एकस्य जीवितं दद्यान्न तु तुल्यं युधिष्टिर

यो दद्यात्काञ्चनं मेरुं कृत्स्नां चैव वसुन्धराम्।

एकस्य जीवितं दद्यान्न तु तुल्यं युधिष्टिर॥

महाभारते

yo dadyātkāñcanaṁ meruṁ kṛtsnāṁ caiva vasundharām|

ekasya jīvitaṁ dadyānna tu tulyaṁ yudhiṣṭira||

mahābhārate

Oh Yudhisstira,

A person may gift to another whole mountains of gold, gold of the size of Mahameru mountain

A person may gift the entire earth, huge expanse of lands as gift for the enjoyment of others

However, if a person is good enough to ensure the protection of life of another, to provide the means of happy livelihood for another, that gift would be superior to the gift of gold or land or anything material.

This comes by way of advise of Bheeshma to Yudhistira, in Mahabharatham.

युधिष्टिर oh Yudhistira यः a person मेरुं काञ्चनं gold of the size of Meru mountain itself दद्यात् may give as gift कृत्स्नां comple, entire, whole वसुन्धरां earth च एव दद्यात् too may give परन्तु however यदि if एकस्य जीवितं the life, the means of liveligood दद्यात् give तद that न एव not indeed तुल्यं भवति becomes equal

कोपः क्षणेन सुकृतं यदर्जितं पूर्वकोट्यापि

एकेन दिनेन तनोः तेजः षण्मासिकं ज्वरो हन्ति।

कोपः क्षणेन सुकृतं यदर्जितं पूर्वकोट्यापि॥

ekena dinena tanoḥ tejaḥ ṣaṇmāsikaṁ jvaro hanti|

kopaḥ kṣaṇena sukṛtaṁ yadarjitaṁ pūrvakoṭyāpi||

The fire turns to ashes the whole human body within the span of one day.

Prolonged fever spanning six months or so would finish off the patient

However uncontrollable anger just annihilates within split seconds all the virtues, worth and goodwill earned by a peron in the course of crores of lives

व्रतभङ्गोऽतिदुःखाय प्राणा जन्मनि जन्मनि॥

प्राणान्तेऽपि न भङ्क्तव्यं गुरुसाक्षिकृतं व्रतम्।

व्रतभङ्गोऽतिदुःखाय प्राणा जन्मनि जन्मनि॥

prāṇānte'pi na bhaṅktavyaṁ gurusākṣikṛtaṁ vratam|

vratabhaṅgo'tiduḥkhāya prāṇā janmani janmani||

Even if it would mean sure loss of life one should not break a vow that is solemnly undertaken in the presence of his guru. The breaking of the vow would give unending misery in this life and would add misery in more lives to come

कालक्षेपं न कारयेद्

धर्मारम्भे ऋणच्छेदे कन्यादाने धनागमे।

शत्रुघातेऽग्निरोगे च कालक्षेपं न कारयेद्॥

dharmārambhe ṛṇacchede kanyādāne dhanāgame|

śatrughāte'gniroge ca kālakṣepaṁ na kārayed||

One should never think of delayed actions, dithering or procrastination in the following matters

1. Embarking on some mission aimed at establishmnent of virtue and order in society

2. In the matter of discharging debts or liabilities incurred

3. In the matter of conducting the marriage of girls in one’s family

4. Striking hard and causing destruction to enemies when there is any opportunity

5. Taking preventive measures when there is spread of fire or diseases.

6. In the matter of earning and saving money.

स्वश्लाघा परनिन्दा च लक्षणं

स्वश्लाघा परनिन्दा च लक्षणं निर्गुणात्मनाम्।

परश्लाघा स्वनिन्दा तु लक्षणं सद्गुणात्मनाम्॥

svaślāghā paranindā ca lakṣaṇaṁ nirguṇātmanām|

paraślāghā svanindā tu lakṣaṇaṁ sadguṇātmanām||

Bragging about one’s own merits, whether they are real or imaginary and ever talking with contempt and in insulting terms about all others are the distinctive qualities of people of lowly mind and character.

At the same time, accepting the merits in others and praising such merits without any reservations and playing down one’s own achievements and remaining silent about such attainments are the sterling qualities of men of really exalted character.

न विद्यया केवलया तपसापि च पात्रता।

न विद्यया केवलया तपसापि च पात्रता।

यत्र विद्या चरित्रं च तद्धि पात्रं प्रचक्ष्यते॥

yaajnvalakya mitaaksharee samhita

na vidyayā kevalayā tapasāpi ca pātratā|

yatra vidyā caritraṁ ca taddhi pātraṁ pracakṣyate||

A person does not become eligible for highest respect just because of mere education. His respectability cannot be rated high even on the basic of the penance and rituals he undertake. If one possesses erudition and is having a blemishless character too then he must be praised as the forerunner for all accolades .

We would come across some very sturdy characters who are educated and persevering across the history of society and many of them lack in character. They would have forced others around to pay respects to them but such situations were entirely unpleasant. At the same time if a person is good but lags behind in knowledge and skills, he would be of little use to either himself or to others.

न देवपूजा न च पात्रपूजा न श्राद्धधर्मश्च न साधु धर्मः

न देवपूजा न च पात्रपूजा न श्राद्धधर्मश्च न साधु धर्मः।लब्ध्वापि मानुष्यमिदं समस्तं कृतं मयारण्यविलाप तुल्यं॥

Alas, I have made this beautiful human life futile similar to cry in the wilderness although I fully know that -Worship of gods, giving respect to eligible elders, observing the last rites and propitiative processes like Shraaddham for departed elders and serving the sages and saints are all great privileges given only to my life as a human being, I have cared to derive benefits from none of these great actions of immense merit.

सारंगी सिंहशाबं स्पृशति सुतधिया

 

सारंगी सिंहशाबं स्पृशति सुतधिया नन्दिनी व्यघ्रपोतं

मार्जारी हंसबालं प्रणयपरवशा केकिकान्ता भुजंगम्।

वैराण्याजन्मजातान्यपि गलितमदा जन्तवोऽन्ये त्यजन्ति

श्रित्वा साम्यैकरूढं प्रशमितकलुषं योगिनं क्षीणमोहम्॥

sāraṁgī siṁhaśābaṁ spṛśati sutadhiyā nandinī vyaghrapotaṁ

mārjārī haṁsabālaṁ praṇayaparavaśā kekikāntā bhujaṁgam|

vairāṇyājanmajātānyapi galitamadā jantavo'nye tyajanti

śritvā sāmyaikarūḍhaṁ praśamitakaluṣaṁ yoginaṁ kṣīṇamoham||

When the phenomena of nature are happening in the presence of a perfectly equanimous yogi whose desires, worldly illusions and delusions have waned and when enlightenment has dawned upon him, when all possible blemishes of the worldly existence have been removed through yogic sadhana, and when he has entered a pace of eternal peace, affability and solitude, the results would be so pleasant and strange.

The following strange things happen

The female deer touches and cuddles with affection the ferocious newborn of a lioness

The calm and composed divine cow treats the cub of a tiger as her own son

The cat, wily by nature becomes so affectionate that she dotes on the little boy of a swan (cygnet is the name for the little swan)

The female peacock, as if in romantic trance courts with a venomous snake

Thus even enmities which have endured through repeated lifetimes are forgotten and abandoned and even arch enemies come together in utter affection when the presence of such a yogi is felt in the vicinity.

