Sri Hari -Our Emissary!!!

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Sri Hari

 

Aum Namo Narayanaya

 

Yesterday saw many families make their way to the temples for the observance of the first Saturday in the auspicious period of Purutassi. Although many will congregate at temples, a significant number also observe their home prayer on this day. From a physical perspective it is marked with absolute purity as by the first Saturday many households would be thoroughly cleaned; all non-veg provisions completely removed; and a set of new utensils and cookware would have replaced the conventional ones. The bhakta by this time having abstained from, meat, alcohol and other pleasures is also in a physically purified state. This process assists in constituting a divine and conducive environment to welcome and serve the Lord with an assortment of delicacies prepared with immense devotion and love.

 

Seated at the feet of Narayana at our temple prayer, tears were instantly liberated from my tear ducts as I gazed at his blue fatherly countenance - bedecked with the finest ornaments, bracelets, armlets, fish-marked earrings, kasturba necklace and draped in His favourite pithambara (yellow) dhoti. This coupled with His ruby-studded diadem and naamam (insignia worn on forehead) and radiating with the beauty and brilliance of Mother Lakshmi. As I sat transfixed at His lotus feet, embraced by the coiled body of Adi Shesha, I bowed mentally again and again to the unborn merciful Lord who dwells in the hearts of the detached.

 

My mind grazing on the meadows of His boundless beauty hinged on the image of His feet at once recollected the avathar of Vamana. That very Srinivasa (abode of Maha Lakshmi)  from whence all wealth flows, in this form armed with a begging bowl, staff and adorned with a mere deer skin and loin cloth - in complete contrast to Sriman Narayana as seen above, came for the benefit of His devotee Bali Raja.

 

Bali Raja, the grandson of Prahalad was an asuric King who was a great devotee, had won over the kingdom of the heavens by his might and prowess blessed upon him by his Gurus. In Fear of him, the devas abandoned their abode and sought refuge at the lotus feet of Maha Vishnu.  The all-knowing and all-pervading Lord, already mindful of the catastrophe afflicting them, agreed to assist

 

At the behest and guidance of his Guru Sri Suckracharya, Maharaja Bali was asked to perform a special sacrifice in order to retain the power and status obtained. Taking the form of a brahmacharian boy, holding in his hand an umbrella and water vessel, Vamana approached the sacrifice hall on the banks of the Narmada river with the quest to reduce the ego of Bali Raja. Sage Vyas Dev described the countenance of the Lord as the rising sun at dawn, whose brilliance paled the others into a mere shadow, making them wonder if the visitor was the sun deity. He was accorded a warm and loving welcome as per protocols prescribed by the dharma.

 

After the ceremonious welcome, the King offered the Lord in His form as Vamana anything He desired as a gesture for blessing his sacrifice with His divine presence. In an exalted state after conquering the heavens’, assuming that he now ruled the universe, very proudly offered cows, gold, house, hearty meals, prosperous villages, horses, or anything that he fancied. In reply to his boisterous offer, the Lord humbly requested just 3 paces of land measured by His feet.

 

Hearing this, the King ridiculed the Lord, saying that He must be stupid  and immature to seek  such a pittance in land from the master of the universe who has the ability to gift an entire continent and implores  the Lord to ask of more so that He may never need to ask assistance from another ever again.

 

To this, the Lord who is intelligence himself replied that even the pleasing of objects of the universe will not be enough to satisfy  a man who has no control of the senses. A person who is not satisfied with 3 feet of earth will not be satisfied with getting a whole continent. He will aspire to get 7 continents. A man who is satisfied with what he has is happy. But a man who has no mastery of the senses will not be satisfied even if he received all 3 worlds. The chief cause of man's entanglement is his insatiable longing for wealth and pleasure. Upon hearing this the King laughed condescendingly and promised the Lord 3 paces of land although being warned by his guru that Vamana was indeed the Lord and his promise will bring ruin to him

 

Sri Hari immediately resumed His glorious form and grew limitlessly. With the first pace, He covered the entire earth and with the second pace He covered the entire heavens and then stopped. In a very aggrieved tone, He then asked Maha Bali for the 3^rd step he promised clarifying that if one did not upkeep a promise then he would have to enjoy the regions of hell.

 

It was then when confronting this majestic form of the Lord, humiliated by this intellect and power, Bali humbled Him in defeat and offered his head as the 3^rd pace. Thus having received the touch of Maha Vishnu, he was released from the bonds of misery and liberated.

