SUKRACHARYA

We have heard of Sukracharya, the guru of Asuras and how he came to the rescue of demons in their critical hours! Who is this great individual and what is his history? Not many of us know about this. In the Santhi Parva of the Mahabharatha Dharmaraja questions Bhismapitamaha why the renowned Sukra hated the Devas and favored the demons. He also wanted to know why there is enmity between the Devas and the Asuras. Bhishma was delighted and narrated the entire story of Sukracharya as he had heard earlier from reliable sources. Modern readers may not believe in what Bhisma said but these incidents belong to krutha Yuga! The original

name of Sukracharya was Yasanasa and he belonged to the clan of Bhrigu. Once, requested by the Devas,  Lord Vishnu killed  his mother with his Sudarsana Chakra. It was from that time that Yasanasa became the hater and enemy of the Devas! By his yoga, Yasanasa entered into Kubera, the Lord of wealth, bound him and took away all his wealth! Having lost all his wealth, Kubera ran to  Kailash and complained to Lord Siva how Yasanasa overpowered him with his yoga and robbed him of all his wealth!

This infuriated Maheswara and He took up his trident or Trula to kill Yasanasa! Sensing the intention of the Lord through the power of Yoga, he, for a while didn't know what to do. He sat in severe tapas, prayed to the Lord and settled himself on the tip of Trishul! Realizing the trick of Yasanasa on the tip of His Trshula, Lord Siva bent the trident like a bow! That came to be called  as “Pinaka” from that time onwards! Even as Yasanasa  came very near to His palm, the Lord opened his mouth and gulped him down his throat! Great yogi that he was, Yasanasa entered the Lord’s stomach and moved about in it! “How did Yasanasa  move about in the great stomach of the Lord?,” asked Dharmaraja.

Bhishma replied that after swallowing Yasanasa, Lord Siva entered into waters and performed severe penance and yoga for a hundred thousand years! He remained stable like a rock--:’Sthanu’. The Creator  Brahma' visited the Lord and enquired if his tapas went off well. The Lord found out that Yasanasa was progressing well within the stomach on account of the great penance he had undertaken! Once again Lord Siva went into deep meditation. Yasanasa continued movement in the stomach of the Lord and prayed for release from it! But the Lord had sealed all the openings in His body to prevent  Yasnasa from escaping! With all escape routes sealed, Yasanasa felt the heat and could not bear the torture within! Implored upon, Lord Siva instructed Yasanasa to escape from the reproductive organ! Without any other alternative except emerging out of the organ, Yasanasa came out!

Emerging out of the Lord’s stomach, Yasanasa looked radiant! Lord Siva who was very angry with him wanted to kill him and directed his Trishul towards him! But Uma Devi prevented the Lord from killing Yasanasa, the renowned brahmin and a sage. She pointed out that having come out of the Lord’s stomach, Yasanasa is equal to His son and should not be killed!  The Lord  appreciating the words of Devi desisted from killing him and allowed Yasanasa to go wherever he wanted! Yasanasa fell at the feet of Lord Siva and Uma Devi and went away according to his will! Bhishma narrated this story of Yasanasa who by his supreme meditation, tapas and yoga  came to be called “Sukracharya” because of the way he emerged from the stomach of Lord Siva!

Sukracharya is always partial to Asuras and he is  their mentor! He has mastered the  “Mritasanjeevani” mantra! With the help of this mantra he resuscitated thousands of demons who died in the war between the Devas and Asuras. On one occasion his student Kacha was taught the “ Mritasanjivani” mantra. Other demons killed Kacha, powdered his bones, mixed it in a drink and made Sukracharya drink it! Knowing the mischief, Sukracharya asked Kacha to come out breaking his stomach! Kacha came out and brought Sukracharya back to life with the help of “Mritasanjivani” mantra! During the Vamana avatar Sukracharya tried to prevent Maha Bali from giving away three feet of land to Vamana! Bali refused to obey his mentor! But  Sukracharya is said to have obstructed the water flow from the kamandalu for giving away the land! Vamana pierced one eye of Sukracharya with the blade of kusa (a kind of grass) and he became blind in one eye!! In astrology planet  Sukra is the karaka for wife and fine arts! He is also responsible for manliness(semen). His position in a horoscope is very important for an individual!

THIRST FOR MONEY

“Bharatah panchamo Vedha”--Apart from the four Vedas, Rig, Yajus, Sama and Atharva the Mahabharatha is considered as the fifth Veda! Everything pertaining to life, knowledge, morality, ethics, wisdom, and philosophy is present in the form of stories and small anecdotes. There are also situations indicating close friendship, political strategy, treachery, pathos and compassion! In  short there is nothing which is not connected with human life and achievement!  It is a treasure house of  knowledge and the way in which a person has to conduct himself to make his life peaceful and successful!  The later part of the Mahabharatha, especially the Santhi Parva, is purely dedicated to Dharma and the various duties he has to perform in order to rule his subjects properly and treat them as his own children! In this Parva,  Dharmaraja, the eldest of the Pandavas, has innumerable doubts for which he seeks clarifications and answers from the Grand oldman of the Kuru clan Bhishma!

“We are cruel and evil minded. For the sake of money and material we have killed our own brothers, parents, grandchildren, friends and sons” said Dharmaraja. He wanted to know how to control this obsession for money and property. “It is because of this lust for money and property that we have committed many evil deeds.”He requested Bhishma to tell him how to suppress this inordinate thirst and obsession for money! Bhishma was always kind and compassionate to the Pandavas because they were strict followers of Dharma. Infact there was nothing cruel or evil in the actions of the Pandavas! It was only Duryodhana and his train that tried various means to destroy the Pandavas by hook or crook!  Their methods were devious and treacherous! Despite this, Dharmaraja felt that he had been cruel and killed many of his own kith and kin in his thirst and passion for money and material! Bhisma listened to Dharmaraja’s question and  recollected an interesting conversation between the king of Videha, Janaka and a brahmin by name Mandavya on this subject!

king Janaka told Mandavya that that he has nothing in the world! In spite of this he leads a very happy life. He said that he loses nothing even if his kingdom of Mithila is set on fire! However rich a person might be, the wise shall find it as the root cause of sorrow. It is only the stupid and the foolish that are the victims of the lure of money. The real and great happiness one enjoys in losing the thirst for money is sixteen times greater than the pleasure of having money! It is very difficult to curb the desire for money!  Like the horns that grow as the cow grows, the more money you have, the greater is the desire for more money! Man is afflicted with severe sorrow  when he loses what he considers as his own. Hence desires or thirst for money should be avoided! Desire, that cannot be satisfied is the root cause for sorrow! The best use of money is for Dharma or charity! One who is a Jnani will treat all creatures like himself. Purifying his Atma, he attains fulfilment or siddhi by detaching himself from all mundane things in life!

