RITUALS AND GRACE

Why are the Sastras and Puranas written? Today not much importance is given to them in society. People think that they are all obsolete and out moded! Rationalism and scientific advancement have contributed to the loss of belief and faith in Sastras, Puranas and rituals. In fact all these have been written and propagated for the benefit, protection and well being of humanity. We are aware of the filial bond and affection of the parents for their children. But the love of the Sastras is equal to the combined effect of a thousand parents pouring out their affection on their children! If we follow the mandates of our Sastras, the benefits we enjoy are innumerable. All benefits run after a person who scrupulously follows the path of Sastras! He need not go after them!  He will be warmly welcomed by all irrespective of caste, color or race and community! It is because of this primacy that religious rituals and practices are respected more than Jnana or Knowledge! A person, finishing his bath and rituals early in the morning goes to meet the Jnani. The Jnani gets up at midday after a sound sleep!  What opinion will the person have about the so called Jnani? He would feel that he can get up at 1pm since the Jnani himself had slept till 12pm!! Therefore religious rituals are sine quo non for disciplining one’s life!  It is for this very purpose that Sastras, Puranas and “ acharas” and religious rituals are created!

Many debates are conducted questioning the killing of Vali in the Ramayana. Some argue that Rama was perfectly right while others try to establish that he is wrong! Vali himself says that Rama was wrong in killing him for the sake of support from Sugriva! It has become a fashion in modern days not to think of the good that the Sastras and the rituals recommend. But they jump into the conclusion that when such and such a person had done such a thing why not we too! Valmiki calls: “ Ramo Vigrahavan dharmaha”-- Rama is the embodiment of Dharma or righteousness! He has to set an example to others in following Dharma or righteousness. Though an incarnation of Vishnu, he had to follow all rituals prescribed for human beings.

That is why in Panchavati, he performed all “anushtanams” or religious rituals. Later, in different Yugas, people shouldn’t complain that Rama didn't perform rituals and hence they need not care for rituals! The Lord knows the mentality of modern man and hence set an example for humanity by performing rituals and following the path of Dharma! The Vedas declare the greatest are those who see the sunrise first! The Yadavas who rear the cattle and drive them early in the morning are really the greatest. Women who bring water from the lake for the worship of God early in the morning have the view of the Sun God! The inference is that everyone should see the Sun soon after waking up. Crystal clear and pure water has to be brought for the worship of God! These are more important than yoga! While Krishna was born in Yadava clan, Rama was born in Surya Vamsa itself! God is not only God but has come down as a common man subject to many righteous practices for the edification of man! The Absolute or Paramatma combines within Himself the common and special aspects as in the mantras!

It is said that Lord Lakshmi Nrusimha of Mattapalli appeared before sage Bharadwaja as the father of the Creator Brahma! Like the child of Yasoda he showered His grace on a common man in the forest! An aged tribal man came to Mattapalli with offerings of rice, dal, fruits and vegetables. But by the time he arrived, the archakas had locked the temple and retired to their home. Staying at the mantapa near the temple, he was sad that he can have the darshan of the Lord late on the next day after archanam and abhishek. He addressed the Lord and wondered whether this sinner shall have the darshan and grace of the Lord. He had arrived very late at the temple. Even as he felt dejected and disappointed, the temple priest came and took him into the temple for darshan with all the things he had brought. The archaka opened the door, placed the rice, dal, fruits and vegetables at the lotus feet of the Lord and performed archana and aarti with pleasure! He asked the old man if he is satisfied. The old man said he was extremely satisfied and overwhelmed at the wonderful darshan. He led the man to the mantap, asked him to stay till the morning and left. In his indescribable ecstasy at the darshan at such a late hour, and the extraordinary grace of the Lord he fell asleep. At six in the morning the priest came and questioned why he stayed there.

The old man shuddered with fear. “Go, take your bath and come back” roared the priest. The priest went into the sanctum and was amazed to see the resplendent Lord and the rice and other offerings at the feet of Lord Nrusimha! He was at a loss to know how the rice and other materials came into the sanctum that was locked and closed. Just then he had the vision of the old man whom he dismissed, in the sanctum in front of the Lord! That vision made him tremble from head to foot! He ran out of the temple! The old man, as per the order of the priest was bathing in the river Krishna. The priest fell on the feet of the old man! He said pathetically that he could not get the darshan of the Lord despite touching Him daily and performing worship! But He has given the old man darshan and got what he wanted for Himself through him! It is a wonder that the Lord performed archana for himself and took him unto his lotus feet! The archaka melted away in tears! That is the compassion of the Lord!!

