Personalities - Gandhi

During childhood, I never like Gandhi. But, it was in Allahabad, in the house of Nehru, I brought the book "My Experiences with Truth", only because it was the cheapest book avaliable there and all others books were highly priced. It has been almost 15 years now, I wanted to tell the government of India and the Congress party to reduce the price of the books displayed in the Nehru house. They must be cheap so that the common people and the students can buy and get inspired by these great people.I started reading the book on the train from Allahabad to Anantapur. I was really mesmerised with the simple writing and putting forward the things in very straight manner without any language jargons.Today, though i disagree with gandhi on few things, i am really influenced by him a lot.
What I learned from him:1. Simple living is the best way of living. No need of jewels, cosmetics and so on.2. Habits make a person and everyone has to adopt good habits and try to leave bad habits. 3. Character is what makes a person, society, religion and history.4. Many problems in this world can be solved by discussion.5. An enemy is also a human being like you.6. Truth and only pure truth can what u have to aspire for. Only Truth can save you in the long run.7. Control of senses is the most important thing which can make or mar a person.8. All human beings irrespective of caste, creed are same.9. Practice what u preach to others.10. Means must always justify the ends.11. Faith in oneself, Truth and God can achieve anything in this world.

Regards,

Tirumalanath

tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

Personalities - T N Seshan

One person can change the system and I was fortunate to see this during my college days when elections are won by muscle and money power. This man, who was part of the same system tried to clean it up and showed us that if u want to serve the people and the nation, u must be part of it. No one can bring peace and prosperity to the society by blaming it or destroying the system. Reforms and moderanity can be only brought through removing the drawbacks in the system and if i want to say...by going back to its foundation fundamentals/basics. We Indians, have the heritage, culture and experience which no other country has. It is only when we look at the system with its past, present we can understand what is going on. Just copying ourselves from the others or putting blame on the past or the people will not solve the problem. No one till now, by my knowledge has or can do more social work than a government employee. That has been proved by this person: T N Seshan.Eighty percentage of the India problem lies in its political and religious structure and the rest of 20 % percent lies with its geographical situation. Religous reforms are continously made from the past century and the modern look of the society is due to this only. 60 years of Independence - and it was also time to bring some changes in the electorial system of the country. As selection of the political system is the core for representing the various groups in the society and also solving their problem, it was essentially needed to clean up the electorial system which the political has been using for their own benefits.The greatest contribution of Seshan was realising that the Elections Commision must be same as Judicary system. He was successful in bringing those reforms in the Election Commision.It is happy to see that the successors of T N Seshan has not only kept the high standards and are bring more reforms in the electorate process.
What I learned from him:
For doing good, u don't have to be creative or think new things. The only thing u have to do is to follow the rules of the book and the land. One person who follows the rules of the book in word and spirit can bring lot of change in the society and that one person can be anyone.

Regards,
Tirumalanath
tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

Personalities - P V Narasimha Rao

If Gandhi is the father of nation, then we can say P V Narasimha Rao as "father of Indian Economy Reforms". And today whatever we have achieved, except the work done by the great institutes like ISRO and DRDO, the total credit for the growth of industrialization and economy must be creditied to Mr. Rao. He reduced the fiscal deficit, Privatization of public sector units (though i believe few things like transportation, medical, education, mining, fuel, current, dams etc must be in the hands of government), trade reforms, loans and many more.
He was the 12th Prime Minister of India and an active freedom fighter. He won election from Nandyal with a victory margin of a five lakh votes and his win is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. Only not a politician, he is a scholar by himself. He is well educated and has command over 17 languages.
Few things I learned from him are:
1. Patience always pays.

2. Our Silence can be used to solve many problems.

3. Taking no action is also an action.

4. Always think about the long term goals even losing some short term gains.

5. For being strong, u don't need to shout

Many great people have in them good and bad. Though Mr.Rao faced lot of problems during the last years of his life, I consider him as the " CHANAKYA of our Times".

India – Constitution

It is a Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic with a parliamentary system of government. The Republic is governed in terms of the Constitution of India which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November 1949 and came into force on 26th January 1950.
The Constitution provides for a Parliamentary form of government which is federal in structure with certain unitary features. The constitutional head of the Executive of the Union is the President. As per the Constitution of India, the council of the Parliament of the Union consists of the President and two Houses known as the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and the House of the People (Lok Sabha). The Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister as its head to aid and advise the President, who shall exercise his functions in accordance to the advice. The real executive power is thus vested in the Council of Ministers with the Prime Minister as its head.
The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the House of the People (Lok Sabha). Every State has a Legislative Assembly. Certain States have an upper House also called State Legislative Council. There is a Governor for each state who is appointed by the President. Governor is the Head of the State and the executive power of the State is vested in him. The Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister as its head advises the Governor in the discharge of the executive functions. The Council of the Ministers of a state is collectively responsible to the Legislative Assembly of the State.
The Constitution distributes legislative powers between Parliament and State legislatures as per the lists of entries in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution. The residuary powers vest in the Parliament. The centrally administered territories are called Union Territories.
Regards,
Tirumalanath
tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

