that a true friend, will not do anything which could not be forgiven

It is very difficult to get a friend in this world..

we have to coin the word friend-in-law for many of our so-called friends, especially with the spate of friendship in social-media..

But still I do hope that a true friend, if there is one, will not do anything which could not be forgiven..

If a situation has arisen where the question of forgiving comes, the friendship must have lost its sense and content.

Forgiving of course comes for inadvertent and innocent offences.. and if a friend is really considerate, then normally such situations may not arise..

But innocent damages do occur...like Dasaratha killing the only son of a blind ascetic couple and incurring their curse..

More than the story, the purpose behind the story should be the concern

 

Ultimately, the purpose of any literature, religious or secular, should be that its contents should give messages for the welfare and wellbeing of all and at the same time, the narration should be pleasing and lucid.

More than the story, the purpose behind the story should be the concern.

That way Mahabharatham, in whatever form or version it has been has served its purpose quite well.

The questions as to whether Vyasa or whoever said or wrote it did so facing east or west, whether it was written with a tusk, whether a character had leprosy or another character was blind, whether five fellows had one wife and such trivialities are just trivialities.

How miserable Lord Shiva is..!

 

एका भार्या समररसिका निम्नगा च द्वितीया

पुत्रोऽप्येको द्विरदवदनो षण्मुखश्च द्वितीयः ।

नन्दी भृङ्गी च कपिवदनो वाहनं पुङ्गवेशः

स्मारं स्मारं स्वगृहचरितं भस्मदेहो महेशः ॥

चाटुचणक

ekā bhāryā samararasikā nimnagā ca dvitīyā

putro'pyeko dviradavadano ṣaṇmukhaśca dvitīyaḥ ।

nandī bhṛṅgī ca kapivadano vāhanaṃ puṅgaveśaḥ

smāraṃ smāraṃ svagṛhacaritaṃ bhasmadeho maheśaḥ ॥

How miserable Lord Shiva is..!

One of His wives is Durga, ever engaged in fighting and killing Demons. She is an inveterate fighter.

Second wife is River Ganga, and by Her very nature she flows along low places, keeping company with lowly fellows.

One son is having the funny face of an elephant-Ganesa.

The other son Skanda is having six faces where normally an attractive person should have only one.

Therefore, both the sons are intolerably ugly.

His vehicle is the old doddery Vrushhabha (Bull) by name Nandi. His chief protocol officer Bhringee who has the face of a monkey.

So what can he have in His house to feel happy or proud about?

Therefore, Lord Shankara decided to run away to a burial ground where he is residing permanently. His body smeared with ashes collected from the funeral pyres.

we mix things with lies, more lies and utter lies

 

We lack originality. Not that many things we claim as created by us could be original. We copy, adopt, adapt, alter, mutilate, mix, join and so on. In addition, often we join square and round edges together and produce funny results.

Of course, originality is a quality given by some higher power and that power does not deem it fit to distribute that endowment evenly among us all.

However, to be honest is a very simple activity.

Normally if we accept things as they are, we are just being honest. However, we mix things with lies, more lies and utter lies and in the process, even a semblance of good in what we have taken for processing gets lost.

Moreover, when contaminated with lies even the good things become completely toxic.

I am at a loss.  I am aghast.

more on fiction than facts

Literature thrives more on fiction than facts.. Even the best of writers stress more on the immediate effect of the words.. There is an alankaram called Apahnuti in Sanskrit.. The real facts are substituted by imaginery symbols.. One of the definitions for pure apahnuti.. नायं सुधांशु किं तर्हि व्योमगंगा सरोरुहं.. a poet says looking at the moon.. " this is not the moon, but it is a lotus blooming in the celestial Ganga river." This in no way means the moon has become a lotus flower.(Appayya Deekshita has cited this in Kuvalayanandam).

It is only poetic licence..

. In absolute terms, we cannot attribute luck and lack of it to either Vishnu or Shiva.. As Kalidasasa said.. AkinchanaH san prabhavaH sa sampadaam... Lord Shiva stands like a destitute but He is the source of all the wealth of the universe..

But this sloka has to be viewed from the homily statement.. often luck is more decisive in life than our other qualities.. Many rulers politicians and ministers never deserved to be in those positions but for their luck.. And we, who suffer them are really unlucky..

do not presume that you are superior to others

 

न विस्मयेत तपसा वदेदिष्ट्वा च नानृतम्।

नार्तोऽप्यपवदेद्विप्रान् न दत्वा परिकीर्तयेत्॥

मनुस्मृत्यां

na vismayeta tapasā vadediṣṭvā ca nānṛtam|

nārto'pyapavadedviprān na datvā parikīrtayet||

manusmriti

Do not get arrogant and careless and get the illusion that you are superior merely because you have been observing penance.

Do not tell lies or distort facts on the presumed position of strength that you have performed many superior rites like yajnas.

Do not venture to insult learned persons even if you are in a rundown condition physically or mentally. You should not take your misery as a licence to behave rudely with respectable persons.

In addition, never announce loudly or brag about the charitable activities conducted by you or the valuable gifts given by you.

Charity is a big business

 

If you want to help anyone just do it directly and silently. Never ever, try to channel your contribution through others including the government. If you make an open contribution, you may get some coverage, some accolades and some tax concession even. However, if your intention is to help the deserving one then be sure that even a small percentage of what you give is not going to reach the real target if you adopt roundabout methods. This is true with government or any trust or committee. Avoid intermediaries and touts. Charity is a big business

One can just be proud of what he is

 

To be frank, we have no control whatsoever on our physical features.

The mind however is a funny contrivance and it can make things even worse by giving its own skewed inputs.

One can just be proud of what he is.

No particular event in life including marriage or acceptance by others is ultimate virtue of anything.

Dame luck is a very bad mistress. If we run after her, she will taunt us. Just tell her I do not care and she will start running after us.

Moreover, for a person who has gone through many challenges in life and has succeeded fairly well, that experience must be so reassuring.

Just think of this. Who is normal?

Everyone has his own mental problems.

The fundamental attribute of any human being appears to be the fact that he is mentally odd in some way.

Some are egoistic, some are garrulous, some are narcissists, and some are timid, and so on.

Moreover, usually there is some place in society for all, including the mental cases and the fundamentals.