OFFER EVERYTHING TO GOD

It is absolutely necessary for us to be conscious of the existence  of God within us! It is for this that we have to protect our body. We cannot do anything without the help of our body. “Jivam bhadrani pasyati” says the Sanskrit saying. Without life nothing can be achieved. The Upanishad proclaims that the body is the temple of God! He is established in the innermost recess of our heart! “Deham devalayo proktwa Jivo Devas sanatanah”. Since God is the indweller of every creature including the human being, it is of paramount importance that we should keep our body pure and perfect. The temple can be recognized through certain marks or colors outside. It has a gopuram. The body, the temple of God too has its marks that distinguishes  it. These marks are according to the people's culture and tradition. The marks or decorations are not for the mere body but for the God who is seated in the altar of our heart! No wonder that Lord Krishna echoes the same thought in the Bhagavad-Gita that whatever one does should be dedicated to Him! Parasara Bhattar, the commentator of the Sahasranama, on an occasion, was discussing on the topic of Vairagya or detachment. He said that one should be non attached like the lotus leaf in water. One should be totally detached!

The next day, all those who attended the discourse didn't bathe, didn't brush teeth nor did they bear any marks! “Why should we decorate our bodies? What is the use of it? Yesterday we were told that we should develop total detachment” they said. Parasara Bhattar was the chief priest of Sri RanganathaSwamy Temple. Those who attended the discourse on Vairagya came to worship and had a shock of their life! They saw the Bhattar smeared with fragrant sandal paste all over the body! Moreover, he had beautiful flowers in his tuft on his head! He wore garlands also around his neck! They were astounded at the sight of the Bhattar and questioned whether the discourse on Vairagya was not for him but for them! Bhattar asserted that he had not violated what he had told them on detachment.

The others wondered how the fragrant sandal paste all over his body, the flowers in his tuft and garlands around his neck establish his non attachment. Bhattar replied that what he had done for the body is only for Lord Ranganatha and not for selfish reasons! The others were dumbfounded! The Chandogya Upanishad asserts  that God is the essence  of all in the universe! He is also the smell or “Gandha”  in all creatures! How can we stand with our foul smelling and dirty body before such a deity? Bhattar explained that his beautifying himself is similar to erecting a pandal and decorations with flags and festoons for any celebration! It is only for the sake of God one should adorn flowers and garlands. We eat  food as an offering (naivedyam) to the “Antaryami”- the indweller in every body of ours! It is only when we do our acts with the realization that we do them for the Paramatma that they will fructify and yield results! The danger arises when we think that we do everything for ourselves! Offer all your efforts unto the Lord and there will be no mistake.

“Ajayamano bahudha vijayathe”- the One who has no birth has manifested in many forms! He is the indweller in all of us! He is also within every ‘achetana’ nonliving body! The word ‘Vishnu’ means all ‘pervading’, surrounding, enveloping everything in the universe. In the sloka on Sri Vinayaka the word Vishnu is used! “ Suklambara dharam Vishnum…” where the word has nothing to do  with Lord Vishnu as a few may get confused. It means that Lord Vinayaka is all pervading and  wears spotless white clothes!

The essence of our Sastras and philosophy is to  realize the Divine within ourselves! This is  called Self Realization. The very purpose of man is to realize himself! He should know the distinction between the body and the Soul within, the body that is destined to die and the Soul or the Divinity that is indestructible embedded in the body! Caught in the mire of Samsara, man is overpowered by ‘mamakara’ or attachment! Deluded by web of Maya or illusion, he considers right as wrong and wrong as right! Ignorance makes him think that riches, wife and children are permanent and he refuses to detach himself from them as early as possible! There is nothing more difficult than this in the world. This is more easily said than done! Detachment can be cultivated slowly but surely through Satsang and spirituality! Let everyone of us surrender all our actions to God and free ourselves from the consequences thereof!

