Rama and Krishna Avatara (Contd.)

   The scriptures speak of God descending to Earth to save mankind and restore dharma and the scriptures! This is explained in the ten avataras of Vishnu like that of matsya (aquarian /Fish), kurma, (amphibian/ turtle), varaha (boar/quadruped), narasimha (half lion and half human), vamana, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Kalki, and there are another fifteen intermediate ones, too! These are different ages or eons of evolution of life on the earth and attainment of each of the species to its highest divine form! Thus, these are historic accounts of scientific as well as the spiritual versions of evolution of different life forms culminating in mankind. However, this is not the end of the story. There may be many a subtler aspects involved here!

  Now, as to the avatara of Krishna as God, there is no doubt as to the authenticity since He, the Lord Bhagavan Shree Krishna, explains 'Who He Is'! (Gita, Vibhuti yoga Ch.X). He is the nirakara (formless) parabrahmn (Absolute Abstract). He only manifests as the Maha purusha and the manifest aspect of Prakruti. Prakruti, the Lord says, is the power and glory of the Lord (yogamaishvaram). The  magical powers, yoga shakti, is what creates the universe! Hence, we know how the physical world comes into existence from the powers of the supreme Lord, Bhagavan Shree Krishna.

    The powers of the Lord are immense. Nobody can ever question the powers vested in the supreme Lord. How can a person question the Creator? He, the Creator created and entered His Creation is the Vedic doctrine (tat srushtva tat evanupravishat) . Also, the supreme Lord only takes different forms He likes! He said, "I am alone, I shall be many" (Eko'ham bahusyam). Thus, He the Lord, the Creator parabrahman manifests as the universe! Everything we see, hear, touch, snell and feel here is brahmn.- sarvam khaluvidam brahma!

    Hence, what prevents a fish, a turtle, a boar, a monkey or a human from becoming divine? What is required is purity (parishuddhata) of the highest order in every aspect of the physical, mental, intellectual and nature of the being and thereby the attainment to the status of brahman! It is not something new that comes to us when we attain to the highest state of brahmn. It is just bringing out what is already there within. Just as Shree Ram is the soul, so is Shree Krishna! Bhagavan Shree Krishna Himself says ? I am the Slef of all"! Where is the doubt then? Pure Consciousness is the state of brahmn. 'Krishna', that which never diminishes, is another name for that!

Rama and Krishna

   The two sacred words Rama and Krishna are so divine that the very utterance of these brings total liberation to the ardent devotees. There is a lot to know about these names. It is absolutely essential to know how these words have become so sacred, so divine, and so powerful. There is agama shastra that explains how the sounds of the elemental gods like the space that reverberates, the air, the fire, the water, the earth that rotates and revolves and even the Sun that burns a Lakh and a odd million Kilometers away creates life! Even our own body, the life-breath, produces these sacred divine sounds that are full of knowledge, creative energy and power to create! The sounds of our breath can easily be exercised to produce anything we wish! But, alas, we do not know how to produce these sounds and use them to elevate ourselves from the state of ordinary mortals to that of Shree Rama and Shree Krishna! We simply waste this divine gift given to us! 

    The Space (Akasha) reverberates all the sounds that create the very universe- the galaxies, stars, the sun and the moon, the earth and the living beings on earth-like planets! The air and the fire, the water also produce sounds that are capable of creating matter out od the spirit inherent in them, These powers vested in the invisible spiritual manifest forms are called devi and devata in the scriptures. How powerful these forces, shakti, are have been experienced in our daily life! The scriptures describe them in mantra, sukta, and samhitas. The mythology describe these in the form of gods and ancient history describe some of these as the Characters that may be enacted in drama! Thus, we have the Rama and Krishna who appear as Gods, mythological characters and also, the Kings. The learned sages have realized these and given us a lot of stories so that we can easily understand them! However, we miss the importance, the spiritual aspects hidden in these. Only a few attained persons can ever interpret these spiritual aspects to us. The Bhagavad-Gita is one, Adhyatma Ramayana and the Adhyatma Mahabharata are also available to us. Edatore Krishna Shastry has given us the these spiritual texts. They reveal a lot of secrets behind every name that appears in these great epics. More about these later.

