ON LOOKING BACK

“Time and Tide waits for no man”! Time swallows up the entire universe says a poet! “Kalo jagag bhaksahkaha”! The great Krita, Treta, and Dwapara yugas have vanished an we are in this dirty Kaliyuga eking out our mortal material existence! Civilizations and cultures are buried in the womb of earth! The age of maharshis, saints,and yogis who made our country great are no more!  Phenomenal changes have occurred in society both good and bad! Science and technology has reached the sky and has gone into the space beyond! Nature too

has changed beyond recognition! But human nature has not yet changed! He is the the same bundle of emotions and passions, a victim of the six inveterate inner adversaries, the 'arihadvargas’! He is unable to control his anger and desire! He is covetous. He is too much attached to his own people and things! He is not without pride and arrogance! Above all he does not love others; he hates them! He has become narrow minded and the center of egoism! Morals and ethics are things of the past, no more relevant today! With all these traits man calls himself civilized!  He is blown off by superficialities and misses the essence of existence!

The old order changes yielding place to new! Year 2017 is gone! New year 2018 has dawned!  This is a regular sequence. Is the new year going to be better? We do not know the future! Was the past year good? Different opinions are aired by people. People who sacrificed their lives for the country are no more! We have politicians who care more for themselves than the nation!  Politics has become a good business indulged in by the rich! Our Legislatures and Parliament have more crorepatis and lakhiers than the common man! The ordinary citizen has absolutely no chance to stand and win elections! Votes are purchased and the winner gloats over his victory! Power, position, and authority are misused and abused for selfish purposes! And yet we call ourselves a democratic nation! The basic tenets of democracy are violated according to convenience!

The poor have become poorer! Many villages have no proper roads and electricity and other infrastructure! Successive governments have failed in alleviating the distress of the farmers and the common man! Seventy years after Independence, the life of the citizen has not changed much! Different political parties governed the country and India made great strides in development and economy! But year 2017 gave rise to a few scams that shook the entire nation like the 2G Scam and Coalgate scam and others! These scams indicate the corruption of the mind of the people in authority who unashamedly want to derive personal benefits much against the principles of democracy!The country witnessed border violations by Pakistan our unfriendly neighbor! Many incidents of violence occurred in different parts of the nation! Pakistan continues to bleed India through its terrorists while India bears it with phenomenal patience, occasionally giving a befitting reply!

Hydra headed corruption has taken a deep root in India and though every government has been saying it will root it out, corruption is increasing! First step in arresting corruption and tainted Black money has been taken by the present Modi  government through Demonetization shaking the whole hoarders out of their complacency! Much money was traced and the source of money for terrorism was cut! Though an initial shock, it was accepted by the people at large! This was followed by GST, a tax reform replacing various other taxes! It will take time to settle down! Our Prime Minister visited many foreign countries and established very good rapport with countries like America, China, Russia and France and Britain! India as a growing economy is greatly respected than in the previous years!

Let us not ponder over the past! Let us look at the future! Let the new year usher in a new era of peace, plenty and prosperity for the people! Corruption should come down though it may not be totally wiped out! Farmers and the man in the street should be happy.  Food, clothing and shelter, the basic amenities should be provided by the government Properly! Unemployment should come down! Prices of essential commodities should be controlled! Politicians should do their duties with responsibility and accountability! Forgery, fraud, violence, abduction, murder and rape should disappear! Man should look within himself and do what his inner voice instructs! Morality and ethics should be given importance and strictly followed! Women must be respecte and treated properly! Let us hope the year 2018 shall make all these and many more good things possible and make life easy and worth living for the common man!!!

VAIKUNTA EKADASI

The King of all Ekadasis coming in a calendar year is the Vakunta Ekadasi every year! The Sukla paksha Ekadasi during the Dhanurmasa coinciding with the Tamil month Margazhi is called Vaikunta Ekadasi. This Ekadasi is specially important to Vaishnavites and elaborate arrangements are made to celebrate it in all the Vaishnavite temples in South India! Lakhs of people throng to Sri Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati and the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in SriRangam in Tamil Nadu! It is staunchly believed by all devotees that the Vaikunta dwara-- the gate of Lord’s  inner sanctum is opened on this day! This Ekadasi is also called “ Mukkoti Ekadasi” and people who observe fast and pass through through the” Vaikunta Dwaram” in every temple, specially arranged, are assured of a place in Swarga or heaven! ‘Parana’ means breaking the fast! It is done usually on the morning of the next day after sunrise within the Dwadasi hours. Generally Ekadasi is a day for fasting and observed by the Saivites and particularly by the Vaishnavites and Madhwas. The belief of passing through the Vaikunta Dwara, opened once in a year on this day, makes Vaikunta Ekadasi very significant and special! Large crowds wait throughout the previous night to gain entry into the gate first to get salvation or moksha!

Ekadasi is not without its legend! King Rukmangada was an ardent devotee Lord Vishnu. His wife was Sandhyavali.The king ruled the country righteously and treated his subjects as his own children! His kingdom was a picture of peace, plenty and prosperity! King Rukmangada was blessed with a son, Dharmangada. The devotion of the king for Lord Vishnu became almost obsessive and he followed the Ekadasi fasting as a religious regimen! In his passion for the Ekadasi Vrata, he ordered that all citizens in his kingdom should follow the Vrata without fail! In their love and regard for the king and his exemplary bhakthi, the people obeyed the order of the king and days rolled on in this fashion for several years! The Devas became jealous of king Rukmangada and his people! “How can the king and his people accumulate so much of punya' by performing the Ekadasi Vrata?”, they thought! They wanted to test the king if his devotion to the Lord is genuine or not. Will he stick to perform the Vrata under the most difficult conditions?