 

This wonderful episode given to us by Vyas Dev - so descriptive and colourful in presenting the wonderful sports of the most merciful one - brings so much of inspiration and guidance for us humans plagued by these obstacles that prevent our spiritual progress.

 

Sri Ramakrishna said: "It is on account of the ego that one is not able to see God. In front of the door of God's mansion lies the stump of ego. One cannot enter the mansion without jumping over the stump."

 

With all his material possessions King Maha Bali's ego was so huge that it blinded him from seeing the Lord and the advice of his Guru (who could see the Lord because of His pure heart and unattachment to wealth, ego, fame and lust).

 

In two steps, the Lord stripped him off everything he owned - indicating to us that all that we possess is by the grace of God alone and must be used diligently and for His service. Abuse of such can be easily taken away. In the 3^rd pace, by His mere touch, removed his ego. It is known that the ego operates in the realm of the mind, hence by placing His feet on the head, the Lord diminishes the ego.

 

Therefore, the placing of the naamam (symbol of Narayana's lotus feet) on the forehead during the observance of Purutassi reminds us to displace ego with humility and always serve His divine will.

 

During this month of Purutassi - apart from your personal sadhana - also take time to serve the Lord in the less fortunate. Swami Vivekananda always reminds us that the Lord is the sum total of all jivas. Utilise your resources to serve Him in all. In that way, your worship becomes more direct.

May the grace of Sri Hari be upon all is my sincere prayer.

 

With love and prayers always

Yogan 

ONENESS!!!

|| Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 

Aum Namo Narayanaya

150

 

As the earth, fauna and flora take delight in the darshan (rain) from the heavens - anxiety fills many minds on the impending damage as drains become rivulets and rivers exceed their banks engulfing the landscape. I am reminded of a passage by Swami Vivekananda in His Karma Yoga lectures when He speaks of man's futile exercise in accumulating land, buildings and other material assets at the expense of spiritual knowledge; when all these material possessions can be wiped out in an instant by floods, earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes to mention but a few.

A grim reminder of this was the memorial of the horrific September 11 attacks where airplanes hijacked by terrorists plunged into the Twin Towers - iconic buildings populating the skyline of New York. The event shattered and tore at the integrity of a nation that built its foundation on liberty and prosperity for all. These attacks on freedom have since spread across to other nations, eroding the peace and tranquillity that once carpeted the land.

As the world recessed into an emotional tide over these events, I warmed my heart to an event that took place on the very same day on the very same soil, exactly 119 years ago. 11 September 1893 saw an attack of a different kind, as Swami Vivekananda represented the world’s oldest dharma at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Addressing the august gathering, Swamiji ‘s divine words attacked the skewed and narrow ideals of the world.

His opening address, which attracted a 3 minute standing ovation for His opening remarks, were pregnant with prophetic wisdom on what the world would face because of its refusal to understand the advaita nature of creation.

–Swamiji's speech:

"Sisters and Brothers of America. [At this moment came the ovation]. It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions; and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.

My thanks also to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honour of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration.

I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation.

I will quote to you brethren a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest childhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: 'As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.'

The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: 'Whosoever comes to me, though whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me.'

Sectarianism, bigotry, and it's horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful Earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization, and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now.

But their time hass come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honour of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal."

Mans ignorance fuelled by his blinding ego has alienated himself from the principles of the Universe. Basing his superiority on colour of skin, power, and wealth he has become a slave to maya instead of serving the truth. The truth as explained by our revered Swamiji that "every being is potentially divine", and "the God that we all seek, the only God I believe in, the sum total of all souls". If we all understood and followed this simple doctrine, we would see peace and harmony return to the world.

To amplify His message Swamiji established, on 19 March 1899, the Mayavati Advaita Ashram in the Himalayas, which is totally non-dualistic. As an ashram dedicated to the study and practice of Advaita Vedanta, no images or idols are worshipped here, not even of Sri Ramakrishna, and no images were kept in the premises according to the ashram ideals set by Swami Vivekananda Himself.

This centre set up by Swamiji is the panacea for the fragmentation and discord found in the world today. He further added: "Here it is hoped to keep advaita free from all superstitions and weakening contaminations. Here will be taught and practised nothing but the doctrine of unity, plain and simple - and though in entire sympathy with all other systems, this ashrama is dedicated to advaita and advaita alone."

