My Rich Heritage

|| Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||



Our Country South Africa



Aum Namo Narayanaya

My loving pranams to you all. I trust that as South Africans we utilised Saturday (Heritage Day) to reflect upon and appreciate our heritage. As descendants of an immigrant community there is always sometimes ambiguity with regards to our identities. The cultural umbilical cord continues to nourish our love for our ancestral motherland.

At this point I recall the thunderous words of Swami Vivekanada when  he said: “What we
want are some young men who will renounce everything and sacrifice their lives for their country's sake.” For the love of His country Swamiji dedicated his life's breath for the emancipation of the masses who were displaying vivid signs of oppression and colonisation.

After spending three days and nights in deep contemplation and meditation at Kanya Kumari, Revered Swamiji proclaimed: “The best way to serve and seek God is to serve the needy, to feed the hungry, to help the fallen and friendless, irrespective of caste or creed.”

It is definitely the Dharma of an individual to give his life if need be in defending his land of birth, and to work for the welfare of all its citizens.

In terms of this duty no one has put it more eloquently than Swamiji when he said: “I hold every man a traitor who, having been educated at their expense, pays not the least heed to them! I call those men who strut about in their finery, having got all their money by grinding the poor, wretches, so long as they do not do anything for those two hundred millions who are now no better than hungry savages.”

Yes indeed, I am African and South African identify strongly with the words  of our former President Thabo Mbeki when he said:

I owe my being to the hills and the valleys, the mountains and the glades, the rivers, the deserts, the trees, the flowers, the seas and the ever-changing seasons that define the face of our native land. My body has frozen in our frosts and in our latter day snows. It has thawed in the warmth of our sunshine and melted in the heat of the midday sun. The crack and the rumble of the summer thunders, lashed by startling lightening, have been a cause both of trembling and of hope.

The fragrances of nature have been as pleasant to us as the sight of the wild blooms of the citizens of the veld. The dramatic shapes of the Drakensberg, the soil-coloured waters of the Lekoa, iGqili, noThukela, and the sands of the Kgalagadi, have all been panels of the set on the natural stage on which we act out the foolish deeds of the theatre of our day.

At times, and in fear, I have wondered whether I should concede equal citizenship of our country to the leopard and the lion, the elephant and the springbok, the hyena, the black mamba and the pestilential mosquito. A human presence among all these, a feature on the face of our native land thus defined, I know that none dare challenge me when I say - I am an African!

In saying this, I can never deny though, my lineage back to the great sages of India, who have through immense austerities and penance handed down the most profound knowledge and value systems for the welfare of humanity. I therefore feel proud and with this knowledge as the basis of my existence I am in a better position to contribute positively to my country and people.

On this important day, the Shree Veeraboga Emperumal Temple launched the Narayana Seva Grain Bank, which will provide hot meals to the hungry on a weekly basis at first and then seek to increase the frequency as the project gains momentum.

As part of this seva a wonderful addition was added to the temple, which is practiced in many Narayana temples in India. The Thullabaram (scale) where devotees make an offering equivalent to their body weight was also launched. Devotees will be able to donate grains and items equal to their body weight towards the feeding project. Without a doubt they will receive the divine grace of the Lord.

This project is not done as a mere charity but with the motive of serving the Lord in man and will lend impetus to nation building and driving the social and development agenda of our country.

I sincerely pray that we appreciate our heritage and work selflessly for the welfare of our country in all respects, whilst preserving the rich lineage of our sages and saints of India.

This week millions of Hindus throughout the world will commence the festival of Navarathri - the nine nights of worship dedicated to the Divine Mother.  The Mother in our dharma has been given the highest form of respect. She is always respected first, yes even before God - as the famous saying goes: “Mataa, Pitha, Guru, Devam” which translates to “Mother, Father, Guru and God”.

She is unmatched in compassion and love and will give her life for her children. In the same manner one’s county is one’s motherland and if one respects and reveres their country, she will reciprocate with her all embracing motherly love.

I take this opportunity is wishing all observing Navarathri the grace of the Divine Mother and may you have the opportunity to feel Her love.

With love and prayers always

Rama Bhajanalu

|| Sri  Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Aum Namo Narayanaya

Let me start this blog by wishing all those observing Purutassi and Pitr Paksh a very rewarding and divine experience. I am sure that the tone and bhav has been set to experience the grace and love of the divine during this period.