Of course, when things are not exactly in our control, prayer to God, in whatever form will be of use and solace.

Nevertheless, jyothisham, mantrikam, and paurohityam are just supporting or reinforcing professions and the professionals just earn their living out of their jobs.

Sure, they are not the agents or representatives of God.

What to do with such people?

 

 

A highly respected, erudite and very pious and absolutely honoured friend for me was listing some possible methods by which the discussion in social media can be conducted in the most affable manner with due consideration for views in favour of the basic post and not exactly in favour of such views.

True, this can be possible among persons with some sense of fairness.

However, are the facts of the case really so objective?

My response

"All these procedural aspects are very welcome, provided the person who initiates the discussion starts with some reasonable authenticity for the facts and views.

Here, people initiate most of the threads with no care or concern for facts or authenticity and often even the first post is a just cut-and -paste from some other obscure source.

The participants are equally biased.

No one shows any respect for the alternate view.

Highly opinionated discussions alone thrive in social media.

How can you prescribe rules and conditions in such a situation?

Let me share an experience.

I quoted an old saying in Sanskrit from a celebrated text. “Even if we plant a seed of Neem in a mountain of sugar and irrigate the seed with milk, still the growing plant will have leaves and fruits of bitter taste.” (गुलपर्वतमध्यस्थं निम्बबीजं प्रतिष्टितम्।

पयोवर्षसहस्रेण निम्बः किं मधुरायते॥)

The argument was that some things could not leave their natural tendencies and tastes.

One woman was replying that Neem was a divine plant, a medicinal plant and therefore we should not insult it stating that the plant is having seeds and leaves bitter in taste.

I pointed out to her repeatedly that the issue under discussion was the natural bitterness of the plant and the discussion had nothing to do with the divine nature of Veppu or its medicinal qualities.

Even though I had explained to her the facts from all angles, still she became cross, abusive, left the discussion, and left the group too.

What to do with such people?

Memories of Narayana as the vital forces depart the body

अन्ते नारायण स्मृतिः

अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम् । यः प्रयाति स मद्भावं याति नास्त्यत्र संशयः ॥ गीता ८-५

anthe narayana smruthi

anthakaale cha maameva smaran muktwaa kalevaram ya prayaati sa madbhaavam yaati naastyatra samsayaH

Memories of Narayana as the vital forces depart the body..

this is the ideal

Gita:

If one leaves his body and during his final hours remembers Me, surely, he attains My own qualities and merge in Me, there is no reason for any doubt on this point,

So says the Blessed Lord Krishna

greatness at close quarters gets ignored

 

निकटस्थं गरीयांसमपि लोको न मन्यते ।

पवित्रामपि यन्मर्त्या न नमस्यन्ति जाह्नवीम्॥

हितोपदेशे

nikaṭasthaṃ garīyāṃsamapi loko na manyate ।

pavitrāmapi yanmartyā na namasyanti jāhnavīm॥

hitopadeśe

When something great, valuable or very important is available very near to them, people do not realize the importance of that thing, and they give scant respect or consideration for such object.

People, living on the banks of the extremely sacred river Ganga the Jahnavi, usually do not worship her.

നികടസ്ഥം ഗരീയാംസമപി ലോകോ ന മന്യതേ ।

പവിത്രാമപി യന്മര്‍ത്യാ ന നമസ്യന്തി ജാഹ്നവീം॥

ഹിതോപദേശേ

ഏറെ മഹത്വം ഉള്ളതും , വിലപിടിച്ചതും ആയ ഒരു വസ്തു തങ്ങളുടെ വളരെ അരികത്ത് എളുപ്പം കാണാനും ഉപയോഗിക്കാനും തക്കവണ്ണം ഇരിക്കുന്നുണ്ടെങ്കില്‍ ആ വസ്തുവിന്‍റെ പ്രാധാന്യവും വിലയും ഒന്നും ആളുകള്‍ മനസ്സിലാക്കുകയുമില്ല, അതുകൊണ്ടുതന്നെ ആ വസ്തുവിന് അതര്‍ഹിക്കുന്ന പരിഗണന ലഭിക്കുകയും ഇല്ല.

ജാഹ്നവിയായ, പരിപാവനയായ, ഗംഗയുടെ കരയില്‍ ജീവിക്കുന്ന ആളുകള്‍ ഗംഗയെ ഒരിക്കലും ആരാധിക്കാറില്ല.

as you become old even your body becomes a burden

 

मा तात साहसं कार्षीर्विभवैर्गर्वमागतः।

स्वगात्राण्यपि भाराय भवन्ति हि विपर्यये॥

शार्ङ्गधर पद्धति

mā tāta sāhasaṁ kārṣīrvibhavairgarvamāgataḥ|

svagātrāṇyapi bhārāya bhavanti hi viparyaye||

sharngadhara paddati

Dear child, do not try to be overly adventurous and showy. Do not try to flaunt your physical and material advantages. Do not get arrogant when resources and wealth is continuing to flow in your direction and you are accumulating a lot of wealth like fat in the body. Remember. When you get old and infirm, even your own body would become a burden for you.

speak only things, which are just and truthful

 

सभा वा न प्रवेष्टव्या वक्तव्यं वा समञ्जसम्।

अब्रुवन्विब्रुवन् वापि नरो भवति किल्बिषी॥

नारद स्मृति

sabhā vā na praveṣṭavyā vaktavyaṁ vā samañjasam|

abruvanvibruvan vāpi naro bhavati kilbiṣī||

naradasmriti

A person should not attend a public assembly without properly comprehending his functions and duties. When he speaks in an assembly, he should speak only things, which are just and truthful. If he cannot stand up and speak right things, then he should not enter an assembly at all.

A person participating in an assembly, if he fails to stand up and talk about what people expect of him or if he presents untruths, or talks improperly, then he would become a sinner.

is there any person in the universe having greater qualities than you, Krishna?

 

त्वां निर्गुणं नाम वदन्तु वेदाः

कुत्राऽपि को वा गुणवत्तरस्त्वत्।

अहो गुणं पातकितारणं तं

हरे त्वदन्यो धरते भवे कः॥

कृष्णभक्तिरसामृते॥

tvāṁ nirguṇaṁ nāma vadantu vedāḥ

kutrā'pi ko vā guṇavattarastvat|

aho guṇaṁ pātakitāraṇaṁ taṁ

hare tvadanyo dharate bhave kaḥ||

kṛṣṇabhaktirassamṛte||

Agreed, Krishna, the Vedas are calling you the Supreme one without any attributes or qualities. However, in reality is there any person in the universe having greater qualities than you, Krishna?

