Yug-dharma

  The doctrine of dharma is a very scientific and rational one eulogized in all our scriptures like the agama shastras, veda and Upanishads and the Bhagavad-Gita. one should carefully study these scriptures in order to live a happy and peaceful life. In the first place, what is this yug-dharma? It is a secret that unfolds as time moves! The universe is well-programmed. Things happen according to the will of the Lord, rather as desired by Him! This is beautifully explained in the Gita.

   Although, yug or kaal (Time) is an illusion, it is the datum line! Since the very universe is a transcendental reality, the Time and Space that govern it are also not exempt from this illusion. The great sages visualized what happens in course of time and have instructed these visualized knowledge to their trusted disciples. Accordingly, whatever is concealed or hidden, or inherent and in-built in this capsule of Time (kaal) will unfold at the appropriate time, as per the will of the Lord. this is 'kaala-dharma'!

   Time and space constitute the dimensions in which we the humans live and work. The hidden aspect s the causality. Cause and effect are what we intellectually discern, but we will not understand how effect is hidden in the cause and this 'cause' is the 'desire' (ichha), the will of the Lord. Now, what is this hidden aspect? Desire creates resolve and action towards the fulfillment of the desire!  Thus, the Lord's Will be done!

   Over a period of seven eons, Manvantaras*, each one consisting of four quarters called 'yuga', the universe has expanded and cooled! The formation of the planets from the bursting solar flares, cooled over time is what we see as the planets in our solar system*. It is a mystery how this planet earth hosts diverse life forms, including the humans. There are stages in the development of this earth in which we trace evolution of life. One such is the present stage of the humans wo are just animals with an underdeveloped mind. This stage is a stage of very low level of consciousness where humanslive like animals just searching for food (wealth?), eating and sleeping, spending most of the time in an unending search for happiness! Little do these deluded humans know that their desires for carnal cravings can never ever be satiated!This sensuous objective phenomenal world is transient, delusive and not real! These humans are not following the dharma.

   Hence, the humans have to think about dharma, and the times in which they are living! This is the kali yuga, the fourth quarter and sharvari samvatsara in which e are living. This is the time when the human consciousness is at its lowest level. It is characterized by greed, hunger, poverty, avaricious and selfish nature. These are detrimental to human progress. Man will destroy order, dfy dharma and cause total destruction. This kali yuga will end disastrously giving rise to the next manvantara with a new Order- one of sattva.
  *[Google search will give the names of all the fourteen Manvantaras and NASA ill give details about Solar System, Stars and Sun].

'Dharma'

   Unlike the English language, often mocked at as a 'funny' language, the samskruta bhasha is tricky language. Today's samskruta bhasha is a derivative of the ancient Language of Gods, an unwritten one and, as such, has no scripture, although it later came to be known as the 'devanagari' script! The present samskruta bhasha is also highly corrupt! All languages undergo change widely over distance and time, geographically. The present samskrutam is a derivative or co-existent one with the pali and ardhamagadhi languages. Jarbhari and turfari languages are considered much earlier to the samskrutanm and have a bearing, if not a direct derivative one! The history samskruta bhasha is very interesting!
   Every word in Samskrutam has a hundred meanings and connotations! There is a root syllable, like a seed that sprouts, grows and spreads. At least, there are six important connotations of a word - yatartha, gudartha, vyangyarth, dvandvartha, marmik artha, and prasangika artha. May be, a word is simply also inserted as a dummy to mislead the mischievous people who want to take advantage of it and fool others! Every sentence of Samskrutam has to be carefully reorganized in order to get the appropriate meaning and this comes by study and  practice of grammar and composition. The meaning of the words depend on the circumstances and the context in which the sentence is constructed. Hence, it is not very easy to arrive at the exact meaning of a sentence, unless one is acquainted and trained in the study of this sacred language. In fact, Samskrutam is the derivative of an ancient language of the Gods and mostly unwritten! hence every word has a hundred connotations.

  'Dharma' is a word that has an eternal, religiously followed custom, and tradition amongst the Hindu. It is called 'Hindu sanatana dharma'. The term 'dharma' simply refers to 'right conduct'. Every thought and action of a person should be oriented towards the welfare of the society! This noble conduct is expected of every Hindu. The fundamental principle here is one of universal welfare. A 'Hindu' is a highly developed human who treats existence as a 'sacrifice', yajnya. Every thought, word, and action of a Hindu is oriented to selfless service. This is the greatest 'dharma'. It should always be remembered that the term 'Hindu' does not refer to any caste, sub-caste or creed. It is a religion, discipline! Dharma for a Hindu is his prana, life-force! A Hindu keeps others interest above the self. This is a widespread culture all over India, although traced to the inhabitants of the Sindhu River valley. It is also important to note that the River Sindhu is not just the name of a river, but all the rivers in general! This is eulogized in the Rk Veda as sapta sidhavh | The seven rivers, sapta sindhavah, refers to the seven level of consciousness, prajnya. The highest one can attain in one's life is this highest level of human existence of all-round knowledge and welfare. Incidentally 'River' also means flow of knowledge (jnyan ganga), flow of consciousness (prajnya dhara). 

