musings 297

There was a statement by a friend that the vedic hymns and invoking certain hymns indicate that such hymns are addressed to the "Superconscious"

The idea is nice.. But to assert that such understanding alone is the right one, is just a matter of personal choice and interpretations.. The individual has the right to perceive any idea in his own way.. But to generalize it for all is not right.

there is no mention of superconscious or whatever you call it in Vedas or related texts.. Later interpreters assign so many meanings to slokas and mantras according to their perception.. The slokam as such does not mention about any superconscious.. You appear to have received this idea or understanding from some philosopher or guru whom you consider great.. Nothing wrong in it..

But your understanding need not be the only meaning.. Sanskrit is the medium used here, and the language has a meaning for every word and every syllable.. So the statement or Mantram has a plain meaning.. Thistathu .. means may stand.. Prajanana menas the one which leads to sort of creation.. When you do an anganyasam that is touching the parts of the body and invoking the presence of the divine in your limbs, you have to understand such limbs as a parts of your body which are responsible for such action.. It is as simple as that..

You can have philosophic, esoteric, spiritual, symbolic, and many interpretations.. If you subscribe to any particular interpretatin that is good enough for you..

But if you say the mantram is addressed only to superconscious etc then that is not correct..

Someone might have interpreted it like that too.. And that may be true in the context of that interpretation... That is all..

Human beings have many levels of perceptions..

And the perceptions might lead to interpretations which might vary according to the interpretations and states of mind of the subjects.

What a child perceives, what an adoloscent perceives, what an adult perceives what an old man perceives, what a saint perceives, what a devilish person perceives.. All are right for him.. and we cannot challenge any perception as long as such perception does not cause physical or mental distress to others.

We have to see ideas and interpret them according to the plain normal grammatical and linguistic rules of the language in which the idea is presented..

Interpretations are okay.

It is even right to say that I understand it in a particular way.

But if the assertion leads to the next step.. of saying and believing that what I understand is the only right one,, that would lead to conflict and can lead to unhappiness for all around..

shirt and hat are only shirt and hat..

shirt and hat are only shirt and hat..

for normal ones they are not the person himself..

But then, normal ones are a dwindling minority..

I remember my father narrating a story about a friend of his, one Krishna Iyer who started sporting a moustache after he crossed sixty five..

and it must have been a real scene some seventy five years ago.. an elderly Iyer switching over to moustache indeed.

ॐ चरणं पवित्रं विततं पुराणं येन पूतस्तरति दुष्कृतानि

ॐ चरणं पवित्रं विततं पुराणं येन पूतस्तरति दुष्कृतानि

तेन पवित्रेण शुद्धेन पूताः अतिपाप्मानं अरातिं तरेम॥

तद्विष्णोः परमं पदं सदा पश्यन्ति सूरयः

दिवीव चक्षुराततं तद्विप्रासो विपन्न्यवो जागृवासस्स्मिन्धते

विष्णोर्यत् परमं पदं।

om caraṇaṁ pavitraṁ vitataṁ purāṇaṁ yena pūtastarati duṣkṛtāni

tena pavitreṇa śuddhena pūtāḥ atipāpmānaṁ arātiṁ tarema||

tadviṣṇoḥ paramaṁ padaṁ sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ

divīva cakṣurātataṁ tadviprāso vipannyavo jāgṛvāsassmindhate

viṣṇoryat paramaṁ padaṁ|

That pair of feet...(of Narayana) which is sacred, wide, ancient ..

those who are sanctified by those feet can overcome all obstacles and evil deeds..

May we , being blessed and sanctified by those feet which are sacred, and pure, overcome the tortuous path of sins and obstacles..

"Just as the sun's rays in the sky are extended to the mundane vision, in the same way the wise and learned devotees always see the supreme abode of Lord Vishnu."

"Because those supremely praiseworthy and spiritually awake devotees are able to see the spiritual world, they are also able to reveal that supreme abode of Lord Vishnu."

May that pair of feet of Krishna lead us to eternity..

