Why Invoke God's Grace?

 Haven't we seen a batsman look up to the sky and offer his gratitude when he hits a century? What is there to look up? Yes, there is something, someone, or some extraordinary power or force that guides our actions here! This force or power is invisible, divine, and very protective. It is called 'Vishnu', the all-pervasive pure consciousness, that is the enlightening, guiding force. This is the secret behind creation. When we look back at the way we have traveled the decades of our lives, we may discover some invisible hand guiding us through the ups and downs. In fact, someone is holding our hand or even sits within us and walks! It is He, who is seated within us that does all the job and we boast saying "I did this, I did that?  It is very difficult to believe that some unknown, unseen guiding force acts and we may attribute it to our prarabhda (carry over?), karma phala (fruits of past actions), or the Stars (n which one is born?)! To some extent we may attribute all our actions to the stars and planets in our birth chart (janma kundali/horoscope). Events or things happen according to the influence of the planetary positions (including the sun and moon) and their movements (graha chara). A well-versed astrologer can interpret the birth chart if the date of birth and place (Lat. and Long.) and time of birth are accurate. Astrology may seem to be a little unscientific or irrational and, may be dismissed as an inexact science. But one cannot ignore the age-old shastra that is attributed to the great sage Bhrugu. 

 Now, what is so scientific about the stars (astronomy) and so unscientific about forecast based on our birth chart (astrology)? The answer is simple. we do not know much about stars. The stars are made of elements and their radiation influence our lives when their rays fall on the jiva from the date of inception to its death. Every planet exercises its influence on the life and activities of a person and the changes are attributed to the influences of the planet in its own house or house of a benevolent or malevolent planet. But we know something about our birth charts due to the efforts of great visionaries, Rishis like Bhrugu and mathematicians like Bhatta, Bhaskara, Varaha Mihira, who could calculate the distance of Stars from earth and their influence on our lives. We are all born under the influence of one or the other Star's direct rays at the time of our birth (right from the time of inception as foetus). Even the fate of the impregnated cell whether to multiply, grow, and take birth or to abort is decided by these external influences (stars). This is the reason why our very existence is not certain and everything depends on the 'Will of the Lord'. This is one of the reasons why we need the 'Grace of Lord' (daiva anugraha). 

   It is human trait, may be weakness or, whatever, that makes one to look for help in distress. Normally, we look to the divine grace and pray the God/s for that. God is the only invisible force that can help us, as we hope, it seems! Fate, luck, destiny apart, this divine force can save or help us, guide us. 'Alchemist' is a beautul short novel that depicts this. This is explicitly state in the Bhagavad-Gita, too. Blessed Lord, Sri Krishna says, "Come to Me. take refuge in Me. I shall help you, give you whatever you want, protect you, and even redeem you. Don't worry! maam upetya tu kounteya sarva paapebhyo mokshayishyami, ma shucaa! 

 What we lack is full faith, devotion and trust in Him?t   

Origin of our Gods

 How did our Gods and Goddesses come into existence?

 This is a very interesting question. Gods are also created like the humans (?) according to Devi Lakshmi Mata. Infact, She is the Divine Mother who manifests in different names, forms and functions. This is revealed by none other than the Devi Herself to Shakra (Indra) who asks Her who She is and what are Her functions. 'Lakshmi Tantra', an ancient Text of Pancharatra Agama Sastra reveals this. (See Lakshmi Tantra by Sanjukta Gupta, MLBD).

  In the first place, Sri Hari is the One Who is Unborn, Eternal, Pure bliss, consciousness, and absolutely inert (nshchala) also known as the 'Self', 'Sat'. etc. He is Narayana, purnaprajnya, mahajneya, and He is eulogized in innumerable ways. He is the Only GOD for all practical purposes. Eko devah narayanah | proclaims the Veda. It is His I-hood (ahanta) as Prakriti that has evolved into all other forms. This I-hood is none other than Lakshmi also called Shakti. It is this I-hood or ahanta of Sri Hari stimulated by an urge to creation has evolved the pure creation (shuddha srushti) as infinitely small particles of Herself containing all six of the attributes. A small part of Myself as Mahalakshmi evolve into three gunas- tamas, rajas, and sattva. When rajas predominate it acquires the name of Mahasri (rajas) the supreme Goddess. When tamas is dominant, She is called Mahamaya, and when sattva predominates, She is called Mahavidya. 

