The Sun and Sunrays

   The Sun is a star composed of Hydrogen that is constantly under fission and fusion giving rise to Helium He4. This gives out radiation of energy in the form of electromagnetic waves. The electromagnetic waves that traverses in all directions produce heat, light, and many other subtler matter. There are millions of stars in the galaxy that are made of not just Hydrogen but many known and unknown elements. It is now known that gold, silver, platinum dusts are splashed into atmosphere when the binaries explode! This entire astronomical phenomena makes us wonder how mysterious is our universe! 

    The Vedic texts, in contrast to the scientific explanation above, give us the details howSun is born! The Sun is called Vivasvan'. urya (Sun) is the manifest form of Vishnu. Sri Hari Narayana is the only God. It is He who appears as everything! He has the innate capacity to appear in various forms and this include the surya (Sun), soma (Moon), and anala (Fire).However, the Vedic surya, soma and anala are not the material (solid or gross) forms of the supreme Lord as we see! They are the inherent nature, svabhava, that manifest! Thus, one has to see the subtler aspects of creation behind all that appears as the waves, vibration, sound, color, alphabets and the gaseous,liquid, and gross forms! The entire phenomenal objective world appears as if coming out of absolute silence! This is the magical aspect, 'maya'! Sage Vashishtha goes on to explain the 'maya' aspect of creation with a number of examples such as the sun and the sunrays, the ocean and its waves, the fire and its heat. 

   The sun is radiating the sunrays. The sunrays are not the sun. However, there is no separate existence for the sunrays apart from the sun. So also the waves are formed out of the ocean due to the winds. No wind, no waves! The waves have no separate existence and depends on the ocean. The ocean is not the waves! The waves are hollow and appears in various forms and disappear! The fire gives heat. Heat is the inherent quality of fire. Hence, a jnyani realizes the intricate relationship that exists between the creation and the 'brahmn'. Here, 'brahmn' is the absolute abstract, nothingness, absolute silence, mahattanta shanta, that manifest as the diverse manifold universe. The Stars, the galaxies, the planets like the earth and its varied life-forms are the manifest forms, like the sun and its sunrays, ocean and its waves, fire and its heat. Just as the sunrays appear and disappear into sun at every sunrise and sunset everyday, the universe disappears into 'brahmn'. The magic of sunrise and sunset is also  revealed here. There is neither a sunrise or sunset everyday! The sun remains wherever it is. It is the at the center of the solar system and governs the movements of all the Planets and their Satellites! At best, it wobbles in its own place. It is the earth rotating on its axis from West to East at a mean velocity of 1040 KM per Hr. that gives the illusion how sun rises in the east and sets in the West every 24 Hrs. So, everything including our births and deaths, people, obejcts, etc that we see, touch, feel with our senses is an illusion here!  
    Adi Shankara explained the Vedic concept of 'maya' in simple terms of 'neti,neti'. The discourse on the illusory nature of the universe-  jagat mithya and brahmn satya goes on!
   A Magician shows his magical skill when things are made to look as if disappear. The buildings, train vanishes and the head comes apart and appears separated! These are stunts and the secret does not remain. But, the secret of creation remains! Bhagavan says that He is a magician (mayavin). make the universe appear and disappear waving His magical wand!

Maya is Inexplicable!

    Sage Vashishta says, "Maya is inexplicable. "O Rama, when Maya gets destroyed, there arises in us Divine Bliss. Any attempt to see or know Maya causes its destruction. Therefore the nature of Maya cannot be seen or known." Further, the Sage goes on to say, "The product of man's erroneous thinking- this long enduring and suffering-filled world - is like a ghost. It can be got rid of by discrimination (vichara)." (Verse 6-7). The term 'Maya' is a beautiful word that reveals how 'Time' (kaala) reveals the truth, reality of the world and the reality of our existence in it! 'Time' is also the Controller, 'Yama'. Yama is the Time and the deity of Kaala is Yamadharamaraya. When Time comes everything is disclosed, revealed!

  Thus, Yoga Vashishtha tells us the secret behind the Creation and the limitations, yama, maya behind this. Everything comes within the stipulated limits of Time! Time is by itself an illusion and this illusory world controlled by Illusion is delusion, since illusion of illusion is delusion!

   The illusory world id destroyed by discrimination. the humans are endowed with Intellect that can help distinguish between the real and the unreal, truth and non-truth, right and wrong. A person who strives for spiritual knowledge will arrive at the right conclusion and gets rid of the illusory nature of existence. The Truth is simple. The jiva suffers due to its ignorance. The phenomenal objective world is created by attachment, moha. It is the ignorance that creates attachment, although the jivatman knows full well that nothing is real! Nothing is ours! We are born alone and, go alone after discarding the body. We unnecessarily feel emotionally attached to the world as mine. We feel unhappy even when we lose something which is not ours! The jiva never realizes that all that exists in this illusory world are illusory due to its ignorance, due to the knowledge covered by attachment!
    The Revered Sage says, "Just as an illusory snake arises out of a rope, this creation which is merely a vibration in Cosmic Consciousness, arises out of imperfect knowledge of the Divine Reality. It disappears with the rise of perfect knowledge of the Divine Reality. The illusory bondage of this world gets stronger through desire for sense objects. When such desire subsides, the bondage becomes feeble. The mind always willfully and swiftly indulges in various kinds of imagining. By such imagination is conjured up this beautiful world." Ch. II Verses 11,12, and 14).
   Despite these, it is difficult for us, mortals, to believe this world is unreal. In one of the meetings, a person asked me, 'How do you say this world is unreal when the wall is a wall and you hit your head you get pain'? I had to tell him, 'The wall, no doubt, a gross, hard substance and it gives pain when you hit it'. Here, what is important is this gross material objects made out of invisible subtler aspects! The soul is covered by a gross body and the jiva thinks that 'the physical body is real and cannot see the subtle soul within'!  The jnyani, yogi, a man of discretion dwells in the inner precincts of the soul contemplating on 'brahmn' and is devoid of the external physical objective sensuous world! This is the true awareness, enlightenment! Such a person will not regret the loss or gain, the pain or pleasure, and rests in peace with his self.  

The Snake and the Rope (Sarpa-Rajju)

    The pundits are discussing about the 'Reality' of the world for thousands of years. One of the oft-quoted simile or comparison is that of a 'rope appearing as a snake in dark'. As children we are all afraid of dark, and some grown-ups are afraid of dark even now! No wonder things are not clear in darkness and fear rules roost! Once we had gone to a near-by town to see a film. It was dark by the time the film show was over. The Milestones were white washed and they appeared like ghost in the dark! It was only when the torch-light lightened up that milestone we all sighed relief and reached home, still afraid of the ghost! The fear is the key! This fear is due to the darkness, lack of knowledge, ignorance, or just missing the point due to lack of attention. 

    The real problem is this misunderstanding! We do not know the reality. Our ignorance, attachment, ego, desires and all sorts of emotional attachment makes the world, its people, the things and even the one that is far and invisible appear real! We are afraid of a rope that appears like a snake. When light exposes its reality, the fear goes! Fear goes with the snake! Even though we have not seen a snake, we are afraid of the very name of it! Many snakes are as harmless as a piece of rope or stick, but still we are afraid of them because of the in-built mechanism of fear, ignorance, lack of knowledge in us. It is the fear instilled in us since birth?