A Divine damsel of bewitching beauty, Mohini was sent to king Rukmangada with the avowed purpose of diverting his attention from the Ekadasi Vrata. “ Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold” Who has not fallen a victim to the guiles and gestures of exceptionally beautiful women?  Was it not the case with the great sage Viswamitra? She came with all her glamour! There was love at first sight! The king was head over heels in love with her forgetting his dear queen Sandhyavali! He wanted to marry her. But she would not accept his hand easily! After dodging him for many days, she laid down certain conditions for marrying the king. She said that the king should fulfil every one of her wishes. He  should not refuse any of her desires. If he were to reject any of her wishes she would leave him and return to her place! In his love and lust for her, king Rukmangada accepted her conditions and days passed on smoothly for some time! Queen Sandhyavali was shocked at the conduct of her own husband. Mohini was eagerly awaiting an opportunity for striking!

The chance came to her presently! Ekadasi came and the king became very busy with arrangements for the Vrata. He was about to fast and sit in prayer and meditation as usual. Mohini’s moment had come and she insisted that he should not follow the Ekadasi Vrata! She wanted to spend time with him! The king was  shocked and surprised at this curious wish of his paramour! He tried to dissuade her in insisting but in vain . He wasn't ready to give up the Ekadasi Vrata nor was he prepared to lose Mohini, his darling damsel! He was in dilemma. But his devotion to the Lord won and he said he would do anything to satisfy Mohini except giving up the Ekadasi Vrata! Now there was another option for Mohini! Her object was to create a situation where the king should be in a very tight corner! She thought for a while and quickly replied. She wanted the king to kill his son Dharmangada if she is to stay with him!

King Rukmangada had to pay a very heavy price for his love for this lady! However he had no choice! He could not waver about his devotion to the Lord and the Ekadasi Vrata! He told the matter to his dear queen Sandhyavali and his son Dharmangada! The queen broke into inconsolable tears! Dharmangada remained calm and composed! It was his duty to obey the king, his father! Without any hesitation, he asked his father to behead him for the sake of saving the Ekadasi Vrata which was a regular event all the years! He made himself ready for the sacrifice! Mohini was a silent witness to all these scenes before her! At last the king picked up courage. His body quivered and the hands trembled and he felt very weak at the thought of beheading his own dear child!

There was suspense all around! People were aghast at what was going to happen--the king killing his own son! Dharmangada sat down bending his head and expecting the sword to come down upon him at any moment! Rukmangada took the sword in his trembling hand to bring it down on the bent neck of his son! And at that very moment the miracle happened! Lord Vishnu appeared before king Rukmangada and complimented him on his faith and devotion! He revealed that all that had happened was a test for his devotion and that the king had come out unscathed from the crucial experience! Dharmangada was crowned as the King and both the king and his queen Sandhyavali  went to heaven by the grace of Lord Vishnu! Though  legendary, the story underlines the significance of fasting on the Ekadasi day! The day is very dear to  Lord Vishnu and those who fast on the day and meditate on the Lord are sure to get salvation! Fasting for two days in a month is sure to keep the person sound in body and mind!! Why not we follow this and keep ourselves fit?

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JANAMEJAYA'S REVENGE

Sage Saunaka wanted to know how the great king Parikshit died. Sage Sutha narrates the story as recalled by the ministers of king Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit! Parikshit was a king who ruled the country righteously. He considered his subjects as his own children. There were none who disliked or hated him. He was dear to Lord Krishna. He was the son of Abhimanyu and Uttara. Despite all his noble qualities Parikshit had an obsession for hunting! On one occasion he chased a deer and wounded it. It disappeared into the dense forest but the king went after it. There he saw a sage and enquired if he saw the deer. The sage, Samika, did not reply as he observed the vow of silence! Tired and hungry, king Parikshit  grew angry and lifting a dead snake nearby with the end of his bow, put it round the neck of the sage in meditation! sage Samika was not at all perturbed nor did he speak a word! Sage Samika’s son, Srungi, equally great and powerful, grew furious at the sight of his father wearing a dead snake around his neck! Immediately, he cursed that the person that had done this mean act shall die within seven days bitten by the snake Takshaka, the deadliest of snakes!

Information of the terrible curse was given to king Parikshit and he was advised to be cautious. The king was much distressed at the sin he committed in throwing the dead snake around the sage’s neck. In the meanwhile he made all security arrangements to avoid death by snake bite. Six days passed by. Nothing happened. On the seventh day, sage Kasyapa was on his way to see the king. Takshaka, the terrible snake spotted the sage and enquired where he was going and why. He replied that he was going to see the king who would be bitten by the snake Takshaka! He would resuscitate the king by his wonderful power and save him! Takshaka was  shell shocked! He wanted to test the sage’s prowess and with his venom reduced a huge tree into ashes! He challenged the sage to bring the tree back to life! The sage, in his turn, chanted some invocations and lo, behold, miraculously the tree came back to life in the presence of the snake! Takshaka was shocked and amazed at the incredible power of sage Kasyapa! He offered much money to the sage for which he was approaching the king and sent him away! Later Takshaka went in disguise to the well protected palace and according to the curse of Shrungi, killed Parikshit with his deadly bite!

King Janamejaya broke into profuse tears on hearing the manner of the death of his father Parikshit. His agony and anguish was indescribable! He wanted to avenge the death of his father by destroying the king of snakes,Takshaka and all the other snakes! He summoned all the sages and other wise men to instruct him on how to annihilate the entire snakes! The ritwiks told him of a yaga called “Sarpa satra” according to the Puranas and the Devas. That would satisfy his wish to destroy the snakes! Janamejaya was pleased at the words of the sages. He immediately ordered that arrangements be made for the performance of the great “sarpa satra”yaga. The sages, in their wisdom, selected a neat, calm, and comfortable place for the    performance of the yaga according to sastras. They filled it with money and grains and gave  “diksha” to king Janamejaya! But unfortunately, one among the sages, a Vasthu expert, said that the yaga was likely to be obstructed! The time and the measurements of the yagasala indicate impediments to the “sarpa satra” yaga!