 Thus, Mahalakshmi, the transcendental particle of Shakti evolves into primordial nature incorporating the three gunas in equal proportion.  Mahasri, Mahamaya and Mahavidya represent Mahalakshmi, but each represent only one special aspect of guna and hence,  as they evolve further, the gunas manifest themselves in unequal proportions. a male and female pair endowed with all the characteristics of its respective parental source emanated out as Mahasri,  Mahamaya, and Mahavidya, one from each.

These six attributes are verily the inherent nature of Sri Hari but expressed by different functionaries. The functionaries are: Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Aniruddha and Pradyumna. The six attributes are; shakti, jnyana, iccha, bala, virya and tejas, These qualities are common, albeit, two of them predominate in each of the three functionaries leading to diverse creation..    

'brahmn'

 This term 'brahmn' is a very terse, all-comprehensive, esoteric term. It is similar to sat, the eternal Truth, not subject to conditions. The term Brahma, the Creator, and the term 'bhrama', meaning illusion are the manifest aspects of the same 'brahmn'. All these terms are good for contemplation, meditation, and realization. In the first place, the term 'brahmn' is the Absolute, ONE and with no second! It is almost void but not a vacuum. It is nothing but contains everything! This may seem a little controversial or contradictory. But it is true. It is this void or 'nothingness' from which manifest everything! This is similar to the Silence before we start thinking and get into action., Everything is hidden in the void or a state of 'nothingness' called 'brahmn'. It is just like the very word no thing that contains thing/s. Thus, we get into riddle. However, there be something in nothing? This is similar to the space (akasha) that contains or holds everything. The first requisite thing is space that accommodates objects. But, nobody knows what is this 'Space' (Aksha). It is called 'brahmn'! Everything is brahmn, in the sense that holds or manifests everything, the visible and the invisible. 

  'The term 'brahmn' is considered to be the most beautiful concept in spiritual studies. It is the ultimate that a spiritual seeker wants. The search is over the moment a seeker, mumukshu, attains this state of 'brahmn'. This state of brahmn is the beginning and the end of all, albeit, it has no beginning or end by itself. Then what exactly is this state? This is similar to our silence before and after we talk! It is just AUM. A is the beginning and M is the end when we open our mouth to talk. It is also the 'brahmn' since it is the beginning and the end where the universe manifests and dissolves itself. 

The concept of 'brahmn' is similar to 'Absolute Silence (mahattanta shanta). Everything is silent here. There is no vibration of any sort here. A settled composed mind is said to be in a state of 'brahmn' when there is no vibration of thought waves. The great sages practice pranayama and perfect it to attain to this state. However, this is a very difficult proposition for common man who is indulging in worldly affairs. A person who meditates on 'Om' will be able to attain this state after a long period of regular practice. This is the ultimate one can aspire as a human being! 

Is This Visible World Real?

  In the Yogavasishtha, the Learned Sage imparting the knowledge of the Self, 'brahmn'. As the story goes, Sri Ramachandra was seen depressed due to the sad state of the poor people and worried about his ability to solve their problem as a Prince and later as a King of Ayodhya. Sage Vasishtha visits the King at this time and the latter narrates how Ramachandra is depressed and worried, neglects his food, and getting weak. Thus, the instructions given to Rama that runs into almost 32,000 are abridged by some learned Kashmiri scholars to nearly 6000 and finally e have small booklet of just 223 verses here in ten chapters. The essence of the Text is simple. The Learned sage says this visible world is unreal. The visible world is limited by Time (kaala), Distance (desha) and Causality (karya-karana). Whatever is limited and liable to decay and destruction is not real. Even the human body comes within this definition. It's a straw says the Great Sage. Further, whatever is made of parts is liable to give way and disappear when parts are gone. So, what is real is not that is visible and we experience with the help of the senses, mind, and intelligence. Whatever is experienced by the inner Self (Atman) is the only reality. Hence it is essential to know the ਰeality of our ਏxistence.  The Self (Atman) is the manifest aspect of supreme Self (paramatman). The body is made out of the elements and all beings are like the snail in shell. The silkworm weaves out a cocoon, hibernate, and finally makes a whole through it and flies of as a butterfly. That's all.