Based on this principle as expounded by the Mayavati Ashram, a group of interested people are busy planning a similar centre in South Africa in celebration of Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth celebration. The centre will help heal divisions and contribute towards building a society that understands its unity in the diversity.

We invite professionals (architects,surveyors, engineers) and financiers (donors), trusts etc. who would like to be involved in this project to contact me on 0027837877510 or via email at yoganviv@gmail.com.

May Swamiji’s ideals of the oneness seep through every crevice of society and help cement a unified world based on love and harmony, is my sincere prayer.

Wishing all devotees of the Lord Venketeshwara, well over Purtassi, which begins tomorrow.

With love and prayers always

Yogan

Jai Ganesha !!!!

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 

Lord Ganesha

Aum Namo Narayanaya

 

The last traces of winter were eliminated last week when the spring rains drenched the crusty earth, injecting life into the lassitude roots thus releasing them from the clasps of their 3 month slumber.  The pungent aroma of earth wafted by the halcyon breeze enchanted the creatures to dance to the symphony of joy in anticipation of the entrée of succulence.

 

As much as we find ourselves happy within this jubilant period, there are many who see life as leaving a rancid, repulsive and repugnant taste in their mouth. Swollen with despondency, it’s the sincere devotees who label God as a sadist who is merrily entertained by the pain, grief and suffering of them who have invested so much of time in His worship. Going to bed and arising with tears at their futile efforts in seizing joy in their efforts, they become decrepit and take on the morbid outlook of life.

 

Ekam Sat Vipraha, Baudhi Vedanti - There is only one truth, the seers refer to it by various names. In its unrelenting pursuit of taking the seeker across the ocean of samsara; Hindu Dharma through the crystalline revelations of the great rishis has been able to present the incorporeal satchidananda into personal deities or forms  with special qualities and attributes that the seeker will identify with and relate to in order to  appease the troubled mind or need.

 

Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Suryakotee Sama Prabha
Nirvighnam kuru mey Deva, Sarva kaaryeshu Sarvadaa

O Lord Ganesha of Large body, curved trunk, with the brilliance of a million suns,

Please makes all my work free of obstacles, always.

 

Here is an exit offered to those who find themselves being beguiled by the world. Shri Ganesha is a deity of the Hindu pantheon who is revered, praised and worshiped by all for His ability to remove obstacles before any task. For one who has a preliminary understanding of Ganesha, He becomes the alchemy by which your woes shall disappear. Such is His ability that He is placed at the zenith in terms of hierarchy to ensure that any task undertaken results in completion and auspiciousness, devoid of obstacles.

 

The iconography of this most propitiated Lord is quite unique and highly captivating even amongst children. Thus through this physical magnetization, progressive enquiry will lead one to discover the profound underlying philosophy and relevance of Ganesha in our quest to an ethereal live, as sweet as the modakas held in His hand.

 

Essentially He is the embodiment of intellect developed through learning (huge ears), one pointed mind and focus (one tusk, small eyes), discrimination(trunk) and the abnormally large head on an average body epitomises the importance of the intellect in all that we do.

 

One does not need to be a rocket scientist to understand the fundamental principles of planning, thinking and analysing a task before we undertake it. In all aspects of life we see that planning is the initial step to ensure that every possible variable is thought of so that the desired result is achieved, hence the term “went according to plan” is used to illustrate that an idea was successfully transformed to the desired result. However when things do not go according to plan, the mind often starts to run riot and orchestrates a coup upon the intellect placing the ego at the helm of power and decision making. The ego’s faithful cabinet of desires (lust, greed, hatred, envy, anger) start to undo all the good that has been done by the intellect.

 

At the base of Ganesha you will find a mouse which is eating the modaka which is meant for the Lord - this symbolises that desires start to erode the gains made by the seeker. The Mythology also draws our attention to the incident where Lord Shiva beheads Ganesha, when as a centurion to His mothers abode fails to recognise His father and denies Him entry. The beheading results because the ego rises so much that one becomes ignorant of the Lord. Since the ego is fuelled in the mind situated in the head, this incident represents the slaying of the ego. Replacing it with intellect or wisdom is symbolised by the head of the elephant as explained above. Hence, Ganesha sitting on the mouse and using it as His vehicle, shows that the intellect and wisdom must have the ego or mind under control at all times.