   Thus, there is much to be understood here. dharma is not just something one can easily understand. 'Dharma is brahmn'. Everything is dharma in the land of the Seven Rivers (sapta sindhavah)- Sindhu, Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Krishna, Godavari, kaveri.   

As Regards Births and Deaths.. ..

   There are certain statements in the Gita which reveal the secret of births and deaths. In Ch. IV, Verse  5 states, that both Bhagavan Shree Krishna and Arjuna have taken several births! At the same time, in Ch. II. verses 12 and 13, Bhagavan says that, "Neither He, nor Arjuna has ever taken birth, nor did they die anytime!" These may appear contradictory? But, not so, says the Lord. In the first instance the appearance of the jiva in names and forms is by itself illusory since these are transitory. There statements made by Bhagavan that He appears 'as and when unrighteousness predominate and the pious suffer'! And, then He tells Arjuna that both you and I always exist in the form of the Self, the Atman, that is unborn, eternal and the immortal. It is the prerogative of the Lord to appear as and when, wherever He like to appear or disappear! He, the Lord, only takes many a diverse forms simultaneously! All that exist here is 'He only' and nothing else. He reiterates that "He only exists and nothing besides Him". But then what is all this, we as mortals see? It is an illusion, at the most! There is nothing but the supreme Lord Paramatman taking different names and forms as 'jivatman'. 

   The Atma, Self, takes several forms. But, who knows what is this Atman? This is evident from the Vedic Verses given below:

   "Many there are who do not even hear of Atman; though hearing of Him, many do not comprehend. Wonderful is the expounder and rare the hearer; rare indeed is the experiencer of Atman taught by an able preceptor. Atman, when taught by an inferior person, is not easily comprehended, because It is diversely regarded by disputants. But when It is taught by him who has become one with Atman, there can remain no more doubt about It. Atman is subtler than the subtlest and not to be known through argument. This Knowledge cannot be attained by reasoning. Atman become easy of comprehension, O dearest, when taught by another. You have attained this Knowledge now. You are, indeed, a man of true resolve. May we always have an inquirer like you!  The fulfilment of desires, the foundation of the universe, the rewards of sacrifices, the shore where there is no fear, that which adorable and great, the wide abode and the goal-all this you have seen; and being wise, you have with firm resolve discarded everything." [Yajurveda, Katha Upanishad, Part One, Chapter II, 8-11]. 

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Man of Knowledge is Dear to Me

   Bhagavan Shree Krishna says, "The man of knowledge endowed with constant steadfastness and one-pointed devotion, excels.... I am very much dear to the man of knowledge, and he too is dear to Me." (BG 7. 17). This should be read with the next verse that says,
  "Not that others are inferior, but the man of knowledge, jnyani, is dear to Me because he adores none else than Me." He know I am the Self, Atman, in all. He is steadfast in devotion. He is focused, one-pointed and knows I am super-excellent. I am the highest that one can attain, param uttama gatim!" (BG 4.18) 

  Here, it is important to understand the true meaning and purport of the term 'Knowledge', jnyan. 'Jnyan' in Samskruta bhasha connotes a very deep and vast meaning! It pertains to the living beings the jiva rashi, who are permeated by the Lord! This is very important. Every jiva should realize the fact that the Lord  is seated in the lotus hearts of the living beings, jiva rashi. it is the divine will, desire, and plan that prompts the jiva to work (action/karma). It is imperative that the jiva should realize the fact that the supreme Lord is pervaded as the Self, the Atman, in all! This is atma sakshatkara.
   But, then, what is this 'Self', the Atman? This question persists till the last breath and there is no answer to this question! The very problem of a question and an answer does not arise! Here, the duality does not exist! However, Sri Shankaracharya has given us a clue. If one wants answer to this question, he /she should go on discarding everything acquired since birth, such as the body, mind, intellect, ego as neti, neti, (not this, not this) and rest in peace with oneself! All that comes within the grasp of the senses are disturbances. The sense of 'I' creates the sense of belonging, me, and mine. Hence, one should drop the ego first!
   Thus, a jnyani, the man of realization, reaches the ultimate divine state. Such a person will transcend all dualities. There is no duality and as such, no likes and dislikes! There is equanimity. There is no judgment and all that pervades is love only. That is fulfillment!