The Yaga started in right earnest! The participants did their duties according to sastras. Covering themselves with black robes, with reddish eyes, chanting mantras as per the sastras, they performed homa. Through the sacrificial fire they invoked all the snakes to their dismay and terror! The invoked serpents, without any other alternative, arrived and fell into the raging fire of the “homa kunda!” Some fell jumping, some calling other snakes pathetically, a few lifting up their hoods, some more hissing, a few more entwining themselves to others! A few snakes were white, other black and a few more blue in color! There were lean snakes as well as stout ones, short and long ones continuously dropping down into the blazing fire! The unbearable stench of the burning snakes filled the air and the sound of snakes falling into the fire increased! Takshaka was terrified at the thought of his turn! He went to Indra, king of Gods and beseeched his help! Indra gave him refuge and said that he need not fear death as the creator Brahma has been approached by him! In the meanwhile Vasuki another king of snakes worried about his precious life and requested his sister to send her son Asthika to stop the yaga and save the lives of other snakes! Finally the yaga was stopped on the request an advice of famous Asthika!

“ Bharatah panchamo Vedaha”-- The Mahabharatha is called the Fifth- panchama Veda! There      is nothing in it that we do not find in the present society! All human emotions, passion, pity, compassion, jealousy, hatred, love, violence, deceit, fraud and other qualities are exhibited by various characters in the Itihasa! The spirit of revenge for the death of his father Parikshit, triggered the sarpa yaga that took the toll of many lives of snakes! Through these stories we have to learn lessons and shorn of evil qualities, lead happy and contented lives! Revenge and violence can never make man happy! Obsession for hunting cost Parikshit his dear life! Obsession for money has killed many a man and lust has brought many to their doom! Let us control our inner enemies like Kama, Krodha and others as far as possible and live happily and make others also live happily!

ATMAN--THE PERSONAL GOD

The topic in the third adhyaya of Swetaswatara Upanishad is the description of Atman as the personal God. He spreads the net and rules all the worlds by those powers. Verses 31 to 36 describe the “Atman, Soul, Self” as the personal God, as the one and and only Lord that resides within the origin of all Gods, calling it Isha or Rudra.” He is the ruler of the world and there's no second to Him! At the end of time He withdraws into himself! With His thousand heads, faces, arms and feet he brings together both the heaven and earth. The Supreme Brahman manifests in the bodies of all creatures. Realizing him, one becomes Immortal. The Purusha fills the universe, He is the Supreme; He is everything; He is smaller than the atom and bigger than the biggest! “anor aniyan mahato mahiyan.” He is formless and beyond suffering. He resides in the receptacle of the hearts of all. He is the Omnipresent Siva!

It is he that impells the minds of all to reach the purest state! He is the Ruler and the immortal

Light. It is amazing that He is of the measure of a thumb! The Kathopanishad describes the Self in a similar manner “ angushtamatrah purushontaratma sada jananam hridaye sannivishtaha”- like the Person of the size of thumb, the inner Self abides always in the hearts of men. This Virat Purusha encompasses the entire universe with his hands and feet, eyes, heads and ears. It is beyond the senses but reflects the  qualities of all the senses! All creatures have to take refuge in IT

The Upanishad compares the human body to a city with nine gates! The human body has nine openings which are very strategic and without which it cannot exist! They are the two yes, two ears, the two nostrils, the mouth, the anus and the urinary passage! The Atma or Spirit moves all over the body and takes charge of moving and unmoving objects-- ‘ the sthavara and the jangama’. He has no hands but grasps, no feet but walks, no eyes but sees well! He has no ears but hears even the smallest sound! Kenopanishad clearly defines what makes us see, think, hear, eat and carry on activities in our life! “ Srothrasya srothram manaso mano, ya vachoha vacham sa u pranasya pranaha chakshusas chakshu ratimuchya dhirah pretyasmal lokadamruta bhavanthi” “It is the ear of the ear, the mind of the mind, the speech of the speech, the breath of the breath and the eye of the eye! Hence the wise, giving up these and departing  from this world, become Immorta!l”

He Knows  whatever there is to be known! But there none who knows Him! He is thus called as Primal, the Supreme person! Kenopanishad defines the Supreme Brahman beautifully! “ That which is not seen by the eye, but that by which the eyes are made to see-- know that as Brahman and not what people worship here. That which is not heard by the ear , but that by which the ears are made to hear--- know that as Brahman, and not what people worship here.” The Self, hidden in the heart of creatures is subtler than the subtle and greater than the great! It is only through the grace of the Lord that one can see Him who is without any action and get himself released from all sorrow!

About the nature of the Brahman described in the Swetaswatara Upanishad, the Kena Upanishad says: “ The eye does not go there, speech does not go, not the mind. We do not understand how we can  instruct one about it. It is indeed other than the known, and also above the unknown. Thus have we heard from the ancients who explained it to us.” The Kathopanishad describes the Self--” The knowing Self is never born, nor does it die. It sprang from nothing and nothing sprang from it. It is unborn, eternal, everlasting and primeval. It is not slain when the body is slain. Thus the Swetaswatara Upanishad gives prominence to the the unseen and unheard Self in the body!