   The Verse 4 of Yoga Vashishta explains the nature of the world giving the example of the snake and the rope. Sage Vashishta gives this 'snake and the rope' example to explain how the world appears due to our ignorance and how we realize its true nature when a guru comes as a torch-bearer and reveals the reality! He gives another example how the world appears! He says, "A person without the knowledge of gold sees in a gold bangle only the outer form of the bangle. He does not have even the slightest awareness of the gold. Similarly, an ignorant person sees a city, homes, mountains, snakes as real. It happens because he is unable to see the 'Ultimate Reality'" But who will tell us what is the 'Ultimate Reality'?

.  The 'Ultimate Realty' of this world is realized only when the afflicted mind is cleansed of all its desires, dreams, imagination and images, ego, attachment, anger, etc. When the mind is afflicted and the jiva desires the objects it runs after the world. The moment the jiva relizes the illusory nature of the world, the insatiability of its desires, the futility of worldly acquisitions, and the stark reality that nothing belongs to the jiva and everything is a passing phase, the jiva gives up its desires and its mind becomes still. A calm and still mind is the datum line. Everything begins there and ends there. It is the nature of the mind, the bhava, that creates the illusory world. The jiva is disillusioned at the end of its life, however successful and prosperous, powerful and wealthy, however knowledgeable in worldly knowledge since all these are spatio-temporal aspects and not real! The reality is the simple truth that the jiva has taken birth to realize this truth! Once it realizes who the jiva is, and realizes how the world of men and objects are the creation of the mind, the 'bhavana', and realizes how the 'time' takes away the shine, it craves for redemption. 'Atma-jnyan', knowledge of the Self, releases the embodied soul from its eternal bondage!   

Illusory Nature of the World

    Sage Vashishta has imparted the 'adhyatma bodha' to Ramachandra. This 'Adhyatma Bodha' is a voluminous Text running into 6000 verses that has been later reduced to 2000 verses and now an abridged version of selected verses is available. This is known as 'Yoga Vashishta'. One of these- Chapter II is on "Illusory Nature of the World' consisting of 28 verses. These verses are very terse and need a spiritually enlightened person to explain (each and every word of it)..

    A few important verses are given here for contemplation.

 "The world is a product  of the imagination." (verse3). Human Mind is ingenious and has enormous capacity to create, sustain or destroy. Mind is Energy. Mind is a huge thermodynamic Reactor. It is an atomic reactor and nobody knows where and how it has entered the jiva and what stage it has entered! In the early stages of the evolution of the jiva, it is just absent! The jiva that entered the womb as a sperm and got impregnated to form a small tumor of flesh and blood does not even have the bones! The Atman is a spark of stellar energy particle that becomes the 'Soul' and creates 'antah karana', the inner instruments- ego (ahamkara), Intellect (buddhi), and Mind (manas). These manifest in the child when the child is developed in the mothers womb by about six or seventh month. Life -force (Prana) and Consciousness (prajnya) also enter at some stage, later. We have seen many a child does not survive even after birth, although the Doctors certify that it is healthy a day or two before birth! So this life and death remains a mystery forever.

   Once the jiva appears in a specific form (can assume any form!), the mind. begins its work after a few days or weeks and the senses begin to work. The Senses and the Mind will open up the external world for the jiva! The vibrant mind is called 'chitta' The manas and chitta makes the  jiva what it is! Thus, the jiva begins its journey on this planet In fact, no mind, no life is the dictum. Nothing certain as to the nature of the humans with a developed mind, Mind is versatile and its intelligence is what it makes of the Jiva!

   Hence, the manas, Mind, is taken as the central theme here. The nature of the world is what it is created by the Mind of the jiva. Each jiva is a mind and a world and, this itself is an 'illusory aspect'. Nothing is realistic here. Everything is the creation of the mind according to the desire of the jiva. The world is created by the mind and destroyed by the mind. One who controls the mind is a yogi and the world of illusion is destroyed!  
  "The rising and subsiding of the waves of the chitta (vibrant mind) cause the appearance and disappearance of the world (Verse2). Therefore make the chitta free from fluctuations by controlling desires and the Prana through pranayama, yoga.  

(To be contd.)

Relevance of Vedanta Today

    Before considering the relevance or irrelevance of this 'Knowledge Supreme' called 'Vedanta', in our day-to-day life let us know what is its meaning and purport, definition and scope! 'Veda'  (from 'vid, meaning, Jnyan), is 'Knowledge'. Everything such as I, you, he, she, it, they, here and there, what is and what is not, etc. are all nothing but knowledge, awareness, consciousness. These are explained in the scriptures. The Upanishads are specially called the 'Vedanta' because it is the anta of the Veda, the end, summary, totality! Nothing is left out of this! Hence there is no question about its relevance.

   Vedanta is much relevant to our life today than ever before. We are ignorant. We want 'to know' and we cannot think beyond a certain limit and Vedanta comes to our help here! Now, what is the specific aspect of Vedanta that affect us? It is the very question of our existence, the true nature of our Self, the relevance of our existence that is explained in Vedanta. However, the common man is not interested in all these spiritual aspects or scriptures! What the common man wants is food, water, shelter and goodies of life to keep his sensuous life happy. But, the jiva does not know the real hunger is not of the body but the 'soul' and it doe not know what is this soul? 

   The question of hunger and thirst are instinctive since the body needs for its sustenance. Ordinarily, the jiva is not even aware of the existence of something beyond the flesh and blood and the skeletal body. The jiva runs the mill, takes birth after death repeatedly and realizes at the end how it has wasted the divine gift of 'life'? It is the repeated births and deaths that create an aversion, and thereby an urge to seek riddance, liberation, mukti. The jiva becomes of the sick body! Prince Gautama, became the Buddha when he went in search of an answer to these sickness, old age, and death! The same is the case of Mahavira. Anybody who becomes a seeker, ardently looks for the relevance of his/her existence will ultimately come to this!

  Hence, the knowledge of science and technology may help to certain extent to make the jiva live a happy sensuous mundane day-to-day life, but will not give supreme permanent Bliss, Param Ananda! With all success, attainments, accolades, achievements in the worldly existence the jiva gets disgusted, feels unhappy, disappointed and disillusioned! It is only when 'Knowledge' (Jnyan) leads to 'Wisdom' (viveka), that leads to 'Renunciation' (vairagya) that the jiva finds liberation, mukti! 

'Divine Grace'

   Swami Ranganathananda goes on to explore the concept of 'Divine Grace' in all its different manifestations. His lecture is entirely devoted to the teachings in the Bhagavad-Gita. These are the spoken words of Bhagavan Shree Krishna! In fact, the Lord, assures protection to all. He literally, explicitly, states, "mamupetya Kounteya sarvapappebhyo mokshyishyami…. punarjanma na vidyate |  The Lord assures of taking care of us, not only giving what we want, but also preserving what we have! yogaksemam vahamyaham | is His assurance. But this is not an unconditional one. He looks after the welfare of those who look to Him for guidance, surrender to Him unconditionally! This unconditional surrender of the jiva to the highest power is a must!