    

The Science of Devi Worship

     Shiva by Himself is complete and needs no external support for His existence. However, Shiva, as potential energy manifests in his different and varied forms with diverse functions and thereby creates the paraphernalia of Shakti! Thus, from Shiva ('a' in Shiva is brahmn/ Purusha) emanates Shive ('e' in Shive is the creative power)! Shive manifests in various other Shakti forms such as Parvati, Kali,Durge, etc. So also is Narayana, the Maha Purusha, and His prowess Maha Lakshmi! One who Creates and enters into His Creation are known as Purusha and His Prakruti (sva bhava). There is no functional attributes, as such! The Prakruti aspect functions as if independent of Purusha aspect, but it is the derived powers, not the inherent independent one! This is like the current that provides light in our homes, but connected to the electric pole outside that carries current from the Generating Power House and the Grid. Thus one should realize the sayings in the Gita. Bhagavan Shree Krishna says, "I only exist and all that exist are my own manifest forms"!

    We have the Universities where all disciplines of sciences, arts, philosophy, and even fine arts are taught. There may or may not be enough students or even faculty members, but departments do exist! This is exactly the case of the universe where there may be millions of galaxies, stars, planets and satellites and many planets with or without living beings! Thus, we have a situation here that our learned sages have visualized the powers and written scriptures about the nature of the universe. Thus, we have the yantra, mantra, and mantra aspects of scriptures. We have the darshan shastra where the sankhya, yoga, nyaya, vaisheshika, purva mimamsa and the vedanta are explained. 

    The elders have given us a cultural history, a tradition, the customs and traditions of Hindu society. These are millions of years old, unlike the Western culture where these are not even properly understood! David Frawley has beautifully brought out this. The invading tribes have destroyed and sitorted our Hindu system of religious faith, particularly by inter-caste marriages, This has ruined the very education system and the worst affected are the branches of history (teaching distorted versions?).It is high time that we reorient the system and revise our syllabus and revert to Gurukula system of education, if we are to survive as a nation. The Hindu civilization is an age-old civilization that has survived the onslaught of foreign invasions and hope it will  survive this, too!

    Now, as to the science, art and technology of Hindu system of philosophy, religion, and cultural tradition, it is essential to note how we have devised the worship of shalagrama (pindi as in vaishnodevi shrine) in Northern India and the icons or idols worship in temples of Southern India. The system of worship is based on the faith and belief system one follows. Even three pieces of stones piled up covered by a piece of red cloth bordered by yellow ribbons will do to worship as in the Himalayan region! Elaborate Vedic chants follow the worship of idols installed in temples built according to agama shastra in South India. 

   Thus, we have worship of Vishnu, Maheshvara and Brahma in a few selected places of like Pushkar in Rajasthan. and Devi temples as in Madurai (Minakshi), Kanchi (Kamak shi), Guahati (Kamakhya). Thus, we have the Vaidiki  and Tantriki Shakti devis- surya, soma, anala, Shiva, Shive, Shakti, Adhya, Vaishnavi, Shambhavi, Varahi, Brahmi, Saraswati, Sharada, Lakshmi, Durga, Kali, Shakhambari, Rajarajeshwari, etc. These Devi are not many, or any different from the One- Maha Lakshmi the powers and glory of Shree Hari Narayana. The various physical, divine and spiritual powers manifest in different ways are depicted in the epics, purana, as devi devata. It is just like the divine Mother assuming different roles in feeding (Annapurneshwari) giving knowledge (Saraswati), resources (Lakshmi) and Renuka, activating the potential in us (prachodana) such as, desire (ichha shakti), creative intelligence (jnyana shakti), and power to exercise them (kriya-shilata)?