India – Armed Forces

The Government of India is responsible for ensuring the defence of India and every part thereof and Indian Armed Forces vests in the President. The responsibility for national defence rests with the Cabinet. This is discharged through the Ministry of Defence, which provides the policy framework and wherewithal to the Armed Forces to discharge their responsibilities in the context of the defence of the country. The Indian Armed Forces comprise of three divisions – Indian Army, Indian Navy, and the Indian Air Force.
Indian Army
Indian Army is the third largest in the world. The Indian Army's HQ is located in New Delhi and functions under the Chief of Army Staff, who is responsible for the command, control, and administration as a whole. The Army is divided into six operational commands (field armies) and one training command, each under the command of a Lieutenant General, who has an equal status to the Vice-Chief of Army Staff.
Indian Navy
The Headquarters of the Indian Navy is located in New Delhi, and is under the command of the Chief of the naval staff – an Admiral. The Indian navy is deployed under three area commands, each headed by a flag officer. The Western Naval Command is headquartered in Bombay on the Arabian Sea; the Southern Naval Command in Kochi (Cochin), in Kerala, also on the Arabian Sea; and the Eastern Naval Command in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on the Bay of Bengal.
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force was officially established on 8th October 1932, and on 1st April 1954, Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee, one of the founding members of the Air Force took over as the first Indian Chief of Air Staff. With the passage of time, the Indian Air Force undertook massive upgrading of its aircraft and equipments, and as part of the process, it introduced more than twenty new types of aircrafts.
Regards,
Tirumalanath
tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

India – National Days

Independence Day
The Independence Day of India, which is celebrated religiously throughout the Country on the 15th of August every year, holds tremendous ground in the list of national days, since it reminds every Indian about the dawn of a new beginning, the beginning of an era of deliverance from the clutches of British colonialism of more than 200 years. It was on the fateful morning of 15th August 1947 that India was declared independent from British colonialism, and the reins of control were handed over to the leaders of the Country. India’s gaining of independence was a tryst with destiny, as the struggle for freedom was a long and tiresome one, witnessing the sacrifices of many freedom fighters, who laid down their lives on the line.
Republic Day
India became a Republic when the Constitution of the Country came into force on 26th January 1950, thereby defining it as a Sovereign Socialist Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary form of Government, through the Preamble. The Indian Constitution, which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly after considerable discussions represented the framework of the Government of the Country. Henceforth, 26th January has been recognized and celebrated as India’s Republic Day with great ardor, and is decreed a national holiday. The event is a constant reminder of the selfless deeds of all martyrs of the Country, who laid down their lives in the freedom struggle and various succeeding wars against foreign aggression.
Gandhi Jayanti
The 2nd of October is dedicated to the Father of the Nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi when the whole Nation celebrates Bapu's birthday. This day serves to remind all Indians of the sacrifices this apostle of peace gave, to bestow upon the country the gift of Independence. His ideas of Non-Violent Resistance to the British colonial rule has never failed to inspire later generations to live a life of brotherhood in a peace loving Country. He worked extensively for the social upliftment of the untouchables, who he called “Harijans”, and was the leader of the “Quit India Movement,” which served as a final signal of discontent to the British dominion in India.

Regards,

Tirumalanath

tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

India - States

1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Arunachal Pradesh
3. Assam
4. Bihar
5. Chhattisgarh
6. Goa
7. Gujarat
8. Haryana
9. Himachal Pradesh
10. Jammu and Kashmir
    Jharkhand
11. Karnataka
12. Kerala
13. Madhya Pradesh
14. Maharashtra
15. Manipur
16. Meghalaya
17. Mizoram
18. Nagaland
    Orissa
19. Punjab
20. Rajasthan
21. Sikkim
22. Tamil Nadu
23. Tripura
24. Uttarakhand
25. Uttar Pradesh
26. West Bengal

Regards,

Tirumalanath

tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

India – National Fruit

A fleshy fruit, eaten ripe or used green for pickles etc., of the tree Mangifera indica, the mango is one of the most important and widely cultivated fruits of the tropical world. Its juicy fruit is a rich source of Vitamins A, C and D. In India there are over100 varieties of mangoes, in different sizes, shapes and colours. Mangoes have been cultivated in India from time immemorial. The poet Kalidasa sang its praises. Alexander savoured its taste, as did the Chinese pilgrim Hieun Tsang.
Regards,
Tirumalanath
tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

India – National Song

The song Vande Mataram, composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji, was a source of inspiration to the people in their struggle for freedom. It has an equal status with Jana-gana-man a. The following is the text of its first stanza:

Vande Mataram, Vande Mataram!
Sujalam, suphalam, malayaja shitalam,
Shasyashyamalam, Mataram!
Vande Mataram!
Shubhrajyotsna pulakitayaminim,
Phullakusumita drumadala shobhinim,
Suhasinim sumadhura bhashinim,
Sukhadam varadam, Mataram! Vande Mataram, Vande Mataram!