   Normally, the jiva begins its journey on this Planet Earth by the divine grace and it is His Will! It is still a mystery how the jiva takes different forms despite the fact that Bhagavan Shree Krishna explains the concept of births and deaths in such a great detail! He says that, "He only manifest in different forms and resides in the hearts of all!" This entire life of a person on this earth is a journey from home and a return journey, back home! Unfortunately, the jiva forgets its path and gets lost in wilderness once it takes its birth on earth. It finds difficult to get back home! It is only the ardent disciple or devotee who cries for help gets His grace and help! The Lord sends a guru to lead His devotee back to 'His Father in Heavens', leading the jiva holding its hand!

   The condition of a person who gets the blessings, 'divine grace', is also explained. Once the 'divine grace' falls on the jiva, it is totally liberated from all dualities. The jiva remains in its form and performs its function normally, but with a difference! It is this unnoticeable difference that makes the liberated soul from an eternally bound one. The liberated soul is a 'sthita-prajnya'. The liberated soul is 'established in its Self, 'Atmanishtha', not interested anymore in the affairs of the external mundane world. It has crossed the dualities of likes and dislikes (raga and dvesha), profit and loss, praise and condemnation (nabhinandati na dveshti), and unperturbed by the happenings in the world at large! He is a yogi, muni, with a stable mind (sthita dheeh, muni). 

   However, this is creating a new problem for the jiva since it is still living in the mundane world with people who cannot understand this situation. The person who is established in his self (Atman), with focused attention on the higher Self (paramatman)appears like a mad person toothers! The normal jiva is conditioned by the maya and the yogi is liberated from the dualities by the divine grace! The yogi is established in 'unity consciousness' (samyak prajnya) and finds no difference between man and man, or man and animal! Once the jiva is liberated and established in 'brahmn' it has reached the end of the journey! 

   Thus, 'divine grace' works wonders on the jiva! The ways of the Lord is still unknown, and remains a mystery forever. He imparts this secret yoga and brahmavidya to Arjuna. He says, "Arjuna, I shall impart the most secret of the secrets (guhyatama guhyamam pravshyami) since you are very dear to Me"!  

(concluded) 

'Divine Grace' (Contd.)

   As of now, it seems that there is no way of getting the divine grace, daiva anugraha. In fact, how can get what he/she has already got right at birth, as a gift of the Lord!This grace of God is not even felt by us since we are actually enjoying it! Our birth itself is the 'divine grace'; but for His grace where is our life, existence? Do we ever know that the life we enjoy is His grace! The food we enjoy, the drinks, the varieties of entertainment that we enjoy are all His grace! Everything that we find here is His grace and nothing else but His grace! The very fact that we curse God when our plans fail, when we do not get what we want, or for every failure itself proves that He is there behind our success and failures, attainments and disappointments, our happiness, joy or misery. These experiences in life make us turn to God in adversaries, difficult times, seek His help. It is also true that all successes, achievements, attainments, worldly acquisitions, etc. also make us look to Him with awe and wonder! Both ways, we find the presence of god. There may be a few fools who do not understand these and deny His existence. Bhagavan Shree Krishna calls them 'mudha', fools! He says, "these fools do not know Me!" The Hindu belief system gives highest priority to the supreme power that creates, sustains, and develops and merges the universe and holds Him in high esteem. The great sages go to the extent of conducting 'yajnya' with sacrificial offerings. The Veda suktas abound in these! With all these, there is no end to sufferings of the jivas, the mortals. The jiva asks why, why? The answer is simply the avidya, ignorance, undue indulgences in attachment, and definitely not the absence of 'divine grace'! It is the  ego, the sense of- I, me , mine, the body, and the mind that suffer, not the soul, Atman! Everything that is me and mine are not the real 'I'; it is the ego, emotional attachment to the body, feeling of loss of possession (that is not actually there?), that makes the jiva suffer.

   There are scriptures that explain the cause of misery and offer solutions to mitigate them, if not totally get rid of them. The fundamental principles that govern our life have already been explained in the earlier blogs. Time, Space, and Causality (Cause and Effect) are the limitation imposed by prakruti on the jiva. There is no way to escape the maya, the limitations imposed on the jiva. This calls for yoga, by means of which one can transcend the limitations and enjoy the bliss, the divine grace. The task of spiritual pursuit begins here. The Gita explains the various steps toward attainment of divine grace. The journey ends with the attainment of Atma-jnyan. The Blessed Lord smiles on the ardent seeker! The jiva has transcended the maya by the grace of the Lord. Hence, divine grace is the beginning and end of jiva's journey on this living planet, earth. The jiva finds liberation from the shackles of repeated births and deaths. The jiva transcends from its mundane existence to a divine existence!   

'Divine Grace' (Contd.)

   For mortals, as we are, it seems it is not easy to get the attention of the supreme Lord.  This is not because the Lord doesn't want to look at us, but it is because of our ignorance, ego, lack of faith, and perverted intelligence that we do not look toward Him! Even the Lord is so merciful, kind and benevolent, always looking at us, we fail to turn to Him because of our adamant attitude. Lack of faith is the most important deterrent in knowing, understanding and visualizing God. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa said, "Parameshvara darshanam eve purushartha sadhanam".  Further, "Divinity is inherent in man," he said.

   It is only the child that cries gets the attention of the mother. So also, it is only an ardent devotee like Kanaka Dasa who cries for His darshan would get the attention of the Lord Shree Krishna. Visualization of the Lord is the first step towards spiritual attainment, adhyatma sadhana. Swami Ranganathananda speaks eloquently on this. He says, "We in India have long discussed this profound theme of adhyatma vidya or Atma-vidya of our Vedanta as relating only to its dimensions of transcendental experience such as samadhi, turiya state, etc. This relates it, accordingly, only to a very small minority of spiritually advanced people in our or any other society. We had no understanding of, or insight into, its relevance to all men, women and children in all stages of human evolution. This is the orientation that the great subject received from Swami Vivekananda's exposition of Vedanta in the modern age. The normal well-adjusted human being has achieved a measure of  Atmajnyana; the abnormal human being has failed to achieve it through mal-adjustment with the family or the social environment."

   These words of Swami Ranganathanada need to be carefully understood. It is our mal-adjustment that is the cause of our problems, let alone, seek spiritual progress! 

"Divine Grace"

   Our elders often used to tell us that three important pre-requisites for a good life are: purva punya, elders' blessings, and paramatma's anugraha (divine grace). To these may also be added the blessings of an attained person, a God-sent 'guru' and getting such a real 'guru' is also divine grace. 

   We often hear the words that it is our 'karma' that we enjoy or suffer in life. The term 'karma' has many shades of meaning and it is not very clear what is this karma or whose karma it is that binds us! We do not remember what all actions we have done and what is the end product, fruit (phala), of that action. But, this 'divine grace' can erase all that has accumulated over past lives and liberate us! This is paramatma's anugraha!  Little do we know what this karma is! But, we take refuge in the Almighty, the Lord, with the hope He bestows His grace on us and protect us. Bhagavan Shree Krishna literally assures us that He will protect us when we look to His grace! So, divine grace is very important. We beseech 'bhagavad-anugraha' and pray for His grace.