Thirst or desire can never be curbed or controlled by the evil minded! The body may be destroyed but the desire remains! Jnanis consider this 'thrishna’-- thirst or desire as a terminal disease! He is happy who has got rid of this desire! One who is the follower of Dharma shall be pure, free from evil and renowned and happy in this and the other world! King Janaka’s words impressed Mandavya and he felt very happy! He later tried to follow the path indicated by king Janaka in curbing his desires as far as possible!

Desires are unquenchable! One desire leads to another! There is no escape for man from desire until he kills it by severe detachment which is also very difficult! Too much of money is extremely dangerous! One may lose his life also! Why do you aspire for money which is the root cause of sorrow and danger? ‘ kimartham duhka bhajanam?’ You strain hard to earn money. It is more difficult to protect the money you have earned and saved! When you spend it or lose it your sorrow is indescribable! Why go after money that brings in sorrow in its train? It is said that Money has four heirs. The first is Dharma. Money spent for righteous causes is the best use for money. When it is misused the second heir, Fire destroys it! Otherwise the king  takes it over! In the present case it is the Income Tax Department taking it over! The last heir is the robber or thief who escapes with all your savings in one stretch! Therefore, earn and save what is required for a happy life, not more, not less! Be wise in using it. Develop slowly but surely non attachment that will help you in making your life peaceful and happy in the real sense of the word!

SELF, SLEEP AND DREAM ( Brihadaranyaka Upanishad)

Balaki belonged to the Gargi family. He was proud but a good expositor! On a certain occasion he went to Ajatasatru, king of Kasi and offered to tell him of Brahman! Ajatasatru was a little surprised. But he said he was ready to listen to his speech and offer a thousand cows for his speech! Balaki said that the person in the Sun is Brahman and that he meditates on him. The king told him that he meditated on the Sun as ‘ all surpassing and head and king of all beings. Those who meditate on him shall become head and all surpassing! Balaki said he meditated on the Moon as Brahman. Ajatasatru replied that he meditated him as “the great white robed king Soma! One who meditates on him shall have Soma poured out in his sacrifices and he shall have plenty of food! Balaki continued and said that he meditated on Space as Brahman.

Qa

The King replied that he considered Space as ‘full and unmoving’. Those who meditate on Space  shall be blessed with children and cattle! Balak further said that he meditated on Wind and Fire as  Brahman!  Ajathasatru replied that he knew about it! Wind for him is ‘ irresistible and unconquerable’! Fi!re is forbearing for him. People who meditate on fire become forbearing!

Balaki of Gargya said that he meditated on Water as Brahman!  Ajatasatru said that he knew about that as the agreeable! Those who worship it shall have agreeable things and agreeable children! Finally Balaki said that he meditated on the person who is in the self as the Brahman! The king replied that for him it is self possessed! All those who meditate become self possessed  along with their children!

Balaki had nothing else to say and he stopped! Ajatasatru said that the information is not enough. Balaki of Gargya, to get more knowledge, wanted to be the student of Ajatasatru and learn more! A brahmin becoming a student of a Kshatriya was contrary to the practice in those days but Ajatasatru,the king, accepted Balaki as his student to make him know the Brahman clearly. The king took the hand of Balakl, rose from the spot, and came to a person who was asleep. The king called called him by these three names, “ Great, white robed, radiant Soma”. The man did not wake up. The king rubbed him with his hand and woke him up! Ajatasatru questioned, “What happened to the conciousness when the man was asleep? How did it come back? Balaki of Gargya had no answer!

Ajatasatru explained that the person with consciousness ‘has taken to himself the functions of these sense organs and rests in the space within the heart. When the person takes in these he is said to sleep”. Then his breath, speech, the ear and the eye are kept in. The mind is also kept in! Dreams are his world and he’ taking his senses along, moves about as he pleases in his own body like a great king taking his men along and moving about as he pleases in his own country. When he's fast asleep he knows nothing whatsoever! He moves through the seventy two  thousand channels called Hita extending from the heart to the body and rests in the surrounding body! He rests like a great king having reached the summit of his happiness!

Ajatasatru explained that “as a spider moves along its threads and as from fire sparks fly in all directions, even so from this Self come forth all organs, all worlds, all deities and all beings! Its mystic name is ‘ the Truth of truth. The senses are the truth and the Self is the Truth of truth.”Through the conversation between Balaki of Gargya and  king Ajatasatru, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad explains that the person in the Sun, the moon, space, water, and fire is Brahman itself! The Katha Upanishad confirms the same idea when it proclaims, “ na tatra suryo bhati na chandra tarakam nemo vidyuto bhanti kuthoya magnihi tameva bhanti manubhati sarvam tasya  bhasa sarvamidam vibhati” What is sleep? The Upanishad clarifies that it is the withdrawal of Self along with the senses and moving in different worlds!  When the Individual is fast asleep he is totally cut off from the external world and it's associations!  The self is present but subconsciously, oblivious of its environment! The dialogue is an attempt to elucidate what Self is and what happens when a person sleeps and dreams!

MAITREYI AND YAJNAVALKYA ( Brihadaranyaka Upanishad)

The dialogue between sage Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi, his wife, in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is a classical exposition of the significance of  Self and the love between the individual and things! What is the secret behind the love expressed by one person to another? Is it the love for the body or for anything else? To these  questions of his spouse Maitreyi, Yajnavalkya answers with power and authority, the  cause for love and attachment between individuals and things! Calling his dear wife Maitreyi, Yajnavalkya announces that he is about to renounce that life and make a settlement between her and Katyayani. Maitreyi, more spiritually oriented, questions whether the whole earth filled with wealth would make her immortal. Yajnavalkya replies that she would be similar to the rich but wealth cannot make her immortal! Maitreyi wonders of what use wealth can be that  cannot make her immortal! She asks Yajnavalkya earnestly to tell her what he knew of immortality.  Pleased with her words, Yajnavalkya asks her to come and sit down and reflect on what he explains!

Yajnavalkya started by saying that “ It is not for the sake of the husband that the husband is dear, but for the sake of the Self is a husband dear. The wife is dear for the sake of the Self in her! The sons are dear only because of the Self, not because they are sons! Yajnavalkya continued and said that it is not for the sake of the wealth that the wealth is dear but for the sake of the Self is wealth dear! Brahminhood is dear for the sake of Self only! Kshatriyahood is dear for the sake of Self! All worlds are dear only because of the Self embedded in them!j Even the Gods are dear  because of the Self principle in them! All creatures are dear  for the sake of Self! Everything is dear  just for the sake of Self! Yajnavalkya instructs Maitreyi that the Self should be visualized in everything! “ It should be seen, heard of, reflected on and meditated upon.” When this is understood all this is known!