Regards,

Tirumalanath

tirumalanth.neelaiagari@gmail.com

India – National Animal

The magnificent tiger, Panthera tigris is a striped animal. It has a thick yellow coat of fur with dark stripes. The combination of grace, strength, agility and enormous power has earned the tiger its pride of place as the national animal of India. Out of eight races of the species known, the Indian race, the Royal Bengal Tiger, is found throughout the country except in the north-western region and also in the neighbouring countries, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. To check the dwindling population of tigers in India, ‘Project Tiger' was launched in April 1973. So far, 27 tiger reserves have been established in the country under this project, covering an area of 37,761 sq km.

India – National River

The Ganga or Ganges is the longest river of India flowing over 2,510 kms of mountains, valleys and plains. It originates in the snowfields of the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas as the Bhagirathi River. It is later joined by other rivers such as the Alaknanda, Yamuna, Son, Gumti, Kosi and Ghagra. The Ganga river basin is one of the most fertile and densely populated areas of the world and covers an area of 1,000,000 sq. kms. There are two dams on the river – one at Haridwar and the other at Farakka. The Ganges River Dolphin is an endangered animal that specifically habitats this river.
The Ganga is revered by Hindus as the most sacred river on earth. Key religious ceremonies are held on the banks of the river at cities such as Varanasi, Haridwar and Allahabad. The Ganga widens out into the Ganges Delta in the Sunderbans swamp of Bangladesh, before it ends its journey by emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
Regards,
Tirumalanath
tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

India - National Calendar

The national calendar based on the Saka Era, with Chaitra as its first month and a normal year of 365 days was adopted from 22 March 1957 along with the Gregorian calendar. Dates of the national calendar have a permanent correspondence with dates of the Gregorian calendar, 1 Chaitra falling on 22 March normally and on 21 March in leap year.

Regards,
Tirumalanath
tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

Indian – State Emblem

The words Satyameva Jayate from Mundaka Upanishad , meaning 'Truth Alone Triumphs', are inscribed below the abacus in Devanagari script.

The national emblem is thus symbolic of contemporary India’s reaffirmation of it’s ancient commitment to world peace and goodwill. The four lions(one hidden from view ) – symbolising power, courage and confidence- rest on a circular abacus. It has four smaller animals- Guardians of the four directions: The Lion of the North, The Elephant of the East, The Horse of the South and The Bull of the West. The abacus rests on a lotus in full bloom, exemplifying the fountainhead of life and creative inspiration.
Regards,
Tirumalanath
tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

India – National Anthem

Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka, jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Punjab-Sindh-Gujarat-Maratha
Dravida-Utkala-Banga
Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
Uchchala-Jaladhi-taranga.
Tava shubha name jage,
Tava shubha asisa mange,
Gahe tava jaya gatha,
Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
Jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!
The above is the full version of the Anthem and its playing time is approximately 52 seconds.

Regards,

Tirumalanath

tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

India – National Tree

Indian fig tree, whose branches root themselves like new trees over a large area. The roots then give rise to more trunks and branches. Because of this characteristic and its longevity, this tree is considered immortal and is an integral part of the myths and legends of India. Even today, the banyan tree is the focal point of village life and the village council meets under the shade of this tree.

Regards,

Tirumalanath

tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

India – National Flower

Lotus is the National Flower of India. It is a sacred flower and occupies a unique position in the art and mythology of ancient India and has been an auspicious symbol of Indian culture since time immemorial.
India is rich in flora. Currently available data place India in the tenth position in the world and fourth in Asia in plant diversity. From about 70 per cent geographical area surveyed so far, 47,000 species of plants have been described by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI).

Regards,

Tirumalanath

tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

The Indian peacock, the national bird of India, is a colourful, swan-sized bird, with a fan-shaped crest of feathers, a white patch under the eye and a long, slender neck. The male of the species is more colourful than the female, with a glistening blue breast and neck and a spectacular bronze-green train of around 200 elongated feathers. The female is brownish, slightly smaller than the male and lacks the train. The elaborate courtship dance of the male, fanning out the tail and preening its feathers is a gorgeous sight.

Regards,

Tirumalanath

tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

India – National Flag

The National flag of India was designed by "Pingali Venkayya". The National Flag is a horizontal tricolour of deep saffron at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion. The ratio of width of the flag to its length is two to three. In the centre of the white band is a navy-blue wheel which represents the chakra. Its design is that of the wheel which appears on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. Its diameter approximates to the width of the white band and it has 24 spokes. The design of the National Flag was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 22 July 1947. The flag is made of Khadi.

Regards,

Tirumalanath

tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

Hinduism Scripture

Pls. let me know the list of books or links or materials I can go through to gain knowledge.
Hinduism Scripture…..