  Little did we know or clearly understand what this 'Divine Grace' (divyanugraha' or 'divyanugraha') is a decade-and-a-half years ago when we initiated a Foundation (pratishthana) to serve the people at large as a part of 'Jnyan-yajnya' as ordained in the Gita. "Jnyan-yajnya is the highest among all the sacrifices, yajnya, that one could undertake," says Bhagavan Shree Krishna.  We are successfully serving the world at large and have reached almost a hundred thousand persons! This is by divine grace only and we are blessed!

     What is this 'divine grace'? Swami Ranganathananda, President, Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, has dealt with this aspect in great detail in one of his lectures at Beacon Yoga Centre, Shivananda Ashrama, Perth, Australia in 1978. It is available in the form of a small booklet (Ed. Swami Kirtidananda) in Ramakrishna Ashrama Libraries. It is quite a lengthy series of lectures and these dwell upon the teachings of Bhagavan Shree Krishna in the Gita.

      With all these teachings, we are not certain that we ever understand divine grace. Also, it is not certain that we get the blessings after reading this, either! What is the ultimate 'Truth'? It is just the principle of surrender, sharanagatim, 'merger' or becoming one with Him! This may seem to be a little contradictory or ambiguous. Actually, it is like the waves getting back to merge in the sea where it starts! When the Lord's blessings or grace falls on the devotee, the separation, distance, the division, the duality disappears. This is the sheer grace of Lord! It removes the curtain of illusion, ajnyan, avidya that separates the Lord from His creation! It reveals the Self, Atman! This is divine grace!

(to be contd,)  

There is No End to Knowledge?

As it seems, there is no end to 'Knowledge', the 'Vid'. The beginning of the universe is knowledge, and so is the end of it! There is nothing besides 'Knowledge'! In fact, "Everything is Knowledge". Evam Veda | This is the whole truth. The Vedic doctrines only are reiterated in the Upanishads. The fundamental principles of Veda are: aham brahmasmi | tattavamasi | ayam Atmaa brahmaa | Atma eva brahmaa | sarvam khaluvidam brahmaa |

  The ultimate purpose of 'Knowledge' is also the realization of these fundamental principles. As we move away from the abstract Silence toward the phenomenal objective world this knowledge becomes more and much diversified, specialized, and objective! The human beings are endowed with intelligence, ability to understand, but only in a limited capacity. This is the real problem! One has to transcend this limitation by yogic practices. The Vedic doctrines can be understood and then realized by the yogis. These are what the Upanishads reveal to us.

    For example, let's take this 'Bhargavi Varuni vidya'. It is said that Sage Bhrugu learnt this vidya from his father Varuna. Sage Varuna teaches 'brahmn' thus,

  "Indeed, that from which those beings originate and through which once they originate they live, in which, after having departed or separated, they again enter. Explore that. That is 'brahmn'."

  This knowledge of brahmn has to be ultimately realized by the seekers! Sage Bhrugu  carried out tapas and realized brahmn as food, as prana. as vital breath, as manas, as vidya, and finally, as 'Ananda' (Bliss). [Taittiriya Upanishat, Bhruguvalli].

   Annam brahma | [Taittirya Upanishad, 3.2.2]     

Classification of the Veda and the Upanishads

   The Veda is defined by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi as vedamantrayorbrahmana | The Veda is by itself a mantra and a brahmana. Here, Brahmana is not the caste or credd, but the mantras specified for the persons who carry out the study and Vedic ritualas as family members. There are a class of renunciates who are devoted to studies of the selected mantra in a secluded place- like a forest or hill side and, these are called the Aranyaka. Further, there are mantra specially meant for the shukla paksha and Krishna paksha of Lunar month.
    The Upanishads have been classified according to their source, viz the Veda from which it is derived. Of these 108, Ten Upanishads are derived from the Rk Veda, 51 Upanishads are from Yajurveda, 16 are from the Samaveda and 31are from the Atharvaveda. Further, there are 24 Upanishads are of general spiritual (Vedanta) nature. These include Atmabodha, Kaushitakai, and the Mudgala from the Rk Veda; Shveatashvatara, Garbha, Adhyatma, Sarvasara, Jabala, Paingala, etc.(51) from the Yajurveda; the Chandogya, Kena, Maitrayani, Mahar, Kundalini, Maitreyi, Savitri etc. (16) from Samaveda; and Shandilya, Pashupata, Brahma, mahavakya, etc. (31) from the Atharva veda. These are only a few to name and the entire list can be prepared showing all the details such as the sages associated with them, their disciples, the principles enunciated in them, etc.
   There are 14 Viashnava Upanishads, 14 Shaiva Upanishads, 9 Shakta Upanishads, 17 sankhya Upanishads, 20 yoga and the rest are  of general nature. The Garbha Upanishad give an account of the jiva in its initial or formal days in the mother's womb. It realizes its mistake of taking birth in a womb and recollects its earlier birth! It laments for its foolishness, ignorance, and realizes its miserable state in a restricted place in the womb! In fact, it decides not to take birth again once it comes out! Then, alas, the jiva forgets everything and runs its mill again, such as, childhood (balya), adolescent and youth (youvana), family state and old age (muppu), before it remembers its decision again!  

   The Upanishads have been a source of spiritual knowledge to us and the Ramakrishna Ashram, Shivananda Ashram and its subsidiaries have published a number of these. These are valuable sources and these small books will give samskruta shloka along with the meaning and summary. However, it is essential to have a learned teacher to instruct us since many of these are not very easy to understand just by reading!  

   We will try to present as many Upanishads as possible in the following blogs, one by one. 

The Veda and the Upanishads

    The Upanishads are the sum and substance of the Veda. All the Vedic doctrines are classified into different categories like the sankhya, yoga, mantra, Atman, Brahman, and the like. Each and every sage who taught these specialized subjects were highly respected for the depth of understanding and experience as could be seen in the case of the principle of tattvamasi by Sage Aruni Uddalaka to his disciple Shvetaketu.
   Among the Forty divisions of the entire spectrum bands of knowledge are included the one hundred and eight Upanishads and the six darshan shastra, too. The Upanishads are nothing but the Vedic doctrines only. As the muktikopanishad states, one can attain liberation, salvation, muktii by a careful study of all these Upanishads. 

   The long list of all the Upanishads are given in the muktikopanishad. It is stated that, after the victory over Ravan, Sri Ram returned from Lanka. Hanuman said, "My Lord Ram, you are not only the King of Ayodhya, but of the entire mankind and, me too, the king of the vanara kingdom. But how can I attain liberation, mukti from this state of existence?
   Sri Ram asked Hanuman said, "study Ishavasya Upanishad, you will attain mukti". Hanuman reverently went back and studied the Ishavasya Upanishad and came back and said, "He Ram, I read the Upanishad, but could not make head or tail of it."
  Sri Ram said, "Then, you study the ten principle Upanishads- Aitareya Upanishad (Rk), Katha, Taittiriya, Ishavasya and Brihadaranyaka (Yajurveda), Kena and Chandogya (Samaveda), Prashna, Mandukya and the Mundaka Upanishads (Atharvaveda), you will certainly attain liberation from this vanara avatar."
   Again, Hanuman returned and said, "My Lord, I read all the ten principle Upanishads, but of no avail. The Upanishads seem to be more complex, often contradictory and confusing!"
   Sri Ram said, Hanuman, I advise you to read all the one hundred and eight Upanishads, you ill attain liberation and then enumerated them."
   This time, there was total transformation in Hanuman. He realized "Who he really is!" He realized the fact that he is no more the vanara body, mind, buddhi or the ego! He is the very embodiment of the eternal, immortal and the 'truth'!
   He came to Sri Ram and addressed him as:
 Hey, Mr Ram!
   Hearing this, Ram understood the effect of the study of the Upanishads on the Vanara King!
  Hanuman continued, "Mr Ram, you are only a King of Ayodhya and you are under eternal bondage. You have no mukti, liberation, salvation from this attachment to your ctizens. See me, how free I am! I am the totally liberated Vayu putran! I am the Anajani suta! I am Maruti and can fly faster than the Mind (manas)! I am the very embodiment of the principles of fire and air and, I can move freely in space (akasha). Thus, I am the liberated soul! 