 

For those who are sincere devotees of the Lord and feel despondent at the way life is hurling lemons at you - fear not! It is the Lord Himself in the form of Vigneswara (Lord of obstacles) who has placed these before you out of compassion and mercy for you to ensure that your journey to liberation is fast and definite.

 

I am reminded instantly here of the parable Sri Ramakrishna explains in the Gospel:

 

In a certain village there lived a weaver. He was a very pious soul. Everyone trusted him and loved him. He used to sell his goods in the market-place. When a customer asked him the price of a piece of cloth, the weaver would say: 'By the will of Rama the price of the yarn is one rupee and the labour four annas; by the will of Rama the profit is two annas. The price of the cloth, by the will of Rama, is one rupee and six annas.'

 

 Such was the people's faith in the weaver that the customer would at once pay the price and take the cloth. The weaver was a real devotee of God. After finishing his supper in the evening, he would spend long hours in the worship hall meditating on God and chanting His name and glories. Now, late one night the weaver couldn't get to sleep. He was sitting in the worship hall, smoking now and then, when a band of robbers happened to pass that way. They wanted a man to carry their goods and said to the weaver, 'Come with us.' They led him off by the hand. After committing a robbery in a house, they put a load of things on the weaver's head, commanding him to carry them. Suddenly the police arrived and the robbers ran away. But the weaver, with his load, was arrested. He was kept in the lock-up for the night. Next day he was brought before the magistrate for trial. The villagers learnt what had happened and came to court. They said to the magistrate, 'Your Honour, this man could never commit a robbery.' Thereupon the magistrate asked the weaver to make his statement.

"The weaver said: 'Your Honour, by the will of Rama I finished my meal at night. Then by the will of Rama I was sitting in the worship hall. It was quite late at night by the will of Rama. By the will of Rama I had been thinking of God and chanting His name and glories, when by the will of Rama a band of robbers passed that way. By the will of Rama they dragged me with them; by the will of Rama they committed a robbery in a house; and by the will of Rama they put a load on my head. Just then, by the will of Rama the police arrived, and by the will of Rama I was arrested. Then by the will of Rama the police kept me in the lock-up for the night, and this morning by the will of Rama I have been brought before Your Honour.' The magistrate realised that the weaver was a pious man and ordered his release. On his way home the weaver said to his friends, 'By the will of Rama I have been released.'

 

In the four arms of Lord Ganesha you will find an axe, rope, abaya mudra (hand in blessing position), and a plate of modakas. The all merciful Lord says to us: make your intellect the controller of your being, using all spiritual knowledge and practices, axe away all desires, and practice intense faith to bind yourself to the Lord. Then remove all fear knowing that He is in control of your life and actions. Then a place of sweetness (modaka) awaits you.  Festering in negativity will bring no good. Immerse yourself in this divine love, focused and intent on victory. Take every challenge and make it an opportunity for success.

 

On the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi, I sincerely pray that the grace of Mudalvana (one who is first worshipped) is upon all and may victory be yours.

 

With love and prayers always 

Yogan

Purutassi is Perseverance

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

 

Aum Namo Narayanaya

 

As hospitable as we are, we welcome our new guest Spring with open arms and jubilation - a bit relieved to let go of our previous guest who pretty much denounced outdoor activity and encouraged inertia. Bringing with it life, fresh scents and colour in bounty, the wonderful season unleashes a new perspective on living. The huge potential of outdoor activities like gardening and walking gifted to us by the extending light hours of day will have us shed some of the accumulated energy stores from Winter. Spring also provides complimentary access to various other feel-good activities - one which shall commence in 16 days.

 

I had a dear friend who waited on Purutassi with such anticipation and devotion that the mere mention of Govinda would immediately paralyse the heart with intense love, forcing the eyes to well with elixirs of joy. The preparations and arrangements would incite tremendous competition between us, to the point of arguing about whose house Venketeshwara will visit first and partake of the sumptuous feasts. To be immersed in such spates of divine intoxication facilitated by the Divine Father Himself, was a rare gift indeed, and shall be treasured by me eternally.

Lord Venketeshwara

 

Purutassi is essentially celebrated by the South Indian community and is dedicated in praise and worship of the great Lord Venketeshwara who resides on the Edumalai or 7 hills of Thirumala. Venketeshwara derives its roots from Vem (destroys) Kata (sin) and Eswara (Lord). Hence, He is known as 'Kali Yuga Varada' (the boon-bestowing Lord of this age who burns away our sins).