Sri Sita Ramachandra Lakshmana and Hanumanji



The month started with much impetus at the Shree Veeraboga Emperumal Temple when we hosted the annual Raam Bhajanalu Festival at the temple yesterday. A huge crowd gathered, although it was the final day to indulge in feasting before the month long fast.
As I witnessed the Bhajan, it occurred to me how great the force of God was that it broke down barriers that have been established by man. I speak of the language and cultural partitions that have wedged us. It was inspiring to see how Tamil speaking youngsters sang and performed this Telegu  folk art of Andhra Pradesh with relative ease.

I am not an expert on Andhra culture, and was indeed appreciative of the erudite article researched and presented by Dr Pravine Naidoo (Attorney of the High Court of SA) on the origins of the Raam Bhajanalu. With his kind permission I have reproduced it here for you to enrich your knowledge on the subject.
 
 Article begins

Raama Bhajanalu is one of the most popular folk arts, and has for centuries been a vehicle of self-expression and fulfills the needs of the spiritual-minded Telugu rural folk of the Andhra Pradesh State in South India.
Raama Bhajana / Chekka Bhajana is a form of dance accompanied by the striking of cymbals as well as striking of wooden pieces of one or half feet long and about 3 inch wide to the ends of which two round brass or iron pieces are fixed. Bells are placed in the center by making holes. They are held against each other in between the palm. The jingling music produced when the palm is opened and closed, along with the song is very pleasing to hear to which the dancers dance. Chirata is a smaller instrument, which is 8 inch to 9 inch long and 1 inch to 1 1/2 inch wide.

They are used especially to sing songs in praise of Lord Rama and the performance is known as Rama Bhajana and the performers ‘Rama Dandu’.  In the 'old' days each village had a trained group (dandu) of Raama Bhajana / Chekka Bhajana dancers, who used to move with two (02) kola lamps/torches and an idol of Lord Rama from one village to the other. Villagers used to learn it during the lean months of summer, when they are relatively free from agriculture work. It is obligatory to the Rama-Dandu of the next village to receive the bhajana troupe and the idol and take it to the next village. Ultimately, after touring several villages on the way, the troupes reach Bhadrachalam on the Rama Navami day and pay their homage to Lord Raama.
There are innumerable troupes all over Andhra Pradesh, which perform the Raama Bhajana / Chekka Bhajana even today. They are however limited to their villages, mostly in North Eastern Coastal Andhra Pradesh (Vishakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram, Srikakulam Districts).

The Raama Bhajana / Chekka Bhajana group consists of about 16 to 20 artists. The artists are dressed in simple, yet, colorful costumes - a dhoti, a waistcloth, a colored kerchief around the neck, a garland, flower bracelets on the hands, ankle bells and a smear of vermilion on the forehead. Each dancer carries his "chekkas" with much adoration.

The performance contains several Telugu songs to varying rhythms called ‘kopus’. There are about 100 Kopus or adugulu in which a particular song is sung. Every song contains several kopus, based on the variations.  In this performance, there is a main singer who initiates each song and sings a line, which is repeated by the others. The commencing steps are known as Adi Adugu (beginning steps). This is compulsory item. The other steps are known as Potu Adugu, Kuppadugu, Kulukula Adugu, Joku Adugu, Nemili Adugu, Gurappu Adugu, Uyyala Adugu.

Most of the Telugu bhajana are dedicated to Lord Raama, Lord Narayana (Maha Vishnu / Venkateshwara), Narasimha Deva Swami & Simhadri Appana Swami.  With its great variety, innate devotion and an element of drama, Raama Bhajana / Chekka Bhajana is the most popular form of narrative art in Andhra Pradesh.
It is a matter of immense pride that the descendants of those Andhra-Telugu forebears in Andhra Pradesh are still propagating, preserving and advancing their rich linguistic, religious and cultural traditions in South Africa to date.

 Article Ends

We understand that we must internalise these practices for our spiritual growth. I recall in one discourse revered Swamiji Vimokshananda spoke of “su” meaning to be in tune. This Bhajan is sincerely appreciated when the singing, dancing, cymbal and drum playing are in sync. If not, it would present as a huge irritation. In the same way we must synchronise our mind, word, thoughts and actions with our spiritual consciousness.
Then we will be well constituted to radiate the divinity that is latent within each of us.