Yajnavalkya says that anyone who takes him to be different from the Self is rejected! Thus the Kshatriya, the worlds, the gods, and the creatures, reject one who takes them to be different from the Self! In other words, the Brahmin class, the Kshatriya class,  these worlds and Gods and creatures are that Self! Yajnavalkya further says that the drum and the sound it produces cannot be separated! Even so, the conch and it's sound! as well as the vina and it's sound are inseparable! Like the smoke that rises up when fire is kindled with damp fuel, from the great  Being is produced everything:  the four Vedas, history, legends,  arts, Upanishads, verses, aphorisms, glosses and commentaries!  They are all breathed forth from Him!

This great Being is the center of everything like the ocean for water, skin for touch,  nose for all smells, tongue for all tastes, eye for all forms, ear for all sounds, mind for all intentions,  heart for all arts, hands for all actions,  and the feet for all movements! When a lump of salt is put into water it dissolves and loses itself we cannot get it back but it tastes salty! Yajnavalkya tells Maitreyi that this infinite and boundless Being is a ‘mass of consciousness’. Emerging from these elements, it merges into them again! In its absence there is no more Individual consciousness!

Yajnavalkya completed his explanation and Maitreyi felt bewildered at his interpretation and detailed analysis. She was astonished at the statement that ‘when he is gone  there is no more consciousness.’ Yajnavalkya replied that there was nothing bewildering in his statement! It is the essence of wisdom. It is duality that causes one to smell another, see another, hear another, speak to another, think of another, and understand another! But when everything has become the  Self, then by what and whom should one smell and carry on other functions? By what  should one  know that by which all this is known asked Yajnavalkya and posed the question to his dear wife, Maitreyi! The  five elements, earth, water, fire, and the sun are sweet like honey for all beings and they are also sweet for the five elements! This alpervading radiant person is enshrined in oneself and is the seed , the Self!  Yajnavalkya thus establishes that the Lord and king of all beings is this very Self! “ As all the spokes are held together in the hub and the felly of the wheel, just so are all gods, all worlds, all breathing things, all these Individual selves are held together in the Self!! Duality should be eschewed and one should see the Self in everything in the world and nature!

START EARLY, DRIVE SLOWLY, AND REACH SAFELY

The world today is a fast world! Things are changing at a rapid rate! People have no time to stand and stare! Materialism has caught the society in its strong arms. There is no peace of mind as things are being done with hectic speed! Quick results are anticipated but proper groundwork is not prepared! Eleventh hour preparations are made that result in disappointment and failure! Instead of starting early preparations for the examination, the student burns midnight oil, and is not satisfied with the result! The office goer is no better! He leaves his home in hurry burry, is caught in the traffic jam and reaches office late only to be reprimanded by the authorities! There is a latent laziness embedded in the human psyche that does not allow him to act quickly! He takes things easily and casually and thinks that he can do things at the last minute! Time and tide waits for no man and moments and chances lost can never return! In spite of his knowledge, advancement in science and technology man’s basic inertia has not left him! Why is man tormented with this belated activity? Does he not know that time is precious and that he cannot afford to waste time?

“ Do not wait till old age to take to the path of spirituality. Start early, drive slowly, and reach safely.” exhorts Bhagawan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba! Life is a kind of journey that man has to undertake with his wife and children! It is compared to a dense jungle full of wild beasts! One has to be very careful in this journey full of ups and downs! To go through this wild forest many precautions have to be taken lest serious consequence may follow! Spirituality is the panacea for all the ills of society especially for the individual concerned. In this rat race for money, power and renown, people have totally forgotten the need for spirituality. Spirituality cannot be obtained through magic or mesmerism! It has to be cultivated slowly but steadily from the early years of life! We see our children hum and sing useless cine songs! What a waste of time! Why not they chant the Divine names and get the benefit? That is the stepping stone to enter into the spiritual world. Caught in the web of Samsara, man does not know how time flies! By the time he realizes the need for spirituality it is too late and he is in the evening of his life! His attachments are thick and he struggles to release himself from those shackles!

Therefore he has to start early! Chanting the name of God as many times as possible, visiting temples frequently, attending religious discourses, keeping company with saints and devotees,serving people in need and difficulties will go a long way in spiritual transformation! “The hand that serves is better than the lips that pray.” “ Service to Man is service to God.” Parents should see that their children are initiated into spirituality as early as possible! It will add strength to their personality! None need be ashamed of it. On an occasion Parvati Devi wanted to save a person from death and requested Lord Siva to shower His Grace on the man! The Lord said he would do so if he uttered His name on the point of death! But the man,unable to detach himself from his mundane connections said,” Ayyo” and breathed his last! It is extremely difficult to utter the name of God in the terminal stages of life.

It is not given to man to be spiritual by birth! It is very rarely that such births come into existence! A child Dhruva here or a child Prahlada there may be born! It is all because of the past Karma- the accumulated effect of the good deeds in the past! In this Kaliyuga we cannot hope to have children of that stature, bhakti and total surrender unto the lotus feet of the Lord!  They were born for Divine reason! By starting early on the path of spirituality our younger generation can weather all the storms and tempests of Samsara! The journey of life shall be driven slowly but steadily! There is no doubt about it. Man's material life mixed with spiritual sadhana shall lead him safely to the destination with renown and honor!

Of late humanity appears to have recognized the significance of spirituality! Many service organizations have sprouted all over the world! To an extent the world has realized the futility of  material life! There is too much of rationalism and too little of faith! Moral values are totally for gotten and the very existence of God is questioned! Man is disgusted with the rational and mechanical life that he leads today! A good dose of spiritualism is the dire need of the hour! The comforts and conveniences for the body have reached their acme but the Soul or Self enshrined  in every body is severely neglected! “ Ekah paratma bahu deha varty”--the Self or Paramatma is ONE and manifests in several bodies! This profound truth should never be forgotten! Spirituality helps man in realizing the identity of one being with the other! That is what is meant to by the statement, “ Start early, drive slowly, and reach safely.” Speed, uncontrolled, is always dangerous and occasionally fatal!

LESSONS OF LIFE

Man is under the impression that life is a bed of roses! He forgets that every rose has its thorn! He wants to live happily but oftentimes he is disappointed and distressed! His attachments drag him down! Caught in the relentless web of Maya and samsara he struggles to relieve himself from its shackles. However much he tries, it is impossible for him! Life is  mixture of what we call “dwandas”--the opposites, good and evil, right and wrong, sunshine and storm, night and day  

etc! One cannot enjoy the one without the other! A person walking in the scorching sun can  enjoy the cool shelter of the shade of the tree! Life cannot be grief throughout nor will it be a package of uninhibited luxury and happiness! Grief and happiness come alternately in the life of an individual. Man should conduct himself wisely in both the situations. He should never be elated in his success and prosperity nor be depressed and despondent in times of sorrow and crises! He should try to maintain balance and equanimity in all situations! But it is easier said than done!

What lessons should we learn from life? Is happiness and luxury the be all and end all of life? Too much indulgence in luxury, and carefree life is injurious to health. For the sake of momentary pleasures man has to pay the dear price of his health! It is said, “Bhoge rogabhayam”-- along with bhoga- luxurious life comes roga or disease and illness! Many people, in luxury, are unable to eat to their heart’s content because of diabetes and allied illnesses! A balanced but nutritious diet is enough for healthy existence! But unfortunately man does not bother about this important aspect! “ Grief is a friendly reminder, a good taskmaster, even a better teacher than joy.” says Bhagawan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Shakespeare echoes the same idea when he says, “Sweet are the uses of adversity.” lt was because of his grief that child Dhruva went to the forest to perform penance! He was prevented from sitting on the lap of his father Uttanapada! His step mother, who did this, was indirectly responsible for the spiritual advancement of the child. As he moved along with determination, Sage Narada met him and tried to dissuade him. But grasping the child’s imperturbable will, the sage gave him the   “Ashtakshari  mantra and blessed him! By his fierce penance, he pleased Lord Narayana and was granted more than what he wanted!

Arjuna’s grief knew no bounds as he stood before his own kith and kin and teachers! His mind rebelled against him and he put down his famous bow Gandiva and collapsed on his chariot! Instead of killing them he was ready to take to sanyasa or monkhood! He despised the bloody meal that he may enjoy at the end of the Kurukshetra war! But this ‘Vishada or grief  resulted in the Divine discourse the Bhagavad-Gita by the Lord who showed the path to Salvation! Krishna expatiates on the indestructibility of the Atma or Soul and the various aspects of karma, Bhakthi and Jnana! But for the grief of Arjuna, we would not have been blessed with the celestial discourse!

At the end of the Mahabharatha war and the total annihilation of the Kauravas, Kunti, mother of the Pandavas was much distressed! She was filled with grief as none among the sons of Dhritarashtra were alive. Krishna met her and asked her what boon she wanted from him. Kunti  was surprised and told the Lord that the the troubles one meets in the world are not real troubles. The pleasures and happiness in the world too are not real happiness! Man forgets God when he is at the height of his happiness! It is only when he is beset with dangers and difficulties that he turns his head above and prays to God! Kunti, therefore, requests Krishna to grant her difficult situations so that she may think and remember God always! Hence the value of grief is that it leads one to spirituality!

We know the great poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore! He was a Nobel Laureate, and an artist also!  He travelled very widely and delivered lectures. He was a dramatist and a short story writer. He was overwhelmed with grief when he lost his dear daughter. He was gloomy and retired himself to a secluded place for contemplation! It was in that place that he sought refuge in God and poured forth his intense feelings of grief which turned philosophical and later  became his magnum opus, the Gitanjali! Originally written in the Bengali language, it was translated into English by the poet himself! For this unpacking of his soul Tagore was awarded the Nobel prize for literature! In the hands of such great poets and philosophers grief turns into beautiful poetry or revealing philosophy

THYGARJA PANCHARATNAM ( Own Composition)

Sri Thyagaraja Pancharatnam, in five slokas, is a composition by professor Krishna Murthy on the occasion of the149th Aradhana of saint Sri Thyagaraja. It was placed at his lotus feet at the Samadhi in Tiruvaiyaru on January 9, 1996. The Slokas describe the spiritual and devotional fervour of the first of the Trinity of the composers in Carnatic music.

1.l Kaveri theera sumanohara vasa bhavyam jignasa bhava bhava bhara vidura chetam

  Ajnana meghajita Bhaskara thulya murtim Dyayamideva manisam Guru Thyagarajam!

  I meditate always on Sadguru Sri Thyagaraja who resides on the serene and heart capturing              banks of river Cauveri and who is spiritual to the utmost and whose mind and heart are far removed from the mundane world! He is the embodiment of the Sun who scatters away the dense clouds of ajnana or ignorance!

2. Sri Naradiya swara sagaralabdha jnanim Valmiki mouni vara data vara prasadam

   Karunya purna jaladhim kavi magraganyam Dhyayami devamanisam Guru Thyagarajam!

I meditate on Sadguru Thyagaraja who obtained knowledge of music through ‘Swararnava’ presented to him by Sage Narada! He is said to be the avatar of adikavi Valmiki, the author of the epic Ramayana. He is the ocean of compassion and the greatest among poets and composers!

3 Arama hema dhanalobha vihina vruttim Sri Rama taraka mahatmya vimoha chittam

  Sahitya gita rachanadbhuta sakthivantam Dhyayami deva manisam Guru Thyagarajam!

I meditate always on Sadguru Thyagaraja who is totally detached from mundane things like home, gold and other material things! He is totally immersed in and has indescribable love for the ‘Rama tharaka nama’! He is capable of composing wonderful songs with literary nuances and flourish!

4. Sri Rama bhakthi rasapana vimagna chittam Sri Ramanama japadhyana vilola netram

   Sri Rama pujana rathaika karam pavitram Dhyayami devamanisam Guru Thyagarajam!

I meditate always on Sadguru Thyagaraja who always drinks deep the elixir of the name of Sri Rama! He is for ever involved in chanting the name of Sri Rama with half opened eyes! His pure hands are always busy in worshipping his Lord Sri Rama!

5. Sri Ramachandra charanambuja matta bhringam Vairagya marga chara manasa baddha diksham

Devadi Deva prameswara bhakti yuktam Dhyayami Deva manisam Guru Thyagarajam!

I meditate always on Sadguru Thyagaraja who is drawn like the bee to the lotus feet of Sri Ramachandra! He has taken the vow to follow the path of Vairagya or non attachment! He is also an ardent devotee of Parmeswara, the God of all Gods!