THE STORY OF AMRIT--DIVINE NECTAR

Sage Saunaka asks the renowned Sutha to narrate to him the story of the arrival of “amrita” or nectar and how and where it was obtained. What was the need and reason for it? What other things came out of the sea of milk as it was churned? Sage Sutha said that Meru mountain was resplendent with many golden peaks and endowed with dense jungles, rivers,fauna and flora. On one of the peaks, the Devas met in a conference and thought about “Amrit" and how to obtain it. God Vishnu, always helpful to Devas, informed creator Brahma that “Amrit" could be obtained if the Asuras and Devas together churn the ocean of milk. Amrit will come out of the churning! Devas were directed to put all herbal medicines and diamonds into the ocean and churn. But it was impossible for them to uproot the Meru for the purpose of churning. Lord Vishnu and Brahma directed the king of snakes, Adisesha to  do the job. The mighty king of snakes, Adisesha, uprooted the great Meru with all it's forests and other things and placed it in the center of the ocean! The ocean requested a share in the Amrit that was going to be obtained! Both the Asuras and Devas requested the Turtle king to be the base and support for the Meru while it was being churned! Indra fixed the Meru on the back of the Turtle with his Vajra for stability!Thus the Asuras and the Devas churned the ocean of milk with Meru and Vasuki as the rope for churning!! The asuras were at the head of the snake while the Devas were at the tail side of Vasuki at the time of churning! The churning of the ocean began in right earnest!

As the asuras handled the hood of Vasuki and put it down frequently, flames and hot air came out! Vasuki spewed terrible poison and it mixed up with the ocean! It was the most destructive poison called “Halahala”. Many Devas and Asuras were burnt! The Devas ran to the Creator and he requested Lord Siva to come to the rescue of Devas. Maheswara collected the flaming poison into a ball and gulped down his throat! Thus Lord Siva came to be called “ Nilakanta”. As the churning continued, the entire ocean was disturbed beyond measure! From the topmost peak of Meru it rained flowers on the Devas! There was a tremendous thunderous sound and many sea organisms were crushed and destroyed due to the churning of the ocean! The creatures in the underworld Pathala were annihilated! Fauna and flora on the Meru mountain were destroyed! Fire broke out due to friction and killed the elephants and lions that came out! Various kinds of essences and milk oozed out of the trees and mixed with the sea! Thus the sea became the ocean of milk due to the influence of various juices and essences of medicinal herbs!

Both the Asuras and Devas were totally exhausted on account of churning continuously. But there was no sign Amrit. The devas approached Creator Brahma once again and he requested Lord Vishnu to grant them strength! As they regained the lost strength, the Asuras and Devas churned the Meru with redoubled vigor and vitality! Halahala poison that came out first was gulped down by Lord Siva and retained in his throat! Soon after, emerged a lady, black in color, from the sea, bedecked with beautiful ornaments! She is none other than “Jyeshta Devi!  Next to emerge from the ksheera sagara was the Moon or Chandra with his cool rays and beautiful looks! Following  Chandra, emerged Sri Devi or Lakshmi dressed in spotless white! Closely following her came the white horse from the milky ocean! Then came  the precious diamond called Kausthubha! All these things including the fleet footed horse went to the side of the Devas!The Parijata, and Kamadhenu, the Cow that granted all desires came out of the ocean!

Later came out of the ocean, the heavy bodied elephant Airavata with four tusks!  The divine damsels called “Apsarasa”emerged later! Kamadhenu, Kalpavriksha Kaustubha Stone, and the “Apsarasas” left for the sky and reached the side of the Devas!  Then, finally, to the delight and excitement of all, emerged from the ocean a beautiful form of Deva by name “ Dhanvantari”  carrying a  white vessel-- kamandalu full of Amrita- Divine nectar that gifted immortality to those who drank it! It was an amazing and incredible sight! Having seen this unbelievable sight, the Asuras were overwhelmed with joy and yelled loudly claiming that Amrita was for them! It was here that the story took a sudden turn favoring the Devas!

It was all the Maya of Lord Narayana! He took the form of a bewitching beautiful damsel and stood before the Asuras to ensnare them! Both the Devas and the Asuras were astonished at the Divine beauty of the woman who stood before them! Instantly they were drawn to her ethereal beauty! In their love and passion for her hand, they lost their head and handed over the kamandalu with Amrit to her! It was a well laid out plan by the Lord! He made the Devas and the Asuras sit in opposite rows and served the Divine nectar to Devas alone denying it to the Asuras! Unknowingly the Asuras thought they were served Amrita but agitated when the knew about the treachery of the Lord! Rahu and Ketu of the Asuras, somehow, gained entry into the row of Devas and had a sip of the Divine juice! That is how they are designated as Gods in Hindu religion! Identifying the Asuras, Lord Vishnu killed them with his Sudarshan Chakra instantly! But they had taken Amrit already and thus became immortal !

SWETASWATARA UPANISHAD ON YOGA

The Second Adhyaya of the Swetaswatara Upanishad is  a motley collection of themes! It begins with a prayer hymn to God Savitr as the rising Sun. He is the embodiment of spiritual illumination as well as the deity of inspiration and self discipline! Moving on, the Upanishad discusses Yoga as a means of Self Knowledge. The body should be held steady. The three upper parts viz the chest, neck and the head should be erect. The mind and the senses should be drawn together into the heart. The Individual then breathes gently, slowly through the nose! A wise man, the Upanishad states, has to cross all fearful streams by means of the boat of the Brahman! He then compresses his breath within the body and has to restrain the mind as vigilantly as he drives the chariot yoked with vicious  horses! How should this Yoga be practiced and where? The Upanishad Indicates the nature of the place and where meditation and Yoga can be undertaken.

The place and ambience for practicing Yoga is very important! The area should be level and clean free from pebbles, dust and fire. There should be no distracting sounds that divert the attention of the the person meditating. No sight that can hurt or be painful to the eye should be present. The place must be a sheltered retret protected from the wind! What is the experience of the meditator? First things that manifest in Yoga are fog, smoke, sun, wind, fire, fireflies, lightnings and a clear moon. It is only after all these appear, that the Brahman follows! After the five fold quality of Yoga results from the elements, earth, water, fire, air and ether, all sickness vanishes, and old age, senility and death disappear! The meditator acquires the body of Yoga produced by fire! The first results of the progress of Yoga are lightness of the body, health, steadiness, clear complexion, pleasant voice, sweet smell and slight excretion according to the Upanishad!

Like the mirror tarnished by dust shines brilliantly after it is cleaned, the meditator, after the vision of the nature of the Self, realizes the oneness!  That is the end to which he comes finally! He is released from the shackles of sorrow! The Upanishad points out that when by the nature of his own self he sees, as by a lamp, the nature of Brahman he is released from all fetters because IT is unborn, eternal, and free from all natures! He is the all pervading God! “He is the first born; and He is within the womb. He has been born and He will be born. He is inside all persons, facing all directions.

The all pervasiveness of the Brahman is stressed by the Upanishad in no uncertain words! “The God who is in the fire, the God who is in the water, the God who has entered into the whole world, the God who is in herbs, the God who is in trees-- adoration be to that God, adoration to Him!” In 2.13 the Upanishad describes the first benefits of Yoga to be agility, better health. clear face, sweetness of voice, sweet odor, regular body functions, steadiness, feeling of lightness in one’s personality! Yoga thus leads to the Knowledge of the Soul!

ON INDIAN DEMOCRACY

“ Our democracy is but a name. We vote. What does that mean? It means that we choose between two bodies of real, though not avowed autocrats” says Helen Keller! How true the statement is! Elections happen regularly, people vote mechanically, governments are formed but nothing changes! Hardships of the common man continue. Water scarcity, inflation, red tape, neglect of the basic amenities stare at the man on the street! There is intense competition between the candidates, all for power and position! “ In every well governed state, wealth is a sacred thing. In democracies it is the only sacred thing” comments Anatole France. Politics has become a business and democracy has come in handy for members to make money! “The ballot is stronger than the bullet” comments Abraham Lincoln! But are our elections free from violence? Fights between parties, murders and other atrocities are common during  elections. Bribing the voter and purchasing votes has become too common! The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter! RKNagar elections were cancelled in Tamilnadu due to terrible corruption by the political parties! According to Winston Churchill, “ Democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” The magnitude of the problem is that democracy cannot please every section of society!

But then what is real democracy? Abraham Lincoln has defined it as, “ Government of the people by the people for the people.” How far is it valid in the society of today? Democracy is being abused and misused in many countries including India! It can be now be defined as, “Government half the people buy the people for the people!  Not even half the percentage of the electorate cast their vote! Most of them are illiterate and bribed by the candidates! They are more concerned about money. Crores of rupees are spent by candidates for electioneering and purchasing votes! It is a temptation that the voter can never overcome!The candidates vie with one another to extract maximum benefit within the five year period! Public money is siphoned off through devious ways! Assets of elected members increase phenomenally within these five years! Common man can never enter the fray because of high costs involved in contesting. Crorepatis and other rich people rush to become MLAs and MPs! The rich become richer while the poor grow poorer! The days of dedication and service mindedness witnessed in the period immediately after our Independence are no longer witnessed now! Pre Independent zeal and zest for the nation is significantly absent! There is a sense of complacency as India has achieved Independence! Stalwarts and statesmen who sacrificed their lives, power, and position to serve the nation have gone into history! We have no such ideal politicians at the helm who can guide the nation in the right direction.

Democracy works when people claim it as their own! They should realize that it is their nation or state or region and nothing should be done to jeopardize the rights and privileges of the Individual citizen! You are deceiving yourself when you cheat others or damage public property in agitations and demonstrations! The Government is yours and public property is also yours! It is your money that has raised buildings! You are accountable, thus, for the damage you cause. The Supreme Court has stated that parties whose members damage public property should compensate for the loss! The pity with the present generation is that they refuse to take action even as they see injustice and atrocities being committed in front of their eyes! One Traffic Ramaswamy is not enough! Many more alert and responsible citizens should come forward to question the Government when its policies are wrong. Educated, honest, and sincere persons should join the Government through elections to set right the lacuna! Most of the present legislators have a criminal background and ensure a place for themselves in the  government! That should be stopped! More election reforms to weed them out should be introduced.

Equal opportunity should be given to every section of people in a democracy. In spite of its best efforts the Government has failed in this. Various groups and sections are clamoring for recognition and threatening the center with their protests and demonstrations. “Democracy means that anyone can grow up to be President, and anyone who doesn't grow up can be Vice President” says Johnny Carson! As the famous Greek Philosopher Aristotle says, “Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers”. Here, in India, the aam admi-the common man has absolutely no chance to contest the election and come to power! The reservation system has created more troubles and inequalities! More and more tribes and clans are demanding reservations and the Government is in a fix!