Those whose faculties are not in tune with the divine consciousness can be referred to as 'asuric', a word we all would have come across in many of our puranas.

Let us all resolve during this auspicious period to make constructive changes in to our lives to navigate towards divinity. Take the name of God, apply it to our physical being, mental being and spiritual being and slowly all our asuric qualities will fade away. 

Till next week, may you enjoy a blessed week.
With love and prayers always.

Purutassi - A Month of Spirtual Elevation

||Shri Ramakrishna Sharanam||                               

Aum Namo Narayanaya


Thirupathi Balaji

The month of September not only heralds the season of Spring and rejuvenation but signals the time to spring-clean mind and body and set upon austerities for one's spiritual progress. Yes indeed, I speak of the month long fast in which predominantly South Indians will undertake. With just about a week to go before this auspicious month begins, many households would have commenced their annual cleanup in preparation for the significant period which is associated with cleanliness, purity and devotion.

This prayer is associated with Lord Venketeshwara or Emperumal as he is affectionately known in many quarters. It is known that worship of Narayana comes with immense sacrifice, austerity and purity in all fronts. Worship to Him in this month is concentrated on Saturdays (regarded as His special day) with preparation of simple vegetarian dishes or simply fruit and milk. Special hymns are recited followed by chants of “Govinda Govinda” - sending immense energy and positive vibrations into the air, and churning the minds and hearts of all with His sweet name (meaning 'the protector of all').

Although many have associated this month with the harvest and monsoons in India, we have come to learn that all rituals and prayers in Hindu Dharma have been introduced deliberately to  invoke introspection and divine feelings on the highway  to self realisation or God realisation. If these were not introduced at periodic intervals, then man would continue his mundane existence and only turn to God when in trouble. It is possible for us to lead a life of constant bliss if we are in regular communion with God.

Fasting is generally associated with a total abstinence of any food for a particular period.  Although many devotees undertake a fast on the Saturdays on which worship is offered, the month is usually observed with the abstinence of meat, alcohol and sense pleasures as a means of purifying the physical being. The term that would be most appropriate to this month is Upavasa. Vasa means to reside and Upa means near.

This month is therefore an attempt through certain austerities and sacrifices to reside close to God. Lord Venketeshewara who resides on the seven hills of Thirupathi is referred to as the Lord who burns all sins (Ven – sins, keta - burn, eshwara – God). The temple of the Lord whose dome is adorned in pure gold is situated on the top of the seven hills. The seven hills represent the seven deadly desires that prevent us from reaching the house of God. They are lust, greed, gluttony, anger, hatred, dishonesty and ego or pride. When one starts on the pilgrimage from Thirupathi to Thirumala on foot, one understands the journey of life more easily. Along the way you will pass the various temples dedicated to the various forms or avatars of Lord Narayana indicating and directing us to evolve from the baser level to our true nature of divinity.

Sri Ramakrishna says "Desires are like holes in a vessel. We can work extremely hard to fill the vessel but all the contents will leak out."
 

 In the same way, all penance and spiritual efforts are leaked through the holes of desire. If we are able to overcome the seven deadly desires in life we can find that Lord that we all seek - like finding the glorious golden abode at the end of the seven hills of Thirumala. The Thirumala that we all want is in our hearts. By cleaning our external through the observance of fasts we strengthen the will and mind to transcend the desires which cloud the divinity within.  Replacing all these desires with pure devotion and love for God will allow to be close to him. Srinivasa which is another name for Venketeshwara means the Mother Luxmi who resides in the Lord. In the same way, if we purify both our external and internal being then the Lord will reside in our hearts. We will thus be in constant communion with him ensuring we are bathed in His complete mercy and bliss always.
 

The Shree VeeraBoga Emperumal Temple will be commencing the month of Purtassi with a special Raam Bhajan on 17th September 2011 commencing at 17:30pm. Thereafter, the first week will be celebrated on 24th September 2011 commencing at 16:00pm. This will continue every Saturday thereafter culminating on the last Saturday 15th October 2011 with the reading of the Veeraboga Sarithram. Supper will be served and all are welcome. I take this opportunity in wishing all those who are observing this auspicious month, the grace of Lord Narayana.