THE STORY OF CHIRIKARI ( Mahabharatha)

The Santhi Parva of the great epic, Mahabharatha is a compendium of political sagacity and various other aspects of Dharma which humanity has to follow! The grand old man Bhishma counsels the eldest of the Pandavas, Dharmaraja on how a king should conduct himself and rule the kingdom. Dharmaraja raises innumerable doubts and patiently Bhisma answers and clears every one of his doubts. There are many acts one has to do after obtaining permission from elders but at the same time some mandates, because of their cruel nature, have to be disobeyed! Bhishma has been the ideal guru and guide to the Pandavas in such critical and difficult situations. Dharmaraja asks Bhisma as to how he should decide whether the task is to be done or neglected and given up. Should the given task be executed immediately or delayed? Pleased with the genuine doubts of the eldest of the Pandavas, Bhishma narrates, as illustration, the story of Chirakari, of the clan of the great sage Angirasa.

Sage Gautama had a number of children and the youngest was called Chirakari. He was very clever and never committed mistakes. He was also highly intelligent. Whenever a task was given he would deliberate for long before he began the work. He would contemplate well on the task and then only start his work. He would sleep for long some times and also remain wakeful for many hours. He takes a long time in finishing his work. It is mainly because of this quality that he was named Chirakari! But others mistook his delay, procrastination and sluggishness and thought he was lazy and evil minded! On one occasion, when sage Gautama was away, Indra, king of Gods, fascinated by the celestial beauty of Gautama’s wife Ahalya,  outraged her modesty! Gautama was infuriated at this mean and bestial act of indra. He was furious with his wife Ahalya. He came to Chirakari and in a fit of uncontrollable anger said, “ Kill your mother” and immediately left for the forest!

Chirakari was in a dilemma and in a very tight corner too! To satisfy his father he said yes but as it was his nature he began to discuss within himself the pros and cons of the mandate of his revered father. He wondered how he could carry out his father’s order and at the same time not kill his other. Father should be implicitly obeyed and it is the Dharma! But he has to save his mother! How can he be free from sin? Killing not only a woman but the mother can never bring him good! Parents are the source of this physical body. Father is considered as Guru! “ Pitru Devo bhava” says the Veda. He has to be obeyed according to the Veda! Father brings up the son and looks after all his needs. It is said that if the father is pleased, the Gods too will be pleased. Father should be very happy about his son and his actions. That is the atonement for all the sin of the son! Chirakari thus thought about his father and his greatness and his duty to his father.

Then he began contemplating on the significance of the mother. She is the repository of happiness for all who suffer. She is first God for every creature. The Vedas declare her as the first God! “Matru devo bhava”. Whatever may be the age and condition of the son, he is a child for the mother and she protects him. The loss of the mother is irreparable and the world becomes empty for him. There is nothing equal to mother’s love. She is called ‘dhatri’ as she bears him and ‘ janani’ as she delivers him! She is also called ‘amba’ as she is responsible for the growth of his body! She is the other body of her son! She always prefers a son to a daughter! She is very happy at the mere thought of conceiving a  child! The husband is called ‘bharta’ because he bears the burden of family life! Husband is as sacred as God for the wife. It is her duty to please him for ever! By constantly doing so she becomes a ‘pativrata’! In contemplating the importance of his parents and their merits, Chirakari spent a lot of time but could not come to a definite  conclusion regarding the order of his father!

Meanwhile Sage Gautama felt ashamed of his instant anger and felt distressed and depressed at the order he gave his son Chirakari. He thought that Chirakari would have killed his mother as he was an obedient son. His tapas and knowledge of Dharma made him repent for his action   and he broke into uncontrollable tears! He strongly felt that Chirakari should not kill his mother!

He felt again and again that Chirakari should save him from terrible sin by his delay in committing the act! He blessed his son Chirakari in the hope that he would not have killed his mother. In fact Chirikari had not decided whether he should kill his mother or not!  She was alive when Sage Gautama returned overwhelmed with grief! Chirakari fell at the feet of his father and tried to pacify him! Sage Gautama saw his wife Ahalya with her bent head and full of modesty! He lifted his son Chirakari and  hugged him closely!  He wished Chirakari long life and prosperity! But Sage Gautama did not accept and receive his wife Ahalya! What lesson should we learn from this story? We should deliberate deeply before we make friends. Before leaving our friends we should again think deeply! Friends made in such a way shall last for long. In loving others, being proud, treachery, sin and other evil things delay is the best! It is of paramount importance for man to think deeply before he takes any action!

PRIMACY OF SELF (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad)

The sole aim and purpose of all Upanishads is to describe the Brahman or the Absolute soul. One of the definitions of the Upanishads is, “ Upanishaditi Brahma Vidya". All Upanishads starting from the Isavasya Upanishad proclaim the various aspects of the Brahman or the universal self that manifests in all creatures of the entire universe. Brahman is none other than the self enshrined in the innermost recess of our hearts. The Soul or the Self has to be realized and it is the purpose for which God has created man! But unfortunately, encircled in the cycle of Samsara, man has totally forgotten the purpose  of his life. The nature of Self or Soul is described by Lord Krishna to his disciple Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra as “ nainam chindanti sastrani nainam dahati pavaka..”It cannot be cut by sastras or burnt by fire; air cannot dry it up nor water wet it”. It is indestructible! The pity with man is that he identifies the body with the Soul! He doesn't realize that the Soul is different from the body! All his sufferings are  due to this mistaken identity!

Like the other Upanishads, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad proclaims the significance of realizing the Self. In one stretch it declares that “ This Self is dearer than a son, dearer than wealth, dearer than all else, and is the innermost”. Narayana Suktam describes the exact position of Paramatma in our body! “ Tasyas sikhaya madhye Paramatma vyavasthtaha”. The Upanishad says that a person who speaks of anything else than the Self as dear shall lose things that he holds dear! The mandate of the Upanishad is that “ One should worship the Self alone as dear!” The object of his love shall not perish if if he worships the Self as dear. The ultimate end is the knowledge of the Brahman by which one attains everything. The Upanishad asserts that, “ in the beginning this was Brahman. It knew itself only as, “I am Brahman". Therefore it became all.

Ananda Valli of Taittiriya Upanishad declares, “ Aum Brahma vidapnoti param tadesha bhuykuta” One who realizes the Brahman becomes the Brahman itself. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad points out that all Gods who are aware of this would become the Brahman itself. Rishi Vamadeva, realizing this, knew himself as, “ I was Manu, I was the sun too”. Who ever realizes that he is Brahman becomes all! None including the Devas can prevent this as the Brahman has become their self.The Upanishad continues and points out that the worshipper and the deity he worships are one and the same, not two different entities! He is similar to animals to Gods. Like animals that serve man, he serves the Devas! The deities do not want men to know this because they want the service of men.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad hits the nail on the head by saying that, “ anyone who departs from the world without realizing his own Self, it being unknown, does not protect him”. Like the person who has not studied the Vedas is unprotected, the unrealized individual is prone to danger! All actions of such person are bound to perish says the Upanishad! “ One should meditate on the Self as one’s true world. If a man meditates on the Self only as his true world his work does not perish, for out of that very Self he creates whatsoever he desires.”

