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September 2009 
What makes someone easy to be with?
Posted on Dec 6th, 2008
by 
Eli
Eli
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for December 06, 2008:
Access: PublicIs there a downfall for a yogi who can not attain perfection?
Posted on Dec 8th, 2008
by Eli
Eli
Introductory Notes:
The word 'Yoga" is popularly associated with the various "physical postures" (we go to the Yoga classes where we learn these "yoga asanas"). In Hindu scriptures, however, Yoga is uses in much broader sense. There are four kinds of Yoga, four primary ways of salvation in Hinduism, four possible paths to moksha or salvation. These are:
1. Bhakti Yoga, the way of devotion:
- It is the most popular road to salvation in India. Devotion and honor towards a god or gods
- It satisfies the longing for a more emotional and personal approach to religion
- In the way of devotion, the focus is on obtaining the mercy and help of a god in finding release from the cycle of reincarnation. Some Hindus conceive of ultimate salvation as absorption into the one divine reality, with all loss of individual existence. Others conceive of it as heavenly existence in adoration of the personal God.
2. Karma Yoga, the way of good works:
To carry out good works, good deeds, give money to the temple or to people, attend festivals, pilgrimages... and do the work for God's sake instead of your own... whatever you do, do it for God... don't look for fruit or success, just do it because it is the will of God...
3. Jnana Yoga, the way of knowledge:
To explore the Sacred Scriptures, usually with the help of a guru or a sadhus. It usually has three steps: Hearing (or reading), thinking, and meditation.
4. Raja Yoga, the way of contemplation or meditation:
It is called the "royal road", and it is the one used by most Hindu and Buddhist Cults... "meditation", or better, "contemplation", with the 8 steps of Raja Yoga (ashtanga yoga).
Yoga is hard to practice for those who can not control their mind. The mind, by it's very nature is restless. In Bhagwad Gita, it is said : "asamsayam mahabaho mano durnigraham chalam", meaning - Doubtless, O mighty - armed (Arjuna), the mind is restless and hard to control.
In Katha Upanishad we find the following:
"The Self cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, not by intelligence nor by much hearing. Only by him who seeks to know the Self can It be attained. To him the Self reveals Its own nature. None who has not refrained from bad conduct, whose senses are not under restraint, whose mind is not collected or who does not preserve a tranquil mind, can attain this Self through knowledge." (Katha Upanishad 1.2:23,24)
What happens if a yogi fails to attain perfection ( by perfection, we mean God-Realization which is also often called "self attainment" in Upanishads), is there a downfall? This is a very critical question for all seekers of truth.
The Bhagwad Gita gives a very clear answer in chapter 6.
Arjuna asks :
"Kachchinnobhayavibhrastaschinnabhramiva nasyati
apratisthomahabaho vimudho brahmanah pathi "
Bhagwad Gita 6:38
O mighty-armed, deluded in the path of God, without any hold, does he not perish like a rent cloud, deprived of both God-Realization and worldly enjoyment?
(Note: On one hand, the seeker renounced worldly pleasures, while on the other, because he was unable to control his restless mind, he failed in attaining the ultimate enlightenment ... thus, apparently he was like a rent cloud which did not descend on earth as rain, neither could this drift of cloud join the other ones).
To dispel this doubt, Lord Krishna says categorically:
"Partha naiveha namutra vinasastasya vidyate
na hi kalyankrtkaschiddurgatim tat gachchati"
Bhagwad Gita 6:40
O Partha, there is no fall for him either here or hereafter; for none who works for self-attainment meets with evil destiny.
in the next four verses of same chapter (verses 41,42,43, and 44), Bhagwad Gita explains what happens to such persons as follows:
Those persons who could not achieve self enlightenment, attain the "world of the righteous" (perhaps this is what might also be called Heaven). Having lived there for countless years, he who falls from Yoga, is reborn in the family of the pious and prosperous.
However, if such a person had already develoved dispassion, but was unable to attain the ultimate enlightenment, he would be reborn in a family of enlightened Yogis; but this kind of birth is very rare in this world. If he is reborn like this, he regains the knowledge of the previous birth and he strives more than before for self enlightenment.