Indeed, your greatest guna or good quality is your capacity and eagerness to permit even the greatest sinners to sail through this difficult journey of worldly woes and provide them Moksha or emancipation. Hari, who else other than you possess that quality,? You the one without any qualities and attributes? Funny!

त्वां you निर्गुणं without qualities, without attributes नाम as, assuming, वेदा vedas वदन्तु let them say वस्तुतः actually त्वत् greater than you गुणवत्तरः possessed of supreme attributes, qualities कुत्र where कःwho वा too अस्ति is there

अहो strange, great it is  हरे oh Hari  पातकितारणं leading sinners to  protected emancipation इति  thus तं गुणं that attributed  त्वदन्यः other than you  कः who  अस्मिन् in this  भवे universe, world, world of woes   धरते  possess

the response by different persons to the same sort of experience is not same

 

Experience, is never gained by a person in absolute terms.

Each experience would be nice or galling to a person according to what training he directly or indirectly trained to or even the type of indoctrination he got.

For example, in some societies, a parent takes pride on and enjoys the painful experience suffered for the sake of an offspring.

The experience is actually painful in a physical sense, but exhilarating to the person who suffers.

This happens in self-torture, fasting, etc in religious rites and in so many social situations. Therefore the response by different persons to the same sort of experience need not be and usually will not be same.

revere these holy entities

 

गुरुं गां दैवतं तीर्थं घृतं मधु चतुष्पदं।

प्रदक्षिणं प्रकुर्वीत प्रज्ञातांश्च वनस्पतीन्॥ मनुस्मृति याज्ञवल्क्य स्मृति

guruaṁ gāṁ daivataṁ tīrthaṁ ghṛtaṁ madhu catuṣpadaṁ|

pradakṣiṇaṁ prakurvīta prajñātāṁśca vanaspatīn ||

This is an old slokam-one of the many indicating the code of conduct as per the traditions of our country.

A person who wishes the welfare of himself and all around him, should always move with utmost respect and do circumambulation (प्रदक्षिणं) when he in the presence of

1. Guru.. the preceptor

2.The Cow

3. Gods and deities ( in whatever form)

4. Hloy waters... teertham

5. Ghee ( because it is the source of health and is a primary ingredient for yajnas)

6. Honey ( reason as above)

7. The four-legged domestic animials

8. The revered trees of the forest ( may include even the herbs and other plants)

Pradakshinam is the show of ultimate reverence and of great discipline and self control in the presence of the most Venerated things.. And the inclusion of the products of nature in their pristine purity in the list of things to be respected would indicate the wisdom possessed by our ancestors.. Now we are setting up Green groups etc.. after the damage has already been done..

death comes only at appointed hour

नाकाले म्रियते जन्तुर्विद्धः शरशतैरपि।

कुशकण्टकविद्धोऽपि प्राप्तकालो न जीवति॥

घटकर्पर

nākāle mriyate janturviddhaḥ śaraśatairapi|

kuśakaṇṭakaviddho'pi prāptakālo na jīvati||

ghaṭakarpara

If the time for death has not come a fellow will not die even if he is hit by hundred arrows. However if his time for departure has come he will not survive even the hit of a tiny piece of grass.

HAPPY PONGAL

HAPPY PONGAL

Makaram or Thai dawns with Utharayanam or the start of northward journey of the Lord of Planets.. the Sun

It is the dawning of Hope.. the day is the harbinger of Hope..

and Hope alone sustains us...

Bheeshma Pitamaha waited in his bed of arrows expecting communion with the Supreme Being at this moment years ago.

May that Krishna visit all of us and fulfill our Hopes too on that day

Happy Pongal..

Happy Makar Sankranti..

I do not really know in what all names this great event is celebrated across the sub continent.

But I am sure the it is a gala occasion all over India.

So greetings to all my fellow Indians and to all those who celebrate this festival of the farmer, the festival of nature.. anywhere ..

may Krishna's sweet grace reach all of us on this occasion..

Pranms.. and Prayers

k v ananthanarayanan

each departure leave us helpless.

आयुर्धनं यौवनं च स्पर्द्धयेव परस्परम्।

सत्वरं गत्वराण्येव संसारेऽस्मिन् शरीरिणाम्॥

āyurdhanaṁ yauvanaṁ ca sparddhayeva parasparam|

ssatvaraṁ gatvarāṇyeva saṁsāre'smin śarīriṇām||

Our longevity, the money we possess and our state of being young and energetic, all these three appear to be engaged in a state of mutual competition in running away from us leaving us high and dry. This is the fate of all of us living beings.

Yes, we do not have any clue as to when we would take our last breath. The money we have can disappear soon, either spent by us, stolen, looted pilfered or what not. And no amount of make up is going to keep us young for more than a few years. All the three are eager to bid good byes to us. And each departure leave us helpless.

(From the bood Dharmopadesha Samgraha.. a Jaina Text )

ആയുര്‍ധനം യൗവനം ച സ്പര്‍ദ്ധയേവ പരസ്പരം|സത്വരം ഗത്വരാണ്യേവ സംസാരേഽസ്മിന്‍ ശരീരിണാം||

നമ്മുടെ ആയുസ്സ് അതായത് ജീവിത ദൈര്‍ഘ്യം, നമ്മുടെ സമ്പാദ്യവും സ്വത്തുക്കളും, പിന്നെ നമ്മുടെ ചെറുപ്പവും ആരോഗ്യവും. ഈ മൂന്നു കാര്യങ്ങളും നമ്മില്‍ നിന്ന് ഓടി അകലാന്‍ പരസ്പരം ഉഗ്രമായ ഒരു മത്സരം തന്നെ എപ്പോഴും നടത്തിക്കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുകയാണ് എന്ന് തോന്നുന്നു. ഓരോന്നും എത്രയും വേഗം നമ്മെ നിസ്സഹായതയില്‍ ഉപേക്ഷിച്ചു പലായനം ചെയ്യുന്ന കാര്യത്തില്‍ സദാ ജാഗരൂകരാണ്. ജീവനുള്ള എല്ലാ ആളുകളുടെയും വിധിയാണ് ഇത്.