   The Upanishads are the means of realization of the Self; it brings salvation, mukti. These simplified versions of the Veda guide us to deeper understaanding of the Self, the means of attaining the 'Knowledge of the Self', atmajnyan. The great Sages like Yajnyavalkya, Aruni Uddalaka, Maitreyi, Jabala and the like have taught the Vedic principles, spiritual knowledge, to their disciples. It is very interesting to note that these Sages were specialists in different branches of the Veda like the Atman and Brahmn, sankhya, yoga, mantra, Vedanta and those that deal with creation, sustenance, salvation, about life and death, etc. The Upanishads are the greatest treasure a great heritage of the Hindus.   

Vedic Verses (Contd.)

      The Veda is said to be 'ekayana veda' imparted to his first born brain-child Atharvan (the one he conceived after he was ordained to take up the job of creation. Actually, the Vedic texts are not restricted to the four divisions- Rk, yajus,saman and the Atharvan, but include the whole range of knowledge that are known as the Veda, Vedanga, Veda Upanga, the Veda Pratishakhyas, etc, numbering forty. These are enunciated  and the beautifully explained by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi . The Veda actually culminates in the principles of tattvamasi and aham brahmasmi! The entire Universe is the University of boundless knowledge and that is established in the soul, Atman, as well! "Atman knows all", is the fundamental principle.
   The first-born of the thought-force of Chaturmukha Brahma are: Atharva, Sanaka, Sanatsujata, Skanda, Sanatkumara, and Narada! These are supposed to be the ones who witnessed the yajnya (sacrifice) performed by the great Nara-Narayana Rishi of the kruta (satya) yuga. This yajnya was performed in order to get a vision, darshan, of Shri Hari Narayana and, in fact, they finally attained Him. As the story goes, the sage Nara-Narayana wanted to perform the sacrifice to visualize the supreme Lord Sri Hari Narayana. All the Rishis performed this yajnya that went on for five day and five nights. This has come to be known as the "Pancha-Ratra Sacrifice". At the end of the great sacrifice the rishis were disappointed for nothing happened! Narada Devarishi who was there laughed and said, "So far nobody has seen Sri Hari Narayana, may be, those in the Go loka have seen Him!" So all the Rishis went to the Galaxy Akasha Ganga (Milky Way/ Ksheer Path). The stars, as the erstwhile  Rishis, like Dhruva, Prahlada, said that the supreme Lord is visible at the distance in the form of a massive cloud of gas in the form of a purusha (man). All went there and requested the supreme Lord to give darshan. The supreme Lord Sri Hari Narayana laughed at them and said, "You fools, why did you take so much of trouble to come all the way to see Me? I am residing in the lotus heart of each and one of you. You could easily see Me with the help of your inner eye! It is Me who resides in the heart of all. Ayam Atma brahmaa | Atma eva brahma |
   So, one has to realize the principles of tattvamasi and aham brahmasmi and apply these to all that exists! sarvam khaluvidam brahma | These are the Vedic doctrines.
   There are almsot 200 Pancharatra Agama shastra Samhitas (collection of verses) and hardly a dozen of them are vaialble to us, very few in print. The Ahirbudhnya samhita, Jayakhya Samhita, Aniruddha Samhita, Lakshmi Tantra, Sadakhya Samhita are available. The Six Agama Shastra samhitas like the Sanaka, Sanatkumara, Narada Samhitas are considered to be dated earlier than the Veda? All these agama shastra are classified into Vaishnava, Shreevaishnava (Ramanuja), Shaiva, Shakta and other groups. 

  Why should we take to the study of the Veda? Prof. R.L. Kashyap, (formerly Prof. of Electronics and Computer Science at Purdue University) has taken up extensive research and has published a number of Titles on these topics (SAKSI, Jayanagar, Bengaluru). The "Secret of the Veda" by Sri Aurobindo is extremely terse, very difficult to understand, and some chapters are either incomplete or missing. These books help us to get a clear idea about the rich Indian heritage.

   As it is, we cannot easily understand these scriptures, whether it is the Veda, Upanishads, Brahma sutras or the Bhagavad-Gita. These are full of secrets, imageries, symbolism and need be decoded. We have brought out "Decoding the Veda"- Rk Veda Samhita, highlighting these aspects, giving a detailed account of the Veda Mantra. The doctrines enunciated in the Rk Veda, such as the Purusha sukta, the Shree sukta, Nasadiya sukta, or the Nadi sukta in Mandala X, are all very important ones giving an idea about creation. There are a number of sukta such as asya vamiya sukta, Rudra shatiya, etc. that need very careful study.

    [Acknowledgements:The Vedic verses presented here are drawn from the Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Veda. Hinduism's revealed scriptures are estimated to be almost 10,000 years old. Many of the verses are from the book "The Vedic Experience" by Raimundo Panikkar. We hereby acknowledge with thanks our gratitude to the author for sending these by email. We are happy to share them with you all]. 

  

Vedic Verses

   There are almost a 100 000 Vedic verses under the four categories of the Rks, yajus, saman and the atharva veda. These Vedic verses are taught by different sages in the Upanishads. The Bhagavad-Gita and the Brahma sutras also deal with these doctrines. Now, it is essential to understand these verses in deep contemplation and realize the inner esoteric meaning. The study of these Vedic verses pave the way for enlightenment. However, Bhagavan Sri Krishna says, "Even the decorative words of Veda deal with the worldly existence and, as such, they are lower knowledge!" That knowledge which enables the jiva to know the true self, the Atman, is the only knowledge that helps salvation. Atma-jnyan is the only para vidya, knowledge that paves for the liberation of the embodied soul. Contemplate on the following verses.

   "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]

   "Agni blazes and flashes from the height of heaven. To the God Agni belong all airy spaces, Agni it is whom mortal men enkindle, conveyer of offerings, lover of the clarified butter(ghee)." [Atharva Veda XII, 1, 20]

    "Beyond the senses are the objects; beyond the objects is the mind; beyond the mind, the intellect; beyond the intellect, the Great Atman; beyond the Great Atman, the Unmanifest; beyond the Unmanifest, the Purusha. Beyond the Purusha there is nothing: this is the end, the Supreme Goal. That Self hidden in all beings does not shine forth; but It is seen by subtle seers through their one-pointed and subtle intellects." [Yajur Veda, Katha Upanishad, Part One, Chapter III, 10-13]. 