INGRAINED NATURE

Man is a combination of three important gunas or qualities that are inborn! They are Satwa, Rajas, and Tamas according to which his conduct and character varies.The first, Satwa makes the person soft, gentle, understanding, noble and righteous! The second makes the person angry, irritable, and violent. The third, Tamas, converts the Individual into an indolent, sluggish,and a thick skinned person. Though these gunas are innate in every person they vary in degrees. According to the increase or domination of these qualities, the individual becomes good, bad or evil! As these gunas are firmly embedded in human nature it is extremely difficult to alter them except through rigorous discipline and training! In spite of all attempts to change, the original color and quality of the person reveals itself in many circumstances! It is practically impossible for man to suppress his ingrained nature!

A sage was seated under the shade of a large tree and absorbed in deep meditation and tapas. Suddenly, to his surprise and shock, he heard a shrill sound that totally disturbed his concentration! A mouse, shuddering with fear came and sat at his feet. The Maharshi slowly opened his eyes and looked at the mouse still trembling with fear. What will be the cause for its fear? Extending his gaze to the threshold of the ashram he saw a cat purring and waiting to gobble the tiny mouse. The sage knew the reason for the state of the mouse! He wanted to save the creatures out of compassion. He took some water from his kamandalu, and sprinkled it on the mouse saying,”Change yourself into a cat” Looking at this transformation the sage was immensely happy. A few days later, a cat came and sat at the same feet where the mouse had settled earlier! The sage found a wild dog at the entrance of his ashram terribly barking and ready to pounce upon the cat. Being kind and compassionate to all beings, he took some water and sprinkling it on the cat said “ Change yourself into dog!” The purring cat was changed into  dog by the mantric power of his incantations!

The Maharshi lost his privacy and meditation once again, for, after a few days the dog came for help and protection! The sage wondered what could frighten the dog so severely as to run for life. Then he saw a fierce tiger waiting at the door for its prey! There was no dearth for mercy in the sage! As he did earlier, he sprinkled water on the dog chanting some mantras and transformed it into a fierce tiger! The pity and wonder was that the tiger too returned to the sage with fright after a few days! This was too much! The Sage was in a dilemma as to what has terrorized the fierce tiger. There was nothing at the entrance of the ashram nor on the outside! The Sage turned and looked up! Then he saw five or six eagles soaring high in the sky! The sage beat his own head and felt sorry for his misplaced compassion. How can the tiger be afraid of the kites if it were born a tiger? It would never run to save itself from the eagles in the sky! By nature it should be a mouse! Though it has taken the new shape of a tiger, Its original nature or quality can never change! As a mouse, it is destined to be afraid of the eagles forever despite all transformations! Realizing his misplaced sympathy, he sprinkled water on the tiger and changed it to its original form, a mouse!

These transformations of the mouse into cat, cat into dog, dog into tiger, and again the tiger into mouse had cost him very heavily! He lost all the power and efficacy of his long accumulated penance! His word and the sprinkling of water on others had lost their force! He had to perform tapas once again to get back those rare powers of cursing and granting boons! A few people do not know what they do and why! In the Ramayana, Anjaneya, in search of Sita, spots  Mandodari and mistakes her for Sita! His joy knew no bounds as that was the mission for which he crossed the sea and came to Lanka. He didn't know how to express his unbounded joy! He lifted his tail and hit the earth out of indescribable happiness! It is the nature of monkeys to express their joy by beating their tails on earth. Anjaneya kissed his tail, jumped a little and danced! Not stopping at that, he went on climbing and getting down the pillar several times! Poet Valmiki describes Anjaneya as “Nava Vyakarana panditha.” and “ Rama pada seva dhurandhara.” Can such a great Vanara go up and down the pillar like an ordinary monkey?

When under the influence of extreme ecstasy Anjaneya exhibited his true nature! Therefore it is Impossible to suppress one’s true nature whoever he is! It is a fact that Ravana was a brahmin. He had pleased Lord Siva by his Sama gana! He had tried to lift and shake Kailash, the abode of the Lord! He had imprisoned all the Navagrahas! He had the boons of invincibility and deathlessness! But what happened at last? His lust and the obsession for other’s wife doomed him to death! That is the original nature of rakshasas! Ravana was out and out a great rakshasa!  Surpanakha too, in essence, a  true rakshasa! The moment she saw Sri Rama in the forest, she fell head over heels in love with him! She had to suffer humiliation for that. The nature of all Rakshasas is to aspire for others’ wives! They have insatiable lust that eventually leads them to death and destruction! At one time or other the true nature of the Individual is exposed consciously or inadvertently!