നമ്മുടെ അവസാന ശ്വാസം ഏതു നിമിഷത്തില്‍ ആയിരിക്കും എന്ന കാര്യത്തില്‍ നമുക്ക് ഒരു ഉറപ്പും ഇല്ല. കഷ്ടപ്പെട്ട് സ്വരൂപിച്ചു വച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന പണവും സ്വത്തുവഹകളും എല്ലാം നിമിഷങ്ങള്‍ക്കകം നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടു പോവാം. ഇത്തരം നഷ്ടങ്ങള്‍ ചിലവു മൂലമോ, കളവു മൂലമോ മറ്റുള്ളവരുടെ ഊറ്റിയെടുക്കല്‍ മൂലമോ ഒക്കെ ആവാം. പിന്നെ എത്രയൊക്കെ അലങ്കാരവും ചമയവും ചായം പൂശലും ഒക്കെ പ്രയോഗിച്ചാലും എത്ര രസായനങ്ങള്‍ സേവിച്ചാലും കൈവിരലില്‍ എണ്ണാവുന്ന വര്‍ഷങ്ങള്‍ മാത്രമേ നമ്മുടെ ചെറുപ്പം, യൌവനം എന്നിവ നിലനില്‍ക്കുകയുള്ളൂ. ചെറുപ്പം, പണം, ആയുസ്സ് ഈ മൂന്ന് പേരും നമുക്ക് സലാം നല്‍കി പെട്ടെന്ന് പിരിഞ്ഞു പോകുവാന്‍ ഓരോ നിമിഷവും കാത്തിരിക്കുകയാണ്. ഓരോന്നും വിട്ടു പിരിയുമ്പോള്‍ അത് നമ്മെ വീണ്ടും വീണ്ടും നിസ്സഹായതയുടെ കയങ്ങളിലേയ്ക്ക് വലിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് പോവുകയാണ്.

(ധര്‍മ്മോപദേശ സംഗ്രഹം എന്ന ജൈന ഗ്രന്ഥത്തില്‍ നിന്ന്)

neeetisaaram

Neetisaram actually is a compilation of great sayings and slokams in Sanskrit, compiled in Malayalam Script ( and this work contains couple of Malayalm stanzas too)

.It is in circulations in Kerala for century as oral tradition, and has been put to print a century and a quarter ago..

The students of Sanskrit in Kerala used to learn this too along with Sriramodantam, Sreekrishna Vilasam, Sidharoopam etc..

Neetisaram as a booklet used to be sold by vendors going around door to door, or selling them in festivals and fares..

The cost used to be a few paise..

The text as available in print today, contains about 120 slokas.. with minor change in numbers from version to version.

The students of Sanskrit were mostly from higher castes in the earlier generations and this text accordingly contains some slokas that would portray people of lower castes, and often even females as inferior to the caste males..

This tendency can be seen in about a dozen slokas..

But most other slokas are compiled from the works of great poets and seers.. often not caring to mention the sources, just like we find in social media.. and these quotes are of eternal value..

Vedic Prayer for memory and retention

 

Vedic Prayer for memory and retention

नमो ब्रह्मणे धारणं मे अस्त्वनिराकरणं धारयिता भूयासं कर्णयोः श्रुतं मा च्योढ्वं ममामुष्य ओम्, इति ।।

इति कृष्णयजुर्वेदीयतैत्तिरीयारण्यके दशमप्रपाठके नारायणोपनिषदि सप्तमोऽनुवाकः ॥ ७ ॥

ब्रह्मणे जगत्कारणाय नमोऽस्तु तत्प्रसादान्मदीये चित्ते ग्रन्थतदर्थयोर्धारणमस्तु ।

[अनिराकरणं] निराकरणं विस्मरणं यथा न भवति तथा धारयिता भूयासम् । अमुष्येत्थं प्रार्थयमानस्य मम कर्णयोर्यत्किञ्चिद्वेदशास्त्रादिकं यदा कदाचिदपि श्रुतमासीत्तत्सर्वं हे देवा मा च्योढ्वं मा विनाशयत । ततोऽहामों प्राप्नुयां स्थिरं धारणमिति शेषः । ३

इति श्रीमत्सायणाचार्यविरचिते माधवीये वेदार्थप्रकाशे कृष्ण यजुर्वेदीयतैत्तिरी यारण्यकभाष्ये दशमप्रपाठके नारायणीया परनामधेययुक्तायां याज्ञिक्यामुपनिषदि सप्तमोऽनुवाकः ॥ ७ ॥

namo brahmaṇe dhāraṇaṃ me astvanirākaraṇaṃ dhārayitā bhūyāsaṃ karṇayoḥ śrutaṃ mā cyoḍhvaṃ mamāmuṣya om, iti ।।

iti kṛṣṇayajurvedīyataittirīyāraṇyake daśamaprapāṭhake nārāyaṇopaniṣadi saptamo'nuvākaḥ ॥ 7 ॥

brahmaṇe jagatkāraṇāya namo'stu tatprasādānmadīye citte granthatadarthayordhāraṇamastu ।

[anirākaraṇaṃ] nirākaraṇaṃ vismaraṇaṃ yathā na bhavati tathā dhārayitā bhūyāsam । amuṣyetthaṃ prārthayamānasya mama karṇayoryatki tkiñcidvedaśāstrādikaṃ yadā kadācidapi śrutamāsīttatsarvaṃ he devā mā cyoḍhvaṃ mā vināśayata । tato'hāmoṃ prāpnuyāṃ sthiraṃ dhāraṇamiti śeṣaḥ । 3

iti śrīmatsāyaṇācāryaviracite mādhavīye vedārthaprakāśe kṛṣṇa yajurvedīyataittirī yāraṇyakabhāṣye daśamaprapāṭhake nārāyaṇīyā paranāmadheyayuktāyāṃ yājñikyāmupaniṣadi saptamo'nuvākaḥ ॥ 7 ॥taittareeya aranyakam Mahanarayanopanishad anuvaka 7