If a yogin can make such an impact in the lives of beasts and animals with no sixth sense, his impact on fellow humans with a lot of sense and discretion must be even more pleasant.

This is from Ribhu Gita

സാരംഗീ സിംഹശാബം സ്പൃശതി സുതധിയാ നന്ദിനീ വ്യാഘ്രപോതം

മാര്‍ജാരീ ഹംസബാലം പ്രണയപരവശാ കേകികാന്താ ഭുജംഗം|

വൈരാണ്യാജന്മജാതാന്യപി ഗലിതമദാ ജന്തവോഽന്യേ ത്യജന്തി

ശ്രിത്വാ സാമ്യൈകരൂഢം പ്രശമിതകലുഷം യോഗിനം ക്ഷീണമോഹം||

മനസ്സിന് പൂര്‍ണ്ണമായ സന്തുലിതാവസ്ഥയും ഏകാഗ്രതയും കൈവന്ന, പ്രപഞ്ചത്തിലെ ആശകളും പ്രതീക്ഷകളും ആഗ്രങ്ങളും മിഥ്യാബോധവും, വഴിവിട്ടുള്ള ചിന്തകളും എല്ലാം മുച്ചൂടും അപ്രത്യക്ഷമായി പരമമായ അറിവ് മനോമുകുരത്തില്‍ ജ്വലിച്ച് നില്‍ക്കുന്ന, ഒരു ജീവനില്‍ ജന്മം കൊണ്ട് സ്വാഭാവികമായി സംഭവിക്കാവുന്ന എല്ലാ കോട്ടങ്ങളും കളങ്കങ്ങളും തീരെ ഇല്ലാതായ ഒരു മഹായോഗിയുടെ സാന്നിദ്ധ്യത്തിലും സാമീപ്യത്തിലും എത്തിപ്പെടുമ്പോള്‍ സംഭവിക്കുന്ന ഉജ്ജ്വലമായ പ്രതിഭാസമാണ് ഇവിടെ വിവരിക്കുന്നത്. അത്തരം മഹായോഗി സ്വന്തം സാധന കൊണ്ട് ഈ ജന്മത്തില്‍ സംഭവിച്ചു പോയ എല്ലാ കോട്ടങ്ങളും പരിമിതികളും തരണം ചെയ്ത് നിത്യവും നിരന്തരവും ആയ ശാന്തിയുടെ പാതയില്‍ ഒരിക്കലും വ്യതിചലിക്കാന്‍ കഴിയാത്ത ഒരു താളക്രമം നേടി മുന്നോട്ട് പോകുന്ന ഒരു മഹദ് വ്യക്തിത്വം ആയിരിക്കും. അത്തരം ജീവന്മുക്തന്‍ എല്ലാ ജീവന്മാരോടും സ്നേഹവും സൌഹൃദവും മാത്രം വച്ച് പുലര്‍ത്തുന്നു. ഏകാന്തതയാണ് ആ മഹദ് വ്യക്തിത്വത്തിന്‍റെ മുഖമുദ്ര.

ആ മഹദ് സാന്നിധ്യത്തില്‍ സംഭവിക്കുന്ന ഹൃദ്യങ്ങളും അതെ സമയം അത്ഭുതകരങ്ങളും ആയ ചില കാഴ്ചകളാണ് ഇവിടെ വിവരിക്കുന്നത്.

ഒരു മാന്‍പേട ജനിച്ച് ഏറെ സമയം ഒന്നും ആയിട്ടില്ലാത്ത പരാക്രമിയായ് ഒരു സിംഹക്കുഞ്ഞിനെ വാരിയെടുത്ത് ഓമനിക്കുന്നു.

പ്രകൃത്യാ ശാന്തയും സമാധാന്പ്രിയയും ആയ ദേവലോകത്തിലെ ഗോമാതാവ് ഒരു പുലിയുടെ കൊച്ചുകുഞ്ഞിനെ സ്വന്തം മകനായി മാത്രം കരുതി ലാളിക്കുന്നു.

പ്രകൃത്യാ ക്രൂരതയും സ്വാര്‍ത്ഥതയും മാത്രം കൈമുതലായുള്ള ഒരു പൂച്ചയമ്മ ഒരു പാവം അരയന്ന കുഞ്ഞിനെ മടിയില്‍ എടുത്ത് കൊഞ്ചിക്കുന്നു.

ഒരു പെണ്മയില്‍ സ്വയം മറന്നു എന്നപോലെ ഒരു വിഷപ്പാമ്പുമായി ഇഷ്ടം കൂടുന്നു.

അതെ അളവറ്റ ജന്മങ്ങളിലെ വാസനങ്ങള്‍ മൂലം ഏറെ കാലം നില നില്‍ക്കുന്ന ശത്രുതകള്‍ പോലും ഇത്തരം മഹത്തുക്കളുടെ സാന്നിധ്യം ഉള്ള പ്രദേശങ്ങളില്‍ വിസ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. എല്ലാ ശത്രുതകളും വിസ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. ആജന്മ ശത്രുക്കള്‍ പോലും അത്തരം മഹത്തുകളുടെ സാമീപ്യം മൂലം ഉറ്റ ചങ്ങാതിമാരായി മാറുന്നു. അതെ ഇത്തരം പ്രതിഭാസങ്ങള്‍ അനുഭവപ്പെടുന്നു എങ്കില്‍ അവിടെ മഹദ് വ്യക്തിത്വങ്ങളുടെ സാന്നിധ്യം ഉണ്ടെന്നു തിരിച്ചറിയാം.

വേണ്ടത്ര വിവേകവും അറിവും ഒന്നും സിദ്ധിക്കാത്ത വെറും കാട്ടുമൃഗങ്ങളുടെ ജീവിതത്തിലും പെരുമാറ്റത്തിലും ഒക്കെ ഇത്രയും മാറ്റങ്ങള്‍ വരുത്താന്‍ ഒരു യോഗിയുടെ സാന്നിധ്യത്തിന് കഴിയും എങ്കില്‍, അത്തരം മഹാന്‍ കൂടുതല്‍ അറിവും വിവേകവും എല്ലാം നേടിയ ഒരു മനുഷ്യന്‍റെ ജീവിതത്തില്‍ ഏറെ ഹൃദ്യങ്ങളായ മാറ്റങ്ങള്‍ വരുത്തിത്തീര്‍ക്കും എന്ന കാര്യത്തില്‍ സംശയം ഉണ്ടോ ?

ഋഭുഗീതയില്‍ നിന്ന്.

musings 215

Sound commonsense should take precedence over anything and everything...

The first lesson in commonsense is to realize that it is meaningless to communicate with persons who just have deluded themselves to the idea that life is just a stage show..

The second lesson in commonsense is to stop conscious communication with such persons..

The third lesson in commonsense if to keep quiet for heavens sake..

देवद्रव्येण या वृद्धिः गुरुर्द्रव्येण यद्धनम्।

देवद्रव्येण या वृद्धिः गुरुर्द्रव्येण यद्धनम्।

तद्धनं कुलनाशाय मृतोऽपि नरकं व्रजेत्॥

devadravyeṇa yā vṛddhiḥ gururdravyeṇa yaddhanam|

taddhanaṁ kulanāśāya mṛto'pi narakaṁ vrajet||

If a person has managed to have progress and affluence in life through appropriating money and property rightly belonging to divine institutions or deities,

If one has amassed cash through pilfering money belonging to his preceptors

Then that money and affluence would ensure sure annihihilation of the person with his whole clan included

And also would ensure him a one-way ticket to hell.