In Yogavasishtha, the Learned sage is instructing Ramachandra, son of King Dasharatha about the 'Reality' of this visible world. In fact, Ramachandra here is a divine incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Etymologically and esoterically the word Rama has different connotations than the one historical character Ramachandra. However, the name Rama, son of King Dasharatha is no different from the one we are discussing here as the Godhead. King Dasharatha who is a descendant of the dynasty of Ikshvaku, the worshiper of Sun-God, gave this name to his first son Rama. The two syllable 'Ra' and 'Ma' refers to Ravi (Sun) and Earth (Bhu), respectively. In fact, even Lakshmana and Hanuman associated with Rama are very significant, indeed. In Adhyatma Ramayana, the terms denote the soul (Ra), the body (ma), the neervous system (Lakshman) and the Prana (Hanuman). Hanuman is actually called vatatmaja (borne out of air, ie., Oxygen) and Anjanisuta (borne out of Fire/Sun/Hydrogen). 

  It is very significant that the 'Vishnu Sahasranama' ends with the words: sahasranama tulya rama naama varaanane | 'Rama is the incarnation of Vishnu. This name is equal in value to a thousand other words that describe Lord Vishnu. What is so special about this? The two syllables 'Ra' and 'ma' stand for the Suryanarayana and Lakshmi (Bhu devi. In fact, the earth is a planet that is formed out of cooling and condensation of the solar flares. The Earth as a planet in the solar system is supposed to be the only suitable place to support diversified forms of plan and animal life (including birds and man), It is also a laboratory where man can evolve into the human and attain divinity like Sri Ramachandra. This attainment is made possible by a learned 'Guru'. The Guru imparts spiritual knowledge and weans away the suffering beings (jivarashi) from attachment to the sensuous world. The sensuous world is subject to limitations (niyati) of time and distance. The suffering of the living beings is attributed to ignorance as to the true nature of this world. A learned guru comes only to an earnest seeker who seeks refuge and liberation. ignorance as to the true nature of our existence is the root cause of suffering. Only the 'knowledge of the Self' (Atmajnyan) can remove the ignorance. The jiva is finally redeemed when its true nature is realized with the help of a guru.  This is the case of Sri Ramachandra, too. Here, Ramachandra was depressed after seeing the sick, old and the poor during is tour of Ayodhya Kingdom. Sage Vasishtha comes to impart the true nature of this visible world and the 'knowledge of the self'.

 Learned Sage Vasishtha imparts spiritual knowledge to King Dasharatha's son Ramachandra at a very early age as found in the voluminous 'Yoga Vasishtha'. This enables the prince to become a very famous king as also attain divinity. Sri Rama ruled Ayodhya so well that it came to be known as "Rama Rajya"- a land of peace, plenty, and prosperity and became very famous all over the world. What was so special about that rule may be stated to be just performing 'Rajadharma'. Sri Ramachandra is now worshiped as God. This is what the history of ancient Bharat, may be 7500 years ago known as tretayuga. 

  The teachings of sage Vasishtha are a masterpiece and a guide to all those who seek redemption, liberation. 

The Alpha Beta of Cosmic Entity

  The Vedic doctrine about Creation is: sada-asadameva agra aaseet | Meaning, In the beginning, there was nothing or something (of material nature?). We cannot say there was something like the Great Elements- Space (Akasha), Air (vaayu), Fire (agni), Water (aaps/jal) and Earth (pruthvi), so called the 'pancha mahabhoota' from which the material world is created. We cannot, for sure, say that there was something from which everything evolved, manifested, or formed. Also, we cannot say there was nothing. But then, how did the material world come into existence? At the least, there must be space to accommodate things or objects. 