TIME (Revisited)

    Everything in this universe comes within the grip of Time. Time is an illusion since it varies from situation, Latitude to Latitude, and varied over space, and is variable. In fact, Time only creates space as it moves over distance; space is the inherent, hidden aspect of time that manifests! This also involves the aspect of causation, as if the space is the cause of movement of electromagnetic waves (LIGHT) from the Sun creating Time. There exists nothing when time and space are united as ’nowhere’. When Time moves, it creates Space and, material objects occupy the space! Time begins with the radiation of the electromagnetic waves, solar radiation (with relation to earth), light, and we have the days and nights of different durations over different parts of the earth! ‘Light travels at 186000 mps. In fact, time, space, and intelligence are inherent properties of Light. If anything moves at the speed of light it ceases to exist in time! Even if one travel at the speed of light that person are reduced to ‘nothing’! This ‘nothingness’, unity in time and space, is brahmn. In fact, that which is measurable, or that which comes within the grip of limitation (niyati) of time and space is ‘Ma-ya’. Hence, everything, including Time and Space, is ‘maya’. Illusion, maya, is the manifest form of the unmanifest ‘brahmn’. 

   As already stated, for all practical purposes, for us here on the earth, ‘time’ and ‘space’ are virtually created by the sun rays (radiation /electromagnetic waves). A number of qualities, such as, light, heat, life-force (actinic rays), rajas, tamas, and sattva and their combinations of qualities dictated by the colors (violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red), as well as, many an invisible powerful rays, such as, the infra-red and ultra-violet, the alpha, beta, gamma, x rays are inherent within the electromagnetic waves. The three prominent ones that represent the qualities of nature are the tamas (dark), the rajas (red), and the sattva (white) are depicted as the basic qualities of nature, prakruti. All life-forms are supported by the subtler waves of life-force (actinic rays), and energy (like Vitamin D), The sound and syllables (alphabets), words and their meaning producing the phenomenal gross objects are all hidden in the electro-magnetic waves of solar radiation. The scientific view and the scriptural statements regarding this are the same.

    Thus, the factor of ‘Time’ (kaal) holds everything within itself! Both electricity and magnetism are involved in Time. Time is energy. Time creates and destroys objects. Thus, the ‘time-space continuum’ is the basic tenet of science. Time is indeed illusory since it does not exist outside the forces of rotation of the earth! Hence, time is illusory, and, so also, the space that is created by it! If both time and space are illusory, the physical objects that occupy the space and endure in time are also illusory! This is the concept of maya. Thus, everything in this universe is governed by this maya- the limiting factor (time, space and causality).

Covid 19 or Corona virus- the pandemic.

   We are facing a world-wide panic due to widespread Covid19 or the Corona virus killing almost a lakh people! The worst affected are the Chinese, Italians, Greek and the European, Canadian and the US citizens. Put your finger on the world map, you will find a Covid19 afflicted person? However, these pandemics or endemics have occurred almost every century, almost regularly, in the past? We have had, cholera, Plague, two World Wars, numerous droughts, famines, floods, wildfires, etc and still happening!
  Remember, the Lord said, "I am Kaal (kalo'smi); I shall devour everything! I am Death." "I am Kaal (Time)" (BG 4 10.35-36, 33). There is a verse, hara kollal para kaayvane? This is what happens when people become self-centered and live a reckless life. He, the Lord had assured that He would protect all those who surrender to Him. Hence, the best thing is to spend the quarantine days and Lock-Down and curfew days in meditation and increase their level of consciousness- from that of mundane living to a higher spiritual state.
   The scriptures have given us ample data about things that happened to our Planet earth in bygone eras. Six Manvantaras have gone by and the seventh Vaivasvata is going out soon. Out of the first Six Manvantaras, the first three were just in the formation stage and the land and water got consolidated! The fourth onwards, things such as vegetal kingdom, followed by aquarian and arboreal life developed leading to amphibians, ending upin primates, monkeys! The 25 avataras of Vishnu, out of which ten are elaborately connected with these stages of evolution. Now, the Kaliyuga will end soon! The continents have disappeared during the upheavals and new lands have appeared.
 Now, to recollect the Lord's advise to Uddhava who came to meet Him before His departure to Vaikuntha, here Krishna said, the Kaliyuga will end disastrously. He said, "I am Kaal, I am Death, I shall devour everything!" Want more warnings? Whenever dharma is neglected by the humans, disasters await them in the form of wars, famines, pestilences, floods, droughts, fire hazards and tsunamis. All these have happened in the last few years! We have ignored all these! The next great upheaval will gobbled up everything man has created with his bloated ego!
  A large meteor is passing close-by and if it hits the Earth, the earth will get a rude shock and a brush. If it happens, the earth will start rotating East to West instead of West to East as it is today! This is the next warning!
 Hope the world will be a better place to live in the forthcoming months and years, if it survives? Best Wishes. What cannot be cured should be endured. Meditation is the greatest panacea.
   As a last resort, utmost, we can walk into Vaikuntha chanting the name of Narayana?