Democracy cannot be offered on a platter! One has to work for it assiduously. People have to prepare themselves and be eligible for its arrival by hard work. “ Democracy, like liberty, justice, and other social and political rights, is not “given”. It is earned through courage,  resolution,  and sacrifice” says the Myanmar freedom fighter  Aungsan SanSuu Ky. Corruption has taken a very deep root in India and its politics! There is no area or field of activity that is not affected by corruption! It has spread its tentacles from the grass root level to the topmost position! Steps are being taken seriously only now. Black money has to be brought back from foreign havens where much of our money is stashed by tax evaders! Rules have to be implemented without fear or favor on their merits! Morals and ethics in life, government, and politics have become almost extinct! The number and the way in which murders, rapes, suicides, abductions, frauds,  kidnappings and smuggling are taking place in our country is a cause for great concern! A nation is judged not by its geographical boundaries but by the conduct and character of its people! India, in spite of its advancement falls short of the expectations of a real good Democracy! She has to strive more to qualify herself for the coveted post of an ideal Democracy! There is no point in calling itself the largest Democracy in the world!!

THE STRANGE STORY OF GARUDA

Sage Saunaka questions the sage Suka regarding the mistake committed by Devendra, king of Devas. How was Garuda born on account of the tapas of the Valakhilya sages? How did Garuda become the son of the great sage Kasyapa? How did he become invincible and endowed with exceptional power of taking any form he liked? Sage Suka maharshi narrated the details of Garuda’s birth and how he developed unassailable power. Kasyapa prajapati, desirous of a son performed a yajna assisted by Devas and Gandharvas. He directed Indra, the Valakhilya sages and others to bring twigs needed for the yajna. While Indra secured them easily and quickly, the Valakhilyas  could not do so quickly. Arrogant Indra, seeing their plight laughed at them and went away. The powerful Valakhilyas were angry and sad at the humiliation. They performed a homa chanting potent mantras to create a second Indra more powerful and fearful! Indra was terrified at this act of the sages. He approached sage Kasyapa for help. Sage Kasyapa pacified them and said that there cannot be two Indras at the same time and that the Creator Brahma had appointed the present Indra. The sages calmed down and offered the fruits of their homa to Kasyapa stating that he would be blessed with sons! Kasya told his wife Vinata that she would bear two renowned and mighty children! One son will be the king of all birds! Anura and Garuda were born and the former,physically handicapped, became the driver of Sun’s chariot! Garuda was crowned as the king of Birds by the Devas!

Immediately Garuda  jumped up and left for heaven and the Devas! He wanted to bring ‘Amrita’   to relieve himself and his mother from slavery! He defeated the guard of amrita in a terrible fight. He raised a storm of dust by his large and powerful wings that blinded all Devas! Indra and Varuna came but in vain! They could not stand before Garuda! Most of the Devas were injured and bled in their fight with Garuda. Crossing all barriers, Garuda progressed forward when he saw a terrible fire raging all around! He quenched it by getting water from various rivers! Then he took a diminutive form to enter inside. There was a resplendent iron wheel with sharp points revolving and capable of killing anyone entering it! Garuda took an atomic form suddenly and entered the machine! Under the wheel were two terrible snakes that could kill others even with their looks! Garuda threw dust into their eyes blinding them, rose into the skies and cut both the snakes into two! He accessed amrita thus and destroying the wheel rose into the skies without drinking the nectar!

On his way back, Garuda met Lord Vishnu who liked him for not drinking amrita in his possession! He wanted to give a boon to Garuda. Garuda requested that he should be the hood above the Lord and that he should be an immortal without drinking amrita! Garuda then offered to give a boon to Lord Vishnu.! The Lord wanted him to be his Vahana( carrier). Meanwhile, Indra, humiliated, and angry since Garuda was taking away amrit, struck  Garuda with his Vajrayudha! But It had no effect on the invincible Garuda! As a mark of respect for Indra and his weapon Garuda left a feather from his wing! That is how Garuda came to be called "Suparna!” Amazed at the strength and invincibility of Garuda, Indra wanted to be friends with him! Accepting his friendship, Garuda told Indra that he was taking away amrit for a great cause but not to give it to others to rink! Garuda allowed Indra to take amrit to heaven as soon as he placed it in a place!

Garuda returned home and informed his mother

that he has brought Amrit from heaven. She was extremely happy and blessed him. Then he told the serpents, children of his stepmother that he has brought Amrit for them and they can partake of it after their bath! Amrit was kept in a vessel on the holy grass called darbha. lndra came secretly and carried it away to heaven! The serpents knew that they were deceived. With no other alternative, they licked the sharp darbha on which the vessel of amrita was kept. Thus their tongues were torn into two! Darbha became very holy as Amrit was kept on it! Garuda and his mother Vinata were freed from their slavery!!

Kadruva, Garuda’s stepmother was jealous of Vinata! She planned to enslave her and laid a plan. She told Vinata that the tail of the white cow was black while it was actually not so! She called upon her serpent son to remain on the tail of the cow so that she could deceive Vinata! If what Kadruva said was true, Vinata should be a slave to her! At the appointed time Vinata saw the cow from a distance and accepted that the tail of the cow was black! One of the snakes had coiled itself  on the tail of the cow which looked black! Kadruva had won and Vinata and Garuda became slaves! Kadruva said that if  amrit was brought from heaven both Garuda and Vinata would be free! It is for that reason that Garuda went to heaven, fought the Devas and brought amrit to free his mother and himself from slavery! Is it not the duty of a son to bring freedom and happiness to his dear mother?

SWETASWATARA UPANISHAD

Swetaswatara Upanishad is an ancient text embedded in the Yajurveda. It is the fourteenth in the Muktika Canon of one hundred eight Upanishads. It has one hundred thirteen mantras in its six chapters. It is a part of Krishna Yajurveda and sage Swetaswatara is considered the author of the Upanishad. It is a principal Upanishad of Hinduism.The Upanishad is a foundational text of Saiva philosophy as well as the Yoga and Vedanta schools of Hinduism! As in the case of many Upanishads, significance is attached to the Self and the Brahman as the individual and the Atman! The omnipresence of the Brahman is emphasized. The Upanishad opens with meta physical questions about the primal cause of all existence, origin, and end. What is the role of  time, nature, chance and the spirit as the primal cause?