Lakshmeenaraayanaabhyaam NamaH..

दैवायत्तं यतः सर्वं तस्मात्सन्तोषमाश्रयेत्॥

ईप्सितं मनसः सर्वं कस्य संपद्यते सुखम्।

दैवायत्तं यतः सर्वं तस्मात्सन्तोषमाश्रयेत्॥

इन्दिश्चे स्प्रूचे ११४८ वृद्धचाणक्य

īpsitaṁ manasaḥ sarvaṁ kasya saṁpadyate sukham|

daivāyattaṁ yataḥ sarvaṁ tasmātsantoṣamāśrayet||

indiśce sprūce 1148 vṛddhacāṇakya

A quote from Vriddha Chanakya.. The works of Vriddha Chanakya were discovered in and are in wide circulation in Southern Indian States, especially in Andhra Area. It is not know whether this Vriddha Chanakya and the Chanakya, the author of ArthaSastram are one and the same. But the works othis author too contain very deep and substantial thoughts.

The meaning of the couplet is

Sure, no one would ever attain and enjoy all the comforts that his mind and heart would fondly yearn for, desire, and would love to enjoy.

So the best course of action would be realize that whatever benefits and comforts that happen in life are windfalls from the fate, and one should derive the utmost happiness utilizing those benefits to the fullest and in the best way.

K v a

Life is not a cake walk through path strewn with roses. Nice things might happen. Not to nice things too will happen. Enjoy nice things the best way, and tolerate the hiccupts with a lote of patience and tolerance. Life can move forward only that way.

कस्य for whom मनसः of the mind, of the heart ईप्सितं deeply, fondly desired सर्वम all सुखं comforts, benefits संपद्यते ? comes by, are getting accumulated ? यतः therefore दैवायत्तं received through luck, fate सर्वं all तस्मात् from संतोषं happiness आश्रतेत् enjoyed

Who will receive all the joys that are dear to his heart. Since everything depends on fate, one should resort to enjoyment

क्लीबाः हि दैवमैवेकं प्रशंसन्ति न पौरुषम्

क्लीबाः हि दैवमैवेकं प्रशंसन्ति न पौरुषम्।

दैवं पुरुषकारेण घ्नति शूराः सदोद्यमाः॥

इन्दिश्चे स्प्रूचे ३९८९ अग्निपुराणे॥

klībāḥ hi daivamaivekaṁ praśaṁsanti na pauruṣam|

daivaṁ puruṣakāreṇa ghnati śūrāḥ sadodyamāḥ||

indiśce sprūce 3989 agnipurāṇe||

“दैवं पुरुषकारेण daivam purshakaarena” ..is an adage in Sanskrit with eternal relevance. Fate and serendiipty should be countered applying hard work and initiative.

The slokam is located to Agni Puranam in my persisitent reading. But I have no doubt that the same couple would be found in another dozen of texts. The message is more important that the source.

Only weaklings, only those lack manliness would just live on their life facing setbacks and misfortunes, attributing such reversals to fate or bad luck. They would ever heap praises on luck and chance. They cannot think of taking some initiative and think and talk in approval of concerted action, persistent hardwork.

However, men of character, the bold, strong persons who never turb their backs from hard labour, men with initiative, real heroes, just stand up and face the vagaries of fate, and ultimately destroy the effects of adverse fate and come out successful.

This quote is too great.. though you may think it is clched

K v a

क्लीबाः weaklings, people with no strength of mind or character, also could mean people with no manliness ( here it is not intended to look down upon unfortunate beings who are deficient in manliness for genetic reasons) हि alone दैवं एकं एव only and exclusinvely fate or chance or luck alone प्रशंसन्ति..praise पौरुषं concerted action with continude hardwork न प्रशंसन्ति..does not appove of as the path for achievemnt सदा ever, uninterruptedly उद्यमाः engaged in well directed, positive action, having infinite initiative शूराः the heroes, people with strong mind and character and initiative दैवं पुरुष कारेण labour, action applying hard work befitting a human being घ्नन्ति. Defeat, destroy.