Friday Five on the Road
Posted on Dec 12th, 2008
by Eli
Eli
1) Where have you traveled most recently?
To Baidyabati, a small township, for healing a soul suffering from anxiety related problems.
2) What city/ country have you always wanted to go? Is there a place that draws you?
There is no particular country I have "always" wanted to go. Yes there IS a particular place that draws me immnesely. This place is known as "Suradevi". It is at the foothills of the Himalayas, nested in deep forest, and has been my meditation place before I returned to civilization.
3) Which place(s) have you found particularly magical or beautiful?
"Sadhan Shanti Kutir" , Rajpur, Dehradun
"Pushan Ashram" , Near Naihati
"Ananadamayee Ashram", Varanasi
4) If you could travel anywhere this holiday season, where would you go?
I would go back to Suradevi
5) Who would you bring with you?
Nobody
To Baidyabati, a small township, for healing a soul suffering from anxiety related problems.
2) What city/ country have you always wanted to go? Is there a place that draws you?
There is no particular country I have "always" wanted to go. Yes there IS a particular place that draws me immnesely. This place is known as "Suradevi". It is at the foothills of the Himalayas, nested in deep forest, and has been my meditation place before I returned to civilization.
3) Which place(s) have you found particularly magical or beautiful?
"Sadhan Shanti Kutir" , Rajpur, Dehradun
"Pushan Ashram" , Near Naihati
"Ananadamayee Ashram", Varanasi
4) If you could travel anywhere this holiday season, where would you go?
I would go back to Suradevi
5) Who would you bring with you?
Nobody
What is your idea of heaven?
Posted on Dec 14th, 2008
by Eli
Eli
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for December 14, 2008:
What is prayer?
Posted on Dec 15th, 2008
by Eli
Eli
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for December 15, 2008:
Om sarveshaam swastir bhavatu
Sarveshaam shantir bhavatu
Sarveshaam poornam bhavatu
Sarveshaam mangalam bhavatu
Sarve bhavantu sukhinah
Sarve santu niraamayaah
Sarve bhadraani pashyantu
Maakaschit duhkha bhaag bhavet
Meaning:
Auspiciousness (swasti) be unto all; peace (shanti) be unto all;
fullness (poornam) be unto all; prosperity (mangalam) be unto all.
May all be happy! (sukhinah)
May all be free from disabilities! (niraamayaah)
May all look (pashyantu)to the good of others!
May none suffer from sorrow! (duhkha)
Shanti Mantra ( Peaceful )
Ashtadikpalas - the eight guardians of the sky
Posted on Dec 16th, 2008
by Eli
Eli
The dikpalas are eight in number. As their collective name suggests, they rule the eight quarters or the eight zones of the universe. Ashta means eight, dik means quarters or directions and palas means rulers. According to Hindu thinking each quarter is assigned to a particular divinity. He presides over it and acts as its chief guardian spirit ensuring the orderliness of the universe and the protection of its occupants. (It is interesting to note that there are no goddesses in this list).
We notice that during the Vedic period it was the Adityas who ruled the skies and kept a watch over the world from one end to another. The Adityas knew all the deeds, because they had eyes and spies everywhere. While the Adityas ruled the skies, on earth it was Pusan, the god with a shaft who knew the directions and who showed the paths that led to green pastures and safe places. In the Rigvedic hymns we do not find any reference to the dikpalas.
Thus the concept of Ashtadikpalas was a post vedic development. In the post Vedic period, many gods lost their ranks. Some gods completely disappeared. There was an obvious adjustment and compromise with native cultures. The Vedic gods lost their significance during this period and reemerged as the dikpalas.
The concept of Ashtadikpalas symbolically denotes that God is every where and in every direction and that in whatever direction you proceed or offer your worship, you will ultimately find Him. When one makes an atma-pradakshina (revolving around one self) in front of God, one is not only saluting the self with in, the God in front, but also the divinities that are around onself i all the directions.