नैकपुष्पं द्विधा कुर्यान्न च्छिद्यात् कलिकामपि

नैकपुष्पं द्विधा कुर्यान्न च्छिद्यात् कलिकामपि।

चम्पकोत्पलभेदेन भवेद्दोषो विशेषतः॥

naikapuṣpaṁ dvidhā kuryānna cchidyāt kalikāmapi|

campakotpalabhedena bhaveddoṣo viśeṣataḥ||

A flower which is blooming naturally should not be split or torn asunder. The bud of a flower should never be pluked or split. It is a great sin to split flowers like Champaka and Utpala. That would bring in greater adversity. ( This statement comes in the wake of instructions regarding offering of flowers to God in Pooja )

Yes, some may say it is superstition. But the underlying spirit is the love for the pristine beauty of a blooming flower. Even an atheist can understand that.

दा शब्दोऽपहृतस्तेन गोपीवस्त्रापहारिणा

दासोऽहमिति मे बुद्धिः पूर्वमासीज्जनार्दने।

दा शब्दोऽपहृतस्तेन गोपीवस्त्रापहारिणा॥

dāso'hamiti me buddhiḥ pūrvamāsījjanārdane|

dā śabdo'pahṛtastena gopīvastrāpahāriṇā||

I had convinced myself and was entertaining the thought that I am the servant of that Lord Janaardhana.. अहं दासः इति जनार्द्द्ने मे बुद्धिः आसीत्. However that wretched thief who would not hesitate to steal away the clothes of cowherd girls just manages to steal the letter daa दा from the word daasa दास . Therefore only sa स remains.. that is daasaH aham has become saH aham.. From “I am his Servant”, it has so happened that “ I am Him’

The devotee says that he was acting as the servant of that naughty thief Krishna the Janardhana. However when he got engrossed in the story of that consummate robber of clothes of ladies, that fellow managed to steal away the letter da from the word daasa and therefore the devotee becam one with Janardhana Himself.

Yes, constant devotion does the trick.. we become on with Krishna..

sub sects in marriage

My two cents on too much dependance on strictly following sub-sects, sects etc in marraiges, with special reference to my species, the Iyers or south Indian brahmins. With change of some words and phrases these ideas could apply in a universal canvas too....

The degree of conservatism varies.. conservatism can be based on Inertia or tendency to just carry on with the pattern existing for years.

Conservatism can be based on expediency.. the sects somehow termed superior over the ages would love to maintain that soap bubble because the Vadama or whatever superior tag, though assumed would give them some advantage or sort of compensation for inadequacies on other counts..

Even when the general pattern is universally accepted, some sects who are generally seen as lower down in the scale, make a lot of noises and try to bring in authorities and endorsement to have them declared as superior..

All these tendencies work in a very subtle manner these days, quite against the noisy scenes created by middle aged females and paattees or old thathas..

But most of the Iyers are conservative even when they are covered by tweed coats or denim skirt, and brag of some residence in some part of USA or England or Australia or even Namibia..

And Iyers will not like what I say below, and I am not a social revolutionary, but where exactly is the law that brahmins should marry brahmins alone?

If you are opposing conservatism sincerely, how can you maintain the stand that there should be marriage within the caste alone.? Alternately if there can be a stand that region, subsect, language etc should be considered, that alone cannot be called as conservatism

..

Personally, I would prefer to have and if necessary modify my own rules for marriage within my own circle of relatives and influence, and would attempt to follow a family pattern, (because ultimately only the close family counts.. and the messiahs in the Facebook would not be seen anywhere when the chips are down) and would never try to criticize or even air views in social media.. It is absolutely meaningless to called certain acts alone as conservatism

musings 214

Usually when I wish someone something good, I add Krishna bless.. Let me clarify, what I mean is that I am praying to the supreme being that He may be pleased to help my friend.. I am not blessing anyone, or I am not playing the rule of any guru or messiah. I am nothing special.. I am just making a humble request to God. That is that.

In fact, I abhor receiving blessing from any man-gurus, except from my family and elder friends and well-wishers..

I am clear in mind that God knows his business well and He has not appointed any gasbag to transfer its gag to another gasbag..

I really feel like vomiting when I see some "spiritual posts" which are concentrated around some quirky person, either man, woman or eunuch, and all the other members paying homage to such so called "special" beings..

God bless, God save us

musings 213

no one really dies..

we are just on a camp on this earth..

some leave earlier to heaven because our travel schedules do not sync..

But all, relatives, friends and all those whom we love and who love us would be present in that paramapadam.. waiting for us in the benevolent presence of the Lord..

musings 212

we should learn to judge things not merely on financial or selfish considerations..

( By selfish, I mean, if a person, who is a derelict morally and socially but is of use to me... I should not prop him up and patronize him.. We should not encourage goondas and mafia even if they are useful to us..)

I feel,

Even a tiny rose which grows in a dry plant in front of my house is more valuable than a dozen lush, beautiful and fragrant roses I could afford to purchase from a floris..

A cheeni mulaku.. a tiny chilly fruit growing in a plant in my shapeless garden can be more valuable than a kilo of large colours capsicums I purchase from the vegetable marker.. even though I can afford it..

And very often, members of the same family, even a husband and a wife may have different views on it..

One would cherish the frugal kitchen garden and its scant and inadequate products but the other would just ignore and purchase things on a wholesale manner from the shanty..

And even empty the baskets every week just to fill them afresh.

No one can say which approach is right.. but human decency and farsightedness should demand that money should not be spent on more than what is needed..

After all, money is only a sort of authority to use the very scarce and cherished possession of a society for the present and for the future.. If we apply our money to waste such resources, we are killing ourselves and our future generations..

Even friendship, enmity etc, have to be entertained and can be regulated to the levels where it is unavoidable..

One should never try to swallow what he cannot chew..

If a fellow is not friendly, it does not mean he is an enemy..

We can have few friends, fewer enemies and any number of neutrals..

We need not force the neutral either into friendships of enmity..

अपि शक्या गतिर्ज्ञातुं पततां खे पतत्रिणां

अपि शक्या गतिर्ज्ञातुं पततां खे पतत्रिणां।

न तु प्रच्छन्नभावानां युक्तानां चरतां गतिः॥

कौटिलीय अर्थशास्त्रे २-१०-३७

api śakyā gatirjñātuṁ patatāṁ khe patatriṇāṁ|

na tu pracchannabhāvānāṁ yuktānāṁ caratāṁ gatiḥ||

kauṭilīya arthaśāstre 2-10-37

With some well directed efforts and diligence one can even track the movements of birds negotiating huge distances across the sky. However the movements and machinations of the employees of the Crown, the deputies of the King, are virtually impossible to understand or track. The spontaneous façade they wear is honesty and geniality but such appearances are entirely deceptive.