BHAKTHA POTANA

The Bhagavata Purana of Sri Vedavyasa ha been rendered Into beautiful Telugu version by one of the greatest poets, Bhakta Potana. His life is full of miracles and an example of how God’s grace is showered on his ardent devotees! Born to Niyogi Brahmin parents, in Ekasila Nagara, potaraju was younger to his brother Tipparaju. One day, rearing cattle at the nearby hill, Potharaju spotted a yogi by name Chidananda, went and bowed to him with devotion. Pleased at the boy’s devotion, the Yogi gave him a powerful mantra for chanting. Potaraju chanted it with great concentration as a result of which he became a very great scholar and a poet! It did not stop at that. Once during the lunar eclipse, after taking his bath in the Ganga, he went into meditation and chanting. Amazingly, Lord Sri Rama presented himself before Potaraju and bade him  render Sri  Maha Bhagavata into the Telugu language! Waking up as if from a dream, Potaraju went home and informed the miracle to all his people. Potaraju was poor and had to be satisfied with only a meal a day! A farmer by profession, all his produce was spent in feeding guests and devotees! Despite his poverty, he never approached the king or the rich for help! His brother in-law, Srinatha, was a great poet patronized by the king and lived

in great luxury. He wanted Potharaju to live in luxury like him.

To show his prowess, Srinatha ordered his palanquin bearers to leave their hold! The palanquin did not fall down! It progressed forward as usual! Seeing this miracle, potaraju asked his son Mallanna who was tilling the field to release the bulls from the yoke. The plough went on tilling the field without the bulls! Potana told Srinatha that it is better to eke out a living by cultivation in villages rather than living in luxury by selling poetry and literature to kings! When Srinatha wanted Pothana to dedicate Srimad Bhagavata to the king, Pothana did not reply! In the meanwhile Srinatha informed the king that Potana had agreed to dedicate his Bhagavata to him! Potana was extremely sad for his silence. Soon Goddess Saraswati appeared in his vision in tears weeping pathetically! Potana was wonderstruck and pacified her by saying that he will not sell her to the cruel king of Karnataka! Meanwhile, the king, anxious to get the Bhagavata dedicated to him came with his retinue and camped on the outskirts of the town. He sent his man to inform Potana about his arrival. Potana was writing on the Varaha Avatar of Lord Vishnu and a real boar was keeping guard at potana's home! The person was terrified at this sight and ran back to the king! Others were sent but all returned shaking in fear! The king then went with all his servants and fought with the boar! All his soldiers failed to control the boar and were killed! The king too was wounded! Hearing this noise and confusion, Potana came out and was surprised to see the king in front of him!

The king fell at the feet of Potana and apologized! He begged pardon for trying to get the dedication of the Bhagavata by force! The dead soldiers came back to life after the king prayed to Sri Hari! Potana thanked the Lord for his compassion! Another amazing incident happened while Potana was translating the Astama Skanda of the Bhagavata! It was the story of Gajendra Moksha. He wrote a part of the stanza but couldn't continue. He gave them notebook to his daughter and went out for a small break. In the meanwhile Lord Sri Rama came in the guise of Potana and supplied the missing link! Potana returned and was speechless at the Divine intervention  and the fortune of his daughter in having the darshan of the Lord!

In describing the anxiety of the Lord to save Gajendra from the crocodile, potana had written that the Lord ran in hurruburry without informing Lakshmi or taking up his conch and chakra or Garuda or any of his followers! Srinatha made fun of the Lord hastening to save Gajendra without his Chakra! Potana replied that the Lord needed no implements to save other devotees! His will or Sankalpa is  enough in itself! But Srinatha was not convinced. The next day, Potana hid Srinatha’s son in a room and announced that he had fallen into the well. Srinatha was shell

shocked and immediately ran to the well. Potana stopped him and said how can he save his son without a rope and ladder! OkIf an ordinary father is so anxious to save his son, what more anxiety can be expected of the universal father to save his devotees? Potana taught a lesson to his brother in-law. Srinatha was ashamed of his conduct and remark. Potana then revealed that Srinatha’s son was safe and sound!

The Bhagavata Purana was fully completed and dedicated to the Lord! It is one of the most respected and honored of the Puranas! The rendering inTelugu is very faithful to Vyasa’s original. This is “kadalipaka” the essence of the plantain fruits which is very sweet and cannot be described till it is experienced! There is no other work sweeter and replete with pure devotion than the Andhra Maha Bhagavata in any language!

