Aum
Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam
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The dawn is always alight with positive
energy when a special festival is being celebrated. For the bhaktas the
enthusiasm is like a popcorn kernel awaiting to pop in the pan of the day. The
South African diaspora of Indians are South Indian in the majority and as such
have a keen affinity to the traditions of Lord Shiva of which Lord Murugan and
his festivals form a big part off. Today is Skanda Shasti and after a 5-day
fast and observance devotees will celebrate the victory of Lord Muruga in
battle with Asura Surapadman.
Growing up at the doorstep of the Shree
Veeraboga Emperumal Temple with its roots at the erstwhile Maidstone Shree
Emperumal Temple where both my maternal and paternal lineage played
instrumental roles, it is no surprise that we are a household of Narayana
Bhaktas. However even during the month of Purutassi a month dedicated to the
adoration of Lord Venketeswara I am accustomed to awaking to the melodious
recital of the Skanda Shasti Kavacham. Like the unflinching and unassuming joy of a Liverpool
supporter in a house full of Man United supporters my mother has a great and
unshakable attraction to Lord Muruga.
Unlike in football though, in Hindu Dharma
we are not concerned with the Ishta Devata (personal deity) each follows,
because it does not play out in the forecourt of rivalry as our sages through
their experiences have always proclaimed that God is one. God appears to us as
per our level of perception and consciousness. In the sageous words of Swami
Vivekananda at the World Parliament of religions 125 years ago, challenging the
leaders of the assembled religions to put an end to uncharitable feelings
towards each other, persecutions with the pen or sword of all peoples wending
their way to the same goal.
Last night I was invited to the Stonebridge
Mariammen Temple to address the congregation on the Skanda Shasti observance.
It was my first time to visit this quaint cosy temple situated on the periphery
of the Phoenix Industrial park. Although the evening was a gust with a chilly
wind the petite shrine was packed to capacity. The air was infused with the
deep fragrance of the samagree and ghee that emanated from the havan fire
dancing in tune with the melodious bhajans from the Ayappan prayer group. The
crisp and veridical devotion left Lord Muruga with no option but to preside at
the function. His presence was palpable by the escalating emotions whilst the priest
chanted the mantras amidst loud and animated bursts of “Aro hara”
It is said at the holy place of Tiruchendur
sanctified as one of the six homes of Lord Murugan, a fierce battle of six days
ensued between a Surapadman and Lord Muruga. The resultant victory of the Lord
on the sixth day is the reward celebration of Skanda Shasti. I had to start off
my talk by explaining that these puranic episodes are merely a means to convey
a deep philosophical message. A message that will help man to lead a life that
is conducive to attaining the goal of life being god realisation. The episode
in its literal form may present with many shortcomings. An example would be,
how would a great and devout Murugan Bhaktan reconcile the idea that his
supreme Lord who is creator of the universe take six days to vanquish an asura
which is far inferior in composition. Therefore, there must be some deeper
message that needs to be extracted from this story.
The idea that I presented was couched
around my recent contact with readings from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna and
lectures by revered Swami Vimokshananda during his sojourn in New Delhi. Our
experience of the world before us is perceived through our senses. In the
absence of our senses the world would cease to exist. Although each of us is
potentially divine as declared by Swami Vivekananda the Ego which lies in
between our mind, actions, intellect and divine consciousness if left unchecked
can polarise our divine nature and steer us on a dangerous path to
self-destruction. Examples of this can be gleaned from the lives of Ravana,
Kamsa and Hiranyakasipu whose quality of life deteriorated devilishly because
of an unbridled ego.
Sri Krishna mentions in the Bhagavat Gita
that the mind can be one’s best friend or ones worst enemy. If the senses and
mind is the lens through which we see the world it would be important that they
are bleached with purity and divinity. These six days of battle thus represents
the cleansing and strengthening of the mind and 5 senses by weakening the
unripe ego and allowing the ripe ego to flourish. Sri Ramakrishna explains that
the unripe ego can be associated with a bound soul that identifies itself with
the body, passions, self-importance, and the world while the ripe ego is
associated with illumination through divine knowledge, devotion, servant of god,
thus knowing all else to be false and completely surrenders to god alone.
We learn that on the sixth day Surapadman
was not killed but was split into 2, the peacock and rooster. The two
represents the concept of ripe and unripe ego given to us by Sri Ramakrishna.
The peacock which is associated with pride and worldliness is the unripe ego
and as such becomes bridled and restraint as his vehicle which represents the
quelling or curbing of the unripe ego. The rooster on the other hand becomes
the symbol of the flag of Lord Murugan, flying high unbridled symbolic of the
ripe ego which must be given free rein to flourish and express itself. Under
the condition of the ripe ego alone, our divine nature, intellect and
discrimination would be able to have influence of our organs of sense and
action and will contribute to bringing about peace, harmony and joy in the
world. In all we would be Murugan which means absolute beauty (Azhagan- Tamil)
born out of the eye of discrimination and in possession of the Vel of knowledge
with the unripe ego under control our beauty would be eternal and evergreen
which is the state of eternal bliss we all seek.
Make Lord Murugan bless us with his grace
and guidance this Skanda Shasti is my sincere prayer.
Vetri Vel Muruganikka Arohara!!!!!!!
With love and prayers
Yogan Naidoo