This is from the master Chanakya giving his views on the subject in his magnum opus…Arthashastra

लोकवीरं महपूज्यं सर्वरक्षाकरं विभुम् ।

लोकवीरं महपूज्यं सर्वरक्षाकरं विभुम् ।

पार्वती हृदयानन्दं शास्तारं प्रणमाम्यहम् १॥

विप्रपूज्यम् विश्ववन्द्यं विष्णु शम्भ्वो प्रियं सुतम्।

क्षिप्रप्रसादनिरतं शास्तारं प्रणमाम्यहम्

२॥

मत्तमातङ्ग गमनं कारुण्यामृत पूरितम् ।

सर्वविघ्नहरं देवं शास्तारं प्रणमाम्यहम्॥

३

अस्मत्कुलेश्वरं देवं अस्मत् शत्रु विनाशनम् ।

आस्मदिष्ट प्रदातरं शास्तारं प्रणमाम्यहम्

४ ॥

पण्ड्येश वंश तिलकं केरले केलिविग्रहम्।

आर्तत्राण परं देवं शास्तारं प्रणमाम्यहम्

५॥

पञ्च रत्नाख्यमेतद्यो नित्यं शुद्धः पठेन्नरः।

तस्य प्रसन्नो भगवान् शास्ता वसति मानसे

६ ॥

ലോകവീരം മഹപൂജ്യം സർവരക്ഷാകരം വിഭും ।

പാ൪വതീ ഹൃദയാനന്ദം ശാസ്താരം പ്രണമാമ്യഹം ൧॥

വിപ്രപൂജ്യം വിശ്വവന്ദ്യം വിഷ്ണു ശംഭ്വോ പ്രിയം സുതം।

ക്ഷിപ്രപ്രസാദനിരതം ശാസ്താരം പ്രണമാമ്യഹം

൨॥

മത്തമാതങ്ഗ ഗമനം കാരുണ്യാമൃത പൂരിതം ।

സർവവിഘ്നഹരം ദേവം ശാസ്താരം പ്രണമാമ്യഹം॥

൩

അസ്മത്കുലേശ്വരം ദേവം അസ്മത് ശത്രു വിനാശനം । അസ്മദിഷ്ട പ്രദാതാരം ശാസ്താരം പ്രണമാമ്യഹം

൪ ॥

പണ്ഡ്യേശ വംശ തിലകം കേരളേ കേളിവിഗ്രഹം।

ആർതത്രാണ പരം ദേവം ശാസ്താരം പ്രണമാമ്യഹം

൫॥

പഞ്ച രത്നാഖ്യമേതദ്യോ നിത്യം ശുദ്ധഃ പഠേന്നരഃ।

തസ്യ പ്രസന്നോ ഭഗവാന്‍ ശാസ്താ വസതി മാനസേ

൬ ॥

Lokaveeram Mahapoojyam, Sarvarakshakaram vibhum !

Parvathi hridayanandam, Saasthaaram pranamamyaham !!

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa !! 1 !!

Viprapoojyam viswavandyam, vishnu shambho priyam sutham !

Kshipraprasaada niratam, saasthaaram pranamamyaham

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa !! 2 !!

Mattha maatanga gamanam, kaarunyaamrita pooritam !

Sarva vighnaharam devam, saasthaaram pranamamyaham !!

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa !! 3 !!

Asmatkuleswaram devam, asmat shatru vinaashanam !

Asmadista pradaataram, saasthaaram pranamamyaham !!

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa !! 4 !!

Pandyesha vamsa tilakam, keraley keli vigraham !

Aarta thraana param devam, saasthaaram pranamamyaham !!

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa !! 5 !!

Pancha ratnaakya Methadyo nityam shudha patennaraha !

Tasya prasanno Bhagawaan Saastha vasathi maanase !!

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa !! 6 !!

I pay respectful Pranams at the lotus feet of Shasta, the protector and witness,

He is the best among the valorous heroes in this world

He deserves the worship of all the noble personages on the face of earth

He has taken upon Himself the duty of protection of all people around Him

He is the source of all that is great

He is the supreme happiness to the heart of mother Uma Parvathi

I pay respectful Pranams at the lotus feet of Shasta, the protector and witness,

He is worshipped with earnestness by all learned people

The entire universe pays obeisance to him

He is the darling son of Lord Vishnu and Shiva

He is ever eager to grant his bounties on the devotees without even the slightest delay

I pay respectful Pranams at the lotus feet of Shasta, the protector and witness,

His attractive gait resembles the movement of a rowdy elephant in rut

He is filled to the brim with the nectar of compassion for his devotees

He is the shatterer of all impediments that affect his devotees

I pay respectful Pranams at the lotus feet of Shasta, the protector and witness,

He is the Lord and master of our clan, family and household

He is the annihilator of the enemies who attack us

He is ever eager to grant us whatever we fondly desire

I pay respectful Pranams at the lotus feet of Shasta, the protector and witness,

He is the scion and the most significant prince of the clan of Pandyas (Pandala)

He has manifested himself as the attractive idol (of Ayyappa) in the land of Kerala

He is the ever engaged in protecting and offer relief to all those who are reeling under misery

If these five gems of praises on Shasta are chanted by a man with pure heart and body, the Lord becomes pleased with him and ever resides in his mind

भगवद्भक्तिरहिताः महामोहनिमीलिताः

भगवद्भक्तिरहिताः महामोहनिमीलिताः।

तैलयन्त्रे बलीवर्दा इव घूर्णन्ति सर्वदा॥

कृष्णभक्तिरसामृते

bhagavadbhaktirahitāḥ mahāmohnimīlitāḥ|

tailayantre balīvardā iva ghūrṇanti sarvadā||

kṛṣṇabhaktirasāmṛte

People who have no staunch devotion in the Supreme being are deluded and are mired in the quagmire of illusion. Just like the ox fastened to the crusher in the oil mill going round and round the pillar without knowing any direction these people would be also running around constantly without any clue as to what they are doing.

भजे भूतनाथम्

श्रितानन्द चिन्तामणिं श्रीनिवासं

सदा सच्चिदानन्द पूर्णप्रकाशम्।

उदारं सदारं सुराधारमीशं

परं ज्योतिरूपं भजे भूतनाथम्॥

Shridhaa nanda chinthamani shreenivasam

Sada sacchidaananda purna prakasham !

Udhaaram Sadhaaram Suraadhaara meesham

Param jyothi rupam bhaje bhootha naatham !!

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa

I serve with utter devotion, the Lord of Bhuthas, Bhuthanatha, Ayyappa,

Who is the embodiment of the Divine jyothi

Who is the wish yielding chintahamani which blesses great happiness to all those who serve him

Who is the storehouse of all wealth and affluence

Who is ever shining win the full and absolute glow of sat chit Ananda

Who is very generous

Who is shining forth in the company of his consorts Purna and Pushkala

Who is the refuge and rallying point for protection of the entire group of gods

Who is the supreme Lord

विभुं वेद वेदान्त वेद्यं वरिष्ठं

विभूतिप्रदं विश्रुतं ब्रह्म निष्टम्।

विभास्वत् प्रभावं प्रभुं पुष्कलेष्टं

परं ज्योतिरूपं भजे भूतनाथम्॥

Vibhum veda vedaantha vedhyam varishtam

Vibhoothi pradam vishrutham brahma nishtam

Vibhaaswath prabhaava prabhum pushka leshtam

Param jyothi rupam bhaje bhootha naatham !!

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa !!