   "May Earth who bears mankind, each different grouping maintaining its own customs and its speech, yield up for me a thousand streams of treasure, like a placid cow that never resists the hand." [Atharva Veda XII, 1, 45].

   "From your numberless tracks by which mankind may travel, your roads on which move both chariots and wagons your paths which are used by the good and the bad, may we choose a way free from foes and robbers! May you grant us the blessing of all that is wholesome! She carries in her lap the foolish and also the wise. She bears the death of the wicked as well as the good. She lives in friendly collaboration with the boar, offering herself as sanctuary to the wild pig." [Atharva Veda XII, 1, 47-48]. 

   "But if the buddhi, being related to a mind that is always restrained, possesses discrimination, then the senses come under control, like the good horses of a charioteer." [Yajur Veda, Katha Upanishad, Part One, Chapter III, 6]. 

   "May Earth afford us all that copious wealth for which we long! May Bhaga play his part and Indra go before to show the way! Earth is the source of food, of rice and barley; from her derive the five tribes of men. To rain-steeped Earth, the Rain-giver's wife, be homage! Her castles are built by the Gods, her plains the arena in which men wage war. The matrix of all things is Earth. May the Lord of life dispose for our enjoyment all her regions! May the Goddess Earth, bearer of many a treasure and of wealth stored up in diverse hidden places, the generous sharer of riches, impart to us, in addition to gold and gems, a special portion of her favor!" [Atharva Veda XII, 1, 40,42-44]. 

  "Atman, smaller than the small, greater than the great, is hidden in the hearts of all living creatures. A man who is free from desires beholds the majesty of the Self through tranquility of the senses and the mind and becomes free from grief. Though sitting still, It travels far; though lying down, It goes everywhere. Who but myself can know that luminous Atman who rejoices and rejoices not?" [Yajur Veda, Katha Upanishad, Part One, Chapter II, 20-21]. 

   "He has surveyed the earth's eight peaks, its continents three, its tracts, its seven rivers. Savitri, the golden-eyed God, has come, bringing his worshiper wondrous blessings. Savitri, the skillful, gold-handed God is passing over between Earth and Heaven. He conquers sickness, directing the sun, and mounts up to heaven through darksome space." [Rk Veda I, 35, 8-9] 

    "The wise man, having realized Atman as dwelling within impermanent bodies but Itself bodiless, vast and all-pervading, does not grieve. This Atman cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, or by much hearing of sacred books. It is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Atman reveals Its own form. He who has not first turn away from wickedness, who is not tranquil and subdued and whose mind is not at peace, cannot attain Atman. It is realized only through the Knowledge of Reality." [Yajur Veda, Katha Upanishad, Part One, Chapter II, 22-24] 

   "Two there are who dwell within the body, in the intellect, the supreme akasa of the heart, enjoying the sure rewards of their own actions. The knowers of Brahman describe them as light and shade, as do those householders who have offered oblations in the Five Fires and also those who have thrice performed the Nachiketa sacrifice." [Yajur Veda, Katha Upanishad, Part One, Chapter III, 1]. 

  "Your circling seasons, nights succeeding days, your summer, O Earth, your splashing rains, our autumn, your winter and frosty season yielding to spring--may each and all produce for us their milk!" [Atharva Veda XII, 1, 36] 

  "Men pray to him, yet he needs no asking; as his mind has grasped all things. He goes as one who knows the first word and the last, with mind composed." [Rk Veda I, 145, 2].

   "Know the atman to be the master of the chariot; the body, chariot; the intellect, the charioteer; and the mind, the reins. The senses, they say, are the horses; the objects, the roads. The wise call the atman-united with the body, the senses and the mind-the enjoyer. If the buddhi, being related to a mind that is always distracted, loses its discriminations, then the senses become uncontrolled, like the vicious horses of a charioteer." [Yajur Veda, Katha Upanishad, Part One, Chapter III, 3-5] 

 

"Hanuman Jayanti'

  Today, April 8, 2020 is the Full Moon day ('pournima' of Chaitra masa, Sharvari samvatsara) celebrated as Hanuman Jayanti. Hanuman, also known as Anjaneya and Maruti, is said to be the son of Anjana Devi and Vayudeva mythologically, in the great epic Ramayana of Vedavyasa. Anjani is the Deity, God of Fire, Agni and Marut (Vayudeva) is the Deity of Air, Vayu is borne out of Akasha (Space) and, Agni (Fire) is borne out Air (vayu). In a way, these are akin to the gaseous forms of Oxygen and Hydrogen that go to make Water!
    Hanuman is associated with Sri Ram and already the nation has celebrated Ram Navami. We have tried to give a detailed account of Sri Ram as the Deity that King Dasharatha was performing in his Puja Room. This is moola Ramadevaru, the antecedents of which go back to the days of the birth of Sun, Earth and the Moon and the beginning of Life on earth! The Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavad-Gita give more details about these.

  Now, who is Hanuman associated with Sri Ram in the epic of Ramayana? As the story goes, Ram was a child when Shiva came in disguise with Anjaneya in the form of a monkey! The child Ram who was crying was brought to the balcony and was shon this monkey playing tricks! Ram wanted this monkey and asked for it. Shiva said, the monkey would come to him when he gets into trouble and disappeared! Whatever the story, Shiva appeared with Hanuman and introduced the vanara king well in advance to him!

  Hanuman, Anjaneya, Maruti, Vayuputra, Prana deva (the deity of Life-force), or whatever name you call, it is significant that Hanuman is associated with Sri Ram and Sita. Hanuman is the very life-force, the life-breath of all living beings, jivarashi. Hanuman is praised as the very embodiment of Intelligence (buddhi), strength (balam), success (yashas), courage (dhairyam), oratory (vak-patutvam), as also, the knower of all inner secrets. He, the deity of Life is also the bheshaja (Doctor), the Great healer! Hanuman is established within the hearts of all! "It is He who breathes in us and keeps the system running from birth to death!" In the scientific parlance, it may be called Oxygen (prana-vayu / life-breath), It is also Hydrogen that is the Fire from which the life-supporting Water emanates!
    Thus, the Deity Hanuman whom we worship today is none other than the 'Vayu jeevottama' as also, 'Hari sarvottama'! May He bestow us all good health and protect from afflictions of harmful germs and viruses!  

The Predicament!

    The Covid19, rather this Corona virus, has enforced a lock down, self-imposed curfew, or 'just stay in' command on humanity. This is a period of respite to people of all ages. Schools and Colleges are closed. Children cannot go out and play. Except for some who are asked to work from home, many have no official work! Essential services are also restricted. Now, the problem is how to spend time in this situation? There is no dearth for choices in in-door games and engage in pastimes that one loved to do, but had no time earlier! However, there is another side to this problem.
   The problem of this long respite of 21 days of lockdown, forced 'stay-in', or self-imposed curfew has given us an opportunity to sit quiet and think, contemplate, focus attention on some important fundamental principles! The first principle is 'Silence', followed by 'vibration' and 'sound'. These are preliminary stages of the origin of the universe. Then, the sequence of creation is alpha and beta of the world of sounds, 'alphabets', in a way. These are divided into vowels and consonants. The phenomenal objective world begins with the words and their meaning created by the mind, thoughts, ideas, dreams, aspirations and resolves to put them to action. Thus, we have come a long ay from 'Silence' to 'action'!