     Thus, the Vaidiki aspect of these mantra (Rks), yantra (Yajus), and the tantra (Mandala/Chakra) are eulogized! These are  like the science subjects with Theory and Practicals! The Shakta clan have specialized in the worship of shakti devata like Kali, Durge, Chandika, Chamundeshwari, etc. Some illiterate people practice avaidiki or vamachara worship that is prohibited! Hence one must be careful in these practical aspects of practices.

Devi Sharadamba and Devi Saraswati

   There is bound to be some confusion as to the two names of Deities that we come across on this day of Nav Ratri (Dussehra) when we worship the Devi Saraswati, Devi Shyamala, Devi Sharadamba, Devi Maha Lakshmi, Devi Durga Mata and others. It is important to note here that the term 'Ratri' means 'Knowledge' (Pancharatra Agama Shastra). There are different sources for those who are interested in all these subjects. However, we give here some interesting details about the Deities we worship on the Saptami of Nav Ratri. There are the elemental Gods described in the Rk Veda and the savitru devata found in the famous Gayatri Mantra. Devi Saraswati is one of the twenty-four savitru devata who stand in que for darshan of the Surya Deva. The twelve Vaidiki (mantra/Rk) and twelve tantriki devata are described in the Gayatri mantra. Each Devi has a Bijakshara mantra, a Chakra or mandala, Devi Saraswati is the Vaidiki mantra Devata. She is also the Veda Mata, Deva Mata, Savitri, Brahmi, Vaishnavi, and the like. These are different powers they possess and protect the jivarashi.

     Sarswati is eulogised in the Rk Veda and the 'nadi sukta' is the most beautiful sukta full of imageries, and secrets. The Vedic mantra (Rks) are veru powerful and just hearing the mantra with phonetic perfection is enough. Saraswati mantra of the Rk Veda should be imbibed by every one interested in bringing out his /her potential!

    As regards the Devi Sharadaamba, 'Raja Tarangini' describes the glory of Devi Sharada. There is a village called Sarda at the confluence of the Rivers Kishen Ganga, Sharda, and R. Madhumati across the Line of Control (PoK). Here is a high pedestal with a pindi (shalagrama) of Devi Sharada here. It seems there was no practice of idol worship at that time as we see in the Vaishno devi where the Three Devi are found in Shalagrama (pindi). Later, came the worship of idols. The Sandalwood Idol of Devi Sharadamaba was found in Sri Nagar by Sri Shankaracharya  (7th Cent. A.D) during his visit to Kashmir. As the account goes, he brought it to Sringeri and installed it. Later on, it is said the Sage Vidyaranya installed the Golden idol of Devi in the place of the Sandalwood. This account is also very interesting! Guru Vidyaranya was asked by his devout pupils Hakka and Bukka  to rule the Kingdom which the sage politely rejected and installed them as Kings. Since they pressed him to sit one the throne for at least an hour he agreed to sit for 40 mins. in Durbar as token and wanted a Golden idol of Devi Sharada to be installed! Thus, the present Golden idol of Devi Sharadamba shines here!

    Further, The Vedamata Saraswati is the Goddess of Learning. Devi Sharadamba is the Mother earth, Bhu Devi, giving us food as (annapurna0, also worshiped as Mookambika, at Kolluru, and, at Horanadu as Annapurneshwari. Devi Sharada breathes unto all living beings without Herself breathing so says the scriptures! Devi Sharada is established within us, the mortals, as the sustainer of life, the very life-breath! 