നമോ ബ്രഹ്മണേ ധാരണം മേ അസ്ത്വനിരാകരണം ധാരയിതാ ഭൂയാസം കര്‍ണയോഃ ശ്രുതം മാ ച്യോഢ്വം മമാമുഷ്യ ഓം, ഇതി ॥

ഇതി കൃഷ്ണയജുര്‍വേദീയതൈത്തിരീയാരണ്യകേ ദശമപ്രപാഠകേ നാരായണോപനിഷദി സപ്തമോഽനുവാകഃ ॥ ൭ ॥

ബ്രഹ്മണേ ജഗത്കാരണായ നമോഽസ്തു തത്പ്രസാദാന്മദീയേ ചിത്തേ ഗ്രന്ഥതദര്‍ഥയോര്‍ധാരണമസ്തു ।

[അനിരാകരണം] നിരാകരണം വിസ്മരണം യഥാ ന ഭവതി തഥാ ധാരയിതാ ഭൂയാസം । അമുഷ്യേത്ഥം പ്രാര്‍ഥയമാനസ്യ മമ കര്‍ണയോര്യത്കിഞ്ചിദ്വേദശാസ്ത്രാദികം യദാ കദാചിദപി ശ്രുതമാസീത്തത്സര്‍വം ഹേ ദേവാ മാ ച്യോഢ്വം മാ വിനാശയത । തതോഽഹാമോം പ്രാപ്നുയാം സ്ഥിരം ധാരണമിതി ശേഷഃ । ൩

ഇതി ശ്രീമത്സായണാചാര്യവിരചിതേ മാധവീയേ വേദാര്‍ഥപ്രകാശേ കൃഷ്ണ യജുര്വേദീയതൈത്തിരീയാരണ്യകഭാഷ്യേ ദശമപ്രപാഠകേ നാരായണീയാ പരനാമധേയയുക്തായാം യാജ്ഞിക്യാമുപനിഷദി സപ്തമോഽനുവാകഃ ॥ ൭ ॥

My obeisance to that Supreme Being, the creator of the world, and by His grace, whatever I learn from Books and any other sources may be grasped and retained by me to perfection..

May I grasp all that knowledge. Forgetfulness may never encompass me.

May the Heavenly beings never allow me to lose whatever has been heard and learned by me by way of science and scriptural knowledge.

Thus, I may have long aayus. OM..

This is the Vedic prayer meant for retention of whatever we have learned..

This is from Taittireeya aranyakam of Krishna Yajurveda..Mahanarayan Upanishad

Ravana

 

Ravana was defeated only because two great forces, that of Rama and Hanuman joined. The first meeting of Ravana and Hanuman is revealing.. Ravana wonders whether, Lord Shambu or Bhagavan Nandi has appeared before him in disguise. Hanuman is wonderstruck by the splendour of Ravana.. He confesses in His mind that if Ravana had not committed the wrong deed of abducting Sita, he would have been unconquerable- according to Hanuman's thinking only adharma was going to be the killer of Ravana.. One has to read the Eulogy Rama pays to Ravana after the latter's death to know how much he respected the strength of Ravana..

Every soldier should have a Ravana in Him. - One of the bravest soldiers ever lived- greatest leader-dignified even in his death.. Rama orders a soldier's honour to Ravana at his funeral..

The battle between devas and asuras and rakshasas have a different dimension.. I have read Uttarakandam to Ramayanam too. Of course, there is discussion in literary and academic circle whether that part of Ramayanam is integrally connected to the other six Kandams. However, what I wanted to say was that devas were always out to decimate their own half-brothers and cousins that were asuras etc. Ravana for example is the half-brother of Kubera. If Ravana and his uterine brothers had not moved with sense of purpose and defeated devas, they would have annihilated them. At least Ravana and other demons left devas alive. So in a battle, we cannot escape witnessing cruelty... be it in ancient wars or even in the latest wars.. Was Hiroshima any better? I am not justifying wars but we can easily understand the actions of the warring faction in annihilating even with cruelty the rival players..

And regarding Sita in captivity, no thinking person can deny the fact that the Lady was in captivity and absolute control of Ravana for all that period of captivity, and he could have thought of anything and acted on it.. So other questions on that issue are not very relevant.

characters in Ramayanam

 

Ravana is one of the most intriguing characters of Hindu lore. Very difficult to understand his motives. In fact how can one explain his keeping Sita pure under his captivity for almost one year, when he fully knew he could have done anything he wanted if pleasure was his motive?

Actually if we study Ramayana in depth, we would find that the contenders for the number one position in the epic are running very close to one another. The fore runners being Rama, Hanuman and Ravana--running neck to neck, with Bharatha, Kumbhakarna, Lakshmana etc following at very short distances behind.

suicide for survival of the race

 

Even though I am not able to give scientific proof, there are many views confirming that boozing and even suicidal tendencies are present even amongst some animals. Of course I shall cite examples from Ramayanam.. The destruction of Madhuvanam by the monkeys and the decision of the monkeys who had gone southward in search of Sita to commit suicide. Of course, the question as to whether the monkeys in Ramayana were actually monkeys—is a riddle.

And we can see another incidence of apparent suicide in respect of plants which grow in cluster. Take the case of a guava fruit, for instance. One single fruit will contain hundreds of seeds. If the fruit falls on a fertile piece of ground, eventually all the seeds will sprout and germinate. However, after a time, apart from a handful of saplings or plants, all other sprouts die down. At that stage, we can infer that either as just death or as suicide by the majority of the plants to permit one or two of their species to grow.

You must have heard of the many brothers of Shakuni the Gandhara imprisoned in a dark cellar to die. With a view to take vengeance on their tormenter, all except Shakuni died voluntarily, gave up their food in favour of the sole survivor whom they nourished. Through suicide, they could ensure their success to their mission. Shakuni survived and ensured the vengeance on Kurus through his nasty manipulations later.

eternal debt to parents

 

सर्वार्थसंभवो देहो जनितः पोषितो यतः।

न तयोर्याति निर्वेशं पित्रोर्मर्त्यः शतायुषा॥

श्रीमद् भगवते १०-४५-५

sarvārthasaṁbhavo deho janitaḥ poṣito yataḥ|

na tayoryāti nirveśaṁ pitrormartyaḥ śatāyuṣā||

śrīmad bhagavate 10-45-5

The parents brought to this world this body of a man that is the ultimate source and repository of his wealth, happiness and welfare,

They nurtured it too. Even hundred births and service to the parents throughout would not be sufficient to repay them adequately for such a gift.