FLEETING MIND

A person gets up from his bed and places the pillows in their proper place. To his utter horror, he finds four or five small snakes under the pillows!He began trembling and could not control himself. The snakes have been there throughout the night. He too would have slept keeping his hand under the pillow! Did he fear anything at that time? Not at all. It is only when the mind or Manas is associated with the situation that one experiences fear and other emotions. He was normal and fearless since the mind did not take cognizance of the presence of the snakes under the pillow. Anjaneya in his search for Sita happens to see the Asura women asleep at night! He feels guilty of peeping again and again to find Sita during that part of the night. He doubts if he had committed a sin. He questions himself and concludes that no sin was committed! If the mind is involved it is a mistake. So long as the mind is not involved in your action, you are not at fault! He was just searching for Sita and had no other intention. Thus he concluded that he was not at fault!

“ Mana eva manushyanam karanam bandha mokshayoh” declare the Sastras. It is the mind or Manas alone the cause of attachment and detachment or salvation. It depends on the angle of vision with which you see objects and things.You look at your sister with love and affection. But when you see a beautiful girl on the street your feeling is different. It is the mind that is responsible for the 'vikara’-the wrong turn that one takes in his life. When mind is trained to follow the right royal path of Dharma or righteousness there is no danger for man! If he lets it loose there is disaster! There are three vessels one containing tamarind rice, the second full of curd rice and the third filled with sweet rice! It is in front of a person who is troubled in his mind!  He looks mentally deranged! What will he do? He takes some curd rice and smears it on the wall nearby! He gets some sweet rice and smears it on the head of a person next to him! What is the reaction of people? People with him apologize and say that the man's mind is not sound. Despite the presence of everything needed, it is the lack of involvement of  the mind that is the root cause of all troubles of man.

In the Taittiriya Upanishad, Bhrigu, son of Varuna, wants to know the Brahman! Varuna directs him to perform tapas and find the answer himself. After penance, he dismisses Annam and Prana as not equal to Brahman! Next he performs penance again and tells Varuna, his father, that Manas is the Brahman. “Mano Brahmeti vyajanath!” He was again turned back to go and perform tapas! Meditating once again, Bhrigu concluded that Vignana, or Knowledge is  Brahman! The power of discrimination, the rational sense of man, is the difference between man and the beast. “ Vijnanam Brahmeti vyajanath.” we know what is right and what is wrong but we are incapable of choosing the right path and direction! That is the prerogative of the great and exceptional people! Again and again we fall into the lurch and lose ourselves. In spite of our best efforts we land in the same slush!

For this reason the famous Azhwars have thrown all their responsibility on God! They assert that they do not know what is right or wrong.They don't want to pose as if they know everything. It is He who knows what is good or bad for His devotee. Hence they call upon the Almighty to bestow what is good for them! The knowledge of discrimination between the good and bad, the ephemeral and the everlasting, is the speciality of a wise man. Hence Bhrigu thought that Knowledge is Brahman! Varuna bade him again to go to the forest and meditate! Now it dawned upon Bhrigu that Anandam or Bliss is Brahman! Returning, he told Varuna “ Anando Brahmeti Vyajanath.”Brahma Vidya begins with Bliss or Ananada and progresses step by step and finally ends with Ananda! Ananda is indescribable and has no limitations. It is overflowing bliss. It is an inexhaustible spring of beatitude. The more you experience the more it is sweetening! It is something that we can never give up after tasting it for a day or two!

Thus if the mind is made to concentrate on the Brahman surely the aspirant can enjoy this Brahmananda! If the mind or Manas is frittered away in silly material things and mundane activities there is absolutely no chance for Salvation or moksha! The Upanishad declares that our body is the chariot and Atma the charioteer. Buddhi or intellect is the driver of the chariot and manas is the bridle! The five Senses are the horses that draw the chariot! The horses have to be controlled by the reins and the bridle! If the horses or Senses are given freedom they shall surely gallop at great speed and involve the rider in an accident! All our scriptures, Puranas and the Bhagavad-Gita insist on the control of our insatiable senses without which man can never think of moksha or salvation! The downfall of many a sage, Deva and man is the result of the loosening of the mind! We cannot have better illustrations than the great sage Viswamitra, and the celebrated Siva devotee Ravana who allowed their Senses a free run! Let us beware of the overriding influence of powerful Senses on all of us!