities. Please release the radiation of Lord Shiva, which is in the form of an embryo of Kartikeya, into Ganga River.”

“May that be so. I will do as you have told me.” Pledging that way in front of all the deities, Lord Agni took the radiation of Lord Shiva, went near Akasha (sky) Ganga and told her: 

“Oh Shylaputri, please bear this Retas of Lord Shiva in your womb as such an act of yours will please the deities.”

JADABHARATA - PART IX

(In the previous episode, Jadabharata was clarifying on the concept of Jeevanmrityu tattwam and in this instance, he analyses the word ‘swaswambibhava)

The Shloka is:

SwaswamiBhAvO Dhruva yESha Yatra tarhyachyutE krutyayOgaha||

Jadabharata tells Rahugana: “The difference between the Sw2ami and the Bhrutya or the Lord and Servant is temporal. If this difference was permanent in nature, then I could have transacted with you as a servant. You could order me too.”

The word “TarhyachyutE(a)sAviti” leaves no suspicion about what Jadabharata was trying to prove. The permanent Lordship rests with one and only Achyuta. He is called as Achyuta because He is not susceptible to “chyuta” or decline, decrease or destruction. “A” serves here as the qualifying vowel that coverts the word “Chyuta” into an antonym. The Shashwata Bhrutyatwa or permanent servant-hood is seen in us — the humans, including Jadabharata and Rahugana. Although the world transacts all business and relationships with the disguised perception or mistaken notion of Swamy-Bhrutyatwa, in reality, none other than Achyuta, Lord Vishnu, can either be a permanent Swami or a permanent servant. Garuda Purana clearly states “SwAmitwam tu HarErEva muKhyam”. Swamitwa stays permanently and independently with Lord Hari. He is synonymous of Swamy. Similarly, to a certain extent, the Swamitwa stays permanently with other deities as well. However, their Swamitwa is not ‘independent’. The Swamitwa of deities is ‘swAmitAgataha” or a status bestowed upon them by Sri Hari. Jadabharata tells Rahugana:

“Oh Rahugana, the Lordship in persons like you is purely temporary and meant only for worldly activities. Tell me whether there is such an unconditional, unbiased, unprejudiced Lordship or Kingship among human kings. All their rank and file, status, pomp, glory and command are temporary and fully restricted to human world for worldly affairs. Due to Karma, a person may become King today and a servant tomorrow. Such differences do not occur among deities, according to Garuda Purana” (To be cont…..)