tasmad yogirbhavaarjuna |

    Bhagavan Shree Krishna, as Yogacharya, advises Arjuna, the confused mind, to take to yogabhyasa. He, the Lord, goes on to explain how to sit and control breathing, etc. However, the very meaning and purport of 'yoga' has not been understood by us, mortals. Our yoga teachers neither follow the yoga as explained in the Bhagavad-Gita, nor do they follow Shandilya or Patanjali in full. In fact, yoga is a very difficult practical science subject that need lot of theoretical background of scriptures! What all the yoga schools try to teach is asana and pranayama, that too, without the basics of yama,niyama, pratyahara and Ishvara pranidana- the essential requirement for practice of yoga. The ultimate goal of yoga is 'to merge' in the 'Ultimate'! What this 'ultimate truth' is, is never known! The 'ultimate truth is an abstract concept. It is almost the ultimate destination marked by 'stand still'. It is absolute silence, mahattanta shanta. Nothing stirs here. This is param padam, the natural state one should attain to! This is like home coming after a long journey abroad!

    .One who attains 'param padam' the highest seat will ot return here, to this mrutyu loka. This is the purpose of taking to yogabhyasa This practice of yoga needs a firm determination, focused attention, study of scriptures (nidhidhyasana), meditation (dhyana),, chintana, manthana, and tapas. It is also important to note that the path to yoga is well defined in the Gita, as told by the Lord. There is no need for looking elsewhere for guidance. What all needed is total withdrawal from worldly sensuous way of life and take to renunciation, vaiagya. There is no alternate to this!

   However, this renunciation or vairagya is not divorced to living in family, society, community! It is using discrimination. It is tactful way of dealing worldly problems, avoiding conflicts, living in peace! Yoga brings wisdom. it teaches how far one should go, not beyond! This makes the person wise, a yogi. A yogi is not disturbed by the happenings around him/her. A yogi is dispassionate towards attractive things, objects, people and problems. There is wisdom in tackling things. Total renunciation, sanyasa, is not called for untill one reaches the ripe old age and a guru takes him by hand to guide! One has to live amidst family and friends and yoga helps here!

   Yoga is thus not just a discipline for a healthy way of life. It is the path to salvation. It is away of synchronizing the thoughts, ideas, action, and working for fulfillment for life. It is coordinating the functioning of  body, mind, senses, intellect and ego tuned toward the Atman. Ultimately, this brings union with god.   

VISHNU- The All-pervading Self

    The term 'vishnu' means, all-pervasive (vish, pravishyati). that which pervades everything. Lord Vishnu Bhagavan is the unmanifest aspect of 'brahmn'. He is Shree Krishna ,here in the Bhagavad-Gita.. Bhagavan Shree Krishna says, "This whole world is pervaded by Me in My unmanifest form." (Gita Ch.9 verse.4).

    This unmanifest aspect of Vishnu is something that is not easy for us, mortals, to understand so easily for it involves a deeper study. our ability to understand is much limited. We cannot think beyond a certain limit! We may need an attained person, a jnyani, to initiate us to the spiritual realm so that we start thinking at a higher level. Otherwise, we go on round and round thinking of the same thing as a riddle and may not make a head or tail of it. The Verses 4and 5 seem to be a riddle. Let's analyze these verses a little further and try to understand the deeper spiritual aspects.

    The selected verses above are of serious nature. These call for an in-depth analysis. The supreme Lord says that He has pervaded everything exists, but all these are not Him. He also states that He is established in everything, but still He is not them! Further, He says, albeit He is there in everything, nothing exists in Him! Neither He is, nor He is not! He is everything and He is not anything! Now these statements of the Lord create confusion. 

   The verses cited above state that He, the supreme Lord exists just as the wind exists in space! Even though the air exists in space, the air is not attached to space, nor does the sky attached to space! Just similar to this, The Lord is seated in the Lotus Heart (hrit-kamala) of all beings, but not attached to the body! He, the paramatman, is unmanifest and is seated as the unmanifest Atman providing chaitanya, prana-shakti (Life-force), prajmya (Consciousness), and support the living beings during the stipulated period.  