The knowledge of the Ashtadikpalas became the basis for the evolution of the traditional Hindu science of design and construction called Vasthu-shastra. Vasthu-shastra means knowledge of things. It is actually a science which deals with how things should be organized in a particular location for the better flow of energies and blessings of divinities. In ancient India it played an important role in the :
- construction of temples and places of worship,
- location of various components of a house in relation to the street, city or town where it is located,
- location and arrangement of various household things like furniture and utensils and arrangement of rooms, doors and windows with in the house,
- location of the farm fields and water tanks,
- how to position a dead body before and during cremation,
- the direction in which one should sleep or sit while performing a puja or a ceremony and so on.
Just to give a few examples, many traditional Hindus believe that the north east corner of a room should be left vacant, because that direction belongs to Iswara. They would also prefer to do business facing north, because north is ruled by Kubera, the lord of wealth, and avoid facing the south generally, since the direction is ruled by Yama, the lord of death. People also would not prefer to construct their houses, with the main facade facing the south, since that would supposedly lead to physical and mental difficulties and disabilities for the occupants and the owners.
Following are the the eight gods who rule the eight quarters:
East Indra
West Varuna
North Kubera
South Yama
South East Agni
South West Niruthi
North East Isana
North West Vayu
What was the last experience that took your breath away?
Posted on Dec 17th, 2008
by Eli
Eli
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for December 17, 2008:
Terrorist attack on Mumbai
The flower of Vedic Chants - Mantra Pushpam (with audio)
Posted on Dec 30th, 2008
by Eli
Eli
Mantra Pushpam
This great mantra is taken from Taithreeya Aranyakam (1.22) of Yajur Veda. It is one of the most famous of all veda mantras and remains quite popular till date. It is normally sung in a chorus by all the priests together after performing any Pooja (worship) or Yajna.
The basic message contained in this mantra is that water is the basis of this universe.
However, one can experience much deeper spiritual meaning. Serious readers would surely ponder deeply at the hint in the mentioning of a "raft" in the paragraph "Samvastaro Va Apamayatanam ...." of this mantra.
Yopam puspam veda
Puspavan prajavan pasuvan bhavati
Chandramava Apam puspam
Puspavan, Prajavan pasuman bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanam bhavati.
He who understands the flowers of water,
He becomes the possessor of flowers, progeny and cattle.
Moon is the flower of the water,
He who knows it to be so,
He becomes the possessor of flowers, progeny and cattle.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self,
Agnirva Apamayatanam
Ayatanavan Bhavati
Yo agnerayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovagner ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Fire is the source of water,
He who knows the source of Fire,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of fire,
He who knows it to be so,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self.
Vayurva Apamaya tanam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Yova Yorayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati|
Apovai va yorayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Ya Evam veda
Yopamayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan Bhavati
Air is the source of water,
He who knows the source of Air,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of air,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self,
Asowvai tapanna pamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yo musya tapata Ayatanan Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apova Amusyatapata Ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Scorching sun is the source of water,
He who knows the source of the Scorching Sun,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of scorching sun,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self,
Chandrama Vama pamayatnam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Yascandra masa Ayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai Candra masa Ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yo pamayatanam veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Moon is the source of water,
He who knows the source of Moon,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of moon,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self,
Nakshtrani va Apamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yo Nakshtrana mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai Nakshtrana mayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ye evam Veda
Yopamaya tanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Stars are the source of water,
He who knows the source of the Stars,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of stars,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself,
Parjanyova apamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yah parjanyasya syayatinam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai parjanya Syayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ye Evam veda
Yopa maya tanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Clouds are the source of water,
He who knows the source of the Clouds,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of clouds,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self,
(Note: The following paragraph has got a hidden meaning – this is to say that there is a raft available to cross over all the forces of Nature and to see the God beyond all of them – God himself is the raft – we have to seek His help to see Him. We need to understand that He, indeed is the raft. This paragraph also makes the serious reader wonder on what is the real meaning of the word "water" used throughout this mantra.)Puspavan prajavan pasuvan bhavati
Chandramava Apam puspam
Puspavan, Prajavan pasuman bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanam bhavati.
He who understands the flowers of water,
He becomes the possessor of flowers, progeny and cattle.
Moon is the flower of the water,
He who knows it to be so,
He becomes the possessor of flowers, progeny and cattle.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self,
Agnirva Apamayatanam
Ayatanavan Bhavati
Yo agnerayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovagner ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Fire is the source of water,
He who knows the source of Fire,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of fire,
He who knows it to be so,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self.