How far is the recommendation of the Upanishad relevant in this Kaliyuga and modern civilization? Tremendous changes have taken place from the Vedic and Upanishadic periods.Civilizations and societies have appeared and disappeared. Religion, rituals, faith and belief are at their lowest ebb. Rationalism has usurped their place. Scientific advancement and an upsurge of technology has almost brought an end to what little belief and faith people have in the Vedas, rituals and contemplation on the Brahman or the Absolute Self! People have no time to think of the Upanishads and the Self! It is only a rare aspirant here and there that attempts to think of the Self under an acharya in some ashram! Materialism and mundane interests have scuttled everything philosophical and based on the Vedas and the Upanishads! We only wish that humanity should revisit the Vedas and the Upanishads to reap the benefit of peace of mind for all.

BRIHADARANYAKA UPANISHAD

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is considered one of the principal Upanishads, the oldest Upanishadic scriptures of Hinduism. It is the tenth in the ‘muktika’ or Canon of one hundred eight Upanishads. It is estimated to have been composed about 700 BCE! It is a part of Satapatha Brahmana which itself is a part of Shukla Yajur Veda. The name of the Upanishad is significant and self explanatory! The word ‘Brihad’ means ‘great’. ‘Aranyaka means ‘ wilderness or forest’. Thus the Upanishad means “Great Wilderness or Forest”. It is credited to the ancient  sage Yajnavalkya and later refined by a number of ancient scholars. It is found in the fourteenth Kanda of Satapatha Brahmana. It has six chapters divided into three sections--Madhu Kanda, Muni Kanda or Yajnavalkya Kanda and Khila Kanda. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is a treatise on Atman, Soul, or Self including passages on metaphysics, ethics and  yearning for knowledge that influenced various Indian religions! It is pre Buddhist in time frame and commented upon by Adi Sankara, Sri Ramanuja and Sri Madhwa Acharyas!

Here the Individual concerned is the horse of the Aswamedha Sacrifice, the object of

consecration. The aim of the Upanishad is to convert every act into a mode of contemplation. One method is to transform the ritual technique into an inward contemplation of the spirit. The dawn is the head of the horse because it is the beginning of the body.The eyes are compared to the Sun as the Sun is the eye of the day. The cosmic wind, the Air that pervades, is the prana within. This is identified with the air outside. The mouth of the horse is Agni - Vaiswanara, identified with the cosmic fire representing the energy of all things manifested outwardly as the fire principle. The body is the entire process of the year. As the time has divisible parts so the body has also divisible parts and the two are identified. The sky's the back because it is on the top, above the body. The Atmosphere is the belly of the horse because it is hollow. The earth is the hoofs on which the animal stands.

The sides of the horse are the quarters of the heavens compared to the intermediary quarters. The seasons are the limbs of the horse. Like the year with seasons, the body is constituted of various limbs. The stars in the sky are compared to the whitish bones spread out in all parts of the body. The clouds are the flesh of the body of the horse. The sand is the half digested food in a seed condition in the stomach of the horse. The rivers are the arteries and veins!

The spleen and liver are mountain like elevations in the body within. Trees and plants may be  Compared to hairs of the body. Sun rise is the fore part of the body while sunset is the hind part. Horse’s yawning is similar to lightning. Its making water is like the rainfall. Its neighing is the principle of speech! The description of the cosmos as horse is entirely symbolic and highly complicated to conceive! Similarly the rear part is compared to the night and the other side is the western ocean. Thus the horse is enveloped by ritualistic elements. Just as the parts in a sacrifice are associated with the element in the sacrifice which is the horse, the parts of the world or the universe are to be conceived as associated with it as parts of the whole!

According to Sankara the horse mentioned here is Prajapati or the Creator of the cosmos! It is not merely the animal in Sacrifice. As the vehicle of the Devas it is called ‘hayo’ and called ‘vaji’ when it is the vehicle of Gandharvas! As a carrier of demons it is named ‘Arva’ while it is called  ‘aswa’ when it carries human beings! The substance of all these is ocean. Sankara says that the ocean is the cosmic soul, not the ocean with water. The Universal Soul is the basis of the world as the horse is the basis of the entire sacrifice. Every activity--name, form, action is some thin like a wave in the ocean. Just as the waves are the ocean, actions are the universal Soul! So the universe or the universal soul is the ocean! The greatest friend of man is God. He is the support, ultimate resort and refuge!

MODERN MAN

It is amazing to discover the artistic and aesthetic Creation of the Supreme Being! How many creatures have been brought into existence by the Divine hand! Despite the enormity of numbers, each creature is dissimilar and different from the other! How is this possible? The trick is known to God Himself and not to anyone else! It is believed that all objects in the world fall under four categories each containing twenty one lakh species! Those born out of eggs like birds, snakes(21 lakh) are called ‘Andaja’.Those that come out of sweat or perspiration like the scorpion, bugs, lice, are termed ,Swedaja(21 lakh). Those that come out of earth, piercing its surface like trees, hills are named 'Udbhija’(21lakh). Those that come out of mother’s womb after a specific period like human beings and animals (21lakh) are called Jarayuja.

It is only the human being who has the power of discrimination between good and evil, pure and impure things, the real and the unreal, the eternal and the ephemeral. But unfortunately this rare power is very sparingly used! This results is his misery, suffering and despondency! What are the qualities of worldly, materialistic men? There are two classes of men, those only in name and those who thirst after God. The latter are the awakened souls. Those who are mad after  ‘women and gold’ are ordinary men, men in name only!

According to Sri Ramakrishna different kinds of creatures have donned the garb of humanity!  “Some are tearing wolves, others are ferocious bears and some again are cunning foxes or venomous snakes though they all look like men”. Just like the sieve that rejects the fine grains and keeps the coarse ones, the evil reject the good and retain the evil. A few create attachment somehow or other and are bound by it. They do not like or want to be free. A person without a family or relatives to look after takes a cat or monkey or a dog or a bird  for a pet and fondles it. The boy is happy as long as he is free from all responsibilities. But soon after marriage burdened with heavy  duties of family life all his joy disappears. Dejection, care and anxiety are writ large on his face! Is it possible to remain an unbridled boy always? Ordinary man can never resist the temptation for women and gold despite his innumerable sorrows and sufferings.