The Vedic doctrine begins with 'brahmn' as the source of everything! Everything manifests from 'brahmn'. sarvam khaluvidam brahmaa. The beginning of the universe can be traced to 'brahmn' Who is Absolute, One and no second- ekam adviteeyam | "brahmn only manifests as everything!" In a sense everything is Supreme Conciousness (mahat-prajnya). It manifests as purusha and prakruti. The Shakti aspect is the manifest aspect of purusha only. Purusha by very nature is Silent (shanta/niH shabda), inert (nishcala/acahala), Unpolluted (nirmala). Hence, everything is bound by the principle of ekam, adviteeyam. Thus, in the beginning, everything was quiet, shanta. From this pure state of brahmn, started vibration, citta-vritti. This is what is: the "Lord Willed! The chitta-vritti is the beginning of Creation (srushtimula). the thought waves of brahm- Ekam bahusyam | i.e. the Lord's Will, Desire to manifest created waves (kampana) of Sound (shabda), Thus, the sacred sound 'Om' (AUM) is the beginning of Creation. There are four stages in this process- mahattanta shanta, kampana, akshara, pada, artha and finally padartha. The material world of objects emanated from the primordial sound 'Ommmm'. 'Om' (AUM) consists of 'A'- opening the mouth, the beginning, 'U' - bring the lips together, and 'Mmmm' close the mouth. This is all. 'A' is srushti, 'U' is sthiti, and 'Mmm' is laya. This is similar to the seismic waves. The impact of the sound is such that all the Alpha and Beta of creation, sustenance, and dissolution take place from 'AUM'. 

  The power of creation is vested in the 'svara' of Samskruta bhasha (the vowels from A to am and Ah). A only contains all that is to proceed- like a, aa, i, ee, u oo, lr, ye yE i, o O au, am ah. These are capable of creation of the pancha mahabhuta and their function as in the Consonants (ka cha Ta ta pa). The Consonants- ka, kha, ga, gha create the Great Elements. ca, Cha, ja, jha produce the Sense organs (Indriya) to experience the elemental world, and pa, pha, ba, bha, ma create the Objects of enjoyment, that also involve suffering of the jeevarashi. The syllables ya, ra, la, va are the chakra that activate the forces of elements in the body. The syllables sha, Sha, sa, ha La are the forces that sustains the world and the jeeva as Prana (Life-Force). The syllables ya, ra, la, and va are the wheels (chakra) that activate the forces of elements in the different parts of the human body (yam, ram, lam, vam, ham, Om, and so'ham). Thus, the manifest aspects of the supreme Lord Narayana as the Creative Power Lakshmi ensue in all that is created!   

 These manifest aspects of Devi as Shakti are: chit-shakti, Jnyan-shakti and kriya-shakti. Thus, there is no controversy?

 On the other hand, scientific explanation is quite different. Everything is defined by its structure, composition, nature of quality and function. Here everything is subject to condition.

 First, the science texts start with Elements and Compounds, Minerals- Metallic and Non-metallic, gaseous. etc. Hydrogen (H) is the lightest of the elements and the other two that accompanied it are Nitrogen (N) and Oxygen (O). Carbon (C), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), Gold (Au), and Silver (Ag). Thus, these materials either emanate, manifest, form, evolve from one another in course of time, or simultaneously form from a single source. Now, the question is: What is the beginning like and what was there in the beginning? Whether these elements were already there before the earth was formed in some form or the other, or appeared later?  The Sun is said to be a mass of Hydrogen and constantly cooling emanating Helium (He). The Sun is practically our God and we owe everything to Sun-God.

 In fact, the earth is formed out of the cooling and condensation of the solar flares. The sun is the chief source of Energy.

 However, it is certain that the stars contained these minerals. The Stars are made up of gold, silver, and platinum and radio-active minerals like iridium, radium, vanadium, Zircon. Gold, silver and platinum splashed out of a star that exploded recently. The three gaseous elements Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen constitute the foundation of the material world. Nickel and Iron (at the core of the earth) and Magnesium, Manganese, Calcium, Silicon, Aluminum and other minerals formed the earth. the Rocks contain these minerals. It is the combination of Hydrogen and Oxygen that gave more than 70 percent of the water and silicon, aluminum and magnesium (21 per cent) formed the outer earth's crust). 