    

Conference of Gods

   There was some commotion in different parts of the world due to the widespread Covid19 deaths that called for an urgent attention of Yamaraj, the deity of Death. A delegation ledby Chitragupta was sent to the earth to study and report the situation. The delegation arrived on earth and sent for the authorized agents of death, and these included the Doctors, Administrators who were to inspect the food, drugs, and adulteration of drinking water etc. However, they found a number of unauthorized gents, too such as the doctors from donation fee colleges, unlicensed and unqualified staff in these departments. They also found that most of the Elemental Gods like Fire, Air, Water, Food were also angry and people suffered death!     

   The situation was so bad that the God of Death Yama Raj, also the Deity of Time, Illusion, Fate, and the Controller, called an emergency meeting of all the Gods in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis on the Earth. It was an unprecedent event that called for this emergency. There was hue and cry, a huge rush of wailing souls that wanted to enter the gates of the Yamaloka. The gatemen refused to allow them inside since they had no valid Visa since they were not sent for. They had died of an unknown disease Covid19 and the dead bodies were disposed off without any proper funeral rites, sanskar. This enraged Yamaraj, the God of Death. Hence He called this meeting to know the details.

  Another serious issue was that of deteriorating condition of dharma, morals and ethics, etc. on the Earth. People had become almost reckless and started living an unrighteous way, infringing the rights of others, adharma. This caused the Bhudevi to cry so loud that it reached the King of Yama loka, Hence, the meeting was ordered and all the Gods arrived. The Meeting started with a brief introduction by the Secretary General, the Head of Gods, Devendra. Some Heads of States of selected Countries and the Heads of Kingdom of Insects, viruses, germs and other kshudra jeevi and a few Representatives of those who suffered the evil effect were also invited. 

   First, these wailing bhuta, preta and pishacha were heard. Their problem was that they had no where to go since their bodies were discarded without human dignity and funeral rites. The King of Death ordered them to go back to earth and enter the new body. He also advised the old and the infirm, children and other vulnerable section to stay in and stay safe so that they are not affected by these pretas. The people were also advised to keep their surroundings sanitized, wash hands regularly, wear mask in public places and keep social distance of at last 6 ft from each other. 

   The Chitragupta Committee report was placed before the meeting and each and every concerned head of departments was asked to explain. Dharma raj was depressed and said that people have ignored him. They have no respect for dharma. The Gods also added that people have become arrogant, egoistic, greedy, jealous, adamant, reckless, and have even started asking who is god where is he and all that. So there is no law and order Then, the Elemental Gods were heard. The Sun God, their Head stated that all gods are sad, angry because of the people who had no respect for the elders, teachers and parents and even the Gods. 

   Then, the Head of Virus kingdom was called to explain. The Corona Virus was unable to explain, how in the first instance, came to existence. It was unheard of and even now there is a debate going on! He simply did not know how and whom his agents are killing!

 Then came the Heads of States of USA India and China, the three most populous States. It was found that the two States across the pacific Ocean were creating the problems because of their interests in food, fuel and security interests of their people. India was lauded for the peaceful co-existence and policies that favored the poor and the deprived classes. Still the problem of rich and the greedy remains!

  Then the meeting was  abruptly adjourned sine die due to some other urgent pressing problems. The people on the earth did not know what next! All returned to their normal routine duties.

    .

    

Proper Perspective

    There are different perspectives towards this world, this life we live, the relationships, and all that. It is difficult to say which one is right and which is wrong. The different age groups develop their own perspective according to their physical or natural and social environment and go on changing as they grow older. Ultimately, each one arrives at a conclusion of his/her own. This may not be an universally applicable one. However, the scriptures speak of an ideal perspective whether that is practical or not. This ideal perspective is one of a very beautiful world where all living beings exist in harmony and life is a music, symphony, a perfect orchestra! This is called 'utopia' by some, but may be practical one to the blessed souls. There are almost a hundred million human souls working towards attaining this ideal and, may be, a small percentage of them has attained it! Such attained souls are the path=finders and torch bearers for us. They are the most suitable guides to us.