Holi, Kama Dahan

      It is very interesting to know how  people 'fall' in love, not rise in 'love'. The festival of Holi is the day of celebration of victory of the irresistible, success of Love! It is celebrated with colors- kumkum and haldi, not the furious chemicals that hurt! As the Shiva purana goes, Shiva was in the meditative trance when Rati and Manmatha (Kama or embodiment of desires) tried to distract Him. The purpose was to engage Shiva in the creation process. Shiva got angry and opened His third eye and burnt Kama into ashes. Rati started crying and requested Shiva to pardon and restore the life of her partner in Love. Shiva granted him a body-less state, ananga. Thus, Ananga Kama could use arrows (kusuma bana) to shoot flowers symbolic of love towards youth without hands. Thus, we see boys and girls fall in love even without their knowledge (blindly) and thus the phrase- 'Love is Blind'!

   The festival is celebrated with performance of puja and distribution of sweets in South India and it is celebrated with sprinkling colors and distribution of sweets in North India. The day of Full Moon (Holi Pournima) is celebrated with burning the effigy of Kama (Desires) and it is followed by festivities the next day. The central theme is clear. It is desire that prompts resole and action; action begets the consequences, the fruits of action, karma phala. The jiva suffers due to ignorance. It is sheer ignorance that jiva runs after desires that are never fulfilled! Each and every sense organ has numerous desires and there is no end to greed! The desires are insatiable and even when the desires are fulfilled, there is a time gap between the time desire sprouts and bear fruits. The time gap takes away the luster and leaves the jiva unhappy/ Thus desire leads to disappointments, misery, and unhappiness. Burning the desires (kamana) arising out of avidya with knowledge, jnyan, leads to eternal happiness, joy and ultimately, fulfillment.

Remedies for Human Suffering

   Human suffering can be avoided if one follows the scriptures! The great sages experienced or had foreseen the problems and have given remedies for human suffering. One of them is 'sharanagatim'. This is surrender to the higher power, the Lord's will. Although the 'karma' is said to be the cause of our suffering, this can be warded off by surrender to the Lord's will. The mantra is simple: say loudly, I do not have any support other than you; i am ignorant; please show grace pity sympathy on me and protect me, my Lord.  anyatha sharanam nasti tvam eve sharanama mama| ajnyanina maya dosham kshamastvam kshamastvam karunaya bhavena janardhana ||   

   Another simple technique is to sit in contemplation, meditation. This is akin to the pain killer administred by a physician. This medi tat i on is the best medicine to ward of all sufferings- physical, mental, and emotional afflictions. This is the best under all circumstances. Feeling worries, tension, anxiety? Just go into meditative trance| The job is done. There is nothing that can be gained by suffering due to forces beyond one'scontrol. So, why not just surrender to the Lord and be happy? 

Causes for Human Suffering

   Suffering is known as tapatraya (Samsk.). The term 'tapa' means afflictions and 'traya' means three. The three afflictions are created by 1. nature (prakruti), 2. physical body, and 3. neighbors (par peeda). The jiva suffers from changing weather conditions, natural calamities, and other forces beyond jiva's control. Any change in temperature causes much inconvenience to the jivas. The three natural conditions that affect the physical body of the jivas are: vata (cold), pittha (fever), and kafa (cough). These are common afflictions! The remedy is to keep them in balance. The problems created by the neighbors is another problem of the jiva. These may include anything and everything that the jiva comes in contact with! Hence, these afflictions bother the jiva.

   Jiva's suffering is of its own making. Nobody is responsible for one's suffering, except in the case of natural havoc. Humans suffer due to avidya, ignorance, lack of knowledge, or karma according to the scriptures. The Bhagavad-Gita has made this very clear. It says 'mudha', fool. This foolishness is an in-born trait. It is karma, the fruits of action that causes embodiment of the jiva. Desire is at the root of this! However, avidya, ignorance,  that cause birth and death. Now, strictly speaking, avidya is not lack of knowledge! It is just an envelope, covering! Several layers, sheaths, cover the Atman. These are the Kosha or layers of food (annam), life-force (prana), mind (manas), knowledge of the material world, and joy (ananda) of the senses! All these are factors that come within limitations of time, space, and cause and effect. 

     'Avidya' is the curtain. We select beautiful curtains to cover the window and thereby ward of the light, air, and even close the windows! The curtains are thick, and some times in layers of thick and thin. These curtains are drawn and the jivas go to rest. This is avidya! Now, in real life, too the jiva suffers due to the same mistake of drawing curtain to the reality! It is like the cataract that makes the vision blurred. Cataract can be removed by laser surgery by a medical surgeon these days; but the cataract with which the jiva is born cannot be removed without a surgeon of spiritual attainment. Thus the jiva suffers!