I serve with utter devotion, the Lord of Bhuthas, Bhuthanatha, Ayyappa,

Who is the embodiment of the Divine jyothi

Who is endowed with the powers of creation, sustenance and destruction

Who is the one supreme being who can be understood only by Vedas and Vedangas

Who is the best among the divine being

Who is capable of blessing us with all the welfare and greatness in this world and in the next world too

Who is very very famous

Who is brahmanishta.. entirely devoted to celibacy

Who is having the shine, glory and prowess equal to Vibhasvan, the Sun

Who is the beloved consort of mother Pushkala

परित्राण दक्षं परब्रह्म सूत्रं

स्फुरच्चारु गात्रं भवद्वान्त मित्रम्

परं प्रेमपत्रं पवित्रं विचित्रं

परं ज्योतिरूपं भजे भूतनाथम्॥

Parithraana dhaksham parabrahma soothram

Sfuraschaaru gaathram bhava dhwaantha mithram!

Param prema paathram pavithram vichithram

Param jyothi rupam bhaje bhootha naatham !!

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa !!

I serve with utter devotion, the Lord of Bhuthas, Bhuthanatha, Ayyappa,

Who is the embodiment of the Divine jyothi

Who is entirely capable of protecting his devotees from all worldly woes

Who is the embodiment of the greatest mantrams and praises relating to the brahmas itself..

Who is shining forth brilliantly in his attractive body

Who is the dearest friend who would remove the blemishes of the devotees in the form of worldly Karma (He is the rising son who removes the darkness of worldly karmas)

Who is the ultimate receptacle for all our intense love and affectaion

Who is sacred, Who is vivid beyond description.

परेशं प्रभुं पूर्णकारुण्य रूपं

गिरीषादिपीठोज्ज्वलच्चारु दीपम्।

सुरेशादिसंसेवितं सुप्रतापं

परं ज्योतिरूपं भजे भूतनाथम्॥

Paresham prabhum purna kaarunya rupam

Girishaadi peeto jwala chcharu deepam !

Sureshaadi samsevitham suprathaapam

Param jyothi rupam bhaje bhootha naatham !!

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa !!

I serve with utter devotion, the Lord of Bhuthas, Bhuthanatha, Ayyappa,

Who is the embodiment of the Divine jyothi

Who is even more supreme that the God of Gods

Who is the master of everything aroun

Who is the embodiment of consolidated and concentrated mercy

Who is seated in an elevated seat which is lighted to full glory in the presence of Lord Shiva the Gireesha ( or alternately the chieftains of the mountainfolk of Sabari area)

Whose valour and glory are served with utter humility by the Lord of Gods Indra and other such dignitaries

Who is of immense commanding power and authority

गुरुं पूर्णलावण्य पादादि केशं

गरीयं महाकोटि सूर्य प्रकाशम्।

कराम्बोरुहन्यस्त वेत्रं सुरेशं

परं ज्योतिरूपं भजे भूतनाथम्॥

Gurum purna lavanya paadadi kesham

Gareeyam mahatkoti surya prakasham !

Karaambhoru hanya sthavethram suresham

Param jyothi rupam bhaje bhootha naatham !!

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa !!

I serve with utter devotion, the Lord of Bhuthas, Bhuthanatha, Ayyappa,

Who is the embodiment of the Divine jyothi

Who is the master and preceptor for everyone

Who is endowed with unearthly divine beauty from head to foot

Who is the most respectable, most important

Who is as shining as many crores of Suns

Who is holding a vetra or whip in his lotus like hand

Who is the leader of all the gods.

हरीशानसंयुक्त शक्त्यैक वीरं

किरातावतारं कृपापाङ्गपूरम्।

किरीटावत्सोज्ज्वल पिञ्छ्रजालं

परं ज्योतिरूपं भजे भूतनाथम्॥

Haree shaana samyuktha shakthyey ka veeram

Kiraathaava thaaram kripaa paanga pooram !

Kireetaavath sojjwalath pinjcha bhaaram

Param jyothi rupam bhaje bhootha naatham!!

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa !!

I serve with utter devotion, the Lord of Bhuthas, Bhuthanatha, Ayyappa,

Who is the embodiment of the Divine jyothi

Who is the embodiment of the powers and energies of Lords Hari and Eashaana

Who is the embodiment of Kirata (the avataram of Lord Shiva Himself)

Whose sideways glances are filled with utter mercy for his devotees

Who is adorned in crown embedded with precious gems and the beautiful peacock feathers

महायोगपीठोज्ज्वलन्तं महान्तं

महावाक्यसारोपदेशं सुशान्तम्।

महर्षिप्रहर्षप्रदं ज्ञान कान्तं

परं ज्योतिरूपं भजे भूतनाथम्॥

Mahaayoga peeto jwalantham mahaantham

Mahaavaakya Saaro Padesham sushaantham!

Maharshi praharsha pradam Jnaana kaantham

Param jyothi rupam bhaje bhootha naatham !!

Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa !!

I serve with utter devotion, the Lord of Bhuthas, Bhuthanatha, Ayyappa,

Who is the embodiment of the Divine jyothi

Who is shining brilliantly seated in the Mahayogapeetaasana

Who is the greatest among the great

Who is rendering to us the meanings of the four Mahavakyas ( Tattvamasi, Aham Brahma Asmi, Prajnaanam Brahma and Ayam aatma brahma)

Who is entirely tranquil and peaceful

Who is giving great sense of enjoyment of the greatest of the Sages

Who is the master of all knowledge

Who is the embodiment of the Divine jyothi

Shiva

Shiva is the eternal and unconquerable flame..

and the pure ashes(bhasma) are something which the flame cannot destroy..

And they complement each other..

we cannot conceive Shiva without ashes and ashes are nothing without Shiva..

Everything else in matter except the ashes have been consumed by the flame that is Shiva

And Shiva loves those leftovers.. the ashes,

maybe because it is all that he cannot conquer..

No disrespect to Shankara..the supreme.. but a random thought

musings 211

I am clear on my concept about God..

For me God is the concentration or quintessence of all that is good in man and in this world..

and all that is bad or superfluous are non God material..

My statement above is based on my own concept of God.. and my faith as of now does not go against it..

And since no one can really define God I am entitled to my own interpretation of God.

And I am of the firm view that if anyone is fighting in the name of God or causing hurt to himself or others in the name of God, then he is not right in his understanding of God..

The view is personal..

नास्ति विष्णुसमं ध्येयं तपो नानशनात्परम्

नास्ति विष्णुसमं ध्येयं तपो नानशनात्परम्।

नास्त्यारोग्यसमं धन्यं नास्ति गङ्गासमा सरित्॥

अग्निपुराणे

nāsti viṣṇusamaṁ dhyeyaṁ tapo nānaśanātparam|

nāstyārogyasamaṁ dhanyaṁ nāsti gaṅgāsamā sarit||

agnipurāṇe

There can be nothing that would equal to Lord Vishnu the Narayana as the object of contemplation and meditation

There can be no penance that would yield greater results than the vow of complete fasting

There can be no better, fulfilled state of existence than being in a state of robust health, without any diseases or ailment

And

There can never be a holy, ever-flowing water front that would be equal to River Ganga..

धनहीनो न हीनश्च

धनहीनो न हीनश्च धनिकः स सुनिश्चयः।

विद्यारत्नेन यो हीनः स हीनः सर्ववस्तुषु॥

चाणक्यनीत्याम्॥

dhanahīno na hīnaśca dhanikaḥ sa suniścayaḥ|

vidyāratnena yo hīnaḥ sa hīnaḥ sarvavastuṣu||

cāṇakyanītyām||

A person who is deficient in cash or resources at present need not remain poor and wanting all the time. If he is having knowledge, determination and sense of direction he would pick up in life and become affluent sooner or later

However if a person does not possess the valued gem that is education and skill, he would remain deficient in all matters and in all walks of life.

This idea is attributed to the great economist and scholar Chanakya

धनहीनः bereft of money, having not enough money नरः man न हीनः भवति. Does not become inferior or lowly सः he सुनिश्चयः is having knowledge and determination चेत् if धनिकः भवति would become rich (ultimately)

परन्तु however यः who विद्यारत्नेन the gem of education and training हीनः defective भवति is सः he सर्व वस्तुषु in all matters and fields हीनः deficient एव alone वर्तते remains .

prayaschittams

the theory of prayaschittams (or expiations ) is presented after duly considering the fact that many of the results of Karma are so grave that they are normally beyond human capacity to compensate through karma..

Often Prayaschittams are prescribed by elders to have some sort of mitigation or condonation from the grave consequences..

We are expecting some act of charity or mercy by the Supreme Law giver..

Often we tend to demand charity as a matter of right..

But He knows very well how to deal with such nonsensical claims.

It is a matter of faith..

Mathematics of Karma is strict and precise and maybe cruel too...

but through prayaschittams often we seek to reduce the gravity of the impact..

Whether faith will work or not..?

we can tell only by experience in each particular case.. ..

It is a very unclear ares..a gray area..

But then life is a bundle of so many uncertainties..

musings 210

What is the difference between swarga and moksha ?

This question was put to me.

The answer I know is this. You can agree or disagree.

"Sir..Swarga is the kingdom of Gods, a cozy Shangrila where people who have too much of punyam to their credit are taken after they give up the physical body on death in a particular Janma. Of course the accommodation and board there are not free of cost. As the person enjoys his sojourn in swargam he is spending away all the good points or punyams and when his balance reaches nil the person will be unceremoniously pushed back to earth to live there again either to accumulate paap or punya. And the circle or cycle repeats for ever.

However, it is believed that by adopting one of the three Yogas namely Bhakti,Jnana or Jarma the jeeva can just burn off all the connections on earth itself and give up both credit and debit balance and attain a velocity enabling him to escape the orbit of birth and death cycle and attain a higher plane where he would remain free from everything be it good or bad. This escape is called moksham

The methodology and finer details would vary according to variant schools of thoughts but this is the fundamental difference between swarga and moksha."

दरिद्रता धीरतया विराजते

 

दरिद्रता धीरतया विराजते कुवस्त्रता शुभ्रतया विराजते। कदन्नता चोष्णतया विराजते कुरूपता शीलतया विराजते॥

चाणक्य

daridratā dhīratayā virājate kuvastratā śubhratayā virājate| kadannatā coṣṇatayā virājate kurūpatā śīlatayā virājate||
cāṇakya

Even when a person is financially backward, his persona stands out if he is really bold and is of lofty character
Even when a person is dressed in cheap clothes, he would get respect if such dress is spotlessly clean
Even utterly bland and tasteless food would tasted somewhat tolerable when it is hot and just fresh from kitchen

Even a person who is ugly by appearance would steal the hearts of eveyone if his behavious, manners and habits are exemplary.

श्रेष्ठं जनं गुरुं चापि मातरं पितरं तथा।

श्रेष्ठं जनं गुरुं चापि मातरं पितरं तथा।

मनसा कर्मणा वाचा सेवेत सततं सदा॥

śreṣṭhaṁ janaṁ guruṁ cāpi mātaraṁ pitaraṁ tathā|

manasā karmaṇā vācā seveta satataṁ sadā||

We should serve with utter reverence,

with completely dedicated mind coupled with earnest and sincere words and matching services

People who are superior to us in some great way,

People who are our elders and preceptors,

And

Above all Our Father and mother.

quotes on Aditya the Surya

सूर्य आत्मा जगतश्चक्षुषश्च।

ऋग्वेदे १-११५-१

sūrya ātmā jagataścakṣuṣaśca|

ṛgvede 1-115-1

The Sun is the soul of the universe and the eyes with which everything is seen and perceived

नवो नवो भवति जायमानः॥

अथर्वणवेदे ७-८१-२

navo navo bhavati jāyamānaḥ||

atharvaṇavede 7-81-2

The Sun is born every day when he rises and perhaps He gives birth to everything again and again with ever rise

एते वात्पतिवारो यत् सूर्यस्य रश्मयः॥

शतपथ ब्राह्मणे १-१-३-६

ete vāutpativāro yat sūryasya raśmayaḥ||

śatapatha brāhmaṇe 1-1-3-6

These rays of the Sun as they spread purify everything they touch

आनंदमयो ज्ञानमयो विज्ञानमय आदित्यः॥

सूर्योपनिषदि

ānaṁdamayo jñānamayo vijñānamaya ādityaḥ||

sūryopaniṣadi

Surya the Son of Aditi, is the source and embodiment of bliss, He is the source and embodiment of knowledge, He is the source and embodiment of enlightenment

अलुब्दैः सह मित्रत्वं कुर्वाणो नावसीदति

उत्तमैः सह सांगत्यं पण्डितैः सह सत्कथाम्।

अलुब्दैः सह मित्रत्वं कुर्वाणो नावसीदति॥

बृहस्पतिनीतिसार

uttamaiḥ saha sāṁgatyaṁ paṇḍitaiḥ saha satkathām|

alubdaiḥ saha mitratvaṁ kurvāṇo nāvasīdati||

bṛhaspatinītisāra

A person will never meet failures and setbacks in life

If he ensures that his constant association and company is with people of lofty character

If he ensures that he earmarks substantial slices of time in life in having effective communication and exchange of ideas with scholars and experts in various subjects

And

If he ensures that he always chooses as his close friends people who are generous, people who are devoid of pettiness or avariciousness.

musings 209

It seems I am overburdening people with old wise sayings in Sanskrit.

Often I get feedbacks about the impracticality of the ideals and platitudes in daily mundan life

Yes, even the original authors were aware of the sermonizing nature of many advices. All leaders of thought, gurus and preceptors in all religions and faiths indulge in such sermons and pontifications.

But such advices have great value. They will at least make us know what we should really look for and seek after.

Whether we would achieve even a minor fraction of what we seek might depend on so many factors beyond our control

My reply to all is that

"In life, most of the time, we do not get all that we seek or want. But then till our end we would and should be trying earnestly to get what we like and should be trying to avoid what we dislike. However, most of the time we do not even know what we should seek. In such situations the old wisdom, old quotes and platitudes and old grandmother tales, all can help us a lot. "

musings 208

My erudite friend TVL sent me certain queries for reply..

I know better than anyone else that I am not an authority on anything. However when my thoughts were excited by him and I blurted out my instant reactions, I thought I should list them for my archives

His observations:

1. You are attracted to Magic. Like the bhajan team in Nochur's story did not believe

the child is really God Krishna. He had to touch a stone to turn it into gold.

My Reply

The structure and existence of the stone is magic by itself. All materials we see are not stones. If God can conjure up the magic of creating a stone it should be very easy for Him to turn it into gold too. Every moment is a magic.

2. Like North Indian ladies you are impressed by someone not eating food,

abstaining from bodily function, etc.

The purpose of the body is to grow, reproduce, become old and then useless. This is done by the microscopic Aatma in the heart.

My answer

Eating food is just like adding fuel. Fuel by itself is a dead substance. Actually the growth and activities are regulated by the mind and spirit that quantifies the food for consumption. If you offer nutritious food to a dead body will it help?

3. You keep forgetting Atma is the kshetranjnan and the body is only the kshetram.

It is you and wife who stay in A-9-4. It is your family that cleans, maintains, repairs A-9-4. The lights come on in A-9-4 when dark. But A-9-4 is not live. Only you are alive. You are the one who operates the light switches. Like that our body is not live. It is the Atma inside which is operating the body. And you are saying I am eating sandwich! Actually it is the operator atma inside who is making my body eat the sandwich

My answer

Body, infrastructure etc are simply like hardware and operating system. That subtle something is the energy and motive force. That is supreme. And quiite unlike man- made software and hardware that supreme one can, by will, device it's own modalities instantly

4. You already know my body cannot eat or breath once the Atma inside leaves it.

How can you say I am eating sandwich?So if a person is shouting, it is the Atma that is shouting.

If a person is reproducing, it is the Atma that is doing it.The body is a non-living item. Like wood and steel.

My answer

You blow a whistle or a clarinet and sound is produced. Apparently it is the vibration of the reed. But that vibration is created by the lung of the player and the lung operates by whose orders? Answer this and you will know

5. If a body is a brahmin, it is the atma who is brahmin. If a body is in a muslim body, it is the same atma that wants to be born and enjoy/suffer things in that family.And yet should I distinguish between Atma living and operating inside different bodies? Should I understand that all Atma are same? Atma is just a part of the Brahman.

My answer

Shankara has defined this best.

Anyway it is like air within a pot and air outside a pot. Is there really any difference?

6. I am wearing a shirt. But for the tailor, it is just cloth cut and stitched.Actually, it is just cotton grown in a plant.Similarly, the Brahman the Universe, appears like a body to our eyes, seems to be an amsham of the Brahman to our puny mind. Is this wrong?

My answer

Perception has two planes. Subjective and objective or rational. Our subjectivity is ever regulated by comparison of notes and therefore we can ratify anything as right or wrong only with reference to the proto type for comparison. We have no means to assert that the prototype represents the ideal. So all our conclusions are basically flawed

musings 207

Quantum physics is the closest approach to reality through the Western empirical methodology.

Vedanta is another oriental approach to reality.

We know reality is one and the same. If not that is not reality.

So physics and vedanta meets or merges as they zero in towards reality.

Nothing surprising

Ekam sad vipraa bahudhaa vadanti

मित्रेण कलहं कृत्वा न कदापि सुखी जनः

मित्रेण कलहं कृत्वा न कदापि सुखी जनः।

इति ज्ञात्वा प्रयासेन तदेव परिवर्जयेत्॥

mitreṇa kalahaṁ kṛtvā na kadāpi sukhī janaḥ|

iti jñātvā prayāsen tadeva parivarjayet||

We cannot ever live in comfort and happiness if we pick up quarrels and bickering with our dear friends. This fact should be kept in mind always and one should avoid having quarrels and conflicts with close friends.

musings 206

And remember.. at least every believer is sure that God loves all of his creations unconditionally.. and without exception .. and without partiality..

And even in very insignificant situations, we start loving things without any expectation..

a sunrise, a cool breeze, a new born calf, and freshly blooming rose... a playful child.. the list can be long..

We do not expect anything from any of them..

In fact we are grateful to them that we had a chance to love them..

A poetic heart, a heart ready to rejoice, an eye prepared to shed tears of joy... can love ..

love for love alone..

If we just obliterate that heart. we are losing too much.

a rare moment Krishna smiles and is playing His flute .. seated in ones inside..

After all smile is also the result of some nice thought if the person is good and maybe not the result so nice thought if he is mischievous..

we can love smiles from all those who are thinking.. if the thoughts are not venomous

only very small children can smile even without thinking..

we can love them too..

Lunatics and drunk fellows too smile.even without thinking

It is left to one's good sense to like them or not..

And of course there is a smile.. that could be called a smile but really just opening the lips and showing the teeth.. with no feeling..

It is very easy to spot such synthetic smiles.. One can like those smiles too synthetically alone ..

And buffoons, fools, jokers... they are employed or appoint themselves to make one smile or even laugh aloud loud.. We can be thankful to them too..

(Some professionals like Salesmen, politicians, conmen, and some others whom I need not mention too smile at you.. often to trap you and they will make you shed tears later..)

But I really wonder whether one can smile or show smile when at a rare moment Krishna smiles and is playing His flute .. seated in ones inside..

Maybe there is a smile there too.. but not the smile of the lips which all can see..

धनेन किं यो न ददाति याचके

धनेन किं यो न ददाति याचके

बलेन किं यश्च रिपुं न बाधते।

श्रुतेन किं यो न च धर्ममाचरे

त्किमात्मना यो न जितेन्द्रियो भवेत्॥

सप्तरत्ने॥

dhanena kiṁ yo na dadāti yācake

balena kiṁ yaśca ripuṁ na bādhate|

śrutena kiṁ yo na ca dharmamācare

tkimātmanā yo na jitendriyo bhavet||

saptaratne||

What purpose on earth could be there for money and wealth if such resources are not distributed to the needy ?

What is the use for physical power and prowess if it does not make inroads into the fortresses of one’s arch enemies?

What purpose on earth would be there for a person with his extensive knowledge in Vedas and scriptures if he is not inclined to follow the path of propriety chalked out by such hallowed texts?

And what purpose would be served by a human being possessing an exalted soul if he is not able to overcome the vile and wayward propensities of his mind and organs.

ധനേന കിം യോ ന ദദാതി യാചകേ

ബലേന കിം യശ്ച രിപും ന ബാധതേ।

ശ്രുതേന കിം യോ ന ച ധര്‍മമാചരേ

ത്കിമാത്മനാ യോ ന ജിതേന്ദ്രിയോ ഭവേത്॥

സപ്തരത്നേ॥

ആവശ്യപ്പെടുന്നവര്‍ക്കും സഹായത്തിനായി എത്തുന്നവര്‍ക്കും വേണ്ടി ഉദാരമായി വിതരണം ചെയ്യാന്‍ കഴിയാത്ത സ്വത്തും പണവും എത്രയധികം ഉണ്ടായിട്ടും എന്ത് പ്രയോജനം?

ശത്രുപാളയത്തില്‍ അന്തസ്സോടെ ആക്രമിച്ചുകടന്നു അവരെ കീഴ്പ്പെടുത്താനുള്ള കഴിവ് ഇല്ലാത്ത ഒരാളുടെ തടിമിടുക്കു കൊണ്ട് എന്ത് കാര്യം നേടാനാണ് ?

പരിപാവനങ്ങളായ വേദങ്ങളും ശാസ്ത്രങ്ങളും ചിട്ടപ്പെടുത്തിയ ധര്‍മ്മത്തിന്‍റെ പാത പിന്തുടരാന്‍ തീരെ താല്പര്യമില്ലാത്ത ഒരാള്‍ അത്തരം പുണ്യകൃതികള്‍ പഠിച്ച് അവയില്‍ ജ്ഞാനം നേടിയത് കൊണ്ട് എന്ത് ലാഭം നേടാനാണ് ?

ജീവികളില്‍ മനുഷ്യന്‍ മാത്രമാണ് ആത്മാവ് എന്ന പ്രതിഭാസം കൊണ്ട് അനുഗൃഹീതനായിരിക്കുന്നത്. മനസ്സിന്‍റെയും ഇന്ദ്രിയങ്ങളുടെയും നിയന്ത്രണവും സംയമനവും കൊണ്ട് അത്തരം ആത്മാവിനെ അതിന്‍റെ ഉന്നതിയില്‍ എത്തിക്കുന്നതില്‍ പരാജയപ്പെടുന്ന ഒരു മനുഷ്യന് ആ ആത്മാവ് കൊണ്ട് എന്ത് പ്രത്യേകമായ നേട്ടം ഉണ്ടാവാനാണ് ?

Nothing is compulsory.. Not even living, breathing, eating...

Nothing is compulsory.. Not even living, breathing, eating...

No one would deem it compulsory that you or I should even exist.. The world will go on, whether I am there or you are there, or if both of us are not there

When the wisecracks say with a flourish that it is not compulsory to offer something to God, I simply feel sad at the way people are understanding God..

(True, God owns everything, and so we cannot give Him anything. )

In social contracts everything is by choice..

No one can compel anyone to do anything..

Is looking after parents or offspring compulsory?

Even paying taxes is not compulsory but then the State will take away something from us, that is all.

Extending the issue further we can ask.. is worship of God compulsory..? Is God compulsory..?

Ultimately it is not poverty or affluence that plays a decisive role in our public contributions..

More than devotion, the feeling self-importance in declaring that I have done this or that regarding some public affair that decides our attitude

Anyway God is considered to be our father and mother..

He will look after us whether we pay respect to him, whether we make offerings to him or not..

Our social customs and shastras are very clear on this issue..

When a grihasta (householder) is visiting the abode of God, the king, elderly people including teachers, houses where there are small children, houses to which daughters of the family are given in marriage, etc. he should not visit empty handed..

We can see how Kuchela (Sudhaama) had to suffer even to procure some Aval and a piece of cloth to carry it while he embarked on a visit to meet Krishna in Dvaraka..

Susheela the wife of kuchela begged or borrowed some rice from the neighbours, pounded the Aval (pounded rice.. poha ) herself though inadequately and packed them in a piece torn out of her own chela or saree which was more covered by stitches than cloth..

That is the spirit..

musings 205

When you try to understand the language the sense and content too will reach you sooner or later.

No one comes to this world knowing everything.

You start from அ ஆ  അ ആ अ आ but you learn many things by trial and error.

One who tries to walk would stumble and fall too.

But if he rises up and walks on he starts learning.

musings 204

The very idea that we should earmark some time for ourselves and what we think as right would lead to the presumption that the other slices or blocks of time are not in our control and that others are free to use us or manipulate us during those times.

That idea is flawed.

We should be in absolute control of every moment in our life.

Even if we are making concessions that should out of our own volition.

We should never enslave ourselves to anything, anything..

Spiritualism, chanting of Divine name and such techniques are props or reinforcements that enable us to attain a certain level of equanimity or equipoise.

Yes, we reach a state somewhere in the process wherein the dividing line between the mundane and divine, the jeeva and brahma gets shattered.

But that state can at best only be felt or experienced. We can never define it.

And once the jeeva reaches that stage he will not come back to explain. No one likes to jump back into a deep well after he has managed to get out of it.

Actually what we hear as sermons from the so called realized swamis and man_woman gods are just inadequate ranting.

No one has ever come back to explain this phenomenon.

Yad gatwa na nivartante taddaama paramam mama.

And our daily poojas and japams, if they are directed at achieving some earthly purposes are just pshyco analytical techniques akin to auto suggestion or self hypnosis

सेवा श्ववृत्तिर् यैरुक्ता न तै सम्यगुदाहृतम्।

सेवा श्ववृत्तिर् यैरुक्ता न तै सम्यगुदाहृतम्।

स्वच्छन्दचारी कुत्र श्वा विक्रीतासुः क्व सेवकः॥

sevā svavṛttir yairuktā na tai samyagudāhṛtam|

svacchantacārī kutra śvā vikrītāsuḥ kva sevakaḥ||

Those who call in desperation that the heavy duties as a servant would make a person behave like a dog are making the wrong classification of the job and the most inappropriate comparison.

The dog, can wander around everywhere freely. But the servant has sold his whole lifetime for hard toil in exchange of his job.

സേവാ ശ്വവൃത്തിര്‍ യൈരുക്താ ന തൈ സമ്യഗുദാഹൃതം।

സ്വച്ഛന്ദചാരീ കുത്ര ശ്വാ വിക്രീതാസുഃ ക്വ സേവകഃ॥

മറ്റുള്ളവര്‍ക്ക് കീഴില്‍ വേലക്കാരനായി ജോലിചെയ്യുന്ന ഗതികേടിനെ ഒരു നായയുടെ ഗതി എന്ന് സാധാരണയായി ആളുകള്‍ പറയാറുണ്ട്‌.

പക്ഷെ ഭൃത്യവേലയെ നായയുടെ ഗതികേടുമായി താരതമ്യം ചെയ്യുന്നതില്‍ ഏറെ അനൌചിത്യം ഉണ്ട്. ആ താരതമ്യം ഒരിക്കലും യോജിക്കില്ല.

നായയുടെ കാര്യം എടുത്താല്‍, തിന്നാനും കുടിക്കാനും ഒന്നും കിട്ടിയില്ലെങ്കിലും അതിന് ആരും തടസ്സപ്പെടുത്താതെ എവിടെ വേണമെങ്കിലും കറങ്ങി നടക്കാം. പക്ഷെ ഒരാള്‍ക്ക് ഭ്രുത്യവേല ചെയ്യുന്നവന്‍ ആ ജോലിക്കും കൂലിക്കും വേണ്ടി സ്വന്തം ജീവിതം മുഴുവന്‍ അടിമത്തം പോലെ തീറെഴുതികൊടുക്കേണ്ടിവരും.

स्थाणुः स्वयं मूलविहीन एव पुत्रो विशाखो रमणी त्वपर्णा।

स्थाणुः स्वयं मूलविहीन एव पुत्रो विशाखो रमणी त्वपर्णा।

परोपनीतैः कुसुमैरजस्रं फलत्यभीष्टं किमिदं विचित्रम्॥

sthāṇuḥ svayaṁ mūlavihīna eva putro viśākho ramaṇi tvaparṇā|

paropanītaiḥ kusumairajasraṁ phlatyabhīṣṭaṁ kimidaṁ vicitram||

He is standing solid and sturdy as Sthaanu Naatha, that way he is a tree without any roots,

His son Karthikeya is born in the Visakha Star, and since Visakha also means without branches, He is a tree having no branches,

His darling wife Uma is called Aparna because she did penance to get the Lord as Husband by starving and refusing even to eat a single leaf, and that way Her lord is a tree without leaves too.

However the Lord is shining forth in full bloom through flowers brought to Him by his devotees and pleased by that and through His infinite mercy he is producing large quantities of fruits by way of generous boons..

It is indeed a strange phenomenon.

The rootless, branchless, leafless tree that is Lord Shankara, pleased by flowers brought to Him by His devotees produces infinite quantity of fruits by way of bounteous boons.

NamaH Sivaaya..