People question the cause of existence! “From where were we born? By what do we live?  Where is our final rest? By whose command do we undergo pleasure and suffer pain? Those who know the Brahman have to respond to these questions. Can we consider Time, one’s own nature, the elements,  mother’s womb, male energy as the cause for our existence? This combination is not the cause of existence because of the presence of the soul! The soul is not responsible for one’s pleasure and pain.It is God who presided over all the causes from ‘Time’ to the 'soul’. That is the realization of those who meditate and concentrated on God!l The soul revolves up and down the cosmic wheel as long as it thinks it is different from the Mover! Blessed by Him it becomes Immortal! The Vedas sing of the Highest  Brahman composed of the triad that is its firm and imperishable support. By Knowing its contents, the devotees of Brahman merge into it and are freed from birth! God supports the perishable and the imperishable, the manifest and the unmanifest but the soul is bound because it is the enjoyer! It is liberated when it realizes the Lord!

What is this “Triad?” They are the knowing and the unknowing, the one all powerful and the other powerless respectively. The third is the one that connects the enjoyer and the enjoyed and that is the “Infinite Self of Universal form who is inactive. While matter is perishable, the Lord is imperishable and immortal. He governs over both matter and the soul. Merging with Him is the   “complete cessation of the illusion of the world! The third arrives by meditating on Him and that is that of universal lordship! The soul is the repository of the Eternal beyond which there is nothing else to be known! The threefold Brahman, thus, is a combination of the knowledge of the enjoyer, the object of enjoyment and the Ruler!

Fire, latent in wood cannot be seen outside. Neither can it be destroyed. Fire can be produced again and again from the wood by means of a drill! The Self has to be gained in the body by means of the Pranava ( the syllable Aum). The Upanishad makes use of the wood and fire as a metaphor.  The body is the under stick or wood! The syllable Aum is the upper stick! Meditation is the drill by which God can be seen as the hidden spark! Where is this Self? The Upanishad declares that the Self is hidden “as oil in seeds, as butter in cream, as water in riverbeds, as fire in sticks of wood”. The Self is embedded in self itself! One can realize this through penance and truthfulness!

The Self is all pervading! ” Ekah paratma bahudehavarti”. It has no birth but takes different forms! “ ajayamano bahudha vijayate”. This omnipresent Self is rather difficult to understand and realize! Though we readily understand that milk contains butter, wood conceals fire and seeds store oil, when it comes to spirituality and philosophy, we find it difficult to equate it with the Self! The Upanishad  points out that self knowledge and penance alone can unravel the nature of  the Brahman--” That is the highest Upanishad.

I

BATTLE BETWEEN LORD SIVA AND NARAYANA

 In the Moksha dharma parva of Santhi Parva of the Mahabharatha there is a very interesting Conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna! The Lord tells Arjuna the names by which he is   and   explains the meaning and the  significance of those names. The name ‘Govinda’ means one who has attained the earth! (Go means earth). ‘Aja’ is one who has no birth. He was never born, is not born and will never be born! He is called Krishna as he is dark in color. He is called ‘ Achyuta’ because he never fails Dharma. He is worshipped as 'Ananta, Anadhya and Amadhya as none could find his beginning,middle or end! During the Varaha avatar the Lord had three humps on his back. Hence he was named ‘ Trikakuth’. The sun and the moon wake up the world and make people happy respectively.Thus the Lord is called ‘ Hrishikesa’. He is called ‘ Sipivishta’ because he has no hair or Indriyas or parts of the body!The body is composed of the three dhatus or elements viz Vata(air), pittha(bile), Sleshma( phlegm). When these decline the body dies. Thus he is called ‘ Tridhatu’. He always hears the deserving and pure speech not the sinful talk. Hence He is named ‘ Suchisrava’

Lord Krishna continues and tells Dhanajaya that for some reason he was born as the son of  Dharma and came to be called as ‘ Dharmaja’. He also took birth as Nara and Narayana! Following the path of Dharma he performed severe tapas in those two forms on the Gandamadana mountain! It was at that time that Daksha Prajapati performed the great yajna.  Arrogant Daksha denied the ‘ havirbhaga’( offering)to Lord Siva who became angry and  sent his trident, flaming Trisula to destroy the Yajna!  The Trisula, after totally destroying the Yajna,  came to Badarikaranya where Nara and Narayana were immersed in severe penance! Thus started the battle between Narayana and Lord Siva! The trident of Lord Siva came suddenly with lightning  speed and pierced the chest of Narayana! The radiance of the trident covered the locks of hair of Naryana and thus he came to be called “ Munjakesa”! Repulsed by Narayana’s roar, the trident went back to Lord Siva! In his anger, Lord Siva went after the sages involved in penance! Observing this, Narayana grabbed the throat of Lord Siva! Siva’s throat became black because of Narayana’s hold!  Thus Lord Siva came to be called as ‘ Siti kanta’!

Nara then chanted a mantra and sent an axe to attack Lord Siva! But that terrible axe broke into  pieces! Thus he got the name ‘ Khanda parasu’! Hearing this narration of the battle between the two Gods, Arjuna was wonderstruck! He was inquisitive and wanted to know who won the battle. Lord Krishna said that the entire universe became agitated. God of Fire refused to accept offerings. The earth trembled! The sun lost his dazzling brilliance! The sea became dry! Creator Brahma slipped from his seat! The Himalayas developed cracks! Terribly afraid, the Devas and Brahma came to the scene of battle between Nara Narayana and Lord Siva! Brahma requested Siva to relent from his anger and become calm for the sake of the welfare of the world. He pointed out that  Nara and Narayana have arrived to establish Dharma. They are great  ‘tapasvis’. Lord Siva was impressed with the words of the Creator. He controlled his anger and grew calm.