Vayurva Apamaya tanam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Yova Yorayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati|
Apovai va yorayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Ya Evam veda
Yopamayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan Bhavati
Air is the source of water,
He who knows the source of Air,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of air,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self,
Asowvai tapanna pamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yo musya tapata Ayatanan Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apova Amusyatapata Ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Scorching sun is the source of water,
He who knows the source of the Scorching Sun,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of scorching sun,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self,
Chandrama Vama pamayatnam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Yascandra masa Ayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai Candra masa Ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yo pamayatanam veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Moon is the source of water,
He who knows the source of Moon,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of moon,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self,
Nakshtrani va Apamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yo Nakshtrana mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai Nakshtrana mayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ye evam Veda
Yopamaya tanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Stars are the source of water,
He who knows the source of the Stars,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of stars,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself,
Parjanyova apamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yah parjanyasya syayatinam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai parjanya Syayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ye Evam veda
Yopa maya tanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Clouds are the source of water,
He who knows the source of the Clouds,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of clouds,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self,
Samvastaro Va Apamayatanam
Ayatavan bhavati
Yassavatsa rasyaya tanam Veda
Ayatavan bhavati.
Apovai samvasara ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam veda
Yopsu Navam pratistitam veda
Pratyeva tistati
Rainy season is the source of water,
He who knows the source of Rainy Season,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of rainy season,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows that there is a raft is available,
Becomes established in that raft.
Ayatavan bhavati
Yassavatsa rasyaya tanam Veda
Ayatavan bhavati.
Apovai samvasara ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam veda
Yopsu Navam pratistitam veda
Pratyeva tistati
Rainy season is the source of water,
He who knows the source of Rainy Season,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of rainy season,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows that there is a raft is available,
Becomes established in that raft.
{This stanza is included in some versions of mantra Pushpam
Om thad Brahma,
Om it is Brahma
Om Thad Vayu.
Om it is air
Om Thad Athma
Om it is the soul
Om Thad Sathyam
Om it is the truth
Om That Sarvam
Om it is everything
Om That puror nama
Om salutations to that Purusha
Anthascharathi bhootheshu Guhyam Viswa Murthishu
That which is inside all beings secretly is that Universal God
Thvam Yajna
You are the fire sacrifice (Yajna),
Thwam vashatkara
You are the the personification of Vedic sacrifice
Thwam Indra
You are the Indra
Thvam vayu
You are the air
Thvam Rudra
You are the Rudra
Vishnus thvam
You are the Vishnu
Brahmasthvam
You are the Brahma
Thvam prajaipathi
You are the Lord and saviour of all beings (prajapati)
Om Thadhapa apo jyothi raso amrutham brahma bhur bhuvasuvarom
Om water is light, the essence is the nectar and the concept of Brahma is in all the seven worlds.}
Rajadhi rajaya Prasahya Sahine|
Namo Vayam Vai Sravanaya Kurmahe
Samekaman Kama Kamaya mahyam
Kamesvaro Vai Sravano dadatu
Kuberaya Vai Sravanaya
Maha rajaya Namah.
King of kings, we praise thee,
Who is the giver of all victories,
Who is the fulfiller of all desires,
Please bless me with wealth,
To fulfill all our desires,
Oh, Kubhera, we praise thee,
Salutations to the king of kings.
(The last stanza is normally recited by priests while giving back prasada after performing an Archana in all Namo Vayam Vai Sravanaya Kurmahe
Samekaman Kama Kamaya mahyam
Kamesvaro Vai Sravano dadatu
Kuberaya Vai Sravanaya
Maha rajaya Namah.
King of kings, we praise thee,
Who is the giver of all victories,
Who is the fulfiller of all desires,
Please bless me with wealth,
To fulfill all our desires,
Oh, Kubhera, we praise thee,
Salutations to the king of kings.
temples)
Note: Kubhera is the Lord of wealth.
Mantra Pushpam - Vedic Hymns in sanskrit
What was the last thing you smiled about?
Posted on Dec 30th, 2008
by Eli
Eli
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for December 30, 2008:
