Thursday, 14 March 2013

Scroll down to read in English
सत्संग का महत्त्व
श्रवण भक्तिके माध्यमसे अध्यात्ममें प्रगति करनेमें बहुत समय लग जाता है | यदि अध्यात्ममें शीघ्र प्रगति करनी है, तो सत्संगमें बताये जानेवाले विषयको कृतिमें लाकर आत्मसात करनेका प्रयास करना चाहिए | अतः जब भी हम सत्संगमें जाते
हैं तो एक कॉपी और कलम अवश्य लेकर जाना चाहिए, जिससे कि सत्संगमें बताये जानेवाले विषयको हम लिख सकें और उसे अपने जीवनमें उतार सकें | अध्यात्म कृतिका शास्त्र है | अतः मात्र श्रवण करनेसे जीवनमें विशेष अंतर नहीं आता | अध्यात्म अनंत-सम्बन्धी ज्ञान है और एक शास्त्र भी | अतः अध्यात्म सीखनेका सबसे सरल माध्यम है, सत्संग में जाना और वह भी विद्यार्थी-समान बनकर | सत्संगमें जाते समय ध्यान रखना चाहिए की यदि बच्चे छोटे हों और वे अत्यधिक नटखट हों, तो उन्हें सत्संगमें लेकर न जाएं, क्योंकि इससे दूसरेकी एकाग्रता भंग होती है | सत्संग धर्मशिक्षणका स्थल है अतः वहांकी मर्यादाका मान रखना प्रत्येक साधकका धर्म है |
सत्संगमें शब्दका महत्त्व मात्र दो प्रतिशत होता है और शब्दातीत महत्त्व ९८% होता है | ऐसेमें प्रारम्भिक अवस्थाके साधकको (३०-४०% के स्तरवाले साधकोंको ) शब्दपर तो ध्यान देना ही है, साथ ही जो शब्दातीत चैतन्य सत्संगमें निर्मित हो रहा है, उसपर भी ध्यान देना चाहिए और साधनामें जो उन्नत हैं, (६०% आध्यात्मिक स्तरसे अधिक) उन्हें शब्दातीत चैतन्यपर अधिक ध्यान देना चाहिए | यदि किसी साधकमें भाव हो, तो भाषाकी मर्यादा नहीं रहती और सत्संगके शब्दातीत चैतन्यका वह लाभ लेकर आनंदकी अनुभूति प्राप्त करता है | इस सन्दर्भमें एक साधिकाकी अनुभूति बताती हूं |
जनवरी २०११ में मैं चेन्नईमें अंग्रेजी भाषामें तीन-दिवसीय सत्संग ले रही थी, वहां एक वृद्ध साधिका सत्संगमें बैठा करती थीं, उन्हें अंग्रेजी भाषा समझमें नहीं आती थी; परन्तु वे सत्संगमें प्रतिदिन आनंदपूर्वक बैठा करती थीं | जब मैंने एक दिन किसी साधककी सहायतासे उनसे पूछा कि आप सत्संगमें क्यों बैठती हैं ?

क्या जो मैं सत्संगमें बताती हूं वह आपको समझमें आती है ? उन्होंने बताया कि उन्हें शब्द तो कुछ भी समझमें नहीं आते; परन्तु सत्संगमें उन्हें मुझमें दुर्गाके स्वरुपका दर्शन होता है और आनंदकी अनुभूति भी होती है, इसलिए वे सत्संगमें बैठती हैं | सच्चाई यह है कि उस साधिकाका आध्यात्मिक स्तर ४५% है, जो सत्संगके सामूहिक सात्त्विकताके कारण ५०% से अधिक हो जाता है एवं उनमें भाव भी अधिक है | अतः वे शब्दातीत आनंदका अनुभव कर पाती हैं और उन्हें देव-दर्शन भी इसी कारणसे हुए | ऐसे ही झारखण्डके गोड्डा जिलेमें तीन दिवसीय आध्यात्मिक शिविरमें एक चार वर्षका बालक कुमार रौनक ठाकुर आया करता था, वह तीन घंटे आनंदपूर्वक एवं तन्मयतासे बैठता था और सत्संगके दौरान नामजप भी लिखता था | वह भी ‘ॐ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॐ’ का जप लिखा करता था (उसे उसके स्तरानुसार यह जप करनेके लिए बताया था) | उस बाल साधकको एक वाक्य भी ढंगसे लिखना नहीं आता है; परंतु बाल साधकका आध्यात्मिक स्तर ५० % होनेके कारण उसे सत्संगसे प्राप्त चैतन्यके कारण शब्दातीत आनंदकी अनुभूति होती है |
अब हम यह देखेंगे कि सत्संगमें बौद्धिक रूपसे सिखाये जाने वाले विषय और शब्दातीत स्तरपर प्रक्षेपित चैतन्यका पूर्ण लाभ लेनेके लिए हम क्या कर सकते हैं |
१. सत्संगमें जानेसे पूर्व ही नमक पानीका उपाय करें, जिससे सत्संगके चैतन्यको आप ग्रहण कर सकें | मैंने देखा है कि कुछ लोगोंको अत्यधिक आध्यात्मिक कष्ट होनेके कारण वे सत्संगमें आते ही सोने लगते हैं और इसी कारण वे सत्संगमें उपस्थित रहना टालते हैं | नमक-पानीका उपाय कर सत्संगमें जानेसे मन एवं बुद्धिपर छाया आवरण नष्ट हो जाता है एवं अध्यात्मका बौद्धिक भाग ग्रहण होता है | साथ ही आवरण कम रहनेके कारण सत्संगका चैतन्य भी अधिक मात्रामें ग्रहण होता है
२. सत्संगमें बैठनेसे दो घंटे पूर्वसे ही अपने आराध्यसे प्रार्थना करें जिससे कि आप सत्संगके चैतन्यको ग्रहण कर सकें |
३. सत्संग आरम्भ होनेसे पूर्व गणेशजी जो बुद्धिके देवता है उन्हें और मां सरस्वती जो विद्याकी देवी हैं उनसे प्रार्थना करें कि हमारे मन एवं बुद्धिपर जो भी आवरण हो वह नष्ट हो और सत्संगको हम मन, बुद्धि एवं चैतन्यके स्तरपर ग्रहण कर उसे अपने जीवनमें उतार सकें |
४. सत्संगके दौरान भी नामजप एवं प्रार्थनामें निरंतरता बनायें रखें |
५. वर्तमान समयमें अनिष्ट शक्तियोंका कष्ट अत्यधिक बढ़ गया है ऐसेमें यदि सत्संगमें बैठनेके पश्चात कुछ शारीरिक कष्ट हो रहा हो तो एकाग्रतापूर्वक नामजप और प्रार्थना करें और वहांसे उठें नहीं बैठें ही रहें, इससे थोड़े समय पश्चात आपके कष्ट कम हो जायेंगे | फरवरी २०११ में मैं दिल्लीमें एक घरमें सत्संग ले रही थी, तो सत्संगमें बैठे एक साधकको कष्ट होने लगा | उन्हें थरथराहट होने लगी, पसीना आने लगा और लगा कि सत्संगसे उठकर भाग जाएं; परंतु वे नामजप और प्रार्थनाके बलपर बैठे रहे |
अगले दिन उन्होंने पाया कि उनकी पंद्रह वर्ष पुराने चर्मरोगसे प्रभावित पैरमें ८०% सुधार था और अगले तीन दिनमें उनका चर्मरोग बिलकुल ही समाप्त हो गया, जिसमें पिछले पंद्रह वर्षोंसे खुजली होती थी और खून निकला करता था | उन्हें एक्जिमा था | वास्तविकता यह थी कि उस साधकको अनिष्ट शक्तियोंका कष्ट था | सत्संगके चैतन्यसे उन्हें कष्ट देने वाली शक्तिको गति मिल गयी, और उन्हें उस कष्टसे मुक्ति मिल गयी | यह सत्संगका माहात्म्य है | इसी प्रकार जब मैं बक्सरमें सत्संग ले रही थी तो सत्संग समाप्त होनेके पश्चात तीन साधकने बताया कि सत्संगसे पूर्व उन्हें अत्यधिक शारीरिक पीड़ा थी, जो सत्संग समाप्त होनेपर पूर्णतः ठीक हो गया | नामजपका महत्व ५ प्रतिशत है और सत्संगका महत्त्व ३०% प्रतिशत है |

Importance of Satsang ( holy company)
The spiritual progress through the medium of Shravan Bhakti (devotion through hearing) is very slow. If one wants to make rapid spiritual progress, efforts should be made to implement everything taught at the Satsang. Hence, whenever we go for a Satsang, we must take along a pen and pad, so that notes can be made of the topics discussed at the Satsang and implemented in daily life. Spirituality is a science of experience and only when one implements the tenets of spirituality, he/she gets anubhutis. Hence merely listening does not bring about any significant change in life. Spirituality is the knowledge of the infinite and is also a science. Hence, the simplest medium of learning spirituality is attending a Satsang and that too as a student. While going for a Satsang, one must avoid taking children to the satsang if the children are naughty, as it will disturb the concentration of others. Remember that Satsang is the place where education about Dharma is being imparted. Hence, upholding the dignity is the Dharma of every seeker.
In a Satsang, the importance of word is merely 2% and what is conveyed beyond words is 98%. The Seekers who have just begun their spiritual journey with spiritual levels of 30-40% must pay attention to the words and also be attentive to the Chaitanya (divine consciousness) that is being created beyond words in the satsang. Those who have progressed in Sadhana (spiritual practice), that is those who have acquired a spiritual level above 60%, must thrive to receive the divine consciousness present there and which is beyond words.
If a seeker possesses Bhav, language does not become an obstacle and they experience bliss through divine consciousness which is beyond words. I will narrate an Anubhuti (spiritual experience) of a woman seeker here. In January 2011, I was conducting a three-day Satsang in English at Chennai. An old woman Seeker used to attend the Satsang;but she did not understand English. However, she used to attend the Satsang daily and would sit blissfully. One day, I asked her through another Seeker as to why she attended the Satsang and whether she understood whatever I explained during Satsang.
She told me she did not understand all that I said at the Satsang, but she could perceive (divine glimpse) of the form of Maa Durgaa in me. The fact is that this Seeker was at 45% spiritual level which due to the collective Saatvikta (spiritual purity) of the satsang crossed the 50% spiritual level. Moreover, her Bhav was pronounced. Hence, she derived the bliss beyond words and also got a divine glimpse for the same reason.
Similarly, at a three-day spiritual camp in Godda district of Jharkhand, a four-year-old boy, Kumar Raunak Thakur used to come and sit blissfully and with full concentration for three hours on all the three days.

During the Satsang, he would also write down a Mantra – “Om Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevaye Om” (he had been told to do this chanting according to his highly evolved spiritual level). This child Seeker does not even know how to write a sentence properly, but as his spiritual level is at 50%, he used to derive bliss through the Chaitanya generated beyond words in the Satsang and also could write the chant.
How to derive maximum benefit from the satsang: Now, we will take a look at what we can do to derive maximum benefit from the subjects taught intellectually and Chaitanya generated beyond words.
(i) Before going to attend a Satsang, do the salt-water treatment so that you can receive unhindered Chaitanya at the Satsang. I have seen that due to spiritual problems, some people start sleeping the moment they come for the Satsang. Attending a Satsang after doing the salt-water treatment destroys the black veil surrounding the mind and intellect, and the intellectual aspect of spirituality is received. Also, due to a reduction of the black veil, Chaitanya of the Satsang is grasped much easier.
(ii) Two hours before Satsang, pray to the one you venerate so that you can receive the Chaitanya of the Satsang.
(iii) Before Satsang starts, pray to Lord Ganesh, the deity of intellect and to Maa Saraswati, who is the goddess of knowledge, that “may the black veil clouding our mind and intellect be destroyed and may we accept the Satsang at the levels of mind, intellect and divine consciousness and may we be able to implement it in our life.” Maintain the continuity of chanting and prayers during the Satsang too.
(iv) In the present times, hundred per cent of the population is suffering from troubles caused by negative energies. Hence, if one experiences some kind of physical problems, do chanting attentively, pray and avoid getting up from the venue of the satsang. After some time, your problems will get reduced.
In February 2011, I was taking a Satsang at a house in Delhi, when a Seeker attending the Satsang started feeling uneasy. He started shivering, sweating and felt like running out of Satsang, but he kept chanting and praying and did not leave the satsang. The next day he discovered that there was an 80% improvement in his feet that had been plagued by a 15-year-old eczema.

Within three days, he was totally cured of his eczema that had been itching for the last 15 years and even used to bleed. The reality is that this Seeker was being troubled by a negative energy and due to the Chaitanya received at the Satsang, the negative energy troubling him left him and he was relieved of his problem. Such is the glory of Satsang.
Similarly, once I was in Buxar in Bihar for a Satsang. After the Satsang got over, t three seekers told me that prior to the Satsang they had excessive physical pain that was completely cured by the time the Satsang got over. Please remember, the importance of chanting is 5% and that of Satsang 30%.

FIRE OF DEVOTION

The Fire of Devotion from RAMANA MAHARISHI - MESSEGE OF MASTERS.COM

With reference to a devotee’s account of the miraculous appearance of sugar candy and almonds, which dropped into
the hands of some ladies in a trance, Bhagavan replied, “We hear of so many things. There are certain sects which work for such things. But who sees or gets them? You must see that.

In the Periyapuranam a similar occurrence is mentioned.”
Karaikal Ammaiyar was a great devotee of Lord Siva and a poetess, many of whose verses are still preserved.

She was the wife of a rich merchant of Karaikal, whose name was Paramadattan (meaning ‘one endowed with heavenly gifts’). Her own name was Punithavathiyar (meaning ‘the pure one’).

She was very devout, and especially eager to entertain all devotees of Lord Siva that came to her door. One day her husband received from some persons who had come to him on business a present of two mangoes of a very superior variety which he sent home to his wife.

Soon afterwards, a holy devotee came to her house as a mendicant. Since she had no cooked food ready to offer him except some boiled rice, she gave him one of the aforesaid mangoes along with the rice.

At noon her husband returned and after having his meal ate the remaining mango. It pleased him so much that he said to his wife, “There were two, bring me the other.” She went away in dismay, but remembering that the Lord to whose servant she had given the fruit, never deserts those who serve Him, she offered a mental prayer, and straightaway found a mango in her hand, which she took to her husband.

Being a divine gift, it was of incomparable sweetness, so he asked her, “Where did you obtain this?” She hesitated at first to reveal the wonder that had taken place on her behalf, but thinking that she ought to hide nothing from her husband,
she told him everything.

He gave no credence to her words, but roughly replied, “If that is so, get me another like it.” She went away and said in her heart to God, “If You do not give me one more fruit, my word will have no weight!”

Immediately she found another fruit in her hand. She brought this fruit to her husband but as soon as he took it, it disappeared. Wondering at this strange happening, he concluded that his wife must be a divine being and therefore decided that he should no longer live with her.

However, he revealed this decision to no one. One day he quietly hired a ship on which he placed a great deal of his wealth, and then on an auspicious day, worshipped the god of the sea. With sailors and a skilful captain, he set sail for another country where, by trading his merchandise he accumulated a fortune.

After some time he returned and came to another city in the Pandiyan kingdom, where he married a merchant’s daughter and lived in great luxury. A daughter was born to him, whom he named Punithavathi after his first wife, with whom he had feared to remain but for whom he retained great reverence.

After a while, his return and prosperity became known to his friends in Karaikal, who resolved to compel him to receive again his first wife, their kinswoman, whom he had deserted.

They accordingly proceeded to his new residence, carrying with them in a litter his saintly spouse, Karaikal Ammaiyar. When he heard that she had arrived and was halting in a grove outside the town, he was seized with great awe.

He proceeded with his second wife and daughter to where, she was camping – surrounded by her relatives. He prostrated before her with profoundest reverence, saying, “Your slave is happy here and prosperous through your blessings. To my daughter I have given your sacred name, and I constantly adore you as my tutelary goddess!”

Poor Punithavathiyar was utterly confounded by this salutation and worship, and so took refuge among her relatives, who all asked with wonder, “Why is this madman worshipping his own wife?”

To this Paramadattan replied, “I myself saw her work a miracle, so I know that she is no daughter of the human race, but a divine being. Therefore I have separated myself from her, and I worship her as my tutelary deity and have dedicated my daughter to her”.

Hearing this, Punithavathiyar pondered over it and prayed within herself to Siva, the Supreme Lord, saying, “O Lord, this is my husband’s belief. So take away from me the beauty that I have till now cherished only for his sake. Remove from me this burden of flesh, and give to me the form and features of those who always attend on Thee, and praise Thee.”

Immediately, by the grace of God, her flesh dried up and she became a skeleton, becoming one of Siva’s hosts whom the earth and the heaven hold in reverence. Then the gods sent
down a rain of flowers, heavenly minstrels resounded, and her
relatives paid obeisance to her and departed in awe.

Having thus assumed the form of a skeleton, she lived in the wild jungle of Alankadu, and through the inspiration of God she sang several sacred poems, which are sung even to this day.

After some time there came upon her an irresistible desire to see the sacred Mount Kailas, so with great speed she travelled northwards till she arrived at the foot of the Mountain. Considering that it was not right to tread on the Holy Mountain by foot, she began to climb it with her feet in the air and with only her head touching the ground.

The goddess Uma, Siva’s consort, saw her ascending in this manner and said to Her Lord, “Who is this that approaches in this strange fashion, a gaunt skeleton sustained only by the
power of love?”

Lord Siva replied, “She is Karaikal Ammaiyar, and she has obtained this form by her prayers.” When She drew near, He addressed her with words of love, calling her ‘Amma’
(Mother), a name which she bears ever since. As soon as she
heard the word she fell at His feet and exclaimed, “Father!”

Siva then said to her, “What boon do you wish to ask from me?” She replied, “O Lord, grant undying love and infinite blessedness to me, Your slave. I would be glad never to be born on earth again, but If I must be so born, grant me at least that I may never, in any form or at any time forget You, my Lord; and when You perform Your sacred mystic dance, may I stand in rapture at Your feet and sing Your praise”.

The Lord replied, “In Alankadu you shall see my dance, and with rapture you shall sing.” Then the holy Karaikal Ammaiyar returned to Alankadu, still covering the distance on her head, and there she beheld the Lord’s sacred dance, and sang her renowned lyrics in His praise. Karaikal Ammaiyar’s devotional hymns form sixth part of Thirumurai.

Krishna and Bhagavad Gita

Are Karma yoga and Sankhya Yoga different?

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhakthivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, Founder Acharya, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, explains the words of Krishna in BHAGAVAD GITA AS IT IS (C-5, T-4):

sankhya-yogau prthag balah
pravadanti na panditah
ekam apy asthitah samyag
ubhayor vindate phalam

TRANSLATION

Only the ignorant speak of devotional service [karma-yoga] as being different from the analytical study of the material world [Sankhya]. Those who are actually learned say that he who applies himself well to one of these paths achieves the results of both.

PURPORT

The aim of the analytical study of the material world is to find the soul of existence. The soul of the material world is Visnu, or the Supersoul. Devotional service to the Lord entails service to the Supersoul. One process is to find the root of the tree, and the other is to water the root. The real student of Sankhya philosophy finds the root of the material world, Visnu, and then, in perfect knowledge, engages himself in the service of the Lord. Therefore, in essence, there is no difference between the two because the aim of both is Visnu. Those who do not know the ultimate end say that the purposes of Sankhya and karma-yoga are not the same, but one who is learned knows the unifying aim in these different processes.

Wednesday, 13 March 2013

Bhakta Ekanath

Bhakta Ekanath from message of masters .com

Ramana Maharshi - A discussion in the hall centred on the story of Kulasekhara Alwar, which had appeared in the Vision magazine. During a Harikatha, Kulasekhara identifying himself so completely with the situation of the story, felt it his duty as a worshipper of Rama to at once hasten to Lanka and release Sita. He ran to the sea and entered it to cross over to Lanka, when Rama appeared with Sita and Lakshmana and showered His grace on him.
This led others in the hall to remark, “Some Maratha saint also did a similar thing. He leaped up to the roof, I think.” Thereupon Sri Bhagavan related the story.

Ekanath was writing the Ramayana, and when he came to the portion in which he was graphically describing that Hanuman jumped across the ocean to Lanka, he so identified himself with his hero Hanuman that unconsciously he leaped into the air and landed on the roof of his neighbour’s house.
This neighbour had always had a poor opinion of Ekanath, taking him for a humbug and religious hypocrite. He heard a
thud on his roof, and coming out to see what it was, discovered Ekanath lying down on the roof with a cadjan leaf in one hand and his iron stile in the other.
The cadjan leaf had verses describing how Hanuman leapt across the sea. This incident proved to the neighbour what a genuine bhakta Ekanath was and he became his disciple.
After a pause Bhagavan also related: “God appeared in a
dream to Ekanath and asked him to go and repair the tomb of Jnaneswar. When Ekanath went there accordingly, he found
a contractor ready to do all the work and take payment at the
end. The contractor opened a big account in which all expenses were entered, with the names of all the workmen and wages paid. Everything went on systematically.
When the work of repairs was completed, the accounts were looked into and the contractor paid his dues. Then the contractor and his big account book totally disappeared. Then alone Ekanath came to know that God was his contractor and did the work. Such things have happened.”

ನಾಗದೇವತೆಗೆ ಪ್ರಿಯವಾದ ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿ ಪೀಠಿಕೆ: ನಾಗಾರಾಧನೆಯು ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಇತಿಹಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಪ್ರಾಚೀನವಾದುದು. ನಾಗಾರಾಧನೆ ಎಂಬುದು ಕೇವಲ ಗ್ರಾಮೀಣ ಜನತೆಯ ನಂಬಿಕೆಯಾಗಿ ಉಳಿದಿಲ್ಲ. ಈ ನಂಬಿಕೆಯು ಇಂದು ನಾಗರಿಕರೆನಿಸಿದ ವಿದ್ಯಾವಂತರ ಮನೆ ಮನಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಆಳವಾಗಿ ಬೇರೂರಿ ನಿಂತಿದೆ. ನಾಗರ ಪಂಚಮಿಯಂದು ನಾಗದೇವತೆಗೆ ತನಿ ಹಾಕುವಲ್ಲಿಂದ, ತಂಬಿಲ ನೀಡುವಲ್ಲಿಂದ ತೊಡಗಿ ಅಷ್ಟ ಪವಿತ್ರ ನಾಗಮಂಡಲದಂತಹ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಆರಾಧನಾ ಕ್ರಮಗಳ ವರೆಗೆ ಅವರವರ ಶ್ರದ್ಧಾಭಕ್ತಿ, ಆರ್ಥಿಕ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಗತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಅವಲಂಬಿಸಿ ನಾಗಾರಾಧನೆಯನ್ನು ನಡೆಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬರಲಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ. ನಾಗಾರಾಧನೆಯು ಒಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಗ ಪ್ರೀತಿಗಾಗಿ. ಆದರೆ ನಾಗಾರಾಧನೆಯ ಒಂದು ಅಂಗವಾದ ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿ ಎಂಬುದು ನಾಗ ದೇವತೆಗೆ, ಸರ್ಪ ಸಂಕುಲಕ್ಕೆ ಮಾನವನಿಂದ ಒದಗಿದ ಹಾನಿಯ., ಅಪಚಾರದ ದೆಸೆಯಿಂದ ಉಂಟಾದ ಸರ್ಪ ಶಾಪದ ಪರಿಹಾರಾರ್ಥವಾಗಿ ನಡೆದು ಬಂದಿದೆ. ನಾಗಾಲಯಗಳು - ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿ: ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿ ಎಂಬ ಪದಗಳನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿದೊಡನೆಯೇ ಶ್ರೀ ಪರಶುರಾಮ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳಾದ ಶ್ರೀ ಕುಕ್ಕೆಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ, ಗುತ್ತಿಗಾರು ಸಮೀಪದ ಶ್ರೀ ಶಂಖಪಾಲ ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ ವಳಲಂಬೆ, ಮಂಗಳೂರು ತಾಲೂಕಿನ ಕುಡುಪು, ಕಾಸರಗೋಡು ತಾಲೂಕಿನ ಮಂಜೇಶ್ವರ, ಬೆಳ್ತಂಗಡಿ ತಾಲೂಕಿನ ಬಳ್ಳಮಂಜ, ಪುತ್ತೂರು ತಾಲೂಕಿನ ಪುತ್ತೂರು ಶ್ರೀ ಮಹಾಲಿಂಗೇಶ್ವರ ದೇವಳದ ಶ್ರೀ ವಾಸುಕಿ ಸನ್ನಿಧಿ, ಆರ್ಯಾಪು ಗ್ರಾಮದ ಕಾರ್ಪಾಡಿ ಇಂತಹ ನಾಗಾಲಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿ ಆಶ್ಲೇಷ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರದ ತಿಥಿಯಂದು ಈ ಆರಾಧನೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಪಂಚಮೀ ಅಥವಾ ಷಷ್ಠೀ ತಿಥಿಯಿದ್ದರೂ ಈ ಆರಾಧನೆಗೆ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತವೆಂಬ ನಂಬಿಕೆಯಿದೆ. ಆಶ್ಲೇಷ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರವು ತಾರಾ ಮಂಡಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಗುರುತಿಸಲಾದ ಇಪ್ಪತ್ತೇಳು ಮಹಾ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂಭತ್ತನೆಯದು. ಜ್ಯೋತಿಷ್ಯ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಾಧಾರದಂತೆ ಪ್ರತಿನಕ್ಷತ್ರಕ್ಕೂ ಒಂದೊಂದು ನಕ್ಷತ್ರ ದೇವತೆ. ಆಶ್ಲೇಷ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರದ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರ ದೇವತೆಯು ಸರ್ಪ. ತನ್ನಿಂದ ಘಟಿಸಿದ ಪ್ರಮಾದದ ಪ್ರಾಯಶ್ಚಿತ್ತಕ್ಕಾಗಿ, ನಾಗದೇವತೆಯ ಅನುಗ್ರಹಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನಾಗನಿಗೆ ಬಲಿ ಅಥವಾ ಆಹುತಿ ನೀಡುವ ಮೂಲಕ ನಡೆಸುವ ವಿಶೇಷ ಆರಾಧನೆಯೇ ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿ. ನಾಗನಿಗೇಕೀ ಮಹತ್ವ?: ನಾಗನು ಕೃಷಿ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ದೇವತೆ. ಸಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಳೆ ಬೆಳೆಗಳನ್ನು ಅನುಗ್ರಹಿಸುವಾತ. ಸಂತಾನವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಕೊರಗುವವರಿಗೆ ಸಂತಾನ ಭಾಗ್ಯ ಕರುಣಿಸಬಲ್ಲ ಮಹಾಮಹಿಮ, ರೋಗ ರುಜಿನಗಳನ್ನು ತಡೆಯಬಲ್ಲ ವಿಶ್ವ ವೈದ್ಯನೀತ. ಆದುದರಿಂದ ಸರ್ಪಗಳಿಗೆ ಹಾನಿಯುಂಟು ಮಾಡಿದವನಿಗೆ ಸರ್ಪಶಾಪದಿಂದ ಕಷ್ಟಕಾರ್ಪಣ್ಯಗಳು ಸತತವಾಗಿ ಬಾಧಿಸುತ್ತಲೇ ಇರುತ್ತವೆ ಎಂಬುದು ಆಸ್ತಿಕರ ಅಚಲ ನಂಬಿಕೆ. ಸರ್ಪಗಳ ಜನ್ಮ, ಸರ್ಪ ಸಂಕುಲ: ಕಶ್ಯಪ ಮಹರ್ಷಿಯ ಹದಿಮೂರು ಮಂದಿ ಪತ್ನಿಯರಲ್ಲಿ ಕದ್ರು ಎಂಬಾಕೆ ಸರ್ಪಗಳ ಮಾತೆ. ಅವಳ ಮಕ್ಕಳಲ್ಲಿ ತಕ್ಷಕ, ವಾಸುಕಿ ಪ್ರಧಾನರು. ಅನಂತ, ಮಹಾಶೇಷ, ಕಪಿಲ, ನಾಗ, ಕುಳಿಕ, ಶಂಖಪಾಲ, ಭೂಧರ, ತಕ್ಷಕ, ವಾಸುಕಿ ಇವರು ನವನಾಗರೆಂದು ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧರು. ಇವರಲ್ಲೇ ೫೨ ಮಂದಿ ಸರ್ಪಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠರೂ ಹದಿನಾರು ಸಾವಿರ ಪ್ರಕಾರಗಳ ಸರ್ಪಗಳೂ ಇವೆಯೆಂದು ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಪುರಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ ವರ್ಣಿತವಾಗಿದೆ. ವಿಷಮಯವಾದ ಹಲ್ಲುಗಳು, ಅಗ್ನಿ ಜ್ವಾಲೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊರಸೂಸುವಂತೆ ತೀಕ್ಷ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಹೊಳೆಯುವ ಕೆಂಗಣ್ಣುಗಳು, ಭಯಂಕರವಾದ ಕಡುಕೋಪವಿದ್ದರೂ ನಂಬಿ ಪೂಜಿಸಿದವರಿಗೆ ತಾರಕ ಶಕ್ತಿ- ನಂಬದೆ ಹಾನಿಯುಂಟು ಮಾಡಿದರೆ ಮಾರಕ ಶಕ್ತಿಯೂ ಹೌದು. ನಾಗದೇವತೆಗೆ ಕಾಯೇನ, ವಾಚಾ, ಮನಸಾ ಹಾನಿಯುಂಟು ಮಾಡಿದರೆ, ಅಪಚಾರವೆಸಗಿದರೆ ಸರ್ಪಶಾಪದಿಂದ ವಿಧ ವಿಧದ ಅನಿಷ್ಟಗಳು ಎದುರಾಗಿ ಕಾಡುತ್ತವೆ ಎಂಬುದು ಅನುಭವಿಕರ ಮಾತು. ಆದುದರಿಂದ ಸರ್ಪಶಾಪದಿಂದ ಮುಕ್ತಿ ಪಡೆಯುವ ಮಾರ್ಗಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿ ಆರಾಧನೆಯೂ ಒಂದು. ನಾಗರ ಪಂಚಮಿ, ಆಶ್ಲೇಷ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರದ ತಿಥಿ, ಷಷ್ಠಿಯದಿನ ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತ. ಕುಕ್ಕೇ ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ ದೇವಸ್ತಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಹುತೇಕ ಎಲ್ಲ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಈ ಪೂಜೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತದೆ. ಸರ್ಪ ಶಾಪ ಬರುವುದು ಹೇಗೆ?: ನಾಗ ದೇವತೆಗೆ ಹಾನಿಯುಂಟಾಗುವ, ಅಪಚಾರ ತರುವ ಪ್ರಸಂಗಗಳು ಹಲವು. ಈ ಜನ್ಮದ, ಪೂರ್ವಜನ್ಮದ, ಜನ್ಮ ಜನ್ಮಾಂತರಗಳ ಜೀವಿತಾವಧಿಯ ವಿವಿಧ ಅವಸ್ಥೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮನಸ್ಸು, ಮಾತು, ಶರೀರ, ಕರ್ಮೇಂದ್ರಿಯ ವ್ಯಾಪಾರಗಳಿಂದ, ಶರೀರದ ಅಂಗಾಂಗಗಳಿಂದ, ಅರಿಷಡ್ವರ್ಗಗಳ ದೆಸೆಯಿಂದ, ತಿಳಿದೋ, ತಿಳಿಯದೆಯೋ ಓರ್ವ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ, ಆತನ ಕುಟುಂಬಸ್ಥರು ಯಾ ಪೂರ್ವಜರಿಂದ ನಡೆದ ಸರ್ಪವಧೆ, ದಂಡದಿಂದ ಹೊಡೆಯುವಿಕೆ, ಹುತ್ತಗಳ ಅಗೆತ, ವೃಕ್ಷನಾಶ ಅಥವಾ ಇಂತಹ ದುಷ್ಕೃತ್ಯಗಳಿಗೆ ಪ್ರೇರಣೆ ನೀಡುವುದರಿಂದ ಸರ್ಪಶಾಪ ಉಂಟಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ತನ್ಮೂಲಕ ಕುಟುಂಬದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂಜೆತನ, ಸಂತತಿ ನಾಶ, ಕುಷ್ಠಾದಿ ಮಹಾರೋಗಗಳೂ ಇನ್ನಿತರ ಭಯಂಕರ ಆಪತ್ತುಗಳೂ ಉಂಟಾಗುತ್ತವೆ ಎಂದು ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿ ವಿಧಾನದ ಸಂಕಲ್ಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಸರ್ಪಗಳ ಮೊಟ್ಟೆಗಳ ನಾಶವೂ ಇಂತಹ ಅಕೃತ್ಯಗಳ ಸಾಲಿಗೆ ಸೇರುತ್ತದೆ. ಕೃಷಿ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೃಷಿಕನಿಗೆ ತಿಳಿಯದೆಯೇ ಇಂತಹ ಹಾನಿಗಳು ಸಂಭವಿಸುತ್ತಿರುತ್ತವೆ. ಆದುದರಿಂದ ಕೃಷಿಕರು ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿ ನಾಗದೇವತೆಯ ಆರಾಧನೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಲೇ ಇರುವುದು ಅನಿವಾರ್ಯವಾಗಿದೆ. ಸಮಸ್ತ ಸರ್ಪದೋಷ, ಸರ್ಪ ಶಾಪಗಳ ಪ್ರಾಯಶ್ಚಿತ್ತ ಪರಿಹಾರಾರ್ಥವಾಗಿ, ಸಕಲೈಶ್ವರ್ಯ ಸಿದ್ಧಿಗಾಗಿ ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿಯನ್ನು ನೀಡಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿ ವಿಧಾನ: ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತವಾದ ಶುಭದಿನದಂದು ಕುಟುಂಬದ ಯಜಮಾನನು ಕುಟುಂಬದ ಸದಸ್ಯರೊಡಗೂಡಿ ಶುಚಿರ್ಭೂತನಾಗಿ, ಉಪವಾಸವಿದ್ದು, ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ ವಿಧಿಗನುಸಾರವಾಗಿ, ವೇದ ಪಾರಂಗತರಾದ ನಿಷ್ಠಾವಂತ ವಿಪ್ರೋತ್ತಮರ ದ್ವಾರಾ ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿಯನ್ನು ನೀಡಬೇಕು. ಸಾಮೂಹಿಕವಾಗಿ ಈ ಪೂಜೆ ನಡೆಸುವುದೂ ಇದೆ. ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗತವಾಗಿ ನಡೆಸುವ ಪದ್ಧತಿಯೂ ಉಂಟು. ಶ್ರೀ ಗುರು ಗಣಪತಿ, ನವಶಕ್ತ್ಯಾದಿ ದೇವತೆಗಳನ್ನು ಆವಾಹಿಸಿ ಸಂಕಲ್ಪ ಮಾಡುವುದರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿ ವಿಧಾನ ಆರಂಭವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ತಳಿರು ತೋರಣಗಳಿಂದ ಅಲಂಕೃತವಾದ ನಾಗ ಸನ್ನಿಧಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹರಿದ್ರಾ, ಕುಂಕುಮ, ರಂಗೋಲಿ ಪುಡಿಗಳಿಂದ ಸರ್ಪ ನವಪದಮಂಡಲವನ್ನೂ ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿ ಮಂಡಲವನ್ನೂ ಆಕರ್ಷಕವಾಗಿ ಬರೆಯಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಸರ್ಪ ನವಪದ ಮಂಡಲದ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಪದದಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀ ವಾಸುಕೀ ನಾಗರಾಜನಿಗೆ ಅಗ್ರಸ್ಥಾನ. ಉಳಿದ ಅಷ್ಟ ಪದಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಷ್ಟಕುಲ ಸಂಜಾತರಾದ ಅನಂತ, ಶೇಷ, ಕಪಿಲ, ನಾಗ, ಕುಳಿಕ, ಶಂಖಪಾಲ, ಭೂಧರ, ತಕ್ಷಕ ಅವರ ಆವಾಹನೆ. ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿ ಮಂಡಲದ ೫೨ ಪದಗಳು ಸರ್ಪಕುಲದ ೫೨ ಮಂದಿ ಸರ್ಪ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಟರ ಆವಾಹನೆಗಾಗಿವೆ. ಸರ್ಪಗಳ ಪತ್ನಿಯರು, ಪುತ್ರರು, ಪುತ್ರಿಯರು, ಮೊಮ್ಮಕ್ಕಳು, ಮರಿ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಸಹಿತ ಸರ್ಪ ಸಂಕುಲವನ್ನೂ ಇಂದ್ರಾದಿ ಅಷ್ಟದಿಕ್ಪಾಲಕರನ್ನೂ ದೇವಗಣಗಳನ್ನೂ ನಾಗಗಣಗಳನ್ನೂ ಅವಾಹಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿ ವಿಧಾನದಂತೆ ಶ್ರೀ ವಾಸುಕೀ ನಾಗರಾಜನನ್ನೂ ಆತನ ಸರ್ಪ ಸಂಕುಲವನ್ನೂ ಧ್ಯಾನಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಅನಂತರ ಕಲ್ಪೋಕ್ತವಾಗಿ ಆಸನ, ಸ್ವಾಗತ, ಪಾದ್ಯ, ಅರ್ಘ್ಯ, ಆಚಮನೀಯ, ಮಧುಪರ್ಕ, ಆಚಮನ, ಸ್ನಾನ, ವಸನ, ಆಭರಣ, ಗಂಧ, ಪುಷ್ಪ, ಧೂಪ, ದೀಪ, ನೈವೇದ್ಯ, ವಂದನೆಗಳೆಂಬ ಷೋಡಶೋಪಚಾರ ಪೂಜೆಯನ್ನು ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಸಮಸ್ತ ಸರ್ಪಶಾಪ ಪರಿಹಾರಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಕ್ಷೀರ, ಶರ್ಕರ, ಕದಳಿ, ಮಧು, ಆಜ್ಯ, ಹರಿದ್ರಾಯುಕ್ತ ಪಿಂಡಗಳನ್ನು ಸರ್ಪಗಳಿಗೆ ಮಂಡಲಗಳ ಪದಗಳಲ್ಲಿರಿಸಿ, ಸಮರ್ಪಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ದೇವತೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಿಯವಾಗುವಂತೆ ಜ್ಯೋತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಬೆಳಗಿಸಿ ದೇದಿಪ್ಯವಾದ ವಾತಾವರಣವನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಮಹಾಮಂಗಳಾರತಿಯನ್ನು ಬೆಳಗಿ ಮಂತ್ರ ಪುಷ್ಪಾಂಜಲಿಯನ್ನು ಸಮರ್ಪಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಆನಂತರ ಪ್ರದಕ್ಷಿಣೆ ಗೈದು, ಸಾಷ್ಟಾಂಗ ನಮಸ್ಕಾರ ಮಾಡಿ, ನಾಗದೇವತೆಯನ್ನು ಪ್ರಸನ್ನಗೊಳಿಸಿ,ಮಹಾಮಹಿಮರಾದ ಸರ್ಪಗಳೇ, ಶ್ರದ್ಧಾ ಭಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ಯಥಾಶಕ್ತಿಯಾಗಿ ನಡೆಸಿದ ಈ ಪೂಜೆಯನ್ನು ಅಂಗೀಕರಿಸಿ, ಬಲಿದಾನವನ್ನು ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಿರಿ. ಸುಪ್ರೀತರಾಗಿರಿ, ಯಜಮಾನನಿಂದ, ಆತನ ಕುಟುಂಬದವರಿಂದ, ಪೂರ್ವಜರಿಂದ ನಿಮಗಾಗಿರ ಬಹುದಾದ ಸಕಲ ಹಾನಿಯನ್ನು, ಅಪಚಾರಗಳನ್ನು ಮನ್ನಿಸಿ, ಯಜಮಾನನನ್ನು, ಆತನ ಕುಟುಂಬವನ್ನು ಸಕಲ ದುರಿತಗಳಿಂದ ರಕ್ಷಿಸಿರಿ, ಅವರಿಗುಂಟಾಗಿರುವ ಸರ್ಪ ಶಾಪವನ್ನು ನಿವೃತ್ತಿ ಪಡಿಸಿ ಅನುಗ್ರಹಿಸಿರಿ. ಕುಷ್ಠಾದಿ ರೋಗಗಳನ್ನು ನಾಶಗೊಳಿಸಿರಿ. ಆಯುಷ್ಮಂತರಾದ ಪುತ್ರ ಪೌತ್ರರ ಉತ್ತಮ ಸಂತಾನ ಭಾಗ್ಯವನ್ನು ಅನುಗ್ರಹಿಸಿ ಉತ್ತರೋತ್ತರ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಯಾಗುವಂತೆ ಆಶಿರ್ವದಿಸಿ, ಅಷ್ಟ್ಯೆಶ್ವರ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ದಯಪಾಲಿಸುವ ಕೃಪೆ ಮಾಡಿರಿ ಇಂತು ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆಯನ್ನು ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ತದನಂತರ ಅರ್ಘ್ಯದಾನ, ಮತ್ತು ವಾಯನಗಳ ದಾನ ನೀಡಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಪ್ರಸಾದವನ್ನು ವಿತರಿಸಿ, ವಿಸರ್ಜನ ಪೂಜೆಯನ್ನು ನೆರವೇರಿಸಿ ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿ ವಿಧಾನವನ್ನು ಪರಿಸಮಾಪ್ತಿಗೊಳಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಅನಂತರ ಪೂಜೆಯನ್ನು ನೆರವೇರಿಸಿದ ಆಚಾರ್ಯರನ್ನು ಫಲ, ತಾಂಬೂಲ ಯಥಾಶಕ್ತಿ ದಕ್ಷಿಣೆ ನೀಡಿ ನಮಸ್ಕರಿಸಿ, ಆರ್ಶಿರ್ವಾದ ಪಡೆಯುವುದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಆಶ್ಲೇಷಾ ಬಲಿ ಪೂಜೆಯು ಮುಕ್ತಾಯವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಸಂಕಲನ : ಬಿ. ರಾಮಭಟ್, ನಿವೃತ್ತ ಉಪತಹಶೀಲ್ದಾರರು, ಸುಳ್ಯ ದ.ಕ. ದೂ.ಕ್ರ : ೯೪೮೧೭೫೬೦೨೮

Original Post from: http://dharmagranth.blogspot.in/2012/12/blog-post_7100.html
© Sanatan Sanstha - All Rights Reserved

Today – March 13, 2013 – is observed as the Jayanti or birth anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

Today – March 13, 2013 – is observed as the Jayanti or birth anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. This birthday celebration is based on the Hindu Lunar Calendar, which falls on Phalgun Shukla Paksha Dwitiya. Numerous spiritual programs and discourses are being organized by Ramakrishna mission in India and in several countries around the world. According to the Gregorian or English calendar, Sri Ramakrishna was born on February 18, 1836.

Swami Vivekananda about his Guru Sri Ramakrishna

He looked just like an ordinary man, with nothing remarkable about him. He used the most simple language, and I thought, 'Can this man be a great teacher?'

I crept near him and asked him the question which I had been asking others all my life: 'Do you believe in God, sir?' 'Yes.' `How can you?' 'Because I see Him just as I see you here, only in a much more intense sense.'

That impressed me at once. For the first time I found a person who dared to say that he saw God, that religion was a reality, to be felt, to be sensed in an infinitely more intense way than we can sense the world. I began to go to that man, day after day, and I actually saw that religion could be given. One touch, one glance, can change a whole life.

C Rajagopalachari on Sri Ramakrishna

He [Sri Ramakrishna] did not pose as a philosopher or a scholar. . . He was a common Hindu. He did not say, ‘I do not believe in idol worship. I am a Vedantin.’ He did not say, ‘I do not believe in going to temples. I believe only in the Upanishadic form of Hindu religion.’ He did not make any statement like that. He was simply like a blade of grass, like any other blade of grass in this country.

There was nothing different about him from the rest and he did not, so to say, assume the air of ‘I am not the blade of grass, I am a mango tree or I am a coconut tree’ or something like that. He was like the grass that grows on earth, not distinct from any other grass, but like the rice plant, which is also, a grass but which yields rice. Sri Ramakrishna was the type of grass which yielded fruit and food in the form of true religion. He was truly a rice plant. May we grow more and more of grass of that variety in our country, and yet more of them.

Story of the Birth of Sage Parashara

Sage Parashara, who is credited with the famous Parasara Samhita, is the father of Sage Veda Vyasa. The story of the birth of the Sage is very interesting. Sage Parashara was the son of Sage Shakti and his wife Adrsyanti. Sage Shakti was the son of Sage Vasishta.

Legend has it that once a king named Kalmasapada met Sage Shakti in the forest on a narrow path. False pride made both of them not to give way to each other. The king got angry and whipped the Sage. The Sage who was overtaken by anger cursed the king to become a demon.

This incident happened when Sage Vishwamitra had intense grudge towards Sage Vasishta.

Sage Vishwamitra who came to know about the incident took advantage of the situation and admitted a fierce demon name Kimkara into the body of the King. The king now became a puppet of the Sage.

The demon killed and devoured all the sons of Vasishta including Sage Shakti.

A saddened Sage Vasishta lost all hopes that all his teachings will be lost forever. He had taught all that he had learned over the years to his children. But with all of them killed, Sage Vasishta was worried his knowledge will end with him.

Sage Vasishta was then living with his daughter-in-law Adrayanti, wife of Sage Shakti. One day Sage Vasishta heard Vedic chantings in the hermitage and soon discovered that child of Sage Shakti was developing in the womb of Adrsyanti.

The demon returned to kill Adrsyanti but Sage Vasishta used his powers and got the curse on the demon removed. King Kalmasapada was happy to get back his body and soul.

In due course of time Adrsyanti gave birth and the child grew up to become Sage Parasara.

The basic building blocks of creation - Sattva, Raja, Tama * Please share *

The basic building blocks of creation - Sattva, Raja, Tama
* Please share *

Unknown to modern science, there are subtle energetic particles which make up all of creation. We call the components subtle because they are intangible, not physical in nature, and they cannot be seen with any instruments such as the latest electronic microscopes. Technically advanced physical instrumentation in the future too will not be able to measure them.

These three subtle basic components can only be perceived by the subtle sense organs or our sixth sense (ESP). They are spiritual energy which pervade all existence to varying degrees and in different combinations.
• The subtle basic Sattva component is the most subtle or intangible of the three subtle basic components. It is the component nearest to divinity. Hence its predominance in a person is characterised by happiness, contentment, virtues like patience, perseverance, ability to forgive, spiritual yearning etc.
• The subtle basic Tama component is the basest of the three. Its predominance in a person is reflected by laziness, greed, attachment to worldly matters etc.
• The subtle basic Raja component provides fuel to the other two, i.e. brings about the action. So depending on whether a person is predominantly sattvik or tamasik the subtle basic Raja component will bring about actions pertaining to Sattva or Tama.

Depending on which one of the three subtle-components is predominant within us, it influences how we:
• React to situations
• Make decisions
• Make choices
• Live our lives

They make up the food we eat, entertainment we seek, company we keep, our types of interests and pass times, clothes, colours, relationships, and as well have an influence on global trends like climate change and societal violence.

The three subtle basic components are basically intangible particles. When they are active, i.e. when there is energy accompanying them, they appear in a wave form.
Explanation of the diagram
• Colour: The subtle basic Sattva component appears yellow, the subtle basic Raja component red and the subtle basic Tama component black in colour when perceived through highly active sixth sense.
• Wavelength: The subtle basic Raja component being the most active is reflected in its wavelength, whereas the subtle basic Sattva component being more tranquil has a longer wavelength. The disorganised and distorted nature of the subtle basic Tama component is reflected in its irregular wavelength.
• Amplitude: The amplitude of the Raja component is the highest as it is the most active. The amplitude of the subtle basic Sattva component is lower and regular, whereas that of the subtle basic Tama component is low and irregular.
• Length: Their length is dictated according to the need of the function.

For more spiritual research on how Sattva, Raja and Tama affect our lives, please see: http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/articles/id/spiritualresearch/spiritualscience/sattva_raja_tama

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Ramakrushna Paramhansa

Scroll down to read in English :
एक बार स्वामी रामकृष्ण परमहंस अपनी पत्नीसे पूछने लगे कि उन्होंने फलां व्यंजन क्यों नहीं बनाया ? उनकी पत्नी, सहधर्मिणी तो थीं ही उनकी शिष्या भी थीं, उन्होंने हंसते हुए कहा, “ बाहर लोग स्वामीजीके दर्शनकी प्रतीक्षा कर रहे हैं और स्वामीजीकी आसक्ति भोजनमें है “ | बाबाने कहा “ अरे पगली, मेरे पास इस संसारमें रहनेके लिए कोई आधार (आसक्ति) नहीं बची अतः इस भोजनकी आसक्तिके सहारे अपने जीवन बिता रहा हूं | ऐसे होते हैं पूर्णत्त्व प्राप्त संत ! जैसे कहते हैं ‘डूबतेको तिनकेका सहारा’ वैसे ही पूर्ण संत किसी एक वस्तुकी छोटीसी आसक्ति रख लोगोंके मार्गदर्शन हेतु इस संसारमें देह धारण कर रहते हैं !!
Once Ramakrushna Paramhansa asked his wife why a particular delicacy had not been cooked? His wife was also his disciple. Teasingly, she said, “People are waiting outside for a Darshan (spiritual glimpse) and Swamiji is still attached to the food.” Baba replied, “ There is no attachment of any kind left for me to live in this world. Hence, it is with the support of this small attachment that I am spending my life.” As there is a saying , “One who is about to drown may find succour in clutching even to a straw.” Similarly, saints who have attained Absoluteness with the Supreme Being may maintain a deliberate attachment to a tiny object and remain in the physical form in this world to provide spiritual guidance to the people.”

Photo: Scroll down to read in English :
एक बार स्वामी रामकृष्ण परमहंस अपनी पत्नीसे पूछने लगे कि उन्होंने फलां व्यंजन क्यों नहीं बनाया ? उनकी पत्नी, सहधर्मिणी तो थीं ही उनकी शिष्या भी थीं, उन्होंने हंसते हुए कहा, “ बाहर लोग स्वामीजीके दर्शनकी प्रतीक्षा कर रहे हैं और स्वामीजीकी आसक्ति भोजनमें है “ | बाबाने कहा “ अरे पगली, मेरे पास इस संसारमें रहनेके लिए कोई आधार (आसक्ति) नहीं बची अतः इस भोजनकी आसक्तिके सहारे अपने जीवन बिता रहा हूं | ऐसे होते हैं पूर्णत्त्व प्राप्त संत ! जैसे कहते हैं ‘डूबतेको तिनकेका सहारा’ वैसे ही पूर्ण संत किसी एक वस्तुकी छोटीसी आसक्ति रख लोगोंके मार्गदर्शन हेतु इस संसारमें देह धारण कर रहते हैं !!
Once Ramakrushna Paramhansa asked his wife why a particular delicacy had not been cooked? His wife was also his disciple. Teasingly, she said, “People are waiting outside for a Darshan (spiritual glimpse) and Swamiji is still attached to the food.” Baba replied, “ There is no attachment of any kind left for me to live in this world. Hence, it is with the support of this small attachment that I am spending my life.” As there is a saying , “One who is about to drown may find succour in clutching even to a straw.” Similarly, saints who have attained Absoluteness with the Supreme Being may maintain a deliberate attachment to a tiny object and remain in the physical form in this world to provide spiritual guidance to the people.”

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A disciple

Scroll down to read in English :
सद्गुरुकी प्रथम दृष्टिसे ही शिष्य मुक्त हो जाता है | सद्गुरु कहते हैं “तुम्हें इसका बोध नहीं हो रहा है क्योंकि तुम्हारी आत्माके ऊपर मन, बुद्धि और अहमका आवरण है | साधना कर इन तीनों आवरणको नष्ट करो तुझे आत्मसाक्षात्कार हो जाएगा” |
(शिष्य का आध्यात्मिक स्तर 55 % प्रतिशत से अधिक होता है और अपने श्रीगुरु एवं उनके कार्य हेतु पूर्णत: समर्पित होता है ! )
A disciple gets liberated merely at the first glance of a saint. The sadguru (Master) says “ But because the veil of mind, intellect and ego envelopes your soul, you can’t have this self-realisation, do Sadhana (spiritual practice), destroy these three veils, and you will experience self-realisation,”
(A real disciple is above 55% spiritual level and is totally dedicated for the guru and his cause . )
to know the concept of spiritual level go to this link http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/articles/id/spiritual-level

Photo: Scroll down to read in English :
सद्गुरुकी प्रथम दृष्टिसे ही शिष्य मुक्त हो जाता है | सद्गुरु कहते हैं “तुम्हें इसका बोध नहीं हो रहा है क्योंकि तुम्हारी आत्माके ऊपर मन, बुद्धि और अहमका आवरण है | साधना कर इन तीनों आवरणको नष्ट करो तुझे आत्मसाक्षात्कार हो जाएगा” |
(शिष्य का आध्यात्मिक स्तर 55 % प्रतिशत से अधिक होता है और अपने श्रीगुरु एवं उनके कार्य हेतु पूर्णत: समर्पित होता है ! )
A disciple gets liberated merely at the first glance of a saint. The sadguru (Master) says “ But because the veil of mind, intellect and ego envelopes your soul, you can’t have this self-realisation, do Sadhana (spiritual practice), destroy these three veils, and you will experience self-realisation,”
(A real disciple is above 55% spiritual level and is totally dedicated for the guru and his cause . )
to know the concept of spiritual level go to this link http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/articles/id/spiritual-level

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Sri Ramakrishna

Compassion is the love one feels for all beings of the world and it is an attitude of equality – Sri Ramakrishna

The jiva is nothing but the embodiment of Satchidananda. But since Maya, or ego, has created various upaadhis (masks of names and forms), he has forgotten his real Self.

When one attains perfect knowledge, then one finds that dying and killing are one and same thing, that is to say, both are unreal.

Remember that daya, compassion, and Maya attachment, are two different things. Attachment means the feeling of ‘my-ness’ toward one’s relatives…Compassion is the love one feels for all beings of the world. It is an attitude of equality…But one thing should be remembered: Maya keeps us in ignorance (of our divine nature) and entangles us in the world, whereas daya makes our hearts pure and gradually unties our bonds and attachments.

Sri Ramakrishna

SRILA JAGANNATHA DASA BABAJI’S INSTRUCTIONS TO HIS DISCIPLES

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Jagabandhu Dasa shared Mataji Padyavali's photo.

‎>>> SRILA JAGANNATHA DASA BABAJI’S INSTRUCTIONS TO HIS DISCIPLES <<<

(1) "You must avoid women, men who associate with women, or with a man who in any way associates with a man who associates with a woman.

(2) "To realize the supreme goal of life you must repeat Harinama regularly and steadfastly. Steadiness is so important that it must be maintained even at the cost of one's life.

(3) "Never forget Gaura who is more merciful and benevolent than Krishna. Krishna is like a just ruler who takes into account your offenses in His administration of justice. Gaura does not take your offenses into account. Whereas, Krsna is more interested in the dispensation of justice, Gaura is more interested in the distribution of mercy. From this point of view, Gaura-kirtana is more useful than Krishna-kirtana. Gaura-kirtana means: Sri Krsna Caitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhara, Srivasadi, Gaura bhakta vrnda.

(4) "Krishna is the avatara of Dvapara-yuga. Gaura is the Kali-yuga avatara. We should sing the name and glories of the avatara in whose age we live; just as in a kingdom we praise the ruling king."
JAYA SACI-NANDANA GAURA HARI
JAYA SACI-NANDANA GAURA HARI

‘राधे-राधे’

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तीनों लोकों में राधा की स्तुति से देवर्षि नारद खीझ गए थे।
उनकी शिकायत थी कि वह तो कृष्ण से अथाह प्रेम करते हैं
फिर उनका नाम कोई क्यों नहीं लेता,हर भक्त ‘राधे-राधे’ क्यों करता रहता है।
वह अपनी यह व्यथा लेकर श्रीकृष्ण के पास पहुंचे।
नारदजी ने देखा कि श्रीकृष्ण भयंकर सिर दर्द सेकराह रहे हैं।
देवर्षि के हृदय में भी टीस उठी। उन्होंने पूछा,
‘भगवन! क्या इस सिर दर्द का कोई
उपचार है। मेरे हृदय के रक्त से यह दर्द शांत हो जाए तो मैं
अपना रक्त दान कर सकता हूं।’ श्रीकृष्ण ने उत्तर दिया,
‘नारदजी, मुझे किसी के रक्त की आवश्यकता नहीं है।
मेरा कोई भक्त अपना चरणामृत यानी अपने पांव धोकर पिला दे,
तो मेरा दर्द शांत हो सकता है।’
नारद ने मन में सोचा, ‘भक्त का चरणामृत, वह भी भगवान के
श्रीमुख में। ऐसा करने वाला तो घोर नरक का भागी बनेगा।
भला यह सब जानते हुए नरक का भागी बनने को कौन तैयार हो?’
श्रीकृष्ण ने नारद से कहा कि वह रुक्मिणी के पास
जाकर सारा हाल सुनाएं तो संभवत: रुक्मिणी इसके लिए
तैयार हो जाएं। नारदजी रुक्मिणी के
पास गए। उन्होंने रुक्मिणी को सारा वृत्तांत
सुनाया तो रुक्मिणी बोलीं, ‘नहीं, नहीं! देवर्षि, मैं यह पाप नहीं कर सकती।’
नारद ने लौटकर रुक्मिणी की बात श्रीकृष्ण के पास रख दी। अब श्रीकृष्ण ने
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उसमें अपने दोनों पैर डुबोए। फिर वह नारद से बोली, ‘देवर्षि, इसे तत्काल
श्रीकृष्ण के पास ले जाइए। मैं जानती हूं कि भगवान को अपने
पांव धोकर पिलाने से मुझे रौरव नामक नरक में भी ठौर
नहीं मिलेगा। पर अपने प्रियतम के सुख के लिए मैं अनंत
युगों तक नरक की यातना भोगने को तैयार हूं।’ अब देवर्षि समझ गए
कि तीनों लोकों में राधा के प्रेम के स्तुतिगान क्यों हो रहे हैं।
उन्होंने भी अपनी वीणा उठाई
और
राधा की स्तुति गाने लगे।

राधे राधे!!!

सनातन धर्म एक ही धर्म

सनातन धर्म एक ही धर्म

♥ ♥ ♥ OM NAMAH SHIVAY ♥ ♥ ♥ OM NAMAH SHIVAY ♥ ♥ ♥ OM NAMAH SHIVAY ♥ ♥ ♥ OM NAMAH SHIVAY ♥ ♥ ♥

MAHA SHIVAPURANA
continues............................................................................................................................

THE WORSHIP OF PARTHIVA LINGA :

Suta then explains the greatness of worshiping a Parthiva Linga-:
"Parthiva Linga is the most supreme among all the Shivalingas. All the aspirtions of he deities as
well as men are fulfilled by the worship of Parthiv linga. During the era of Satya, jewel was
considered to be of prime importance, where as during Treta Yuga and Dwapar Yuga, gold and
mercury had the prime importance respectively. In the present era of Kali, a Parthiva Linga holds
this place of honor. The worship of Parthiva Linga begets more virtues than even penance. Just
as Ganga among the rivers, Kashi among the sacred places of pilgrimages, Omkar among all the
mantras are considered to be superior, In the same way Parthivalinga is considered to the
supreme among all the Linga. Worshiping, a Parthiva linga with a 'Nishkam bhava' helps a man
to attain liberation."
Suta elaborately describes about the methods of doing worship of Parthiva Linga:-
"After becoming fresh in the morning, a man should wear a rudraksha garland in his neck and
apply Bhasma (ash) on his forehead. He should then worship the Parthiva Linga. He should
chant the various names of Shiva, while worshiping the Parthiva Linga, like Har, Maheshwar,
Shambhu, Shoolpani, Mahadeva, etc. After worshiping the Parthiva Linga, it should be
immersed in the river, Then the mantra - OM NAMAH SHIVAY should be chanted with
complete devotion. This is the method which has been described in the Vedas for the worship of
Parthiva Linga."
The numbers of Parthiva Linga differ according to one's desires. For example a man who is
desirous of learning and knowledge must worship one thousand Parthiva Linga. A man who is
desirous of wealth must worship. One thousand five hundred Parthiva Lingas. A man who is
desirous of attaining salvation must worship one crore Parthiva Lingas.
Parthiva linga, which is equivalent to the height measured by the four fingers and which has been
established on a beautiful pedestal, is considered to be the best. Parthiva Linga which is the half
of the above mentioned height is considered to be medium; and still half than the second category is considered to be inferior Parthiva Linga. It is better and advisable to worship a single
Parthiva Linga daily, because it is equivalent to the worship of the whole world. Nobody is
barred from worshiping Shiva, except the people whose ancestors had been cursed by the sages
like Dadhichi, Gautam. Such people should also worship the eight idols (earth, water, fire, air,
sky, sun, moon and the host) along with the Parthiva linga. A brahmin should worship Parthiva
linga as per the methods described in the vedas. Worship should be done, facing north.
.................................................................................................................................to be continued

OM NAMAH SHIVAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

रामजी बोले, हे मुनीश्वर! जितने जीव हैं उनके दो-दो शरीर हैं-एक अन्तवाहक और दूसरा आधिभौतिक । ब्रह्मा का एक ही अन्तवाहक शरीर कैसे है यह वार्त्ता स्पष्ट कर कहिये । वशिष्ठजी बोले, हे रामजी! जो सकारणरूप जीव है उनके दो-दो शरीर हैं पर ब्रह्माजी अकारण हैं इस कारण उनका एक अन्त वाहक ही शरीर है । हे रामजी! सुनिये, अन्य जीवों का कारण ब्रह्मा है इसी कारण यह जीव दोनों देहों को धरते हैं और ब्रह्माजी का कारण कोई नहीं यह अपने आप ही उपजे हैं इनका नाम स्वयम्भू है । आदि में जो इनका प्रादुर्भाव हुआ है सो अन्तवाहक शरीर है । इनको अपने स्वरूप का विस्मरण नहीं हुआ सदा अपने वास्तव स्वरूप में स्थित हैं इससे अन्तवाहक हैं और दृश्य को अपना संकल्पमात्र जानते हैं । जिनको दृश्य में दृढ़ प्रतीति हुई उनको आधिभौतिक कहते हैं । जैसे आधिभौतिक जड़ता से जल की बरफ होती है वैसे ही दृश्य की दृढ़ता आधिभौतिक होते हैं ।

Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Mayapur,The Land of the Golden Avatar

The Golden Avatar Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu wrote 8 verses, call:
Sri Siksastakam

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the most recent incarnation of Krsna. He appeared 500 years ago in Bengal and in the form of Krsna's devotee in the mood of Srimati Radharani. He left only 8 slokas (verses) of his instructions in writing, and they describe the glories of the Holy Names of the Lord and the mood one must have to chant and to be a devotee.

cheto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha--davagni-nirvapanam
shreyah-kairava-chandrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam
anandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamritaswadanam
sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-krishna-sankirtanam

Glory to the Sri-Krsna-Sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.

namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-shaktis
tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalah
etadrishi tava kripa bhagavan mamapi
durdaivam idrisham ihajani nanuragaha

O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names, like Krsna and Govinda. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them.

trinad api sunichena
taror api sahishnuna
amanina manadena
kirtaniyah sada harih

One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.

na dhanam na janam na sundarim
kavitam va jagad-isha kamaye
mama janmani janmanishvare
bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki twayi

O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service, birth after birth.

ayi nanda-tanuja kinkaram
patitam mam vishame bhavambudhau
kripaya tava pada-pankaja-
sthita-dhuli-sadrisham vichintaya

O son of Maharaja Nanda (Krsna), I am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I have fallen into the ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean of death and place me as one of the atoms at Your lotus feet.

nayanam galad-ashru-dharaya
vadanam gadgada-ruddhaya gira
pulakair nichitam vapuh kada
tava nama-grahane bhavishyati

O my Lord, when will my eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing constantly when I chant Your holy name? When will my voice choke up, and when will the hairs of my body stand on end at the recitation of Your name?

yugayitam nimeshena
chakshusha pravrishayitam
shunyayitam jagat sarvam
govinda-virahena me

O Govinda! Feeling Your separations I am considering a moment to be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in Your absence.

ashlishya va pada-ratam pinashtu mam
adarshanan marma-hatam karotu va
yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato
mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah

I know no one but Krsna as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly by His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally.

All Glories to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu!

Milky Ocean in Hinduism

Milky Ocean in Hinduism is a primordial Ocean of milk which exists between cosmic eras. Srihari Vishnu sleeps on Adi Shesha, the giant serpent, who floats on the Milky Ocean. This is a famous picture and symbolism associated with Hinduism. It must be noted that it is also believed that Vishnu resides in Vaikunta on the Milky Ocean.

Milky Ocean symbolically means absolute truth – when one attains this there is bliss. It is an attempt to convey to common devotees what is waiting for them when they cross the materialistic world.

In Sanskrit and many Indian languages milky ocean is known as Ksheera Sagara.

The most famous incident associated with milky ocean is that of the churning of ocean or Samudra Manthan by Asuras and Devas to attain Amruta or elixir of life.

What to keep out for a happy life? – Sathya Sai Baba Answers

Be always watchful against the following sins:

Speaking falsehood
Speaking ill of others
Backbiting
Talking too much
Killing
Adultery
Theft
Drinking intoxicants
Eating flesh
Sexual carvings
Anger
Greed
Earthly attachments
Impatience
Hatred
Egoism
Pride

As told by Sathya Sai Baba

Source - Sathya Sai Baba: The Christ of Our Days by Vladimir Antonov

Bharathipura Samsthana

Thursday, 14 March 2013

सत्संग का महत्त्व

Tanuja Thakur shared a photo.

FIRE OF DEVOTION

Krishna and Bhagavad Gita

Krishna and Bhagavad Gita

Wednesday, 13 March 2013

Bhakta Ekanath

Bhakta Ekanath from message of masters .com

Today – March 13, 2013 – is observed as the Jayanti or birth anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

Story of the Birth of Sage Parashara

Story of the Birth of Sage Parashara

The basic building blocks of creation - Sattva, Raja, Tama * Please share *

Ramakrushna Paramhansa

A disciple

Sri Ramakrishna

Compassion is the love one feels for all beings of the world and it is an attitude of equality – Sri Ramakrishna

SRILA JAGANNATHA DASA BABAJI’S INSTRUCTIONS TO HIS DISCIPLES

Jagabandhu Dasa shared Mataji Padyavali's photo.

‘राधे-राधे’

सनातन धर्म एक ही धर्म

Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Mayapur,The Land of the Golden Avatar

Milky Ocean in Hinduism

What to keep out for a happy life? – Sathya Sai Baba Answers

What to keep out for a happy life? – Sathya Sai Baba Answers