With Love and Prayers Always

Swami Vivekananda for World President



|| Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

We have entered the season of rejuvenation and growth. Already signs of life have emerged unscathered from the clasps of the barren slumber. An impetus for activity has caught on and there seems to be no chance of abating the spirit as a flurry of colour twinned with a metamorphosis in fashion taking centre stage.



Swami Vivekananda



Concurrently with natures resurgence we are spectators to a phenomenal resurgence or activism that has captivated the globe at various points. What started in Egypt has sparked a wave and series of mass mobilising against regimes that have failed to meet the demands of the people. These unchecked volcanoes of discontent, frustration and social injustice can no longer hold its contents of fury.

South Africa is also not immune to this volcanoe as hundreds of disenfranchised youth threw their weight behind their youth leader for his vociferous call for policy change in land redistribution and mine management in our country. This will continue to be a regular occurrence until the capital elites stop self enriching and send their thoughts towards the masses in poverty.

Swami Vivekananda said,” my whole ambition in life is to set in motion machinery which will bring noble ideas to the door of every day. Work hard, be steady and have faith in the Lord, elevation of the masses without injuring their religion. Remember that the nation lives in the cottage and nobody ever did anything for them. Can you raise them (the masses) can you give them back their lost individuality without losing their innate spiritual nature?  Can you become an occidental of occidentals in your spirit of equality, freedom, work and energy and at the same time a Hindu to the very backbone in religious and cultural instincts? This is to be done and we will do it, we are all born to do it. Have faith in yourselves, great conviction is the mother of all great deeds.

Swamji was a strong advocate and champion of the poor masses and lobbied to improve their condition. The teachings of Swamiji placed emphasis on man making education to augment the social values and moral fabric of society as expounded by the ethical ideology of Vedanta.

Swamiji a monk of the Ramakrishna Mission and Math was way ahead of his time in terms of the trajectory that India must take in order to raise from the ashes of exploitation and colonialism which left her destitute. Being a monk Swamiji has thought us that detachment does not mean aversion. Sri Ramakrishna also pointed out that there is nothing wrong with making money so long as it is utilised for the goal of god realisation.

In this material age money is an essential component to satisfy the basic needs of the body, without which the higher goals of spiritual advancement become attenuated.



Swamiji



Swamiji’s travels to the West and Asia made a tremendous impact on his vision to raise India, his focus was to take up industrialization to move the economy. He said,” if I can get some unmarried graduates, I may try and make arrangements to send them to Japan to get some technical education there. So when they come back they can turn their knowledge to the best account for India. The secret to Japans success is that they have taken the knowhow from Europe but remain Japanese, whilst in our country the mania of Westernism has gripped us like the plague. Due to this westernisation agriculture which is an important economic driver had taken a back seat.  Government policies and leaders have failed to stimulate these sectors of the economy by easing access to capital finance and subsiding agriculture yet support and nurture selfish capitalists.

The question that claims our attention then, we live in a world with so much knowledge, resources and science why can’t we rid the world of poverty and starvation? The answer is simple, greed which leads to corruption results in non delivery of services and assistance to the citizens. This is not new and has been happening from more than 3000 years. Evidence of which can be found in our scriptures. This has prompted great minds of the times to give guidance on this malaise.  When one reads the Arthashastra of Vishnu Gupta or Kauthilya , one can see the guidelines in running an ideal state that will ensure good governance for the welfare of the masses of people.

The way forward for leaders and policy makers is to latch onto Swamijis ideas on poverty eradication. We should and must take his vedantic approach, “Look upon every man and woman as God alone. You cannot help anyone; you can only serve the children of God. If the Lord grants that you can help anyone one of his children, blessed are you. Do not think much of yourself. Blessed you are that the privilege was given to you when others have it not. Do it only has worship. I should see God in the poor, and it is for my salvation that I go and worship them.

What a profound philosophy Swamiji has given us, which when practiced with sincere devotion will instil within each one of us an expansive heart which will see the divinity in everyone irrespective of their circumstances and at once without hesitation make us serve them as the very father who created this universe. Where in there will we find the room for arrogance, greed and selfishness?

Let us as Swamiji said, accumulate “power “in silence and become dynamos of spirituality.

Viva Swamiji Viva !!!!!