सज्जमानामकार्येषु निरुन्धुर्मन्त्रिणो नृपम्।

सज्जमानामकार्येषु निरुन्धुर्मन्त्रिणो नृपम्।

गुरूणामिव चैतेषां शृणुयाद्वचनं नृपः॥

इन्दिस्चे स्प्रूचे ३११० कामान्दकीयनीतिसारे

sajjamānāmakāryeṣu nirundhurmantriṇo nṛpam|

gurūṇāmiva caiteṣāṁ śṛṇuyādvacanaṁ nṛpaḥ||

indisce sprūce 3110 kāmāndakīyanītisāre

A very terse advise for rulers, as prescribed in the masterly treatise Kamaandhakeeya Nitishastram. This work is by Kamandhaka, a disciple of Chanakya and came into vogue after the eon of Chanakya, has substantial similarities with Chanakyas treatise Arthasastram.

The advise, the dictum, very brief but clear and matter of fact . It has application an validity across time, race, nationality and similar considereations.

The message is

If it is seen, noticed, implied or understood by the Ministers and the Advisers of the King or Sovereign that the person wielding the ultimate power is set to perpetrate any action, if he is veering towards any policy, which is opposed to the interests of State,or Rules, which is opposed to propriety and general peach and tranquility of the state and the people, then the ministers and deputies shoud persistently advise and convince the person wielding final power and authority and prevent the occurrence of such breach or deviation.

In the matter of following the advise of the ministers or deputies in such matters, the Ruler or the Administrator should give the same weight and respect to such advice as if the words are coming straight from the great seers, masters and prceptors of the man in power. Such advices were almost binding in nture.

Maybe, even in autocracies and monarchies in our traditions, the cabinet system, the binding nature of the principle aid and advice of binding nature was an accepted norm.

We will find even in the courts of depots like Ravana, ministers never hesitated to speak out their minds and they never minced words about what was right and what was not proper..

Kva

अकार्येषु things, deeds, actions which should not be done, which are not in the interest of the king, state or people सज्जमानां if there is proposal, intention or idea or planning नृपं the king मन्त्रिणः the ministers, policy advisers निरुन्धुः should stop, should prevent, नृपः the king एतेषां their वचनं words गुरूणां from preceptors, seers, masters इव as if शृणुयात् should listen

musings 296

Is it easy to change the identity and name of a person just by sprinkling some water on his head and declaring that he shall be known by a different identity from that moment..?

I am ananthnarayana Sharma son of vaidyanatha Sharma belonging to the kaundinya Gotham presided by three sages vasishta mitravaruna and kaundinya following the sootras or laws and traditions of Apastamba and following the yajurveda shakha.

This was how I was baptised in the presence of Agni and other deities. Give me some idea how can I change my name

I cannot change my father, my Gothram and pravaram, Shakha and sootram..

The only way perhaps is to adopt formal sannyasam.. where one renounces the world, gives up everything, including his name and status, and the Guru gives him another name, life and status..

But a normal human being cannot become a sannyasi so easily..

musings 295

If there are no close relatives close friends and people who belong to our own clan community region state and even who share this beautiful earth life is meaningless.

There is neither glory or happiness.

And when we are physically or mentally down a relative or friend or a man of our place or nation would make all the difference

We indians always believed in enjoying and even suffering in close company.

Yes, when things are happy and peaceful we will even invite some minor or even major quarrels and would bicker cringe sow little jealousy and all.

But that is only the shell or skin.

Our core craves for affection and camaraderie

We pray

" let us all live for 100 autumns

Lets us see and enjoy together for hundred years

Let us be in the happy company of all for hundred autumns

Let is give happiness to others all together for thousand years

Let us all travel and explore together for hundred autumns"

This is the vedic prayer we chant every midday

Pashyema saradah shatam

Jeevema sharadah shatam

Nandaama sharadah shatam

Modaama sharadah shatam

Prabhravaama sharadah shatam

Ajeetaah syaama sharadah shatam

That tells everything that is to be told

Namaskarams

K v ananthanarayanan

musings 294

The problem with us is that we do not follow up earnestly what we plan.

There is no scarcity in delivering high sounding words, with songs to the accompaniment of drums, dining and dancing

But in every arena when it comes to execution the quality will be wanting but politicians, touts, middlemen and scandal mongers would make money and the citizens and stakeholders at grassroots level would get little benefit.

We need a change in attitude in real terms.

We have to deliver results and not mere words.

सत्यमेवेश्वरो लोके सत्यं पद्माश्रिता सदा।

कुलीनमकुलीनं वा वीरं पुरुषमानिनम्।

चारित्रमेव व्याक्याति शुचिं वा यदि वाशुचिम्॥

ayodhyaa kaande 109- 4 Rama to Jabaali

सत्यमेवेश्वरो लोके सत्यं पद्माश्रिता सदा।

सत्यमूलानि सर्वाणि सत्यान्नास्ति परं पदम्॥

Ak 109-13

श्रीमद्वाल्मीकिरामायणे

kulīnamakulīnaṁ vā vīraṁ puruṣamāninam|

cāritrameva vyākyāti śuciṁ vā yadi vāśucim||

satyameveśvaro loke satyaṃ padmāśritā sadā।

satyamūlāni sarvāṇi satyānnāsti paraṃ padam ||

śrīmadvālmīkirāmāyaṇe

Rama, during the initial lap of his sojourn in forest, is approached by his brother Bharatha and the citizens of Ayodhya with a request that he should return to the Capital and assume the positon of the emperor. Rama, who is steadfast with his resolves declines to return, before completing his stint in the forest and fulfilling the solemn promise given to his father the Emeperor Dasaratha.

During the various sessions of discussion on the issue with Bharatha and others, a senior scholar and political expert Jabali, who is basically an atheist, tries to present the idea that only material benefits and expediency should govern out actions and stiff adherence to moral laws was of no use.

Rama is in total disagreement with the views of Jabali.

The two slokas quoted above come as Rama’s views on dignified living and honesty

A person may be born in a reputed and lofty family or clan, or he may have no claims of high birth, A person may be very strong and valorous or he may be considering himself as valorous and is entertaining great pride about his status and manliness, A person may be pure and honest in absolute terms or he may be not that clean and pure.. What decided his status and his genuine worth is his character alone. Yes, it takes a lot of character and steadfastness to maintain his dignity and purity at any cost.

Truth, honesty in all dealings is the embodiment and manifestation of the Supreme beings, the All-pervading divinity. Truth is the abode of Padma, Goddess Lakshmi, who occupies a lotus and who owns the ultimate treasures like Padmanidhi. All human beings, their lives, welfare and all that they own, just exist and survive on the strength of truth. And there is nothing In this universe that is better than or loftier than an existence in the brilliant glow of truth.

Maybe, we cannot expect anything other than this from Rama the epitome of virtue and honesty. Maybe it would read like a sermon. Ultimately, it takes a lot of character to live the life of honesty even on the face of impossible adversities.

K v a

कुलीनम् born in a high family अकुलीनं वा or having no claim for lofty birth , वीरम् who is brave and strong , पुरुषमानिनम् who is genuinely proud of his existence as a manly person , शुचिं वा pure or honest लोके in this world, अशुचिं not so pure, dishonest, चारित्रमेव character alone, व्याख्याति defines

सत्यमेव truth, honesty alone only, ईश्वरः is God, the ubiquitous supreme being पद्मा goddess of wealth, the lady occupying the lotus and possessing the padmanidhi, the controller of all wealth and treasures सदा evers सत्यम् in truth, आश्रिता seeks refuge, resides सर्वाणि all beings, all things सत्यमूलानि truth as the root cause and motivator सत्यात् over and above truth , परम् supreme, ultimate ,पदम् higher state, state that one could aspire to reach नास्ति there is nothing.