A thought from Shrimad Bhagavatham.

generate sublime thoughts in their hearts and give sublime expression to them through spoken words.

 

केषांचित् वाचि शुकवत् परेषां हृदि मूकवत्।

कस्याप्याहृदयत्वाद् वक्त्रे वल्गु वल्गन्ति सूक्तयः॥

पञ्चतन्त्रे संकल्प सूर्योदये

keṣāṁcit vāci śukavat pareṣāṁ hṛdi mūkavat|

kasyāpyāhṛdayatvād vaktre valgu valganti sūktayaḥ||

pañcatantre

Good and attractive words just appear in the lips of some people just like parrots.

Good and attractive words and thoughts remained confined deep inside the minds of many people giving the impression that such people are just dumb and incapable of speaking.

However, noble, attractive thoughts flow in profusion from the depth of the hearts of some people who are blessed and the words flow with great force. They find expression through the mouths in the form of worthy pronouncements.

Yes, some people just utter high-sounding words without knowing what they are talking. It is like the blabbering of parrots. Many others may be having noble thoughts but they are incapable of articulating such thoughts. They are not much better than the dumb ones.

The really great and accomplished scholars generate sublime thoughts in their hearts and they would be able to give sublime expression to such thoughts through spoken words. They are the cream of this earth.

കേഷാംചിത് വാചി ശുകവത് പരേഷാം ഹൃദി മൂകവത്|

കസ്യാപ്യാഹൃദയത്വാദ് വക്ത്രേ വല്‍ഗു വല്‍ഗന്തി സൂക്തയഃ||*

സങ്കല്പ സൂര്യോദയം

ഒരു തത്തമ്മ ചിലമ്പുന്നത് പോലെ ചില വ്യക്തികളുടെ ചുണ്ടുകളില്‍ നിന്ന് ഏറെ മധുരങ്ങളും ആകര്‍ഷണീയങ്ങളും ആയ വാക്കുകള്‍ വന്നുകൊണ്ടേയിരിക്കും. പക്ഷെ അത്തരം വാക്കുകള്‍ ഏറെ പ്രതിബദ്ധതയും ആത്മാര്‍ത്ഥതയും നിറഞ്ഞവയും ഹൃദയത്തില്‍ തട്ടി പറയുന്നവയും ആവണം എന്നില്ല. പലപ്പോഴും അവ അധരവ്യായാമം മാത്രം ആയിരിക്കും. പിന്നെ ഏറെ ഉദ്ദേശശുദ്ധിയും സത്യസന്ധതയും നിറഞ്ഞ ചില നല്ല മനുഷ്യരുടെ മനസ്സിന്‍റെ ഉള്ളറകളില്‍ ഉദാത്തങ്ങളായ ചിന്തകളും അവയില്‍ നിന്ന് രൂപപ്പെടുന്ന വാക്കുകളും ഉടലെടുക്കും. പക്ഷെ വാക്കുകള്‍ കൊണ്ട് അവ പ്രകടിപ്പിക്കാനുള്ള കഴിവിലെ പരിമിതികള്‍ കാരണം അവ ആ ഹൃദയങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്ന് ഒരിക്കലും പുറത്തുവരാതെ അവിടെത്തന്നെ കെട്ടടങ്ങും. സംസാരശേഷി ഇല്ലാത്ത ആളുടെ വാക്കുകള്‍ പോലെ.

എന്നാല്‍ ഏറെ അനുഗൃഹീതരായ ചില വ്യക്തികളുടെ മനസ്സിന്‍റെ അഗാധതകളില്‍ എല്ലായ്പോഴും ഏറെ ഭംഗി നിറഞ്ഞവയും ഉദാത്തങ്ങളും ആയ ചിന്തകള്‍ ഉടലെടുക്കുകയും അവ നിര്‍ബാധം പുറത്തേക്ക് പ്രവഹിച്ചു കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും. അത്തരം ചിന്തകള്‍ ആ മഹത്തുക്കളുടെ വാക്കുകളിലൂടെ നിരന്തരം പുറത്തേക്ക് വന്നുകൊണ്ടേയിരിക്കും

അതെ, ചിലര്‍ തങ്ങള്‍ എന്താണ് പറയുന്നത് എന്നതൊന്നും ചിന്തിച്ചു നോക്കാതെ തന്നെ മഹദ് വചനങ്ങള്‍ എന്നൊക്കെ തോന്നിപ്പോകുന്ന പൊള്ളയായ വാക്കുകള്‍ തട്ടിവിട്ടു കൊണ്ടിരിക്കും, ഒരു തത്ത ചിലയ്ക്കുന്നത് പോലെ. വേറെ ചിലര്‍ക്ക് ഹൃദയത്തില്‍ നന്മയും ഉദ്ദേശ ശുദ്ധിയും ഒക്കെ ഉണ്ടായിരിക്കും. പക്ഷെ ഉള്ളില്‍ ഉള്ളത് വാക്കുകള്‍ കൊണ്ട് പുറത്തു പറയാനോ പ്രായോഗികമായി ആശയങ്ങള്‍ ഉപയോഗിക്കുവാനോ അവര്‍ക്ക് കഴിവില്ല. മൂകന്മാരെ പോലെ ആണ് അവര്‍. യഥാര്‍ത്ഥത്തില്‍ മഹാന്മാരും നേട്ടം കൈവരിച്ചവരും ആയ വ്യക്തികള്‍ തങ്ങളുടെ ഹൃദയങ്ങളില്‍ ഉദാത്തമായ ചിന്തകളും ആശയങ്ങളും സൃഷ്ടിച്ചെടുക്കുന്നു, അത്തരം മനോഗതങ്ങള്‍ ആകര്‍ഷണീയങ്ങളായ വാക്കുകളിലൂടെ പ്രകടിപ്പിച്ച് എല്ലാവര്‍ക്കും നന്മയും സന്തോഷവും പകരുന്നു. അവരാണ് ഈ ഭൂമിയിലെ ശ്രേഷ്ഠന്മാര്‍.

easier to help others with materials than give physical protection

 

हेमधेनु धरादीनां धातारः सुलभाः भुवि।

दुर्लभः पुरुषो लोके यः प्राणिष्वभयप्रदः॥

hemadhenu dharādīnāṁ dhātāraḥ sulabhāḥ bhuvi|

durlabhaḥ puruṣo loke yaḥ prāṇiṣvabhayapradaḥ||

We can find lots and many good people who are ready to help the needy with gifts of cows, gold and even land. However, it is indeed very difficult to find people with strength and willingness to give protections to living beings facing great threats to their lives and existence.