   The entire humanity has been playing different games (and, in different roles in public life, too) in the field of 'Mind'. The Mind has immense capacity and energy to create diverse phenomenal objective world. Thus, the predicament is 'to stop this game' and retire to 'rest in silence'.

    Nature plays its own role in lives of people! Now, it has given respite, some rest, leisure from busy hectic games of life. The Mind is restless despite the fact that 'there is nowehere to go and nothing to do' now! Hence, it is the divine plan to make the people to contemplate on the 'Reality', the 'True nature of our 'Existence'!

    Now is the time to contemplate, meditate. Osho enumerates almost sixty thousand types of meditation. Meditation gives clarity, a new dimension to our understanding and helps us to develop intuitive knowledge. One can contemplate on akasha (space), prana (observe breathing), prajnya (different levels of Consciousness),or contemplate on simple things around you. This is the time to analyse the different phases of life one has undergone and assess what one has achieved! 'Atma avalokana', self analysis is very important. Chose one of these you want and spend a joyful time. It is sheer bliss to sit in contemplation, meditation! Take to yoga, meditation, try to cross the mundane level of existence and view the greater and deeper levels of existence beyond (jagrata, svapna and sushupti or just working for a livelihood, eat and sleep and a little time spent on recreation)! Enjoy the enforced confinement.   

"River-Banks"

    It is symbolic that the River flows within bounds, its banks. Everybody knows what happens if the river outflows its banks. This limiting factor is called 'maryada'. Humans have to maintain this 'maryada, limitation, in all walks of life- public as well as private. Calamities befall if this divine rule of 'maryada' is not followed by humans. We already see such a reckless life, humans crossing their limitations. The result is catastrophic! There is mutual ill-will, strife, secret warfare of different types. The time has come for humanity to realize the mistake of crossing 'maryada', limitation, set by nature.

  There is another aspect of symbolism of this 'River-banks'. nobody will ever know what lies on the other bank of the river unless one crosses the river! In the Gita, Bhagavan Sri Krishna says,"sarva dharman parityjya maam ekam sharanam vraja | This is a little confusing! When it is necessary for everybody to follow 'dharma' without fail, stick to dharma, how can one drop all dharma and take shelter in Him? The answer is simple. As long as one adheres to 'this and that' as dharma, it is difficult to reach Him. One has to cross the river of sansar and reach the other bank. But, this is not possible without a boat and a boatman! It is here that one has to remember His warning! All are struck in a leaky boat on a stormy  day and there is one to rescue. Only the divine help would save this humanity! hence one should cry like a child for help. 

   Yet another aspect of symbolism of this River-banks is the principle of 'salvation'. The humans are a deluded lot. There is mad, mad, rush toward acquisition. This deprives others of their basic needs. It is a battle and survival of the fittest. There is no law of justice and equity, dharma as at present in this Kali yuga. Unless one crossed this side of the river-bank -of trade, market economy, and reaches the other river-bank of 'equity and justice' there is no hope for mankind. To cross the river is also symbolic as 'to open the eyes and see the reality'!
   We, the humans, are all like horses blindfolded running at the behest of the fickle mind taking the senses on errands trying to fulfill the never-ending desires. The budddhi is also misleading, perverted and thus cannot help the jiva here. Prajnya sleeps!

   Hence, it is now more urgent to cross this 'turbulent river of sansar' (senses madly running after dreams, aspirations and desires) without any boat (spiritual knowledge) or a  boatman (attained Guru). The Gita explicitly states that the mankind is struck as if "in a leaky boat on a vast ocean on a turbulent stormy day. vayurnavaivambasi | Who will help us?

"Light"

   
     The Sun is the chief source of light, and light moves as electromagnetic waves in all directions from the Sun. Only an insignificant amount of just 0.2 per cent of it reaches a small part of the earth, at any time! Thus, it is significant to know how solar radiation that gives heat, light, life-force (actinic rays) are important. In fact, we do not know anything about this solar radiation since only a small band of spectrum is known to us! We do not know much beyond the Infra-Red and the Ultra-Violet rays of the Sun. We do not know how the entire universe is dark and the galaxies lit up the space (sky) here and there like the light of cities on New moon day on earth! It is still a wonder how can there be darkness when there is light, or for that matter, how can light come out of darkness? Little do we know about the entire dark space full of dark energy! However, we know something about how stars are born, courtesy NASA!
    Today, the entire humanity is in darkness and needs 'Light'. The entire world is groping indark as to know what is really happening! The Corona virus or the Covid19 has shut down the entire world. The entire world is locked down. Nobody stirs! This is unheard of even in times of war, famines, and floods. The entire world is looking for a savior. The wise sages advise to light the lamp! Lamp is significant as the symbol of right knowledge. 

     The scriptures have explained how the jiva is born in ignorance and dies in ignorance. Ignorance is darkness. The jive suffers due to its ignorance. The ignorance is of the lack of knowledge of the self. This knowledge of the self, Atma-jnyan, is not easy to get. It is not easy because the jiva is not interested in knowing its self. This 'Knowledge of the Self' (Atma-jnyan) needs a journey inward; but, the jiva is always engaged in the external transient objective world! Once the jiva realizes its true nature, it turns toward its inner self!

   The 'Light Within' is the 'Atma Jyoti'. The soul is the true light! The soul is knowledgeable. The soul is knowledge by itself! The soul is the 'Light', knowledge, jnyan. The soul, 'Atman', is a lamp that burns without any oil, wick, or cup. It is the life-force, knowledge. It is the inherent nature of the soul and knows it path. However, the jiva ignorant of its self does not know the 'light within'. The jiva looks for knowledge, jnyan, light outside of itself. This is the tragedy. The jiva suffers due to this ignorance. Here, 'Ignorance' is not the 'lack of knowledge, ajnyan, but it is the knowledge covered by moha, krodha, lobha, mada, matsarya, irshya, and a hundred acquired qualities. It is the desire, greed, acquisitive nature and sensuous life that has covered its light, true nature. Once the jiva comes out of this darkness by opening its inner eye it will find its salvation! There is need for guidance in this regard and only an attained person, jyani, Guru can help the jiva to lighten up the inner light!
    Hence, the wise have adopted the symbolic lighting tradition. It is necessary to keep some light at the doorsteps so that lightens up both inside and outside! The light should not be put off anytime! It is inauspicious if a lamp is blown off! It is a sign of peril in the offing! Always keep the lamps lit!
  The Vedic prayer is: tamaso maa jyotirgamaya | meaning, "Lead me from darkness to Light". The Lord answered the devotee's prayer saying: tattvamasi |, meaning, "Thou art that". There is no other light besides your Self! The Brahma sutra says about akshipurusha- the sun, the eyes, and the Atman (soul) are one! 

Ram-Rajya

    What was the state of Ayodhya under Bharata and Ramachandra as Kings? As we are told, King Dasharatha succumbed to his weakness and had to pay for it! He promised Kaikeyi to install Bharata as the King of Ayodhya ignoring the fact that Ramachandra, son of Koushalya, was the first-born. Also, he agreed to keep Ram away for almost 14 years from Ayodhya with the result the trio- Ram, Sita, and Lakshmana, spent their life in the forests. Bharata was at his grandmothers place when the Dasharatha died. He did not know how Ram, Sita and Lakshmana were out in the forests. He returned to see the entire state in grief and hated him.

   Howver, the story of Ramayana is highly symbolic. It gives the picture of attachment, jealous, selfish and other qualities, and the need for isolation, contemplation, and develop intrinsic values and divine qualities (such as compassion, love, selfless service and the like) inherent quality of humans! This rule of Bharata and Ram is indicative of qualities of rulers. The rulers should learn from Ram Rajya where dharma was important in contrast to kings who indulge in corrupt practices, self-aggrandizements, enjoying the wealth of the State ignoring the needs of the people. The characters are all symbolic. Ram stands for dharma, Sita for sacrifice, Lakshmana stands for obedience and Hanuman for service! In fact, the entire Ramayan can be seen in the light of the principle of tattvaamasi, thou art that | 

   After the death of King Dasharatha, Bharata was installed and the grief-stricken Bharata neglected the affairs of the State. In fact he vowed to bring back Ram and till then kept the paduka on the throne signifying his love for Ram. All these brothers were divine souls and born as the  mantrasya putrah. The kingdom of Bharat's rule went into anarchic condition and people exploited the situation to make more wealth disregarding the poor and their needs! There were thefts and vices unchecked! The treasury became empty by the time Ram returned!

  Now, Sri Ramachandra returned to Ayodhya and took over as the king. The treasury was empty! His able minister Sumanta devised a plan to get back money to treasury. He fired the seeds of pumpkin (ashgourd?)and distributed to people with a promise to reward the best person who can grow the largest size failing which they have to pay that weight of money or gold! This worked wonders. Greedy people took the seeds and patiently waited for the seeds to sprout! When nothing came out of it, they had to pay in cash and gold and thus treasury was replenished.

    Now, the next phase of Ram Rajya started. People realized that greed will not pay. The pious king became a model for the citizens and people started adhering to dharma. There were no thefts. People were healthy. Ayodhya became a model state. This Model was so impressive that Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, China,  Thailand, Cambodia and many others adopted it!  

Sri Ram Navami

   Today, Thursday, the April 2, 2020 is Sri Ram Navami (Sharvari samvatsara, chaitra masa, shukla paksha), celebrated all over the country as the birth day. Sri Ram was born on this day! Pundits have given the exact birth date and time! It is said to be punarvasu nakshatra, chaturtha pada (Fourth quarter), equivalent to June 5114 BCE. 12.30 pm. at Ayodhya Koshala, on the Banks of the R. Sarayu, in the present Uttara Pradesh. This suffices for the present day Ram Navami celebrations and the place of birth of Lord Sri Ram. If this date and year is taken as the Anglicised version of our four yugas, the entire vaivasvata manvantara will be only 10 000 years, not 4 320 000 years* according to scriptures!

    As far as the epic Ramayana is considered, Sage Veda Vyasa is the author. Ramayana is one of the eighteen great epics conceived by Sri Krishna Dvaipayana, who came to be known as Veda Vyasa for his work of classifying the lengthy Vedic mantras numbering almost a lakh into four divisions! Sri Krishna Dvaipayana is also known as Badarayana and nobody knows who is this Badarayana! Even today, people refer to Badarayana if they do not know the times and works of any person. Thus, 'Badarayana' stands for any old unknown status of a person or work! 

   Now, Ramayana is almost like a biography of Sri Ram woven into a skit, drama, novel or a mythological story. This famous epic Ramayana, along with the other great epic Mahabharata, has become so popular that the names of Sri Ram and Sri Krishna have become the sacred chants of every household. People in rural areas used to hear the story in the evenings as pastime, katha kalakshepa).
    Sri Ramachandra is worshiped as 'God'. King is God as per the Gita. King protects his people and is deified. But, here Sri Ram has attained is God-hood by attaining to the Knowledge of Self, Atma jnyan. Vashishta Gita gives a very lengthy account of instructions to Sri Ramachandra about Atmajnyan (knowledge of the Self) and thereby enables him to attain 'divine consciousness', spiritual attainment. Sri Ramachandra, thus, attains the highest, the divine state!
    Although Sage Veda Vyasa is believed to be the author of the original (script?), a number of persons have rewritten the original story according to their own understanding! Today we have Ramayana credited to Valmiki, Kamba, Tuslidas, K.V. Puttappa (Ramayana Darshanam) and many others. But, none of these portray the true story depicted as real mythology or ancient history of the great epic! There is no reference to the origin of the name 'Rama' anywhere! It is in Srividya, the ancient texts which gives how Devi Sharadamba (in the form of a shalagrama and Srichakra in Srinagara, Kashmir, later on established at Sringeri by Sri Shankaracharya) who breaths unto others without Herself breathing, creates the sounds, syllables, and words! Here, the two syllables 'Ra' and 'Ma' refer to the two chakras (in our body). The sound 'Ra' (agni tattva) comes from manipura chakra at the navel and, the sound 'ma' (aksha tattva) comes from the vishuddhi chakra at throat level.

   Etymologically speaking, the term 'Rama' stands for Sun and Earth. 'Ra' is Light and 'ma' is the gross form of solar flares cooled and consolidated as the Planet Earth. Thus, 'Ram' is the form of Vishnu and 'Sita' is 'Bhu devi' (symbolically found in a box in the field!). Since the jiva is also formed of the five elements, the soul is 'Ra' and the body is 'ma'. If 'Rama' is the soul and the body, the life force is vatatmaja and Anjani suta Anjaneya (anjani suta and vayu putra), borne out of fire and air!  Now,who is Sri Ram? It is common knowledge that the names of children are given after gods and Goddesses. Here, the King Dasharatha gave the name Ramachandra to the his first born child after the Sun since he belonged to Ikshvaku dynasty, worshipers of the Sun God. 

   Now, the question is: "If Sri Ram is the son of King Dasharath who ruled Ayodhya in the treta yuga, how can it be just 5114 BCE? May be, historically right, but not mythologically, definitely not! The real problem is one of the divisions of Krita, Treta, Dvapara and the Kali yugas? It is said Kali yuga lasts for 432 000 years! and the Dva para (second upper or prior to Kali) and the Treta (Third from below, Kali?) are twice, and thrice that age, respectively? It is mind-bogging! This goes to 432 000 X 3 years! Something wrong somewhere?

  Now, the entire episode of birth of Ram is more interesting! Actually, King Dasharatha had no children and the four children born to his wives Koushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra are the result of divine grace, sharing the sacred fruit given by a sage! These are like the Pandava born to Kunti by mantra! Thus, 'Rama' is the sacred name given to the first born! Vishnusahasra nama in Bhishma Parva of Mahabharata has this reference. The Grandsire Bhishma says, the two sacred letters 'Ra' and 'Ma' deliver us, the mortals from this mrutyu lok! He says, these two syllables are enough to liberate the embodied souls- Rama nama varanine |  

   Always chant the name of Rama and be happy. Wishing all our well wishers, blog users, a very happy Rama Navami!  

  [* According to scriptures, kali yuga is 432 000 years; dva para is 864 000 years; treta is 1 296 000 and krita is 1 728 000 years - a total of 4 320 000! Certainly, we do not know what is this 'Time scale' called 'Years'!]