  The aquatic animals appeared first followed by the amphibian, arboreal and the land animals and Man appeared later. Soil and water are the main support of life in addition to air. The Vedic doctrines are similar but differ slightly as regards evolution. Here, the supreme Lord wanted to experience the creation He created. So, He, the Lord, only entered all that exist and, it is He, who experiences! So, who is who here?

Yoga Vashishtha

 The teachings of Sage Vashishtha is the most beautiful spiritual guide to us. Here Sage Vashishtha is seen instructing the young Prince Ramachandra and his brothers about 'Knowledge of the Self'', the true nature of existence, and the illusory nature of the world. When Prince Ramachandra went round the country in order to see the condition of the people, he was so disappointed, depressed, and reluctant to be the King of Ayodhya succeeding his father Dasharatha. He saw poverty, hunger, and sickness of the people and was worried and depressed. Sage Vashisththa happens to visit the king at this time and the King expressed his anxiety about the condition of the prince and requested him to advise him. Thus, here we find the learned sage instructing about 'Atmajnyan', i.e., Knowledge of the Self, to the Prince.

 However, it is really difficult for us to understand these teachings. There is some sort of negative attitude bot the world and normally people do not want to develop this attitude. Normally, people want to enjoy life. The Sage is very clear about this illusory nature of this world and says that only fools relish the sensuous world. Ultimately, one is disillusioned for the sensuous world is insatiable and disappointing. Hence, the advise is to withdraw the senses and establish oneself in one's own inner self, Atman.

  The Learned Sage Vashishtha advise the young prince to realize the true nature of the world and just do his duty without bothering about the fruits of action. It is the same advise given by Lord Sri Krishna to Arjuna to just do his ordained duties and never anticipate anything in return. It is so important to us to realize these teachings. It is clearly stated here that one should think that this world is illusory and even the physical constituents of our body mind nd intellect are only accessories. One should realize that everything here is brahmn. sarvam khaluvidam brahmaa. 

  One should always think: 'I am brahman, the imperishable, immutable, unborn, eternal and immortal.'  

Hindu Gods and Goddesses

  Why do the Hindus worship so many Gods and Goddesses and still say, 'God is One'? The answer is simple. Bhagavan Sri Krishna says that "He manifests in many forms". He also says that He is Mahavishnu". Vishnu pervades the entire universe as Consciousness and chit shakti.. So, it is but natural that the Hindus worship all the manifest forms of the Lord such as cow, bull (nadi vehicle of Shiva), dogs who accompany Dattatreya and Yamadharmaraya), crow (Lord Shani's vehicle), peacock (vahana of Devi Saraswati), serpent (on which the Lord Vishnu rests), Lion (the vehicle of Devi Durgamata), etc. The Hindus worship plants, herbs, and tress, Since everything is pervaded by the Lord and Bhagavan reiterates that He only manifests in what all is created by Him. No wonder, everything is divine, but display the attributes of prakruti due to ignorance of its true nature. Even the elements like air, fire and water re divine manifestations and are worshiped by the Hindus as Gods. One can count 33,333 Gods and Goddesses and narrate their divine attributes. All the Gods and Goddesses are nothing but the creative energy and Force of One supreme Lord Sri Hari Narayana. The power vested in the Gods are symbolically shown as number of hands and armaments painted and sculptor. The principle that 'God created man and man, in turn, created God. Man painted and cut stones, wood and metal to display and worship Gods! It is the faith and belief system that encourage building temples and install devi devata to  play and worship.

   Those ignorant of the symbolism and imageries behind the number of Gods make fool of themselves criticizing Hindus and their faith belief system. There is no other religion in the world that treat fellow human beings, birds, and animals as divine manifestations. The only race in the world that proclaim and  preach, practice peace and treat universal brotherhood. The Hindus treat the world as one family that include birds and animals, too.