It is easier to help others with materials. However, it takes a lot of strength and character to stand up against adversities and offer protection to people in peril.

windfalls my come but perseverence alone makes life steady

 

अकालमेघवद्वित्तं अकस्मादेति याति च॥

akālameghavadvittaṁ akasmādeti yāti ca||

Just as some dark clouds gather suddenly, unexpectedly, out of season, pour a little, and vanish, money too would visit us and vanish too.

अक्षोभ्यतैव महतां महत्वस्य हि लक्षणम्॥

akṣobhyataiva mahatāṁ mahatvasya hi lakṣaṇam||

The hallmark of greatness of a person is his power of equanimity and nonchalance, capacity not to succumb to anger, even on the face of worst provocation.

अचिन्त्यं हि फलं सूते सद्यः सुकृतपादपः॥

acintyaṁ hi phalaṁ sūte sadyaḥ sukṛtapādapaḥ||

The good deeds a person performs grow like a tree slowly and steadily and gives fruits in the shape of positive results, and most often such results would be far more than what one could reasonably expect

अजानतो हठात्कुर्यन् प्राज्ञमानी विनश्यति॥

ajānato haṭhātkuryan prājñamānī vinaśyati||

A fellow who has no grasp over what he is doing but thinks that he is highly knowledgeable and therefore acts hastily and without forethought, faces complete destruction.

अज्ञता कस्य नामेह नोपहासाय जायते॥

ajñatā kasya nāmeha nopahāsāya jāyate||

Ignorance, lack of knowledge, lack of power to grasp things, all these can invariably make a person the butt of ridicule.

thorough analysis and threadbare criticism

नो शक्य एव परिहृत्य दृढां परीक्षां

ज्ञातुं मितस्य च महतश्च कवेर्विशेषः।

को नाम तीव्रपवनागममन्तरेण

भेदेन वेत्ति शिखिदीपमणिप्रदीपौ॥

मङ्खकविप्रणीते श्रीकण्ठचरिते

no śakya eva parihṛtya dṛḍdāṁ parīkṣāṁ

jñātuṁ mitasya ca mahataśca kavarviśeṣaḥ|

ko nāma tīvrapavanāgamamantareṇa

bhedena vetti śikhidīpamaṇipradīpau||

maṅkhakavipraṇīte śrīkaṇṭhacarite

It is highly impossible to decide whether a poet or scholar is indeed very great or whether he is just average, without putting the respective poetic creations to severe and exacting tests through thorough analysis and threadbare criticism.

It only when a strong and intense wind is blowing that we could distinguish whether what is shining before us is just a burning wick of a lamp or a very valuable gem which is shedding its inherent brilliant lustre

When the wind blows, the wick would be blown out. But the shine of the gem would continue for ever. Similarly the work of a poetic creation of an author with class would withstand any sort of criticism or incisive analysis, but the creation of an empty and showy writer would be shred to pieces when subjected to popular analysis.

നോ ശക്യ എവ പരിഹൃത്യ ദൃഢാം പരീക്ഷാം

ജ്ഞാതും മിതസ്യ ച മഹതശ്ച കവേര്‍വിശേഷഃ|

കോ നാമ തീവ്രപവനാഗമമന്തരേണ

ഭേദേന വേത്തി ശിഖിദീപമണിപ്രദീപൗ||

മങ്ഖകവിപ്രണീതേ ശ്രീകണ്ഠചരിതേ

ഒരു കവി, ഒരു സാഹിത്യകാരന്‍, ഏറെ ഔന്നത്യവും സർഗ്ഗപ്രതിഭയും ഉള്ള എഴുത്തുകാരന്‍ ആണോ, അല്ല, ആ വ്യക്തി വെറും ശരാശരി കഴിവുകള്‍ മാത്രമുള്ള ആളാണോ എന്ന് മനസ്സിലാക്കുവാന്‍ അത്ര എളുപ്പം ഒന്നും അല്ല. ഈ നിരൂപണം ഏറെ ശ്രമകരമാണ്. ഒരു സാഹിത്യകാരന്‍റെ യഥാര്‍ത്ഥ പ്രതിഭ വിലയിരുത്തണം എങ്കില്‍ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്‍റെ സൃഷ്ടി ഏറെ കടുപ്പമേറിയവയും സങ്കീര്‍ണ്ണതകള്‍ നിറഞ്ഞവയും ആയ വിലയിരുത്തലുകള്‍ നടത്തിയും പിന്നെ കൃതിയുടെ ഓരോ വശവും, ഓരോ ചെറിയ ഭാഗവും ഏറെ നിശിതമായ നിരൂപണത്തിനു വിഷയമാക്കിയും ഒക്കെ ആയിരക്കും.

ഏറെ വേഗതയോടെ ആഞ്ഞടിക്കുന്ന ഒരു കാറ്റ് വീശിയാല്‍ മാത്രമേ നമുക്ക് നമ്മുടെ മുന്നില്‍ തിളങ്ങി നില്‍ക്കുന്നത് എണ്ണയൊഴിച്ച് കത്തിച്ച കൊച്ചു ചിരാത് മാത്രമാണോ അല്ല തന്നില്‍ അന്തര്‍ഭവിച്ചിട്ടുള്ള സ്വാഭാവികമായ തിളക്കം കൊണ്ട് ചുറ്റും പ്രകാശം പരത്തുന്ന ഒരു ഉത്തമ രത്നം ആണോ എന്ന കാര്യം ശരിക്കും മനസിലാക്കാന്‍ സാധിക്കുകയുള്ളൂ.

ഏറെ വേഗത്തില്‍ കാറ്റ് വീശുമ്പോള്‍ ചിരാതിലെ ദീപനാളം കേട്ടടങ്ങിപ്പോകും. പക്ഷെ രത്നത്തിന്‍റെ തിളക്കം ഇല്ലാതാക്കാന്‍ ഒരു കൊടും കാറ്റിനും സാധിക്കുകയില്ല.