 

The month of Purutassi entails strict discipline by bhaktas, who observe vegetarian diets, celibacy, and engage in spiritual practices and observances for attaining the grace of the most merciful Father. However, there are some people whose minds traction on methods of curtailing the fast by scheduling the prayer on the first Saturday and continuing the feasting thereafter. Actually that is no major train smash for the Lord. Being allocated as a month of sadhanas is for the benefit of the bhakta. It is not that the Lord is fast asleep for the year and awakens during this time (as described by some of our ancestors) to bestow His grace on us.

 

The Sama Veda expounds a beautiful idea: “Only those who work hard can think of achieving something. Sitting idle or hoping for results without making an effort is nothing but foolishness. We live in a time when people want maximum output from minimal input. That may produce dividends in a business module, but will not however bear any fruit in the spiritual arena.

 

The mythology states that the seven hills is adi shesha - the bed on which Maha Vishnu reclines; and on the last hill known as Venkatdri is the town of Thirupathi where the Lord is enshrined in a temple of pure gold. I had been to Thirupathi many times prior to 2009, however in that year, I was set on summiting Thirupathi by foot.

 

Resolute and determined, I awoke with bursting enthusiasm at 4am, and was transferred to the base station by the driver with only a bag slung across my shoulders packed with a survival kit of water and a few nourishments. With a constant wave of devotees passing through the gate by the minute, chanting Govinda from the crevices of their hearts, it wasn’t long before that evinced a wonderful flow of adrenalin charging me in the direction of Vaikunta (abode of Narayana). It was short-lived though as by the 250^th stair of 3990, I was lying face down against the stone landing smoothened to fine glaze by the millions of pilgrims who previously stepped upon them. Gasping for breath, my chest reeling with pain, and my entire body aching to numbness, my instinct drove me to place my passport in my pants pocket for easy identification, lest I leave my mortal coil. Unable to even call His name, I resigned to a mental dialogue with the chief of Thirupathi.

 

Dome at Thirupathi

Although many would embrace the opportunity to leave the body within this holy precinct, I advocated and argued for His mercy and grace to allow me to have darshan of at least the dome of His abode from the last step. At this point, seconds seemed like hours. Never to leave the hand of His child, my incapacity was neutralised by a bout of new wind. It suddenly began to rain heavily, and as if beating to the tune of the rain, my legs lifted me toward my destination. At times it did seem as though I was floating on the back of Garuda instructed by the Commander-in-Chief to deliver me to Vaikunta. It was 3 hours and 43 minutes after passing the base station that I stood on the 3990^th stair, heart cramping with emotion and eyes flooded with tears gazing with awe at the Golden Dome presiding over the earth. At this time, all else felt insignificant. Drowned in an ecstacy of divinity, a sense of fulfilment and bliss commandeers your existence.

 

If you recall a few blogs ago, we spoke of the awakening of the Kundalini Shakti -  which is described as a coiled serpent (adi shesa -yezhu malai- seven hills) at the muladhara chakra (base station). The aim is to raise this through to the seventh chakra (Thirupathi ) which is known as the Sushama or thousand-petalled-lotus in the head. Reaching this stage, one merges into samadhi where all sins have been burned away and rests on the eternal ocean of bliss (darshan of Venketeshwara)

 

However, we learnt through experience that the journey is not easy and requires much perseverance and discipline in order to reap rewards. We may slip and fall along the way, but we must immerse ourselves in faith and continue. We for too long have placed emphasis on the superficial components of the sadhana like observing a vegetarian diet. Yes, as much as it assists, we should try to negate the stubborn obstacles that thwart our progress. Even if you are going to observe a vegetarian diet for a week, try to engage in a sadhana of speaking the truth irrespective of the circumstance for the entire month, or refrain from being envious or getting angry.  Practice these for the month and try to perpetuate it thereafter, and you will find your darshan to Him will be expedited.

 

"Where there is harmony between mind, heart and resolution - nothing is impossible" declares the Rig Veda.  Let us derive our strength and inspiration from this quotation and with deep devotion and resilience undertake a special sadhana during this auspicious month to help us on our journey to Vaikuntam is my sincere prayer.

 

With Love and Prayers Always

Yogan