The worldly man is anti religious. He scoffs at prayers and religious societies. The heart of a sinful man is like curly hair that cannot be straightened. The worldly man is not affected by the advice of the pious like a nail that cannot pierce a stone. Forgetfulness, despite his intense suffering, is the characteristic of the worldly man. After his wife dies he marries again; his child dies but he forgets it soon. Parents, impoverished by the marriage of their daughter once again have children!The worldly man is a fish out of water! He is unfit  for holy and religious service. He will not be interested in spiritual quest as his past karma will have a stranglehold on his activities! His prarabdha karma will come into effect! Once a yogi asked the king to sit beside him and meditate! The king refused and said that even if he remains with the Yogi he cannot meditate. His royalty and desire for glory and enjoyment cannot leave him! It may happen that a kingdom may arise in the forest as he is destined to enjoy!

Worldly persons perform pious and charitable acts expecting earthly rewards. It is useless to preach religion to  such people! Theirs is ‘Purana Vairagya’ forgetting things as soon as they involve themselves in routine work!  Like a fly that sits on an unclean sore and next on offerings to God, the mind of the worldly man rests on religious and spiritual thought for a while but soon returns to mundane and material things! Modern man is strongly rooted in things ephemeral and fails to see the reality! He is enveloped in the web of Maya or illusion that makes him consider the real as unreal and the unreal as the real! Until he understands this aspect of worldly life he cannot expect salvation or liberation! But a firm belief and faith in God and an earnest attempt to turn spiritual shall surely save him from total doom! Sri Ramakrishna has rightly warned the present generation so that man can mend and save himself from doom

WHERE IS GOD?

Man's purpose on this terra firma is to realize God! For this purpose he follows various methods! religion is one of the methods but unfortunately it has created division among its followers! Instead of changing man for the better, it has divided them and has brought in violence! A few devotees visit temples and pray for realization! A few more chant the name their chosen God and wait for His vision! Quite a few retire to forests far away from the madding crowd and meditate under the greenwood trees to know God! Some even inhabit the Himalayan ranges thinking it would be easier to realize God! God is omnipresent, omnipotent and Omniscient! He is beyond words and thought and manas! “ yato vacho nivartante aprapya manasa saha” declares the Veda! He has no birth but manifests in many forms, “ ajayamano bahudha vijayate”. God is within ourselves firmly enshrined in our hearts! We need not go elsewhere to find God. We have to turn our looks inward and identify that eternal spirit who is Satchidananda Svarupa! This is exactly what we fail to do. Having butter in hand we search for ghee or clarified butter! Where is this eternal Spirit inside? How to distinguish it? None has tried very seriously about this perennial search. The Veda has described clearly where effulgent God resides in our body!

Narayana Suktam, a hymn in Yajur Veda, considered as an appendix to the Purusha Sukta, is in the thirteenth anuvaka of the tenth chapter of Taittiriya Upanishad! As it is the nature of the Sukta to glorify the Supreme God Narayana, it extols the illimitable attributes of the Lord In various ways. He is the one with thousand heads and eyes! He is the universal witness for everything that happens. He transcends the world, is eternal, and the very embodiment of the world! He destroys the ignorance of people! He is Indestructible, Lord of all jivas! He is the inner spirit of the entire universe! He pervades in and out of  every object in the world! He is ‘Ananta, Avyaya,! Knows all! Yet He is untouched by the cycle of Samsara! I meditate on that Narayana in my heart which is like the lotus bud turned upside down! The position of the spiritual or adhyatmika heart  is being described now. This heart is situated below the neck about twelve inches above the navel! This is the unique dwelling place of the Supreme Spirit, God! This area appears to be enveloped by a series of dazzling flames radiating light!

This adhyatmika heart, is dangling down enveloped by nerves on all four sides! Within that heart is a subtle space! It is in this space the entire universe is situated!  At the center thereof  is a fire that burns brightly and spreads on all four sides! This fire is the Prana, that takes in food and  distributes it to various parts of the body! This fire is ever new, strong enough and bereft of birth and death. The rays of this  Prana Agni-- the fire of Prana criss cross all over the body upward and downward always! The body temperature from head to foot is maintained because of the movement of Prana Agni! In the center of this dazzling fire, there is a flame, of  the size of an atom, rising upward.

This unique flame of fire shines with coruscating brilliance like the flash of lightning from among the dark dense clouds! It is like the thorn on the grain particle and golden in color! The paramatma is thus enshrined in the center of that flame of fire and very well established! He is Brahma the Creator, Siva the destroyer and Vishnu the protector! He is indestructible! He shines with His own effulgence radiating light all over the universe! There is none superior to Him!! Our Vedic seers, sages and saints had explored and conducted research on the existence of God  within the body through intense tapas and meditation! The result of such unique penance has been brought out by them in the Narayna Suktham!

Thus the presence of God who manifests in every creature on earth is not outside! He dwells in our own heart. it is meaningless to search for Him outside or elsewhere The bhakta or the aspirant has to withdraw himself into the inner recesses of his heart, meditate on Him and realize the Divine! But most of us forget this fact and go out on pilgrimage to holy places to see God! If only man is able to mediate on the Supreme Reality from his own home, God shall surely favor him! Right methods like an intense desire to realize Him, sincerity, total surrender unto His lotus feet are essential for compelling the Supreme Spirit to stand before us! Narayana Suktam, “ Sahasra Seersham devam viswaksham visva sambhavam……..and Mantra pushpam- “ Yopampuspam Veda…, pushpavan prajavan pasumanbhavati……are recited at the end of  every shodasa upachara puja! It stops at mere recitation alone! Not many understand the meaning of the Suktham and mechanically recite it at the end of the worship! Let us try to understand what we recite and act according to what the great Suktas expect us to do!!

ON SUPERSTITION

India is a land of unity in diversity. It is also a multi cultural, multi religious, and multilingual nation given to different customs

in religion, beliefs, customs and habits! Every part of India has its distinct identity and set of beliefs rational or irrational! it is interesting to peep into some of the beliefs held by the society from time Immemorial. The beliefs that society holds without any scientific basis is generally called superstition. Superstition is the outcome of lack of education according to many. But in India even educated people believe in them. What is this superstition?   Any belief or practice that is irrational and arises from ignorance, a misunderstanding of science or causality is termed as superstition. It entails a positive belief in fate or magic or fear of the unknown. It also refers to religious beliefs or actions of irrationality.

The word superstition was first used in English in the fifteenth century. Derived from the verb  “super stare" it meant ‘ to stand upon, survive’. It can also be interpreted as standing over a thing in amazement or awe. Fear of Gods was what the Romans meant by superstition. Superstition has become  a widespread social problem. Some beliefs and practices are considered superstitious by a few while others do not call them so. The gap between what is  superstition and what is not, is very wide. Superstition is not confined to one field of activity. It encompasses almost all activities of man and his society. It is incredible but a hard fact that many in our own times, reputed scholars, thinkers, scientists, professionals, business magnates and of course, politicians are the victims of superstitions! These beliefs have taken a very deep root in society from ages and it is practically impossible to get rid of them despite any scientific onslaught!