  One's perspective depends on his/her ability to perceive things, objects, situations, and such other worldly aspects. This may also depend on one's cultural background, education levels and intelligence. This is not just common sense or general knowledge. This is one's acquired nature, svabhava, and inherited qualities (genes?). Some are blessed with intuitional knowledge, get insight into things. Hence, nothing can be said about these. 

   Now, what is the ideal path? The ideal path is one of simple beauty and truth. It is very easy to adapt to this ideal. However, there are extraneous factors that do not allow us to follow this path. These extraneous factors are many and imperceptible. For instance, we do not know what makes us behave is such and such a way under certain circumstances. Such a response or behavior on our part leads us to a certain path that may not lead to the ideal one! Hence, it is not within our hands to decide. This may be called prarabhda karma! A number of social factors affect our daily life and shape our destiny. It is only when we reach a certain stage in life that we get an opportunity to  look back and analyse. It is at this juncture that a guru comes to hold our hand as a guide. This is also the prerogative of the supreme Lord who takes pity on use and helps us this way. Otherwise we go on taking repeated births and learn bit by bit by experience..

Is 'Renunciation' (Vairagya) absolutely essential for 'Total Bliss'?

    In the first place, 'Renunciation' is 'vairagya that may lead to 'sanyas'. Thus, this topic excludes the people who are not ripe enough for sanyas. Sanyasa is not advisable for all. It is only those who are reluctant to continue in the worldly way of life and seek some Guru' to lead to spiritual path of life. This reluctance comes as a result of repeated births and deaths of jiva and its experience compels it to change the path of sensuous life. It is also the last few stages of human existence, as it were. It is the divine proddence, divine intervention asking the jiva to change its way of life from sensuous to spiritual that prompted Sri Raghavendra Swamy to take to sanyasa. Some who take hasty decision and enter sanyasa may not succeed and return to family life! Normally, every aged person above seventy years should take to a life of meditation, live as much as possible in a solitary place (at least for a larger part of the day) and think of spiritual pursuits. The guidance of an attained Guru is absolutely essential. Practice of yoga from early stages in life helps a lot. Those who do not take to yoga, at least, before the age of fifty will miss the bus! It is not possible at a later stage to take to asana,  pranayama and other pre-requisites for renunciation. Breath control is one of the important means of mind control. 

   Now, who says, renunciation is absolutely essential? Bhagavan Sri Krishna has clearly stated that the adept should strive to control mind and through mind, all thoughts, desires and organs that run after the desires. The Lord is Yogacharya and the Gita is yoga-shastra.. He says, "one should desist from temptations. Withdraw senses, mind, intellect from worldly pursuits." Atma samshtha manah krutvaana kinchidapi chintayet | (Gita Ch. VI. V. 25). One should remain in a thoughtless state! Manolaya or mano nasha is also yoga that stills the mind.

    The Gita emphatically lays down the means to salvation, mukti, moksha. The adept has to take to satsanga, svadhyaya, nidhidhyasana and dhyana. The knowledge should pave way for viveka (wisdom) and finally, to vairagya. These steps are the means to salvation. Those who are not interested in all these need not bother and go ahead with their normal life of worldly pursuits. These are fools, 'mudah', says the Lord. Further, this vairagya is not the end by itself. There are three more steps to kailvalya or kailasa, param padam. These are explicitly stated in the Gita sa- yajnya (sacrice), dana (should donate or gift all that one possesses) and go to solitary place for tapas. It is ultimately the 'tapas' that brings immense joy and supreme bliss. This is definitely not for all! These are left tp the Lord's will and it is He who directs the jiva, and even the jiva cannot do anything in this regard!

   Then only, the person will enjoy total bliss, param ananada. Nothing will bother such a yogin!