· Rig Veda
· Yajur Veda
· Sama Veda
· Atharya Veda
· Itihasas
· Puranas
· Vyakarana
· Bhagavad Gita
· Upanishads

SIN

When things go wrong and when we don’t get what we want in life over a long period of time and when we face failures after failure in life and our mind don’t find any reasons of failure irrespective of all our efforts, after lot of thinking and analysis, we conclude ourselves to be sinners.
But that is not true at all. The worst like that you ever tell yourself is that you were born a sinner or a wicked man. The Vedanta recognizes no sin, it only recognizes error. And the greatest error, say the Vedanta, is to say that you are weak, that you are a sinner, a miserable creature and that you have no power and you cannot do this and that. Sins are very low degrees of Self-manifestation; manifest you in a high degree.
Do not talk of the wickedness of the world and all its sins. Weep that you are bound to see wickedness yet. Weep that you are bound to see sin everywhere, and if you want to help the world, do not condemn it. Do not weaken it more. For what is sin and what is misery and what are all these, but the results of weakness? The world is made weaker and weaker every day of such teachings. Men are taught from childhood that they are weak and sinners. Teach them that they are all glorious children of immortality, even those who are the weakest in Skills, Knowledge and talents and help them to grow in these areas in a right manner. Let positive, strong, helpful thought enter into their brains every second.
Regards,
Tirumalanath
tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com
References:
· Contact “Sri Ramakrishna Math” for more information.
· The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda.
· Prabuddha Bharata magazine – Nov 2008.

Happy New Year 2009

నమస్తే,
ఆందరికీ నుతన సంవ్షర శుభాకాంక్షలు.
పేమ తో.
తిరుమలనాథ్
tirumalanath@gmail.com

Sayings of Swami Vivekananda

• Each soul is potentially Divine. The goal is to manifest that Divinity within.
• Doing is very good, but that comes from thinking …. Fill the brain, therefore, with high thoughts, highest ideals, place them day and night before you, and out of that will come great work.
• One should try to acquire knowledge moment by moment and acquire wealth bit by bit. How (can one get) knowledge if a moment is lost (wasted)? How (can one get) wealth if the bit is lost (wasted)? – A Traditional saying [source – The Vedanta Kesari magazine. July 2008]

Sayings of Swami Vivekananda

Teach yourselves, teach everyone his/her real nature, call upon the sleeping soul and see how it awakes. Power will come, glory will come, goodness will come, purity will come, and everything that is excellent will come, when this sleeping soul is roused to self-conscious activity - Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda as the spiritual guide encouraged and lifted the spirits of the Hindus when they felt pity of themselves, of their culture heritage and their religion. U can see in his writing only the courageous thoughts which religion can offer to the mankind. He is the modern Buddha who preached that religion is for the brave and religion makes the people brave. Nothing in this world can be achieved by fear and the fear is the cause root of all the problems man is facing today. And this fear in the mind is what the person character will be. He encouraged the people through religious preaching that we must be brave in all the situations and be proud of our religion and heritage which is par/greater than with all the civilizations of the world which existed. So, let us be face the realities of the life bravely and develop our character which is the most important for any person to succeed in the personal, professional and spiritual life.

Studying Religion

There are four things to study in a religion..
1. Its founder – whose life and character will be impressed on it
2. The religion – for the masses of the people
3. The philosophy – necessary for the learned and the cultured
4. The mysticism – expressing the universal yearning of the human spirit for union with its source

tirumalanath
tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

THE BUDDHA

FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

1. Existence of Sorrow
2. Cause of Sorrow
3. Cessation of Sorrow
4. Way which leads to the cessation of Sorrow

FIVE PRECEPTS

1. Abstain from killing
2. Abstain from stealing
3. Abstain from adultery
4. Abstain from lying
5. Abstain from liquor

EIGHT FOLD PATH

1. Right Understanding (free from superstition and delusion)
2. Right Thought (high and worthy of the intelligent)
3. Right Speech (kindly, open and truthful)
4. Right Actions (peaceful, honest and pure)
5. Right Livelihood (not bringing hurt or danger to living beings)
6. Right Effort (in self-training and in self-control)
7. Right Mindfulness (active watchful mind)
8. Right Concentration (in deep meditation on the realities of life)

ACTS OF MERIT

1. Give charity to the deserving
2. Observe the percepts of morality
3. Cultivate and develop good thoughts
4. Render service and attend on others
5. Honour and nurse parents and elders
6. Give a share of ur merits to others
7. Accept the merits that others give u
8. Hear the doctrine of righteousness
9. Preach the doctrine of righteousness
10. Rectify ur faults

THE FIRST SERMON at Sarnath

• He who recognizes the existence of suffering, its cause, its remedy and its cessation, has fathomed the Four Noble Truths. He will walk in the right path.
• Right views will be the torch to light his way. Right aims will be his guide. Right words will be his dwelling-place on the road. His gait will be straight, for it is the right behaviour. His refreshments will be the right way of earning his livelihood. Right efforts will be his steps; Right thoughts his breath; and peace will follow in his footprints.
• Whatsoever is originated will be dissolved again. All worry about the self is vain; the ego is like mirage and all the tribulations that touch it will pass away. They will vanish like the nightmare when the sleeper awakes.
• He who has awakened, is freed from fear, he has become Buddha; he knows the vanity of all his cares, his ambitions, and also of his pains
• Happy is he who has overcome all selfishness; happy is he who has attained peace and happy is he who has found the truth.
• Truth is noble and sweet; truth can deliver u from the evil. There is no saviour in the world except the truth.
• Have confidence in truth, although u may not able to comprehend it, although u may suppose its sweetness to be bitter, although u may shrink from it at first. Trust in Truth.
• Lead a holy life for the extinction of suffering.

MEDITATIONS

There are five meditations;
1. The first is meditation of love, in which u must so adjust ur heart, that u long for the weal and welfare of all beings, including the happiness of ur enemies.
2. The second is the meditation of pity, in which u think of all beings in distress, vividly representing their sorrows and anxieties in ur imagination so as to arouse a deep compassion for them in ur soul.
3. The third is the meditation of joy, in which u think of the prosperity of others and rejoice at the rejoicings.
4. The fourth is the meditation on impurity, in which u consider the evil consequences of corruption, the effects of sin and diseases. How trival often the pleasure of the moment and how fatal its consequences.
5. The fifth is the meditation on serenity, in which u rise about love and hate, tyranny and oppression, wealth and want, and regard ur own fate with impartial calmness and perfect tranquility.

FOUR DHYANAS

1. The first is seclusion, in which u must free ur mind from sensuality.
2. The second is a tranquility of mind full of joy and gladness.
3. The third is taking delight in things spiritual.
4. The fourth is a state of perfect purity and peace, in which mind is above all gladness and grief. Be sober and abandon wrong practices which serve only to stultify ur mind.

Four means for dominating of spirit over matter

1. Prevent bad qualities from arising.
2. Put away bad qualities which has arisen.
3. Produce goodness that does not yet come to existence.
4. Search with sincerity and persevere in ur search. In the end, u will find the truth.


Tirumalanath

tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

Sri Ramakrishna

Sri Ramakrishna was born on Feb 18, 1836 in West Bengal. From the childhood, he was yearning for the vision of God and neglected his studies; he sat with wandering monks and was associated with pilgrims. He observed that the aim of all secular knowledge was mere material advancement and resolved to devote totally to the pursuit of spiritual knowledge which would ensure eternal peace. He became a priest of the Kali temple in Calcutta and started worship of God and took the duties of the temple with great zeal and enthusiasm. Gradually his worship developed into burning desire to have a direct vision of the Divine Mother. He prayed, day and night, meditated seriously for the vision of the Divine Mother. Finally, he had the vision of God. Ramakrishna started practicing hard spiritual practices in various paths of Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. He was married to Sri Sarada Devi. Sri Ramakrishna literally worshipped her as the Divine Mother. He guided men and women of all walks of like and of different religions, to whomever came to him with earnestness to learn about life, spiritualism and God. He trained a group of young men to carry the spiritual message he had realized. These young men formed Ramakrishna math. He passed away on the 16^th August, 1886.

Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna:

• The tree laden with fruits always bends low. If u wish to be great, be lowly and meek.
• Be not a traitor to ur thoughts. Be sincere; act according to ur thoughts; and u shall surely succeed. Pray with a sincere and simple heart and ur prayers will be heard.
• One can ascend to the top of a house by means of a ladder or a bamboo or a staircase or a rope or a lift; so too, diverse are the ways of approaching God and each religion in the world shows one of the ways.
• He who has faith has all, and he who lacks it lacks all.
• As one thinks, so does one become.
• Truthfulness is the Tapasya (austerity) for the dark (present) age.
• Knowledge leads to unity; ignorance to diversity.
• Long must u struggle in the water before u learn to swim; similarly, many a struggle must u pass through before u can hope to swim on the ocean of Divine Bliss.
• Pray to Him in any way u will. He is sure to hear u, for He hears even the footfall of an ant.
• Remain always strong and steadfast in ur own faith, but eschew all bigotry and intolerance.
• When the fruit grows out of the flower, the petals drop off themselves. So, when the divinity in u increases, the weaknesses of ur human nature will all vanish of their own accord.
• God is in all men, but all men are not God, that is the reason why they suffer.
• A truly religious man should think that other religions also are paths leading to truth. We should always maintain an attitude of respect towards other religion.
• Indulgence in futile talks and criticism concerning others only distracts the mind and make one forgetful of the contemplation of the self or God.
• God looks at the working of one’s mind. He does not take into account what in particular a person is doing, or where he is lying. He recognizes the motive alone.
• He wants Him finds Him. Go and verify it in ur own life. Try for three days, try with genuine zeal, and u r sure to succeed. He finds God quickest, whose concentration and yearning are strongest.
• The darkness of centuries is dispersed as soon as a light is brought into a room. The accumulated sins of countless lives vanish by a single glance of God.
• It is the nature of a child to soil itself with dirt and mud, but the mother does not allow it to remain dirty always. Similarly, it is the nature of the man to commit sin, doubly sure is that the Lord devises methods for his redemption.
• Because you cannot find God in the days of your ignorance, say not that there is no God.
• In whatever name or form u worship God, u will realize Him.
• First gain God and then gain Wealth.
• That knowledge which purifies the mind and heart alone is true knowledge.
• The nearer u come to God, the less u r disposed to questioning and reasoning.
• The sacred books tell us only the way to God, i.e, of the means for the realization of God. That way being known, the next step is to work one’s way to the goal. Realization is the goal.
• The soul that has tasted the sweetness of Divine bliss finds no happiness in the vulgar pleasures of the world.
• The spiritually-minded belong to a caste of their own, beyond all social conventions.
• A boat may stay in water, but water should not stay in the boat. An aspirant may live in the world, but the world should not live within him.
• So long as the heart of man is directed towards God, he cannot be lost in the ocean of worldliness.
• Forgiveness is the true nature of the ascetic.
• The companionship of the holy and the wise is one of the main elements of spiritual progress.
• Knowingly or unknowingly, consciously or unconsciously, in whatever state of mind, a man utters God’s name, he acquires the merit of such utterances.
• Be not like the frog in the well. The frog in the well knows nothing bigger and grander than its well. So are all bigots. They do not see anything better than their own creed.
• Eat to your satisfaction in the day, but let your meal at night be light and small in quantity.
• Disease is the tax which the soul pays for the use of the body, as the tenant pays house-rent for the use of the house.

Tirumalanath

tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

Extract from the books published by Ramakrishna Math. For more information, knowledge and spiritual guidance, visit Sri Ramakrishna math in ur place or visit www.sriramakrishnamath.org; and send ur doubts and queries to srkmath@vsnl.com

Why Celebrate Hindu Festivals and Sacred days

A Hindu is a peculiar person. He does everything in a religious manner. He eats religiously; he sleeps religiously; he rises in the morning religiously; he does good things religiously; and he also does bad things religiously.

Religion has three aspects: Philosophy, mythology and rituals.
• Philosophy deals with the ultimate questions of life like the existence of God, nature of man, creation of this world, the goal of the life as also the path that leads to it.
• Mythology tries to bring these ideas from the dizzy heights of metaphysics down to the ordinary level of understanding of the common folk through myths and stories, dialogues, and even examples from day to day life.
• Philosophy and Mythology caters rather to the brain than the bosom. Here comes the role of rituals. Though designed to reflect the basic philosophy of life, they also help to release the energies and emotions through constructive channels, since they are action-oriented.
The Hindu festivals and Sacred days are a very important, even an integral, part of the Hindu religion, especially its ritual system. To understand and appreciate the spirit behind the observance of these festivals and scared days, a basic knowledge of the concept of the four purusarthas (end of human life) is necessary. The purusarthas are: dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), Kama (fleshly desires) and moksa (liberation from the transmigratory existence)

The great sages, who evolved this system, conceded the existence and the need to fulfill the natural instincts of a human being towards the pleasures of the ‘the here and the now’. Intuiting the power of these instincts, if unbridled, to create chaos and conflict in the society, they tried to regulate them through dharma, an iron framework of a code of righteous conduct that would regulate these instincts, and yet allow them to be satisfied too. Controlling these instincts through dharma and by following further disciplines prescribed by it, a human being can gradually transcend them, thus rising to higher spiritual aspirations. It is at this juncture that the concept of moksa appeals to the heart as also the spiritual disciplines needed for the same voluntarily undertaken.

The Hindu festivals and sacred days, with their twin aspects of vratas and utsavas, are designed exactly for this purpose of achieving the metamorphosis of the human being from the mundane to the supramundane levels.

Vratas and Utsavas

‘Vrata’ (religious vow) – set of rules and discipline with which one voluntarily binds oneself over a particular period of time, during which period he undertakes the performance of certain rituals in order to propitiate the deity and secure from it what he wants. The whole process is undertaken with a sankalpa or religious resolve, on a auspicious day and time, fixed as per dictates of the Hindu religious almanacs.

‘Utsava’ means a joyous festive occasion which buoys up the spirits of the participants. Almost every Vrata is followed by an Utsava, thus offsetting its rigours and bringing joy and happiness to everyone.

Classification of Vratas
First Classification
Kayika-vrata – physical austerity like fasting
Vacika-varata – speaking the truth and reciting the scriptures
Manasa-vrata – controlling the mind by controlling the passions and prejudices that arises
All the above three disciplines are almost always present in every Vrata.

Second Classification – based on time.
Third Classification – based on deity (God)
Fourth Classification – based on the performer like women, married people and so on

Who is eligible?
Anyone who has faith in it and wishes to perform it as per the rules. During the period of the observance of a Vrata, one should keep in himself clean and pure, observe celibacy, speak the truth, practice forbearance, avoid non-vegetarian foods and scrupulously perform all the rituals connected with it.

How many Vratas
The total number of vratas and utsavas listed by the largest of the published works – Caturvargacintamani of Hemadri (13th Century) – comes to about 700.

Extracts from the book “Hindu Festivals and Sacred Days” by Swami Harshananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Bangalore. For more information, doubts and spiritual guidance, visit Sri Ramakrishna Math in your place or mail to rkmblr@vsnl.net or visit www.sriramakrishnamath.org

Tirumalanath

tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

For more information/queries, contact ur nearest Ramakrishna Math or Visit https://www.sriramakrishnamath.org

Days in Hindu lunar calendar

Each month may be ending with amavasya (new moon day) or with purnimanta (full moon day). Each month is again divided into two fornights: sukla or suddha paksa (bright fortnight) and krsna or bahula paksa (dark fortnight).
The days are mentioned in the numerical order as follows:

• 1st day - prathama or pratipad
• 2nd day - dvitiya
• 3rd day - trtiya
• 4th day - caturthi
• 5th day - pancami
• 6th day - sasthi
• 7th day - saptami
• 8th day - astami
• 9th day - navami
• 10th day – dasami
• 11th day – ekadasi
• 12th day – dvadasi
• 13th day – trayodasi
• 14th day – caturdasi
• 15th day – pancadasi


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tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

Twelve months of Hindu lunar calendar

• Caitra – (March-April)
• Vaisaka - (April – May)
• Jyestha – (May – June)
• Asadha – (June – July)
• Sravana – (July – August)
• Bhadrapada – (August – September)
• Asvina – (September – October)
• Karttika – (October – November)
• Margasirsa – (November – December)
• Pusya – (December – January)
• Magha – (January – February)
• Phalguna – (February – March)

tirumalanath
tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

Why so many gods and goddesses in Hinduism?

What is called ‘Hinduism’ in the present day could not be destroyed as no invader or foreigner or practicing Hindu could explore Hinduism in depth. Its roots are embedded in mysterious sources. Hinduism is supposed to be ‘apauruseya’, i.e., of impersonal origin and therefore it is devoid of errors of instrument and cognition. Even if the three authorities namely, the Upanisads, the Brahmasutras and the Bhagavadgita did not exist, that could have hardly done any harm to Hinduism.

Many people ask, ‘What is the need to have so many gods in religion? Are they personifications of nature or conceptual symbols? According to the scholars, gods represent forces of nature.
• Agni represents Fire
• Vayu represents Wind
• Indra represents thunderbolt
• Soma represents plants and liquor and so on.
Hinduism has not turned its back on Vedic beliefs. On the contrary, it is the continuation of Vedic tradition. Veda in its embryonic state had all the characteristics which developed in course of time. Towards the end of the Vedic age, i.e., towards the end of 5th century B.C., there appeared the Upanisads. Without giving up the Vedic modes of thought, the texts revealed a sort of philosophy which established the relation between Atman and Brahman. Towards the end of the Upanisadic period, popular Hinduism comes out in bold relief. Here we see religion fighting against some tendencies, open to some tendencies and making the Upanisadic ideas more popular.

The peculiar characteristic of Hinduism is that it does not easily lend itself to be fitted into any rigid pattern or framework. Unlike the other great religions of the world, it does not have one founder, one scripture or even one way of life. It is precisely due to this reason that it is sometimes dubbed, not as a religion, but only as a way of life or just a culture.
An unbiased, if not reverent, study of the Hindu gods and goddesses can convince anyone of the rich symbology they represent. Contemplating on them with a proper understanding of their symbolical significance will help us to be raised to more profound levels of spiritual experience. The subject matter is abstruse and literature meager. Hence it has often been an uphill task to bring out sensible and acceptable interpretation from a medley of information available on it.
Philosophical thinking in Hinduism has risen to sublime heights in the Upanisads, the Bhagavadgita and the Brahma Sutras. However, these great works and the thinkers following in their footsteps recognized the limitation of the average human mind and its emotional needs. That is why they wisely provided for various kinds of Upasana (meditations and modes of worship) to suit the different tastes and needs of the different people.



Tirumalanath

tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

For more information/queries, contact ur nearest Ramakrishna Math or Visit https://www.sriramakrishnamath.org

THE VEDIC GODS

The Rgveda Samhita forms the basic scripture of Hinduism and tradition accords it the highest place. This great book is full of hymns, Suktas as they are called, which attain supreme heights of poetical beauty and philosophical acumen, a rare combination indeed.
The Vedic gods are usually enumerated as thirty three: eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, twelve Adityas, Indra and Prajapati. These gods are assigned to the three regions of the earth (Prthvi), the heavens (Dyaus) and the intermediary space (Antariksa). Apart from these gods, we also find some objects and qualities like faith, emotions like anger, and aspects of nature like dawn, deified and described.

The important of these deities in alphabetical order:

• Adityas: The Adityas represent a group of deities. They are six in the Rgveda, eight in Brahmanas and twelve in Satapatha Brahmana. The Adityas can be described as the personifications of laws that rule the universe and the human society. They regulate the relationship of human beings among themselves and with the forces of nature. The twelve Adityas are: Mitra (the friend), Varuna (one who encompasses and binds), Aryaman (the destroyer of foes), Daksa (the skilful), Bhaga (the giver), Amsa (the liberal), Tvastr (the shaper), Savitr (the vivifier), Pusan (the nourisher), Sakra (the mighty), Vivasvat (the resplendent) and Visnu (the pervader). These twelve Adityas are linked with the aspects of the sun spread over the twelve months and hence described as the twelve spokes of the wheel of time.

• Agni – A maximum number of hymns are devoted to describing and praising Agni as the religion at the time of Rgveda was mainly sacrificial. He is all-knowing and all-powerful and all-merciful. The image of Agni in temples represents him as an old man with a red body. He has two heads, a big belly and six eyes, seven arms in which he holds objects like the spoon, ladle, fan etc., seven tongues, four horns and three legs. He has braided hair, wears red garment and also the sacred thread. He is attended on either side by his two consorts, Svaha and Svadha. The smoke is his banner and ram, his vehicle.

• Asvins – These are twin deities, always described or praised together. Some say that they represent the earth and the sky, there are others who opine that they stand for night and day or the moon and the sun. They represent the semidarkness before dawn. They pervade this world with moisture and light. Described as eternally young and handsome, they are the youngest of the gods. They can grant boons like children, food, wealth, health and protection from enemies.

• Indra – is the chief deity in the Rgveda, is armed with the thunderbolt (Vajrayudha) and riding in a chariot. Being a war-lord, he became a symbol of the royal power. Warriors worshipped him before going to the battle field.

• Rudra and Rudras – is the god who howls or roars. He is terrible, tall and well-built. He looks fierce and is armed with terrible weapons and is always merciful to humanity. Sometimes a group of minor deities called the Rudras are also mentioned. They are eleven in number and actually represent the principles of life (Prana) - ten vital breaths and the mind.
• Soma – is the presiding deity of the soma creeper who juice is often used in sacrifices as offering and also as drink. He cures the mortals of their diseases, gives them joy and leads them to immortal blissful world. He rules over the mind and activates speech and makes ordinary mortals Rsis and wise sages.

• Surya – is extremely brilliant and rides in an exquisitely beautiful chariot drawn by seven horses. He gives light, produces day and night, gives power and strength to the living beings, makes them active and destroys their laziness and diseases.

• Varuna – is the lord of oceans, water and aquatic animals. He is depicted as riding on a crocodile. In two of his arms he holds the serpent and the noose (pasa). Sometimes he is pictured as riding in a chariot drawn by seven swans and holding the lotus, the noose, the conch and a vessel of gems in the four hands. There is an umbrella over his head.

• Vasus – are a class of deities, eight in number, chiefly known as attendants of Indra. They are personifications of nature and natural phenomena. The eight Vasus are: Dhara (earth), Anal (the fire), Ap (the waters), Anila (the wind), Dhruva (the polestar), Soma (the moon), Prabhasa (the dawn) and Pratyusa (the light).

• Vayu – god of wind. It is he who is the basis of all living here. He is described as blue in color and as holding a fan and a flag in two hands and the other two hands showing the Abhaya and Varada Mudras (indicating protection and granting gifts).

• Visvedevas – These deities are the protectors of Rta, the moral law. They destroy the enemies of their devotees, protect the good, give auspicious abodes and control like kings. They are ten in number: Vasu (dwelling place), Satya (truth), Kratu (will), Daksa (skill), Kala (time), Kama (desire), Dhrti (forbearance), Kuru (the ancestor of the Kurus), Madravas (cry of joy). These deities are said to be fond of funeral offerings.

• Yama – is one who restrains, who curbs, and who controls. He was the first of men to die and to depart to the celestial world. He is the god of the dead and so the spirits of the departed dwell with him. He has two very fierce dogs, with four eyes and wide nostrils, which guard the path of the departed souls leading to Yama’s kingdom. He is the god of death and the judge, meeting out rewards and punishments to the souls of the dead brought to him. He is green in color, wears red garments, has a mighty mace and noose and rides a he-buffalo. He is ably assisted by Citragupta, the recorder.


Tirumalanath

tirumalanath.neelaiagari@gmail.com

For more information/queries, contact ur nearest Ramakrishna Math or Visit https://www.sriramakrishnamath.org