Sati, the practice of the wife immolating herself on the pyre of the husband was an ancient custom. Rajaram Mohan Roy fought against this and today it it is almost extinct. But off and on we hear some isolated cases in Rajasthan! In South India too much of importance is given to Rahukalam presided over by Dragon Rahu a malefic! Astrology is the reason behind this superstition. Another belief is that Mars, another malefic planet, is detrimental to marriage and conjugal relationship. Many marriages  are cancelled because of this fear! It is believed that snakes drink milk. Many snakes were forced to drink milk and they died. The belief that Lord Vinayaka idol drinks milk was disproved by scientific experiment! To see peacock before a journey is considered auspicious! People believe that planetary position at the time of their birth define their fate!  NASA says that Astrology is pseudoscience! There are others that proclaim it is one of the Vedangas. Cat crossing one’s way is bad luck. Adding one rupee for a gift sum is auspicious! (Rs 21, 101,,501)

Mother puts a black mark on the baby's face to Ward off evil eye! It is again bad luck when a person sneezes before starting anything! Widows are considered inauspicious! No haircut on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It brings bad luck! Shaking legs invites bad luck! If the right eye twitches it is good for the male but bad for the female! If the left twitches it is bad for the male and good for the female! Another practice prevalent in society is to take bath after cremation and funerals. It is believed that all negative energies shall be warded off if done so!  Yet another belief is that you should never sleep stretching your legs towards south that being the direction of the God of Death, Yamadharmaraja! People are afraid of the Banyan and peepal trees as

they are believed to be the abode of malevolent spirits! We usually find a large number of devotees in temples dedicated to Hanuman and God Lakshmi Narasimha. Some of them are possessed and go on turning and twisting their heads ceaselessly! The belief is that they would be free from the tormenting Spirits by worshipping these deities!

Many more beliefs and superstitions are prevalent even today despite the wonderful advancement of science and technology! These beliefs and practices are ingrained in society from time Immemorial and it is practically impossible for anyone to remove them! It is the unshakable faith that they have on these beliefs that compels them to follow those practices! Thus science, knowledge, and rationalism do not come into the picture where there is implicit faith! Science wants proof and rational explanation! Superstition can never prove itself through scientific experiment or explanation! Thus in our modern age, science, rationalism, faith and superstition coexist without interfering with the other! The scientist and rationalist calls the superstitious and the ignorant fools while the latter calls the scientist and the rationalist a faithless creature! The battle between science and religion and faith is as old as earth! We cannot avoid it until there's a major change in the mind of Man!

ON SADHANA

“ Do not talk too much. First do some Sadhana, First do, then be, then you can talk.” advises Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba! What is this Sadhana? The word Sadhana means any kind of achievement. Man is born to achieve something in his lifetime. If he merely eats, sleeps and reproduces and dies there is no difference between him and the animals and other creatures God has created! But is it possible for every person to achieve something? Yes, it is not impossible. Mostly, people are contented to lead an ordinary family life and are satisfied with the daily routine! They are not ready to exert themselves and take risks which is the most important basic necessity for Sadhana. Sadhana can be in any field of activity-- physical, mental or spiritual. One can be an excellent sports person globally. He can be an intellectual par excellence renowned worldwide. He can even be an elevated spiritual giant giving solace to hundreds of commoners! We have Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Abdul Kalam, our ex president and sri  Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda and many others as brilliant examples.

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Sadhana should be “ towards creating a sense of inner fulfilment where there is no need to lean on anyone any more” says Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev. It is for inner fulfilment only, not to please anyone else. Our life itself is considered a Sadhana, a yajna, with all our actions,mental, physical, constituting a sacrifice and weathering the storms and vicissitudes of our existence in the world!? Hard work and  humility are essential for any Sadhana especially spiritual Sadhana. The aim of Sadhana should not be the satisfaction of egoism! While Sadhana in physical, mental and social fields is very trying and difficult, spiritual Sadhana is much more challenging and cannot be taken up by ordinary mortals! It requires much more grit and determination! According to Sri Ravisankar Sadhana is the real currency that you can use any where. Meditation makes our minds sharp and alert. Chanting of the mantras ignite our souls like candles. “ There is no shortcut to God. Sadhana must be performed regularly and with devotion...The peace and love of God will overflow out of your heart and encourage others to move on the right path”, says Mata Amurutanandamayi!

Quality of life and growth suffers if no active investment is made in spiritual life. According to J Krishna Murthy “There is great happiness in not wanting, in not being something, in not going somewhere”. If we are qualified to receive, everything that belongs to us shall surely come to us. Sadhana is a kind of tapas or penance! One accepts all trouble and inconvenience for a higher purpose. Maximum effort is absolutely essential for Realization. Sadhana, according to Sri Ramakrishna is of there kinds. The first is of the nature of birds. The second is of the nature of monkeys. The third is of the nature of ants. The bird, attracted to the fruit, comes with speed and pecks at the fruit! In that jerk the fruit falls down and the bird is unable to eat it. The violent  efforts of devotees who rush with their devotional practices end in failure and frustration! The monkey, with the fruit in it's mouth, jumps from one branch to the other and the fruit falls down often! The aspirant or Sadhaka sometimes is distracted by the changing events of life and is likely to stray away from the devotional path!

The ant, on the other hand, moves slowly and steadily towards the grain of food and carries it to the hole and enjoys it comfortably! The best course of Sadhana is that of the ant where there is  sureness of enjoying the fruit! With implicit trust and faith in the words of our holy saints and sages, the Sadhaka has to install God in his heart with the bait of devotion! The easiest way to realize God is through devotion! But to be soaked in devotion and pure unalloyed love for God is the most difficult thing on earth! It is given only to the blessed few and not to ordinary mortals! One has to wait with infinite patience. Spiritual practices are absolutely essential for self realization. But with intense faith and repetition of God’s name with devotion Sadhana becomes easier!

Among the Siddhas, (perfect men) it is said, there are two kinds --Sadhana Siddhas and Kripa Siddhas. The former attain perfection, Sadhana, through religious discipline while the latter gain perfection purely through Divine Grace! The former have to toil like the farmer in raising the crop by irrigating the field, cutting canals and exerting himself for a good crop! The Kripa Siddhas are more fortunate and blessed since rain pours and floods their fields! Kripa Siddhas are saved from all the labor as Divine Grace is showered on them freely! Such blessed souls are very difficult to find in this Kaliyuga!