Lord Siva pleased  Narayana and even surrendered to him! Lord Siva and Narayana

greed for a truce! Narayana was much pleased and told Siva that if one who knows him he shall know Narayana also. There is no difference between Siva and Narayana! He said that the mark left by the Trisula on his chest shall henceforth be  called ‘ Srivatsa’! He will be called ‘Srikanta’ hereafter since his throat turned black when he caught it! Later Nara and Nrayana continued their penance. Lord Krishna told Arjuna that he has been moving about the earth and the Goloka with his many forms! He has protected Arjuna to win the Kurukshetra war! It is Rudra advancing before him who was born out of Krishna’s anger! It is He who has killed the Kauravas before Arjuna killed them. Lord Krishna directed Arjuna to bow down to Lord Siva and offer his respects!

It is significant to note that Lord Krishna himself explains how he came to be called in different names. We have heard about a war between Sri Rama and Anjaneya but not the battle between  Siva and Krishna! The events belong to Krita Yuga and appear to be impossible and miracles for us in this Kaliyuga! The authority of the Mahabharatha has to be believed whatever be our opinion! There are many such incredible situations in the Mahabharatha and other epics and Itihasas like the Bhagavata Purana!

RELIGION SHOULD UNITE, NOT DIVIDE

Religion is said to be the bridge between man and God! All religions are great and have their distinctive approaches. A religion cannot be called religion if it does not change man for the better! By following a faith or religion one should turn over a new leaf and conduct himself in righteous path!  Religion has the onerous task of uniting people, not dividing them! When we look at the history of religions, we are shocked to see the disservice it has done more than the unification of people in society! All religions are similar to different rivers flowing in different directions but to the same goal, the ocean! “ Akasath patitam toyam yatha gacchati sagaram sarva Deva namaskaram Kesavam prati gacchati”-- Like the rainwater, falling from the skies flows towards the sea, all prayers reach Lord Kesava- God. The ways and means are different but the goal or destination is one and the same. Unfortunately this fundamental aspect of religion is totally forgotten and meaningless differences and squabbles have tainted every religion on the surface of earth! All religions preach love and compassion to all creatures. Are we following this simple but the most important tenet of religion? We have to search our own hearts for an answer to this question!

“ Love for the Lord should not degenerate into fanaticism and hatred of other names and forms” declares Bhagawan Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba. But this is what exactly has happened in history!  The religious wars called jihad, between the Muslims and the Christians for Jerusalem, the birthplace of Jesus, have taken the  toll of the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent lives!  The fight for Jerusalem has not ended yet! It is the bone of contention between Israel and Palestine today! Death and destruction continues even today! The fight between Shias and Sunnis of Islam that has surfaced recently has shocked the entire world! The arrival of ISIS has spread death and destruction to many countries in the Middle East! The  noble ideals and principles of Islam have been misinterpreted and demolished even in front of our eyes! Conversion, loot, abductions, brutal beheadings, and extortions have become the order of the day! India has become the victim of terrorism  from Pakistan!  Muslims think that their religion is the greatest and want to islamize the entire globe! Of course,India has seen conversion from the time of the Moghuls!

Christianity is no better! The differences between Protestantism and Catholicism are too common to be overlooked! When protestants came to throne in England they persecuted the Catholics! In reply, the Catholics persecuted the Protestants when they came to power! Charles the first of England, notorious for his evil acts was hanged in the tower of London! The Parliament rebelled against the king and he had to die an ignoble death! Having gained entry into India through the East India Company, the British consolidated their rule and started conversion of Indians to Christianity like the Muslim rulers! They say that their religion is the best and Jesus alone is the Savior! Muslims call all others as kafirs! There is an attempt to denigrate Hinduism and its numerous Gods worshipped by the Hindus! The silent and steady conversion of Hindus to Christianity has created a lot of trouble in society! Militant Hindus have objected to these conversions and a few of these new Christians are being reconverted to Hinduism! Why this over enthusiasm for conversion? Why not Christians remain without converting others to their religion? Thus there is a distinct religious fanaticism  in Islam as well  as Christianity! When they clash with Hindu beliefs and religion, riots break out and unnecessary disturbances occur!

The greatness of India is its  unity in diversity! It has absorbed and assimilated Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism,  Zoroastrianism and others into its vast fabric. Yet it has retained its individuality! No other religion could influence the core of Indian psyche! India had its own  problems with religion! Buddhism, born in India, was against the time old Vedic religion  and it was wiped out by the influence and preachings of the three great Acharyas, Sankara, Ramanuja, and Madhva! Even here, differences exist. Sankara established Advaita or Monism while Ramanuja founded Vishishtadvaita, or qualified Monism and Madhva established Dvaita  system of philosophy. Sankara devised six modes of worship--Vaishnavam, Saktam,Kaumaram Ganapatyam, Sauram, and Saivam which are followed by many in the country! There are also clashes between the Saivites and Vaishnavites! The traces of Jainism in South India were totally destroyed by the Nayanmars of the South since Saivism and Jainism clashed! Saivism reigned supreme in the South!

Though religions are different God is one and we are all children of the self same Providence! We say God is love and love is God! But it is not practised seriously! Religions preach love, compassion, righteousness. brotherhood, tolerance, nonviolence and proper understanding! If we follow these ideals no other religion is required! The world today is divided by religions! Let us not perpetuate this division and lead the the world into turmoil! We are badly in need of peace for the world and peace of mind for every Individual! Let us forget all differences between religions and endeavor for the unity of all religions and meaningful existence!