ഇത് പോലെ തന്നെ ഏറെ നിലവാരമുള്ള ഒരു സാഹിത്യകാരന്‍റെ സര്‍ഗ്ഗസൃഷ്ടി എത്രയധികം കുറ്റപ്പെടുത്തലുകളെയും ദോഷം മാത്രം കാണുന്ന നിരൂപണങ്ങളെയും എല്ലാം അതിജീവിച്ച് സ്വന്തം നില തെളിയിക്കും. വിടുവായത്തവും വിഷയ ശൂന്യതയും കൈമുതലായി, വെറും കാട്ടിക്കൂട്ടലുകളും കേട്ടുകാഴ്ച്ചകളും കൊണ്ട് വലിയ ഒച്ചപ്പാടോടെ പ്രത്യക്ഷപ്പെടുന്ന തറ സൃഷ്ടികള്‍ അറിവുള്ളവരുടെ വിലയിരുത്തലുകളുടെ മുന്നില്‍ അടിയറവു പറഞ്ഞു ഇല്ലാതാവും.

we have evolved some basic truce by usage over time

 

An action cannot be right just because I am inclined to perform it.

Nor can it be wrong because someone whom I do not exactly see eye to eye performs it.

Right and wrong are relative, one may argue, but still when there are many people walking around on this earth in addition to me,  we have evolved some basic truce by usage over time, on what is right or otherwise. In addition, the majority of people have followed the terms and conditions. Therefore, I am bound to accept and follow such terms as working agenda for my own peace and the peace of others.

Coming to think of it, marital fidelity, parental responsibility and even fairness in life and having generally accepted manners and lifestyle, are all essential parts of this truce.

In addition, often, as we evolve as a group, many of the traditions attain the force of law. Moreover, some people even assume that such laws have the endorsement of God

It is not difficult to ponder over these facts and accept them at intellectual level.

Nevertheless, at emotional level, our animal tendencies tend to raise their heads and the impulsive man within defeats the rational one.

In a group, be it family, professional colleague, co-patriots and so on, we have the advantage that our colleagues pull us back to realities of life when we tend to wander off.

However, in social media, we find no such restraints. We tend to notice nothing except an arrogant muddled mind and the keyboard, and a lighted console or a mobile screen perhaps in a dark backdrop.

This issue should attract our attention.

Are we going back to the jungle?

Nevertheless, even jungles have their rules.

goodwill towards all

 

सत्त्वेषु मैत्री गुणिषु प्रमोदं क्लिष्टेषु जीवेषु कृपापरत्वम्।

माध्यस्थभावं विपरीतवृत्तौ सदा ममात्मा विदधातु देव॥

अमितगतिसूरिविरचित भावना द्वात्रिंशतिका

sattveṣu maitrī guṇiṣu pramodaṁ kliṣṭeṣu jīveṣu kṛpāparatvam|

mādhyasthabhāvaṁ viparītavṛttau sadā mamātmā vidadhātu deva||

amitagatisūriviracita bhāvanā dvātriṁśatikā

Oh Almighty God

May the self, inside me, be endowed with,

Very deep friendship with all beings ,

Great happiness towards those possessing exemplary qualities

Everlasting compassion towards all things that have life

State of neutrality even towards people who tread diametrically opposite path to mine

A Jaina Prayer.

From Amitagatisooris Bhaavana Dvaathrimshatikaa

when the seeker has crossed a certain level, he should go ahead realizing the greatness of his sublime journey

 

Presentation of many episodes in Puranas are like offering small pieces of peppermint to a child whom we are persuading to drink some bitter medicine.

While the child gulps the medicine because of the sweet peppermint, the child forgets the bitterness of the medicinal potion.

Just like that, people who are reluctant to approach God or spirituality because the path is so tough although the way of God is of great benefit similar to the medicine, turn to divinity through stories. .

It is with this idea that gurus and preceptors feed the followers with some stories that describe incidents where the divine grace came very easily.

The stories are not entirely lies.

Just like peppermint, they are simple and sweet.

Nevertheless, the real destination is far away.

The travel is difficult even for the best of yogis to embark on.

However, the presentation of attractive stories at the gate or entrance to the world of spirituality somehow persuades people to enter the threshold and take the first few steps in their long yet blessed journey towards the infinite.

The seeker should ever remember that such stories would have very little appeal for the one who has already crossed the gate and is on his way to realization.

When the whole landscape is flooded with torrential supply of water in a heavy rain, the tiny puddle of water loses its significance.

. yaavaan artha udapaane sarvataH samplutodake...यावान् अर्थ उदपाने सर्वतः संप्लुतोदके as rightly pointed out by the Blessed Lord in Gita..

Therefore, when the seeker has crossed a certain level, he should go ahead realizing the greatness of his journey and its sublime destination and it is not necessary at all to ruminate over the old anecdotes that would sound like fables and nursery rhymes.

eroticism in religion

 

The eroticism is part of the Shakta type of worship, which is a well-established line.

In addition, Shrimad Bhagavatham, a Purana that is about 1200 years old, in its tenth Skanda portrays Krishna as a playful child and a Mischievous and naughty lover too

The less lettered humans feel that God as described in erudite texts like Vedas and Upanishads and the shapeless nirguna brahma is not within their grip

Therefore, the idea of approaching God through Prema or love mixed with devotion took shape

On many occasions, it is parental love, fraternal love, friendship and so on.

However, of course the most intense of the relationships is romance tinged with eroticism.

Eroticism removes all anxieties and inhibitions in the simple living beings approach to the Supreme Being.

Therefore, that became an integral part of worship

Hero worship is at its best when the devotee adds some tinge of romance. That is human nature.

The social practices get formal approval in rituals and even in laws of the state eventually.

Of course, almost in every religion known to man, we find that there is some worship, in some shape or other, of the genital organs, as they are the source of new life. In some places, it is subtle, and in some cases, it is showy

In addition, eroticism has close connection with the physical organs that arouse such feelings.

Eroticism in religion is not an isolated feature of ancient India. We can be find that in many ancient religions and aborigine practice all across the world.